Saturday, May 2, 2009

Kareena dubs for her film with Shahid Kapoor

Shooting for a snack ad in Chandigarh with one of her favourite directors Imtiaz Ali recently, Kareena Kapoor was one worried girl. Before she left for New York on April 20 for a month-long shoot of Rensil D'Silva's film, Kareena had to complete the dubbing for her over-fresh Kambakkht Ishq and woefully-stalled Milenge Milenge. Close to collapse due to over-exertion and exhaustion, Kareena was determined to prove she's a thorough professional. Defying all the talk that she has been sidelining her only pending assignment with Shahid Kapoor, Kareena in fact was running in and out of the dubbing studio to complete the dubbing of Milenge Mienge before she left the country.
Sighing with fatigue Kareena says, "We're all professionals here. For me it doesn't matter who the leading man in Milenge Milenge is. For me what is important is that I made a commitment to two of my favourite people in the industry producer Boney Kapoor and director Satish Kaushik who've stood by me from the beginning of my career. How can I let them down? Boney wants a summer release for his film. I've to complete my dubbing before I leave."
Putting aside every waking moment Kareena is determined to complete her work on
Milenge Milenge. "I'm running in and out of two dubbing studios. I've already completed most of the dubbing for both."

The film is special because after
Jab We Met this is the only time Kareena will be seen with Shahid Kapoor.

Says Kareena, "I know people have expectations from us individually and as a pair, and they won't be disappointed. It's a very sweet film. And not dated at all though it got delayed. I'm as proud of
Milenge Milenge as I am of any of my films," ends Kareena.

My films have always been denied popular awards: Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar, who has been nominated in the best director category for "Fashion" in the International Indian Film Academy awards 2009, is wondering why the film itself is missing from the best picture list.

"They've done this to me before. My films have been denied popular awards right from 'Chandni Bar'. So I'm neither hurt nor amused. I just wonder what it means," Bhandarkar, who made critically acclaimed films like "Page 3" and "Corporate", told IANS.

All the other directors, who are nominated in the best director category, have their films in the best picture category.

"If I'm one of the best directors of the year, isn't my product automatically among the best films? But I'm sure they've their own rationale and I'm the last person to question it. Right now I'm too drained out shooting 'Jail' in the heat of Karjat," said Bhandarkar.

"Jail", starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in lead role, is being shot in the sun and members of the unit are suffering from dehydration.

"We've a doctor on standby throughout the shooting. Anyone can suffer from sunstroke or dehydration any time. And after all this effort 'Jail' too may be snubbed at the popular awards. But I'm not complaining. I've the audience and critics with me. And my films get the National Award. To me, that's the highest honour. I just hope Neil gets the National Award for 'Jail'. The rest will be a bonus."

IIFA nomination list:

Best Picture

"A Wednesday"

"Dostana"

"Ghajini"

"Jodhaa Akbar"

"Race"

"Rock On!"

Direction

A.R. Murugadoss - "Ghajini"

Madhur Bhandarkar - "Fashion"

Abhishek Kapoor - "Rock On!"

Ashutosh Gowariker - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Neeraj Pandey - "A Wednesday"

Performance in a leading role (male)

Aamir Khan - "Ghajini"

Abhishek Bachchan - "Dostana"

Hrithik Roshan - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Naseeruddin Shah - "A Wednesday"

Shah Rukh Khan - "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi"

Performance in a leading role (Female)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Asin - "Ghajini"

Bipasha Basu - "Race"

Katrina Kaif - "Singh Is Kinng"

Priyanka Chopra - "Fashion"

Performance in a supporting role (Male)

Abhishek Bachchan - "Sarkar Raj"

Arjun Rampal - "Rock On!"

Irrfan Khan - "Mumbai Meri Jaan"

Sonu Sood - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Vinay Pathak - "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi"

Performance in a supporting role (Female)

Bipasha Basu - "Bachna Ae Haseeno"

Ila Arun - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Kangana Ranaut - "Fashion"

Kirron Kher - "Dostana"

Shahana Goswami - "Rock On!"

Performance in a comic role

Abhishek Bachchan - "Dostana"

Anil Kapoor - "Race"

Rajpal Yadav - "Bhoothnath"

Shreyas Talpade - "Welcome To Sajjanpur"

Tejpal Singh - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Tusshar Kapoor - "Golmaal Returns"

Performance in negative role

Akshaye Khanna - "Race"

Imran Khan - "Kidnap"

Paresh Rawal - "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!"

Pradeep Rawat - "Ghajini"

Visswa Badola - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Music Direction

A.R. Rahman - "Ghajini"

A.R. Rahman - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Pritam Chakraborty - "Race"

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy - "Rock On!"

Vishal Shekhar - "Dostana"

Best Story

Abhishek Kapoor - "Rock On!"

