Amitabh now in animated film

 MUMBAI: We have seen Amitabh Bachchan in many avatars - as an actor, TV host and a blogger. Now it is the turn of the Big B to make his debut as a cartoon character.

A joint venture of his production house ABCL and Toonz Animation, a Kerala-based animation firm, the 3D animation movie 'Twinergy' has him playing twin roles - young warriors Dhruva and Vajra.

Amitabh Bachchan is playing two characters in the movie.

He is also giving the voice over for them. We have designed him as the 70s Amitabh Bachchan, young, but the two characters depict complementary powers," said Hari Varma, Chief Creative Officer, Toonz Animation.

Artists are giving finishing touches to Big B's first cartoon avatar. They believe the film will create a cult following like other famous super-hero movies.

Toonz is already riding high on the success of its first joint venture with a Latin American production house. The 3D animation movie Gaturro, has topped the box office in Argentina since its release last month.

"It is the second week of release in Latin America and it is still the box office topper," said P Jayakumar, CEO, Toonz Animation.

The Kerala-based production company is now competing with big global players in the animation industry. And it hopes that Bachchan's cartoon avatar too will script the same success story.

Amitabh now in animated film

 MUMBAI: We have seen Amitabh Bachchan in many avatars - as an actor, TV host and a blogger. Now it is the turn of the Big B to make his debut as a cartoon character.

A joint venture of his production house ABCL and Toonz Animation, a Kerala-based animation firm, the 3D animation movie 'Twinergy' has him playing twin roles - young warriors Dhruva and Vajra.

Amitabh Bachchan is playing two characters in the movie.

He is also giving the voice over for them. We have designed him as the 70s Amitabh Bachchan, young, but the two characters depict complementary powers," said Hari Varma, Chief Creative Officer, Toonz Animation.

Artists are giving finishing touches to Big B's first cartoon avatar. They believe the film will create a cult following like other famous super-hero movies.

Toonz is already riding high on the success of its first joint venture with a Latin American production house. The 3D animation movie Gaturro, has topped the box office in Argentina since its release last month.

"It is the second week of release in Latin America and it is still the box office topper," said P Jayakumar, CEO, Toonz Animation.

The Kerala-based production company is now competing with big global players in the animation industry. And it hopes that Bachchan's cartoon avatar too will script the same success story.

Paris hosts gothic ball for Givenchy

 PARIS: Black capes over leopard-skin, zippers and belts slung around the thighs, Givenchy struck a dark, sensuous note in Paris Sunday with a summer look that seemed plucked from Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."

Stepping out into a courtyard, the first model wore a cropped white jacket with a long tail falling down the back, over a black skirt and transparent petticoat that stretched down to thick, dizzying heels.

Singers Lily Allen and Courtney Love, Justin Timberlake and Liv Tyler were among the famous faces who watched as designer Riccardo Tisci sent out organza tops secured at the back with leather straps that hinted at bondage gear.

Faces were powdered white with darkened lips, the hair stern and short, or gathered on each side of the face amid tipped with small plaits.

Golden zippers ran all over a sleeveless black jacket, above sleek pants with a copper belt hooked at the top of the thighs.

A few pieces in the palest pink provided a brief distraction, but the show returned swiftly to a darker register, with a whole series in leopard-skin.

Short skirts were layered over pants -- then covered over by long petticoats in see-thru fabric or fish-net.

A tight, starched blouse like a fencer's suit had a transparent back, while a thick, breastplate-like piece flowed into a cape sweeping down the back.

For his men's collection in June, Tisci also built around black, his trademark colour, and leopard-skin, dressing models in Mexican-wrestler style leather masks with grids for the eyes and mouth.

But the designer broke with the gothic tone of his spring/summer line for 2011, unveiled mid-way through Paris' marathon ready-to-wear shows, stepping out to salute the crowd in a bright blue-checked shirt.

A world apart, John Galliano chose a 1920s artist's muse as inspiration for his luxuriant new summer look.

Janet Jackson took a front-row seat to watch the models step out in a riot of hats, gypsy scarves and fur collars, each outfit intended to be as singular as a portrait said the British designer.

Models in over-the-top make-up twirled in light, flounced dresses cut from fragile, transparent fabrics.

A skirt was hemmed with ostrich feathers or Spanish shawl fringes, while ultra-wide pants were layered with black tulle, and trenches were cut from translucent grey organza that left the structure and seams on full display.

Galliano took his inspiration from Maria Lani, muse to some of the greatest artists of her day including Amedeo Modigliani, whose portrait adorned the invite to the show.

There were pink and orange -- everywhere this season -- but also butterfly motifs on a frou-frou bustier dress or see-thru jacket.

