Salman and Aamir are very similar: Asin

After working with Aamir Khan in her Bollywood debut "Ghajini", southern beauty Asin will now be seen with Salman Khan in "London Dreams". She says while the two superstars are very similar as people, their working styles are poles apart.

"As people, there are a lot of similarities between Aamir and Salman. Both are extremely warm, very friendly and down to earth. Not at all pretentious, " Asin told over telephone from Mumbai.

"As actors their working styles are quite different. Like for example when Aamir used to come on the sets to shoot, he used to sit with the cast and crew and used to discuss the scene, give his ideas and his inputs; he used to be quite involved, " the 23-year-old said.

"On the other hand, Salman used to come on the sets, shoot for the scene and leave. There used to be no give and take of ideas; so it used to seem very spontaneous. However, I am sure in his mind he must be knowing exactly what he has to do and how he has to do it, " she added.

The actress, who was brought up in Kerala and debuted in Sathyan Anthikad's Malayalam film "Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka" in 2001, created a mark in the Hindi film industry with "Ghajini" in 2008.

She is ready with her second Bollywood venture "London Dreams" that stars Ajay Devgan along with Salman.

Asked if she was nervous being in the same frame as two such experienced actors, Asin said she neither felt nervous nor intimidated.

"When I go on the sets, I forget all my inhibitions. When I was working with Ajay and Salman, I didn't feel any pressure, maybe because they themselves did not behave like stars and threw no starry tantrums.

"When you work with such dedicated actors, you also do your job well and try to learn whatever you can. But there was no intimidation... I was not scared or anything to work with them. They are experienced but also make you feel very comfortable, " Asin said.

"London Dreams", slated to release Oct 30, tells the story of two childhood friends who dream about making it big in the music industry and start a band. Asin, who is a dancer in the band, is the love interest of both friends.

So what made her sign the film?

"When the film was offered to me, I was keen to do it because I had worked with a star like Aamir in my first Hindi venture and in this one, there were two stars; so that was a 'double dhamaka'.

"Apart from that I loved my character Priya, which is quite different from my earlier role, and also a filmmaker like Vipul Shah is making the film. All these factors made me say yes, " Asin said.

KKK contestants seeing BLUE

They are not suffering from any phobia but we are talking about the star cast of the up coming flick who will be seen soon in Khatron Ke Khiladi Level 2. Sanjay Dutt and Zayed Khan will be representing their flick in the show with Akshay Kumar.

“They will be seen in tomorrows episode as the mahapariksha in the show will start for the contestants for winning the game, ” says our source.

Elaborating more on the presence of the celebs, our source adds, “Sanju Baba and Zayed with Akki has performed many stunt in their film Blue and thus they were called as a celeb guest in the show too.”

“They boosted the energy level of the contestants and had a gala time in South Africa. With that they also promoted their movie which is soon to release by elaborating their experience under water and the stunts which they have done in the flick, ” concludes the source.

So viewers are you ready to go on a Blue ride with them tomorrow at 9:00 pm.

Mysha makes me dance on her little finger: Rani

Celebrities are known for their indulgences apart from their packed schedules. But what keeps actress Rani Mukerji busy other than her professional commitments is her niece Mysha.

"Mysha is the joy of my life... she is my world. She is someone whom I love playing with and who can actually make me dance around her little finger... I just adore her, " Rani told.

"She's just three and has become quite grown up at that age, which really moves me. My heart just melts looking at her and when she says 'Pipi, Pipi' (as Mysha fondly calls Rani), " added the 31-year-old.

Katrina Kaif gets new nickname - Sambo

Her fans have often referred to her as Kat, but now actress Katrina Kaif has a new nickname - Sambo - courtesy her "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" co-star Ranbir Kapoor.

"Ranbir coined the name on the sets of the movie when both were required to shoot for an action sequence, " said a unit source.

For the scene, Katrina and Ranbir were required to climb a ladder placed at a height of 200 feet. Ranbir had to save Katrina from goons and then escape on a jet ski. While everyone was doubtful about Katrina doing the stunt, she shocked everyone with her confidence.

"Everyone on sets was quite skeptical about Katrina. But she amazed everyone as she comfortably climbed the ladder leaving Ranbir lagging behind. Ever since that day Katrina has always been addressed as Rambo's sister Sambo by Ranbir, " said

Cold Vibes: Is Salman-Katrina affair finally over?

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have shocked people with their coldness towards each other at Percept Picture Company’s party recently. The party, which was thrown to celebrate Kanchivaram’s National Award, win on Tuesday night was attended by both Salman and Katrina.

But they came in separately, spent time with different groups of people. Even though they came face-to-face, they didn’t interact with each other. They were at the party for around an hour and left alone.

People who saw them at the party are now thinking if the two are even together anymore.

Katrina was a gracious host at Salman’s Id party a few days ago but he ignored her completely.

Why Neil`s dad did not speak to him for six months

Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh has revealed that his singer father Nitin Mukesh was upset with him for having debuted with a negative role in "Johnny Gaddaar".

"My dad did not speak to me for six months because I signed 'Johnny Gaddaar'. He was so mad at me that he wouldn't even speak to me when eating meals, " Neil told Farah Khan on STAR Plus' chat show "Tere Mere Beach Mein".

"I explained to him that it was necessary for people to recognise my acting abilities and that's why I'm doing the film. I can identify myself as an actor, make people identify with me as an actor. It was a big thing after the film released, " he added.

Released in 2007, the film earned critical acclaimed for Neil and made his father happy.

" (After that) dad said that he respects me and he is proud that I did the film, " said the 27-year-old-actor who proved his mettle once again in the hit film "New York". His next is Madhur Bhandarkar's "Jail", which is inspired by the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case in New Delhi, in which six people were killed.

The episode will air on Star Plus Saturday.

Baby Doll does not want to dance anymore

Baby doll Deepal Shaw’s bold and beautiful dancing moves in kabhi aar kabhi paar certainly aar-paar the audience’s hearts. And in spite of doing intense de-glam roles in serious films like A Wednesday and Kalyug, all these years, she is still remembered for the same.

When the news broke that she is paving her way into films, it was expected of her to do something as bold and beautiful as that in her previous album. This apparently peeves the doll and she blames media for this.

“It is because media have been constantly stressing on those videos until today. I have done many offbeat roles in the films like Kalyug, Wednesday, but that were never hyped as much as the videos.

As media is only interested in showing glamour they do not give sufficient coverage to the serious work that I have been doing in the films,” she laments.

But this does not bother her, as long as her directors show faith in her talent. “Directors with whom I have worked consider me a serious actor. If I were mere dancing doll why would I be given such serious roles?

It’s not my deliberate attempt to refrain from dancing in the film though I am sure if I do one I will get that hype, but I would do only if it’s a part of my character, as I am very serious about my acting career as of now,” she justifies.

