Divya Dutta Hollywood bound

Versatile actress Divya Dutta, who wowed audiences with her performances in 'Delhi 6', 'Morning Walk' and 'Welcome to Sajjanpur', has bagged a couple of Hollywood projects. One of them is 'Hisss', and she says it's one of her best roles.

Directed by Jennifer Lynch, the film is about a snakewoman who can transform herself into a human being at will. While Mallika Sherawat plays the female lead, Divya will be seen as Irrfan Khan's love interest.

'It is one of the challenging roles I have received. I am really looking forward to it. I play Irrfan's love interest, who is passionate as well as sensitive. The role is not cliched and has subtle things to portray. It is one of my best roles,' Divya told IANS on phone.

The film is being shot in the jungles of Kerala and other parts of India to give it an authentic touch.

Apart from 'Hisss', Divya has two more Hollywood projects in hand. One of them is Emmy winning director Fred Holmes' 'Heart Land'.

''Heart Land' is a light hearted film in which I am playing a Punjabi girl. It deals with a sensitive relationship my character shares with a much older man from the US,' said the actress, who seems to be impressed with Hollywood's working style.

'People from the West are extremely passionate and disciplined about work. Everyone, from the junior level to the director, is so involved that we have no choice but to give our best,' she added.

The films also stars Amelia Jackson Gray, Reg Grant and Stephan Mario Singh.

Divya refuses to divulge details about her third Hollywood project saying she is bound by a contract.

The actress was also seen on the small screen in serials like 'Kadam' and 'Shanno ki Shaadi'. She says although she enjoyed her stint on TV, she has no plans to return to soaps or serials.

'Creative freedom on television is very limited and I get bored very easily. It doesn't interest me any more,' added the actress who compered the 56th National Awards ceremony.

'It (compering National Awards function) was a prestigious moment for me hosting in front of the president (Pratibha Patil). It is something I will cherish. I had kept my fingers crossed. The response was very nice,' she said.

Apart from Hollywood flicks, Divya has a few Bollywood movies like 'Hello Darling', 'Haat - The Weekly Bazaar', 'Chehere', Amole Gupte's 'Stanley Ka Dabba' and another one with director Sudhir Mishra in her kitty.

Bollywood took away pop singers, says Shibani Kashyap

Shibani Kashyap is not only beautiful, but is also an equally talented singer, composer and a class performer, whose inimitable style and high energy level always win over the crowd.

Starting her career with AIR FM jingles, Shibani Kashyap has come a long way and has dabbled with both small screen and Bollywood. She first came into limelight with her debut album ‘Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat’ and blew us all away with the haunting melody ‘Sajna Aa Bhi Ja’ from ‘Waisa Bhi Hota Hai II.’

The versatile singer-composer has also sung in ‘Mr Ya Miss’, ‘Zinda’, ‘1971’, ‘Sunday’, ‘Maharathi’, ‘Sirf’, ‘Woodstock Villa’ and has also come out with her personal albums - ‘Thodi Thodi Sanj’, ‘Nagamagee’, ‘Nazakat.’ An active live performer, Shibani has performed all over the world (UK, UAE, New Zealand, Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia).

The songstress recently released her latest album ‘My Free Spirit’, an Indipop album that boasts of an eclectic mix of various sound spaces. Talking to Aman Kanth of Spicezee, Shibani Kashyap spoke at length about her new album, her band ‘Sojourne’ and what ails the Indian pop industry.

Aman: Hi Shibani, please accept my hearty congratulations on cutting your new album ‘My Free Spirit’?

Shibani: (Smiles) Oh yes, thanks a lot.

Aman: From signing jingles, dabbling in Bollywood projects, reality shows and cutting your personal album - you have come a long way. How fulfilling has been your musical journey?

Shibani: It has been a fulfilling journey, an interesting journey. During all these years, I have been discovering and re-discovering myself. As an artist, I feel that we must keep expressing ourselves, be it Bollywood projects or cutting personal albums.

Aman: Despite the raging success of your debut album ‘Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat’ (1998) and equally acclaimed compositions like ‘Sajna Aa Bhi Jaa’ for film ‘Waisa Bhi Hota Hai II’ (2003), why don’t we get to listen to you more?

Shibani: It’s all about getting the right opportunity, something which didn’t come my way. Though I would love to work for Bollywood, I have been quite selective, as I don’t want to associate my voice with just another song.

Aman: Can you please tell us about your new album, ‘My Free Spirit’?

Shibani: ‘My Free Spirit’ is an ensemble of different genres of music. The album offers nine mellifluous songs, which have a mélange of Arabic and Turkish tunes, Rhythm and Blues and Classic Rock and a remix song apart from a Sufi number ‘Alvida.’ The album also boasts of a Disco number, which is crooned by the ‘Disco king’ Bappi Lahiri.

Aman: Tell us about your musical influences?

Shibani: I have always been inspired by Sting, then there has been the 1960s music, there are Beatles and the Doobie Brothers. Beyond this, RD Burman and Asha Bhonsle have been huge inspirations.

Aman: Your favourite Bollywood male and female singer?

Shibani: My favourite male singer is the eternal Kishore Kumar and favourite female singer has to be Asha Bhonsle.

Aman: You also have a band called ‘Sojourne’, please tell us something about it?

Shibani: ‘Sojourne’ is my passion. It’s a five-piece band which comprises extremely talented instrumentalists and musicians. In ‘Sojourne’, we play organic music, its raw and unplugged, not the electronic music.

Aman: Don’t you think that the pop industry is facing a bad time in comparison to the late 1990s? What could be the possible reason behind it?

