CELEBS FACTORY

Telugu film Panjaa’s audio launch took place a couple of days ago in Hyderabad.

The Power Star Pawan Kalyan starrer 'Panjaa' is directed by Vishnuvardhan. Interestingly, it was for this film that Vishnu moved out of Billa II, which he was initially supposed to direct.

Speaking at this audio launch, Vishnuvardhan said that he has yet to decide on his next project and maintained that he is unsure if it is going to be a Tamil or Telugu film.

It may be noted here that there are strong rumors that Vishnuvardhan and Ajith may come together after the star wraps up Billa 2.

The movie Game may not have worked wonders for Abhishek Bachchan, but it definitely got one debutant noticed - model-turned-actor Sarah-Jane Dias.

Sarah, who recently signed on the dotted line for Ekta Kapoor's sequel to Kya Kool Hai Hum, says she had been yearning to put her comic chops to test right after her debut. "I am more excited than nervous. I have always wanted to do a light-hearted romcom. Audiences haven't seen this side to me as yet," she says.

The decision to take up this film happened immediately after the script narration. "I was impressed when director Sachin Yardi narrated the role. At that time, I had to choose between a sci-fi film and this comedy and I chose this. I am young and wanted to try a different genre. But having said that, if I had received an offer for anything more dramatic, I would have definitely gone for that," says Sarah.

While things are going well work-wise, the 28-year-old actor agrees that the industry is becoming more competitive by the day. "There are new girls coming in every day, but it's not a threat at all. I am very glad that the industry is warming up to newbies. It was a challenge for me, especially because I don't have a filmi background. I feel blessed that Bollywood has accepted me and given me the best of opportunities."

Sarah, a one film old actor in Bollywood is making waves also in Tollywood with her much-awaited Panjaa alongside Tollywood Power Star Pawan Kalyan and is in awe of her co-star. "He is a great person. He has travelled a lot and seen the world, is well read and not pompous at all. I knew that he was a big star even before we began shooting," says Sarah, who will be seen in a non-glamourous avatar in the film.

But wasn't it tough talking in Telugu?

"I did have a feeling of being incomplete in that area, but director Vishnuvardhan put me at complete ease and spoke to me in the language I understand. He made me go over the lines till it felt like I was talking in my own language," says Sarah.

Meanwhile, it's not just her film career that's creating a buzz at the moment. Quiz her about her link-up with cricketer Virat Kohli and she brushes it aside with a categorical "no comments". "I have worked on four films in two years, that leaves little time for anything else. I am single and I am simply loving it," claims Sarah.

Vishnuvardhan after delivering super hit Billa in Tamil is currently busy with his Telugu film with Power star, Pawan Kalyan.

The film that was actually planned for a Dussera release is now expected to join the Pongal race as the shooting of the film took more time than expected. With almost eighty percent of the film’s shoot being completed, the project that is now titled 'The Shadow' is expected to be wrapped up by October.

The Shadow, jointly produced by Arka Mediaworks and Sanghamitra Arts Productions, also stars Sarah Jane Dias and Anjali Lavania debuting opposite Pawan Kalyan with Jackie Shroff and Sesh Adivi in pivotal roles.

Currently in its post-production stages, the film would feature music scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja and cinematography handled by P S Vinod besides flaunting the glamdolls as they look their best.

Romance between Indian cricketers and B-town divas are always fancied. The latest to join the league is Virat Kohli. Buzz is that the young cricketer is apparently dating former Miss India Sarah Jane Dias. The duo has been going on dinner dates for the last two months. Rumours claim that Virat and Sara connected instantly the first time they met. "Sarah and Virat met for the first time at a party at the Sky Bar in Bangalore.

A common friend introduced them to each other. Instant sparks flew and they were inseparable that night. This was two months ago. They have consciously been discreet about their 'friendship' because an actress-cricketer romance is of high interest to both fans and paparazzi alike. The pair has kept their bonding a secret and they avoid meeting at public places, especially in Mumbai. They catch up whenever their schedules permit," a source informed a leading daily.

"Sarah is forever with him on her phone. We all tease her about it," Sara's friend told the daily.

