A few days back, Vivek Oberoi was woken up at 6 in the morning with an SMS. It was a text message from his Kurbaan co-star Saif Ali Khan, praising Vivek Oberoi him for his work in the film.
"I’ve craved for this kind of appreciation,” admits Vivek candidly, “I wanted people to see me for my work and not have a coloured perspective because of whatever’s transpired in the past.”
The actor’s gone through his share of trouble, both personally and professionally. “One thing I’ve learnt is that it’s easier to deal with failure than to deal with success. If you don’t know what to do with success, then you lose the plot. Success had gone to my head. I was surrounded by people who kept pushing me in the wrong direction and I kept going there, and when it finally hit me, I was like, how did this happen?
Those four-five years were just a blur, then to understand and recover from that took time,” he says, wisened from the experience.
But yes, there were times when he was completely down in the dumps too. “There was a time when I felt that everything I did was going to backfire. It was difficult to keep my sense of reason or humour at a time like that. One day, I was really upset and my mom asked me what’s wrong. I said I just feel completely lost — there was so much professional and personal upheaval. Then she pulled out a copy of one of my first interviews during Company and said ‘start here’. I read that and realised this is what I was,” he recounts.
The journey to recover started with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara and life seems to have taken a turn for the better since then. His performance in Kurbaan has been appreciated and the actor’s looking forward to Prince — It’s Showtime, where he plays a slick, stylish thief and his mentor Ram Gopal Varma’s Rakta Charitra.
Vivek realises he has been given a second lease in his career. “I think in my seven years, something I have realised pretty late is the value of opportunity. What stands between me and a lot of talented actors is a platform that Mr Varma gave me, and the second time around, I got it with Kurbaan. Then I’ve got Kumar Taurani backing me with a big film and it’s a dream to be working with my mentor Ramu again,” he says.
The smile on his face says it all when he adds, “I’ve realised the whole idea of carrying grudges, negativity, anger, hatred and enmity just bogs you down. I’m at peace now. When I started out, it was more of a high, right now, I’m humbled.” So Vivek’s finally grown up? He’s quick to answer, “I’ve a better understanding of who I am now.” That’s more than what most would say.
Vivek getting his due?
Hrithik Roshan's new 'trade' secret
Looks like Hrithik Roshan is turning into a businessman. The actor was recently spotted scouting for properties in Andheri's Vira Desai road. Sources say he wants to open a gymnasium.
A witness says, "The residents of New Chandra apartment in Vira Desai road are ecstatic to see Hrithik almost everyday looking at the entire ground floor that has been vacant for some time now. He has been having meetings almost on a daily basis with the authorities of the building and negotiating prices."
The source reveals, "It seems he is very keen to take up the property as he intends to open a gym that would mark his entry as an entrepreneur. His interior designer wife Sussanne and father Rakesh Roshan also accompany him. In fact on days when Hrithik can't make it, Sussanne visits the place which means she is definitely looking to do it up in a fancy way. We have heard that the gym will match international standards and will be loaded with modern equipment. There is also a rumour that he wants to open a swanky coffee shop too."
A man named Pawar, who is associated with selling of properties at New Chandra, says, "They have been coming regularly and they are very interested to take it up. Only the last bit of signing is left. Hrithik is definitely turning into a businessman as the floor he is looking to take up entirely is only meant for commercial purposes. It cannot be given to people for residential accommodation by the law."
While Rakesh Roshan denied the news that they are taking up a property at New Chandra, he did not deny that Hrithik is planning to open a gymnasium.
AdvertisementI plan to get married only once;; Shilpa Shetty
Barely two days after her grandiose wedding, Shilpa Shetty-Kundra – that’s how she wants to be known now – feels
she’s on top of the
world. “Thank God, I plan to get married only once! This has been the most exhausting week of my life .
And also the happiest. I’ve waited so long for my wedding. Outwardly, the only thing that’s different is the choodas, and the way I’m dressed. Inside me, everything feels the same. I’ve known Raj for so long that it feels no different otherwise,” says the not-so-blushing bride!
“I have a severe jaw ache from all the smiling at the reception. Now I know why my colleagues avoid wedding receptions! It really does get impossible to manage the entire crowd,” she adds. Apparently, there were more gatecrashers at the reception than guests. “At the wedding too, there were people climbing trees and walls to take photographs,” Shilpa giggles. “But it was a far more intimate, private and controlled affair than the reception. Shamita kept saying that she felt she was part of a Punjabi wedding sequence from a movie!”
After her effervescent laughter finally subsides, Shilpa says soberly, “The wedding was very traditional and simple. I felt I was going through a dream. My marriage was exactly the way I had imagined it.” The Kundras will now leave for their honeymoon, followed by a Mediterranean cruise for the entire family. Says Shilpa happily, “We’re going to the Bahamas for our honeymoon. Then after we return, Raj is taking our entire family, all the Shettys and the Kundras, on a Mediterranean cruise for Christmas. He thought everyone needed a break.”
And where does Mrs Kundra plan to live now, Mumbai, or London? “I have to get acquainted with Raj’s circle of friends in London, get used to socialising with them.Yes, we’ll have two homes now. In any case, I was always travelling to and fro. Now I’ll be doing this even more! I have my film-production company in Mumbai. So I can’t be in London only.”
Talk about motherhood, and Shilpa’s all eager, “Oh yes! I certainly want to be a mother. I can’t wait to start our family.”
Vidya Balan's Kajal Comes From Pakistan!
Vidya Balan the quintessential southern beauty when quizzed on her Indian style revealed how she loved wearing ethnic kurtis, jhumkas, and kohl lined eyes.
If there is one thing that no one can deny its Vidya's talked about gorgeous eyes!
And we are the first to tell you its secret - Reveals a source close to the star "Vidya calls for her Kajal all the way from Pakistan. Whichever brand you put in front of her she will never touch any other kajal except that particular one that comes from Pakistan"
"Luckily for Vidya now the brand is available in Delhi .She keeps getting gifted expensive eye cosmetics but she refuses to part with her favorite kajal" adds the source.
There are some things that money just can't buy and Vidya Balan seems to prove that to us.
Now we know how Vidya wows us time and again with her gorgeous eyes!
Claudia Piggybacked on Sunil Shetty !
Claudia Ciesla, the hot model from Germany who’s gradually becoming a household name in India with her ongoing stint on ‘Bigg Boss 3’, found the formidable back of the iron man Sunil Shetty to hop on when the latter entered the Bigg Boss’s house on Wednesday to promote the comedy film De Dana Dan along with co-stars Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Sameera Reddy and Neha Dhupia.
Katrina Kaif, the film’s leading lady couldn’t make it because she’s down with jaundice.
While an exuberant Claudia piggybacked on Sunil Shetty, Kamaal Khan hung himself, rather uncomfortably, on the back of Sameera Reddy.
