Oh Oh! Dark clouds ahead for Sunny?

Sources say the adult film actress Sunny Leone's upcoming sequel could have faced a bit of a roadblock

Sunny Leone may have had a thumping start in Bollywood but looks like it's no longer sunny days ahead of her in terms of her upcoming film.

According to sources, the Ekta Kapoor produced film has overshot its budget and the crew wants to rework on certain portions of the film after they came out unsatisfactory.

Insiders also say that Sunny, who is quite miffed about the recent developments, is probably planning to ask for more money for allotting extra dates.
Bhushan Patel, who is helming this sequel of Ragini MMS, says, I shot with Sunny from January to March and after we saw the film, we thought that the film's second half could be better. We re-wrote few of the portions and some scene were added. As per now, only the songs remain to be shot and a few days here and there.
However, the adult film actress husband Daniel Weber says in Sunny's defense, Never would we ask for extra money since it is a norm to shoot songs later. A friend of Ekta denies the buzz, Just some patchwork and two songs are left to be shot.

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Movie Review: Board 'Chennai Express' if you are an SRK fan

Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sathyaraj, Nikitin Dheer, Kamini Kaushal, Mukesh Tiwari

Directed by Rohit Shetty

Rating: * * *

Dammit! No out-takes!! Is this really a Rohit Shetty film? Every film of the Gol Maal director so far ended with out-takes giving us entertaining glimpses from during the making of the film. Here those trademark Shetty out-takes are replaced by a Honey Singh track which celebrates Rajnikanth and the lungi.

The rest of the film resembles those typical sambar-and-sandalwood creations by K Raghvendra Rao, and worse still, Raj Kanwar's Dhai Akshar Prem Ke where Aishwarya to escape her parental wrath at her elopement, introduces a man she has just met to her family as her soul-mate. 

Of course there are the flying cars exploding in the air to make sure we know that all said and drummed, this is a Rohit Shetty presentation. 

Packaged with pickled precision, peppered with just the right doses of naughty jokes and precocious pranks that go well with Shah Rukh's 40-year old brat's act, Chennai Express is the kind of non-toxic comic entertainer where the most damaging double- entendres you'd get is a Tamil word that sounds like Angelina Jolie's name. 

Come again? 

That brings me to another major hurdle in the heap of hilarity that Shetty builds so meticulously in the first-half. 
The generous outflow of Tamil that seems initially engaging (more so, since Shah Rukh shares our non-comprehension of the rapidfire Tamilian cloudburst that accompanies Deepika's quicksilver character) begins to come in the way as the narration grows older and runs out of energy. 

But then there is the sprightly Deepika as the runaway Tamilian girl who piles on to the North Indian mithaiwala stranger to escape marrying the boorish fiancee back home in her village in Tamil Nadu. 

We've seen Kareena Kapoor do the chirpy runaway train traveler in Jab We Met. Deepika brings a special filtered-coffee flavour to her chirpy character. Even that broad hammy accent grows on us. Yes, we like ! 

Here she is is the only Rohit Shetty team member (and I use the term 'team' since Shetty generously credits the direction to himself and his team) who seems to have a firm grip over her rudderless dithering character. Deepika plays Meena Amma with flavourful flourish. 
She is specially delightful in three key sequences, two of them comic and the other unexpectedly somber. In the sequence where her character turns into a sleeping kicking and convulsive zombie she's unbelievably goofy. It's not just Shah Rukh who gets a kick out of that scene. 

Would Rohit Shetty please do a full-fledged out-and-out comedy with Deepika? That, Chennai Express is not. It is a half-hearted but laugh-hearted effort that makes the fatal error of taking itself too seriously. Towards the end when the utterly shammed climactic fight ensues, we even have a long speech by Shah Rukh on the social status of the girl child. 

