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.