Bollywood Buzz Predictions - 54th Filmfare Awards 2009

It’s time again for the mother of all Bollywood awards shows – The Filmfare Awards - this year. And as always, the competition’s tough. But, like always, we know which nominee has its nose slightly ahead of the others (no guarantees). Here are our predictions for the major categories.

BEST FILM
Dostana
This film’s story is unique – but only in Bollywood. In the film, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham pretended to be a gay couple so they could live with Priyanka Chopra. The movie’s great script and the actors’ comic timing, not to mention Priyanka Chopra’s bikinis, helped propel this film to the top.

Ghajini
This is the third time this film has been made. First it was called Memento, then Ghajini in the South and now Aamir’s Ghajini. And the third one may have received the poorest reviews, but may have made the most money. Reason – Aamir’s great promotion strategies and the time of release (Christmas). The film broke all box-office records, collecting Rs.210 crores in two weeks.

Jodhaa Akbar
A historical masterpiece, the film was the first big hit of the year. Adding more strength to their Best Film claim are the majestic sets and brilliant performances by the lead stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
It may not have worked as well as DDLJ, but Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi did manage to create more than just a ripple at the box-office. The film marked the debut of Bangalore model Anushka Sharma.

Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na
A sweet romantic film, which attracted the attention of youngsters, Jaane Tu… is arguably the best teen flick of recent times. The music was great, the stars – Genelia and Imran – looked fresh and the script was well-written.

Rock On!!
India’s first rock band film rocked for several reasons - great music, great story and fabulous acting by director-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar and telly actress Prachi Desai.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PICK: Jodhaa Akbar

BEST DIRECTOR
A.R. Murugadoss – Ghajini
Murugadoss directed both the Tamil and the Hindi versions of Ghajini. And both films topped at the box-office. So naturally, this guy knows exactly what to do with his actors and script.

Abhishek Kapoor - Rock On!!
Since this is the first time Bollywood approached such a subject, Abhishek Kapoor had no reference material to work with. But he pulled it off brilliantly.

Aditya Chopra - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
The man who made one of the longest running films in Indian movie history – Dilwale Dhulaniya Le Jayenge – is undoubtedly one of Indian’s finest directors and thoroughly deserving of the nomination.

Ashutosh Gowariker - Jodhaa Akbar
Visionary director Ashutosh Gowariker has made several great films – but none as breathtaking as this one. An epic film if there ever was one, it captured the imagination of audiences the world over.

Madhur Bhandarkar – Fashion
The director, with his socially-powerful films, offers great insight into different streams of society with each of his films. After Page 3 and Corporate, he chose the world of Fashion, which brought to light – or to the limelight – many issues within the modeling world.

Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday
This debutant director is definitely a dark horse. His film, A Wednesday, received rave reviews.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PICK: Ashutosh Gowarikar

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Aamir Khan – Ghajini
Mr. Perfectionist does only one film a year. But the time and effort he puts into each of them shows every time.

Abhishek Bachchan – Dostana
After the disaster that was Drona, AB Jr. finally delivered with Dostana. While he has proven that he can do drama in the recent past, this is the first time – after Bunty Aur Babli – that the actor showed his real worth.

Hrithik Roshan - Jodhaa Akbar
While all the others have been fighting for the #1 title this year, Hrithik Roshan has been quiet, but has let his acting do the talking. His performance as the emperor Akbar was very persuasive.

Akshay Kumar - Singh Is Kinng
Akki can do anything. He’s proved himself as a serious actor and as a comedian. Singh is Kinng was a huge hit and the actor – if not the best – is certainly raking in the moolah.

Shah Rukh Khan - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
SRK – who doesn’t really need any more awards – excelled in this double role.

Naseeruddin Shah - A Wednesday
Arguably the most accomplished actor on this list, Naseerudin Shah did well in this startling film.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PICK: Hrithik Roshan

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan - Jodhaa Akbar
After her marriage, this was her first big release, and she depicted Jodhaa fabulously. How one can forget the fearless sword fighting?

Anushka Sharma - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
For a newcomer to get a nomination at the Filmfares is commendable on its own. This actress is certainly on her way to the top.

Asin Thottumkal – Ghajini
Yet another newcomer in Bollywood, the actress has received a lot of praise for her role in South films.

Kajol - U Me Aur Hum
A very good actress, she acted very well in her husband’s directorial debut. However, the film didn’t work at the box office.

Priyanka Chopra – Fashion
After three flops, Priyanka bounced back with Dostana and Fashion, both of which did very well. She has been nominated for Fashion.

BOLLYWOOD BUZZ PICK: Priyanka Chopra

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Adhyayan Suman: I am getting six-pack abs

Adhyayan Suman recently inaugurated C’est La Vie gym in Bandra. The up and coming actor tells us about his fitness routine, foods he loves and hates and why he wouldn’t want to influence anyone to follow the crash diet he put himself on to lose 60 KGs in six months.

We have heard you lost 60 KGs in six months. How did you put on all that weight?
My parents have pampered me endlessly. They thought I was a growing child or badhta bachchan who needed to eat. So they fed me all the food I loved like butter chicken. Before I knew it I was 120-130 KG and six feet tall. I looked really bad.

How did you lose the weight? What was your motivation?
It was my dream to become an actor. I gave myself two choices: to eat all the time, get fat and look bad or to lose weight and become an actor. Acting is more important to me than eating all the time. So I worked out really hard for four hours everyday.

What was your diet like during that time?
I followed a very wrong, crash diet and I wouldn’t want anyone to follow it. The diet wasn’t right but I wanted to lose weight more than anything else. I ate very less. It was apple with coffee in the morning, few slices of chicken for lunch, fruits in the evening and 3-4 bottles of water for dinner. I used to feel dizzy and sick. I follow a balanced and guided diet now

What is your diet like right now?
I have a protein shake before my workout. I do cardio in the morning. Then I have a banana. I have roti, green veggies and brown rice for lunch. I have a protein shake in the evening and do weight training for two hours. Dinner is dal, chicken and soup. I avoid rotis at night.

Do you have any binge days? What are your favourite foods?
I binge every 15 days when I go out and eat whatever I want. I love eating red Thai curry, fried rice, butter chicken and sweet and sour chicken. I have a weakness for chocolates; I can’t live without them. Every 3-4 days, I cheat and take a bite of Cadbury and KitKat, instead of eating an entire bar. I love Cadbury.

Tell us about the health foods you eat. Do you like energy drinks?
I hate having protein shakes because I mix it with water. It is tasteless. I can’t even have it with milk because that is fattening. I love eating ghar ka khana and that is really healthy. I am too younga nd energetic to rely on energy drinks.

Tell us about your exercise routine. What’s your favourite and least favourite exercise?
I do two hours of cardio in the morning; I run at Andheri Sports Complex. I do weight training in the evening; 2 body parts each day. I love climbing stairs and running. I love to work out my back muscles. I hate doing abdominal exercises but the end result with sculpted abs looks great.

Are you working on six-pack abs?
Yes, I am getting six pack abs and a sculpted body for my next film. It is a romantic action comedy but I can’t talk about it right now.

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Who’ll take home the Black Lady

Tonight is the night of the 54th Idea Filmfare Awards 2008 — Bollywood’s glitziest, most glamorous and prestigious awards show of the year.

Slumdog Millionaire isn’t in the reckoning, neither is Danny Boyle. Instead, there’s Dostana, Ghajini, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, Jodhaa Akbar, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Rock On!!

And, contending for the director’s trophy are AR Murugadoss, Abhishek Kapoor, Aditya Chopra, Ashutosh Gowariker, Madhur Bhandarkar and Neeraj Pandey. Which film will get the coveted Black Lady and which director will take her home tonight? The countdown to find out is on, and the curtain will go up on the awards show and ceremony at Yash Raj Studio at 7 pm. You will get an exclusive telecast of the starry night on Sony Entertainment Television on March 8, at 8 pm.

This is the day you’ll find the stars dressed in their classiest, formal best. Black ties and tuxedos, ball gowns and jewellery, a fabulous and entertaining fashion show live on the red carpet. On stage, masters of ceremony and the new flavours of the season, Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan, led by veteran host Karan Johar, will take an exclusive and invited audience through the razzmatazz of the night. To give you a sneak peek behind the curtain, there’ll be the lovely Katrina Kaif dressed by Rocky S dancing to tracks from her films Yuvvraaj and Singh is Kinng. “It’s my first show for the Filmfare Awards and I am very excited,” said Katz. “Shiamak Davar has choreographed my numbers with such elegance. I think the Filmfare Awards is comparable to the biggest and best international film awards functions in every way,” she said.

Then there’s Shahid Kapoor, also excited to be performing here after four years, and promising to rock the stage with a medley of songs, including Mauja Hi Mauja and Nagada Nagada. And Abhishek Bachchan is also slated to make a spectacular entry with the title track of Delhi-6, before going into some more and wrapping up with the popular Desi Girl from Dostana. Bipasha Basu will set the stage on fire with Neil Nitin Mukesh, performing tracks from Aa Dekhen Zara. Farhan Akhtar and his band promise to live up to their reputation and rock on the night to a thrilling and pulsating finale.

In the midst of all this entertainment, the envelopes will be opened on stage to reveal the winners of the 54th Idea Filmfare Awards 2008 one by one. Who gets the Best Actor from among Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan and Naseeruddin Shah? And will newcomers Asin and Anushka Sharma decide the Best Actress between themselves or will one of the old favourites — Priyanka Chopra, Kajol and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan —take home the Black Lady? Time will tell. And the awards are just hours away.

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Exclusive: Grahpravesh for Saif and Kareena

Kareena Kapoor joined by beau Saif Ali Khan and her parents performed a small grahpravesh puja at her new home in suburban Mumbai. The actress has purchased two flats in Rose Queen in Khar. At around 11.30 this morning Karisma, Babita, Randhir, Kareena and Saif got together for an intimate puja.

Saif and Kareena

“Saif and Kareena arrived together. Saif was in a white kurta and jeans with a red bandana. He was carrying the flowers for the puja in his hand. Kareena was dressed casually as well in a green tee and jeans. Karisma had worn a pink kurti with jeans. They kept a small gathering at home. From the industry just Shabina Khan, the designer, was also present at the ceremony. The puja lasted for about 40 minutes,” informs a source.

Puja in Kareena's home

“After that all the drivers and staff was called up to the flat on the sixth floor. Everyone was included in the puja... the pandit present put chandan ka tikas on their foreheads,” adds the source.

Karisma Kapoor leaves after the ceremony

In the preparation for the puja, the building management had been requested to get the members to park their cars outside the building.

Friend Shabina Khan

This was done to accommodate the numerous cars that came with the stars. Food from Lucky Restaurant in Bandra was also seen going up to the flat.

Saif and Kareena leave after the ceremony

All the guests were given small tokens before they left. In fact even the staff was given and they all were given small boxes which included samosas and mithai. After the puja was over, the pandit was whisked away from the other gate so that the media did not get a hold of him. In fact the stars themselves got into their cars and made an exit to avoid being photographed.

It is believed that Kareena will be moving in with mum Babita in the coming week. Sister Karisma is also expected to move in slightly later as her duplex on the tenth floor of the same building is not yet complete.

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Stars set for the Filmfare Awards!

The Filmfare Awards, which take place today at Yash Raj Studios, are the most prestigious awards in Bollywood. We tell you who will be performing and hosting the event.

A source tells us, "Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor will be hosting the awards. The duo will have the audience in splits with its comic script. They are rehearsing throughout the day. They will be replacing Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan. Besides Imran and Ranbir, Farhan Akhtar and Karan Johar will also be hosting.

As always, there will be a lot of song and dance this year. Bipasha Basu will be performing many of her hit songs. As part of the medley, she will dance to songs from Bachna Ae Haseeno and then Aa Dekhen Zara with Neil Nitin Mukesh. Then there's also Katrina Kaif, who will be dancing to Race and Singh is Kinng tunes. Abhishek Bachchan will also dance and they've got a special Dostana set planned.

Shahid Kapoor will also dance - first to songs from Kismat Konnection, then to songs from Jab We Met. Plus, Farhan Akhtar will do Rock On with Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. It'll be Farhan's first Filmfare performance.

However, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, all of whom performed at other awards shows this year, won't be performing this time. Another person audiences will certainly miss is SRK, who is recovering from his shoulder injury.

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What's happening in tinseltown

Kareena, Saif, Abhishek and Farhan Akhtar had a busy 24 hours!

Finally Home: Kareena and Saif walk out of her building in suburban Mumbai after finishing the Grihapravesh puja


Abhishek Overdose: Abhishek, dressed in the same all black outfit was seen launching Motorola’s AURA phone at Vie Lounge and on Farhan Akhtar’s show, Oye! It’s Friday at Yash Raj studios yesterday.


Mr. Magnanimous: Abhishek Bachchan, brand ambassador of Motorola gifted the first phone, worth a whopping Rs.1.2 lac to designer Manish Malhotra.


The Cutie with the Beauty: Farhan Akhtar chats with Kangana Ranaut on his show, Oye! It’s Friday. Kangana looks pale but he dress and peep toes are stylish and pretty.
(Pic courtesy: NDTV Imagine)


Daddy’s Girl: Priyanka Chopra, looking chic in black and white inaugurates her father, Dr. Ashok Chopra’s clinic, Studio Aesthetique in Andheri.

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Farah Khan choreographs for Amrita Arora

Farah Khan has renounced choreography except when it comes to her dear friends and family. Here's what will happen at Amrita Arora’s sangeet during her wedding to Shakeel Ladak.

The choreograph-turned-director will work on a skit for the sangeet party to be held on March 5. Farah told us, “Malaika is the mastermind and I am helping her out. She wants to keep it a big surprise so it wouldn’t make sense to talk about it.”

However, our source did give us the scoop, saying, “Saif-Kareena and Arbaaz-Malaika will dance to wedding songs such as Maahi Ve and Bole Chudiyaa, among others. It will be a Bollywood-style affair full of drama, romance and comedy.”

The guest list for the wedding week includes the who’s who of Bollywood -- Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan, Arjun and Mehr Rampal, Saif Ali Khan, Chunky and Bhavna Pandey, Anil Kapoor, Tusshar Kapoor, Sajid and Wardha Nadiadwala, Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder, Zayed Khan and wife Malaika, Fardeen Khan and wife Natasha, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, Karan Johar, Preity Zinta, Manish Malhotra, Ashley Rebello and Vikram Phadnis among others.

Our source gave us another bit of gossip: “Salman Khan will be there at the wedding. He will fly down from Jodhpur especially for this. Therefore, Shah Rukh is not likely to attend, but Gauri Khan will be there.”

Wedding schedule
Like sister Malaika, Amrita, a Christian, has chosen a Muslim husband. And just like Malaika, Amrita will have two ceremonies -- a church wedding and a nikaah. On March 1, there is a huge party for family and friends of the bride and groom at a posh suburban nightclub. The church wedding is on March 4 at Bandra Church. On March 5, Salman Khan’s sister Alvira Agnihotri will host the musical bash that Farah Khan is choreographing. March 6, the final day of the celebrations, will see a nikaah ceremony at Taj Lands End in the afternoon followed by a reception in the evening.

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Pop star Kylie arrives in Mumbai

International pop star Kylie Minogue arrived in Mumbai yesterday to film the video for the Sanjay Dutt- Akhay Kumar starrer Blue. The actress turned singer is expected to stay in the city for a week.

“She made a quiet entry into the city yesterday evening. She is staying at The Renaissance in Powai. That is better for her as they will be filming in Film City. They will be filming for the song in the coming week. Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar will also feature in the video,” informs a source from the production house.

It is believed that Kylie was paid almost 5 crores to appear on the one track in the film. The song was recorded with A R Rahman in London the day after the musical genius bagged the BAFTA for his score for Danny Boyles Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire.

“After all the hype the Snoop Dogg video created for Singh is Kinng, the producers of Blue thought of bringing another international artist to Bollywood. Akshay will croon with the hot singer for a video for the film,” adds the source, “But unlike Snoop’s video here Kylie is flying down to Mumbai to shoot the video with Sanjay Dutt and Akshay. Numerous international artists were in the running to be a part of Blue. Fergie, the lead singer of Black Eyed Peas, and Rihanna were also in the running as was Madonna. But Madonna turned out to be too expensive. Fergie and Kylie both showed massive interest but it was also about their availability. Ashtvinayak – the producers of the film – and director Anthony D’Souza are going to direct the video themselves.”

The singer was expected to visit Akshay Kumar's home later today. "She has been personally invited by Akshay to his home. She will spend most of the evening there before heading out for some appearances.," says the source.

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Slumdog’s Team is back home

Irrfan and Oscar winner Resul Pookutty have just arrived in town. Take a look at the crowd going ga-ga over them at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai when they arrived last night.

Irrfan and Resul with his son arrive at the airport, surrounded by Mumbai Police. Resul shows off his Oscar


Too many garlands cover Resul and his wife. But they love every minute of it.


It is not everyday that a technician is recognized on such a large scale


They interact with the media from their open red car.


Resul drove away in the red car perfectly decorated for this occasion.

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Neil Nitin Mukesh in Jail!

Johnny Gaddar star Neil Nitin Mukesh will soon be going to jail. Relax, it's just for Madhur Bhandarkar's movie of the same name. The actor has been doing extensive research for his role, which will include visiting a jail.

Neil Nitin Mukesh told us he is looking forward to the shoot, which will begin in March. "I have always liked Madhur Bhandarkar's movies because they show the real face of society to a certain extent. I'm hoping for the best from Jail. The role I'm playing is quite challenging. So, I have been told to read books on Indian jails. Very soon, I will visit Thane jail and speak to people there," the actor explained.

Speaking further about his role, Neil told us, "It's the story of a common man which will add to the authenticity of the film. We will probably be shooting in the Dehradun jail and some parts of Yervada jail in Pune. I'm planning to visit both jails."

Rumour has it that the young actor will also be singing for Jail. Is that true? "I haven't been asked to sing but if Madhur wants me to, I will definitely sing. Everybody really liked my voice in Aa Dekhen Zara, but for now, I'm just concentrating on my next film with Bipasha Basu," he added.

Neil Nitin Mukesh will be seen next in Aa Dekhen Zara with Bipasha Basu and then with Katrina Kaif and John Abraham in Yash Raj's New York. Sudhir Mishraa's Tera Kya Hoga Johnny is scheduled to be released in June 2009.

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Ladies who leave little to the imagination

Underwear is not meant to be seen but some B-town women prefer to flaunt it. All we think it shows off is their bad taste! Take a look.

Kangana Ranaut: We usually love her quirky style sense, but this Charlie Chaplin look with a transparent top doesn’t work for us.


Gul Panag: We know that Gul is ample-chested, but we didn’t need to know that she likes black bras. No side-shows please!


Sonali Kulkarni: The poor woman is always caught in the wrong outfit. She just forgot to wear a slip under this dotted dress, revealing more than she intended to.


Jiah Khan: This is India, not UK, so make sure your top doesn’t reveal your black bra in public. Use your hair to cover your assets if you have to!


Amrita Arora: She could borrow some style tips from sis Malaika or BFF Bebo. Wearing a black bra under a white tee is a fashion faux pas. Totally uncool!

