Exclusive: Bachchans' World Tour details

Now it can be told.

The now on-then off World Tour by the Bachchans - featuring Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya and possibly even Jaya - is finally taking place this July!

The family is waiting for the release of Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj - in which Abhishek and Aishwarya play business rivals - before packing their bags and taking off.

The first leg of the tour will take the Bachchans, to Europe and North America, over July and August.

They will then travel elsewhere, covering 25 cities in all.

Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar - who were star attractions in the original line-up - have opted out because they had no dates to offer.

Instead, the Bachchans now have Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Ritesh Deshmukh - among their entertainers - for the tour.

An excited Ash said, "It's always wonderful to be on stage with Abhishek and Pa (the Big B).

I remember what fun it was, when we did Kajra Re for an awards function, two years ago. That one act, was a fantastic rock concert by itself. Now going on stage as Amitji's daughter-in-law and Abhishek's wife, will be doubly fantastic!

We really do have a good time. I've watched Pa's earlier concerts, he rivets the audience, while Abhishek has a blast. All three of us love live shows, because we genuinely enjoy music and dance. So the world tour is going to be a grand party, on stage!"

Stay tuned in!

Video: Abhishek Bachchan in Idea Commercial

Abhishek-Aishwarya coming together in Mani Ratnam's next

While poor onscreen chemistry was a major cause of concern between Abhishek and Aishwarya after Umrao Jaan's failure, things seem to have changed post Guru.

Post their wedding, they will be seen together for the first time in Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar Raj.

And now Guru's director, Mani Ratnam has offered them another film.

It is a known fact that, Abhishek and Aishwarya share an excellent rapport with Mani Ratnam. When he expressed his desire to work with the couple once again, they agreed immediately.

Aishwarya's business manager - Hari Singh - confirms the development saying, "Yes, it's true that Aishwarya and Abhishek have given their consent to Mani Ratnam, for his next. The film will commence this year."

This romantic film will have interesting roles for this couple.

Mani Ratnam has his script ready and once he gets the dates from the actors, he will announce the project soon.

Stay tuned in!

Happy Birthday, Abhishek!

This could well be the year of Abhishek Bachchan.

At 32 today, he has much to look forward to!

There's Sarkar Raj to start with, and then the F-X caper Drona, before coming to the mellow Dilli 6.

At home, too, there's reason to celebrate, as wife Aishwarya's career is neatly balancing itself with her domestic roles and responsibilities!

Bollywood Buzz wishes Abhishek a very Happy Birthday :o)

Subi Samuel's Bollywood Calendar 2008: Abhishek Bachchan

With the New Year just around the corner, the market will be flooded with calendars of various sizes and shapes. This time, it's not just sizes and shapes, but also cool concepts as well.

Subi Samuel and Marching Ants have started the calendar-mania with all the Bollywood stars striking a 'comical' pose!

Their vision of Visual Wizardry will be showcased in their calendar will feature 24 of India's celebrated movie stars.

"Comic books don't go by the laws of physics," explains Rajeev - of Marching Ants - about the concept, "You can be trigger happy while creating them."

However, he explains that it's a complex procedure, incorporating this particular theme and its characters with real people. Subi adds that the key was to narrate a story though the photographs. Each actor in the calendar is featured as a comic character.

Here's the first comical story featuring Abhishek Bachchan as Sam:

Sam is a writer by profession. Since his wife was pregnant, he just doesn't want to move anywhere without her. This is what she had insisted for!

And when she wanted to be amidst 'goon town', the big city's most notorious neighbourhood, Sam wants her to be safe from all the possible dangers. But as luck would have it, his wife and unborn child get shot by accident in a drive by shooting.

Sam tries every possible effort to look for justice, all including the legal system, from the local politician et al. He is not able to digest the fact that the killers are roaming freely without a care. Hence, he drowns in the ocean of sorrow and solitude for days together.

And then, he simply picks up a pen to write a story about his life.

