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Kareena to sex up Cannes this year

Vishal Bhardwaj抯 Indian version of Shakespeare抯 famous novel 慜thello

Urmila's fashion spin

At the Zee F Awards, the star upped the glam quotient.

Delhi saw a sneak peak of the Zee F Awards, a platform which goes into its second year to honour talent from the fashion industry.

Bollywood siren Urmila Matondkar came all the way from Mumbai to promote the event. The finals will take place in May in Mumbai.

Urmila, who didn't follow in the footsteps of other Bollywood stars who walked the ramp at Rohit Bal's show said, "I'm going to enjoy every moment sitting in the audience and watching the show. Rohit is one of my favourite designers, the others being Manish Arora and Tarun Tahiliani."

Also present at the event were lensman Ashok Salian, designers Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal, and Anu Ahuja of Zee TV.

Kajol, Jatin-Lalit to play judges on Indian Idol 2

The Indian Idol 2 grand finale will be a special occasion for more reasons than one. Not only has Kajol agreed to be the special judge but it is also bringing together composers Jatin-Lalit for the last time.

They will coach the two finalists Sandeep Acharya and NC Karunya to sing the popular qawwalli Subhan Allah from the forthcoming Fanaa.

Incidentally, Fanaa is the last film, which will have music jointly by Jatin and Lalit. The brothers are going their separate ways thereafter.

"So in a way the Indian Idol finals will be a good send-off for Jatin-Lalit," a Sony spokesperson told IANS.

The very special guest at the grand finale Saturday is Kajol who will watch and evaluate the two finalists battling it out for the final crooner's crown.

Karunya and Sandeep will sing the Fanaa track Subhan Allah. And they'll be joined by 12 Indian Idol 2 finalists for a special performance. Actress Isha Koppiker will join the two finalists for a song and dance.

The other highlight of the finals is Alisha Chinai in her first live rendering of Kajra re from along with Sandeep and Karunya.

A lot of Bollywood and TV bigwigs are being invited to be part of the grand finale which has been shifted from April 17 to April 22 for a live telecast at 8 pm.

Kajol

Isha works out a wonder in gym

Bollywood actress Isha Koppikar also known as 慘hallas Girl

Fardeen: No more comedies

Fardeen Khan appears to have made a career out of playing the funny man. Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and No Entry have been hits, but he finally seems to have had enough of comedies.

"Every time I am slotted into an image, I like doing something new. I抦 going to stay away from comedy for a while," he states. But, before he bids them goodbye, there's Inder Kumar抯 Pyare Mohan, which releases this week.

Fardeen talks to Ronjita Kulkarni about the film, his forthcoming releases and, of course, the much-talked about remake of Qurbani.

I play Pyare, a blind man. He抯 a very positive character, but he doesn't have a girlfriend. His best friend Mohan is played by Vivek Oberoi, who is deaf.

The film is Pyare and Mohan抯 journey in their search for love. Vivek抯 character is playful, whereas mine is more thoughtful. Pyare is the one who takes all the big decisions.

I watched quite a few films with blind characters, but narrowed it down to two films - Contact and Scent Of A Woman. Al Pacino played a blind person very well.

It抯 very challenging playing a blind man. You have to shut out your most important sense. That took time getting used to. The action scenes were quite difficult, especially the scene where I had to drive. I had to concentrate on being blind, say my dialogues

Viveik Oberoi shines in 'Ek Main

Though director Indra Kumar and his leading lady Amrita Rao will be seen in their elements on 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu' this Friday, it's Viveik Oberoi who steals the show.  

And how! The image of the tantrum-thrower he acquired recently on 'Indian Idol 2' - it was maliciously reported that Viveik had made trivial but unreasonable demands on the sets of Sony's show - went for a toss as Viveik got into the groove of things during the show's recording Monday night.

'Forget tantrums,' said 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu' producer-director Gajendra Singh. 'Viveik was more cooperative than any star we have had on the show.'

