Kurbaan Premier - Pics

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Vivek Oberoi Promotes Film 'Kurbaan' At The Radio Mirchi Studios - Photos

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Kurbaan - Movie Review

Post 9/11, there's anger, distrust, suspicion, uneasiness all around. Not a day passes when you don't hear of terrorists killing civilians in the name of religion.

Many storytellers have, in the past, narrated stories about terrorists and their nefarious and despicable plans. But let me state one thing categorically. You haven't watched a more profound, a more thought-provoking, a more dramatic story on this subject before KURBAAN. It's not just the most powerful film to come out of Dharma Productions, it's the most powerful film to come out of the Hindi film industry this year, thus far.

KURBAAN tries to penetrate into the psyche of not just the terrorist, but also someone who has been a helpless spectator all this while. This film is sure to spark off discussions and debates, although it must also be noted that it doesn't take sides or gets preachy.

Rensil D'Silva has chosen a burning issue for his directorial debut, which is a complete departure from Karan Johar's earlier films. For some inexplicable reasons, parallels are being drawn with FANAA [Aamir Khan, Kajol] and NEW YORK [John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Katrina Kaif], but the fact remains that barring the backdrop of terrorism, there's no similarity with those films.

I've often felt that certain films are beyond box-office. Movies are not meant to merely entertain, but enlighten and educate as well. They need to prick your conscience and in the process, make an attempt to make this world a better place. KURBAAN does just that and for this very reason, it deserves a double thumbs up.

Final word? Drop everything else you're doing to watch KURBAAN. Movies like these need to be made, encouraged and lauded.

Avantika [Kareena Kapoor] is a teacher at a university in Delhi. She has come back from New York where she teaches, because her father [Aakash Khurana] has suffered a heart attack. During this period, she meets a Professor called Ehsaan Khan [Saif Ali Khan]. Soon, they begin seeing each other and love blossoms.

A few months later, Avantika receives a call from her university in New York, asking her to come back. Avantika breaks the news to Ehsaan. He, in turn, tells her he doesn't mind coming to the States with her. But first they need to get married.

Soon after the marriage, they leave to start a new life in New York. They buy a house in an Indian neighbourhood and move in. Just as they are setting up home, their conservative Muslim neighbours invite them over for dinner. The next morning, Salma [Nauheed Cyrusi], one of the women Avantika met the night before at the dinner, visits her under the pretext of gifting her sweets.

When Avantika invites her in, Salma tells her that she is in grave danger. Nothing is what it seems. Salma pleads with Avantika to help her. What follows next is a series of incidents that sucks Avantika into a vortex of danger and intrigue. As her life spirals out of control, Avantika realizes that she is a pawn in a huge game.

KURBAAN has two stories running concurrently - the love story between Saif and Kareena and the story of Islamic terrorists. Rensil sets the stage in the initial 15 minutes itself, after which there's a twist in the tale every 15-20 minutes, which catches you completely unaware. Rensil doesn't borrow from the past, which makes the proceedings thoroughly captivating.

The highpoint is the 35-minute climax, which leaves you spellbound. The culmination to the story shakes you completely, largely because it's pragmatic and has been executed most logically as well. In fact, filming the climax at the various underground tube stations must've been the toughest challenge for the director.

On the flip side, KURBAAN caters more to the intelligentsia or the thinking viewer and might not be lapped up whole-heartedly by those who survive on the staple diet of hardcore masala fares.

Some of the finest technicians in the business are associated with KURBAAN. Hemant Chaturvedi's cinematography is super. The film bears an international look all through. Salim-Sulaiman's music is well integrated in the narrative. At least two tracks merit a mention - 'Shukran Allah' and 'Ali Maula'. Anurag Kashyap and Niranjan Iyengar's dialogue are superb. The lines enhance the impact of several sequences. Thrills are, again, in sync with the mood of the film.

