Hrithik Roshan beats SRK and Akshay Kumar?

After apparently beating the likes of Shah Rukh-starrer 'RA.One' and Akshay Kumar's 'Blue', Hrithik-Kareena's 'Shuddhi' will be the costliest Bollywood movie. The movie is allegedly pegged at whooping Rs 150 crore. A Mid-Day report says that director Karan Malhotra's film will be made on a Rs 150 crore budget and the highlight of the film will be the sizzling chemistry between Hrithik and Kareena. It is also reported that the movie will be shot extensively in Bhopal.

Farah uses Shah Rukh’s brain and Sonu Sood’s body in 'Happy New Year'

Farah Khan knows what to use her boys for. We have learnt that in her next directorial venture 'Happy New Year', a heist film, Shah Rukh Khan plays the mastermind of the plot and Sonu Sood, the hulk. Apparently Sonu was to leave with his family for a holiday to the US, but Farah has given him strict instructions to go to the gym instead. Sonu being a disciplinarian, we hear he has promised his director the best body in the business. While we already know how bright Shah Rukh is, we will wait to see if Sonu keeps his promise.

If Akshay Kumar had guts, he would have faced me: Anita Advani

Anita Advani, who claims to be the late Rajesh Khanna's live-in partner and has filed a violence case against Dimple Kapadia and family was recently evicted from Bigg Boss. Here she talks to TOI about holding a grudge against Akshay Kumar, plans of opening an NGO for mistreated women and having the guts to face anyone. What are you missing, now that you are out of Bigg Boss? I am feeling lonely. Khalipan lag raha hai and am missing quite a few of my roommates like Tanisha and Andy. Not Armaan? He was close to you in the house... I have known Armaan for long and trusted him. But now that I am out of the house, I realized that he back-stabbed me. He said he would vote for me, but then he didn't. It was very shocking. Who do you think will win the show? Anybody can, but to win with fair play is quite a task. While the husband-wife couple of Shilpa and Apurva are strong contenders, Tanisha plays well and Kamya is also quite strong. But many people — like Sangram, Gauahar, Andy and Shilpa— are fake and are working for TRPs. These people have done reality shows earlier and know what are the manipulations needed. What are your future plans? I want to open an NGO for women like me who have been treated badly and cheated of their rights. It is also said that Akshay Kumar avoided you when he came on sets during the launch... If he had guts, he should have faced me. I'm ready to face him and the family any moment, because main sachchai pe chal rahi hoon. That's why I am tension free. Unke dil mein chor hai, that's why they are avoiding me. You seem to be holding a lot of grudge against him... Of course I do. I have grudges against Dimple too. I want my rights and want to be acknowledged. I want my due as a living partner of Kakaji for 20-25 years. They weren't there when they were needed. They had a roaring life even when he was at his worst. I did everything for him, and after they got him to sign the will, in logon ne to mere pair ke neeche se zameen khiska di. Their behaviour changed 360° after that. Their relationship was dependent on money. During Kakaji's last journey, Akshay pushed me out of truck, where Kakaji's body was kept. That was very rude. Sab kuch to le liya hai, then you wanted to take that moment from me too? At least have some respect for a woman who has been with your father in law through thick and thin. How can you be so mean for money? You already have enough! Would you have kept quiet had the same thing happened to your sister? You also want Aashirwaad, right? I don't want Aashirwaad for myself, I want it turned into a museum. I also have my stuff in Aashirwaad, which I want to be returned to me. Just because Kakaji couldn't marry me because of legal hassles, doesn't mean I don't get my rights. Privately, we were husband and wife only. Unhone mujhe kada pehnaya and main bhi unke liye Karwa Chauth ka vrat rakhti thi. You have filed a case of domestic violence against Dimple and family. But last heard you were ready for an out of court settlement too... Yes, I have had some meeting with their lawyers, but we haven't reached a conclusion. If I get a decent settlement of my rights, why would I like to drag the case in court. I don't get pleasure in washing dirty linen in public. Was your family okay with your decision of living in with him? No, my family was against it. They did not even listen to Kakaji when he came to convince them. So I went against my family's will and lived with him. How was Rajeshji as a person? He was very different from normal people. He had his own mood swings. He was a very difficult person. Sometimes he would be nice, while other times he would pick up fights. He had a really bad temper, and would throw things around. In those phases, he could kill you with his words. But people accuse you of going to Bigg Boss to get sympathy from the public... I went there to show my true character and to break the image from a money-seeker and liar women that Dimple and family have portrayed me to be. People saw me there all the time, they should now know what kind of a woman I am. Also, I went there because I needed money to fight my case.

Movie Review: Besharam (2013)

Still from the movie

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Pallavi Sharda, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor
Direction: Abhinav Singh Kashyap
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 2 hours 18 minutes

Story: Babli steals cars, fears nothing and romances like a rowdy Romeo. But gets away with benevolence and besharmi.

Review: Remote control Ranbir is here. He can change your mood with a flick of an emotion. Laughter, tears, joy and palang tod romeo-giri. Bedazzling the eyes with baubles, goggles and padded crotches. Yes, he packs in this 'bulge' with besharmi and fearlessness.

