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Exhausted Shah Rukh leaving India!

Exhausted with hectic shooting schedules, Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan has all set to go for a sabbatical for a while.

Over the last few months, he's been busy on the sets for shooting films; even he had hardly has any time to spend with his kids.

Wife Gauri Khan also has objections to his 9-to-9 shifts. As a dutiful husband and very affectionate father he wants to make up all the loss and that's why he has chosen this summer to spend fully with his family besides recharging himself.

As per reports, Shah Rukh wants to go London, and enjoy the summer vacation with wife and sons. No disturb, please.

揑 can relax now,

Vivek: Ash gone, but not hope!

Actor Vivek Oberoi is down sure, but not out. It has been being said that Vivek Oberoi's filmy career is almost finished, his two last releases have bombed at the box office, girlfriend Aishwarya Rai parted way and he seems to be sulking.

However, the persons saw him closely on the sets of Vishal Bhardwaj's 'Othello', said Vivek will soon be back to his original self. Vivek's next release 'Pyare Mohan' with Fardeen Khan is expected to be a hit, and in another development we got to know Ekta Kapoor has signed up Vivek for her next project to be directed by Sudhir Mishra. So Vivek still has enough reasons to keep faith in his star power. Right!

Vivek Oberoi


Aishwarya Rai

Kajol playing a blind gal in Fanaa?

After Rani Mukherji in 'Black', it's now her cousin Kajol's turn to portray a blind gal on screen.

There is a rumour in the air, Kajol, who's making her comeback in Yashraj Films' 'Fanaa' after a big sabbatical, playing a blind gal's role. However there's no official confirmation available yet, but the industry grapevine insists the news has been leaked by a reliable source and it is genuine. On asked Kajol refused to say much about her role as the agreement she had with Yashraj doesn't allow her to reveal much. In this Kunal Kohli directed movie, Aamir Khan playing a terrorist. It's the first film Aamir-Kajol playing together as lead pair.

揂sh is very sexy,

Karisma launches Eros Jewellery in Dubai

Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, brand ambassador of Eros Jewellery, has launched a new range of gold ornaments for the firm in Dubai.

The new collection was inaugurated here at the Dubai Bridal Show, which is a yearly event that showcases a wide range of apparels, cosmetics and jewellery.

"I am very fond of jewellery and I make sure that it matches my outfits, including my daily-wear," said Karisma at the inaugural function Wednesday.

Abhay Godha, managing director Eros Jewellery, said: "It was our pleasure to be introduced as an emerging brand in the international market. Dubai is rapidly growing and we think our jewellery can lure people here. Also, we want to have a franchise with retailers all over Dubai and Middle East."
The event was organised by Vishal Mehra Productions.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 29-5-2007 03:57 PM ]

Aishwarya Rai starrer 'Provoked' to be premiered at Cannes

The Jagmohan Mundhra directed and the Aishwarya Rai starrer Provoked will be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19

This information was given by Mundhra himself in Mumbai on Sunday.

The film starring Ash as the protagonist depicting the role of a battered Indian wife in the UK also stars Nandita Das , Naveen Andrews , Miranda Richardson, Robbie Coltrane, Rebecca Pidgeon playing important roles with music by A R Rahman .

Screenplay is by Carl Austin and the film is based on a book called 'Circle of Light' by Rahila Gupta and Kiranjit Ahluwalia.

It is a true story of Kiranjit who killed her violent husband. The case had shocked Britain nearly a decade and half ago.

The worldwide launch of the film will be in June-July after the premiere.

憫We have had one screening in London for British Culture Minister Patricia Heuitt who had launched the Bollywood Initiative in England. The screening was well received and according to the minister, there was not a single dry eye in the audience,'' Mundhra said and added that he was pleased with the response.

New York based Lee Daniel company will market the film globally.

''The film is complete and the company is devising marketing strategies for the worldwide release,'' he added.

Fans of Bollywood filmstar Salman Khan perform Yajna for good luck

Bollywood 's filmstar Salman Khan may be busy attending courts in relation with the cases filed against him for different reasons, but it is too much for his thousands of fans in Meerut at least.

Unable to notice their favourite Bollywood filmstar Salman Khan falling into troubles one after another, hundreds of Salman Khan fans in Bahadurpur near Meerut, attended a Yajna to make the filmstar's life trouble free on Saturday.

The special yajna (a Hindu ritual burning wood with Ghee) was performed in Bahadurpur, 40 kilometres from Meerut.

Be it the court cases or the flop flicks, the fans of Bollywood star blame it on the unfavourable stars that get him into trouble time and again.

