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Kareena dazzles while Shahid is forgotten

Saturday night, the lobby of the Hyatt in Mumbai looked almost like a battleground. You didn't need to know where the ballroom was; just follow the line of cameras jostling to get in. The event? 36 China Town's music launch.

In keeping with the name of the film, four attractive Oriental beauties greeted you at the door, fans in hand and delectable smiles in place.

The function was to begin at 8.30 pm. But save producer Subhash Ghai, the stars weren't around. At exactly 10:05, the gang trooped in together. How they managed that in Mumbai's traffic is a matter of wonder. Unless they assembled somewhere like boy scouts and entered in a pack.

Kareena Kapoor shone out among them. The fair actress looked simply dazzling in a black outfit. Akshaye Khanna was dressed casually, while Shahid Kapoor looked neat. Upen Patel, who got the loudest applause, was dressed in a coat without a vest. Himesh Reshammiya wore his trademark music-video ensemble of jeans and jacket, with the ever-present baseball cap.

Subhash Ghai praised directors Abbas-Mastan, taking a gentle jab at the stars for coming late. The showman was in fine form and looked young for a man making movies for 28 years.

Poor Shahid Kapoor. One of the speakers referred to him as Shahida. Another speaker called him Shahid Khan. Only when lyricist Sameer spoke did he get his name right. When Shahid spoke he mentioned this, "My good friends are calling me Shahida and Shahid Khan, thank you Sameerji for getting my name right. For a moment there I was suffering from an identity crisis."

Somebody has to tell music director Reshammiya that variety is the spice of life. The same person should also tell him good music does not necessarily mean loud music. The first song, Ashiqui, which he sings himself, sounds exactly like all the other songs he has sung earlier. We know he can stretch his vocal chords for long. But this does not mean you stretch it for every song. 24x7 sounds like a stuck record of the LP days. It keeps repeating the same line. The only person likely to enjoy this song must be Dr Prannoy Roy, as it sounds like a theme for his news channel, NDTV 24x7.

Dil tumhare bina is again sung by Himesh himself. Has he become a music director just to inflict his voice on us? Or does he sing to save the producer's money? Jab Kabhi, thankfully, is sung by Kunal Ganjawala and Alka Yagnik. Both their voices sound lovely in spite of the music.

DJs like to remix successful chartbusters, but in case no one likes this soundtrack, Reshammiya's thrown in a couple of remixes. Noting my distaste, a young boy, at least 20 years younger sitting next to me, gave me a dirty look before declaring, "The younger generation likes Himesh Reshammiya."

Himesh and Alka lisped a song together. Then the popular model Upen Patel came onstage with a troupe of girls and boys. The audience seemed to love this guy. My young neighbour said, "Everyone loves him because he is courteous and very sweet." Either that or the audience loved the glimpses Patel gave of his bare chest.

My evening ended on a great note. Outside the hotel, Kareena strode right past me. And I stared dreamily after her. What a stunner!

Kareena Kapoor


Shahid Kapoor


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 29-4-2006 01:31 AM ]

Katrina is not walking out of Salman抯 home production!

Katrina Kaif is not walking out of Salman's home production 'Partner'. In a recent interview, Katrina denied the rumour that she wants to opt out of 'Partner'.

Salman's brother Sohail Khan and K Sera Sera jointly producing the film, and David Dhawan is the director.

Saying the rumour baseless, Katrina said, "Whatever films Sohail Khan will ask me to do, I will definitely do. I did my first big film with him, so there is that connection. I also love working with David Dhawan. He is so much fun to work with."

In the film Katrina is however pairing opposite Govinda, not Salman.

On asked about this Katrina said, "In the film, Govinda sees a girl who is very rich. She is completely out of his reach. So he tells Salman that he wants her. The whole film is about how Salman teaches him."

Katrina Kaif


Salman Khan

Shah Rukh, Priyanka shooting in Malaysia

Farhan Akhtar抯 movie Don , starring Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra is currently being shot in Malaysia.

