Sonam Kapoor made some controversial statements on the chat show "Koffee with Karan", which included a comment on Deepika Padukone's style. The actress, however, says when she is targeted by celebrities on the same show, she doesn't make a big deal out of it.

Known for her high-style quotient, the "Raanjhanaa" actress said: "I have realised that a lot of people say a lot of things about me on the same show. On every show someone has said something about me."

"But because I go with the spirit of the show, I never react to anything, I don't comment, I don't make a big deal out of it and I expect the people to do the same thing," added the 28-year-old known for her carefree attitude.

She was talking at the launch of the L'Oreal new looks for Cannes International Film Festival.

On the chat show Sonam had commented upon Deepika's style saying it is dominated by her stylist Anaita Shroff and her wardrobe lacks her personal touch.

However, she doesn't mind yapping tongues and said: "For some strange reason I make good copy, so people like to talk about me. I am okay as long as people are talking about me."

But enough is enough. Now she plans to stop commenting on anybody's clothes.

"Honestly, I think I will start being a little more careful and I will not give my opinion on anyone's clothes anymore. It was a fun show and I tried to be fun and not take myself too seriously. But I think that's the wrong move," she said.

Sonam is currently gearing up to walk the red carpet at the Cannes film fest that begins May 14.

Rakesh Mehta, whose short movie "Darpok" is due to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival's short film corner, says the platform is a great beginning for the project.

"The Cannes film fest is the first festival where 'Darpok' will be featured. We have pitched it to various international film festivals, and we got to know that Cannes has accepted it. It's a promising start for us," Mehta, who has written and directed "Darpok" told IANS.

Made in Punjabi language with subtitles in English, the 22-minute film, co-produced by Britain-based Rosemilk Ltd. and Vijay Singh Phoolka, tells the tale of a 28-year-old man, living under trauma for not being able to prevent his mother from being raped when he was a child. His helplessness continues to haunt him until he plans to avenge it.

TV actor Gautam Gulati of "Diya Aur Baati Hum" plays as the young man, from whose perspective the story has been told in the film, which was shot in a village near Attari border in Amritsar. It took Mehta five days to shoot the movie.

He hopes to create a lasting impact with it.

The plan is to try and make a feature film on the plot of "Darpok", and the feasibility will be gauged when the crew attends the Cannes film gala, to be held May 14-25 in the French Riviera. The movie is part of the fest's Cannes Court Metrage.

The filmmaker, who has earlier directed Hindi films like "Life Ki Toh Lag Gayi" and "Khuda Kushi", hardly sees any prospect for short films in India.

"Our cinema is completely different from the cinema overseas. We are more into commercial cinema," said Mehta, who hopes that "Darpok" gets wide visibility in national film festivals too.

Following "Darpok", he has his eyes set on two international projects. He has hinted that "big studios" may be involved in it, however, as of now, Mehta wishes to remain tight-lipped about it.

Flaunting international brands is actress Sonam Kapoor's everyday style statement -- but promoting 'desi' designers and Indian elements is the motto for the young and stylish diva whenever she makes an appearance at foreign venues.

Set to make her red carpet appearance May 18-19 at the 67th annual Cannes International Film Festival, the actress feels that if one embraces one's body the way it is, they will look beautiful.

"Every year, I have been trying to bring in Indian elements with my look and appearance. When I go on an international platform, I try to promote Indian designers as much as I can because we have such a talented crop in our country," she said.

"So whether I am attending fashion shows abroad or press events, I try to add Indian element to my look," Sonam told IANS in an interview over phone from Mumbai.

The 28-year-old is set to make her fourth appearance at the prestigious festival, starting May 14. Her previous Cannes wardrobe included a sari teamed up with a jacket by designer Anamika Khanna. She had accessorised it with a 'kundan' nose ring.

Even for her western look, the daughter of designer Sunita Kapoor and actor Anil Kapoor added a hint of Indian accessories.

"In one of my previous appearances when I wore a floral Dolce and Gabbana gown, I teamed it up with a neck piece that my mother (Sunita) made. So it was an Indian setting. Even if I don't wear Indian dress, I try to put in an Indian element consciously," she added.

