Who's The Best Female Debutante Hottie?

The awards season has commenced and cat claws are out among this year's female Bollywood debutants

Considering the flood of female debutants in Bollywood this year, it appears that everyone is going the extra mile to ensure they are eliminating competition. Be it with lobbying or even sending out inaccurate information about their competitors' attitude this fresh crop of actresses apparently seem to be doing it all!
Yami Gautam and Huma Qureshi jointly bagged the best female debutante award at an awards event on Sunday

The list of female newbies in B-Town includes Paoli Dam (Hate Story), Yami Gautam (Vicky Donor), Esha Gupta (Jannat 2, Raaz 3, Charavyuh), Huma Qureshi (Gangs of Wasseypur, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana), Diana Penty (Cocktail), Sunny Leone (Jism 2), Illena Dcruz (Barfi!), Priya Anand, (English Vinglish), Nidhi Subbaiya (Ajab Gazabb Love), Alia Bhatt (Student of the Year) among others.
Huma Qureshi

An industry insider says, With so many of them this year, some of them have not even secured a nomination which has upset them. And with Ileana having featured in several South films, does she qualify as a newbie?

The source adds, Esha Gupta who had three films out in her very first year seems to have been forgotten and hasn't been featured in the debutante nomination consideration set starting with an awards show owned by a large entertainment led company.
Esha Gupta

This has made this outspoken newbie quite upset and she has apparently been wondering why that has been the case especially since she is one of the names who's had coveted filmmakers on her resume in the first year itself.
Alia Bhatt
Ileana D'Cruz

Does this mean that we will see some more catfights as a run-up to the awards? Well, we just have to wait and watch!

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Emraan and Huma Qureshi's supervised love-making

Even though Balaji Motion Pictures and Vishal Bhardwaj Pictures Ek Thi Daayan is being directed by newcomer Kannan Iyer with Abhishek Chaubey (of Ishqiya) being the co-producer, Vishal Bhardwaj, who has written the keenly awaited supernatural thriller, has decided to step in and supervise the sensuous romantic number to be shot between Emraan Hashmi and Huma Qureshi.

Says a source close to the unit, "Vishal is not the interfering kind normally but he believes that this is one of the best romantic compositions of his and he wants it to be shot impeccably.

The track has been rendered by Clinton Cerejo and written by Gulzar saab."
Adds the source, "Emraan and Huma are expected to lip-lock in the track." 

Confirms Kannan Iyer, "Vishal understands the nuances of his composition better than anyone else so it will be great to have him choreograph this song." 
Ek Thi Daayan is Emraan Hashmi's next release after his consecutive hits Raaz 3 and Jannat 2. Ek Thi Daayan, a spooky thriller, also stars Huma Qureshi, Konkona Sensharma and Kalki Koechlin. It releases worldwide on April 18.

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Monkey trouble for Daayan

After a leopard, a group of primates stopped by on the sets of Vishal Bhardwaj's upcoming film

Looks like it's quite the open season on the sets of Vishal Bhardwaj's next. A few months ago, a leopard had strayed in on the sets at Film City, Goregaon. Recently a herd of monkeys had decided to make it their new home!

Sources say the monkeys had been creating quite a nuisance for the cast and crew. A unit hand says, A couple of days ago, when Emraan Hashmi and Huma Qureshi were present on the sets, a group of six to seven monkeys suddenly barged in.

The security too was called to shoo away the primates, but they returned soon. The monkeys even disrupted the shooting, bringing work to a complete halt. Later, they were chased away with success.

Tanuj Garg, CEO of the production house says, Just when everyone thought that all is fine, the monkeys came back again. After the last guest on the show, the leopard, managed to spook everyone, now it was the turn of the monkeys. Considering the nature of the film, we thought that we would have some passing witches for company!

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OMG!! What an idea, Sirjee!

Barfi!, Vicky Donor, English Vinglish, Kahaani ” these films tasted both critical and commercial success due to their script and story, not 'star factor'.

As audiences hunger for something new and actors push the envelope with concept-driven films, Hindi cinema is going beyond the usual formulae and plotlines

Of late, Bollywood has witnessed a new star rising on the horizon. Forget big-name actors or chartbusting item numbers, `concept-driven` film script are the buzzwords.