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Feroz Khan to be discharged soon

Yesteryear superstar Feroz Khan is said to be progressing well and the doctors are hoping to move him out of the Intensive Care Unit of Breach Candy Hospital’s Oncology department soon. Khan’s doctor confirmed the news to us.

“We are very happy with Mr. Khan’s progress. I cannot discuss his problem with you due to confidentiality issues but I can assure you that he is doing well. In fact we will move him to his room later today. And if things go on as they are then he will be going home soon… very soon in fact,” says Dr. Suresh Advani who is treating Feroz Khan.

Feroz Khan was admitted in a serious condition on Tuesday to Breach Candy Hospital. On hearing the news, the entire Khan and Roshan family rushed to the hospital. Hrithik, who was shooting at Filmistan Studio for Kites, cancelled his shoot for the day to be by Feroz's side.

Khan’s secretary Tiwari says the family is now quite relieved to see his progress.

“It was tense 24 hours for the family. His health suddenly deteriorated. But now he is doing very well. The doctors are happy. But even once he goes home he has to take it very easy. He has been forbidden from traveling or doing any filming,” he says.

In fact last year when many watched Feroz Khan at the IIFAs in Bangkok they were all surprised to see the charming actor’s failing health. He looked very weak and in fact needed support to walk or climb on to the stage. He had also undergone knee surgery.

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What's happening in tinseltown

Pop Star Kylie Minogue is in town, Freida's on the cover of Vogue, Lara's borrowed treaures and glowing girls, Kareena and Manisha.

Protector: Pop star Kylie Minogue arrived in Mumbai last night. She looks amazing as usual and Ronit Roy who provides security to Bollywood bigwigs is there to protect her too.


Freida Fashionista: Freida Pinto continues her fashionable dream run and goes where few actresses have been. She is seen in a Louis Vuitton mini dress on the cover of Vogue India’s March issue. While the make up and hair is great, we don’t like the dress and lobster-like neckpiece. (Pic Credit: Regan Cameron, Vogue)


Borrowed Treasures: Lara Dutta liked the YSL Tribute sandals that she wore on the cover of MW so much that she kept them and wore them to the launch of Queenie Dhody’s jewellery store launch. Smart move in these times of recession! (Pic Credit: Prasad Naik, Men’s World)


Glow and No-Glow: It is amazing how stunning Kareena Kapoor looks with minimal or no make-up, a feat few actresses achieve. So radiant is her glow that she steals the show from her bride-to-be best friend, Amrita Arora, whose make up does nothing for her.


Marvellous Manisha: At an art exhibition in South Mumbai, Manisha Koirala looked super slim and her skin glowed too. We like her plain saree and her intricatedly embroidered blouse steals the show. Wow!


And He’s Back: Mohammed Azharuddin, who played Salim in Slumdog Millionaire, is back from the Oscars in LA. He is seen here with his father and the media who crammed into his chawl in Bandra East, Mumbai


I’m her Mother: While Rubina Ali was whisked by executives a TV channel for an interview, her biological mother who had left her years ago created a controversy by claiming “she is my daughter and I want her back” now that Rubina is famous.

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Freida Pinto: From Bombay's local trains into Hollywood's limousines

Freida Pinto has leapt off Bombay's local trains and into Hollywood's limousines. MANJULA NARAYAN looks at the transformation of the girl next door

AT THIS time last year, Freida Pinto was probably one of a million girls scrambling onto the woefully crowded Malad local train. Considering that she had landed some modelling jobs and had hosted a travel show, she'd have jostled with the first-class bunch which, as every commuter in Bombay knows, can be far more vicious than any second class dibba gang. Who knows, our Freida must have occasionally been battered with laptops and prodded with tweezers if she'd dared to hog the coveted gangway space next to the door. In the evenings, she'd have been sharing a frappe with Rohan Antao, her boyfriend (oops, husband?) at the local coffee shop and perhaps spending love struck weekends with him at a cottage on Manori island. She would have been hanging out with the friends she has known since her days as an English Literature student at St Xavier's College and practising her expressions in the mirror in the bathroom of the flat she shared with her Mangalorean parents and sister.

Then she landed that role in Slumdog millionaire. She began spending time with Danny Boyle and the crew, taking time out to show her leading man Dev Patel the sights including, perhaps, the Queen's Necklace, the neo-gothic buildings that had once prompted Aldous Huxley to call Bombay "one of the most appalling cities in either hemisphere", and seedily exotic Colaba. But this isn't a tourist brochure for Urbs Prima in Indis. It's a contemplation of what fame can do, and in the case of Freida Pinto, Oscar hopeful, BAFTA award winner and new darling of the red carpet, how it can take you from boarding the Churchgate fast every morning to riding around New York in a stretch limousine surrounded by stylists.

Suddenly, Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle, are courting her, UK's Sun is advising readers on how to get her 'look', luxury London outlets are inviting her to beam at the paparazzi from their shop fronts.

YOU'RE not sure at what point Ms Pinto, who really didn't have much to do in the film, became an international sensation. Was it when she warmed the cockles of the firangi media's collective heart by mumbling through a mouthful of chocolate cake at Angelina Jolie? Was it because Jolie has anointed her for a life of stardom by advising her to "keep it real" - a bit strange coming from a woman whose own life with a million kids, zillion dollar paycheques and gadzillion international do-good programmes seems as far from reality as poor Rohan Antao is from Brad Pitt. Was it because she now speaks with a Miss India accent she couldn't have picked up at St John's Universal High School, Goregaon? Any day now you expect her to have a white-gloved-palmto- face Sushmita Sen moment.

The truth is her stylist George Kotsiopoulos, who'd rather commit harakiri than let a Tahiliani near Pinto, is the real star. That other Mangalorean beauty Aishwarya Rai needs to get his number quick. The boob-squash thingy she wore to the Berlin Film Festival is just the sort of outfit George would chuck into Bombay's stinking Mahim creek... as Freida's usual local lumbers slowly over it.

Which brings you to the question, what will Freida do next? Will she snap out of her fame-induced amnesia and run back into Antao's arms once the Slumdog fever dies down? Or will she find herself a Pitt replica? Whatever she does, let's hope she doesn't imitate Jolie's bizarre fertility goddess routine. With whoever.

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Rahman and wife make a style statement at Oscars

Oscar-winning music maestro A.R. Rahman's media-shy better half Saira Banu walked the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood for the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

Clad in a black kurta-churidar by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the demure wife of the maestro has by choice always maintained her distance from the limeligh till date. She was not a much known face among the Indians, let alone on the global platform before appearing at the awards.

Saira Banu was all over the TV screens worldwide when she walked the red carpet clinging to her husband's right arm throughout the ceremony.

Not much of a speaking lot, both husband and wife have had perhaps the maximum number of public appearances courtesy the worldwide success of Danny Boyle's Mumbai-based rags-to-rajah story "Slumdog Millionaire".

Rahman won two golden statuettes - for best original song "Jai ho" and best original score for the film.

Even though Rahman has proved he has impeccable music sense - as is evidenced by his twin Oscars, when it comes to following fashion trends, he completely trusts his wife Saira Banu, says his stylist Vijayeta Kumar.

"He is a very simple person and doesn't believe in doing anything flashy. He is not at all brand conscious and blindly depends on Saira for the final call," Vijayeta Kumar told IANS over the phone from Mumbai.

"The reason behind this is that Saira is more aware and keeps herself updated about the latest trends," she added.

This Mumbai-based stylist who is also a filmmaker has been associated with Rahman for over a year now. She had met him on the sets of a musical show "Mission Ustad" on 9X, for which she was the stylist.

Rahman's wife got in touch with Kumar after the show and since then she has been designing for the maestro at various concerts and award functions.

"Both of them are so amazing and down to earth. They are wonderful. It's been a wonderful experience and after his win at the Oscars, Rahman has proved that he is the best," Kumar said.

At the Oscars, Rahman was wearing a black Lanvin tuxedo and for the live performance he wore Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's creation - a black sherwani.

"The red carpet dressing is very strict so we were very clear from the beginning that he is going to wear a tuxedo. There was no question of opting for any Indian attire or repeating any outfit," Kumar explained.

"We zeroed in for Sabyasachi for the sherwani because he is the best. We had to make sure that Rahman was wearing something comfortable while performing. So what better than a sherwani and that too a Sabyasachi," she added.

Was it a coincidence that both Rahman and Saira were wearing black?

"Both of them just love black. So it was a conscious decision," Kumar maintained.

Elaborating on Rahman's style statement, Kumar said: "It is very easy to dress him because he doesn't believe in brands. He gives importance to comfort levels."

"He is a jeans and shirt man. Sometimes he wears kurtas with churidars also," she added.

Meanwhile, as India rejoiced at A.R. Rahman's double Oscar win, his brother-in-law and namesake Rahman said it is the reward for the maestro's life-long commitment to music.

Rahman, who acts in films, told reporters that a harmonium was his brother-in-laws's constant companion even during his honeymoon.

"We were told that in the middle of the night he was sitting in the next room and playing a harmonium in Kodaikanal where he had gone for his honeymoon. Such was his dedication," Rahman said.

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Is Ash a thief

There’s more to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s role in Pink Panther 2 than the rumoured two minutes of screen space, it seems.

In fact, if the buzz is to be believed, the movie would be incomplete without her role. The actress is apparently playing the main villain in the movie! “She is actually the one who steals the Pink Panther diamond, and in the end, Steve Martin finds out,” says a source close to the unit of the movie.

Aishwarya plays the role of Sonia Solandres, a criminology expert, in the film. She is part of the team of detectives who are trying to find the Pink Panther diamond. But in the end, Inspector Clouseau figures out that Sonia, played by Ash, is the real culprit and no criminology expert. “The climax has a fight scene where Ash even kicks some butt and tries to flee. But eventually, she gets caught and is put behind bars,” says the source.

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Happy Birthday, Shahid

Shahid Kapoor turns 27 today. We take a look at his eventful journey in Bollywood.

Veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor is his father and actress/dancer Neelima Azim is his mother. The two divorced when Shahid was three. Shahid also has a half brother, Ishaan Khattar from his mother’s marriage to Rajesh Khattar. Shahid lives with his mother.

Baby faced Shahid wowed our hearts in the Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra video in the late 90s. He was also the boy who drapes the saree on Aishwarya Rai’s head in the song Kahi Aag lage lagjaave from Taal. He also shared screen space with SRK, Rani and Kajol in a Pepsi ad post Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Finally, he made his big screen debut in 2003 in Ken Ghosh’s rom-com Ishq Vishk alongside fellow newbies Shenaz Treasurywalla and Amrita Rao. The film was a sizeable hit and the songs became a rage. Shahid became a teenage sensation because of his cute charm and dancing skills. He won a Filmfare Best Debut Award that year.

After Ishq Vishk, Shahid was seen in Fida, a thriller alongside Kareena Kapoor, his real life girlfriend and Fardeen Khan. The film didn’t do well but Shahid’s performance was appreciated.

A few more unsuccessful films like Dil Maange More, Deewane Huye Pagal, Vaah Life ho toh Aisi, 36 China Town, Shikhar and Chup Chup Ke till Shahid made a breakthrough in 2006 with Rajshri Films’ Vivah! In the film he co-starred with Amrita Rao and had to fill in the shoes of Prem, a character previously played by Salman Khan. The film was a hit and Shahid’s performance was highly appreciated.

A lackluster Fool ‘n’ Final later, Jab We Met was a big commercial success. Though it was Kareena’s film through and through, Shahid’s mature and subtle performance complemented her vivacious turn perfectly. Their chemistry was natural and sizzling.
They had done three films together before this: Fida, 36 China Town and Chup Chup Ke. All of them flopped. Sadly, the two of them broke up after dating for four years when Jab We Met released.

After Jab We Met, Shahid co-starred in Aziz Mirza’s Kismat Konnection which was an average hit with super hit songs like Ba Khuda and Aai Paapi.

Since his break up with Bebo, Shahid has been linked to Sania Mirza, Vidya Balan and most recently Priyanka Chopra, his Kaminey co-star. But he has remained tightlipped on all of this.

He has recently been signed on as brand ambassador for Pioneer music systems and V.I.P. luggage.

Shahid will be seen in Ahmed Khan’s Paathshala, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey and Anurag Singh’s next film for Yashraj with Rani Mukerji. We wish this talented and good-looking actor a very Happy Birthday and many joyful and successful years to come.

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What’s next for SM’s Indian team

We take a look at what the Indian team of Slumdog Millionaire is doing after the film's Oscar wins.

A R Rahman: The only Indian to win two Oscars, Rahman’s upcoming Indian albums include Nagesh Kukunoor’s 8X10, Ashtvinayak’s Blue, Shankar’s Endhiran, Abbas Tyrewala’s 1-800-Love and Mani Ratnam’s Ravan. He also has an Indo-Japanese movie called Nair San starring Mohanlal and is in talks about composing for Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes’ next films.

Dev Patel: He has bagged M Night Shyamalan’s flick The Airbender. His role of Prince Zuko of Fire Nation, based on a popular Nickelodeon TV series, will require him to learn martial arts. Filming begins next month in Philadelphia.

Freida Pinto: She has bagged a Woody Allen film alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts and Josh Brolin. Shooting for the as-yet-untitled film begins in July.

Resul Pookutty: India’s first Oscar-winning sound technician has Saurabh Shukla’s romantic comedy Raat Gayi Baat Gayi and Sanjay Gupta’s stylised action thriller Acid Factory as his upcoming projects. He is also working on a Rajat Kapoor film and an untitled Hollywood flick.

Irrfan: The actor has another Indo-American venture, Hissss, starring Mallika Sherawat and Divya Dutta. The film is directed by Jennifer Lynch, David Lynch’s daughter. His other international project is New York, I Love You. Irrfan also has a summer release in the form of YRF’s New York, directed by Kabir Khan and starring John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Katrina Kaif. Then, there is Sanjay Gupta’s action thriller Acid Factory and drama Alibaug, Ambika Hinduja’s Teen Patti and rom-com Kal Kisne Dekha, among others.

Anil Kapoor: Race was one of the biggest hits of 2008 and Anil Kapoor will be part of its sequel. He will also start work on the sequel to Mr India. His home production Shortkut - The Con Is On, starring Sanjay Dutt and Amrita Rao, will release later this year.

Gulzar: The legendary lyricist-writer-director will be working with Vishal Bhardwaj on songs for his romantic comedy Ishqiya starring Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan.

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Amitabh teams up with make-up man

The legendary Mr. Amitabh Bachchan is respected for his proper mannerisms and promptness. But what makes him more popular is that he lives up to his promises.

An exemplary case of this is Amitabh’s willingness to work with his make-up man. Two years ago, Amitabh was convinced by Deepak Sawant, his make-up man of thirty years, to work in a Bhojpuri film called Ganga. Now it has been revealed that Amitabh will work on Deepak’s first Hindi production, Great Dadu.

Our source close to Deepak said, "Amitabh Bachchan has agreed to do a film called Great Dadu. Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Balan, and Hema Malini will also star in the film.”

“Amitabh Bachchan will play a 70 year old and Hema Malini will play his wife. It’s a family drama. And Abhishek Chhada will be directing the film. The movie will go on the floors this May.”

The source went on to reveal that Amitabh’s commitment to Deepak doesn’t end with his acting role. He said, “Amitabh is also trying to rope in music maestro A R Rahman and also Aishwarya. He is doing all of this for Deepak’s sake.

Both Deepak Sawant and Abhishek Chhada were unavailable for comment.

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Acting is my bread and butter: Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen's films may not do very well at the box office, but she is one woman who will be remembered for her great attitude. She may have put on weight but she manages to carry off that pretty well too.

She is often written about because of the number of boyfriends she has had, but she is equally known for being the only woman in Bollywood to have adopted a kid without feeling the need to get married. However, it was the latest controversy in her professional life that Sushmita spoke to us about.

The former Miss Universe was recently in the tabloids for saying she would not promote Karma Aur Holi, where she shares space with ex-beau Randeep Hooda. When asked about this, Sushmita candidly told us, “I will not promote the film but to know why you will have to watch the film. I will never take a film to my audience when I do not see any potential in it. Acting is a very dignified profession; it is my bread and butter. I survive by this profession but if a movie leaves me feeling disrespected, I will not promote it.”

What exactly was so unprofessional about the making of the film, we don’t know. Sushmita refused to reveal this secret, insisting that we had to watch the movie first. Karma Aur Holi is directed by New York based filmmaker Manish Gupta and was due to release a long time ago. According to the actress, this is why her refusal to promote the film was accepted quietly by the promotion team.

We came away floored by her attitude and personality, but could not help wondering if this was a publicity stunt to drive audiences to cinema halls. After all, Sushmita’s career is in the doldrums. Many of her films, such as Rani Laxmi Bai and Dulha Mil Gaya, have been shelved. What we can't deny though, is that she is unlike any other Bollywood actress. When she left, she was the one driving the car while her make-up man, secretary and other assistants sat in the back. Maybe, that is why she is still recognised in this fickle-minded industry today.

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What's happening in tinseltown

Gorgeous women and some men around town at an awards ceremony, a party and a stand-up comedy show.

Casual Hero: Aamir Khan at the GR8! Women’s Awards at ITC Grand


White Beauty: Deepika looks pretty in this girly dress. Like the curls


Purple-icious: Asin works the red carpet in this rich mauve gown.


Same-Same: Farah loves this purple and black outfit of hers. Among other events, she wore it at the Triumph Fashion Show in November.


Three’s Company: The utterly gorgeous Kareena Kapoor steals the show from a made up and dressed up Amrita Arora as expected. Saif and Shakeel weren’t present so Arbaaz gave them company at Sajid Nadiadwala’s party at Vie Lounge


Desi Darlings: Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle Khanna sparkle in their ethnic outfits


Quick Change: Farah changed her kurta but retained the pants, sandals and chain when she attended Sajid’s party with hubby Shirish Kunder


Royalty: Twinkle and Akshay Kumar leave the party in a Rolls Royce


Twosome: Imran Khan and girlfriend Avnatika Mallik at Vir Das’s stand-up comedy show at NCPA in Mumbai. We like Avantika’s bright clutch and peep-toes


Bubble-gum Pink: Both Gul Panag and Manjari Phadnis wore pink. We like Gul’s pink glares and Manjari looks pretty too.


All of Us: Sophie Choudry and Sudanshu Pandey with Bappi Lahiri, his wife and Shibani Kashyap at a party for Jai Veeru.

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Salman Khan in action on the sets of Veer

Salman Khan is busy filming his dream project Veer at the Amber Fort in Rajasthan. Here are some on-set pictures of Salman Khan in action.

Salman Khan’s hairy tale


Sallu - the next gladiator


Adjusting his armour


Back in action

Veer is directed by Anil Sharma and has been written by Salman Khan. The film is set during the British Raj and tells the love story of a Rajput warrior (Salman Khan) and a princess (Zarine Khan). It is expected to release at the end of the year.

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Can Bollywood make movies for international audiences

With three Indians winning Oscars, will Bollywood directors be keen on making films that appeal to not just Indians the world over, but international audiences as well? Also, will they consider making these films in English? We spoke to a few directors to find out.

