Khoya Khoya Chand - Movie Review Saturday, December 8, 2007

TOI Review -
YOU'VE seen the technicolour '70s in Bollywood, just a few weeks ago, in Farha Khan's Om Shanti Om . Time to go back another decade or so in a sepia-tinted time machine which takes you to the more angst-ridden '50s and the getting-happy '60s.

This time, director Sudhir Mishra opts for a more serious tone - compared to Farha's rumbustious humour. This is one befitting the era he tries to re-capture on celluloid: the age of Guru Dutt, Sahir, Madhubala, Waheeda and Raj Kapoor, when both reel and real life unspooled behind a smoke-screen.

Ironically, those were the more liberal years when screen goddesses were irreverent towards traditional morality and lived life on their own terms. Hence the importance of a character like Sudhir Mishra's unconventional '50s-'60s diva who lived and loved and lost, all on her own terms.

So far so good. Mishra, who gave us the memorable document on the '70s student movement , Hazaron Khawhishen Aisi , begins on the right note.

The film opens in the haze of the film studios of the 1950s when Nikhat, a struggling, exploited dancer (Soha Ali) dreams of breaking into the limelight as an actress of import.

She is spotted preening in the background by the superstar, Prem Kumar (Rajat Kapoor) who takes no time to replace the reigning queen (Sonya Jehan) with this young, talented, mercurial waif who walks into his life with equal ease, only to end up as his heartbroken mistress.

The tragedy-struck girl is rescued by and upcoming writer, Zafar (Shiney Ahuja) who has his own demons - a troubled relationship with his father - to chase. And so you end up with two star-crossed lovers who are hell-bent on destroying themselves, and each other, simply because life has never been easy for them.

The background is perfect, the cinematography is arresting, the music (Shatanu Moitra) has a glorious retro tone and the performances (Soha, Rajat, Shiney, Vinay Pathak) are riveting. But the narrative keeps dipping and dipping, leaving the film to hang on as a mere string of montages, rather than a gripping story that transcends its characters. Here, the paper-thin story, ironically lets down the characters too.

And the loosely-edited second half leaves you fidgeting in your seat, ever so often. Somehow, the director has failed to create the magnificent passion that makes a relationship extraordinary...something that may have matched up to the underlying myth of Guru Dutt's ardour for his leading lady or Madhubala's dare-devil defiance to life and death.

Dus Kahaniyan TOI Review

TOI - 7 Dec 2007, 2320 hrs IST,Nikhat Kazmi,TNN

NEW Age Bollywood finds a new idiom: the short story genre which manages to work well for the new age audience who likes everything in short doses. Hence, what's better than a compendium of short stories that offer you a pleasure akin to reading Roald Dahl.

And if the first story, Matrimony, is actual an adaptation of Dahl himself, be sure the tone is set at the very start. Mandira Bedi, a bored wife of a CEO, finds her moments of bliss in a weekly tryst with an army officer. Trouble begins when her lover leaves, after giving her an expensive gift which she must conceal from her husband, to keep the game of matrimony on 'play' mode. But who's playing with whom? Sit back for the sting in the tail...

Almost all the stories are deftly told, with the mandatory twist in the climax which keeps you riveted. Be it Shabana confronting her religious bigotry as she shares a rice plate with a bearded Naseer, an aging Amrita Singh rediscover her youth at the expense of her young daughter's happiness in Pooranmasi, Manoj Bajpai signing his own death warrant in Zahir, Neha Dhupia rescuing a kid from a band of murderous rioters, Nana Patekar sharing the secret of his eleven smiling balloons, Dino Morea discovering the truth about the jet ski seductress or Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty eternalising the Mumbai's gangsters' code in Rise and Fall, the stories are all geared to keep boredom at bay.

Go have fun. Choose your favourite short story and discover a new narrative structure in desi cinema.

Akshay kumar in contravarsies...

Akshay Kumar’s Sikh look in Vipul Shah’s forthcoming ‘Singh is Kinng’ has been facing objections from the time the first promotional still of the film was released. It is being said that his clean-shaven face with a trendy turban is a mere mockery of the Sikh culture.

Now, there is another photo from the film’s sets which is doing rounds on the net which is facing objections from the Punjabi community in Australia over the way Akshay is wearing a turban.

However, director Vipul Shah insists that the photo does not depict Akki’s real look in the film. It was taken without permission. Vipul Shah defends saying that Akshay is himself a Punjabi and is working in close coordination with stylist Shabina Khan for his look in the film. Apart from this, a local Sikh is always on the sets to guide Akshay about how to wear a turban.

