Bollywood’s A-list actresses, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vidya Balan will be handing out backstage passes into the glitzy and glamourous world of the showbiz industry with their next releases titled; Heroine and The Dirty Picture.
However, Aish and director Madhur Bhandarkar are one step ahead with their film Heroine, which has already been launched at the Cannes Film Festival, and what better place to create awareness than at an international event? The film is said to be an entertaining, daring, emotional, shocking, glamorous, scandalous behind-the-scenes look at the reality of the showbiz world. The buzz is that the movie is based on the real life story of America’s pop and cultural icon, Marilyn Monroe, however the Heroine team begs to differ and says it’s a story of a Bollywood star.
Film marker Madhur Bhandarkar, who is known for his female orientated movies having previously worked with some of Bollywood’s top actresses, Tabu, Konkana Sen Sharama, Bipasha Basu and Priyanka Chopra, was asked why has he opted out for Aishwarya this time to be his lucky mascot? At the Cannes film festival he told the press, “Rai is a much-talked about actress internationally and I think she truly is a global star in every sense.”
On the other hand, director Milan Luthna has decided to cast the recent award winning actress, Vidya Balan in the movie, The Dirty Picture. Rumour has it that the movie will have elements of soft porn incorporated, however the director has reassured Vidya she will not be presented in a cheap manner, but shown in an aesthetically artistic and sensual manner with a touch of class.
In the meantime, Vidya has been asked to study the English films, Burlesque and Chicago – even the big stars in Bollywood have homework to do!
So which movie are you looking forward to watching?

There are two films being made on heroines and their lives. One is The Dirty Picture which has Vidya Balan in the lead and the other is Heroine that stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead role.

While Vidya essays a Silk Smitha-type character in Milan Luthria’s film, the second sees Ash playing the role of a superstar whose career is fading away in the Madhur Bhandarkar directed flick.

Now both directors have stepped up their pace to ensure that their project goes on the floor as soon as possible. Madhur wants to release the film after Ra.One while Milan is working with Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn.

Befitting the Bachchan dynasty pomp and splendor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan chose the most prestigious global platform – Cannes Film Festival 2011 – to announce her new film project ‘Heroine’!

On Friday the 13th, Aishwarya Rai attended a photo call at the Majestic Beach Pier to announce her new film ‘Heroine’ – a tale of a fictional Bollywood star!

Director Madhur Bhandarkar and producer UTV Group Chairman Ronnie Screwala joined the 37-year-old Bollywood diva, who was dressed in a plain brown outfit –sans any glamour- after two previous absolutely stunning evening gowns; none-the-less, flattering her figure and complementing her brunette hair. Rai paired the dress with black strappy sandals as she posed for the cameras on the dock.

Contradicting the general belief, Aishwarya confirmed that ‘Heroine’ is “not an autobiography, for sure.”

Elaborating further, she added, “that’s what the viewer will probably be searching for, but very honestly, as an actor, it’s your professional responsibility to give to your characters, with absolute commitment.

“It’s not just about you going there and doing your own thing and creating your own character. It’s the director who wrote it and that’s the way it gets read and that’s the way it gets eventually brought to life.”

Ronnie Screwala, though, enticed the audience with his remark: “when you see the movie finally, you will know that it was written only with someone as talented and expressive and stunning as Aishwarya in mind”.

The production company UTV Group claims that ‘Heroine’ is an “entertaining, daring, emotional, shocking, glamorous, scandalous behind-the-scenes account of the reality behind the world of glitz and glamour that our stars inhabit.”

‘Heroine’ is slated to go on floors in June; however, the release date for the flick is not decided yet.

It’s the first time that I am attending the Cannes International Film Festival and though I’ve always heard about it, it’s not until you step on the red carpet here that the enormity of the event engulfs you.

The place is abuzz with people so passionate about their cinema that you automatically feel a part of it, even if it’s your first time.

What I will be wearing has never been so detailed, but this time around, I wore a tuxedo for the dinner event. Earlier in the day, Ronnie (Screvwala) and I had launched our film Heroine, starring Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan and the response was phenomenal.

It was really something that took me by surprise and I was overwhelmed with the kind of curiosity that the promos created.

Rai is a much-talked about actress internationally and I think she truly is a global star in every sense.

What I was then looking forward to was meeting some of the greats in international cinema, people whose works have inspired me to become a filmmaker in the first place — filmmakers like Woody Allen and actors like Robert De Niro. Penelope Cruz is also an actress that I was looking forward to meeting, I’ve liked several of her films.

But more than anything else I was soaking in the experience that the festival had to offer. I have been to many film festivals before, but this one took the cake when it came to grandeur and glamour.

What had me equally excited was the strong presence of Bollywood there this time around. People were aware of our cinema and it made me so proud to be there, talking about our cinema just as proudly as anyone from Hollywood or any other world cinema would.

I realised that we offer a rather unique kind of cinema, but then that’s also our strength. How many can try and do it as successfully after all? It is also inspiring for filmmakers to make films that can generate a buzz internationally, especially the Indie-filmmakers.

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s red carpet appearance at the Cannes this year is a rather special affair for the Bollywood beauty, as it marks a decade of her attending the international film festival. But call her a Cannes veteran, and she laughs it off! “I have a lot of decades to go before you can call me that,” she’d joked earlier. And those close to the star admit that Ash’s obviously excited and is looking forward to catching up on some good pals including fellow endorser Hollywood’s Eva Longoria, with whom she’d walked the red carpet in the past.

