James Bond: The New Face of Indian Railways?

If you thought flying cars, a submarine hybrid and a fleet of Aston Martins were James Bond’s only vehicles of choice, you may be in for a surprise.

Daniel Craig, who will star in “Bond 23,” the next James Bond sequel, is likely to be signed as the official ambassador of Indian Railways, Dinesh Trivedi, India’s railways minister, said in an interview. He hopes that having Mr. Craig as brand ambassador will revamp the reputation of India’s rail network, which he says is in urgent need of an “image makeover.”

Indian Railways, a state-run mammoth organization, is better known for running behind schedule than for its cutting-edge technology. Its trains are generally packed, old and slow. This is in sharp contrast with the suave image cultivated by James Bond, who typically cruises in sleek, high-speed M16 vehicles fully kitted with gizmos and gadgets.

It is unclear how sluggish Indian trains fit with the James Bond persona. So what’s in it for Mr. Craig? The new Bond movie’s production company – the London-based EON Productions – is keen to shoot part of the film in India and this would include a train-based action sequence, Mr. Trivedi said. Last week, members of the film’s production team met ministry officials to get permission to film on India’s trains and tracks. Among the conditions set by the ministry to allow them to film: that Mr. Craig lend himself to an Indian Railways television ad.

Since the partnership is at a nascent stage, the ministry is yet to contact an advertising agency. Nevertheless, they are already brainstorming possible taglines for the ads. Mr. Trivedi mentioned one of them: “The name’s Bond, James Bond. But Indian Railways is stronger than James Bond!” While this hits all the key words, it may need a little fine tuning.

Safety concerns were another issue. Though the original screenplay required Mr. Craig to fight on the roof of a moving train, the railway ministry said he persuaded the producers to modify the scene. “The ministry raised concerns because travelling on train rooftops is illegal. We didn’t want the global community to have an unrealistic picture of the Indian Railways” said Mr. Trivedi.

No final agreement has yet been signed between the railway ministry and the production house, though Mr. Trivedi expects it to be reached soon.

EON Productions and their Indian partners, India Take One Productions, declined to comment on whether Mr. Craig will participate in an Indian Railways commercial nor on whether they agreed to tweak the screenplay as per Mr. Trivedi’s suggestion.

The train sequence is likely to be filmed near Ahmedabad, in India’s state of Gujarat, in January. According to local media reports, other Indian locations the movie may be shot in include Goa and Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar, a market known for its knock-off high street clothing. The production company confirmed that they are planning to shoot parts of the movie in India but did not elaborate further.

Directed by Sam Mendes, Bond 23 is slated for worldwide release in 2012. Source

India orders James Bond train stunt rewrite

NEW DELHI, Sept 3, 2011 (AFP) - India has asked the makers of the latest James Bond movie to change a stunt showing people travelling on train rooftops, saying it would depict the state-run railway in a poor light.

"Rooftop travel is illegal in India and it cannot be encouraged," Indian Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi told AFP on Saturday. Many Indians seek to avoid paying for tickets by travelling on the roof.

Daniel Craig, who plays the world's most famous secret agent, was supposed to jump from a motorcycle onto a moving train roof packed with travellers and then leap to another equally crowded train top, according to the script.

Trivedi said 007 could perform the stunt — but only if there is nobody on the top of the trains.

"Rooftop travel will not be shown," he said, adding that the government has also stipulated the filming "has to be safe and passengers should not be inconvenienced."

The railways minister said that the original movie script could have led to an impression that rooftop travel was common in India.

"There are many trains in India and not all trains have people travelling on the rooftops," he argued.

The makers of the as-yet untitled movie — known currently only as "Bond 23" — had agreed to the conditions, Trivedi said in a telephone interview.

The film is to be directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes and will be shot in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and the resort state of Goa. Shooting is planned for February and March next year and the film is slated for release in November 2012.

Trivedi also said he is plugging for the James Bond character to be used to promote the sprawling Indian Railways, still the country's main form of long-distance travel despite fierce competition from new private airlines.

