Monday, April 30, 2012

I'm not happy that Sachin is a RS member: Sanjay

MUMBAI: Speaking about Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to the Rajya Sabha, veteran actor Sanjay Dutt said: "Joining politics is probably a great honour but personally, I feel he shouldn't have accepted the offer." 

Dutt was speaking at the launch of his forthcoming film, 'Department'. 

While Dutt did not mince words on the subject of Sachin's entry in Parliament, Amitabh Bachchan, who was also asked about Sachin and Rekha's Rajya Sabha nomination, described their decision to join the Upper House as 'a personal matter'.
Meanwhile, Dutt, who terms himself to be a big fan of Tendulkar, is unhappy with him being a member of the Rajya Sabha. 

"It is an honour to be in the Rajya sabha. I am a fan of Sachin. He is the pride and jewel of India. But, I am not happy that he is a Rajya Sabha member. He should have been the way he is," he said.

Bollywood actress Achala Sachdev passes away


Yesteryear actress Achala Sachdev, who featured in the popular song 'Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen' from the film " Waqt", has died following a prolonged illness. She was 88.
For the last seven months, the actress was bed-ridden at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre (PHRC), Pune.
"She passed away due to respiratory failure at 5.30pm yesterday. She was bed-ridden for about six months after she suffered a cerebrovascular (brain attack)," said Sachdev's physician Vinod Shah, who tended to her for more than seven months, told PTI.
Sachdev is survived by son Jytoin, who is in the US and would be going to Pune for the last rites, Shah said.
Sachdev, who was staying in Pune for several years, had broken her leg after she fell down in her house about six months ago.
She was treated but four days later she suffered a brain infarction in which she lost her vision and movements of upper and lower limbs. Since then, she was being treated at the Poona Hospital and Research Centre, Shah said.
Born in Peshawar, Sachdev, who acted in around 150 films, made her film debut with "Fashionable Wife" (1938). Her most memorable role was as Balraj Sahani's wife in the 1965 blockbuster "Waqt", where she was part of the legendary song " Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen".
She was also a part of films like "Prem Pujari", "Mera Naam Joker", "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" and "Andaz".
More recently, she played Kajol's grandmother in "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and Amitabh Bachchan's mother in " Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham". She was last seen in Hrithik Roshan starrer " Na Tum Jaano Na Hum" (2002).

1988 - Year of offbeat films

MANSOOR Khan’s Qayamat se Qayamat tak broke the mould of violence and vulgarity by importing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet into the land of thakurs, who avenge any assault on their honour with blood.

In the film, Raj (Aamir Khan) and Rashmi (Juhi Chawla) fell in love, defying the cold war between their families. They eloped to an abandoned temple in the mountains, living on love, water and ecological ‘barbecue’. Then parental opposition raised its ugly head and when Raj and Rashmi went to a nearby town to buy provisions, clan enmity pursued them. The defiant duo met, but only in death.

Mansoor Khan gave the story of star-crossed lovers a tragic end even when box-office wisdom demanded otherwise. The thundering success of the film shattered the myth that bone-crunching villains and crude ‘n’ lewd politicians were essential to set the cash registers ringing. The film, with its freshness, infused new hope in a jaded industry looking for a new box-office formula.

Tezab
was N.Chandra’s first bid to dabble in filmi mirch masala. Mahesh Munnabhai (Anil Kapoor), who did not turn into an anti-social vendetta machine even after his parents were killed by bank robbers, wants to become a naval officer. However, the rape of his sister by Lotia Khan’s (Kiran Kumar) brother turns him into a criminal. Munna kills the rapist and is imprisoned. Munna is persecuted by Lotia Khan and Mohini’s (Madhuri Dixit) father (Anupam Kher), an alcoholic gambler who lives off his daughter’s earning and does not want Mohini to marry Munna. Munna then dons the mantle of messiah and sets both the distressed damsel and the beleaguered city free from the hold of Lotia Khan. The film had a taut screen play, hard-hitting dialogues and chartbusting songs. The Ek do teen, Keh do ke tum ho meri, varna, So gaya yeh jahan numbers were catchy. The film catapulted Madhuri and Anil to dizzy heights.


With Khoon Bhari Maang, Rakesh Roshan destroyed the myth that it was essential to have a hero as the protagonist and that heroines were there just to serve as interludes and mannenquins.
Rekha played the central character who was shown as being more heroic than the hero. An affluent and simple woman, she turned into a ravishing model to avenge her husband’s death. This fast-paced movie was a crowning glory for Rekha, who rose like a phoenix in this remake of Return to eden, and bedazzled the audience with her daredevilry.
In Hero Hiralal, Ketan Mehta etched out a fine portrait of Hiralal, an autorickshaw driver , played by Naseeruddin Shah. He was so crazy about popular Hindi cinema that he mimicked and adopted the behaviour of film personalities — romantic chivalry, capacity to triumph over odds and protecting women from street rogues, rascals and ruffians. But his notions about the film world crashed like a house of cards when he had real contact with a hero of the ‘reel’ world. Shah gave a brilliant interpretation to the portrayal of a common man who was deceived by the hero of the ‘reel’ world. Sanjana Kapoor showed flashes of talent inherited from Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kapoor..
Aruna Raje’s Rihaee was a social satire about the exodus of migrant workers from rural Gujarat and its adverse effects on conjugal life. Though the film explored the taboo theme of female sexuality, it drifted and derailed into a conventional morality tale.
Aditya Bhattacharya’s Raakh was a revenge story in which the hero, Aamir Khan, had been a helpless spectator of his girlfriend, Supriya Pathak’s gangrape. Since he could not settle scores with the gangsters singlehandedly, he sought the help and aid of a dedicated cop, Pankaj Kapoor. With a power-packed performance, the diminutive Aamir made it clear that in Hindi films, height was not always might.
Avtar Bhogal’s Zakhmi Aurat centred round Kiran Dutt (Dimple Kapadia), a woman police officer, who was raped. When the judicial system failed to convict the rapists despite her own testimony as a policewoman, she abandoned the legal course and joined forces with other rape victims of her city. Together, they came up with a befitting revenge plan: to ensnare the rapists and castrate them. Dimple immersed herself into the persona of a rape victim, proving her mettle as an actress of intensity and passion.
Mrinal Sen’s Ek Din Achanak told the story of a retired professor of history, Sanska Roy (Shriram Lagoo), who suddenly disappeared. His wife, children and friends started to worry when he did not turn up even after months. Everyone fears an accident. The needle of suspicion pointed towards Aparna (Aparna Sen) as a card with her name scrawled all over is discovered on his desk. The irony was that the absence of the father ‘frees’ his children to succeed in their plans, as if a heavy weight had been taken off them. The impact of the film was that its ‘hero’ existed in absentia.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

'Satayamev Jayate' has made life tough for me: Kiran Rao

Mumbai,  Filmmaker and superstar Aamir Khan's wife Kiran Rao says the actor's new TV show "Satayamev Jayate" has made life tough for her as he has started bringing work home.

