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).

I adopted Boman as my father: Minissha

Once she was the petite and a cute girl next door. Not any more though. Looking lean, luscious and rosy cheeked is Minissha Lamba these days. Lean because that's how many of the abba ki 'daughters' look now-a-days, right?

Luscious because each time you see her photo-shoots, you go o-lala and rosy cheeked because she has just wrapped up her latest flick Abba Ka Kuan in Hyderabad directed by one of Indian cinema's finest film makers, Shyam Benegal, not to forget, she had a blast out there too.

Being smart, well-read and occasionally outspoken, she can switch to humour from high drama in a split second, and doesn't she remind us of the sexy Heather Graham?

Not that we are playing the comparison game here but this Indian siren has the same combination of freshness, intelligence and a great body like her Hollywood compatriot.

Speaking exclusively over the phone, the actress shares her unforgettable Hyderabadi connection.

"Mostly we were restricted to Ramoji Film City where we were shooting and even though it was an outdoor schedule, this has been one of my most relaxed schedules I've been on.

The place we were put up was completely secluded from the city and was very beautiful. There were no cars around and suddenly when you're so cut off from the world around you, you've achieved nirvana", exclaims Mini.

We love calling her by that name. But the one name which the actress can't get out of her mind is of the master and mentor, Mr. Shyam Benegal.

"Shyam sir is a veteran. It was a pleasure working for him because even after the end of a grueling one month in Hyderabad, he was still recharged without the exhaustion and the pressures of shooting an entire film in one go under soaring temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius."

Now we don't like to give this out but we have to. Did you guys know that Lamba loves to get her hands on the spicy hot biryani? What's disappointing is the fact that....We'll let the temptress do the talk.

"My God! I tried my level best not to indulge in the mouth watering biryanis. So my staple diet out there was curd and rice, the famous South Indian delicacy. That kept the heat away for a bit".

Minissha is also very sporty, not for her talking to us about her just finished film, but the fact that she got the time to brush up her skills on a sport she loves playing, Squash.

She says, "Playing squash wasn't a deliberate attempt to shed the kilos. I was so glad that they had a court out there because it's been a while that I've improved my game.

One has to keep fit as an actor but at the same time you also need to keep yourself entertained post any shoot. Playing squash was the perfect way to keep my mind and body occupied."

Back to the film, the question remains, is the role going to fetch the actress a lot more than what she expects? The answer was loud and clear.

"What I expect from every film is that you grow as an actor and are proud of the work you've done. Ultimately, the fate of the film is not something which is in your hand. You do what you can and what is under your control. I hope the film fetches a lot more for all of us than just me".

Abba Ka Kuan is a political satire and a light hearted take on certain things we all talk about. The rosy cheeked chic sounds all excited.

"When I read the script, I simply loved it. I hope people like the film because it deserves to be liked. The whole point of you working and making a film is that people like it. You don't make a film so that people hate it. Just because my last film did not work, that doesn't mean I did not believe in the film. I believed in it till the very end from the day one".

We did remind you at the very beginning that the actress is outspoken. She further adds, "Everything is an experience in life. You cannot know the good without knowing what the bad is and the vice versa. That's how life is.

I am a true optimist". And so is her co-actor in the film who plays her father, known as Abba, Boman Irani. Mini shares her new born relationship.

"Literally I adopted Boman as my father while we were off the sets. I would call him Abba all the time and he too would call me by the name of the character I play.

The bond between the father and the daughter would be played out post pack up every evening, so much so that when something had to be done, I would take permission from Abba.

It was one of the most unique relationships I've had with any co-star to date. The moment I wouldn't find Boman around, I'd be looking for him. That's how the rapport was."

So after saying bye-bye to Hyderabad, Minissha Lamba now looks forward to the IIFA 2009, she says, which is going to take place in the beautiful city of Macau, and we hope she enjoys it as much as she enjoyed Hyderabad, except the weather, we guess.

Look who grabbed Manisha's 'Meaty' role

Manisha Koirala is looking for meaty roles at this point of her career. So when the redoubtable Amol Palekar offered her a role in his new film, the prolific director's first in English, Manisha jumped with joy.

Amol has extracted exceptional performances from his female actors including Deepti Naval in Ankahee, Anita Kanwar in Thodasa Roomani Ho Jayen and Rani Mukherjee in Paheli.

Manisha expected the prolific Palekar to offer her yet another opportunity to relive her golden days of Khamoshi The Musical, Bombay and Dil Se.

But to her dismay the role in Palekar's film was just a cameo. "I'd have loved to work with Amolji. It was an interesting character, that of a Buddhist monk.

I'd have given my right arm to play the role, if only I had at least two scenes ...achcha chalo, only one meaty scene. I've never believed in measuring my roles in terms of playing time. Lekin kuch to hona chahiye..."

Manisha had to reluctantly say no. "It broke my heart because I'm heavily into Buddhism. And I want to work with Amolji."

The role has now gone to Antara Mali who after specially-written parts in Ram Gopal Varma's Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon and Naach slips into cameo kingdom and also happily shaves off her tresses to play the monk.

Manisha too had no problem with shaving off her hair. The problem was the scarcity of meat in the part.

Sonam Kapoor is dating Abhay Deol?

If the latest rumours are to be believed our Masakali girl Sonam Kapoor is showing keen interest in modern Dev D Abhay Deol. The duo have been spending quality time together over the last few weeks. Even though it is early to predict where this friendship is going, sources reveal the two revel in each other's company.

Sonam was the first one to enter and the last one to leave at Abhay's birthday bash on Sunday (March 15) . According to a source, the bash was only for Abhay's non-filmi friends.

"As there was no one from Bollywood, the duo were completely relaxed and did not mind being spotted together," informs a source.

Also, Abhay was among one of the few personal guests invited by Sonam at the Delhi-6 premiere.

We also hear that their 'friendship' is ssoon turning professional as well. The duo would also sizzle in Anil Kapoor's production Ayesha, based on Jane Austen's novel Emma. Apparently, Sonam had recommended Abhay's name for the role of one of the leads in this three-hero project.

She has always liked Abhay's choice of movies. Ayesha might well be Abhay's first dig at a commercial movie."

Dostana 2: John-Abhishek go Miami to Punjab

K Jo’s funny treatment of homosexuality was quite appreciated with ‘Dostana’. In spite of a few minor objections here and there

It was fun to watch out the antics of two straight men pretending to be gays and now the fun will continue in the sequel to the last year’s comic hit.

Well, nobody thought about a sequel to the film, while making ‘Dostana’, but producer Karan Johar and director Tarun Mansukhani are currently looking forward to making another version of the gay comedy considering the response to the movie.

Director Tarun Mansukhani is still working on the plot as he wants to make a sequel just for the sake of it. He wants a gripping story to support him.

