SATU laporan polis telah dibuat terhadap Ajay Devgan.

Menurut laporan, suami aktres Kajol itu didakwa telah menipu sebuah syarikat penerbitan filem di daerah Jharkhand.

Laporan yang dibuat di Balai Polis Argora oleh Rajesh Kumar Prasad, pemilik Kumar Art International (KAI) itu mendakwa Ajay telah melakukan pembohongan, kerana tidak muncul untuk menjalani penggambaran sebuah filem terbitan KAI sedangkan wang pendahuluan telahpun dibayar kepadanya.

Menurut Rajesh yang juga memiliki cawangan KAI di Mumbai, Ajay telah menandatangani kontrak berlakon filem yang belum berjudul itu pada Januari, 2005.

“Menurut kontrak, dia bakal dibayar sebanyak 1.2 juta rupee (RM90,000) dan wang pendahuluan sebanyak RM14,557 sudahpun dibayar kepadanya,” ujar Rajesh.

Namun, Ajay yang sepatutnya melakonkan watak utama dalam filem tersebut bagaimanapun hanya datang ke set penggambaran selama beberapa jam, namun selepas itu, dan sehingga ke hari ini dia langsung tidak mempedulikan mengenai perkembangan filem tersebut.

Pihak KAI juga dikatakan telah menghubungi pihak pengurusan Ajay tetapi tidak dilayan dan selepas menunggu selama 14 tahun, dia akhirnya laporan polis dibuat terhadap Ajay.

Kosmo

The latest weight-training convert is Aamir Khan, who enlisted the help of physical trainer Satyajit Chourasia two years ago to get in shape for the film “Ghajini”, which is released on December 25.

His daily four-hour regime appears to have paid off.

Giant advertising hoardings show a shaven-headed Khan, who plays a man with memory loss who tattoos himself and takes Polaroid pictures to remember people and places, stripped to the waist, exposing a finely-ripped torso.

The 43-year-old said the film’s director A. Murgadoss told him to bulk up because it was essential for the character.

“I too felt that I will not be able to do justice to my role if I am not in this shape,” he said this week.

Asked whether his new look could help boost box office takings, he said it was creating “a lot of buzz among viewers, which is good for the film.”

Historically, the muscle-bound macho hero has never been in vogue in Bollywood.

Instead, leading men were as likely to be measured by the manly thickness of their chest hair or how they carried a tune or moved in the set-piece song and dance routines.

Eyeing the success of Hollywood’s Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s, Bollywood’s Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt began working out, winning accolades and a dedicated fanbase.

But it was not until megastar Shah Rukh Khan got a “six pack” for his 2007 blockbuster “Om Shanti Om” that muscle tone became a must for aspiring Bollywood actors.

Actor John Abraham enlisted the help of Hollywood personal trainer Mike Ryan to prepare for appearing on camera in only a pair of swimming trunks on Miami beach in the film “Dostana”, which was released in October.

“I went on high protein and vigorous training to get that kind of look,” he said.

“It was essential to work out more because I had little time on my hands and had to get that kind of muscular look to complete the film on time.”

His new look has won him a legion of new fans, including in the gay community, he added.

“Earlier some women used to make a pass on me but now even men make passes at me,” said Abraham, who has been nicknamed “The Hunk.”

Satyajit Chourasia is full of praise for actors he has worked with, from Aamir Khan to Saif Ali Khan and Zayed Khan, as well as Hrithik Roshan and Ajay Devgan.

“All the actors are very dedicated. They don’t skip their exercises and maintain themselves which you can see with their looks on the big screen,” he said.

Demand is now so high that Chourasia said he has had to open a second gym in Mumbai, two in his home town of Nagpur, some 900 kilometres (560 miles) east of Mumbai, and two in the Indian capital New Delhi.

But having a perfect physique can have its disadvantages.

British director Danny Boyle has said that casting a Bollywood beefcake as the lead in his hit film “Slumdog Millionaire” would not have worked, even though Indian actors had the talent.

Instead he cast a skinny British Asian actor, Dev Patel. The film is now a hot favourite at next year’s Oscars.

“You know when guys can’t put their arms down cause they have all this muscle mass? They’re 18; they’re only just beyond kids — and their heads are really small,” Boyle told The Huffington Post on November 25.

“They haven’t put any weight on their heads. So you’ve got these tiny little heads and big bodies; that was just wrong for the film.” – CNA/vm

Channel News Asia

THIS weekend, “travel” to Miri in Sarawak for Konsert Jom Heboh 2008.

The two-hour concert will air “live” on Sunday (TV3, 9pm) and Spider, Hattan, Misha Omar, Bob, Nurul, Aizat, Sofaz, Suki and One Nation Emcees are among the artistes who will be performing.

Catch One Nation Emcees in Konsert Jom Heboh 2008 (TV3, Sunday, 9pm).

Penelope Cruz stars in Vanilla Sky (RTM2, tomorrow, 9pm).
Catch entertainment programme Konsert Fenomena: Elyana & The Fabulous Cats tomorrow (RTM2, 3pm). Elyana joins forces with hip-hop/pop outfit The Fabulous Cats. Watch out for other guest artistes such as Tam Spider and Ash Nair.

