Karthika to star opposite Akshay?

Karthika in 'Ko'
If sources in B’town circles are to be believed, Karthika, (daughter of yesteryear sizzler Radha), who mesmerised audiences with her debut in Tamil with K.V. Anand’s Ko, will be making her foray into Bollywood with a remake of the same flick.
The young actress is not new to working in different languages. Karthika made her presence felt in Telugu with Josh and Rangam, in Tamil with Ko and in Malayalam with a Santhosh Sivan film.
Though her screen debut in Josh didn’t favour the dusky girl, she was appreciated for her sprightly performance in Ko.
Reportedly, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who watched Ko at a special screening in Mumbai, was impressed with the script and decided to remake it in Hindi.
The hot buzz now is that Karthika’s mother Radha has approached Akshay and asked him if her daughter has a chance of reprising her role of an investigative journalist in the Hindi version as well.
Since Karthika was born and brought up in Mumbai, an added advantage is that she is fluent in Hindi.
Sources suggest that the Khiladi star has given his consent and we can soon expect an official announcement!

Karisma's secrets to healthy living

How the actor lost 24 kilos within six months of childbirth and is now glowing with health. (By Riddhima Seal for Prevention)


Pretty skin secrets: Although I am genetically blessed, I diligently follow a cleansing, toning, moisturising routine. I'm not big on make-up and like to keep it simple. Being happy from within is key to looking beautiful.
Go nuts: Whether as a snack or as part of a meal, almonds are a must in my diet. This is something that has been passed on from my grandmother to my mother and to me. Not only does it give me a radiant glow, it also strengthens me from within. We are family: Bebo (Kareena) is a great source of strength and support. Although we are two very independent individuals, when we are together we giggle and chat endlessly. Samaira and Kiaan are also very fond of their masi and together we are one fun bunch.
With a great line-up of films behind her and a formidable lineage in filmdom to boast of, you'd expect her to be a bit spoilt. Far from it. All Karisma needs is 10-odd minutes to select the clothes she wants to wear for the shoot. "I know my body-type well, and am very sure about what suits me and what doesn't. Keeping it simple and dressing for the occasion is my mantra for looking good," she says. Even as she settles in to get her hair and make-up done, the gorgeous mom of two who is currently high on endorsing healthy living shared with us her secrets of looking fit and fab post-30.


Healthy and Wise:
While I have never been heavy, staying healthy has always been a priority. To adopt a healthy way of life, it is most important to believe that it can and will make a difference. And it comes in a package-exercising well and eating right. With age, I seem to realise this all the more. In my 20s, I could afford to be a lot more ignorant. That was also the time when I was at the peak of my career and my crazy schedules would not let me pay enough heed to the signals, leaving it to the body to do all the repair work on its own. You know how it is when you have a career to handle, the kind of fame and fan following that comes with it, the 'you' gets left out. But now I've slowed down. I take it easy, I live life on my own terms. I do things I really enjoy and in turn my body feels assured and gives me the desired results.


How I lost my post-preg weight
It may be hard to believe it, but I had actually put on close to 24 kilos in each of my pregnancies. While shedding that weight wasn't really easy, not for a moment did I regret it, considering I had really enjoyed both my pregnancies. Though I wasn't too much of a gym person, this time round I had a goal to achieve and diligently followed a gym routine alongside the right diet. I had a personal trainer who put me on a combination of cardio and weights and I worked out regularly all six days of the week.
My diet requirements were taken care of by nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar. Since I was also breastfeeding, she ensured a mix of the right kinds of foods that provided the right nutrition intake, minus the inches. A good mix of proteins, healthy fats, loads of fruits, minimal carbs and lots of fluids featured prominently in my diet. I ate six small meals spread through the day. And within six months, I was back to my earlier weight. Avoiding heavy meals when you are looking at losing weight post delivery is extremely important.


