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When Hrithik screened Krrish for Shah Rukh Khan

All the talk of animosity between Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan can take a bow.

That is because reports are that recently Hrithik arranged a special screening of Krrish for SRK to get his opinion on the film.

The gathering also included Karan Johar and a few other close friends of Hrithik from Bollywood.

An opinion from one of the finest actor-director team will surely go a long way for Hrithik.

But what SRK and Johar said about Krrish is still under wraps.

Produced at a cost of Rs 50 crore, Krrish is one of the most expensive ventures in the history of Indian cinema and is packed with some breathtaking action sequences and astonishing special effects.

A blend of Western technology and an Eastern medley of music, dance, and emotions, 'Krrish' has been given a U certificate and it will open in theatres worldwide on June 23, according to Censor Board of Film Certification sources.

Hrithik Roshan


Shah Rukh Khan

Preity to perform in IIFA awards ceremony in Dubai!

If Aishwarya's 'Kajra Re' dance grabbed maximum media glare at last year's IIFA awards ceremony in Amsterdam, this year it will be perky Preity Zinta's item to floor the awards in Dubai. The prestigious awards will step in its seventh year with its grand inauguration on today. The four day long awards function will end on June 17th.

This year Aishwarya, who's now busy shooting Mani Ratnam's 'Guru' will just attend the screening of her forthcoming film 'Provoked' but she will not perform, however Preity is all to make up Ash's absence in the awards function.

"I will be performing there to Shiamak Davaar's choreography," said Preity.
Preity has yet to finalize her item.

"This is the first time that I will be performing at such a short notice. I haven't even started rehearsing," gushed Preity.

In KANK Preity wears the costliest dress ever!

In a recent interview, Preity Zinta said, she has played a cool woman in Karan Johar's forthcoming 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'; also she reminded that she hasn't played such role before.

But the dress she has worn in KANK is really hot, to be honest the hottest one, as per its cost is concerned, she revealed recently.

"I must confess that I feel so good to be wearing clothes that cost more than the location. But seriously, I couldn't have done it without Karan or Manish Malhotra," Preity said.

Abhishek-Saif together?

If everything falls in place, actors Abhishek Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan may be seen together for the first time in a film titled 'Karachi Express'.

As per latest Junaid Memon, who made his directorial debut with 'The Film', will be directing this movie, and a leading corporate house will produce it. As per reports, the movie will focus on the relationship between India and Pakistan after the 1971 war. As Memon said about the film, "It tells the story of two different individuals - one Indian, the other Pakistani. It looks at the Pakistani individual's journey in India and vice-versa."

A major portion of the film will be shot in Pakistan, also Memon said, he's planning to cast a number of Pakistani actors in the film.

However Memon is all to cast Abhishek and Saif in two main protagonists' role.

"I have already met Saif, he has liked the concept, but nothing is on paper yet. As for Abhishek, I am planning to get in touch with him in a couple of days," Memon revealed.

Abhishek Bachchan


Saif Ali Khan

Ash playing hide & seek

Rumours about Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan parting ways have barely died down, when there is more speculation about the duo doing the rounds.

It is said that when Mani Ratnam wanted to shoot certain portion of Guru in Mumbai, as per the requirement of the script, both Ash and Abhishek refused to shoot in the city. "Mani Sir wanted to shoot certain portion of his film in Mumbai. He needed about ten days for the shoot," says our source. However, it came as a bolt from the blue when both his stars politely refused to shoot in Mumbai.

"They are apprehensive of media persons and photographers hounding them for sound bytes and photographs, and want to avoid the situation," adds our source. Since the time the media started writing stories about Abhishek and Ash, the two have been trying to keep a low profile. They avoid public appearances and try to shoot for most of their films away from Mumbai.

Incidentally, this attitude of theirs goes back a long way, to the time when the two were shooting for J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan in Jodhpur. "The song and other indoor sequences of the film could have been shot easily in Mumbai. But Ash and Abhishek asked J P Dutta to complete the entire film in one schedule in Jodhpur," says our source.

Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 2 has also been also shot in Brazil. "Ash and Hrithik have some scenes and dance sequences in Mumbai, but all her scenes with Abhishek were shot in Brazil. That is how they have been avoiding getting clicked together," says our source.

