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'Charlie's Angels' on AXN
Hollywood blockbuster Charlie's Angels premieres this month on AXN (December 22 at 9.00 p.m.). Directed by McG and Dylan, Drew Barrymore's partners in mission are Natalie (Cameron Diaz) and Alex (Lucy Liu). Packed with James Bondish excitement, choreographed by Cheung-Yan Yuen and supporting players (Bill Murray, Bosley and Crispin Glover), Charlie's Angels is a gripping saga of the triumph of Angels over a devious plot.

Dance Dhamaka
Zee Cinema presents Hrithik Roshan, Kareena, Karisma, Arjun Rampal and Aftab in a song and dance extravaganza titled - Ae Mere Dil Tu Gaaye Jaa. December 25, at 5.00 p.m..

Sahara TV launches its own Earth Station
Sahara TV, the free-to-air Hindi satellite entertainment channel with plans to add several more has successfully launched its own Earth Station at Noida, near New Delhi. Sahara TV is ahead of Star Plus, Sony, Zee and SABe to uplink directly from India from its own station.

Mariah Carey on CNN
CNN's Larry King interviews superstar Mariah Carey today. Coinciding with the release of her new album Charmbracelet, Carey, the best-selling female performer of all time, discusses her life and career. Since her debut in 1990, Mariah has become the best-selling female performer of all time, with an incredible 15 No. 1 singles and two Grammy Awards. Along the way she became the only artist to top the charts in each year of the 1990s, and with Heartbraker, she pushed ahead of Beatles as the artist with the most cumulative weeks spent atop Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart.

'Gadar' on New Year's eve
Watch blockbuster Gadar, Ek Prem Katha on Zee Cinema. December 31, at 8.00 p.m.

Disney Hour Christmas Countdown
In tune with the spirit of Christmas, kids can participate by visiting Disney Stations at Pantaloon in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Kanpur, Nagpur, Chennai and Hyderabad as well as the Big Bazaar Kids' sections at Mumbai and Bangalore. Purchase of Disney merchandise from these outlets will get invites for a lucky few kids to the Disney Christmas party.

The grand party will be held on December 24 - where kids will be treated to music, food, dance competitions, a show jump trampoline contest, fun and games, a meet and greet with Santa Clause, and a 'photo op' corner where kids can get pictures clicked with popular Disney Hour character cutouts. Watch Disney Hour on Sony Entertainment Channel.

IRRESISTIBLE!

RAHUL KHANNA is charm personified. Women find him irresistible! Tell him that and he laughs, "Oh wow! I must keep that in mind." Some great piece of news for the women folk! Come January, and they can feast their hungry eyes on Rahul in Bollywood Hollywood, Deepa Mehta's romantic comedy. The film is already a big hit in Canada and will soon rock the Indian audiences here!
By Prema K.

Tell us about Bollywood Hollywood.
It is a romantic comedy set in Toronto and has great music. I play Rahul Seth, a young billionaire who is struggling between his family loyalties and the dictates of his heart. Moushumi Chatterji is playing my mother and she warns me that if I do not find a nice Indian bahu for her, she will call off my sister's wedding. So she is not a very nice mother (laughs), a bit of a drama queen and very much larger than life. So I hire a girl to play my fiancée but things do not go as planned.

You mean the two of you actually fall in love!
I am sure you can guess that! (Laughs).

Isn't this a departure from the 'typical Deepa Mehta' film?
Bollywood Hollywood definitely has a broader appeal than Earth, as this is a romantic comedy, which is always more appealing. It is an honour to do this film, as it different from her previous films. People might get a jolt if they go with those expectations. This is a bindaas fun film.

Do you enjoy doing the 'typical Deepa Mehta' films or this?
I loved doing Earth. It is special as it is my first film but it was not a fun experience. I felt like I was on a holiday while shooting for Bollywood Hollywood. I think the material of a film dictates the mood on the sets.

What are your expectations from Bollywood Hollywood?
I hope people enjoy it and have a good time. I also hope they enjoy my performance. It is a big hit in Canada and has been nominated for the Genie Awards, which is the Canadian Oscar award.

People feel that you are anglicized and do not fall into the typical 'Bollywood hero' bracket!
What is a typical Bollywood hero? I do not think that term exists any more. The Indian film industry is really changing in terms of the kinds of films that are being made. This is a very exciting time and I certainly want to be part of it. I am certainly more open to different kinds of cinema now. After films like Dil Chahta Hai, Company, and Chandni Bar, is there a typical Bollywood film any more?

Would you do a typical commercial masala film?
Of course I would, depending on the role, director and script. I would not refuse anything just because it comes from a particular genre.

You also have a secretary here. So are you seriously looking at making a career here?
(Laughs) I am negotiating a couple of Hindi film offers. I am taking my work seriously here. I have always taken my acting career seriously and have constantly looked for interesting work.

Both Akshaye and you are very choosy about your work!
I cannot speak for Akshaye but I need to feel a strong connection with the project before I can commit myself to it. One has to put in so much of oneself into a film that I am hesitant about committing to something that I am not one hundred percent convinced about.

Do Akshaye and you discuss work?
We definitely consult each other. It is not like we rely on each other but we definitely bounce ideas off each other. Akshaye is a good decision-maker as he is very clear in his thinking. I am slightly indecisive. He gives me great directions. That is his strength (laughs). I am a bit confused when I have to go to the suburbs for a meeting. Akshaye is very good at drawing road maps and giving me exact directions. Actually that is how he helps me in my career. He helps me to get to my meetings (laughs).

What about your other film, The Emperor's Club?
The film explores the choices that people make and how it affects other people. It is doing very well in the US. I was happy to do it despite having a small part, as it was such a prestigious project to be associated with. Kevin Kline is playing the lead and Michael Hoffman is the director. He liked my performance in Earth and called me up. That was very flattering (laughs).

What prompted you to do Bawander?
Oh I really do not want to talk about that. Everyone makes mistakes.

What is Akshaye doing in Bollywood Hollywood?
He is doing a song, Sona Sona. It is a nice catchy Bhangra number and he is in full Punjabi form (laughs). It was great fun when he came to Toronto for the shoot.

How does it feel to see his career zooming upwards today?
It is fantastic! I have really enjoyed his performances in his latest films.

Your father made a comeback to films with 'Leela'?
I really enjoyed his performance. He was so charismatic and his screen presence was wonderful. It was great seeing him after a while on screen.

You are said to be a great charmer!
Am I? (Laughs)

And women find you irresistible!
Oh wow! I must keep that in mind (laughs).

So what is happening on the personal front?
Hmm..... I do not know. Maybe I will use some of that charm I did not know I had! (Laughs)

Okay so what is happening in your love life?
I would never talk about my love life! (Smiles).




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