Chitrangada upset with link-up

She plays a woman who doesn't believe in sticking to one guy in her forthcoming movie 'Yeh Saali Zindagi', but in real life Chitrangada Singh is a one-man woman and was upset when she was linked with her director Sudhir Mishra. It's her second film with Mishra after her debut 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi'.

Is that a baby bump on Mandira?

Actress Mandira Bedi, who is known more for her cricket commentary, is in the news again - this time it's not for her topless stunt.

Is the nailpaint on my little toe chipped?

fter years of suffering under the fashion microscope, actor Vidya Balan has returned to her original mission — a share of history, says NISHA SUSAN

Sari, thank you Vidya Balan PHOTO: AFP

TAM-BRAM GIRLS of Vidya Balan’s generation were brought up to be neat but not vain, to be presentable but obsess about work. It is only incidental that Vidya, 31, unlike other girls of bilingual Palakkad descent, is not conquering the world of statistical modelling or dreaming miles of code. It is incidental that her adolescent dreams were not of topping IIT-JEE but of becoming an actor. It is incidental she took her work ethic to Bollywood rather than Infosys. How is Bollywood to know that where Vidya comes from, idiosyncrasies are ignored if you can get the job done. For that you would have to know her provenance — maamis who think nothing of riding motorcycles, buying autos for running errands or going alone after ‘office’ to the December Season.

Here is young Vidya in 2005, standing next to director Pradeep Sarkar after her memorable debut in Parineeta — a classic, self-assured beauty in a heated, period setting. Sarkar is talking enthusiastically about her performance for the excited television cameras. Vidya is unsmiling and silent. It was an astonishing event for the absence of girlish giggles Bollywood heroines develop to distract from their inherent toughness. Vidya seemed destined for big and important things then. But after Parineeta, her career was a bit of a PR disaster, punctuated frequently and almost exclusively by malicious reports of her clothes and weight. Like hounds who had heard an whistle audible only to them, the press suddenly decided that Vidya was both fat and badly dressed. And by dint of sheer repetition, this woman, who is destined to be good-looking even when she is 80, was no longer palatable. It was a great moment of mass hypnosis. And her movies of this period were largely forgettable too.

However, that season seems to have passed. More recently, the public gaze has been retrained towards her elegant Sabyasachi saris and Vidya is called preposterous things like ‘the brand ambassador of the national dress’. And before ‘behenji’ — that deathknell of sexual appeal — could be sneakily catapulted at her for her saris, Vidya shimmered into Abhishek Chaubey’s Ishqiya (2010). As a small-town woman wreaking havoc on a pair of conmen, she played a raucous lover to the younger man, smoky temptation to his uncle. An adult woman with mature motivations — central to the plot and played by a self-assured actor.

It is strange that Vidya was ever considered for the behenji category by the media because she has brought a powerful sexual charge to her roles. Her pairing with Madhavan in a series of Airtel ads in innocuous domestic settings had television viewers rapt with its potential for wild monkey sex (any minute now!) in a way that many big budget movies can only aspire to. The frilly kittens to whom we have become almost immune to seeing on screen lend themselves to harmless ‘sexy’ labels. Perhaps grown-up, erotic power is too close to the skin, easier to experience for viewers than it is to write about for reporters.

In 2011, when we meet in a Delhi hotel on a very frozen, very early morning she is warm, replete with good humour and shorn of make-up. She moves about restlessly on a sofa but still no giggles. Only an occasional deep belly laugh. She tells funny stories about herself, leaving in the perverse, unflattering bits about her childhood in Mumbai or her teenaged career in television. “I was so fat as a child, I would sit on the road and refuse to walk.” Or “I used to be so macho as a teenager, I’d refuse the production company’s car so I could go home at night by myself. When my father came once to Film City to pick me up one night, I felt so violated I didn’t speak to him. Poor thing, all the way from Goregaon to Chembur.” Or “I used to practise all the Ek Do Teen moves with my sister’s skirt tied around my head. But I also wrote to Satyajit Ray after he won the Oscar, asking him to cast me. I was just greedy.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Movie roles took a surprisingly long time to come to Vidya, considering she had been in television and ad films since she was 15. Her indulgent, middle-class parents — father in middle management, mother a homemaker — had thought it was a passing fancy, only pausing when she auditioned for a Malayalam movie. This was the first time they had a real sense of the fire in her belly. She actually did mean to work in the movies. However, Malayalam films were deemed appropriately intelligent and tasteful so they didn’t pause too long. But this first venture was to spiral into a series of disasters. Vidya’s first movie was the ninth collaboration between superstar Mohanlal and filmmaker Kamal. When the movie was shelved midway, the hitherto successful team looked around for someone to blame and there was the pretty young heroine ready to be labelled a jinx. Six other filmmakers in the south ‘unsigned’ her. Back home in Mumbai, Vidya suffered. “My self-esteem was shot to pieces. I’d heard so many things said about the way I looked and my acting.” So when Pradeep Sarkar said to her, “Aye ladki, one day I will make a movie with you,” she was politely sceptical.

