Bollywood plans day long strike to protest over new tax proposal

02/02/2012 By Leave a Comment
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Bollywood will come to a standstill on February 23rd as the industry is planning a complete shutdown to protest over new government proposals to levy a new service tax on the film making industry. Those who oppose the proposal say the extra tax will have a negative effect on Indian film makers, squeezing film budgets even further.

The Bollywood strike will take place on February 23rd for the entire day, although the strike could be extended if there’s enough support for the cause. The Film Federation of India (FFI) declared the nationwide shut down, while the industry is waiting to see if the Film Producers Guild will join the strike, which would provide a big boost to the cause.

However not everyone supports the strike, filmmaker Retan Jain is one in particular who insists that the strike will only succeed in losing money for the Indian film industry. Jain believes that the best way to tackle the central government proposal to impose another tax on movies made in India is to call a meeting with the finance ministry to address the proposal head on.

Other well known faces in Bollywood support the strike whole heartedly, including Ramesh Sippy who is calling for indefinite strike to ensure the protest does not go unnoticed. Sippy believes the tax would mean an extra burden on the Indian film industry which is already the subject of heavy taxes.

Do you support the strike? Or do you think the Bollywood movie industry should pay more in tax? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

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Shah Rukh Khan in alleged punch-up with Farah Khan’s husband

30/01/2012 By Leave a Comment
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Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan found himself in a spot of bother last night according to recent media reports as the actor is believed to have got into a scuffle Farah Khan’s husband, Shirish Kunder.

Shah Rukh Khan was seen arriving at the Aurus restaurant in Mumbai late last night accompanied by three bodyguards. Eyewitnesses described SRK as looking inebriated when he arrived at the party which was hosted by Sanjay Dutt to celebrate the success of his recent movie, Agneepath.

There is some confusion over how and why the argument broke out between Shah Rukh Khan and film maker Shirish Kunder. Some reports suggest Kunder had been following the actor around all night which had annoyed SRK, while other sources have reported seeing Bollywood superstar approaching Kunder and starting a fight, believed to have been caused by a derogatory comment he made on Twitter about Shah Rukh’s movie Ra. One.

The host of the party, Sanjay Dutt and also Baba Dewan who owns the restaurant, intervened after the scrap broke out between the pair, with the two men stepping in to break SRK and Kunder apart to prevent the fight getting out of hand.

The Bollywood actor and the film maker have a difficult history as Kunder’s wife, Farah Khan, was a close friend of Shah Rukh Khan and had directed him in a number of movies including Main Hoon Wa and others. However their friendship deteriorated after Farah cast Akshay Kumar in Tees Maar Khan, it’s believed the duo no longer speak as a result.

Farah wasn’t present at the party, however she had plenty to say on the matter this morning as she issued a statement which read,

“Shah Rukh has always told me that physical abuse is the worst way to sort out a problem, and that it means the person who’s hitting has either a personal or professional crisis going on. It saddens me to see him doing the same.”

There’s been no word from Shah Rukh Khan on the matter, although Farah Khan also said that she and her husband have no intention to charges against the actor.

 

 

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Bollywood movie Agent Vinod trailer introduced by Saif Ali Khan

27/01/2012 By Leave a Comment
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The trailer for the eagerly anticipated new Bollywood movie, Agent Vinod, was officially released this week by the star of the movie, Saif Ali Khan. The Bollywood actor, who also produced the Hindi spy movie, looked dapper in a sleek dinner jacket as he arrived at the screening for the Agent Vinod trailer.

Comparisons are already being drawn between Agent Vinod and the James Bond films, with Saif Ali Khan doing little to play down the comparison by arriving at the trailer screening wearing a smart dinner jacket suit, one of the looks typically seen on James Bond in the iconic movies.

While the Bollywood heart throb conceded that comparisons between James Bond are “inevitable”, the actor stressed that Agent Vinod is a true Indian hero and that audiences will see this from the very first scene of the movie.

Agent Vinod’s leading lady, actress Kareena Kapoor, and also Saif Ali Khan’s real life girlfriend, was not present at the first showing of the movie trailer however the actor revealed the Bollywood beauty would be involved in future promotions for the film. Talking about his partner in Agent Vinod, Khan described Kareena’s role as “strong” in the movie, adding that she did the part “justice” and the film also did her justice in return.

