Oscar Nominated Top 10 Bollywood Movies

Oscars are every film-maker’s dream…For a film to be considered worthy of its nomination, by itself is indeed a proud moment. Each year, hundreds of movies get released and the committee appointed by the Film Federation of India chooses one best movie released that year to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film Category. It is indeed a proud moment for the film-maker, actors and all those associated with it. The list of top 10 movies of Bollywood sent for Oscar nominations are:

10. Peepli Live

Peepli Live is a comical satire on the way media handles issues, in this case a ‘farmer’s suicide’. With an ensemble cast comprising of Raghubir Yadav, Omkar Das Manikpuri and other theatre actors, the movie is quite realistic in terms of setting as well as acting. The movie was India’s official entry to the Oscars and though it didn’t win a nomination, it became a huge hit and also received very positive critical acclaim. Peepli is the fictitious village where the film is based…which in fact, could be any village in India. The media’s insistent and intrusive coverage and the insensitive way in which sometimes events get sensationalized are all depicted with a touch of humor. Written and directed by Anusha Rizvi, a journalist herself, Peepli Live, is a must-watch Oscar nominated movie, and without a doubt, among the top 10.

9. Rang De Basanti

Rang De Basanti was a blockbuster hit and is a classic for all times. This Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra movie was the official entry for the nominations at Academy Awards in 2006. Aamir Khan, Madhavan, Sidharth, Soha Ali Khan and others made up the ensemble cast. The film was quite different in terms of its execution and narration, which by itself, set it apart from the other movies. Combining new age practicality with the patriotism of yester-years, Rang De Basanti is able to strike that right chord of patriotism in the youth. Released on 26th January, to coincide with India’s Republic Day, it is one of the best movies about India’s Freedom Struggle, told in a way that appeals to the youth. If only films like this were made more often…! One of the top 10 Oscar nominated movies, this one is a definite must-watch.

8. Barfi

A huge blockbuster hit, Barfi! was India’s official entry for the 85th Academy Awards. Written and directed by Anurag Basu, the movie is indeed a feel-good movie, but with a difference. Barfi! has mainstream actors like Ranbir Kapoor playing the role of a deaf and mute and Priyanka Chopra playing an autistic girl. With Ileana D’Cruz playing the other central character, Barfi! is about the bonds of friendship and love between these three people. Ranbir Kapoor borrows heavily from Charlie Chaplin and his grandfather Raj Kapoor to portray the happy-go-lucky young man. Without the usual seriousness that film-makers adapt while depicting people who are differently-abled…Anurag Basu’s Barfi! is a refreshing and sweet film, like the title itself!

7. Bandit Queen

This Shekhar Kapur movie was sent to the Academy Awards as India’s official submission. This hard-hitting movie was based on the life of Phoolan Devi, popularly known as the Bandit Queen. Seema Biswas played the role of Phoolan Devi and her realistic portrayal won her huge critical acclaim. The movie depicted the hardships of this woman and how circumstances force her to become a bandit and a modern day female Robin Hood. A bold film in terms of content and language, Shekhar Kapur did not bend down to the dictates of the Box Office. The rugged terrain of Chambal, the no make-up look of the artists, the crass language the actors spoke…all make this movie one of the most hard-hitting movies…A movie that will definitely make you sit up and think, Bandit Queen is one of the top 10 Oscar nominated movies.

6. Saaransh

A very moving and poignant film, it is one of Mahesh Bhatt’s finest movies ever. India’s submission to the Academy Awards in 1985, Saaransh did not make it to the final nominations list, but it continues to be a classic in its own right. Anupam Kher in his first lead role, established his credentials as one of the greatest actors with this movie…he was all of 29 years, as he enacted the role of the retired headmaster, B.V.Pradhan! An outstanding performance, Anupam Kher walked away with many awards and great critical acclaim. The movie has some very heart-rending moments…especially the scene in the Customs Officer’s office…the helplessness and pathos of a father who has lost his only son is brilliantly portrayed by Anupam Kher in this scene. A movie made with touching sensitivity, this is indeed among the top 10 Oscar-nominated movies from Bollywood!

