I want 'Love Aaj Kal' to break all records: Kareena Kapoor

Her recent release "Kambakkht Ishq" has seen the best opening of 2009 so far. But Kareena Kapoor wants boyfriend Saif Ali Khan's "Love Aaj Kal" to even surpass her film's record and enjoy phenomenal success at the box office.

"I really want 'Love Aaj Kal' to break all box-office records. Yes, 'Kambakkht Ishq' is my film but then so is 'Love Aaj Kal'. For both Saif and me 'Love Aaj Kal' is a not just a prestigious project but also something which is very close to our hearts", Kareena told IANS.

Releasing Friday, "Love Aaj Kal" is Saif's first production venture. Tell her that expectations are huge from the movie as well as Saif and she nods in agreement.

"Yes, I'm aware about the huge expectations and I also know that 'Love Aaj Kal' has turned out to be a lovely film. The good part is that the film has generated all around positive vibes and everyone expects good things from the film," she said.

With Saif playing two characters - Jai Vardhan Singh and Veer Singh (the younger version of Rishi Kapoor) - "Love Aaj Kal" touches upon the universal essence of love.

According to director Imtiaz Ali, "the process of relationship might be different in different eras, but the experience of being in love remains the same".

Another factor that makes "Love Aaj Kal" a special film for Kareena is the fact that it has Imtiaz at the driving seat.

I have worked with Imtiaz in 'Jab We Met' and ever since then we all expect so much from him. He has great sensibilities of a storyteller and can't set a foot wrong. I really hope and pray that 'Love Aaj Kal' manages to strike a chord with audiences in the same way as 'Jab We Met'," she said.

Remembering her stint in "Jab We Met", Kareena agrees that it was an extraordinary experience.

"To play a character like 'Geet' (her screen name in 'Jab We Met') doesn't happen all the time; it just happens. When you begin working on a film, you of course know about the story and your character. However, no one knows how audiences would eventually react to it. 'Geet' did strike a chord with the audiences and became a household name," she said.

One expects something similar from "Love Aaj Kal" as well that also stars Deepika Padukone. Apart from them, Rishi Kapoor and Rahul Khanna will also be seen in pivotal roles with Neetu Singh in a guest appearance.

Yash Raj Films denies signing Salman Khan

Bollywood's prestigious banner Yash Raj Films has denied reports that it has signed Salman Khan for a movie, saying they are "completely baseless".

It was reported that writer-turned-director Vijay Krishna Acharya, whose directorial debut "Tashan" was produced by the banner, is directing his second film for Yash Raj Films and that Salman would star in it.

"We would like to clarify that this is a completely baseless and incorrect story. Vijay is still in the process of writing his next script for Yash Raj Films. No casting has therefore been done nor has anyone been considered for the same," stated the banner.

"As and when we do finalise the script and the casting is complete, a suitable announcement will be made," it added.

Salman, who has worked with almost all the filmmakers in the industry, is yet to be seen in a Yash Raj Films production.

Kabir Khan ready with his next script after New York with similar subject

New York is still running at a theatre near you but director Kabir Khan is already thinking about his next big project.

Talking about his next project Kabir says, "I have two script ideas ready with me. Both the ideas are completely different from each other."

Same feel

When asked if the projects will revolve around the subject of terror, like his precious films Kabul Express and New York, Khan says, "Well, yes, one of the stories has the same feel as my previous films. I think it will be difficult for me to stray away and attempt something totally different. My films will always have a backdrop against which the characters will be set."

When asked if he will ever attempt a romantic comedy? "Well the other script just might be a rom-com. As I said both the scripts have solid setting and background which I think has become a trademark of my films." Will we see John Abraham in his third film as well?

He says,"Why not? If the script demands a character like John then I definitely will work with him. But just because I have worked with him in my previous film doesn't mean that I will repeat him again. Yash Raj gives me such a wonderful choice of actors to work with. So I don't really have issues with casting. Once Adi and I lock the script I will decide my cast."

