The Asian News Blog

My dad and brother flew out to Bangladesh last night after frantic calls from my mum that some gundas are after them. Mum’s been trying to have a chilled out time in Bangladesh, after all there’s a family wedding and she wanted to spend some time with my grandparents.
But a week after arriving she’s been getting crank calls on her house phone that someone is coming to get her and on two separate occasions young men have driven around the village on motorbikes late at night!
My mum reckons my ex’s family in Bangladesh could possibly behind all this, but it’s so damn scary. My mum goes Bangladesh on a regular basis, and she never ever gets any trouble from anybody.
At first she tried to ignore the calls and has even on some occasions told these W****** to stop being cowards and face her directly – cos you know my mum thinks she’s superwoman and can handle a whole army on her own – but nobody has come to her directly.
Dad has told her to come back straightaway, and even though she’s scared and is panicking she’’s a stubborn woman. She’s got another two-weeks to go before she returns home and she plans to stay there until she does. In her words, nobody is going to driver her away! So now my dad has gone and am worried to death because this is Bangladesh and anything can happen and we don’t even know whose behind it. Now they’ve got guards outside their house and they’ve bought guard dogs as well.
The only reason my mum thinks its my ex’s family is because she’; got no beef with anybody else, the only things that has changed since her last visit is my seperation, plus she reckons the crank caller has a distinct accent from where the ex is from in Bangladesh.
Mum tells me that the army is out in Bangladesh and so the country seems quite stable and that nobody will be bale to do anything without getting caught, it was way too risky, but I keep reminding her she’s living in rural Bangladesh not in the city. I’ve urged dad to book themselves into a hotel at nights so that they’re extra safe!
Me and my sisters will not be able to rest until they come back to England safely. If they do find out who these perpetrators are, they will be in deep trouble and if it is my ex’s family, well I think the rest of the ex’s teeth need to be broken, but I don’t know yet, it might be someone else behind it, we just have to wait and see.
I just hope and pray my parents return home safely.
On top of that my cousin, whose wife is concerned he’s taking drugs is in the doghouse. His wife now suspects he’s cheating and thinks the house is being watched by someone. I don’t know if its paranoia or what! But I told her I can probably help her once my parents are back, before then I don’t care if he’s cheating and is taking drugs, in two-weeks time I might care but just not yet!

Kishore Lulla, chairman & CEO of Eros Entertainment, India’s leading entertainment company, was awarded the IIFA Honour for Promoting Indian Cinema Internationally at this year’s Internationall Indian Film Academy Awards.

The award was presented by Tessa Jowells, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and veteran filmmaker JP Dutta in recognition for Eros Entertainment’s contribution to Indian cinema and propelling the Indian film fraternity to global audiences.
Speaking about the award, Kishore Lulla said: “Special thanks to my family, the whole Eros team, my friends, associates and new audiences and, most important of all, the entire film industry in helping us to take Indian cinema global.”
Eros Entertainment uniquely powered the entire IIFA Weekend by showcasing some of its forthcoming films during the IIFA programme and driving key forums and panel discussions designed to give wider access to the Indian film industry.
For three decades Eros has made pioneering efforts in giving Indian films a mainstream international platform – be it through securing multiplex cinema chain distribution for Indian films or high street distribution for DVDs; be it by opening new markets through dubbed and subtitled versions of Indian films or global television syndication to widen the TV viewership of Indian films; be it with new media initiatives to promote official online distribution or representing Indian content within major international film festivals.
Currently, Eros International operates in over 50 countries, with worldwide offices in India, UK, USA, Dubai, Australia, Fiji and Isle of Man and has one of the largest film content libraries in the business in excess of 1300 films.

The Idea IIFA Awards will be broadcast globally by STAR TV to reach nearly 500 million viewers in 110 countries on Sunday 24th June 2007 at 7.30pm on STAR Plus.