Amitabh movies galore in year ahead

Here is a short look at films starring Amitabh Bachchan, that are expected to release within the next year.

Zamaanat
It has taken an eternity to complete this film, but Amitabh fans will be relishing seeing him in the role of a lawyer, for the second time in his career. And not only that, our Big B is blind in the film too. Arshad Warsi is put behind bars for a crime that he did not commit; his girlfriend Karisma Kapoor then hires the Big B to defend his case. S Ramanathan, the director, is working for the second time with Amitabh, having earlier directed him in Bombay To Goa. It will be nice to see Arshad Warsi starring with his mentor, keeping in mind that it was Amitabh抯 company ABCL that actually discovered the young actor. As for Karisma, well she had to film some awkward scenes with Amitabh, not soon after her engagement to Abhishek was called off. How will the chemistry be between them two? All will be revealed very soon.

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna
This will be the second time the Amitabh has worked with blockbusting director Karan Johar, the first time being the sensational Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum. Amitabh抯 role in the feature film is not clear and is not expected to be as high profile as the role of Yashorvardan Raichand in K3G. The film抯 story is not also clear but early indications suggest it is a loose drama based on extra-marital affairs, something unusual from Karan Johar, who is famous for family flicks. The film抯 other stars are Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherji, Preity Zinta and Arjun Rampal. And for the third time, Amitabh will share screen time with son Abhishek Bachchan. Karan Johar has denied that the story is based on the Hollywood hit Closer, or that it was inspired from Silsila. But he has stated that the idea of the story came from Sanjay Leela Bhansali抯 Black. Which sounds a little odd, as Black virtually had no romance or extra marital affairs? Karan Johar has stated that Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna explores the darker side of human relationships and each of his characters has grey shades, unlike the previous goody-two-shoes characters in his previous feature films. As part of a marketing campaign, Preity Zinta will appear in the popular soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi to promote Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in the month of July.

Eklavya
Eklavya

Hrithik Roshan expects his new film to spark superhero movies

Popular Indian actor Hrithik Roshan says his action thriller ``Krrish,'' set for release next week, will inspire more Bollywood superhero movies.

Roshan's new film is a sequel to his blockbuster ``Koi Mil Gaya,'' or ``I Found Someone,'' which told the story of a mentally challenged boy befriending an alien.

In ``Krrish,'' Roshan's character transforms from an average village boy to someone with superpowers.

The movie follows such superhero movies as Superman and Spiderman, he told the Bombay-based newspaper DNA in an article published Tuesday.

``Though we weren't inspired by any of these in particular, a similarity will of course exist,'' Roshan said.

Television promos have shown Roshan rappelling down towering buildings in a black and gray outfit with a mask partially covering his face.

The actor spent months last year in Hong Kong, training in martial arts with well-known action choreographer Tony Ching Siu-tung for the stunts.

``Before 'Krrish' this genre was almost nonexistent in India. This will almost be the birth of the genre,'' said Roshan.

Bollywood movies are mostly dominated by romantic and family sagas, liberally peppered with action sequences in which lead actors take on gangs of villains. Films relying heavily on special effects are rare.

Roshan's father Rakesh Roshan has directed the new movie. Both of their earlier films _ ``Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'' (Say It's Love) and ``Koi Mil Gaya'' (I Found Someone) _ were runaway hits.

I want a part three: Hrithik

Hrithik Roshan does not really need Krrish  to be dubbed a 'superhero' because his fans and many of his directors certainly think he is one.

Dressed in all white, maintaining his Krrish  hairdo, Roshan is composed as he begins to talk about his forthcoming release directed by his father Rakesh Roshan and co-starring Priyanka Chopra, Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah. Only Jadoo is missing from this sequel to Koi...Mil Gaya.

Roshan exudes confidence and a calm, the first you apportion to the positive reports pouring in for his desi superhero film and the latter to the birth of his son.

You have already shown Krrish  to friends like Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan with his children

No decision yet on Big B and Aishwarya as brand ambassadors

The Kerala Government is yet to take a decision, on whether or not to rope in Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai as brand ambassadors to promote the State.

"The matter is under the Government's consideration and no decision has been taken," official sources said.

Tourism officials have held discussions with both Bachchan and Aishwarya and they have reportedly expressed intrest in the project, the sources said.