The stars of ‘De Dana Dan’ bonded with all the inmates of Bigg Boss. Akshay Kumar even took personalized letters written by the inmates for their families outside. Initially, the star was supposed to take the letter of just one lucky winner, but, according to sources, Akshay changed his mind when he met the inmates and took letters from everyone.
The visit was a nice way to promote the film and also bring cheer to the folks cooped up inside the Bigg Boss’s house since many weeks. Advertisement
Priyanka Stranded in the middle of Sea!
The lead actress of ‘Anjaana Anjaani’, Priyanka Chopra has been constantly expressing the delight of her shoots that is scheduled amid the ocean. “I'm currently shooting on a boat for Anjaana Anjaani in the middle of the ocean pretty much the whole day.”
‘Anjaana Anjaani’ is a forthcoming Bollywood film directed by ‘Salaam Namaste’ and ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ famed Siddharth Anand, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra in lead.
Shah Rukh is a Funny Man: Big B
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says Shah Rukh Khan left him in a jovial mood after the latter called him to confirm his presence at the premiere of upcoming film "Paa".
"Shah Rukh has remained with me in the late afternoon. He is a very funny man and shakes me into joviality when I inform him about the premiere and his absolute presence there. He tells me, `He is already there, black suited and with anticipation of seeing `Paa`," Amitabh posted on bigb.bigadda.com.
"Aamir too communicates today and confirms his presence," he added.
The cast and crew of "Paa" - including Amitabh, Abhishek and director R Balakrishnan have major plans for the film`s premiere December 3 in Mumbai.
Amitabh plays a 12-year-old progeria patient in "Paa" and he had to stick on several pieces of specially crafted clay to get the right look for the movie. The disease causes premature ageing among children.
International make-up artist Stephan Dupuis designed Big B`s look and the megastar had to sit for five-six hours for the make-up.
The 67-year-old says he is now anxious about how the audience and critics will react to the film.
"Slowly but surely the jig saw puzzle will begin to unfold. The test of all our hours and hours of effort at the film shall now be up for scrutiny. And within two hours and 14 minutes the verdict shall be passed. Once passed, shall remain passed. Such is the destiny of those that participate in this wondrous game of filmmaking," he said.
The film is releasing December 4.
Anushka Sharma cannot forget Shah Rukh’s smell!
It seems like the magnetic personality of Shah Rukh Khan attracts one and all. Ask the chubby-faced Anushka Sharma, who debuted opposite the King Khan in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’! The girl is still hanging on to the memories of working with the ‘Baadshah’ and cannot stop herself from speaking about him at any given opportunity. Recently, in an interview, the girl said, “One thing I can`t forget about SRK is his smell. He smells superb. He used to smell different each time. I would be like, `Wow man! Shah Rukh, you smell so good`.”
Talking about how baffling, Shah Rukh can be, Anushka said, “If you think you know Shah Rukh Khan, you don`t. That`s the thing about him. He can always keep you guessing.”
“Each day I used to be like ‘Okay, he`s like this, oh no he`s not like that...’ Every day he used to be a new person for me. He`s just so mysterious, yaar. I don`t know if you`ve heard anyone say it.... I can`t fathom him. I just can`t," the lass added.
We agree Anushka because ‘Don ko samajhna mushkil hi nahi naamumkin hai’!
My wife has stripped me bare: Om Puri
Veteran Hindi and international film actor Om Puri has stoutly defended wife Nandita Puri s book on his life and times, asserting that the controversy over it wasn t a stage-managed publicity stunt.At a function organised to release his biography, An Unlikely Hero: Om Puri, at the 40th International Film Festival of India on Wednesday, the globally known thespian said: It isn t easy for a woman to write a book on her husband. But Nandita has done a fantastic job, with detachment, objectivity and honesty. She has sized me up perfectly, both personally and professionally. Puri continued: Not only has she highlighted my early life and growth as a man, she has also thrown light on my personal life, affairs and weaknesses with the professionalism of a seasoned journalist who has two decades of experience.
The biography, published by Roli Books, has been in the news for allegedly causing a rift between husband and wife.Puri, who is the current chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), had been quoted by certain sections of the press as saying that he wouldn t let his wife get away with it . Speaking here, the actor pilloried the media, both print and electronic, for blowing the controversy over the book out of proportion. They gave the impression that this biography is a scurrilous, sensational piece of writing. Believe me, it is anything but that. The focus on my personal life is only a small part of the book, he said.With this book, my wife has stripped me bare and I enjoyed being stripped by her, Puri said, his tongue firmly in cheek. The controversy was a result of a misunderstanding. I assure you that it wasn t a publicity stunt that my wife and I decided to orchestrate in order to sell the book.
Nandita Puri, on her part, asserted that she approached the task of writing her husband s biography with as much detachment and empathy as she could muster. Striking a balance was important. That is the only way I could have done justice to the book, which covers every aspect of the 60 years of his life, she said, speaking at the book release function.Om Puri pointed out that Nandita was no greenhorn as a writer and knew exactly what she was doing. She has written two screenplays as well as an anthology of short stories. She is now working on a big historical novel, he said.The actor said that the story of his life was worth narrating. At the age of seven, I was a rag-picker. I would collect coal that steam engines would leave behind at the railway station. I would wait until the coal cooled down and then take it home to be used as fuel, he recalled.From there on, he added, he went on to school, college, drama school and the film institute, evolving as a human being all the way.
Nandita has captured all that with great skill and lucidity, he said. Puri paid a special tribute to his teachers and mentors who helped him become what he is today. If men like Govind Nihalani and Shyam Benegal hadn t made the films that they did, I wouldn t have been the actor I am, he said. (Saibal Chatterjee is a National Award-winning film critic who has covered film festivals around the world, including the ones in Cannes and Toronto. He will be writing exclusively for NDTVMovies.com from IFFI 2009)
AdvertisementAkshay sends Katrina get well soon wishes
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif is down with jaundice and missing from the promotions for her latest outing De Dana Dan. And her co-star Akshay Kumar was prompt in wishing her speedy recovery.Rumours were rife that the actress was rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai Monday night, where she was diagnosed with jaundice and has been advised complete bed rest for a while.Asked if it were true, Akshay said: “Katrina is down with jaundice… We are missing her and hope she gets well soon.”
Apparently De Dana Dan is Akshay and Katrina’s sixth outing together after movies like Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye and back to back hits like Namastey London, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng.They also starred recently in underwater thriller Blue.Akshay, who has had a string of flops this year with Chandni Chowk To China, 8×10 Tasveer, Kambakkht Ishq and Blue, is now keeping his fingers crossed for De Dana Dan.”Our chemistry does work and we’ve seen the results in Singh Is Kinng and other films and we expect the same from this film too.
