Haruno Blog's

As is the case every year, Goa is once again a hot favourite with Bollywood stars this New Year’s Eve.

As Abhishek Bachchan has been shooting in Goa, Aishwarya too will join him there and the couple will usher 2010 together.

Other celebs scheduled to be in Goa for the New Year’s Eve celebrations are Salman Khan, Shahid Kapur, Deepika Padukone, Sushmita Sen and Dino Morea. They will be partying with family and friends.

However, Salman has said he hasn’t finalised the trip as yet and will take a last minute decision.

Shahid, who’s said to be taking his first holiday in six years, will be in Goa with his male friends, including some childhood buddies.

Sushmita will be spending the New Year with her two daughters, Renee and Alisah. She couldn’t travel abroad as her second adopted baby doesn’t have a passport yet.

Sushmita Sen is all set to launch her modeling academy I Am She, which will nurture young models. The winner of the I Am She beauty pageant will go on to represent India in the Miss Universe contest.

Sushmita, who is the first Indian to be crowned Miss Universe, has bought the rights to groom the girls for the pageant.

The ‘I Am She’ Platform is part of Sushmita Sen’s Tantra Entertainment, which was awarded the India franchisee to select “Miss Universe” participant by the Miss Universe Organisation.

I Am She pageant will take over from the Femina Miss India as a pre-curser to the Miss Universe contest.

On the philosophy of the platform, Sushmita said that it was about being comfortable with one’s self. “Though not a perfect human being, I like myself as I am. We are already who we are. Even if we try to live the life of others, we cannot escape ourselves. We need to be strong and confident, especially when things are not going our way,” she said.

Shahid Kapur says his forthcoming film "Chance Pe Dance" tells the tale of strugglers waiting for their big break. And the actor reveals he could relate to the character as he too was rejected at many auditions and even had to sleep in his car for a whole night.

"It's a very realistic film on strugglers. The story of the film flows through such a situation that any struggler can identify with whether he is struggling as an engineer, doctor or as a lawyer," Shahid told IANS.

Directed by Ken Ghosh, "Chance Pe Dance" revolves around a talented young struggling actor Sameer (Shahid). Positive and brimming with energy, Sameer juggles various jobs while working towards getting his big break in films. During his struggle, he meets Tina (Genelia D'Souza), a choreographer.

"It's a typical character of an aspiring actor. He comes from Delhi and struggles in Mumbai for three years. He stays in a house but the rent is due for a long time. (He) owns a second hand car, but doesn't have money to buy petrol.

"But having failed in almost 300 auditions, he is still a very positive guy. Every day he wakes up with a hope that something good will happen to him that day. That is the quality that makes him going," Shahid explained.

The actor says he could really identify with the character.

"Five years back, I was Sameer. I had a red Maruti 800. I also went for many auditions, which turned (out) to be futile. There are situations in the film that I have also gone through...I have actually spent a whole night in the car, as I didn't have a place to stay. In the film, there is a long chunk where it shows the guy thrown out of his house because he couldn't pay the rent (and) stays in his car," said Shahid.

Shahid's dancing skills are already well-known but he promises to surprise his fans with brand new moves thanks to American choreographer Marty Kudelka, who has worked with international pop stars like Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson and N'Sync.

"When you do a film like 'Chance Pe Dance', then dance becomes a very important part of it. As people already know that I can dance, so the challenge is how do I surprise people or give them something new," he said.

"Then Ken and I thought that probably if I try a new style of dancing, which I have never done before, it will offer something new to the audience and that's why we got in touch with Marty Kudelka," he added.

Asked if Genelia was able to cope with his dance steps, Shahid said: "Well there is not too much of dancing that Genelia and I have done together. She plays a choreographer in the film. She was very nervous initially, but finally she turned out very well."

"It was great fun working with her. I loved Genelia's work in 'Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na'. I am really happy that she came on to the film. She is a very, very good actor. I was very impressed when I saw her performance in the film."

Shahid is now excited to work in his father Pankaj Kapur's film, which would go on floors early next year.

"He is going away from what people know he is brilliant at and becoming a director because he wants to present me in a certain way. It is a huge responsibility but I am excited to get that opportunity. I really hope that I can justify the amount of time and faith he is investing in me. About the film I can only say that it's a love story," Shahid said.