"This show has made my jeena haram (life tough) on many levels because Aamir has worked on the show night and day and in my house," the 38-year-old said here.

"So my house has been full of writers and people from Star, and Aamir and they have all the big team in my house day and night. So, I am waiting for the show to come on air and slowly, hopefully my life will also go back to normal," she added.

"Satyamev Jayate" will go on air on Star Plus May 6. The concept of the show has been kept under wraps, but its theme song is receiving a positive response.

Rao also admits to being in love with it.

"'Satyamev Jayate' is an amazing song. I really loved it and they went all over the country to shoot it, which was really exciting," she said, adding that she regrets not being a part of the show.

"(I was) Very sad that I couldn't be a part of his show. It's been such a journey for Aamir. The promos I hope reached out to the people and people will watch the show," she said.

"Satyamev Jayate" will mark Aamir's debut on the small screen.

It is unique as it will be the first ever programme to go live simultaneously on a private channel and national broadcaster DD1.

While Aamir has been busy with the show, Rao has been spending time with their five-month-old son Azaad. She says motherhood is keeping her away from starting anything new.

"I am actually going to begin writing something. I hope I have the head space to start writing. I am still very much a full-time mother hoping to find the space to work and write something new," said Rao, who became a mother in December last year through a surrogacy.

Her last film as producer was "Delhi Belly" and she made her directorial debut with "Dhobi Ghat".

Kakkar killing planned over two weeks: Palande to cops

Vijay Palande has told the police that he and his accomplices hatched the plot to kill aspiring producer Karankumar Kakkar about two weeks before they murdered him in March. To execute the killing, they bought from a mall in the western suburbs a knife and a cleaver, and to ensure that no traces are left behind they got rubber gloves, bottles of phenyl, large disposal bags and two suitcases.

Kakkar was killed, according to police sources, on March 5, the day his Delhi-based family found his cellphone switched off for the first time. Earlier the same day, Kakkar had texted a friend, saying that Palande intended to put him in touch with an investor willing to give him Rs 3.5 crore for starting up a production house.

An officer said the police are making "a panchnama of the articles used in the killing" and will next try to find if there exists CCTV footage of Palande and his accomplices-Dhananjay Shinde and Manoj Gajkosh-buying the articles in the mall.

During interrogation, Gajkosh told investigators that he went with Shinde, Palande and Kakkar to a hotel in Lokhandwala on March 5. At the hotel, while Shinde and he waited, Palande spiked Kakkar's drink. Soon after, Kakkar began feeling light-headed and asked Palande to drive them home in the aspiring producer's BMW.

Around 8.30pm, the group reached Kakkar's flat at Oberoi Springs in Andheri. As he laid down to sleep, Kakkar was stabbed to death. His body was then moved to the bathroom, where Palande and Shinde chopped it into pieces till 4am. The remains were stuffed into plastic bags, which, in turn, were put into two suitcases. The accused men then washed the floor many times with phenyl water, officers claimed.

The next evening, the accused men left with the suitcases for Chiplun in Ratnagiri district in Kakkar's BMW. On the way, they dumped the body parts at Kumbharli ghat but retained the suitcases. They later got the BMW washed at a service centre in Pune and left it in the parking lot of a Pune housing complex.

Based on Palande and Shinde's statements, the police took Palande to Kumbharli ghat, where they found some body parts. The police believe the remains are of Kakkar, but his family has expressed doubt because, it says, the discovered skull is too small to be Kakkar's.

According to investigators, the two suitcases used in Kakkar's murder were recovered from the Oshiwara residence of Anuj Tikku. They suspect that Gajkosh and Shinde planned to transport the chopped body of Arun's father, business consultant Arunkumar Tikku, in the same suitcases. But the two had to abandon the plan and flee because a neighbour raised an alarm.

Meanwhile, Simran Sood, who has now also been booked in the murder of Tikku, was produced before the Esplanade court on Friday, which remanded her to police custody till May 9. The police told the court that she is a link between the murders of Kakkar and Tikku.

Kakkar, Tikku murder case: Not enough witnesses against Vijay Palande, Simran Sood?

Mumbai: Mumbai Crime Branch officers fear that they don’t yet have a sufficient number of eyewitnesses to build a rock-solid case against the four accused — Vijay Palande, Simran Sood, Manoj Gajkosh and Dhanjay Shinde — in the double murder cases of Karan Kakkar and Arun Tikku.

Officers of the department revealed that they have secured 15 witnesses for both the cases, which they believe is an insufficient number. They are now looking for more witnesses against the accused, to make their case stronger. “We are tracing more witnesses in both the cases, to nail Palande and Sood,” said an officer.

Sood, who had been held for her involvement in the Karan Kakkar murder case, was arrested on Friday for her suspected role in the murder of Delhi-based businessman Tikku. Crime Branch sources also accepted that Palande and his accomplices were hardened criminals who had left very little evidence in their wake, making it difficult for cops to put together a sufficiently strong body of evidence.

Kakkar, Tikku murder case: Not enough witnesses against Vijay Palande, Simran Sood?


After the duration of her police custody for the Kakkar murder case came to an end on Friday, Sood was produced in court. The magistrate remanded her in police custody till May 10 for her involvement in the Tikku murder case.

Honey trap

Crime Branch officers confirmed that Sood had accompanied Palande and Anuj Tikku to the Chiplun farmhouse where Anuj was kept captive, after his drink was spiked. “Sood’s involvement has been established in both the murders and we are now investigating her exact role in the actual crime,” said a Crime Branch officer. Cops added that they weren’t ruling out more arrests in the case.

