Bebo `censors` sexy scene with beau Saif Ali Khan

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan have reportedly shot an aesthetic love-making sequence in Karan Johar’s Qurbaan that involves more physical exposure and intimacy than perhaps the actress’ censorship instincts allow.

Now, she intends asking director Rensil D’Silva to delete one scene from that sequence in which her bare back is visible.

There is a point beyond which Kareena won’t go for any filmmaker. And ever since Saif and she filmed the sequence, she has been wondering what both sets of parents might think on seeing in. “We are actors and can’t be coy after accepting a film on a bold subject like Qurbaan. I’ve done kissing scenes earlier. But the love-making scene is explicit by my yardstick. It comes at a crucial stage in the narration. And Saif made sure I was comfortable,” said the actress.

Kareena is a favourite of both, the producer and director, and it’s possible that Karan and Rensil might listen to her and have the bare back scene removed. The audience will be the loser. Ah well, there’s always Kambakkth Ishq in case you want to know what Kareena’s back looks like!

Perfectionist’ Hrithik secretly making frequent visits to hospital

Mumbai: According to the latest B-town buzz, superstar Hrithik Roshan has been making frequent secret visits to a hospital during the wee hours of the day.

Our source reveals that there’s nothing to worry about, for the reason of Hrithik’s visits is apparently an upcoming venture of the actor.

Grapevine has it that being a ‘perfectionist’, Hrithik is doing the rounds of the hospital to learn some lessons for he plays an ill man in his next film ‘Guzaarish’, to be directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The actor is making sure that he gets a good idea of how the patients suffering from the same ailment conduct themselves.

Well, such dedication coming from none other than Hrithik is no news, of course!

Kamal Haasan Watches LUCK With Shruti

On Friday night, the legendary Kamal Haasan watched his beautiful young daughter, Shruti, set the screen on fire in the forthcoming Luck. Shruti has already earned rave reviews for the Jee Le and Aazma Luck song promos that are playing on television.

The special preview of the multi starrer was held in Chennai at director Priyadarsan's studio. It was also attended by Shruti, younger sister Akshara and noted south Indian actress and Haasan's girlfriend, Gautami, among others.

Shruti's mother and veteran actress, Sarika, who is based out of Mumbai, was not present at the trial show. Much to the joy of director Soham Shah, Priyadarsan was seen cheering for Shruti all through. On Saturday, another special preview of the thriller was held at Film City in Mumbai. Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi, Celina Jaitly, Rohit Shetty and Mimoh Chakraborty were among those who watched Luck.

'Worrying about TRPs is not my job'

Rajeev Khandelwal has been successful in all his endeavors so far. From television (Kahiin Toh Hoga) to films (Aamir), he's always hit gold. His new serial Sach Ka Saamna promises to be a hit game show, especially with celebrities like Vinod Kambli baring all on the show.

When Rajeev chatted with Rediff readers on Friday, July 17, that was a hit as well. For those who missed the fun, here's what transpired.

Rajeev Khandelwal says, Hi everyone! Here I am. Ready to bare it all.

Usha asked, Well! Your new show really makes one cry as it proceeds.

Rajeev Khandelwal answers, I agree. But the tears are of relief or happiness. Never have I met anyone who's cried because of any pain caused on the show.

aamna asked, Hi rajeev, Your show was very good. But dont you think it will create some problems in participant's personal life?

Rajeev Khandelwal answers, I know it's not easy to answer the truth. And that too in front of millions of people. I do not think speaking the truth will lead to anything negative. In the longer run, the effect should be calming. If not, then it is sad because all our life we are taught to stick to the truth.

shikha asked, hi your new look is good but i think u sud be more chatty wid the participants

Rajeev Khandelwal answers, To be honest, there is not much scope to chat with the participant, because the show gets serious after a while. And I can't be probing or pushing someone into conversations. I will try my level-best though.

dineh asked, If you are on the hot seat of Sach Ka Samnaa then what is chance of your winning Rs1 cr?

Genelia's acting dumb, and she hates it

So far Genelia D'Souza has played girls who have got their acts together and their heads screwed firmly to their shoulders. But that's about to change.

In her next film 'Life Partner', Genelia is cast as a super-dumb broad. And the actress is cringing.

"This chick thinks she knows it all when she's clueless. She doesn't know how dumb she is. She's got loads of money and time and she keeps trying different vocations. For starters she attempts a career in singing and she's a disaster at it."

Playing this scatter-brain was very tough for Genelia. "I'm not the least like this rich pampered clueless chick. And I'd certainly not try my hand at anything I wouldn't succeed in. But this character keeps bumbling from one experience to another. She's a nightmare."

To add to Genelia's woes, her character in Life Partner is hated by one of her favourite actors."Govinda whom I adore detests me in the film. Every time we're together he's snarling and scowling at me. I hated that."

Though there are other lead parts in 'Life Partner', Genelia says she is not worried. "I'm the female protagonist in the ensemble cast."

Wonder where that leaves poor Prachi Desai!

Dia Mirza:The Butterfly Effect

Half a dozen movies in the making and a plethora of off-beat roles, Dia Mirza is all set to give her filmy career a push in the right direction. And for those who thought she was just a pretty face, the sensual, stunning actress is determined to prove her prowess.

Something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world. Chaos Theory.