'We had a major power failure. Viveik was cool. He waited, offered to go for dinner and return, and still waited some more. And his inside knowledge of music bowled everyone over, including the maestro - judge Hariharan,' Singh told IANS.

Come Friday, Hariharan will be heard commenting appreciatively on Viveik's music sense while the actor will be all ears listening to the jiving pairs. He was specially taken up with Ujjaini whose singing impressed everyone.

When Viveik got to know Ujjaini shared his birthday (Sep 3) he walked up to the stage to kiss her hand.

'I must say I was also impressed by Indu-ji's (Indra Kumar) music sense. The way he listened and reacted to the nuances was amazing. Like Viveik, this was Indu-ji's first time on our show.

'Amrita Rao, of course, has been on 'Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2005' a couple of times. We welcomed her like member of our team,' said Singh.

Apart from Viveik, the other showstopper on 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu' this Friday is Rajiv - the singer from Chamba who forgets his lines of the song 'Jai jai shiv shankar' from 'Aap Ki Kasam' midway and bursts into tears.

This isn't the first occasion when Rajiv has had a memory lapse during singing. But this time his colleagues and the judges were not in an easily forgiving mood.

Jimmy Shergill to try luck in Punjabi movies

New Delhi: With Bhojpuri and Punjabi films raking in big moolah, Bollywood bigwigs -- from superstar Amitabh Bachchan to one-film wonder Bhagyashree -- are testing waters in regional cinema. The latest to try his luck is actor Jimmy Shergill for whom "the call of the soil is too strong to ignore".

Shergill says he does not want to confine his acting to only Hindi films and is open to vernacular cinema. Not just this, he has pledged to do one Punjabi film every year.

"I have decided I would do act in one Punjabi film every year. I'm from a Punjabi family. I have studied in Punjab. I feel it's my duty to do so," says the actor whose Punjabi flick 'Mannat' will be released this year.

Shergill, who made his debut in Punjabi cinema last year with 'Yaraan Naal Baharaan' is game for a Bhojpuri film too. "If I get a good offer for a Bhojpuri film, then I'll lap it up. I was born in Gorakhpur and I am sure I'll pull off a film like that." Talking about his forthcoming Hindi film - 'Tom, Dick and Harry', Shergill who was in town recently says after a string of serious, intense roles he was "dying to do a comedy" that would allow him to let his hair down.

"I really wanted to do a comedy for a long time. In this film, I play a character who cannot speak. I liked it because I had no lines to rehearse," he says with a mischievous smile.

Meghna Naidu to follow Aishwarya抯 footsteps!

Meghna 'Hawas' Naidu is all to shed her sexy image. The sexy actress's last film 'Rain' in spite of having all steamy scenes in it has bombed at the box office.

So no more skin show, that's the motto, sexy Meghna Naidu has adopted newly.

In a recent interview, she said, "Sex sells no more. If it did then all the movies after 'Hawas' would have been super hits. There is sex and glamour in every film, but no film has been able to leave an impact over box office."

When asked, if she is offered a Hollywood film and asked to expose, what she would do, she said, "I would say 'no' to the film. As far as exposing is concerned, whatever I have done in the past is over. Now I want to do good work."

Remember Aishwarya Rai has already refused to expose even if it is a Hollywood film. Meghna truly wants to follow Aishwarya's footsteps.

Aishwarya Rai

Don Abu Salem抯 confession puts Sushmita Sen in trouble?

Underworld don Abu Salem's confession may put actress Sushmita Sen in trouble. Underworld-showbiz connection is not new, however; but for the concerned star it definitely puts the star's image in bad light.

In a new development, it's being reported that the extradited don Salem has confessed to the police that he often made extortion calls to former beauty queen Sushmita Sen.

However not only Sushmita Sen, he made calls to many other Bollywood celebrities as well.

Who are they? According to the reports, Salem's confession revealed his phonebook had numbers of director David Dhawan, Sunil Darshan and singer Sonu Nigam to name few of them.

However on asked, Salem's lawyer Ashok Sarogi rubbished the confessional statement. He said it had already been retracted.