At the time of going to press, the actor was expected to kickstart her evening yesterday by attending Woody Allen’s romantic comedy Midnight in Paris, which is also the opening film at the festival. Post which she was expected to be hobnobbing with several international stars including the renowned filmmaker at the highlight of the day, the opening Gala cocktail, which is also one of the main attractions of the festival, followed by the dinner party to host Woody’s film. Today, the actor will be announcing her film Heroine with Madhur Bhandarkar, before she takes to the red carpet again with Longoria for the big party hosted by her brand later in the evening.

Apparently, the actor has turned down several dinner invitations later in the festival to return home. The source adds, “Aishwarya’s not much into partying and networking for work there. She is going to be sticking to her professional commitments and will be flying out soon after. It’s going to be a hectic two-day affair for her, as there’s always a keen interest in her work.” All eyes will be riveted on what Aishwarya decides to wear on the red carpet this year around as well. “She’s been getting better every year,” points out an industry observer.

After being chased by the film’s producers for a long time, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan is finally ready to become a Heroine. As the Bachchan bahu takes up Madhur Bhandarkar’s next, her kitty is going to be full this year, pushing Sanjay Dutt’s Satte Pe Satta (SPS) to 2

While Ash’s spokesperson refused to comment, it’s learnt that she is facing “major date issues” since she has already committed the rest of her time in 2011 to Ladies And Gentlemen with husband Abhishek Bachchan. Industry sources insist that in such a scenario, Aishwarya isn’t going to take up the SPS remake anytime soon. “Ash has such a challenging role in Heroine that she isn’t taking up any other film until she finishes it,” says a source who did not wish to be named.

Waiting for Ash
SPS director Soham Shah, too, has no idea about Ash’s inclusion in the film. “I have no confirmation whether she is doing the film or not. We are still working out the details. Only Sanjay sir (Dutt) can comment on the status of her participation,” says Soham, who informs that the film goes on floors in July. For some time now, reports have been rife that Ash has kept Dutt on hold for a long time to reprise Hema Malini’s role in the remake.

Later, it was suggested that Dutt was upset with Ash. But the actor insisted he is prepared to “wait till eternity for her,” adding, “It will be a pleasure working with Ash if she agrees to do Satte Pe Satta.” It is believed that the actor has informed SPS makers that she’ll be able to take up the movie only next year if they are willing to wait. Coming back to Heroine, Madhur plans to shoot his ambitious venture in a start-to-finish schedule. But he might take a break in July.
The movie was first offered to Kareena Kapoor who declined because she wasn’t happy with the intimate scenes in the script. Following her refusal, Madhur put the film on the backburner till UTV, the co-producers, decided to approach Aishwarya instead.

Madhur Bhandarkar can finally breathe easy. Aishwarya Rai has agreed to play the lead in his upcoming venture, Heroine. The director gave her a narration recently, the actress loved the script and promptly said yes. Incidentally, Madhur had first approached Kareena Kapoor to play the role. But Bebo after showing an initial interest in the project didn’t get back to the director. A disheartened Madhur had put the project on the backburner. But when Aishwarya showed interest, the director galvanized and now it seems the project may well be on its way to the finishing line.

Siddharth Roy Kapoor, the head honcho of UTV is looking forward to make a film with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and not his beau Vidya Balan.

Being a professional he thinks that Ash will be apt for the role and not Vidya. The film will be directed by Madhur Bhandarkar.

A trade source stated “Madhur Bhandarkar had almost shelved Heroine. He even told this to a senior journalist over a cup of coffee on March 2 that he wasn`t keen to make this film because Milan Luthria`s making The Dirty Picture (which stars Vidya in the lead) that`s also set against the backdrop of the film industry.”

The source said further, “Madhur felt it would be a bit much to have two films releasing around the same time with similar subjects.”

The source added “It is Siddharth who even spoke to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan asking her whether she would meet Madhur for a basic narration of Heroine.”

With Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Vidya Balan essaying similar roles, hope both the films achieve success at the box-office.

Director Madhur Bhandarkar, who is famous for making realistic movies with most of them being women centric, is again ready with another women centric script “Heroine”.

Heroine is a movie about the ups and downs of a heroine, and about having lonely times after the glamorous phase of life. Madhur’s first choice to play the lead in Heroine was Kareena Kapoor, but she refused the role. From then the rumors stared, some said Aishwarya Rai is his next choice some say it’s Katrina Kaif. However the truth behind can only be revealed by Madhur.

The truth is that no one has been finalized yet that’s why even Madhur is being diplomatic about the whole issue. However through our sources we understand that Aishwarya and Katrina both have been approached by Madhur, but talk to Madhur and he says something else – “I have not yet decided what I would be making next. It could be a comedy, drama, love story, action, just about anything. When my subject by itself is not yet finalized, how can I be going around closing on the actress who would be playing a part?”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who is 37 is in big dilemma. She is planning for motherhood but before she retires from film and concentrates on her new journey, she wants to deliver a mind-blowing and astounding performance. Currently, she has two good projects and she has to make a choice between these two projects. One is Vishal Bharadwaj’s film opposite Hrithik Roshan and the second option is Madhur Bhandarkar’s flick ‘Heroine’.

Aishwarya has heard the narration of Madhur’s ‘Heroine’ and she liked the script but not yet signed the dotted lines. The actress had four releases in 2010 but three of them is rated below average and the Tamil version of ‘Robot’ was a blockbuster. So before she takes a break from film, Ash wants to surprise her audiences with a scintillating act.

Ash and Abhi desperately wants a baby and both are giving a serious thought to extend their family.