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Fromwrestlerstofootballers, Bollywood’sstarrybrigade gears up to play a host of sport heroes on screen reworked Bips P4 P8 AllScript the action fromfor BAFTAs
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N E W D E L H I , T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 06, 2014, 14 PA G E S w w w.hindustantimes.com
Sallumentors girlfriendIulia
JOHNABRAHAM ASWRESTLER
Shalvi Mangaokar
■ shalvi.mangaokar@hindustantimes.com
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alman Khan, 40, who has launched several new faces, has turned his a ttention to the Bollywood debut of his alleged girlfriend, Iulia Vantur. The 34-year-old Romanian TV actor will be seen in a special song in brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri’s upcoming production, and Salman wants to be sure that the song looks perfect when it appears in the film. Vantur has also crooned part of the song. An industry insider reveals, “Salman saw the final cut of the song before it was released. He looked into the edit and final presentation of the number too. He wanted to make sure it looks good.” According to the source, Salman has been involved with various aspects of the film from the very beginning. “And for this song in p articular, he wanted to make sure that it is not released without a go-ahead from him,” informs the insider. When contacted, the film’s producer Atul Agnihotri confirms the news, adding, “Yes, Salman watched the song before it went on air. He has actively been looking into all the details (of the film).”
SPORT-STRUCK Navdeep Kaur Marwah ■navdeep.marwah@hindustantimes.com
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ollywood’s being quite a sport these days. After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag set the ball rolling last year, many top stars will be seen sweating it out as sportpersons on screen. While John Abraham will play the lead in a biopic on wrestler Gama Pehlwan, Ayushmann Khurrana will show his football prowess in filmmaker Shoojit Sircar’s film, 1911. Among the ladies, Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha will
John will play famous w restler Gama Pehlwan (R) in a biopic based on him. “Gama is the only wrestler who remained undefeated in his career of 50 years and yet his story is unknown. The film will roll in 2-3 months and John is training for his part,” says d irector Parmeet Sethi. John will also play a footballer in Shoojit Sircar’s upcoming film, 1911.
PHOTO: AFP
A widely known fact, Priyanka Chopra will play five-time boxing champ Mary Kom (above) in a biopic directed by debutante Omung Kumar. “There is lot of pressure on me as an actor, as it is the story of a living legend. I’ve never felt this kind of pressure for any other character I have played,” says PeeCee.
PHOTO: WASEEM GASHROO
Iulia Vantur in a still from the song
SNEHA ULLAL: Salman launched her in Bollywood with Lucky: No Time For Love (2005). Recently, it was reported that Salman referred her to his physiotherapist for treatment, as she was suffering from a lingering backache.
DAISY SHAH: Salman spotted her when she was a background dancer and then introduced her as his leading lady in Jai Ho. ZARINE KHAN: She was launched alongside Salman in Veer (2010). He also featured her in a song in Ready (2011).
A change in act Shilpa Shetty for styling work, but was chosen for Shetty’s film. She will act with Harman Baweja in Dishkiyaoon. Also, a casting assistant for Aditya Chopra, Bhumi Pednekar, has been cast alongside Ayushmann Khurrana in Dum Laga Ke Haisha.
AYUSHMANNKHURRANA ASFOOTBALLER
EMRAANHASHMI ASCRICKETER
The actor will play a footballer in Shoojit Sircar’s period drama 1911, based on popular football clubs – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. “Sports films are always fun. Only ace directors have the craft to shoot this genre,” says the actor, who has asked his brother — a passionate footballer — to coach him for the film, which co-stars John Abraham.
The biopic on former Indian team captain Mohammad Azharuddin, helmed by filmmaker Kunal Deshmukh and produced by Ekta Kapoor, will most likely see Emraan Hashmi as the lead. A source from the production house says, “Most probably, Emraan will play Azharuddin’s role.”
