ITV

Tag: Juhi Chawla

  • Sony seeks ‘Pal’ in housewives

    Sony seeks ‘Pal’ in housewives

    MUMBAI: “I will be seeking the moon,” says Multi Screen Media CEO NP Singh, as he announced the launch of the network’s much talked about new Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), Sony Pal. The network which had conceptualised the new channel last year is very confident about the channel, its offerings and the packaging. “Now we will see how viewers respond to it,” adds the optimistic Singh.

     

    Targeted at women, mostly housewives, in the age group of 15-34 years, in SEC BCDE, Sony Pal was a dream for Singh, which is now finally taking shape. The target audience was chosen after the result of the research which showed that 88 per cent of viewership for a GEC comes from housewives. “The new channel will complement our other offerings,” he says.    

     

    “Today’s women have started realising that they can not only contribute to the society, but also augment family income. Through Pal, we will celebrate these women,” says Singh.

     

    The network did an extensive research before deciding on the content, the channel packaging and the target audience. “Our research showed that there was latent demand for a content which was progressive and positive,” he informs.

     

    The channel is based on the theme ‘Yeh Pal Humara Hai’. “This is the moment to shine, to evolve, to excel and achieve. This moment belongs to her and her alone,” says Sony Pal and Sab senior EVP and business head Anooj Kapoor while adding that this is not a generic promise, but a personalised one.

     

    The channel will go live from 1 September, with actor Juhi Chawla as its brand ambassador and with content which is empowering and that showcases positive aspects of modern India, while presenting the traditional aspect. “We will showcase family togetherness and not strife, which is what most channels today showcase,” adds Kapoor.

     

    When asked the reason for roping in Chawla, the duo say, “She is a person who is empowered, successful and yet approachable. She was the first name that came to us, and we stuck with her.”

     

    The channel logo, which dons colours pink, purple and yellow and has diamonds, a woman’s best friend, has been designed by an Australian agency.

     

    Sony Pal for Kapoor is mature and the shows will help connect the audience with a life that is beautiful and not a struggle. The channel will initially go on air with three hours of original content, which will be aired from Monday to Saturday between 7:30 pm-10:30 pm. Also, it will have two hours of original programming on Sunday evening. “After a month, we will launch the Balaji Telefilms’ show at the 7pm slot, thus taking original content to 3.5 hours,” informs Kapoor. The slot for the Sunday programming has not yet been disclosed.

     

    The channel launches with nine shows, these include: Simply Baatein which is produced by GR8 Entertainment and  anchored by Raveena Tandon, Dil Hain Chotasa Choti Si Asha, produced by SOL Productions and hosted by Ragini Khanna and Jay Soni, Shashi Productions’ Ek Rishta Aisa Bhi, Miloni Films’ Khushiyon Ki Gullakh Aashi¸ Singhasan Battisi by Creative Eye, Pia Basanti Re by Rashmi Sharma and Pawan Kuma, Tum Sath Ho Jab Apne produced by Sphere Origins, Sister Didi by DJ’s Creative Unit and Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hain by Balaji Telefilms.

     

    All the series are infinite and the channel will take a call on the number of episodes based on its performance. While no advertisers have currently come onboard, the network is positive about its content. “We have showcased our product to them and they have responded positively. They first want to see the shows and the channel and then decide. And we are in no hurry too,” says Singh.

     

    The channel will look at afternoon slots later. “There is a lot of ground to be covered. This is just the beginning,” adds Kapoor. The shows while initially will be shot at outdoor locations of Patiala, Baroda, Lucknow and other HSM cities, will later move to sets.

     

    The soon-to-go air channel is not free to air and will be available on all the four major multi system operators, DEN Networks, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Siti Cable, Digicable and Fastway in Punjab and all the direct to home (DTH) operators.

     

    On the marketing front, a 360 degree campaign has been designed, which will go live from 10 August. “We have designed a five week campaign with a lot of fresh initiative. One of this is forming women’s club, through which women can identify their talent and can celebrate life,” informs Kapoor.

     

    Manjit Sachdev will be the programming head for the new launch. According to an industry source, the investment in the channel could be anywhere close to Rs 90 crore- Rs 110 crore, including marketing spends. As for the ad rates, a media planner says, “Considering all the shows have been brought in the prime time slot, the ad rate for a 10 second slot could be anywhere close to Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.”

  • ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ to be released on 8 August

    ‘The Hundred-Foot Journey’ to be released on 8 August

    NEW DELHI: The Hundred-Foot Journey directed by Lasse Halstrom, a film about the adventures across the world of a young Muslim who flees Mumbai along with his family after a riot, is set for release in Hollywood on 8 August.

     

    Co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey is based on the 2010 book of the same name authored by Richard C. Morais. The film has Manish Dayal in his debut role as a lead actor. The film also stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri and Juhi Chawla.

     

    Dayal plays Hassan Haji, whose family ends up in southern France after a stint in England. Haji is a chef cooking at his family-run, Indian eatery ‘Maison Mumbai,’ an establishment his father, played by Puri, opens a hundred feet away and across from a Michelin-starred French restaurant helmed by the snooty Madame Mallory, played by Mirren.

     

    A grand culinary battle ensues until Haji’s young cooking ingénue shows her the possibilities for weaving their two culinary traditions together. Haji, a gifted cook who’s fascinated with French culinary tradition, falls for Marguerite, played by Charlotte Le Bon, Madame’s sous chef.

     

    Dayal was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, as Manish Sudhir Patel. He attended George Washington University and after graduation, studied acting at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (formerly The School for Film and Television) in New York City.

     

    The 31-year-old actor now shuttles between New York and Los Angeles.

     

    Speaking to the United Kingdom’s The Gaurdian, Dayal who has a southern accent said he had to first deliver his lines for the film in an Indian accent, transitioning to an Indian learning to speak French, and finally to that of a long-time French resident.

     

    He also took French cooking lessons to prepare for his role. But the actor is no stranger to cooking, as he says it was an important part of growing up in his Gujarati family.

     

    “I think that more movies about South Asian diaspora are going to result from this partnership,” he told the paper. Dayal says he was not a huge fan of Bollywood while growing up, but is open to Indian cinema minus the song and dance. He is best-known for playing the role of Raj Kher in the hit television series 90210, and also appeared in films like The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010), Walkaway (2010) and Breaking the Girls (2013).

     

    Prior to actual filming, Dayal and Le Bon also spent a considerable amount of time going to restaurants and observing and learning in kitchens. To sign off on the food featured in the film, producer Juliet Blake consulted an Indian-born chef Floyd Cardoz who has made a name for himself in the culinary world with fusion cuisine.

     

    The film produced by DreamWorks in which India’s Reliance Entertainment is an investor, is the latest among Hollywood films in recent years that have told Indian stories including ‘The Namesake’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, ‘Life of Pi’, ‘Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ and the latest ‘Million Dollar Arm.’

     

    Variety magazine, in its review of the film says “The Hundred-Foot Journey is a “genteel, overlong adaptation of Richard C. Morais’ 2010 novel about two rival restaurants operating in a sleepy French village,” accentuated by “a high-energy score by A.R. Rahman, exquisite gastro-porn shot by Linus Sandgren, the winningly barbed chemistry of Mirren and Puri.

     

    “With the formidable backing of producers Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey, the DreamWorks concoction should cater to a broad array of art-house appetites, particularly among those viewers who embraced the similar East-meets-West fusion cuisine of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” the magazine says.

     

    Calling the film “chicken tikka masala for the soul,” The Hollywood Reporter in its review, says “The Hundred-Foot Journey” is a movie designed to comfort. “Stimulating taste buds and little else, Lasse Hallstrom’s latest film picks up where his 2000 hit ‘Chocolat’ left off, in terms of the affectionate shaming of provincial Gallic villagers,” the review says. “Top lining Helen Mirren and Om Puri as rival restaurateurs in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France, the film tracks a tension-free lesson in cultural exchange that culminates, predictably, in romance,” it adds.

     

    “But the main course is the dance between Madame Mallory and Papa, however transparent the clash between her carefully composed plates and his bold flavors. Whether they’re filing ridiculous complaints about each other to the unflappable mayor (Michel Blanc), arguing over the proper presentation of ingredients or sharing a cafe table, Mirren and Puri bring an effortless command to their roles.”

