| NOVEMBER
2008 |
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Kabir Bedi's Kites to Start Shooting
in India November 18, 2008
Kabir's new film Kites is going into the second phase of shooting in India
in December 2008, after filming in the U.S. was completed some time ago.
Kabir plays Bob, a Las Vegas casino owner, while Hrithik Roshan is a salsa
dance teacher. Kangana Ranaut plays Hrithik's student Gina, a rich young
girl who falls in love with her teacher as they practice their hot Latin
dance routines.
But then there is a sudden twist to the romantic story, which turns into
a fast-paced thriller.
Barbara Mori, the other female lead, appears in the
first half as Natasha, a Spanish-speaking young girl, who despite the language
barrier becomes emotionally involved with Hrithik's character.
After a dramatic event forces the two apart, Gina enters the scene...
Kangana Ranaut's role is no bigger than Barbara Mori's, according to Real
Bollywood.
Barbara Mori is scheduled to come to Mumbai in January 2009 to shoot
more Kites scenes with Hrithik Roshan, and the movie will go into post-production
in spring for global release in the summer of 2009. |
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TV-Alert: Bewafaa - Dance into
the New Year with Kabir Bedi November 13,
2008
In Bewafaa (2005), Kabir plays a caring father who only wants the best in
life for his younger daughter, played by Kareena Kapoor.
German Pay TV station Romance TV will show Bewafaa on New Year's Eve as part
of its big Bollywood night, among films like Namastey London and Dil Ne Jise
Apna Kahaa.
Bewafaa will be broadcast at 2:20 a.m., dubbed into German.
Kabir's Bewafaa is the story
of two sisters, and shows the relationship of the younger sister with her
much older husband, while she continues to be "friends" with the love of
her life, played by Akshay Kumar.
Bewafaa is full of stunning locations, costumes and sets, and has a hit soundtrack.
Romance TV is also showing Namastey London (2007, with Akshay Kumar, Katrina
Kaif, Rishi Kapoor) on November 21, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004, with Salman Khan and Preity Zinta):
When happily married doctor Pari dies in a car crash, her husband's world
comes to an end. But he gets to know the feisty Dhani - a woman who has a
few surprises in store for him...
Enjoy! |
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Kabir Bedi Savors Cherries from
Piemonte November
6, 2008
Kabir joined Indian gourmets for a banquet dinner yesterday (November 5,
2008) celebrating the cuisine of Italy's Piemonte region at the Four Seasons
Hotel in the Mumbai district of Worli.
Some 45 tour operators and 20 Indian reporters had been invited to the event
organised by Ceipiemonte, part of the local tourism body, the Indian-Italian
Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Tourism Bureau in Mumbai.
The mayor of the regional capital, Turin, was among the dignitaries giving
a speech.
The northeastern Italian region including the "World Capital of Design
2008", Turin, is showing off its charms to the citizens of Mumbai at
the event on November 4-9, 2008.
Piemonte is presenting itself as a "delicious slice of Italy",
according to Italian Network. |
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| OCTOBER
2008 |
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Kabir Bedi attends "Marvellous Expressions" show October 27, 2008
Kabir Bedi and his daughter Pooja Bedi did attend the fashion and dance event "Marvellous
Expressions" on Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Marvel Isola, in Pune
(Source: http://www.expressindia.com):
- "Marvellous Expressions", a fashion and dance experience directed
by ace couturier Hemant Trevedi and Sheetal Design Studio launched Marvel
Zephyr at Marvel Isola, Pune.
The evening kicked off with a dance performance by Nrityarutya dance academy.
India's top models such as Jesse Randhawa, Candice Pinto, Dipannita Sharma,
Gauhar Khan, Nethra Raghuraman, Asif Azim, and Rahul Singh showcased 200
creations through eight themes, Bridal, Moghul, Cocktail, Sari, Lounge, Rajasthan,
Dreamy Whites and Bridal Panetar.
True to Trevedi’s signature style, the creations blended rich Indian hues
and patterns with sensible western cuts. From ethereal innocence to retro
and risqué each round set off a different mood for the evening. Also
present at the event was the debonair Kabir Bedi with his daughter Pooja
Bedi, Randhir Kapoor, Pankaj Udhas and ex - Commissioner of Pune Arun Bhatia.
The showstopper of the evening though was the gorgeous Malaika Arora Khan
sashaying down the ramp, making it the Saturday night party to be at. |
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Old Stephanian Kabir Bedi on
Rahul Gandhi's claim October 23, 2008
Old Stephanian Kabir Bedi, who completed History (hons) from St Stephen's
in 1966, is quoted in an article on Rahul Gandhi's recent claim that asking
questions was not seen as good, even in an institution like St Stephen's:
- Stephanians fume at Rahul Gandhi's claim
- by Neha Pushkarna & Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN, published by Times of
India, New Delhi edition
Rahul Gandhi may regret not getting a chance to ask questions while studying
at St Stephen's, but he's unlikely to get much sympathy from
his former teachers and compatriots, many of whom believe he only has himself
to blame.
Talking about the state of higher education in the country, the Gandhi scion,
in a public interaction in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, had lamented that asking
questions was not seen as good even in an institution like St Stephen's.
Stephanians - past and present - and their teachers seem to think otherwise.
Most of them believe Rahul's may have been an individual experience. "Rahul
Gandhi always came with a couple of security guards to the college and mostly
preferred to sit on the back bench and didn't ask anything. At St Stephen's,
we not only encourage students to ask questions, but to ask even uncomfortable
questions so that we can teach them to have an opinion," says a teacher
who taught Rahul when he joined the college in 1989 to pursue History (hons).
Pankaj Misra, an alumni who now teaches Sanskrit in the college, says, "Rahul
was two years my junior. He was neither too good in studies nor a regular
student. So it doesn't really mean anything if he makes such remarks."
Older Stephanians were surprised by Rahul's claim. Says election commissioner
S Y Qureshi, "Things might have changed now. But it was very different
in our times. The teacher-student relation during my college days was very
open. That was one of the reasons why the college did so well in all spheres," Qureshi
says.
Actor Kabir Bedi who completed History (hons) from St Stephen's in 1966 says
he asked as many questions as he wanted from his teachers and nobody seemed
to mind. "There used to be tutorials after the classes where the teacher
sat with a group of four-five students and gave a critique of the essays
that we wrote. What followed were debates, discussions and lots of questions
and answers," Bedi says.
According to Stephanians, learning to ask questions was also a pre-requisite
to doing well in their college. Kirti Azad, former cricketer, who passed
out of St Stephen's in 1980 says, "I feel sorry when such a comment
is made about St Stephen's. For as long as I was there, the college provided
a fantastic atmosphere for academic and holistic growth of a student. I have
no idea if it has changed to this extent?" However teachers at St Stephen's,
who have also studied in the college say that the way of teaching has always
been interactive. "Think independently. Ask questions. By and large,
we have been able to inculcate this in our students. What Rahul Gandhi thinks
cannot be a universal experience. In fact, our students are known to ask
questions wherever they go," says Nandita Narain, who teaches Mathematics
in the college.
Stephanians think that Rahul may have touched upon a pertinent issue by bringing
up the condition of higher educational institutions but using his alma mater
as an example wasn't required. Valson Thampu, current principal of St Stephen's
says, "For a year and three months Rahul spent in the college, he was
a part of the largest batch as History (hons) has nearly 60 students in every
class." He adds, "It may not be Rahul's intention to run down but
now since he has shown a vision, he should also initiate practical measures
to improve the condition of higher education." |
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Lakme
Fashion Week: Bedi family charms all on Day Two October
22, 2008
Kabir, his daughter Pooja, and his girlfriend Parveen
Dusanj, were present to cheer 11-year-old Aalia as she made her debut on
the catwalk at designer Pallavi's show:
- Speaking volumes
- by Shweta Teotia, Priyanka Pereira, Express India
Celeb of the day
The surprise entry on Day Two was Kabir Bedi, who looked as hot as a firecracker.
