Paa, on the cover of a magazine

Seems like Amitabh Bachchan's gangly dance in his just released movie Paa is fast catching on.

The actor and his son Abhishek, who also stars in the movie, made the cover of Hi Blitz magazine, which they unveiled on Monday in Mumbai.

Directed by R Balki, the film relates the story of a 13-year-old boy played by Amitabh, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder progeria that causes a person to age faster than normal.

Image: Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan
Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar

Aamir Khan to play AIDS victim in film with Amitabh Bachchan

Filmmaker Priyadarshan, whose film social drama `Kanchivaram` won a National Award, has roped in none other than Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan for his next “realistic” project, a film on AIDS.

The director revealed that Aamir has said yes to the film which deals with the disease and the social stigma attached to it.

“My next film is a meaningful and realistic take on AIDS. I have narrated the story to Aamir and he really liked it, though I have not presented him a bound script yet,” Priyadarshan told reporters at the sidelines of Delhi International Art Festival.

This will be the first time that the filmmaker will be working with Aamir but when asked about the one actor he wishes to work with, Priyadarshan did not wait before replying, “Big B”.

“I have worked with Mr Bachchan on advertisements but I want to shoot a feature film with him. It would be a great experience,” said the filmmaker.

AIDS is still a taboo topic in Bollywood though South Indian filmmaker Revathy and Onir had explored the subject in their films `Phir Milenge` and `My Brother Nikhil`. While `Phir Milenge` had a star studded cast including Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Abhishek Bachchan, `My Brother Nikhil` starred Sanjay Suri, Juhi Chawla and Purab Kohli.

Priyadarshan who has directed superhit comedies like `Hera Pheri` and `Malamaal Weekly` said that the National Award, his first ever, has inspired him to take risks with off-beat cinema.

“I finally got an award after 25 years in the industry and it is a great recognition. All those who thought that I could do nothing more than comedies and remakes have been proved wrong and you will see many more realistic films from my side,” said Priyadarshan.

The filmmaker is currently shooting for a yet-untitled film starring Ajay Devgan and Akshaye Khanna in Tamil Nadu, while Aamir Khan is working on his film `Three Idiots` where he stars alongside Kareena Kapoor and R Madhavan.`

Zee

Namashkar, it is Bigg Boss Tritiya!

Television's most popular reality show is back in its third season. Bigg Boss Season 3 or Tritiya as Amitabh Bachchan kept calling it, took off on Sunday night with characteristic drama and some surprises.

Bachchan slipped into his role of anchor and pop philosopher with consummate ease, and the promos of the star looked quite stylish indeed. He also seemed to have done his homework well, pulling out all the stops to woo the fans of the reality show.

He spoke in chaste Hindi, quoted from his father's poetry, interacted with the families of the contestants, accepted the effusive show of affection and adulation from each and every member, flirted lightly, made witty remarks and pulled a few fast ones as well on the unsuspecting. It should be a treat to watch him in the forthcoming episodes.

The final 13 contestants of this season were unveiled in the first, marathon episode. Out-of-luck music director and reality TV regular Ismail Darbar, internet star Sherlyn Chopra , famous for her "I want to die in a bikini" quotes, ex-Miss India and now glamorous reel mom Poonam Dhillon, reality TV -find, comedian Raju Srivastav, baby-faced muscleman and now hero's sidekick Vindu Dara Singh, self-styled actor-director-writer of 'patriotic' films Kamal R K aka KRK, joined-at-the hips TV actors and dancers Tanaz and Bakhtiyar Irani, ex-model and Khatron ke Khiladi veteran Aditi Govitrikar , flop starlet Shamita, better known as Shilpa Shetty's little sister, Salman Khan's German co-star from the long-forgotten Marigold Claudia Ciesla , ostensibly effeminate designer Rohit Verma flamboyantly dressed in a flowing gown, thick eye-lashes and lipstick, and finally, Jaya Sawant, whose daughter got engaged on reality TV. No points for guessing that one.

Besides including a married couple and a designer in drag, the other surprises were a 'jail' for punishing errant housemates, and a chance for you to be inside the Bigg Boss house in the forthcoming episodes as the 14th member.

We don't know if the last move was pre-planned or a hasty cover-up for a negotiation that fell through. In fact, according to some reports, the channel had sent a chartered flight for Sidhu to be on the show, but he backed out at the last moment.