Dia Mirza could have been a butterfly -- she's out with six new films that are creating quite a flutter, there's a skip in her stride as she flits from point to point in our conversation, and there is an effortlessness to her body language as she holds onto a lime green Roberto Cavalli dress. But before you can build up the pretty picture in your head, she stops to tell you that she's not looking forward to the butterfly stage in her life.

"It's nicer to be a caterpillar. The butterfly's life-span is only a day and I'm in no hurry to get there," she says, breaking out into peals of laughter. Intelligent. Easy. Honest. Who else confirms in full public view that they'd rather stay a caterpillar all their life? But such is the charm of Dia. She doesn't realise that no matter how much she resists, she's breaking out in vibrant colours, her forthcoming films guaranteed to bring back variety into starved multiplexes.

There's Kaun Bola with Arshad Warsi, where she plays a hot-shot fashion editor, and Acid Factory, an action thriller where she stars alongside six male co-stars. Kisaan, based on farmer suicides, and Johnny Mastana with Renzil D'Silva are her other offerings while Alibaug, a romantic drama that's "very close to her heart" is based on her all-time favourite book, Tuesdays with Morrie. And then, there's Fruit and Nut, a madhouse comedy where she's paired with Cyrus Broacha and Boman Irani.

The movies boast of a clear and audible shift in her acting agenda. They're off-beat, different, and they clearly outline the death of the damsel in distress, a role that Dia repeatedly played in the last few years. Right from her debut with Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein to a cluster of average films like Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Deewanapan to popular ones like Parineeta and more recently, Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd,

'Luck' promises death-defying stunts

He became popular right after his hit debut, but his last film 'Kidnap' didn't do him much good. Now Bollywood's latest heartthrob Imran Khan is hoping to hit the bull's eye with the edge-of-the-seat thriller 'Luck', which releases Friday.

The film is important for not only Imran but also director Soham Shah and its debutante leading lady Shruthi Haasan.

Shah, who disappeared after his 2004 directorial debut 'Kaal' was panned by the critics, is back to prove his mettle with 'Luck'. It is also the launch pad of Tamil thespian Kamal Haasan's daughter Shruthi. In short, a lot is riding on the movie.

Packed with death-defying stunts, 'Luck' is being promoted as an adrenaline-pumping, edge-of-the-seat thriller.

It revolves around mafia don Musa (Sanjay Dutt) whose only ambition in life is to revolutionise the betting industry. For him life is a gamble, and what better way to manipulate the odds than play with those with luck on their side.

The gripping saga has a host of characters from different parts of the world, each with Lady Luck in their favour. With millions at stake, how far each of them go in courting danger and deceit is what will lead the narrative to its climax.

The audiences can look forward to some daredevilry by Imran - he has gone underwater with sharks and has jumped from a helicopter on to a burning train.

In fact, while shooting one of the stunts, Imran injured himself, but he is unfazed.

"Shooting an action film can lead to plenty of injuries. The film required a lot of action stunts, jumping, running, kicking, etc. I got to do a variety of stunts. There was an underwater sequence where we had to shoot with sharks and a cage. For that we were trained in scuba diving. Then there was another one where I had to jump on to a speeding train that was on fire and fight on the train - those were exciting," Imran said.

Shah seems to be fascinated with rugged terrains - if he shot his horror thriller 'Kaal' in the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, he went to Namibia to shoot 'Luck' and the final output is said to be a visual delight.

Composer siblings Salim and Sulaiman Merchant have churned

Elvis is Singh! Saif dons the legend's robes for 'Love Aaj Kal'

Was that the late rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley doing the jig in the promotional track of 'Love Aaj Kal'? But why was he wearing a pagri? Take a closer look -- it's our very own Saif Ali Khan.

For his home production 'Love Aaj Kal', Saif has appeared in one of the getups of Rock-n-Roll legend Elvis Presley. He has done so for the promotional track 'Aahun Aahun' which has just been unveiled.

'It wasn't planned this way but things just fell in place. I was in conversation with Dolly Ahluwalia, the costume designer, and we were discussing the retro outfits from the mid-60s. There was just one answer that we got -- Presley,' reveals director Imtiaz Ali who got Saif into the costume.

The song is a twin celebration of sorts since it showcases Saif from both 60s as well as the current times.

A fusion piece that has various flavours of Punjabi, Hindi as well as English coming together not just lyrically but also musically, 'Aahun Aahun' features the 60s Saif as a Sikh singing in Punjabi while the current generation Saif croons in Hindi and English.

'That's the way the entire song was designed,' said Imtiaz.

'Even though 'Aahun Aahun' is a promotional song, we didn't want Saif to slip out of the character. This is the reason why we had different costumes, settings and dance moves designed for both.'

Building on the idea, the team thought of showcasing Saif in a dance competition.

'Once we had the Elvis idea in place, the dance competition too fell in place. There is an elaborate sequence as a part of the song where Saif as a Sikh gets into the Elvis garb with his trademark white outfit. He challenges the modern day Saif in a dancing competition and the result is to see two Saif Ali Khans trying to be one up over the other in the same frame,' Imtiaz said.

The song also features Deepika Padukone in a stunning western outfit.

Pritam has put together the entire Punjabi-English-Hindi composition, while lyricist Irshad Kamil has brought youth flavour to the song. It has been sung by Neeraj Sridhar, Master Saleem and Suzanne.

Imtiaz says that though 'Aahun Aahun' is a promotional track, it won't be killed in the film.

'We can't infuse it unnecessarily as a part of the narrative because it won't make sense,' said Imtiaz.

