Archive for the ‘Ajay Devgan’ Category
Bollywood’s Boys Bulk Up
MUMBAI - Bollywood’s leading actors are hitting the gym as never before, adding brawn and biceps to their on-screen repertoires and winning a legion of new fans in the process — including other men.
The latest weight-training convert is Aamir Khan, who enlisted the help of physical trainer Satyajit Chourasia two years ago to get in shape for the film “Ghajini”, which is released on December 25.
His daily four-hour regime appears to have paid off.
Giant advertising hoardings show a shaven-headed Khan, who plays a man with memory loss who tattoos himself and takes Polaroid pictures to remember people and places, stripped to the waist, exposing a finely-ripped torso.
The 43-year-old said the film’s director A. Murgadoss told him to bulk up because it was essential for the character.
“I too felt that I will not be able to do justice to my role if I am not in this shape,” he said this week.
Asked whether his new look could help boost box office takings, he said it was creating “a lot of buzz among viewers, which is good for the film.”
Historically, the muscle-bound macho hero has never been in vogue in Bollywood.
Instead, leading men were as likely to be measured by the manly thickness of their chest hair or how they carried a tune or moved in the set-piece song and dance routines.
Eyeing the success of Hollywood’s Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1980s, Bollywood’s Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt began working out, winning accolades and a dedicated fanbase.
But it was not until megastar Shah Rukh Khan got a “six pack” for his 2007 blockbuster “Om Shanti Om” that muscle tone became a must for aspiring Bollywood actors.
Actor John Abraham enlisted the help of Hollywood personal trainer Mike Ryan to prepare for appearing on camera in only a pair of swimming trunks on Miami beach in the film “Dostana”, which was released in October.
“I went on high protein and vigorous training to get that kind of look,” he said.
“It was essential to work out more because I had little time on my hands and had to get that kind of muscular look to complete the film on time.”
His new look has won him a legion of new fans, including in the gay community, he added.
“Earlier some women used to make a pass on me but now even men make passes at me,” said Abraham, who has been nicknamed “The Hunk.”
Satyajit Chourasia is full of praise for actors he has worked with, from Aamir Khan to Saif Ali Khan and Zayed Khan, as well as Hrithik Roshan and Ajay Devgan.
“All the actors are very dedicated. They don’t skip their exercises and maintain themselves which you can see with their looks on the big screen,” he said.
Demand is now so high that Chourasia said he has had to open a second gym in Mumbai, two in his home town of Nagpur, some 900 kilometres (560 miles) east of Mumbai, and two in the Indian capital New Delhi.
But having a perfect physique can have its disadvantages.
British director Danny Boyle has said that casting a Bollywood beefcake as the lead in his hit film “Slumdog Millionaire” would not have worked, even though Indian actors had the talent.
Instead he cast a skinny British Asian actor, Dev Patel. The film is now a hot favourite at next year’s Oscars.
“You know when guys can’t put their arms down cause they have all this muscle mass? They’re 18; they’re only just beyond kids — and their heads are really small,” Boyle told The Huffington Post on November 25.
“They haven’t put any weight on their heads. So you’ve got these tiny little heads and big bodies; that was just wrong for the film.” - CNA/vm
Channel News Asia
‘Konsert Jom Heboh’ Goes To Miri
Elyana appears in Konsert Fenomena: Elyana & The Fabulous Cats (RTM2, tomorrow, 3pm).
THIS weekend, “travel” to Miri in Sarawak for Konsert Jom Heboh 2008.
The two-hour concert will air “live” on Sunday (TV3, 9pm) and Spider, Hattan, Misha Omar, Bob, Nurul, Aizat, Sofaz, Suki and One Nation Emcees are among the artistes who will be performing.
Catch One Nation Emcees in Konsert Jom Heboh 2008 (TV3, Sunday, 9pm).
Penelope Cruz stars in Vanilla Sky (RTM2, tomorrow, 9pm).
Catch entertainment programme Konsert Fenomena: Elyana & The Fabulous Cats tomorrow (RTM2, 3pm). Elyana joins forces with hip-hop/pop outfit The Fabulous Cats. Watch out for other guest artistes such as Tam Spider and Ash Nair.
New series Big Shot debuts tomorrow (ntv7, 10pm). Starring Michael Varta, Dylan McDermott, Christopher Titus and Joshua Malina, the series is about four competitive friends who are at the top of their game. They seek comfort in their friendships - discussing business, confiding secrets, seeking advice and supporting each another through life’s twists and turns.
TOMORROW
Bollygood on 2 (RTM2, 12.30pm) - Masti
Three married men, tired of their wives’ jealous ways, yearn for their carefree bachelor days. They set their sights on other women, but eventually realise they have all been seeing the same girl.
She then blackmails them but is found dead in a car the next day.
A hilarious cat-and-mouse game between the three men and a suspicious police officer follows.
Starring Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani, Ritesh Deshmukh and Amrita Rao.
Saturday Nite Special On 2 (RTM2, 9pm) - Vanilla Sky
After surviving a car crash, caused in part by his jilted lover, David’s face is badly injured. He struggles to find out the truth when his dreams turn into reality, and reality is a nightmare.
Everything seems muddled, until a doctor manages to repair his face, and life is back to the way it should be, together with a “mystery girl” he has been eyeing. Or is it?
Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.
Anugerah Skrin 2008 (TV3, 10pm) - Relung Kasih
After the death of her parents, Maria has to take care of her four siblings doing menial work to make ends meet. Her siblings grow up and lead comfortable lives of their own, but they begin to drift from her.
Starring Jasmin Hamid, Azhar Sulaiman, Siti Fazurina, Jehan Miskin and Anita Baharom.
Hong Movie Saturday (ntv7, midnight) - Dream Lover
Cheung is a penniless yet talented car mechanic. One day he meets Kei and falls in love with her, but she disappears without a trace. Years later, Cheung becomes extremely wealthy and eventually finds Kei, but it seems that things cannot be the same again.
Starring Tony Leung and Wu Chien Lien.
Chinese Movie (8TV, 8.30pm) - Sky of Love
Wen Tao and Jia Hui start communicating through a radiophone. From their conversations, they discover that they are both studying in the same institution of learning. But further into the relationship, they discover that they are very different from each other.
Starring Ken Chu and Gigi Leung.
SUNDAY
TV3 Cinema (TV3, 12.30am) - Goal!
How far would you go to live your dreams? When Santiago Munez is given the chance of a lifetime, he must leave his family, his life in Los Angeles and everything he knows to become a sought-after football player.
Starring Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel, Marcel Lures and Alessandro Nivola.
Sunday Day Time Special (RTM2, 3pm) - Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Two years after Cloud & Co save the world from Sephiroth, the citizens of the planet begin suffering from a strange sickness called Seikon-Shoukougun. Meanwhile, Cloud has secluded himself, and is being haunted by demons from his past.
This stunning animation features the voice talents of Takahiro Sakurai, Ayumi Ito, Tsuduruhara Miyuu, Maaya Sakamoto and Keiji Fujiwara.
Pesona 3 (TV3, 3pm) - Ragam Pemandu
Hamid is dedicated chauffeur to Rahim, who is always helpful to Hamid’s family, despite the gaping difference in their social status. Rahim also pays for Hamid’s children’s education.
Starring Hamid Gurka, Aznah Hamid and Latiff Ibrahim.
New Straits Times