5. Taare Zameen Par

The movie was submitted as Stars On Earth for the Academy Awards. This Aamir Khan’s production is indeed a beautiful, heart-touching story of a dyslexic child, Ishaan Awasthi…an extraordinary performance by Darsheel Safary. The story was conceived by Amole Gupte and he developed it along with his wife, Deepa Bhatia after much research and study. Initially, he was to direct the movie too, and had started out to do it, but creative differences with Aamir Khan led him to step down as the director, handing over the reins to Aamir himself. A very sensitively tackled subject, Aamir Khan won a lot of critical acclaim for his directorial debut. The movie is one of the first films to use the technique of Claymation which was till then used only in advertisements. Both in terms of technique and narration, Taare Zameen Par is one of the best movies ever and a must-watch for kids and adults alike!

4. Guide

A classic…a movie well ahead of its times…Guide was India’s official submission to the Oscars. Adapted from the novel by the same name, written by R.K.Narayan, Guide had some sterling performances by the evergreen hero Dev Anand, and the danseuse par excellence, Waheeda Rehman. Dev Anand is Raju guide and Waheeda Rehman is Rosie, the unhappy wife of Marco, Kishore Sahu. Initially, Vijay Anand, the director was very apprehensive about the film’s story-line, fearing it would not find acceptance with Indian audiences and their sensibilities…but the optimistic Dev Anand convinced him otherwise, predicting that the film would create history…and it did indeed! The movie has some beautiful music by S.D.Burman and the lyrics by Shailendra only make the songs as hummable today as in the yesteryears. The timeless appeal of Guide can be seen from the way it was received even after 42 years, when it was screened at Cannes Film Festival in 2007…such is the magic of this movie.

3. Salaam Bombay

This hard-hitting movie about the street children of Bombay…about their plight, their dreams, their hopes and aspirations…is indeed one of the best Bollywood movies ever. This brilliant movie by Mira Nair was the second-ever movie to get a nomination at the Oscars. The realistic depiction of the Bombay street-life is indeed heart-warming. Mira Nair in fact had picked up street children to play many of the parts in her movie. She organized an acting workshop for them to help understand the nuances of film-acting. In fact, in 1989 after completing the film, she started an NGO called Salaam Balak Trust to help the street children in various cities. Mira Nair explored and brought out hitherto untouched topics in Bollywood onto silver screen…a definite must-see movie.

2. Lagaan

Only the third movie which got accepted for the Best Foreign Language Film Category, Lagaan had a very successful innings in India and abroad! Ashutosh Gowariker’s vision and Aamir Khan’s production and involvement have made the film a classic today. One of the first movies to use sync-sound recording in 30 years, the efforts taken by the Producer-Director duo were remarkable. Shot on location in an arid village just outside Bhuj, in Gujarat, Lagaan realistically captures rural India in its element. With an ensemble cast, Lagaan was a period film, set in the fictional village of Champaner, which was reeling under a drought during the atrocious British Rule. The film’s music by A.R.Rehman was indeed much appreciated and it was the highest-selling musical album that year. A must watch to see why Lagaan is indeed a cut above the rest!

1. Mother India

The year was 1957 and the movie Mother India was India’s first submission to the Oscars for the Best Foreign Language Film Category. A landmark film to this day, Mother India is definitely the best Oscar-nominated movies ever. Mehboob Khan’s magnum opus brilliantly depicts the Indian woman in all her glory, delineating all her facets…her love and compassion…her grit and determination…her strength and moral integrity…a woman with a will of steel…all in all, it portrayed the strength of the Indian woman like never before. Nargis as Radha and Mother India delivered a brilliant performance. For India, a nascent nation which was still finding its identity in the world, Mother India showcased the strength and power of the Indian woman and Indian mother…a woman who could make or mar the lives around her. The epic poster of the movie, showing Nargis carrying the plough on her shoulder resonates with the symbolism of Indian womanhood…of someone who can singlehandedly carry the responsibilities of her family. To date, it continues to be one classic movie that remains etched in the cinematic conscience of audiences all over.