  • Gulaab Gang: Colourless

    Gulaab Gang: Colourless

    MUMBAI: There are a whole lot of enthusiastic new filmmakers who want to be launched and they are often impressed by a local story, episode or a character that they think, it is a subject apt for a film. But biopics are not accepted in India generally. Even a film like Gandhi only just managed to scrape through. The others, whether on Nehru, Bose, Patel or Ambedkar have been box office disasters.

    The story of Gulaab Gang emanates from a real-life UP character, Sampat Pal Devi, who commandeers a gang of women adorned in pink saris. The gang’s agenda is to get justice for the poor ill-treated women of the area. The makers deny that the story is based on the life of Sampat Pal Devi and even run a slide at the beginning to the effect, but the similarities of not only the basic concept but even the events and incidents are the kinds Devi dealt with. In which case, coincidences to a real life character abound in this film.

    Madhuri Dixit is beaten black and blue by her step mother even as her father looks on. But she is determined to learn to read and write. Next thing you know, Madhuri has suddenly turned into a middle-aged woman who runs this gang-cum-NGO described as Gulaab Gang. Her campus looks like one from a Bruce Lee Kung Fu film teaching a bunch of Chinese students the art of self-defence, except that here there are pink-sari-clad women trying their hands on lathi wielding.

    Producer:  Anubhav Sinha.

    Director: Soumik Sen.

    Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose, Divya Jagdale.

    In a poorly conceived script, nobody seems to care for Madhuri and her pink brigade or seems oblivious of it because the crimes against women abound in her region! Her reputation is not enough; every time, she has to demonstrate the power of her lathi brigade! After a couple of demos to establish the might of Gulaab Gang, the routine sets in. The film proceeds to show the same politicians vs police vs ordinary citizen saga which finds its roots in post emergency antiestablishment era of filmmaking.

    It is time to pit Madhuri against her bete noire, Juhi Chawla. She is an overambitious widow of a politician with dubious credentials. She is a well established leader doing very well for herself and her party. Yet she decides to cross swords with Madhuri for no apparent reason. It is only one of the incidents of several for which there is no explanation. Things happen with no reason. The film loses its viewer every few minutes.

    While Madhuri and Juhi are pitted against each other for nothing, the usual caricatures hanging around a politician and well-meaning Taus hanging around Madhuri abound.

    Except for using real life incidents from Sampat’s life, the film has nothing original to offer.  These incidents, which needed to be cemented together to make this into an interesting narration is grossly missing. The direction is shoddy when not amateur; the director has no clue as to his medium or the theme. Dialogue is poor. Editing could have worked to halve the film’s length. The use of music is pretentious with little relevance. Madhuri tries to portray a combination of Santokben Jadeja (Vinay Shukla’s Godmother) and Dhankor Ba (Supriya Pathak in Ram Leela); what is she, a social worker or a don? Juhi is a poor version of her former self.

    Gulaab Gang is an arduous watch; a punishment to sit through.

    Queen: Marry Go Round

    Queen is a coming of age movie. While we keep making the odd coming-of-age hero-oriented film now and then, their scripts remain half-baked. Queen is about a girl on the verge of her marriage who gets a second chance to see the world and come out of her cocoon.

    Kangana Ranaut is Rani and her boyfriend has dubbed her queen. Kangana is from a traditional Punjabi halwai family leading a disciplined life. She is the obedient, home-to-college/college-to-home type. Rajkummar Rao, the son of a family friend, is besotted with her simple beauty and starts chasing her. Since the families know each other, a marriage date is soon fixed.

    Producers: Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane.

    Director: Vikas Bahl.

    Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon.

    Rajkummar is now a foreign-returned groom, having just got back from finishing his education in London. A couple of days before the marriage date, his foreign experience catches up with him. He does not want to marry Kangana anymore; she does not seem his type. He breaks the news to Kangana while his folks do so to her parents.

    Kangana is devastated. Any girl from a traditional family who has known only one man in her life, her groom to be, would be. After spending a couple of days locked up in her room, she emerges to face the world. She has the ticket and the visa to visit Paris, the trip was planned as her honeymoon trip and she decides to make it a solo honeymoon trip.

    A shy and scared Kangana discovers herself in this strange land with a language she does not understand. She befriends the hotel waitress, a single mother, Lisa Haydon, who has some Indian genes in her and can mutter some Hindi. After spending a few days in Paris, Lisa packs her off to Amsterdam. The travel, she feels, will help Kangana and help change her outlook.