Also, fresh fruits and juices work wonders in keeping you full during this period without adding empty calories. Now that I've achieved my happy weight, I no longer follow a strict diet.
Since I have a very good metabolism rate, all I now do is exercise portion control. What is important is not the quantity of calories but their quality. For instance, if there are days when I have a heavy chicken and roti lunch, I balance it out with a light soup-and-salad dinner. Also, I follow certain principles like never missing out on breakfast. I have to tell you that I have a very strong sweet tooth. There have been numerous occasions when I have finished an entire cake all by myself, but not any longer! I don't deprive myself of those gooey delights (my mouth is already watering), but now I limit it to just a slice. That's being a wise eater.


Motherhood and more
Motherhood completely changes the way you perceive life. While being a mother of two is certainly not easy, very few things in life give you as much of a high as this. Besides, since you also always want the best for your children, I have become more aware of healthy food habits for them. I ensure what is served on the table on a daily basis is high on health benefits. Fortunately, Samaira (my daughter) has already taken to the habit well. She likes her vegetables and wholegrain cereals and I find ways and means of making them interesting for her. For instance, very often I sprinkle a handful of almonds on her salads to make them crunchier and more virtuous. What you eat as a family is actually very important in defining your child's eating habits. Having said that, it's not that she doesn't have the luxury of indulging in her favourite treats like fried chicken, French fries, pizzas and burgers once in two weeks. Considering I am a true blue Kapoor, I too love these foods and indulge in them once in a while when we are out as a family. The key is notdeprivation, but moderation.


Walk your way to happines
High on variety: Since continuous gymming can take a toll on your knees and bones, I have now stopped gymming altogether. Also, since I tend to get bored of the same workout regime, I have now incorporated swimming and walking in my daily regimen, two things that are easy for a working mom like me. What I like most about swimming is that it comes with the benefits of a full body workout and a 45-minute session in the pool helps tone me overall without feeling overstrained.


Walk on
I try walking for an hour every day, be it at the nearby park or in the garden, early morning or late evening. The best thing about walking is that you can continue with your fitness routine even when you are out on a holiday. I love taking long walks even when I am vacationing. Also, I get a lot of my exercise simply by running around with my kids. They keep me on my toes all the time!

Sameera Reddy not an item girl

We are seeing a spate of denials from the heroines. After Tamannah denied her alleged lip-lock with Jr NTR in her forthcoming Tollywood flick Oosaravalli, now it’s time for dusky Sameera Reddy to follow suit. Recently, the T’town rumour mongers broke the news that Sam, the erstwhile sweetheart of Jr NTR, will be seen shaking a leg for an item number in the same film.
Apparently, the duo who had earlier worked in films like Ashok and Narasimhudu, stopped sharing screen space after reports about their romance spread in the media.
The leggy actress, when contacted, denied the rumors and said, “It’s news to me! I am not doing any special song in NTR’s film.” Presently, Sameera is busy shooting for her Tamil films Prabha with Vishal and Vettai with Madhavan.

It's one of the saddest days of my life: Madhuri

Mumbai: Husain's muse recalls her cherished association with the 95-year-old, who she says was a child inside.
Husainsaab leaves back so many memories. The most endearing thing about him was his zest for life. He was a child inside. He would keep telling me, 'Wah, you are my favourite,' like a child. It is one of the saddest days of my life.

M F Husain with Madhuri Dixit after the completion of his film Gaja Gamini
Apart from being a wonderful artist of course, he was such a spontaneous human being. There are so many memories attached to him. Every time he would call me, he would ask 'Hows mother India doing?'

Mother India
After Arin (her first son) was born, he had named me mother India. I have been in constant touch with him. But since the last two years, we could talk only once in two or three months, because he was traveling a lot. Whenever he would call, he would say, 'Where are you? I am here'. And I would say where is this here? You are always on the move, London, Qatar, some other place...
Unique man
What a personality! He was 95 and not once one would feel that he was that old. He had so many goals. He told me that he is keen on making a comedy movie. I would think that when I am 95, will I even have half his energy, if at all I am alive?
He was truly a creative person. I have never heard him complaining or cribbing about anything in life. He would spend most of his time dreaming about what he could create, and what he could do next. That kept him going and gave him so much energy. Truly a unique man.

