Meet The Murderous Men Of ‘Sin City: A Dame To Kill For’

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is a film that has been many years in the making. Critics and audiences alike went mad for SIN CITY when it was released way back in 2005. It had all the ingredients of a perfect film; it was gritty, violent, sexy and stylish. Finally back for round two, the film sees many familiar faces – as well as several new ones – once again inhabit the seedy world.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yesterday we brought you a run down on all the lovely ladies that take up residence within the walls of the fictitious Basin City. Today we delve into the lives of the crooked criminals and valiant vigilantes that have both the X and Y chromosomes. The men of SIN CITY range from the good, to the bad, to the seriously demented, with the likes of Mickey Rourke, Jeremy Piven, Bruce Willis, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Dennis Haysbert all on  board.

Marv – Mickey Rourke

Add caption

Rourke’s career got a hell of a reboot after his appearance in SIN CITY. Before the film the only way that most audiences knew him was from his appearances in the many lists warning of the dangers of too much plastic surgery. After SIN CITY he went on to star in IRON MAN 2, THE EXPENDABLES and THE WRESTLER. Given that in a way he owes his second wind to Rodriguez’s first film he will of course return for the sequel/prequel.
Marv was the star of the first film, playing the main part in The Hard Goodbye, but appearing in some capacity during the rest of the stories. This appears to be a trend that will continue in the new film, with Marv set to play a part in Dwight’s titular tale as well as adopting a side-kick in the shape of the lovely Nancy Callahan (Jessica Alba).

  

Hartigan – Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis has had a long and successful career, but with SIN CITY he gave audiences a chance to see him in a much darker environment. Since SIN CITY Willis’ career has gone from strength to strength; proving that he was still popular with the audiences he even managed to get another two DIE HARD films off of the back of it.
Surprisingly for some, Willis is back in as Hartigan. Viewers of the first film will know that things didn’t turn out that well for the detective. He managed to save the girl (Nancy) but couldn’t save himself. Those who have seen the trailer will have seen the re-appearance of him. From this it would seem that he is back in ghost/delusion form as he haunts Nancy, spurring her desire for vengeance. 

Johnny – Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joining his ‘loop’ is THN favourite Joseph Gordon-Levitt. This time around Gordon-Levitt is playing a completely different character to Willis as he steps into the shoes of Johnny. Although sharing the name with a character from the graphic novels this Johnny is an entirely different one. Appearing in one of the brand new portions of the film, Gordon-Levitt’s Johnny is described as being a cocky gambler hiding a more sinister mission of destroying the biggest villain of Sin City. His mission will derail though after he crosses paths with working girl Marcy (Julia Garner).
For the fans out there worried that SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR won’t be as good as the first, the casting of Gordon-Levitt should give them some hope. Having started out as a child actor, most notably appearing in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Levitt has managed to traverse the teen-adult pitfalls that have befallen many of his peers, and has also managed to pick some very interesting projects along the way. Yes, there was a tiny blip with his involvement in G.I JOE: THE RISE OF THE COBRA (though his face is obscured for most of the film), but just look at the rest of his CV: INCEPTION, LOOPER, BRICK, (500) DAYS OF SUMMER and DON JON. All incredible films and all incredibly different. The fact that Rodriguez managed to secure the interest of this fast rising star surely means that it is as special as the first film.

  

Dwight – Josh Brolin

Brolin takes-over as the face of Dwight from Clive Owen. Or, technically, Brolin reclaims his face from Clive Owen. The events of SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR take place before Dwight’s story in SIN CITY. In the first film people kept remarking on Dwight’s new face which was a little confusing for the audience, especially as we wanted to know what was so bad that he had to undergo such extreme cosmetic surgery. This time around we get to find out those very facts. The trouble begins when Dwight finds himself faced with former flame Ava Lord (Eva Green). He buys into her tales of woe which result in Dwight becoming tangled in a very sticky situation. One that leads him needing a full image overhaul.
Brolin himself is very popular at the moment, with a very important role to play in the Marvel universe, that of Thanos.

  

Manute – Dennis Haysbert

After the untimely death of gentle giant Michael Clark Duncan, everyone’s favourite fictional American President has stepped into the role of Manute.  Although not heavily featured in the first film, this time around he has a more embellished role. You will notice from the images above one very key difference; in SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR the character of Manute has both his eyes. In SIN CITY he sported the rather fetching golden eyeball and had a very strong disdain for the women of Old Town. In this prequel story we find out exactly how this chauffeur/hired-muscle came to lose an eye.

SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is released in cinemas from today.

  

FrightFest 2014: Faults Review

Director: Riley Stearns.

Cast: Leland Orser, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jon Gries, Lance Reddick, Beth Grant.

Certificate: TBC.

Running Time: 89 minutes.

Synopsis: Expert on cults Ansel (Orser) is hired to deprogramme a young woman (Winstead). He sets about an intense 5 day session, but soon finds himself questioning exactly what is going on and what is to be believed.

One of FrightFest’s more surprising slow burners is this dialogue heavy exploration of the mind from first time director Riley Stearns. Unlike many of the slasher/zombie/out and out horror films, FAULTS relies on its fear coming from the audience’s involvement and its ability to provoke thoughts. Approached by two parents, Ansel, a disgraced expert of cults and mind manipulation, is hired to deprogramme a young woman. The rest of the film takes place in a motel room as the Ansel and the young woman Claire, discuss their beliefs and opinions on life.

Orse captures a great range of pathetic dark humour and desperate power, as a man looking to restore his reputation while also making enough money to pay back his agent for helping self-publish a book. The opening scene is a funny one in which Ansel tries to pass off an already used coupon in the hopes of obtaining a free meal. His motivations at first are all focused on the money, but he gradually builds a connection with Claire and starts to feel as though perhaps aren’t as they seem. When he displays power and tries to control situations, he often left looking weaker than before, but Orser always retains a sense that power and credibility was once part of Ansel’s character.

Winstead may very well be married to director Stearns, but she has most definitely not been let off easy, and she is certainly perfect for the part. Winstead is able to use her looks and those big eyes to establish an innocence lost for her character, but whenever she turns the tables she becomes a dominant force. In a single scene she transforms from a weak girl in need of rescuing to a controlled and intelligent adversary ready to challenge Ansel’s views.