The "Aisha" fame actress will attend the festival as the brand ambassador of L'Oreal Paris and this season she will promote an Indian skin tone with the brand's latest line L'Or Lumière collection.

"We are trying to do something that is classic, something that is not just fashionable but can be easily related to by regular crowd too. My look is elegant and beautiful and universal. We are trying to promote Indian skin tone through a range of bronze, gold shades along with pops of colours," she said.

During her past appearances at Cannes, Sonam has been one of the favourite Indian celebrities for the International media, thanks to her choice of clothes. Be it the white Jean Paul Gaultier couture she wore in 2011 or the Alexander McQueen black lacy gown in 2012, the actress received accolades for her look.

But the actress has never tried too hard to remain stylish.

"I try to dress up according to my size. One shouldn't follow trend and try to be something that you are not and this is what I have been telling to all the regular girls. I have regular kind of body for instance I have got big hips and I have Punjabi arms so I need to dress-up according to my body."

"I remember a couple of years back, I did an interview and they asked whether I will wear a swim suit or bikini... so my answer was 'why not, of course, I will wear it as a real girl'. In one of my latest films where I wore a bikini, I didn't try to become like really skinny and then go for a swimsuit. I wanted to be like a regular girl.

"As soon as you embrace your body the way it is, you will look beautiful. It will be harder in the beginning but eventually they will accept you," she said.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Freida Pinto are the other L'Oreal Paris brand ambassadors from India who will attend the event May 16-17 and May 17-18, respectively.

So for Sonam, who does she think has made the most impressive appearance on Cannes so far?

"I love Vidya Balan and I thought she did an amazing job with the way she dressed up last year. She was incredible," said Sonam who also finds India one of the most "extremely stylish country".

"Nothing is more stylish and sexier than an Indian sari and nothing is more elegant than angrakha and nothing looks better than sherwani," she said.

Punjabi movie "Jatt James Bond" has collected about Rs.7 crore in its first four days of release and still going strong. Actor Vindu Dara Singh, who plays one of the prominent roles in the movie, is elated.

"The theme is topical and I am thrilled that it is doing very well at the box office," said Vindu.

The movie, also featuring Zarine Khan, Gippy Greawal and Gurpreet Ghuggi, talks about corruption and politicians and the movie has been a hit with masses. It was released in Punjab, as also in Mumbai and a few other cities.

"I had the opportunity of working with the very beautiful Zarine Khan and hope she finds more roles in the Punjabi movie industry. I worked very hard for my role in the movie and am very happy with the results," the actor said in a statement.

He is seen as a banker and brother of Zarine, who is making her Punjabi movie debut.

She is a true fashionista, but when it comes to taking inspiration, Sonam Kapoor looks up to veterans like Waheeda Rehman and Rekha.

The actress, who stepped into Rekha's shoes for the "Khubsoorat" remake, said: "I look at Waheeda Rehman and Rekha for the choices that she made in their career as an actor. There was a lot of warmth and happiness in her acting."

"My mother is an inspiration too," she added.

"Internationally, I look at Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet for the way they carry themselves," said Sonam who loves to slip into track-pants or a pair of pajamas while lounging.

Film: "Kya Dilli Kya Lahore"; Cast: Vijay Raaz and Manu Rishi; Director: Vijay Raaz; Rating: ***1/2

There's something to be said about a film that takes so many risks with mainstream tastes that it automatically becomes a part of an endangered species of cinema known as Noble Art.

They don't make movies like these. Not any more. Not too often in the past. Several years ago, Sunil Dutt shot "Yaadein" with just one character on screen throughout. In "Kya Dilli Kya Lahore" (KDKL) there are two characters, both respresentational and yet so finely played out that they emerge from the morass of mutual distrust as memorable individuals.

The partition has given us many memorable films. KDKL brings us a heartwarming, seriocomic parable on cross-border amity. With two outstanding actors - Vijay Raaz and Manu Rishi, this saga of soldierly solidarity looks at a historic twist of fate with unflinching sincerity and heartbreaking irony.

The writing is lucid, literate, luminous and funny. It doesn't falter.

To go back to the beginning, post 1947, a Pakistani soldier played by Vijay Raaz strays into Indian territory and gets embroiled in a bitter-sweet verbal-physical duel with an Indian soldier. In a film such this where the dialogue between two characters sustains and nurtures the under-nourished drama, it is acutely imperative that the two central performances and the dialogues are perfectly cooked, crisp crunchy and easily digestible.

