Salman and Mithun take 'Dance India Dance' by storm

Bollywood Trade News Network

The latest buzz on Zee TV's reality show 'Dance India Dance' is superstar Salman Khan's visit on the sets to promote his film VEER.
A source on the sets said that the 3 mentors - Remo D'souza, Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapur -had left no stone unturned to ensure that their favorite superstar was left completely speechless on watching the spectacular acts they had choreographed to songs from his films!

Known for his trademark mischievous sense of humor, Salman had the audience in splits with his wisecracks throughout!

"It's on purpose that Remo doesn't choreograph such steps for us...because he knows pretty well neither me nor the heroines would ever pull off such dance forms," said the awestruck actor after the very first performance.

He naughtily told his fans how Grand Master Mithun Da (who plays his father in VEER) once pointed out to a crew member of the film with a balding pate, grey hair and a haggard, wrinkled face, saying "Salman, that's my batch-mate!".

He went on to compliment Dada about how well he has maintained himself over the years, managing to look only 27 even today!

Continuing with his antics, Sallu cried hoarse to Mithun and said: "Dada, the press guys are hell-bent on making me accept that Zarine (the lead of VEER) looks like Katrina... and I'm tired of telling them she is not even close to her."

"Nobody knows Katrina better than me and I'm telling you guys, Zarine does not look like Katrina..." clarifies Sallu about his lady love Katrina. He did sound like a doting boyfriend although speculations are rife about their break - up.

Sallu...we buy your point...!

Just after his 'Kat' call, as if he wasn't done with spilling the beans on Dada, Salman carried on to tell the audience how Mithun Da, being an excellent cook, used to make food for the entire unit of VEER every night and workout in the kitchen with dumb-bells at the same time!

The Chef with dumb-bells, eh?

Watching the enthralling performances put together by the contestants of Dance India Dance, Salman decided to shake a leg too. So he got up, went on stage and jived to 'Love Me, Love Me, Love Me' alongside thrilled contestants Vandana and Kruti.

Seeing Salman move so well, Master Terence Lewis was keen to see him perform an aerial act with cables like so many of Dance India Dance contestants do.

Salman was hesitant at first but gave in when Terence said, "Salman, you are very strong. I'm sure you can do it!"

Watching Salman in mid-air, performing as he hung on to cables was a delight!

When some of the acts featured the boys lifting the girls high up in the air, Salman confessed, "Guys, now this is something I just cannot do! I may lift really heavy weights, bench press more than most men do but I can never lift a woman that high up in the air."

BAABARR: I care a damn

The cat is out of the bag. While so far the promotion of BAABARR has clearly stated that the film is based on true events, there wasn't much being spoken about the man on whom the film is actually based! As it has turned out, the film is actually a biopic of sorts as it tells the story of a man (whose name was different from 'Baabarr') who was a dreaded criminal in the state of UP and had supposedly killed 25 people.
Says a source attached to the film, ''Yes, Baabarr's character is indeed based on a real person from the early 90s. He was based out of UP and people out there were really terrified of him. In fact he is no more today as he was shot dead in an encounter. He died quite young in fact.''

Talking about the might of the man who talked with his gun, the source adds, ''He was such a powerful and confident young man that he dared to call up people and tell them in advance that he would kill them the next day. He even challenged them to go for police protection and promise that he would still go ahead and succeed in his mission. He had a wild look and came with 'I care a damn' attitude.''

In the film, the character of Baabarr is played by newcomer Soham Shah. However not many are aware that in spite of BAABARR being Soham's debut film, he is actually a trained actor and comes from a strong theatre background.

''That's right'', confirms the source, ''The film didn't require a big actor and that's the reason someone like Soham was roped in who didn't come with any baggage. Though he looks quite deadly in the film, in real life he is quite a sweetheart. All credit must go to his theatre background and director Ashu Trikha that completely turned around his personality.''

A multi starrer with actors like Mithun Chakravorthy and Om Puri heading the cast, BAABARR releases this Friday.

'I saw death very closely in Luck'

One of the leading stars in Bhojpuri cinema, Ravi Kissen crossed over to Hindi movies after his stint in Bigg Boss. He will be seen in Soham Shah's Luck, also starring Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti Haasan, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa and Chitrashi Rawat.

He talks to Patcy N about how luck held during his journey from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, to Mumbai.

This is your second innings in Bollywood.

I came to Mumbai in 1990 to try my luck in films. But I did not get any success. My work was appreciated in Tere Naam but nothing happened. So I moved to Bhojpuri cinema. Now, I have got a chance to work in Bollywood again.

I did not think I would get to work in Luck and Mani Ratnam's Raavan. After Shyam Benegal's Welcome to Sajjanpur, I got another film with him, Abba Ka Kuan. I am not only getting to work with big filmmakers but am also getting better roles.

What do you think went wrong the first time?

When I came from my village, I was not very smart. I thought it was more important to survive. But if you sign one wrong film, you go back five years in life. Besides, I did not have a godfather or any help from anyone. So it's natural to make mistakes and fumble. But I have learnt because of this failure. My dreams are coming true now.

I have done 140 films in total -- 100 Bhojpuri and 40 Hindi films. Before I would work in 13-14 films a year but now I plan to do four to six films a year.