Tabu to play Amitabh's love interest yet again

Tabu to play Amitabh's love interest yet again


Mumbai, Dec 4 (IANS) After doing 'Cheeni Kum', a contemporary take on relationships, Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu are teaming up again for period film 'The Legend Of Kunal'.

The film, to be directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi and produced by Amitabh's company AB Corp Ltd, has the Big B playing emperor Ashoka and Tabu his wife Tishyarakshitra.

This would be the first film Tabu is signing after R. Balki's 'Cheeni Kum' last year.

'Tabu had not a moment's hesitation in saying yes to the role of emperor Ashoka's powerful wife Tishyarakshitra, so powerful she swayed the entire Mauryan empire with her politics and aura. We needed an actress with the strength of conviction,' Dwivedi, who has earlier made period film 'Pinjar', told IANS.

'History and its cinematic treatment demand the characters to be true to their antecedents. And emperor Ashoka, who is caught in his twilight years in my film, had to be played by Bachchan saab. Only he possesses the gravity, sobriety and personality along with being the age required.

'I wouldn't make Ashoka without him. As for Tabu, she plays his young, fiery, assertive wife. She's an actress I've wanted to work with for a very long time. Again, only she could play Tishyarakshitra,' Diwedi said.

In addition, the film will star Arjun Rampal as emperor Ashoka's son Kunal. Amrita Rao will play his wife Kanchanmala.

'Again, I cast them because of their suitability rather than saleability,' Dwivedi said.

'In fact, Amrita was recommended by Jaya Bachchan. Tabu and Amrita have many dramatic confrontation scenes together. I needed an actress who could hold her own against someone as powerful as Tabu. Amrita is delicate but strong,' he added.

The director, who became a name to reckon with after directing the television epic 'Chankaya', is determined not to make compromises with history or with his creativity in making 'The Legend Of Kunal'.

'It's a big responsibility, not only to history but also to Bachchan saab, who has never in his long and distinguished career played a historical character. Isn't that ironical? It's also a responsibility because after 'Cheeni Kum', audiences would want to see what has been done with the very unusual and striking pair of Bachchan saab and Tabu. I can't afford to slip up.'

Dwivedi has just wrapped up the very complicated process of writing the 'Upanishad' for the small screen, which his wife, the very talented Mandira will direct.

'I'm now devoting all my time to 'The Legend Of Kunal'. I'll be accompanying Bachchan saab to Bodh Gaya in Bihar, the birthplace of the Buddha, for a visit. My film deals with those years when the warrior Ashoka reforms into a saint. I need to get both Bachchan saab and myself into the mood.'

The Burning Plain' debuts at Venice film festival

The Burning Plain' debuts at Venice film festival

VENICE, Italy - Guillermo Arriaga's directorial debut, "The Burning Plain," opens with a wide shot of a trailer ablaze in the New Mexico desert. While the landscape appears barren and exposed, it is concealing secrets that drive the story."The Burning Plain," written and directed by the "21 Grams" and "Babel" screenwriter, stars Charlize Theron as a troubled Oregon restaurant manager who is forced to confront her past when a mysterious visitor arrives from Mexico. Kim Basinger appears in flashbacks as Sylvia's mother, Gina, at a pivotal moment in her young life.

The film, which debuts at the Venice Film Festival on Friday, is one of 21 movies competing for the Golden Lion, which will be awarded Sept. 6. Directed by Mexico-born Arriaga, it is one of five U.S. pictures in competition.

Landscape is central to the movie — which Arriaga initially had titled, "The Four Elements." Water, earth, wind and fire are present as the story moves back and forth from the searing dryness of New Mexico to the nonstop rain in Portland, Ore.

"I have always been driven to the desert. I think the landscape itself influences people in a certain way," Arriaga told a news conference. "We experienced the desert and the sun and the extreme cold in the desert to the nonstop rain in Oregon. I think the weather and the landscape also influences the character."

Cinematographer Robert Elswit, who won an Oscar for "There Will Be Blood," was lauded by Arriaga for stunning shots of the New Mexico desert and Oregon coastline.

The movie is told through four converging plot lines, and cuts back and forth through time to reveal Sylvia's story.

"This is the exploration of the mystery of a woman called Sylvia who has an emotional journey that takes her to the extremes. It explores what makes her so damaged," Arriaga said.

No stranger to flawed characters, Theron said she loved the role of Sylvia.

"You should ask people that question. Why are people so flawed? Because that's who we are," Theron said. "Why is it when you watch a film and something happens that moves you — it either moves you to tears or gives a chill down your spine — it's because we can see ourselves in that moment."

Theron, who also worked as a producer on the film, said there was a list of actresses to play the role of Gina, but they were thrilled to get Basinger.

"She's amazing," Theron said. "There is something about Kim. There's a strength with her leftover vulnerability from her 20s that's just unbelievably beautiful to watch. There are moments on the screen when she's shaking, her entire body is shaking for real. You couldn't act that

TomKat Checks Out Tropic Thunder

TomKat Checks Out Tropic Thunder

Well it looks like when Katie Holmes was spotted hopping on a helicopter with her daughter Suri on Sunday afternoon, she was headed back to Los Angeles.

And last night (August 11), the "Mad Money" babe and her husband Tom Cruise were spotted arriving on the red carpet outside the Mann's Village Theatre for the big LA premiere of "Tropic Thunder."