A film focusing on the views and beliefs of two people may not sound terrifying, but it’s a real skin crawling affair as we see how people can become brainwashed by certain cults. You’ll find yourself agreeing and following each character’s point of view at least once during the course of the movie, and then realise exactly what you’re agreeing with. It’s the true definition of a psychological horror, making you question whether or not the world would be better if we all lived in these non-materialistic cults.

The dialogue is both well written and excellently executed with each word crafted and set-up the same way as in a choreographed martial arts fight sequence. The motel rooms act as representation of the brain wherein two ideals fight for dominance. Stearns allows for scenes to play out with long takes, showing a great sense of comfort when dealing with the material. This is by no means an easy watch, but it is one that stays with you long after.

FAULTS will hopefully open doors for all involved, as well as showing people that horror can often come from internal forces. With a dark wit which often releases the tension, FAULTS is a quiet little gem of a movie that gets louder the more you think about it.

(4 / 5)

Smokin’ Poster For Simon Pegg & Alice Braga In ‘Kill Me Three Times’

Aussie thriller KILL ME THREE TIMES doesn’t open until the end of the year but we’ve got an impressive new motion poster, thanks to star Simon Pegg and the Toronto Film Festival.
Directed by RED DOG’s Kriv Stenders along with a debut original screenplay by James McFarland, the film will see Simon Pegg play a methodical assassin hired by a wealthy husband (Callan Mulvey) to end the life of his wife. It’s all set in the  Australian surfing town of Eagle’s Nest, where that young woman is the thread that binds three tales of murder, blackmail and revenge.
Check out the first shot of Pegg looking hardcore as the killer and here’s your poster – click play in the middle of the image…

Simon Pegg        ✔ @simonpegg

ICYMI -Ooh ooh check it out! Coming to a Toronto Film Festival near you.

ADVERTISEMENT

KILL ME THREE TIMES opens in the USA on 31st December, with more dates to be confirmed.

FrightFest 2014: Among The Living Review

Director: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury.

Cast: Theo Fernandez, Fabien Jegoudez, Damian Ferdel, Anne Marivin, Zacharie Chasseriaud, Nicolas Giraud, Francis Renaud, Beatrice Dalle.

Certificate: 18.

Running Time: 90 minutes.

Synopsis: Three boys witness a kidnapped woman dumped into a hole by a strange figure. Upon returning home nobody believes them, but the figure is out to silence them.

After giving us the their incredible debut INSIDE and worthy successor LIVID, Maury and Bustillo return for another shot at the horror genre. This time it’s STAND BY ME meets JEEPERS CREEPERS as a group of boys witness the dumping of a body and are then pursued by a mysterious figure. Bustillo and Maury have always been reliable when it comes to freaky images and engaging stories, but perhaps AMONG THE LIVING is, in certain regards, their first misstep.

After a bold and brutal opening which sets in motion a mystery, we find ourselves following a trio of young boys who skip out on school. They smoke, they joke with one another in offensive way, and they engage in a bit of arson. These trouble makers soon venture into an abandoned film production lot, which itself is a wonderful visual setting. Old wild west saloons and classic cars combine in a rotten mishmash of ideas. It’s the perfect setting for a horror film, but unfortunately this is not where the majority of the film takes place.

The early sequences are brightly shot and filled with warmth. We learn a lot about the boys and what makes them tick, and it looks as though we could be getting a genuine coming of age tale against a horror backdrop. However, after the boys see a kidnapped woman taken down a hole, they soon split up to go home and we have yet another stalk and slash home invasion film. The film loses its unique identity and descends into a series of predictable and infuriating events.

I feel as though we have come too far in horror to give a pass to films filled with non kill confirming, upstairs checking idiots. Granted, in such situations we never know how we are going to react, but one scene in particular has the single dumbest character reactions to missing phones, strange noises, and freaky clown masks, that I have ever witnessed. It’s angering to watch and makes you lose all respect for the characters, which in turn has you cheering on their deaths, when originally we were connecting with these people.

The film also highlights set-ups for horror stuaions, such as a camera focused on a sleeping baby’s crib, duvets that always hang down to the floor, and the use of at least two urban legends in setting up creepy moments. When the film works, it works exceptionally well, with a grotesque villain who is unrelenting in his punishments. However, the Bustillo and Maury seem set on not showing the gruesome ends of female characters or those below a certain age, not wanting to come off as some kind of sadist, but the prolonged punishment dealt out to the men seems perverse after so many cutaways earlier on. It also lacks sense in the editing department, as after a cruel torture scene, we cut back to fleeing family members who haven’t got far at all.

With some beautiful cinematography early on, fun characters, a nice setting, and a dooming atmosphere established, AMONG THE LIVING falls into lazy script writing and stupid decisions to propel its narrative. From a genuinely creepy little film to a connect-the-dots of creepy moments, this is a disappointment that not only leaves an unsatisfactory feeling, but also annoyance.

(2 / 5)

FrightFest 2014: Stage Fright Review

Director: Jerome Sable.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cast: Allie MacDonald, Douglas Smith, Meat Loaf, Kent Nolan, Brandon Uranowitz, Ephraim Ellis, Melanie Leishman, Thomas Alderson, James McGowan, Minnie Driver.

Certificate: 18.

Running Time: 89 minutes.

Synopsis: After the murder of their broadway star mother (Driver), two teens are left as cooks at a summer camp for performing arts. It turns out that the producer (Meat Loaf) intends to resurrect the show that was to be their mother’s last.

Certainly aiming for a unique angle at this year’s FrightFest is the enjoyably silly STAGE FRIGHT. Announcing your film as a cross between FRIDAY THE 13TH and Glee may not be the best way to draw in the crowds, but it is certainly an intriguing premise. Horror’s and musicals have joined forces before in the form of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, CANNIBAL THE MUSICAL, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, but STAGE FRIGHT offers a youthful charm that many viewers will find irritatingly infectious.

Balancing all its genres well, we follow a simple premise of a stage production haunted by a mysterious killer. The musical numbers are incessantly catchy with often clever and funny lyrics. If there’s one problem, it’s that the film could have used more numbers and even afforded to make them longer. That’s also a compliment for Jerome Sable and Eli Batalion whose compositions are hummed well after leaving the auditorium. The young cast can also belt out a tune or two, making this a highly pleasant affair for fans of musicals. It doesn’t talk down to the genre, or make easy potshots at the likes of Glee, but instead relishes in its genetic DNA.