Bhootnath director Ravi Chopra
With this win, international audiences will certainly pay more attention to Indian films. A few may even make movies in English. However, this transition will take time. I'm happy for A.R. Rahman and Resul who have made us proud.

Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa director Abbas Tyrewala
I don’t think we should make films in English because we need to make movies for Indians. Films that appeal to international audiences need not be in English. Meanwhile, I'm very happy that Rahman is also composing the music for my second film.

Shoot On Sight director Jagmohan Mundhra
In my career, I have directed 36 films and 32 of them have been in English. Most of the English ones were appreciated globally because our scripts differ greatly from western ones. Their way of writing is completely different. Slumdog’s script is very well written.

Jannat producer Mukesh Bhatt
Slumdog is not an Indian film. The crew is largely English. The aim is to make a good Indian film. The aim is not to make a movie that appeals to international audiences. We must make films for the common Indian. Also, there isn’t any need to call the win, India’s win. It’s only Rahman and Resul who are Indian.

Teen Patti director Leena Yadav
Indian movies have been appreciated before. I think the real difference here is that a technician won an award. And in India we never pay any attention to technicians and other people who work behind the scenes.

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Akshay Kumar attends the launch of Asian Heart Institute's cardiac air ambulance

Akshay Kumar is one actor who is always known to extend a helping hand to social causes. Yesterday the 'Khiladi' Kumar visited the Asian Heart Institute at BKC and looked on as Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the hospital's emergency air ambulance service.

The air-ambulance service, priced at Rs.85000, will also be available to patients from rural parts of the state and those seeking treatment at other hospitals. A 24 hour cardiac care helpline has also been launched.

For the time-being, the chopper would land only at Juhu airport and Mahalaxmi racecourse although authorities are requesting MMRDA to construct a helipad atop the Asian Heart Institute.

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Feroz Khan admitted in a critical condition

Veteran actor and filmmaker Feroz Khan was rushed to Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital and admitted in the ICU yesterday. The actor, producer and director of films like Dharmatma, Qurbani, Jaanbaaz and Dayavan was in a critical condition while he was being admitted.

It may be recalled that Feroz Khan has been not keeping well for a while now and yesterday's incident did give his close family members a scare. Most of his close family and friends immediately rushed to be by his side.

We at Bollywood Buzz pray for his speedy recovery.

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Bollywood to witness double wedding bonanza in March

Bride: Ayesha Takia
Groom: Farhan Azmi
Venue: Cricket Club of India, Mumbai

Ayesha Takia will tie the knot with her long-time boyfriend Farhan Azmi, a restaurateur and son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on March 1 in a private and traditional nikaah ceremony at a mosque in Mumbai followed by a grand reception the next day at CCI, Mumbai. The two have been going steady for a long time.

All the preparations are complete including Ayesha's wedding trousseau. Ayesha has finished shooting for Boney Kapoor's Wanted-Dead Or Alive directed by Prabhu Deva; the Hindi remake of the Tamil hit Pokkiri and Nagesh Kukunoor's 8x10 Tasveer and is not taking on any more projects. The only film she will shoot after marriage is Revathi's Phir Tum Mil Gaye, a woman-oriented project.

She also has Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai! , Naughty@Forty, Milind Ukey's Paathshala opposite Shahid Kapoor and Nikhil Advani's Ab Dilli Door Nahin.

Telugu star Nagarjuna and director Puri Jagannath are expected to attend the reception to be held on March 2. The wedding was supposed to take place in December, but was postponed due to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Bride: Amrita Arora
Groom: Shakeel Ladhak
Venue: Bandra Church

March 4 is going to be the wedding to watch out for when Amrita Arora and Shakeel Ladhak will exchange rings and wedding vows at a Bandra church followed by a brunch at Olive. On March 5, Salman's sister Alvira Agnihotri will host mehendi and sangeet ceremony at Salman's residence. The nikaah ceremony will be held in the afternoon on March 6, followed by a grand reception in the evening at Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai.

The bride's vintage white gown is designed by Ashley Rebello. It will be a long lace gown flaring at the hips and tapering in a high neck. The lace for the gown will either be Christian Dior or Karl Lagerfeld. Ashley is also designing an emerald green and maroon ghagra for Amrita and a chikan pathani for the groom Shakeel Ladhak for the nikaah ceremony.
The bridesmaids Amrita's Sister Malaika Arora-Khan, best friend Kareena Kapoor and close friend Mallika Bhat - will be in peach Grecian-inspired gowns.

Vikram Phadnis is apparently designing some outfits for them for some wedding-related events. So has Shantanu and Nikhil who created several outfits for various functions including an avant garde lehenga for Amrita, which is made of old silk brocade sarees with a wide off-shoulder blouse.

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Woody Allen signs Freida Pinto for his next

The film Slumdog Millionaire has been making waves not just in India but even across the seven seas. Along with the film, the two new found stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are also riding high on the wave of their debut film's success. Following an almost clean sweep at the recent Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire's actress Freida Pinto is quite literally going places.

Quick on the heels of this recent success, Freida has bagged herself another highly prestigious project. Freida confirmed this on an American show (The Today Show) saying that her next is a film being made by the legendary director Woody Allen. Freida and the rest of the cast of Slumdog Millionaire were on the show talking about the success of their film at the Oscars.

The legendary Woody Allen was impressed with Freida's work in Slumdog Millionaire and decided then and there that he would be casting her in his next. The film, which is as yet untitled, will also star Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Sir Anthony Hopkins in all probability.

While in Hollywood promoting Slumdog Millionaire, Freida (who has been eyeing to make a mark in Hollywood) has done the smart thing of hiring herself an agent along with whom she has been meeting several producers and studio owners.

Must say Freida is slowly and steadily making her presence felt among the bigwigs of Beverly Hills.

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Congratulate Rahman on his Oscar win

The little master from Chennai, AR Rahman has made India proud by winning the eagerly awaited Oscars for 'Best Original Score' and the 'Original Song Award' for Slumdog Millionaire.

Taking a bow at the coveted red carpet ceremony, Rahman's acceptance speech during the Best Original Song Award was a moving encore. "All my life I had two choices - between love and hate and I chose love," declared Rahman to an enamoured Hollywood audience.

Dedicating the trophy to his country, Rahman also sought his mother's blessings and love. Citing the famous line from the yesteryears Bollywood hit Deewar - Rahman stated 'Mere paas Ma hain,' (I have my mother with me), as he accepted the award for Best Original Score. Rahman's soulful rendition of his nominated track Jai Ho was a fitting declaration of his talent on an international platform.

Jai Ho Rahman, we salute your musical prowess and hope you add many more triumphs to India's musical sojourn.

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Rahman bags 2 Oscars, Resul 1

As expected, A R Rahman won 2 Academy Awards for his beautiful score for Slumdog Millionaire and for the foot-tapping song Jai Ho. Resul Pookutty won the Oscar for Sound Mixing.

Alicia Keys and Zac Efron presented Rahman with the award. A very humble and composed Rahman said, "Before coming here I was excited and terrified, the last time this happened was during my marriage. We have a dialogue in Hindi films "Mere Paas Maa Hai" which means I have my mother so I have my mother here with me. I am grateful for all my blessings. I would like to thank the Academy, my musicians in Mumbai and Chennai, Blaaze and the team of Slumdog Millionaire."

Then he kept his award and came back on stage to sing 'O Saya' with Indian dancers aiding his performance. After Rahman, John Legend sang 'Down To Earth' from Wall-E and Rahman came back with Tanvi Shah to sing the super hit song, Jai Ho. John came back and sang his own song, so the two had a jugal bandi of sorts. Alicia Keys and Zac Efron then presented the Oscar to the undisputed winner, Rahman, making that his second Oscar win in just one night. Rahman came back on stage, smiled, and said, "I would like to thank my whole crew, Danny Boyle, Mumbai. The essence of the film is optimism and the power of hope. All of my life, I had two choices between love and hate. I chose love. God Bless."

Another Indian from down South Resul Pookutty won the Oscar for Sound Mixing.

In his acceptance speech, Resul was visibly shaky and nervous; he had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself. He said, "This is unbelievable, I can't believe this! I share this stage with two magicians who re-created the cacophony and sounds of Mumbai with pure resonance. I come from a country where one word is preceded by silence and followed by silence. That word is Om. This is history being created. I dedicate the award to my country, India. I would like to thank Danny Boyle, the Academy, Fremantle, Loveleen Tandon and the entire team of Slumdog Millionaire." Resul shared the award with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke.

Chris Dickens won the Oscar for Film Editing for Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire has won 6 Academy Awards out of 7 so far. Sound Mixing, Film Editing, Original Score and Original Song were consecutive wins. Jai Ho!

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Slumdog Millionaire ki Jai Ho!

Slumdog Millionaire won its 7th Oscar in the form of Best Director for Danny Boyle and then its 8th Oscar for Best Film.

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg presented the Oscar to producer Christian Colson. The entire team of Slumdog Millionaire came up on stage from Anil Kapoor to Dev Patel to Loveleen Tandon to the child actors. Colson said, "It has been an extraordinary journey. When we started the film, we had no money, no stars, no power and no muscle. The script inspired mad love in us. We had a genius of a director, an untiring cast and crew, a shared love for Mumbai, where we shot the movie and a passion. I would like to thank my mum, dad, my girls and my partner in crime."

Slumdog has beat The Curious Case of Benjamin, The Reader, Frost/Nixon and Milk in the Best Picture race.

America's sweetheart Reese Witherspoon presented the award to Danny Boyle. A sprightly and hopping Danny Boyle came up on stage and accepted the award. He explained, "My kids are too old to remember now but when they were younger, I promised them I would accept the award like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. I would like to thank the Academy; you have been so generous to us tonight and you'll have put up a beautiful show, I don't know how it looks on TV but it looks wonderful here. I would like to thanks my kids and their wonderful mom, my dad and my sister. Everyone at Celador and Warner Bros. that got the entire cast and crew here. I didn't thank my choreographer in the end credits of Slumdog and I have been an idiot and I apologize for that and for ending an inseparable bond with Mumbai. You dwarf even the sky. I would like to thank all those who helped make Slumdog and all those who didn't."

Slumdog Millionaire has won a total of 8 Academy Awards out of the ten it was nominated for. Rahman won 2 Oscars for Best Song and Original Score, Chris Dickens won Best Editing, Resul Pookutty won for Sound Mixing, Anthony Dod Mantle won for Cinematography, Simon Beaufoy won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Danny Boyle won Best Director and Christian Colson won Best Film. Jai Ho!

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Danny Boyle: Bollywood stars had no dates for me

Danny Boyle is the man of the moment. His film Slumdog Millionaire has wowed the West and won him countless awards – the most recent being the Golden Globe. The director behind Hollywood films like Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later, Millions and Sunshine says he had no choice but to take Anil kapoor as the rest of the so called A listers in Bollywood had no time for him.

“In Bollywood stars are so busy with their work that they don't have time. Even in Hollywood stars are not so busy which I found very strange,” says Danny whose first choice for the role of the quizmaster was Shah Rukh Khan and subsequently Amitabh Bachchan. However the director says that neither of the two biggest Bollywood stars had any time or dates for him.

“But later Lovleen introduced me to Anil Kapoor and he was the only actor who had the dates to do my film. Then I watched his films like Mr. India and Taal and I loved his performance so I signed him but afterwards I realized that he is the only candidate who could do this role,” says Boyle.

One of the main concerns for the popular international director was the accent. Boyle was worried about the accent and the fluency in English as far as Anil was concerned.

“I thought we would have to work hard for dubbing but when I met Anil he could speak English and that also in an American accent. And not only with Anil… I enjoyed working with Lovleen also. I didn't want a 20 year old boy or girl to play a character of 6 year old kid and so Lovleen suggested that we could take three different kids to play the same character and these kids were brilliant. Even for the characters of Jamal and Latika played by Freida … the casting was done by Lovleen. I remember we had taken so many auditions for Freida's role but just couldn’t find the right person and then Lovleen showed me Freida's audition and I was convinced,” says Danny.

The international director who is pegged to take home the awards on Oscar night next month says he has also become a fan of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan who plays the cop in Slumdog Millionaire.

“I would love to say one thing... Irrfan Khan is one of the greatest actors in your industry. I have become a fan of him,” he says.

When asked about the criticism directed towards his film by some people including superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Danny seems unperturbed.

“To get criticism is a part of making a film. It will only help me grow in my profession. And I guess every one has right to show their feelings especially in India because it is a democratic country!"

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Latest on....Filmfare Poll

The award season is on in full swing and the Filmfare nominations we have all been waiting for have finally been announced. From Best Actor to Best Director to Best Film, read up on all the nominees here.

BEST FILM

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 5087)

Dostana

2%

Ghajini

5%

Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na

2%

Jodhaa Akbar

59%

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

30%

Rock On!!

1%

BEST DIRECTOR

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 1156)

A.R. Murugadoss (Ghajini)

16%

Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On!!)

3%

Aditya Chopra (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

36%

Ashutosh Gowariker (Jodhaa Akbar)

24%

Madhur Bhandarkar (Fashion)

10%

Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday)

12%

BEST ACTOR (MALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 45099)

Aamir Khan (Ghajini)

1%

Abhishek Bachchan (Dostana)

0%

Akshay Kumar (Singh Is Kinng)

0%

Hrithik Roshan (Jodhaa Akbar)

70%

Naseeruddin Shah (A Wednesday)

0%

Shah Rukh Khan (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

29%

BEST ACTOR (FEMALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 1091)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (Jodhaa Akbar)

13%

Anushka Sharma (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

34%

Asin Thottumkal (Ghajini)

13%

Kajol (U Me Aur Hum)

9%

Priyanka Chopra (Fashion)

32%

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 889)

Abhishek Bachchan (Sarkar Raj)

16%

Arjun Rampal (Rock On!!)

30%

Prateik Babbar (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

6%

Sonu Sood (Jodhaa Akbar)

5%

Tusshar Kapoor (Golmaal Returns)

15%

Vinay Pathak (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

28%

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 789)

Bipasha Basu (Bachna Ae Haseeno)

18%

Kangna Ranaut (Fashion)

44%

Kirron Kher (Dostana)

13%

Ratna Pathak Shah (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

12%

Shahana Goswami (Rock On!!)

13%

BEST MUSIC

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 795)

A R Rahman (Ghajini)

21%

A R Rahman (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

18%

A R Rahman (Jodhaa Akbar)

27%

Pritam Chakraborty (Race)

6%

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Rock On!!)

10%

Vishal-Shekhar (Dostana)

17%

BEST LYRICS

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 801)

Abbas Tyrewala for Kabhi kabhi Aditi (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

8%

Gulzar for Tu meri dost hai (Yuvvraaj)

8%

Jaideep Sahni for Haule haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

39%

Javed Akhtar for Jashn-e-bahara (Jodhaa Akbar)

22%

Javed Akhtar for Socha hai (Rock On!!)

6%

Prasoon Joshi for Guzarish (Ghajini)

17%

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 735)

Farhan Akhtar for Socha hai (Rock On!!)

14%

KK for Khuda jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)

17%

KK for Zara si dil mein (Jannat)

9%

Rashid Ali for Kabhi kabhi Aditi (Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na)

12%

Sonu Niigaam for Inn lamhon ke (Jodhaa Akbar)

13%

Sukhwinder Singh for Haule haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

35%

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)

Poll Results (Total Votes Polled = 1)

Alka Yagnik for Tu muskura (Yuvvraaj)

0%

Neha Bhasin for Kuch khaas hai (Fashion)

0%

Shilpa Rao for Khuda jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno)

0%

Shreya Ghoshal for Teri ore (Singh is Kinng)

100%

Shruti Pathak for Mar jaawan (Fashion)

0%

Sunidhi Chauhan for Dance pe chance (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi)

0%

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Delhi 6 - Movie Review

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra thinks out of the box and it's more than evident now. First AKS, then RANG DE BASANTI, now DELHI 6. A two-liner of the story may give you an impression that it's similar to UTV's earlier outing SWADES, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker: An American of Indian origin returns to his roots and decides to stay back in India. But DELHI 6 bites more than it can chew.

Set in old Delhi, the screenplay [Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Prasoon Joshi, Kamlesh Pandey] takes its own sweet time to come to the point. In fact, the entire first half is dedicated to the sundry characters in the bylanes of old Delhi, where several stories run parallel with the main plot... The two warring brothers [Om Puri, Pawan Malhotra] and the wall that divides the two; the daughter of the house [Sonam Kapoor] aspires to be an 'Indian Idol' contestant; a moneylender's [Prem Chopra] wife has an illicit relationship with one of his lecherous debtors [Cyrus Sahukar]; an 'untouchable' [Divya Dutta] makes more sense than the so-called thekedaars of samaj; a friend of the family [Rishi Kapoor] has still not forgotten his first love [Tanvi Azmi]. Oh yes, there's also a 'Kaala Bandar' who spreads havoc in the locality. Really, Rakeysh tries to pack in multiple stories in those 2.18 hours.

But, alas, the problem is that barring a few individualistic sequences, you don't carry the film home. The film is engaging in bits and spurts. Worse, it tends to get monotonous, preachy and boring and the end is so bizarre, you actually want to ask the writers, 'Hey guys, you okay?'

Let's cut a long story short: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra misses the bus this time.

DELHI 6 tells the story of a young American boy Roshan [Abhishek Bachchan] of Indian origin, who comes to India for the first time, to drop his ailing grandmother [Waheeda Rehman]. She wants to retire and spend the last leg of her life back home; dissolving into the soil she was born in.

In America, having led a very western lifestyle, Roshan is not familiar with the sites and smells, the food and culture, the religion and beliefs, this huge melting pot that India is. He believes that Dadi had left her family and loved ones back in America, only to realize that how wrong he was.

The warmth and affection of the neighbourhood embraces him with open arms. Amidst all this he meets the beautiful Bittu [Sonam Kapoor], who wants to break free from the typical Indian social structure, to whom Roshan is destined to lose his heart.

That Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is an accomplished storyteller is evident in several individualistic scenes. Note the scene when Vijay Raaz slaps Abhishek and Abhishek slaps him back. Also, portions in the second hour, when a Baba [Akhilendra Mishra] triggers off the Mandir-Masjid talk and divides the two communities, is very well structured. The sequences are disturbing and the writers and director succeed in exposing the fickle-minded people residing in the locality.

But the screenplay isn't foolproof. The romantic track is the weakest link in the enterprise. The love story falls flat. Also, the ending is so abstract that an average moviegoer would find it difficult to comprehend what the actual culmination is. The sequence in the end, when Amitabh and Abhishek have a conversation, looks weird. In fact, ridiculous. What was the need to have this sequence? It makes no sense. Even the Ram Leela sequences, interspersed at regular intervals, are forced in the screenplay.

Rakeysh's handling of the subject is exemplary at places. But the writing [faulty at times] as also the execution of the material isn't the type that would appeal to all sections of moviegoers. A.R. Rahman's music is outstanding; it's easily amongst his finest works. 'Masakali', 'Ye Dilli Hai Mere Yaar', 'Rehna Tu', 'Maula' and 'Genda Phool' are amazing tracks. Ditto for Prasoon Joshi's lyrics; they're gems. Binod Pradhan's cinematography is brilliant. Watch the Jama Masjid sequence [breath-taking] or the camera movements in the bylanes of old Delhi. Just one word to describe the output: Incredible!

