Meet the new age kick-ass babes of Bollywood

Time and again our B-town actresses have proved themselves as the leading ladies in all genres and areas of work. We have seen many actresses doing women centric roles and excelling at it too. The ladies have also left a mark when it comes to action and stunts and their spirit and dedication for it are too daring for words. Let's look at the ladies who have performed their own stunts and nailed it.

Sonakshi Sinha: The Dabbang girl's Akira has already hit the silver screen. Sonakshi has done some high octane action scenes in Akira as well as her upcoming movie Force 2 alongside actor John Abraham. Akira is based on the lines of women safety where as in Force 2 the actress will be playing a special agent.

Deepika Padukone: The gorgeous Deepika Padukone left us amazed when she did some power-packed action sequences in the movie, Bajirao Mastani. The actress was wearing some 30 kgs of armour and she also shot a war scene for herself wearing the heavy costumes.

Katrina Kaif: The Barbie doll of Bollywood Katrina Kaif took us to a surprise when she did the Jet Ski stunts in Bang Bang and most recently her action sequences in Phantom were something to look at. Apart from this she has also done some stunts in Dhoom 3 and Ek Tha Tiger.

Priyanka Chopra: Priyanka has been the best when it comes to action sequences and stunts which can be seen from her movies like Don2 and Mary Kom. The actress has performed numerous action stunts in Quantico and she remains the toughest girl in Bollywood.

Taapsee Pannu: The Pink actress Taapsee Pannu had brilliantly performed her fighting scene in Baby where she plays an undercover agent. The actress will be seen doing some more action sequences in her upcoming movie Meera which is Baby's prequel.

Jacqueline Fernandez: We all remember the fencing scene by Jacqueline in Race 2. Well that scene was performed by the actor herself and very recently she did some stunts in international film Definition of fear. Initially a body double was to perform but the actress decided to do it herself.

By Santa Banta News Network

I will continue to look for characters that challenge me, says Diana Penty

Diana Penty, who returned to the big screen with Happy Bhag Jayegi after a gap of four years, is glad she waited it out. The Indo-Pak comedy, in which she played the exuberant titular character, has been declared a sleeper hit by industry pundits - and her performance, lauded for its sincerity and promise.

After Cocktail, her starry debut in 2012, the actor made the unusual decision to fly under the radar while she waited for her next project. `Cocktail was such a wonderful experience and the perfect launch vehicle. As a first time actor, it was helpful to play Meera, a character who was so much like me in real life.` Her second film, however, she knew, would need to push her. `I wanted to see if I could play a character who was as different from me as possible. Happy fit the bill perfectly.

Penty does not regret the time-lapse between the two films.`I got to do all the things I loved even while I waited for the right script,` she says. She packed in travel, endorsements, appeared on the covers of the country's leading fashion magazines and even redecorated her home from scratch. "There was never a dull moment!" she adds.

Will the wait for her next film be quite as long? "I hope not!" she laughs. I will continue to look for interesting stories to be part of and characters that challenge me.

By Santa Banta News Network

Photos: Trailer launch of 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo'

Trailer launch of 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' Cast members Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Armaan Kohli, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Swara Bhaskar, Anupam Kher, Deepak Dobriyal and Samaira Rao were present at the unveiling of the promo of Sooraj Barjatya's upcoming directorial venture, 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' - See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/photos/photos-trailer-launch-of-prem-ratan-dhan-payo/9314#sthash.ra2UH229.dpuf

WTF! When Bollywood beauties were dumped mid-way

With Tabu stepping into Rekha's shoes for 'Fitoor', we point out a few actors who had to be replaced after having shot for the film

Casting can be sometimes be a tricky thing, especially as it is more about signing the right face than a popular one. Last-minute bailouts can lead to chaos on a film set and it gets even worse when a film has already started rolling. There have been quite a few instances of Bollywood stars abruptly walking out of a project, forcing the director to find an apt replacement.

Tabu and Rekha

Recently, Rekha opted out of Abhishek Kapoor's 'Fitoor' post a long schedule in Kashmir. The desi adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' had the veteran actress essaying the role of a begum (Miss Havisham's character from the novel). She had almost completed shooting for her part, but expressed to the makers her displeasure over the way the film was shaping up - contrary to rumours that she did not like her look in the film. She was rumoured to be insisting on a re-shoot, but eventually decided to opt out of the project. 

Earlier too, there were reports about Rekha walking out of Gulzar's 1982 film 'Namkeen' as she did not approve of a journalist's presence on the set. She was replaced by Sharmila Tagore.

hitlist draws up a list of actors who left a project midway, be it by choice or otherwise, and the ones who replaced them...

Walk out: Rinke Khanna
Walk in: Manisha Koirala

Film: 'Heroine' (2012)
Lowdown: The Madhur Bhandarkar movie had Ash as the protagonist, but after shooting for barely 10 days, her pregnancy was announced to the world. Initially, the director was said to have locked himself up home worried about the losses - he had already spent R4 crore on the film. Ash was apparently furious when Madhur went public saying she kept him in the dark about her pregnancy and decided to work on the film. After a bitter end to their collaboration, he decided to approach his original choice Kareena Kapoor and reshoot the film.

Earlier, Rani Mukerji had to step into 'Chalte Chalte' (2003) opposite Shah Rukh Khan when Ash was forced to opt out of it, due to her former beau Salman Khan's alleged interference on the sets.

Film: 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' (2000)
Lowdown: Hrithik Roshan's debut film went on the floors with Kareena Kapoor playing the lead actress, Sonia Saxena. However, Bebo left the film apparently after some disagreement over a dance sequence with director Rakesh Roshan. There was also buzz suggesting that Kareena's ouster had more to do with her demand for a higher fee.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Sunny Leone's 'Mastizaade' facing unending censor woes

'Mastizaade' makers move Appellate Tribunal after Censor Board refuses to certify the sex comedy

Makers of Sunny Leone-starrer 'Mastizaade' have approached the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal after the Censor Board rejected certification to the sex comedy for the second time.

The film, which was slated for a May 1 release, was referred to the Board's revising committee (RC) for a final call as the examining panel found the content 'extremely bold' for Indian sensibilities.

Says an insider, "The makers were anticipating the Board to recommend several cuts, but were crestfallen when it outright refused to clear the film. They were served a two week backdated rejection letter on May 28 and have found the Board's reasons too flimsy to digest."

The source adds that during the RC screening, a female presiding board member had recommended an 'A' certificate for the movie along with some cuts instead of rejecting it altogether. However, her views were apparently not taken into consideration.

The film's producer Pritish Nandy is believed to have raised concerns over "lies" being conveyed to him. "Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani told the Information and Broadcasting ministry that RC member Nandini Sardesai was leading the charge in getting the film banned. However, when Nandy learnt about that, he refused to believe the lies. He knew that Sardesai was not present during any of the two certification screenings of the film," says another source.

Nandy remains tightlipped about the censor woes. "I cannot comment right now as the matter is pending before the Tribunal," he states.

Despite repeated attempts, Pahlaj Nihalani did not respond to our calls or text messages.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com