Bollywood Bytes - 6th January 2015

Aishwarya Rai
Ms. Rai will be seen making her long awaited comeback in Jazbaa (directed by Sanjay Gupta). Ash was last seen in 2010's Guzaarish for which she was nominated for Best Actress at Filmfare amongst others.

Kareena Kapoor
The diva has been confirmed by director Raj Kumar Gupta to be starring in his next film which is said to be a thriller. No title or any other information was given but he said "it will happen very soon".

Priyanka Chopra
Rumour has it PC is being considered for the lead in Prakash Jha's action/thriller sequel Gangaajal 2. The 2003 original starred Ajay Devgan playing a hard-nosed cop. 

Deepika Padukone
DP she has begun shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic love story Bajiao Mastani co-starring Priyanka Chopra + Ranveer Singh. The first schedule was completed with PC + RS in November and Deepi has begun shooting her portions this week. The film is set to release on Christmas day this year.

Anushka Sharma
The young diva is set to make her second film as a producer with a film titled Canada. Her first production NH10 in which she also stars in is due out this March. 

Alia Bhatt
The breakout star of 2014 is hotly rumoured to be hosting the prestigious 60th Filmfare Awards alongside mentor Karan Johar and comedian Kapil Sharma. The starlet is likely to be up for the Best Actress award for her outstanding performance in Highway.

Happy Birthday Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone was born in 1986. On January 5th (5 days before me!).

Deepika Padukone // Om Shanti Om

After completing a successful few years in the world of modelling, she entered films in 2006 with Aishwarya in the Kannada language. The following year in 2007 she made her big Bollywood debut with the King himself Shah Rukh Khan in the biggest hit of the year that was Om Shanti Om. Not only did she get nominated for Best Actress (losing to Kareena Kapoor) she won all the Best Female Debut awards, beating Sonam Kapoor whose debut Saawariya released on the same day.

Making huge waves with OSO she bagged several top banner films and continued to score hits in the following few years: Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Housefull (2010). But it wasn't until 2012 that she was finally taken seriously as an actress with the release of the smash hit Cocktail. 

Deepika Padukone // Love Aaj Kal

Leading up to the release of Cocktail, however, Deepika's last few films didn't do too well and she seemed to be fading. In the second half of 2010 post the successful Housefull, all 3 of her big releases didn't create any buzz (Lafangey Parindey, Break Ke Baad, Khelein Hum Jee Kaan Sey). In her two releases in 2011 Aarakshan and Desi Boyz she didn't have much to do but look the part. There was also the minor controversy over her appearance in the title song of Dum Maaro Dum which many thought was a poorly done remake of the 70s classic with it's vulgar lyrics. See below:

The theory that one film can change everything was proven in this case, as following Cocktail's mega success and several Best Actress award nominations Deepika delivered a record breaking 2013 with 4 big hits.

Deepika Padukone // Cocktail

In 2013 she seemed to be everywhere. From magazine covers to award shows. And in her films she covered all bases. From playing sexy siren Alina in action/thriller Race 2 to the geek-turned-chic Naina in the romantic drama Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. And from the straight-talking Meenalochini in comedy Chennai Express to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic love story Ram-Leela.

Deepika Padukone // Ram-Leela

2014 saw more success with the critically acclaimed Finding Fanny and the box office success Happy New Year. She might not have had an outstanding performance last year but with her upcoming releases she will most likely bounce right back.

Today she is considered the #1 heroine of Bollywood. Her upcoming projects include Piku where she will play the title role, Tamasha co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Bajiao Mastani co-starring Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra - where she again plays the title role.

Here's wishing the graceful diva a very Happy Birthday x

Sonam Kapoor - Dolly Ki Doli

After a few years of going nowhere, Sonam Kapoor's career has taken a huge upswing since scoring 2 back-to-back box office blockbusters in 2013 with Best Film winner Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and her Best Actress nominated performance in Raanjhanaa. She followed this with Khoobsurat last year which also did well.

Now, not only has she signed the sure-fire hit Prem Rattan Dhan Payo opposite Salman Khan but she is also rumoured to be in the running for Shah Rukh Khan's next.

Coming back to Dolly Ki Doli - the trailer and promo songs have really created a buzz. Especially the Sunidhi Chauhan number "Phatte Tak Nachna" which is an energetic wedding party anthem in the vein of "Ainvayi Ainvayi". Check it out:

The last time we saw Sonam taking centre stage like this was in 2010's Aisha which I believe was truly underrated as it was one of her best performances, and also a very good film. 5 years on and it looks like Ms. Kapoor will get her due. Dolly Ki Doli gets a worldwide release on January 23rd 2015.

