Are you ready for Rani, the judge?

Looks like Rani Mukerji isn't dwelling too much on the failure of her recent movie Dil Bole Hadippa.

She has moved on to television as the judge of a reality dance show titled Dance Premier League -- a show with a unique format where teams from all zones of India -- North, West, East, Central, South and even one team of NRIs -- will compete for the grand prize. The show starts on October 9 every Friday and Saturday on Sony Television.

Rani will be the judge in the gala round along with choreographer Shiamak Davar and actor Arshad Warsi.

Talking about the show Rani says, "I wasn't planning to do television shows as I was pretty much obsessed with my film, Dil Bole Hadippa. I danced a lot in the last one year. But I decided to do Dance Premier League because it is my kind of show. I love dancing as well as watching people dance."

Rani takes what Madhuri and Aishwarya leaves!

Her film career may have taken a backseat but the dazzling lady of Bollywood Rani Mukherji is now gearing up to step her foot in the rapidly growing Television industry. And that too with a reality show - Dance Premier League (DPL).

As per the latest reports doing the rounds, actress Rani Mukherji has been confirmed as the second judge of the show alongside ace choreographer Shiamak Davar. Initially, the 2 showstealers of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan were being considered as judges, but as the 2 beauties backed out Rani came in the picture. Rani is also elated to be a part of this mega show which goes on air from 9th October

Dance Premier League is a unique format where teams from all zones of India - North, West, East, Central, South and even one team of NRIs' will compete in a league format to emerge as the Champion Zone of the country.
Every team will have a unique logo, brand ambassador, cheer-leaders and slogan.

Eijaz Khan will be hosting the audition episodes of the show along with Sara Khan (Tell soap fame). While the gala round which begins much later will have a different male host.

Each zone will have a brand ambassador who will announce the names of the finalists of their zones. While Salman Khan will be seen rooting for the North zone, Bipasha Basu for East and Arshad Warsi for South. Its being said that Bollywood baadshah Shah Rukh Khan and actress Kajol have been approached for the NRI zone along with Katrina Kaif though she is may back out.

The production house is also in talks with Preity Zinta and Kareena Kapoor for Central and West zones respectively.

I absolutely admire Aditya, says Rani Mukerji

Mumbai: Not sticking to the ‘just friends’ tag anymore, Rani Mukerji has finally broken her stoic silence about her much talked about relationship with the Yash Raj scion Aditya Chopra. The bong bombshell, who is often linked with the famous filmmaker, has finally spoken about the ‘special relationship’ the duo shares.

Full of praises for Aditya, the doe-eyed beauty, in an interview to a daily, stated, "I have a very special relationship with Adi. He`s a person who I absolutely admire and respect. He always had faith in me since the beginning. He was the one who spotted me in ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’ and recommended me to Karan for ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’.

"He and Shah Rukh were instrumental in changing Karan`s mind about me. Karan didn`t think I was hip enough for the role. It`s very easy for people to make assumptions, but it doesn`t bother me because I am enjoying my work. I`m in a very happy state of mind right now. My film has done well; my family is here; my friends have appreciated my work" she further added.

But call her the Yash Raj Films` fav actress and the dusky babe is quick to attack. Talking about her series of flicks with the banner, Rani said, "Coincidentally, all the roles I`ve done in the recent past have come from the same banner. I would`ve done those films had anyone else offered them to me too. Of course, I have a comfort factor with Yash Raj. I`ve done 12 films with them. You often see many actors working with only certain directors. Actors like Hrithik, Shah Rukh, and Akshay have done a lot of films with people they are close to. But they`re never questioned over their decisions. A woman is always scrutinised for her it. But it`s okay. I`m not minding the movies I am doing with Yash Raj. It doesn`t bother me what people say".

Well, Rani sure knows how to defend her loved ones!

Rani Preparing to Tie the Knot

If rumors are to be believed the former queen of Bollywood Rani Mukherjee, is contemplating to settle down with beau Aditya Chopra. Now rumor mongers have been speculating her marriage since a while but only this time around they are sure that the much awaited shaadi is on the cards soon. Rani's comeback movie 'Dil Bole Hadippa!' bombed at the box office giving gossip churners strong reasons that she will soon head to walk the aisle. As if all that was not enough, some insiders claim that Rani performed some kind of special puja this year at the Santacruz Durga Puja Pandal, which is being run by her family since years. What's new you might wonder? She does that every year, yes , she does, but this year Rani performed some rituals and puja done by women gearing up to get married soon. All we can do is wait and watch if there is any truth to this story or even this one seems to be just one of the speculations.

