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Hyperion Pictures Presents

- MARIGOLD -

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Five years ago, Hollywood director Willard Carroll made a romantic comedy called Playing By Heart, featuring Sean Connery.

Now, Carroll is in Rajasthan, shooting Marigold, starring Salman Khan, Nandana Sen and Ali Larter (Final Destination, Legally Blonde).

The movie is replete with songs in English and Hindi, and dances choreographed by Remo, who has done films like Aankhen and Meenaxi.

The film's first schedule started on March 27 at Kimsar Fort, which is a two-hour drive from Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

'I think Salman is really cute!'

The story is about the romance that blooms between an Indian choreographer Prem (Salman Khan, using his favourite name borrowed from Sooraj Barjatya's cinema) and an American actress Marigold (Ali Larter) and Prem's Indian love interest Jahnvi (Nandana Sen).

"Willard Carroll seems to have studied the Bollywood conventions more closely and intimately than most of our own directors," says Nandana. "He seems to know our song and dance tradition better than us! I'm having a ball shooting with Salman and Ali."

"I've worked with international crews earlier, and this one is as professional as it gets. They've got everything so much in place that I can't dream of taking a day off to visit my ailing grandmother in Shanti Niketan [in West Bengal] . There's just no room for even a small break," she adds.

The Rajasthan schedule will conclude on April 10, and then the Marigold unit will move to Mumbai on May 12. The shooting will end mid-May, after a song is filmed on Salman and Ali.

So is Salman ready for an international career? Unlike Aamir Khan, who had employed an agent in Los Angeles to get him work after Lagaan, Salman has no plans of using Marigold as a stepping stone into Hollywood.

By now we all know that Alison [Ali] Larter, star of New Line's $ 200 million-grossing FINAL DESTINATION franchise, has been cast in the title role of MARIGOLD - AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA, Willard Carroll's romantic musical-comedy about a tempestuous American actress who goes to India to make a low-budget Hollywood movie and suddenly finds herself tossed into the eccentric world of Bollywood film-making.

But here's some exclusive info on the project you might not be aware of:

The Indo-American film Marigold � announced more than a year ago � has finally found its female lead. The producers have selected Alison Larter to star opposite Salman Khan.
After promising to cast �an American actress who was known name in Hollywood� the producers zeroed in on Larter who is best known for her role as Brooke in the comedy, Legally Blonde. She also featured in Three Way Split, American Outlaws and Final Destination 1 and 2.
Siddhartha Jain, vice- president, Hyperion Pictures, India, says, �She was perfect for the film. Not only is she a good actress but also a singer and a dancer.�
Marigold produced by Hyperion Films is a romantic comedy about a Bollywood choreographer (Khan) who falls in love with a white actress who comes to India to act in a film.
Jain feels that Larter is showing her dedication to the project by �agreeing to come down to India during the summer and she is also willing to learn Bollywood dance steps for the film.�
Larter is currently doing a film with Disney called A Lot Like Love, co-starring Ashton Kutcher, the now famous boyfriend of Demi Moore.
Marigold aims to start production in June with extensive schedules in Rajasthan and Mumbai. This cross-cultural story is to be directed by Willard Carroll, who directed Playing by Heart starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie.
Marigold will be shot mostly in English with minimal Hindi dialogues.
Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy will compose the music while Javed Akhtar will pen the lyrics and Nitin Desai will be the production designer.

Salman Khan fans can finally rejoice! Progress is finally being made on the superstar's much-awaited film Marigold. The Hollywood actress Ali Larter (star of the Final Destination movies) has signed the leading female role in the ambitious movie. She plays an American actress who becomes stranded in India and falls in love with a Bollywood choreographer, played by Salman Khan. The
shooting of the delayed film begins in June and locations include Northern India and London. "Ali has brought a fresh approach to all her roles, and she's fearless about the challenges of singing, dancing, physical comedy. And 10 weeks in India during the summer!" said writer-director Willard Carroll.

