The Filmfare Awards is the biggest one for Bollywood, if you don’t consider the national awards. The two don’t compare because Filmfare is entirely about commercial movies while the other has leaned towards arthouse, though in recent times they have also tried to accommodate popular fare. And while there are dime a dozen film awards nowadays Filmfare was the original big one, with a history that goes back to 1953. In recent times, the personalities who were asked to host the awards have been many big stars. The biggest of them all was Shah Rukh Khan, who has been a host a number of times, usually sharing the stage with another actor. With Saif Ali Khan he did so a couple of times and the two had great comic timing. He also co-hosted the awards ceremony with Ranbir Kapoor once. A strange sequence of rumours preceded this year’s award ceremony held earlier this month. First came news items that Shah Rukh would be co-hosting along with Kapil Sharma, the television comedian turned movie actor. But then there was an interesting twist. A series of rumors followed that it is not Shah Rukh but Salman Khan who will be the host. Salman incidentally won a Filmfare award for his very first movie, Maine Pyar Kiya, in 1990, in the category of best male debut. But he has never been an anchor of the awards ceremony.  To rope him in, the rumours said that the show’s organisers were reportedly paying a big fat sum of Rs 2.5 crore. Media headlines announced that Salman had replaced Shah Rukh and that was because of the success of the reality show, Bigg Boss, which he anchors. What was indubitably true is that Salman has over the last few years become very good as an anchor. He is spontaneous and funny and has great presence. He is also enjoying his greatest popularity at the moment. And then the awards ceremony happened and people were surprised to learn that it was in fact Shah Rukh and Kapil Sharma who were doing the hosting. The first rumor had been true while the Salman one turned out to be the speculation of someone’s imagination.


FLYING HIGH: Mandana Karimi

Mandana acts mundane for
film release after TV boost

Mandana Karimi had appeared in three movies last year but what got her finally noticed was her appearance in the reality show Bigg Boss, where she is still cooped up in a house as it enters the final week. She has become a household name in the time she has been in the show and this should actually have been a good thing for her forthcoming movie Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, a third sequel to the sex comedy. Which is why it is a little strange that Ekta Kapoor, the producer of the movie, is none too happy with Mandana and there are rumours that she is even contemplating legal action against her. The reason is that the movie is going to come out this week and as its leading actress, Mandana is required to promote it. She could actually do a good job of it given her newfound fame. But her popularity ensured that she wouldn’t get voted out in the television show and she might even win it. That is good for Mandana but doesn’t help the movie. It will also mean she won’t be there when the movie releases.


IS IT LOVE? Siddharth Malhotra with Alia Bhatt

What’s cooking
with Alia, Sid?

The couple who have been making news for their relationship for some time now is Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra. They had acted together in their debut movie Student Of The Year. Ironically, for some time after that movie’s release, Alia was linked to the other main lead actor, Varun Dhawan. But that didn’t last too long and then came news of Alia and Siddharth’s increasing intimacy. There were news reports that Siddharth was often seen at Alia’s home. When his parents came to the city, she was seen having dinner along with them.
What strikes many is how comfortable they seem in each other’s company, an indication of either close friendship or a romantic relationship. They are often spotted together in public functions and seem happy and laughing.
Recently, they were at a noted photographer’s calendar launch and even gamely posed for photographers though they have never owned up to being in a relationship. But then why would they? Normally it takes a few years of a relationship in Bollywood before stars agree to come out in the open about it.



ALL THE RAGE: Priyanka Chopra beyond 30.

A plateful of Priyanka

What a time Priyanka Chopra is having. She should actually have been slowly going off into the sunset as Bollywood, famously unkind to actresses beyond the age of 30, starts to favour younger starlets. But she has wisely factored that and preempted it through astute strategies that are beginning to pay off. As a result, she is the envy of every heroine in the industry who has ambitions that reach beyond an Indian audience. She first took a toehold in the US after reinventing herself as a pop singer and the big takeway from that was that it got her noticed and helped land her the main role in Quantico, the television serial with which Priyanka announced her acting ambitions in the West. The show has done well and recently Priyanka even picked an award for Favourite Actress in a New TV Series category at the People’s Choice Awards where winners are decided by the votes of US television viewers. Now also comes news that she might have bagged a role in Baywatch, the movie based on the hugely successful television show. It is going to be a mainstream big budget fare and the main male lead is Dwayne Johnson. Even in India, Priyanka has not toned down her activities. Bajirao Mastani has gone on to be a huge hit and she has excelled in it. She has also become a producer and her company is said to be coming out with three regional language movies this year. All in all, she has her plate full and shows no sign of slowing down.

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