Flesh racket

In another shocking revelation related to the murders, officers exposed that prior to his murder, Kakkar ran a prostitution racket in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Palande, who was initially arrested for the murder of Delhi-based businessman Tikku, was also remanded to police custody till May 10 for the Kakkar murder case.

Palande was arrested on April 10 for the April 7 murder of 67-year-old Tikku. On the same day, he had escaped from police custody before being re-arrested hours later. The court also extended the period of police custody for Palande’s two accomplices Gajkosh and Shinde till May 10.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Aamir Khan attends rickshaw driver's son's wedding

Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan kept his promise and attended rickshaw driver Nathuni's son's wedding in Varanasi on Wednesday. Aamir especially came down to Varanasi to attend Rajeev's wedding, son of Ramlakhan Paswan aka Nathuni, an auto-rickshaw driver. When Aamir toured the country in various
disguises while promoting his 2009 film, 3 Idiots, he had met Lakhan in Varanasi, and bonded with him over three days, says a member of Aamir’s entourage.

It’s been almost three years but Lakhan hadn't forgotten the bond, and he recently arrived in Mumbai with a wedding invitation for the actor.
Aamir Khan was touched by his behaviour and was trying his best to make it to the wedding. The actor's spokesperson had said at the time, “It’s not yet confirmed but he is trying to make time for it.” And the actor did make it to the wedding!


Aamir Khan in Kashmir during Satyamev Jayate shoot.
Aamir is currently wrapping up the final episodes of his TV show, Satyamev Jayate, after which he will start shooting for Dhoom 3.

Who will set a new Bollywood record this year: Salman, Aamir or SRK?

The stage is set, and the ball has been set rolling. We have a huge year at hand in terms of the money at stake in the industry. And as the Mayans ignited a spark centuries ago, some people actually believe that the world is about to end in December, hence, the trade analysts believe that this mindset will help the business of big film releases this year considerably, because film buffs will throng cinema halls in huge numbers to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars in full glory for ‘one last time’. And, a few big budget films involving our favourite Khan’s (Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir) have been lined up for release this year.
Let’s talk about the ‘perfectionist’ Khan first. We have not seen Aamir Khan on the big screen since his cameo in ‘Dhobi Ghat’ in 2010. The thinking man’s star is coming back with a suspense-thriller ‘Talaash’, which also stars Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor in the lead. The movie is directed by Reema Kagti and is set to release on November 30. Aamir is playing a cop in the movie for the first time since ‘Sarfarosh’. This movie is touted to be the movie of the year since Aamir is notoriously efficient in setting benchmarks at the box-office. If he wishes to do so, he has to get past his own movie ‘3 Idiots’ records, which is the only Hindi movie ever to gross more than Rs. 300 crores. And the fact that Aamir is ultra-cautious before signing on the dotted line itself tells us how good a movie this one is going to be.
Then we have the King of romance, Shah Rukh Khan. King Khan has gone back to working with arguably the biggest Indian ‘banner’, Yashraj films. And by doing so, SRK has gone back to his roots, since it was the Chopra-produced movies only that made a star out of him initially, and got him the ‘King of romance’ tag. And moreover, the movie is being directed by the legendary Yash Chopra himself, who is back after his hiatus. In fact, he directed his last movie with Shah Rukh only, ‘Veer-Zara’, which was way back in 2004. Though we already have many reasons to advocate why this movie is sure to be a blockbuster, but we have two more: First, this is going to be an out and out love story, and this genre is SRK’s forte. And second, Shah Rukh’s love interest is being played by his arch rival’s rumoured girlfriend, Katrina Kaif. Need we say more?
And now we come to talk of the ‘Dabangg’ superstar, Salman Khan. Though he probably has two releases this year, but his ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, which is due to release during his favourite time of the year, Eid, sounds mammoth. And according to us, this is ‘the’ movie which will achieve new standards in terms of box-office collections. According to rumours, Salman’s extremely loyal fan-following will get to see a new-improved Salman with ripped muscles, et al. Salman is also getting back together with Katrina Kaif in this one. And what makes the feature even more enticing is that it is a Yashraj movie. Aditya Chopra has reportedly paid a bomb to Salman to be in his production. The movie is being directed by Kabir Khan of ‘New York’ fame.
Well, who wins the box-office race is yet to be seen, but the ultimate winner is sure to be the audience only. With Bollywood getting revamped in the recent years, one can be certain that they will not merely be whistling to their favourite stars, but will also have a good story tagged along. Although we have quite a number of other big movies in contention this year, namely Ajay Devgn’s ‘Bol Bachchan’, Salman’s ‘Dabangg 2’, Ranbir’s ‘Barfi’, etc

Vicky Donor a winner at the box office, earns Rs. 13.40 crore in opening weekend

Vicky Donor is going places. After receiving rave reviews from the critics as well as the audiences, it has earned Rs.13.40 crore in the opening weekend. Director Shoojit Sircar is on cloud nine and says the film's success proves that the moviegoers have matured over the years.

Vicky Donor is a light-hearted take on the taboo attached to infertility, sperm donation and artificial insemination.

"I am happy with the kind of response Vicky Donor has got. While writing the script, me and my writers thought we will get a positive response from young boys and girls, but with the film becoming so popular among the masses, it feels great," Sircar told IANS.

"I never thought my film will get a U/A certificate from censors. It came as a shock for me. The success of the film is the biggest example of audience getting mature. I personally feel that the audiences are very clever and they know what they want to see," he added.

Co-produced by Eros International and JA Entertainment, the film was released on Friday at over 600 screens worldwide. The film, which was made with two newcomers - Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam - along with seasoned actor Annu Kapoor, has grossed over Rs. 11.40 crore in India and Rs. 2 crore overseas.

"We are very happy with the audience as well as critics' reactions to Vicky Donor. Sunday's collections showed a 91 percent jump over Friday figures," Nandu Ahuja, senior vice president, distribution, India, Eros International Media Ltd said in a statement.

