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Rani Mukherjee drives a motorbike, rams into Salman Khan

Normally, a hero drives the bike and the heroine sits pillion. But a scene in Ravi Chopra抯 movie Babul shows otherwise.

In the film, Rani Mukherjee and Salman Khan play husband and wife. One scene in the movie needed to show Rani driving the bike all by herself and stopping it before Salman.

Since Rani has had no or perhaps little experience of driving a motorbike, the movie抯 director and her co-star Salman insisted that she undergo a brief training in handling the vehicle.

But Rani was confident she could handle the machine all by herself.

Reports have it that when the shot was being canned, Rani started the bike and rode off smoothly. But when she was supposed to stop in front of Salman, she did not apply the brakes. As a result, the bike rammed into Salman. Both Rani and Salman fell to the ground.

Thankfully, none of the two stars had any major injury.

On the contrary, the accident evoked laughter from the shooting unit. Even Salman took the incident very sportingly.

態abul

Akshaye Khanna gets friendly with new actress!

Akshaye Khanna is known to be a reclusive person. But he has become very friendly with new actress Urvashi who is his co-star in a forthcoming movie.

On the sets of Abbas Mustan抯 next yet-untitled movie, Akshaye is far from his silent, stoic self of yore. And the reason is beautiful model-turned-actress Urvashi Sharma .

Akshaye and Urvashi are paired together in the film. And the two seem to have developed a chemistry that shows not just before the camera, but off it too.

Unitmembers on the movie抯 sets (in Dubai) are quoted as saying that Akshaye and Urvashi have clicked very well. The two often continue to discuss their roles and rehearse their dance steps even after the day抯 work is over.

A report quotes Akshaye as saying that he is 搑eally impressed

Bipasha Basu to launch her own website

The beautiful Bengali lass will soon join the brigade of the Bollywood stars who have launched their own websites.

Bipasha Basu is excited about launching her personal website, bipashabasunet.com. The site will be more like a blog, maintained and updated personally by the actress herself.

The website will have each and every detail about Bipasha抯 life : her thoughts, her ideas and everything she wants to share with her fans. Bipasha says this will be her way to sidestep the media that often distorts the facts and presents a different image of the person that she really is.

Besides all these details, the website will have a special auction section in which Bipasha抯 clothes etc. will be auctioned every month and the money will be donated to 慚ake A Wish

Sushmita Sen's painting auctioned for Rs 25 lakhs

There's more to Sushmita Sen than just being an actor and an entrepreneur. There's a secret side to her which she has consciously hidden from the world. Sushmita is also a painter!

Painting is her hobby and she sometimes gifts her works of art to her friends too. But now Sush says her artistic skills have been put to good use. She has auctioned one of her best paintings to raise money for Imran Khan's cancer hospital. Sushmita's painting titled 'Ibaadat' was auctioned for Rs 25 lakhs and the proceeds have gone to the hospital. "I paint, but for myself and sometimes for my friends.

This is the first time that I put up my paintings for an auction to raise money for charity. I'm glad it's gone for a very noble cause," says Sush, who's just returned from Dubai where she had gone to do a telethon for Imran Khan's hospital. "I wish I could go to Pakistan to raise the fund. But never mind, I was overwhelmed by the response I got from the telethon, and mind you, they addressed me not as Sushmita Sen, but as 'our guest from India,'" she says and adds, "For the time, I felt India and Pakistan have no boundaries. It goes to show that death and disease have no boundaries."

Former captain of Pakistan, Imran Khan managed to charm the beauty. "What a man! Even though we belong to different eras, Imran and I bonded so well, that we are very good friends today. He is extremely charming, charismatic and so good looking. When you meet him, you instantly like him. He's so charming that he got me to dedicate more of my time there than I would have afforded to," she says recalling the memories.

Sush says when Imran approached her to become the guest for the charity fund raising programme, he sent across the account and bank balance of the hospital. "Treating cancer is an expensive procedure. Imran promised me that whenever I need to raise any funds in India, he will be a part of it."

Sushmita will be going to Pakistan soon on the eve of the opening of Imran Khan's next hospital in Karachi.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 10-5-2007 03:17 PM ]

Abhishek to string mandolin!

Recently, Abhishek Bachchan was presented with an unusual gift by Amjad Ali Khan's two sons, Amaan and Ayaan when he released their new album, 'Truth'. His childhood buddies made Junior's day by presenting him with a santoor in memory of all those times in their childhood when together they'd sneaked into their abba's music room and strummed on his instrument, at times even breaking a string or two. Only days later, Abhishek announced that he would not just be lending his voice to the 'Mehbooba

Shahid抯 magical connection with

Aamir-Kareena starrer 慙ajjo

揌ow can I manage so many women,

'John can never be my best friend'

Bipasha has found herself a new source of excitement. "I'm launching my own website," as excited as she was when she signed her first film Bipasha reveals.

