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I do know what women want: John Abraham

"My brand called John Abraham is being launched," John announces with some pride and much affection.

Known for dressing nattily this was an offer from the international clothes brand Wrangler. " Like the Sean John collection in New York, we'll have the John Abraham collection of clothes in Asia. The clothes are going to carry my name and signature."

John promises to wear only John Abraham clothes once they are out. "They'd reflect my personality and the kind of clothes that I feel comfortable wearing. I'd see no need to wear other brands because my collection would have everything that I sartorially aspire to."

John's designers would be from Milan and London and are the same guys who design for Deisel. "This deal is being franchised through Arvind Mills who are the biggest denim manufacturers in the world.

I don't know whether you're aware. But some of the biggest jeans labels like Diesel, True Religion and Seven are manufactured in Tirupur in South India by Arvind Mills and then out-sourced to various Western countries.

The John Abraham Collection will come out of the same factory. The only difference is, the prices will be economized for the Asian market. A pair of jeans with my name will cost anything from 25,00-4,000 rupees in India."

Women need not feel left out. "There's a ladies lineup of clothes that I went to inspect myself. They're lovely. I think women are going to be very satisfied slipping into John Abraham. I do know what women want," he chuckles.

"I mean, I know what I'd like to see women wear. This is the first time that Wrangler US has lent its name for a private clothes collection. And that's because their growth in India after I became their ambassador has been noticeable. That's why Wrangler decided to be gracious to me."

John has obviously swung a very lucrative deal. "The John Abraham Collection is going to take care of a LOT of things in my life in the next five years, including paying for my marriage, and my honeymoon.

Financially I'm always in the red because I'm always trying to invest. In fact at this very moment I'm in the red. But that only makes me work harder all the time."

Is John sure he won't like to wear other brands once his own label comes in? "I'd be very upset with myself if I didn't find everything I want to wear within my brand. And I want my men and women audience to wear only John Abraham clothes. The line-up is very retro. This is one more way to connect with my fans."

Speaking of fan experience how do they react to John. "It's very sweet. They pull my hair, touch my abdominal muscles. But this time when I was on the red carpet in Toronto for Kabul Express I got a nice pinch on my butt.

I turned around and saw the girl smiling and boasting to her friend. 'Don't you do that again,' I told her with a smile. My security guys go through a nightmare when I'm out. But I enjoy it. Only, sometimes they scratch you. And that's painful."

I only wear short skirts at home: Aishwarya Rai

From the martyr in Umrao Jaan to the moll in Dhoom 2厃ou give audiences a culture shock when you go from the old-world charm of Umrao to the hip-and-cool attitude of Dhoom two weeks later.

Isn't that fantastic? I don't play the typical 'Mona Darling' in Dhoom 2. I play this petty thief who thinks she's pretty cool. My character thinks she's smarter than the smartest. She's a sassy girl and at the same time she 's a cool dude. I'm neither super-cool diva nor an egg-head. I'm girl who wants to be one of the action guys.

Q: There was a huge expectation from Dhoom 2.
The kind of response the promos and my look have evoked does bring a smile to my face. It's interesting, but a large part of my career as an actress has been devoted to roles that are traditionally Indian. And I do love being in a Sari. It's my most comfortable apparel. And I've worn it at both national and international events with great pride.

Q: In fact you've made the sari fashionable at international events. Even Oprah wore it.
(laughs) That was too too much, wasn't it? Yes, I've worn the sari, even to Cannes when I went there with Sanjay Bhansali and Shah Rukh for Devdas. Strangely when I came in through the modeling-Miss World route, people presumed I'd fit into the westernized roles.

To my delight most of my roles from my first film Iruvar to Umrao Jaan have been very very Indian. And I'm very proud of it. But now Dhoom 2 gives me a chance to be more cosmopolitan on screen. I like that as well.

Q: How was the Dhoom look decided?
It started when Aditya Chopra came home to offer me Kajra re. He commented on how restrained I was in my conduct, that I'm always perceived as a lady. That's the way Aditya liked to see me on screen. But a change was tempting. Dhoom is high on the hot and sexy elements. It's high on style and fashion. My look was determined by the film's mood.

Of course I'm not a stranger to western clothes. A lot of my public appearances are in shirts and jeans. And at home I'm comfortable in short demin skirts. But I haven't really walked the streets of Mumbai in them. But yes, the look in Dhoom was a new experience.

It was a clever move for Adi to shoot Dhoom 2 in Brazil and Rio. Everyone was in shorts. We were over-dressed! There was no question of feeling self-conscious. The crew had a blast.

Everyone had to look his or her best in every frame. As Duggu (hrithik) put it, it wasn't vanity. It was just the need of the hour. We had to constantly pay attention to our hair, clothes, body language. The Look is an essential element of every scene in Dhoom 2.

