Raveena Tandon and Irrfan Khan shared screen space in a new soft drink commercial and got along like a house on fire.Sources claim that Irrfan couldn’t stop gushing about Raveena, with whom he has shared three scenes.

The two also shared a jovial conversation on a popular micro blogging site-
Tweeted Raveena , “Can’t believe YOU could do this Irrfan Khan. I really don’t know what to say. You just have to see it! And you might still not believe it!”

To this, Irrfan responded,heyyyyy ! Don't tell the whole world, it was just for you!!:-)”

Indo-Canadian adult film actress Sunny Leone is back to where she started her career in Hindi showbiz - the small screen. She has signed up as the host of popular dating reality show "MTV Splitsvilla", and she is excited.

Sunny, who recently hosted MTV's "Haunted Weekends" made inroads into the Mumbai entertainment industry following her 2011 appearance on "Bigg Boss 5".

"I recently hosted a show for MTV and I totally loved working with such a creative bunch of people. So when they came back to me with the offer of hosting 'MTV Splitsvilla', I immediately said yes," Sunny said in a statement.

"It's a fun show focussing on the youth and one of the biggest and most watched shows on MTV. I'm excited to be a part of 'MTV Splitsvilla' and I hope people will love me in my new avatar as well," she added.

The show has an equal number of girls and boys fighting their battle of love to win the crown of the king and the queen.

Sunny will co-host the seventh season of the show with Nikhil Chinapa. It will go on air in a few months, said a source.

The actress has been successful in creating space and visibility for herself on the Bollywood screens so far. After her debut with 2012 erotic thriller "Jism 2", she featured in "Jackpot" and "Ragini MMS 2". She has also grooved to an item song in "Shootout At Wadala".

The last season of "MTV Splitsvilla" was hosted by Sherlyn Chopra.

Production house Disney UTV's next Tamil outing will be a romantic action entertainer titled "Yatchan", which will be co-produced and directed by Vishnu Vardhan.

He will co-produce the film under his Vishnu Vardhan Films home banner.

"The film has been written by popular Tamil writers Subha and Vishnu Vardhan, who will also be directing it. It will be a romantic action entertainer slated to go on floors in the third week of April and is likely to release during Pongal 2015," a statement from Disney UTV said.

Actors Arya and Kreshna will play the lead roles in the film, which will also feature Kishore, John Vijay, M.S Bhaskar and Thambi Ramaiah. The hunt for the two leading ladies is currently underway.

Film: "Damaal Dumeel"; Cast: Vaibhav Reddy, Remya Nambeesan, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Sayaji Shinde; Director: Shree Kumar; Rating: ***

Close in the footsteps of dark comedies such as "Soodhu Kavvum" and "Moodar Koodam", comes "Damaal Dumeel", which unlike its contemporaries, may not be exceptional but still has what it takes to be applauded for the effort.

The film is based on a series of accidents that pave the way to humour at regular intervals. Each of these accidents is interconnected and the film explains why one accident leads to another and another and so on until there's one last accident in the climax.

The series of accidents start when a box full of money is wrongly delivered to Moneykandan (our hero who is a firm believer of numerology), who has just lost his high-paying IT job, with his sister's wedding in the offing.

Why was the box delivered to Moneykandan in the first place? Actually, the box was supposed to be delivered to someone in flat number F6, but it gets delivered to E6 (after a cricket ball hits the E and it breaks and become an F). That's our first accident. When two men come searching for the box and break into Money's house, it leads to the second accident. The third accident happens when two more men come searching for the first two men. One accident leads to another and it eventually leads to one big accident in the climax.

I haven't seen a better Tamil film in the recent past that managed to use a single point of reference (the accidents) so effectively to narrate a story. Even though it doesn't have an impressive story, it manages to keep us hooked with its quirky narration, at least partly. It is engaging because it's as short (118 mins) as its contemporaries (all recent dark comedies in Tamil were under two hours), and therefore, never leaves room for a dull moment and even when you feel one, it's gone even before you realize it.

There's not a single unwanted scene in the film. We keep hearing and seeing the hero's mobile phone ringing every now and then, but it is not until the climax we appreciate its importance in the story, especially its ringtone which leads to the final accident.

