2013 Ford Fusion Mondeo

2013 Ford Fusion Mondeo

2013 Ford Fusion Mondeo

2013 Ford Fusion Mondeo

The cover of the latest issue of Auto Express in the UK features one of the first renderings of the next-generation Ford Mondeo, which as we all know will be basically the same as Ford's future replacement for the Fusion in the States. If this drawing proves accurate, it looks like the new midsize models will combine a lot of what we see in the 2012 Focus at the front end with a greenhouse and rear stance that actually looks more like the current Taurus.

The Fusion was Ford's first model to adopt the automaker's now ubiquitous three-bar grille design, but this rendering finally dispenses with that look in favor of something a little more Kinetic. We don't know if the production model will go this way or perhaps use the modified perforated version adopted by the latest Taurus and Explorer.

The new Mondeo and Fusion will probably debut sometime later in 2011 and come to market early in 2012 as a 2013 model.

Bhatt brothers show Bipasha the door

The Bhatts have thrown Bipasha Basu out of Murder 2. The actress was slated to do an item number in their film, directed by Mohit Suri as reported ('Bips, Bhatts to reunite'; Hitlist, March 21). However, she asked for big
money not only for herself but also for her choreographer, designer, etc.



After hearing her price, Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt thought it was better to say bye-bye. Bips has worked in several Bhatt films (Raaz, Jism, Gunaah, Footpath) at the beginning of her career.

2012 Aston Martin Virage - First Drive Review

In case you’re wondering, “virage” is a French word that means “twist, bend; turn, curve.” It’s a noun, not a verb. But what the word seems to mean in the exclusive dialect of Aston Martin automobiles is, “V-12 GT priced between the DB9 and DBS.”



The Virage and the two DB cars share the same architecture, versions of the same V-12 engine, and the same general styling—that last bit being something that can be said of all Astons except the Cygnet. Aston pitch people tell us that the distinction between DB9, Virage, and DBS is that each is tailored to meet “the needs of its owners.” What our jaundiced ear hears is that the Virage is for the buyer who imagines he needs something a little fancier than the DB9, but also needs to avoid the vast financial leap to the DBS.



Wants and Needs



Wants and needs get to be interchangeable at this price, so we’ll spell it out in terms we can all understand. DB9 pricing starts at $189,230. The base price for the DBS is $273,275. The numbers go up from there, culminating with the DBS Volante (convertible) with automatic transmission at a resounding $290,954.



You don’t need to be an MIT mathematician to see the gap in those numbers. Does it represent an actual yawning hole in Aston’s lineup, one through which potential customers might flee? Seems unlikely to us, but that’s the gap the Virage is intended to plug. It will start at $211,610 ($226,610 for the Volante) when it reaches U.S. dealers sometime in late June as a 2012 model.





The Car



It takes an eye keenly sensitized to Aston Martin nuance to distinguish a Virage from its DB stablemates. The grille, front bumper, and headlights are new—albeit familiar—and the side strakes shimmer with LEDs. The shape of the rocker panels has been fine-tuned, and a new diffuser spans the car below the rear bumper.



Inside, there’s a sumptuous festival of aluminum, carbon fiber, walnut, and Bridge of Weir leather—seven hides in all—beautifully designed, beautifully stitched, tantalizing to the olfactory sense as well as the eyes and fingertips. Aston claims that the interior of each car represents 70 man-hours of painstaking hand work, to which we say, “Is that all?” This is craftsmanship raised to the level of art.



Gorgeous interiors have been an Aston Martin strong suit for quite some time, just as tiny interiors have been a weakness. Like the DB9 and S, this coupe is technically a 2+2. But one look over our shoulders makes us wonder, plus two what? Elves?

Hardware



Not surprisingly, the structure beneath that voluptuous sheetmetal is familiar. Like the DB9 and DBS, the Virage is built around a bonded-aluminum architecture with the rigidity of an aircraft-carrier flight deck.



The Virage rolls on 20-inch aluminum wheels wearing low-profile Pirelli P Zero tires; 245/35s up front, 295/30s out back. Spring rates and bushings are specific to the Virage, with rates somewhere between those of the DB9 and DBS, and damping is provided by a new Bilstein adaptive system with presets in two modes, Normal and Sport. As on the DBS, braking is provided by a Brembo carbon-ceramic package, with big, vented rotors—15.7-inch front, 14.2-inch rear—squeezed by six- and four-piston calipers, respectively. Stopping power galore is a good thing in a two-ton GT capable of a claimed 186 mph.



The source of that top-speed capability is Aston’s thoroughly familiar 5.9-liter aluminum V-12. In this application, it’s tuned for 490 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque—20 more ponies than the same engine in the DB9, 20 fewer than the DBS’s output. The only available transmission also is shared with the DBs: the six-speed ZF Touchtronic II paddle-shifted automatic.



At Speed



Big asterisk here: Speed is always a function of conditions. During our short day with the Virage on mountain roads in the south of Spain, conditions ranged from rain to sleet to snow—perfect for wringing out a powerful GT on fat summer tires. It was a prescription for caution, but we were able to make a few observations.



The V-12 gives up lots of power to other players in the Virage’s competitive realm—think Ferrari 458 Italia, Mercedes SLS AMG, and Porsche GT2 RS (to say nothing of the 638-hp Corvette ZR1, at a mere $112,050)—but it’s torquey, willing, and smooth. In formal evaluation—a comparison between the DBS and Ferrari 599GTB—this engine powered the DBS to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 12.6 at 117. The Virage is a little heavier than the carbon-fiber intensive DBS—about 200 pounds coupe to coupe, according to Aston Martin—and it’s down 20 horsepower. Figure on a 0-to-60 time of 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile of 12.9.





If the engine is satisfying in spite of its moderate competitiveness, it’s hard to be enthusiastic about the Virage’s automatic transmission. We can’t call its responses slow, and they’re distinctly more eager in Sport mode than the default Normal. But for anyone who’s operated any of today’s better automated manuals, Aston’s Touchtronic is distinctly ho-hum.



At the end of a cold, slippery day, we emerged impressed by the Virage’s eager transient responses, controlled body motions, and communicative steering. The Virage may not be as fast as some of the cars in this price sector, but its combination of stiff structure, control-arm suspension, and adaptive damping add up to athletic credentials of a very high order. Like other Astons, the Virage is well balanced—the engine is mounted as far back as possible to help achieve the car’s 50/50 front/rear weight distribution—and its basic handling trait is mild understeer, which was not unwelcome in dicey conditions. Still, we look forward to some seat time in the dry.



Competent Exclusivity



So what’s the hook? Not absolute performance; there are several entries in this pricey realm that outperform the Virage. And some might say that the styling, which is more or less repeated across almost the entire Aston Martin lineup, has become a little too familiar.