Not now, please!
As we squirm at the attempt to turn comedy into a serious business we look back at the rest of the film with some amount of wramth and affection. Some of the long shots of the train winding through green acres is breathtaking. And Shah Rukh's first meeting with Deepika's father over a bridge over a fast-flowing river is shot with amazing brio. 

There's a wonderfully-shot sequence where Shah Rukh has to carry Deepika to a temple over hundreds of steps. Deepika here goes from amusement and mockery to a sense of belonging and pride in her man's arms. It's a moment built with care and love. 

But then, such tender affection really has no place in this comedy of cultural dispossession where the Punjabi boy Rahul gets embroiled in Tamil girl Meena's family affairs and comes out. . . . well not quite wiser. But filled with self-mocking laughter. 

Shah Rukh pokes a whole lot of goodnatured fun at his now-aging lover-boy persona. There are tongue-in-cheek references to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and several other Shah Rukh Khan films and songs including the introductory South Indian lines from the Jiya jale song in Dil Se. 
All these self-tributes work better than what Puri Jagganath did with the Bachchan persona Buddha. . . . Hoga Tera Baap. Rohit Shetty is more in command of his canvas here than in his last comedy Bol Bachchan. 

But the self-deprecatory laughter is still not good enough. Somewhere you feel the one-line plot (okay, if not one then two-line plot) is stretched into an unwelcome second-half where nothing really happens. Even the humour tracks stops short beyond a point. 

But there is some genuine steam and spark in the early part of Chennai Express. Towards the beginning of the train journey when Deepika and Shah Rukh play a kind of antakshari of Hindi film songs to put the goons off her trail, Deepika completely overshadows her kingly co-star, who should be okay with being upstaged by his female co-star.

After all he has given Deepika priority over his own name in the credit titles. 
And Deepika takes the lead very seriously. She has never looked better and never been funnier on screen without even trying too hard. 

But then the plot and the situations let her down. The antakshari-speak that was amusing in the beginning recurs during a stale fight sequence in the second-half. 

We are no longer laughing. Not when Shah Rukh's purported big chase sequences end in embarrassing deadends. Not when an item song with incoherent words and even more misguided logistics pops up like a joke whose punchline has gone missing. Through all of this Shah Rukh Khan braves it with a delicious sense of self-mockery bordering almost on a masochistic absence of heroic pride. 

Yes, he likes it when the joke is on him. But that happens once too often here. 
So it's finally here. The film that all Shah Rukh Khan fans (which covers half the hemisphere) has been waiting for. The good news first. "Chennai Express" is a pleasant and likable film in parts. The bad news is, it does nothing for Shah Rukh Khan's imdomitable star power except to tell us he can still play a 40-year Rahul without faltering. That we already know.

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Sunny outmaneuvered Katrina, Bebo and Deepika

Although Sunny might be struggling carve a niche as an A-grader in Industry, but it looks like her sensuality makes her the champion of her own league, where none of the Bollywood hotties stand anywhere around her.

If outcomes of recent Google stats for the month of June, which comprise of cumulative data gathered from Google, YouTube et al, are to be believed then Sunny has emerged as the most searched Indian celebrity online.

The data collected for the month of June exhibits that, Sunny's name has been searched for a staggering 3.50 Crore times on the browser, whereas other A-graders of Bollywood failed in even getting up to the half of this figure. 

This Indo-Canadian stunner is followed by, Katrina and Kareena who rests at second and third slot respectively. In this battle of popularity even Dabangg of Bollywood, Salman lost to sizzling, Sunny, and could only manage to secure the fourth slot.

