Music Review: Veer

Music Directors: Sajid-Wajid

Lyricist: Gulzar

Singers: Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Niigaam, Wajid, Neuman Pinto, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Suzanne D'Mello, Roop Kumar Rathod, Shreya Ghoshal, Rekha Bhardwaj, Sharib Sabri, Toshi Sabri, Shabaab Sabri and Sunidhi Chauhan

Composer brothers Sajid-Wajid have come up with one of their best works in Salman Khan's period drama "Veer". The soundtrack boasts of eight songs and the music is melodious, hummable and is an interesting bouquet of various genres.

It starts with "Taali", a song brilliantly crooned by Sukhwinder Singh, Sonu Niigaam, Wajid and Neuman Pinto. The power- packed track gives the album an edge and a positive start. It is hard-hitting and makes the listener sit up and take notice.

The song also has a solo version by Sukhwinder and it has been sung with a lot of punch.

Up next is a total contrast to Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's mushy track "Surili akhiyon wale". It is melodious and extremely pleasing to the ears. It also has English verses by Suzanne D'Mello, something similar to the song "O ri chhori" in "Lagaan". It's surely a likeable number and will make an impact.

It also has an extended version with Sunidhi Chauhan, who sings it in a way unlike her original style.

Then there is "Salaam aaya", currently doing the rounds of television channels. The romantic song, which has Roop Kumar Rathod, Shreya Ghoshal and Suzanne D'Mello behind the mike, is a soft, light and pleasing number. It is worth a hear.

Next in line is Sonu Niigaam's "Meherbaniyaan". It starts with a long prelude and orchestration powers over the vocals. The fast-paced number is average and offers nothing great.

Then we have a very likeable track in "Kanha", a thumri sung by Rekha Bhardwaj with ample support from Shahab, Toshi and Sharib Sabri. This is one of the best tracks in the album. A song of this genre has been incorporated in a film after a long time. A must hear.

Finally, there is an instrumental piece called the "Spirit of Veer".

On the whole, Sajid-Wajid have made an effort to make the album different and they have succeeded in doing so.

Music Review: Rann

Singers: Abhishek Naiwal, Jojo, Sukhwinder Singh, Kunal Ganjawala, Sanjeev Kohli, Jayesh Gandhi and Vardan Singh

Music Directors: Amar Mohile, Bapi-Tutul, Sanjeev Kohli and Jayesh Gandhi

Lyricists: Prashant Pandey and Sarim Momin

The music of Ram Gopal Varma's latest offering "Rann", which has Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role, is not one that music buffs would like to sit and listen to. All the songs are situational and might look good on screen, but they are not really pleasing to the ears.

The album, composed by five composers, has seven songs.

"Besharam", sung by Abhishek Naiwal, is not hummable, but the music is hard hitting and vocals are full of punches. The song oozes anger. It is an average song but might appeal to people when juxtaposed with visuals.

Next is "Gali gali mein" with Jojo behind the mike. The song is a complete mockery of politicians and the political system in the country. It is a kind of hate anthem with a strong orchestration that gets noisy at times.

Then Sukhwinder Singh comes in with "Kaanch ke jaise", which has a haunting start. There is less orchestration in the song and the focus is on the lyrics. Sukhwinder's high-pitched voice makes an impact and appeals to the listener. This is by far the best song of the album.

Up next is "Mera Bharat Mahaan". Crooned by Kunal Ganjawala, it is a song similar to "Gali gali mein" since this too talks about the problems in our country. It is fast-paced but not so interesting.

Next we have "Rann hai" by Sanjeev Kohli. The tone of the song is repetitive and this too exudes anger on the current state of affairs in the country.

Then there is "Remote ko bahar phek", which can easily be clasified as the worst song of the album.

It tries to portray the psyche of news channels. The fast-paced rap number sung by Jayesh Gandhi might be suitable on screen but as a stand- alone number it is a complete put-off.

Finally there is "Sikkon ki bhook". Sung by Vardan Singh, it starts with a few headlines of news channels. This too is situational and quite similar to the other songs of the album.

Even though Varma has roped in a bevy of composers for the soundtrack, the album doesn't offer anything extraordinary.