Similarly, we also randomly see children playing cricket in a scene and we realize the significance of this scene when the cricket ball sets in motion the series of accidents. Here's where you want to appreciate director Shree, who, I agree may not have delivered an outstanding film, but has proved the difference young filmmakers like him can bring to the industry.

After starring in several multi-starrers, Vaibhav finally goes solo with this film.

You could see that he struggled with his expressions because this happens to be his big debut as a solo lead, one can expect him to be nervous. Nevertheless, he fits in his role and makes us believe that he can be a better lead actor with time. Remya doesn't have a meaty role but it's good as it is because the director doesn't let the romantic angle overshadow the main story. Shree ensures that we aren't bored by any overdose of melodrama and he succeeds at it.

Sayaji Shinde, Kota Srinivasa Rao and their henchmen provide entertainment in appropriate proportions throughout the film. The climax scene between Sayaji and Kota where they argue about money and the character Money (not knowing that they are talking about two different things), is a laugh riot.

Paramesh Krishna's willingness to edit at right junctures has worked in the film's favour, while Thaman's background score lingers on even after you leave the cinema hall.

"Damaal Dumeel" is a reasonably good dark comedy that you seldom see from an industry that has an urge for predominantly making masala entertainers.

Southern composer G.V. Prakash Kumar has turned actor with upcoming Tamil thriller "Pencil". The actor's look in the film has been raved about and he attributes his good looks to the music he has composed over the years.

"I provide feel good songs and maybe the goodness is spreading to my looks as well," Prakash said in a statement.

"Pencil" features Prakash as a school student. It is about incidents that take place over the course of a day.

Known for composing music for films such as "Veyyil", "Kireedam" and "Saivam", Prakash said, "it's destiny that made me an actor. I never planned all this".

Even as he waits to complete shooting for "Pencil", Prakash has already signed his second film titled "Trisha Illena Nayantara"

The very versatile and committed Amole Gupte is a reluctant actor. Proof of this lies in the fact that he he has just edited himself out of his own directorial venture "Hawaa Hawaai".

"I took it off. I thought, what was I doing? It looked too gimmicky. Subhash Ghai can make an appearance in his films because he makes larger-than-life films. My film is too true to life for gimmicks," he said.

"Hawaa Hawaai" is set for release May 9. He had a cameo in the film but decided to delete it.

The film is about a roller-skating teacher (Saqib Saleem) and his favourite pupil (played by Amole's very talented son Partho).

He will, however, be seen in Rohit Shetty's "Singham 2". He said yes to it only because he is a big fan of the "Golmaal" series. Amole's pre-condition for signing "Singham 2" - he must not play a Maharashtrian again.

"I've done the Maharashtrian villain in Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Kaminey'. So while Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor are Maharashtrians, I am not. We thought it would be too much of a cliche to pitch a Maharashtrian hero against a Maharashtrian villain. So my character of the villain would not be region-specific."

Amole, who went through a health scare last year is taking no chances with his physiology. For his new role in Shetty's film, Amole needs to put on weight.

"I lost weight last year because of my health issues. I need to look heftier for my role in Rohit's film. I'm routing my weight-gain through a nutritionist. I've to be very careful because I am diabetic," he said.

mole thought over Shetty's "Singham 2" offer for just a day.

"I almost immediately decided to do it. I knew there would be no filth. By the way,I was also offered Indra Kumar's 'Grand Masti', Kaizad Gustad's 'Jackpot' and Mohit Suri's 'Villain'.

"But during the months of November and December there was no way I could take time off from the shooting of my own film 'Hawaa Hawaai'."

The shooting of Anil Kapoor’s son Harshvardhan’s debut film "Mirza Sahibaan" begins Sep 1, and the young actor is busy setting new standards of method acting. He is said to have cut himself completely off from his Mumbai elitist lifestyle to immerse himself in his character.

A source close to the project said: “Harsh has been staying in Delhi to prepare for his debut and getting into the skin character. He speaks only in the language of his character. He refuses to party, socialize, or even attend family weddings and get-togethers as he feels this would break his concentration.”