Amidst reports that the Hollywood project MARIGOLD [starring Salman Khan] is shelved, comes the news that Becker Films International, an Australian Company, has decided to join hands with Hyperion Pictures, the makers of the film. Directed by Willard Carroll, this $ 10 million film will now start filming in early 2004 and will be produced by Carroll, Charles Salmon and Hyperion Founder Tom Wilhite. "The Indian movie industry sees MARIGOLD as an opportunity to present a positive view of Bollywood to the West," says Sidhartha M. Jain, Vice President of Hyperion Pictures India and the film's co-executive producer.
MARIGOLD is about a Hollywood actress stranded in India when her film is suddenly cancelled. Penniless and unable to return home, the desperate Marigold accepts a role in a gaudy Bollywood production. But Marigold has two left feet and in Bollywood all film performers must dance.
Salman Khan is cast as Marigold's dance director, whose secret is that he is also the prince of a royal Indian family. �In the next few weeks, we will be announcing the actress who will play the role of Marigold,� says Jain.
MARIGOLD will be launched at the MIFED market in Milan as the first real 'Hollywood meets Bollywood' film. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy have composed seven songs, with lyrics by L.A. pop icon Shari 'Truth Hurts' Watson, whose cross-cultural mix 'Addictive' was one of the past year's biggest dance hits.

At a time when Bollywood is bustling with rumours of all kinds�here�s another one that adds to all the action and excitement. There were rumours that Salman was dropped out of Willard Carroll�s �Marigold�, reason being his knack for attracting undue and unnecessary media attention and problems � personal and professional. Thankfully, Siddharth Jain, Vice President, Hyperion Pictures dispels these rumours and emphasises, �Regardless of what people are saying, Salman continues to be a part of Marigold. What�s happened with Vivek is too inconsequential for Salman or us to get worried about.� In this film he plays a choreographer who falls in love with his fan, to be played by a top Hollywood actress. Guess now�for Bollywood�s bratty Khan�only his work shall speak. Right Sallu?

More and more journo's are into desk-jobs these days � they not only have fertile minds but also extremely dramatic imaginations. Take the case of MARIGOLD, the Hollywood film starring Salman Khan in the lead. According to a section of the press, Shah Rukh Khan had replaced Salman Khan in the project since the producers were demanding bulk dates and Salman wasn't able to provide.

But the producers have denied the news outright. When this writer called on Siddharth Jain, Vice-President of Hyperion Pictures India, the producers of MARIGOLD, he decided to put the record straight. Here's the official and exclusive version:

�It's a lie that Salman is not offering bulk dates to us. On the contrary, Salman has been co-operation personified. He has promised to allot 90 days bulk dates to us, whenever the film starts. He's gone to the extent of assuring us that he won't shoot for any other film in that period, nor will he do any stage performance once he begins shooting for the film."

�The actual reason why MARIGOLD has been delayed is that we've yet to finalize the Hollywood actress in the central role. It is only after we sign the Hollywood name will we sign the Indian actress, who will feature in the second lead. So till the time we finalize things, we won't be able to start the shooting. Hopefully, we should finalize the leading lady [Hollywood] by March-end."

�We've never approached Shah Rukh for the film. Never. Salman was our first and final choice. I hope that sets the record straight.�

THE STORY:
To be made in Hindi and English, MARIGOLD is about a B-grade American actress who is shooting for a B-grade film in India. The shooting gets cancelled and she is stranded in India penniless. Salman, a choreographer in Bollywood, befriends her and gets her a role in a film called PYAR BINA KYA ZINDAGI. While teaching her to dance, the two fall in love. But there are some cross-cultural problems�

INDIAN TECHNICIANS:
Farah Khan is the choreographer, Javed Akhtar is the lyricist and Nitin Desai is doing the sets.

THE TARGET AUDIENCE:
Says Carroll: Salman has what it takes to be accepted by an American audience. You have to remember that basically MARIGOLD will cater to the American audience. It is not being made primarily with the Indian market in mind. It is a mainstream Hollywood production.