Music Review: My Name Is Khan

Singers: Rashid Khan, Adnan Sami, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Suraj Jagan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Richa Sharma and Shafqat Amanat Ali

Lyricist: Niranjan Iyengar

Music Directors: Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca

The soundtrack of the latest offering of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, "My Name Is Khan", boasts of Sufi flavour. Composed by Johar's favourite Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, the album has six originals and most of the compositions are soul- stirring.

The album starts with "Sajda". Sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shankar Mahadevan and Richa Sharma, it's a Sufi number that tugs at one's heartstrings. The sounds of tablas and dholaks keep the listener hooked. With great voices behind the mike, "Sajda" is a must hear.

Next is "Noor-e-khuda", an unplugged version sung by Adnan Sami, Shreya Ghoshal and Shankar. It's a soft, pleasing love ballad that instantly strikes a chord. Most part of the song is male- dominated, but it gets an edge when Shreya enters with her honey-tucked voice close to the end of the track.

Shafqat Amanat Ali renders "Tere naina" brilliantly. The subtle orchestration and melody make for an interesting hear. It changes gear mid-way when it slips into the qawwali mode which elevates it further.

Up next is "Allah hi rahem" - again a Sufi number. Crooned by Rashid Ali, it is enchanting. The lyrics are simple yet profound and the song transports you to a completely different world. One of the best songs of the album.

Then there is "Rang de" by Shankar with ample support from Suraj Jagan. The song with influences of rock is nice and refreshing. It talks about peace, triumph and joy.

The album also has a "My Name Is Khan" theme song by Pakistani band Strings. It is an intriguing piece.

On the whole, every song in the album is above average. The composers have stuck to the theme of the film and the soundtrack has the potential to rock the charts.

Music Review: Ishqiya

Artist: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sukhwinder Singh, Mika Singh, Rekha Bhardwaj and Clinton Cerejo

Lyricist: Gulzar and Ajinkya Iyer

Music Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

There is a certain quality hallmark which comes in when names like Gulzar and Vishal Bharadwaj are involved. They have come up with at least three landmark albums together in 'Kaminey', 'Omkara' and 'Maachis' where they have created a diverse soundtrack.

This is why when 'Ishqiya' flashes these names on the credit, you start expecting a moon, more so because of the rustic small town setting that the film boasts of.

Thankfully from the very first note that plays for 'Ishqiya', you know that the album is going on a right track. In the past Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has sung number of beautiful songs for Pritam and Sajid-Wajid.

He reinvents himself for Vishal Bharadwaj with 'Dil To Bachcha Hai' which is a soothing melody that is unconventional, boasts of a new tune and also of course carries a romantic appeal to it.

One can sense the music of 50s in this song set in the 2010, which pretty much establishes the timeless flavour that it comes with. One wonders though if there was any need whatsoever for including a 'remix version' of the song.

There are no complaints though when 'Ibn-E-Batuta' arrives in as many as three versions (one original and two remixes). This is the kind of rustic track that one always expects in a Vishal Bharadwaj film and since he is also the co-producer of 'Ishqiya', there are no surprises whatsoever.

A fun track with a deep rooted meaning (about a journey) embedded into it; 'Ibn -E-Batuta' has a catchy tune which gets you hooked on to it in the very first listening. Picturised on the entire principal cast of the film, Naseeruddin Shah, Vidya Balan and Arshad Warsi, 'Ibn-E-Batuta' is the kind of song that can be played in a marriage celebration as well as find a place in a DJ's collection.

The album pretty much follows the Vishal Bharadwaj-Gulzar template with a romantic and a fun song followed by a couple of semi-classical love songs.

Incidentally both are sung by Rekha Bharadwaj, who recently impressed one and all in her rendition for 'Kanha' in Sajid-Wajid's 'Veer'. The songs in question are 'Ab Mujhe Koi' and 'Badi Dheere Jali', both of which have an appeal lasting longer than the film's narrative.

Reason being that they are unlike numerous situational or item songs that are composed in the current times and instead maintain a seamless flow. Set at a slow pace, they make you forget if the song picturisation is on Vidya Balan or any other star and primarily allow you to appreciate their authenticity and quality quotient.

