New York - Movie Stills

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Bollywood Strike Over: Get ready for New York

Bollywood fans can dance around the trees, the stand-off between producers and multiplex owners is over. With only B-grade flicks, reruns of old hits, and regional cinema on offer for the past few months, audiences are eager for fresh content at the box office.

First of the biggies is Yash Raj Films New York. Buzz for the film actually started at the end of 2008, when the trailer was released with Shah Rukh Khan vehicle Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. YRF's latest is all set for a worldwide release on 26th June 2009.

Directed by Kabir Khan and Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film sees John Abraham and Katrina Kaif together in their first outing. After John raised temperatures in his yellow trunks in Dostana, the actor is all set to go one step further, with reports he stripped for one scene. Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan also star in this highly anticipated project.

New York is a contemporary story of friendship set against the larger than life backdrop of a city often described as the centre of the world. For most of us, larger events in the world are just headlines in the newspapers but these events can change our lives... forever. New York is one such story of 3 young friends whose beautiful lives are turned upside down by larger events beyond their control.

The trailer of the movie can now be viewed on the Yash Raj Films website, www.yashrajfilms.com

By: Steven Baker

John wants only Kat

Looks like John Abraham is taking his fondness for Katrina Kaif to a new level. The actor has been suggesting Kat's name to every producer who comes his way.

Recently, when Johnny boy was offered Rob Cohen's The Jewel of India, he told the makers to chose Katrina over Deepika.

Even though Cohen himself has personally admitted he's mesmerised by Deepika, John insisted that Katrina had wider appeal.

A source reveals, "John sounded like Kat's agent. He kept telling the producers how the international film needed a leading lady like Katrina as she has a more foreign appeal.

John also claimed he would reduce his fee if they got Kat on board."

Now only if he would concentrate more on acting rather than marketing, he wouldn't have to take that pay cut!

John Abraham sends parents in his place to wish trainer

Bollywood was out in full force for the wedding of celebrity fitness trainer Ziauddin Khatib to Sabah on May 25 at the Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai, with Emraan Hashmi being one of the first guests to wish the newlyweds. However, good friend and client John Abraham couldn’t make it so he sent his parents in his place to extend his good wishes to the couple.

Though John is a huge Bollywood star, not many have seen his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham walked in on time and stayed at the reception till the very end, enjoying themselves with the other guests.

Other famous faces at the reception were actor Bikram Saluja, who walked in with Khalid and Kulraj Randhawa, who was all praise for her kickboxing trainer. Ayesha Takia’s father Nish Takia also attended the ceremony. Muzamil Ibrahim and his brother Mudassir both walked in together, while Javed Ahmed was heard discussing fitness with a police officer present at the occasion. The wedding ceremony took place at the Spastic Society at Reclamation in Bandra.

Ziauddin Khatib has made India proud by winning the World Fastest Knockout three times - the quickest being in 29 seconds. He is also the President of the Indian Kickboxing Association. Ziauddin Khatib has trained Bollywood celebrities Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Jaya Prada, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Tabu, Harman S. Baweja, Emraan Hashmi and Kulraj Randhawa in kickboxing.

John & Kat? Bizarre, says Bips

On rumour mills buzz with stories of Katrina - John link up

What is it about John Abraham that his co-stars find irresistible?

Is it charm, his deeper than the deep sea dimples, or his knight-in-shining-armour image? Whatever it is, it is proven that women (in most cases his co-stars) find John very attractive.

In the past rumours have linked him to Mallika Sherawat (when the two did a world tour), Lara Dutta (Elaan) and Vidya Balan (Salaam-e-Ishq); and now, according to media reports, John’s the object of affection of Salman Khan’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif — his co-star in New York.

While the rumour mills buzz with stories of Katrina and John being phone buddies, some also suggest that Salman actually threw Katrina’s stuff out of his home because he didn’t like the idea of his girl bonding with his foe, John.

Since these rumours come in the wake of the New York publicity campaign, both John and Katrina have got the benefit of the doubt from another section of the media, which believes that all this Kat-John bonding is nothing but a stroke of publicity genius.

