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Kuselan Vs Billoo Barber

By: Settu Shankar
Tuesday, April 1 2008

It seems like a tug of war between the remaking specialists P Vasu and Priyadarshan. Both the veteran filmmakers have been working hard and fat to bring their remake versions of Malayalam classic Katha Parayumbol early in August with Superstars Rajini and Shahrukh respectively.

The story of the rivalry between Vasu and Priyadarshan has started with the remake of Mani Chithrathazhu. Vasu made the Kannada version of this film with his own inputs in the name of Apthamithra and it created a new record in Kannada Box Office. Later he made its Tamil version Chandramukhi with the superstar in different style and everyone knows how Chandramukhi rocked the entertainment world globally.

After two years from the release of Chandramukhi, Priyan made Bhool Bhulaiya, the Hindi version of Mani Chithrathazhu. It managed with a fare run in Hindi, but Vasu claimed that Priyan had copied his Tamil version Chandramukhi scene by scene into Bhool Bhulaiya without prior approval from him. He sent a legal notice too to Priyadarshan.

Immediately Priyan bounced back with an explosive statement that Vasu's Kannada and Tamil versions are mere copies of his friend Fasil's Malayalam flick. He argued that there was no need for any approval to make one more copy of the same.

Now both the directors are working on the remake of Katha Parayumbol and planned to release both the films on August 15.Interestingly both have admitted that they have extended the role of the superstar in their remake versions with three songs and two fights.

Priyan told that he is the first who acquired the remaking rights of the film in Hindi. But Vasu claimed that he only got the rights to remake the film in Tamil and Telugu. The director has also plans to release the Tamil version of Kuselan with Hindi subtitles in Northern States.

Whose version will become super hit? Just wait for three months!

http://entertainment.oneindia.in/tamil/exclusive/2008/kuselan-billoo-barber-vasu-010408.html

Friendship brand

SRK will soon start shooting for Priyadarshan's film Billoo Barber. A Red Chillies Entertainment venture, the film also stars Irrfan Khan in the title role. Billoo Barber is an adaptation of the story of friendship between Krishna and Sudama.

Our well-placed source from Red Chillies Entertainment says, "Billoo Barber is a story based on the relationship between Krishna and his childhood friend Sudama. Priyadarshan is adapting this story of friendship between two friends - one rich and the other a poor villager - in a completely new avatar. Here SRK represents Krishna, he plays an actor. On the other hand Irrfan Khan represents Sudama and plays a village barber. The two are friends from school who grow up and drift until they meet again."

SRK will be seen romancing three different ladies including Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. He has already begun shooting with Kareena but is in talks with Deepika and Priyanka.

For the second female lead opposite Irrfan, Priyadarshan is scouting for a powerhouse performer, someone like Smita Patil. According to our source Ameesha Patel and Tabu are being considered for the second lead. Adds the source, "Shah Rukh will take the final decision about the cast."

The lyrics are written by Gulzar and the screenplay is by Mushtaq Sheikh and Manisha Korde.

Billoo Barbar is Priyadarshan's 75th film and is rather reluctant to let us in with more on the film He says, "It's too early to give out details about Billoo Barber. Red Chillies will make an official announcement at the right time."

Bebo dances with the King

Author: Upala KBR Date: 01 Apr 2008

The actress features in an item song opposite SRK, along with Deepika Padukone

Let's Sizzle! Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will be seen getting jiggy for a hot item number in Red Chillies Entertainment's Billoo Barber with Shah Rukh Khan. Irrfan Khan plays the title role in the film directed by Priyadarshan.

Billoo Barber is an adaptation of the story of the Krishna-Sudama friendship and is said to be a remake of the superhit Malayalam film Kadha Parayaumbol.

Bebo says yes

Says a source close to Kareena, "Though Kareena and Shah Rukh haven't done any films together; after Asoka and Don, their chemistry has been sizzling . Bebo is also very fond of SRK.

When Shah Rukh, who plays a superstar in Billoo Barber, asked her to perform to a song with him, she agreed. Kareena is keeping dates aside and will soon be shooting for the song by next week.

Deepika Padukone is also being pencilled in for the song with SRK.

Kareena and Deepika will be the two actresses playing themselves vying for Shah Rukh's attention in the song."

Billoo Barber is a story based on the friendship between two friends — one, a rich city slicker and the other, a poor villager. SRK plays a big star while Irrfan Khan plays a village barber.