The news now is that Harshvardhan’s character would have to go into two different time spans - one during the classic era when the original love tale unfolds and the other in 2015.

The young aspiring actor is looking at creating a completely different body language and speech pattern for his character’s 17th century avatar.

“Harsh seems more like a chip off Naseeruddin Shah’s school of acting. Ever since he got to know there would be two different looks and attitude for his character, Harsh has been living out his life in different time zones.

"He refuses to participate in any of the family events. He lives in a rented place in Delhi where he spends his time going though Gulzar sahab’s dialogues and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music.”

The film is to be directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

It's official! Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna will host the Telugu version of popular quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC). Titled "Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu" in Telugu, the show will go on air from mid-June.

"Nagarjuna will host the Telugu version of KBC. He was selected amongst 38 popular names that were considered to host the show. After rigorous selection process, we have zeroed in on Nagarjuna who we think will do complete justice to the show," Nimagada Prasad, chairman, MAA TV, told IANS.

The show will be similar along the lines of original KBC, with a cash prize of Rs.1 crore. It will be aired on MAA TV.

"The show is likely to go on air from June onwards, and it will be more or less similar to the original," he added.

An elated Nagarjuna said, "The show will realize the dreams of common man. Everybody deserves an opportunity to fulfill their dreams. This show will provide a platform for such people realize their dreams".

In Tamil, KBC has been hosted by Suriya and Prakash Raj.A

Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have hosted the Hindi versions of the show so far. Its Bengali version was hosted by cricketer Sourav Ganguly, Bhojpuri by actor Shatrughan Sinha an Kannada version by Kannada Version of Kaun Banega Crorepati hosted by Actor Puneeth Rajkumar.

After playing the action hero in "Ishaqzaade" and "Gunday", Arjun Kapoor essays a loverboy in his latest release "2 States", and he can only be thankful that it has given him a chance to explore a different look and genre.

He hopes the audience slowly becomes more confident about his work.

"I am thankful that people have broken that stereotype about me in their head. I wasn't targetting becoming an action hero or a loverboy...the idea is that people should watch my work and with every passing film, they should feel more confident about me," the 28-year-old said here Friday at the Galaxy theatre.

Arjun loves that his "2 States" character Krish is non-heroic.

"The feedback till now tells that they have liked the subtlety of my character which at a selfish level, I aspire for. You see the front-footed texture of Parma (in 'Ishaqzaade') and attitude of Bala ('Gunday'), but you see the simplicity of Krish," he said.

"He is not a hero, which is what I like about him. He gets stuck between his mother and his girlfriend and I like the idea of him being non-heroic," he added.

Arjun will continue to do different things in his future films.

"The idea is to move forward with every film and that the director sees something new in you. It has happened in every film, but in '2 States' it is very visible because of the subtlety of the character," Arjun said.

He believes directors can look beyond a person to find things that the actor himself doesn't know exist.

"My next 'Finding Fanny Fernandes' is also different and I believe that directors can find things in you that you don't even know exist. I didn't know I can play a small-town rowdy, but I did in 'Ishaqzaade'. It's upto the director eventually, what he sees in me," he said.

"2 States" is based on author Chetan Bhagat's similarly titled novel and hit the theatres Friday. Directed by Abhishek Verman, it stars Alia Bhatt opposite Arjun.

If you wish to share the same frame as Shah Rukh Khan, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity awaits you thanks to daily deals website Groupon India.

Groupon India has joined hands with SRK's Red Chillies Entertainment to give fans a chance to feature with the superstar in his upcoming film "Happy New Year".

The unique initiative has been designed keeping in mind the Bollywood frenzy and a desire among millions to act with the best of Bollywood stars and to give a chance to aspirants to showcase their talent on the silver screen.

“We gave a long thought to this whole idea and spoke to a lot of budding actors and movie moguls before coming up with it. The conclusion was that auditions are not easy to crack and a big hassle in terms of travelling to various locations, so we thought what better than having an online process where a person can audition by just using a web cam,” Ankur Warikoo, CEO, Groupon India told IANS.