NUMBER OF SONGS:
Six. Shankar-Ehsan-Loy will compose the songs, which will be in Hindi and English. The girl sings her songs in English. 

SALMAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE SCRIPT:
Says Carroll: I got a lot of inputs for the script through my interaction with Salman. He gave me a lot of insight into the cultural nuances that would otherwise have been lost. After the script was written, we put it through him and he did make many suggestions, most of which we incorporated.

SALMAN'S CO-STARS TO BE:
Jennifer Love Hewitt? Britney Spears? Gwyneth Paltrow? None have been finalised.
INDIAN CO-STARS (Rumours are rife that Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji are also playing significant roles in the film. As also Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia and Amrish Puri). Says Carroll: Except for Salman, no names have been finalised.

BUDGET:
A little less than US $ 10 million.

SHOOTING LOCATIONS:
Goa, Rajasthan and Mumbai.

RELEASE STRATEGY:
International distributors will distribute the English version. For the Hindi version, the makers will sell it like any other Hindi film. 

RELEASE PLANS:
Shooting begins next February. The film will be shot in a single 11-week schedule and will hit the theatres by the end of 2003.

Bhansali Productions

- BAJIRAO MASTANI -

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It's official! Sanjay Leela Bhansali has decided to make two films in quick succession. Bhansali's Devdas made waves in India and all over the world last year. Now, he's back with yet another period film based on the historical romance between the legendary Maratha general Bajirao Peshwa and the courtesan Mastani.
For the coveted role of Bajirao, Bhansali has signed Salman Khan who worked in his earlier films � Khamoshi: The Musical and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. For Mastani, the astute filmmaker has zeroed in on the hot-and-saleable Kareena Kapoor.

In an exclusive interview, Bhansali said, "I couldn't see a better Bajirao than Salman. I know people will challenge me for my casting. But they did the same when I cast Shah Rukh Khan as Devdas and Ajay Devgan in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The doubts are in their minds, not mine. Everyone has a different take on every issue. But the final decision has to come from within me. While writing the screenplay I saw only Salman and Kareena in the title roles. I think Salman fits in perfectly, no doubt about that. When audiences see him they'll know what I mean. I write all my scripts with Salman in mind. He understands me perfectly on the sets. There is a sense of fun underlining the seriousness on the sets."

Bhansali says he didn't sign his favourite Khan for Devdas because Shah Rukh Khan suited the role better. Salman, admits Bhansali, was hurt. "I should have told him I intended to cast Shah Rukh. He wasn't hurt about not being cast, but about not being told. Finally it's the film that matters. Friendship and loyalty shouldn't come in the way of casting. If you compromise in the casting it is bound to expose eventually. Black has to be made only with Amitji [Amitabh Bachchan] and Bajirao Mastani with Salman."

According to Bhansali, Kareena has extraordinary talent that is waiting to be tapped. "She has the pathos of Meena Kumari and the fire of Nargis. Kareena also exudes a unique mystery and power in her personality. There's something very striking and untamed about her personality. No one can play a female warrior better than her. Mastani has to be larger than life. Kareena is perfect for the role. She is going to be a revelation as Mastani. I wouldn't have anyone else playing Mastani. She possesses a completely different area of attitude, personality, beauty and femininity."

"Everything about her is different from the actresses I have worked with before," he says. "That gives me the impetus to explore the utterly fascinating character of Mastani in all her glory. Mastani is one of the most important female characters in Indian history. With Kareena playing her I feel I can capture the essence, ethos and spirit of Mastani."

In the other pivotal role of Bajirao's wife, Bhansali has cast Rani Mukerji. The Chalte Chalte star also features in his other project Black. The shooting of Black commences in December 2003. "Only she [Rani] can play Bajirao's wife Kashibai the way I see the character. I needed a great performer who is also dignified. Without Rani in Bajirao Mastani I would be as confused as Devdas without Madhuri [Dixit]. I have signed her [Rani] for both Black and Bajirao Mastani. She is a fabulous actress. It would be as wonderful to put her on screen with Amitji in Black, as it would be to put her with Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan in Bajirao Mastani. The two films offer her a range that actresses only dream about. Rani and I are very good friends in real life. That will help us while working together."

