Kareena Kapoor takes some 'Time Out'

An Englishman once said to his beloved that "I love you not because you are beautiful, you are beautiful because I Love you." We are sure of the fact that if the same man must have seen the sizzling Kareena Kapoor on the cover of the latest edition of the leading magazine Time Out Mumbai, his mind would have simply stop functioning before even coming up with such words. Because of the only reason the name Kareena is good enough for someone to fall in love with instantly!

Kareena Kapoor Videos | Saif Ali Khan

Well, we are indeed talking about the ever-so-sizzling diva of good looks and romance Kareena Kapoor, in (one of her vivacious best) gracing the magazine cover. Needless to say that the cover itself is so inviting that you will curse yourself for having not got a copy of the same!

What's so special about this interview is that Kareena speaking about her childhood days with sister Karisma, how they used to travel by school bus and local trains. Their mother Babita's single handed upbringing, and even about Saif that he has to come to meet her as she is too shoestring tied about time. We do not blame you for that, Kareena. Everyone wants to have a little of your Tashan in their lives.

One last piece of advice to the Englishman to please rephrase his words as the following: "Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for Beauty is God's Handwriting."

Aishwarya enters the good book of Ramu

Ram Gopal Varma doesn't know who Rebecca Mark is or what Enron is. Rebbeca had resigned from Enron in 2000 after a series of failed infrastructure investments that eventually cost the company more than $2 billion.

Enron's Dabhol project in Maharashtra was the centre of a major controversy and grabbed headlines.

In a chat with Ramu we catch up on what Rebecca Mark means to Ramu and why Ash stunned the filmmaker:

The buzz is that Aishwarya's character in Sarkar Raj is based on Rebecca Mark of Enron.

I have no idea what Enron is. I thought it made pens, because my knowledge of such things is limited. I have no idea what Rebbeca was doing.

Just because Rebecca is a woman in some project it's simpler to put her as some character in Sarkar Raj. In the film we are dealing with a family that deals with politics and rules the state.

Obviously there are going to be strong references to issues that the government deals with like industries, projects, slums - so whatever it is there is bond to be some reference there.

The story is fictional and has nothing to do with anything happening now or what has happened before.

Among the three Bachchans who is the best in the film?
I take both Amitabh and Abhishek for granted so for me, Aishwarya came as a complete shock. I never thought she was a good or bad actress. Her beauty comes so much in the forefront that you don't tend to see beyond it.

I needed someone with her looks for the role and I was sure I could make her act. But I was completely taken aback when I saw her on the sets. She completely fit into the rugged, raw realism of the character, almost like a fish takes to water. I am personally most impressed with her.

Sarkar was based on Godfather. Is SR based on Godfather 2?
No. Sarkar Raj has got nothing to do with Godfather 2. The original Sarkar was definitely influenced by Godfather. Sarkar Raj is about how a man like that, over a period of time, becomes part of so many complex situations.

It's also about incidents that happen and how he deals with them. I would call it the further adventures of the Nagre family. It's like watching an Ekta Kapoor serial where you don't compare episodes - once you get hooked on to the characters you flow with them. The scale of SR is much larger and not so simplistic as the first plot.

Are you nervous about Sarkar Raj?
I never get nervous or excited about any film that I make. My job as a filmmaker is to do it the best way I can. If you keep being sensitive to what all everyone's saying, then it's very difficult to survive or exist. The moment the mixing of the film is over, I don't think about that film - no matter what!

Deadly trio of Bollywood return for good

Priyadarshan, Akshaye Khanna and Paresh Rawal had quite some fun working together in Hungama and Hulchul. And though Paresh Rawal continued to be in the scheme of things for Priyadarshan (Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa), there was a little gap before Akshaye returned to have some more 'masti' to his name. Come June and the trio would be setting the house on fire with Mere Baap Pehle Aap which is already creating some curiosity, courtesy with it's catchy title.

Why a title like Mere Baap Pehle Aap?