At the outset, let me tell you that Kashyap's ('Dabangg' fame) 'Besharam' lacks a kadak story. It has thoda herogiri, clap-trap dialogues, freestyle rowdy dancing and stylish stunts (borrowed from recent action films). Bas! But RK drives this one (taking fuel and pee breaks) through fast freeways and rocky roads.

Babli (Ranbir), a baap-less boy, is a car mechanic-cum-thief, with braveheart. Along with his partner-in-crime, Titu (Amitosh Nagpal), they steal cars to support the orphanage that housed them. The smooth operators have a touch of class too, they dress like MIB ('Men In Black') call themselves T1 & T2 ('Terminator').

During one carnama, they encounter the comical cop-couple, Chulbul (Rishi) and Bulbul (Neetu) Chautala. Enter Tara (Pallavi), the 'beauttee' he falls for. He breaks her heart and spends the rest of the film fixing dils and dents.

This seems like Kashyap's test-drive with Ranbir, with average direction, un-moving music, and a screenplay that is unoriginal and so low on horsepower that it deflates before he revs the reel. He relies on the sheer 3K (read: Kapoors) power to entertain.

Ranbir's role may not be path-breaking, yet he's in full control. He plays a riotous rowdy with utter confidence; using gags padded (stuffing his crotch with socks - even men need 'enhancement', no?), with humour that's corny and horny. Ranbir is shamelessly, stylishly superb! If comic cracks weren't enough, watch out ladies - there's a real one, a flashed 'butt-crack' by RK!

Second in command is his baap, really - Rishi Kapoor. He steals one of the best moments of the film when he gyrates to 'Badtameez Dil'. He brilliantly plays the not-so-dabangg Chulbul, with a biwi (in adorable act) who fires (verbal) bullets and chides his mardangi. Newcomer Pallavi is confident but needs coaching. Amitosh Nagpal (Titu) adds fuel to the comic-fire.

While this is far from the best films of the year, if you shamelessly love Ranbir, go for it.

Note: You might not like this if don't have an appetite for typical Bollywood formula films.

Salman takes to Twitter to complain about his fancy car

Salman Khan has joined the hordes taking to Twitter to complain about bad service and it is luxury automobile maker Range Rover which has found itself at the receiving end of the actor's ire. Yesterday, the actor who owns a SUV tweeted about the many breakdowns suffered by the vehicle and then complained about the customer service offered by the company. It all started with the first tweet, "Meri bichari Range Rover ka hal kharab hai in last 1&1/2 years, 9 times breakpads have failed, 1bari pura suspension gaya or kal gadi hi baith gayi (sic)" The actor, who had to take an auto rickshaw ride after the car broke down on Monday, was not too pleased with the company's response to his dilemma. "Kinda pissed with the attitude of the people at Range Rover they hv no concept of customer service (sic)," wrote Salman on the microblogging network. The actor is now driving his father's sedan while his Range Rover recuperates in a workshop. When contacted Salman's father, Salim Khan, said, "His car gave him a lot of trouble. There may be a defect in the vehicle. So, as of now, he is using my sedan." Though the automobile company is yet to release a statement about the incident, a senior official who requested anonymity, brushed it off as a starry tantrum. "Salman chose to complain on Twitter instead of reaching out to us. There is a big uproar in the company itself but a problem in suspension is a normal occurrence in a three year old car. He is a big celebrity so he can make a hue and cry. If we get the required parts on time, Salman will get his car back in the next couple of days," said the official.

Kareena likely to star opposite Akshay in 'Gabbar'

The makers of 'Gabbar', the Hindi version of Tamil blockbuster 'Ramanaa', are reportedly considering actress Kareena Kapoor to be cast opposite Akshay Kumar in the film. Telugu filmmaker Krish will direct Gabbar, which will be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "Kareena's name has come up for the role of the leading lady. She hasn't been approached yet, but she is likely to be signed on for the role. She is expected to play Akshay's wife in the film, which will also feature another heroine," a source told media. In case Kareena joins the project, she will essay the role originally played by Simran - she did a special appearance in Ramanaa. Ashima Bhalla was the other heroine in the film. "We haven't confirmed the heroine yet. Currently, we are busy with the pre-production work and when we zero in on the leading lady, we'll announce it. It's too early to confirm anything at this stage," Krish told media. Ramanaa, helmed by A.R. Murugadoss, was an action movie where the protagonist embarks on a journey to make the society corruption free. It also featured Vijayakanth, Vijayan, Yugi Sethu, Riyaz Khan and Ravichandran in important roles. The film was also remade in Telugu as Tagore with megastar Chiranjeevi in the lead.

When Deepika's father blasted at a mobile service company

Except for the times when she bites off more than she can chew (remember the fiasco over Race 2 dates?) Deepika Padukone is known to be one heck of a professional gal. It came as a surprise when she summarily cancelled a shoot and disappeared. Her PR team swung into action, dealing with pointed questions from the media (the incident had followed Ranbir Kapoor's 'I can give my life for Katrina' comment) and the official version was: "She is unwell and resting at home in Prabhadevi." However an intrepid journalist managed to call her private number and was greeted with a call waiting message in Kannada, shredding to bits the official statement. This did not go down well with Dippy's father, Prakash Padukone, who called up the mobile service provider, blasting them for the automated vernacular response, that is a dead giveaway of the person's location, even if it is a private number. Unfortunately for the Padukones, the service provider had an automated response... 'sorry sir, we can't change our rules for any star.'