After Ragini MMS, Sid Jain announces his next film Shaadi Of The Dead

It's wedding season throughout India and what better day to bring you this news story than today. A month ago you were informed on iRock and Sid Jain's speedy production of Ragini MMS and his association with his new formed team of directors who will be directing films under iRock.

As I'd love to call Sid, this Speedy Gonzales is showing no signs of taking it easy. iRock and Sid Jain have just announced their next film to go on floor after Ragini MMS. After branching into horror, Sid and company have come up with a complete contrast. His next production is titled Shaadi Of The Dead, a mad, crazy and romantic comedy that unfolds like a fun roller coaster ride, with a bunch of zombies.

Invite - Shaadi Of The Dead, Invitees - Zombies and the Venue has been finalised too. The film is set in the yamla-pagla land - Punjab.

Navdeep Singh, the director of Manorama Six Feet Under is held responsible to handle the marriage. In other words, he is the director of the film.

On further enquiry, Sid Jain tells me, "Firstly, let me make this clear that the illustration you are looking at isn't the final poster of the film. It's a basic font for the purpose of creating the final poster of Shaadi Of The Dead. I am very proud to be the producer of India's first zombie-comedy film. It's going to be an iconic 'youth' film, as far as I am concerned, and will redefine youth entertainment for this decade in India. It's mad, crazy, romantic, funny, violent and super cool. It's like a 2 hour theme park ride."

What ritual does a married couple go through after their marriage? The answer - Honeymoon. And what has the word 'Honeymoon' got to do with Shaadi Of The Dead? Well, in the words of Sid Jain, "We've already started work on the sequel story - 'Honeymoon Of The Dead', and a 50 page zombie-comedy graphic novel 'Bollywood of the Dead' is ready to be printed and released in the summer of 2011. This will also be adapted into a film next year."

And if surprises have got a synonym, it has to be Sid. Mr. Jain further shocks me by informing, "We are also working on a crazy-zombie reality TV show soon and launching an Indian zombie website by the end of this year. It's a complete franchise property for iRock."

And as he ends his answer, he pauses, recalls, and utters, "The writing team of Shaadi Of The Dead and Honeymoon Of The Dead is the one that also wrote Ragini MMS"

The star cast of Shaadi Of The Dead will be announced in a few weeks. Watch this space!

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Naseeruddin Shah to play a character based on Rajinikanth in The Dirty Picture

One film that has been much talked about ever since its announcement is Ekta Kapoor's The Dirty Picture directed by Milan Luthria. The film, which is based on South siren Silk Smitha's life, has Vidya Balan essaying the lead role. Now the latest is that the makers have roped in none other than veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah to play an important role in The Dirty Picture.

Naseer saab's character is apparently based on South superstar Rajinikanth. Naseer would be seen wearing flamboyant clothes like how Rajini usually wears and will also be sporting different types of wigs. Surprisingly Naseer has not seen a single Rajinikanth film and plans to catch up on some of his hit films to get the nuances of the character bang on.

Apparently Vidya's character in the film idolises the character played by Naseer saab. This would be the second time Vidya and Naseer would be sharing screen space after the much acclaimed Ishqiya.

Besides Vidya and Naseer saab, there's strong buzz that The Dirty Picture also stars Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor in important roles.

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Arjun Rampal leaves for Bangkok to do cameo in Sanjay Dutt's Rascals

On Monday night, Arjun Rampal left for Bangkok to do a longish 20-day cameo for David Dhawan's Rascals. Arjun, who has lately become extra-picky about his projects, was in two minds about doing a cameo at this juncture of his career when he's trying very hard to consolidate his position as an actor with a distinctive identity.

Says a source, "Although Arjun was tempted to work with David Dhawan for the first time, the last thing he wanted do was to get into the cameo space again. Repeatedly, filmmakers have put Arjun in the cameo space with the promise of bigger roles later. Karan Johar and Farhan Akhtar had given Arjun walk-on parts in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. These led to sizeable parts in We Are Family and Rock On. But now Arjun is done with cameos." Apparently, Arjun duly informed David Dhawan of his inability to do a cameo in a film that already features Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn.

This is where Dutt who turns producer with Rascals stepped in. Not too many people would be able to say no to Sanjay Dutt, especially when he is on the verge of entering a new phase in his life as a producer. Apparently, Dutt met Arjun and told him that he must do the part since it was written specially for him.

Just before flying out to Bangkok on Monday night, Arjun said, "Yes I finally agreed to do Rascals. I always wanted to work with David Dhawan. And it is Sanjay Dutt's first production. So all the more special. I've about twenty days work. However, cameos as a rule are not what I'm looking for in my career right now."

Arjun is looking forward to seeing how audiences react to his part of the main antagonist in Ra.One. "I've played the bad guy successfully in Om Shanti Om. Even Raajneeti had shades of grey. So there's no apprehension about acceptability as a villain. At the end of the day, a good role is a good role, black or white or grey. I'm happy with the way my career has shaped up."

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Ahana Deol to make her debut in Aparna Sen film

Not too long ago, the industry was abuzz with news that Dharmendra's younger daughter Ahana was scheduled to make her acting debut with Vikramaditya Motwane's film Muqabloo. However, the film is now on hold.

Now it is learnt that Ahana is all set to make her acting debut with another film this year. Ahana will face the camera for acclaimed director Aparna Sen, known for her films like Mr and Mrs Iyer, The Japanese Wife and 36 Chowrangee Lane.

