Mausam, Ra.1, Game, Desi Boys, Rockstar, Ready for T-Series

T Series is without doubt India's No. 1 music company and is unmatched when it comes to music quality and nurturing new talent. Being the largest record-label in the country, T-Series has one of the most extensive distribution networks across all entertainment verticals globally and had inked music deals with major corporates.


No wonder then that the music company helmed by India's youngest music mogul Bhushan Kumar is adding more feathers to its already overcrowded cap.

The latest additions to the kitty are Game -- an action film directed by Abhinay Deo and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani starring Abhishek Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut, Sarah-Jane Dias, Boman Irani, and Jimmy Shergill, Ra.1 -- a science-fiction superhero film directed by Anubhav Sinha, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Desi Boys starring Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Chitrangadha Singh, Rockstar, directed by Imtiaz Ali, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri, Salman Khan-starrer Ready produced by Bhushan Kumar, and the much-awaited Mausam, written and directed by Pankaj Kapoor starring Shahid Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor and Pankaj Kapoor himself among others.

Says Ajay Kapoor, Director, T Series, "After the acquisition of the best of front-liner films, the acquisition of Mausam is another step in the right direction for T Series." Here is looking forward to more such acquisitions from India's No 1 music company.

"Ranbir-Ayan film is definitely on..." - Karan Johar

The media has been going hammer and tongs reporting the fallout between Karan Johar and Ranbir Kapoor, soon after two prominent actresses spoke about Ranbir on Karan's popular TV show. Reportedly, Ranbir's father, Rishi Kapoor, was furious and had decided to disassociate from Karan's Dharma Productions. A section of the media even went to the extent of stating that the episode had put the Ranbir - Ayan Mukerji project in jeopardy, which was to be produced by Karan.

Karan refused to issue any statement on this raging controversy. Even Ranbir maintained a stoic silence, neither confirming nor denying if he would star in the Ayan Mukerji-directed project produced by Karan. However, the truth is, the project is very much on, very much happening. "I didn't need to clarify or offer explanations," Karan tells me, "The fact is Ayan's project will take off soon after Ranbir completes BARFI. Ayan and Ranbir are family... there's no truth to those rumors." Meanwhile, Karan is all set to announce a slew of new projects in the forthcoming weeks. Watch this space!

"SRK gave me the canvas I wanted" - Roshan Abbas

Radio Jockey. Television host. Theatre person. Roshan Abbas is wearing a new hat these days, that of a director. For those unaware of what Roshan has been up to, well, he's giving finishing touches to his directorial debut - ALWAYS KABHI KABHI - which is produced by none other than the superstar himself, Shah Rukh Khan. Surprisingly, the project in question doesn't star SRK in the lead, but four new faces - Satyajeet Dubey, Aly Fazal, Giselli Monteiro and Zoa Morani.

It all began while a show in Dubai, featuring SRK and hosted by Roshan, got delayed. "We got talking. He asked me what I was doing and I replied that I was planning to start a film on teens, with freshers enacting pivotal parts. It didn't require the presence of big stars, but it did require a big production house to back it. We met again in India, had our round of discussions on the project and he stepped forward to produce it." Prior to that, Roshan was in preliminary talks with Ritesh Sidhwani and also with the people at Studio 18, but as luck would have it, Roshan's directorial debut was destined to be produced by SRK.

ALWAYS KABHI KABHI is based on Roshan's 1999 play 'Graffiti'. "But it took time to develop it into a full-fledged screenplay. Shah Rukh pointed out two things. One, cinema and play are two different mediums and the written material had to be more cinematic. Two, it had to be contemporary. Also, I'd like to clarify, though the film revolves around teens, it's not inspired by 'Archie'. It actually borrows from real life experiences," Roshan divulges.

Did SRK offer suggestions, give inputs, recommend actors? "But he never imposed his ideas/suggestions," he interrupts, "He'd say, this is what I feel about a particular thing/issue/person, it's up to you to accept it. He gave me the freedom to make the movie I had envisioned and visualized at the outset. He gave me the canvas I wanted," he adds. Was it tough giving shape to his dream? "Not really! Initially, I wondered, will I get the grammar right? Will the cinematographer translate my vision on celluloid? But it wasn't tough. All you need is the right atmosphere to translate your ideas on celluloid," Roshan reveals.

Roshan's dream will unfold on the big screen on 17 June this year. "I have truly enjoyed the experience of making ALWAYS KABHI KABHI. And I wish to continue chasing my dream," he smiles. We're equally sure Roshan, you will have many interesting stories to tell in times to come.

Emergent notices ordered to govt and media in Ranjitha case

The Karnataka High Court ordered emergent notice to the government and the media in connection with a petition filed by Tamil actress Ranjitha challenging the telecast of a video clipping "depicting" her and self-styled godman Nityananda in an obscene act.

Justice B S Patil, who heard the matter, ordered an injunction to 40 news organisations including print and electronic media. An emergent notice has also been ordered.

In her petition, Ranjitha submitted that the video clipping telecast on March 2 last year was digitally manipulated.

She said she was petrified by the operation of TV channels and news organisations, which, she alleged, were telecasting the manipulated clipping of her and Nityananda.

She submitted that most of the programmes aired on Indian televisions "are not original, but copy of programmes aired in the US, which do not require any check and censorship in view of the culture there (US)".

Ranjitha, who was present during the proceedings, said the respondents were taking advantage of censorship and exploiting viewers and petitioners in general by not adopting any measures to curb prevention of any such telecast "which proves that the acts of the said respondents is illegal and unwarranted for".

Ranjitha's counsel Ravi Varma Kumar said respondents had "crossed all borders of obscenity" and such screening will affect sensitivity and emotions of people.

"Action of the respondents is in violation of provisions of law of land as per Information Technology Act 2000 and Indecent Representation of Women Prohibition Act 1986," Kumar submitted and sought a direction to prohibit the telecast of the clipping.

Ranjitha also sought a direction to Information and Broadcasting Ministry to restrain the respondents from telecasting obscene clippings and using any image, statements, reference and news pictures or articles of "scandalous intent".

Aishwarya Rai Sparkles At Oscars, Shimmer Rules Red Carpet

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai added some Indian glamour to the Oscars with an on-trend shimmery number at the 83rd Academy Awards where sequins dominated the red carpet.

The 37-year-old actress sparkled in a bronze Giorgio Armani Prive gown with rows of amber sequins and beaded detail at the waist, while husband Abhishek Bachchan stuck to a traditional black tuxedo.

The actress teamed the shimmery gown with a Jimmy Choo clutch, vintage jewellery and smoky eyes.

Like Abhishek, musician A R Rahman who walked the red carpet with wife Saira, too wore a tuxedo while his partner chose a flamboyant fusion ensemble consisting of a golden sherwani and cigarette pants.

Like Saira and Ash, the shimmer trend was followed by Gwnyeth Paltrow, who wore a gold Calvin Klein number and Halle Berry who stole the show in a nude sparkling number by Marchesa.

Hilary Swank's glistening silver Gucci column gave way to a romantic ostrich feather skirt, while the sparkling bodice of Mandy Moore's romantic Monique L'Hullier dress appeared to have been sprayed on.

Shimmering nude was also an age-appropriate choice for 14-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, nominated for her role in True Grit, who won a Fifties-style dress by Marchesa.

While Celine Dion, wore a full-sleeved silver column dress, Amy Adams added a pop of colour to the red carpet with a sequined navy gown by L'Wren Scott, which she teamed with green accessories.

Other than the sparkle, another major trend was the resurgence of the red carpet favourite, voluminous red gowns.

The bustled creations worn by Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, and Sandra Bullock, were in the same traffic-stopping hue of red. Penelope Cruz too showed off her post-pregnancy bod with a sequined red gown by L'Wren Scott.

And while black remained a popular choice, with famously eccentric British star Helena Bonham Carter opting for it, there were some surprises from Cate Blanchett who wore an lavender Givenchy Haute Couture gown with yellow embellishment, and an unusual purple-burgundy hue seen on both Natalie Portman, in Rodarte, and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce and Gabbana.

