He has bagged a role in the action drama TV series 24, currently being aired on the FOX nework.

Anil Kapoor will star in US TV series 24

Not that we are unhappy with Anil Kapoor getting exciting opportunities. He is quite an underrated actor in India, despite some stellar performances in movies like Woh Saat Din, very early on in his career, where he held his own with the brilliant Naseeruddin Shah.

Anil Kapoor has never been given his due in Hindi movie, perhaps because the movies he has acted in are masala films. But, even in movies where the plot is non-existent and the script dismal, he has managed to bring his characters alive, with some notable exceptions of course.

Kiefer Sutherland in 24

In the eight season of 24, Anil Kapoor will play the role of an Indian counter-terrorist cop,who works with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), an agent for the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit.

Although speculation is on whether Anil Kapoor will have an one-episode role or a longer run, is most likely to play a guest role in one or more episodes, though no concrete details are available at the moment.

The 24 series, presented in real time, in which each season depicts 24 hours in the life of Jack Bauer.

24, that went on air in 2001, is the second-longest running espionage series, after the Mission: Impossible series.

Reports say that 24 is likely to go into season 9 as well but Jack Bauer’s career will end. If that happens, his innumerable fans will surely go into decline.

Kiefer Sutherland has won many awards for his role in 24. He has won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series award in 2006, the Golden Globe for the Best Actor – Drama Series in 2001, and the Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama Series in 2003 and 2004.

Anil Kapoor has won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in 2009, for Slumdog Millionaire.

Photo: Freida Pinto

The latest is that Slumdog girl Frieda Pindo is likely to be the new face of Estee Lauder. She is currently in talks over a $280,000 or 200,000 pound-deal.

If she nets the deal, she will be first Indian to endorse Estee Lauder.

Freida Pinto’s spokesperson has refused to comment on the deal, though, saying that Estee Lauder has yet to make a statement.

Ever since the dazzling success of Slumdog Millionaire, Freida Pinto has become the darling of Hollywood.

Freida Pinto photo

She is set to star in Woody Allen’s next, starring Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins, and will be produced by Letty Aronson, Steve Tenenbaum and Jaume Roures. Reports say that Freida will be paid $3 million for the movie.

The as yet untitled movie will go on the floors in June 2009.

Freida Pinto’s wardrobe choices and style has made her an overnight sensation. She was on the cover of the March 2009 issue of Vogue.

For three weeks during the run-up to the 2009 Oscars, Freida made it to Vogue.com’s Ten Best Dressed list. Her Donna Karan salmon pink dress that she wore at the 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium, put her at number one in the week February 2, 2009. In the following weeks, she was number three and number two.

Freida Pinto on Vogue March 2009 cover

Freida Pinto also made it to Vogue’s Ten Best Dressed: Special Edition for the Oscars, along with Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Beil, Tina Fey, Marion Cotillard, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, Penelope Cruz, and Angelina Jolie.

Freida Pinto had her personal moments of glory as well, in the awards season. She was the winner of the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Slumdog Millionaire.

Estee Lauder is one of the world’s biggest manufacturer of cosmetics, perfumes, skin and hair care products.

Photo: Slumdog Millionaire kids Azharuddin and Rubina

Apparently, a sequence has already been shot at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airportwhere the kids are returning home after attending the Oscars (as original as it gets) and are “saved from a bomb blast” by Jakky Bhagnani.

Azharuddin Mohammed and Rubina Ali have eight-minute roles in the movie.

Kal Kissne Dekha will be directed by Vivek Sharma, and will star debutante Vaishali Desai (niece of late Manmohan Desai), Juhi Chawla, Rishi Kapoor, and Shahrukh Khan in cameo roles.

Kal Kissne Dekha will be released in May 2009, although it was slated to be released in March 2009.

Meanwhile, Indiatimes has quoted Vashu Bhagnani as saying, “Being a builder I will speak to some friends in Azhar’s area and try to get him a free flat and if that doesn’t happen, I will ensure that his family gets a heavy discount. I will also arrange for the bank loan because I know if I give them the money, it will be spent.”
He also said that he will also put together a financial deal for Rubina and her family.

Jakky Bhagnani has said, “They are examples of ingenuity. They have proved that you don’t have to polish and groom yourself to be a film star. You don’t need wealth and a star father to launch you. Be yourself and people will identify and love you.”

As we reported earlier, everyone associated with the Slumdog Millionaire project has benefited substantially from the success of the movie.

Dev Patel has been picked up by Manoj Night Shyamalan for his next movie, The Last Airbender. Freida Pinto has been snapped up by Woody Allen for his next.

Irrfan Khan has been signed on for a role in Ang Lee’s The Life of Pi. Reportedly, Danny Boyle has been offered the chance to direct the next James Bond movie, but it is an unconfirmed report.