Abhishek doesn't work. Also, his American accent looks fake. Sonam is likable. Waheeda Rahman enacts her part well. Rishi Kapoor is wasted. He deserved a better role. Amongst supporting actors, Om Puri [powerful], Pawan Malhotra [flawless], Vijay Raaz [tremendous], Deepak Dobriyal [genuine], Divya Dutta [admirable] and Cyrus Sahukar [likable] leave a mark.

Prem Chopra is alright. Atul Kulkarni looks like a buffoon. And what is Raghvir Yadav doing in this film? Supriya Pathak, Tanvi Azmi, K.K. Raina, Akhilendra Mishra and Dayashanker Pandey are passable. Amitabh Bachchan's presence in the penultimate minutes fails to evoke any reaction.

On the whole, DELHI 6 has a terribly boring beginning [first hour], an absorbing middle [second half] and a weak end [climax]. At the box-office, the business is bound to be divided. The film may record bountiful collections at multiplexes in its opening weekend. The popular music as also the fact that there's no major opposition will benefit the film in the initial days. But the business at single screens as also the mass belt will be a shocking contrast. However, the cracks will start appearing sooner than expected, even at plexes. Thumbs down!

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FICCI Awards honour Bollywood legends

Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan have been bestowed with first FICCI-IIFA's 'Most Powerful Entertainers of the Decade' awards.

The two were among the 10 stars who have been presented with the 'Most Powerful Entertainers of the decade' award at the ongoing annual FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)-Frames ceremony.

The awards came in contrast for Shah Rukh as he gave last year's IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards ceremony a miss. Rumours were rife that he skipped the awards courtesy a cold war with Amitabh, who is the brand ambassador for IIFA.

Joining the stars in the league have been eight other actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty.

Hollywood actor and leading social activist Danny Glover and Congressman John Lewis have also been given the FICCI-USIBC (US-India Business Council) award.

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Shilpa comforts dying Jade

Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty has reached out to cancer-stricken TV star Jade Goody after receiving an invite to the terminally-ill British personalities wedding.
Shetty, who won’t be able to attend tragic Jade’s big day on Sunday, has spoken of her despair when she heard the news that her former Big Brother housemate’s cancer was incurable.

The pair, who were caught up in a heated racism row when they were in the Big Brother house, have since put their differences aside as brave jade battled cervival cancer.

Shilpa was devastated to learn earlier this year that jade had only months to live after her cancer spread.

"I called her (Goody), hoping it (deteriorating health) was only a rumour, but she confirmed it. Jade being Jade, shifted the topic to her wedding on Sunday and she invited me for it," Shilpa posted on her blog.

Shilpa writes that she went through a gamut of emotions when Goody invited her for her wedding with 21-year-old Jack Tweed.

"It was a lot of mixed feelings - happiness, helplessness and extreme sadness," she said.

The two met in 2007 on the British reality show "Celebrity Big Brother" and Shilpa became a victim of Goody's racial discrimination on the show. Later, Shilpa and Goody became good friends.

Shilpa, however, won't be able to attend the wedding due to her prior commitments. She will be shooting in Kuala Lumpur.

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Big B visits Shah Rukh Khan

On his blog dated 18 February, Amitabh Bachchan had written about messaging Shah Rukh Khan and wishing him a speedy recovery. SRK called him back and thanked him, informing him he was home as he was getting depressed in the hospital and invited Big B over for some games.

Big B warned him not to take post-surgery therapy lightly, not to get into any kind of activity and to take adequate rest. Late last night, Big B visited Shah Rukh Khan at Mannat, his residence. Here are the pictures

Amitabh Bachchan arrives

He is waiting to get in

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Operating Shah Rukh was no easy task: Dr. Sanjay Desai

Shah Rukh Khan is on the road to recovery after his shoulder surgery at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, but that journey is going to take two months of being out of action at the least.

The 43-year-old actor injured himself at the end of last year on the sets of Dulha Mil Gaya but postponed the needed surgery as he didn’t want to disrupt the shooting for Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan.

Now, after finally being operated on, shoulder specialist Dr. Sanjay Desai, who is treating Khan, says, “He cannot move his shoulder for at least two months. He has to follow a certain exercise regime but he cannot do weight training as it will put stress on his shoulder. After a certain age, your bones take time to heal.”

Commenting on the delay of the surgery, Dr. Desai says, “He was injured last year and the operation should have ideally taken place earlier but he was busy shooting and didn’t get the time. The operation itself doesn’t take much time but post-surgery , he has to rest. That is why we decided to go ahead with it now. Believe me, operating on Shah Rukh is no easy task.”

The star has been instructed to take utmost care post the operation. “Stars have very busy schedules and it is compulsory for them to look good but he has to rest for a minimum of two months. He must be careful of his shoulder as he has already had injuries to his spine,” says Dr. Desai.

Shah Rukh shifted from the hospital to his home soon after the surgery. Dr. Desai explains, “He wants to stay with his family but we are there to check up on him daily. When he was at the hospital, everyone from his fans to the media gathered to get a glimpse of him. The funny thing is, before Shah Rukh went in for surgery, even the hospital staff were eager to get a look at him and click pictures. This is what happens when you are a star. He is alright now so when he asked, we told him that it was okay if he wanted to be discharged.”

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On the sets Veer at Amber Fort

Salman Khan’s self-scripted period drama, in which he is playing a warrior fighting against the British rule, has stopped shooting at Amber Fort, Jaipur, after an accident on its sets caused injuries to fans watching.

Here are snapshots of the stars in action on the sets before the Rajasthan High Court issued a stay order on the filming there.

Salman Khan’s green signal


Phirang wrestler


Jaadu ki jhappi


Ready for action

Veer is now being shot for at City Palace, Jaipur. The film is slated to release by the end of 2009 .

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Bollywood valued at $21billion

The world may be facing its biggest economic crisis to date, but Bollywood is booming.

The industry looks set to top $21billion over the next five years, building on an annual 15% increase since 2006, according to a joint study by a leading chamber and a consultancy released this week.

But the growth projection for the industry for 2009-13 has been lowered to 12.5% a year from 18 percent predicted earlier for 2008-12, due to current economic meltdown, adds the study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and KPMG.

Last year's report, also released during the annual FICCI-Frames exposition on media and entertainment industry, was prepared by the chamber in association with leading accountancy firm and consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"In many ways, 2008 was a testing time for the industry," says the study. "With the global economic slowdown affecting advertising spends, sectors like TV, print, radio and outdoor that depend on advertising revenues were affected."

The new study lowered the projections for the advertising industry during the two periods under review from 18 percent to 12.4 percent, adding that this segment had grown 20 percent during 2004-07 and 17.1 percent in 2006-08.

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Mumbai barbers cut the cinema queue

Mumbai hairdressers will be treated to a free screening of Shah Rukh Khan’s barber-based flick “Billu”.

As many as 270 of the city’s top crimpers will sip free refreshments at the VIP screening to celebrate the movie’s release.

Organisers from Sujata Cinema Hall, explained: "We have decided to screen the movie free of cost to 270 barbers of Ranchi on Thursday. The move is aimed at bringing cheer on the faces of barbers who work hard to earn their livelihood," Dushyant Jaiswal, owner of the cinema hall, told reporters.

The decision was taken after consulting the Ranchi Nayee (barber) Association (RNA).

According to sources, Thursday was chosen because people normally avoid cutting their hair and shaving on the day.

"The barbers are neglected in the society. The movie is a step forward to recognise our job," said Tanik Thakur, secretary of RNA.

"Billu" revolves around the barber Billu (Irrfan Khan) whose friend Sahir Khan (Shah Rukh) becomes a superstar and comes to shoot a movie near his village.

Earlier the film was titled "Billu Barber" but it landed in controversy after hairdressers associations got offended. Shah Rukh, who is also producing the film, promptly chopped off the the second half of the film's name.

Shah Rukh had also organised a show for some 600 barbers at the Gaiety theatre in Mumbai a day before the film's release.

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Kareena Kapoor world’s sexiest vegetarian

Kareena Kapoor has been crowned the world’s sexiest vegetarian in a poll organized by animal welfare charity PETA.

The Bollywood star was joined by cricket star Sreesanth at the top of the online poll on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ website.

Kareena’s svelte figure was enough to win out competition from fellow Bollywood veggies Malika Sherawat, Amrita Rao and Amrita Rao as well as Hollywood babes Natalie Portman and Reese Witherspoon.

India’s star bowler, Sreesanth, was also in a competitive field with other global vegetarians including Anil Kumble, Amitabh Bachchan and American rapper Andre 3000.

"When you look at the dozens of gorgeous celebrities in this year's poll, there are no bones about it - a vegetarian diet makes you beautiful inside and out", said Anuradha Sawhney of PETA India.

"After all, going vegetarian is the best thing you can do for the animals, the earth and your health," Sawhney added.

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What's happening in Bollywood

Is SRK imitating Salman? Pretty Ladies around Town and more

Imitating the Enemy? We are glad that SRK's surgery was successful and we wish him a speedy recovery. His torn jeans are like Salman Khan's. Someone please tell them torn jeans are not happening!


East meets West: American actor, activist and director Danny Glover and Amitabh Bachchan at FICCI Frames.


In Conversation: Are Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra discussing Shahid Kapur?


Four Beauties: Priyanka wore her trademark short dress with gorgeous silver peep toes, Kareena dazzled in a 70s style green sari, now that she has some curves, Preity kept it casual in a jacket with jeans and Shilpa wore a white sari which is nice minus the tassels. Who is your favourite?


Pink Doll: Celina Jaitley at the launch of her website. We like the pink and brown combination and she looks good except her face is oily enough to fry an egg on it!


Rock On: Abhishek Kapoor, the director of Rock On is the perfect choice to launch the album 'Kishore Rocks On'. He is seen here with Manish Newar, Rajshree Birla and singer Shaan.

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SRK out of action for 2 months

Shah Rukh Khan is known for his high levels of energy. But when we met him at his house on Tuesday, we were struck by how tired he was looking. Just out of bed, he was dressed in a black jacket and had his arm in a sling. He spoke to us about his surgery and what he plans to do with all the free time he now has...

How long will it be before you can get back to work?
I have been told to rest for at least 60 days. In any case, I would not have been able to work because of the pain. Also, I can't take off the sling for two months. So, it seems like I will only start shooting after that.

Wouldn't it be better for you to move to a hospital?
Actually, I think it is better to be home. My family will take care of me and people can visit me here. I feel safe in my own home and my doctor has also been taking care of me here.

Will you be allowed to do any kind of stunts after you recover?
They have asked me not to use my arm too much. Even my exercise regime is very strict now. I'm not allowed to do much weight training because it will affect my shoulder.

Why did you choose Indian doctors this time?
Well, I think we have the best in India in every field these days. The last operation I had was done abroad but I have realised we have everything in India so I had this operation here. And, it was actually more fun because the doctors had such a good time taking pictures with me. That is something international doctors will not do! (Laughs). More seriously, I wanted to be close to my children. Now that their exams are close, I can help them study.

What you will do with all this free time?
Well, I will work on developing stories. And my house is big enough for me to wander around and entertain myself. Plus, my kids and wife are around. I will spend time with them and allow them to do some seva for me!

Will this injury find its way into your autobiography?
I don't know. I haven't really thought about it, but I think my spine operation was worse than this. It was a lot more painful, so let's see.

Any message for fans who are praying for you?
Thank you for all your prayers. The way I see it, I am their employee! My life is dedicated to entertaining all of you. I will do my best to get well and get back to doing that.

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What's Ash giggling about

Enough has been spoken and written about Aishwarya Bachchan’s giggles, especially when she attends international events.

So, it didn’t come as a surprise when we saw Ash giggling away even on The Tyra Banks Show. That American twang of hers on the chat show surely didn’t go unnoticed either! Guess, hubby Abhishek’s portrayal of a New Yorker in his forthcoming film has rubbed on to Ash quite seriously as well! But she carried herself quite well, So we’ll give it to her alright. As for all the giggly criticisms, we guess, Ash just laughs ‘em off.

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Kat’s crazy about cars

With her career zooming ahead of many of her contemporaries, it’s but obvious that Katrina Kaif loves to speed things up.

But few know of her love for cars. Katrina says, “I always had a passion for cars. I loved the thought of owning luxury cars. I told myself that the day I’d earn money I’d buy expensive sports cars.” It’s all about speed for this Bollywood babe!

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Aarav joins SRK in lighting lives

If Shah Rukh Khan is the only Bollywood actor to provide electricity to the maximum number of villages in India under the campaign ‘Light a Billion Lights’, then Akshay Kumar’s six-year-old son Aarav, is the youngest person to sponsor a village!

Aarav who was sitting along with his father Akshay and watching “Preity aunty”, who is also part of the campaign, talk on TV about how villages do not have even the basic amenities like electricity in India, was intrigued when he learned that children of his age do not have light to study and play under. “He immediately asked his father Akshay how he could help them. Akshay dialled Preity’s number. who was live on air at the moment and made Aarav speak to her,” said a source.

Preity who herself has taken the initiative of providing electricity to villages, said, “Aarav called me and said that even he wanted to sponsor a village. So today he is the youngest sponsorer.”

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Kareena Kapoor goes international

Kareena Kapoor’s added yet another feather to her brand cap!

The actress who’s on a film-signing spree at the moment seems to be sharing that success rate even when it comes to signing brands. And the latest buzz on the Kapoor babe is that she has now been signed on by an international clothing brand. An insider revealed, “The company had considered several of the top actresses of Bollywood, but zeroed in on Kareena.” Seems like Kareena’s popularity is already reaching out across the seven seas. So, will we see her shining on the Hollywood billboards next?

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Anil Kapoor to host KBC

It’s not the Big B or SRK who are in the race for the hot seat of the popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati’s third season this year.

If rumours are to be believed, then the lambi race ka ghoda has turned out to be none other than apunka Lakhan, Anil Kapoor. The actor wowed the world with his act as a game show host in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and now Sony Television, which has bought the rights of KBC instead of Star TV, is trying to cash in on his popularity.

“Initially, the channel was thinking of getting Salman Khan to host the quiz show since they had already signed him under a three-year contract for their game show Dus Ka Dum. But since the show didn’t do as well as they expected and they had already paid Salman, they thought they would get him to host KBC. Now after seeing Anil Kapoor’s performance in Slumdog Millionaire, the channel is trying to get him on board in order to raise their TRPs,” said a source.

When BT SMSed Anil Kapoor for confirmation of the same, he preferred to maintain silence.

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Anil Kapoor on the cover of andpersand

The man is all over the place and how! We are indeed talking about the one and only Anil Kapoor, the man (who ironically) is now on the 'hot seat' after the stupendous success of the mega hit Slumdog Millionaire. Needless to say, that each and every channel, magazine is vying for a piece of Anil, the 'Oscar material actor'!

The latest mag to be featuring the man with not just mere golden but Jhakaas smile is 'andpersand'. The issue features an in-depth interview of this actor par excellence. There are lots of trivia facts about Anil Kapoor, like the fact that him being paid Rs. 19 (you read it right...Rs. 19) for Parinda etc... Anil also speaks about his take on shortcuts, his moustache etc…

All in all, an issue that's not be missed. Go for it....

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Main Aur Mrs Khanna - First Look

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Agyaat - First Look

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Prayers for Shahrukh Khan's speedy recovery

Prayers were performed at a hair-cutting saloon in Bhopal to wish a speedy recovery of Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, who underwent a successful shoulder surgery on Monday.

Naresh Sen, a barber in the saloon said that Khan had inspired their community to become successful through his film Billu.

"The havan (ritual) which I performed was for Shahrukh Khan to live a longer life. He will live much longer. I performed this ritual in my saloon because he has given us inspiration through his film Billu and an opportunity for the poor class to move forward." said Naresh.

The 43-year-old actor underwent an arthroscopic surgery on left shoulder, which kept nagging him for quite sometime.

Doctors at the Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital said Khan was recovering well.

The operation lasted for around one-and-a-half hours by a team of three doctors, a hospital official said.

Before he left for the hospital Khan said that getting injured was part of his job.

"I think when you working in a profession like this you ought to fall and jump. It is obvious you can get wounded like this. So I always believe this is a payment for all the goodness that I get," said Khan.

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Shah Rukh says he is fine, to rest for three weeks

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who underwent a successful shoulder surgery here, was discharged from hospital today and said he was feeling fine but would take some rest and take care of his kids' studies.
"I am fine...But I will be taking rest for three weeks," he told reporters in suburban Bandra after he was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital, where he underwent the surgery to repair the tear in his left shoulder muscle yesterday after he returned from London where he attended the premiere of his latest home production "Billu".

Shah Rukh also said he would be travelling to watch Twenty20 cricket matches. "I don't watch my own movies," he said in a reply to another query. "I will take care of my children's studies in my rest period," he said.

Shoulder specialist Dr Sanjay Desai, who performed the operation on the 43-year-old actor-producer, told PTI that Shah Rukh had recovered well and so was discharged. "Shah Rukh has resumed his normal diet and had a sound sleep." The actor, with his left hand in a sling, looked cheerful and waved at fans, photographers and camerapersons waiting outside the hospital.

He had injured himself on the sets of "Dulha Mil Gaya" last November and continued shooting for Karan Johar's "My Name is Khan" in Los Angeles for 45 days at a stretch during which he experienced severe pain.

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What's Happening in Bollywood

Danny Boyle and Dev Patel in Vanity Fair, Akshay Kumar on Complete Wellbeing, Flashy Kangana and more...

The Underdogs: Danny Boyle and Dev Patel have been featured in Vanity Fair's March issue in the article 'Something Just Clicked' which covers actors' partnerships with directors. Veterans like Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes, Clint Eastwood and other Hollywood bigwigs are also part of the same feature. The best part is that child actors Ayush Mahesh Khedekar and Tanay Chheda have also been mentioned.

Fit-Star: Super fit action superstar Akshay Kumar is on the cover of Complete Wellbeing's February issue.

Flashing! Kangana should keep her legs crossed at all the time; else we get a sneak peek at her light yellow panties. Why can't she wear tights underneath short dresses?

Conical Bra: The design on the top portion of Monica Bedi's gown makes it look conical ala Madonna's conical bra.

Beautiful in Blue: We love Maanyata's embroidered churidaar which flatters her long and lean frame. Manjari Phadnis looks like a pretty mermaid in this form-flattering, embellished gown and the blue eye shadow looks great.

Playing Politicians: Farhan Akhtar and Vivek Oberoi's bandh-gala outfits remind us of politicians. While both look good and very elegant, we aren't exactly happy with Farhan's slippers

No Place! Sohail Khan couldn't find a chair so he sat down by sisters Arpita and Alvira's side and watched the show

Same-Same: Sohail changed into these denim shorts from his olive green pants. Interestingly, Salman wore these for his performance at 9.35 PM and Sohail wore them at 9.45 PM. Quick change, we must say.

All Grown Up: The Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Parzania boy Parzan Dastur with director Sudhir Mishra and actor Sanjay Suri at a promotional shoot for Sikandar.