Shibani: 1990s was the boom time for the pop industry. Pop music, like Bollywood, had its own sound during this time, when it was established. However, the downfall began when Bollywood took away the pop music and singers for films. You see one just can’t blame the artists alone as media too played a crucial part. Nowadays, there is hardly any music channel that gives free airplay to Indi-pop music. When I came into the pop industry with my debut album ‘Ho Gayi Hai Mohabbat,’ I was getting due airtime and became MTV artist of the month. Today, the music, which we get to see on music channels, is just Bollywood songs.

Aman: If not a singer, what would you have been?

Shibani: (Smiles) Well, I can’t be anything else! I could have been a painter, because I can sketch or else an interior designer.

Aman: When not making music, how do you unwind?

Shibani: I love to watch films and I do like sketching and painting.

Aman: What’s your message to your fans?

Shibani: Please go out there and buy original albums.

Shraddha Kapoor Joins Bollywood

Lets get introduced to Shraddha Kapoor - another star kid to step into Bollywood. Shraddha is the daughter of Bollywood’s popular comedian cum villain actor Shakti Kapoor.

Shraddha, 22 year, was first spotted by director Leena Yadav for her film “Teen Patti”. She was searching for Shraddha on Facebook, after being suggested by her assistant casting director. Shraddha’s brother Siddhanth also helped Shraddha get selected for the film.

Deepika all set to romance John

After her break-up with Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika has quite a few options open. After signing a film with Ranbir’s best friend Imran Khan, she is all set to act in Vipul Shah’s next film opposite John Abraham. A remake of the South super hit, Kaakha Kaakha, the film will be directed by Gautam Menon.

“She loved the script and was keen on working with John Abraham, since they have never worked together. Also, Deepika does not want to sulk over her failed relationship and is busy focussing on her career now. She is keeping herself busy. This week, she is looking forward to the release of Karthik Calling Karthik with Farhan. Apart from this film with John, the actor has already started shooting with Neil Mukesh for YRF’s next film and has also signed up for Lucha Lafanga, that will be directed by Danish Aslam, who is Kunal Kohli’s assistant.”

Vidya sleeps to lose weight

Post Paa and Ishqiya Vidya Balan has become ‘hot cake’ in Bollywood. In town to flag off Airtel Kolkata Marathon 2010, the actor speaks to India Blooms correspondent Sreya Basu on her new avatar With two hits back-to-back, you are back in full swing! I didn’t go anywhere so as to be back! (Smiles) I know what you mean. You won’t believe, I still can’t get over Paa. As for Ishqiya, God is being too kind to me these days. I am being offered roles where I can learn a lot, as well as strain myself to get the actor out of me. You have always been appreciated in films that need actors and not heroines…be it Parineeta, Paa  or Ishqiya. Do you agree? I don’t know. That’s for the audience to tell…in which roles they want to see me. But yes, character-based roles are always tempting for an actor. But then, I equally enjoy lighter films like Heyy Babyy and Laage Raho Munnabhai. Your on and off screen dresses have always dragged attention… Say ‘negative attention’. I really don’t understand what’s there to fuss about so much! On screen, we trust the directors on how to handle and dress up our characters. Off screen, I just love being myself. But these days, you are looking great…especially, having lost so much weight! Thanks. You know, after years of torturing myself, I have finally trying to lead a better and healthier lifestyle. What do you mean by ‘tortured’ yourself? In order to lose weight, I used to starve myself for 12-14 hours at a stretch; didn’t sleep enough. And now? Now I eat every two hours; sleep for eight hours when I can or at least 5-6 hours when shooting. You know, there’s a myth that sleep makes you fat. But I can now confidently say ‘Sleep to lose weight’. Sleep is a very very important part of being fit. What about workouts? I generally work out 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour.  Mostly I do calisthenics (strength training); at times I run on the beach or jog on the spot. The funda is to enjoy your sweating out. Owning an IPL team is quite an ‘in’ thing in Bollywood these days. Ever thought of getting your franchise? I am not a cricket buff. So hard luck!

Zeenat Aman joins Celina to stand by the third gender

February 22, 2010: The most-awaited and first of its kind, Grand Finale of V-Care Indian Super Queen- a beauty pageant for community of Hijras came into existence recently. But what made this occasion more special was the gracious presence of timeless beauty Zeenat Aman and gorgeous Celina Jaitley.
The beauties were invited as one of the jury members. “I couldn’t refuse Laxmi after latter invited me to be one of the jury members in such a historical and socially relevant occasion,” exclaims Zeenat.
Celina too looked excited about the dream come true of her beloved sister Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and says, “It’s the first step towards empowerment of the community of hiras. It’s a sheer pleasure to watch these beauties walk the ramp and flash their intelligence quotient.”
Ms. Manipur Bobby won the crown of V-Care Indian Super queen.

‘YRF’ Ready To Launch Newcomer With Anushka Sharma!

"Rab Ne…' gal Anushka Sharma has bagged third project from Yash Raj Films, which, according to sources, will star newcomer Ranveer Singh in the lead role.
Ranveer, who was a complete fresher without any modeling or theater experience, was chosen after his very first test, which overwhelmed Aditya Chopra right away.
According to sources, the unnamed film will be directed by Maneesh Sharma, who had assisted on Yash Raj Projects like RNBDJ, Fanaa and Aaja Nachle.
Moreover, Aditya Chopra will produce the film.
The shooting of the film has begun and it is set for release later this year.
The story of the film circles around Shruti (Anushka) and Bittoo (Ranveer) who set up a business after finishing their studies from Delhi University. Their friendly relationship and business gets into creative world of glamour and glitz of Delhi baaraats and weddings!
Hmm, we really wish Ranveer makes an impact on the audiences as well…