I will never wear a bikini on screen: Vidya Balan

Bipasha Basu has done it, so has Priyanka Chopra and even Rani Mukherjee but Vidya Balan despite playing a bold role in "Ishqiya" does not see herself wearing a bikini on screen ever.

Vidya, who has been at the receiving end of fashion critics for her sartorial choices, has been sticking to saris in "Paa" and "Ishqiya" and she has been promoting her latest movie wearing bright floral saris, which are similar to her rural look in the film.

"These are beautiful saris, which were especially designed for the movie and the promotion. I am almost out of stock now. I enjoy wearing saris and feel most comfortable in them," she told reporters during a promotional event in New Delhi.

Asked whether she will ever do the bikini act if the script demands, Vidya, who is playing her career's first gray role in "Ishqiya", said she did not see herself doing that.

"Will I wear a bikini in a movie? No, I don't see myself doing that ever," she said.

Vidya plays a widow Krishna in the movie which, according to her, has been the "most challenging role" of her career.

Vidya, who will be seen seducing both Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah on screen, said it came naturally to her.

"I think seduction is all about eyes and being a woman it came quite naturally to me. I am glad that people like my look in the movie," she said about her bold avatar.

Talking about her character, Vidya said she plays a woman who is very impulsive at the same time has great amount of self-control.

"It was the most challenging yet most exciting role of my life. I enjoyed every moment of the movie," she said.

(India Today)

Shah Rukh Khan married again to 20-year-old Tillana

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan got married to 20-year-old Tillana Desai yesterday. The actor kneeled down and proposed to the girl with a ring. Shocked? Don’t be. Before you start drawing conclusions, let us inform you that King Khan got hitched in a mock wedding to a fixated fan, who had been in love with him for over a decade. And it all happened in the presence of media during the promotion of his film ‘My Name is Khan’.
Related StoriesNeed environment to recruit Pakistani players, says SRK

So, while some get bald for the promoting their films, SRK doesn’t mid tying the knot yet again. It so happened that during the promotion of the film, a girl turned up who was dressed up as a bride.

Confirms the source, “At his film’s event, SRK had to meet people with unusual love stories. Among the crowd, was 20-year-old Tillana Desai, who had come dressed in full bridal finery. When SRK asked her about her love story, she said she had been in love with a guy since she was seven but can’t marry him as he is already married.”

“When SRK asked her who the guy was, he was surprised to know that he was the man in question. She also said that she only uses the products that he endorses and refuses to buy anything else. The girl insisted that SRK should marry her. SRK used his million-dollar charm to overcome the awkwardness. The girl had even brought a ring with her. He went down on his knees and slipped the ring on her finger, saying that this is their rehearsal for the wedding.”

And with SRK down on his knee with a ring in his hand, the lucky girl could not stop gushing with joy. Speaking to a news daily, Tillana Desai said, “SRK was really cute. Usne mujhe yeh wedding ring pehnai. I told him that I’ve been crazy about him for years. Unfortunately, he is married. I guess he thought that my love story was very unusual and that’s why he said that we should get married and gave me this ring. I will never remove the ring and I am glad that he accepted my love and admiration for him. He even asked me about my family and I told him that they could not make it. However, I invited him to my house for dinner, but I guess he was busy.”

(Spicezee)

Aamir's Peepli Live gets "huge ovation" at Sundance

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is on cloud nine. The actor, who was selected for Padma Bhushan, is excited with the response that Peepli Live received at the Sundance film festival in the US.

"Padma Bhushan. Wow! Felt so happy, and such a sense of pride. How I wish I was back home in India. Called my mom, and my brother and sisters. But still felt a huge void of not being back in India. Don't know how to explain it," Aamir, who is in Utah to attend the world premiere of the movie, wrote on his blog.

"...our film Peepli Live was really well received here at the Sundance Film Festival. We had our first screening on the 24th at the Egyptian Theatre, Park City. Super reaction right through the film, and huge ovation at the end," the 44-year-old actor, who has produced the movie, wrote.

"I was really keen to see the reaction here at Sundance as I wanted to get a sense of how a non-Indian audience reacts to the film. 90 per cent of the audience was non-Indian. I am now even more certain that this film has the potential to engage a world audience," he added.

(NDTV)

Mallika's stars & stripes PR stunt

Mallika Sherawat has once again raked up some quick publicity for herself.

This time, she has posed for a photo shoot wrapped in the American flag, and if it is of value in terms of nonsensical records, she is the first Indian celebrity to do so.