Parineeta made her, but for years she suspected that it unmade her. From the beginning the very vain, very conservative world of Bollywood found Vidya a bit of an oddball. Her unusual debut and her own personality had fused together in public perception. “People would keep saying: ‘you are so different, you are like a breath of fresh air’ and I would only hear: ‘you are so different’.” She was unable to decide whether this was a description or a warning, given the rain of other advice. “There is constant pressure to not be an individual. A heroine is supposed to sing songs, dance, do four scenes, not ask questions about the character. For the first time in my life, there were people telling me how I should behave all the time. And I buckled under the pressure. I was not acting anymore. I was trying to be another Vidya Balan. And the lack of conviction showed in everything. In the movies, in my life. On top of everything else, there were fashion bloggers reporting if the nailpaint on the second toe of my left foot was chipped.” She hints that her love life took a hit at this period as well. “People tell you — don’t tell anyone you are dating. Or how do you know this man is interested in you because you are a star? Or I would share some excitement about a relationship with a friend and it would be in the papers the next day. Now I know better than to listen to anyone. I know I am not going to be seeing someone who is in awe or shock. My relationships are between me and the man I’m seeing.” She peters off, “Of course, one is young. There is desire…” She begins to say more and then pauses, “Perhaps I should just stop with ‘desire’!” And howls with laughter at her twee choice of words.

Luckily, she says, her identity crisis passed quickly. Clarity largely came from her older sister Priya who Vidya shamelessly eulogises to anyone who will listen. Priya (until recently the head of the ad agency, Lowe Lintas, Delhi) had written to Vidya when she did her first audition: “Retain yourself, do only what you want to do. And remember cigarettes do not make you more creative.” Though this last bit still makes Vidya guffaw, her sister’s prescience helped her find her moorings again. With Balki’s Paa and then Ishqiya, Vidya was back in the game. She stopped listening to any advice about movies and remembered that even on the sets, she functioned best by feel — not by looking at the monitor to review her last take.

People would say: ‘you are so different, you are like a breath of fresh air’ and I’d only hear: ‘you are so different’

SHE HAD remembered what she was there for: a bid for posterity. And she says this in so many words. Ask her why other young female actors are not staking the same claims, fighting for better roles and scripts and she has a considered answer. “Everyone’s attention is so fragmented now. People don’t have the time, energy, faith to invest in any one thing and see it through. Everyone wants to be a celebrity and make sure they have at least their two seconds of fame.”

The good thing about fragmented attention span is that it is easy to reinvent yourself. And Vidya, happily for her, is only amused by the new guff about her being an ‘Indian’ beauty. In No one killed Jessica, she played Raj Kumar Gupta’s version of Sabrina Lall: a quiet woman whose life is brought to a standstill by a senseless murder. Her next role is the diametrical opposite — Vidya stars in Dirty Picture, a biopic of Silk Smitha, the vamp whose life was just as configured by tragedy. Smitha was of the lower lip-biting, silver-tasselled skirts and headdress-wearing vintage, the kind of star once described as cabaret dancer, what the Bible imagined as a ‘fleshpot’. It boggles the mind to imagine a simmering Vidya or any anaemic Hindi movie achieving that level of, well, dirtiness, but stranger things have happened.

Sameera's bold new look

Sameera Reddy has great plans for 2011, from more movies in South India to yes, you guessed right marriage. Here's the lady herself in a whole new look

2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ

2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ

2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ

2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ

2013 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ

Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ midsize sedans. Both will use the new “CD4” platform, a chassis that looks set to become the backbone of Ford’s global lineup of vehicles. The Euro-look of these test mules is nothing but a clever disguise.

The Fusion, MKZ and Mondeo will be the first to share this chassis. Powertrains are rumored to consist of 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter inline-4 engines, both featuring Ford’s EcoBoost turbocharging system. A hybrid is also a certainty, although it’s too early to know if Ford will stick with the 2.5-liter Duratec 4-cylinder and nickel-metal hydride batteries of the current model. We think this is highly unlikely, given that the new Fusion’s engines are being downsized.

