The Asian News Blog

Years after Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol made Egypt look even more splendid in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif will repeat the Egypt magic on celluloid in their forthcoming Singh Is Kinng.

The Labh Janjua-Suzie Q rendered Jee Karda, currently on air, has been shot in Egypt, as is the Rahat Fateh Ali Khan-Shreya Ghoshal number, Teri Orr, which releases on television next week.
Reveals Vipul (Shah), “I wouldn’t say we shot in Egypt just for the glam factor. The story is such that it takes Akshay’s character from Punjab to Egypt and then to Australia. So we have about 7-8 scenes in Egypt as well. We did a complete 15-day schedule there and you won’t believe some of the shots we’ve canned. They’ll take your breath away!”
He adds, “We’d already shown Punjab, which lent a very rustic, earthy, kitsch character to Singh is Kinng. Then we had Australia, which is very modern, neat, and glossy. So we decided to add a third terrain to the film for the exotica and Egypt came about. With these three locales, the audience will find the film constantly evolving on screen. There are parts of Egypt in the film that no one’s seen before on celluloid!”
Singh Is Kinng is out in cinemas on August 8 with previews in select locations on August 7. It is an Indian Films – Studio 18 worldwide release.

It’s takeover time on Kya Aap Pannchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? when Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan replaces Shah Rukh Khan as the host of the show and Shah Rukh takes over Saif’s girlfriend Kareena Kapoor as a quid pro quo.

The not to be missed episode of leading Asian entertainment channel STAR Plus’s latest superhit show will be broadcast on Saturday 26th July at 9.00pm.
Saif Ali Khan opens the game as the host and invites Shah Rukh Khan as a contestant to play the game that quizzes contestants’ primary level education, Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? Shah Rukh enters with Kareena Kapoor, hand in hand, and announces that, as Saif has overtaken his show, he has stolen Saif’s girlfriend.
This celebrity episode of Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? will put many questions to the hottest couple in the industry – Saif and Kareena. Also revealed for the FIRST time on television are cute anectodes like when did Saif first meet Kareena and how they fell in love? Do they fight and what do they do when they are mad at each other? Also, who is more intelligent of the two, especially in fifth grade questions?
Despite being tutored by his daughter, Saif Ali Khan is baffled by some of the initial questions, biting his nails all through. But once they climb up the initial money tree, he becomes confident and comes across as well read and analytical. Shah Rukh also teases Saif each time he gives a right answer, saying, “Shakal se Lagta nahin, par Saif Intelligent hain”.
The classmates have a rollicking time with the celebrity couple. Anubhav flaunts his Kareena tattoo which resembles the one on Saif’s wrist and even sings a song for her. Shriya gifts a small T-shirt that she has outgrown to Kareena saying that she thinks it might just fit Kareena because of her size zero. Milanjeet offers Saif-Kareena a full gheewala Laddoo; Saif and SRK gobble it down but Kareena, being figure conscious, just takes a nibble, and is horrified that Saif swallows the entire ladoo.
Saif-eena, as Shah Rukh’s acronym for Saif and Kareena, will be playing to raise money for charity. Saif Ali Khan will donate the winning amount to Naaz Organization for HIV positive kids in Delhi which is endorsed by his mother, Sharmila Tagore, while Kareena will donate the funds to the residents at St. Anthony Old Age Home, Bandra.
Watch Saif and Kareena getting grilled with some fiery Fifth Class questions on Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? Saturday 26th July at 9 pm only on STAR Plus.

Only Akshay Kumar could have pulled off this stunt!
While shooting for Singh Is Kinng on the Gold Coast in Australia, superstar Akshay Kumar would climb 78 floors up and 78 down down regularly in the building where the team was put up despite the rigorous shooting schedule.

And this was no ordinary building!
It was, in fact, Q1 (meaning Queensland Number One), which is the tallest residential tower in the world. At 322.5 metres (1,058 feet including spire) and with a roof height of 275 metres (902 ft), it has 78 storeys.
Akshay’s 156-storey hike was so motivational for the unit that actress Neha Dhupia, being a proper sardarni, took up the challenge and followed in his footsteps (literally!)
When asked to confirm the news, she laughs, “Yes, it’s true! When Akshay started, I knew had to as well! It was a mind over matter situation for me. And since Singh Is Kinng is about positive attitude, I gave it a shot was extremely impressed with myself! I did it in under 30 minutes without cheating!” She adds, “After the hike, I was dead to the world though. I’d return to my room and crash!”
Shortly after Neha, it became a practice for some of the other unit members to climb up and down as well. Neha smiles, “Everyone was like, if a girl can do it, why can’t we?!”
Looks like this is only a sampler of the action this keenly anticipated film is likely to bring our way!
Singh Is Kinng is out in cinemas on August 8 with previews in select locations on August 7. It is an Indian Films – Studio 18 worldwide release.

www.bollywood.tv has launched the first ever South Asian online independent film festival focused on content that is specifically Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan in language, theme or flavor –The Bindies.
To celebrate the spirit of the independent filmmaker, www.bollywood.tv will premiere content with a South Asian twist on a dedicated Bindies Film Festival section.
Films can be streamed and downloaded at no cost to the filmmaker. The festival will give access to buyers, agents and distributors all online and host a voting poll providing viewers across the globe the chance to support their favourite films.
The Bindies will commence with a virtual red carpet ceremony for films in competition and awards and prizes for the most gifted independent filmmaker in each category. The Bindies Film Festival offers budding filmmakers the opportunity to have their films seen and showcased on www.bollywood.tv for global exposure without requiring a studio or distributor contract.
As part of The Bindies online film festival, www.bollywood.tv is welcoming entries for: Short Films (3minutes – 59 minutes duration); Features (60 minutes and over); and Animation 2D or 3D, claymation and puppets (in short or feature format). www.bollywood.tv will carry all the costs in uploading, hosting and streaming the film.
Closing date for entries is 15th August 2008, with the Festival Launch Date on 1st September 2008.
In relation to the launch of The Bindies, CEO of www.bollywood.tv, Nigel Glynn-Davies, said: “We are celebrating the wealth of talent that exists among the pool of indie filmmakers, whose films reflect a South Asian experience or sensibility, and provide a platform to showcase their innovative and highly original talents, where they may otherwise have not been able to do so
“With the launch of The Bindies, we are demonstrating that filmmakers do not need a distributor on board to get their films out there. We are showcasing their work beyond financial and logistical restraints to ensure their art form receives the exposure it deserves.
“The awards ceremony will reflect the people’s preferences and choices as awards will be presented according to votes placed by visitors to the site.”