Ultimately, 'Ishqiya' turns out to be a short and sweet album that has an eye on being a quality outing rather than commercial sales.

Of course the album is for the niche audiences and this is the reason why one doesn't sense much filmy appeal about it. However, given the fact that change is the need of the hour today in Bollywood, 'Ishqiya' being a kick start to year 2010 is not a bad bet after all.

Movie Preview: Fired

Cast : Rahul Bose, Militza Radmilovic, Dinesh Lamba

Director : Sajit Warrier

Joy Mittal, the arrogant CEO of H.W.L.S, in a hardnosed decision to repair his scandal ridden work record and prove his ability to emerge as a pioneering leader in times of financial crisis, fires all the employees from his London office to cope with the global economic slowdown.

Amongst the sacked employees is Ruby Herminson, 29, an alluring, sophisticated, career-driven woman, with whom a married Joy is having a long affair.

Joy fires Ruby along with the rest of the people he considers expendable. After a trying day, Joy decides to finish off some paperwork before heading home, but soon realizes that the only possible means of leaving is the one he least bargained for.

Cornered in a deserted office, Joy soon realizes that there is a gruesome super-natural force in the building, which is hell- bent on extracting revenge for his ruthless actions.

FIRED is the shocking tale of a man who pays a steep price for his cold-blooded actions.

Movie Review: Dulha Mil Gaya

Starring: Fardeen Khan, Sushmita Sen, Ishita Sharma, Mohit Chaddha, Tara Sharma and Shah Rukh Khan (Sp. App)

Director: Mudassar Aziz

Settled in Trinidad and Tobago, Tej Dhanraj a.k.a Donsai (Fardeen) is a rich playboy who lives to party hard and have fun with the most attractive girls minus in commitment.

His only good female friend is the hot shot super model Shimmer (Sushmita Sen). Donsai hopes of leading a fun life ahead as well comes crashing down when his late father’s will is declared by his lawyer Mr. Vakil (Vivek Vaswani).

A clause in the will makes it compulsory for Donsai to get married to his father’s friend’s daughter living in a Punjab village if he wants to inherit the huge riches of his father running into five billion dollars.

A reluctant Donsai only agrees for the same when Vakil suggests him a loophole. So, he marries the Punjab small town girl Samarpreet Singh (Ishita Sharma) in quick court marriage and comes back to Trinidad minus her. He stops any communication with her but dutifully keeps sending a fat cheque at every month end to her family.

Longing for him, the sweet and simple Samarpreet then decides to go to Trinidad herself. But on landing at his doorstep she is in for a cultural shock and is stunned to see Donsai having fun with other females. She is even insulted and thrown away from the house by Donsai’s bodyguards even before they both meet. Following her accident she lands up in Shimmer’s house.

The snooty, high society girl Shimmer at first detests her but after hearing her story she decides to help her. How Shimmer manages to help Samarpreet woo Donsai back by completely transforming her as a hottie Samara and how in the same course also learns a lesson or two about true love of her long time lover PRG (Shahrukh Khan) forms the rest of the plot.

With a plotline that offers nothing new apart from a unique location setting in the West Indies isles, the predictability of Dulha Mil Gaya puts you off to sleep long before it is over.

Shahrukh in a special appearance making a proper entry just post interval too cannot salvage the film. Just by taking off her glasses and appearing a bit mod, Samarpreet manages to hoodwink Donsai into believing she is someone else, just like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’s SRK’s (Suri’s character)!

While the first half breezes past quickly, the problems begin when the second half begins. After SRK’s entry your expectations rise but as soon come crashing down by some really juvenile sequences added. The whole cruise sequence is extremely tackily shot. The climax too is simply lame.

Lalit Pandit’s music works well when watched on screen. The entire track of lovers played by Tara Sharma and her DJ boyfriend Mohit Chaddha is a waste of time.

Fardeen puts in the efforts and delivers an okay performance. Sushmita Sen never looked so hot before. Her comic timing is very good. Newcomer Ishita Sharma last seen in a small cameo in Dil Dosti Etc. is extremely likeable.

