Soha Ali launches World Cinema Card

Filmmakers Shyam Benegal, Anurag Kashyap and actor Soha Ali Khan recently unveiled World Cinema Card on the occasion of World Cinema Day.

The Taj Enlighten Film Society, a partnership between Brooke Bond Taj Mahal, India’s premium tea blend and Enlighten Film Society, recently launched the World Cinema Card to offer film aficionados a cinema viewing experience that is truly larger than life.

The World Cinema card enables film enthusiasts to access world cinema screenings at a large number of venues across 13 different cities.

The card also enables members to avail of discounted rates on invitations to various Indian and International Film festivals.

World Cinema Card holders can attend film appreciation and cinema education workshops, avail of free subscription to the world cinema channel, get free gift vouchers and avail of a number of other exciting privileges.

Speaking on the occasion, Arun Srinivas, Category Head - Beverages, HUL said, “We are glad to further strengthen our ongoing support to the Taj Enlighten Film Society with the exciting launch of the World Cinema Card on this day, today.”

The Taj Enlighten Film Society, present in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, is dedicated to the cause of spreading good cinema. The society showcases both national and international films to discerning film enthusiasts.

Soha prefers punctual guys

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan says that the most essential thing that she looks for in a guy is punctuality and time management.

"My father says that 'judge a man by his shoes and his watch', but my definition of a perfect boy comes from his time management skills and how punctual he is," Soha, daughter of a cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore, told reporters

Looking glamorous in black knee-length dress teamed up with red shrug, the 32-year-old actress was in the capital to inaugurate a Titan watch store. She also unveiled the new Titan Automatic collection.

"What makes Titan a great brand is a combination of the fantastic collections that they keep bringing out every season and the emotional connect the brand has with all of us in India," said the actress who will be soon seen in "Life Goes On".

Located in South Extension, the store is spread over 5,000 sq ft and has over 2,500 watches and 30 brands on display.

"I personally like the Raga collection from Titan, but now I have to think again as every piece is superb," said Soha while taking a walk through the store.

Soha Ali Khan's British film to release

Soha Ali Khan's first British film has been given a theatrical release date.

The Sangeeta Datta-directed project, which was shot in London in 2009, will now release in the UK next month.

The actress spoke about sharing screen space with her real-life mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, saying: "I wanted to share some filmography with her. In India everyone always says, 'When are we going to see you and Sharmila-ji on screen, or you and your brother?'"

The 99 star added: "The script was written in such a way that I thought a real-life mother and daughter duo would add to the film."

The production, which is said to be loosely based on Shakespeare's King Lear, also features Indian film actors Om Puri and Girish Kanard.

Life Goes On arrives at the UK box office March 11.

Sharmila-Soha starrer 'Life...' set for North American release

Washington, Dec 2 : British Indian director Sangeeta Dutta's new film 'Life Goes On' exploring the relations between a grief stricken father and his three daughters is being released in North America Friday, even before its release in India.

Set in London, the film about an Indian-origin family features veteran Indian actor Sharmila Tagore and her daughter Soha Ali Khan together for the first time. It's being released by Databazaar Media Ventures, an exclusive gateway for Bengali films to North America.

The movie won the Best Feature Film award at the Pravasi International Festival, Delhi and the Best Feature Film, Audience Appreciation Award at the London Asian Film Festival.

"I had been wanting to share filmography with my mother and there had been several offers but none convinced us. Sangeeta's script was very convincing and it seemed almost organic for me to play daughter to my mother in the film," Soha said.

"'Life Goes On' is an original film, it is non-formulaic, and I am so happy that it is getting released now and Databazaar Media Ventures is taking it to the large market in North America even before its release in India.

"It was my first British film and in many ways I am the British-Asian girl Dia. I have been educated in Oxford and the LSE (London School of Economics) and I have also worked in London," said Soha.

"Working with my mother, who is a living legend, was daunting to say the least! For many reasons the film is very personal to me and the work I will always want to own and view whenever I want to," Soha, 32, said.

The cast of the film also includes Girish Karnad and Om Puri.

"This is my first British film and I very much liked the process of working with a British crew, with Om Puri and my daughter Soha for the first time," Sharmila Tagore said.

Oney Seal, chairman of the Databazaar group of companies, said: "'Life Goes On' is our first English language film which is slated for mainstream release all over North America. The Indian diaspora living here will be able to immediately identify with this film."

Soha Ali Khan 'acts in international film'

Soha Ali Khan has spoken about the experience of working on her first international production Life Goes On.

The star revealed to Digital Spy how important the Sangeeta Datta-directed film is to her.

The former University of Oxford student revealed: "For me it was a series of many firsts. The first time that I have worked in England, and having studied here I was very excited to come and be a part of a British production. Also, it is my first time to work in the English language, and with a female director."

