After the roaring success of Kai Po Che, Gattu once again gets on board his protégé for an adaptation of the classic

There’s great news for Sushant Singh Rajput fans who are surely growing in numbers with every passing day! The television star who made a successful transition to the big screen with Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che this year, will be doing one more film with the intelligent director.

We hear that Abhishek – who has given two delicious films Rock On!! and Kai Po Che! - is now all set for his next based on Charles Dickens classic Great Expectations. Sushant will portray the character of an orphan called Philip Pirrip aka Pip.

Producer Ekta Kapoor and Abhishek believe that the dude has the potential to carry the role on his shoulders. We also hear that the screenplay of this untitled flick is being worked on and the project and its starcast will be announced soon.

PS: But hey what’s with the filmmaker? We tried to contact him to wish him for his wonderful movie Kai Po Che, but we hear he lost his cellphone on a trip to some undisclosed locale. Thankfully, he’s back in town now and we expect more path-breaking films from AK in the days to come! More power to him!

Advocate Bhautik Bhatt has demanded that the riot scenes be deleted or edited and action be taken against the film’s producers for showing the Hindu community in a bad light

Abhishek Kapoor’s inspiring tale of friendship – Kai Po Che! starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Rajkumar Yadav released almost three months ago and garnered critical acclaim and good moolah at the box office. So far, the makers have been hearing only good news about their film but little did they know that it would face the wrath of a Gujarat-based advocate who has objected to the content of the movie claiming certain scenes slander the Hindu community with its depiction of the 2002 communal riots in the state.

Advocate Bhautik Bhatt, the petitioner, says the film depicts incidents related to the riots “with biased intention and half-heartedly only with a view to defaming a particular group of people belonging to Hindu community.” He demands the riot scenes be deleted or edited and criminal action be taken against the producers for defaming the group of Hindus at large.

According to the petition, the producers should be restrained from selling the TV rights and releasing DVD/CD of Kai Po Che! A division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice JB Pardiwala will hear the PIL on June 20 and the petitioner will provide an official DVD of the film to the court for its viewing. We hope justice prevails. Watch this space for more updates!

After going through several names, Ekta Kapoor has finally decided to cast Ram Kapoor’s real life wife as Archana in Zee TV’s popular show

Ever since Sushant Singh Rajput quit Pavitra Rishta, Ankita Lokhande has been deliberating whether or not to quit the daily soap. Obviously, the production house doesn’t want their favourite bahu to leave, but how long can they really hold on to her.

Balaji Telefilms agreed to give the actor a break by putting her character in coma. Ankita was free to spend some quality time with her fiancé. But now that Ankita is on a holiday, she doesn’t really want to come back – and we understand. Besides taking a break, the other reason why Ankita doesn’t want to return to the show is because PV is probably gearing up for another big leap. If Ankita comes back, she will have to play an aged grandmother this time – and that’s just not acceptable to the actor.

So after several auditions and consultations, Ekta has finally zeroed in on Gautami Kapoor, who was last seen in Karan Johar’s Student of the Year. If rumours are to be believed, Gautami has given her nod for the show and is keen to play Archana.

While we’ll miss Ankita a lot, we are sure Gautami will do a fabulous job. After all, this is not the first time Gautami is replacing a popular actor in a long running serial, no? She had earlier replaced Smriti Irani as Tulsi in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Nonetheless, we wish the actor all the best and hope the show treats her well.

After winning Nach Baliye 5, Jay Bhanushali is reveling in all the adulation and new found stardom and the small screen host-actor-dancer is all set to make his Bollywood debut with a Vikram Bhatt film

It’s raining TV actors in Bollywood. Ram Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh, Rajeev Khandelwal, Hussain Kuwajerwala and now Jay Bhanushali. Jay will make his silver screen debut with Vikram Bhatt’s sequel to Hate Story, directed by Vishal Pandya. And it’s not just the Nach Baliye 5 winner who wants a taste of B-town. RJ Mantra, who was seen in a small role in London Paris New York, will be making his debut as the lead actor in Manoj and Sanjay Adhikari’s love story, Dil Patang. Commenting on the film, Mantra says, “Sahir is an old delhi boy, born and brought up around Jama Masjid. Loves to fly kites and play cricket. Family circumstances and his lady love pushes him to get the best out of him. What unfolds and how he gets gripped in a madness is what Dil Patang is all about.”

We know Jay has done romance, drama and melodrama on television already, but we wonder how RJ Mantra, the funny man from Comedy Circus, will get his romantic act together! We wish the duo all the very best!

Actor Hussain Kuwajerwala, who is set for his Bollywood debut with Shree, says it was Rajeev Khandelwal’s successful move from the small to the big screen, which brought in a transition for TV actors

“Rajeev Khandelwal brought the transition for TV actors. It was at a time when he got so many opportunities from TV, but it takes guts to say no to them. He was lucky that he even tasted success with his films,” said Hussain.