New series Big Shot debuts tomorrow (ntv7, 10pm). Starring Michael Varta, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus and Joshua Malina, the series is about four competitive friends who are at the top of their game. They seek comfort in their friendships – discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting each another through life’s twists and turns.

TOMORROW

Bollygood on 2 (RTM2, 12.30pm) – Masti
Three married men, tired of their wives’ jealous ways, yearn for their carefree bachelor days. They set their sights on other women, but eventually realise they have all been seeing the same girl.

She then blackmails them but is found dead in a car the next day.

A hilarious cat-and-mouse game between the three men and a suspicious police officer follows.

Starring Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani, Ritesh Deshmukh and Amrita Rao.

Saturday Nite Special On 2 (RTM2, 9pm) – Vanilla Sky

After surviving a car crash, caused in part by his jilted lover, David’s face is badly injured. He struggles to find out the truth when his dreams turn into reality, and reality is a nightmare.

Everything seems muddled, until a doctor manages to repair his face, and life is back to the way it should be, together with a “mystery girl” he has been eyeing. Or is it?

Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

Anugerah Skrin 2008 (TV3, 10pm) – Relung Kasih

After the death of her parents, Maria has to take care of her four siblings doing menial work to make ends meet. Her siblings grow up and lead comfortable lives of their own, but they begin to drift from her.

Starring Jasmin Hamid, Azhar Sulaiman, Siti Fazurina, Jehan Miskin and Anita Baharom.

Hong Movie Saturday (ntv7, midnight) – Dream Lover

Cheung is a penniless yet talented car mechanic. One day he meets Kei and falls in love with her, but she disappears without a trace. Years later, Cheung becomes extremely wealthy and eventually finds Kei, but it seems that things cannot be the same again.

Starring Tony Leung and Wu Chien Lien.

Chinese Movie (8TV, 8.30pm) – Sky of Love

Wen Tao and Jia Hui start communicating through a radiophone. From their conversations, they discover that they are both studying in the same institution of learning. But further into the relationship, they discover that they are very different from each other.

Starring Ken Chu and Gigi Leung.

SUNDAY

TV3 Cinema (TV3, 12.30am) – Goal!

How far would you go to live your dreams? When Santiago Munez is given the chance of a lifetime, he must leave his family, his life in Los Angeles and everything he knows to become a sought-after football player.

Starring Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel, Marcel Lures and Alessandro Nivola.

Sunday Day Time Special (RTM2, 3pm) – Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Two years after Cloud & Co save the world from Sephiroth, the citizens of the planet begin suffering from a strange sickness called Seikon-Shoukougun. Meanwhile, Cloud has secluded himself, and is being haunted by demons from his past.

This stunning animation features the voice talents of Takahiro Sakurai, Ayumi Ito, Tsuduruhara Miyuu, Maaya Sakamoto and Keiji Fujiwara.

Pesona 3 (TV3, 3pm) – Ragam Pemandu

Hamid is dedicated chauffeur to Rahim, who is always helpful to Hamid’s family, despite the gaping difference in their social status. Rahim also pays for Hamid’s children’s education.

Starring Hamid Gurka, Aznah Hamid and Latiff Ibrahim.

New Straits Times

Big FM is holding a talent hunt to choose a hero for a Bollywood film

TOUGH TASK Ajay and Kajol Devgan will monitor the script of ‘Big Break’

Now here is a faceless reality show! Big 92.7 FM in association with Big Screen Entertainment Private Limited is holding Big Break, the first ever national reality radio hunt for the lead actor of a Bollywood film. The hunt conducted through Big 92.7 FM has Raj Kumar Santoshi, Vishal Bharadwaj, Anurag Basu and Ajay Devgan as the judges.

Lover boy

The uniqueness of the hunt is that the hero will not be revealed and will only be voice to the nation until the launch of the film. The cities where the contest is running are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Srinagar, Jammu and Aligarh. Screening of the candidates, interviews with the jury, and announcement of the winner will be conducted exclusively on Big FM as it is the on-air media partner for the search of the new Bollywood lover boy.

Called “Who Will be Shekhar”, the chosen one will make his debut opposite Amita Mangat, daughter of Kumar Mangat, the producer of Omkara. Ajay and Kajol Devgan are said to be personally monitoring the script and doing the rounds for the locations.

According to Vishal Mull, National Creative Director, Big 92.7FM, “A reality Bollywood talent hunt on Radio is happening for the first time ever. The Radio boom is here and given our huge network of Stations across the country where we will soon be in 45 stations, we are confident to find the right lover boy.”