    It is time for Rajkummar to miss Kangana and he is back on her spur. He wants to rekindle the romance and even feels jealous when he sees her in the company of other men. But Kangana is in no hurry. She wants to complete her tour. Decisions about life can always be taken at leisure.

    Queen is a simple but nice story about traditions vs breaking the shackles. Foreign locations make it a bit more watchable. The film rests solely on the shoulders of Kangana and she does justice to her role. Rajkummar does not fit the romantic hero any which way you look at it; not even if you think of a middle class family. The supporting cast is apt. Songs are well choreographed. Direction is good.

    Queen is a watchable film but suffers due to face value and exams. It will get praises but little from the box office.

    Total Siyapaa: Total Waste

    Total Siyapaa is an idea worth exploring. It is about an independent-minded Indian Punjabi girl falling in love with a Pakistani Punjabi boy in a neutral land that is England. Alas, Total Siyapaa may have the initial idea, but the film fails to develop into something more substantial and falls flat on execution.

    Yaami Gautam is taking her Pakistani boyfriend, Ali Zafar, home to meet her parents, Kirron Kher and Anupam Kher. While Yaami awaits his arrival, Ali is in constant touch with her and mentions having brought a bomb of a gift for her. A Pink Panther kind of cop, gnawing on his doughnut, happens to pick up the word ‘bomb’ and, instead of his girlfriend’s house, Ali finds himself in a police lock up. The level of humour the film plans to unleash on the viewer established, the film proceeds to dish out more of the same.

    Producers: Neeraj Pandey, Shital Bhatia.

    Director: Neeraj Pandey.

    Cast: Ali Zafar, Yaami Gautam, Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Sara Khan.

    Even while the debate on acceptance of a prospective Pakistani son-in-law continues, he is already ordered around by Kirron and made to do household chores. In an attempt to defrost soup, the container slips out of Ali’s hands, goes straight out of the kitchen window and lands on Anupam’s head, knocking him unconscious. The police, it is made to look, don’t take too kindly to the Pakistanis and Yaami does her best to keep Ali away from the scene of this accident not knowing the man lying unconscious on the street is her very own father.

    When it is realised that the victim could well be Anupam the action shifts in his direction. Efforts to create funny situations out of his hospitalization, his encounter with a hooker and his family’s search for him don’t succeed. There is no comedy; the situations are just not funny enough. There are some side tracks like Yaami’s sister, Sara Khan, who has had a fight with her husband and has come to stay with her parents, and a running tiff with the Pakistani neighbors. The grandfather’s track is juvenile.

    Performances are generally mediocre. Yaami is okay. Ali can’t act and ends up making awkward gestures with his hands. Kirron does what she is expected to do: play a loud Punjabi woman. Anupam is wasted. Sara Khan does well while the best of the lot is the child who plays Sara’s daughter; she is the only natural one.

    The script is loose and lacking in substance, which makes the direction as uninspiring. The film has two good songs in Nahi maloom….. and Chal Buleya…

    A poor fare with indifferent public response, Total Siyapaa faces the threat of discontinuation from cinema halls mid-week.

  • ‘Pretty Little Liars’, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘ER’ in Asian adaptations

    ‘Pretty Little Liars’, ‘Gossip Girl’ and ‘ER’ in Asian adaptations

    MUMBAI: Three scripted series from the Warner Bros portfolio, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl and ER, are set for local adaptations in Asia, with commissions and options secured in the Philippines, Thailand and India.

    Pretty Little Liars is currently in production in the Philippines. The 22-episode local version, produced by ABC Development Corporation, is due to debut on TV5 in April.

    In Thailand, Kantana Public Company is producing an 18-episode local adaptation of Gossip Girl. The first local adaptation of the series, Gossip Girl Acapulco, aired last year in Mexico and received well by all.

    ER has been optioned in India by Gold Television Network. A Colombian version of ER was announced at NATPE. The Indian adaptation will see famous Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla play the lead role.

