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Jilted Saif turns to Kids now

Not too many people know how emotionally vulnerable Saif Ali Khan has become in recent months. The departure of ladylove Rosa has left him more attached to his two children Sarah and Ibrahim than ever before. It was under these vulnerable circumstances that Saif found himself bonding with two child actors Angelina Idnani and Haji Ali in New York while shooting for Yashraj Films' ready-to-release "Tara Rum Pum Pum". The two little actors not only regaled Saif throughout the extended three-month-long shooting schedule in New York, they virtually served as anchors and a great source of solace during those months of solitude. "I really did miss Sarah and Ibrahim while shooting there. The two kids, who play Rani (Mukerji) and my children in 'Tara Rum Pum Pum', were absolutely amazing on and off camera. They were not only the same age as my own children, they even kind of resembled them! For the first time I found myself quite attached to my little co-actors. So much so that I miss them now after shooting," Saif told. Saif has been spending a great deal of his time with his children. "That's partly because I was recovering after my illness at home. Now that I'm getting back to work, I won't have that much time for them, and that's a regret. I don't like to have them over on the sets. But I'll make sure I've time for them. That's one of the main reasons why I won't be working on Sundays any more."

I said I won't kiss but I did: Emraan Hashmi

Emraan Hashmi who by now is a pretty well-known face in Bollywood, speaks about his new film 'The Train.' Q: Did it take a lot of courage for you to play a father's role in 'The Train'? A: Yes it was very scary. I have to say that the girl was very talented and spontaneous too. But I was very nervous when I was supposed to shoot with her. Interesting thing is that being a senior person I should have helped her feel comfortable but she was trying to make me feel at ease, actually. She has done a couple of ads and was intelligent. Q: But do you think playing a father was an altogether new experience for you, given your lover boy image otherwise? A: Now, I think what's new about this film is I play a father who loses out his daughter whom he loves very much. And that was one of the main reason what made me feel scary of this role but at the same time this is the content which takes the story ahead. Q: Emraan, you have been saying that you will not do kissing scenes any more. A: Yeah! I agree with your point but it comes my way every time. However, I would also say that they are so convincing in the script that I cannot deny and also these emotional and intimate scenes are shot in a nice way. Q: Talking about the music that plays an important role in a film do you also ask about the music director of the film? A: Definitely music is very important for Indian films because there is a large audience which comes to watch movies only for its songs. The music also contributes to the pre-release publicity of the film. Fortunately all my films had talented music directors. I think the songs of my films have very much added to my popularity as well. Q: So, how is the response from your fans? A: It's awesome. They continue to pour in. Q: Geeta had worked with you before while Sayali is a newcomer. How was the compatibility with her? A: Well, it was all well working with her. After all she had been a Miss India, that itself was training in acting for her. As an actor I found her very responsive and she has done a fabulous job. Q: How challenging was your role in this film? A: Like I said playing something what you have never done or you do not relate to is obviously difficult. In this film it is drama which has a subtle tone to it. The dialogues are also very common and also very similar to how a common working couple interacts. Q: Tell us about your other films. A: My next release will be 'Good Boy Bad Boy' and after that it will be 'Aawarapan'. Q: What is 'Good Boy Bad Boy' all about? A: I play the Bad Boy here and it's a comedy film about youngsters and their college life. Q: And 'Aawarapan'? A: In this movie my role is a macho one and is larger than life. You will see me in a different look in the film. Q: Now-a-days every other actor is getting awards. Why Emraan Hashmi is not being considered for any award? A: Frankly speaking my award is when I go and see my film doing well and people coming to watch me in theatres. My ideal award will be the feedback from my audience. At the same time I am not dying for any award.