Recognizable or not, though, the shape still turns heads. And for the man who values performance but is an unlikely candidate for track days, the Virage is certainly fast and athletic enough to be satisfying. Beyond that, there’s the pleasure that goes with owning something hand-built, exquisitely crafted, and exclusive. As for the Virage being worth the $22,000 premium over a DB9, why not? At this price point it gets tough to judge worth; but for just a 12-percent price hike, the Virage offers slightly better performance, a slightly nicer interior, and a slightly more-exotic shape—not to mention a unique name.

2013 Ford Escape

2013 Ford Escape

2013 Ford Escape

2013 Ford Escape

2013 Ford Escape

2013 Ford Escape

Ford Escape finally getting a nice redesign after a decade in the automotive market. Ford also has conducted a review of the new look of this car and show them this new product at the Detroit auto show with a concept Vertrek. A highly elas evolution of this car, which is in two forms namely Kuga and kinetic design. The most fundamental changes of this car is switched to the Global C platform Ford who also serves as the basis for 2012 Ford Focus, the upcoming C-max, and also currently allowing Kuga Kuga and the Escape to be combined into a single global product.

All Ford cars of this type using the 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 168 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque in the C-Max is likely to be basic powerplant. The same thing, the car was wearing EcoBoost 1.6-liter inline four-powered Vertrek can lend its 180 hp and 173 lb-ft for powerful vehicles and 2.0 liter EcoBoost four-banger possibility for shelf-top Escape. By using approximately 237 hp and 250 lb-ft, can be made for an interesting Escape Sport and of course this will be a hybrid car escaped a no-brainer. to expect an upgrade or a system using a hybrid version of the plug-ins such as those found in the Energy C-Max is also shown in Detrioit.

Ash not the most beautiful woman

Hugh Jackman, who shared the dais with ex-Miss World and one of Bollywood's top stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in FICCI Frames 2011, doesn't find the beauty the most beautiful woman on earth.

Ragini MMS scenes to be reshot

Ekta Kapoor wants scenes in Ragini MMS reshot

The not-easy-to-please Ekta Kapoor saw the first cut of her next, Ragini MMS and asked for certain scenes to be re-shot.



The film, due for release May 13, may have the date postponed. Says our source, "Ekta loved the rushes but felt the scare factor needed to be upped."

Director Pawan Kripalani says, "It's a work in progress. Ekta has no issues with the film. The first cut is very long and we are tying to cut it down to 90 minutes."

He adds what Ekta saw is just a rough cut devoid of sound design and visual effects. "Take any great film and remove the sound and visual effects it will loose its impact," he remarks.



The TV czarina plays it down as well. "Two scene effects are being re-done. Its half a day's work", noting, "Someone is spreading rumours about the film. Also, the release date remains the same, Friday, May 13."

FACT
Several scenes of Ekta's other production Shor In The City were also reshot.

'Boom' won't be re-released: Katrina

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has refuted reports that her debut film 'Boom' will be re-released in a DVD with never seen before intimate scenes involving her and co-star Gulshan Grover.

"That is not true. It is false information. The rights of the DVD are with Hindujas and it remains with them. They are not distributing or re-distributing it," Katrina said in an interview.

Recently, a distributor claimed to be re-release 'Boom' with never seen before explicit footage featuring her and Grover in UK, USA and the Gulf region saying that the movie did not get its due when it released as it was ahead of its time.

Speculations were rife that Katrina's lip-locking scenes with Grover were chopped off from the film's initial DVD as her beau Salman Khan had compelled the makers to do away with the kissing portion.
Besides Grover and Katrina, 'Boom' featured Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, Padma Lakshmi, Madhu Sapre and Zeenat Aman. Directed by filmmaker Kaizad Gustad, the film sought to exhibit the glamour world's connection with the underworld. However, it failed miserably at the box-office.

With gossip mills abuzz that she would be part of Aditya Chopra's 'Dhoom 3' opposite actor Aamir Khan and Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Heroine', the 26-year-old actress said, "These are all rumours that go around and speculate. I have no idea about the film offers." "I am working on 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan'. Besides that there are no other films in hand," added Katrina, who is endorsing Lux's new variant 'Lux Fresh Splash'.

To query on her sister Isabelle's acting debut in Bollywood, Katrina said, "She is interested in films but at the moment she is New York. We would see when she comes back. It is premature to talk about it. There is no conversation about it happening right now."

In Zoya Akhtar's 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', which is a male bonding road story about three friends on the lines of 'Dil Chahta Hai', the 'Rajneeti' actress will be seen along actors Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar and Kalki Koechlin. The film is slated to release on June 24.

In Aditya Chopra's 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', Katrina will share screen space with Imran Khan and Ali Zafar. 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', a romantic comedy set around a love triangle, is set to release in July this year.

Tete-e-tete with Sonakshi Sinha

Actress Sonakshi Sinha wants to prove that she is truly Dabangg when it comes to her professional career. Brushing aside the rumours that she wants to refrain from doing item numbers, the actress came out saying that she is not scared of doing them.

The 23-year-old, who has shown her dancing expertise on stage at various award shows earlier this year, revealed that she has no problems in joining the lines of Katrina Kaif, Malaika Arora Khan and Mallika Sherawat by doing an item number, but she has to be comfortable in doing so.

"I'm not scared of doing item numbers. For me, when I did stage shows, I was wearing what I was comfortable in and the moves that I was doing were also what I was comfortable doing. So all depends on comfort. If what is offered to me, I'm comfortable doing that, then I might just take it up. I'm not averse to it," Sonakshi told reporters here.

Sonakshi, the daughter of veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, has laid down various rules for herself. She has been maintaining that she won't be doing any kissing scenes in films and also won't sport a bikini on screen ever.

Yet the budding actress has been getting plump Bollywood offers. After her debut film Dabangg with Salman Khan, the actress will be seen in Joker with Akshay Kumar and is also a part of Race 2.

At an event Tuesday, she was also named as the brand ambassador of fashion brand Provogue, that has had actors like Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Fardeen Khan and Katrina Kaif endorsing it in the past.

"I'm very happy to be associated with Provogue. I think they've seen how my career is shaping up and they think that I'm able to contribute to their brand in some way as a brand ambassador. So very happy about this association and hopefully it will be a long and fruitful one for both of us," said Sonakshi.

Freida Pinto gets good reviews for Miral

With her riveting performance in her new film Miral getting good reviews, Freida Pinto's Hollywood career may get a push.

In the film, Freida plays an orphaned Palestinian teacher growing up in a war-torn Jerusalem camp.

Her name appears above the controversial film's title in its print advertisements, a fine gesture for an actress who is just about three films old. It is not often that the name of an artist rises above the film's title.

The movie, which some Jewish groups said was anti-Israel, opens in two theatres in New York on March 25 through Weinstein Brothers, the North American distributor of the Oscar winning hit The King's Speech.

The advertisement for the film boldly declares: The movie they tried to stop is coming to New York. The protestors did not want the film to have a premiere at the United Nations last week. It will be rolling out to other cities in the next few weeks. The controversy erupted on the eve of the film's premiere at the United Nations last week.