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Katrina replaces Sushmita as the face of Pantene

Katrina Kaif has bagged yet another endorsement. The fresh-faced actress has replaced Sushmita Sen as the face of hair care brand Pantene.

And it isn’t surprising considering the low profile Sen has been keeping- her last hit film was 2005’s Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Her current endorsements now include just the brand Olay.

A source close to Katrina Kaif confirms this replacement, saying, “Katrina has signed a contract with Pantene but can’t reveal any details about it now. She cannot say for how many years the contract is valid for either. Apart from this, she hasn’t got any new endorsements. She is presently in Turkey shooting for Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Ki Kahaani and will be there till the end of February.”

An official spokesperson from Pantene told us why Katrina was an obvious replacement for Sushmita, saying, “Katrina Kaif looks young and energetic and would be perfect for our campaign. Our consumers are between the ages of 15 to 29. Kat represents the youth and she is number one in Bollywood. Further, she is very professional.”

Katrina has previously replaced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as brand ambassador for Nakshatra.

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Winners of Max Stardust Awards 2009

SUPERSTAR OF TOMORROW - MALE
Farhan Akhtar (Rock On)

SUPERSTAR OF TOMORROW - FEMALE
Asin (Ghajini)

HOTTEST NEW FILMMAKER
A.R. Murugadoss (Ghajini)

HOTTEST NEW FILM
Ghajini

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - MALE
Prateik Babbar (Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na)

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE - FEMALE
Manjari Phadnis (Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE BY A MUSIC DIRECTOR
Dhruv Ghanekar (Drona)

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE BY A LYRICIST
Kausar Munir (Falak Tak Chal / Tashan)

NEW MUSICAL SENSATION - MALE
Benny Dayal (Pappu Can't Dance Saala / Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na)

NEW MUSICAL SENSATION - FEMALE
Anmol Malik (Talli / Ugly Aur Pagli)

EXCITING NEW FACE
Shriya Saran (Mission Istanbul)

THE NEW MENACE
Nikitin Dheer (Jodhaa Akbar)

EDITOR'S CHOICE AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING DIRECTOR
Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On)

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CINEMA
Dev Anand

PRIDE OF THE INDUSTRY
Feroz Khan

SPECIAL AWARD
Anil Kapoor (for being the first mainstream Indian actor to take India to Hollywood and winning Global Recognition)

STARDUST SEARCHLIGHT AWARDS WINNERS:

BEST ACTOR
Amitabh Bachchan (The Last Lear)

BEST ACTRESS
Amrita Rao (Welcome To Sajjanpur)

BEST FILM
A Wednesday

BEST DIRECTOR
Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday)

READER'S CHOICE AWARDS:

STAR OF THE YEAR - MALE
Hrithik Roshan (Jodhaa Akbar)

STAR OF THE YEAR - FEMALE
Priyanka Chopra (Fashion)

DREAM DIRECTOR
Ashutosh Gowariker (Jodhaa Akbar)

BEST FILM
Singh Is Kinng

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tusshar Kapoor (Golmaal Returns)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kangna Ranaut (Fashion)

BEST ACTOR IN A NEGATIVE ROLE
Anil Kapoor (Tashan)

STYLE ICON OF THE YEAR - MALE
Saif Ali Khan

STYLE ICON OF THE YEAR - FEMALE
Kareena Kapoor

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Stardust Awards: The stars that shone

The turnout at the Stardust Awards held on Sunday night was starry and some stars really surprised us all. They were dressed to kill!

Red and White: Twinkle looks super sexy in her bright red dress while Akshay keeps it simple with a white and black suit.


Vision in White: Asin looks elegant in this all white, shimmering gown. The silver ring and clutch goes well.


Co-ordinated Couple: Both Saif and Kareena are wearing brown. We love Kareena's subtle make up that brings out her natural beauty and her golden sandals. The leather jacket, jeans and bandana is a tad casual but the cool guy Saif, he carries it off well and looks extremely cute


Green Goddess: Priyanka looks spectacular in this unusual green gown with blue hues. The fit flatters her petite frame and the frill adds a girly, playful touch. Her hair and make-up is perfect


Pleasant Surprise: Who would have thought Vidya Balan would be in the best-dressed list? We are glad she has chosen a safe churidaar-kameez and the colour is elegant and rich. She looks comfortable and pretty.

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AB’s baby on Delhi-6

Abhishek Bachchan is on a whirlwind tour of the world to promote his film. First he was in the US with his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, at the Pink Panther 2 premiere.

Then he flew to London to promote Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi-6. After that Bachchan Jr. came to Mumbai to talk all about playing Roshan Mehra in Delhi-6. Wearing a big black velvet coat, Abhishek got chatty with us on the sets of Indian Idol, where he was a celebrity guest, and got talking about his latest character, working with Sonam Kapoor and why he took so long to sign grab the opportunity to work with Rakeysh Mehra.

Rakeysh Mehra offered you this role almost six years ago. Why did it take you so long to agree to it?

Rakeysh is a brilliant director and he and I have been trying to work together for almost 12 years now. Nothing worked out before because of date problems but then we finally worked hard to start shooting for this film and here we are.

You have worked with various directors. How is Rakeysh different from them?

It was great working with him; Rakeysh is a man who knows what he wants. He is perfect. He will let you work as long as he feels that you are in character. The moment he feels you are slipping, he will stop everything at once and correct it. He taught me many new techniques such as how to control my body language, how to look at the camera. Reel life is quite different from real life so we have to learn each time we work on a project.

What can we expect from this film that we haven’t seen before in your films?

Almost all of my films are different. This one is different too. I guess in this I have Sonam paired opposite me which is also new. As for my character, I play Roshan Mehra, a boy who comes to India from the US to drop his Dadi, who wants to spend her remaining days in Delhi. When I arrive, I try to convince my grandmother that she should come back with me and stay with her family. But then I end up finding Delhi very interesting – even your neighbours are like family. After that, the film is about how certain things go wrong.

Sonam is a newcomer who has only one film to her name. How do you find her as a co-star?

Very interesting. She is a sweetheart- a very good actress who easily got into her character. I think that her character is quite similar to her real personality, very chulbuli and mastikhor. She has worked backstage earlier so she knows better than experienced actors about shots, camera angles and other things.

Sonam said that you played many pranks on her on the sets.

I am what I am. I’ve been a prankster from my childhood, girls would run away from me! Many of my co-stars are also very frightened of me. Jokes apart, it’s very important to get along with your co-stars. That’s the way you develop chemistry. If the only thing we did on the sets was act then we would all get bored. So I joke around for time pass. But even Sonam used to do a lot of masti on the sets. We had a great time.

Does your film Delhi-6 have shades of Samjhauta Express in it?

No, because Samjhauta was more of a thriller and Delhi-6 is not. But I believe that there are a lot of influences from Samjhauta Express in Delhi-6.

Which is your favorite song from the soundtrack?

I love all the songs; the music is seriously good. And the entire credit for them goes to Prasoon Joshi. He has written all the lyrics as well as the film’s dialogues. Rahman too has once again given great music. The dialogues are great too. 'Burger Chhap' is a common phrase in India which is used to refer to Americans. Then there is Kala Bandar, which also a known phrase.

Promotion these days is extremely important. What is your take on this?

It's very important to publicise your product. That is why we advertise. It's very important to promote your film so that the audience knows what it is all about. But sometimes a film’s publicity goes overboard and then, when the product is launched, it is bad. Your marketing strategy is very important.

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What's happening in Bollywood

SRK arrives from London; love is in the air, musical promotions and the international premiere of Delhi-6.

Love Is In The Air: Lovebirds Saif and Kareena in the inaugural issue of Harper's Bazaar India.


Peachy Pretty Belle: Sonam looks absolutely gorgeous in this lovely churidaar set. She is so adorable!


Why-o-Why: Why is Abhishek making a fool of himself in this velvet coat at a promotional event for Delhi-6 on Indian Idol?


World Premiere: The cast and crew of the film, Prasoon Joshi, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Abhishek, Sonam and Ronnie at the premiere of the film in New York. Sonam isn't her stunning best, she looks like she has oiled her hair


Red Hot: Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh lounge at the music launch of Aa Dekhen Zara on the sets of India Idol


Hello Everyone: Shah Rukh Khan arrives in Mumbai from London this morning.

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I will get an eight-pack if my role needs it: Bebo

Kareena Kapoor's size zero figure made more news than her movie Tashan did. Dressed in a white shirt with fitting white pants, her trademark bright nails in place, with electric blue liner that highlighted her beautiful green eyes, Kareena was a picture of perfection at a recent book launch. The thorough professional arrived on time.

With the casual air of a superstar, she expertly autographed copies of the book Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight for enthusiastic fans from around the country who gave her little gifts and told her how much they adored her. She was surrounded by media persons on all sides, and coolly ignored questions about her personal life (I will not talk about my personal life, she declared) and answered only those about the book. We had no choice but to oblige.

"I am not a size zero and I haven't invented size zero. It is not that I survived on juices to lose weight; I ate everything in moderation and exercised properly to lose weight. I want to meet the person who started these size zero stories!" exclaims the svelte actress.

But whatever she may say, she started the trend of size zero in India. So does she take it as praise or criticism? "I take it is as a compliment because models in Milan and Paris are size zero and it is great if I have been able to achieve that look," says the beauty with pride.

Size zero or not, Kareena is one of the slimmest actresses in B-town. Which other actress is fit according to her? "I don't watch too many movies, so I don't know," she says bluntly, adding diplomatically, "I think everyone is good in their own places and their bodies suit them. As far as my weight and figure is concerned, I change it according to my role. Tashan required that really lean figure, so I got it. Actors get 6 and 8 pack abs for their movies, if my role requires me to acquire 8 pack abs, I will do that too."

So what is her favourite meal of the day? "I keep telling my dietician Rujuta that I love a hot thrilling breakfast like parathas as it sets my day. I look forward to a filling breakfast as it gets me going. I eat everything, even my favourite Chinese food and dal makhani, but in moderation.”

Speaking about her dietician Rujuta Diwekar and the book Don't Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight, the unofficial ambassador says, "Rujuta has changed my attitude and relationship with food and the way I eat. She has changed my life. The book is all her hard work and I am happy to promote it."

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Ash turns up the heat in Berlin

Check out the gorgeous actress enjoying her new found Hollywood fame as she promotes Pink Panther 2 at various events across Europe with co-stars Jean Reno and Steve Martin. She is the only actress in the film who is accompanying the veteran actors on the promotional tour.

The Pink Panther 2 Premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13


The utterly gorgeous Ash poses with Jean Reno and Steve Martin at the premiere of the film


We like Ash's make up, the hot pink and the top portion of the gown replete with her abundant cleavage but it looks like a frock that was converted to a gown. It should have been longer as well.


The Pink Panther 2 Press Conference at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 13


Indian beauty Aishwarya greets everyone with the traditional Namaste. Her hair is perfect and the make up enhances her beautiful eyes


Ash and Pink Panther wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Her suit fits her very well and she looks elegant.


The Pink Panther 2 photo call in Madrid on February 11


Aishwarya poses with her co-stars Jean Reno, Steve Martin and the pink diamond at the photo call.


Ash's hair, make up and smile is perfect but the loose and oversized suit looks like it belongs to hubby Abhishek Bachchan. She should have worn something more fitting


The Pink Panther 2 Pink Diamond promotional event in Paris on February 10


With the pink carpet, pink wall and the pink diamond, it is an overdose of pink! Jean Reno, Steve Martin and Aishwarya unveil the pink diamond to the media. The velvet coat and loose pants are oversized and don't look very good.


Along with the pink diamond, Aishwarya's shows off the other rock sized rings on her finger.

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Salman to compensate those injured due to the Amber Fort collapse

Salman Khan’s Veer is in trouble again. The Jaipur court has put a stay order on the shooting going on at Amber Fort because the fort wall collapsed due a stage built by the Veer crew on the 500-year-old canopy. Besides being a historical monument, the collapse injured at least 15 people who had come to watch the shoot.

Director Anil Sharma says, “It’s true that the Jaipur court ordered a stay on our shooting. A portion of the wall fell and injured those who were watching the shoot. The main reason for the stay order is to look into how the Amber Fort trust allowed us to shoot here without any security measures. It is very sad that so many people were injured. They were mainly women.”

Immediately after the accident, Salman Khan went to meet the injured fans. Sharma says, “Salman went right after it happened. Some of them are quite critical and we have decided to help them in any way we can. Salman was upset because of the accident.”

With the shooting scheduled for Amber Fort not complete as yet, how is Sharma going to work around this stay order? The director says, “We are going to file for an appeal on Monday to lift the stay order. A major portion to the film has to be shot there. We have to make our deadline to completing everything within 55 days. In the mean time, we are now at City Palace.”

Veer stars Liza Lazarus (Miss UK) opposite Salman Khan and will release by mid-2009.

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Amrita Arora on the cover of Grazia

"Yes, I am crazy about Shakeel"... claims and proclaims the hottie lass Amrita Arora (who looks hotter than ever before!) on the latest issue of Grazia. And this month being the month of the eternal Valentine, who better than Amrita and her boyfriend the suave businessman Shakeel Ladak to be the chosen one!

Well, this issue has more than you ever wanted to know about the pristine details of the romance between the couple. Amrita, on her part is all praises for her man. She says (read 'confesses') "I am completely cuckoo about him and we love being together. He is extremely stable, extremely responsible, and not at all wishy-washy about anything". She also goes onto add that, "Shakeel is a fiercely private person and though he understands that all the media attention is a part of being with me, he chooses to stay away from it." For those whose tongues are (still) wagging and are giving competition to the dog's tail, can read this loud and clear... coming straight from the horse's mouth. She announces, "If people want to take potshots at my relationship, I can't do much about it, but I won't learn from it. My boyfriend is going to come with me to events, I won't compromise on that!"

Lots of such 'Kambhakht Ishq' quotes... only in the latest issue of Grazia!

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Nominations for 54th Filmfare Awards 2009

BEST FILM
Dostana
Ghajini
Jodhaa Akbar
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Rock On!!

BEST DIRECTOR
A.R. Murugadoss - Ghajini
Abhishek Kapoor - Rock On!!
Aditya Chopra - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Ashutosh Gowariker - Jodhaa Akbar
Madhur Bhandarkar - Fashion
Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday!

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Aamir Khan - Ghajini
Abhishek Bachchan - Dostana
Hrithik Roshan - Jodhaa Akbar
Akshay Kumar - Sinng Is Kinng
Shah Rukh Khan - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Naseeruddin Shah - A Wednesday!

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
ROLE Aishwarya Rai - Jodhaa Akbar
Anushka Sharma - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Asin Thottumkal - Ghajini
Kajol - U Me Aur Hum
Priyanka Chopra - Fashion

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (MALE)
Abhishek Bachchan - Sarkaar Raj
Arjun Rampal - Rock On!!
Pratik Babbar - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Sonu Sood - Jodhaa Akbar
Tushaar Kapoor - Golmaal Returns
Vinay Pathak - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (FEMALE)
Bipasha Basu - Bachna Ae Haseeno
Kangana Ranaut - Fashion
Kiron Kher - Dostana
Ratna Pathak Shah - Jaanu Tu... Ya Jaane Na
Sahana Goswami - Rock On!!

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE)
Farhan Akhtar - Rock On!! - Socha Hai
KK - Bachna Ae Haseeno - Khuda Jaane
KK - Jannat - Zara Si Dil Mein
Rashid Ali - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Sonu Nigham - Jodhaa Akbar - Inn Lamho Ke Daaman Mein
Sukhwinder Singh - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Haule Haule

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE)
Alka Yagnik - Yuvvraaj - Tu Muskura
Neha Bhasin - Fashion - Kuch Khaas Hai
Shilpa Rao - Bachna Ae Haseeno - Khuda Jaane
Shreya Ghoshal - Singh is Kinng - Teri Ore
Shruti Pathak - Fashion - Marjaawa
Sunidhi Chuhan - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Dance Pe Chance

BEST LYRICS
Abbas Tyrewala - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na - Kabhi Kabhi Aditi
Gulzar - Yuvvraaj - Tu Meri Dost Hai
Jaideep Sahni - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - Haule Haule
Javed Akhtar - Jodhaa Akbar - Jashn e Bahara
Javed Akhtar - Rock On!! - Socha Hai
Prasoon Joshi - Ghajini - Guzarish

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR
A R Rahman - Ghajini
A R Rahman - Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
A R Rahman - Jodhaa Kabar
Pritam - Race
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy - Rock On!!
Vishal-Shekhar - Dostana

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Neck-to-neck fight between Farhan and Imran

Both newcomers impressed audiences with their near flawless acts in "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na" and "Rock On" respectively, making them top contenders for the numerous awards in tinsel town. But actor-director Farhan Akhtar (pictured left) makes it clear that there is no competition between him and 'chocolate boy' Imran Khan.

"There isn't anything to be looked as competition between Imran and me, as far as awards are concerned," said Farhan, who has already kickstarted 2009 with another good performance in "Luck By Chance".

While Farhan took an unconventional route with a rock band musical drama in "Rock On", Imran too didn't play a quintessential lover boy and followed the friendship-leading-to-love path in "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na".

"And to be honest and absolutely fair, one has to acknowledge the performance of Imran which is indeed quite good," said Farhan, who has made films like "Dil Chahta Hain" and "Lakshya".

Well, the same can be said for Farhan in "Rock On" too, isn't it?

"Yes, people do tell me that I was good in 'Rock On'. However, when it comes to awards, it also depends a lot on the jury watching the film. It's their opinion that would matter about whether I or Imran fit the bill. I'm sure both of us would be quite happy to get an award, but let's see because anything can happen in such events," the actor added in a diplomatic tone.

He asserts that at the end of the day, it is the audience and their appreciation that matter most.

"The fact remains that people have appreciated both Imran and me. It's their acknowledgment and recognition that should keep an actor in me going. Yes, if awards come by, then it's an added bonus; so why would I mind that," Farhan quipped.

But it's sure going to be a neck-to-neck fight between Farhan and Imran at the award functions. Even though Imran's subsequent release "Kidnap" didn't quite bring him great reviews, his 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa' was a much bigger success.

On the other hand Farhan was hailed as an actor in "Rock On" and even though "Luck By Chance" released this year, the jury would have in their mind the actor's second straight mature performance.

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Aamir could play Guru Dutt on big screen

Guru Dutt is a name that evokes awe and a sense of romance and tragedy. Besides being a master filmmaker, his personal life also holds an endless appeal for directors, two of whom are eager to bring his life story to the big screen.

The two filmmakers - Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur - not only want to make a movie on the legendary actor-director but they also seem to have the same leading man in mind!

Guru Dutt himself made "Kagaz Ke Phool" based on his own life. Much later filmmaker Johnny Bakshi got Rajesh Khanna to play Guru Dutt in "Khudaai", a clumsily fictionalised version of the movie legend's life.

While Mehra's film will be based on Nasreen Munni Kabeer's biography of Guru Dutt, Shivendra Singh is going ahead with his own research on the life of the legend.

The mythic movie maker's son Arun Dutt is also collaborating with Singh for the biopic.

