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No takers for Aishwarya Rai!

The screening of the much-awaited Aishwarya Rai starrer "Provoked" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards function here turned out to be a dull affair. Apart from the Bollywood actor and her mother, Vrinda, very few stars turned up for the event.

The screening of the Jagmohan Mundhra-directed film was one of the major attractions of this year's IIFA function. Some big Bollywood names like Shabana Azmi and her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar were spotted at the Grand Cineplex in Dubai on Wednesday to see the movie.

Set in London, "Provoked" is the traumatic story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya) who is badly abused by her husband (Naveen Andrews). When she is unable to bear anymore the brutality of her alcoholic husband, she sets him on fire.

Charged with first-degree murder, Kiranjit is sentenced to life imprisonment where she meets Veronica Scott, a wealthy white woman. Her cellmate is so moved by her tragic story that she asks her stepbrother, a highly respected Queen's counsel, to file her appeal.

Over the past few years, the IIFA World Premiere platform has showcased the Oscar-nominated film "Lagaan", "Aankhen", "Yuva" and "Parineeta".  

For Preity, KANK was a tough one

From shooting abroad to doing ads to performing at award functions, Preity Zinta has a hectic schedule.

The actress, who is doing an advertisement shoot after a long stint abroad, has to again rush to Dubai to perform at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards.

"After this I immediately fly to Dubai for IIFA, just for one day. I'll be performing a Shiamak Davar's choreography," Preity said in an interview.

"I have yet to sit and finalise my item with him. The decision was taken overnight. Can you believe it, this is the first time that I'm performing at such a short notice. I haven't even started rehearsing," she said.

After the IIFA function, Preity returns to Mumbai to complete Sajid Nadiadwala's delayed Jaan-e-Man and Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK). Those who have seen her in Johar's film have declared her an outright winner in a role that entails her doing a complete makeover.
"Yes, Shah Rukh (Khan)'s wife Gauri and Jaya (Bachchan) aunty, whose opinion I value immensely, seem to be thinking highly of me in the film.

"I must say it felt good to be wearing clothes that sometimes cost more than the location, ha ha. But, seriously, all credit must go to Karan for being one of the best directors, and Manish Malhotra for being one of the best stylists in the world. I couldn't have done it without them."

However, it was a big challenge for Preity to get under the skin of her character in KANK.

"In my career of 22-23 films, I have never been more unsure of how to approach a role. People are commenting on my looks. But that was the least of my worries. I had to play a woman who didn't seem to airdrop into New York from Mumbai. My character Rhea has to blend into the milieu, and not just in dress but also demeanour.

"Yeah, it was tough. Thank god for my co-stars Shah Rukh, Rani (Mukerji), Abhishek Bachchan (who, I confess, out-chatters me) and Mr (Amitabh) Bachchan, who's like the Mount Everest of acting."

Preity is all praise for her co-star Rani.

"By the way, Rani has never looked more glamorous and in-character. There is one sequence of hers with Abhishek where I have cried. Normally I am not much of a weepy person in movies. I like to keep it all inside. Only my family and close friends have seen the vulnerable side of me. For others... sorry, I don't want to come across as a drama queen."

More makeover for Preity - she is the cover girl of the first Indian issue of posh international women's magazine Marie Claire.

"I guess the bubbly perky Preity has currently taken a backseat. KANK sees me like never before. And the Marie Claire cover didn't expect me to be the typical Preity either. The magazine has undertaken the 'let-me-be-me' campaign for Indian women.

"The inaugural cover was supposed to represent the resolute no-nonsense but still fun and feisty face of the Indian woman. I like being in that slot. I am glad if I am being taken to be a woman of substance. Isn't that what all women crave to be?

"The picture was meant to be less stylish, more substantial and more attuned to the rhythm of workaday womanhood. Yeah, I do like to see myself as a woman with an opinion."

For now, this woman with an opinion on life and art is all set to remain in India for one month after her trip to Dubai.

