First Bengali film for Dia Mirza

MUMBAI: Dia Mirza is currently busy with her first-ever regional language film — a Bengali movie titled Paanch Adhyay. “Bangla is my ‘mother’ tongue because my mother is Bengali. So, I have grown up speaking a bit of Bangla at home. But doing a film in the language is a different experience,” says Dia.

Directed by journalist-filmmaker Pratim Dasgupta, the film is being dubbed as an “intense” one. “Pratim was telling me for years that he was working on a script. And when he finished it, he called me and said, ‘I would like you to read the script.’ It’s a beautiful and tender story,” she says.

Dia admits she was terrified prior to her shoot in Kolkata despite the fact that she wasn’t a stranger to Bangla. “I was worried about how I would deliver my lines, dialect etc. But now I can safely say it’s as comfortable as Hindi,” she says. “It’s exciting and surreal. We have been shooting in the older lanes of the city. So, there’s a lot of history that surrounds you.”

The actor calls this “the new adhyay (chapter) in my career.” Ask if preparations were tough and Dia says: “I ensured I got the script in advance and even though I was busy with the release of Love Breakups Zindagi, I practiced my lines like a student preparing for an exam.”

Next, Dia says she will do a Telugu film: “I made the promise because I got a barrage of queries once I announced that I am doing a Bangla film. Cinema shouldn’t be divided by the language.”

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Mallika Sherawat to launch her brother's film

MUMBAI: In touch with mother, may launch brother’s career says actor Mallika Sherawat, who had joined Bollywood despite strong opposition from her family. Mallika Sherawat, one of the first Bold women in Bollywood, had ventured into the industry despite huge resistance from her family. But the actor, who managed to make a name for herself in Hindi films and is now based in Hollywood, insists that her equation with her folks hasn’t changed much.

“I am in touch with my mother. I keep updating her on everything happening around me,” she admits.

In fact, Mallika remains close to her brother, Vikram Lamba, whom she says has been with her from the very beginning.

“I love my brother. He is the person who has supported me throughout. He is planning a film with me,” says the actor, who is riding high on a great review from Los Angeles Times for her yet to release debut American film, Politics of Love.

In the coming months though, she will be busy shooting for two films — Kismat Love Paisa Dilli with Vivek Oberoi and Lucky Unlucky with Sonu Sood.

Creating a platform for Vikram will also be on her mind in the meantime.

“He has done theatre back home and he is so good looking that I wish someone would launch him,” smiles Mallika adding, “Launching siblings and relatives is a very common practice in Bollywood. I should also think on those lines.”

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Dilip Kumar joins Twitter on 89th birthday

Twitter is infectious and even Dilip Kumar couldn't stay away from it. The thespian joined the micro-blogging site on his 89th birthday and Amitabh Bachchan is the first to welcome him.

Dilip Kumar's Twitter page is called "TheDilipKumar" and it became operational Sunday, which was his birthday.

"Thank you all of you who have made my simple life so rich with all your love," the legend said in his first tweet. "It is a true blessing to be so loved and a wonderful feeling to wake up and realise one is younger than was yesterday," he further posted.

Amitabh welcomed him saying, "Please welcome the Master, the Thespian, the Ultimate...Dilip Kumar, Dilip Saheb, Yusuf Khan on twitter....ID:@thedilipkumar."

On his birthday, Bollywood celebrities like Deepa Mehta, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan tweeted and showered their love on Dilip Kumar and wished him good health and long life.

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