This movie should do very well and I expect great returns for my producers. I have great expectations from this one,” he said. Akshay was here at the DT Cinema multiplex in Vasant Kunj to promote the movie with his co-stars Suniel Shetty, Neha Dhupia, Sameera Reddy and producer Sunil. A. Lulla.Directed by Priyadarshan, De Dana Dan has also been produced by Ganesh and Girish Jain. It also stars Paresh Rawal in an important role.
AdvertisementBollywood divided on capturing 26/11 on reels
A year after the country’s entertainment capital witnessed one of the worst-ever terror attacks, Bollywood is still divided on whether it is the right time to bring alive the 26/11 carnage on the silver screen.Though around 10 film titles revolving around the tragedy have been registered and a couple of low-budget movies are ready for release, mainstream filmmakers have chosen to stay away from the issue after noted director Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘terror tourism’ episode, which got him much flak and cost the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh his chair. Filmmaker Rensil D’silva, whose debut movie Kurbaan recently hit the screens, feels it is too early to explore the subject as the audience is not ready for it.”Not anytime soon. The wounds are yet to heal. We should wait for at least 3-4 years before embarking on a film on the subject.
Hollywood made films on the 9/11 terror attacks but these films were made just four years ago, a few years after the tragedy,” said D’silva, who directed the Saif Ali Khan- Kareena Kapoor starrer with terror in the backdrop.”Besides whatever details we have is just about 40 per cent of the facts of the attacks, barely enough to portray a tragedy of such magnitude as 26/11,” he said.However, industry’s bad man Gulshan Grover does not subscribe to D’silva’s views and says “there is nothing like a proper time to tell a story. There are many people around the world who are curious to know what happened on 26/11.”"As long as the story is authentic and sincere and the film fraternity is not looking to just commercially exploit the subject, I see no problem why a movie (on the subject) should not be made,” he asserts.
Actor-filmmaker Anant Mahadevan, who is ready with his next release Red alert, with a naxal setting, reasons that the Indian film industry does not have enough means to deal with the subject, which is why it is not willing to take risk.”It is not possible to recreate the Taj Hotel..where would you create the inferno? Where is the budget? Besides, what we have is only a superficial idea of what happened and no one has tried to go down deep into the issue. Inadequacy of research and budget have restrained the industry,” he said.”What we can do is to take one particular human angle.. for instance the case of the fisherwoman (Anita Uddaiya), who claimed to have seen the terrorists landing on the sea shore and was allegedly whisked off by the FBI, and other stories of human courage and give them an investigative touch,” he said.”Did she know too much? Is she hiding something?
Does FBI know something which it is hiding from us? that may be a story I would like to explore,” the director of Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Dil Mange More said.
AdvertisementShilpa increases gold prices in India!
There is a joke going on around at the Dalal Street, that gold prices are soaring because of Shilpa Shetty. The Bollywood actress seems to have purchased half the gold in India for her marriage. Jokes apart, Shilpa seemed to have bought a lot of the precious yellow metal and got designer Tarun Tahiliani to fashion a dress out of it.
If her wedding dress had make the world take a note of it, Shilpa was in no mood to take it easy during the wedding reception.Shilpa set ablaze the banquet hall when she arrived hand in hand with hubby Raj Kundra. The sizzling Shilpa donned a contemporary styled ghagra choli sexily draped around her awesome figure.
Tahiliani made sure that Shilpa’s outfit shone and onlookers had to hide their eyes behind shades! If the gold in her outfit wasn’t enough matching jewellery from Anmol jewels captivated the guests. After all, Shilpa had to sparkle among the who’s who of the tinsel town AdvertisementDeepika Padukone cutting off ties with Ranbir?
Once bitten, twice shy. It seems actress Deepika Padukone is determined to keep a distance from her ex beau Ranbir Kapoor since they broke up recently. And now, she is cutting off all ties with him including professional life.The grapevine is abuzz with the news that a popular filmmaker approached Deepika to act in his film.
However, she turned down the offer simply because he was planning to cast her ex beau Ranbir in the lead role.It is said that Deepika has turned a workaholic after parting ways with Ranbir. She used to divide time between her acting career and her boyfriend when she was seeing him but now, the story has changed. She is now giving her everything to films.
It looks like Bachna Ae Haseeno will be their first and last film together!
AdvertisementFarhan Akhtar mobbed in Kanpur
Farhan Akhtar was mobbed at an awards function in Kanpur recently. As a result, the Rock On!! star had to be locked inside a room for over an hour till the crowds dispersed. The director-actor was attending the Madhavrao Scindia Awards ceremony where he was honoured for outstanding performance in cinema.
Says a source close to Farhan, “At the event there were intellectuals, industrialists and politicians. But the situation turned chaotic as there were many young people in the audience. They became quite excited after seeing Farhan and charged on to the stage.” Says Farhan, “There was a crowd but one manages to get over such things.
It was a novel situation, I haven’t been locked inside a room before!He points out, “It becomes more awkward at such events when I am asked to sing impromptu. After Rock On!! wherever I go, people expect me to break out in song and it’s hard to do that. ‘Kuch ek-do line gaa lijiye’ they say but I feel awkward to sing randomly like that. Fortunately, they didn’t ask me to sing in Kanpur.”
AdvertisementRaj insisted on not inviting Akshay
Akshay Kumar and Twinkle were not part of the 30-odd B-Town folk invited to the Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra wedding reception last night. Says a source, “The newly-weds didn’t want to be in an embarrassing situation and thought it best not to invite Akki and Tina. Akshay and Shilpa were romantically involved over a decade ago and while they were dating, there was talk of marriage.
However, Akki married Tina and a heartbroken Shilpa had to move on. In fact, Raj was firm about Akshay not being invited for the reception.”The source adds that though Shilpa and Akshay met and sorted out their differences a few years ago things again turned awkward after a British tabloid report. “Akshay was livid over a ‘funny’ story which had come out in The News of the World in 2007 after Shilpa had won the UK celebrity show Big Brother.
A furious Akshay had even threatened to sue the tabloid. Last year, the actor had even showed up for the finale of Bigg Boss 2, which Shilpa had anchored. They appeared at ease with each together.”
AdvertisementWhy has Salman’s yankee accent disappeared?
Salman Khan remains Salman Khan when it comes to his acting in most of his films is what his critics keep complaining about… be it his yankee accent or erratic attitude. These comments have definitely lessened post the success of ‘Wanted’. However Sallu seems to have taken this accusation way too seriously as he will not only be sporting a different look but also flaunt an all new attitude in his forthcoming film Dabang.Dabang is Salman’s brother Arbaaz’s first production which stars Sonakshi Sinha (Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter), Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan in the lead roles. The film is being directed by debutant director Abhinav Sinha and will see Salman Khan in a completely new light.Dabang itself means a fearless cop so no prizes there to guess what role will Salman play in this film.