The spy movie starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor had been due for release in December, however Agent Vinod is now due to be finally released in cinemas on March 23rd.

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Oprah Winfrey visits the Bachchan family during visit to India

17/01/2012 By Leave a Comment
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Oprah Winfrey was given a very warm welcome during her first visit to India this week by one of the most famous Bollywood families. Head of the Bachchan clan, Amitabh Bachchan, even turned into a personal chauffeur for the famous TV host, getting behind the wheel of his white Rolls Royce to drive Oprah Winfrey to a Mumbai party held in her honour.

The veteran TV presenter was photographed arriving at the star studded party in Mumbai in the back of the stunning Rolls Royce driven by Amitabh. Oprah Winfrey was wearing an orange sari with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seated next to her in the luxury car for company. Actor and Aishwarya’s husband, Abhishek, was seated in the front seat alongside his father.

New parents Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also had a special visitor to their home this week as the US chat show host visited the couple’s home, spending more than an hour at the Bachchan residence where she is believed to have met the couple’s two-month-old daughter, nicknamed Beti B.

Bollywood star, Amitabh Bachchan, tweeted about Oprah Winfrey’s visit to all of his Twitter followers as he wrote, “The gracious Oprah Winfrey visits our home, to meet us and bless the baby..warm hearted, endearing .. drive her to party in her honor,”

Oprah Winfrey will be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival during her visit to India, and is also planning to carry out filming for her new TV show, Next Chapter, while in the country.

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Hollywood comes to Bollywood as Richard Gere linked to Indian film role

12/01/2012 By Leave a Comment
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Hollywood leading man, Richard Gere, is the latest big name from the US to be linked to an Indian film role.

According to recent reports, the Pretty Woman star is in line to appear in the as-yet-untitled new movie from the Bollywood movie director, Nila Madhab Panda. Richard Gere will play an American visiting India who gets involved in socio-political set up of a village where he meets the other star of the movie played by Harsh Mayar who performed in the lead role in the director’s previous and critically acclaimed movie, I AM KALAM.

Movie director, Nila Madhab Panda, reportedly got in touch with Richard Gere through a mutual friend who passed the script onto the Hollywood actor. The Chicago actor was said to be impressed by the script and agreed to appear in the film.

While the news that Richard Gere appearing in a Bollywood movie is exciting enough, another high profile American name has also been linked with the movie, fellow actor Will Smith, who has also been approached with a view to appearing in the new film.

The movie is being produced by a company from the Netherlands, with shooting locations scattered across three different countries in Amsterdam, India and Los Angeles. The movie is due to go into pre-production in January 2012, with filming due to start later in the year.

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Bollywood’s Aamir Khan and wife welcome baby boy via surrogate mother

06/12/2011 By Leave a Comment
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Bollywood actor and director Aamir Khan and his wife Kiran Rao have become parents to a baby boy who was born via a surrogate mother. The couple announced that the new arrival came on December 1st after being delivered at a private clinic in Mumbai.

The baby boy is the first child for the couple together, but the third child for the 46-year-old actor who has two children from his previous marriage to Reena Dutta. It is understood that the new baby was born through IVF surrogacy after the couple were advised that this would be the best route to become parents together as Kiran Rao was understood to have suffered a number of miscarriages previously.

In an official statement to announce the birth of Bollywood couple’s new arrival, Aamir and Kiran describe how their new baby is “especially dear” as they have waited so long and faced many difficulties in their quest to become parents. The announcement went on to say, “We are humbled by the greatness of God, miracles of science and the… love of our families and friends.”

The Aamir and Kiran’s new son is the second Bollywood baby to be born in the last few weeks as actors Aishwarya Rai and Abhisheck and Bachchan welcome a baby girl in early November.

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Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan to name their baby daughter at Christmas

23/11/2011 By 3 Comments
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Bollywood’s most famous couple, Aishwarya Rai and Abhisheck Bachchan, will name their new born baby daughter in a traditional naming ceremony this Christmas.

The new addition to the Bachchan family arrived home for the very first time yesterday after mother and baby were discharged from hospital after a 7-day stay. The proud parents were accompanied by new grandparent and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and his wife and Aishwarya’s parents as they left the Mumbai hospital and took Beti B, as she’s being referred to at the moment, to her new home.

