'Veer'races with top jockeys to promote Salman

Mumbai, Bollywood star Salman Khan is leaving no stone unturned to promote his upcoming period drama “Veer” that releases Friday, even if it means participating in a race with top jockeys.

Clad in a black t-shirt, blue jeans and donning a yellow helmet, the 44-year-old raced with six jockeys at the Mahalakshmi race course Sunday, winning the event and being awarded a trophy. "I was a bit nervous (before the race). If I'd have lost, people would have thought Salman lost the race and if I'd have won then they would have said that he had to win because he is a star," Salman told reporters here after the race.

"But I'd like to clarify that it was not a set-up and was a genuine race. I gave my best along with the jockeys and so did they," he added. The epic has been produced by Vijay Galani and Sunil A. Lulla. It has been written by Salman.

It also marks the big screen debut of Zarine Khan in the female lead. Mithun Chakraborty, Sohail Khan and Jackie Shroff also play pivotal roles in the movie.
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“Guzaarish” for birthday takes break from Hrithik Roshan

Mumbai, Hrithik Roshan took a much-needed break from the shooting of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Guzaarish” to spend his birthday with his wife and sons.

He partied whole of Saturday night to ring in his birthday Sunday.

This was the actor’s first demand for a holiday from Bhansali’s film. The director gladly complied and shot solo scenes with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

For the party Saturday night, Hrithik and his wife Susanne personally called each one of the guests.

Hrithik intends to take a long break after “Guzaarish” to recoup his energies.

Priyanka Chopra -Bollywood numbers game is too fickle

Mumbai, Priyanka Chopra was marching towards the top with back-to-back hits “Dostana” and “Fashion” in 2008. Last year her “Kaminey” succeeded and if “What’s Your Raashee?” had worked, she would have certainly come closer to being number one. But the actress refuses to get drawn into the numbers game.

Describing her fundamentals about working in films, she said: “It’s best not to do any prior calculations and instead just step into doing something where your instinct drives you. This is why I concentrate completely on my work.”


“In fact, sometimes you experience something even worse because the same people may even end up stating that she is gone and there is no future for her…However, one hit later, every statement would be retracted. No one can be really blamed because this entire numbers business is so fickle,” said the actress who has seen quite a few ups and downs in her career.

Was this why she didn’t worry much while signing a relatively smaller film like “Pyaar Impossible”? Though she claims it was the film’s script that made her sign, she admits that big banners like Yash Raj Films have their relevance.

“Yes, one can’t deny the relevance of big banners. However, a fact that also cannot be denied is that sometimes even big films don’t work. I have first-hand experience in that because there have been some really big films that I wasn’t convinced about and hence had to decline them,” Priyanka said.

Unwilling to divulge the names of these films, she does reveal though that most of these films didn’t work at the box office.

“This is what further convinced me that I had taken the right decisions,” she said.

“When a couple of my films would succeed at the box office, then people would start commenting ‘Oh yes, you are at the number one spot’. But one flop later they may end up stating ‘arrey, yeh spot toh thoda hil gaya’,” Priyanka told IANS.

“On the other hand I have also done small films out of sheer gut instinct and they went on to be very good successes. So, you know, one can’t really be sure about this industry which is anyway so unpredictable,” the former beauty queen added.

“Pyaar Impossible” also starred Uday Chopra. Directed by Jugal Hansraj, the romantic comedy shows how fate brings Uday, a complete geek, and Priyanka, a beauty, together and love blooms amidst all odds.


“As long as people say that I am a decently good actor and a very fine professional, I can say that I am at a happy place. I would be quite worried if they start saying anything to the contrary,” added Priyanka, who has worked in around 30 films during the last six and a half years in Bollywood.

Priyanka will next be seen in Siddharth Anand’s “Anjaana Anjaani” with Ranbir Kapoor. After that, she will begin work on Vishal Bharadwaj’s yet untitled film.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Katrina Kaif – Zarine Khan

Mumbai, Debutante Zarine Khan doesn’t mind being compared to her “Veer” co-star Salman Khan’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif and says that the actress is so beautiful that even she couldn’t take her eyes off.

“Being compared to Katrina Kaif is a huge compliment for me because I feel she is very beautiful. When I am compared to her, I feel overwhelmed. I have met her a couple of times and she is so beautiful that even I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” Zarine told IANS.

“Being compared to her is always a delight. Personally speaking, when I see myself in the mirror, I find no similarities.”

Zarine, who is playing female lead with Salman in “Veer”, says that she wanted to be a doctor and that acting happened to her by chance.

“I was always a very brilliant student, but not a nerd type. I wanted to be a doctor. But I couldn’t continue my studies due to a financial crisis and the responsibility of my whole family fell on my shoulders. Acting happened by chance. Now I can be everything – a doctor, pilot, everything,” said Zarine.