The programme will feature footage from the Green Carpet which was graced by stars Shilpa Shetty, Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif.
And of course it will show the spectacular awards presentation, which was hosted by former Miss Universe and industry starlet, Lara Dutta, and comedy kingpin Boman Irani, while industry golden boy, filmmaker and presenter of STAR Plus’s hit show Koffee with Karan, Karan Johar, presented the awards section of the unforgettable evening. After days of arduous rehearsals, dazzling stage performances were made by Shilpa Shetty, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Bipasha Basu, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan and Govinda, Emraan Hashmi and Aftab Shivdasani.
MP’s, international stars and high profile figures such as Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, actor Colin Firth and Olympic silver-medal winner Amir Khan, were among the guests to present the prestigious awards at the ceremony. The fans also saw the IIFA for ‘STAR TV Award Debut of the Year Male Award’, go to the British-Asian heartthrob, Upen Patel, for his debut in 36 China Town.

Indian producers have been campaigning for an official release of Bollywood films in Pakistan. Years back, films with a distinct Pakistani flavour, Soni Mahiwal, Mughal-e-Azam and Taj Mahal, were cleared for release, but because of political problems, no contemporary Bollywood title has ever found a simultaneous theatrical release in Pakistan.
Mahesh Bhatt’s Awarapan, releasing next week, will create history in Pakistan, if the Federal Film Censor Board in Lahore is understanding. A print of Awarapan is being taken to Pakistan to be shown to censor officials on Wednesday. If the film is cleared, it is likely to witness a theatrical release in Pakistan concurrently with the rest of the world, giving the cinemas there a fresh lease of life and the audience a valid reason to rejoice.
The screening of Awarapan before the Censors does not come as a surprise given the Bhatts’ affinity for Pakistan and the talent there – be it in the form of actress Meera or music personalities like Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Azmat, to name a few. “It’s payback time,” says an industry insider. “Pakistan should let Awarapan release in its country as there are compelling reasons to justify this.”
In Awarapan, Mahesh Bhatt has introduced the chartbusting compositions and renditions of Roxen vocalist Mustafa Zahid, Annie and Rafaqat Ali Khan, making this the first Bollywood soundtrack to feature musical talent from Pakistan in entirety. This is also the first Bollywood film in recent years to have been shot in Lahore. (The Rishi Kapoor-Zeba Bakhtiar starrer Henna had been shot in Pakistan more than a decade back). In the climax of Awarapan, the main protagonist, a simple Hindu boy, Shivam (Emraan Hashmi) brings his unrequited love interest, a Pakistani girl, Reema Zaidi (Mrinalini Sharma) back to Lahore to give her the freedom and respect she yearns for. The film’s other heroine, the south-Indian super-star Shriya Saran, plays the role of Aliyah Hamid, Shivam’s former love interest before Reema comes into his life.
A Muslim expert was hired on the sets of Awarapan during the shoot in Jodhpur, Bangkok and Hong Kong, as both the actresses essay Muslim characters and it was important to get their body language and mannerisms right, especially for the namaaz scenes. The film, itself, is based on the Islamic tenets of freedom pronounced by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Director Mohit Suri confirmed the story, “It’s true that on Wednesday Awarapan will be censored in Lahore. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Studio 18 International is giving the film an overseas release, so it would be unfortunate to have Pakistan left out of the equation. If it works out, I will get a chance to have the first simultaneous release in India and Pakistan.”

