Top Bollywood Artists

Movies about Indian cinema's legendary personalities are still a rarity. And one of those rare attempts is being made by Deepti Naval - she is keenly interested in making a non-fictional movie on the life and times of that amazingly naturalistic actor Balraj Sahni, but facing certain problems.

Deepti, who is aesthetically motivated by Balraj Sahni's natural performances, has been researching his life for years. Just when she was ready to put all her research material on screen for the immortal actor's birth centenary this month, a hurdle has placed in Deepti's plans by Balraj Sahni's son Parikshat Sahni.

Deepti revealed, "I was really keen on making a film on Balraj Sahni. But when I approached his son Parikshat for his consent, he told me he had already given the filming rights on his father's life to another producer. He didn't think it was right for me to do a film when someone else is committed to do the same. I agree. But we're trying to find a solution to the deadlock, because I'm really keen to do this."

Years ago, Simi Garewal made a documentary called "Living Legend Raj Kapoor" and Sandip Ray did one on Kishore Kumar.

Deepti, who was lately seen in a minuscule role in Yash Raj Films' "Aurangzeb", tells some of her important scenes have been cut from the movie.

"But I've no regrets. I did it because of my regards for Mr. Yash Chopra. He was always very sweet and kind to me," told the actress of movies like "Saath Saath" and "Chashme Buddoor".

The actress tells mainstream cinema has always had a problem positioning her.

"That's why I keep running back to the more realistic cinema. It's okay to do a small role in mainstream cinema like 'Aurangzeb' or 'Yaariyan'. But its movies like Rituparno Ghosh's 'Memories Of March' and Avinash Kumar Singh's 'Listen, Amaya' that sustain me as an actress," told Deepti. She is now looking forward to the release of Shekhar Suman's "Heartless".

"'Heartless' is a rare commercial movie where I have a substantial role," she further added. 

This is surely unheard of. Before hitting the road, Sujoy Ghosh apologized to his fans in advance for boring them with his silly tweets during long drive to work.

"Long drive to work. Like really long. So apologies in advance if random crap tweet happens. Boring time lies ahead," Ghosh, who rose to fame with 2012 hit "Kahaani", wrote on Twitter.

He is likely to come up with a sequel to "Kahaani" soon.

Singer-actress Sophie Choudry is overjoyed after receiving a gift from actress Malaika Arora Khan.

Sophie, 32, posted that she got a gift from Malaika's online fashion store - The closet, but refused to reveal what exactly the gift was.

"The fab Malaika Arora Khan sent me a little something from her clothing label, The closet Label.com! Not telling you what," Choudry posted. 

What is actor Arshad Warsi thrilled about? Shooting last schedule of his forthcoming film "Mr Joe B Carvalho" in Goa.

He loves the city so much that he won't mind shooting in the heat.

"Good morning, off to Goa for the last schedule of 'Mr Joe B Carvaloh'. Love Goa so will deal with the heat," Arshad wrote on Twitter.

To be "Mr Joe B Carvalho" will see the 45-year-old playing a detective and the cast also includes Geeta Basra, Javed Jaffrey and Soha Ali Khan. 

Actor Mahaakshay Chakraborty, who has shared screen space with his father, veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty in his upcoming movie "Enemmy", tells it was a "nerve-wracking" experience for him.

Directed by Ashu Trikha, "Enemmy" is a cop action drama, which features Mithun and actor Suneil Shetty in lead roles, while Mahaakshay plays a CID officer in the movie.

"For me, it was a nerve-wrAcking experience," Mahaakshay told at the music launch of the movie.

Actor Akshay Kumar was present as the chief guest of the event, where film's other cast members were in attendance too.

Mithoon told he was happy to work with his son.

"He is growing as an actor, and I want him to grow...that's the way," Mithun told here.

Mahaakshay made his acting debut as Mimoh with the movie "Jimmy" in 2008 and later he was seen in the movies like "Haunted 3D" and "Loot". But he couldn't get a strong foothold in the industry.

Mithun wants his son to carve his own niche.

"You have to fight your own battle. I am not one of those fathers who always goes on blessing and praising, that 'yes, everything is good'," he further added.

