Bollywood Today

Eros International, the leading inte grated company within the Indian me dia and entertainment sector has signed up leading actress Kajol opposite husband Ajay Devgan for Toonpur Ka Super Hero, a 3D film with animation. The film marks Eros' second production with the husband-wife duo after You, Me And Hum. Directed by ad filmmaker Kireet Khurana, Toonpur is an exciting story in which a reel life hero accidentally lands in a world of cartoons and transforms into a real life hero. The film will have Ajay Devgan playing himself.. 

Lifetime achievement award to Shabana Azmi

The 2007 South Asian Inter national Film Festival (SAIFF) to be held in New York City will honor international filmmaker, actress, activist, and role model Shabana Azmi with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to South Asian cinema. Her career includes many accolades in film festivals promoting independent cinema, including the International Award for Best Actress for Gulzar's Libaas in North Korea 1993, at the Taormina Arte Festival in Italy and Goutam Ghose's Patang in 1994. She was honored with the Chicago International Film Festival and Los Angeles Outfest for Deepa Mehta's Fire in 1996 and Reel World Toronto Film Festival's Award for Excellence 2005 for Morning Raga. The latest honor will just be another feather in the cap for this talented and versatile actress. 

Eklavya's journey to the Oscars

We all know that the reason Indian filmmakers always consider the entry of their films into the realm of the Oscars as being the most prestigious thing to have taken place. Every year, once the official entry is selected, the controversies, arguments and debates that have started over the last few years are what is really becoming an annual event just as the selection itself. The selection of Eklavya: The Royal Guard as the official entry for the Oscars has caused an unprecedented film commotion as filmmaker Bhawana Talwar has loudly criticized the Film Federation of India alleging that the jury was corrupt and that her film Dharam should have been selected instead. Talwar accuses Ranjit Bahadur, a jury member and editor during the making of Eklavya, and therefore should not have been on the jury. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the director of Eklavya, has refuted the allegation and pointed his fingers towards Talwar for maligning the Indian film industry.

Aishwarya Rai and Bipasha together in Ben Kingsley's film

Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai is widening her global ho rizons with two more international projects. The former Miss World, who recently signed Sir Ben Kingsley's film Taj Mahal and is currently filming Pink Panther 2, is reportedly considering two other international films. Aishwarya will play Mumtaz Mahal in Sir Ben Kingsley's planned magnum opus on the Taj Mahal which will feature him as Shah Jahan. The as yet untitled film will be produced by Sir Ben and is scheduled to be shot in India in 2008. The film will also feature former model and Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, who will portray the role of Shah Jahan's daughter, Jahanara On the home front, Bipasha has just completed Abbas-Mustan's Race with Saif Ali Khan and is looking forward to Goal with John Abraham.