Toronto-based actor Vinay Virmani, whose performance last year in Bejoy Nambiar’s "David" fetched him immense accolades, has just wrapped up an international project entitled "Dr Cabbie" where his co-star is the "G.I. Joe" actress Adriene Pallicki.

According to eye-witness reports filtering in from locations in Canada, Vinay and Adriene are quite a pair.

Vinay chooses to hide behind the Bollywood cliché when asked about Adrien. "It may sound corny, but we are very, very good friends, that's about it. And if this sounds like a Bollywood cliché then I am thrilled. I want to be a pukka Bollywood actor," he said.

According to a very close buddy of Vinay, “Initially Vinay and Adriene barely exchanged a few words. He is a very shy guy, very reluctant to open up with people who are not close friends or part of his immediate circle.”

Apparently as the shooting progressed the ice between the pair thawed and melted. Now that the film is complete the entire unit is speaking about the couple’s sizzling camaraderie.

Last weekend Adriene was a special invitee at Vinay’s sister’s lavish wedding in Toronto attended by many Bollywood A-listers like Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra.

Said a source from Toronto: “Adrien was there throughout the wedding by Vinay’s side. There were performances by Mika and RDB, and Vinay hosted the programme with Rahul Khanna.

"Adrien danced and had a good time. She seemed very comfortable in the Punjabi milieu. They are definitely more than just good friends. Just where they are heading we don’t know. But we do know that the two of them are very comfortable with one another.”

In "Dr. Cabbie", Vinay plays a doctor from India who migrates to Canada to become a taxi driver in the borrowed land of opportunities and initiates a mobile medical clinic in his cab.

"Tum Bin" fame actor Priyanshu Chatterjee, recently seen in "Samrat & Co", doesn't have any particular role in mind or any fixed plans to direct. He says he would like to be part of "interesting and entertaining" cinema that helps him "shine like never before" and that he may wield the megaphone if a subject "grips" his attention.

"Let's see what destiny has in store for me, what sort of roles, how the audience feels about me. This is all hypothetical," he said when asked about future plans. "I would love to be a part of an interesting, entertaining film in which I shine like never before," added the Delhiite.

Do you want to direct films?

"No such plans yet, but if there is a subject that haunts me enough to grip me and I feel only I will be able to do justice to it, then yes, I will sink my teeth into it as well," he said.

Starring Rajeev Khandelwal in the lead role, "Samrat & Co" opened to a lukewarm response at the box office when the thriller mystery came out April 25.

Talking about the genre, he said, "detective thrillers stay relatively unexplored yet."

Buoyed by the narrative and well-etched characters, the model-turned-actor accepted the offer.

"I heard the narration from Kaushik Ghatak, the director of the movie, and found the story interesting. Also, I thought the characters were well etched and hence I said, yes," Priyanshu told IANS in a telephonic interview.

When asked whether he bonded with his co-stars, especially Rajeev, he said: "There was nothing to bond over with Rajeev as the script sets that down for you. As a colleague, he was professional and I had a good time working with him."

As far as big success is concerned, it has so far eluded Priyanshu, who made an impressive debut with director Anubhav Sinha's 2001 sleeper hit "Tum Bin". In his over a decade-long acting career, the 41-year-old featured in "Woh", "Julie", and "Madhoshi", but none could help boost his career.

In 2008, success came in the form of "Bhoothnath", but it was all about Amitabh Bachchan, who played the ghost, and child actor Aman Siddiqui, seen as naughty Banku who befriends the ghost called Bhoothnath.

Later he tried his luck in Bengali films and did "Moner Manush", "Bhorer Allo" and "Paanch Adhyay".

However, Priyanshu feels that he got his due as all producers paid him in full. His next will be "Barkha", slated for an August release.

He has not done too many light-hearted roles.

"I think it's the other way around. They chose me," he said when asked about choosing serious and sentimental films such as "Tum Bin" and "Aapko Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai".

"However, I thought 'Dil Ka Rishta' and 'Rajdhani Express' were pretty funny acts. And I always say it's a director's medium so it's really not up to me to make that call. I am just an actor," he added.

