Mughda Godse in 'Jail'

After successfully debuting in his “Fashion”, Mugdha Godse is likely to be seen in Madhur Bhandarkar's next film, “Jail”.

The filmmaker reportedly wants to cast her in the film, which is a male-centric movie about under-trial inmates. Neil Nitin Mukesh will be playing the lead in the film.

Mughda has refused to comment on her being a part of “Jail” but said she would be very happy to work with Bhandarkar again.
Praised for her work in “Fashion”, Mugdha has already secured a three-film deal with Percept Picture Company.

Success party of Fashion

The D-Day arrives!

Happy Diwali! It's that time of the year when everyone hopes and prays that the festival of lights spreads light in our lives. This year, I sincerely and genuinely wish, from the bottom of my heart, that the gloomy scenario fades and Diwali brings in cheer and prosperity to everyone within and outside the industry.

Till a few months ago, everything seemed bullish. But the last few weeks have been tough. Movies are flopping, the footfalls at plexes -- single and multi -- have reduced sharply, the corporates are in no mood to clinch deals, the independent producers are reeling under the shock over inflated prices of stars, the independent distributors are wary… Things have slowed down considerably.

But let's not lose hope. Or lose sleep. Let's keep our fingers crossed on GOLMAAL RETURNS and FASHION, the two movies that open today.

The pre-Diwali phase was dullest this year. HEROES, despite tremendous appreciation from all quarters, hasn't shown that big jump at the ticket window. The viewers were gung ho, the critics were generous too. But the numbers never reflected that appreciation.

After a decent start on Friday, things were more or less the same on Day 2 [Saturday]. There wasn't much improvement. Sunday was no different either. However, movie business hit rock-bottom on Monday and Tuesday, while Wednesday, today, should show an increase, provided HEROES manages to hold on to good shows.

Of course, GOLMAAL RETURNS and FASHION will be the first-choice, but let's remain optimistic. Also, the film deserves to be tax-exempted and the sooner the makers act on it, the better.

The other release, Yash Raj and Walt Disney's ROADSIDE ROMEO, has failed to lure the kids -- its target audience. No doubt, the animation was top notch, but the content was outright predictable. In fact, below mediocre level. We're moving ahead in terms of presentation and technology, but how about upgrading the content as well

Fashion - Movie Review

Are you ready for an expose on the fashion industry? Where designers pass off 'Indira Market, Bangkok' stuff as their own creation. Where ad agency/fashion mag honchos call the shots. Wild lifestyles, backstage dramas, wardrobe malfunction, casting couch… ouch, ouch, ouch!

Madhur Bhandarkar, the undisputed king of realistic fares, comes up with yet another hard-hitting film that enlightens you, moves you, motivates and deflates you, even shocks and surprises you and of course, entertains you.

The solid reason why FASHION works is because Madhur brings alive everything you've read in newspapers or watched on TV as an outsider, to the big screen. And that works and how!

But let's not give the subject material all importance, for Madhur's handling of the subject is exemplary. Madhur dresses up his mannequins well, but most importantly, infuses life in those prime bodies. A number sequences leave you tongue-tied [more on that later].

But there's a hitch. And this problem tones down the impact considerably. The running tine of almost 2.40 hours makes you restless, especially the penultimate 25-odd minutes. Yet, all said and done, FASHION has all it takes to be the showstopper this Diwali!

FASHION tells the story of a small-town girl with a dream and the determination to make it a reality. Meghna [Priyanka Chopra] is ambitious, she wants to attain the status of a supermodel. She realises her dreams and rises to walk the ramps for leading designers across India.

But Meghna has to pay the price for her fame and her journey to the top. Her career starts sliding downwards. In this journey of Meghna, she encounters a number of people. Most importantly, Shonali [Kangna Ranaut] and Janet [Mugdha Godse]. Also, Abhijit Sareen [Arbaaz Khan], a tycoon who controls the fashion industry.

CHANDNI BAR, PAGE 3, SATTA, CORPORATE, TRAFFIC SIGNAL -- every Madhur Bhandarkar film has a new story to tell and he tells it most convincingly. In fact, Madhur strikes a fine balance between realism and entertainment in every film. Given the fact that FASHION is all about the fashion industry, the narrative is inevitably filled with lots of glam-n-glitz moments. The fashion shows, the stunning models, the superb styling, the vibrant colours and the behind the scenes drama is worth every penny spent on the ticket.

But it's not just ramp shows and style-n-fashion here. There's a story running concurrently -- of three models. One, the rise of an unknown into a supermodel. Two, the fall of a supermodel to dust. Three, the ambitious model not achieving success, but opting for a marriage of convenience.

While Madhur has handled the theme as if he were an insider, this review would be incomplete if you ignore two major sequences that are simply outstanding. One, Kangna's wardrobe malfunction and two, when Priyanka exposes Arbaaz to his wife [Suchitra Pillai].