WB CM's 'daughter' arrested

Cops nab impostor who duped Mishra family of Rs 2.8 crore from a hotel yesterday

Jogeshwari-based Mishra family, which was duped of Rs 2.8 crore by a girl claiming to be the estranged daughter of West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, found some comfort on Sunday with the news that the impostor had been nabbed. The Amboli police yesterday arrested the 28-year-old from a hotel in Andheri.

MiD DAY had reported ('Deceived of Rs 2.8 crore by WB CM's Daughter', February 5) about how the Mishras a family of four had rented their flat in Malad to Parimeeta Bhattacharya and how, over the course of a year, lent her lump sums against bogus documents and bank papers she showed them.

She duped the family of nearly Rs 2.8 crore which includes their ancestral property, family jewels, house, fixed deposits, insurance, and so on. The well-to-do Mishras are almost bankrupt now, they claim, because of the so-called CM's daughter.

Sanjeev Mishra, son of Kailash and Usha, said, "We lost all our valuables, property, jewellery, near about everything. We are happy that she has been caught and hope to get justice now."

Bhattacharya stayed in the rented house for nearly three years starting 2007 and she defrauded the family over the course of the last year of her stay, by ingratiating herself and impressing them with her spurious credentials.

"She showed us many documents like income tax orders, pan cards, demand drafts, and we believed them to be authentic. She kept taking money from my whole family, coming up with genuine-sounding excuses every time," said Usha.

They had lodged a complaint with Economic Offences Wing, who had then transferred it to the local police station.

And after trying to trace her for two weeks, cops finally caught up with her at the hotel. They revealed that the Mishra family is not the only one that she has led down the garden path she has accepted that she cozened two others to the tune of a few lakhs. Details are not known as police officials refused to share them.

Rajendra Kane, investigating officer, Amboli police station, said, "We arrested the girl on Sunday from a hotel and are investigating the case." She will be in police custody until March 5.

Tom Hooper crowned best director at the Oscars

Tom Hooper has grabbed best director at the Academy Awards for ‘The King''s Speech.’

Hooper was one of 12 Academy Award nominations for ‘The King''s Speech,’ and was up against major Hollywood heavyweights – the Coen brothers, David Fincher, David O Russell and Darren Aronofsky, reports the Guardian.

The 38-year-old worked his way through the ranks of British TV programme-making before establishing himself with the two-part ‘Love in a Cold Climate’ in 2001.

He went on to direct Prime Suspect 6, Elizabeth I and the award-winning Longford, starring Jim Broadbent.

Before ‘The King''s Speech’, his best known feature film was ‘The Damned United,’ the story of Brian Clough''s ill-fated reign as Leeds United manager.

Melissa Leo apologises for the f-bomb at Oscars

Melissa Leo, who grabbed the Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2011 Academy Awards, has apologized for using f-word during her acceptance speech.

Leo, who won the award for her role as the tough-talking mother of two boxers (Mark Wahlberg and best supporting actor winner Christian Bale) in ‘The Fighter’, let the word slip out as she took to the stage, reports the Age.

“When I watched Kate two years ago, it looked so f***ing easy,” the actress said, while referring to last year’s winner Kate Winslet.

She said the word was inappropriate for the occasion.

“There is a great deal of the English language that is in my vernacular,” she added.

'The King's Speech' big winner of Oscar evening

"The King's Speech" and "Inception" tied at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards here Sunday night with four Oscars each, with the British royal drama bagging the big four of best picture, best direction, best actor and best writing while the sci-fi dominated the technical categories.

"The King's Speech", which was leading the Oscar nomination list with a presence in 12 categories, however, picked up the golden statuette in best picture as well as best direction (Tom Hooper), best actor (Colin Firth) and best original screenplay (David Seidler).

Natalie Portman bagged the best actress Oscar for her role in "Black Swan" at the ceremony in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre Sunday night.

Christopher Nolan's "Inception", starring Leonardo Di Caprio, won the awards for best cinematography, best sound editing, best sound mixing and best visual effects.

David Fincher's immensely popular "The Social Network" came close on the heels of the two films as it was awarded in three categories - best film editing, best music (original score) and best writing (adapted screenplay). The movie is based on the founding of the social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits, and is inspired from the 2009 non-fiction book "The Accidental Billionaires".

"In a Better World" from Denmark took the best foreign language film award.

"True Grit", which had 10 nominations at this year's Oscars, went empty handed.

However, films like "Toy Story 3", "Alice In Wonderland" and "The Fighter" won two honours each.

"Toy Story 3", which amassed USD 1.1 billion at the box office in 2010, won the Oscar in best animated feature film. It also picked the award for best music (original score) category, beating Indian music composer A.R. Rahman, who was nominated for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours".

Rahman was also nominated for best song "If I Can Rise" as well, but he missed the Oscar in that too.

"Alice In Wonderland" was given the Oscar for best art direction and best costume design, while "The Fighter" won the honours for Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for best supporting actor male and female respectively.

"Inside Job", which takes a closer look at what brought about the financial meltdown, won Oscar for the best documentary, features at the 83rd Academy Award. The golden statuette was given to Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs for the film.

Director Luke Matheny's "God of Love" was declared the best short film, (Live Action). It is about a lovestruck, lounge-singing darts champion who finds his prayers are answered when he mysteriously receives a box of love-inducing darts.

Oscar for the best documentary, short subjects went to "Strangers No More" by Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon.

Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb and Paul J. Franklin walked away with the Oscar for best visual effects for their work in the much appreciated sci-fi movie "Inception", while Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall got the award for best editing for "The Social Network".

India-born film editor Tariq Anwar was also among the nominees for best editing.

Amir Khan denies 'sleeping with Jordan'

Boxing champ Amir Khan has dismissed reports that he has slept with Katie Price a.k.a Jordan.

Rumours of a romp circulated when the couple giggled and flirted their way through a pre-Oscars party.

However, the 24-year-old boxer went online to clear out the speculation.

"If anything comes out about me and Katie Price being in an Oscars party and spending a night together, it''s not true. I was in bed alone at my own place for 11pm and was up @ 8am to train. Just to make it clear. I didn''t no she was gona be there," the Sun quoted him as saying.

Jordan, divorcing cross-dressing Alex Reid, also went online yesterday to insist she and Khan were just pals.

Monica Bedi Sizzlings begins in Nepal

Thirteen years after she acted in her last film of note, "Tirchhi Topiwale", Monica Bedi, better known as the companion of jailed mafia don Abu Salem, has begun a new innings in Nepal, acting in a new film that could be the mirror image of her own aspirations.

The 36-year-old, whose glamorous looks survived her long ordeal in the past when the Indian government sought her extradition from Portugal along with Salem, and her subsequent stay in prison for passport forgery, starts shooting in a Nepali film, "Parichay", directed by Mumbai-based director Akash Pandey.

On Saturday, soon after she flew into Kathmandu and dumped her baggage in a hotel in Thamel, the prime tourist hub in the Nepali capital, Monica was followed by the paparazzi to an ethnic restaurant in the Lazimpat area where she went to savour Nepali food and culture.

It was in the same neighbourhood that Nepali media baron Jamim Shah, alleged to have close links with underworld king Dawood Ibrahim, was gunned down in broad daylight in February 2010. Bharat Nepali, another mafia hit man who claimed responsibility for Shah's killing, was himself shot dead in Bangkok nine months later.

Monica, whose links with the underworld have remained the subject of unquenched speculation, looked unaware of the gangster history of the area as she smilingly posed for photographers in dark skintight trousers topped by a dark Reebok jacket over a jazzy T-shirt, boots and a pair of large sunglasses.

While refusing to comment on the fake passport charge that landed her in prison in India, Monica was, however, happy to talk about the new celluloid venture that has cast her opposite Nikhil Upreti, Nepal's action hero who last year left the Nepali film industry to carve out a niche in Bollywood.

Much of the shooting will be done in idyllic tourist town Pokhara, where earlier Govinda, Priyanka Chopra and decades ago Dev Anand and Zeenat Aman had flocked to shoot their new films.

In "Parichay", Monica plays a girl from a middle-class family who works in an office but is driven by dogged ambition to become a film star.

It could be the true life story of the girl who was born in a village in Punjab and then taken, as a babe in arms, to Norway by her parents. But at 18, she spurned the staid and respectable life of her parents, who ran a garments store, to return to India to seek adventure and her fortune in Mumbai's tinsel town.