Best Actress Nominations 2015

It's January and that could mean only one thing: AWARDS!

Of course the only award that matters is Best Actress (in it's many forms) so let's take a look at some of the possible contenders for the upcoming blitz of award shows this season.

ALIA BHATT - HIGHWAY
This performance blew me away. Completely. I still can't get over it. I first saw Alia Bhatt in her debut film Student Of The Year (2012) and thought she was fine playing a bimbo/high school diva - but didn't see anything special about her (well done Karan Johar). I am very selective about what I watch at the cinema but I really liked the trailer so went to watch it. Also the fact that Imtiaz Ali was directing, along with A.R. Rahman composing the soundtrack, I thought I would enjoy the technical side of things. I just can't praise Miss Bhatt enough - she played the role with such maturity, and at such a young age - she deserves endless praise for her portrayal of Veera - a rich kid looking for true love and adventure.

KANGANA RANAUT - QUEEN
I watched Queen no less than 6 times in the cinema (doubling the previous record of two of my most favourite divas' comeback films Madhuri Dixit in 2007 + Sridevi in 2012). Back to Queen.

Kangana Ranaut was brilliant in every scene. The film itself is one of the best coming out of Bollywood over the last many years. Not only is it a film about female empowerment - it's about anyone finding themselves and dealing with turmoil in their lives. Kangana truly is the hero and in my eyes the frontrunner for picking up most of the gongs. But the competition is tough.

PRIYANKA CHOPRA - MARY KOM
Priyanka Chopra continues to amaze me. She's completed a decade in Bollywood since debuting in 2003. Nobody expected her to still be around 12 years later, still getting offered great roles, let alone win a National Award.

In and as Mary Kom she once again challenges herself and comes up with another career-defining role. She was absolutely flawless and not many could have committed to all the strenuous physical training she had to go through. I hope she wins something.

RANI MUKERJI - MARDAANI
The last scene of this film is what makes it an instant classic. Think Rekha in Khoon Bhari Maang. Think Sridevi in Army. Think Madhuri Dixit in Anjaam. Basically Rani Mukerji kicks ass - literally. This is one of Rani's best roles of her career - if not her very best. She was just so strong and restrained and powerful and beautiful. She deserves some recognition at the awards - and I really hope she wins something.









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Now usually the Best Actress categories have 5 nominees. For me the 4 names listed above were far and beyond the most outstanding. So the 5th or 6th option is up for grabs. It could go to any of the following:

Vidya Balan (Bobby Jasoos)
Shraddha Kapoor (Haider)
Madhuri Dixit (Dedh Ishqiya)
Parineeti Chopra (Hassee Toh Phasee)

MAGAZINE COVERS - JANUARY 2015

So here we have - an old favourite of mine. Hopefully will continue this trend on the first day of the month for the rest of the year. Pick your favourite in the comments below.

Overall not a great month at all. Found it hard to source the covers (out of practice you see). Didn't recognise Dia Mirza at all - first thought it was Kangana Ranaut.

My pick of the month goes to Anushka Sharma for her simple and smiley Vogue effort.

Kareena Kapoor

Huma Qureshi

Dia Mirza

Anushka Sharma

Kalki Koechlin 

Sapna Pabbi

Shraddha Kapoor

Vaani Kapoor

Happy Birthday Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan was born January 1st 1978.

She made her Bollywood debut in 2005 with the critically acclaimed Parineeta - which won her several Best Debut awards.

Vidya Balan // Parineeta

After a few years of good performances in bad films she finally hit her stride in 2009 with her performance in Paa which won her the Best Actress award. She followed this with several award-winning performances in Ishqiya (2010), No One Killed Jessica (2011) and the huge hit Dirty Picture (2011).

Vidya Balan // The Dirty Picture

2012 was another great year for her as Kahaani was a runaway success at the box office and got her a ton of awards to add to her collection.

Vidya Balan // Kahaani

2013 and 2014 may not have seen her deliver any big hits but she has been appreciated nonetheless in her roles in Ghanchakkar, Shaadi Ke Side Effects and Bobby Jasoos.

Vidya Balan // Ghanchakkar

Vidya will next be seen in Hamari Adhuri Kahani which is due out in June 2015.

Here's wishing Vidya Balan a very Happy Birthday x