Bachchan was recently in Munnar in kerala to shoot for Ram Gopal Varma's 'Nishabd'.

The department's proposal to have Bachchan and Aishwarya was following the huge success of Kerala Tourism commercials featuring Hindi television stars Smriti Irani and Mona Vasu in driving tourists from North Indian states to Kerala.

The commercials were a great hit in popular entertainment channels including Zee,Star Gold, and Star Plus,the sources said.

Hoping to cash on in the popularity of the two big names in the entertainment industry, the tourism officials had drawn up plans to have the two stars as brand ambassadors.

In 2005, the foreign and domestic tourist arrivals to the State were 3.46 lakh and 59.46 lakh respectively. During the current year, the department was targetting a growth of 20 per cent for international tourists and five per cent for the domestic tourists.

The foreign exchange earnings from tourism in the State during 2005 was Rs 1552.31 crore, while the total earnings from tourism during last year was about Rs 7738 crore.

Amitabh Bachchan


Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya fuming about false rumor!

The pendulum swings a complete circle. Rumours that Aishwarya Rai won't be attending IIFA because she wanted extra money for her performance, can be safely put to rest.

Ash who had flown into Mumbai from Chennai for one day (the second Sunday of the month being a no-work day in the South) to dub for J.P Dutta's Umrao Jaan, doesn't know whether to laugh or fume at the allegation.

"Yes, my performance at IIFA was called off. But not because I had money issues. People have to make up stories, spice up the truth just to create a sensational story. But the truth, I'm afraid, is far less exciting.

The reason why I couldn't perform was because Mani Rathnam's shooting just didn't allow me to get away long enough to rehearse and then fly down to perform."

However in a flash-decision Ash has decided to go to Dubai for IIFA after all. "But not to perform. I'll be there for the premiere of my film Provoked. That was something I had to attend. Fortunately Mani could let me go for just one day.

So I'll be shooting all of 13th. Then I leave for Dubai from Chennnai on the 14 th morning, attend the screening of Provoked followed by press conferences. Then I'm back in Chennai on 15th morning to join Mani for his shooting. Of course I won't be there for the main event. But what to do?"

Sounds hectic! "By now I'm used to keeping impossible schedules," laughs Ms Rai. "I hardly get time to be home with my family."  

Salman is upset with Mallika?

"We're very happy with the way the concerts have gone. I don't know why people are spreading rumours that our concerts Rock Stars have flopped," says organizer Bunty Walia from London. "We've almost reached the end of the tour. This weekend we had a show in Brimingham and now we're done."

So how does Walia explain reports filtering out of various cities in the US about the shows going half-empty?

"Totally false! In fact I'd say these Rock Stars concerts are more successful than the Heat concerts that came before. Except for Amsterdam where the local organizers cancelled for reasons they know best we've gone ahead on schedule everywhere. Calgary and Orlando are two cities where we voluntarily cancelled before the tour began."

However whispers of the stars bickering and fighting amongst themselves are too loud to be ignored. It's being said that Salman Khan is cut up with John Abraham because the latter has ganged up with Mallika Sherawat to steal the thunder at every venue.

Walia refutes this whisper vehemently. "All the stars have got along like a house on fire. In fact some of them are out shopping together right now."

Salman Khan


Mallika Sherawat

No marriage with Kareena for now: Shahid

Priyadarshan's "Chup Chup Ke" banks heavily on the screen chemistry between Shahid Kapur and Kareena Kapoor, but Shahid refuses to consider that the sole criterion for the film's success.

"Kareena and I are only part of a film. The script, the characters and the music also contribute to a film's success," said Shahid, talking candidly about girlfriend Kareena.

"We are both young and single. We are lucky to be doing films together... that way we get to spend a lot of time with each other. But our careers are still priority, as both of us want to excel in our work."

When asked what he loves most about Kareena, Shahid said: "The way she wears her stardom and success... very casually!"

Q: Once again you are paired with your girlfriend, Kareena Kapoor in "Chup Chup Ke". Aren't you apprehensive about it ending up as "Fida"?
A: Remember Kareena and I are only part of a film. The script, the characters and the music also contribute to a film's success. In that way, I am very confident about "Chup Chup Ke". It has shaped up really well.