“We invested in creating a platform ‘onewayticket.in’ which enables people to submit auditions with the help of a few clicks either by their computer or a mobile phone. Eminent judges are on board and they will screen the contestants to select the best 200 who will then go to Mumbai, the other 300 will be decided through public voting,” he added.

The entire process costs Rs.499.

Warikoo also says that associating with Shah Rukh gels well with the initiative as almost every upcoming actor aspires to be like him.

“I am personally a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and Groupon is delighted to be associated with Red Chillies Entertainment. Shah Rukh has a global fan following and Groupon has a global footprint too, there could not have been a better synergy,” he said.

This deal can be availed by Shah Rukh’s fans in other countries too. These include Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Zealand and Dubai.

Comedian Santhanam, who's playing lead in upcoming Tamil romantic-comedy "Vallavanuku Pullum Aayudham", says that his mother is worried about his debut as a lead hero because she feels that his career may end if the film doesn't click at the box office.

"Vallavanuku Pullum Aayudham" is the Tamil remake of Telugu blockbuster "Maryada Ramanna", which introduced comedian Sunil Varma in the lead.

"My mother is worried that I may not get films if this film bombs at the box office. All these years she never got worried because she knew that as a comedian, I'll always have a few films in hand and keep myself busy. But she feels as a hero I may get only one film a year," Santhanam told IANS.

"She's not happy about my decision to play lead roles. She feels that I'm safe as a comedian and can keep myself employed for a longer run," he added.

Santhanam, however, says his mom's worries have not affected him.

"I have been offered several films in the past to play lead role but I found this particular film to be apt. I waited for a right opportunity and when this came my way, I was confident and decided to take the plunge. My mom way worry, but she'll pray the most for me," he said.

Directed by debutant Srinath, the film also features debutante Ashna Zaveri, Senthil, Nagineedu, Ravi Prakash, VTV Ganesh and Swarnamalya in important roles.

Actor Vivek Oberoi, who has dubbed for Jamie Foxx's character of Electro in the Hindi version of Hollywood film "The Amazing Spider-Man 2", says he agreed to this as he is a huge fan of the Oscar-winning actor.

"I am a huge fan of Jamie Foxx's. I love his work. The minute they (Sony Pictures) told me 'You have to be Jamie Foxx's voice', I was excited," Vivek told reporters here Friday at the trailer launch of the Hindi version of "The Amazing Spider-Man 2".

"It was a daunting task because the way he has performed the initial part, was so difficult. If you watch the film, you will find it difficult to catch what he is saying and how he is saying," he added.

The 37-year-old, who dubbed for a few films and international TV series "Small Wonder", "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "The Restless" in his early years, found it challenging to lend his voice for Electro's character.

"I had to hear the voices in English, read the Hindi script and then speak the lines, making sure my lips were in sync with the original English words.

"After dubbing for one or two hours for the film I felt 'why I am doing it? I should not have done it.' But then it became easier eventually and I enjoyed a lot and I completed the dubbing in two days," said Vivek.

The original version of the Spider-Man series "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" features Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in the lead and will hit the theatres May 2 in India.

Suraj Venjaramoodu, who was jointly named the best actor at the National Film Awards for his work in Malayalam film "Perariyathavar", was Saturday given the best comedian honour at the Kerala State Film Awards.

On Wednesday, Venjaramoodu was jointly declared the best actor for his role in "Perariyathavar", directed by Biju.

But Saturday, the Kerala State Film Awards jury led by eminent Tamil director K.Bharatiraja, jointly gave the best actor award to Lal and Fahad Fazil, while Venjaramoodu was selected as the best comedian for his role in "Dhaivethinte Swanthem Cleetus".

Reacting to the award, Venjaramoodu said: "I respect the opinion of the jury and the state government. I have nothing against anyone as the outlook of people differ. The outlook of the national jury was different, so is the outlook of the jury in Kerala."

Biju said the least that the jury could have done here was to have not given the comedian award to Venjaramoodu.

"By doing so, they have belittled the best actor National Award winner," said Biju, adding that here there have been other interests when awards are selected.

Ahead of declaring the awards, State Culture Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the state government gave absolute freedom to the jury and their decision was final and there was no intervention from any quarter in any form at all.

