Mamatha mohandas in south scope

Photographs: Ramakanth T MaMta Mohandas aroused in south indian filM buffs a hunger that's not getting satiated anytiMe soon, especially after her songs aakaleshthe annaM pedatha in telugu and kaalai kaalai in taMil have becoMe everyday huMs. egyptian?

yep. she goes back there a long way. sunny vishwanath finds out Moreso it's just a matter of time. But I'm still waiting for a super hit film in the South.

I think there's much more in Tamil that I can do.

Mamta talking straight for so long was turning out to be not so Mamta like. So we threw in a tricky question. Which is more preferable a national award for singing or a national award for acting? She smiles and smiles and smiles some more. "Well, it's a difficult choice, but I'd say acting (if I can't have both.) I hope it'll be a national award for acting and a Grammy! Two things make her uncontrollable: riding a bike and being in love The second one first though. Mamta confessed that she's been more love prone than not all through her growing up years. Although she often came back from school convinced that she was in love, she never really had anybody who could be definitely called her boyfriend. "When it happens it will be great but right now it's not the time. I am not interested in anyone in the industry right now. Once I find him and settle down, I may just do more of singing than acting. But that doesn't mean it will be a few devotional songs every once in a while! (Roaring laughter) Can't imagine Mamta's spirit contained to just that, can you? See her when she's riding a bike, you'll know. "There will be a time after showbiz when I will use the money I am earning to buy some real fancy bikes," and not the usual touring the right places, parties and yep, no devotional songs. Link ups and gossip have brought out her real strength Like any newcomer, she used to get terribly upset at the merest mention of a linkup, but now she's risen to a level where these things don't bother her all that much. We tried to push in (eyebrow raised teasingly) how she's been taking all this talk about she getting along quite well with Devi Sri Prasad. We expected the usual `we're just good friends.' A totally relaxed and unperturbed Mamta shares that she and he "bounce off each other the same level of energy. We have great chemistry and I love his sense of humour."

Her linkup with a much older Malayali co-star a few years ago was not so funny, for her at least. "It was crazy and I just couldn't handle the gossip. But that episode has made me stronger. I don't give a damn anymore."Will the real Mamta please stand up...

She's religious, believes in Astrology (especially after somebody predicted she'll get into films when she was still in the eight standard) and had she not been the sort of passionate dreamer she is, she'd well have been an accountant! "Initially, I wanted to become a pilot and my parents almost planned a career in banking for me," she gasps in mock horror. We are glad too it didn't go that way, although she would have made for an accountant who surely aroused interest in figures.

"Extended vacations are oh so unnecessary and anybody not matching my energy frankly puts me off." So guess she's got more enemies than friends. "Yep I'm a Scorpio, but hey, I don't sting!"

Shruti hasan in south scope

She does stunts that action heroes would proudly put on their resumes but sizzles in a bikini too, is not the usual star kid, is not the usual girl! Shruti Hassan in an exclusive conversation with Mona Ramavat and Anil Merani
Luck surely favors the brave.

Jumping off burning trains, dangerous stunts and no body doubles, a stunning debut packed with adrenaline. Add to it oomph, determination and defiance. Luck has indeed favored the brave and the beautiful Shruti Hassan! Versatile. Singer, actor, music maker... Bollywood's latest offering makes a rather unconventional beginning on the silver screen.

"But I honestly don't know how to define unconventional," confesses a mildly bemused Shruti. We get the impression she's been told this by way too many people that she's playing a `different' sort of role in her first film. More so because she was all set to do a Tamil film with Madhavan that never took off. "Aren't most debutante actors these days making unconventional beginnings? The perfect formula of romance, comedy and drama to launch a new actor has really changed over the years. The only thing that mattered to me was that my role in Luck fitted with what I was excited to do and I took it up.

It's as simple as that."

Simple? She's got to be joking. In the scene where the entire cast had to jump off a train on fire, Shruti not only sent the body double away but also motivated Mithun da to do it! "Imran singed his eye lashes and I ended up with the kind of nicks and cuts that my dad really thought I've been in a duel with a mountain lion! But it was the most exciting thing I've ever done," she recalls.

Venkatesh in south scope

Angry man, crazy man, family man... Karthik Pasupulate revisits the many faces of Venkatesh He is probably the least celebrated of the famous quartet of Telugu superstars that ruled for over two decades. The name Venkatesh might not evoke the same frenzy as a Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna or a Nagarjuna, but with seven Nandi awards, four Filmfare awards besides a host of other such honours, he clearly has a way with the audiences.

Down south, people have a proclivity for hyperbole. It is a tendency that is reflected in titles we bestow upon our reigning film stars.