The movie is Farhan Akhtar 抯 own take on Amitabh Bachchan 抯 movie Don (1978) . Although the basic plot of 慏on

SUSH BANKING ON "DUS BAHANE" !

This is the season for world tours. Almost all Bollywood actors are rehearsing for their respective tours. Be it Salman Khan, John Abrahem, Kareena Kapoor for Rockstar world tour, or Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Priety Zinta or Sushmita Sen for Heat world tour. All of them are very excited about meeting their fans across the world. We chatted with Sushmita Sen, in particular, about her world tour.

So, are you ready to win the world?
The world is ours; I am not going to win the world. But I am going to live in the world with all the excitement and anxiety of all the people who are going to come and see me perform. All the fans who are going through all sorts of emotions. I am going to live the high of going for a world tour. I just hope I win the hearts of all the people out there.

You are anyway a world citizen, so how important is a world tour for you?
Oh, what are you saying! There are so many people who we don't meet. Year after year, they watch our films, read or see our interviews in magazines and television shows and that's how they keep a connection with us. This is a chance to meet them, talk to them, and know what they think of us, our films. This is the time to make a personal and a two -way connection with them. It's a different high all together and I am really looking forward to it.

We just saw your rehearsal and saw how full of energy you were. How do you pump in so much energy for a rehearsal as well?
There are going to be so many people who are going to come and see us perform. You have to give them a good time. And I have rehearsed and rehearsed; I have put my sweat and toiled for my numbers and all of this I have done from the bottom of my heart. SO it's a genuine effort which I think is coming across in the rehearsals as well. I just hope everything goes well, as all of us have worked really hard for it.

What are the numbers on which the world is going to see you perform?
In my solo act, I have "Mast Mahaul" from 'Fiza', "Black Machine", "Just chill chill" and "Dus bahane". I really like "Dus bahane" as a number and really enjoy doing it. In combination I have, "laga laga laga re", then the 'Main Hoon Na' quawalli which is great fun and 'Shadi Karogi' from Akshay's film. Foe the finale I have three songs out of which there is "gori gori" from 'Main Hoon Na' and "Dilbar Dilbar". So, it's all high energy and peppy numbers. Hoping that the people will also enjoy the numbers as much as we will.

Aren't you also going to perform at the same place as Michael Jackson did?
What do I say? Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. But we will certainly try to give our audiences a good time and whatever is written in the destiny that shall happen.

Priyanka Chopra to appear on Star One抯 India Calling

Priyanka Chopra will be making an appearance in Rose Audio Visual's tele-serial India Calling, soon. She shot for the episode on April 8, 9 and 11. Unfortunately for the unit, the actress was certainly throwing her weight around, on Sunday抯 shoot. She was first given a choice between three outfits. One of them, a black outfit, was by Rocky S. However, it didn抰 exactly leave the lady impressed. So she went ahead and donned a Neeta Lulla number.

The schedule was not exactly productive since Priyanka decided to stop shooting at 4 pm, sharp. The unit must be counting their lucky stars since they finally canned the actresses

Saif leaves his stamp on Australia

Saif Ali Khan was recently part of the group that performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. And he certainly left his stamp!

The Australian authorities have launched a postal stamp featuring the actor. The 50 cent stamp bears an image of Saif performing at the Games. Some other stamps featuring personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Satyajit Ray have also been released.

The stars performance at the Games has recently come under fire because of the exorbitant fees that they charged. The total cost of taking the stars to Melbourne along with their fees added up to a whopping 29 crores.

People have also not appreciated the fact that Saif has been featured on the stamps. Many believe that more deserving people like sports personalities should have been featured, instead.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 8-9-2006 03:15 PM ]

慚y creations suit Jaya Bachchan as much as Preity Zinta

慦e have to arrest John as per rules

Sexy Urmila woos the serious

Very few child actors have made it. And even if they have, few have emerged from the baggage of loud and precocious acting style that Hindi films in particular, saddle most child actors with.

But that's the truth about most, not all actors. Thankfully there are some who hone their craft when the going gets tough and make the necessary switch to meaningful roles at the right time. And one such actor is Urmila Matondkar.