There are awards and awards and then, there is the Oscars…Well, any film-maker worth his or her salt always aspires for it…dreams of it…and hopes for it! If only wishes were horses…as the dreams to get that coveted Oscars go on…the top 10 Oscar nominated movie should suffice for now! But for more please visit www.top10reviews.in

Top 10 Highest paid actors in Bollywood

They live in some of the most posh addresses in Mumbai, they drive the best cars and they go on shopping sprees that can make people weep, however they are able to do such things because of the sort of money most Bollywood stars earn. However, although their earning from endorsements is well known, very little is known about the sort of money they are paid for the films in which they act and this article presents to you a comprehensive list of the best paid actors in the Hindi films industry. More facts about Bollywood and just about everything else go to www.top10reviews.in

10. John Abraham

The actor with the lopsided smile that reminds people of Robert de Niro in his pomp might not have had a great run in the box office for some time but the success of the film Madras Cafe has stabilised his stock in the industry. As of now the actor is paid Rs 15 crores per film and needless to say it will increase once the films that he has signed reaches the magic Rs 100 crores mark. One of the movies for he has signed is the much awaited sequel of the Akshay Kumar laugh riot Welcome in which Abraham has replaced the King of Comedy.

9. Katrina Kaif

Whether it is a guest appearance in an item song or a full blown lead role in a film, anything Katrina Kaif touches seems to turn to gold for the producers for the film, which is why it is not a surprise that she is currently one of the best paid actresses in Bollywood. It is often said that she struggles to free up dates for most projects due to the spate of films she is already associated and hence producers are required to pay her anything between Rs 10 crores to Rs. 12 crores for her services. It is unknown what she charges for guest appearances.

8. Kareena Kapoor

Next up is another actress who has always been at the top of the tree among the Bollywood actresses as far as remuneration is concerned per film that she acts in. Kareena Kapoor is usually part of films with huge budgets and more often than not her name is enough to let the movie goer know that it is a film that is worth watching. Even after her marriage she is still regarded as one of the hottest heroines in the industry and draws in the numbers at the cinema halls, which is why she is paid Rs 15 crores per film.

7. Saif Ali Khan

The Nawab earns fractionally more than his Begum and perhaps that is something that keeps the peace in the household. Jokes apart, Saif Ali Khan has become one of the most marketable actors in the Hindi film industry over the past 15 years or so right from the time he reinvented himself in the cult classic Dil Chahta Hai. Currently he is one of the most sought after actors in the industry and charges a neat Rs 18 crores per film he signs.

6. Ajay Devgn

The actor who has transformed himself from an all action male lead to a versatile actor who can play intense roles like the ones in Zakhm or Rajneeti as well as money spinning roles in comedies like Golmaal is worth his weight in gold for any film maker not only as an actor but also as an assured crowd puller. Himmatwala might have been a huge flop but his previous film Son of Sardar was a huge hit worldwide and hence it is still possible for Devgn to charge Rs 19 crores per film. His next project Action Jackson directed by Prabhudeva promises to be another money spinner.

5. Hrithik Roshan

The Adonis of Bollywood whose mere presence is enough to send girls into hysterical screaming is at number 5 and considering the fact that his films seldom do badly at the box office has made him into one of the most handsomely paid actors in the Hindi film industry. He has been nominated in the Best Actor category at the Filmfare Awards for 4 years straight and is paid a whopping Rs 25 crore per film. His much anticipated film titled Bang Bang with Katrina Kaif is in production and would hit the screens in November.

4. Shah Rukh Khan

SRK is the second richest actor in the world with a personal net worth of $600 million according to a recent report but he is not the highest paid actor in India at the moment and it needs to be pointed out that he has his own business ventures that earn him a lot of money year on year. Even films which do not have much to offer by way of film value like Ra One or Chennai Express seems to rake in the moolah in a big way and hence it should not come as a surprise that he is paid Rs. 25 crores per film.