Honorifics like Vishwavikhyatha natasaravabhauma NTR, Natasamrat ANR, Nata Bhushana Sobhan Babu, Rebel Star Krishnam Raju, Megastar Chiranjeevi, Collection King Mohan Babu, Yuvasamrat Nagarjuna, Yuvaratna Balakrishna... give a glimpse of our penchant for the superlative. Victory Venkatesh then seems like a pretty toned down expression of that kind of worship.

Perhaps Venky would not have it any other way. The deeply spiritual person that he is, he might just say what's in a name? He is the sort of guy who would rather let his work do all the talking. His caliber as an actor was never in doubt. His mature debut as the south's very own angry young man in K Raghavernder Rao's Kaliyuga Pandavulu won him many accolades. The Nandi award for the best newcomer only confirmed what was already known. However, it was K Vishwanath's Swarnakamalam that truly established Venkatesh as someone not to be taken lightly.

In fact, Venky went on to win the prestigious Nandi Award three times in the first four years of his career.

The law of averages soon caught up with Venky, with a slew of unsuccessful films. But it was only a matter of time before he got it right with the jungle adventure Bobbili Raja. It was also the debut film of late teen sensation Divya Bharati. Bobbili Raja rocked the box office, and Venky was back in business.

The film's success marked the beginning of a very special phase in his career. His films Coolie No1 and, Surya IPS were big hits. Then came the Ramgopal Varma-directed Kshana Kshanam.

Among other things, Kshana Kshanam was a revelation of Venkatesh's flair for jest.

Not one to be tied down to an image, Venkatesh has constantly reinvented himself over the years. Another great year was 1992. It was the year Chanti released. It proved to be one of the biggest hits of the year, and was even dubbed in Hindi as the Karisma Kapoor starrer Anari. Venkatesh's touching portrayal of a slightly demented man won him much critical acclaim as well.

It was around this time that he started experimenting with familyoriented films like Chinnarayudu.

His impeccable comic timing came to the fore. Such was the success of these films that it also earned him the sobriquet of being the family hero.

Not so flattering for his angry young man days but Venky had come a long way since then. Be it with action films like Gharshana, Lakshmi and Tulasi or family entertainers like Kalasiundam Raa, Pelli Chesukundam Raa, Malleswari, Aadavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule, Venkatesh broke stereotypes and created quite a stir. Not bad for a foreign-returned MBA who wanted to get into film production, we'd say.

Among the most versatile actors on the Telugu screen, Venkatesh is surely far from done

Shakti Is Biggest Budget Ever - Meher Ramesh

Young director Meher Ramesh, of Kantri and Billa fame, is going to make Shakti with Jr. NTR next year. To be produced by Ashwani Dutt the film will be shot in 14 locations all over the world. Sources say that the film’s script is getting ready, will have Meher Ramesh’s trademark style and will be wrapped with a stupendous budget.

Sreedevi as NTR’s aunty?

Producer Aswini Dutt is to make a film ’Shakthi ’ with director Meher Ramesh and Jr NTR. Ileana is the heroine and Aswini Dutt is putting his efforts rope Sreedevi Kapoor to play the role of Ileana’s mother role in the film Shakthi. The other details are yet to be known

Shankar acts in his Yanthram!

The famous and sucessful producer Shankar has his own passion making movies. His earlier movie with Tamil Super star Rajinikanth, ’Sivaji’ is a great sucess. One cannot forget that Shankar appeared on “Balley Lakka” song.

Sources said that he asked the assistants to arrange him a costume for his film ’Yanthram’. When Rajini heard this, he appreciated shankar and encouraged him to act in a prominent character. But shankar haven’t revealed his charecter to anybody and Even not to Rajini . Lets see how his charecter would be.

Jagapathibabu, priyamani’s "Sadhyam"

Jagapathi babu and priyamani are starring for the third time with ’Sadhyam’. They have previously made films like ’Pelaina kothalo’ and recently released ’Pravarakyudu’. Karthikeya Gopalakrishna is directing the film.

The shooting of the film is taking place in Hyderabad and is in the brisk phase. Keerthi chawla is plying a major role in this movie. The tunes are given by Chinni charan.Kumar brothers are producing the film. The other cast are Tanikela Barani, Kota srinivasulu and etc.

Shahid Kapur needs extra bodyguards to keep girls away!

Shahid Kapur needs extra bodyguards to keep girls away! Everything comes with a price and Bollywood is no different! With two blockbusters ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Kaminey’ under his belt, dimpled actor Shahid Kapur is the current flavour of Bollywood.