Q: For the first time you have worked with Priyadarshan in the film. What was the experience like?
A: Priyadarshan's forte is comedy, which is not loud or slapstick, but situational. Since it was something I had never attempted before, I was so nervous on the first day that I actually sweated.

It's my first film with him. It took me a few days to adjust to his style, but after that I was fine and started enjoying working with him.

Q: How different is it from Priyadarshan's other films?
A: You have seen Priyan's successful comedies - "Hulchul", "Hungama", "Malamaal Weekly", etc. But this one is a romantic comedy. It's a love story with loads of comedy.

Q: You seem to enjoy comic roles...
A: Action, romantic... I love doing all types of roles. Each is challenging in its own way.

Q: Tell us about Sooraj Barjatya's "Vivaah" and Ahmed Khan's "Fool And Final"?
A: "Vivaah" is a quaint romantic film while "Fool..." is an action flick. I think I am lucky to be working with so many big names and so many genres so early in my career.

Q: Kareena and you are quite open about your personal life...
A: Why not? We are both young and single. We are lucky to be doing films together... that way we get to spend a lot of time with each other. But our careers are still priority, as both of us want to excel in our work.

Q: What do you love most about Kareena?
A: The way she wears her stardom and success... very casually!

Q: And is marriage on the cards?
A: Presently I have only work on my mind!

Q: What is the real Shahid like?
A: I am a very simple and down-to-earth person. I am a vegetarian who loves to gorge on Mumbai roadside food!

Q: How do you find the audiences abroad?
A: I have done shows in Britain, the US, South Africa, Malaysia and other countries. Since the people there do not get to see us so often they get very excited and are terribly enthusiastic. It is very gratifying to perform for them.

Q: What is your message to your fans abroad?
A: Enjoy all my films!

Kareena Kapoor & Shahid Kapoor


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 18-5-2007 04:40 PM ]

Is Shah Rukh avoiding IIFA?

The dates for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards 2006 were announced months ago. Yet, Shah Rukh Khan has gone on "holiday" to London with his family, seemingly to avoid the function.

Shah Rukh isn't attending the function starting Wednesday. "And that's because he's on holiday with his wife and two kids in London after working non-stop on 'Don' with Farhan Akhtar in Malaysia for three months. This was a holiday he had promised his family months ago, and they had been looking forward to it," a close friend of Karan Johar and Shah Rukh told.

Even Aishwarya Rai won't be able to make it to Dubai, but Abhishek Bachchan will manage to somehow squeeze in a quick trip and come back to Chennai to join the crew of Mani Rathnam's "Guru".

"I have to be there. I am nominated and dad is the ambassador for the event," Abhishek told.

But it's impossible for Aishwarya and the rest of the "Guru" team in Chennai to get away.

However, Johar is sure to attend the IIFA. Says a close friend: "Karan is on the advisory board of the IIFA awards. There was never any question of his not attending the awards. He's left for London on Thursday in connection with the promotion of the music of 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna'. From there he proceeds to Dubai for IIFA."

Sanjay Dutt will also have to give the event a miss, as he isn't permitted into Dubai due to some legal problems. However, efforts were made to arrange a special permit for him so that he could accompany his pal and business associate Sanjay Gupta for the launch of forthcoming films of their production company White Feather.

"Unfortunately, Sanju can't accompany us. But we'll all be there and we expect our launch to be spectacular," said Gupta.

Bhansali made me Successful: Amitabh bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan On The IIFA Awards 2006

Q: How are the IIFA awards this year different from the previous years?
A: I think every year there's some progress made at the IIFA awards in one way or another. We started by merely acknowledging and honouring artistes for their work. Now we'moved on to creating a forum where business opportunities are created and discussed.

There're forums for discussions on cinema for people from all over the world. There're charity events and sports events

We won't go into physical aspect : Amitabh Bachchan

This looks like one of the most challenging years for India's mega-star. Even as Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna, featuring AB in a sensually-charged role nears completion, he's already on to two other projects that feature him in never-before roles.

"I started Balakrishan's Cheeni Kam on April 6. It's an audacious film. I think Indian cinema is going through a hugely exciting phase. All kinds of films are competing with one another, and I'm part of that movement. It's an exciting phase for me. I'm truly grateful to God."

The one everyone is talking about it Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabd where AB is featured in a Lolita-like love story with an 18-year old girl.