'However, though it comes in the end credits of the film, it won't be wasted. Just like 'Mauja Hi Mauja' [Jab We Met] which got its due, even 'Aahun Aahun' will have its place under the sun.'

Michael Jackson's death to be treated as murder, says police

Michael Jackson's death is to be treated as a murder and would be investigated as such after an autopsy has shown that the King of Pop died from an overdose of heavy-duty painkiller Diprivan, police said.

Police have told Jackson's family that they will press charges against one or more people within a few days and that there will be a criminal trial. According to thesun.co.uk, the astonishing development was revealed in an interview by Terry Harvey, a long-time friend of the Jackson family.

'The autopsy shows that Michael died of a drug overdose with Diprivan and a range of pills in his stomach. He had needle marks on his neck and all over his body. The authorities have told the family the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are pushing for a criminal charge,' said Harvey.

'It is likely to be second-degree murder, due to the actions which led to his death. They have been assured that someone, or maybe more than one person, will be brought to trial. The family is working with the DEA and Los Angeles Police Department to work out which doctor prescribed Michael these drugs and how far back this serious problem runs,' he added.

Last week La Toya Jackson told the News of the World she knew who had murdered her brother.

Jackson died in Los Angeles June 25. He was 50.

Dev Patel to star in Hindi remake of 'Nadodigal'

Thiruvananthapuram, July 19 : British-Indian actor Dev Patel, who starred in Oscar winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire', could in all probability star in the Hindi remake of Tamil movie 'Nadodigal'.


Addressing reporters here Sunday 'Nadodigal' director Samuthirakkani said that talks with Dev are underway.

'We are hopeful of signing him up for the lead role in the yet-to-be named Hindi remake of 'Nadodigal'. The Telugu remake will go on the floors next month with Ravi Teja in the lead role and we will start shooting the Kannada remake in December with Puneet in the lead,' said Samuthirakkani who will direct all the three versions.

Released last month, the film starring director-actor Sasikumar, Abhinaya, Ananya, Vijay Vasanth, Bharani and Ganja Karuppu is running packed houses at 168 centres in Tamil Nadu.

'The total cost of the film was Rs.7.40 crore. According to the distributors, the film is expected to gross more than Rs.30 crore once it completes 100 days,' said Samuthirakkani.

'Nadodigal', an ode to friendship, revolves around Karuna (Sasikumar), Chandran (Vijay Vasanth) and Pandian (Bharani) - the three youths in a small town who share good camaraderie and their friendship spills over to their respective families too.

The film does carry an appealing message for today's fast paced society.

There are three actresses in the film and one of them is Abhinaya, who is deaf and dumb. But Samuthirakkani says he didn't face any problem while instructing her.

'I had no problem to communicate with her. Her mother assisted us and she has done an excellent role despite her handicap,' said the director.

The film also stars Ananya and Malaysia-based Shanthini.

Three boys die attempting Aamir Khan's 'Ghulam' stunt

Ludhiana, July 19 : Three teen-aged friends in this Punjab town attempted Aamir Khan's 'Ghulam' stunt of out-racing an incoming train to reach a spot in their real life. But they failed and lost the bet, and lost their lives too.


Police said the boys - in the age group of 15 to 16 - had struck a bet to run on the track towards the fast moving incoming train. However, they were run over by the train before they could jump off the tracks in Ludhiana, around 100 km from Chandigarh.

'Kala and Lalu died on the spot while Anees succumbed to his injuries in a hospital. He told police that they had struck a bet to see who could run for the longest duration in front of a running train,' said a railway police official.

'They were in the age group of 15 to 16 years and we are suspecting that the three were running on the railway track under the influence of liquor, due to which they could not react in time.'

The 'Ghulam' train sequence that shows Aamir Khan running on the tracks towards an incoming train had won the Bollywood actor the Best Stunt award. Aamir Khan had himself performed the stunt of the famous 'dus ki daud' sequence.

Asin's word power!!

When it comes to word power Asin's an ace at it! No wonder Scrabble is her favourite game. ''Scrabble is Asin's favourite indoor game. If she has time on hand and is at home you see Asin busy playing Scrabble. She loves to dabble with words,'' said a source.
Scrabble has enhanced Asin's word power.

''The game has made her master new words. Asin is already very good with the English language; Scrabble has only improved it further. She loves playing all sorts of word games and is a pro at them!'' said the source.

Infact not many know that Asin is a master at seven languages. The actress is well-versed with not only the South Indian languages but also French, English, Hindi and Sanskrit. ''Asin was good at languages right since her school days. She used to pick up foreign languages very quickly. It was a talent that she was born with. Infact, she dubs for all her movies herself and does not depend on a dubbing artist,'' said a source.

Abbas-Mustan's 'Italian Job' not a con job

Mumbai, July 17 With Hollywood studios keeping a hawk's eye over the Hindi film industry, Bollywood filmmakers are growing copyright savvy and Abbas-Mustan say that their 'Italian Job' won't just be a remake of the 2003 con-caper but a 'mix n match' of the original film and its remake.

'Italian Job' was originally made by Peter Collinson in 1969 with Michael Caine in the lead. In 2003, director F. Gary Gray remade it with Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Both the original and the remake were big hits.

'Our producer Studio 18 have bought the rights of both the 1969 Michael Caine film and the 2003 film. We're doing a mix n match of 'Italian Job'. We're taking whatever elements we like from the two Hollywood films and putting them together in our own way,' Abbas told IANS.

