Bachchans to walk the red carpet

Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek Bachchan will be walking the red carpet along with Aishwarya for the premiere of the Hollywood film, “Pink Panther 2”, in New York.

Ash has acted in the movie, co-starring Steve Martin.

The family is looking forward to this trip to New York as they will be able to spend quality time with each other, especially since their shooting schedules have kept them busy and away from each other.

The premiere is going to take place on February 4, 2009.

Jaya loved Abhishek's gay turn

Karan Johar had a screening for the cast and crew of Tarun Mansukhani's Dostana at Yash Raj Studios on Tuesday night. The Bachchan family turned up in full force Amitabh, Jaya, Aishwarya, and Abhishek himself.

Also present were Bobby and Tania Deol, make-up guru, Mickey Contractor, Farah Khan and designers Aki Narula and Manish Malhotra. Though Ritiesh Deshmukh is not a part of the film he was invited as Karan's guest.
Abhishek Bachchan says, "Yes I saw Dostana on Tuesday night and loved it. My family loved it as well."

Even thought the film has her son playing a gay character, mom Jaya Bachchan apparently thoroughly enjoyed watching Dostana. Abhishek confirms, "Mom loved it! Her reaction was one thing we were all panicky about as mom doesn't like very many films and she's very straightforward about her reactions. Mom, dad and Aishwarya were laughing throughout they all adored the film!"

KJo held another trial last night for close friends like Shah Rukh and his other friends from the fraternity.

Prying cameras upset Amitabh

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan says that prying cameras disturbed the Karva Chauth, a festival that celebrates wedded bliss, at his house.

"The prying electronic media positioned themselves at vantage points to invade private space inside our home. It is callous, abhorrent act. Our privacy was invaded without our consent," Amitabh told IANS.

Karva Chauth was on Friday and Amitabh was discharged from Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai the same day after being treated for six days for an abdominal condition. This was his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai's second Karva Chauth.

"Otherwise, the ladies of the house were happy and content. They involved themselves with all the rituals connected with the occasion and the evening went off delightfully well," he added.

On Aishwarya's first Karva Chauth too secret TV cameras planted behind bushes ruined the solemnity and sanctity of the occasion.

Indore Barometer: Monday witnesses 70% - 80% fall

Monday is one crucial day for movies. Will the collections remain steady? Or will the business sink? The answers are crystal clear on Monday. The two major releases, KIDNAP and DRONA, sank on Monday completely. The business fell by almost 70% - 80% on Monday, which says it all. Let's check out the Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday [highlighted in bold] figures at Indore, one of the key barometers of the industry:-

Inox
Kidnap: 99,100; 30,500; 28,000; 51,100; 11,800.
Drona: 73,300; 21,800; 19,400; 48,000; 6,700.

PVR
Kidnap: 1,52,600; 71,000; 67,500; 1,05,500; 26,400.
Drona: 1,38,400; 33,000; 63,500; 59,000; 18,300.

Velocity
Kidnap: 85,600; 28,800; 31,500; 41,000; 11,000.
Drona: 62,600; 16,000; 15,200; 23,500; 6,200.

Adlabs
Kidnap: 1,34,300; 41,000; 47,500; 68,200; 17,300.
Drona: 1,00,000; 26,000; 25,200; 44,700; 9,300.

By: Taran Adarsh

Red carpet for Bachchans from home to Siddhivinayak temple

The Bachchan parivar is known to walk the red carpet at many starry premieres and award functions. However, apart from Bollywood functions yet another place where Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya are seen walking together is at various temples across the length and breadth of the country.

It's a known fact that the Bachchans are strong believers of Lord Ganesha and are seen making frequent trips to the famous Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai. In fact, just last week Amitabh and Jaya along with beta Abhishek and bahu Aishwarya were seen walking to Siddhivinayak temple in the wee hours of morning. This time, Sikander Kher also joined the Bachchan family.

Whether they were praying for the success of their big release Sarkar Raj or for the success of the IIFA Awards is not known. But considering their frequent trips to the Siddhivinayak temple, you never know, there may soon be a special walkway from the Bachchan bungalow to the holy shrine. This will be a Jalsa for Bollywood's Family No.1 as they will not have to do any Pratiksha to enter the temple.

Fanning the flame

He takes on his contemporaries and the media for their comments, however Bachchan Sr chooses to ignore the digs and rants of his fans

Amitabh Bachchan is getting increasingly hard to ignore on the web. Apart from his blog, which is drawing a lot of attention due to it’s deliberately controversial content, the actor is also being discussed in other personal blogs, chat-rooms, communites and being commented upon in various websites.

A lot of the recent activity has been around the Bachchan clan’s appearance at the red carpet at the recently concluded Cannes film festival. Here we reproduce some strong comments from rediff.com on the Bachchan clan. While no one in the family has been spared, a lot of people have also questioned Amar Singh’s presence in Cannes. Read on for excerpts.