Brother Sohail has revealed that the film will see Salman in a very loud character. “He plays a corrupt police officer based in the north who loves to mouth loud dialogues in northern accent. For the first time he will play a negative role. He has never played such a role before” said Sohail.Renowned fashion designer Ashley Rebello who has designed outfits for Salman in this film revealed, “Salman will sport an altogether different look in Dabang. He plays a cop but is dressed in civilian clothing most of the time. Salman is clad in simple clothes throughout the film. Trousers, shirts and no much of body or bicep show from the superstar. He won’t look fashionable as he always does. It’s no where close to Wanted or even Garv.
Arbaaz on the contrary will sport Indian kurtas while Sonakshi Sinha will wear Indian saris, ghagra cholis and lot of Indian outfits.”It would definitely be a welcome change to Salman’s fans for getting to see Sallu like never before.Question: Do you think Salman Khan looks and acts the same in all his movies? Leave your comment…
AdvertisementI am the biggest idiot: Aamir Khan
It seems like the ‘pucca idiot’ effect. Actor Aamir Khan appears to be in no mood to stir up the Khan war again, especially with Shah Rukh Khan, as his next movie 3 Idiots gears up to open this Christmas Day.”I am not the emperor. Instead, I am a joker, I am the biggest idiot,” he said when asked for a reaction on being called ‘the emperor of Bollywood’ – that clearly puts him above the ‘King’ Khan SRK – by his 3 Idiots’ co-star Kareena Kapoor.Last year, besides taking a jibe at Shah Rukh’s No. 1 status in Bollywood, he had also termed Salman and SRK as the industry’s idiots along with himself.But now, he clearly doesn’t want a clash or war of words.
“Did I really call them idiots? I don’t remember,” he said while jokingly checking with other journalists if he had really said it. “I feel a person’s opinion keeps changing with times. At different points, distinct people appear idiots to you,” he said.Aamir’s latest reaction is in sharp contrast to his last year’s diatribe. Maybe, all of that had to with the fact that his last year’s hit – Ghajini – released in the same month as SRK’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. But this time round, he has no competition. Coming to Salman, Aamir firmly clarified that his blog shouldn’t be viewed as a publicity vehicle for his films. “My blog is not meant to promote films,” he stated when asked about Sallu’s newly- launched blog for his new film, Veer.
However, Aamir was all praise for Kareena.The actor, in fact, found her “too pretty” to be called the fourth idiot. “Kareena has worked hard in this film. As a creative girl, she has come across as very clear and evolved,” he added.Aamir was in town on Wednesday to release a new song of 3 Idiots. Though the event was initially slated to kick off at Sri Ram College of Commerce, it was shifted at the last minute to a five-star hotel due to security concerns.”I worked very hard for my physique in 3 Idiots after bulking up for Ghajini. I lost all the weight in six- seven months to look like a college boy,” said Aamir, who was accompanied by ” the other two idiots – R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi.” It’s not surprising that Aamir took the centrestage even as Madhavan and Sharman looked on.
Unlike Aamir, the two actors could “easily identify with” their roles.Aamir conversely felt he “never experienced college in real life.” “I started working right after my school days as an assistant director in films. So, I could never really experience the thrill of college life. But my school life was fun since I was into sports and would always get less marks,” he stated.Low marks notwithstanding, he has a personal take on the education system. “It should help build complete personalities instead of just focusing on results. I think the current HRD minister is taking the right steps,” he said.
AdvertisementShahid Kapoor brings Big B nostalgia back
Shahid Kapoor does in ‘Chance Pe Dance’ what Amitabh Bachchan did in ‘Yaarana,’ on his way to becoming a renowned singer in the film, and with much of the same dexterity!At the start of the recently released theatrical trailer of Chance Pe Dance, Kapoor is heard mouthing the tongue twister “Kaccha Papad Pakka Papad” like a pro.In the film, Kapoor plays a struggling actor determined to make it big in Bollywood. So along with his daily physical exercise regimen he is also seen doing elocution and pronunciation exercises.
Actors mouth tongue twisters to get their pronunciation right. Shahid uses the technique religiously every morning before arriving on set, says a source from the Chance Pe Dance unit.Considering the toungue twisters that Shahid had to mouth in Kaminey because of his character’s lisp, you would imagine Shahid didn’t need any more practice. If you can say “Favere favere iff manhoof ka chehera dekho to raat tak mayyat pakki famjho” then you have been there, done that. Not so for the perfectionist ‘Fahid!’
Shahid is currently in Bangkok filming for Yashraj Films’ production, Friends N Co. (Working title), directed by Prameet Sethi and featuring Anushka Sharma as co-star. He says he will be back to Mumbai in mid December to promote Chance Pe Dance from end December. The film is due in theaters on January 15.
AdvertisementSneha to appear in Bikini in Goa
Once again Sneha becomes sensational in media... This time not for any controversial act, but for her hottest ever appearance in the forth coming Soundarya Rajinikanth produced film 'Goa'. The actress is appearing in a wet bikini suit for the first time in this film and of course she was paid hefty for this glam coup.
She wore the suit on the condition of not releasing the still to the media. But now it seems that she has changed her mind and allowed the producer and director to release the glam pics to media. The secret behind her change is hiking her pay for her future projects. Yes...she has given the green signal to all that she is getting ready to run her skin show in others films too, but if paid high!
What Was In the mind of Kasab ?
When Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving terrorist behind Mumbai attacks was captured, he became an object of interest as he could not just give valuable clues about the masterminds of the attack and the modus operandi of Pakistan based Jihadis, but a study of his psychology could also provide an insight into the minds of the brainwashed and conditioned Fidayeen attackers.
A deep analysis of the various tests on Ajmal Kasab revealed shocking outcomes and enabled in construing correctly the gradual metamorphosis of this destitute Pakistani boy into a ruthless militant, besides throwing light on the entire set up, thriving under the Pakistan government’s wings that works day and night to manufacture more and more Jihadis with the raw material derived from the country’s poorest provinces.
July 1998
Graffiti on the yellow wall outside my village Faridkot in Punjab is the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I close my eyes and ruminate.
Go For Jihad….Go For Jihad...Markaz Dawat ul Irshad
My father makes very little money by selling dahi puri. Whatever he had was spent in sister Rukaiyya’s wedding. I detest my brother Afzal, who works as a labourer day and night and brings home so little. Munir, Surriya and I constantly fight…….
September 2003
My parents forced me to join Afzal….but I can’t be a labourer…I returned and am lazing around…they can feed one more mouth…
3rd Nov 2005, Eid
I had a bitter fight with my father. He was unable to provide me with the clothes I had demanded. I am going away…to find means to become rich…
2006
I and friend Muzaffar Ali Khan are making a lot of money. They say I have fallen in bad company, but robbery is something that gives you quick bucks and the risk is minimal. Here you can easily get away with any crime as long as you keep the police happy.