The director is leaving for Malaysia on a five-day short vacation to join wife Mini Mathur who is stationed there for a TV show, "Once I get back, I will meet Adi and finalise which of the two scripts I can begin." This will be the director's first break after the release of New York.

Mallika Sherawat broke a coconut outside the Twitter HQ in San Francisco

Mallika Sherawat is the first Indian celebrity to be invited to visit the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco. Mallika, a regular on Twitter (http://twitter.com/mallikaLA) has over 7500 followers.

Mallika got the rare honour of visiting the Twitter office and spending time with the staff.


Tweet experience

Mallika even broke a coconut in the traditional way before entering the building and danced with the employees on Bollywood numbers. After her experience, she said this on her Twitter account, "The Twitter office will never be the same! (And neither will I :) Haven't had that much fun in too long.

OMG! CEO Evan Williams doing Bollywood jhatka-matka with me!!" She also talks about the 'good luck puja' she performed for them, "It was the first time ever a coconut was broken outside Twitter office in San Fran:) Good luck!"

Sherawat even showed the staff the promo for her upcoming movie Hisss. She tweets, "The Twitter ssstaff was ssshocked n applauded th scandaloussss HISSS promo, yo!"

Shruti Haasan has got a nose job done, says it's for health reasons

No actress will admit to cosmetic surgery, even in the face of photographic evidence. But Shruti Haasan admits without hesitation that she had a nose job done recently. That's what sets this child-woman apart from the rest of her tribe.

Sehat ke liye!

he change was evidently visible at a recent event held last week in Mumbai. The actress, who makes her B-Town debut with Luck next week, fails to see what the big deal is about. The actress told a South paper, "I didn't do it because I thought my nose wasn't the best. I did it for health purposes."

The debutante admits she went through a septoplasty because of a common disorder involving a deviated septum, i e: a displacement of the nasal septum. The problem caused her problems while breathing and even singing.

Shruti, who originally had an aquiline nose, now has one perfectly suited to her face. She had her surgery done in the US. Shruti, who has also sung a song in her debut film and is part of a rock band only agreed to do it after she was convinced the surgery would not affect her voice in any way.

The change was visible at a recent event held last week in Mumbai. The actress looked different from the promos of her debut movie Luck. Says Shruti, "It is true that I underwent a nose surgery while I was abroad recently. But that was because I had a medical condition that restricted free breathing. There was no other reason for that. Now, post the surgery, I can finally sleep in peace and it has also enhanced my vocal skills"

Imran burnt his lashes, skin while doing 'Luck' stunts

From going underwater with sharks to jumping from a helicopter on to a burning train, Imran Khan has done it all in his forthcoming film "Luck". But he had his share of injuries for showing such daredevilry in the action flick.

"Shooting an action film can lead to plenty of injuries. A muscle pull, certain bruises are quite usual. In 'Luck', I sustained an injury while shooting the train scene. When the train was on fire, the flames went up a little too high and my eyelashes and the skin under my eyes got burnt," Imran told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Imran had to then cover up the burnt skin with an extra layer of make-up for two weeks while he let the eyelashes be as he feels "people don't tend to notice them often".

While his daredevilry in "Luck" has been the talk of the town lately, the young actor reveals he had to use a body double for an aerial stunt in the movie directed by Soham Shah.

"There was one scene in the film where I have a body double. It required me to jump with a parachute around 1,000-1,200 feet off a helicopter and I didn't know how to skydive. Though I did jump off the helicopter myself with a harness, the real stunt in the air has been performed by my body double," he said.

Apart from this particular scene, Imran has performed all the stunts in the action thriller himself with the assistance of popular stunt director Allan Amin.

The 26-year-old has even jumped off an airplane on to a train on fire and went underwater for a scene with deadly sharks.