Darling people remember you for the thing that you are good at.

We are proud of Kareena, Ranbir: Karisma

She has had a successful innings herself in Bollywood but actress Karisma Kapoor can't seem to stop raving about her sister Kareena and cousin Ranbir for the way their careers are shaping up.

"We are very proud of Kareena and I think it's a great follow up (as to Karisma's career). Touch wood, first I had a great career and now she is following our (the family) legacy and keeping our name alive, " Karisma told.

Asked about Ranbir, the 35-year-old promptly replied: "Definitely, him too... I think we grandchildren are trying to strive and work hard to keep our grandfather's (Raj Kapoor) name alive... always."

Shocking: Lisa Ray has incurable cancer Here's a shocking news for all Lis Ray fans. Lisa Ray has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and she has already started her first cycle of treatment. Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell, is an incurable but treatable disease. On September 3, she wrote on her blog:"I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on June 23. Started my first cycle of treatment July 2. Not long ago. For me, it was a relief to hear what was wrong." "The plasma cells in my bone marrow were rampaging, multiplying, squeezing out the red blood cells and it was time to begin doing something about it. I was also tired of being tired all the time. So when I sat there with Bobcat, my life partner and reservoir of Yellow, and got the news I didn't react and I didn't cry. I'm an actress, believe me, I can be dramatic. Not just then though," she added. The model-turned-actress decided to undergo medical examination a few months ago after she felt "exhausted, pale and drained" all the time. Explaining her disease, Lisa said: "Myeloma is incurable. It's a relatively rare cancer of the bone marrow... Every year, approximately 2,100 more cases are diagnosed. I'm a junior member in many ways, having been diagnosed at 37, while the average age is 65... makes the disease not quite as 'sexy' as other cancers." However, Lisa is hopeful that "it can be cured" with the new treatments available in the healthcare sector these days. "So today with Velcade and, Revlimid and other promising new treatments in the pipeline, our survival rates are improving. But only with an ever expanding toolbox of treatments and awareness can this cancer be beat. So I'm going to do everything I can to wrench the spotlight onto myeloma and cancer awareness. I believe it can be cured. That's the dirty realist in me," she wrote. Lisa was born to a Bengali father and a Polish mother. She joined showbiz as a model and later ventured into films with Tamil movie "Nethaji". After that she was seen in Vikram Bhatt's "Kasoor" in 2001, but stayed away from mainstream Hindi films as she could not speak the language fluently. In 2002, internationally renowned filmmaker Deepa Mehta cast her opposite Rahul Khanna in the crossover film "Bollywood Hollywood". The Canada-based director later repeated Lisa in her Oscar-nominated period drama "Water" (2005), in which she impressed critics with her performance as a young widow.

Katrina livid at TV images showing her hugging Ranbir Kapoor

By Subhash K Jha

There are many reasons why Katrina ko bahut gussa aata hai. Earlier this week a television channel went ballistic with an image showing her reaching out and hugging Ranbir Kapoor on the road.

The suggestive clipping had the channel wondering aloud what Salman Khan would have to say about Katrina’s public display of intimacy.

Katrina is defiant and cheesed off. “Nothing. Why should he have anything to say about a scene from a film?

It’s a scene we shot for Rajneeti on a street of Bhopal. Obviously some camera outside our unit shot and decided to up the channel’s TRPs with one more scandal story. But it’s disgusting.”

Katrina sees this as a clear case of ‘match’-mixing. “First of all it’s illegal to shoot people without their knowledge. And then how can they pass off a shot from a film as a paparazzi scoop?”

Getting indignant Katrina says, “People can easily see I’m dressed for the character in Rajneeti. And am I so dumb as to indulge in a public display of affection with my co-star? Grant me more common sense.”

The lady who’s in Bhopal shooting non-stop with Ranbir for Rajneeti took off for Delhi on Tuesday to shoot for Vogue. She had to skip the music release of Salman Khan’s Main Aur Mrs Khanna in Mumbai.

“Another controversy?” she sighs. “We’re all busy with our commitments. And I’m also busy fighting off strange allegations.”

Strangest of them all is the one that Ayesha Shroff shot off alleging that the surname given on Katrina’s passport was ‘Turquotte.’

“That’s my mother surname, ” is all Katrina will say before clamming up on the subject.

Karisma Kapoor is pregnant: Family Sources By: Upala KBR According to sources close to the family, Karisma Kapur is having her second child. The actress, who is married to the Delhi businessman Sanjay Kapur already has a daughter Samaira, who is four. Lolo's younger sister Kareena is thrilled with the idea of becoming an aunt for the second time. Says a source, "The actress was spotted with a baby bump at a suburban seven-star hotel in Bandra on Wednesday afternoon. Karisma was last seen at events a few weeks ago (she was last seen at Neetu Kapoor's mom's chautha) and has since then been keeping a low profile. She is now in her first trimester. This is the happiest phase in her life. Samaira is growing up, her marriage (which ran into troubled waters a few years back) is in a happy place now and she is also keeping herself busy with endorsements. Sanjay and she feel that it was a good time to have another baby." The source adds that sister Kareena is over the moon about Karisma's pregnancy. "Bebo loves children and dotes on her niece Samaira. She organises her birthday parties and always picks up gifts for her from abroad. She is also very close to her sister and can't wait to hold Lolo's second baby in her arms." When asked about the sister's happy news, Kareena Kapoor says, "Who told you?" but refused to say anything after that. Karisma's father, Randhir Kapoor, who is currently in Russia, says, "I have no idea if Lolo is expecting or not. No one has told me as yet. I would be very happy if she is expecting."

Despite reservations, Soha smooches with Emraan not once but twice By: Shaheen Parkar Though there was buzz that Soha Ali Khan had refused a liplock with Emraan Hashmi in Tum Mile, she has kissed the actor not once but twice over! The snapshot above shows that Saif Ali Khan's sister has puckered up with her co-star (known for his on-screen smooches) though with great reservations. Says director Kunal Deshmukh, "I told Soha at the outset that the script demanded one kiss which was to be in a song. Though she had agreed to it, when it came to the shoot, she had second thoughts." It is learnt that the actress needed a lot of convincing to do the scene. Finally, when the director explained the context to her, she performed the sequence in one shot." But things did not end there. Kunal later felt there was a need for another liplock. "Soha had agreed to kiss during a song sequence. But while shooting, I realised that one more scene needed a kiss." The director explains that as Soha and Emraan play a live-in couple there had to be physical closeness. "In stead of having the camera all over them, I thought a liplock would say it all. Soha was extremely reluctant but she agreed later." Says Soha, "I had reservations as this was the first time but after discussions with the director, we went ahead with it. It wasn't in the script, that's why it took me by surprise. But it is a very sweet, tame kiss and is shot in good taste." Produced by Vishesh Films, Tum Mile is set against the July 2005 Mumbai floods and is slated for a November release.