Man of the match: Rani Mukerji

There's indulgence and there's overkill. But when it stretches beyond that, it's simply an excessive fest of clichés. In that sense alone, Dil Bole Hadippa ,though not necessarily a bad film, suffers from too many déjà vu-evoking distractions to wholly work.

To begin with, there's Yash Raj Films's stock supply of Punjab .The open-terrace block house looks awfully familiar. Do Veer and Zaara still live here?

And pray, where have I seen those lush, green fields before? What do they grow, quizzes Shahid Kapoor to Sheryln Chopra in one scene. Who cares? They never really provide any food for thought anyway.

Then there's Ik Onkar humming incessantly in the backdrop. Perhaps Surinder Sahni and Taaniji plan to drop in? Also,if you thought you had seen the last of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Bachna Ae Haseeno , etc, etc) tributes, you got another thing coming.

I suggest girls try their hand at cricket: Rani Mukerji

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) She was not a cricket fanatic but after preparing for her role in the just released 'Dil Bole Hadippa!', Rani Mukerji has become a huge fan of the game. She not only wishes to go and watch it in the stadium, but also suggests that more girls should try their hand at the sport.

'It's a great sport to play... people say it's a gentleman's game but it is a ladies' game too because it is a lot of fun. I would in fact tell a lot of girls to try their hand in cricket,' Rani told IANS.

'I would also love to go and see a game now in the stadium because watching it there is much more exciting than watching it on TV. Now that I know the game, it's become pretty interesting for me to watch. Now I know there are so many ways to get out in the game other than what I knew of just a run out or a catch out.

'I wasn't into cricket at all. I would rarely watch a match if it was a very interesting one as I wasn't really educated in the game. When you don't know much about the game, you can't enjoy it,' Rani said.

She dons the garb of a Sikh in the romantic comedy to highlight a woman's aspirations for cricket. Playing the part involved 'rigorous training sessions' for Rani.

'I trained for six months in cricket and tried to learn it to the best of my ability because it was important for my character to know the game very well. I didn't even know how to hold the bat correctly. So for me, to start from there to hit the shot was satisfying.

Rani got cricket tips from SRK, moustache help from Aamir

New Delhi, Sep 16 Rani Mukerji disguises herself as an aspiring Sikh cricketer in the upcoming film 'Dil Bole Hadippa!'. And Bollywood's superstars were more than willing to help her get into the character's groove - while Shah Rukh Khan gave her cricketing tips, Aamir Khan helped her with wearing a moustache.

'Shah Rukh gave me a lot of tips on cricket and I was very happy to have him give me tips for my character in the movie,' Rani told reporters here.

Aamir, with whom Rani starred in 'Ghulam', too did his bit to help her don the garb of a Sikh.

'Aamir helped me with the moustache... I was shooting a song with Rakhi (Sawant) before I had the moustache on and he gave me tips on how I should put it with a little smile so that it doesn't hurt,' said the actress.

Rani was in the capital with her 'Dil Bole Hadippa!' co-star Shahid Kapoor at the Big Cinemas Odeon to promote the movie.

Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, it is directed by debutant Anurag Singh.

It also stars Anupam Kher, Dalip Tahil and item girls Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra.

'It is a commercially entertaining and audience-friendly film. Everyone will enjoy it whether it is with family, kids or friends,' said Shahid.

Rani Mukherji steals the show at Toronto film festival

Rani Mukherji walked the red carpet just the way George Clooney and other Hollywood celebrities had done in recent days. But her entrance was far more spectacular than Clooney's.

Rani was at the gala for Dil Bole Hadippa that had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sunday. She was accompanied by over a dozen Punjabi Bhangra dancers.

Rani, wearing a gown, walked past over 300 fans. However, not everyone was pleased with her choice of gown. "Rani looks good in anything she wears," said Mary Allen a caucasian journalist who was wearing a sari. "I wore a sari for everytime I've seen Rani, in a movie, wearing a sari, I thought how gorgeous Indian women look wearing a sari."

Many fans waved signs that read, "Our Dil Bole Hadippa," "We love you Rani" and "Hadippa Forever."

Some fans had come expecting Shahid Kapoor for the event; but director Anurag Singh who also walked the red carpet said that Shahid was doing publicity for the film in India.

"Rani is so committed to this project that she flew into Toronto from London although she could give only a day and a half of her time." She left for London a few hours after the premiere.

