Informer

Bollywood Hungama conducted a survey in July 2008 on what were likely to be theu00a0 blockbusters of the year. The survey was conducted online across India, South-East Asia, European Union and the USA-Canada. The survey had Ghajini, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Singh Is Kinng occupy the top slots and they went on to be the year's hits. Interestingly, for the first time in the last four years, a Yash Raj movie failed to make it to the No 1 rank. Ghajini occupied the top slot due to Brand Aamir.

Booked!

Osian's Connoisseurs of Art launched Bachchanalia: The films and memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan, written by Bhawna Somaiya, in the presence of Aamir Khan at Tata Theatre in NCPA. The Bachchan parivaar turned up in full force. In fact, the event was delayed as Jaya, Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Nanda were on their way.

They remain Paying Guests

A birdie chirps to say that the title imbroglio of Subhash Ghai's Paying Guests has been solved. Directed by Paritosh Painter, Ghai wanted the film to be retitled Chaar Yaar. As the movie starring Neha Dhupia, Celina Jaitly, Riya Sen, Shreyas Talpade, Aashish Chaudhry is based on Painter's play Paying Guests, the cast and crew thought it was more apt. To find a solution, Ghai held a screening for the students of Whistling Woods, his movie school. The students chose Paying Guests as the title. Hope Mr Ghai doesn't feel too bad...

MADHUR BHANDARKAR

The fashion director talks about his fav five movies and his inspiration to become a realistic cinema director

The Movies I Loved Growing Up

Kagaz Ke Phool

The way every character was portrayed was simply amazing. It was a movie ahead of time. Simply admired Waheeda Rehman's performance.

Guide

This movie too was way ahead of time. Dev Anand's performance leaves you speechless. Extra-marital affairs were a taboo subject in those times; in spite of all the complexities, the movie had a lovely screenplay and dialogues.

Roti Kapda aur Makaan

Director Manoj Kumar is outstanding. Each performance was to the fullest. The movie was also very topical.
Amar Akbar Anthony I am a hardcore fan of Manmohan Desai. All my films being realistic, have a common protagonist; I have learnt this art from Manmohan Sir. It is entertaining and very convincing.

Roja

This movie is a superb package. The kind of message it delivered in
terms of patriotism was mind-blowing. Mani Ratnam, being a South director, shooting a movie about Kashmir, was remarkable. It was a movie ahead of times in terms of shots and techniques given the content. It surely inspired me to make movies.

Devgan's on a roll

Ajay Devgan has left for a week-long schedule of Vipul Shah's London Dreams in Chandigarh. The actor says, "2008 has been one of the best years for me. It saw the realisation of one of my dreams my debut directorial venture: U Me Aur Hum. When I was shooting in London for LD, many people told me that they had loved the film. Then, Golmaal Returns turned out to be one of the big grossers. For 2009, apart from London Dreams, I have Prakash Jha's Rajniti, Rohit Shetty's next produced by me and India's first live action animated flick, Kirit Khurana's Toonpur Ka Superhero."

RAZA'S BOLLYWOOD

Q What would be the name of an Ekta Kapoor serial based on the famous Kapoor family?

Au00a0 Kahani Karisma Kareena ke Klassic Khandan ki.

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