Nominations for Pan Bahar Max Stardust Awards 2009

SUPERSTAR OF TOMORROW - MALE
Nikhil Dwivedi (My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves)
Adhyayan Suman (Haal-E-Dil)
Harman Baweja (Love Story 2050)
Farhan Akhtar (Rock On!!)
Sikander Kher (Woodstock Villa)
Imran Khan (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

SUPERSTAR OF TOMORROW - FEMALE
Sonal Chauhan (Jannat)
Genelia Dsouza (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)
Prachi Desai (Rock On!!)
Anushka Sharma (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)
Chitrangda Singh (Sorry Bhai!)
Asin (Ghajini)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - FEMALE
Shahana Goswami (Rock On!!)
Vidya Malvade (Kidnap)
Mugdha Godse (Fashion)
Sheetal Menon (Bhram)
Manjari Phadnis (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - MALE
Sonu Sood (Jodhaa Akbar)
Sumeet Raghavan (U Me Aur Hum)
Samir Kochhar (Jannat)
Prateik Babbar (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)
Purab Kohli (Rock On!!)
Vatsal Sheth (Heroes)
Arjan Bajwa (Fashion)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE BY A MUSIC DIRECTOR
Kailash Kher, Naresh & Paresh (Dasvidaniya / Pranali)
Raghav Sachar (One Two Three)
Justin - Uday (Hijack)
Dhruv Ghanekar (Drona)
Vidyasagar (Mere Baap Pehle Aap)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE BY A LYRICIST
Kausar Munir (Falak Tak / Tashan)
Kashif (Khwaja Mere Khwaja / Jodhaa Akbar)
Ashok Mishra (Sita Ram Sita Ram / Welcome To Sajjanpur)
Kailash Kher (Muskura / Dasvidaniya)

NEW MUSICAL SENSATION - FEMALE
Shilpa Rao (Khuda Jaane / Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Bela Shende (Mann Mohanaa / Jodhaa Akbar)
Monali (Zara Zara Touch Me / Race)
Anusha Mani (Lazy Lamhe / Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic)
Dominique Cerejo (Ye Tumhari Meri Baatein / Rock On!!)
Anmol Malik (Talli / Ugly Aur Pagli)

NEW MUSICAL SENSATION - MALE
Benny Dayal (Pappu Can't Dance / Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na)
Wajid (Bang Bang Bang / Hello)
Vijay Prakash (Manmohini Morey / Yuvvraaj)
Farhan Akhtar (Tum Ho Toh / Rock On!!)
Dhruv Ghanekar (Drona / Drona)
Rashid Ali (Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi / Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na)

HOTTEST NEW FILMMAKER
Rohit Shetty (Golmaal Returns)
Sachin Khot (Ugly Aur Pagli)
Samir Karnik (Heroes)
A.R. Murugadoss (Ghajini)
Tarun Mansukhani (Dostana)
Kunal Deshmukh (Jannat)
Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On!!)
Siddharth Anand (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Abbas Tyrewala (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

EXCITING NEW FACE - FEMALE
Adah Sharma (1920)
Shreya Saran (Mission Istaanbul)
Neha Uberoi (Woodstock Villa)
Amruta Khanvilkar (Phoonk)
Aushima Sawhney (Yuvvraaj)

EXCITING NEW FACE - MALE
Rajneesh Duggal (1920)

HOTTEST NEW FILM
Hello
Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
U Me Aur Hum
Phoonk
Ghajini

THE NEW MENACE
Imran Khan (Kidnap)
Nikitin Dheer (Jodhaa Akbar)
Anurag Sinha (Black & White)
Rajesh Shringapure (Sarkar Raj)

STARDUST SEARCHLIGHT AWARDS

BEST ACTOR
Rajeev Khandelwal (Aamir)
Anupam Kher (A Wednesday !)
Rahul Bose (Shaurya)
Vinay Pathak (Dasvidaniya)
Amitabh Bachchan (The Last Lear)
Abhay Deol (Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!)

