Abhishek Bachchan To Play Big B's Dad?

By: Mufsin Mahbub

In Hollywood, films like 'Freaky Friday' gave a new step in playing roles because it had a mother and daughter switch bodies and play each other. In what may be a first role reversal in Bollywood, actor Abhishek Bachchan is all set to play Amitabh Bachchan's father in R Balki's upcoming film 'Paa', Femalefirst reported. Even though the story is not like 'Freaky Friday', it is probably worth seeing as the father-son duo will be seen playing the opposite roles of each other instead of the regular father-son roles they played in their past films.

The details about the film are being kept under wraps but Big B has already hinted in his blog that his look will be a surprise.

A source said that Amitabh will be playing a 13-year-old who's affected by Progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The disorder rapidly accelerates his aging to three times faster than a normal person. Along with Abhishek playing the father, actress Vidya Balan has been roped in to play the mother.

The legendary actor said that he spends five hours a day for his make-up in his role in the film but there is not much known about his character or storyline of the film.

However, some reports suggest that the Big B will be seen without his signature French beard.

The project is being kept a secret, with no one from outside the unit being allowed on the set, and those who are working on the production are not permitted to speak about the film to the media.

This will be Amitabh Bachchan's second project with Balki, who had earlier given the actor a make-over in 'Cheeni Kum'. In the film, the Big B played an odd chef who falls for a woman half his age played by actress Tabu.

So what do guys think about this strange role reversal for Abhishek and Amitabh? Will this film be worth watching to see these two in very different roles? Give us you feedback on this.

Mika Singh Comes to New York City

There are a lot of talented Bhangra artists out there. Mika Singh is one of the most well known names in the industry. Not only has he worked on his own albums, but he has also contributed to the Bollywood film industry. Well now the fresh artist is going to be in New York City.

He has been traveling around the world on tour for a little while now, but this will be the very first time Mika will be performing in the Big Apple. So the artist is very excited to be in NYC and he is determined to give the NYC auidence a great performance. With a new album out, Mika Singh fans will get to listen to him sing his hot new tracks live!

Well if you are in the NYC area you can check him out at Opera formely known as China Club on 264 W. 47th street. Doors open at 7pm sharp!

We want to know what you think about Mika Singh hitting NYC and if you think that he will get the reaction he's probably anticipating. Make sure to leave a comment about your personal thoughts!

How much is your Favorite Bollywood Filmmaker Making?

So we all know what Bollywood brings in a lot of money. But did you ever wonder how much the people behind the scenes makes. Here's a list of five of your favorite filmmakers and how much they make for a film. Let us know what you think about their salaries for each film, should they be getting more or less, and which filmmaker is your favorite.

David Dhawan

Rs 2.5-3 crore

In the 90's David Dhawan was the comedy king. He had his first major hit with the 1993 Govinda film "Aankhen." Dhawan gets a lot of criticism for copying old Bollywood films and Hollywood films, most recently, "Partner." It was a remake of the Hollywood hit "Hitch" starring Will Smith. Dhawan would later push out hits such as "Biwi No 1" and "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi." Currently Dhawan is working on "Partner 2" and "Hook Ya Crook." Madhur Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar

Rs. 3.5-4 crore

Madhur Bhandarkar has come to be known as perhaps the most realistic director in Bollywood. His first hit came in 2001 with "Chandni Bar." He would continue to create films that look at real life situations. "Corporate" gave us an inside look into the dark world of business and "Traffic Signal," one of his most acclaimed films showed us a cross section into the lives of people living around a traffic signal in Mumbai. When asked about his take on films he says "My movies are not exposes, maybe they just hold up a mirror to society. My movies are not judgmental; I just show what happens in our society, sometimes there could be a solution and sometimes there may be none. Life goes on." Right now Madhur Bhandarkar is finishing up work on "Jail" starring Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Abbas Mutan

Rs 4-5 crore

Abbas Mustan can probably be called the copycat in Bollywood. He has used Hollywood storylines on several occasions. For "Daraar" he copied "Sleeping with the Enemy and "Dewaangee" was basically "Primal Fear." But that hasn't stopped people from checking out his films. "Soldier" and "Race" were two his biggest films. Right now he's working on a sequel to "Khiladi."

Farah Khan

Rs 7-8 crore

Farah Khan is a neophyte in the world of filmmaking but she has been behind the scenes since the early 90s. See all those fancy dance moves in films like "Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai" and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," Farah Khan is the one choreographing them. And she hasn't just stayed in Bollywood, she's crossed over to help choreograph films such as "Monsoon Wedding" and the play "Bombay Dreams" and has worked with singer Shakira on her dance routine for the MTV Music Awards. She has only two films under her belt but they were blockbusters, "Main Hoon Na" and "Om Shanti Om." We think she's going to be alright, especially when your biggest fan is Shahrukh Khan.

Anees Bazmee

Rs 9-10 crore

Aamir Khan's Lofty Demands Equal No Movie?

Ever since Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar worked together in the immensely popular, 'Dil Chahta Hai,' the two have yet to make another film together apart from a special appearance from Aamir in 'Luck By Chance.' Now it seems the negotiations for the two to work together again, haven't been successful. Aamir was in talks to do a film produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani.

