Aamir Hussain Khan

Born Aamir Hussain Khan on March 14, 1965
Aamir Khan (pronounced [ɑːmɪr xɑːn]; Devanāgarī: आमिर ख़ान, is an Indian actor,film director and film producer.

Khan began his film career as a child actor in a home production, produced and directed by Nasir Hussain, titled Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973) and Madhosh (1974). Eleven years later, he made his adult acting debut in a role that went quite unnoticed in Ketan Mehta's Holi (1984).

Khan's first notable leading role came in 1988 in the film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which was directed by his cousin and Nasir Hussain's son Mansoor Khan. This film was a breakthrough commercial success, effectively launching Khan's career as a leading actor. Having the typical 'chocolate hero' looks, he was publicised as a teen idol. After that, he went on to appear in several other films in the late '80s and early '90s: Dil (1990), which became the highest grossing film of the year, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993) (for which he also wrote the screenplay), and Rangeela (1995). Most of these films were successful critically and commercially.Other successes include Andaz Apna Apna, co-starring Salman Khan. At the time of its release the movie was reviewed unfavorably by critics, but over the years has gained a cult status

Khan founded his own production company, Aamir Khan Productions, to help finance his long time friend Ashutosh Gowariker's dream of making the film Lagaan. The movie was released in 2001, starring Khan as the lead actor. The film was a major critical and commercial success, and was selected as India's official entry to the 74th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It was eventually chosen and nominated in that category along with four other foreign films, but lost to No Man's Land. Additionally, the film gathered critical acclaim at several international film festivals, apart from winning numerous Bollywood awards, including National Film Awards. Khan himself won his second Filmfare Best Actor Award and commented on loss of Lagaan at the Oscars, saying, "Certainly we were disappointed. But the thing that really kept us in our spirits was that the entire country was behind us".

The success of Lagaan was followed by Dil Chahta Hai later that year, in which Khan co-starred with Akshaye Khanna and Saif Ali Khan, with Preity Zinta playing his love interest. The film was written and directed by the then newcomer Farhan Akhtar. According to critics, the film broke new grounds by showing Indian urban youth as they really are today. The characters depicted were modern, suave and cosmopolitan. The film did moderately well and was a success mostly in urban cities

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's award-winning, Rang De Basanti, was Khan's first release in 2006. His role was critically acclaimed, earning him a Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance and various nominations for Best Actor. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing films of the year, and was selected as India's official entry to the Oscars. Although the film was not shortlisted as a nominee, it received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the BAFTA Awards in England. Khan's work in his next movie, Fanaa (2006) was also appreciated, and the film went on to become one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2006

His 2007 film, Taare Zameen Par (about a teacher who befriends and helps a dyslexic child), which Khan produced and also starred in, marked his directorial debut. The film, which was the second offering from Aamir Khan Productions, opened to excellent responses from critics and audiences alike. His work won him two awards at the Filmfare, the Best Movie and the Best Director awards, and established his status as a competent director and a story-teller. The film was also selected as India's official entry to the 2009 Oscars

Playback singing
Year Film Song
1998 Ghulam Aati Kya Khandala
2000 Mela Dekho 2000 Zamana Aa Gaya
2005 The Rising Holi Re
2006 Rang De Basanti Lalkaar
Fanaa Chanda Chamke
2007 Taare Zameen Par Bum Bum Bole

Producer
Year Film Director
2001 Lagaan Ashutosh Gowariker
Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award
2007 Taare Zameen Par Aamir Khan
Winner, Filmfare Best Movie Award
2008 Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Abbas Tyrewala
2008 Ghajini A. R. Murugadoss

Writer/Director
Year Film Notes
1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Story writer
1993 Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke Screenwriter
2007 Taare Zameen Par Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Director Award

Salma Hayek Jiménez

Born September 2, 1966
Salma Hayek Jiménez is a Mexican and American actress, director, television and film producer. Hayek has appeared in more than 30 films and performed as an actress outside of Hollywood in Mexico and Spain. Hayek's charitable work includes increasing awareness on violence against women and discrimination against immigrants

“I've stolen a couple of hearts and they are in my private collection!”
- Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek is smoking. If a career as an actress didn't pan out for her, she could have fallen back on being a model (although her 5'2" frame might have hindered her success). She's hotter than a Ferrari full of Victoria's Secret models on a blazing day in South Beach. And the hot-blooded Latin passion that pours out of her sexy skin only adds fuel to the fire. From her dark hair and mysterious eyes, to her amazing lips and curvaceous figure, Salma Hayek's exotic features can be attributed to her Lebanese and Mexican heritage.