Exclusive: Star Sisters fight it out in Bollywood!

Time and again, star sisters have been eventually falling prey to the glamorous world of cinema, watching their sibling working wonders on the silver screen.

Some have made it big or lagged and someone also go beyond what their sisters could have imagined. With Ayesha Takia’s sister Natasha Takia at a threshold of a glam career in tinsel town, we go back to past and list down some beautiful star sisters who stepped into elder one’s shoes.

Karishma and Kareena Kapoor: Prithvi Raj Kapoor would have been shell shocked to see Kapoor khandan ki betiyan flaunting their size zero in bikinis on the big screen.

Karishma was the undisputed queen of the 90’s and early 2000 with films like Zubeidaa, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Fiza and Raja Hindustani, which also celebrate her innings in industry.

The legacy of Kapoors’ to outshine continued with Kareena who is currently one of the highly paid actresses. She played her actor-prowess with her debut venture, but her career graph has recently taken a boost with films like Jab We Met and Kambakkht Ishq.

Kajol and Tanisha Mukherjee: It does not seem to be working for Tanisha. She is lagging far behind what her sister has achieved so far. Yes, ever-beautiful Kajol Mukherjee still makes many a hearts go flutter for her well-defined features.

One of the most celebrated actresses till date, Kajol has very few films to her credit, but has come up with box-office success every time. Looking at the success parameter of elder sister, Tanisha too stepped into B-town.

However, things did not prove fruitful with her. In fact, what compounded to her misery were the evident comparisons with her sister and mother, which she had to face, plus the brutal comparison with her sister somehow snubbed her chances.

Shilpa and Shamita Shetty: There is something magical about the Shetty sisters. Both Shilpa and Shamita carry loads of oomph factor with grace.

Shilpa’s career sprang up with the ‘Big Brother’ and then there was no looking back. Shamita too is making her presence felt, and doesn’t let herself go off the mind of her audience.

Well, looking at Shilpa’s career, little sister seems to believe in the proverb ‘Slow and steady wins the race’. What say Shamita?

Amrita and Malaika Arora: Sexy-siren Malaika still looks jaw dropping hot with her ever-toned body. Malaika has no qualms to be titled item girl, which is something she graciously lives up to.

Although, her sister Amrita has jumped into the serious business of acting, she is yet to make a mark for herself.

However, one thing that makes the Arora sisters’ a league apart is their confidence to move on in the industry despite being married, as they say female-actors have less scope once they enter the world of marriage.

I'm not doing 'Seven Husbands' yet: Priyanka Chopra

Rumour mills have been working overtime that after playing 12 different roles in "What's Your Rashee?", Priyanka Chopra has been signed on to essay seven roles in Vishal Bharadwaj's "Seven Husbands". But the actress denies any such development.

"No. I am not doing 'Seven Husbands' yet. Vishal sir and I have been talking over various scripts after 'Kaminey', but nothing has been finalised yet, " Priyanka told.

The actress scored her third consecutive hit with Bharadwaj's "Kaminey" after "Fashion" and "Dostana".

Aishwarya-Abhishek reveal love for parents on Oprah

Bollywood’s world famous couple- megastars Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan- live with Abhishek’s parents, the couple told “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on September 28.

With about five billion fans globally, Filmfare Award winners Aishwarya Rai (Devdas), 35, and Abhishek Bachchan (Bunty Aur Babli), 33, described it as normal and absolutely natural. Abhishek’s grandparents also lived with them before they passed away.

They have to abide by few household rules also- like having one meal a day together if everybody is in Mumbai, where they live.

When they have time for themselves (they appear in five-six movies a year, as compared to one-two films of Hollywood actors), they spend it at home with each other, family and friends, instead of going to exotic places.

The Oprah Winfrey Show, a syndicated talk show, is the highest-rated talk show in American television history.

Ranbir Kapoor gets a pleasant surprise from Deepika

Recently, Deepika Padukone played a doting girlfriend to Ranbir Kapoor by throwing him a surprise birthday party and inviting some of his close friends.

She took him to a restaurant for dinner when he got back from Bhopal and he was in for a surprise when he saw that she had invited Ayan Mukherjee (director of Wake Up Sid) and some of his old school friends for his birthday party.

As a birthday gift, Ranbir received a new laptop from Deepika. Now, isn’t that sweet?

Pataudis spend the weekend with Julia Roberts By Subhash K. Jha The entire Pataudi clan, former cricketer Tiger, his actress wife Sharmila Tagore and their three children, including star son Saif Ali Khan, were at Pataudi, Haryana, over the weekend sharing their ancestral home with Hollywood's Pretty Woman Julia Roberts. While Roberts, the first Hollywood celebrity to stay in Pataudi House that has now been converted to a heritage hotel, is at the Nafeez Manzil, the Pataudi family was at the main palace. "Julia Roberts is our guest. She's staying in a part of our property. We've let the unit stay in a flank because she's a colleague and I know what it is like to shoot far away from home," Sharmila told over the phone from Pataudi Sunday. "We're staying in the main palace. They are staying in a separate part of the royal property known as the Nafeez Manzil. In the past, Aamir Khan shot and stayed with us for 'The Rising'. Deepa Mehta shot 'Earth' in Pataudi though that portion was edited out," said Sharmila. Sharmila says she came to her ancestral house, a short distance from the national capital, with her entire family for a family function. "Tiger and I are here. He dragged us out here in this heat, much to our annoyance. Saif and my two daughters Sabah and Soha are also here for a Mewati Akikah ceremony which is a traditional Muslim mundan (head shaving)," said Sharmila, who is very angry at the way her son is referred to as the 'Chote Nawab' in the media. "Saif is a grown-up man of 36. There's no Chote or Nawab in his personality. He wants to be known as an actor, though he comes from a royal family," she said. Pataudi Palace belongs to Sharmila's husband, the erstwhile prince of Pataudi and former India cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. Roberts, who is here to shoot the India part of her movie "Eat, Pray, Love", landed in New Delhi Sep 17. She has been shooting scenes with her Hollywood colleagues Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem and Richard Jenkins at the Ashram Hari Mandir in Pataudi, about 40 km from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Directed by Ryan Murphy, the movie is based on Pushcart prize-winning author Elizabeth Gilbert's spirituality-travel memoirs, "Eat, Love, Pray", and features Roberts as Gilbert who travels to Italy, India and Indonesia in search of peace. The 41-year-old will be in Pataudi till Oct 9 and is expected to leave for Bali thereafter.

Do Knot Disturb to release across 1060 screens worldwide

Director David Dhawan's "Do Knot Disturb", a comedy about marriage and infidelity, is set to release across 1060 screens worldwide Friday.

Co-produced by BIG Pictures and Vashu Bhgnani's Puja Entertainment, the film is bringing together the hit actor-director duo of Dhawan and Govinda for the 19th time.