Mallika posed for the photo-op as part of the promotional drill for her upcoming international flick, Love, Barack. Soon after the shoot, Mallika uploaded the photograph, shot by noted lensman Ash Gupta, on her Twitter page.

Her latest shot at hogging the limelight comes in the wake of a controversy over Mallika's shooting in a transparent bikini for her long-in-the-making international horror flick, Hisss.
The buzz is that two of the film's three producers - Mallika's brother Vikram and her close friend Govind Menon - were divided in opinion about her wearing the sheer bikini. Though Mallika herself reportedly supported Govind's demand that she should wear the outfit, Vikram insisted that the bikini was too bold. Finally, Vikram had his way.

While a section of the industry feels the Hisss controversy is a publicity plug, Mallika writes on Twitter the report is "not accurate". She adds fuel by stating: "I show more of my aSssetts in Hisss than ever before!" Actress poses in an American flag for photo-shoot Mallika on Recently, the buzz was that Mallika had flashed her butt in a shot in Hisss, though Vikram has insisted that a body double was used. When contacted, the film's third producer, Ratan Jain of Venus Films, declined to comment.

Of course, Mallika needs all the publicity push that she can get for Hisss, considering the film has been delayed substantially.

Industry insiders claim the project has failed to attract international distributors.

She hasn't had a great time in Bollywood either. Her last two releases - Ugly Aur Pagli and Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam - opened to miserable box-office returns in 2008 and her home production, Fauj Mein Mauj, has been in the making for almost four years now.

So, wrapping herself with the US flag apart, Mallika these days tries to be in the news by posing with the likes of Johnny Depp at various dos in Hollywood and tweeting about her meetings with the likes of Owen Wilson, Sean Penn, Charlize Theron, Ben Stiller and Matthew McConaghey.
Recently, Mallika hit a ludicrous note by trying to compare herself to Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe. She wrote in a blog that her initial days in the US were scary but "you don't become the Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood by shaking in your boots ;)". Nowadays, Mallika's only occupation is the Doug McHenry-directed Love, Barack. The film tracks the romance between a Democrat campaign volunteer and her Republican counterpart in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election in US.

(India Today)

Katrina: Salman looked after me

Salman Khan may have cast Zarine Khan as the princess in VEER, but it is his real life girl Katrina Kaif, who actually looks like a princess for sure.

Katrina is Karan Johar's celebrity guest this week on Sony's Lift Kara De... and she definitely "lifted" the show with her presence.

She is fun, she is sporting and for once she isn't all that politically correct.

To Karan's probing questions there are candid answers.

When Karan asked Kat, who are the people who helped this 19-year-old girl when she landed in Mumbai without knowing a soul in this city, she said: "Salman Khan, his family and friends looked after me."

Of course, preceded by designer Anna Singh and directors like David Dhawan, Anees Bazmee (friends of Salman of course).

To Karan's query whether she is single, she sidesteps the issue saying: "I believe that until you are married you are single!" Clever!

(Yahoo)

Priyanka Chopra to return in 'Don' sequel

It is confirmed. Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra is all set to reprise her role of femme fatale Roma in the sequel to Farhan Akhtar's 2006 'Don-The Chase Begins Again'.

Though it was always on cards that Shah Rukh Khan would feature in 'Don 2' which is expected to pick up from where the remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Don' left, there was always mystery around the presence of the leading lady in the film. However, Chopra, who recently won the national award for the best actress for her role in 'Fashion', has confirmed her presence in the sequel.

"Yes, I am doing 'Don 2'. Ever since I worked in the first movie, I was looking forward to being on board for the sequel as well. It would be good to be a part of 'Don 2' as it is an action thriller," Chopra told reporters from the US where she is currently shooting with Ranbir Kapoor for Siddharth Anand's 'Anjaana Anjaani'.

Chopra reportedly learnt martial arts for her role of revenge thursty Roma in the film, who tries to woo Don, played by Shah Rukh, to avenge the death of her sister. Her recent release 'Pyaar Impossible' may have failed to take off at the box office but the 27-year-old actress is looking forward to an eventful year ahead. She is busy wrapping up 'Anjaana Anjaani' and will begin shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj's next film after 'Kaminey'.

"I am really excited about Vishalji's next film. After 'Kaminey', I am so keen to get on his sets once again," Priyanka said. Though there is grapevine that in the film she is playing the role of a woman who is wed to seven different men, an official confirmation is yet to come in. However, it is certain that one of the men in the film would be Malayalam star and National Award winner Mohanlal.

