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Newsarchive July 2008
Jee Karda song makes Pagdis go out of stock
The song from "Singh Is Kinng", Jee Karda shot amidst the Egyptian pyramids is gradually becoming a chart topper. It has Akshay
chasing Katrina mouthing chaste Punjabi lyrics.
Its craze however is being experienced more in Ludhiana in Punjab. In fact, Akshay’s neon green pagdi has become a supercraze in the Punjab city and sell of this particular colour pagdi has shot up very high. Everyone is making a beeline for this pagdi. The local shopkeepers there are in for a pleasant surprise what with their pagdi sales reaching an all time high. One wonders such is a craze for this one song from Jee Karda now then what will happen once the film is released? There is a dialogue promo thats running of Akshay saying he likes to keep old things, hinting at his 3 day unchanged underwear. So will that be lapped up too? Jokes apart, the film is hot in the trade and the 3 weeks ahead opened advance booking in few cities to bumper response is giving a hint of what lies further!The only time one remembers a head gear becoming such a big craze was way back in 1991 and it was Aamir Khan’s “Captain” cap from Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahi that was selling like hot cakes what with everyone from masses to classes going crazy over it! Courtesy:
Realbollywood
Akshay Kumar locks horns with professional wrestlersAkshay Kumar loves to take on new challenges. For his movie "Singh Is Kinng", he matched his muscle power with professional wrestlers.And it was not just one wrestler but as many as eight Australian wrestlers from WWE with whom Akshay got to lock horns with. All the men were pretty brawny and beefed up. Needless to say Akshay bonded like a brother with the tough men. He talked about workouts, body-building and wrestling. There was even one wrestler who taught Akshay some tricks of arm wrestling. The action scene between Akshay and the wrestlers was shot in Australia. Surprisingly, some of the wrestlers already knew him as a Bollywood star and had even seen some of his movies. Akshay, who fought the WWF wrestler The Undertaker in his movie "Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi", did another very dangerous stunt for "Singh Is Kinng". In the stunt Akki jumps from one moving elevator to another at the height of about 110 feet. Well, only Akki could do something as crazy as that.Kumar is Kinng. What say? Courtesy:
Apunkachoice
The Kinng can do no wrong
Things could not have looked better for film producer Vipul Shah. His latest production, "Singh is Kinng", is all set to hit the
screens on August 8 amid unprecedented viewer interest.
"I should have patented the title of my film. After all, the media used the title "Singh is Kinng" when the Manmohan Singh-led government won the confidence vote recently," he quips. He has other reasons to feel happy. Some 2,000 prints of the film are ready to be shipped. The film cost him Rs 55 crore. Another 10 per cent was spent on marketing. Trade analysts say there is no way Shah can lose money on this venture. The music rights of the film were sold to Junglee Music (an arm of Times Music) for Rs 13.5 crore, the highest-ever in the Indian film industry. The music of the film, says Shah, is a big hit already. In less than a month 500,000 albums have been sold. The music is by Pritam, one of the most bankable (even if controversial) music directors in the industry today.The film, directed by Anees Bazmee, brings together the formidable onscreen pair of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. Though advance booking for the film is yet to open in theatres and multiplexes, reports suggest that a single-screen hall in Nagpur, Smruti Cinema, began advance booking for "Singh is Kinng" three weeks ago. "The feedback from exhibitors is that bulk-booking queries are pouring in," says Sandeep Bhargav, CEO, Indian Films, which acquired the worldwide rights for distribution of "Singh is Kinng" even before shooting began. "We are taking the film to territories like Russia, Spain and Belarus," adds Bhargava. According to him, 275 prints have been kept aside for overseas territories, while 2,000 prints have been reserved for Indian territories.The biggest reason why the film should be successful is Akshay Kumar. He has given hit films consistently and is now anchoring a popular reality programme on television called Khatron ke Khiladi. In fact, it was he who suggested the title after seeing it on the back of a truck. One of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood (he charges close to Rs 20 crore per film), his pairing with Shah and Bazmee has paid off handsomely in the past. While "Namastey London", a Rs 25-crore film, has collected Rs 110 crore so far, "Welcome", made at a budget of Rs 30 crore, collected Rs 130 crore. "Waqt", Shah’s second film with Akshay Kumar, garnered Rs 4 crore in the overseas market alone, while collecting Rs 7.5 crore from just the Mumbai territory. Shah says: "Both Katrina and Akshay Kumar have grown as one of the best onscreen pairs in our industry. People say that they’re like Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, another bankable onscreen pair." Katrina is now one of the highest-paid actresses in the industry. It is learnt that Akshay Kumar did not charge his full fee for "Singh is Kinng".Bhargava adds: "We know that Anees, Vipul, Akshay Kumar and Katrina have worked well in different films. This time around, they’ve projected Akshay differently." By the looks of it, "Singh is Kinng" looks like a winner already. How far the buzz translates into a great opening, we’ll find out soon. Courtesy:
Business Standard
Who's trying to sabotage Akshay Kumar's image!Some ill wisher of Akshay Kumar has been sending a derogatory SMS about the star to Bollywood personalities.Today, Akshay has reached the top spot in Hindi film industry and is said to be commanding the highest acting fee in Bollywood. But this super-success of Akki doesn’t seem to be going well with some people. One such person has been sending defaming messages about Akshay to directors and producers in Bollywood. The message claims that
Akshay has inflated his market price artificially by some clever maneuvering.
