It has not been an easy assignment for Saif Ali Khan to portray the role of a dalit in the upcoming film AARAKSHAN.

According to sources, ‘Prakash Jha’s faith in Saif’s ability to pull off the dalit act made the latter go out of his way to fit the character. From learning algebra to speaking chaste Hindi, it was challenges galore for Saif Ali Khan.’

Saif on his part admits the challenge his act posed during the shoot of the film. Says he, ‘There were a number of demands from the character that I am playing in AARAKSHAN. From understanding the subject I always dreaded-algebra, to getting a tan to avoid the chocolate looks, there were many things to do. In order to understand the full nuances of my act I did a lot of research with the help of my director.’ More

Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone will appear as special guests on the fifth season of the game show “Kaun Banega Crorepati”, which starts off on August 15 with megastar Amitabh Bachchan as the host.

“One interesting candidate and the entire anxiety of the working of the show just flies past .. we had a few today and tomorrow is another day .. let us hope that all goes well .. the second episode towards the evening will have invites to Saif and Deepika .. who come to promote their film and mine as well – ‘Aarakshan’ !!!”Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

“In many ways, the philosophy of the film and that of KBC is quite similar. Given opportunity, even the lesser privileged shall prosper. Or at least have the capacity to prosper,” he wrote. More

It’s a classic case of fighting for your rights. Critically acclaimed director Prakash Jha is pretty peeved as the Uttar Pradesh government has been overtly reticent towards his upcoming film Aarakshan.

The film which stars Amitabh Bachchan features the star as a principal of a college torn by reservation issues. Keeping this theme in mind, the makers were to hold seminars on reservations in Lucknow, however they were denied permission for the same. More

In the film AARAKSHAN, though Deepika Padukone would be getting into a different zone with Saif, she is more curious than anxious to know how her pairing would look like this time around.

“When you have worked with someone earlier, it obviously leads to a certain amount of comfort level from the very beginning,” says Deepika who has just stepped back into Mumbai after spending months in London shooting for two of her films, “That initial awkwardness goes away because there is a sense of familiarity that sets in. Having said that it wasn’t like we were catching up on the lost times or anything. Our interaction was primarily about the work that we were doing together and that’s about it. So yes, we were both doing our own thing. He is the way he is and is great that way.” More

Saif Ali Khan, who is madly in love with Karena, is said to be as possessive as any lover would be. The actor is so possessive about Bebo that he doesn’t allow anyone to even touch his ‘Kareena’ tattoo on his arm.

Not only that… To play his role as a ‘Dalit’ in ‘Aarakshan’, Saif had to put on lots of makeup and also cover his tattoo. For this, the Chote Nawab made sure that his makeup artists don’t touch his inked Kareena; instead he would do the makeup over the tattoo himself….  Ooooo! More

Saif Ali Khan’s girl and Salman Khan’s original ‘desi girl’, Kareena Kapoor might appear to have it all going for her, but the actress’s life has been far from a bed of roses.

Of late she has had to deal with troubling rumours about her four-year long relationship coming to an end. Upset with the ‘baseless’ stories doing the rounds, Kareena revealed, “This is all unnecessary news spread by jealous people.

I think, in this industry, people can’t see two people happy in a relationship and doing so well. We are both in the best phase of our careers and that is what affects people. I am hurt and upset, as the entire news is false and baseless. Source

Actor Saif Ali Khan has denied reports that he and his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor are going through a rough patch, saying they are happy together.

Apparently, there were rumours that the couple have been fighting too much off late. Initially, it was about them being too busy with work and not spending enough time together.

Kareena has about four releases this year, she has shoots lined up with Aamir, Shahrukh and Salman Khan.

To add to it she has a couple of endorsement deals to keep as well. While Saif is busy with his home production, Agent Vinod, Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan and Cocktail. More

Dalit group members seem to be angry at director Prakash Jha for casting Saif Ali Khan as a member of a backward cast. Sources say that a certain dalit group in Kanpur is upset with Prakash Jha casting Saif as a dalit in their forthcoming project, ‘Aarakshan.’ The movie deals with reservation issues.

A dalit also sent a letter of protest to Prakash Jha to his Pune office, claiming that a blue blood like Saif Ali Khan donning the role of a dalit is an insult to their community. The letter also threatens Jha of ‘serious repercussions’ if he doesn’t explain why he chose to cast Saif for the role.

