Katrina most profitable actress of 2010

Ajay Devgn and Katrina Kaif will be crowned the most profitable actors of 2010 at the 'ETC Bollywood Business Awards 2010 - Evaluating Movie Moghuls' today (December 28). First timer Abhinav Kashyap will get the most profitable director trophy.

On evaluating the industry players on the basis of return on investment for the first time, the actors have won the top spots after the economic quotient of their movies was taken into consideration as a cornerstone for mapping their success.

"Figures talk, you cannot manipulate it, you cannot play games with it," said Ajay, who has had six releases this year including 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?' 'Raajneeti', 'Golmaal 3', and 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai' and except 'Aakrosh' and 'Toonpur Ka Superhero', all his movies did good business.

The research done by ETC indicated that Indian audiences paid a cumulative sum of Rs.282 crore to watch Ajay's films throughout the year vis-a-vis Rs.142 crore to watch Katrina's 'Raajneeti' and 'Tees Maar Khan'.

Breaking all records is Salman Khan starrer 'Dabangg' that has been named as the top grosser of the year. Debut director Abhinav Kashyap bagged the most profitable director trophy for the corrupt cop saga with audiences paying a cumulative sum of over Rs.140 crore to watch his film.

"It is a fair assessment of the recipient's work and his popularity and mass appeal," said Arbaaz Khan, winner of the most successful producer for 'Dabangg'.

This will be the first time in India where an initiative has sought to recognize even the marketers, distributors, production houses and exhibitors on the basis of business the industry has generated in 2010.

"All those who represent the industry, actors, musicians and directors have only been judged on creative parameters. No one had thought of evaluating them on how much business they had generated," Anurag Bedi, business head, ETC, said.

"Such an evaluation will bring forward the workings of Bollywood as an industry," he added.

The ceremony also has first time categories such as marketing (best marketed film of the year - 'My Name Is Khan'), distribution (special award for film distribution) and promotion (most successful banner/corporate house/production house of the year), among others.

While the award for the most profitable multiplex chain of the year goes to PVR Cinemas, the most successful small-budget film of the year trophy will be handed over to 'Peepli Live'. Corporate house of the year is Shree Ashtvinayak Cinevison Ltd.

The ceremony will also recognise the most successful Hollywood film of the year with 'Inception' taking centrestage.

"ETC Bollywood Business Awards 2010 - Evaluating Movie Moghuls" will aired December 28 at 8.30pm on ETC channel.

Maintain peace after Ayodhya verdict, urges Bollywood

Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor joined several other Bollywood stars to urge Indians to maintain peace and harmony once the Ayodhya verdict is out.

"We are known for our unity. If you disagree with the verdict please don't resort to violence. There are peaceful methods to resolve it. Please maintain peace and order," Ranbir said at a press conference.

Priyanka added: "Whatever may be the verdict, we should maintain peace and harmony as it is a very important day for India."

The release of their 'Anjaana Anjaani' had been postponed from September 24 to October 1 in view of the verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi title suit case that the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court was due to deliver on that day.

The Supreme Court Thursday deferred this till Sep 28.

Ranbir and Priyanka were joined by Farhan Akhtar, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor and Sophie Choudhary, filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Sajid Khan and producers Sajid Nadiadwala and Ritesh Sidhwani.

In his appeal, Farhan said: "We should stay together and shouldn't let down the reputation of our country. The media should report responsibly and should not sensationalise anything."

Additional Police Commissioner (Mumbai-West) Amitabh Gupte was also present at the press conference.

He said: "On behalf of the Mumbai police, I am thankful to the film industry as they have come forward for this cause. On behalf of the Mumbai police, I would request Maharashtra and the rest of India to maintain the law and order after the verdict."

Sweets on the sets on Double Dhamaal

Ajay Devgn's mom sent laddoos to the sets of Double Dhamaal in celebration of the birth of her grandson.

While Ajay Devgn prefers to play down the celebrations around the birth of his second child, his folks have no such qualms.

