I'm single, please: Rani
Rani shopping for a cause!
Actress Rani Mukherji may have a busy schedule, but she’s always ready to make time for what’s close to her heart.Today she will inaugurate Design One — a two-day exhibition, a shopping extravaganza with an impressive and innovative ensemble of fashion, jewellery, couture accessories, home decor, gift ideas, packaging, fresh exotic flowers, gourmet food and more. Seven NGOs will showcase their products at the exhibition. An initiative of Sahachari Foundation Events, Design One is dedicated to Apne Aap Women’s Collective, an NGO engaged in grassroot level work to educate children of women in prostitution to give them a better life.
Rani told BT, “I whole heartedly support the noble cause of girl child education and the outstanding effort made by the women of Sahachari Foundation.”
Sahachari, a charitable foundation, was established by 11 women driven by a zeal to employ their collective strengths and resources for the betterment of the lives of those less fortunate.
Design One, supported by Bapalal Keshavlal, IndusInd Bank and Times Foundation, will be held at Expo Hall, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade. It will start today at 4 pm and go on till 8 pm, and will continue tomorrow from 10 am to 8 pm.
Mallika met Prince of Persia star Jake Gyllenhaal and Warren Beatty
Mallika Sherawat is having such a blast meeting Hollywood celebrities in Los Angeles, where she is parked, for during the post-production of her film Hissss, that it doesn't look as if she's planning to come back to India anytime soon.While dining with friends at the Polo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel, Mallika met Oscar winning actor-producer-director Warren Beatty and Jake Gyllenhaal, star of the upcoming Hollywood film Prince of Persia. Beatty and Gyllenhaal were finishing a dinner meeting when the actress, who's walked in with some of her friends saw them.
The actress who recently became first Indian actor who became an honoury citizen of Los Angeles spoke to the Hollywood actors. Says a source close to the actress, "Beatty, who is quite the ladies man said it was 'the first time' he'd ever met a Bollywood star and was especially 'thrilled to meet one.
He even went on to offer Mallika advice about working in Hollywood. Gyllenhaal, currently dating actress Reese Witherspoon, was also chatted with actress about her forthcoming film, and promised to keep in touch with her."
Mallika is currently living in Los Angeles in a penthouse apartment at one of the swankiest locations in Beverly Hills - the Palazzo in Park LaBrea and continues to tweet her experiences on twitter. She had tweeted about meeting Beatty and Gyllenhaal on the social networking website
Katrina has returned from Italy looking noticeably different...
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| Now | Then |
| Katrina Kaif at a Ganpati pandal last week. Notice the thicker lower lip as well as the pout | |
Katrina Kaif has come back from her recent holiday in Italy and there's something different about her. The actress who has been often voted as the sexiest actress in B-Town, returned with fuller lips than she left with.
Says a source, "Katrina has always wanted shapelier lips. She recently returned from a long holiday - almost three weeks.
During her trip to the USA for the Independence Day parade in Houston and Chicago, everyone first noticed the marked change in her appearance. Her lips were still puffy at the time, but now the swelling has vanished."
Katrina Kaif says, "It's not true. I have not had any work done on my lips and to say that is ridiculous."
A source close to Katrina adds, "She can't afford to take any medication right now as she's on a very strong medication for her skin. It is called Roaccutane and she's under treatment for it under Dr Neena , a cosmetologist from Mumbai, for the last six months and will be under medication for six months more. The medicine is so strong that Katrina can't take any other medicine during this time and in fact, because Roaccutane is so harsh it gives rise to swollen, dry and chapped lips - which gives the impression as if she has done something to her lips."
Roaccutane is a vitamin A derivative (13-cis-retinoic acid) which is administered orally in pill form, normally for 15-20 weeks (3.5-4.5 months). It was originally prescribed for people with severe acne that did not respond to other treatments, but has gained in popularity in the past 25 years. This practice is controversial because Accutane is a serious medication and causes side effects which can be as devastating as they are widespread. Apart from severe allergy and other side effects Roaccutane can also have inflammation of the lips or cheilitis as another side effect.
Says a source, "Katrina has always wanted shapelier lips. She recently returned from a long holiday - almost three weeks.