As for Mehra doing his own take on Guru Dutt's life, Singh said: "It's a free world and Guru Dutt is part of public folklore. Anyone can make a film on his life. Why just Rakeysh, I welcome many others to do the same. There were so many films on the life of Bhagat Singh."

Shivendra Singh, who is cricket administrator Raj Singh Dungarpur's nephew, started his career making a shelved film featuring Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Chandrachur Singh 15 years ago before gravitating towards ad films. But he is confident of his grasp over Guru Dutt's life.

"I've spent many years researching Guru Dutt's life. Two years ago Anurag Kashyap was brought in to write the film. We're sure of what we're doing," he said.

The title "Guru Dutt" has already been registered. And Singh wants to cast Aamir Khan in the lead role.

Interestingly, Aamir is also reportedly Mehra's first choice. But the scales would be tilted in Singh's favour because Guru Dutt's family is backing the project.

Also, Aamir is very fond of Guru Dutt's sister Lalita Lajmi, who is filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi's mother. Lalita had even made an appearance in Aamir's "Taare Zameen Par".

Kalpana, in fact, was planning a film on her legendary uncle's life but backed out when she heard of Singh's plans.

"My mother told me Anurag Kashyap is scripting and Shivendra Singh is directing the film. They've informed my mother that it won't be fictional but a biopic on my uncle. My uncle's only living heir Arun Dutt has also given his nod to the project. So we're all for it," Kalpana said.

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SRK in confession mode!

Bewarned folks! SRK may be on the brink of a shoulder surgery but he’s not so outta action that any remarks will be spared.

He trains his Terminator style quotes on criticism and tells us why he’s in no-nonsense mode... Read on for more dynamite in this trailer of his Encounter with Omar Qureshi on Zoom, Sunday 9.30 pm.

Aamir’s statements seem to have upset you greatly of late?

Yes! I am upset. I think Aamir should talk about himself, not about me. He should restrict it to praising his films and praising himself and not talking about my PR or marketing skills. I don’t question what he does. I think he’s wonderful. I’ve always praised and maintained that he’s really a fantastic actor who does his job well. But I don’t think he should get into the territory of what I do, because he doesn’t know me well enough to comment on that; I don’t like it. He named a dog after me, which I laughed off as a joke. But beyond that I think he should restrict himself. I wonder why I play on his mind so much? He should do his job — he’s working hard — so he should continue with what he does. Be happy for what God has given me, don’t be unhappy for what God has given me. He should enjoy what he has, instead of not enjoying what he doesn’t have.

And any patch up on the horizon with Salman?

I don’t wake up in the morning thinking about these things. I think about what my daughter is going to say about me, what my son is going to say to me, the films that I do, my Kolkata Knightriders and 100 kids who work with me — their futures, I have a lot in my head and in my mind to think about issues which are negative, really!

Your Golden Globe speech made India prouder for Rahman, Anil & Co. But while Anil hugged Tom Cruise in his excitement, who did you feel like grabbing?

I wanted to grab Catherine Zeta Jones, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez — all of them yaar! They’re so beautiful man; they dress up so well. And they’re all taller then me. Also, without deriding anyone from India, I say, when they dress up in gowns, they really look wonderful. I mean gowns were made for them. They’re all just so happy to be there. They’re good-looking men and women, happy as a community — for the Awards, not just for themselves ... I wanted to grab Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman and Johnny Depp too; so cool man. All, really stunning in real life. I don’t blame Anil, but I think he should’ve grabbed one of the girls. Maybe at the Oscars, he’ll quickly grab some girls.

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'It’s not great to be Shah Rukh Khan’

Shah Rukh Khan, inspite of nursing an injured shoulder lacked no energy as he answered every question shot at him by journalists about Aamir Khan with aplomb. We present you few of SRK’s most smashing quotes targeted towards Aamir.

Clad in a cool worn out jeans and tee was Shah Rukh Khan, the darling of millions of his fans who thronged his house Mannat in Bandra and even Taj Lands End where he was supposed to be present for this event. Once SRK entered, one couldn’t help but wonder how does a 43-year-old star who is suffering from an injured shoulder gather this humungous amount of energy! The silver shoes and silver stole he sported made for a sexy style statement and soon came the time for the Baadshah to break his prolonged silence on Aamir and the not so flattering comments he had made on SRK.

We present you SRK at his naughtiest best!

When asked about Aamir calling SRK manipulative and only good with PR but not marketing, the Baadshah retorted, “This statement doesn’t require any explanation of me. I do what I do and I don’t need to get anybody else’s suggestions on what I do. I don’t take it too seriously when people compliment me and same goes for criticism. People who work with me know who I am and what I do, people like me and that’s why you see me everywhere. I don’t make films to prove to anyone. I’ve been working for the past 22 years and never have I felt the need to answer to anyone. The comments that Aamir made were out of context and I will talk to him personally about it.”

Talking about blogs he again taunted Aamir by saying, “People anyways think I am a narcissist so if I start a blog or a website it will reinforce their opinion. Jokes apart, after my shoulder operation, I am thinking of starting a website where I will not promote my films or write what food I ate but write about zindagi (life). Also I don’t really feel the need to have a blog as the media conveys all my messages to my fans anyways. I was in fact the first to start a blog but since it was ahead of its time, it didn’t click with the readers.”

SRK’s final reaction to Aamir’s statement was the most entertaining. He said, “It’s not great to be SRK, anyone can be great provided they retain their identity. My films are also ordinary but people have made them extra-ordinary. I am not a good PR person, neither a good media person; I am just a fantastic person.”

Now that’s the SRK we love.

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Kareena tired of her demanding job

Her multiple brand endorsements and shooting schedules take so much of her time that Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor is homesick and wants to take a break.

"Kareena feels sad about staying away from her family for so long. She is a homely person and likes to be with the family. She is tired of her tight schedules and demanding job. She has now decided that she will chalk out some quality time for her family," said a source close to Kareena.

On a recent visit to her home, Kareena caught up with her sister Karisma and both of them apparently spoke about everything under the sun.

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Hurman will bounce back...

Hurman S. Baweja's "Victory" may have fared poorly at the box office, but Annees Bazmi, the director of his next film "It's My Life", is unperturbed. He says the actor would come out trumps with the light-hearted romantic film, which is a remake of Telugu superhit "Bommarillu".

"Hurman is a hardworking boy and that is something we all would agree after both his films. They may not have worked, but in filmmaking there are so many factors that decide the fate of a movie at the box office. Hurman has done very well in 'It's My Life'. The audience will love his pairing with Genelia D' Souza," Bazmee told IANS.

Hurman's all three forthcoming projects are very high profile. While his immediate release is "It's My Life", it will be followed by Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Rashee" where he is paired opposite Priyanka Chopra. His next would be a Sanjay Leela Bhansali project which is still untitled.

"It's My Life" is a critical project not only for Hurman, after a hat- trick of successes in the form of "Singh Is Kinng", "Welcome" and "No Entry", Bazmee too has to prove a point - that he can set the cash registers ringing even when it comes to romantic films.

"You are forgetting 'Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha'. It was a good success as well, but was there any comedy? It was a complete musical entertainer, something that I can vouch for 'It's My Life' as well. With the film, I am sure Hurman will bounce back."

Bazmee isn't too worried about recession either. According to him, it isn't really impacting the films being directed by him.

"The entire boom followed by burst was witnessed in last two-three years while I have been in the industry for 30 years. I think I can say that I have seen it all quite closely. This is why I have never been unreasonable when it comes to the budget of my films. It has always been set in a decent range; hence the price cut doesn't impact my films.

He argues that films are doing well even today.

"Look at the back-to-back success of 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' and 'Ghajini'. People did go to watch them in theatres, even when all thought that post- Mumbai terror attacks, no one would venture into theatres. This means that films are doing well even today. Even 'Chandni Chowk To China' did fetch in good numbers to begin with. It's just the price which is failing," said Bazmee.

Meanwhile, the shooting of "It's My Life" will soon enter its last leg with the final schedule in Delhi, which is expected to take place soon. Bazmee is confident that this film, which also stars Nana Patekar in a key role, would be ready for release in June-July.

The film is being produced by Sanjay Kapoor.

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Abhi: Sonam was a revelation

After the runaway success of Dostana, Abhishek is back in one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi 6.

Although it’s set in Delhi, just as Rakeysh’s previous mega hit Rang De Basanti was, it’s not only about the city. “Delhi 6 is a story about India. If it was set in any other Indian city, it would have had the same charm. I play a guy from New York who comes to India and discovers it,” says Abhishek.

Starring opposite Abhishek is the still-new-on-the-scene Sonam Kapoor. “Sonam was a revelation,” says Abhishek, “She’s a wonderful person and actress. She brings a fresh feel to the film. I’ve known her for a long time. She’s a great co-artiste too.”

Abhishek says Rakeysh and he were always looking for an opportunity to work together. “We were waiting for the right script,” he adds.

Then there’s Mani Ratnam, with whom Abhishek has done two films — Yuva and Guru — and has another, Ravana, in the making. Does he like working with the director? “I don’t work with Mani Ratnam; Mani Ratnam works with me,” he says as a matter-of-fact.

Rumour has it that there will be a follow-up to Drona, but Abhishek clarifies, “There is no sequel.” But he won’t say as much about the Feroz Nadiadwala-Rob Cohen Hollywood venture that his father is supposed to be part of. “Talks are still on,” is all he’ll say.

What about Aishwarya’s role in Pink Panther 2? “She was fantastic. It wasn’t just about getting a Hollywood break but about doing a movie in another language,” he says. As for whether he’s looking to head to LA, he says, “I’m happy doing good movies here. If something comes along, I’ll do it.”

So, how big a fan or critic is Ash of his films? “I always ask my family for their opinion. They give their honest views and I take them,” says Abhishek.

When asked what he feels about his marriage to Ash being followed so closely, he says, “We are public figures. It’s natural to be in the news and I’m okay with it.” Who is his fave B-town actress? “I’m married to my favourite actress,” he signs off.

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Ash in Kolkata

It was during the latter half of 2003 that Mani Ratnam had gone to Kolkata to shoot for Yuva.

Five years later, the ace director is all set to shoot in Kolkata again. And the film in question this time is Raavana.

Having completed the shooting schedule in Kerala, MP and UP, the director reached Kolkata on Saturday. Shooting for Raavana will begin from February 18 and will continue till the end of this month.

Incidentally, both the Tamil and the Hindi versions of the film are being shot simultaneously. In the Hindi version, Abhishek plays the hero while Vikram plays the villain. In the Tamil version, Vikram plays the hero. Not much is known about the storyline though the buzz is that the film is a contemporary story that doesn’t have any obvious mythological connect to it.

Ash, who has been cast in both the Hindi and Tamil versions, will begin shooting in a jute mill in Agarpara. Vikram will also be shooting along with her from Wednesday. Big B will be joining the unit later this month. Apart from shooting in the jute mill and a bungalow, cinematographer Manikandan will also film certain portions on the streets of Kolkata that have a neutral character.

Recently, Raavana was in the news when Abhishek had shot for a song along with 500 dancers in Jhansi. The song, Kata Kata Mara Mara..., is reportedly the most lavish number that the director has ever shot in his career.

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Shah Rukh’s home Mannat attacked with flaming bottle

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan said on Friday (Feb 13) he was worried for the safety of his wife and two children after his house Mannat was attacked by unknown people who had apparently misinterpreted the lyrics of a song in just-released "Billu" and reacted.

"I got scared. I got worried about my children and wife, but they are fine. I don't think there is any place safer than my home. I'm in London for a check up. I will be back home the day after tomorrow," Shah Rukh told a TV channel over phone from London.

Clarifying the confusion about the lyrics, the actor said: "They thought we are referring to the Prophet in the song. But it has been sorted out. They have seen the film and now it’s clear to them that the lyrics weren't referring to the Prophet."

A burning kerosene bottle had been thrown in the premises of his sea facing house Mannat early in the morning.

According to an officer of Bandra Police station, two men came to Shah Rukh's bungalow, at Bandra Bandstand around 2.30 a.m. They lit a bottle full of kerosene and flung it over the gates before fleeing. The security guards were caught unawares, the police said.

The police said a case was registered and they are searching for the culprits.

There was no damage to property as the flaming missile landed in the garden.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh will ask you to "wish more" with Dish TV as the company has decided to retain the actor as its brand ambassador for another 18 months.

The company had first tied up with Shah Rukh in 2007.

"Shah Rukh is the undisputed king of Bollywood - the best in his field. He is someone who personifies style, entertainment and popularity and these values resonate perfectly with our brand attributes as well," said Salil Kapoor, COO, Dish TV.

While Dish TV, direct-to-home (DTH) service provider, has renewed its contract with the actor, media reports indicate that soft drink giant Pepsico has decided to drop him as their brand ambassador and find a new face.

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SRK: I am becoming narcissistic!

No other actor is Bollywood has the amount of dedication and energy that Shah Rukh Khan possesses. The actor, who is due for surgery soon, attended four functions back-to-back in order to promote the film Billu. In fact, he was so busy that he had no time to attend his good friend Farah Khan's birthday party for her triplets.

Getting down to business, King Khan narrated the synopsis of his latest film first at a press conference. He said, “There is a saying that goes ‘east is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet’. What we wanted to ask is ‘can the twain meet?’ Whether this is possible or not, that’s what the film is centered around. Billu and Bindya are played by Irrfan and Lara respectively. An alien played by me then enters their lives.”

You started a portal called srkworld .com. Do you think that it is the right time to revive it?
I would actually like to because I want to start a site related to me. That and I am becoming more narcissistic by the day. Everywhere, there should be me and no one else! After my surgery is done with, I will get started on this.

You do a lot of promotions for you films through brands. How does this association help your film?
It’s all about give and take. If the film fits into the category of an existing product or one which is going to be launched then media buyers and media sellers will associate that product with the film and both are promoted. For example, Om Shanti Om fits a musical product while Billu suits earthy products- hence plywood.

We heard that you edited two of your scenes so that the focus would be on Irrfan Khan?
We have reedited some scenes- eight to be specific. We felt that the length of the film was too much. If you’re saying the same thing in two scenes then it doesn’t make sense to keep both of them. Editing was not done to promote any actor. It happens with all films. It is called postproduction. The media, however, likes to put its own spin on things.

What’s your take on blogging?
It’s a very connective and vast medium where you can share your thoughts- many stars are into it and it is all very well written. But I think that for me, the media conveys 90% of my thoughts. So what would I write about if I started? I don’t want to talk about my films or where I am shooting. Rather, when I start my portal I will talk about nature and human beings. I would like to talk to the youth and tell them that anything is possible if you work hard.

The word ‘barber’ had to be removed from the title of your film. Do you think it is fair?
Life is not about being fair or unfair. I make films for people. The audience should like it. I have made films which have hurt a few elderly stars and I have personally said sorry to them because it was not intentional. With Billu, the barber’s union told me very emotionally that the Hindi translation of the word ‘barber’ may be misused. I felt the same way so we removed the word. Legally, there was no problem keeping it but we often tease people with the Hindi word- think about it. Anyway, I feel that if a film is good, you can call it Ullu or Billu, people will still come and watch it.

You said that you would like to do an ordinary role in a realistic film. Why didn't you play the lead in Billu?
My director said that no one could play the lead in Billu except for Irrfan. He didn’t want any other big stars, just Irrfan because we all know that he is a brilliant actor. I thought that I should go and fight for the role but then I just let it be because I get to play a superstar- which I am (laughs).

Aamir Khan recently said that you are good at PR but not at marketing. Do you want to prove him wrong?
I don’t take compliments from people very seriously. I know what I have to do when it comes to my job and I don’t need to hear about it from other people. I want people to go watch my film so I promote it. Since I am producing it, it is my responsibility. I don’t think I need to explain myself. People like me, that is why I endorse so many products. Do you think that I have worked hard for 20 years just to make a film to prove to someone that I am also good at marketing? Aamir is a smart guy. I would like to know more about marketing from him.

You have removed ‘barber’ from your film because of protests. In your next film, My Name Is Khan, will you remove the word ‘Khan’ if the public had a problem with it?
I am just hoping that I don't have to remove the word ‘Billu’ from the film too! A man can suddenly come and say ‘My name is Billu’ and I will have to remove it. I really don't want my film to release without name! Then it will be just me, Irrfan and Lara posing for a film without a name.

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Madly-in-love Married Couples

Here's celebrating wedded couples who have been together forever but still look like madly-in-love sweethearts. From Gauri and Shah Rukh to Arjun and Mehr and Arbaaz and Malaika, we take a look at them all.

Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan: They have been married since 1991, even before SRK became the superstar he is. Gauri is his anchor, someone who keeps him grounded and she has stuck with him through thick and thin. Their children Aryan and Suhana are being raised to follow Hinduism and Islam. Gauri maintains a low profile; she produces his movies and hosts his parties but doesn't accompany SRK to every second event. She is one of the warmest, most stylish and most hospitable wives in B-town. Together they make a couple that completes each other.

Hrithik and Susanne Roshan: Ah, young love. Hrithik and Susanne are childhood sweethearts. Apparently, he decided to marry her at the age of twelve and finally married her after he became a superstar and became an interior designer. Like SRK and Gauri, this is another interfaith marriage. They have two young sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan. With his Greek God looks and her delicate beauty and grace, they are one of the most beautiful couples in Bollywood.

Arjun and Mehr Rampal: They were both supermodels at the top of their game so being attracted to each other was only expected. Mehr and Arjun are usually seen hand-in-hand at concerts, premieres and parties. The perfectly paired couple have two daughters, Maahika and Myra. Mehr is Arjun's biggest fan; her prayers and love have helped Arjun go from Bollywood struggler to Bollywood biggie. Their compatibility is amazing.

Twinkle and Akshay Kumar: We all know what a playboy Akshay Kumar was before he got married. Twinkle Khanna tamed him and got him to commit to her. They have one young son, Aarav. Akshay may be a superstar today but when Twinkle married him, he wasn't. She keeps him grounded through success and failure. The interior designer with an elite clientele is one of the most stylish and gorgeous star wives in B-town.

Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan: Bollywood newest couple (they married in April, 2006) is totally in love. Ash and Abhi are hand-in-hand wherever they go and the newlyweds have eyes only for each other. Luckily for them, they are even doing films together, so they get a chance to mix business with pleasure. We can't wait to hear when the stork will visit this perfect-for-each-other twosome.

Arbaaz and Malaika Khan: This is one of the strongest marriages in B-Town in spite of the wife being more popular than the husband. They have a school-going son, Arhaan and are extremely supportive and secure about each other's career choices. Arbaaz and Malaika have been married for ten years but looking at them, you wouldn't be able to tell because they are still so smitten by each other.

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Revealed: The plot of 8x10

After Chandni Chowk To China, Akshay Kumar will be seen next in Nagesh Kukunoor’s 8x10. The film, which was previously called Tasveer, stars Akki opposite Ayesha Takia, who plays his wife.

We spoke to our source from the Precept picture company and got the lowdown on the plot.

The source says, “8x10 is a story of a young man named Jai, played by Akshay Kumar, who has a supernatural power. Jai’s supernatural gift is the ability to go into the past of the deceased by touching objects that used to belong to them. His family and friends find this unbelievable and sometimes, even Jai doubts his abilities but later on he comes to know that it is real.”