And lo! He goes out and hunts not only his wife's killers but also all those who were part of the same breed. And every night, his pen would be dipped in the blood of the culprits, would write pages for him.

The city had destroyed him, its laughter resonating, but the city's nightmare was only just beginning..

Note: This calendar happens to be a limited edition and will be distributed strictly through private circulation.

Abhishek Bachchan in Aamir's Taare Zameen Par

Taare Zameen Par is all set to release on December 21 and marks the directorial debut of Aamir Khan.

Its a story of a kid suffering from dyslexia.

To create awareness about this disorder, an example of Abhishek Bachchan - who also suffered from this disorder in childhood - is used in the film.

Aamir Khan took prior permission from the Bachchans to make this reference and use Abhishek's name and picture as an example of success in spite of suffering from dyslexia at a young age.

Abhishek is among the crème de la crème of Bollywood today. The disorder did not stop him from creating a place for himself in the film industry and become a successful star. That's the message Aamir gives to the kids in the film.

Like Abhishek, many known personalities fall in this category, which include the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Alva Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Winston Churchill, Keanu Reeves, Albert Einstein and Tom Cruise.

Abhi-Ash spend a day with HIV affected kids

Star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has recently been making a lot of public appearances together, be it at award functions, wedding of close friends or just a day out.

Yesterday evening however, the couple took time out of their busy schedules for a special cause and decided to interact with HIV/AIDS affected children at an association called Ashray.

Abhishek apparently has been a part of the Ashray Association since 2001 when he was first introduced to the organization by well-known fashion designer duo, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. This was however, the first time that Aishwarya too came along with him.

With World Aids Day just around the corner (Dec 1), this star couple surely added a lot of color and hope to the lives of these little ones suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Bachchans offers prayers at Dwarkadheesh temple

Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan alongwith his family on Tuesday visited Dwarkadheesh temple and offered prayers, temple authorities said.

Bachchan, alongwith his wife Jaya Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, visited the temple and performed puja there, sources said in Rajkot.

The Bachchan family came to Mithapur by two chartered planes and went to Dwarka by road.

Abhi-Ash visit Ameen Peer Dargah, Andhra Pradesh

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai offered prayers at the Ameen Peer Dargah in a town called Kadapa, about 400 kms from Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh.

They were accompanied by Jaya Bachchan and family friend and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, who also visited and prayed at the Ameen Peer Dargah - also known as Pedda Dargah.

Abhi-Ash offered a chadar and conducted special prayers at the dargah, which is believed to have been established by a spiritual leader belonging to the clan of Prophet Muhammad.

Rakeysh Mehra's casting coup with the Bachchans

Even as Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra prepares to start his next project, the autobiographical Dilli 6, he is also planning a casting coup for his future project Bhairavi - three of the Bachchans!

Mehra intends to bring Amitabh, Jaya and Abhishek together in their real-life roles of husband, wife and son in Bhairavi, which will be set in the world of classical Indian music and carry forward the theme of strife amidst competitive creativity.

"It's a project that has been with me for a while. I have already narrated it to the Bachchans and they're on," Mehra said.

Stay tuned in!

Sonam Kapoor with Abhishek Bachchan in Rakeysh Mehra's Dilli 6

Reports are that the latest star kid on the block, Sonam Kapoor, will do her next film opposite Abhishek Bachchan.

Sonam, daughter of Anil Kapoor, who makes her debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya, has reportedly confirmed doing Dilli 6 that will be directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who last made the mega hit Rang De Basanti.

If these reports are true, then Sonam would indeed have a dream start to her career in the Indian film industry: first film is with Bhansali and the next with Mehra!

First Look: Abhishek Bachchan in Drona

Here is an official first look at Abhishek Bachchan's Drona directed by Goldie Behl. The film also sees Priyanka Chopra playing Bachchan's bodyguard.

