Informer

The team of The President Is Coming and Riyaaz Amlani hosted a quiet evening for friends to celebrate the end of George W Bush's reign of error at Riyaaz's newest venture in Bandra, Salt Water Cafe

Informer

Adieu, Bush bhidu!

Rohan Sippy, Ramesh Sippy & Kiran Juneja, Konkona Sen Sharma, Imran Khan with Avantika, Ranvir Shorey, Purab Kohli, Shernaz Patel, Koel Purie, and others attended. The surprise of the evening? Ranvir walking in with Koel in stead of Konkona, who was at the party early, minus her beau.

Big B's just another De!

In his January 7 blog (bigb.bigadda.com), the Big B writes: Trying desperately to post two articles or write-ups or columns or whatever they are called, by the same author, contradicting their own selves.

It was a piece written by Shobhaa De, the eminent columnist where she had castigated Shah Rukh, Aamir and yours truly for behaving like cowards and not making any comments after the Mumbai carnage. This was in MiD DAY.

Subsequently there was a more recent article by same eminence, in The Asian Age, where her opening paragraph leads us to believe that she abhors views and opinions and debates and reactions playing incessantly on the tube! Just felt it was dichotomous in nature.

Room with a view

A tanned birdie who has just arrived from Goa says that Kishen and Tanya Kumar have built a stunning beach house near Curlie's on Anjuna Beach. It's basically where everyone in Goa goes to get high on its great view. It is a longish trek down the mountain to get there and Kishen's house is right at the edge. Life ho to aisi!

three's company: The music launch of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire was held at the Marriott on Tuesday was a subdued affair with Dev Patel, Freida Pinto and director Danny Boyle missing in action. As was A R Rahman, who scored the film's music. Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and Ankur Vikal were present, though.

What's in a name?

Slumdog Millionaire's intended Hindi title Slumdog Millionaire: Kaun Banega Crorepati has been shortened to Slumdog Crorepati. Says casting director Loveleen Tandon, "It was a decision taken by producers Fox Searchlight, and we had nothing to do with the title of the Hindi version being altered. There was a problem with the branding."

Otherwise everything connected with the international game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire including the sets and music were copyright-purchased. Speaking about the dubbing, Loveleen who has supervised the Hindi dubbing says, "All the actors from the original, including Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and Ankur Vikal dubbed for the film.

We got a boy from Chembur, Pradeep Motwani to dub for male lead Dev Patel. I didn't want any exaggerated dubbing. I wanted a young, unspoilt voice; that's hard to find since Mumbai boys turn smokers and drinkers at an early age."

Madhuri in town

Madhuri Dixit is on a quiet visit to the city along with hubby Dr Shriram Nene and her two sons Arin and Ryan. The actress is in Mumbai as her Juhu home is being renovated and Mads is supervising it herself. As it is holiday time in the US, Madhuri will be in Mumbai for the next two weeks while Dr Nene is slated to fly back by this weekend. The actress has also shot for a new Emami ad and is slated to make an appearance at The Club, Andheri, on Sunday for the Makar Sankriti celebrations. Wonder if Mads is also hearing new scripts?

Bebo's jasoosi

Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone didn't see the songs in Billu Barber until they hit screens recently. Priyanka Chopra is the only lucky girl who saw a special preview of her song at Shah Rukh Khan's home on his laptop. Bebo is so curious to the reaction of her song that she has been texting her friends asking them if her song is better than Deepika's. We shudder to think what will happen when Priyanka's song hits the TV screens! Meow!

RAZA'S BOLLYWOOD

Q What would a producer say if he is sure of convincing the Ghajini star Asin to act in his movie?

Au00a0 'Asin'a maan Jaayegi.

razamuradonly@hotmail.com

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