He was accompanied by girlfriend Parveen Dusanj and daughter Pooja Bedi.
They were there to cheer little Aliya (Pooja’s adorable daughter), who walked
the ramp for Pallavi Jaipur. Chatting up with each other and posing for the
shutterbugs, they looked like one big happy family. |
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TV alert: Kabir Bedi as best
Sandokan ever, on German TV October 21, 2008
Kabir Bedi starring as best Sandokan ever in the cult TV mini-series, now
on German television:
From...November 29, 2008...20:15...MDR...Sandokan, der Tiger von Malaysia
(1976) - 3-part-broadcast
Enjoy! |
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EXCLUSIVE Producers of Protima
Bedi film could be in "serious trouble," Kabir
says October 20, 2008
Reports about a new film on the life of his former wife, Odissi dancer Protima
Bedi, have left the Bedi family puzzled and angry, India's international
movie star told kabir-bedi.com.
- "I don't know anything about it," Kabir said in an interview
from his home in Mumbai. "It's just a proposal. There's nothing serious
about it as far as we are concerned."
Producers of the project have allegedly signed Shilpa Shetty to play the
lead role in the biopic about Protima, Kabir's ex-wife, who became known
for her devotion and skill in Odissi dancing and died in the Malpa landslide
near Pithoragarh. The couple's daughter Pooja wrote Protima's biography,
Timepass, published in 2000, based on notes and memories about her late mother.
The Bedi family still own the rights to the book, and the film makers need
permission to use it, Kabir said.
- "They haven't met the family, and they have to do that because we
have copyright," said Kabir.
If they were approached, the Bedis would have to know how the life of Protima
was going to be treated in the film, Kabir said. "We have to see if
they would sensationalise it, how good they are."
If confirmed, Shilpa Shetty might not be a bad choice to play Protima, given
her dancing skills and standing as an actress, said Kabir.
But he warned: "They'd be in serious trouble if they went ahead without
us." |
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Kabir
Bedi's daughter Pooja, symbol of Indian secularism October
20, 2008
With a Sikh surname and a Hindu first name, Pooja Bedi grew up with a British
Buddhist grandmother and later married a Muslim whose family called her Noorjahan.
She also has Muslim and Parsi in-laws. No wonder she's the very incarnation
of Indian secularism, according to this article from Indian news agency Sampurn,
published today:
- Pooja Bedi: Symbol of Secularism
- by Indian news agency Sampurn
Not many people know that Pooja Bedi comes from a very diverse background.
What is also amazing is that she is also known by three different names.
According to Pooja she comes from such a family which is incomparable. She
said that her grandmother was a British and she happened to meet her grandfather
in Oxford after which they came back to India. Ironically when her grandmother
came to India she along with her husband fought against the British Government
for freedom. Later on she embraced Buddhism and started living in karmapa
Monastery which is in Sikkim. She was amongst the highly positioned nuns
over there. Even my dad lived there for many years, that’s the reason why
we brother
and sisters were also influenced with Buddhism a lot. Till date a life is
highly influenced by Buddhism. I have been a given a name by the Karmapa
Monastery as Karma Saraswati. Along with Buddhism I also believe a lot in
Hinduism for which all the credit goes to my mom who was a Bengali. With
her dance she introduced us to the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagawad Geeta,
Kali Tandav and Durga pooja. As my dad is a Sikh so I learnt my lessons from
Gurunanak.
She also told us that after being influenced with Buddhism her Hindu name
was Pooja along with a Sikh surname Bedi. Then she got married to a Muslim
and they named her Noorjahan. Her in-laws are Parsis and Muslim. So in that
case her children are a complete mixture of religions that is Hindu, Muslim,
Sikh, Parsi and Buddhism.
I guess Pooja forgot to mention the Christian influence in her life, like
she said her grandmother was from Britain so before she embraced Buddhism
she was a Christian. Anyways Pooja we are happy with the fact that you in
a true meaning are a symbol of secularism.
- end of the Sampurn article -
|
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Lakme
Fashion Week: Kabir Bedi's granddaughter Aalia to debut on
ramp October
20, 2008
Kabir's 11-year-old granddaughter Aalia, daughter of TV host and actress
Pooja Bedi, will make her debut as a model on October 21, 2008:
- Pooja Bedi’s daughter to debut on ramp
- by IANS, published by several Indian newspapers
Actress and TV host Pooja Bedi’s daughter Aalia, 11, will walk the ramp for
the first time Tuesday for designer Pallavi at the Lakme Fashion Week and
the proud mother says her little girl is going through mixed feelings.
- "Aalia is a lot into extra curricular activities in school. This is
the first time that she is walking the ramp and is pretty nervous. At the
same time she is excited too," said Pooja. |
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Pooja Bedi: "I'll take legal action" October
18, 2008
Pooja Bedi is seething about the reported plans for a movie about the life
of her mother, Protima. She's even threatened to take the picture's makers
to court, according to the Times of India, today:
- "I'll take legal action"
- by Barkha Mathur, TNN, Times of India
The proposed Indo-Chinese film based on the life of her mother, Protima Bedi,
has upset Pooja Bedi no end.
Protima was a model-turned-Odissi danseuse, who remained in news for her
bindaas lifestyle and met with a tragic end when she was on her way to Kailash
Mansarovar for a pilgrimage. In a chat with NT, Pooja spells out her objections
to a film being made on her mom's life.
Livid over the fact that the producers of the film have not even shown the
courtesy to seek permission from the family, Pooja says, "I have only
heard about this through the media. It is extremely appalling that these
guys have not even shown the basic decency of taking the family's consent.
Since I'm the only family left now, I am going to take legal action against
these people." Does she have any other objection other than the fact
that they have not sought her permission? "Many," she says quickly
and adds, "my mother was a very unconventional kind of a woman. I don't
want people, who don't even know her properly, to start filming her life
for the sake of some cheap sensationalism. I would like to know how they
will be projecting her and which aspects of her life will they be putting
on celluloid. I don't want my mother to be shown in a bad light, definitely
not now when she is dead."
It has also been reported that Shilpa Shetty has been signed to play Protima.
Is the fact that Pooja was not approached for the role also an issue with
her? "Absolutely not! I don't think I'm good enough to bring alive the
character of my mother, even if it is on screen. Besides, my mother was a
classical dancer, and I am very bad at it." Tell her that since she
has a better understanding of her mother's life and character, she would
thus be a better choice and Pooja retorts, "That's precisely the reason
I would not like to play the part. There are certain things, which are too
personal to be put up for public view. And as far as looks go, I take more
after my father."
Moving on to her own acting career, Pooja is remembered till date for her
cameo in the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. So, why didn't she pay much attention
to her acting career? "I left acting when I got married. And I don't
think I was good at it. I think I just managed to look very sexy. That's
all," she says. Pooja has since made television her medium. How much
does she enjoy that? "I love being on television and I love to do these
chat shows. I am a very talkative person and enjoy interacting with people.
These shows also educate and entertain at the same time," she adds.
And what is it about reality shows that Pooja is so often seen on them? "I
did take part in a few reality dance shows, but I know I am not good at dancing.