On both the counts, KDKD emerges trumps. Manu Rishi has not only written the dialogues, he has also played one of the two protagonists, the Indian soldier, if you must know. And what a fine job Manu has done in both the departments. The verbal sparring between the two soldiers could have easily lapsed into cheap name-calling between the two sides. Eschewing every provocation to get nasty, the dialogues take digs at India-Pakistan differences without losing their basic sense of humour.

Sample this: "Your watch says it's 7 p.m. when ours says it's 6.30 p.m. You people will always be behind us."

Well, ha ha. And Ahem. KDKL makes us uncomfortable without pointing accusing fingers at either side. As a director Vijay Raaz, is not in search of solutions to the age-old cross-border conflicts. There is a deliberate staginess to the proceedings, a pronounced verbosity that never gets cumbersome, because, like I said, the writing has a distinct and distinctive 'quoting' edge without getting show-offy.

There are some extremely squirmy references to bodies being transported from both ends. When Manu Rishi conversationally asks a Vijay Raaz about his parents, he replies: "You people cut my mother into pieces and sent her across."

Ouch to that.

This is as good a place as any to say Vijay Raaz gives a performance that makes the Pakistani soldier look brave yet frail, cruel yet compassionate, cynical and still unspoilt or jaded. He brings to the rugged terrain a history of tears and bloodshed without plunging his solidier's character into self-pity.

As an actor, Vijay Raaz seldom lets down a film. Here, he takes on the added responsibility of direction. He keeps the proceedings even-paced and free of techno-generated upheavals. The two actors are mostly left to their own devices. The end-result is a film of tremendous warmth and wisdom.

If "Garam Hawa" were to be moved from Agra to the India-Pakistan border, it would have probably been this big-little film about the bitter-sweet encounter between two soldiers from the two sides of the barbed wire.

No fence meant.

Deepika Padukone has always been athletic and sporting. Not one to shun any kind of physical challenge, she took on a fight sequence in "Kochadaiiyaan" with the invincible Rajinikanth in the spirit of a challenge.

Deepika is said to have been so agile on her feet that it became difficult to make her defeat in the sequence look convincing.

Said a source: "The fight sequence where Deepika will be seen doing various forms of martial arts while challenging the mighty Rajinikanth's invincibility, has turned out to be one of the highlights of the film."

"Everyone in the team felt the fight between Rajiniji and Deepika was the film's highlight. So, it's being spotlighted as one of the film's USPs," added the source.

The film's director, Soundarya R. Ashwin, daughter of Rajinikanth, says the experience of shooting the sequence was exciting.

"It was great fun. We're sure it will be a highlight in the film," she said.

After scoring a whopping hit with the "Tu ne maari entriyaan" in "Gunday", actor Ranveer Singh and choreographers Bosco-Caesar have reunited for the condom ad which is creating ripples across the nation.

Apparently, Ranveer now plans to use Bosco-Caesar's choreography for his film songs as much as possible, much in the same way that Madhuri Dixit depended for her dancing on Saroj Khan.

Bosco said: "That's a tall order. But my partner Caesar and I are working towards a durable rapport with Ranveer. For us, doing this ad is as good as doing an award-winning song."

Bosco is all praise for Ranveer.

"He was the perfect choice for the ad. He was simply fabulous! His energy level was infectious. We were all charged up along with Ranveer during the shooting," he said.

The choreographer, who has composed numbers for Hrithik Roshan in "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", Shahid Kapoor in "Phata Poster Nikla Hero" and Varun Dhawan in "Main Tera Hero", says it was a cakewalk choreographing Ranveer for the condom ad.

"We had to make sure that the message was wrapped around the song and dance in a decent aesthetic manner. It wasn't difficult because we had such a good-looking actor with such a high energy-level endorsing the condom. The dance moves could never look cheap on Ranveer," he said.

"We recently did the very successful 'Gunday' song with Ranveer and now the condom ad. We hope to keep the momentum going. We did our best in the condom ad. We never expected to get such unanimous acceptance," he added.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who inaugurated the Indian Film Festival Melbourne (IFFM) along with the governor and his wife Thursday, is ecstatic to hear that the La Trobe University has named a scholarship after him.