Being made in Nepali and believed to have the investment of non-resident Nepalis, "Parichay" unfolds after Monica meets Nikhil at a dance bar and the two fall in love and marry, only to be parted by her unbridled ambition.

Years later, when both have carved out their own identities they meet again, leading to a twist in the plot.

The rest of the film will also be shot in India and Thailand.

At 43, Madhuri Dixit still casts a spell

You can't be in showbiz and not be visible - but that doesn't apply to Madhuri Dixit. If she ruled the box office in her prime, the soaring TRPs of "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" now prove she is equally saleable when she is a mother of two and spends much of her time being a homemaker in the US.

"We had been trying to get Madhuri as a judge for the past two seasons. She has been known as a dancing diva and who better could we have got for a show which is all about perfect dancing," Ajay Bhalwankar, programming head, Sony, told IANS.

"She has added a lot of freshness to the show and she is an extremely honest judge. In all our four seasons, this season has been the highest TRP earner thanks to Madhuri," he added.

Madhuri's India sojourn is coming to an end with the "Jhalak..." finale set to take place in the first week of March. But her stay has proved that the graceful actor's charm hasn't faded even after 25 years, marriage and a sabbatical.

Ever since she set foot again in India in November last year, she has been hogging the limelight.

The 43-year-old broke many hearts when she tied the knot in 2002 with Shriram Madhav Nene, a doctor based out in Denver, US. Post- marriage, Madhuri featured only in "Aaja Nachle" because she got busy with family and children.

The beautiful actress was after all a rage in Bollywood. Despite her garish clothes and loud makeup, the trained kathak dancer lit up the screen with her million-dollar smile, dance and her performances in "Tezaab", "Ram Lakhan", "Sajan", "Beta", "Dil" and many more.

When Rajshri Productions, which had launched her in 1984 with "Abodh", teamed up with Madhuri a decade later in "Hum Aapke Hain Koun!", they created history by giving Hindi cinema one of its biggest grossers. The audiences lapped up the movie, which ran about a year and earned over Rs.600 million.

Another turning point in Madhuri's career was when Yash Chopra roped her in for "Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and paired her with the king of romance, Shah Rukh Khan. The dream merchant gave her a makeover, presenting her in a stylish manner. The love saga was a box- office bumper and the lead pair repeated the success story with "Devdas".

In 2000, the multiple award-winner became the actress of the millennium. And the Madhuri magic hasn't faded even now.

Rani Mukerji, a successful actress herself, surprised everyone when she lay prostrate before Madhuri on "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4" to show her love and admiration for the diva.

And Priyanka Chopra paid a glowing tribute to her at the Filmfare Awards.

Ravina Kohli, creative head of Yash Raj Films TV, said: "Madhuri definitely has an undying charm. Even after being in the industry for so many years, all she has to do is smile and she takes us back to the same time when she was the number one in Bollywood. This charm of hers will never go because her smile adds a lovely warmth to her personality."

There are many who still want to work with her. From her co-star of many films Anil Kapoor to southern superstar Rajnikanth, she has got offers for movies from many and even shot a commercial for Hindustan Lever.

There was a black patch when Madhuri landed in tax trouble after her name was found in Chitresh Shrivastava's record for a Rs.3-million payment. But it failed to diminish the Madhuri aura.

"She is a a very down-to-earth lady and a great actor to work with. She is very honest. She is the most beautiful actress. She respects those who are good at their work," said makeup artist Bharat, of Bharat and Dorris, who is working with her for a Basmati Rice ad.

Mona Singh, the "Jhalak..." co-anchor, told IANS: "I have hosted a lot of shows before...but this season of 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' is like a dream come true. I was super nervous when I had to face the camera in front of her...but her presence is comforting as she is very encouraging.

"She is a big star, but was humble enough to tell me that she had seen 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin' and that she likes me since then."

A R Rahman's string brokes down at Oscar

A R Rahman missed the Oscars failing to win in both the ‘Original Score’ and ‘Original Song’ category at the 83rd Academy Awards.

He was nominated for his compositions for Danny Boyle’s film ‘127 Hours’.

The ‘Original Score’ award went to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for the film ‘The Social Network’ while the ‘Original Song’ award was clinched by Randy Newman for the song ‘We Belong Together’ in the film ‘Toy Story 3'.

Earlier, in 2009, the Mozart of Madras had bagged both the awards for his composition in the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle.

Katrina gives Anushka lift

Anushka Sharma gets a lift on Katrina's Kaif's chartered flight. Read on to find out how...

Since debuting in Boom (2003), Katrina Kaif has remained more or less aloof from and reserved with other actresses.

That attitude seems to be changing, beginning with Anushka Sharma.

You'd expect the senior actress to snark at the new actress, given that she is slowly but surely trying to step into Sheila's shoes.

Not only was Sharma's last release with Kat's fav actor Akshay Kumar, but the Band Bajaa Baraat girl was boldly trying hard to cosy upto Ranbir Kapoor, in the presence of Kat at a party last month!

Me, too?

On Thursday, the two girls were in Dhaka (Akki and Salman Khan were also present) for the Tri-Nations show (see box). Kat had to rush back to Mumbai to shoot for her YRF film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.

Since no commercial flights were available, she booked a chartered flight for her and members of her staff to fly back. When Anushka heard of it, she hesitantly asked if she could bum a ride. Kat immediately yes."

The YRF factor

Anushka Sharma is a Yash Raj Films protegee (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Band Baaja Baraat) while Katrina has worked in New York, and is now acting in the banner's film opposite Imran Khan.

Presently, they are Aditya Chopra's favourite leading ladies (even Rani Mukerji seems to have taken a backseat).

Up until the plane ride together, they hadn't interacted with each other. But on flight the two girls had a party. They were seen enjoying each other's company, chatting like long-lost friends.

Deepika to do an item number in a Telugu flick Teen Maar

Deepika Padukone is doing an item number in Jayanth C Paranji's Telugu flick Teenmaar which stars Pawan Kalyan. She had also shaken her booty in Paranji's 2009 Telugu film Love 4 Ever. Looks like Dippy is always willing to groove in his movies. Or is it the lure of the greenbucks from down South too?

Ranveer-Anushka go public with their love

Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh go public with their relationship, share liplock at Shahid Kapoor's birthday party, shocking guests

Looks like Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh have decided not to hide their relationship anymore. At least that's what their antics at Shahid Kapoor's birthday bash on Saturday night suggests.

Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma at Shahid Kapoor's party

The pair, who came together, were holding hands, and had their arms around each other for the better part of the night. Later into the night, they burned up the dance floor together.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they are more than "just friends", as they claim. A few glasses of wine later, they threw caution to the wind, and were seen smooching in an uninhibited manner.

Their public displays of affection shocked everyone present, and their devil-may-care attitude was the talk of the town the following morning.

Ek aisa bhi waqt hua karta tha ki...
The pair was last seen together leaving Karan Johar's party at Four Seasons last month. At the time, Anuskha had tried to hide her face from the paparazzi. This time, however, they seemed oblivious to the media, as they were too busy looking into each other's eyes.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali gets net savvy on his birthday

Sanjay Leela Bhansali turned 48 on Thursday with a not-so-quiet lunch with his close friends, associates and assistants, he also decided to change the course of his life.

At 48, SLB turns into a netizen. He is determined to master the commands on the computer at any cost.

Oops!

His birthday resolution is to write his new script on the computer. And never mind if the first ten pages of his proposed next film were lost when the comp-challenged filmmaker punched the 'delete' button by mistake.

For an artiste who sends out no more than two SMSes a week, and that too under duress, getting on the computer would seem like a Herculean task.

Tech unsavvy

SLB is now struggling manfully with the intricacies of the internet, all thanks to his two little nieces who had begun to look at him like a dinosaur for being so ignorant of computer technology. Laughs Sanjay, "I barely know how to turn on my CD player.

I had never touched the computer before. My sister's kids had seriously begun to make fun of me. They said, 'Maama, get onto the net because that technology is on the way to becoming obsolete."

Thanks to his accountant Chetan whom SLB took into confidence, he is very slowly learning to put on the computer and access the internet. "My next script will materialise on the net, no matter what it takes," promises SLB.

And he promises to double his output of SMSes from two a week to four by the end of this year, "About time I moved on with the world."

