Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan seem to have patched up as the two were spotted dining together in London.

The duo were seen flashing hashi’s (Japanese chopsticks) Friday at the Hakkasan Restaurant in London over Sushi and Sashimi. Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri and his filmmmaker friend Karan Johar were also present there.

“There were some jokes being cracked over which SRK and Aamir were laughing a lot. Gauri seemed to enjoy herself watching these guys cracking up,” said an onlooker.

Aamir is in London to promote his home production “Peepli Live”, while Shah Rukh is there shooting for his superhero movie “Ra.One” with Kareena Kapoor.

Aamir even invited Shah Rukh, Gauri and Johar to a private screening of “Peepli Live”, which was attended only by the “My Name Is Khan” director.

Shah Rukh was busy with the shooting so he couldn’t make it to the screening, however, he joind Aamir for dinner after his pack up.

Johar is in the British captial for 20 days to spend time with his actor friend and also work on his own script.

Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra has been awarded honorary doctorate by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in Britain for his outstanding contribution to the field of cinema.

He was given Doctorate of Letters Friday at the college of the University of London, said a press statement.

“I am humbled by this honour and would like to thank SOAS for this recognition. My filmmaking has always been from the heart and I would like to pass on this same message to students all over the world,” Chopra said after receiving the honour.

The president of SOAS, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, presented the degree to 77-year-old Chopra, while professor Rachel Dwyer, the public orator, read the citation.

Dwyer said: “His films use a melodramatic form to show emotions at their deepest and rawest and the dialogues and the song lyrics of Yash Chopra’s films are remembered and recited almost as mantras as they describe things that are hard to say, using language, imagery and music in a perfect balance.”

She also pointed out that the filmmaker “continues to innovate with every film he makes and remains young at heart, always interested in how people think, feel and behave.”

Addressing the students, Dwyer said the graduates should be inspired by Chopra’s success, learn his dedication and his ways of rising above failure.

Chopra is known for making hits like “Daag”, “”Deewar”, “Trishul”, “Silsila”, “Chandni” and “Dil To Pagal Hai”

The filmmaker has earlier been conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Leeds Metropolitan University, Britain in 2007, apart from doctorates by the Panjab University, Chandigarh in 2008 and the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar in 2004 in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.

What is it all about?

Kash ye agar 2006 hota toh ye picture semi hit toh jarror hota. But the ‘timing’ of the almighty and the thing called destiny cannot be explained. Satish Kaushik this time for Boney Kapoor gets inspired from the 2001 Hollywood rom com ‘Serendipity’ starring John Cussak and Kate Beckinsale.

‘Milenge Milenge’
is a romantic bauble set in Bangkok, Delhi, this love story ignores physical attractiveness and runs on spiritual lanes of wish fulfillment, destiny, totally devoted to the notion that there is one special someone out there for everyone is sweet in its first half but the overtime in the second and hurried forced approach does the villainy in this rom com.

The Story…of course

Immy (Shahid Kapoor) and Priya (Kareena Kapoor) meet at a youth festival in Bangkok. Priya is a romantic at heart and expects her life partner to be a teetotaler, a guy who doesn’t smoke and also, who doesn’t lie. Immy is totally opposite of what Priya wants from her life partner. Their world collides when Immy lays his hands on Priya’s personal diary and learns of her likes and dislikes. He poses as her dream mate by giving her a totally different picture of himself.

While preparing to return to Delhi, Priya discovers the copy of her diary in Immy’s room. She realizes that Immy has made a fool of her and decides to confront him. In the meantime, Immy confides in his friends that although he has cheated Priya, he is truly in love with her. But Priya appears in front of him and all hell breaks loose. She decides to end the relationship.

Immy tries to regain her trust by telling her that they are destined to be together. Priya decides that if it is destined that they be together, then they will find each other in Delhi again, although both do not know each other’s whereabouts in Delhi. Three years later, Immy returns from abroad, while Priya is now settled in Mumbai. Immy is engaged to a family friend’s daughter (Aarti Chhabria), while Priya has also moved on in life. She is in a relationship with a pop singer.

Both of them are about to be married, but after all these years, they still have this nagging feeling that the other was his/her true love. Of course, fate conspires to bring them back together (after several near misses) as they simultaneously undertake one last attempt to find one another just before they get married to someone else.

What to look out for?

The sentiments at the heart of the picture are highly romantic, the first half is engaging though Shahid and Kareena very younger the way they looked during ‘Yuva’ but their chemistry is still so sweet on screen. It’s a typical Bollywood rom com and the movie opens with a cute meeting when the boy sees his dream lover sleeping like an angel on a full moon night.

