Bachchan and Khan kick off Kolkata film festival
The Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan inaugurated the 18th Kolkata International Film Festival on Saturday alongside West Bengal's chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Other celebrities present at the festival's opening included Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Mithun Chakraborty. The opening film was the Oscar-winning A Separation by the Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Close to 200 movies from 60 countries will be screened at the festival, which runs until Saturday. - IANS
Kapoor clears the air on Johar film
The actor Ranbir Kapoor has quashed rumours that he is not keen on sharing screen space with Shah Rukh Khan in Karan Johar's next film, a period love story. "There's nothing that has been offered to me," said Kapoor during the DVD launch of his recent film Barfi! "In any case, I don't believe in first lead, second lead, third lead. I choose a project when I see a good script." Kapoor is currently filming Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and will soon be seen in Besharam and Bombay Velvet. - IANS
Sinha: Lootera has been toughest so far
Sonakshi Sinha says her forthcoming romantic drama Lootera, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and co-starring Ranveer Singh, has been her most challenging project yet. "Lootera, in terms of look and character, has been my toughest role so far. It's the most mature role I've ever played and I hope people like it," said the actress, who is currently promoting her new film Son of Sardaar, starring Ajay Devgn and Vindu Dara Singh. Sinha is also shooting Dabangg 2, opposite Salman Khan.
Sharma: lucky to have worked with Yash Chopra
While promoting her latest movie Jab Tak Hai Jaan at the Kolkata International Film Festival, Anushka Sharma said she was honoured to have worked with the late filmmaker Yash Chopra. "I feel very happy and lucky to be a part of Yash Chopra's last film and to have worked with Aditya in my first film," said the 24-year-old actress. "Seeing him in the morning standing by the camera, preparing for the first shots, is one of my most cherished memories." The film is out in India tomorrow. - IANS
Kunal Kapoor keen on commercial films
Kunal Kapoor wants to focus more on commercial films that have the sensibilities of independent cinema, even if it means sacrificing a larger fan base. "I don't want to be part of niche films unless it's one that's really exciting," said the actor. "I have developed criteria for myself. So I will not do films that I don't believe in." Referring to the films 3 Idiots and Rang De Basanti, he said: "They are commercial films but have a certain independent sensibility to them." - IANS
