Shahid-Priyanka pairing not yet confirmed?

Is it a professional or a personal decision? One doesn't know but the fact remains that Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra relationship stays on to be under scrutiny practically every week. The latest is the axe that seems to have fallen hard on the Kunal Kohli film in which the duo was supposed to star together.

"It has been a couple of months since Kunal Kohli announced his next with Shahid Kapoor. In fact this was shortly after his production Break Ke Baad had managed decent business at the box office. Knowing the relationship status of Shahid and Priyanka, he was confident that the lady would consent to the film as well", says a source.

While Shahid has readily agreed to work on the film, there is still some flip-flop around the girl who would be cast opposite him. Though it was known to one and all that Priyanka has been approached to play the part, the fact that she hadn't signed on the dotted line always led to speculation.

"It is a 'kabhi haan-kabhi naa' relationship between Shahid and Priyanka. Nevertheless, professionals as they are, they won't allow their personal equation (whether good or not so good) to actually come in their way of making a decision around being cast opposite each other. After all, they are one of the few young ones who are (officially) still single and look good with each other", says a common friend.

Also, Priyanka is genuinely occupied with Agneepath remake already in progress and shoot about to begin for Ranbir Kapoor starrer Barfee. This is not all as Krrish 2 with Hrithik Roshan kick starts in September this year as well. No wonder, the lady could well be finding it difficult to adjust Kunal Kohli's film in her schedule.

On contacted, Priyanka did accept that she hadn't given her nod of approval to the Shahid Kapoor starrer yet. "The film is not confirmed yet and I am still in talks with Kunal. We have to work things out and see how to proceed further."

Well, hope to see you two soon!

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Suniel Wadhwa acquires 2 Hollywood Films from Summit Entertainment

52 Weeks Entertainment Inc has acquired the India distribution rights for two Summit Entertainment's Hollywood English films- the mind bending new action thriller, Source Code-Make Every Second Count set for a April 2011 release and The Impossible set for a October/ November 2011 release.

"The Hollywood revenue pie in India was stagnant at a meager 3-4% of the total Indian film box office collections for a long time. In 2009 &2010 due to advent of 3D technology this has increased to 8-10 % and is likely to touch 12% in 2011," says Suniel Wadhwa. "Both the films are sure to appeal to our audiences. While Source Code is an edge of the seat action thriller, The Impossible based on a true story of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand will tug at the heartstrings. Here spectacular special effects blend with heart-wrenching emotional drama."

Filled with mind bogging twists and heart pounding suspense Source Code- Make Every Second Count is a smart action thriller directed by the visionary director of Moon Duncan Jones. Set for an April 2011 release, the film revolves around protagonist Capitan Colter Stevens who discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a commuter train. He inhabits the body of another person and relives the last 8 minutes over and over again, unearthing clues each time as to the identity of the bomber. This tense and exciting film stars Jake Gyllenhaal of Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time and Brokeback Mountain, Michelle Monaghan of Eagle Eye and Gone Baby Gone and Vera Farmiga of Up in The Air and The Departed. The film has been written by Ben Ripley and Billy Ray, the scriptwriters of State of Play, Flight Plan and Breach and produced by Mark Gordon of 2012 and The Day After Tomorrow and Philippe Rousselet of Lord of War.

From the writer director of The Orphanage comes The Impossible based on a true story of 2004 Tsunami in Thailand, directed by Juan Antoino Bayona. Set for an October/ November 2011 release the film stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tim Holland has been scripted by Sergio G. Sanchez.

52 Weeks Entertainment Inc., a Motion picture distribution organization in India has regaled audiences in 2010 across selected part of circuits as per film trade with memorable films from Bollywood & Hollywood films like Ishqiya, Hurt Locker - (Mysore), Inception, I Hate Luv Stories - (Gujarat), Tere Bin Laden - (All India), Robot - (CP Berar), Yamla Pagla Deewana and Patiala House amongst others in circuits like Central Province -Vidharbha, Chattisgarh

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Dhobi Ghat to release in Germany

We all know that Bollywood films have a huge market in the overseas and this has proved to be beneficial to debutante director Kiran Rao whose film Dhobi Ghat was picked up by German distributors Rapid Eye Movies. They will be releasing the film in German theatres later this year.

Dhobi Ghat tells the story of four people from different backgrounds, whose worlds intersect and leave them forever altered. As they find themselves drawn into compelling relationships, the city finds its way into the crevices of their lives, separating them even as it brings them closer. The film which was screened last year at the Toronto International Film Festival met with critical acclaim and also garnered rave reviews back home.

The deal is said to include theatrical distribution rights, home video rights and free TV rights. What's more is that the producer of the film Aamir Khan, is currently on the jury at the Berlin Film Festival.

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Sarah Jane Dias shoots for Pepsi commercial with Ranbir Kapoor

She's playing a good game ever as she is set to make her debut with Abhishek Bachchan starrer Game, and even before her first film is out in the theatres worldwide, she has already shot with her second co-star Ranbir Kapoor.

You heard! Sara Jane Dias tells me, "I just shot a commercial with Ranbir Kapoor a few days ago for Pepsi and he again, like Abhishek Bachchan, is so down to earth and a great guy."

Yes, she has shot a commercial with Ranbir Kapoor but that ain't a bad start either. I mean, to be paired opposite India's best and current heart-throb is an achievement for a newcomer like Sara.

She further adds, "Despite the fact that he is from a filmy royalty, he is really well read and well spoken. He knows how to hold a conversation and it's nice to be able to meet people like Ranbir Kapoor because it's only when you meet such people you come to know that they are normal."

So impressed with Ranbir's professionalism, she said, "He is a thorough professional. He comes on the sets, does his work and then leaves the moment the shoot is over. No more time to loiter around."

