Peter Thompson, Isabel Lucas and Ian Chappell to come together at the Indian Film Festival Gala Awards

Peter Thompson, one of Australia’s renowned Film critics, will be hosting the Australian Indian Film Festival Gala Awards which will be held on Thursday October 18 at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Peter, as you all might know has been reviewing films every Sunday morning on Channel 9’s prestigious Sunday Show, and is presently working with Australian TV network, Showtime, on a new TV show – ‘Peter Thompson Presents’, a weekly critique and presentation of Showtime Greats' and modern cinema classics.

If this was not attraction enough, then, the audience will also get treated to a dose of the beautiful young starlet Isabel Lucas, who also happens to be the prestigious winner of TV Week 2004 Logie Award for ‘Best New Female Talent’ and will be presenting the award for Best Performance.

For the uninitiated, Lucas shot into fame when she won the hearts of Australian audiences for her role as ‘Tasha’ on Channel 7’s popular drama Home and Away. Even Lucas’ entry into spotlight was quite a thing in itself. As they say, ‘You just cannot supress talent for long’. True to this, of all the places, her agent discovered by her agent in a flea market in Cairns, Australia. At the time Lucas was studying drama and singing while completing her High School Certificate. She has just completed filming Daybreakers with Academy Award Nominee Ethan Hawke (Assault on Precinct 13), Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) and Willem Defoe (Spiderman). Daybreakers is the new film from the Spierig brothers’ (Undead) and will be released in 2008.

And for all the cricket crazy fans, there will be none other than the legendary Ian Chappell, who will be the special guest presenter of the Best Film Award. Who can forget his sensational captaincy of Australia between 1971 and 1975 before playing a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation. Since his playing retirement, he has pursued a high-profile career as a sports journalist and cricket commentator, predominately with Channel Nine. He remains a major figure in Australian cricket: in 2006, Shane Warne called Chappell the biggest influence on his career.

Rituparna Sen Gupta is all set to portray the role of a victim of domestic violence in Karan Razdan’s next venture titled Mittal V/s Mittal. Rohit R

Rituparna Sen Gupta is all set to portray the role of a victim of domestic violence in Karan Razdan’s next venture titled Mittal V/s Mittal. Rohit Roy has been roped in for male lead who will play Ritu’s husband’s role.

Mittal V/s Mittal is a story of a woman whose life takes a 360 degree turn as soon as she gets married. Her desire of a perfect marriage despite marrying to her love interest shatters. Feeling proud to have got an opportunity to play such a sensitive character Rituparna says, “My character is of a simple woman who ends up getting married to a man who is both mentally and physically sick who sexually exploits her.” She also adds, “Her miserable life compels her to file a case against her in-laws and finally emerges as the winner.”

Suchitra Krishnamurthy will play Ritu’s lawyer’s role. The film also stars Gulshan Grover and Reema Raghav. Shamir Tandon has composed the music for the film.

Abhishek exclusive from Namibia

It's not just the pleasure of working with his favourite co-star—alright, second-favourite co-star after wife Aishwarya—that made the latest Abhishek-Rani film Laaga Chunari Mein Daag special.

Enthuses Abhishek from Namibia where he's shooting for Goldie Behl's Drona, “I got to work with mom (Jaya). I had done a cameo in a Bengali film as her son. Mom and Pa are two different actors and human beings, they’re both unique actors. It's a sheer pleasure to share screen space with mom. I hope to do as many films with her as I've done with Pa."

Ask him what's the main difference between working with his two parents, and Abhishek ponders, "In-between shots Pa and I chill out and have fun. Ma is constantly mothering and fussing over me when the camera is switched off. Though I pretend not to like it I secretly love it."

There was big-time bonding on the sets with co-star Kunal Kapoor. "Kunal and I grew up together. He belongs to the same Juhu circle that I do. He's a terrific guy and an even better actor. His performance in our new film will surprise a lot of people. I also admire Konkona and got to work with her for the first time. She’s great fun."

As for director Pradeep Sarkar, "I did a number of ads with him before I finally got to be in a feature film with him. His zest for his work in unparalleled. I saw no difference in his enthusiasm level on sets of our feature film. I want to work with him again," Abhishek ends from Namibia.

Sonam is not scared of Deepika

Sonam Kapoor, daughter of Anil Kapoor, is eagerly awaiting the release of her maiden venture as an actress --- Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Saawariya".

She has been cast opposite Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir in the romantic lead. When I met her for this interview at her bungalow in Juhu, she just could not conceal her excitement.

"My job profile has changed drastically. From being an assistant director on the sets of Sanjay sir's "Black", I have made the transition to an actress," she quipped, as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.

At the outset, Sonam who looks like a cross between Sonali Bendre and Juhi Chawla, confesses that it was not her ambition to be an actress when she sought papa Anil's help to ask Sanjay sir to take her as his assistant.