So, now even though I get so many offers to take part in these dance shows,
I refuse the offers. I did enjoy being part of the Fear Factor Khatron Ke
Khiladi, as Akshay Kumar is a super hero and a role model for my kids. In
future, I just aspire to be the best chat show host on television. That's
just one thing I love doing and I am also good at it." |
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Pooja Bedi denies knowledge of
film being made on mother Protima October
18, 2008
Pooja Bedi says she wasn't told about plans to make a film about Protima,
her mother and Kabir Bedi's first wife. Here's what she told Indian news
agency IANS:
- Pooja Bedi denies knowledge of film being made on mother
- by news agency IANS, published by thaindian.com
Bollywood actress turned television celebrity anchor Pooja Bedi has denied
any knowledge of a film being made on her mother Protima Bedi. Pooja, daughter
of Kabir Bedi and his first wife Protima, said she has neither been approached
by any director or producer for permission nor for providing any information
on her mother.
- "Neither I or any of my family members know about the film," Pooja
told IANS.
- "I wonder how they will make a film on my mother without getting any
details from us. I hope they are not making the film with reference from
her autobiography," said Pooja.
Protima Bedi, Odissi danseuse-cum-model, had written a autobiography titled
Time Pass where she gave a candid description of all her relationships and
her rebellious lifestyle.
The book also has a vivid description of her family life including her dream
project of setting up a free dance school Nrityagram, to her eventual transition
into a monk.
Pooja had compiled all her writings and published the book in 2000.
Pooja said: "If they are making the film from her book then they should
first seek permission."
Earlier, it was reported in a section of media that south Indian director
Sarath Kumar is making a film on Protima Bedi where Shilpa Shetty will be
playing the role of Protima. |
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Kabir
Bedi proud about his unsurpassed Sandokan record October
16, 2008
Kabir says: "I’m thrilled by Indian TV’s incredible expansion" and
he's quite proud that he set a record with his lead role Sandokan
in Italy which has never been surpassed:
- Kabir speaks about his journey
- by Deepali Dhingra, TNN, The Times of India
Three continents, three decades and three performing mediums - if there’s
one Indian actor who’s made a mark internationally, it has to be Kabir Bedi
Yes, the man with the light blue eyes, deep baritone and versatile acting
abilities has truly gone where no man has ever gone before! And apart from
films, it’s the small screen which has made him a household name in European
countries as well as in the USA.
Ask the man himself about the experience and he smiles, "Well, I’ve
logged a lot of air miles, and living out of suitcases has become a habit.
It’s not easy straddling three continents for 30 years." He can say
that again! Apart from juggling films and acting assignments in India, Kabir
kept himself busy with films and TV shows abroad as well. It was in the year
1976, that Kabir played the lead in Sandokan, a six-part miniseries for European
television. The saga of a romantic Asian pirate during British colonial times,
broke viewership records across Europe.
- "It’s gratifying that the record I set in Italy with Sandokan, 30
million viewers in a city of 60 million, has never been surpassed. Sandokan’s
impact was tremendous across the whole of Europe, including Eastern European
countries," says Kabir. He was recently seen in a prime-time Italian
television series Un Medico In Famiglia.
American television too welcomed Kabir with open arms and the his extensive
roles there on primetime and daytime, series and mini-series include African
epic Forbidden Territory, and Ken Follett’s On Wings of Eagles and also Lie
Down with Lions. He played Friar Sands in The Lost Empire. He also played
roles on Dynasty, Murder She Wrote, Magnum PI, Hunter, Knight Rider and Highlander:
The Series amongst others. But it was The Bold and the Beautiful, the second
most watched show in the world, that turned Kabir into a familiar face. As
Prince Omar, he acted in the show for over a year and for Kabir, the show
was "a tremendous international boost, even more than the Bond film
Octopussy, with its legions of international fans."
The popularity of the soap ensured that over a billion viewers across 147
countries got to know of Kabir. "A lot of people got to know me. The
fan mail was unbelievable," he recalls and adds, "Having acted
in nine Italian series and 14 US television series, I’ve learnt along the
way. It’s bloody hard work! Unfortunately, a lot of it hasn’t been seen in
India."
Considering that most shows and films abroad tend to showcase India and Indians
in a stereotypical fashion, did Kabir too find a similar thing happening? "Generally
speaking, yes," admits Kabir, "Abroad the business of casting is
typecasting. Sandokan was an exception, because an Indian was cast in the
role of a Malaysian pirate fighting the British and falling in love with
an English girl. That’s a rare occurrence." Indeed, the actor has been
fortunate enough to appeal both to an Indian as well as global audience.
Back home, Kabir is impressed with the growth of Indian television, which
he finds "spectacular", to say the least. "A person like Ekta Kapoor
symbolises the success and opportunities created by it. I’m sure some of
our series will last a decade like General Hospital or like the Bold and
the Beautiful abroad.
As for the Indian news channels, we’re equal to the best in the world (with
the sole exception of the BBC). The accountability demanded by our news channels
has strengthened Indian democracy immeasurably. Overall, while our programming
could certainly be more diverse, I’m thrilled by Indian TV’s incredible expansion."
That might be so but Kabir, apart from hosting a show called Director’s Cut
on Zoom Television where he interviewed India’s leading directors, has stayed
away from doing acting assignments on the Indian telly circuit. "Yes,
it’s true," he admits with a smile, "I have stayed away from long
running series as I don’t wish to be tied down by an everyday long running
commitment. But I might be tempted by a high quality factual show." One
thing’s for sure Kabir, the Indian audience sure wouldn’t mind seeing more
of you on the small screen! |
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Shilpa
Shetty will star as Protima, who's to play Kabir Bedi? October
14, 2008
The life of Kabir's late ex-wife and Siddharth's and Pooja's mother Protima
Bedi will be the subject of a biographical film. Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty
will play the lead.
Shilpa Shetty is according to her own account a big and long-standing fan
of Kabir Bedi.
She is already preparing for her starring role in Sarath Kumar's movie:
- The Bold & the Beautiful
- by Subhash K Jha, TNN, Mumbai Mirror
Shilpa Shetty is all set to play the most challenging role of her career
- the late Protima Bedi, an Odissi danseuse-cum-model. The film is an Indo-Chinese
production which is taking shape secretly behind closed doors.
According to sources, Shilpa was the first and the only natural choice to
play Protima Bedi. A source said, "In terms of body language and facial
resemblance, Shilpa came closest to Protima Bedi. Also the people behind
the project felt that Shilpa has tremendous untapped potential and hence
was apt to play the role."
Protima was Kabir Bedi’s first wife and Pooja Bedi and Siddharth’s mother.
Considering the challenge in portraying Protima Bedi, who led a colourful
and rebellious life, Shilpa has already begun preparation for the part.
We hear that she has been secretly learning the classical dance form of Orissa,
Odissi, from one of Protima Bedi’s teachers and is also reading up extensively
on the lady, who died prematurely at the age of 40.
[Editor's Note: Protima Bedi was born in October 1949 and died at the age
of 49 on August 17, 1998]
The film is in English and directed by the award-winning Malayalam director,
Sarath Kumar. It will be shot in Kuala Lumpur, Kerala, Bangalore and Nrityagram
- Protima’s dance academy on the outskirts of Bangalore, in December.
When contacted, Shilpa remained unavailable for comment. |
| |
La Stampa on Kabir Bedi's Son
Siddharth October 14, 2008
Italy's La Stampa newspaper wrote about Kabir's son Siddarth, who died July
19, 1997, in an article about the often tragic lives of the children of movie
stars. This is what the paper had to say:
Among the children of stars, "there are many others who take their own
lives because they never felt it truly belonged to them. They may be crushed
by the weight of the family name, or by being far more handsome than most
others, an appearance that eventually turns toxic: from Gregory Peck's journalist
son Jonathan, to Siddarth, the son of Kabir Bedi, the TV Sandokan."