It is quite an entertaining bunch if you look closely. In the introductory episode itself, some of the inmates wasted no time in establishing their intent.

KRK began making pinching comments about some of the clothes the women were wearing, Vindu Dara Singh seemed keen to be this season's Rahul Mahajan , by generally looking affable and enthusiastic, and greeting everyone by their first names. Ismail Darbar kept walking around darkly, quietly as if deeply scrutinising everything and everyone, Sherlyn Chopra made a big deal about untying her choli, almost plastering herself to the camera. And finally Rohit Verma, called himself a "Hiroshima Nagasaki bomb" and asked the inmates of they wanted him to use the men's or the women's bedroom.

Things can only get delightfully murkier from here.

The inclusion of Jaya Sawant could only mean two things. Either another last-minute negotiation fell through and no one else was willing to step in, or it is just a ploy to get even with rival channel NDTV Imagine which hosted Rakhi ka Swayamvar recently, and soon Rahul Mahajan's Swayamvar. Mahajan as we know, was until now a Colors' protege.

Jaya Sawant was made to weep and wail over her daughter's photographs from the reality show, and seek justice for not having been invited by the 'channel' to her daughter's big event.

"My own deserted me, and you have so graciously welcomed me," she cried into the camera. Poor woman has never been on stage, faced the world outside, stood trembling before Bachchan, tongue-tied.

Things don't look any better inside the house either, and she does look horribly out of place with her obvious lack of social skills. With such high-pitched melodrama Colors would make Ekta Kapoor very proud indeed.

Other than the repeated Tritiya, Bachchan's KBC hangover continued with, "Lock kiya jai!"

Moreover, no matter what the question, each and every housemate started with, "Sir main ek baat kehna chahta hun..." and launched a series of Bachchan memories and anecdotes. The star did manage to smile graciously through them all, but it was quite a tedious watch. Also the audio quality on the stage was shockingly poor.

Nevertheless, Bigg Boss Tritiya, looks all set to hog your bandwidth in the weeks to come. What with Bachchan's engaging and witty lines, the juicy bunch of contestants and the guilty pleasure of being a voyeur.

Big B writes his own script for BB3

The one and only Big B, Amitabh Bachchan is not only a host of Bigg Boss 3, but is also writing script for his show.

In a recent interaction during the press conference of BB3, himself wrote his script for his presentation which could see the humour of his father Harivanshrai Bachchan. Amused?

A little birdie chirps, “During the press conference of BB3, Big B was taking lot of time to come in front of media, the actual reason for his disappearance was that he was busy rehearsing with the script which he has written for the presentation,”

“The script goes really philosophical which suits the zest of the show, ‘Chehra ek naqab, andar kuch, bahar kuch aur, iss show ke dwara sawalon ke jawab dhonndta hai- Bigg Boss’, were some of the lines which Amitabh uttered,” source added.

It was really appreciating Big B for his script, but still the actor has time to write his own script which is obviously for his perfection, thus he is a Big B, isn’t it?

Big B all Set to Make Hay

He may be a 60 plus gentleman but Amitabh Bachchan has always managed to stay true to the times. One of reasons behind his longevity has perhaps been his ability to read the times and adapt himself accordingly. Look at the manner in which the actor has taken to blogging.
Bachchan was probably one of the first filmstars to take to blogging. While other filmstars have merely flirted with it, with Big B it seems to be a long term affair. He has managed to keep at it everyday and has had something to say on everything, including swine flu. But of course, the actor has always been very savvy where making money is concerned. Now it seems that the actor's blog postings will soon be converted into a book. Of course, the modest Mr Bachchan, who has always considered his fans to be a part of his extended family, has insisted that if that be the case, he would also like some of the responses of his fans to be included in the book.

Aishwarya Rai ill

Amitabh Bhachchan is a worried man these days. The Big B, currently in Singapore to tend to his good friend and politician

Amar Singh who is just recuperating from a surgery, had penned in his blog that his daughter in law Aishwarya Rai is down with a chest infection and flu-like symptoms.

Revealing that Ash and Abhi are back from Ooty after completing the Ravan shooting, a worried Big B wrote, “Aishwarya has taken ill and is down with chest infection and flu like symptoms.

Had a high fever yesterday but is settling down today. Its worrying to be so far away from children and not be there to look after them. Yes, they are mature and married and responsible, but children will always remain children!”