Holmes looked stunning in a navy blue halter-style dress teamed with a pair of matching strappy heels while her "Top Gun" stud sported a violet v-neck sweater underneath a dark blazer with jeans and sneakers.

"Tropic Thunder" opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow night (August 13) and stars Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr.

Enjoy the pictures from the LA premiere of "Tropic Thunder" (August 11).

Paris Hilton Gets Sporty

Paris Hilton Gets Sporty

She's usually buying handbags, shoes, and fabulous clothing (or dogs, for that matter) but yesterday (August 11) Paris Hilton was all about getting sporty.

The "Stars are Blind" songstress headed over to her local Sport Chalet to pick up a new bike, inline skates, and (shocker!) a pink tennis racket. Sounds like somebody feels like getting physical.

In a recent interview, Miss Hilton talked about the hurdles she has to jump in order to be taken seriously these days. "I think people, from watching The Simple Life where I was playing this airhead, rich brat kind of character - years later, people still picture me like that, even though I'm completely different from that."

But her new role in "Repo! The Genetic Opera," (out this November) has offered her a departure from her typical character. "Just getting a role like this is huge for me because I always get offered the same role, basically playing myself. But this is different. I had loads of auditions to do - for singing and dancing and acting. Luckily I nailed them all."

Enjoy the pictures of Paris Hilton out shopping it up in LA (August 11).

Hilary Duff’s Morning Salon Stop

Hilary Duff’s Morning Salon Stop
Looking her usual cute self in a sleeved blue dress with flip-flops, Hilary Duff was spotted out for her morning routine in Toluca Lake, California on Monday (August 11).

After picking up a morning coffee, the former "Lizzie McGuire" starlet then headed off for a mani-pedi at her favorite nail salon.

Meanwhile, Hilary's also been busy filming her latest role on the Santa Monica set of her latest theatrical endeavor, "Stay Cool".

In the film, the former "Lizzie McGuire" starlet "portrays Shasta O'Neil, a sexy high school senior who flirts with the author Mark Polish (Henry McCarthy) and invites him to the prom."

Enjoy the pictures of Hilary Duff out and about in Toluca Lake (August 11).

Respects paid to comic Bernie Mac

Respects paid to comic Bernie Mac

Film star Samuel L Jackson was among thousands of mourners who gathered in Chicago for the funeral of US comedian Bernie Mac.

Jackson, who recently made the movie Soul Men with Mac, said he "was always that kid from Chicago who wanted to make everybody laugh".

The service was held at the vast House of Hope church on the city's South Side where Mac grew up.

Mac died aged 50 last week from complications caused by pneumonia.

Chicago soul

Jackson, who spoke at the church, added that he was aware the comedian was "having some health issues, but always said to me every morning that he was good".

"He never turned down that kid for an autograph," added the actor.

Chicago mayor Richard Daley also paid tribute to Mac's local roots, saying "he never lost his soul in Chicago", adding that he recently asked how he could help fight crime in the city.


Barack Obama was among those whose letter of condolence was read out at the service.

Some of Mac's comedy routines were played on large video screens at the church, with any colourful language bleeped out.

Many local people turned out to pay their respects, which halted traffic for several blocks in the area.

Mac starred in his own television show and a number of Hollywood films, including the Ocean's Eleven series after performing for years on the stand-up comedy circuit.

Spector retrial set for October

Spector retrial set for October
A murder retrial for music producer Phil Spector can go ahead in October despite defence attempts to stop it, an appeals court in California has ruled.

The court rejected a call for a stay of the trial so the defence could appeal on the grounds of double jeopardy.

Also dismissed was an assurance that prosecutors would not ask jurors to convict Spector of lesser offences.

Mr Spector is charged with killing actress Lana Clarkson. The jury in the first trial failed to reach a verdict.

The trial collapsed at the end of September 2007 after 12 days of deliberation.

A decision on a second trial has taken until now due to the commitments of the last member of his legal team.

Christopher Plourd has been involved in two death penalty cases.

Most of Mr Spector's legal team resigned or were dispensed with after the mistrial was declared, with only Mr Plourd remaining in place.

The music producer, 68, denies murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his Los Angeles mansion.

The actress was found with a gunshot wound in her mouth after a night out. During the four-month trial, defence lawyers argued it was suicide.

Mr Spector, 68, was charged with second degree murder. It falls between first degree murder - which requires proof of pre-meditation - and manslaughter.

Forensic evidence

Ms Clarkson, 40, had been working as a hostess at the House of Blues venue in Los Angeles, where she met Mr Spector on the night of her death.

The actress accompanied the producer to his mansion in the early hours of the morning but was later found in his foyer.



A holster matching the snub-nosed Colt Cobra revolver that killed Ms Clarkson was found in a drawer in the foyer.

Ms Clarkson had been working at the nightclub after struggling to find acting roles, and the trial had heard how she was despondent about her career in the months before her death.

One of the crucial questions was whether the forensic evidence proved Mr Spector was close enough to the victim to have been able to shoot her in the mouth.

Mr Spector's lawyer Linda Kenney-Baden told jurors the absence of gunshot residue and blood from his sleeves showed he had not fired the fatal shot.

The producer never took to the stand but told Esquire magazine in 2003 that Ms Clarkson had committed suicide and he had "no idea why".

Mr Spector has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business, including The Beatles, and is famous for pioneering the "Wall of Sound" recording technique in the 1960s.