Want To Be A Hero?
December 30, 2006
Want to be a hero?
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
Reigning Star
April 29, 2004
Reigning Star
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
Spooky
June 9, 2003
Spooky
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