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Preity Zinta is pretty much in love!

Preity Zinta抯 reputation as Bollywood抯 talented and straight-talking glam girl has gone up a few more notches with her convincing performance in Kabhi Alvida Naha Kehana (KANK). Presently in London to promote her forthcoming big-ticket film Jaan-E-Man -- in which she appears along with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar -- Zinta created a buzz when she talked about her love life with characteristic candor.

In a story aired by Starnews on Tuesday, the 32-year-old star confided that there indeed was a man in her life. What she would not reveal is his identity. Speaking in guarded tones, she said it was extremely important to pursue an independent life and career after marriage. Zinta said that she thinks she has finally found someone who respects her

Kareena Kapoor vs Helen
   
Kareena Kapoor may say that she can never match up to Helen as far as her dance number in Don is concerned, but comparisons will be inevitable.

The song has Kareena trying to seduce Shah Rukh Khan with a dance sequence performed to the beats of a remixed 'Ye Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana', one of the two songs retained from the original film - Don (1978). That song was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan.

Helen was 40 at that time and Kareena is 25. Farah Khan choreographs the dance sequence while the music is by Shankar Ehsaan Loy.

The Farhan Akhtar remake is slated for a release this Diwali and then we will know whether Kareena will sizzle or fizzle.

Kareena Kapoor

A blind singer and Kareena

Spotted: Kareena, Shahid in Austria

Reader Pragya Jain got a great birthday surprise when she bumped into Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur near St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna in August.

The star couple were touring Austria.

When Pragya requested a picture, they agreed hesitantly. But, as Pragya realised later, the two barely spoke. They remained polite as Pragya did all the talking. Her husband Chirag clicked the picture.

Kareena Kapoor & Shahid Kapoor


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 16-5-2007 11:58 AM ]

Cash is Dus on steroids: Zayed

After Mauritius, Malaysia and New York, it's now the turn of South Africa to be at the centre of attraction for Bollywood filmmakers.

Cash, which is an action packed thriller, is the first Hindi film to be shot entirely in Cape Town and the stars are gearing up to completely cash in on their work.

Handling a motley crew of Ajay Devgan, Zayed Khan, Ritiesh Deshmukh, Suniel Shetty, Shamita Shetty, Esha Deol and Diya Mirza is Dus director Anubhav Sinha.

"It's an action thriller, in a comic strip style," Ajay Devgan said. While for Zayed Khan it is basically "Dus on steroids."

And supporting Zayed, Ritiesh Deshmukh said, "There are hardly any scenes. Its an edge of the seat entertainer."

With sky diving, kite surfing, skate boarding and fight scenes expected to figure in the film, it seems like South African action director Anthony Stone has quite a lot on his hands.

"It's amazing to see how quickly they have picked up. I think it's got to do with the dancing you show in your films," Stone said.

And as for the leading ladies, apart from the action scenes they have been working hard on their looks as well.

"Has anybody seen me with a Mohawk? The director likes to work on each character, and I like experimenting," Esha Deol said.

"He asked me to chop off my hair, that's eight inches off and coloured it red. I think it's working," Shamita Shetty said excitedly.

Well, as long as the end result is exciting, one doesn't mind the haircut or the Mohawk.

I'm just a paid slave: Preity Zinta  

Preity Zinta hasn't disappeared after the release of "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" (KANK), she's just in London shooting for Shaad Ali's "Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom".

"Just because I'm so much out of the country, people feel free to say and write what they like. I wish I were at home so I could see what was going on. But then I'm just a paid slave. No time to savour the fruits of my job," Preity told media.

She feels she should halt to enjoy the success.

"You see I'm a bit of an idiot. I never take that crucial pause after a release to savour its success. I'm told KANK has raised quite a storm in India. Well, good that's what movies should do."

She is baffled by the criticism.

"I don't understand why some people feel Karan has gone too far. Arrey! People say, make something different. And when a filmmaker actually takes the plunge into a deeper end, people accuse him of going too far.

"I feel proud to be in a film that pushes the envelope in mainstream cinema. I want to hug Karan for making KANK. In fact, I'll get my chance to do so because Karan is coming to London."

Mention the limited space provided for Preity in KANK, which revolves around infidelity, and she retorts: "Abhishek and I are like the anchors in the plot. I was never more scared of a role. A little bit this or that way, and my character could've toppled over.