"I saw the film as a cry for peace," Freida said at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. "It will have a special appeal to the younger generation. Peace is the way, Gandhi said, and Rula Jabreal (who looked into her own life for writing the novel) reiterates that idea."
The film -- a French, Italian and Israeli production -- also has an Indian producer Tabrez Noorani, who has served as a line producer for many English language films made in India including Eat Pray Love and Slumdog Millionaire.
Miral, which Freida signed soon after Slumdog Millionaire opened, was directed by Julian Schnabel (Oscar nominated for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) based on Jebreal's semi-autobiographical novel about the lives of three generations of women in Jerusalem. The American filmmaker is Jewish like the film's distributors Harvey and Bob Weinstein.
Though the film, shown at festivals in Venice, London and Toronto, has done small business in Europe and is not expected, despite the controversy, to be a big success in America, it is raising Freda's profile. This is her third film after the smashhit Slumdog Millionaire ($360 million worldwide) and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Man ($40 million).
'Miral... played by the distractingly attractive young Indian actress Freida Pinto of Slumdog Millionaire,' a review in The Hollywood Reporter commented.
In London, The Independent wrote: 'Miral herself is played very engagingly by Freida Pinto as a mischievous and idealistic teenager with an acute sense of natural justice.'
But British newspaper The Guardian said she 'looks uneasy and miscast as Miral herself.'
'The people who don't want you to see the movie for political reasons are crazy or wrong,' Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter on the eve of the film screening at the United Nations. 'I think the idea is, let there be peace.'
When THR asked if people were 'over-reacting' to a perceived anti-Israeli bias in the movie, Weinstein said yes. 'If they see the movie,' he continued, 'they'll see something that's a pathway to peace and a beautiful coming-of-age story.'
Schnabel told Variety: 'If (Israel and Palestine) don't solve this problem, Israel won't exist anymore, and I don't want that to happen. The people who scream the loudest are not necessarily the most sane.'
Freida has been saying from the time the film was shown in Venice and then in Toronto that she did not look at it as a political film. For her, it was a story of survival and keeping one's dignity intact under the most depressing, humiliating and violent circumstances.
She said when she got the script, her agent urged her to read it the soonest. Though Freida doesn't like the idea of reading on flight, she thought she would glance through the dense script. Before she could realise she had read it in about two and a half hours.
"Both Schnabel and writer Rula unanimously decided that I should do the film," Freida had said in Toronto. Rula guided her to know Palestinian families and arranged for her to spend a couple of days with a family.
Having the writer on the sets and at locations, Freida said, spurred her determination to give her best to the film. "I felt I had to do justice to this amazing woman," she said. 
She told British newspaper The Independent -- after Miral was shown at the London International Film Festival -- that she knew of the Palestine-Israeli conflict from the newspapers but visiting the occupied areas gave her rare insights. 'One of my friends is a lawyer and she knew a lot about the conflict, so I took note of what she said, but until you go there, nobody understands the human side,' Freida said. 'That's when I realised, 'I'm going to leave the politics of this alone and am going to work on the human story'. So whatever I had learnt or knew, I had to unlearn to play this part.'
She also revealed Slumdog director Danny Boyle helped her make an audition tape, and within two days of sending it to  Julian Schnabel she'd got the part.
Freida plays a character in her late teens, many years younger than her real age. Her character is located in an orphanage for the Arab survivors in an Israeli attack. When Miral becomes a teacher, she is caught between the rebellion and the Israeli reaction to it.
She has said that even though Slumdog's gritty scenes had prepared her for a tough new film, she still found the scenes of interrogation of Arab suspects by the Israeli military unnerving. She asked Jabreal if the script reflected the reality and if the beatings were really horrendous. She remembered the novelist saying it happened 'but a lot worse.'
'After we finished everybody came up and said, "Oh my God, that was brilliant and I had Rula sitting right next to me," She recalled in London for The Independent. 'I said, "I don't want to know that was a brilliant scene because that was her life story."'
Arthur J Pais In New York

After 'Razia', Mallika Shrawat reprises 'Munni' act

After Malaika Arora Khan and Katrina Kaif, its Mallika Sherawat's turn to display her sultry moves in a desi-themed item song, which have become the latest craze in Bollywood post 'Munni' and 'Sheila'.

Sherawat, who stars in the Reliance Entertainment and Maruti International's 'Double Dhamaal', directed by Inder Kumar, has shot for a steamy item number titled 'Jalebi Bai'.

The four day schedule of the song was shot at Mehboob Studios, where a lavish set of a casino was created to give the song the right look and feel. "She's got her enticing moves right and is sure to give the Munnis and the Sheilas a run for their money!," a source said.

The song has been choreographed by ace dance master Ganesh Acharya and music is by Anand Raj Anand.

The movie is slated to hit theatres this June.

This is not the only item number from Sherawat this year. Before this number, there was news that the 'Hisss' actress would out-sizzle Munni and Sheila in the item number, 'Razia' for the Salman Khan starrer, 'Ready'.

A candid chat with sensous Veena Malik

Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who climbed the popularity and controversy charts alike with Indian reality show Bigg Boss, says singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan should follow Indian laws and pay taxes, adding that she pays 40 percent of her Indian earnings as taxes.

She was asked: "What was the general reaction in Pakistan and your opinion on Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan being detained in India for FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) violations?"

Veena Malik: Dekhiye hamare mulk mein bahut sari baatein kahin gayi isske bare mein (People said a lot of things). Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Saab is an artist and so he should have been treated with leniency. I disagree. In my opinion, he was let off lightly with just a fine. But the Indian laws are equally applicable to Indians and Pakistanis.

Look at what Salman Khan has gone through for his black-buck case...or Sanjay Dutt... In spite of being Indians, they've faced the full impact of the laws here. I feel happy that the laws are followed so scrupulously in India. Fateh Ali Saab was earning so much money in India. In my opinion, he should've paid his taxes in the proper way.

Q. So you think the hue and cry against his detention was uncalled for?

A. Main aapko ek baat bataaon? (Shall I tell you something?) If a female Pakistani artiste had been similarly detained in India, Pakistani reactions would've been different. Because that was Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Saab, they said, let him go.

If it was Veena Malik, they'd have said where did she get this money from? Mere upar itna kichad oochala jata. I'd have been sullied and damned. I'd like to tell my people: Khuda ke vaste double standards khatam karo. Let's treat men and women equally.

Q. How do you pay taxes in India when Pakistani artistes are not allowed to open bank accounts in India?

A. I paid 40 percent taxes on my earnings from "Bigg Boss". They deducted the tax at source. My money was transferred to me in Pakistan. That's the way to do it. I've never accepted cash for any of my commitments in India. I am clear on this. If I am paying taxes in Pakistan, I'll pay them here as well.

Q. And what are you currently doing in India?

A. I am doing two reality shows. After being on "Big Boss", I got offers from four Indian television channels to host cricket shows. I also got an offer to do the new season of "Fear Factor". But the stunts, particularly those requiring me to eat alien things, were too disgusting for me. So I declined the offer although friends advised me to go for it.

