Independence Day Special: Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra should free themselves from…

As India enters its 67th year of freedom, we take a look at what is a highly popular and flourishing industry today – cinema – and its creators, many of whom are still entangled in serious issues and looking forward to setting themselves free!

To every Indian, Independence Day is a symbol of national pride. Each of us celebrates freedom with great gusto and pride each year. However, over the years, the meaning of ‘freedom’ has often been misinterpreted. So today, as we begin a new year with the freedom that has been so hard earned, we need to introspect on the actual meaning of the concept. And make sure that we have not only deserved freedom, but can keep it as well.

Our forefathers witnessed history being made more than six decades ago on August 15, 1947 after fighting the British. Today the fight continues, but against the same age old issues – competition, jealousies, one-upmanship, ego, etc. Bollywood stars too face these issues and many cannot break out of their tangles and find the freedom that every individual is entitled to.

As we celebrate 67 years of independence, we take a look at several factors that have bound B-town superstars. We suggest remedial measures to overcome their troubles and help them understand the real sense of freedom. After all, they should celebrate this reality that is independence with the same enthusiasm and pride as we do…

Where has the fun, feisty Priyanka Chopra gone?

There was a time when this Exotic babe wouldn’t hesitate to spill the beans about everything under the sun in an interview, even if it raised eyebrows. But wethinks that ever since PC stepped into the international music arena, the conversationalist in her has disappeared

Remember the vivacious Priyanka Chopra who set temperatures a-soaring when she appeared on Koffee with Karan along with her then alleged boyfriend Shahid Kapoor? The dusky beauty was fierce and even took jabs at Kareena Kapoor Khan. Now that was one of the most interesting interviews that Ms Chopra has given, mostly ‘coz she wasn’t trying to be diplomatically correct…except about her oh-so-happening relationship with SK! But the question is – has she consciously replaced what was interesting with what she thinks is safe? Now that she is going global with her music and the Disney movie Planes, is she trying to portray a Miss Goody Two Shoes image? Well, going by her recent interviews, it certainly seems so.

The Barfi! babe is all over the media internationally – be it newspapers, magazines or TV. Every other day there is something said about Priyanka and how she is going all out with her new single Exotic and her role as Ishani in Planes. While she turns up looking uber chic everywhere, the B-town beauty has nothing new to say. And though we can let her get away with that new found ‘exotic’ accent of hers – which is mercifully less twangily American than it has been – she should be fined for singing the same old raag again and again in every interview. Don’t believe us? Check out her chats with various firang reporters online and you will know what we are saying.

We know that the Zanjeer babe – Pinky….really! – is too busy with her work to change things right now, but she needs to understand that her efforts will be in vain if she doesn’t roll a little bit with the wave in her chats. All we are saying is – will the bold, feisty, outspoken Priyanka Chopra stand up and speak…please!

Who is Salman Khan’s biggest fan in B-town?

He is the most wanted Khan who makes ladies hearts go dhak-dhak, he gets the cash registers ringing at the box-office and is very deserving of the Dabangg Khan title rightly referred to as the eternal bachelor of B-town

Everyone from Shahrukh Khan to Priyanka Chopra have aped Salman Khan on various occasions. He is the god-father of many newcomers and guess what in his already growing list of fans there’s a new name. While we at Bollywoodlife were first to tell you about uncanny similarities between Shahid Kapoor from Phata Poster Nikla Hero and Salman Khan from Dabangg here’s the truth from the horse’s mouth. Shahid confessed in a recent interview that he is indeed emulating SK, “He (Shahid’s character) is a very big fan of Salman Khan and in one scene we have even worn a ‘Being Human’ t-shirt and in another scene, the character has gone to buy vegetables with his mother and his hands are full and he is eating a banana standing and watching the poster of ‘Dabangg 2′.” So is it just the character that is a die-hard Salman fan? Sasha is however very excited about sharing screen space with Sallu, “There’s a little scene in the film where Salman sir is there…Salman sir was kind enough to do a special appearance in the film.”

While Sallu’s mere presence has been cashed in by many filmmakers who sell their films with mere cameos by the star (remember Preity Zinta’s Ishq in Paris, Sohail Khan’s Hello); this is not the first time the actor is making a special appearance in a Rajkumar Santoshi film. Salman also featured in ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif’s film opposite Ranbir Kapoor Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani.

So is Santoshi using more than just Salman’s cameo appearance to win the audience this time around? Is a Shahid Kapoor not good-enough to back a film? Well these are questions only Mr Santoshi and Shahid can answer. Do we like Sasha’s Sallu act? Well, the Kaminey actor did look convincing as the Dabangg Khan!

Saif Ali Khan’s Bullett Raja vs Shahid Kapoor’s Rambo Rajkumar?

The Nawab of Pataudi’s action flick is likely to compete with his Begum’s ex-boyfriend Shahid Kapoor’s action comedy on November 29
Another case of one-upmanship in B-town is raising its ugly head. Latest trade reports suggest that the Saif Ali Khan starrer Bullett Raja and Shahid Kapoor’s Rambo Rajkumar are set to release on the same day – November 29 – this year. Incidentally, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s new action flick was scheduled to release on September 6, but now the makers, we hear, have no option but to launch on the same date as Prabhu Deva’s latest movie.

