Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star with Salman Khan

Nawazuddin will soon be off to the US for the Sundance Film Festival, where his film Liars Dice will be screened. PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI: Critically acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is making inroads into commercial Hindi cinema, has been signed to play a major role in the forthcoming Salman Khan-starrer, Kick. He is excited about sharing the frame with the superstar.

“I’ve been told not to say anything about my role, but I am looking forward to working with Salman Khan. He is such a huge star and doing terrific work,” said Nawazuddin.

For now, he is gearing up for his role of a classical vocalist in Sarthak Dasgupta’s film, The Music Teacher.

The film requires Nawazuddin to be an adept vocalist. He will be getting trained by a Hindustani classical vocal maestro for the character.

While an expert vocalist can sing for Nawaz, he would like to look convincing and is thereby seeking professional training.

Nawazuddin is surprised at how action packed the year 2013 was for him. “I thought 2012 was too eventful a year for me. In 2013, I only had two releases, Bombay Talkies and The Lunchbox. But I got so much praise for both of them. It continues even now,” said the actor, who has been festival-hopping all over the world.

He recently returned from New York after attending New York’s South Asian Film Festival where Nawaz-starrer Monsoon Shootout was the opening film.

“Now, I go back to the US to the Sundance Film Festival with Geetu Mohandas’s road movieLiars Dice.

So, it seems that the festival journey will continue in 2014. In the last two years, there hasn’t been a single major international film festival that hasn’t featured my films,” he said.

Deepika-Ranveer to team up again in Bhansali’s next

The Ram-Leela couple is back! PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI: The Ram-Leela couple is back! Actor Deepika Padukone will play historical character Mastani with Ranveer Singh playing Bajirao Peshwa in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani.

The casting of Ranveer and Deepika puts an end to months of speculation about who would play the roles. Besides Ranveer, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgan were the strongest contenders for Bajirao’s role.

As for Mastani, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were also considered.

“Sanjay Leela Bhansali was keen on Deepika for Mastani’s part. But she couldn’t seem to accommodate the long schedules required for Bajirao Mastani, especially since she gave the nod to Karan Johar’s Shuddhi which would take up close to 150 shooting days,” said a source.

However, later Deepika is said to have informed the director that she would be able to fitBajirao Mastani into her schedule.

Waheeda Rehman on Bollywood’s current generation

Actor Waheeda looked as graceful as ever in a cream orange printed silk sari. PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI: 

Yesteryear screen goddess Waheeda Rehman marvels at the superior current filmmaking techniques and praises the “smart and focused” young generation. But she also says that the present lot has “a shorter life” on the screen as compared to those of her time.

The 76-year-old, who ruled the screen during the 1950s and 1960s and has been part of filmdom for about six decades, praises the change. “They are improving technically, subject wise and performance wise. I must say that the present generation is very smart, focused and hardworking and they know exactly what they want,” said Waheeda.

When asked to draw a comparison between old-timers and new-age actors, Waheeda, the star of all-time Bollywood classics like Solvaa Saal, Pyasa, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Bees Saal Baadand Guide, said: “I can talk about myself. I know I was successful, I was liked and loved and respected; I was happy with that.”

“But today there is much more. The present generation has got a much shorter (screen) life than what we had. There is always somebody standing in the queue, mainly because of the (influx of) models and beauty contests. Who will take whose place, they don’t know; this must be running at the back of their minds. They have become more insecure and it is more challenging,” she continued.

Quite akin to her on-screen persona, Waheeda looked as graceful as ever in a cream and orange printed silk sari, and patiently listened to the questions and answered them uncomplainingly.

She is all praise for women-centric cinema that is translating into big bucks at the ticket window. Lauding the women power on the big screen, Waheeda said: “I am happy because lately all the women-centric movies have been doing very well  — like Highway and Queen. So many women-oriented movies! I am very happy for the girls; they are getting some good movies,” she said.

When it comes to female actors, marriage is seen as a roadblock, but Waheeda doesn’t agree and thinks it’s just a mindset. “In those days Meena Kumari and Sharmila Tagore were married, but they were so good and got good directors and subjects  — their films did well,” commented the veteran actor.

“I feel it is the makers who have this hesitation that she is married… I don’t think people (the viewers), who are watching mind whether the actor is married or unmarried. Nowadays Kajol and Vidya Balan are doing well,” she added, referring to two actors whose marriages have not affected their work.