BEST ACTRESS
Preity Zinta (The Last Lear)
Sarika (Hari Puttar - A Comedy Of Terrors)
Minissha Lamba (Shaurya)
Soha Ali Khan (Mumbai Meri Jaan)
Neetu Chandra (Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!)
Amrita Rao (Welcome To Sajjanpur)

BEST FILM
Aamir
Shaurya The Last Lear
Mithya
Dasvidaniya
Mumbai Meri Jaan
A Wednesday !
Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

BEST DIRECTOR
Rajat Kapoor (Mithya)
Rituparno Ghosh (The Last Lear)
Rajkumar Gupta (Aamir)
Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday !)
Nishikant Kamat (Mumbai Meri Jaan)
Shashant Shah (Dasvidaniya)
Dibakar Banerjee (Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!)

READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

BEST ACTOR IN SUPPORTING ROLE
Arjun Rampal (Rock On!!)
Shreyas Talpade (Golmaal Returns)
Anil Kapoor (Race / Yuvvraaj)
Tusshar Kapoor (Golmaal Returns)
Bobby Deol (Dostana)

BEST ACTRESS IN SUPPORTING ROLE
Kangna Ranaut (Fashion)
Gul Panag (Hello)
Sushmita Mukherjee (Dostana)
Bipasha Basu (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Neha Dhupia (Singh Is Kinng)
Amisha Patel (Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic)
Divya Dutta (U Me Aur Hum)
Kirron Kher (Dostana)

BEST ACTOR / ACTRESS IN NEGATIVE ROLE
Anil Kapoor (Tashan)
Akshaye Khanna (Race)
Kay Kay Menon (Drona)
Urmila Matondkar (Karzzzz)
Katrina Kaif (Race)

STAR OF THE YEAR - MALE
Hrithik Roshan (Jodhaa Akbar)
Saif Ali Khan (Race)
Abhishek Bachchan (Sarkar Raj / Dostana)
Akshay Kumar (Singh Is Kinng)
John Abraham (Dostana)
Salman Khan (Heroes / Yuvvraaj)
Ranbir Kapoor (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Aamir Khan (Ghajini)
Shahrukh Khan (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)
Amitabh Bachchan (Sarkar Raj)

STAR OF THE YEAR - FEMALE
Katrina Kaif (Singh Is Kinng)
Aishwarya Rai (Jodhaa Akbar / Sarkar Raj)
Priyanka Chopra (Fashion / Dostana)
Kareena Kapoor (Golmaal Retunes)

BEST FILM
Singh Is Kinng
Jodhaa Akbar
Jannat
Dostana
Race
Fashion
Yuvvraaj
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

BEST DIRECTOR
Ashutosh Gowarikar (Jodhaa Akbar)
Subhash Ghai (Yuvvraaj)
Anees Bazmee (Singh Is Kinng)
Madhur Bhandarkar (Fashion)
Aditya Chopra (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)
Ram Gopal Varma (Sarkar Raj)
Abbas-Mustan (Race)

Nominations for Nokia 15th Annual Star Screen Awards 2008

Best Film
A Wednesday!
Ghajini
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Jodhaa Akbar
Rock On!!
Sarkar Raj

Best Director
A. R. Murugadoss - Ghajini
Abbas Tyrewala - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Abhishek Kapoor - Rock On!!
Ashutosh Gowarikar - Jodhaa Akbar
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!
Ram Gopal Varma - Sarkar Raj

Best Actor (Male)
Aamir Khan - Ghajini
Abhishek Bachchan - Dostana
Akshay Kumar - Singh Is Kinng
Amitabh Bachchan - Sarkar Raj
Hrithik Roshan - Jodhaa Akbar
Naseeruddin Shah - A Wednesday!
Ranbir Kapoor - Bachna Ae Haseeno
Shahrukh Khan - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Best Actor (Female)
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - Jodhaa Akbar
Asin Thottumkal - Ghajini
Genelia D'souza - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Kajol - U Me Aur Hum
Priyanka Chopra - Fashion

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male)
Aamir Bashir - A Wednesday!
Abhishek Bachchan - Sarkar Raj
Anupam Kher - A Wednesday!
Arjun Rampal - Rock On!!
Irrfan Khan - Mumbai Meri Jaan
Jimmy Sheirgill - A Wednesday!
Pankaj Kapur - Halla Bol

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female)
Bipasha Basu - Bachna Ae Haseeno
Ila Arun - Welcome TO Sajjanpur
Kangana Ranaut - Fashion
Mugdha Godse - Fashion
Ratna Pathak Shah - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Shahana Goswami - Rock On!!