The first half is engaging, Satish Kaushik handles those scenes effectively especially the debate on anti smoking is finely done. You start believing that like ‘Wanted’ Boney might get luck again.  Himesh Reshammiya’s musical score is quite good. “Kuch To Baaki Hai” and the title track are good compositions. Technically decent. The movie has its share of fun. Shahid looks boyish and does a fine job. Kareena is fantastic. As said earlier the chemistry is cute. Delnaaz Paul and Sarfaraz Khan impress. Kirron Kher excels in a brief role.

What not?

Its dated look is its biggest villain. Anybody can see the promo and say that the lead pair looks so young. Camera doesn’t lie. The second half is disappointing, Satish Kaushik make the lovers running here and there finding their where abouts but doesn’t make the audience understand and feel their love. Aarti Chabaria, Himani Shivpuri is wasted. Strangely Satish Kaushik fails to create impact in his cameo and Satish Shah hardly amuses. Himani Shivpuri is wasted.

Conclusion:

In spite of having ex flame Shahid and Kareena as lovers on screen, the passe look uninspiring, unromantic second half is its biggest drawback. Watch it if you must.

Rating **

What is it all about?

Candy floss days are here again, ‘IHLS’ is happy bubble but cliché where Imran and Sonam come into their own as confident young performers bringing the candy gloss days back.

The Story… Of course

‘I hate luv storys’ is the maxim Jay (Imran) lives by. But as an assistant director to Veer (Sameer Soni), the most famous romantic filmmaker of Indian Film Industry, Jay has little option but to live with larger than life, glossy, cinematic love on an everyday basis. Things only get worse when he is made to work under the new production designer on the film… Simran (Sonam), with whom he shares the strangest first encounter!

Simran loves luv storys; So much so that even her life has begun to resemble one. With her ideal job and the perfect boyfriend, Raj (Sammer Dattani), she lives a blissful, dreamy life; one that is rudely interrupted by Jay’s cynicism.

The turmoil’s of Jay and Simran’s life is ironically interwoven with the Luv Story that they are working on… But will Jay and Simran ever find their own Luv Story…? Keep guessing.

What To Look Out For?

Well after those ‘Raajneeti’ bloodshed and the ‘ten heads’ now it’s the time to feel good…

Dharam production with UTV again visits the popcorn stalls with ‘I Hate Luv Stories’ this goody goody feel good has its grades in the freshness in the Jodi of Imran and Sonam where Imran excels from ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ with his eye brows, smiles, yeah he can’t dance but covers with his spontaneity. Sonam is a revelation, the lass looks beautiful and delivers and sweet performance.

The chemistry is cute and that’s the major highlight of this romancer which is minus in its story but manages to score by some good humour – the take on Karan Johar, SLB (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and their romantic cinema. Nice dialogues, decent score by Vishal Shekhar and Salim-Sulaiman’s background. Well captured by T. Ayananka Bose’s lense, Manish Malhotra’s styling all is in and happening.

Good acting from the support cast where Samir Soni is brilliant. Dattani is decent, Kavin Dave as Imran’s friend is excellent. Aamir Ali impresses. Bruna Abdullah looks delicious.

The dialogue, scenarios and emotions on display in ‘IHLS’ are as close to any typical rom com could get.

It may not be the greatest love story ever told, but it might be the one with the most heart.

First timer Punit impresses with his first attempt as a helmer but fails in the story part.

What Not?

Its very predictable, right from the first frame you know what will happen in the end.

The idea on paper of a young art director and an assistant director having diverse opinion on love and relationships falling in love during the making of a love story has tremendous cinematic opportunities to explore, where layers after layers could have been added to this reel imitating real story of love, but the push and pull of box office requirements made the writer to stick to the tested norms where he managed to make a little spoof on today’s top romance tellers of Bollywood. It becomes difficult to hold interest when you have a paper thin plot and as a result in the end the movie drags.

Remarks: All said and done, ‘IHLS’ is still a narrator of love to your valentine if you don’t mind the cliché tale and don’t want to do anything to release the arrested mindset of today’s helmers who need bail.

Rating ***

What is it all about?

Master helmer Mani Ratnam again proves his technical brilliance in this modern take of ‘Ramayana’ and dares to be different.

No make up for Aishwarya; Abhishek in different colour shades on his face, the movie is shot in difficult and different locations and is a visual treat.

