Amit Kumar's tribute to his father Kishore

Amit Kumar and his brother Sumit are just back from the US with their tribute concerts on Kishore Kumar. "We performed in Detroit and Chicago .We called the show 'Do Kishore'. We did it on a trial basis in the two American cities. Now that it has been accepted so wholeheartedly, we'll take our two 'Do Kishore' concerts to the rest of the world. We're already booked for 6 concerts in the US in April 2013. Then we'll take the concert all over India."

The 'Do Kishore' concerts are Amit Kumar's brainchild. "We first did the 'Do Kishore' charity concert with us two brothers celebrating our father's memory through his music. In Kolkata on April 12 in 1992. Sumit was only 9 years old then. Many luminaries associated with my father, like Ashok Kumar and Rajesh Khanna were present at the show."

Amit Kumar also has plans of making a film on his legendary father. "It was Bhaijaan (Mehmood) who suggested it. My brother and I had devised a skit where we both go to the moon and meet our father there. Mehmood suggested we make a film on that theme. That hasn't happened so far."

Amit and Sumit are also on the verge of starting a music company named Kumar Brothers Music. "It will be an online company. I'd be putting out my own composition for my fans online. It won't be film music, but folk songs, semi-classical numbers...One of my compositions 'Zindagi Dard' has been put out just to get a response. It's been well-received by my fans."

The online recording company attained feasibility in Amit Kumar's mind due to the progressive paucity of offline music companies. "There's no company one can take one's music to. It isn't as though I'm attempting to compete with any music company. An online music company eliminates the need for mediators like a producer or a music- company executive. It's a direct connectivity between my creativity and my listeners. I know I have an audience. There are people who love my voice."

Amit says he's done with film music. "What is there to sing in Hindi films? The greats that I worked with are dead or retired. The whole scenario has changed now. The music these days is cacophonic. I don't listen to the songs. And these item songs...so many of them and so boring! Some of today's composers claim that melody is back. Sorry, I don't hear it."

IT'S OFFICIAL! Angela Jonsson to star opposite Salman in Sher Khan

It's finally happening for Angela Jonsson. After a nearly 2-year wait, her celluloid debut is happening. Salman Khan has not only given his final nod to Angela as his leading lady in his prestigious home production Sher Khan, director Sohail Khan has dropped the second leading lady's part, so
that the focus of attention would be completely on the lissome Ms Jonsson .
Says a source close to the project, "There were two leading ladies in the script. But now the second girl's role has been scrapped, so that Angela gets full attention."
Angela would also be required to train in some serious martial arts since her part in Sher Khan is being described as a "combination of Lara Croft and Fearless Nadia". Several elaborate action scenes are planned for the leading lady. She would be trained by a slew of international stunt-men.
All this pampering for the debutante comes with a price. Angela who has so far been in the news for her various link-ups (imaginary or otherwise) had been asked to "disappear" from public attention.
The girl is virtually under house curfew!
Says the source, "Late nights, media events, awards functions, public performances, showroom inaugurations...have all been banned for now. Angela has been asked to avoid public attention as much as possible. Salman wants her to be unveiled to the public as a complete newcomer in Sher Khan."
Says the Sher Khan director Sohail Khan, "Now there's only one girl in Sher Khan. The second role didn't shape up well enough. So we removed it from the script."