Bal Thackerays smitten by Madhubala!

Matoshree, residence to Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray resounded with a different noise.

The usual roaring of the Tiger was replaced by the resonance of laughter as joviality marked the place, thanks to Rahul, son of Smita Thackeray who made his career choice in movies and the family went to seek blessings from the Thackeray patriarch.

The Tiger was in his element as he rose to the occasion and blessed his grandson and the young team of his film Raada Rox, Rahul's directorial debut in Marathi cinema. It was a pleasant sight to watch the Sena supremo joke, laugh and share anecdotes from his youthful days with a bemused audience, when he worked as a production assistant in the film industry. "On one occasion while I was busy with my work, Madhubala happened to pass by me.

I was dumbstruck and stared at her like a zombie. That one incident made my day and my work as an assistant worthwhile," recalled the old man of Sena politics, amidst huge cheers and hoots. Balasaheb also gave some cinematic tips to his young grandson and asked him to focus on good editing, meaningful and witty visuals and most importantly audiences' interest. He also took the opportunity to take a jibe at youngsters' fashion sense, mostly emphasising on the 'long locks' look sported by guys today.

The team later shifted to a suburban lounge for the music launch which was graced by Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit. If Balasaheb was a Madhubala fan, grandson Rahul grew up idolising the dhak dhak girl. He says about his idol. "I have always admired her sophistication and her attention to detail in her art. So, naturally I was struck when I first met her but the fact that she graced the function that begins my career was a dream come true. She's a legend and who wouldn't want to cast her?" admitted a smiling Rahul.

Bebo can't part with Saif's private number

Saif Ali Khan has put one of his cellphones into a drawer and thrown the key away. That's right! The Junior Nawab of Pataudi usually gets grouchy and out of reach when he is shooting a film.

The actor, as everyone knows is on a start-to-finish schedule of Aarakshan in Bhopal. And, he doesn't wish to be disturbed. Of course, he still has another cellphone number on which he stays connected with his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, his children-Sarah and Ibrahim and his parents.

Now Bebo is in a dilemma because people who cannot reach Saif are constantly calling her. They want her to part with Saif's private number. The actress knows she can hardly say that she doesn't have Saif's number. Yet at the same time she has been asked by Saif not to give his number away! What will she do?

Adrien is Mallika's Oscar date!

The 83rd Academy Awards is all set to begin in few hours from now. Who is wearing what and who is coming with who is what is on everyone's mind right now.

As far as the Indian presence at the Oscars is concerned, Ash will be walking in with hubby Abhishek. Freida Pinto is slated to the event with beau Dev Patel while Mallika Sherawat is most likely to be there too. We thus thought of suggesting a date for Mallika and we couldn't think of anyone else but Adrien Brody.

Mallika Sherawat attended the 'Women In Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party' at Soho House in West Hollywood, California on Friday, February 25, 2011. The actress who is known to socialize in LA, Hollywood has met the likes of Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek and Quentin Tarantino before. At Friday's event, dressed in vintage, Mallika got to rub her shoulders with this year's Oscar nominee Amy Adams. Mallika revealed, "I was enchanted by Amy Adams!"

Mallika also met the duo who made headlines for their impromptu passionate kiss on Oscar stage at the 75th Academy Awards, in 2003! The gorgeous Halle Berry and the dashing Adrien Brody!

Mallika described Halle as one of the nicest supergirls of Hollywood while Adrien as
dreamy and another famous kisser of Hollywood! Seems like Adrien reminded Mallika of a certain Emraan Hashmi from Bollywood! But going by the number of kissing scenes Mallika herself has done on screen, Adrien seems like a perfect Oscar date for the hot actress! What say Mallika!

Mallika joked about her Oscar outfit saying, "Maybe I'd wear veggies instead as my dress!"

Lets see who scores more on the red carpet: Malllika or Ash!

World Cup: India-England thriller ends in a tie

BANGALORE: This was a game both India and England deserved to lose but in the end it was a tie. If the Indians seemed listless while defending a more than healthy 338, the English after being in a position to spoil the Indian party on a pitch on which the expected demons did not surface, suddenly seemed to have invoked the devil himself. In the end what transpired was the fourth ever tie in the history of the World Cup.

The match swayed like a pendulum. The Indian total of 338, set up by a record fifth World Cup ton from Sachin Tendulkar, looked good enough at the break, more so as the hosts had gone in with two spinners. England captain Andrew Strauss had different ideas as he set about all but obfuscating Tendulkar's knock with his maiden World Cup ton.

Then came the batting Powerplay. Suddenly from an impregnable 280/2 from 43 overs, when Strauss (158, 145b, 18x4, 1x6) and Bell (69, 71b, 4x4, 1x6) were going strong with a 170-run stand off 156 balls, things turned upside down. Zaheer Khan, hit around in his first two spells and held back by Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the Powerplay, got two in two, sending back Bell and Strauss to open up the game again.

Suddenly the Indians were pumped up, as the English middle and late order collapsed. But then two sixes, one each by Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan, both off Piyush Chawla's final over, the penultimate one of the innings, again changed the game. Fifteen had come from that over leaving 14 required from the last to be bowled by Munaf Patel. With number 10 Ajmal Shazad on strike, the match looked to be in India's grasp, but the drama wasn't over by any means. A solid six and some hurriedly run singles brought the equation to two runs off the ball. They got one and the Bangalore crowd, some of whom had left early seeing India's chances all but gone, got what they expected least. A tie!

Before that, the Indians had got most things right. Having decided to play with two spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Chawla, it was important that Dhoni won the toss and allowed his spinners the second use of the pitch. That part went along the script as did the batting, with the top-order firing for the second match in succession. It was even better that the middle-order too got a chance to show their wares and they didn't do too badly either.

Only Tim Bresnan stood up and got noticed among English bowlers. Having dismissed the fortuitous as well as dangerous-looking Sehwag off his fifth ball, Bresnan came back at the death, to keep the Indians from running away to a total in excess of 350. His final analysis of 10-1-48-5 was true reflection of his showing on the afternoon.

No other English bowler went under five an over, with James Anderson in real danger of going for twice that. Every Indian batsman got stuck into him. Tendulkar and Gambhir used his wayward line and length to full effect. That Tendulkar (120, 115b, 10x4, 5x6) picked boundaries even off his better deliveries, ensured that it was not to be Anderson's day.

Once Sehwag (35, 26b, 6x4) had gone, poking at Bresnan for wicketkeeper Matt Prior to bring off a fine one-handed catch diving to his right, the right-left pair of Tendulkar and Gambhir (51, 61b, 5x4) took charge. Without looking in any sort of hurry, the master-blaster milked the bowlers before assaulting them.

The innings wasn't just about Tendulkar and Gambhir though, even if their 134-run second wicket stand set it up. There was also Yuvraj Singh, rightly promoted ahead of Kohli seeing that it was the 30th over, and Dhoni, whose 25-ball 31 went almost unnoticed. Yuvraj (58, 50b, 9x4) wasn't at his fluent best but who knows this knock could well be the launching pad for more to come.

Hollywood stars grace the Red Carpet

THE OSCAR WINNERS...
Best Cinamatography: Oscar goes to Wally Pfister for inception. He thanks master filmmaker Chrsitopher Nolan, says his work has inpired me for 12 years.

Best Art Direction: And Oscar goes to Alice in wonderland - Robert Stromberg and Karen O Hara

HOST
Anne hathaway and James Franco come on stage. Anne says, "I am not nominated. It used to be you get naked, you get nominated! "

It is James' first nomination. He says that he is not nervous and asks do you get money with the oscar? Both wave at their families, Anne's mother and James' grandmother!

Hosts are spoofing all the best film nominees

Hosts James franco and Anne Hathaway spoof inception, say it's confusing.

Next was Social Network and The Fighter.

Then it was the turn of True Grit, The King's Speech and Black Swan.

Franco says he loved Jeff Bridges in Tron!

Two time academy award winner Tom Hanks is the opening presenter.

RED CARPET
Halle Berry is wearing a markeza outfit says "I am a slave of fashion. I love people's intepetation of fashion."

Roberto Benigni and Tom hanks' acceptance speech is voted as best Oscar speeches so far.