It also stars two former beauty queens - Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta. Riteish Deshmukh, Sohail Khan, Ranvir Shorey and Rajpal Yadav will also be seen in the movie.

"Do Knot Disturb" revolves around a rich businessman (Govinda) who wants to hide his extra marital affair with a supermodel (Sushmita). He bribes a waiter (Riteish) into pretending to be the model's (Lara) boyfriend. Thereafter, mistaken identities and misunderstandings form a hilarious situations.

According to Dhawan, certain audience members will be able to relate a lot with the movie.

"I have taken cues from society and people around me for the film. I'm sure someone or the other in the hall will identify with the film and realise that it is his or her story," Dhawan had told.

Govinda is extremely confident about the film. "'Do Knot Disturb' doesn't give you time to think... it only makes you laugh and keeps you happy - which has been (the case) with almost all of David's films. Audiences laugh and come out satisfied and happy, which has always been a big achievement for us," he said.

"The best part about the film is that it has no end... neither a happy end nor a tragic one. It's like an episode with excellent humour punches. But it has a couple of messages in the garb of humour, especially about people who go out and cheat on their wives, which might help many families," he added.

Wedding bells for Gurmmet-Debina!

There is good news about these two actors as on-screen Ram and Sita are planning to tie the knot. The duo has got engaged during their reality show, Pati Patni Aur Woh which was a big surprise for everyone.

“It was a surprise for me by Gurmeet. I just couldn’t believe that moment has come in my life. I wouldn’t like to reveal much as it’s better if you watch the episode and understand the emotions that we went through,” says Debina.

So is the marriage soon on the cards? “Well definitely but as my parents have gone abroad so we will wait till they come back. After that we will be deciding on the dates of the marriage,” she adds further.

Debina has discovered a new Gurmmet during this one month reality show. “After doing the show and staying with him for a month I realised that I knew him only 1% and there was lot more to be discovered.

The way he has taken care of me and motivated me has made me think over that he was a different person all together. I am really happy for the surprise he gave me in the show,” she quips.

Finally Debina and Gurmmet are ready to become Pati aur Patni but there is still lot of time for 'woh' to come. “We know that starting a family is a big responsibility and at least for 2 to 3 years we can't think about it,” concludes the actress.

We congratulate the duo and wish them a happy married life.

Sajid Wahid distribute Main Aurr Mrs Khanna Audio CD to Rickshawalas

The Mumbai rickshawala’s had a field day recently. It was a gift that had them smiling.

An eyewitness said, “We saw Sajid Wajid distributing CDs of Main Aurr Mrs Khanna among rickshawalahs to promote the music of the film. The rickshawalahs were really touched by their gesture.

They said that they work hard throughout the day with practically no entertainment. But this surprise CD gift has really made their day.”

I am not a saint, but also not a rapist

Shiney Ahuja, behind the bars for more than three months after his maid accused him of rape, got bail Thursday. He reiterated his claim that he had consensual sex with the domestic help.

"I am not a saint, but also not a rapist, " Shiney's lawyer Shirish Gupte argued on his behalf in the Bombay High Court during the bail hearing.

While granting bail, Justice A.P. Deshpande imposed strict conditions on Shiney, ordering him to live in New Delhi till the trial begins in a fast track court.

He has also been ordered to deposit a bail amount of Rs.50, 000, visit the nearest police station in the capital, deposit his passport with the police and refrain from influencing the case witnesses, Gupte said.

Gupte told mediapersons that evidence on the records suggests that the intercourse was with the full consent of the domestic help. "Not only was he used to this, but she had a history of closeness to other men, " Gupte claimed.

He pointed out that medical reports did not show any injuries on Shiney's body, except for a small injury on his hand, which could be love bites or due to the girl holding his hand very hard.

If it was rape and the girl had resisted, there was no corroboration by way of injuries on her body or any damage to her clothes, nor were any body fluids detected, nor did she inflict any scratches or other injuries on the actor, Gupte said.

"This pattern of behaviour indicates that the girl was a willing party, and on the night before the alleged rape, she had called Shiney's landline number ten times from her mobile phone," he said.

Twice earlier, lower courts in Mumbai had rejected Shiney's bail application.

Shiney has been accused of raping his teenaged domestic help at his Andheri west home on June 14 and was in custody since then.

Following an assurance by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Shiney's case was transferred from a sessions court to a fast track court in Sewri where the trial is due to start soon.

If the charges against him are proved in the court, Shiney faces a minimum seven-year jail sentence.

Pati, Patni Aur Woh doesn`t exploit children

NDTV Imagine entertainment channel has stoutly defended its recently launched "Pati Patni Aur Woh" reality show, denying charges by Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath and various NGOs that it was "exploiting children" and saying it will take appropriate steps to protect its broadcast rights.

"We have received a notice from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asking us to stop the telecast of the show 'Pati Patni Aur Woh' immediately. Their view is that child rights have been violated during the production of this show.

"We are very surprised by this notice, as NCPCR has not approached either NDTV Imagine or BBC (the format owner and producer of this show) to seek any clarifications pertaining to their concerns, " read the statement.

"Pati Patni Aur Woh", inspired by international reality show "Baby Borrowers", is about parenting. Right from living the life of an eight-month pregnant woman to taking care of an infant, a toddler, and a teenager -- the show that went on air Sep 28 features five celebrity couples doing it all.

Last week, Delhi-based NGO Uday Foundation sent a written complaint to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, the NCPCR and the labour ministry, after which NCPCR, an autonomous body that works for child rights, has been asked to look into the matter.

"For the sake of making a serial, the makers cannot exploit and harass the children. Even though the children's parents are watching what is happening, the makers cannot separate them from their biological parents, " Tirath said here Thursday.

However, the statement from NDTV Imagine said: "We are not in agreement with NCPCR's position and we will take all appropriate steps to protect our broadcast rights."

"BBC has full experience in ensuring the safety of the children. All through the show the parents of the children have been supervising the proceedings from TV cameras in adjacent rooms and are free to intervene if they perceive the slightest risk to their child."

This was evident in Thursday's episode of the show when parents went to the various houses where their respective kids were staying to teach celebrity couples the apt way to manage their child.

"Imagine is a responsible broadcaster and BBC is the global gold standard in quality programming and production, and needless to say, ensuring the children's safety, " the statement added.

The show has Rakhi Sawant-Elesh Parujanwala, Shilpa Saklani-Apurva Agnihotri, Juhi Parmar-Sachin Shroff, Mouni Roy-Gaurav Chopra and onscreen couple Gurmeet Chaudhary-Debina Bonnerjee.

Lara Dutta slams TV production rumours

Rumour mills are abuzz that beauty queen-turned-actress Lara Dutta is set to venture into production for small screen, but the 31-year-old has rubbished it.

