Lakshmi’s Sister Ashwani Rai to Debut in Films

The lanky Lakshmi Rai’s probably going through the best phase of her life on the professional front. The actress starred in both the super-duper hit films of the year 2011 in the form of Ajith’s Mankathaand Raghava Lawrence’s Kanchana.

Venkat prabhu’s Mankatha offered Lakshmi Rai a good role besides showing her prettier than ever. Lakshmi Rai’s was one of the five heroines in the film along with Trisha, Anjali, Andrea Jermaiahand Kainaat Arora.

Lakshmi debuted in Tamil films with Karka Kasadara opposite Vikranth and went on to star in many films opposite leading heroes. However, she had always found that stardom continued to elude her. She is now extremely happy that she has become one of the most sough-after actresses in the recent past. The tall and lissome lass, who was born in Belgaum, never gave up and showed lot of perseverance and patience.

She has also had her own share of controversies and was linked big time with India’s world-cup winning cricket captain Dhoni and was relieved when the latter got married. Rai presently has a film each in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. Soon, she might find herself in demand in all these languages. She now feels it’s the ideal time to try and push her younger sibling into the reckoning in the industry.

Ashwini Rai, who looks as pretty as Lakshmi, is all set to make her debut in films. For the past few months, Lakshmi has been consciously making it a point to take Ashwini along with her to all the film-related parties, functions, etc. so that she gets spotted by some aspiring film-maker. Lakshmi is also said to be listening to many scripts and might soon choose for for her younger sibling’s ‘ideal’ launch-pad!

Lakshmi Rai’s Bollywood Dream

After scorching the screen in Mankatha, Lakshmi Rai is very careful about choosing her projects. Recently she opted out of two Tamil films saying that the roles were not meaty. 

However, the recent news is that the actress is busy acting in multiple languages including Hindi. It is reported that Anushk who directed Bhindi Baazaar Inc is keen to rope in Lakshmi Rai for the yet to be titled film, which also has Mallika Sherawat. 

She is acting in Kalpana in Kannada and Adhinayakudu in Tollywood.

Vidya Went Through More Than 60 Tests

She is one of the most sought after actresses today but her journey in filmdom wasn't a cake walk. Vidya Balan had to give over 60 screen tests for her debut Bollywood film, Parineeta.

After appearing in several ad films and music videos, she made her debut in B-town with Vidhu Vinod Chopra's home production in 2005.

"I was doing ad films and I had signed quite a few South films but then I went through a phase of being called jinxed because my first South film was stopped midway and then even other directors threw me out of their films. Then I started doing music videos... but Dada (director Pradeep Sarkar) had told me he would make a film with me," Vidya told reporters in Mumbai, last night at the Vidhu Vinod Chopra festival.

"He (Pradeep Sarkar) went to Chopra (producer) with the script and the latter wanted a bigger star but he also said if I am able to show that I can do the role then they will take me. I gave over 60 tests... right from Indian look, western look, curly hair, straight hair, song, emotional scene..etc. I kept doing it but later I was fed up as I was not aware if they were really going to take me or not," Vidya said.

"And the moment I gave up was the time when I got the film," 34-year-old actress recalled.

Producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra made her undergo gruelling tests for the role of Lalita, till she got it right.

"We tested her 60-65 times. After a few tests I saw her looking at the camera and abusing me. The fact that she was desperate to do the film... it showed in those 60-65 tests. But when she did not give a damn was the time when she performed. If you are desperate for something you won't get it," Chopra said.

"Vidya became Vidya Balan when she stopped caring. I am happy that she sustained those 65 odd tests and did not give up and look where she is today," he said.

The Dirty Picture star also revealed that even director Pradeep Sarkar, made her do 28 takes to capture an emotional moment in the song 'Raat Humari Toh'.

Parineeta, besides Vidya, also starred Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt in pivotal roles and was a hit at the box office.

PVR Cinemas, in association with Chopra has organised a first of its kind retrospective of his films as a tribute to mark his completion of 30 years in the film industry.

On the second day of the fest when Parineeta was screened, those present on the occasion included Vidya, Raima Sen, Pradeep Sarkar, cinematographer Natarajan Subramaniam and music director Shantanu Moitra among others.

Parineeti Chopra now eyes IIFA award

Mumbai: Actress Priyanka Chopra`s younger sister Parineeti Chopra, who bagged 10 best debutante actress awards for her role in ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’, is looking forward to winning an IIFA award too. The 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards celebration has started with the film fraternity voting for the winners.

"Like you all know, this is my first IIFA. Till now every year I used to hear my sister (actress Priyanka Chopra) saying that I am going here and I am going there. This year I am getting a chance to go somewhere, I am very, very excited," the 23-year-old said here at the IIFA Voting Weekend.