For that matter, even Ayushmann Khurrana and Sushant Singh Rajput are doing well. I hope even I get in that list,” he added. Rajeev had left his popular show Kahiin To Hoga at the peak to move to Bollywood with Aamir. He found critical acclaim, and has since then been a part of different films.

Hussain has his own fan following through the small screen thanks to TV shows like Kumkum and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. He was even a part of a live Bollywood musical Zangoora. An exceptional dancer, Hussain is very excited about Shree.

“Like any other actor, even I am very excited with my debut film. I am looking forward to a good and positive response from the audience. Everybody in this film is a first-timer, including the director and other star cast. I hope people like it,” he added. Directed by Rajesh Bachchani, Shree also stars Anjali Patil and is set to release on April 26.

The Kai Po Che actor was seen playing holi with kids at an event organised by an NGO that supports children’s health and education. And we must say, we like the dude’s casual style!

Photos: Yogen Shah

Day 4 of the Lakme Fashion Week 2013 was a star-studded event. From Vicky Donor dude Ayushmann Khurrana to Inkaar babe Chitrangda Singh, each star model looked like a million bucks in a designer ensemble

It’s that time of the year when you see Bollywood celebs having loads of fun on the runway. Actors, designers, event honchos – they all gather under one roof to create a style riot on the catwalk. Day 4 was one such dhamakedaar episode in this year’s LFW. A galaxy of B-town stars encouraging all kinds of designers – from the ones who believe in working for a cause to those to who need that much needed impetus to reach great heights in the fashion world…they were all were seen at the event. While some impressed us with their charm, celebs like Prachi Desai and Farah Khan stood out in the stylish crowd by wearing some uber novel creations. Let’s see who wore what…

Pics: Yogen Shah

Glitzy designer Vikram Phadnis came up with an unique idea to bridge the gap between rural and urban India. He had villagers walk the ramp with Bollywood stars

Lakme Fashion Week 2013 has probably never seen more stars walking the ramp, and never have the stars looked so proud – all thanks to Vikram Phadnis and his unique idea of partnering with an NGO and including villagers to be a part of his glamorous fashion show.

On day 4 of the fashion week, Vikram Phadnis partnered with The Swades Foundation, and had its members walk the ramp along with B-town celebrities. The outfits were heavily inspired by rural India and Phadnis had the hall decorated with lanterns, as the celebs walked the ramp to the theme song from the movie Swades.

Filmmakers, choreographers, television actors as well as movie stars were a part of the show and they walked hand-in-hand with their compatriots from rural India. Those who were a part of this glitzy yet grounded fashion show were Ayushmann Khurrana, the Kai Po Che gang including Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav, lleana D’Cruz, Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia, Ekta Kapoor and dad Jeetendra, Malaika Arora Khan and husband Arbaaz Khan along with their son, Rahul Bose, Kiran Rao, Chetan Bhagat, Ram Kapoor, Sakshi Tanwar, Juhi Chawla and producer Ronnie Screwvala.

Photos: Yogen Shah

The small screen actor recently took the plunge and landed in B-town with the movie Main Aur Mr Right which is slated to release in July. But what is he doing nowadays?

Barun Sobti is currently in Kolkata, busy attending workshops for 22 Yards. For all those who are wondering what this is, here’s what – Barun will be playing the role of a cricket agent in a movie directed by Mitali Ghoshal, which is based on a documentary filmed on Sourav Ganguly called The Warrior Prince. And Barun is busy preparing for his role in this upcoming movie.

The actor’s debut film Main Aur Mr Right is currently in the post-production stage and all set to release in July. Amidst all this, Barun revealed that he feels Bollywood is better than television because movies give you time to research on the character while TV keeps you on your toes all the time. Hmm, that’s true.

Now that makes us believe that Barun has probably no intentions of returning back to the hectic television schedules in the future. Right, Barun?

We also wonder, will it be the same with other television stars who have crossed the borders, like Sushant Singh Rajput and Amit Sadh. Or will they follow in the footsteps of Ram Kapoor – juggling films and daily soaps. Tell us what you think!

Deepika Padukone, Kiran Rao and Dino Morea will be seen wearing outfits designed by Vikram Phadnis at the Lakme Fashion Week 2013 which starts on March 22. We hear some of the most happening Bollywood celebs will be working their mojo on the ramp – some for promoting the USP of the designer and some for a cause. So hotshot B-town stylist Vikram Phadnis has come up with this very cool idea for LFW. He has tied up with NGO Swades Foundation and his collection, we hear, will be inspired by the kind of clothes people wear in the rural areas of Maharashtra. The designer has travelled around the state – mainly around Ratnagiri and Raigad to do his research. It seems he wants to break the stereotype that his creations can only be jazzy, vibrant stuff. By showcasing the rustic fashion, Phadnis wants to prove that fashion is prevalent all over – be it on the cluttered streets of Mumbai or the rickety roads of Raigad.

The other celebs who are expected at the show are writer Chetan Bhagat, the Kai Po Che team – Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav, choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, model-turned-actor Dia Mirza et al. Sounds like it’s going to be quite a show, right?

