Lindsay Lohan

From Kiss to Hiss: Mallika

Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is enjoying the company of snakes. The actress, who plays a snake-woman in her forthcoming film 'Hisss', brought real snakes to unveil the film at the ongoing 62nd Cannes Film Festival here.

"All the Sssnakes have just entered the Majestic Hotel in Cannes! Hissstory is being made:) (sic!)," Mallika wrote on her Twitter page.

"Headed to the Vanity Fair event at hotel Du Cap... For 2morro's Hisss event, @NuclearMango is gonna live-stream me and the Sssnakes:) (sic!)," she had written in an earlier post on the micro-blogging website.

Directed by Hollywood's Jennifer Lynch, the film also stars Irrfan Khan and Divya Dutta.

Mallika is also promoting her other new film, 'Love, Barack', which will be screened at the film festival.

A romantic comedy directed by Doug McHenryset, it is set during Barack Obama's campaign for the US Presidency and the shooting of the film was completed in Los Angeles last month.

Mallika is having a gala time at Cannes as she has found a new friend in Hollywood actress Salma Hayek, with whom she had dinner.

"Hung out last nite with my new friend Salma Hayek. Adore her!!" Mallika tweeted.

Hrithik Roshan in Imtiaz Ali`s next

Every producer aims for a cast and director that will deliver a blockbuster. While there are no guarantees in this industry, producer Sajid Nadiadwala has managed to get two very bankable talents together. He has signed Imtiaz Ali and Hrithik Roshan for his next film, a combination that many producers have been trying to broker for the last couple of years.

The film is scheduled to go on the floors early next year. Our source said, “Sajid Nadiadwala is the biggest producer in Bollywood today. After Housefull, he will be making the Hindi remake of South superhit Kick starring Salman Khan. His mega venture with Hrithik and Imtiaz follows Kick.

Incidentally, Sajid had signed Imtiaz immediately after Jab We Met and they have been planning the film for four years. Now, Hrithik has given the go ahead and the film will be the most expensive Bollywood production. The budget will be over Rs 100 crore as it’s a genre that has never been attempted before. It is a drama-based film and has its emotional moments. It will start as soon as Imtiaz is done with his film Rockstar with Ranbir and in all likelihood, the film will go on the floors in January-February next year.”

Even the parties involved are very optimistic about the outcome. The source added, “Imtiaz wanted to work with Hrithik immediately after Jab We Met. However, he went on to make Love Aaj Kal and now finally he is making the film with him.”

When contacted, Hrithik Roshan confirmed the news. On the other hand, Sajid Nadiadwala said, “It is true that I am making the film with Imtiaz Ali but I can’t comment on the casting as of now.”

Will Abhishek be third time lucky with Mani Ratnam?

Abhishek Bachchan's last two solo hero films have flopped and he has not been seen on screen for a while. But, then again, he is doing director Mani Ratnam's "Raavan" and the combination has never failed so far. Not surprisingly then, all eyes are on " Raavan ".

"The combination of Mani Ratnam and Abhishek is unbeatable. People are really looking forward to seeing them once again. With such a star cast and Mani Ratnam as director, the film is bound to work," said trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Made at a budget of about Rs.45 crore, "Raavan", also starring Aishwarya Rai and Vikram, is scheduled for a June 18 release.

Ratnam has played an important role in shaping Abhishek's career -- the director's " Yuva " established him as an actor and their second venture together, " Guru ", won him critical and commercial success.

In the last two years Abhishek hasn't had any hits - both his solo hero movies " Drona " and " Delhi 6 " bombed. Industry insiders feel " Raavan " might bail out the actor in the way as " Yuva " did in 2004 when he was under the weather after a string of flops.

"Mani Ratnam and Abhishek Bachchan will create a bigger magic with 'Raavan' than 'Yuva' and 'Guru'. Mani is an expert on dark themes and Abhishek pulls off such roles very well. 'Raavan' will do spectacular work," film critic Omar Qureshi said.

Abhishek bowed into Bollywood in 2000 with J.P. Dutta's "Refugee" and it was followed by duds like "Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya" (2000), "Dhai Akshar Prem Ke" (2000), "Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai" (2002), "Shararat" (2002), "Haan...Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya" (2002) and "Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost" (2003). All these films saw Abhishek playing romantic roles.

