Subhash Ghai on a talent hunt

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who launched some of Bollywood's most successful debutantes, including Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Manisha Koirala and Mahima Chaudhary and his most notable films include Karz (1980), Hero (1983), Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Pardes (1997) and Taal (1999). The director will be on the hunt again for new talent to win over millions of hearts on the silver screen.

His nation-wide hunt, that begins from June 26, would cover Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Selected students would get the opportunity to join his 'Actors' Studio' at his film institute Whistling Woods International (WWI) at the Film City.

The grooming process will include a two-year curriculum designed in consultation with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. The studio will also offer scholarships, and advanced training options, including additional training techniques.

Nikhil Advani Director of KHNH

Nikhil Advani, born on April 28, 1971 is an Indian director in the Bollywood industry.

Advani was born in Mumbai. His father has a Pharmaceutical business and his mother is an advertising professional. He did his Masters in chemistry at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India.

As the Film Director, he was debut vehicle was a masterpiece titled Kal Ho Naa Ho that released in 2003 starring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan and Jaya Bachchan. The film was the second biggest hit of 2003 and firmly established him as a director. The film won six Filmfare awards, but lost out on the best director award.. His other films though did not make such impact namely Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007) and the debacle Chandni Chowk To China that relesed in 2009.

He has been the Associate Director of hit candy floss films of Dharma Productions Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001) and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

As a writer, he has penned the script of Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love (2007). The film has a huge star cast:- Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Sohail Khan, Vidya Balan, John Abraham, Akshaye Khanna, Govinda, Juhi Chawla, Anil Kapoor, Ayesha Takia, Shannon Esra and
Anjana Zukhani. The film was produced by Sunil Manchanda, Mukesh Talreja and Chetan Motiwalla and released on January 25, 2007 to mixed reviews.

He is also set to direct an animated film titled Ab Dilli Door Nahin for release in 2009.He will also start shoot his next film Chandbhai in February which will also star Akshay Khanna.

Even though Chandni Chowk To China has disappointed, Nikhil has announced that he will once more work with the film's lead star Akshay Kumar. Chand Bhai will be the title of this film and fellow Indian actress Vidya Balan has been approached for the leading lady role

He will turn producer with the upcoming film Basra (2010)

Dharmesh Darshan Biography

Dharmesh Darshan is an Bollywood filmmaker, film director and writer.

Dharmesh Darshan made his directional debut with Lootere (1993), for which he also wrote the story. The film was produced by his brother Suneel Darshan, and was a hit at the box office.

In 1996, he made his second film in a big way with Raja Hindustani, starring Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor. The movie was the biggest hit of that year as well as one of the biggest blockbusters of the 90s. It was also much appreciated as Darshan won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and several awards at the Star Screen Awards ceremony.

He was on a sabbatical of almost four years after the success of Raja Hindustani. He returned in 2000 with two releases, which were directed and written by himself. His first film Mela starring again Aamir Khan was disastrous at the box office and was poorly reviewed by critics However, his second release Dhadkan with Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty did moderately well at the box office and won him acclaim. He was nominated for Dhadkan in different award ceremonies in the Best Director, Best Film and the Best Story categories.

His next release in 2002, Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya starring Karisma Kapoor and her boyfriend of that period, Abhishek Bachchan was a remake of the 1981 film Ek Hi Bhool and was a complete failure for Darshan at the box office and with critics.

The 2005 film Bewafaa was the next venture of Darshan. It was expected that the film would be a success because of its successful songs and well known stars. However, it performed below averagely at the box received average reviews.

His last release came in 2006 and the film called Aap Ki Khatir was a remake of the Hollywood hit The Wedding Date. It was also a disaster.

With the kind of mixed fate that Dharmesh has, we wish him good luck. Hope to have some more classics like Raja Hindustani.

Guru Dutt

Guru Dutt or Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone was born on July 9, 1925,Bangalore, Mysore, British India.
Guru Dutt was a most famous film director, producer and actor of bollywood industry. Guru Dutt is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema.

Guru Dutt is most famous for making brilliant lyrical and artistic films within the context of popular Hindi cinema of the 1950s, starting with his 1957 masterpiece, Pyaasa. Several of his later works have a cult following. Guru Dutt developed a flair for writing in English, and wrote short stories for The Illustrated Weekly of India, a local weekly English magazine.

As a director, Baazi was an immediate success. Guru Dutt followed it with Jaal and Baaz. Fortune smiled on Dutt's next film, the 1954 Aar Paar. Guru Dutt also has his influence on his last box office smash hit Chaudhvin Ka Chand.
Guru Dutt's last productions film in 1964 was Sanjh Aur Savera opposite Meena Kumari. Guru Dutt died on October 10, 1964.

Guru Dutt's legacy to direction of Hindi cinema is unmistakable and accepted by many leading Hindi directors of the day.

Kambakkht Ishq director all praises for Akki

Two of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's big budget films may have bombed this year, but it doesn't worry director Sabbir Khan who has cast him in his ready-to-release mega-budget directorial debut movie Kambakkht Ishq.

Failures of Akshay's movies don't affect Sabbir at all because a movie is a movie...and as a director, you just want to know whether the audiences want to see it or not.