“I was a struggling model and was looking for some kind of work to take care of my family. I was doing very small print ads now and then for saris to earn money to run my house. One day I was home surfing the net when I got a call from Mukta Arts. They called me on the sets of ‘Yuvvraaj’. There I met Salman.

“Salman is a huge actor and I am one of his great fans. I started talking to him like his fans would do. I had no clue that he was planning to take me in his film (‘Veer’). Finally, when I asked for his autograph, he said, ‘No sweetheart you will sign autograph for the world’. Later I got to know that he has selected me for this film,” she added.

Though Salman chose Zarine, she had to pass an audition test.

“They had auditioned lots of girls because the female lead has two different looks in the movie – one is Indian and other Western. Whoever they auditioned looked good in either of the looks, not both. Some had language problem too. They tried me and I was lucky enough to fit into both the characters and they signed me,” said Zarine.

“Veer” is directed by Anil Sharma and produced by Vijay Dalani and Sunil A. Lulla. The makers kept Zarine’s name secret for a long time.

“Even I got strict instructions to keep it a secret from friends and family. I was allowed to give some clue to my parents,” she said.

Asked why they were hiding her, she said: “I don’t know. I was too junior to question them why they are asking me to do so. I just did what they asked me to do.”

Set in colonial India, the film encapsulates a period when Britons enslaved India with their divide and rule policy and kings and nawabs fell for it, except for the Pindaris who preferred death to dishonour and fought till their last breath. Salman plays one of the bravest and strongest Pindari soldiers.

“It’s a love story set in the backdrop of a war for independence. I play a Rajasthani princess,” said Zarine.

Salman is known as an angry man, but Zarine got to know the caring and understanding side of his personality.

“I had heard that he is a very tough guy, he hardly speaks. But he spoke to me very nicely… may be because I met him first as a fan. In due course I realised whatever has been written about Salman is not true. He is so sweet. He has a heart of gold. He is a very genuine man.

“While shooting sometimes I couldn’t understand some parts of my role. I used to be scared that Salman would get angry. But he used to patiently explain how to go about it,” said Zarine.

She has already bagged a few offers but she hasn’t signed any as she is waiting for the release of “Veer” Jan 22.

Anil Kapoor’s American series premieres Jan 14

Mumbai, Anil Kapoor, who recently turned 50, has many a reason to be happy – his American television series “24″ is set to premiere in New York Jan 14 and his presence in the series has been extended from 10 to 16 episodes.

“Initially, I was under contract for just 10 episodes. Then seeing the way my role developed, they decided to have me in 16 episodes. I must say I was as happy with the whole experience as I was with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’,” Anil told IANS confirming the news.
The versatile actor, who turned 50 Dec 24 last year, agrees 2009 has been a phenomenal year for him.
“And now 2010 starts for me with the premiere of my television series ‘24′ on January 14. I’m flying down to New York on January 12 for the premiere. In fact, all through the shooting of the series I’ve been flying in and out of India and the US.” he said.
“At one point, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do Anees Bazmi’s ‘No Problem’ because I was committed to do ‘24′. I even spoke to Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan about my role. Finally, I did manage both, thanks to Anees’ co-operation. But I must say doing ‘24′ and ‘No Problem’ side by side was quite a cultural and continental shuffle,” he said.
Anil plays a Middle Eastern character in “24″.
“I’m now waiting to see how audiences react to it. I’ve always believed in doing all kinds of work. Just like my friend A.R. Rahman who scores music for Shankar and Mani Ratnam, I’ve also done ‘Eeshwar’ and ‘Rakhwala’ side by side. I think variety is a very strong incentive for growth,” he said.
Anil recalls how a lot of people advised him against doing an American television series.
“But I was also advised not to do ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. I took it up because my wife and kids were in favour. Can you imagine how I’d feel right now if I had turned it down? If I see 2009 as the best year of my life, it’s partly because of ‘Slumdog�’,” said Anil.
“Then, of course, there was ‘Aisha’ my two daughters’ gift to me. Yes, that’s how I see it. It isn’t my gift to them, but their gift to me. While Sonam plays the lead, Rhea is producing ‘Aisha’. I’m proud of both of them.”
He is now ready to take on his third international project.
“But I am very clear that I won’t play Indian characters in international projects unless they’re really special. I won’t do the stereotypical Indian characters in American films. I’ve told my agent to seek out parts that are not culture-specific but have character.”
Another project with Danny Boyle after “Slumdog Millionaire” is not ruled out. “Yes, Danny has gone on record to say we’re working together and we will. At the moment I’m not signing anything new until I’m sure of what to do next.”
Anil feels a strong support system at home and at work is the key to his successful journey as an actor.
“I hope my children have imbibed the values that I grew up with. I’m very proud of my three children. They are all doing well for themselves. My son Harshvardhan is enjoying his student days in the US, just like I did at his age, though not abriad like him.”