Ajay Devgn and Farhan Akhtar

Well it’s all about film releases. February 26, 2010 will have two promising releases- Karthik Calling Karthik and Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? - by Farhan Akhtar and Ajay Devgn. The two versatile actors will be chasing each other on box office on that day.

Karthik Calling Karthik is a romantic thriller, which tells story of a loser but adorable boy Karthik, played by Farhan. His life changes when some another Karthik comes in picture. However, Deepika Padukone is also there to add more spice to the film.

However, Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? is a comedy film starring Ajay and Konkana Sen. And it also promises to bring out one more slice of life.

Farhan Akhtar

Now a day we often hear that actors prepare a lot before to perform a particular character on screen. However such a passion led actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar to depression. To get into the skin of the role for his next film Karthik Calling Karthik, Farhan made himself locked in his house for eight days being away from social life. He was not even communicating with his family. But its aftereffects took him almost two months to get back to normal life.

In Karthik Calling Karthik, he is playing an intense character of boy-next-door. After the eight days of preparation, the actor shot for the film start to end, but he realised that he missed his social life and exercise routine. Farhan had not attended the gym for those days as the character is a boy-next-door and so he should not look like a hero.

The first thing Farhan did after finishing the shoot to get back to his normal routine was a two-week holiday to abroad. Meanwhile returning back to the city, he hit the gym. The actor says the workout sessions gives him good feeling. Farhan still is in the recovering process, who has now decided to be in regular touch with his friends.

Farhan Akhtar

Director-producer Farhan Akhtar who recently turned as an actor and singer is going to sing for the first time for some another actor. And this is for none other than the supreme musician AR Rahman.

Farhan Akhtar is smiling all the way after being offered by AR Rahman for the film Blue. It took time for Farhan to believe that it’s AR Rahman calling him. One source revealed that Rahman told Farhan that his voice suits a cool number that he wanted him to record for Blue.

Farhan confirmed this and said, “I am damn excited about singing for Rahman. I have been a great admirer of his work and have thoroughly enjoyed his music. Our meeting was wonderful. Rahman said that he decided to use my voice for his composition in Blue after he heard the Rock On!! album. He was extremely soft-spoken and humble and spoke about how the past few months have been a whirlwind ride for him.”

Rahman and Farhan met each other and talked about the song to length. Farhan is currently busy shooting for film Kartik Calling Kartik and is all excited to record for Rahman. But he refused to reveal much about the song.

Farhan Akhtar, Rajeev Khandelwal and Imraan Khan

Year 2008 has seen many new faces in Bollywood than any other year. Director-turned-actor-singer Farhan Akhtar took the crowd to storm with his singing and acting talent in Rock On, Imraan Khan launched by uncle Aamir Khan won lots of heats with his boy-next-door looks in Jaane Tu…, while the talented actor, TV star Rajeev Khandelwal won critical acclaim for his performance in Aamir.

So let’s check out what’s the film industry people thinks of these newbies of Bollywood. Director Sanjay Gupta thinks both Farhan and Imraan are best as he said, “They both managed to deliver excellent performances. Imran is a very promising actor and Farhan has his own charm.”

Meanwhile, Anil Wanvari, the media analyst thinks Farhan and Rajeev Khandelwal as best. He said, “Both are equally brilliant actors. Farhan, who has already achieved a lot of fame as a director, has done extremely well both as an actor and a singer. He has huge mass appeal. Rajeev, on the other hand, believes in keeping a low profile and has carved a niche for himself as a talented actor. He is someone who likes his work to do the talking.”

Actress Jennifer Kotwal thinks Farhan has all that it takes. “He rocked in his debut film. He has great screen presence and seems like a perfectionist. He is one of the best actors of this era,” says Jennifer.

However, director Atul Agnihotri wows for Imraan as the most promising debutant. Atul says, “I think he is very patient and smart, and waits for the right kind of roles. Also, he has good influences around him. So, he has lot of scope to become one of the most ought-after actors in Bollywood.”