Variations of age-old plotlines helmed by stars are still going strong, but 2012 is proof that out-of-the-box films that provoke thought and excite debate with their unusual concepts can also strike critical and box office gold.
Sridevi's comeback as Shashi in English Vinglish was markedly different from her previous roles

Few in Bollywood believed that Barfi!, a tale of a deaf-and-mute boy and an autistic girl, would gross Rs 100 crore. 

But the film proved to be a viewer favourite, reiterating the fact that you cannot second guess the audience. This Anurag Basu film didn't coast on its stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra's image, but preferred to tell an oddball story; and the well-received film has now been chosen to represent India at the Oscars.

Sridevi made her triumphant comeback in English Vinglish, a film markedly different from some of her biggest hits of the 1980s. Gauri Shinde presented her as a woman who intrepidly learns a foreign language to earn the respect of her daughter and husband, only to assert that self-respect transcends all languages. 

Akshay Kumar chose to make character actor Paresh Rawal the protagonist of his home production OMG: Oh My God! a film that questioned the traditional ideas of religion. The theme tried to find a rationale behind the rituals with which we worship our gods; and appealed to millions of viewers.
Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani boldly showed its protagonist to be pregnant for most of the film. In a marked contrast from her The Dirty Picture appearance, Vidya Balan played a woman purportedly tracing the whereabouts of her missing husband and won over the audience.
OMG: Oh My God!, a film that questioned religion, has Paresh Rawal in the lead while Akshay Kumar appeared in the second half

And, this year, for the first time ever, a sperm donor played the protagonist of a successful Hindi film. The Ayushmann Khurrana and Yami Gautam starrer Vicky Donor was a unique attempt at showcasing the life of a sperm donor, who helps childless couples have babies.

This new array of films that have clicked with the audiences and critics alike are proof that the so-called division between art and commercial cinema is blurring. A film with a good concept is what the audience wants to see.

Wider acceptance
Content has always been important,  feels Siddharth Roy Kapur, managing director - Studios, Disney UTV, but it is true that today, movies that deal with different themes and subjects are receiving huge appreciation from an audience that is hungering for great content. It's an incredible time for filmmakers, artistes and studios.

Kapur defines his filmmaking endeavour as an attempt to offer audiences cinema that is entertaining and pushes the envelope at the same time. True to his words, his studio has produced several content-driven films such as Khosla Ka Ghosla, A Wednesday, Aamir, Dev D, Udaan, No One Killed Jessica, Paan Singh Tomar, Barfi! and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.
Sujoy Ghosh believes filmmakers are simply following the audience, which has made its proclivity for new themes amply clear. Ghosh's Kahaani has been in the vanguard of the content revolution, and he reasons, The audience has become more generous now, they are more open; it is a natural progression. 

Earlier, we didn't have access to DVDs and the Internet and we didn't know much about subjects other than two people falling in love, or a son taking revenge for his dad's death. As the world evolves, we also evolve; and so does our acceptance.

Umesh Shukla, the director of OMG: Oh My God!, heartily welcomes the changing scenario. If your concept is the hero of the film, you don't need anything else. The box office collections on the first two days might not be as good because of the absence of a star, but the subject will do wonders later,  says Shukla, whose film had character actor Paresh Rawal in the lead, with star Akshay Kumar coming into the picture only in the latter half of the film. Shukla insists, Even the stars want good scripts.

Actors are game
Mainstream actors and directors too are gravitating towards concept-driven films. Even newcomers are beginning to look at such films as a safe bet with which to enter Bollywood.

Ileana D'Cruz, who made her Bollywood debut with Barfi!, opines, I honestly didn't expect to have a debut like this. I wanted a song and dance film. But I think people are more open now to different stories and they are giving such films a chance. Mainstream commercial actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are doing unconventional characters. There has been a big change in the films that are being made.
Kunal Kapoor firmly believes, Content driven films are being liked by the audiences. This is reflected in his choice of films like the recent Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, which revolved around finding the right recipe for a chicken dish.
Tabu, who has given exceptional performances in films such as Maachis, Chandni Bar, The Namesake and the recent Life Of Pi, approves of the trend. She says, If I get an offer to do a film like Vicky Donor and worthwhile money, I will do it. I really enjoyed English Vinglish too.

Tried and tested
Though mainstream films like Rowdy Rathore, Student of The Year, Bol Bachchan and Housefull 2 have done roaring business at the box office this year, it has not deterred the spirits of the directors who want to try something unique.