The young actor has many things working in her favour right now. Will that make Alia Bollywood’s next sensational prodigy?

Alia Bhatt, born on March 15, 1993 to Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan. And proud Daddy shared an image of Alia bringing in her 20th birthday on the sets of Highway on his microblogging site.

Ms Bhatt recently debuted with Karan Johar’s movie Student Of The Year. And we realised that while B-town is being flooded by a whole lot of young heroes – Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Barun Sobti – there aren’t as many young female actors making their foray into Bollywood.

Now is that an advantage for darling Alia? We think so. More so, this young lady (she’ll still only 20 years old!) also has the backing of the famous Bhatt camp. But she isn’t banking on her family’s laurels to make a name for herself. The movies she has bagged have been with outside banners – Dharma Productions’ SOTY and the upcoming 2 States, Highway is Imtiaz Ali’s directorial being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. So the picture does look kinda rosy for this babe, no?

So with all these happy feelings floating around, we wish the young actor a fun-filled birthday.

Happy birthday, Alia. Rock it!

A buzz suggested he did! But looks like the truth is somewhat different

Sushant Singh Rajput was recently spotted – with girlfriend Ankita Lokhande in tow – at Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s birthday party. Remember? But soon after, rumours about Sushant turning down a Bhansali movie surfaced. Many wondered what went wrong between the two.

Why, there was also buzz about Sushant turning down a Dharma Productions movie. Flabbergasted birdies were quick to conclude that Kai Po Che’s success has gone into the newbie’s head, perhaps. Sigh.

But then, SLB’s publicist made a statement: “He (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) has only met Sushant a couple of times. He has not offered him any role. At the moment he is busy shooting Ramleela with Ranveer Singh.” Ahem ahem. Was the maverick filmmaker miffed with Sushant and all the rumours around?

Well, Rajput’s publicist feared that and so has now issued a statement saying, “This is in regards to rumours doing the rounds that Sushant Singh Rajput was offered a film by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions & Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production and further that he has declined these offers. With this statement let us put this on record that such rumours are baseless and completely untrue and should be disregarded. Sushant is at the start of his career and he looks up to both Mr Johar and Mr Bhansali and it would be an honour for him to be offered films by them. At present no offer has been made and he is busy shooting films he had signed prior to the release of Kai Po Che.”

Hmmm, but amidst all these clear-the-air scenarios, we wonder why KJo is silent. Too busy to pay attention to such fluff talk? Wink, wink.

Kuch Toh Log Kahenge is going off air just because Dr Nidhi needs a break. Why?

We talked about how the popular show Kuch Toh Log Kahenge on Sony Entertainment Television is all set to go off air from March 28. While no tears were shed – heck, the show was hardly entertaining – we wondered what actually happened. Apparently Kritika Kamra, who plays the female protagonist Dr Nidhi, needed a break.

“I have been continuously working without a break for years now. It’s about time I sit back and relax a little,” she said in an interview. And soon after, she also said, “TV is monotonous but that is the challenge that you overcome.” Ahem ahem.

So what next, babe? Big screen? Now that sounds like the most logical step ‘coz oh-so-many TV actors – Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh, Ram Kapoor, Prachi Desai…we could go on – have done that. And we wouldn’t be surprised if Kritika follows in the footsteps of her contemporaries. Right, peeps?

But this hop-and-skip won’t be happening soon because for now we know that Kritika will be seen in an episodic in Ekta Kapoor’s show Ek Thi Naayika on Life OK. Even so, we warn you readers to be prepared, a switch might be in the offing.

And it makes us wonder – will Kritika Kamra be able to make it big in Bollywood? What say?

The Kai Po Che! dude talks about his girlfriend, his movie with international star Freida Pinto and much more

Rajkumar Yadav has his plate full with projects, and all of them sound uber interesting - Queen with Kangna Ranaut, NH 10 with Freida Pinto, an autobiographical film with Hansal Mehta (Shahid) – but despite so much on his resume, you can sense the humbleness in his voice. The shy guy is trying hard to come out of his shell and adapt to the world of networking and promotions. And that simplicity about him is something that is super fascinating…and endearing.

If you have seen Kai Po Che!, there’s no way you can stop yourself from becoming a Rajkumar Yadav fan. And FYI, let us tell you this Raj is an absolute antithesis to Bollywood’s quintessential ‘naam to suna hoga’ Raj aka Shahrukh Khan. Check out our confab with him….

Did you ever think that a hardcore theatre guy like yourself would have had made it big in the huge bad world of commercial cinema?

Well, I just didn’t do theatre, I also did a course from Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) to study film acting. So working in films was always on my mind. This is what I have always wanted to do.

You are doing a film with Freida Pinto – tell us something about that.

I am going to start NH 10 with Freida Pinto. It’s a love story with a twist. The script is really good. Freida is practically from Hollywood and I love the way they make their films there. So I am sure working with her is going to be quite a learning experience.

Do you think Kai Po Che! has placed you in a different league now?