The styling of the next-generation Fusion is said to borrow heavily from the new Focus and the Taurus sedan. This means a more dynamic look—or “Kinetic” to use Ford’s lingo—with a bold and elegant front end (like that of the Focus) mixed with the solid-looking profile and rear-end treatment found on the Taurus. The Fusion’s current chrome grille is also likely to be significantly revised—a Ford designer recently told us the grille with three chrome bars had served the company well, but it’s time for a change.

Look for the next Fusion and MKZ sedans to arrive in early 2012, for the 2013 model year. Soon thereafter, the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover vehicles will jump to the CD4 platform, followed by the Taurus, MKS and several other Ford products around the world.

2013 Ford Mondeo

2013 Ford Mondeo

2013 Ford Mondeo

2013 Ford Mondeo

2013 Ford Mondeo

The first 2013 Ford Mondeo info has surfaced the web today, revealing some of the technical details of the next generation model. The 2013 Ford Mondeo will be powered by a range of petrol and diesel engines, including a 1.6-liter and a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engines. The diesel range of the 2013 Ford Mondeo will include three 2.0 TDCi versions, with 112 hp, 137 hp and 163 hp.

The equipment list of the next generation 2013 Ford Mondeo will include new safety systems, such as a blind spot warning system, a rear view camera, and a driver alert to alarm the driver if it detects he's tired.The 2013 Ford Mondeo will also feature a torque vectoring system and a new generation electric power steering with dynamic cornering control.

Apart from the new technology, the Blue Oval will also try to go to the next step on the luxury ladder with the 2013 Ford Mondeo. The 2013 Ford Mondeo will try to mode more up-market with the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Audi. If this is the case, Ford will have to make some serious adjustments in the quality of the materials they use and the build process.The 2013 Ford Mondeo will have a fresh exterior and interior design and will also try to become more fuel efficient while reducing its CO2 emissions level.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

At this point, we're not quite sure what's so special about the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. According to Ford, it will get better mileage than the Ford Fusion Hybrid that already exists, but how it will do that is still a bit of a mystery.

You see, the specification sheet that accompanied the announcement of the C-Max Hybrid was exactly five lines long, and all the information contained in those five lines concerned the vehicle's size. If you must know, the C-Max Hybrid is smaller than the standard C-Max that arrives later this year, mainly because it's the five-passenger version instead of the stretched seven-passenger model.

Information about its powertrain was largely left out. Ford did say it will use an advanced lithium-ion battery system. The new batteries are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal hydride batteries and can be tuned to deliver more power or extended range.

Like the rest of the C-Max lineup, the C-Max Hybrid will be built on Ford's compact sedan architecture that underpins the Focus and upcoming Escape crossover. The C-Max Hybrid will be assembled in Wayne, Michigan, alongside the rest of the C-Max variants starting sometime in 2012.

Chitrangada Singh to do item number

Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh is all set to shake her hips in a item number for movie 'Desi Boyz'.

Desi Boyz is a directorial debut for Rohit Dhawan. The film also stars Akshay Kumar and John Abraham.

She has also been signed by the film director Goldie Behl for his upcoming directorial venture.

Goldie has signed John Abraham opposite Chitrangada. The shoot for the untitled film will start next month.

Chitrangada is currently busy promoting ‘Yeh Saali Zindagi’, the film is directed by Sudhir Mishra.

Yeh Saali Zindagi will hit the theatres on February 4.

Chitrangada started her film career with Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi in 2003.

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

Electric vehicles are the hottest and smallest niche market at the moment, and the 2013 Ford Focus Electric intends to join the fray. Its features begin with an electric motor and extend all the way to your smartphone.

Focus Electric, Ford is aiming at a global market for its first in-house–engineered EV, so it makes sense to base it on the Ford Focus C chassis. Motivation begins with a permanent-magnet electric traction motor delivering 123 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque and a single-speed transmission. The motor draws electricity from two liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery packs mounted under and behind the rear seats with a total of 24 kilowatt-hours of power. The combination tops out just above freeway speeds at 84 mph and should be peppy off the line owing to the torquey nature of electric motors.