揟hank god Rhea doesn't come across as a bitch. I constantly kept looking at Karan for reassurance. I never had to be directed so closely before.

In Cape Town, lonely Esha called up

Swiss Consul to honor SRK-Kajol!

慏ilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' has created cinematic history with a run of 500 weeks since its release in 1995.

The Consul General of Switzerland will celebrate the achievement by honoring the film's producer Yash Chopra along with its actors Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Karan Johar at an exclusive reception at Mumbai's Hotel Land's End on October 3. The guest of Honor will be Amitabh Bachchan.

Shah Rukh Khan & Kajol

Priyanka Chopra抯 starry attitude

Priyanka Chopra who recently presented a speech at the Global Leadership Forum in Kuala Lumpur received good reviews for her performances in Aaitraz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. The actress抯 position then rose in the film industry and she is currently being offered some of the best films with big productions banners. However recently the actress seems to be developing a starry attitude on the sets of her films. On the sets of her film Salaam-E-Ishq she recently threw many diva tantrums and gave the film crew a tough time.

When the actress was shooting for Nikhil Advani抯 film she was given a Mercedes Benz for her use, but the actress refused and instead asked for the use of a limousine. After driving the Mercedes Benz for a while the actress wanted something bigger and better so she decided to ask for a limousine. The actress also threw a tantrum regarding the outfits that she had to wear for the film. Priyanka made a lot of fuss regarding the clothes for the scenes in the film claiming that her clothes designs were not conducive to the London weather. Designer Vikram Phadnis who has designed the clothes for the film says 揚riyanka did have a problem with wearing one of the jackets for a scene in the film and as she is very particular about her look and styling we changed the jacket and replaced it with another one. There was no major problem but just a minor thing which was sorted out immediately.

Priyanka Chopra doesn抰 want to play the role of a mother on-screen

Priyanka Chopra is very happy with the phenomenal success that her latest film Krrish has received, in spite of the fact that she has personally received poor reviews for her own performance in the film . Priyanka has already moved onto her other films on hand like Aap Ki Khatir and Salaam-E-Ishq. However Priyanka was also slated to do Raj Kumar Santoshi抯 film Halla Bol opposite Ajay Devgan. Unfortunately at the last minute Priyanka changed her mind and decided to opt out of the film as she was unsure about playing the role of a mother in the film.

Priyanka was to enact the role of a mother to a six year old child in Santoshi抯 film. However Priyanka was not sure if the audiences who are used to viewing her in a young and hip avatar would accept her in the role of a devoted mother. Also the film was centered pre-dominantly around Ajay抯 character. So Chopra thought it best to opt out of the film. Nonetheless Priyanka抯 loss is Vidya Balan抯 gain. Vidya will now be playing the female lead opposite Ajay and she is extremely happy to work with such a big filmmaker like Santoshi.

Priyanka Chopra is all set to do her second promotional video for her forthcoming film Aap Ki Khatir opposite Akshay Khanna. Priyanka has a completely new look in the film and now she will be doing her second promotional video after 慠ight Here Right Now

Akshay Khanna and Priyanka Chopra抯 vibes on sets for Aap Ki Khatir

Akshay Khanna and Priyanka Chopra will soon be seen together on-screen for Dharmesh Darshan抯 film Aap Ki Khatir . The film also stars Dino Morea, Suniel Shetty and Amisha Patel. Priyanka and Akshay share a fairly good on-screen chemistry but according to sources at the beginning of the shoot, the duo did not get along too well. In fact Akshay and Priyanka did not speak off-screen at all to each other for the first 20 days of the first schedule.

After the two were introduced as co-stars by the director, they merely exchanged a polite hello and went about doing their own thing. According to sources 揟hey were shooting in London for two months and it took nearly 20 days for Akshaye to open up to Priyanka. Akshay is an introvert and generally takes time to mingle with people while Priyanka is outgoing and jovial, she usually shares a good rapport with all her co-stars.

Rani and Aditya Chopra spent three days together at

Ayesha-Tusshar's 'unique' love story

Ayesha Takia and Tushaar Kapoor, who are playing lead roles in producer N.R. Pachisia's Kya Love Story Hai , feel that the film is a unique love story and everybody will connect to it.

Ayesha plays a vibrant girl paired opposite Tushaar, reports Bollywood Trade .

Talking about her role, she said, "I play Kajal, a young independent girl who knows exactly what she wants. She's studying and works part-time as well. She's a hardworking girl of today's generation with that innate drive and vigour."