A graduate from Delhi University, he aspired to be a chartered accountant, but then came a modelling offer and he embarked on a new journey with projects such as Digjam's print campaign, Wills Cigarettes, Levi's and Four Square.

"It's destiny more than anything else. You just come to the crossroads and decide which way you want to go. It's your passion, hunger, patience, grit and so many other variables that come together to make that choice for you," he said.

The capital is his favourite spot, especially for the food.

"I love being in Delhi, the food and the infrastructure are amazing. The place that I always come for the best Sushi in Delhi is Sakae Sushi at the Ambience mall, Vasant Kunj. I love the food, ambience and the service at the restaurant. It's a gem of a place."

National award winning "Shahid" director Hansal Mehta, who describes himself as a subversive filmmaker, is all set to make a film on a gay character’s journey from self-denial to social ostracism. Interestingly, the story came to him through the internet.

“It’s a story that was mailed to me by a girl called Ishani Banerji. It just blew my mind. I have to tell this story because marginalised people in our society always interest me,” said the director whose next release "City Lights" is about a migrant couple’s self-effacing anonymity in the Maximum City.

“We’ve stopped seeing these nameless migrants in the cities. Their lives never concerned us. Now they’ve become invisible,” said Mehta, who has again cast Rajkummar Rao in the lead.

He describes "City Lights" as a sequel to his year 2000 satire on migration "Dil Pe Mat La Yaar". To portray abject poverty and ground level austerity, Rajkummar and his leading lady Patralekha had to shoot under the harshest of circumstances.

“My producers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt were willing to provide all the comforts required for shooting. However, I deliberately made them shoot under gruelling conditions. No make-up van, no luxuries were allowed,” said Mehta.

His partnership with the very talented Rajkummar is “unbreakable”, says Mehta.

However, his next film about the gay hero won’t star Rajkummar, but Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

“I need an older actor to play the gay character. The story takes the character through a very wide chronological arc. Nawaz is more suited to the character. But I am writing a very big biographical story for Rajkummar, which would be set in the Hindi film industry during the 1950s. That’s the film Rajkummar and I are doing next,” he said.

Marginal heroes would continue to haunt Hansal’s cinema. In real life too the filmmaker is haunted by communal forces taking over the country. He recently signed a controversial petition pleading for voters to desist from voting for Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

“I am not asking voters to not vote for Narendra Modi. I am asking them to vote against communal divisive forces. God save this country if such forces come into power,” he said.

“Satra Ko Shaadi Hai”, which has an ensemble cast of over 50 actors, promises to bring out the flavour of real Indian weddings on the big screen.

Co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures, J.A. Entertainment and Rising Sun Films, it will be a fun and entertaining marriage drama, said a statement.

Featuring Barun Sobti and Sapna Pabbi as the lead actors, the movie will be helmed by debutant director Arshad Syed.

“Satra Ko Shaadi Hai” is based in Bhopal and will capture wedding elements including inflated egos, juggling budgets, rooftop romances, messed up arrangements, generation gaps, confused ceremonies, last minute emergencies and also the fun, frolic, festivities galore, dance, music, family bonding and emotions.

It is expected to release in 2015.

Men dressing like women has been a tried-and-tested formula of infusing humour in Bollywood films. Now Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Ram Kapoor will be seen doing so in comedy film "Humshakals".

A Sajid Khan directorial, "Humshakals" is a comedy of errors, and the director turned his actors into dainty and beautiful actresses for a dash of fun.

A source close to the production team said: "We have seen Ritiesh play a woman in 'Apna Sapna Money Money', and now he will be doing it again in 'Humshakals' along with Saif and Ram."

"Saif and Ram were quite reluctant in the beginning to portray themselves as women but in the end gave in and let Sajid take the reigns," the source added.

The movie, which also stars Bipasha Basu, Tamannaah Bhatia and Esha Gupta, is produced by Vashu Bhagnani. It will hit the screens June 20.

He is gutsy and he is adventurous. Newcomer Tiger Shroff showed off his daring side while filming "Heropanti", in which he insisted upon doing stunts himself.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the action romance film required Tiger to jump off a 260-feet tall building.