The actor's mom Veena Devgn sent boxes of sweets over to the sets of Indra Kumar's Double Dhamaal on Tuesday. It was her way of announcing the birth of her grandson.

Says a source, "As Ajay's buddy Sanjay Dutt was shooting for Double Dhamaal in Mehboob Studios, she sent across boondi ke laddoos for everyone on the sets. The gesture took the unit by surprise."

The source adds, "Sanjay was one of the first to arrive at the hospital to call on Kajol and Ajay after the baby boy was born. In any case, the rest of the cast of Double Dhamaal as well as director Indra Kumar have an old association with Ajay."

The cast, which includes Kangna Ranaut, Riteish Deshmukh, Aashish Chowdhry, Jaaved Jaafri and Mallika Sherawat, tucked into the laddoos during lunch break.

Devgn's publicist confirms, "Sweets were sent to the Double Dhamaal sets."

Kajol delivered a baby boy on Monday morning at Lilavati Hospital. Nysa, 7, is Ajay and Kads' firstborn.

Golmaal 3 poster out

Though a working poster made by the production folk had been doing the rounds, here is the real deal.

Here's a dekho of the poster of Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3 that stars Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu. The film is slated to release on November 5.

Kajol, Ajay have a baby boy

Kajol gave birth to a baby boy early today (September 13) seven years after her daughter Nysa was born.

Kajol and Ajay Devgn got married in 1999.

Kajol, who recently featured as a doting mother in Karan Johar's 'We Are Family', gave birth to the child at 9.20am at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, a source close to the couple said.

And the wishes started pouring in from Kajol and Ajay's B'wood buddies instantly.

Shah Rukh Khan posted on his Twitter page: Bringing life on earth is the most beautiful gift of God. Allah bless Ajay & Kajol with happiness & health. Son of a devgun wow masha allah.

Priyanka Chopra said: It's amazing when a new life comes into the world.. Congrats Ajay and kajol on the birth of ur baby boy.."

Arshad Warsi added: "God bless the little rock star that has come into the lives of Ajay n Kajol, love the Devgan family..."

Riteish Deshmukh wrote: Congratulations to Ajay and Kajol. A baby boy arrives!"

Ajay posted later on his Twitter page, "Thanks everyone for ur blessings and good wishes. I have conveyd d same to my family."

Kajol takes credit for Ajay's success

Kajol has just celebrated her birthday and her husband Ajay Devgn has just had a big success in 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai', and the actress says she can take some credit for her husband's success.

"Don't you think I've trained him very well?" her voice sparkles with mischief, pride and pleasure when told that she has a hand in Devgn's makeover.

"Seriously, it does make a difference whom you are married to. The influence in a marriage works both ways. I credit my husband with a lot of what has happened in my career. And I take some credit for his success. He won't mind," said Kajol, who turned 35 Aug 5.

"The celebrations in my family started much before my birthday. When Ajay and the team of 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai' saw the collections for the first three days, they were jumping with joy."

And then she spent her birthday with the people who matter the most to her.

"I like my family. I like being with them. Unlike most people I've no issues with my family. My mother (actress Tanuja) and sister (Tanisha) came over for my birthday. We had lunch and a pooja. That was it," she said.

About to be mom all over again, Kajol admits working on 'We Are Family' after her pregnancy did impede her as an actress.

"It was just that one last song 'Jailhouse Rock' where I was pregnant. They were very considerate. They changed the steps for me. Earlier, there was quite a lot of jumping and hopping in my steps which I told them I couldn't do. It was very sweet of them to comply."

She agrees that the roles doing justice to her presence are not that frequent.

"At the end of the day it's all about how much justice you do to what's given to you. I need a good producer and a director, like Karan Johar. A film works only when everyone gives his or her best."

Ajay's new car-nquest!

Actor Ajay Devgn recently bought a costly convertible; it's a car that he is very possessive about and won't let anyone else drive

It's a case of real life imitating reel life. On the eve of his film One Upon A Time In Mumbaai's release, Ajay Devgn, who owns a fleet of expensive cars, has bought himself a BMW Z4. Incidentally, his character in the film, Sultan Mirza also loves fast cars.