Vipul Shah is shooting almost half of ‘Singh Is Kinng’ in Australia in his two month long schedule. After this the film will be shot in Punjab, Mumbai and Egypt.

Saif ready to go wild with Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif in Abbas Mustan's Race Sunday, December 2, 2007

Bollywood Gossips
He is eager to show the world what he can do. After racing Nascar in Ta Ra Rum Pum he is ready to rock and race the duo hottie Bips and Katrina in ''Race''.

Abbas-Mustan's ''Race'' is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. It features sexy hotties ready to oblige the audience - Bips and Katrina. These hotties were eagers to avoid their charming but nagging boyfriends John and Salman for a long time. Both had their eyes on this Sharmila look alike Saif the man. Saif is now sexier that ever. And, Bips just cannot wait to get a hold of him. Katrina is also having an eye candy on him.

If you are ecstatic with Saif's new look for Tashan, wait till you see him in ''Race''. The mother of all ''flirting'' men Saif is ready to take you to higher dimension in this new thriller.

Halla Bol - Trailer/Story

Bollywood Trailers

Ashfaque (Ajay Devgan) is a small town boy aspiring to be a film star in the Hindi film industry. He joins a street theatre group run by a reformed dacoit Sidhu (Pankaj Kapur) who uses street theatre as a medium to bring about an awakening in the masses. Ashfaque struggles to give a creative vent to the actor in him in order to realize his dreams. Ashfaque's determined struggle pays off and he gets a break in films. He gets a new screen name – Sameer Khan. With the passage of time, the roles start becoming better and he moves up the success ladder in a very short time. Soon, he becomes Sameer Khan the superstar – one who can enact any role with finesse, get under the skin of any and every character with ease and walk away with audience applause.Sadly, amidst all adulation and applause, he slowly loses his own identity. He forgets his real self and imbibes all characteristics of the various roles essayed by him on screen. Corruption takes over his entire system, alienating him from all loved ones, including his wife Sneha (Vidya Balan). A shocking incident at a party changes everything, rocking Sameer Khan's lifestyle. He gets caught between his human self on one side and his corrupted superstar image on the other.Whether the conflict within him gives way to good sense and whether he is able to discard his corrupted image and emerge as a true life hero, becomes an integral part of this true life cinema.

Abhishek-Aish Photos on Ashray Child Home Friday, November 30, 2007

Bollywood News : Photos

Rani might replace Bipasha Basu in Dhoom III

Bollywood Gossips :
Well Apart from Ash and Uday everyone else is being replaced in Dhoom III! Aditya Chopra will replace Director Sanjay, Saif Ali Khan will replace Abhishek, Hrithik by the King Khan and the latest is that Rani Mukherjee will replace Bipasha Basu. Person in question who took this decision, Aditya Chopra of course! So there will be no more Shonali, the cop or Monali, the dreamer and to be truthful there will be no oomph in the movie then! Ash, though she looks fit, has to try hard to sizzle the screen whereas Bips could do it so easily. And Rani I don’t think will look sexier than Bips in a bikini! So altogether no scope for boys to check out Dhoom III but but but …Girls can of course wait for the Khans to do the magic.

Home at last: Actor Sanjay Dutt coming out of the Yerwada jail in Pune on Thursday.

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor

Sanjay Dutt, who was released from Pune’s Yerawada jail on bail, came home to a tumultuous welcome on Thursday.

Dutt, convicted and sentenced to six-year rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act in the Mumbai serial blasts case, had been lodged in the jail since October 22.

His lawyer Satish Maneshinde told journalists that the actor flew in a private aircraft, and drove straight to his house at Bandra here.

A group of supporters distributed sweets and burst crackers before his arrival, accompanied by Yusuf Nulwala who was also released on bail. A huge media contingent had been waiting there since early morning.

Dutt’s friends and relatives, including brothers-in-law Kumar Gaurav and Owen Roncon, and Maharashtra Minister of State for Labour Baba Siddiqui were there to greet him.

Mr. Roncon, Priya Dutt’s husband, told the media earlier that the actor had not made any special request and he just wanted to eat home cooked food and relax.

Later, speaking briefly to the media, the actor thanked his senior advocates Fali Nariman, V.R. Manohar and Satish Maneshinde and all his supporters.

As the journalists continued to ask questions, he asked them to wait for a few days. “Let me be with my family and take some rest,” he said.

“Do you want to see Munnabhai part three or no,” he asked when the questions did not stop.