[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-4-2007 04:23 PM ]

Manisha Koirala goes back to Nepal but No one is Interested

The wedding of Bollywood power couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan dominated the headlines in Nepal as well, eclipsing the homecoming here of another Bollywood star, Manisha Koirala. Trumpeted as the "wedding of the year", the former Miss World's tying the knot with Abhishek, son of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, dominated showbiz news in Nepal Saturday, especially the Bollywood-style additional drama of a former girlfriend slashing her wrist in front of the Bachchans' bungalow, saying she was jilted. "'Lover' cuts wrist ahead of wedding", said the Kathmandu Post, reporting the attempt by a small-time actress and model who uses the screen name Jahnavi Kapoor, to slash her wrist Thursday night. "Jilted lover?" asked the Himalayan Times, carrying a photograph of Abhishek but not of Aishwarya. Instead, it was Kapoor's photograph that dominated the report, with her left wrist prominently bandaged. However, it was the official daily, the Rising Nepal, which gave the widest coverage to the much talked about wedding that took place in Mumbai Friday. The daily carried three reports. Despite functioning under a Maoist information minister who this month expressed his distaste for beauty pageants, the daily Saturday reported the "fairy tale wedding" complete with a photograph of the groom on horseback, his face covered with garlands and ornaments. It also covered Kapoor's "suicide" attempt as well as Bollywood director Shakeel S. Saifee's plan to make a film on Aishwarya's life. With the media focussing its attention on the young couple, Nepal's own daughter and film actor Manisha's homecoming went virtually unnoticed. Manisha, grandniece of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and granddaughter of B.P. Koirala, Nepal's first elected prime minister, came home for a quiet family visit Thursday. However, her popularity has taken a dive in her own country after she and her father Prakash Koirala supported King Gyanendra, who seized power through a coup two years ago and ruled Nepal for 15 months. Last year, Manisha's visit to Nepal triggered protests. Student groups enforced a "ban" on her films after she campaigned for the municipal election held by the king, an exercise that was boycotted by over 90 percent of the parties. The candidate she campaigned for lost and two months later, when the royal regime was ousted, Prakash Koirala lost his post as science and technology minister and was stripped of his MP status by his late father's Nepali Congress party. Manisha's homecoming prompted only a small acid report in a local weekly. "Manisha returning with folded hands again," the Jana Aastha weekly reported, speculating if she was returning to campaign once again for her father. Prakash Koirala, thrown out of the Nepali Congress, has subsequently formed a party of royalists - Nepali Congress (Rastrabadi). However, it is yet to register at the Election Commission for taking part in a crucial election that will seal the fate of Nepal's 238-year-old monarchy.

[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-4-2007 04:22 PM ]

Look-alikes entertain eager crowds at Abhi-Ash wedding

A large crowd of onlookers, gathered outside the Bachchan bungalow here Friday for a glimpse of what was touted as the wedding of the year, were entertained by some whose sole claim to fame was their resemblance to some stars. While Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai's wedding was out of bounds of all, the media included, except for a select list of stars and celebrities, the crowd was happy to catch Amitabh Bachchan amid them - till they realised that the man was only a look-alike of the super star. The man, who identified himself as Keshav Srivastava, was attired in the same way as Big B down to the saffron turban, and, unlike others in the crowd, had little difficulty in reaching up to the gates of "Jalsa", the Bachchan bunglow, just before Abhishek was to come out. His act, however, was soon over as the security personnel stopped him from proceeding further. "I had come to greet the couple," Srivastava later told media persons with a smile. As a small crowd gathered around him, Srivastava said he had come from Bhopal Wednesday especially for this event. At "Pratiksha", the Bachchans' other bungalow at Juhu, it was the turn of a Salman Khan look-alike to provide some amusement to the fans who were tired waiting to catch a glimpse of the star couple. While many initially thought the famous actor had come to attend the wedding, the man gave himself away by distributing false invitation cards for the wedding of another star couple as an elaborate joke. He was soon cornered by police and taken away.

[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-4-2007 04:28 PM ]

[table=98%][tr][td=2,1]Abhi thinks he's the luckiest![/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1]Marriage of the year? Looks more like the marriage of the century.

I cut through the appreciative screams to a flashback 9 years ago at a function to facilitate Anup Jalota where I saw Abhishek for the first time. He was with his mother, the ever -attentive son listening closely to every word she said

Why Rani is not invited either

A very surprising omission from Abhishek and Ash's wedding guest list is Rani Mukherji Rani has worked with Abhishek in several films, the two are known to be good pals and share an awesome onscreen chemistry. Apparently this friendship between Rani and Abhishek has resulted in the omission since Ash didn't want Rani to be invited for the wedding not being very ecstatic about her friendship and onscreen chemistry with Abhi. Industry insiders say that Rani and Ash haven't been able to see eye-to-eye ever since Rani replaced the latter in Shah Rukh Khan's home production Chalte Chalte. There have been times when Rani has tried to communicate with Ash, but has received the cold shoulder. Thus, although Rani shares a good rapport with the Bachchans, she has been kept out of the guest list.