Report says, Salem has also admitted in his confession that he was asked to threaten filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and Subhash Ghai.

Sushmita Sen

Jackie Shroff signs Malayalam film

After Tabu and Milind Soman, it is Jackie Shroff who is looking towards the south. He is acting as a scientist in Athisayam, a film directed by Vinayan, who created history by making a film called Atbhutha Dweep with hundreds of dwarfs.

Shroff, who is very close to Priyadarshan, expressed a desire to act in at least two Malayalam films a year so he would be able to "enact characters that have depth, and are different".

Mistress: Aishwarya's best work?

A few years before they wrote and directed their 2003 hit film Bend it Like Beckham, the husband and wife team of Paul Meyeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha were given a novel written by a new author, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. And the book

Big B will not perform in IIFA awards function!

Amitabh Bachchan will attend the IIFA awards function this year to be held in Dubai on June 16, but he will not perform in this function.

Keeping Big B's ill health and the surgery he underwent recently, the industry was speculating on whether Amitabh will attend the function or not.

In a recent press meet held in Dubai, the IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan however put all the speculation to rest confirming his presence in the awards function.

Last year he has taken the audience by storm dancing to hot 'Kajra Re' number with Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.

On asked whether he would perform at the award ceremony this year too, he said, "No, most probably I will not be performing as my health may not permit it."

PUNKAJ AND URMILA UNITE IN A MYSTIC LOVE STORY

Banaras is a city so mystic and still so vulnerable. The city known as Varanasi now has been in news recently for wrong reasons. Some terrorists planted few bombs at different parts of the city that took several lives apart from tearing the social and communal structure of this northern city of India situated at the banks of river Ganga. And, now director Punkaj Parashar brings back the real identity of this holy town on big screen in his 'Banaras - A Mystic Love Story'.

Punkaj Parashar started film making more than a decade back with a small budget film 'Jalwa' (Pankaj Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah) and then moved on to making big films like 'Chalbaaz' (Sridevi), 'Rajkumar' (Madhuri Dixit) and his last 'Tumko Na Bhul Payenge' (Salman Khan). Punkaj Parashar must have tasted blood in his last outing that was based on the illusions and other mystical theories in the beginning but ending it as a dud by justifying all this in the climax. But, this time he has learned from his mistakes.

So in Banaras one sees the Punkaj Parashar moving ahead from the interval and completing the circle with Urmila Matondkar. Urmila! Oh! What an actress. Having started as a child actor in 'Kalyug' and 'Masoom', she is one of the few faces in Hindi cinema who could make it big. And, that too despite once touted as a seductive girl for her 'Rangeela' and 'Mast' image. And, when everyone wrote her off following quitting the Ram Gopal Verma camp, she shot to fame in 'Pinjar', 'Naina' and now 'Banaras'. 'Banaras' is a turning point not only for its director Punkaj Parashar but for this beautiful actress as well.

'Banaras - a mystic love story' is a departure from Bollywood style in many ways. It belongs more to the current trend of realistic cinema. The narration is packed with many unexplainable things around and at a time when caste politics is taking a heavy toll on Indian political scenario, this nicely made 'Banaras' comes out loosening these strings into a love story. Yes, this is a love story between a girl from highly disciplined Brahmin family and a young musician from a lower caste.

The relationship between them tries to change the lives of many. Urmila Matondkar plays Shwetambri. She is a young, beautiful and bubbly daughter of a renowned family of rich Brahmins (Raj Babbar and Dimple Kapadia). She is a science student and also progressive. She does not believe in set norms of life. She chances to meet Soham, played by Ashmit Patel, of a low caste and working as a music teacher. Besides, he is also a prot間

PREETI BANKS ON HER FORTHCOMING MOVIES

Preeti Jhiangiani is banking on her next movie titled 'Yes'. "This is a British-Punjabi movie in which I play opposite a well known actor Bally Sagoo." She is very excited with her performance in this movie as it has entirely been shot at the picturesque locations of Scotland. Incidentally, her B.Chopra's 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' is also ready for release. Though Preeti began her filmi career with good banners like Rajshri and Yash Chopra and is extremely beautiful and sweet, she hasn't yet reached her status in Bollywood.

