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Review: Ra.One: Holly-Bolly Masala

So there is this kid Prateik (Armaan Verma) who loves “Kick Ass villains” and his dad- the ultimate exemplar of a goofy south Indian geek (which is also a myth by the way, kids people like that don't exist!) Shekhar Subramaniam played by Shah Rukh Khan.Shah Rukh wants to be acknowledged as “dude” by his son but Prateik firmly believes his dad to be a lame guy (I don't blame him for most parts).

I am excited and charged up about TV show: Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan, the latest Bollywood star set to make his television debut, confesses he does not know much about the TV industry but that could also work to his advantage as he likes to do things his way.

Shiba – the showbiz darling in Bangladesh

Q: After being a successful model of a number of products and services in Bangladesh, are you seeing hope of working in films?

Dia Mirza: Back for some love

She's beautiful, energetic and can even cough up a few emotions at the cameras trained on her. So why has former beauty queen Dia Mirza failed to gain a respectable place in Bollywood after more than a decade in showbiz?

Dharmendra wanted to keep Esha away from showbiz

Veteran actor Dharmendra admits he was never in favour of his daughter Esha Deol becoming an actress, but says that now he is proud of her.

Sunday 13 November 2011

A bullet for Madhuri Dixit Nene


A Pakistani man, while illegally sneaking through the Wagah border, was shot by the Indian security forces (BSF) on Thursday said reports.
He was reportedly shot once according to Pakistani security officials who rushed him to the military Services Hospital near the border on the Pakistani side. Shafiq (the man who was shot) later told the Pakistani media there that he was crossing the border because he wanted to meet actor Madhuri Dixit Nene once before he dies. Though 30-odd year old Shafiq is seriously injured, he is reportedly stable.
“I wanted to meet Madhuri once before I die. Since I am poor, there is no chance that I can fly down to Mumbai to meet her. I wanted to cross the border and I had papers with me. Yet I was shot at,” laments the youth. Sources in the BSF confirmed the incident but revealed that the youth did not have any valid papers on him. “Primarily investigation suggested that the youth had crossed the border to meet Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit. That is all we know about him right now,” says a source.
Apparently, the BSF will refer the youth’s case to their seniors who will try contacting Madhuri in Mumbai to convince her if she can meet the fan who was ready to risk his life to meet her.

Shah Rukh Khan, brand ambassador of West Bengal?


Murmurs have started in the literary circles of Kolkata over the appointment ofactor Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador of West Bengal. Online forums and closed literary circles are outraged over the fact that an actor born in Delhi and based in Mumbai have been chosen to represent the state which really doesn’t have any dearth of either talent or celebrities.
“It was in the green room that I got to know that the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal) is having a closed door meeting with him over representing West Bengal. Apparently Shah Rukh said that he is not going to charge any money for this although an honorarium was discussed. The deal was sealed soon after,” says an actor who was also there at the Kolkata film festival inauguration function where SRK took to the stage before being declared as the brand ambassador of the state.
The opposition party in the state is planning to take this matter up according to sources. “There is no dearth of talent in West Bengal that Shah Rukh has to represent us. Apart from a cricket team (which is a private business company), he really doesn’t have any connection with the state. And Bengal might not have Shah Rukh but it cannot be starved when it comes to the talent pool,” says an opposition leader.
However, blissfully unaware of the opposition voices gaining ground, Shah Rukh said that he was waiting for an offer like this.“I have told Chief Minister sahiba that I am available for her anytime of the year. I will come any time you guys want me to. I have always had an connection here and I am glad that I will be more involved with the beautiful people here,” said Shah Rukh.
SRK went as far to state that Kolkata produces the best of Indian cinema and is the country’s cultural and literary hub. “Kolkata is always known for its rich culture and heritage. Despite of new, high multi-storeyed buildings and industrial sectors, Kolkata has still sustained its age-old rich background of arts and literature. I really believe in the cinema of Bengal. We have some of the best cinema coming in from this part of the country,” he added.
Shah Rukh also said that he is trying to learn Bengali. “I have been visiting Kolkata regularly for the last four-five years. Now I am even trying to learn its language and read more books from here. I believe that the history of our arts, literature, poetry and films cannot be written, or ever begin without the state of West Bengal,” he said among other things during an interaction with the media.

Black Sabbath announce new album, 2012 world tour


Veteran British rock band Black Sabbath announced on Friday they are reuniting in their original four man line-up for their first new album in 33 years and a 2012 world tour.

Singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward told a news conference at legendary Sunset Strip club Whiskey a Go Go they would perform at the Download Festival in England in June 2012, and then embark on a world tour.

The band, which first got together under the Black Sabbath name in 1969, said they were working on new material for the album for release in the fall of 2012. There is no title as yet but it will be produced by Rick Rubin.

"It's now or never. We are getting along great. Everything's really good," Iommi told reporters at the club where Black Sabbath played their first show in Los Angeles exactly 41 years ago.

"It's like putting on an old glove. It's fantastic," Iommi added.

The four musicians, now all in their 60s, released their last studio album of all original material in 1978 with "Never Say Never."

Rumours of a possible reunion of the English metal band, regarded as one of the pioneers of heavy metal with hits like "Iron Man" and War Pigs," had been swirling for months.

"It's just time," Osbourne said, noting that the four had tried in the past to work together again.

"This time, for some magical reason, we have written about seven or eight songs."

Nothing has been recorded yet and no dates were announced on Friday for the world tour.

Frontman Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, leading to a revolving line-up for a number of years. The original foursome reunited for the 1998 release "Reunion" and played again together sporadically for shows in the early 2000s.

Black Sabbath was inducted to the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide.

Men didn't find young Madonna attractive


Pop diva Madonna says that straight men didn't find her attractive when she was young.

"(Girls) were told to wear our skirts to our knees, turtlenecks, cover ourselves and not wear makeup, and not do anything that would draw attention," Madonna, who had a strict Catholic-Italian upbringing, told Harper's Bazaar.

"Straight men did not find me attractive. I think they were scared of me because I was different," said Madonna who rebelled with unshaved armpits and wacky hairstyles.

The 53-year-old, who is dating 24-year-old French dancer Brahim Zaibat, is slowly including him in outings with her kids - Lourdes, 15, Rocco, 11, David, 6, and Mercy, 5, reports Usmagazine.com.

"(My sons) need a male role model as well. So I need to keep this in mind: What is this person modeling to my sons, what kind of man is he, what values does he have, what energy is he giving off?" she said.

Rockstar released; Anurag Basu's Barfee can now take off


No one would be happier than director Anurag Basu to see the release of Ranbir Kapoor's Rockstar as he can now start shooting for his Barfee.

Imtiaz Ali-directed Rockstar has opened with lots of praise for Ranbir's peformance.

"Ab bas ho gaya. Rockstar releases on Friday and then my last big schedule for Barfee will start from November 15 in Kerala and Ooty. I don't mind waiting. Ranbir had very clearly told me he'd need time off in October and November to promote Rockstar. The film is worth all the delays in the Barfee schedule. And it isn't as if we've been making Barfee forever," said Basu.

To be produce by UTV, Barfee also stars Priyanka Chopra.

Murder, Gangster - A Love Story and Life in a...Metro are some of the well-known films made by Basu who didn't watch Rockstar preview.

"I'm superstitious about watching any film before release. I recently saw two films before their release that I loved. I thought they would be sure hits. On release they bombed. I've decided to stay away from Rockstar...," said the director who plans to watch the film now.

George Clooney considered suicide due to spinal injury


George Clooney has revealed that he was in so much pain once that he contemplated committing suicide.

According to the Rolling Stone magazine, the 50-year-old actor had suffered spinal injury in 2005 while filming the thriller ‘Syriana’ after which he was bedridden for a month.

“I was at a point where I thought, ‘I can’t exist like this. I can’t actually live’,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

“I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm, unable to move, having these headaches where it feels like you’re having a stroke and, for a short three-week period, I started to think, ‘I may have to do something drastic about this’. You start to think in terms of, you don’t want to leave a mess, so go in the garage, go in the car, start the engine.

“It seems the nicest way to do it, but I never thought I’d get there. See, I was in a place where I was trying to figure out how to survive.

“I was at a point where I thought, ‘I can’t exist like this. I can’t actually live’,” he added.

Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber win big in Bambi Awards


Justin Bieber
Getty Images
Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber took away the most prestigious awards at the 2011 Bambi Awards in Germany.

The ‘Poker Face’ hitmaker was named Best International Pop Artist and received the award from fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld before performing a medley of her hits. Contactmusic reported.

Bieber was also a big winner at the ceremony at the Rhein-Main-Hallen venue in Wiesbaden, collecting the Entertainment Bambi Award from Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow. He then performed his new song ‘Under the Mistletoe’.