Abhishek and John Abraham, the hit ‘couple’ will be there. Abhishek thinks ‘Dostana’ is like a brand and one needs to make a sequel to the film.

However, the story of Priyanka Chopra and Bobby Deol who united towards the film’s end finishes and a fresh new female face is most likely to be a part of the story. The styling of the film is likely to be good much like most K Jo films.

The story of ‘Dostana 2’ will take the two friends from Miami to Punjab and they clarify to everyone that they aren’t gays, but much like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ (but of course in a bigger way) they are unintentionally caught in such situations and no one believes them.

Now this sounds exciting. K Jo would sure have enough ideas to share with his director.

Shilpa Shetty offers to share beauty secrets with youngsters

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who has set girls across the country trudge the treadmill to achieve a svelte figure like hers, wants to pass on all her fitness and beauty secrets to the aspiring lot.

The 33-year-old, who recently launched a chain of medi-spas across Mumbai wants to instil the importance of "health and fitness" among the younger generation.

" (With) my long-term vision and ultimate goal being 'Wellness India', I hope to bring about a certain awareness in the younger generation regarding health and fitness. I hope I can do it through my medi-spas...and be able to put people on the right path of how to lose weight and maintain it, " Shilpa posted on her blog www.shilpashettylive.com/blog/ Sunday morning from Jaipur.

"I really wish that...I can pass down my tips on health and beauty and make a few changes in their lives. It is a lifestyle modification and that's what I intend on doing..." she added.

Not many know that the 34-24-37 beauty was once a dusky girl with average looks. The actress has revealed that she won't shy away from putting her own example for people to follow.

"I've been someone who's synonymous with glamour. If people saw my pictures in the past, they would know exactly how much reinvention can really work for a person and I hope to do that through my spas and salons, " she wrote.

Yash Raj’s New York releasing amidst peak of IPL season

Yash Raj Films is releasing their first film of 2009 – New York amidst the peak of IPL’s season 2. But then again the release day is also subject to the differences being resolved between film producers, distributors and exhibitors.

One can recall, Yash Raj doing the same last year during IPL’s season 1 by releasing their mega starrer Tashan in last week of April and falling flat on its face.

One now has to see what is in store for their first release of 2009 which is not a regular typical Yash Raj entertainer but a hard hitting one. The film is a contemporary story of friendship set against the larger than life backdrop of a city often described as the centre of the world.

For most of us, larger events in the world are just headlines in the newspapers but these events can change our lives... forever.

The film is one such story of 3 young friends whose beautiful lives are turned upside down by larger events beyond their control.

Written and Directed by Kabul Express fame Kabir Khan and Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film stars John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan.

The trailer of the movie first released in theatres along with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and created quiet a buzz. Though its promotions began, they were suddenly stopped in between leading to speculation that film has been postponed for June 2009 release.

Ek will be a defining film for Bobby's career

Sangeeth Sivan Maker of Kya Kool Hain Hum and Apna Sapna Money Money, Sangeeth Sivan, is turning adventurous with the release of his action flick Ek - The Power of One . He has played around with the on- screen personalities of both his lead heroes in the film - Bobby Deol and Nana Patekar.

"That's right, we all deliberated on the aspect of presenting both Bobby and Nana differently in the film", says Sangeeth Sivan who has earlier directed action films like Zor and Chura Liya Hai Tumne, "During last so many years, they have worked in dozens of films and it was just right that we give audience something different."

So how different do they look in the film? "Well, to begin with Nana has been presented in this entire cool avtar. So he will be seen entirely in Western outfits with T-Shirts, Jeans, shades, bandana, and the works.

His getup has been entirely changed for the film. He looks much younger and fitter. Not just that; as a CBI officer, he is shown as someone who associates every situation with a female and that makes him a colorful character on screen!"

Of late, Bobby has been facing a rough patch at the Box Office. Nevertheless, Sangeeth is confident that Ek - The Power of One will turn out to be a pleasant surprise for all.

"The film should be special for Bobby and his fans because after a long time he would be seen in a full fledged action role. His entire look and persona has been remodeled for EK so that it goes with the character he enacts. Mark my words, Ek will be a defining film for his career."

What's so special about it? "The raw power that Bobby has been brought to his character", says the young-at-heart director excitedly, "When you would look at him, you would mainly look at the character that he plays rather than the Bobby you have known for years.

His actions speak louder than his words, literally. Though the film has an action base to it, there is strong undercurrent of emotion that goes throughout the narrative. There is a very good appeal in the script for family audiences to walk into the theaters as well."

Starring Shreya Saran as the leading lady opposite Bobby with Jackie Shroff and Chunkey Pandey in supporting roles, Ek - The Power of One is all set to arrive on 27th March.

I'm in Bollywood to stay, says Kabul Express beauty Linda Arsenio

Alice Patten, Rachel Shelly and Ali Larter have one thing in common. They are foreign actresses who featured in a Bollywood film each but were never seen again on the Indian screen. But American Linda Arsenio, who has acted in two Hindi films and will be seen in Robby Grewal "Aloo Chat", insists she is here to stay.

Linda, who comes from a theatre background in New York, made her debut in "Kabul Express" in 2006 and then made an appearance in urban comedy "Mumbai Salsa" (2007). In "Aloo Chat" she stars opposite Aftab Shivdasani.

"It has been more than three years since I have been here but I am here to stay. Yes, I have a long way to go but I'm a grounded actress and am working hard to have an extended innings in Bollywood, " Linda told.

She truly believes that Mumbai is the place to be if one wants to do some good work in front of the camera and gain recognition.

"I am learning Hindi and I guess there has been some good improvement over the years, " says Linda, who has "Chalo, Theek Hai" as a part of her vocabulary in every second sentence.

"I appreciate India and, though I do miss America at times, I know that in the line of work that I'm in, Mumbai is certainly up there. All I need to do is hang on, " said the actress who hails from Texas.

She definitely sees a union between the East and the West progressing quite rapidly, courtesy the international recognition Indian films and movies set in India are getting.

"Look at it, 'Slumdog Millionaire' was shot here and now everyone knows what this city stands for. Even before this film happened, I always knew that there was a distinct union between East and West.

It's not just the Indian actors who are looking at the West, even actors from Hollywood are interested in working here today, " said Linda, who has tried her hand at Tamil and Telugu movies too.

Rachel Shelly and Alice Patten were seen opposite Aamir Khan in "Lagaan" and "Rang De Basanti" respectively. Though the films turned out to be big hits and received global acclaim, the two women apparently didn't show any willingness to continue their innings in Bollywood.

The case of Ali Larter was different as her 2007 venture "Marigold" opposite Salman Khan bombed at the box office.

Linda, however, maintains that she is different and is not going anywhere soon.