But filmmakers making concept films are well aware that audiences still have a taste for the tried and tested; and that they have to work hard to ensure their films stand out. Umesh Shukla reveals he was a bit apprehensive about OMG: Oh My God!. When I was making OMG: Oh My God!, mujhe darr laga ki meri film chalegi ki nahin.

Paresh said, 'We should try to make a good film. Whether it works at the box office or not is secondary.'` OMG released with Kamaal Dhamaal Malamaal, a sequel to the 2006 hit Malamaal Weekly. Despite expectations from the Priyadarshan film, it couldn't replicate the success of its predecessor while Shukla's film surprised everyone, including the director, by doing very well.
Shukla says, I wasn't expecting it to be such a big hit, but I expected it to do well. The problem lies in the formula that we (Bollywood) have created - some action scenes, romance and an item song in a film and it's bound to work.

Our film didn't subscribe to trade norms - there was no heroine in the film, and we didn't have any double meaning dialogues or item songs. It is a surprise that our film is nearing the 100 crore club.

Ghosh discloses that factors that are conventionally considered safe are not of paramount importance in the long run. If I have a face like Vidya, Ranbir or Sridevi in my film, it does help to draw an audience, but finally, it is the film that speaks for itself.

Future concepts
The success of these concept-driven films has enthused new directors who are willing to experiment with projects in which the script is the star. On the anvil is the Vidya Balan- Emraan Hashmi dark comedy, Ghanchakkar, Table No 21 which stars Paresh Rawal in a negative role, and Nautanki Saala which has Ayushmann Khurana playing a theatre actor.
Shukla sees a not-so-distant time when `people will soon start working on better scripts rather than chasing stars.` Ghosh envisions the emergence of `other themes like science fiction, or maybe time travel.`

But he also warns against being hung up on 'the idea'. `If you make a film thinking it is concept-based, it might just turn out to be a gimmick. The film should essentially be a story that audiences can connect to.` 

Actors speak
Honestly, I wanted a song and dance film for a debut. But people are now giving concept-driven films a chance. Mainstream actors like Ranbir and Priyanka are playing unconventional characters. There has been a big change in the films being made
- Ileana D'Cruz, who made her Bollywood debut with Barfi!
A person will watch Vicky Donor because of the quirkiness of the subject. It had a brilliant team and I was surrounded by the right people -John Abraham, Shoojit Sircar, and Annu Kapoor. It is always safe when you choose an unconventional subject and a credible director
- Ayushmann Khurrana, lead, Vicky Donor

What has changed
If your concept is the hero, you don't need anything else. The collections on the first two days might not be as good because of the lack of a star, but the subject will do wonders later. Even the stars want to act in a good script
- Umesh Shukla, Director of OMG: Oh My God! 

The audience has become more generous, they are more open. Earlier, we didn't have access to DVDs and the Internet and we didn't know much about different subjects. As the world evolves, we also evolve
- Sujoy Ghosh, Director of Kahaani
Today, movies that deal with different themes are being appreciated by an audience that is hungering for great content. It's an incredible time for filmmakers, artistes and studios
- Siddharth Roy Kapur, Managing Director - Studios, Disney UTV 

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Huma to attend Sundance film fest

Actress Huma Qureshi will attend the upcoming Sundance Film Festival for the screening of her debut movie "Gangs of Wasseypur".

The 26-year-old will go for the 10-day-long festival, which will begin Jan 17 next year.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, the two-part crime thriller "Gangs of Wasseypur", received a thumbs up from the critics and has been appreciated by the masses as well.

It was recently screened at the Marrakech International Film Festival.

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Life is a Festival for Huma Qureshi these days

After Cannes, Huma Qureshi is gearing up to attend the Sundance Film Festival where her debut film is being screened 

Huma Qureshi is presently on a short holiday to Dubai. She had a few free days on hand and took off for a break. But what's really making her happy is that her debut film Gangs of Wasseypur will be showcased at the Sundance film festival next month. 

The Sundance Film Festival is an American film fest that takes place annually in Utah. It is one of the largest independent film festivals in the US. And the newbie is keen to attend it. Says a source, Huma will be in the midst of a hectic shooting schedule of Vishal Bharadwaj's film around that time.

But she plans to wrap up her work and try and attend the Sundance festival. Adds the source, Having her debut films do the leading festival rounds has been a real high for her. Seldom does it happen that an actor gets to attend prestigious film festivals for her debut project. 
Huma had also attended the Cannes Film Festival for GOW, in May. So she does not want to miss out Sundance at any cost, the source says. Interestingly, besides Gangs of Wasseypur, Huma's other film Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana has also made rounds of most of the festival circuits. 