The crew shot the sequence recently on the outskirts of Mumbai and director Sabbir Khan says that it was scary.

“It was extremely scary because Tiger had to first run on a thin ledge, and then jump off the building from the 20th floor. Any minor error could prove fatal, but Tiger always insists on doing all his stunts himself, minus any exterior help like cables etc,” Khan said in a statement.

A fresh face from the capital, Kriti Sanon too marks her Bollywood debut with the film, which is slated to release May 23.

In Sajid Khan's "Humshakals", Bipasha Basu, Esha Gupta and Tamannaah will be seen sporting bikinis.

Apart from selecting the right kind of bikini for themselves, the trio has worked really hard to get the perfect body to carry the two-piece ensemble well.

A source said: “Bipasha, Esha and Tamannaah will be seen sporting bikinis in one sequence in the film. They have carried it effortlessly. Sajid has always had a bikini sequence in his films and 'Humshakals' is no exception."

"The sequence will surely add an oomph factor to the film," the source added.

The movie also stars Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh and Ram Kapoor.

Produced by Vashu Bhagnani and presented by Fox Star Studios, the movie will release June 20.

Her performance in her latest movies like "Queen" and "Revolver Rani" has earned Kangana Ranaut the epithet of being Bollywood's 'rani'. She says she has been receiving respect and acknowledgment for her work like never before.

"I feel like this is a beautiful time of my life. I've never been respected or treated the way I am right now...the way people have really acknowledged what I do. It is nice," Kangana told IANS here.

Coming from Himachal Pradesh and with no film background, Kangana has made a niche for herself in Bollywood where star kids almost rule the roost.

Her choice of movies and roles has always been distinct - sample her act in "Tanu Weds Manu" vis-a-vis her role in "Revolver Rani", or "Gangster - A Love Story" or "Fashion".

As a viewer too, she prefers to watch the kind of cinema she is part of.

"I like what I do, and that's why I do them. I'd like to see something like a 'Queen', or dark drama with some humour. I like twisted cinema, and universal cinema like 'Queen' appeals to me as well," she said.

She admits the perception about her and her ability to perform has changed over the years.

"The perception has changed. But also...initially, there weren't so many great roles, and actresses were all about glamorous people, with roles where they were tortured by the world...it was all about making a stereotypical film. But there is a variety of films now, and it's great," she added.

Kangana spoke to IANS on the sidelines of the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards, where she was honoured as the Actor of the Year.

In the recent past, Kangana had stated that she has decided to say no to award ceremonies.

But she found this particular award, distributed in the capital Tuesday night, "credible".

"It is credible. First, I said no for the award, then I got a personal letter from Prannoy Roy (the channel's head honcho) and it convinced me to come here. It is not a filmy award - they award people from all fields, and that's why I came," she said.

Her happiness knew no bounds when she learned that actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan, a fan of her performance in "Queen", was going to present her the award.

"He has been a huge inspiration to me," Kangana said of Aamir, who later gave her a hug for "following her heart" in the industry.

Actress Sonam Kapoor Wednesday unveiled the latest make-up collection of L'Oreal Paris for the Festival de Cannes 2014. She is excited about flaunting the new looks on the red carpet at the fest, starting May 14.

The collection is inspired by the "gold", and L'Oreal Paris beauty expert Namrata Soni has created three looks inspired by infusion of gold and exciting spring hues.

Sonam, who will attend the festival May 18-19, is looking forward to the event "because of the exceptional make-up and looks that L'Oreal Paris launches."

"I am really excited about the L'Or Lumière collection as it embodies two of my favourite make-up trends - neo gold and brights! Namrata has done a fabulous job on the three looks and I'm quite excited to showcase these trends on a global platform," Sonam said in a statement.

Namrata feels that "L'Oreal Paris has always crafted products that accentuate the grace and elegance of the modern Indian women". She has tried to achieve the same with the latest make-up line.

Apart from Sonam, the other L'Oreal Paris India ambassadors, who will grace the event, are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who will attend the festival May 16-17, and Freida Pinto who will walk the Cannes red carpet May 17-18.

Sonam Kapoor starrer "Khoobsurat", a remake of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1980 romantic comedy of the same name, will release Sep 19 this year.