[table=98%][tr][td=2,1]Aishwarya Rai is a Wild Cat![/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1]Unlike 44-year-old Demi Moore (who is married to 29-year-old actor Ashton Kutcher) or 40-year-old Halle Berry (who is dating 31-year-old model Gabriel Aubry), Ash is only two years older than Abhishek Bachchan, but we still think calling Aishwarya Rai a Cougar still applies.

Cougar is the new term for an older woman who is open to liaisons with younger men, or 慶ubs

KBC made only SRK Crorepati

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan signed off the first season of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" with his characteristic flourish in a special two-and-a-half hour show with Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif who took home Rs.1 crore. The grand finale Thursday night was long, but had viewers hooked as Priyanka-Kareena came on first followed by Salman-Katrina, the first time the much talked about couple has opened up about their relationship. The star of the evening was, however, the irrepressible Salman Khan who brought the house down with his antics. When launched on Jan 22, the initial response to the show was lukewarm. Comparisons with the original host Amitabh Bachchan were inevitable. And everybody, from the media and the viewers to critics and fans, dissected the minutiae of each action, nuance and gesture that Shah Rukh made. But soon the comparisons stopped and people started enjoying the show. From Monday to Thursday, it became a kind of stress buster, generating energy and fun thanks to its charming host. SRK managed to give the otherwise serious quiz show a makeover with his witticisms and warmth. When the show completed two weeks, the television audience measuring body (TAM) report showed the show had had a decent start. KBC 3 opened with TRPs of 12.33 on Monday, came down to 10.44 on the second day and dipped to 7.36 on day three. By Thursday, the TRP graph had moved up to 9.24. Expectations hadn't been high to begin with because the introduction of CAS had affected the overall TRPs of almost all television programmes. The first season of KBC had started with 20 plus ratings - and the entire blame was put on Shah Rukh. But King Khan remained unnerved. He kept innovating - giving away watches, offering a thinking cap, warmly hugging contestants. It all worked in his favour. Those who had initially rebuffed the show started returning to it and the ratings picked up. "Khan ka gyan" gradually took over from Bachchanisms. Flying kisses replaced warm handshakes, "kuchha kuchha-pucca-pucca" and "computerda/bhai/anna" became the new buzzwords. The OMS-Hansa Research survey revealed that 69 percent people liked the way Shah Rukh conducted the show. "My friends and I returned to the quiz show after being initially put off by Shah Rukh, whom we constantly compared with Amitabh," said Kunal Pandey, a Delhi-based executive. He brought in celebrities like Arbaaz Khan, Malaika Arora, Karan Johar, Farah Khan, Farhan and Zoya Akhtar, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, Sanjay Dutt and Boman Irani, adding glitter to the already glamorised show. Later he presented some of the participants with cricket bats and just a few weeks back actually gave away nine cars to the nine participants of the 'fastest finger first' contest. "It might sound a little material, that I keep giving away watches, cricket bats during the World Cup season, and whatever I can get hold of in terms of what is special to me. But I think the car idea is not very original. There is someone else who has done it before? "Yes, Oprah Winfrey. She had given away cars to the audience. If I could afford it, I would actually give away Rs.20 million to everyone," Shah Rukh was quoted as saying in an interview. Shah Rukh's only grudge was that nobody could win Rs.20 million (Rs 2 crores). In the last season too, which came to an abrupt end due to Amitabh's illness, none of the contestants were able to bag the big prize money. Shah Rukh has promised to keep in touch with his fans through blogs and messages. He said: "I'll be honest and say maybe not with the frequency I have been right now - but say once a month or so I'll definitely be on. Because once I move on from KBC I have to go and finish some of the work I'm doing just now on my film." When Shah Rukh returns, he might not have to struggle to get the attention. People may start missing the daily dose of humour and fun.

