The Asian News Blog

Starlets from UK are reportedly ‘invading’ Bollywood for better opportunities, less competition and higher fees.
According to Bollywood industry reports, about 1,000 British actresses-dancers are working in Bollywood, with each making around $1700 a day.
Factors including the recession, high Bollywood demand for ‘fairer’ skin, tough competition in the UK and with the success of films including Slumdog Millionaire, the industry has seen an overwhelming interest of British women going abroad to India in hope of stardom.
Encouraged both by the success of NRIs such as Upen Patel, Katrina Kaif and Jiah Khan and even Brit Alice Patten, daughter of UK political heavyweight Chris Patten, who made her debut starring opposite superstar Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti (see picture), these actresses are also attracted by the variety of opportunities linked to Bollywood – movies, television, advertising and modelling.

Although the starlets are sometimes simply cast as background or side dancers, they say it’s their first step on the ladder to success.
Hazel from Kent, who has been in the glamour industry of India for five years having worked for adverts for Ponds, Nokia and Samsung said: “You can lead such a great lifestyle in India. There is the constant begging, pollution and sleazy casting directors that you have to be careful of, but it’s all worth while as I’m almost famous!”
One British model hoping to make her debut in a Bollywood movie is former Miss Universe UK 2008 Lisa Lazarus who is to star alongside Salman Khan in Veer.
The film is set in the 1890’s and Lisa will play an English girl who goes to India with her father but gets lost in the jungle.
Salman plays the hero who takes them to safety and Lisa’s character falls in love with him.
Lisa was picked for her role after producers saw her publicity following the Miss Universe contest last year.
She told one Bollywood magazine: “I can’t wait for Veer to come out now…. To hear people say it’s the next Slumdog Millionaire feels fantastic – and there’s going to be a big premiere in London.”
But it’s not just good looks and talent that is getting them into the limelight.
India is obsessed with ‘white’ skin and casting agencies have welcomed the influx of white models/actresses.
Debjoy Ray, of Globosport Modelling agency, said: “Ten years ago there were hardly any white girls working in Bollywood. Now they are everywhere. Indians have a liking for white skin and equate it with beauty.”

Bollywood veterans and old friends, Sanjay Dutt & Anil Kapoor have reunited on the big screen for the latter’s forthcoming comedy, Shortkut.
Sanjay and Anil were last seen together in Sanjay Gupta’s Musafir, and in Shortkut, they return to shake a leg joined by the glamorous Amrita Rao.

The sensational track that features the trio is Mareez-e-Mohabbat, composed by Ehsaan-Shankar-Loy, choreographed by Bosco, written by Javed Akhtar and rendered by Nikita Nigam, Kirti Sagathia, Hrishikesh Kamekar and Shankar Mahadevan.
Remarks Anil Kapoor, “I asked Sanjay to join me in this track and have a picnic. He agreed instantly. He is a far better dancer than I am!”
Incidentally, Mareez-e-Mohabbat is also Amrita’s favourite number in Shortkut!

Rani Mukherjee is all set to play a sardarji in her latest movie ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’.
The talented Mukherjee girl dons the avatar of a Sardar in her latest project opposite Shahid Kapoor.

Rani plays a young woman who has to dress as a sardar to fulfil her dreams.
‘Dil Bole Hadippa’ is a romantic comedy based in the Punjab about a young woman who has to dress as a man to achieve her dreams.
This is a Yash Raj Films to be releases later this year.
The film is directed by Anurag Singh and also stars Anupam Kher, Rakhi Sawant and sultry Sherlyn Chopra.

ACTRESSES Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta will not be included in the sequel to smash hit comedy Partner.
The two actresses have been shunned whilst the rest of the cast and crew including Salman Khan and Govinda will be getting ready for the sequel.

The 2007 movie directed by king of slapstick, David Dhawan was a huge hit and is loosely based on Hollywood movie, Hitch starring Will Smith.
It is believed that the makers of the movie wanted a fresh approach to the sequel and it will not be treated as a continuation of the previous film, but a new story all-together – hence the decision to cut out both the actresses.
In the meantime Lara is excited about her role in Sajid Khan’s Houseful. Though the film is a multi-starrer with a host of male and female actors including Deepika Padukone and Jiah Khan, Lara claims that her role is best among the girls.
Katrina is also looking forward to the release of her movie New York, especially after revealing that for the first time she has played a character that echoed her own personality.