"I have proposed that the spy says something like: 'Indian Railways is as strong as James Bond.' It is my suggestion," the cabinet-ranking minister said.

The state-run railway is the country's largest single employer, with 1.4 million workers, and runs 11,000 trains carrying 19 million passengers daily.

The world's second-largest railway offers some adventurous journeys where trains chug through arid deserts, snowy Himalayan regions and across rickety British-built bridges spanning mountain gorges and fast-flowing rivers.

Trivedi declined to say if the film-makers had agreed to give Bond licence to become cast ambassador for the creaking railway system, which is plagued by frequent crashes.

The last time a Bond film was on location in India was for the 1983 hit "Octopussy", with actor Roger Moore in the lead role. It was shot in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

"Bond 23" is one of nearly two dozen films by foreign studios which have been cleared to shoot in India recently.

Others include a film adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel "The Reluctant Fundamentalist", "Trishna", British director Michael Winterbottom's version of Thomas Hardy's classic "Tess of the d'Urbervilles", and Yann Martel's "Life of Pi". Credit : 

'James Bond' Shoot stuck in India

The shooting of a new "James Bond" movie in India has been stalled after the production house couldn't get the permission to shoot.

The makers of the movie, tentatively titled "Bond 23", wanted to shoot high-speed stunts on the Indian Railways.

However, they could not get the permissions due to safety issues and as a result director Sam Mendes is now looking for alternative locations.

"It has been one thing after another. The scenes are very ambitious and we're all just desperate to get started but there have been obstacles at every stage," mirror.co.uk quoted a production insider as saying.

India's railways minister Dinesh Trivedi has now decided to "look into the matter", but added: "I can't jeopardize the safety of passengers."

The shooting is likely to move to South Africa, where producers already have permission to shoot some scenes, but not until January.

James Bond taught me how to shoot my gun: Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde has revealed that while starring in her latest movie 'Cowboys and Aliens' she got a lesson on how to shoot a gun from her co-star and the current 007 star Daniel Craig.

The 27-year-old actress plays Ella Swenson in the sci-fi thriller, where she had to fire a weapon.

And she was glad that Craig, who currently plays the lead role in the 'James Bond' movies, offered her the much-needed support.

"Daniel taught me how to shoot my gun. Which was cool 'cos now I can always say that James Bond taught me how," Stuff.co.nz quoted her as telling Cover Media.

"It was cool, the guns were really beautiful. I'm not a big gun person - I'm a pacifist, I don't really love guns in general.

"But I love these antique guns, they were so interesting but not easy to shoot," she added.

I am not interested in Facebook or Twitter,"Daniel Craig"

Daniel Craig has insisted that he will never join social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.

The Cowboys & Aliens star told Seven magazine that he feels that the internet allows people to be disconnected when they should just spend time together in person.

Craig said: "I am bloody not [on Facebook]. And I'm not on Twitter either... 'Woke up this morning, had an egg'? What relevance is that to anyone? Social networking? Just call each other up and go to the pub and have a drink.

"There's some talk of a new class-system paradigm - that, in future, the world will be divided between those who 'get' social networking and those who don't. I'm really not bothered. But I hope the generations to come learn to be a little bit cynical and learn how to mess it up a bit."

Craig also admitted that he occasionally Googles his own name, but tries to avoid reading what's written about him as he believes it to be "worse than smoking crack".

"It's like there's a bunch of sociopaths out there who want to go out and rip you to pieces," he added.

Craig will soon star in a new James Bond movie which is scheduled for release on October 26, 2012 in the UK and on November 9, 2012 in the US.

Daniel Craig keeps his personal life undercover

If British actor Daniel Craig plays undercover agent 007 with elan, he is equally efficient at guarding his personal life as was evident when he tied the knot with Oscar winning actor Rachel Weisz, who starred in The Mummy — an event the paparazzi couldn’t sniff out.