Organised by Virendra Dutta Sharma, an ardent fan of Salman Khan fan, the yajna was a performed to keep the filmstar's life trouble free.

"I became a Salman Khan fan ever since I saw his movie, "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun". He is a good actor. I am doing this so that he may not have to face further problems. This is my belief that his problems will be vanished after this Yajna," Sharma added.

Villagers at Bahadur believe that Virendra will be successful in what he is doing as God always listens to his prayers.

"I believe that this Yajna will be 100 per cent successful because he has performed it with full faith and devotion," said Raj Agarwal, a villager.

Bollywood star Salman Khan is recently going through a "bad" phase with the series of flop movies and two cases are pending against him, one is the black buck case and the other is the hit and run case in Mumbai.

Shah Rukh Khan and Still Reading Khan

This is a year for Shah Rukh Khan, not just as an actor and producer but also because there are three books underway, capturing his life and times. While one is an autobiography and another is authored by Anupama Chopra, the third will be the first to hit the shelves. Titled Still Reading Khan, the 417-page book (priced at about Rs 2,500), with more than 1500 images, is written by former journalist and long-time friend of Khan's, Mushtaq Shiekh.

"I've known Shah Rukh for more than 11 years, and when I decided to write the book I didn't know where I would start, so I went to Delhi and began cataloguing his life chronologically," says Sheikh who previously wrote the book on Khan's film Asoka.

This included visiting his old home, the place where his father's restaurant was, the gallis where Khan hung out, meeting his friends and visiting Barry John, his acting teacher.

So is the book a biography? Shiekh refutes the category. "The word biography sounds fuddy-duddy and reeks of intellectualism. But my book is more of a breezy travelogue. I wanted to make a book on Shah Rukh that was like him."

The book, therefore, includes chapter headers like X Chromosome, Mere Paas Ma Hai, Destiny's Child and Acting Pricey.

Still Reading Khan (an expansion of `SRK') is a combination of research, archival material, interviews with Khan, wife Gauri, his sister, children and friends (the C-gang from Delhi) with a foreword by Karan Johar.

"At first I did not know where to start, but later I did not know when to stop so I have ended it with Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, with a bunch of exclusive images from the film included," says Shiekh, who first met Khan as a reporter for G magazine.

Having been his friend for over a decade, how objective will the book be? "I've tried to be as honest as I can with my writing and not gushed. Other people have done that because the book includes their viewpoints. And where I have gushed are points where I think he deserves it," replies Shiekh.

He believes that Khan's story is that of "a winner which needed to be told".

Due out in June, in the presence of Shah Rukh Khan, Still Reading Khan seems set to be must-have for the coffee tables of all SRK fans.

Excerpt from the book:

Shah Rukh found he had been selected to be one of the four principal dancers with just one speaking line... "I was very disappointed that I didn't get the lead role. But I didn't say it, for up against me were all the big guys like Roshan Seth." Besides... it was a musical and he couldn't sing.

Yash Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Khayyam honoured at 8th MAMI

Deepa Mehta抯 Water, shot in Sri Lanka, was the closing film of the week-long International Film Festival organised by MAMI. While leading man John Abraham and producer David Hamilton attended the screening, Seema Biswas who won the Genie for Best Actress, was missed. She was away in Nainital shooting for Sooraj Barjatya抯 Vivah and was represented by her mother Meera Biswas at the screening.

Among those who were felicitated by the Academy for their outstanding contribution to Indian cinema were blockbuster maker Yash Chopra, music director Khayyam and actor Anil Kapoor. They were honoured by the Maharashtra Culture Minister Ashok Chavan and members of the Academy.

The Jury Award for Best Film went to Jahnu Barua抯 Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara. It was decided by the FIPRESCI, the international organisation of film critics. Anupam Kher who plays the protagoinst in the film, was also away in Nainital, shooting for Vivah .

Anil Kapoor who was honoured for his 25 years contribution to cinema remarked modestly,擨t would be too pompous to say that I have made any contribution to cinema. Rather it is cinema which has made all the contribution in my life.

Bollywood star Preity Zinta wants to remake her reel image
   
Just as she has made it through life and death scenes on the big screen, Bollywood star Preity Zinta has survived terrifying experiences in real life, testifying against a mafia don and surviving the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Throughout it all, the 31-year-old actress has managed to keep the dimpled, chatty girl-next-door image that she rode to fame.

But it has been eight years since Zinta's debut in "Dil Se," or "From the Heart," and now she wants to erase the image that has made her famous before her characters become caricatures.