As of now it’s been like any other film that I have done. Maybe I will get to know that in the near future – whether the film has placed me in a different league or no. But of course it did bring about a change in my life. People recognise me. They know me by name. People don’t say, ‘I have seen this guy somewhere’ any more.

While shooting for Kai Po Che! was there any sense of fierce competition between you three, since Sushant Singh Rajput, you and Amit Sadh are considerably new and obviously want to earn your spurs?

There was absolutely no competition between us.  In fact, we were helping each other out. We were there to support each other. Our only focus was to make a good film.

So who’s your personal favourite when it comes to acting?

Aahhh…I am not answering that (laughs). Both have their own style. Sushant is really energetic and focussed. Amit, on the other hand, can die for acting; he can do anything for his craft. They both have their own USPs, which is really inspiring.

We’ve heard that you have undergone proper training in dance. So are you willing to run around trees or dance atop snow-clad mountains?

Of course, if the character demands, I will do all of it!. I have been dancing since my school days, but I was never really given a character for which I had a chance to show my grooving skills. In Kai Po Che! I did a bit of garba, so I had to undergo training for that for almost a week.

Did you face any issues when people in the Bollywood fraternity stereotyped you?

Well, not yet. If you see, there are very light moments in Govind’s (Kai Po Che!) life that will voluntarily make you giggle. I remember Gattu sir (Abhishek Kapoor) once told me that I have to work with him on a comedy film. As an actor, you should be open to doing anything. Just compare Irrfan in Paan Singh Tomar and look at him in Life in a…Metro – that’s the thing with a good actor, he should be able to play everything with the same effortlessness.

You have come quite a long way, what do you want to still accomplish?

I still want to play lots and lots of interesting characters. And this is going to be my answer even after 10 years.

You have said in that a bad script is something you always want to avoid – how do you do that when you are not an A-lister?

I think your choices make your career. If we start doing bad films and choose shoddy scripts, obviously people will think that actor is not capable of doing anything substantial. It has to be a very important decision.

Any fun anecdotes from the sets of Kai Po Che!…

You remember that song in the film in which Sushant and Amit take off their shirts and start dancing? That particular scene was not even a part of the script. These guys simply started dancing like crazy and I was just standing there looking at them, and they just pulled me in after a while. Gattu was so happy with the way that moment turned out that he wanted to incorporate it into the film. So it was pretty much an impromptu act that was later converted into a proper scene.

So, are you seeing anyone? We see you making a lot of red carpet appearances with this one girl…

Oh yes! Her name is Anwita Paul. She has done a couple of commercials and has just started her acting career (blushes).

Their last outing Kai Po Che was a success, but will the three actors be able to make the most out of it? What does their future in Bollywood look like? Tarot tells us…

Sushant Singh Rajput

With the success of Sushant’s debut film Kai Po Che, he will now face a strong test in mental endurance. Acclaim and fame is destined for him and so are international projects, but it’s the Five of Pentacles and the Fool that warn the importance of being wise with career choices. He will need to be careful with his expenses and having high monetary expectations from producers. His brand value will certainly grow, but the Devil emphasises the importance of going after quality of work and life rather than the temptations he will be surrounded by. From April 2013, he will find himself making more balanced decisions and like the Hierophant he will be meticulous with his work.

Sushant now looks forward to P.K. and an untitled Yash Raj Film project. P.K. will be a great career turner for him, but the experience of filming it will be a huge mental challenge for him. With the Tower card appearing, he will feel uncomfortable in his working environment.

The energy, chemistry and ease reflecting from the Sun card explain the formula to Sushant’s success in YRF’s next opposite Parineeti Chopra. He will be loved for his work and like the Magician, he will pull in the crowds to make this a box office success.

Tarot tip – Sushant will need to carefully read his contracts before signing on new projects. He will also need to be careful on the personal front as the Three of Swords represents lack of communication which will cause unnecessary strain and trouble.

Raj Kumar Yadav

Raj Kumar will emerge as the dark horse. He is cautious, detailed and smart about the way he works and conducts himself. The King of Wands and the Ten of Pentacles are cards that show his career aggression to be well directed and highly eventful. He will bag some prestigious projects and will handle his work with great maturity. He is bound to gain further respect and leverage from each performance.

In the midst of all of this, he will be unsure of how to handle female adulation, which may prove to be a harder learning curve than acting itself.

Tarot tip – It will be important for him to eliminate past fears of failure in work and life in general as these may drain him out psychologically.

Amit Sadh

The Page of Swords warns Amit to maintain focus, especially as the Eight of Wands represents some great projects coming his way. He will be seen as a breath of fresh air and will win over audiences. This will see Amit grow in confidence and like the Emperor and Judgement card, he will gain immense respect for his craft.

He will need to refrain from getting involved in a relationship as this will divert his attention from his growing career. In fact, September-October 2013 is when he will see the right person enter his life who will provide better balance and emotional stability.

Tarot tip – Planning schedules well and not leaving things to the last minute will allow him to take on good opportunities.