At sundown, Galliano's woman stepped out in crystal- and gold-encrusted gowns, mostly white, displaying an artisan's touch unusual for a ready-to-wear collection, however luxurious.

Galliano says he was inspired for evening wear by Constantin Brancusi's metal sculptures. The kinship was far from obvious, but the result was delicate, feminine, with laser-sharp tailoring, and terribly desirable.

Earlier, Celine set Paris abuzz with a summer look that was all butter-soft leather, fluid cuts and sober sophistication.

Cheers of delight rang out as flavour-of-the-moment designer Phoebe Philo unveiled her third collection for the label.

Caramel leather, desert-hooded weaves and elegant, flowing pants in ivory silk, with navy and sharp green bands lining the waist and side like a tuxedo: at each new piece, the room held its breath in admiration.

The magic was in the details, like a simple white jacket in starched cotton that left the back bare and fastened with a plain leather strap, or a white cotton blouse with a deep pink leather collar.

High-waisted leather skirts just covered the knee, curling around the hips to end in a gentle diagonal panel in the small of the back.

A sleeveless top in butter-soft maroon leather was paired with roomy trousers in vivid blue, while a long cotton damask tunic like a sleeveless kimono was split on either side of the body.

A Moroccan flavour came from a green silk top with geometric motifs, hemmed with a band of orange, while a fluid, bare-armed navy dress robe plunged to a deep V shape at front an back -- while its modest, sister piece offered long sleeves and demure neckline.

Paris hosts gothic ball for Givenchy

 PARIS: Black capes over leopard-skin, zippers and belts slung around the thighs, Givenchy struck a dark, sensuous note in Paris Sunday with a summer look that seemed plucked from Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."

Stepping out into a courtyard, the first model wore a cropped white jacket with a long tail falling down the back, over a black skirt and transparent petticoat that stretched down to thick, dizzying heels.

Singers Lily Allen and Courtney Love, Justin Timberlake and Liv Tyler were among the famous faces who watched as designer Riccardo Tisci sent out organza tops secured at the back with leather straps that hinted at bondage gear.

Faces were powdered white with darkened lips, the hair stern and short, or gathered on each side of the face amid tipped with small plaits.

Golden zippers ran all over a sleeveless black jacket, above sleek pants with a copper belt hooked at the top of the thighs.

A few pieces in the palest pink provided a brief distraction, but the show returned swiftly to a darker register, with a whole series in leopard-skin.

Short skirts were layered over pants -- then covered over by long petticoats in see-thru fabric or fish-net.

A tight, starched blouse like a fencer's suit had a transparent back, while a thick, breastplate-like piece flowed into a cape sweeping down the back.

For his men's collection in June, Tisci also built around black, his trademark colour, and leopard-skin, dressing models in Mexican-wrestler style leather masks with grids for the eyes and mouth.

But the designer broke with the gothic tone of his spring/summer line for 2011, unveiled mid-way through Paris' marathon ready-to-wear shows, stepping out to salute the crowd in a bright blue-checked shirt.

A world apart, John Galliano chose a 1920s artist's muse as inspiration for his luxuriant new summer look.

Janet Jackson took a front-row seat to watch the models step out in a riot of hats, gypsy scarves and fur collars, each outfit intended to be as singular as a portrait said the British designer.

Models in over-the-top make-up twirled in light, flounced dresses cut from fragile, transparent fabrics.

A skirt was hemmed with ostrich feathers or Spanish shawl fringes, while ultra-wide pants were layered with black tulle, and trenches were cut from translucent grey organza that left the structure and seams on full display.

Galliano took his inspiration from Maria Lani, muse to some of the greatest artists of her day including Amedeo Modigliani, whose portrait adorned the invite to the show.

There were pink and orange -- everywhere this season -- but also butterfly motifs on a frou-frou bustier dress or see-thru jacket.

At sundown, Galliano's woman stepped out in crystal- and gold-encrusted gowns, mostly white, displaying an artisan's touch unusual for a ready-to-wear collection, however luxurious.

Galliano says he was inspired for evening wear by Constantin Brancusi's metal sculptures. The kinship was far from obvious, but the result was delicate, feminine, with laser-sharp tailoring, and terribly desirable.

Earlier, Celine set Paris abuzz with a summer look that was all butter-soft leather, fluid cuts and sober sophistication.

Cheers of delight rang out as flavour-of-the-moment designer Phoebe Philo unveiled her third collection for the label.

Caramel leather, desert-hooded weaves and elegant, flowing pants in ivory silk, with navy and sharp green bands lining the waist and side like a tuxedo: at each new piece, the room held its breath in admiration.