Here’s some interesting news. Last night my dad found out the ex husband has got kicked out of work and his uncle is also threatening to kick him out of the house and he’s possibly going Bangladesh for one week only cos his younger sister is marrying some bloke from the UK.
We don’t know for sure, but the my dad was told that the ex husband has been drinking quite heavily and he’s been taking these stupid sleeping tablets that make you go a bit funny in the head and I guess combined with alcohol its not a good combination. His uncle has been getting complaints about him from his boss at work. And this behaviour is not because of me, apparently some girl he’s been seeing has dumped him to be with someone else. I think a trip to Bangladesh will probably do him a lot of good and clear his head a little. He really is sleeping his way into disaster.
The ex use to take these tablets when he was with me and it made him go wierd like he was drunk and not in his senses and he use to sing out loud. Once he sang when my dad was sat in the living room and asked why my dad’s belly was so huge!
By the way i did send him some money for a new tooth and he even cashed the cheque, it sounds bad but i felt a lot better after that!
By the way to the person that suggested I only blog when I start getting people asking where I am – the only reason I’ve not been able to post more regularly is because I have been extremely busy at my mums, making sure the house is clean , dinner is on the table for my brothers and sisters and you know what it takes a whole lot of time to do all that, on top of that I got my own work to do as well. I don’t mind doing it, my sisters have been getting a break from the household chores and are loving it.
By the way all my siblings know about Dante and they’re all fine with it. My dad doesn’t know and he doesn’t need to unless we decided we want to get married at which point he’ll be told. My cousin’s an idiot for suggesting to have a little fun, I would have much prefered it if he just told me off, he doesn’t really care about me or what my family will think, he’s more bothered about what his friends will say to him more than anything else, but you know its OK for him and his friends to date random women every week whilst leaving their wives at home but they can’t handle that I am in a serious relationship, but that’s just typical of some people isn’t it?
By the way am looking for a new housemate, Raeni has to go back to Jamiaca cos her mum has serious diabetes and needs to be taken care of. I’m gonna miss her cos she was great fun and we use to talk for hours on end, plus she was a clean freak like me so my house was never messy and she enjoyed watching bolly films with me. Been interviewing various people when i’ve had the chance, but am not clicking with anyone like I did with Raeni and that’s really important. I interviewed this girl two-days ago, she’s finishing her last year at university and doesn’t want to go back home to her parents and she seemed great until she told me she was a proper party animal, loved wild nights out and had two boyfriends on the go thinking I would be impressed with list of party antics, but I don’t fancy coming home to a party every night and I told her she’d have to find someone else.
Anyway am gonna sign off, i’ll try and post a bit more often but until mum gets back I am literally tied to the kitchen!