3. Akshay Kumar

The actor who has made the Hindi comedies his own come in at number 3 and although he was not considered among the top stars when he started off, nowadays he is well and truly among the elite actors of the generation with remuneration that reflects his advancing status as a box office success. In the mid-nineties he reinvented as the expert of romantic comedies and most of them have been runaway successes at the box office. He is paid Rs 40 crores per project and more often than not the producers get back their money’s worth.

2. Aamir Khan

The man who is popularly known as ‘the perfectionist’ by his peers aces his long-time rival Shah Rukh Khan in this list by dint of his jaw dropping remunerations per movie and in this regard it is also important to point out that the fact that he does not do more than one film a year has a lot to do with that fact. Although Dhoom 3 was not a film of great value it managed to break all records due to Aamir’s charisma as an actor and collected an astonishing Rs 530 crores in the box office. As a result he charges Rs 45 crores per film and has emerged as the second best paid actor in India.

1. Salman Khan

Over the last 5 years or so Salman Khan has risen like the proverbial phoenix and has become a money making machine for himself as well as for the producers who have invested their money on some of the films that he has acted in. His run of hits starting from films like Dabang, Wanted to Ek Tha Tiger have been extraordinary money spinners and hence it is Salman Khan who is now the number one actor as far as remuneration is concerned in the film industry with a pay package of Rs 60 crores per film.

So those are some of the most valued actors in the Hindi film industry who earn incredible sums of money for each films that they sign and in the years to come their remunerations may well increase from what it is now. More Bollywood facts at www.top10reviews.in

Fitness Routine of Bollywood Actresses

Our Bollywood actresses are under the public eye constantly. And we mean constantly! Have you seen all those really unflattering pictures of all these stars without makeup? Have you also noticed that they still manage to look pretty nice and well, healthy? This here is a post about the top fitness regimes followed by our favourite actresses. We all need a little bit of inspiration, don’t we? This post will do just that with some of the most grueling and exhausting work outs you’ve heard of. We hope this makes hitting the gym or the yoga mat a bit easier. More Bollywood movie and stars' facts at www.top10reviews.in

10. Hema Malini

Yes, Hema Malini is on this list and there can be no doubts as to why! This woman was not only one of the finest actors in her generation; she was also one of the fittest. Her figure was to die for then and can put most women to shame even today! Physical fitness is very important to Hema Malini and she makes sure she follows her fitness regime strictly. She cycles every morning and follows that up with yoga and pranayam. She also realizes that diet plays an important role and thus fasts twice a week at her age! She is a strict vegetarian and apart from that, her diet mostly consists of home-made south Indian food. She also says that discipline and will power are extremely important to keep one healthy.

9. Malaika Arora Khan

Anyone who’s seen Malaika Arora Khan and her gorgeous legs would not dispute her presence on this list. And she’s a mother of two. We know she looks far from it, but well. This forty year old mom with the enviable figure has a rather surprising fitness routine. Contrary to what it looks like, she doesn’t append all her time in the gym. She actually just goes to the gym three times a week! Now we cannot use that as an excuse for skipping gym every other day like this lass can. Her workout usually consists of 20 to 30 minutes of cardio followed by various forms of exercise. These can include kick boxing, aerobics, jogging, and swimming, anything she feels like doing on that day. She also relies on various dance forms to form an integral part of her fitness routine so as to keep her body agile. If it works for her, we can only hope it works for us too!