Nicole Kidman says it's great to be nominated again, I am wearing Dior and i liked its structure and it's comfortable. I've won Oscar once but not after my marriage, so I want this one". Nicole has been nominated for 'rabbit Hole'.

Christian Bale nominated for best actor says, "It's lovely that our movie has catched attention"

Matthew Mcconaughey, who will be presenting Oscars with Scarlett Johanson, says " I've been nominated twice so my advice to those nominated should just enjoy, this happens only once"

Jennifer Lawrence nominated for winter's bone says " I'm feeling euphoric and honoured".

Natalie Portman says "working on the film was magical, i worked for one a half years on the film". Wearing Tifanny jewellery and purple dress is the last one to enter

Aaron Sorkin nominated for best script for social network says it was a challenge writing this script.

Melina Kunis looks elegant in lavender.

Kate Blanchett grace the carpet in light pink

Scarlet Johansson enters in lacy maroon, rated low on fashion

Anne Hathaway enters in bright red. Is also the host for tonight

Mark Wahlberg enters. He says, "The Fighter will walk away with atleast 2 oscars tonight"

Tom Cooper nominated as best director for king's speech says he didn't think his film would be appreciated this much. I have to pinch myself everyday, says Tom

Robert Downey Jr, who will be presenting awards for visual effects and editing with Jude Law, says all nominees are special.

Danny Boyle says 127 Hours is way different from Slumdog as 127 is a film about one guy in America!

Ashutosh Gowarikar enters with son Kunal says "it's great to be here at Oscars. I wanted Kunal to be here instead of wife Sunita". He is also the member of the academy and for him all 10 Movies are favourite but he is rooting for The social Network and King's Speech..

Abhi Ash enter for Oscars. Ash is wearing brown strapless gown while Abhi is in tuxedo. "This is another part of film fraternity so we are glad to be here" says Ash. Ash is supporting A.R Rahman and her friend Colin Firth.

Sandra Bullock enters in bright red dress

Gwyneth Paltrow, who will be presenting tonight, enters in silver calvin klien dress, .

Resse Witherspoon is in black and white in Valentino like Julie Roberts wore few years ago

Nicole Kidman is in white - too much detail in front, rated low on fashion.

Penelope just had babies a week ago, still looks stunning in bright red.

Hillary Swank enters in silver Gucci strapless with feathers at the bottom; she says "boys don't cry was 11 years ago! It's great to be here"

Steven Speilberg enters with his 14 yr daughter says Hollywood is amazing. Steven say " I ' quite nervous because I am presenting and my wife and daughters will watch this

Helene Bonham Carter dresses conservatively in black in sunglasses - says I want to celebrate films not fashion..

Christain Bale enters with wife

Josh Brolin enters. He will be presenting Oscars with Javier Bardem

Helen mirren enters in a short grey hair in grey dress

Helena Bonham said my children stoop up after watching the king's speech, we are going to sweep awards tonight for the king's speech - I wanted to enhance my bum so the dress!

Celene Dion enters, she will be performing tonight.

Javier Bardem enters with wife Penelope Cruz. Havier says it's helpful for spanish people to be recognized as he is nominated for biutiful

Jennifer Lawrence in bright red was the first one to enter.

We're underway!
After months of controversy and speculation, the wait will finally be over. With movies like True Grit, King's Speech, The Social Network, 127 Hours and The Fighter leading the way in major categories, it's tough to predict who will take away the trophy.

BF worried about Kashmera's 'B-show'?

Kashmera Shah's boyfriend actor Krishna Abhishek reacts to her topless calendar...

Kashmera Shah made it to the news again, when she went topless for a calendar. When we spoke to her boyfriend Krishna Abhishek, who has become a celebrity himself thanks to his acts in Love Lock Up and Comedy Circus, told us yesterday: "I haven't seen the calendar yet. She won't show me all the pictures. So I don't really know how much 'B-show' is there in it. I hope she hasn't crossed her limits. I wouldn't want my family to be embarrassed in any way."

Krishna continued, "Kashmera is known for her sexiness. So I'm sure the calendar will have some sexy pictures of hers, but I doubt she has crossed the line."

Will Deepika annoy Dev again ?

Dev Anand won't take this lying down! Without saying anything directly to the evergreen actor, filmmaker Rohan Sippy is out to antagonise the Bollywood veteran, or so it seems.

News has just come in that the makers of Dum Maaro Dum have made their version of the famous song, picturised on Deepika Padukone. The line will read Not Your Daddy's Dum Maaro Dum." Rohan says, "We will be introducing the song as Not your Daddy's Dum Maaro Dum.

It is just in keeping with the brazen attitude of the song. And the fact that our DMD is meant for this generation. It may be better or worse than the original but it's for today."

Ruckus at Veena's B’day party

I'm here, what else will Veena need on her birthday?" asked Ashmit Patel, who flew down to Delhi from Mumbai only to make the occasion extra special for her.

And him being here must've turned out to be a boon for Veena as the party went on, and from it being a birthday bash, turned into a tough QnA session for Veena. Both Ashmit and Veena were happily answering the posse of questions posed to them by the journos until one of them referred to Veena as " Pakistan ki Rakhi Sawant". And the journalist then went on to ask Veena about her relationship with Pak cricketer Mohammad Asif, and whether she was also involved in the match-fixing controversy. The lovey-dovey duo did what was rather predictable: They decided to cut short that particular interview. Ashmit was also heard saying, "What kind of questions are we being asked?"

And no, they didn't walk out after that, instead both of them continued to give interviews to other mediapersons present there. Sab theek hi chal raha tha, the duo went upstairs to cut the cake, and just then, a verbal (and physical) spat ensued between a bouncer and journalist, whom the bouncer was barring from entering Nyx, the club in Hotel Ramada Plaza, which was the venue for Veena's birthday party. Seeing this, the electronic media decided to boycott the coverage of the event. And suddenly, a second bouncer came in to help his buddy... it was then that the media called the cops. The bouncer was asked to apologise to the journalist, but he refused to do so because the cameras were rolling!

Salman's highest paid actor!

He is still considered Bollywood's enfant terrible. But that doesn't hamper his price. Trade talk is that Salman Khan is the Hindi film industry's highest paid actor at this point.

Our source says, "Actors keep saying that they have stopped charging a price because they are now take home a share in the percentage of profits. The profit-sharing bit is right but actors, especially those like Salman and Akshay Kumar also charge a price and over and above it, they take home a share in the profits." Salman is reportedly charging Rs 17.5 cr for Ready and he is a partner on the project. So he will get a percentage of the profits too.

Salman who is red-hot after Dabangg has allegedly even been made an offer of Rs 30 cr as his price. The share in the profits goes without saying.

Katrina calling Aamir

Exactly a year ago when TOI asked Aamir Khan why he hadn't worked with Katrina Kaif, the actor said, "Katrina is a huge star. But no filmmaker has come forward with a proposal to cast us.''

Now the grapevine says a very established banner did suggest to Aamir that he should team up with Kat. The two even sizzled on a magazine cover a year ago where they reprised the look of the legendary screen couple Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman. Apparently the camaraderie between Aamir and Kat during the photo-shoot was great. Of course since it was just one photograph, so it was no big deal. Aamir knew that when it came to a film things were bound to be different.

The film executive who took the proposal to one of the most powerful men in the Hindi film industry says that the actor was a wee bit hesitant about working with Bollywood's most desirable woman because she was Salman Khan's girlfriend then. And Aamir, who owes allegiance to Salman over all else, wasn't comfortable romancing his best friend's girl on screen.

Our source says, "Now that Salman and Kat have split, Aamir may team up with the Bollywood diva." The same banner is very keen to get this super-hot jodi together. Let's see how quickly this happens.

Read more: Katrina calling Aamir

Saif's learning Sanskrit

Saif Ali Khan has got himself a tutor to learn Sanskrit for his next titled Aarakshan.

We hear that the movie that will see Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan speaking the ancient rich language, has caught Saif a little off guard. While Amitabh on one hand is very proficient in the language, Saif needs to train himself well to speak the language. He doesn't want to sound unconvincing while mouthing the Sanskrit words and sources also tell us that post shooting, he has been talking a couple of hours to brush up on his Sanskrit skills. Way to go Saif!

Amrita Rao dating an NRI surgeon!

