I admit I failed in my first year: Randeep Hooda

Actor Randeep Hooda admits to being not so studious during his college days and he believes that to succeed in life one needs to follow one's passion.

"I hardly studied in college and I got through because I think most of the courses in college are courses in common sense. What you learn in college is outside the class," the 37-year-old told reporters at the St. Xavier's college where he was promoting his film "John Day".

"In college, I used to worry about my future. But ultimately if you do something you are interested in, you will become a champion in it and it has got nothing to do with education," added the actor who carved a niche for himself in the field of modelling and acting.

Randeep says what helps him in his career today is his time spent with friends. 

"I failed in my first year but ultimately I got my degree. But that degree is of no use to me when I stand on stage today. My interpersonal skills and the time spent with my friends is what is helping me. So don't be disheartened and follow your dreams," he said.

Seen in films "Monsoon Wedding", "Cocktai" and "Murder", Randeep's next is "John Day". 

Directed by Ashishor Solomon, "John Day" is a thriller and stars Naseeruddin Shah in the title role, while Randeep plays a police officer.

It will hit theatres Sep 13.

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Now, Vaiko seeks ban on Madras Cafe

After Naam Tamizhar, Vaiko's MDMK has sought a ban on John Abraham-starrer political-thriller "Madras Cafe", alleging that it portrays LTTE in a bad light.

"I request the centre to ban the film. The film should not be allowed to release and if screened, human rights organisations should protest against it in cities like Mumbai, " Vaiko said in a statement.

"I also urge the Tamil Nadu government to ban the film in the state, " he added.

"Madras Cafe", directed by Shoojit Sircar, is a fictional story based on real events that took place during Sri Lankan civil war.

When the film's trailer was release in July, the Tamil activist group Naam Tamizhar lead by filmmaker Seeman sought a ban on the film on the grounds of portraying LTTE cadres as terrorist.

On Sunday, a special screening of the dubbed version of "Madras Cafe" was organized for the group, but they are sticking to their guns.

Seeman said: "The film tries to portray late LTTE chief Prabhakaran as a terrorist. We don't appreciate it and request the distributors not to screen the film in the state. The sentiment of the film is anti-Tamil and we don't agree with it".

The film also features Nargis Fakhri, Rashi Khanna and Leena Maria is ready for Friday release.

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Nawazuddin a fascinating actor

Director Ketan Mehta, who roped in versatile actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui to play the title role in "Manjhi - The Mountain Man", praises the actor saying he is "committed and very fascinating".

Set in 1960, "Manjhi - The Mountain Man" is based on the life of Dashrath Manjhi, who for over 22 years worked on carving out a path through a mountain using just a hammer and a chisel. He dug a roadway out of a mountain that separated his village in Bihar from the nearest hospital.

In the film, Nawazuddin plays Manjhi.

"Nawaz is a very good actor. I enjoyed working with him. He is a very committed and very fascinating actor. He has done a brilliant job in the film," Mehta said here during a press conference about the film. 

Talking about how he signed the National Award-winning actor for the project, Mehta said: "I had seen some of his roles. Besides, his physical type also matched a lot with the character (of Dashrath Manjhi)." 

"Nawaz read the script and he loved it a lot and he immediately gave his nod," he added. 

"Manjhi - The Mountain Man" features Radhika Apte as Nawaz's wife. Besides, it also features filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia and actor Prashant Narayanan in key roles.

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Rang Rasiya to release by year end

Ketan Mehta's much delayed "Rang Rasiya", which has been ready since 2008, is expected to come out by the end of the year.

"It was stuck for three years in some kind of a dispute. . . but now it will come out by the end of the year, " Mehta, who has just completed "Majhi - The Mountain Man", told.

He denied reprots that the film, a tribute to 19th century painter Raja Ravi Varma, was delayed due to the bold scenes picturised on the lead pair - Randeep Hooda and Nandana Sen.

"It was not because of the bold scenes. The film was passed by the censor board some three years ago. There were legal disputes, which were holding it back. Those have been lifted, " he said.

Things are not easy when a film's release is halted for so long, he said. 

"It is very tough. A lot of people have put their time, energy and passion into the film. But now 'Rang Rasiya' will see the light of the day, " he said. 

Meanwhile, the director is looking forward to the release of "Manjhi - The Mountain Man", which stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte.

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First Look: Hrithik and Sunaina bond this Raksha Bandhan

Hrithik being two years younger, Sunaina feels he behaves as if he is elder, also with a new person entering their lives post marriage, everything is still the same.

Hrithik says, "Any equation of love will never change. There may be refreshing ways to connect with each other... Any two people growing up together have to find new ways to connect with one another.

They may not talk to each other everyday but when needed they are always there for each other leaving everything else aside.

Being a superstar himself Hrithik finds Sunaina a greater superhero` than him. She has been the one who has fought with cancer and other issues in her life.

Wherin sunaina finds him a super brother, as she finds herself much closer to him than her father and looks upto him for advice.

Feeling that Sunanina has contributed alot to his career hrithik says " There are so many times when I think of her when I'm facing the camera. I think of my sister because she is the greatest love of all.