Bollywood producers heaved a sigh of relief as Dutt has to complete some films.

Gets Rs. 38.25 as wages for labour

PTI reports from Pune:

Dutt tried his hand at weaving bamboo chairs during his 37-day second stay in the Yerawada jail. A prison official recorded the hours of manual labour put in by Sanjay Dutt which earned him wages totalling Rs 38.25.

He belonged to the category of ‘unskilled worker.’ in the sprawling prison that houses around 3,000 convicts — ironical for an actor enjoying top billing in Bollywood, with an estimated Rs 200 crore film business riding on him.

A senior prison official told PTI that Dutt carried on with cane weaving separately in his barrack number three, as his high-profile convict status did not allow him to mix with other inmates doing their shifts.

The actor performed pooja regularly in the mornings.

Jodha Akhbar Trailer

Bollywood Movie Trailers

Sanjay Leela Speaks on Sawariya - Funny Video

Funny One

Aaja Nachle Movie Review

TOI Movie Review - 2 and half Star

THE dhak-dhak diva returns, alas, minus the dhak-dhak . Surely, this was hardly a comeback vehicle for Bollywood's biggest female star, who once posed a challenge at the hustings to all the male superstars. Maybe, Madhuri thought this was `decent' enough, befitting her new status as suburban wife and mother. But for the viewers, it's an ekdum thanda reprisal of her screen career, minus all passion, romance and the adrenalin-thump that was almost always associated with her. Think Dil , Beta , Ram Lakhan , Khalnayak , Saajan , Dil To Paagal Hai ...

But let's be honest. The fault does not lie so much with Madhuri -- she's still riveting, despite her aging beauty -- as with the lack lustre script and the unconvincing narration. Madhuri, now a mom of a tween, returns from America to small town India to rebuild a decrepit theatre in memory of her departed guru (Darshan Zariwala). The theatre is in dire straits and would soon be demolished to give way to a glitzy mall on the behest of the local politician (Akshaye Khanna), unless the messiah-turned-mom turns on the arclights once again, but with local support. Local support? The usual suspects which include the goonda (Kunal), the tomboy (Konkona), the scared wife (Divya Dutta), the devdas who pines for the diva (Ranvir Shorey), the stodgy sarkari afsar and all the other `types'. Naturally, the NRI missus manages to put up a grand spectacle, after many hiccups and somehow brings husbands closer to wives, boyfriends closer to girlfriends, politicians closer to causes...All with her jaadu ki smiley!

Every little twist and turn of the meandering plot is predictable. Every character is a stereotype. The romance between Konkona and Kunal who play Laila and Majnu in the musical is minus all sparks and the music (Salim-Suleiman) of this film, ironically a musical, is insipid and forgettable. What remains is just a promise that the magic of Madhuri still lives. All it needs to explode again is a magical scrip

SRK apologises to Manoj Kumar

Bollywood Stuffs :

MUMBAI: TimesOfIndia

Actor-producer Shah Rukh Khan apologised to Manoj Kumar a day after TOI reported that the veteran actor had felt offended by a few scenes in Om Shanti Om .

"After I read the story, I called up Manoj Kumar and apologised to him. He told me not worry and has invited us over for tea," said Shah Rukh at a press conference at his residence in Mumbai on Friday.

The press conference was also addressed by the film's director Farah Khan. "We will go to his house, along with Farah, on Saturday or Sunday," said Shah Rukh, adding that Manoj Kumar had in fact promised to "give me a homeopathic medicine to get rid of my smoking".

Shah Rukh accepted his mistake as a producer, saying, "It was a mistake to overlook the fact that it might hurt anyone. I truly apologise to everyone who think I have made fun of him. Honestly speaking, I didn't mean to show anyone in a negative manner or run down anyone."

Farah Khan, who too spoke to Manoj Kumar, offered to cut the scene. "But he said not to do it or even apologise as I was like his daughter. He said, ‘Daughters maafi nahi maangti '. I told him that he could've called me and scolded me."

When a scribe wondered if Manoj Kumar was overreacting, Shah Rukh was quick to defend the senior actor, saying, "He is a legendary actor. If something like th

Hurt Manoj Kumar wants to sue SRK

From timesofindia website:

MUMBAI: Dil mein mere hai dard ... is what '70s star Manoj Kumar is feeling after seeing Om Shanti Om . While the chorus from the hit number dard-e-disco in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer is sizzling screens across the country, a scene from the film has made the thespian hot under the collar.