"My heart is here now and I am here to stay. Good projects are coming my way like 'Aloo Chaat', and with tailor-made roles like these, I'm not going away anywhere soon, " she said.

Set to release March 13, "Aloo Chaat" also features popular TV actress Aamna Shariff.

Abhishek wanted to sleep with Zeenat Aman!!!

As a child, Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan was awestruck by Zeenat Aman, so much so that he went and asked the 1970's trendsetter if he could sleep with her. Abhishek used to love accompanying his father Amitabh to outdoor shoots and he especially enjoyed it when he got the chance to go with his dad for the shooting of 1983 film "Mahaan" that also starred Zeenat Aman. On the forthcoming episode of Farhan Akhtar's chat show "Oye! It's Friday", the junior Bachchan reveals how crazy he was about Zeenat, said a source. "On the show, Abhishek recalls an incident wherein all members of the film's cast and crew were having dinner. He spoke about how, when Zeenat-ji left after finishing her dinner and was going back to her room to hit the bed, he asked her if he could join her and sleep with her in the room," added the source. Though he had a hearty laugh recalling the incident, Abhishek apologised for it and also said that it was his sheer innocence at that time. This episode of "Oye! It's Friday" will be telecast March 13 at 10 p.m. on NDTV Imagine.

47 year old mother, 39 year old son - The Bollywood age game continues!

Does age matter in Bollywood? Perhaps yes when it comes to a female applying for the position of a leading heroine.

However, the moment she is willing to get into a saree and play an on-screen mom to a man who could be a few years junior or the same age or perhaps even a senior, all doors open up! After all it is nice to have a glamorous mother around on the silver screen.

Joginder Tuteja takes readers down the memory lane and picks up a few examples of mother-son, father-son or mother-daughter pairing where age didn't really matter!

Kidnap
This was as recent as last year. When 24 year old Minissha Lamba moved around the house, the town and the beach in her cargo pants, her mom Vidya Malvade wore smart business suits.

Still, she could never look convincing as her mother, courtesy her hockey stick act that was seen in Chak De India just a year before the release of Kidnap. Moreover, in real life, both women are not separated more than a decade in age!

13B
This isn't exactly a tale from the past. In fact this is something that has happened just this week as Poonam Dhillon made a comeback of sorts and is playing mother to Madhavan a.k.a. Maddy.

Well, give us such a glamorous on-screen mother anytime, especially so when the mother and son are distanced just 8 years apart! That's true, because while Maddy is 39 years old, Poonam Dhillon is only 47 herself!

Yalgaar
The most 'howlarious' act in the history of Hindi cinema has to be reserved for Yalgaar though.

In the film, Mukesh Khanna, who was fresh out of his 'Bheeshma Pitamaah' avtar ('Mahabharat'), got so carried away by his on screen persona that he willingly consented to playing a father to a middle aged man again.

Any hitch? Well, this middle aged man was none other than Feroz Khan who in real life was actually 19 years his senior!!!

Sooryavansham
Yalgaar was not an isolated case of an actor playing parent to someone who was actually older than him/her. In Sooryavansham, South actor Jayasudha played mother to Amitabh Bachchan in spite of being younger than him by 16 years.

Yes, she did play wife to Amitabh Bachchan in the same film (Big B was in a double role here). Still, seeing the actor call her 'Maa' hardly looked convincing especially in those days when he was aiming at making a transition to senior citizen roles.

Shakti
Amitabh Bachchan in fact holds the record for having actors born after him play his parents. In Shakti, Rakhi Gulzar played his mother in spite of being 5 years his junior. Ironically, just a year back, she had played his wife in Barsaat Ki Ek Raa

Mahaan
Other than Nirupa Roy, there were quite a few screen moms that Amitabh Bachchan experimented with. Waheeda Rehman was one such woman who played his mother in Mahaan. Yet again, the age difference between them was a mere 6 years though thankfully, she was elder to him at least. In the same film, she also played his wife since he was seen in a triple role.

Heroes
Same was the case with Preity Zinta and Salman Khan who were seen together as a couple in Heroes. However, when their son grew up to be another version of Salman Khan, Preity Zinta was nowhere to be seen.

Still, for the record, Preity who is 10 years junior to Salman Khan will get credited for playing his mother at least once in her career, albeit not being seen in the same frame!

Ab Tumhaare Hawale Watan Saathiyon
Yet another example in the recent times where a young woman has played mother to a much older man has been Ab Tumhaare Hawale Watan Saathiyon. The film saw Bobby Deol in a double role where one of them romanced Nagma while the other was seen as her son. Number of years that separated the two? 7 years!

Shilpa Shetty Speaks About Iosis Medispa

'GR8! FLO Women Achievers Awards' Unplugged

Filmfare Awards Red Carpet Bonanza

Theatrical Trailer (Kaminey)

This is the nth time I'm being insulted by the staff of PVR cinemas: Suchitra Krishnamoorthi

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi In one of the latest posts on her official blog, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi expresses her anger against PVR Cinemas. Following are the excerpts of her post:

This is the nth time I am being insulted by the staff of PVR cinemas and I'm not going to take it any more. I will never step into one again-unless it is to slap one of their ridiculously rude ill mannered and hitlerish staff members or to plant a bomb to blow the place apart to smithereens. Thats how angry I am.

The arsehole usher actually had the gall today to tell me to spit my chewing gum out before entering-its a rule he sniggered.

I can understand not allowing cigarette lighters or other potentially hazardous stuff-in the past i have even had my daughters water bottle or my i pod or cigarettes taken out of my bag but have let it pass. I want to feel safe too and understand security checks

But to be asked to spit out my chewing gum???? F&^%&^% off-i told him. I should have slapped him but I'm not the slapping type so I told him I didnt wish to see a film in a place that treated its customers so rudely and that I want my money back.

And a written apology from your management for insulting me once again because of some twisted security policy you have that treats an average cinegoer like a third rate criminal or like they are doing us a favour by allowing us to watch a movie on their premises after we have paid ridiculously high ticket prices.

I understand and respect security rules but why take yourself so seriously? One comes to a theatre for entertainment, for a good time out, not to be at the receiving end of a gurkha or gurkhini in uniform taking out all his/her life's frustrations on the cinegoer, empowered by the demented rules of the PVR policy.

The manager then meekly explained that it was company policy-her hands were tied and there was nothing she could do. She was just following the company rules.

Apparently, naughty people stick chewing gum in seats or under them-so the owner of the theatre chain had banned people from chewing gum on their premises!! So you ask a paying customer to spit out their chewing gum?

I CAN UNDERSTAND TAKING OUT A PACKET OF CHEWING GUM FROM MY BAG BUT TO FORCE ME TO SPIT IT OUT? Even the staff at the Rashtrapati Bhavan or prime ministers office do not behave so high handedly.