"This would be my longest stay at home in recent times. In July, I go for an event to London, then probably attend the BAFTA awards and finally get a week off for myself before joining my friends Bobby Deol and Abhishek for Shaad Ali's Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom. All in all, this is quite a hectic time for me. And I am enjoying every bit of it."

Tania Zaetta eyes on Bipasha抯 boyfriend

Some years back in Bollywood and entertainment fraternity, the stars used to hide their love affairs. Today it has become a fashion to display their love sagas in open and media. Amongst the ones in Bollywood, whose love story is all the time in news and who appear to be very caring and strong love birds, are none other than the dashing John Abraham and sultry Bipasha Basu. And both are ruling the cinema today.

There is walking a threat to Bipasha抯 love these days. Yes, it can happen since the curvaceous sex-pot model (who has made her Bollywood debut in 態unty Aur Babli

Riya apologized to Koena!

When three Bolly babes bitch and backbite about one another you can hear the screeching and meowing from a mile. Riya and Koena got their claws out with Koena lashing Riya for meowing about Koena's 'plastic surgery' - which, of course, Riya denied. Later, Riya apologized to Koena explaining that it was actually Tanushree Dutta who'd been spreading the washroom secret. Then a message from Koena at 3 am left Tanu all hit up since Riya had pointed a finger at her. Tanu was clueless as to how she got dragged into this mess. Riya used to be Tanu's party-hopping pal, you know. Then Tanu had got to know that Riya was spreading much about her. So, six months back she had severed all relations with the little mess ball. Now each one is going berserk badmouthing each other.

Riya Sen


Keona Mitra

Larger than life roles tougher than real-life portrayals: Anil

He is among the few actors in the industry who have essayed roles in 'larger-than-life' films of the 70s and 80s as well as 'real-life' cinema of the new millennium with equal ease.

Whether playing larger-than-life roles in Mr India, tezaab, joshilay, beta, meri jung and Rajkumar or 'realistic roles' in pukar, nayak, mashaal, eeshwar, viraasat, hum aapke dil mein rehte hain and Calcutta mail, Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor has excelled in both.

However, contrary to the general view in film circles that essaying real-life roles is more difficult compared to doing the 'larger-than-life' portrayals in films of the 70s, Anil believes that 'unrealistic' roles of the films in the 70s were far more tougher to enact compared to the real-life roles of today.

揑 feel that doing larger-than-life roles, as characterised by the films of the 70s was far more difficult compared to essaying the real-life roles of today. Making something 'unreal' look credible on screen is, in my opinion, far more difficult than portraying characters drawn from real life,

Tanushree and Tabu hurt  

Looks like it's time for the actresses to get hurt in turns. Aftre Aarti, it has been Aishwarya Rai, Sneha, Ileana and now it's Tabu and Tanushree Dutta.

Tabu has been shooting for an Amitabh starrer and in the gap has been taking rest in the caravan. When the shot was readay and she was summoned, she tripped and fell from the carvan hurting her arm. Even Veerabhadra heroine Tanushree Datta too got hurt in the similar fashion.

Tanushree Dutta


Tabu

Vinod, Rahul and Akshaye to act together?

Veteran actor-politician Vinod Khanna might just be lighting up the silver screen along with his sons Akshaye and Rahul.

Veteran actor-politician Vinod Khanna might just be lighting up the silver screen along with his sons Akshaye and Rahul.

The movie, titled Ghar to be produced by Johnny Bakshi (who made Mahesh Bhatt's acting and direction debut Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain), will be directed by Vikram Bhatt.

The film, says the producer, is a powerful family saga, and explores the relationship between a father and his two sons.

A few years back, Vinod Khanna had acted in a film called Deewanapan which was his first screen appearance since he joined politics six years ago.

Even though his life today revolves around politics, films still remain his first love. "What better cast could we have for the film, than Vinod Khanna and his two sons Akshaye and Rahul?" says Bakshi.