    There is a significant increase in the number of Warner Bros’ scripted formats which have travelled successfully around the world and partnered with high caliber of production companies to bring its programs to the screen in Asia. Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl and ER are all iconic Warner Bros. shows that have proved to be audience favorites in US and the production house is confident about its potential to equally entertain the audiences in the Philippines, Thailand and India.

     

  • Is B’wood moving towards equality?

    Is B’wood moving towards equality?

    MUMBAI: It has been spoken about many times, but this year seems to attest that Bollywood is actually shunning gender-biases and is moving towards equality. That is what is evident from the movies releasing this year. Many movies of the year are giving prominence to its female actors.

     

    While Parineeti Chopra’s character in Hasee Toh Phasee is a well-etched out role with eccentricities that makes it stand out among all the other characters in the film (even the hero Siddharth Malhotra), in this week’s release – Highway – Alia’s character has been written with similar fervor as well. In fact, Alia’s father and one of the most lauded filmmakers of the country – Mahesh Bhatt – thinks that Alia has ‘lived’ the role of her lifetime.

     

    “Thank you Imtiaz Ali for making Alia ‘live’ the role of her life time. The women of our country will empathise with this heartfelt tale,” wrote Bhatt on Facebook.

     

    In the months to come, Bollywood is going to spring up many such surprises where women will get a chance to not just live their lives but raise the bar too. Many movies with strong women characters and centered around women are going to make a mark at the big screen.

     

    There’s Queen starring Kangana Ranaut that tells the story of a girl whose wedding is called off when her fiancé passes away and she, instead of crying over her situation, decides to move on. The focus of the film is on the character growing up as an individual.

     

    Another one in the pipeline is Gulaab Gang starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla among host of other female actors. Again a woman-centric film based around the activist group Gulaabi Gang, shows how women have started getting prominence in the film industry with diverse being written for them.

     

    One of the other movies being looked forward to is Bobby Jasoos starring Vidya Balan in which she portrays the character of a sleuth. The film is not just being anticipated as Indian cinema’s answer to detective films but probably is also one of the first in India to be bringing in a female actor to play a sleuth.

     

    Mary Kom’s biopic with Priyanka Chopra portraying the sportstar in the film is another addition to the list. While biopics are any way not too regular in India, one on a female sportstar is something very rare. And thus this is one movie that every movie buff is waiting for, especially after Irrfan and Farhan Akhtar have raised the bar of getting in to the skin of the real life people they portrayed in Paan Singh Tomar and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Priyanka is surely being watched out for in this upcoming movie.

     

    Doesn’t it seem to be a great year for women in the film industry?

  • Discovery channel presents its new india series LIVING WITH KKR

    Discovery channel presents its new india series LIVING WITH KKR

    Discovery Channel will present the riveting story of IPL Team Kolkata Knight Riders’ transformation, from a group of struggling players in the early years to their emergence as formidable champion of the league in its new series LIVING WITH KKR.

    The four-part series LIVING WITH KKRwill air from February 24 to 27 at 8 pm on Discovery Channel.

    The series traces the emotional journey of the team from its unsuccessful first three years to its ultimate redemption as IPL champions. The viewers will witness candid admission by their favourite star Shah Rukh Khan – his worst fears, heart-rendingmoments and record celebrations. They will hear straight from Shah Rukh Khan the reasons for selecting Kolkata for his team, itsarduous climb, the tears from constant defeats, adapting to new format and relationships that didn’t last.

    The series also brings to the fore the unseen role played by co-owners Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, the daring new decisions of its CEO Venky Mysore, the immense pressure absorbed by its captain Gautam Gambhir and the passion of the players, coaches and fans. In the series, Discovery Channel will also provide insights into the IPL phenomenon; the electrifying passion, poignant drama, astonishing opportunities and consummate glitz.

    Shah Rukh Khan, owner of KKR and Bollywood superstar,said, “Kolkata Knight Riders is not just a cricket team of IPL for us. It has been a family since the inception. Each and everyone involved with KKR since the beginning has had a journey worth a mention. I am thrilled to share this journey of tears, sorrow, strength and victory with everyone. On behalf of Juhi, Jay and myself, I would like to thank the different players from all seasons of IPL, the coaches, physicians, the management and everyone else who has been a part of this wonderful team for doing what they have done over the years. I also thank the very loyal fans who have supported us and loved us no matter what. And special thanks to Discovery for getting our story across to the people around the world.”