Everybody goes through ups and downs. An actor's last success doesn't mean anything for a director. That way we wouldn't have had any more movies of Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan or Tom Cruise.

Both of Akshay's much-hyped releases this year, Chandni Chowk To China and 8X10 Tasveer, had bombed at the box-office.

Its a clear thought that whosoever's worked with Akshay will want to repeat him. He becomes an instant favourite because of the person he is. He is a genuine human being and a brilliant actor. He has earlier worked as an assistant director in an Akshay starrer, the 2004 comedy Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.

The first time director, who has scripted Kambakht Ishq, was in the capital to promote the film.

Prakash Jha Known for Socio-Political Films

Prakash Jha is an Indian film producer-director-

screenwriter, who is
best known for his political and socio-political films, Damul (1984),
Mrityudand (1997), and Gangaajal 2003. He is also the maker of
National Film Award winning documentaries like, Face After Storm
(1984) and Sonal (2002).

He now runs a production company, 'Prakash Jha Productions'.

Early life and education

Prakash Jha was born in 1952 and was raised in West Champaran, Bihar,
India. He had done his schooling from Sainik School Tilaya, Koderma
district, (now in Jharkhand)', and later, he joined Ramjas College,
Delhi University to do B.Sc (Hons) in Physics.

The studies did not interest him much and thus after one year he
decided to go to Mumbai and become a painter, though while he was
preparing for J.J. School of Arts, he happened to witness the shooting
film Dharma and got hooked on to film making.

Soon he joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune
in 1973, to do a course in Editing that he could complete only in
1976.

Career
Documentary Film-maker
While still midway through his course, he started working on films
independently, in 1974, and made his first documentary, 'Under the
Blue' in 1975, and continued to do so for next 8 years.

During this period he made some highly politically charged
documentaries, like the one of 'Bihar Sarif riots', titled, Faces
After Storm (1984), which received considerable attention, as it was
banned within 4-5 days of its released though later it won the
National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film for the year.

Debut as a Director
Finally, he made his debut, as a feature film director with Hip Hip
Hurray in 1983, scripted by Gulzar and starring, Raj Kiran and Deepti
Naval as leads. Next came, the film he received most recognition with,
Damul (1984), which won the National Film Award for Best Film and the
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie in 1985. The film was based on
the bonded labour issue in Bihar.

In 1986, he directed, Parinati, based on the story by Vijaydan Detha.
Starting late 1980s, he made four TV series, like a 13 part Classical
dances from India, and the famous comedy series Mungerilal Ke Haseen
Sapne starring Raghuvir Yadav.

On a Sabbatical from Film Making
In 1989, he took a sabbatical from films, and moved to Bihar for four
years, during period he formed two organizations, Anubhooti, which
trained young people from region, in film making, and Samvedan, in
Champaran, to promote small and micro industries.

Bihar Based Movies
His first come back film in his second inning, was Bandish (1996),
starring Jackie Shroff and Juhi Chawala, which followed by Mrityudand
(1997), starring Madhuri Dixit and Shabana Azmi in lead roles and a
story set in his native place, Bihar.

Gangaajal, with Ajay Devgan was yet again themed on Bihar, this time
on 1980 Bhagalpur blindings.

His 2005 film, Apaharan, starring Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu was
based on the growing kidnapping industry in Hindi heartland and won
him the Filmfare Best Dialogue Award in 2006.




He was married for some time to film actress, Deepti Naval.

Awards bestowed upon Prakash Jha for his films
National Film Awards

* 1984: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Face After
Storm (1984)
* 1985: National Film Award for Best Film: Damul (1985)
* 1987: National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film: Kudiattam
* 2002: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film: Sonal
* 2004: National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues:
Gangaajal (2003)
* 2006: National Film Award for Best Screenplay: Apaharan (2005)

Filmfare Awards

* 1985: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie: Damul (1985)
* 2006:Filmfare Best Dialogue Award: Apaharan (2005)

Over the years he has made over 25 documentaries, nine feature films,
two television features and three television series. Many of his films
are concerned with highlighting social evils. Presently, he is making
film, Rajiniti, which is a contemporary take on the epic, Mahabharat,
starring Vivek Oberoi, Manoj Bajpai and Ranbir Kapoor.

Vipul Shah rebukes Aishwarya

After Aishwarya Rai repeatedly reported late to the sets of Action Replay, director Vipul Shah decided to teach her the importance of punctuality. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would always come late to the sets. On days when she came on time, Aishwarya would spend most of her time doing up her hair, make-up and clothes while everybody kept waiting for her.

The unit is shooting with Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya at ND Studios, Karjat. Vipul Shah is extremely particular about shooting the scenes aesthetically. He was fed up of waiting for hours for Aishwarya.

The day Aishwarya Rai came to the sets, Vipul shot precisely for a minute before declaring pack-up. Aishwarya was surprised that Vipul had made her get ready only to shoot with her for a minute. Vipul was so irritated on the actress that he said, ‘Apne sets pe sab time par aate hain aur sab time par jaate hain.’ But at the same time the director denied the story and said, This is totally false.
Aishwarya has an extraordinary look in the film. She took time to get ready because of which the unit had planned the shoots accordingly. In fact, the actress is working 15 hours every day for my film. She is extremely professional and Vipul is delighted to work with her.