As a slasher film, it may be predictable in its outcome, but there is enough development to warrant caring for the majority of the characters. The film is a bit too strict on who it’s willing to kill, although this may have been an obvious joke by having characters clearly older than their on screen ages. Perhaps there were issues in wrestling between song inclusion and kill scenes, as they they both seem to have long gaps between each one respectively. The film could have been enjoyable had it gone for shock factor, but perhaps it wanted to retain some amount of innocence.

MacDonald, who is crafting quite the name for herself in the world of horror, is an excellent lead who portrays her character with certain degrees of complexity. She longs for the fame and glamour, but still has certain principles that are challenged throughout. Meat Loaf is a great addition due to his history with the genre, and gives a restrained performance in both his acting and singing, never once intending to steal limelight away from the kids. Less impressive is the killer themselves, who is given the weakest songs (possibly due to their hate of musical theatre) and is heavily reliant on puns and a high pitched voice. It removes any tension from the film, awaiting to see what joke will be made, and once the motives are made clear you also have to question whether the character would have been so jolly about it all.

In a rare instance of needing a longer cut, STAGE FRIGHT does most things well but just doesn’t have enough time to truly take advantage of its unique approach. The supporting kids are wonderfully introduced in an unforgettable opening number, but are soon forced into the background. The film also rushes towards its climax, although the conclusion is satisfactory and ties things together nicely.

STAGE FRIGHT may have trouble finding its audience, and those who warm to its charm will probably demand more. It does however prove that such merges can be achieved successfully with passion and dedication without having to resort to making itself the joke. A deliciously dark entertaining treat destined for cult status and sing-alongs.

(3 / 5)

FrightFest 2014: The Harvest Review

Director: John McNaughton.

Cast: Natasha Calis, Charlie Tahan, Samantha Morton, Michael Shannon, Peter Fonda, Leslie Lyles.

Certificate: TBC.

Running Time: 104 minutes.

Synopsis: Maryann (Calis) moves in with her grandparents after the death of her mother and father. She soon makes friends with a local sick boy (Tahan) who is confined to his home by his overbearing mother (Morton). As the two embark on a forbidden friendship, the mother seems to become more and more intense.

FrightFest has been a place of just as many laughs as it has been scares this year, but one film that aims to keep things very serious indeed. Director of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, John McNaughton, returns to supply one of the best films of the festival this year. THE HARVEST is an amazing achievement on many levels, not least that this is solid drama with a horror edge.

Starting off as a cute young adult movie about friendships and living life, there are many parralels to make with films such as THE MIGHTY and BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. Things are cute as a young girl bonds with a sickly homebound boy, only for the overprotective mother to become scared and frightened at what might happen to her boy. The father tries to reach the mother about how being alive isn’t the same as living, and this could very well end on a happy note where everybody learns a valuable lesson. That would be swell, but THE HARVEST takes us on a dark journey into the obsession of being a parent and the disturbing places people will go to protect their own children.

McNaughton has assembled a credible cast to bring weight and pathos to every role. Morton is stunning as the overbearing mother who at first balances strict callousness with seething contempt, before gradually pushing herself further and further. Shannon is incredibly restrained and gives perhaps his best ever performance. He’s kind and caring and there’s a warmth that speaks straight to the audience. His physical presence works as a visual representation of Morton’s inner struggles. Morton is such a force to be reckoned with that although her character inspires hatred, you’ll refrain from calling her a “bitch” on the off chance she’s sitting right behind you. Child actors Calis and Tahan also manage to hold their own against such dramatic titans, giving the film the chemistry and love that makes those intense sequences all the more gripping.

THE HARVEST works best when knowing very little about it as the unpredictability of Morton’s actions worm their way into the plot. This is a welcome return to the unbalanced female roles of MISERY and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE. In a world where zombies and vampires dominate the horror genre, Morton proves that an unhinged mother is scarier than any type of fictional beast, taking us back to the days when Hitchcock revealed man to be the most terrifying of all monsters in his seminal PSYCHO.

With hiding behind doors and races against time almost unbearably tense, McNaughton also impresses by including no adult material. There is no sex, no bad language, and no gore to speak of, just spine tingling situations of awkwardness and fear. It plays on our fears of being mistreated by those meant to protect us, as well as a sense of being trapped. Andy (Tahan) is trapped both physically and emotionally, heightened by the fact the family home is also rather secluded. Shot in a beautiful area of crisp golden woods and thick tree growth, we’re presented with a location that offers both freedom and isolation.

This is an award worthy and stunning film that takes us back to an age where the terror is completely at the hands of the actors and their performances. Do yourself a favour, don’t read about it, don’t watch the trailer, just make sure you see THE HARVEST. A powerful drama with nerve wracking tension and unforgettable performances.

(5 / 5)

FrightFest 2014: Life After Beth Review

Director: Jeff Baena.

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser, Matthew Gray Gubler, Anna Kendrick.

Certificate: TBC.

Running Time: 91 minutes.

Synopsis: Zach (DeHaan) is devastated by the death of his girlfriend Beth (Plaza). That is until she turns up alive and well. Beth’s parents (Reilly & Shannon), are in denile about teh whole issue but Zach suspects she could very well be a zombie. As Beth and Zach start to patch up their relationship, something is turning rotten.

More romantic comedy antics featuring zombies arrives in the form of LIFE AFTER BETH. I’m always a sucker for a film with a pun in the title, and that title should let you know that this isn’t a serious affair. But is this a zombie film with romance or a romance film with zombies? Personally I’d go for the latter. The posters depict the profiles of stars Plaza and DeHaan, without much of a hint of the undead attributes to follow. It’s a rather refreshing spin on things and joins an ever growing genre of films along with WARM BODIES.

DeHaan plays Zach, a young man coming to terms with the death of his girlfriend Beth (Plaza), but upon seeing her still walking around her family home, he discovers she has come back from the dead having lost some of her memory. The dead returning without malicious intentions is something that was covered in THEY CAME BACK, but LIFE AFTER BETH does well to add an unfathomable twist of light comedy to proceedings. John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon are excellent as Beth’s parents, and clearly evoke the happiness and joy, but also confusion, of having their daughter returned to them. Meanwhile, DeHaan questions outright whether or not she is a flesheating zombie, and his interactions and cautiousness create many a humorous moment.