"Yes. Frankly speaking, acting was not my wish at all. I was fat and was wearing a pair of thick spectacles then. I had put on weight after eating a lot of junk food when I was in Singapore.

I couldn't have become an actress given the way I looked. It is only after I started shooting for "Saawariya" that I was back to the weight that I had when I was 16."

Sonam reveals that she did workshops in acting with Jayati Bhatia. However, she had this gnawing feeling that Sanjay sir was training her in acting during the shoot of "Black".

Says Sonam: "You would not believe this but the fact is that besides me, every one in the unit of "Black" knew that I would be cast in "Saawariya". I had no say in my life at that point of time. I was just 18.

"It was Sanjay sir's mother who suggested that I take up acting when I was assisting him in "Black". In fact, when sir asked me if I wanted to act under his direction, I actually told him that I cannot act for nuts," laughs Sonam. For "Saawariya", Sonam asked Sanjay to ask for her dad's permission.

When he did that, Anil told him that he could not deny his daughter the opportunity when it came to her on a platter, especially because the film industry had treated him so well.

Ask Sonam to describe the character that she is playing in "Saawariya" and she clams up immediately. "I cannot talk about my character as yet. All that I can say is that "Saawariya" is a simple love story. It is not just a Hindu-Muslim love story."

The debutant says the character of Sakeena which she portrays in the film is very unlike her. "Sir trained me not as Sakeena, but as an actor. He asked me to learn diction from Roshan Taneja sir, who is so amazing.

I was into kathak. Then Sanjay sir asked me to learn dance from Shiamak Davar, though his kind of opulent films do not require the typical Shiamak brand of dance."

Then Sanjay sir made her sit through several old black-and-white films starring Meena Kumari and Nutan to help her get into the character of Sakeena.

"I also watched the way Aroona Iraniji danced to the number "Dilbar dilbar se pyare" in "Caravan" and Laxmi Chhayaji danced to "Maar diya jaaye" in "Mera Gaon Mera Desh"." Sanjay sir's training also included some bizarre but effective tips.

He asked Sonam to scream out her lines on her terrace and repeat them at least 20 times. He told her that it would help her get the rhythm right, especially since it is the writer who had written the lines.

And how was her chemistry with co-star Ranbir? Without batting her eyelids, Sonam rattles away: "Ranbir is a perfectionist, like my papa, in getting the right nuances in front of the camera. His eyes are soft and beautiful and he is very spontaneous. We share a great chemistry because he has been a great pal of mine since childhood."

Sonam finds Deepika Padukone, who is making her entry into Bollywood in "Om Shanti Om", very beautiful. The film is also being released on Diwali along with "Saawariya". But competition is not what Sonam is scared of.

"Papa says that if you do not compete with yourself, you will not be able to learn. Instead of getting scared about competition from other actresses, I think I have to compete with myself.

I am a workaholic like my papa, who keeps on telling me that I should work in both art films, as well as commercial cinema."

For one, the young but prudent girl is already clear about what she wants to do in the industry in the near future. "I am keen on doing a film with David uncle and dance like Bipasha Basu did in "Beedi jalaile" in "Omkara". I also want to do comedy like Juhi Chawla because all said and done, I know that no one wants to pay and watch a depressing film.

Hrithik and Ash rock together: Ashutosh Gowariker

His much-talked-about period drama "Jodhaa-Akbar" is a film that director Ashutosh Gowariker describes as a fusion of history and his imagination. He denies any resemblance with K. Asif's magnum opus "Mughal-e-Azam".

"Without explaining what I'm doing, I'll say I'm not competing with 'Mughal-e-Azam' at all. 'Jodhaa-Akbar' is not a remake of any film. I'm making my own discoveries about the central love story as seen through the eyes of history. I hope to carry the burden lightly," he said.

"The background is steeped in history. But the characters are mine. No one knows how Jodha or Akbar behaved. I've to imagine their romance, the palace and harem politics. I'd say 20 percent is history, 80 percent is my imagination," Gowariker added.

Talking about the lead actors, Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, he said: "There's a certain royal quality to Hrithik's face and body language.

As for Aishwarya, she's to me the quintessential princess - straight out of Amar Chitra Katha - the distressed princess waiting in her chamber. Though we've seen her in so many avatars, as Jodha she's something else. Hrithik and Ash are amazing together."

Excerpts:

Q: How different is "Jodhaa-Akbar" from K. Asif's "Mughal-e-Azam"?
A: That you'll have to see. Without explaining what I'm doing, I'll say I'm not competing with "Mughal-e-Azam" at all. It's a mountain of a classic. No one can surpass it. "Jodhaa-Akbar" is not a remake of any film. I'm making my own discoveries about the central love story as seen through the eyes of history. I hope to carry the burden lightly.