John doesn’t wish to comment on the issue. But he did reveal that the text messages exchanged in New York were only work related. “I’m astounded that I’m being pulled into something so bizarre.” A source close to the actor says, “John is not amused by the rumour. He is in a steady relationship with Bipasha Basu. Obviously vested interests have started this campaign.’’ Apparently, the actor believes that since there is absolutely no truth to the whole issue, it will blow over.

Bipasha, the other aggrieved party (Salman being the first), has complete faith in her man and says, “John and I have gone through enough of such gossip. I don’t want to give any credibility to this by even commenting on it. It is malicious and absolutely the most bizarre story involving us. Just for the knowledge of people who actually love us together, we are very happy being with each other, and we’re responsible and protective about our relationship.’’

John to perform with Beyonce!

John Abraham and singer-actress Beyonce will be performing together at a gala evening in Las Vegas, US, next month.

The concert will have a mix of Indian and Western music and performers.

John’s sexy style statement in “Dostana” grabbed the global crowd and no wonder the show’s promoter invited John for the show, which will be held at a famous hotel in Las Vegas, which is also known as Sin City and is famous for its various forms of adult entertainment.

Beyonce has also been signed up this year and John will be matching steps to her numbers.

Bips, John live in

It’s not quite like the last Bollywood horror film 13-B, but yes, this tale does involve a house... and, trying to live in that house, is Bollywood hottie Bipasha Basu!

Bips, who has a penthouse in a Santacruz high-rise, was forced to move out when this place took a beating in the savage rains of 26/7 in 2005. “I had to get my home renovated after that horrible incident,’’ said the Bengali beauty, who moved into a rented apartment a few lanes away while the interior work began in her devastated penthouse. And here comes the twist in the tale.

“I started getting a lot of negative vibes,” admitted Bipasha, “I just didn’t feel good living there.” What’s worse — since it was a rented place, she had to send her pet dog Poshto, a Chihuahua the actress absolutely dotes on, to live with her parents at their suburban home.
But the bad vibes in rented apartment really took their toll on her in the last couple of months. And finally Bips locked up the place and began virtually living out of a suitcase. “I’m even endorsing a luggage brand only for this,’’ she joked.

She’s started looking forward to outdoor shoots now, the actress said, “because this way I don’t have to go around Mumbai looking for a roof over my head”.

Lest you get the idea that the Bengali bomshell is on the lookout for PG accommodation, chill... While her own apartment is still two months away from completion, and Bips is planning a puja and a “nice, big housewarming party there’’, she alternatively takes up residence with either her parents or beau John Abraham. He, too, has a penthouse at Land’s End in Bandra. And it’s big enough for two!

New York Story

Katrina Kaif-John Abraham-Neil Nitin Mukesh starrer New York is Yash Raj’s first release this year. Insiders who have seen the film have nothing but praise for it. Here is why you should see it.

An industry insider tells us, “John, Neil and Katrina are Muslims studying architecture and they are the best of friends who get embroiled in a love triangle. Neil’s character is subdued and shy while John is the flamboyant and macho dude. Neil is not the terrorist in the film; in fact John’s is awfully humiliated post 9/11 and his circumstances force him to become a terrorist. Katrina is innocent and unaware of it. The FBI has been keeping a tab on John’s activities, even after he is released from jail. Irrfan, an FBI agent, uses Neil, who has broken links with John and Katrina, to track down John.”

He further adds, “Kabir Khan has made a very good film that is high on content with a tight and emotional script. Unlike other Yash Raj films like Tashan and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, which look picture perfect but have poor scripts, New York doesn’t have glamour and gloss. The focus is on the characters and the story. Katrina looks gorgeous in spite of being completely de-glamourised; this is her most natural performance so far. Neil is also very good but it is John Abraham who steals the show. His performance is brilliant. Though his character is flamboyant, not once does he overplay it. His critics, who think he can only look like a million bucks and not act, will be silenced once they see this film. After a lackluster two years with flop opening films like Ta Ra Rum Pum and Tashan, Yash Raj finally has a well-made film that is sure to bring in the audiences.”

New York was supposed to release in May but has been put on hold due to the multiplexes versus producers strike. It will release once the strike is called off.

What's happening in Bollywood!