During her trip to the USA for the Independence Day parade in Houston and Chicago, everyone first noticed the marked change in her appearance. Her lips were still puffy at the time, but now the swelling has vanished."
Katrina Kaif says, "It's not true. I have not had any work done on my lips and to say that is ridiculous."
A source close to Katrina adds, "She can't afford to take any medication right now as she's on a very strong medication for her skin. It is called Roaccutane and she's under treatment for it under Dr Neena , a cosmetologist from Mumbai, for the last six months and will be under medication for six months more. The medicine is so strong that Katrina can't take any other medicine during this time and in fact, because Roaccutane is so harsh it gives rise to swollen, dry and chapped lips - which gives the impression as if she has done something to her lips."
Roaccutane is a vitamin A derivative (13-cis-retinoic acid) which is administered orally in pill form, normally for 15-20 weeks (3.5-4.5 months). It was originally prescribed for people with severe acne that did not respond to other treatments, but has gained in popularity in the past 25 years. This practice is controversial because Accutane is a serious medication and causes side effects which can be as devastating as they are widespread. Apart from severe allergy and other side effects Roaccutane can also have inflammation of the lips or cheilitis as another side effect.
'3 Idiots' will release on Christmas, confirms Aamir
Actor and wife away from home, in one quiet spotAamir Khan, who is spending time with wife Kiran Rao after her miscarriage last month, says his much-awaited "3 Idiots" will hit the screens in December.
"Vinod (Vidhu Vinod Chopra) and Raju (Raj Kumar Hirani) tell me that the post production on '3 Idiots' is progressing well - so by the time I get back, the cut (final product) will be ready. Which means I can confirm to all those of you who have been repeatedly asking... yes, '3 Idiots' will be releasing on Christmas this year. I'll see the cut once I get back," he wrote on his blog.
He didn't reveal his whereabouts, but informed: "Kiran and I are away from home, in one very quiet spot, just lying in and resting. Reading, going for walks, watching films."
The actor says he is utilising his time to catch up on a few films and books - something that he hasn't been able to do thanks to his chock-a-block schedules.
"There are so many films to see, and books to read. One life time is not enough. Books, I read, but films I never get down to seeing.
"Strange, since, I love cinema so much. It's not as if I don't enjoying watching films. I really do, in fact when I watch a film I forget to blink and my eyes start hurting after a while. But for someone who is so steeped in films I have watched pathetically few films in all these years," he said.
Aamir is glad that he has finally managed to watch 1994 American film "The Shawshank Redemption", which was recommended to him by many.
"Just saw '(The) Shawshank Redemption'. Had heard so much about this film. It seems to be on a lot of ‘must see' lists. Really enjoyed it," he added.
Asin upset with ‘London Dreams’ promo
Salman Khan-Ajay Devgan steal limelightNow that the first promo of Vipul’s Shah’s “London Dreams” has been released, leading lady Asin is said to be not too happy with the very small footage that she has got in the trailer.
While Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan feature prominently in the promo, Asin has just one shot, which is a bit disappointing considering how big a hit was “Ghajini”, her debut Hindi film and she has a lot of expectations from “London Dreams”, her second Bollywood release.
Asin apparently has raised her voice against this and has directly spoken to director Vipul Shah.
According to sources, Asin went and met Vipul and voiced her displeasure against the first theatrical promos. Vipul told her that since it is a story about two friends, Salman and Ajay have been shown prominently. He also tried to convince her that she is an important part of the film and the rest of the promos will feature her prominently.
But Asin reportedly was way far from being convinced.
I was inadequate for politics, says Amitabh Bachchan
It’s a job he’ll never recommend to anyoneBollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, who was a Lok Sabha MP in 1984-87, says he quit politics because he felt he was "inadequate for the job".
"Many ask me why I joined politics and why I left it. I joined it because I was asked to and left because I was inadequate for the job," Bachchan posted on his blog.
The veteran actor came into politics at the behest of friend and then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. He contested the Lok Sabha election from his hometown Allahabad in 1984. He won by a huge majority.
He says it is a tough job to be a politician and admires those who have managed to stay put in it.
