No controversy for Chitrangada
![Glamourous: Chitrangada Singh]( "Glamourous: Chitrangada Singh")
Shirish Kunder's 'Joker' has been creating ripples for one main reason — Chitrangada Singh's racy item number Kafirana.
However, the actress is quick to clarify that she hasn't been trying to change her image through this song.
"I am not trying to change my image or to fit in. I am just trying to do something out of the box. It is a chance and risk that you take," Chitrangada says. Known for portraying serious roles, the 36-year-old surprised audiences when she first opted for a glamorous role in Desi Boyz.
"Sometimes, you may just fall flat on your face. But I think it is worth taking a risk to see what you can do and what you can't," the dusky beauty adds.
She also admits that she had never pictured herself doing an item song. "I had never thought I would ever do an item song as such and that this would ever happen to me. I think songs and dances has always been an integral part of our films. And Indians enjoy it a lot," she explains.
For this item number in particular, she recalls taking inspiration from Madhuri Dixit, saying, "Madhuri is the item girl I look up to. My whole reference point for this song is Madhuri.
When I was getting ready for the song, I was very excited — but when I reached the sets and saw the scale at which they were going to shoot it, I got nervous. But overall, it was overwhelming."
"I have realised the most important thing in such songs is the face and the emotions conveyed. Then, of course, the steps and movement of the body are important," she notes.
The song has been choreographed by Shirish's wife and ace choreographer Farah Khan. "The easy part was that Farah was choreographing me. But I did injure my knee very badly, I was on painkillers, it got swollen. Farah took care of that and somehow, she changed steps," she recalls.
The song originally included the words fakht you', which in Marathi means 'only you'. However, this was later translated to English.
"To save the controversy, they changed the word. The clothes that I am wearing are Marathi, there were some lines which were in Marathi and there was fakht (which means 'only'), to which some people took offence," Chitrangada says.
Immune to idle gossip
Bollywood's first family — none other than the Bachchans — is under constant scrutiny and subject of some new rumour or the other practically every single day.
But Abhishek Bachchan believes it's better to keep mum about these so-called scandals, rather than making an attempt to clarify things.
"What is the use of clarifying things? The media will write what they want to. They write something and then I react — I don't see any point in that," Abhishek insists, adding, "I don't think people even care what I think, that is why I don't say much."
A change for the better
So far, choreographer and director Farah Khan never had a problem with her weight, despite being rather on the plump side.
But after watching herself in her acting debut Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, she has become health conscious.
"When I was doing the film, I was around 82 kilograms. I didn't realise that it is important for me to look glamorous. But when I saw the movie, I realised that I was looking so fat. Then I decided I need to lose some weight," Farah says.
Farah plays a 40-plus Parsi woman in the movie, directed by Bela Sehgal. She is paired opposite Boman Irani in the flick.
'I spend time with my mom'
His marriage plans have always drawn public interest — but for now, Bollywood actor John Abraham says he has no clue about his marriage.
The 39-year-old, who is said to be dating investment banker Priya Runchal, says his free time is best utilised when he is with his family.
Asked when he is extending that family, John replies, "You know, honestly, I really don't know! But I like to spend a lot of time with my family. In this hustle and bustle of trying to reach somewhere, that's the best thing. We are all family people at the end of the
day."
He adds, "All of us like to go back to our parents, so I spend time with my mom and dad because they are the most important people in my life."
He previously dated Bipasha Basu for several years but for some reason, the two didn't tie the knot.
The vast potential of 3D
Acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan believes that film-makers are yet to realise the full potential of the three-dimensional format.
While there have been a few Bollywood 3D films, such as Ra.One, he thinks that the potential of this format is largely untapped by Indian producers and directors.
His latest film, 'Life of Pi' — which is touted to be Ang Lee's magnum opus — has been made in 3D and Irrfan believes that the format has been used extraordinary well in this movie.
"Life of Pi' is a very difficult film. It is based on a very complicated, interesting and intelligent book (of the same name). Ang Lee has done 3D for the first time and this is a new baby, who is still growing up," Irrfan observes, adding, "We (Indian film-makers) don't know the potential of 3D yet. It is untapped.".
Irrfan, whose work in 'Paan Singh Tomar' was widely appreciated, plays a grown-up Pi, the lead character, who gets stuck on a boat with a Bengal tiger in Lee's movie.
The younger Pi is essayed by Indian child actor Suraj Sharma, who has no previous acting experience.
Popular duo back on screen
Nausheen Sardar Ali and Anuj Saxena, who became popular after playing a couple in the 2001 television soap Kkusum, team up again to host 'Crimes of Passion', a show about crime against women.
"It is based on crime against women and it's a daily show. It will come from Monday to Thursday at the prime time 9 pm slot. 99 per cent of the stories will be based on real life incidents," explains Anuj.
"Nausheen and I will be hosting the show. We both basically open the show and end the show summarising the problems.
We have targeted Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. The show will educate the audiences, advise them... it's a drama plus social cause," he adds.
Nausheen and Anuj, who have already won millions of hearts, are ready to strike a new chord with the audiences with this show, which will air on Big TV.
Anuj is not perturbed by the competition and says that there might be a lot of crime shows on small screen, but the USP of this show will be the women-centric stories.
Talking about his chemistry with his co-star, Anuj says that their brand value is definitely intact.
"People still recall us as Abhay and Kkusum, so that brand value still exists," he explains.
Nausheen too feels that people still want to see them together and adds.