Hiya everybody. Been really busy as my mum has gone to Bangladesh for a cousin’s wedding and it’s been really hectic as I’ve moved into mum’s house until she comes back.
You don’t realise how much your parents especially, our mums do for us until we have to do it ourselves – now I know why mum nags so much all the time cos am beginning to do the same.
She’s been gone three weeks and is back in two weeks time and I can’t wait. It’s really hard to go back home when you’ve lived on your own, the first few days were fun, but after that it just got mad. I find it hard to share the bedroom especially as my sisters love to talk to their friends way into the night and one of em snores very loudly and that’s been doing my head-in leading to sleepless nights.
I have also been waking up early to make sure my brothers get their breakfasts, they’re so lazy and my mum has spoilt them rotten. On the occasions I’ve told to them to make it their frigging selves , they’ve just walked out of the house without eating and I’ve felt guilty whilst going to work, so now I end up making it anyway.
My dad I’ve realised is the most pickiest eater. I still can’t get the curries right, but he does love his Dixy chicken so have been a regular customer recently.
On top of that all the men in the house do not pick up after themselves, they leave dishes behind, clothes behind and am constantly telling them off. Honestly, sometimes I don’t blame them cos my mum just does everything for them out of choice. If she just stopped and let them do it am sure they’ll change and of course, I keep reminding her, when my brothers get married their wives will have a hard time pleasing them cos not everybody is going to wait up till 2.30 in the morning just to make sure the food is fresh and ready on the table.
On top of that my dads taken to smoking inside the house. He’s been banned form doing it inside the house. My mum told him of the up-coming smoking ban was going to be enforced in our home as well. Mum also hides his fags ho dad has taken advantage of her being away and has been chain smoking up to 40 cigs a day.
So am stressed out, I’ve not been out in ages,I hardly see Dante, though he does surprise me by turning up at work just to say a quick hello. I’ve sneaked out of the house twice to go and see him, I’ve never done that while I was at home and realised how easy it was, or it was probably easy cos mums not around. Though I did feel like a silly teenager, it was well worth it cos at least we got a chance to catch up and talk for hours non-stop.
My little sister has taken quite a shine to Dante. She goes to him for advice regarding friends, school etc. He even sat her down and had a huge long chat about boys. Dante thinks now’s the time to have a talk to her about these things especially as I’ve noticed she’s beginning to attract interest from boys. Anyway he’s told her to basically concentrate on her studies cos that’s really important, and my sister has taken his advice seriously which am glad to see.
Dante also wants to go away on a short break somewhere when my mum is back so we’re planning a trip to a Greek island which should be fun and am really looking forward to it. He also mentioned that he will be going away to Jamaica for three weeks with his mum on a family holiday later this year. Though am not too fond of the idea simply because I’ll miss him, I’ll just have to stay in Manchester and wait or maybe even take a trip to Bangladesh whilst he’s away.
Things are really looking good between us though a few family members were not too keen on the idea of me seeing him. My cousin saw us together in Deansgate a few weeks back and told me just to have a bit of fun but leave it at that. I was shocked he’s even suggested it and told him i wasn’t out to have a bit of fun. He thinks i should settle with a Bengali boy as do my immediate family, but I do’;t want to settle down with anyone just yet. Things are going good between me and Dante and I keep thinking i just want to let the relationship progress on its own without any pressure to settle down or get married. Am still young and there’s plenty of time to think about that.

Not many know that while recording the To Phir Aao song in Mumbai for the forthcoming film, Awarapan, Pakistani rock sensation Mustafa Zahid actually cried!

Those present at the recording were pleasantly surprised to see the 25-year old stud turning into a softie. Remarks an onlooker, “He asked for the lights to be turned off while recording the song. He sang the song in pitch darkness to get feeling into it. When he came out of the recording studio, his eyes were red.”
When quizzed, Mustafa Zahid (in the UK days back), a bit hesitant at first, confesses, “It was an emotional moment for me. To Phir Aao was among my first compositions back in Pakistan. Mohit (Suri) wanted a lot of feeling in the song, as it appears in the film’s climax. He wanted me to imagine the loneliness of roads. It was a high to be re-rendering my composition for a Mahesh Bhatt film.”
Awarapan releases worldwide on June 29.

Madhuri Dixit, is invited on stage to indulge in Koffee With Karan, exclusively on STAR One, Sunday 24th June at 9pm.

The epitome of Bollywood panache graces the sofa of one of the most captivating celebrity talk shows on TV, as the five-time Filmfare Award winning actress talks about her comeback to the big screen with her new film Aaja Nachle, her love for family life and the changes she has seen within the Indian film fraternity since her show-biz break.
And never one to miss a trick, her quick-witted host, Karan Johar, will engage with Madhuri in the quick-fire rapid round, to see if she can scoop the prized hamper.

