Summer movies in crisis in Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, times are tough and getting tougher, and as the summer movie season’s first half launches on Friday with X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Hollywood is banking on escapist fare and fantasy flicks to cheer recession-weary audiences. Following Wolverine comes the big-budget reboot of Star Trek, conspiracy-minded Angels & Demons and action-packed Terminator Salvation. And the summer’s stars are A-list too, from Tom Hanks to Will Ferrell to Jennifer Aniston. Why all the hype around Hollywood’s summer that starts in May and runs through August? Those four months can rake-in up to 40% of annual ticket sales, so if summer tanks from the start, Hollywood dips into its own financial funk. But one star says he’s not feeling any pressure from appearing in the first big film: Hugh Wolverine Jackman. “Whatever (launch) date it is, I’d want it to do well,” Jackman said about his new X-Men movie. “I probably put more credence into that — whether people have a great time — than how well it does at the box office. I’m a big believer that money and box office will take care” of themselves. Despite an unfinished version of the movie that leaked online, Wolverine — in which Jackman plays a “mutant” battling bad guys with his retractable claws — is expected to boost box office in an already strong year as fans look to escape the hum-drum of everyday life. Year-to-date, the US box office stands at $3.06 billion, which is up 17.4% from the year before, according to box office tracker Media by Numbers. Of course, Wolverine is not the only game in Tinseltown. It opens Friday against romance Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, starring Matthew McConaughey as a Scrooge-like womaniser visited by ghosts that help him renew his love for a childhood sweetheart. Also that first big weekend is animated adventure Battle for Terra, about a peaceful alien planet invaded by humans.

I won't mind wearing a bikini: Anjana Sukhani

Anjana Sukhani says she is game for bikinis if her role really demands it. Though she has adopted a glamorous persona in films like "Golmaal Returns" and "Salaam-E-Ishq", the actress is yet to join the bikini brigade. "It's not in my wish list either. However, there comes a point in your career where you get a film that requires you to shed your inhibitions. Of course, the role that I play has to be of utmost importance - if it is justified for the character to wear a bikini, then I won't fret about it," Anjana told. Skin show has taken a different dimension in the last few months with actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Minissha Lamba and Amisha Patel getting into the swim wear for their roles. Also with dozens of film and fashion agazines hitting the stands, actresses are making a bee line to be seen on the cover. "I'm very sure about the fact that posing seductively for the camera doesn't really pay. It can't help you grab work. What eventually matters is how talented you are and whether you can deliver goods on the screen," said the actress who had grabbed attention in the Cadbury ad with superstar Amitabh Bachchan. But being in the glamour world where beauty sells, isn't that a dicey statement to make? "Of course, looking pretty is a valuable thing, but then talent matters as well", said Anjana. "At the end of the day, it is about coming up with a balancing act. Being 'just pretty' or 'just talented' doesn't help because one of them working just in isolation can't take you anywhere. You have to have a good mix of both."

Salman's snaps in Asin's bedroom!

Katrina Kaif better not read or hear the latest gossip that rumour mills in Bollywood are churning. The newest piece of goss from tinsel town is that there’s something brewing between Salman Khan and his London Dreams co-star Asin . The two have been bonding big time on the sets of the Vipul Amrutlal Shah movie and their chemistry has extended beyond their work, something that could become a cause of worry for Katrina Kaif , Sallu’s present girlfriend. Rumours say Asin has become so fond of Salman that she has the walls of her bedroom covered with the snaps and posters of the 43-year-old star. A Mumbai tabloid even goes on to quote a source as saying that Salman has gifted a flat to Asin, who used to have permanent residence only in South till recently. Now, thanks to the said flat in Lokhandwala, she has a working base in Mumbai. Another similar rumour doing the rounds in Bollywood is that of growing closeness between Preity Zinta and hotelier, businessman and small-time actor Vikram Chatwal . Cracks have reportedly appeared in Preity’s love life with longtime beau Ness Wadia, while on the other hand, Vikram’s marriage with Priya Sachdev is said to be on the rocks. With their respective romantic affairs going through a rough patch, Preity and Vikram have begun bonding well, and the sparking chemistry between them was for all to see at the after party of Mai Mumbai show at Lakme Fashion Week.