"Anuj and I are like family. We share a good comfort level and it reflects on screen. People still want to see both of us together, which is a good thing."
Shirish Kunder's 'Joker' has been creating ripples for one main reason — Chitrangada Singh's racy item number Kafirana. However, the actress is quick to clarify that she hasn't been trying to change her image through this song.
"I am not trying to change my image or to fit in. I am just trying to do something out of the box. It is a chance and risk that you take," Chitrangada says. Known for portraying serious roles, the 36-year-old surprised audiences when she first opted for a glamorous role in Desi Boyz.
"Sometimes, you may just fall flat on your face. But I think it is worth taking a risk to see what you can do and what you can't," the dusky beauty adds.
She also admits that she had never pictured herself doing an item song. "I had never thought I would ever do an item song as such and that this would ever happen to me. I think songs and dances has always been an integral part of our films. And Indians enjoy it a lot," she explains.
For this item number in particular, she recalls taking inspiration from Madhuri Dixit, saying, "Madhuri is the item girl I look up to. My whole reference point for this song is Madhuri.
When I was getting ready for the song, I was very excited — but when I reached the sets and saw the scale at which they were going to shoot it, I got nervous. But overall, it was overwhelming."
"I have realised the most important thing in such songs is the face and the emotions conveyed. Then, of course, the steps and movement of the body are important," she notes.
The song has been choreographed by Shirish's wife and ace choreographer Farah Khan. "The easy part was that Farah was choreographing me. But I did injure my knee very badly, I was on painkillers, it got swollen. Farah took care of that and somehow, she changed steps," she recalls.
The song originally included the words fakht you', which in Marathi means 'only you'. However, this was later translated to English.
"To save the controversy, they changed the word. The clothes that I am wearing are Marathi, there were some lines which were in Marathi and there was fakht (which means 'only'), to which some people took offence," Chitrangada says.
Immune to idle gossip
Bollywood's first family — none other than the Bachchans — is under constant scrutiny and subject of some new rumour or the other practically every single day.
But Abhishek Bachchan believes it's better to keep mum about these so-called scandals, rather than making an attempt to clarify things.
"What is the use of clarifying things? The media will write what they want to. They write something and then I react — I don't see any point in that," Abhishek insists, adding, "I don't think people even care what I think, that is why I don't say much."
A change for the better
So far, choreographer and director Farah Khan never had a problem with her weight, despite being rather on the plump side.
But after watching herself in her acting debut Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi, she has become health conscious.
"When I was doing the film, I was around 82 kilograms. I didn't realise that it is important for me to look glamorous. But when I saw the movie, I realised that I was looking so fat. Then I decided I need to lose some weight," Farah says.
Farah plays a 40-plus Parsi woman in the movie, directed by Bela Sehgal. She is paired opposite Boman Irani in the flick.
'I spend time with my mom'
His marriage plans have always drawn public interest — but for now, Bollywood actor John Abraham says he has no clue about his marriage.
The 39-year-old, who is said to be dating investment banker Priya Runchal, says his free time is best utilised when he is with his family.
Asked when he is extending that family, John replies, "You know, honestly, I really don't know! But I like to spend a lot of time with my family. In this hustle and bustle of trying to reach somewhere, that's the best thing. We are all family people at the end of the
day."
He adds, "All of us like to go back to our parents, so I spend time with my mom and dad because they are the most important people in my life."
He previously dated Bipasha Basu for several years but for some reason, the two didn't tie the knot.
The vast potential of 3D
Acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan believes that film-makers are yet to realise the full potential of the three-dimensional format.
While there have been a few Bollywood 3D films, such as Ra.One, he thinks that the potential of this format is largely untapped by Indian producers and directors.
His latest film, 'Life of Pi' — which is touted to be Ang Lee's magnum opus — has been made in 3D and Irrfan believes that the format has been used extraordinary well in this movie.
"Life of Pi' is a very difficult film. It is based on a very complicated, interesting and intelligent book (of the same name). Ang Lee has done 3D for the first time and this is a new baby, who is still growing up," Irrfan observes, adding, "We (Indian film-makers) don't know the potential of 3D yet. It is untapped.".
Irrfan, whose work in 'Paan Singh Tomar' was widely appreciated, plays a grown-up Pi, the lead character, who gets stuck on a boat with a Bengal tiger in Lee's movie.
The younger Pi is essayed by Indian child actor Suraj Sharma, who has no previous acting experience.
Popular duo back on screen
Nausheen Sardar Ali and Anuj Saxena, who became popular after playing a couple in the 2001 television soap Kkusum, team up again to host 'Crimes of Passion', a show about crime against women.
"It is based on crime against women and it's a daily show. It will come from Monday to Thursday at the prime time 9 pm slot. 99 per cent of the stories will be based on real life incidents," explains Anuj.
"Nausheen and I will be hosting the show. We both basically open the show and end the show summarising the problems.
We have targeted Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand. The show will educate the audiences, advise them... it's a drama plus social cause," he adds.
Nausheen and Anuj, who have already won millions of hearts, are ready to strike a new chord with the audiences with this show, which will air on Big TV.
Anuj is not perturbed by the competition and says that there might be a lot of crime shows on small screen, but the USP of this show will be the women-centric stories.
Talking about his chemistry with his co-star, Anuj says that their brand value is definitely intact.
"People still recall us as Abhay and Kkusum, so that brand value still exists," he explains.
Nausheen too feels that people still want to see them together and adds.
"Anuj and I are like family. We share a good comfort level and it reflects on screen. People still want to see both of us together, which is a good thing."