The message reads thus: The message was reportedly sent from a prepaid number in Delhi to about 30 Bollywood personalities including Sajid Khan, Sajid Nadiadwala, Ratan Jain, Ritesh Sidhwani and Vipul Amrutlal Shah. From the content of the message it is clear that the sender is well informed about trade figures and is probably an industry insider or someone close to Akshay who wishes him ill. Courtesy:
Apunkachoice
Singh Is truly the King
"Singh Is King" is supposed to release on 8th of August 2008 but its advance booking has already commenced three weeks ahead of
its release date. If the initial response is to go by then the team of Akshay Kumar-Katrina-Vipul Shah-Anees Bazmee already have
a winner in their hands.
A cinema hall in Nagpur, Smruti Cinema has begun the advance booking three weeks ahead of the film’s actual release date and on its opening booking day itself the last show (9 p.m one) has got housefull in a matter of few hours of opening the ticket window. The rest shows for the opening first three days are on the verge of getting housefull as well. This should make the distributors of the film really happy that the heavy price they have paid for the film will definately not result in a loss. It is extremely rare that a film’s advance booking opens three weeks in advance in India and "Singh Is Kinng" is definately proving that it definately worth it all. There is a lot of hype surrounding the film already and if one goes by the record of recent big releases that were all hype but no show, "Singh Is Kinng" will definately emerge as the King of the box office. Akshay Kumar’s winning run of six back to back hits was halted by the flopping of "Tashan" and "Singh Is Kinng" it seems shall get him back on his hot run at the box office. Courtesy:
Realbollywood
Sylvester Stallone gels with Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar
Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone got along very well with Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar during the shooting of "Kambakkth Ishq".
Producer Sajid Nadiadwala created history earlier this week by getting the ‘Rocky’ and ‘Rambo’ star to shoot for his film in Los Angeles. The movie, directed by a first timer, has Akshay playing a stuntman in Hollywood, while Kareena plays his love interest. On Sunday, Stallone began shooting for his cameo in the film. One of the scenes he shot had him saving Kareena from a lethal situation. It was an action-packed sequence choreographed by Hollywood stunt director Spiro Razatos. Bebo was so visibly excited about shooting with Stallone that she seemed like a kid in a candy store.Akshay, on the other hand, was more poised and engaged in several lengthy conversations with Stallone, mostly about films and body-building. Stallone was particularly impressed by the fact that Akshay is a teetotaler and doesn’t do conventional gym exercises to maintain his physique. Stallone was also impressed by Akshay’s holistic, disciplined lifestyle – healthy diet, early-to-bed-early-to-rise, and avoiding any allopathic medicine.Nadiadwala says Stallone was a thorough professional on the sets. He arrived on time and shot his scenes as per the pre-planned schedule. In between, he mingled with the film’s cast and crew as well. Courtesy:
Apunkachoice
Akshay rides on a wing and a prayer
In a scene reminiscent of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond (with the lovely Michele Yeoh) riding a motorcycle across buildings and
over the whirring rotors of a helicopter in Tomorrow Never Dies, our Akshay Kumar daringly flew a jet ski through a hovering helicopter
in Anees Bazmi’s "Singh is Kinng".