John mingles with the Governor, the starless premiere of 99 and Neha Dhupia is an action star

Good Company: Hottie John Abraham with Governor of Maharashtra, S C Jamir at the 2009 Mumbai Marathon Charity Awards

Extra Casual: We know Cyrus loves to promote his movie, which is why he has turned up in a 99 tee, shorts and slippers for the premiere of his film. His cross expression is entertaining, too.

Twosome: Kunal Khemu tries hard to look cool while we like Mahesh Manjrekar's bright blue shirt. Boman Irani, Soha Ali Khan and Vinod Khanna did not attend the film's premiere.

Pretty Face: Gorgeous hottie Urvashi Sharma is a picture of perfection in her neon print Mango dress.

Action Star: We don't know how Neha Dhupia is associated with action and adventure, but she sure looks hot. She is going to host the AXN Action Awards 2009. She says, "Hosting the AXN Action Awards gives me the chance to brush shoulders with the real daredevils of the Indian film industry. I am thrilled to be the host for the second consecutive year and honour some of the most stunning cinematic work in Bollywood. I respect the ideas and talent that goes into creating an action sequence, and I am thrilled to be a part of the platform that celebrates these deserving individuals.”

Now men are asking John to strip

It could be the 'Dostana' effect

His body is many guys' envy and many girls' eye candy. But in a strange turn of events, the tables turned when men here shrieked till they were hoarse for Bollywood actor John Abraham to strip off his T-shirt for them.

Call it the star appeal or the post-"Dostana" effect, men - young and middle-aged - burnt the torrid atmosphere with their cries for the 36-year-old at the Diet Pepsi 'Go Play John + You' mass work-out session at Ansal Plaza, Khelgaon Marg, in New Delhi on Sunday (May 10) evening.

Shouting "We want John, we want John" before the star was to make an appearance on the stage, the male lot completely subdued the low-pitched voices of the women with repetitive chants of "T-shirt, T-shirt" that reverberated the open-air auditorium. They wanted the actor to peel off.

"Come on dude, hit it (T-shirt)...you got to take it out today and beat Salman (Khan) off his birthright," shouted Saurabh Kejriwal, a student from Amity University in Noida.

Ashish Damani, a 24-year-old businessman, echoed the same but with a different purpose.

"Do it for my girl John, please...she worships you," he cried in disappointment.

However, the "Jism" star did not. But he obliged the masses by giving away complimentary T-shirts.

"See, that (flaunting his body) was in a movie. Otherwise I am very very shy...Well, if I take-off my T-shirt, then what will I wear," quipped the actor, clad in a body hugging white T-shirt and trousers and earthy summer coolers on the foot.

John, who is the first Indian brand ambassador of Diet Pepsi, also unveiled the soft drinks' slim can in the consumer launch set-up.

As the people worked out, a total of 265,000 calories was burnt during the event. An equivalent amount of rupees was announced to be given to non-profit organisation Conserve to create environmental awareness among the youth.

John compromises for Uday Chopra

We all know what a hit John is with the women, and men! So it comes as no surprise when we hear that he gets along as famously well with his male contemporaries, as he does with his female co-stars.

Only recently, we heard that Uday Chopra had walked out of John Abraham-starrer Hook Ya Crook, only because he wanted to concentrate on his home production venture Pyar Impossible. And now news has it that Udi bhaiya has roped in John for a special appearance in his Pyar Impossible.

If sources are to be believed, John already accommodated four days from his busy schedule to make Chopra’s ...Impossible possible... that too, without any ifs and ‘buts’. Now that’s what we call true dostana.

What's happening in Bollywood!

Women and men all around town

Gold Mine: Singer Bappi Lahiri performs at the Channel V Big Adda concert to bring a change in the lives of the youth; flinging one of those chains could be a start!


John Ka Dil Maange…: John Abraham is the new face of Diet Pepsi and it’s the first Indian brand ambassador for the product.


Sonam Shines: Sonam Kapoor landed herself on the Dream team of Loreal Paris.


Under production: Yash Pal and Parvin Dhabas enact a scene from their upcoming flick ‘Undertrial’ at the mahurat of their movie.


All that glitters: Jewelry Designer Boney Lulla and Suchitra Pillai at the formers launch of her exquisite jewelry store


Double whammy: Tisca Chopra won a special jury mention for stellar performances by an International Grand Jury.for her role in Firaaq after last year’s mention of Taare Zameen Par.