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It is part of my job: Amitabh

The Big B is just back from announcing this year's International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in the House Of Commons in Yorkshire.

Jet-lagged but all set to shoot for Sholay the next morning the Big B takes time off to talk about the Yorkshire experience. "The host country offered me a state honour. Yorkshire has five counties and mayors of each county, the sheriff and all the ministers were present at the presentation ceremony.

They booked a special train for me to travel from London to Leeds. When I arrived at the station I was given a red-carpet welcome with the Mayor and his wife there to receive me while a brass band played."

Truly a hero's welcome

I behaved like a woman for days: Riteish Deshmukh

For Riteish Deshmukh life is a drag. Rishi Kapoor did it in Raffoo Chakkar many years ago. More recently Kamal Hassan did a spectacular job of it in Chachi 420.

Now it's Riteish's turn. "I can't even begin to compare myself with those two.They were absolutely brilliant. But yes, I'm in drag for most of Apna Sapna Money Money. And it felt

I'd never stay in Big Boss's house: Arshad Warsi

Many eyebrows were raised when Arshad Warsi in spite of the stupendous success of Lage Raho Munna bhai decided to do television again.

Arshad explains, "It's not really a return to television. I'm hosting Bigg Boss. I love the concept. But I'm not one of the contestants.Please, I'd never do that! But I didn't mind hosting the show because it doesn't take up much time.

Each time a contestant is voted out I've to console him /her and play the shrink. It all depends on the temperament of the participants. I'd lo-o-v-e to talk to Rakhi Sawant," Arshad winks. "I'd ask her to just be herself."

But the real reason why Arshad decided to do Bigg Boss comes out in a confessional tumble. "I needed a solid reason to remain in Mumbai. I've been travelling too all kinds of wild places.

I was supposed to go to Australia, New Zealand for appearances and shooting. I grabbed this reason to stay in Mumbai. I was looking for time with my son Zeke, Now I've got it."

Arshad lights up at the mention of his son. "We've a special bonding now. And when I leave the house he actually cries for me! Thank God, he finally knows his father. I try to take him wherever I can. Just the other day I took him for a tv shoot.

But the minute I came on the camera he ran after me. I do want to spend as much time as possible with Zeke. Now financial security has become a big deal. I want my wife Maria and Zeke to have a much better life than I've had."

Lage Raho Munnabhai has triggered off a new phase in Arshad's life and career. "Part 1 had opened up the doors of the film industry for me. Part 2 has opened up the roles for me. I'm getting such wonderful roles. When anyone wants a dependable actor in a pivotal role they come to me."

Arshad had said yes to a very interesting grey role in a South Indian remake produced by Anil Kapoor. "Anil isn't only the producer, but also the film's hero. I play the second lead. I play an actor. When I heard the script I was bowled over. I like my role so much. It's like Govind multiplied by 10.

You'll love to hate this character. If my character doesn't deliver the film falls. That feels good. Anil's film is comedy but at the same time moving. I play a complete jerk. Audiences will hate this character. But I want to enjoy my character's wickedness."

Kabeer Kaushik who gave Arshad a rare opportunity to play the lead in Saher, has a very amazing supernatural film. "Kabeer wants me at the forefront of all his films. That feels good. Because I'm still considered for strong second leads.

The leads I get are not for dependable producers and directors, as it is with Saif. What's the point of putting my heart and soul in a film that might not get released? I'm treading very cautiously after Lage Raho

揑抳e come back from London loving Abhishek even more,

Salman pays, Ash objects
  
Salman Khan at the children抯 film festival in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI)  
Mumbai, Nov. 15: Sunil Gavaskar played it with a straight bat and Shah Rukh Khan was a byword for professionalism.

But Salman Khan and his once-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai failed to live up to their public images when the taxman came calling.

Bollywood 揵rat

Stop endorsing tobacco products, WHO to Shah Rukh Khan

A senior official of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Wednesday termed as 'horrible' endorsement of tobacco products by Shah Rukh Khan and motor racing legend Michael Schumacher and urged them to stop promoting what was a 'social malice'.

'We know that celebrities in both Hollywood and Bollywood are endorsing tobacco in a huge way and we denounce it vehemently. It's really horrible to see public faces not showing enough responsibility,' said Robert Beaglehole, director of the chronic diseases and health promotion at the WHO, in an interview to IANS.

He said players like Michael Schumacher or some Indian film stars should not associate themselves with tobacco products. 'They have a huge fan following and promoting such products is nothing but a social malice.'