In the past, Abbas-Mustan have outright lifted Hollywood films like 'Disclosure' to make 'Aetraaz'. Thye put them together without radical changes.

'But this time we aren't doing that,' said Abbas currently scripting the film. 'We want to turn the 'Italian Job' into a total desi film.'

The cast is yet to be decided. But the sources said that the director plans to rope in Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan, Shahid Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh, among others.

Katrina concerned about global warming

Mumbai, July 17 Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, who is riding high on the success of her recent hit 'New York', may not be worried about her career graph, but is sure concerned about global warming.

'Global warming is becoming a very serious issue. It is crippling the world and as individuals it is our responsibility that we make a conscious effort to deal with it in our own little way and make the world a better place to live,' Katrina said in a statement.

Happy Birthday, Priyanka Chopra!

Wish Priyanka Chopra on her 27th birthday!
She is one of Bollywood's leading actresses and turns 27 today. But Priyanka Chopra says she is not a party animal and would like to just have a quiet birthday with her near and dear ones.

Shilpa Shetty, Irfan Pathan on 'Dus Ka Dum 2'

This week, Salman Khan brings together Shilpa Shetty and cricketer Irfan Pathan on 'Dus Ka Dum 2'. The awesome threesome reportedly bonded big time talking cricket, IPL, relationships, and more!
Here are some exclusive pics from this week's episode!

Spotted: Mallika Sherawat in San Francisco

Reader Neepa Garg's brother-in-law Amit Kumar met Mallika Sherawat outside the Twitter headquaters in San Francisco.

'I saw death very closely in Luck'

One of the leading stars in Bhojpuri cinema, Ravi Kissen crossed over to Hindi movies after his stint in Bigg Boss. He will be seen in Soham Shah's Luck, also starring Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti Haasan, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa and Chitrashi Rawat.

He talks to Patcy N about how luck held during his journey from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, to Mumbai.

This is your second innings in Bollywood.

I came to Mumbai in 1990 to try my luck in films. But I did not get any success. My work was appreciated in Tere Naam but nothing happened. So I moved to Bhojpuri cinema. Now, I have got a chance to work in Bollywood again.

I did not think I would get to work in Luck and Mani Ratnam's Raavan. After Shyam Benegal's Welcome to Sajjanpur, I got another film with him, Abba Ka Kuan. I am not only getting to work with big filmmakers but am also getting better roles.

What do you think went wrong the first time?

When I came from my village, I was not very smart. I thought it was more important to survive. But if you sign one wrong film, you go back five years in life. Besides, I did not have a godfather or any help from anyone. So it's natural to make mistakes and fumble. But I have learnt because of this failure. My dreams are coming true now.

I have done 140 films in total -- 100 Bhojpuri and 40 Hindi films. Before I would work in 13-14 films a year but now I plan to do four to six films a year.

Yash Raj Films denies signing Salman Khan

Bollywood's prestigious banner Yash Raj Films has denied reports that it has signed Salman Khan for a movie, saying they are 'completely baseless'.

It was reported that writer-turned-director Vijay Krishna Acharya, whose directorial debut 'Tashan' was produced by the banner, is directing his second film for Yash Raj Films and that Salman would star in it.

'We would like to clarify that this is a completely baseless and incorrect story. Vijay is still in the process of writing his next script for Yash Raj Films. No casting has therefore been done nor has anyone been considered for the same,' stated the banner.

'As and when we do finalise the script and the casting is complete, a suitable announcement will be made,' it added.

Salman, who has worked with almost all the filmmakers in the industry, is yet to be seen in a Yash Raj Films production.

Ouch! Bachchan Bahu turns Karate Kid

These days, Aishwarya is making more news in Tamil film industry. And the reason being her forthcoming projects - Mani Ratnam's bilingual flick RAAVAN and Shankar's ENDHIRAN starring Rajnikanth alongside.
Earlier, she had mastered her enunciation of Tamil so fluently that Superstar Rajnikanth was floored by her Tamil. Now, Ash has topped herself, with yet another achievement; by learning Karate for the film ENDHIRAN.

ENDHIRAN features Rajnikanth and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead and is produced by Sun Pictures. Directed by Shankar, the film required Ash to learn karate in order to perform the stunt scenes well.

Ramesh, who runs a karate school in Chennai for the past 30 years and trained various actors, is coaching the beautiful actress in Karate for the film. According to the sources, since this scene is very important to film, so Ash is being trained in martial arts.

Earlier when Aishwarya learnt fencing for her film JODHAA AKBAR, she had won rave reviews for it; now let's see what wonders will Karate do for the pretty woman!

Imran, LUCK ke liye sab kuch karega...

Aamir and his nephew Imran Khan may have dissimilar nature and temperament otherwise, but when it comes to work trust the Mama-Bhanja to be absolutely similar in treating their professional lives!
While mamu Aamir has been known for his perfectionism and dedication towards work from ages, bhanja Imran is also no less on that front. He will make sure he meets his commitments on time.

We hear, despite the heavy downpour on Tuesday, where every Mumbaiker was rushing to reach their home as soon as possible, our charming actor was on his way to the Famous Studios at Mahalaxmi to shoot for popular TV show 'Sa Re Ga Ma Li'l Champs' in order to promote his upcoming release LUCK, directed by Soham Shah. Not only this, the actor who was down with fever and suffering from cold, even sung 2-3 songs on the request of his fans.

Well we can very well say here 'Jaisa Mama Waise Bhanja!