"I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being bubbly. I'm sick of being talkative and I'm sick of being cute," said Zinta, her trademark smile missing, but her dimples making a fleeting appearance.

"That image has stuck with me," she said in an interview. "I mean, you evolve, you know?"

Zinta is hoping her role in "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," or "Never Say Goodbye," slated for release later this year, will help her find a new public image.

The movie has drawn a lot of attention in Bollywood, largely for its star-studded cast, which, along with Zinta, includes some of the industry's biggest draws, such as Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee.

The actors have been tightlipped about the plot, saying only that it's about relationships and marriages not being as perfect as they appear. Zinta said she plays a "very ambitious magazine editor."

Going against mores

Zinta has a reputation for choosing roles that go against India's traditional mores, even if she has smiled her way through them.

She played an unwed mother in "Kya Kehna," or "What Can You Say," in 2000. In last year's blockbuster "Salaam Namaste," or "Hello Hello," she played a woman who defied her family and moved in with her boyfriend before getting married.

"I always look for something interesting," she said during the interview at her office in a Bombay suburb last month.

Apart from her reel life, she has also made headlines -- but not the sort most actresses make.

Zinta was a star witness at the 2003 trial of a movie financier, Bharat Shah, who police suspected had links to Bombay's mafia. She testified about threats she had received from a gangster thought to be tied to Shah.

Several other movie stars who were also allegedly threatened retracted statements they had given to police, fearing retaliation from gangsters. Zinta's testimony was supposed to remain confidential, but word of it leaked and the news was splashed on front pages across India.

Shah was eventually found guilty of withholding information about the mafia but not of being directly linked to the mob.

Zinta, meanwhile, was given police protection and forced to stay out of the public eye for about two months. "My life was a living hell," she said. "I think I aged 10 years then."

Accidental movie star

She never planned to be actress and stumbled into Bollywood when a well-known filmmaker spotted her in a soap advertisement while she was studying for a postgraduate degree in criminal psychology, Zinta said.

She insists the ad was just for fun. "I never thought I'd be an actor -- ever," she recalls. "I had never gone to film school or done a dance class."

Instead, she has learned by trial and error while appearing in more than 20 movies. Along the way, Zinta has become one of India's top actresses, but she says it was her role in the mob trial and the loss of friends to the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 that has given her a sense of perspective.

Zinta was fast asleep in a beach-side villa in Thailand when the killer waves struck and says she still remembers being wakened by the thundering noise of water smashing everything around her.

She ran and survived. Friends who had traveled with her, however, did not make it out -- something she does not like to talk about.

"The people I went with were some friends I had grown up with. I'd known them all my life," she said before changing the subject without saying how many died.

"It really made me think about why everybody around me went and I didn't," Zinta says, covering her eyes. More than half of about 5,400 people killed in Thailand were foreign tourists.

Since then, Zinta says she has taken life slower -- for example, she only made one film last year instead of working at the breakneck pace most Bollywood stars put up with.

"I'm more grounded now. I've started doing fewer films. I've started meditating," Zinta says. "I want to live my today because I may not have a tomorrow."

Priyanka's priorities

Priyanka Chopra, who is back in town after shooting for Dharmesh Darshan's Aap Ki Khatir in London, is surprised at reports that there were cold vibes between her and Amisha Patel on the sets of the film.

"Let me tell you, I have never had any problems with any of my co-stars. I pride myself on getting along with most of my co-stars. True, Amisha and I didn't socialise after pack-up. But we got along well on the sets," Priyanka said in an interview.

In fact, Priyanka described Amisha as "very, very sweet" and said the two played word games together while waiting for our shots.

Priyanka and Amisha play affectionate stepsisters in the film.

Apparently, the actress is going through rigorous training for her next film Don, a remake of 1978 super hit, and took her physical trainer to London as well.

When asked her about her 'annoying' training sessions on the sets, she said: "I was using my time after shooting. How did it affect anyone?"

Q: How was the experience of working with Dharmesh Darshan?

A: It was fabulous. That man knows his cinema and how to use it. All of us had a ball, except that it was minus five degrees where we were shooting in Ludlow (on the outskirts of London). The climatic conditions were unbearable. And I had to wear chiffons and skirts for the camera. I'd do the shots in the freezing cold, rush to the car and turn on the heater on full.

A month of blowing cold and blowing hot has taken its toll on my health. I'm down with a fever. But there was such warmth among us - Akshaye Khanna, Dino (Morea), Amisha (Patel), Anupam (Kher), Lilette (Dubey). Except Suniel Shetty, whom I had worked with before, all the team was new to me.

