Abhishek Bachchan could be seen in the Bollywood rendition of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', according to reports. Tigmanshu Dhulia, who directed 'Paan Singh Tomar', is reportedly toying with the idea and is keen on casting the young Bachchan in the lead role.

When Tigmanshu narrated the idea, I was hooked, Co-producer Goldie Behl said. At the time however, we couldn't work on the project. Now that Tigmanshu has become a sought after director, it's an opportune moment to go ahead. It's a fantastic and gripping revenge drama, Behl said. (ANI)

 

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William Shakespeare has inspired many filmmakers into making on-screen adaptations of his works, not just in Hollywood, but also in Bollywood. After talented craftsman Vishal Bhardwaj adapted two of the legendary playwright’s ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Othello’ into ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Omkara’ respectively, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ famed Tigmanshu Dhulia is the latest to have developed a preference for the bard. News has it that Dhulia is fondling with the idea of adapting ‘Hamlet’ and it’s been known that he has been considering Abhishek Bachchan to cast as lead in his rendition.

Co-producer Goldie Behl said that Dhulia had been working on the idea of adapting the play since 2001. Behl was quoted saying, “When Tigmanshu narrated the idea, I was hooked. At the time however, we couldn`t work on the project. Now that Tigmanshu has become a sought after director, it’s an opportune moment to go ahead. It`s a fantastic and gripping revenge drama. I am really looking forward to the film because I am sure it would make for an entertaining watch.”

Director Dhulia won worldwide appreciation for the biopic ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ which was inspired from a real-life national athlete turned rebel of the same name. With an excellent track record of films like ‘Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster’ and ‘Haasil’, Tigmanshu Dhulia is one man to look forward to in the future!

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Vishal Bharadwaj’s ‘Maqbool’ and ‘Omkara’ are an adaptation from Shakespheare classic ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Othello’. Shakespeare has inspired many filmmakers of West as well as East for on-screen adaptation of his classic work. Latest in the row is ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ director Tigmanshu Dhulia who is highly inspired with the poet’s novel, ‘Hamlet’ that he has decided to make a film with Abhishek Bachchan playing the central character of Hamlet.

Goldie Behl has decided to co-produce the film; Goldie informed that actually Dhulia thought of adapting the play since 2001. Behl was quoted saying, “When Tigmanshu narrated the idea, I was hooked. At the time however, we couldn`t work on the project. Now that Tigmanshu has become a sought after director, it’s an opportune moment to go ahead. It`s a fantastic and gripping revenge drama. I am really looking forward to the film because I am sure it would make for an entertaining watch.”

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia has received rave reviews from critics and applause from the audience for his biopic ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ based on a real-life national athlete turned rebel due to some unpleasant circumstances.

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Cheques would be delivered at the homes of 24 other needy farmers. The farmers were selected from over 20 villages of the district by members of the Rotary Club of Gandhi City Wardha and Rotary Club of Mumbai. The cheques total around Rs.30 lakh, all of which was donated by Bachchan.

"When Bachchan expressed his willingness to contribute to the cause of farmers, we scrutinised the debt amount of farmers in these villages and sent a list of over 300 farmers to him," member and past president of Rotary Club of Gandhi City Wardha Mahesh Makolkar told us.

He said that after the list was sent to Bachchan, representatives from his side visited these villages and verified the information. They also narrowed down the list to 114, he said. "Around 90 farmers were handed over the cheques at a ceremony here Saturday. We have arranged to deliver the cheques of those farmers who were unable to attend the ceremony," Makolkar said. There are over 900 villages in the district, out of which farmers of 22 villages were selected for the monetary help.

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It has been revealed that actor Amitabh Bachchan along with family — actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan — are slated to attend the17th edition of Bal de l’Ete in Monaco as the guests of honour.

The event which is considered one of the most earmarked date in the calendars of the swish gliterrati circuit across the globe, is organised under the patronage of Prince Albert II in the aid of supporting the Monegasque Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta and the World Association of Children’s Friends.