The official range has yet to be announced, but preliminary figures indicate frugal drivers should see around 100 miles before the car has to hit the charger. Speaking of charging, that's where things start to get interesting with the Focus Electric. Ford has partnered with Best Buy, whose Geek Squad will provide in-home installation of an optional Leviton-sourced 240-volt–outlet charger, which will be able to charge the batteries in just 3 hours, currently best in a rather nebulous and small class. Without that high-voltage charger, it's a painful 16 to 20 hours for a full charge. This makes the charge-station finder delivered to the navigation system through MapQuest a very important feature.

The Focus Electric also works to address one of the biggest problems with EVs: range anxiety, the concern that the car won't be able to make it to a destination. Each key stores the driver's unique style of driving—what Ford terms as Zippy to Zen. The zippier the driver, the lower the total range will be. The car takes this into account when predicting how far it will go with its current state of charge. If you're on the edge of reaching a destination or charge station, the SmartGauge LCD screens flanking the speedometer will encourage smoother driving, maximized regenerative braking and lower speeds. Amusingly, the green leaves from the Fusion Hybrid's SmartGauge have been replaced with blue butterflies—an homage to the butterfly effect the driver might cause by piloting an electric vehicle.

The Focus Electric is still pretty far from production, with an intended sale date sometime in 2012, but it will be the flagship in Ford's push for vehicle electrification. What we see in this effort is a holistic approach to an electric car that will pay dividends as the number of charging stations increases and battery technology improves. For now, the electric car is still limited to a position as secondary, around-town city car, but as charging times continue to diminish, that problem will begin to disappear.

'Aashmit, Veena made love in Bigg Boss'

Ashmit Patel and Veena Malik made love in the Bigg Boss house, claims an ex-contestant. No LoC here...

Reality just got more lurid on TV. Ashmit patel, whose only claim to fame has been riding on getting cosy with women on camera (remember his MMS episode?), allegedly had sex with Veena Malik on "Bigg Boss 4", if an ex-contestant is to be believed. As if viewers weren't already fed up with an overdose of the Ashmit-Veena intimacy, here's a new twist to keep the tale alive.

An ex-contestant, on the condition of anonymity, spills the beans. "Most of the contestants were irked with all that Ashmit and Veena did in the house. Hum sab unke saath baith nahin paate thay. Everybody would feel awkward in their presence. Sirf gale milne jaisi sadharan baat nahin hoti thi. I remember, they were given the task to guard the diya kept near the swimming pool, and we saw them snuggling in the quilt. Us din zaroor kuch hua tha. And of what I've heard, many viewers felt the same. It was all so disgusting. One of the key reasons for my exit was their growing intimacy. I'd requested Bigg Boss to evict me from the show. I couldn't take it anymore."

But Ashmit, who calls this "an offshoot of people's overactive imagination", says he never got that close to Veena in the first place. "No, it didn't happen. I would have wanted something like that to happen, but I didn't have the inclination," says he (go figure!) Ashmit adds, "With cameras installed everywhere, how is it possible for anyone to make love? And now that the show is over, I have no chance. But I have only gained from these rumours."

Sakshi Pradhan too, quashes the allegation, but does admit she's heard about it. Sara Ali, however, doesn't understand the need to discuss the intimacy the duo shared. "Itna hauwaa kyun banaya jaa raha hai?" she asks.

This isn't the first time the inmates are being talked about for being involved in such an act. According to another ex-contestant, a similar incident happened, but not so unabashedly. "At least, when I participated, things didn't happen too openly. The washroom was seen as the safest place. Rahul Mahajan and an inmate got intimate. They made love," says the ex-contestant.

Sambhavana Seth, another ex-inmate, says, "Viewers need masala and the channels, higher TRPs. That's about it. At least, "Bigg Boss" puts forth the reality, whatever it may be."

Deepika kisses Siddharth Mallya

Deepika Padukone and Siddharth Mallya could not hide their love this time.

Deepika and Siddharth have never spoken about their relationship openly but a kiss revealed it all that the lovebirds are madly in love with each other.

The buzz is that Deepika, who was celebrating her 25th birthday on January 5 with her family at Copenhagen, was pleasantly surprised when Siddharth joined them.

According to the reports, Deepika was so excited and happy that she kissed Siddharth in front of her family members.

Deepika, who came close to Siddharth after parting ways with Ranbir Kapoor, seems to be finally happy in Siddharth’s company.

Bipasha Basu goes topless again

The vivacious Bipasha Basu has been hitting headlines for her topless acts.


After posing topless for the cover page of Maxim magazine, the dusky beauty of Bollywood once again stripped off.

The hot and sexy Bipasha did it again for the renowned photographer Dabboo Ratnani.