The kids get flats from the Indian government. Irrfan Khan lands a role in The Life of Pi. Dev Patel gets snapped up by Manoj Night Shyamalan for his next movie, The Last Airbender (though I am not sure that’s such a good thing!). And Freida Pinto, Hollywood’s latest style icon, will now be part of Woody Allen’s next flick.

Freida Pinto photo

The untitled movie will go into production in July 2009.

Freida Pinto confirmed the news saying, “Yes, it’’s up (begins) in July (09). So thank you, Danny Boyle, for helping me take off.”

Woody Allen has the reputation of providing actresses with remarkable characters in his movies, the last being Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which got Penelope Cruz an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie. Woody Allen had written and directed Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Freida Pinto will star in Woody Allen

The movie will also star Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins, and will be produced by Letty Aronson, Steve Tenenbaum and Jaume Roures.

Woody Allen’s upcoming flick Whatever Works, written and directed by him, will be released in June 2009. The star cast of Whatever Works includes Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Kristen Johnston, Larry David, Ed Begley, Jr., Michael McKean, and Henry Cavill.

Frieda Pinto's John Galliano blue 2009 Oscar dress photo

24-year-old Freida Pinto was a model before she was chosen for the role of Latika in Slumdog Millionaire, appearing in ads like as Hutch, Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Škoda, Airtel, and DeBeers. She also did an acting course from The Barry John’s Acting Studio in Andheri, Mumbai.

Freida Pinto won the 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Slumdog Millionaire. She is not only a sought-after actress after the success of Slumdog Millionaire, but is much admired for her sartorial choices.

Freida Pinto on Vogue March 2009 cover

Freida Pinto, who is on the cover of Vogue India’s March 2009 issue, made it to time.com’s Best Oscar Dresses list. She featured in Special Edition for the Oscars: Vogue’s Ten Best Dressed, and was on Vogue.com’s Ten Best Dressed list for three weeks in a row.

Freida has also struck some raunchy poses for GQ’s February 2009 issue.

Freida Pinto GQ photo

Freida Pinto on Vogue March 2009 cover

The Slumdog Millionaire actress has turned out to be quite the fashionista. Her style choices have met with approval right through the run-up to the Oscars. And, while some wondered if she would make the grade at the Oscar 2009 ceremony, she surprised many with her electric blue John Galliano dress.

Frieda Pinto John Galliano blue 2009 Oscar dress photo

She also made it to Time.com’s The Best Oscar Dresses.

Freida Pinto also made it to Vogue.com’s Ten Best Dressed list for three weeks straight. She was at number one in the week February 2, 2009, when she wore her Donna Karan salmon pink dress at the 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium. In the next week, she was number three with her silver grey Zac Posen dress, and number two in the following week, in her Chanel black dress.

The petite actress has also featured in Vogue’s Ten Best Dressed: Special Edition for the Oscars. Keeping her company are Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Beil, Tina Fey, Marion Cotillard, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, Penelope Cruz, and Angelina Jolie.

Photo: Freida Pinto

Slumdog Millionaire has done wonders for the Indian cast. Freida Pinto has bagged a role in Woody Allen’s next movie. Dev Patel has been signed on for a Manoj Knight Shyamalan film, while Irrfan Khan has been roped in for movie adaptation of The Life of Pi, that may be directed by Ang Lee.

Freida Pinto photo

Indian designers have criticised Freida Pinto for going with international designers instead of Indian designers. But, I think it is a decision that worked for Pinto.

Freida Pinto in ethnic wear: No so good, eh?

She does not have the height, build or bone structure to carry off Indian ethnic wear. Most likely, she will be drowned in the sheer richness and volume of it. Since, she has a western figure it is best for her to stick to her strengths.

AR Rahman with the two 2009 Oscars for Best Music score and Best Song

AR Rahman also won the 2009 Oscar award for Best Music score for a motion picture for Slumdog Millionaire.

Photo: Cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire at the 2009 Oscar awards

In his 2009 Oscar acceptance speech, AR Rahman said:

“Before coming I was excited and terrified..the last time I felt like that during my marriage. There is this dialogue from my hindi film called meri pass maa hein..which means I have nothing but i have my mother..my mother is here..her blessings are there with me..I am grateful for her to come here all the way.
I want to thank the academy for being so kind…all the jury members. I want to thank all the crew of Slumdog Millionaire, Gulzar, musicians from chennai and mumbai.”

“I want to say something in Tamil, which i normally say at every award Elaa Pugazhum Iraivanukey – God is great!
Thank you,” he finished.

When he took the 2009 Oscar award for the Best Original Song, he praised “all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives”.

“All my life I’ve had a choice of hate and love. I chose love and I’m here. God bless,” he added.

