Abhishek Bachchan Wants Sequel to Drona And a Sports Flick

After Hrithik, Shahrukh now its Abhishek Bachchan’s turn to play superhero and he will be doing so in Goldie Behl’s film Drona . The film is supposed to be an extremely big lavish budget film and Abhi plays the hero who has supernatural powers. Abhishek and his dad Amitabh have been taking a lot of personal interest not only in Abhi’s character but also in the creative aspect of the film. In fact even before the shooting for Drona is complete, Abhi is contemplating a series or second part to the film.

Apart from this like Aamir, SRK and even John, Abhi is also hunting for a sports related flick as it seems to be the flavour of the season. Abhishek has already shot a little portion of Drona and will complete a bulk of the shooting in the next three months. Abhi was not able to shoot much for the film due to his wedding with Ash for which he had taken time off from his films. But now the actor is all set to devote his time and energy to the film. He wants Drona to be bigger than Krrish and any other superhero films. The film will also have some brilliant special effects and for this the best Hollywood’s special effects man Charles Darby has been roped in. He has done the special effects for some big Hollywood films.

A source claims “Abhi has already made plans on making a series on Drona, just like Krrish.” Drona will also have a budget of around Rs.55 crores. Abhishek has also set his heart on doing a sports film as many of his contemporaries in the film industry have already done successful sports films.

Many sports films have also done reasonably well and have been accepted by the masses and hence he is on the look out for a film with a sports based theme. Abhi is also a die-hard soccer fan and has even caught several of the matches live. Earlier Abhi was supposed to do a film on racing titled Raaste along with John Abraham; however nothing is being said about the film currently. So it remains to be seen who will make a better superhero, Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh or Abhishek Bachchan?

Only Aswarya rai was offered 'Pink Panther 2': Casting Director

Refuting rumours about other Bollywood actors being offered a role in 'Pink Panther 2', its casting director Ilene Starger said they only considered Aishwarya Rai.

'Most emphatically, we did not offer the role to anyone other than Aishwarya! Aishwarya was, when I first read the script, the actress I envisioned for the role,' Starger told IANS from Los Angeles in an e-mail interview. Aishwarya rai shot for a day with Steve Martin and Andy Garcia in Paris Aug 20 for the film by Harold Zwart.

'Her intelligence, grace, beauty and sophistication are just what the role requires. And, of course, she has a touch of mystery too. She fits in wonderfully with our fantastic ensemble cast, and all of us involved with the film are thrilled to work with her.' Rumours had it that Celina Jaitley was offered the role first but rejected it. Also, Hrithik Roshan was asked to play detective Clouseau's assistant Vincent in part two of the comedy, but he too turned it down.

However, Aishwarya's international manager Simone Sheffield dismisses the reports.
Sheffield said: 'Negotiations went on for a month to secure Aishwarya and her dates. The script is absolutely wonderful and the wardrobe is great. 'The film's costume designer Joe Aulisi has chosen some really hot items from Dolce and amp; Gabbana. If any one of the actresses mentioned had really been offered this A-level role in such a big-budget international film, they would have jumped to join it and not have passed on the opportunity as they state, believe me.

'What I love about Aishwarya is that she just calmly continues along the path she has chosen, does her work, lives her life and never has a bad word to say about anyone.' Sheffield also has a lot to say about the actresses' absence at the unveiling of her statue at Times Square and for the promotion of her latest international film 'The Last Legion'.

'I see this trend happening more and more in the media with events falsely confirming Aishwarya's attendance to boost sales and media attention. For one, Aishwarya was never confirmed to appear at the unveiling in New York City, nor did we confirm she was appearing on the late night talk show and a morning news programme during her brief visit to Los Angeles.

'She did, however, confirm she was appearing at India Splendor celebrating the 60th anniversary of India's Independence. When Aishwarya confirms an appearance, it is confirmed and she will without fail attend and always has. 'As for the promotions for 'The Last Legion', it is up to the producers and distributors of the film to make such arrangements and in this case numerous phone interviews with the international media took place over the past two months. There was nothing else requested of Aishwarya prior to the film's US release.'

Brad Pitt Dismisses Adoption Reports

Actor Brad Pitt has denied reports he and girlfriend Angelina Jolie are planning to adopt a fourth child from Africa.

Earlier this week, a British newspaper claimed the Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-stars are hoping to adopt a baby girl from Ethiopia - the same country they adopted two-year-old Zahara Marley from in 2005.

The couple are also adoptive parents to Cambodian-born Maddox, five; Vietnam-born Pax Thien, three; and biological parents to 15-month-old Shiloh Nouvel.

When they adopted Pax Thien earlier this year, Jolie admitted they chose a boy from south-east Asia so Maddox could see the physical similarities between them, and hoped to find another African child for Zahara to identify with.

However, Pitt's spokeswoman Cindy Guagenti has told website CelebrityTruth.com reports Jolie and Pitt will return to Ethiopia in November to seek another sibling for their expanding brood are false.

Aiswarya Rai - John Abraham Combo in Rohan Sippy's film

It looks like John Abraham and Aiswarya Rai will finally come together as a screen pair in a film for Rohan Sippy, which will start early next year.

What's more, John and Aiswarya Rai have taken with them director Sriram Raghavan, who was supposed to direct them in producer Gaurang Doshi's 'Happy Birthday'.

Confirming these developments, Raghavan told IANS: 'We're no longer working for Gaurang. That project, 'Happy Birthday', didn't work out. John, Aishwarya and I are doing a completely different project for Rohan Sippy.'

Incidentally, Aiswarya Rai's husband Abhishek Bachchan and Rohan are the best of buddies and are all set to do another film together after 'Bluffmaster'.