Bips has posed topless for the Dabboo Ratnani’s Calendar 2011. In the calendar, Bipasha has covered her assets with a white bedsheet.

This is the eight times in a row when Ratnani has included Bipasha in his famous celebrity calendar.

Apart from Bipasha Basu other hotties featured in the calendar are: Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan, Mallika Sherawat.

Well, this is not new for the Bipasha. She has done it in the past several times.

2012 Ford Capri

2012 Ford Capri

2012 Ford Capri

2012 Ford Capri

INTRODUCTION:Capri was a name used by Ford for three different generation models: one from 1961 to 1964, one from 1969 to 1986 and another one from 1989 to 1994. Now the company plans to reborn the Capri name. In order to celebrate 40 years of Capri, Ford
will bring a concept model that will be followed by a production version in 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS:The future Focus Coupe, alias Capri will take on models like Volkswagen Scirocco and Renault Mégane coupe. The Scirocco is offered with a range of three petrol engine that range from 120 to 200 HP, while the Megane Coupe comes with a range of petrol engines ranging from 140 to 180 HP.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Previous rumors said that the 2012 Capri will feature a six-cylinder engine is expected, but a possibility is also new four and five-cylinder engines to give the car a power range from 140 to 250 hp.
• Apparently those rumors were not true. Under the hood Ford will place a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine that will deliver 247 HP. Just enough to sprint the Capri from 0 to 60 mph in around 6 seconds and to hit a top speed of 155 mph.

DESIGN:

• As for the exterior designexpect to see a Focus with two doors and a more sportier appearance. And despite the fact that Ford insiders said "Designers have spent most of this year working on the coupeconcept. As inspiration they’ve had pictures of Capri on their studio walls," the future Capri will take inspiration from Focus ST , but its shape will be widened, longer, lower and more dramatic.
• The 2012 Capri will be defined by a gaping grille, distinctive Capri-style curving C-pillars, LED headlights, large alloys and a center-exit exhaust system.

2012 Ford 3dCarbon Focus

2012 Ford 3dCarbon Focus

2012 Ford 3dCarbon Focus

2012 Ford 3dCarbon Focus

INTRODUCTION:2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon | Ford continues his conflict on a 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show with a subsequent 2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon. It can not even see a glance of a energy upgrades, though a 2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon character and aerodynamic changes move a extensive boost in a altogether appearance.

HIGHLIGHTS:The first thing we noticed the 2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon has a black glossy cover and a fine stretch wrapping film that the rest of the body. The windows are smoked out of 3M window film and a 20-inch KMC Series KM650-wheels are painted in glossy black and wrapped in tires Falken – FK452. There are two red stripes to accent their way along the roof and bonnet, while the round a little red Pinstripe action.

SPECIFICATIONS:2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon is based on the already impressive styling of the new Ford Focus with unique properties were used as a foil wrap and red accents,” says Ernie Bunnell, 3dCarbon vice president of sales and marketing. “Ford Focus design fits where the market is right now, and the worldwide appeal of this car is definitely a hit with our customers.”

DESIGN:The initial thing we beheld a 2012 Ford Focus by 3dCarbon has a black silken cover and a excellent widen jacket film that a rest of a body. The windows are smoked out of 3M window film and a 20-inch KMC Series KM650-wheels are embellished in silken black and wrapped in tires Falken – FK452. There are dual red stripes to accent their approach along a roof and bonnet, while a turn a small red Pinstripe action.

Shweta first woman to win 'Bigg Boss'

After raising far too many eyebrows along its 14-week run, 'Bigg Boss 4' has ended. With over-the-top cat fights, verbal abuse galore, a much publicised wedding, and romance that was often too intimate for viewers' comfort, the season did in a way live up to its promise of being bigger. But was it better?

Colors' 'Bigg Boss 4' had newer attractions, a state-of-the-art house, a live wire host in Bollywood star Salman Khan, interesting contestants, including two from Pakistan, and special appearances by film stars.

Season four saw incessant verbal abuses hurled over trivial matters, a sensation caused by the televised wedding of participant, actress Sara Khan with her beau Ali Merchant, and then the government hauling it up for 'offending good taste'.

It started with 14 contestants, including Mumbai terror attack accused Mohammad Ajmal Kasab's former lawyer Abbas Kazmi; thief-turned-detective Devinder Singh alias Superchor Bunty; actor Ashmit Patel, who was involved in an MMS scandal; former dacoit Seema Parihar and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt, who was friends with terror operative David Headley, accused of scouting targets for Mumbai attack.

