After the Oscar recognition, now its time to look into the nominations for the 54th Idea Filmfare Awards to be held on February 28 in Mumbai..

and the Nominees for the best Film are:

1-Dostana
2-Ghajini
3-Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
4-Jodhaa Akbar
5-Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
6-Rock On!!

Who you think will take the Award Home…

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Someone asked me last night, how I will sum up the year for Bollywood, I didn’t have more than one word “Sad”. One of the biggest film industries of the world, which churns out around 200 films a year hasn’t had a noteworthy film in 2008; moreover recession and terror attacks in Mumbai took its toll.

But industry had few moments of optimism in-between, where trade analyst thought that industry will rise; that turned out to be short lived. As a whole, out of 200 films released in the year only 20 have done well at the box office and the rest 90% fell flat on the ticket window.

The year started on a bad note when Yash Raj Films multi-starrer ‘Tashan’ [Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor] after much hype failed to live up-to the expectations. 2008 was a bad year for big budget projects, they faired badly, and were not even able to retrieve their costs, mid-year saw some small budget films surprise everyone with good business and critic’s appreciation- Rock On, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Aamir, A Wednesday and most prominent of all Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

The later half of the year has seen films like ‘Drona’ a 90 crore film about a superhero starring Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra was brought down from theaters within a week of its release. Not only this, the nasal singer ‘Himesh Reshamiya’ ardent to make in the list of Khans fall flatly on the grounds- not able to save his nose, with ‘Karzzz’.

‘Karzzz’ a remake of Subhash Ghai’s 1985 super-hit of the same name [but this time it has two extra Z] about re-incarnation didn’t able to bring audiences to theaters after a strong promotion.

Though ‘Karzzz’ didn’t do well, it was left to the showman himself to create the magic with his story-telling skills in ‘Yuvvraaj’. Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan starrer Ghai’s magnum-opus or lift-up from ‘Rain Man’ washed away. Even Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s real life romance didn’t make any impact on-screen to bring the crowd to theaters.

But there were films which had saved Bollywood from going back to dark ages. Debutant director Abbas Tyrewala’s ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ based on friendship and youth love touched chords with audiences. Debutant actor Imran Khan [nephew of Aamir Khan] brought back the times of ‘Qayamat se Qayamat Tak’ and became a hot cake with its success. But it wasn’t enough for the industry that was weeping blood with the failure of big films.

With ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’, Shyam Benegal once again showed a way to the industry that small budget films with good story line can do well on the box-office. Benegal has a reputation of bringing the black out of the closet, true to his repute he made an imaginary village and displayed his abilities with aplomb with a dark comedy- satire on Indian political system. It was his first attempt with comedy and he succeeded. If Benegal’s political satire was a treat to watch, the Neeraj Pandey’s was not far. The only difference was, the debutant director Neeraj took up the issue of terrorism and projected it so well that it left everyone moved.

Few good and a lot bad films came and went through 2008, but Bollywood suffered most from the recent terrorist attack on Mumbai. Everything came to a halt, it looked as if 2008 will end as it started- bad, soon after a fortnight of the attack Shahrukh Khan and Aditya Chopra’s bonhomie came to rescue the bleeding industry with ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. Not only this to end the year on a good note, Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan’s ‘Ghajini’ washed away all the tears which industry was shedding for past 12 months.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini has set the clock ticking, with films like Chandni Chowk to China, Billu Barber, 3 Idiots, Delhi 6 and Kambakht Ishq releasing in 2009, the industry is hopeful to begin the New Year with bounty at the box-office.

Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have been praising each other too much these days. The two Khans who can be said to be entirely different -when it comes to work and celebrity status, if one is Mr. Perfectionist the other one is the bad boy of the Bollywood- a spoiled brat. Can you imagine two actors, poles-apart, earnestly lauding each other?

Bollywood is a bag of surprises; here equation changes with the blink of the eyes! Salman and Aamir though have worked together long back in ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ but never after that they welcomed each other; appreciation would have been a lost thought- not least.

Now the big question, what has suddenly changed Aamir and Salman to root each other in public? Is it Shahrukh Khan’s squabble with Salman at Katrina’s birthday party or does Salman fit in Aamir’s proposition to bring down SRK’s empire? Or it is the other-way round?

Few days back, Katrina Kaif said in an interview when she was asked, why Salman sees a look alike of Katrina in every next girl- first Zarine Khan and then Miss U.K. Lisa Lazarus, the most googled girl then said,” Salman needs glasses”. So can we say that Salman and Katrina’s relation is closing to its end! May be Salman has been cautioned by his intuition over his relation with Katrina and that is why he is looking for someone. And on the sets of ‘London Dreams’ it looked as if he is stretching his search to get a lady love that could be a reason why he convinced Vipul Shah to shoot the romantic scene of ‘London Dreams’ beneath Eiffel Tower with his co-star Asin. Later it was reported that it was Asin’s dream who wished that her dream man would propose her beneath Eiffel Tower. Is Salman making his way to Asin’s heart? To read the full article and review of Ghajini go to: http://www.octanentertainment.com/articledetail/278/Have-Asin-Brought-two-Khans-together.htm

It’s a bad news! Not only for Aamir Khan’s fans but also for a nation which is waiting with abetted breath for the year’s most awaited film Ghajini.