Via Our Bollywood

Abhishek will now endorse Idea Cellular

It was a war that was waiting to happen.

With the entry of many a cell operator, the only way out was to get someone to model who is a smooth operator. And who else can fit the bill than Aby's baby, Abhishek Bachchan!

After having endorsed Motorola, American Express, Omega, Ford, BIG 92.7 FM and LG, its Aditya Birla Group's mobile service operator Idea Cellular's turn to sign on the most saleable endorsement star.

Idea Cellular has appointed Abhishek Bachchan as its new brand ambassador.

"Yes, I'll be endorsing Idea Cellular ," confirms Abhishek Bachchan from Namibia, where he is shooting for Drona.

Idea and Abhishek's association is said to be one of the most expensive deals of the recent times. The telecom company has signed a 3 year deal with the star.

Abhishek in Aparna Sen's Gulel

Abhishek Bachchan will star in Bengali director Aparna Sen's debut Hindi film titled Gulel.

"For Gulel, I really want Abhishek and I know Abhishek wants to do the role. He has said yes," Sen told a news agency.

Abhishek, who worked with another Bengali director, Rituparno Ghosh (in Antarmahal), says he loves working with Bengalis.

"At the moment, there're lots of films under consideration. I'm on the verge of completing Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. That was great fun. I've worked in two Bengali films with Rituda in Antarmahal and in a film called Desh, directed by Raja Sen in which I played my own mom's son.

It would be delightful to work with Aparna Sen."

Abhishek in Rakeysh Mehra's Delhi 6

Abhishek Bachchan, who was the original choice for the role, is finally doing Rakeysh Mehra's autobiographical Delhi 6.

The film chronicles the director's growing-up years in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi, and the title refers to the postal pincode for the area where Rakeysh Mehra's film unfolds.

Abhishek, it would be remembered, was always the first choice for the role.

Mehra and the younger Bachchan, fast friends and creative collaborators since Rakeysh was supposed to direct Abhishek's debut in Samjhauta Express, fell apart over date problems.

The project then went to Hrithik Roshan (who said yes, then no since he didn't want any ill will with the Bachchans), Rang De Basanti's Siddharth (who also declined for reasons best known to him) and finally the bright superstar-in-the-making Ranbir Kapoor (who had a problem connecting with the script).

"Like they say, Daane-daane par likha hai khane wale ka naam. The world is indeed round. The fact that the project has returned to Abhishek proves it," says a source close to the project, while Abhishek in his habitually diplomatic way is cautious. "Right now, it's too early to talk about it."

He now leaves for Nambia for the shooting of Goldie Behl's Drona. The dates for Delhi 6 will be worked out when Abhishek returns.

The film is expected to be shot in the summer of 2008 in Delhi.

Abhishek is flying high!

Is it his rugged look, his DYOT (Do-Your-Own-Thing) super-cool attitude or the fact that he's a self-confessed "jeans-kind-of-guy" that makes Abhishek Bachchan the perfect brand ambassador for Flying Machine jeans?

Maybe, it's a bit of it all.

Flying Machine - India's very own indigenous brand of jeans - is back, re-launched in a new avatar, and who better than Abhishek Bachchan to sport the new look with elan!

"Yes, I'm most comfortable in a pair of jeans," confirms Abhishek, adding that he is proud to be associated with Flying Machine.

"The product is now positioning itself as an Indian international brand. Currently, the market is flooded with international jeans brands, and India's original jeans, Flying Machine, is on par with the rest, both creatively and technically. It's about time we stepped onto the international platform here as well".

Right here, right now, India sure is 'flying' high!

Is Baby B on its way?

If word is to be believed, there's going to be a new Bachchan in town soon. Baby B to be more precise.

Yes, the most beautiful woman in the world, Aishwarya Bachchan, is reportedly expecting and Abhishek is gonna be a dad. Amitabh Bachchan, meanwhile, is going to be the grand-daddy of them all!