8. Nargis Fakhri

First off, let us tell you that Nargis Fakhri is 34 years old. Oh yes. And she is also one of the brand ambassadors of Reebok. Her fitness routine works wonders and here it is. She believes in moving all the time. Moving burns calories and Fakhri does not let go of any opportunity to burn calories. She always takes the stairs, so much so that she once climbed to the 52nd story of a Manhattan hotel to visit a friend. Now that is the kind of dedication she puts into everything she does. She starts her morning with Zumba, a form of dancercise that’s gaining popularity in India now. As for her diet, she prefers to cook her own food and uses fresh veggies and a lot of grains and pulses. Also, since her tummy doesn’t agree with heavy food, she refrains from a lot of bread and milk products. Basically, Nargis’ mantra is to be dedicated and take the stairs, no matter what!

7. Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif is probably one of the few celebrities with a figure that normal Indian girls can aspire to achieve. She isn’t stick thin and generally looks healthy and not anorexic! Her fitness routine is simple yet intensive as she tends to put on weight easily, like all of us! What is surprising about her fitness routine is that she isn’t a gym rat. She starts her routine with a little bit of jogging to warm up. This is usually followed by a yoga session. Katrin is a huge fan of yoga as it gives her mental peace and keeps her lean. Also, for her role in Dhoom 3, where she plays an acrobat, she was advised by her rumoured beau Salman Khan to swim and cycle as they would help lean her out further. As for her diet, Katrina Kaif does not eat fried food at all! While we cannot imagine a life without the occasional samosa or a steaming plate of this is the price you have to pay for a gorgeous body!

6. Karisma Kapoor

Karisma Kapoor is a mother of two and has recently launched a book on her post pregnancy weight loss. She lost 24 kilos in 9 months, immediately after her son was born. In the book, she talks about how effective vane the traditional weight loss methods are.   She was a complete non-believer in yoga and its powers until she tried it for herself. She was a true believer in the powers of hard-core gymming up until she tried yoga after her kids were born. She now does yoga four to five times a week, to fast peppy music. She also recommends getting a personal yoga trainer but we all know that’s hard for us. So power yoga is the way to go!

5. Shilpa Shetty

How could this list be complete without Shilpa Shetty ?! Here at number 5, we have Shilpa Shetty and her awesome fitness routine. Shilpa Shetty has released a fitness DVD which mainly featured yoga.Shilpa's knocked off almost 20 kilos (she calls it the 'Viaan fat') within 10 months of giving birth to her son. "I have 1 kilo to go," she says, clearly proud of her achievement. Shilpa encountered yoga for the first time when she was undergoing physiotherapy for a neck injury. She also follows a strict no dieting policy! She thinks that diets are unnecessary and well, who can blame her when she’s had a terrible experience with them! A few years back there was the fad of Blood Group diets where the foods were designed according to a person’s blood group. While she put on 3 kilos in the failed attempt, her husband Raj Kundra put on 7! She believes in eating healthy and keeping it simple.

4. Sonam Kapoor

At number 4 we have Sonam Kapoor, the ultimate flab to fab story. Sonam Kapoor was an overweight schoolgirl up until she decided to get into movies. Sonam Kapoor lost a massive 35 kilos before her Bollywood debut with Ranbir Kapoor. While she was very athletic while younger, it took her a lot of effort to lose the extra weight. She was helped by a whole team of trainers and her regime included power yoga, weight training, pilates, Kathak, swimming, basic cardio and a lot more! Apart from all the work out, she also lay off anything fattening completely and has one of the most strict diets in the industry! You clearly have to work your booty off to look like a million bucks.

3. Bipasha Basu

Bipasha Basu was the first Bollywood actress to release a fitness DVD in India. She loves her food, like any true Bengali and manages her diet in a way that she gets all her nutrients from her diet. She does not believe in taking supplements. Whenever she has to have meat, she tries to make sure that she has it with a lot of greens, that way she takes in more vegetables than meat. Her fitness mantra is to be fit and healthy enough to live to be a 100! She is one of the few Bollywood actresses who works out without a break at all. She works out 6 days a week and does almost a hour of cardio before she moves on to whatever body part she is focusing on that day. She also believes in switching things up as monotonous work outs can make the body lethargic. She lays a lot of importance on discipline as is very very clear from her schedule!