KURBAAN is embellished with superlative performances. Saif is extra-ordinary in a role that only proves his versatility once again. If he won your heart with a winning performance in LOVE AAJ KAL a few months ago, you need to watch this supremely talented actor underplay his part so beautifully in KURBAAN. As for Kareena, KURBAAN reiterates one fact yet again: She's the best in the business. No two opinions on that! Watch her get those emotional sequences right, it's incredible. Here's a performance that truly merits the highest praise and admiration, besides fetching her awards and accolades.

Vivek Oberoi is fantastic. Matching Saif and Kareena at every step, KURBAAN should be the turning point in Vivek's career. It's a difficult role to portray and only an actor with a wide range could've portrayed this part so effectively. Om Puri is top notch and so is Kirron Kher. Kirron is marvellous, especially in the penultimate scene. Dia Mirza, Nauheed Cyrusi and Kulbhushan Kharbanda lend credibility to their brief roles.

On the whole, KURBAAN is the most powerful film to come out of the Hindi film industry in 2009, so far. The film has a captivating plot, gripping screenplay, super performances and a climax that shakes you up completely. Watching this movie should be on top of your agenda this week.

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Saif wants to be the hero! Buzz up!

Saif Ali Khan talks about his roles, his lady love and the highly-anticipated Kurbaan.

‘I may play negative or gray characters to expand myself as an actor but at the end of the day, I always want to be the hero. It’s more challenging and exciting to play gray roles than an outright bad character as gray characters have layers you can explore and there is a sense of mystery,’ says Saif, who plays a terrorist in Kurbaan.

In Kurbaan’s Saif’s Ehsaan woos Kareena’s Avantika. They get married and go to the US of A where Kareena discovers that Saif is a terrorist mastermind who married her to keep his reputation clean. She doesn’t approve of his activities so he keeps her under house-arrest as he goes about executing a plan to blow an aircraft. Vivek and Dia play journalists and Om Puri is Saif’s boss.

Talking about his real-life girlfriend Kareena, he says, ‘She makes me feel special and we share a connection which one can only feel when love is true. I have immense respect for her as an individual. Our relationship is based on love and mutual respect and trust. I am very proud of the person and professional she is and she is proud of me too. We balance each other emotionally and that is a wonderful gift to be blessed with.’

With Kurbaan’s release around the corner, Saif is gearing up for his next production, Agent Vinod which he says is a fun and slick action film in which he will be seen in yet another new avatar.

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Saif and Kareena at Hungama Digital's press meet for Kurbaan - Pics

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“I was offered New York”

Says Saif Ali Khan while in Dubai with girlfriend Kareena, to promote his latest film Kurbaan

The interviews with the media were scheduled at Park Hyatt from 2.30pm yesterday, but Saif Ali Khan and girl friend and co-star Kareena Kapoor walked in exactly one and a half hour late. Saif apologized for the delay and Kareena kept beaming her dazzling smile. And then Saif looked at the much-talked about Kurbaan poster and said, “Wow! Who’s that hot guy? Oh! That’s me.”

This bold poster is already the talk of the town. What’s Saif’s take on it? He says, “I have got so much feedback for this poster that I already feel the film is a hit.” When we asked Kareena, who was just sitting a few feet away from Saif and giving interviews, the same question, the lady admiringly looked at the giant poster standing behind her and said, “There is no doubt it is bold but then it also translates the emotional and raw intensity of the film. I think this is the only way it could have been shown.”

The look might be different but isn’t the storyline of Kurbaan strangely similar to New York? Saif said, “I had gone through the script of New York since I was offered a role in the film. I have not seen the film except for the songs and I think it has a very young storyline with college guys partying at pubs and having fun on the campus. On the contrary Kurbaan is very mature.”

Kareena adds, “The film is gritty, gripping and cutting edge. It is a love story where the woman has a very important role and audiences will keep on thinking what will happen to her?”

What happens to her? We definitely want to know.