"The film created a positive buzz right from the launch of its trailer and has delivered on audience expectations. With its unusual subject, characters and dialogues, we are hoping for repeat viewings and a promising run at the box office," he added.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says Vicky Donor success proves that content is king. "The success of Vicky Donor is the triumph of its story. The script of the film is the real hero. Every character, be it Ayushmann or Kamlesh Gill or Yami, has fitted so beautifully in the film. I give full marks to the script. With a taboo topic, new actors, a small budget, the kind of business the film has done is commendable," Adarsh told IANS.

"Films starring newcomers or lesser known actors don't find a theatrical outlet in the international arena. The success of Vicky Donor should also encourage distributors to go beyond the boundaries of India and explore newer horizons," he added.

Movie Review: Tezz is a rip-off of Hollywood film

The plot of the latest Ajay-Priyan flick is a copy of Speed, a rip-off of The Bullet Train

Slow down and you die. Now where have we heard that plotline before? At least three films that involve rapid transit systems have something to do with a bomb that will be triggered if the speed falls below a certain level.

While Priyadarshan's next Tez has a plot that reminds one of Keanu Reeves starrer Speed, the American blockbuster itself was a rip-off of a 1975 Japanese flick called Shinkansen Daibakuha (The Bullet Train).

While Shinkansen... had the action take place on a train, Speed suffered the same fate on a bus: there's a bomb on board that will go off if it slows down. 

Tez, which is being shot in London, goes the same route as the original film. 


A source reveals that the Priyan flick will be an out-and-out actioner, "Ajay Devgn plays a terrorist who puts a speeding London-Paris train in harm's way.

A bomb he plants will explode if the train's speed slows down. Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and Sameera Reddy are the passengers on the train who try to come up with a way to save people on board." 

The Bullet Train was a huge success in the late 70s. It spawned a series of Korean and Japanese films with similar plots. Speed was one of the biggest blockbusters the year it released. 

Tez will have scenes shot on the Eurostar, a tube that connects London to Paris. 

"The climax of Tez is similar to The Bullet Train where passengers will try and save their lives by stopping the bomb from exploding.

Priyan wants to keep the length of the film tight and won't have more than two songs in the film." 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Rajasthan court summons Shah Rukh for smoking in public

Jaipur: A court here Thursday issued summoned Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan to appear before it May 26 in connection with a complaint against him for publicly smoking at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match, a lawyer said.
The Bollywood star had allegedly smoked while watching the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders April 8.
"Smoking publicly is banned in Rajasthan since 2000 under the Rajasthan Prevention of Smocking Act. However, Shah Rukh Khan was smoking publicly in front of thousands of spectators. The actor was broadcast live while smoking on the TV channel which was showing the match," said lawyer Nem Singh Rathore who filed the complaint on behalf of Jaipur Cricket Academy director Anand Singh Rathore.
"The court of the additional chief judicial metropolitan magistrate today (Thursday) issued a summon to Shah Rukh Khan after taking cognizance of the complaint. The actor has been directed to appear before the court May 26," he said.
The lawyer said that spectators were being allowed into the stadium only after frisking.
"Police was confiscating any objectionable items including cigarettes while frisking. However, it seems Shah Rukh was allowed to carry the cigarette packet into the stadium which is negligence on part of police also," the complainant said.
Shah Rukh is the co-owner of the Kolkata side.

Chitrangada Singh's new avatars

New Delhi: First she opted for a glamorous role in "Desi Boyz" and then she gave a nod to an item number. Actress Chitrangada Singh, otherwise known for serious roles, surprised all and sundry last year and says the response has been encouraging.

"I really hope 2012 turns out to be a year full of surprises for me, and surprises spring after one another. I am really happy with the kind of response I received for my work in 'Desi Boyz'. It was really encouraging and I am looking forward to more good work this year," Chitrangada told IANS.
The dusky beauty, who will be seen on an upcoming episode of UTV Stars' "Superstar Santa", made her Bollywood debut in 2003 with "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", and was subsequently seen in films like "Sorry Bhai!", "Basra" and "Yeh Saali Zindagi".
"Desi Boyz", which also featured Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone, was a radically different project for her. Nevertheless, she loved it, and the audience loved her in it too.
No wonder she feels her fans will appreciate her item song in Shirish Kunder's 3D project "Joker".
"The item song was hard, we rehearsed for it a lot and it has turned out to be fabulous. It is not into-the-face, the music is very catchy and the choreography by Farah (Khan) is very sensuous. It was great fun doing it," said the 35-year-old.
In 2012, she is looking forward to "I, Me Aur Main" with John, and Sudhir Mishra's film with Arjun Rampal.
"'I, Me Aur Main' is going to be a great film. John is fantastic in it. It is an emotional, yet comedy film about a man, his relationships, his busy life in a metro city...it's basically about men. The film was a lot of fun and has a lot of drama," she said of the movie, expected to release within the first quarter of the year.
"Sudhir's film is about sexual harassment, it is about a woman's ambition in the workplace and how that is curbed...so it's an interesting script, and I am extremely excited about it," she added.
In the meantime, she has had to turn down an offer to work with Kamal Haasan, who had reportedly contacted her for a role in his Hindi-Tamil bi-lingual "Vishwaroopam". But she had to refuse as the dates clashed with those she kept aside for Mishra's film.
"I had to refuse the offer. I would love to work with him (Kamal), he is a legend to work with," said the actress.
On the small screen, Chitrangada says she loved playing Santa for a bit, on the show "Superstar Santa", where celebrities play peacemakers between two common people.
"Santa is too big a role to play. But it's always nice when as celebrities, we can do something for common people," she said.

Zohra Sehgal: Indian entertainment's 'laadli' turns 100

New Delhi: She was born a year before Indian cinema. Film, theatre and TV personality Zohra Sehgal, who turns 100 Friday, has grown to be as colourful and entertaining as the industry itself.

Her zest for life, wit and charm, which have continued to inspire generations, remain unmatched, say entertainment industry veterans.

"She is the most incredible woman I have ever met and one of the finest actresses I have ever seen," filmmaker R. Balki, who roped her in to play Amitabh Bachchan's 'bindaas' mom in his 2007 film "Cheeni Kum", told IANS.