The event that signifies the beginning of the summer social season sees some of the biggest names in attendance. And this year the event will launch the summer season of the principality in Indian style as the theme of this edition is ‘Princess of Rajasthan’ with guests including Maharana Shriji Arvind Singhji Mewar of Udaipur along with several other social personalities.

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Imagine this. It's a sweltering hot summer afternoon in Mumbai, the maximum temperature has hit 38 degrees celsius. Dressed almost identically in shimmering black shervanis, Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan look terribly inappropriate. Gathered together at a far-flung Mumbai studio, the father-son duo along with Ajay ready themselves to shake a leg to a zany video for a song, that will accompany the beginning titles of filmmaker Rohit Shetty's "Bol Bachchan".

The lyrics go, "Bol, Bol, Bol Bachchan" to a track composed by music director Himesh Reshammiya. Sung by Amitabh, with some bantering by Abhishek and wisecracks by Ajay, the song lends itself to many light moments and movements. But the moment to capture is the one where the three men break into Bhagwan Dada-like dance steps, immortalised by the Big B in his halcyon days. From then on the glossys sets and the svelte dancing girls exposing taut bodies pale in comparison. Everyone on the set only has eyes for the three men in black.

Loads of fun also happens in between shots. Amitabh and Ajay compare notes on their health, since both have health issues. When Ajay tells the senior actor, "Sir, I would have gone home, had it not been for you," Big B, with childlike innocence, quips, "Go home. I will also get a day off!" Of course, both continue to shoot, long after that conversation is over. Meanwhile, Abhishek horses around with the youngsters on set and even tries to pull a few stunts with veteran dance director Chinni Prakash.

"I have fond memories of him," says Junior B, "I played with Chinni Sir in 1988 when I was just 12, and he was directing Pa in the evergreen "Jhumma Chumma De De" track from the movie "Hum". I am working with him for the first time, and it feels good," says Abhishek.

During a break, AB Junior makes plans for a sushi lunch because a neighbouring five-star hotel has a scrumptious sushi spread, but an indisposed Ajay plays spoilsport and talks of having home-made khichdi with dahi. The Big B takes his daily afternoon power nap and Rohit takes to a quiet corner in his vanity for some 'me' time.

Ajay is suddenly deluged with producers and media-sorts. And a slew of security men guard the Bachchans' privacy. While someone in Junior's staff polishes his fancy white wheels, we beat a hasty retreat.

"Bol Bachchan", that releases worldwide on July 6, is presented by Fox Star Studios and produced by Shree Ashtavinayak LFS Infra Ltd and Ajay Devgn Films.

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For others this may have been just another sweltering Mumbai summer day. But for the crew of Rohit Shetty's Bol Bachchan, this was surely a day to remember. For the first time, Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan and superstar Amitabh Bachchan were coming together for a shot. And we got a dekho of the memorable song being picturised at Film City.

A set was created on the 16th floor of the studio. The unit was abuzz with activity. After all they had three stars in their midst. The choreographer Chinni Prakash was busy directing Amitabh Bachchan's entry sequence in the song.

Reminding us of the famous track in Big B's 1977 blockbuster Amar Akbar Anthony, there was a big egg on the sets. Dressed in black, the superstar was asked to take his seat in the egg. And just like the My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves number, the egg turned and the Big B came out of it.

By then, Ajay Devgn, who was feeling a bit unwell, had already left the sets. Abhishek too had shot for his portions and called it a day. But director Rohit Shetty and choreographer Chinni Prakash were busy doing their bit with Amitabh Bachchan.

And that's not all. It will be the first time Ajay Devgn would lend his voice to a song in his career spanning 20 years. The track composed by Himesh Reshammiya will also have the Bachchans singing. Interestingly, the Big B will be singing some of his evergreen dialogues from films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom for it. To be shot over four days, the song will however, not feature the leading ladies Asin and Prachi Desai.

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Amitabh Bachchan is all set to recreate his iconic entry scene in the song My Name is Anthony Gonsalves for Abhishek Bachchan-Ajay Devgn starrer Bol Bachchan. The song from Amar Akbar Anthony showed Amitabh popping out of a life sized egg. The makers are now planning to recreate this same scene for Bol Bachchan title track video. Amitabh has lent his famous baritone for the track and the song will also feature some of his evergreen iconic dialogues from the film.