Beginning with 'Mohabbatein', she has already completed a dozen movies including 'Awaara Pagal Deewana', 'Chahat - Ek Nasha' 'Sauda' and 'Aan' besides 'LoC', 'Vah Tera Kya Kehna' and 'Sukhh'. Despite all these movies she hasn't made a mark in the industry while some of her contemporaries have earned name and fame . However, this has failed to deter her and she is still confident of making a dent very soon in the film industry as she has no inhibitions even to act with new actor, new director or even in doing kissing or bed scenes . Then , who on earth can prevent her from turning soon a leading actress on the horizon of Bollywood?

What's 'Yes' all about?

This is a British-Punjabi movie based on the story of a Punjabi girl from Lahore who lives in the UK. Harjinder Singh Dhani has directed it.

What's your role in it?

I play the Punjabi girl from Lahore settled in the UK.

When are you releasing 'Yes'?

The movie is ready for release any time.

And, what about your 'Chaand Ke Paar Chalo' ?

I play a bold and confident Kashmiri girl but live with my uncle and aunt. I fall in love with a young boy played by Sahib. Though I am a dancer and more matured than Sahib, yet he decides to boost me as a leading actress in the industry. However, I am afraid that Sahib may feel inferiority complex after I become a leading actress. But he insists and I succeed. Then, my fear comes true. The rest can be watched on the screen only .

What prompted you to accept this movie?

I liked it as it's women-centric movie . Besides , its script and songs attracted my attention. Moreover, I found it different from my earlier movies that were multistarrers. So, this movie interested me.

How did you agree to act opposite a newcomer though you have already worked with leading stars?

Yes, Sahib was a newcomer. But I have found him talented and serious towards his work. I am happy to say that I haven't erred by acting opposite him. In fact, I had found him serious even before resuming shooting of the movie, on the advice of the director.

Are you happy with the Bollywood way of treating its heroines?

I agree that Hindi movies don't bother about characterization of actresses. This makes a great difference between Bollywood and Hollywood movies. It's nauseating and sometime I feel like quitting Bollywood. But, my heart doesn't allow me to quit. So, I have decided to continue in the industry.

Don't you feel that some of your movie adversely affected your clean girl image?

I know you are referring to my 'Chaahat - Ek Nasha'. I regret that this movie was promoted in a wrong fashion. This pained me a lot. Though the movie was based on a love story, its promotion made it look like a sexy flick. My fans didn't like it and felt upset . Besides, I may tell you that I am averse to doing such movies.

Have you got any movie on hand?

No, not yet. However, I have very high hopes from my next two movies to release soon. I am anxiously waiting their outcome.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 20-4-2006 08:39 PM ]

SUSH BANKING ON "DUS BAHANE" !

This is the season for world tours. Almost all Bollywood actors are rehearsing for their respective tours. Be it Salman Khan, John Abrahem, Kareena Kapoor for Rockstar world tour, or Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Priety Zinta or Sushmita Sen for Heat world tour. All of them are very excited about meeting their fans across the world. We chatted with Sushmita Sen, in particular, about her world tour.

So, are you ready to win the world?

The world is ours; I am not going to win the world. But I am going to live in the world with all the excitement and anxiety of all the people who are going to come and see me perform. All the fans who are going through all sorts of emotions. I am going to live the high of going for a world tour. I just hope I win the hearts of all the people out there.

You are anyway a world citizen, so how important is a world tour for you?

Oh, what are you saying! There are so many people who we don't meet. Year after year, they watch our films, read or see our interviews in magazines and television shows and that's how they keep a connection with us. This is a chance to meet them, talk to them, and know what they think of us, our films. This is the time to make a personal and a two -way connection with them. It's a different high all together and I am really looking forward to it.

We just saw your rehearsal and saw how full of energy you were. How do you pump in so much energy for a rehearsal as well?