"It will be maintained entirely by me. And it will have regular, almost daily updates of my life卪y ideas, thoughts, observations, things that I want to share with my audience

Love Hurts, tells Salman Khan

Salman has been quite famous in past for sowing his wild oats but poor guy has been fairly unsuccessful in love as well. He has been linked with everyone from Sangeeta Bijlani to Somy Ali and Aishwarya Rai but luck eluded him every time.

Salman's high profile relationship and subsequent breakup with Bollywood leading lady Aishwarya Rai particularly appears to have left scars. Rai, when probed on the subject recently by TV host Simi Garewal, raised all her defences, as she has often done in the past, and refused to delve into the subject.

Khan on the other hand does occasionally speak about that relationship but only in innuendos suggesting that he was not just hurt by the break up but felt cheated by it.

If tabloid reports are to be believed difference have recently surfaced in Khan's relationship with current squeeze Katrina Kaif. While Khan, 41, is keen to get married and settle down, Kaif, 22, is keen to focus on her career for now.

Khan recently opened his heart in an exclusive interview with Star News. In a tone that often seemed to blend jest with deep remorse Salman explained his angst and delved into the dichotomy in love as viewed by the men and women.

Suggesting that love is doomed to fail within 4-5 months after it blossoms Salman said, "Women want the romance to continue. They expect candlelight dinners, trips to the theatres, gifts, cards and flowers. Men have a different take on love and focus more on their roles as providers and protectors."

Romance is not a priority with men in a stable relationship he said, "Men have different things to do. You have to work, you have to support, you have to take care - financially, physically."

"Women don't appreciate the imperatives that drive a man when he is in love and interpret the absence of romance in a relationship as absence of love. They assume the man simply does not care."

I'd certainly not exploit Abhishek: J.P. Dutta

A report stating that J.P. Dutta has paid Abhishek Bachchan a mere Rs 5 lakhs for his role in Umrao Jaan has the filmmaker withdrawing into an angry and hurt shell.

"I'd not like to say anything on this. Why don't you ask Abhishek and Ash what they've been paid? Abhishek is like my own child. And I'd certainly not exploit him.

What I object to is the statement that I normally don't pay my stars. That's not just untrue but defamatory. My lawyers are looking into taking action," says JP, and clams up.

The Movie Moghul's wife Bindiya is forthright in her comments on the pay issue. "No one out here is doing anything for charity.

When everyone is looking at a profit why would JP deprive his cast and crew of their just remuneration? Enough canard has been spread about him not paying his stars."

Bindiya gets emotional. "Even during LOC JP was accused of not paying his stars. We kept hearing rumours of this or that star grumbling about non-payment. No one came and directly told us that we hadn't paid them. They couldn't because it wasn't true."

She signed, "Enough is enough. There's a limit to how much JP will be attacked for being who he is. Just because he doesn't retaliate people think they can get away with saying anything.

He makes his films exactly the way he wants, and with the actors he wants. If Umrao Jaan hasn't succeeded in India it doesn't mean people have the right to make any statement they want."

Adds a source from JP, "JP Saab made Ash look glamorous dressed from head to toe. He respects women.

That's why he made a film on the story of the ultimate courtesan even though everyone warned him it wasn't commercially feasible. Heroine-oriented films have never had it easy at our boxoffice. Pakeezah worked only because of Meena Kumari's death."

Abhishek Bachchan

John was prime target of Taliban: Kabir Khan

Q: How did Yash Raj Films sign you?
That's a good question. I have made documentary films till now, so that's something what everybody wants to know. Well, I had a ready script, which reached Aditya Chopra through some common friends. He liked the script and I got a call. The rest, as they say, is history.

Q: Who did the casting?
Arshad is a close friend, and I had him in mind when I was writing the script of 'Kabul Express'. I had met up with John before Adi came into the picture. John had agreed to do the film even then. Adi had no problem. He agreed to go with my vision.

Q: What is the film about?
The film is loosely based on the experiences that I and my friend Rajan Kapoor (who is the executive producer of Kabul Express) had in Afghanistan during the making of a documentary film in 2001 when Taliban was collapsing.

Q: John panicked during his stay in Afghanistan?
Anybody in his place would have panicked. We were facing death threats, and there were many such threats coming-and John was the most hi-profile target.

Q: But why would they want to target John?
Any terrorist organisation obviously looks for the most hi-profile target. If Taliban bump me off, they wouldn't make as big headlines as they would if they bump John off. John's name was always being highlighted by Taliban as the person they wanted to target.