When Bakshi approached Vikram to direct this film, Vikram's first reaction was, 'This will be Vinod Khanna's Baaghban." Laughs Bakshi, "When I conveyed this to Vinod, he too laughed.

He loved the script and is waiting for his sons, who are abroad, to return and go through the script."

Rahul Khanna


Akshaye Khanna

'Aftab knows where he stands in my life'

Yana Gupta speaks out on love, marriage and her comfort with the 'item girl' tag.

Czech model and item girl Yana Gupta has so far been tight-lipped about her personal life her divorce and her subsequent link up with actor Aftab Shivdasani. But she's slowly opening up. So where does Aftab stand in her life? "He knows where he stands in my life,"she smiles. "We may not be seen together in public places. We go out privately. We are ready with our relationship, but we're not dying to make it public. We will do that soon."

Some years ago, Yana had come to India on a spiritual sojourn. That's when she fell in love with an Indian artist Satyakam, and the two got married. Divorce may have separated them now, but Yana is very much friends with him. "It's important to distance and disconnect yourself from the relationship initially.

But later, if you feel that you have been honest with your spouse and the reason for your parting was justified, than you can become friends again,"she says, adding, "Satyakam is a great guy inspiring and wise. So I connect with him. But we don't meet often as he is based in Pune. I like to cherish the good memories. I am even in touch with my boyfriend of my teenage days."

Once divorced, twice shy? She smiles, "Not really. I don't really care about marital documents, the societal norms. Instead marriage means two souls coming together. I believe in love and about growing and evolving in a relationship. A couple should understand and respect each other. I believe in soul-mates."

Yana also feels that she did put into practice all her beliefs in her marriage, but she "had not reached a total understanding in the marriage."She adds, "That's because you get wiser with each day. I have so much more to offer in a relationship today."

At the moment, Yana is busy cutting a music album, which she has composed, sung and written. That aside, she is giving finishing touches to her book on health and fitness. "This is not a career option, but an extension of myself. I have always been into writing poetry since I was a teenager. But I have always been a sick child. My mom had asthma and I had bronchitis. All this made me an extremely health conscious person and hence the book."

How does she react to being known as an item girl? "I love being an item girl and I have no qualms doing such numbers. I love singing and dancing anyway. It doesn't matter to me what tag people attach to my name. But I am much more than an item girl,"she says.

Saif thinks Vishal is deadly!  

He抯 just a few films old and Vishal Bharadwaj has already gained a reputation for being a 慸eadly

Suniel-Akshay fight just a publicity stunt?  

Suniel Shetty and his friend-turned-foe Akshay Kumar's on and off cold war is allegedly nothing more than a pre-publicity stunt for their film, insists a source close to the actors. Though both the actors started their career at the same time in the 90's they are more in the news for their apparent cold wars that too just before the release of their films. And the reason for their reported fights is Akshay's editing out the other's roles in their film. And now just before the release of their film Phir Hera Pheri, Akshay and Sunil's jhajda is out in the open again. The reason? The same old story: Akki editing some of Suniel's best scenes in Phir Heri Pheri. 揥henever they have a release together, their fight and the so-called cold war comes in the open and they are back to normal later till their next film,

Arjun Rampal: Over-hype kills!  

Everyone knows that Arjun is working on his first production venture at break-neck speed, but very little is known about it. Being a first, Rampal doesn抰 want to over-hype the project too early in the day; in fact, most of the shooting schedules are also abroad. Luckily, we did stumble upon some dope on this film, so we though we抎 share it with you. The dashing AJ is launching a fresh new girl opposite him in the film, and he doesn抰 plan to lift the veil off her face till the time of release. Also the working title of the film is I See You. Yeah, you heard that right. We抮e dying to know where this has emerged from, but the lad is off to London for a one-month shooting stint. So, with our ears all perked up, we抳e got to wait卼ill we see him again!

Viveik抯 pulling strings!  