Dec 21, 2007, Bakrid
It turned out to be an important day. While haggling over the price of weapons in the market (unlike India, here they are freely available, though rules speak otherwise) we met some workers of Jama’at –ud -Da’wah, the political wing of Lashkar. They gave us some pamphlets that they were distributing. They promised us fame, money and glory if we joined their base camp at Markaz Taiba. We agreed.
My father would not mind it too so long as I gave him money. Though later I gathered that he said on TV- ‘I don’t sell my sons.” Liar…!
March- April 2008
We were taken to a remote mountainous area of Muzaffarabad and then to Mangla Dam area and given training in various types of warfare. We were a batch of 24 men. It was fun!
The Training
We were given a crash course in terror attack in Daura Aam.
I was selected for specialised training in Daura Khas at Mansehra. General Saheb supervised us here.
Experienced military men of Pakistan Army and ISI trained us in sophisticated warfare. They made us watch repeatedly videos of Hindu atrocities in Kashmir…and brutal treatment meted out to Muslims in Palestine to Chechnya. The footages showed nothing unusual that we did not witness in our land daily, but somehow the trainers at our camp were able to generate a lot of hatred within us.
But more than the hatred it was money that mattered. Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi offered my family Rs 1, 50,000 if I participated in the attacks. Besides, all we had to do was to wield the gun, our safety was guaranteed as all arrangements had already been made.
Out of 25, ten of us were chosen for Mumbai Mission.
Mumbai Mission
The aim was to avenge the atrocities on our brethren (I still am not sure about these so called atrocities and how we were affected by it) and to replicate 9/11 type attacks. Nariman will be targeted for its Jewish connections and Taj is to suffer the fate of Marriott.
Mid 2008
I have been given stylish clothes, money, fancy watches and stylish bags. Unable to contain the urge to show them off to my family and neighbourhood, I literally begged to be allowed to go home. Hope was dim as after providing this kind of training we are rarely allowed to go home lest we spill the secret beans. But then, there are many open secrets in my mulk!
I have been given permission to visit Faridkot…but for a very short duration and along with two army men in disguise.
Passage to India
It didn’t turn out to be difficult at all. The country has practically no surveillance in its waters. We boarded Al-Husseini (the boat) from Karachi in Pakistan to come to Mumbai. Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Abu Jindal and Abu Hamza came to see us off. We carried ration and oil (fuel). Later, we shifted to Indian fishing trawler 'Kuber' and slit the throat of its navigator.
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus
My Versace designer label T-shirt and stylish cargos stole away the attention from my luggage which had rifles and ammunition. Clothes make such a hell lot of a difference!
Ismail and I managed to kill nearly 50 unsuspecting travellers in Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus. It was blood all over. At first I felt slightly giddy. But Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Yusuf Muzammil’s encouragement over phone boosted our confidence.
Cama Hospital
We fired randomly on a police vehicle, killing on spot three senior police officials clad in bullet-proofs! One was ATS Chief Karkare, the other was Encounter Specialist Salaskar and the third was Additional Commissioner Kamte.
We took two constables as hostages.
Metro Cinema, Vidhan Bhavan
We fired a few shots at the crowd at Metro cinema and Vidhan Bhavan just for the fun of it! In the meanwhile Ismail shot one of the constables when his mobile rang.
Chowpatty
Reaching Chowpatty was not in our plan. But police had got the message and they nailed us here. Ismail died in the gun fight that followed. I pretended to be dead and when a sub inspector (Tukaram Omble) armed just with a lathi tried to capture me, I pumped five bullets in his body, but he held on to my weapon till his colleagues captured me!
A mob gathered and attacked my vehicle. I was scared to death!
Hospital
I had killed hundreds in a night, but the death of Ismail and the pain due to the bullet lodged in my arm took all my wits away. All I wanted at that moment was to live..! “Put me on saline…I do not want to die”, I pleaded with the hospital staff.
But when the police began to grill me, I realized what I had landed into and sincerely wished to die! I was supposed to be a Fidayeen who is never captured alive…but I was..!
In Jail
My name is not Kasab. I am Amir Ajmal and I belong to Kasav (butcher) caste. It angers me when they call me by this name.
I have told them everything. May be they can leave me if I turn approver.
I told them I can work for India also if I am paid well.
I have told them that I will speak only before the camera.
They asked me about jihad. I told them what I was taught, that you kill in jihad and become rich and famous.
No lawyer is ready to fight for me.
I am pained and shocked. My own Pakistan’s Prime Minister refuses to admit that I belong to his country. Then where do I belong to?
No one has yet contacted me. No one has attempted to free me.
I feel like a lab animal.
They asked me to recite verses from Quran. But I have never read it!
Time and again I am taken to the court. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry. Showing that I am mentally deranged may help me.
I can ask for anything, do any thing. This is a country where every one has ample rights-even militants like me. I want everything on camera so that the human rights people can fight for me!
I have demanded basmati rice. I abuse openly and fight with the staff here. I like doing so…..
They have coaxed me to read Gandhi, thinking I will change!
I have accused the jail authorities of giving me drug laced food. I know all that I say in court is splashed by media…
Almost all witnesses have identified me. The CCTV cameras have my footage, killing and rampaging. I had confessed earlier hoping for some respite and also hoping that the Pakistan Generals would rescue me. But all my hopes have been frustrated. I have understood that Fidayeens are not supposed to live…
Did they use me in the name of religion; did they exploit my poverty and vulnerable age? I was trained like an army man, entrusted with a task which they said inspired respect and would make Islam proud, I felt like a hero…..but they made me a villain, a killer, a terrorist!
And now they are not ready to acknowledge me…my father, mother, villagers, friends…all deny my existence!
I feel horrified thinking that the bodies of the ‘martyrs of Islam’ are rotting in an enemy state…and the advocates of religion are moving freely, enjoying, making public appearances, giving lectures and converting more and more Kasabs into mindless robots ready to kill, avenge and destroy beings so lovingly created by Allah….
Bollywood divided on capturing 26/11 on reels
A year after the country's entertainment capital witnessed one of the worst-ever terror attacks, Bollywood is still divided on whether it is the right time to bring alive the 26/11 carnage on the silver screen.
Though around 10 film titles revolving around the tragedy have been registered and a couple of low-budget movies are ready for release, mainstream filmmakers have chosen to stay away from the issue after noted director Ram Gopal Varma's 'terror tourism' episode, which got him much flak and cost the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh his chair.
Filmmaker Rensil D'silva, whose debut movie Kurbaan recently hit the screens, feels it is too early to explore the subject as the audience is not ready for it.
"Not anytime soon. The wounds are yet to heal. We should wait for at least 3-4 years before embarking on a film on the subject. Hollywood made films on the 9/11 terror attacks but these films were made just four years ago, a few years after the tragedy," said D'silva, who directed the Saif Ali Khan- Kareena Kapoor starrer with terror in the backdrop.
"Besides whatever details we have is just about 40 per cent of the facts of the attacks, barely enough to portray a tragedy of such magnitude as 26/11," he said.