The rumours that suggested Amrita Rao was dating Shahid Kapoor can safely be put to rest.

Yes, Shahid has had Priyanka Chopra as his ladylove for quite long now but here's the other side of the story. Amrita has been in a long-distance relationship with an NRI from San Francisco.

Our source said, "Amrita was once in the news for being artist MF Hussain's muse. Later, Bollywood was always abuzz with rumours about Amrita dating different men but most of the rumours fell flat after a point of time.

But this time she seems to have finally found love. Amrita has been dating a certain Neil Kulkarni, an NRI orthopaedic surgeon based out of San Francisco."

In August, last year, the actress was in the midst of her Rajshri Production shoot for Love You Mr Kalakar in San Francisco.

She also participated in promoting a charity event there, during which she apparently met Neil.

They say, Amrita's aunt introduced the two and also told her that he would be the perfect guy for her. Kulkarni works for one of the top hospitals there. According to sources, he too was quite smitten by Amrita.

The source added, "Amrita has tried hard to keep her personal life under wraps. Though it is a long-distance relationship, both Amrita and Neil are trying their level best to keep the romance alive.

Neil made a trip to Mumbai to bring in the New Year with Amrita. But she did not allow the information to go out."

When contacted, Amrita Rao did not revert but her publicist said, "Career is all that's on Amrita's mind and she has no time for love."

Post-Oscar dinner menu revealed

The 1,500 guests invited to the post-Oscar dinner will be treated to scrumptious culinary masterpieces at the Governors Ball.

The stars can pig out on sushi, shrimps, smoked salmon on flatbread with caviar and creme fraiche and black truffle pizza with ricotta and thyme, reports Fox News.

Among the starters prepared by catering company Wolfgang Puck feature 1,200 Kumamoto oysters and 1,500 mini burgers.

An army of 900 staff will be on hand to serve a trio of Wolfgang salads, followed by Dover sole with fennel and olives, vegetable risotto and paella with saffron.

Next up are layers of lemon cheesecake, raspberry cremiex, cassis gelee, Valrhona Ivoire and a 24 Karat chocolate Oscar.

Pastry chef Sheree Yard says pudding is the highlight and denies it''s hard to get the figure-conscious stars to eat.

"They''ve been in their gowns all day long, they''ve been on best behaviour and it''s time to have fun so they eat and they eat and they eat. There''s hardly anything left over."

To wash it all down, 1,200 bottles of Moet and Chandon will be served - 500 of those magnums.

Ash bonds with Dustin Hoffman

She's still one of the best known Bollywood names in Hollywood. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has worked with and met many distinguished luminaries of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles on her trips to Cannes and various other assignments across the globe. But she never got a chance to meet Dustin Hoffman.

On February 20, Ash, who was at the exhibition basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, bumped into Dustin and his son Jake. This was the first time she saw the giants of basketball fight it out in front of her eyes. But most interestingly, this night also saw Ash and Dustin bonding. An eye witness informs, "The two spoke for sometime about movies and global trends and newer market tapping agendas."

The two were also seen cheering for their respective teams and screaming their heads. Now are these two going to be spotted again at the Oscars tomorrow?

Raveena open to work with Akshay

Akshay Kumar's ex-love Raveena Tandon has no grudges of working with him today.

In times when Bollywood stars like Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone can't see eye-to-eye with their ex-flames, it is surprising to know that the ex-girlfriends of Akshay Kumar have no qualms working with him.

Some time back Shilpa Shetty had admitted that she had no problems of working with Akshay Kumar if she got a chance. And now Raveena Tandon who is all set to make a comeback in Bollywood is making similar claims. The actress is open to the idea of working with Akshay Kumar, of course on the excuse that if a 'good script' comes across.

However the question is will Akshay Kumar, who is a Bollywood superstar today, be willing to work with any of his past ladyloves, who are history today?

Deepika to shoot with Hema Malini

Deepika Padukone is super excited. She is set to shoot with Hema Malini who has floored Dips by complimenting her work and looks.

Hema we hear told Deepika that if there is a dream girl in today's generation, then it is she. In fact, very interestingly in Deepika's debut film, Om Shanti Om, Deepika is referred to as the 'Dreamy Girl' in the film, which was an ode to Hema Malini's Dream Girl image. Deepika says, "It is an absolute honour to work with Hemaji. She is so lovely and graceful. She is one of the finest actresses of all times. I'm very excited to learn from her."

Salman in love again ?

Though believed to have sworn to celibacy, as though determined never to let a girl distract him again, Salman Khan has surprised us.

The actor has recently found a female companion who he loves spending time with. Rumour has it that Sallu and British model Hazel are getting close to each other rather well. She took him out for a bike ride in Pune about two weeks ago, post which they spent a lot of quality time together. The weather in that city is such that you can't blame the two, but they have sure become the talk of town in Mumbai.

Salman and Hazel have been shooting together for Siddique Lal's Bodyguard for some time now but sparks flew in Pune only recently, they say. Before and after their shooting schedules, Salman and Hazel would spend a lot of free time with one another.

This comes as a surprise because Salman, whose reputation of having had an impressive line-up of girlfriends precedes him, reportedly wanted to concentrate only on his career post the success of Dabangg. In the past, he had close relationships with Somy Ali, Sangeeta Bijlani, Aishwarya Rai and Katrina Kaif.

He was briefly linked up with Mahek Chahal, Bruna Abdullah and more recently, Kangna Ranaut. But post his "brea-up" with Katrina, the actor chose to doggedly pursue his work and not allow women to distract him.

It seems Hazel is a cute exception to the rule however. Says a source, "Most new girls in the industry get quite intimidated by Salman, but Hazel has not shown any such signs. Salman and she hit it off like a house on fire. It now seems that they are more than just good friends."Hazel and Salman remained unavailable for comment.

Madhuri in Remo's musical

Madhuri Dixit and Remo D'Souza, co-judges of the reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa are now taking their professional acquaintance a notch higher.

Reportedly, Dixit will feature in D'Souza's upcoming song and dance film. When contacted, D'Souza tells us, "It's my dream to direct a musical film, unlike the way we usually define a musical in our Hindi films.

It will be a Broadway styled musical with the characters expressing themselves through song and dance, instead of dialogues. I can't imagine making a musical without Madhuriji. According to me, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun is one of the finest expressions of human aspirations in song and dance. That is the kind of musical I want to do with Madhuri."

I'm accountable to my parents: Priyanka

Her dark comedy " 7 Khoon Maaf" has under-performed at the box office, but Priyanka Chopra is confident it won't lose money as it was not a big budget film.

"We haven't really spent that much on it. No, it isn't an expensive film," said the 28-year-old who enjoys being one of the top actresses in Bollywood.

It wasn't easy for Priyanka to go through seven different looks and emotions in "7 Khoon Maaf", which is directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. On top of it there were all those stories about the intimate scenes with her leading men.

"After seeing the film, I've had people ask, 'Where is the kissing scene with John (Abraham), the love scene with Neil (Nitin Mukesh)?' Did I say there were love-making scenes? The one really lengthy bedroom sequence I have was with Irrfan (Khan) and that was done in a salwar-kameez. It was hardly pleasant. For the love-making sequence with Anu Kapoor, I wasn't even present on the sets," she said.

The near-seduction sequence with Vivaan Shah was also done with a body-double. And Priyanka selected the body!

"The bare back had to be that of a 50-year old woman. My back just wouldn't have worked. I was shown dozens of backs. I finally chose one that I thought would pass off one which I thought could be my back when I am 50. The hardest part of '7 Khoon Maaf' was ageing in front of the camera without props."

There was a lot of improvisation on location of "7 Khoon Maaf".

"That moment when I slap myself in front of the mirror? It wasn't even there in the script! I was supposed to break down in front of the mirror. I suggested I slap myself," said Priyanka, who is sure she cannot get into a role without preparation.

"I am doing 'Agneepath' and 'Barfee' back-to-back. I've set aside time for preparation. I expect a certain surprise element from myself in every role that I play," said the actress who wowed her fans with her performance in "Kaminey" and "Fashion". In fact, the latter fetched her first prestigious National Award.

The recent weeks have not been too easy on the former beauty queen, what with the income tax raid in her house and reports that Shahid Kapoor opened Priyanka's the door to the officials in his shorts.