The magic was in the details, like a simple white jacket in starched cotton that left the back bare and fastened with a plain leather strap, or a white cotton blouse with a deep pink leather collar.

High-waisted leather skirts just covered the knee, curling around the hips to end in a gentle diagonal panel in the small of the back.

A sleeveless top in butter-soft maroon leather was paired with roomy trousers in vivid blue, while a long cotton damask tunic like a sleeveless kimono was split on either side of the body.

A Moroccan flavour came from a green silk top with geometric motifs, hemmed with a band of orange, while a fluid, bare-armed navy dress robe plunged to a deep V shape at front an back -- while its modest, sister piece offered long sleeves and demure neckline.

Big B was almost bankrupt before KBC

 MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan, who is all set to host the fourth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), remembers how the game reality show changed the mathematics of his life and pulled him out of a financial crunch.

"Ten years ago in the year 2000, when the entire world was celebrating the new century, I was celebrating my disastrous fortune. There were no films, no money, no company, a million legal cases against and the tax authorities had put notice of recovery on my home," Big B, 67, wrote on his blog.

"An offer for television changed all that when I agreed to anchor KBC much against all the advice and resentment from friends, family and advisers. Taken to the United Kingdom at the Elstree Studios where Millionaire was being recorded, I observed the elan and grace of the show and the immense production values that it incorporated.

"If they could give me this in India, I would readily agree. They did, I agreed and KBC took its initial steps. It soon became apparent that it was going to be big and prosperous. I merely sat back and played the game as best it could be played. Before long I was out of the financial crisis and signing on an almost two-year deal with the channel that was carrying it," he added.

Big B's got into financial crisis when Amitabh Bachchan Corporation ltd (ABCL) started running in loss. He tried to get out of this situation by signing Mrityudaata (1997), but the film failed miserably at the box office.

Three years later he got the offer to host KBC and after that there was no looking for this megastar who charted a new success story.

Big B was almost bankrupt before KBC

 MUMBAI: Amitabh Bachchan, who is all set to host the fourth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), remembers how the game reality show changed the mathematics of his life and pulled him out of a financial crunch.

"Ten years ago in the year 2000, when the entire world was celebrating the new century, I was celebrating my disastrous fortune. There were no films, no money, no company, a million legal cases against and the tax authorities had put notice of recovery on my home," Big B, 67, wrote on his blog.

"An offer for television changed all that when I agreed to anchor KBC much against all the advice and resentment from friends, family and advisers. Taken to the United Kingdom at the Elstree Studios where Millionaire was being recorded, I observed the elan and grace of the show and the immense production values that it incorporated.

"If they could give me this in India, I would readily agree. They did, I agreed and KBC took its initial steps. It soon became apparent that it was going to be big and prosperous. I merely sat back and played the game as best it could be played. Before long I was out of the financial crisis and signing on an almost two-year deal with the channel that was carrying it," he added.

Big B's got into financial crisis when Amitabh Bachchan Corporation ltd (ABCL) started running in loss. He tried to get out of this situation by signing Mrityudaata (1997), but the film failed miserably at the box office.

Three years later he got the offer to host KBC and after that there was no looking for this megastar who charted a new success story.

Shahid Kapoor scores over Ranbir

MUMBAI: After making a film on legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, Mira Nair is planning her next. And this time, her protagonist will be a Pakistani man who lets go of his life of fame in America after a failed love affair and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. And the filmmaker has already chosen the one who will play that protagonist: Shahid Kapoor.

Nair’s film is based on Mohsin Hamid’s second novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which was published in 2007 and was an instant bestseller. The lead role is thus quite a challenging yet prestigious offer for Shahid, who will be acting in an international film for the first time.

Apparently, Mira was keen on casting either Shahid or Ranbir Kapoor for the role of the protagonist, who is a bearded man called Changez in the novel. Our source said, “Between Ranbir and Shahid, Mira felt that Shahid had the intensity that the character required. While immensely appreciative of Ranbir’s talent, Mira thought that Shahid was better suited for this role.”

We wonder if Shahid’s intense double role in Kaminey won him his brownie points.

In Nair’s film as well as the novel by Mohsin, the story unfolds in the form of a dialogue between Changez and an American he meets at a cafe in Lahore. The protagonist gives voice to the various post-9/11 anxieties that emerged in the following months in America.

All in all, the project is an extremely promising one for Shahid. Though the actor remained unavailable for comment, a source confirmed, “Mira has already met Shahid.

The actor loves the script. The necessary formalities are being worked out as both Mira and Shahid are extremely excited about the film and want to start working on it by early next year.”