Family Circus at Cannes
by Nicky on May 20, 2008 08:15 AM

Sisters and Brothers of the world... welcome to the Great Indian Circus at Cannes. Know a great family of Bollywood... whom people idolise. Now they have a mangie, dingie, corrupted politician ass their yes-man working as a personal servant...(CH)AMAR SINGH a job-less, charismaless, chauffeur, a distressed, tired, fashion-sense-less opportunist politician. An shallow minded, beauty-only, gimmick friendly, synthetic, coquettish prude AISHWARYA headed by a megalomaniac, money-monger AMITABH...
Its really horrible to see how these people lick feet of the west to get a chance in the foreign media.....

RE:Important Abhishek
by on May 20, 2008 02:15 AM

Wrong dude, wrong!

Chota AB’s poppat is programmed to ‘rise to the occasion’ as per the wife’s wishes!
The wife is milking her last days as the beauty she used to be, before she “allows” herself to get preggies! So, like his poppat, chota AB follows the commands of his wife! As for Ch-amar singh, he tags along to find out Aishwarya’s secret!

He believes he can make use of that secret during election time!

After all, there not much difference between chota AB’s poppat and the people who vote for Ch-amar Singh’s party!!

What’s Amar Singh doing in Cannes?
by Joideep on May 21, 2008 09:20 AM

Has this guy no shame, must he be everywhere? I bet Ash and Abhi must have groaned when they heard, he is going to join them too. I bet he was there on their honeymoon too, posing in the background for a photo. This guy seems to have a strange hold on the Bachchan family. Jaya needs to go on a serious diet (drink orange juice only, like Kareena)

Not much known in the West...
by Subhramanian on May 21, 2008 06:35 AM

U seem to be the latest shikaar of Amitabh... Ha Ha... Get ur facts first right... None of the Bollywood movies in the West are watched by any gora or goris. It’s only watched by desis... And abt interviews?? Ha Ha there are scores of actresses coming from small countries like Venezuela, Guatemala, Latvia... etc who are also interviewed daily in US media... Grow up... having a picture in foreign soil in skimpy dresses doesn’t make a person as a famous Indian. Behave like a mature Indian not as traditionless, scantily clad cheergirls...

Re" The perfect brand
by Venkat on May 21, 2008 05:53 AM

Its all about LOVING IN YOUR FAMILY.... Sasur loving bahu, Chhote Bhaiyya loving saas, Biwi loving sasur aur Beta remains silent watcher... Bollywood being a big tamasha... this is the right family...

Poor Abhishek
by useless bollywood on May 20, 2008 10:53 AM

Seems Aish and Amitabh are very close. Look at her hands. She puts her hand inside Amitabh’s hand but is just holding the fingers of Abhishek. Poor Abhishek watching the cameramen without knowing all this...she is leaning only towards Amitabh...maybe becoz he is the BIG B

Yesterday there were two angry posts by Bachchan Sr. One took on a columnist from London, and the other a local writer. Everyday Bhootnath gets personal with members of the press for any and every comment on him or his parivaar. Two days ago, he ridiculed writer and columnist Shobhaa De for a casual remark on the creases on Aishwarya Rai’s clothes at Cannes. However the actor looks the other way when the criticism comes from his junta. He is not ready to react to the not-so-nice comments made by the public on other blogs and websites. He admits to have seen the posts, “I have already read them,” but he refused to comment any further. And no, he won’t be blogging about it either.

Abhishek-Priyanka starrer DRONA postponed

The much talked about Bachchan versus Kapoor clash may not happen after all! Obviously we are talking about Independence Day and the simultaneous release of Abhishek Bachchan's Goldie Behl directed DRONA and Yash Raj's Siddharth Anand directed Ranbir Kapoor starrer, BACHNA AE HASEENO. Thankfully, better sense seems to have prevailed and DRONA has decided to pull out of the race.

As per our trade and distribution sources, the makers of the Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Kay Kay Menon starrer, DRONA, have decided to move ahead by a week and so the high budget SFX extravaganza will now hit the screens on 22nd August 2008, along with Sanjay Dutt's KIDNAP. No reason has been given for the same, but it now leaves an open field for the Ranbir-Deepika starrer, BACHNA AE HASEENO, on August 15.

Before we leave, the usual disclaimer- Release dates can change even at the eleventh hour!

Bachchans Reunion

It all happened when Abhishek was away, shooting for Karan Johar's Dostana in Miami. The Bachchan family weren't all together, and so one fine day, Amitabh, Jaya and bahurani Ash flew down to celebrate some good times with Abhishek. They celebrated Jaya Bachchan's birthday, and while Amitabh and Jaya returned, Ash stayed back to celebrate her first wedding anniversary with her hubby.