On Nasreen Munni Kabir’s book, Conversations with Waheeda Rehman, unveiled on Saturday, Waheeda said the longish interview which explored several aspects of her life and career cannot be described as a biography. “I can’t say this is a biography. It’s more of a question and answer (session),” she said.

Kabir, who has authored other books on Indian cinema and Bollywood personalities, commented saying: “People think it is an interview, but my view is that it is an biographical conversation, spread over 20 to 25 sessions of two hours each over one year.”

When asked what more she is trying to explore at this age, Waheeda said she was pretty happy with all that she had done until now: “I think I have done enough, there is nothing exciting for me to think and do. I am very happy that everything has happened in the right way. I am satisfied with whatever I have achieved so far.”

There isn’t much left in the world of VJs: Anoushay Ashraf

Ashraf’s clothing line is growing, but is yet to be set up as a store. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Starting as the prime face of IM (Indus Music) along with her puppet partner Paki, Anoushey Ashraf has come a long way. It was a fruitful mix of Indus TV’s modern approach to television and the sheer talent of Ashraf and her contemporaries that made all of them significant contributors to our entertainment industry. The channel has faded away, but they all have left an everlasting mark on the audience. Today, Ashraf doesn’t look at being a VJ with as much vigor as she did back in the day. She talks to The Express Tribune about her fading interest in the music industry, and growing passion for her clothing line.

“There isn’t much left in the world of VJs, as there isn’t much music left in the country,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. Though it’s quite depressing to see one of Pakistan’s foremost VJs sharing such sad notions about the music industry, It makes sense, keeping in mind how many musicians are finding an escape route to Bollywood. It has also made the job of a VJ more of a compulsion than something to be enthusiastic about.

“However we are still associated with the music industry and trying hard to promote it here,” she said.

Having said that, there are still many young and upcoming VJs who’d want to have the same fame as she did, so what is the key to her success?

“Video jockeys should be more casual as presenters, and it’s a good way to make a mark before venturing into becoming a professional TV show host! That’s one advice I will give it to the younger lot.” says Ashraf

Meanwhile, her clothing line Block Seven commands most of her attention, and she is backed by her sisters Natasha and Alizeh.

The Ashraf sisters started their clothing line a few years back, but now with Alizeh based abroad, it is Natasha and Anoushey who are mainly handling the business. When asked as to when she plans on opening up her own store, Anoushey said, “Block Seven exhibitions have really worked wonders for us. We have talked endlessly about opening our own store but the idea hasn’t been put into motion as yet. We are just two working partners, Natasha and I; we are searching for a third, and we will hopefully launch a store once things settle down.”

Despite the fact that Block Seven is yet to become a store-bought brand, the clothing line has done well. Ashraf says, “The clothing line has done brilliantly and there is a lot of expansion, from our exhibits taking place in England, to others in the US. Only recently, in February, we brought our Eastern wear collection to New Jersey and the exhibition did really well there.”

Wasn’t Block Seven meant to be a primarily western wear collection? Ashraf explains, “Our Eastern wear is for the market based abroad, while our Western line caters to the Pakistani crowd.”

Disney’s latest hero Captain America sets box office record

Cast member Chris Evans waves at the premiere of Captain America: The Winter Soldier at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. PHOTO:FILE

NEW YORK: Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the sequel to Marvel’s 2011 film about the red, white and blue superhero, smashed its way to $96.2 million in weekend ticket sales, setting a new record for an April release and speeding past last week’s winner, Noah.

Captain America, which stars Chris Evans as a scrawny World War Two reject, given super powers from an experimental serum, easily exceeded the April take for the racing movie Fast Five, which collected $86.2 million in ticket sales in April 2011.

Since Disney bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009, Marvel characters have starred in some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. Iron Man 3 was last year’s second-highest grossing film with domestic ticket sales of $409 million, according to the site Box Office Mojo.

In 2012, Marvel’s The Avengers was the third-biggest film in Hollywood history, with $623.4 million in domestic sales and $1.5 billion worldwide.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is “a safe bet” to pass $250 million, said Box Office Mojo.

Disney takes advantage of each hit by spinning it through its sprawling network of theme parks, TV studio and consumer products units. The movies sell well on DVD, and Disney will generate hefty revenue from sales of Captain America t-shirts, lunch boxes and action figures.

