Mumbai, Oct 18 (IANS) For the last one month, Rahul Bose has stopped working out. He has even stopped playing his favourite sport rugby to look 45 years old for Aparna Sen's "The Japanese Wife"."We started shooting for the portions where I've to look 45 on Oct 3. I've been preparing for it for a month. Earlier, I needed to look much fitter for Samar Khan's 'Shourya'. But for 'The Japanese Wife' there were many weight swings since we shot my character from his early 20s and now to 45," Rahul told IANS.

"The Japanese Wife", based on Kunal Basu's book, is the only film of Rahul that hasn't been shot at a stretch.

"So we're taking my character through the various physical phases piecemeal. It's been tough, but finally worth it. It was the biggest challenge of my acting career."

Japanese actress Chigasu Takaku plays the title role in the film, which also stars Raima Sen and Moushumi Chatterjee.

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Rituparno's solitary afternoon at the movies

The one film that Rituparno Ghosh was looking forward to was Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and he saw it all alone in a theatre in Kolkata.

"I had told Pradeep Sarkar I want to see the first print the minute it was out. He invited me for a show in Mumbai and when I was there, I had no time. The minute I landed in Kolkata on Friday afternoon I went straight for the first show of the film at a suburban theatre from the airport with my luggage."

Instead of asking someone to accompany him to the theatre, he went solo to watch the Rani Mukerji, Konkona Sen Sharma and Abhishek Bachchan starrer.

"I had reserved two seats in the Kolkata theatre from Mumbai itself. And I hate to go in company. The companion constantly interrupts my movie viewing. So I always prefer to go for all my movies alone. No one recognises me anymore with my bald head. This time I'm even more relieved that I went alone. I cried and cried throughout the first half. The tears would just not stop. Pradeep Sarkar has made an outstanding film. Rani is incredibly restrained."