The film is equally about coming to terms with death as well as it is a metaphor for relationships. DeHaan struggles with how he remembers the last few weeks of his relationship with Beth, flopping back and forth between whether he remembers the good or the bad. Plaza’s transformation into a zombie of the more classic variety also symbolises the decomposing relationship, as her joy at being with DeHaan turns violently into jealousy, suspicion, and needy tendencies. It’s a young romance surmised within a few days, and gradually becomes a heartbreaking account of how people enter our lives and the effects they have.

DeHaan gives a brilliant comedic performance, throwing away any villainous hint of CHRONICLE or THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2. He breaks down emotionally as Plaza’s Beth breaks down physically and there’s something real and emotional about his attempts to keep Beth alive and in the now. Plaza too is absolutely perfect in her role. She’s lovable but volatile, turning from a sweet and passionate lover, to a car wrecking emotional time bomb. By the time she hits full zombie status, she able to deliver single words to a reaction of loud laughter. Her childish behaviour and frustration at being both dead and alive is, once again, funny and painful.

Although a lovely romantic piece with excellent performances, this is a film where you just want more. This is both a good and a bad thing, as we have an idea that isn’t fully explored. The film has a basic idea but gets into teh swing of things far too quickly to be truly relatable. We never see Beth and Zach before Beth dies, giving us less time to connect and understand their true feelings. Was this ever a relationship that could have worked, dead or not? We’re unsure. In the last act the film has to take on a broader scope, as other people return from the dead and the world plunges into chaos. This might be needed to pad out the running time, but it’s also a less fulfilling distraction. Like THEY CAME BACK wasn’t truly realised until its TV adaptation THE RETURNED, LIFE AFTER BETH may have life after LIFE AFTER BETH.

A fun and bittersweet tale for those who can stomach a bit of gore and and nauseating cuteness, LIFE AFTER BETH is a film that brings forward some truly great rising talents. Highly likable, the film may not be the biggest challenge in the world, but it does what it says out to do perfectly. This is a great debut for Baena, who shows he can handle teen romance, comedy, and horror too.

The What’s What Of ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 3′ And ‘Sinister Six’

Recently, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 hit our shelves on Blu-ray and on the bonus disc associated with it are a series of extras, some of which are interviews with director Marc Webb which really sets in motions what we might expect for the sequels to the film. Specifically, what or who we may see in THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 3 and SINISTER SIX.

First of all is the case of Norman Osborn, who was presumed dead in the events in ASM2 due to a fatal degenerative disease.

“[Our] special project is where we’re setting up the Sinister Six and all the different, crazy technology from Oscorp has been developed sort of off the grid and this is our cryogenic, obviously this will only be seen after the movie, but this is our cryogenic headcase so we can bring him back for the sequel”

Well, it’s nice to know they’re keeping their options open and they seem to be taking a rather nonchalant, creative approach towards killing off characters. Though this could have been interpreted from the scenes in the film in which Osborn was being ‘scanned’ by some machinery whilst on his bed, there was no funeral sequence, nor any explicit shots of the deceased.

Next up, Webb addresses who exactly the man who appears towards the end of both films are. You’ll remember a man emerging from the shadows asking Curt Conners whether or not he told Peter the truth about his father.

“Working on with James Vanderbilt, there was an idea that this would maybe be the Electro character, but we shot it and it kinda emerged into some other situation in which the man in the hat, we think of him as The Gentleman, is a benefactor of the Sinister Six.

My inkling of it is that they [The Sinister Six] all emerge from Oscorp and that they are corralled by The Gentleman who is a character that is somewhat more recent in the Marvel universe that some of them thinks a dream. They are the mercenaries of Oscorp and the most unruly, beastly set of characters.”

The future of the films and who might appear in them was hinted, for those with a good eye, in the scene in which we get a brief glimpse of Oscorp’s special projects files. By the following, it seems as if there might not just be six party members, but  more, though going by the name, we can assume there will only be six at any given time:

“In Oscorp’s special projects, we see, we get hints at, there are glimpses at the implications of  the accouterments of villains that will either be in the Sinister Six first iteration or will eventually move through the Sinister Six. So we’ve got this company called Blur, Tim Miller to start designing the elements of the Sinister Six , the hardware of the Sinister Six, which is something that’s hinted at in the movie.”

He goes on to then discuss the end-credit scenes of ASM2, in which we see the meshes of all these different designs for objects linked to various Spider-Man characters:

“It’s tricky because we’re not exactly sure if all those people are gonna be in the Sinister Six, or even in the next movie. Like the Mysterio mask, I just think looks really cool.  And I love Mysterio, but we haven’t all agreed on it, but I just forced it in because I thought it looked cool.”

Whilst he does not directly confirm the presence of Mysterio in SINISTER SIX, I for one hope they do include him. A properly orchestrated film with a well-done Mysterio would certainly bring the character to life in a way that would be rather astounding. Webb goes on to confirm that another of the symbols belongs to Kraven the Hunter, a spear. Another easter egg throughout the film also hints at Kraven, a golden-toothed saber tooth skull in the boardroom of the Osborn house, assumed to be a nod to Zabu, the saber tooth tiger that Kraven captures when he first appears in The Savage Land and battles Ka-Zar.

Emraan Hashmi to team up with Salman Khan?

If the latest grapevine is true then The Dirty Picture actor will indeed share screen space with Salman

Emraan Hashmi is currently busy promoting his upcoming film, Raja Natwarlal, which will hit the theatres on Friday. While his latest outing co-starring Humaima Malik and Paresh Rawal looks promising, we hear Emraan may soon joins hands with Salman Khan for a film. However, nothing is official as yet. But while talking to a daily, the Ghanchakkar actor said, “Yes, we are working on something but it’s too premature to talk about. I met Salman two weeks ago and if things work out we’ll work together.”

Like Khan, Mahesh Bhatt’s protege is not a  big superstar but there is one thing common between the two actors – Most of their films witness a good opening at the box office. But the Ek Thi Daayan actor feels uncomfortable being compared to SK in any way. “I’m clueless how the comparisons between us started. I cater to a different audience and he has his loyal fan following that is growing with each film. But working together will definitely be an honour for me and a delight for our audience,” said Hashmi to the daily.

