Ranbir Kapoor goes under the knife

Apparently, the actor went through a minor surgery recently to get a cyst removed from his chest It was a zip, zap, zoom session from the operating theatre and back for Ranbir Kapoor recently. The actor apparently got a cyst removed from his chest. He was in the hospital for a few hours only and was back to work the next day.

A source says that RK went under the knife on May 12 and is currently sporting a bandage around his chest. However, it has not deterred the star from promoting his upcoming film with Deepika Padukone around town.

An insider says, `Ranbir is also nursing a back injury these days. Ranbir was working till late evening on the previous day and was on leave only for a day. Post the surgery, he has also been doing city tours and visiting show sets to promote his film. It was a minor operation and the actor is now fit and fine to resume his work.`

Looks like it was not the first time that RK was inside an OT. The actor also underwent a minor surgery while he was shooting for Anurag Basu's Barfi!.

While Ranbir was unavailable for comment, the actor's manager confirmed the surgery, without revealing further details. 

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Has Ranbir turned into a party animal?

After a night of revelry, Ranbir Kapoor turned up late at a cancer awareness event on Christmas morning bearing telltale signs

While most Bollywood stars try their very best to look picture perfect at every public outing, looks like Ranbir Kapoor can't care less. Or why else would he turn up at an event on Christmas day, to spend time with cancer-affected kids, looking like he had arrived straight from bed?

Our sources say that RK not only turned up looking sleep-deprived at the cancer hospital in town, he also seemed unkempt in his very modest track pants and ganji. He arrived much later than the scheduled time and industry insiders say that a high-profile bash the previous night could be blamed for Ranbir's sloppiness.

A source from the event says, Everyone including the kids who have been suffering from cancer waited with bated breath for the actor to arrive at 9.30 am. However, by the time Ranbir walked in it was already past 11 am. He was dressed in track pants, ganji and a jacket and looked totally out of place.

The actor, who is otherwise known to be quite jaunty, apparently hardly exchanged words with the media and the assembled kids. For Ranbir, the morning would have been a far cry from the previous night of revelry at industrialist Sunny and Anu Dewan's glitzy party in Bandra.

The source adds, Ranbir had come to the bash around 2.15 am and after some pretty serious partying he left at 5 am the following morning. Onlookers say RK seemed to be in very high spirits as he exited the event. Could he have forgotten about his next day's engagement altogether?
The actor not only kept the kids waiting at the event, other dignitaries like the Commissioner of Police of Mumbai, Satyapal Singh, and Commissioner of Police of Thane, K P Raghuvanshi also had to stay back for the latecomer. Ranbir's publicist however jumps to the actor's defence, stating, Ranbir was given the time of 10.30 am to attend the event and he was barely 30 minutes late, as he was stuck in the traffic.

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Why Ranbir want to Dance with Varun?

Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who did an item song in children's film "Chillar Party", would love to something like that again but this time he wants newbie Varun Dhawan to shake a leg with him.

"If it is for a good cause then of course, 100 percent. This time I would like to have Varun with me because he dances really well. He is a good soul and I think he will do it with all his heart," the 30-year-old said here Tuesday celebrating Christmas with kids suffering from cancer.

Asked about his plans for the new year, Ranbir, who is busy shooting for "Besharam", said, "I am shooting for the film."
Directed by Abhinav Kashyap, "Besharam" also features Indo-Australian actress Pallavi Sharda in the female lead.

Ranbir was last seen in "Barfi!" in the role of a deaf-mute boy.

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Besharam Ranbir-Rishi to do an Amitabh-Abhishek

Although Rishi Kapoor and his son Ranbir are finally coming together in Abhinav Kashyap's Besharam they won't be sharing any screen space in the film! Yes, the father and son, long desirous of being seen together, are finally working in the same film. 

But not together!

Instead in Besharam Ranbir will play a deadly cat-and-mouse game with his father Rishi Kapoor and Ranbir's mom Neetu Kapoor. 