Best Actor in a Negative Role (Male/Female)
Akshaye Khanna - Race
Anil Kapoor - Tashan
Ashwini Kalsekar - Phoonk
Dilip Prabhawalkar - Sarkar Raj
Ila Arun - Jodhaa Akbar

Best Actor in a Comic Role (Male/Female)
Ashwini Kalsekar - Golmaal Returns
Mallika Sherawat - Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam
Rajpal Yadav - Krazzy 4
Shreyas Talpade - Welcome TO Sajjanpur
Tusshar Kapoor - Golmaal Returns

Best Background Music
Amar Mohile - Sarkar Raj
A. R. Rahman - Jodhaa Akbar
Bapi-Tutul - Phoonk
Salim-Sulaiman - Race
Sanjoy Chowdhury - A Wednesday!
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy - Rock On!!

Best Music
A. R. Rahman - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na & Jodhaa Akbar
Pritam - Jannat & Singh Is Kinng
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy - Rock On!!
Vishal-Shekhar - Dostana & Bachna Ae Haseeno

Best Playback Singer (Male)
A. R. Rahman - Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar)
Atif Aslam - Pehli Nazar (Race)
KK - Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan - Teri Ore (Singh Is Kinng)
Rashid Ali - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi (Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na)
Shankar Mahadevan - Desi Girl (Dostana)
Sukhwinder Singh - Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

Best Playback Singer (Female)
Dominique Cerejo - Yeh Tumhari Meri Baatein (Rock On!!)
Hardkaur & Anmol Malik - Talli Ho Gayi (Ugly Aur Pagli)
Monali Thakur - Zaraa Zaraa Touch Me (Race)
Shilpa Rao - Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Shreya Ghoshal - Teri Ore (Singh Is Kinng)
Shruti Pathak - Mar Jaawa (Fashion)
Sunidhi Chauhan - Dance Pe Chance (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

Best Lyrics
Anvita Dutt Guptan - Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Jaideep Shani - Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)
Kashif - Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar)
Mayur Puri - Teri Ore (Singh Is Kinng)
Sameer - Pehli Nazar (Race)
Sayeed Quadri - Bakhuda (Kismat Konnection)
Sayeed Quadri - Zara Si Dil Mein De Jagah (Jannat)

Best Story
Dibakar Banerjee - Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
Haidar Ali - Jodhaa Akbar
Madhur Bhandarkar, Ajay Monga & Anuradha Tiwari - Fashion
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!
Shyam Benegal - Welcome To Sajjanpur

Best Screenplay
A. R. Murugadoss - Ghajini
Abhishek Kapoor & Pubali Chaudhary- Rock On!!
Ashok Mishra - Welcome To Sajjanpur
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!
Shiraz Ahmed - Race

Best Dialogue
Abbas Tyrewala - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Anvita Dutt Guptan - Dostana & Bachna Ae Haseeno
Ashok Mishra - Welcome To Sajjanpur
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!

Best Editor
Aarti Bajaj - Aamir
Deepa Bhatia - Rock On!!
Hussain Burmawala - Race
Nipun Gupta & Amit Parmar - Sarkar Raj
Shree Narayan Singh - A Wednesday!