Referring to Shah Rukh Khan's reported remarks that the government should rather ban the manufacturing of tobacco products instead of banning smoking on screen or endorsing such products, the WHO official said: 'It is utter irresponsibility.'

'We are in touch with many countries and have urged the governments including in India to discourage such practices. WHO knows that the Indian government is trying to curb these practices but what we expect is an equal responsibility on the part of celebrities,' Beaglehole said on the sidelines of the Global Youth Meet on Health in this city of the Taj Mahal.

With a huge population of cinema and sports buffs in India, the celebrities should come out of a profit-making mentality, Beaglehole said, adding: 'Celebrities in the fields of music, film and sports should not do anything that influences the public behaviour negatively.'

He said New Zealand had already banned celebrities from endorsing tobacco products and 'it should be considered as a case in point for other countries'.

'The Indian government should persuade popular sports and film personalities to endorse the cause of health,' he said adding that authorities must impose heavy taxes on such tobacco products to discourage its consumption.

Experts at the health meet pointed out disturbing statistics on the damage done by tobacco.

'Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world today. Nearly five million people die due to tobacco every year and this will double by 2020,' said K. Srinath Reddy, chief of the Public Health Foundation in India.

'In India alone, over 800,000 people are losing their lives due to tobacco and it is posing a huge challenge to the country's public health expenditure and productive working hours,' Reddy said.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 16-11-2006 01:46 PM ]

Esha replaced Bipasha?

Esha Deol roped in for director Kalpana Lajmi's next. It's an international project, to be made in two languages - Hindi and English; Mahendra Dhariwal has set to produce the film.

Initially the role was offered to Bengali bombshell Bipasha Basu. But Bipasha, busy with her other commitments, couldn't allot required dates to Lajmi, who wanted to start the project in March. Producer Dhariwal confirmed, 揔alpanaji has already narrated the script to Bipasha Basu and she had liked the script but due to date problems she has been replaced by Esha Deol.

Rani抯 憂o

Rani to quit film after marriage?

Relax, relax, Rani is not marrying tomorrow. But let me say that the Bollywood queen wouldn't do film after her marriage. Rani, in a recent interview said that she wants to give her 100% to her hubby and his family once she gets married. 揥hen marriage happens I'll give my 100% to it,

Customs officials grilled Aishwarya!

Customs officials, Mumbai, today questioned actress Aishwarya Rai with regard to a mysterious parcel addressed to her, containing 23,000 euros (Rs 13.5 lakh).

The parcel was sent from Rotterdam, Netherlands, and it was addressed to Aishwarya Rai's Bandra residence.

To avoid the media, which had gathered outside the New Customs House in south Mumbai, the actress was questioned at the domestic airport, sources in Customs department told PTI.

Last week, Aishwarya's father Krishnaraj Rai had met the Customs officials on behalf of his daughter and told Aishwarya, who was then busy shooting 'Akbar Jodha', will visit customs office this week.

Jaya and Rani didn抰 attend Hema抯 dance program!

Hema Malini invited Jaya Bachchan and Rani Mukherji to attend her ballet dance program 'Krishna Rasa', but neither Jaya nor Rani attended the program.

Jaya is in abroad and Rani, also busy shooting Yash Raj's next in Varanasi, so despite their keenness to attend the program, they couldn't finally turn up.

Jaya Bachchan


Rani Mukherjee

Hrithik-Aishwarya抯 next in trouble!

Ashutosh Gowariker's next 'Akbar Jodha', starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai together in the leads, got into a new phase of trouble. First it was some organization of Rajput community alleged Gowariker of tampering history and threatened to move court to stop filming of the film unless it changes the film's title and now a semi-government organization served notice to the film's production company for committing cruelty against animals. "Pashu Krurta Nivaran Samiti (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the name of the organization, has reportedly sent the notice to Gowariker's production company.

As per reports, for the past fortnight, Gowariker has been filming a sequence for the film on various location in an around Jaipur and where allegedly over 80 elephants, 100 horses and 55 camels are being used.

The society has asked Gowariker whether any permission was taken from the Animal Welfare Board (AWB) and why he should not be sued for violation of Cruelty against Animal Act.

"A large number of these animals were subjected to great hardships during the shooting and there was no facility of a veterinary doctor during the shooting," said Manish Saxena, a member of the society.

Hrithik Roshan & Aishwarya Rai

All that glitters is gold on Aishwarya!