Q: Was it difficult to get into Dhoom mode after being so Indian?
Not at all. In fact I'm again very very Indian in my post-Dhoom release Guru. To give the audience a chance to see me in so many distinct roles so many times puts me in a very special place. It doesn't happen very often in this industry, and certainly not to us female actors. The varied roles are a blessing.

I've tried to keep it versatile from the start of my career. But wanting something isn't the same as getting it. Opportunities like Umrao Jaan, Dhoom 2, Guru and now Jodha-Akbar have come to me. It's very flattering to know directors like JP, Mani and Ashutosh Gowariker think of me for such hugely challenging parts.

Q: Hrithik thinks the two of you make the best-looking couple?
That's very sweet of him. You guys will have to decide how good we look together. But I certainly enjoyed working with Hrithik. Yes, at one time there was a hesitation to cast us together because we were supposed to have similar skin and eyes. But when we finally shot together, everything fell into place.

Actually on the first day of Dhoom there was a silence after we shot. And we were like, 'Okaaayyyyy'. Then director Sanjay Gadhvi came up to us and said, 'Everybody is stunned. You guys are looking awesome together.'

Hrithik and I cracked up, because we remembered how we had first met at Vidhu Vinod Chopra's house. Vidhu wanted to cast us together for Mission Kashmir and he kept telling us to look at each other. Hrithik and I were in splits.

Q: How was it coping with Hrithik's level of commitment?
That degree of commitment came naturally to all of us in Dhoom. It certainly didn't seem unnatural to me to give so much to the camera or in the preparation.

Q: Would you say Abhishek and Hrithik are very different in their approach to their roles?
I had worked with Hrithik earlier during a world tour. Hrithik himself says he has loosened up a lot since then. He had lots of fun in Dhoom.

As for Abhishek I've known him much much longer. He's always having fun on the sets. It relaxes him and makes the atmosphere on the sets far more convivial.

Q: How hard is to get the externals of the Dhoom character right?
It's not just me, also my director, director, makeup-man and costume designer. Whether it's a costume drama like Umrao Jaan or just the plain minimalist look in Guru, there's a lot of hard work involved every single day for every film. It doesn't matter whether the look is plain or ornate.

Umrao was elaborate because of the era. But we were clear that Umrao would be bejewelled during Mujra performances. Otherwise the character was simply dressed, much more subtler. Obviously Umrao Jaan can't be walking around in a housecoat. But I always believe less is more. I personally don't like too many embellishments.

Q: Your face is distraction enough.
Do you really think so? I've never thought of myself as beautiful.  

'I can't hug other girls' boyfriends'

Recently Bipasha hotted up the ramp with her not-so-secret other. "Walking the ramp with John was a normal experience. We do it all the time. And this was for a dear friend Rock S. Both John and I can never say no to Rocky. Otherwise walking the ramp is nothing exciting"

Bipasha then gets serious. "I think people should just stop speculating about my relationship with John. They said I was looking bored on the ramp and trying hard cover it up. Arrey! If I'm not seen with John it's a problem. If I'm seen with John it's a problem."

She sighs, "The kind of messages we got from friends and fans saying how good we looked together, was just so heartwarming. I guess John and I being together just doesn't make an exciting story. Now it's more exciting to say we're splitting. But let me tell you John and I aren't the kind of people to put up a front.

We didn't walk the ramp together to prove to people that we're together. We've enough confidence in our relationship and we don't need endorsement from the outside. Ooof, it's ridiculous! If our split makes news then there's nothing much we can do about that."

Reacting to stories about how she's 'clinging' to John, Bipasha retorts, "John is my boyfriend. Who else will I cling to? Certainly not to some other girls' boyfriends? John's are the arms I'm supposed to hold and mine are the arms he's supposed to hold on to.

I wouldn't exchange those arms for anyone else's

Aiswarya - Soon to be Mrs. Bachchan?

On 27th November when the Big B celebrated his father the late Harivanshrai Bahchchan's 99th birthday, he made some subdued but nonetheless momentous plans for the occasion. He performed a puja along with his family at a Varanasi temple on Monday.

"Normally we've a kavi sammellan in Lucknow initiated some years ago by Shri Atal Vajpayee who's a huge fan of my father's works. This year we're bypassing the kavi sammellan. My mother is critically ill. And none of us in the mood for public events," revealed Big B.

Instead the entire family collected at Varanasi to pay a homage to the Bachchan patriarch.

"Jaya was already shooting for Pradeep Sarkar's film in the Holy city. Abhishek who was shooting in Delhi came to Varanasi with his sister," he adds.