It is, without exception, the most complicated and expensive action sequence in the history of Indian cinema. Four choppers and a safety net held by 50 were used to perform the stunt in which Akshay rode the high-speed jet ski through the chopper as if it was a tunnel. The other choppers shot the scene from different angles. Hollywood’s action director Danny Baldwin, who made "The Last Samurai" with Tom Cruise and "The Ghost And The Darkness" with Michael Douglas, orchestrated the complicated sequence. Akshay, who doesn’t bat a eyelid about doing such feats, confessed that this stunt did make him a bit nervous."I love doing my own stunts and don’t use a body double," the daredevil admitted, "but this one was the toughest so far. Danny made sure that all the safety measures were taken before we actually got into the shot." Courtesy:
Times of India
The uncrowned Kinng of Bollywood
He is clearly the man of the moment in Bollywood. Akshay Kumar, whose winning run at the box office started in 2007 is fast becoming
a brand with an appeal that threatens to displace the Khan trio. Though the new year began with a turkey like "Tashan" the one
star ratings the film managed were solely due to Kumar's portions in the film.
The box office king:But Kumar's current status in the industry is too big to be affected by one "Tashan". His next two releases "Singh Is Kinng" and "Chandni Chowk To China" are the most talked about projects in town. The films have been shot on a lavish scale and are setting new records in the distribution circles. He is also cleverly forming his own camp with low profile but hardcore commercial directors such as Vipul Shah, Anees Bazmee and Priyadarshan.Mr diplomat:Though Akshay Kumar's obvious rival is Shah Rukh Khan, he has always been very diplomatic in his conduct when talking about competition. Not wanting to displease anyone, Kumar also bailed out the Bachchans at the last minute when no other top star was willing to board The Unforgettable flight to North America and Europe.Kumar, Kumar everywhere:Off screen too Kumar is slowly making inroads into the Khan domain. He is already endorsing half a dozen products form soft drinks to suits. And just when SRK and Salman were making news by charging astronomical amounts for their game shows, Kumar gave the knock out punch by demanding a cool Rs 1.5 crore per episode for his reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi.So wherever you go you cannot escape the Akshay Kumar impact. From hoardings to newspapers to radio stations to TV channels - You just cant ignore Bollywood's newest Kinng. Courtesy:
Buzz 18
Bappida's remixed version of 'Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost'Remember the chartbuster track 'Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost Dost Ko Salaam Karo' in the film Aap Ki Khatir in 1977? After 21 years, Bappi Lahiri has re-created, re-structured and re-vitalized that old Mumbai song for Akshay Kumar in Nikhil Advani's "Chandni Chowk To China."Bappi-da just can't stop that top-of-the-whirl feeling. "See, songs about Mumbai and me go back a long way. I did 'Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost' so many years ago. Then recently, I did 'Bambai Nagariya' for Milan Luthria's Taxi No 9211, music which was composed by Vishal-Shekhar. Now when Nikhil Advani asked for a re-mix of my Aap Ki Khatir song, I took it up a challenge. I've just one track while the rest of the score is by others (Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Kailash Kher)." While the basic structure of the original song remains unaltered, Bappi has tampered with the rhythm sections. However, the word Bambai has not been changed to a more politically correct Mumbai. "It's a song .Where does politics come into it?"Bappida says the track has turned out far better than it used to be. "I've given it a new-age sound. And Akshay Kumar performing it will take it to another level. Courtesy:
India FM
Akshay inspires 13 Hasinas to chant 'Gayatri Mantra'It's said that the most powerful word in the Universe is 'Om'. And seconding this is none other than Bollywood's very own Box-Office darling: Akshay 'Khiladi' Kumar. Akki is all set to prove that he is equally the darling of telly-land too, with his new show 'Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi' that will be aired on the soon to-be launched T.V. channel 'Colors'. For starters, 'Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi' is the Indian version of Fear Factor. And to give Akshay 'beautiful' company, are 13 heavenly beauties, to whom Akki has taught the most vibrant and powerful Gayatri Mantra, that they recite before the commencement of each dangerous stunt. Akshay Kumar recited the prayer to encourage the participants to increase their inner self- belief and make them fearless while performing death-defying stunts in South Africa. Way to go, Akki baba! Courtesy:
