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L ipstick Under My Burkha is one of the twenty-three films selected for the co- production market of Film Bazaar 2013. We spoke to the director Alankrita Shrivastava:

Alankrita Shrivastava

Tell us about your project. What language will it be in?

Set in the crowded bylanes of small town India, Lipstick Under My Burkha (Lipstick Waale Sapne) chronicles the secret lives of four women who dream small dreams of freedom.

Dodging prying eyes, battling fear, they go about their days, reading what they shouldn’t be, singing what they shouldn’t be, feeling what they shouldn’t be and wanting what they shouldn’t be wanting. Through the colourful kaleidoscope of their world, we see these women secretly trying to live a little of their small lipstick dreams. In essence the film is about their search for freedom. Through the four stories, I want to dig deep into what it means to be a woman.

Mumbai, Aug 6: Unlike other fathers, who plan perfect launches for their sons, Naseeruddin Shah has set his children free to find their own way, like he did.

The 63-year old has two sons -- Imaad and Vivaan -- with his second wife, actress Ratna Pathak Shah.

"Both will find their own way. I let them make their own decisions. I don't give them any advice because nobody gave me any advice. If they are desperate and ask for advice, then I give. Let them find their answers to their problems," Naseer told Ians.

Imaad entered showbiz in 2006 and has been part "Yun Hota To Kya Hota", "Dil Dosti Etc" and "404 Error Not.

The most popular albeit tragic love story never fails to get the filmmakers’ interest. This week the age old Shakespearean saga gets rendered onscreen once again by Manish Tiwary as Issaq . Manish, who had quite impressed us with his Dil Dosti etc, brings to us a desi, bloodshed filled love story of Rahul and Bachi (aka Romeo and Juliet) from the land of Benaras.

The story outline is pretty much the same with the Montagues and Capulets being replaced by the Mishras and Kashyaps warring on the holy banks of the Ganges. The two families, sworn enemies, need no reason to pull the trigger at one another. Amidst all this animosity, Rahul (Prateik Babbar) and Bachi (Amyra Dastur) fall in love with each other – a love story amidst the fight for power with tragedy written all over it.

The bigger tragedy however, is the disaster spun in the name of adaption of a classic.

An avalanche of movies is arriving on screens this weekend, what with as many as four notable releases in the anvil. Primarily word of mouth films, one expects a better start in the multiplexes for Bajatey Raho whereas Nasha should open better in the single screens. As for Issaq, it does look like an interesting film and good reviews coupled with quick word of mouth from audience could give it a chance at the box office. Between these three films, Bajatey Raho has been the most visible of the lot and since it is backed by a premium production house (Eros’ Raanjhanaa is still running in theaters), the release would be widespread as well. A comedy, it could well be a Chalo Dilli moment for director Shashant Shah since the Vinay Pathak-Lara Dutta starrer too had released amidst as many as six films and still emerged victorious. Issaq...

After an unflattering response to Ekk Deewana Tha, Prateik returns to the big screen with Issaq. The film is directed by Manish Tiwary who is himself returning after a hiatus. The director of critically acclaimed Dil Dosti Etc had roped in Prateik when he was hot and rising with Dhobi Ghat, Aarakshan and Dum Maaro Dum in his kitty. However when his solo releases My Friend Pinto and Ekk Deewana Tha bombed, one wondered whether that had turned out to be a spanner Read More...

After an unflattering response to Ekk Deewana Tha, Prateik returns to the big screen with Issaq. The film is directed by Manish Tiwary who is himself returning after a hiatus. The director of critically acclaimed Dil Dosti Etc had roped in Prateik when he was hot and rising with Dhobi Ghat, Aarakshan and Dum Maaro Dum in his kitty. However when his solo releases My Friend Pinto and Ekk Deewana Tha bombed, one wondered whether that had turned out to be a spanner in the plans for Is...

Innovative marketing is the need of the hour, with brands and movies battling for top-of-mind recall. Makers of Prateik starrer Issaq are leaving no stone unturned to promote their movie with an out-of-the-box idea. Recently, the Pen India team had set up a stall in two leading theatres of Mumbai, where “Isspecial Banarasi Style Paan” was distributed to people.

Since the movie is set in Banaras, this activity was apt to the theme and managed to leave an immediate impact on the audience. Speaking about the same, Pen India’s Marketing head Amira Bavishi said, “We wanted to come up with a promotional strategy for Issaq, which would not only break the clutter, but also make our prospective audience feel the essence of our film. What better way than to treat them with a Paan, the flavour of Banaras.” The Issaq team set up an “Issaq Jodi Paan” stall at...

Mumbai, June 27: Bollywood director Manish Tiwary, who is awaiting the release of his next film "Issaq", says he has plans to make a gangster film as well as an urban comedy in the near future.

In fact, he has already finished scripting his gangster film "Mohabbat Miyan", and says the urban comedy is in its scripting stage.

"The gangster film which I wanted to make is called 'Mohabbat Miyan'. Then there is this urban comedy too. 'Issaq' gave me an opportunity to deal with drama, action and romance. And now these two films are there," he said.

Before "Issaq", Tiwary had helmed youthful film "Dil Dosti Etc".

"I.

Prateik is very close to both Aamir and Kiran and not to forget they were the one who launched him and gave him two important films (Jaane Tu and Dhobi Ghat) of his career. Now when his film Issaq is coming after such a long gap, Prateik wants to start a fresh and wants to make sure everything goes right. When he got to know that the first trailer of the film will be out soon, he requested the producers to give him a copy of the trailer first to show it to his mentors to take their feedback.