It was reported that Lara will produce a travel show.

"It's not true. I don't have the time to do anything except the films I am doing right now, " Lara told.

The Man Priyanka Chopra adores

Priyanka Chopra has thousands of fans, but who is the actress's all-time idol? The man she admires most is adored by millions across the globe as well... who else but superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

"Shah Rukh Khan is my idol and has always been. He has been a favourite actor of course, but I really look up to him also as a person. Looking at where he came from and how he became who he is today, I find it extremely fascinating, " Priyanka told in an interview.

"He started with theatre, did plays, got a break in TV - he turned from a regular college kid to a mega superstar... and all that completely on his own with no help from anybody in the film industry. I admire a lot about him and I think it's just fantastic, " said the actress who has bagged the youth award icon for entertainment.

In the past, Priyanka has teamed up with Shah Rukh for Farhan Akhtar's "Don" and did a cameo in a song with him in Farah Khan's "Om Shanti Om" and also in "Billu".

Priyanka and Hrithik Roshan bagged the youth icon awards in the entertainment field at the inaugural edition of the India Youth Icon Awards at an awards ceremony in Gurgaon Friday.

The actress is currently on cloud nine after getting rave reviews for essaying 12 roles in Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Rashee?", which also stars Hurman Baweja.

"It's been great feedback so far. People are enjoying the film...I had an author-backed role which included playing 12 different characters - very difficult to do. And it feels fantastic to be encouraged and be told that I pulled it off well, " she said.

The 27-year-old actor said she was extremely nervous before the film's release Friday.

"My biggest worry was - 'Oh God! Will I ever be able to pull this off or not?'. Since most people who get to play multiple roles in a movie get it after a lot of experience, I was nervous.

I have spent a short span to do roles as difficult as the one in 'What's Your Rashee', but as an actor all I can say is that I do my work with as much honesty as possible and the rest is destiny, " she said.

If "What's Your Rashee?" hits the jackpot at the box office, it will be her fourth consecutive hit in a row after "Fashion", "Dostana" and "Kaminey".

But she is unmoved. "Hits and flops are a part of the business, isn't it?" she said. Asked how she handles success at a young age, the former Miss World said: "I have always been grounded. I have an incredible passion for what I do (acting). I don't know how to do anything else, I don't want to do anything else and I love what I do. There's nothing else that affects me."

What about growing expectations from audiences and critics?

"It scares me when my films release. I wonder if people will like it or not. That for me is the most important thing. But at the same time I think: what's the point of living a life without any expectations?

You will just stagnate, become complacent - that's not the kind of person I am. I like striving, I like things that challenge me; I take up difficult films and difficult roles to challenge myself, " Priyanka said.

"I like it when people say things like 'Fashion' was a female-centric movie and yet it was successful and that 'Kaminey' was an all-boys film, still my part was really appreciated, and 'Dostana' was majorly on gay guys, and it ended so well. I enjoy that - I like the fact that I can take up different scripts.

"It's just that I like to take up challenges, " she added.

Priyanka's next will see her paired with Uday Chopra in Yash Raj Films' "Pyaar Impossible", where she will play the beauty and the latter a geek.

Raj Thackeray and his goons Wake up Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar got a rude wake-up call Friday when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists protested the use of 'Bombay' instead of Mumbai in his latest movie "Wake Up Sid" as soon as it was released.

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma, is the latest offering from Dharma Productions Pvt Ltd.

Even as angry activists vociferously protested the movie and tried to disrupt its screening in at least two south Mumbai cinemas, a harried Karan rushed to meet MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his Shivaji Park residence.

"He has tendered an unconditional apology for this faux pas which the party has taken serious note of, " MNS vice-president Vageesh Saraswat told.

Emerging from the meeting a short while ago, an aggressive Raj said that such things (using 'Bombay' instead of Mumbai) would not be tolerated and Karan has realised his mistake.

"He has sought time from us to rectify the error. We shall wait for three-four days before the next step, " Raj told mediapersons outside his residence.

To a query, he said that not only the directors, but all persons connected with filmmaking and other fields must ensure that Mumbai is used in place of 'Bombay'.

"When the names of other cities like Delhi and Chennai are not changed, why should Mumbai be change to 'Bombay'?" he thundered.

Saraswat said that Karan explained to Raj the complications about deleting and replacing 'Bombay' with Mumbai since over 700 prints have been sent worldwide for a simultaneous release.

"However, Karan Johar assured the MNS chief that he would be able to insert an apology at the start of the movie. We shall wait and watch. If the apology is not shown as promised, we shall plan our further steps in the matter, " Saraswat warned.

"Wake Up Sid" has been released in 42 cinema halls in Mumbai alone and another 150 in the rest of Maharashtra, according to an industry analyst.

Sonam Kapoor beats Katrina, Priyanka and Kareena

Two film-old actress Sonam Kapoor has beaten the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif to emerge as the best dressed celebrity in India, according to People magazine.

"My style isn't about trends. I don't let the clothes wear me, I wear them, " said the 24-year-old about her style statement.

On the list, Kareena holds second position, Priyanka is third, Twinkle Khanna on fourth and Katrina on fifth slot.

Sonam, daughter of Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, made her acting debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya" opposite Ranbir Kapoor and later featured in "Delhi 6".

She’s presently shooting for papa Anil Kapoor’s home production Ayesha which is a desi adaptation of Jane Austen

Insecure SRK didn't let Gauri wear skirts

Star wife Gauri Khan is known for flaunting stylish clothes, but very few know that her superstar husband Shah Rukh Khan barred her from wearing skirts and T-shirts while they were dating because he was insecure about her.

"I wouldn't like it if Gauri left her hair loose. She's so beautiful that I used to stop her from wearing mini skirts or T-shirts. But I promised her the minute we get married, I'd never behave in such a rotten manner," Shah Rukh told his friend Farah Khan on STAR Plus' chat show "Tere Mere Beach Mein".

The 43-year-old stressed that he was insecure about Gauri till he got married in 1991 because "I didn't know if she belonged to me like I belonged to her".

And now Gauri is not only seen as one of the most stylish women in Bollywood, Shah Rukh says their son Aryan considers her the most beautiful lady, even above Hollywood star Angelina Jolie.

"Today, if she returns from a party wearing a long skirt even Aryan asks her not to wear it as he doesn't like her in long covered clothes," added Shah Rukh.

The special episode will be aired on STAR Plus Saturday at 9 p.m.

After sexually groping Bipasha, a pervert strikes again

It was a day Bipasha Basu won't forget easily. Amidst the celebration of Durga Puja the dusky beauty got a shock of her life when a pervert sexually groped her at the North Bombay Sarvojonin Pandal at Santacruz.

A source present at the event said, “Bipasha and John came together for the Durga Puja in the evening and Bipasha was very excited as has always been part of Durga Pujas in Mumbai over the years.