Be it emotional sequences or comic ones, she gives it her all and leaves you mighty impressed. Tara Sharma looks good but still hasn’t got rid of her pathetic dialogue delivery. Mohit Chaddha is passable.

Vivek Vaswani is good but Johnny Lever is complete wasted in the role of Fardeen’s butler. Finally, SRK even his small part, gives a glimpse of his famous romantic lover charm. The superstar puts in his 100% in his half backed character.

Debutante director Mudassar Aziz’s Dulha Mil Gaya could have worked had it been released a decade back. But now it seems too outdated. It constantly keeps you giving a feeling of déjà vu with sequences appearing quite similar to films like Ponga Pandit, Namastey London and even Dil Bole Hadippa!

Give it a miss guys unless you are a hardcore Shahrukh Khan fan who doesn’t mind sitting through a 150 minute bore watch only to catch a few sequences of his. He though succeeds in holding your attention in an otherwise boring film.

Movie Review: Chance Pe Dance

Star Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Genelia D’souza, Mohnish Bahl

Music Directors: Pritam, Adnan Sami, Sandeep Shirodkar, Ken Ghosh

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Ken Ghosh

If you want to be successful, you must either have a chance or take one. With a star like Shahid as a bosom pal, Ken Ghosh had it but with the film like this, Kapoor took one and the result is hardly pleasing.

Chance Pe Dance is a story of archetypal Dilli guy Sameer (Shahid Kapoor) who leaves his home town to become a star in Bollywood. He is confident to break into the top league because every aunty in town, including his mom, has been telling him that he's a bundle of talent with killer looks- the only two prerequisites to become a Hero.

But then Shah Rukh Khans are not made everyday. So, poor Sam has to do rather embarrassing things like lungi ads to eke out his existence at his ‘parsi-monious’ tenement.

Going into auditions after auditions he has mastered the skill of saying, “Hi, I'm Sameer Behl and my number is…” but life in Mumbai without a grand daddy is not easy and getting a break, virtually impossible.

His chances are stolen by others, his friends betray him and his landlord throws him out. He is rendered penniless stays in his car for days before he gets a job at a school and some emotional-cum-romantic support from a scooty-riding spirited choreographer Tina (Genelia D’souza).

After his initial I-hate-kids attitude, Sam finds his solace by making the teenage underdogs of school the dance champs of the city.

Eventually, he gets his biggest break as well but only to be matched by the biggest betrayal. Now he has no way but to enter the talent hunt like thousands of other contestants and emerge a winner to fulfill his dream... and our nightmare.

It is a film like Chance Pe Dance that separates a Ken Ghosh from a Farhan Akhtar and Ashutosh Gowariker who actually spend so much time (esp. Ashu :-)) penning the details and seldom leave anything to ‘chance’.

In times when flicks run on their taut and realistic storyline, Ken makes his Sameer Behl enter a talent show and eventually pronounces him a winner in an eight-pack flashing jig with virtually no competition whatsoever.

It is Ghosh’s decrepit script and predictable plot that make even Shahid’s otherwise sincere performance go down the drain. Shasha, however, as Sam the struggler tries hard to lend authenticity to his character and succeeds as well.

Genelia is as bright and breezy as ever but hardly displays her choreography skills. Alas, for her the film never picks up just like her scooty that perpetually runs on 30km/hr.

Despite being a musical, Pritam, Adnan Sami, Ken Ghosh and Sandeep Shirodkar’s work is a big let down.

The dance sequences are choreographed by Marty Kudelka, who has also directed moves of stars like Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and N'Sync. Our Shahid also does well on the dance floor in certain sequences but chance favours only the prepared minds and Ken Ghosh was certainly not prepared when he was making this film.

Avoid!

There's a 'serious problem' between Bipasha and John

Delhi girl Bipasha Basu returned to her roots to bring in her birthday on January 7.

“This was my first birthday in Delhi. I’ve very special links with that city. I was born in Delhi. So when I got a chance to be in the Capital for my birthday I grabbed it. To make it even better it was seriously cold in Delhi. I love the winter weather.”

Bipasha’s soul-mate and hopefully her lifelong companion John Abraham accompanied her to Delhi.

“It was the Auto Expo and as you know John loves anything on wheels, but hates birthdays. So he was just happy being around some of the best cars in the world.”