Kabir Bedi's first-born son Siddharth was 25 when he died in Los Angeles.
He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia earlier, and wrote in a farewell
letter that he didn't want to live with his illness any longer.
Although Siddharth Bedi's death is sometimes attributed to "drug-related
causes", newspaper reports at the time as well as comments by both his
parents Kabir and Protima Bedi have made it clear that this is inaccurate.
The newspaper story describes how hard the life of some of Hollywood's offspring
can be, under the limelight of the media and with enormous parental expectations.
Take
Scott Newman. The 28 year-old son of Paul Newman died of a drug overdose,
plunging his father into a lifetime of mourning, the paper said. It also
named Marlon Brando, who had a great deal of worry over his children Christian
and
Cheyenne, as well as Peter Sellers and Jack Lemmon as other troubled Hollywood
parents.
Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda, both celebrity children, were
cited as one example of the opposite.
According to Bridget Fonda, daughter
of Peter Fonda, the children of celebrities want to be anonymous on the one
hand, but on the other they want to emulate and eclipse their parents, including
their mistakes.
Bette Davis' daughter, Barbara Davis Hyman, as well as Maria Riva, the daughter
of Marlene Dietrich, and Chad McQueen, son of Steve, are named as examples
of celebrity offspring who rebelled against the overly-idealised image of
their parents.
The article concludes that the days of movie stars who had no idea of how
to bring up children is now over. How will the current generation of Hollywood
kids - with bizarre names like Suri, Apple, Hazel and Phinnaeus - be faring,
the newspaper asks. |
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Sandokan Cartoon Flakes for Breakfast October 9, 2008
Playing with Sandokan even before breakfast - a dream turned true for some
Italian kids, and a TV delight for many more.
Italian state TV channel Rai Due just is starting "Cartoon Flakes",
an innovative, 100-episode children's programme in which four groups of kids
go do their morning chores on four different sets representing a family home.
At the same time, they play with their favourite cartoon figures including
Winx Club, I Saurini, the fantasy animals of cartoonist
Andrea Pazienza and of course Sandokan.
The cartoon heroes talk to the children
and act like their virtual friends, bringing the worlds of fantasy and everyday
reality together and making the kids' dreams come true. The few adults in
the programme are relegated to the background.
The programme is targeted
at the 4-12 age group, and will go on air every weekday from 7:00-9:30 a.m.,
beginning Monday, October 13, 2008.
The show is being produced at a RAI facility
in Turin, home town of Sandokan author Emilio Salgari. |
| |
Kabir Bedi with Akshay Kumar
in Deepa Mehta's Komagata Maru? October 9,
2008
Deepa Mehta's Canadian project Komagata Maru ("Exclusion") was
announced today by Hamilton-Mehta Productions, with Akshay Kumar in the part
of Sikh lawyer Gurdit Singh. India's hottest actor said he is looking forward
to working with Oscar-winning director Deepa Mehta.
Contrary to earlier reports, Amitabh Bachchan won't be playing a major part
in the film, after the Canadian government - which is putting up 50% of the
funding - insisted that the lead be played by an actor who is a Canadian
resident or citizen, a condition met only by Akshay Kumar.
The film is about the 1914 journey by the Japanese ship Komagata Maru, which
headed to Canada with 376 Punjabi Indians hoping to build their lives in
the New World. There were 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims and 12 Hindus on board, all
of whom were British citizens, but who were refused entry into Canada upon
their arrival in the port of Vancouver because of the country's racist immigration
laws. The converted cargo vessel, with only minimal sanitary facilities for
passengers, was moored offshore for two months and conditions on board grew
steadily worse. The steamer had been chartered by Gurdit Singh, a Singapore
lawyer with Amritsar roots, who thought his fellow Indians could get into
Canada via the direct sea route from Calcutta to Vancouver.
After Singh's talks with the Canadian authorities broke down, the ship was
made to return to Asia by force. According to the Canadian authorities, the
journey hadn't begun in India, but in Hong Kong, and had continued via Shanghai
and Yokohama. Upon their arrival back in Calcutta from the gruelling journey,
the passengers were to be taken back forcibly to the Punjab. But the desperate
returnees started a protest which resulted in a scuffle with British police.
Twenty people were shot dead and nine injured, as Gurdit Singh escaped and
went into hiding until 1922. He was finally persuaded by Mahatma Gandhi to
stand up as an Indian patriot, and was jailed for five years.
The Komagata Maru outrage was only one of several cases where Canada's early
20th-century immigration laws were used to keep out Asians.
At the same time,
the country was admitting huge numbers of European immigrants, including
more than 400,000 in 1913.
The film is now in pre-production. Shooting at a number of international
locations is due to start in September 2009.
The rumour that Kabir would play the lead began in the summer of 2005 because
of an incorrect internet report, which is still doing the rounds on several
websites. Kabir denied his involvement right after the report, and again
in several interviews since then, saying his part in the project unfortunately
never progressed beyong "talks" in 2007/2008. However, the cast
isn't complete yet, so - who knows? |
| |
New
release date for Kabir Bedi's Kites October 8, 2008
Producer Rakesh Roshan's Kites, starring his son Hrithik Roshan, is 75 percent
complete and scheduled for an August 2009 release, according to Times Now
today.
The in September 2008 reported release date of May 2009 had to be rescheduled.
Kabir plays Bob, a casino owner in Las Vegas, and the father of two grown-up
children. Those also have complicated love lives, and much of the film is
about the conundrums that follow. According to Kabir, Kites is a complex
and sensitive story and a far cry from the usual Bollywood fare.
The Indian movie Kites is said to be similar to Woody Allen's marital drama
Match Point (2006).
Kites is the story of a three-way love affair with Hrithik Roshan at the
centre. He plays a sophisticated young man who speaks several languages,
but not the tongue of his true love, played by Latin beauty Barbara Mori.
And if that isn't trouble enough, there's also Kangana Ranaut as "another
woman" in the young man's life. |
| |
Kabir Bedi at the Sikh Heritage
Awards Gala October 2, 2008
Kabir is on the guest list for the Sikh Heritage Awards Gala 2008 at 7 p.m.
tomorrow (October 3, 2008) at the Cipriani restaurant in Wall Street, alongside
Padma Lakshmi, his co-star in Il Figlio di Sandokan (1998, unreleased). Cathy
Moriarty who played a lead part in The Mambo Kings (1992, with Armand Assante),
is also among the event's 500 guests. Kabir joined the Sikh Heritage Awards
event last year, too.
The New York bash marks the start of the 5th Sikh Film Festival 2008, a one-day
moviefest held the next day at the Asia Society on Park Avenue. The organisers
plan on showing 15 films and giving New Yorkers a taste of Sikh culture.
The event has already sold out completely. |
| |
| SEPTEMBER
2008 |
| |
Bollywood
Film Fest: special guest Kabir Bedi checks into Prague September
24, 2008
Kabir will be a special guest at the Festival of Bollywood Film in Prague,
from October 6-12, 2008, according to the British newspaper The Times, today:
- Bollywood checks into Prague
- by Anil Sinanan, Times Bollywood Film Critic
Bollywood’s expansion into non-traditional markets continues with the Prague
Festival of Bollywood Film which takes place in the Czech capital from October
6-12. Now in its sixth year, this year’s event will showcase over 40 diverse
films.
Fans of the "King Khan" Shah Rukh Khan can catch his blockbuster
Om Shanti Om (October 9) whilst Aamir Khan devotees can dip into his Rang
de Basanti (October 11), India’s official entry to this years Oscars. Additionally,
there will be a focus on more meaningful Indian cinema as this year’s event
is themed "India Reality...?" and aims to portray life as it is
in the "real" India.