"Politics is a complicated world - a world where if you are unable to play the game, you would remain a novice and a stranger eternally. I admire those who have remained in it for long years. (I) admire the guile with which they steer their boats every day, every minute. The ease with which they make associations and break them, reject foes and months later embrace them as dearest friends. It is a tough job.
"A job that I would never be able to do. I would never recommend it to anyone. But I do know that those who pursue this line do so with utmost dedication and passion. Their dedication and passion is admirable," he said.
Bachchan is currently in Singapore with his politician friend Amar Singh. The Samajwadi Party leader underwent a kidney transplant there.
‘Dil Bole Hadippa’ irks Sikh community
They mainly have two objections“Dil Bole Hadippa” is the latest victim of the Sikh community’s ire, after “Singh is Kinng” and “Love Aaj Kal”.
The Sikh community has two issues with the movie.
One objection is with Rani Mukerji’s character in the film. She plays an adult character but wears a ‘patka’. Ideally all adults are supposed to wear a turban and not a ‘patka’, which is for young boys.
Secondly they are upset with the way the title of the film is written on the posters.
The posters show a ‘patka’ sign in place of a dot on letter ‘I’ in the title word “Hadippa”.
The Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board has raised a furore against these issues. The chief of the Board, Charan Singh Sapra, has also met the producers Yash Raj Films to sort out the issues.
Sources close to YRF said that they have full respect for the Sikh community and hence they have addressed all their concerns. Also the objectionable portions from the film have been deleted and new posters with the necessary changes are ready for release.
Rakhi praises Shahid for saving her life
His timely intervention averted accidentRakhi Sawant just can’t stop talking about how Shahid Kapur saved her life on the sets of “Dil Bole Hadippa”.
According to unit sources, Shahid, Rani Mukerji and Rakhi were shooting a sequence for the song “Discowale Khisko”.
Rakhi was standing near a light stand after the shoot when suddenly Shahid noticed that the stand was not properly bored into the ground. He casually walked up to Rakhi and without alarming her told her to move.
The light stand could have fallen on Rakhi any time.
Shahid then told the crew members to fix it properly. Rakhi was so overwhelmed by the gesture that she went on telling everybody that Shahid saved her life.
Will 'Dil Bole Hadippa', 'Wanted' break Ramadan jinx
It is not a good period for businessBollywood might be rejoicing with four back-to-back hits in "New York", "Kambakkht Ishq", "Love Aaj Kal" and "Kaminey", but the film industry usually witnesses a dip in business during Ramadan. Filmmakers and distributors are hoping "Dil Bole Hadippa" and "Wanted" will break the jinx this year.
Both Yash Raj Films' "Dil Bole Hadippa", which stars Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapur, and Salman Khan-starrer "Wanted" are releasing on September 18. Trade pundits say the two films might repeat the success story of last year's musical hit "Rock On!" that released during the same period.
"Ramadan has always been a month of gap-fillers and average movies and is not really a good period for business. Filmmakers don't really take risks during the month... so we don't have any powerful movies releasing during this time which eventually leads to low business. Moreover, the 'shradhs' (considered an inauspicious period by Hindus) are also falling with Ramadan this time and it's not considered a good time in the industry," Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan told IANS.
Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, Noida, agrees with Mahajan.
"Business is definitely going to plummet a bit during this month, as there are no big releases till September 18, and mediocre movies don't bring in footfalls. We are hoping post-mid-September will bring in potential business because of the big-budget line-up," said Awasthi.
Added a source from PVR cinemas: "This month will be lean courtesy Ramadan. Though we have many movies releasing every week, none of them has the capability to do business. But we are looking at footfalls with 'Dil Bole Hadippa' and 'Wanted'."
The first weekend (August 28) of Ramadan saw an ensemble of releases like "Daddy Cool", "Toss", "Yeh Mera India", "Kisaan", "Love Khichdi" and "Quick Gun Murugun".
And following in quick succession are medium budget films like "Chintu Ji", "Three - Love, Lies and Betrayal", "Aagey Se Right", "Bachelor Party", "Fox", "Mohan Das - A Man Lost In His Own Nation" and "The Great Indian Butterfly" that are releasing on September 4.