The couple flew back to Mumbai in time for Bipasha’s family birtjday lunch. “It’s an annual ritual on my birthday, and one I won’t miss for the world.This time one of my sisters was not here for my birthday. She’s studying. We really missed her. But my parents and my other sister, brother-in-law and nephew was home for my birthday.”

John was not invited to thr family lunch.

As far as birthdays go there’s a serious problem between Bipasha and John.

While John hates birthdays and all the accompanying rituals, Bipasha loves every bit of the attention of her birthday. Hence while John went into hiding on his birthday last month (Decemeber 17) Bipasha basked in all the attention.

“John runs the other way when it comes to cutting cakes. I spent my whole birthday cutting cakes with different groups of family members and friends. I couldn’t take all the calls and smses. But I answered all of them on the day after my birthday.

When I returned from Delhi my house was filled with flowers. You’ve no idea how wonderful flowers look in a newly-renovated house. My home was fragrant and attractive. My two sweet maidservant had arranged all the bouquets all over the house.”

Bipasha is hoping for a productive year. “There isn’t much work happening. The scripts floating around are mostly mediocre. I can’t bring myself to do sub-standard work. Hopefully I’ll sign something exciting soon. But I’m certainly not sitting at home. I’m constantly on my toes doing one thing or another, too busy to twiddle my thumbs.”

Sucking Arshad's thumb was so sexy and raunchy: Vidya

Vidya Balan who never touches alcohol has shot a special risqué number entitled Ibn batuta in Ishqiya with her co-stars Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

Says Vidya, “We shot the song last month after the entire shooting was completed. I don’t drink and I had to act sozzled along with Naseer Saab and Arshad.”

The track will be used in the opening and credit titles of Ishqiya.

Says Vidya, “Arshad is a fab dancer. And Naseer Saab was having a ball dancing to the song Vishal Bhardwaj had composed. I think the last time he danced was for Oye oye in Tridev. But you can’t tell. He’s so good. Both the guys were having so much fun, and I had to join in pretending to be totally drunk.”

The song came out so well that the director Abhishek Choubey was thinking of using it in the narrative. But since it didn’t fit in, Ibn batuta will now just be part of the credit titles.

That isn’t the only daredevil thing Vidya has done in Ishqiya. This has to qualify as one of the most sensuous things a mainstream Hindi-film heroine is seen doing in any movie.

In what Vidya Balan describes as the most blatant come-hither gesture she has ever seen any actress in Hindi cinema make, in Ishqiya she was required to take Arshad Warsi’s thumb in her mouth and suck on it suggestively.

Each time she did so in the rehearsals Vidya would burst into uncontrollable giggles.And Arshad would join in.

Recalls Vidya, “Fortunately Arshad is a friend. We’ve gotten along well from the time we did Lage Raho Munnabhai together. I don’t know I’d have been able to do a scene like putting my co-star’s finger in the mouth with someone else. That gesture of sucking Arshad’s thumb was so raunchy and sexy, so not me, I couldn’t connect with it all.”

That sense of non-connectivity, says Vidya, runs through her character in Ishqiya. “I play this rustic voluptuous woman. All my weight-loss happened after I did this film. I had to looked filled up for this part.

In Ishqiya everything from the way I wore my saree to the way I looked at men, was alien to me. The role exposed me to a new way of interpreting a liberated woman. My character in Ishqiya may not know about feminism. But she’s truly liberated.”

Vidya is now looking forward to the release of Ishqiya in January. “The director Abhishek Choubey had to constantly keep giving me a pep talk. Quite often I was stuck because of the language and content.

Sexiest babe Katrina does not want to upset her fans

Bollywood’s most sought after star Katrina Kaif has much to celebrate– Katrina topped the ‘Most Popular Celebrities’ list and was featured second on the ‘Most Popular Mobile Queries in India’.She also had blockbuster films this year New York, De Dana Dan and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

Katrina was also voted the ‘Sexiest Actress’ by London Eastern Eye and featured second on the ‘Top Online Newsmaker of 2009’ list by Yahoo. With this sort of fan following Katrina has decided to pay close attention to the films she will hence forth do. Reveals an insider, “Katrina does not want to upset her fans. She will now only do films she believes in and roles that interest her.”