Prateik has put in a lot of effort in this film which is an adaptation of Romeo Juliet set in Banaras. He has gone through a lot of physical training and took diction classes to perfect the banarasi lingo. People who have seen the rushes also believe that the film will...

New Delhi, Nov 10: Prateik seems to be preparing very hard for his role in 'Issaq' -- he has learnt fire dance and parkour to play a Banarasi boy.

After taking diction classes and physical training to get the correct nuances to play a Banarasi lad, Prateik trained in fire dance and parkour to be able to do his stunt sequences perfectly, said a source.

The film directed by Manish Tiwary of 'Dil Dosti Etc' fame is the modern adaptation of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. It is yet to go on floors, but it will be shot entirely in Banaras. It is produced by Shailesh Singh and Dhaval Gada.

Ians...

Search for a young girl to play lead opposite Prateik Babbar is in full swing for the film Issaq which is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by Manish Tiwary of Dil Dosti Etc Fame. Interestingly the film is set in Banaras and will have rustic look to justify the place and characters. Where Prateik has been finalized to play the character of Romeo, the Juliet has still not been found.

The director has personally auditione ...

She has been an executive producer to films like Khoya Khoya Chand and Dil Dosti Etc. She has been an executive director in films like Raajneeti and Apaharan. This goes to show that Alankrita Shrivastava, director of Turning 30 leans towards more meaningful films. With her debut films, she is all set to show the for real what a 30 something women thinks, does and believes in with no façade involved. Bollywood Hungama gives you an opportunity to chat with this edgy woman director on its celebrity video chat on Friday, January 14 at 1300 hr Ist.

She has been an executive producer to films like Khoya Khoya Chand and Dil Dosti Etc. She has been an executive director in films like Raajneeti and Apaharan. This goes to show that Alankrita Shrivastava, director of Turning 30 leans towards more meaningful films. With her debut films, she is all set to show the for real what a 30 something women thinks, does and believes in with no façade involved. Bollywood Hungama gives you an opportunity to chat with this edgy woman director on its celebrity video chat on Friday, January 14 at 1300 hr Ist.

If you're not admiring Ishita Sharma for her acting then you're definitely admiring her for her patience. The talented youngster waited patiently for her film of a life time, Dulha Mil Gaya, to release, and finally the much anticipated date came and has now passed us by. Despite being in a cast list consisting of Shah Rukh Khan, Fardeen Khan and Sushmita Sen, she managed to steal critics' and audiences' attention in Mudassar Aziz's directorial debut. We realize very little is known about the actress who was the surprise package of Dulha Mil Gaya, so we got all set up for an exclusive chat with the stunning actress to talk about cinema, Dmg, life in the industry and much much more!

Tell us a bit about what you've done before Dulha Mil Gaya?

Well you've most likely heard about Loins of Punjab and Dil Dosti Etc but there's also...

People love to play hide and seek as kids, but Mottu says that Sushmita Sen is playing the game even now. And her partner in crime is an actress from her upcoming film, Dulha Mil Gaya, Ishita Sharma. Mottu says that the girl was last seen in a bit role in Dil Dosti Etc and is now the actual leading lady of Dulha Mil Gaya. When I ask Motts why is the girl hiding, she says that she has been purposely hidden to keep all the publicity focused on Shah Rukh Khan, Sushmita Sen and Fardeen Khan. Do I care? ...

When it comes to Bollywood, one can choose to be either a good actor or a commercially viable hero. Guess the only one who has struck a balance between the two is Aamir Khan. No, that’s also not true. There is one more name, Shreyas Talpade. Yes, yes, before you say the two cannot be compared, we are not comparing either. Just driving home the point that Shreyas can be a great actor and at the same time a commercially viable hero too.

Iqbal, Dor, Dil Dosti Etc, Welcome to Sajjanpur… Films that you couldn’t particularly call big budget films; neither.

When it comes to Bollywood, one can choose to be either a good actor or a commercially viable hero. Guess the only one who has struck a balance between the two is Aamir Khan. No, that’s also not true. There is one more name, Shreyas Talpade. Yes, yes, before you say the two cannot be compared, we are not comparing either. Just driving home the point that Shreyas can be a great actor and at the same time a commercially viable hero too.

Iqbal, Dor, Dil Dosti Etc, Welcome to Sajjanpur… Films that you couldn’t particularly call big budget films; neither did these have the crème de la crème.

Bollywood music directors Siddharth and Suhas have agreed to take on acting roles in Prakash Jha's next film. The duo, who produced music for Dil Dosti Etc and Bhram, will also compose five songs for the as-yet-untitled project. Siddharth told Sampurn: "We will be playing ourselves in the film. Later we will be starring in a video for the film too for which we have already shot and (more)...

Having provided music for films such as Dil Dosti Etc. Bhram, Rama Rama Kya Hain Dramaaa, music director duo Siddharth and Suhas are all set to turn actors now. Prakash Jha has signed them for his next movie, which he plans to start after Rajniti.

“We are composing five songs plus acting in the film. We will be playing ourselves in the film. Later we will be starring in a video for the film too for which we have already shot and it has been a great experience” informs Siddharth.

The music director duo is excited about their first acting venture. “We are looking forward to it. It’s a young urban love story and women centric film and for the first time a non-political story. The film incidentally is not being directed.