stoppress
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oung filmmakers and singers are on a careerswitch spree, and it seems to be working well for them. It started back in 2011, when a girl from the PR division of Aditya Chopra’s production house was cast in Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. Now, the girl — Parineeti Chopra –— has made it big. Now, singer Monali Thakur — known for the hit ‘Sawaar loon’ (Lootera; 2013) — is also set to turn actor. She will play the protagonist in Nagesh Kukunoor’s Lakshmi, and has a role in Abbas Tyrewala’s
multi-starrer, Mango. Monali says, “Being from the industry, we do have a small advantage.” Yo Yo Honey Singh will also make his Bollywood acting debut with Xpose. His character is being touted as dark and edgy, and he will be seen opposite Himesh Reshammiya. That’s not all. After directors Farhan Akhtar, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Anurag Kashyap, now, Karan Johar is trying his hand at acting again, in Bombay Velvet. He, says, “After acting in this film, my respect for actors has gone up manifold.” And, in true filmy style, stylist Ayesha Khanna met
DUTTSHOTFORPKBEFOREGOING TOJAIL:RAJKUMARHIRANI
Dismissing reports claiming that actor Sanjay Dutt shot for the film, PK, while on parole, director Rajkumar Hirani has clarified that Dutt shot for PK before going to jail last year. “He already filmed his portions before he went (to jail in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case),” said Hirani. PTI
(L to R) Singer Monali Thakur, director Karan Johar, casting assistant Bhumi Pednekar and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh are taking to acting
DUFESTFRACAS
PHOTO: WASEEM GASHROO
NEVERTHOUGHTI’DEVERWINAN OSCAR, SAYS BRAD PITT
Hollywood actor-producer Brad Pitt says he never thought he’d win an Oscar. “I don’t know where I’m going to put it. I never thought I’d take one home, so never thought that far in advance,” an entertainment portal quoted Pitt as s aying, after he won the award as producer for his film, 12 Years A Slave. IANS
SALMAN’SLAWYERCOMESTO SOORAJPANCHOLI’SAID
Actor Sooraj Pancholi (above), prime suspect in the Jiah Khan suicide case and the deceased actor’s former lover, is now using the services of the lawyer who is fighting Salman Khan’s blackbuck case. Incidentally, Sooraj, son of actor Aditya Pancholi, is also making his acting debut in Salman’s first production. IANS
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Mika pips Bohemia to madness Sahil Magoo and Mahim Gupta ■
sahil.magoo@hindustantimes.com
W Mika’s show was a riot, while (far right) Bohemia failed to draw crowds
SONAKSHISINHAASBOXER The Sinha scion will be seen packing a punch in Akshay Kumar-starrer Holiday-A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. In the film, which is helmed by filmmaker A R Murugadoss, the 26-year-old will be seen playing a boxer, albeit without a famous real-life inspiration. She will deliver some mean punches in a deviation from her usual smile-pretty roles.
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prashant.singh@hindustantimes.com
slip on boxer gloves for their respective roles in the Mary Kom biopic and Holiday-A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. “Sportspersons are looked upon as heroes and hence they connect well. Their trials make for a good story,” Parmeet Sethi, who will direct John in the film on Gama Pehlwan. Trade expert Vikas Mohan, however, sends out a word of caution. “The success of one such film (Bhaag...) does not guarantee success for others. Filmmakers have to make sure the film is entertaining, or it would just be another documentary.”
PRIYANKACHOPRA AS BOXER
SALMAN LAUNCHED THEM, TOO
Prashant Singh ■
PHOTO: PTI
ith 12,000 students swaying, smoking, visibly drunk and swinging their shirts in the air, ‘Sawaan mein lag gayi aag’ was quite the scene at pop singer Mika Singh’s concert at the Kirori Mal College (KMC) fest finale on Tuesday. In sharp contrast, Pakistani-American rapper Bohemia dished out a cold platter at the grand finale of the Hansraj College fest taking place right next to it.
After kicking off the show with his recent version of Mast Kalandar, Mika went on to sing his hit tracks Gandi Baat, Tu Mere Agal Bagal and Dil Mein Baji Guitar, sending the crowd in a tizzy. Trouble began when the crowd got rowdy, as plastic water bottles and stones went up in the air. When one such flying bottle caught the attention of the singer, he said, “Bottle mat phenko. Chhup chhup ke kaam mat karo. Maa ka doodh piya hai to saamne aakar do do haath karlo (don’t hide there; fight it out
face to face if you have the courage).” While 200-250 cops tried to keep the situation under control, Mika reprimanded a student for smoking by saying: “Gandi baat! Ye kya pi raha hai, milk piyo.” Next door, Bohemia went bust. From a faulty sound system to little awareness of the band among audience, the field was almost empty. “What a thanda show by this Bohemia Vohemia, jo bhi hai voh. Main to ab Mika paaji ke show me jhoomonga,” said Rahul Kumar, a DU s tudent among the audience.
PHOTO: HARSHITA RATHORE