Q: Did you take precautions then?
We called a stop on shooting for five to six days. Thereafter, we had adequate security- 60 armed commandos 24 X 7.

Q: What are your expectations from the film?
I'm awaiting everyone's reactions. I am sure that many would want to watch it because of late the Taliban has increased its violence in Afghanistan even more.

Q: Why don't John and Arshad Warsi have any romantic angle in the film?
Doesn't we all find it forced when characters have a romantic track thrown in when the rest of the film deals with some other issue? We have tried to remain true to the script... but there's an American actress called Linda.

Q: How has the response at the various film festivals been?
Oh, it's been fantastic... rather overwhelming. We have been to Torontoa, Pusan and London, where we had a fantastic response. Then, a day before the release, we'll be showcasing it in Dubai film festival. The film releases on December 15.

Then we have invitations from at least seven more festivals, which we will do after the film is released. In Indian cinema, regional and arty films are selected in festivals. This is the first time that a film from the mainstream cinema with mainstream actors has been chosen for world's top festivals.

So far so good, and the film's release is merely a month away. But what's next on the anvil after that? I have a 3-film contract with Yash Raj Films. I have two stories in mind. I need to decide which one I should begin with.

I'm happy to be no. 1 Gay icon : Abhishek Bachchan

He's just back from London in Mumbai to be with his father, and now Abhishek leaves for Chennai to shoot for Mani Rathnam.

But not before getting discernibly embarrassed by yet another appellation.

Just the other day he was selected to be Asia's sexiest man, and now he's a gay icon.

Abhishek is flustered. "I don't know how to react to this. Any kind of recognition is a blessing. I don't believe in discriminating against any people. As long as any community loves me for doing what I do on screen, what more can I ask for?

Of course I'm flattered and I feel hugely complimented. It's not everyday that one gets singled out by a very important and sensitive community people. Of course I enjoy the thought of being a gay icon

Karisma Kapoor shapes up for a come back

Karisma Kapoor who took a break from films following her marriage to industrialist Sanjay Kapoor in September 2003, is all set for a comeback. Though the Zubeidaa girl does not yet have any films on hand, it is not because she has no takers. She is just being pernickety about the films that she signs. She abides by a rule

Salman Khan, hasn't been lucky in love. In the past he has been romantically linked to actresses Sangeeta Bijlani, Somy Ali and Aishwarya Rai. He is currently dating fellow actress and model Katrina Kaif.

Salman's high profile relationship and subsequent breakup with Bollywood leading lady Aishwarya Rai particularly appears to have left scars. Rai, when probed on the subject recently by TV host Simi Garewal, raised all her defences, as she has often done in the past, and refused to delve into the subject.

Khan on the other hand does occasionally speak about that relationship but only in innuendos suggesting that he was not just hurt by the break up but felt cheated by it.

If tabloid reports are to be believed difference have recently surfaced in Khan's relationship with current squeeze Katrina Kaif. While Khan, 41, is keen to get married and settle down, Kaif, 22, is keen to focus on her career for now.

Khan recently opened his heart in an exclusive interview with Star News. In a tone that often seemed to blend jest with deep remorse Salman explained his angst and delved into the dichotomy in love as viewed by the men and women.

Suggesting that love is doomed to fail within 4-5 months after it blossoms Salman said, "Women want the romance to continue. They expect candlelight dinners, trips to the theatres, gifts, cards and flowers. Men have a different take on love and focus more on their roles as providers and protectors."

Romance is not a priority with men in a stable relationship he said, "Men have different things to do. You have to work, you have to support, you have to take care - financially, physically."

"Women don't appreciate the imperatives that drive a man when he is in love and interpret the absence of romance in a relationship as absence of love. They assume the man simply does not care."

Khan believes that men who focus exclusively on providing for and protecting their families are the ones who really love them most.

"Those are the people who actually really, really care. A person who leaves the house at six in the morning for work and returns at 2 - 3 O'clock next morning - that is the person who loves his family and really loves his wife and children."

When bluntly asked which viewpoint on love he personally subscribed to Khan firmly indicated that he believed in being the man who protected and provided.

With the Bollywood heartthrob Abhishek Bachchan receiving the Yash Bharti Samman, the highest award of Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, the Bachchan's family earned a unique distinction of becoming the only family whose three generations have got that award.

"Bachchans' family", which contributed three stars-Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Abhishek to the Bollywood and a great Hindi poet to the country, is already one of the most respected families of the country.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav presented the Yash Bharti Samman award to Abhishek Bachchan and cricketer Mohammad Kaif (in absentia), besides nine others that included teacher and litterateur, Dr Viveki Rai, Member of Parliament and Writer Uday Pratap Singh, Journalists #la Singh and Vijay Kumar, Historian Dr Yogesh Praveen, Wrestlers Jagdish Kali Raman, Talukdar Yadav, Shaukildra Tomar and Sportsman Rajiv Tomar.