There are going to be so many people who are going to come and see us perform. You have to give them a good time. And I have rehearsed and rehearsed; I have put my sweat and toiled for my numbers and all of this I have done from the bottom of my heart. So it's a genuine effort which I think is coming across in the rehearsals as well. I just hope everything goes well, as all of us have worked really hard for it.

What are the numbers on which the world is going to see you perform?

In my solo act, I have "Mast Mahaul" from 'Fiza', "Black Machine", "Just chill chill" and "Dus bahane". I really like "Dus bahane" as a number and really enjoy doing it. In combination I have, "laga laga laga re", then the 'Main Hoon Na' quawalli which is great fun and 'Shadi Karogi' from Akshay's film. Foe the finale I have three songs out of which there is "gori gori" from 'Main Hoon Na' and "Dilbar Dilbar". So, it's all high energy and peppy numbers. Hoping that the people will also enjoy the numbers as much as we will.

Aren't you also going to perform at the same place as Michael Jackson did?

What do I say? Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. But we will certainly try to give our audiences a good time and whatever is written in the destiny that shall happen.

FARDEEN TO PLAY FATHER'S ROLE

Fardeen Khan will soon repeat his father's role in the remake of his dad Feroz Khan's 'Qurbani'. He believes that the movie's plot and characters are contemporary and as fresh as today's though the movie has been 25 years old. Fartdeen is presently banking on his forthcoming film 'Pyaare Mohan' scheduled to hit theaters on Apr 21.
What's the story of 'Pyaare Mohan'?

'Pyaare Mohan's is a completely Indian story with positive characters though both protagonists are male.

What's your role in it?

I play Pyaare who is blind and Vivek that of Mohan, who is hearing-impaired.

How did you find working with Vivek?

It was great working with Vivek. We shared a great rapport, both on screen and off screen. I think we form a great team.

Aren't you repeating a comedy this time?

Yes, this is my second comedy. I think the audience needs a break.

Will you repeat this role in your next movie?

No, I shall not. I want to do different roles.

What are your forthcoming movies?

The next one is Meghana Gulzar's 'Honeymoon Travels Private Limited' and then Ambika Hindula's 'Idhar Udhar' starring Sushmita Sen and Riteish Deshmukh.

KAREENA KAPOOR

Kareena Kapoor, the sensational beauty of Bollywood, is busy shooting for Farhan Akhtar's 'Don' which is going at a swift pace. Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, the movie 'Don' stars Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Arjun Rampal. She is excited about an item number played by her in the movie. Kareena is playing the role of Helen in the remake version of 'Don' that has the same title.  

SRK producing Ram Gopal Varma抯 film!

Shah Rukh Khan has all set to produce Ram Gopal Varma's next based on 'Time Machine'. Shah Rukh himself will play the male lead, whereas Kareena Kapoor has been roped in for playing female lead.

Questions are being raised that it would restrict Ramu's freedom as director. However Ramu doesn't think so. In a recent interview, he said, "I think it will give me more freedom. Since I can forget about production hassles for once and just concentrate on directing."

Ramu is also writing its script. Ramu said, in question of SRK producing the film though Ramu himself has a production house, "Who makes the film is not important, the film is."

However it's not a sci-fi flick, Ramu clears it. The film's title has yet not fixed.

Shah Rukh Khan

When Shah Rukh Khan had a pleasant surprise in Malaysia

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan recently had a pleasant surprise while shooting for Farhan Akhtar 's Don which is the remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don (1978) .

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad last week paid a surprise visit to the sets of 'Don- The Chase Begins again' at the exclusive Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi in Malaysia.

For the stars of the film SRK, former Miss World Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor , it was indeed a matter of pride to have a former head of state of the country personally visit the sets of their film.

SRK, who essays the role done by Bachchan in the 1978 movie, took a break from shooting of the film to entertain Dr. Mahathir, trade sources said.

The sources said that during the brief meeting, both SRK and Dr. Mahathir expressed a mutual admiration for each other.

During his visit, the former Malaysian PM also had interactions with the film's producer Ritesh Sidhwani and Priyanka.