[table=98%][tr][td=2,1]Now Saif can feel Schumacher's pain[/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1]Saif Ali Khan, who plays a racecar driver in the forthcoming film Tara Rum Pum Pum, now knows what former Ferrari frontman Micheal Schumacher must have felt like inside his F1 car.

says Saif, 揂 race car has no doors, and once you抮e locked in there, it抯 extremely hot. the car starts heating up because of the speed, and it feels like a metal coffin in there.

It was also hard for me to breathe, so I discussed this with a racecar driver. He said, 慣he only way you抮e going to get through this is if you WANT to do it.

Preity steps out of Yash Raj Camp

Preity Zinta has taken one giant step for herself and has moved out from the Yash Raj camp for once. National award-winning director Jahnu Barua (Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara) has managed a coup of sorts, getting Preity Zinta and Shiney Ahuja together on screen. The mahurat shot was filmed on Shiney in the presence of Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Rakesh Roshan and film financer Bharat Shah here yesterday. Talking to reporters, Barua said 'Har Pall' was a sensitive emotional story with a motto that each and every moment of life is important and to be cherished. Refusing to divulge any further details about the film, Barua said 'Har Pall' is based in Mumbai and will be extensively shot in Kolkata, Shillong and here. To a question on when the film would go on the floor, he replied, ''very soon. It will be a two month schedule which will be completed in September. I plan to release the film during Puja (October),'' he added. Mr Dasmunsi described Barua as one of the most talented film directors of recent times and said he had come for the mahurat shot out of his friendship with Barua and the film's producer Tito. 'Tito had sponsored one of my football matches in Kolkata,'' he added. Shiney plays the role of an advertisement agency executive based in Mumbai. ''The film is about how I come to stay in a flat and meet Preity who is my neighbour. It is a love story and I liked the narration of the story,'' he added. Barua described Shiney as a commendable actor. ''I have seen some of his work,'' he said. When asked whether Amitabh Bachchan was part of the cast, Barua did not confirm nor deny it. Sources said Big B is almost certainly part of the cast. ''The official announcement has not been made because the veteran actor has been busy with his son's wedding,'' he added.

Preity Zinta

Saif is back with a Bang

Actor Saif Ali Khan is back on the Bollywood turf. Even as he gets ready to shoot after a longish illness, he has re-started his work with an ad campaign for a popular clothes brand last week. He flies to Dubai to shoot for Abbas-Mustan's Race now, not before saying 'yes' to a number of projects after a long break from accepting offers. He has green-lighted Kunal Kohli's new filmas he shares a cool comfort level with him after Hum Tum. Saif has also said 'yes' to two other projects. One is a Yashraj film featuring Kareena Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Akshay Kumar.the other project is with with Karan Johar (to be directed by his assistant Tarun Mansukhani) to which he抯 agreed to in principle. Does the presence of Abhishek and Aishwarya pose a problem? He says, "None at all. I've been in so many films with very major co-stars. I mean, I shared screen space with Mr Bachchan in Eklavya. I didn't allow myself to be awed by him. That never works in a film or in my performance."

Ash-Abhi: What happened on the Mehandi Day?

On the second of the three-day celebrations, a traditional henna ceremony -- in which the bride's hands are painted -- was due to be held late Thursday at Rai's house in Mumbai, India's entertainment capital. The marriage itself is set to take place marry on Friday in a traditional Hindu ceremony. Crowds of fans strained for a glimpse of the stars outside the two seaside residences of the Bachchans, as well as outside Rai's home. "I've been waiting for two days (to see the pair)," said 26-year-old fan Ramakant Shukla, a waiter who travelled from the eastern Indian city of Patna to Mumbai's entertainment capital for the celebrations. Unlike usual Indian weddings where the guest list can run into thousands of people, the Hindu ceremony late on Friday will be restricted to close friends and family out of deference to Bachchan's grandmother, who is ill in hospital and reported to be very keen to see her grandson wed. The ceremonies kicked off on Wednesday with elaborately choreographed song-and-dance routines at the Bachchan residence and bride-to-be Rai was reported to have returned home in the early morning hours. Only 100 guests have been invited to the wedding, and more than 500 police are expected to be on hand to keep out gatecrashers, according to media reports. The local post office reported that fan letters and gifts were flooding in for the couple from across the country, and even from as far away as London and New York. "It has been a tough day today and the mail is pouring in," said postman S. Shinde. "We expect more." The three-day wedding ends with a traditional parting of the bride from her parents. The pair have starred together in at least five movies and are seen as a dynamite box office duo. Bollywood movies have a huge following around the world, especially in nations with a large Indian diaspora such as Britain, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa. The couple known as "Abhiash" -- India's answer to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's "Brangelina" -- were engaged in January. Huge efforts have been made to keep the festivities private and to exclude the media. The Bachchans have asked owners of neighbouring buildings not to allow photographers crews to shoot pictures from roofs while the gates of Bachchan's residence are now mirrored so fans trying to peer inside would see only their refection -- in line with an Indian custom to ward off the evil eye.