I had great fun. And whatever we have shot has turned out really nice. I love the outdoors. But I also love to come home. It's then that the 'hectivity' really hits you.

Q: What's 'hectivity'?

A: A word I coined for hectic activity.

Q: Was Dharmesh the right director for you?

A: Very right. Though I hadn't worked with him before, I had worked with his brother Suneel and Dharmesh used to be around. He was very supportive when I began my career. He was very good at extracting performances.

It was a load of fun shooting for Aap Ki Khatir. It's not at all a typical Dharmesh Darshan film. It's very much in keeping with how you look at life today. Dharmesh was open to ideas and suggestions. Akshaye is a fantastic actor. I had a great time emoting with him.

I also worked with Amisha for the first time. She's very, very sweet. We used to play word games together while waiting for our shots.

Q: But according to a story Amisha and you fought like cats and kittens?

A: Are you out of your mind? Where did that come from? Let me tell you, I have never had any problems with any of my co-stars. Whether it's Lara (Dutta) in Andaaz or Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) in Aitraaz, I have never had stress with any of my co-stars. I guess it makes a lot of news to pitch two female stars against each other.

Though mind you, we never read about two male stars fighting with one another. I pride myself on getting along with most of my co-stars. True, Amisha and I didn't socialise after pack-up. Right after shooting I was with my physical trainer getting trained for Don. But we got along well on the sets.

Q: Apparently your training for Don got on people's nerves?

A: I was using my time after shooting. How did it affect anyone?

Q: What else did you catch up with in Britain?

A: Nothing. Between shooting and training for Don I had no time for anything. What to do? A girl has gotta do what she's gotta do. In the last three years I have had no time for anything but work.

Q: What about normal activities like boyfriends, dates and pubs?

A: What makes you think I don't enjoy what I am doing? As for a boyfriend, I haven't found a person to whom I'm willing to give that amount of time and attention. I'd rather give my entire self to my work.

Dino plays deaf guy in 'Tom, Dick and Harry'  

Dino Morea is quite excited about the role of the deaf guy he is playing in 'Tom Dick and Harry' directed by Dipak Tijori.

"My role is that of a very simple man, Tom who is not very rich. It is for the very first time in my career that I am trying my hand at a genre like comedy. The centre of the film is the three characters - the deaf, the dumb and the blind man living together," Dino said.

"I attended a two-day workshop to understand the nuances of my character. Jimmy (Shergill) and I are acting together for the first time in our career. We rehearsed twice before the shooting of the film started to get our timing right. Earlier I had met two deaf guys. One of them was deaf right from his birth whereas the other one had become deaf. Having observed both at close quarters, I knew the nuances which I had to adopt in advance even before the shooting commenced." Getting into the skin of the character, Dino also made it a point not to turn behind if someone called him out because he is playing a deaf character. "I read people's lips and also made it a point to dance to a different tune when I was on the dance floor with others.... The most important thing was to maintain the energy level throughout the film."

Dino admitted that he was given the choice to play one of the three characters but he opted for the character of the deaf Tom because he felt that his role was the most challenging one in the entire film. "People say comic timing is very difficult but I realised that it was just a question of having a fluid body language. 'Tom, Dick and Harry' will definitely make people laugh their guts out." Dino said he is happy that he is not associated with any image in the industry. "If you let yourself be saddled with a set image, people will start expecting too much from you as an actor."

Bipasha walks for sensual finale  

The Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week ended on Sunday night with a sensual grand finale, as designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna presented their 'Garden of desire'.

And the collection was surely desirable. Actor Bipasha Basu added to the oomph on stage as she walked the ramp in a white fluid chiffon dress.

"Since most successful actresses have anyway emerged from the ramp, we chose to have Bipasha, because she is the hottest amongst them all," said the designers.

Dazzling Display

Rohit and Rahul's collection was clearly high voltage with stones, sequins and embellishments--though these were not over the top.

Pale pink, beige and brown formed their basic colour palette.

The silhouettes were largely western with flouncy tunics and heavily sequined lace tops. These were teamed with velvet and linen trousers.

Crushed, ruffled and printed shirts seem to be the in thing on the duo's show, paired with self embroidered jackets.

For the next line, models sashayed in bias cut and empire line fluid dresses. Made of chiffons and georgettes, these were heavily embellished with crystals and stones on the upper half.

Plunging V-necklines added to the sexiness of the outfits that looked classy and very feminine.

