Starring Sameer Dattani and Shaad Randhawa in lead along with Aarti Chhabria and Shama Sikander, DHOOM DADAKKA is a youthful fun entertainer that has been shot prominently in Thailand. The promotion of the film has begun with an item song ‘Dhoom Dadaka’ which is based on ‘bhangra’ beats.

Featuring all the four leads, the number is foot tapping and has a catchy appeal to it.

DHOOM DADAKKA is produced and directed by Shashi Ranjan whose last directorial outing was Jackie Shroff-Raveea Tandon starrer DOBARA. A marital drama, the film was released in 2004 and though it was a decent watch, it sank without a trace at the box office. With DHOOM DADAKKA, the filmmaker is changing tracks and is now taking the fun route.

DHOOM DADAKKA also stars Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher and Gulshan Grover.

The past year has been no exception. News reports about his forthcoming film Tare Zameen Par and Gajini have been appearing sporadically in the media. But more important, the stories of his about-to-collapse marriage with Kiran Rao have been making the rounds throughout the year. Media reports have also hinted that after his hugely publicized stint as a social activist in the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Aamir was a stepping stone to a career in politics.

In one sweeping and rare interview, Aamir has now chosen to clear the air.

“When I read anything about myself, I feel like clarifying it. However, mostly I get so engrossed in work that pulling myself out to answer questions that are grossly inaccurate and absurd feels like a waste of time,” he says in Bombay Times, even as he explains away all the controversies that have surrounded him in the past year.

Yes, he is wrapping up his directorial venture Tare Zameen Par. Originally, Amol Gupte wrote the script and was initially assigned the job of directing the film too. But within the first week of shooting, differences arose between Amol and Aamir and Aamir generously offered to give the script back to Amol, who in turn requested Aamir to take over the director’s chair. Now, TZP is almost ready for a year-end release. Gajini, based on a South Indian superhit film, is getting under way and reportedly, Jiah Khan of Nishabd fame, has bagged an important role in this film.

Aamir rubbishes the rumor of trouble in his marriage by confirming that Kiran Rao is presently busy writing the script of her own film and it is turning out to be good. “The rumors about me and Kiran are untrue,” he asserts, adding that the marriage is on an even keel.

Political ambitions? None at all, the actor confirms. While he acknowledges that every citizen has the duty of speaking up for the cause he or she believes in, he himself is not at all interested in becoming a politician. “Let me clarify. Politics is not for me,” he says.

What about future projects? Media reports have said that Aamir is working in Mani Ratnam’s Lajjo and even being cast with Shah Rukh Khan in Dhoom 3. But the actor denies these reports and says he has no idea about these assignments, as he has not been approached yet for either project. At the moment, therefore, it’s only Tare Zameen Par and Gajini that occupy Aamir’s mind space.

The other third versions that Hollywood is preparing are: Shrek 3, Rush Hour 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Worlds End, etc. But apna Bollywood is not far behind, as it too is preparing its third sequel of Munnabhai and Koi Mil Gaya.

Besides, there are rumours of a Dhoom:3 as well. So is making sequels of a hit film becoming a safer bet for filmmakers and will they be third time lucky? LT tries to explore this trend.

As per script-dialogue writer Atul Tiwari of Mission Kashmir, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero, Agnivarsha, Drohkaal fame, making sequels is no alien concept to the entertainment industry.

“The trend has been quite prevalent in the West, and is now gradually picking up in our entertainment industry as well,” avers Tiwari, who, though doesn’t attribute it to dearth of fresh ideas.

“Rather making sequel to any movie is just an effort to fully exploit the hit subjects and characters. Actually, filmmakers don’t want to waste their popular characters, so they keep on making the sequels,” he explains.

And what’s wrong in that asks Rakesh Roshan who is planning a sequel to last year’s mega hit Krrish that will be third part of his film Koi Mil Gaya. “Frankly, I find nothing wrong in carrying forward the characters ahead in the form of series.

Audiences are wise today and no filmmaker can befool them by cashing in on the characters with a lousy storyline. Even while making a sequel, it’s for filmmakers to make sure that the storyline is captivating enough for the audience, and only then the film can be a hit,” opines Roshan.

Agrees Boman Irani aka Dr Asthana and Lucky Singh of Munna Bhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munna Bhai respectively, as he says, “Audience can relate better to an already popular character of a film.

Munna Bhai MBBS was a hit but its sequel Lage Raho… became even bigger hit as viewers were already familiar with Munna Bhai. Once the character was successful in pulling the crowd to theatres, it was the story of the movie that worked on people for making it a hit.”

Meanwhile, experts feel that sequels are no short cut to success. Trade analyst Komal Nahata maintains that making a series of a successful film is not an easy task. “Filmmakers have to work even harder while making the sequel.

They have to put their best efforts for proving their mettle at the box-office again. And if the filmmaker fails in doing the same, then the disapproval of the film by audiences becomes a major disappointment for him after the success of earlier series,” says Nahata.

But sequel aren’t usually a matter to worry. Film distributor Praveen Trikha maintains that sequels are usually a winner at BO.

He says, “Undoubtedly sequels like Krrish, Phir Hera Pheri, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dhoom-2, etc did very well at the BO, and so many filmmakers are planning next versions of successful films.

The trend is working in Indian market and such series also would prove to be a profitable venture for filmmakers and actors.” Well, three cheers for all filmbuffs!