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Bebo and Saif to bring up international terrorism on Bush's Delhi visit

Will talk on international terrorism on October 31 when George W Bush comes to Delhi

At a conference in Delhi on October 31, Kareena Kapoor and beau Saif Ali Khan will share the platform with former US president George W Bush. The couple intends to broach the subject of international terrorism, which is also the theme of their ready-to-release film Kurbaan.

While Saif is preparing his points for the big day, Kareena will go with the flow at her meeting with Bush. "I'm a very spontaneous person. It's like that with my acting. It would be like that when I meet Mr Bush. Jo dil mein hai woh bolungi."

This is the first time that Kareena will be addressing an international summit. But she isn't the least bit nervous.

"By now I've gained enough confidence to be able to speak at such summits with some amount of confidence.

Nowadays, you can't afford to have your head buried in the sand. You have to know what's happening in the world around you." Kareena admits Saif is a better talker. "In fact, I've learnt a lot of new words from him. But even otherwise I think I speak quite well."

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Exclusive: Kurbaan - Theatrical Trailer

KURBAAN - THEATRICAL TRAILER (HQ) FEATURING KAREENA KAPOOR, SAIF ALI KHAN

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Kurbaan - First Look

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Why's Bebo blushing

Kurbaan, the Karan Johar film in which Kareena Kapoor romances real life lover Saif Ali Khan is said to have some steamy scenes between the two actors.

And it’s said that there’s also a love-making scene where the sexy lass has exposed her bare back! Bebo, who returned from her Swiss vacation apparently dropped by to see best friend Karan, and got compliments galore for her performance in the film. Blushing beetroot red, Bebo went back enthused. She will now do a final three-day schedule for the movie.

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Critics will love me in Kurbaan: Kareena

She has played a prostitute, a bubbly girl-next-door and the ultimate glamour queen in her almost decade-long career, but Kareena Kapoor says "Kurbaan" has given her the opportunity to sink her teeth into one of the best roles in her career.

"I am so confident that in 'Kurbaan', audiences will take to my character in a big way," said Kareena, who looks forward to playing a variety of roles across different genres of films.

"Especially after 'Kambakkht Ishq', they would see a different me in the film," Kareena told IANS.

A Karan Johar production, "Kurbaan" is directed by first time director Rensil D'Silva and has terrorism as its background.

"The girl's role is very strong in 'Kurbaan' and I have worked really hard on my performance. I'm expecting a lot from the film," said the actress, who has won critical acclaim for her performance in "Dev" and "Omkara".

Kareena is paired with boyfriend Saif Ali Khan in "Kurbaan", which also stars Vivek Oberoi, Dia Mirza, Kirron Kher and Om Puri in principal roles.

The actress says she is once again expecting accolades from critics for her performance in the film.

"Well frankly, this is one film where I am expecting both box-office success and huge critical acclaim. The film is extremely well made and, to add to that, quite topical," she said confidently.

With music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim-Sulaiman, "Kurbaan" is aiming for a November release.

For Kareena, 2009 would be an eventful year as it would also see the release of Rajkumar Hirani's "3 Idiots", where she is paired opposite Aamir Khan, and debutant director Prem R. Soni's "Main Aur Mrs. Khanna" with Salman Khan.

After being in the industry for close to a decade, doesn't she aspire for more awards?

"See, ever since I began my career, I have always maintained that I want to be a star actress. I should give the kind of confidence to filmmakers that I can carry off any role confidently. Whether it is a Geet ('Jab We Met') or a Dolly ('Omkara'), Simrita ('Kambakkht Ishq') or the character I play in 'Kurbaan' - I am mixing it up all.

"For me, work is like a passion and when I do a film, I don't really think of commercial gains or awards. What is most important for me is to be engaged in some quality stuff. I sign a film because I like to enact the character that I have been offered. If box office success and awards come then, well, it's great," she said.

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