Bollywood's classic fever is getting costlier day by day. First it was JP Dutta's Umrao Jaan for which budgets hit the roof and now we hear that director Ashutosh Gowarikar has even raised the bar for himself to an extent where the film may well end up exceeding the opulence of Mugal-e-azam.

Apparently, real gold and diamond jewellery is being used for the film starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.

As for the safekeeping, all jewellery has been kept in a special executive room, and all actors have to go there to wear their ornaments. Around 50 guards have been hired for the security of the jewellery alone.

The period film is being shot in Jaipur currently, and a team of 80 people has been designated for the styling of the jewellery that the cast will adorn.

Reportedly even the pagdi that will adorn Hrithik Roshan as Emperor Akbar will be custom made for him.

A leading tabloid quoted a source as saying, "Yes, there are several people who are specially taking care of the jewellery. Besides, all the actors are also taking personal interest in the jewellery."

"They have used emeralds, rubies and pearls, all specially designed for the film. They are all very expensive. For instance, a simple Rakhi on actor Sonu Sood's wrist costs around Rs 8 lakh."

Jodha-Akbar is a movie about the romance between Mughal king Akbar and his Rajput wife Jodhabai. The film confines itself to the period before Akbar reached the age of 27 and their son Salim was born.

As such, the film is essentially a young love story and maybe considered a prequel to the epic Mughal-e-Azam.

In his quest for historical accuracy Ashutosh has read Akbarnama, a biographical account of Akbar written by Abul Fazl, one of the Navaratans of Akbar抯 royal court and Ain-e-Akbari translation of Abul Fazal's Persian text. He has also consulted historians such as Irfan Habib of Aligarh Muslim University.

AR Rehman will provide the musical score for the film and Javed Akhtar will pen its lyrics.

Fans are still angry with Rani..

After a two day lull, shooting of Rani Mukherjee-starrer and Yash Raj banner film Choodiyan invited public ire again in this holy city.

The trouble started this morning when the entire crew, including Rani Mukherjee, Konkona Sen and director Pradeep Sarkar, was about to begin the shooting at Manikarnika Ghat.

Owing to barricades, some devout were unable to visit the Siddhi Vinayak temple to offer prayers, which provoked public resentment. The public anger was fuelled by Shiv Sena activists, led by Gulshan Kapoor, who reached the spot.

Local residents and Shiv Sainiks raised anti-film and anti-Rani slogans, demanding shooting be stopped at the ghat, which is mythologically a famous cremation site.

Intervention by police and film crew prevented the matter from exacerbating and the shooting commenced. Since November 12, the shooting of the film has been punctuated by protests and disturbances. First, it was the media personnel, who were allegedly manhandled by the private security guards escorting the film crew.

The next day, Rani rebuffed the media at a news conference. Later, Kranti Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena started pitting against the films shooting, particularly against the hazel-eyed actress.

John Abraham dresses up in Baabul

Actor John Abraham has swapped his customary grunge look for matured urban chic in "Baabul", says his dress-designer for the film.

"The audience has always seen John in a puerile look in a pair of jeans with or without a T-shirt. I have tried to make him look good with clothes on," said designer Narendra Kumar, who planned the hunky star's "Baabul" wardrobe.

Kumar, who stressed on the cut and fit of the couture, said: "It is a mature film and John's character demanded a grown up look. Hence, I have designed a hip line of casual suits and sherwanis (traditional attire) for him."

"Great emphasis has been placed on detailing, the cut and fit to give John a completely new shape. There are jackets that will highlight an urban chic look," Kumar told.

The colour palette moves from beige to cream and blue to darker shades. Kumar has also used linen splendidly but not much of texturing has been done with the fabric, which is festooned with Indian thread work and appliqu

Saif Ali Khan quits smoking!

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan too has joined an anti-tobacco campaign and started drinking a lot of water to give up cigarettes.

''I drink water every time I feel like having a cigarette and I kind of feel like I have achieved something really big,'' Khan told a national daily in an interview published on Wednesday.

He described smoking as disgusting and said it was ''a killer,'' but said he was unsure how long he would be able to keep away from cigarettes.

''There is a high chance that I will go back to that deadly addiction, but I hope not,'' the daily quoted him as saying.

Bollywood's top actor Shah Rukh Khan also is trying to quit smoking.

Last year, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss wrote to Shah Rukh Khan, asking him to join an anti-tobacco campaign.

