Aanand L Rai & Navdeep Singh scout for locations for their next

Aanand L Rai who understands the heart of small town stories, ventured into producing films with Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Nil Battey Sannata.

Rai enjoys giving directors who will be making films under his banner complete leeway and meeting all their requirements as he understands  their perspective as a filmmaker. The director-producer also likes to be involved in these projects and be a support system to his directors.

Quite recently Aanand L Rai took off to Rajasthan with director Navdeep Singh to scout for locations for their film together.

Since the film will be based in the 18th century and depict the era during which the Battle of Buxar was fought, it will be shot in parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh .

Says a source, "The location needs to depict the era during which the Battle of Buxar was fought between the British East India Company, and the combined forces of the Nawabs of Bengal and Awadh and the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II. Areas in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh will best suit the scale and landscape that Navdeep is looking at and he along with Aanand L Rai traveled to Rajasthan recently to lock on a few locations

Sonu Nigam pleased at 6 pack band's win at Cannes Lions

Sonu Nigam, one of India's finest singers, has over the years collaborated and sung with many musicians, and each of them have been close to him but only a few have held a special place in his heart. One such collaboration was with the 6 pack band, India's first transgender band with whom the renowned singer recorded 'Rab de bande'. The song became a hit overnight and received lots of love from fans and listeners. 

It came as no surprise then that Sonu was extremely pleased when he received a call recently from composer/director Shamir Tondon who informed him about 6 pack band winning the coveted Cannes Grand Prix Glass lion award at the Cannes Lions Festival. 

A source close to the singer says that the collaboration is one of its kind and an iconic one, "Sonu is very happy that the 6 pack band is now getting world recognition. He has always been keen on doing something for the transgender community and even wanted to start a small scale industry some years ago in order to increase employment opportunities for them. 'Rab de Bande' was an opportunity Sonu couldn't refuse and he's extremely happy that the band has won the Cannes Grand Prix Glass lion award."
Sonu also lauded the efforts of all those who made 6 pack band possible by saying that it needs a lot of courage and conviction to execute something path breaking, "It is really commendable and heartening to see that the band is doing so well at these prestigious award functions. My heartiest congratulations to the entire team that made this happen." Quiz him about another collaboration, "I would love to" he smiles and signs off.

S​hilpa Shetty Kundra takes up to aerial yoga

Shilpa Shetty Kundra's first tryst with an aerial act happened over a year ago, when she performed an aerial dance for the very first time at the finale of a dance reality show.

The former actress turned businesswoman ,who also recently turned author with her best selling fitness book , The Great Indian Diet, has now taken up to aerial yoga as part of her major fitness regime while in London.

Shilpa who is currently holidaying in London was looking to take a fitness class that she hasn't attempted before and came across a studio that taught aerial yoga.

The fitness aficionado attended a week long course and has now even started practicing it at her sprawling London home.Says a source, "She has bought all the equipment required including aerial silks and yoga hammocks. She also picked up a few manuals and CDs to understand techniques better”.

Since she was the very first celebrity to launch a yoga fitness DVD that went on to become a super success in India , an aerial yoga DVD might just be on the cards !

क्लासिक हमारी याद आएगी के संगीतकार स्नेहल भाटकर

यह वाक़या साठ के दशक का है।  किदार शर्मा ने अपने बेटे अशोक शर्मा को नायक बनाने के लिए एक फिल्म का निर्माण कर रहे थे।  इस फिल्म के डायरेक्टर खुद किदार शर्मा थे।  हमारी याद आएगी टाइटल वाली इस फिल्म में अशोक शर्मा की नायिका तनूजा थी।  इस दुखांत फिल्म में हिट गीतों की भरमार थी।  किदार शर्मा ने फिल्म के लिए दो गीत आँखों में तेरी याद लिए जा रहा हूँ मैं और फरिश्तों की नगरी में आ गया हूँ मैं मुकेश से रिकॉर्ड करवा लिए थे।  दो डुएट मुकेश और लता मंगेशकर की आवाज़ में  सोचता हूँ ये क्या किया मैंने और जवां मोहब्बत भी रिकॉर्ड कर लिए गए थे।  पांचवा गीत कभी तन्हाइयों में हमारी याद आयेगी लता मंगेशकर की आवाज़ में रिकॉर्ड करवाना था।  लेकिन,  इस दौरान लता मग़ेश्कर काफी बिजी हो गई।  उन्होंने संगीतकार से इस गीत को बहन आशा भोंसले से गवाने का सुझाव दिया।  लेकिन, किदार शर्मा ने मुबारक बेगम को इस गीत की गायिका बना दिया।  इसके साथ ही कभी तन्हाइयों में हमारी याद आयेगी गीत आल टाइम क्लासिक बन गया।  इस गीत के संगीतकार स्नेहल भाटकर थे।  वासुदेव भाटकर एचएमवी के लिए काम करते थे।  वह छद्म नामों से अन्य बैनरों के लिए काम किया करते थे।  इसके लिए वह अपनी बेटी के नाम का उपयोग भी करते थे।  उनकी बेटी का नाम स्नेहल था।  कई फिल्मों में संगीतकारों के बी वासुदेव और स्नेहल सुनाने को मिलते हैं।  यह सभी नाम वासुदेव भाटकर या कहिये हमारी याद आएगी के संगीतकार स्नेहल भाटकर के ही नाम थे।  स्नेहल भाटकर ने हम पर जादू दाल गए, राधा के मन की मुरलिया पुकारे, दिल का मिलना मुश्किल है, वह चली ग़म की हवा, लहरों पे  लहर, आदि जैसी गीतों की रचना की थी।  किदार शर्मा की फिल्म नील कमल से ही स्नेहल भाटकर के करियर की शुरुआत हुई थी।  उनका निधन २९ मई २००७ को हुआ था।  आज (१७ जुलाई १९१९) को उनका जन्म हुआ था।

Saturday night Fever with Lesle Lewis LIVE (in pics)