CCL second season to kick start in January 2012

The second edition of the Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) has been scheduled to be held from January 27 to February 19, 2012. This time, the matches will be conducted not only in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, but also in Kolkata, Kochi, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The CCL’s new season has two additional teams: Bengal Tigers and Kerala Super Stars. Bengal Tigers, comprised of stars from Bengali Cinema, is jointly owned by Bollywood star couple Bony Kapoor-Sridevi and Sahara group. The buzz is that former Indian cricket team captain Saurav Ganguly has agreed to mentor this team.

Kerala Super Stars, the Mollywood franchise team, is owned by renowned director Priyadarshan. Mohanlal is its brand ambassador. Other teams in the tournament are Telugu Tigers, The South Superstars XI, Karnataka Bulldozers and Mumbai Heroes.

Sharman Joshi, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani to become lecturers

The Ferrari Ki Sawaari team, Sharman Joshi, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani are apparently thinking of becoming lecturers.

It was recently reported that after a long span of 18 years, the Ferrari Ki Sawaari team had managed to get shooting permission at the University of Mumbai. The University is a 130 years old magnificent heritage building and getting permission to shoot there is quite a difficult task. The University only agreed to grant permission after thoroughly scrutinizing the scene.

Close sources reveal that the Ferrari Ki Sawaari team had written a letter to the authorities to thank and appreciate them for their extended co-operation and support that helped them to complete their shoot successfully.

Interestingly, in response, the officials requested if they could get Sharman Joshi, their lead actor, Rajkumar Hirani and Vinod Chopra to teach their students about Cinema.

Priyanka Chopra to release her international music album

She has wowed the Indian audience with her acting as well as crooning skills and now Priyanka Chopra is all set to venture onto the world stage releasing her debut music album.

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, and Desi Hits, have signed a worldwide recording agreement with actress Priyanka Chopra. As a part of this deal, Priyanka will release her debut music album in North America with Desi Hits through Interscope Records and in other International markets on Island Records UK.

A trained Western Classical singer, Priyanka is currently in the studio, writing and recording her debut pop album, which will be sung in English. Troy Carter, CEO of Atom Factory, who also manages Lady Gaga has signed with Priyanka to manage her music career across the globe.

The yodelling genius of Indian music

A legend in the Indian music industry and a brilliant actor, Kishore Kumar once said in an interview he hated every moment of his stint in Mumbai. He only wanted to be a singer but got "trapped" into doing Bollywood films. But on his 82nd birth anniversary on August 4, 2011, we fondly remember him for his eccentricities, his pioneering yodelling style and for some of his best works in the field he disliked so much.







 Kishore Kumar's real name was Abhas Kumar Ganguly and he was born on August 4, 1929 in Khandwa, now in Madhya Pradesh. The youngest of four siblings, Kishore always wanted to be a singer. During his lifetime, the extremely talented playback worked also as a lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.
 After Ashok Kumar, Kishore's elder brother, made it big in Bollywood, Abhas Kumar changed his name to Kishore Kumar and would often visit his brother in Mumbai, then Bombay. He started his cinema career as a chorus singer at the Bombay Talkies.

As his popularity grew, Kishore's eccentricity grew in leaps and bounds. In the 1960s, Kishore built a notoriety for coming late for the shootings, or bunking them altogether.
But the 60s were also his best musical phase. His films flopped frequently, and he also landed in income tax trouble. But he gave voice to classics such as 'Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai' from Manmauji (1961), 'Gaata Rahe Mera Dil' from Guide (1965), and 'Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara' from Jewel Thief (1967).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZGodiHR9VY&playnext=1&list=PL21CEA38DD8790D17

Hrithik in 'Don 2'?

