As the New Year begins for Abhishek Bachchan, the actor seems to have fairly and squarely left the experimentation mode behind. With an eye on commercial entertainers that promise guaranteed results (well almost) and are aimed at entertaining a wider audience instead of merely suiting the sensibilities of filmmakers who wish to bring in a much required ‘change’ in the grammar of cinema, Abhishek is clear that coming months would be focused on getting some hits under his belt.

“Yes, this is pretty much the need of the hour,” says an industry expert, “If you look at some of his last few films, his characterisation left a lot to be desired as well. In DUM MAARO DUM his character died a premature death. GAME was too complicated for many to comprehend. Audience expected him to be a conventionally revolutionary in KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY instead of being a subtle participant whereas the true essence of his character just didn’t come out well in RAAVAN.”

Things should change though in 2012 as Abhishek would be expecting a much better outing in months to come. While PLAYERS and BOL BACHCHAN should be just the kind of massy entertainers that Abhishek would be waiting for, shooting of DHOOM 3 kick-starts later this year as well. Thankfully for him, each of these films has a certain credibility attached which means a better success ratio is definitely on the anvil. More

A general assumption in Bollywood is that films that release in January are not blockbuster hits. But, NO ONE KILLED JESSICA came in with a bang in January 2011 and broke the conventional January curse. The Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan film, which had no male superstar, grossed nearly Rs. 30.220 crore.

Now the Abbas – Mastan film PLAYERS, which is an official remake of THE ITALIAN JOB, is releasing on January 6, 2012. Stupendous action stunts, glamorous scenes and more importantly the Abbas – Mastan style thriller stand as the ultra selling points of the film. Moreover, the promotional events have also created a certain amount of buzz.

The multi-starrer film which casts Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Bipasha Basu is expected to mint money. Source

As reported, a lavish ceremony will be organised for the baby post January 15 (Makar Sankranti, which is when the period finishes).

Bring all this up and Abhishek Bachchan says, “I haven’t figured the name yet. But I’ll lock on it soon. Aishwarya (wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and I didn’t know whether we were going to have a boy or girl. So we didn’t jot down names.”

However, he admits they want to settle for a name that starts with the alphabet ‘A’. “We had shortlisted a few, but it’s difficult to choose that ‘one’,” asserts the new father, adding, “I can’t tell you the names that we’re considering right now. Ash and I want it to be with the letter A.”

The new father is often compared to his dad — Amitabh Bachchan — in terms of his acting skills and box-office hits. Does he feel his daughter too may face those pressures? “It’s a blessing to be my parents’ son and my grandparents’ grandson. My child will grow up saying her parents are actors. But I don’t want her to use that as a crutch. She will have to work her way around things the way her parents and grandparents did,” states Abhishek, whose forthcoming film, Players releases this Friday. More

Fans of the Bachchan family, who have been eagerly waiting to see what the newest addition to the family will be named, can now finally look forward to the event in the near future. Sources have claimed that Abhishek Bachchan will be naming the little bundle of joy after January 15, 2012.

It seems that the recently turned parents are waiting for the ‘kharwas’ period, which is considered inauspicious, to come to an end before they name the baby. Bachchan Jr was quoted to have said, “I haven’t figured the name yet. But I will lock it soon. Aishwarya and I did not know whether we were going to be blessed with a boy or a girl so we didn’t jot down names.”

Abhishek Bachchan however admitted that they want to settle for a name that starts with the alphabet ‘A’. “We have shortlisted a few, but its difficult to choose that one name,” the recently turned father was quoted to have said in a media interaction. Source

Probably Rohit Shetty’s ‘Zameen’ was the first film where Abhishek Bachchan’s distinct masculine style was noticed by the audiences. ‘Dhoom’, ‘Dus’, ‘Bluffmaster’, and ‘Dum Maro Dum’ consolidated his image further. The promos of ‘Players’ suggest that Abhishek is again going to flaunt the same ultra male attitude in the film.

Although the makers have denied any resemblance with ‘Dhoom’ but the appearance of the film hints something different.

It’s the official remake of ‘The Italian Job’ which means that a major part of the film will showcase chase sequences. The director duo of Abbas-Mustan is also expected to give the film their special touch. Last some years have not been very productive for the acclaimed directors. Last seven years have produced just one hit ‘Race’ for them. ’36 China Town’ and ‘Naqaab’ were duds at the box office despite huge publicity drives. Thus they are expected to return with the formula used in ‘Race’. That is, a big star cast and a fast paced screenplay. Abbas-Mustan tend to cover the flawed script with a racy screenplay which creates space for style. More

It has been a month since Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan gave birth to a baby girl and the Bachchans are yet to name her. They are still in search of an appropriate name for the new member of the family.