Other events planned include a reception by the Indian High Commission, a
Bollywood themed party with music by the Munich Masala DJs from Germany,
panel discussions and ample servings of curry. Special guest at this year’s
event will be actor Kabir Bedi who is huge in the Czech Republic following
the screening of his hit Italian TV series Sandokan.
Why is Bollywood big in Prague? Sangita Shresthova, the festival’s programme
director explains: "Contrary to most South Asian events in other European
countries, our audience is predominantly Czech. Many come to experience something
different, for a tinge of escapism or curiosity." Bollywood’s profile
may have also been raised by the fact that the Czech hottie Yana Gupta (born
Jana Synkova) is currently a much in demand "item" dance girl in
Hindi and Indian regional cinema. Check it out! |
| |
Release of Kabir Bedi's Kites
in May 2009 September 22, 2008
Kabir Bedi's Kites, starring Hrithik Roshan, is scheduled to be released
in May 2009, according to Preity P.'s exclusive story, Sawf News.
Filming in the US was originally scheduled to end in the last days of September
2008. Due to the disruption caused by hurricane Ike in New Mexico, the unit
lost 15 days and the shooting schedule had to be extended to October 15,
2008.
Hrithik Roshan missed his family and so his wife Suzanne flew with both the
kids, Hrehaan and Hridaan, to Las Vegas. To welcome his family, Hrithik Roshan
had organized a dinner in his Las Vegas hotel suite, with selective cast
and crew members.
Kites is the story of a three-way love affair with Hrithik Roshan at the
centre. He plays a sophisticated young man who speaks several languages,
but not the tongue of his true love, played by Latin beauty Barbara Mori.
And if that isn't trouble enough, there's also Kangana Ranaut as "another
woman" in the young man's life.
Kabir plays Bob, a casino owner in Las Vegas, and the father of two grown-up
children. Those also have complicated love lives, and much of the film is
about the conundrums that follow. According to Kabir, Kites is a complex
and sensitive story and a far cry from the usual Bollywood fare. |
| |
Kabir Bedi's Kites now filming
in Las Vegas September 21, 2008
Kites, starring Hrithik Roshan, is right on schedule, says producer Rakesh
Roshan, according to an article by Subhash K Jha, TNN, in The Times of India
today:
- "All is well with Kites. We are on schedule. After finishing shooting
in New Mexico on September 12, we’ve moved to Las Vegas. From here we’ll
relocate for the last lap of the US shooting to Los Angeles on Oct 3 and
we’ll be returning to Mumbai on October 12."
Bobby Singh, director of photography, is no more involved with the project
since September 2008. Ayananka Bose, known for his work in the Yash Raj film
Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom, has replaced him.
Hrithik Roshan, speaking on the phone from Las Vegas, confirmed this: "It
was an amicable split. Now, Ayananka Bose is the DOP."
Kites is the story of a three-way love affair with Hrithik Roshan at the
centre. He plays a sophisticated young man who speaks several languages,
but not the tongue of his true love, played by Latin beauty Barbara Mori.
And if that isn't trouble enough, there's also Kangana Ranaut as "another
woman" in the young man's life.
Kabir plays Bob, a casino owner in Las Vegas, and the father of two grown-up
children. Those also have complicated love lives, and much of the film is
about the conundrums that follow. According to Kabir, Kites is a complex
and sensitive story and a far cry from the usual Bollywood fare. |
| |
Shooting
for Kabir Bedi's thriller Phir to start October 2008 Sept.
16, 2008
Shooting for Kabir's medical thriller Phir, set in London, will start in
October, the rediff.com website reported today.
Kabir is rumoured to play a doctor,
with Roshni Chopra in the lead as an accountant. Rajneesh Duggal will appear
as her husband, also a doctor. Producer Vikram Bhatt suggested Roshni Chopra
for the role to his director.
Girish Dhamija. Kabir, Urmila Matondkar, Adah
Sharma and Rajneesh Duggal have already been signed for the film.
Blue-eyed
model Adah Sharma and handsome Rajneesh Duggal made their joint debut in
Vikram Bhatt's thriller 1920 (2008), which was rated as entertaining by audiences
and critics alike. |
| |
Sweet Amerika: Kabir Bedi among
candidates for part as Sikh supermarket owner September 16, 2008
Bobby Singh, the Sikh owner of an American supermarket, is kidnapped by four
self-appointed patriots out to take revenge for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Singh
is a fair and generous man who bears the scars of a family tragedy.
Bobby
Singh's part needed an experienced Bollywood actor, and Kabir was one
of the candidates being considered, as was Om Puri, the director said today
in an interview.
But finally the role went to Gulshan Grover, who often plays
the villain in Bollywood productions.
R. Paul Dhillon's Sweet Amerika will
premiere in Canadian cinemas on Sept. 19., 2008. |
| |
Hurricane Ike interrupts shooting
for Kabir Bedi's Kites September 16, 2008
Shooting in New Mexico for Kabir's new film, Kites, has had to be stopped
because of hurricane Ike, which has caused a trail of death and destruction
in the Caribbean, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico. Producer Rakesh Roshan is
yet to decide whether he'll fly the cast, including his son Hritik Roshan,
Barbara Mori and Kangana Ranaut, back to India to avoid high standby costs,
and resume shooting in the southern U.S. state later.
The disruption costs money, but also wreaks havoc on the stars' other commitments,
as their schedules have had to be changed or even cancelled.
Kites is the story of a three-way love affair with Hrithik Roshan at the
centre. He plays a sophisticated young man who speaks several languages,
but not the tongue of his true love, played by Latin beauty Barbara Mori.
And if that isn't trouble enough, there's also Kangana Ranaut as "another
woman" in the young man's life.
Kabir plays Bob, a casino owner in Las Vegas, and the father of two grown-up
children. Those also have complicated love lives, and much of the film is
about the conundrums that follow. According to Kabir, Kites is a complex
and sensitive story and a far cry from the usual Bollywood fare. |
| |
TV
alert: Kabir Bedi starring now as Kammamuri in I Misteri della
giungla nera September 14, 2008
Kabir Bedi as mentor and warrior Kammamuri in one of his most popular roles,
now on Italian television:
From...September 17, 2008...21:20...Tele Dehon...I Misteri della giungla
nera (part 1)
More forthcoming Misteri broadcast data online at kabir-bedi.com (TV section).
Kevin Connor's TV mini-series I Misteri della giungla nera (1991, The Mysteries
of the Dark Jungle) is now being shown right after Kabir's blockbuster TV
series Sandokan was broadcast
on
the same
channel.
The Italian TV premiere of Misteri was on February 3, 1991 (4 parts) and it
was last broadcast in Germany in December 2001.
However, Italian channel Tele Dehon has often broadcast this much-loved TV
mini-series, also starring Stacy Keach, Virna Lisi, and a young Gabrielle
Anwar.
Ayesha Dharker plays a young girl in I Misteri della giungla nera, she starred
in Kabir's film Anita and Me (2002).
Enjoy! |
| |
| AUGUST 2008 |
| |
Fans thrilled as Sandokan meets
Rumpelstiltskin August 24, 2008
According to a review in the German newspaper Mainpost, Jethro Tull lead
singer Ian Anderson looks like a "61-year-old cross between Sandokan
and Rumpelstiltskin".
Sandokan's Scottish look-alike has traded in his flowing beard for a jawful
of designer stubble, and a pirate's bandanna now replaces his wild mop of
hair. There's even a bit of a spare tire. Too bad we don't know what Rumpelstiltskin
would have looked like as a dancing dervish. But Ian Anderson did show this
evening that he's certainly not "too old to rock'n'roll, too young to
die."
