Back in Bollywood Her career in Bollywood was believed to be over by trade pundits,but Shruti Haasans latest assignment challenges that presumption. Signed on by Prabhudheva for his next Hindi film,a remake of the directors debut film in Telugu,Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana,it will see Haasan paired opposite producer Ramesh Tauranis son Girish. The actress believes it is the byproduct of her recent,successful films. My last two releases have made a difference my performance in the Tamil film 3 with Dhanush was appreciated and Gabbar Singh,the Telugu remake of Dabangg,has been a huge box-office success, she says. Haasan explains that she was unprepared for a career in films since she aspired to become a musician. But I feel more confident now with some experience behind me, she adds. Also,she believes that her stint as a playback singer in films brings together both her love for music and acting. Interestingly,both Haasan and Prabhudheva have moved bag and baggage to Mumbai in order to focus on their careers in Bollywood. Two is Company THE tiff between filmmaker Tarun Mansukhani and Karan Johar may have put Dostanas sequel on the back burner. But there are other directors willing to cash in on Abhishek Bachchan and John Abrahams on-screen chemistry. Although he is currently busy with the Zanjeer remake,director Apoorva Lakhia is likely to sign on Abraham and Bachchan for his next film. However,in contrast to Mansukhanis comedy where the two actors played friends,Lakhia is keen to cast them in action-driven roles. Festive Spirit A fair mix of independent and mainstream films from India have made it to the Toronto International Film Festival,scheduled from September 6-16 this year. Part of the City to City programme,10 films that focus on contemporary India have been selected the two-part Gangs of Wasseypur directed by Anurag Kashyap,Habib Faisals Ishaqzaade,Ashim Ahluwalias Miss Lovely,Manjeet Singhs Mumbai Cha Raja,Vasan Balas Peddlers,Hansal Mehtas Shahid,Dibakar Banerjees Shanghai,Anand Gandhis Ship of Theseus and Mohit Takalkars The Bright Day. We have tried to shortlist films that have shifted the terrain,probing into previously tabooed subjects and adopting styles earlier perceived unpalatable to the Indian audience, said TIFFs artistic director,Cameron Bailey.
