Shortcut Romeo 'drains' Ameesha Patel

Plus, Irfan says Indian cinema is becoming international; Karan Johar goes from directing to dancing

Ameesha Patel plays a villain in Shortcut Romeo. The film premiered at Cannes this year. Getty Images

The actress Ameesha Patel said she was left physically and mentally drained after filming Shortcut Romeo. Patel plays a villain in the crime thriller, which premiered this year at Cannes. "It's the most challenging role I've done," said Patel, 37. "For every scene, I had to bring out my 'inner demon'. I'd be so exhausted afterwards; I had no energy to do anything." – IANS

Arab showcase for Yas Formula One weekend

The Arab superstars Amr Diab, Hussain Al Jassmi and Elissa will be performing as part of the after-race events during the Formula One weekend in Abu Dhabi. Diab, the biggest-selling Arab artist of all time, will top the bill on October 31 for the first of four days of music concerts on Yas Island. The award-winning Emirati artist Al Jassmi and the Lebanese star Elissa, who is a three-time world music award-winner, will go on stage before Diab in an Arab music showcase organised by Yasalam. Both artists also are judges on The X Factor Arabia 2013. The concert will take place in the arena that opened adjacent to the Formula One racetrack in 2009. Since then, more than 50 artists have played there, including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Beyoncé and Madonna. The UK electronic band Depeche Mode will perform at the November 3 finale. The line-up for the November 1 and 2 concerts have not been announced. – The National staff

Irfan says Indian cinema is becoming international

The Life of Pi and Slumdog Millionaire actor Irfan, who uses only his first name, believes Bollywood is more accessible to global audiences. In an interview at the Cannes Film Festival, where his new film The Lunchbox picked up the Grand Rail d'Or award, Irfan said Indian cinema will evolve "drastically and very quickly" over the next decade. The Lunchbox, directed by Ritesh Batra with Indian, French and German production teams, is an example of a new trend emerging in the Indian market, Irfan explained. "I have been saying this to producers for years now – collaborate with producers from other countries and we will have an international product. Now it has started happening and this will help us find new markets." – Reuters

Karan Johar goes from directing to dancing

Karan Johar will feature in the forthcoming season of the television dance show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. Affectionately called K-Jo, Johar has been taking lessons from the choreographer Remo D'Souza and hopes to make an impression when the show starts on Saturday. The panel includes D'Souza and the actress Madhuri Dixit, who is known as Bollywood's best dancer. "I don't have the right to even move a foot when Madhuri is around. But Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a dance show, so I have no choice but to do it," said Johar. – IANS

Zee TV gives mums a chance to dance

Dance India Dance (DID), a dance-based reality TV show, is back with a new platform this summer: DID Super Moms is for women who gave up their passion for dancing to become mothers. The contest will be judged by the choreographer and director Farah Khan, who said it is "an amazing opportunity for the women". The 15-week series will have 16 dancers divided into four teams, each with a separate coach. The grandmaster Mithun Chakraborty said the contestants "shocked and stumped" him. Beginning this Saturday, DID Super Moms will be broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays on Zee TV. – IANS

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