Aamir Khan: Not mentally prepared for 'Dhoom 3'

Actor Aamir Khan, who would be seen as a baddie in the third instalment of hit film series 'Dhoom', says, he is not mentally prepared for the film.

"I have started preparations for 'Dhoom 3'. For my role I have began working on the physical side," Aamir told reporters in Mumbai. "But I am not mentally yet prepared," he felt.

'Dhoom' series centres around bike chases, handsome thiefs and daring theft plans. After the success of 'Dhoom' (2004) and 'Dhoom 2' (2006) there is much buzz about the third part.

Aamir would play the bad guy, while Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra would reprise their roles of Jai and Uday respectively.

The 47-year-old actor would feature opposite Katrina Kaif in the film, directed by Victor Acharya and produced by Aditya Chopra. It is set to hit cinema houses in 2013.

Shah Rukh Khan ends up taking a dig at Farah Khan

It definitely wasn't his first. But in the wake of the great slap fest at Sanjay Dutt's party, Shah Rukh Khan's witty quip about Farah Khan at a recent product event did make us sit up and listen.

SRK has attended a zillion product events till date. And he has hardly ever left an opportunity to take a dig at his rivals, both professional and personal. And of course, he did not let the moment pass this time either. On Wednesday evening, at an event, SRK did not fail to bring up Farah in his funny quip about (Surprise! Surprise!) a play station.

An eyewitness revealed, "SRK chatted with the finalists and was dancing with them to music generated by a software system. But the songs got stuck due to some technical glitches in the system. The dance was being interrupted due to the breaking sound system."

And then is when, SRK chose to crack a witty one, taking a dig at Farah Khan in the process. "SRK who was irritated with the system error said, 'Play station ko lag raha hai ki Farah iske samne dance kar rahi hai, isliye yeh bar bar pause ho jaa raha hai (The Play station perhaps feels that Farah is dancing to its music and that's why it's throwing up errors).' In fact, the organisers had to finally stop the system and the music," added the eyewitness.

SRK's funny ways is not a new phenomenon for sure. In the past, the actor has openly taken digs at Aamir Khan at chat shows and award functions. On Karan Johar's chat show, for instance, when KJo asked him what he would say to a die-hard Aamir Khan fan, SRK had replied, "Guys, find an icon you can look up to." On the same show, when he was asked the same question about Salman, SRK, had simply said, "May God bless you."

However, SRK wasn't just into taking digs at the event. While the contest entailed only the winner for a trip to Berlin, SRK, seeing the runner up in tears, agreed to sponsor his trip as well.

Aamir Khan to quit Smoking

Shah Rukh Khan has been battling with it. And he gets routinely hauled up by his children for being unable to curb his nicotine addiction.

But it has been more than a year since Aamir Khan quit smoking, and this time he says it is for good. And if there is one thing he has in common with SRK, is that in his case too, it was the constant goading from his children that got him to kick the butt. There was a time when he smoked 40 cigarettes a day.

Speaking to Mirror from Delhi airport, the actor spoke about his several failed attempts and emphasised that this time he would not give in. "Never," he insisted.

Talking about what often ate into his resolve to quit smoking, Aamir, who is currently in transit for his forthcoming TV show, said, "Whenever my film was about to hit the theatres, I got nervous. And I felt that a cigarette could ease the pressure." So what triggered the renewed promise this time? Aamir revealed, "Honestly, my son Junaid and my daughter were getting very annoyed. Kiran and my mother too were constantly telling me to throw my cigarettes and lighters away. There was this day, January 1, 2011, to be precise, when I decided that 'Enough is Enough'. I can say that four people were instrumental."

The actor says that the resolve to kick a harmful habit not only benefits the individual but the family as well. "Your family loves you the most, don't they?" the actor added. It also helps that there is only a week's gap between the release of his next and the commencement of Dhoom 3. Aamir is expected to undergo a strict fitness regime for the film, and cigarettes are an absolute no.

So, is he using nicotine patches to control his craving? "There is no craving. Trust me, this time I don't feel the urge to have even one puff if I see anybody smoking near me," the actor says, adding, "I know it's difficult to learn to say 'No' to things that become a habit with you. But this time my will power is immensely strong and I shall not smoke again."

Kareena: Aamir Khan is the maestro of film industry

Kareena Kapoor, who has earlier worked with Aamir Khan and will now be seen with his nephew Imran Khan in ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’, feels Aamir is the maestro of the film industry.

