Interviews

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  Emraan wanted to look ugly: Dibakar Banerjee

  Tired of his kissing boy image, Emraan Hashmi hurled himself wholeheartedly into offbeat director Dibakar Banerjee’s school of filmmaking. The duo talk about how they made this oddball combination work in Shanghai, which will premiere at IIFA 2012.

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  Feels great to be called desi Angie: Esha Gupta

  Touted as ‘India’s Angelina Jolie’, thanks to her resemblance to the Hollywood hottie, Delhi-based model-turned-actor Esha Gupta has caught the eyeballs ever since the promos of her debut film, Jannat 2, came out.

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  Bollywood's Dibakar Banerjee on his uncommon Shanghai

  Political thrillers are not that common in Bollywood but then director and producer Dibakar Banerjee rarely chooses conventional subjects for his films.

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  Chillar Party co-director finds it easy to work with kids

  It was meant to be of the kids, by the kids and for the kids. And now Chillar Party (2011) has won three National Awards. Obviously, Vikas Bahl, co-director of the film, is on top of the world and dying to talk about it. Here’s a chat with the man.

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  Interview: Anushka uncomfortable doing item songs!

  She is just five films old in Bollywood but Anushka Sharma has her priorities right. As the 23-year-old declares that item songs don't 'excite her enough', here's finding out the films she will be working on next.

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  Aamir's choice of films delights Kamal Haasan

  He candidly admits that he couldn't have made it big in Bollywood without his mentor K. Balachander, that Hindi movies still enthuse him and that he loves the kind of films Aamir Khan is making.

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  My rivalry with Salman was overplayed: John Abraham

  Actor John Abraham’s newly found dostana with Salman Khan after a decade-long tiff is the talk of tinsel town. Though the reason behind their tiff was not known, the actors were not on talking terms till they decided to bury their hatchet last month when John appeared on Sallu’s show, Bigg Boss 5.

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  Ekta Kapoor: The revised version

  It was the beginning of the year 2000. Satellite TV had arrived in India just under 10 years ago and was already charting unconventional territory with serials such as Hasratein, Tara, Swabhimaan etc, which dealt with women friends, working women, forbidden love and other such themes. It was all quite different from what TV audiences were used to – but they were loving it. That’s when Ekta Kapoor walked into the Star Plus office with her “different” story ideas.

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  Naseeruddin Shah: ‘We haven’t made any damn masterpieces’

  Naseeruddin Shah looks back at the industry, relives cult film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, admits he failed as a director but won’t settle for mediocrity like some contemporaries.

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  Genelia D’Souza on Force!

  Genelia D’Souza stepped out of her comfort zone for John Abraham, as the duo shot a bedroom sequence along with a honeymoon song for their forthcoming film, Force. The 24-year-old actor said it’s the first time in her eight-year long career that she agreed to such a scene, but only on
  one condition that it should look aesthetic.

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  Neetu Singh: 'I am a fitness junkie'

  Ranbir Kapoor's mother Neetu Singh looks a million bucks even at 53. Her secret, she says, is "regular exercise for the past 30 years." Currently the mother of two, and grandmother of one, is experimenting with TRX, an exercise module she became interested in during her trip to the US last year.

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  I love bikes, but not more than women: John

  John Abraham, who was recently in the capital for Van Heusen store launch, revealed all about his relationship status, chiselled body and of course his love for motorbikes and women.

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  My films are a slice of life: Bhandarkar

  Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who was in the Capital recently to watch a fashion show, said he is always curious to see the latest trends, textures, and fashion styles. The 43-year-old filmmaker, who is reportedly making a sequel to his 2008 National Award winner, Fashion, was game
  for a candid chat, however, refused to answer any questions on his controversial project Heroine.

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  If kissing is a way to remember me, so be it: Emraan Hashmi

  Poor Emraan Hashmi! There seems to be no getting away from the "serial kisser" tag despite his many protestations and he's back to locking lips in his forthcoming film "The Dirty Picture".

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  'Revolution 2020' not a political novel as such: Chetan Bhagat

  Chetan Bhagat's columns on education and corruption inspired him to write "Revolution 2020", but the author clarifies that the book is not a political novel and that there is no political agenda either.

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  I'm getting better roles than ever before: Naseeruddin Shah

  It's quality over quantity for Naseeruddin Shah, a versatile actor who has spent 35 years breathing life into innumerable, well-etched out characters on the big screen. The National Award winner admits he is getting better roles now than ever, but he picks a film only if he has "faith" in it and his "instinct" pushes him to go for it!

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  Salman refuses to believe 'Bodyguard' is a success: Atul Agnihotri

  Salman Khan is recovering after an eight-hour surgery in Pittsburgh and refuses to believe that his "Bodyguard" has broken box-office records, says his brother-in-law and co-producer Atul Agnihotri.

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  Imran Khan: Funny side up!

  When he’s not making girls across the country swoon with those puppy-dog eyes, chocolate-box looks and a lean, muscular body, Imran Khan is presumably filing PILs against loony laws that make it illegal for people below 25 to drink. Read on

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  Saif Ali Khan: 'I'm looking at doing more commercial cinema now'

  Aarakshan is behind him now, but Saif Ali Khan admits that the film was a lot of hard work and an eye-opener of sorts.

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  I want to marry a Malayali girl: Salman Khan

  A week prior to Bodyguard’s release, HT Café’s guest editor Salman Khan opens up about his relationship with the media, real-life bodyguard Shera, anger management, religion, Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan among other things.

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  Deepika Padukone: 'People are welcome to speculate'

  She hits headlines quite often with respect to her 'rumoured' boyfriend Sidhartha Mallya. But actor Deepika Padukone doesn't feel the need to confirm or deny anything that's anywhere close to her personal life, friends and family.

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  People should actively participate in Hazare's movement: Shabana

  Actress Shabana Azmi, who has been tweeting in support of Anna Hazare's movement on the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, insists that as citizens of a democratic country everyone should actively support the Gandhian leader.

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  Even for biggest of stars, every film counts: Imran Khan

  His last release "Delhi Belly" might have been a runaway hit but Imran Khan is still a bundle of nerves as he readies for "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan" and says actors have to prove their prowess with every new film as past successes had no relevance to the future.

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  There're no camps in Bollywood: Katrina Kaif

  Katrina Kaif's decision to do two Yash Raj Films (YRF) with the warring Khans - Salman and Shah Rukh - has raised eyebrows, but the actress is unperturbed and argues there are no camps in Bollywood.

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  I enjoy doing TV shows: Sonali Bendre

  Actress Sonali Bendre, who is excited to see the third edition of talent hunt show "India's Got Talent" that has among the highest television rating points (TRPs) among reality shows, says she is returning to television because she genuinely enjoys it.