Prateik Babbar bags role in Bhansali’s next project

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has signed on late actress Smita Patil’s son Prateik Babbar for his next production “My Friend Pinto” that will go on floors later this year. And the youngster is naturally delighted.

“It’s a privilege to be working with Mr.Bhansali. When I met him I was amazed to find out how normal he is in spite of being an artist of such a high calibre,” Prateik said.

“My Friend Pinto” will be directed by Raghav Dar, who assisted Mani Ratnam during “Guru” and then served as associate director on Abbas Tyrewala’s “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”. That’s when Dar and Prateik got to know each other.

“My Friend Pinto” would be Prateik’s first author-backed title role. He had a captivating cameo in “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na” and his second film “Dhobi Ghat” apparently has Aamir Khan playing the lead.

Prateik’s aunt Manya Patil is thrilled by the progress he is making.

“When Abbas Tyrewala told me about the role in ‘Jaane Tu …Ya Jaane Na’, I wasn’t so sure. It sounded like a small role. But Abbas told me to trust him. And that the role was tailormade for Prateik. To his credit, the role turned out exactly the way it was narrated. I’m glad Prateik’s career is working out.

“Today, there is room for all kinds of cinema. And like his mom, we want Prateik to be adventurous in his choices. I’m there to guide him, though I’m not really part of the film industry,” said the proud aunt.

Speaking on Prateik’s life as a child since he lost his mother when he was born, Manya said: “Actually Prateik has so many self-appointed mothers including my mother, my elder sister Anita and me, of course.”

Bhansali’s ‘Black’ ranks three at Korean box office

Almost four years after its worldwide release, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s critically-acclaimed venture “Black” has hit the Korean screens and has secured third spot at the box office.

Distributed worldwide by Yash Raj Films (YRF), the Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji starrer that had a worldwide release Feb 4, 2005, opened in Korea Aug 28 across 180 screens, said a statement released from the production house here Thursday.

Touted as one of the biggest release for a Hindi movie in Korea, “Black” debuted at the third spot at the Korean box office alongside local blockbusters “Take-Off” and “Haeundae” occupying the first two spots, respectively.

Loosely based on Helen Keller’s autobiography “The Story of My Life”, the film revolves around a blind, deaf and mute girl, and her relationship with her teacher who later suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

The film was released in the Korean market as YRFs strategy to open doors for “Indian cinema in non-traditional territories”.

Hrithik’s hi-tech chair for Guzaarish

Hrithik Roshan, who plays a paraplegic in director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, will be seen on a wheel chair in the film. Buzz is that the actor is shooting with a specially made to order remote-controlled modernized wheel chair. Shernaaz Patel plays his doctor in the film.

Unit sources inform that an old lavish Haveli has been erected for this purpose and Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai have been shooting emotionally intense scenes for the movie and were quite comfortable in each other’s company. Since they have worked together in Dhoom II and Jodhaa Akbar earlier, this will be their third film together and they share a good rapport with each other.

Bhansali who is known for his detailing in his film has been extremely careful about the entire set and the look of the film. The entire unit has been shooting behind closed doors. Apparently, Bhansali has booked the studio till January 2010. Portions of the movie will be shot on the outdoor locales of Goa, later next month.

Hrithik Roshan offers help to paraplegics

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan was so moved after meeting people affected with paraplegia while researching for his role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Guzaarish” that he has decided to help them in whatever way he can.

Hrithik is playing a paraplegic in “Guzaarish” and met patients to be able to get under the skin of his character. While meetings the patients helped him understand his character better, it also left a deep impact on his mind.

“Hrithik is taking his role very seriously and has been reading a lot on paraplegia and watching videos to understand and study their mannerisms and behaviour. In fact, he even visited several people affected by the disease to get a first hand account of their experiences,” said a source close to the actor.

“The intensive study and frequent interactions with people suffering from the disorder have moved Hrithik to a great extent. He came across some young, talented people who were left incapacitated due to paraplegia and he immediately decided to do his bit to help them,” added the source.

Aishwarya Rai is playing female lead in the film.