News

Parveen Babi had the world had at her feet. Stunning in her beauty and a mind tormented by its brilliance she left us on this day twenty years ago. It wasn’t a pleasant death. She had by then lost touch with reality completely. Locked away in her apartment, not in touch with a single soul, she was convinced there were people out there who wanted to kill her.

Amitabh Bachchan never spoke about Parveen Babi’s death, except once and only to this writer.

When Parveen had passed away, Mr. Bachchan in an uncharacteristically candid moment spoke exclusively to me about her. Parveen Babi and Mr B worked together in several films – Majboor, Deewaar, Amar Akbar Anthony, Namak Halal, Shaan, Kaalia, Mahaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, Kala Patthar… He did the maximum number of films with Parveen after Jaya, followed by Raakhee and Rekha.

Mr. Bachchan was all praise for Parveen’s stardom.

Romesh Sharma, a very close friend of the Bachchan (he was Jaya Bachchan’s co-star in one of her best films Doosri Sita) produced and directed Dil Jo Bhi Kahey, which turned 19 this week, to launch his son Karan. Karan Sharma may not have been the best star-son in the Bollywood galaxy, and his dad Romesh Sharma is perhaps not justified in spending on a lavish launch pad for his son. But, there was an honesty of purpose and an aesthetic correctness about Dil Jo Bhi Kahey. That Amitabh Bachchan played Karan Sharma’s father is providential. The mega star doesn’t have that much to do. Yet, Amitabh Bachchan readily agreed to play Romesh Sharma’s son father.

When I ventured to ask him if he did it as favour, Mr Bachchan schooled me dynamics of a genuine friendship. “Favour to my friend? That doesn’t sound right. That...

The first look of Ketan Mehta and Deepa Sahi’s forthcoming romantic comedy Tere Mere Phere (Tmp), was unveiled at the Dockyard in Andheri West on 12 January, 2010.Other’s present at the event were: Riya Sen , Vinay Pathak , Anup Jalota, debut actors Jagrat and Sasha , music director Shivangi Kashayap, Irfan Khan , Randeep Hooda , Prakash Jha ,Saurabh Shukl, Sudhir Mishra, Manmohan Shetty, Romesh Sharma, Govind Nihalani and Parvati Balagopalan, etc.Tmp is Deepa Sahi’s directorial debut, presented by C & C Entertainment and ...

 A new breed of filmmakers is now busy turning the tables on the fourth estate with movies like 'Paa' and 'Rann'. Incidentally, both star Amitabh Bachchan who often takes potshots at the media in real life.Promos of director Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rann' clearly suggest he is making an attempt to expose errant journalists and their often wanton ways, particularly those from the electronic media.'No one is taking the media head-on here. However, what is going to happen for sure is that 'Rann' will expose the media in its nakedness,' Varma was quoted as saying by a website.The director had got a raw deal from the media when he visited the Taj hotel complex in Mumbai post-26/11 with the then chief minister of Maharashtra. The media alleged that he went there to get material for his films.Amitabh,...