Anderson, who's been part of Jethro Tull for 40 years, gave a concert for
1700 fans in the German town of Bad Brückenau. |
| |
Sandokan Co-Star Philippe Leroy
in Tuscany August 24, 2008
Philippe Leroy, Kabir's Sandokan co-star, is a guest at the trade Week in
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana near the Tuscan town of Lucca. Leroy, who played
Yanez de la Gomera in Sandokan.Tiger of Malaysia (1976), was given a formal
but very cordial reception by Castelnuovo's mayor, Sauro Bonaldi, the Italian
press reported today. Philippe will be staying at the town near the port
of La Spezia for the next few days. The Paris-born actor, who lives in Rome,
was known as a fiery rebel from an early age, and always felt attracted to
the arts. After a career in the military, which saw him in action in Indochina,
he took to acting for TV and cinema.
Aged 77, he is still in top form and
highly popular in Spain, Italy and France.
Leroy makes regular appearances
in big-budget movies, and continues to pursue his hobby of many years: free-fall
parachuting from a height of 10,000 feet... |
| |
Shooting
to start soon for Kabir Bedi's medical thriller Phir August
17, 2008
Shooting for Kabir Bedi's medical thriller Phir will start "in a couple
of months", according to The Times of India today.
Kabir is rumoured to star as a doctor.
Roshni Chopra will play one of the female leads, a chartered accountant,
married with a doctor, played by Rajneesh Duggal.
Producer Vikram Bhatt had suggested Roshni Chopra for this role to his director
Girish Dhamija.
As reported earlier, blue-eyed model Adah Sharma and handsome Rajneesh Duggal
will also star in the film. They are making their joint debut in Bhatt's
thriller 1920 soon. |
| |
India's Party: Kabir Bedi presents
India Truly Independent August 14, 2008
Kabir, the "film icon and noted television personality," will be
presenting the India Truly Independent show being broadcast from London by
the TV station Times Now, the India PR Wire agency reported today.
Times
Now TV will air the event on the anniversary of India's independence tomorrow,
August 15, at 12:30 p.m. and again at 10 p.m.
Kabir's show will pay special
attention to the many Indians living abroad, who look upon their 61-year-old
country with equal measure of affection and critical detachment.
India gained independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947,
when Kabir was 1-1/2 years old. His father, Baba Bedi, made a major contribution
to the constitution of Pakistan, which became independent at the same time.
India Truly Independent is part of a series of programmes being broadcast
by Times Now in India to celebrate the event. The station, which first came
on air in January 2006, is India's leading English-language TV news channel. |
| |
Kabir Bedi's medical thriller
has working title August
13, 2008
ASA productions' Surender Sharma and producer/director Vikram Bhatt announced
details of two new projects today, one of them being Kabir's medical thriller.
Kabir's thriller - he will play one of the leads (it is rumoured he will
play a doctor) - is set in London and has the new working title Phir (transl.:
again).
Not Vikram Bhatt but Girish Dhamija will direct the film. Phir is being
produced by ASA Productions and Enterprises Ltd. As reported earlier, blue-eyed model Adah Sharma and handsome Rajneesh Duggal
will also star in the film. They are making their joint debut in Bhatt's
thriller 1920 soon. |
| |
10th
death anniversary: Protima Bedi - free-spirited mother of all
rebels August
9, 2008
Here's an article commemorating Kabir's late ex-wife Protima Bedi (she died
on a pilgrim's journey in a landslide near Malpa in 1998), published today
by the Indian daily Deccan Herald in its section Living:
Protima Bedi - Mother of all rebels
by Rachna Bisht-Rawat
Protima Bedi lived life on her own terms. And her children grew up watching
her do it. It must have been difficult they were often left on their own,
or to spend time with the different partners their parents had.
- "I have broken every rule that our society has so carefully constructed.
I have known no barriers. I have done precisely what I bloody well felt like
doing and never given a damn. I have flaunted my youth, my sex, my intelligence,
and I have done it shamelessly. I have loved many, been loved by some."
- Protima Bedi in her book Timepass - the memoirs of Protima Bedi
She was the mother of all rebels. She ran away from home to ‘live in sin’
with Kabir Bedi. They later experimented with an ‘open marriage’ where she
had an affair with a German neighbour and he lived with Parveen Babi. When
she conceived her son Siddharth for quite some time she was not sure whether
he was Kabir’s son or her boyfriend’s and she never tried to hide this from
either Kabir or Siddharth. Protima Bedi lived life on her own conditions.
And her children grew up watching her do it. It must have been difficult
- they were often left on their own, or to spend time with the different
partners their parents had. They also had to adjust to life in the boarding
school at Sanawar where Siddharth, at least, was never happy, often asking
his mother to bring him back. While Pooja has mostly happy memories of being
taught the alphabet on sandy beaches, not on slate or paper, of meals served
on top of their car, in gardens, on the beach and even their bathtubs; Siddharth,
more introspective and sensitive by nature - committed suicide in Los Angeles
in 1997, soon after he was detected as suffering from schizophrenia.
Siddharth wrote in his suicide note that it was his "way of taking control
and opting out". Though he wrote that he loved his mom the most, he
spent the last years of his life angry and upset with her. To Pooja, who
once confronted her mother at five after her nude pictures appeared in a
magazine , telling her that her friends in school said she "ran nanga",
Protima replied that it was her life and no one had the right to question
what she did, promising her that when she grew up her mother would never
interfere. According to Pooja, they were lucky to have a mother with an incredibly
open mind and the desire to share herself every step of the way.
Protima often felt she could have done more for her children. Yet, she was
fed up of making sacrifices for everybody else and said the kids would have
to learn that she had a life of her own. |
| |
Kabir Bedi's daughter Pooja climbs
onto blogging bandwagon August 4, 2008
Following in the footsteps of many Indian entertainment figures, Pooja Bedi
has started her very own Internet blog. Her first entry, entitled "I
am what I am," says that "this blog is my way of saying there's
a lot more to me than just a sum of all the parts people tend to gossip about."
In her inimitable style, what-you-see-is-what-you-get Pooja will be posting
on www.poojablogs.blogspot.com.
Among the issues she has promised to write about, Pooja will tell her fans
about her experiences shooting for the Khatron Ke Khiladi show with Akshay
Kumar.
Among the celebs who unleashed the blogging phenomenon in Bollywood are Amitabh
Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Rahul Bose and Ajay Devgan. The stars
have a wide variety of reasons for starting up a blog, although commercial
motives aren't usually hard to find. Not every actor has climbed onto the
blogging bandwagon, however. Megastars Shahrukh Khan and Hritik Roshan have
said they prefer to impress their fans with their acting and their movies. |
| |
Alyque Padamsee is beaming about
Tughlaq with Kabir Bedi August 3, 2008
- "Yes, I am very proud of the fact that I produced Tuglak with Kabir
Bedi and everybody loved it," Alyque Padamsee told CNN TV in an interview
today. Stage producer and PR stalwart Padamsee said he decided to become
a cinema director at the age of 30, having bought the rights to Tughlaq,
the historical play that kicked off Kabir's acting career, from the playwright
Girish Karnak.
Padamsee said he had worked on a script for two years, and had already found
a producer. He needed a big name for the lead in order to raise finance for
the project, and travelled to Bangalore to recruit Amitabh Bachchan who was
filming there. The actor was interested in playing the lead in Tughlaq, according
to Padamsee, but had a near-fatal accident while shooting his film Coolie.