Abhishek's grandfather and Hindi litterateur, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father Amitabh Bachchan and mother Jaya Bachchan have already been conferred the award.

Kaif's father Mohammad Tarif, who played for the Railways in the Ranji Trophy Championships in the 1970s, received the award on his son's behalf as he is currently playing in South Africa.

The award comprises a check of rupees five lakh and a citation.

After receiving the award, Abhishek donated the money to the Hindi Sansthan, an institute for Hindi language.

The award ceremony, which was full of hi-profile people from all walks of life, included Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

In 1994-95, the State government instituted the 'Yash Bharti' award, which has been so far been awarded to 54 personalities.

However, the decision to honor Abhishek had earlier met with sharp criticism from many political parties and cultural groups. Large protests had been staged against his nomination.

While political parties have termed it as an 'undue favour', cultural groups see it as discriminatory towards others more deserving artists, while some student groups termed it as advance 'quid pro quo'.

The Yash Bharati award is awarded to those individuals who must be belonging to Uttar Pradesh and have contributed something significant to bring laurels to the State.

Although he made a strong debut in J.P.Dutta's Refugee along with Kareena Kapoor in 2000, the movie was not considered a success. In a span of four years, Bachchan went on to do many more movies, without any major box-office successes. However, with his performance in Mani Ratnam's Yuva, he proved his mettle as an actor.

However, the list of awards later coming his way: included (Film Fare Awards); Nomination, Best Upcoming Talent, Winner for 2001, Best Supporting Actor for Yuva for 2005, Winner, Best Supporting Actor for Sarkar for 2006.

In IIFA (India International Film Awards), he was also nominated for Best Debut for Refugee for 2001, Nomination, Best Supporting Actor for Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon for 2004, Nomination, Best Villain Award for Yuva & Winner, Best Supporting Actor for Yuva for 2005, Nomination, Best Actor for Bunty Aur Babli & Winner, Best Supporting Actor for Sarkar for 2006.

Hrithik knows what he wants: Rakesh Roshan

He is in no mood to bask in the glory of the success of Krrish, which is among the highest-grossing movies at the box office this year. Now, he wants to focus on something unique.

揟hat抯 where the challenge of a director lies,

Better the actors, better is the film: Bipasha

Bipasha Basu抯 in the midst of rehearsals at her tastefully done up residence. The actress, who will be performing at the forthcoming International Film Festival of India later this week, is gung-ho about her upcoming release Dhoom 2. 揑t抯 great to see the curiosity surrounding the film,

Best actress award belongs to Kajol: Kunal Kohli

From hosting a TV show to making big-banner, big-budget, multi-starrers, Kunal Kohli has indeed come a long way. Though he had a flop debut in Bollywood (Mujhse Dosti Karoge), but the phenomenal success of Hum Tum (for which he won the best director抯 award in 2004) and Fanaa  (one of the few big hits of 2006) have helped him gain a strong foothold in the industry.

As they say that failures are the pillars of success, Kunal says, 揃efore Hum Tum and Fanaa, I flopped because I was trying to be Yash Chopra, Karan Johar and Sooraj Barjatya.

I抳e become my own critic: Shahid Kapur

All of 25, he抯 nine films old. Right now, he抯 lounging around in his new house.
Seems Kareena Kapoor did all the shopping for it. Feeling justifiably confident after the hit status of Vivah, Shahid Kapoor speaks straight into the dictaphone:

Aha, a hit
"I was sure from day one that Vivah would either do really well or really badly. Luckily, audiences liked it. My director Sooraj Barjatya was a big factor: it was his sincerity that helped me understand and portray my character the way I needed to. "

Holiday happy
"It抯 been a month since I took this break; this is time for myself and I might do this for another month. I wanted to sit back and spend some time with myself. I want to grow as an actor and I抦 using this time to prioritise and recharge. I抦 just 25 now, so I抣l continue doing romantic cinema but I also want to try my hands at different genres.

Critical time
"Well, I抦 making good use of the time off. I抳e become my own critic and am going through all my earlier movies and looking at where I went wrong. I have zeroed in on a few, but I抦 not telling you what they are. How can you expect me to disclose my weak points as an actor?"

The doctor is not in yet
"I抦 beginning to get a feel for judging a script, but I抦 still a long way from turning script doctor. I抦 sure I will see a lot of scripts that don抰 appeal to me but will become hits. That抯 the movie business. No one knows what will work. One should just do what one believes in. Of course, that doesn抰 mean you live your career like you抮e playing a game of cards