Bollywood rendezvous at DIFF

DIFF will prove to be a meeting place for Indian directors and actors.

Leading the fray is acclaimed Bollywood director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who will be giving us a sneak preview into his next project Dilli 6. Mehra brings with him a star-studded entourage comprising

Bollywood newly-crowned comedy king Abhishek Bachchan and rising star Sonam Kapoor. They are poised to play the lead roles in Mehra's third directorial venture.

The festival also marks the arrival of Priety Zinta, the lead actress of Deepa Mehta's critically-acclaimed film Heaven On Earth (HOE).

Zinta, who is also the Honourary Chair of amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS (the foundation for AIDS research), is currently riding high after winning the Best Actress award a the recent Chicago Film Festival for her role as a battered Punjabi housewife in HOE.

The star-line up does not end here. Sultry beauty Nandita Das, who is known for her bold roles in the film Deepa Mehta's Fire, will be descending upon Dubai to promote her directorial debut Firaq.

Close on her heels, are actors Anil Kapoor and Freida Pinto, who will be in town to promote their film SlumDog Millionaire - a gripping tale about a boy's survival in the streets of Mumbai.

South Indians too have a reason to rejoice as DIFF brings with it award-winning actor Mammooty into its glitzy fold.

Bollywood movies to watch

Heaven On Earth
It's not often that we see the bubbly Bollywood actress Preity Zinta in grim roles. Known for her glamorous roles in movies such as Kal Ho Na Ho and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Zinta is believed to have swept the floor with her compelling performance as a gullible Indian girl trapped in an abusive arranged marriage in HOE.

The movie garners a must-watch tag for another reason. The Toronto-based director Deepa Mehta rarely goes wrong with her provocative movies.

Showing:
December 13, Mall Of The Emirates, 9pm
December 16; Mall Of The Emirates, 3.30pm

Yes Madam, Sir
This 95-minute film will find takers among all those who have been fascinated by the real-life trail-blazing female Indian cop Kiran Bedi.

The documentary, directed by the Australian filmmaker Megan Doneman, throws light on some of her daring missions to root out the corruption in the Indian establishment.

Showing:
December 12, Mall Of The Emirates, 12.30
December 14, Mall Of The Emirates, 18.45
December 16: Mall Of The Emirates, 12,15

SlumDog Millionaire
A tea-boy's struggle to survive in the slums of Mumbai form the crux of this gripping tale. Featuring actors Irrfan Khan, Anil Kapoor and Freida Pinto, the movie is sure to infotain.

Showing:
December 17, Madinat Arena, 8pm
December 18, Festival City, 9pm

Tickets

Tickets for all the DIFF screenings and events went on sale online at www.dubaifilmfest.com on Monday and hard copy tickets will be available from Thursday at Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Festival City cinemas, as well as at the Madinat Box Office.