Health experts say teenagers who watch films in which stars smoke are three times more likely to try smoking, and those whose favorite stars light up on screen are 16 times more likely to have positive attitudes toward smoking.

A World Health Organisation survey of tobacco use in movies made by India's massive, prolific Hindi-language film industry - dubbed ''Bollywood'' - showed that more than 76 per cent of its most popular films in 1991 to 2002 depicted some sort of tobacco use, mostly cigarettes.

The WHO says tobacco claims 5 million lives a year. According to government statistics, more than 800,000 Indians die each year from smoking-related illnesses.

SRK is a selfless actor: Isha

Praises galore for Shah Rukh Khan. No it is not Kareena Kapoor - this time around Bollywood Baadshah has cast his spell on Isha Koppikar.

She is completely in awe of Shah Rukh after working with him in "Don - The Chase Begins". She is still reeling from the "Don" hangover.

"I'm elated. 'Don' has been an entertaining and fulfilling experience. Shah Rukh is a great guy and a selfless actor. He's not just concerned about his performance but worries about everyone present on the set. He has a great sense of humour and is very young at heart. Even Farhan Akhtar is full of life," said Isha.

Isha has an interesting line up of upcoming films including "Salaam-E-Ishq", "Shabri" and "Darling".

Isha Koppikar

Madhuri is coming back in a Yashraj Film

Actress Madhuri Dixit will stage a comeback to the Bollywood early next year, director Yash Chopra said today.

"Madhuri will be staging a comeback to Bollywood in a film directed by Anil Mehta under the banner of Yash Raj films," he told reporters here.

The acting schedule of the film casting Madhuri will commence in first week of January next, he said.

Madhuri, who gave several hit films, is married to a US-based doctor and is a mother of two children.

Chopra, however, refrained from divulging the details including name of the film.

The Bollywood director, who was in the city to attend a meeting of Chandigarh Tourism Advisory Forum, was not averse to the trend in the film industry to make sequel to hit movies.

"Every one has a right to make a movie," he said, adding he, however, would not come up with a film which was a re-make of earlier hit movies.

Chopra said during the next year as many as six movies would be released by his company.

Dad buys some time for Ash!

The mystery over the postal parcel containing 23,000 euros (Rs.3.7 million) and addressed to Bollywood glamour girl Aishwarya Rai continues, even as the actor's father Krishnara Rai was Wednesday questioned by sleuths of the Customs department.

Mumbai Commissioner of Customs (Imports) A.K. Prasad said Krishnara Rai had visited the customs office on behalf of his daughter who is out of station.

According to sources, Rai said his daughter was away in Jaipur for a film shoot and would be returning only on Monday.

"He (Krishnara) came in connection with the replies and queries regarding the postal package containing 23,000 euros. He was very cooperative, in fact both he and Aishwarya have been very cooperative. Her gave us satisfactory answers to all our queries," Mumbai Commissioner of Customs A.K. Prasad told reporters here.

Aishwarya, served a notice by the department seeking her clarification regarding the packaging of the parcel, is in Jaipur for a film shoot.

Prasad, however, did not divulge any details of the questioning.

The packet, containing foreign currency was addressed to Aishwarya's new residence "La Mer" on the Bandra Sea face in north suburban Mumbai.

Prasad said the package, which also contained the cash, was sent from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, with an attached declaration saying it had a branded shirt, a pair of binoculars, a DVD player and other electronic goods.

The customs officials have also declined to disclose the consignee's name.

Angelina is loving it in Mumbai

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie on Wednesday shot at various locations in the city, including a McDonald's outlet, for `A Mighty Heart', a film on slain American journalist Daniel Pearl.

The film, based on a book written by Mariane Pearl, wife of the Wall Street Journal reporter who was abducted and killed in Pakistan four years ago, will continue to be shot in the metropolis over the next one week.

Jolie, who plays Mariane Pearl, shot at the McDonald's outlet at Colaba in south Mumbai and later proceeded to Famous Studios at Tardeo in Central Mumbai for a recording.

The actress, who flew into the city last week after over a month of shooting in Pune, is expected to stay in Mumbai, where Daniel lived for some years, for another week.

Jolie, her partner Brad Pitt and their three children have been under intense media scrutiny ever since they landed in India for the film, being produced by Pitt's company Plan B.

During her shooting schedule in Mumbai, the actress has shot at various locations, including a crowded suburban train and one of the city's busiest markets at Mohammed Ali Road.