Virat had even invited Sara for the World Cup but she was busy with her debut film Game's promotional activities. "She plans to catch the Bangalore IPL team's match now when they play in the city. Virat plays for Vijay Mallya's team and he has asked her to fly down to see him play on home ground, whenever she can," added the source.

Other Bollywood- cricket romances include Yuvraj Singh- Kim Sharma, Harbhajan Singh- Geeta Basra. Another pair, Zaheer Khan and Isha Sharwani, will tie the knot soon.

Virat Kohli and Sarah Jane Dias have been secretly chatting and meeting up for the last two months

Former Femina Miss India (PFMI World 2007) Sarah Jane Dias and young Indian cricketer Virat Kohli are said to be the newest couple in town. The two singletons met at a party in the first week of February and since then have grown fond of each other. They have been partying together, going on cosy dates and romantic dinners.

Says an insider, "Sarah and Virat met for the first time at a party at the Sky Bar in Bangalore. They were introduced to each other by a common friend. Instant sparks flew and they were inseparable that night. This was two months ago. They have consciously been discreet about their 'friendship' because an actress-cricketer romance is of high interest to both fans and paparazzi alike. The pair have kept their bonding a secret and they avoid meeting at public places, especially in Mumbai. They catch up whenever their schedules permit."

A friend of Sarah confirms, "Sarah is forever with him on her phone. We all tease her about it." Virat invited the model-turned-actress to watch the World Cup as his special guest, but she couldn't make it as she was promoting her film Game at the time. "She plans to catch the Bangalore IPL team's match now when they play in the city. Virat plays for Vijay Mallya's team and he has asked her to fly down to see him play on home ground, whenever she can," adds the source.

She may be playing a multi dimensional character in her debut Bollywood outing Game but in real life, Sarah Jane Dias is as simple as it gets. A Mumbai girl who is happy with small pleasures offered to her in life, Sarah found herself enacting a complex role in Game, something which was quite alien to her and also equally challenging since she had to isolate herself from her real self when the camera started rolling. Now as she sees herself on the big screen with her film being released, Sarah shares her thoughts with Joginder Tuteja and insists that life couldn't have been any better for her.

A central protagonist's role in a suspense thriller with an out and out A grade setup - you couldn't have asked for a better start, right Sarah?

Yeah, definitely not (smiles). I remember how I felt when I first went to Excel office for an audition. There I was sitting at the waiting area, seeing posters of films like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya and Don all around me and wondering that I too could be featuring on these walls soon. And then now as I am talking about the film, it is indeed a dream come true. With actors like Abhishek, Kangna, Boman and others all around me, my character binding them all together is one big high for sure.

Ever pinched yourself in the year gone by that this was indeed the truth and not really a dream world?

(Laughs) In fact pichle poore saal mein aisa nahi laga ki kya yeh sach nahi hai. I knew that I had signed a big film and while I was shooting for the film all across the world, I didn't have that kind of available time to sit down and actually reflect at what I was going through. In fact only when we came back after the entire shoot and I was called to the viewing room to have a look at the first promo did I realise that I was in for something big.

What was your first thought then?

Honestly, I was speechless. I am not new to sets and shooting though; I have had a good stint on TV as a VJ. But then big screen is something altogether different. You get such an incredible sense of being humbled. This is when I said to myself that this was a reality check after all so no more fooling around from this point on.

I am not new to sets and shooting; I have had a good stint on TV as a VJ Well, I guess you are being modest. Abhinay says that even though this was your first film, you were dead serious about your job and weren't quite fooling around. In fact he also goes on to say that as Maya, your role was the toughest of all as you had different chapters in your life that drove the drama forward.

Did he really say that? Then well, I am indeed flattered that he is happy. Yes, Maya was very important for the film since she had to go through so much evil at such a young age. She tries to escape but then gets trapped in bigger problems. She tries to put a happy front, falls in love with the character played by Abhishek but it isn't quite a bed of roses for her.

For your first film, this must have been emotionally draining, right?

Abhinay was the Captain of the ship and he was someone who kept my sanity intact during the shoot. He clearly guided me around what to watch or listen in order to understand this character better. He was someone who allowed me to grow as an actor. He wasn't too strict either and allowed me to explore things myself. He is such a wonderful human being and I am fortunate to have found him as my first director. I spent a lot of time with him and his family that kept me at ease during the film's shoot.