However, industry's bad man Gulshan Grover does not subscribe to D'silva's views and says "there is nothing like a proper time to tell a story. There are many people around the world who are curious to know what happened on 26/11."
"As long as the story is authentic and sincere and the film fraternity is not looking to just commercially exploit the subject, I see no problem why a movie (on the subject) should not be made," he asserts.
Actor-filmmaker Anant Mahadevan, who is ready with his next release Red alert, with a naxal setting, reasons that the Indian film industry does not have enough means to deal with the subject, which is why it is not willing to take risk.
"It is not possible to recreate the Taj Hotel..where would you create the inferno? Where is the budget? Besides, what we have is only a superficial idea of what happened and no one has tried to go down deep into the issue. Inadequacy of research and budget have restrained the industry," he said.
"What we can do is to take one particular human angle.. for instance the case of the fisherwoman (Anita Uddaiya), who claimed to have seen the terrorists landing on the sea shore and was allegedly whisked off by the FBI, and other stories of human courage and give them an investigative touch," he said.
"Did she know too much? Is she hiding something? Does FBI know something which it is hiding from us? that may be a story I would like to explore," the director of Dil Vil Pyar Vyar and Dil Mange More said.
Mythology connects Aishwarya and Katrina
Two of the most beautiful actresses are connected by an uncanny coincidence. The forthcoming films of both the stunners are based on the religious Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, starring Aishwarya Rai as Sita, is based on Ramayana. It has south star Vikram playing Ash’s hubby and Abhishek Bachchan playing the villain who kidnaps Ash and takes her into a forest. Govinda’s character, based on Lord Hanuman, is that of a forest guard who helps trace Ash.
Prakash Jha’s film Rajneeti, on the other hand, is based on Mahabharata. The film, a political thriller, borrows a great deal from the politics of Mahabharata. Ranbir Kapoor plays an Arjun-like character who, with the help of his mentor, takes on his rivals. Katrina too plays a politico in the movie that stars a host of actors including Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai and Nana Patekar.
Both ‘Raavan’ and ‘Rajneeti’ have Ash and Katrina in non-glam roles; the stunners are dressed demurely in sarees. Another coincidence is that both the films are set to release in May next year. Though it’s unlikely that the films would clash at the marquee, they would, at best, release with a gap of two weeks in between.
Who will emerge victorious in this battle of supremacy at the box office, we’ll know next year.
Priyanka Chopra kills her 'husbands'
She is selecting her films after a lot of consideration; Priyanka Chopra won’t make wrong moves. She is all set to play the wife of seven husbands in Vishal Bharadwaj’s next film.
As a tabloid reported, in the film Priyanka plays an Anglo-Indian woman who has seven husbands and eventually kills them all. The film is based on a short story by Ruskin Bond. “It’s Priyanka’s toughest role to date. Her character is extremely volatile. It will be an out-and-out thriller,” a source is quoted to have said.
In fact, Vishal who is repeating PC for the second film wants her to look simple, like the way she did in Kaminey. The movie is going to be Vishal’s first woman-centric film and no doubt he has given Priyanka a film that many actresses would love to grab without thinking twice.
Celebrated writer Ruskin Bond along with Vishal is writing the screenplay for the film. And as revealed by the tabloid, according to the movie’s yet-not-finalized script, PC will come up with ingenious ways of killing her seven husbands and “an overdose of viagra will bump one of her old husbands off.”
The film goes on the floors next year. Well, the tit-bits sound interesting; can’t wait for the full show!
Vivek Oberoi caught between three hotties
Togged up in a sleeveless leather jacket, his hair gelled and his goggled face exuding a newfound confidence, Vivek Oberoi is all set for a career resurrection in his upcoming film Prince - Its Showtime.
The movie has Vivek playing a spy who’s stuck in a cobweb of confusion because of his random memory loss. He dates three hot girls, and each of them tells him that she’s his ‘Maya’.
Vivek is caught between three babes - Nandana Sen, Aruna Shields and Neeru Singh in ‘Prince’. Aruna is an actress from UK and she’s modeled for various brands and done a few films there. Neeru is from apna Punjab. She’s acted in a few Punjabi films but is now set to grab eyeballs with her steamy act in ‘Prince’.
Producer Kumar Taurani reveals that the film has oodles of oomph, thanks to the bikini acts by the three hotties.
“It (the film) has a very intriguing plot and, of course, bikini-clad women who are more than just eye-candy,” Kumar is quoted to have said.
Taurani is confident that the movie will give a new lease of life to the sagged career of Vivek, who’ll be seen doing incredible stunts like fighting on trains, planes and even hanging mid-air.
We’ll see that when the film releases early next year.
Salman and Aishwarya in Ajab Hai Ishq?
Lyricist cum director Javed Akhtar might have just done the impossible of casting Aishwarya Bachchan and Salman Khan for his upcoming movie. Tentatively titled Ajab Hai Ishq, Javed has already cast Salman will be playing the lead role. There is buzz around the B-Town that Javed is trying to rope in Aishwarya to star opposite Salman in the loves story.
Salman and Aishwarya had starred together only once in their career in Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The movie which was shot when Salman and Aishwarya were going around with each other went on to become one of the biggest hits of their career.
The couple split two year later after Aishwarya alleged being physically abused by Salman AdvertisementShilpa and Raj’s grand reception rocks
Shilpa Shetty now Shilpa Kundra and Raj Kundra threw a lavish reception for their guests at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai on Tuesday evening. The who’s who of Bollywood was present on the occasion to wish the newly married couple. There was a huge buzz in the banquet hall when she Shilpa and Raj arrived hand in hand. Shilpa donned a golden outfit designed by Tarun Tahiliani and with matching jewellery is from Anmol jewels. Raj Kundra sported a impressive black Sherwani.The impressive guest list included Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and his wife Gauri. Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Roshan, Rani Mukherjee, Fardeen Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Sameera Reddy, Amisha Patel, Kangana Ranaut, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar, Vivek Oberoi, Govinda, Rekha and Jaya Pradha among others.
IPL boss Lalit Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi were also present on the occasion. Shilpa and Raj made sure that their guests could have no complaint about the food. The menu included a selection of Indian, Western (Italian) and Asian (Thai and Chinese) cuisine served at live counters. The big attraction of the evening was the nine-tier wedding cake weighing over 80 kgs consisting of chocolate, candied fruits, fruit peels and nuts. The decoration chosen by Shilpa and her sister Shamita Shetty, consisted of flowers and butterflies. RDB and Rishi Rich performed free of cost during the reception.
AdvertisementWhy Salman Khan skipped Shilpa-Raj reception?