Best Sound
Debashish Mishra - Sarkar Raj
Rakesh Ranjan - A Wednesday! & Race
Resul Pookutty - Ghajini
Sanjay Maurya & Allwyn Rego - Mumbai Meri Jaan

Best Cinematography
Alphonso Roy - Aamir
Amit Roy - Sarkar Raj
Ayananka Bose - Dostana
Jason West - Rock On!!
Ravi K. Chandran - Ghajini
Sunil Patel - Bachna Ae Haseeno

Best Special Effects
Biju D (B R Pix & Rrix) - Bhoothnath
David Bush - Drona
Pankaj Khandpur (Tata Elxsi) - Jodhaa Akbar
Merzin Tavaria (Prime Focus) - Ghajini & Love Story 2050

Best Art Direction
Nitin Desai - Jodhaa Akbar
Samir Chanda - Welcome TO Sajjanpur
Shashank Tare - Rock On!!
Sunil Babu - Ghajini
Sunil Nigvekar - A Wednesday!

Best Choreography
Ahmed Khan - Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)
Bosco-Ceasar - Zaraa Zaraa Touch Me (Race)
Farah Khan - Desi Girl (Dostana)
Rajeev Surti - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi (Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na)
Raju Khan - Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar)
Snoop Dogg Group - Title Song (Singh Is Kinng)
Vaibhavi Merchant - Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

Best Action
Allan Amin - Race
Javed & Ejaz Shaikh, Ravi Dewan - Mission Istaanbul
Peter Heins - Ghajini & Tashan
Ravi Dewan - Jodhaa Akbar

Most Promising Newcomer (Male)
Farhan Akhtar - Rock On!!
Harman Baweja - Love Story 2050
Imran Khan - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Prateik Babbar - Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
Rajeev Khandelwal - Aamir
Sikandar Kher - Woodstock Villa

Most Promising Newcomer (Female)
Adah Sharma - 1920
Anushka Sharma - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Asin Thottumkal - Ghajini
Prachi Desai - Rock On!!

Most Promising Debut Director
A. R. Murugadoss - Ghajini
Abbas Tyrewala - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Kunal Deshmukh - Jannat
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!
Nishikant Kamat - Mumbai Meri Jaan
Rajkumar Gupta - Aamir
Tarun Mansukhani - Dostana

Jodhaa Akbar, Hrithik win awards at Golden Minbar Film Festival in Russia

Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar has not only captured the hearts of audiences in India but impressed the audiences globally and is winning accolades internationally. Yesterday, Jodhaa Akbar won the prestigious Grand Pix award at Golden Minbar, the Film Festival for Muslim Cinema which is held at Kazan, Russia. The lead actor, Hrithik Roshan, was awarded the Best Actor Award for his magnificent performance as Emperor Akbar.

Jodhaa Akbar shared the Best Film honours with an Iranian film, M for Mother. The films were selected by the Jury in the Official Selection consisting of 35 films in Competition (10 Full-length feature film, 12 Short-length feature films and 13 Documentary films).

"This is wonderful! I am overwhelmed with this news. It is an honour not only for me and my co-producer Ronnie Screwvala, but for the entire team of Jodhaa Akbar. And I would like to thank the Jury for it. I am especially happy and proud that Hrithik won the Best Actor. His portrayal of Akbar is a magnificent one, full of nuances and detailing which is very rarely seen on screen. I would also like to thank the Organizers for including Jodhaa Akbar in The International Film Festival of Muslim Cinema Golden Minbar", said a very honored and grateful Ashutosh Gowariker.

50 days for JODHAA AKBAR

Though many predicted doomsday for JODHAA AKBAR not just before it's release but even a week after it's arrival, the film has successfully managed to complete 50 days at the box office. And that too in good style!

Unlike numerous flicks which barely reach the 50 days landmark with a couple of dozen prints in the running ay maximum, JODHAA AKBAR would be celebrating this achievement with more than 150 prints across the country. The film is the biggest success ever for Ashutosh Gowariker who has other notable films like LAGAAN and SWADES to his credit. However, his JODHAA AKBAR has done the sum total of business of these two films and is still counting.

The film has crossed 60 crores just from Indian market and is still counting. Hrithilk and Ash have yet another big hit to their name while UTV too enjoys continued success with first JODHAA AKBAR and then RACE turning out to be mega successes!

Joginder Tuteja

Ashutosh's Next: Romance? Comedy? Thriller?