After flaunting her sexy tag for nearly decade, the siren is now gradually turning towards the serious. In this week's Pankuj Parasher directed film Banaras- A Mystic Love Story, Matondkar once again goes beyond the simplistic pattern where an actor accepts a challenge but merely parrots lines without internalising the intricate and complexities of deep-rooted philosophy and spiritual journeys.

She allows the protagonist, Shwetambari, to develop and come into her own in the course of the film. From a student, who is oblivious to mysticism, to the tormented soul when strange things begin to baffle her. She eventually becomes the enlightened soul.

Of course the unnecessary shifts in the script and out-of-the-blue songs (though well composed) let her down, but you can't blame her for all the slips. On her part, it's a pleasure to see her mouth spiritual dictates without resorting to sermonising.

Her transformation from a happy-go-lucky girl to someone whose deep understanding of the mystic is only believable by her quiet expressive reactions. Urmila could have gone overboard, harnessing the character's demands with undue mannerisms. Instead she relies heavily on internal self-discovery, while alluding only to the supernatural elements.

The discovery of the unknown to her is a mystery, which she is determined to unravel. The climax of the film couldn抰 have been just another well-executed underwater sequence.

She almost seems swayed by the depth of the emotive power of her relationship with her parents. And as she faces her dying father, her world comes apart, leaving her shattered. The scene would have impacted even more had the director not insisted on dialogues that tend to go over-the-top.

But Matondkar conveys the right mix of pain, relief and anger in good measure through he eyes. And that's becoming her strength for sure. In the years to come, with Shyam Benegal and Karan Johar both relying on her forte to do the unconventional with panache and intelligence, let's hope there's going to be more of her great work, without he crutches of a certain Ram Gopal Varma!



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-5-2007 05:38 PM ]

Kajol on Indian Idol II finals

Indian Idol II has definitely caught the fancy of the nation. All eyes are on who the next idol will be. The show has also been a big hit because of all the celebrity judges that it features. For the final round of the show, the producers have roped in Kajol as the guest judge. The grand finale will be held on April 18 in which the two finalists Karunya and Sandeep will compete against each other. The voting for the two began on April 10 at 9:00 pm, after the gala round. It will go on till 9:40 pm on April 18. The winner of the coveted title will get a reward of Rs.1 crore, a contract with Sony-BMG and also a Maruti Baleno car.

Stars like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Will Smith, Fardeen Khan, Viveik Oberoi and Shahid Kapoor have all made special appearances on the show. And with Kajol for the finals, we think the producers saved the best for the last!  

Tabu returns to Tamil

After going through various names like Shobhana, its Tabu now who's been signed for the Sharath Kumar-starrer directed by Gautham Menon. And Tabu returns to the Tamil screen after a long gap. It's her first pairing with Sharath, she having done Tamil films with the likes of Arjun, Ajith, Abbas and Vinit. The other heroine of the film is Jyotika and with these two actresses in the film, one can sure expect an enthralling fare from Gautham. For Sharath, too, it is a film of a style and script different from his recent releases, which were more action-oriented. Also, actresses in these movies had less to do.

Shilpa sashays in

The ravishing Shilpa Shetty looked, as usual - like a million bucks - when she walked the ramp for the Tarun Tahiliani show.

She was draped in a sari of a vibrant hue, with a broad trinket-like belt hugging her slim waistline, dangly earrings, lots of amulets draped around slender arms and red pumps.

Tarun's collection had lots of black and white, dresses, shirts, trousers and skirts.

Accessories included leather bracelets, eye-catching neckpieces which looked like lots of crystals were strung together, slim, shimmery belts and clutches.

Shilpa was the first major Bollywood celebrity at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi.

Can you wear this? Sure... But will you look as sexy as Shilpa? Now, that's a challenge..

This one's for all you Shilpa fans who just can't seem to have enough.