"We have been given a recommendation that an expert committee should be constituted to revise the norms of film awards. We have accepted it and a committee will be formed drawing up experts from the film industry and they will be asked to submit a report in three months' time," said Radhakrishnan.

Salim Kumar, a popular comedian and character artiste who a few years back after receiving the best actor National Award in the same year he was handed out the best comedy artist, had said that these are all strange things.

"Nowhere in the world is an award given to the best comedian. I fail to understand why in our state awards are being compartmentalised. The best that can be done is this award given to the best comedian be removed. I had warned Suraj that you should be prepared to take shocks and it has happened," said Kumar.

But jury chairman Bharatiraja said that there was nothing done to belittle Venjaramoodu.

"His films that were considered here were different and he was selected for the best comedian. At the national level, his film was categorised under the 'enviornment' section and here there is no such section," said the jury chairman.

The best actress award went to Ann Augustine for her role in the film "Artiste", for which Shyamaprasad was given the best director award for the film.

"Crime No. 89" was adjudged the best film.

Four of Chetan Bhagat's five novels have been adapted for the big screen - the latest being "2 States", based on his book "2 States: The Story Of My Marriage". The author says movies help him expand his reach among Indians.

In an interview, he shares his experience with "2 States", its team, his association with Bollywood and literature.

Excerpts:

Q. Another movie adaptation of your novel, this one very close to home. How much of your true-life love story has the film managed to capture?

A. Yes indeed, '2 States' is quite close to me because the inspiration came from my own life. The key plot points are from my life but there is fictionalization and drama added as well. Hence, technically it is Krish and Ananya's story in the book and I think the film has captured that quite well.

Q. How much of your romantic and marital life do we see in '2 States'?

A. Not much of my marital life, as the film ends with the couple getting married. It is also more a 'how to convince family' story so even the romantic bits are limited.

Q. You've been seen to be closely associated with the marketing of the film, standing up there with Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor. How closely affiliated are you to this story's journey from your novel to cinema?

A. I was only involved in the initial stages, in terms of placing the key members of the team in place, producers, director and the main cast. I was consulted on all of these and we came to a consensus on what works best. After that, it has been completely director Abhishek Varman's show. He has made a wonderful film and credit goes to him and his team. I came on board for the final promotions as the book is popular and it helps the book readers becoming aware of the film.

Q. Your novels are invariably adapted for cinema. How comfortable are you with this transition? Which of your novels has been best adapted for cinema, and which one got it the least right on screen?

A. I like to reach more Indians, and movies help me do so. The bigger the audience I have, the more likely they are to read my non-fiction columns on national issues or be interested in my views. Movies help me do that. I can't pick the least right.

Q. How close do you feel to Bollywood and its culture now?

A. I feel close enough that if I have a project in mind, I can reach a few people and discuss it with them. I have a few friends, mostly directors. However, I don't know if apart from work, I am close to Bollywood in any other way. I come from a different background, and I have a life and career outside of Bollywood. Films is just one of the things I do.

Q. Chetan, you remain the only bridge in India between literature and the younger generation. How much of a performance pressure does this positioning put on you?

A. I am not the only bridge, of course. There are many writers now and the bookshops are full of new books. However, I am lucky readers look forward to my work. There is of course, enormous pressure. With "2 States", the expectations are sky high. Ditto for my next book. I have to make conscious efforts to remain calm.

Q. What do you feel about the uneasy relationship between Bollywood and literature?

A. Well, it is getting better. At least in my case. I am extremely lucky, as many good projects languish for years. I have had all my books taken up for filming, and four of the five have been already made.

Q. Would you consider directing a film in the near future?

A. I could, but it is not a priority. If I can get to work with directors like Abhishek Kapoor and Abhishek Verman, there is no need for me to do that specialized role. As long as I can be part of great films, I am happy playing any role in them.

Q. You are now working on your next novel. Please give us a glimpse into its content. Are you doing a sequel to "2 States"?

A. I'm not doing a sequel to '2 States' at this point. I don't have a book length plot for it. I am working on, and indeed quite excited about my new book, which will release on Diwali this year. The book is a rural-urban love story, as I wanted to somewhat explore rural India in my own way.

