2010 was a year that saw the maturing audience preferring content over stars. When small-budget films and intellectual scripts saw thumbs up from the public, some over hyped films were bloopers. Here’s a look at 5 disaster films of 2010:
1. Kites: Riding on huge hype and hoopla, ‘Kites’ came bringing in a smouldering chemistry between Greek God Hrithik and the Mexican curry Barbara, but dearth of a good screenplay made the film lick dust at box office. It was one of the biggest duds of 2010.

2. Raavan: Aishwarya Rai teamed up with hubby Abhishek for the umpteenth time but despite being visually opulent, the sluggishness of the film stamped a flop all over director Mani Ratnam. A big disappointment!
3. Veer: Salman Khan took the pen for this one, grew long tresses and mingled history with love to portray the story of a ‘Veer’ warrior. But unfortunately, no audience felt ‘Veer’ enough to watch this one. But, later on, Salman compensated by digging gold with ‘Dabangg’.
4. Guzaarish: Another masterly and poetic work from Sanjay Leela Bhansali and received great accolades from critics. And with Hrithik and Aishwarya (the hit Jodi of Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar), the film was destined to be a mega hit. However, astonishingly, audience showed no interest in watching this one.
5. Khelein Hum Jee Jaan sey: Acclaimed director Ashutosh Gowariker enlivened the pages of history once again as he dressed up Abhishek Bachchan in the dhoti-kurta of freedom fighter Surya Sen. But the response that it got at the cash counters was colder than mere lukewarm.

Guzaarish actors Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai took a long time before working with each other in ‘Dhoom 2’. But once they did, their pairing which was being considered dubious simply, scorched the silver screen.
They recaptured the magic in Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Jodha Akbar’ where they sizzled yet again in the garbs of the royal figurines. And Sanjay Leela Bhansali got them together again for the 3rd time for his ‘Guzaarish’. And ecstatically so, they haven’t disappointed!

Guzaarish has yet again proved that they are one of the best jodis of the current Bollywood. And dear movie buffs, keep your heart in its place. Coz they may team up again in an adaptation of Hamlet, the classic novel from the quill of William Shakespeare.
And the film maker in question is none other than the renowned Vishal Bharadwaj who has already made a couple of Shakespearian plays in Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello).
Now the director is desirous of completing his Shakespeare trilogy by making a Hindi adaptation of the cult Hamlet for which he has approached Hrithik and Aishwarya. Hrithik shall be portraying Hamlet and Aish his lady love Ophelia.
However, the actors still haven’t given their nod and no official confirmation has yet come from any side. But you fans may keep your fingers crossed.

Aishwarya Rai, who once again teams up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Guzaarish, says they share a strange connection. The beautiful actress also says that the sensitive film helped the whole team reconnect with the goodness inside them.

“We are so strangely connected that we can communicate so much in silence. You can’t bring down the experience of working with Sanjay in one word, sentence or a paragraph. Sanjay can’t be contained in a word. We all say he is a genius, multi-faceted, but actually he is a real artiste. He sings, he breaks into dance, he loves music and he is very intense,” Aishwarya told IANS in an interview.

Guzaarish being her third film with Bhansali after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas(2002), the actress reveals that she has always felt being an important character in his films and not just the lead heroine.

“In his film, everyone is a character integral to his narrative and it’s a pleasure working with him. You always feel that you are in a team. I experienced that in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, I experienced that in Devdas, I experienced that in Guzaarish,” said Aishwarya, who plays a nurse to actor Hrithik Roshan’s character of a paraplegic in Guzaarish.

The actress refrains from saying that intense roles are harder than playing the typical Bollywood heroine. Citing her last two films with Hrithik – Dhoom2 (2006) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Aishwarya says her roles were equally intricate to the genres of both the films.

“I have done a lot of intense films, lesser comedy films, and lesser commercially typical heroine films and yet I say all could be equally easier or tough. When you go without make-up, wear a sari, suddenly that role becomes more intense and just because you put make-up, wear dresses and do hair styles the role becomes frivolous…I think it’s unfair to compartmentalise creativity like that. How you pose for the camera is also a craft.