Most searched Bollywood celebs on Google:

1 Sunny Leone: 3.50 crore

2 Katrina Kaif: 1.15 crore 

3 Kareena Kapoor: 1.15 crore 

4 Salman Khan: 1.14 crore 

5 Aishwarya Rai: 92 lakh

6 Akshay Kumar: 67 lakh

7 Deepika Padukone: 66 lakh

8 Ranbir Kapoor: 65 lakh

9 Aamir Khan: 59 lakh

10 Anushka Sharma: 57 lakh

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Sushant and Ankita's bedroom secret

Sushant Singh Rajput borrowed tips from his real-life live-in romance for his next film

Sushant Singh Rajput's role in his upcoming film Shuddh Desi Romance bears a striking similarity to his real life. Just like how he is portrayed in the rom-com, Sushant too is a small-town lad and has been in a live-in relationship with his girlfriend.

According to sources, director Maneesh Sharma had an easy time explaining his role to the actor while for Sushant too, stepping into his character's shoes was a cakewalk. Our source says, Sushant hails from Patna while his live-in sweetheart Ankita Lokhande hails from Indore. He has been quite open about his relationship just like in the film. They have stood by each other through thick and thin.

Sushant and Parineeti in their next film

In the film, he and his on screen girlfriend Parineeti Chopra are shown to be in a similar situation. In real life as well, he knows the pros and cons about living together. He didn't have to prepare much before shooting commenced. The official spokesperson of the film remained unavailable for comment.

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Too close for comfort: Celebs on Media's invasion

Two top actresses with two drastically different opinions about dealing with the media. While Katrina Kaif recently wrote an open letter to the media, chiding them about using her pictures while she was on a holiday, Deepika Padukone says, `If I am a public figure and if someone has captured me, I feel I should be more careful.

While certain celebrities argue that over the time, their state of 'private being' is constantly being invaded by the media, others feel that given their glamorous status, they can hardly shy away from the glare of the arclights or the camera bulbs. Being under the constant gaze of the public eye is after all a small price to pay for the glitz and glamour that stardom brings.

Aye

Shah Rukh Khan
I chose this life and when I stand on top of my building and wave, there are many happy faces, which in turn makes me very happy. I want this life and I know I am a public figure. So with good things, there are some others that used to disturb me.

People also wanted to peek inside my house but I would protect my children, my family and my friends as ferociously as I can. But I have accepted all these and on 99.9 per cent occasions, only good things will happen and I don't want to get disturbed by the remaining 0.1 per cent.
Tusshar Kapoor
It is now a part and parcel of the media boom that Hollywood saw many years ago. Now since our film industry is growing and becoming bigger, it had to happen. I think that as an actor, one has to learn to adapt and become more cautious.
Raima Sen
I think all celebrities want their private lives to be kept under wraps. Like for example if I go to a night club with someone, I cannot expect the media not cover it simply because it is a public place. Sometimes public shoot pictures and upload them and it is not always the media we can pin the blame on.
Richa Chaddha
The society is moving towards the tabloid culture of the US. Social networking and microblogging sites have made stars very accessible. And the Internet has given relevance to gossip as news. It's inevitable. I would say let people do their job. Live and let live. Actors are in the public domain but they are not public property.

Nay
Katrina Kaif
I agree the media has the freedom but my point is that there is a difference between roaming in public and being on a holiday in the middle of nowhere. You shouldn't have to be looking over your shoulder. It is just a request for people not to use the picture. Those who feel it is okay to use them, will do so. But at least I know I have done my bit to ask.

Manoj Bajpayee
Media folk will behave the way you want them to. Once you let them peep into your personal life, they will always come in even when you don't want them to. I lead a very boring family life. I go to my shoots, finish them, get my cheque and come home. But I have maintained that I will keep my personal life personal and the media understands that.
Imran Khan
The paparazzi culture is starting to sneak in here and I've always found it strange. I personally have never had anything to hide so I'm perfectly fine with it. But it is not fair to take away someone's personal choice. You should allow a person to follow what they feel is correct. In my case, I was dating Avantika long before I joined the industry. So, there was never a question of who I was seeing. I even announced that I was getting married. I was never uncomfortable talking about. But it is not fair to assume that it is that easy for everyone.
Neetu Chandra
Media has become like a family member who wants to know every possible thing happening in your personal life. They scare me sometimes because the freedom of revelling in love and family is suffocated by them.
Jacqueline Fernandez
I find it unfair taking pleasure and advantage of a person in a vulnerable position. Celebrities are humans too. Why target them for no reason?