“Had an amazing night at the Bambi Awards here in Germany tonight. Got to meet some great fans too. Thank u for the honour,” the ‘Baby’ hitmaker tweeted after the event.

Kate Winslet loves wearing clothes that flatter her curvy figure


Kate Winslet
Getty Images
Kate Winslet, who "enjoys" having a curvy figure, has revealed that she makes sure she wears clothes that flatter her hour-glass shape.

According to InStyle magazine, the 36-year-old ‘Titanic’ actress also said that she is very confident about her body after learning over the years what clothes suit her shape.

“I’m lucky to go in and out at the right places, proportionately that’s something I inherited from my mother,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

“I enjoy my shape and my curves. At the same time, you have to know how to dress. If you are hippy, then pleats off the waist? Forget it! You absolutely cannot wear them. It’s about knowing how to work with the right fabric,” she added.

Katy Perry would love to have kids with hubby Russell Brand


Russell Brand
Reuters
Katy Perry has expressed her desire to be a mum soon and start a family with husband Russell Brand.

Perry feels that Russell is going to be a great dad.

"I would love to have children. I think that’s one of the reasons you get married," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"Especially to the person that you marry. You think, that person is going to be a good partner, a good parent."

"But I’m not sure it’s yet. We’ll see, ya know," she added.

The ‘One That Got Away’ singer, who married the British funnyman last October, also said that the number of children will depend on the pain she experiences during her first delivery.

"If it doesn’t hurt the first time. I’ll keep popping them out."

Perry also revealed that she would always give preference to her kids over her career.

"I want to have kids! I’m totally fine with saying that. I think some people are worried it’s going to ruin their career, but I want to live a full life," she said.

Rapper Pitbull coming to India


Pitbull performs on stage at Supafest at Acer Arena on April 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia
Getty Images

American rapper-singer Armando Christian Perez, popularly known as Pitbull, is coming to India in the first week of December for a live concert.
The American songwriter-record producer will be performing at a concert in Noida on December 2, in Mumbai the next day, and in Pune on December 4.
Pitbull would be performing his hits like 'Hey Baby', 'Rain Over Me', 'Give Me Everything', 'I know You Want Me', 'On The Floor', etc.
"I am very excited to bring my live show to India. I will be performing on all favourite numbers....I can't wait to come to India," Pitbull said in a statement.
"I am happy to know fans back in India love my album and hopefully my next album will have inspiration from India," he said.
The Indian edition of 'Pitbull Live in Concert' is being organised by P3P E Ventures, which said the proceeds from the concert will be donated to Suryoday Aids Foundation.

Saturday 5 November 2011

Chitangadha Singh turns item girl


Chitrangada Singh will step into the role of an item girl. For the first time, she will be doing an item number for Shirish Kunder’s ‘Joker’. Chitangadha’s item number will be very raunchy and hot. It will be choreographed by Shirish Kunder’s wife and filmmaker Farah Khan.

Interestingly, the film also has another item number by the lead actress Sonakshi Sinha and her number is touted to be one of the hottest numbers of 2012 while Chitrangada’s number is believed to be very sexy and a surprise for the fans. Chitrangada will be sharing screen space with the lead actors Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha.

Director Shirish Kunder said, "Kaafirana is essentially a rustic song with a raunchy flavour to it. We wanted a fresh yet sensual face, and not the usual, go-to item girls of today. Also, Chitrangda hasn`t done an item song before, so the novelty value is very high. She was exactly what we were looking for.”

Let's see who rocks, Sonakshi or Chitrangada!

Shahrukh Khan happy with 'Ra.One' review


Shahrukh Khan's highly anticipated film made on a budget of Rs 150 crore has received a mixed response. Though some liked it and some doesn’t, Shahrukh Khan is happy with the mixed review. He is happy that lots of them have liked his film and went to watch it. ‘Ra.One’ has been able to make a profit of 170 crore in the opening weekend.

It was an effort made by King Khan and it really gone well. "I know for a fact that when you try to attempt something different, some people would like it and some won't, and I knew this from the beginning," Shah Rukh told reporters in Mumbai.

"Maybe, it is wrong to say that it is a youngster's movie, but I don't think only young people should watch it...but it is a different generation film. Maybe, it's more appealing for the younger lot...But I think 60-70 per cent people have liked it," he added.

It is Bollywood’s most costly film made so far on the line of Hollywood technology. The 46-year-old is happy with the mixed reviews and feedback that he has received so far.

