Munnabhai Chale Amrika is delayed For SRK's My Name Is Khan

For all those fans who are eagerly awaiting the third installment ‘Munnabhai Chale Amrika’, there is news. As per the latest reports, Munnabhai’s flight to America is delayed even further. And it is all owing to Karan Johar’s ‘My Name Is Khan’.

Apparently Shah Rukh Khan did all those things in America in MNIK that Sanjay Dutt was supposed to do as Munnabhai in the States. And seeing these similarities between the script for Munnabhai Chale Amrika and MNIK, the Munnabhai writer Parijat Joshi has been sent back to the storyboard stage.

Confirming reports, Sanjay Dutt told a daily, “Yes, there were similarities between ‘Munnbhai Chale Amrika’ and ‘My Name Is Khan’. Raj Kumar Hirani can’t afford to let the third Munnabhai film suffer in any way. Changes are being made. It’s a huge responsibility to helm the Munnbhai series and Raju (Hirani) knows it. He is the most meticulous and passionate filmmaker we have.”

As to why it has taken three years for the makers to get serious about the Munnabhai franchise, Dutt says, “True, but no one has forgotten Munnabhai. No one can. Raju wanted to prove himself in a non-Munnabhai film. So he made 3 Idiots. And look at what he achieved with that. He’s by far the best filmmaker today.”

“We’d have gone ahead with the third Munnabhai film by the end of this year. But the script had to be changed. I think we’ll start by April 2011. The second Munnabhai film was better than the first. Now the third has to be better than the second,” adds Dutt.

Raavan ill not be screened at the 11th India International Film Academy

Mani Ratnam said that his film `Raavan`, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, will not be screened at the 11th India International Film Academy.

Speaking on the sidelines of an inaugural event of a voluntary organization called NAAM here, Ratnam said that the ``Raavan`` would not be screened at the International Indian Film Academy awards, as the film is not complete.

Replying to question related to some Tamil movements opposing the release of the film…and if any Indian should not go for the Sri Lankan film festival..as this time Aishwarya Rai is also not invited for the awards ceremony.., Mani Ratnam said:
"I don``t know about them individually. I mean, it is not my call to tell them what they should do and not do, individually. But we are not going. The film is still not yet ready. We are still working on the background score of the film. The film will be ready till June. We are not going, the film is not going.”

``Raavan`` is a loose adaptation of the Hindu epic ``Ramayana``, in which Sita, the wife of Lord Rama, was abducted by the Lanka King, Ravana.

Reportedly, the film will have a new twist on the ``Ramayana``, as the film does not follow the plot of the epic.

Academy Award-winner A R Rahman has composed the score of the film, which is slated to release on Friday (June 18).

The IIFA 2010 is being viewed in Sri Lanka as a ``coming out`` platform for a nation that is emerging from 30 years of civil conflict.

However, there are speculations that the decision came after IIFA is being looked upon as controversial function by some south Indian filmmakers, as it is being held in Sri Lanka, where Sri Lankan Tamils were reportedly massacred last year.

The Tamil film fraternity has also rejected the idea of an Indian film event in Sri Lanka. Even popular Tamil actors Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Vijay, Ajith and Surya have also reportedly declined to take part in the IIFA.

Recently, the Tamil community group in Mumbai staged a protest at the residence of Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, who is a brand ambassador for IIFA.

Bachchan is due to attend the awards ceremony in Colombo from June 3-5.

IIFA is an organization dedicated to promoting Indian Cinema abroad, focusing on places with concentrations of Indian Diaspora, and the awards function last year was held in Macau in China.

Shah Rukh Khan donning a skin-tight rubber suit in his upcoming flick Ra.One

How exciting is the very thought of becoming a superhero! Well, ask Shah Rukh Khan, who is paying a heavy price for donning a skin-tight rubber suit in his upcoming flick ‘Ra.One’, which made it nearly impossible for the reigning star of Bollywood to visit the loo for twelve hours.

News has it that Shah Rukh Khan is facing hard times ever since he wore the rubberised superhero gear in Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Ra.One.’

Talking to a news daily on SRK’s predicament, a close source from the sets of ‘Ra.One’ said, “SRK is shooting for ‘Ra.One’ in Mumbai in this sultry heat. The shift usually extends to 10-12 hours everyday. The rubber suit sticks to his body and that makes the heat even more unbearable. It is such a tedious job to get in and out of the thick rubber costume — it takes almost 40 minutes — that SRK can’t even go the loo during the whole shift. But rather than complain about it, SRK laughs it off. He often jokes with the film’s cast and crew that if he can’t use the loo, he won’t allow any of them to use it either.”