"The film required a lot of action stunts, jumping, running, kicking, etc. I got to do a variety of stunts.

"There was an underwater sequence where we had to shoot with sharks and a cage. For that we were trained in scuba diving. Then there was another one where I had to jump on to a speeding train that was on fire and fight on the train - those were exciting," Imran said.

On the insistence of the director, Imran and other actors of the film, including Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, Ravi Kissen and debutante Shruti Haasan, underwent a one-week theory and practical course in scuba diving in Durban, South Africa, he revealed.

"Soham was very particular about one thing - he wanted each of the actors to perform his or her stunts and so we trained in scuba diving for the underwater scene. It was a strenuous exercise. We used to spend six to eight hours in the water in the mornings, then go for theory classes and then back into the water.

"But it feels great to be a certified scuba diver now," said Imran, who had subscribed to a three-day beginner's course in scuba diving for his earlier film "Kidnap".

Despite the danger involved, Imran agreed to do the stunts on his own.

"Allan has a great fondness for me and he would want my inputs on it (the stunts) every time. While deciding upon a sequence, he would discuss it with me and ask me if I can do it or not and I would just say - 'Yeah, I can do this'. So in a way, we designed the stunts together," he said.

After "Luck", which will release July 24, Imran would be seen in "Delhi Belly" and "Seven Days in Paris".

I can wear chiffon sari for Yash Raj's next: Anushka Sharma

She was not introduced with the poise and glamour associated with typical Yash Raj heroines. But newcomer Anushka Sharma, who danced her way into audiences' hearts with Shah Rukh Khan in "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi", says she can always glam up for her next film for the banner.

"Even when girls are presented as 'seedhi-saadhi' in a Yash Raj film, she is glamorous. And coming from a glam background I wouldn't have minded being glossy in my first film. But you know what? This was such a huge opportunity.

"I couldn't have asked for more. I fell in love with my character and the film. It's a dream role for any debutante. I can always get into chiffon saris in the next Yash Raj film. Or the one after that...," Anushka said.

"Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" was released in December last year and now the actress is dying to face the camera again. But she will have to wait as her next film with Shahid Kapoor for the banner is not going to start soon.

"They (Yash Raj) will have to decide what I'm doing next. I realise I love the process of acting. I'm also itching to get back in front of the camera," said Anushka, who is under contract with the banner for two more films .


There's also talk that Anushka was kept away from media attention much too long.

"Yash Raj looked after me very well through the making of 'Rab Ne...' They did keep me out of the limelight. But that served my purpose - I wanted to focus completely on my first film," she said.

Though she has made a mark for herself in the film industry with her debut movie, she still loves her modelling work.

"I love the ramp and the backstage banter. I moved to Mumbai a year ago. Movies were not a priority. I don't come from a film background, don't know how the industry works. I didn't know anyone here," she said.

But Anushka was always a huge Shah Rukh fan.

"My dad is in the army and when they would've these functions in the mess, I'd dance to Shah Rukh's 'Kitabe bahut si padhi hogi' from 'Baazigar'. I must've been three years old at that time. I'm not just Shah Rukh's fan, I'm his true blue admirer. I always loved the way he conducted himself. Now after having worked with him I love him even more. 'Rab Ne...' was like my school where Shah Rukh and Adi were my teachers."

Anushka didn't have to make a strenuous effort to act.

"Even modelling is a kind of performance. On the ramp you are representing a concept. In a film you're projecting an individual. But the transition wasn't hard for me. Because in real life I'm as simple as the girl I play in 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'. Yes, I do like to dress up and walk the ramp. But that isn't the real me," she said.

Anushka grew up in Bangalore and says she was lucky to spend her formative years there.

"Otherwise, army officers who give their lives for the country (and I'm proud to be born to a soldier) could be posted anywhere in the back of the beyond. That gets really tough on their kids. Me and my brother (who used to be a state-level cricketer) got the best of education in Bangalore," she said.