I've worked with a news channel in Pakistan as well. When I got a chance to do a cricket show, I grabbed it. I am having a blast. And when people like Anshuman Gaekwadji and Chetan Sharmaji ask me if I've been doing cricket commentary for a long time... I'm deeply flattered. Because I'm doing this for the first time. I don't think people in any part of the world are as cricket-crazy as in India and Pakistan. As a child, I'd comment on matches from my home as though I was on radio or television.

Q. Any film offers in India?

A. Oh, yes. There was an offer for an item number in a big film. Then I got an offer to do a film with Aftab Shivdasani. But they had their sets ready and they wanted me to join immediately in March. This month I'll sign a few films and there are at least a couple of other reality shows which are almost finalised...I'm supposed to return to Pakistan on April 2.

Hmmm...why do I get the feeling that I won't be returning to Pakistan for a while? (chuckles).

Salman’s revenge on Katrina-Ranbir

The latest buzz in the Katrina-Ranbir love saga is that Salman Khan is the man behind the breakup of the love birds.

According to the media reports, Katrina Kapoor had made a secret and friendly visit to Salman Khan when he was shooting for his upcoming film Bodyguard in Pune.

To avoid the paparazzi, Katrina avoided travelling in a luxury car.

However, Salman Khan this time made sure that the piece of news reaches Ranbir Kapoor and he succeeded too.

Katrina’s secret meeting with ex boyfriend Salman Khan caused a brawl between the love birds that finally led to their breakup.

After the breakup Ranbir came closer to his co-star in Rockstar Nargis Fakhri and the duo is reportedly happy in each other’s company.

Salman too has moved back to his ex flame Somy Ali leaving Katrina all alone.

Playing Silk Smitha not difficult: Vidya Balan

Mumbai, Mar 20 : Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, who essays the role of Silk Smitha in 'The Dirty Picture', says that portraying the southern seductress will not be a difficult job for her.

"I don't think it is difficult to portray a real-life character like Silk Smitha. People know her through her work, through films and songs," Vidya told PTI in an interview.However, the actress said it would be challenging to portray characters of prominent personalities.

"It would be challenging if I play a character based on Indira Gandhi as people know her mannerisms and you can't go wrong for a person of this stature who was a Prime Minister.

She continues to be a prominent person. Even in that case to play Amitabh Bachchan would be challenging," she said.

"With Silk Smitha it is going to be more of my personal interpretation than her impersonation," she added.

Portraying real-life characters is not a new thing for the 'Ishiqiya' girl, who played Sabrina Lal in her previous film 'No One Killed Jessica'.

In Milan Luthria's 'The Dirty Picture', a biopic based on the life and death of Silk Smitha, Vidya would be seen in a complete different avatar, alongside Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah.

The film is an ode to the life of the southern sexy siren Vijaylakshmi, better known as Silk Smitha, and her journey to stardom followed by her sudden demise, the actress said.

Vijaylakshmi reached iconic status as a sex symbol in Tamil cinema. Appearing in over 200 films, the young actor was neck deep in controversies and eventually died at the age of 33. It is suspected that she committed suicide.

"On my part I would do research on her. I have seen her songs and films on south Indian channels. She spelt sex," the 33-year-old Vidya said. Shooting for the film begins next month.

Vidya, who went de-glam wearing loose and ill-fitting shirts in 'No One Killed Jessica', would now be seen in an alluring avatar in 'The Dirty Picture'. However, the actress says she is least bothered about being glamorous or non-glamorous.

"I don't see or define a role as glamorous and non-glamorous. I am getting to play a completely different person and that is what is exciting for me. Glamorous and non-glamorous does not matter to me. The script is the queen. I feel even the saree

Zoya Akhtar pays Rs 1 crore for tomatoes

Zindagi Na Milege Dobara starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Katrina Kaif will the theatres on June 24. It is a film about three friends taking off on a fun filled road trip.

The movie has an elaborate scene with the four stars, Hrithik, Katrina, Farhan and Abhay taking part in the Tomatina festival of Spain where people throw tomatoes at each other.

The Tomatina that takes place in the month of August was recreated for the shoot of the Zindagi Na Milege Dobara. It was shot in Bunyol, Valencia, Spain. 16 tons on tomatoes were used for the shoot and they were flown in from Portugal, as the tomatoes in Spain were not ripe enough for the Tomatina. For the scene 24 tonnes of tomato puree was used. This costs the producers Rs 1 crore.

Zoya says, “Tomatina in Spain is a festival closest to our holi. They play with tomatoes and the world turns red for the day. The energy is infectious and the scene is a visual treat. We had a blast shooting this sequence but it was not all rosy. It was a logistical nightmare for the producer. We shot in the same location where the festival actually takes place and we had to shut down the town for it. The residents of Bunyol were extremely sweet and in turn they celebrated Tomatina twice last year, once for Spain and once for India."

Says Ritesh Sidhwani, producer of Zindagi Na Milege Dobara “To recreate the Tomatina festival and make it look authentic, we had to call for some 16 tons for tomatoes from Portugal, as the tomatoes in Spain were not ripe.”

Kareena, Priyanka carry on the brawl!!

Bollywood actresses Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have decided to carry on with their scuffle.

It all started at the chat show Koffe with Karan when Shahid Kappor’s ex girlfriend Kareena made fun of his current girl Priyanka’s accent.

Well Piggy Chopra did not sit quite on this and reciprocated with same vibes saying that she has acquired her accent from the same place from where Saif Ali Khan got his.

After this, they did meet and hugged each other at an awards function but guess that was just for the shutterbugs to capture some polished pics of the two actresses.

The cold war resurfaced when Kareena Kappor said that she does not think that priyanka Chopra is an actress.

However, Priyanka Chopra appeared little descent this time as she said that she still takes Kareena kapoor as a good actress.

Up Close & Personal with Vidya Balan

Our Aussie stringer Natasha Kaul catches up with the uber-hot Vidya Balan, who is attending the ‘Indian Film Festival 2011 – Bollywood and Beyond’ in Melbourne

Q: Dirty Picture is the second biopic of your career after No One Killed Jessica. What prompts you to take up movies based on 'real life' topics? Does reality cinema offer you more in terms of histrionics?
Vidya Balan: I don't think that biopics prompt me. The scope of histrionics does. There is a film in between which is dramatic thriller... a fictional film called 'Kahani' and is slated for release in June. So, it is not as if I am going after biopics with any specific reason. If the subject interests me, and there is scope to portray a real-life character, I am fine.
Biopics give me a chance to portray real life characters whom I cannot really claim to have understood. Like Silk Smitha! I don't think I understand her in real life, and that is what is exciting for me as an actor. The challenge is to portray a person with whom you do not necessarily identify. However, in 'No One Killed Jessica', Sabrina was seen in the media for years. She fought for eleven long years and today she is counted as a real life hero. I was really excited by the script because the whole nation was aware of the story. There was also unintended humor in the form of witnesses who turn hostile and then there was a humane perspective of what this witness himself went through. So, on the whole it made good cinema.
Now coming to 'Dirty Picture', I do not really know where all this talk of me putting on weight to look voluptuous like Silk Smitha came from. I am not impersonating a person. It is more about the personality that was sensational. It is about how I understand her and interpret her persona. At this point of time I do not really identify with the late actress, though during the course of the movie, I just may. However, I just cannot fathom the way she thought, acted... in other words what made her 'her'.