News of Craig’s wedding with Weisz last month surprised everyone. “It’s not about safeguarding; I don’t want to safeguard my personal life. I just don’t want to talk about it and after all you really can’t stop the paparazzi from knowing what they want to, can you?” said the 43-year-old James Bond actor.

In his almost two-decade long career, Craig has acted in two Bond movies — Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale. “I like working on all genres, but personally I am a huge fan of the action genre,” he said.
He is about to start working on the new Bond movie titled Bond 23, to be directed by Sam Mendes, but Craig is reluctant to reveal the details. “It is too early to talk about it but, yes, my next Bond movie is Bond 23 and the script is in really good shape. I’m very excited about it and I’m delighted that Sam is going to direct it.”

His new film Cowboys and Aliens, directed by Jon Favreau, released on July 29. Set in Arizona in 1873, the film is about a loner named Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) who awakens with no memory of his past and a mysterious shackle on his wrist. This is the first time that Daniel Craig has worked together with Harrison Ford of Indiana Jones. Craig praised his co-star and said: “It was a privilege to work with Ford. He’s a really nice, generous, funny man and he’s an actor who just wants to get it right.”

I would star in a Bollywood movie,"Daniel Craig"

Daniel Craig has said that he would consider starring in a Bollywood film.

The James Bond actor, who is promoting his forthcoming release Cowboys and Aliens, said that he recognises the potential of cinema in India, Mid Day reports.

Craig said: "I think it's a huge market. My last two Bond movies did good business in India."

The actor confirmed that some scenes from Bond 23 will be shot in India.

"Yes, that's true," he said. "And I am absolutely thrilled about it."

When asked if he had any preference for a Bollywood actress who might be cast as a Bond girl, he replied: "I don't know any Bollywood actress personally, but Indian women are very beautiful and they will surely make wonderful Bond girls."

Craig added that while he has an interest in Bollywood, he has not been approached by a producer.

"Nothing has come my way yet, but if things work out then why not?" he said.

Craig will appear as James Bond for the third time in the 23rd instalment of the series.

The film is due for release on October 26, 2012 in the UK and November 9, 2012 in the US.

'Bond 23' is my best Bond adventure so far, says Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig has said that the script of his upcoming Bond movie is better than his debut flick 'Casino Royale'.

The actor first played the famous super spy in the 2006 hit, and reprised the role for the sequel, 'Quantum of Solace'.

While the latter film under performed with critics, Craig is adamant the upcoming, unnamed 23rd instalment of the franchise will be his best Bond adventure so far.

"I read the script the other day and I'm more excited about this than I was about Casino because we've kind of got a classic Bond movie plus lots of other things," the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

Pierce Brosnan to star in Stephen King's 'Bag of Bones'

Pierce Brosnan has joined the miniseries Bag of Bones.

The former James Bond star will play a novelist in A&E's adaptation of the Stephen King horror novel.

Bag of Bones centres on an author who - four years after the death of his wife - begins to suffer from nightmares set at the couple's lake house in rural Maine. He ultimately decides to move to the house in order to confront his fears.

Annabeth Gish (Brotherhood) is also due to star in the project.

Brosnan previously signed on to a new romantic comedy from Academy Award-winning Danish director Susanne Bier titled All You Need is Love.

Earlier this week, it was reported that the film studio Universal has decided not to commit to Ron Howard's adaptation of Stephen King's Dark Tower series, though filmmakers are currently searching for another means of financial backing.

Bag of Bones begins production next month and is expected to air later this year.

I married secretly,"Daniel Craig"

James Bond actor Daniel Craig, who tied the knot with actress Rachel Weisz in a surprise low-key ceremony, says he will never speak about the big day publicly because he wants to keep his private life out of the spotlight.

"I did it secretly - I can't tell you how I pulled it off. My private life is incredibly important to me, and certainly that aspect of it is more than incredibly important to me," contactmusic.com quoted Craig as saying.

Daniel and Rachel, who star in horror movie "Dream House" together, began dating in December last year and tied the knot last month in front of just four people.