2. Sonakshi Sinha

Sonakshi Sinha is one of the actresses who went from fat to fit for Bollywood. What makes her special enough to be number 2 on our list is the fact that she had Salman Khan to back her up! It was because of Salman Khan pushing her that she lost 30 kilos in all of 2 years! She was asked to lose all the weight if she wanted a career in Bollywood. Looks like the hard work paid off! While she was struggling with her weight problems, it was her mother who actually pushed her to do something about it. It was after she stopped pushing her at all that Sonakshi decided to take action. While her fitness routine was grueling and so demanding that she had trouble getting out of bed, she was determined and that was what paid off. She was on a hardcore cardio and weight training regime and her diet was extremely controlled. She learnt the hard that crash diets do not work, when she started putting on more weight! After 2 years of working extremely hard, she is now at a point where she can enjoy the benefit of working hard then.

1. Kareena Kapoor

At number 1, who else could we have but Bebo! Her epic size zero transformation may have been pushing the envelope a bit too far but her bounce back to a healthy figure was nothing short of amazing. Before Tashan, Bebo was a slightly pudgy, clearly a Kapoor actress. For her scene in a bikini in the movie, she went all out and lost all of her pudginess. So much so that at one point, her head looked bigger than her body! She is rumoured to have been on a diet of orange juice and orange juice alone as she lost all of this weight in a dramatically short amount of time. Rujuta Diwakar, her trainer then gained popularity because of her drastic weight loss. But after a short period of time, Kareena Kapoor seemed to have realized how harshly the cut down was affecting her body and you could see her regaining a healthy look. It was at this time that she took to yoga. She is known to do 100 repitions of Surya Namaskar in a day to keep fit and has also converted her husband Saif Ali Khan onto yoga. She believes in exercising in the open air, and can be seen practicing yoga on her front lawns. Now that she’s healthy again, we can see that she has one of the most enviable figures in the Indian film industry!

We hope this post has inspired you to cut down on all the junk, all the sweets and all the laziness and hit the gym. Want to know more about your favorite movies and stars? Here you go!

Top 10 Interesting Things you May Not Know about Deepika Padukone

Top10reviews brings you-  Hot, dusky, sexy, leggy lass, and these are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind on the mention of Deepika Padukone’s name. She is the top-billing actress of today’s Bollywood movies and one of the most sought after celeb on internet. With 3 back to back super hits last year (Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Goliyon Ki Raas Leela- Ram Leela), she is witnessing the best phase of her career right now. From fashion shows to cinema she has dominated the arena with beauty and brains. An icon that she is, we decided to find out the top 10 largely unknown facts about her life, and we found out that........ 

10. Calm, Composed, and More

Deepika, in real life, is a very disciplined, self-conscious gal who is particular about maintaining an order to the things around her. For her role of Veronica in Cocktail, she had to be eased into the skin of her character by director Homi Adjanani and writer Imtiaz Ali. For starters, Homi used to take her out to show London’s nightlife in order to make her understand what Veronica’s character was all about. Imtiaz Ali had suggested Homi that Deepika should play Veronica instead of Meera because during the shoot of Love Aaj Kal, he had seen her hidden side, a wild streak which would come up rarely in her. And see the results yourself. We actually thought that she slipped into the role with natural finesse.

9. Ranbeer Cheated on Her

In an interview after their breakup, Deepika revealed to the press that Ranbeer was cheating on her. She admitted that at first she thought that there was something wrong with her because of which Ranbeer strayed off. But Ranbeer cheated on her repeatedly and she kept delaying her decision to leave until she caught him red handed. That was it. No apologies were entertained after that and she moved on.

8. Her Humanitarian Initiatives

Under NDTVs Greenathon Campaign, in 2010, Deepika adopted the village of Ambegaon in Maharashtra, to help provide them with regular supply of water and electricity. Apart from this, she is also supporting and encouraging aspiring Indian athletes for Olympics. For this, she is involved with the Olympic Gold Quest, an organization established by her father and Geet Sethi to support such athletes. Other sports personalities such as Leander Paes and Vishwanathan Anand are also supporting this organization.