"Toronto, I have heard, is a city full of people who love all kinds of movies," Rani said. "Yet our film is a masala, commercial film. And to be featured in as a gala event is a very big honour."

Out of the 21 gala movies, there are three from India. This is the first time so many Indian films have been featured in the gala. Apart from Dil Bole Hadippa, there are Cooking With Stella, produced by Toronto based Deepa Mehta and India's Ravi Chopra (BR Films) and What's Your Raashee?, is the concluding gala film of the festival.

"We are holding the premiere of the movie in Toronto even before it opens in India," director Singh said. "The film opens across the world this Friday. We knew we had made a very good masala film but we had no idea it could go to a major film festival."

Though Yash Raj Pictures' Kabul Express was shown at TIFF two years ago, it was not a gala event.

"Everyone at Yash Raj is excited that Dil Bole Hadippa is a gala event. When Cameron Bailey, co-director, TIFF, saw the film and invited and told us that it should be shown at the festival we were over-excited. Our confidence in the film became even stronger than ever before. Shahid and Rani are absolutely thrilled with this film. If Rani had more time, she would have stayed back in Toronto, meeting many of her fans."

In the past five years, TIFF has started showing extravaganzas like Bollywood movies along with austere arthouse fare. Given the fact Toronto has over 350,000 Bollywood fans, from India to Afghanistan, Dubai to Ethiopia, and Morocco to Russia , Indian stars at the festival are a big draw in the city.

A Nigerian cab driver, in Toronto, who waited 2 hours to get a glimpse of Rani said, "We see Indian stars many times in a year but they are busy shooting. They hardly look around them and smile because they are busy with their work. At the gala event, everyone dresses beautifully and everyone smiles. And when Rani smiles, I feel I'm in heaven."

Work it out like Rani

Not content with shedding all those excess kilos and getting into super shape for her role of a cricketer in 'Dil Bole Hadippa', actress Rani Mukherjee is now also trying to entice co star Shahid to take up yoga. This is something which even his former girlfriend Kareena Kapoor could not get him into.

Rani Doles Out Fitness Tips

Not content with shedding all those excess kilos and getting into super shape for her role of a cricketer in 'Dil Bole Hadippa', actress Rani Mukherjee is now also trying to entice co star Shahid to take up yoga. This is something which even his former girlfriend Kareena Kapoor could not get him into.

Apparently, Rani has gone even a step further and even offered to lend her trainer to the actor. Incidentally, Rani's trainer trained Kareena during the Tashan days, when the actress was trying to acquire her size zero figure. Talk of connections. Meanwhile, Shahid is believed to be quite open to the offer of going the yoga way as he is looking for something which is more natural and holistic. Of course, the transformation in Rani is proof enough of that. The actress seems to have gambled heavily in 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. She has done things that she never needed to do in career before, like getting into a bikini. In her time, Rani never needed to resort to all that. But times have changed and it is Rani who needs to lure in the audiences. And so the actress has done everything that she can to match up with today's girls. One hopes for her sake that the film works. It has lots going for it and the icing on the cake should be the presence of Shahid, who is on an all time high after the success of 'Kaminey'. Maybe, Rani's gesture of lending her trainer is just her way of saying 'thank you' to the young actor.

Dil Bole Rani, Shahid

Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapoor pose for a picture during a news conference for their forthcoming movie Dil Bole Hadippa in Mumbai on Monday.

The film is directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Aditya Chopra and is scheduled to release on September 18.


Image: Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapoor
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Rani Mukherjee sheds kilos to re-gain lost appeal

Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee has shed extra kilos and toned up her body to look the part in her latest film "Dil Bole Hadippa" where she plays a sportsperson. Mukherjee, known for her path-breaking roles within the mould of commercial cinema, is starring opposite Shahid Kappor in the film.

"I'm playing cricket in the movie. So it's my conscious decision. If I have to play a cricketer's character, then I have to look like an athlete. I have to tone my body like how sportsmen kind of tone their bodies while they are on the field. They look really toned. And I think for the role I consciously look like the character," Mukherjee said.

She revealed some of the secrets of her new-found svelte look - a rigorous fitness regime.

"I did yoga and weight training, did a combination of both and that kind of really worked for my body," she said.

The film is set to be released on September 18.

Rani Mukerji bows before Sai Baba

Rani Mukerji was spotted at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Mumbai on Tuesday. Is the actress praying for a new lease of life for her career with her upcoming film, Dil Bole Hadippa, opposite Shahid Kapur?