If they are so concerned about the cleanliness of their premises then why sell food inside? So they can show exaggerated collections of the movies they produce by including revenue from food and beverage collections and fool the trade by showing it in their gross profit? Why not spend some of this profit on upkeep of premises and maintaining cleanliness?

Producing a movie on a slow learning child does not make you nice guys-Mr Bijli-regardless of how you want to fool the world. Your in-house policies suck and give you away for the tyrants and small minded people you are. They are many other theatre chains-far far superior in exhibition, in amenities and most of all in the conduct of their staff

In the past, this kind of rude behaviour has happened repeatedly at the PVR in juhu mumbai where they used to take security more seriously than the national guard or the anti terrorist squad.

The Juhu PVR has eased up considerably probably on account of the huge celebrity quotient that turns up there around whom they have learnt to behave and are now reasonably polite. This time around it was at The PVR at Korammagala in Bangalore.

See, My book the Summer of Cool was officially launched in Bangalore on saturday -and i decided to take a day off to chill with my family and relax before getting back to the everyday grind in Mumbai. So we went to see a film this morning.

We were asked to open our bags, frisked blah blah. All ok. Then the usher said we are not allowed to chew gum-i would have to spit out my chewing gum before entering the theatre. And he was very rude about it

. Stood in front of me blocking my path, arms extended threateningly. When i said i dont want to see a film in a theatre that treats its honest paying customers like shit over and over again, they told me I can go stand outside and try to sell my tickets off!!Its only when i created a ruckus did they refund my money and i stormed off.

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi WHy should i ever go and see a movie at PVR where I am insulted over and over again-when all other theatres are constantly wooing and welcoming customers and giving them a great cinema going experience? What is it that PVR offers that other theatres dont...besides insulting their customers over and over again?

On the way home frothing at the mouth i discussed it with my sister who lives in Banglalore and with whom i had gone to the cinema hall with.

She explained that the behaviour of the PVR staff (she has witnessed their rude behaviour in Mumbai too but its never been this bad) was also probably a trickle down effect of what was happening in the state of Karnataka and its political and social climate.

The oppression of women in general. A fanaticism and hooliganism that is being fanned by radical fascist elements turning everybody into mini hitlers, knowing they can get away with it. Women are afraid of going out by themselves and visiting pubs malls etc because one is always unsure of what erupts.

Everyday activities turn into a nightmare because some radical fanatic has got a stick up his bum and trying to tell woman how to walk talk dress and what not.

So was the usher at PVR in Koramangala Bangalore provoked by the fact that i was in a strappy knee lenght dress? Did he feel threatened by what he considered inappropriately bold attire?

After all two women were beaten up by radicals for wearing jeans in Bangalore last week... jeans are not an indian dress they were threatened. This after the mangalore pub incident and many more by goondas such as the Sri Ram Sena.

Its a kind of mass hysteria thats spreading... just like Hitler convinced the whole of Germany that the jews were to be eliminated or the Taliban stones women who dont have their heads covered or are seen in public without a man.

Ok I am on a rant. Maybe there is a connection or maybe there isnt. But excuse me...because I am really really pissed off. Angry about both. The PVR incident and everything else thats happening in my country and one of my favourite cities-Bangalore.

Phew! Will go have some nimbu sharbat now to cool the flames of my fury down and breathe in breathe out and chant some mantras till i calm down

Vidya Balan goes Hot: Does intimate scenes

Vidya Balan has given some really intimate scenes in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Ishkiyan. All her hot scenes in the film are with Arshad Warsi. Vidya play’s a slightly grey character in the film who fools the uncle-nephew jodi of Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi.

A unit source reveals, “She indeed has quiet a few hot love making sequences in the film but the scenes have been aesthetically shot.

Vishal Bharadwaj is simply too glad with the way the actress has performed her act in the film without any inhibitions.

But this is not the first time that the actress has done such scenes. She had been sensuous in her debut venture Parineeta earlier as well and in Heyy Babyy too with Akshay Kumar.”

In Ishkiyan Vidya is playing a very complex character and will be seen speaking the U.P dialect which is very akin to Vishal Bharadwaj’s movies. She also has a very different look in the film. She will certainly take away accolades after the release reveal unit sources.

Vidya’s career too seems to be on an all new high now. It has been heard that the actress has also been signed for Nikhil Advani's Chandbhai opposite Akshay Kumar.

The film is a tough love story set in a juvenile detention facility. She will also be seen working with two legendary actors - Naseeruddin Shah in Ishqiyan and Amitabh Bachchan in Balki’s Pa and Sanjay Leela’s Chenab Gandhi.

13B

Rating: *1/2

Do you believe in spirits? Have you had paranormal experiences? If the answer is in the negative, 13B would try to make you believe in them.

For almost three decades, the Ramsays used skulls-n-skeletons to scare the living daylights out of you. But post BHOOT, supernatural thrillers, errie and spooky themes and scary movies have only evolved this side of the Atlantic.

13B, directed by Vikram Kumar, belongs to the same family as THE RING and PULSE. No, it's not a copy of these two films, but there's an uncanny resemblance: A home appliance is used by the spirits to convey their message.

To give the credit where it's due, 13B involves you in the proceedings and most importantly, scares you as well. But the director, who also happens to be the writer of the film, ought to know an unwritten rule for movies of this genre. Cut it short. 13B is stretched, sorry over-stretched by at least 25-30 minutes and you just can't help but exclaim, 'Enough! Come to the point please.'

The problem is, 13B takes its own sweet time to come to the point. Besides, you can't help notice the blemishes in the screenplay. What eventually comes across is a film that had the stamina to win the marathon, but which runs out of breath and starts huffing and puffing midway.

Manohar (R. Madhavan), an upwardly mobile middle class Indian, moves into a new apartment -- 13B on the 13th floor -- with his family. From the first day in their new home, the women are hooked to a new TV show 'Sab Khairiyat'. The show is about a family eerily similar to their family, who have also just moved into a new house.

As the TV show unfolds, the incidents that happen in the show start happening to Manohar and his family.

Initially, a number of happy events take place and a lot of good things happen, both in the show and with Manohar's family. Then things take a turn for the worse and shocking incidents start happening in the TV show.

Will the same happen to Manohar and his family? Will Manohar be able to solve the mystery in time before it consumes him and his entire family?

Now let's look at the plusses: P.C. Sreeram's exceptional camerawork, the brilliant sound design and of course, an energetic background score that enhances the mood. Add to it a few individualistic sequences, which merit ample praise. The sequences with the septuagenarian neighbour and his dog are exceptional, especially the sequence when the dog refuses to enter the flat.

But the screenplay goes back foot at regular intervals. In fact, the writer builds up the story really well, it reaches its crescendo and then... it blows it up. The viewer is curious to get to the bottom of the mystery and when you do reach there, you aren't too convinced with what actually unravels.