More about the characters, the source adds, “Jai’s father Jatin, played by Girish Karnad, feels that his son is wasting his time and not taking enough interest in managing their business empire. This leads to the complete breakdown of their relationship. Jai’s mother is played by Sharmila Tagore. Jai is always supported by his wife Sheela (Ayesha Takia).”

The turning point in the story happens when Jatin is killed in a boating accident. The source says, “Jai goes through this personal tragedy and uses his unique power to solve the mystery of his father’s death. He sees photographs and comes to know that his father’s death was not accidently, he was murdered. That is when he starts investigating.”
8x10 is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Other cast members include Javed Jaffery, Girish Karnad, Anant Mahadevan, Benjiman Gilani, Rushad Rana and Utara Pawkar. The film is slated to release by mid 2009.

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V-Day Sp: Sizzling Couples in Love

It is that amorous time of the year again where expressing your love is a compulsion. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we bring you Bollywood's hottest couples who haven't tied the knot as yet.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan: They are Bollywood royalty. She is a Kapoor and his father is the Nawab of Pataudi. She is a flawless beauty and he is drop-dead-hot and handsome. Together they make a madly-in-love couple with crackling chemistry. It was on the sets of the disastrous Tashan that their romance blossomed. Kareena looked so gorgeous in the movie that Saif couldn't help but be drawn to her. They have eyes only for each other and aren't afraid of showing how much they adore one another. You want to fall in love just looking at them. Saif wants to tie the knot now but Bebo's saying 'not now'.

Bipasha Basu and John Abraham: Dating for over five years now, this sizzling twosome has stood the test of time. Romance blossomed on the sets of Aetbaar and the two set the screen on fire with their unrestrained passion in Jism. The good looking fitness freaks complement each other really well. She is a smokin' hot Bong tigress and he is a Bawa boy with the body of a Greek God. They are a mature couple who have left their PDA days behind and are too secure about each other to be affected by malicious rumours.

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone: Ah, young love. She is a leggy supermodel-turned-actress with enchanting doe eyes. He is Bollywood’s Prince Charming who could sweep any girl off her feet. It was a double whammy for them at the Filmfare Awards in 2008. Not only did they win best debut awards, they also secured each other's affection. The two bonded in picturesque Australia while shooting for Bachna Ae Haseeno. The photogenic twosome is so much in love that they cannot keep their hands off each other, even in public.

Shahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra: These two, who will feature together in Kaminay, are rumoured to be going out. And they have adorable nicknames for each other: Peefee and Shaks. They share a hot kiss in the film so it’s no wonder a hot romance started off-screen too. Priyanka was having a hard time with Harman and Shahid wasn't really dating anyone after his breakup with Kareena. They stay in the same building and spent a lot of time bonding on and off the sets. The two are fiercely private people so the relationship is still under wraps. But their chemistry in Kaminay will surely tell us all that we need to know.

Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia: She is vivaciously beautiful and he is dashingly debonair. Preity has gone from bubbly to sophisticate ever since she started attending upscale society dos with her good looking boyfriend. They mix business with pleasure as they own a cricket team together and Ness accompanies Preity on her shoots. They aren't into PDA but their sweet gestures such as feeding each other during matches show that they have eyes only for each other.

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif: He is over 40, she is over 20 and they are madly in love with each other, though they may not show it. She is a beautiful in-demand newbie in Bollywood while he is the handsome established superstar. Being Salman Khan's girlfriend is not easy, but the composed and dignified lady Kat is, she has managed to play that role with aplomb. Apparently, his family loves Kat too and Salman hasn't been so smitten by anyone before. He wants to settle down but she is in no hurry to with her burgeoning career. Will they or won't they? We will have to wait and watch.

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Billu Barber - Movie Review

Priyadarshan is synonymous with ha-ha-thons, but the talented storyteller has been equally proficient while handling intense dramas like SAZA-E-KALA PANI, GARDISH and VIRASAT. Like VIRASAT and MALAMAAL WEEKLY, BILLU, the accomplished director's new outing, is also set in a hamlet.

Although the story has been attempted in Malayalam [KADHA PARAYUMBOL] and Tamil [KUSELAN] earlier, the story actually takes its inspiration from the legendary friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama. In this case, the story talks of the friendship between a superstar and an ordinary mortal who runs a salon.

BILLU is a simple story about simple people, told in the most simplistic manner. There's a generous dose of glamour as well, given the fact that the protagonist's friend happens to be a superstar, but what actually works for the film is the simpleton's story. He wages a daily battle to make ends meet.

Although the film is engaging, Priyadarshan reserves the best for the finale this time, when the superstar reminisces about his childhood friend and the deep bond that they shared. The end is remarkable and is sure to strike a chord with all sections of moviegoers.

Final word? BILLU is amongst Priyadarshan's finest works. And also Irrfan and SRK's. This tale of friendship is sure to steal your heart!

BILLU tells the story of a simple ordinary man, Bilas Rao Pardesi [Irrfan Khan], living in a small town with his wife Bindiya [Lara Dutta] and two kids. His life undergoes a drastic change as superstar Sahir Khan [Shah Rukh Khan] visits the village for a film shoot. Everything changes. Things go from good to bad to worse to good again.

Ten minutes into the film and you get absorbed into Billu's small world. The salon is in bad shape, the family is facing tough times, the neighbours and acquaintances are fair-weather friends... Billu's life gets grim with each passing day.

The story takes an interesting turn when Billu's life collides with the superstar's. And the assorted characters -- right from an aspiring poet/lyricist [Rajpal Yadav], to a stingy money lender [Om Puri], to the principal of the school [Rasika Joshi] -- everyone wants favours from Billu. These characters only make BILLU more interesting.

SRK's track is equally fascinating and only spices up the proceedings. In fact, Priyadarshan has amalgamated the three songs [featuring SRK with Deepika, Priyanka and Kareena] in the narrative smartly. Not once do you feel that you're watching two stories concurrently.

The best part of the enterprise is its climax. The superstar recalls his humble beginning and how his friend stood by him in times of crisis. The writing is brilliant and SRK only takes the scene to greater heights with his terrific portrayal.

Priyadarshan is adept at handling relationships and with BILLU, he proves he can handle emotions with as much flourish as comedy. To tell a simple, uncomplicated story, without the usual frills, is an arduous task indeed and Priyadarshan tackles the material with remarkable ease. The humour here is subtle, not loud, and a constant smile remains on your face all through.

Mushtaq Shiekh and Priyadarshan's screenplay is foolproof. In fact, the writing never loses focus and the highs and the lows in Billu's life are sensitively penned by the duo. Manisha Korde's dialogues are simple, gelling with the mood of the film.

Pritam's music is energetic. The songs, promoted aggressively prior to the release, only get an impetus thanks to the presence of the three actresses. 'Mar Jaani' and 'Love Mera Hit Hit' are, of course, the pick of the lot. V. Manikandan's cinematography is top notch. The locales [Pollachi] are breath-taking.

In the recent years, Irrfan has emerged as a force to reckon with, his performances have appealed to all strata of moviegoers and his work in BILLU will only cement his status as a remarkable actor. Shah Rukh Khan needs to be admired for two reasons. The show belongs to Irrfan, although SRK could've forced himself in every scene. Also, he has chosen to opt for a film that's not one of those run-of-the-mill types. In terms of performance, SRK shows his true potential towards the finale.

Lara Dutta springs a pleasant surprise. She goes through her part with complete understanding. Om Puri is excellent. Rasika Joshi is too good. Rajpal Yadav is really funny in the penultimate scene, when he recites a film song of an SRK film. Asrani and Manoj Joshi are passable.

On the whole, BILLU is a sweet-n-simple film that lingers in your memory even after the show has concluded. The final 20 minutes are the highpoint of the enterprise and that elevates the status of the film to great heights. The film has the potential to grow with a strong word of mouth. Recommended... Take your family for this one

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Aishwarya Ria in sizzling pink at Berlin Intl Film Festival

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arrives for the premiere of the movie 'Pink Panther 2 ' at the Berlinale in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.

The 59th International Film Festival Berlin takes place in the German capital from Feb. 5 until Feb. 15, 2009.

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'My Valentine Wish…!' - Bollywood gets Mushy on Valentine's Day

Preity Zinta: "To be able to balance out my crazy schedule so that I've time for those I love. What more can I want this Valentine's Day?"

Bipasha Basu: "Valentine's Day is special for all the people I love. I'll tell them how much I love them and prove my love for them with simple gestures. The ideal Valentine gift would be hundreds of red carnations. I know John will get them for me."

Kangna Ranaut: "Valentine's Day means pure selfless love from me to everyone I love. My ideal gift would be roses and candles."

Sammir Dattani: "My affair with the camera began on Valentine's Day. My first screen appearance was for a music video called 'Valentine's Day.' Since then I've made sure every Valentine's Day is special for me."

Manisha Koirala: "I'm spending Valentine's Day with family and friends. I would want everyone to experience love in any and every relationship."

Urmila Matondkar: "Valentine's Day is a time to show my friends and family how much they mean to me. The one gift I'm looking for is a gorgeous hunk. But the species seems extinct."





Shilpa Shetty: "I've got my Valentine's Day gift. The IPL and I've got the man who gifted it to me by my side. What more can I want?"

Riya Sen: "I want to spend quantity time with my loved ones. No matter where I am I want to be back in time for Valentine's Day to be with my loved ones. That's the greatest gift I can get. Other gifts are fun. But spending time with your loved one is the best gift. For Valentine's I'll be performing at a college festival in Ahmedabad before rushing home."

Neil Nitin Mukesh: "For me Valentine's is a day of love and friendship and a day of mending bridges. My ideal gift would be a collective hug from all those friends and family whom I love. And a million kisses from that someone special."

Dino Morea: "I want to spend Valentine's Day showing love to everyone who deserves it. We all are so caught up in our routine, this is the one day when we can devote to love."

Raima Sen: "I'm single, so the only Valentine gift I can give myself is time with the family."




Neetu Chandra: "This Valentine's Day means a lot to me as I'm partying with my school friends and meeting with my first ever crush, my schoolteacher. And I hope I find my permanent Valentine this year."

Mugdha Godse: "Valentine's Day is just another day for me. I'll be attending a beachside Catholic wedding of a very close friend on Goa's Morjim beach. Chalo apni Valentine nahin kisi aur ki sahi."

Minissha Lamba: "When you're in love it's Valentine's Day all year round. Am I in love? Who knows a woman's heart? Not even the woman herself."

Malaika Arora: "For me Valentine's Day means the freedom for people to express their love without worrying about self-appointed custodians of our precious moral values. The best gift I can think of is the right for us women to live our lives how we want without intolerant groups stopping us."

Celina Jaitly: "Valentine's Day is 'emotional atyachaar' for those who aren't in love. It will remind me that I've been unhappily single for the last three years. At the risk of sounding pompous I want a society rid of all intolerance and prejudice."

Tusshar Kapoor: "The day would again remind me I'm single. How about a love life for me this Valentine's Day?"




Amrita Arora: "Valentine's Day means nothing to me. Love should be celebrated everyday. Bring on the love!"

Chitrangda: "Sorry I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. I don't like the idea of being told when to celebrate love."

Ruslaan Mumtaz: "I just broke up with my girlfriend. So my ideal gift would be the sad songs of Himesh Reshammiya."

Koena Mitra: "Everyone loves to be loved. But being single gives me more room to love myself without sharing that space for love with someone else. All the eligible men have been taken away. The rest are not worth considering. I'm enjoying my single status and making the most of it."

Pooja Bedi: "It's horrible to be single on such a romantic day. But my brother Adam is getting married on Valentine's Day. So I'll be happy watching two people in love being united. Dreams do come true on this day. As for myself I'm a hopeless and a hopeful romantic. I'm even in love with the idea of love. The real thing may be around the corner."

Esha Deol: "I'm not answering this one."

Dia Mirza: "Being single on Valentine's Day is the same as any other day. Love is a feeling that you can't miss. It's omnipresent."



Divya Dutta: "Do I miss love? Not really. Work is great healer of the heart. And I get lots of love and male attention. So what if I don't have a guy this Valentine's Day. I know he'll come."

Jiah Khan: "There's too much work. No time to think about love. I miss having my family with me on Valentine's. They're my only true love."

Tanushree Dutta: "It's fantastic being single on Valentine's Day. You can choose whom to love for that day."

Arjan Bajwa: "Being single is not a big deal. I'm shooting in Hyderabad so I've no time to miss love. Moreover, Valentine's Day is no reason to miss love. To be loved by family and friends all through the year is a blessing. And I've that blessing"

Vatsal Seth: "Who is one kidding by saying it's great to be single? Valentine's Day and single....man, it sucks! It's like no one being there to wish you on your birthday. Being in love is the most amazing feeling and I definitely miss it."

Adnan Sami: "What a Valentine's Day gift my wife has given me."

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B.O. update: 'Billu' starts slow, but actual test on Sat./Sun.

The much-awaited BILLU opened to a tepid response of 25% to 35% at various screens across the nation. However, the silver lining is that the film is enjoying positive reports and the next two days [Saturday and Sunday] will be crucial. Most exhibitors aren't surprised with the slow start, since it was evident from the promotion that the story revolves around Irrfan and that it wasn't the conventional SRK film, like OM SHANTI OM.

The other two releases, THE STONEMAN MURDERS and JUGAAD, have also opened with dull collections.

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Aishwarya rocks on US showbiz TV

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may not have made a mark as a Hollywood star but still manages to be a part of American showbiz.

After the Oprah Winfrey Show and the David Letterman shows, she's appearing on the popular Martha Stewart Show this week.

The buzz is that Ash has been a part of the Valentine's Day line-up at the day-time show, and she featured in a segment that had Martha Stewart teaching her and audiences how to make candy treat cups.

Ash appeared while she was in New York for the premiere of her Hollywood flick 'The Pink Panther 2′.

However there's been some controversy around Ash's involvement with the movie as she reportedly has a very small role. She didn't even feature in the posters and other publicity material of the film. The producers said that she had been left out of mainstream Hollywood publicity because her appeal was 'limited to Asia'.

When Ash was irked and asked for better treatment, there was a little understanding and she was invited to be a part of the promotional events.

After bad responses to 'Bride and Prejudice', 'The Mistress Of Spices' and 'The Last Legion', it was hoped that 'Pink Panther 2′ would give Ash the required international publicity. This movie has got bad reviews as of now. We just hope it's not another all hype- no show' thing for Ash.

What next Ash? An international film maybe with Will Smith which you've been supposedly declining for so long

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Billu premiere for barbers and hairstylists

In a move to appease the Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan is planning to invite various barbers and hairstylists for the premiere of "Billu", which was earlier titled "Billu Barber".

"As far as I know, Shah Rukh is planning a premiere for the various barbers and hairdressers' associations, so they'd see and know that the film doesn't ridicule them in any way. In fact, the film is a homage to the hair-cutting technique. I can't understand how there can be a protest about the film or its title without anyone seeing the film," Priyadarshan told IANS.

According to Priyadarshan, Shah Rukh is not inviting friends from the industry for the screening.

The film was earlier titled "Billu Barber", but when Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai objected to the use of the word "barber" in the title, Shah Rukh, who is producing the film and making a guest appearance, decided to change it.

"I'm in Chennai. Shah Rukh Khan tells me all the posters hoarding with credits will blacken out the word 'barber'. If it was hurting anyone's sentiments, I'm okay by it," Priyadarshan said.

He wonders how the word 'barber' could be okay in other languages and not in Hindi.

"Does it mean half the Indian population is not put off by the title and the other half is upset about it? I don't understand the controversy. And I've left it entirely to Shah Rukh to deal with it."

The director has no plans of being in Mumbai for the release of "Billu". "I've done my best. And Irrfan Khan in the title role is the best homage that can be paid to any profession."

Priyan does wonder, and so do we, if we as a collective nation protest too much.

Irrfan Khan plays the title role and is paired with Lara Dutta in the film, which is releasing on Friday (Feb 13). Shah Rukh will make a guest appearance along with Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone.

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Deepika to be face of Mallya's Formula One Team

Industrialist Vijay Mallya, chairman of Force India Formula Team, has roped in actress Deepika Padukone to be the face of his team.

Deepika said, if she could manage time from her busy Bollywood schedule, she would love to be one of the team's 'speed divas' and travel around the world for the Formula One Grand Prix event 2009.

"I may make brief appearances during MTV's reality show, 'The Fast and the Gorgeous' and I'm looking forward to it," said Deepika as she sat on a McLaren-Mercedes-powered Formula One car to unveil MTV-Force India's The Fast and the Gorgeous hunt for the 'speed divas' in Mumbai on Tuesday (Feb 10).

Following a countrywide hunt four 'speed divas' will be chosen from 20 contestants to be the cheer girls/pit girls.

Deepika, daughter of badminton champion Prakash Padukone, loves sports and excelled in badminton in school.

Asked what is common between badminton and car racing, she said: "Speed".

Force India Formula One Team's maiden performance on the international race track last year was not up to the mark. "But to be qualified to take part in Formula One Grand Prix itself was no mean achievement," said Mallya.

Mallya, however, warned the Indian car race lovers not to expect "miracles" from the Force India Formula One Team during the prelims.

"The Grand Prix event from Barcelona onwards will be the real test for all the teams," he said.

Mallya, who took the initiative to put India on the international car racing track, said he will be a proud man when Force India Formula One Team will host the first Indian Grand Prix in 2011.

Ashish Patil, MTV India general manager and vice president (creative ad content), informed the media that the channel, which has always identified itself with the youth, is the right platform to popularise Formula One sport in India through its partnership with Force India Formula One Team for the reality show, "The Fast and the Gorgeous".

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Bachchan in his most autobiographical film to date

Amitabh Bachchan is set to play a superstar named Ashmit Bhargava in Kushan Nandy's "The Actor", which incorporates many incidents from the Big B's life, making it his most autobiographical film to date.

"Yes, I wrote 'The Actor' for Mr. Bachchan, along with two writer-friends Kiran Shyam Shroff and Ghalib Asad," Kushan told IANS.

Confirming the news, Amitabh said: "Yes, I'm doing a film for Pritish Nandy (Kushan's father). The details you'll have to get from him."

The film is being produced by Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) and will go on floors in the next few months.

Nandy and Amitabh got together for director Sanjay Gupta's "Kaante" in 2002, but after that there were reports of a rift created between them by a third party that didn't want the two to work together.

"I wouldn't like to go into the past, or comment on our relationship. Amitabh and I go back a long, long way. I've known him from long before the troublemakers were born. It was just a matter of the right vehicle for the amazing actor. When my son came up with 'The Actor', I knew this was it. I immediately approached Amitabh. We met several times and he agreed."

The rest of the cast is now being finalised.

"But getting the principal part right was imperative," said Nandy. "I don't think anyone else could've played Ashmit Bhargava the way Kushan wrote the character. The protagonist has to be an icon who's about 55-60 years old, portraying what's according to the script the greatest actor playing the biggest role of his life."

So are the identical initials of the superstar in "The Actor" and the one playing the role more than a mere coincidence?

"I think so," laughed Nandy. "I think the initials for Amitabh Bachchan and Ashmit Bhargava say it all."