Says a source, Ranbir is cast as an outlawed con-person operating in and around Delhi. Rishi and Neetu Kapoor play a couple of cops pursuing Ranbir's character all through the film. It's like Bachchan Saab's cop- character in Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli pursuing his own son Abhishek, though they're not father and son. 
The difference, we are told, is that the father and son Bachchan did come together in Bunty Aur Babli for the iconic Kajra re number. In Besharam as the script stands, the Rishi-Neetu Kapoor pair never run in their own son in the entire narrative. 

In fact Ranbir is very clear on the father-son issue. He will play his father's son only when he turns director for their home banner R. K. Films. 
Incidentally Ranbir Kapoor goes into Besharam without finishing his current film Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani. A source close to director Ayan Mukerjee confirms that they have 20 more days of shooting to complete, though the film has already gone on the editing table. 

Says the source, Ayan has to shoot two songs with Ranbir and Deepika. These would be shot in January. Then after that there will be one more song to shoot. It will be done somewhere down the line. 

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Ranbir and Imtiaz Ali's film will roll in September 2013

After Rockstar, Imtiaz Ali and Ranbir Kapoor had planned to work together for a film to be produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Buzz doing the rounds is that the project has been put on the backburner

But a source maintains, The Ranbir-Imtiaz film is very much on. It will roll in September 2013.

The source adds, The trio are keen on working together. Sajid had signed Imtiaz a long time back and Ranbir has worked with Sajid in Anjaana Anjaani. But as Ranbir's dates were an issue, it was decided that the film would roll later. In the meantime, Imtiaz will direct another film for Sajid.

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Ranbir Kapoor becomes a Salesman

Yes, You read it right. Recently at the launch of the DVD of his latest hit Barfi! Ranbir Kapoor gave some quirky excuses on why should people buy his film Barfi's DVD. "Since we know it is a health conscious country we live in, so instead of gifting Barfi sweets buy them Barfi! DVDs, " said Ranbir Kapoor.

Ranbir further added "When we have grand children, the film will not be in the theaters. So to show them and teach them about life the DVD is good. So you must invest today and reap benefits later. So buy a DVD for investment.

Like you buy LIC, buy Barfi! DVD. " Ranbir released Barfi! DVD coinciding the day of release of his debut film Saawariya five years ago. "Saawariya released five years back on this day. Great that I am releasing Barfi DVD on the same day. "

Barfi! was very widely appreciated worldwide especially for Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra's performances. However, Priyanka Chopra was not present at the Event.

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Two Kishore Kumar biopics in the making, Ranbir?

Ranbir Kapoor may be part of Anurag Kashyap's biopic on Kishore Kumar, but the makers of a musical based on the late singer's tracks are also keen to make their stage production into a musical

Considering that RK's diary is full, wonder whose project will roll first.

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Why is Farah holding Ranbir back?

Farah Khan was seen holding back Ranbir Kapoor at the premiere of Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana.

Wonder who or what the choreographer-turned-filmmaker had spotted that made her stop RK in his tracks?

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At 20 crores Ranbir turns out to be too pricey for chocolate!

Apparently, after Ranbir Kapoor demands Rs 20 crore to endorse a chocolate brand, the company had no choice but to let him go 

The owners of a chocolate brand were recently in for a bitter surprise from Ranbir Kapoor. The brand had approached him to endorse their product and apparently the actor demanded a whopping fee of Rs 20 crore for it.

Our sources say that the brand honchos had little choice but to drop Ranbir. Our informer tells us, RK was approached to do a commercial as well as sign up as the brand ambassador. 

Due to his growing popularity, we would have been happy to have him on board. However the amount he was demanding was way too high for us. Therefore the deal could not take place.
In the meanwhile, Ranbir denies having ever been approached by the brand. 

The actor says, This is completely false. Another source close to the actor says, Ranbir keeps getting endorsement deals every now and then and he has been in talks with many brand owners. However, there has never been any issue over money.

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Yes, I am doing Besharam: Ranbir Kapoor

There were reports doing the round that Ranbir Kapoor turned down Abhinav Kashyap's Besharam due to money issues. But the actor says "I come from a background where money has never been an issue. I am pretty much part of Besharam and yes, I am doing films with both the Kashyap brothers".