Sonali Kulkarni bags Italian award

Talented actress Sonali Kulkarni has won the best actress award at the Milan Film Festival for her performance in Italian film Fuoco Di Su Me (Fire At My Heart) and is delighted at the honour. "I was absolutely unaware and least expecting it. The award was a big surprise. Now I feel proud and happy for myself and our country too," Sonali told a news agency on phone from Mumbai. Sonali plays a coral picker in Sergio Scapagnini's Fire At My Heart and shared screen space with the legendary Omar Sharif, who won the best actor award for the film at the festival from March 30 to April 10. "I play Grazeilla, a girl who lives on an island. She is a coral picker and is very passionate and poetic. The director told me he was looking for someone who can look real, transparent, convincing and traditional," she said discussing her role. "The story is based on a war background. And Italian actor Massimiliano Verresse plays a prince who is fighting a war against ''war'' and by accident he comes to my island and falls madly in love with me." Sonali had earlier worked with Scapagnini in a film called Vrindaavan Film Studio and the director promised to cast her in his next project. "I took it casually. I took it as a compliment and forgot about it. But I was really surprised when he called me for a screen test for the film. When I went there (Italy) - I was not ready for it and kept suggesting to him - ''Why don''t you take the No 3 or No 7 girl for the role!'' After the audition when they told me I was selected... the news was so special..." Sonali also learnt the language to make her portrayal of an Italian girl look real. "I went through a very painful time. I was speaking a language which was completely alien to me - it was nowhere near to English or Hindi or Marathi... but I gave my 100 per cent to it. And thanks to my director for giving me two tutors. They taught me a lot and thanks to my patience as well. It was an eight weeks training session and after the first week I started feeling comfortable with the language." The film was premiered at the Venice Film Festival and Sonali walked the red carpet with Sharif. The actress, who hasn''t signed any international project after her Italian film, said: "After Fire At My Heart they have honoured me as an international ambassador of coral." Very few know that Sonali loves writing short stories and poems, and these days she is writing a column for the Indian Express group's Marathi daily Loksatta. "The column is called Sokool. It's a short form of my name. I told them that my column should reflect my personality as young and vibrant and that's why I chose this name. "It has given me different dimensions to express myself. I write about things that touch me. And it has got a lot of attention." Talking about her Bollywood films she said: "Right now I am riding high on Taxi No 9211's success. I was not expecting people to notice me. I am not underestimating myself but with Nana Patekar and John Abraham in the film, I didn''t think anybody would bother to talk about me. But I am very happy that they did." She has quite a few prestigious projects in her kitty including Kaaran. "Kaaran is about a village girl who is sold and the emotional turmoil she goes through. The interesting part is that the director has yet to cast the male lead for the film." Kaaran also has Deepti Naval and Seema Biswas in important roles. Sonali is also working on eminent painter MF Husain's next project, an autobiographical film, and also a Marathi venture.

揑抦 who I am because of my work, not because of Ash,

Salman-Katrina relationship to face a down?

The uncertainty, Salman抯 filmy career regained after he got 5-year imprisonment in the black buck poaching case, don抰 you think Salman-Katrina抯 much talked about relationship itself has become quite uncertain?

It抯 a million-dollar question now.

After Aishwarya Rai separated, Salman-Katrina affair has been a very happening buzz in the tinsel town.

But the turbulence, Salman抯 life is going through presently and more to that two or three more cases including the hit-and-run case still pending against him, it is hard to say that they will be together in near future too.

However Salman抯 life has never been out of controversy.

Even when Katrina fell for the industry抯 慴ad boy

In another hunting night, Ash accompanied Salman!

Not only in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, Salman allegedly shot a pair of chinkaras in Kutch in Gujarat during the shooting of 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', reports an English daily yesterday. And you will be shocked to know, Salman's then girlfriend Aishwarya Rai used to go with him for hunging wild animals. He and Aishwarya had got away then, but now a legal notice has raked up the episode from the past.

The Gir Nature Youth Club has slapped the notice on the East Forest Division of Kutch, demanding that the Gujarat case be reopened.

