Box office update: 'Jannat 2' off to a flying start!

Emraan Hashmi’s success streak continues at box office with this Friday’s release Jannat 2. The film is off to a flying start and could be the third biggest opener of 2012. 

Despite a plagiarism controversy that cropped up just days before the release of the Kunal Deshmukh-directed Jannat 2, the film has found takers at ticket windows. The audience response to the film was excellent in western India, particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan. The response in Delhi, where the film’s story is set, was good and ranged between 60 percent to 70 percent. 

The film has released on 1975 screens across India and the average occupancy is around 70 percent, which is good. 

The reviews by critics have been mixed, but the audience reaction is positive so far, with the exception of family audiences that were slightly put off by the use of abuses in the film’s dialogues. 

Though it’s a tad early to comment, but chances are that Jannat 2 will emerge the third biggest opener of 2012 after Agneepath and Housefull 2. 

Meanwhile, the last week’s release Tezz has been rejected at box office. FLOP. On the other hand, Vicky Donor completed its two-week run at theatres on a promising note and is still pulling the crowds in its third week. HIT. 

The coming week would see multiple releases: Ishaqzaade, Dangerous Ishhq, Love Recipe and The Forest.

Himesh Reshammiya, Deols Reunite For Yamla Pagla Deewana Sequel

Actor-singer-music composer Himesh Reshammiya had been on good terms with the Deols till June 2007. However, when his debut film as an actor, Aap Ka Surroor clashed with the Deol family starrerApne, there had been skirmishes between them. Himesh had asked the Deols to push back the release of their film Apne, in order to avert any clash. However, the fact that they refused to comply with Himesh, upset him at that time. 

Not one to hold any grudges for long, Himesh has been signed on to compose the music for the upcoming sequel to the 2011 hit Yamla Pagla Deewana, starring the Deol trio. Sources close to the film inform, "Himesh had asked the Deols to push back the release date of Apne from June 29. Himesh wanted to get a clear window of a few weeks for his film to run. However, the Deols had politely refused to comply. Himesh, who had even composed the music for Apne had been a bit upset. However, now Himesh has decided to let bygones be. The Deols offered him this project and Himesh readily accepted it."

With the hit-machine Himesh to compose the music and the hard-hitting Deols to star in the movie, the sequel does promise to give us 'chartbusting' music!

Akshay Kumar & Sajid Nadiadwala team up again

After the stupendous success of HOUSEFULL 2, producer Sajid Nadiadwala is ready with his next home production starring Akshay Kumar - a film in the action-romantic space that goes on floors mid-February next year.

Despite not settling on a director for the venture as yet, the producer has team with Akshay Kumar, given the warm equation the two have shared over the years.

CHECK OUT: HOUSEFULL 2 crosses the 100 crore mark

Confirming the news says producer Sajid Nadiadwala, 'Yes Akshay and I team up again for my next venture. We have a strong personal equation. The film falls in the romantic-action genre. It will be interesting to see Akki in that space. He has always trusted my instincts as far as stories are concerned'.

'Once I am through with the basic storyline, my team will start work on the screenplay. Nothing else, including female lead, or other crewmembers are finalized yet,' added the Producer.

Bollywood stars attend Shilpa Shetty’s baby shower

Bollywood beauties Malaika Arora Khan, Raveena Tandon and Amrita Rao were among the celebrities who came to bless pregnant actress Shilpa Shetty at her baby shower here Thursday.

Shilpa’s sister Shamita Shetty and friends Sameera Reddy, Manyata Dutt and Farah Khan were also present to shower their blessings on the prospective mother.

The baby shower was organised by Shilpa’s friend and business partner Kiran Bawa along with Shamita. It was held at Shilpa and her businessman husband Raj Kundra’s Mumbai residence in Juhu.

Shilpa, 36, married Kundra in 2009. She is due to give birth next month. – IANS

Katrina Kaif and Aamir Khan will fight each other in ‘Dhoom 3’!

Imagine the dainty, pretty girl likeKatrina Kaif in a fight with a baddie! Katrina will go for a complete image makeover in her film Dhoom 3, and now one hears that she will kick Aamir Khan for reel as they play rivals in the film.

You can recall that in the previous instalment Dhoom 2, Aishwarya Rai locked lips with the villainHrithik Roshan. Taking this to a different tangent, Katrina Kaif will have an elaborate fight sequence with Aamir in the third part. 

As per reports, the scene promises to be a “critical climactic duel” between the two powerful adversaries. A source is quoted as saying, “There will be no concessions for Katrina just because she is a woman. It will be an all out fist-to-fist, man-to-woman fight to the finish.” 

Both Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif will have to get in shape for the sequence which is going to be very stylish and sleek, something Dhoom series is famous for. Katrina and Aamir have also achieved a distinct comfort level and that would make it easy to can the fight sequence. 

The sight of a man and a woman (that too, a sexy one) locking horns on screen intrigues without fail. An example being the scene in the movieJodhaa Akbar when Hrithik and Aishwarya fought a sword duel. The outward conflict offset by an inner attraction makes for a delightful contrast in such scenes. 

Just thinking, what Katrina Kaif and Aamir Khan will bring to the platter inDhoom 3?

Vidya roped in for 'clean picture'

The Dirty Picture actor Vidya Balan will now feature in a "clean picture" -- ad films to propogate the government's sanitation programme.

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, who has successfully roped in the celebrity as brand ambassador to spread awareness about the drinking water and sanitation campaign, is hopeful that her involvement will make the campaign to end open defecation a "national obsession".

"For an actor, what can be a better thing than doing a dirty picture on screen and off screen a clean picture. I think this role will work a lot because we are working on a national movement," Balan said after meeting Rural Development Minister Ramesh at his office.

"This is a clean picture (for Vidya Balan)," Ramesh quipped when reporters asked Balan if people will like her in a role to end the menace of open defecation in the country, an issue closely related to women's health and security.

"I think it is a matter great honour for me, becoming the brand ambassador of sanitation campaign. It needs to become a national obsession. I am ready to (do it) in my capacity. I am convinced," Balan, who has won the national award for her role in The Dirty Picture this year, said.

Ramesh said Balan, who will appear in ad campaigns to propagate construction and use of toilets, is actually the first brand ambassador of the Ministry.

"She (Vidya Balan) has agreed to give her time for the campaign for two years. She will be fully involved in the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan--(the re-structured version of the Total Sanitation Campaign)," he said.

"Vidya's involvement in the campaign will help make it a national obsession," Ramesh said.

Despite being one the fastest growing emerging economies, access to adequate sanitation remains abysmally low in India compared to many other countries with similar or lower GDP.

According to UNICEF-WHO Joint Monitoring Programme Report 2010, nearly 60 per cent of India's 1.1 billion people still practice open defecation.

Check Out Pre-Preggers Megan Fox in Bed—but Who's She Cozying Up To?

Eat your heart out, Brookstone.

Sharper Image appears to have figured out a way to become every gadget-loving dude's favorite store again—it got Megan Fox in bed! With a tablet computer, no less!

MORE: For Your Viewing Pleasure, Gisele Bündchen in Her Undies

As the new face of the modern-convenience specialists, the currently pregnant Transformers star is poised to bring sexy back to ionic air purifiers and motorized tie racks using purely old-fashioned techniques:

Lingerie and bedroom eyes, of course! Don Draper would be so proud.

Sharper Image will be unveiling a redesigned website along with its Foxy new campaign later this year.