"During the shooting of 'Cheeni Kum', we celebrated her birthday on the sets. She shot with us even in 42 degrees at Qutub Minar (in Delhi). She was full of life and didn't care about the heat and went on dancing. She is awesome," he added.
In 2008, she was named the 'Laadli of the Century' by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF)-Laadli Media Awards. And she continues to prove how apt the title is for her!
The tireless performer resides in New Delhi with her daughter, renowned Odissi danseuse Kiran Sehgal. In 1994, she was diagnosed with cancer, but she has fought this off too.
She will celebrate her 100th birthday at home with the daughter and a few close friends from the artistic fraternity, said a member of her family.
"She is in fine health barring a few age-related complications, which are not serious, Her spirit is still high, along with her enthusiastic, articulate persona," the source told IANS.
As a youngster, Zohra was passionate about dance. Her tryst with showbiz began with dance when she joined Uday Shankar in 1935 and worked with him for a few years.
She went on to teach dance in Almora later, and that's where she met painter and dancer Kameshwar Sehgal and married him. She later took to dramatics with the Prithvi Theatre in 1945. She worked with them for 14 years, travelling to various cities, and even joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
From Prithviraj Kapoor to Raj Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, she has worked with four generations of Bollywood's famous Kapoor family - and she hasn't let age dampen her spirit at all.
Zohra, considered a doyen of Indian theatre, has appeared in over 20 films. She is best remembered for her appearances in "Bhaji on the Beach" (1992), "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", "Bend It Like Beckham" (2002), "Dil Se..." (1998) and "Cheeni Kum" (2007).
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who directed her in two of his films -- "Hum Dil..." and "Saawariya", had once said: "To call her a livewire is an understatement."
He couldn't think of a second name for a particular role in "Saawariya" other than her.

"It had to be Zohraji and no one else. There was a kind of hesitation within me - after all Zohraji is 94. But all our doubts were dispelled once she came on the sets," Bhansali had said during the shooting of "Saawariya".

"Her enthusiasm gets to all of us," he added.
She was perhaps one of the first Indians to have a taste of international entertainment. In the mid-1960s, she featured in an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Rescue of Pluffles", and then also anchored a few episodes of television series "Padosi".
While she was in London, she featured in a film called "The Courtesans of Bombay", directed by James Ivory in 1982. There was no looking back in international showbiz thereafter.
She went on to feature in TV series like "The Jewel in the Crown", "My Beautiful Launderette", "Tandoori Nights" and "Never Say Die".
Zohra came back to India in the 1990s. She was around 80 years old then. While many would have thought she would quit the entertainment world, she was not ready to call it quits.
On the small screen, she featured in "Amma and Family", and bagged roles in big banner movies.
When it comes to awards, in 1998 she was honoured with the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honours, following which she received the Kalidas Samman in 2001, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2004. In 2010, she was bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan.
Small parts or big, Zohra continues to spread smiles.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Bollywood actress Meenakshi Thapa killed by co-stars

Actress, 26, was kidnapped, strangled and beheaded in gruesome murder
Meenakshi Thapar - taken from google
Meenakshi Thapa

A stunning young Bollywood actress was killed in a gruesome murder that seems to be straight out of a horror movie.

Meenakshi Thapa, 26, was kidnapped, strangled and beheaded by two aspiring actors whom she met on the set of her latest film, “Heroine”.

According to police, Amit Jaiswal and his girlfriend Preeti Surin allegedly lured Thapar on a trip with them to Gorakhpur, a small town known for its Buddhist temple.
During the trip, however, the duo reportedly held Thapar hostage and threatened her mother that they would force Thapa to do pornography if their demands were not met.
Her mother paid 60,000 rupees (about $1,150) but never saw her daughter again.
Instead, according to the report, the couple strangled and beheaded Thapar and dumped her torso in a water tank before throwing her head out of a bus window.
“They wanted to extort money from her family. They have confessed to the crime. She was strangulated in a hotel and her body was hacked into pieces and thrown in a water tank. They threw her head from a moving bus while traveling back to Mumbai”.
They were busted when they were caught with Thapar’s cell phone SIM card and confessed to the killing.
Authorities are hoping the accused killers can lead them to the actress’ body.
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Brief Profile:
Meenakshi Thapa (1985 - 6 April 2012) was a Bollywood actress from India.
She hailed from a wealthy family in Dehra Dun. Thapar made her debut in the 2011 horror film 404:Error Not Found.
Currently she was doing the film Heroine, which stars Kareena Kapoor in the leading role.

The Doon school alumnus was a dancer by profession, and her father is employed with the ONGC. She started her career in Bollywood by doing bit roles, acting in "Saher" and "404", parts of which were shot in Doon. Last year, after she was selected for "404", she'd told us, "I was lucky to land a meaty role as a newcomer. My parents too are happy. Though they were apprehensive earlier, they are now open to the idea... I've been asked to move to Mumbai, which I am planning to do shortly. I want to take a chance in Bollywood." Thapa also had a diploma in aviation from Frankfinn Institute, but she'd said that it was dance that fascinated her. She was working as a dance teacher with St Joseph's Academy and Yeti Skates in Dehradun at the time, before moving to Mumbai.
The acting bug took the MKP PG College graduate to Mumbai, where she met the two accused, Amit and Priti, both of whom reportedly hail from Allahabad. According to reports in Allahabad papers, Amit Jaiswal (who's married and has two kids) ran a coaching centre in Allahabad, where Priti worked, and where the two came close. After Amit - whose father is a reputed lawyer in Allahabad - faced opposition from his family for his proximity to Priti - whose father is a school employee - they ran away to Mumbai in July 2011. Amit only came back to Allahabad once after that, in September 2011, to meet his ailing father. He left again for Mumbai despite repeated requests to stay back, and told his family he was earning `16,000 per month in a bank. But locals say that everyone knew that Lale (as Amit is known in the neighbourhood) was acting in Bhojpuri films in Mumbai, and that he always wanted a lavish lifestyle.
Perhaps that's what pushed Amit and Priti to kill Thapa, who had shifted to Mumbai only two months back. After befriending her, they took her to Gorakhpur in March this year on the pretext of work, where they allegedly beheaded her, while also asking for money from her family.
Says Deven Bharti, additional commissioner of police, crime, Mumbai, "When Meenakshi became friends with Amit and Priti, she led them to believe that she came from an affluent family and was acting as a hobby. As Amit and Priti needed money, they conspired to kidnap her and demand a ransom. They demanded `15 lakh from her family, but her mother could only arrange `60,000. When they realised that Meenakshi was of no use to them, they killed her. They disposed her body in a water tank in Allahabad and threw her head out of a running bus. We've sent a team to UP to find her severed body."