Before Bhansali begins work on Bajirao Mastani in May 2004, he plans to start an English-Hindi bi-lingual called Black starring Amitabh Bachchan. "I am grateful to Amitji for accommodating my film in his busy schedule. It is fascinating to know that even today filmmakers are devising projects with him in mind. I think that makes him the greatest star-actor of our country. I have been a diehard fan from childhood."

Like most filmmakers, it was Bhansali's dream to work with the Big B. "Even my first film Khamoshi was written for Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. But at that point he had taken a break from acting. I felt with a baritone like his, he would never choose a role that required him to be mute [for his comeback film]. The fear of rejection prevented me from approaching him," he says.

Cynics are doubtful about how a man of Bhansali's consuming vision plans to make two films back-to-back. He is clear about his plans. "Both projects are very close to my heart. Once I decided on making these films there was never any question of turning back. Rather than standing by my convictions, people are busy spreading rumours. Each day there's a new rumour about the casting. The fact is I have cast my first choices in both projects. It was reported that Rani had walked into Bajirao Mastani and Kareena had walked out. What was the need for this baseless media report when they are playing two different roles?" he quizzes angrily.

To Bhansali, Black and Bajirao Mastani are not only means of creative rejuvenation. It is also a chance to prove his capabilities in two contrasting genres and moods. "It is a conscious process of rejuvenation as a filmmaker. I have to reinvent myself as a creative person."

Bhansali cites the example of his cinematographer Ravi Chandran in both films. "We [Chandran and Bhansali] will be constructing two totally different perspectives in the two films. I will have to work extensively with all my actors before shooting starts. With Amitji I've to get over my awe before I can get to a comfort level. I'll have to learn to take him into confidence rather than look up to him. Neither he nor I have done anything like Black before. Fortunately he's one of finest human beings I know, so communication should be easy. With Kareena and Rani it'd be much easier. They just need to surrender themselves to me in order to come into their own. I know can I mould her [Kareena] into my vision. Mastani is a very crucial role. It's imperative that Salman and Kareena play this historical character correctly, and I know they will," he says.

The filming of Black will take place between December and April 2004. Bajirao Mastani goes on the floors in May 2004.

Contrary to the title, Black isn't a depressing subject at all he says. "It is an uplifting tale on the triumph of the human spirit."

Black is also Bhansali's favourite colour as it has a universal resonance. "I think it's a powerful striking colour which describes the film's sensitivities," says the passionate director. "Black isn't a small project I have squeezed into my schedule. How can any film with Amitji be small? It's going to be a very important film in my oeuvre. Amitji's and Rani's [as well]. I plan to make it in both English and Hindi. Bhawani Iyer's English dialogues are too lucid to be left behind in translation. I believe in Black as much as I believe in Bajirao Mastani. The two are so different from each other. I feel creatively stimulated and challenged like never before. Here's my chance not just to do two antithetical films but also something completely different from what I have done in my last three films."

A 12-day shooting stint for producer Bubby Kent and director KS Adhiyaman�s, Karishma International�s Prod. No. 7 was concluded on March 8 on a massive set erected at Filmistan Studios, Savera Studios, Hotel Centaur (domestic airport) and other locales of Mumbai. The film stars Salman Khan, Shilpa Shetty and others. Based on a story KS Adhiyaman himself, the film has screenplay-dialogue by Rumi Jaffrey, cinematography by WB Rao, action by Mahendra Varma, art by R Varman, sound by Ijaz Ahmed and editing by DN Naik. Ajay Paul is the executive producer and Lucky Sharma is the co-ordinating producer of the film. The film is now 75 per cent complete. It�s a Bharatbhai Shah�s presentation.