Slated to release June 21, "Enemmy" also features Kay Kay Menon, Mahesh Manjrekar and Yuvika Chaudhary of "Om Shanti Om" fame. 

Indiais "regressive for women" and a "depressing" place to be, tells Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat, explaining why she divides her time between India and the US.

She was speaking the 66th Cannes International Film Festival, at an interaction at The Variety Studio. Mallika has flaunted the link of her interview on her Twitter page.

Talking to Variety's Steve Gaydos, the 36-year-old Indian actress, who divides her time between Indiaand Los Angeles, was highly critical of her country, particularly for women.

"I made a conscious decision to divide my time between Los Angeles and India," she told.

"So when I enjoy the social freedom in Americaand go back to India, which is so regressive for women, it's depressing. As an independent woman, it's really depressing", she further added.

Hailing from Rohtak in Haryana, Mallika entered the Indian film industry in 2003 with "Khwahish" and grabbed headlines for her cleavage-baring clothes and over 15 screen kisses.

She also starred in popular Hindi movies like "Murder" and "Welcome".

She went international with Jackie Chan-starrer 2005 movie "The Myth", and then did Jennifer Lynch's "Hisss" and William Dear's "Politics of Love".

Mallika's first visit to the Cannesfest was with Jackie Chan for the promotion of "The Myth".

The actress is now busy with an Indian movie, "Dirty Politics".

Talking about it, she told, "The film began six months ago and it's a biopic. It's a story of a woman who is a nurse; she gets involved with a politician and gets murdered in the end. It shows how the government reacts to it."

Mallika told, "Indiais a hypocritical society where women are really at the bottom as compared to men. And here was this woman (in the film) who actually had the courage to stand up to this politician who kind of raped her, molested her, abused her and record his misgivings and release it to the press.  You don't do that in a country like India, and she had the courage to do that."

She claimed she was the first actress in Indiato kiss on screen and wear a bikini. 

Rishi Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor are getting ready to step into the former's grandfather Prithiviraj Kapoor and father Raj Kapoor's roles in an "Awara" remake.

And with the remake of "Awara", the Kapoors' well-known home banner RK Films would be grandly rejuvenated.

Before that Rishi and his talented wife Neetu would be seen on the screen for the first time with their son Ranbir in Abhinav Kashyap's "Besharam".

Rishi let out the big secret plan for the great histrionic plan with Ranbir and told, "'Besharam' was the testing ground for the two of us together on the screen. We would now like to do something deeper. A remake of my father's 'Awara' is on our minds. And in all likelihood, we will be doing it for our banner RK Films."

Rishi won't direct the neo-"Awara".

"No thanks. Direction is a thankless job. I don't want to get into that space at all," told Rishi, who went behind the camera for "Aa Ab Laut chalen".

"I am very comfortable and happy as an actor. I just want to act. I am at peace with myself. I don't have to think about anything except acting. I am having a ball. I've received loads of messages for my performance in 'Aurangzeb'. I can't be happier. The best most touching message came from Mrs Pam Chopra. I'll treasure it forever," told the 60-year-old.

As far as "Besharam" is concerned, one now hears that Rishi-Neetu's roles are being broadened so that the audiences don't feel cheated by the playing-time featuring Ranbir with his parents.

Rishi told, "Both Neetu and I enjoyed working with Ranbir thoroughly. I had fun working with my wife and son. But I still feel there should be more of Neetu and I in 'Besharam'. My only grouse in this otherwise-enjoyable experience was the length of our roles and Ranbir knows it. So they're trying to expand our roles. Neetu and I play cops. Our characters are seen off and on."

"The director is trying to increase Neetu and my roles. Of course, Ranbir and I have scenes together in 'Besharam', including the climax of the plot. But they're trying to create scenes where all three of us can be together," told Rishi who gave hits like "Khel Khel Mein" and "Kabhi Kabhie" with Neetu.

Rishi tells his earlier doubts that Ranbir may be uncomfortable sharing screen-space with him, were totally unfounded.

"'Yeh aaj kal ke bachcha nahin baap hain'. In any case, 'Besharam' is not a movie that requires great histrionics from either of us. It's light, bubbly and frothy and a little dramatic," he told.