Co-produced by Disney India and Anil Kapoor Film Company, the fun drama will see Sonam in the lead role of Mili, a vivacious girl who turns the lives of a royal family upside down.

"Disney India's 'Khoobsurat', a wholesome family entertainer produced in association with Anil Kapoor Film Company, will release on Sep 19," said a statement released by Disney India.

Directed by writer and ace ad-filmmaker Shashanka Ghosh, it also stars Fawad Khan, Kirron Kher, Ratna Pathak Shah and Amir Raza Hussain.

Sonam plays the happy-go-lucky girl, beautifully essayed by Rekha in the original, which also starred Rakesh Roshan, Dina Pathak and Ashok Kumar.

It had a gripping cycle rickshaw chase scene and a heated fist fight between superstar Shah Rukh Khan and action hero Suneil Shetty. Choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan’s “very loved film” “Main Hoon Na” had all elements that was anything but “ladylike”.

As the film turned 10 Wednesday, she doesn’t regret choosing the superhit action drama that thrilled the audiences to the hilt to launch her as a director.

Farah went into a nostalgic mode when asked about her film completing 10 years.

“We got very nostalgic. All photos my fans are sending me. I don’t even have those photos. Even in office, we couldn’t find pictures because we changed office twice. We remember it like it was last year or something and suddenly it’s been 10 years,” Farah told IANS.

“I wanted to make it for so long. It took around two to three years before I got to make it...from the time I started writing the script. It was a very different film for a woman director to make at that point. People were not expecting this kind of film. They thought I’d make some ladylike film,” she added.

Calling it a “very macho film”, the movie also gave Shah Rukh, the lead actor of the film, a break from romantic sagas like “Kal Ho Naa Ho” and “Chalte Chalte”.

“It was a very macho movie. Even for Shah Rukh. He wasn’t doing action at all that time. He was doing love stories. It was like an action macho film for him also. He enjoys doing action a lot more… He adds a lot in terms of making the action more thrilling… and it did well everywhere - north, south, interior belt,” she said.

Though she thinks there’s always room for improvement, she considers “Main Hoon Na” to be the perfect film to launch her as a director.

“I had so much fun making it. It’s a very loved film. It comes almost everyday on TV and everyday I get messages on Twitter or BB that they are watching it for the 20th time and still love it. I wouldn’t want to change things. I am very happy. Now my kids watch it. They enjoy it a lot,” said the mother of triplets.

It’s been 10 years, but the 48-year-old still feels nervous.

After pausing for a while, Farah, who has two superhits behind her, said: “I am not confident as director. I still get nervous. I don’t know whether I am heading in the right direction or not. I was far more confident when I was making ‘Main Hoon Na’. Now, pressure is there.”

The “Om Shanti Om” director is now tied up with “Happy New Year”, which she likes to call her “biggest movie”.

“‘Happy New Year’ is very hectic. It is definitely biggest movie Shah Rukh and I have made. It’s a very big movie in terms of scale, star cast and everything. Every shoot has thousands of junior artists. It’s a difficult film for me. But we are having so much fun. The cast and crew are lovely,” she said.

The movie also stars Deepika Padukone, Sonu Sood and Abhishek Bachchan.

She has done so much, but still has a lot more to do. When asked what’s left to explore, she said: “Arey, lots more.”

Filmmaker Mani Shankar, who brought holography to India in association with his partner Hamed Saberi, says that after the Indian parliamentary elections, the 2016 US presidential elections are their next destination.

"I helped introduce holograms to India and Indian elections," said Shankar and added: "Nobody in the world has the kind of experience in handling holograms for politics like I do."

Talking about business plans for the US elections, he said: "Around 2,000 mobile holographic units will crisscross the US countryside bearing avatars of potential candidates who will address voters. Trance will become synonymous with mobile holograms worldwide. In fact, whichever country goes to polls from now on, Trance will be there."

With holography technology, an individual can be seen in his authentic physical form in many different places simultaneously.