23rd James Bond movie to hit theatres next year

The 23rd 'James Bond' film will be released late next year.
MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced the news on Thursday.

The eagerly anticipated next episode of the all-action spy thriller will hold its traditionally lavish London premiere on October 26 at the Odeon Leicester Square, before opening in the U.S. on November 9, reports the Daily Mail.

Actor Daniel Craig would return for his third stint as the agent with a licence to kill in the as-yet-untitled film.
Dame Judi Dench would also reprise her role as M, while Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem are both rumoured to be joining the cast.

The ‘American beauty’ and ‘Revolutionary road’ tour de force Sam Mendes is to take over the directorial duties from Marc Forster, who helmed Quantum Of Solace in 2008.

Online rumours also suggested that Israeli model Esti Ginzburg is a hot favourite to become the next Bond girl.

Cinematographer Roger Deakins has confirmed on his fan forum last month that the work on the project was in its early stages.

“Yes, I can say that I am doing the next ''Bond'' film. It is early days and the film won''t shoot until November,” he had written.

James Bond shooting in Mumbai

The 23rd film in the franchise to be shot in and around the city James Bond might well be coming to town sometime soon.

A highly-placed source informs that Bond 23, the newest film in the hugely successful franchise will be shooting in and around Mumbai.

"Director Sam Mendes recently made a hush-hush visit to the city along with production designer Terry Bamber in mid-April for the film's recce.

The movie will be shot in Mumbai and Goa during the monsoon season on a month-long schedule, " reveals our source.

The crew of the film is an excited but nervous lot. They expect the shoot to be a maddening one, given Bond's fan following here.

India Take One, who also did line production for Slumdog Millionaire, are doing the production for this film as well.

ONCE BEFORE
Octopussy (1983), the 13th film in the Bond series, was shot in Agra and Udaipur. Roger Moore played Bond in the movie which had Kabir Bedi and Vijay Amritraj in the cast.

RECENT SHOOTERS
Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises (in Jodhpur on May 6 and May 7)
Ang Lee's Life Of Pi starring Irrfan Khan and Tabu shot in Pondicherry
Brad Bird's Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol starring Tom Cruise and Anil Kapoor
Michael Winterbottom's Trishna starring Frieda Pinto shot in Rajasthan and Mumbai.


Credit : Mid-Day.com

Sean Connery prefers golf to being guest of honour at Tartan Week

Ex-James Bond  Sir Sean Connery has chosen to play golf instead of attending the Tartan Week in New York as a guest of honour.

Connery, 80, has been a long-time supporter and honorary chairman of Dressed to Kilt, but he has backed out of the fashion show at the last minute.

The actor, who has been at the event in New York with his wife Micheline five times in the past seven years, was expected to be this year''s guest of honour.

He was expected to attend especially since his 15-year-old granddaughter Saskia, daughter of his stepson Stephane, would be modelling for the first time.

But his publicist, Nancy Seltzer, has admitted that he will not be attending, prompting fears that health problems are keeping him away.

Seltzer insists that the film icon is in perfect health and just prefers to play golf at home in the Bahamas.

"I''ve left word for Sean, who is on the golf course. He told me he wasn''t attending and had retired from public appearances," the Scotsman quoted her as saying when she was told organisers were expecting the actor.

"I will ask him again, but he''s feeling fine," she said.

She later said that she had spoken to Connery on the phone and that he had confirmed he would not be attending, though his wife will.

Since its launch in 2004, the annual Dressed to Kilt fundraiser has seen famous Scots such as Gerard Butler and Alan Cumming join professional models to show off cutting-edge tartan designs and clothing.

Dressed to Kilt organisers seemed perplexed by the last-minute change to the arrangement.

"Just earlier this week we had no doubt Sir Sean would be coming in his capacity as our honorary chairman," a source said.

"He was expected, but obviously something has happened to change this, which is a real disappointment. It''s a bit of a shock and, to be honest, strange that the guest list would be changing so late in the day.

"We got a call to tell us Sir Sean isn''t coming. Apparently, he''s on the golf course.