Big B will be seen dancing with Devgn for the first time and this will also be the return of the father son combination in a movie after their hit Kajra Re in 2005. With music by Himesh Reshammiya and choreography by Chinni Prakash, the special title track video will be shot on a lavish set packed with only female dancers and will be a contemporary number with a classic Bollywood touch to it.

A Fox Star Studios presentation, Bol Bachchan is produced by Shree Ashtavinayak LFS Infra Ltd and Ajay Devgn Ffilms and directed by Rohit Shetty. The comic caper stars Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin and Prachi Desai and is set to release on July 6 this year.

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Amitabh Bachchan will reprise his iconic dance My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves from Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) for Rohit Shetty's forthcoming film Bol Bachchan. Big B will get jiggy for the title track of Rohit Shetty's action comedy along with son Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn in the film.

The song from Manmohan Desai's film had Amitabh Bachchan popping out of a huge Easter egg -- the same will be replicated for this project as well. Apart from My Name is Anthony Gonsalves, the track will include Big B's well-known dialogues.

The veteran actor is slated to shoot for the song from May 9 to 12 at Film City in Mumbai. The gigantic Easter egg is being recreated by set designer Narendra Rahurikar for the shoot.

A source said, "Though the film does not feature him but Abhishek Bachchan, he has been clued into the story line of the project. When director Rohit Shetty made him hear the title track, he liked it tremendously and instantly agreed to feature in the title song. Last week, Big B rendered the vocals for the track penned by Sajid Farhad. It was recorded by Himesh Reshammiya who is scoring the music. Abhishek Bachchan and Ajay Devgn have also lent their voice to the track.

The song will have Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan dancing together again after the Kajra Re track in Bunty Aur Babli (2005). The duo's steps are being choreographed by Chinni Prakash. Big B's spokesperson confirmed, "He will be shooting for the song."

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While we at Bollywoodlife may personally believe our interest to be intrusive, we need to keep in mind what our readers want. And they do want to know more about Ash and the shape she is in?

For a while now we have been talking about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her figure. For a while now we have been critically watching her bloom ? literally ? and become almost unrecognisable, especially when we think back to the lissome lass we first saw on the Miss India pageant stage, then the pretty young thing we watched onscreen in films like Iruvar and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and, of course, the beautiful bride we glimpsed in the few contraband photos we managed to sneak a peek at from her great big Indian wedding to Abhishek Bachchan. It was at Cannes last year that the former Miss World started looking as if she had been eating too many laddoos and while everyone suspected that Baby Bachchan was on its way, she hotly denied it, even shooting for Heroine?and we all know how that story ended, for sure!

Of course, a much-awaited pregnancy and the birth of Beti B followed, and even as we wait for official confirmation (will it ever come?) of the infant?s name to be Aaradhya, we see more ? and considerably more than we like, believe you us! ? of our lady of the gorgeous eyes and annoying giggle. She has been gradually expanding and now looks far larger (and far less pretty) than we would expect her to, considering that her daughter is five-plus months old. We will not say that if Lara Dutta Bhupati, Tara Sharma Saluja, Celina Jaitley Haag et al can be almost back in pre-baby shape, Ash can too, since everyone has a different body type and hormonal balance, honest, we do not think that at all. But what we do think and will say is that Aishwarya is a star, a celebrity, someone who has plans to get back into the spotlight and is, even now, honouring her professional commitments, so she should, ideally speaking, be ready to face the cameras and give of her best in every image, as far as possible. And looking like she did at a recent party in Mumbai, with many chins and lank hair, is hardly the best she can be, even if it was all about bad camera angles and being unprepared to be caught in the lens-eye.

All this is faithfully captured by our eagle-eyed reporters and photographers, just for you, our many readers. If you were not interested, you would not be looking at the stories, and you are indeed avidly interested, the numbers tell us. So for all of you who insist that we are being unfair when we talk about Ash and the shape she is in, here is a suggestion: Don?t ask us for the news and we will not tell it like it is!

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