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Category: Movies

  • Hugh Jackman quits the Houdini Broadway project

    Hugh Jackman quits the Houdini Broadway project

    MUMBAI: Actor Hugh Jackman has apparently quit the upcoming Broadway musical Harry Houdini. The actor, who won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for The Boy from Oz, was associated with Houdini since last two years and was supposed to portray the title role of the illusionist and escape artist, Houdini.

     

    However, he pulled out of the musical because of his scheduling demands commit to the time this role will require. The actor in a statement announced that he has tremendous respect and admiration for the creative team and wished everyone the best. He also said that the team is on its way to make something extraordinary.

     

    The producers of the as-yet-unscheduled show announced in January 2012 about the association of Jackman. The actor reportedly had been involved unofficially before this. Houdini has gone through several personnel changes since first being announced in 2008 with a planned 2010 premiere. Film composer Danny Elfman was originally announced to do the music, with lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Kurt Andersen. Jack O’Brien has remained as director, though Stephen Schwartz is now composing the songs, while David Ives provides the book. Aaron Sorkin had been attached as writer in 2012 when Jackman was announced.

  • ‘Heropanti’ shoot commences in Mumbai

    ‘Heropanti’ shoot commences in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti, which stars Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, has begun shooting for its Mumbai schedule. The movie which shot its first schedule in Chandigarh and Patiala extensively, finished their shoot in Delhi recently.

     

    Jackie Shroff’s son, Tiger Shroff, who is making his Bollywood debut in Heropanti, will be seen doing adrenaline-filled action scenes in the movie. The young actor is paired opposite model- Kriti Sanon- in the action-romance film. Video clips of Tiger training for the film show him doing gravity defying stunts and acrobatics for which he trained rigorously with his trainers. After Mumbai, Heropanti is expected to move on to its next schedule in Kashmir.

     

     

    Directed by Sabbir Khan, the film is an action-romance and is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandsons Entertainment Pvt Ltd. It is slated to release on 16 May, 2014.

  • Dilip Kumar’s unreleased film to hit the theatres soon

    Dilip Kumar’s unreleased film to hit the theatres soon

    MUMBAI: The first superstar of Indian cinema may soon be making a comeback to the big screen. Yes, we are talking about Dilip Kumar, one of whose unreleased film from the 1990s is set for a theatrical release.

    According to reports, Aag Ka Dariya starring Dilip Kumar and directed by VS Rajender Babu will be released sometime in Januray 2014. The reports confirm that the film didn’t see the light of the day earlier because of a financial dispute and also because the original print of the film was badly damaged in the intervening years. But Babu recently discovered a “perfect print” of the film with a distributor in Singapore and was surprised to find it that it was kept so carefully.

     

    If the film releases, it may be considered 91-year-old Kumar’s last film. Interestingly, the film also stars actress Rekha.

  • AP names Jennifer Lawrence ‘Entertainer of the Year’

    AP names Jennifer Lawrence ‘Entertainer of the Year’

    MUMBAI: The battle for the Associated Press (AP) entertainer of the year came down to the Girl on Fire and the Queen of Twerk.

    Jennifer Lawrence edged out Miley Cyrus by one vote in the Associated Press annual survey of its newspaper and broadcast members and subscribers for “Entertainer of the Year”.

    There were 70 ballots submitted by US editors and news directors. Voters were asked to consider who was the most influential on entertainment and cultural front in 2013. Lawrence won 15 votes, Cyrus had 14, Netflix was a close third, earning 13 votes for altering the TV landscape with its on-demand format and hit original series.

    However, Lawrence, who started the year with an Academy Award for best actress, hit it big all through the year first with The Hunger Games Catching Fire and wrapped 2013 with a critically acclaimed performance in David O. Russell’s American Hustle that has just earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.

    Lawrence was a favourite of many because of her diverse roles as well as her  Academy Award for Best Actress. She has since been nominated for both a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for American Hustle.

    The second in the list – Miley Cyrus also made headlines in 2013, but for many different reasons. She made her first splash in August  during the MTV Video Music Awards, but kept her twerking ways for the rest of the year. Cyrus later smoked pot onstage in Europe, continued to undress in many different situations and went through a very public break up with fiancé Liam Hemsworth.

    She also made fashion headlines with her pixie haircut.

  • Kareena Kapoor to act in a Pak TVC

    Kareena Kapoor to act in a Pak TVC

    NEW DELHI: Actor Kareena Kapoor will be seen in a Pakistani television commercial to promote QMobile’s Noir series. The smartphone targets a high end market and competes with brands like Samsung, Nokia and HTC.

     

    Recently, QMobile introduced android powered Z3 and Z4 in the local market at a price range over PKR 30,000 boasting huge specifications, according to Pakistan‘s More Magazine. 