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Several celebs attend the birthday party of Poonam Dhillon


POONAM DHILLON’S BIRTHDAY BASH

Poonam Dhillon, who turned 50 yesterday, threw a bash to celebrate her birthday and the party was attended by Bollywood biggies like Yash Chopra and Asha Bhosle!



Chirag PaswanAlka Yagnik, and several other celebs were also clicked by the shutterbugs.

Asha Bhosle said that Poonam Dhillon might be an actress for the world, but for her, Poonam is a loving daughter! Poonam also said that people know Asha as the best singer in this world, but what they don’t know is that she is the best mom in this world!


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Manisha Koirala has replaced Urmila Matondkar in the sequel of Bhoot

The actress, who was last seen in the National Award winning film I Am, has now been signed on by Ram Gopal Varma to star in Bhoot 2. 

RGV, who has directed Manisha in Company, shares a very good rapport with the actress and finds her extremely talented. The leading man for the sequel is yet to be finalized. The film will also star J.D Chakravarthy and south actress Madhushalini. 

The shooting for the film has already begun and the buzz is that it will be a 3D venture. The film is likely to hit theatres in August this year.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Kahaani - A must-see thriller


File:Kahaani first look.jpg
Owing to the powerful performances by the leading actors, Vidya Balan, Parambrata and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and gripping plot NRI Bollywood gives 8 out of 10.

Aamir Khan starrer 'Talaash' has been postponed.


Aamir Khan 
The keenly awaited Aamir Khan starrer 'Talaash', which was slated for release on 1 June, has been postponed.

Though the film is complete and the post-production would also conclude much before the due date, the producers, Ritesh Sidhwani, Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar, have decided to push the release of the film ahead.

What's the reason for rescheduling the release date? "Aamir is occupied with his television show, which is starting around the same time. The perfectionist and uncompromising person that he is, Aamir will be left with little time on hand to promote 'Talaash'. Since 'Talaash' is the actor's next big release after '3 Idiots', we mutually decided to push the release of the film forward. Besides, Aamir will have sufficient time on hand to promote the film," producer Ritesh Sidhwani confirmed to this writer.

So what's the new release date of the film? "It's 30 November. We are looking at releasing the film after Diwali," Ritesh divulges.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Housefull 2 review: It's just a bad movie


Yuck it sucks. Naturally. So this guy with a smile smoother than silk tells two of his ilk, “You langoors, have my angoors.” There’s much to-do about teri leli and phati for that double entendre titillation. And above all there’s this classic line, “Your brains have piles, or what?”
What indeed! Sajid Khan’s Housefull 2 also gets into sandaas, burps, stinks and sour belches. Truly this purported situational comedy relies so much on toilet humour that it’s likely to leave your tummy rumbling. Sorry this isn’t cinema, here’s just another execrable, knockabout farce hacked out by a director who may score a hit, and then trot out half a dozen interviews, guffawing, 'Who cares about the critics?' with the shallow addendum, “I make movies for the masses.” Yeah right, good luck Mr. Khan with your mission:*2#*!
Like the mindless potty-pourris of David Dhawan of yore (please don’t make a blasphemous comparison to Manmohan Desai), Khan cares a damn for the story material, good taste, editing and sound. As for the visuals, they are either blotchy or the colour of street ice golas. Ugh.
Women are showcased as bouncy dimbettes from the outset, what with two female animal activists, barging into a London circus. How the two Lipstick Lassies bicker about who should get the credit for talking in Hindi to blue-eyed Britons. In fact, it would seem that the Queen’s City has been entirely colonised by Indians. Presumably, the Brits have been taking Hindi language tutorials to fit into an NRI-controlled economy. How’s that for wishful thinking?
Anyway, so there you are in horrendously photographed London, trying to make sense of the warfare between two Kapoor brother (Randhir-Rishi Kapoor). Senior Kapoor is the illegitimate son of a rather feeble-looking white statue, while the other K shouts out loud about his pure pedigree. Both believe they will score over the other by finding a groom for those anti-circus daughters from the Hinduja, Mittal or JD families. Haiiiinh?
Of these, Forbes lists JD in his lungi kurta as the Man of the Year (Mithun Chakraborty, ha ha). Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone but this JD is actually Jagga Daku, a dacoit who went straight and made pots of pounds, shilling and pence. Now he shampooes a spotted white horse every morning and woe betide, tolerates a running commentary on nothing in particular from his flunkey Johnny Lever. By now, you’re fed up, running a fever.
Next: it’s all quite foggy actually, except that during a matchmaking session with an old man wearing furry ear muffs, is insulted by one of the Kapoors. Ear Muffs lands in hospital. His son (Shreyas Talpade, the only decent actor on the scene vows vengeance). As your lousy luck would have it, Ear Muffs Jr’s best friend and collaborator in the vendetta plan is none other than JD’s only son (Riteish Deshmukh). Complicated? You bet. After reels and reels of yelling and screaming, the Daku’s stately manor is packed with con guys (Akshay Kumar-John Abraham) who’re trying to make out with only the screenplay-alone knows which girl (Asin, Jacqueline Ferandes, Shazahn Padamsee and Make-up Galore). At one point, all their photos are pinned on a board just in case you’re lost. Or you’re down on your knees begging for mercy. Yipes.
More: tolerate if you can, a crocodile who needs a quick-fix dentist, a python who’s referred to as Francis Ford Sappola and an entire farcical section set on a desert island, to recreate a bit of the Kaho Na Pyaar Hai flavour. In vain. Much more: Item empress Malaika Arora-Khan shows up to tantalise Mithun Chakraborty and Boman Irani, who suddenly drops in from the high heavens. Is Mithunda or apro Boman her prime choice? Perhaps that’ll be revelead in Lousefull 3. Shudder.
Flaunting the attitude that his film – or whatever – is brazenly asinine, Khan even seems to believe that the mention of the Mumbai suburb, Bhandup, is rib-tickingly funny. Ditto the smatterings of Marathi and Sindhi. Oldtimer Ranjit fetches up to play the part of Daddy Th-e-rapist. And frequently when Rishi Kapoor is in frame, the background music tinkers around with themes from the great RK films. Oof.
No one’s performance is likely to be remembered. Correction: Chunky Panday as a Mr Pasta is so nerve-wracking that you might need to be on medication immediately. Riteish Deshmukh either hams or apes Shah Ruk Khan. Desi boyz Akshay Kumar and John Abraham are stale as yesterday’s Shepherd’s pie.
Enough is enough. Over to Mr Khan for his mandatory, “I don’t make movies to get good reviews.” Sure. He just makes bad movies. Period.