The yet untitled film is produced by Hema Malini, and will be an interpretation of the timeless Romeo-Juliet story with Prateik playing a modern-day Romeo to Ahana's. The shooting of the film will start in September this year.

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Sunidhi Chauhan records duet with Enrique Iglesias

Our entertainers are constantly floating pointed rumours about their purported collaboration with international stars. Talk of Hollywood movie projects supposedly featuring our desi A-listers with Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Michael Douglas, etc. came and went. What happened?

Finally, it's the seductive-throated Sunidhi Chauhan who has done it. She will be part of an international album titled Euphoria where she will share tracks with the likes of Usher, Akon and Nicole from Pussycat Dolls. Sunidhi has crooned a love duet entitled 'I can feel you' with none other than international singing sensation Enrique Iglesias for the album

Apparently, Sunidhi was chosen to sing for this global album alongside Usher, Akon and Nicole, as her voice was perceived to have an international feel to it.

When contacted, Sunidhi is most reluctant to talk about the song.

She said, "As you rightly said our artistes are all the time talking about collaborating with international artistes. Finally, nothing happens. I don't want to sound like one of those proposal makers. So all I'll say at the moment is, yes I've recorded the duet that you mentioned. Beyond that I'll let the song speak for itself."

Shamir Tandon who has composed the duet for Sunidhi with Enrique is far more forthcoming. "It's absolutely true that Sunidhi has sung for a global album featuring Usher, Akon and Nicole. I've composed Sunidhi's song with Enrique. We are not like those wanna-go-west Indian musicians who just talk about collaborations. Talk doesn't mean anything. I am proud to say I'm one of the first Bollywood musicians to have composed for Enrique Iglesias. Having successfully and legitimately collaborated in the past with the Boy Band Blue for 'One Love' in the Rakht and having composed a duet for Bret Lee with Asha Bhosleji, I can comfortably say I've gone from talk to actually doing it."

The album Euphoria containing Sundhi's duet with Enrique Iglesias releases in March.

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Minissha Lamba joins Joker

Pretty girl Minissha Lamba is the newest addition to the cast of Joker. With her inclusion, the principal star cast of this Shirish Kunder directed film is complete. Joker now stars Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Shreyas Talpade and Minissha Lamba.

Confirms Shirish, "Minissha has been signed for the film. She would be playing a lead opposite Shreyas Talpade."

There was some deliberation that happened before Minissha came on board. While Akshay had been confirmed in the middle of last year itself, Sonakshi's name cropped up around the release of Tees Maar Khan. Early this year, Shreyas came on board and now Minissha has stepped in as well.

On asked to state the reason behind Minissha being the chosen one, Shirish (who has earlier directed Jaan-E-Mann) said, "I wanted someone who looks sweet and innocent. There had to be purity about her face and body language and this is what I got in Minissha."

Though Sonakshi is the lead opposite Akshay in the film, Shirish says that Minissha's character adds value to the film's plot as well.

"She is what I call 'an outside factor' in the film", says Shirish who would be kick starting the film's shoot later this month, "Though the film has a village setting to it, Minissha is an urban girl who joins the characters there. It's a performance oriented role instead of just being glamorous."

On her part Minissha is happy that things are looking up for her. After gaining good acclaim for her part in Well Done Abba, she went slow in signing films as she wanted to pick only the best of the lot. Now with a film that comes with the backing of the likes of Akshay Kumar and Farah Khan, Joker is an offer that she just couldn't refuse.

"Absolutely", Minissha nods in agreement here, "I am very happy that I am doing Joker as I always wanted to do a comedy. It's a genre that I wish to explore. Also, these are people for whom I hold huge respect. While Akshay has been around for so long now, I have been a great admirer of Shirish's work too."

She isn't apprehensive about Sonakshi Sinha taking away attention from her.

"At the end of the day everyone has his or her own irreplaceable place in a story", says Minissha who would soon be seen in Bheja Fry 2 and Hum Tum Aur Shabana where she is playing a central protagonist, "Whatever part that you may play in the film, I have to deliver my best and leave the rest for audience to decide. Eventually it is an entire film that they take home."

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Release Date Updates: 'Rockstar', 'Shagird' shifted, 'Mumbai Cutting', 'Chalo Dilli' announced

Here's an update on the release dates of some films...

• KACCHA LIMBOO: Directed by Sagar Ballary [BHEJA FRY], the film will release on 18 February or 25 February.
• SHAGIRD: This Nana Patekar - Mohit Ahlawat - Anurag Kashyap starrer has been shifted ahead. Is now confirmed for 11 March.
• MUMBAI CUTTING: Comprising eleven short films and directed by a host of eleven directors, the film will release in March. The exact date is under finalization.
• CHALO DILLI: A co-production between Eros and Mahesh Bhupathi/Lara Dutta, it is confirmed for 29 April.
• CHILLAR PARTY: Also confirmed for 29 April is this UTV film.
• DOUBLE DHAMAAL: Arriving on 10 June.
• AZAAN: Directed by Prashant Chadha, the film is slated for release on 23 June [Thursday].
• 'Rockstar', starring Ranbir Kapoor & directed by Imtiaz Ali, shifted to 8th or 15th July.
• MAUSAM: Is NOT arriving in July. Eros is yet to finalize the date.

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