"In the past five to six days, a lot has been written about the movie. Some are writing good and some are saying bad things. But a lot of people are going out to watch the film, so I think all is well," he said.

Silk Smitha’s family sends legal notice to 'The Dirty Picture’


South sensation Silk Smitha’s family is upset with the makers of ‘The Dirty Picture’. Her brother V Naga Vara Prasad sends a legal notice to Milan and producer Ekta Kapoor claiming the movie obscene. They also claimed that the film was made without their permission.

They were not happy as how their sister has been portrayed in the movie.

"We came to know through TV channels and newspaper reports that The Dirty Picture portrays my sister in a rather obscene way. Ekta Kapoor is making the film with Vidya Balan in the lead role. Neither the producer nor the director contacted us (the family). What right do the producer and the director have to make this film, without the family's consent?" Vara Prasad questioned.

Confirming that he has indeed sent a legal notice to the makers of The Dirty Picture, Vara Prasad added, "There still has been no response from their side. We are now going to send a second notice in a couple of days through a High Court lawyer in Hyderabad. If they go ahead with the release, we will be compelled to initiate proceedings."

Silk Smitha, whose original name is Vijayalakshmi, belongs to a small village in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Vara Prasad, the only brother of Smitha, said that the family and relatives were upset with the film that shows her in obscene avatar.

"We learned that they made the film based on inputs given by an alleged boyfriend of Smitha in Chennai. If they wanted to make a perfect film with facts in place, they should have contacted us to know about her childhood at least," said her brother.

Vara Prasad added, "We have to see the content of the film. Whatever is objectionable has to be deleted. Those days, the media was limited hence we could not get the actual truth behind her death. Many believe that she ended her life because of financial problems. It may not be the truth."

Prasad also made it clear that the family is not looking for any monetary gain. "We don't need anything from them. We just want them not to hurt us and our relatives," he stated. He said the family would do its best to prevent release of the film on Dec. 2, the birthday of Silk Smitha.

When contacted, Milan Luthria said, "Basically people like us tend to get into a situation like this very late in the day. It is very difficult to say anything at all as our legal advisors have warned us not to comment since the matter is subjudice".

Aishwarya denies delivery report


Ever since Aishwarya Rai Bachchan got married to actor Abhishek Bachchan, she has been constantly making news for her pregnancy.  Now that her delivery date is drawing nearer, gossip mills started to churn out that she will be delivered at Seven Hills hospital at Marol, Andheri (E) Mumbai on 11.11.11. The Bachchan family is highly upset with media cooking wrong stories about Aishwarya’s delivery.

Aishwarya’s spokesperson clears the air about Ash’s delivery, “The report ridiculously insinuates that the family would actually turn nature’s course for such blind and sensationalised beliefs. There is a limit to time and again making regressive remarks like marrying her off to a tree or actually planning or delivering her baby just for sensational journalism.”

The report also suggests that Ash regularly visits the hospital at 7.30 am for check-ups and in-house gynecologist Dr Vinita Salvi visits the Bachchan bahu.

However, the hospital denies it all. Dr Pai, head of radiology and vice president, Seven Hills Hospital, says, “The information and details are a figment of someone’s imagination. The reports of 7.30 am appointments and a C-section for the 11th have no resemblance to the truth and such stories only put the medical fraternity in bad light. Sonography is a personal procedure and is not performed in open wards. Twisted details mislead the people of this country to believe and follow what a writer may see as good masala for newsprint.”

Ram Gopal Varma likes Bipasha's red bikini


Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma goes gaga over Bipasha Basu’s red hot bikini in ‘Players’. He tweeted, Just saw 'players' first look ..Bipasha is looking like a billion dollar bill aaaaahhhhhhhh!'

Director Sujoy Ghosh also praised ‘Players’ trailer, "oh I like this PLAYERS poster with 3 minis coming out,' he wrote.

Bipasha Basu thanked everyone for the good feedback, 'Thank you fr d amazing response to the #players trailer and posters! Abbas mustan make their films in 'Super Style'!' she tweeted.

‘Players’ starts Abhishek Bachchan in the lead.

I just want Ash to have a safe delivery, Abhishek


Refuting the rumor about Abhishek Bachchan compelled Aishwarya to go for C-section so that the baby born on the auspicious day 11/11/11, actor and husband Abhishek Bachchan said, “It’s a great piece of fictional writing. It’s ridiculous to suggest that I’d induce my wife to go through a Caesarean so our baby would be born on a particular day. I just want her to have a healthy, safe and as comfortable a delivery as possible. Whenever God decides our baby is to be born, we’ll welcome him or her with open arms. We still don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy, all we want is a healthy child. And all this about my wife carrying twins is completely untrue.”