We hope things materialise because it would be interesting to see Emraan and Salman together on the big screen. What do you think Bollywoodlifers?

Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif: Who will emerge as the winner with their first release this year?

 The two have their first big releases of 2014 in the coming months and we want to know which one are you excited for ..

Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif are having their first major releases of the year with Finding Fanny and Bang Bang. Both these actresses are coming from the super success of their last films – Ram Leela and Dhoom 3. We break it down and give you an insight into the pros and cons of their films and how they might fare at the ticket window…

Deepika Padukone

Last big hit: Ram Leela

Next release: Finding Fanny

Director: Homi Adajania

What should work: The first look of the film has won over people with its quirky style and storyline. Homi is the sorts who doesn’t stick to convention and has a refreshing take on every subject. If Being Cyrus or Cocktail is anything to go by then Finding Fanny will definitely be something to watch out for. Also Arjun Kapoor and Deepika have sort of made their way in one of our fresh new jodis of this year!

What might not work: It might end up being a nice film for a select audience. The fact that it’s bilingual and is dubbed in hindi might also end up being a glitch.

Katrina Kaif

Last big hit: Dhoom 3

Next release: Bang Bang

Director: Siddharth Anand

What should work: Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, Bollywood’s two hottest and most good looking actors in the same frame, it can’t get better than that! An official remake of the Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz film Knight & Day, Bang Bang seems to have all the bang to ignite the box-office on fire. Right from the first poster, to promo to the recent Tu Meri song, the makers have got everything right. The film looks like an action-adventure bonafide blockbuster.

What might not work: Director Siddharth Anand’s resume has us worried. His last film Anjaana Anjaani wasn’t something to write home about. Also the fact that comparisons with the Hollywood film will be massive, especially for those who have already seen it!

Anupam Kher refuses movie promotion on his show

The Anupam Kher Show on Colors which has so far featured some very unusual guest promises to remain unique in the melee of celebrity talk-shows that have flooded the satellite channels.

And Anupam who is determined to stay far removed from the madding crowd of me-too talk shows, has chanced upon an ingenious way to make his talk-show different from the rest.

There will no stars and filmmakers on his talk-show to promote their films.

Apparently, Anupam Kher made it crystal-clear to the channel Colors that he wouldn't allow his talk-show to be used as a platform to promote his colleagues' upcoming films.

Says the actor, "My talk-show show is sub-titled 'Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai'. Lekin mere show mein promotion nahin ho sakta. I was very clear on that when I agreed to do a talk show for Colors. If I had the usual guests who are seen in all the talk shows and reality shows when their film is on release, coming on my show to do a bit of the same then what would be the point of just another talk show? So no film promotion on my show, please."

Happily the channel and Anupam were on the same page regarding this issue.

Says Anupam, "There is no pressure from the channel to promote films. If that was required I wouldn't have done the show. I just want actors to come on the show to talk about their lives. Not to promote their films."

Adds Kher, "Even at the end of every episode I don't give my guests consumer gifts sponsored by various manufacturers. I give every guest a scroll in which I pen my personal thoughts on them. My show doesn't look at stars as merchandise. I want to see the human being under the celebrity mask."

Alia Bhatt to endorse Jabong?

Alia Bhatt, Bollywood's latest 'it' girl is hot, sexy and simply raring to go. Within a short time span, she has become one of the front runners amongst the 'Gen-Next' stars. She is indeed one of the most sought after celebs in films as well as FMCG brand circuits.

According to Bollywood Hungama's reliable sources, Alia Bhatt is now all set to be the brand ambassador of the online shopping major 'Jabong'.

The official announcement of the same is awaited.

Shah Rukh Khan does a cameo for Nagesh Kukunoor's Dhanak

When it comes to friendship in Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan has never taken a backseat. Be it helping the needy or impromptu gifting or even making cameo appearances for friends' films, this Khan has done it all.

This time round, Shah Rukh Khan has done a cameo in his friend Nagesh Kukunoor's Marathi film Dhanak, for which he recently shot in Rajasthan. Speaking about this, Sartaj Aulakh (Dhanak's first assistant director), said that Shah Rukh Khan, despite his busy schedule, shot for his portions for two days, after which they used a body double. Even though Shah Rukh Khan's role in the film is now known, buzz is that he will be playing himself in the film and will endorse the noble cause of eye donation.
Dhanak (which means a 'rainbow' in Rajasthani language) is reportedly a remake of the Iranian film Besak. Even though the film's title is Dhanak, it will be called as Rainbow overseas.

Red Chillies partners with WD as Digital Storage Partner for Happy New Year

Western Digital company and digital storage leader, has entered in an association with Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd., where the company has provided the production house with some of its key storage products. These products have been used by Red Chillies for the on-spot storage of shoot footage and in its studio for editing, post-production, and storing world-class special effects. WD is the 'Digital Storage Partner' for Red Chillies' upcoming and much-awaited movie, Happy New Year. WD products will also be featured in the narrative of the movie.

"We are delighted to partner with Red Chillies. Our products provide high capacity, come with dependable safety features and cater to the intense workload requirements of a movie production house. WD ensured that the production team at 'Happy New Year' had access to reliable and blazing-fast storage devices to experience stress-free digital storage while making the movie," said Subroto Das, WD Director - India & South Asia.

He added, "Movies are the heartbeat of the country and as the production house that gave us entertaining movies like Om Shanti Om and VFX-enabled movies such as Krrish 3, we look forward to experiencing the magic of Happy New Year on the big screen. Being this movie's Digital Storage Partner makes the experience even more exciting."

"Modern movie-making techniques require storage solutions that provide capacity, durability, reliability and speed. While the camera used for shooting a movie is important, the device used to store the movie footage is also important. It is impossible to produce a visually appealing and technologically advanced movie if either of these factors is missing from the storage mix. We have used WD's range of external and component drives for on-spot secure storage of the movie, and also to complete the post-production work and create breath-taking graphics. The spectacular results of this will be there for all to see once Happy New Year releases." said Venky Mysore, CEO, Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd.