Reports indicate that Farhan Akhtar's business partner, Ritesh Sidhwani met Aamir Khan on the set of his film, '3 Idiots' to talk about the film and this is where things got sticky. It seems Aamir Khan demanded an astronomical acting fee and a share in the film's profits (an act which he has been rumored to do in the past as well). Apparently the demands didn't sit well with Ritesh Sidhwani who walked away from negotiations and since then decided to work with another star instead of Aamir Khan.

This isn't just speculation however; as Ritesh Sidhwani sort of confirmed the news himself saying that the project with Aamir Khan is not happening because the actor had certain demands that were not acceptable to him and Farhan Akhtar. However, he refused to go into details on Aamir's demands, leaving us to speculate.

Obviously now that Aamir Khan is out, we can only wonder who will replace him. Rumors are flying that the producers want to rope in Shahrukh Khan, however, again Ritesh Sidhwani refuses to confirm or deny those reports. Seems like Shahrukh Khan would be the ideal alternative if that were the case. Aamir Khan on the other hand is saying that he refused the film because he didn't like the script. Hmmm... sounds like a game of he said, she said to us!

So what do you think about the Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar dilemma? Would you like to see the two work together in a film again? Drop us a comment with your thoughts!

BAFTA Awards Don't Draw Many Viewers

The BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Television Awards took place over the
weekend. The awards ceremony is usually one that is watched by many, but this year it seemed
like there were a lot of people who had better things to do.

The 4.3 million who did tune in to see the award show hosted by comedian Graham Norton was
18% of the available audience. ITV's 'Heartbeat' (which had more viewers than the BAFTA
Awards) and 'Hell's Kitchen' seemed to draw the attention of viewers as the broadcast went on.
Here is a complete list of who won what:

• Actor: Stephen Dillane 'The Shooting Of Thomas Hurndall'
• Actress: Anna Maxwell Martin 'Poppy Shakespeare'
• Entertainment Performance: Harry Hill 'Harry Hill's TV Burp'
• Comedy performance: David Mitchell 'Peep Show'
• Single drama: White Girl
• Drama series: Wallander
• Drama serial: Criminal Justice
• Continuing drama: The Bill
• International: Mad Men
• Factual Series: Amazon with Bruce Parry
• Specialist Factual: Life In Cold Blood
• Single Documentary: Chosen (True Stories)
• Features: The Choir: Boys Don't Sing
• Current Affairs: Saving Africa's Witch Children (Dispatches)
• News Coverage: News At Ten - Chinese Earthquake
• Sport: ITV1 - F1: Brazilian Grand Prix 2008
• Interactivity: Embarrassing Bodies Online
• Entertainment Program: X Factor
• Comedy Program: Harry And Paul
• Situation Comedy: The IT Crowd
• Philips Audience Award: Skins
• Special Award: Jane Tranter
• Academy Fellowship: Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

We want to know what you think about the winners. Do you think that there should be a more
Desi presence since the U.K. has a large population of Desi people? Are there any shows or
actors you think shouldn't have won? Give us your thoughts about the ceremony and the
winners.

Should Mallika Sherawat Be Honored?

When people think of talented women in Bollywood, names like Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, and Bipasha Basu come up. People in India and all over the world would probably also add Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to that mix. But who would've thought that Mallika Sherawat who just had a milkshake named after in Hollywood would receive an award for her "talent" in Jersey City, New Jersey of all places!

Well, apparently getting a little bit of buzz in Hollywood suddenly has made Mallika Sherawat the it girl all over the U.S. On Friday Mallika Sherawat was given an arts award by the Mayor of Jersey City, Jerramiah T Healy for her "unparalleled contributions to and influence on the Indian diaspora". We have to wonder if this mayor has even heard of her or if he can even name one of her films.

Mallika Sherawat who hails from India Karnal, Haryana, India was chosen by the large Indian community in New Jersey to be a recipient for this award. Although she hasn't been seen in much of late, Mallika Sherawat also received an award back in November in the U.S. called the 2008 Renaissance Artist Award. That honor has been presented to American actresses such as Salma Hayek and Halle Berry.

We just can't help but wonder why out of all the Indian actors and actresses who have had an influence all over the world-could Mallika Sherawat be chosen for such honors? Do our readers find it strange that an actress who has barely caused a buzz in India is being awarded in America? We want to know what you think about Mallika Sherawat getting this award in New Jersey. We can't wait to hear from you so make sure to leave comments!

Salman Khan's Drunk Driving Campaign

Salman Khan is one of those actors who everyone loves, yet someone who remains controversial. The man who seems to always be getting into trouble has been hard at work for a while trying to turn over a new leaf. He was the one who started an institute to help children way before 'Slumdog Millionaire' was out. And now he's going to be releasing a drunk driving ad campaign.

There's almost no one better in Bollywood than Salman Khan for the job. He has been the poster child for making poor choices while drinking. Unfortunately this led to some tragic events in the actor's life when he ran over some people who were sleeping in the street. That's why his ad campaign will focus on being kind and responsible, especially to victims of hit and runs.