Anurag Kashyap as TV Host

Joining the league of Bollywood celebrities like Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, writer-director Anurag Kashyap is all set to make his debut on the small screen as a host for a TV show.

Kashyap will host four episodes of ’True Stories’, a series of documentaries on real life inspirations behind popular movie icons like James Bond, Al Capone, Frank Morris and Indiana Jones, etc.The show will premiere, June 11, on Fox History and Entertainment channel.

’It was nice being on the other side for a change. This is my first time as a TV anchor and I am as excited to see the final product as I was when shooting for it... While the series explores the true stories behind the popular screen icons, I give my perspective on the movies that made them big,’ Kashyap said in a statement.

’Even adding my bit to the research on the script was easy since all I had to do was talk about my favourite directors - Brian De Palma, Clint Eastwood, etc,’ he added.

John's Nix & Arjun's Yes To Karan

The latest on Stepmom is that it's yet to be acquired for remake by Dharma Productions. Says Karan Johar, "The modalities for that are still being worked out. Until the contract is signed I wouldn't want to comment on it. Stepmom was released in the same year as my directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and I loved it. I look forward to developing it if the modalities are worked out. You of course know Kajol and Kareena Kapoor are expected to play the two roles."

In the meanwhile, the other Karan favourite Arjun Rampal who did a walk-on part in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna has agreed to step into Stepmom, if and when it gets made.

John Abraham reluctantly though but firmly has nixed to Karan Johar's offer to play the male lead in the Hindi version of Chris Columbus's Stepmom.


Recall that it was Karan who gave John a big break in Kaal a few years ago. And nobody can deny the recent Dharma dhamaka Dostana was a turning-point for John's career.

After Saif, then John was approached to play the lead opposite Kajol and Kareena Kapoor in the desi version of Stepmom. John almost agreed then opted out. Reason?

He didn't see himself doing much in a film that already started two powerhouse actresses, both natural-born scene stealers.

Karan had almost convinced John to do the role. He even promised that the husband's role in the Indian Stepmom would be far more substantial than what Ed Harris did in the original. But John is at a stage in his career where he wants to make all the right career moves. He feels, as
an outsider in the industry, he has made a place that must be respected.

John is finally learning to say no to projects even if they come from big banners and if he isn't convinced that he'd get proper performing space. In Dostana, he went along with the salespitch that Abhishek was the 'actor' while John was the 'body'. But in Dostana 2, John will
make sure he will be the actor and the body. He's working hard on it.

Aarif Sheikh Director of Let's Dance

After editing a flurry of critically acclaimed films like ‘Makdee’, ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Parzania’, National Award-winning editor Aarif Sheikh, has now gone behind the camera for his directorial debut ‘Let`s Dance’ - a dance extravaganza that centres around street children.

Although dancing is the DNA of the film, Aarif was very sure that his story needed to be solid. It needed to hold on its own.

Produced by Arvind Patel, ‘Let`s Dance’ stars debutante Gayatri Patel and other lesser known actors like Ajay Chaudhary, Aqib Afzaal, Sugandha Garg, Asif Basra, Abhaas Yadav, and Nikuunj Padaya.

But Sheikh, who won the National Award for Sushmita Sen-starrer "Samay - When Time Strikes" in 2004, says he was unfazed about working with new artists.

Although he was working with mostly new artists, he never had any trouble extracting performances as all his actors were perceptive.

Sheikh is particularly happy with his lead heroine Gayatri, who was born and brought up in the US. In "Let`s Dance", she plays a simple but determined dance teacher, who decides to motivate a group of underprivileged kids.

"Gayatri is simply fabulous in dance and that`s why we call her ?the dancing tornado`. I couldn`t have had a better dancer than her for a film like this," he said.

The debutant director is now looking forward to his film`s release June 19.

Rahul Khanna

The 37 year old, Rahul Khanna, son of yesteryears actor Vinod Khanna had left for USA to do some theatre work which he preferred. Reason? His acting career was going nowhere in Bollywood despite his good looks and off-beat type role choice.

Now the buzz is that he is coming back to Mumbai to work on his directorial debut venture which most probably will be produced by his father Vinod Khanna and brother Akshaye Khanna.

Having faced defeat in the recently concluded Loksabha elections, Vinod Khanna has plans to be based in Mumbai for a longer period now and revive his production company. Our sources further claim that both Rahul and Akshaye have already worked on a script together and it has been planned that Rahul will direct the film himself.

Khanna began his career as a VJ with MTV Asia and was immensely popular across Asia. He made his feature film debut in Deepa Mehta’s Earth-1947 with Aamir Khan and Nandita Das. He was later also seen as the solo male lead in Mehta’s Bollywood/ Hollywood (2003). Rahul’s
mainstream Bollywood films include Elaan and Raqeeb.

He has also been a rage on stage in the New York production of the hit West-End play, East is East. Rahul’s other international credits include The Emperor’s Club with Kevin Kline.