7. Friends with Benefits?-

Deepika is famous for her affairs with big personalities. Her conquests range from cricketers to businessmen. Until recently, Deepika was reportedly going around with Siddharth Mallya who apparently gifted her a posh flat in Beau Monde towers in Mumbai which had a price tag of a whooping Rs. 16 Crores. Holy Shit!!! Love is expensive these days. This had to be on our top 10 list.

6. From Badminton to Modelling

As a student, she was always on an ‘early to rise and early to bed’ schedule. She used to wake up at 5 AM, go for her physical training session, then to school, go for badminton practice in the evening, come home and finish her homework and then go back to sleep. She maintained this schedule almost throughout her childhood. At the age of 8, she did a few commercials and also worked as a child model. By the time she was in her 10th grade, she realised that her real interest lied in modelling. She says that when she told this to her dad, he was very cool about it.

5. Her Early Days in Glamour

Did you know that Deepika first gained recognition with a TV commercial that she did for Liril. In 2005, she secured place in Lakme Fashion Week and walked the ramp for designer Suneet Verma. For this, she won ‘Model of the Year’ award at the Kingfisher Fashion Awards. International fashion designer Wendell Rodricks once commented on Deepika’s beauty saying, "Since Aishwarya Rai, we haven't had a girl as beautiful and fresh." Well, full marks for such beauty; at # 5, Deepika’s rise to fame.

4. Her Collaboration With Himmesh Reshammiya

How many of you knew that she starred in “Naam Hai Tera Tera” music video for Himmesh Reshammiya’s music album Aap Ka Suroor? It was here that Farah Khan noticed her. At # 4, Deepika’s destiny leading her to greater things.

3. Her Collaboration with Farah Khan

The movie that was supposed to be her first Hindi movie hasn’t been made till now. Confused? The story goes like this: When Farah approached Deepika for the first time, it was not for Om Shanti Om but for Happy New Year. Somehow the project got shelved back then and Farah decided to go ahead with making Om Shanti Om instead. Happy New Year is now in the making and Deepika is still playing the leading lady’s role as was promised to her back then. This masaaledaar fact takes away the # 3 slot on our list.

2. Om Shanti Om Is Not Her First Movie

People believe that Om Shanti Om is her first movie. But no, it may be her first Hindi movie but not her first movie experience. She made her debut in 2006 with a Kannada film Aishwarya opposite actor Upendra. It was a remake of a Telugu film and was an instant box office success. This rare fact gets the precious # 2 position on our list.

1. She Was Not Born in India

And at coveted # 1 position is the question of her place of birth. Any guesses? Well, she was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on 5th January, 1986, where her father was stationed back then for his international badminton training. The family moved to Bangalore when she was 11 months old.

She is a rare combination of beauty with brains. From a national level athlete to a top-billing actor of today, she has come a long way. But the journey doesn’t end here; she has proved herself; now she has to sustain herself. Want to know more about your other favorite moviestars? Visit www.top10reviews.in

Top 10 Things you Do Not Know about Hritik Roshan

Hritik Roshan instantly became the nation’s heartthrob with his very first movie almost a decade and a half ago. Today he is counted among the top few actors in Bollywood and has his own style. Hrithik Roshan is a name to reckon with. As the release of his latest movie Bang Bang approaches, we decided to bring you some stories from his life that you might not know. More Facts on Bollywood Movies and moviestars at www.top10reviews.in

10. Salman Khan Trained Hrithik

Hrithik and Salman knew each other very well since little Duggu would frequently visit the sets of his dad’s Karan Arjun. Most of you must have also seen their old picture together with SRK on the sets of the film. They both shared a brotherly bond and later Salman offered to train him for his role in Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai.