"My niece Namrata writes poetry. She's also a painter. Obviously she's the artiste in the family," says the Big B with obvious pride. "For my father's centenary next year Namrata will be translating his poetry. We're planning an English re-print of Madhushala as well as new English editions of his poetry."

He pauses to ponder before concluding, "I want my father's 100th birthday to be something special. But this year, just the small family puja in Varanasi will have to suffice."

Bollywood's first family arrived in the city on at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night. Aishwarya Rai, rumoured to be a special friend of the superstar's son Abhishek also took part in this special journey.

According to local administration officials, the high-profile guests drove down straight to the Taj Ganges hotel where 22 rooms were booked for them.

A high-security ring was put into place around the Shiva temple, which will be closed to devotees while the one-hour 'puja' was on. The 'mangala aarti' - prosperity invocation - was scheduled for 3.30 a.m. Monday.

The family also offered prayers at Ram Janaki temple near Sankat Mochan temple and participated in an aarti for Lord Hanuman there.

"They performed the rituals with great zeal. Amitabh and Jaya offered the jalabhishek (offering of water to the deity). I also requested Abhishek and Aishwarya to do so," Kashi Viswanath temple priest Srikant Tripathi was quoted by news agency as saying.

Quizzed on the reasons for Bachchans conducting such pujas, Tripathi said he was not aware of the reasons and that there was no specific ritual performed to reduce the influence of Mars on the actors.

The Varanasi administration was tight-lipped about the visit until the news leaked out Sunday morning. In Varanasi the Bachchans were joined by family purohit Chandramoily Uphadhaya. His presence too may be significant since he had overseen the wedding of daughter Shewta Nanda 10 years ago.

Amitabh was be accompanied by his actress-MP wife Jaya, daughter Shweta, brother Ajitabh and Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh.

However, it is the surprise inclusion of Aishwarya that gives the occasion a special significance, in view of earlier reports that the Bachchan family had consented to an Abhishek - Aishwarya wedding. This is the first time Aishwarya Rai is participating in a Bachchan family only event signaling Rai's acceptance as a member of the Bachchan family.

So was it just a ritual being conducted to observe the 99th birth anniversary of Big B's father Harivarnshrai Bachchan or some pre marriage puja for Ash and Abhishek as well?

Well, no one can say for sure.

Priyanka: No time for romance!

Priyanka Chopra is dead beat. She's up by 8 a.m. most days at the studio an hour-and-a half later and never home till 8 p.m.

"By then I'm so drained that I only want to crash," she reveals. So what about love? "What about it?" the star echoes. "I know this round like a clich

揌emaji, my face is sexy too,

Laugh time for Salman!

When Salman makes a friend it's for life. Whether it's Sajid Nadiadwala or Rumi Jaffery, he revels in the company of his dosts and even invents a new lingo so the conversations remain very private.

On the sets of Rumi's new film 'God Tussi Great Ho', Salman and his director buddy had a lot to laugh about. Using code language they would guffaw over jokes that only then understood till it was time for "Action".

Then, Salman would sober up in a jiffy, and so also Rumi. But as soon as the shot was canned the duo would back to cracking their jokes and playing their pranks. Ha, ha, hee, hee!

揂rre, Kya Karen! Shah Rukh saab didn抰 give us a chance,

Salman to play a cameo in 慔ey Baby

Nicole Kidman gave tips to Abhishek!

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan met Hollywood beauty Nicole Kidman in a party, thrown by famous watch brand Omega in Geneva, recently. Abhishek and Kidman both are international brand ambassador of Omega.

Abhishek was more than happy over his first interaction with the Oscar winning actress. Their firs meet, however wasn't limited to only hi-hello and exchanging good-wish smile. They even exchanged tips on acting. When contacted, Abhishek was sounded quite excited over telephone, "This is the first time I met Nicole Kidman actually. She's a wonderful lady and it feels great to meet another fellow actor from a different industry, exchanging tips and get some pointers." Fans are hoping Nicole's tips must have enriched the Chotta B.

Nicole Kidman


Abhishek Bachchan

"No one wants to sign me on" - Abhishek Bachchan  

According to Vidya Balan, Mani Rathnam's Guru is Abhishek Bachchan's show all the way. The child-man at the center of unstoppered attention is delighted. "Did Vidya really say that? So sweet of her. Any actor getting to work with Mani is lucky. I've worked with him twice and I feel twice lucky. He's a sheer pleasure to work with . Rest assured when you work with a director of Mani's caliber he's going to challenge you into discovering new areas of your personality. This is what has happened in Guru. Working with Mani is a huge learning experience

Sanjay Dutt's nephew to make debut  

Sanjay Dutt抯 nephew, Nilesh Sahaya is all set to make his debut in Bollywood. He has been signed for a film called Ek Duje Ke Liye to be produced by Deepak Shivdasani of Julie fame. Nilesh is the son of small time yesteryear actress Zaheeda who is Sanjay Dutts抯 cousin.