Khan-troversy over Dhoom

Will it be Shah Rukh Khan versus Aamir Khan ? Or will it be Shah Rukh Khan vs Saif Ali Khan? The announcement of Dhoom’s third installment is bound to make more news that the film itself and more so because director Aditya Chopra is behind the camera this time.

The buzz is that Chopra junior originally wanted Aamir opposite King Khan for Dhoom 3 but is now settling for Saif Ali Khan.

While the casting jugglery goes on here is one actor we promise who will be part of Dhoom’s latest action adventure – Uday Chopra.

Being in news ever since both the youngsters were roped in as Assistant Directors for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Black’, they have been making steady progress in the shoot of their launchpad ‘Saanwariya’, which is aiming for a Diwali release.

With the film as well as the lead actors’ carrying great reports, there have been feelers from the Yash Raj camp about the two being almost a part of D3.

The film is getting bigger and better every month even as an official announcement is awaited.

“i have been getting a lot of offers,” says Jiah, “but i have not decided anything as yet.” Jiah recently got an offer from Sanjay Gadhvi of Dhoom and Dhoom 2 fame. As rumours have it, Jiah refused to work with Gadhvi as he did not divulge much about his upcoming project, which was simply not acceptable to Jiah.

But when we had a word with the actress, she confirmed, “i did get an offer from Sanjay Gadhvi, but i am yet to consider it.” Jiah hasn’t really turned down Sanjay Gadhvi’s offer. And there are chances that she may agree to work with him.

Nishabd is scheduled to release on March 2 this year.

“it’s a false siren. Whatever you’ve heard is untrue,” Gadhvi tells me, even before i pose the question. Surely, the rumor must’ve reached Gadhvi’s ears too. “There’s no question of going back to Yash Raj. i am not associated with DHOOM 3 either. My next film is for Ashtavinayak,” Gadhvi makes his first official statement.

So, has he zeroed in on the cast of his new film? “it’s still in the finalization stages. i’ll talk once the time is right,” he states.

Knowing the perfectionist Khan, the end result will be worth all the toil. Hopefully. But the whisper that is gaining credence is that Aamir Khan is all set to replace Shahrukh Khan in the forthcoming ‘Dhoom 3′.

Another bit of rumour doing the rounds is that Akshay Kumar shall be playing the negative role. Now, considering that John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan made the ‘bad’ look oh-so-cool in the first two versions, it seems like a distant probability that Aamir shall opt for anything less than the best for himself in brand Dhoom that is exceeding all expectations of box office grandiose.

Watch this space for more….Do you think Aamir should do the positive or the negative role in ‘Dhoom 3′ (if at all he is a part of the film that is)?

Alarmed by a spate of accidents involving speeding bikes, Transport Commissioner S.D. Shinde has asked the Censor Board of india to delete scenes of bike racing and rash driving from films.

“i want bike and car racing scenes to be banned in movies since the youth is trying to ape the actors’ stunts. This only leads to accidents as these youths have no expertise and are not capable of handling such powerful bikes,” he said.

“Films like ‘Dhoom 2′ encourage rash driving and bike racing,” Shinde told on the sidelines of the Road Safety Week observed by the transport department Jan 1-8.

“That is why i have written to the censor board, asking them to delete such scenes from the movies,” he added.

According to him, 85 percent of road accidents are due to the driver’s fault and 70 percent of two-wheeler mishaps are because of speeding.

Statistics available with the Mumbai traffic police show that the number of offences by two-wheeler riders have doubled since 2003 and the number of two-wheeler accidents since then have more then trebled.

Though the city’s traffic department approves of the move, Bollywood directors are far from amused. Films without thrills and action don’t sell, they argue.

While Sanjay Dalvi, who directed two blockbusters - “Dhoom” and “Dhoom 2″ - preferred not to comment, another director, who did not wish to be named, called the proposed move “just another cheap publicity gimmick”.

“Wanting some cheap publicity, the department has come up with such a stupid idea. How can films sell if there are no thrills and action scenes? And what about Hollywood action movies, will they delete such scenes too?” he asked.

“We must just ignore such suggestions from the transport department,” he added.

Adi, who believes that Gadhvi owes his success to the Yashraj banner, is not leaving any stone unturned to teach him a lesson. Besides planning another Dhoom sequel, Chopra has now decided to entrust its making to scriptwriter Vikram Krishna Acharya.

initial rumours suggested Chopra himself would wield the megaphone for Dhoom 3, but Acharya is now believed to be making his directorial debut with the film.

Acharya wrote the screenplay and dialogue of both Dhoom versions and the dialogue for Pyaar Ke Side Effects, and is writing the script for Dhoom 3 as well.

Gadhvi’s move is believed to have irked Chopra as he was the only one to put his faith in the director even after his disastrous directorial debut, Tere Liye.

“Even his first film for Yashraj, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi, was just average fare. Yet due to Aditya he could make Dhoom with big names. His decision of branching out definitely came as a shock to Aditya,” says a source.

What’s more, Chopra plans to start filming towards the second half of the year, around the time that Gadhvi starts filming his first movie outside Yashraj, for Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision.

Thus Chopra, who plans to make Dhoom 3 one of the biggest extravaganzas ever, makes it a point to be present during scriptwriting sessions.

And he has planned a casting coup with Shah Rukh Khan (in a negative role) and Aamir Khan hot on his heels as the policeman. What’s more, Hrithik Roshan will also be a part of the project, insists the source, although he may not have a fullfledged role.

“Adi wants to make it a multi-starrer. it all depends on how the script shapes up but he’s definitely keen on pairing both the Khans together for the first time and also Hrithik Roshan,” says the source.