The company is also making four original live-action TV series for Netflix that will begin streaming next year.

“When you put the name Marvel on a movie, we think that it gives us essentially a head start with the audience,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger told analysts during a conference call in February.

Noah, starring Russell Crowe as the biblical figure, was second with $17 million in ticket sales from Friday to Sunday.

The dystopian action film Divergent was third with $13 million, for a total of $114 million since its March 21 release in US and Canadian theaters.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier also scored the biggest opening weekend of 2014, and took in another $9.6 million at IMAX screenings, for which moviegoers a premium.

Did you know? : Seven years since Asad Amanat Ali Khan’s passing

April 8, 2014 (tomorrow) marks the seventh death anniversary of classical singer Ustad Asad Amanat Ali Khan, who belonged to the renowned Patiala Gharana.

With heart-rending ghazals, such as Umraan Langyaan, Kal Chodwien Ki Raat and Ghar Wapas Jab Aao Ge, Asad has left behind an indelible legacy. After receiving musical training from his grandfather Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan, father Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and uncle Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Asad recorded his first song at the age of 10.

Asad’s younger brother Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is a well-known name in the Pakistani music scene.

According to Roznama Express, Asad furthered his family tradition by pairing with his youngest uncle Ustad Hamid Ali Khan to begin his singing career. The two went on to perform on multiple platforms in Pakistan, India, the United States, Canada, Australia, Holland, New Zealand and Switzerland, among other countries.

Over a span of 32 years (1975 to 2007), the singing maestro sang a multitude of songs for television, film and radio.

For his distinguished contribution to singing, the then president, Pervez Musharraf presented him with the Pride of Performance award on March 23, 2007.

A mere two weeks later, he died of a heart attack in London at the young age of 51. Asad leaves behind wife Sharmeen Khan and two children, Sikander and Tanya Khan.

The Express Tribune pays homage to the invincible singer. “Insha’a Jee utho, abb cooch karo” (Get up O Insha! It’s time to leave the world). It was time for Asad to leave the world, but he will forever reside in our hearts.

Asad Amanat Ali performing ‘Inshaji Utho Ab kooch karo’ after his father’s death

Asad Amanat Ali sings ‘Umraan Langiyaan’

Ghar Wapis Jab Aaogay by Asad Amanat Ali

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2014.

Vision 2025 doesn’t mention construction of Kalabagh Dam

LAHORE-Chairman IEP Lahore Centre Engineer Captain Syed Khalid Sajjad criticizing the vision 2025, has said that the govt did not enlist Kalabagh Dam in its long-term projects despite details of all other hydal power projects.
He said that KBD is the cheapest and easiest power project among all dams included in vision 2025. He said that it was high time for the government to put all political considerations aside for the sake of national interests and our future generations.
He said that Tharparker Tragedy is an eye-opener for not the Federal and the Provincial governments alone but for the whole nation as well because such drought-like situation could erupt in any part of the country in the face of fast depleting water resources and a ballooning population.
He said that the future generations would not forgive us on our failure to take immediate measures to overcome water challenge that was not only posing a grave threat to our food security but fast turning huge tacks of land into barren areas.”
While expressing grave concern over deaths in Tharparkar, the Khalid Sajjad called for long term planning to overcome water shortage.  Had a little attention towards building on new dams been given in the past, the situation today would have been quite different, he added.
We are throwing water worth billion of dollars into the sea instead of paving the way for construction of dams.  
The country’s food security is under threat due to fast depleting water resources but wav we are throwing water worth billions of dollars into the sea instead of paving the way for construction of dams is deplorable. All countries the world give preference to the national interest on politics but in Pakistan, the situation remained the other way round in the past. The dams would not only save the country from natural calamities but would also ensure our food security due to availability of water.
Now the situation has reached the point that neither cheap electricity is available nor ample water to irrigate huge arable lands. It all was a result of past rulers lethargic attitude towards issues on national importance. Khalid Sajjad said that Kalabagh Dam is the only project in Pakistan that can not only make power affordable for the masses, trade and industry but it would also help irrigate huge lands that are turning barren only because of an acute water shortage. It is also the only project that can make the economy competitive and sustainable.
The dam will wipe out loadshedding and increase industrial output while its contribution to value addition in agricultural output could go up to $10 billion a year