Haidar Ali - "Jodhaa Akbar"

Madhur Bhandarkar, Anuradha Tewari and Ajay Monga - "Fashion"

Neeraj Pandey - "A Wednesday"

Shiraz Ahmed - "Race"

Lyrics

Anvita Dutt Guptan - "Khuda jaane" ("Bachna Ae Haseeno")

Jaideep Sahni - "Haule, haule" ("Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi")

Javed Akhtar - "Jashan-e-Baharaa" ("Jodhaa Akbar")

Javed Akhtar - "Socha hai" (Rock On!)

Sameer - "Pehli nazar mein" - ("Race")

Playback Singer (Male)

Atif Aslam - "Pehli nazar mein" ("Race")

Farhan Akhtar - "Socha hai" ("Rock On!")

Javed Ali - "Jashan-e-Baharaa" ("Jodhaa Akbar")

KK - "Khuda Jaane" ("Bachna Ae Haseeno")

Sukhwinder Singh - "Haule, haule" ("Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi")

Playback Singer (Female)

Bela Shinde - "Man mohana" ("Jodhaa Akbar")

Monali - "Zara, zara touch me" ("Race")

Shilpa Rao - "Khuda jaane" ("Bachna Ae Haseeno")

Shreya Ghoshal- "Teri ore" ("Singh Is Kinng")

Sunidhi Chauhan - "Desi Girl" ("Dostana")

Voting for the first time was an exhilarating experience - Amrita Rao

Shocking as it may sound, Amrita Rao who has been in two of the most successful films of the decade -Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na and Sooraj Barjatya's Vivah and whose success rate and iconic status is certainly higher than most of her contemporaries, was not asked to be part of the Karan Johar-Tarun Mansukhani's Vote Aapke Haath Mein Hai campaign.
When asked about this surprising omission Amrita laughs away the query. "You'll have to ask them why I wasn't part of it."

Amrita, it would seem, has antagonized the Johar-Chopra's by refusing to do Bachna Ae Haseeno. She was offered the role that Minissha Lamba finally did.

Says Amrita, "I won't say I'm tired of playing the sweet girl next-door who looks at life each day with wide-eyed wonder. But I do crave for a change of image. In my next release Short Cut I play a very glamorous girl. For the first time, I'm being dressed up by Manish Malhotra. That does say something about the characters I've played so far. So yes I declined Bachna Ae Haeseeno. I couldn't relate to the character."

No one says no to a Yash Chopra presentation. Amrita's behaviour was secretly described as "high-handed" and "reckless".

And now she was refused a place among Bollywood's 30-minus icons in Karan Johar's voting-awareness film although everyone from Kareena Kapoor to Ritesh Deshmukh featured in it.

Not that Amrita was brooding over being left out. On Thursday Amrita Rao voted for the first time. So excited was she by the prospect of casting her vote that she reached the polling booth even before the gates had opened.

"At 7 am I was the first voter at the booth in the municipal school in Mahim. I feel so proud of being able to vote for the first time. I keep looking at the black mark on my finger proudly. For years I envied that tell-tale mark on my parents' finger."

Amrita's chosen candidate had to fulfill three prerequisites. "He had to be well-educated, young though not inexperienced, and without a criminal background."

Interestingly she says she attained a voting consciousness from an electorally-galvanizing website jaagore.com.

Katrina Kaif shares some light moments with Imran Khan

Now, it seems here that beautiful Katrina Kaif loves to bond with her young co-stars. Last time, while shooting for ‘Azab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’, she got along so well with Ranbir Kapoor that Deepika Padukone had to drop in at the sets unannounced to check if there was something going on between the two.

Now, when Kaif and Imran Khan have been signed on by Sanjay Gandhvi for his next film, a romantic comedy, the two stars have already begun bonding even though the film is yet to go on the floors.

Both of them are attending the acting and speech classes together organized by Sanjay prior to the film’s shoot. The two also indulged in fun when they met at a suburban gym in Mumbai. Katrina, who is otherwise reserved, tried pulling Imran’s leg by joking that his height and weight are less in comparison to hers. However, when measured, she was proved wrong as Imran outnumbered her in both weight and height.

We also hear that Dibakar Banerjee (Khosla Ka Ghosla fame) is also considering both Katrina and Imran for his next. He is also keen to rope in Abhay Deol , who is likely to play a gay character in the flick.

Abhishek Bachchan wins best brand ambassador of the year title

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan has received the best brand ambassador of the year award at NDTV Techlife Awards 2009 for the IDEA and Motorola campaigns.

"It is a great honour to win the title of best brand ambassador for the IDEA and Motorola campaigns," Abhishek said in a statement.

"The IDEA campaign carries a socially relevant message in today's commercial environment and the brilliant concept of encouraging two way communication between the government and people has connected with millions across India," he added.

