Pics: What's been happening in tinseltown

Kangana's look in Kites, guests at Tusshar's belated birthday party, Kareena's bad make-up, Hottie Kangana, Mahesh Bhatt and Jackie Shroff are too close for comfort, Pooja Bhatt's back, Riteish's new look and much more.

Look At Me! We have had too much of Hrithik and Barbara Mori, so here is looking at Kangana Ranaut in Kites. She looks sophisticated in her layered dress and fresh-as-a-daisy in her casual avatar.


Mother and Son: Susanne Roshan with son Hrehaan on the sets of Kites in the US. She should have been careful about her white bra and we heard Hrehaan isn't allowed to eat chocolates. Holidays are an exception, probably. Where is Papa Hrithik?


Rare Photo: We usually see Ash with her hubby and Pa but here she is all smiles with brown coat clad Jaya Bachchan and Pa Amitabh in freezing New York.


Coupling: Ayesha Takia with fiancé Farhan Azmi and Amisha Patel with Kanav Puri. Must say Ayesha is looking very pretty.


Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Riteish Deshmukh has chopped off his thick mop of hair for a buzz cut. Neat!


Father and Son: Bealted-birthday-boy Tusshar and dad Jeetendra. Tusshar's checkered shirt looks like it was made from a table-cloth and we aren't a big fan of what Jeetendra's wearing either.


Mismatched Make-up: Her features are perfect but her make up is not. Her lower portion of her face has a reddish hue while her forehead is pale. And she should do something about the zit on her left cheek.


Sisters in Sarees: We like Kareena's bright yellow saree, but when it comes to a face off between the sisters, the elegant and graceful Lolo wins hands down. Kareena's stomach isn't exactly flat anymore, from what we can see.


Lucky Man: Kangana looks absolutely dazzling here. The blue and rose tinted make up, the shimmering blue number and blue shoes are amazing. Adhayan is one lucky man


Guess Who's Back: Pooja Bhatt still has a pretty face but not her petite frame. Her loose black attire makes her looks broader than she is.


Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? By the way, their hands are wrapped around each other and the closeness of their mouths, it looks like Jackie Shroff and Mahesh Bhatt are going to kiss!


Stars are Human Too: For everyone who thought B-town stars were perfect, here is a flaw. Due to her weight gain, Kangana Ranaut has stretch marks. But it's ok; we still think she is sexy and pretty.


Pretty in Peach: Deepika Padukone flashes her dimpled smile at a Filmfare PC. We wish Ranbir was there too.

Bollywood Stars speak about New Year resolutions & gifts

The B-towners talk about their New Year Resolutions and the gifts they expect for New Year.

Sonu Sood: "My New Year resolution is to start a trust or organization in my mother's memory to help poor children study as my mother was a professor. And I'd like an award for one of my performances in 2008 as my New Year gift."

Shamita Shetty: "My New Year resolution is to vote. As my New Year gift I'd like a balanced professional and personal life."

Neha Dhupia: "I've just started learning horse riding. So my New Year resolution is to become an expert at it…Someone should gift me a beautiful horse for the New Year."

Dino Morea: "I don't make New Year resolutions. I just strive to do better not every year but every day. The gift that I want this New Year? Some luck from anyone who cares enough."


Mugdha Godse: "My resolution is to voice my opinion and to vote to be a better citizen. And I want to entertain audiences in good films. A great gift for all of us this New Year would be a good leader who can make Mumbai a better city."

Boman Irani: "I've never made New Year resolutions. Resolutions are surrounded by guilt. I don't need that for the New Year."

Paresh Rawal: "This New Year I want to start yoga and get the great Gujarati writer Madhu Rai to write an exciting play for me."

Koena Mitra: "My New Year resolution for 2009 is to not make any resolutions. Each time I end up breaking it because I've never planned anything. The best gift I'd want to get is love. I've never been lucky in love till date. And of course I want to give gifts to my family friends and my seven angels (the dogs)."

Aftab Shivdasani: "I don't want to make a New Year resolution. And I don't expect any gifts."

Amrita Arora: "My New Year resolution is to be a better person, more tolerant and patient. And my gift? Happiness in abundance for me and loved ones."

Celina Jaitley: "My New Year resolution is to work on my shortcomings as a human being. And the one gift that that I'd want from my countrymen is to not forget 26/11."

