Now sci-fi Ramayana

MUMBAI: Producer Nitin Manmohan has come back for sci-fi seconds, using the Hindu epic Ramayana as a vehicle. “We wanted to do something new as we cannot always go on and on with love stories and family dramas,” said Manmohan.

His thriller, Rudraksh starring Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty is due for release on February 13. Dutt plays the role of Ram while Shetty enacts the character of the demon god Ravana.

Rudraksh retells the tale in a modern way, using special effects to create a mystic appeal. Hindu mythology has that Ravana was given a holy bead by the god Shiva which gave immense mystic powers to the demon king. In the movie, a Sri Lankan labourer (Shetty) happens to get hold of the bead and gains supernatural powers. Shetty said the film contains 75 minutes of special effects all done in India.

“Before starting work on the project, I read Ramayana at least 100 times. A lot of hard work has gone on this film,” said Dutt. — AFP

Adnan Sami to act

MUMBAI: He’s quite a performer on stage and music videos, and if all goes well, Adnan Sami might be doing a full length feature film. “I’ve just the role for him,” says writer-turned-director Saurav Shukla, who’s right now shooting his Dino Morea-Bipasha Basu psycho-thriller Chehra.

“I’ve narrated the script. Adnan is thinking about it. I think he’ll make a fabulous actor.” In Chehra, Dino is supposed to be extraordinarily good. And in Shukla’s Mudda: The Issue, which opens this Friday, Arya Babbar is completely revamped and reinvented in the role of a campus lout.

Kal Ho... goes international

MUMBAI: Kal Ho Naa Ho has added more feathers to its cap — it will be screened at film festivals in Germany and Russia. It has been selected for the Berlin International Film Festival and will also be screened at the film festival ‘Faces of Love’ that commences in Moscow on March 8.

The music has been busting charts, sweeping awards and now sales of the soundtrack have crossed the two million mark. The movie grossed a whopping £4,36,490 (approximately Rs 30 million) in its opening weekend from just 37 screenings in Britain.

‘Abhay’s Valentine wedding

MUMBAI: The lead actor of serials like Saara Aakash, Kkusum (plays Abhay) and Kuch Pal Saath Tumhara is all set for the most memorable Valentine bash of his life. Anuj Saxena is getting married to Ishmit Dhadial in an arranged match. The wedding will take place in Mumbai February 12 at J W Marriott Hotel. The reception will be on February 13 in Mumbai, that will be attended by a whole lot of celebrities.

And as soon as the clock strikes 12, it will be Valentine’s Day cum wedding party for the couple who plan to go to the Maldives for their honeymoon. Anuj says: “Ishmit is the right woman for me. She is down to earth besides being beautiful and intelligent. She personifies simplicity and has a wonderful sense of humour.” Ishmit says: “Anuj is a handsome individual who is very caring by nature.” She belongs to a reputed business family from Delhi.

Bebo rubbishes rumours

MUMBAI: Kareena can’t comprehend the rumours linking her with Shahid Kapoor. “How can I be having a relationship with him when I barely know him? We’ve bumped into one another a couple of times, including at the Enigma (nightclub in Mumbai) where he was with his friends and I was with mine.” A distressed Kareena continues: “Can’t two young single people have fun without the world jumping to conclusions? Too much is being made of me having signed two films with Shahid. But he’s the youngest hero we have and he needs to be cast with someone his age. That’s me. We have just started shooting together. So let’s not jump the gun, please.”