Husain with Madhuri and Akshaye Khanna on the sets of Mohabbat where he made his debut as an actor
So many memories
He burned so bright and then he went away just like that. My son remembers him very fondly. So many memories, so many memories. I don't know how to put the experience of meeting such a man in words. He had lived for a century, he had seen so much; he had traveled so much, overcome so much.

Life of India
Only thing that saddened him that he couldn't go back to India. Once or twice he mentioned to me that he missed Diwali, Holi and other religious events that happened in India. He would keep saying India is so lovely and I can't see it any more. I think a corner of his heart ached to go back home. He was from Pandharpur and he wanted to go back there too. That's only the saddest thing. Otherwise he lived a full, creative life.
As told to Shubha Shetty-Saha
Fond memories
Reema Rakesh Nath, the producer of Mohabbat (starring Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna) where MF Husain made his debut as an actor, remembers him fondly. "I had to convince Husainsaab to do that scene. He played himself in the film and the scene was an art gallery where Madhuri meets Akshaye.
Husainsaab suggested that all the paintings in the gallery should be his, to lend authenticity to the scene. It was really a huge honour to have him with us."
Kunal Kapoor, who worked in M F Husain's directorial venture Meenaxi: A Tale Of Three Cities says, "He was an incredible man and it was my good fortune that I had a chance to interact with him personally and professionally. You meet a man like him once in a lifetime. His passion, zest and love for life was unparalleled. He will be deeply missed."
Shreyas Talpade, who was approached by MF Husain to play him in a biography, recollects, "The meetings with Husainsaab have been the most unforgettable moments of my life. He took me to the places where he grew up and used to paint film hoardings. He invited me to an Eid party at his ancestral home, where I had one of the best paaya soups with him. I will miss his energy, enthusiasm, passion for life."
"I asked him once why he doesn't wear slippers, and he narrated an incident when he wasn't allowed in a hotel once. So he decided to not to wear slippers at all. He told me that it's natural acupuncture and allowed him to sit on his knees and paint," said Talpade.

Inputs by Mauli Singh

2012 Chevrolet Camaro Gets 45th Anniversary Edition, Face Lift, and 323-hp V-6

The Ford’s Mustang Boss 302 is a track-attacking monster. And now Chevy is actually increasing the standard horsepower in its base V-6 2012 Camaro, from 312 to 323, while maintaining a 30-mpg highway rating.





For the hard-core Camaro community, though, the bigger news is the 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro. While a 45th birthday is less noteworthy than a 50th, who wants to wait another five years? By then, the Camaro will probably be a wheatgrass-electric hybrid. The 45th Anniversary package is available for the top-spec Camaro regardless of engine, and dresses up the car’s exterior with asymmetric hood and trunk-lid stripes, new-design 20-inch rims, a spoiler, and HID headlamps. Inside, the package splatters 45th Anniversary logos all over the place—seats, dash, instrument panel, steering wheel, sill plates—and trims the seats, steering wheel, shift boot, armrests, and center console in red, white, and blue contrast stitching. Disappointingly—but not surprisingly—it offers no performance upgrades. It should, however, look very sharp at the local Sunday-morning car club, alongside owners clad in Camaro hats, T-shirts, and windbreakers, clutching Camaro key chains and Camaro thermoses.

As for that smaller engine, GM’s 3.6-liter V-6 is its workhorse, powering everything from the Cadillac SRX (as of yesterday) to the Buick LaCrosse. The Camaro’s version is now dubbed LFX (in the past it was called LLT), and it makes 323 hp versus last year’s 312. The engine has longer-duration camshafts and an improved head design with larger intake valves. It drops 21 pounds, mostly thanks to a composite (read: plastic) intake manifold and lighter connecting rods, and Chevy says it is still good for 30 mpg on the highway.