Amitabh Bachchan reprises his NAMAK HALAAL look

While Amitabh Bachchan's celebrated look in the classic 'Pag Ghunghroo' from the film NAMAK HALAAL is still fresh in our minds, the actor will be seen once again in a similar avatar in Eros International's ALADIN.
Mr. Bachchan will be seen grooving to a peppy number called 'O Re Sawariya' in the celebrated White kurta and Pink Pagadi which he once donned in the film NAMAK HALAAL.

In this sequence, Jacqueline (Jasmine) is trying to woo Riteish (Aladin) while Amitabh Bachchan (Genius) keeps popping into the scene at various points.

Says Director Sujoy Ghosh, ''We had no intentions of repeating his look from NAMAK HALAAL. It is purely a coincidence but it definitely shows how the actor has impacted our minds over the years through his cult performances.''

Talking about the song, Sujoy adds, '''O Re Sawariya' is a fun filled number and Mr. Bachchan has added an extra charm to it with his unique style and unbeatable energy. We had a great time filming this song and I am sure audiences will love it too''.

The song is picturised on Mr. Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandes and choreographed by Bosco Ceaser and Saroj Khan. The soundtrack is by duo Vishal-Shekhar. The costumes for the film are designed by Narendra Kumar.

Packed with fun, music, masti, action and adventure ALADIN boasts of a visual scale never seen before on Indian screen.

Starring Amitabh Bachchan as Genius - The Genie, Ritiesh Deshmukh as Aladin and Sanjay Dutt as 'Ringmaster', ALADIN also marks the debut of Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandes who is paired opposite Ritiesh. ALADIN, produced by Eros International and Boundscript (Sujoy Ghosh) is a contemporary look at the classic fairy tale.

ALADIN is arriving at theatres this Diwali.

Mani's RAAVAN: ZANJEER like moment for Nikhil!

Like the typical Bollywood flick, everybody loves the outsider who makes it big. You know the quintessential rags-to-riches hero sans a celebrated last name, who
gets the hits.

Nikhil Dwivedi's is turning out to be the classic case of the proverbial outsider storming Bollywood without any star system to support him, who had made his debut

with MY NAME IS ANTHONY GONSALVES.

He was noticed for his earnest debut performance, and no less than the genius director Mani Ratnam impressed by his talent, signed Nikhil in his next cinematic vision

RAAVAN, which turned out to be the best gift any actor could get.

To Nikhil's credit, the directors rave about his talent and his attitude, which they are sure will prove his altitude in the Bollywood.

And sure enough Nikhil is not disappointing, as he has already signed on with 4 accomplished directors in their future projects. He has already built on the momentum

that will pitchfork him as the star to look out for in the near future.

As Nikhil strongly believes that all of us are there in a common time zone, in the end, the hardworking people with talent, who are backed by their destinies, will stay.

Well sure looks like Mani Ratnam's RAAVAN can turn a new chapter, that one ZANJEER like moment, which will pitchfork Nikhil as the best young 'Outside' talent

to become deeply rooted in the masses' psyche, like his illustrious predecessors!!

Adhyayan Suman: Mahesh Bhatt is like a drug

Adhyayan Suman isn't shying away from admitting that he was in awe of Mahesh Bhatt throughout the making of JASHNN. He also shares his apprehensions about being the main lead in the film, his relationship with Mahesh Bhatt and how, in spite of a HAAL-E-DIL and a RAAZ - THE MYSTERY CONTINUES behind him, he is looking at JASHNN as the make or break film for himself.
It is said that when all doors close, there is always Vishesh Films for aspiring and promising actors. Did he go through the similar kind of sentiments? Says Adhyayan, ''Yes, I do believe in that. This is one production house which believes in making stars. People are scared of newcomers but not them. They work hard on a new person and make them stars. It is just commendable.''

All cast members seem to be in awe with Mahesh Bhatt, isn't it?

''But then you can't really help it! Mahesh Bhatt is like a drug; he takes you to a different world. Honestly, you can't think of anything else when he is talking. You just go and perform the way he wants. This is exactly what happened to me for those 44 days that I shot for the film. I was quite disciplined on the sets and was very close to him. I used to talk to him all throughout the day. After all there is so much to learn from him; he is 55 and I am just 21. This man has indeed seen life!,'' Adhyayan goes gaga over Mahesh Bhatt.

From the films coming from the house of Bhatts, one expects a fair amount of skin show embellished into the screenplay. ''Yes, there is skin show in the film but in very limited dose. The script required me to have a love making scene with Anjana (Sukhani) and it has turned out well. Thankfully censors haven't objected to that.'' Adds the actor.

And about Anjana's contribution to the film's storyline Adhyayan says, ''Anjana has a important part in the film and the storyline won't move ahead without her. She is just brilliant in the movie.''

After making a mark in RAAZ - THE MYSTERY CONTINUES Adhyayan is eagerly looking at the release of JASHNN as his most important film ever. ''Yes, JASHNN is indeed a make or break movie for me. This is the first time I have got a full fledged role where I have got a platform to showcase my talent. So yes, it is THE most important film for me,'' Adhyayan concludes.

