Amitabh Bachchan causes rift between IIFI organisers

Panaji, Nov 17 (PTI) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has become the bone of contention between the two organisers of the International Film Festival of India (IIFI), with the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) saying that the Directorate of Film Festival did not want to invite Big B. ESG''s Red Carpet Committee member Rajendra Talak on Monday told reporters that the ESG wants to invite Bachchan to the festival, but DIFF is not keen on the idea. "We always feel that he should come but what can we do? It is only upto the DFF," Talak said.

Responding to a question during a press conference along with Red Carpet Committee Chairman Chandrakant Kavlekar, Talak said that the ESG is not even allowed to recommend names to the Directorate. When contacted, Director of DFF, S M Khan denied that there was ever any formal or informal discussion with ESG about inviting Bachchan to the festival.

"We have not received any proposal either formal or informal from ESG on inviting Amitabh Bachchan to the festival. I am in regular touch with ESG officials and there has been no such request from them," he told PTI. Talak said that the society could not invite the star as it is not involved in conceptualising the event but is merely involved in logistic support.

Talak, who himself is a National Award winning filmmaker, refused to offer any comment when asked whether Bachchan''s political affiliations had anything to do with not being invited for the festival. .

Katrina is a modern day marvel: Amitabh Bachchan

New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who caught up with actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif on the sets of reality show "Bigg Boss 3" recently, is all praises for the latter and says she is a "modern day marvel".

"Katrina is a modern day marvel. From a non-Hindi speaking young shy and uncertain lady of 'Boom', she has grown and grown to become one of the most desired actresses in our fraternity," Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

While Amitabh hosts the reality show, Ranbir and Katrina had appeared to promote their film "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani", which released Friday.

"They (Ranbir and Katrina) were charming and involved and sweet. Ranbir as you all know is related to me. His cousin - Rishi Kapoor's elder sister's son is married to Shweta, my daughter.

"I wished them happiness and success," he said.

In the meanwhile, Amitabh is himself busy charting the marketing plans of his forthcoming movie "Paa", being touted as his best work so far. He plays a 13-year-old suffering from progeria, a rare disease which causes premature ageing.

Big B to host 'Bigg Boss'

Mumbai, Sep 4 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will return to the small screen after a gap of four years to host the third season of Colors' popular reality show 'Bigg Boss', a well-placed source confirmed Friday.

' 'Bigg Boss' is set to get bigger. And Amitabh Bachchan is going to take over as host from Shilpa Shetty, who hosted it last season,' the source told IANS.

The Indian version of the popular British reality show 'Big Brother', 'Bigg Boss' will have celebrity contestants locked into a house under the surveillance of multiple cameras for a period of three months without any contact with the outside world.

Periodic eliminations will take place based on voting by housemates and the audiences.

The show is expected to go on air around December.

Big B, who had a super hit stint as the host of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' for two seasons, will be seen on the show on the days of the elimination.

The inaugural 'Bigg Boss' show in 2006 had Arshad Warsi as the host.

Indo Asian News Service

Big B to launch a book on bollywood posters

Mumbai He spent almost fifteen years sourcing the publicity artwork and anecdotes of Hindi films, right from the '30s. Over the last two years, S.M.M. Ausaja has studied the evolution of poster art and penned it down on to a book that marks his debut.

‘Bollywood In Posters’ is to be launched at IIFA Awards on 11th June by Amitabh Bachchan, who has also written the foreword. “I have toiled hard for this one and am glad that the book is being launched on a prestigious pedestal. I'm also very thankful to Mr. Bachchan for his support and acknowledgement,” says Ausaja.

‘Bollywood In Posters’ is the first book that showcases posters of all the classics of Hindi cinema spanning eight decades, along with their credits and famous songs, besides interesting anecdotes. S.M.M. Ausaja is a film historian and a Hindi cinema memorabilia collector with a personal archive.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Big-B-to-launch-a-book-on-bollywood-posters/474779/

Big B felicitated at FICCI-IIFA awards ceremony

Mumbai, Feb 19 (PTI) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was among the top ten bollywood personalities to be felicitated with the first FICCI-IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards for the 'Most Powerful Entertainers of the decade'.

The awards function which was held here last night to commemorate the 10th anniversary of FICCI-FRAMES and IIFA saw Bachchan and actresses - Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty - collecting their trophies while the other winners - Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan - did not make it.

The evening also witnessed the presentation of the FICCI-USIBC (US-India Business Council) Award to hollywood actor and leading social activist Danny Glover and to Congressman John Lewis.

Speaking on the occasion, Bachchan recalled that he had completed 40 years in the showbiz on February 5.

"I am happy at being a part of the film industry which is a symbol of national integration," he said.

When Danny referred to Bachchan as the greatest actor in the world, an apparently embarrassed Big B thanked him for the compliment.

Later in his blog, Bachchan wrote if there was space beneath his chair, he would have disappeared in there. PTI