Anurag makes Kalki do intimate scenes

There's more to Kalki Koechlin's film roles than just quirkiness, rage and sleaze. But despite the attention-grabbing roles, Kalki is determined to prove that she is as good at handling drama, as playing a trauma-stricken teenager.

The actor, who is riding high post the success of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD), says that she is now ready to cut her teeth on commercial potboilers. "I have always thought of myself as a commercial actor," says Kalki, adding, "I've never ruled out masala films. I wanted to do a light-hearted, fun and uplifting flick, which ZNMD was. But on the other hand, it was also treated very realistically," she shares.

But despite a first-rate performance in ZNMD, big production houses aren't exactly knocking at her door. "Things don't change overnight. I don't look at a film in terms of where it will take me and my career. The script has to be believable and has to excite me," she adds.

After ZNMD, in which she got to show her humourous side, Kalki will be seen in That Girl In Yellow Boots, as a British citizen, Ruth, tracking her father in Mumbai and equipped with just a letter. "It is the toughest character I have played to date. The character comes to a different world completely and explores the Mumbai underbelly on her own without even speaking the language," she shares.

But is the film too outre for the Indian audience? "It is a niche film and not a commercial drama. But it is a very interesting story - a story of every woman who should be accepted," says Kalki. Prod her whether reports that scenes of the film - which did the rounds of film festivals - have been leaked on the internet irk her and she says, "There are always a lot of rumours about things. The release of the film got delayed because we were looking for an international release as well and it will hit the screens soon in the US."

Though she has two releases lined up, Dibakar Banerjee's political thriller, Shanghai and My Friend Pinto, Kalki is candid enough to admit that she's "not doing anything at the moment." "I am travelling with my plays, and will be starting another one soon," she shares. Shanghai has her Dev.D co-star Abhay Deol, but Kalki will be seen alongside Emraan Hashmi in the film. "I have no scenes with Abhay. I didn't see him at all on the sets of the film," she says.

As for husband Anurag Kashyap's recent remarks that it is difficult for him to watch Kalki do intimate scenes, the actor says, "Anurag only makes me do intimate scenes in his films. He has no right to complain."

Zig Zag Zindagi: My Friend Pinto

Produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ronnie Screwvala of UTV, My Friend Pinto directed by Raaghav Dar, stars Prateik Babbar and Kalki Koechlin along with Arjun Mathur, Shruti Seth, Makrand Deshpande, Raj Zutshi & Divya Dutta.



Prateik Babbar may be a newcomer to the industry, but he is learning the tricks of the trade — including how to ensure maximum publicity for his projects.



A case in point is how he has cashed in on Friendship Day to create a buzz around My Friend Pinto, which marks his first solo lead role.



“Prateik flew down from Delhi — where he was promoting Aarakshan — to Mumbai and planned a surprise bash for his friends,” says a source.



But is this just a promotional move?

“So what if his party on Friendship Day coincides with the theme of his film My Friend Pinto?” a friend says. “He hasn’t had time to catch up with the gang, and this is a great way.”



We have seen Prateik in more serious roles, but this time rising star Prateik takes on comedy playing Michael Pinto.



Michael is sweet and funny but at the same time, he is also trouble. A lot of trouble! And apparently he will bring the house down, (we hope not literally, but with laugher and applause) when the films opens October 14th!

Girl in the Yellow Boots also releasing in the US

Dev.D director Anurag Kashyap’s next 'That Girl In Yellow Boots' has achieved something that even the biggest blockbusters have not. It has managed to get distributors to release the film with 30 prints in the US, and that too in theatres not meant for just the NRI audience but also Americans.



The film will now release globally on September 2, a year after its completion. And that is because the director had failed to find a proper distributor.



“Indian distributors think that films that do not have a Bollywood star are not fit for international release. The point is that they only chase the NRI audience and are not willing to explore other markets. They have not thought of the audience from the other country,” explains Kashyap.



“Our sales agent Yellow Affairs helped us sell the film. In USA Indie Pix is releasing it with 30 prints, all in non-NRI theatres.

We have also sold the film in Scandinavian countries, Turkey, Southern Europe, New Zealand etc. We have also sold satellite rights in many countries. This is why I held on to this film. Today investors who don’t want to invest in Bollywood are funding me globally. I have got eleven films going on floors next year,” he concludes.

Sorry to disappointment: Katrina Kaif

At last Katrina has found a female friend within the film industry. For Katrina it’s never been easy bonding with the female co-stars, so much that she shies away from doing 2-heroine films like Anurag Basu’s Barfee recently.