The Madras High Court today stayed the release of the film which is slated to open in theaters on Thursday.

The stay came after A. Chandrasekharan, the producer of the Tamil film of the same name, on which the Hindi remake is based submitted a stay plea on its release.

But court has granted leave for appeal. It will be interesting to see, how quickly this matter gets solved, as the court is going on winter vacation from Wednesday.

Interestingly  Ghajini has been already declared a hit after its advance bookings skyrocketed, trade analysts believe the film will sweep a gross of 100 million only from the north India.

Two actresses; one full of experience (17 films) from down south while the other one has been brought up in the southern state – Karnataka, and worked as a model. Anoushka Sharma and Asin Thottumkal, two brand new heroines are making there presence felt in Bollywood these days.

It could be termed as a mere co-incidence: both actresses got their first break in Bollywood opposite Khans: Aamir and Shahrukh, who are said to be the real captain of the ship called film industry. The two gorgeous girls made their first public appearance in the same week: Anoushka after the release of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ and Asin a week before ‘Ghajini’ embraces the theaters.

After so many similarities and differences, no one could be termed as an out right winner in the battle. Anoushka has tasted the success, ‘RNBDJ’ which is tagged a hit and going strong on the box office but predictions are very much in favor of Asin starrer ‘Ghajini’ which is said to eat business once the film releases, before that no one can deny the fact ‘RNBDJ’ has brought up the smile in Bollywood.

When Anoushka was asked about the competition between two, Taani didn’t hesitate to say, “That’s because her debut movie is releasing in the same month as mine did. And people are talking about this because we’re both starting out with stalwarts. I know her role and her movie is different from mine but I can’t help the comparisons.” To read full story click the link: http://www.octanentertainment.com/articledetail/267/In-the-Mid-of-A-Fight.htm

It looks as if Aamir have told Ghajini team to be all over the place before it hits the screen on December 25^th not barring himself. Mr. Perfectionist who we all know has a knack to crack the market with his perfect strategies needs no proof. This too could be the arrow from his Quiver.

While the December edition of GQ carries Aamir on its Cover, Jiah Khan playing the second belle in Ghajini (as Asin is in the lead) embraces the December edition of Maxim- bold and beautiful.

It has been said this could be Jiah Khan’s hottest photo shot till date. We have seen her sensuous avatar in ‘Nishabd’ and the Maxim shoot will really change everyone’s perception. The super-hot photo shoot was shot by an ace photographer R. Burman and needless to say Jiah is thrilled. We hope Maxim will bring her the deserved attention.

Silence speaks volumes!!! The ace of Bollywood Aamir Khan simply loves to shut his mouth up and let his work do all the talking.

The December issue of GQ Magazine will have Aamir Khan talking about his upcoming movies: Ghajini, 3 Idiots; but that’s not all…guys

Find out how divorce changed Aamir’s life for good!!! And what it takes to be perfect all the time!!!

Avan Contractor looks from behind at Aamir Khan after the cut.

Aamir is all over the place for his looks in his forthcoming ‘Ghajini’, praises not flowing only for the makeover- eight pack abs, but also for the marketing strategies which the skilled actor uses in promotion.

In addition to his ever growing prowess[marketing] the actor recently launched an interactive media site for the film www.rememberghajini.com/media – to have an interaction and connection with media. But Aamir who puts lot of effort behind his films may not have thought that someone will come-up showing unhappiness over Ghajini’s promotions.

No doubt he looks awesome in his chiseled physique which must have sent ripples down the spine of many women, for guys the promos are still a little disappointing; they didn’t get a good look of the heroin-Asin. Sorry! Aamir but the woman in the film is also not happy! Reason… she is seen no where- she has been kept away from media. It is also said that the southern sensation had an argument with Mr. Perfectionist.

The gossip-mills are working extra time on this development, that the leading lady of ‘Ghajini’ had a tiff with Aamir recently though she likes him. Asin’s popularity graph shot up since her involvement in the film Ghajini but the actress is not happy, as she has been tabbed from speaking to mediawallahs or making any public appearance- Aamir wants it fresh on screen. This is not the only reason, why she is feeling like a caged bird. Earlier, she wasn’t even allowed to give her portfolio pictures to anyone.

Reportedly all these restrictions have made Asin to talk to Aamir Khan. She complained to Aamir about the restriction that made him thoughtful but he was taken aback by the leakage of the news.

Hopefully the two- one star of Bollywood and another star sensation of South, will find a solution soon!!