Q. Which recent Hindi films have you enjoyed, and why?

A. I loved "Queen" enough to write a column on it. I also liked "Highway".

Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer "2 States", which released
Friday, raked in around Rs.12 crore on its opening day in the country. The movie, based on a bestseller by author Chetan Bhagat, is poised to draw in more viewers over the weekend, say industry experts.

According to sources, the first day collection for the entertainer, directed by first-timer Abhishek Varman, is Rs. 12.42 cr net.

Rajesh Thadani of Multimedia Combines, said: "The film is doing very good business at the box office. It has gone beyond expectations. The film has collected close to Rs.12 crore on Friday. It is great and its almost going housefull on many theatres today (Saturday)."

"If the film goes in the same pace, it will certainly create a record for itself," he added.

The movie is also said to be going housefull in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Sanjay Ghai from Mukta Arts said: "The film is going housefull, and that is commendable. With out having any Khans or A-listers, the film has managed to pull maximum crowd.

"The film collected Rs.2.25 crore on Friday from Delhi, and all over India, it's business was close to Rs.12 to Rs.13 crore."

Co-produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala and distributed by UTV Motion Pictures, the film tells the story of a couple belonging to two different states.

Talking about how the movie has fared so far, Amrita Pandey, vice president and head of marketing and distribution, Studios - Disney India, said: "'2 States' had a phenomenal jump start right from morning shows on Friday all over the country and across all centres.

"Many cinemas were running to packed capacities, and added shows on the first day itself. The movie is geared for a great run. In key international markets like North America, Australia and Britain, the movie was running to high occupancies and the opening day collections were great."

The movie was released in nearly 2,400 screens worldwide. In India, "2 States" released in over 2,000 screens and internationally, it released in close to 350 screens in 30 countries.

When superstar Rajinikanth sought S.S Rajamouli's permission to visit the shooting of his Telugu period-drama "Baahubali", the filmmaker felt it was one of the most memorable moments of his life.

"One of my most memorable moments: Rajini sir leaned across and said Rajamouli, I want to come to sets of 'Baahubali' and see your shooting (sic)," Rajamouli posted on his Twitter page Saturday.

Rajinikanth was in Hyderabad for the Telugu trailer launch of his film "Kochadaiiyaan", which is releasing worldwide May 9.

Rajamouli said it was also the most forgettable moment of his life.

"(It was also) one of my most forgettable moment. I gaped at him tongue tied and said something resembling 'Thank you sir' (sic)," he posted.

"Kochadaiiyaan" will be dubbed and released in Telugu as "Vikrama Simha".

It is touted to be India's first performance capture photo-realistic 3D animated film.

It also features Deepika Padukone, Jackie Shroff, R. Sarath Kumar, Aadi Pinisetty, Nasser and Shobana in important roles.

Telugu comedian Brahmanandam, who recently completed three decades in the industry, says he will continue to entertain audiences till the sky and earth last. He said he is indebted to every single member of Telugu filmdom.

Brahmanandam, who started his career with a brief role in Jandhyala's 1986 Telugu comedy "Chantabbai", has starred in over 1,000 films.

"I entered the industry two years before I got my first break in 'Chantabbai'. Since then, it has been a memorable journey with ups and downs. I will continue to entertain my fans as long as sky and earth last," Brahmanandam told IANS.

"It will be unfair on my part if I credit my success only to directors and producers. From light boys to make-up artists to even our caterer on sets, I'm indebted to all these people who have stayed with me through thick and thin," he added.

Brahmanandam is one of the few actors in the country to have starred in over 1,000 films, predominantly in Telugu.

The 58-year-old is also a recipient of the coveted Padma Shri award.

He is currently busy with multiple projects in Telugu as well as Tamil.

Southern actress Shanvi Srivastav will feature in the yet-untitled Kannada remake of Telugu blockbuster "Ala Modalaindi", which has already been remade in Tamil and will soon see a remake in Hindi as well.

"I have signed the Kannada remake of 'Ala Modalaindi'. We'll start shooting from the end of April," Shanvi told IANS.