"Aamir`s body of work is unbelievable. He is the maestro of the industry and Imran is just starting out. Working with Imran is a lot of fun. I think he is a marvellous actor and I hope we get to work together in the future too," the 31-year-old actress said.

Kareena, who is ready with her next two films ‘Ek Main Aur EK Tu’ and ‘Agent Vinod’ is, however, missing from the promotions of the latter movie.

She said her priority was ‘Ek Main Aur Ek Tu’ at the moment.

"Right now `Ek Main Aur Ek Tu` is in the priority. `Agent Vinod` is like an action thriller and you know... let Saif do the talking and I think he has been out for the media for a while. You enjoy him for a while and may be I will step in before the film releases," she said.

Fire on the sets of Aamir Khan’s TV show

A major fire broke out on the sets of Bollywood actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan’s debut TV show on Monday night, burning down the entire under construction site near Madh Island, Malad to ground.

Talking to a daily, an insider said, “It was an extremely unfortunate event. Due to some electrical fault, the set caught fire and within minutes spread across the sets.”


“Early evening the entire team had gone and done a recee and only about 20 people from the light and set department were wrapping light adjustments when the fire broke out. Luckily everyone was cleared and there were no casualties,” said the source.

Talking about the damage, the source added, “Right now it’s difficult to say whether or not it will cause any delays or for how long for the show to take off.”

When contacted, a spokesperson of Aamir Khan’s production house said, “It has been extremely unfortunate incident. We only feel lucky and very relieved that no one was hurt. As soon as we will be allowed to inspect and take stock, is when we will be able to assess the damage and decide to what extent we would need to repair the sets.”

The TV talk show will mark Aamir Khan’s debut on the small screen. The much-hyped show deals with issues related to the common man.

Bollywood scripts huge success at Pak box office

The three Khans of Bollywood not only rule the Indian box-office, they are also the kings of Pakistan. Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots collected Rs 5 crore across the border and the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan raked in Rs 5.25 crore. The Salman Khan-starrer Bodyguard outdid them both by earning Rs 6 crore. Another Shah Rukh-starrer, Don 2, meanwhile, is expected to pull in Rs 7.25 crore. In fact, some experts say Pakistan is now one of Bollywood's top five overseas markets and could soon rival the business done in Australia.

The ban on Indian films was lifted across the border in 2006, but things began really hotting up a year later. Riffat Siddiqi, a well-known distributor in Pakistan, said, "From the time the market opened up in 2007, Indian films became the source for rebuilding cinema in the country. Within just four years, the entertainment business grew by 300% at the box office."

Bollywood can't ignore Pakistan now as an overseas market. Trade pundits said the business pattern in Pakistan is similar to that of the Punjab territory in India.

About 50 Hindi films release in Pakistan now every year and the big ones have the ability to do business of US $1 million (Rs 4 crore to 5 crore) or more, said Pakistani sources. All the top Khan films are sold for $200,000 to $300,000 (Rs 1 crore to 1.5 crore). Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar films go for $75,000 to $150,000 (Rs 37.5 lakh to 75 lakh), said experts.

India-based Amrita Pandey, of UTV Motion Pictures, said, "I think the growth has been significant -- from no release before 2007 to now, where the box office gross for an average film is $400,000 (Rs 2 crore). With 50 Hindi films releasing there every year, Pakistan figures in the top five of the international markets."

Pakistan's film industry was able to release only 10 films last year, but there is a chance these numbers will go up. Pakistani film producer Sevy Ali said, "The government has made it mandatory for every mall that is being built to have a multiplex, which will help the business of cinema grow. We only released 10 films last year, but this year there will be 20." Incidentally, late last year there were calls from within the Pakistani film industry and media to ban Indian films so that local efforts would get a boost.

Indian film producers have to look for partners outside the country to get their films into Pakistan. India-based Vikas Mohan, vice president of the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers, said, "Production house are releasing their films through partners in Dubai or London. Pakistan is capable of being a territory that can generate a revenue of up to Rs 15 crore for any big film. Unfortunately, there are still unresolved issues which deprive both sides from benefitting from the business of cinema."

In the past year, the increase in multiplexes and introduction of digital cinema has boosted the business. Nadeem Mandviwalla, of Mandviwalla Entertainment in Pakistan, said, "Digital cinema boosted the film exhibition business in Pakistan with the release of 'Ra-One' and 'Don 2'. 'Don 2's' opening week was better than other films with a business of nearly Rs 4 crore."