"The La Trobe University names a scholarship after me, to be accorded to deserving students from all walks of life that will come and study media and entertainment courses here," the 71-year-old posted on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com.

He took to the platform also to thank the governance of Victoria, Australia, for calling him to inaugurate the 11-day festival.

“Thank you, the Governance of Victoria for this gesture, fructifying the bonds that exist between our two nations and lending unstinted support to our film industry in conducting such events to acquaint the locals with our cinema," Amitabh, who wore a combination of pink and purple to the event, posted.

"The warmth and graciousness shall be carried by us all to India, and in particular to our countrymen," he added. “And finally an award ceremony in the evening that shall decorate winners of selected films in categories ranging from short films to feature, with an Achievement Award for yours truly...” he added.

The star-studded festival will showcase over 40 films.

Rajkummar Rao, who has been named the best actor at the National Film Award for his performance in "Shahid", says his life has changed in many ways. However, that hasn't changed him as a man.

"Personally, life has become comfortable, I have got some material things and have started earning money. Otherwise, I am the same," the 29-year-old said here Thursday at the background score recording of his new film "Citylights."

He says success still seems far-fetched to him.

"I don't see myself as successful, it's still very far off. I am getting more scripts now, the directors who didn't want to meet me earlier are now themselves approaching me. So I have more options," he added.

Rajkummar was recently seen in Kangana Ranaut-starrer "Queen". He has also started shooting for "Dolly Ki Doli" with Sonam Kapoor.

"Mrs. Scooter", an independent Hindi feature film directed by debutant Shiladitya Moulik, is part of the official selection at the New York Indian Film Festival 2014, scheduled to be held May 5-10. The director is confident it will strike the right chords.

"We are one of the talked about films in the prestigious list of NYIFF this year. That is a win already. But 'Mrs. Scooter' is not in New York to just win any trophy. I believe it will certainly win some desi and firangi hearts," Moulik said in a statement.

Aseem Chhabra, NYIFF festival director, has personally picked the film for the festival's consideration from the NFDC Film Bazaar at the International Film Festival of India in Goa during November 2013.

The film, co-produced by S2S Productions and Neon Light Pictures, is based in a small town in western Uttar Pradesh. It narrates the story of love and resilience of a bride and a scooter, caught in the midst of a difficult social situation.

"The story is timeless and I sincerely hope that the Indians and American viewers enjoy it alike," the director added.

"Mrs. Scooter" has power-packed performances by acclaimed actress Anjali Patil, and it also features Satyakam Anand as well as talents picked from the National School of Drama alumni.

The screenplay stemmed from an idea suggested by Moulik's colleague Deepak Nagar.

"Mrs. Scooter" will be screened May 9.

She is as svelte and stunning a mother of a two-year-old as she was when she danced to the tunes of "Chura ke dil mera". Shilpa Shetty, who was given the title of 'Spalicious Mom' at an awards event here, says she takes the awards as "compliments".

Breaking into a laughter on being congratulated for being a 'Spalicious Mom', Shilpa told IANS: "What does it mean? I have no inkling of what it means. I don't understand it really, but an award is always a compliment and so, I am happy and excited about this."

Shilpa, who co-owns spa and wellness chain IOSIS along with business partner and cosmetologist Kiran Bawa, also couldn't contain her excitement that two IOSIS outlets won an award each at the recently held seventh GeoSpa asiaSpa India awards 2013 here.

IOSIS, Shilpa said, has eight outlets so far, and nine more are in the pipeline.

Married to businessman Raj Kundra, the actress' business acumen seems to be getting stronger by the day. She says the franchise model has worked in favour of IOSIS, and that it has helped them to explore places like Benares, Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Pune, apart from some of the metros.

Indian cinema icon Amitabh Bachchan Friday presented an Indian student with a scholarship of upto AUD 200,000 (appoximately $185,000) at La Trobe University here.

The recipient of the Amitabh Bachchan Scholarship, that runs for four years, is La Trobe graduate Roshan Kumar, who is from Ranchi in Jharkhand. He will works towards a doctorate in the potential of using social media to better communicate health messages to India's estimated 80 million social media users.