Given away Wednesday night here, the awards acknowledge lifestyle products, gadgets and best technologies that have made a difference.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Rakhi Sawant gets 12,515 marriage proposals

From businessmen, doctors to models and NRIs - over 12,500 men from across the world have sent applications to marry controversy queen Rakhi Sawant after she announced a swayamvara as part of a reality show on NDTV Imagine.
Want to marry Rakhi Sawant?
Within 20 days of the announcement of the reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar, expected to go on air next month, a huge number of men have sent their profiles to woo Rakhi.
The item queen, who has mostly hit headlines for her outspoken ways, is overwhelmed with the response.
Help Rakhi Sawant find a bridegroom
"I want to thank everybody for their continued support. This huge response has proved to everybody that my swayamvara and shaadi (wedding) is not a joke. My only wish is to find a person who will always be my support system and will respect me for what I am," Rakhi said in a press release.
Rakhi Sawant: I pray that God may punish Abhishek for dumping me
Rakhi had shocked one and all when when she had announced that she would choose a groom for herself through a reality TV show.
After a series of selection procedures, Rakhi will choose from among 15 grooms on the show and will take the help of viewers to decide on her ideal man.
Bollywood`s best butts
According to the channel, the capital has topped the list of Rakhi's prospective grooms with 2,465 entries. Mumbai follows a close second with 1,980 entries. Most entries are in the broad age group of 18 to 35.
Those who are keen and are yet to register for becoming the love of Rakhi's life still have a chance as the last date for registration is May 5.

Shahid asks Priyanka to quit booze

Shahid Kapoor takes real care of his girlfriends’ health and fitness. When he was going around with Kareena Kapoor, he turned Bebo into a toal vegetarian and now, when he is making it out with Priyanka Chopra, the chocolate boy has made her quit booze and delve into yoga and meditation instead.
Shahid had been bothered for quite sometime about Priyanka overstressing herself. And his fears did come truw with Priyanka facing serious health problems recently due to fatigue and over exertion. Shahid has advised her to take it easy and take up yoga and meditation to keep herself fit and relaxed. However, since she had allotted dates for Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ there was no way she could back out.
Nonetheless, the beautiful actress has promised her friend ( read lover) to abstain from booze.

Anti-smoking lobby annoyed by SRK

Chain smoker Shahrukh Khan can't keep away from the cigs, even when he's at IPL. The smoking act has irked the anti-smoking lobby who have already banned footage of smoking celebrities on television.

NCAS [South African Council Against Smoking] informed their counterpart, The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), "We have sent the details to Supersport, who are the official broadcasters of the IPL, and the NCAS is in the process of soliciting an agreement that they will not show anyone smoking."

The NCAS are to make a No Smoking announcement throughout the match, and SRK has been informed that if he is caught smoking again, he will be shown out of the stadium.

Shilpa takes cricket lessons from Smith & Warne

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who co-owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals, had a brush with on-field action when she teamed up with cricketers to learn a few tips.

She tried to learn some basics about the game from Graeme Smith and Shane Warne, the members of her team, but soon she was left out of breath.

"It was a fun day... Graeme (Smith) taught me how to bat and Shane (Warne) taught me how to spin the ball! We played for a bit and after I ran four times between the wickets I was gasping for breath," Shilpa posted on her blog from Cape Town.

"Now I respect my cricketers more, wonder how they do it, handling all that pressure, gawd! We actors have it easier, at least we get retakes... anyway it's still a thankless job when they lose," she added.

Freida Pintos Hot Maxims Photoshoot


Vidya Balan reads Karadi Tales

Vidya Balan loves children. A friend said, "Vidya feels that toddlers can really put a smile on your lips and brighten up your face.''
So when the actress got a chance to lend her voice to Karadi Tales, she immediately grabbed it. ''Vidya has lent her voice to one of the Karadi tales. In fact Vidya along with Gulzar, did the Karadi Tales reading on 28th April in Mumbai,'' said the friend.
So now you see a smile on Vidya's lips, you know the reason

Mallika Sherawat honoured with 'Arts Award' in New York

After becoming the first Bollywood celebrity to have a 'milkshake named after her at the hotspot 'Millions of Milkshakes' in Hollywood city, Mallika is all set to accept the prestigious ''Arts Award'' in New York.
The sexy actress was honoured on Friday (April 24) for her unparalleled contributions to and influence with the Indian Diaspora.
The event was organized by Honorable Jerramiah Healy, the Mayor of Jersey City and the New Jersey co-chair of President Barack Obama's primary campaign to honour the Indian community and its contributions to the United States.
Out of America's 100 largest cities, Jersey City has one of the largest percentages of South Asians. Area politicians, business persons, and members of the press attended the event.
As a congressional honoree, U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone (father of the India Caucus in the U.S. Congress), among others, graced the event with his presence. The host of the event was JCHA Commissioner Raj Mukherji (the youngest commissioner in city history to serve the Housing Authority).