The two are friends since their schooldays; who drifted apart only to meet years later. Tabu was initially considered for the lead opposite Irrfan but now Ameesha Patel has been signed on.

While Gulzar has penned the lyrics, the screenplay is by Mushtaq Sheikh and Manisha Korde.

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood/index.htm?_EXT_5_articleId=1067080&_EXT_5_groupId=14

Hotbed of problems

Tabu refused Shah Rukh's Billoo Barber because she didn't want to work with Irrfan Khan. There's no love lost between the two actors who share crackling chemistry on screen

Thursday, March 27, 2008

So Amisha Patel has gone up in life and signed Shah Rukh Khan's Billoo Barber, where SRK plays Krishna and Irrfan Khan plays Sudama. We know that SRK had offered the role to Tabu first, but Tabu rejected it. A reason was, of course, that the role didn't offer much for her. But there's another reason too. And that's the presence of Irrfan Khan in the cast.

It's a fact that Tabu and Irrfan Khan have crackling chemistry on screen and a bitter relationship off it. The main draw of The Namesake was the draw of Tabu and Irrfan for each other, in Maqbool, they were red hot with each other. But it's also true that for the most part they didn't talk to each other all through the making of The Namesake.

The dislike is not really mutual. It's more on Tabu's part than Irrfan's. Her irritation with Irrfan stems from the fact that he likes to let on as if they're truly drawn to each other off-screen as well. A close friend of Tabu says, "Tabu doesn't like Irrfan showing to the world that there's more to their relationship than actually is. For instance, with other people around, he talks to her more intimately on the phone than he would otherwise. It annoys Tabu no end."

The dislike surfaced visibly when the media once asked Tabu about the party that Uma Thurman had thrown for the cast of The Namesake. "It was no big deal, what can I say? she had replied, adding, "Ask Irrfan about it, he likes to talk about these things." A not-so-veiled barb, surely.

So, no thanks. Tabu didn't want to play Sudama's, that's Irrfan's, wife. That too, without a meaty role to boot.

Ameesha Patel is Out of SRK's Next

Priyadarshan will direct Shah Rukh Khan's next home production Billu Barber that will roll at the end of April. It was only last week that Ameesha Patel was approved to play one of the important roles in the film and within few days, she is no longer a part of the project. The reason behind this move is yet to be known.

In the meanwhile, Billu Barber is recreation of one of the earlier works of Priyadarshan in Malayalam based on friendship of Lord Krishna and Sudama. Irrfan Khan has been roped in to play SRK's friend in the film.

http://www.bollyvista.com/article/a/32/8713/

Yeh dil maange more!

Ameesha Patel opted out of Billo Barber as she didn't want to have a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the film

Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Sandipan Dalal

Ameesha Patel may have become almost famous for grabbing Shah Rukh Khan starrer Billo Barber but all is not well in the actress's paradise. Ameesha we hear has dropped out of the project which is a remake of the Malayalam film Katha Parayumbol. She is not too excited about playing the miniscule role of a barber's wife.

A source close to the actress says, "Ameesha feels that she might get lost as the film which essentially concentrates on Shah Rukh and Irrfan Khan. Ameesha who is making a serious attempt at reviving her career, cannot keep playing these functional characters."

The actress, who has previously worked with Priyadarshan in Bhool Bhoolaiya, explained the situation to the filmmaker and made a gracious exit from the project. Priyadarshan who wants to start filming May is not too happy with his so-called leading lady calling it quits.

An industry insider adds, "Priyadarshan had a tough time convincing actresses to star in the film with most of them unanimously terming the role as insignificant."

Meanwhile, the buzz doing the rounds is that Priyadarshan might settle for a popular face from the South. Both Ameesha and Priyadarshan were not available for comment.

*MAJOR POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

This poor village man Balan decides to open a barber shop because he and his family were really having money problems....he couldn't find a job, his kids' school principal told him that his elder daughter will be removed from school if he doesn't pay the full fees in a couple days, the money-lenders, landlords also pressure him, they don't have money to get a new bulb for their small house, etc.

When he opens that shop (right opposite another popular barber..lol I don't get why anyone would do that), that barber gets irritated and harasses him, just for the heck of it. (It was rather comical). Also, Balan's business is not going that well...