A source close to the actor reveals, "It is a silver convertible with red interiors. AJ is so possessive about his new car that he drives it around himself, and won't part with the keys."

Says OUATIM director Milan Luthria, "He's very passionate about his cars. Ajay was one of the first actors to get a silver-grey Honda during Naajayaz. That's the first film we had worked on together, when I was assisting Bhattsaab. During Kachche Dhaage, he was driving a Landcruiser.

We stopped at a petrol pump while driving out of Mumbai for the shoot. The attendant was so awestruck by Ajay that he put petrol instead of diesel! We had to wait for a mechanic to repair the car but till he came, Ajay refused to leave his car. A crowd of over 50,000 people came to gawk at him but Ajay sat unfazed. That's how possessive he is about his cars."

MOVIE REVIEW: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai

The fascination with gangster movies has been immense worldwide. On this side of the Atlantic, several gangster films have left giant footprints on the sands of time. Films like DEEWAAR [Yash Chopra], DHARMATMA [Feroz Khan], NAYAKAN [Mani Ratnam], ANGAAR [Shashilal Nair], PARINDA [Vidhu Vinod Chopra], AGNEEPATH [Mukul Anand], SATYA and COMPANY [Ramgopal Varma], VAASTAV [Mahesh Manjrekar], GANGSTER [Anurag Basu], D [Vishram Sawant] and SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA [Apoorva Lakhia] have tremendous recall value to this day.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI recreates an era that so many of us have left behind and for those who arrived on this planet post 80s, I am sure, they must have visited the era through some medium or the other, mainly movies and internet or during their academic careers.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is not part of history, but it attempts to portray on celluloid tales that are now considered legendary, that continue to make news to this date. Of course, the disclaimer claims that it bears no resemblance to a particular person, but you can't help but draw parallels with real-life characters. It could be a coincidence, though!

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is a fascinating story that talks of how the mafia came into force for the first time in Mumbai. A thriller that depicts the crime scenario in Mumbai during the 70s and 80s. The rise to power of two young boys, in different age-groups, who grew up to 'rule' the streets of Mumbai.

Since there's tremendous speculation in the media that ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI chronicles the lives of Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim, the curiosity to watch the film increases manifold. Of course, I am no one to comment if it's actually based on their lives or merely borrows a few incidents from their lives or is pure fiction, but as a cinematic experience, I couldn't help getting transported to the bygone era, getting sucked into a world I had no clue of.

Besides the gangster chapter, one enjoys this film also because of its riveting drama and the power play. It could've been set anywhere, in the corporate world, in politics, in the film industry. Anywhere. The rise and subsequent fall of the King and the emergence of the Prince as the super power is what makes this film a compelling watch. The icing on the cake is the magical and lilting song compositions that are juxtaposed so beautifully in the goings-on. On the sidelines of the power play, a game of hearts is being played and that's what makes ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI a wholesome movie experience.

Final word? ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is not to be missed. Set everything aside this coming weekend and watch this one. Strongly recommended!

The film, set primarily in 1970s Mumbai, follows the rise of Sultan Mirza [Ajay Devgn] and the conflict that ensues, when his protégé Shoaib Khan [Emraan Hashmi] challenges his supremacy and usurps power to rule the murky underbelly of Mumbai.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is a power-packed drama that makes you thirst for more. You rewind to an era of romance, smuggling, cabaret and mafia, but director Milan Luthria and writer Rajat Aroraa ensure that there's no sleaze or bloodshed-n-gore. In fact, there's hardly any violent sequence in the movie, except for one when Ajay hammers a cop during a naaka-bandi.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is not a biopic, but narrates the story through the eyes of a police officer [Randeep Hooda], who traces the changing face of the Mumbai underworld. The screenplay encompasses several moments that may compel you to draw parallels with real life, but talking strictly from the movie-going point of view, it satiates you completely. In fact, the writing is cohesive, smart and watertight and there's never a dull moment. Besides, there's no time to think whether it's factual or loosely based on someone's life or a work of fiction.