Ishaqzaade release advanced to May 11


The release date of Ishaqzaade, starring Parineeti Chopra and newcomer Arjun Kapoor, has been advanced from May 18 to May 11, resulting in a clash with Dangerous Ishq. The decision to release the romance drama a week earlier came in after much thought by production company Yash Raj Films (YRF).
"With 'Ferrari ki Sawaari' moving to a later date and the IPL (Indian Premier League) crunch matches starting from May 18, this shift will give 'Ishaqzaade' a better window for release," said a statement from YRF.
The movie tells the story of two fiery characters and their fight for power and supremacy.
Written and directed by Habib Faisal of Do Dooni Chaar fame, the film narrate how two people who are born to hate, and destined to love, come face-to-face with each other.
With the shift in release date, "Ishaqzaade" will clash with Vikram Bhatt's Dangerous Ishq, which marks the comeback of Karisma Kapoor to Bollywood after five years.

Titanic 3D — On board, once more


A love story and a doomed ship that have out-sailed time …Titanic 3D enthrals with its blend of spectacular visuals and old-fashioned melodrama
“Are you ready to go back to Titanic,” was the question treasure hunter Brock Lovett asked a 100-year-old Rose, over 15 years ago, when the film first hit the screens.
Were she alive today, Rose would have recalled, “It's been a 100 years... I can still smell the fresh paint. The china had never been used. The sheets had never been slept in...”
The real Titanic sank exactly a 100 years ago, on April 15, 1912.
Such is the magic of cinema. It almost makes us believe that Jack and Rose really lived, loved and made every moment count on board the Titanic.
And we can say the same thing Rose says about James Cameron's film today: “How extraordinary. It looks the same as the last time I saw it. The reflection has changed a bit.” Because, it's in 3D this time.
Cameron fought hard to bring his painstakingly-detailed passion project alive on the big screen fighting all kinds of pressure — mounting budgets, studio's reservation about the length and the mind-boggling logistical nature of the mammoth production. He not only told the studio he would forfeit his remuneration, he even refused to give in to pressure to cut one full hour from its 194 minutes run-time. “If you have to cut my film, you have to fire me. And to fire me, you'll have to kill me.”
Everyone had written it off and Cameron found himself in the shoes of Jack at the poker game at the beginning of the film. “When you got nothin', you got nothin' to lose.”
Cameron wasn't hoping for luck. He believed in it, like its villain Cal Hockley said: “I make my own luck.”
His Titanic turned out to be the ship of dreams that didn't sink. It went on to break all kinds of records and continues to be the film that has sold more tickets than any other film in the history of cinema. And still sells, given the house-full shows it opened to on Friday.
It was like being on sail once again, inside the doomed ship. Nostalgic, special, inexplicably beautiful and magical.
Like Rose described Picasso: “It's like being inside a dream or something. There's truth but no logic.”
Titanic is full of lines you will never forget. They weren't the best written lines and Cameron himself wished he had written it better. But the truth is that no other film of our times packs as many memorable quotes as Titanic does.
“I'm the king of the world,” probably being the most popular of them all, associated with Cameron's acceptance speech at the Oscars. Titanic went on to win 11 out of the 14 Oscar nominations, a whopping harvest.
So what is it about Titanic that everybody loves?
Spectacularly beautiful and epic in scale, the film just used all that was great about its production as a mere backdrop for the love story that gave the film its heart. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet shared a terrific chemistry and the erotically charged frames made it impossible for us to not appreciate the sheer beauty of this forbidden romance between the engaged rich girl and the poor artist boy.
Jack stood for free spirit: “I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up.” And Rose loved that freedom.
It's a dynamic with timeless appeal. The more modern, materialistic and busy we get making a living, we have the Jacks remind us about the basics of living a life. “Make every moment count.”
How can you not love a love story that celebrates the selflessness of love. “You jump, I jump, remember?”
It's a finale that chokes us every time we see it. The proof that love can keep us afloat even when there are people dying all around us. We must survive so that we can make the most of our lives. I was far away from any movie theatre showing Titanic when it released and remember watching it at a video parlour in Manipal. I have caught it many times since on TV. But nothing, I repeat nothing, matches the impact it leaves when you watch the epic unfold on the big screen. If you still haven't got yourself a ticket, do it.
Plus, you don't have to worry about crying your eyes out in public at the beautifully tragic sight of the Titanic drowning theatres anymore.

Ishaqzaade's first trailer


The first official trailer of Yash Raj Films' much-awaited Ishaqzaade is finally out. The film, which marks the debut of filmmaker Boney Kapoor's son Arjun opposite actor Priyanka Chopra's cousin Parineeti, has already generated a great deal of buzz on Twitter.

The film narrates the story of two people, "born to hate, but destined to love", and follows how their "turbulent journey unfolds in the often unrealistic and daunting political confines of rural India", a statement from YRF said on Sunday.
The film is written and directed by Habib Faisal of Do Dooni Chaar fame. He has also written films like Band Baaja Baaraat.

Amit Trivedi will compose the music for the film, while Rekha and Chinni Prakash will choreograph it.