If the television set had to spill the beans towards the end to the culprit, why didn't it do so to the main protagonist earlier? Also, a photo album is unearthed from the play area of the garden, but how come it wasn't unearthed when the mansion gave way to a high-rise apartment?

Even the track involving Deepak Dobriyal had the potential to be a great 'twist in the tale', but the limitations in the writing show up during this chapter as well.

Director Vikram Kumar has executed the material well, but he should've limited the running time of the film to 1.30 hours or maximum 1.45 hours, definitely not 2.28 hours (yes, that's the running time of this film).

Dialogues are, surprisingly, pedestrian. How could the director okay them in the first place? Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is more of an intrusion. Ideally, it should've been a songless film.

Madhavan does a commendable job. This is amongst his better works. Neetu Chandra is alright. Amongst supporting actors, Deepak Dobriyal's body language and performance leaves an impression. Poonam Dhillon gets no scope. Sachin Khedekar is wasted. Dhrtiman Chatterjee, the neighbour, is first-rate.

On the whole, 13B is interesting in parts, not in entirety. Also, as mentioned earlier, films of this genre, the world over, have a shorter duration (1.30 hours or 1.45 hours) and the approx. 2.28 hours' running time would test the patience of the viewer.

At the box-office, with cricket matches on one hand and examinations on the other proving major oppositions, this scary movie would prove to be a scary proposition for its investors.

Sophie is in love

Sophie is in love…… And the love of her life is in London….. The beautiful young lady decided to jet off at the last minute in the freezing cold just for a big cuddle with her loved one. And who could that be…?

Well guys no need to worry…. Its Sophie’s gorgeous six year old niece Laila.

She is Sophie’s jaan and we hear she was a successful baby model in top brands in UK… Looks like beauty runs in the family.

I lost my virginity at 15: Ranbir

Despite his famous towel dropping scene in ‘Sawaariya’ and news of his many link ups with the likes of Sonam Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Katrina and even older women like Nandita Mahthani, Ranbir Kapoor has had more of a homely boy’s image, one who's totally devoted to his parents, especially mum Neetu and sister Riddhima.

But of late he’s been displaying his naughty side more. There were talks about trouble in his and Deepika’s haven and him getting closer to Sallu’s girl Katrina.

Recently, he posed for the world famous magazine 'GQ' and also made had made some stunning revelations. The mag has been selling like hot cakes since then.

He struck a cool and hot pose and also made it hugely popular by disclosing some hidden facts about his life.

He confessed about doing some mischievous things during his teenage years.

He's said, "There was marijuana, there was alcohol and I also started smoking cigarettes". Surprisingly he also revealed that around 15 years old, he lost his virginity.

Well, well, this one sure is a naughty boy who’s been having the time of his life for years! Belonging to a super rich and famous family sure has huge benefits apart from an easy Bollwood career.

A sneak peek at the Filmfare Awards 2009

With the Oscars just finished and the victorious Indian brigade back, it was time for the Filmfare Awards.

The prestigious awards function held at Yash Raj studios in Andheri had a glittering array of stars from the world of film with stalwarts like the Bachchan family, Rekha, Yash Chopra, SRK, Karan Johar and many more.

Not to be left behind were the fast rising newcomers, who set the pace for the function, with Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan hosting the show.

The highlights of the show were not just the awards but the performances that left the audience in absolute wonder. Here's a quick look at what happened at the Filmfare Awards this year:

Starting off this trail of spectacular showmanship was the Imran and Ranbir, the duo who were the hosts for the evening. Infusing young blood into the age old industry has always thrown up stunning performances.

The duo were quite literally the life of the evening, engaging the audience as well as tickling the funny side of all present, with their constant antics and spoofs on recent hit films.

With Imran as his uncle from the record breaking Ghajini and Ranbir as SRK from Rab Ne…, the act surely garnered laughs and applauds as the cold war between the Khan’s seems to die down.

But if you thought that this was the high point, then you are wrong, as the duo accompanied by Karan seemed to be engaged in a spoof on Dostana.

How can there be any event without a local rock band performance!

They live for the magic in the sound, distorted guitars breaking ground, the drums pounding faster than thy heart, the vocals screaming extreme art, the passion for music drove them forth, the best of it coming from their oath.

The powerful tunes, a spectacular show, the audience screams in ecstasy… that was exactly what it was like, when Farhan Akhtar and group (Ehsaan and Loy) set the sound waves churning with renditions from their film Rock On!

It's not everyday that a newcomer whose film hasn't yet released gets a chance to perform live at an awards nite. But with Jackky Bhagnani the case was a bit different, as he set the tempo racing with an energetic and awe-inspiring dance performance on a track from his upcoming film.

Helping him find a way to the other side will be his film Kal Kissne Dekha, and maybe this aspiring star will reach the zenith of the fame and popularity in films. We wish him luck with his debut film.

In the end we have the star who currently is at the best phase of his career. He is none other than Shahid Kapoor.

After his film Jab We Met, he was bestowed with the nickname Sha-Hit Kapoor. However, it wasn't just his acting that got him that acclaim, as it is visibly evident from his performance that he can quite literally set the stage afire with his dance performance.

Whatever be the case, Shahid gave the audiences a lot to watch and think about with his chiseled physique and stunning moves.

However, the best part of the entire award ceremony was the line up of celebrities. How often will you ever get a chance to see the Bachchan parivaar and the King Khan sit side by side?

Also present were Yash Chopra, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Rekha along with a big array of stars including the Slumdog Millionaire kids.

Check out the telecast of the 54th Idea Filmfare Awards 2009 on Sunday, March 8, at 8 pm on Sony Entertainment Television.

I'm deeply shocked at what has happened: Preity

The actor was specially invited by the Prime Minister of New Zealand to spend a couple of hours with him.

Preity Zinta is right now in New Zealand to watch the one-day series between India and New Zealand. But in the meanwhile, she was invited by their Prime Minister John Key for an evening reception.

"I have just come out of the reception. It was really a pleasure meeting the man, who is so down to earth and I hear extremely popular," says Preity. Mr. John is young and extremely charming. They mostly discussed cricket.

Preity adds that she was extremely concerned for the Sri Lankan team when they were attacked in Pakistan. I have been in touch with the boys from my team, Kumar Sangakara and Jayawardene, and they are fine. My prayers are with those boys…" she adds.

This is Preity Zinta's quotes on attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers in Pakistan. “It’s a sad day for cricket and any sports in general. I am deeply shocked at what has happened and I strongly condemn these attacks. My sympathies are with the team and I hope they emerge out of this stage."

Certain New Zealand cricketer’s have expressed concern over safety concerns about IPL. Sources close to her say that, “Preity explained and convinced Mr. Key about the how safe India was and how capable the Indian forces are providing security.”