Aishwarya Rai & Abhishek Bachchan

[table=98%][tr][td=2,1]Of course, I wasn't drunk: Tusshar Kapoor[/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1]Last week director Apoorva Lakhia shot yet another song for his upcoming production, Shoot Out At Lokhandwala.

All five actors, including Viveik Oberoi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Rohit Roy and Aditya Lakhia, actually got drunk while shooting for the raunchy number!

The song is called Ay Ganpat, chal daru la (Ganpat, bring the booze) and has been written/ sung by Mika. Remo has choreographed showing this motley group of gangsters celebrating their good fortune at a bar. Its been shot indoors, and also atop an open-roof bus from Colaba to Chowpatty so you can see half the city.

Akshay will no longer rescue girls

With quite a few box office hits in his kit, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar says he is no longer interested in doing formula roles. After wrapping up the shooting schedule of Priyadarshan's next movie 'Bhool Bhaliya', Akshay says he is doing the role of a psychiatrist in the film which is a psycho- thriller. 'Bhool Bhaliya,' the character offers little bit of humour in it and it is not a very serious kind, he says. Akshay says, he is not too happy to do 'heroic' roles. "Initially I did quite a few movies, in which I was not sure what I was doing in the movies. I just accepted roles that came my way like every actor who wants to establish himself in Hindi movies. "But, now I am uncomfortable to accept roles where I am asked to do the 'Save heroine from villain kind of roles,", he says. "I think I have reached this stage in my career only because I had faith in myself and my abilities. I have never been part of so called camps. Still I am lucky enough to have carved a niche for myself," he says. Akshay elaborates and says, he does not mind doing a cameo appearance in the film if the character is strong. "Let me tell you the role I did in Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Khaki' was not actually written for me. It was to be done by Paresh Rawal. But, when it was offered to me I grabbed it because it was a strong character." He says, he does not belong to any "camp", but still managed to get a variety of roles. " It is easy to say because of certain camps or some people, one could not make it. But, I feel hard work with some luck,you can always survive, Forget any field you are in," he says. "My funda in life is simple. While working in my movies, I don't think i am working, I think that I am playing. This ensures that the job does not become monotonous and makes work fun, he says. The actor points out that earlier, movies were based on society and relationships. But the society has changed in the last tow decades and cinema too has changed accordingly. Indian cinema no way lags behind in terms of technology, scripts , performance, budget etc. "I think there is no harm in remaking the movies differently. Farhaan Akthar has done exactly that. It is not a bad idea I liked the way Don was made," he says on the 'remake' controversy. Today you don't need to writers who use pure, grammatically correct Hindi in the script. You use language that appeals to the audience, Akshay says. "People may be critical of Hindi movies . But I feel today when there is an audience of masala movies there is also an audience of movies like 'Khosla ka Ghosla,' 'Pyaar ke side effects' or what we call parallel cinema. Multiplexes have changed Hindi cinema," he says. There are films that do well in north India, there are films which do at small centres and still there are films like Rang de Basanti which get universal appeal, he says. Akshay says, he was not satisfied the way the sequence of 'Hera Pheri' was made, despite the fact that the film did well at the box office. Still I feel, it was lacking soul in it. As a cinema lover, I liked the first part of 'Hera Pheri' he says.

