Maneesh Sharma’s BAND BAAJA BARAAT (Wedding Planners) produced by Yashraj Films has been nominated in this year’s Asia Pacific Screen Awards best film category along with some of the films that have been winning accolades and honours across the globe.

She easily evades uncomfortable questions and can talk non-stop. It’s been over three years in Bollywood, and Anushka Sharma sure knows her way around gossip and controversy. After the release of her successful debut movie, ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 2008, the 23-yearold from Bangalore was hailed as one of the most promising actresses in Bollywood.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali who is judging a reality show currently feels there is plenty of talent in this country and entertainment has become a big platform for talent today. The director-turned-judge speaks about new talent in the industry.

Art
Acting, dancing, singing everything is a part of art and in India art is called as Maa Saraswati. I am glad to see so much talent in India and everyone has their own creativeness. There was a time when talent and film industry was restricted to few but today everyone is giving a chance to talented people and I am very happy to see new talent.

Today’s cinema
The way we are supporting new artists, we can also see new directors with new ideas in Bollywood with new kinds of cinema. Like Dev D was a modern Devdas. The concept was novel and cool and I totally loved the film. Then Aamir was another wonderful film. Band Bajaa Baraat was also a good film with a new subject and actors. All these films are made by new directors so today cinema gates are open for everyone with talent.

Shah Rukh Khan was named the best actor male for Karan Johar's 'My Name Is Khan', while Anushka Sharma picked the trophy for her role in 'Band Baaja Baraat' at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Toronto.

Anushka, who played a lively wedding planner in the movie, got her trophy from Shilpa Shetty while Shah Rukh got his award from Anil Kapoor and American actress Hilary Swank, a surprise attraction at IIFA.

The best director award went to Karan Johar for 'My Name Is Khan' - a story of a Muslim boy suffering from Asperger's syndrome.

It was the dark horse with its successful run at the box office and even at...Maneesh Sharma's Band Baaja Baaraat won three IIFA awards on Friday night as Sonu Nigam joined Jermaine Jackson, elder brother of the late Michael Jackson, to pay a moving musical tribute to the legend at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards here.

In fact, Nigam's Thank you for the legacy on the second death anniversary of the 'King of Pop' set the stage for the IIFA Rocks show in the city's ultra-modern Ricoh Coliseum, jampacked with more than 25,000 people.

'I want to say how much I love you, because I see Michael in each one of you,'' said Jermaine, the former Jackson 5 singer, as he ended the soulful song with Nigam.

Band Baaja Baaraat took people by surprise with its freshness, warmth and realistic feel of the main protagonists, the bubbly lovable Bittoo and the ambitious Shruthi. It was the dark horse with its successful run at the box office and even at majority of the Indian awards.

With a successful sweep of all the Best Debut Director and Best Debut Male Actor awards at the award ceremonies, audiences are now waiting to see the if the magic of India’s favourite new on-screen Jodi will work again at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA). Anushka Sharma, whose previous films focused more on the male protagonist, gave a fresh new revival to her career, while Ranveer Singh became a household name thanks to the most successful debut that’s been seen in a long time.

Anushka Sharma has been busy shooting for Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl with Ranveer Singh in Goa. But wasn’t she only committed to a three-film exclusive contract with Yashraj Films? Why a fourth movie after Rab Ne Bana De Jodi (2008), Badmaash Company (2010) and Band Baaja Baraat (2010)? Is it because she can’t say no to mentor Aditya Chopra?

The actor insists that she was never tied down to an exclusive contract with Yashraj. “Yes, Adi is my mentor, but he doesn’t decide which movies I should do, nor does he make movies for me,” she grouses. “I take his help when I’m in need, and if he has a script he feels will suit me, he approaches me without any pressures whatsoever to take it on. If I’m doing a fourth film with Yashraj, it’s only because Adi respects my talent. Period.”

Lately, there have been rumours about Anushka acting pricey. She apparently refused to promote Patiala House earlier this year. “I did more for it than any other film of mine. Yashraj doesn’t promote its films much, but for Patiala House, I toured five cities in one day,” she protests, adding, “The film was not the usual Akshay Kumar comedy, but it did get me plenty of respect as an actor.”