Big B fails on the small screen

The much-hyped Amitabh Bachchan starrer mega television series Yudh, opened to dismal ratings, despite Big B’s tag on it, reported Mail Online India.

Created by Anurag Kashyap and directed by Ribhu Dasgupta, the show that marked the debut of Big B in the fictional scene first aired a fortnight ago and received a lukewarm response of 0.7 Television Viewership Rating last Monday and closed the week at a low 0.6.The average rating for the first week of Amitabh Bachchan’s Yudh stood at 1.6 TVM, reported Bollywood Life.

Yudh, which is considered the most expensive fiction show made for Indian television with each episode costing around INR 30 million, is a 20-episode show, revolving around a real-estate baron who is tackling business rivalries and dealing with his neurological disorder.

Indian audiences openly embraced the idea of different storylines offered by Pakistani dramas as a fresh breeze of air from the typical saas-bahu dramas. But the moderate response to a show with a stellar cast has confirmed that couch potatoes are not ready to accept innovative fictional shows just yet.

Shows such as Diya Aur Bati Hum has the highest ratings with an average viewership of 10.5 TVM.  Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, which has been around for a few years now, has maintained its position among the top three at 8.3 TVM. The weekend continues to be dominated by Comedy Nights with Kapil, which gets about 6.8 TVM weekly, followed by the reality dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa at 5.6 TVM and The Anupam Kher Show at 2.6 TVM.

When Big B was asked if it will be challenging to mold the conventional pattern of daily soaps, he said: “It’s an attempt to narrate a new story. If we fail, we’ll introspect and make another attempt.”

“Yudh’s work is over. I always feel that an artiste is never satisfied with his work. I always try to improve my work. I hope I get the opportunity to work more,” said Bachchan, when asked if is satisfied with the response Yudh received, reported Glam Sham.

“I don’t know how TV business works. When a film releases, by weekend you come to know (through box office figures) whether a film has earned or not. In TV, you have TRPs and GRPs. I just do my work and leave.  You will let us know after a few days whether it worked or not. If it works, we will thank you. If it doesn’t then also we will thank you and put in more efforts in the future,” he added.

Admittedly, it is too early to compare, but last year, Anil Kapoor’s thriller series 24 that featured Anti-Terrorist Unit Kapoor foiling a murder attempt on the future prime minister also suffered poor ratings. The Indian version, inspired by hit US series received a lukewarm response with barely 3.4 million viewers tuning in initially. With time the ratings didn’t improve and, in fact, dropped to 2.4 million. The show was completely rejected by audiences from smaller cities.

Another problem with Yudh is that it is aired at 10:30pm, which is a terrible time slot. Crowd enthusiasm dies after prime time. Interestingly, IMDB, known to be the most authoritative online database for shows and movies, has given the show a rating of 9.2, almost at par with international shows like True Detective, House of Cards and Game Of Thrones.  Excited to see this development on IMDb, Bachchan tweeted, “IMDb ratings for YUDH astonishing numbers… it’s 9.2 today, was 9.4 a few days back! House of Cards, True Detective, GOT… same,” reported the Hindustan Times.

JackSon fantansy to be Sold.

King of pop Michael Jackson’s Neverland estate is being considered for sale, said a spokesman for the company controlling the property, and it is certain that it won’t be sold on the never-never. Modelled after the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, the ranch is expected to garner as much as $60 million, reported the Daily News.   

Owen Blicksilver, spokesperson for the investment firm Colony Capital LLC, said the company will make a decision soon as to whether it will place Jackson’s estate near the central Californian coast on the market, Reuters reported. The estate comprises 22 buildings, which include guest houses, apartments and a movie theatre. But its most crucial selling point, which was its fairground, has been replaced by a tranquil ‘Zen garden.’

Jackson, who died in June 2009 at age 50 from an overdose of the powerful anaesthetic propofol, had handed over the title on his Neverland ranch in 2008 to Colony Capital, which held his $23 million loan on the property.

At the time of the deal, Colony Capital said the firm had been planning to spruce up the ranch and sell it for an estimated $70 to $80 million or more if Jackson was able to revitalise his career. Jackson’s estate, managed by John McClain and John Branca, stated it is “saddened at the prospect of the sale of Neverland,” and will continue to manage the singer’s family home in Encino, a neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

“We hope and trust that any new owners of Neverland will respect the historical importance and special nature of this wonderful property. Michael’s memory lives on in the hearts of his fans worldwide,” the statement said.

Since his death, Jackson has been featured each year on Forbes’ highest-earning dead celebrities list, with his estate making an estimated $160 million from October 2012 to 2013, the magazine said

Did you know?: Stallone once felt violent hatred for Schwarzenegger

Sylvester Stallone wanted to “strangle” Arnold Schwarzenegger during their 1980s heyday as they battled it out for the unofficial title of Hollywood’s toughest man. The two stars will soon appear on screen together in Expendables 3, so it’s interesting to know that there was a time when the two couldn’t bear to stand in the same room together.

Back in the 1980s, at the height of their fame, the two starred in similar big budget action films and were deadly enemies at the height of their careers.

Stallone opened up about the feud with the Terminator star and said: “There were times when we could not even be in the same room and I was always like, ‘Oh, it’s him’.”

“Arnold was like someone I wanted to strangle everyday… in the morning and at night. We were so competitive. He was Mr Olympia (He won the Mr Universe title at age 20 and went on to win the Mr Olympia contest seven times). We came along at the same time. Of course, I was first, but he was bigger,” said Stallone.