Katrina is also doing what she promised to do- is branch out into different sorts of roles and this year she will be seen in Rajniti where she plays an ordinary woman battling corruption who goes on to become the chief minister of the state.

“Katrina is also getting choosy with the stars she wants to work with, ”adds the source.

Well, Katrina Kaif seems to have lady luck on her side and with a string of great character driven movies and ‘A’ list actors and directors routing for her- there is no stopping this gorgeous diva.

Priyanka Chopra opens up on her relationship status

Priyanka Chopra has never confessed her love in public. Though grapevine was abuzz with talks around Priyanka linked with Harman Baweja and later with Shahid Kapoor, all the parties always chose to remain quiet about it. Even as tabloids and glossies are filled with stories around her personal life, Priyanka has kept her silence while working on her professional life shooting for 'What's Your Raashee?', 'Kaminey', 'Pyaar Impossible' and now 'Anjaana Anjaani'. For someone who prefers her work to do all the talking than her alleged affairs, Priyanka (rightly) believes that enough is enough. Finally opening up, Priyanka has now declared loud and clear that she is not seeing anyone, is very much single and there would indeed be a day when she would have really something 'big' to talk about. "Aur kya, mera bhi number aayega", laughs Priyanka without getting ruffled with constant queries coming her way for more than a year now, "I am waiting for the day when I have something to stat

I'm not getting married to Riteish Deshmukh: Genelia D'Souza

Genelia D'Souza is upset with rumours of her wedding with actor Riteish Deshmukh. The actress says she isn't getting married to anyone for the time being. "To set the record straight, I am not getting married to anyone. I have always maintained that my personal life is not something I would like to discuss. But this time since it was something that would affect my family, I decided to take a stand, " said Genelia in a statement released here Tuesday. "My films and my brands are my priority as of now and I'd like to keep it that way. And if I do decide to settle down, you will hear it from me when as and when it happens, " she added. A tabloid had reported the romance brewed between Genelia and Riteish on the sets of "Tujhe Meri Kasam" (2003) and that they are planning to get married this year. "It's rather funny that we have to read about the progress in our lives in the press before we even know it ourselves. I wonder how news like that can be put out without any confirmation from the people whose lives are being discussed, " she said. Genelia is right now looking forward to the release of "Chance Pe Dance". She is paired with Shahid Kapoor in the film, which is releasing Jan 15.

Priyanka desperate to get back with Akshay Kumar

As the entire world is looking forward to the coming New Year, actress Priyanka Chopra looks back on the year 2009 and reminisces. The actress reveals that it has been a good year in terms of movies and awards for her.

“2009 has been good for me. I won 14 awards this year as the best actress for a film like Fashion. So it has been weighed heavily on me. They say female centric films don’t do well but Fashion proved something else. I give the entire credit to my Fashion director Madhur Bhandarkar”.

The actress also revels in the fact that she has done different genre films this year. “ It has been an important year. I have done films like What’s Your Raashee where I played twelve different roles. Then there was Kaminey which once again was a difficult film for me.

I could not identify with the roles I played because in Kaminey I play this lower middle class Maharashtrian girl and the upbringing she has. I couldn’t identify with the instrisinc earthiness because I am a modern girl, yet people liked me in the role.

I got critical acclaim. They have all been very difficult films for me and they were films which challenged me as an actress. It was nice to spruce up and gamble. I have done it with complete faith” she says.

Now Priyanka is looking forward to the New year with her forthcoming venture Pyar Impossible where she plays the beauty and Uday Chopra the Geek. “Then I have Sajid Nadiadwala’s Anjaana Anjaani and Vishal’s next film so I am looking forward to celebrating the new year too. I hope I win more awards.”

The news is also doing round that in 2010 Priyanka is planning to reunite with her ex-flame Akshay Kumar. We hear that she is sending feelers to Farah Khan to consider her for the role in upcoming Akki starrer ‘Tees Maar Khan’.

As per Akshay, the actor is much too pleased with the idea of sharing screen with Priyanka. Talking to reporters, the actor was recently quoted as saying, “I’d love to work with her... provided the right script comes along.”