Just after the darshan, she was near the stage when someone pervert groped her breasts. Bipasha, of course, was taken aback and flew into a fit of rage. People around her tried to calm her down.

John too was present there and he whisked her away to calm her down. She even wanted to lodge a police complaint. However, she had second thoughts. As for the sick man, he quietly and promptly ran away, taking advantage of the commotion.”

Incidents of actresses being sexually groped are not new. Many popular actresses have had to face the embarrassment of being mauled by strangers.

Now, model-turned-actress Maushmi Udeshi was a victim while she was on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai. The troublemaker, identified as Khan Mehfooz, was sitting behind her on the plane when he suddenly began to caress her shoulder and make lusty noises.

She tried to change the way she was sitting but he grabbed her shoulder. Annoyed to the extreme, she turned around and slapped him.

She then realized that he was the same man who had tried to push her not once but twice when they were boarding the flight.

His friends, who were sitting next to him, started laughing. She was disgusted by the man.

Tells Maushmi, “I thought such incidents were common in buses and trains, but flight mein bhi aisa hota hai? How can a guy get so lusty and be disgusting in public? He was a desperate, slimy b*****d. He initially denied that he touched me, but they fired him and called the security.”

Maushmi asked the flight crew to do something about the incident. Khan was then made to change his place. At first he denied touching her but when the security was called to take him away, he began to apologize.

She was asked if she wanted to register a police complaint but she didn’t want to get into any kind of hassle. The incident was confirmed by the airlines..

Sherlyn Chopra was chosen in Big Boss to woo Baba Ramdev

By Subhash K Jha

Pinup girl Sherlyn Chopra has said a definite yes the Bigg Boss. After Raakhi Sawant and Payal Rohatgi it is Sherlyn who will provide the oomph appeal in this season’s Bigg Boss.

Says a source from the channel Colors, “One reason why we were interested in getting Baba Ramdev on board is because we got Sherlyn.

So we wanted to create a Vishwamitra-Menaka kind of situation between the saint and the seductress in the Bigg Boss house. Unfortunately Baba opted out.”

But the seductress is on.

Sex and violence sells: Sharmila Tagore

By Radhika Bhirani

A dash of sex and violence is a sure shot formula for filmmakers to bring in audiences, says censor board chief Sharmila Tagore, who insists she doesn't run the scissors if the scenes gel well with the script.

"Sex and violence sells. Everybody is not Shakespeare, everybody is not a great director or an Imtiaz Ali whose 'Jab We Met' was a clean film and yet worked at the box office, " Sharmila Tagore told in an exclusive interview.

"Some people make a clean film and then put one item song because they feel that will bring in the audiences and it does turn out to be true. They do it for the sake of money. You can't blame them as filmmaking is ultimately a moneymaking proposition, " she added.

Sharmila, 62, who was also on the jury of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival recently, says it's high time the audiences and those who believe in moral policing stopped pretending about the existence of an underbelly in Indian society.

"In every city and village, there is an underbelly and there is a clientele that does go for drinks, gambling and dancing with women in red light areas. So by hiding all that, we cannot pretend it's not happening. If it is happening, it will be shown in movies.

"We can't look away from reality. We don't want to be a state or country of pretenders or hypocrites. But, yes, we have to keep a balance in what is shown; so we censor accordingly, " she said.

A few months ago, gay activist Sridhar Rangayan, who has made movies like "Pink Mirror" on issues confronting the community, had said that the censor board needs to update its rule book and rid itself of "antiquated rules". But Sharmila differs.

"I don't agree with that statement. We do have a set of rules, but it is interpreted by everyone differently. One rule says, 'Don't glorify violence'. Now every individual will be comfortable with a different degree of violence in a film - it's subjective.

"All of us at the censor board know India and Indian sensibilities. I have been involved with media for the last 50 years, my regional officers are sensitised and trained and the panel is good. We know our country and know how regional sensibilities differ - so we censor when it is required, " she said.

Sharmila added that she doesn't necessarily cut a scene if it goes well with the script.

"We don't necessarily cut, but we certify. India is free for all and all sorts of material comes in. Some kind of censorship is absolutely essential. But what we believe is that it must be flexible, has to be aware of the times, have a hand on the pulse of the nation and should be forward-looking. But we won't agree that we are regressive, " she clarified.

In fact, she suggests that filmmakers exhibit the certification of the film prominently on posters and advertisements so that the audience can use their discretion on whether or not to watch the film.

"In our country people take children without bothering to see the certification. A lot of times the posters and the ads of movies in papers don't have a certification - so people aren't advised properly - that's not our problem, " she rued.

"The audience needs to be advised that a film contains explicit language and sexual scenes and so they should not take their kids along. Personally, I let tolerable adult content pass through with an A-certification. We can't completely protect the audience and just show them fairy tales, " Sharmila said.

Another pertinent point that she keeps in mind while running her censor scissors is the fact that the Indian film industry is competing with the global market in terms of content and quality.

"We are competing with the world market; so we need to come up with competitive films. Then only our industry will grow...We have to make today's films. We have to keep in step with what's happening in the world, " she said.

Do Knot Disturb

Starring Govinda, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh, Sohail Khan, Ranvir Shorey, , Manoj Pawa
Directed by David Dhawan
Rating: *

When this piece of parodic perversity is mid-way through two questions strike us. What is the otherwise-classy Sushmita Sen doing in this atrocious homage to the spirit of unstoppered revelery, most of it situated in the lobbies and corridors of a super-luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi?

And then the second question strikes us almost immediately. What are we doing watching all these wonderful glamorous actors making fools of themselves in a plot that seems to have been written with the express purpose of extolling the ‘virtues’ of infidelity and seduction?

Both Sushmita and Lara wear the shortest of dresses.The size of Sushmita’s role matches her clothes. They take long leggy strides across the screen as the wife and mistress of a scum of a man who deserves to be thrown into the bearest garbage-can, along with the raw stock of this film.

Whoever thought infidelity is an adequate formula for farce should see what a hash and trash David Dhawan has made of the actors as they parade across the screen in the poshest of ambience and clothes the camera captures.

Alas, their morals match alley cats. Worse still these people are abhorrent in their failure to connect their physicality with any worthwhile emotions.

The scrambled comedy includes a couple of bumbling spies played by those two wonderful comic actors Manoj Pawa and Ranveer Shorey, one of whom has to play a corpse after half the film.

The plot matches Shorey’s cadaverous comicality.

As for the actors they’re largely over-the-top loud hammy and embarrassing. Govinda seemed to have rediscovered his funnybones in the recent (far funnier) Life Partner. Here he is hysterical rather than amusing.

The plot has room for an army of characters including an ailing mother (Himani Shivpuri) and her coquettish nurse (Rituparna Sengupta) both of whom watch Deshmukh do Amitabh Bachchan’s scenes from Deewaar.