One person said that, "The ad talks about how people just ignore those who are in distress on roads when hit by someone. It shows a man hit by a vehicle who is left to die." While Nikhil Saini who directed the ad said, "Yes, Salman has done a 90-second ad with us. After the story unfolds, Salman comes to give a public service message. He is wearing 'Being human' shirt...the ad also has Vipin Sharma and Shailendra Gaur in it. We are quite hopeful of driving home the point."

It's pretty cool that Salman Khan has made a concerted effort to make a difference. If anyone is going to listen to someone about drunk driving, a Bollywood superstar actor who has already gone through it is the one. Hopefully Salman Khan's ad campaign will actually start to make a difference.

So we want to know what people think about Salman Khan's ad campaign. Do you think that it will make a difference? Or do you find that these types of ads don't really do what they set out to do? Give us your thoughts on Salman Khan's new ad and if you think it's going to help.

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Britney Spears Praises Rishi Rich April 28 2009 14:20 PST Can you guess who is praising Rishi Rich now? The renowned UK producer has done some amazin

Britney Spears Praises Rishi Rich

Can you guess who is praising Rishi Rich now? The renowned UK producer has done some amazing things having worked with some really hot artists around the world and now the pop princess Britney Spears had something to say about Rishi Rich's work.

Britney Spears told Desi Hits! exclusively "I love Rishi Rich's remix to my song 'Me Against the Music.' It's one of my favorite numbers and the lenghas are really cool too. I love all the colors!"

I love Rishi Rich's remix to my song 'Me Against the Music.' It's one of my favorite numbers and the lenghas are really cool too. I love all the colors!

Britney Spears was speaking in regards to her performance to Rishi Rich's Desi Kulcha remix of her song "Me Against the Music" on her Circus Tour. She apparently loves wearing the lengha for her performance to the song as well. Britney is obviously a part of the growing list of American artist that are into all things Desi (more of that East meets West fusion we love!)!

We're glad to hear that Desi is en vogue and that someone as big as Britney Spears is supporting the clothing, dance, and music. Considering all of the outfits and songs that Britney Spears does on her tour, it's pretty cool that she mentions Rishi Rich and the costumes that were designed for her Bollywood dance.

As most people know, the Pussycat Dolls have joined Britney Spears on this tour and we're sure they're singing the 'Jai Ho' praises as well.

So we want to ask you what you think about all of this Desi fever that's sweeping the world. And do you think it's cool that Britney Spears gave a shout out to Rishi Rich? Give us your thoughts on the Desi love that's being spread around.

M.I.A.'s Baby Out on the Town

Look at who is passing by LAX airport! Yes, it's M.I.A. and fiancé Benjamin Bronfman, but this is a rare occasion where both of them are being upstaged. The star of this picture is Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman, M.I.A. and Bronfman's first child together. They're just passing by merely days after M.I.A.'s performance at the 2009 Coachella Festival in Indio, California.

Ikhyd, who is barely two months old, finally gets a chance to go out and enjoy the sights with his mother and father after that whirlwind tour he had inside of M.I.A.'s belly. While M.I.A. was pregnant with Ikhyd, she was still out there performing, making music, and conducting interviews. The biggest example of this was M.I.A. performing at the Grammy Awards this past February with the knowledge that Ikhyd was ready to come out at any moment. At least we know for sure that Ikhyd is built for the rigors of the road already thanks to his mom!

Ikhyd definitely came out with a strong resemblance to his mommy! From the jet black hair to that undeniable smile on his face, it's clear as day seeing whose genes were stronger. Let's just hope when he grows up that he has the business acumen of his dad and the swagger of his mother. Put those two things together and you have a star in the making. He seems really happy and we can't help but be happy for them. We wish them nothing but the best and we hope to keep track of Ikhyd as he continues to grow day by day.

So take a look at a couple of these pictures of M.I.A., Benjamin Bronfman, and little Ikhyd just walking around being a happy little family. We think they look adorable together. What do you think? Does Ikhyd look more like his mom or his dad? Let us know what you're thinking below.

Amitabh Bachchan turns Stylist In 'Aladin!'

He has always been a trend-setter, but this time Amitabh Bachchan goes a step further by adding a
personal touch to his character in the anticipated Bollywood film, 'Aladin.' While planning a shoot for a special number for his forthcoming film, Amitabh Bachchan suggested doing his own styling for the song's picturisation.

Apparently Amitabh Bachchan was extremely excited about the groovy track that featured himself
and Ritesh Deshmukh. While planning the shoot for the peppy number, he expressed his desire to
contribute to the song in his very own way by choosing his own outfit for it!

Of course, the director happily agreed and the Big B went on to choose a deep red velvet jacket which
added that extra touch of grandeur to his already larger-than-life persona in the film. Now that's what
we call flaunting your style with panache!'The film arrives in theatres on 24th July. The contemporary take on the classic fairy tale is packed with fun, music, masti, action and adventure.

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Deshmukh and introduces Jacqueline Fernandez.
Check out the pictures of Amitabh Bachchan below and let us know what you think about his fashion
sense (keep in mind he plays a Genie!).