Sanjay Dutt on how success is nice, but not new to him…

You’re now a part of the 100 crore club with ” Agneepath”, like the Khans, Ajay Devgn, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan…
Few people know that “Lage Raho Munnabhai” was one of the first films to enter the 100 crore club. Back then, there weren’t many multiplexes, but it still did rocking business. Technically, I was the first actor to enter the 100 crore club. But box office business has never bothered me. What I want is for a film to work. After “Agneepath” released, I didn’t go around asking people how much money it made. Karan updated me on the huge opening.

(more…)

Get ready to see the funny sides of Imran and Kareena before the movie Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012) hits the screen this friday. Both stars share some of the funniest experiences with Komal Nahta, the Bollywood critic. Our critic will be posting an review of the movie tomorrow after watching special screening. Till then check out this hilarious interview.

Parineeti Chopra, the 23-year-old actress who made her debut opposite Ranveer Singh in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, has won almost all female debutante trophies at major awards shows. Vivacious and full of energy, she talks to BT about her life-changing shift from marketing and PR to acting, turning to older sister Priyanka Chopra for advice and films ahead. Excerpts…

You were in the PR division of a production house. How did acting happen?
It’s true…this time last year, I was working for Yash Raj Films, and within 12 months I’ve finished my second film! I used to co-ordinate interviews for Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. I was their manager, bodyguard, assistant and PR person. I never wanted to be an actor; I was a nerd and weighed 85 kilos, so naturally becoming an actress was never on my mind! I studied finance and was a topper. I even went abroad to study further but returned during the recession. That’s when I came to Yash Raj. People would tell me, ‘Your cousin is a heroine, why don’t you get into acting as well?’ That really irritated me. But when I saw the process of acting up close, I felt like I could do this well. By then I’d met Maneesh Sharma (Band Bajaa Baraat director) and we’d become friends. He told Aditya (Chopra) that he wanted me to play Dimple. He asked me to do a dummy audition for fun and I did not know the tape would reach Adi. A few days later, I got a call from Maneesh saying I had to sign a three-film deal with the studio!

(more…)

Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza talk to TOI about their romance, ahead of the February 4 wedding

Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza are all set to tie the knot on February 4 after dating for almost a decade. In a candid chat, Ritz and Genie talk about their love story. Here’s a flashback into the prem kahani that has never been told.

The first meeting Riteish: I was flying to Hyderabad for the test shoot of Tujhe Meri Kasam and I was told that the girl opposite me would be there. I walked out of the airport and met Genelia’s mom. Then I saw this tall girl looking in the opposite direction, completely ignoring me. I was like, ‘Why is she behaving like this?’ Genelia (butts in): I did say, ‘Hi!’ I’d found out two days before that he was the Chief Minister’s son so I assumed he was a spoilt brat… a typical politician’s son… so I thought I’d give him attitude before he did! (laughs) Otherwise, I am shy and reserved by nature.

Breaking the ice Genelia: The minute I spoke to him, I realised he was a nice person. On the set, Riteish binds people. I didn’t know anything about films then but he made it look so easy. Also I found it endearing how he was so respectful of my parents and elders. Riteish: Itni taareef maine apne bare mein itne saalon mein nahin suni hai!

Woh pehli baar… Riteish: We started working as strangers, then began understanding each other. Off the sets we soon became best friends. I would discuss architecture with her while she would discuss college and exams with me! The beauty of a relationship is when you get used to a person; it is not sudden. It is just a process, and you don’t realise when love happens. After I came back from the Hyderabad schedule, I started missing her. I wondered whether it was right to call her or not. That dilemma lasted for a few days. Genelia: I was completely floored by Riteish’s personality. I think guys like him are rare in today’s world. I love listening to him and enjoy his views. Falling in love was gradual. Every stage was played out very correctly – be it friends, be it best friends or life partners.

Confessing love Riteish: There was no great realisation of love overnight, nor were there any great declarations. It was understood. We didn’t need to tell each other anything. We were together for days, which went into months and then years. Genelia: The gradual development of our love was so unbelievable that it surprised us. We just grew together. The best part is that we’ve never stopped being friends no matter how much our relationship has grown.

