'I Hate Luv Storys' doing better than expected: Imran

Romantic comedy "I Hate Luv Storys" has collected approximately Rs.21.5 crore in the domestic circuit in the first three days of its release and hero Imran Khan says he is surprised by the "grand opening" it has got.

"I feel honestly very surprised with the numbers. I had told (director) Punit Malhotra that it's a very good film and I was quite confident with the way it was promoted, but I didn't expect such a opening,"Imran told IANS over the telephone.

"I Hate Luv Storys" is a rom-com where Imran plays a bit of a womaniser and also stars Sonam Kapoor.

Asked if he thought it was wise to release the film after "Kites" and "Raavan", he said: "I think everything went in our favour. There are the things you can't plan for and everything happened by good fortune."

Imran has signed a film with producer-director Karan Johar and it was rumoured that he would be romancing Kareena Kapoor in the movie.

"See, I have signed another film with Karan, but until he announces it I can't talk anything about it,"Imran said.

Imran is also wrapping up director Kunal Kohli's "Break Ke Baad", in which he will be seen opposite Deepika Padukone.

"It's a romantic and coming of age film. It's of a multiple genre," the young actor said, unwilling to disclose anything more about the film.

Speculation was also rife that Imran may tie the knot with his girlfriend Avantika Malik in January 2011, but he denied it, saying that he would be shooting during that period.

"Actually in January, I will be shooting for Karan's film," he said.

9th Lux Style Awards – Music Nomination Details

Singer of the Year:

Zain ul Abideen
Imran Khan
Chal Bulleya by Mekaal Hasan Band from Saptak
Rahim Shah
Shiraz Uppal

Best Artist:

Maryam Kizilbash
Mekaal Hasan Band for Saptak
Overload for Pichal Pairee
Rahim Shah
Shiraz Uppal

Best Music Video Director:

Ahsan Rahim
Bilal Lashari for Chal Bulleya by Mekaal Hasan Band
Farhad Humayun for Mela Kariyay by Overload
Sohail Javed
Zeeshan Parwez

Best Music Producer:

Mekaal Hassan for Saptak
Farhad Humayun for Pichal Pairee, Overload
Shiraz Uppal for Ankahi
Shani and Kami for Rahim Shah
Rohail Hyatt for the Coke Studio Sessions

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI going GHAJINI way?

Ekta Kapoor partners with a leading multiplex for the promotion of her forthcoming film. The promotional campaign that will be running across 28 locations and 93 screens spread over the country will see the ushers in the multiplex dressed in a 70's get up keeping with the theme of the film. The promotional campaign reminds one of GHAJINI's promotions in which the ushers of some leading multiplexes sported Aamir Khan's bald look from the film.

Seen through the eyes of a police officer, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI traces the changing face of the Mumbai underworld. The film, set primarily in 1970 Mumbai, follows the rise of Sultan (Ajay Devgn), and his eventual fall, when his protege Shoaib (Emraan Hashmi), challenges his supremacy, and usurps power to rule the murky underbelly of Mumbai.

CHECK OUT: ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI Music Review

Speaking about this innovative marketing idea, Mr. Vikram Malhotra - COO - Motion Pictures at Balaji, said, 'It is imperative to create the right kind of buzz for a film especially in the environment where the film is viewed by its audience. ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is a stylish ode to the retro cool era of the 70s and we felt that it would be perfect if we could present the film in an exciting manner to its patrons in advance of the film's release. From now to the release of the film, the customer-facing personnel of our partner multiplex chain would be clothed in the chic 70s style which will give our audience a flavor of things to come. This is just one amongst several such innovative and exciting efforts that are woven around Once UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI. Get ready for 30th July!'

'It's a very interesting promotional tie-up. We have chosen average 3 to 4 ushers/cafe boys from each location which totals around 150 promoters. Their body-measurements are taken and the designers of film are working on the wardrobe based on the 70s theme of dressing. They will wear tight shirts and bell-bottoms keeping intact the element of our corporate dressing,' adds Devang Sampat, President Cinemax India Ltd.

Balaji & Milan Luthria's ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is all set to release worldwide on 30th July 2010.

I Hate Luv Storys draws worse than Raavan and Kites

Much as a lobby in media papers and some affiliated portals have been reporting bloated figures and occupancies for I Hate Luv Storys as a commercial grosser, comparing it to All India hits like Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani and what not, the reality on the ground is much different, even at the multiplexes. The Karan Johar film featuring Imran Khan-Sonam Kapoor has lower figures and occupancies than even last month's disaster Raavan in India (Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai), and less than Kites (Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori), which too was a disaster, and quite a lot worse than Prakash Jha's Rajneeti which was a hit.

Even in overseas in North America where it released mid-week Wednesday itself looking to capitalize on 4th July holiday coming up there, IHLS the film's collections were not upto expectation given it's a Karan Johar production, collecting a subpar 375K over the 3 day weekend and 535k over the extended 6 day wednesday-monday period there. Raavan which was a disaster overseas also 2 weeks before fetched $482k over its 3 day opening weekend despite opening below expectations and crashing on Sunday. Rajneeti earlier in June did $850k in USA for its 3 day weekend despite supposedly being an Indian interiors themed film.

In India, contrary to opening average of 80-90% claims across all multiplexes last Friday for IHLS, the multiplex opening average for this 'youth-centric' fare was actually closer to 40%-50% opening average with single screens much much lower. And by Wednesday, with possible exception of Delhi metro, the same multiplexes were drawing hardly 10-20 people for this 'multiplex hit'. This can be verified by visiting a multiplex like Cinemax in Andheri in Mumbai or Fame in Highland park in Calcutta. Coming up 2nd weekend too is equally shaky. The multiplexes have been asked to allocate large number of screenings again but the actual advance bookings are sad. Not even 1% in some cases.

The collections are barely over 26-27 crores (even less according to some distributors) with occupancies worse than the flops of recent past.

` sOuth indian beaUty parvati meltOn `

` katrina kaif at a stage shOw `

Aish in exrtemly posing

` pretty sOuth indian actress tamanna `

` heidi mOntag lOves ice cream `

Reality TV star Heidi Montag has recently field for divorce from husband Spencer Pratt. The relationship between the couple has become peculiar in recent months.

The couple, who worked together in MTV series 'The Hills', tied the knot in 2008 in a ceremony in Mexico. The following year they exchanged vows for a second time in Pasadena, California, amid claims that their Mexican nuptials were not legal.

` expressiOns :: kareena kapoOr `