“In Dhoom we had to look smashing in every frame, the character’s incidental in terms of acting nuances, but everything had to look perfect. That’s also a method of the craft.

“In Jodhaa Akbar we were doing a history together, but in every point while we were working with the detailing and authenticity with a director like Ashutosh Gowariker, we brought that in. It always played in our mind that it shouldn’t look that today’s kids are donning historical costumes. That needed a certain kind of craft,” Aishwarya explained.

In Guzaarish, Hrithik plays a paraplegic and “yes, I am playing a caretaker nurse, but within that we had to bring in the story that Sanjay really wants to tell and at the same time we have to be honest to our character in terms of expressing our inter-personal relations,” Aishwarya said.

Asked if through the journey of making the film, she had subtly evolved as a better human being, she said: “The whole team felt that. Everyone has goodness in him or her. But everyone has experiences which help you connect or reconnect with the goodness in you or the goodness you wish to share. This film has been a very positive film for the whole team because of the intensity of the genre and the sensitivity of its nature.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has always been known to strike up a very special bond with all her directors’ wives. During Umrao Jaan, she got along famously with Mrs Bindiya J P Dutta. She bonded with similar warmth with Mrs Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra during delhi-6, although only her husband starred in it, and with Mrs Ashutosh Gowariker during Jodhaa-Akbar.

The latest person she’s gotten close to is none other than Suhasini Mani Ratnam. Says Aishwarya, “Both Abhishek and I are very close to Mani and Suhasini. When we got married, Mani started calling me kanna. I would address Mani as Mani sir and his wife as Suhasini ma’am. But somewhere, as time passed, the walls dissolved. Today, our rapport is not about, what’s our next film, it’s about, what’s the next stage in our bonding?”

Laughs Aishwarya, “Abhishek had a headstart in his rapport with Mani and his wife. But I can’t stop reminding him that I got to know Mani long before, when I did my first film Iruvar in Tamil with him. Today, I’m as close to both of them as Abhishek is.” The cutest part of it is that both Abhishek and Aishwarya have their individual rapport with Mani and his wife.

The latest we hear is that Suhasini Mani Ratnam will direct a feature film with Aishwarya. And the two ladies are just looking forward to leaving behind the men in their lives for a longish session on camera.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been linked with every actor she is seen with since her break-up with Ranbir Kapoor, and so, it comes as no surprise when the stories of her friendship with Abhishek Bachchan hit the headline. But this time, she is lucky, as everybody knows that Abhishek is happily married to Aishwarya Bachchan.

It is said that Deepika and Abhishek bonded big time on the sets of Khelenge Hum Jee Jaan Se by director Ashutosh Gowariker. They were spotted chatting endlessly between the shots. The good side of the story is that Abhishek’s wife Ash too is very fond of Deepika and has even invited her to dinner at their home.

Kudos to Abhishek for making his co-star comfortable!