Pooja Bedi: "My resolution is a commitment to health, body, rejuvenation and physical fitness. And I'd like to be presented a show of my own by the Star TV network."

Himesh Reshammiya: "My New Year gift is to give the biggest hit of 2009. And the gift I want from God is to be super-creative in whatever I do."

Tusshar Kapoor: "My New Year resolution? To work harder on my body. And I want something special from someone very special in my life."

Raveena Tandon: "My resolution is to not get complacent and to make a difference and to work towards making a difference to our lives. The gift I want is from everyone to work as one world community."

Nandana Sen: "New Year resolution? To spend as much time as possible with my loved ones. And my gift? Tolerance among people communities and countries

Payal Rohatgi: "My New Year resolution is to be more caring towards my family, as the whole Bigg Boss experience and 26/11 attacks made me value them and realize that one can only trust one's family. My one gift? A film with Shah Rukh Khan Sir. Hope God is listening."

Tanushree Datta: "My New Year resolution is to work out more and get into fitness in a big way. And my gift: I want the latest I Pod from my parents."

Riya Sen: "My New Year resolution is all work and no play. Gifts? A new house and a new car for myself from myself."

Rajeev Khandelwal: "My New Year resolution? To be a better citizen and to spread awareness among the youth to make our country the best. My New Year gift...a pledge from the youngsters to make our country go ahead."

Dia Mirza: "I don't save resolutions for the New Year. I believe if there's a need to do something it should be done immediately. My wish for the New Year is to be part of an informed and motivated government that will ensure our security, peace, health and progress."

Sammir Dattani: "My New Year resolution is to not make any resolutions. Who lives by these annual rules? Especially now, when you never know what the Gods and the terrorists have planned for you. Gift? Since January is also my birthday I've a large and very posh list. Is Santa available in the New Year?"

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

Golmaal Returns - Movie Review

Two years ago, Rohit Shetty came up with a breezy entertainer GOLMAAL, which, most people agree, is the capable director's finest work to date. The comic scenes hit the right notes and buttons. Perhaps, that must've prompted its producers [Shree Ashtavinayak] and Rohit to continue with the GOLMAAL series.

But GOLMAAL RETURNS treats the viewer like a nitwit, with zero brains. No-brainer laughathons have worked in the past and people have catapulted these films to 'must watch again and again' category. But GOLMAAL RETURNS is simply unbearable!

35 years ago, the Kiran Kumar - Radha Saluja comedy AAJ KI TAZAA KHABAR [1973] is the inspiration for GOLMAAL RETURNS. No issues with that, it's an interesting concept. But screenplay writer Yunus Sajawal makes a mincemeat of the material, so much so that your head starts aching after a point and you want to tear your hair in disgust.

Seriously, what was the writer thinking when he came up with a pathetic screenplay? And how did a talented director like Rohit Shetty agree to ride on it? And how could an accomplished actor like Ajay Devgan green signal this enterprise? Questions, questions, questions...

GOLMAAL RETURNS was never meant to be a thinking man's film, but the attitude is, no-brainer comedies have worked and this one will work too. To give the credit where it's due, a few jokes/sequences involving Tusshar and Shreyas do bring a smile on your face, but in the absence of a tight screenplay, the film falls like a pack of cards.

Final word? Golmaal hai bhai script golmaal hai!

Gopal [Ajay Devgan], who lives with his wife Ekta [Kareena Kapoor], sister Esha [Amrita Arora] and brother-in-law Lucky [Tusshar Kapoor], gets stuck in a yacht after saving an attractive woman Meera [Celina Jaitly] from some goons. Both end up spending the night on the yacht and when he comes home the next day, his painfully suspicious wife, who is also a hardcore fan of the saas-bahu serials, smell fish.

Gopal knows it's going to be hard to quell her suspicion, so he concocts a cock-and-bull story about having stayed the night with a fictitious friend called Anthony Gonsalves. Ekta refuses to buy his yarn and writes to Anthony [on a fictitious address given to her by Gopal], asking him to visit her.

Gopal convinces his junior at work, Laxman [Shreyas Talpade], to pretend to be Anthony. Everything goes according to plan till the real Anthony turns up.