Meanwhile, Huma has also bagged a nomination at the Asia Pacific awards. She has now been nominated for the Best Indian newcomer category at the awards which has Kahaani as the only other Indian film at the awards gala. 

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Sister Huma Qureshi

The busy actress is keen to be around for her brother Saquib Saleem's upcoming film's promo release 

Huma Qureshi is presently shooting for Nikhil Advani's film in Gujarat that has Arjun Rampal as her co-star. The newcomer, who has been busy with her projects ever since her debut flick Gangs of Wasseypur released in June, is keen to wrap up the shoot in Ahmedabad and be in Mumbai. 

Reason? The promos of her brother Saquib Saleem's upcoming film which has him in the lead role has been released alongside Jab Tak Hai Jaan. The actress is keen to share the big moment in her brother's life.

Says a source, Huma is excited and wants to be around for him. Though he also featured in Mujhse Frandship Karoge earlier, she considers this special as he has a plum role.
Saquib Saleem Adds the source, Huma has been shooting non-stop ever since she did Gangs. She immediately got busy with Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana and was simultaneously shooting for Nikhil Advani's film as well as for Vishal Bhardwaj's production. As soon as she wraps up her Gujarat outdoor she begins shooting for Vishal's film again.

The busy sister is hopeful that by next month she will be free in time when her brother starts the promotions for his film. 

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Huma Qureshi doesn't feel like outsider in Bollywood

Huma Qureshi's first two films were appreciated and she is getting good offers too. Contented with her career, the actress doesn't see herself as an outsider in the film industry.

"I don't feel I am an outsider. I was already shooting for other films even before the release of my first film 'Gangs of Wasseypur' (GOW). While shooting for GOW, I was simultaneously shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Ek Thi Daayan', and while shooting for 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana', I was shooting for Nikhil Advani's 'D Day'," Huma, who is from Delhi, told.

She started as a model and featured in TV commercials like Vita Marie, Saffola Oil, Mederma Cream, Pears Soap and Nerolac.

Talking about movies, she said: "It's an exciting new phase. Both parts of my first film received critical acclaim, 'Luv Shuv...' was also appreciated by many. I hope it continues to be like this."

"Ek Thi Daayan" and "D Day" haven't come out yet.

She considers herself lucky to have bagged films with established filmmakers.

"I am blessed to have got a chance to work with directors like Anurag Kashyap, Vishal Bhardwaj and Nikhil Advani at such an early age. Moreover, good scripts have been coming my way so I am really excited about it," said the 26-year-old who doesn't want to restrict herself to doing a certain kind of role.

"I have tried to be different in each of my films - be it 'Gangs of Wasseypur' or 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana'. My roles in other two films are also different. I can't put myself in a box and be an actor," she said.

When it comes to looks, Huma is different from the typical Bollywood actresses and she says she isn't trying to fit in anyone's shoes.

"I agree that I am different from others. I am not trying to fit in someone else shoes. I am being honest to myself. The audience is loving me the way I am and that's most important for me," she added.

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Chicago calling, Huma Qureshi

Actress has been invited to talk to the students of a film school where she will also be felicitated

Huma Qureshi has been invited by a film school in Chicago to give a lecture to the students about her journey in Bollywood. The school will also felicitate the Gangs of Wasseypur and Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana actress.

A friend of Huma says, She has a strong theatre background and started her career in Bollywood from scratch with no godfather backing her. The film school feels Huma is worthy of felicitation and most apt to talk to students about her Bollywood and the hard work that goes behind it.

Huma who also features in Vishal Bharadwaj's upcoming production opposite Emran Hashmi, has also begun shooting for Nikhil Advani's next. She also has a three film deal with Ekta Kapoor's production house.

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I'd love to be curvy and voluptuous as Huma Qureshi, she is really sexy

She has a slim and trim frame, but actress Kalki Koechlin says she would love to have a "voluptuous" figure like "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" actress Huma Qureshi.

"I don't care for the 'zero' label, I really think people come in all shapes and sizes. I have been skinny all my life. My dream is to have a body like Huma Qureshi, voluptuous! I think she is really sexy," said the 29-year-old. 

"But I wouldn't have that body and she wouldn't have mine because we are born with certain type of body. So, you got to love what you got," she added. 