I`m a disgrace to my maternal side

Actress Soha Ali Khan might have inherited acting skills from her Bengali mother Sharmila Tagore, but she says she is "a disgrace" to her “maternal side” because she can't speak Bengali.

“I don't know Bengali... That ways I am a disgrace to my maternal side but I am working on it. I am learning it,” Soha told.

Sharmila, however, came to her daughter's rescue.

“She is good. The thing is she is very conscientious. She can't speak spontaneously but she does her homework and picks up the lines and then speaks them fluently," Sharmila said.

The mother-daughter actress' duo were in the capital on the first day of the first ever Pravasi Film Festival for the official screening of their first outing together “Life Moves On”.

Revolving around the cultural conflict between a father and his youngest daughter, with different sub-plots shown in flashback, it is a English-Bengali bi-lingual.

Directed by debutante Sangeeta Datta, it also stars Girish Karnad, Om Puri, Rez Kempton, Neerja Naik, Mukulika Banerjee, Christopher Hatherall, Stef Patten and Aria Gitanjali Banerjee Watts.

Asked if Soha's siblings - Saif and Saba - can converse in their mother's tongue, Sharmila said: “They cannot because it is not the language spoken at home.”

Soha, however, said: “I'm the best (at speaking Bengali amongst the three).”

Sonam buys an Audi with her own hard earned money

Anil Kapoor declares himself a proud father of a daughter Sonam Kapoor as according to him Sonam has kept a tap of the traditions and is following them religiously.

Yes, Sonam stepped into the shoes of her father by purchasing a brand new Audi car whose 1988 model was purchased by papa Kapoor.

Our source informs, “Sonam had purchased a brand new Audi car and the novel thing is that the actress had invested her own hard earned money for her new car. Both father Anil and daughter Sonam was present at the launch in Delhi.”

Source goes on, “Anil Kapoor stated at the event that he was the first Bollywood actor in the industry to buy an Audi car in the year 1988 and it feels good that today my daughter is also buying an Audi and that too by her own earnings.

No one had ever seen this side of Salman Khan

Salman Khan is not supposed to be a particularly hands-on technician on the sets of his movies. Most of the time you’d find him giving his shot and moving to a corner with his cronies.

But in Veer Salman not only got down from his high horse he even assisted the art director Sanjay Dabade (who had earlier done the art direction of Anil Sharma’s Gadar: Ek Prem Kahani) and the construction workers in setting up the props. temporary buildings and architecture in London to denote the 19th century period.

This happened on more than one occasion when the natural light in London threatened to fade away. While shooting in front of the Indiam embassy in London and after having acquired the permission to shoot in front of the Buckingham Palace the art directors’ team found itself running against time.

That’s when Salman jumped in.

Says producer VijayGalani, “Though Salman wouldn’t want it to be known in case other unit’s expect the same from him he actively assisted Sanjay Dabade in his men in the construction work in London.

See, first of all getting the permission to shoot on locations near Buckingham Palace was hard enough. Then we had to cover all the visible outward signs of modernity and replace them with props representing 1880. All this required a lot of planning and execution.

We had to be very careful not to put up any architecture or props that would damage London’s topography.”

This is where Salman came in.

Says Galani, “Salman just jumped in with the workers.Maybe it was a dormant passion. But no one had ever seen this side of him. He actually assisted in the construction work on the streets of London.”

Passersby who recognized him just couldn’t stop staring. “To see Salman banging on with wood planks nails and hammers is not an every day sight. But then Veer is not an everyday film for Salman.

He has written the story and he loves the subject and character. He grew his hair for one- half of the film. I won’t name them. But some actors refused roles because they had to sport beards in Veer, ” says Galani.

Priyanka Chopra wants to be Aamir Khan

It seems Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra wants to be as perfectionist as fellow-actor Aamir Khan. As it is Piggy Chops is perhaps the most talented singers amongst our growing actor-singer community.

No show is complete without a request for a song from the sexy diva.