So hot, in fact, that he wants to sue the filmmaker and Shah Rukh for "a clear-cut defamation and deliberate attempt to humiliate" him.

"I am hurt. Shah Rukh Khan has injured my soul. It's a conspiracy to humiliate and ridicule me. This is not filmmaking...My devotion to filmdom for the last 50 years has been insulted," said the Purab Aur Paschim star who had turned patriotism into an art on celluloid. He was referring to the 70's scene in OSO where his young double is beaten by police outside a theatre when he lands up for a premiere.

"Are the Mumbai police so stupid that they can't recognise Manoj Kumar and lathicharge him in the '70s when he was a star? It doesn't stop there. Inside the theatre too, the scene continues in the same vein. At another place where Shah Rukh is shown giving a mock thank-you speech in a drunken state, he says he is Manoj Kumar...," Kumar told TOI on Thursday, less than a week after 'OSO' hit the screens.

"If it was for humour it was okay, but to do it like this showed bad taste," he added. "A junior artist told me he had played my double. About two months back when I met Farah Khan I told her that if she had asked me I would have gladly appeared in the film. But she said it was only a double to portray him in '70s scene for a film premiere.

She was very respectful. She also said I looked lean and fit. I told her I was exercising. I even spoke to her husband." Kumar, who had won two Filmfare Awards in quick succession in 1972 and 1974 for Be-imaan (best actor) and Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan (best director), said though he has never celebrated his silver, gold or diamond jubilee he was "not a man to keep quiet when someone is hitting below the belt".

He said, "I am a peace-loving man. I don't like goondaism otherwise by now the film's banners and posters would have been torn."

Goal Movie Review

GOAL is a simple story that packs not just the sport, but also dabbles with issues like racism and fanaticism associated with this sport. Issues that Westerners can relate to more than Indians, especially racial discrimination.

As a film, GOAL has its share of highs and lows. If the first hour is strictly okay, the pendulum swings in its favour in the second hour -- in the last 20 minutes, to be precise. The sport succeeds in arousing patriotic feelings, besides involving the viewer in the fight-to-finish finale.
Both John and Arshad are the 'Men of the Match'. John is a revelation. Wrongly dubbed as a clotheshorse in his earlier films, he hits a goal in GOAL. John lends the right texture to his character. He not only looks right for the part, but also plays the sport like a pro. GOAL should occupy the top slot in his body of work!

Arshad Warsi is superb. An incredibly talented actor whose versatility speaks volumes. Cast in a sober, serious role this time, Arshad enacts the part with as much ease as he portrayed Circuit. Bipasha Basu may not have a lengthy role, but she adds zing to the goings-on as and when she appears. Her love story with John is really cute.

Boman Irani is top notch. Note his roar at the intermission point or the uneasiness he displays whenever his team locks horns with the rivals on field. It's a flawless performance. Raj Zutshi is first-rate. Dalip Tahil carries the venomous part well. The actor enacting the role of Arshad's wife does a commendable job.

On the whole, DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL has an ordinary first hour, but the post-interval portions, especially the exhilarating climax, makes up for everything. At the box-office, the producers [UTV] have already recovered the cost of production from various sales and in-film advertising. The theatrical business will only add to the booty, considering the film has the merits to work with moviegoers. Another factor that goes in its favour -- and it's an important one -- is the fact that the moviegoers haven’t seen a new release post-Diwali. That should reap dhan for DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL.

Om Shanti Om rocks; Saawariya fails to induce!

IT’S OVER more than a week now since the year’s most awaited films were screened all over the world. While Om Shanti Om (OSO) rocked the box office with record sales, Saawariya failed to induce people to make it a blockbuster. One can easily say after watching both the movies that Om Shanti Om is better than the latter but in reality both the movies can’t be compared. Is there a comparison between the two?

If the youth in Lucknow can give an overview on the popularity of the two films, they find Om Shanti Om a typical movie masala released in total Bollywood ishtyle, while Saawariya, according to them is just more than a love story and the only credit Sanjay Leela Bhansali should get is that he introduced two promising newcomers. He is no doubt a director whose legacy of successful films continues.

The two films were released last week in 50 shows together in the four multiplexes and cinema halls in Lucknow last week.

“To me OSO is a better entertainer”, said Prashant while coming out of Waves multiplex. Similar was the view of Neha and interestingly the duo had seen both the movies one after another show at the multiplex.

Tavishi had more liking for the love story in Saawariya but she felt when it comes to entertainment, Om Shanti Om has an edge.

