PEOPLE
India Abroad
October 7, 2011
007 derailed
So you thought that was impossible? Not for the Indianbureaucracy. Plans
to film the 23rd James Bond
movie in India have been shelved because the production
house failed to reach an agreement with the Indian Railways, reports the Times of
India. Director Sam Mendes
had reportedly planned to film
an action sequence on railway
tracks in Gujarat. It was rumored that he was also keen to
shoot in Mumbai and Goa with
Daniel Craig and Javier Barde-m. But an official from the production house told the newspaper last week, ‘Bond will not
be coming to India,’ citing ‘
delayed permissions’ as the reason. Though the Indian Railways said the decision had nothing to do with them, as the
arrangements for the 2012
shoot were finalized September 12, the loss, we have to say,
is entirely theirs.
PRADEEP BANDEKAR
Paris Hilton flanked by designer
Rocky S and socialite Queenie Singh
‘Namaste, India,’ said Paris Hilton, as she kept her first date with the country last week. Paris, who visited
Mumbai for three days to launch her line of
handbags and accessories, fell in love with the
place. “I think it’s an amazing place,” she told
India Abroad. “Everyone, who talks of coming
here, feels it’s a special place. I feel it’s a very
spiritual and magical country. I landed in
Mumbai at 4 am and didn’t expect so many of
my fans and media to be present so early in the
morning!”
Paris said India had been on her mind for a
long time: “There have been so many fans out
here and they write to me to visit India. I have
been very busy, but somehow this time, it
worked out. I am glad to be here. India is such
a huge market. We are opening two stores in
India and eventually, will expand to 50 stores.”
“I am obsessed with Indian designers,” she
Ahem...
separated at birth?
AdatewithParis
said. “I am very inspired by them. I recently
shot the cover of Marie Claire India. Rocky S
was my designer and he is amazing... And I
love the sari. I would love to wear it in
America.”
Paris spent a lot of time partying with
Mumbai’s glitterati. “I think Bollywood films
are beautiful,” she said. “I have been
approached to be a part of Bollywood films. I
think if I get the right script and an interesting
role, then I would love to do a (Hindi) film.”
She said she would also love to bring her real-
ity show, Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, to India.
For the moment though, Paris has just taken
away memories to share with friends (includ-
ing one named India!) — “as so many of them
have been here” — saris, bindis and jewelry.
She is looking forward to “launching a new
perfume, a range of boutique hotels, writing
my new book, recording my new album,”
maybe coming up with a line of yoga clothes,
meeting a man “who can make me laugh, who
is true, honest and cute,” and “coming back to
India.”
— Sonil Dedhia
SANJAY SAWANT/REDIFF. COM
Johnny Depp Salman Rushdie
JEAN-PAUL PELISSIER/REUTERS
ANDRE W WINNING/REU TERS
OK we can’t, but Salman Rushdie can. The novelist says he wants Hollywood hottie Johnny Depp to play him in any biopic, because they are ‘quite similar!’ Rushdie, who is putting the finishing touches to his autobiography and is keen to make it into a movie, told the Daily Mail, ‘It’s a long read and I’m really excited about finishing the project
over the next few months. If it is made into a film it would have to star someone with a striking resemblance to me, so I’m
trying to persuade Johnny Depp. I saw him and I think we’re quite similar.’
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