“He is very smart. We became competitive and we could not be in the same room,” he added.

Stallone is best-known for his roles in the Rocky and Rambo films.

100HAPPYDAYS: Ali Zafar and Shahid Kapoor

Nothing makes butterflies flutter in our stomachs than seeing the most sought-after hunks pose for a picture together. This photograph, which features the multitalented singer-actor Ali Zafar alongside actor Shahid Kapoor, was taken in London, where they will be performing live along with other Bollywood actors.

Kapoor may have debuted in films six years before Zafar, but both the actors need to work in more substantial films to make their mark in Bollywood. Although Shahid’s career in film hasn’t progressed consistently, he has proven his critics wrong with exceptional performances in films such as Jab We Met and Kaminey. All eyes are set on him to see how he performs in his upcoming film Haider, which is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

With films such as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and London, Paris, New York under his belt, Zafar is yet to make a noticeable impact in Btown.

I’ll never work with Sajid Khan again: Bipasha

MUMBAI: Bipasha Basu’s ‘shakal’ seems to have turned red with anger after her stint in Sajid Khan’s Humshakals, which she had also refrained from promoting prior to its release. In an open declaration of her displeasure towards the filmmaker, she stated that she will never work with him again.

“I will never work with him [again],” she said. The Bong beauty l shared she was “extremely disturbed by the end result” of the film and “didn’t know how to promote the film with all honesty.”

Bipasha, who was seen as one of the six key characters in the comic film, which wasn’t received well, has nothing against the film’s co-producers Vashu Bhagnani and Fox Star Studios. But she is glad she took a stand against promoting Humshakals when it was required.

“I have nothing against Vashu ji and Fox Star Studios. They have put in so much money [in the film] and I respect that. I love Vashu ji… it’s just that I didn’t want to come to a podium and lie and look like a fool. I am the worst liar in the world. So, I took a stand.”

Bipasha said she has rarely been in a situation of this nature. “I have been in this industry for way too long. I have worked with many people and nobody has said anything against me,” she said. “It’s rare that you make such a mistake and [Humshakals] is one of those films. I did this film on the basis of trust. Anyone who has seen the film will understand why I didn’t promote it.”

Speculation had been rife that Bipasha stayed aloof from the film’s promotions as she felt she wasn’t given as much coverage as the other two female leads, Esha Gupta and Tamanna Bhatia. But Bipasha clarified, “I was six minutes into watching the film and I didn’t know what I was doing in it.”

Humshakals, which released in June this year, also features Saif Ali Khan, Ram Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh.

Celebrities not in favour of Scotland’s divorce from the United Kingdom

LONDON: Scientist Stephen Hawking, Singer Mick Jagger and actor Judi Dench are among 200 British stars who have signed a letter urging Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom, six weeks before a historic referendum on independence.

The letter, an attempt to sway Scots before the September-18 vote was organised by Let’s Stay Together, a group which says it aims to give a voice to the millions of Britons outside Scotland who don’t have the right to vote.

Released at an event on the banks of the River Thames in London close to Tower Bridge, organisers said an extraordinary list of famous Britons had signed the letter, reflecting the fact that non-Scots were not indifferent to Scotland’s fate.

The letter, signed celebrity heavyweights, many of them English, was organised by Dan Snow and Tom Holland, well-known TV historians in Britain. “The decision on whether to leave our shared country is, of course, absolutely yours alone,” said the letter, which was addressed to “Dear Voters of Scotland.”

“Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom. We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them.” Only Scots residents can take part in the referendum, meaning people who live in the three other constituent parts of the UK — England, Wales and Northern Ireland — don’t have a say.

Other big names who signed the appeal included actor Helena Bonham-Carter and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, singer Cliff Richard, show business impresario Simon Cowell, and actor Dominic West, star of cult US series The Wire.

Between them, organisers said the signatories had 18 Olympic gold medals, 44 Bafta awards, one Nobel prize and two Turner prizes. Other celebrities, notably singer David Bowie and Harry Potter author JK Rowling, had already spoken out against independence, but not in such numbers and at the same time.

Some pro-independence Scottish nationalists have suggested that the English, who have a long and at times bloody history of rivalry with the Scots, would be glad if Scotland left the UK.

The pro-independence camp has its own celebrity backers including James Bond actor Sean Connery, actor Brian Cox, Russell Brand and novelist Irvine Welsh. “Yes Scotland”, Scotland’s main pro-independence movement, parroted the letter’s language to say Scots didn’t value being governed by a British government it described as “dreadful.”

An independent Scotland could still be “best friends” with the rest of the UK, it said in a statement

Japanese interest: Sindh approves land allotment

KARACHI: 

The Sindh government has agreed to provide 250 acres of land to the Japanese group of investment DTS at the Japan Special Economic Zone near Dhabeji district, Thatta.

The move is aimed to establishing information technology- and engineering-related manufacturing industries with an expected investment of up to $300 million and could generate 10,000 job opportunities within two years.

This was decided at a meeting held between Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and the Japanese delegation, led by Dr Hironao Takahashi, chairman of DTS Group and honorary investment counselor, Board of Investment Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that the Sindh government has established the Japan Special Economic Zone with 2,000 acres of land at Dhabeji to facilitate the Japanese investors.

He said that all incentives, necessary facilities and administrative support would be provided to Japanese investors.

However, Shah asked the delegates to prepare a time frame for the establishment of their industrial units and try to complete it within two years. He also directed the officers concerned to resolve the issues pertaining to the allotment, and clear possession of land in-question quickly.