[table=98%][tr][td=2,1]I knew most of the answers too: Shah Rukh Khan[/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1]Shah Rukh is about to take a long-due sabbatical. "I want to take time off with my kids, and also work on a project that's very precious to me. I want our production company to become truly FX-savvy. "

Shah Rukh is currently looking at various creative and business options for this cherished project. "When I am asked what next, then I guess this is what I want to do next. This is where my heart is at the moment. I want our FX to be comparable with the best in the world. Dhoom 2 and Don got it right. I want to take the optical illusions even further."

As excited as ever, SRK says, "For me there're no real challenges. I need to create them."

Shah Rukh has been in too many places at the same time. His hugely enjoyable stint on KBC is over. "I'm just about done with all the episodes. I had myself a good time, I don't know about the others," he jokes. "But I wouldn't mind returning with another season. Let' s see, talks are on."

Talk veers to contestants with acting cocky or nervous on the show. "It happens匢 took it all in my stride. For example the lady who chose to say she wasn't a fan of mine. That's her choice and I respect it. She was a school teacher and probably thought of actors in a particular way. I respect that.

What is there to get upset about it? Incidentally she spoke to me after the show and explained her point of view to me. I was also asked why I gave away watches to some contestants who were eliminated and not to others. My watches, my choice I guess."

But Shah Rukh was very clear about the motive and purpose behind his interactions on KBS. "I wanted the contestants to carry back that experience with them as a special one.

Otherwise there would be no real purpose behind the exercise. Yes, I knew most of the answers to the questions. But when I didn't, I made sure I asked Siddharth Basu (he and I go back a long way to the time both of us did English theatre together in Delhi) or someone else on the sets.

Yes, KBC was fun. I like my work to be fun, and I make sure it is. Which is I don't want to do the kind of films I don't enjoy watching. With due respects, I don't want to be in the so-called offbeat films. I'd rather do my enjoyable stuff. Farah's film Om Shanti Om which I'm now shooting is again a lot of fun.

Shah Rukh is making his choices really well at the moment. Family gets top priority. "I decided to see you now while my son has gone to his friend's birthday party."

We're in Shah Rukh's newly done-up office. And Shah Rukh is looking as boyish, exuberant and ultra-energetic as the last time I met him. He now needs to take a break

Where`s the party tonight? At Ash`s place

The Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai blockbuster union has the perfect Bollywood cast. From lead stars to the guest-list, the credits for their Friday wedding are ready to roll with designer dresses, special henna and flowers flown in from Kerala. Wedding eve will see a lavish mehndi ceremony at the former Miss World's residence in Bandra. As has been the norm for all the events connected with the wedding of the year, only select guests have been invited for the occasion Thursday evening. The equally private sangeet Wednesday, from whatever glimpses one could procure, was an extravagant affair too with starry guests like Ajay Devgan, Preity Zinta and Sachin Tendulkar adding glitter and glamour to the gala evening at the Bachchan's Juhu residence Prateeksha. The ceremony that kick-started revelries for the AbhiAsh wedding saw a colour theme of purple and blue with close friends Anil Ambani, Subroto Roy, Amar Singh and uncle Ajitabh Bachchan playing host. All the Kapoors, with the exception of Babita, Kareena and Karisma, have been invited for the three-day festivities. Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav will be there to bless the couple. Ramesh and Rohan Sippy, Yash Chopra and family, Karan Johar, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Goldie Behl and Apoorva Lakhia will also be there on D-Day. Also on the list are old friends like Danny Denzongpa and Romesh Sharma. Though it is a very private affair and entire Bachchan clan and their friends tight-lipped about the wedding, some details have seeped out. Sources revealed that extravagant arrangements are being made for the wedding. Nihar henna from Sojat in Rajasthan has been ordered. It will be used for Aishwarya's mehndi ceremony. Aishwarya's favourite designer Neeta Lulla has designed some dresses while others who have contributed to her trousseau -- and Abhishek's wardrobe -- are Sandeep Khosla and Abu Jani. Jaya Bachchan picked up jewellery with exquisite workmanship for her would-be daughter-in-law in Kolkata and silk saris from Varanasi have also been ordered. According to the reports, 1,000 heliconia flowers will come from Kerala to decorate the mandap. Special traffic arrangements have been made for the baraat. Mumbai traffic police have agreed to divert traffic for half an hour so that Abhishek can ride a white horse on his wedding day. Tight security arrangements have been made to keep away media and onlookers. The authorities in Mumbai have reportedly deployed 500 policemen to keep unwanted guests away. The two Bachchan bungalows - Prateeksha and Jalsa - have been converted into fortresses. The gates are manned by gun-toting security guards and it is virtually impossible for outsiders to get glimpse of the fabulous wedding extravaganza.