Says our source connected to the film, "The film is about this bachelor boy, played by Akshaye Khanna, who loves his widower father (Paresh Rawal) to such an extent that he wants him to get married again. Such is the relationship he shares with his father that he wants the latter to get married even before he himself finds his lady love. Hence the call of 'mere baap pehle aap'."

She adds, "In spite of an age difference between the two, they had an amazing comfort level working with each other. Complimenting each other on their scenes together, they ensured that Mere Baap Pehle Aap was an experience worth remembering. You would agree after watching the film that the camaraderie they share is simply phenomenal."

There are also talks about Om Puri doing an item song in the film. How much of that is true? "Yes, Om ji has donned gone all out in making sure that his item number stands out. In any case, whenever he has come together with Priyan, there is an extra zing in his performance. Remember Hera Pheri and Malamaal weekly? Even though it is not the first time that Om ji has done an item number (he had put his dancing shoes on for King of bollywood), the one that he has done for Mere Baap Pehle Aap would be remembered for quite some time."

Coming back to the lead protagonists of the film, audience is expecting nothing but the best considering Priyadarshan, Akshaye and Paresh are coming together after a hiatus. Giving a vote of approval, the source says, "Audience can be rest assured that they would have all the fun the moment film's screening begins. The camaraderie shared by Akshaye Khanna and Paresh Rawal is phenomenal. Their relationship is so real and yet it brings on so much laughs."

Exclusive: Sarkar Raj Movie Preview

“Power cannot be given…it has to be taken,” says the punchline of Ram Gopal Varma’s film ‘Sarkar Raj’.

The movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in leading roles.
Don’t miss the film’s slideshow (story in pictures) at Sarkar Raj .

While Sarkar was inspired from Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’, ‘Sarkar Raj’ has nothing to do with ‘Godfather 2’. It also does not take off from where ‘Sarkar’ ended. In Ram Gopal Varma ’s words, ‘Sarkar Raj’ is about a new episode, full of political adventure, in the life of the Nagre family.

Characters:

Amitabh Bachchan as Sarkar
Big B plays Sarkar or Subhash Nagre, whom the people regard as their messiah. Having come up the hard way, he knows the pulse of his people and does what he thinks is best for them…law and system be damned.

Abhishek Bachchan as Shankar Nagre
Shankar is a management graduate from the US. He has been helping his father (Sarkar) in his services to the people. He is shown in the film as a sophisticated individual with leadership skills in politics. He desires to bring business and prosperity to his land and the common people.

Aishwarya Rai as Anita Rajan
Anita is an aggressive and highly ambitious business woman from London. She will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She unwittingly unleashes a vicious war between the forces of tradition and progress.

Synopsis:

The film is an intense political drama and is essentially a study of power. It explores the politics of development and takes a fresh look at the tradition versus modernity debate.

When Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai), CEO of Sheppard Power Plant, an international company, brings a power plant proposal to set up in rural Maharashtra before the Nagres, an insightful Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) is quick to realize the benefits the power plant can bring to the people.

After convincing Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan), who is against it for various reasons, Shankar undertakes a journey along with Anita to the villages of Maharashtra to mobilize support from the masses.

However, things are not what they seem to be and Shankar’s dream project gradually becomes a political minefield.

It is against this backdrop, evil forces mightier than ever, gang up together to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Sarkar’s name from political horizon.

‘Sarkar Raj’ is Ash and Abhi’s first film together after their marriage last year. Incidentally, the film’s first look was unveiled on April 20, 2008, which was also their first wedding anniversary.

Interestingly, Ash and Abhi are ideologically pitted against each other in the film. He believes in making money for the people. While Aishwarya’s character believes in making money from the people.

‘Sarkar Raj’ is produced by Praveen Nishcol and Ram Gopal Varma. The film’s story is written by Prashant Pandey and its music is by Bappi-Tutul. The background music is by Amar Mohile.

‘Sarkar Raj’ is set to release in June, 2008.