But now with the shooting over, it's Ash's time to get busy. As brand ambassador of L'Oreal, she is expected to be at the Cannes Film Festival being held at Nice, and Pa-in-law Bachchan is accompanying her there. Hubby Abhishek is done with his shooting and is catching a flight to Nice as well. Says Amitabh through his blog, "The family has not been together for long, so we are going there to be together."

Well, we're sure the Bachchan's are going to have a 'Nice' time at Cannes, where they go to cherish some wonderful moments.

Who says Jaya Bachchan is in Sarkar Raj?

Needless to say, Sarkar Raj is in news for many things. Prominently because Sarkar Raj is the sequel to Sarkar, which was RGV's highly appreciated film and regarded as a major hit. And secondly because it is Abhi-Ash's first film, post their marriage. But clearly for some, fishing for news never ends.

A movie portal has reported that Jaya Bachchan is doing a special appearance in Sarkar Raj. However, there is no truth to the story. Says a source close to RGV, "The reporter spoke with Ram Gopal Varma to check if Jaya Bachchan stars in the film and even though he denied it, the writer went on to text Amitabh Bachchan saying that RGV had confirmed Jaya's presence in the film."

Such kind of irresponsible reporting has surely got Ramu fumed. "What kind of reporting is this? There's no Jaya in Sarkar Raj and I said so to the reporter," says an irritated Ram Gopal Varma.

It seems like the reporters know more than even the director of the film as they predict and make such statements. Though again, they carefully don't confirm the news completely by giving proof. So much for "exclusivity".

It's Chalo Miami, for Bachchan parivar

The Bachchans plan to bring in Jaya’s birthday with Abhishek, who is shooting there for Dostana

The Bachchans are planning a trip to Miami. We are told they have two good reasons to make their first holiday abroad after the big wedding. Firstly, it’s Jaya Bachchan’s birthday on April 9 and the family wants to be together to bring it in. Secondly, Abhishek who’s shooting in Miami for Tarun Mansukhani’s Dostana with John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, is feeling homesick.

A source reveals, “The Bachchans want to spend stime with Abhishek. He really hasn’t been able to spend much time with his mom and dad. Before leaving for Miami, he was busy with Rakeysh Mehra’s Dilli 6 in Jaipur. Even though Ash joined him on his schedule, he still missed the company of his parents. With Amitabh, Jaya and Ash joining him in Miami, he will feel totally at home.”

Bachchan confirmed that he indeed was planning such a trip. However, he refused to term it as a vacation. “It’s no holiday, just a short visit. Abhishek has been away for long and isn’t due back soon either.” About there being a celebration for Jaya, he added, “We will bring it in. There won’t be a celebration.”

However, there won’t be a big party or any big celebration this time around due to the demise of Abhishek’s grandmom Teji Bachchan. “It’s just going to be a family affair. There won’t be a party of any sort. Last time they had all flown down to Jaipur to bring in Abhishek’s birthday when he was shooting in Jaipur. The Bachchan’s are a close knit family and definitely like to make birthdays and anniversaries as memorable as possible.”

Tushar Joshi, Mid-Day

Bachchans may join Abhishek in Miami

Just a few days back we had told you about the preparations for one of the most exciting projects, Karan Johar's Tarun Mansukhani directed, DOSTANA.

To recap, the Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra and Bobby Deol (in a very special appearance) starrer is all set to take off in Miami, Florida. Preparations are afoot for a highlight dance number featuring Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham. And here is more, not about the shooting though, rather on Bachchan family's personal front.

The entire Bachchan family plans to join the apple of their eye, Abhishek Bachchan in Miami, early next month. There are two very special reasons for their being together during the month of April. The first one is that mom Jaya Bachchan celebrates her 60th birthday on April 9. The second and the most important reason is the first marriage anniversary of the very much in love couple, Abhishek and Aishwarya. Yes, the hot and happening couple will celebrate their first marriage anniversary on the 20th of April. And since the family has always been together on important family events (remember Abhishek and Aishwarya's birthday celebrations in Jaipur and Agra respectively?), its not surprising that the entire family would wish to be present on these very special occasions.

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

Where were the Bachchans ?

While we heard some lah-di-dahs whisper, “It’s because Shah Rukh is hosting the event, and you know how rude he was to them last time, nah?”

Others attributed the absence to them not having bagged too many nominations.

The real reason, however, was that the First Family of Bollywood was in mourning. Amitabh’s mother Teji Bachchan passed away a couple of months ago, then close Amar Singh’s dad also passed away recently and the Bachchans aren’t in a celebrating mood.

Now that’s a ‘fair one’, ok!

TNN

The last rites of actor Amitabh Bachchan's mother was performed in Mumbai

The mortal remains of Teji Bachchan, mother of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, were consigned to flames at the cremation ground in Juhu on Friday.