Q: What prompted you to take up the special appearance in the Malayalam film 'Urumi' and that too for a dance number, otherwise called an 'item song'.
Vidya Balan: My parents always wanted me to do a Malayalam film. I have come close to signing up quite a few times, but in terms of dates things have never worked out. I actually started my career with a movie in Malayalam, which unfortunately was stopped midway because of several reasons. In that way, I can say that 'Urumi' is a gift to my parents. I have also dubbed the movie in my own voice though we actually do not speak the language at home. I was really happy doing it because my mother came to the dubbing studios for the first time. She studied the scene and complimented me for it. That was reason enough to feel thrilled.
Q: You have often said that you'd love to act opposite the Khan brigade of Bollywood. However, most films starring SRK, Aamir and Salman usually have the heroines playing props. In such a scenario, would you mind doing a secondary role in one of their movies?

Vidya Balan: I ready to work with any actor and any director... provided the film and role given to me offer enough opportunity to do something different and exciting. So, I am fine waiting for the right movie to come across before signing up with the Khans of Bollywood.

Q: You have never tried your hand at comedy in your movies with even 'Lage Raho Munnabhai' showcasing you as a serious person with strong beliefs. Do you think comedy is not your forte?
Vidya Balan: I would love to do comedy but such films invariably do not have enough for the girls to do. II am still waiting for the right kind of comedy. Don't forget that I made my acting debut in one of television's well known comedies. Also, I have come across a script that is being put together now. Can't tell you more about it, but once the script is ready, I will analyze it and see if I can fulfill this desire. However, just because I am dying to do comedy, I won't take up any movie. It has to have something that excites me as an actor.
Q: And finally, how would you like posterity to remember you? An actress or a star? And from the earlier lot, who do you think would be your idol? Shabana, Smita Patil, Hema Malini or Waheeda Rehman?
Vidya Balan: I do not think I have any role models. I love all the actors that you named just now. In addition, I also adore actors like Nargis and Meena Kumari. But, I don't think I would like to mention any of them as my role models, though I could be sub-consciously imbibing some of their styles. As for me, well, I would like to be remembered as a 'star actor'. I always wanted to be an actor and I am getting to do what I wanted to do and am most passionate about. It has been a fulfilling journey for me despite the fact that there were several hardships on the way. But, then life is about taking up challenges and succeeding, isn't it?
Source: India Syndicate

Fans gift skirts to Deepika

Deepika Padukone gets unusual gifts from fans. Feels it is a reaction to her raunchy item number
Deepika Padukone gets fan mail delivered to her house on a daily basis. Most of it consists of soft toys, chocolates and greeting cards from fans professing their love for her.



However, this time when she returned from her Aarakshan shoot in Bhopal, the actress was shocked to see nine skirts sent to her! This is the first time she has got such gifts.

Different place

A source reveals, "Usually her fan mail is kept in a separate room. So whenever she comes back from outdoor shoots, she personally sits and reads through each one.

There are times when she's replied to her fan's letters as well. But nothing prepared her for nine skirts!"

The length of the skirts vary. "Some are extremely long, while others are short.  She feels these are reactions to her Dum Maro Dum item number.

Cover-up

While some fans might have liked her sexy look, others want her covered up. The lyrics in the song also refer to the skirt (Aaj mere liye chair khich raha hai, kal meri skirt khichega. Khichega ki nahi?).

Deepika reacts, "I've just come home. It has just hit me ¦ it's all because of Dum Maaro Dum."

Sonam Kapoor: Ranbir's not my friend

The outspoken Sonam Kapoor has lashed out at Ranbir Kapoor. When asked in an interview if she's in touch with RK, the Massakali girl says, "I don't speak to Ranbir anymore. We are no longer friends. He doesn't feature in my life at all. Also I have never had my heart broken by him!" We wonder if the Koffee with Karan fiasco has led her to openly attack the actor in public. The ball's in your court RK.

Chitrangada excited about teaming up with Akshay

New Delhi: Desi Boyz is Chitrangada Singh's first big movie and she is excited to share screen-space with Bollywood star Akshay Kumar.

"The actress is very excited and enthusiastic about the forthcoming schedule of the film. Chitrangada is very inspired by Khiladi Kumar's action image and she is hoping for some great adventure action with Akshay during the schedule of the film," a source said.

The film also stars John Abraham, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone.

Following the footsteps of papa David Dhawan, Rohit Dhawan is making his directorial debut with Desi Boyz, which may release at the year end.

Salman is back with Somy

Is Salman back with his first girlfriend Somy Ali? Rumours doing the rounds seem to suggest that Salman and Somy Ali have been spotted together and were caught bonding discreetly. Should Salman and Somy get married?

Bebo has a new admirer in Imran Khan!

Mumbai: Kareena Kapoor has been often appreciated for her gorgeous looks and beautiful features.

But now Bebo has a new found admirer who has been spell-bound by the exquisite personality of this Bollywood bombshell.
Kareena who is currently working on Shakun Batra’s ‘Short Term Shaadi’ has found a fan in Imran Khan who is captivated by her beauty.

Imran Khan is so stunned by the actress’s ethereal quality that he turned into a photographer. He has been romancing his camera while trying to capture different moods of Bebo on the sets of the film.

Dibakar wanted to see my bare body: Payal Rohatgi

Payal Rohatgi is the latest with claims of the casting couch.
The issue of the casting couch in Bollywood seems to have reared its ugly head, if allegations by actress Payal Rohatgi are to be believed. The actress, who was seen in films like Plan, 36 China Town and Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai, claims that she was propositioned by Director Dibakar Banerjee, to get a role in his much anticipated project, 'Shanghai'.

In a case of reel to real life, Payal Rohatgi said that the Love, Sex and Dhokha director had reportedly dropped by her home and asked her to take her top off. She said, when she refused to do so, he nixed her from the film.

According to the version of events laid out by Payal, she had gotten in touch with the director after introducing herself to him through a message. They kept conversing and soon became friends, with the actress calling him her mentor.

Trouble in paradise apparently occurred when she talked to him about getting a role in the Emraan Hashmi – Abhay Deol starrer film. She was asked to give an audition for an emotionally tough role in the film. Later, Payal claims Dibakar dropped by her house.

Rohatgi said, “Dibakar commented I had gained weight. He asked me to lift my shirt and show him my stomach. I didn't like it. I told him I was in no mood for jokes. But he did not agree."

I'm not a f**k buddy: Payal

Payal Rohatgi
Payal Rohatgi declares she is, "angry and in mood for vengeance," She was recently discharged from a nursing home, where she was treated for depression.