In response to this, Jha says, “Yes, we have received a letter. My people are looking into it. We have not filed any complaint yet. It does not seem to be a registered organization.” Jha, who has always tried to bring to fore the plight of political and developmental initiatives in Bihar through his films, says that he cannot fathom the organization’s problem.

“Dalit groups should be happy that we are making a film about reservation. I can’t understand why anybody should be offended if Saif, hailing from a royal family, is cast as a Dalit. As directors, we cast actors who we think are suitable for the role. I thought Saif would be right for the part, so I cast him” he says.

Well, we just hope the problem is solved mutually, and the project goes on floor soon. Source

Saif Ali Khan might be lying low for the moment, but according to the actor he is going through the most exciting phase of his career.

Saif is happy about the way his films have fared in the recent past and his plan is to cash on this advantage. This is one of the reasons why the actor has adopted an extra cautious approach before signing on the dotted line for newer projects.

According to reliable sources, “Saif is making the most of his last successes at the box office. Saif is completely reinventing himself and thereby his star-quotient by signing films that offer him challenging roles. From AGENT VINOD, AARAKSHAN to Homi Adajania’s next COCKTAIL, Saif is carefully plotting his way to place himself among the top contenders.”

Saif in his own words says that he is going through “the most exciting phase of his career.” Well, after so much of detailed plotting and hard work, let’s hope the numero uno position in bollywood is reserved for Saif in the coming time. Source

Local authorities have demolished a major set in Bhopal where patchwork scenes for the film `Aarakshan` between actors Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan were scheduled to be shot later this month.

The demolition was ordered by the District Magistrate`soffice. The set that has been demolished included an entire bungalow that belongs to the character played by Amitabh Bachhan in the film and parts of the tabela, where informal schools were set up in the film. This particular set was spread over an acre and a half of land.

Prakash Jha Productions had taken the land on lease from Minal Residency Group, not realising that it was disputed property.

From end-January till end of March shooting had taken place on the constructed set.

“We had no idea that the land where we had constructed the set was disputed. But I do feel that even though the demolition had to go through, the authorities knew we had constructed only temporary structures for the purpose of shooting. Why demolish it? It would have been dismantled within a month. Everyone in Bhopal knew it was a set,” Prakash Jha said. More

It’s raining Bollywood this year at the Festival De Cannes. If sources are to be believed, it has been confirmed that actors Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor will make their debut on the French festival this year. Actresses Sonam Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Freida Pinto, Minisha Lamba and Cannes veteran Aishwarya Rai will also be seen dazzling at the red carpet.

While addressing a press meet in Mumbai on Thursday, Saif mentioned that he would be making his debut at the prestigious film festival this year. When asked which designer’s suit would he wear at the red carpet, Saif said, “Kareena has been telling me to get a Tom Ford suit for the red carpet and so I have finally got one.”

The actor will be representing ‘Chivas’, a brand he endorses. The actor-producer wishes to showcase his films at the fest some day. “I am excited about attending the Cannes film festival, but I wish to showcase one of my films at the fest some day. If I have a film in the competition section, it will be the ideal occasion to attend the festival” said Saif.

Meanwhile, Anil Kapoor would be seen promoting his upcoming project ‘Cities’. Roger Donaldson-directed ‘Cities’ will be launched at the Cannes Market, which stars Clive Owens along with Kapoor. More

Trendsetter of size zero in India, Kareena Kapoor, has got a figure to die for. In “Tashan” and “Kambakkht Ishq”, she donned bikini and flaunted her bikini-perfect body. Her vital stats, is a hot topic of discussion among the youngsters, after she whittled herself down to nearly a skeletal frame. But, now she is putting on weight (only at the right places), and has achieved a curvy voluptuous body.

When interviewed Bebo said, her beau Saif Ali Khan, loves to see her in bikini, and with makeup. He does not like to see her plain and simple. But, Bebo has decided that she wont be wearing bikini onscreen, because she flaunted her assets a lot in the previous movies, and now that she is getting curvy again, does not want to attain a size zero figure, which is difficult to maintain.

Even though, Saif does not mind her wearing bikinis onscreen, she has made up her mind to opt for less show off. However, she will be seen in a hot avatar, in the flick “Ra. One”; giving audience a glimpse of her cleavage and thighs. More