Priyanka, however, will not be the leading lady in Tarun Mansukhani's sequel to 'Dostana, which made waves when released in 2008. The film is all set to get rolling this year. "No, I am not the leading lady of 'Dostana 2'.

My story had ended in 'Dostana' and there was no point being paired with any of the boys (Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham) in the sequel. But yes, I will certainly be there in a special appearance and would return for a short while in the film as their friend," she said.

(Deccan Herald)

Ranbir, Priyanka to meet Sylvester Stallone

Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor, who are shooting for 'Anjaana Anjaani', are set to meet Rocky-Rambo superstar Sylvester Stallone.

In fact, one of the temptations for them to do Sajid Nadiadwala's 'Anjaana Anjaani' was that the producer was a friend of Stallone who featured in his last film 'Kambakkht Ishq'.

'Ranbir and Priyanka definitely want to meet him. I'm flying down to Las Vegas to join them on January 27. We'll be meeting Stallone on the 4th or 5th of February,' Nadiadwala told IANS.
Earlier, Nadiadwala had taken Saif Ali Khan to meet Stallone in Los Angeles.

Sajid and his son Subhaan were supposed to meet Stallone during the New Year. But the actor injured his neck and the appointment was cancelled. Now a new date is being worked out.

And Priyanka and Ranbir insist on accompanying their producer for the meeting.

'I think Ranbir and Priyanka will kill me if I go without them to see Sly. We'll all be driving down from Las Vegas, where Ranbir and Priyanka are shooting, to Los Angeles to meet Stallone. It's a two-three hour drive,' said Sajid.

Ranbir, a big Stallone fan, owns a series of Rocky teeshirts. He intends to get a couple of them signed by the star.

(Sify)

"I was always accident-prone on sets of Veer" - Zarine Khan

Few days ago, we introduced you to Zarine Khan, the gorgeous beauty who is making her big screen debut opposite Salman Khan in Veer. While in the earlier interview, Zarine spoke about her background and childhood days, here she sheds light on her character in Veer.

My Character in Veer

"Veer is an epic love story of a warrior set in the pre-Independence era. I am playing an Indian Princess called Yashodhara. My father's role is played by Jackie sir. I am in love with Veer (played by Salman Khan). In spite of being a princess, Yashodhara doesn't have any airs as such; she is a people's person. She knows what her father is doing is not right but deep down in her heart, she is aware that her father and brother are trapped in the British influence. Also she loves them too much to revolt against them. The film talks about her whole journey from a sweet, innocent little princess to being a 'Yuvraagi' and a mature individual with a lot of authority."

Training and Preparation undertaken

"While starting out, we did a lot of research on Indian princesses of that era and found out that most of them were quite well built and hefty. They used to eat desi ghee. Hence, they weren't skinny and thin like the girls of today. Therefore I had to put on some weight to get into the skin of the character. Luckily for me, putting on weight is very easy. I feasted on my favorite chocolates. Besides putting on weight, I also undertook dancing lessons. As far as acting is concerned, I have learnt everything on the job from my director Mr. Anil Sharma and costars like Salman Khan, Jackie sir, etc."

(BH)

Crater on moon named after Shah Rukh Khan!

Mumbai: While most of our Bollywood actors are still struggling to establish a strong foothold in filmdom, Shah Rukh Khan has made it to the moon and we mean that literally.

The actor now has a crater in the moon`s Sea of Tranquillity that has been christened after him. And it’s all owing to King Khan’s loyal fans, who with their umpteen petitions persuaded the International Lunar Geographic Society, a New York-based organization, to name the crater after the Indian superstar.

Approved by the International Astronomical Union, which has a final say with regard to the naming of craters on the moon, the actor now boasts of a crater ‘SR KHAN’. confirming the news a source said, The carter “has been given the honorary designation as the Crater S R Khan on the occasion of Mr Khan`s 44th birthday on November 2, 2009”.

According to the society, the crater was named after a flood of petitions from Shah Rukh`s admirers from India and around the world. What’s more is that one of his dedicated admirers has already presented him with a piece of the moon by buying him land there.

With this Shah Rukh will now rub shoulders with personalities like Nobel laureate C V Raman, father of the Indian space programme Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian nuclear programme Homi Bhabha and other luminaries like Meghnad Saha after whom craters have been named.