So what is Ashutosh Gowariker making next, after JODHAA AKBAR? A section of the media would like us to believe that the noted film-maker is planning a romantic film next. But here's the exclusive, official statement from Gowariker…

“Right now, I am merely exploring ideas. To be honest, I am still into JODHAA AKBAR even now. I am trying to plug it wherever I can. Of course, I am not as aggressive as Shah Rukh or Aamir, but I am giving my best shot.

“My next film will be a modern love story. This is something I had announced on your TV show ['B Biz'] before the film's release. It could be romantic, it could be comedy, it could be thriller. In fact, the three genres suit the description of a modern story. But, as I said, I am still undecided.

“What I am sure is that there will not be a 4-year gap between JODHAA AKBAR and my next film. Between LAGAAN and SWADES, it was 3 years. Between SWADES and JODHAA AKBAR, it was 4 years. I plan to make one film every year, that's my new resolve. Also, my next venture will again be co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala [UTV]. He's a fantastic guy with a great team. Working with him has been a real pleasure.”

Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama

Hrithik impresses Katrina!

Well, actress Katrina Kaif may not have featured in any of the power lists of reputed film magazines, for the year 2007, but the actual paying audience thinks otherwise. She is the most successful actress of the last year, with not one or two but four big successes under her belt, namely, NAMASTEY LONDON, PARTNER, APNE and WELCOME. Out the four, PARTNER and WELCOME were blockbuster hits and NAMASTEY LONDON her major solo hit, which redefined her career.

With her kitty full of many exciting new ventures, it will be interesting to know what more the pretty lass wants from Bollywood.

Well, earlier this week, while speaking to the print media in Bombay, Katrina disclosed that after watching the superhero Hrithik Roshan's amazing, royal Akbar act in JODHAA AKBAR, she is highly impressed with him. She also expressed her keen desire to pair up with the hunk. In fact, Katrina asserts that any proposal with Hrithik will get her yes immediately.

Interesting, one must say. Are the makers and in particular Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan listening, especially with the KRRISH sequel coming up!

Abid, Bollywood Trade News Network

JODHAA AKBAR to enjoy 'No Ban'

The three-hour, 20-minute epic love story - JODHAA AKBAR, which has grossed about a 100 crore now, has been in the news from the day it released across the Nation, moreso for its ban in some parts of various states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, than for its star cast, entertainment, banner, etc. It now looks like it will finally enjoy the fruits after enduring all the bitterness.

Earlier, as per the reports, UTV approached the Supreme Court against the order of the Uttar Pradesh Government banning exhibition of the film JODHAA AKBAR. UTV also petitioned that the oral ban order passed by the Haryana and Uttaranchal Government in certain parts of the said states be lifted.

The Supreme Court has today passed an interim order lifting the ban on the exhibition of the film JODHAA AKBAR in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttaranchal, and the matter is placed for further hearing on 14th March 2008.

Meanwhile people can enjoy the spectacular chemistry of Hrithik-Aishwarya's on-screen love story

Exhibition of the film can be commenced in Uttar Pradesh and affected areas of Haryana and Uttaranchal immediately.

Bollywood Trade News Network

Hrithik Roshan checks out Jodhaa Akbar special collection at Neeta Lulla's store

Jodhaa Akbar's 'kiss'a

We caught a preview of Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic tale of ‘lesser-known lovers’ Jodhaa Akbar yesterday at Adlabs
Studios, Film City.

In the span of three hours what unravelled, among other things, was a paean to the unmistakable chemistry between the lead pair, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

If you’re one of those people who believe that spouses weren’t intimate 500 years ago, get set for a re-education of sorts.Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar features a blink-and-miss romantic interlude between the Mughal emperor and his Rajput wife.

It begins with the thawing of the cold vibes between Akbar and his consort (to the tunes of Jashn-e-bahaara). Akbar gets touchy-feely and there are a few light kisses and a lingering peck on the cheek for his blushing biwi. Jodhaa (before this) has been fiercely independent and their marriage hasn’t been consummated. In the scene, she finally succumbs to her husband’s overtures.