Q: What made you cast Hrithik and Aishwarya as Jodha and Akbar?
A: There's a certain royal quality to Hrithik's face and body language. He's just amazing in those aspects. As for Aishwarya, she's to me the quintessential princess - straight out of Amar Chitra Katha, the distressed princess waiting in her chamber.

Aishwarya has the elegance and, of course, the beauty. Calling her beautiful is an understatement. Though we've seen her in so many avatars, as Jodha she's something else. Hrithik and Ash are amazing together.

Q: What about the objections raised by the animal welfare board?
A: I've been in touch with them and I've all the required permissions with details of how many animals I'm using, and how many are livestock. I've specified in my letter that I'm using 69 elephants, 50 camels and 100 horses.

Every four hours the animals are given a rest period. A member of the animal welfare board visits the sets. I wanted everything worked out on paper. But I have to know beforehand what I am not supposed to do.

Suppose I'm suddenly informed that the mukhiya from "Lagaan" can't be shown smoking, I can't do much about it.

Q: Do you think the ban on showing actors smoking is a killer for filmmakers?
A: It depends. In "Jodhaa-Akbar" Emperor Humayun smoked the hookah. You can't tell me that I can't show him smoking. That's history. And I'm being allowed that.

Q: Are you using authentic jewellery of the Mughal period?
A: Yes, we're recreating the authentic jewellery of that period based on the miniature paintings of Rajasthan. Jodha and Akbar's jewellery has to look as it did in that era. Today's jewellery is cut in a different way. We had several designers on the job. And Neeta Lulla has designed the whole cast's look - Hrithik, Aishwarya and the soldiers.

Q: If you don't get the Mughal history right, the historians might clobber your film.
A: That's the first thing I did. I met a whole lot of historians. The research helped me to arrive at a place where my imagination was completely unfettered. I'm sure of one thing. I'm not making a historical document.

At the end of the day "Jodhaa-Akbar" has to be a good story told in an interesting manner. I don't want to make a biopic.

The background is steeped in history. But the characters are mine. No one knows how Jodha or Akbar behaved. I've to imagine their romance, the palace and harem politics. I'd say 20 percent is history 80 percent is my imagination.

Q: Are you ready to deal with the purists?
A: When I met the eminent historian Irfan Habib of Aligarh University he heard my plot. He thought it was a fabulous idea. He told me to forget about history or else I won't be able to make my film.

Then I had script sessions with the Maharani and Maharaja of Jaipur who are the direct descendents of Jodha. They did the film's mahurat at the Jaipur City Palace.

I've also met historians from Jamia Millia and Mumbai University and I've got the well-known Omar Khayyam Saharanpuri as my cultural advisor. They are experts on the subject of Akbar's own secular religious order Din-e- Ilahi.

Q: What about the Hindu-Muslim love story?
A: I don't think of my characters as religious entities. I think of them as my two protagonists whose love went beyond all considerations. I can't allow my vision to be coloured by these considerations.

If in 1562, when my romance eventuates, political and religious undertones do resonate, then I won't try to stop them. But these are not my primary concerns as a filmmaker.

Q: There's a growing feeing that costume dramas don't work at the box office.
A: To me the period is not relevant. The story has to connect with me emotionally, romantically and dramatically. Besides, how many films set in the present times work? So, if I've to fail, I might as well do so while doing what I want to do.

I'd like Ash to continue working: Abhishek

Mumbai(IANS): Contrary to reports, there is absolutely no question of Aishwarya Rai giving up her work as husband Abhishek Bachchan is all for the actress continuing with her career.

"I'd like her to continue working for very selfish reasons. I'm her biggest fan and love watching her on screen. The choice is entirely hers, of course. I'd never ever impose my wish on her. But if she asks me I'd certainly want her to go on with her work," Abhishek told IANS.

Aishwarya is on the verge of completing two projects. In Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar Raj" her work is almost done, and for Ashutosh Gowariker's "Jodhaa-Akbar" she needs to shoot a song.

But considering she has her husband and his family to look after, would her workload be decreased?

"No. As it is, she never did too much work at the same time. I'd like her to continue with her career and do the volume and kind of work that makes her happy. As her co-star I must say I want her to continue. Because she's a wonderful co-star and a thorough professional on the sets," said Abhishek.

Asked how Aishwarya's name will read in the credits of her forthcoming films, the actor said: "How would that make any difference? I'd like her to call herself by any name that makes her comfortable. To me it doesn't matter what she calls herself. What she is as a person is what matters.

"However, certain legalities have come into play after marriage. Whatever she's required to call herself, she will. I'm sure she'll do what the law requires. As for her name in the credits, I'd enjoy an Aishwarya film no matter what she calls herself."

The actress has green-lighted Suniel Shetty's "Raasta" with Abhishek and John Abraham in the lead.