Learn more about our tarot reader Shruti Chopra

Abhishek Kapoor’s inspirational flick which has garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success might now have a Tamil version

With Kollywood personalities showering praise on Kai Po Che, the latest Bollywood hit based on Chetan’s Bhagat’s novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life, the buzz is that the movie will be remade in Tamil.

The film is distributed by UTV Motion Pictures, which has a strong presence in Kollywood too. G Dhananjayan, who heads the Southern division of UTV, wrote on his microblogging page, ‘Kai Po Che is one of the finest films on the life of three friends, like Nanban. It will certainly work if we have a good director + cast :-)’

Also, popular director Lingusamy, who watched the film recently, tweeted, ‘Kai Po Che – Hindi Movie. A good film after a long gap. Cinematography, Music, Direction all good.’

It is expected that UTV itself will produce the Tamil version too. Remember it is currently producing Settai, which is the Tamil remake of Hindi hit Delhi Belly.

Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, Kai Po Che has music by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Swanand Kirkire. Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav and Amit Sadh star as the three main protagonists, while Amrita Puri plays the female lead.

Photos: Yogen Shah

Made at a minimal budget of Rs 12 crores, Abhishek Kapoor’s inspirational flick has earned approximately Rs 29.5 crores at the domestic box office

Abhishek Kapoor’s low budget flick Kai Po Che! had a flying start at the ticket counters as it amassed Rs 18.10 crores in the opening weekend at the domestic box office. And it continues to fly higher with each passing day! Naturally, the makers and the talented actors – Sushant Singh Rajput, Rajkumar Yadav, Amit Sadh, Amrita Puri among others celebrated the success of their first release with much fanfare.

The film that deals with friendship has raked in a total of Rs 29.5 crores net in seven days, which means it has earned Rs 11.4 crores in the last four days alone. We are impressed! Going by the ratio, trade experts believe that the motivating film will cross Rs 50 crores by the second weekend.

According to Taran Adarsh, “Kai Po Che! witnessed remarkable growth over the weekend and maintained rock-steady collections on weekdays. Collected approximately Rs 29.50 crores nett in week one. Breakup: Weekend Rs 18.10 crores, Monday Rs 3.25 crores, Tuesday Rs 2.95 crores, Wednesday Rs 2.70 crores, Thursday Rs 2.50 crores. Total Rs 29.50 crores.” Gaurav Verma, Director, India theatrical distribution, Studios, Disney UTV said, “The film is holding steady on weekdays and we see it growing again over the second weekend.”

Buzz is that SLB has signed the Kai Po Che actor for his next production

Some time ago, there was talk about how Sanjay Leela Bhansali was totally impressed by Sushant Singh Rajput ever since the two met, and wanted to cast him in a film right away! In fact, SLB has been on the look out for a good role for the Kai Po Che actor. Now, fresh piece of gossip suggests that he has approached Sushant to play the lead opposite Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom – the biopic based on the Olympic bronze medalist, directed by Omang Kumar.

We hear that Sushant has no qualms about playing second fiddle to PC, who is the protagonist of the film. In fact, he is quite excited about working with her, and has already given his nod!

If this news is true, then Sushant has added one more high profile flick to his over-flowing kitty that already has Rajkumar Hirani’s P.K., Imtiaz Ali’s 22 Tango (which Shahid Kapoor was supposed to do earlier) and Maneesh Sharma’s next with Parineeti Chopra (again replacing Shahid). Apart from these, he also has two more movies with Yash Raj Films’ since he had signed a three-film deal with the production house. Do we already hear victory calls of Kai Po Che from Sushant?

It’s a real pleasure to extend this bond with the company, says Kapoor

Buoyed by the response to Kai Po Che!, movie production banner Disney UTV has signed director Abhishek Kapoor to helm another film for the company. The deal was signed Friday, February 23, when Kai Po Che!, based on Chetan Bhagat’s book The 3 Mistakes of My Life, hit the screens.

“With Kai Po Che!, Abhishek has managed to marry commercial success with critical acclaim seamlessly. We are thrilled to be collaborating with him on another film and look forward to many more in the future,” Siddharth Roy Kapur, Managing Director – Studios, Disney UTV, said in a statement. “He is an incredibly gifted filmmaker. His clarity of vision as a storyteller and his ability to faithfully translate that vision from script to celluloid is remarkable,” added Kapur.

Kai Po Che!, starring Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav in key roles, is Abhishek’s third film as a director. In the past, he helmed Aryan and the successful Rock On!!.

His latest film had a 65 percent opening in morning shows across the country Friday, and the numbers are said to have swelled to 80 to 100 percent across India by Friday evening.

Abhishek is excited to team up with UTV Motion Pictures again. “Kai Po Che! has been instrumental in forming an extremely wonderful and rewarding creative association. A great meeting of minds, with a shared vision, ethic and comfort zone, where artistic sensibilities complemented the box office, to create fresh dynamic talent and harnessing pathbreaking cinematic content.

“It is only natural, and a real pleasure to extend this bond going forward. Kai Po Che! has been a satisfying and successful experience, and true to its spirit, UTV and I are taking the next step (a major leap, in fact) to partnering together for love of the craft and cementing our relationship,” said Abhishek.

