TOLLYWOOD FILM NEWS 01-06-2007

Gossip: Is Venkatesh Fit For That?

New grapevine in the industry is about Venkatesh playing the role of Swamy Vivekananada in K Raghavendra Rao's venture. Initially it was said that Sumanth will be portraying that role as Bharavi once said his intention to see him as Vivekananda and ANR as Rama Krishna Paramahamsa.

But the fresh talk is about Venkatesh portraying that title role. Will he be fit for that character? From a few months ago, Venkatesh's spiritual inclination is much talked about in Film Nagar circles. So, since his real life has spiritual philosophy, he may like and gel well on screen as well as Vivekananda.

But will Venkatesh be a right choice? Since Vivekananda is a known figure, the features should be coincided to perfection.

EVV Becomes Last Resort To Producers

Director EVV has become the only hope for the producer in doldrums.

All those who burn their fingers by putting their money in ambitious film projects are approaching EVV to cover their losses. EVV assures moderate profits. The films he directs may not be blockbusters. At the same time they will not be disasters too.

Of late the producers of 'Lakshmi Kalyanam', which has become miserable failure have met EVV and took his consent for a new film.

Same is the case with the producer of 'Veerabhadra'.

Trade Talk: New Flicks Turned Down!

Venu Madhav starred Bhukailas, directed by Shiva Nageshwara Rao was released with many hopes last week. The major plus point of the film is that it was made on the backdrop of Real Estate Boo in Hyderabad. But the narration part has gone out of the circle making the film a pale one. The openings are very big for the film but a heavy drop is observed in collections eventually. Trade analysts say that the film is going to be a flop.

'Nee Navve Chaalu' is another film that was released and suffering from collections since day-1. Lack of publicity is another factor that marred the film. Shivaji played lead role in this film.

Manoj Kumar's 'Raju Bhai' is declared to be a flop. Although the publicity is being done, the chances for this film to taste success are almost zero.

'AMAV' is still making better collections at the box office. Although 'Aata' is receiving many criticisms it is still strong at box office entertaining class audiences.

Vishnu's 'Dhee' is completing 50 days successfully and still going well.

The fresh film 'Operation Duryodhana' has got negative feedback on the first day of its release. Its trade report comes only next week.

Rajnikanth's 'Shivaji' In Political TrapIt is known news that Karunandihi is starting a new TV channel 'Kalaignar TV' in Tamil Nadu to compete with Dayanidhi Maran's 'Sun TV'. It has been a practice in Tamilnadu that Sun TV bags the satellite rights of any big film.

Maran's family is very keen on getting the rights of Shivaji and it was shocked knowing that AVM has given away the rights to Kalaignar TV for premium price. Already Sun TV is negotiating the terms with AVM for Shivaji rights.

AVM opined that the government may create disturbance for the release of the film if the rights are not sold to its channel. So, they simply ignored Sun TV and given away the rights to Kalaignar TV. But the interesting aspect is that the Kaialgnar TV is yet to be started and that is taking off only on 15th August.

So much before the release of the film and release of the channel, the sale of satellite rights is over!!

Ayesha: ‘I am open about my relationship’

Unlike her contemporaries, Ayesha Takia has no qualms about talking about her relationship. “I don’t like to hide my relationship,” she says, adding, “I think people in the industry hide their relationships because they are unsure. I have been seeing Farhan Azmi for around three years now.” “In the beginning, I didn’t tell everybody about it, for we were not sure about the future. But now that we know we will get married some day, I don’t mind talking about it. I am madly in love with Farhan and am fortunate that I met him,” says the Fool ‘N’ Final actress. She adds, “Farhan is a self made man. He began from scratch and is successful today. He values his culture and traditions. His father is a politician and he is a restaurateur. I am proud of the respect he gets for being what he is.”

How does she find time for her non-filmi boyfriend amid her shooting schedule? She says, “I meet him when I am not busy shooting. We often go out for dinners. We go to a sea facing place and spend time together. Both of us love food and like to experiment new cuisines, so it is fun to go to a new eatery each time.” So, is wedding her next step? “There’s still time for marriage,” says Ayesha and adds, “Ultimately I want to get married, be a housewife and look after my family. I want to travel a lot and maybe start a restaurant on my own.”

About her films she says, “For me, it is important to keep doing the kinds of films I like. A film like Fool ‘N’ Final, where there are 14 main characters and I don’t have a bigger role still satisfies me.” She adds, “It doesn’t matter that I am not doing 10 big banner films. I like to live my life on my terms. I am quite choosy. I take two three days to take a final decision about the film I sign. ”

Buzz: Sameera Reddy gets ‘engaged’!What do you do when the media is hell bent on 'marrying off' actresses every now and then? Well, Sameera Reddy has come to the ultimate solution. Pretend to be preparing for a marriage. Sam is becoming quite a prankster herself after mingling with all our mischievous actors.

In fact, she recently decided to pull one of her own. On one of those not so busy days, the actress began telling all her friends that her parents had found a boy for her and that she had gone ahead and got engaged. Obviously, the news created a mini riot among her friends, with all of them coming to her with shocked expressions. Good actress though she is, Sameera couldn't hold on any longer and burst out laughing, when she realised how worked up they'd all become because she'd sprung the news on them so suddenly. Obviously, her friends realised Sameera had succeeded in pulling a fast one on them.

Careful Sameera, watch out for these friends. After all, one good prank deserves another!

Shriya: 'I do not mind looking sexy but not vulgar'Dancing actor: Shriya has already worked for 22 Telugu and Tamil movies at (coincidentally) the age of 22 and will now make her debut in Bollywood with Emraan Hashmi in ‘Awaarapan’. However, Shriya’s motive was not to pursue a career in films but in dancing.

“With that intention I enrolled myself in kathak classes and received an offer to feature in a music video (‘Thirakti Kyon Hain Hawa Main’) which was shot in Benaras.” Soon after came an invitation to act in the Telugu film ‘Ishtun’ “Everything for me has come on a platter. People loved me in my first film and thereafter I kept getting more offers. I have never had to struggle to get films.”

Kissing tale: The outgoing Shriya hasn’t had the chance to experience Emraan’s kissing talent but wouldn’t have withdrawn if she would have had to. She says, “An actor has to emote well and maintain the thin line that exists between looking vulgar and looking sexy. I do not mind looking sexy but not vulgar.

If the kissing scene is presented well, there is no harm pulling it off. The same theory works while doing item numbers.”

Filmy girl: Films have always been Shriya’s passion. “I just see a lot of movies in my free time and do nothing else. I sleep, breathe, think movies. I am a total ‘filmoholic’.” To pursue a lucrative career in films, she gave up on her education. “I do regret that…but life had something else in store for me.”

After working with Rajnikant in ‘Shivaji’, Shriya now wants to dance with Hrithik Roshan and Madhuri Dixit. “Nobody can dance the way these two do. They are just fabulous!”

Suman's Career On Red Carpet From June 15th

Suman's get up as villain in the film 'Shivaji' is beyond impressive and giving positive signals in the public. Suman who was a successful hero in Telugu those days was trapped in a trouble and went far from screen for some time. After coming back, he did a few hero roles and slowly emerged as character actor.

Then he made his unique mark by portraying divine roles. Now with the initiative of director Shankar he was made a villain opposite Rajni Kanth in 'Shivaji'.

Film circles say that Suman's career graph goes to new heights after the release of the film 'Shivaji' on June 15th . We have to see how that works out.