When Padamsee approached him again later, Bachchan's career plans had taken
a different turn because of the accident, and Tughlaq, the "art movie",
was never made. |
| JULY 2008 |
| |
The part written with Kabir Bedi
in mind July 28, 2008
Kabir's co-star Shivani Ghai (she played Sarita) talks about filming Un Medico
in famiglia 5, the popular Italian TV series, broadcast from March 15,
2007, in an interview with British AIM magazine, published today:
- "The Italian drama was a TV series for Rai Uno, called Medico in famiglia.
It first aired in 1998 and it became one of Italy’s most popular shows with
a huge fan base making it no. 1 in the ratings.
In 2006, for the 5th series they decided to introduce an Indian family to
the show, made up of a young doctor Sarita Dahvi, her two teenage brothers
and her grandfather.
The role of the grandfather was actually written with the actor Kabir Bedi
in mind.
In Italy he’s a bit of a legend, he’s also fluent in Italian."
Shivani Ghai continues: "For Sarita they wanted an Italian actress of
Indian origin, which proved to be quite difficult. After a couple of months
of auditioning in Italy they decided to look at Italian speaking actresses
from India and England. I got a call from my agent asking me if could speak
any Italian. I said no. She then called back to ask if I thought I could
learn a couple of scenes in Italian for an audition. I decided to give it
a try, 3 days later I was offered the job.
We were the first Indian family on Italian TV.
We filmed 26 one hour episodes in seven months.
My character was created as the new lead, whose love story drove the plot
over the course of the series. I was filming every day. Scenes were shot
out of sequence with two units, and could change at a day’s notice. I barely
knew one word of Italian, and I was suddenly put into an intensive schedule
where I was filming in a new language, and studying it simultaneously. In
terms of work it was one of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face, and
I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off.
But looking back, even though it was very hard work, it turned out to be
an amazing experience. I had to really push myself as an actor, and I felt
a huge sense of achievement by the end of it. Of course if you add to that,
the fact that I was living in the heart of Rome, which has to be one of the
most beautiful cities in the world. Learning a new language. Filming a show
I loved. Working with a lovely cast and crew and making some amazing friends,
its not hard to understand why I loved it.
I know some people loved my accent and found it quite endearing, and I’m
pretty sure others hated it. The accent was a big issue. Sarita was initially
supposed to be Italian born, but the script was changed and they explained
my accent by saying that I was sent away to study in England. However that
said, the producers still wanted me to lose the accent as much as possible.
They
were worried it might prevent audiences from taking to Sarita.
However, I was really lucky that I had an amazing language and dialect coach
called Francesca Rizzi who was with me all the time, and pushed me really
hard. When the show came out the audiences had no idea that I hadn’t been
able to speak the language previous to filming." |
| |
Kabir Bedi as Chandragupta on
Russian TV: The Maharaja's Daughter July 27, 2008
Russian TV viewers can see Kabir and his Bold & Beautiful co-star Hunter
Tylo in the mini-series The Maharaja's Daughter (1994). Private channel Ren-TV
is airing the show in four instalments starting tonight, July 27, 2008, with
Kabir playing the maharaja, Chandragupta. |
| |
Yuri has major part in Kabir
Bedi's Kites July 23, 2008
Yuri, who has been compared with Amrish Puri by the Indian press, has said
he will play a key role in Kabir's new film, Kites: "I play a very major
role in Kites and I am going to be in Las Vegas and California for its shooting
from mid-August to October," the actor told IANS news agency. Yuri previously
played villains such as the Mughal general in Jodhaa Akbar, a period drama
with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.
Yuri once wanted to become an astronaut, like the man he was named after,
Yuri Gagarin, and was an Indian Air Force major flying fighter jets from
1971 to 1991. He then worked as a discjockey in Delhi and got his first movie
role after being talent-spotted in a stage role - like Kabir. |
| |
Showman
Kabir Bedi in a limo in London July
19, 2008
In a Times of India interview published today, director Tigmanshu Dhulia
talks about Kabir's role in Showman:
- Kabir alvida na kehna (Kabir never says goodbye)
- (a play of words, using the title
of filmhit Kabhi alvida naa kehna, 2006)
by Kunal M Shah, TNN
Kabir Bedi, who was last seen in Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal in 2005 is all set
to return to the big screen after a gap of nearly three years.
He is slated to play a con artiste in Tigmanshu Dhulia’s upcoming film, a
comedy titled Showman (some say the title of the film is Con Flick), which
stars Govinda and Celina Jaitley in the lead roles.
When contacted, Tigmanshu Dhulia confirmed the news and said, "Yes,
we have signed Kabir Bedi for our film and we’ll start shooting in London
from July 23. Right from the time when the film was in its scripting stages,
we had Kabir in mind to essay the role of the conman. We were apprehensive
since he rarely does films now. However, once we narrated the script to him,
he was ready, and excited about the film."
Dhulia further added, "The con artiste’s character in the film is suave,
stylish and has a powerful aura around him. It makes it easy for a con artiste
to dupe his victims when he has such a personality. He is an extremely handsome
person who travels in expensive, super luxe cars. For this role, we wanted
someone older and weren’t looking for actors from the younger lot. Kabir
fits the bill perfectly and I am glad that he has agreed to act in Showman."
Tigmanshu, who has wrapped up the principal shoot of Shagird which stars
Nana Patekar, Anurag Kashyap and Mohit Ahlawat in lead along with Rimmi,
is also working on a film based on a soldier, Pan Singh Tomar, which will
star Irrfan Khan.
Meanwhile, Kabir has made his dislike for reality shows on TV very clear.
Though he gets a lot of offers to appear in one, Kabir insists that reality
shows are just not his cup of tea. This, coming from someone who almost won
the first series of Survivor [note: actually it's the second series
of L'Isola dei famosi, 2004] might seem ‘unreal’, but that, insists Kabir,
is
the real truth. |
| |
Kabir Bedi joins opening party
of the Star Bazaar July 18, 2008
Just before The Dark Knight had its cinema premiere on July 17, Kabir joined
the opening party of Star Bazaar, a new outlet of the Tata Group's hypermarket
chain in Lokhandwala, Bombay. Kabir wore a black shirt, black linen jacket
and black jeans in celebration of the movie. Nisha Harale, the fiancee of
Kabir's son Adam, greeted the guests together with Anchal Kumar. Adam, whose
new, long-haired and bearded look turned many heads, and his sister Pooja
Bedi were also there, as was Kabir's girlfriend, Parveen Dusanj. Tata is
planning to open 50 shopping malls in the next five years. Another one was
opened in the Bombay district of Andheri at the beginning of the month.
- video:
Kabir Bedi in Star Bazaar |
| |
Kabir
Bedi plays conman in Tigmanshu Dhulia's Showman July 17, 2008
Director Tigmanshu Dhulia has renamed his Con Flick project, starring Kabir
Bedi and Govinda, as Showman : "The film is now titled Showman which
stars Govinda, Rimi Sen, Vidya Malvade, and Celina Jaitley. The film is set
in London, and has a very tricky plot. The audiences will not know till the
last as to which of the heroines will get Govinda. We are leaving for London
for a month long shooting schedule," he said in an exclusive interview
with Bollywood Hungama.
Showman, in which Kabir plays a con artist, also features actor Harish and
a soundtrack by Sajid and Wajid.