India FM
"Singh is Kinng"'With big power comes bigger responsibility'
b) Vipul Shah and Akshay Kumar. Together they have given "Aankhen", "Waqt" and "Namastey London". "Singh Is Kinng" is undoubtedly their biggest and most prestigious project together. c) The Anees Bazmee factor. He has a superhit "No Entry" and a blockbuster "Welcome" with Akshay. The expected super-success of "Singh Is Kinng" should bring Bazmee the entertainer, into a different league altogether.d) Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif. After an average runner like "Humko Deewana Kar Gaye", they haven't set a foot wrong either with "Namastey London" or "Welcome". Move over Priyanka Chopra, Katrina is the new darling of the nation when it comes to being paired with Akshay Kumar! e) Title of the film—with one masterstroke, Akshay and company have attacked a bulk of the mass audience across the globe. There is no reason why a catchy title like this shouldn't promise a blockbuster start for the film across India, UK and USA.f) And, of course, Pritam, the man who is entrusted with the responsibility of creating music for the biggest film of his career so far. After a smash 2007, he has "Race" and "Jannat" ruling the charts for months now. Along with one of his favourite lyricists Mayur Puri, he must have been under huge pressure to deliver a kind of score which would cut across boundaries, work amongst all age groups and turn out to be a true-blue commercial masala entertainer. Does the team deliver? Does the album meet the sky-high expectations? Does it justify all the hype surrounding it? Does it guarantee a success for those who have invested crores in the music and the film? Does it turn out to be a true 'paisa vasool' entertainer?The answer to that is, as you would have guessed by now, a solid YES! Thump. Now that's sheer thump what you witness in the title song Singh Is Kinng that marks the opening of the album. The song in picture is not the one which is currently on promos (the Pritam version) but the much-hyped Snoop Dogg version. A RDB track composed by Calvin Broadus with Surjeet Singh, Manjeet Ral and Kuljeet Ral, Singh Is Kinng is one such chartbuster number that ensures that you don't have to worry much about what would follow next. And that's quite a saying considering the fact that the 5 tracks to follow are composed by Pritam which itself promises an entertaining ride. However, sheer beats which accompany Singh Is Kinng (which brilliantly amalgamates Western and Indian style) make this number deserving enough to be heard and seen on the big screen, let aside your own state-of-art home theatre/music system. It's the power in the composition which ensures that the song is a chartbuster in the first listening itself. Now the wait begins for the music video of this track which one expects to be a nothing short of being brilliant considering it also sees Akshay Kumar singing a few Punjabi lines in the middle of the proceedings. Does he do well? Oh yes, of course he does.From here on Pritam takes over and his tracks from this point ensures that it doesn't turn out to be the situation that one saw last in Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (remember how Himesh Reshammiya's title song version had camouflaged the remainder of the album which was composed by Anu Malik?). In case of Singh Is Kinng, that won't be the case as Pritam gives a great account of himself and creates a sound that keeps the Punjabi flavour of Singh Is Kinng intact. 
This is very much visible in his song Jee Karda which has one of his favourite and most successful singer Labh Jan Jua. But before
his arrival it is Suzie Q who steals the scene with her English rendition. It is a trademark Pritam sound that opens Jee Karda
which soon brings the Punjabi flavour on. While Labh pumps up the jam and in the process gives Akshay yet another hit song, Suzie
Q continues to make her presence felt and adds on to the cute-sexy-glamorous image of Katrina.