Shankar, known for his directorial ventures "16 December" and "Rudraksh", deployed specially created holographic mobile theatres for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The compact mobile units pack a huge punch as they criss-cross villages and showcase a life-size holographic shows where Modi appears from thin air and addresses the audience.

Shanker and his team of Anjali Joshi and Bhupesh Bhupathy made it all possible.

Excerpts:

Q: How has the hologram technique helped Modi in his election campaign?

A: Lots of things have changed since 2012, the year I helped introduce holograms to India and Indian elections. Since then the technology has evolved. The old foil-based technology is being edged out and radically new technologies like nano particle-based holograms have made their mark. My new company Trance owns the global patents in that new space, and we are making giant strides... Holograms do make people's jaws drop.

Q: Quite a few political leaders are using holograms to fight election?

A: Yes, former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, TRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao, even Chandra Babu Naidu consulted me on this along with other political leaders. Everyone wants holograms. Politics will never be the same worldwide now.

Q: What is your future plan?

A: We have proved our mettle on the largest and toughest playing field - the Indian elections, so we are heading to the next largest playing field.

Q: Which is?

A: The US Presidential Elections, 2016 what else? Nobody in the world has the kind of experience in handling holograms for politics like I do. I literally wrote the book on it. So now Trance is going global, with affiliates and offices in the US, Mexico, Canada, Japan and other countries. As per our current business plan, around 2,000 mobile holographic units will crisscross the US countryside bearing avatars of potential candidates who will address voters. Trance will become synonymous with mobile holograms worldwide. In fact, whichever country goes to polls from now on, Trance will be there.

Q: You worked with Modi in the Gujarat elections. How was the experience?

A: Fantastic. He is the most focused and charismatic political leader I have ever met.

Filmmaker-actor Mahesh Manjrekar's decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North-West as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) candidate may have surprised everyone except the filmmaker himself. He says it was not an “overnight” decision.

“It isn't an overnight decision,” said Manjrekar who claims that he has known Raj Thackeray for 25 years and that his films often showed his political bent of mind.

“If you see my films, whether it is 'Vaastav', 'Kuruskshetra' or 'Viruddh', there is always a very strong undercurrent of political anger in them. I am not a glamorous film person who has overnight decided to join politics. Politics, specially Maharashtra's politics, has been part of my bloodstream.”

What is surprising is his leap into the Lok Sabha fray.

“I thought I'd go into the legislative assembly because my concern is the politics of Maharashtra. I never thought I'd try to go to the Lok Sabha. I had spoken to Raj Thackeray a year-and-a-half ago about wanting to get into the legislative council. But now that I am fielding myself for the Lok Sabha, I'd still like to think of myself as a politician from Maharashtra who would get a wider platform to help the State.”

He is not daunted by the MNS' controversial image.

“What controversy? Have you read the statements on rape allegedly made by a prominent politician of Uttar Pradesh? We are faced with an acute crisis of morality in Indian politics. The time for dilly-dallying is over. If we care to save the country from the politics of such highly dangerous bigots, we have to act fast,” said Manjrekar whose “Astitva” was a bold statement on women and their rights.

He has already planned out a clear strategy on how to go about implementing his ideas once he is elected.

“The things is, every elected parliamentarian is seen by the common people as the face of Indian politics. When I go to under-developed areas of Maharashtra, I am asked to help the poor people overcome the water shortage. How do I explain to these desperately poor people that it's not my job to ensure them a water supply?

"For the 35 municipal wards in my constituency, I will appoint 38 officers who will look into every problem of each ward and report to me directly. That would ensure accountability from every corner of my constituency even when I may not be able to be personally present everywhere all the time.”

As for finding time to fulfil all his political duties, Manjrekar laughed. “I only need 70 days during the year to attend parliament. The rest of the time can be utilized as and how I wish. I used to follow a no-work policy on Sundays. Now I'll be devoting Sundays to the people and problems of my constituency.”

Now that he has such lofty political plans do we see the end of Manjrekar's career as a filmmaker and actor?

“Definitely, I won't be acting anymore for now. But the filmmaker in me would never be out of work. I'll make sure that I earn my living by directing films so that I never have to look towards politics to earn money. This is my method of ensuring complete honesty in my political life.”

