Goa awaits zombie invasion

Plus: Bachchan to be honoured by Mangeshkar; Aashiqui 2 has Aditya going daredevil; Ek Thi Daayan 2 will depend on success of first; scheduling scuppers Manchu's Hollywood chance.

Left to right, the zombie film Go Goa Gone's actors Vir Das, Anand Tiwari, Puja Gupta and Kunal Khemu. AFP Photo

Goa awaits zombie invasion

The world might be overrun with zombie films, but Go Goa Gone, which comes out next month, is set to be India's first. "The story has been told in a simple manner, so if you haven't seen a zombie film before, you can still watch it," explains Kunal Khemu, who plays one of the leads. "Physically, it was a very tough film," says the co-producer Saif Ali Khan. "Every day we would run in the forest or lie in a boat in the sea in intense heat." – IANS

Jaya Bachchan to be honoured by Mangeshkar

One of India's best-known playback singers, Lata Mangeshkar, will present the Deenanath Mangeshkar Award to the veteran actress Jaya Bachchan on April 24. The 64-year-old actress will be honoured for her services to Indian theatre and cinema. The award was launched to commemorate Mangeshkar's father Deenanath, the renowned Marathi actor and musician. "I like all her films. I am fond of the Bachchans," Mangeshkar told reporters. The date of awarding coincides with the 71st anniversary of Deenanath's death. – IANS

Aashiqui 2 has Aditya going daredevil

Fancy standing on the railing of a 21st floor balcony without a safety harness? Well, that's what Aditya Roy Kapoor did while filming Aashiqui 2, which is scheduled for release later this month. The actor performed several risky stunts while shooting in Cape Town, including a sequence that saw him shirtless and standing on the edge of a railing on the topmost floor of a building – while in the rain. "Aditya is very aggressive at his craft and wanted to prove that he could do it," said a statement from the co-producer T-Series. "We're very happy to say that he pulled it off successfully." – IANS

Ek Thi Daayan 2 will depend on success of first

There won't be a decision made on whether to make a follow-up to Ek Thi Daayan unless the film's box-office performance is up to scratch. So says the actor Emraan Hashmi, who plays the male lead in the forthcoming supernatural thriller. "Once the film does well, then we will make the sequel," the 34-year-old said in an interview. "If it is a great story and it is taken forward in a nice way, then I would like to be a part of it." – IANS

Scheduling scuppers Manchu’s Hollywood break

So committed to his forthcoming untitled Telugu action-comedy was Vishnu Manchu that he had to forego a Hollywood project. "Auditioned and got a role in a Hollywood movie. Had to reject it because of dates issue. Irony of life," tweeted the Telugu actor, who is busy shooting the second schedule of the film, which is being directed by Veeru Potla. The actress Lavanya Tripathi has been cast as the female lead in the film, which is being produced by 24 Frames. – IANS

Gopi Mohan yearns for a chance to direct

Despite already being a hugely successful writer in Telugu cinema, Gopi Mohan has admitted he wouldn't mind taking a spot in the director's chair. "I came to the industry to direct a film," says the man behind blockbusters such as Ready, King and Dookudu. "That was my goal and aim. In that process, fortunately or unfortunately, I became a writer." He added that he has been waiting for a "good project for a long time" that he could direct. – IANS

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