Bollywood condemns Mumbai terrorist blasts

Figures from the Bollywood film industry have spoken out in condemnation against the latest terror attacks to hit Mumbai.A wide number of Hindi film celebrities have taken to social network sites to condemn the series of three blasts which took place on Wednesday.

Amitabh Bachchan wrote on his blog: "Bomb blasts in Mumbai .. !! God ! I hope people are safe (sic)."

Priyanka Chopra posted to her 1.2 million Twitter followers: "Terrible news about the blasts. A request - please do not cause panic by tweeting/ spreading rumours / unconfirmed news."

Madhur Bhandarkar posted: "Resilience of Mumbai again put to test because of the blasts. Heart aches for the victims. Condemn such cowardly acts of terror."

Actor Tusshar Kapoor used Twitter to express his anger at the latest attack on India's entertainment capital: "Completely resent what has happened in our city, high time these cowards are hanged and don't just languish in our jails."

Ranvir Shorey, urging restraint to the people of Mumbai, wrote: "We've been here before, #Mumbai. Let not these murderers win, by reacting without any chaos. Let's get back with more calm and efficiency."

The blasts occurred in three areas of the city, in the Opera House district, at the Zaveri bazaar and in Dadar.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan was earlier caught up in a controversy surrounding the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai.

Candice Boucher plays a sand artist in upcoming spy flick

Candice Boucher, a South African Playboy hottie who features in Percept's untitled next, essays the role of a sand artist in the espionage drama.

Directed by Prashant Chaddha (Aap Ka Surror), the film stars Sachin Joshi (the Managing Director of an energy drink endorsed by Shah Rukh Khan) and Arya Babbar.

The beauty had to train from a professional artiste for the role. She says, "Learning from a sand artiste from Belarus was an amazing experience.

It's an intricate art more difficult than oils and watercolours on canvas as sand keeps shifting all the time. One's concentration has to be sharper and more focussed."

As reported 'Playmate on board' (Hitlist, June 11), Candice was the nude centrespread attraction of Playboy magazine for April 2010 and is also the brand ambassador for an international jeans brand.

She was signed for the film during the FIFA World Cup in June (it was held in her home country) to up the project's glam quotient.

The movie is about an informant who has to go undercover to save his brother and the nation from the effects of a biological war.

German mag ' the face of global Bollywood'

A German-language magazine has been described as 'the face of global Bollywood'.

Ishq magazine, which is published in Berlin, is said to have a circulation of over 30,000, reports the Economic Times.

Chief Editor Julia Wessel commented: "No doubt Bollywood is a niche market in Germany but it has a loyal fanbase. And interestingly it is not just the non-resident Indians who read it."

Wessel said that Shah Rukh Khan, who has held premieres of some of his most recent releases in Berlin, is the country's most popular Hindi cinema star.

London correspondent Sunny Malik told "I think German fans have been very loyal to Bollywood. The Om Shanti Om premiere tickets in Berlin sold out within the first minute. Some were sold illegally for up to 600 Euros."

Shah Rukh Khan is currently filming Don 2 in the German capital.

Bollywood Gossip Of The Week

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Shah Rukh is getting into action big time. Pun intended. He has kick started the shoot of the sequel to 'Don'. Meanwhile, his team will get busy with the post production of 'Ra. 1', a film which is touted to be bigger than Rajnikanth's 'Robot'.

- Release of 'Kajraare' has shocked the trade industry and audience alike. This Himesh Reshammiya starrer was released in one show each in Mumbai and Pune without any prior intimation, so much so that even Himesh Reshammiya and director Pooja Bhatt were caught by surprise.

- Flip flop continues around Hrithik Roshan's next two projects after 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. There is no confirmation yet on whether he would be a part of Karan Johar's remake of 'Agneepath' and Shekhar Kapur's 'Paani' or not.

- After an eventful 2009 (Ajab Prem Ki Ghzab Kahani, Wake Up Sid, Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year) and 2010 (Raajneeti, Anjaana Anjaani) which saw five of his films releasing in a span of 13 months, Ranbir Kapoor can take a breather. He has at least 9 months to go before his next release 'Rockstar'.

- November, which was earlier boasting of only four notable films - 'Action Replayy', 'Golmaal 3', 'Guzaarish' and 'Break Ke Baad' - is turning heavier. Quite some backlog from October is spilling over with 'Allah Ke Banday' and 'A Flat' opting for November release. Moreover, Part II of 'Rakta Charitra', too, is all set to arrive on 19th November, the same day as 'Guzaarish'.