Celina Jaitley recently hit the headlines after critical remarks by Kabir's
daughter, Pooja Bedi. |
| |
Kabir
Bedi and Govinda in comedy Con Flick July 16, 2008
The new film that will bring together Kabir and Indian superstar Govinda
has the working title of Con Flick, it was announced today. Director Tigmanshu
Dhulia has cast Govinda in the lead as the con, who falls in love with a
much younger, and overweight, woman, played by Rimi Sen. According to a member
of the film crew, Rimi Sen, who has worked with Dhulia before, will weigh
in at 160 kilos for the part! Vidya Malavade has also been signed up for
the film. Kabir will be shooting his part on Con Flick in the autumn of 2008,
after returning from the U.S. He spoke about the film project in his June
18, 2008 BBC radio interview with his ex-wife Nikki. |
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Kabir
Bedi & Hrithik Roshan: Kites - News about the shooting July
15, 2008
The American scenes of Kabir's new film, Kites, with Hrithik Roshan in the
lead, are being shot in New Mexico from July 28, 2008. The first shooting
sequence will probably last 80 days and will be followed by another in India
in December. The film will then go into post-production in India. Costume
designer Suneet Varma, whose creations have also had some success in the
west, has announced what he has in mind for the various actors and their
characters. Hrithik Roshan will be a man of the world. Like his dad in the
movie, casino owner Kabir Bedi, he knows Las Vegas like his back pocket,
and dresses in European-style bespoke suits. Hrithik's hats will be especially
made by a Hong Kong hatter. Kabir will also be wearing elegant, made-to-measure
clothing in Kites.
Kangana Ranaut, a wealthy lady in the film, has tasteful, flowing outfits,
and Barbara Mori, playing a Salsa dancer and Hrithik's lover, will be dressed
in colourful, many-layered creations.
Barbara is said to be learning Hindi
so that she can say her lines in English and in the Indian language.
Kites'
premiere is still being planned for mid-2009. |
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Adam Bedi - Looks like a certain
Corsaro nero of yesteryear July 15, 2008
Kabir's son Adam now sports a new look.
Looks like a certain Corsaro nero of yesteryear - which is surely not at
all surprising!
Kabir's son Adam Bedi with Nisha Harale |
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Curtain for Un Medico in famiglia July
14, 2008
Rai Uno has stopped the repeats of the fifth series of the Italian serial
Un Medico in famiglia, starring Kabir as "Nonno Kabir". Kabir's
adventures as a restaurant owner and part-time yoga instructor, alongside
Italian comedy stalwart Lino Banfi, has had to give way to repeats of old
big-screen movies, such as Patrick Swayze's Dirty Dancing on July 15. "Medico" is
still included in some program listings, so the repeats might just make a
comeback at some point in the future...
The rerun of the first double episode was shown on July 1, and scored second
place in the ratings. The second broadcast a week later only scored an audience
share of 12.66 percent. Several Italian TV magazines showed stills and publicity
photos with Kabir. |
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Kabir
Bedi to play main part in medical thriller July
11, 2008
According to director Vikram Bhatt, Kabir will be playing a major role in
a new medical drama alongside Urmila Matondkar. Bhatt told the Times of India
he will be producing the movie, which so far hasn't been given a working
title. Blue-eyed model Adah Sharma and handsome Rajneesh Duggal will also
star in the film. They are making their joint debut in Bhatt's thriller 1920
soon. |
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Kabir Bedi at premiere of Aamir
Khan's film July 4, 2008
Kabir Bedi last night joined a long list of celebrities including Amitabh
Bachchan, Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor at the premiere of Aamir Khan's latest
production, Jaane Tu. The show was held at the PVR Cinemas in the upmarket
North Bombay suburb of Goregaon. Today the film will hit the big screen worldwide.
The movie is the debut of Aamir Khan's cousin Imran Khan, in the male lead. |
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- "Survivor" Kabir Bedi no more interested
in reality shows July 2, 2008
In a DNA, India, interview published today, former contestant Kabir Bedi
shares his view about reality shows:
- "No reality shows for me, please"
by Soumyadipta Banerjee
Kabir Bedi, the first international celebrity reality show contestant from
India, says he will never get into reality shows again.
He "survived" and almost ended up winning the most popular reality
show on earth. But ask him about the slew of reality television shows on
prime time and he grimaces. "Uh huh! No more reality shows for me please!" Kabir
Bedi almost pleads. Ask him about the flurry of reality TV show offers that
he was flooded with after he almost won the first of the ‘Survivor’ series,
and Kabir answers with a broad grin.
[note: it's actually the -second- series of
the Italian reality TV show L'Isola dei famosi, season 2004]
- "Never tell me that I have won (he was the last contestant to be eliminated).
I almost won. That sounds a lot better," Kabir says. He got an offer
from the producers of Big Brother, but he says that he declined the offer.
- "The
Big Brother people came to me. But I have lost interest in reality television
right now," he adds.
But according to him, reality television is here to stay. "Contrary
to some of the soaps, reality television shows give a real-life feeling.
That is where you get some people identifying with the programme," Kabir
tries to explain but draws a complete blank when we talk about the SMS-based
reality shows which are driving the revenue model of all the television reality
shows in India right now.
Of course he follows it up with a comment that clearly shows that he unwilling
to be dragged into that "territory".
So what is Kabir Bedi doing these days?
- "Oh! I am in Mumbai now. I am
doing a lot of movies. I am doing movies with everybody. Right from Akshay,
Govinda, Salman...," he rattles off the names. In most of them, he will
be playing dad, of course. |
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Sandokan co-star dies July 2, 2008
German character actor Hans Caninenberg died on Sunday, Jun 29, 2008 in
Gräfelfing
near Munich, at the age of 95,
dpa news agency reported.
Caninenberg played Lady Marianna's kind uncle, Lord Guillonk, in Kabir
Bedi's Sandokan.The Tiger of Malaysia (1976). Born in the Ruhr city of Duisburg,
Caninenberg performed in German theatres since the mid-1930s, especially
in plays by his favourite playwright, George Bernard Shaw. Sandokan.The Tiger
of Malaysia is one of his major triumphs, as were his appearances in a number
of TV crime serials. His big-screen parts included The Odessa File (1974).
Caninenberg turned to writing in the mid-1980s. His work includes the 1988
autobiografic novel, Ein unvergessener Traum (An Unforgotten Dream), which
tells the story of an actor obsessed by the
renaissance, who turns to meditation in India. |
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- "Nonno" Kabir's Medico takes second place
in Italian ratings July 2, 2008
The repeat of the first episode of Kabir Bedi's Italian series Un Medico
in Famiglia 5 (July 1, 2008) scored a 15.47% of viewer ratings, corresponding
to more than 3 million viewers. That meant a second place in the TV ratings,
trailing The Terminal, with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Hanks, on Canale
5. The 5th Medico series, starring Kabir as Nonno Kabir, is being repeated
during the summer, ahead of the 6th series for which shooting will begin
in November 2008. Contrary to some internet reports, neither Kabir nor
his "Marianna", Carole
André, will take part in the next series. |
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Football fans Kabir Bedi and
Parveen Dusanj watch the Euro 08 finals July 1, 2008
Kabir Bedi and his fiancee Parveen Dusanj watched Sunday's Euro 08
football finals on a big screen at a 5-star hotel in South Bombay,
sitting in the front row and cheering excitedly all the way from
kickoff to the final whistle. The bar at the party organised by fashion
designer Nisha Jamvwal and Pradeep Gidwani was decorated as a football
goal. The guests enjoyed salmon stuffed with blue cheese and rillettes,
roast lamb and crepes. Among the many guests in normally cricket-mad
Bombay were Alyque Padamsee's daughter, whom Kabir has known for
years.
She said she was just there for the fun and wasn't backing
either of the teams - but the shouts of joy that went up after Spains's
only goal in the 1-0 final against Germany left little doubt about
most partygoers' sympathies. |
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