If that isn't complication enough for Gopal, a dead body is discovered at the location where he had saved Meera. The Investigating Officer, Madhav [Arshad Warsi], who is Esha's boyfriend and also who cannot stand the sight of Gopal, learns that the latter had been missing from home that eventful night and begins checking on him.

A sequel carries the baggage of humungous expectations. And you definitely expect GOLMAAL RETURNS to be a step forward. The makers had thundered, "GOLMAAL RETURNS is bigger, it's better" and that raises the bar. But the film is such a put off.

Writer Yunus Sajawal takes an interesting premise, but instead of upgrading it, only downgrades it with lacklustre situations. The writing is so weak, so lifeless that after a point you sit motionless, looking at the goings-on mechanically, instead of being a participant.

A few sequences do entertain you, but they're few and far between. Not enough to camouflage the defects. In view of the fact that the writing is so weak, there's not much that director Rohit Shetty can do to save the ship from sinking. However, the dialogues are howlarious. Music is not as inspiring. 'Tha Karke' is the best track, while 'Tu Saala' [well promoted] isn't there in the film and 'Meow' comes during the end credits. And you're exasperated by then!

GOLMAAL RETURNS belongs to Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade. Tusshar is terrific yet again, the real scene stealer, while Shreyas displays his comic side very well. Both, in fact, provide respite to the viewer. Ajay Devgan is likable. Kareena does the suspicious wife act well. Celina stays on your mind even after the show is over.

Arshad Warsi is relegated to the backseat. Amrita Arora is strictly okay. Anjana Sukhani gets no scope. Vrajesh Hirjee is alright. Sharat Saxena, Rakhi Vijan, Sanjay Mishra, Murli Sharma, Mukesh Tiwari and Ashwini Kalsekar fill in the blanks.

On the whole, there's tremendous curiosity to watch GOLMAAL RETURNS and the terrific promotion has only enhanced the excitement. But the film is a major letdown in terms of content. Barring a few jokes and gags, this GOLMAAL pales when compared to its first part. At the box-office, expect a terrific start for the film, but GOLMAAL RETURNS lacks the power to stand on its feet after the initial euphoria settles down.

The Girls of 'Golmaal Returns'

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Definitely not Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor or Shreyas Talpade! A scene for Rohit Shetty's 'Golmaaal Returns' requires the funny four to dress up, literally! The guys get dolled up to celebrate Women's Day in the film, and like any desi hottie, they just had to hit the mall up! Well, guess what? No entry unless you're packing pantyhose and lipstick! Director Shetty comments on the actors' willingness to go girly: "I was quite taken aback when Ajay [Devgan] agreed to this scene in particular. He was very gung-ho to go ahead with the scene! In fact, none of the guys had any reservations, which made it one of the best scenes in the film!" Hmm... Maybe the guys should have auditioned for Karan Johar's 'Dostana'!

Golmal Returns - First Look

Watch The Trailer of 'Golmaal Returns'

123 takes 5th best opening of the year

ONE TWO THREE has turned out to be a box office success.

After being panned by the critics after Show One of the film's release, ONE TWO THREE managed to strike a chord with the audience, especially youth, who came in hordes to make the film a success. Result is that ONE TWO THREE, a medium budget film, has managed to collect more than 10 crores just from India in its first week.

This means that the film has taken the fifth highest opening of the year. While the top of the list is dominated by the likes of RACE (35 crores) and JODHAA AKBAR (25 crores), at no.3 and no.4 are SUNDAY (14 crores) and HALLA BOL (11.5 crores) respectively.

In a quarter dominated by flops, this multi starrer by a debutant director Ashwani Dheer has given Bollywood a reason to smile.

Joginder Tuteja

How stars celebrate their Holi-Day

Urmila Matondkar: "I'll be working on Holi-day. So no Holi for me."

Shabana Azmi: "It would be as usual an open house for friends and family for Holi at my parents' home in Janki Kutir. There will be a generous flow of non-toxic colours, gana-bajaana and khana…a long-standing tradition in our house as part of India's ganga-jumna tehzeeb.

Shefali Shah: "My husband Vipul and I will be having a get-together at home. We'll have close friends over. Lots of food, bhang, out-of-tune karaoke, dumb charade…and lots and lots of laughter.