Buzz has it that his family has opted to not participate in his political campaign.

“Not true!” protests Mahesh. “My wife has been with me to a number of political events. As for my children I don't want to put them under pressure. Why bring them in unnecessarily? In fact, my daughter just called saying she'd like to join me in my campaign. I told her to chill.”

Meanwhile his son Satya is preparing for a career as a leading man in films.

“He's signed two Marathi films on his own without my recommendation or intervention. That's a big relief for me. I don't have to worry about his career. I am relatively free now to devote myself to the politics of Maharashtra.”

To celebrate the spirit of India-Pakistan friendship, makers of "Kya Dilli Kya Lahore" had asked fans to draw a poster to interpret the film through art and photography -- and the three winners announced Wednesday portrayed many hues of this delicate relationship.

The art work of Iman Jeet Singh, a hotel management student from Mumbai, that is a monochromatic representation of a man who is wearing part-turban and part-skull cap on his head, with the name of film pasted on his face, has won the contest.

Arnab Pal from Uttar Pradesh and Chandan Mondal from Kolkata are first and second runners-up, said a statement.

The fans were invited to design an art piece in the form of paintings, sketches, digital art and photography based on the theme of dissolving boundaries, humanity and friendship.

The winners will get to meet the star cast of the film and also a chance to meet writer-lyricist Gulzar who has mentored the film from its script level.

The film, the directorial debut of actor-turned-filmmaker Vijay Raaz, is a satire on India-Pakistan relations and narrates a humorous yet emotional story of a bond formed between an Indian and a Pakistani soldier stationed at the border.

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to make Amitabh Bachchan's latest Bollywood film "Bhoothnath Returns" tax free across the state, an official said Thursday.

A decision to waive off tax on the film was taken at the highest level, he added. The film, co-produced by Ravi Chopra and Bhushan Kumar, is currently being shown at 200 places in the state.

With the tax free dole, the government said, it hoped that more and more people will be able to view the film, which promotes voting.

Government Order regarding the tax free decision was released late Wednesday by principal secretary (Entertainment Tax) Biresh Kumar.

In the past few months, Salman Khan-starrer "Jai Ho" and Madhuri Dixit's "Dedh Ishqiya" were made tax free in Uttar Pradesh.

The decision to waive off entertainment tax on these two films, however, had run into controversy as the decision came days after both Madhuri and Salman performed at an event - Saifai Mahotsava at Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's native village. Opposition parties had alleged that the tax dole was in lieu of the star performances at Saifai.

Amitabh shares a good rapport with the Yadav family. Jaya Bachchan, wife of the megastar, is a Samajwadi Party MP in Rajya Sabha and has been chairperson of the Film Bandhu in the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government.

Shoojit Sircar, the co-producer of "Satra Ko Shaadi Hai", hopes the film about a wedding in Bhopal turns out to be fun.

The film is a small-budget whimsical rom-com directed by writer Arshad Sayyed, who recently wrote another quirky marital comedy "Shaadi Ke Side Effects".

Talking about "Satra Ko Shaadi Hai", Sircar said: "It's set in Bhopal during a wedding and the fun ride that ensues. It's about two different families, their problems, confusions and disputes...all the drama, tension and humour comes tumbling out. Should be fun."

John Abraham will make a guest appearance in the movie, which features an ensemble cast of 50 actors, including Barun Sobti, Harshvardhan Rane, Ridhima Sood and Sapna Pabbi.

A unique marketing campaign called 'Whistle-Blowing', aimed at encouraging the youths to speak up and stand for what is right, has been launched as part of the marketing initiative of "Manjunath”, an extraordinary story of an ordinary man.

Viacom18 Motion Pictures announced the campaign at an event here Wednesday.

A biopic on IIM graduate Manjunath Shanmugham, who took on the fuel mafia in 2005 and raised his voice against corruption, “Manjunath” the film aims to take this message to millions of Indians, motivating people to come forward and join the fight against the same.

A public platform, a microsite - www.whoismanjunath.com - is targeted to garner support for other whistleblowers. Identities of those who make submissions will be kept a secret that will protect whistleblowers.