We are spoofing all the films from Sholay to Lagaan: Soha Ali Khan

Soha Ali Khan is someone whose mere smile electrifies the entire silver screen. Even though she has been around in the tinsel town for sometime now, she making her way to the place where she rightly belongs- the Top! Soha will now be seen in the comedy Dhoondte Reh Jaoge in which she is paired opposite Kunal Khemu. The film also stars Sonu Sood, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever and Asrani.

We caught up with the young actress for an exclusive interview where she spoke about doing "quality" films, the challenge of doing comedy and her love for journalism.

To start with, these days, the silver screen is seeing very less of the golden actress called Soha Ali Khan. Is that a conscious decision?
Hey! That's so untrue. I had two releases in the last year and have four lined up for this year. The idea is not to do too many films. I would prefer doing quality films over the quantity ones! You don't get the right kind of script pretty often.

You don't get the right kind of script that convinces you totally. I would much rather watch a film or maybe hang out with my friends, instead of doing a film in which I am not 100% involved in.

How are you feeling now? Nervous or excited with DRJ's release being just around the corner?
For any actor, it's pretty natural to be both excited and nervous, so am I! I try not to think about it. There's no point worrying too much.

You don't want to put your heart in the line as you will only land up being dejected, if the audiences do not reject the film. For any film that I do, I give my 100% and after that, I do not think about the film. But I will want to know what the audiences think of the film!

What's your role in the film?
I am playing someone very unlikely in the film. And I don't think that I have ever played a character is called Neha Chattopadhyay, someone who is so far removed from my personality.

My character is that of someone who is into street-theater and who stays in a chawl with her mama. Every time she gets nervous, she breaks into Bengali as she cannot speak Hindi that fluently.

How much of your role in the film do you identify with?
The dream that I share with her is that of becoming a Hindi film heroine. But the kind of film that they go on to make is something that I have never been a part of.

What's the film all about and what's your role in the film?
The film is more of a spoof, whereby we are spoofing from all the films from Sholay to Lagaan. With due respect to everyone, you can see me playing Basanti of Sholay, Simran of DDLJ, Ameesha of Gadar to name a few!

A very impromptu question. While 'playing' the roles all the leading heroines in one film, did you, at any point feel a particular role should have been offered to you?
Actually speaking, these roles are absolute landmark roles and have been such brilliantly played by the respective actors that I just cannot imagine the role of Simran being played by anyone but Kajol, Basanti by Hemaji, so on and so forth!

Maybe when we interview any of the Gen-Next actress a few years down, your fans must be hoping that they will say that DRJ was a landmark film and that Soha's role was something that cannot be imagined being played by someone else! What say?
Thank you sooooo much for the compliment!

Your last film Dil Kabaddi was a comedy whereby you shared the screen space with Payal Rohatagi and in Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, its Deepal Shaw. Does that mean that you are open for multi-heroine roles?
In Dil Kabaddi, it was an ensemble cast, were various characters were etched out for those roles. I like mine amongst all of them. As far as Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, it has a number of characters. I was initially a bit apprehensive about doing this role.

But it was a kind of film which I felt that I might land up regretting of not having done it. The good thing about this film is that though they have multiple characters, I am the only girl. While all the prime characters like Pareshji, Kunal Khemu, and Sonu Sood have well-etched roles, I am the only girl amongst the entire lot.

There must have been lots of memorable moments during the shoot of the film? Pease share some with us.
Since I haven't done any comedy before, this film had its memorable moments in terms of each and every frame.

Furthering what you just said, since you have worked on both the genres (comedy and serious roles), which of the two do you find tougher?
You get a lot of dialogues when you are doing a comedy. It also requires a certain amount of comic timing. For me, it's more challenging than doing serious roles. Because, when you are doing serious roles, you tend to get lots of help in terms of lighting, music etc...

What were the locations wherein the film was shot?
The chawl that we shot in Worli is a natural chawl in itself. There are lots of Mumbai places whereby we have shot the film. All in all, it's all a Mumbai-centric film! We have shot a few songs in Malaysia.

How was it working with Kunal Khemu as your co-star?
He is a seasoned actor. He, alongwith Paresh Rawal, has done theatre before. I really don't know if they have worked together before this film. Both of them form the highlight of the film. The film will work because of Kunal and Paresh. They, according to me are the lead pair of the film!

At one point, you wanted to be a journalist. So, what's it about the journo's job that you like the most?
I feel that my skills lie in my research. I enjoy reading the papers. I think that journalism is a great profession.

What will form your next set of films?
There's 99 which is an action comedy, followed by Tera Kya Hoga Johnny and Kunal Deshmukh's Tum Mile with Emraan Hashmi.

Lastly, can you give us three reasons for the cine goers to watch DRJ?
There's the storyline, great performances and superb comedy! One needs to just go and watch this film for sure.

'Will you come to my party?' Shilipa breaks the ice with Preity

Stories of the two IPL queens battling it out on the playing field and on television came to a sudden turning point this week when Shilpa Shetty extended an olive branch to her supposed rival in the IPL Preity Zinta.

Shilpa and Raj Kundra are hosting a grand party to celebrate their entry into the IPL on 10 March at the Grand Hyatt.

And Preity is invited.

Says Shilpa, “I really want these unsavoury rumours about our rivalry to end. On an impulse I sent an sms to Preity inviting her for the party that Raj and I are hosting.”

Shilpa was pleasantly surprised when Preity replied back. “She said she’d love to come. But can’t because she’d be out of town. I think that just about takes care of that. I’m sure we’ll have other occasions to interact. For now it’s enough that she accepted my invitation.”

Shilpa thinks these rivalry stories are unnecessary. “We’re both decent well brought-up girls. We were even together in the Bachchans’ world tour. And we got along fine. We don’t need to be seen as these warring women at all, please.”

About the party on the 10th Shilpa says, “It’s been a while since Raj and I had friends share in our happiness. The IPL deal is a good occasion to have a get-together. We’re inviting all our friends.”

Hamari Bahu Aishwarya !!!

Kolkata has just found a new Bahu. When earlier this week he landed in Kolkata for the shooting of Mani Ratnam’s film (tentatively titled Raavan) Abhishek Bachchan got the welcome of a prodigal son. Abhishek’s father is regarded as Bengal’s Jamai Babu, as Jaya Bachchan happens to be Bengali.

A few years ago when father and son Bachchan were shooting simultaneously in Kolkata the senior AB had said, “Earlier they cheered for me. Now they cheer for my son. ”

“Not true, ” says Abhishek. “Even today if we both come to Kolkata together the crowds will be rooting for him. This time I got a super-enthusiastic welcome because this was my first visit to Kolkata with Aishwarya. ”

But Aishwarya Rai Bachchan isn’t even remotely Bengali !

Explains Abhishek, “I think it has to do with the very powerful work she has done with Rituparno Ghosh in Chokher Bali and Raincoat. Bengal has adopted her as a daughter-in-law.

