NO TAKERS FOR ‘KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI’?

Big B and Shah Rukh have refused to host the show.

It had altered Amitabh Bachchan’s life forever, but today the show has no takers. Yes, we are talking about “Kaun Banega Crorepati”.

The show gave a new let out of life to Big B’s career numerous years ago. It had marked his enormously successful comeback after a major slump in his career. Bachchan’s fame only soared thereafter.

Today, it’s the show which needs rescuing.

It seems that, producer Siddharth Basu is running from door to door to find some takers as he readies for the fourth season of the game show. Both Shah Rukh Khan and Big B have frankly refused to host the show. Even leading channels like Sony, Star, Zee and Colors have said that they have enough on their hands and are not ready to air the show.

Will this mark an end to KBC, which was at one point of time the biggest attraction on Star Plus?

The relationship between KBC and Bachchan soured when Big B left the show due to some illness. He could not shoot the remaining episodes and later SRK was roped in. Though, Bachchan settled the matter, he actually made up his mind never to work on this show again.

INTRODUCING 12 YEAR-OLD BACHCHAN

66 year-old Amitabh Bachchan plays a 12 year-old for the first time in R Balki’s Paa. He will be introduced as a debutant in the opening title of the film.

Director R Balki made the decision as he believes (rightly so) that it is the first time Amitabh Bachchan is playing a 12 year-old and. The Cheeni Kum director said that if there is anyone in India who (possibly) hasn’t seen Bachchan before will not recognize him at all. His character is simply called Auro in the film.

The actor is a school of acting in himself. He was so involved in the film that became the character even when the cameras went off. He looked and behaved like an ill-behaved 12 year-old on the sets. As Auro, he threw tantrums and was hard to control or to discipline. He would run around the place and not sit still till people gave in to his demands.

What’s more is that his character Auro has only 4-5 teeth and that’s because he is addicted to chocolates and ages in reverse. Amitabh Bachchan has been advised not to eat chocolates because of his health issues but he didn’t let that come in the way of his role. He used to relish chocolates on the sets of the film. The reason Auro is a chocolate addict is because he suffers from Progeria and chocolates aides the metabolism of people suffering from this condition.

Balki says that the veteran actor has delivered the finest performance of his career as a 12 year-old and deserves not only the best acting award but also the awards in the child and debutant actor categories.

KARAN JOHAR ASKED ME TO TWITTER: RITEISH DESHMUKH

Who is the latest Bollywood celeb to tweet?

The Twitter bug has bit many celebrities in glitter town and the latest entrant is Riteish Deshmukh. The actor says it was filmmaker Karan Johar who asked him to join the popular social networking site.

"Karan Johar asked me to get on to Twitter. I didn't know a thing about it. I asked him how to go about it. He just told me that it's a wonderful thing and once I open my account, I'll understand how to operate it," Riteish told IANS.

Celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Celina Jaitley, Karan Johar, Dino Morea, Imran Khan and Gul Panag are among those who have been twittering and connecting with their fans.

JOHN AND JACQUELINE WILL SIGN A THRILLER TOGETHER

Not even one film old actress, Jacqueline Fernandes, seems to have impressed John Abraham. He has signed her for his home production to be directed by Sabal Shekhawat.

This project was earlier with Studio 18, who backed out. But John was keen to work on the project and took it up as producer.

A source reveals, "John saw some rushes and promos of Jacqueline's debut film Aladdin and really liked her. Also, they both workout in the same gym and know each other."

The source continues, "The movie is a spy thriller and required a fascinating chick. Jacqueline will also be seen in a sporty avtaar. The film goes on the floor early next year." The director yet has to finalise the location, Turkey being one of them. Director Sabal confirms, "We have signed Jacqueline for the movie."

If sources are to be believed, John has also suggested Jacqueline for Phillum City directed by Deven Khote.

AISHWARYA RAI GRABS THE 9TH PLACE

It’s been more than a decade that she won the crown. But this former Miss World is still accurately reigning the world!

The popular International Harpers and Queen magazine had listed 100 beautiful women and among them was our Aishwarya Rai Bachchan! Not only that! She has taken the ninth rank in the list, reports say.

In the meantime, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is said to be topping the list, followed by Supermodel Christy Turlington. Among other beauties, Queen Rania of Jordan has also found her place in the chart.

Great going Ash!!