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Shah Rukh takes an IPL break to cast his vote

Johannesburg, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will take a break from following his Kolkata Knight Riders team in the Indian Premier League tournament being played across South Africa to cast his vote in the Indian elections.
Having politely declined earlier offers to join political rallies of any South African parties in the run-up to the elections here last Wednesday, which was overwhelmingly won by the African National Congress (ANC), Khan will head back to India on Wednesday, together with his family, wife Gauri and children Aryan and Suhana.
Khan had reportedly been approached by ANC leaders in Durban prior to the first IPL games there a few days before the elections here. Other IPL team owners Preity Zinta of the Kings XI Punjab and Shilpa Shetty of the Rajasthan Royals had reportedly also declined offers to appear at political rallies.
Zinta said they had to maintain their political neutrality, just as they did in India.
None of the Bollywood stars would comment on the political mantle that has been assumed by one of their ilk, Sanjay Dutt, who is embroiled in a controversy with his participation in the Indian elections. Dutt had been widely publicised as putting in an appearance at an ANC rally in Durban last month, but failed to appear, citing personal problems.
Unlike South African citizens abroad, who this year were allowed to cast their votes at missions there after potential voters won a high court appeal in this regard, Indian citizens abroad cannot vote, except for diplomatic staff.
Mission officials here were also not sure whether the players in the IPL teams would be allowed to cast their ballots here, but the consensus appeared to be that this would not be permitted.
Khan said he had warned his team that if they did well in his absence, he would return; if not, he would be shouting at them from India.

Bollywood actor Feroz Khan dies

Bollywood actor and director Feroz Khan died here late Sunday at the age of 70, media reports said.
The actor had been diagnosed with cancer about a year ago.
He is survived by his son Fardeen and daughter Laila.
Khan acted in Hindi films such as "Qurbani" and "Jaanbaaz".
Feroz Khan was born and brought up in Bangalore.
He made his debut as second lead in "Didi" (1960).
He produced, directed and starred in "Dharmatma", which was the first Indian film to be shot in Afghanistan and was also his first blockbuster hit as producer, director and actor.

Emraan Hashmi robbed of Rs. 2 lakhs by credit card miscreant

Emraan Hashmi was in a for a rude shock when he received a call from his bank HSBC about some heavy-duty transactions made on his credit card on April 26th and 27th . The transactions amounted to nearly Rs. 2 lakh and a stunned Hashmi had no choice but to lodge a police complaint.

Apparently around 11 transactions were done on the above mentioned 2 dates and strangely Emraan had himself done none of them. Most of these transactions were for purchase of airline tickets said the bank authorities.

While the police are yet to figure out the person behind this crime, Emraan is surely not amused one bit. In fact the actor is very upset with this whole incident and wants the miscreant to be caught and punished as soon as possible.

Date of Movie Release

The below-mentioned release dates have been given by the producers and distributors of these films. At times, the films get postponed for various reasons, hence the list is updated every month. (Note: Movie names listed in alphabetical order)

Apr 24, 2009
Jashn
Paying Guest

April 2009
Kisaan
Rang Rasiya / Colors Of Passion

May 1, 2009
99
Life Partner

Movie Review of "Videsh - Heaven On Earth"

Director: Deepa Mehta
Cast: Preity Zinta, Vansh Bhardwaj
Rating: ****

When the first slap comes, it hits the audience hard across the face.

Spousal abuse as a theme is not new to cinema. What sets Deepa Mehta's "Heaven On Earth" apart from other films including Jagmohan Mundhra's "Provoked" is the fusion of unspoken unexpressed terror with mythological elements all packed with sardine-like compactness into a small apartment in Ontario, Canada, where Chand arrives fearful and hopeful after her wedding.

What she brings with her is her mother's tales and homilies, songs and mythology that follow the bride into her chamber of horrors.

What follows in Chand's new life is a nightmare that could claim the life of any Indian bride transported into a foreign country after marriage.

Absolute authenticity is the hallmark of Deepa Mehta's vision. Her permanent cinematographer Giles Nuttgens enters Chand's adopted Canadian home with her and remains by her side, living her pain, experiencing her humiliation and agony, as within no time Chand becomes that nightmarish entity whom we all read about in crime sections of the papers: the abused wife.

The film's greatest triumph is its economy of expression. The tightly-wound tale of the tormented wife is never allowed to have loose moments. Ironically, outwardly we see a warm home filled with a Sikh family half of whom seem to have absolutely nothing to do. Within their abject nullity lies the secret to the violence that claims, possesses and tries to smother Chand's domestic dreams.

We know from the start that she'll escape the nightmare of a brutal marriage. That she lives to tell her tale is self-evident. The magic of her existence in the trap of an arranged marriage lies in the illusion of normalcy and compassion that she creates within the ambience of abject terror by inventing a double for her husband... a doppelganger, a spirit in human form, if you will, who applies balm to all of Chand's wounds and gives her the courage to survive when the very breath of her existence is being choked out.

The snake-god from Chand's backyard in human form assuming the physical traits of her violent husband is a metaphor that illuminates the darkest recesses of Chand's life. Every time she hides in her bedroom for a dialogue with her phantom-soul mate, Preity Zinta's face lights up with thousands of unexpressed yearnings trapped in a heart that aches for release. Preity lights up the darkest corners of her tortured and frightened character's heart.