    Kapoor who flew to Bangkok for the TVC, is charging more than PKR 50 million for the project. The mobile company had brought a specialised production team from New York for it.

     

    QMobile CEO Mian Zeeshan Akhter said, “Being a Pakistan mobile phone company, QMobile has always set a benchmark when it comes to the introduction of technology in Pakistan. We also feel proud to take our commitment to next level by endorsing our brand with globally famed figures”. 

     

    Not only TVCs but Kareena will find prominent place on mega signboards and print material all over the country, an official of the company confirmed.

  • Harry Potter 3 director gets VES Visionary award

    Harry Potter 3 director gets VES Visionary award

    Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s professional honorary society, named acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron as the recipient of its Visionary Award in recognition of his extraordinary career including his landmark achievement on this year’s hugely acclaimed Gravity.

     

    The award will be presented to him at the 12th Annual VES Awards on 12 February, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

     

    The VES Visionary Award, bestowed by the VES Board of Directors, recognises an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of visual effects to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work. VES will honor Cuaron for his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound ability to use and pioneer technology and visual effects to bring his unique visions to life.

     

    A three-time Oscar nominee, Cuaron directed, co-wrote, produced and edited the drama Gravity, which is one of the most acclaimed films of this. The accolades that Cuaron and the film have received to date include: Best Director and Best Picture awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress (Sandra Bullock); and ten Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Art Direction.

     

    Cuaron made his feature film directorial debut in 1992 with Solo Con Tu Pareja, the biggest box office hit in Mexico that year, which brought him an Ariel Award as the film’s co-writer. Cuaron made his American feature film debut in 1995 with the widely acclaimed A Little Princess, followed by Great Expectations in 1998. He then wrote and directed Y Tu Mama Tambien for which he received his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay as well as BAFTA Award nominations for Best Foreign Film and Best Original Screenplay. He went on to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the most successful motion picture franchise of all time. Cuaron’s 2006 hit, Children of Men was celebrated by critics and film fans for its groundbreaking techniques. The film brought two Oscar nominations to Cuaron, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.

     

    “Alfonso pushes the known boundaries of filmmaking,” VES Board Chair Jeffrey A. Okun said in a release. “He has been at the forefront in using visual effects to tell remarkable, highly nuanced stories that change the way we think about what is possible to achieve. Throughout his career, Alfonso has shown a rare talent for using cutting-edge technology to engage us in his deeply visceral storytelling and create unforgettable cinematic experiences.”
    Earlier, Christopher Nolan and Ang Lee have won the VES Visionary Award.

  • Celebrate Christmas with a new Dhoom song

    Celebrate Christmas with a new Dhoom song

    MUMBAI: In another innovative first, Yash Raj Films’ will be releasing a tub-thumping new version of their iconic Dhoom Machaale anthem song by actor, singer, dancer, theatre producer – Saba Azad. The song is backed by a cool new music video that features a video montage from all the three Dhoom series. So in a first, viewers will get to see Aamir, Katrina, Hrithik, Aishwarya, John, Bipasha, Abhishek and Uday together in one video.

     

    Saba says, “I’m super excited to take a crack at such a huge hit that amazing singers like Sunidhi and Vishal Dadlani have sung before, it’s a privilege to feature in the video alongside Bollywood’s biggest names.”

     

    Caratlane.com VP, offline marketing, Calvin John, says, “We are constantly seeking innovative opportunities of integrating CaratLane.com seamlessly within content, that has wide reach across TV & Digital mediums, is engaging and has immense potential of being viral. The Dhoom anthem provides us with that innovative window of showcasing the brand seamlessly within the song. This association with YRF gives us an opportunity to showcase what CaratLane.com has to offer for urban Indian women – Chic Jewellery along with its pioneering new way to shop – ‘Try at Home’, apart from leveraging its most successful movie franchise.”

     

    Yash Raj Films VP Ashish Patil adds, “At YRF, we’ve always believed in going beyond the brief with our brand partners to create high impact quality content that connects with audiences and adds value back to the brand. We’re quite excited about this crunchy new version of the iconic Dhoom anthem by one of our most talented artistes, Saba Azad. And it’s a pleasure to partner with Caratlane.com as both the brand & their products are a magic fit for this kick-ass new video. It’s sure to machao some serious Dhoom!”

    The funky new version of the song has been composed by Raghav Sachar, who plays over 32 different musical instruments. The mash-up is a great mix of R&B, whistle tones, rap and a fresh new interpretation of the chartbuster. The video has been directed by Adil Shaikh, known for his choreography of some of the biggest hits right from Bachna Ae Haseeno to Go Goa Gone.

     

    Yash Raj Films had earlier also promoted the film’s anthem soon after the release of the first film in the franchise with famous Thai singer, Tata Young back in 2004. The song Dhoom Dhoom was the singer’s most successful single ever in India. It was a major hit, reaching number one for several weeks to months in many Asian countries music charts. It was number one in various countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries starting from August 2004 to as far as late as 2005.