As a technology innovator, WD provides a wide range of external and internal hard drives that suit the varying requirements of today's consumers. For HD video editors and creative professionals, WD offers My Book Thunderbolt Duo, a dual-drive storage system featuring revolutionary Thunderbolt technology. My Book Thunderbolt Duo delivers requisite speed for multi-tasking while editing HD video, 3D rendering and completing other graphics-intensive projects. For on-spot storage, WD's portable RAID storage device My PassportTM Pro offers Thunderbolt speed, shock tolerance, long-term reliability and is designed for any on-the-go workflow.

Imran Khan and Kangna Ranaut's live-in romance in Katti Batti

After the disastrous Gori Tere Pyar Mein, Imran Khan took a paternity break to welcome his little angel Imara. While the actor is on cloud nine enjoying the fatherhood phase, he will also soon resume work. Imran Khan signed Nikhil Advani's next titled Katti Batti which is a contemporary love story.

Bringing the fresh pair of Imran Khan and Kangna Ranaut, Katti Batti is set in urban India and talks about a couple in a live-in relationship. In fact, complications arise between them when Kangna gets pregnant. The film talks about the clash of thoughts between two people who belong to two different worlds. Payal played by Kangna hails from a wealthy family in Delhi who has modern and unconventional thoughts about marriage and motherhood and on the other hand, Maddy aka Imran Khan comes from a middle class household in Pune. When Imran Khan wants to marry Kangna Ranaut after she gets pregnant, Kangna has other plans in store.

Though Nikhil Advani maintains that the film concentrates on confident and progressive women, the story somehow bears resemblance to Salaam Namaste that starred Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta which was one of the first films in Bollywood to have focused on live-in relationships. However denying it, Nikhil stated that Salaam Namaste was based in Australia while Katti Batti is about two people who meet in an art school in Mumbai.
Katti Batti is scripted by Anushul Singhal and produced by UTV Disney.

Censor Board cuts down 'virginity' dialogue from Finding Fanny

With the recent controversy about corruption in Censor Board, the members of the board seems to have got too stringent when it comes to Bollywood films. Finding Fanny, one of its kind film which will be released in English and Hindi is now facing censorship trouble in getting a U/A certification. In fact, CBFC official Deepak who is supposedly the Personal Assistant to Chairperson Leela Samson has asked the film director Homi Adajania to cut down the word 'virgin' from Deepika Padukone's dialogue.

According to a scene in Finding Fanny, Deepika Tandel says 'I am a virgin' to Arjun Kapoor and Deepak believes that the word needs to be chopped off. However, Homi Adajania is not happy with the decision and even claimed that when films like Dil Se had Preity Zinta asking Shah Rukh Khan whether he is a virgin and the recent 2 States having Alia Bhatt asking Arjun Kapoor if this was his 'first time', then why is the Censor board stringent with Finding Fanny.

There are also rumours that CBFC official Deepak Tandel is not allowed to take a call on these films solely, but denying them, Deepak mentioned that he was not the only one present at the screening of Finding Fanny since he was accompanied by a committee who made this decision together. Moreover, Deepak also revealed that he has asked Homi to tone down the scene where Dimple Kapadia's skirt gets torn.
Finding Fanny is a quirky drama starring Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur and is produced by Maddock Films in association with Fox Star Studios. The film is slated to release on September 12.

Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister declares Mardaani as tax free

If there's one person who is having a whale of a time in 2014, then, it's none other than the 'literal queen' Rani Mukerji. While on one hand, she got married this year, on the other hand, her latest movie Mardaani is being received with rave reviews from everyone alike.

If that wasn't enough, now the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has decided to make film tax free. After he saw the film, he not only applauded the power packed performance of Rani, but also mentioned how the film focused on the worst social evil of human trafficking which needs to be eliminated. He also felt that it was very important for this film to have a widened reach and so making it tax free would be extremely beneficial. Speaking about the film, he tweeted 'After a very long time went along with family to watch a movie. Mardaani turned out to be soul stirring saga highlighting a societal evil. I congratulate Rani Mukherjee for a wonderful and powerful performance in Mardaani. Aditya Chopra has done well to produce this movie. Trafficking of young girls and women is worst evil which needs to be eliminated. Mardaani has brought it into focus. We will give 'tax free' status to Mardaani in Madhya Pradesh considering the bold social message conveyed by it.

Needless to say that, the makers of Mardaani were very happy when they got to know about this and they are hoping that others also see it in the same way and that the film gets a similar tax free status elsewhere.

Check out: Sunny Leone's new look

Sunny Leone who took Bollywood by storm with her scintillating act in Jism 2 has since been on a roll with numerous film offers. The porn star turned actress who will soon be seen in Tina & Lolo recently posted an image of her new look on twitter.

Posting the image Sunny Leone tweeted, "I got a new haircut and color!! You like??!! Hahahahaha". Seen sporting a blond wig, Sunny Leone we guess is trying to reprise the role of Marilyn Monroe.

Interestingly Sunny's next film that will see her alongside Ram Kapoor features her playing a Bollywood actress and Ram, a boisterous middle-aged Gujarati married man, who fantasises about her, much like the Marilyn Monroe-Jack Lemmon kind of relationship.

The film titled Patel Rap that will be directed by Devang Dholakia is said to be a family oriented entertainer.

Victoria Popova

Anushka Sharma and Virat not getting married

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma's representative has rubbished reports that she is planning to tie the knot with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. There were reports that BCCI had allowed the 26-year-old actress to stay in the same hotel as Kohli, the vice-captain of Indian Cricket Team, during the tour of England as they were going to tie the knot soon.

But, now the 'Band Baaja Baaraat' actress's representative has released a statement saying there is no truth to the story. "There are several stories online about Anushka Sharma's impending wedding. However I would like to set the record straight that there is absolutely no truth to these rumours and I would like to request you to refrain from conjecturing about the same," her representative said.

Kohli and Anushka have been grabbing headlines ever since they were first spotted together during the tour of New Zealand.

For Kangana, pregnancy without marriage not a problem

Kangana's character in 'Katti Batti' does not equate motherhood with marriage, causing a rift in her relationship. Mirror (July 30) had informed that Kangana Ranaut has given the nod to Nikhil Advani's 'Katti Batti', opposite Imran Khan. Now, we have learnt that the film revolves around the couple's live-in relationship which hits a rough patch when she gets pregnant.