"I have grown up watching Amitabh Bachchan in movies. To imagine that I would meet him in person still seems like a dream," Roshan Kumar said of his meeting with the 'Angry Young Man' here.

"I am honoured to receive this scholarship which will help fund my research into improving the health of thousands of people living in India," added Roshan Kumar, who graduated from La Trobe with a Masters in International Business in 2010.

The scholarship will be presented every four years by Amitabh, 71, to an Indian citizen to develop a thesis related to media, digital technology and communication.

Earlier, the 71-year-old actor had taken to his blog to thank the state of Victoria for naming a scholarship after him.

He views it as a way of "fructifying the bonds that exist between our two nations and lending unstinted support to our film industry in conducting such events to acquaint the locals with our cinema".

University's vice chancellor John Dewar said it was an exciting and important day for the institution.

"La Trobe University is very proud that Mr. Bachchan has agreed to work with us and help support the education of the next generation of Indian leaders who will help make a difference to the complex problems facing our world today.

"This is the beginning of a very exciting educational partnership between La Trobe University and a legend of the Indian film industry," he added.

Some La Trobe staff members of Indian origin and local students were able to meet with and talk to Bachchan. Melbourne-based fans also caught a glimpse of him during his visit.

In May 2013, the University officially renamed its Agora Cinema the Yash Chopra Cinema for one year, launching a series of Indian film screenings that made the campus a focus for Melbourne’s Indian community.

Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha's 'Tevar' is all set to release on 5th December 2014. It is the remake of Telugu action movie 'Okkadu' and will also mark the directorial debut of Amit Sharma.

Producer Sanjay Kapoor said, " We are very excited to announce that Tevar will release 5th December this year.Things are going on schedule and we are very happy with the progress on the film".

Film: "Purani Jeans"; Cast: Tanuj Virwani, Izabelle Leite and Aditya Seal; Writer-Director: Tanushree Chatterjee Basu; Rating: ***

Coming-of-age films are so commonplace that they are more often than not, disappointing.

"Purani Jeans" doesn't disappoint. It remains true to its genre. Watching a group of friends indulging in silly antics that are cute only to the friends themselves, may not be the most exciting of films to watch. But there lies the charm of such nostalgic concoctions. They show a self-contained world where the characters don't seem to care whether their quirky camaraderie makes sense to the outside world.

Having said that, let's get one thing clear. "Purani Jeans" doesn't have the edgy enchantment of Farhan Akhtar's "Dil Chahta Hai" or Zoya Akhtar's "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", the two college reunion sagas that seem to have become reference points for all filmmakers attempting to show youngsters coming to terms with life, love and friendship.

"Purani Jeans" gets by on the strength of the simplicity in the storytelling. The story of five friends who called themselves the 'Kasauli Cowboys' and who dream of making something of their lives individually and collectively as part of the college group, is so uncluttered and neat, you admire its lack of ambition. It's a pungent premise that doesn't quite peak to the point of poignancy in the proceedings. Still, you come away moist-eyed from some key scenes which are played out with the endearing transparency of the heart worn unpretentiously on the celluloid sleeve.

There's a quality of unstrained sweetness about the characters. Tanuj Virmani, showing a marked improvement since his debut performance last year, is given charge of the proceedings. He's the prized student of the campus who makes it big outside his hometown. He is like Ranbir Kapoor in "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", though far less skittish and self-centred in his behaviour. When he's caught with his pants down, it's not his fault. The script urgently needed a dramatic turn.

Virwani's best friend is the lonely spoilt rich kid of the hill station, played by Aditya Seal who is quite simply the discovery of 2014. Seal plays the volatile heir with an air of aggressive bravura that works to make the character endearing. He is what Varun Dhawan in "Student Of The Year" couldn't be.

Mark my words. Seal is here to stay. My favourite scenes in the film are not Seal's shared intimacy with his best friend (Virmani) and fugitive beloved (Izabelle Leite, pretty but lifeless), but his bonding with his alcoholic mother (played by the very sensitive Sarika) who is married to muck (Rajit Kapoor, in a thankless role).

Seal plays the character as a cross between Kasauli's Jim Morrison and a spoilt child who won't grow up. It's an ambivalently etched character played with strokes of assured bravado.