The cute looking actor whose next-door-boy looks can make girls go weak in knees is having a hard time in tackling his female fans as a result, Shahid wants extra bodyguards for all his shoots.

Recently, while Shahid was shooting with Anushka Sharma for Parmeet Sethi’s untitled flick under YRF banner in Bangkok, a bunch of Indian girls left the shy actor red faced by demanding him to remove his shirt!

Talking to a news daily, a source said, "Shahid has a huge female fan following and is constantly mobbed at various places.

At times it becomes too risky for him. Not wanting to cause any further problems, the actor has now asked for extra security."

"Usually, Shahid also has fans waiting outside his vanity van and they refuse to move till he meets them.

This at times hampers the shoot schedule, disturbing not only Shahid but also the film unit. Now, Shahid wants a group of 5-6 bodyguards to be with him on the sets and also whenever he is shooting at an outdoor location where there is a greater risk of fans barging in on the sets," continued the source.

However, when contacted YRF, the media conglomerate downplayed the demand for extra security and said, "We haven`t got extra guards for the shoot. YRF does have adequate security for all its shoots at all times. Should an artiste ask for additional security, it will most certainly be provided. However, no additional security has been asked for during this shooting schedule."

‘Rocket Singh…’ to be screened at Dubai film fest

YashRaj Films’ Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year, slated for Dec 11 release in India, has been selected to be screened at the 6th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor and helmed by Chak De! India director Shimit Amin, will be part of the Indian cinema section in Out of Competition DIFF programme.

"Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year" is the story of a graduate trying to find a balance between the demands of the professional life and his love life.

The film festival begins Dec 9 and continues till Dec 16.

It’ll be a white Christmas for Ranbir, Priyanka

Director Siddharth Anand is excited about shooting Christmas celebrations in a restricted area of New York City with Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor for his film Anjana Anjanai. And he hopes it will snow when he cans the scenes.

If it won’t snow, the carefully-planned concept of the lead pair bringing in Christmas
in New York would fall flat. "Yeah, we’re praying for a white Christmas in New York," said Anand.

Cameras are not allowed during the festive season at the world-famous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, but the film’s producer, Sajid Nadiadwala, has got all the necessary permission to shoot there.

"I don’t know how Sajid did it. But he managed the near impossible. Priyanka, Ranbir and I are very excited about itsaid ," said Anand, who had earlier directed films like Salaam Namaste and Bachna Ae Haseeno.

Emraan latest to go the six-pack way

Emraan Hashmi is all set to change his serial kisser image with his upcoming film Once Upon A Time In Mumbai - he will flaunt six-pack abs and will be seen challenging an underworld don.

Director Milan Luthria says that he purposely wanted to give Emraan this look.

"Emraan has always been the underdog and his character is that of a rebel, a dark horse. I wanted to break his serial kisser image and add shock value to the film," said Luthria.

"I chose Emraan and then styled him this way as it was extremely difficult to find a youngster who in levels of intensity could be equal and at same time opposite to that of Ajay Devgn."

The film is based on the Mumbai underworld of the seventies and Emraan’s character challenges the underworld don, played by Ajay.

"The role in the film demanded a look like this. It’s not just about the six packs, my character had to look physically tough. It was one of the key requirements of the script," Emraan told IANS.

The actor, who has done hit films like Murder, Kalyug, Jannat and Raaz - The Mystery Continues, underwent rigorous training and followed a strict diet regime to obtain the sculpted body.

Emraan was given Angular training method and the training period was divided into blocks of 10 days.

The actor was advised to have five-six meals a day and followed guidelines like consuming fats, which were four and five grams of fish oil for fat loss, walnuts and almonds, carb manipulation for losing fat and maintaining muscle mass and protein intake.

Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan went for six-pack for Om Shanti Om and Ghajini respectively. Shahid Kapoor is doing two better — he will show off eight-pack abs in his forthcoming film Chance Pe Dance.

Once Upon A Time… also stars Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai and is expected to hit screens in June next year.

Kajal Agarwal’s sister Nisha Agarwal makes debut in Tollywood

Big eyed beauty Kajal Agarwal’s sister Nisha Agarwal, who is eagerly waiting to make her foray into films, has finally signed a film, which has ‘Vaana’ fame Vinay in lead. Ravi Prakash, who produced ‘Mantra’ in the past is producing as well as directing this film titled “Veelle.”

Muhurath of this film was held this morning(11th Dec) at Annapurna Studios. MM Keeravani switched on the camera and SS Rajamouli sounded the clapboard for the Muhurath shot on the lead pair.As per Ravi Prakash, regular shoot will commence on tomorrow and film will be releasing in summer 2010.