        
    Speaking on the series, Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific says, “Discovery Channel is recognised for its path-breaking and entertaining programmes. There is immense appetite amongst millions of cricket fans in India to gain up-close and personal access on what goes beyond the cricketing field.LIVING WITH KKRwill present the inspiring story of the team’s defeat, endeavour and absolute triumph. It will provide anunparalleled access to the all-embracing and dreamlike journey made by KKR players, coaches, fans and Shah Rukh Khan.”

    “There are moments in our lives that we always want to have with us as a memory of that time. Living With KKR is exactly that for us. The journey that KKR has had since the beginning of IPL has been unique. I am glad that we have a story to tell and with the help of Discovery Channel we will share it with the world. Hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as we enjoyed being a part of this journey that continues.” – saysVenky Mysore, CEO and MD, KKR.

    LIVING WITH KKRhas been produced for Discovery Channel by Engage Sports Media.

     

  • Kellogg’s lauches new campaign with a breakfast pledge

    Kellogg’s lauches new campaign with a breakfast pledge

    MUMBAI: Kellogg – the world’s leading cereal company has announced a new initiative in India – “Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge” to build nation-wide awareness on the importance of eating breakfast every day. This initiative comes soon after the company launched the ‘India Breakfast Habits Study’ as part of the Power of Breakfast initiative in August 2013, which revealed that one in four Indians claim to skip and a whopping 72% skimp or have an inadequate breakfast. Embarking on the “Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge” initiative, Kellogg endeavours to create a new generation of breakfast eaters in India by encouraging more Indian consumers to understand the importance of eating a balanced breakfast.

    Kellogg has helped spread the message regarding the importance of breakfast by reaching out to a large number of key stakeholders through dissemination of the findings of the ‘India Breakfast Habits Study’ to consumers, media and healthcare professionals. Additionally through a series of programs like the school nutrition education program and gifting breakfast to busy commuters in air-lines and radio-cabs, Kellogg has already begun the journey. As the next step in the journey towards creating the next generation of breakfast eaters, Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge initiative provides a platform to help people discover the power of breakfast. This initiative encourages people to take a pledge to have breakfast everyday. By doing so, every person will gift a breakfast to a child to help him or her discover the power of breakfast. Kellogg seeks to empower one Indian to influence or impact another Indian to discover the power of breakfast.

    Through each pledge, every person will gift a breakfast to a child to help him or her discover the power of breakfast. Kellogg has partnered with United Way of Mumbai, to reach out to children in schools for gifting breakfasts. Several children today go to schools with an empty stomach and therefore through this initiative Kellogg would like them to discover the power of breakfast.

    Given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Kellogg’s felt it necessary to help ‘create the habit’ with the Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge. Brand ambassadors Juhi Chawla and Sakshi Tanwar actively supported the initiative and invited people to take the Breakfast Pledge along with them.

    Speaking on this, SangeetaPendurkar, Managing Director, Kellogg India, says, “Kellogg India is committed to nurturing a healthy India through consumer education, consumer relevant innovation and a strong nutrition agenda. The Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge is the next step in our journey towardsimproving the breakfast eating habits of Indian consumers. While we have already begun the journey with half a million people; through the Kellogg’s Breakfast Pledge, we seek to encourage many more Indians to recognize the importance of breakfast and to partner Kellogg in this journey and empower them to influence many more to discover the power of breakfast. The ‘India Breakfast Habits Study’ revealed that several people today either skip or skimp breakfast and several children are going to school on an empty stomach and therefore miss on the much needed nutrients. Through the Breakfast Pledge initiative, Kellogg would like to address this and create a generation of breakfast eaters in India. We simply want to encourage more Indians to take one pledge and gift one breakfast.”

    JayantiShukla, Executive Director, United Way of Mumbai, said, “We constructively engage the corporate sector into meaningful social responsibility structures enabling a positive and lasting change in the communities they operate in. We are delighted to partner with Kellogg’s on the Breakfast Pledge initiative. We are working very closely with the teams to ensure the gifting of breakfast is carried out in an effective manner.”

    Reaching out directly to 200,000 children in schools, consumers at retail touch points and through an integrated print, radio and digital strategy, Kellogg aims to drive home the importance of breakfast while also creating the habit through this impactful initiative.  