I too have done some very important films in Kolkata Ritu’s Aantar Mahal and Mani Ratnam’s Yuva. And I must say I got a rousing welcome in Kolkata every time. But nothing compared with the way I was received this time. ”

Aishwarya had been shooting gruelling scenes in Kolkata for Mani’s film on the Ganges.

Abhishek describes Kolkata as a big morale booster. “Every time I feel demoralized I should make a trip to Kolkata. They just smother you in their love. ”

Everywhere that Abhishek and his wife go in Kolkata the crowds are sure to follow. “Mani’s film and then Abhinay Deo’s where Aishwarya and I come together again are sure to warmly received in Bengal.” exults Abhishek.

Abhishek who has done two Bengali films and a cameo as his mother’s son in Raja Sen’s Desh is open to another Bengali film. “Why not? I’m half-Bengali and very proud of it. ”

Apparently the Bengalis loved Abhishek in Dostana. “I’m surprised by the popularity and reach of that film.

We didn’t even think it would make it to the awards nominations let alone collect awards. The Filmfare award nomination that I got for Dostana completely took me by surprise.

Normally only dramatic performances get nominated. But the truth is, comedy is very very hard to do. And I’m glad Filmfare realized that. ”

Abhishek had to skip the after-party thrown by Karan Johar because Aishwarya had a very early-morning flight to catch to Kolkata.

I am not making a comeback with 13B: Madhavan

He could well be termed as the longest surviving newcomer. Even though he has been around for close to a decade, Madhavan a.k.a. Maddy has been lapped up by both arms by Bollywood audience with every appearance of his.

Also, 'yeh dil really maange more' as he spends most of his time down South rather than working in Bollywood cinema. Joginder Tuteja catches up with Madhavan who is now gearing up for the release of 13B and tries to figure out what is it that makes the film exciting and worth a walk to the theaters.

The film was supposed to release some time back. So has it been delayed?
No, not at all. It is pretty much on time. See, in any case working on 13B was like working on two films since it's a bilingual in Hindi and Tamil. Yes, we finished shooting some time back but post production itself has taken us close to 7 months.

Since we had to release the film on the same day (it is coming on 6th March), we had to be extra careful to keep the speed right for both the films during post production.

Overall, the film has taken us a year and 2 months to be completed and I guess it's a fair amount of time being spent on making two films.

The film is said to be taking a cue from the reality shows that are dominating the entertainment channels today. Please elaborate.
It's a known fact that today reality shows are the flavor of the season. Whenever people turn nasty or are thrown out in a particular episode, the popularity of a show increases.

With such happenings around us, we (the makers) started wondering ki in sab mein aisi kya khaasiyat hai. What is it that forces us to watch such shows with more and more interest?

The realization dawned upon us that TV is a powerful medium today because it's not us but the TV that decides what we have to do. It has taken over our lives.

Talking about your Bollywood stint, your last sole release was 'Ramji Londonwale'. Don't you think that if it had performed better at the box office, you would have been able to establish yourself far earlier in Bollywood?
I guess I am still doing reasonably well for myself in Bollywood. If you look at my track record, I have been doing only one Hindi film a year.

The list is there for you to see. 'Rehnna Hai Terre Dil Mein' (2001), 'Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar' (2002), 'Ramji Londonwaale' (2005), 'Rang De Basanti' (2006), 'Guru' (2007), 'Mumbai Meri Jaan' (2008) and now '13B' (2008). I have decided what I want to do in my career in Hindi film industry while making sure that my decisions do not affect my Tamil market.

On the other hand, 2009 looks crowded though.
True, this is going to be an exceptional year as I have a bevy of Hindi films releases. There is 13B followed by 'Sikandar'.

Then there are also movies like 'Teen Patti' and 'Three Idiots'. So yeah, a lot happening even though I wasn't looking at making a comeback per se, a term which many out there are trying to coin for me (smiles).

I am very comfortable with my body: Neetu Chandra

Hers has been almost a dream run in Bollywood, having worked with filmmakers like Priyadarshan and Madhur Bhandarkar in a short span since her debut in ‘Garam Masala’ a few years ago.

In just four years since her debut in Bollywood, Neetu Chandra has done variety of roles that range from a glamorous air hostess in ‘Garam Masala’ to the ‘’closer-to-life’’ street vendor in ‘Traffic Signal’ to a comic role as police officer in ‘One Two Three’ to the consort of the ‘Super chor’ Bunty in ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’.

‘’All the roles I have done over the last four years have been different from each other. For example, my role in ‘One Two Three’ was different from that in ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’, which in turn was different from that in ‘Traffic Signal’.

While ‘Garam Masala’ and ‘One Two Three’ had me in hardcore glamorous roles, ‘Traffic Signal’ and ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ had me in simpler roles,’’ Neetu Chandra, who will now be seen in the horror film ’13 B’ in the role of a housewife addicted to television said.

Her real life portrayals in ‘Traffic Signal’ and ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ may have established her as an actress adept at playing ‘’closer-to-life’’ roles but the actress insisted that it is the script of a film rather than her role in it that governs her choice of these roles.

‘’I don’t choose films according to my roles. Rather, I chose films according to the script. As long as the script is nice and the story is good, I do not care what my role is and whether it is glamorous or non-glamorous.

x Infact, I do not understand terms like Glamorous and non glamorous. If a script requires me to look glamorous, I will look glamorous.

Conversely, if a role requires me to look simpler, I will do so. I am very comfortable with my body and will wear whatever look the script demands,’’Neetu Chandra told in an interview on the eve of the film’s release.

Talking about her role in her next film ’13 B’, where she is features opposite South Indian actor Madhavan, Neetu said,’’I play a housewife. She is a very coy, shy kind of female, who is stuck to television like any other female in the house and how she realises that the television set has become a danger to her family.’’

She said though the role was closer to real life, it had elements of both glamour as well as real life.

Considering that she hails from a middle class family in Haryana, the going seems to have been good for Neetu in Bollywood.

‘’Things have been really nice for me in Bollywood. I was doing modelling when I was picked up for ‘Garam Masala’. Then ‘Traffic Signal’ happened.

I am extremely satisfied at the progress of my career from ‘Garam Masala’ to ’13 B’. My film ‘Traffic Signal’ got a National award, while in ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Lucky Oye’ I was nominated in the Best Actress category in the Stardust awards.

And, I am on the front page of Stardust this issue. Also, I am getting offers for good films. What more could I have asked for,’’ she said.

As an actor, Neetu said she drew inspiration from Akshay Kumar, Smita Patil and Madhuri Dixit.

‘’For me Akshay Kumar, who I worked with in my first film ‘Garam masala’ is quite and inspiration especially in terms of his sense of discipline. Being a sportperson like him, I see that he is very hardworking.