Wildlife activists had, in fact, lodged a complaint against Salman and Aishwarya years ago. But they had got away then. But the time the Kutch Police issued a summon, they had wrapped up shooting and returned to Bollywood. The police followed them and recorded their statements in Mumbai, but had to let them off for want of concrete evidence, said R.L. Meena, conservator of forest, Kutch. So the devil is out from the closet for Aishwarya too. If Salman is there, can Aishwarya stay at far?

Aishwarya Rai


Salman Khan

Shah Rukh-Abhishek with Aamir-Kajol!

Shah Rukh-Abhishek-Preity Zinta-Rani Mukherji starrer 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna's trailer will be showcased with the Aamir-Kajol starrer 'Fanaa' that will release on May 26.
As per a source of Karan Johar's Dharma Production, the trailer will be of 2-minute, which will be shown with Yash Raj production's 'Fanaa' starring Aamir Khan and Kajol.

'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' will be released in August.

Shah Rukh Khan


Aamir Khan


Kajol


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-5-2007 05:43 PM ]

揟hese kids fight among themselves and then patch up,

Aishwarya to act with Will Smith

Bollywood's star actress Aishwarya Rai, who hit it off with Hollywood's Will Smith on his India trip, will soon be his co-star as well.

On a weeklong visit to India in February, Smith met many Bollywood biggies, including Aishwarya, and hit it off famously with her.

At the end of an hour-long meeting between them, Smith's business manager James Lassiter offered Aishwarya a lead role opposite him in a film to be produced later this year.

Aishwarya, who was originally scheduled to be Smith's co-star in last year's comedy Hitch, before the deal fell through will finally, be his heroine!

An eyewitness to the Smith-Aishwarya meeting said, "To say they hit it off instantly is an understatement. It was clear from the start of their meeting that Ash and Will were going to be buddies."

"The sound of their combined laughter could be heard all the way to the ground floor. After a point it stopped looking like two internationally known actors and colleagues were meeting up."

"Ash and Will were like two buddies cracking up at their jokes," he added.

"When Will's business manager offered Ash a role she was all for it, more so when she heard the storyline. Ash really likes the sound of the project," he said.

Aishwarya also gifted a beautiful sari to Smith's wife Jada Pinkett, who couldn't accompany him to India because she was playing with her music band in the US.

"It was a lovely gesture and Will seemed so touched," said the eyewitness.

The project with Smith will be Aishwarya's next international project after Jagmohan Mundra's ready-for-release Provoked and Doug Lefler's The Lost Legion.

Aishwarya Rai

Shah Rukh, Priyanka, Saroj team up for Don song

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra will dance to ace choreographer Saroj Khan's tune in Malaysia on May 14 for "Khai ke paan Benaras wala" - a song in Farhan Akhtar's film Don.

Twenty-six years ago, Khan's mentor P.L. Raj had choreographed "Khai ke paan..." for Chandra Barot's 1970s hit Don, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman.

"I am looking forward to doing a song that Raj had done. But I can't do it the way he did it. I'll obviously choreograph it keeping in mind Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka and the changing times and tempo," Khan said.

Khan is also thrilled about working with Priyanka.

"After my favourites Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai, I see a dancer's grace in Priyanka. I hope she's looking forward to working with me as much as I am," Khan told IANS.

Priyanka squealed in delight at the mention of the choreographer's name.
"It's been my dream to work with Sarojji. I can't tell you how excited I am about working with her, and that too for 'Khai ke paan...' with Shah Rukh. Pinch me when I am awake."

Priyanka is also a die-hard fan of Shah Rukh.

"I have been his fan for like forever. But after working with him, I've become a double fan. He's such a generous co-star. He's always helpful, constantly trying to make me comfortable," she said.

"Shah Rukh is addictive. I want to work with him again and again. I'm so looking forward to shooting 'Khai ke paan...' with him."

Earlier Shah Rukh had shot for another Don memorabilia - the "Yeh mera dil" song with Kareena Kapoor. That number was choreographed by choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan.

Shah Rukh Khan


Priyanka Chopra


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-5-2007 05:30 PM ]