There were two contestants from Pakistan - actress and former girlfriend of fast bowler Mohammed Asif, Veena Malik, and cross-dressing diva and television personality Begum Nawazish Ali, apart from Indian TV actresses, Shweta Tiwari and Sara Khan, former MTV 'Splitsvilla' contestant Sakshi Pradhan and model Aanchal Kumar, who hardly managed to raise the glamour quotient.

Others who participated in the competition of survival in a secluded house without any communication with the outside world, were Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari, model-turned-actor Sameer Soni and model Hrishant Goswami, later joined by WWE wrestler, The Great Khali and subsequently by the boisterous Dolly Bindra.

Hollywood bombshell Pamela Anderson was flown in to raise the mercury level as a special guest for three days on the already heated show!

This season courted quite a few controversies and troubles - starting Day 1 with Superchor Bunty's ouster following unruly behaviour in the house. Then followed objections by the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against inclusion of Pakistani celebrities on the show.

The entry of The Great Khali, whose humungous size of 7'1 and heavy voice, sent jitters down the spine of other contestants. The atmosphere in the 'Bigg Boss 4' house was quite calm, cool and friendly until Dolly Bindra made a wildcard entry, and shook the atmosphere with her loud and overbearing nature.

Abuses, fights and melodrama became a way of life after Dolly and Shweta began to settle personal scores violently. The fights got others like Ashmit, Sameer, Khali, Veena, Sara and Manoj involved too. In fact, Sameer and Dolly were asked to leave the show for their bad behaviour, only to return a few days later.

Where illwill was flourishing between many, romance was also in full bloom with Rahul-Aanchal's silent chemistry, Veena's one-sided attraction for Hrishant as well as Ashmit and Sara's growing closeness there for the public to see.

The Ashmit-Sara angle didn't last long - how could it when her long time beau Ali Merchant entered the show and proposed marriage to her. The two were set to say 'kabool hai' on national TV - but even that was replete with controversy.

The show was in a mess as the Sara-Ali love story took an ugly twist when Sara's family claimed that both Sara and Ali were already married, and a petition was filed in court against them for cheating the public.

Then the information and broadcasting ministry stepped in. The ministry sent a notice to Colors for 'offending good taste' and for the use of vulgar language in the show, and even went to the extent of asking it to shift the telecast time after 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, love was brewing elsewhere too - Veena changed loyalties and shifted focus to Ashmit, who willingly reciprocated. The two cosied up under a blanket, kissed and hugged each other often and shared sweet nothings, until Veena had to bid goodbye to the show.

After Sameer's elimination in the 13th week - four candidates remained - the consistent Shweta, loud mouthed Dolly, confused and restless Ashmit and The Great Khali.

But it was Shweta who finally emerged the winner and walked away with the trophy and a cash prize of Rs.1 crore at a befitting, star-studded finale.

All in all, a controversial - yet entertaining season of 'Bigg Boss'!

2012 Ford Ranger

2012 Ford Ranger

2012 Ford Ranger

2012 Ford Ranger


2012 Ford Ranger

INTRODUCTION:Ranger will accommodate the working crew with a hose-down interior. Lifestyle drivers are presented with more upscale appointments, but all seats, panels, and materials have undergone rigorous testing to ensure durability, according to Ford.

HIGHLIGHTS:"We're moving it to a position of real capability," explained Schirmer, saying that Ford wanted to provide "performance leadership with this model," which also unfortunately meant bringing it to a size that would come too close to overlapping with the F-150 model lineup in North America. Although the new Ranger is about six inches narrower than the F-150, it's within just two or three inches in length.

SPECIFICATIONS:New engines lack the sheer power ratings and cylinder counts of the 2011 F-150 V-6 and V-8 offerings but serve up some grunt of their own. The base engine is a 2.5-liter Duratec inline-four putting out 164 horsepower and capable of running pure ethanol (E100). Two small diesels, another concept foreign in the U.S. truck market, will be available via either a 2.2-liter four-cylinder (148 horsepower, 277 pound-feet of torque) or 3.2-liter straight-five (197 horsepower, 347 pound-feet). Trucks are among the few reliable vehicle classes for those in search of a manual transmission, and the global Ranger has both a five- and six-speed boxes alongside a six-speed automatic.