In fact she has said no to several plum assignments in the past because she didn’t want to be pitted against another female actor.

But Kalki Koechlin has been an exception.

Contrary to reports Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin, the two ‘Ks’ studies who have just done a film together Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, have a lot in common and get along like a house on fire.

Kalki, we must remember, stepped into a part originally earmarked for Katrina in Dibakar Bannerjee’s Shanghai. But that didn’t stop them from becoming friends.

Kalki wonders who is spreading these rumours. “On the contrary Katrina and I get along very well. She’s relaxed and level-headed, ” she says.

Katrina is even more vocal in her denial of any stress between the two, “It is considered almost inevitable for two actresses to fight when they’re working together. But those who’re looking for a spicy fight between us are just barking up the wrong tree. Me and Kalki got along very well. Sorry to disappoint some people. But me and Kalki get along just fine,” she added.

As for Katrina cornering all the publicity she observes pragmatically, “This is not a film about one actor. It’s an ensemble cast, like Farhan’s Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On. We’re all equally important. ”

Farhan thanks Javed for his dialogues

Actor-director Farhan Akhtar has thanked his lyricist dad, Javed Akhtar, for writing some impeccable dialogues laced with poetry for the just released Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in which he plays one of the protagonists.

"It's so fantastic that everyone loves the poems in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Thank you pa @Javedakhtarjadu for injecting soul into the film with your gifted hand," Farhan wroted on his Twitter page.

Directed by Farhan's sister Zoya Akhtar, the movie released Friday also features actors Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin and has received a warm response from the audience.

Filmmaker Karan Johar seems to have liked the film so much that he is asking everyone to watch it.

"Please go watch ZNMD....NOW!!!! Zoya has pulled off a tough genre with utmost sincerity and flamboyance...zoya is the hero of the film!!!,(Sic)" Karan posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

DON 2 - First Look

I plead guilty of saying that I would not make a Don sequel, but somehow the character just wouldn’t leave me. Now, in retrospect, I’m glad I’ve made Don 2,” admits producer-director Farhan Akhtar, who is gearing up for the response to the first trailer of one of this year’s most eagerly awaited films that unveils in theatres this Friday, along with the Farhan-starrer, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Farhan’s partner and co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani endorses the fact that despite an open ending, the duo had not thought of taking the story forward when Don—The Chase Begins (2006) ended. He says, “But then Ameet (Mehta) and Amrish (Shah) came to us with an interesting story idea. It took us a while to develop it, but finally, last October, we flagged off Don 2, and on December 23, as Shah Rukh (Khan) says in the promos, the don will return to the screen after five years.”

Ritesh agrees that expectations are sky high, but is confident that the high-speed action sequences, the special effects and the familiar characters in a new European setting, will spark off an ‘Oh my God, this is huge!’ reaction from the audience,from children in particular, who, he admits, is Don’s biggest fan base. “It surprised me that my own kids had taken such a fancy to a bad guy till I realised that the eternal favourite, Tom & Jerry, is a violent cartoon too.”

The filmmakers adds that apart from two new characters, enacted by Lara Dutta and Kunal Kapoor, the others played by SRK, Priyanka Chopra, Boman Irani and Om Puri, are the same from Part 1 and continue from where they had left. Ritesh says, “So Roma knows that the good Vijay is dead, Don has survived and sets out to even the score,” he says. “That twist at the end of Part 1 was what made it different from Mr Bachchan’s (Amitabh) Don. This one is completely new and original with no reference points but you would have to see Don —The Chase Begins to understand what’s happening. Don is on its way to becoming a franchise now. This time if you were to ask me about a Part 3, I wouldn’t say no.”

From lovers to good friends.. Salman & Kat

Actress Katrina Kaif, who usually remains tight-lipped about her relationship status, told a fan that she is currently enjoying her time with family and that Salman Khan is her good friend.

During a chat with her fans on Airtel's "Talk2Me" platform, when the 26-year-old was quizzed about her relationship, she said: "At the moment I am just with my family and nothing going on like that."

When a fan said that people feel she looks good with Salman Khan, the British-born actress said: "Ya, he is a good friend of mine."

The two were reportedly seeing each other but broke off last year.

The actress is currently busy promoting her upcoming film "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", also starring Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar and Kalki Koechlin. The film directed by Zoya Akhtar will hit the screens Friday.

Kalki Koechlin pregnant ?

Close on the heels of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan announcing her pregnancy, another married actress is under the scanner.

While the lean and beautiful Kalki Koechlin is busy promoting her new film, Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, her recent absence from a couple of events have sparked off rumors that there's something brewing, after all.