At the age of 23, Hayek landed the title role in Teresa (1989), a successful Mexican telenovela that made her a star in Mexico. In 1994, Hayek starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley), which has won more awards than any other movie in the history of Mexican cinema. For her performance, Hayek was nominated for an Ariel Award

Hayek moved to Los Angeles, California in 1991 to study acting under Stella Adler, hoping for a career in Hollywood, despite limited fluency in English, attributed to her suffering from dyslexia. Robert Rodriguez and his producer wife Elizabeth Avellan soon gave Hayek the break she needed, a starring role opposite Antonio Banderas in 1995's Desperado. The movie caught Hollywood's attention, as moviegoers proved to be dazzled by Hayek as Rodriguez had been. Due to Hayek's loyalty to the director, she would later decline playing the role Catherine Zeta-Jones eventually took in The Mask of Zorro after Rodriguez abandoned the project. She has also appeared in the Spy Kids trilogy.

Around 2000, Hayek founded production company Ventanarosa, through which she produces film and television projects. Her first feature as a producer was 1999's El Coronel No Tiene Quien Le Escriba, Mexico's official selection for submission for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars.

Frida, co-produced by Hayek, was released in 2002. Starring Hayek as Frida Kahlo, and Alfred Molina as her unfaithful husband, Diego Rivera, the film was directed by Julie Taymor and featured an entourage of stars in supporting and minor roles (Valeria Golino, Ashley Judd, Edward Norton, Geoffrey Rush) and cameos (Antonio Banderas). She earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance. This made Hayek, along with Katy Jurado and Adriana Barraza, one of only three Mexican actresses to have been nominated for an Academy Award. The film earned two Oscars.

In April 2007, Hayek finalized negotiations with MGM to become the CEO of her own Latin themed film production company, Ventanazul. The following month she signed a two year deal with ABC to develop projects for the network through her production company, Ventanarosa.

On July 19, 2005, Hayek testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary supporting reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. In February 2006, she donated $25,000 to a Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, shelter for battered women and another $50,000 to Monterrey based anti-domestic violence groups.

Pampers/UNICEF partnership 1 PacSince the birth of her daughter, Hayek has worked to help mothers in developing nations worldwide, teaming up with Pampers and UNICEF to help stop the spread of life-threatening maternal and neonatal tetanus. She is a global spokesperson for thek = 1 Vaccine to help raise awareness of the program

In spring 2006, The Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio, Texas displayed 16 portrait paintings by muralist George Yepes of Hayek as Aztec goddess Itzapapalotl.

Honors

* Recipient of Glamour magazine Woman of the Year Award in October 2001.
* Recipient of Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award in 2003.
* Recipient of Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award in February 2006.
* Recipient of Time Magazine 25 Most Influential Hispanics in 2005


Filmography

* Lonely Hearts (2006)
* Bandidas (2006)
* Paint (2005)
* Ask the Dust (2005)
* Sian Ka'an (voice) (2005)
* After the Sunset (2004)
* The Maldonado Miracle (2003) (Director)
* Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
* Frida (2002)
* Living It Up: La Grand Vida (2001)
* In The Time Of The Butterflies (2001)
* Traffic (2000)
* Chain Of Fools (2000)
* Time Code (2000)
* Dogma (1999)
* Wild Wild West (1999)
* 54 (1998)
* The Velocity Of Gary (1998)
* The Faculty (1998)
* Fools Rush In (1997)
* The Hunchback (1997)
* Breaking Up (1997)
* Fled (1996)
* From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
* El Callejon De Los Milagros (1995)
* Fair Game (1995)
* Midaq Alley (1995)
* Desperado (1995)
* Roadracers (1994)
* Mi Vida Loca (1993)