Gowariker has aesthetically shot the lovemaking scene keeping in mind the period the story is set in. We’re guessing a few people won’t be too happy after the reviews (from critics and readers) come out and people start talking about the scene. Including a man named Abhishek Bachchan.

WHAT STANDS OUT IN JODHAA AKBAR
A bare-chested Hrithik practising his skill with the sword
His duel with an elephant
A scene where Akbar tells Jodhaa that he can neither read nor write
The swordfight between Jodhaa and Akbar after he goes to Amer (Jaipur) to manao her.
The Sufi number, Khwaja Mere Khwaja
The hand-to-hand combat between Niketan Dheer (Sharifuddin) and Hrithik (Jalaluddin Akbar)
The lovemaking scene between Jodhaa and Akbar
When he throws a close aide, Adham Khan headlong from the balcony (twice!) for killing Raza Murad’s character, Shamsuddin Atka Khan
The elaborate dance sequence after Akbar annuls pilgrimage tax (Azeem-O-Shaan-Shahenshah)

Bryan Durham, Mid-Day

Aishwarya Rai is not upto the mark: Ashutosh

Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar has been in trouble from day one. The director, who was keen to release his film in the month of January, had to shift the release further. Now, it is heard, that the director has been suffering from severe back pain and is executing all his work lying on the bed.

If all this was not enough, Ashutosh, who was editing recently, realised that a scene he had shot with Aishwarya Rai was not upto the mark. Our unit source claims, "The director picturised a scene where Aishwarya is riding a horse in a fight sequence. The director wanted an aggressive expression on Ash's face, but, to his dismay, he realised later that Ash is looking frightened on the horse. With less time on his hands, he cannot re-shoot the entire scene and will have to morph her expression with advanced technology. He is now trying to figure out the technology with which he can rectify the situation. Ashutosh did not realise this when he was shooting or even later, when he was monitoring the scene at the set."

The source continues, "One doesn't know whether these small situations or sequences will further delay the film. Ashutosh is trying his best to do it in time as further delay will only hamper work on the project.

Indiatarget

'Jodhaa Akbar' to release on 15th Feb.

UTV Motion Pictures and Ashutosh Gowariker’s much awaited epic romance JODHAA AKBAR, starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, is slated for a worldwide release on 15th February, 2008. The soundtrack, composed by music maestro A.R. Rahman and lyrics written by Javed Akhtar, will release on 9th January through UTV’s new record label UTV Music.

The change of release date is due to the fact that Ashutosh Gowariker has been advised bed rest for 21 days with a severe back problem. The director was scheduled to be in Chennai for this entire week to finish the background score of the film, but could not move out because of strict instructions from his doctors not to travel.

Referring to his back problem, Ashutosh stated, “I am sad that this had to happen in the thick of post production; it is unfortunate, but it has to be dealt with.”

Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM

2008: Year of Ash Bachchan

Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj is to be released in April 2008.

Reveals a source close to Varma (the director is completely off press after, in his own words, being burnt by Aag). "The film was never to be pitched against Jodha-Akbar.

We had zeroed- in on April because that's how long the post-production would take. Clashing with another Aishwarya Rai film was never a problem.

In Jodha-Akbar Aishwarya plays a historical character. In Sarkar Raj she's a contemporary woman."

Mrs Rai-Bachchan is currently devoting all her time to home and ailing Daadi (Mrs Teji Bachchan) and perfecting every nuance in her two releases which in spite of stalwarts in the cast (including her formidable father- in-law in the Sarkar sequel) offers her author-backed roles.

According to insiders Sarkar Raj has shaped up into Ram Gopal Varma's best work to date. And the Bachchans are extremely upbeat about it.

Sarkar Raj is also crucial for Abhishek, since it's his next release. His last film was Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom, not counting the guest appearance in Laga Chunari Mein Daag. After Sarkar Raj it's the f-x special Drona for Abhishek.

It looks like 2008 will be a bumper year for the Bachchans.