VJ Cyrus Sahukar also goes with Imraan, as he says, “He has great poise. I think he is one of those rare ‘thinking’ actors who have already done some very interesting work. He is hardworking and knows what he wants for himself. So, undoubtedly, he is the best debutant of the year.”

Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, “Imraan is oozing talent and has proved it in both his films. Even if Kidnap wasn’t a big hit, Imran’s performance stood out and he was able to hold his own against a veteran like Sanjay Dutt.”

Farhan Akhtar

Director-producer-actor-singer Farhan Akhtar is set to start a new chat show on television, which is slated to begin from 12 December. The show in titled as ‘Oye Friday’, will be shown on channel NDTV Imagine.

Unlike other talk shows, this show does not include the formal conversations. Instead it will have a lot of humor too. And for the first episode of the show, Farhan has invited Hrithik Roshan as a guest.

One source from the show revealed, “For Farkhan, there could not be a more apt quest than Hrithik for the first episode of his show as both of them are very good friends. Unlike the shows hosted by other celebrities, Farhan’s show has no formal conversations and there is a lot of humor too. Farhan has not questioned Hrithik on his personal or professional life and also both of them are not dressed in formal suits, like usually seen in celebrity shows. Farhan wants his guests to just be themselves on his show.”

Farhan Akhtar

After Rock On, the director-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar continues his acting run, as he is set to act in a psychological thriller by debutant director Vijay Lalvani. Before, Farhan was planning to direct a film My Voice From The Sky, but he postponed it due to economical problems.

“My Voice From The Sky is currently being pushed forward a bit. My partner Ritesh Sidhwani and I are producing a film that will star me in it. We start in March. Honestly, I’d have liked nothing better right now than to direct Voice From The Sky. But it’s a period film and requires a huge budget and this doesn’t seem to be the right time for it,” said Farhan.

But, he is happy now for the role he got to play in Lalvani’s film. “It was a really good script. At the same time the economic logistics of Voice From The Sky were not working out. I’ve a great role in the film. And that’s what finally titled the scale towards taking up an acting assignment again after Rock On instead of directing another film,” added Farhan.

Meanwhile, Farhan’s sister Zoya’s directorial debut is also ready to release and Farhan is nervous about it.

“Luck by Chance is ready for release. We’re putting it into theatres either on Jan 23 or Jan 30 next year. Am I nervous, More than I was when my own directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai was about to release,” said Farhan.

Robert De Niro and Farhan Akhtar

Director-actor Farhan Akhtar get very delighted by having ‘a whole hug’ from Hollywood star Robert De Niro, when he was expecting just a handshake from his idol. All this happened at the opening ceremony of the hotel Atlantis in Dubai.

Farhan says, “I met Robert De Niro in Dubai at the opening of the Atlantis Hotel. I can’t even begin to tell you what it meant to me. I mean, everyone who loves cinema, loves De Niro, right? But with me it’s a little more.”

He later explained that De Niro was his primary incentive to attend the event. Farhan adds, “When heard he was going to be there at the Dubai event, I knew I had to be there too. Yes, De Niro was my primary incentive for attending the event. I had hoped for a handshake with him - at the most. I got a whole hug! I don’t know whether he even realised how much I respect him. But to see him so up-close and personal was an awesome experience. De Niro turned out to be a thorough gentleman. Everyone there at the Dubai event wanted to meet him. What an ordeal it must have been for him to smile and talk to everyone. But he was totally in control.”

Farhan explains that De Niro didn’t know more about his work, but he spoke very warmly to him. “Shah Rukh, who was with us, was sweet enough to tell De Niro quite a lot about my work. De Niro has given us his contact details where we’ll be sending him my films. I’m doing so right away.”

Farhan says his break in Dubai was not a break at all as it was so worthy. He added, “We were constantly doing something or the other, attending one event after the next. There was no respite. Now I need a holiday to get over the experience and relive my golden moments with De Niro. My love for movies was inspired by people like De Niro and Mr Bachchan. He was a wow factor for me right after I saw Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.”