DESIGN:The 2012 Ranger, designated T6, has sheetmetal completely unlike its predecessor. The smoothed-out, modern exterior styling would undoubtedly be alien in our market, where sharp and boxy designs dominate before they even reach the drawing boards. Ford's contemporary three-bar grille and front fender decoration give the Ranger a distinct presence. It has grown to about 90 percent of the F-150's size, effectively throwing this truck into the midsize classification. In fact, the new Ranger's size is essentially the main reason why Ford has decided not to bring it here.

2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

INTRODUCTION:Ford Mustang Cobra Jet was produced in 2008 and again in 2010, due to high demand turnkey car seems to withdraw from the 2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet model year Ford has not officially disclose the details of the jump up Ford Mustang, but Puerto Rican businessman who has published what appears to be justified specifications for the new model.

HIGHLIGHTS:The limited special edition model is always an off-road model only and is legal for NHRA stock car racing, and IHRA and NMRA classes, but what makes this Cobra Jet different is that it is said to be even better than the 2008 (pictured above) and the 2010 models. The 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet gets a revised engine, improved suspensions, new design elements, and a revised interior. Customers will also have the option to choose between two different packages: a Graphics Package and a 4.0L Supercharger upgrade.

SPECIFICATIONS:For 2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, seems to keep Cobra Jet supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 under the hood, while the leaked information is based on the engine – now equipped with an aluminum block, Manley H-beam connecting rods, and double keyed crankshaft snout – was approximately 430 hp. 2012 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet package – which can command $ 9,995 price – is also back, mating larger 5.4-liter compressor. If these documents are to be believed, making the engine an extra boost in the churning 500 horsepower.

DESIGN:There are no official details on the 2012 model year just yet, but the first details reveal it will get a new design, black anodized Cobra Jet wheels, and new optional colors of Race Red, Grabber Blue, and Winner White. Customers will also have the possibility to opt for the Graphics Package that includes Powered-By-Ford fender emblems, Sweeping Snake side graphics, 5.4 Cobra Jet hood graphics, Ford Racing windshield header decal, Ford oval front fascia decals, a Ford oval license plate decal, and a FR500CJ decklid decal.Coming in at 3,200lbs., the Cobra Jet comes with an 8.50et NHRA certified roll cage and an NHRA Stock Eliminator legal interior with an available Cobra Jet trim and appearance package.

CONCLUSION:“With every Cobra Jet build we strive to carry the spirit of the original Cobra Jet while developing the next generation of drag racing icon. The enthusiast who races the 2012 Cobra Jet can be competitive at virtually any event, from their local track up through NHRA Stock or Super Stock classes.”

2012 Ford Laguna Seca

2012 Ford Laguna Seca

2012 Ford Laguna Seca

2012 Ford Laguna Seca

INTRODUCTION:"The Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca puts a race-ready version of the new Ford Mustang Boss 302 directly into enthusiasts' hands," said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. "Laguna Seca isn't intended for Boss buyers who simply want an exhilarating daily driver. Think of it like a factory-built race car, which we hope avid racers and track-day fans are going to love."

HIGHLIGHTS:"Drivers who know how to get the most from a tuned race car on a closed course are going to be amazed by what the Laguna Seca is capable of," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "The balance, agility and tuning of each vehicle system places the driver at the center of the machine, completely connected to everything the car is doing."

SPECIFICATIONS:The Boss, long lusted for and adored by Mustang fans is finally making its landing. Thankfully, it’s a product of a renewed Ford and more than just decals and marketing. It’s the Boss and a proper homage to the 1968 classic. The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (with or without Laguna Seca package) will offer a 440 horsepower (380 lb-ft torque) 5.0 liter V8, improved brakes, short-shifter, upgrade clutch, and an upgrade suspension that gives the Mustang over 1.0G’s of lateral traction. Other upgrades including a reduction in soundproofing (must. hear. exhaust.), dark metallic interior trim, Recaro seats, and Alcantara sheathed steering wheel. The Leguna Seca package (shown) provides even more exclusivity with improved body stiffness, strengthened chassis, and an aero package. Need further proof of the Boss’s potency? Ford claims it will outpace a BMW M3 on Leguna Seca.