This is followed by the Hyacinth created 'remix version' which requires just 30 seconds to establish itself into the collection of the season for all up market DJs. If the original came with its own thump, this one only takes the effect forward and makes sure that if a dance floor is unavailable, you won't mind hopping on to your car and hitting the highway for a long ride! Now this one throws in a surprise. Pritam composed title song Bas Ek Kinng isn't half as enthralling on being heard on TV. But hear it on a high volume on a music system and chances are good that the number would leave you on a high. The comparisons are obvious and the fact also remains that the Snoop Dogg title song is indeed better than this one but by itself, Bas Ek Kinng does turn out to be a number which would make an impression on the big screen.Yet another number which has the 'thump' factor keeping the album's mood upbeat, it has singers of varied sensibilities—Mika Singh, Neeraj Sridhar, Ashish Pandit and Hard Kaur (for rap)—coming together! In fact, the way Hard Kaur begins her rap for the 'remix version'; you know that it is going to be indeed different from the routine remixes. Termed as a 'Tiger Style Mix', this one turns out to be a better version and one now waits to see if the makers would opt for yet another music video here! Welcome to the North belt and the areas dominated by Punjabi in overseas! Daler Mehendi's Bhootni Ke is so rooted to the Punjabi folks that one wonders whether Pritam had perhaps resided in Punjab to truly imbibe the culture, mood, folk and flavour of the state in his sound and then create the song! This one is foot tapping from the word 'Go' and is about a bunch of friends teasing the groom on his marriage. Mayur Puri's lyrics are perfect as per the situation and are witty while giving Pritam enough fodder to make sure that the song doesn't come with a single dull moment. Let the song's promotion begins and it should soon find a place amongst marriage processions and other festivities, at least up North!Later DJ Amyth arrives with his 'remix version' of the song and transports the song from the fields of Punjab to the discotheques in metros! Yes, this one works too! Surprisingly, after all the 'josh' created successfully by Daler Mehendi, the makers also incorporate a 'Tiger Style Mix' version by Mika. However, one wonders if this was indeed required as Daler version was in any case a winner and though in isolation the Mika version would have worked too, here it turns out to be 'just another' version! It's a complete about turn after four dance numbers with the arrival of romantic Teri Ore. If you have liked Bol Na Halke Halke (Jhoom Barabar Jhoom) and Falak (Tashan), then chances are quite high that you would love Teri Ore which has Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shreya Ghoshal proving yet again that they are an unmatchable couple when it comes to delivering a romantic duet. The duo takes the listeners to the interiors of India which is distanced from the hustle-bustle of the city life and makes this well written Mayur Puri track a delightful hearing.Not to leave the urban audience behind, Clinton and Eric Pillai arrive with their own 'Lounge Mix' version and create a setting which would allow you to settle down on a couch with dim lights, a candle dinner and a bottle of wine! Yet again Shreya Ghoshal and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan demonstrate their standing in the music scene and ensure that when it comes to singing, it is sheer quality that attracts them! 
Pritam's lucky mascot Neeraj Sridhar arrives in the very end with whom he has given countless hits till date. This time around it's
the time to get into a club with a demand for a drink and getting high while singing Talli Hua. With Labh Janjua for company,
Sridhar's Talli Hua (that again has a strong Punjabi flavour) may not turn out to be another Teri Aankhen Bhool Bhulaiyaa but still
manage a good standing for itself to make Singh Is Kinng an overall package album that would be lapped up in dozens by the masses.
A club number about friends making merry, it later sees a Jay Dhabi Mix version with Style Bhai arriving after a long time with his rap. The add-on effect only aids in keeping the tempo high for this album that more or less stays consistent in the kind of sound which it brings with it. "Singh Is Kinng" boasts of being a chartbuster album—there are no doubts around it. While the Bas Ek Kinng is already popular, the Snoop Dogg version of Singh Is Kinng would register tremendous hype for the film and the album once it is out. Bhootni Ke and Jee Karda are sure shot chartbusters which wouldn't take much time to be grabbed by the masses while Teri Ore and Talli Hua have all in it to be popular once the film releases and is accepted by the audience.The album is another highlight of Pritam's career and would ensure that his super-success run continues. "Singh Is Kinng" could have taken a bumper start at the music stands had it seen a uniform release across the globe. Since it has seen a scattered release both within and outside the country, it may not open at the #1 position that it truly deserves. However, in a week's time once the album is available all over, it would be time for the music company to uncork the champagne once it starts ruling the charts all over. Courtesy:
Sify
Mishap averted on the sets of "Blue"Ashtavinayak Cinevision's upcoming project "Blue" directed by Anthony D'Souza recently faced a dangerous situation out there while shooting in the Bahamas. Apparently the sequence involved Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar and the Cameraman Peter Zuccarini and required a ship to be blasted!!Utmost precautions were taken and Sanjay, Akshay & the cameraman were 50 feet underwater filming the sequence. But even after such extreme care being taken, due to the underwater conditions, the blast went a little out of control! It was a harrowing moment for the entire team, but luckily the Cameraman used his presence of mind and got Sanjay, Akshay and himself out of this risky episode quickly. Back on shore, they thanked their luck for such a narrow escape."Blue" touted to be the most expensive film so far comprises Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan and promises spectacular stunts & breathtaking underwater sequences. Courtesy:
Glamsham
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The saying fits perfectly for a film like "Singh Is Kinng". Reasons are aplenty, the stakes are really-really high and expectations
have been unparalleled. Wanna reiterate the reasons? Well, the list is long. Read on.