"This is not like the ideal love story where a girl and a guy meet, fall in love and the villain plays the spoilsport. Everybody can relate to the film since everyone at some point in one's life has fallen in love."

Tushaar plays a fun-loving guy facing the mind-heart tussle.

"Though the basic plot is simple, what makes this love story different is the way the story unfolds. It also has freshness in terms of dialogues," said Tusshar.

Pachisia echoes the same views.

"Don't you think the title itself is unusual? I think it's a contemporary film in terms of presentation and projection. Besides, the Tushaar-Ayesha paring makes it unique."

The producer is equally confident about debutant director Lovely Singh. "New directors are very hardworking and sincere. They have that burning desire and fire within them to make things work," said Pachisia.

Singh is positive about his directorial debut.

"This is my first film and I'm not apprehensive about it. I'm trying to make a good film and give it my best. The characters are lovable with some great music by Pritam. We have recorded two songs and I must say he has done a great job."

Ayesha Takia


Tusshar Kapoor

I still need one hit that could rock my career, says Kareena

Actress Kareena Kapoor, is quite upbeat about her cousin Ranbir's foray into filmdom with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya.

"I believe he's really good before the camera. Good yaar! Maybe we Kapoors can give the Khans a run for their money," said Kareena, who along with her close friends and family celebrated her birthday on the beaches of Goa Sep 21.

"It was great fun. My mom (Babita), sister (Karisma) and my little niece were there with me. Besides Shahid (Kapur), I had taken along some of my closest friends, like Amrita Arora, her sister Malaika and her husband Arbaaz," Kareena told IANS.

The glow hasn't left the diva's face. Unfortunately, one of Kareena's best friends Karan Johar couldn't make it to her birthday celebrations.

"We really missed him. But we had fun, just chilled out. We brought in my birthday with a cake and a quiet dinner. I no longer crave for noisy crowded pleasure spots. Maybe I've mellowed. I had left my phone behind and couldn't even check my messages and calls.

"Only later did I come to know how many people called. Every year I think my birthday is the best one of my life. Every year my family and friend surprise me. Having Shahid by my side definitely adds to my joy."

However, she has no plans of marriage in the near future. "Definitely not for the next four-five years. He needs to work. I need to find my place as an actress. I admit I'm fairly satisfied with the work I've done. But I need that one role that could rock my career."

"Mani Ratnam's Lajjo could be that film. Just the thought of working with Aamir Khan makes me weak in my knees. Luckily I've worked with all the Khans - Shah Rukh, Salman, Saif, Fardeen and now ... Aamir."

The day I'm satisfied with what I do, I'll die: Rekha

Rekha has just sung one of Mohammed Rafi's most difficult ghazals, Din dhal jaye  from the film Guide, for a new comedy, Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana in which she plays the lead.

However, Rekha doesn't think that she is a good singer. "Oh, I think a lot of actresses sing very well. Tabu sings beautifully. And have you heard Madhuri Dixit sing? She has an amazing voice," Rekha told IANS.

Tell her she reminds you of Geeta Dutt and she exclaims, "Funny, you say that! My sister says I could well be Geeta Dutt's sibling. No, I've never trained to be a singer."

"You're just being kind," she brushed aside the compliment. "My god, I've such a terrible singing voice. I'm not a singer. I don't sing the words. I feel them.
"And Shailendra saab's words in Din dhal jaye are so filled with layered feelings it's easy for any sensitive person to drown in them. My rule for singing is the same as living - I feel life. Feelings last forever."

Why this particular ghazal composed by Sachin Dev Burman? "I didn't really choose the song. I was just humming it on the sets one day when the director, Amar Bhutala, overheard me. He said, 'M'aam, you please sing this song for our film.' I protested that there was no situation for it. But he insisted that a situation will be created.

"I asked my director not to retain the original orchestration, just incidental natural sounds connected with the night. That's tough to do, because all the weaknesses in my voice show up much more clearly without orchestra."

She recorded the song on a computer and sent it over.

"Now when I hear it, I just want to drown myself. I just sat on the computer and gave a scratch recording to my director. I was sure of one thing. I didn't want to sing it like Rafi saab. No one can sing it like him except Lata didi, who has sung it so beautifully in the album Shraddhanjali.

"It was surreal like most things I've done in my life. It just happened. In fact, one should never delude oneself into believing that anything happens by one's own will. There's a force guiding and lifting you to wherever life takes you. You're powerless on your own."