Thoroughly deglamourised and devastated by destiny's cruel blows, Preity plays Chand with dignity and depth that take us by surprise. She and director Deepa Mehta keep the hysteria completely in check. The drama is generated completely from the normal domesticated sounds and sights.

The film creates the growing claustrophobia of Chand's marital domesticity with acute austerity. The spurts of on-screen violence are all the more shocking for the way they erupt within the workaday milieu.

The one big sequence of violence erupts in the kitchen when Chand's somewhat confused and altogether out-of-control husband Rocky thrashes his wife... for his outwardly-stoic mother's sake of course.

There are no villains in "Heaven On Earth" - not even the husband Rocky (played with understanding by newcomer Vansh Bhardwaj) who hits out at wounds that are never allowed to heal. There are only victims in Deepa's scheme of presentation. Silently-screaming puppets on a string being manoeuvred into a life of domesticated dereliction by forces that we could designate as fate or just cruel blows of workaday drudgery.

The mythic intervention that creeps into the plot with the appearance of the naag in Chand's backyard, slithers into the scenario with surreptitious grace, creating for the theme a residue of myth and dream that nourishes the wife's bereft kingdom.

The borderline between illusion and reality, between Chand's violent reality and the world of harmony and love she creates in the womb of her heart, is so superbly seamless we never know when Chand's smothered scream transforms into a silent whoop of triumph.

"Heaven On Earth" is not a film that offers easily digestible solutions to the complex problem of domestic violence. It neither takes sides nor allows the bride to turn into a pitiable victim. Preity standing supremely dignified at the centre of the conflict furnishes the theme with amazing grace.

She's the only known face in the crowded Punjabi home of patriarchs, matriarchs, victims and perpetrators of bitter violence. But Preity never lets it known she's a star. She merges into the terrifying domesticity of Deepa's household. The character steps out occasionally into the workaday world of a migrant job (the friendship with the feisty Jamaican woman at her workplace rings a little hollow when compared with the reality that envelopes the the rest of the plot) and returns to her horrific home space where she creates a mythical merger between illusion and reality.

Finally when Chand says goodbye to a life of married trauma, we see on Preity's face a mixture of distant triumph and immediate self-realisation. She finally comes home.

Kareena works for 36 hours without a break

Recently Kareena Kapoor, one of the most successful actresses in filmdom, had to shoot for 36 hours without a break.
The actress has a chock-a-block schedule thanks to films like 'Kambakkht Ishq', '3 Idiots', 'Agent Vinod', 'Mr. and Mrs. Khanna' and an untitled movie by Rensil D'silva in her kitty. She just went rushing from one set to another.
Kareena shot continuously without complaining about tiredness or any lack of sleep. Onlookers said that this is what stars are made of and it was a really good gesture from the actress to shoot without any complaints.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Priyanka loves When People Call Her Sexy

Bollywood Actress Priyanka Chopra loves when someone called her sexy.
“To be called the sexiest is the most desirable; etc in magazine and website polls is very flattering. I take it positively. There’s no special man presently in my life to make me feel special. There is no room for anyone between my family and career” said bollywood beauty.
Currently, Priyanka Chopra is very busy as she has 12 roles to play in Ashutosh Gowariker’s movie “What’s Your Raashee”.
Priyanka said “I have never done this kind of role before. This is very challenging as well as interesting. I will take a two-week holiday after Raashee first time in my career”.

Kim admits new hair is a WIG!

When we asked you this morning if you liked Kim's new blonder hair, the majority of you thought it looked really nice, so it's a real shame it was just a wig! Yep, the socialite has just blogged about fooling us all, writing, "It's a wig! Did I have you fooled? I did a fabulous photo shoot this weekend and they put this hair piece on! I haven't taken it off since, because I'm really loving the look." Kim then goes on to ask her fans if they think she should dye it for real, saying, "It's making me want to dye my hair and maybe go lighter for the summer. What do you think?" We must say we're impressed with this wig. She certainly had us fooled when we first saw the photos. So, should Kim colour for real, or are you relieved it was faux-hair after all?

America loves Bollywood Babe Mallika Sherawat

Mallika Sherawat has now been given a special Arts Awards in the US. Also, recently busty bombshell had a milkshake named after her at ‘Millions of Milkshakes’ in west Hollywood.
It looks like that America loves Mallika more than we Indians do. Not for nothing has the sexbomb been invited to wine-tasting luncheons and has been attending conferences at the LA convention centre to promote her upcoming film Hisss directed by Jennifer Lynch.
Doubtlessly it’s a rare honour that puts Mallika in the league of several other hotties the world over, but what about giving Mallika an award for her “influence on Indian diaspora”? It looks like improbable. But that’s what happened last weekend when the curvy belle was given a prestigious Arts Awards for her “unparalleled contributions to and influence on the Indian diaspora”. This award was given by none other than the Mayor of Jersey City.