While the lovely ladies continue to gyrate seductively to catchy numbers, the ‘men’ of B-town are also trying a (raunchy) step or two to break into this glitzy world of ‘items’. But which of the newest imports to B-town fits this haute and happening bill?

Initially, when those one-off masala number in movies came to be termed as the item song, we assumed that this would be the space populated by the sizzling ladies of tinseltown. Then came along Hrithik Roshan in Krazzy 4 and Shahrukh Khan in Shakti to break our stereotypically coloured bubble.

Gradually, as the item song became as necessary as the script of the movie itself, we saw other B-town hunks like Ranbir Kapoor (Chillar Party), Aamir Khan (Delhi Belly), Salman Khan (recently in Son Of Sardaar) et al lending dates to the shooting of such sacrosanctly spicy numbers. And now we see fresh, sometimes even unknown faces and of course figures of item girls popping up in this realm. And we can’t help but worry about the guys who will hold the stage in near future. Perhaps we shouldn’t worry, ‘coz there are plenty of young lads with twinkling toes finding their way into B-town these days…no? But could they pass the test to become an ‘item bwuoy’?

Photos: Yogen Shah

The Sushant Singh Rajput starrer has earned approximately Rs 18.1 crores, while Sanjay Dutt’s action flick has collected only Rs 10 crores

Abhishek Kapoor’s low budget inspirational flick Kai Po Che! gave Anand Kumar’s multi-starrer gangster drama Zila Ghaziabad a tough fight at the ticket counters in the opening weekend. After witnessing a huge opening on Friday, the Sanjay Dutt-Arshad Warsi-Vivek Oberoi starrer hasn’t been able to overtake the earnings of Sushant Singh Rajput-Rajkumar Yadav-Amit Sadh’s real-life tale. As per the box office reports, Kai Po Che! had a flying start at the multiplexes. The opening shows in Mumbai and other metropolitan cities ranged from good to better what with the youth thronging the multiplexes from the morning shows itself.

“The fantastic pre-release promotion by UTV, coupled with the tremendous following of writer Chetan Bhagat amongst youth, ensured impressive footfalls for Kai Po Che! at major centres. But the response in Punjab and UP was not up to the mark. Released in 1,000 screens in India, the business is expected to grow manifold towards the evening-night shows,” pointed out trade expert Taran Adarsh and added, “On the other hand, Zila Ghaziabad opened quite well across single screens of mass belt. Expectedly, the opening was weak at multiplexes, but the single screen audiences, especially in UP, gave the film a head start due to the action genre.”

As far as the box office collections of Kai Po Che! are concerned, “The movie witnessed remarkable growth over the weekend. Fared exceptionally well across all urban centres, especially on Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, several cinemas increased shows to accommodate the massive demand. In short, the weekend business was terrific. Breakup: Friday Rs 4.50 crores, Saturday Rs 6.25 crores, Sunday Rs 7.35 crores. Collected approximately Rs 18.10 crores nett in its opening weekend,” tweeted Taran. Zila Ghaziabad, on the other hand, performed better at single screens of mass circuits but got eclipsed by the Kai Po Che! wave across major circuits. Reportedly, it has managed to earn only Rs 10 crores at the box office.

The collections of Kai Po Che! are expected to be better in the days to come and the bad reviews of Zila Ghaziabad offer no hope and it’s quite unlikely that the film will pick up pace. Watch this space for more updates.

It’s great to see three friends getting along with each other like a house on fire, despite being so radically different. Sushant Singh Rajput (Ishan Bhatt) is the fiery one, with an illuminating ember in his belly, but impulsive and passionate to the extent that he tends to overlook the rational side of any situation. Raj Kumar Yadav (Govind Patel) is just the kind of man who will make it big in life. An intelligent, responsible and a focused guy, Govind is willing to take all the risks in business, but shudders at the thought of jumping into a lake from a height. Luckily, the lad has fabulous friends who forcefully make him taste some pure adventure. Amit Sadh (Omi) is the gullible one. He is influenced easily and takes awfully wrong decisions. Three interesting and diametric characters when combined together give rise to some amazing fun, and intermittently get entangled in a series of conflicts.

These three blokes want to make it big in life, and are bound by love for the same sport: cricket. They own a rickety li’l sports shop, and the training ground adjacent to it sparks Sushant’s aim to train rare talented kids who have it in them to play ambitious tournaments. Of course, things are much easier for these young men because Amit Sadh’s uncle is an influential politician. He pulls the strings, uses his clout to help them achieve some of what they want to. But everything comes at a price – this isn’t social service; Uncle expects Amit to help him campaign for his party, in return.

While Sushant takes care of coaching youngsters, Yadav diligently handles the accounts and teaching the children. His friends playfully call him ‘banya’. Amit keeps himself busy with the selling part, and when he’s not doing that, he makes the most of his Sundays with Sushant by drinking. Sushant is driven by his passion and Yadav’s ability to plan gives his dreams that much needed direction. Moving on to the next step, these lads open a sophisticated shop in a prime location in the city, Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, Sushant is sweating it out working with Ali – a Muslim lower middle-class kid with flawless hand-eye coordination, who can strike sixes at an incredibly fast pace.