DESIGN:

• The final touch for a proper race car was to add the proper wheels and tires: Laguna Seca models use lightweight 19-inch alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 10 inches in the rear. R-compound ultra-high-performance tires, 255/40ZR-19 in the front, 285/35ZR-19 in the rear, maintain contact with the pavement – a job that ended up being trickier than expected.
• “The R-compound tires on the Laguna Seca are so sticky we had to really work on the rear suspension tuning to make sure drivers can get the most out of them,” explains Pericak. “The rear stabilizer bar is the largest we’ve ever installed on a production Mustang – including any SVT product. The rear spring rate was also maximized to work with the massive rear tires and balance the car for minimal lap times.”
• While standard Boss 302 cars get vented brake dust shields to help cool the rotors, Laguna Seca models receive Ford Racing front brake ducts that force outside air directly onto the 14-inch vented front rotors, helping to eliminate brake fade and ensure hard, repeatable late braking on the track. Combined, the braking changes help refine the sense for drivers of being directly connected to the pads – an essential edge during car-to-car combat on a road course.

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

INTRODUCTION:
•The Boss returns! Limited production 2012 Mustang Boss 302 set to become the quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford, based on the world-class foundation provided by the 2011 Mustang GT
•Boss upgraded in nearly every vehicle system; engine output, brakes, suspension, interior and exterior all examined to optimize weight, aerodynamics and track performance
•Full Mustang team effort results in a comprehensive re-engineering available only through the factory; new Boss is not a package that can be purchased out of a catalog or achieved through tuning or aftermarket parts
•Limited-production track-oriented Boss 302 Laguna Seca model expands on Boss racing aspirations, deleting rear seat and adding race-ready suspension and aerodynamic treatments.
SPECIFICATION:
2012 Mustang Boss 302 was intended from the outset to be a visceral experience, packed with raw, unbridled performance across the spectrum: Acceleration, handling, braking, and top speed are all equally matched for perfect balance on a car operating within the framework of legally defined safety, noise and emissions regulations.
'The team at Ford wanted to offer their fellow Mustang enthusiasts something really special – a beautifully balanced factory-built race car that they could drive on the street,' explains Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. 'The Boss 302 isn't something a Mustang GT owner can buy all the parts for out of a catalog or that a tuner can get by adding a chip. This is a front-to-back re-engineered Mustang with every system designed to make a good driver great and a great driver even better.'
The V8 engine team approached Boss from the top down: With 412 horsepower from 5.0 liters, the 2011 GT engine was already an incredible performer. But to achieve the high-rpm horsepower that would make the engine competitive on the track, a new intake was essential. The resulting runners-in-the-box plenum/velocity stack combination the engine team developed was impressive enough that it got the green light after one short drive.
Sounds like the Boss
Every Boss features a unique quad exhaust system: Two outlets exit in the rear similar to a standard Mustang GT. The other two outlets exit to either side of the exhaust crossover, sending exhaust through a set of metal discs that act as tuning elements before the pipes terminate just ahead of the rear wheel opening. Visually subtle, the side pipes flow very little exhaust but a lot of exhaust sound, providing a sonic experience unlike any other Mustang – and giving home tuners an additional avenue for modification.

2012 Ford Focus Wagon

2012 Ford Focus Wagon

2012 Ford Focus Wagon

2012 Ford Focus Wagon

INTRODUCTION:
* Next-generation global Ford Focus 5-door model makes European debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show; Global debut for attractive new wagon derivative
* European-developed Focus spearheads Ford's new generation of global C-cars, and will be sold in more than 120 markets globally
* Focus wagon is the latest of at least ten vehicles from Ford's new global C-car portfolio.
* A global performance version of new Focus using Ford EcoBoost engine technology is promised.
* New wagon derivative will account for more than one third of total Focus sales in Europe. Five-door share expected to reach around 60 per cent
* Stylish next-generation Focus range provides customers with class-leading new technologies and high levels of craftsmanship
* New Focus targets outstanding fuel economy, low CO2 and further advances in acclaimed levels of driving quality
* European and North American production starts simultaneously in late 2010 and go on sale from early 2011.

SPECIFICATION:'The Focus wagon is the next model to be revealed, and is particularly significant for the European market as more than a third of our C-car customers here prefer a wagon bodystyle.'
At Geneva, Ford is also confirming that a global performance vehicle will be developed as part of the next-generation Focus range, and that it will be powered by a version of the 4-cylinder Ford EcoBoost engine family.
'A key strength of the Ford Focus range in Europe has always been its wagon, and its popularity is second only to the five-door,' said John Fleming, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO. 'These customers want the extra space and flexibility a traditional wagon provides, yet they still expect all of the technology, great driving dynamics, and superb styling. We believe the new Focus wagon will more than satisfy their requirements in every way.
six bodystyles will cover 85 per cent of customer requirements in the §egmènt in Europe - the four-door sedan, the five-door hatch, the wagon, the five-passenger MAV, seven-passenger MAV and the small SÚV.