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Straight from the Heart: Why Nargis finds her life boring?

She's been linked to some Bollywood dudes, but Nargis Fakhri would like everyone to believe that her life is not as exciting as it's made out to be. Ahead of her political thriller Madras Cafe, the actress shares some facets about her life

Offcially, Nargis Fakhri made Mumbai her home in January 2012. Which gives this part Pakistani-part Czech, born and brought up in America exactly a year and half to make the city her home.

"Before that, I used to keep travelling between Copenhagen and Mumbai for work," she tells us. So has she finally managed to settle down? "I always say home is where the heart is. I've adjusted and made my space and things are going well. So I can say I have two homes in a way," she replies.

But still, there's one thing that bothers her a lot about Mumbai - "the traffic" -- she laughs. The unmistakable American accent, as we speak to her over the phone, is definitely there. But the actress insists that she can understand Hindi much better now.

"When I first came here, it was like asking somebody to learn a whole new language and culture in a month. After Rockstar released, I had the time to take my classes and start learning and educating myself about the industry, the language, the dancing, the culture etc. It's been a long and interesting journey, and now I can definitely say that you cannot talk bad about me because I will understand," she laughs.

Making her debut with the star of the moment, Ranbir Kapoor would have made things easy, but the critics didn't exactly go gaga over the actress when Rockstar released in 2011. The criticism must have hurt, and the actress admits to it.

"See a human being will always be affected by such things, but what we should do is look at it in a positive way and that's what I did," she says, "I think I was very open to the criticism. Through that, I was able to understand what I needed to work on. A lot of people didn't know that I didn't know about acting or Hindi cinema at all. I just walked into this blindly and perhaps, a little naive. With the criticism, I got a chance to analyse how to do things better."

And for the audience to see if Nargis has grown as an actress or not, a lot depends on her next film Madras Cafe, a political thriller set in Jaffna, that sees her playing the role of Jaya, a war correspondent.

"Becoming Jaya and trying to understand what a journalist like that goes through, I became aware of many different situations all over the world," she says. It also made her appreciate the real war correspondents out there, who according to Nargis, don't get enough credit for what they do. She admits she is eagerly waiting to see how the audience will react to her new role. "Rockstar was a romance and then I have this really intense role of Jaya. Next is Shaukeen, which is a comedy and I'm super excited that people are going to see me in such varied roles and see how different I can be in just two years," she says.
For somebody who's pretty new to Bollywood, she's already had her share of link-ups too. First it was Ranbir Kapoor, and then the actress was linked with Shahid Kapoor, Uday Chopra as well as Ness Wadia. "For somebody who's never encountered something like this, it can be traumatic and very upsetting initially," states Nargis, who retains that she's very much "single".

But over time, she says she's realised a few things and made her peace with them. "I sort of understand how it works, that people are curious, newspapers have to sell and things are made into something big. I lead a boring life. I'm glad the media is so excited about my life, making it more exciting that it actually is!" she laughs.

Nargis diaries

The one thing people don't know about you?
That I'm really, really funny! (haha)

What are you scared of?
Cockroaches

What's your favourite cuisine? Are you a good cook?
It's a tie between Indian and Japanese. I love cooking. I definitely cook when I have a day off.

What's your perfect man like? 
There's no such thing! (laughs) But close to perfect would have to have a good sense of humour, intelligence and a passion for travelling
Are you a good liar?
No, unfortunately not!

What's the goofiest thing you've ever done?
I usually dress up like a guy when I go out shopping, with tomboy clothes and a hat. One time, I was supposed to meet somebody I know and that person couldn't find me because I was looking like a boy!

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