And he's more than game for the challenge. "You can't always be the perfect humanbeing in screen. There're no perfect humanbeings. To show human failings on screen is a sign of acceptance and a measure of creative freedom.

Cinema is about human realationships. To deny the existence of such feelings in humanbeings would be wrong. Ramu is extremely honest in his work. Even before he made Sarkar he admitted that The Godfather was his inspiration for it.

But look at the manner in which he treated Sarkar ! It was a completely different experience from The Godfather."

AB further explains, "Ramu and I have been toying with several projects including Sholay, Sarkar 2 and Ek. The Sarkar sequel and Ek have to be co-ordinated with Abhishek's dates (yes, he's in both). Abhishek committed to do Mani Rathnam's film and others. Sholay requires a lot of physical activity which I'm at the moment, not up to. Ramu and I decided to do this romantic film at a stretch in twenty-five days."

AB admits Nishabd is a departure for him and for Ramu as well. "It's an intense love story that looks into closed doors to see the passions that simmer within every human-being under the surface. But let me also add that we won't be going into the physical aspect of the relationship at all. "

The actor-extrordinaire admits he's charged about Nishabd. "Going by the quality of performance that Ramu got out of me and Abhishek and Sarkar I'm sure he has some fantastic plans for me in Nishabd. But I must say this isn't his first intense love story.

Ramu has done Naach which was also a passionate love story. It may not have worked at the boxoffice. But it certainly succeeded in creating a new kind of love idiom from an oft-told story.

And it opened up Abhishek as an actor, put him in touch with emotions that he had never touched before. This is one of Ramu's specialities. On the surface he may seem like an ordinary dishevelled working-class guy with several ideas crowding his head. But he's a very systematic and sensitive filmmaker."

At this juncture in his career when new frontiers need to open up, AB isn't the least hesitant about taking on a role that's stunningly unorthodox. "It

all depends on the filmmmaker's convictions. If he has faith and belief in the artiste, nothing can stop a film from becoming a true and sensitive mirror of life. As an artiste I need to surrender completely to Ramu's vision. I never questioned him in Sarkar.

Abhishek felt the same way about Ramu during Naach and Sarkar. The fact is, Abhishek needed a Ram Gopal Varma to egg him on. Ramu is very well-researched....Did he say we've become addicted to each other?

He's a decent chap

Ban is wrong, I'm with Aamir: Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is kicking and fine. After his indisposition, he is back not only as an actor in other roles as well. The Big B lived up to his stature as he lent support to Aamir Khan in the wake of Narmada controversy and boycott of his film 揊aana

Ayesha Takia on Akshaye

Actress Ayesha Takia is looking forward to Nikhil Advani's "Salaam-E-Ishq" in which she is paired with favourite co-star Akshaye Khanna once again.

"It is one of the best films in the coming year with a really melodious musical score," said Ayesha.

She feels her pairing with Akshaye was fairly well accepted in "Shaadi Se Pehle". "There was a very positive feedback for our onscreen pairing. Moreover, we share very good chemistry on screen," she says.

Right now Ayesha has got a promising line-up of releases starting with Naseeruddin Shah's directorial debut "Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota", followed by Nagesh Kukonoor's "Dor" and Ahmed Khan's untitled film in which she is paired with Shahid Kapur.

Ayesha Takia & Akshaye Khanna

Dubai will miss Shah Rukh Khan

Apart from the film awards function and the world premiere of Jagmohan Mundhra's ''Provoked'' starring Aishwarya Rai, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will host the music launch of Karan Johar's much awaited ''Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'' and a sneak preview of ace actor Naseeruddin Shah's directorial debut ''Yun Hota to Kya Hota'' in Dubai between tomorrow and June 17.

Besides, a three-day film festival of top films in various Indian languages will be held. Some of the films to be screened include Tamil films 'Chandramukhi', 'Kannathil Muthamittal', 'Nayakan', 'Anniyan' and 'Autograph' and Malayalam films 'Rasathantram' and 'Kazhcha'. South Indian superstars Mammooty, Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan, Madhavan, Meera Jasmine and Simran are expected to attend the festival.

The other films to be screened are Marathi film 'Dombivali Fast' and Hindi movies 'Yahaan', 'No Entry', 'Iqbal', 'Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi', 'Parineeta', 'Bluffmaster', 'Veer Zara', 'Let's Talk' and 'Mixed Doubles'.