With this film, Mani with Big Pictures ventures into the entire Indian screen with its Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions.

Unlike most mainstream filmmakers, Mani Ratnam doesn’t try to include something for everyone, ‘Raavan’ is for those who wants to see something ‘hatke’ and it has no similarities to Subhash Ghai’s ‘Khalnayak’ or ‘Hero’ as rumored earlier.

This modern take of ‘Ramayana’ is more of debate on the evil in you, held on stage made in a jungle and it deliver handsome things over here and also polishes the Bachchan couple as powerhouse performers.

The Story…of course

The take on Ramayana has Dev (Vikram) as Ram an encounter specialist happily married to with Ragini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) as Sita a spunky classical dancer who is as unconventional as him. Vikram gets transferred to Lal Maati, a small town in India (which part a question mark). A town where the world of law is not the police, but Beera (Abhishek Bachchan) as Ravan a tribal who has, over the years, shifted the power equation of the place from the ruling to the have-nots of the area.

Dev knows that the key to bringing order to any place is not to vanquish the big fish; in this case – Beera. In one stroke Dev manages to rip open Beera’s world and set in motion a change of event which will claim lives. Beera, injured but enraged, hits back, starting a battle that draws Dev, Beera and Ragini into the jungle. The forest becomes the battleground. The battle between good and evil, between Dev and Beera, between Ram and Raavan.

What to look out for?

The movie starts with Beera taking a dive in the river, policeman getting killed burnt and Beera playing drums and kidnapping Ragini within seconds, cinematographer Santosh Sivan gets in to the mode and delivers what Mani ordered.

This first half Mani wants to show us the madness of this character Beera which may sound weird to some as he laughs, makes faces and smoothly tries in building the negative, hating shades of his character where the southern edge to the picture is clearly evident.

The movie tries to balance character with visual spectacle.

Visually the movie is a treat. Shooting the film at tough locales was not easy and Santosh Sivan with V. Manikandan had done an exceptional job in ‘Raavan.’.

Rahman’s music is more rhythmic then melodious but adds tempo to the proceedings.

The dialogues between Aish and Abhishek especially during the climax speak love and nothing else and are well written.

Abhishek’s role in ‘Raavan’ is more of madness then the intellect of Guru or the innocence of Lallan Singh in ‘Yuva’ but his performance is powerful as it relies mainly on the madness.

Aishwarya is top class in her role and she delivers it with panache. Vikram as Ram is excellent in whatever scope he gets. Nikhil Dwivedi impresses a lot. Ravi Kishen is superb, Negi adds valuable support and Priyamani is top rate.

The second half manages to create sympathy towards Raavan and that’s Mani and Renzil’s biggest achievement as the writer and the helmer wanted this to be.

Post interval portions triggers the debate on good and evil where the women is torn between and that’s where the movie rises from common intellect.

Smartly edited by Sreekar Prasad, the action sequence are awesome choreographed by Shyam Kaushal especially the bridge fight between Abhishek and Vikram.

Production values are mind-blowing

What Not?

Govinda is filthy; the comparison to characters from Ramayana may not be digestible to some as Govinda is shown as an alcoholic and his character is inspired from Hanuman.

The movie may become enemy of its own intelligence in the Hindi speaking belt as here Raavan is considered to be evil.

The story moves only in the second half, though a lot is heard about Beera’s unlawful practices but the viewer is hardly made privy to them otherwise the emotional impact would have been much better.

Conclusion: ‘Raavan’ is for those who wanna different taste of Bollywood, this visual treat may not be at par with Mani’s previous flicks but it certainly has its stamp marked over it backed by excellent performance and technicalities the movie is recommended for a big screen watch.

Rating ***

First, the film’s premiere was cancelled in Kashmir and now it is banned in the Middle East.

“I am shocked to learn that ‘Lamhaa’ is banned in Middle East. Why? Without even seeing the film. And we talk about progress and culture. Sad,” Anupam posted on his Twitter account.

The film, based on violence and terrorism in the Kashmir Valley, was due for release in Middle East Thursday. But the censors there felt it is a highly objectionable and controversial subject.

Featuring Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor along with Anupam Kher, “Lamhaa” questions whether wisdom would prevail in the Valley so that the Kashmiris are not crucified in the name of politics.

Produced by GS Entertainment and directed by Rahul Dholakia, the film will hit the screens Friday.

She took a break from her shooting in Spain from Zoya Akhtar’s “Zindagi Milegi Na Dobaara” to be with her family. But now the actress has to return to shoot in Pampolona, Spain, for Zoya’s film Thursday.