Ranvir Shorey's amusing incident with Tangra kids

Recently, the whole unit of upcoming film TINA KI CHAABI was in Tangra to shoot for this very important sequence. The director Amit Saxena was so particular that he insisted in having the real locals of Tangra to make the crowd scene look authentic. The production was more than happy to hire the locals which included both Kids and adults who in return were very mesmerized by the whole idea of shooting for a Bollywood film.
Apparently, the kids of Tangra were very sporty and energetic and actor Ranvir Shorey got along very well with them as they danced, singed and chatted together. However a source close from the unit reveals, ''After pack-up, the locals saw Ranvir leaving in his car, they instantly rushed and locked the gate not letting him to go. We all thought their actions were as a result of emotional reasons but it was only later that we discovered that the locals felt Ranvir was running away without paying them their due. Luckily at the right time, a production guy intervened and made them realize that production people were sitting inside to pay them and everyone had a hearty laugh about the whole episode.''

Director Amit Saxena laughed and said, ''It was really funny to witness and I was tempted to stand with the crowd and incite them so that the situation got a little more agitated. But soon the production came and rushed to Ranvir aid and got the situation under control.''

Kareena will be part of 'Race 2': Saif Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan was so keen to revive the 'Race' magic with Abbas-Mustan that he has convinced the producers to rope them in as directors. He reveals that girlfriend Kareena Kapoor will also feature in the movie.

"They understand the pulse of the plot. 'Race' was a fast-paced action-adventure caper. Not too many filmmakers in Bollywood would've done such a wonderful job of it," Saif told us.

"Yes, Kareena will be part of 'Race 2'. We're yet to flesh out the details. But 'Race 2' has to be bigger and larger than 'Race'. Otherwise no point in making it," he added.

Bipasha Basu's character has been written out of the script to make way for Kareena.

Produced by Tips Industries Ltd, 'Race', which also had Akshaye Khanna, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, turned out to be one of the big hits of 2008. But for the sequel, Ramesh and Kumar Taurani were not keen to have Abbas-Mustan on board as directors.

But Saif has convinced the producers to launch part two with the director duo.

Apparently "Race 2" will be more gadget and gizmo-friendly, as upwardly-scaled as 'Dhoom 2' was, compared to 'Dhoom'.

I inherited flair for dramatics from my mom: Kirron Kher

Kirron Kher lost her mother Diljit Thakar Singh recently. She remembers Singh as a vibrant and spirited woman of many talents and says she has inherited her mother's taste in clothes, jewellery and flair for dramatics.

Singh died in Chandigarh June 25. She was 84.

"She died of a cardiac arrest. The last time I spoke to her in Chandigarh was on June 18 when it was her birthday," Kirron told us.

"I wish I was with her, but no regrets. My mother wouldn't have liked it. She was a vibrant woman of many talents. She was a painter. My brother, who passed away suddenly five years ago, inherited her talent for painting. My younger sister Kanwal inherited my mother's dexterity at the game of badminton. And I got my mother's flair for dramatics."

If Kirron wanted she could have been a badminton champ.

"But that mantle was passed to my sister. Do you know, my mother and sister played badminton together at a state level tournament when my sister was 11? My mother was excellent at everything she did. She was a perfectionist, and not one of those parents who think their children are the best. If I wore slippers to go out, she'd reprimand me and wonder why I wasn't wearing high heels.

"She was a very elegant dresser. At 5 feet 7 inches, she had the height to look royal in everything she wore. She had the most exquisite sari and jewellery collection. I think I've inherited her taste in clothes and jewellery."

Kirron's mother was also a connoisseur of cinema and Urdu poetry.

"And I'm not talking about just Indian cinema. She was interested in world cinema. She ordered journals on world cinema at home in Chandigarh. And she didn't miss a single film. We had a maid who looked after us three children. Every weekend my mother and maid would go for films," she said.

Kirron's mother played a small part in recent film 'Mummyji'.

"It wasn't really a part. The director Pammi Somal wanted my parents to walk through a shot, which they did. There was no acting involved," said the actress who earned rave reviews for her performance in critically acclaimed movies 'Sardari Begum' and 'Khamosh Pani'.

"My mother was with me when my son Sikandar was born. She was the first one after me to hold my son. My mother was always at the forefront of anything she did. A friend of mine said she must be as spirited in afterlife as she was in this life. I don't doubt that," said Kirron who featured in the recently released film 'Kambakkht Ishq'.

Katrina's 25th birthday a family affair in London

Katrina's 25th birthday a family affair in London
Katrina Kaif has many reasons to smile. First her recent release 'New York' became a huge success and now comes her birthday, which the British-born actress will celebrate with her entire family in London.

"I'm celebrating my birthday this year with my entire family, all my sisters who have flown down from all over, my mom who's flown down from Chennai and my brother who's a professional rock climber," Katrina, who will turn 25, told us through SMS.

"I was supposed to spend a long holiday with them last year during Christmas and New Year in London, but I had to cut my trip short because of my work schedule. So this year I'm specially taking time out for them and we are going to Italy for a family get together. I haven't had a break in almost two years, so I'm looking forward to this," added the actress.

Last year her birthday bash turned ugly when beau Salman Khan picked a fight with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. So this year Katrina is celebrating her birthday away from tinsel town.

She is just six years old in the industry, but has found a firm foothold.

Katrina's first break in Bollywood was Kaizad Gustad's 2003 'Boom'. Though the film was a flop, people started noticing her and offered her roles and one of them was Ram Gopal Varma's 2005 film 'Sarkar'. She had a small role as Abhishek Bachchan's girlfriend, but made her presence felt in the film, which was a Mumbai underworld interpretation of Mario Puzo's 1969 novel 'The Godfather'.