Mahesh Limaye's cinematography captures every aspect of the fashion industry to the fullest. The screenplay [Madhur Bhandarkar, Anuradha Tiwari, Ajay Monga] is perfect, except for the penultimate portions. Niranjan Iyengar's dialogues are fantastic. Nitin Chandrakant Desai's production design is truly upmarket. The costumes and styling are top notch, a feast for the eyes. Salim-Sulaiman's music is well synchronised as well. 'Mar Jaava' and 'Jalwa' are lilting creations.

Madhur places immense trust on Priyanka and she is remarkable all through, more towards the second hour. Post AITRAAZ, FASHION is another medal that shines the brightest when you look at her body of work. But the real star is Kangna. Her role may not be as lengthy as that of Priyanka, but the actress pitches in an awesome performance. Her confidence at the very start is infectious and her overall performance deserves an ovation.

Mugdha Godse is, again, supremely confident. She has dum. Arbaaz Khan is first-rate. Arjan Bajwa does well. Harsh Chhaya, the gay designer, stands out with a realistic performance. Ashwin Mushran, Priyanka's confidante, is top notch. Samir Soni is good. Suchitra Pillai and Kittu Gidwani are effectual. Raj Babbar and Kiran Juneja are seasoned in such roles.

On the whole, FASHION has tremendous curiosity value and also shock value for the Indian audiences. Its subject -- the behind the scenes working and drama of the fashion industry -- is its USP. At the box-office, the pre-release hype and buzz will ensure a successful run for the film. Its business at multiplexes mainly should be bountiful. However, trimming the film will only help; not only will it enhance the film, but also its business. Must watch!

The three sizzling bombshells of Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion

Madhur Bhandarkar is known for making hard-hitting and realistic cinema. While his film Chandni Bar dealt with the lives of bar-dancers, Corporate looked at the games people play in the world of business. Page 3 gave an interesting overview into the lives of the rich and famous while Traffic Signal exposed the lives of beggars and street urchins in a metro like Mumbai. Now, the director is ready with his latest film Fashion that gives us more than a sneak peek into the world of modeling and Fashion. The film slated to release this Diwali (Oct 29th) stars Priyanka Chopra, Kangna Ranaut and Mugdha Godse in lead roles. What is interesting is the fact that all the 3 leading ladies have been successful models at some point of their career, hence it surely must have been easy for them to play models on screen. Bollywood Buzz brings you a snapshot of the characters which Priyanka, Kangna, and Mugdha play in Fashion along with their experiences of shooting for this film. You simply don't wanna miss this one!!!

Priyanka Chopra as Meghna Mathur

Call it a coincidence or what, but just like in her real life, Priyanka plays a small town girl who comes to the big city with dreams in her eyes of making it big in the world of Fashion. Her character Meghna is someone whose strength, determination and feisty spirit takes her on a journey far from home. Meghna Mathur is an elusive combination of beauty and intelligence. She aspires to be a part of the fashion world. She knows that she has what it takes to become a supermodel and will pursue it to the fullest. She has an added advantage of an in-built self-esteem & a sense of morality and will not compromise on her dignity.

Speaking about her experience of working on Fashion, Priyanka says, "It was great working on the film. The experience was more like working for a fashion show than working for a film. The ramp walks, the costumes, the make-ups, the changes everything was so exciting, it just brought back old memories of my modeling days"

Kangna Ranaut as Shonali Gujral

Kangana Ranaut has also has done some modeling before she got her first big break with Bhatt's Gangster. That film went on to become a super-duper hit and since then there has been no looking back for this curly-haired actress. Kangna is now looking forward to her role in Fashion where she plays the character of Shonali Gujral

Shonali Gujral is the reigning model on the runway and an icon for Meghna to aspire and look up to. However, Shonali is also a victim of the choices she has made. She bears the consequences of a steep rise to fame and fortune without a resolute backbone especially when the weight gets unbearable. Shonali is the poster child for glamour and unfortunately, even for self-destruction. Famous, envied, lost and confused she is a prisoner in a world, which will lead to her ultimate downfall.

Kangna is known for her excellent acting skills and even in Fashion, we are sure to see her perform to the best of her capacity. Speaking on her experience working on Fashion, Kangna says, "Fashion is the most stylish film I have done till date. Though I have walked the ramp before, playing a model in Fashion was a completely different experience. I play a super model in the film. I got to wear some really good costumes and getting styled by Rita Dhody was amazing. I completely surrendered myself to her and I think I look very good in the film. It is my first film where I have donned so much of make up because in most of my previous films I was seen with minimal make up. I must say I really enjoyed playing Shonali Gujral in the film."

Mugdha Godse as Janet

Mugdha Godse may not be a well-known name in Bollywood but in the world of fashion, she is a name to reckon with. Having done numerous stage shows and commercials, this real-life super-model is now all set to make her mark in the big, bad world of films with Fashion. In fact it was during one of her fashion shows that she met director Madhur backstage, who immediately offered her the role of Janet in Fashion.