"Purani Jeans" is done in the spirit of a college reunion celebration. Brimming with a verve and vivacity, the three protagonists are sunny, fresh and exuberant -- radiating a bonhomie when they are in a group, but lost and awkward when placed in a love triangle. This film brings back the fragrance of romance and friendship which you thought cynicism had swallowed wholesale.

"Purani Jeans" is a moist-eyed homage to the spirit of enduring friendship.

Shivani, daughter of popular Telugu actor Rajasekhar, will make her cinematic debut in upcoming movie "Vanda Ki Vanda". Rajasekhar says he couldn't have asked for a better debut for his daughter.

Shivani is the daughter of Rajasekhar and his wife Jeevitha.

"We've been waiting for a good project to launch her. We are glad this project came our way. 'Vanda Ki Vanda' is an interesting film and I feel it would be a great debut for Shivani. She plays a very important role in it," Rajasekhar told IANS, without divulging any more details about her role.

"This project will go on floors after I complete shooting for 'Gaddam Gang'. We don't want to hurry as it's an important project," added the actor, who himself has an important role in "Vanda Ki Vanda".

Meanwhile, the actor is awaiting the release of Ram Gopal Varma-directed Telugu horror film "Patta Pagalu".

Shilpa Shetty's IOSIS spa and wellness chain is branching out to tier-II and tier-III cities. The actress-turned-entrepreneur says the maximum potential for growth lies there as women have the means but feel "guilty" about stepping out of home only to "pamper" themselves. It's a feeling even she relates to as a mother.

Shilpa and her businessman husband have a son named Viaan, who will turn two later this month.

In a freewheeling chat on her recent visit to the capital, Shilpa told IANS: "Despite owning a chain of spas, I call the lady home to get whatever beauty treatment I need!"

"Mumbai's traffic is awful, and rather than spending two hours in reaching a salon, I'd rather spend one hour getting a treatment, and the remaining hour with my son at home. I feel as guilty as any mother about leaving the house or my child to pamper myself," she said, but added that she may not feel as guilty when Viaan is around eight years old.

But largely, she believes change needs to ensue.

"Women need to let themselves go sometimes. Most women get so engrossed in everyday work and home life that they don't realise that they aren't giving themselves any time. Invest it on yourself," said the 38-year-old, who believes women "deserve" it for all that they do.

Shilpa has been part of showbiz for almost two decades, during which she has entertained Bollywood buffs with films like "Main Khiladi Tu Anari", "Dhadkan" and "Life... in a Metro". She gained international recognition after featuring and winning Britain's "Big Brother" reality show in 2007, and she has also been active on the Indian small screen as a judge on reality shows.

IOSIS, the unisex spa and wellness chain she co-owns with Kiran Bawa, came into being in 2009.

Since its modest beginnings in suburban Mumbai in 2009, it has a presence in eight places, including Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Raipur, Guwahati and Hyderabad, and major plans for more are under way.

"As part of the wellness industry, we are conscious of our brand and we are well aware of who we want to cater to. Of course, people in the metro cities need spas, but it's the tier-II and tier-III cities where there's a dearth of good spas.

"Places like Ludhiana and Chandigarh have people with a lot of money, but they don't have access to good wellness places. So, this is a thought carried forward beautifully by my business partner Kiran.

"Women need wellness, but sometimes they just don't know what to do - how to pamper themselves, how to go about it...but I hope we can make them more aware with our efforts," she added.

Meanwhile, Shilpa is also busy handling her other roles - a celebrity, a fitness expert, a co-owner of Rajasthan Royals Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, her latest foray into the jewellery business with Satyug Gold, being a daughter and being a wife and mother!

She lives life almost queen size, with a house manager, helpers and chauffers. Yet she says she's "middle-class" enough to know the "tamaatar ka bhaav (price of tomato)".

The sudden death of filmmaker-actor Amole Gupte's father Sudhakar Laxman Gupte earlier this week, has not just left him bereaved but also created a double crisis in his professional life.

While his shooting schedule with Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor in "Singham 2" would have to be modified, most seriously affected is the promotional events for his own film "Hawaa Hawaai", set for release May 9.