He抯 known to take his roles really seriously. So when director Vishal Bharadwaj told Viveik that he would have to actually strum the guitar for his role in Omkara, the lad took on the challenge like he was born to be a guitarist. And he had a natural ear for music, anyways. Apparently, co-star Saif (who wooed audiences at a performance in Delhi, where he played the guitar like a true rock star himself) even helped VO to learn how to pull the right strings. We won抰 be surprised to hear the lad crooning very soon too. After all, where did the initial V.O (voice over) come from!   

Bollywood抯 Super-Dads!  

Its celebration time for Daddies and his little darlings. Not that they need a special day to celebrate their beautiful bond, but today being Father抯 Day, is reason enough for kids to make their Father feel like the 態est Daddy

What makes Dia Mirza alag?

Besides Phir Hera Pheri in which you have done an item number, your film Alag is also releasing soon. Tell us something about the movie...
揂lag is about our great human need to find acceptance. It is the story of a man who has lived 18 years of his life in isolation. This man has special powers. When he steps out into the world he realises he is truly different. Does the world accept him? Does he accept the world? That抯 what the movie tries to explore.

Subi Samuel: 慖 will definitely do a film with Sushmita

Amrita Rao loves 慤ncle Sam

Amrita抯 hang-over from London!  

In Bollywood most parties get talked about. But Usman抯 B-day bash, planned by girlfriend Amrita Arora in London, must抳e attracted a lot of eyeballs from the Brits, too. Of course, with a dash of glam and glitz from our very own Bollywood. A few days before the bash, the gal sounded panicky, because she had to cater to every little detail and this was the most special thing she抎 ever planned for Usman. But post the party, AA was like a child beaming with delight, because the party was a rocking success. Salman, Sohail and Seema, Kareena, Shahid, Neelam and Zayed with his wife Malaika joined the bash that was hosted at an amazing la-di-dah club in London. A whole lot of Usman抯 cricketer buddies were also there. And for a change our Bollywood beauties spotted a celeb too - Nicky Hilton (Paris Hilton抯 sister) was also dining at the same club. She didn抰 join their party, of course. We think, this party hang-over will last really long. What say, Ammu?   

Hrithik turns astrologer!  

If one is to go by Hrithik抯 gut feeling, his next film Krrish could go the same way as Koi Mil Gaya. 揑 had the same kind of reaction as I had when I heard the script for Koi Mil Gaya,

John & Salman: From muscle to tussle?  

The recent world tour created news of all sorts. In the beginning there was panic that the shows might get called off because of Salman Khan's legal case; to iron out all the mayhem, Sallu flew off a few days before the rest of the Bollywood gang, and the organizers breathed a sigh of relief. Soon after, rumours of a tiff between Shahid and Salman caught everybody's attention. Then that took a backseat, and gossip about a clash between Sallu and John Abraham started doing the rounds. In spite of these rumours coming from different quarters, all the stars - from Kareena, Shahid to John and Esha were overwhelmed by the success of the shows. In fact, even with a slightly wounded leg, John said he had one of the best experiences he's had so far. And contrary to rumours, the two machos - Salman and John, hit it off really well during the string of shows. Sure, they had a lot of stuff to talk about like biceps, bikes and babes. Anything else, guys?  

Salman Khan

When Aishwarya Rai met Jean-Claude Van Damme

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai met Hollywood star Jean-Claude Van Damme at the recently concluded IIFA Festival in Dubai.

Reports have it that Aishwarya met the Belgium martial arts star on her one-day visit to IIFA. Van Damme was a guest at the event and he also presented the statuettes at the award function on the closing day.

It is still not known what Ash and Van Damme discussed. But sources suggest at the possibility of the two doing a movie together.

According to Hellomagazine, Jean-Claude is "curious" about Bollywood and is keen to know some top stars from Hindi movie industry.

There is also grapevine that Van Damme is thinking of roping in Ash for his latest flick 慉sterix At The Olympic Games