DON 2 is amongst the most awaited films of 2011. Right from the first look [pics] that producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar revealed, to the first poster [eye-catching], to the first promo of the film [appreciated unanimously], the film has been making the right noise.
A strong rumor doing the rounds since quite some time is that DON 2 features Hrithik Roshan in the negative lead. The makers have kept his character under wraps, since they want the audiences to feel shocked when they watch SRK and Hrithik battle on the big screen. In fact, Hrithik's pics were splashed all over when he visited Berlin, while the shoot of DON 2 was in progress. But Farhan Akhtar denies it outright. "Hrithik visited Berlin as a friend. He's not part of DON 2 cast. But, yes, there's a possibility that Hrithik and I may work together in the future," the talented actor/director states.

Vivek Oberoi files defamation case.

Last week actor Vivek Oberoi and father Suresh Oberoi received a non-bailable warrant from a metropolitan magistrate court regarding a bounce cheque worth rupees 3 crore. Apart from the duo, four other members from the board of Multimedia Ltd have also been accused of the same. The complainant was filed by Jawaharlal Agicha who informed that he received only Rs 50,000 in January 2010 via cheque, while another cheque of Rs. 3 crore meant for realisation on October 19, 2010, bounced.

In response to the accusation actor Vivek has retaliated by filing a Rs 25 crore defamation case against the concerned person. The Oberoi's had already filed 2 different Criminal Writ Petitions before the Mumbai High Court dated to 28th July 2011. The HC had stayed the case pending against them to be heard before the Hon'ble Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Mazgaon, Mumbai. When the case was brought to the notice of the Magistrate he stayed his own order of issuing the Non-Bailable-Warrant against Vivek and his father. 

Nikhil Advani's Delhi Safari to go 3D!!!

Earlier this year we saw India's first ever 3D film with Vikram Bhatt's Haunted. And here's another first. Nikhil Advani's animation film Delhi Safary, which is scheduled to release in September, is being converted to 3D.

The recent success of Hollywood 3D films like Ice Age 3, Monsters vs Aliens, How To Train Your Dragon have inspired Nikhil to convert his film to 3D. Nikhil decided to have the film converted to 3D a couple of months ago.

Delhi Safary revolves around a group of five animals from Borivali National Park going to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister, pleading that they stop encroaching forests. With Akshaye Khanna, Govinda, Suniel Shetty, Boman Irani and Urmila Matondkar doing the voice overs, we are sure that this film will rock the box office.

Walt Disney to buy UTV for Rs. 2000 crores

Ever since Rang De Basanti got released, there was just one direction for the stocks of production house UTV and that was up! Well, the news is out that Walt Disney, the American entertainment giant has offered to acquire UTV Software Communications for a whooping Rs. 2000 crore!

Disney originally invested in UTV five years ago; spending $44.5 million for a 15% stake later it subsequently increased its holdings to 50.4%.

The statistics of the deal state that Disney has offered about Rs. 1,000 a share to buy the remaining 49.6% stake it does not already own in UTV, which started out in television production, but has expanded into movies, games and other forms of interactive content.

If this deal is successful, UTV's Chief Executive, Ronnie Screwvala, will sell his shares to Disney and become the media conglomerate's Head of Operations in India, while Mahesh Samant, currently managing Disney's assets in India, will become Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Screwvala.

Salman and Katrina in the item song from Bodyguard

By now its common knowledge that Katrina Kaif would be seen in an item song along with Salman Khan in his forthcoming flick Bodyguard. The actress recently shot for the song 'Aaya Re Aaya Bodyguard' with Salman and needless to say, the chemistry between them was simply electrifying.

The song also features Sallu's real life 'Bodyguard' Shera who recently unveiled the first look of the film.

The song is sure to create a nationwide storm when Bodyguard opens this Eid- August 31.

Kareena Kapoor to be the brand ambassador of Lakme

She started off her career with Refugee, did a handful of average films...only to catapult herself into the top league of actresses in Bollywood with her stunning size zero figure. We are indeed referring to the one and only hot and talented Kareena Kapoor.

The way every single filmmaker wants to have her as the top priority on their wish list, she also tops the wish list of every brand manager! After having endorsed almost everything under the sun, this Kapoor babe has now been signed up as the brand ambassador of the cosmetic major Lakme.

The official announcement of the same is being awaited.