Deepika Padukone - before the camera and behind it too!

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) Being in front of the camera as a model and then as an actress has taught Deepika Padukone how to give the right shots, but did you know that the 24-year-old is a keen photographer and always carries her camera.

The actress, who was here Wednesday to announce her association with Sony India's Cyber-shot digital camera range as the brand ambassador, said even though she is not a gadget person, she always carries a camera with her.


'Apart from my mobile phone, I always carry a camera,' Deepika, who came in a copper metallic short dress, told reporters here.


'In fact, it is very important to carry one of these and just capture moments because you never know when, where, what is going to happen and you can capture one of the most beautiful moments and look back at them years later and cherish them,' added the actress.


There is nothing particular that the actress wants to capture. She likes using the camera for anything and everything that excites her.


'I shoot all kinds of things. I shoot people, I shoot if I see something strange or funny. If I find a funny poster somewhere, I shoot that because it brings back old memories,' she said.


Talking about her association with Sony, Deepika said: 'It's (camera) classy, fashionable, sleek, stylish and at the same time very user-friendly and I think these are the qualities that Sony saw in me as a person and I see in them as a brand.


'I eagerly look forward to making a positive contribution to the brand imagery of Cyber-shot cameras and fulfil the expectations from this association,' said Deepika.


She also endorses brands like Levi's Strauss Signature, Kingfisher Airlines, Tissot watches and BSNL, among others.

Masaru Tamagawa, managing director of Sony India, said: 'We were looking for a brand ambassador whose personality could mirror this experience and give it a materialistic form. Deepika is a free spirited, bubbly, young girl who at the same time is extremely talented and a professional.

'The association seemed obvious with so many common factors between Cyber-shot and Deepika which appeal to the youth instantly.'


Tamagawa also revealed that the company will invest Rs.500 million towards marketing activities with Deepika, which include television commercials, print campaigns, outdoor and shop-front display.

Shilpa Shetty visits Ajmer Sharif in a burkha

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, the co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals, visited the Ajmer Sharif shrine wearing a burkha to escape public attention.

'Visited the famous dargah Ajmer Sharif. Yusuf (Pathan) very sweetly arranged everything even the burkha...thank god I wore it,' Shilpa posted on her Twitter account.

However, the burkha was not enough to hide the 34-year-old's identity.

'Thought we had fooled people but the word spread, it was manic but so glad we could visit. (I) have a lot of faith in Faith,' she added.

'I may get married in two years'

Katrina Kaif has replaced Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan as the brand ambassador for Nakshatra Diamonds. On Wednesday, when she launched Nakshatra Vivaah -- an exclusive bridal line -- she also answered questions about her marriage and soon-to-be-released film, Raajneeti

What are your plans for the future? When do you plan to marry?

I may get married in two years. At the same time, two years is long time so things may change.

Life has taught me not to make plans because man proposes and God disposes -- everytime you make a plan, God changes it. I try to live for now and right now I live for my work.

I am young and can do a lot of things for myself. I want to be genuine to my work. You should respect what is given to you.

What does marriage mean to you?

Marriage is special. I think marriage is a time of happiness. It takes a great deal of character and confidence for two people to make such a commitment to each other.

Wedding bells for Nagma?

Popular South Indian actress Nagma (sister of Tollywood actress Jyotika), who appeared in a number of super hit movies like Baasha, Kadhalan, Love Birds, Gharana, Allari Alludu and Major Chandrakanth in all Indian languages including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam, then migrated to Bhojpuri films, will be married this year. The announcement was reportedly made by the actress herself. My marriage will take place this year. I will announce about the bridegroom shortly. There were rumours linking me with director Deepak, Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan and cricket player Ganguly. All these relations were purely business-related. There is no truth in these rumours, the actress reportedly said. Further details are awaited.

Jiah Khan: I wasn't competing with anyone in the bikini shot

Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

After tantalizing audience in NISHABD and GHAJINI, Jiah Khan has gone a step ahead in HOUSEFULL by wearing a two piece bikini for a song sequence. Since the film also has Deepika Padukone and Lara Dutta turning on the glam avatar while being seen in a bikini, one can well expect a healthy competition between the trio, right?
"No, I am sure that was not the case here", immediately negates Jiah, "There was never any competition whatsoever around who would turn out looking better than the other. See, no one is immature out here, least of all someone like Deepika or Lara. They are here for long and everyone understands that people are just playing their roles. Also, the most wonderful thing is that all of us look so different. You may say that I am being diplomatic but if you ask me then if at all there was someone who was feeling nervous, it was me."

And pray, why was that so?

"That's because compared to Deepika and Lara, I am the real short one", laughs Jiah, "While both of them were super confident, I was worried if I would look really proper. See, Lara has been a Miss Universe and has been a professional in the glamour world for long. She is pretty mature about things like these. As for Deepika, she has been a model and worn bikini in the past. Both these females boast of such huge confidence which is remarkable. This is the reason why there was no competition at all. How could I even think that I would be competing with them?"

Kat Faces Sonia Sting!

The political whip has started cracking. And expectedly, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi hasn't taken to it too lightly. Reportedly, Mrs. Gandhi stonewalled a Press Meet of 'Raajneeti' at New Delhi leaving director Prakash Jha rather red faced!

It's been alleged that Madam Gandhi's sycophants alerted her that Katrina Kaif's 'look' in 'Raajneeti' has been acutely modelled on the Congress politico, including her basic sari styling.

Jha… all excited to present viewers with his premier glimpse of 'Raajneeti' realised that… there was a ban on 'Raajneeti' events in public places! Finally, the event had to be convened indoors in a Gurgaon hotel on the outskirts of Delhi!

"I would like Soniaji to see my film," urges Jha in a tabloid chat. "She will know the truth."

Saif -Bebo at Padma AwardsShowing 1 of 7 Photos See All Photos Start SlideshowPrevNext

Patil with actors Rekha Ganeshan, Saif Ali Khan Pataudi and Kareena Kapoor during Padma Awards 2010 function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Photo by Subhav Shukla

On-Spot: Rambha's Wedding

Actress Rambha married NRI businessman Kasi Pilaai Indra Kumar in Tirumala...Click on, for exclusive snaps of the event!