Dubaiites will miss 'King Khan' Shah Rukh Khan in action as he has decided to take a holiday in London after completing the shooting of 'Don' in Malaysia. He had compered the last show at Amsterdam arriving at the venue in a horse-driven carriage and speaking in Surinamese, the language spoken by many Surinamese of Indian descent.

Aishwarya who was honoured by the Dutch last year naming the national flower 'Tulip' after her, will be in Dubai only for a day during the premiere of her film as she is in the midst of shooting for Mani Ratnam's 'Guru' in Chennai.

Last year at Amsterdam, she had performed the 'Kajra Re' number from 'Bunty Aur Babli' along with the Bachchans on stage after the song became a rage.

A two-day FICCI-IIFA business forum will have captains of industry and media from both India and the Gulf deliberating on opportunities in their fields.

IIFA spokesman Sabbas Joseph said the institution has grown from 'One Amazing Night' to a glorious three-day weekend, which celebrates and hosts various events and activities. While committed to its objectives, IIFA also strives to reach out to various audiences and create platforms unique in nature, he added.

Shah Rukh Khan

Karisma begs Amitabh to help in Zamaanat

After delivering two consecutive flops - "Darna Zaroori Hai" and "Family" - Amitabh Bachchan returns with "Zamaanat" this Friday.

Director S. Ramanathan launched the movie in 1996, but it had been put on hold for years for various reasons. It took Ramanathan almost a decade to clear all the hurdles and completed the project.

In "Zamaanat", Amitabh is paired with Vijayashanti, popularly known as 'lady Amitabh' in Telugu filmdom. Karisma Kapoor, who stopped signing films with the Bachchans after her break-up with Abhishek, is also in the movie. She plays Arshad Warsi's love interest.

"Zamaanat" is an unfulfilled love story of a top lawyer, Shiv Shankar (Amitabh Bachchan), who loses his vision in an accident and is forced to live a secluded life. He also loses contact with his beloved (Vijayashanti), a doctor by profession.

After the accident Shankar starts leading the life of a recluse. Years later, college girl Kajol (Karisma Kapoor) knocks at his door seeking his help to rescue her engineer beau Suraj (Arshad Warsi) who is falsely implicated in his own mother's murder case and put behind bars.

At first Shankar refuses to take the case saying he had quit practice but later takes it up because the young lovers remind him of his youth.

In the climax, Shankar makes a key witness confess the truth before the judge. The trial is carried out in public as the case snowballs into a major public issue.

Ramanathan thought of changing the title of the movie to "Godfather" but later decided to stick to "Zamaanat" as the other name might have given the impression that it is an underworld story.

The film, which appears similar to Rajkumar Santoshi's super hit "Damini", has been shot in Film City Madras and various other locations in the south.

In the last 10 years, Bollywood has come a long way and hence the film's chances of striking gold are minimum.

Karisma Kapoor


Amitabh Bachchan

Did Ash do it just for Abhishek

Good news for for all Ash fans. The bollywood queen has finally managed to squeeze out some time out of her tight schedule and will be present for the world premiere of her film Provoked in Dubai on June 14.

This ends days of speculation whether Aishwarya could make it to the iifa weekend DUBAI 2006 as she is busy shooting for Mani Ratnam's Guru.

Mani Ratnam, a hard taskmaster, would not allow Aishwarya to leave for Dubai especially as he had specially flown down certain foreign technicians to work on the film. But on Ash's request and also as Jagmohan Mundhra, director of Provoked, eagerly wanted his heroine to attend the premiere, Mani consented.

However Aishwarya Rai will not perform at the iifa Awards nite this year. Last year Aishwarya awed the Amsterdam audience with 'Kajra Re' with the father son duo of Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan.

"Ash will be attending the premiere of Provoked because she is professionally committed. She will fly from Chennai in the morning and return to Chennai in the night," confirmed Hari Singh, Aishwarya Rai's manager.

Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya's co-star in Guru and alleged boyfriend, is also scheduled to make a quick trip to Dubai.

"I've to be there. I'm nominated and by dad is the ambassador for the event," said Abhishek.

Aishwarya Rai


Abhishek Bachchan