Jacqueline Fernandez Doesn’t Like Taking Favors

From a point where she was wondering what to do next to a situation where she is in a position to pick and choose from what is being offered to her, it has been quite some turnaround for Jacqueline Fernandez who is riding high on the super-success of MURDER 2. Her uninhibited sex appeal played a major role in pulling the audience and after that it was the film as a whole that did the trick.
It wasn’t an easy going though in the beginning since she had to wait and watch as the poor box office run of ALADIN and JAANE KAHAN SE AAYI HA’ was out of people memory. However unlike many other actors who come up with standard quotes around ‘my friends and family were my support system during this period of turmoil’, Jackie stands up and admits that she has been pretty much on her own even till date.
“I never had any misgivings that you can have friends from the industry but then they can do only so much,” she gets serious here, “I never found myself engaging with someone established in a conversation around ‘Please do this for me or push my name here or there’. In fact all through last year many people advised me that I need to up my PR machinery or become more aggressive. However my belief was that if I had talent, I would eventually get work and a director will cast me for sure. I never even thought of taking any other route.”
But in the industry where connections are what take one forward and recommendations are the order of the day, what made her take a different recourse?
“Honestly I would have felt that as demeaning to ask for favours from friends or acquaintances,” she reasons, “It would have been unfair to the director as well as the story to step in just because of my connections. I didn’t even want to go into that direction. I guess some strong conviction and belief in myself worked after all. Of course a little longer and I may have started doubting my place under the sun here. Thankfully these new films happened at just the right time.

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Deepika Padukone Speaks On Her Film Aarakshan

Promos of AARAKSHAN pretty much promise a hard hitting dramatic affair in the offing. Also there is a trademark Prakash Jha stamp to the frames that promise a film that should succeed in entertaining its audience. Quiz Deepika Padukone, leading lady of the film, on whether the promise would be met and she nods affirmatively.
“Don’t worry, we will all keep our promise,” smiles Deepika, “When it comes to AARAKSHAN, we are all quite confident about the tale it aspires to tell. There is enough drama in the film to keep you engaged. When you see the promo, you get a whiff of what to expect from the film.
Since it’s the issue of ‘reservation’ which is being dealt with, you can pretty much imagine the intensity that can be promised with AARAKSHAN. At the end of the day if the content is good, there is nothing to worry about from entertainment standpoint.”
She is also happy about the fact that she was an immediate choice for the director who wanted to cast her as Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter in this volatile drama.
“I was so happy about the fact that he was giving me such an important role in the film,” gushes Deepika, “Despite such stalwarts in the cast, he explained to me what he felt about my presence in the film. The way he believed in me and appreciated me was amazing. What else does an actor want than to see her director show such confidence in her? Really, my day was made.”
With Saif Ali Khan in the lead and also starring Manoj Bajpai, Prateik Babbar and Tanvi Azmi, AARAKSHAN is a Firoz Nadiadwala production and releases all over on 12th August, the weekend leading to Independence Day.

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Trinamul Congress Is What Farhan Akhtar Has Joined

Political parties have always approached film personalities to encash on their popularity. The latest is that actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar has since joined the advisory panel of the Trinamool Congress’ youth wing to give suggestions on cultural activities.
Farhan however clarified that he is not involved in any political activity of the party. He tweeted, “The Media has reported that I have joined the Trinamool Congress Youth Wing. The truth is that I have been asked to be a member on an advisory board for cultural activities, in my capacity as an actor/filmmaker. This is in my understanding, to be an apolitical board. I hope this will clear my stand on this decision once and for all.”
The advisory board has been set up by West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress that has formed a youth wing to be led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
Apart from Farhan, the youth wing has decided to conduct a membership drive roping in personalities like tennis star Leander Paes and tech evangelist Sam Pitroda as advisers.

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Ameesha Patel Appoints Priyadarshan As Her Film’s Director

Ameesha Patel is leaving no stone unturned to make sure her production house gets the best of directors on board. After signing David Dhawan to direct the first film for Ameesha Patel Productions, the actress turned producer has now signed Priyadarshan to direct the second film for her banner. Needless to say, Ameesha will be playing the lead role in both these films while the rest of the cast is yet to be announced.
It may be recalled that Ameesha had worked with David earlier in Yeh Hai Jalwa and with Priyadarshan in Bhool Bhulaiya. Both the films made under Ameesha Patel Productions will be family entertainers and will go on floors by the year end.
Meanwhile Ameesha’s next release is the Sanjay Dutt starrer Chatur Singh Two Star.

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