Subash K Jha, Santabanta

Two Aishwarya starrers in a fortnight ?

t would be quite a handful for Aishwarya Rai fans in early 2008 as two of her films would be hitting the marquee in quick succession.

While 25th January 2008 has been locked for the release of Ashutosh Gowarikar's JODHA AKBAR which features Ash opposite her DHOOM:2 star Hrithik Roshan, she gets to appear in a Bachchan family photo frame with the release of SARKAR RAAJ. This Ram Gopal Varma film is expected to arrive on 8th February; just a fortnight after JODHA AKBAR. Though she is not paired opposite Abhishek Bachchan in the film, Aishwarya Rai is said to be playing a powerful character in SARKAR RAAJ.

Currently these are the only two films for which Aishwarya has worked in the recent past though talks are on between her and Rohan Sippy for the Sriram Raghavan film that stars John Abraham in the lead.

Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Jodhaa Akbar party

Abhishek Bachchan made a special appearance, not on the sets of Joddha- Akbar, but for the wrap up party hosted by producer and director Ashutosh Gowarikar on November 12 at V Lounge, Juhu, Mumbai.

To celebrate the completion of the never-ending (shooting) of the film, Gowarikar has hosted a grand party for the cast and crew of the movie. No media was allowed.

The party started at around 10.30 pm and went on till the wee hours of the morning. Gowarikar was there with his wife welcoming the guests. Hrithik Roshan came at around 10.45pm. Then around 11.30pm Joddha, Aishwarya (minus hubby Abhishek) turned up. After 10 minutes Abhishek paid a surprise visit. He was seen talking with everyone, also with Hrithik. For all present, it seemed Jr Bachchan has patched up with Hritik after the kissing episode in Dhoom 2. Some of people who were seen at the party were cameraman Kiran Dev Hans, art director Nitin Desai, Nikitin Dheer, associate director Karan Malhotra, Ronnie Screwwala and Ram Mirchandani of UTV.

Johnny Vaz | Buzz18

Ash’s plea to Ashutosh Gowarikar…

Aishwarya Rai is not seen anywhere these days. She skips attending events and even shies away from accompanying hubby Abhishek or father-in-law Amitabh to any occasions! Even recently when the press spoke to Big B on the occasion of his birthday, they expected to get at least a glimpse of his beautiful bahu but unfortunately even that wish of theirs wasn’t granted.

We know that Mrs Bachchan has been shooting for Pink Panther 2 in Boston and Paris with Steve Martin sporting trench coats and metallic Christian Louboutin peep-toe shoes. We are also aware of the fact that she has just wrapped up the shoot of Sarkar Raaj in Hyderabad. But what is keeping her from making public appearances when she’s not shooting is what intrigued us!

Is her alleged pregnancy the reason as many would like to believe? As they always say in tinsel town... there is no smoke without fire. So is the news true?

“Ash has just finished shooting for Ramu’s Sarkar Raaj in Hyderabad. She was extremely friendly and had fun shooting with Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan. They enjoyed their stay in Hyderabad, behaved like a family but also interacted with other stars a lot. Not a single member of the Bachchan family acted high-handed. Abhishek was very protective of Ash and so was Amitabh”, says a source from the production team of Sarkar Raaj .

So is Ash really pregnant we probe? “The baby bump is definitely not the reason why Ash is not going public these days. At least the bump was not visible while she was shooting for Sarkar Raaj ” confirms our source.

The source further added saying, “Ash was heard requesting Ashutosh Gowariker to postpone the release of Jodhaa Akbar as she wanted Sarkar Raaj to release first, owing to it being her first film with her family (Abhishek and Amitabh) post her marriage. However Ashutosh wasn’t fine with the idea as the producers of the film weren’t okay with its further delay. Jodhaa was supposed to be released this Diwali! Moreover UTV wanted to stick to the release date of January 25 for Jodhaa Akbar since its the same day when Rang De Basanti released in 2006 and got a lot of acclaim to the banner”.

So will Sarkar Raaj release before Jodhaa ? We are waiting for the countdown to begin...

Renuka Vyavahare, Indiatimes Movies