Katrina's big success came in the form of 2008 super hit film 'Namastey London' and she continued her winning streak with 'Apne', 'Partner', 'Welcome', 'Race' and 'Singh Is Kinng'.

Subhash Ghai's 'Yuvvraaj' disrupted it, but only for a brief period, as Katrina bounced back with the commercial and critical success of Kabir Khan's 'New York', a film about 9/11.

According to film critics, with big banners, huge fan-base and several brand endorsements, Katrina is currently one of the most sought after actresses in the Hindi film industry.

"Katrina has evolved immensely as an actress. In Bollywood, actors are mostly known for the number of hits they deliver. Katrina has won hands down in that respect. She can undoubtedly be called a lucky mascot for her producers," said popular film critic Taran Adarsh.

Mumbai-based film critic Anupama Chopra says there are high expectations from Katrina even this year.

"Katrina has had a fortunate choice of films" even though she "had a rather unfortunate start with 'Boom'. She is a stunning looking actress and so far she is doing well with her glam doll image. We did see glimpses of an actor in her performance-oriented roles in 'Namastey London'," said Chopra.

Her basket is full of good roles - she will be seen in films like 'Blue' starring Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt, Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' and Priyadarshan's 'De Dana Dan' yet again starring Akshay. She is also doing the female lead in Prakash Jha's political drama 'Rajneeti'.

Katrina is one of eight siblings. Her mother is British and her father is from Jammu and Kashmir who has since acquired British citizenship.

The actress spent her formative years in Hawaii but later moved to London.

Yash Raj Films to Launch New Female Face

Shazahn Padamsee

Like they launched Anushka Sharma with RNBDJ, Yash Raj Films is set to launch one more female face Shazahn Padamsee alongside Ranbir Kapoor with yet to be named venture to be directed by Shimit Amin. The director claim to fame with his last film Chak De India with YRF productions.

She is a daughter of renowned theatre personality Alque Padmasee and pop singer Sharon Prabhakar. The girl has already walked the ramp before and acted in dad Alque Padmasee’s play Unspoken Dialogues. To grab the role Shazahn gone through auditions conducted by YRF. Previously it was assumed that Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan will act together in the film. But according to reports only Ranbir has been signed for the movie.

Bollywood news: Priyanka Chopra Down on Health Records

The actress whose three films - Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee, Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminey and Jugal Hansraj’s Pyaar Impossible - are ready to hit theaters back to back, has visited hospital a couple of times due to health problems. Well off course the reason is her overwork.

Currently on her high, Priyanka Chopra, who bagged ten awards in her kitty during last six months don’t want to take any risks, so is restricted to mum Dr Madhu Chopra’ diet only. She even carries food to hotels she often visit seeking special permission to allow her mom supervised food.

“My immune system has just gone a bit haywire,” says Priyanka.

How this happened? Well, it’s because she is playing 12 characters in What’s Your Rashee which drawn away her energy. However the actress proudly claims that she is the only actor in the world of cinema who has attempted as many as these number of characters in one film with only one exception to one Hindi film actor from the era of 1920, who has played 16 characters.

However there are few Indian actors who played multiple characters in their films but not up to or more than 12 like Kamal Haasan played 10 roles inDasavatharam (2008), while Sanjeev Kumar played 9 roles in Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974).

With too much effort put into WYR, the actress obviously hopes accolades for it. However, to perform all these characters she didn’t need to go through any artificial aid. “The only change for the hip girl from Nairobi or the simple one from a village in Oonjha is a walk, a voice note or a subtle difference in the makeup,” says Priyanka.

Priyanka confesses that it (WYR) is the most difficult film of her career. “Believe me; I have put in my sweat, tears and blood into this film. It is the most difficult film in my career. No wonder my system packed up.”

bollywood gassips: Akshay Knows Everything about Katrina

Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar

After doing number of films together actor Akshay Kumar come to know much about actress Katrina Kaif which is needed to know. What he knows about theactress is her delicate health that if she stay under water for few hours, it’s clear that she will fall ill.

Recently both of them were shooting a typical rain song for Priyadarshan’s De Dana Dan at Mumbai studio. For the song Katrina was wearing chiffon sari and Akshay was dressed in thin Kurta. But with just a first shot itself Katrina sat shivering on chair. However many retakes done after and then our hero Akshay came into action to help Katrina. He made a round around the set to make sure that not a single air-conditioner is on and requested choreographer Pony Varma and Priyan to take care of her. Later he ordered two big Turkish towels, in one he covered Katrina, while wrapped himself in other. All this Akshay did because he knew that if she stays wet for a long she will get fever the next day. Well he knew this from his past experience (working) with theactress.

Being thankful to her co-star’s gesture, Katrina said, “God, he treats me like a baby.” Something she must know from long, but we know it now only, isn’t it.

Well guys if you want to know more about the pretty damsel, now you know to contact whom.

'Kaminey' music: Experimental, power-packed!

Filmmaker and composer Vishal Bhardwaj had set high standards for himself after the hit music of 'Omkara' and he has fulfilled all expectations yet again with 'Kaminey'. Full of punch, experimental and hummable, the soundtrack of the film is a must hear.

Music Review

The album, which has lyrics by Gulzar and vocals by some of the best singers in the industry, has five originals and two remixes.

First comes an edgy and full of energy track called "Dhan te nan" sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Vishal Dadlani. While Sukhwinder gives the track a rustic flavour, Vishal adds the rock touch to the song. "Dhan te nan" has a certain magic that is intriguing and holds the interest of the listener till the very end. It is already a big hit with audiences.