Ha ha.

Govinda seems to have lost the plot. Lara makes so many faces you fear for her favourite makeup artiste.

Riteish Deshmukh is in far better shape. He’s quite funny in parts.

But the funniest actor in a minuscule role is Sohail Khan as Lara’s jealous and over-emotional lover who after a crash-course in anger-management desists from hitting any of the characters.

We too need to take a course in anger-management before watching this utterly exasperating farce.

Skip it.

Wake Up Sid

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher, Supriya Pathak, Rahul Khanna
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Rating: ***1/2

Next time when a star son gets an opportunity to get an author-backed role, let's not complain. That's because if he actually goes on to come up with as flawless an act as seen in "Wake Up Sid", there is no reason why one should really be looking around for anyone else.

Ranbir Kapoor comes up with a neat, simple and believable performance. When most actors would have been happy to establish their standing in Bollywood with a quintessential romantic hero role, Ranbir is anything but a hero here.

This is why he allows himself to be treated as a 'kid' by Konkona Sen Sharma, who by the way is happy to play a woman five years elder to him. However, there is this special something which brews between them that pretty much gives the true meaning of a platonic relationship.

There are five things that make "Wake Up Sid" a delightful affair. It has a constant flow throughout; no over the top or understated drama; no ultra emotional strangulation of audiences; absolutely no yuppie cool dude act; and last but not the least, this is an original and refreshing story.

While the film actually becomes really engrossing in the second half, the first half facilitates an adequate groundwork for the story to progress. There are bitter sweet moments in the first half as well but one still wishes for that extra something to kick start that would make "Wake Up Sid" go beyond a regular "coming of age" film.

This is where young director Ayan Mukerji's writing comes in handy because unlike a conventional movie, he doesn't just bring a turnaround in Sid's character by throwing a song to bring in that 'overnight transformation'.

He keeps it soft and subtle starting from something as simple as Sid learning how to prepare an omelette, keep his comic books stacked, prepare his own bed and of course, earn his very first cheque.

By the time he returns to his dad (Anupam Kher in a short but effective role), you realise that the destination was eventually met even as the journey wasn't quite 'on your face' or 'over the top'.

Meanwhile Konkona gets yet another complex role for herself. She is brilliant. Watch out for her in the interview scene or the outburst when Ranbir decides to go back to his parents' house. Her irritation in certain scenes with Ranbir is utterly believable too and so are the tender ways in which she looks after him.

The supporting cast fits in well too. The young man who plays Rishi (Namit Das - last seen in "The President Is Coming" as Ramesh) is just effortless. Kashmira Shah, in her four-scenes act, is a pleasant surprise while Rahul Khanna is decent in the limited footage.

While "Wake Up Sid" would of course raise Ranbir's stock in months to come, it would be noticed in a major way for Mukerji's script sense and direction. He makes the kind of debut that made Farhan Akhtar hot property after "Dil Chahta Hai".

Aamir gets to see Big B's secret new look but Ranbir gets turned away

The Big B had a surprise visitor at Film City on Saturday when Aamir Khan dropped in to meet him while he was shooting for Balki's Pa with Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan.

Visitors are strictly not allowed on the sets of Paa. But who says no to Aamir?

Some awkward moments ensued when Aamir showed up. But he was soon escorted to Mr Bachchan's van where the makeup man (none other than Stephan Dupuis who did Robin Williams' makeup in Mrs Doubtfire) was at it for a good four hours.

And then Aamir certifiably became the first person outside the cast and crew of Pa to see the Big B in his startling prosthetic-induced new look.

However there was a price. Aamir was sworn to secrecy literally, that he wouldn't reveal the details of Mr Bachchan's look in Pa to the outside world.

The film's director Balki is paranoid about his leading man's looks leaking out. "We don't allow a single visitor, not even close relatives or friends of crew members on the set. Phones of course are a complete no-no.

The next thing you know the look will be splashed on the net. Aamir of course couldn't be turned down. But yes, we did swear him to complete secrecy almost like a boy scout's cross-your-heart kind of pledge.

We can't afford to take any risks. If Mr Bachchan's look leaks out the plot is out. In any case Aamir is a man who understands the exigencies of cinema. He will hardly be expected to leak out the look."

While Aamir was lucky enough to get a dekko at the Big B's unique never-before look, Sanjay Dutt and Ranbir Kapoor who dropped in on Sunday were not that lucky.

While Dutt met up with the Big B when the senior actor was not in his makeup and costumes, Ranbir had to be turned away after being appeased by looking at a photograph of the Big B's look!

Bitter divorce, depression and struggle. I've suffered alot: Mahie Gill

Dancing for the mujra track "Ranaji" in Anurag Kashyap's "Gulaal" was a pain for Mahie Gill. Literally! She was in severe pain due to a back injury, but she still shot for the song with a smile on her face and wrapped up the shoot in eight hours flat.

That simply shows her dedication towards the profession she chose to adopt after her divorcee. Yes, Mahie has a bitter past.

She was married and settled in Chandigarh. Although it was a love marriage, it was a turbulent relationship, which ultimately ended in divorce. The separation was anything but amicable.

Mahi went through a very difficult time after which she moved to Mumbai to try her luck in Hindi films but success didn’t come easy. She had to struggle for almost three years before she got her first break in Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D.

Talking a tabloid she confirms, "I decided to move to Mumbai after I went through a low phase due to the separation. My biggest support system was my mother who believed in me and supported me throughout.

Even though she was initially against my decision to shift to Mumbai as she was worried about me, she has always been my pillar especially after my father passed away 10 years ago. After moving to Mumbai I had no work and struggled for three and a half years. I did some theatre when I was a struggler.”

Fortunately, her struggle and hard work paid off and she bagged Paro’s role in Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D followed by Gulaal and Aage Se Right opposite Shreyas Talpade and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar.

We wish pretty lady all the luck for her future.

I've no plan to enter IPL: Kareena Kapoor

Bollywood beauties Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla and Shilpa Shetty are trying their luck in the business of cricket through the Indian Premier League (IPL), but Kareena Kapoor says she has no such plan as she doesn't have a business sense.

Asked if she planned to enter IPL like other actresses, Kareena said: "I have no idea about business. I only know how to act. As for business, I will think about it five years later."

Kareena, who was last seen with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in a song in Billu, is busy working for forthcoming films like Kambakth Ishq, Main Aur Mrs. Khanna, Three Idiots and an untitled Renzil D'Silva project.

While Preity co-owns IPL team Kings XI Punjab, Juhi is part owner of Shah Rukh's Kolkata Knight Riders and Shilpa Shetty joined the cricket bandwagon this year with beau Raj Kundra by buying a stake in Rajasthan Royals.