Shanvi recently starred in the Kannada remake of Telugu hit "Prema Katha Chitram". This is the second remake she's starring in a row.

She has no qualms about working in remakes.

"I guess getting remake offers is much more encouraging because it shows someone trusts your talent and then it becomes our responsibility to do well. It encourages us to perform better," She said.

The Kannada remake will be helmed by Sadhu Kokila, while actor Sumanth will play the male lead.

Shanvi is also currently awaiting the release of Telugu romantic-drama "Pyar Mein Padipoyane".

The Tamil remake of "Ala Modalaindi" titled "Ennamo Yedho" is getting ready for release, while its Hindi remake will go on the floors soon.

Hollywood audio engineers Marti Humphrey and Chris Jacobson, who have rendered their services for the upcoming Tamil drama "Saivam", are wowed by the film's family harmony. They couldn't believe such family accord still exists in India.

Humphrey and Jacobson along with Indian-based sound designer Kunal Rajan worked on Kamal Haasan's "Vishwaroopam" previously.

"We have worked on action and fiction films in Hollywood but we still find it hard to believe that the family harmony which is all over 'Saivam' still exists in India. We would like to visit India and experience it more on a personal level," the two jointly said in a statement.

According to director Vijay of "Saivam", his film will instill long forgotten family traditions in the audience.

"'Saivam' is about family values. It will zoom through every individual's family roots and help people understand the real meaning of family portraits. It will instill lost family traditions into the audiences," Vijay said earlier.

"Saivam", which is also produced by Vijay, features child artist Sara Arjun and Nasser in the lead roles.

He churns out bestsellers which tempt filmmakers to lend them to big screen adaptations. The success ratio of Hindi movies inspired by Chetan Bhagat's books has so far been high, and with the promising response to "2 States", he seems to be cementing his space in the Bollywood circuit.

"My readers' silent support is my biggest strength. Today you displayed it to the nation. Thank you for the phenomenal opening. '2 States'," Bhagat had posted Friday, the day when "2 States" hit the screens to houseful theatres across India.

The movie is based on his bestseller "2 States: The Story Of My Marriage" about a couple coming from two different Indian states. It was an instant hit in 2009.

Said to be inspired by the real-life story of the north Indian author and his wife who is from Tamil Nadu, the book found a connect with youth and elders alike. Now, the movie seems to be working its magic with viewers of all age groups and managed an opening day collection of over Rs.12 crore - "commendable", according to trade analysts.

Cast on screen in the roles are Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, two of the most talented actors from the young lot. Like several youngsters their age, the two actors also have their memories attached to the book.

While Alia had read it before it was getting made into a film and found it to be "beautiful", Arjun has said that the bestseller occupies a space on his late mother Mona Shourie Kapoor's bookshelf till date.

Whether 16 or 60, people of different sensibilities, generations and ideas are flocking to the theatres to watch the movie, about two states, different cultures and families and one love story.

Even celebrities have loved it.

Commenting on the movie, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said: "'2 States'...I like. All aspects just so correct - writing, directing, music and performances."

Actor Vivek Oberoi tweeted: "In my opinion Chetan Bhagat is by far the most successful contemporary Indian writer of our times! His individual fan following is epic. He has an incredible ability to communicate, especially with the youth."

No wonder then that Bhagat's waltz with Bollywood seems to be just getting better with every novel that's turned into a movie.

"2 States" is the fourth out of his five works to get a film version.

Two managed to paint a successful box office story - "3 idiots" (based on "Five Point Someone") and "Kai Po Che!" (based on "The 3 Mistakes Of My Life"), while "Hello", inspired by his "One Night @ the Call Center" did not get a great reception.

Nevertheless, following the success of "Kai Po Che!" last year, it was only natural for viewers and readers to have high expectations from the Abhishek Varman-directed "2 States".

In times when remakes and sequels are swarming the Bollywood scenario, Bhagat is among the few new-age authors whose books have been constantly picked by filmmakers for the big screen.

It works in his interest too!

Bhagat, in a recent interview, said: "I like to reach more Indians, and movies help me do so. The bigger the audience I have, the more likely they are to read my non-fiction columns on national issues or be interested in my views."