He also rubbishes the rumor about ‘pandits’ or puja or rituals being performed for the safe arrival of the new comer, “I don’t believe in numerology or astrology,” asserts the actor. Abhishek Bachchan has taken off from his film ‘Players’ to be along with his wife who is in the final trimester.

Ever since Amitabh Bachchan tweeted about Aishwarya’s pregnancy, she has been in constant news for her baby.  Not only junior B but Amitabh Bachchan also lashes out media for intervening in their personal life and building false and fabricated stories.


Music maestro Bhupen Hazarika passes away


Legendry singer Bhupen Hazarika passes away. He was 85. Bhupen Hazarika was critically ill for few months and was admitted to Mumbai Kolilaben Dhirubhai hospital. He was having problem in breathing. "It was a multi-organ failure. The end came around 4.30 pm," Jayanta Saha, chief PRO at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital, said.

His condition worsened when he had to undergo a minor surgery to attach a food pipe into his system. When he breathed his last, noted filmmaker and his friend Kalpana Lajmi was by his side. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards. He was awarded with Dada Saheb Phalke award and Padma Bhushan.

On September 8, Bhupen Hazarika celebrated his 85th birthday in hospital.

His departure is a great loss to the music industry.

Taslima Nasreen calls Priyanka Chopra's father an idiot


Controversial Bangladeshi singer Taslima Nasreen lashes out at Priyanka Chopra’s father calling him an idiot. The writer reacted strongly when Priyanka’s father Dr. Ashok Chopra comment on Priyanka’s achievement and made a remark that ‘Priyanka is like a son to me’.

The writer took to Twitter to burst out her anger, she tweeted, “Priyanka Chopra`s father said, `Priyanka is like a son to me`. What an uncouth idiot man! Daughter hatred not yet gone. I am waiting for the day when fathers would feel proud of their sons and say `my son is like a daughter to me`(sic).”

The writer, who is known for making controversial statements ended with a feminist quote made by Gloria Steinem, “We`ve begun to raise daughters more like sons…but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.”

The thinking is very correct but targeting a particular person is not justified. Let’s see how Priyanka take this humiliation.


Dev, Frieda in a live-in relationship


‘Slumdog Millionaire’ stars Freida Pinto and Dev Patel has moved into a USD 1.5 million rental home in Los Angeles. To spend more time together and to know each other better, the couple decided to go for a live-in relationship. Dev and Freida has been going strong for a long time, their love story kick started on the set of ‘Slumdog..’, ever since the duo were together.

Pinto were recently spotted in a loose-fitting pink vest top with black jeans and a pair of black sandals with boyfriend Dev carrying a large box into their new home.

Pinto had recently said she won`t give up her relationship before her career but will always keep a balance between the two.

"We recently realised we need a rule like that, because every time we think we`re going to be together, something work-related comes up. But we can`t put our careers on hold for this. We`re not at the stage where we have the privilege to turn things down. So we`ll say, `You have two days off? Let`s find a way to meet up`. I think you can always make it work if you want to."



No good roles, Shilpa takes a break from acting

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty took a break from films for two years as she is bored of doing the same thing and the roles that is coming her way is repetitive and she does not want to do the same thing again and again.

“No earth-shattering roles were being offered to me. There was nothing. Whatever little work was coming my way, I had already done those things. I didn’t want to repeat myself. I want to do parts that will justify me as an actor,” says Shilpa.

Married to businessman Raj Kundra, Shilpa believes that it is necessary to take those breaks as she has many more responsibilities towards her family. “So, I have taken this deliberate break for two years before I start acting again. I had reason to do that because I got married and responsibilities and priorities all changed for me overnight. I’m still a full-time businesswoman and it’s very difficult to do everything together”, she added.

She said that she is not missing her original profession, “I don’t miss it. I’m very content in my life and I’m very busy with my business and my husband, so I don’t really feel like I’m losing out on it”.

She is a complete businesswoman. She owns a flourishing spa business, an Indian Premiere League team (Rajasthan Royals) and her own yoga DVDs, and recently she has launched a discounted real estate website, Group Home Buyers, for the middle class segment. The long legged actress is soon going to start her own production house.

The actor will be next seen on celluloid in ‘The Desire’.



 

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