Koffee with Karan to return with new flavour

(Rachana Dubey, Hindustan Times)

In October last year, talks for the fourth season of the celebrity chat show, Koffee With Karan, with producer-director Karan Johar were initiated. Then in December, the host had admitted that he was approached by Star World to anchor the show. But he had refused to comment on when it was likely to return. Now, the 39-year-old says, “Koffee will be back in June. We don’t have a fixed date yet, but I’m on schedule and we’ll roll soon.”

Koffee with KaranThe show is expected to take up the 9 pm slot on Sunday, soon after the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League comes to an end. “Right now, I’m working on Student Of The Year. We’re through with most of it. I’m extremely excited about this film because I’m launching new faces for the first time as a director. It should be out by September this year,” says Karan, adding with a laugh, “And who knows, by then my newbies — Varun Dhawan, Siddharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt — may have become celebrities. Then, even they will qualify to be my guests.”

Koffee With Karan season three ended on April 17 last year, after a broadcast of about 22 fresh episodes and a few repeats. Back then, Karan had stated that he had no interest in anchoring the show again.

He had said, “We should just leave Koffee With Karan where it is. Every show must have a finite run, and should end on a great note. We’ve had three successful seasons. Instead of doing season four, I’d like the audience to remember me as the host of three unforgettable editions.”

But now, the filmmaker admits he’s charged and ready to return to the small screen, as the channel has been inundated with requests to bring the show back.

“It’s humbling. Once I’m through with the shoot for Student Of The Year, I’ll start working on the guest-list for this season,” he says, adding, “I haven’t seen too many new stars. So, more or less, it will be the same faces, maybe in different combinations, because they’re all my friends and colleagues. The Koffee hamper will be back too, but I can promise we’ll devise a new format this time.”

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Has Fair First Day

(Box Office India)

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu has done fair business on day one thanks to high end multiplexes. The first day collections are around 5.25 crore nett as per early estimates. The film collected well in Mumbai city, Delhi NCR, Punjab and Mysore while other places had low collections. Single screens were very dull across the board.

Saturday will the key and good growth will give it a healthy weekend of around 18-19 crore nett and with Monday being Valentines Day the collections will hold on Monday as the film is of a romantic genre which gives Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu a chance to come up with a good week but all depends on Saturday which is litmus test.

The film has performed very well in Bangalore where its first day figures were better than many big films while on the other side collections in Bihar and CP Berar are very bad.

Imran, Kareena playing themselves in 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu': Johar

(Indian Express)

Producer Karan Johar says his upcoming release 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' has lead actors Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor essaying characters close to their real life.

"Rarely do lead actors in a film get the opportunity to essay characters that are so close to their real life character... Imran and Kareena are playing themselves in 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'," Johar said.

"And that's why they have been able to add that extra zing to their performances. Its a slice of life film... a slice of their own lives," he said.

The film has already created a buzz with the duo's unusual pairing. Reportedly, the film is made with the budget of Rs 21 crores and publicity and advertising cost is Rs eight crores. The makers have already recovered Rs 15 crores through satellite rights and Rs 6 crores through music.