Commenting on the incident, Priyanka said: "First of all, my maidservant opened the door for the officials. Yes, I did immediately call Shahid because he was the closest to me. My parents were in my other house.

"Shahid is my neighbour. He's five minutes away. He did come to help me out during the raid, as he would've for any other friend. But why would he be in his boxer shorts? I was very angry when I read this.

"The IT officials were very kind. But people who made up such stories were not too kind. I've parents whom I am accountable to when such stories come out," she said.

Rajinikanth’s Warning To Muscular Villain!!

When superstar Rajinikanth takes a decision on few things, no one in the Indian cinema circuit can dare say no to it. Then one can imagine how a muscular villain who is known for his powerful roles will go against him. As expected, even the villain had to tame down before the superstar.

Well, we are talking about Sonu Sood who is playing the lead villain in the new movie ‘Rana’. Sources say this is a period action film which is on the lines of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘300’ and Rajini’s role is on the lines of Gerard Butler. Now, it is heard that Rajini has given a strict instruction to Sonu.

Apparently, Rajini & co want Sonu to tone down his muscles but then Sonu is in a fix since he is doing the role of a very tough cop in Puri Jagannadh’s ‘Buddha’ which requires him to be completely fit. However, the chiseled hunk reportedly said that Rajini is a legend and recalled that he had no intentions of doing negative roles after ‘Dabangg 2’ but the superstar insisted. Sonu quips about what would happen if one says ‘no’ to Rajini.

Vidya Balan, Siddharth getting engaged?

"More women are lost to marriage than floods and famine,'' said a skeptic. Despite constant and vehement denials from the concerned parties, it seems like Bollywood is about to lose some of its best talent to the institution shortly.

Talk is that B-town's most celebrated talent Vidya Balan, who is good friends with Siddharth Roy Kapur, a top film corporation honcho may reportedly get engaged to him.

A top industry source says, "Vid and Sid are close. And in the past weeks they have been spotted spending quality time with each other on two occasions. The first time was when they reportedly stayed back after an awards night in Singapore and more recently when they were photographed in casual attire at a beach destination in India.''

Rumours say that Vidya who is doing some exceptional film work this year may consider getting engaged to Siddharth. There is also talk that the film corporation executive is not comfortable talking about his friendship with the actress because he is allegedly waiting for his divorce to come through.

Vidya's secretary however rubbishes all this talk. Says he, "Vidya has to first know Siddharth well enough to marry him. One doesn't necessarily marry people one is friendly to or has dinners with."

The actress remained unavailable for comment.

Salman didn't throw me out: Kangna

TOI pins the actress down with seven prickly questions...

Charge 1:
Films in which you haven't played an edgy character, haven't clicked.
It would be wrong to say that. Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai did well. But yes, that was more of Ajay Devgn's film.

But how long could I go on playing those whacko characters? I kept getting similar roles but yearned to play other characters and I reached a pint of desperation.

I used to cry and wonder why I was not being offered roles, which could do justice to my talent. I could see that those roles were going to girls who had boyfriends and contacts at the right places. I couldn't make friends.

I was lonely Nobody was even recommending me. Instead of unwinding, I would often be researching drug-addicts or schizophrenics.

Thankfully, times have changed. Today I am in very happy space. I am playing a flirtatious girl in Rascals and Sanjay Dutt's secretary in Dhamaal 2.

Charge 2...
You said nobody was recommending you. But today, Ajay Devgn does.
(Interrupts) That's not true. In fact now, Ajay and I are thinking of not doing films together for two-three years. We are taking a break from each other professionally.

That's how Ajay also feels. We can't make our on-screen chemistry repetitive.

Charge 3...
Its' said that you use names of A-list actors to add to your brand equity.
If I could win so many awards- there are close to twenty lying in my house- without dropping names and without even working with big actors, then why would I suddenly start now? That too at a time, when I am actually doing better for myself.

I suspect sabotage. I know people who bitch about me; they are nice to my face though.

Charge 4...
Salman and you had an issue earlier.
Salman has never had a problem with me. Why doesn't anybody ask this question to Salman? It could be that people misconstrue my introvert nature.

I could never develop friends in this industry. I don't like filmi life and I don't connect to people who say nothing but, 'yeh woh picture kar rahi hai, yeh woh picture nahin kar rahi hai'. Most people are self-obsessed here and can't have a good conversation.

Charge 5...
You have had a wardrobe malfunction more than once at social gatherings. Its' said that you do it for publicity.
I have seen the pictures that were printed. It was definitely not intentional. I would do anything to be left alone.

If nobody believes that, I request the media not to fall prey to my plans. I am too smart. Don't give me publicity.

Charge 6...
You have become a part of Sanjay Dutt's house. You are more close to his wife Manyata than her best friend Amisha Patel is.

If I could be a part of my own household, I would be glad. I haven't gone home for the last three months. How can I be a part of Sanjay Dutt's house and why?

Charge 7...
You gatecrashed at Salman's party in Bangkok and were asked to leave.
I am young, successful and happening. People pay me to attend their parties. Would you close the gates to me if I wanted to attend your party? Salman, who I repeat is a friend, requested me to do a cameo in Ready. Why would I go uninvited to his party?

Mamata's poll express: More bucks for the Bong

For the last two years, Mamata Banerjee's rail budgets have followed a predictable pattern — no hikes in passenger fares or freight rates and wagonloads of goodies for the maanush from her maati, West Bengal. On Friday, with what she will hope is her last rail budget for a while, she added another arrow to her quiver. The goodies this time were almost as much for Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, all poll-bound states, as for her home state.

That's not to suggest that her Bangabandhu avatar was given a rest. Singur and Nandigram, sites of obvious political significance, have been given a metro coach factory and a railway industrial park, respectively. As many as 21 of the new express trains begin and end in Bengal and the state is to get a couple of new lines too.

Kolkata has been promised a suburban rail network along the lines of the one in Mumbai with a Kolkata Rail Vikas Corporation (KRVC) to be set up for the purpose. Other metros will also, Mamata promised, have similar networks in the future. The KRVC is in addition to a major thrust for Kolkata Metro.

But unlike in the past, when she had manifested a single-mindedness that the legendary Arjun would have been proud of, she was willing to accommodate the interests of her allies in the UPA. Whether that comes from a confidence that Bengal is as good as sewn up or reflects a bowing to the coalition dharma that the Prime Minister recently invoked is anybody's guess.

Mamata's tenure has seen the railways finances face a severe crunch, not entirely a result of her populism, and the budget for 2011-12 suggests things aren't going to get much better. The operating ratio for the next year is projected at 91.1%, which means less than one in every ten rupees the railways earn will be available for future investments — a steep decline from just three years ago, when it could put aside about a quarter of its earnings for investments.

Despite the precarious finances, Mamata announced an Annual Plan of over Rs 57,000 crore, the largest ever. The catch is that barely a fourth of this is to be funded from the railway's own funds, the rest coming from budgetary support and borrowings.

As always, she announced scores of new trains and extension of existing ones or increases in their frequency.

Among the new trains were nine new Duranto expresses, three new Shatabdis, four Vivek Express trains to commemorate Swami Vivekananda, four Kavi Guru trains to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and 10 Rajya Rani expresses to connect state capitals to important cities in the same states.

She also promised that AC double-decker trains would start functioning this year on the Jaipur-Delhi and Mumbai-Ahmedabad routes and that a new super AC class would be introduced. No details on this class were available except to say that it would provide improved comfort and features and greater exclusivity, clearly not targeted at the aam admi.

Passengers, she promised, would also now be able to book retiring rooms in advance and use a Go-India smart card for single-window purchase of long distance, suburban or metro tickets through booking counters, vending machines and the internet.

Senior citizen concessions on fares will now be available to those over 58 years of age instead of 60 in the case of women, whereas for men the concession will rise from 30% to 40%.

The rail budget has identified 236 more stations to be upgraded to the Adarsh station category, which implies that they will have safe drinking water, pay-and-use toilets, high-level platforms and better accessibility for the disabled.

On the safety front, Mamata boasted that the accident rate had been nearly halved in the last six years and claimed that unmanned level crossings, which are responsible for many deaths, will be eliminated in the coming year. Anti-collisions devices, she said, would be in operation in 8 of the 17 railway zones, while they are currently in use in just one.