Nilesh considers Sanjay Dutt to be his greatest idol and his films are his favorites. In Ek Duje Ke Liye, he plays a romantic hero opposite Anishka Khosla who has earlier done plays. Talks are also on with Rekha and Vinod Khanna to play two pivotal characters in the film.

"There have been directors who were so possessive of me that they bad-mouthed me in front of other filmmakers so they wouldn't sign me" - Sunny Deol  

Why do you continue to be so media shy?
I've always been a very shy person. I'd rather let my work speak for me. Finally the audience judges you by what you do rather than what you say. Talking about yourself maybe the norm these days. But I'm not gonna change. I'm happy the way I am. If people like me, fine. If they don't, how much can I convince them that I am good?

You are specially uncomfortable on television

My choice: Suniel Shetty

Suniel Shetty picks his favourite actors and movies



Amitabh Bachchan : He's god for me. An institution of acting. His eyes convey his emotions. I love the way he would kick in the films. He was truly the finest action hero and a role model for men like me.I decided to be an action hero after watching Sholay. Amitji's every turn and every look was inspiring. He looked convincing defeating even an army.



Sanjay Dutt : His walk has attitude. His action has the punch. He doesn't need to raise his voice to convey his anger. One of my most favourite films of Sanju's is Sadak. He is vulnerable and macho at the same time. Very few action men can touch your heart the way Sanju does.



Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham. From the present generation, I have to name all three. They are responsible for our action sequences being at par with international standards. All three are very focused and aware about the happenings. They want to better themselves with every film. As a viewer they have me glued to the screen, I don't know what they will do next.

Must Watch

Sholay : Undoubtedly the best action film I've seen. The reason for it is that the action was backed with emotions. Not for a single second you feel restless. It was completely engrossing. The action was superb. There were no cars blowing up or high jumps. Still it had the impact.

Sadak : It was on the run romance with loads of action. Sanju was brilliant in the film. The action was mean and powerful. There was lots of bloodshed and gory sequences that made some people squirm.
But by and large everyone loved it, the film's success is proof enough.

Krrish : The best action film in recent times. Hrithik's really god's child. The boy is extremely dedicated. He gives his best to every scene and makes them breathtaking.  The shot where he flies is marvellous. So are all his other stunts.  Hrithik has done even the emotional scenes so well.  He is truly a superhero. For me,  after Krrish, he is the Indian James Bond.

Abhishek and Aishwarya have Twin Daughters in 'Guru'  

Mumbai, Dec 5: Well, seems like AB Jr. is now all ready to play 憄apa

Aishwarya Rai had to swim across a lake in GURU

Mani Ratnam does not settle for anything less than real. In the introduction song for Aishwarya Rai in GURU, Mani Ratnam wanted to shoot the song with Aishwarya cycling away. Infact the song composed by Rahman with lyrics by Gulzar had the beats of cycling too. But when it came to canning the song it had to wait until Aishwarya could learn cycling. Unfortunately, Ash had an accident while trying to learn cycling and so the song had to be abandoned altogether. In its place Rahman composed the song 慛anna Re

Boys want to take home a girl like Amrita Rao

When a hit film like VIVAH advocates arranged marriages it is bound to affect the young generation who is getting quite interested in the journey from engagement to marriage. And for our Amrita Rao, the girl who made it glamorous to be from a small town and simple, it has lead to thousands of marriage proposals for her. Her mother has the gracious task of declining the 慠ishtas

Bobby Deol turns dark in SHAKALAKA BOOM BOOM

Bobby Deol will turn dark for the film SHAKALAKA BOOM BOOM. He plays a reigning music star and will be seen sporting a very superstar-ish and suave look. Adding to his good looks is the fact he is in great shape and is supposed to be working out with complete dedication. People who're working with him in various projects are heard saying, 揌e is in great form professionally. He has interest levels at peak point as well as a maturity that makes him the wonderful person that he is.

John Abraham has no rivalry with Salman Khan

The dashing John Abraham isn't bothered by stories about his rivalry with Salman Khan , who stars along with him in the forthcoming film Babul .

There have been news reports about Salman making snide remarks about John and a squabble during the making of the film.  

揂ll I can do is brush it off with a smile. I really don't have time for all this,

How Kareena Kapoor will keep her weight in check

Apart from hitting the gym Kareena Kapoor has taken another decision in order to keep her weight in check.

Kareena has turned vegetarian and says cutting meat from her diet keeps her weight in check.

Kareena is happier, too, now that she is no longer responsible for killing animals, said a report.

But the recent change in diet has her parents worried she is becoming too thin, Kareena told a newspaper.

揑t's true that I used to love non-vegetarian food