9. His Speech Disorder Days

It’s natural to be embarrassed of certain ailments as a kid. Hrithik too lost a lot of self-confidence because of his stuttering problem. Many a times, he would bunk school on the day of oral test, pretending to have fallen sick. He was afraid that his classmates would make fun of him. What you might not know is that Hrithik told in a recent interview, “For oral tests at school, I used to bunk school, I used to fall sick, I used to break my hand, I used to get a sprain”.

8. A Painful Childhood

A major blow came when at the age of 19, the doctors diagnosed him with spinal disc herniation and told him that he will not be able to become an actor. But unperturbed in his resolve, he underwent various therapies and to tackle this ailment head-on and today, the results are in front of us. But at the age of 33, he had to wear crutches for six months as his arthritis started hurting his right knee. Guess there was no silver spoon in his case. But we are glad that he has conquered his ailments and despite all odds, has become the most successful and fittest superstar of today’s Bollywood. This tale of self-resolve and inner strength is easily one of the top 10 tales about his life on our list.

7. Hrithik Is Equally Good Behind The Camera

Very few people know it but Hrithik is equally good at photography. As a kid, wherever he went to travel, he would always bring his camera along. His idea was to be able to capture all the major events of his life and the life of others to whom he was close. His albums have an extensive collection of photos from when he was just 12 years old. He stills maintains these albums.

6. When He Almost Missed Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai

We would have never known Hrithik the way we do now, thanks to his blockbuster hit Kaho Na....Pyaar Hai. Yes, it could have been a possibility. Believe it or not, SRK was the first choice of director Rakesh Roshan for the film. But as fate would have it, the deal didn’t fall through and the next name that came to Roshan senior’s mind was......well you guessed it right. Hrithik immediately started prepping up for the role and here he is today.

5. How He Got His Pet name

Apparently, it is his grandmother who gave this pet name to him when he was a kid. She wanted a pet name for him that rhymed with his father’s pet name Guddu. And hence, Hrithik got the name Duggu.

4. Hrithik Was The Original Choice For Dil Chahata Hai

Actually director Farhan Akhtar wanted to cast Hrithik for the role that later went to Akshaye Khanna in Dil Chahata Hai. But things didn’t fall in place. After working with Hrithik on Lakshya, Farhan again approached him for the lead role in Don but sadly things again didn’t work out and then we all know whom the role went to finally. In a similar turn of events, he even missed on Swades and Rang De Basanti (he was offered Siddharth’s role in RDB). At # 4 on our list, his loss, someone else’s gain.

3. Hrithik’s a Smoker?

Or was he? Going by his perfect physique and health, even we found this bit to be a little difficult to swallow but the truth is that he used to smoke back in his younger days. But after reading Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr, he altogether put a stop at it. Nice to learn that. Keep it up Duggu!

2. Guess His First Appearance On Camera

Kaho Na....Pyaar Hai was not his first appearance on camera and neither is Bhagvaan Dada (1986). It was for a film Asha (1980), directed by his maternal grandfather J. Om Prakash that starred Jeetendra in lead role. At the time of shooting a song for the film, Om Prakash noticed little Hrithik dancing to the tunes of the song and the unit liked it. So he asked him to dance once more while secretly telling his cameraman to capture the shot. At his performance, Jeetendra jovially told the director that he must stop the little kid from dancing any more or else the audience will like the kid more than the hero in the song. And this is how Hrithik’s first camera appearance happened, without his knowledge. At # 2, chance encounter with destiny.

1. What He Did With His First Income

The top spot on our list goes to a very personal fact about Duggu. After a cameo at a very young age in grandfather J Om Prakash’s film, grandfather paid him a sum of Rs. 100 with which he ran to buy a bunch of Hot Wheels cars. Now people who grew up in 90’s would surely know about the craze of Hot Wheels among kids back then. Guess, our Duggu too was no stranger to this.

He has had his ups and downs in the industry. But today, Hrithik has reached a formidable position in his career, a place from where he will only rise up more. We wish him best of luck for his forthcoming release Bang Bang and are eagerly awaiting its release. Bollywood Facts and current Trends at www.top10reviews.in