The flow of the film is beautiful. It reaches its peak when the trio indulges in some pure male bonding banter. From sitting atop a moving bus to absorbing those tiny details in a porn mag – these guys share an enviable relationship. But no one has a picture-perfect life; all hell breaks loose when an earthquake hits the city. The film snowballs in a different direction after an unpleasant set of events ensues, from the natural calamity to the Godhra riots.

How these kids start again from scratch, despite the Sabarmati being clouded over in black smoke and with devastation gripping every nook and cranny is awe-inspiring. Raj Kumar impresses with his brilliant performance. And the way he blushes when his girlfriend flirts with him is adorable. Amrita Puri is seen in a short yet substantial role.

Sushant’s character makes you realise that everybody has a purpose. Maybe he didn’t become a world-class cricketer, but he was instrumental in Ali’s success. And Amit simply teaches you to become much stronger, strong enough to not let your vulnerable side trap you into committing grave mistakes.

Critics comparing the film with happy-go-lucky flicks like Dil Chahta Hai or Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is not at all justified. It may be about friends, but the core concept is so different. Even if you replace the Mercedes with a shaky Yamaha bike, idyllic foreign locations with a dusty maidan – the end product is still drastically different.

The movie hovers in the recesses of our collective psyche; these kind of stories tend to have an after-effect on the mind and soul. Reading about Godhra and actually seeing the pain are two different experiences altogether. Watch Kai Po Che! for the inspiration, for getting a taste of reality and more importantly, if you are waiting to see a blend of all the emotions in one film: tragedy, love, comedy and much more.

The Kai Po Che trio recently launched a new clothing line that was inspired by their film. We wonder what’s so special about their onscreen style…

Raj Kumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and Sushant Singh Rajput launched the new summer-spring collection inspired by their new film, Kai Po Che. The line includes checked shirts, linen creations and funky casual T-shirts. But what’s so different about the designs that it inspired a new collection by a brand? No offence, but it’s not a stylish stole wrapped by Farhan Akhtar  or an amazingly classy formal vest worn by Hrithik Roshan, both in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. There needs to be a feature that makes outfits stand out so that they can be expanded into a collection, no?

We want Sushant entertaining us with many such delightful performances; we don’t want to wear the checked shirt that he wore in the film. We liked him in the KPC. That doesn’t mean we have to be particularly fascinated with his style as well!

After Rock On!! Abhishek (Gattu) Kapoor has made a lovely little film with three young men – Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav – cricket and politics

Remember a small movie with a big soul called Rock On!!? It starred a very hairy bunch of young men – Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Luke Kenny and Purab Kohli – who make music that has the whole nation rocking to their strums. This happy bunch, angst and all, made their director very happy with box office success. So obviously that director had many sets of eyes…err…directed on him when he announced his next film, another movie that seemed small, with actors not hugely well known in Hindi cinema.

Abhishek Kapoor brings together Sushant Singh Rajput, demi-God of the small screen, Amit Sadh, TV star and player of minor roles in films, and Raj Kumar Yadav of Love, Sex Aur Dhokha fame in Kai Po Che! – and what a team this one is! It is a bromance with a dash of hatke attitude, no luxury cars, no designer clothes and no wonderfully happy ending. And yet, it is full of joy, full of light, easy to digest and capable of making you cheer, “Kai po che!” as you would when you fly a kite successfully.

Kai Po Che! tells the tale of three friends who grow up in the small town atmosphere of Ahmedabad in the early 2000s. The film traces contemporary history in the area, recalling the terror of the destructive Gujarat earthquake of 2001, religious celebration darkened by intolerance, political seesaw-swings and manipulation and much more. All this works to create rifts in the togetherness of the three young men, pushing their grand plan of building a sports academy off the rails.

Ishaan Bhatt (Ish, played by Sushant) is a superb cricketer who cannot take his passion for the sport to a lucrative professional level, Omkar Shastri (Omi, played by Amit Sadh), the son of a priest who lives his lives by the rules his father sets, and Govind (Govind Patel, played by Raj Kumar Yadav), who is as shrewd a businessman as ever lived, battle the odds to make their dream come true, all with very little money and plenty of hope. Omi’s uncle helps out, his canny politician mind calculating the potential of the situation and of his nephew and scheming to manipulate both to suit his purpose. And when Ishaan starts coaching a talented young Muslim boy to play cricket, you just know how things are going to go – at which point you need to bring out the hankies!

Then the earthquake happens, followed a year later by the Gujarat riots. There is blood colouring the communal divide and you hold your breath waiting for tragedy…and you get it. The riots of 2002 burst on to the screen with terrifying realism as you watch the shattering of a city, a nation, a world and three bonded hearts. Each image is captured beautifully and the crisp editing keeps it moving along without losing any of the momentum needed for a film of this sort. The love story between Govind and Omi’s sister Vidya (Amrita Puri) is hardly necessary; the closeness between the three lads is enough emotional bonding for this story.