The handsome and gifted Akshaye Khanna has seemingly followed in the footsteps of his colleagues, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Suniel Shetty – he’s gone clean!
If this picture from the slow and scintillating Kal Nau Baje song from his forthcoming comedy, Shortkut is anything to go by, sexy Khanna has got rid of his chest hair to reveal a more defined physique.
Have a look!

Shortkut releases worldwide on 10 July by Indian Films – Studio 18.

Legendary Bollywood actress Sridevi is to appear on Sony Entertainment Television Asia’s ‘Dus Ka Dum’.
Salman Khan who presents the show has starred with the Roop Ki Rani in two films – ‘Chaand Ka Tukda’ and ‘Chandramukhi’.

Though Sridevi shies away from reality TV shows, the stunning actress and her and filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor spent close to five hours on the set with portions of the show publicising film ‘Wanted.’
Said Boney: “Sri has been asked to appear on Koffee with Karan, on Vir Sanghvi’s show and has also been invited by several other prominent talk show hosts.
“However, she politely refused the offers because she is shy. But when it came to appearing on Salman’s show, Sri didn’t have to be persuaded. Like me, she shares a good rapport with Salman.”
The special episode will be shown on Sony TV later this month.

ASIAN News, MEN Media’s first online publication specifically aimed at the ethnic minority audience in the North West has moved offices.
After 12 years in Rochdale we have now moved to Manchester and based at the Manchester Evening News, 1 Scott Place, Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3RN.
My new telephone number is 0161 211 2256 or you can email asiannews@menwn.co.uk.
For advertising contact Danny Dale on 0161 919 0091 or email: daniel.dale@menmediasales.co.uk.

AN Islamic seminary has issued the reigning king of Bollywood – Shahrukh Khan – a fatwa for allegedly making controversial comments against Islam in the Indian Time n Style magazine.

The fatwa has been issued by Mufti Mohammed Shoeb Raza Qadri and Mufti Muti-ur-Rehman of the Darul-uloom-Mazhar-e- Islam in India.
Mufti Mohammed called Shahrukh a Kafir (non-believer) and said such person should be thrown out of Islam and that in an Islamic state his comments would have warranted a death penalty.
Shahrukh Khan has strongly denied the comments attributed to him in an interview published in the magazine, saying he had been misquoted.
Bareilly-based Markazi Darul Ifta which is a authority for issuing fatwas however dismissed the fatwas issued by clerics. They stated that since Shahrukh has issued clarification that he was misrepresented in his alleged statements he should not be held guilty.
An NGO by the name of Mumbai Aman Committee had also filed a complaint to Mumbai police against the star for his comments. They had asked the police file a case under section 504 of the IPC (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
Shahrukh Khan is currently in US shooting for Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan.

King of slapstick comedy David Dhawan is returning to the screens with his number one lady Karisma Kapoor after nine years.

The director who has had hits with ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi’ and ‘Biwi No.1′ is teaming with Karisma and Govinda on TV with ‘Hans Baliye’.
The reality show will give a platform to real life couples to showcase their talent to a wider audience.
Dhawan and Karisma had last worked together in 2000 for ‘Chal Mere Bhai’.

Award winning Indian actor Shahrukh Khan is to be given an honorary doctorate in Arts and Culture from the University of Bedfordshire in London on Friday (10 July).

Shahrukh, who has a huge fan base across the globe, is also a film producer and television host and will receive his award at the Hotel Courthouse, London from Vice Chancellor Les Ebdon, CBE.
He was nominated by Routes 2 Roots, a non-governmental organisation which endeavours to bring together people, cultures and values from across southern Asia, in particular India and Pakistan.
University of Bedfordshire Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) Ashraf Jawaid, said: “We are absolutely delighted to confer this honorary doctorate on Shahrukh Khan. He has made an outstanding contribution to the arts, culture and media which is recognised around the world.”
Shahrukh started his career in the late 1980s appearing in several television serials. He made his film debut with the commercially successful Deewana in 1992 and since then has gone on to play a variety of critically acclaimed roles.
He has won seven Filmfare Best Actor Awards and appeared in films such as Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Chak De India (2007) and Om Shanti Om (2007) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) which remain some of Bollywood’s biggest hits.
Films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Veer Zaara (2004) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) have been hits overseas making Shahrukh one of the most successful actors of Hindi cinema. Since 2000 Shahrukh has branched out into film production and television presenting.
He is married with two children. In April 2007 a life-size wax statue of him was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London. During the same year, he was accorded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) award by the French government for his “exceptional career”.