Theatrical Trailer - ISHAQZAADE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46kTKQ0C2Ek

I feel cheated, says Subhash Ghai: Whistling Woods Row

Breaking his silence after two successive court verdicts cancelling allotment of land to his Whistling Woods International film academy, veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai said he "felt cheated by the Maharashtra Government". "I feel cheated by the Government of Maharashtra when we are told,after ten years of setting up Whistling Woods International at a cost of Rs.75 crore, that our joint venture agreement since the year 2000 is not valid," a hurt Ghai said in a statement here Friday.
He said the reason given (for the cancellation) was that because of a government error a board resolution was not passed and the land was undervalued.
"What is our fault? They gave the agreement to us signed by the then MD, cultural secretary and minister of culture to have a partnership in Whistling Woods Ltd with share equity and we invested Rs.20 crore to begin with," Ghai said.
Proving a major setback to Ghai, the Supreme Court two days ago (Wednesday) dismissed an appeal by Mukta Arts Ltd, owned by Ghai, challenging a Bombay High Court ruling cancelling allotment of 20 acres of prime land in Goregaon east for his film academy, Whistling Woods International.
Observing that the entire transaction 'lacked transparency', the apex court said last Wednesday that the application for allotting the land remained in cold storage under three chief ministers and was revived after Vilasrao Deshmukh became the CM and the land was allotted by him.
Last February, the Bombay High Court had quashed allotment of the land for the state-of-the-art world-class film academy, a joint venture between Mukta Arts Ltd and the Maharashtra Films, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation.
Undeterred by the change in the legal status and reduction in size of the land from 20 acres to 5.5 acres, Ghai said he was proud that 500 alumni have passed out since 2006 and are already "very well placed, and 400 are still studying here".
Meanwhile, top industry personalities have come out in Ghai's support.
Eminent filmmaker Shekhar Kapoor said Ghai spent 15 years' time and energy to create 'a centre of learning for film'.
"Whistling Woods International is not a scam. He should be applauded. It is not possible to build educational institutions at current land prices in any city and the government has to allot land for this. Tisch School of the Arts in Singapore is on land given free by the government and now that country's directors are making grade worldwide," Kapoor said.
Another acclaimed film-maker Shyam Benegal said he felt "deeply saddened" by the court verdict in the matter as Ghai had made it his life's mission to create a world class film school.
"Mumbai could now pride itself on having a film school as good as any in the world, and suddenly this. Strange," Benegal lamented.
Reacting immediately after the apex court ruling, Ghai had said: "We are opening branches of Whistling Woods International in many states. My production house Mukta Arts is also carrying on the movie-production business full-steam ahead."

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Remembering Divya Bharti on her 19th death anniversary


Divya Bharti (25 February 1974 – 5 April 1993) was an Indian film actress. She started her career in the South film industry with the 1990 Telugu film. After several other hits in the South, she entered Hindi films with Vishwatma in 1992, for which she earned accolades for her performance in the song Saat Samundar Paar. She appeared in more than 14 Hindi films between 1992 and 1993. Her career was cut short by her death on 5 April 1993, when she fell from her apartment building. The investigation into the circumstances of her death was closed in 1998.


Rise to stardom in Bollywood (1992–1993)
When Bharti heard that Rajiv Rai was on the lookout for a new face for his film Vishwatma opposite Sunny Deol, she approached him and was signed onto the film the same day. Bharti left for long outdoor shooting in Nairobi. By the time of her return, Bharti had signed 14 films.
Vishwatma was released on January 2, 1992. Although it did well, the film was only declared an average grosser. Notably, the film's most popular song "Saat Samundar", which focused on Bharti, became a hit.
Seven days later, Bharti's musical bonanza Dil Ka Kya Kasoorreleased but opened badly. However, Filmfare magazines started including Bharti in the list of 1992 "Top Ten Best Actress Performances". After Bharti's flops, she was quoted as saying, "I wanted to prove myself. But I've fallen flat on my face. Now, I have to begin my climb all over again. Yet, I'm positive that one day, success will be mine." (Stardust, March 1992).
Pehlaj Nihlani's Shola Aur Shabnam came along and was a box office hit, establishing Bharti once again. It also gave a big boost to Govinda's career, as well as launching David Dhawan as an established director.
Four months later, Raj Kanwar's love story Deewana became the biggest hit of 1992, where Bharti held her own against veteran Rishi Kapoor and debutant Shahrukh Khan. With the super success of Deewana, Bharti entered the A-list. Her performance in Deewana was highly appreciated. Around that time, her other films Balwan with another debutant Sunil Shetty and Jaan Se Pyara with Govinda released and did well at the box office. By the end of the year, Hema Mailini's Dil Aashna Hai was released. Although the film was a box-office failure, Bharti's performance was much appreciated by critics.

Death

Around midnight of 5 April 1993, Bharti fell to her death from a five-story Versova apartment building in Mumbai. There was much speculation by the media regarding Bharti's sudden demise, including the possibility of accidental death, suicide or even murder. Bharti's dress designer Neeta Lulla is believed to have been at the apartment sometime before her death. Police closed investigation in 1998, but the circumstances of her death still remain a mystery.
Bharti's body was released to her family, who had arranged for a cremation ceremony. On 7 April 1995, Bharti was cremated in Hindu fashion with about 500 people in attendance, including Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Kamal Sadanah, Raj Babbar,
Yash Chopra, Jimmy Nirula, Aruna Irani, Raza Murad, Chirinjeevi, Vikas Anand, Venkatesh, Ram Mohan, Javed Khan, Raj Kanwar, Nitin Manmohan and Pehlaj Nehlani. A large number of film personalities, including Hema Mailini, Urmila Matondkar, Saif Ali Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Shilpa Shirodkar, Sonu Walia, Somy Ali, Babita, Karisma Kapoor, Sangeeta Bijlani, Tabu, Manisha Koirala and Asha Parekh, offered condolences to the bereaved family members at their residence. Her husband, Sajid Nadiawla was not allowed to attend her last rites. At the time of her death, Bharti had been the youngest leading lady of Indian cinema.
Bharti was scheduled to star in movies such as Mohra, Laadla, Andolan, Angrakshak, Kartavya and Vijaypath  before her death. She had started filming Laadla before her death but the entire movie was re-shot with Sridevi The footage of her performance was seen in a special television programme in 1994. The film was to be released in 1993 had Divya completed the movie, but was eventually released in 1994. Bharti is notably famous for her film songs, which were generally a rage amongst youths.
Bharti's two completed films, Rang and Shatranj were released months after her death. These films, in addition to several films produced by her husband Sajid Nadiadwala, were dedicated to her memory.