Big B sad to wrap the sixth season of Crorepati

Plus: Anushka Sharma prepares for new film Peekay; Vazhakku Enn 18/9 wins award in Paris; Ileana happy with progress of Phata Poster; and Danayya says producing films is no picnic.

The Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on the set of Kaun Banega Crorepati. AFP

The Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan has expressed his sadness after wrapping the sixth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? The game show's last episode will be broadcast on Saturday. "Sadness prevails and there is a feeling of great remorse," the 70-year-old actor posted on his Facebook page. "It's a feeling that cannot be described in words. It is the audience that comes so religiously and stays so calm and disciplined. Thank you all. I hope I can be back with you soon." * IANS

Anushka Sharma prepares for new film

Following the success of Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, the actress Anushka Sharma is gearing up for her leading role in director Rajkumar Hirani's film Peekay. "We'll start shooting in February," announced the 24-year-old star, who said the movie will also feature Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. Quizzed by reporters on what beauty secrets she can recommend to fans, the model-turned-actress said: "When I am not shooting I don't apply make-up. I drink a lot of water and stay happy. Whatever you feel from inside reflects outside." * IANS

Vazhakku Enn 18/9 wins award in Paris

The Tamil crime thriller Vazhakku En 18/9 won the Best Film Award at the first South Asian Film Festival (SAFF) held in Paris from January 16 to 20. Directed by Balaji Sakthivel, the film tells the tale of teenagers trapped in a world of corruption and crime. Produced on a shoestring budget, the movie stars the newcomers Mithun Murali, Urmila Mahanta and Manisha Yadav. Another Tamil film that screened at the festival was Karthik Subbaraj's horror thriller Pizza. The SAFF also screened movies from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. * IANS

Ileana happy with progress of Phata Poster

After making her Bollywood debut in glittering style with Barfi!, the actress Ileana D'Cruz is content with the way her next Hindi project is shaping up. "I am doing a film called Phata Poster Nikla Hero with Shahid Kapoor and it's turning out really well," said the 25-year-old star. With the cast halfway through the movie's shooting, D'Cruz has nothing but praise for her co-star and director, Rajkumar Santoshi: "I think Shahid is a fabulous actor and the role he is playing is fantastic. Raj-jee is fabulous to work with too." The romantic comedy, which also stars Padmini Kolhapure, is scheduled for release on August 23. * IANS

Danayya: producing films is no picnic

He may be one of the most successful producers around in the Hindi film industry, but DVV Danayya says getting projects off the ground is a laborious process. "Many assume producing is merely about funding a project but there is much more to it - it's highly challenging," Danayya said in an interview. "From budgeting to managing call-sheets to travelling to locations - so many things are handled by a producer." The biggest challenge, he says, is finishing a film as scheduled. "Most projects are delayed for several reasons, because of which a producer is monetarily affected," he said. "If a movie, which was originally supposed to be wrapped up in three months, takes six months for completion, then one can imagine the risk a producer is taking because the cost of living is increasing each day." * IANS