There are already three ABs in this power family - Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan, and when Abhishek was asked whether he would name his child with the alphabet A, he had said, "That's actually a cool thought. I haven't thought about it, though."

And on plans of starting a family, he had said, "Kids shouldn't be planned. They should just happen."

So, if the couple is indeed expecting their first child, all we can say is 'Here's to Baby B!'

The couple tied the knot on April 20 this year.

Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya in RGV's Time Machine

It's a star cast that most filmmakers would dream to work with.

And Ram Gopal Varma has managed the feat not once but twice. Even before Ramu completes the sequel of his film Sarkar, he has already made plans of another film with the Bachchans.

According to a source close to the director, "Ramu has planned to rope in Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya for Time Machine. The director took the decision of reviving the film during the outdoor shoot of his film Sarkar Raj which is currently in progress in Hyderabad."

It maybe recalled here that Ramu had earlier planned to make the same film with Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena.

Sarkar 2 update: Abhishek-Aishwarya not playing hubby-wife!

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took time off from finishing his Sholay extravaganza and planning the start of shooting for Sarkar 2, to talk to Times Of India about his forthcoming films.

Sarkar 2 promises to be one of the most eagerly looked forward to films in Bollywood, maybe because Varma has got Brand Bachchan together for the first time. Excerpts from the interview:

You're getting together Bollywood's first family for the first time...

Yes, but I didn't cast them as the first family. I signed Aishwarya long before she got involved with Abhishek. And they aren't a couple in Sarkar 2. Abhishek is already married to Tanisha in Sarkar, remember?

But the audience will look at the couple in a different way...

I disagree. Once the audience enters a theatre, it creates its own ambience in the first 10 minutes. Unless a film is designed to accentuate personal equations between actors, audiences forget what relationships actors share in real life. Sarkar 2 hasn't been written to play up the Abhishek-Aishwarya relationship.

Does Big B play a semi-retired character?

Yes. Sarkar ended showing the senior Bachchan in retirement. But in Sarkar 2, Abhishek isn't willing to take over the mantle. We pick up the story from there. Abhishek's character will be substantially more in the forefront. But like every son in a business empire, he'll continue to look up to his father for guidance and support .

Are you doing Sarkar 2 only because every other filmmaker is into sequels?

It was Abhishek's idea. We decided on Sarkar 2 even before the shooting for Sarkar was over. The characters seemed to tempt me enough to give them renewed life.

Didn't you feel this way about any of your other films, Satya for instance?

Most of my films are remakes of my own cinema. Satya was a remake of my Drohi, Bhoot was a remake of Raat. Obviously, the way the two sets of films were made was different. I've been tempted to do sequels quite often. But not Satya. Everyone died at the end of Satya. In Sarkar, the political family has immense scope to reinvent their lives.

Also see: Aishwarya Rai in Sarkar 2

Akshaye-Abhishek to star in lesbian drama!

Even before production can start, there's quite a lot of buzz surrounding the Hollywood film When Kiran Met Karen.

The lesbian love story first came into the limelight when Perizaad Zorabian was slated to play the role of Kiran, a well-known Bollywood actress in New York who confronts her own sexuality when she is cast opposite Karen, an American actress.

Then there was news that Perizaad opted out of the film because she didn't feel comfortable with the role. After that came the announcement that US-Indian actress Purva Bedi and Lisa Ray were in the project.

Now the latest on WKMK is that Abhishek Bachchan and Akshaye Khanna are slated to play important parts in the film.

Not denying this bit of information is WKMK producer-director Manan Singh Katohora. "It's too early to talk, but my agent in Mumbai is doing some wonders in terms of the casting. Wait and watch," said Manan.

When contacted, Akshaye Khanna's spokesperson Rohini Iyer had this to say. " Akshaye gets a lot of scripts to read and this may be one of them. But as of now, he has not signed on any Hollywood project." Abhishek Bachchan was unavailable for comment.

Stay tuned in!