Top Bollywood Artists

Multitalented actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who changed the definition of hero with his movies, says now dark men are being appreciated in Bollywood.

"Now audience is ready to see all kinds of films and accepting different actors post 'Gangs Of Wasseypur'. Even Dhanush is being appreciated in 'Raanjhanaa', so now it's time for dark men. I am happy that dark men are being appreciated in Bollywood (films) by the audience."

In showbiz, grooming, styling, fitness and good looks play an important role, but conventionally not good looking Nawazuddin has made a mark for himself with his acting skills.

Some of the cast members of "Gangs of Wasseypur" – Nawazuddin, Huma Qureshi and Richa Chadda – have teamed up again for "Shorts", which has five short stories by five directors. Releasing July 12, it has been co-produced by Guneet Monga and Anurag Kashyap.

Nawazuddin appreciates the trend of short movies.

He told, "Time is changing and this is also one kind of experiment. This is a new trend and let's see where we go. You will see me in a new avatar in the film. I have done around 60 short films in the past, but I am happy that short films are being assembled and are getting released. If the trend goes well, then such small budget films will hit the screens."

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who won the Star Plus viewers jodi of the year award for "Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani" at the 14th IIFA awards here, told that she missed her co-star Ranbir Kapoor who was not present at the awards.

"I miss Ranbir today. Thank you so much, Ayan, for making me look so wonderful in the film. I miss you and I love you," she told on receiving the awards.

Actress Priyanka Chopra is playing the female lead in period drama "Gunday" and she is presently shooting for a cabaret dance sequence for the action-drama-cum-romance. The film's director Ali Abbas Zafar tells he is using an original song.

Set between 1971 to 1988 in Kolkata, the film deals with black marketing mafia men Bikram (Ranveer Singh) and Bala (Arjun Kapoor).

"We started shooting for the particular cabaret song three days ago in Mumbai and there is three more days to do. It's a fresh cabaret song and not a remix of any old song. It's a very big sort of cabaret song in the film," Zafar, who earlier wielded megaphone for "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan", said.

Did you ask Priyanka to take reference from any legendary Bollywood actress for the song?

"Not really. Actually, I have been doing my research for quite some time on Kolkata and I discovered Kolkata was high on glamour quotient since 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. In that way, Kolkata is quite western," told Zafar.

The director has created a coal mine and informed that the last 30 days of shoot is left.

"We have created a coal mine set and we are left to do a huge action sequence between Irrfan, Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. Obviously, we can't shoot in real coal mine so we had to create the set for the period film," told Zafar.

Filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar will give a chance to his fans to run along with him in a mini marathon he will organize ahead of the release of his film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag".

The 3km-5km marathon will be hosted in four cities – Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Jaipur.

Releasing July 12, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" will see Farhan as athlete Milkha Singh. The biopic is a co-production between Mehra and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures.

"The curiosity to see Farhan running a marathon is at its highest. He has been able to transcend boundaries and has become the Milkha Singh of celluloid," a spokesperson from Viacom 18 Motion Pictures told in a statement.

The actor went through rigorous physical training in order to get the perfect body like that of an athlete and fans are keen to watch the actor run live.

"Ever since the promotions started, everyone has been asking Farhan about the practice that went into playing the role of Milkha Singh. That's why the makers have decided to give the audiences a chance to watch him run a marathon and participate with him," a source told.

"Many school and college students will be running with Farhan. They were selected via contests held by the makers recently," the source further added.

The film also features Sonam Kapoor.

Actor Amit Sadh, who won praise for his act in "Kai Po Che!", will share screen space with resourceful actor Paresh Rawal in a political thriller titled "10 Janpath".

Amit is pleased with the project, to be directed by Aditya Datt.

"Twenty minutes into the narration, I knew I wanted to do this film. I have watched Aditya Datt's 'Table No. 21′ and liked it, so I know I'm working with a good director," Amit told in a statement.

About working with Paresh, he told, "He is every actor's dream talent to work with. I'm very excited to be in the same frame as him."

Paresh too said he was really excited with the script.

Ranveer Singh has his ways to impress – he is smart, witty, charming and has a natural flair for acting. The young Bollywood actor, who is often called a flirt, tells he doesn't mind this, but he confesses he has a problem with tags.

"I'm just generous with my compliments. I tend to see the beauty in everyone. I don't hold back in expressing my feelings and that's why I think all these traits of mine add up to me being tagged a flirt… Which is fine," Ranveer told in a group interview.

"It's not that I have a problem with being tagged as a flirt! I have a problem with tags. You define and limit people with tags. Each person is complex and infinite," he told.

Thus, his song "Kya karun oh ladies, main hun aadat se majboor" gels well with his ways!

The actor has been seen flirting with actress Sonakshi Sinha at promotional events for "Lootera", which released Friday.

The on-screen couple was not bereft of dating rumours, but giving his side of the story, Ranveer told, "I have great chemistry with her. I remember that there were rumours of us seeing each other even before 'Lootera'. We have a friendly relationship."

"She is easy to work with. She has great ease and effort by the way we work. I kind of learn from her to be more easy about my work. she is a spontaneous actor and understands that films are about capturing life's moments…she's tremendously gifted."

"Lootera", a period drama directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, spells an old world charm. Ranveer genuinely believes Sonakshi was the "best choice" for the part.

"She fits the character. No one can pull off that old world charm and look. She can, with her look and mannerisms, completely transport you into believing that she is from that era," he told.

The going was not so easy for the young actor, who admits he was in a "do or die" situation when he stepped into showbiz.

Ranveer, who had no godfather to fall back upon in the industry, made a successful debut with Yash Raj Films' "Band Baaja Baaraat" in 2010. It's been a rollicking innings ever since – "Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl" and now "Lootera", as well as other plum projects in the offing for the 27-year-old.

"I think I made a strong start and I knew that was important and I knew that I will not get many chances. It was do or die for me. I had to make a good first impression and I managed it," Ranveer told.

He believes that his effortless portrayal of Bittoo Sharma, a street-smart boy, helped him get the visibility he wanted.

"A lot of good work is coming from that perception which people formed of me from my first film. I am happy that I was able to make a mark," Ranveer further added.

Having said that, the actor admits delivering good work consistently is vital.

"(I know) It is about delivery after this. Gone are the days of surviving on your persona," he told.

For now, he is doing well – with movies like "Ram Leela" and "Gunday" in his kitty!

Farhan Akhtar is not only a successful filmmaker and actor, but he can also sing. He has crooned songs like "Rock On!!" and "Tum ho toh" but tells he doesn't consider himself a playback singer, though he feels that singing enhances his performance in a film.

"I sing (in a film) only when I feel that any enhancement can happen in my performance in the film. I don't consider myself a playback singer," Farhan told on the set of singing reality show "Indian Idol Junior".

"For me, singing is one more aspect of enhancing my performance and I approach singing that way only," told Farhan, who was on the set to promote his upcoming movie "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag".

Farhan made his singing debut with 2008 musical "Rock On!!". He sang five tracks in the movie. Later, in the 2011 film "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", he lent voice to two tracks -"Senorita" and "Toh Zinda Ho Tum".

His next acting film, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", based on the life of former athlete Milkha Singh, releases July 12.