Then there's news that the superstar Ashok Raj was going to be in the village to shoot for his upcoming movie and all the villagers get excited.

Balan's kids and wife are also really happy when Ashok Raj comes; they really want to see him. Balan then remembers how he and Ashok used to actually be friends when they were children..but now he thinks Ashok Raj wouldn't remember him anymore, since he's such a huge superstar.

Somehow the villagers find out that Balan was good friends with Ashok Raj...and they suddenly start being nice to Balan, so that he would introduce them to Ashok. The school principal tells him that all his kids' fees will be taken care of by the board if he somehow gets Ashok Raj to be the chief guest in their school function. The moneylenders and all get him a new barber's chair for his shop and are extra nice to him. They treat him like a local celeb lol.

However, Balan doesn't want to go and meet him because he feels Ashok might think he's here to see him after so many years just to get money or some favour..and Balan is a very principled, honest man. The villagers somehow drag him to meet Ashok at his hotel. There's a big stampede outside and Balan was basically pushed and shoved. Ashok Raj was at the balcony and waved to his fans. He didn't even notice Balan there, among all those people...

So, then the villagers then think that Balan had made everything up and call him a liar. They take back his barber's chair, taunt him, etc. Balan gets depressed and just feels like running away.

Somehow the school principal gets Ashok Raj to be the chief guest for that function. Everyone in the village plans to go to see him. Even Balan's kids go to the event themselves (they kinda lose some respect for their father when he said he won't take them to him). Even his wife wanted to go and after some convincing Balan agrees to take her.

At the function, Ashok Raj gives a speech and talks about how he became a star and all. To everyone's surprise he talks about his childhood friend Balan. He says how he was even poorer than Balan at one time and Balan and his father had been so selfless and kind to him, and that he is really grateful to Balan. Balan is in the crowds at the back and is touched by what he said. All the villagers realise their mistake. His kids also apologize to him for being rude and disrespectful to him.

After everything Balan still hadn't gone to meet him (he still feels awkward) and says that he is just happy that Ashok still remembers him. Then Ashok somehow comes to his small house and thanks him, etc. Balan is really touched by this. He hadn't expected such a big star to remember someone as small as him. Then yeah...la la la..Ashok promises to bring him and his family to Madras (the big city), the villagers now treat Balan like a local celeb again lol, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Source: Srk.org

Om Puri in Billoo Barber

...Incidentally, Om has also received an offer from the Rang De Basanti writer Rensel D'Silva to act in his film with Karan Johar. "I'm doing it," beams Om.

Work-wise, the time ahead seems to be busy for Om with Priyadarshan's two films — Mere Baap Pehle Aap and another untitled project with Shah Rukh Khan.

"Mere Baap… is a smile-a-minute comedy. I play a middle-aged man desperate to get married. My friend Paresh Rawal keeps messing up my prospects every time he goes to negotiate for my marriage," laughs Om, who is yet to know about the film he is doing with Shah Rukh.

"Priyan has simply blocked my dates for the film. I'm yet to hear my role. That's the kind of equation I share with Priyan," concludes Om.

http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/bollywood/index.htm?_EXT_5_articleId=1075932&_EXT_5_groupId=14

Originally posted by: teenb12

Please add me to this fanclub!

welcome to the FC 😊

Juhi to replace Amisha in Billo Barber?

April 02, 2008 14:07 IST

In all likelihood, Juhi Chawla will replace Amisha Patel after the latter walked out of Priyadarshan's Billo Barber.

Produced by Shah Rukh Khan under the Red Chillies Entertainment banner, Billo Barber is rumoured to be the story of Lord Krishna and his best friend Sudama. Shah Rukh will play Krishna whereas Irrfan Khan will play Sudama. But the film is set in modern times.

Amisha was offered a small but vital role as Irrfan's wife in the film. But she opted out because she felt the role was too insignificant.

In Priyadarshan's earlier film, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Amisha had a small but important role as well. But this time, it looks like the actress wanted better.

Left with no heroine, it is learnt that SRK has requested his good friend Juhi to step in.

Shah Rukh and Juhi have been close friends since 1992's Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, when Juhi was a star and Shah Rukh, a relative newcomer. They had also formed their production company, Dreamz Unlimited, which made the flop, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.

The last time SRK and Juhi were seen together in a film was Paheli, also produced by Red Chillies.

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/apr/02juhi.htm