Way to go SRK!

(Spicezee)

I don't wear burqa after marriage: Ayesha Takia

Ayesha Takia has quelled rumours that she has started wearing a burqa after marriage and that her husband's family is ultra-conservative where acting is not permitted.

Ayesha is more amused than exasperated by attempts to put her into the retired actress' bracket after marriage.

"I'm amazed at the games people play. The other day someone asked me if I've started wearing a burqa after marriage," laughs Ayesha. "Far from feeling clamped, I now have the freedom to do more things than before. My parents-in-law are cool about my business ventures with my husband and my film career."

"Farhan (her husband) and I went around together for five years before marriage. So there goes the conservative card. Suddenly after we made it official, I hear all kinds of rumours, including one that I'm out of Revathy Varmha's film and that I've been replaced by some other actress."
Says Ayesha: "I always felt 'Wanted' would be the first big hit of my career. Ironical that it should come now after my marriage. And I've got more to do in it than the leading lady in a Salman vehicle would be expected to. And why should I give up a dream role like the one in Revathy's film? She's new to the Mumbai industry and quite nervous about these controversies."

In fact, Revathy and Ayesha's mother are very close friends. "Revathy comes home regularly. We all laugh at the way the casting is being questioned by people who probably have nothing better to do."

Ayesha also intends to focus on a new business venture. "I started working in films when I was only 15. And I just realised I've been at it since then. I need to venture out. It's time to try out new things in life. Today a young woman has so many opportunities. I'm fortunate to have a name and a face that's recognisable. I want to use that to my advantage and start a clothes line by the middle of next year."

Ayesha, her mom and sister Natasha will be partners in the garment business. Says Ayesha: "All three of us are very excited about doing the clothes line. We love fashion. It's basically for the girls in the family."

Ayesha's husband Farhan Azmi, who is a restaurateur and the son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, will be there to help his wife with the clothes line.

(Deccan Herald)

Priyanka Chopra: My best is yet to come

Priyanka Chopra has done it again. The actress has shown that when it comes to proving her mettle, no one can be a match to her.

The actress who has bagged the national award in the best actress category has termed the win as one of the high points of her career.

CHECK OUT: Priyanka Chopra-The messiah of newcomers!

Speaking from New York where she's currently, the actress says, "I'm really excited about winning the national award. The whole credit goes to my director Madhur Bhandarkar who showed immense faith in me. Though this award has given me immense satisfaction but I want to add that my best is yet to come."

With the win of this award, Priyanka has undoubtedly shown that she is the reigning actress of the B-Town brigade.

(Glamsham)

SHOCKING: Genelia, a copycat?!

Oh my! Now what do I hear... our Chance Pe Dance girl seems to have taken her film title rather seriously.

A little birdie tells me Genny baby is not leaving a single opportunity to copy Priyanka Chopra. Poor thing didn't realise people around her do have eyes.

It so happened Genelia turned up for a party wearing the same outfit that Piggy Chops was featured in on a magazine cover.

To top it all, the colour too was the exact same. The little girl was obviously unaware of the faux pas. When someone pointed this out to Genelia, the actress was highly embarrassed.

Next thing we know, Genelia has started flipping through every fashion magazine before attending any party. Ha ha ha

(Buzz18)

Kareena on the go

She won several hearts with her geeky looks and style in Rajkumar Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots’. After watching this cheshmi beauty in the film, one would have truly forgotten her serious performance in ‘Kurbaan’.

Although Kareena wouldn’t have enjoyed the same full-length role as the three heroes in Raju’s films, the gal has no qualms about. For she says, “I'd really rather do a shorter role than those glamorous roles and flit in and out of scenes.” The actress is in fact hungry for meaty roles, which are already in her kitty for this year. One can really look forward to see new facets of this hottie in her forthcoming releases.

Karan Johar’s ‘Stepmom’, Anubhav Sinha's ‘Ra. One’ and Saif Ali Khan's production ‘Agent Vinod’ – Kareena's character in each of these three is not only quite different from the other, but also her co-stars are just fabulous.

She loves her role in Kajol-Arjun Rampal ‘Stepmom’ for she said that it has lot of shades which was more difficult than 'Dev', 'Chameli' and 'Omkara'. ‘Ra. One’ brings Bebo back to her ‘Ashoka’ hero Shahrukh Khan as his wife and the actress clarifies about her role in it. Says Kareena, “My character is not what people are assuming it to be. I don't play a virtual babe who fights and kicks. It is a comic character; she's the fun and entertainment value in the film.”

