Photo: Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan in Kurbaan poster

In the poster a grim and bare chested Saif Ali Khan, six pack and all, looks at Kareena Kapoor, rather intensely, with what seems to be a bullet hole in his chest.

The movie that stars Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Om Puri, Vivek Oberoi, Diya Mirza, and Kiron Kher will be released on November 27, 2009.

Rensil D’silva has described Kurbaan as a romantic thriller set against the backdrop of terrorism.

Recently, Om Puri had revealed that he plays the role of a terrorist mastermind in the movie.

Photo: Saif Ali Khan in Kurbaan

Bollywood Hungama quoted the actor as saying, “I’m aware of the repercussions. I’m also aware other actors turn down parts of terrorists. But I’ve no such reservations. We cannot be moral and judgmental about the characters we play.”

He said that the plays fully committed jehaadi who does not stop short of even sacrifiing his wife ( played by Kiron Kher) for the cause.

Rensil D’Silva has written the screen play of Kurbaan. Karan Johar has been credited with the story.

Rensil is the scriptwriter of Rang De Basanti (2006), Luck (2009), and the upcoming Raavan (2010).

As we had reported earlier, Dharma Productions has entered into a tie-up with UTV for the distribution of Kurbaan and Wake Up Sid (October 2, 2009).

Dharma Productions’ forthcoming releases include Shahrukh Khan’s My Name is Khan (February 2010), and the animated flick Koochie Koochie Hota Hai (2010).

Karan Johar

UTV Motion Pictures will handle the distribution of the movie through different networks and platforms, including theatrical, home video, overseas, satellite, and other media.

Speculation is rife that the deal is worth over Rs 80 crores, though the two parties have not revealed any financial details.

UTV CEO Ronnie Screwvala was quoted as saying, “Karan has a brilliant slate of films to his credit. He brings a tremendous entertainment quotient to his films coupled with immense understanding of the pulse of the audience.”

Ronnie Screwvala

“His films are amongst the most awaited across the country and around the world. We are thrilled
to start what we hope is the beginning of a long relationship with Dharma Productions,” he added.

For his part, Karan Johar said, “I’ve known and been in touch with Ronnie for a long time now and I am glad that finally we are getting a chance to work together. His passion and sensibility towards understanding cinema is exceptional and I’m looking forward to working with UTV Motion Pictures.”

Karan Johar further added that he was impressed with UTV’s body of work, and he was sure that UTV would promote both his films, which he claimed were not typical Bollywood films, just the way they promoted A Wednesday and Welcome To Sajjanpur.

The new deal will put an end to the distribution deal between Dharma Productions and Yash Raj films. Putting paid to speculation that there is a breach between Dharma Productions and Yash Raj films, Karan Johar said that Yash Raj as taken a conscious decision to distribute only their own films and he respects that.

Photo: Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor

Wake Up Sid, one of the movies that UTV Motion Pictures will distribute is directed by Ayaan Mukerji, who assisted Ashutosh Gowariker in Swades and Karan Johar in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. The movie starring Ranbir Kapoor, Konkana Sen Sharma, Rahul Khanna, Anupam Kher, and Naseeruddin Shah, is about a young man in love with an older, plain woman.

Wake Up Sid is lined up for an April 2009 release.

Rensil D’silva’s film will be shot entirely in London. Some reports have said that the name of the movie is Jihaad, but the director has categorically denied it. He has said that the movie is a romantic thriller set against the backdrop of terrorism.

The movie stars Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. Rensil is the scriptwriter of Rang De Basanti (2006), and the to-be-released Luck.

Shahrukh Khan and Kajol in My Name is Khan

The much-anticipated movie, that stars Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, will now be produced under the banner of Dharma Productions and Red Chillies Entertainment.

Previously, Shahrukh Khan has produced movies like Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000), Asoka (2001), Chalte Chalte (2003), Main Hoon Na (2004), Kaal (2005), Paheli (2005), Om Shanti Om (2007), and Billu (2009).

Of these, Chalte Chalte, Main Hoon Na, and Om Shanti Om were  hits. The fate of Billu is yet unknown, though so far it has received only moderate success.

Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan on the sets of My Name is Khan

Shahrukh Khan had co-produced Kaal with Karan Johar. In the movie, Shahrukh Khan did an item number with Malaika Arora. Kaal directed by Soham Shah, starred Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, John Abraham, Lara Dutta and Esha Deol tanked at the box office.

My Name is Khan is a project close to Karan Johar’s heart. In the movie, Shahrukh Khan plays Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man who has impaired social behavior, because he suffers from Asperger Syndrome. His behavior arouses suspicion among airport authorities, who detain him for questioning.

Apart from Shahrukh Khan and Kajol, My Name is Khan stars Jimmy Shergill as Shahrukh Khan’s brother, Shabana Azmi, and Sonia Jehan.

My Name is Khan has been penned by Shibani Bathija, scriptwriter of Fanaa (2006), Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006), and Kidnap (2008). Fanaa and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna were blockbusters, while Kidnap was a moderate hit. The dialogues of My Name is Khan have been written by Niranjan Iyengar and the music has been composed by Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy.

The movie went into production in December 2008 in Los Angeles. By end-Jan 2009, the first schedule of My Name is Khan was completed in Los Angeles. The remaining two schedules will be completed by August 2009, in Mumbai and Los Angeles.

My Name is Khan is expected to be released in December 2009. Before that Shahrukh Khan will be seen in Dulha Mil Gaya with Sushmita Sen, in mid-2009. After he recovers from his shoulder injury, Shahrukh Khan will shoot for Karan Johar’s Kootchie Kootchie Hota Hai, an animated movie based on the blockbuster hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, in its 10th year.

Shahrukh Khan next film after My Name is Khan is Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2: The Chase Continues.