When you wonder how she negotiated such intricate notes Rekha laughs. "That's what Simiji (Garewal) had said when I sang it on her (TV programme) Rendezvous. She couldn't believe I could scale those high notes of Lataji in the song Yeh kahan aa gaye hum (from Silsila). Simiji said she couldn't sing it. But, well, I didn't think whether I could or couldn't. I just did it."

Is she satisfied with her singing? "The day I'm satisfied with what I do, I will die. I'll never be content. But I'm grateful. I think I'm grateful for every slap, every painful failure. I've put them all behind me.

"There should be no question marks, only exclamation marks in life. I'm as strong or weak as the next person. But I haven't mastered the art of control over every situation. I'm trying to get there."

Rekha has two releases coming up before this year is through. "Goutam Ghose's Yatra and the comedy Kudiyon Ka Zamana. Both are very different from each other. I like to take up roles as a challenge, like I did the old woman's role in Krissh. I haven't seen the film. I've been travelling. But I'm happy to know it's a huge success."

feel like an emperor after marriage, says Zayed Khan


Zayed Khan抯 got the blues, literally. His hair has been styled with electric blue highlights, the new look for Anubhav Sinha抯 Cash, which he抯 currently shooting in Cape Town, South Africa with Ajay Devgan (搈y first film with him

Tabu, sexy and talented!

Once upon a time, there was a little girl. An unassuming youngster, who was growing up in family of an educationist in Hyderabad.

A child who抎 diligently head to Hyderabad抯 St. Ann抯 High School, everyday.

Placid in her anonymity, life was coasting along. Till, one day, the angels of fortune knocked on her door.

And Tabbasum Hashmi let them in. They seem to have no intention of abandoning her.

Fortunately! As otherwise, the silver screen would be devoid of one of its most sensuous and talented performers.

Tabu faced the camera for the first time in Dev Anand抯 慔um Naujawan

Coming Soon: A season full of Ash!

Aishwarya Rai may have lost Sexiest Aisan Woman crown to Priyanka Chopra but millions of hearts still skip the beat when Ash dazzles on silverscreen.

Come November and the talented actress would be seen in two strikingly different avtaars in Dhoom 2 and Umrao Jaan. Interestingly, Aishwarya抯 look in Umrao Jaan is completely opposite of her suave and slick avtaar in Dhoom 2.

If she抯 looking like a million bucks in the exquisitely designed costumes as Umrao, she抯 at her sizzling best in the skimpily clad outfits in Yash Raj Film's sequel.

Anna Singh who designed clothes for the actress in Dutta's epic tells, "To dress Ash is the ultimate dream because her beauty supersedes the most stunning creation. Her costumes matched the phases of her life梖rom being a simple girl to the glam mujrewali Umrao Jaan Ada to her being heartbroken and finally growing old."

Even though she has not had a big hit film in a long time, yet the actress has her own high brand value. Another interesting thing is that both the films have Abhishekh Bachchan. If he抯 romancing her in Umrao Jaan, he抎 be seen chasing her in Dhoom 2.

The two will be also be seen together in Mani Ratnam抯 Guru and Sarkar 2.

Sarkar 2

See why Preity keeps falling!

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta's colleagues may swear by numerology and the 'K' fixations, but the star herself is quite convinced that each fall leads to a hit.

Preity jokes that whenever she fell on a set, the film turned out to be a hit.

During the shooting of "Jaan-e-Mann" - a triangular love story which also stars Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar - she tripped.

It took her five minutes to realise that choreographer Farah Khan had tricked her into tripping.

Teasing her Farah said, "Preity has fallen. The film will be a hit!"

Every one else too joined in: "The film is going to be a hit."

Preity silently prayed for the success of "Jaan-e-Mann" and hoped it turns out to be a super hit.  

Films may flop, Akshaye can't

Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna seems to be the blue-eyed boy of director duo Abbas-Mastan, who vouch that he is one of the most talented actors.

Whether Akshaye's film is a hit or flop the duo continues to cast him.

After "Humraaz", Akshaye featured in their recently released "36 China Town". The film did satisfactory business at the box office and the actor earned rave reviews for his performance.

He is now working in their next flick with Anil Kapoor and Saif Ail Khan to be produced by Tips.

With most of the directors repeating Akhsaye, he certainly has carved a niche for himself in filmdom.

His talent has always been appreciated by critics.