And how can the bubbly lady keep low when it comes to ‘Agent Vinod’ which is bannered under her beau Saif’s banner Illuminati Films. The thriller is directed by Shriram Raghavan for which Kareena is said to be very excited and all ready for it to begin. Here too Kareena goes on to prove the media’s assumptions wrong about her character in the film. She stated that it is not an action role as is being reported and in fact she features as a Pakistani CIA agent.

One may have inhibits about Saif and Kareena pairing here, but the actress is not at all concerned about it. According to her, the scripts are supreme while the actors are mere puppets. “Just for the record, Shahid and I had five flops in a row before we hit it with Jab We Met,” justified Kareena and drove her context that jodis shouldn’t matter.

Well, this sizzler surely knows how to capture hearts and words as well…

(India Glitz)

I don't try imitating anybody: Big B

Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a media baron in forthcoming film Rann, says he was among the pioneers of satellite television in the West long before it came to India and has a fair idea how a channel runs.

"I was one of the pioneers of satellite television in the United Kingdom and New York. We ran Asian television there. We were actually the first ones who did that many, many, many years ago before satellite television came here. So, yes, I know how it works and how it functions," Bachchan said.

"But now, of course, it has become a huge industry. It's a very intricate process, a very difficult task and extremely competitive. I have been to some of the (news) studios and I have seen how they function - (it's) a massive task," he added.

The megastar clarifies that Rann, which releases Jan 29, is pro-media and not at all about media bashing as has been reported.

"It's a little premature for the media to think like this, but you know Rann is a very pro-media film. In the film what I do as part of the media (industry) is nothing dishonourable. I (have been) put across as a very honourable person and whatever I do is very pro-media."

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, Rann is about business and consciousness in electronic media and the moot point of the film is what edges the other.

"Whether business wins over consciousness or otherwise, that would always depend upon the owner of the channel and that's the crux of the story. It's a battle between business and consciousness.

"Does Mr.Vijay Harshvardhan Malik (played by Amitabh in the film), who is a symbol of purity and integrity, succumb to things like 'I don't care about business, I want to keep my consciousness' or 'to hell with conscience, I will have to save my business'; that's what the story will be," said Amitabh.

The actor also said that he didn't borrow any mannerisms from media personalities like Prannoy Roy or Rajdeep Sardesai.

"I don't try imitating any particular action of anybody. I try to be myself," said Amitabh, but added Ram Gopal Varma might have taken inspiration from the two while creating a character.

"These are elements which we see every day. Yes, when we are making a film on electronic media, it is very difficult to ignore them (Prannoy or Rajdeep) or not be inspired by them."

While Amitabh appreciates the positive impact of the media, he maintains that it is not flawless.
"Media is a very powerful medium. It's the voice of the nation. It informs and also forms opinion. It has the power to be able to influence you in forming a decision. It has a power to change governments... Now, when one entity has so many powers, are there any drawbacks? Are there any loopholes there? Do people use them or misuse them? These are some of the issues that the film deals with," he said.

The actor, who recently criticised the paid news syndrome in an interview, said the media is not solely responsible for such practice where the source of information is kept under wraps.
"Somebody has to bring the concept. You are the medium and they have to publish it or broadcast it. It is your decision whether you want to do it or not. One doesn't mind provided there is a disclosure. Disclose what you are doing, then it is fine. If it is made transparent, I don't see any harm. Let everybody have some kind of transparency."

(NDTV Movies)

SRK, Kat arrive together at Arjun Rampal's bash!

However, they didn't share the car. Also, Shah Rukh Khan and Farah bonded for first time since Tees Maar Khan spat

Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif arrived together (in separate cars, though!) for Arjun Rampal's celebration bash for Rock On!! held at his Bandra home. Kat refused to be photographed and remained in the car for a while. Later, she slipped into the building evading the photographers.

B-Town buzz is that Kat has been bonding big time with the SRK camp at a time when Salman Khan has been saying that he is dating Katrina in every Veer promotion interviews.Farah Khan's presence too was noticed as she had been skipping events where SRK would be present post Tees Maar Khan. Instead of avoiding SRK, she was spotted having a cosy chat with him.Dino Morea and Nandita Mahtani arrived together and stuck together. While a heavily pregnant Karisma Kapoor stepped in with sister Kareena and Saif Ali Khan but left early with Seema and Sohail Khan.

(Mid Day)