She ends the talk but not before confessing her favourite Ranbir Kapoor film. "I loved him in Raajneeti and Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahaani."

Yeh hi hai right choice baby! Aha!

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Priyanka's sadistic wife-beating husband - Irrfan Khan

The cat is out of the bag. Irrfan may seem to be a gentle poet in Saat Khoon Maaf who woos and wins Priyanka Chopra's love in the pristine landscape of Kashmir. But within the sensitive skin lies the character of a sadistic animal. At home, Irrfan is shown to repeatedly beat up his wife Priyanka before having sex with her.

Says a source, "The character is incontrovertibly modelled on this gentle romantic superstar of yesteryears. He was a suave soft spoken ladies man in public. He swept the teen heart-throb of his times off her feet (stealing her away from her then-boyfriend).But after marriage her life turned into a living hell. In real life she walked out on the marriage. In the film Priyanka slaughters Irrfan after one wacking too many."

The most traumatic experience of Priyanka Chopra's career as an actress was getting beaten up repeatedly by Irrfan Khan. Method director that he is, Vishal Bhardwaj wanted the real thing. The blows raining on Priyanka are not make believe.

Irrfan plays a poet and a pervert. For the public, he's a gentle Kashmiri poet reciting beautifully penned words. In private, he is a brute and an animal who gets sexually excited by beating up his wife Priyanka Chopra.

Says a source from the film, "Vishal was very clear about the violence. He warned Priyanka that the slaps kicks and punches would be real. And she was all for it. But when it came to the crunch she couldn't help saying, 'Ouch!' every time a blow fell on her."

By the time Priyanka finished shooting her scenes with Irrfan, she had welters bruises and wounds to show for her commitment to the role.

Apparently, Irrfan was not the least inhibited by the violence.

Says the source, "She was given real blows, no fake ones. There were torn lips and swollen cheeks throughout without any makeup. Once, only once, Priyanka got a chance to get her own back. In one sequence her character gives Irrfan a tight slap back. Priyanka gave it her best shot, with the director's permission. Vishal Bhardwaj told her to slap Irrfan real and hard. 'He's from the NSD. He knows about method acting.' But Irrfan got scared. He told Priyanka to slap him with only four fingers."

This too is a scene that could be straight out of the ex-superstar's marriage. Apparently, after every bout of violence he would fear getting some of it back from his wife.

When contacted, Irrfan refrained from comment. He has been briefed by Vishal Bhardwaj to keep mum about his character's dark violent secret.

Finally after some persuasion Irrfan spoke about his character. Said the actor, "To reduce my character to a wife-beater would be to take away from his complexities. This is a man, a poet in a state of constant turmoil. He is forever seeking something; he knows not what. When he finds Priyanka's character, he feels his search has ended. But he realizes that he has embarked on another journey after marriage. In his endeavour to find himself, he ends up doing things he doesn't understand. He doesn't know why he's doing what he's doing."

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"Bryan Adams is coming back to Delhi" - Suniel Shetty

Bryan Adams is truly 18 till he dies. He proved it when his Delhi concert was unceremoniously cancelled on Tuesday. Instead of sulking, he immediately got down to working out a fresh date for the Delhi concert. Rather than sulk over the spilt rain.

Says Suniel Shetty who organized the Bryan Adams concerts, "He's definitely coming back to Delhi. We won't disappoint his fans. I didn't know Bryan before he came to India for the current concerts. He's a really chilled-out guy. Truly 18 forever at heart. No one was shedding tears over the cancelled concert."

It was a Save The Children endeavour that, alas, could not be saved from the rains. A heavy downpour washed away Bryan Adams's live concert in Delhi on Tuesday.

But Suniel seemed unperturbed. Speaking from Delhi on Tuesday afternoon he said, "We're in the process of setting a new date for the Delhi concert. Bryan performs in Hyderabad. Then he heads for Bangladesh and Nepal. We'll set a new date for Delhi concert as soon as he finishes his other commitments."

Looking at the positive side of the fiasco, Suniel says, "Good that the rains happened before the Delhi concert. Imagine if it had happened during the concert. All of Bryan's musical equipment would've been destroyed. It isn't such a loss, really. We will set a date for the Delhi concert at the earliest."

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Hollywood Bowl adds composer A.R Rahman to 2011 season

Looks like our Indian maestro is in the best phase of his career, and ever since he has moved to the West, his luck is just getting luckier.

The Hollywood Bowl has added an event to this year's season - 'Journey To India' with composer A.R. Rahman.

The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheatre in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances. It has a seating capacity of 17,376. The Hollywood Bowl is known for its band shell, a distinctive set of concentric arches that graced the site from 1929 through 2003, before being replaced with a somewhat larger one beginning in the 2004 season. The shell is set against the backdrop of the Hollywood Hills and the famous 'Hollywood' Sign to the Northeast.

On July 10, India's most prolific and successful movie composer (five time Oscar nominee including 127 Hours, and two Oscar wins for Slumdog Millionaire), A.R. Rahman returns for an evening of his atmospheric film scores - performed by the LA Phil and enhanced by scenes from his films - plus traditional Indian music and some of Rahman's spectacular Bollywood hits, with dancers.

A.R. Rahman, the man who has redefined contemporary Indian music, is the pride of the Indian nation and a role model for millions around the world. In a country where film music is the most popular form of music, Rahman is truly the emperor. A.R. Rahman, hailed by Time as the 'Mozart of Madras,' is one of the most successful artists of all time and, according to a BBC estimate, has sold more than 100 million albums of his works, comprising music from more than 50 movies.

All we are waiting for is the day when India's best, A.R Rahman merges with Hollywood's best, Hans Zimmer. Is everyone listening?

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