The Khan war is just refusing to end. While Shah Rukh and his bandwagon landed at the marriage reception of Shilpa and Raj Kundra, good friend Salman was conspicuous by his absence.When Headlines Today asked SRK about him leaving before Salman turns up, he made a face before saying “goodnight”. Clearly, SRK was irked at the mere mention of Salman. Salman, a good friend to Shilpa, was reportedly invited to the reception. But his absence has established that he is still not keen to socialise with SRK, even if that takes to compromise with Shilpa. After all, SRK too is not very pleased to hear his name.If Salman appeared on the ramp along with his loved ones, this time it was SRK’s turn to gang up for Shilpa’s grand reception.
So King Khan and Gauri along with Farah Khan, Hrithik Roshan and wife Suzaane, Fardeen Khan and Zayed Khan too accompanied by their respective spouses made the reception a happening affair.So it came as no surprise when Hrithik referred to SRK’s bandwagon as the ‘band of brothers’. “We are the band of brothers,” he said.Salman might just choose to say nothing to this. For him, friendships are all about loyalties. It is little wonder then, why he didn’t turn up at the grand Shilpa-Raj reception, touted as one of the biggest affairs in Bollywood.Shilpa and Raj might just be musing over which bandwagon to jump!
AdvertisementRanvir and Konkona will not marry
Going strong since the past 4 years, Ranvir and Konkona have had their share of ups and downs that of a regular couple but the news of them calling of their wedding did come as a surprise to many. Both Ranvir and Konkona make sure to spend as much as time with each other and are present at each other’s shoots also. However Ranvir who is known for his temperamental behaviour doesn’t think twice before blasting off at Konkona in public leaving her distraught for days, says a source close to the couple.“Ranvir and Konkona have had their ups and downs and Konkona is the one who overlooks the relationship hiccups. She has gotten used to his temperamental behaviour but it can surely miff the people around them. I remember during a party when Ranvir got completely sloshed and misbehaved with Konkona and it surprised us that she simply let it go.
So it doesn’t come to much of a surprise to us that they are finally rethinking their decision of getting married.”They have purchased a huge combined apartment in Malad, where the couple live together. Report from the complex has not been very complimentary. A source, living in the same complex has spotted them together quite often in the elevator and says that they aren’t every civil when they are together in a private space, as they seem to be bickering about small things, even as trivial as how the car is parked in the basement.However at the same time another source rubbishes the break-up rumours saying, “That’s untrue, the reason the December wedding has been postponed is because Ranvir’s entire family stays in the U.S and its difficult for all of them to make their presence felt in Mumbai.
They are now planning on a small family reception there first and then a get-together of their friends and relatives here. Both of them had been busy with their films and now they need more time to sort out the details of the wedding.” Ranvir and Konkona have always been very private about their personal life and it came to no surprise to us when they refused to comment on the matter.Let’s hope all’s well in the Koko-Ranvir world for now!
AdvertisementAishwarya Rai to play Mumtaz Mahal
After bringing princess Jodha to life in Jodhaa-Akbar with a beautifully restrained performance, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to enter royal territory again by playing Mumtaz Mahal in a film based on the Taj Mahal.The film will have a budget of 30 million US dollars and will get more international coverage than Jodhaa-Akbar as Sir Ben Kingsley will play her co-star, Emperor Shah Jahan. The film, called Taj is produced by Kingsley’s newly launched SBK Productions. It is an epic and will be shot on location in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Co-incidentally, Aishwarya’s father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan has worked with the legendary actor in the upcoming Teen Patti and was blown away by his talent and knowledge of cinema. In fact, he was nervous about shooting with him.
Ben Kinglsey has spoken about the film in the international press. He is thrilled about the project which revolves around the building of the Taj Mahal. He had spoken to Ash about the film when they were shooting The Last Legion. The screenplay is being penned by British actor, playwright and novelist, David Ashton. The multi-million dollar film will also include Shah Jahan’s time spent in isolation. The film will go on the floors next year.Kingsley is really fond of India and its people and this movie will give him a chance to spend time in India and connect with the people and audiences.Kinglsey is charmed by Ash’s pristine, universally-appealing beauty and couldn’t think of casting anyone else. It obviously helps that Ash is an Indian and the face of Bollywood cinema in the west, which is why it makes for apt casting of her in the role of the legendary beauty.Kingsley’s wife, Brazilian actress Daniela Lavender will play Persian princess Kandahari Begum.
As for those who are skeptical about an Englishman playing the Mughal Emperor, it is time to watch Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. Not many people know that Ben Kingsley was born Krishna Bhanji in the UK. His father, Rahimtulla Harji Bhanji was of Indian descent. Kingsley won an Oscar for his splendid, nuanced performance and it was hard to tell him apart from the real Mahatma. He is best remembered for that role.Bharat Bala Productions have wanted to make a film on the Taj Mahal with Aishwarya Rai since a very long time but the project hasn’t taken off. Earlier, Akbar Khan made the ambitious Taj Mahal with Sonia Jehan and Zulfi Sayed. The film also starred Kabir Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Kim Sharma and Arbaaz Kham, among others.
After being stuck in the cans, it released in 2005 and flopped. Let us see how Kingsley’s film turns out. Will it be doomed like its predecessors?
AdvertisementHrithik Roshan turns stylist for new film
Hrithik Roshan is one of the most stylish men in Bollywood and how he will extend his stylish sensibilities to Zoya Akhtar’s new film that will be shot in Europe next year. A source tells us, ‘Hrithik’s sense of style is very international, hip and European. It is no wonder then that he is the brand ambassador for Provogue where we see him in a variety of looks like a casual club look, a slick corporate look and a rock star look. Earlier, he endorsed John Players. Even in his movies, he has had versatile looks from the sexy biker thief-in-disguise in Dhoom 2 to Emperor Akbar in Jodhaa Akbar to the suave and cool superstar in Luck By Chance. He has a Spanish street look in Kites. He is impeccable turned out at public appearances in casuals or formals and loves wearing solid, bright colours as he can carry them off. He rarely wears prints and carries off hats very well. He uses his height to his advantage.’
About the styling in the film, our source says, ‘Hrithik and Zoya are very excited about the different looks of the characters. Styling and hairstyles have always been important elements of Farhan Akhtar’s films as we have seen in Lakhsya, Don and Dil Chahta Hai. Hrithik will analyze Farhan and Abhay’s body types and discuss their look in the movie with the designers of the film. He will give his valuable input and choose the clothes. The movie is about a road trip so HR wants the look to be glamourous, urban, cool, comfortable and wearable. He hopes like all his other films and endorsements, he will set a new trend with this film too.’
AdvertisementDeepika Padukone replacing Priyanka Chopra
The latest buzz in industry circles is that Rakesh Roshan has plans to start filming the sequel to his desi super hero flick, Krrish by September 2010. Playing the title role, Hrithik Roshan will however not be romancing Priyanka Chopra in this one, our sources claims.Sources further reveal, “Roshan Sr. who will be directing the film apart from producing it, is considering Deepika Padukone to play the lead, although there has been no confirmation. While the first film in the series Koi Mil Gaya had Preity Zinta in the lead opposite Hrithik, Krrish featured Priyanka Chopra. There are no plans for her to return, so it remains to be seen who would step into the leading lady’s role.”