The funeral pyre was lit by Amitabh Bachchan. Earlier, the funeral procession started at 10 AM from Bachchan's Juhu bungalow Pratiksha and reached the Ruia Park cremation ground after nearly an hour.

Teji Bachchan died on Friday at the age of 93 after prolonged illness at Lilavati hospital. All members of the family, including Ajitabh Bachchan, Namrata, Shweta Bachchan, her husband Nikhil Nanda, gathered for the cremation.

According to sources, priests came from Varanasi to perform the funeral. Bachchan's bungalow Prateeksha was surrounded by thousands of fans, well-wishers, people from the literary world, Bollywood personalities and politicians alike.

Several dignitaries including former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat attended the cremation. Other personalities from Bollywood included Ajay Devgan, Karan Johar, Kajol, Yash Chopra, wife Pamela Chopra, filmmaker Prakash Mehra and Ketan Desai.

Industrialist Anil Ambani and Amitabh's close friend Amar Singh also attended the funeral.

CNN-IBN

Amitabh's Mother Teji Bachchan passes away

Teji Bachchan, mother of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, passed away yesterday afternoon at Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital. She was 93 years old and had been ill for a long time.

Teji, an amateur actor and singer herself, was the wife of Hindi literary great Harivanshrai Bachchan. She had been hospitalised for almost a year now and was shifted to the ICU last month when her condition deteriorated.

Amitabh and Ajitabh Bachchan along with Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek, Aishwarya, Shweta Nanda and Namrata were present in the hospital ever since Teji Bachchan became critical early Friday morning.

Other prominent personalities who came to express their heartfelt condolences included Anil Ambani, Amar Singh, Subroto Roy and actors like Sonali Bendre and Danny Denzongpa.

IndiaFM
The funeral is to take place at the Juhu cemetery today (Saturday) morning.

"very special bonding"

Jaya Bachchan hasn't been seen on screen since a small role in Karan Johar's "Kal Ho Naa Ho" but the indomitable actress is now ready to do two back-to-back films. And that's more work than she has done in recent times.

What's interesting is that Jaya plays Konkona Sen Sharma's mother in both Rituparno Ghosh's bi-lingual "Sunglass" and Pradeep Sarkar's untitled film.

"I wasn't aware of Pradeep Sarkar's casting, though I did get a hint of it from the way Pradeep spoke to me. I genuinely feel Jayadi and Konkona, who are among my most favourite actresses, look like mother and daughter," said Ghosh.

"In fact, I want them to be cast in a third film together, so there'll be a Jaya-Konkona trilogy," he added.

Jaya, who spends a large part of her day in hospital looking after her critically ill mother-in-law, is looking forward to joining Ritu's crew in Kolkata.

Jaya's bonding with all her screen-kids - be it Esha Deol in "Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche", Karisma Kapoor in "Fiza" or Preity Zinta in "Kal Ho Naa Ho", has always been very special.

"It started with Govind Nihalani's 'Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa' where I played Joy Sengupta's mother. Then came Khalid Mohamed's 'Fiza' where Karisma and Hrithik Roshan were my children," Jaya told.

Preity and I made a most natural daughter-mother pair in 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. We didn't have to fake our feelings.

"I've seldom met anyone so frank, and yet she keeps distance. It was like sitting and talking to my own daughter. Like my Shweta, Preity is so young and yet like my friend. But Shweta is not as talkative as Preity. I must tell you, Preity used to get very upset when people expressed their disappointment that I wasn't playing Shah Rukh Khan's mom."

Said Jaya: "One of the roles that I enjoyed the most was playing Waheeda Rehmanji's daughter in Rajinder Singh Bedi's 'Phagun'. One of my unfulfilled wishes as an actress is to cast Kajol in the daughter's role and me in the mother's role in 'Phagun'."

She confesses to a "very special bonding" with Shah Rukh who played her son in "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".

And when it comes to her own son, Jaya's face lights up.

"Abhishek played my son for a day in a Bengali film... Raja Sen's 'Desh'. It was a good experience. I returned to Bengali cinema after 28 years.

"You know, even when people said they hoped he wouldn't be like his father, I felt they were secretly hoping to see Amitabh Bachchan in Abhishek, and quite understandably so. Thankfully Abhishek has taken all the confusions and contradictions in his stride," said Jaya.

Jaya vehemently rubbished the long-held myth that she was forced to abdicate her career.

"At that point of time, my career had ceased to matter. Nothing gave me greater joy than looking after my home. Even after marriage, my husband encouraged me to work with good directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar.

"In fact, I did 'Mili' and 'Chupke Chupke' after marriage. Today I wish my son had directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar to work with. But I must say the people who are working with him are excellent."