According to proud grandfather Amitabh, the little bundle of joy looks like her mother, which is not bad thing considering Aishwarya Bachchan is a former Miss World. However no official photographs have been released of the new baby, so the Bollywood fans will have to wait to see if they agree with Amitabh’s verdict.

While actor Abhisheck has invited suggestions from his Twitter followers for baby names, there’s been a hint that the Bollywood couple are considering a name beginning with an A to match both of their names.

According to some press reports, the Bachchan baby will be officially named in a special ceremony over the Christmas period with family and friends invited to give their suggestions, after which the baby will finally be named. The parents are planning a grand celebration, with top chefs being called in to create a feast of South Asian and vegetarian dishes especially for the baby naming ceremony.

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Baby girl for Bollywood’s Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

16/11/2011 By Leave a Comment
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Leading Bollywood actress and model, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has given birth to a baby girl in a Mumbai hospital this morning. The Bride and Prejudice’s star’s husband, Abhishek broke the happy news on Twitter writing “It’s a girl :-) ”

Abhishek Bachchan’s father was quick to share his delight at the safe arrival of his new granddaughter, also writing on Twitter to tell his followers, “I am Dada to the cutest baby girl…ecstatic!”

Followers were quick to send their congratulations to the Bachchan family, with the new father writing back to thank the well wishers, adding that his 38-year-old wife and new daughter were resting, but both are well.

The baby girl is the first child for the high profile Bollywood couple, although the baby’s name is yet to be revealed. Aishwarya married into the famous acting dynasty that is the Bachchan family when she and Abhishek tied the knot in 2007. Prior to their wedding the former Miss World dated fellow Bollywood actor, Salman Khan.

Having been born into one of the most important families in Bollywood, with actor parents and a grandfather renowned as a megastar in India, the new addition to Bachchan clan is almost certainly destined for the big screen.

The baby girl was born at the private hospital, the Seven Hills, in Mumbai it has been reported. As recently as last week, the new parents and a heavily pregnant Aishwarya, were photographed out and about attending a party in the city.

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Bollywood power couple to marry in early 2012

11/11/2011 By Leave a Comment
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It’s the news we’ve been eagerly awaiting for some time, but Bollywood power couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have finally ended their silence over their relationship and have confirmed their plans to marry in early 2012.

The announcement has ended months of media speculation that a Bollywood wedding was on the cards as the couple have been dating for a considerable length of time, with many believing that the pair were planning to take their relationship to the next level by tying the knot.

Saif Ali Khan has now made the news official by revealing in an interview his plans to marry the Bollywood beauty in either February or March of 2012. It seems their movie careers have been to blame for pushing back their wedding date as the release of Saif’s own production, starring Kareena Kapoor, Agent Vinod, was due for release in December but this has now been postponed until January.

The groom-to-be added that he and Kareena plan to marry as soon as the movie gets its release, although he admitted that if the release date gets moved again, they won’t be postponing the wedding beyond March 2012, so the biggest Bollywood wedding of the year will definitely be taking place in the coming months.

As yet, there’s been no further word on where the wedding will take place, although we anticipate that the big day will be lavish affair with the biggest names in Bollywood attending the celebrations.

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The Bollywood Academy to open a new centre in London

03/11/2011 By Leave a Comment
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Following on from the success of their centre in Birmingham, The Bollywood Academy is this week celebrating the launch of their new academy which will be opening in Harrow, London.

A special event is being held featuring performances from some of the Academy’s students and also well known stars such as Juggy D and dancer, singer and actor and also academy founder, Faraz.

The grand opening will mark the first Bollywood academy in London, although several other centres are being planned for different parts of the city as the training provider plans further expansion.

After completion of a performing course with the Bollywood Academy, graduating students are signed up by a leading entertainment agent, Naila Mughal Artistes Agency. Getting onboard with this top name agency, which has strong links with the Bollywood film industry, will provide budding Indian film stars with the right support and guidance which will be extremely beneficial as they begin their quest for stardom.

TV channel Zing, which is also a supporter of the Academy, will be present on the night of the London launch party, as well as a number of celebrity guests and top name DJs who will be spinning the best Bollywood tracks. The launch of the Bollywood Academy in London takes places tomorrow night (November 4th) please visit the Academy website for more details.

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