She's been grappling with the decision to bare her mind about her tryst with Dibakar Banerjee. But now she has decided she wants to have her say. In a no holds barred conversation, she reveals her version of what happened between them, during their short four-month friendship.

Payal says a few months ago she sent an SMS to Dibakar, introducing herself and asking to meet him. According to her, since then they've been friends. "You could also call him a mentor." She adds they'd often talk about relationships – his and hers. "I spoke about my problems (split with Rahul Mahajan), and he'd talk about his marriage not working. He advised me to see a psychiatrist from Bombay Hospital, someone whom he sees to discuss his inability to be monogamous and his need for multiple affairs." She admits not minding being agony aunt to him.

Things changed after she auditioned for a role for his upcoming film, Shanghai. "I mentioned to him that I want to act, and asked for a role in his film. He asked me to meet Atul Mongia, his casting director. The scene required me to react to the news about my husband's murder. I think I gave my best because I cried my heart out. After the audition I messaged Dibakar, and he asked me how I was feeling. I told him I was very low because to portray the grief I'd imagined my mother dying." She claims he then offered to come to her house. "He'd been over before and we've hung out but he never misbehaved with me. So, I agreed. When he came, he commented that I had put on weight. I was puzzled. He then asked me to lift my shirt and show him my stomach. I got pissed-off. I told him not joke around as I was feeling low. I said to him, 'Let me be, and please leave.' And he left."

She says after that whenever she tried to call the director, he never took her calls. "After the positive feedback on the day of the audition, I was surprised when the casting director told me that Dibakar and the core crew preferred another girl. I messaged him requesting him to give me the role and that I was ready to do a two-day workshop, and also do a second audition. No revertal, no reply, nothing from this man who'd call me at least 20 times a month," she says in a high pitch. She says this behaviour from 'a friend' devastated her. She continues, "This must have happened to me before. But never from a friend. You can't f**k your buddy, if you are giving her a role!"

What Dibakar has to say... The meeting: Payal contacted me first around March 2010 through many texts and phonecalls of an over familiar nature. She said she wanted to act in meaningful films rather than do item numbers. Upon her repeated insistence I met her at a Business Centre of a Five Star hotel in a business environment.

There I impressed that the ONLY way to act in my film would be to pass a screen test.

Because her texts were flirtatious I clarified in a frank and forthright way – that if I were to ever cheat on my marriage, I would rather have an extra marital affair with a non actor than ask for sexual favours in return for a role as that would really go against my deepest principles. After that there were many calls and texts asking for professional advice. I learnt other directors had got similar calls too. However giving her benefit of doubt I referred her to my casting and workshop director whom she contacted.

The counselling session: After which there were many phone calls where she sought advice on a personal front. Realizing that she was a deeply troubled person I recommended acting teachers, playgroups, theatre workshops and a personal counselor to h er. This counselor was someone I had consulted, during my darkest hours in 2004 when Khosla was not releasing and there had been a death in the family. This is no secret. Many of my friends, colleagues and my wife know about it. This was told to Payal as a way of telling her that all bad patches can be overcome if one is determined.

The screen test: She contacted me in early 2011. I told her to test for Shanghai by contacting my casting director. She insisted on meeting him and me for workshops before testing. I did not meet her in any way during this period though she called me for advice a few times. After testing for the role, she called him and me many times in a disturbed state. Apparently the testing for the role of a bereaved wife had seriously unsettled her. I told her to get on out and meet friends. I was on my way to a colleague's studio and she insisted on coming there, to presumably to talk to me about the test and cheer up. She also insisted that I pick her up. I was unwise enough to accede.

The meeting at her house: When I reached her place, she asked me up as she would take five minutes. I was barely there for a few minutes and my driver can affirm that. Nothing of any sexual, exploitative or suggestive nature transpired – I'm willing to swear in court to that. After which I escorted her to the studio, where an hour-long happy interaction with people present, while I withdrew to work. This is where the conversation about her weight took place! My colleague remembers it! And there was no request to lift her top – but a discussion on the weight of the character she was testing for!

She started texting me shortly after this, asking about the screen test results. I texted her to please check with my casting director, as is my policy. Upon which the texts again became insistent and troubled. This time I took a call as this repetitive pattern of help-anxiety-help was taking its toll. I decided to end communication.

After ending communication: Her texts became angrier, more disturbed.

She called me and my casting director in the middle of the night in an angry state. Then all communication stopped. The screen test cue sheet proves the date is 7th February. Why does one take so long to ask redressal? During this clarification you will note that I have not betrayed the many details of Payal's confidential life that she narrated to me while asking for advice. My cardinal mistake has been to take her aim to act in meaningful roles sincerely.

And in my well-meaningness and well known practice of being cordial and respectful to all who approach me, misjudged her desperation and level of disturbance and the length she's willing to go to damage a well wisher who just happened to give her a screen test and then not find her suitable.

Who is Deepika Padukone's ideal?

Deepika Padukone is undoubtedly one of the hottest youth icons of today and the younger generation, particularly girls and aspiring actresses take inspiration from her amazing success story.

The 'never say die' spirit of a sportswoman, which Deepika has inherited from her father, ace badminton star, Prakash Padukone, is reflected in her approach to work as well, and despite two flops in the form of BREAK KE BAAD and KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY, Deepika is back in the limelight with her sizzling tattooed look in DUM MAARO DUM, that has captured the imagination of the youth and has made DMD an awaited film.


Interestingly, very recently a question was put forth to Deepika by the fourth estate as to who was her ideal woman? And the answer had everyone surprised because it was not any of yesteryear's top actresses but a sportswoman who has done India proud on numerous occasions in the field of boxing that occupied a high place in Deepika's eye.

Yes, we are talking about Mary Kom, the wonder woman from Manipur who has won the world boxing championship five times. So what was it about Mary Kom that impressed Deepika?

Well, according to Deepika, Mary Kom is an ideal for many (especially women) and the reason is because of the way she has managed to maintain a fine balance between her work and her family and has excelled in her career and at the same time given time to her family coming out triumphant against all odds. Deepika added that Mary was worth admiring because after getting married she took a two year break and came back and won the world championship title twice and did not let marriage affect her at all.

Certainly, she may have inherited the sportsman spirit from her father but an ideal like Mary Kom is definitely an inspiration that will drive many others too.

Katrina breaks her silence on Ranbir

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif, who is currently in the news for her alleged romance and break-up with Ranbir Kapoor, says it is just a rumour. (PTI)

Deepika's fixation for tattoos

An actress who belongs to a leading B-Town family has been passing snide remarks about Deepika Padukone's Dum Maaro Dum item number. "What's her fixation with tattoos?" wonders the star after seeing Dippy sport a scorpion tat on her torso.



A source reveals the actress, who ranks among the top, didn't mince her words when it came to reacting to the song. "First it was the RK tattoo, now it's something else. Doesn't she have anything else to showcase?" Ouch! We wonder what Ms Padukone will have to say when she hears this came from someone she adores! Guessing time begins, Dippy.