As I look back and recall the movie, a number of sequences flash across my mind. Note the sequence when Ajay divides the city amongst gangsters... The train sequence at the very start... The introduction of Emraan Hashmi's character... Randeep Hooda's landing on a film set and confiscating the equipment... The subsequent sequence, when Randeep is framed for accepting bribe... The romantic moments between Emraan and Prachi in the jewellery shop... Emraan starting his business and the confrontation that ensues between Ajay and Randeep... The showdown between Ajay and Emraan, with Ajay slapping Emraan in full public view... The conclusion to the story is equally novel. It stays in your memory and sets you thinking.

On the flipside, the story begins with Randeep attempting suicide, but the writer should've cited the reason that prompted him to take that drastic step. Sure, there's a mention at the start, but it doesn't register well. Also, you are keen to know the chain of events that drove Randeep to suicide. Also, the pace slackens in the middle of the second hour, but picks up dramatically when Ajay returns from Delhi and confronts Emraan. Besides, how I wish the film had a shorter, mass appealing Hindi title to attract more eyeballs and a big jump in footfalls [at single screens and smaller centres mainly] for a mass appealing subject like this.

This is director Milan Luthria's best work to date, no two opinions on that. Recreating the bygone era is tough and the director, the writer and the art director [Nitin Chandrakant Desai] deserve brownie points for giving the film that authentic feel. In fact, the film wears a chic retro look throughout. Even otherwise, Milan's handling of the subject material is exemplary. This film is sure to catapult him to the top league. Rajat Aroraa's screenplay is powerful and engaging. The writer marries heavy-duty drama and subtle and delicate emotions beautifully. I would like to make a special note of the dialogue, also penned by Rajat Aroraa, which are simply fantastic. In fact, the dialogue writing is such it elevates even an ordinary sequence to great levels. One rarely comes across such potent dialogue in today's times.

Pritam's music is another ace. Injecting songs and that too a terrific soundtrack in a gangster film is tough. He did it in GANGSTER. He does it again in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI. 'Pee Loon', 'Tum Jo Aaye' and the remix of APNA DESH track are super compositions, which are also placed appropriately in the plotline. Cinematography [Aseem Mishra] captures the look to perfection. Akiv Ali's editing is sharp.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is embellished with fantastic performances. Ajay Devgn is splendid as Sultan. The actor had enacted a similar role in COMPANY, but it must be said that his interpretation is so different in ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI. He adds so much depth to the character, which only goes to prove his range and versatility. This is, without a trace of doubt, Ajay's finest work so far. Emraan Hashmi is brilliant as the power greedy, wildly ambitious rebel. He plays the dark character to perfection. He's incredible in the penultimate moments of the film in particular. Besides carrying the look to perfection, Emraan is sure to break-free from the lover boy, serial kisser image with this film.

Kangna Ranaut is extremely natural and performs very well. Also, she brings so much of sensuality and glamour to her character [an actress of the 70s]. In fact, Ajay and Kangna make a wonderful on-screen pair. Prachi Desai is a bundle of talent who proves her mettle yet again. She's proficient in emotional scenes and sizzles in the BOBBY song-sequence. Besides, the chemistry between Emraan and Prachi is exciting. Randeep Hooda is top notch. Even though the film belongs to Ajay and Emraan, Randeep makes his presence felt with a powerful performance. This film should prove to be the turning point in his career.

Avtar Gill [as Home Minister] is good. Naved Aslam [as Patrick, Ajay's trusted lieutenant] is perfect. Mehul Bhojak [as Emraan's friend Javed] is competent. Ravi Khanwilkar [as Vardhan] is satisfactory. Gauhar Khan sizzles in the remix track.

On the whole, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is an extremely well-made film that lingers in your memory. The realism coupled with stellar direction, power-packed writing, exceptional performances and ear-pleasing tunes are its trump cards. An outstanding cinematic experience!

RATING: 4/5