“I would let you know as soon as I have decided upon a name (for my daughter),” Abhishek Bachchan told reporters here at the promo of his latest flick ‘Players’.

Asked what was his feeling when Aishwarya gave birth to the baby, he said it was the most “indescribable thing that ever happens” to anybody. “No matter how good is your vocabulary, you can never get (proper) words of what you feel when you see the child… It is wonderful,” he said.

Replying to another question, Abhishek said his daughter resembled his wife and he wants her to look like the former Miss World. “Thankfully she (daughter) resembles her mother, but I have been told by the veterans that children’s face changes over time … I think it sounds better she looks like her mother,” he said. Source

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who spent his weekend attending a horse-racing competition, says he learnt the biggest lesson of his life while taking riding sessions.

“When I was a kid, I used to go to Juhu beach along with five-six other children to learn riding. The first time I sat on a horse, the horse threw me off… My trainer asked me to immediately go and sit again on the horse and said that if you don’t go and sit now, the fear will reside inside you and you will never be able to ride a horse. That was one of the greatest life lessons you can ever have,” the 35-year-old actor said here at the Mid-Day Trophy horse-racing event Sunday.

“If you fall down or something you don’t achieve, get back and keep riding because that is the only thing that will give you the confidence,” she added. More

Abhishek Bachchan, on a promotional tour for his upcoming film “Players”, took time off to visit the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer after a gap of seven years.

“Had the morning off so drove down to Ajmer Sharif. Went back there after almost seven years. It’s always wonderful to go there and seek blessings,” Abhishek wrote on Twitter.

The actor is currently in Jaipur for the film promotion.

Directed by Abbas-Mustan, “Players” has an ensemble cast featuring Bobby Deol, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sikander Kher, Bipasha Basu, Sonam Kapoor and Omi Vaidya, apart from Abhishek.

“Driving back to Jaipur after visiting Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Off to the airport and Jaipur. Promotional tours are tougher than making the film!!!!” he futher posted.

They were seen cozied up to each other, involved in a warm and friendly discussion at a prayer meeting held at a Mumbai film studio in the memory of the late Dev Anand, lovingly and respectfully called by the industry folks as Dev Saab.

While the first time father Abhishek was quietly listening to the senior thespian’s animated discourse with a very friendly smile on his face, everyone was left wondering about the topic of conversation. Were they discussing the nitty-gritty of fatherhood? Both looked relaxed and happy, with the bright glow of fatherhood adorning their visage. More

The script of the sequel to his 2008 film “Dostana” is locked and the movie is ready to go on the floors in 2012, with Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham back in the frame, informs filmmaker Karan Johar.

“DOSTANA 2 is definitely starting next year….Script is locked…Abhishek and John are ready!!! The boys are back!! Tarun (director Tarun Mansukhani) is all set….,” Johar posted on his Twitter page.

The original, youthful romantic comedy, about three friends, featuring Priyanka Chopra in the female lead, was a blockbuster.

The boys are the same for the sequel, but Katrina Kaif has replaced Priyanka as the female lead. Source

A treat to the adrenaline junkies, the larger than life music launch of Viacom 18 and Abbas-Mustan’s PLAYERS, thrilled the crowd who turned up in overwhelming numbers, to catch their favourite stars do some never-seen-before stunts in front of a live audience.

Leaving behind the conventional dance and music routine, the official audio launch of the keenly awaited action thriller, was held in the prime suburbs via an action packed event that was planned on a magnanimous budget and orchestrated by the film’s action director, the renowned Allan Amin.

The biggest event in Bollywood for the year 2011, the PLAYERS music launch saw an introduction to each character in the film in a novel, never-seen-before manner with high definition explosions, shattering glass and breath taking fireworks that had the audience holding on to their seats. More

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan recently became parents to a baby girl and while the Beti B has wrapped everyone in the family around her little finger, there is one member of the family who is not quite happy with the attention the new one is garnering.

And the member in question is Bachchans pet Great Dane. Amitabh Bachchan today said that his pet dog has been sulking ever since their bundle of joy has marked her presence.

Bachchan took to Twitter to share the piece of information writing, “Shanouk, my Piranna Great Dane feeling left out and sulking ever since the baby has arrived .. spending time with him now more often” More