The 'Dil Bole Hadippa' Album

This tale of turbans, twists and tricks will make your heart go - Hadippa!
'Dil Bole Hadippa' is a celebration of the never say die spirit of India. Here, for the first time, the dynamic duo of Shahid Kapoor & Rani Mukherjee, take you on a hide and seek game of romance, passion and dreams.
Veera (Rani Mukherjee) is a fire-cracker of a girl who lives in a small village but dreams in 70mm. She works in a local theatre group but dreams of playing cricket in the big league. Yes, believe it or not, she wants to play with Tendulkar and Dhoni for India.
While Veera dreams on in India, Rohan (Shahid Kapoor) is an accomplished captain of a county cricket team in England. Rohan returns to India to captain his father's cricket team which has been losing consecutively for the last 8 years.
In a village where girls don't play cricket, Veera has to put on a turban and beard and become a man to fulfill her dreams. Her brilliance on the field earns her a place in Rohan's team and Veera Kaur becomes Veer Pratap Singh.
And then begins a roller-coaster journey of Veera, Rohan and Veer filled with music, romance and comedy through Punjab and beyond.

'Dil Bole Hadippa' to premiere at Toronto Film Fest

Yash Raj Films’ 'Dil Bole Hadippa' has been selected for the esteemed Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2009 and will be presented in the prestigious Gala Presentations section of the festival as a World Premiere.

The film, being produced by Aditya Chopra with Debutant director Anurag Singh, stars Shahid Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee in lead roles and releases worldwide on September 18, 2009.

In a village where girls don't play cricket, Veera (Rani Mukherjee) has to put on a turban and beard and become a man to fulfill her dreams. Her brilliance on the field earns her a place in Rohan's (Shahid Kapoor) team and Veera Kaur becomes Veer Pratap Singh.

And then begins a roller-coaster journey of Veera, Rohan and Veer filled with music, romance and comedy through Punjab and beyond.

The movie's cast and crew will grace the red carpet and attend the first public screening anywhere in the world of the film, on September 13, 2009 in Toronto, Canada.

TIFF is among the top film festivals in the world and it is indeed an honour to be selected for such a screening. A publicly-attended film festival, nearly 400 films are screened at approximately 23 screens in venues across Toronto. The annual attendance at TIFF exceeds 300,000 from public and industry audiences.

Rani Mukerji turns 'sardar' for Yash Raj's next

Rani Mukerji has not been seen on the big screen for a quite a while now. And she is set to surprise her fans with her new look in Yash Raj Films' next " Dil Bole Hadippa" - the actress will play a sardar complete with a beard and a turban.

In the romantic comedy, set in Punjab, Rani essays the role of a girl who has to don the garb of a man to fulfil her dreams, said a press release from the production house.

For her role, ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra has designed the traditional kurta-pyjama and teamed it up with sports shoes to give a manly touch to Rani's looks in the movie.

For the rest of the film, Rani's looks have been styled by Mike Stringer, who was responsible for Hrithik Roshan's multiple disguises in "Dhoom 2". He was especially flown in from London to design Rani's look for "Dil Bole Hadippa".

Directed by Anurag Singh, the film also stars Shahid Kapoor, Anupam Kher along with item girls Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra.

The theatrical promos of the film have been released along with "New York" and the film is slated for a Sep 18 release.

Aishwarya Rai Refuses Ads

I think this is one celebrity who does what she believes in (Very Imp in a world of glamourous fakes). By refusing a fairness cream ad she is sending she right message - basically that beauty is not based on skin color. I then read that the cosmetic company in question was trying to get back at Aishwarya ( for doing the right thing by projecting her as old) After Aishwarya turned down the offer, the cosmetic company signed Sonam Kapoor to endorse the fairness cream. The cosmetic company is positioning Sonam as a ‘young face’, as opposed to Aishwarya who may now be called the ‘older face’ of the cosmetic industry. I understand that despite the money and publicity being good ( Sonam has grabbed the offer) , “It was the fairness cream that bothered Aishwarya. She said that she didn’t want to promote a fairness cream especially in India where one’s skin colour is such a big issue. She will never promote a product that discriminates on the basis of one’s skin colour. Ours is a society where biases are so prevalent that she will do all she can to curb it.” Aishwarya is primarily guided by her sense of ethics as far as advertising is concerned. She was recently offered a fortune to replace Rani Mukherjee to endorse a popular mosquito repellent cream, but she turned down the offer. So when the ad comes out you will know which stupid cosmetics company tried to get nasty with Aishwarya for doing the right thing. I for one will not buy their products thenceforth in support of Aishwarya doing the right thing which is not always easy to do.