"He''s made no secret of his passion for Dressed to Kilt over the years and his name was definitely on the guest-list. It''s all a bit odd," the source added.

Original James Bond gun sells for £227,250

A fan has paid £227,250 ($439,000) in an auction for the original gun held by Sean Connery in the publicity shots for From Russia With Love.

The auction, which took place at Christie's auction house in the UK, featured a variety of classic character-related film items. In addition to the gun in question, the auction also put up a Darth Vader costume from the film The Empire Strikes Back.

The Darth Vader costume failed to sell, but the gun fetched over ten times what it was expected to earn. It was believed that the gun would sell for between £15,000 and £20,000.

The gun, which is actually only an air pistol, was used in all of Connery's publicity shots for the Bond movie.

A spokeswoman for Christie's said of the sale: "The Bond franchise has stood the test of time."

'James Bond' film set to resume production

The production of new "James Bond" film is reportedly set to resume.
The 23rd Bond film, starring Daniel Craig, was put on hold indefinitely this year as the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film studio fell into financial difficulty, reports dailystar.co.uk.

The firm filed for bankruptcy this week and announced plans for a massive restructuring of the company's finances.

The film project, which was kept on hold, is now se to resume. The film will release in November 2012.

James Bond based on real life agent?

A new history of the Secret Intelligence Service has revealed that one of James Bond’s most famous scenes was inspired by the wartime exploits of an MI6 spy.

The moment when the fictional spy emerges from the water in a wetsuit and plants explosives before unzipping the suit to reveal a spotless dinner suit really took place during the Second World War.

The scene where Bond, played by Sean Connery, emerges in his wetsuit in the 1964 movie Goldfinger was inspired by the real life exploits of Dutch agent Pieter Tazelaar, according to ‘MI6’ by Keith Jeffery, the first official history of SIS.

Tazelaar was sent in by sea in 1940 to make contact with agents in Holland.

The book recounts that he ‘put ashore at 4.35am on 23 November at Scheveningen near the seafront casino in full evening dress and smelling of alcohol, wearing a specially designed rubber oversuit to keep him dry while landing, reports the Daily Mail.

'Rather than leaving him somewhere on the dunes, the aim was for him to be able to mingle with the crowd on the front.

‘Having landed on the beach his colleague Erik Hazelhof sprinkled a few drops of Hennessy XO brandy on him, to strengthen his party-goer’s image’.

Professor Keith Jeffery, of Queen’s University, Belfast, was given unrestricted access to the surviving historic files of the Secret Intelligence Service. But his work only covers the period up to 1949 and he was banned from revealing the identities of spies that are not already in the public domain.

The book also confirms that one of the templates for James Bond was another spy with the unpromising name of Wilfred ‘Biffy’ Dunderdale.

‘When head of the SIS Paris station in the 1930s, he had a penchant for pretty women and fast cars and has been proposed as one of the possible models for Bond,’ the book reports.

‘He was a great friend of Ian Fleming and claimed that he found parts of his own stories in the James Bond novels.’

Another model for Bond’s exploits might have been Air Commodore Lionel ‘Lousy’ Payne.

He was described in an SIS report as ‘often well informed, probably due to the fact that information is more readily obtained in bed’.

James Bond film back on track?

Daniel Craig could return as James Bond in the upcoming installment of the franchise, following reports that the latest 007 film is back on track.

Sam Mendes has pulled out of negotiations to direct futuristic thriller The Hunger Games because MGM are ready to move forward with production on Bond 23.

According to Deadline Hollywood, the shooting for the movie could begin by late summer or early autumn 2011. Earlier, the Bond flick was put on indefinite hold, with EON Productions blaming the financial difficulties of MGM studios, which is reported to have a 3.7 billion-dollar debt, reports the Mirror.

MGM announced this week that its lenders have agreed to extend the company's debt repayment period further.

The studio, which also has a stake in the forthcoming Hobbit movie, is going through a pre-packaged bankruptcy before Spyglass takes over.