Abhinay was the Captain of the ship and he was someone who kept my sanity intact during the shoot As Maya, did you have to showcase different facets of your personality in the diverse situations that you had to go through?

In fact there is nothing about my real self that I could get into the character of Maya. Other than the part where she falls in love (and that's because everybody does at some point in her life), I have not been through that Maya went through. This was good for me as it allowed me to portray different emotions in one single film. Also, I could be a different person in each of my episodes. So whether it was my hair, makeup or wardrobe, everything had to be changed. It was all very essential that my attitude also changes at different points in the film. Every time I looked into the mirror, each of my avatars had to be different.

And how about your own self Sarah? Not much is known about you as a real life person after all.

(Takes a pauses) Well, I am a thinker. Also, I am very passionate about what I do. I am quite grounded and that's courtesy my parents who bring me down even if I try to fly high (laughs). I love to cook and act, I love travelling and I love to sing. Also, I even like doing some very simple things in life like sitting at my window and watch the sun going down while sipping my coffee. Yup, so that's me, a simple girl called Sarah.

Former Miss India World Sarah Jane Dias, who has debuted in Bollywood with Abhinay Deo's " Game", seems to be in awe of her co-star Kangana Ranaut.

The 28-year-old didn't get an opportunity to share screen space with Kangana in "Game", but was happy to have got the chance to shoot a promotional video with her.

"She (Kangana) is incredible, I did do a promo song with her and I was very impressed with her because she was always on time. She would be there on the sets till she was not ask to leave. No drama, no tantrums nothing and that for me is something that I look upto," Sarah told IANS.

Sarah also finds Kangana's success story extremely inspiring.

"She is an award winner, and she is so young. She is a solo girl in the city who made it on her own. I don't have a godfather myself, but this is what I look upto and I hope to be able to become that way. She is very professional," she said.

"Game", an action thriller, released Friday. Sarah plays Abhishek Bachchan's love interest in it.

Debutante actor Sarah Jane Dias has no issues doing intimate scenes. On Bachchan Junior

Abhishek (co-star) never had starry airs about himself and made me comfortable right from the start. He understood that it was my first film and supported me. On moving to films, the transition from modelling to acting has been natural for me. I never felt cautious because camera to me is like another person.

On intimate scenes

I am okay wearing a bikini onscreen as I feel comfortable in one. I was also comfortable doing intimate scenes in Game as I am comfortable with Abhinay and Abhishek.

On her role in Game

I play Maya, a strong girl who faces many difficulties in life. She tries to escape her tough circumstances but gets sucked into them even more.

On bagging the film

I auditioned for the role of Game and got shortlisted. Director Abhinay Deo narrated the film to me. I asked him, "Are you offering me the role?" He replied, "Why did I narrate the whole film to you?"

On new projects

I am in talks with few leading directors and keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully, I will sign some movies by the end of next month.

Fact file

Model-turned-actor Sarah-Jane Dias, 28, is a former beauty queen. Having made her acting debut in last year's Tamil movie Theeradha Vilaiyattu Pillai, she will now be seen in Game, opposite actor Abhishek Bachchan.

English films were normally used as an ‘inspiration’ to make Hindi films and the preferred language was Hindi, of course. Game is one of those new generation products which makes English or English kind of films virtually in English on international locations; something that has not been seen to benefit the product in anyway, though often it becomes a drawback.

Game begins as Mid 1900s kind of story where six people gather under one roof and one of them is murdered. From then on it becomes sort of international, not solving the murder within the precincts of the location of crime.

Anupam Kher has planned to punish three men responsible for wrecking the life of his daughter born out of a liaison with a woman he deserted and about whose existence and later death he comes to know three years ago. He claims to have enough proof and also video graphs the meeting with culprits. But, before he could call the authorities as he planned to, he is dead; seemingly a suicide. Had he handed over the proof to the police, he could have saved his life and the efforts spent on a mediocre film.