Saif likes his lady love even in bikinis

There were rumors in the past that Chhote Nawab didn’t like her lady love Kareena Kapoor giving a skin show in her flicks and had insisted that Kareena chose Indian outfits at various public appearances, but now it has come out that just a two-piece outfit can’t cause cracks in Saifeena’s love story.
In fact, Saif did not like interfering in Kareena’s professional decisions either. It was only that Kareena loved to wear sarees at public functions and awards because it was her personal choice.
Moreover, another source in a media report goes on to allege that Saif was quite supportive of Kareena when she donned the swimwear while shooting for ‘Kambakkht Ishq’ in Los Angeles. In fact, whenever Kareena would glam up and appear on the sets, Saif (who flew to LA for a few days during the shoot) would whistle and tease her.

Kareena Kapoor In A 8 Lakh Dress

Sajid Nadiadwala’s “Kambakkht Ishq” promises to be one of the biggest entertainers to hit the screens this year and by the looks of the promos and posters of the film, it is definitely going to set the screens afire. The film is directed by debutant director Sabbir Khan.

The leading actress of the film Kareena Kapoor will sport a dress worth Rs.8,00,000 for a song in the movie which had been specially ordered by the producer for the actress from Paris. The filmmaker has also gifted the dress to Kareena as she looked really pretty wearing it.

“When the song was completed and the whole crew had a look, it looked very beautiful and eye catching. But most importantly everyone’s eyes were stuck at seeing Kareena’s dress. Kareena was looking gorgeous. The dress cost Rs.800,000,” says an insider adding, “Sajid Nadiadwala is a wonderful person at heart. He always makes sure that his cast and crew is happy. Kareena was happy after receiving such an extra-ordinary gift from Sajid bhai. She was short of words to express her feeling after she received the gift.”
Source: page3celebrity

Neil Goes Nude For Jail

Bollywood is not yet ready to witness male nudity, specially the censor board who goes chop-chop-chop with the nudist scenes. Now newbie Neil Nitin Mukesh has gone full frontal nude for his Madhur Bhandharkar’s flick Jail which is a very critical scene. Check out what Neil says about it in an interview:

Weren’t there inhibitions when you shot for a seemingly frontal nude scene in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail?

I was doing a realistic film. Before doing bold cinema, one does have certain inhibitions. I had to first understand the character graph. We are shooting the film in chronological order. Jail is about a subject that the common man isn’t exposed to. We didn’t want to show things that seemed artificial. My character is being frisked and it’s important to portray it as real as possible. I didn’t want to do it as part of any gimmick or as a publicity thing for the film. This scene forms the crux of the film. The humiliation of a convict when he is stripped, is akin to a man being raped. Madhur has shot it very nicely so that the viewers are not scandalized. As an actor, I don’t think any man should be inhibited. More than the shame of shooting such a scene, it was the trauma of the character that’s shameful. After getting comfortable with the surroundings, I was okay because I knew the scene was being well shot.


You’ll also be shooting a bath sequence with 40 inmates where you would be shown wearing your bare essentials…
I don’t see any problem if it’s picturised correctly. Why should people not accept the truth? This is real cinema. People are not aware of life behind bars. Had I not done this film, I would never have known about these disturbing facts in a convict’s life. Shooting such a scene won’t be a problem for me.
Source: page3celebrity

Sexy Ash....

Preity-Ness on a break, haven’t broken up?

Preity Zinta has always been known for coming straight and clear about everything concerning her has once again put all the rumours to rest by making an official announcement.
Recently, actress Preity Zinta sent out a mail to her Kings XI Punjab team stating that she and Ness are now just ‘work buddies’.

Speculations have been rife about the couple’s relationship status for sometime now but the actress has now made it official.

A source said that Preity wanted to clear the air and put to rest the hushed whispers when Preity and Ness were together. The actress didn’t want her team Kings XI Punjab to get distracted by anything and just concentrate of the game.

However sources close to the couple have a different story to tell. They say that the duo is just on a break, and have not broken up. They are taking time out to think over their relationship and their life together.

Though the couple has been seen together at the IPL matches, the affection seems to be missing. A source says that while Preity has put up in a hotel where SRK and Shilpa are staying, Ness has rented out a service apartment.
Source: indiatimes.com

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Who’s afraid of the big bad bikini?