"No one is telling me where are we going, but I know I am going somewhere. Till now I have got all the awards and I am now waiting for IIFA. I hope I get that as well and then I`ll throw a huge party," she added.

The actress is so happy to have won so many awards that she counts them every day.

"Daily I count all of them to ensure that they are still there. Till now I have 10 and I am hoping that I also get IIFA," said Parineeti.

Parineeti played Delhi girl Dimple in ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’ and feesl happy when people identify her by her character name.

"Today less people know me as Parineeti and more call me Dimple, which I think is a good thing. When you remember the name of the character and don`t remember the real name of the actor, it is a good thing. You don`t say Shah Rukh - Kajol, you say Raj-Simran. So I am very happy," said the actress.

Parineeti`s next is Yash Raj`s ‘Ishaqzaade’, in which she is paired with Boney Kapoor`s son Arjun.

Manisha Koirala Back to Bollywood

Off late, the Nepali-Indian actress Manisha Koirala hit the headlines for some personal crisis. Month back, she spotted with disturbed condition and was in news for her troubled marriage. She was also rumored to file divorce from her husband. Known for her performances in hit films like ‘Khamoshi’, ‘1942: A Love Story’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Dil Se’, Manisha Koirala is again planning to make a comeback.

She has reportedly signed three films, "I will talk about my films later. Because I don't know when the directors and producers are ready to make an announcement. But there are three films whose script I have okayed. I am meeting two more directors, I am okaying those scripts as well," Manisha told reporters here last night.

"This year I will be working (on these films), so next year would be a kind of comeback," she said.

Debuted with Subhash Ghai’s hit film, ‘Saudagar’ in 1991, Manisha’s filmy career trend downward after delivering flops like Paisa Vasool (2004), Sirf (2008).

Recently, it was heard that Madhur Bhandarkar’s highly anticipated film, ‘Heroine’ is based on her life to which Madhur denied. When asked Manisha about the same, she said, "I hope he knows me well to make a movie on me."

Manisha was seen in filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra's blockbuster Parinda (1989).

"He is one of the finest directors we have today. I was fortunate to work with him in 1942: A love Story," the award-winning actress said.

Kareena to do item number in ‘Heroine’

Actress Kareena Kapoor, who has lately been doing many item numbers in Bollywood, is gearing up for her next item song in Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Heroine”.

“We have a new item song called ‘Halkat Jawani’ which is a wonderful song that will be picturised on Kareena Kapoor. I am sure the audiences will love this song. This film ‘Heroine’ will be a different sort of film for Kareena Kapoor,” Bhandarkar told.

Directed by Bhandarkar, the film has Kareena and Arjun Rampal in the lead.

The director says 40 percent of the shooting has been done.

“Forty percent of the film has been finished. From (April) 10th, we will again have a nonstop shooting and by September the film will be released,” he said.

Bhandarkar also sought to deny speculation that the film is based on Manisha Koirala’s life.

“This film is not based on Manisha Koirala. It is absolutely wrong. Lot of things had been written about the film before. I have created a character called Mahi Arora who is today’s girl. The film is all about how she witnesses the ups and downs in her life,” he said.

Katrina in Awe of Yash Chopra’s Sharpness

Actress Katrina Kaif, who is back in town from London after wrapping up a shooting schedule of Yash Chopra’s directorial venture, says she is in awe of the veteran filmmaker’s immensely sharp working style.

“You know Yash ji is very senior and everyone used to say how young he is at heart. But you have to look at how sharp he is,” Katrina told reporters here.

“He used to pick up these very small things… like if something was disturbing me or I was not in a good mood, he used to just pick it up and know how to deal with it. So I think he is a very special person and we had an amazing time,” she added.

Katrina was in London to work on Chopra’s yet-to-be-titled love story opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

This is her first project with King Khan, and this is also the first time she is being directed by Chopra, whose last venture behind the camera was “Veer Zaara” in 2004.

Katrina, 27, spoke on the sidelines of the launch of a book based on her film “Raajneeti”, which presented her in a non-glamourous avatar and in a powerful role.

She didn’t miss the chance to share sweet somethings about her “Raajneeti” director Prakash Jha too.

“One thing I can say about Prakash ji is that with all his knowledge and with all his intellect, he is an extremely intelligent person and extremely knowledgeable…

“… especially on the subjects that he directs… (they) are often very complex subjects, but never for once does he make you feel that you are slightly inferior in anyway to the knowledge of politics or his knowledge of literature,” said Katrina.

Last seen in “Mere Brother Ki Dulhan”, Katrina is also working with her former beau, actor Salman Khan in “Ek Tha Tiger”.