On the dynamic front, engineers went to work on the chassis, sorting the stiff ride of the V-8-powered Camaro SS. The new suspension features retuned front and rear dampers, and new solid anti-roll bars front and rear. You know the drill though—we’ll believe it when we drive it.





General Motors was also kind enough to clean up the Camaro’s interior for 2012. Most notably, the deep-dish steering wheel—the bane of people everywhere who like steering wheels—is gone, replaced with Chevrolet’s corporate tiller. The gauges dump the retro font from last year’s car, and the monolithic slab of cheap plastic that used to span the majority of the dash has been replaced with several smaller panels. (We just hope the quality is better.) To deal with the Camaro’s pillbox-inspired visibility problems, Chevy added a standard rear spoiler. Since there will now be absolutely no rearward visibility, a rearview camera system is available; it displays the image on a screen located in the rearview mirror.

If visibility is the only compromise we have to make with the new Camaro—and Chevrolet seems to be trying hard to provide it all in terms of power and economy—then it’s just another welcome sign that the 2010s will be a lot gentler on the auto industry than were the ’70s.

2013 Ford Focus RS

2013 Ford Focus RS

2013 Ford Focus RS

2013 Ford Focus RS

2013 Ford Focus RS

The current Ford Focus RS is a beastly little hatch, piping 305 horsepower through its front wheels, slinging pointy bits at you from every angle, and, of course, not being available for purchase here in the U.S.–and that’s before you even consider the RS500. It looks like the next-gen car could add to the mix with a hybrid all-wheel drive system–and, according to these spy shots, possibly a wagon, shown testing alongside its five-door hatchback sibling.

Though the wagon is not fully decked out in RS gear, it does feature RS seats and a wide central exhaust outlet like the hatch it was spotted with.

A Focus RS Wagon? Well, it would be known as the Turnier in some parts. As the long-roof model in the Focus stable, we’re more familiar with the wagon name. Either way, we doubt we’ll see it in America. Why? Because Americans don’t like wagons, for whatever reason, and even more so because of the price: it should sit around the $40,000 mark, which is beyond the pale for most of us when it comes to a tarted-up Ford.

If the next RS does go all-wheel drive and hybrid, though, our green-eyed monster is likely to rage even more fiercely: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine plus an electric motor could still top 300 horsepower, deliver fuel economy in the mid- or upper-30 mpg range, and offer the same or similar performance to the current RS.

We’re still looking at about a two-year wait until we see the next Focus RS, in hatch, wagon, or any other body style, however. The cars spotted here are development mules for testing near and on the Nurburgring. At CARiD, we have nothing but the highest quality Ford accessories you need to make the new and exciting changes that you desire. OEM or custom Ford parts can always give a fuller look when seeking those new additions you’re after. Beware of imitators-we are truly the “One Stop” for all Ford accessories. We want to make it easy for you. After all, isn’t that what’s important? At CARiD.com, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST

2013 Ford Focus ST

The new Ford Focus ST will debut at the Paris auto show on September 30. The 2013 Ford Focus ST will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2012. The theme name of the new color is ‘Tangerine Scream’, like yellow with more strong and more elegant color.

The new Focus is at last debuting in the U.S., with a 2.0-liter, direct-injected, 160-hp motor and variable valve timing, as well as a five-speed manual. But, the car to wait for is the 2013 Focus ST, which debuts in early 2012.

It gets a six-speed manual with the same EcoBoost (turbocharged) 2.0-liter as the much larger Edge and Explorer and will be good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 hp, which puts it in league with hot hatches like the MazdaSpeed3 and beyond the output of the VW GTI. Ford is also promising a tauter suspension and meatier tires as well as bigger brakes to go with all that horsepower. Expect to pay at least $25,000.