No kidding, Katrina Kaif is looking to win a national award

After a slew of out and out comedies like "Namastey London", "Partner" and "Singh Is Kinng", Katrina Kaif is now working on two "difficult" films - Prakash Jha's political drama "Rajneeti" and Rajkumar Santoshi's romantic comedy "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani"- and the actress wants to devote extra time and thought to the projects.

"This year I would like to allocate time to big films. The kind of films I am doing - 'Rajneeti' and 'Ajab Prem...' are a little more difficult. They need time and also a little more thought process, " Katrina told. The films are slated for release this year.

In "Ajab Prem..." Katrina shares screen space with Ranbir Kapoor and Upen Patel, while in "Rajneeti" she stars alongside a bevy of actors including Ranbir, Ajay Devgan, Arjun Rampal, Nana Patekar and Manoj Bajpai.

Katrina says that Santoshi's dedication and "knack for making his actors win national awards" is something that makes her want to work hard for his film.

"'Ajab Prem...' is a very different film. Raj-ji is a taskmaster on the sets and the results of that are visible. I need to dedicate enough time and attention to this film because I think the movie is going to be very special and very important for me. It's nothing like I have done before, " said the 24-year-old actress.

Katrina shares similar sentiments for Jha, who has helmed films like "Gangaajal" and "Apaharan" in the past.

"Prakash Jha is highly intelligent and highly interested in his project. A film like 'Rajneeti' is not something where I can just jump and say - 'Sir, my hair is done, my costume is done and I'm ready', something I can do in most films that are comic capers.

"For films like his, one has to research clothes. I can't decide on my own what I want to wear or what I would prefer. I have to follow the character I am playing. 'Rajneeti' is a very grounded, a very rooted film, and so I am going to be dedicating a little more time as the project requires it, " she said.

In "Rajneeti" Katrina sports a simple and de-glamourized look in a crisp cotton sari and with her hair neatly tied in a ponytail. Though the look bears a resemblance to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, the director has denied that her role has anything to do with the senior leader.

Though Katrina has mostly starred in comedies like "Namastey London" and "Singh Is Kinng" (Vipul Shah), "Partner" (David Dhawan) and "Welcome" (Anees Bazmee) in her over five-year-old career, she says she "might not be doing another comedy, fun, masti film very dedicatedly any time soon".

Apart from "Rajneeti" and "Ajab Prem...", Katrina has Yash Raj Film's "New York", Anthony D'Souza's "Blue" and also a two-film deal with production house UTV in her kitty.

I have managed to survive and make a place for myself: Aftab Shivdasani

Aloo Chaat is your first release this year and is also a solo lead for you after a while. How do you feel?
I am obviously very excited. It's been sometime since I've had a solo release, so it is special. I am very happy with the end product because it is a consistently well made film.

Aloo Chaat is quite a funky title. Whose idea was it and what significance does it hold?
Aloo Chaat is something which is quite symbolic to the film. The film has a Punjabi flavour and Aloo Chaat is one of the most popular North Indian delicacies.

In keeping with the theme of the film, you also have an Aloo Chaat wala who appears at 3 -4 crucial junctures of the film and summarizes the proceedings. However, I feel that Aloo Chaat is an apt title for the film because the film is spicy, chatpata and complete fun just like the dish.

The film seems like a romantic comedy. Could you elaborate?
The film is about a middle class Punjabi family based in Delhi. I play a person who has come back from the US to get married.

He has a pre-conceived notion of how he wants to get married as opposed to how his parents think he should get married. His whole family is a very simple, conservative and typical North Indian family. This clash of thoughts between them leads to some hilarious situations.

How has it been working with a newcomer like Aamna? From the promos, one gets an impression that the two of you share great chemistry.
It's been great. Aamna is someone who is very confident about what she does. She is a hardworking girl. We couldn't have asked for anyone better for this particular role than Aamna. We share a great working relationship. She is someone who I cherish working with again.

Robby Grewal's last two films as director Samay and MP3 were B.O. duds. Did that ever bother you?
No not really…when I met him something clicked between us. Robby is someone who is young and raring to go. He is more script driven rather than success driven. We are almost of the same age so the bonding was always there.

He is somebody who knows what he wants and is extremely passionate about his work. Being a Punjabi who is born and raised in Delhi, Robby knew how to bring in the right flavour for this film.

Tell us something about the music of the film.
Music has a Punjabi flavour keeping in mind the premise of the film. It's got an assortment of songs.

It's got a Punjabi hip-hop number given by RDB, a romantic number called 'Dhadke Jiya' by Xulfi, and two versions of the Aloo Chaat title track one by a new guy called Mehfuz and the other one by Vipin Mishra. So you have an interesting mix that has something for everyone.

The promos give an impression that the film has a heavy Punjabi flavor. Do you feel it will appeal to people across India?
Yes…more than the Punjabi flavour, the film talks about marriage that is universal in nature regardless of cast, creed and race. I am pretty sure that the people in the North would really love the film. However, I don't think that it would be restricted only to a particular region. I think it will find an audience across the country because of the characters.

While shooting in Delhi, did you taste the yummy chaats and are you a chaat person?
Oh yes I love chaats. I would have chaats even in Mumbai whenever I get a chance. While shooting in Delhi we had a complete blast and gorged on some delicious stuff.

Coming back to your career, of late a lot of media attention has been towards your personal life rather than your career. Do you think this has affected the B.O. performance of some of your recent films?
What the media writes or the gossip magazines write is part and parcel of every actor's career. Nobody really takes it so seriously after a point of time.

I don't think anything personal written about me could have hampered my professional career. Yes but my films not doing well, is something which is unfortunate. Some of my recent films many not have done well but I am happy that the common man still loves and respects me.

I have managed to survive and make a place for myself. Even people from within the industry have shown a lot of faith in me and I hope to live up their expectations

A lot of people feel your forte is comedy. Are you going to be only doing comedy or are you planning to get out of your so-called comfort zone?
I love doing comedy but to be honest I don't only want to stick to doing comedy. However that doesn't mean I will not do comedy because besides being an entertaining genre, comedy films are an enjoyable experience even for me as an actor. So while I keep trying out different stuff I will be sticking to doing one or two comedy films every year.

Post Aloo Chaat what's next in the pipeline?
There is Indra Kumar's Daddy Cool which is a mad-cap comedy, then there is Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakkht Ishq which has all he trappings of a big commercial entertainer and finally there is Sanjay Gupta's Acid Factory an action thriller where you will see me in an intense role.

You also turned producer recently. What's happening on that front?
Yes I have started my production house. It's called Rising Sun Entertainment. It's too early to talk about it but there is lots happening on that front too.

Finally why should audiences saunter in to watch Aloo Chaat. Won't they rather have a blast eating it?
(Smiles) No I don't think so. When you eat it and when you watch it are two different things altogether. Both are very tasty but Aloo Chaat the film is tastier (laughs).