Karachi, April 12 (IANS) Well-known Pakistani film producer and distributor Satish Anand, an uncle of Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, was freed by his abductors after six months in captivity for a ransom of Rs.10.6 million, media reports said Sunday.
Anand, who had served as Pakistan’s censor board chairman, was kidnapped Oct 20 last year by two unidentified gunmen while he was on his way home here.
According to The News, law enforcement agencies traced the kidnappers to Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and engaged in a negotiation for his release.
On Saturday, officials posing as family members of the film producer delivered the ransom money to the kidnappers, who belong to a faction of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI), in NWFP’s Bannu region, the report said.
After safely securing Anand, the officials launched a crackdown on the group and arrested five suspects.
Meanwhile, Anand is said to have been shifted to Islamabad.
The HuJI group, headed by Ilyas Kashmiri, had earlier demanded a huge ransom for releasing Anand, but later settled for Rs.10.6 million. Sound, beats, music…DJing as a career option!New Delhi, April 13 (IANS) Disc Jockeys have been around in Indian metros for quite some time now, many pursuing it as a part-time opportunity to earn some extra money. But DJing has now become a serious career option with women too joining the scene and a special school being launched to train youngsters.
‘When I decided to take up DJing as a career, people didn’t take me seriously because the profession was not considered a viable option at that time. But now things have changed and people are not only warming up to the idea but accepting women DJs as well,’ Megha, a Mumbai-based DJ, told IANS over phone.
‘I had friends who were earning a reasonable amount working as part-time DJs. Even I had a keen interest in music and while I was studying, I took up the job of a DJ just to earn pocket money,’ said Atul Khanna, who is now a full-time DJ in Delhi.
Most DJs say they enjoy their job as they get to liven up parties by mixing tunes, forming beats and creating the right ambience in the club. And with an increase in parties and party hoppers in metros, DJing has evolved as a profession.
‘Djing as a profession is evolving in India with more and more people taking the plunge. The rise has been reflected in the last three-four years. People today want entertainment and with an increasing number of people going out to party and scores of clubs opening, the profession has gained a lot of potential,’ said DJ Aqeel.
Aqeel is now launching his own school for DJ training in Mumbai. Called Future DJ Academy, it offers both full-time and part-time courses that start April 20.
‘Earlier, not many people wanted to be DJs. But in the past few years I have been flooded with queries about the profession. A lot of people had been sending me mails and asking me to come up with my own school and teach the art. Looking at the demand, I decided to open the school,’ said Aqeel, who is the only DJ to have played twice at the World Economic Forum in Davos entertaining the likes of Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan.
‘In the next five-10 years, the profession is going to become even bigger. A lot of International DJs tour India, but very soon we will have the same quality Djs in India,’ said DJ Assad Namazi, Aqeel’s partner in the institute.
One of the most attractive parts of being a DJ is the money factor, Aqeel told IANS.
‘There are a lot of perks when you become a DJ. Most importantly, when you can earn a particular amount in one night, why would you want to slog the whole month in an office. The profession pays well,’ he quipped.
While DJing is becoming a lucrative career option, DJ Hamza said it was always good to have a few additional skills like producing one’s own music in the long run.
‘Being a DJ can fetch you great money, but it has its limitations. If you are just a DJ, then the scope is less. It’s important that you know music production as well. All the well-known DJs in India as well as abroad produce music,’ said Hamza, who has collaborated with Taz of Stereo Nation fame for an electronic dance music album.
‘So to do well one has to take a slightly different course. It takes a lot of time and training to be able to produce music. But to grow, it is important,’ he added.