So when Karan Johar requested her to sing on popular television show ‘Lift Kara De’, she promptly sang without much ado- ‘Jhumka gira re Bareilly ke bazaar mein’- the famous Sadhana number from the film ‘Mera Saaya’. But after the shot was canned, she was unhappy with her attempt and wanted to dub it!

Karan nonchalantly said: “Now you want to be Aamir Khan? And like Aamir you will come before anybody else to dub for it too!”

The episode will be aired Friday and Saturday at 8pm on Sony Entertainment Television

Uday went out of the way to make me comfortable: Saidah Jules

European beauty Saidah Jules who had created waves on the modeling circuit (commercial with Shahrukh Khan) is now all set to impress everyone with her acting abilities as well. She will debut with Uday Chopra and Priyanka Chopra in Pyaar Impossible.

Jules explains, “It was great fun doing this comic caper which is set in the US.”

She refused to talk much about her character saying, “Why don’t you check it out for yourself. All I will say is that I have some really hilarious scenes with Uday. Come to think of it some of the stunts that I have pulled in the film, I will never even dream of doing it in real life.”

Talking about her equation with her above co-stars, she says.” Uday went out of the way to make me comfortable. Priyanka is a very down earth and easy to work despite being such a big name in the Hindi film industry.”

The student of Anupam Kher acting school, this trained actress feels that she has done a good job in Pyaar Impossible. “My director Jugal Hansraj was satisfied with my performance. This was all the more tough for me as acting in India is a different ball game altogether, ” she smiles.

Unlike other western actresses, Saidah is quite comfortable with Indian culture. “I have spent some years of my early childhood in Delhi, ” says this girl of German and Italian parentage.

“I have been living in Mumbai for the last 4 years and am very much at home here, " she adds.

Besides Pyaar Impossible, Saidah is also awaiting the release of her next film, Right Ya Wrong with Isha Koppikar and Sunny Deol. “I have two more projects, but can’t talk about them right now, ” she exclaims.

She is working on her Hindi as well.

“I have practical working knowledge of the language, which is good enough for me. Luckily in India, most educated people speak English, so I don’t have much of a problem, " she smiles.

In closing, Saidah says, “She is very happy to have got a chance to work with the prestigious Yash Raj Films banner so early in her career. My upcoming films are also with big names”, she ends.

Break Ke Baad: Deepika teams up with Ranbir's archrival Imran

Don’t read too much between the lines. But right after Deepika Padukone’s break with Ranbir Kapoor she’s doing film called Break Be Baad with Imran Khan.

That’s what Kunal Kohli has chosen to call his the first film that he’s producing and not directing.

Says Kunal, “Me and my director Danish Aslam always wanted to call his film Break Ke Baad because it’s about a couple Imran and Deepika who break up and want to come together. But since we didn’t have the rights to the title we didn’t want to announce it officially.”

Kunal and his team couldn’t locate the legal owners of the title anywhere in Mumbai. “We finally tracked it down to Bangalore to a 60-year old gentleman who deals in electrical goods. He owns a company called Seva Films.

He hopes to make films that would change the world. Break Be Baad is one of the titles he had registered. He loved our idea and gladly parted with the title.

Just like Break Ke Baad, while writing Hum Tum I wanted my film to be called only that. Milind Soman had that title. I called him for it and finally he sold it to us for 1.5 lakhs! I just had to have Hum Tum as my title, just as it was imperative to get Break Ke Baad. There could no other title. Fortunately there was no fuss this time.”

A token amount of money exchanged hands.

However getting permission to shoot in Delhi was far more difficult.

Says Kunal, “So many recent films have been shot in Delhi. Now the rules for shooting in the Capital have changed. I could write a thesis on what I’ve gone through to get permission to shoot in Delhi.”

Kunal’s problems as a producer don’t end there. He has been denied permission to shoot on the Gold Coast. “So we’ll have to shoot in Cape Town and fudge the Gold Coast.”

Break Ke Baad is set in Delhi and Australia.

Says Kunal, “This would be my first film as an independent producer. I did Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic which was a co- production. So many new directors are getting opportunities that we never had when we came in.”

Kunal is yet to finalize the cast for his own directorial venture. “But I’m so glad Danish has got a dream pair. Imran and Deepika together sounds good to everyone.”