Katrina Kaif has decided to join her family in London for the annual Christmas-New Year vacation, in spite of being in pain after her minor surgery last week.

The healing process after the recent surgery is not even half-complete. But the actress, who was recovering quietly at her Mumbai home, flew out of the city early on Wednesday (Dec 23) after getting a reluctant go-ahead from her doctors at Breach Candy hospital.

Wincing in pain, she said a few hours before departure: "The pain will remain for a while. But the process of healing is on. I got my doctor's consent in Mumbai and I've another doctor in London who's fully aware of my condition. The doctors said the pain will be the same in Mumbai or London. And as long as I'm very careful about not exerting myself I'll be fine. So I'm off."

Katrina was depressed earlier in the week, thinking she wouldn't be able to join her siblings in London because of her medical condition. But later she decided to go for the vacation.

Said Katrina: "I can't exert myself, can't dance around or be boisterous. But that's okay, because our family is in any case not the dancing type. I just want to be with my sister's little boy, take him to the toy stores in London and buy him everything he wants."

Katrina returns to Mumbai in the first week of January, hopefully fully healed. "Luckily I've a doctor in London who knows how to look after me. So basically I'm just moving into a happier state of mind by being close to the people I love. That would help me heal quicker...Wish me luck."

Salman Khan grew so fond of a horse, Laxmi, during the shoot of his film "Veer" (pictured left) that he has planned to purchase two for his farmhouse.

"My love for horses has grown so much after shooting for 'Veer' that I have decided to buy two horses for my farmhouse," said Salman.

"One horse that stands out was Laxmi. She was my favourite and I was so attached to her that I must have fed her more biscuits than I have eaten in my entire life!" he added.

"Veer", slated to release Jan 22, is a story of bravery, treachery and love. The story revolves around the 18th century Pindaris who preferred death to dishonour and fought to their last breath to save their land. Salman plays a Pindari soldier in the film.

Life is all about listening to your heart and chasing your dreams. That's the essence of 3 IDIOTS, directed by the supremely talented Rajkumar Hirani. Let me come to the point right away. There are films and there are more films. And then there's 3IDIOTS.

Come to think of it, 3 IDIOTS carries a huge 'burden' on its shoulders: The 'burden' of humungous expectations. And it's not without reasons...

# 3 IDIOTS is Aamir's next release after the record-breaker GHAJINI.

# 3 IDIOTS is Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's third film together, after MUNNABHAI MBBS and LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI, landmark films.

# Three actors from the path-breaking RANG DE BASANTI team - Aamir, Madhavan and Sharman - team up yet again. Plus, Aamir's teaming up with Hirani. It couldn't get bigger!

3 IDIOTS is over-hyped and that could be dangerous for any film since it's the expectations which kill a film if the content doesn't match up to the hype. In this case, all izz well!

Now let's demystify the myths...
3 IDIOTS is not about idiots or nincompoops. It's about three engineering students who believe in 'I'll Do It On my Terms' and that's what the three characters achieve in life and that's what Hirani, Chopra, Aamir eventually achieve at the end of the movie. Making a movie on their terms! .

One more thing! You cannot draw parallels with any other film, past or present, successful or unsuccessful. And though people may draw parallels with GHAJINI or the MUNNABHAI series, it would be sacrilege to do so. 3IDIOTS [based on a novel 'Five Point Someone' by Chetan Bhagat] doesn't tilt, it stands tall.

Here's yet another illusion: 3 IDIOTS belongs to Aamir Khan. Yes, it does, but also to R. Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani, Kareena Kapoor and Omi, the entrant in Hindi movies, who delivers an equally sterling performance. The film would be incomplete without any of these characters.

To cut a long story short, all you'd like to say about the film is, All izz very, very, very, very, very well. Watch this film to know what it means!

Two friends [R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi] embark on a quest for a lost buddy. As they make their way through the perilous landscape [Shimla, Manali, Ladakh], another journey begins: their inner journey through memory lane and the story of their friend - the irrepressible free-thinker Rancho [Aamir Khan], who, in his unique way, touched and changed their lives.