But it was rough, uncouth and ruthless goon Lallan Singh in Ratnam's 2004 movie "Yuva" that broke the jinx for Abhishek. Despite playing a negative role, he not only wowed critics but also impressed the audience.

After that there was no looking back for Abhishek. In the same year he scorched the box office with another hit, "Dhoom". His winning streak continued in 2005, when the actor gave four hits - "Bunty Aur Babli", "Sarkar", "Dus" and "Bluffmaster" and he also did a cameo in the hit film "Salaam Namaste".

"Before 'Yuva', Abhishek didn't have an actor kind of image. After 'Yuva', people were like, 'Oh my god! This guy can act.' But Mani sir was convinced that Abhishek can really do it," said a source on condition of anonymity.

Even Abhishek admits the film was a turning point in his career.

"I got 'Yuva' at a time when I really needed it. It boosted my confidence as an actor. I've evolved with Mani," Abhishek had said in an earlier interview.

Ratnam not only gave Abhishek pathbreaking roles but also presented him in dark roles.

In 2006, Abhishek teamed up again with Ratnam for "Guru", which was loosely based on business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani's life. He landed the nomination for Filmfare best actor award for his performance in the film.

"Raavan" will once again see Abhishek as a villain and a lot of emphasis has been laid on his looks and body language. The film has lots of action scenes and stunts.

"It took 200 days to shoot the film. And it was not shot at one stretch. The film was simultaneously made in Hindi and Tamil. And then Mani sir fell ill. But Abhishek didn't do any work for two years because of 'Raavan'. Both Abhishek and Vikram kept their dates free for 'Raavan' because they knew the film is good," said the source.

Ratnam, who loves shooting on real locations, filmed "Raavan" at places like the Athirapally forests in Kerala, Ooty in Tamil Nadu, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, and the Malshej Ghats in Maharashtra.

From diving from a 90-ft cliff into water to standing under a waterfall for two hours and braving snakes and leeches in Kerala's forests, Abhishek did it all for "Raavan".

"This is the most challenging film I have ever done in my life. I haven't done such a physically and emotionally challenging film in my life. And it's not about going to tough locations or tough scenes.

"The film drains you and you feel so good when you go home at night because you feel that you have done something. Getting a movie like 'Raavan' is so rare. You don't get such a role today," Abhishek has said.

With much hype surrounding the film, expectations are high and people are hoping that the Abhishek-Ratnam combo will strike bull's eye at the box office.

The Back-Up Plan

Film: The Back-Up Plan
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin
Genre: Romance
Direction: Alan Poul
Duration: 1 hour 42 minutes
Critic's Rating: 3 stars

Story: Jennifer Lopez needs a change in her life. She gives up her high profile corporate job, opens a pet shop, finds a sperm donor, goes in for artificial insemination and is all ready for single motherhood, until she meets Alex O'Loughlin, the cheese farmer with loads of charisma. Has she got the order wrong by becoming pregnant first and finding the man of her dreams later? Tough dilemma!

Movie Review: Sweet, sentimental and harmless fun, this rom-com gently cruises along the usual path of candle-lit romance, bedroom encounters, lover's brawls, passionate re-unions and some humour too, with a support group of single mothers trying to have fun in no-man's land.

Jennifer Lopez thinks she's got her life all neatly planned out with her pet shop, her disabled pet (an adorable dog), her spunky nana and her decision to be a single mother who buys a sperm off the shelf simply because she believes there are no perfect men left. Little does she know that life ain't exactly a bundle of neat plans. All the order in her life goes for a toss when she meets the hunky cheese farmer who sells goat cheese at a neighbourhood farmer's market and proposes to set up shops that sell local food only. Dream man, yes. But would he be ready to play daddy too? Specially when he isn't too sure that he likes kids and the friendly neighbourhood dad describes fatherhood as mostly an awful experience interspersed with some incredible moments.

It may be nothing to rave about, yet, The Back-Up Plan is good while it lasts, with Jennifer Lopez managing to hold your attention with her attempt at motherhood.