It is also believed that Roshan Sr. has had early discussions with the SFX team and a big crew of foreign technicians who worked on Krrish. They have been bouncing off ideas on where to take the character and how to develop it.?Letting us in the secret, our source further reveals that Rakesh has zeroed down on a plotline where Krrish battles his evil counterpart in the sequel. Apparently, Rakesh is keen on having Hrithik play a grey character ever since he saw his performance in Dhoom 2. Krrish will be seen saving the 7 wonders of the world, which makes a perfect foil to include extensive shots of diverse foreign locations.
Hrithik will also undergo vigorous physical training for the role. He has completed Kites, which is all set for release next year. He is currently shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish with Aishwarya Bachchan.
AdvertisementPriyanka, Shahid’s cross connection
Actors Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor have a cross connection and there is a third angel too as, post-love, it has become the reason behind someone’s sleepless nights. Actually, the phone number on the name plate in an audition scene used by Priyanka in her movie Fashion and the number scribbled on Shahid’s in Chance Pe Dance were the same.Though it was a cross connection for Priyanka and Shahid, the common factor in the story has been the person the actor duo has been troubling unintentionally.
Ram Mirchandani, whose phone number features on the audition plates used by Priyanka in Fashion and Shahid in Chance Pe Dance, has been getting incessant calls from the fans of the two stars wanting to speak to the cute couple from Kaminey.It is definitely a Kismet Connection of sorts for Shahid and Priyanka who were reportedly seeing each other until recently. Mirchandani has been getting up to about 100 calls in just 20 minutes.
Hope that after seeing this story people will stop troubling Manchandani and for Shahid hopefully Chance Pe Dance would turn out to be a hit like Fashion.
AdvertisementKatrina Kaif down with jaundice
Katrina Kaif had to be rushed to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra immediately after landing in the city late Monday night. The actress was in Udaipur for the promotion of De Dana Dan, which releases this week.She had been feeling under the weather for the past few days. Last week, she had fainted while performing at an event.
The constant travelling due to the promotions of her films has taken a toll on the star.Says Katrina’s business manager, “She was taken to the hospital for some tests as she is down with flu and was feeling weak. We decided to get a complete check-up done. She has been advised complete bed rest for the next week or till the fever goes down.
The biggest fear is that the viral fever is contagious and we don’t want the entire cast and crew coughing and sneezing while promoting the film.”
AdvertisementSalman Skips Dad’s Birthday For The First Time
At the moment Salman is not happy with life at all. For the first time Salman Khan wasn’t able to attend his father’s birthday on November 24.This year Salim Saab turned 64, and the Khan parivar had planned to make it a grand celebration, what with Wanted being a huge money-spinner for Salman. Dad’s birthday and son’s success would’ve made for a grand bash at the Khans’ residence. Unfortunately Salman and Arbaaz are in Wai on the outskirts of Mumbai shooting for their home production Dabangg. And there was absolutely no way Salman could be allowed to return to Mumbai even for a few hours.
That left Salim Saab on his birthday with only son Sohail to keep him company.Says Sohail, “I guess I got lucky. I got Dad all for myself on his birthday. Much as Salman and Arbaaz would’ve liked to be with Dad there was no way they could leave the shooting in Wai and return on Tuesday for Dad’s birthday without disrupting the schedule. We were just three days into the shoot and it couldn’t be stopped.”While Salman seethed in Wai, Sohail drove back to Mumbai on Monday to bring in their father’s birthday and to convey Salman and Arbaaz’s best wishes to their father.Says a sentimental Sohail; “The whole family makes it a point to be together by hook or crook for our parent’s birthday.
Anyway, Dad believes work comes first. But Salman and Arbaaz are very unhappy about the situation.”The family is getting ready for the release of Veer on January 26.“That’s a big project for us,” says Sohail. “We’ve worked really hard on it. After Dabangg we want to start Partner 2. Everyone keeps telling us sequels ka zamana hai. Look how well the sequels to Golmaal have done! But until we’re sure that the script will take us beyond the first Partner we can’t go ahead.”The entire Partner team is working on the sequel’s storyline.
“All of us, Salman, Govinda, David Dhawan and I, have been told to work on an idea. We’ll go ahead with Partner 2 the minute one of us cracks the screenplay. Right now Partner is hot, and Salman Bhai is hotter,” says Sohail proudly.
AdvertisementB'day Special: Rare Photos of Rakhi Sawant
Rakhi Sawant was born in Mumbai on 25th November 1978.
Om Puri is childlike: Big B
Amitabh Bachchan, who launched the controversial biography of Om Puri here, has lauded his contemporary`s courage in revealing details about his personal life.
The launch, where Puri narrated some of life`s moments himself, was attended by a large number of people from the Hindi film fraternity.
Describing the evening in his blog, the 67-year-old megastar wrote, "Facing a public audience can be a daunting task even in the most comfortable circumstances, but to his credit I must say his candidness became the most endearing moments of the evening."
The book `Om Puri: An Unlikely Hero` has been written by Puri`s journalist wife Nandita and was in news over her revelations about Puri`s relationship with various women.
"Overwhelmed by the realities of his own very humbling early existence, Om Puri choked with emotion as he narrated those moments with the honesty that most of us would perhaps never acquire," Bachchan wrote about his `Dev` co-star.
Big B also joked about how he has become the most popular book launcher in Mumbai and has developed a skill to wrap things up quickly.
"As the official `book launcher` of the city I have now developed a knack of getting through these situations rather rapidly," he wrote.
Bachchan`s next book launch is a new elaborate form of his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan`s `Madhushala` at the late poet`s 101 birth anniversary on November 28.
Ranbir's First Crush was his School Teacher !
Ranbir Kapoor may have parted ways with Deepika Padukone but earlier his name was linked with debut film Saawariya co-star Sonam Kapoor. But not many are aware that Ranbir’s first crush in life was his schoolteacher.
Ranbir smilingly states in this regards, “I have had many crushes in life and my first crush was my second standard school teacher. Maybe because she was the first woman in my life after my mother who pampered me and loved me just the way my mom did. I used to secretly adore her.”
However, now the actor confesses that his perspective towards looking at love has changed a lot. “Love is defined in my ways. I don’t know how you look at love. Love has different meanings for me, ” he says.
Well now high on the success of his last two films the actor is now looking forward to ‘Rajniti’ and ‘Anjaana Anjaani’. Yet the actor says that his first film Saawariya will always remain special for him.
“I did the film two years back. Though it was a disaster I learnt how to act and I learnt all about cinema through Sanjay Leela Bhansali. So like my first crush, my first film will also remain always special to me, ” Ranbir concludes.
