Deepika Padukone: My double role in CC2C was quite challenging

Deepika Padukone essays a double role in Nikhil Advani directed CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. She has two distinct looks in the film, one which is pure Indian while other which is Chinese. Incidentally two characters that Deepika portrays are twins in the film. 'Yet again, I have a double role to enact in a film. In my first film OM SHANTI OM, I had a double role too though it was separated by 25 odd years. It was the case of being 'born again'. However, the difference this time around is that both the characters belong to the same times', says Deepika while maintaining that it wasn't easy to be playing both the parts.
 In this Rohan Sippy production, she plays the role of Sakhi a.k.a. Ms. TSM (Tele Shoppers Media) who has embarked on a journey to pay homage to the land of her birth and her dead father and twin. Her other role requires her to enact the part of a sexy femme fatale who is interestingly named 'Meow Meow'. 'It was quite challenging to be doing a double role in CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. While the Indian girl is sweet and simple, the Chinese is energetic, athletic and sexy. I am happy to have got an opportunity to play a simple as well as a sexy girl in one single film', adds Deepika. Says Nikhil Advani, 'With Akshay Kumar being cast as 'Sidhu', we had to find a very special girl. She had to be someone who could be comfortable playing a very beautiful Ms. TSN and at the same time turn into a fabulously sexy femme fatale Meow Meow. Basically the girl in the film had to be someone who was fresh, physically very fit and a good actress. Luckily the most exciting debutante actress to hit Bollywood films in a while, Deepika Padukone, came on board and we had our casting in place.' Final words of reassurance come from Ramesh Sippy as he states – 'Look out for this girl'!

Spotted: Akshay Kumar at Toronto Film Festival

Reader Rajiv Bhatnagar (not in picture) spotted Akshay Kumar at the Toronto Film Festival.If you encounter/meet/see film or television personalities and take a photograph or a video of the star(s), please scan the photograph(s) and new mail the pictures and video clips to us. We will feature the best images and video clips right here on Rediff Movies.
Also check out: Other Stars Readers Spotted

Muslim crew of My Name is Khan denied US Visa

By now its common knowledge that after doing all the publicity and promotional drive for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Shahrukh Khan has embarked along with good friend Karan Johar to Los Angeles for the shooting of his next film My Name Is Khan. The film re-unites the super-hit jodi of SRK and Kajol after a hiatus of nearly 7 years (they were last seen in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001)However, even before shooting could commence in full swing, the unit of My Name Is Khan has been hit by a roadblock. Some Muslim members from the cast and crew of the film have been denied US visas. Among these include SRK's personal staff and also actor Aamir Bashir (who was last seen in A Wednesday).

Raaz - The Mystery Continues

Raaz - The Mystery Continues ( Hindi Film Songs , )Album Review-Not BadBy Usha LakraAudiences know what to expect from a Vishesh Films movie. Over the last two decades they have given some of the best musical hits. ‘Raaz- The Mystery Continues’, tentatively a sequel to ‘Raaz’, will not disappoint music lovers, though the album is not in the same league as the Bhatts’ past hit albums like ‘Jannat’, ‘Kalyug’ or ‘Zeher’.The movie, being directed by Mohit Suri, has a line of talented composers for the album – Raju Singh, Sharib-Toshi, Gourov Dasgupta and Pranay M Rijia. Lyrics are penned by their favourite Sayeed Qadri along with Kumaar.Bandaa ReThe track is a blend of rock music with realistic lyrics. Composed by Gourov Dasgupta, using Saint Kabir words with Bhagvad Gita shlokas, this song is very unusual for a Mahesh Bhatt film.

The track can also remind you of a song like ‘Bande’ from ‘Black Friday’. The song has a brooding effect just like the movie’s theme and is vocalized with great energy by Krishna S. Kaisa Yeh Raaz HaiThis song by Pranay M Rijia appears to be composed in the mood of ‘Yahan pe sab Shanti hai’ track from ‘Raaz’. But the song with quizzical notes fails to evoke that serious and intense mood. Kay Kay has done an average job of rendering this song.MaahiThis track is the main attraction of the album and sounds like a typical Vishesh Films’ song. This Sharib and Toshi rendition is a forceful number. Kangana is looking immaculate in the picturisation and the song is an apt choice for the film’s promotion.It’s another version ‘Rock with me’ is more of a filler in the album, but proves to be a good track for disc goers and club-hoppers.O JaanaYou can be forgiven for thinking that this is a Pritam composition. But it is Raju Singh who takes the credit for this party number with average lyrics. Kay Kay expectedly sings the song with required punch and energy.The remix version ‘Dance with me’ has a club-lounge kinda feel.