We have already carried a story where Ranbir's parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh might also be a part of Besharam. There are also very huge speculations in Trade and Media about Ranbir Kapoor following the patterns and style of Aamir Khan.

Ranbir adds "While I have great respect for Aamir sir, I am not following anybody. I am young enough to try my hands at all kinds of cinema. I am not into experimental cinema, what I am doing right now is fun, frothy and commercial".

Presently Ranbir seems to be very happy about his film 'Barfi' getting into the 100 Crore mark and receiving critical acclaims worldwide.

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My films aren't experiments, they're special: Ranbir

He played a rockstar in one, and a deaf and mute man in another, but actor Ranbir Kapoor says he does not like these movies being termed experimental.

"The films that I do or am willing to do are not experiments, they are very special and entertaining films for me. I am not trying to do any experiments," the 30-year-old said here Sunday at the unveiling of the new logo of the Swades Foundation, a rural empowerment initiative.

The Kapoor scion is ready to feature in a movie with a rural set-up too.

"If I get any good film, a good story which has the backdrop of rural India, I would love to be a part of it," he added.

Ranbir has a huge fan following, but he does not consider himself a youth icon.

"I think all the big superstars of the country, they are the youth icons, they are my icons. I have grown up watching their movies," Ranbir said.

He is currently busy with the shooting of Ayan Mukherjee's "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" opposite Deepika Padukone and Anurag Kashyap's "Bombay Velvet".

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Barfi! receives standing ovations in Busan Film Festival

After touching the 100th Crore mark in Box Office, Barfi! is certainly riding high! After making it to the Oscars, now the film received a standing ovation at the ongoing Busan Film Festival.

The screening for the recently released Barfi! at the Busan film festival in South Korea received an outstanding response from audiences. The film was screened for the sold-out show with over 4000 audiences watching the film.

Ranbir Kapoor said, "We are thrilled by the amazing reception we have received from audiences who came from across the globe to attend the festival. We received a standing ovation at the end of the screening which was both exhilarating and humbling for us.

Barfi! is a very special film for all of us involved. To see 4000 people here at this screening is truly inspiring! Now we would like for people in Korea to come back with their loved ones to watch the film in theatres."

The talented Priyanka Chopra said, "I am excited to share the Barfi! experience with audiences from the world. Showcasing the film at the Busan International Film Festival was a special experience for all of us in the team.

I am thrilled with the response received for the film and also for my performance. This was the first film festival to showcase BARFI! and I'm looking forward to many more!". Sources adds, Priyanka Chopra's performance was the most appreciated one at the Festival.

Amrita Pandey, Executive Director - UTV, said, " Barfi!'s success proves that audiences all over are embracing Indian cinema. Audiences are encouraging us as an industry to work with new ideas and subjects.

The unprecedented response for the film across the globe in both traditional release markets and now newer markets is a step in the right direction. We were very encouraged with the response tonight and are looking forward to the theatrical release in South Korea."

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Barfi! keeps Ranbir, Priyanka away from Big B bash

Jaya Bachchan has organised a mega bash to ring in her husband, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's 70th birthday. But actors Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra will not be attending the big bash.

Big B turns 70 Thursday.

Both the actors are rooting for their film "Barfi!" at the ongoing Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). It has been chosen in the Open Cinema Section.

When contacted, Priyanka's spokesperson told: "Yes, Priyanka is currently at the Busan International Film Festival with Ranbir rooting for 'Barfi!'".

The nine-day film festival will end Oct 13.

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Oh cute! Alia Bhatt has a crush on Ranbir Kapoor!

Actress Alia Bhatt confesses she has a huge crush on actor Ranbir Kapoor.

"I have always loved Ranbir and I love him even more after 'Barfi!'. He is my biggest crush and he will always remain my biggest crush," the 19-year-old said here Tuesday at a promotional event of her forthcoming debut film "Student Of The Year".

Asked which Khan would she like to work with from Bollywood's popular Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman or Aamir - Alia said: "These three are such big stars, how can I choose one? I want to work with all three of them."

