After much ado and discussion, Vishal Bharadwaj has decided the title of his next Ajay Devgan - Saif Ali Khan starrer movie.

Vishal himself in an interview revealed that his adaptation of Shakespere’s ‘Othello’ would be titled - Omkara.

The film stars Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Ayesha Takia, Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah in lead roles.

The movie - Omkara - is scheduled to start shooting in March and is planned to be completed by the stretch of 2006.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Indian version of Shakespeare’s famous novel ‘Othello’ has been invited to Cannes Film Festival and for the promotions of the film in a big way its makers are taking the entire cast including Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Vivek Oberoi along with director Vishal to the festival.

At Cannes, the film will have a six to seven minute screening. Actress Kareena who is much charged up about the film said, “I’m definitely planning my trip to Cannes this summer. I believe Ajay and Saif will also come along. The producer, Kumar Mangat, is going so far as to put up an Othello stall at Cannes. I think it’ll be a great experience. People are already curious about it.”

Meanwhile, Othello name deciding contest with a relevant tagline ‘What’s in a name’ (which is also taken from Shakespeare) will open up to the public next week where the public will choose their favorite title among the three short listed one’s - Omkara, O Saathi Re and Issak. (more…)

Bollywood star Salman Khan, after long overdue of the ‘1998 black buck killing’ case was sentenced 5 year imprisonment by Jodhpur court on Monday (10 April, 2006). The fact that he has already spent ‘one night out of two in Jail’ has came as a great shock to Bollywood and celebrities, who are considering court judgment ‘too harsh’ for the actor.

Khan who is famous for coming out of court proceedings unharmed was actually pinned down this time due to public holiday following the judgment because of which his lawyers got no chance to move for bail or appeal.

According to sources “even though the police knew about it and had an arrest warrant ready, Salman didn’t get a hint of it”. Yesterday the actor came out of the court muttering “This is a wrong decision”. Khan’s mother Salma Khan after listening the news fell faint yesterday complaining of chest pain. She was soon admitted to Mumbai’s Leelawati Hospital.

Bollywood reaction

Bollywood is in a state of shock as Rs 150 crore of money is riding on Salman across five big-budget productions (Salaam-e-Ishq, Baabul, Partner, God Tussi Great Ho, Jaaneman). The actor’s producers are now saying their prayers and many celebrities are giving their grievances against the judgment. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said the court’s decision was way too harsh for the crime committed. (more…)

Actor Saif Ali Khan who went through an emergency appendectomy on Thursday at Kuala Lumpur while shooting for an ad says he is fine now. The only shoot to have been affected by Saif’s ill health is Vishal Bhardwaj’s Othello where he was supposed to return on Friday. Now Vishal will shoot Saif’s remaining portion in Mumbai, whenever possible.

On the professional front, Saif is most excited about Othello. “The cast of this film has a great mix of so-called thinking and commercial actors. You have the NSD bunch like Naseeruddin Shah on one hand, and commercial actors like Ajay Devgan and me, on the other. We used to have great fun on the sets, referring to each other disparagingly, saying things like, “You theatre-wallah” or you “commercial type”,” he laughs.

“I must say that the highbrow NSD crowd has scant respect for us commercial stars. They feel ‘Unko kya ma1oom (what does they know)? I don’t think too many directors are too comfortable working with actors from both genres. Othello is the first film in which the two worlds of art and masala movies join hands in a big way” He added. (more…)

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan who was shooting for the ad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia along with girlfriend Rosa, today underwent an operation for appendicitis at a hospital here. Now His condition is stated to be satisfactory.

The actor underwent the operation at the Gleneagles Hospital after he complained of acute abdominal pain during the shoot of a Royal Stag commercial. Doctors advised him to undergo a surgery for appendicitis immediately as the infection was in an advanced state and there were chances that it might burst.

Sources in the hospital state that the star was successfully operated and his condition was okay. The star came to Malaysia after performing at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne recently.

Being Cyrus

Directed by: Homi Adajania

Character sketch:
Saif Ali Khan - Cyrus Mistry
Naseeruddin Shah - Dinshaw Sethna
Dimple Kapadia - Katy Sethna
Boman Irani - Farokh Sethna
Simone Singh - Tina Sethna
Honey Chhaya - Fardounjee Sethna
Manoj Pahwa - Inspector Lovely

If you call, stinking-rotten Parsi language thrown at you on every interval, characters screaming your head off, patchy scenes here-there, people hallucinating and trying to plot against each other - dark and unsettling then this is what Being Cyrus is. There are some mystery movies that leave you satisfied or in awe but believe me Being Cyrus leaves you feeling hollow. The movie has no particular starting and no better ending. And talk about humor - there is none - not dark nor light.

Going by the hype and preview of the movie I was excited to see this twisted movie. The first half finished soon, mostly introducing the characters of the film. But I thought; now the real fun will start and we will get to see something electrifying which will thrill and excite. I was wrong. I was left frustrated. (more…)

Times Infotainment’s debut venture, directed by Homi Adajania - ‘Being Cyrus’ was premiered at the Cinemax Infinity Mall multiplex yesterday.

The who’s who of the film industry was present on the occasion. The films star cast Saif Ali Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Boman Irani and Simone Singh were present their too except Dimple Kapadia.

Aamir Khan arrived with wife Kiran Rao. Saif had come with his sister Soha. “I’ve tried out a new genre here,” he told media persons. Bollywood celebrities like Zayed Khan, Yukta Mookhey, Karan Johar, Kiron Kher, Javed Akhtar, Bobby Darling, Rohan Sippy, Neha Dhupia, Dino Morea were also present.