SoniyoThis is a mellow track but not that mellifluous. A nice rendition by Sonu Nigam, quite an expert in singing such numbers, while complementing him is the voice of Shreya Ghosal, and English lines are sung by Neeraj Shridhar. The song has serene, balmy feel. This song is best till now by Raju Singh.Soniyo - From The HeartKrishna S. wields the microphone with élan and gives the song a different mood. The song is set to a melodious scale and you will be mesmerized by the use of mouth organ in the music. Well, the entire album is not that dramatic like the movie sounds, neither has it the expected spooky effect. But it offers a good compilation for music lovers. And to compare Raaz-TMC with Nadeem Shravan’s ‘Raaz’ is inevitable. But this album will not disappoint, instead will leave you entertained just like the other albums from the Bhatt camp.

Akshay & Jumbo meal

Plot-wise, Jumbo is a stereotypical revenge drama. Even so, this time it's a sweet-looking elephant and not a gun-toting Amitabh Bachchan looking to serve justice. That, pretty much, makes all the difference.

Although the 3D animation isn't half bad, it cannot compete with the standards of Horton Hears a Who or Over the Hedge. Sadly, we are accustomed to such mediocrity that Jumbo shines like a beacon in comparison. Also, the character (expressive, assorted and charming) and background (rich detailing, ornate designs) art are quite nicely done contributing to the allure of the final product.

Of the voicing talents, Dimple Kapadia and Rajpal Yadav (he's what Donkey was to Shrek and Flounder to Ariel) shine best. Both the actors are effortlessly in sync with the mood and temperament of the characters they play. While Dimple is emotional and wonderful as 'Ma', Yadav aims for the laughs with his energetic commentary and banter.

As for 'Bad-man' Gulshan Grover, he expectedly renders sufficient terror in Bakhtavar's menacing tone.
Akshay Kumar doesn't have a traditionally strong baritone but he underplays the huskiness lending kindness, integrity and, most of all, familiarity to his animated alter ego.

At the end of the day, Jumbo is a fun entertainer about the making of a warrior-elephant with tons of action, lovable characters, awww-inducing moments and can-do spirit.

Akshay &Jumbo meal

December 24, 2008 18:45 IST

What's it about Dumbo, Horton or even Heffalumps that makes them so disarming, cute and cuddly at once? Big ears? Bouncy belly? Wide, innocent eyes? Quite contrary to their enormous size, elephants enjoy a loveable, soft-hearted image in the world of cartoons.
To play upon this conditioning enters Jumbo, originally a Thai-animation film Khan Kluay whose rights were purchased by Percept Picture Company (the makers of Hanuman) to dub it in Hindi and make it available to us.
The upgraded version opens with Akshay Kumar playing a superstar to the hilt -- vivaciously swinging to the pop beats of 'Everything's gonna be alright' (a catchy composition by Ram Sampath) before he proceeds to tell an inquisitive boy the inspiring tale of a jungle elephant Jaiveer, fondly addressed as Jumbo.
Inside the animated world of our mauve-skinned titular hero, we are introduced to a whole bunch of colourful forest inhabitants. Instead of joining other baby elephants at play, Jumbo amuses himself with a game of hide-and-seek in company of a bunch of frogs at the lotus pond. Although he's not entirely enjoying himself, Jumbo is wary of the bullies in his tribe taunting him about his father, previously a royal elephant, Yudhveer's mysterious disappearance.

Aamir Khan’s eight-pack abs is real

But Aamir Khan confirms his 8-pack abs is very much real.He worked hard over one year to perfect the look. Knowing the perfectionist Aamir, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.
His trainer made sure he worked out for 3-4 hours daily and had a good eight hours sleep. Aamir also maintained a strict protein rich diet, which included egg whites and fruits. Such was the actor’s determination that he would scream while doing the ab-crunches.
The first fan to be bowled over by his looks was good friend Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali who were treated to the first screening of the movie.
Aamir Khan confirmed,” Sachin, along with Anjali, saw the film although there’s still some work left. They loved the film. And yes, Sachin finally believed that it was actually my body on the posters of the film.”
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