Both Amole, who has directed the film and his son Partho, who plays the lead in it, are likely to be away from various media and academic events planned on the eve of the release.

"This a big blow to both Amole and Partho. Both father and son were deeply attached to Amole's father. They are in no condition to go on with the promotional activities," said a source.

Amole had planned a series of motivational lectures with principals of schools across the country.

A source close to the project said: "The idea was to address principals of schools on the importance of letting students develop their special skills rather than forcing them into straitjackets and pre-decided aspirations.

"In fact this was what Amole's first film 'Taare Zameen Par' was about. It's the theme of 'Hawaa Hawaai' as well. Lectures in major cities were carefully planned. But now they stand cancelled," said the source.

Director Manish Jha, who was trying to urgently wrap up the shooting of his new film "The Legend Of Michael Mishra", has ended up dislocating his shoulder. Now, he has to undergo emergency surgery.

“I’ve dislocated my shoulder. I am under complete bed rest. The timing of this mishap is unfortunate. I am trying to complete my film. But I’ve to go for immediate surgery," he said.

Jha’s film is scheduled for release in August. But with this setback in the director’s health, the release may have to be pushed forward.

“I’ve to get the surgery done in a week or so. Post-surgery I'll be bed-ridden for a few weeks.So let’s see," he said.

Jha has earlier directed films like "Matrubhoomi" and "Anwar".

Following the release and reactions to his directorial venture "Revolver Rani", Sai Kabir has much to ponder over about the movie's characters, plot, twists and turns, as also the "mistake" he made in the story's narration.

Kangana Ranaut plays a female goon in the movie, while Vir Das plays her toy-boy.

Reflecting upon moments in the film, Kabir said: "I wanted to create a toy-world in the film. I wanted the audiences to feel they were inside a toy while watching the film. I am a big fan of Johnnie To and Robert Rodriguez. When Kangana takes Vir to the Film City that she has built for him, it's like being inside a gigantic toy."

Vir as the wannabe Bollywood star and Kangana's resident toy-boy, represents for the director, "the great Indian dream".

"Taking shortcuts to get where young people want to get is an accepted form of immoral behaviour. It's cool to be corrupt for the sake of your desires and dreams. Youngsters who take shortcuts think they can get away with it. They think they can do something in the stock market and get out with some fast bucks.

"But it doesn't work that way. The whole 'Modern Indian Dream' is a bloody bubble."

Kabir says even the film's photography was purposely splashy and kitschy to accentuate the comic-book sentiment.

"I don't know if that comic-book feeling comes across. If you see the way the story unfolds, there are no Bollywood references in 'Revolver Rani' at all. It's actually a celebration of gutter-level existence.

"Kangana is part of thar guttural existence until she becomes pregnant. The baby symbolizes a surreal divine intervention. From her gutter-level insane existence, she wants to move towards purity and sanity. The baby symbolizes sanity, purity and innocence. But she can't quit the gutter," he said.

A lot of the cross references in the plot about sleazy politicians and cheesy middlemen seem borrowed from real-life politics.

"It's not just about Madhya Pradesh or the Chambal Valley. My political references are taken from all over the country. Tribals being usurped from their roots, power plants being unconstitutionally sanctioned...these are epidemic political issues...but it's all depicted in comic-book fashion," he added.

Kangana's aggressive libido and her insistence on being the partner on top in her relationship with her toy-boy Vir seems like a devious role reversal of traditional gender equations in film and society.

It was deliberately planned that way.

"To be honest, I knew such aggressive sexuality in the female protagonist would definitely generate interest in the male audience. But at the same time, I also thought this kind of naked female lust would also connect with the female audience.

"On the face of it, women may deny strong sexual feelings. But somewhere Kangana's character's libido is a fantasy that women surely identify with. Why should only Bollywood heroes play eternal Casanovas while heroines are supposed to remain coy about sex? I thought Kangana's mixture of love and lust for Vir Das is liberating in many ways."

The director wanted to show that Kangana's character tolerates Vir's philandering because of the pregnancy.

"That was one mistake I made in the storytelling. Kangana's character feels that having a daddy around for her unborn baby is a cool idea. But it's an idea that couldn't come across in the narration. This is my first release. And I didn't get a chance to rectify the mistakes."