Janet is the tough talking girl with a heart of gold, who becomes Meghna's best friend. A model, who may not have reached the heights that someone like Shonali has reached, yet Janet remains carefree and lives life by her own terms with no demons or regrets. She seems like she has made a pact with life - 'You keep me alive and I'll walk around with a smile on my face.' But Janet has something which the others who survive like her don't: She has a heart. She values the importance of a family. And she knows that you can find love in the strangest of places.

Mugdha who is really banking on this film to kick-start her Bollywood career says, "My role in Fashion is like a tailor made character for me. I play Janet who is a true to life girl, someone who is carefree and lives life on her own terms. I thought that playing a model would be a cakewalk for me as I belong to the fashion industry but as we started shooting, I realized it was not that easy. Walking the ramp in fashion shows is quite different than walking the ramp for a film but working in the film was an amazing and a great learning experience."

With 3 stunningly good-looking actresses portraying such contrastingly different characters, Fashion looks like yet another quality product from Madhur Bhandarkar.

Fashion to arrive with 700 prints

Fashion is turning out to be the biggest film ever, for Madhur Bhandarkar. Not just, it is the costliest; it is now also seeing the biggest release ever of the National Award winning filmmaker.

With Bhandarkar as the film's co-producer, Fashion is heating up well in the market and is seeing good demand amongst the exhibitors. Diwali being the festive season, the film is being pitched in a big way across the globe, notwithstanding competition from Golmaal Returns and EMI, both of which release on the same day i.e. October 29th. No wonder, the film is arriving at 700 prints across globe.

Confirms Madhur Bhandarkar who is working 24X7 to meet October 29 deadline, "Fashion is turning out to be a big film in all ways. Feedback has been unprecedented and the success of the film's music has further enhanced it's visibility. We all are super charged about the prospects of Fashion and are bringing it at 700 prints which includes India as well as Overseas count."

Golmaal Returns is releasing along side Fashion; does it worry him? "Fashion has its own audience and two films coming on Diwali is nothing new," says Madhur who promises that Fashion would yet again get into the 'expose' mode.

There have been talks that Ram Gopal Varma expects a lot from Madhur's Fashion. "It's nice of him to think that way", Madhur comments, "We both met recently and he told me that he is looking forward to Fashion. Everyone has quite a lot of expectations from Fashion but I am confident that the product has turned out to be good. Each of the actors has done quite well and I am sure audience's expectations would be met."

Fashion to premiere in New York

"Fashion", Madhur Bhandarkar's film set in the glamorous but ruthless world of haute couture, is slated for its world premiere on October 24 during the week-long 5th South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) in New York.

Nandita Das' "Firaaq", also from India, is the opening night feature of the festival and Das starrer "Ramchand Pakistani" directed by Mehreen Jabbar is the closing film. The festival runs from October 22-28.

SAIFF 2008 will present a select combination of full-length films, shorts and documentaries in a variety of genres. With several screening locations in Manhattan and high-profile sponsors like HBO, the New York Times and Time Warner Cable, the festival is dedicated to supporting established and emerging filmmakers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as the South Asian diaspora.

"Fashion", starring Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and Raj Babbar explores the world of style through the emotional journeys of the key people that make up the industry -models, designers, photographers, agencies and businessmen.

"Firaaq", which premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival, takes place over a 24-hour period one month after the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat. It features a star studded ensemble portraying the emotional journeys of "ordinary people" - some victims, some perpetrators and some who watched silently.

"Ramchand Pakistani" is a true story from 2002 concerning the accidental crossing of the Pakistan-Indian border during a period of extreme, war-like tension between the two countries by two members of a Pakistani Hindu family belonging to the Dalit caste. Nandita Das is the only non-Pakistani in the film's cast.

Aamir & Madhur to be honored at the 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival

The 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival is all set to take place in Mumbai from Oct 16th to Oct 23rd 2008. The festival is organized by the Asian Film Foundation in association with the Enlighten Film Scoiety.

Some of the highlights of the 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival include Spectrum Asia (where contemporary Asian films will be showcased) and Retro (a section where tributes will be paid to Indian and Asian directors by organizing retrospectives of their films). Besides this, there is also a Best Short Film Competition and Best First/ Second Film Competition to hunt new talents in direction.

Last but not the least, the 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival will also felicitate Aamir Khan and Madhur Bhandarkar for their achievements. While Aamir will be honored for his film award winning film Taare Zameen Par, Madhur will be felicitated for winning the National award for three of his films.

Seems like there is indeed a lot to look forward to at the 7th Third Eye Asian Film Festival

Fashion - First Look

IMPPA honours Rekha, Prakash Mehra, Madhur, Bhushan Kumar

Priyanka Chopra in 'Fashion' Trailer