Rohit & Rahul also presented a line of knee length bandhni kurtis teamed with straight pants. Heavy embellishments were seen in these too. Short embellished kurtis  were also teamed with hot pants.

Final word: A show that dazzled from the word go!
  


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 29-5-2007 04:14 PM ]

Urmila Matondkar turns spiritual  
  
She's lovely. And she's in love with love. In her new film 'Banaras' Urmila Matondkar plays Shwetambhari, a girl on a spiritual quest that takes her through a luminous labyrinth of love and discovery.
"I play this physics student whose father is a high-profile priest. When I read the script I was stuck by the strength of my character. But I got a full measure of my part only when I went to Banaras and saw what the city signified. I'm always fascinated by roles that take me on a journey. Ironically there's no baggage of expectation from myself in this journey that I undertake as an actress. I plunged into Banaras with the same innocent curiosity of a traveler that took me through Pinjar or Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara."

Urmila, recovering at home from a viral infection, describes Banaras as a "simple straightforward love story. And since the setting is Banaras there's an element of mysticism about the whole experience. Going to Banaras was in itself a life-changing experience. And I'm not just talking about the experience of standing in a city which is extraordinarily rich in religion, culture and spirituality. I'm also talking about being in the midst of people who are hardcore Hindi-film fans, not the kind who watch DVDSs but queue up in movie theatres on Fridays. After a while the sheer spirituality of Banaras begins to sink into you. The city has people from all over the country卆nd when you visit you know why they like to come to this city. The place is a marvel of architecture and aestheticism. And we got to shoot in places where no film has been shot, like the Kabir Samadhi, Sarnath

Juhi抯 love for animals

揚lease don抰 abandon your pets

Raveena to star in Happy New Year

Actress Raveena Tandon's first major project after her marriage is going to be Farah Khan directed 'Happy New Year'. While ex-badminton star Prakash Padukone's daughter Deepika will play the leading lady, Shah Rukh's friend and co-star of the 90s (recently seen in 'Paheli'), Juhi Chawla will also essay an important role.

The shooting of 'Happy New Year' is expected to commence from December as Ram Gopal Varma's Shah Rukh starrer (dealing with time travel) is the next in line after Farhan Akhtar's 'Don'.

SQ154

TEMBAK RUSA: SALMAN KHAN DIJEL 5 TAHUN
NEW DELHI - Bintang Bollywood, Salman Khan, semalam dijatuhi hukuman penjara lima tahun setelah didapati bersalah menembak secara haram seekor rusa jantan di sebuah kawasan simpanan haiwan liar.

Hukuman bagi kesalahan pada 1998 itu dikenakan sebuah mahkamah di bandar Jodhpur, lapor saluran berita NDTV semalam.

Empat suspek lain dibebaskan mahkamah, sementara seorang lagi dihukum penjara setahun.

Di bawah undang-undang perlindungan haiwan liar India, sesiapa yang dihukum penjara lebih tiga tahun akan ditahan sejurus selepas hukuman dijatuhkan.

Salman jelas gugup apabila pegawai polis merampas telefon bimbitnya sebelum membawanya ke penjara.

Seorang wartawan NDTV berkata dia kelihatan 'menggeletar dan kebingungan sedikit' apabila hukuman dibacakan.

'Ini satu keputusan yang salah... ini satu keputusan yang salah,' kata Salman berulang kali.

Peguamnya, Encik Vimal Saraswat, berkata beliau akan membuat rayuan.

Agensi berita Press Trust of India melaporkan Salman turut didenda 25,000 rupee ($178).

Pada Februari lalu, sebuah mahkamah lain menjatuhkan hukuman penjara setahun ke atas Salman atas kesalahan berasingan menembak sejenis rusa jantan hampir pupus.

Dia telah mengemukakan rayuan atas hukuman itu.

Salman menghadapi beberapa tuduhan berasingan ekoran kejadian memburu secara haram di gurun Thar di daerah Rajasthan pada 1998. Dia menafikannya.

Anggota suku kaum Bishnoi, yang menyembah rusa jantan hitam, memaklumkan pegawai kawasan simpanan haiwan liar mengenai kejadian itu.

Originally posted by SQ154 at 11-4-2006 11:19 AM
TEMBAK RUSA: SALMAN KHAN DIJEL 5 TAHUN
NEW DELHI - Bintang Bollywood, Salman Khan, semalam dijatuhi hukuman penjara lima tahun setelah didapati bersalah menembak secara haram seekor rusa jantan d ...

John抯 motorcycle collided with a cycle: Injured actor booked for