Kalki spoke on the sidelines of the launch of Women's Health magazine here Saturday. The magazine cover features Kalki, whose husband Anurag Kashyap has produced Huma's latest film "Luv Shuv...". 

Huma first came to limelight with her role in Kashyap's "Gangs of Wasseypur". 

Meanwhile, Kalki will soon be seen in Karan Johar's "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani". 
Talking about her role in the film, Kalki said: "I play a girl called Aditi who is very tomboyish, loud and bindaas (carefree) kind of girl with lots of attitude and she is good fun. Everybody in the film is a young person, who is learning something about life and learning how to grow up," she added.

Being directed by Ayan Mukerji, "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" also stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The film is slated to release in May 2013.

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Movie Review: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is delicious

Star Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Vinod Nagpal, Rajesh Sharma, Rajinder Sethi, Seema Kaushal, Rahul Bagga 

Directed By: Sameer Sharma

Written By : Sameer and Sumit Bhateja 

Music: Sumit Dwiedi 

Duration: 2 Hrs 15 Mins

Rating: * * * 1/2

It looks like in 2012, Anurag Kashyap's production house AKFPL is blessed with a boon of unveiling some of the memorable flick one after the other. Be it " Ganga of Wasseypur I and II", "Chittagong" or the newest delight on Anurag's entertainment salver i. e. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana. 

This "Slice of Life" directed by Sameer Sharma (who has also made his directional debut with Luv Shuv Tey Chicvken Khurana), featuring a brigade of talented artists like Kunal Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Rajesh Sharma et al opened with an occupancy of around 28% at the multiplexes. 

"Slice of Life" is one such budding genre of Bollywood, which is seen decorated with cine flicks, which at times inspite of being commercial let downs, succeed in leaving their impact and escalate in to the elite category of lovable cine cantatas. And because of its magnificently well brewed ingredients Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana deserves to be in that league of movies. 

Synopsis:
In ancient India (and in some cases even today), some of the skilled communities use to prefer trickling down their trade skills, only to their descendants, in order to keep it confidential to the family. 

So with its roots embedded in quite a similar tradition, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is a perfect cine cantata which showcases the tale of a UK returned free spirited grandson, an elderly patriarch grandfather and his yummilicious cooking recipe which he never shared with anyone and their rendezvous with life. 

Story: 
With in no time from start, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana gets down to business and as the story takes off it showcases a free spirited guy, Omi (Kunal Kapoor) residing in London, who owes a debt of 50,000 pounds to a mafia goon Shenty (Munish Makhija), who imposes a compulsive return to India on Omi in order to manage the money that he owes to him. Clad in the blanket of hopes, of managing money from his patriarchal Dhaba which own a good repute all across Punjab, Omi returns to his native village Lalton, Punjab. 
But on reaching there he realises that, as compared to the time when he absconded from his home at a very young age, after sacking a hefty amount, things have deteriorated now and his lovable Darji (Vinod Nagpal), too have slipped into dementia but inspite of that has a fixation to his Dhaba and its much adored dish "Chicken Khurana". 

On his return Omi comes across a warm and emotional reception by his cousin Jeet (Rahul Bagga), Aunty (Seema Kaushal) a suspecting Uncle (Rajinder Sethi) and also meets a highly eccentric character, Titu Mama (Rajesh Sharma), who reside in his grandfather's house. As the frames move ahead, steps in Omi's childhood love Harman (Huma Qureshi), whom Omi left behind while absconding during his adulthood. 

As the story rolls ahead comes in a flurry of humor, emotions and commitments ultimately leading to a touching climax. So did Omi succeeds in regaining the lost glory of Chicken Khuran and pays back the debt that he owes or returns back to UK. 

Script:
Unlike the script of those hang bang cine flicks, which have a premise rooted in the Punjabi culture and showcases the same in the shades of larger than life colors. Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana has got a simple and near to life premise, which very well portrays the Punjabi legacy through the lenses of reality and simplicity. 

Script of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is so well knitted that it leaves no scope for any kind of melodrama or inflated expression of emotions. And it's because of the neat and uncomplicated drafting of the script, that every artist comfortably slips under the skin of its character with quite an ease and thoroughly succeeds in delivering an outstanding performances. 
There are very few stories which inspite of being highly predictable, succeeds in keeping audience attention glued to the screen, and undoubtedly, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is surely one of those stories which keeps on tickling your curiosity instinct. 