AR Rahman performs the Jai Ho song at the 2009 Oscar awards ceremony

AR Rahman 2009 Oscar performance photo

Photo: AR Rahman performing at the 2009 Oscars

AR Rahman performed the song Jai Ho at the 2009 Oscar award ceremony. Earlier, Sukhwinder Singh was supposed to perform with AR Rahman at the 2009 Oscars but in the end it was only AR Rahman who sang Jai Ho.

Here are the lyrics of Jai Ho.

Lyrics: Gulzar
Vocals: Sukhwinder Singh.
Music: AR Rahman

Jai Ho!

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Ratti ratti sachchi maine jaan gawayi hai

Nach Nach koylon pe raat bitaayi hai

Ankhiyon ki neend maine phoonkon se udaa di

Gin gin taarey maine ungli jalayi hai

Eh Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Baila! Baila! (Dance! Dance!)

Ahora conmigo, tu baila para hoy (Now with me, you dance for today)

Por nuestro dia de movidas, (For our day of moves,)

los problemas los que sean (whatever problems may be)

Salud! (Cheers!)

Baila! Baila! (Dance! Dance!)

Jai Ho!

Chakh le, haan chakh le, yeh raat shehed hai

Chakh le, haan rakh le,

Dil hai, dil aakhri hadd hai

Kaala kaala kaajal tera

Koi kaala jaadu hai na?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Kab se haan kab se jo lab pe ruki hai

Keh de, keh de, haan keh de

Ab aankh jhuki hai

Aisi aisi roshan aankhein

Roshan dono heerey hain kya?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Slumdog Millionaire bagged the major 2009 Oscar awards, for Best Picture and Best Director. All in all, the movie won eight awards: Best Sound Mixing (Resul Pookutty), Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music Score, Best Original Song, and Best Film Editing.

Update: Slumdog Millionaire sweeps 2009 Oscars

Anyway, someone – either some enterprising prankster, or an enterprising crook – has leaked a list of Oscar 2009 winners. And according to that, Slumdog Millionaire is the winner of 2009 Oscar Best Picture award.

We think it’s true. There has been so much appreciation about the movie about the poor boy from the slums of Mumbai that it has an extremely good chance of taking away the Best Picture award this year.

I am not being biased here, guys. I haven’t seen the movie yet, and Mumbai is where I spent 14 years of my life, and you can understand if I want it to win Best Picture this year.

According to the rumor, Slumdog Millionaire also wins Best Cinematography Oscar 2009, and Best Director awards.

Now we shall just hold our breath till the 2009 Oscar awards night, to know who the real winners are. Cool?

Update: Slumdog Millionaire sweeps 2009 Oscars

The movie has swept the Bafta show with six other awards. Slumdog Millionaire has won the 2009 Bafta awards for Best film, Best director for Danny Boyle, Best Adapted screenplay for Simon Beaufoy, Best Cinematography for Anthony Dod Mantle, Best Editing for Chris Dickens, and Best sound.

Slumdog Millionaire had been nominated in 11 categories for the 2009 Bafta awards. Since the Bafta awards are a pretty good indication of the Oscar award winners, there is a good chance that Slumdog Millionaire will sweep the 2009 Oscars too, which will be held on February 22, 2009.

AR Rahman, who scored at the Golden Globe awards with wins for Best Music Score and Best Original Song, was the first Indian ever to bag a Golden Globe. He is also the first Indian to win a Bafta award, and receive three nominations for Oscar awards.

AR Rahman has been nominated for the 2009 Oscar Best Music Score award. He is also the 2009 Oscar nominee for Best Original song for Jai Ho and O Saaya.

Slumdog Millionaire has received 10 nominations for the 2009 Oscar awards.

The movie has been nominated for:
1. The 2009 Oscar Best Picture award
2. 2009 Oscar Best Director (Danny Boyle) award
3. 2009 music for motion pictures award
4. 2009 Oscar Original Song (Jai Ho) award
5. 2009 Oscar Original Song (O Saya) award
5. 2009 Oscar for Cinematography award
6.  2009 Oscar for Film Editing
7. 2009 Oscar for Sound Editing award
8. 2009 Oscar for Sound Mixing award
9. 2009 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay award

There were no surprises when it came to the other prominent 2009 Bafta awards. The other main award winners were:

Kate Winslet,  2009 Bafta Best Actress award winner for The Reader
Mickey O Rourke, 2009 Bafta Best Actor award winner for The Wrestler
Heath Ledger, 2009 Bafta Best Supporting actor award winner for The Dark Knight
Penelope Cruz, 2009 Bafta Best Supporting Actress award winner for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Martin McDonagh, 2009 Bafta Best Original Screeplay award winner for In Bruges
Wall-E, 2009 Bafta Best Animated Film award winner

Slumdog Millionaire is based on India’s diplomat-turned-author Vikas Swarup’s novel with the same name.