Katrina has found new confidence

From her break-up with Salman Khan to her link-up with Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif's personal life is constantly under the scanner. The British-born actress says the unrelenting attention does affect her sometimes but she has learnt to cope with the pressures."We are human beings and sometimes it does affect us especially when so much is being said and written that doesn't make sense. But one learns and I have also learnt to cope with it," Katrina told IANS in an interview over the phone from Mumbai.

"I have learnt that media and celebrities go hand in hand and now I don't feel the need to clarify my stance and I am not bothered. Audiences have also become mature and they also understand what is right and what is wrong," added the 26-year-old.

The actress has no films scheduled for immediate release, but will be seen in a new LUX soap ad to promote its new range - Lux Fresh Splash.

This year, her first release will be in June with Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, also starring Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, Farhan Akhtar and Kalki Koechlin. After that she will be seen in Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.

Katrina was introduced into the Hindi film industry with "Boom" in 2003, but the first hit came only four years later with "Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya". Her career zoomed with "Namastey London", in which she teamed up with Akshay Kumar, released in the same year.

Some of of her big box office hits are Partner,Welcome and Singh Is King. Her item number Sheila Ki Jawani from Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan has got perhaps the maximum publicity, but Katrina has also forayed into meaningful cinema with New York and Rajneeti.

Asked whether she is a director's actor, Katrina said: "Every actor is a director's actor. It's the director who helps the actor in bringing the character alive on screen and then there is the script to support. It is part and parcel of the profession."

As her career skyrockets, expectations have also become higher and Katrina admits to some nervousness.

"If you lose that nervousness or anticipation that means you have reached a saturation point which is the worst thing for any actor. For me, it is important that I live up to the expectations of my fans and I don't let them down."

So does Katrina fear failure?

"Fear is something that drives you to do good work and it is important for a person to maintain a positive attitude and keep on doing good work," she said.

With films, endorsements, performances and media appearances crowding her to-do-list, the actress admits she sometimes finds it difficult to cope with the hectic work life.

"Sometimes it becomes difficult to stay calm, cool; and with a busy schedule I do get tired, but it's part of our job. I keep doing things that help me to relax. I do things that rejuvenate me, things that give me extra help," she said.

Marriage will be my next step: Rani

Rani Mukerji
Rani Mukerji had almost disappeared after three big budget back-to-back box office duds, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and Dil Bole Hadippa. But one striking performance in No One Killed Jessica and she's back.

Dressed in just a pair of denims and a T-shirt, yet managing to look as gorgeous as ever, the soon-to-turn-32 star met up with Mumbai Mirror for a heart-to-heart at her plush Juhu Bungalow.

Seems you're back from a hiatus...

(Laughs) Main to yahin thi. I was leading my normal life - going for shoots, travelling, reading. When a few of my films flopped, I came under the radar. Like my achievements, my failure too started to make headlines. It was a personal decision to stay away.

Are you getting the roles you want now? I am getting a lot of dynamic offers. Also, an actor never visualises a film with a filmmaker. It's the other way round. I couldn't have told Sanjay Bhansali 'Chal Black banate hain'. Thankfully, filmmakers still see me in marvelous roles.

How was it when people started writing you off? It was a learning experience. Certain sections of the media wrote me off. But that's how the industry works. You need to keep working till luck strikes back. It happened when No One Killed Jessica came my way. But I still stand by the three films TPTM, Laaga... and ...Hadippa. I enjoyed them all.

There were rumours about you fasting for 40 weeks and leaving the Juhu house for luck... (Laughs) What crap. I can't fast for one day. Why would I fast for 40? Also I didn't leave this (Juhu Bungalow) place for a single day. All meetings for No One Killed Jessica happened here. However, the film has definitely changed everyone's perception.

Everyone is talking about your new, glam avatar... I have always been glam. I showed skin in Ghulam and KKHH also. But I am fitter than before. I toned my body when I played an athlete in Dil Bole Hadippa. And this fitness does add to my body-language and confidence.

In KJo's chat show, Ranveer Singh hinted that you are the Managing Director of Yash Raj?

Do you know he was talking about Madhuri Dixit? And people put two and two equals to five. He didn't mean Managing Director at all when he said MD. I would love to be a Managing Director of a company, but there's no truth in me being one.

Are you getting married? If yes, to who? Aditya Chopra or someone else? I wouldn't like to talk about my relationship. I haven't done it in the past and I don't wish to do it today. If and when I get married, I shall tell everybody.

Is marriage important to you?
Of course. If you want to have kids in our country, you need to marry. And I want kids. It would be abnormal as a woman not to have kids. It's a cycle that I have to complete. The next step in my life would be marriage. I sure hope God doesn't make me spend the rest of my life as a spinster.

Salman to take on Katrina by stripping on Television

Bollywood machoman Salman Khan will soon strip on television to take out his frustration after breakup with Katrina Kaif.

According to the sources, Salman Khan, who has kept mum over his breakup with girlfriend Katrina Kaif, will finally take out his aggression by what he loves to the most- Ripping off T-shirt.

Salman will soon attempt to break the Guinnesse World record of ripping off maximum T-shirts on the television show ‘The Guinness World Records Ab India Todega’.

The show will be launched on television on March 18 and will be hosted by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta.

Earlier, a man has set a World record of ripping of 14 T shirts in one minute.

Salman is said to be the man behind Katrina's sucess and after she left him for Ranbir Kapoor after a long relationship, Salman was left all alone and depressed.

Salman, this is the best way to show the world that you rock even after your lady left you in pain. We wish you all the luck for yuor life ahead.

Age does not matter on screen: Sonakshi

She debuted with much older Salman Khan in Dabangg and Sonakshi Sinha will be seen as the wife of Kamal Haasan, who is 33 years her senior, in Tamil-Telugu director Selvaraghavan's film and says once an actor is in front of the camera, age should not matter.

"Yes, I'm playing Kamal Haasan's wife in Selvaraghavan's film. Why should that be a problem," asked the confident newcomer Sonakshi, who is just 23.

"Once you are in front of the camera, your age should not matter. I never felt like a child while working with Salman Khan (who is 45) in Dabangg and now with Akshay Kumar in Joker. I will be respectful but an equal on the sets with Mr. Kamal Haasan," she added.

And no, Kamal Haasan and Sonakshi are not doing an Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore routine from Hannibal.

"I don't where the speculation started from. No, this film is a complete original. When I heard the script, I was blown away. I'd be very stupid to turn it down, just because the hero, a legend in his lifetime, is much older than me. Aren't we over these trivial matters?

"In real life, age makes no difference in a marriage. On screen too your biological age is of no consequence. I've been acknowledged for being different from my female colleagues. Let me enjoy this difference," she said.

As part of her preparation to feel maturer, Sonakshi has requested the entire crew of Shirish Kunder's Joker in Chandigarh to stop treating her like the baby of the family.