Juhi Chawla makes her debut as a judge on the small screen on Jhalak Dikhla Jaa Dancing with the Stars season 3.She literally came, smiled & conquered both her audiences & participants. Her usual happy, smiling self, comments on the performances were all as honest as the marks she gave. "The contestants are doing more than what they do professionally. They are learning to do something new. I too want to do the same, do something beyond what I have done so far. I don't want to just comment on how good they are looking or how pretty their outfit is. I want to go deep into the performances and look beyond the obvious," said Juhi. And that she did. After Gauahar Khan's breathtaking performance she told her. "You are like the hare in this contest. Don't relax. There is a danger of the others overtaking you!" Watch her on Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Dancing with the Stars 3 On Friday, February 27 at 9.00 pm, Only on Sony Entertainment Television
Pakistani film producer and distributor Satish Anand who also happens to be an uncle of Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, was freed by his Pakistani abductors after six months in captivity.According to media reports the ransom amount was Rs.10.6 million. He’s said to have been shifted to Islamabad.Anand, who had served as Pakistan’s censor board chairman, was kidnapped Oct 20 last year by two unidentified gunmen while he was on his way home.According to The News, law enforcement agencies traced the kidnappers to Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and engaged in a negotiation for his release. They reportedly belong to a faction of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI), in NWFP’s Bannu region, the report said. The HuJI group is reportedly headed by Ilyas Kashmiri, had earlier demanded a huge ransom for releasing Anand. However they later settled for Rs.10.6 million.On Saturday, officials posing as family members of the film producer delivered the ransom money to the kidnappers. After safely securing Anand, the officials launched a crackdown on the group and arrested five suspects
In Aziz Mirza’s Kismet Konenction, Juhi Chawla will be playing the role of a gypsy cum fortune teller. She enters the life of Shahid-Vidya to connect the kismet of the two. We spoke to the bubbly actress to find out more about her roleExplaining her character, Juhi tells us, “My role is very gaudy as I am playing a gypsy. In fact I had to replace my make-up man with a really loud one since it was the need of the hour. Apart from make up, I was also told to wear very flashy clothes. After first I was horrified myself so I only hope fans will recognize me.”
On what made her take up the role, she says, “I have been in contact with Aziz Mirza from the Raju Ban Gaya Gentlemen days so when he approached me for this role I said yes without any hesitation.”
Adds the actress, “The film is a typical Aziz Mirza one which will have romance, drama and comedy.”
Aziz’s last film with Juhi was Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindustani (2000) which tanked at the box office.
Kismet Konenction will be releasing on July 11. It was while Shahid was away shooting for this film in Canada that the Saif - Kareena affair came into prominence.
Karachi, April 12 (IANS) Well-known Pakistani film producer and distributor Satish Anand, an uncle of Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, was freed by his abductors after six months in captivity for a ransom of Rs.10.6 million, media reports said Sunday. Anand, who had served as Pakistan’s censor board chairman, was kidnapped Oct 20 last year by two unidentified gunmen while he was on his way home here. According to The News, law enforcement agencies traced the kidnappers to Pakistan’s North West F
As she gears up for her debut on television as a judge in the third season of “Jhalak Dikhalaja”, Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla, known for her naughty and comic on-screen portrayals, will look to change people’s perception about her.
“People have perceived that I cannot be harsh and judgmental about others. But I intend to make the show interesting”, Juhi told reporters at a press conference to announce the new season of the show. “While judging the contestants, I will have a humane point of view. My comments will be based on the attitude of participants because dance is not their forte and they will be nervous”, she said.
The actress will judge participants along with renowned choreographers Saroj Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant. Asked why she was making her television debut so late, the actress said “offers to host celebrity talk shows were coming for the past two years but I always deferred taking a decision as I was not sure of doing TV. I felt there is too much pressure and expectation. Filmstars doing television were viewed differently as if their film career was finished”.
But now times have changed and film stars are accepted on television. After doing television shows they have moved on successfully to their respective fields.
Few people know about the surprise package in the film. It’s none other than director Aziz Mirza’s lucky charm Juhi Chawla who plays a crystal ball reader in the movie. Her role is inspired from Whoopi Goldberg’s character in Ghost and Juhi has been styled accordingly for the part. She predict Shahid’s kismat. Mirza says, “In the film, Juhi reads a crystal ball to predict the future.” Juhi has been styled in bizarre gypsy costumes to suit her character. “Every morning hordes of outlandish jewellery and gypsy skirts would arrive for Juhi and she had a blast choosing the costumes and dressing for the part.” According to Mirza, even though Juhi’s character is very different, “Juhi played the character perfectly and I just had to make a call to her. She is perfect in the film and I am glad that I went by my instincts. I am very close her. She’s like my child.