Ace designer Neeta Lulla has been lending her creative touch to Aishwarya Rai’s wardrobe for more than a decade. Having dressed the actress in varied costumes in movies like “Taal”, “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” and “Jodhaa Akbar”, the designer feels the sari suits the former beauty queen best.
“No doubt Aishwarya looks beautiful in Indian outfits, but, personally, I feel that she looks her best in a sari. She can carry a simple cotton to a designer sari with equal poise and elegance,” Lulla said in an interview.
Lulla has been named for a National Award for best costume designer in “Jodhaa Akbar” – her third National Award. She previously won the award in 1992 for “Lamhe” and in 2003 for “Devdas”. The Mumbai-based designer was here to give a sneak preview of yet-to-be opened entertainment destination, Kingdom of Dreams, which will play host to Bollywood musicals. Lulla will be designing the costumes for the stars performing there.
Lulla said she was more than happy to be a part of the project as it will give her a huge opportunity to explore her creative side. “In Bollywood, you do sometimes face limitations. With this magnum opus concept, I can see myself putting my creativity at its best and exploring various new facets,” she said.
Her association with Kingdom of Dreams would require Lulla to spend more time here than her home in Mumbai, but the designer seems unperturbed and welcomes the change.
“This city is huge and sprawling…I like it for many reasons. So I don’t mind spending some time here. It’s just that I would be juggling between the two cities. But the concept behind this project is so intriguing that I couldn’t have said no,” said the soft-spoken Lulla. Lulla has been a part of the industry for over two decades and has designed for over 350 movies.
Expressing happiness over winning her third National Award, Lulla said these honours not only make her feel special but also inspire her to perform better.
“It’s always nice to receive appreciation for your work. I do feel special but at the same time each project that I take on gives me an opportunity to work and explore my creativity and this in the end helps in delivering a good product,” she said.
Lulla’s upcoming Bollywood project is Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey” that has Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles. But she refused to divulge any details about the movie saying, “It’s too early to talk about it”.

The Bachchans seem to believe in the mantra of ‘it’s all about loving your family’. Sources say now Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan will soon be seen making an appearance together on the small screen. The occasion will be the debut of Abhishek Bachchan as a television host.

Bond with the Bachchans: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan

If tinseltown buzz is to be believed, the opening episode of the show will feature Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan.

A source says, “Their films together have been successful. The family has a huge fan following. That’s the reason they have been approached to appear on the show. It will be a big boost for the show.”

Right now Abhishek is busy shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s forthcoming film in Goa.
The source adds, “In between, he will be shooting for his TV show.”

Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan will ring in the New Year in Goa. A source from the unit says, “Abhishek is shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey, in Goa. It has been a month-long schedule. Although it is almost over, the cast and crew will be shooting till the evening of December 31. So Abhishek has decided to bring in New Year in Goa with Ashutosh and others. Aishwarya Rai will be joining him.

Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya’s presence in Goa is not too sure as they are both busy. However, Amitabh, he might just join them at the last moment. Deepika Padukone is not present in the current schedule and won’t be a part of the New Year celebration. Since Hrithik and his family will also be in Goa, one might see the Roshans and Bachchans bringing in the year together.” Abhishek’s spokesperson says, “He is not shooting on December 31 but he will be spending the New Year with his family.”

Some you might know and some you might not know! Where there are celebrities, there has to be some scandals. They simply cannot be separated from it! It’s a part and parcel of their lives. The website (santabata.com) unraveled some of the hottest and spicy scandals straight from Bollywood for us! Check it out folks:-

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: The former Miss world and daughter in law of the Bachchan clan made up with Shah Rukh Khan at Karan Johar’s birthday party this year. Things went bitter between the two after SRK replaced Ash with Rani Mukherji in ‘Chalte Chalte’ in 2003. Awww! Did you know about this?

Abhishek Bachchan: “Ignorance is bliss” but when it came to the actor we can very well make out what he would have felt about it, when his wife got all the attention in Cannes Film Festival with the international press running only after his wife and L’Oreal ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The ignorance reached the limit, when Abhi was sidelined and asked to wait at the end of the Red Carpet while all lenses were only interested in clicking a solo Ash or with the rest of the L’Oreal team. Ohh! That would have pissed him off for sure! Poor husband! But it is common in the filmy world.

Amisha Patel: This year Amisha decided to go for a live-in relationship with beau Kanav Puri. All the best with your love nest girl.

Amrita Rao: Amrita, the sister of the very sexy Malaika Arora Khan dropped her ‘behenjee’ (sister-like) look and also lots of clothes this year. Fashion designer and her old friend Manish did the makeover of the year. The result: we got a sexy, hot avatar of Amrita, completed with plunging necklines, hot pants and perfect make-up.Hmmm…… Hey Sexy Lady!