“Yes, I had planned well in advance to spend my birthday with my family in London. But some scenes for Zoya’s film have been rescheduled and I’ve to go back on Thursday, a day ahead of my birthday, to Spain. Never mind. I’ll be working on my birthday and that’s the best way to bring in my birthday,” said Katrina.

Looking at the brighter side, Katrina said: “My two youngest sister Isabella and Sonia are coming back to Spain with me, so I have a part of my family with me. And I couldn’t hope to be with a better unit on my birthday. Zoya is one of the coolest directors I’ve worked with.”

The actress is happy with the year gone by.

“I got to work with two women directors Zoya and Farah Khan this year. And they were both such fun to work with. I also had a big hit ‘Raajneeti’. I couldn’t have asked for more. In the coming year, I hope to find love. Every girl needs someone to share her life with,” she said.

Katrina returns to India next month to face one of her biggest challenges as an actress. On Aug 11, she has to perform an item song with Akshay Kumar for Farah Khan’s “Tees Maar Khan”.

“It is like no other item song. It will have elements from both Indian and western dance forms. It will blend various styles and give me a chance to perform what could possibly be my most challenging on-screen dances. I can’t wait to return and start rehearsing for the number,” she said.

The Pakistani censor board took the decision Tuesday, paktribune.com reported.

The film, which will launch Pakistani model and singer Ali Zafar, is scheduled for worldwide release Friday. The version to be released in Pakistan was titled “Tere Bin”. The film has also been banned in the Middle East.

Ali Zafar has expressed his disappointment in Mumbai. He appealed to the authorities to review the decision, “as there is nothing controversial in the film”, the report said.

“It’s just a comedy accomplished with the cooperation of Salman Khan and Karan Johar,” he said.

Masood Elahi, vice chairman of Pakistan’s Film Censor Board, said: “There was no justification to release the film in Pakistan under the present circumstances. However, the federal secretary is authorised to allow the screening under special powers bestowed on him.”

“I won’t blame the production for it. I take it as my fault. We were far away in Mumbai. The person who was our line producer knew every one. He was our front man and he is now associated with some other film shoot and presently is in Canada,” said Aamir

“I sent my production manager to the village to invite them to Mumbai, ask them if they have any complaint and take permission for using the song in the film. I should have done it long before. But as I was subjected to so many things, it slipped my mind. But before the media could reach, we had solved the problem,” said Aamir.

It’s also been reported that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had asked Aamir to give them the song for their campaign against the skyrocketing prices, but Aamir’s office had sternly refused them.

“I didn’t get any personal request from anybody, but I think my office got this request and they turned it down saying we are not in business of selling songs. The song is not ours. It’s of the ‘mandli’ and so we had to take proper permission to use the song in the film,” said Aamir.

Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi and slated to hit the screens Aug 13, “Peepli Live” is a satire on society. It revolves around two impoverished farmers – Natha (Omkar Das Manikpuri) and Budhia (Raghubir Yadav) – who live in a village called Peepli. They are about to lose their land due to their debts.

An incompetent politician suggests they commit suicide to get government help. The news spreads and the media turns Natha into a celebrity.

“The film is not about the farmers. It’s a film on rural and urban divide. People like us who live in the cities like Mumbai and Delhi, should get to know little about the realities of India. The film is based on that,” said Anusha.

Aamir also said that the film portrays many important issues.

“Yes, I do. I think many things that the film is showing are very crucial and it’s similar to my thinking and sensibility so I liked the film. There were many new things that I got to know through this film. I realised many things, which I never thought of. So this film has been a sensitizing experience for me.”

This is the fourth film from Aamir Khan Productions Ltd after “Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India” (2001), “Taare Zameen Par”(2007) and “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”(2008).

Sameera Reddy  could well believe that she has had a new phase kick starting in her career. Though majority are aware about the controlled and impressive performance she has given in last weekend’s release RED ALERT – THE WAR WITHIN, not many know that this is not the only reason for her feeling joyous. That’s because on the same Friday, her Malayalam film ORU NAAL VARUM with none other than Mohan Lal also opened. That’s not all as the film is a commercial success.

“It has been one crazy week

end and I have loved every moment of it”, says Sameera who is indeed ecstatic about the turn of events, “I was on phone the entire day and congratulatory calls were pouring in for both RED ALERT and ORU NAAL VARUM. After a while, I just started enjoying the good words rather than keep track of who was congratulating me for which film.”