     

    The Dhoom Anthem premieres exclusively on YRF’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, 24 December ensuring that everyone has Dhoom at Christmas!

  • Release of ‘Fast and Furious 7’ postponed until April, 2015

    Release of ‘Fast and Furious 7’ postponed until April, 2015

    MUMBAI: Vin Diesel, the star of the Fast & the Furious film series has announced a final release date for the last installment of the famous movie franchise.

     

    The untimely death of Paul Walker not only shocked fans all over the world, but it halted the final stretch in making the 7th installment of Fast and the Furious. As a tribute to Walker’s life, the makers decided to finish the film, and his co-star Vin Diesel has announced on his Facebook page that the movie will be released in April in 2015.

     

    “The last scene we filmed together…There was a unique sense of completion, of pride we shared… in the film we were now completing… the magic captured… and, in just how far we’ve come… Fast and Furious 7 will be released…April 10th 2015!” wrote Diesel with a photo showing him alongside Walker.

     

    Diesel concluded the post saying “P.s. He’d want you to know first.”

    Universal Pictures has confirmed the April 10 release date with E! News, and mentioned that 60 per cent of the film has been already shot before Walker’s death.

     

    The famous actor died in a fatal car accident on November 30 in East Los Angeles. Walker was on the passenger seat of a Porsche Carrera GT driven by friend, Roger Rodas, who also died in the scene. According to investigators leading the case, there was no mechanical issue involved in the accident, and that it was a result of solely too much speed.

     

    Immediately after Walker’s death, Universal released a statement saying that they will stop all movements in relation to the filming of Fast & Furious 7, to pay respect to the friends and relatives of the late actor, as well as to give support to the crew and filmmakers.

     

    However, the studio did say that “all options available to move forward with the franchise,” according to a report by E! Online. There are no final statements or press releases regarding on how the film will unravel its plot without its main character, Brian O’Connor, played by the late Paul Walker.

  • ‘Dhoom 3’ enters 100 crore club within three days: BO

    ‘Dhoom 3’ enters 100 crore club within three days: BO

    MUMBAI: Coming at the end of 2013, Dhoom3 has proved to be the biggest genuine blockbuster of the year doing equally well in Hindi version in India as well as overseas and also doing well in its dubbed Tamil-Telugu versions. The film has achieved the rare honour of crossing the 100 crore collection mark in its opening weekend. The film has also earned the distinction of maintaining 30+ crore collections on all three days without a single extra holiday. The film collected 100.76 crore for the first weekend from Hindi screens (6.85 crore from Tamil and Telugu) setting a new benchmark for an opening weekend. The collections are reported to be very steady today (Monday) all over. For a change, exhibitors, especially the single screen managements, are happy with the film.

     

    Surprisingly enough, R…. Rajkumar has done reasonably well in its second week in the absence of any opposition by collecting 16.2 crore and taking its two week tally to 58.5 crore.

     

    Jackpot, however, remains on the lower side with collection figures of 4.7 crore in its first week.

     

    Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela has added 2.1 crore in its fifth week to take its five week total to 105.25 crore.

     

    What The Fish is poor with collection of 75 lakh in its first week.

     

    Bullet Raja has collected 30 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to 32.6 crore.

  • India’s The Good Road out of the Oscar race

    India’s The Good Road out of the Oscar race

    MUMBAI: Gyan Correa’s much publicised The Good Road is out of the race for the Foreign Language Oscars. Nine features will advance to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 86th Academy Awards. Seventy-six films had originally been considered in the category.

     

    Even earlier, The Good Road, Correa’s directorial debut that intertwines three stories in the hostile and remote Kutch in Gujarat, had a bumpy ride – when it invited the wrath of The Lunch Box team, which felt that Correa’s work stood little chance at the Oscars.

     

    The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Belgium, The Broken Circle Breakdown, Felix van Groeningen, director; Bosnia and Herzegovina, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Danis Tanovic, director; Cambodia, The Missing Picture, Rithy Panh, director; Denmark, The Hunt, Thomas Vinterberg, director; Germany, Two Lives, Georg Maas, director; Hong Kong, The Grandmaster, Wong Kar-wai, director; Hungary, The Notebook, Janos Szasz, director; Italy, The Great Beauty, Paolo Sorrentino, director; Palestine, Omar, Hany Abu-Assad, director.

     

    Foreign Language Film nominations for 2013 are being determined in two phases. The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based Academy members, screened the original submissions in the category between mid-October and December 16. The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist. The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five nominees by specially invited committees in New York and Los Angeles.  They will spend 10 January to 12 January viewing three films each day and then casting their ballots.

     

    The 86th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on16 January, 2014, Thursday in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.