It's a story of their hostel days that swings between Rancho's romance with the spirited Pia [Kareena Kapoor] and his clash with and oppressive mentor, Viru Sahastrabudhhe [Boman Irani]. And then one day, suddenly, Rancho vanishes...

Who was he? Where did he come from? Why did he leave? The friend who influenced and inspired them to think creatively and independently, even as the conformist world called them threeidiots. Where is the original idiot now?

Hirani is a genius and that has been proved twice in the past. He proves it for the third time with 3 IDIOTS. Screenplay writers Hirani and Abhijat Joshi and screenplay associate Vidhu Vinod Chopra narrate a story that's straight out of life. A story that each one of us can relate to or identify with.

Very often, we've read news-reports of students committing suicides because they've to live up to the family's pressure/expectations. This film depicts it at the very start, when a student commits suicide. But the issue doesn't end there, for 3IDIOTS raises a pertinent question: Was it suicide or murder?

Hirani balances the rough and smooth incidents in their lives beautifully. The sequences in the campus, right from the ragging sequence at the start, to Omi's speech when the word 'chamatkaar' is changed to 'balatkaar' [superb; will bring the house down], to the trio getting caught in an embarrassing situation at the reception ofKareena's sister [Mona Singh], to the dinner sequence at Sharman's house, to Kareena and Aamir driving Sharman's seriously ill father on their bike to the hospital... the funny moments would make your jaws ache.

The interval point is a shocker. The point at which the first half ends will leave you stunned. Now what was that? Kahani mein twist!

The mystery is solved soon after the intermission ends and a new journey begins. That's one of the USPs of the film. Just when you think that the story would be solved, a new story begins. Of course, the pace dips slightly in its second hour, especially during the delivery sequence of Mona [which may appear filmy to a few], but the immediate sequence, when the baby boy is born and also the subsequent sequence between Boman and Aamir bringthe film back on track. The culmination to the film is novel and yes, it's a master stroke from the writing point of view!

Every person behind the camera gives his/her best to the film. Hirani and Joshi's screenplay is the mainstay of the film. If you fondly recall 'Gandhigiri' from their previous film LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI, you'd have a new phrase to chew on this time: 'All Izz Well'. Muraleedharan C.K.'s cinematography is awesome. Note the aerial view at the very start, when Madhavan and Sharman begin the journey to Shimla or the picture perfect look of Ladakh... the DoP does a magnificent job.

Shantanu Moitra's music may sound plain ordinary to ears, but when viewed on screen, the score is just perfect. 'Give Me Some Sunshine', 'All Is Well', 'Zoobie Doobie' are three tracks that would grow on you after you've watchedthe film . The choreography of 'All Izz Well' [Avit Dias] and 'Zoobie Doobie' [Bosco-Caesar] are eye-catching. The background score [Sanjay Wandrekar, Atul Raninga, Shantanu Moitra] is right.

3 IDIOTS belongs to everyone. But, yes, there's no denying that Aamir makes you forget all his past achievements as you watch the amazing actor play Rancho. To state that this ranks amongst his finest works would be an understatement. Madhavan is incredible, especially in the sequence when he explains his point of view to his father [Pareekshit Sahani]. Sharman is outstanding from start to end. This was a difficult role to portray and only an actor of calibre could've pulled it off. Boman is superb as the vicious head of the institute. The scenes between Aamir and Boman are extra-ordinary and it's a treat to watch these two powerful actors clash on the big screen, without getting overdramatic. Boman's appearance, mannerisms and dialogue delivery are exemplary.

The length of Kareena's role may not be as much as Aamir, Madhavan and Sharman, but she registers a strong impact nonetheless. Omi is excellent and the viewers are sure to love his acidic tongue and gestures in themovie. Mona Singh doesn't get much scope. Jaaved Jaffery is competent. Pareekshit Sahani is decent.

On the whole, 3 IDIOTS easily ranks amongst Aamir, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's finest films. Do yourself and your family a favour: Watch 3IDIOTS. It's emotional, it's entertaining, it's enlightening. The film has tremendous youth appeal and feel-good factor to work in a big way.

Rating : 4.5/5