Aishwarya Rai pumps up the Brand Bachchan value

With the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai entering the Bachchan family-fold, the 揃achchan brand

Amitabh Bachchan apologises for scuffle between media, security

Bollywood mega superstar Amitabh Bachchan has apologised for a scuffle between media and security guards outside his residence in Mumbai.

The scuffle left three photo-journalists injured and Bachchan said on Sunday that his friend Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's bodyguards were involved in the incident."I would like to apologise with folded hands for the incident that occurred yesterday. It is an occasion of happiness for us and we don't want anyone to face problems due to this," he said, referring to strict security arrangements in place at his bungalow Prateeksha for the marriage of his son Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai .

"The security personnel involved in the incident were not our guards but the Black Cat commandos of Amar Singh. He and his security personnel have gone but I would like to apologise," he said shortly after returning here from a visit to the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala with the newly- weds.

The photo-journalists were injured when members of the media scuffled with security guards outside Prateeksha in suburban Juhu while Abhishek and Ash were heading for the bungalow after the 'bidaai' ceremony in Bandra.

Journalists later staged a protest against the incident Saturday night.

Bachchan said the newly-wed couple was in a hurry to return home as Ash had to enter the bungalow before sunset and a doctor was waiting to attend to Amar Singh.

He said the Bachchan family was not maintaining a distance from the media but had only wanted to ensure that Abhishek's wedding was a "personal affair".



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 23-4-2007 05:31 PM ]

Will Preity Zinta be the next to tie the knot?

Among the most eligible girls in Bollywood, Preity Zinta looks like the one who might tie the nuptial knot next.

It has been nearly two years since Preity and Ness Wadia (Bombay Dyeing heir) have been dating. The couple is often seen together in public, private functions and social dos.

Their relationship has withstood the test of time. During their courtship, there have been rumours of their split many times. There has also been grapevine that Preity does not get along with Ness抯 mother Maureen Wadia well enough. But the ultimate test of their relationship came recently when former actress Suchitra Krishnamoorthy accused Preity of having an affair with her husband Shekhar Kapoor and claimed that Preity was responsible for breaking their marriage. Preity strongly denied Suchitra抯 allegations.

Through all this thick and thin, Preity and Ness have stood by each other. The two were recently spotted together at the wedding of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.

As for their own marriage, Preity and Ness are not willing to comment anything. Yes, a few weeks back, Preity did give a hint. She had said in an interview: 揋et ready for a big announcement.

Salman encourages Saif to take up painting

Post his break up from ex-girlfriend Rosa, Saif Ali Khan has been experiencing the quietude of being single again.

Saif made no bones about admitting in an interview recently that he sometimes feels lonely and longs for a partner again in his life. However, the actor also said that he is enjoying his single status and he plans to stay so for some time.

To help Saif do something creative during his reflective days, Salman Khan , who is a friend to him, has been encouraging Saif to take up painting and sketching.

Salman has given Saif some basic tips about sketching (form, proportion and perspective etc.). Saif has shown interest in the art and is pretty impressed by Salman抯 skills.

Inspired by Sallu, Saif has made one or two sketches so far. Saif now looks forward to hone his skills with pencil and paintbrush further in the coming months.

By the way, Saif already has a very good sense for music. He is quite a deft guitar player.

As for Bollywood, Saif is ready to immerse himself in work. He will soon begin shooting for Abbas Mastan movie Race . Saif has also given his nod to director Kunal Kohli抯 next movie and a Yashraj production that will star Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor .

For the time being, Saif is looking forward to the release of his movie Tara Rum Pum on April 27.

Salman Khan

Saif Ali Khan