The film industry has changed for good: Waheeda Rehman

By Entertainment  stores
Only a few, as insiders, have seen the Indian film industry truly turn 100. No one ever could have seen the whole thing actually, but Waheeda Rehman can certainly tell us a lot about it. At the upcoming Mumbai Film Festival, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image, Rehman will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Vibrant, and with childlike enthusiasm, she speaks to us at her Bandra bungalow, which is behind Galaxy Apartments where Salman Khan and his family live.
Over a cup of ginger tea, the actor goes back in time, recalling her debut and her mentor Guru Dutt, and tells us why she’s glad the
industry has changed.
Indian cinema will celebrate its centenary next year. Take us back to how it was when you first entered the industry.
At that time, very few movies were made. Everybody used to work peacefully. We weren’t in such a hurry. Even then, India was a leading producer of movies, as it is now. Though these days, too many movies are being made.
Technically, we’ve improved a lot. We’ve even started making bold subjects. In our time, there used to be one villain, a vamp, hero and heroine. These days, lead artistes are also ready to do negative roles and the audience is willing to accept them. Thirty-odd years ago, no leading man would have done what Aamir Khan did in Ghajini (2005), when he becomes a killer. These changes are good. The makers, actors and the audience… the film industry has changed for good. They are all thinking people now. Though Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films have always been ahead of their time.
Thirty-odd years ago, no leading man would have done what Aamir Khan did in Ghajini, when he becomes a killer.
You’ve worked in some films in the south...
I began with one dance and a small role as a princess (in Jayasimha, 1955), which is nothing to talk about. But Malayalam movies have produced very bold subjects. Now the Hindi film industry has also started.
Is there any part of the film industry of old that you wish had been retained?
The feeling of a family... it’s gone. I’m not blaming anything, but actors are so busy. In our times, Vyjayanthimala, Asha Parekh and I used to do stage performances as we were classical dancers, but we didn’t perform every day. Now artistes have to be on their toes all the time.
There used to be a lot of bonding back then. Why? Because there were no good make-up rooms! They were horrible, so we’d prefer sitting on the sets, where we’d chat and discuss stories. There were no bathrooms, yet they made great movies like Mughal-E-Azam (1960). Now, after shots these days, everyone goes into their vans.
How and when did you decide you wanted to act?
Oh, that is a long story. I was 16 or 17; I used to dance for the stage. Then I did one dance in a Telugu film, which became a big hit. During the jubilee celebrations tour in Andhra Pradesh, our last stop was Hyderabad. It just so happened, that Mr Guru Dutt was there at that time. He didn’t know me and I didn’t know who he was.
He was in his office, when he noticed the crowd outside. He was sitting with his distributor, who told him, ‘There is a girl who has danced in this movie that they are celebrating. She’s become so popular, that along with the top Telugu stars, the audience keeps calling for her. Her name is Waheeda Rehman’. Guru Dutt said, ‘Waheeda Rehman sounds like a Muslim name. Does she speak Hindi?’ After he was told that I do, he asked the distributor if he could meet me. We eventually met, he spoke just a little to check whether I could speak Hindi fluently and we left.
Then three or four months after I returned to Chennai, someone told me that the gentlemen I met in Hyderabad would like me to come to Bombay for a test.
Had you decided on acting then?
I hadn’t. Ek shauq se kar liya tha, phir dar gaye (I had jumped into it as a hobby, then I got scared). But we eventually met. I didn’t know if I was capable of acting, it was him. He had the confidence and signed me on a salary basis for three movies.
Then C.I.D (1956) became a hit. I was the vamp in that one, but I was too soft looking. The audience liked me in Pyaasa (1957). It was around then Guru Dutt ji told me, ‘Those three films you will make with me in any case, but please don’t hesitate to sign any others that are independently offered to you’. He explained to me, ‘The life span of a woman’s career in the film industry is very short. It wouldn’t be fair for me to stop you. As long as you give me preference when it comes to your dates’, which I thought was very fair.
I didn’t know anyone in the industry then. He used to say, ‘If you have a problem, consult us’. Then we would say, ‘Chalo, kar lijiye’. He was very kind.
Then you took a long break in the 1990s…
I’m a very realistic person. When I got married and had children, I knew I wasn’t going to get lead roles like Kahaani or The Dirty Picture (2011) in those days. They (filmmakers) still wanted romantic films and wanted me to sing duets. At that age, even I used to feel a little uncomfortable.
The contribution of the character I play in the story is very important. I did Rang De Basanti (2006) and Delhi 6 (2009) because those roles fit the need. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra asked with great persistence and love. Since then, I’ve decided I will wait.
We artistes are like kids and we sometimes get inspired. But it’s also very difficult nowadays. I am very happy for Sridevi. I heard English Vinglish is doing well.
Do you watch films regularly?
I watch quite a few. I liked Barfi! and I last watched OMG! Oh My God. I remember asking Paresh Rawal (actor), ‘Do you think like your character does?’ and he said ‘90 per cent’. And I said, ‘I am exactly like that!’
People like me and Paresh are born into certain religious families, but we are not practicing people. You have to be a good human being, that’s essential. And neither do artistes have a religion and nor do they belong to one community, which is why they have it in themselves to bring those who do, together.

Manish adds charm to Bebo's outfits!