Add to the fact that her husband, director-actor Anurag Kashyap, has clearly stated he would like to expand his family, and the whispers seem legitimate.

There were also unconfirmed reports that Kalki was visibly unwell at a recent event, making tongues wag again. However, a source close to the actress has rubbished those claims, stating that the bubbly actress was just the victim of a monsoon stomach bug.

Sounds like a case of "there's no smoke without fire", but until we hear it straight from the horse's mouth, we'll just wait to offer our best wishes.

Hrithik and Katrina kiss on ZNMD..

Hrithik Roshan has just returned after a grueling month-long schedule of Agneepath in Diu to the news that he is trying to pressurise Zoya Akhtar, director of his forthcoming movie, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, to tone down the sizzling chemistry between Katrina Kaif and him and leave a steamy kiss out on the editing table.

Rubbishing rumours, the star says, “The song revolves around five friends (Katrina, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Kalki and Hrithik) and there are no moments between Katrina and me there. But yes, there’s a kiss and I believe that if you’re going to risk your life and jump off a building, you bloody well should make it look convincing. Unless you are honest during such moments of physical intimacy, you will appear uncomfortable and guilty on screen. When you see the lead pair in an English movie kissing, it’s rarely offensive or ‘a bit much’. That’s because of the conviction in their performance.”

Negating reports of creative differences with Zoya, Hrithik points out that she’s the only director, apart from his dad (Rakesh Roshan), with whom he’s done two movies — Luck By Chance (2009) and ZNMD, and the only female director he’s worked with: “Zoya is an artiste who doesn’t feel the need to conform to a herd mentality. She is always thinking out of the box and trying to figure out how to do things differently.”

Hrithik admits that he’s always wanted to take a road trip but it wasn’t till he piled into a car with ZNMD co-stars that he experienced the heady joy of seeing the world. “

Shaitan shows the dark side of youngsters

Bejoy Nambiar's film Shaitan, which is touted as showing the dark side of the life of Mumbai youngsters, doesn't intend to have shock value to grab attention, says actor Gulshan Devaiya.

"I don't think we have done anything, which would have a shock value. It was scripted and it was in a flow. If it turns out something is shocking, then its ok but it's not done intentionally to shock people or to grab attention," Gulshan told in an interview.

Produced by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, Shaitan traces the life of five youngsters from Mumbai's urban scape and how in covering up an accident, these intelligent, good looking and "uber-cool" youngsters had to dig out the flip side of their character that lurks within.

"I don't think it's intended to show Mumbai in a different perspective, but it wanted to show how young people who live a very fast paced life in the city. It's also shows how young people are adapting themselves with the new Mumbai," said Gulshan.

He was initially offered the role of the police officer played by actor Rajiv Khandelwal but he had failed to impress Nambiar in the audition, he revealed.

"I was first called for the role of Mathur the cop, played by Rajiv Khandelwal. He wanted to shoot a scene with me and see if I fit the role. I think Rajiv Khandelwal was busy and was unable to give him time. So he was considering me.

"I shot for whole one day. It was a very tiring shot. I had to spend the whole day with a big moustache. I don't think he was really happy with how the shot came out and said he will let me know," said Gulshan.

Actress Kalki Koechlin, who has also worked with him in theatres and later in Kashyap's The Girl in Yellow Boots, then suggested his name to Nambiar for the role of KC.

"Kalki suggested my name for KC, because he hadn't finalised on the cast. So I took the scene, prepared for it and was auditioned. Again Bejoy Nambiar didn't call me. So I called because I was getting jittery. He confirmed me and that's how I got the role," said Gulshan, who has a long association with Kalki since his theatre days.

Gulshan himself was also more inclined towards the role he grabbed than that he was offered initially.

"Personally, I feel that Mathur's character is the best of the film but somehow I was instinctively drawn towards KC because I thought it would be a nice role, I would enjoy playing KC. So when I shot for Mathur I couldn't give my 100 per cent. I was somehow fantasizing the role of KC," said Gulshan.

The actor was enticed to do play KC because it's a very edgy role but he personally doesn't identify with the character at all.

"I am not like KC at all. I don't like too many people around, going to nightclubs, all this loud music, I don't do drugs, I don't even smoke though I occasionally enjoy my drinks. I didn't find the role difficult I found it interesting. I wanted to do it," he said.

The theatre actor had also played a small role in Rohan Sippy's recent release Dum Maro Dum and is again to be seen as a undercover gangster in The Girl in Yellow Boots.

Though he played grey characters in three consecutive films, Gulshan made a conscious effort to keep each of them radically discrete from each other.

