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.

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.

David Dhawan Judge on Reality Comic Show on

David Dhawan is the King of Comedy when it comes to directing Comic Flicks.

He has delivered numerous comic hits, to name a few, “Jodi No.1″,
“Haseena Maan Jaayegi” and “Biwi No.1″ and last was Partner.

His favorite actress, Karisma Kapoor, who has starred in many of his
films is teaming up after nine years with him to judge a new comedy
reality show “Hans Baliye” that will be aired on Star One and will
debut May 30 at 8.30 p.m They had last worked together in 2000 in
“Chal Mere Bhai”, which also starred Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan.

In their new role on television, they would judge eight real-life
celebrity couples who will vie with each other by cracking jokes and
enacting spoofs to win the “Hans Baliye” trophy. According to Dhawan,
it was “the uniqueness and of course the comic aspect” of the show
that made him agree to become a judge.

“Comedy is something I personally enjoy and watching these couples
showcasing their humorous side will surely be a treat to watch. The
show promises to be interesting and engaging,” Dhawan said in a press
release from Star One.

'“On Indian television, we have a plethora of reality shows such as
talent shows for dancing, singing, etc. but ‘Hans Baliye’ gives a
platform to real life couples to showcase their talent to a wider
audience. Making people laugh is not an easy job. It requires a whole
lot of dedication and hard work. I am looking forward to having a good
time on the show,” Karisma said.

Among the participants on the show are television actors Tanaaz and
Bakhtyaar Irani, Delnaaz and Rajiv Paul, newly-wed Juhi Parmaar with
husband Sachin and Sara Khan with beau Ali Merchant.