I know she is the one person who will be by my side no matter what. And at the same time, she will never be afraid to tell me that I am wrong. She has integrity as well as the power to love`

Hrithik would spend time with his sister by taking her out for lunch this raksha bandhan.

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My Brother, My Jaan: B-Town Divas Celebrate Raksha Bandhan

Parineeti Chopra: My brothers Sahaj and Shivang are my buddies ever since they grew up. I am the eldest. So I am going to be pampering and spoiling them this Raksha Bandhan. 

Minissha Lamba: My brother is the closest person I have in Mumbai. And just to have him around is gift enough on raksha bandhan. 
Celina Jaitley: My brother Vikrant is a major in the Indian army. Considering the crisis at the LOC he may soon be deployed, as he is on the special forces. The only Raksha Bandhan wish I have for him is to be safe. And to have a lil baby of his own soon as he's newly married. 
Shabana Azmi: My brother Baba is most precious to me. He is my son, my friend and guide. Raksha Bandhan is a festival I get mos sentimental about. This year I am at my native village Mijwan for Raksha Bandhan. 

I feel really sorry that I can't be personally present to tie him the raakhee. I make sure I am with Baba on this day. I think I missed being with my brother for raksha bandhan only 4-5 times in my entire life. 

Sadly this is one of those years of absence. Baba is my most precious gift. I don't need anything from him. He doesn't allow anyone else to tie a raakhi on him. No mooh-boli bahens for my brother! I wouldn't tolerate them. 
Manisha Koirala: I have the most precious gift in the world. My brother Siddhartha. I always wish him happiness and success, and not just for Raksha B

andhan but every single day. I consider myself the luckiest sister in the world. More power to my adorable bhaiya. 
Pooja Bhatt: I am older to my brother Rahul. So tradition be damned. I'll be gifting him this Raksha Bandhan, not the other way around. 
Bela Sehgal: I am very lucky to have a wonderful brother like Sanjay (Leela Bhansali). He is thoughtful caring and loving, understanding and always concerned about my well-being. For Raksha Bandhan I pray for his good health and the super-duper success of Ram Leela. The only gift that I want from him is that he should always continue to love me. 
Divya Dutta: My brother Dr Rahul Dutta is more a friend than an elder brother. And he knows exactly what I want. The other day I liked a piece of jewellery while window-shopping. Before I knew it, it became my Rakhi gift. He is traveling but will be back in time for me tie the rakhi. 
Lata Mangeshkar: More than a brother, Hridaynath is the son that I never had. When I sing for my brother I feel a mixture of elation and fear. He's such a perfectionist. To work with him is taxing but ultimately very satisfying. When I sing for other composers I'm always unsure about whether I've done my best. Hridayanath doesn't hesitate in ticking me off if I go wrong. 

Even if I go wrong with one word he doesn't let me off the hook. He makes me sing it a hundred times over no matter how tired I get. At the most he'll let me off until the next day. But he must have the flawless recording.

I agree with him when he says, 'Right now only the recordist and I can hear you. But tomorrow the entire world will hear you. How would you feel if listeners pinpoint the errors in your singing? ' He's a very knowledgeable human being and not just in the field of music. 

Hridayanath is very particular about the way I sing. And I like that. He makes me sing until I achieve the quality he desires. Hridayanath always says, 'In a recording room there're only ten people to hear you. 

Once the song is recorded 10 crore people will hear it. So who loses face? People will say Lata doesn't sing the way she used to. ' He's as particular with any singer, whether it's my sister Asha or Usha.
Happily Hridayanath has the knowledge to achieve a high quality in the recording. He not only has a sound base in classical music but also listens to the old songs of my father (Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar) and uses them as a foundation for some of his compositions.

I'm always on tenterhooks singing for him. He's a very learned musician. His knowledge of Marathi literature and poetry is so vast. He's familiar with both modern and non-contemporary poets. By God's grace all my albums with my brother have been perennially popular. 

My first non-film album with Hridayanath was Mogra Phulela 35 years ago. And that's still selling... 

It wasn't a conscious decision to not work together for so long. Nothing materialized for one reason or another. . . . My brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar's album of Meera bhajans Chala Vahi Des is an all-time favourite. It's fallacy that I refused to sing Meera bhajans for anyone except my brother. 

I sang Jaidev's Main janoon nahin piya ko Milan kaise howe ri in Chand Grahan and Jo tum todo piya for Shiv-Hari in Silsila. I refused to give playback to the film on Meerabai when Gulzar made it. Meera is very close to my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of any actress sing her songs while playing Meerabai. 

Laxmikant-Pyarelal, then R. D. Burman left the project. Then Gulzar Saab brought in Pandit Ravi Shankar. I also love what my brother made me do in Maya Memsaab and Lekin. In the CD of Lekin there's a Ghazal Dil mein lekar which didn't feature in the film. I love that as well. 
Pooja Bedi: I deeply miss my brother Siddharth who died 15 years ago. And I'm grateful for my brother Adam who is 12 years younger to me. Being so much older I don't look at him in the traditional role of the protective brother. On the contrary I feel I need to protect him and take care of him. All I expect from him is some time to spend together and oodles of love.

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