The romantic one Riteish: Neither of us are terribly romantic people, but we believe in special moments. Small things that have happened unknowingly have become romantic moments. Like this year on New Year’s night, we suddenly decided to stop at a coffee shop at 11.30 pm and spend some time together. We try and find happiness in small things. Genelia: We enjoy life and each other’s company. We have a great time over coffee. My world is very small – it includes my parents, Riteish and a couple of friends. When you keep your world so precise, you know what your priorities are.

Him and her Riteish: She is my flag-bearer. I draw unconditional support and love from her. Genelia’s love holds me together and to understand her love is something else. It is amazing. Genelia: I love Riteish. He lets me be. He encourages and pushes me. He’s proud of me and he’s such a secure person. At times, I get cranky but he’s always cool and handles things with maturity. I also love the way he conducts life and his willingness to listen first and then speak.

I hate you Riteish: I hate her memory! While there are certain things I may want to forget, she remembers everything. With time, some things need to be forgotten! Genelia: What I don’t like about him is that he the world’s busiest man. Even on a holiday he will manage to be busy! He will call and tell me he has these meetings and can meet me in between.

Fight club Riteish: We hardly fight. We have differences of opinion. I goof up most of the time but we never yell at each other. I am usually the one to make up first. To make up with a girl is an ever-evolving process! Genelia: I wait for Riteish to sort it out.

The proposal Genelia: He hasn’t proposed as yet… (giggles) Riteish: It’s an arranged marriage, so there was no need to propose formally.

No proposal! Riteish: I have always been weak-kneed in front of her (smiles)! Shaadi ke din bache hai na – kar doonga main propose tab! She was a teenager when we started dating, and I was in my 20s. We have grown up together, having gone from being really childish to having a sense of maturity. Genelia: Formal proposals are mere rituals. It’s important to be happy with the person you are with.

The engagement Genelia: There’s no sparkler (she shows her bare fingers). He’s given himself to me, so that’s fine. Riteish is my biggest and only sparkler. Riteish: Shaadi se pehle de doonga!

Shaadi ke baad Riteish: Agar yeh kaam nahi karegi toh ghar kaise chalega? (laughs) Every decision that’s been made has been hers, but Genelia has always been gracious enough to discuss it with me. So whether she wants to work in films or not is up to her. Whatever she decides is okay with me. Genelia: He’s always told me that it is my decision whether I want to work after marriage or not. Of course, I will prioritise my work differently post marriage. I don’t want to be part of the rat race, but I do want to be part of something good.

All set to play the new-age Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, Hrithik tells Omar Qureshi the pressures of a remake, beating expectations, fighting health problems and prepping to ’save the world’, superhero-style. Read on…

You’re going to be the new-age Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. Are you nervous?
Well, it’s very different from the original character. My Vijay Dinanath Chauhan is a simple, common man. He’s just Vijay. If you start comparing me with Mr Bachchan, I will fail at the word ‘go’.

(more…)

Acting wasn’t a passion for Rani Mukerji, when she burst on to the Indian screens in 1997. It was a job she had taken up as anyone does after college when given her first job. She took this job very seriously because she did not want to let her parents down.

(more…)

Beam Inc has flagged off its 11th edition of the Teacher’s Achievement Awards with a special 14-part televised series, Achievers’ Club on Star World. Leading to the Teacher’s Achievement Awards to be hosted in February next year, the Achiever’s Club will showcase the glittery, glamorous and fabulous lives of self-made achievers of India.

The Achievers’ Club is an exclusive series where India’s most celebrated achievers like KP Singh, Vidya Balan, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Naveen Jindal, Manish Arora, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and many more will share their success mantras and millionaire lifestyle with the host Vir Sanghvi. Each episode showcases the lifestyle of famous achievers and their homes, their passions and their celebrated life including their vacation homes, luxury cars, planes, yachts et al. The show aims to see the real lives of the self made achievers who are the inspiration to humanity through each episode.

(more…)

Ranbir Kapoor talks about working with ex-girlriend Deepika Padukone and getting rid of the ‘Casanova’ tag

Salman calls him the next superstar, Aamir rates him higher than Imran and SRK regards him as a fine performer. And with the blessing of the Khans, he’s ready to win the rat-race and become the No 1 star in the industry.

In a candid chat with Madhureeta Mukherjee, Ranbir comes clean on his casanova image, talks about marriage, clears rumours of his tiffs with Priyanka and talks about dropping the ‘Deepika’ baggage. Read on…

(more…)