Among youth, there is hardly anyone who has missed the two films during the week but most of them give OSO a better rating as far as entertainment is concerned. Yes, at the box office it is OSO that is singing the happy tunes. Saawariya on the other hand is never meant to be a blockbuster the way it has been portrayed. Well, even Black wasn’t a box office hit but still won accolades. For sure, one thing is concrete that Sanjay Leela Bhansali has lost the path in this flick although the film deals beautifully with the emotion of a woman and has many other highlighting features.

OSO on the other side brings back the 70’s era in a brilliant way (Except for recent controversy on the portrayal of Bharat Manoj Kumar) with great performances with SRK in the lead. Besides that the foot tapping music and spell bounding choreography has scored over Saawariya. While OSO fails highly in its script with no story and having an absurd end having no real meaning, after being inspired from Karz, one always thought OSO not to surpass the legendary movie by the showman - Subhash Ghai.

Yes, one does believe that a director of Bhansali’s calibre was expected to deliver a much better movie than Saawariya but one can’t totally sing praises of OSO either, except for it being a box office hit. But the reason why OSO still runs high is because of it’s timing of release, the movie releasing at a festive time had an audience who expected to enjoy at such a time while Saawariya even though a mediocre movie failed miserably because of its timing.

With Chak De being the only distinguishing movie so far of 2007, one strongly believes that the hype created by both the movies prior to their release has failed but still for the namesake we can give OSO a higher rating than Saawariya because of its high collections.

Still we are in search of a movie quite ‘hatke’ (different) from the regular movie masala so that we can the dream to win an Oscar can come true.

She Is Back.....

Bollywood Gossips
Yes She is Back!!!!
Its Madhuri Dikihit!!!!!

Aaja Nachle is the movie of bollywood’s most charming, beautiful and graceful actress Madhuri Dixit who has ruled millions of hearts worldwide. She is back to bollywood after 5 years. She is arguably one of most talented and popular actresses of Bollywood.
The movie is about a dancer who makes it big as a choreographer and then movies to live in the US. She later returns to India to save the dance studio where she learnt to dance once her dance guru passes away.

Mallika Sherawat in Welcome

Bollywood:
Bare and dare Mallika Sherawat will be seen in “Welcome” which will be releasing in the last week of December. Yes this curvaceous beauty is going to act in a Cameo role and will be seen for few minutes on the screen . Though this film is having Katrina as the lead heroine ,Mallika who will appear for few minutes will be a highlight for this movie .

Maliika sherawat began the year 2007,by swaying to the dance tune in the film “GURU”. Abhishiek was the hero in this film and she danced opposite him in the song ‘maiyya maiyya’. Then she was appeared in another dance number opposite to Himesh in the film “Aap ka Surroor” . in this film she acted briefly in some scenes. This song was very much popular and topped the charts . it was said that mallika was offered Rs 1 crore to perform in this movie.

Now this year ending she will be seen in the film Titled “Welcome” . This film is a comedy film which also stars Akshay ,Anil and Katrina. Though Mallika is said to do a small role it is going to be a twist in this film . She is going to act as a bombshell who spoils the marriage of Akshay Kumar by claiming to be the wife .The film turns a twist and also makes Katrina who was supposed to marry the hero and makes her to stay away from Akshay who is the main hero in this film and creates some comedy as the hero is innocent about the conspiracy . The director of this film Aneez Bazmee says this.

He added saying that she is not the kind of heroine for whom only money matters . she is more interested in the role than money . He added saying that she readily agreed to act in the film as soon as she heard about the character she will portray. Aneez said that Mallika has grown a lot as an actress as the time passed and said that from her last year’s release “Pyar Ke Side Effects” she is considered her better heroine and also breached her image of a glamorous doll.

This film is about a simple man named Rajeev who falls in love with a girl Sanjana . Her brothers are goons in Hong Kong . the character of Rajeev is played by Akshay and the sanjana character is played by Katrina and her brothers characters are played by Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Feroz Khan.

Lets see how the audience will “Welcome” this movie.