We hear that both Dhulia and Saifu have been toying with the idea for quite some time now and wanted to lock on September 6, as they were contemplating a solo release. But since they wanted more time for publicity and promotion, they decided to postpone things a bit. Considering that apna Agent Vinod star is riding high on the success of his past two hits – Cocktail and Race 2 – one cannot deny that with Prabhu Deva’s success ratio, if not his movie’s lead actor Shahid Kapoor‘s overall popularity, his track record of hits notwithstanding, there could be room for a clash. A trade expert on condition of anonymity feels that “Two big films clashing with each other should be avoided for healthy competition.” While we like a little masala in B-town happenings, we would rather one of the two films moves its release date to prevent the box office war.

Considering the fact that the two equally promising films are set to take each other on come November 9, which one do you think is likely to do better at the box office – Raja or Rajkumar? We can’t wait for the contest to begin!

Shahid Kapoor gravely injured in the fire accident on the sets of Rambo Rajkumar

The fire accident on the sets of Prabhu Deva’s Rambo Rajkumar earlier this week in Mumbai was not as minor as it is being made out to be
Shahid Kapoor is said to have got burn injuries on his back and hand, and the actor would need time to recover fully.

“We were shooting a fire sequence when the chemical used to create the fire went awry. It singed Shahid’s shoulder and hand. It could’ve been worse. Thankfully nothing serious happened,” said a source close to the film.

Meanwhile, the stunts in Rambo Rajkumar are getting more and more dare-devilish as Prabhu Deva wants them to be one-up on what Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar did in Wanted and Rowdy Rathore, respectively. “When Shahid decided to do his first action film, he had to make sure the stunts were of the never-before variety. That’s why he waited so long to do an action film and even opted out of his friend Siddharth Anand’s Bang Bang,” said the source.

It is little known that Bang Bang was originally planned for  Shahid. The source said, “But then somewhere down the line Shahid preferred Prabhu’s project as his first attempt at the action genre. Bang Bang is a remake of a Tom Cruise action entertainer Knight and Day and Shahid didn’t want his stunts to be compared with Cruise. Rambo Rajkumar is an original.”

When contacted, Prabhu Deva refrained from commenting on the injury, but he mentioned that he’s taking a break with his two sons. “We’re going to Australia for a holiday. During my vacation with my kids, I’ll also unveil the first look of Girish Taurani’s debut film Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya,” he said.

Rambo Rajkumar stills: Sonakshi Sinha goes desi while Shahid Kapoor looks like a South Indian hero!

The cast and crew of the film sweats it out in the cool locations of Bhuj and Wai
Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Prabhu Deva seem to be working really hard to wrap up their upcoming venture, Rambo Rajkumar. While Sonakshi looks all vibrant in bright coloured lehenga cholis and sarees, Shahid looks like a South Indian hero in those mawali kinda shirts. His hair and stubble lends a rugged appeal and we are waiting to discover more about his character.

What’s all the more interesting is that Sasha is making it a point to give us tidbits about his shooting schedule through Twitter. While he informs us that the shoot has begun in Wai, he also sings his director’s praises by saying that Prabhu Deva’s dancing is as quick as lightening. In one of the tweets, he takes to his Kaminey lingo and writes, “Favere Favere sab flowly flowly hota hai.”

But it doesn’t look all work and no play. Sasha is seen posing with his fans, having a gala time with the crew and indulging in an intense brainstorming session with the ace choreographer-turned-director. Now let’s see if all this translates on the theatre screens in a positive way…what say readers?

Shahid Kapoor flaunts a chiseled bod in Rambo Rajkumar

The chocolate boy has turned all muscular for his upcoming action flick with choreographer-turned-director Prabhu Deva

Well, the man behind Shahid Kapoor’s oh-so-stunning body is none other than his trainer Abbas Ali. He is the reason why Sasha’s physique becomes the talk of the town every time his film is around the corner.

And this time is no different. Shahid has perfected his physique for his upcoming film, Rambo Rajkumar. He looks nothing less than a superhero with killer abs, rippling muscles and chiseled bod.

The actor floored everyone when he went shirtless in Kaminey. And going by his ‘Greek-god like bod’ looks in this Prabhu Deva venture, we are sure his female fans hearts would definitely skip a beat.

Sasha, it seems, has left no stone unturned to get into the Rambo mode. We likes!

Phata Poster Nikla Salman Khan?

Is Shahid Kapoor aping Salman in the first look of his new film?

Judging by the first trailer of his new film Phata Poster Nikla Hero (PPNH), we can’t help but see Salman Khan in Shahid Kapoor’s mannerisms

Shahid’s new avatar in PPNH has a hangover of Salman’s Dabangg – the police uniform, those aviators…the only major difference is the comic element to it, which is a trademark of the Rajkumar Santoshi style.

This will be Shahid Kapoor’s first film in 2013, after the debacle of Teri Meri Kahaani in 2012. And even as you see Prabhu Deva and Rohit Shetty’s joint influence in the action sequences, you cannot miss Santoshi’s fun touch spicing up the trailer. Catchy it is, but will it help Shahid return to the list of successful actors? We will have to wait