As far as dialogues are concerned then onscreen loquaciousness of characters also compels you to associate with them, because of their simplicity. Even the quick witted and spontaneous humor sans gaucherie is good enough to bring smiles on your face. 

Screenplay: 
Though at times flow of the narration of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana seems slowing down, but otherwise, since frame one the movie thoroughly keeps you captivated within the confines of its mesmerising charm. About Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, it won't be wrong to say that, it's simply the marvellous execution of the script, which keeps on pampering the entertainment hungry bud of the masses. 

In the second half, for a while one may find onscreen proceedings to be dragging, but inspite of that it nowhere mar the over all flow of the narration. 

As far as the direction of Sameer Sharma is concerned then there is just one word to describe it and i. e. Outstanding. After seeing the excellence with which Sameer has brewed the common man humor, familial legacy and culture, one thing is for sure that he masters the art of making an entertaining cine cantata. 

Music:
Inspite of the absence of those obtruded peppy Punjabi tracks (as it is seen in various cine flicks having Punabi legacy at their roots), the music and lyrics of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana are soothing aural delights. Just like other components, even the the music and lyrics of the movie elegantly carries the soul of the movie. 
Performances:
It won't be wrong to say that while performing their characters in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana each and every member of the cast was at his best. Be it the main lead or the supporting cast, each and every protagonist has thoroughly proved his or her acting adroitness with utmost excellence, hence making it a tough choice to pick any one as the best. 

Though Kunal carried his character with utmost dexterity, but inspite of that this can't one can't be counted as one of the best performance of this otherwise highly talented actor. 

Just like her GOW stint Huma again is an absolute delight to watch in a Punjabi Kudi avatar. In Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Huma once again proved that she owns the potential to do justice to any and every kind of character offered to her. 

Inspite of having nothing much to say, Vinod Nagpal thoroughly succeeds in tickling your ribs by his cute acts of senile innocence. But the man who thoroughly steals the show is Rajesh Sharma who is seen playing an eccentric character. 

Infact it won't be wrong to say that despite being part of supporting cast, Rajesh's mere appearance on the celluloid and his spontaneous and quick witted comedy punches overshadowed everything else. 

Dolly Ahluwalia in dhongi bua avatar is too good. And besides this Rajinder Sethi, Seema Kaushal and Rahul Bagga too succeeds in doing a thorough justice to their respective roles. 
BO Potential:
Because of the absence of glittery star cast Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana may not succeed in emerging as a Commercial miracle but, inspite of that the movie is expected to recover its cost of production at BO and will be widely liked by the audience of all age groups. 

Verdict: 
To sum up, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is an exquisite dish which will deliciously quell your entertainment hunger.

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Huma Qureshi wins an award but fails to collect it

The actress receives her first award but couldn't make it for the ceremony due to her film commitments

Huma Qureshi is both happy as well as sad. The Gangs of Wasseypur actress has bagged a Best Supporting Actress award for her debut film at the South Asian Rising Star Film Awards (SARSFA) 2012 held in New York. But she couldn't make it to the ceremony on October 27. Tied up with her upcoming film's chock-o-block promotions, there was no way she could travel to the US.

As this is Huma's first ever award and that too for her first film, she holds it very special. She was thrilled to hear about it and was keen to receive the honour in person. But the fact that she could not be in New York for the event led to disappointment.

Says a source, `Huma recorded a video message for the award function. She really wanted to be at the ceremony but there was no way she could travel due to the distance involved and the long flight.`

The awards were part of the ninth annual South Asian International Film Festival the largest gala related to the South Asian entertainment industry to be held in the US.

Interestingly, Huma's upcoming film directed by Sameer Sharma that has Kunal Kapoor as her co-star is also part of the festival. With the film's promotions on here, there was no way the actress could be present for the screening as well.

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Abhishek, Neil excited about Luv Shuv Tey...

Actors Neil Nitin Mukesh and Abhishek Bachchan seem to be quite excited about forthcoming film "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" starring Kunal Kapoor and Huma Qureshi.

"I am a non-vegetarian, but this dish is a treat for all vegetarians also. You will simply love 'Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana'. Don't miss it," Neil tweeted. "It marks the debut of director Sameer Sharma. A director to look out for," he further posted.

Co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap, the film releases Friday.

"Obsessed with the music of 'Luv Shuv Tey...'. Can?t wait to see it. All the best Kunal and Sameer,? tweeted Abhishek Bachchan.