"My character Ricky in Dum Maaro Dum is of a peddler and I played a gangster in 'The Girl in Yellow Boots' but I didn't draw any reference from any of my previous characters. I tried to keep KC as far away as possible in terms of look, speaking and walking style. I try to keep all the character as far away from me as possible. That's why I don't do TV commercials, because they want you as you are. It's very boring," said Gulshan.

Kalki Koechlin has no qualms with a bikini

Kalki Koechlin who will be seen in a hot sexy avatar in ‘Shaitan’ claims wearing bikini for the movie was a no big deal for her.

The actress is known for the kind of role she opts for and while talking about her bikini scene, she said, “For me the bikini shot in ‘Shaitan’ was not difficult as it was done around friends. It was like any group of friends in Mumbai will go to a resort and have fun in swimming pool and throw things around.”

“Yes, I would have been very nervous if the scene demanded me to come out of sand, oil on my body that would be a little more intimidating because you have the whole crew watching you,” she concluded.

So, it seems that Mrs. Kashyap has no issues donning a bikini but she needs her comfort level intact!

Trend Zettterr: 55mn hits in 48hrs

Since everyone of us have information at our fingertips, Excel Media has set a trend in Bollywood with a digital trailer launch of their film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara , last Sunday.

Within 48 hours of its launch, the trailer got over 55 million hits. That's an amazing 5.5 crore people.

Actors Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol viewed the launch live. Excited with the response and confident that the digital approach is the way ahead, Ritesh Sidhwani says, "This is an astounding number by any standards". And the audiences include ones on mobile phone, social media and You tube. The trailer on FB is receiving frequent 'likes' and the entire driving force behind the digital platform is undoubtedly the transparency that it offers.

Every view is direct, from across the world and immediately available for the filmmakers to see. To the extent that one can check viewers from which city are watching the trailer. As ZNMD dons the role of a trendsetter, let's wait and watch how many others toe the line.

Anurag and Kalki to wed on April 30th

They have been together through thick and thin, completely different from each other and yet bonded by love -- Anurag Kashyap and Kalki Koechlin have finally decided to get married.

April 30 is the day when these two lovebirds will take marital vows amidst family and friends. The marriage is reportedly in the beautiful hill city of Ooty where Kalki’s mother stays. The couple, who recently admitted that they got engaged in January, has invited around forty people. The marriage will be attended by only a few from the industry. Kalki has also met her in-laws in Benaras (Anurag’s hometown) during the shoot of Anurag's forthcoming film, Gangs Of Wasseypur.

The maverick director of Dev D confirms the marriage to a tabloid, and clears that the marriage will be devoid of any pomp and show and would be a very simple ceremony. As both Kalki and Anurag are very private persons they don’t want media to be part of their wedding ceremony. The couple will wed in South Indian style, and as per reports, Kalki will wear a Kanjivaram saree and Anurag - a dhoti.

This is Anurag’s second marriage. His first wife was film editor Aarti Bajaj, with whom he has a daughter named Aaliya.

Kalki and Anurag’s love story started from the sets of Dev D, and since then the two are like inseparables. They have been living together for last two years, and have even bought a new house.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara - a total entertainer

Hrithik Roshan is not only one of the superstars of Indian cinema but also an exceptional actor who is truly envied for his incomparable performances and an idealized body. He is all set to show off his marvellous figure that is properly carved with maximal perfectionism. The eminent actor will gracefully perform in his upcoming movie ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA. This movie is considered to be the most thrilling release of the upcoming summer holidays.

This flick is bound to offer total entertainment to the audiences. This incredible movie is a story of three close friends that joyfully plunge on an amazing trip on road where every turn of it is enriched with total excitement. The other magnificent stars of this enigmatic film are Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar and Kalki Koelchin. The initial profound poster of this marvellous film is eventually disclosed. It inevitably depicts that Hrithik has arrived with the complete grace. He efficiently looks like supernal man as he graciously looked in his earlier blockbuster DHOOM 2. It is quite exciting to cognize that Hrithik is returning back with an effective attitude and a body that is perfectly chiselled.

Kalki & Anurag to get hitched

Anurag Kashyap has supposedly got engaged to his live-in girlfriend Kalki Koechlin. The couple reportedly has had an informal engagement last month and are planning to tie the knot by the end of this year or early next.

In two years Kalki has turned the brooding director in a happier person, and a fitter one, as he has shed kilos.

When TOI bumped into him at Rani Mukerji's house two weeks back, he told us that he was maintaining his health because Kalki was on his case about him being healthy. Ciao, at least now he looks like her boyfriend, and not a cradle snatcher. Congratulations to the lovely couple.