Phew, being a superhero can be tough job, what say Shah Rukh?

Katrina Kaif says she is personally inspired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi

Katrina Kaif says she is personally "inspired" by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and would "jump at an opportunity" if offered to play her in a film.

"I think what she (Sonia) has achieved is incredible. It is a great inspiration," said the actress.

"I would jump at such an opportunity," said Katrina when asked whether she would like to portray Sonia Gandhi in reel life.

Katrina also identified Gandhi as her ideal. "But it is more as a woman and her life than a politician," said the actress, who was in the city to promote `Raajneeti`, which is slated for a June 4 release.

The 25-year-old is playing a young politician in the film but denied reports that her role resembles Gandhi.

Katrina plays the role of Indu Sakseria in the film, whose personal happiness is dependent on changing electoral fortunes of her love interest.


The actress said she plays the role of a normal girl who is brash and spoilt and immature and goes through a phase in life where she is forced to grow up.

Katrina said that she takes interest in politics, but hardly understands it.

"Interested in politics, yes I am, but do I understand? No, I don`t", said the actress.

Politics, she said, was in some way like poverty. "You are interested, you wish you could do something about it, but don`t know where to start. It is a world far beyond my comprehension," she said.

Katrina admitted she was more comfortable speaking in English, but was working "step by step" on her Hindi as well.

"I know I have an accent, but I am working on it and trying to improve it with every film," she said.

Twitter is Bollywood's new favourite platform to plug their films

Move over Facebook, Twitter is Bollywood's new favourite platform to plug their films, release 'first looks' and get movie buffs talking.

On Monday morning filmmaker Karan Johar posted the first public photograph of Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor starrer I Hate Luv Storys, following actors Abhishek Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who had recently put up first-ever pics from their respective films - Raavan and Ra.One - on the website. Actress Mallika Sherawat, too, posted pics of her film Hisss, before official promos were out.

Judging by the fact that a single picture gets thousands of responses, Twitter seems ideal to get fans in on the action. "This is really a very satisfying way of communicating with the world outside your immediate circle," said Johar.

For Abhishek, too, it is "an opportunity to get a feedback from fans." Genelia D Souza, who was one of the first people to respond to Johar's post, wrote, "Super first look. Very nice."

Actress Katrina Kaif were to contest Bhopal state elections

Howdee doo hoo my honey-fried noodleys! Mercury continues to rise, and today I'm going to cause it to rise even further. With a little help from the garma garam gossip from tinsel town that I have for you. So read on dahlings...

For starters, a jasoos from Juhu wants me to hear about Katrina Kaif's political aspirations. He had gone for some press meet of Raajneeti at the Marriott hotel the other evening, where he picked up this dope from.

So, I'm told that when the abhinetri was asked about her raajneeti plans in the future, she replied that if she were to contest elections, she would stand from Bhopal. Reason: Because they shot the movie there and the locals know her. And what's more is that she even hoped to garner considerable votes.

All that is alright, but the question is who would offer Kat a ticket from Bhopal. And while that's a highly debatable point, my khabru goes on to add that Kat confessed that whatever knowledge she has about politics, is all thanks to her film's director, Prakash Jha. It's another thing that he himself is done with active contesting for any political party, by his own admission.

By the way, my informer tells me that at one time, Kat also aspired to become a NASA scientist. Well, well, you never can tell. Although it seems a little too late, I wouldn't be surprised if she plays a scientist in one of her future projects. What say Katji?

The legendary Amitabh Bachchan was recently awarded yet another Lifetime Achievement Award

There's nothing that can rightly be called as a well deserved recognition for one who dedicated his life for cinema, to cinema and with cinema. But a Lifetime Achievement Award does come close to doing just that. The legendary Amitabh Bachchan was recently awarded yet another Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Asian Awards ceremony in Hong Kong.
Speaking about the same on his blog, Bachchan says, "It just got over! The pride and passion and honour of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Asian Awards ceremony here at the Exhibition centre in Hong Kong."
He continues, "To be honest, I had never expected it to be the way it was - the organization, the protocol, the discipline and the efficiency, all in place and all done with great aplomb and grandeur. There is nothing quite as satisfying as a system that works. And to come across a dictum on the city of my present habitat that proclaims 'Hong Kong - the city that works!' is no off the cuff floozy remark. Tonight it demonstrated that it actually lives up to its reputation.
Thank you Hong Kong, thank you Asian Film Awards for the respect and honour that you bestowed upon me, an honour that I shall cherish and remember fondly always."
This adds yet another feather to Big B's hat.