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's youngest daughter, Alia, is making her debut alongside two newcomers - David Dhawan's son Varun and model Sidharth Malhotra. The movie hits theatres Oct 19.

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Barfi! to compete with 70 films for Oscar nomination

Indian filmmaker Anurag Basu's "Barfi!" is among a record 71 films vying for a nomination in the best foreign language film category for the 85th Academy Awards.

"Barfi!", featuring Ranbir Kapoor as a deaf and mute boy, Priyanka Chopra as an autistic girl and Ileana D'Cruz as a compassionate Bengali girl, won hearts across India and among people overseas, with its heartwarming narrative.

The movie is competing among films from countries like Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Germany, Israel, Russia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Kenya has sent an entry for the first time, with a film titled "Nairobi Half Life", directed by David 'Tosh' Gitonga.

Iran, whose entry "A Separation", took home the golden statuette last year, has decided not to send any film for the Oscars this year as a mark of protest against the recent anti-Islam film "Innocence of Muslims".

The country had initially decided to send Reza Mirkarimi's "A Cube of Sugar" as their entry this year, but then reportedly decided to boycott the award ceremony.

The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live Jan 10, 2013. The award giving ceremony will be held Feb 24, 2013.

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Ranbir, Deepika give 11 retakes!

Ayan Mukerji makes ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone repeat the same scene too many times for 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' 

Here's some buzz about Ayan Mukerji's next film. After it was reported that Ayan's film has overshot its schedule, there is another piece of news that his crew is getting extremely restless.

It seems the director has managed to drive his cast and crew up the wall with his habit of calling for too many retakes.

The film has even seen several changes in its locations. After shooting extensively across Manali, Rajasthan and even Mumbai, the cast and crew are now all set to travel to France soon to shoot for the next sequence. Our sources say that about 40 per cent of the film still remains to be shot.
A source states, A few days ago, Ayan made Ranbir and Deepika repeat the same scene for 11 times over an hour and half. Both Dippy and RK were very irritated, as both of them are known to be very spontaneous actors. Looks like Ayan's troubles are far from over. 

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It's a working birthday for Ranbir

Ranbir Kapoor turns 30 today. The actor has apparently stated that he is ready for marriage now. And he hopes he will find true love

The star is also not having a bash as he is shooting for buddy Ayan Mukerji's film today. A source says, "He wants to be with his friends but has no clue if any of them have planned anything." Informs Ayan, "We will be shooting a song at Filmistan Studios today and the idea is to stay focused. We will probably go for dinner if Ranbir has any energy left." When asked if there would be any cake cutting on the sets, Ayan says, "Perhaps, but we haven't figured it yet."

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I'd love to get married: Ranbir

Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, who has a massive fan following, and whose personal life is always under the scanner, says he will be ready for marriage the day he finds the right person.

"If I meet the right person, I would love to get married," Ranbir told a radio host. 

The actor had a roaring affair with Deepika Padukone, and was rumoured to be in a relationship with his co-stars Nargis Fakhri and Katrina Kaif. But Ranbir hopes one day he will find "true love".

"I always think that I will get true love in my life. I hope I can really find that person soon with whom I can live my whole life," added the actor, who is riding high on the success of "Barfi!" 

In "Barfi!", Ranbir was paired with National award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra. 
In an amusing incident during the promotions of "Barfi!", Ranbir took a pen and wrote 'Mumma's big boy' on his hand, inspired by Priyanka's permanent tattoo, which reads 'Daddy's lil girl'.

This was quite unlike other stars, who get the name of their love interest tattooed, just like Deepika had got herself inked with an 'RK' at the nape of her neck when she was dating Ranbir. 

"Since I get linked everyday, I might as well keep changing the name of the girls with a pen than a permanent tattoo," quipped Ranbir. 

Ranbir has teamed up with his ex-flame Deepika for "Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani".

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There will be no Barfi 2

The Barfi character played to pitch-perfection by Ranbir Kapoor, patented, popularized and now globalized by its producers UTV and director Anurag Basu, will now have a life outside the movies. While Anurag doggedly refuses any suggestion of s sequel to Barfi he is open to keeping Barfi's character alive beyond the precincts of the film. 