Anupam Kher, a tycoon worth $10 billion, owns and resides at an island off Greece, which is totally cut off from outside world for transport as well as communication. He lures four people in coming to this island: Boman Irani, who aims to become the next prime minister of Thailand (promising him election funds); Jimmy Shergill whose drunk driving has killed his daughter (with a major proposal); Abhishek Bachchan, who runs a casino in Istanbul but is broke and who is always attacked by gun wielding goons for no apparent reason and whom Anupam Kher blames of making his daughter vend drugs (with a promise to bail him out with an international casino chain); and a young journalist, Shahana Goswami who has made a habit out of getting drunk and banging her car at convenient places (with a story of her life time).

In this film, Indians rule the world. So when Anupam Kher is dead, Kangana Ranaut and a side kick from what is called IVS or International Vigilance Squad descends on the scene and suspect foul play. This squad would seem to have an international reign as Kangana jet sets across five countries chasing clues.After springing all the predictable surprises, the biggest of them being Abhishek Bachchan, was not really a baddy but also an IVS cop who has solved in three minutes what was stretching on for almost three hours. The killer is identified and so is the one who planned it.

Except that it has been contrived to be shot on various international locations (which is confusing because one loses sense of where is it now -- Thailand, Mumbai, Istanbul, London or Greece; who cares?), the film has nothing much of interest. The first half is static; songs have neither place nor appeal. Direction is average as is the script. Being a talkie film, the sound needed to be much better.

The film offers no real scope for acting talents and the stars go around being themselves throughout.

This Game is about as interesting as playing chess with self.

Interestingly two former Femina Miss India winners Puja Gupta and Sarah Jane Dias are making their debuts on the same day.

Pretty and petite Puja is one helluva confident girl and certainly not a bundle of nerves, as one would expect a debutant to be. This former Miss India is quite sure that her debut film opposite actor Jackky Bhagnani will make its mark. On her way back from Shirdi to Mumbai after seeking Sai Baba's blessings, Puja is elated with the response.

Interestingly, on April 1, Friday, Puja, who won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India title in 2007, will be facing her contemporary Sarah, who had bagged the Pantaloons Femina Miss India-World title in the same year. While Puja's debuting opposite Jackky, Sarah is debuting opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Game. Both the films are due to release on Friday, across India. Naturally, audiences are already drawing comparisons. But Puja is ready for a fair chance. "I am really happy for Sarah as she and I started our Miss India journey together. Soon, we will initiate our B-town journey together.

And I'm excited. Both the films - Game and F.A.L.T.U. are promising. While Abhishek Bachchan's a huge star, Jackky Bhagnani's the future. You got to wait and see." Puja's also enjoyed all the fun she's had during the 60-day shoot of the film in Mauritius and Mumbai.

She says, "I am thankful to producer Vashu Bhagnani for giving me a launch as big as this. Since this is my first film, my co-stars and director helped me and guided me." Vashu, who has worked with former Miss Indias including Dia Mirza and Lara Dutta too in the past, says, "We auditioned a lot of girls before Puja came in. But Puja is surely very promising."

Former Miss World Sarah Jane Dias, who romances Abhishek Bachchan in 'Game', says that it was easy to work with the actor because he is easy to approach and has no hang-ups of a star.

'Abhishek comes to set as an actor not as a star,' Sarah told IANS at the on-going Lakme Fashion Week here.

She feels movies is a natural progression from modelling.

'I think it's a natural progression. I always wanted to be a performer. When I was young, I didn't know which medium I would choose.... as the time passed, I a realised that acting is what I want to do,' said Sarah.

Giving a sneak preview of her character, Sarah said: 'My character is Maya. From her childhood she is stuck into not-so-happy circumstances. She tries to escape that and lands up in a mess. Somewhere down the line she falls in love with Abhishek Bachchan.'

How she got the role?

'Nandini, who is the casting director, told me that there is a film and I went for the audition and that's how it happened,' sarah said.

Apart from Abhishek and Sarah, the action thriller produced by Excel Entertainment stars Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Shergill, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher and Shahana Goswami among others. Abhinay Deo has directed the movie, which is releasing April 1.

Asked if she got enough screen space, Sarah said: 'Excel is a very fair company. The role of Maya is very integral part in the film and that's all I needed to know when I signed it.'