Paathshala

Shahid Kapoor’s new film ‘Paathshala‘ has been one of the most awaited film and is creating a buzz around the fans. It also stars Ayesha Takia and Nana Patekar. The film is directed by award winning Marathi film director Milind Ukey.

Filmfare Power List topped by Chopras

Proving once again that the golden levers of power in Bollywood are really behind the screen and not on it, the father-son team of Yash and Aditya Chopra have, for the third year in a row, come out at the top of the Filmfare Power List.

The Filmfare Power 2007 survey was conducted by AC Nielsen-ORG MARG, the largest market research and information company in South Asia. Respondents included actors, technicians, financiers, distributors, exhibitors and photographers. The results have some major surprises and some rude shocks in store.

Following the Chopras is Shah Rukh Khan, who maintained his No 2 position, riding largely on the success of his home production Om Shanti Om and the Chopras' Chak De , the two biggest grossers of the last year. At No 3, in a surprise elevation is Akshay Kumar, who had not two but four hits in 2007 - Namastey London , Heyy Babyy , Bhool Bhulaiyya and Welcome .

Amitabh Bachchan, No 3 last year, has slipped four notches to No 7, and is now only one ahead of his pretty daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Bachchan. Between Akshay and Amitabh is the solid bankable quotient - Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan and A R Rahman. Aishwarya, who leads among the heroines, has pipped Rani Mukerji, who is a hair's breadth below at No 9.

Karan Johar may have sat the year out as far as film-making goes but his natty turn as television anchor in Koffee With Karan has won him the hamper at No 10, ousting in the process the more productive competition. Sanjay Leela Bhansali Saawariya and Vidhu Vinod Chopra Eklavya don't seem to have cut the mustard, with their lavish productions having failed to stir the box office.

According to Filmfare, the criteria that decides the winners include factors like their box-office draw, their ability to generate funds for others, and their ability to call the shots no matter what.

Which perhaps explains why Yash and Aditya Chopra, who gave the country an anthem of sorts of with Chak De India , were catapulted to top spot despite four damp squibs - Ta Ra Rum Pum, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Aaja Nachle .

Katrina Kaif stars in Yash Raj Film's next

Kabir Khan, the director of Kabul Express which released in Dec 2006, is now set to direct his next film. It was said that the film would star John Abraham and Neil Mukesh in lead roles. Now, the latest addition to the cast of the film is Katrina Kaif. Katrina will play the female lead opposite John Abraham. The film which will go on the floors in July this year will release in 2009. The rest of the cast members are still being finalized.

Says Kabir Khan, “This is a very relevant and contemporary story and very close to my heart. I am excited to start my second film under the Yash Raj banner.”

John and Abhishek's Dostana

It's a proud moment for Yash Johar's son. Because he has decided to name his new production starring Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra after a hit film of his father from 1980.

The film directed by his assistant Tarun Mansukhani set in Miami starts shooting this summer.

And it's just been named Dostana.

Says Karan Johar, "For a long time we had no title for Tarun Mansukhani's brilliant script. It's funny sassy hilarious…and it's about the friendship between these two guys played by Abhishek and John.

So I don't know why it took us so long to hit on the right title. Dostana, it is. I was waiting for Tarun to return from location scouting before firming in on the title."

Karan gets nostalgic about the title. "You know when my father produced Dostana in 1980 he was going through hard times. But all the three principal actors Amit Uncle, Shatrughan Sinhaji and Zeenat Aman co- operated to the fullest. That's how the film was made."

So is the new Dostana a love triangle like the old one?

"Ha! Well, yes and no. Though it's a love story. There's a never-before twist in the tale. All I can say on-record is that we've never had a love triangle like this Dostana before.And you'll never see Abhishek and John playing something like this again," promises Karan.

He's also relieved that there was no title hassle. "For Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna I had to ask Aroona Irani aunty. She sweetly gave me the title in exchange for a pappi (kiss). For Dostana I had to kiss nobody.Execept my father's memory."

Abhishek-Priyanka-John in a "unique love triangle"

Karan Johar promises that his upcoming production has three Bollywood stars in a unique love triangle.

It is common knowledge by now that John Abraham , Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra are set to team up in Karan’s next production that will be directed by his trusted assistant Tarun Mansukhani.

Now, Karan has revealed some inside info about the film.

The movie will have Abhishek and John playing two thick friends. So, in keeping with the film’s theme, Karan has titled it Dostana , which was the title of the yesteryear film starring Amitabh Bachchan , Shatrughan Sinha and Parveen Babi that Karan’s dad Yash Johar produced in 1980.

Karan says the similarities between the two films end at their titles. Although his film also has a love triangle like his dad’s film, Karan says his flick has a “twist in the tale” that makes its story something that Indian movie buffs haven’t seen before.

Though the claim does sound a bit pompous, Karan stands by his statement and even goes on to say that John and Abhi are cast in very different roles in his film.

‘Dostana’ will be shot in Miami. The shooting locations have already been finalized by the director.

Saif-Kareena want to do films together being "UNMARRIED"

Saif Ali Khan has made no secret of his desire to have sweetheart Kareena Kapoor in films to be produced by his home production.

But just Saif’s desire is not enough. The directors he signs for his productions will have the last word, as was the case with Imtiaz Ali who chose Deepika Padukone over Kareena to be Saif’s heroine in the film he is directing for the actor’s production house.

“Of course, I’d like Kareena to be in every film I make. But my directors may have other plans,” Saif told a Mumbai tabloid recently.

Coincidentally, Saif and Kareena’s wish has been granted. The two lovers have been signed to play the leading roles in one of Karan Johar ’s forthcoming production ventures to be directed by Rensil D’ Silva, who wrote Rang De Basanti .

However, the film may not go on the floors soon. If things go as planned, its shooting will begin in October this year.

Before that, Saif and Kareena will be seen together in the Yashraj banner’s upcoming film Tashan .

And who knows, by the time they start Johar’s film in the last quarter of this year, Saif and Bebo may be man and wife. Now, this is just a speculation.

Shahid to pay tribute to Aamir Khan…

Shahid Kapoor has always admired Aamir Khan for the different roles that he has played on screen.

Now, Shahid’s close friend Ahmed Khan, choreographer-turned-producer has signed him for his new film Paathshaala, which will be directed by Milind Ukey who has assisted Sanjay Leela Bansali. In the film the audiences will get to see Shahid paying tribute to Aamir Khan.

His character is about an English and music teacher who comes to live with a group of young troubled students almost similar to what Aamir played in TZP.

One cannot deny the fact that Aamir’s latest hit created a huge difference and changed the way in which a parent-children relationship was looked upon.

Paathshaala also deals with a teacher’s interaction with the group of young kids. The children who would be seen playing students to Aamir are Swini Khare from Cheeni Kum, Ali Haji from Fanaa and Dwij Yadav from Nanhe Jaisalmer.

Ahmed Khan has directed two films before- Lakeer and Fool N Final; both flopped at the box-office. However, the producer is very confident with his latest project as it comes straight from his heart and took him almost a year to finalize the script.

Let’s just wait and see whether Shahid does justice to the role which has already been played by his mentor.