Says the source, Anurag is in principle opposed to the idea of sequels. He has firmly cut down the suggestion of a Barfi 2. However he is open to renewing Barfi's life-span in print form and maybe even a television series in animation form. The idea is to take the inspirational aspect of Barfi's character beyond the parent film. 

When contacted Anurag admitted of plans to take Barfi further. We are discussing some possibilities. But it's too early to talk about them. 

A sequel is definitely out. Where I will take Barfi's story when he is already dead? If the producers feel comfortable with the idea they're welcome to do sequel to Barfi. The Bhatts did a sequel to my film Murder. I was not involved with it. 

At the moment Barfi seems to have a life beyond what Anurag expected. 
Says the exultant director, The Oscar nomination is like a bonus. On the day it was announced I was locked away writing my next script, so I had no clue until late in the night.

Let me not be overly modest and let me admit I knew Barfi would be liked by critics and would go to various film festivals. It has already been selected for the Pusan, Marrakesh and the Taipei film festival. What took me by surprise was the popular mandate given to Barfi. I never expected it to be so popular. 

I always looked up to Raj Kumar Hirani for making inspirational films that were warmly embraced by the masses. Now Barfi seems to have done the same. 

Anurag's next two films are bio-pics on Bihar's globally celebrated mathematician Anand Kumar and Kishore Kumar. 

Says the director, I first need signatures on legal documents authorizing me to make films on these two very different and dynamic people. I need to have a letter of consent from Anand and Kishore-da's family. 

Luckily for me, both the parties are more than happy to have me making films on Anand and Kishore-da. Still, there is a great deal of legality and research to go through. No producer would touch a bio-pic without a legal letter of consent authorizing me to make the film. 

Anurag is leaving the entire Oscar strategy to his producers UTV. They've more experience in the matter. This is my first film that's going to the Oscars, so I am clueless how one goes about it. 
Anurag divulges that the Barfi team may take Aamir Khan's help in getting their film to the Oscars. Aamir has experience in how to position an Indian film for the Oscars. We'd be happy to follow his lead. At the moment we're yet to devise a strategy for the Oscars. Abhi LA door hai. 

As for thefranchise going into graphic and animation form, the areas are now being seriously explored with many global parties willing to invest in the franchise.

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Box office: Heroine disappoints, Barfi! still sweet

While Madhur Bhandarkar's film gets a slow start at the BO, 'Barfi!' is on an upward swing 

Madhur Bhandarkar's much-anticipated Heroine released with mix response. Although it was expected to get a huge opening and the producers released 2000 plus prints, the film didn't live up to the expectations. The trade feels that though the opening was good for a woman-oriented film, the film failed short of expectations.

Heroine has managed to earn Rs 22.49 crore in its first weekend (Friday Rs 7.35 cr, Saturday Rs 7.41cr and Sunday Rs 7.73 cr) On the other hand, Barfi! has collected around Rs 57.14 crore in its first week and Rs 15 crore in its second weekend making its total to Rs 62.14 crore in the first 10 days.

An interesting study of the moolah raked in by woman-oriented films in recent years in their first weekend indicates Rs 8.82 cr for 7 Khoon Maaf, Rs 10.85 cr for Tanu Weds Manu, Rs 12.02 cr for No One Killed Jessica, Rs 29.89 cr for The Dirty Picture, Rs 13.25 cr for Kahaani, Rs 6.28 cr for Hate Story and Rs 17.38 cr for Jism 2.
Girish Wankhede, official spokesperson of a multiplex chain says, The reviews and the audience reactions for Heroine are mixed. And for Barfi!, the timely Oscar entry announcement has boosted the collections and in fact we are thinking of increasing shows at our theatres.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan says, I think both Barfi! and Heroine should have been spaced out as both are from the same production house. Trade expert Amod Mehra adds, Heroine has nothing new to offer and the second half is dragging. It is a depressing film and will loose at least 20 to 30 per cent of its investment.

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