The unit of 'Don' has been shooting round the clock for the film in Malaysia for the last one month.

During the 70-day shooting schedule of the film in Malaysia, the unit will travel to 42 locations, including the Penchala Link, Kampung Baru and the Petronas Twin Towers.

Among the scenes to be shot during the schedule will be the classic number 'Khai Ke Paan Banaras Wala', filmed on Bachchan and Zeenat Aman in the original. In the sequel, the song, to be shot on May 13, will feature SRK and Priyanka and will be choreographed by Saroj Khan .

Also scheduled to be filmed is the song 'Yeh Mera Dil', being choreographed by Farah Khan for Farhan's version. The song, which was filmed on Bachchan and Helen in the original, features SRK with Kareena in the sequel.

According to Sidhwani, the sequel of 'Don' will have SRK playing a techno-savvy gentleman - 'James Bondesque' character with knowledge of all modern accessories and gadgets.

Even Priyanka is expected to indulge in some daredevil stunts and display her martial arts skills for the movie all by herself.

Love Story 50: Did Kareena act sensibly?

Kareena Kapoor had left Rakesh Roshan's "Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai" for Refugee and Karan Johar's "Kal Ho Naa Ho" after shooting both the movies for a couple of days. Both movies created history at the box office and Refugee bombed. We came to know that Harry Baweja has approached Niraj Mancchanda, the numerologist, tarot, handwriting and signatures specialist to numerologically correct the movie title, company's name, Harman's and his name. According to Niraj "It抯 true that we have had a formal meeting. Let things happen and you all will come to know about it".
In March 2005, Kareena Kapoor had consulted Niraj Mancchanda. We got Niraj to analyze Kareena Kapoor's handwriting and signature and to predict about her future.

According to Niraj "Her handwriting reveals that she is a very self-centered girl and for her, her own life is more important than anything in the world. She is a hardcore practical girl and has a fixed logical mindset. She will never think anything intuitively. This is why she would always prefer working with established producers and directors. She is an opportunist".

Niraj further adds, "Money and materialistic things excite her. You will always hear her being keen on her price. No one can touch her money without her permission. She is a very blunt person. She would not care about what she would be telling to whom. She has the tendency to tell anybody anything (age no barrier). She has a good taste to things and is also creative. She has a low self esteem but is egoistic. She is also very possessive. Her signature reveals that she is emotionally disturbed. A self reliant person who has the habit of carrying past baggage! For her the Kapoor family is also important but her life comes first. If you look at the signature you will see that the last "R" of "Kapoor" is big. This means that she is disturbed about something connected to a person whose name starts with "R"."

When we enquired about her relationship with Shahid Kapoor Niraj said, "It抯 a very volatile relationship. A small argument can ruin the relationship but if anything goes wrong then it will be Kareena who will leave Shahid".

So has Kareena done the right thing by leaving 'Love Story 2050' to do SRK's 'Time Machine'? "I had suggested Kareena to change her spelling to Karrinaa so that her full name would come to number 42 which is the name number of Shah Rukh Khan and vibrates with her. But she insisted that she had been using "Kareena" and did not want to change it. I further told her that if she could add her father's or her mother's initial and use her name as Kareena R Kapoor or Kareena B Kapoor (since B and R have same value), her name would come to number 50 which is also a very strong number and vibrates with her", adds Niraj.

But Kareena has not done any changes as suggested. Niraj finally sums up by saying that "her name comes to number 21 which is very good number, her surname comes to number 27 which is also a very good number. But the total 48 is an average number so her final decisions will always be average. This is why she will choose wrong movies and leave hit movies. If any movie of her becomes hit then she will not get credit for it and this is because her full name comes to number 48. Aitraaz did good business but Priyanka Chopra was appreciated more than Kareena. But because she has two strong numbers (21and 27), therefore she will always make good money even though her films will continue to flop."

So, will Harry Bawaja's 'Love Story 2050' be a superhit! "Let time speak for itself", says Niraj.