Tareen Zameen Par Music Review

Producer: Aamir Khan
Director: Aamir Khan
Starring: Aamir Khan, Tanay Chheda, Darsheel Safary, and Tisca Chopra
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Shailendra Barve (Guest)
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi and Amole Gupte (Guest)




So when this hugely talented actor launches his own movie house ‘Aamir Khan productions’ and at the same time marks his directorial debut with Taare Zameen Par (TZP), as an audience you can do nothing but take note. What’s the fascinating theme that has inspired him to mark his debut (producer/directorial) and more importantly for music lovers, who does he back for the soundtrack? In short….’Kids’ and the talented trio ‘Shankar Ehsaan Loy’ (SEL)! Without going into too much detail, the movie concerns the subject of childhood (in fact it’s been billed as a ‘sensitive portrayal of childhood’) based on one man’s experience of working with children for 7 years. That man is Amole Gupte (an actor and close friend of Aamir Khan for 25 years) who is the brains behind the movie (writer/creative director) and the man in charge of pre-production including the soundtrack which he worked on closely with SEL. So does it live up to expectations and contribute to the common goal of the movie which is to enhance our ‘sensitivity towards children’? And more interestingly, for the now grown ups including me and you, does it rekindle our very own childhood in the process?

Dekho inhein yeh hain aas ki bhoondein, patton ki godh mein aasman se koodhein. Angdayee lein phir karwat badal kar, nazuk se mothi, has de pisal kar… - Prasoon Joshi [Taare Zameen Par]

The sound of twinkling stars gives rise to your journey of (re)discovering what childhood actually means i.e. how children behave, why they behave in such a manner and the impact that has on everyone around them. Thus commences the quite brilliant title track Taare Zameen Par. What starts off as a slow light hearted poem supported by a soft piano arrangement in the background, eventually transcends into a heavenly sketch of the minds of children and those around them i.e. the recipients of their behaviour. SEL use a wide array of (synth) instruments in a bid to deliver a soothing number but it’s Ehsaan’s guitar and the intermittent use of the sitar / tabla that achieves this so successfully. I have not heard Shankar Mahadevan sing as well as this for years such is the impact of his supremely somber vocals (backed by superb background vocals of Dominique and Vivinenne). The singing is indeed a highlight of this track and coupled with Prasoon Joshi’s amazing heart-felt lyrics this track excels completely off the richter scale! Verdict: This is a divine listening experience that makes you sit up, enjoy and contemplate the meaning, behaviour and impact of children. To call it special is an understatement.

Jodha Akbar Starting Hrithik Roshan Aishwaria Rai

Director: Ashutosh Gowariker

Writer: Ashutosh Gowariker

Music : A.R.Rehman

Lyrics : Javed Akhtar

Release Date: 25 January 2008 (India)

Genre: History Romance

Plot :

Jodha Akbar is an epic period film based on history and fiction. The story depicts the romance between a Hindu Princess Jodha bai and Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar. The setting is the historical and political background of Hindustan (India). It is a love story set in the sixteenth century. The film has been produced by Ronnie Screwvala and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and the film stars the hit on-screen pair of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. A huge set was put up at Karjat to replicate the royal palaces and courts of the 16th century. The music for the film has been composed by A.R Rahman and the story has been written by Haider Ali.

Mughal Emperor Akbar is both revered and feared by his people. He is powerful and honest and yet when it comes to battle he is fierce, giving his enemies no opportunities for victory. Meanwhile 16th century India is dominated by a mixed culture of Muslim Emperors and Hindu Kings who guard their territory and subjects loyally. It is in this ambience of mixed cultures that the Hindu King Bharmal of Amer offers a hand of friendship to Emperor Akbar. This friendship is then turned into a relationship when the Hindu King offers Emperor Akbar his daughter, Princess Jodha’s hand in marriage. This union or offer of peace is made for political benefits by the Hindu King, but King Akbar accepts this marriage proposal. And thus begins a new journey in history and the lives of Akbar and Jodha, a feisty young Princess for her times.

The film delves into the life of Emperor Akbar, how he is crowned Emperor, his victorious battles and his love for the beautiful Princess Jodha. The romance is set within the background of political warfare and gruesome battles. Can a romance between a strong headed Hindu Princess and a passionate Muslim Mughal Emperor thrive in such conditions?

Facts :
* Ashutosh Gowariker hired a research team of historians and scholars from Delhi, Lucknow, Agra and Jaipur to guide him on the film.
* Due to the fact that this film was filmed in sync sound, director Ashutosh banned the use of mobile phones for his entire cast and crew on the sets.
* Art director Nitin Desai created little cottages for Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai at his studio because Director Ashutosh Gowariker wanted the actors to stay in Karjat, where they were filming, rather than have them commute from Mumbai every day. They had all the comforts of home in the cottage. Hrithik’s wife and son also stayed with him at the cottage.

Over 80 elephants, 100 horses, and 55 camels were used in the movie.