The project, which explores the relationship between a grief-stricken father and his three daughters, also features Ali Khan's mother, veteran star Sharmila Tagore.

The 32-year-old explained why she wanted to play opposite her real-life mother, saying: "She said, 'this might be my last film' and, 'I'm going to retire'. My father later told me she has been saying that for twenty years and it is not going to happen."

Life Goes On will release in the US in December and in the UK the following month.

Soha Ali Khan is dying to watch Robot

Endhiran has become a raging hit in the country, breaking not only box office records and raking in the moolah for its producers, but also starting a debate on whether the Khans are the real superstars of India!
And while the common man has stood in long queues to take a look at the Rajinikanth antics even at wee hours in the morning, Bollywood belles are not to be left far behind in the race to show their love for the south superhero.

According to reports circulating in the media, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, who has not found the time yet, has expressed a desire to watch the Rajinikanth – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan starrer “Endhiran” after she got to hear rave reviews of the film from her friends.

In a statement to the media, Soha Ali Khan says that she has been a huge fan of Rajinikanth for a long time and considering that Robot has been such a huge hit in the country, she is eager to watch the film as soon as possible.

Earlier it was the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan who had showered their praises for the 60-year-old Rajinikanth, who even at this stage successfully carries a film on his own shoulders and continues to win the hearts of girls not only down south but also in Bollywood. But little did Rajinikanth himself expect that the Nawab begum Soha Ali Khan will show her love for his film.

I don't want to play Saif's sister

Soha Ali Khan says she doesn't mind working in movies made under her brother Saif's banner, but not as his sister.

"At the moment, there are no plans to work under Saif's banner because he has just done 'Love Aaj Kal' and now he is working on 'Agent Vinod', " Soha told in an interview.

"Most of the films Saif is planning at the moment will have him as the hero; so that doesn't leave much space for me apart from being the sister of the hero, which is not very exciting.

"Unless he ventures out and makes something where he is not playing the hero, then maybe we will do something together. I would want that because I like his taste in films a lot, " she said.

Saif branched out into film production by launching his banner Illuminati Films and his maiden venture as producer was hit film "Love Aaj Kal". Directed by Imtiaz Ali, it starred him along with Deepika Padukone.

Asked if she would be interested in venturing into production or direction, the 31-year-old said: "I might venture into production but not anytime soon.

At the moment I feel that I'm very new and I love being in front of the camera and I want to continue acting. As far as direction is concerned, I don't think I have the maturity for that at the moment. It's only acting for me now."

Soha, daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, made her acting debut with "Dil Maange More" in 2004. She then received critical acclaim for her performances in films like "Rang De Basanti" (2006) and "Mumbai Meri Jaan" (2008).

In her recent release "Tum Mile", which is set against the backdrop of the 2005 Mumbai floods, Soha is paired opposite Emraan Hashmi. Made under Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt's Vishesh Films, the film has been directed by Kunal Deshmukh.

Talking about "Tum Mile", Soha said: "Shooting for the flood scenes in the film was a nightmare. I have become hydrophobic now. I don't want to come anywhere close to water. It is actually painful to have a bath in the morning. All the memories come flooding back."

Her future releases include "Life Goes On", "Tera Kya Hoga Johnny" and "Accident".

It won't look good if I got married before Saif and Kareena

While talking to media about Tum Mile, a touching love story about two ex-lovers who rediscover each other during the fateful night of the 26/7 deluge in Mumbai, Soha Ali Khan confesses, “An incident like this has happened to me in the past.”

Wihout divulging the name of her ex-man Soha reveals, "If I was confronted with someone I have loved and lost in the past, I would burst into tears. I know years after a break-up, when everything settles down, some people can talk to each other normally again. I am too sensitive, I can’t control that emotion."

Talking about his bade bhaiyya she said she would like to see her brother Saif Ali Khan and his lady love Kareena Kapoor together.

"Saif and Kareena look good together in reel as well as real life. They are happy and this happiness reflects on screen too. I wish them a very happy life and want to see them happy," she told.

Avoiding a direct reply on her own marriage plans, the 31-year-old actress said her elder siblings Saif and Saba are yet to get married.

"It would not look good if I tied the knot first," she said in a lighter vein, adding that her mother is thinking about it.

On the kissing scene with Emraan Hashmi in her forthcoming movie Tum Mile, Soha said the issue had been blown out of proportion by the media. "I was very nervous when the scene was being shot," she said.

To a question on her five-year journey in the Hindi film industry, Soha said she found it to be a place for a lot of creative work and not a rat race, as perceived by some. "I take up the characters that gel with my sensibility," she said.