Talking about the marketing initiatives around the film, Rudrarup Dutta, marketing head, Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said: “The marketing campaign of the film is inspired by its flavour and the 'Manjunath' campaign demanded a radical thought for it to appeal to young India and inspire them to start small, but nonetheless stand up for what is right."

The collaterals for the film have also been designed to support this social awareness initiative. The 'M' in Manjunath is represented in the Devnagari script that fuels the feeling of nationalism among audiences.

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and actress Juhi Chawla were honoured here by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy at an awards ceremony here.

At the 145th edition of the awards, held at Bhaidas Hall in Juhu, Farhan and Juhi were honoured for their outstanding performances in their respective films "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" and "Gulaab Gang".

They were happy.

Sharing his excitement, Farhan said: "I am feeling very happy that this film and my work has been appreciated here at Dadasaheb Phalke (Academy) Awards."

"It feels very nice to get such a prestigious award in the name of Dadasaheb Phalke, who was the father of Indian cinema."

Juhi, who got the best actress honour, said: "I am very happy to receive the award. I feel very honoured as it is in the name of Dadasaheb Phalke."

"I feel very privileged," she added.

Singer Sunidhi Chauhan also received the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for one of her popular songs "Kamli" from the film "Dhoom 3".

She feels lucky to have been chosen for the prestigious award this year and thanked her fans.

"I am feeling like I am on seventh heaven. Thank you so much all of you. Dadasaheb Phalke Award is a very prestigious award and it is a great thing that these awards recognise talent," the singer said.

"I am highly obliged to the Academy that it provided me an opportunity to feel it. I feel very lucky that I was chosen for this award this year," she added.

Yesteryears' actor Jeetendra received Dadasaheb Phalke Ratna Award for his contribution to the Indian film industry.

Besides them, TV actor Gautam Rode, who plays Saras in the popular TV show "Saraswatichandra" and Hina Khan of TV show "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai" also won awards.

Popular stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma, who has touched new heights of success with his hit comedy show "Comedy Nights with Kapil", was also feted.

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, who has recently signed a three-film deal with Vishesh Films, believes Mukesh Bhatt is like a godfather to him. He says the producer is guiding him through his new movie career.

In an interview, Gurmeet has shared how he landed up with the film deal and his transition from TV to movies.

Excerpts:

Q. How did you land up with a three-film deal with the Bhatts?

A. I often used to bump into Mukesh Bhatt Saab at film award functions. I would greet him as a senior. I felt he was observing me. Then, at an awards function in South Africa, Ranbir Kapoor got the best actor award for films and I got the best actor award for television. Then Mukeshji told me he wants to work with me. I got a call from his office. And the rest I hope would be history.

Q. Do you have an exclusive movie contact with Mukesh Bhatt?

A. No, I can work in others' films as well. Mukeshji treats me like his own child. He is guiding me through my new movie career. I consider him my godfather. My first film with Mukeshji starts in May.I've started preparing.

Q. What kind of preparation?

A. Gymming, stunts and acting workshops... the works. I feel I am starting a new career.

Q. From playing Ram in "Ramayan" on television to the Bhatts' hero - how did this journey happen?

A. I chose to start with the home medium. I'll tell you something about myself which no one knows. Nine years ago when I left my home in Bihar at the age of 19 to come to Mumbai, I somehow got Mr. Yash Chopra's number. My dad, who was an army officer, accompanied me. We both went to meet Yashji to seek his advice and blessings. Yashji told me to start my acting career on television. He told me that's where Shah Rukh Khan started. 'And look where he is today' - Yashji's words still ring in my ears.

Q. For a 19-year old from Bhagalpur in Bihar, it couldn't have been easy to get roles?

A. It was very difficult. So many starry-eyed small-towners come to Mumbai to become a hero. Now I'm finally ready to be launched as a leading man. But let me tell you, I never took television lightly. I worked as hard on television as I will in cinema. A lot of actors take television for granted.

Q. Your family in Bihar didn't object to your choice of career?

A. They did initially. But then they gave up when they realized that this boy will do everything it takes to become an actor. They made the biggest mistake by naming me 'Shashi Kapoor'. Yes, that was my nickname among family and friends - Shashi Kapoor. Eventually, they supported me wholeheartedly.