Making a strong pitch for socially desirable projects — those that may not immediately be economically viable but are needed to connect backward areas — the rail minister said all the 114 such projects which were being surveyed would be implemented during the 12th Plan period under a to-be-established Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojna, which will have a non-lapsable fund.

Railway staff got a parting gift from the mantri. Anyone over 50 who is unable to work due to ill health can get a son or daughter a job in the railways. That's not all. As part of a major recruitment drive, the railways, already the world's largest single employer with 14 lakh people on its rolls, will fill up 1.75 lakh vacancies and in the process also give jobs to 16,000 ex-servicemen.

The rail mantri said 700-odd km of new lines are likely to be completed in the current year, a quantum jump over the average of 180 km a year since Independence. Another 1,000 km would be added in the coming year.

Many of these promises might be difficult to keep but Mamata would be hoping that the job of explaining why the targets weren't met will be someone else's and she will be safely ensconced in Writers Building, Kolkata, come February next year.

Homeless New York father finds daughter through Twitter

NEW YORK: A New York City homeless man has been reunited with his daughter after 11 years, thanks to Twitter.

Daniel Morales was given a prepaid cell phone to create a Twitter account as part of a project on homeless people called Underheard in New York.

Three weeks into the project, the 58-year-old decided to use the social networking tool to find his 27-year-old daughter, Sarah Rivera.

The New York Daily News said on Wednesday that he posted his cell phone number, her name and a photo of her at age 16.

She called him the next day. Their reunion was yesterday recorded on WCBS-TV. Morales said he was overjoyed. Rivera said social networking was amazing. Morales lives at a homeless shelter. His daughter lives in Brooklyn.

Would like to be a journalist in the next life: Amitabh

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan said that he would like to become a journalist in his next life.

"It is not possible in this life, but in my next life I would like to become a journalist," said Bachchan, who is currently shooting for Prakash Jha's film, Aarakshan (reservations) in Bhopal.

When asked what he thought of reservations per se, the 68-year-old actor said he simply mouths the lines provided by the director, and didn't have any personal opinion on the issue.

Praising Bhopal, which happens to be his 'sasural' (in-laws' place), he said that people here were very nice and cooperative.

Director Jha said the film was an effort to show how reservations benefit the weaker sections of the society.

360-degree cameras to deepen online Oscar ogling

Celebrity watchers won't need to dress up to feel like they're at the Oscars this year.

For $5, they'll be able to gaze around at whomever they wish, focus in on a dress or a bowtie and watch A-listers brush past them up the steps to the Kodak Theatre — all on the Internet.

And for the first time, viewers will be able to peek at an exclusive after-party called the Governors Ball and watch winners have their name plates engraved and attached to their statuettes.

Half a dozen 360-degree cameras have been set up for the task. Inside each are 11 separate cameras feeding a constant stream of video online.

Viewers can look in any direction with the control of a mouse as the streams are blended together in one seamless video. That means you can glance down at someone's shoes or stare up at the sky. (Unfortunately, rain is again in the forecast.)

Accompanied by about two dozen other fixed-position cameras around the venue, the setup marks the largest online push for the Oscars ever. Imagine about 30 flies on the wall and the chance to flit between them and listen in.

Much of the impetus came from two-time Academy Award-winner John Lasseter, chief creative officer of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios and a member of the Academy's board. Pixar's short movie "Day&Night" and the animated feature "Toy Story 3" are up for awards Sunday.

The home viewer only gets to see a fraction of what goes on at the Oscars, and this was an opportunity to impart the experience of someone attending, Lasseter said.

And no show would be complete without a view of the screaming, jostling paparazzi angling for a shot.

"It is so funny and so insane," Lasseter said in an interview.

Because home viewers will be able to linger on the red carpet longer than the stars, "it's going to give the viewer at home more access to the Oscar ceremony than even people going to the Oscars," he said.

Coverage extends before, during and after the show.

Viewers who do not want to pay $5 will get some features free on the Oscars website for ABC, which has televised the awards show every year since 1976. They include some of the fixed-position cameras on the red carpet and the popular backstage thank-you cam.

Available only for a fee are the 360-degree cameras and access to the Governors Ball.

Also part of the paid access are backstage cameras in a new array of positions, including one that lifts the curtain on what the superstar audience does during commercial breaks. A map of the scene plus camera positions will help users decide where to home in.

Albert Cheng, executive vice president of digital media for the Disney/ABC Television Group, said viewers will get unprecedented access to the ball and other areas that aren't televised on ABC.

"People never used to get to see the stars eat and party," he said. "This is using technology to tell stories. It's going beyond what everybody else has done."

The 360-degree technology comes from BigLook360 LLC, a Dallas-based company that deployed just such a camera to capture the implosion of the Cowboys' old home, the Texas Stadium, last April — from the inside.

The company also deployed one of their cameras at the Emmys, Golden Globes and Grammys for People magazine's website. The Oscars mark the first time multiple cameras will be deployed for live streaming all at once.

"It's like standing next to someone," said BigLook360's CEO and founder, Lance Loesberg. "You're right there."

The initiative is a test of people's willingness to pay for such streams.

The Oscars, with 41 million viewers last year, is usually the second-most watched telecast of the year after the Super Bowl. Commercials during the ABC broadcast are going for an average of $1.7 million per 30 seconds of commercial air time.

Online advertising and the new $5 fees could add to that, although no executives gave a prediction for how many people would sign up. Some have already bought in.

"I don't think any of us are projecting enormous revenues this year," said Ric Robertson, executive administrator for the Academy. "I hope first and foremost it's a satisfying experience. If it's a satisfying experience in Year One, then in Year Two I think it'll sell itself."

The online move is a joint venture between ABC parent The Walt Disney Co., and the non-profit Academy. They will share costs and split the receipts.

A lower-priced $1 offering is also available for Apple Inc.'s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, although those users won't be able to use the 360-degree cameras because those feeds use Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash software, which Apple devices do not support.

"N" photos of 'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood surface online

‘Teen Mom’ star Amber Portwood is no stranger to controversies. She has now become embroiled in a "N" photo scandal.

According to Radaronline.com, a friend has apparently leaked several "N" photos of her online.

The celebrity website has several photos showing the 20-year-old reality star in various states of undress, with the large tattoo of her daughter across her torso clearly visible, reports FoxNews.com.

“Amber fancies herself an old-fashioned pin-up girl. She posed the way she thought a pin-up would,” a source said.

The photos represent the latest controversy involving the reality star.

Portwood was charged with domestic violence in late 2010 in relation to scenes screened as part of the ‘Teen Mom’ show that includes her attacking the father of her 2-year-old daughter.

Lindsay Lohan's necklace theft 'clearly visible on surveillance video'

One of Lindsay Lohan’s friends distracted an employee at a Los Angeles-area jewelry store as she swiped a necklace worth 2,500 dollars, it has emerged.

The person was seen on store surveillance video shopping with the troubled starlet, law enforcement officials revealed.

"Lindsay had removed a necklace of hers that she was wearing when she tried on the necklace in question," the New York Post quoted a source as telling RadarOnline.com.

"As Lindsay was putting her necklace back on, it''s apparent the store clerk was distracted by the male companion that was with Lindsay.

"The video then shows Lindsay and her male friend walking out of the store, all while Lindsay was wearing the necklace," said the source.

"It''s all clearly visible on the video," the source added.

Warren Beatty in awe of Big B?

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan finds it hard to believe that American actor Warren Beatty knows him, respects him and is in awe of him.

The "Bonnie and Clyde" actor met Abhishek Bachchan at a store in Los Angeles, and while the father and son were talking online, he revealed the news to the 68-year-old actor.

"Abhishek informs of his meeting with Warren Beatty at a store in LA, his knowledge and respect for me and my films and his wonder at me still working. Warren Beatty?? Indian Films?? Knows about Amitabh Bachchan and is in ‘awe' ???!!!(sic)," Big B posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com Friday.

"Hmmm … some things not right here!! And he actually asked for Abhishek from the store owner because he knew he was my son !! This is getting weird !! I mean … how would... you know... how does he ... its not possible …you mean he actually (sic)," he added.