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Miss India Worldwide 2009 contestants watch 'Billu'

Priyadarshan's comedy "Billu", which features a large number of top-notch Bollywood actresses, saw bevy of Indian origin beauties from 25 countries at its premiere in Durban, South Africa.

The 25 young women have assembled here to vie for the Miss India Worldwide 2009 title at the Suncoast Entertainment resort on Saturday (Feb 14) night. And they were excited to take a break from rehearsals on Tuesday (Feb 10) evening to join local celebrities at the premiere of "Billu", hosted by young South African Indian cinema magnate Abie Moosa.

While Lara Dutta is cast opposite Irrfan, who plays the title role, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone feature with Shah Rukh Khan in three different item numbers in the comedy.

"It will be delightful to have a complement of such lovely Indian ladies from across the globe to complement the Indian beauties on the screen," Moosa told IANS.

In keeping with the traditions of the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, started by Dharmatma Saran of the US nearly two decades ago, the contestants have been engaged in a series of visits to local communities and welfare projects for several days now.

On Monday, they were shown the massive Hare Krishna Temple in the huge Indian township of Chatsworth, which has become a popular tourist attraction.

Many of them expressed surprise that there were so many Indians in South Africa, and even that they had been here for nearly 150 years. "It is also wonderful to see the huge cultural diversity in South Africa," said Miss India Australia, Kanchan Verma, a health professional.

Miss India Oman, geneticist Shruti Dilip, said she had watched an impressive Indian dance by "a pint-sized" Indian dancer when they visited historic Gandhian sites in Pietermaritzburg, where the young lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi started his path to becoming the Mahatma after being kicked off a train by a white conductor.

Miss India Singapore, Asmaa Pandit, a business development consultant, and Miss India India Deepthi Varughese said that Durban with its large Indian population felt "just like being in India".

This is the second consecutive year that South Africa is hosting the Miss India Worldwide Pageant after Shagun Sarabhai of India was crowned the winner in Lenasia, the huge Indian township south of Johannesburg, at a gala event last year. Sarabhai will hand over the crown to her successor on Valentine's Day as another former winner from India, Fareisa Joemmanbaks of Suriname, looks on.

Saran said that he definitely had a soft spot for South Africa: "I have been coming here since 1991, when South Africa was just beginning to regain its international stature ahead of the first democratic elections, and the local franchisee for the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, Farook Khan, started it off here."

Saran said from just 12 countries participating in the initial event, this has now more than doubled, and the high standard of entries was most gratifying as young women in the Diaspora gained the international recognition denied to so many of their forebears.

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Katrina's role has nothing to do with Sonia Gandhi

Film director Prakash Jha on Tuesday (Feb 10) denied that the role played by Katrina Kaif in his "Rajneeti" was based on Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political career.

"It (Katrina's character) has nothing to do with either the life or political career of Sonia Gandhi", Jha said in Bhopal, where he is shooting “Rajneeti”.

There have been media reports that the movie was based on the life and career of Sonia Gandhi and that the character played by Katrina bears an uncanny resemblance to her.

Meanwhile, Prakash Jha also said on Tuesday that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bettiah constituency in West Champaran district of Bihar.
Talking to reporters, Jha said this time he would not contest as an independent candidate but in all probability for some political party.

"I contested the previous Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate but now I will be in fray as a candidate of some political party," he said.

On which party he would contest from, Jha said that he enjoyed good relations with everyone in Bihar, be it Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as well as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s L.K. Advani and it is yet to be decided for which party he would contest.

"I am in constant touch with my people in Bihar for the past five years and regularly serving them. As such, the party for which I contest is immaterial. However, it is certain that I will contest for that party which will talk about development and serving people in the real sense", he said.

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Billu is a brand new movie

The buzz is that Shah Rukh Khan's "Billu Barber", now renamed "Billu", is inspired by Malayalam hit "Katha Parayumbol" (2007), which was later made in Tamil as "Kuselan" (2008). But the film's writer denies any similarity between the movies.

"'Billu' is a completely different film," said Mushtaq Sheikh, co-writer of "Billu" along with director Priyadarshan.

"When you will see 'Billu', you will know what I mean. The screenplay of 'Billu' does not follow the route followed by the predecessors," said Sheikh, who was also the co-writer of Shah Rukh's blockbuster "Om Shanti Om".

While Mammootty played a superstar in "Katha Parayumbol", its Tamil version starred Rajnikant in the same role.

So has the screenplay of "Billu" been tweaked to make it more suitable for an all-India audience?

"One did not have to tweak it, one had to change it completely. I repeat - this film is a re-birth of 'Billu' (the character in the film). It's a brand new film with no connection with any other film," Sheikh told IANS.

Unlike "Katha Parayumbol", "Kuselan" had bombed in spite of Rajnikant's presence.

"How does that affect our film?" asks Sheikh. "There wasn't any doubt or fear in us when we were working on 'Billu'. 'Kuselan' working or not working was never going to hamper the flow of 'Billu'."

Sheikh added that he and Priyadarshan had sat down to give the film a new "touch and feel".

"This movie was made before and here we wanted to make a brand new film keeping the ingrained soul intact. Also, making a Hindi film is a totally different ball game than the ones that are made in the south. The people, the emotions, the landscape, the conflict - everything changes when we make Hindi movies. We knew it was never going to be easy," he makes a candid confession.

He is particularly ecstatic about the fact that with 'Billu', he could work with his real-life friend Shah Rukh yet again.

"For me Shah Rukh is like a beacon of light that guides me and inspires me. He is like family. He brings in a certain strength to my presence," he said fondly.

Featuring Lara Dutta in the lead with special appearances by Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, "Billu" also stars Priyadarshan regulars like Asrani, Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi and Rasika Joshi. With music by Pritam, "Billu" is all set to arrive on Feb 13.

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Shilpa Shetty adopts four villages

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is an avid green activist. She was the highest individual donor for a green campaign overtaking fellow actors Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Preity Zinta.

Shilpa donated Rs.1.2 million for NDTV's Greenathon, a campaign initiated by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The actress has adopted four villages - each costing Rs.300,000 - in support of TERI's 'Lighting a Billion Lives' project that aims at solar powering villages across the country.

Apart from Shilpa, other generous donors for the campaign included Shah Rukh Khan who has donated Rs.1.5 million along with the "Billu" team.

While Shah Rukh and the "Billu" team together adopted five villages, Akshay Kumar's son Aarav became the youngest donor of the campaign by adopting one village.

The 24-hour non-stop 'Greenathon' managed to generate over Rs.24 million through corporates, Bollywood stars, musicians, environmentalists, NGOs and educational institutions, said a press release.

Sanjay Dutt and family, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal, Vivek Oberoi, Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Nokia and Coca-Cola too have donated for the cause.

Greenathon was a TV campaign and included on-the-ground activities such as clean up drives in Mumbai and Delhi, a 24-hour marathon run by model-actor Milind Soman, and a musical extravaganza by Bollywood stars.

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Katrina Kaif to talk in Hindi

It’s going to be fun to watch Katrina Kaif in Prakash Jha’s Rajniti.

We hear, Katrina’s role in this movie has been inspired by Sonia Gandhi, while Ranbir Kapoor’s role seems to be inspired by Rajiv Gandhi. Now, if Kat is going to be a political personality, too, she obviously is required to deliver long speeches to crowds, and that’s going to pose a great challenge to the actress.

For this, we are told, Kaif has been attending voice modulation classes. Let’s hope she can get rid of that English twang soon.

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Bebo as bridesmaid

Amrita Arora is getting married on March 6, and Kareena Kapoor’s all set for her best friend’s wedding.

Why not? We heard Bebo will be Ammu’s bridesmaid. Kareena is trying to take out time from her tight schedule to help the bride. Not just that. Bebo herself has made the rounds to the best stores in town and
co-ordinated with the best fashion designers to design her gown. Although, Amrita will be the maiden of the night, we are eager to watch Kareena in her ‘gown’ing glory!

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Pics: What's been happening in tinseltown

All the pretty women around town and outdoors.

Hollywood Babe: Freida Pinto is going places. Here she is posing as a 50s Hollywood star for Vanity Fair. The red bikini and shoes and the yellow knickers are very cute. The globe probably represents the world at her feet. Way to go, girl!


Eternal Diva: We absolutely love Hema Malini's golden polka dots saree. It is so classy and rich. And she is as beautiful as ever.


Black Beauty: Jiah finally gets her LBD right at a part by Shane and Falguni Peacock. The red lipstick is perfect too.


Gorgeous Judge: Juhi is going to judge Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 3. The lady and her clothes get better with each passing day. The maroon, turquoise, gold and brocade combination is luxurious and beautiful, just like Juhi


Same-Same: Eesha Koppikhar has carried the same ugly bag to two events in two days. She first carried to a hair exhibition followed by a movie screening the next day. Could someone tell her to get rid of it ASAP?

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Lara Dutta in Man's World

The leggy beauty shows you don't need to strip to grab eyeballs. Take a look at lovely Lara posing for the February issue of Man's World.

Vision in White: The short white dress does full justice to her curvy figure and long legs


Enchanting: Lara's smile could melt hearts. The silver sandals, pink nail polish and chunky accessories add the right amount of colour.


Natural Beauty: The windswept hair shows off her beautiful face and showing just the right amount of skin, Lara knows how to keep it classy and subtle.

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Sanjay and Maanyata Dutt’s big bash!

Maanyata and Sanjay Dutt brought in their first wedding anniversary last night. The couple threw a big bash at their home in suburban Mumbai.

The guest list included the who’s who of Bollywood –Ajay Devgan, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Dino Morea, Lara Dutta, Vidya Balan, Riteish Deshmukh, Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, Kunal Khemu, Aftab Shivdasani, Raj Kumar Hirani, Shatrugan Sinha and his kids, Sujoy Ghosh, Rahul Dholakia, Kirron Kher as well as close friends like Apoorva Lakhia, Abhishek Bachchan, Suniel and Mana Shetty, Amar Singh, Bunty Walia and Dharam Uberoi.

“The party totally rocked. It was amazing. The food, the alcohol… it was the best. And the turnout was fantastic too. It was a great evening,” informs a source from the party, “The champagne kept flowing all night long. It was a fantastic party and one that will be talked about for weeks to come.”

Interestingly, our source says that Dutt, who enjoys his drink, has quit drinking. “Sanju has stopped drinking completely. He is very keen to turn his health around and one of the things he did for that is quit alcohol. But that didn’t stop him from being in high spirits all evening long. He was personally checking on each guest to see that they were eating and drinking.”

Maanyata too was the toast of the evening. “Maanyata personally arranged for everything. She decided on each and every item on the menu. The food was just delicious. She too looked so beautiful in the gold sari that she wore. She ensured that everyone was having a great time. The party was on till the wee hours of the morning.”

While the guests kept dropping in all evening, Dutt’s sisters chose to stay away. “Priya, Namrata and Kumar Gaurav stayed away. They didn’t come up for even a few minutes. They chose to stay away. Also not present at the party were Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir. They had been invited but cited previous commitments,” adds the source.

Dutt’s Like It
The Dutt guestlist included:
Ameesha and Kanav Puri, Vidya Balan, Riteish Deshmukh, Karan Johar, Ajay Devgan, Fardeen Khan, Zayed and Mallika Khan, Dino Morea, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia, Kunal Khemu, Aftab Shivdasani, Sophie Chaudhary, Raj Kumar Hirani, Shatrugan Sinha and his kids, Sujoy Ghosh, Rahul Dholakia, Kirron Kher, Apoorva Lakhia, Abhishek Bachchan, Amar Singh, Bunty Walia, Shabina Khan, Dharam Uberoi, Suniel and Mana Shetty.

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Lara sparkles in white on the cover of Man's World

Since the time she stormed onto the scene winning the Miss Universe title, there has been no looking back for Lara Dutta. Lara is on every man's wish-list and hence it comes as no surprise to see the beautiful actress gracing the cover page of Man's World in the February issue.

Lara who has a major film Billu up for release this week is seen in a short white dress. In an exclusive interview, Lara talks about her experiences portraying a de-glam role for the first time and how she feels proud to be known as a comedian.

However, what makes the issue a complete must have for all Lara fans is the fact that it gives you 15 ways to impress Lara and take her out on a date. With Valentine's Day round the corner, this issue will indeed come in handy.

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"SRK is planning a premiere for barber's associations" - Priyadarshan

It's final. Billu Barber will now be called Billu. And the director Priyadarshan seems resigned to the title's fate. "I'm in Chennai. Mr. Producer Shah Rukh tells me all the posters hoarding with credits will blacken out the word 'Barber'. If it was hurting anyone's sentiments I'm okay by it."

In a flash move to appease the hairdressers' associations of Mumbai, the premiere of Billu in Mumbai later this week will exclusively invite members of various barbers' and hairstylists' associations.

Priyadarshan reveals Billu's premiere plans. "As far as I know, Shah Rukh is planning a premiere for the various barbers and hairdressers' associations, so they'd see and know that the film doesn't ridicule them in any way. In fact Billu is homage to the hair-cutting technique. I can't understand how there can be a protest about the film or its title without anyone seeing the film."

The premiere, according to Priyan, won't invite Shah Rukh's friends from the industry, only members of the hair-cutting community. Priyadarshan wonders how the word 'Barber' could be okay in other languages and not in Hindi. "Does it mean half the Indian population is not put off by the title and the other half is upset about it? I don't understand the controversy. And I've left it entirely to my producer Shah Rukh Khan to deal with it."

Priyan has no plans of being in Mumbai for the release of Billu. "I've done my best. And Irrfan Khan in the title role is the best homage that can be paid to any profession." Priyan does wonder, and so do we, if we as a collective nation protest too much.

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Salman mourns the death of Myson

Everyone knows how close Salman Khan has been to his pet dogs Myjaan and Myson.

“They are my life and I am passionate about them…. They are a part of me, my family and they share my every joy and sorrow. They understand me completely and there is such a big bond I share with them that it moves me beyond words,” he once wrote on his blog.

On Sunday (Feb 8) Salman, who was in Karjat shooting for his upcoming movie “London Dreams”, got a call from home conveying the news of Myson’s death.

The dog had been suffering from a heart ailment and Salman knew that he only had a few months to live. However, he broke down when he hard the news. He sat alone on the sets for sometime and then requested director Vipul Shah to allow him to go home.

Salman went home and buried Myson at his farmhouse in Panvel at night. He then went back to Karjat in the morning and started shooting for the movie.

Even though it was a personal loss for him, Salman decided be a thorough professional and not cancel the shoot.

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Jab we meet… on Facebook

Priyanka Chopra is back with a bang, not just on professional front but on the personal as well.

After her break up with Harman, there seems to be a love story developing between her and Shahid Kapur.

The two are co-starring in the film “Kaminey” and live in the same building in Versova. But there’s more that the two seem to be sharing – chats on the phone and messages via the popular social networking site Facebook.

Priyanka, who is presently in Chicago shooting for “What’s Your Rashee”, is said to be a Facebook addict and has been seen off late exchanging messages with Shahid. They have been writing on each other’s walls and poking each other virtually.

However, in order to avoid being recognised, both have reportedly taken on different names. Priyanka calls herself Sir Pranks-A-Lot and Shaks is her name for Shahid, who in turn refers to Priyanka as Peefee!

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Priyanka most wanted actress for endorsements

Priyanka Chopra, who gave two big hits last year - "Fashion" and "Dostana", is one of the most sought after actresses for brand endorsements, according to a survey.

A study by media monitoring company Adex India revealed that Priyanka is the queen of endorsements and is ranked second on the list of top-notch brand ambassadors of 2008 only after Shah Rukh Khan.

She leads the youth brigade as the face of brands like Lux, Ponds, Sunsilk, Hero Honda, Nokia, Tag Heuer, J. Hampsted and Virgin Comic.

As far as her film assignments go, the actress has a busy year ahead with two big movies in her kitty - Vishal Bharadwaj's "Kaminay" and Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Rashee?", among others.

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Dutts celebrate one year of togetherness

It’s been an eventful year for Sanjay and Manyata Dutt, who got married as per Hindu customs on Feb 11, 2008.

In the past one year they have steadily remained in news for both personal and professional reasons. The validity of their court marriage was questioned; Sanjay’s family’s refusal to accept Manyata caused a rift between him and his sisters while Manyata tried to win over his daughter Trishala. Professionally, Sanjay launched his production company and his political career.

Now, the couple is capping their eventful one year of togetherness with a big bash at their home in Mumbai. Their first wedding anniversary party is to be held on Feb 10, as Sanjay is to travel to Bangkok the following day.
The preparations for the party have been personally supervised by Manyata and the who’s who of Bollywood is expected to attend.

Meanwhile, Sanjay faced flak from some quarters as earlier this week on his way back from Cape Town he headed to Delhi, at the cost of some appointments in Mumbai, to meet the ailing former Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Was there a political motive behind this trip? No, says Sanjay. He claims it was just out of respect for Atal ji, whose constituency, Lucknow, is being eyed by Sanjay as the launch pad for his political career.

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Title of SRK's Billu Barber changed

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will undergo a shoulder surgery soon, but it is not slated for Valentine's Day.

"It is certainly not happening on Feb 14 because Shah Rukh will be in London on that day. The surgery would take place on a later date though that too is not yet fixed," says a source close to the actor.

Though Shah Rukh was advised to undergo the surgery some time ago, it has been postponed a few times already.

His shoulder was injured a long time ago but the condition aggravated on the sets of "Dulha Mil Gaya" in December.

He was suggested rest then, but he couldn't afford to do so since the Viveck Vaswani production had been delayed for about a year and Shah Rukh didn't want any more pain for his producer, sources said.

His condition was kept under control with physiotherapy sessions easing his pain for the time being. Later, he left for Los Angeles because of his prior commitment for Karan Johar's "My Name is Khan".

Adds the source: "For Shah Rukh, the last few months have been quite busy professionally. There was 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' promotion as well as the shoot of 'Dulha Mil Gaya'. Then he couldn't have backed out of 'My Name is Khan', which had anyways been pushed ahead by a few months."

"Moreover, he had to return to India for the publicity of 'Billu Barber', now titled just 'Billu'. Though doctors had suggested a surgery on an ASAP note, he didn't want 'Billu Barber' to suffer. So, even with a sling on, he went through the entire promotional campaign. It was painful but he is passionate about his films and kept smiling."

Since he didn't want to get under the knife before the release of 'Billu' on Feb 13, speculation was that the surgery would be immediately after the release, that is, on Valentine's Day.

However, Shah Rukh told a press conference: "The surgery is not happening on Valentine's Day. I would be in London then and the surgery would now be on a later date."

Apparently, he continues to be in some pain since he tore his tendons. He is able to move around with great difficulty but is trying to keep a brave face, especially since he is going all out for the promotion of "Billu".

The actor has earlier been operated upon for his back and his knees.

Meanwhile, the superstar has agreed to the request of some members of the profession who felt that the use of the word 'barber' was offensive to their community. Hence the film title has been changed.

"What's the harm in doing so when the community, on which the film is based, itself wants this change?" says Shah Rukh.

"I want it to be a happy situation for all and if a minor change to the title has to be made, then I don't see anything wrong in that."

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Ranbir-Deepika asked to get a room!