"I'm not letting them treat me with kid's gloves. I've made it very clear that Akshay, Shirish, Farah Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Sanjay Mishra and the entire team are my friends. It's the only way to work," she said.

Sonakshi also intends to spend as much time as possible with Kamal Haasan to get comfortable in his company.

"It's Kamalji I would like to get to know. I need to establish a comfort level with him. Of course, there's a lot of initial nervousness. Naturally. Kamalji is legendary. Acting with him is difficult enough. But to play his wife, I need a lot more guts. But then I've a legend at home," said Sonakshi referring to her actor-politician father Shatrughan Sinha.

Her dad is helping her to get a hang of Tamil and Telugu.

"It is impossible for me to get a grip on Tamil and Telugu in such a short time. My father couldn't speak either language when he did Rakht Charitra. He read out the lines from cue cards. But no one could make it out. He's teaching me how to read the words in Tamil and Telugu without looking like you're reading it," she said.

Sonakshi will also be watching Kamal Haasan's film Hey Rama where the actor was married to Vasundhara Das, at least 25 years his junior, to see the on-screen chemistry between the legendary actor and a much younger co-star.

"But I'm not supposed to be the least ill-matched with him. It's a film that pushes the envelope. I want to do roles that take me ahead as an actor. I am not here to do routine stuff," she said.

Sonakshi is not the least conflicted by the fall-out between her Dabangg producer Arbaaz Khan and director Abhinav Kashyap. In fact, the buzz is, she's been finalised for Kashyap's next as well as Dabangg 2.

"Both Arbaaz and Abhinav are dear friends. I'm glad Arbaaz is turning director. He'll make a terrific sequel to Dabangg. As for Abhinav, I'd love to be part of anything he does next," she said

Shahid: Please forgive me!

Shahid Kapoor has been trying to get back into PC's good books.... unsuccessfully, so far
PS: Maybe an apology would work?
Shahid Kapoor is going all out to woo Priyanka Chopra back into his arms, confirm sources. In fact, when she returned on Friday from her Don 2 shoot in Malaysia, he kept bombarding her with 'miss you' and 'let's work it out' SMSes.



Her absence from his birthday party (on February 25) has affected him to such an extent that he's been sending her flowers and texting her constantly.

Says a source close to the couple, "Their constant fights and arguments led to the break up.

She didn't want to be in town during his birthday. That's why she planned her US holiday around the same time. Hence she travelled with friends who didn't have any connection to the industry.

After that she took off for Malaysia to join the Don 2 unit. It was important for her to take a clean break from her guy."

Shahid, however, hasn't taken the split as well. Realising he is at fault, he's even ready to apologise. But PC is in no mood to forgive just yet.

The source confirms, "When she's in love, there's no holding back. With Shahid, she decided to go that extra mile and make it work.

That said, this hasn't been their first break up, but it's definitely the most painful. At the moment, she's not responding to his calls or messages. But common friends are trying to get them back together."

Who knows? Maybe this on-off jodi will have one more go at it!
A PLAYLIST FOR PC: OUR RECOMMENDATION
Must've Been Love by Roxette
Love The Way You Lie by Rihanna
Apologize by One Republic
Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt
Gives You Hell by All American Rejects
Irreplaceable by Beyonc ©

SONG SHAHID SHOULD BE CROONING TO PC
Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Deepika Padukone is the new Zeenat

Vidya Balan retrospective at Indian film fest

Sydney: The spotlight is on acclaimed Indian actress Vidya Balan at the ongoing 2011 Indian Film Festival (IFF): Bollywood and Beyond, which is screening a special retrospective of her finest films from Parineeta to Ishqiya.

Over over 30 films will be screened at the fest, including 15 Australian premiers. The 10-day festival, which is screened in Sydney (March 9-19), Melbourne (March 11-20), Adelaide (March 22-29) and Auckland (March 24 to April 3), kicked off this week at Hoyts Cinema Paris in the Entertainment Quarter, next to the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the Vidya starrer No one killed Jessica and British producer Leslee Udwin's West is West.

Since making a dream debut in Parineeta, Vidya has mesmerised audiences with her powerful performances.

"The most exciting thing as an actor is to do diverse roles. A film has to be engaging and entertaining as for me cinema is ultimately about hope," said the 33-year-old, who is looking forward to the June release of Sujoy Ghosh's thriller Kahani in which she plays a six-month pregnant woman, and Milan Luthria's The Dirty Picture, based on the life of Silk Smitha, south Indian cinema's ultimate sex symbol.

For Vidya, who has travelled the world, Australia's Gold Coast, known for its sunny surfing beaches, is the favourite locale to shoot. "I had the most chilled out time in Surfer's Paradise. I also enjoy shooting in Toronto, which has a lovely energy with cultural activities all around," she told, recalling the time she had while shooting for Heyy Babyy in Sydney.

She feels the more independent voices Indian cinema embraces, the more universal appeal it will have.

Director Raj Kumar Gupta, on his first visit to Australia, told: "It is a privilege to have No one killed Jessica as the opening film of this festival. The landscape of cinema is changing and how the audience receive the film, connect with the emotions and identify with this journey is important for me."

Australians and Indians have been coming with friends, partners and spouses to the festival, which is showcasing a sizzling mixture of comedy, romance, action and drama - from hardcore blockbuster Dabangg and the critically acclaimed No One Killed Jessica, to West Is West.

Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Abohomaan and Ananth Mahadevan's Marathi film Mee Sindhutai Sapkal too is a part of the bouquet.

As festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange told: "This year we've made a conscious effort to bring you films that eloquently express a new sophistication in contemporary Indian cinema; a hugely exciting seismic, cultural shift that must be shared. The aim is to showcase just how absolutely versatile and unique is our film industry. We have ventured beyond Bollywood to include some of the finest regional films."

The credit for bringing Indian films into mainstream cinemas in Australia goes to Mind Blowing Films, which has also been promoting Australian locations to Indian film producers and directors.

The festival director called on the Diaspora to ditch pirated two dollar DVDs sold at South Asian spice stores and support filmmakers by watching their works on the big screen.

Audiences also warmed to West Is West, a sequel to Udwin's much loved East Is East, which opens in India next month (April).

Udwin, who now lives in Copenhagen, told: "I always knew there was going to be a sequel. People recognise that this film is about their story. It is a crowd pleasing film with a heart and spirit, which makes the audience cry and laugh. It is where comedy and tragedy fit in the same frame, an absolute reflection of life. In fact, I feel there is a trilogy in East Is East."

Also screening is the winner of the Western Union Short Film Competition, Mumbaikar Ganesh by Indian director Collin John D'Cunha.

"Acknowledgment of 'Mumbaikar Ganesh' means a lot to me as I am able to share my work with family and friends in Australia through this festival," said Kush Badhwar, the cinematographer who was born and brought up in Sydney and is now working in Mumbai.

The festival closes with producer-actress Juhi Chawla and director Onir's I Am, an innovative film that explores the issues of homosexuality, prostitution and child abuse.