On September 11, "Baabarr", "Pankh", "Ruslaan", "Aamras" and "Vaada Raha...I Promise" will reach theatres before the two biggies - "Dil Bole Hadippa" and Salman's "Wanted" hit the screens on September 18.
"We generally don't have any major releases during this time because the Muslim belt doesn't generate any revenue. It's a dull period, bringing in close to only 15-30 percent of business. Moreover, with 'shradh' falling in tandem, it's really going to be slim," said Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave cinemas.
"But by the time 'Dil Bole Hadippa' and 'Wanted' release, it will be close to Eid and Navratras and the festive mode will start picking up, and is considered commercially very viable," he added.
After the two biggies, Ashutosh Gowariker's much-talked about "What's Your Raashee?" starring Priyanka Chopra and Hurman Baweja will open on September 25.
It’s the big O for Abhi-Ash
Abhishek and Aishwarya become the first Bollywood couple to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show, thanks to Ash's international fame. We cannot wait for the telecast.
Abhishek Bachchan is happy basking in his wife’s limelight. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been invited to the Oprah Winfrey show. Since they are Siamese twins, hubby Abhishek Bachchan will also be present to make his international talk show debut.Though Aishwarya and Abhishek went unrecognized and were undisturbed at a US supermarket, they were in Chicago to shoot for an Oprah episode.
This is not the first time Aishwarya is appearing on an international show. She first appeared on Oprah’s show in February 2007 and on The Late Night Show with David Letterman earlier this year. She has also been a Cannes regular (as L’Oreal ambassador and for her international films like Bride and Prejudice, Provoked and Pink Panther) since 2004. Her films have also had international premieres. For instance, the entire Bachchan family was present at the Pink Panther premiere in the US.
When she was on the show in 2007, she gifted Oprah a simple chiffon sari and spoke about loving and living with one’s family. When asked why Hindi films didn’t have kissing scenes, Miss Rai replied that Indians liked leaving all that to the privacy of their bedrooms.
This year, Abhishek and Ash will talk about how they found each other, their parents (especially Paa), wedded bliss, working on films together, having children, the progress and perception of Indian cinema, what it means to be a Bachchan, etc.
As far as gifts are concerned, we suggest they should gift Oprah a heavy, embroidered saree, an Indian-style earring and necklace set and some classic Hindi DVDs.
We cannot wait to see Abhi-Ash coochie-cooing and Ash giggling on Oprah’s couch. The date of telecast is not known as yet.
Fat Govinda apes slim daughter
Govinda, in his attempt to re-capture lost glory of successful hey-days, succumbs to daughter's diet plans.
You can never be thin or rich enough. Her mother isn't thin and Govinda's weight gain must have frightened his daughter so much that she is working out a little extra to keep the extra pounds at bay. The bodacious beauty is getting ready to announce her debut film. She has been exercising religiously over the past weeks, led by her personal trainer, Viraj Samalkar.Not that she needed to, but Narmmadaa has already lost around four to five kilos of weight under Samalkar’s guidance. Viraj has put her on a strict regimen of dieting and exercise.
“I’m very particular about working out and sometimes even manage to workout at the break of dawn.” The newbie says she prefers exercising “on warm summer mornings, rather than these dull rainy ones”. While she has her mind set on her health, Samalkar makes her do thirty crunches every alternate day which Narmmadaa thinks is “the most tedious part of the regimen.”
Narmmadaa has no complaints about her diet. A mix of carbohydrates and proteins, along with lots of vegetable juices and chicken, she simply loves binging on it, while still maintaining her 25 inch waist. “The diet has left my hair and skin glowing gorgeously,” she smiles.
It’s no wonder then that her overweight papa Govinda also wants a piece of her diet. He wants to get back in shape and for the last 15 days, he has been following her diet and eating habits in order to lose eight kilos. But doesn’t he realize that a diet has to be customized according to each individual’s body type and nutritional needs? His daughter is less than half his age. Govinda, however, refuted all these rumours saying that he is on a strict diet but is not copying his daughter’s diet and is surviving on liquids. Poor Govinda, the weight will come back when he goes back to eating proper food, right? Wake up and smell the coffee. Crash diets don't work!
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