The top talent in Yorkshire’s TV and film industries met their Indian counterparts to discuss working together in Yorkshire. Screen Yorkshire hosted a lunch for the senior industry figures at one of Yorkshire’s finest stately homes and established film locations, Harewood House.
The event took place as part of the Indian International Film Academy Awards (Bollywood’s Oscars) and was attended by over 50 film producers, locations experts, facilities managers and entertainment bosses from India and Yorkshire. Yorkshire locations were showcased and an expert panel discussion was held to inform the Indian Producers of the advantages of filming in Yorkshire. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world producing over 1000 films a year and is estimated to grow by 18% per annum over the next five years. 50% of Indian productions shoot overseas.
Sally Joynson, Chief Executive of Screen Yorkshire, said: “The IIFA awards have given us a great opportunity here in Yorkshire to showcase the region to the Indian film industry and show them what we’ve got. There are not many regions in the UK, or the world, that have such a diversity of locations which could suit Indian productions. Combine this with the skilled and talented crew we have, and the excellent transport infrastructure, and we really do have a county where Indian Producers could do business.”
David Lascelles, owner of Harewood House and a film producer, said: ”We’ve hosted a number of film productions over the years here at Harewood, the latest being Paul Andrew Williams’ The Cottage but we are always looking to work with Screen Yorkshire to bring more productions here. It’s good for the house and for Yorkshire in many ways, film productions bring money into the local economy but in the longer term can promote the county worldwide to tourists. Today has been a great opportunity to showcase Harewood House as a film location to the Indian film industry.”
Mukesh Bhatt, Indian Producer of over 40 films, said: “Many Indian film producers are not aware of what Yorkshire has to offer as a filming location so today has been incredibly beneficial for them. They’ve had a sample of the many beautiful locations Yorkshire has and been able to talk business with the key players in the Yorkshire industry. I think this will be the start of many joint Indian and Yorkshire film productions.”
Three Indian features have shot in recent years – Harry Putter (Dream Town Productions, 2005), which shot in Richmondshire; Natasha (Inspired Movies, 2004) opting to film in Craven and Keighley; and Provoked (Eros International, 2005) which filmed in Scarborough prison. More recently a number of productions have been looking into filming in the county and one has already been confirmed: Quick Slip Me a Bride – produced by Talking Lense.

The media conference of Mahesh Bhatt’s forthcoming AWARAPAN saw a packed turnout in a tiny but plush Central London restaurant on Tuesday 5th June.

Attended by producer Mukesh Bhatt, Emraan Hashmi, and pop sensations from Pakistan, Mustafa Zahid and Annie (who’ve sung the chartbusting numbers from the film), the event saw a half-hour long media Q&A followed by live acts by the singers.
The highlight of the conference came in the form of a journalist accidentally referring to Emraan as the ’serial killer’ instead of ’serial kisser’, which obviously brought the house down! When asked if Emraan has kissed any of his leading ladies in AWARAPAN, he said, “You’ll have to watch the film to find out!” (Though according to sources, this is the first time that he will not be snogging on screen!)
On a lighter and more humorous note, he added, “Now that I’m married, I will kiss more!” About AWARAPAN, he stated, “It’s nothing I’ve done before. You’ll see me in a repackaged avtar altogether! Shivam is a larger-than-life character, a kidnapper whose heart undergoes an extreme transformation. Mohit (Suri) has crafted an extremely sensitive and heartwarming love story with a strong thriller element to it!”
About AWARAPAN being his (and the Bhatts’) first major international outing theatrically (courtesy of Studio 18), he added, “Our films have worked exceptionally on DVD. It was a mistake not to release our previous films in cinemas overseas, especially Gangster. We’re looking forward to the release of Awarapan on June 29. Its music has already become a rage!”
On behalf of his brother Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt said, “The Bhatts have a deep connection with Pakistan. It’s such a beautiful country. My mother was a Muslim. We’re glad to have filmed the climax of AWARAPAN in Lahore. Inshallah, one day we’ll see our films releasing simultaneously in cinemas in Pakistan!”
When asked why he incessantly gave Pakistani singers a break in Bollywood, Bhatt added, “Vishesh Films is a platform for new talent. We’ve given a break not just to talent from Pakistan, but also to singers from Srilanka, Bangladesh and Sikkim!”
Before Mustafa and Annie proceeded for their enthralling live acts (on To Phir Aao/Tera Mera Rishta and Maahiya respectively), both the drop-dead good looking singers were quizzed about their plans, if any, of foraying into acting. “Currently, we’re concentrating on singing. But if there is an acting offer from the Bhatts, we might just take it up!” they laughed.