Today when I see my father's pride in my achievement, I feel fulfilled. He hardly ever smiles. But when I see him smile about my career, I am the happiest son in the world. My father too started with a small role in the army and then worked his way to becoming an officer. He is my hero and role model.

Q. You started your career playing Ram in "Ramayan". Wasn't it a risk?

A. That was considered a big risk. They said any actor who plays a mythological character gets typecast. Everyone advised me against doing "Ramayan" at a time when all others were doing saas-bahu serials. But I thought, why not do something different from others? Then after doing two soaps , I moved into reality shows. So I was paving my way for a movie career.

Q. Your colleagues from television like Sushant Singh Rajput and Ayushmann Khurrana have also given embarked on a movie career?

A. Nowadays television is as important cinema. Even film producers have realized television stars are popular not just in India but abroad.

It goes without saying that a well-made romantic film can make your day.

“2 States” made mine! The movie came as a respite!

Long, long ago, I remember my grandfather grumbling: “Today’s movies are meaningless, they only show ‘dhishum dhishum’.” A die-hard fan of Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Pardeep Kumar’s style of romance, he used to find the emerging film culture of the 1980s, led by the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha, distasteful.

His disparagement of those action thrillers, stemming from the then political unrest with several actors playing the victimised working-class hero fighting corruption were not good enough to impress an old hat like him who used to savour social dramas and serene love stories like “Andaaz”, Tarana”, “Madhumati”, “Patita” and “Munimji” made me cringe.

He felt those films offered a rather myopic view of contemporary youth and would discourage us from watching them.

At that time I had somewhat different views on the movies, but I could relate to his views when I went to catch “2 States”, the big screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name, a delightful depiction of how cultural differences pose a threat to a Punjabi boy and a Tamilian girl’s love life and marriage plans and how skillfully and maturely the duo handle the situation.

Despite being familiar with the story, which I read when Bhagat’s literary work hit the shelves in 2009, and enjoyed the book not for its romantic escapades, but for the way the problems were treated and meted in the book, I was pleased with its celluloid presentation too.

It’s heartening!

Even though plots and sub-plots, characters and obstacles were the same, the slightly sluggish drama was thoroughly entertaining.

Refreshing content with a feel good factor was a much-needed break from the appalling love sagas that telly is serving day in and day out.

Not that I’m a big fan of the genre, but enjoyed the watch more so because romance has been criminlaised, brutalised, scandalised and demoralised on the tube, one’s staple source of entertainment, so much so that it has lost its quintessence.

In the last few years, there has been a deluge of crime-based shows on the telly and the so-called outrageous real-life stories showing the revolting and repulsive side of romance, in which most often lovers are abused, murdered, tortured, or blackmailed for various reasons – be it to avenge hurt egos, cheating lovers or spouses etc, are being shoved down viewers’ throat. And to my surprise, they are grabbing maximum eyeballs.

Not denying the existence of such crimes in real life, but too much of anything is bad.

Mind you, “2 States” is also a real life story of the author, but unlike the shows, here the lovers do not kill anyone for their union or have any hidden agenda behind falling in love or getting married.

In most of the crime shows, falling in love or getting intimate lead to MMS scandals or YouTube videos followed by heinous crime, thus making romance a forbidden thing.

In fact, similar plots recently dominated the celluloid with stories like “Love Sex Aur Dhokha” and “Ragini MMS” hitting the screens.

In the current scenario, technology is a boon and bane. Bane, because it is being misused, and abused!

Yes, international shows are there, but they are for the classes, not the masses.

In a quest for de-stressing light drama, viewers end up watching the shows.

In the 1980s and 1990s, telly treated viewers with shows like “Kashish”, “Farmaan” and Lekh Tandon’s “Phir Wohi Talaash”, which had beautiful ghazals like “Mere humsafar mere saath tum”, "Kabhi haadson ki dagar mile kabhi muskilon ka safar mile" and “Na jee bher ke dekha na kuch baat ki badi aarjo thi mulakat ki”.

It’s time television producers do the needful!