The film is a funny story about a Punjabi family - the Khurana's hunt for their special chicken recipe.

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Meet Kunal, Huma's love guru

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap gave love tips to Kunal Kapoor and Huma Qureshi while picturising an intimate scene with them in "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana".

Kashyap says that the film is about food as well as true romance. 

" Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana is what I call 'a romance'. It's about romanticising about Chicken Khurana and the hunt for the missing recipe and it also has a sweet and endearing romance between Huma's character and Kunal's character," Kashyap, who has co-produced the film, said in a statement.
"Simplicity of it will touch the hearts of many. So, through the film and its promotions we are not just talking about food and tips to making good food, we are also talking about how a true romance should be," he added. 

Directed by Sameer Sharma, the film is a funny story about a Punjabi family - the Khuranas. They run a dhaba and take pride in their food, especially their patent Chicken recipe.

The movie is set for a Nov 2 release.

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Delectable soundtrack in Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana

Music Director: Amit Trivedi

Lyricist: Shellee

Singers: Amit Trivedi, Pinky Maidasani, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Tochi Raina, Shahid Mallya, Harshdeep Kaur, Dilbahar, Pinky Maidasani, Devender Singh and Renu Jagotra

Rating: ****

Another comical outing is set to hit the silver screen in "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" touted to be Bollywood's first "food film". 

The film's wit gets across through its experimental and amusing music composed by the talented Amit Trivedi, with seven original tracks penned by Shellee.

The first song in the film's soundtrack is "Kiklikalerdi", which takes inspiration from a traditional Punjabi game played by children. 

Amit Trivedi brilliantly transforms it by using modern sounds with flute and 'dhol'. Yo Yo Honey Singh makes the track more entertaining with his vocals and good support from Pinky Maidasani and Trivedi.

The lyrics -- a mix of Punjabi and Hindi -- are simple, humorous and one can relate to them. There is also a Punjabi version of the song for puritans. Both are equally good for one to sit back and enjoy. 

Next is "Motorwada", a satirical take on the rich and the famous, sung by Trivedi and Tochi Raina. The song takes off slowly with elements of rap. But what you enjoy most are the crude lyrics and Raina's Haryanvi-style singing.
Then follows the title track -- a soothing Punjabi duet by Shahid Mallaya and Harshdeep Kaur -- exploring the chemistry between a couple.

The lyrics as well as the music are minimalistic which work in favour of the song. There is also good use of harmonium and dhol. 

The playlist continues with "Luni Hasi" with two versions -- one sung by Harshdeep Kaur and the other by Devender Singh. 

The female version is slow with more focus on the singer's traditional voice. 

However, the arrangement involving electronic sounds is praiseworthy since it does not dilute the vocals. 

The male version is equally inducing although a bit quick. 

"Makkhan Malai" may not be the finest track here but keeping in mind the film's humorous theme, one lets it pass. It has been sung by Dilbahar and Renu Jagotro and their effort is modest. 

"Farukha Badi" is folksy and starts with a group of women singing and having a good time. Singer Labh Janjua then takes the centre stage and its Punjabi all the way from there on. 
Trivedi has kept it simple with traditional instruments and bit of harmonium. One starts enjoying the track after listening for a couple of times. 

Last in the ensemble is the "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana theme" which is more than just an instrumental track. 

It would not be wrong to call it the best among the lot because of 'rabab' played by Tapas Roy is spell-binding. 

Overall, after the musical success of "Dev.D", "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu", "Ishaqzaade", "Aiyyaa" and "English Vinglish", it is another victory for composer Amit Trivedi.

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I consider myself a greedy person: Huma Qureshi

Huma Qureshi has an unusual approach towards her movie roles - she equates them with "Monday tests in school".

"For me, each role is like a test... how you have Monday tests in your school... that's how I approach my characters," she told and added that she is lucky to have worked with experienced directors.

After gangster drama "Gangs of Wasseypur" and forthcoming romantic comedy "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana", Huma will be seen in an action avatar in Nikhil Advani's next.

She is also acting in Vishal Bhardwaj's supernatural thriller "Ek Thi Daayan".

"I consider myself a greedy person when it comes to good food and good movies. I want to do them all. I want to do lots of movies in different genres with different co-actors and scripts," added the actress.

Directed by Sameer Sharma, "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" revolves around a family recipe and has a strong Punjabi flavour -- but playing a typical small town Punjabi girl was not easy for her.