  • Juhi Chawla takes a route to social causes

    Juhi Chawla takes a route to social causes

    MUMBAI: If the promos of her upcoming film, Gulaan Gang, are to go by actor Juhi Chawla looks fresh and ready to reclaim the silver screen once again. She just seems apt for the role. And if the promos of the film are grabbing so many eyeballs, it only makes sense for the actor to create the right buzz with doing all things right.
     
     
    on a recent trip to Delhi, the actor took out some time from her busy schedule and attended an event for the NGO Routes2Roots, which promotes building peace through cultural integration. Juhi interacted with the children who are part of the ‘exchange for change’ program and was seen in great enthusiasm for the initiative. 
     

    The actress was seen in western attire for a change and we must say she was looking as ravishing as she does in her counterpart Indian dresses.

  • The Gulab Gang brings together Madhuri and Juhi

    The Gulab Gang brings together Madhuri and Juhi

    MUMBAI: Anubhav Sinha’s Gulaab Gang features Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. With Gulaab Gang, Sinha brings for the very first time two bollywood divas – Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla on the big screen.

    The Ra.One director is also the producer of the film and admits that it was not an easy project to put together.

    It was Anubhav Sinha’s long-standing dream to start a production house and he is more than happy to have Gulaab Gang as his first project under his banner, Benaras Media Works.

    “Our film is a self supporting fantasy, a work of fiction where someday women will be strong and self-reliant enough to win every walk of life.” Sinha said.

    Gulab Gang is an all women’s action-thriller-musical. The movie attempts to encompass everything beautiful, simple, soulful and strongly wishes that the Indian woman were empowered in today’s day and age.

    Sinha adds, “The country is not safe today. The women aren’t safe. And we wish to think of a time that will come when women will not need the authority or support of men to fight their own battles.”

    Benaras Media Works is also producing a slate of films including Warning, Gulaab Gang and Zid. Benaras Beat has tied up with Sony Music to market the music of Warning and Zid.

  • Aashiqui 3 in the pipeline along with other sequels

    Aashiqui 3 in the pipeline along with other sequels

    MUMBAI: With the trend of sequels getting popular in Bollywood, producer Bhushan Kumar has expressed his desire to turn Aashiqui and Bhootnath into franchise.

    Kumar wants to take ahead three projects as a franchise, including Aashiqui, a romantic saga which recently had a hit sequel Aashiqui 2, ghost comedy Bhootnath and the yet to be released 3D horror movie Creature.

    Provided the audience is ready to accept it, Kumar plans to turn these three films into a brand and make their third and fourth installment. This pattern is followed in Hollywood.

    Kumar further reasons that he does not want to make sequel after sequel just for the sake of it, but if Bhootnath 2 and Creature receives good responses from the audiences, then he definitely has no plans to look behind.

    In 2008 Ravi Chopra produced film Bhootnath, where megastar Amitabh Bachchan played a friendly ghost. The sequel will be produced by BR Films and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series.

    The basic premise of the film will remain same, the ups and downs and the hilarious moments between Bachchan and the kid. The original film starred Bachchan, Juhi Chawla, Shahrukh Khan, Aman Siddiqui as Banku, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Rajpal Yadav.

    The second installment, to be directed by Chillar Party (2011) co-director Nitesh Tiwari, will again have Bachchan reprising his role. The addition will be Boman Irani and a new child, who is yet to be cast.

    The film will go on floors in October and will release in April next year. It is learnt that this time, the budget is going to be over Rs 30 crore. The first part was reportedly made on a budget of Rs 20 crore.

    Meanwhile, Aashiqui 2, directed by Mohit Suri and co-produced by Bhatts’ Vishesh Films and Bhushan Kumar, has reportedly earned over Rs 100 crore at the box office since its release on April 26.

    With the hit of Aashiqui 2, Kumar plans to take the brand ahead and make Aashiqui 3 after two-three years.

    Kumar also wants to take ahead Vikram Bhatt horror thriller Creature, starring Bipasha Basu in the lead. The film is said to be on the lines of Jurassic Park, the landmark Hollywood film on dinosaurs.

    Creature is set in a menacing forest that will house certain humongous and dangerous creatures. However, Kumar refused to divulge any further details about the project.