Tusshar Kapoor: "I stopped playing Holi years back. But this year I'll have to attend the Holi bash specially arranged for my new film 123."

Malaika Arora: "I won't be playing Holi this year as I'm holidaying in Dubai"

Nandana Sen: "On Holi day I'll be traveling back from Khajuraho to Mumbai. I'll be coming home just for a day. I'll be sad missing Holi, though. It's my absolute favourite among the Holidays in our calendar.

Manoj Bajpai: "I don't celebrate Holi. I hate being dirty with colour and mud."

Riya Sen: "I'm not sure I'll be playing Holi or not. It'd depend on my mood."

Koena Mitra: "I haven't played Holi during the last few years. This year I might go for a Holi bash being hosted by a dear friend. Since it's inside the house and only close friends are invited it'd be safe. I'll therefore go."

Amrita Arora: "I'll be at home on holi. Who wants to step out?" Celina Jaitley: "I'm shooting on the day before Holi, so no masti. But I'll definitely put gulaal on my buddies

Ravi Kissan: "Arrey bhaiya, making bhang with my own hands and giving it to friends. That's my pleasure for Holi that no one can take away."

Anuraag Sinha: "This is my first Holi right after the release of my first film Black & White. I'm going to freak out with friends and family

Mahesh Bhatt: "22nd March happens to be the day my friend and mentor U.G Krishnamurthy died. I don't play Holi. I'm going to Bangalore to release a book of mine that's been translated into Kannada.

Jiah Khan: "I'm shooting, and I can't play Holi. I'd have loved to get splashed in colour! Holi is one of the most beautiful festivals of our country and it symbolizes our zest for fun.

Aryan Vaid: "I'm not a big fan of Holi I'll be in Pune with friends, considering it's a long weekend.

Subash K.Jha

Kareena, Ajay Devgan… up the temperatures

It was a huge set in Filmistan. Malls, restaurants and fancy salons were made to order to give a very Goan feel to the ambience. Expensive cars and hi-tech mean machines were parked alongside the bricked pavement. Credit of the magnanimity of it all ought to be given to art director Naren Raodekar.

And then appeared the cowgirls – Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora – and the cowboys – Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi and Shreyas Talpade. While Bebo wore a mini-skirt, white shirt, hat and boots, Amu was more covered.

The song that was being shot was titled Tha Karke , and choreographed by Ganesh Acharya. The music of this film has been composed by Pritam. Director Rohit Shetty informed us, "We are shooting here till March 5. Then we go to South Africa in April to shoot one more song. The film will see a July-August release.

Actor Ajay Devgan was most tense because he had to dance and dancing is just not his cup of tea. But the rest of the cast seemed to be enjoying themselves on the foot tapping number. "This is a dream sequence, it's an imaginary, fantasy song" Amrita informs us.

Bebo on the other hand was looking hot in her micro-mini skirt. Ask her if she is still on her strict diet and she says, "No, I've been eating everything. But I do workout still."

The happiest of the lot however, was Shreyas Talpade who seems to have got along with the 'gang' pretty well. "It's a fun atmosphere. I'm lucky to have bagged this entertainer."

It was one hot day at Filmcity, and we returned to write this piece tha karke .

Image Courtesy: Indiatimes Movies | Source: Indiatimes Movies

Huge surprise in store for Tusshar Kapoor

Visit to the 'Each One Teach One Charitable Foundation' programme, which runs for municipal Schools had huge surprise in store for Tusshar Kapoor. The children from this foundation wished to see him and to fulfill their wish Tusshar immediately took out time from his busy schedule and went across to meet with his little ardent fans. These Mentally disabled children with the help of the teaching committee organized and surprised Tusshar with a surprise birthday party. The classroom was decorated with colored steamers and drawings, the children put up an act, enacted his character, sang songs from his last film GOLMAAL and even cut their favorite chocolate cake with him.

On seeing this Tusshar was extremely touched and overwhelmed, as he had no idea of the pre birthday party awaiting him. On asking, Tusshar says "I was surprised at the warm gesture of the children and had no idea of the party, these children being full of life in spite of facing social and economic discrimination due to their mentally challenged conditions. I am thankful to them for the lovely things they did for me and am glad that I was able to bring about smiles on their faces and make this day equally special for them, like they did for me."