Slumdog Millionaire revolves around the life of a young boy (Dev Patel who was also nominated for 2009 Bafta Best Actor award) from the slums of Mumbai, who participates in an Indian version of the game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and wins it. The show’s host, played by Anil Kapoor, suspects the boy of cheating because of he comes from a slum.

In late January 2009, Slumdog Millionaire won four awards at the Richard Attenborough Film Awards.

Slumdog Millionaire won the Best Film award, the Best Director award for Danny Boyle, and Rising Star award for actor Dev Patel. A new People’s choice award for the British Breakthrough Star also went to Dev Patel for Slumdog Millionaire.

Now, the producers aim to capitalise on the curiosity and interest in the movie to produce a reality show ‘Secret Slumdog Millionaire’ (The title name is temporary though). The show will be set in Mumbai where real rich people would be out on the streets – or slums – in disguise as commoners, and help the poor with charity.

The Secret Slumdog Millionaire reality show will make some of the richest people witness and experience the real poverty in Mumbai.

Celador, the co-producer of the movie and the reality show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” will be producing this show too and it will be broadcast as soon as possible.

The reality show will be an Indian version of the successful show known as “Secret Millionaire” in U.K. This show saw some of the richest people come out as undercover in poor areas, totally cut off from their posh lifestyle.

There is potential for a controversy, though. Expolitation of poverty, like with slum tourism or even a reality show even if it might be beneficial in the end, would not be to everyone’s liking. Are the poor people ready to be exhibited on a show? If at all they are being helped then why through a reality show, because in the end its business and it could well be summed up as exploitation of people in slum. These are sensitive issues in India, and let us hope the producers understand that.

A television insider told the UK’s Sunday Express: “It is a fantastic idea….The millionaires who sign up will see real poverty in Mumbai and it is going to be very moving when they reveal their identity and offer these people help.”

“The producers are bracing themselves against claims that they are cashing in on poverty but the bottom-line is they will actually be helping people as well as making great television.”

The title could be changed but as for now it is “Secret Slumdog Millionaire”.

Update: Slumdog Millionaire sweeps 2009 Oscars

Dev Patel and Anil Kapoor in Slumdog Millionaire

The movie has been nominated for:
1. The 2009 Oscar Best Picture award
2. 2009 Oscar Best Director (Danny Boyle) award
3. 2009 music for motion pictures award
4. 2009 Oscar Original Song (Jai Ho) award
5. 2009 Oscar Original Song (O Saya) award
5. 2009 Oscar for Cinematography award
6.  2009 Oscar for Film Editing
7. 2009 Oscar for Sound Editing award
8. 2009 Oscar for Sound Mixing award
9. 2009 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay award

AR Rahman who was the Golden Globe Best Original Score winner, has three Oscar award nominations in 2009.

Rahman is the 2009 Oscar nominee for the 2009 Best Music Score award. He is also the 2009 Oscar nominee for Best Original song. Rahman has provided the music for Jai Ho, while eminent lyricist Gulzar has scripted the lyrics.

AR Rahman has also been nominated for the 2009 Oscar for Best Original song, O Saaya. The music for the song has provided by Rahman, and the lyrics by AR Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

The Slumdog Millionaire team is, understandably, ecstatic. The Hindu quoted AR Rahman as saying, “We have been waiting for this for nearly 80 years, haven’t we? I am so elated. I hope we get at least one award.”

It is clearly Rahman’s time. Hollywood producers are now falling all over him, to do the musical score for their movies.

Although, AR Rahman has not revealed any details about the movies that are in the negotiations stage, he says that he will do a balancing act between Bollywood and Hollywood movies. Rahman has also acknowledged the contribution of one of India’s best known lyricists and yester years director, Gulzar.

Gulzar has been quoted as saying that any nomination for an award as prestigious as the Oscars opens new avenues for Indian artistes.

It is interesting to see how India has appropriated Slumdog Millionaire even though it is not technically an Indian film. We have a tendency to appropriate achievers from all walks of live, if they have any connection with India, however remote. Be it Freddie Mercury (well, not that much), or Kalpana Chawla, anyone who is India-born, even though he or she may have nothing to do with India. The premiere of Slumdog Millionaire on January 23, 2009 was peppered with Bollywood celebrities, dishing out quotes left, right, and center.

Well, at least, they don’t have egg on their face like Mercedes Benz and a certain soft drinks company . Remember Mercedes and the soft drinks company refused to allow their logos to be shown on their products that were used in the movie. The reason: The companies did not want to be associated with a slum. Looks like the slumdog has stumped the millionaire. Talk about a marketing nightmare.

Slumdog Millionaire revolves around the life of a young boy from the slums of Mumbai, who participates in a game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and wins it. He is suspected of cheating by the show’s host (Anil Kapoor), because he comes from a very poor background.