Get ready to face the heat as some of our B-town babes plan to scorch the screen in two-pieces in their forthcoming.
While Lara Dutta will be seen in a bikini in the action flick, Blue, gal pals Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora will also sport two-pieces for the movie Kambakkht Ishq. Although Priyanka Chopra, Minissha Lamba, Kareena Kapoor and Ameesha Patel sported swimwear last year, bikini scenes in movies still manage to grab attention. Hyderabad Times asks experts why.
“We’re facing the initial hiccups as Indian society is slowly growing up and accepting the changes,” says designer Nisha Jamvwal. “It’s time that men were exposed to beauty and films are able to celebrate the Indian body. This is actually a positive thing as this motivates women to lose flab and be fit. There’s no reason why we should be ashamed of our bodies,” she says.
Nisha also feels that heroines today are more conscious about their looks and work towards perfection. “Now, heroines work out for months to get in shape before they wear a bikini. Halle Berry accepted that she works out five hours a day to have a great body. Our heroines have realised that it takes hard work to get the perfect body,” she says.
Stylist Ajay Bisht accepts that a bikini scene is still a big deal owing to our mindset. “Because of our culture, we’re still a bit restrictive about what we wear. So, while a heroine may have a great body, few are comfortable carrying it off. Also, we tend to give too much importance to a bikini scene and at times, overstyle a bikini to make it look glamorous,” he says. Ajay adds, “A bikini should be designed according to the body type and the occasion. But the most important thing is to be comfortable in it.”
Model Priya Nayak feels that Bollywood has certainly woken up to the concept of fitness. “People have realised the importance of hitting the gym. Now, a lot of planning and effort go into getting the perfect look. Compared to models, heroines need to be more voluptuous and they work towards that. Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone have just the right bodies to carry off a bikini scene with elan,” she says.
Priya, however, feels that the fitness level for heroines down south is rather bad. “But one can’t blame the actors. Here, men like heavier women with love handles. They might wear a swimsuit or a salwar kameez, but men here still prefer curves. I’m sure that when the audience changes its taste, the heroines will also work towards being fit,” she says.
Source: indiatimes.com

Abhishek to play Amitabh’s father?

What we’ve heard is indeed shocking - Abhishek Bachchan is set to play Amitabh’s father in R. Balki’s forthcoming film “Pa”.

Big B’s has kept his look in the film a huge secret and from what we hear, he takes about five hours to do his make-up.

The entire project is being shot in secrecy and no one from outside the unit is allowed in. People from the set are also not permitted to speak about the film to the media.

Our sources tell us that in “Pa” Amitabh plays the alienated and slightly retarded son of Abhishek. His look has been designed by make-up men specially flown in from London.

Himesh Bhai is Back with Short Hair

If you were thinking that Himesh Reshammiya has decided to burry himself in his Karzzzz hairdo, and will never return back to the big screen, you are absolutely WRONG!
Here he is in all new short haired chick look to woo you in his upcoming movies A New Love Ishtory and Ishk Unplugged.
Well, Himesh Bhai is looking better than all his previous attempts like Baseball caps, Skull Caps, and Chinese Hair Style (Karzzzz), but I’m still not ready to watch him act.

Himesh Bhai, stop making fun of yourself by acting, and get back to what you are best at… Yep, music!

Shilpa’s wedding date fixed

Shilpa Shetty’s mother normally travels with her where ever she goes. In fact, she has been her constant companion throughout her career.

So no wonder she is currently with Shilpa in South Africa for the IPL T20 tournament.

Boyfriend Raj Kundra’s mother also happens to be there these days.
So when Shilpa and Raj were in Durban, where their team Rajasthan Royals was to play a match that eventually got rained out, the two moms ended up having a meaningful meeting in Cape Town.
Apparently, they discussed their children’s marriage at length and even zeroed in on the marriage date.
Though she is not giving out the exact date as yet, Shilpa says the moms did meet and fix the match, and her marriage to Raj will be in early 2010.

Biography of Katrina

Katrina Kaif didn't quite start with a boom, even though that was the name of her first film. It, however, didn't take Katrina Kaif too long to prove that she could command her own following to the box-office. Five years after a disastrous debut, today she is one of the strongest contenders to the slot of 'Numero Uno' when it comes to commercial success. And yes, producers do line up to sign her for their next movie. But that has not really changed her much, at least that's what she says. We have a look at how brand Katrina was made.


The first steps
An 18-year-old Katrina broke into the Hindi film industry with Kaizad Gustad's 'Boom'. The film flopped but Katrina says she has no issues with that. According to her, she had just tried something in the 'josh' of a teenager. And she maintains that it was a learning experience no matter what. For a British national, who has a Kashmiri father and a British mother, it was more of modelling for her till then. And she had fared very well in that.

Katrina had started modelling at the age of 14 when she was approached for a jewellery campaign while she was staying in Hawaii – that's where she grew up. From there she moved to London and a ride to fame began. That's when she is said to have been noticed by Kaizad Gustad and she reached Bollywood. But long before her first movie was released she had already attained fame for her sensual appeal over all the ad-campaigns she signed up.


Lying low
Katrina didn't lose heart with the first failure. She instead moved down south for a movie. And soon she landed herself with a small role in Ram Gopal Varma's superhit 'Sarkar'. From then on there has been no looking back. Following these she came up with hits after hits, both in Bollywood as well as down south and suddenly started threatening to enter into the top position.