Many may dislike Chetan Bhagat’s writing, reviling it as trite and amateurish. But his book, The 3 Mistakes of My Life, as it has been adapted to make Kai Po Che!, is a perfect story for a film like this one. The actors bring each character to life so delicately, deliberately, delightfully, that they are them, no acting required. Of course, there is fabulous music by Amit Trivedi, fabulous cinematography by Anay Goswami, fabulous characterisation, but all that has come about because of the fabulous direction. Abhishek Kapoor, please make your next film soon!

Photos: Yogen Shah

We wonder this only because the actor hasn’t shot for her last scene yet. What’s up?

We’ve talked enough about Ankita Lokhande’s last day – February 15 – on the sets of Pavitra Rishta. But no one’s committing to it as of now; not even Ankita. Also, we are told that the script writers have not yet thought of an exit strategy for the lady and Ankita hasn’t shot for the last scene even though her last day at work has arrived.

So is Ankita really leaving Pavitra Rishta? Thoughtful birdies are of the opinion that Ekta Kapoor wants to hold back everyone’s beloved Archana till Pavitra Rishta completes its 1000 episodes, somewhere in mid-March. And maybe that’s when the jhatka will happen.

Some even think that Ekta wants Archana to pop up back into the serial, after her vacation with beau Sushant Singh Rajput. And guess that’s how it will all happen.

What does that leave us with? Just the fact that Ankita is surely going on a vacation. But guess only time will tell whether darling Archana will come back to Pavitra Rishta. What do you think – will she?

There’s an interesting mix of newcomers in 2013. This week the cards tell us who has luck on their side and who will struggle. Will some of them manage their transition from TV to films smoothly?

The list of actors who will be debuting this year just seems to be growing; some are kids from filmi families, some from the television world and some from down South. This week the cards tell us a bit more about the future of these new actors.

Sushant Singh Rajput

Film: Kai Po Che – he will be loved and adored. The hype around him will be justified by a strong performance which will validate other filmmakers signing Sushant for various projects. The Two of Wands shows him growing towards successful international projects. He will take calculated risks with his career, but he may have to deal with some trouble on the personal front.

Amit Sadh

Film: Kai Po Che – there hasn’t been a real emphasis on Amit, but he certainly should not be overlooked. The Seven of Wands and the Sun card reflect him to be an actor at ease with his craft. In fact, his performance will be impressive and he will be appreciated for doing justice to his role. This film will lead to better opportunities for Amit.

Tiger Shroff

Film: Heropanti – despite being highly respected for the hard work he has put into his launch, and despite his film’s eventual appreciation, the audiences will take their time to accept Tiger. The Hanged Man and the Five of Pentacles show unnecessary delays in his career taking off.

Tamannaah

Film: Himmatwala – there will be appreciation on the aesthetic level. Her looks will gain more interest than her acting. Therefore, with the revelation of the Ten of Swords, she will have to put in additional work to improve. Although her start in Bollywood will be inconsistent, she will overcome this and be liked for her acting abilities.

Siddhant Kapoor

Film: Shootout at Wadala – there is maturity in his working approach. His sensitivity and natural abilities are obvious, but struggles are plentiful. The Three and Ten of Wands are cards of strain and inconsistency, which will bother him for the first year of his career. It will be his drive that will earn him respect within the industry.

Sara Loren

Film: Murder 3 – this journey is not going to be easy. Sara’s launch will be positive but she will be unable to capitalise on this. The Page of Cups warns of the importance of being practical and realistic to see success. Her looks will see her get more projects, but none that will take her career higher – there is still time for that, hence patience will be key.

Priya Anand

Film: Rangrezz – with her small role in English Vinglish, Priya will have expectations from her lead debut in Bollywood, but with the Ace of Cups and Five of Swords appearing together, the response will be hot and cold. She will not appear entirely comfortable and may find her second Hindi film reflecting her acting abilities better.

Taapsee Pannu

Film: Chashme Baddoor – the Emperor displays her confidence and also the respect for the opportunity she has received. Chashme Baddoor will be a comfortable starting point for her into Bollywood, but new possibilities may not live up to her expectations and therefore would go through a phase of disappointments.

Girish Taurani

Film: Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya – there is immense potential for Girish’s career to shine from the onset. He will look comfortable and enjoy the adulation he receives. His launch will give him success and with the Hierophant showing balance, he will make wise career moves.

Manish Paul

Film: Mickey Virus – the transition for Manish, although filled with uneasiness, will find him being truly respected for his performance. The Ten of Cups reflects its positivity on the future of his acting career. He will look comfortable and make a conscious effort to bring out a different side of himself.

Elli Avram

Film: Mickey Virus – it will take at least a year for Elli to adjust into Bollywood. Upon release, she will feel disappointed by the way she is perceived and the opportunities she receives. In fact, the Fool shows her being overlooked despite showing some potential caliber to be a good actor.

Learn more about our tarot reader Shruti Chopra