Abhishek-Aishwarya

Abhishek Bachchan has repeatedly been referred to, by well wishers, as the "dark horse" of Bollywood. Gossip hawks love spinning endlessly speculative yarns on him. He is the punching bag of Doubting Thomases: How is he ever going to live up to his parents' fame? Will he ever be able to hog the limelight from his internationally famous wife? Has he? Hasn't he? Will he? Won't he?
Questions, assumptions and speculations apart, Small B is as enigmatic as his Big Dad. And, as is the norm with the Lions and the Bachchans, Abhi always moves in groups -- preferably with those of the same surname. He is spotted at functions towering over his petite mother, Jaya Bachchan; he has almost always been seen hand-in-hand with his Beauty Queen wife, Aishwarya Rai; he is also seen walking shoulder-to-shoulder with his larger-than-life father, Amitabh Bachchan. Whatever/wherever he is, Abhishek has always been the object of focus of every snap-happy scribe.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is considered by many trade analysts as the most bankable female actor in Bollywood. Ash is not in the Hall of Fame for being the bahu of India's most celebrated superstar. Nor for being wife to one of Bollywood's most ambitious superstar aspirants. The Bachchan canopy just adds to the allure of this ethereal beauty, who has won for herself the tag of being India's first international superstar.

Esha Koppikar joined an NGO

Bollywood actress Eesha Koppikhar has joined an NGO to support the cause of the girl child in the country.

On her birthday, on Sunday, the actress joined Childreach International, an international NGO based in Britain.

"I have always believed that child is the father of the man and have always wanted to do something for the children of our country. In India, we see a lot of issues like female foeticide, infanticide, that a girl child faces. Being a woman contributing to helping stopping of these issues is a great opportunity for me," said Eesha in a press statement.

Naresh Chaudhary, Country Director for the India office of Childreach International, said Eesha's involvement will inspire youngsters to join the cause.

"With Eesha’s help, I am sure that many youngsters will come forward to participate in our Challenge Events," he said.

"The money raised would go towards funding projects aimed at improving prospects for the girl child," he added.

Childreach International supports child welfare programmes to help create awareness on the deprivations faced by children around India. It arranges adventure events for corporates and students while sensitising them towards a social issue. A fee is charged from them, a part of which goes in the logistics and the rest in charity.

Nayanthara, Prabhu Deva tying the knot

Finally, Prabhu Deva has confessed about his love for Nayanthara.

The shy and reticent actor-cum-director, who is in Malsej Ghaj shooting for Santosh Sivan's Urumi, said, "As far as Nayanthara is concerned, she is special. Yes I am in love with Nayanthara and we will be getting married soon. It's a personal decision and I don't like to talk about it to the media. Basically I'm not comfortable opening my heart out to the media." The grapevine has it that he is sending across signals about his forthcoming marriage which should take place before the year is out.

For the last two years, they have been in love but even after the actress tattooed his name on her wrist, Prabhu kept a studied silence. Now, for the first time, he has confessed his love for Nayan.

Prabhu is not keen that she continue with her career and says, "Nayan, very contrary to the glam image that you see on screen, is a home bird and very simple. Any man who is in love would like to spend more time with his woman. I am no different and there is no meaning in both of us being busy and having no time for each other. She had a beautiful innings and I know very well that she is a top actress who is much in demand. She has stood by me in my difficult times and her support was like an oasis in the desert."

Meanwhile, sources close to Nayanthara state that she has decided to quit movies when she is riding a wave, now that her solo heroine film with Arya (Boss Engira Baskaran) has taken the year's best ever opening at the box-office. They confirm that Nayan is preparing to turn housewife and look after Prabhu's life and career.

All these years, Prabhu has hardly given any interviews, leave alone talk about his love life. The filmmaker first met Nayanthara during the shoot of his Villu and they became close. He was instrumental in making Nayan a better dancer. The buzz is that Prabhu Deva has made his intentions clear now.