When the news is broken, Imran's character, Maddy, reacts with, "Let's get married?" But Payal (Kangana) takes him by surprise by retorting, "Why? Because I'm pregnant? So what's the big deal!" Nikhil points out that both the characters have shades of grey, creating many twists. Payal who comes from an affluent family in Delhi, has refreshingly different ideas about love, marriage and parenthood. But Maddy, a middle-class boy from Pune, is structured in his views, comfortable in his space and the only risk he's ever taken is to fall in love with this unpredictable, volatile girl who turns his life topsy turvy.

It's scripted by Anshul Singhal, a boy from Saharanpur who went to IIT and fell in and then out of love with a girl. The nail on the coffin was their conflicting views on starting a family. "I agreed to do the film just on the basis of the original title, Saali Kutiya: A Love Story.The censors would have never passed it, so we changed it to Katti Batti. But I have retained Anshul's modern take on an age-old institution. It reflects the fact that Indian women today are confident, progressive, empowered and ready to take chances," says Nikhil.

The director was always keen on casting Imran as Maddy, but getting the nod from Kangana for Payal was a bonus. "After the narration, we sat together for three hours discussing details of the character. I could see that Kangana was as excited as I was," he reminisces.

Siddharth Anand's 2005 love story, Salaam Namaste, too revolved around a livein relationship, which unravels when Preity Zinta's character discovers that she is pregnant and her partner, Saif Ali Khan, doesn't want to get married. However, Nikhil points out that while that couple was based in Australia. Maddy and Payal , who meet in art school, live in Mumbai. "Our story is rooted in and unfolds in urban India and that's the big difference," he reasons.

Raghubir Yadav goes blind for Pocket Gangsters

Raghubir Yadav is back after a long hiatus. He is set to star in Director Hemant Nilim Das` 'Pocket Gangsters'. The movie is a one-take film where he portrays the character of a blind gangster.

He believes this role was a tough one to master as the movie is a one take movie. He worked hard on the preparation of the movie a few months before the movie went on floor. Raghubir was so immersed in the portrayal of his character that he visited a blind school just to educate himself on the topic. To have a full understanding of their limitations, he bought a stick and started counting his steps. Later on, he used a blindfold and practiced it a few times at home. After a few months of practice, the actor was good to go.

He jelled along fine with his fellow co-stars, Vijay Raaz and Madhur Mittal, and had a great time enacting his part in the film.

The veteran actor has already proved his acting prowess long back with 'Massey Sahib', which won him two international awards and Mira Nair`s 'Salaam Bombay!'. Known as an all-round entertainer, he has composed the title track for the hit TV show Chacha Chaudhary and also sung 'Mehngai Dayain' for Aamir Khan`s 'Peepli Live'.

The movie is a one take, uncut film that takes you on a mind-boggling journey. Dubbed as gangster thriller, the movie has been inspired by true events. It is based on the distressing topic of kidnapping. It also stars Shivangi Mehra as the female lead.

'Pocket Gangsters' is directed by Hemant NIlim Das and is produced by Vikram M Shah of Ciemme Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Om Puri misses golden era of Hindi cinema

Versatile actor Om Puri, who has maintained just the right balance between commercial and parallel cinema, misses the good content on celluloid and rues that movie-making is now reduced to just money-making.

"The best films were made in the 1950s and 1960s,` Puri, who has just won accolades for his work in Hollywood venture `The Hundred Foot Journey`, expressed his views during a group interview.

Remembering the era dominated by the likes of Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand, the 63-year-old said: `It was the golden period because subjects were great, nice meaningful songs were there... (but) these days people forget new songs within two months.`

"Cinema was more responsible in the 1950s and 1960s. Cinema has become irresponsible today and today movie-making means money-making," he added.

Although he admits that the industry is equipped with better technology, yet stylish and commercial cinema dominates hard-hitting subjects.

"Of course, some good films are being made these days, but I feel hard-hitting films are not really being made, and most of the films are considered in terms of business.

"Stylish films are being made, technically we have developed a lot. But in terms of subject, the depth has been reduced," said the actor, known for his work in films like "Ardh Satya", "Maachis" and "East is East".

Pocket Gangsters is India's first One-Take Uncut film

Director Hemant Nilim Das who has directed Pocket Gangsters says, "PG is India's first one-take, uncut film that takes you on a mind-boggling journey. Dubbed as gangster thriller, the movie has been inspired by true events. It is based on the distressing topic of kidnapping and stars Shivangi Mehra as the female lead. Raghubir Yadav makes a come back after a long hiatus. He portrays the character of a blind gangster."

'Pocket Gangsters' is directed by Hemant NIlim Das and is produced by Vikram M Shah of Ciemme Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Debanjali Biswas and Shalmali Kholgade have added a new zing and energy to the hostage-drama-cum-comic-thriller film Pocket Gangsters. Pareshaan fame singer Shalmali Kholgade lent her voice for the Janiyaa Jaaniyaa track of Pocket Gangsters while Debanjali Biswas has sung the track Halke Halke.

Raghubir Yadav believes this role was a tough one to master as the movie is a one take movie. He worked hard on the preparation of the movie a few months before it went on floor. Raghubir was so immersed in the portrayal of his character that he visited a blind school just to educate himself on the topic. To have a full understanding of their limitations, he bought a stick and started counting his steps. Later on, he used a blindfold and practised it a few times at home. He jelled along fine with his fellow co-stars, Vijay Raaz and Madhur Mittal, and had a great time enacting his part in the film.

The veteran actor has already proved his acting prowess long back with 'Massey Sahib', which won him two international awards and Mira Nair`s 'Salaam Bombay!'. Known as an all-round entertainer, he has composed the title track for the hit TV show Chacha Chaudhary and also sung 'Mehngai Dayain' for Aamir Khan`s 'Peepli Live'.

The movie stars Madhur Mittal of Slumdog Millionaire and Million Dollar Arms fame and Shivangi Mehra in the lead and is slated to release on 26th September this year.

Says Hemant Nilim Das, "PG is loosely based on the story of the kidnapping and murder of an NGO-activist Sanjay Ghose and is a hostage drama cum comic thriller. It is the story of a girl who is worth millions. The plot has numerous twists and turns, the storytelling is highly cathartic and the music is romantic. A true gangster spirited feature...the film engages you from the beginning till end with shock and awe."