Hindu On Net

Bhumika Chawla is making waves in the film industry. She has now signed a film opposite Ajay Devgan, writes RADHIKA RAJAMANI

“WHEN I was young I always felt I should be a popular figure with my name on everybody’s lips,” says Bhumika Chawla, a famous name in tinseldom. A dream come true, Bhumika is inching up the acting charts delivering a string of hits (Khushi, Okkadu, Missamma), in her short tenure in showbiz. She is now straddling two worlds – Telugu and Hindi film industries with an occasional foot in Tamil films. Her debut in Hindi Tere Naam was a smash hit at the BO and she soared on the popularity graph. She is set to entrench her position with Run (with Abhishek Bachchan) and has signed a new film titled Benaam with Ajay Devgan to be directed by Anees Bazmee.

Bhumika’s innings in Telugu continues with Samba (with NTR Jr.) and Autograph (with Ravi Teja). “In Samba I play a small town girl who goes to Bangalore and she is supposed to marry her bava. What follows makes up the film.” Autograph is the remake of the Tamil film directed by Cheran. The Telugu version will be the launch pad of cameraman Gopal Reddy as director.

Bhumika is raring to do well as an actor. “There’s so much an artiste can do by playing different characters. I want to do all genres of cinema. I don’t want to get stuck in any role,” says Bhumika, who believes that destiny took her to where she is. “I started with commercials and music videos and when I applied for screen tests in Mumbai, I couldn’t make it. But when I came to Hyderabad I passed the test. Destiny has certainly played a role.”

Now the South is home to her. “Any South Indian is known as Madrasi up north. They would get angry when they are addressed that way and retort we are from Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu or Kerala. Now when people ask me about which Madrasi film I’m doing I tell them I am doing a Telugu or a Tamil film and not Madrasi. Now I am a part of South.” She speaks a few lines of Tamil and Telugu to prove this.

What made Bhumika crossover to Hindi? “I had been getting some offers but I waited for the right one to click. I saw the Tamil original of Tere Naam a year and a half before I was offered Tere Naam. I was looking for a challenging role in my debut film and I found it impressive.” Being in different film worlds “is interesting. Both are different set-ups, work styles are different but there is an equal amount of charm in both Telugu and Hindi film industries.”

How was it working with the much-maligned Salman Khan? “It was fabulous although we did not speak much besides exchanging pleasantries. I was really focused on my role as it was my debut. But during the second film with him (Dil ne jise apna kaha directed by debutante Atul Agnihotri – Salman’s brother-in-law) we were comfortable. I am not in awe of him and I respect him for what he is. He has a heart of gold.” Was the whole experience like a family affair? “Yes, it was quite a family affair. But most members of the production unit were the same.

Atul Agnihotri is making quite an effort and does not okay a shot till he is satisfied. He leaves nothing to chance. I play a simple girl, (not orthodox) . She wants to live life and grows fond of Salman.”

Bhumika is equally comfy with Abhishek Bachchan, her co-star of Run. “Abhishek is sweet, cultured and well-behaved. But there is a mischievous side to him too. He is an absolute prankster on the sets. His sense of humour is amazing.”

She has kind words about her co-stars in Telugu too. “Venkatesh is nice and very spiritual. My mom and dad were fond of talking to him. Nagarjuna gives intelligent advice. Pavan Kalyan is an intelligent artiste. Mahesh Babu is sweet and hardworking. NTR is literally a little boy but very clear of what he is doing.”

Bhumika is excited and looking forward to acting with Ajay Devgan in Anees Bazmee’s film. For her untitled Tamil venture, which is a woman-oriented story, the hunt is on for a director. “The story is ready, the screenplay is being worked on but it requires a sensitive director.”

When she is not shooting, Bhumika can be caught reading. “I love to read – fiction and non-fiction. I love Paulo Coelho, Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steel, Taslima Nasreen, Tehmina Durrani.” Sometimes she just loves to stand by the window and see people and traffic go by. Her other interests include music and dance.

Bhumika may eventually land up in direction or cinematography some day. She is fascinated by lenses and camera.

“The camera can capture beautiful images and now I know basic details about cinematography.”

Life has been a roller-coaster ride for her. “I feel very blessed by god. “So far it’s been nice and good, touch wood,” she ends on that rhyming note.

Hindu On Net

RAMGOPAL VARMA is an innovative director and a risk-taker, willing to experiment with unconventional plots. Varma is back with “Bhoot” a ghost thriller that is shot slickly. The lead players sport a new look — Ajay Devgan with a French beard, Urmila in her new hairstyle, Fardeen with a stubble. Rekha, Victor Banerjee and Tanuja make special appearances.

Varma says that the story of “Bhoot” is about the fears of the human mind. Ajay Devgan plays Vishal, a stock analyst who moves into the 12th floor of an apartment complex in Mumbai along with his wife Swathi played by Urmila.

The flat is haunted, as the previous occupant, a young woman had plunged to death from the balcony, but Ajay keeps it a secret from his wife. However, after the couple move in, Urmila starts hearing strange voices and sees weird things happening. Soon they realise the presence of some supernatural power, which is sure to give spine-chilling moments to the audience.

Last week, Amitabh Bachchan saw a preview of the film and at the end of the 105-minute film sans songs, he told Varma, “The film is so eerie that it scared the daylights out of me.” But can Varma’s “Bhoot” bring the audience to the cinemas?

SREEDHAR PILLAI

Hindu On Net