The romance and the Khan

Somewhere in between, the actress started featuring in a whole of reports that linked her up with freshly heart broken Salman Khan. Katrina did go on record denying that there is anything between them. But like the classical Hindi film dialogue, their relationship couldn't really stay in oblivion for too long. Salman gave it away, although the damsel continued to name it a friendship. Their chemistry was seen in 'Maine Pyaar Kyu Kiya' and there were hardly any speculations left.

But a romance with the vulnerable Khan can not always stay away from controversies. After speculations of whether they are in a relationship or not started rumours that they would soon be breaking up owning to constant fights between the two. And the tussle was said to be Salman's possessiveness for Katrina. The actress was increasingly signing up roles with Akshay Kumar and their closeness, many say, angered Salman.

The invasion to the top
And while signing film with Akshay was reportedly the cause for personal problems, it also proved to become the best career move. The audience loved the on screen couple so much that almost every movie together they did have been a huge success. The ride started with 'Humko Deewana Kar Gaye' in 2005 and caught speed in 2007 with two huge successes 'Namastey London' and 'Welcome'. In all 2007 saw Katrina beating all other heroines with two more extremely successful films 'Partner' and 'Apne' giving her a 10 on 10 scorecard.


The consolidation
2008 has not been too good a year commercially for the industry. While stars like Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Amitabh Bachchan have failed to maintain a clean record, Katrina is yet to face a setback with two of the year's biggest hits to back her status. And the year is yet to be over. Subhash Ghai's 'Yuvraj', which releases this November, could as well give her two years of no flops – something that no other heroine has achieved in a long while. And to add to this she has also successfully done away with the dubbing artist who used to dub for her earlier because of her incapability to grasp Hindi pronunciations. Katrina admits that she has very much been dubbing herself for films now.



A long way to go
From a cheat to an adorable girl to an angel faced villain, Katrina has been essaying quite a few roles her own way. And to think of it, Katrina just completed 24 years on planet earth and five years in Bollywood. In an industry where stalwarts like Aishwarya Rai are much older and yet lay claim to the top slot, Katrina definitely has a lot of years for herself to assert her position as one of the most successful heroines in the industry provided she makes the right choices and keeps acting. And yes, of course, put more some emphasis on her acting capabilities.

Tom Cruise's fantasy bikes

Just cruisin' ... Tom Cruise pauses for the cameras, showing off his $60,000 motorcycle, which is one of over a dozen in his collection.

Catwalk to celluloid: Models in movies

Tyra Banks- Big Break: The reality TV diva landed her first major film role in '95's 'Higher Learning.' Body of Work: Scorned aspiring models from her show will be disappointed to hear Banks' death scene in 'Halloween: Resurrection' was left on the cutting room floor. She also starred in 'Coyote Ugly' and 'Love & Basketball.'

Keira Knightley likes men who cry!

Hollywood actress Keira Knightley has revealed that she gets turned on by men who cry.
The 24-year-old actress says she likes men who can show their emotions, reports the China Daily.
"On screen these days, you rarely see a big, strong man. You see slender, androgynous-looking boys. I've worked with very few people whom I feel small against," she said.
"The most manly thing ever is a guy who can cry, who's in touch with himself," she added.
Knightley, who's said to be involved with her 'Pride and Prejudice' co-star Rupert Friend, says she would never have an affair with any of her co-stars because they don't view her as a potential lover.
"I could never have an affair with any of my leading men, though. They always turn into brothers. I'm a classic turn-them-into-brothers kind of girl," she added.

Movie Review of Stoneman Murders

I, being the crime solving/detective drama fan that I am, decided to give this movie a try. Bollywood continues making small steps towards what will eventually be that all around great detective film, but for now we have to settle for movies such as this.
Don’t get me wrong - Stoneman Murders is a pretty engrossing film. It will keep you entertained almost throughout. But where do all Bollywood films falter?? You guessed it - at the end. The ending is a huge letdown. Actually you can feel the film going downhill as soon as Kay Kay Menon is seen in the library researching religions of India.
The film does have some big flaws. Such as: why is Kay Kay’s character always in the area of where the crime occurs? Yet he is never able to catch the culprit. Also, the film is based on actual events that happened, but there is nothing factual in the movie itself. (The stoneman murders are actually an unsolved case but in the film they decided to make their own conclusions as to who was the killer).
You and I will both have a hunch that the killer is one of the characters in the film - considering that there are only around four or five characters, it shouldn’t be that hard to narrow it down.
But then I decided to ignore these flaws, since the film itself was quite engaging (for the most part).
Kay Kay Menon’s performance is awesome. Arbaaz Khan looks like he just doesn’t care. But he sure does know how to eat a biscuit with style. The rest are just okay.
Music is bad. The Qaatilaana song is the only one you might consider adding to your mp3 player.
To sum it up, Stoneman Murders starts off as a good thriller. But unfortunately the film loses its steam down the stretch.