By Entertainment stores
Mumbai, Oct. 15 -- Over the last two weeks, designer Manish Malhotra has been working painstakingly on the antique Pataudi gharara that has been restored by Ritu Kumar for Kareena Kapoor's wedding, doing the final fittings and adding a touch of embroidery here and there.
He has also designed Kareena's other outfits, and made clothes for her sister Karisma and her two little daughters, which they will wear at the various wedding functions including tonight's private sit-down dinner. The nikaah and registered wedding will take place tomorrow at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba.
After the roughly 15minute long ceremony, Bebo will change into a Manish Malhotra creation for the dinner. "She'll wear a elaborately embellished gharara. I have given a very old world charm to all the ghararas she'll be wearing," says Manish.
Last night, the couple's sangeet and dinner, which was held at Saif Ali Khan's Khar residence, was attended by 50 guests, including their families and friends, and close associates of Sharmila Tagore. The theme for the party was 'Indian'. On October 18, at the reception in Delhi, Kareena will wear a Manish Malhotra creation once again.

Saif-Kareena's sangeet ceremony was a gala affair!

By Entertainment stores
Bollywood couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's pre-wedding party on Sunday at Bebo's Bandra residence was a private affair with the terrace venue covered to prevent media getting a peek. Many Bollywood celebrities were spotted at the party including Neetu Singh, Babita, Sanjay Kapoor, Manish Malhotra, Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu among others.
While a source says it's a sangeet ceremony, designer Manish Malhotra said: "Its just a fun party."
Kareena was wearing a traditional yellow-golden lehenga.
The marriage, to be reportedly be held on Tuesday, is planned as a quiet affair with only immediate family members from both sides being present.

Manish vs Ritu: Who's designing Kareena Kapoor's wedding outfit?

Tomorrow, after their nikaah, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor will be husband and wife. It’s a happy occasion, but Delhi-based designer Ritu Kumar is upset. The designer was given the responsibility of restoring Saif’s grandmother’s traditional gharara for Kareena Kapoor to wear for the
ceremony. But recent reports credited Kareena’s friend, Bollywood’s leading designer Manish Malhotra, with that task. Hurt, Kumar turned to Sharmila Tagore, Saif’s mother, who phoned HT Café to set the record straight.
So who is doing finally doing Kareena’s wedding trousseau, Ritu Kumar or Manish Malhotra?
I had given Ritu my mother-in-law’s wedding gharara to be restored and embellished, and she’s been working on it for a while now. The gharara is very old. My mother-in-law wore it in 1939 and I wore it at my own nikaah. Kareena is wearing that for the wedding ceremony. As for Manish, he is a dear friend of hers and he is doing the other wedding outfits, as well as some for different functions.
We’ve heard that the gharara is too heavy and can’t be worn for a very long time.
Yes. With the kind of lavish and detailed handwork, it’s bound to be weighty. So there’s a lighter gharara being made by Ritu. Manish has also made one. Kareena will decide which one she will change into after the nikaah.
What are you wearing?
It’s a joyous occasion and it doesn’t matter what I wear. I think I will wear an old sari from my collection. Or let’s see. Please excuse me if I don’t sound excited. It’s not even been a year since my husband passed away. This is a happy occasion and everyone in the family is very excited.
How excited are your daughters Saba and Soha?
Oh, they are also quite excited about their brother’s wedding. They are all looking forward to the various functions. Incidentally, Ritu has done a few outfits for Saba and Soha as well.
Over the last two weeks, designer Manish Malhotra has been working painstakingly on the antique Pataudi gharara that has been restored by Ritu Kumar for Kareena Kapoor’s wedding, doing the final fittings and adding a touch of embroidery here and there.
He has also designed Kareena’s other outfits, and made clothes for her sister Karisma and her two little daughters, which they will wear at the various wedding functions including tonight’s private sit-down dinner. The nikaah and registered wedding will take place tomorrow at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Colaba. After the roughly 15-minute long ceremony, Bebo will change into a Manish Malhotra creation for the dinner. “She’ll wear a elaborately embellished gharara. I have given a very old world charm to all the ghararas she’ll be wearing,” says Manish.
Last night, the couple’s sangeet and dinner, which was held at Saif Ali Khan’s Khar residence, was attended by 50 guests, including their families and friends, and close associates of Sharmila Tagore. The theme for the party was ‘Indian.’
On October 18, at the reception in Delhi, Kareena will wear a Manish Malhotra creation once again.

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