Earlier, Indian films were sold in Pakistan for only a few lakhs, but now the price of big films has jumped by more than 40%. Pakistani film distributor Amjad Rashid, currently in India to buy films, said, "Today, the price for Salman Khan films is the highest in Pakistan. Shah Rukh Khan's latest release, 'Don 2', has done record business at the box office. The buying of their films is likely to double this year."

Bollywood's official foray into Pakistan may have been a recent occurrence, but despite the over 40-year ban, Bollywood, its icons, its music and its dancing have always remained an integral part of life in Pakistan. Yusra Askari, a mediaperson in Lahore, said, "Bollywood's impact appears everywhere, from the mainstay of a Pakistani wedding to street lingo." She added. "In the past decade, Bollywood-based artistic exchanges between India and Pakistan have initiated increased cultural interaction between the two countries. Bollywood has not only gained a huge fan following in Pakistan, it has often attracted aspirants and sometimes even Pakistani cricketing icons try their luck at filmdom."

Despite an increased cultural dialogue between Islamabad and Delhi, visas to travel to India may be still hard to come by for the average Pakistani, Askari added. "Nevertheless, Pakistanis can always rely on Bollywood cinema to bring home a slice of Mumbai magic," she said. Currently about half-a-dozen actors and singers work in Bollywood films.

Rashid said, "We have only been importing films. It is high time we started exporting Pakistani television serials, which are very popular, and also the music, a high point of Pakistani culture. I feel there is a need for India to do business with Pakistan and there should be relaxations in granting visas to artistes."

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, considered a cultural ambassador, added, "There is abundant talent in Pakistan crying to be discovered. Indian cinema is moving from strength to strength. We can add new colour to our products by taking fresh talent from Pakistan. We both stand to benefit if we partner one another and make a co-production."

But there is also an opinion that the presence of Pakistani artistes won't really help a film. Producer Ali said, "Pakistanis want to see the Khans or maybe an Akshay Kumar or Hrithik Roshan. A Pakistani actor is a novelty in India, not in Pakistan."

Aamir Khan says: Vote for clean candidates

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan will urge people not to vote for candidates with criminal background in upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.


The National Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms said Tuesday: "Aamir`s recorded message will be sent through automated calls to lakhs of voters till elections in the five states are over."

Besides English and Hindi, the message will go out in regional languages too, ADR said. The actor has already recorded a one-minute video clip.

Katrina Kaif’s latest item boy?

The Sheila Ki Jawani phase has passed, but the item girl that made it popular has been keeping the trend alive.

Katrina Kaif, who gyrated to Chikni Chameli with Sajay Dutt in KJo's Agneepath and the title number for the Salman Khan starrer Bodyguard, will reportedly add yet another item number to her list. This time around, Mumbai Mirror has learnt that the actress will be joined on the dance floor by her co-star Aamir Khan for Aditya Chopra's Dhoom 3.

A member from the film unit revealed to us that the item number was not part of the original plan. However, the decision to include it was due to the novelty factor. The unit member explained, "Katrina and Aamir have never worked together before. And since the opportunity has finally been presented, the filmmakers decided to make the most of it. However, Aamir, who doesn't consider himself much of a dancer, needs some time to prepare himself. The idea is to be one-up on the moves that Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai shared in Dhoom 2."

Apparently, the filmmakers are currently studying the storyboard to figure out when to introduce the item number, which will be shot in March 2012.

Aamir Khan turns daku in ‘Chambal Safari’

Be it a college boy, villager, vagrant or a tough cop, you name it and Bollywood maverick actor Aamir Khan has done it all.

Buzz has it that Aamir, who is all set to play a villain in ‘Dhoom 3’ will soon be seen as a dacoit in Maqbool Khan’s ‘Chambal Safari.’ The film is a wacky satire on Chambal valley where Aamir plays Bachua Daku.


Talking to a daily, Maqbool said, “It’s too early to discuss the cast. All I can say is, Aamir is the man for the part. I am making a black comedy ‘Chambal Safari.’”

“It’s about a bunch of dacoits in Chambal going through a lean phase in their career as bandits. The Madhya Pradesh government has rehabilitated them under a scheme called ‘Chambal Safari’ whereby the dacoits have become tourist guides,” added Maqbool.