The cast includes Shivangi Mehra who had a small role in Once Upon a Time Dobara, Raghubir Yadav of Peepli Live, Vijay Raaz known Dedh Ishqiya, Mukesh Bhatt, Monalisa & also stars Hemant Nilim Das.

Sanjiv Singh is the cinematographer of the film, story, screenplay and dialogues are by Hemant Nilim Das, production co-ordinator - Manish R. Sharma, music by Lucky - Navi & Chanchal, lyrics are by Hemant Nilim Das & Lucky, while the action directors are Darshan Singh, Raju & Fayaz.

Today, we have separated a song from the film by giving it a different identity: Anand L Rai

Anand L RaiOnce someone asked Majroohsaab, `Don't you think that a lot has changed in the way we present a heroine in today's films and the way she was presented in yesteryears movies? There was a certain amount of exquisiteness about a heroine then, and it seems to be missing now. Is this why today's films are so different?` He replied, `Actually, it's the opposite. What we wrote for a heroine went something like this: 'Dum bhar jo udher muh fere o chanda, main unse pyaar kar loongi, baatein hazaar kar loongi' (Awara, 1951). The heroine shied away from the moon for having caught her with her lover. If you write something like Khambe jaise khadi hai, ladki hai ya chadi hai (Dil, 1990), then see how you are portraying her. It's all about how you present your heroine.`

I feel that today, we have separated a song from the film by giving it a different identity. Now we call them 'numbers' and 'item numbers'. It has become mandatory for these songs to hit the charts and we keep putting our energies into finding a 'hook line' to get there. No one is bothered to look at the longevity of a song anymore. We don't see if the songs flow seamlessly with the melody of the film, if they are taking the story ahead or they're representing the character of the film correctly.

When I heard that Rafisaab and SD Burman would sit together in their sessions, and that Lata Mangeshkar and Rafisaab rehearsed together for over a month, I realised the depth of their involvement with a song. Their objective was not just to compose a song but to keep it alive over lifetimes!

AR Rahman was one of the pillars of Raanjhanaa (2013). He supported me in a lot of sections of my film even when he did not need to. Songs represent your film in many ways. A composer is also as good as your writer. A lyricist also writes the character of your film. Whenever I am at the recording of my songs, I try and make it a point to explain the story of my film to the singer. What is filmmaking? It's all about what you feel... everything else is false. I always ask myself `Why has the longevity of our songs diminished?` or `Why have we stopped at Lata and Rafi even today?` We do have a number of good composers, but are we, as filmmakers, asking them to compose the right songs or have we set up shops in our films to sell ringtones and create music for just a certain taste?

We need to bring in a change so that our films become memorable. If the markets are asking for ringtones, we need to figure out a different medium. The digital space is for us to grab. Why compromise filmmaking to create a hit song? Yes, we need to have an item number in a film, but let it be an integral part of the story.

I believe that we filmmakers are solely responsible in degrading the quality of our songs and melodies, which once used to rule the hearts of our audiences, back in the '60s and '70s. The audience never asked us for a change; our own fears did. The audience just wants a good story and I think that music also creates a story. We do not lack talent, but what we miss today is bonding and love. My problem is that today a director tells a music composer, `Let me hear what you have got`. Our processes have become very mechanised. This has to change. We will have to start to love people all over again.

Documentary film breaks new grounds with theatrical release

Competing with mainstream feature films, a documentary on the life of an electricity thief in Kanpur is showing in around 50 theaters across 12 cities of the country.

Unlike other documentaries which are released quietly on DVDs, the producers of 'Katiyabaaz' (Powerless) successfully managed to release it in theaters on Friday last.

"It took us few months to convince big multiplex chains like Inox and PVR to release it just like a regular feature film on their screens. We have been successful in doing that as in the first week the film is showing in 49 theaters across 12 cities," Deepti Kakkar, who co-directed the film with Fahad Mustafa, told PTI here. The two directors had wanted to go beyond film festivals and DVD releases for their 80-minute-long documentary.

They are also planning a DVD release later. "Truth is stranger than fiction. Then why should a documentary film not be treated at par with a regular feature film?" Kakkar said. To market 'Katiyabaaz' the directors have tied up with Anurag Kashyap-led Phantom Films.

In the second week the film would be shown in around 80 theaters in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kanpur and Lucknow, she said. In Kolkata, research body CUTS International is organizing the film's screening at Nandan.

"We want to generate mass awareness, assess the energy sector policies and build up a common consensus against electricity issues such as power theft. Increasing transmission and distribution losses as a result of power theft is a major concern," CUTS director Keya Ghosh said. 'Katiyabaaz' documents the real life story of 28-year-old Loha Singh, who steals electricity in Kanpur and sells illegal electric connections to the rich while providing free connections to the poor.

The documentary was premiered at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival and has traveled to 50 festivals across all continents. It was also awarded the National Award for Best Investigative Film this year.

Gurmeet Choudhary harrowed by imposter troubles

A man impersonating television actor Gurmeet Choudhary has allegedly contacted his industry friends leaving the actor hassled

Gurmeet Choudhary seems to be going through a rough patch. The actor claims that a person has been impersonating him and that this person has gone on to contact his friends on his behalf.

Gurmeet says,` I recently got calls from my friends Ragini Khanna, Kapil Sharma and some others. They all asked me if I had changed my number. When I said no, they sent me screen grabs of their chats with a person who told them that he is Gurmeet and that he has changed his number recently. He even asked my friends to pass on some numbers to him; fortunately, some got suspicious about his behavior and asked me about the same.`

The actor has now spoken to the police and found out through a mobile application that this person goes by the name of Mandeep and that he hails from Punjab. What's more, Gurmeet alleges that not only has Mandeep spoken to his actor friends, but he has also approached a few producers.

`My friend Roshan from BBC thought that I was asking for these numbers and he ended sharing 12 contact numbers with this guy. It is a very serious issue because when some others refused to give him numbers, he started abusing them.

I have registered a complaint at the Goregaon police station and they have asked me to gather more screen grabs, as it will help them trace the number and the caller. Incidentally, he had once called me under the name of Suhasi, but I didn't think much about it as I assumed that he was a fan. I hope the police will find him soon and take action against him,` says the actor.