Infact, the kind of discipline he follows is amazing. I that sense, I feel that Akshay sir is very very inspiring and I look up to him.

Among actresses, I look up to Madhusi Dixit and late Smita Patil because I want to do the kind of roles these actresses did,’’Neetu said.

Her forthcoming films include a comedy ‘Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot’, a film called ‘Mumbai Cutting’, which is about a serious issue. Then there is a film with Vipul Shah and another with Raj Kanwar.

Besides, I am also doing a film with Jagmohan Mundhra.

Kisse Pyaar Karoon

Certain themes worked in the '70s and '80s. But they seem completely out of place in today's times. You can't connect with them, plain and simple. That's the issue with Kisse Pyaar Karoon.

Kisse Pyaar Karoon? uses every rule in the book to entertain the viewer. It borrows heavily from all masala films that one has watched and admired over the years. To give the credit where it's due, a few scenes are indeed funny. But it comes too late in the day. Ideally, it should've released a couple of years ago.

Sid (Arshad Warsi), John (Aashish Chowdhry) and Amit (Yash Tonk) are thick friends. Everything is going fine till Sheetal (Udita Goswami) enters the scene. She plans to usurp the wealth of John. She entices him and John falls for her.

Realising that Sid and Amit could thwart her plans, she creates problems and hurdles in their friendship. Sid and Amit realize her game and plan to throw a spanner. They decide to drill sense in John, but John is in no mood to listen. He's completely smitten by Sheetal. Sid and Amit embark on a plan to save John from Sheetal.

Director Ajay Chandhok displays a flair for comic entertainers, but there's not much he can really do since the writing (Yunus Sajawal) is archaic and outdated.

The same formula has been repeated so many times in the past, you don't react to it any longer. Despite the shortcomings, Chandhok has the potential to strike the right note if he gets the right script. Daboo Malik's music is pleasant. The title track and 'Bechain Saansein' come easy on the lips.

Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chowdhry and Yash Tonk play to the gallery. We don't expect histrionics in a film like this. Instead, we look for buffoonery and that's what they end up doing.

Udita Goswami makes her presence felt, while Aarti Chhabria is hardly there. Shweta Menon entertains when she's on screen. Shakti Kapoor and Ashish Vidyarthi are wasted.

On the whole, Kisse Pyaar Karoon? comes too late in the day. Perhaps, this masala film may've struck a chord a few years ago, not today.

Karma Aur Holi

Post MONSOON WEDDING, films focussing on the Indian diaspora have been churned out by makers in the West. But, sadly, a majority of these projects still suffer from the MONSOON WEDDING fixation. Karma Aur Holi is one of those films.

One has often mauled Bollywood films for churning out gibberish at regular intervals, but we stay mum when it comes to films made in America. After watching Karma Aur Holi, it reiterates the fact that even Americans frequently come up with junk.

Frankly, nothing works in Karma Aur Holi. Not the plot, not the screen writing, not even the performances. What can you say of a film which, though serious in nature, makes you break into guffaws? Sad indeed!

Meera (Sushmita Sen) and Dev (Randeep Hooda) plan a get-together with a few close friends and relatives at their place. As time passes by, the guests get involved in each others' lives. The evening takes a dramatic turn when an unexpected incident triggers tipsy partygoers to confess their innermost secrets that have never been revealed.

On paper, the concept of Karma Aur Holi sounds truly interesting, but what comes across on screen is amateurish. The film attempts to say too much, but what comes across makes zilch impression. If the writing is bad, the direction (Manish Gupta) is worse.

Barring Sushmita Sen and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, none of the actors (and that includes veterans like Suresh Oberoi and Rati Agnihotri) leave any impression whatsoever. Randeep Hooda is strictly okay. Naomi Campbell is a lousy actor. Deepal Shaw is plain bad.

On the whole, Karma Aur Holi is a sad case.

Dhoondte Reh Jaoge

Surprise, surprise, surprise! Dhoondte Reh Jaoge is a pleasant surprise, frankly. Let's admit, we've witnessed a spate of nonsensical comedies in the past and laughed during most of them actually. Dhoondte Reh Jaoge is also non-stop nonsense, but, thankfully, with a story.

Come to think of it, you walk into Dhoondte Reh Jaoge with zilch expectations, almost sure that you're going to devote 3 hours of your precious life to a film that would soon be forgotten the very next day itself.

Okay, now let's forewarn you... Don't wear your thinking caps for this one. This film is plain silly. It has a ridiculous storyline (two good-for-nothing desperate to make a flop film), the most ludicrous jokes (Paresh Rawal, Johny Lever and gang), the most tacky sets... yet, this film works. It entertains and most importantly, makes you laugh at the right places.

Feeling morose or low? Has the global meltdown and recession hit you like a ton of bricks and you need a break? Try out Dhoondte Reh Jaoge. It's silly, but quite funny!

Anand (Kunal Khemu) and Raj (Paresh Rawal) are, perhaps, the two most extreme individuals that have walked the city of Mumbai. While Anand is a chartered accountant, Raj is a film producer.

They hatch a plan to raise big money to produce a feature film and then actually make it at a pittance amount.

In fact, they decide to make it so badly that audiences would reject it on the first day of its release. Anand and Raj believe this would give them a foolproof chance to decamp with the remaining huge amount they've raised for the making of this venture.

But the film turns out to be a huge hit. Now the financers and distributors are after Anand and Raj for their chunk of shares from the huge profit.

In films like Dhoondte Reh Jaoge, the emphasis is not on story, but on the entertainment quotient and the film works on that level. The jokes are quite funny at times and the witty dialogues do the trick as well.

But you can't shut your eyes to the deficiencies in this project. If the first hour succeeds in transporting you to ha-ha-land, the film dips in the second hour, but picks up speed in the pre-climax, at the big nite -- the premiere screening of the film.

Ample time is devoted to the film made by Paresh and Kunal, funnily called 'Solay Se L'Gaan Tak' (yep, that's how it is spelt). The spoof on SHOLAY, D.D.L.J., GADAR and LAGAAN are simply hilarious.

Director Umesh Shukla may not be a proficient technician, but he succeeds in keeping your eyes glued to the screen for most parts of the film. His choice of actors is perfect. Sajid-Wajid's music is of fast-forward quality.

Paresh Rawal and Johny Lever steal the show with their impeccable comic timing. Both excel in their respective parts. Kunal Khemu is a revelation. Very likable.

Sonu Sood plays the moody and tantrum throwing star to perfection. Soha is completely in sync with her character. Dilip Joshi (as Soha's uncle) is top notch.

On the whole, Dhoondte Reh Jaoge is silly, but quite funny. A film that offers laughter in the garb of mindless entertainment. It might just work with people who are looking for some time pass fun, without taxing the brains.