"I am from Delhi and so, if anyone is from Delhi, you automatically become a Punjabi. But it was difficult as I have never been to Punjab in my life. It was a different experience. Most of the people on set were Punjabi. I was nervous and wanted to get everything right, but my director and co-actors really helped me," she said.

"We have tried not to make caricatures out of characters... have tried to keep them real. We have tried to tell an entertaining story, which is light and shows a slice of life," she added.

Huma feels that the film's concept stands a strong chance to be accepted by the audience because "India is a country defined by food. We have food for birthdays, deaths. It's an important part of our day-to-day life".

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Huma Qureshi surprises birthday boy Kunal Kapoor

Kunal Kapoor turned 35 yesterday. The actor who has a film coming up with Huma Qureshi was busy doing a photoshoot at Mehboob Studios

Huma surprised him with a birthday cake. 
She and the unit folk initially behaved as if they did not know about his big day but once the shoot was wrapped up they all sang aloud and cut the cake.

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Huma finds Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana role relatable

After playing an "airhead" in "Gangs of Wasseypur", Huma Qureshi will be seen as a doctor in "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" and says that audiences would be able to connect to the small town girl.

"I am playing a doctor in the film, her name is Harman. She is from Punjab...from a very small-time place over there. She is very real, earthy, and a normal girl. If you go to the interiors of Punjab, you'll find a lot of girls like her," the 26-year-old said here in an interview. 

"A lot of girls would be able to relate to Harman. My character in my last film ('Gangs of Wasseypur') was a bit air-headed but Harman is very real," she added.

Meanwhile, talking about her co-star Kunal Kapoor, Huma said he is an "amazing" and "supportive co-actor". 
"He is always involved at the script and the scene level," she said and added that Kunal thinks no matter how much one works on a scene, "it's not enough". 

"He used to keep coming up to me and used to say let's rehearse these lines. He has been in the industry for a while, but he is still so dedicated and involved," she added.

Directed by Sameer Sharma, "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" that revolves around an important family chicken recipe hits theatres Nov 2.

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Luv Shuv Tey... falls in gentle comedy genre: Kashyap

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap says that his upcoming production "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" reminded him of Hrishikesh Mukherjee kind of cinema, which is no longer made.

"After a long time I read a script which I found was in a zone that we no longer remember. You see 'Little Miss Sunshine', 'Juno', then there were Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee films, this is like those gentle comedies," the 40-year-told reporters at an event here.

"People have stopped writing such films and somewhere I got a similar feel from the film," he added.

The film revolves around the hunt for a secret recipe - Chicken Khurana - that had made the Khurana Dhaba famous.

Lead actor of the film Kunal Kapoor says that the dish is used as a metaphor in the film.

"The name is Chicken Khurana but it could have been Paneer Khurana or Aaloo Khurana, the dish is not important. What is more important is what the dish represents," Kunal said.

"It is a metaphor for many things in the film, be it romance or family, there are a lot of things that the dish connects to," he added.

Directed by Sameer Sharma, "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" also stars Huma Qureshi and is slated for a Nov 2 release.

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Participate in Chicken Khurana contest, win Rs.10 lakh

The makers of Bollywood film "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" have cooked up a unique way to promote the film. They are set to unveil a giant cooker, inviting people to send in their own recipes. The entry closest to that of dish Chicken Khurana, will win Rs.10 lakh.

UTV Motion Pictures will unveil the cooker at Lokhandwala back-road in Mumbai Wednesday evening.

The film's story revolves around Chicken Khurana, a recipe, which has gone missing from the quirky Khurana family due to grandfather Darjee Khurana's lost memory.

The innovative marketing is centred around the Khurana family asking countrymen to help them find the recipe.

"We thought it would be an interesting opportunity for audiences to join the Khuranas in their pursuit of Chicken Khurana. Audiences need to discover the ingredients that could make Chicken Khurana and drop it inside the giant cooker that we are installing in Mumbai, " Shikha Kapur, executive director - Marketing Studios, Disney-UTV, said in a statement.

"With these recipes, the cast - Kunal Kapoor and Huma Qureshi along with Anurag Kashyap - will try and make Chicken Khurana and the recipe they choose as the closest to Chicken Khurana, will be entitled to a gratification, " added Kapur.

Whoever will be able to find the Chicken Khurana recipe or get close even to the original recipe before the film's release Nov 2, will be given Rs.10 lakh.

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