REVEALED: ALADIN'S SRI LANKAN BEAUTY

Jacqueline Fernandez and Ritesh Deshmukh revealed the first look of their film Aladin on Wednesday night at a Mumbai hotel. Jacqueline looked hot in a green shirt and a grey skirt, in what she described as her "first press conference". Ritesh also looked cute in a white tee and a jacket, oozing the Aladin boyish charm. The pair also discovered the Godrej contest for the film, and met mortally ill kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Check them out.

RITEISH DESHMUKH BACK TO SCHOOL

Riteish Deshmukh has reasons to feel ‘nostalgic’ these days. The 30 year-old actor will be seen sporting a school bag in Eros International’s Aladin directed by Sujoy Ghosh. He plays a nerdy teenager.

Aladin is a contemporary look at the classic fairy tale where Riteish plays the title character. However, in Sujoy’s version, Aladin shares nothing other than his name with the protagonist of the famous fairy-tale. Here Aladin is a shy, young man who is constantly bullied by a certain gang of boys in his college. Since Riteish plays a college student in the film, he was required to carry a bag. The actor suggested using a sling, since that is very popular with the youth today. However, Director Sujoy insisted on Riteish carrying a typical school bag as it would be a perfect fit with his reclusive character in the film.

Riteish immediately disagreed, but later decided to try it out on Sujoy’s persuasion. He was given a worn-out brown leather bag by Art director Sabu Cyril to try on. After giving a few takes with the bag, he discovered, to his own surprise that the bag indeed added that ‘authentic’ touch to his character in the film and gladly agreed to carry it.

Riteish said, “Sujoy is a brilliant director and knows exactly what he wants. He was very sure about his portrayal of Aladin and though I was initially hesitant, I realised that the bag completely matched Aladin’s personality.” And how was the school-going experience? “Carrying that typical ‘two-shoulder’ school bag initially felt weird, but it was fun too. It was like reliving my school days after all these years,” reminisced Riteish.

ABHI-ASH CELEBRATE 40 YRS OF PA IN CINEMA

November 7, assures to be a big day for Amitabh Bachchan. For all of Bollywood has promised to join Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya in paying homage to the Big B who completes 40 years in Hindi cinema.

And, the compliment is going to be in the form of a concert in Mumbai, bigger than anything Bollywood has ever done before.

Events organiser Bunty Walia, who is putting it in concert, says it is too early to disclose details of the concert, but the concert is likely to be preceded by a Bachchan film festival organised by the superstar’s buddy Anil Ambani.

Almost all of Bollywood will join the Bachchan family on stage in performing songs from Big B’s films in this fine-looking tribute to the veteran actor.

Bachchan himself will only come on stage at the end, but he is not predictable to dance, instead he will probably recite poetry made famous by his late father Harivanshrai Bachchan. The concert is not intended as a surprise to the actor who turns 67 on October 11, knowing his attention to detail; he’s been taken into confidence about every decision regarding the preparations.

RITEISH TWEETS ON TWITTER

Riteish Deshmukh is the newest B-Town actor to get on to Twitter. His status message on Facebook was: At last on Twitter ....... tried for my name and various mixture but weren't accessible. So lastly got the one I was given in Bluffmaster! riteishd.

Steal Preview: Aladin

The clip of Aladin which was on you tube at the same point in time as ago has been yanked off. We got a steal peek of it early this daybreak. It showcases dazzling odd effects that we haven't seen in Indian movies as yet.

Amitabh Bachchan plays the genie; Riteish plays the ostensible role, Jacqueline Fernandez plays Jasmine in addition to Sanjay Dutt plays the ringmaster. It has an up to date setting as Aladin in addition to Jasmine are college-going characters. Jasmine is the pretty girl while Aladin is a loser.

The music for the Sujoy Ghosh motion picture has been scored by Vishal-Shekhar, who has beforehand worked with him on the smashing disc of Jhankaar Beats.

About Sujoy's choice of Riteish Deshmukh to play the show the way, he said, "I had just delivered a turkey-Home Delivery in addition to was toying with the idea of doing Aladin, in addition to hesitantly approached Riteish."

"I had to curb Riteish's enthusiasm because the moment he knew that Aladin was going to be an actuality, he started jumping up as well as down at the very contemplation of it."

"Since Riteish had a miniscule role in Home Delivery as well as it flopped, Riteish told me I allocated him a hit," adds Sujoy.

With the release of this big screen Sujoy hopes to recover from the adversity that was his last pictures Home Delivery.