'Drona' & 'God Tussi Great HO' dates announced

Eros International, the leading company in the Indian media and entertainment sector has announced the release dates of its key forthcoming releases God Tussi Great Ho and Drona.

Eros is highly focused on its blockbuster releases this year, which includes God Tussi Great Ho on the Independence Day weekend 15th August 2008. Starring Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan and Sohail Khan, God Tussi Great Ho is packed with great music and comedy and is expected to be a huge success this year. The long Independence Day weekend will serve as a perfect weekend bonanza for audiences.

The other exciting release from the Eros stable, the Eros International-Rose Movies co-production Drona, a never before seen visual treat for audiences will hit screens on another long holiday weekend, Thursday 2nd October on the occasion of Idd and Gandhi Jayanti. A real world meets fantasy action film; the visual effects filled Drona directed by Goldie Behl stars Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Jaya Bachchan and KK Menon and is sure to thrill audiences – youngsters and adults alike.

Sunil Lulla, President, Eros International, India commented, “Both God Tussi Great Ho & Drona show huge potential and we were looking at perfect product spacing for these two much awaited releases. Audiences can now make the best of the long holiday weekends to enjoy both these spectacular and visually stunning films”.

Some other releases from the Eros line-up in the coming quarter include Mehbooba, a romantic saga by Afzal Khan and starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Manisha Koirala on 11th July 2008 followed by Ganesh Acharya’s Money Hai Toh Honey Hai with Govinda, Aftab Shivdasani, Manoj Bajpai, Upen Patel, Celina Jaitley, Hansika Motwani and Archana Puransingh in the lead roles on 25th July. August 29th will see the release of action packed thriller Hijack directed by Kunal Shivdasani and starring Shiney Ahuja and Esha Deol.

Eros International had recently announced an unprecedented line-up of over 35 releases – Hindi and Tamil films this year, the largest by an Indian film studio.

Gimme TV, not movie!

Salman Khan will play an anchor twice — 10 Ka Dum on TV and on the big screen in Rumi Jaffrey’s God Tussi Great Ho. But he’s taken his TV job far more seriously.

It could be the money at stake that’s got Sallu all prepped up. Says a source, “Sallu has been paid a whopping amount for 10 Ka Dum and he has left no stone unturned to polish his anchoring skills.

He is seen practising with his family members, with people on his sets and everywhere else.”

A source from the GTGH unit observes, “During the movie shoot, we’d see Priyanka taking anchoring tips and researching her role.

On the other hand, Salman was relaxed and would deliver his shots like any other actor, without working on his role.”

Adds the source, “Salman has taken the show very seriously and wants to connect with the audience. After the growing popularity of King Khan and Big B, Salman too wants to create a mark on the small screen,” adds the source.

Priyanka Chopra scores a hat trick

It would be Priyanka all the way this summer.

Missing from the scene for quite some while with Salaam E Ishq being her last major release, it is going to be a hectic 2008 for Priyanka Chopra. So much so that she would have not one, not two, but as many as three films of her releasing in the space of three weeks. These are Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho and Chamku.

Each of the three films would be coming in the month of July and while July 4 has been confirmed for Love Story 2050, producers Afzal Khan and Dharmendra are eyeing July 11 and July 18 for the arrival of God Tussi Great Ho and Chamku respectively. She has an interesting set of co-stars as well in the three films with Harman Baweja, Salman Khan and Bobby Deol vying for her attention.

However, an industry insider has to say here, "One wonders if Priyanka herself would be happy with three of her films arriving in such quick time. Not just would it too be too many things happening simultaneously in her career, she would also have to work extensively on the promotion of as many as three films simultaneously."

He goes on to add, "In addition, she can't really be expecting to catch on some breath even in weeks to follow since barely a month after her third release, she would be seen paired opposite Abhishek Bachchan in yet another high profile film of hers - Drona. A Goldie Behl fantasy costume drama, the film is all set for August 15 release."

What happens to Dostana and Fashion in the meantime?

"Poor girl doesn't seem to be sighting any break as of now. She has just returned from the Miami shoot of Karan Johar's Dostana and would be returning to the sets of Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion. Both Dostana and Fashion are also aiming at a release before the year ends."

Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho, Chamku, Drona, Dostana And Fashion - Indeed there is a lot happening in Priyanka's life!

Exclusive dekko at God Tussi Great Ho

Rumi Jaffrey's directorial debut God Tussi Great Ho has been in the making for quite some time now. We at Bollywood Buzz bring you the exclusive first look of this Big B- Salman Khan - Priyanka Chopra starrer. And for all those who are eager to know what this movie is about, here's a short synopsis.

Arun Prajapati (Salman Khan) has been trying to be a successful TV anchor but success has always eluded him. He only blames God for this. Arun is head over heels in love with Alia (Priyanka Chopra), who is a TV anchor and a well-known star working in the same channel but he has never been able to express his love for her. Destiny plays a cruel game with him when Rocky is appointed as an anchor for the channel. Arun starts believing that Rocky will win over Alia. Circumstances go out of hand for Arun and he gets thrown out of the channel. He has nobody to blame but God Himself. And very soon he has an encounter with the Almighty. An argument ensues between the two. God (Amitabh Bachchan) then decides to give Arun the power to run earth for seven days as Arun claims that he can do a better job. After Arun becomes God, he becomes successful. He puts Rocky into an uneasy spot and wins Alia's heart. Also, he grants everybody's wish. But much to his dismay this becomes the biggest problem of his life.

God Tussi Great Ho is expected to hit the screens later this year.

I like Salman very much: Big B

When his admirers in the Indian film industry refer to him as 'God', they would have never imagined he would one day actually star as God in a film.

But that's exactly what the Big B plays in writer-turned-directpr Rumi Jaffrey's God, Tussi Great Ho.

Says a source, "Big B plays a spunky funny doughty and dude-like God, not your average God-in-costume but a very funky character, who has this on-going dialogue on life with Salman.

In fact all of Bachchan Saab's scenes are with Salman, an actor he really enjoys working with after Baghban and Baabul.In both they shared screen space as father and son. In God… they've a far funnier and much more easy- going rapport."

The Big B is expected to complete his God-ly role by the end of the year.

Brushing off all illusions of grandeur the Big B says, "It's just a role, albeit with a fantasy element that's fun to do. And working with Salman is always enjoyable."

Incidentally the Big B was expected to play Dashrath in Sanjay Khan's large-screen interpretation of the Ramayan two years ago. He plays a ghost in Ravi Chopra's new production Bhootnath.

Other Actors Who Have Played God.

Jeetendra & Jaya Prada Played Rama and Sita in Luv Kush
Sanjay Dutt played Yamaraj in Life Ho To Aisi
Ajay Devgan to play Rama & Sita in Raj Santoshi's Ramayan.

Subash K Jha, Santabanta