Josh Music Launch

Music of Naga Chaitanya’s debut film Josh was launched with much fanfare amidst hundreds of Akkineni fans. The audio launch ceremony was held on Saturday night (July 18, 2009) at Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hyderabad. Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, D Ramanaidu, Assembly speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy, K Raghavendra Rao, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Mohan Babu, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya, Radha and her daughter Karithka, the film’s producer Dil Raju, young heroes Nitin, Ram, Varun Sandesh, Sushanth, directors Vasu Varma, Srinu Vytla, Vamsi Paidipalli, Dasaradh, Boyapati, Sri Vaas, Chandrabose, Sameer Reddy, music director Sandeep Chowta and others graced the ceremony. It was a grand affair. The first audio CD was unveiled by Kiran Kumar and he handed over them to Akkineni and Ramanidu while audio cassettes were launched by K Raghavendra Rao and he gave them to Balakrishna and Venkatesh.

All the guests blessed Naga Chaitanya and praised him for his dedication and good looks.

Nagarjuna

“I am relieved that producer Dil Raju said that the movie is going to be sure shot hit. When he says such words, we can confidently assume it would sure turn out to be big success. I saw the first half, it is really good. My son is clever than me. I completed Engineering and some other things before I entered into acting. But Naga Chaitanya expressed his desire to turn actor just after completing 10th class. I asked him to complete graduation and then become hero. He didn’t waste time. Me and my generation of heroes could not reach to the heights of my father did but I wish my son to would even cross it. Regarding music, Sandeep Chowta always gives good music to me and my films. He gave best music for Ninne Pelladuta and Super and he provided even better music for this film than those. “

Dil Raju

“I wanted to introduce Naga Chaitanya with Kotta Bangaru Lokam but Nagarjuna said that he a star son’s launch should be with josh. So I waited for right story to come and one day Vasu Varma came up with this script. He narrated to Nagarjuna and he immediately said okay and Chaitanya also liked. So the project began. I am glad to introduce Nag’s son and also thank Nag for this because he has great production house himself and his other grandfather Ramanaidu is a legendary producer, they could have produced it themselves. They trusted in me and I can confidently say that the film is going to big hit.

This is 9th film on our banner and we are going to create another hat-trick. I treated Naga Chaitanya as a friend. We gelled together on the sets and I am stunned by seeing his performance. here is a lengthy scene in the movie and he did it in a single take. He is that much good performer. Karthika is also cute and she plays a bubbly character. I sang a song in the film but it is on the insistence of Vasu Varma and Chandrabose. I have long association with Vasu Varma; infact he is the one who told me how to write a script at the time of Dil. He taught me several things about creative side of filmmaking. He is going to be good director.”

Naga Chaitanya

“I will cherish this moment for a long time. I said in audio release function of King that I had been waiting for this moment to come and I still remember the josh that you (fans) had passed on to me with your support and applause. With the same vigor, I did this film and looking forward to its release.”

Karthika

“I never groomed to be an actress but after lot of deliberation I stepped into acting. I am glad that my mother Radha and my father who is also my guide in my life encouraged me to turn as actor. I am happy that I am making debut opposite Naga Chaitanya and in a film produced by Dil Raju. It is said that he is man with golden touch. I realized his greatness during the shooting only. It is my fortune to do this film and share this dais with the greats of film industry. I always like Nagarjuna and his movies and Venkatesh is my all time favorite hero. Being on this stage with them makes me feel so glad. Working with Naga Chaitanya was really fun and great. I hope you like us and bless us.”

Abdul Kalam to act in Bollywood film

In Hollywood, actors aspire to and often become the President of the US. Ronald Reagan was one classic example.

And, if America bends its constitution, Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to muscle his way into the White House as well. While in Bollywood, in Dr APJ Abdul Kalam we have a former President who is making the great crossover and entering cinema with a film called Mein Kalam Hoon.

Dr Kalam, an aeronautical engineer and scientist whose work on ballistic missiles and space rocket technology earned him the name ‘Missile Man of India’, has done this Hindi film with children that’s been directed by Madhav Pandeya and produced by the SMILE Foundation. The former Prez, who has always been fond of children, agreed to do the film because it gave him the opportunity to work with kids.

Its storyline is quite similar to Dr Kalam’s belief, “Everyone is free to dream, so dream big.” Bollywood baddie Gulshan Grover, who has more irons in Hollywood’s roaring fires than anybody in Bollywood, also acts in Mein Kalam Hoon with a French actress called Sophie Brosstel. And, Gulshan said, “Abdul Kalam plays himself. The story, set in Rajasthan, is about a boy who is inspired by the former President and dares to dream big.”

In true Slumdog Millionaire style, the child actor is a kid picked from the slums of Rajasthan. “They wanted someone who has lived that life,” explained Gulshan. “They are training him to play the character.” The French actress Sophie, on the other hand, has the easier role. She plays a tourist who comes in search of happiness to India and falls in love with Gulshan.

Interestingly, the film will be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and then go to other festivals around the world.

An interview with Deepika Padukone

She is only three films old. But already the Shantipriya of OM SHANTI OM has proved that she is the uncrowned queen of today's Bollywood. Politically correct, she is, Deepika talks to our correspondent about her inward journey during the shoots of LOVE AAJ KAL.

Your fourth release is just round the corner...
And I am too excited about it. This film LOVE AAJ KAL is the first film where I could actually relate to the character I am playing. When Imtiaz (Ali) narrated the script to me for the first time, I knew then and there that I can't afford to let go this film. All I had to do was to walk into the sets and play myself.

You and Saif are looking too cool in the trailers. What's behind this great chemistry?

I really don't know. But one thing I can assure that when you see the film, you will forget Deepika and Saif, and automatically focus on Meera and Jai.

Are you always on for love stories?
I am addicted to love stories. I love everything about love stories-the emotions, dream sequences, love notes, sweet nothings...I am a romantic at heart. And this film is too close to my heart.

Don't you feel lucky that you are working with big names at the very beginning of your career?
Definitely. Started with Shah Rukh Khan, then Ranbir (Kapoor), Akshay Kumar and now Saif Ali Khan. Thankfully directors and producers, now-a-days, are ready to cast newcomers in equally challenging roles.

Why is that you are always politically correct?
See, I am not here to backbite and gossip. I am not saying that I am blind to what's happening around me in the industry, but I don't need to be a motor-mouth.

We heard that you refused Hrithik Roshan-starrer KITES?
Yes. The other day, a senior film journalist came to take my interview. When she heard that I refused KITES, she was a bit disappointed. But I told her that my character was a slightly bold one and I won't feel comfortable with it.

So you are not comfortable with bold scenes?
Depends on how bold they are. I know my limits and won't go beyond that.

What's keeping you busy these days?
I have Farhan Akhtar's KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK and Sajid Nadiawala's HOUSEFULL.

We heard that your relationship with Ranbir Kapoor was on the rocks a few days back...
That's a media-created rumour. Ranbir and I are very much together. Just because we don't roam around hand-in-hand doesn't mean that we have broken up. We treasure our relationship and don't want make it public.