Hugh Jackman, Aishwarya Rai bag top honours at FICCI-Frames

The 12th edition of the three day FICCI-Frames conclave concluded Friday with Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai bagging the top awards.

FICCI Frames Excellence International Honour was awarded to Jackman, who is best known for his role as Wolverine in the "X-Men" series. The actor is also famed for his versatile style of acting and his rugged on-screen roles in films such as "Kate and Leopold", "Van Helsing", "The Prestige" and" Australia".

Aishwarya was honoured with the Decade of Global Achievement award for her contribution to Hindi cinema. Vidya Balan bagged the best actress award for her performance in "Ishqiya" and Shah Rukh Khan was honoured with the best actor award for "My Name Is Khan".

A film that has sky rocketed at the box office, breaking all records in collections, "Dabangg" also scored two awards at FICCI - Best Film of the Year and Best Music of the Year Award. It also fetched its heroine, Sonakshi Sinha, the award in the the Best Debutant (Female) Category.

"Band Baaja Baaraat" was another film that made a mark at the box office delivering the Best Debutant award - Male to Ranveer Singh for his acting and the Best Director Debut to Maneesh Sharma.

"The entertainment industry in India is booming along with business excellence and we are happy to recognise such levels of talent in both fields. We take pride in honouring best performers for their contributions in their area of work," said Yash Chopra, Chairman, FICCI Entertainment Committee.

Another highlight of the evening was the impromptu gig between Vidya, Shah Rukh and Jackman where the three shook a leg together on stage, entertaining the audience.

Other awards were:

Best TV Series - Non-Fiction - Indian Idol 5 (Fremantle Media, SET and Wizcraft Television)
Best TV Series - Fiction - Pavitra Rishta - Balaji Telefilms
Best TV Actor - Male - Sushant Singh Rajput in Pavitra Rishta (Zee TV)
Best TV Actor - Female - Rashmi Desai in Uttran (Colors)
Best General Entertainment Channel - STAR PLUS
Best Radio Channel - Radio Mirchi
Best Director - Karan Johar (My Name is Khan)

Director Darren Aronofsky Drops Out Of 'The Wolverine'

That's right, director Darren Aronofsky has decided to give up his director's chair on the set of 'The Wolverine', the sequel to 2009's 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'.

Darren put out a press release on March 16 stating:

"As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of �The Wolverine� would keep me out of the country for almost a year.  I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time.  I am sad that I won�t be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again."

The acclaimed 'Black Swan' director recently divorced actress Rachel Weisz and there are rumors that a custody battle over their son may be occurring.

Filming for the movie was supposed to have begun this month in Japan for a 2012 release. However, with everything that has occurred in Japan I'm assuming FOX was going to be pushing back filming anyway.

Twentieth Century Fox stated they are disappointed that Darren has dropped out of the movie but respect his decision. They're also quoted as stating:

"Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making �The Wolverine�.  We will regroup and move forward aggressively."

I'm glad the movie is still going forward...I'm a huge X-Men fan!

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Hugh Jackman Will Be Performing In San Francisco

The Tony Award-winning actor will be performing a series of concert shows in San Francisco! The smokin' hot 'Wolverine' actor is no stranger to the theater stage, he was last seen onstage in 2009 on Broadway in 'A Steady Rain', co-staring fellow actor Daniel Craig.

?Hugh Jackman will treat audiences to a selection of his favorite Hollywood and Broadway musical numbers, all while being accompanied by a 17 piece orchestra. The performances will be held at Curran Theatre for a two-week limited engagement, beginning May 3.

I think this may just call for that San Francisco road trip the hubs & I have been planning! Hugh is currently trying to bulk up for his upcoming role in 'The Wolverine' where the actor will reprise his role as the X-men mutant Wolverine.

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Darren Aronofsky bows out of "Wolverine"

Darren Aronofsky is bowing out of directing 20th Century Fox's sequel "The Wolverine," saying the project would keep him out of the country for too long.

Fox and Hugh Jackman - who is set to return in the title role - said they remain fully committed to making "Wolverine" and will move aggressively to find a new director.

Fox hadn't yet greenlit the sequel. A significant portion of the movie will be shot overseas (there had been plans to shoot in Japan).

"As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of The Wolverine would keep me out of the country for almost a year," Aronofsky said in a joint statement with Fox.

"I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again," he continued.

Stated Fox: "While we are of course disappointed that Darren can't do 'The Wolverine,' we also understand and respect his reasons. Having done both 'The Wrestler' and 'Black Swan' with Darren, we know he is an extraordinary talent and we look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. Hugh Jackman and Fox both remain fully committed to making The Wolverine. We will regroup and move forward aggressively."

Aronofsky's production company Protozoa has first-look deal with Fox.

Christopher McQuarrie is writing "Wolverine." Movie doesn't have a release date yet.

Gerard Butler Is Fighting His Hotness

The ?41-year-old 'Rock N Rolla' actor was spotted arriving at LAX airport on Sunday. Gerard Butler is seriously fighting the hot with beard and long funky hair he's got going on.

He's definitely seen better days but it does look like he still keeping in shape. The Scottish ladies man's next movie is called 'Movie 43' which will be composed of short comedy segments. He'll be staring in the movie a long side Emma Stone, Hugh Jackman, Anna Faris, Kristin Bell, Elizabeth Banks, Kate Winslet, Justin Long and Josh Duhamel.

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