Asin: The ‘Ghajini’ actress surely got lucky this year too. If one Khan (Aamir) gave her a successful break in Bollywood, media buzz said the other Khan (Salman) got the Southern siren a new house in Mumbai. So sweet Sallu! As usual, Asin denied the news and said: “I earn enough to look after myself.” Well Asin, you should be thankful then if the reports are true!

Bipasha Basu: Bips denied sharing screen space with Tabu in Rohit Shetty’s ‘All the Best’. Bipasha convinced Rohit to have only her in the climax; hearing this, Tabu refused to play a second fiddle to someone like Bips. Aww! Old enmity Bips?

Celina Jaitley: ‘Hot Bod’ Celina got into a verbal war with yoga guru Baba Ramdev over homosexuality. While Ramdev claimed he can ‘cure’ homosexuality and accused Celina (who works on the rights of homosexuals) of ‘knowing nothing about Indian tradition’, Celina, in turn, said Ramdev has ‘no right’ to comment on other people’s lives and preferences. Well a fight like this is a very rare occasion to see a monk and actress fighting over…..Hey Homosexuality! Hilarious isn’t it?

Kareena Kapoor: Saif Ali Khan said Shahid Kapoor got ‘Kaminey’ because he rejected it; in turn, Shahid slammed him in public. Kareena intervened between her lover and ex-lover and tried to soothe things down, voicing all praise for Shahid. Bebo, who had earlier said she will never work with her old flame, again, changed her tunethis year-“Who said I won’t work with Shahid again? I liked his performance in Kaminey.” Oh god! Stuck between the two Bebo?

Deepika Padukone: Deepika called off her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor. Both the actors are tight-lipped about the reason behind the break up. Earlythis year , Deepika came under the fury of Kareena ‘Size Zero’ Kapoor for playing Saif Ali Khan’s lady love in his home production ‘Love Aaj Kal’. As it is, Bebo was disheartened as Saifu and director Imtiaz Ali cast Deepika in the film instead of her. Adding to the fire, Deepika left out Bebo from the invitee list at a trial of the film. What a triumph Deepika? At the end of the day the film was really appreciated and earned huge accolades.

Priyanka Chopra: Piggy Chops got humiliated at IIFA Macau this year while collecting her Best Actress trophy for ‘Fashion’ by none other than Ashutosh Gowariker. Ashu, prompted by Jaya Bachchan, said: “Priyanka I love you. But I don’t know how you got the award when Aishwarya is also nominated for ‘Jodha Akbar’.” Oh ho? Jealous Ashutosh? Well she truly deserves it!

Well these were a recapitulation of the most important scandals of 2009 straight from Bollywood clan! I hope you have enjoyed reading them.

This one is strictly for Paa. Not just the film, but Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Pa, Amitabh Bachchan.
A stickler for discipline, punctuality and strict schedules during shooting Sanjay Bhansali is known to shoot through burning fevers and location setbacks, so that his actors’ dates don’t go awry. For the first time in his career as a filmmaker, Sanjay is voluntarily slackening his schedule for Aishwarya.

Later this week Aishwarya will be given a couple of days off at a time when she is required to shoot with Hrithik Roshan. A friend of Sanjay and Aishwarya says, “Aishwarya is not just a leading lady for Sanjay. After doing three films together they are family. Sanjay saw how stressed Aishwarya was, trying to balance Guzaarish with the time required to pitch in with her father-in-law for Paa. In fact, Mr Bachchan has been running around alone inviting the film fraternity for the premiere on December 3 since Abhishek has been shooting non-stop in Goa for Ashutosh Gowariker and Jayaji is in Delhi attending parliament.”

Earlier this week Sanjay decided to give her a break. A common friend says, “When she expressed her helplessness about being unavailable to help Mr Bachchan, Sanjay made up his mind to give her an off on those crucial days on and before the premiere, although it meant considerable schedule adjustment on his part.”Sanjay reveals, “It’s no big deal. Adjusting my schedule is the least I can do for someone who has been a dear friend for many years. But this was not done for Aishwarya. It was for Paa and Mr Bachchan. It’s a very special moment for the family.”