'Yes,' conceded Raghavan. 'But that's a separate project from mine. John and Ash are working in my project. But Abhishek Bachchan isn't in my film.'

Raghavan's film for Sippy would be the first project to bring together the John-Aiswarya Rai combo. Soon after that, Suniel Shetty brings them and Abhishek together in 'Raaste'.

'The project got delayed because of Abhishek's dates, the wedding, the honeymoon etc. So we lost the opportunity to shoot a particular race in Mexico. It happens just once a year. So we now have to wait till next year to shoot the race. But the project is very much on,' said Suniel.

Aiswarya Rai's Model Coming to Madame Tussauds in New York

A wax model of actress Aiswarya Rai, the global face of Indian film industry, will open to public view at Madame Tussauds wax museum in Time Square here on Aug 15, when India celebrates 60th year of independence.

'The unveiling ceremony will feature a 15-minute performance by Bollywood dance group from the city,' Rosemary Preta, director of marketing of the museum, told IANS.

The museum has scheduled the ceremony on India 's Independence Day, which was also demanded by her fans here, Preta said. 'Aiswarya Rai, a former Miss World, is internationally known now.'

Aiswarya Rai's model will be placed in the Opening Night Party section of the museum.

The museum has borrowed the model for six weeks from the parent Madame Tussauds in London. The life-like sari-clad waxwork was unveiled there in 2004, timed with the release of Aiswarya Rai's first international film, 'Bride and Prejudice', directed by London-based Gurinder Chadha. Aiswarya Rai was present at the London unveiling, but now married to Bollywood star, Abhishek Bachchan, Aiswarya Rai is not able to come to New York for this landmark event in her life.

Aiswarya Rai has also had the most success from Indian actors making forays in Hollywood. Her big ticket Hollywood film is 'The Last Legion', in which she gets third billing after Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley. The epic look period film is releasing in the US on Aug 17.

The only other Indian film personalities immortalised at Madame Tussauds in London are Aiswarya Rai's father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, both from Bollywood, and Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. Other Indian attractions at the museum are Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Now Aiswarya Rai has beaten them all by becoming the first Indian to feature at the New York museum.

The museum in Manhattan attracts a million visitors a year and has become a major tourist attraction in the city since its opening in 2000.

Madame Tussauds commemorates the world's most popular personalities by creating strikingly similar wax statues.

Set up by Frenchwoman Marie Tussauds in London in 1835, the world famous museum now has branches in Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Shanghai, besides New York, with Washington D.C. to be added to the list in October this year.

Trivia of Last Legion: Aiswarya Rai's Latest Movie

Already released in Russia and Netherlands, Last Legion will be released in around the world from this month. Part history part legend, this movie showcases Aiswarya Rai in a totally different character. Her role, “Mira,” the lady warrior has created enthusiasm among the viewers. Here are some interesting facts about the movie.

The movie has four tag lines:

1. Before King Arthur, there was Excalibur.

2. The untold beginning of the King Arthur legend.

3. The end of an empire...the beginning of a legend.

4. The Roman world is in the throes of death, but a new myth, destined to span the centuries, is waiting to be born

Earlier, the movie was given the title “The Enchanted Sword.” The story of the movie is taken from the novel of Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Manfredi is an archaeology scholar, journalist, TV host, and historical novelist.

The movie connects the legend of Arthur with the story of the last emperor of Rome.
In the movie, Aiswarya Rai’s character, "Mira," comes from Kerala. During that time, there was no such place called Kerala.

Colin Firth is a highly experienced British actor. He worked on stage, television and films. He caught the attention of the audience in Bridget Jones’ diary.

Salman Khan Appears in Court in Poaching Case

Bollywood actor Salman Khan appeared in a court here Monday for hearing on his appeal against conviction for poaching of an endangered chinkara gazelle nine years ago.

Salman Khan, who arrived in the city Sunday evening, presented himself before the District and Sessions Judge of Jodhpur for the hearing.

"We almost completed our arguments today and tomorrow (Tuesday) the prosecution will put forward its case," Salman's counsel Hastimal Saraswat told IANS.

The actor had filed his appeal in April against the judgement of the chief judicial magistrate's court in Jodhpur which had sentenced him to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.25,000 for the 1998 poaching.

On April 10, the court had found the actor guilty under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Salman Khan had to spend three nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before being granted bail by the district and sessions court.

The case was registered against Salman and five others under the Indian Penal Code, the Wildlife Protection Act and the Indian Arms Act at Mathania Police Station on Oct 11, 1998. Salman allegedly killed the chinkara at Ghoda farmhouse here.

"We have said that the forensic report of the animal does not prove it to be a chinkara and moreover if four people can be freed by the court on lack of evidence, then how can Salman alone be found guilty," Saraswat said.

Salman Khan, who faces four cases in Jodhpur, has also been sentenced to one-year imprisonment in another poaching case in Bhawad. He has filed an appeal against that decision too.

Aiswarya Rai - 'Jodha-Akbar' In Post-Production Phase Now

Post-production work on director Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum opus "Jodha-Akbar" is on in full swing. The editing and dubbing of the film starring Hrithik Roshan and Aiswarya Rai are being done simultaneously.

"I'm currently editing the film in Mumbai. It's not an easy task," Gowariker told IANS.

Considering the canvas of the storytelling, this could well be the director's toughest film yet.

"That isn't all. Aiswarya Rai is shooting in Hyderabad. So she'll dub in that city, while Hrithik Roshan will dub in Mumbai," Gowariker said.

On top of it, there are dozens of other actors, big and small, whose dubbing has to be done under strict supervision to make sure that the Urdu dialogues are in place and the pronunciation is impeccable.

In fact Hrithik and Aishwarya have been working doubly hard on their dialogues to live up to the "Lagaan" director's exacting standards.