"Dhan te nan" has a remix version too that is more like a raw and scratchy variant of the original. Lower on instruments, this one focuses more on the vocals.

Up next is a totally different track. "Pehli baar mohabbat", which is brilliantly sung by Mohit Chauhan, is a soft, free-flowing love ballad that instantly strikes a chord with the listener.

Then we have the fusion of Western and Indian influences in "Raat ke dhai baje". It's a foot-tapping, fast-paced track that has Suresh Wadkar, Rekha Bhardwaj, Sunidhi Chauhan and Kunal Ganjawala behind the mike.

The song also has a remixed version - an amalgamation of rap, pop and touches of classical.

Next in line is a track that has a deadly combination of two very talented singers - Sukhwinder and Kailash Kher. The song "Fatak" has a folk flavour with a fast tempo and amazing vocals. Gulzar makes his presence felt with his trademark lyrics. The song's ending sung by Sukhwinder packs a punch.

The title track of "Kaminey" has the composer going behind the mike as well. It has a very soft start but a few seconds into the song, the tempo rises. It's a different number mainly because of its out-of-the-box lyrics. A decent hear.

Finally the album entails an instrumental theme song "Go Charlie". A two-minute long piece, Vishal Bhardwaj has done a great job with this track that is high on music and extremely edgy.

On the whole, 'Kaminey' is easily among 2009's finest scores. Experimental in its sound, yet very mainstream in appeal. Vishal Bhardwaj has proved his mettle yet again.

Humungous expectations from 'Love Aaj Kal'

There're humungous expectations from 'Love Aaj Kal', but Imtiaz Ali isn't nervous. "People are bound to compare 'Love Aaj Kal' with 'Jab We Met', but that's something I'm not worried about. Neither am I nervous. And nor am I getting any sleepless nights. I guess, it's an emotional defect," Imtiaz chuckles.

'Love Aaj Kal' marks the debut of Saif Ali Khan as a producer. "When Saif first told me he was keen to produce the film, I was surprised. I asked him the reasons for turning producer and I was convinced when he spelt them out. He wants to make movies that he believes in and our thoughts matched completely," Imtiaz reveals, "But Saif also clarified that he'd concentrate on acting only, while Dinesh would look after the day-to-day production."

Since the film is produced by Saif himself, one expected Kareena Kapoor to star in the film, but it's Deepika Padukone this time. "I wouldn't be justifying her [Kareena] talent if I didn't give her the same importance as in 'Jab We Met'. Deepika was always my first choice and I must add, she has enacted her part with amazing understanding. I am sure, people will be pleasantly surprised," Imtiaz divulges.

Not many are aware that Imtiaz was keen on calling the film 'Aaj Kal', since the film talks of kal [Rishi Kapoor] and aaj [Saif]. "Since the film is primarily a love story, we decided to add 'Love' before 'Aaj Kal'. That explains the title," Imtiaz adds.

So what's his next move? "I haven't finalized a script yet, but I have one film with Shree Ashtavinayak and another with Sajid Nadiadwala," he reveals.

Shiney's bail plea rejected

Shiney Ahuja's bail plea was rejected by the sessions court in Mumbai [Images] on Wednesday.

The actor, who was charged with raping his maid at his home on June 14, had applied for bail stating that he will not interfere in the investigation or try to influence the victim. He had also mentioned in his bail application that he was ready to stay away from Mumbai if the court instructs him to do so.

The court however observed that he has been charged with a serious offence and a prima facie case has been made out against him. The court also refused to accept the defence's arguments that the victim's story of alleged rape is 'doubtful and concocted.'

Shiney's lawyer, Shrikant Shivade, confirmed that Shiney's bail plea had been rejected but refused to give details. Reports said the defence will go in appeal to the high court.

The actor has been claiming innocence in the case but a DNA test is reported to have confirmed that Shiney did have sex with his maid.

At present, Shiney is incarcerated in Arthur Road Jail, located in south-central Mumbai.

Asin declines to promote vegetarianism

"Ghajini" fame actress Asin Thottumkal has turned down animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) request to promote vegetarianism. She said she is a hardcore non-vegetarian and, therefore, it would be unfair to accept the offer.

"After I entered the film industry, I restricted my non-veg diet to fish and chicken. I can't, however, remain without non-veg food even for a single day. Therefore, it won't be proper for me to involve myself in the campaign against non-vegetarian food," said Asin.

From time to time, PETA ropes in celebrities and puts them in the forefront of its campaign to popularise vegetarian food habits. Aishwarya Rai and Manisha Koirala are among the few Bollywood actors who have lent their support to the campaign.

Good Bye, Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's body arrived at the Staples Centre after a private ceremony on Monday. The hearse carrying the body of Michael Jackson arrived at the Staples Centre from the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where the pop legend's family held a private memorial service.

The public memorial service of Jackson will be attended by 17,500 fans and will be viewed by approximately a billion people worldwide.

Akki-Bebo kissing "more funny than titillating": Saif

Saif has made a promise to Kareena. He'll have a double celebration for the success of Kareena's release 'Kambhakkht Ishq' and his own 'Love Aaj Kal'. But if, God forbid. Kareena's film doesn't do well, there will be no celebration for 'Love Aaj Kal'.

"That's true," admits Saif. "For me my film and Bebo's are equally important. In fact if there's a choice, I'd rather have her film work than mine. God willing, both films will be hits. And we'll have a double celebration."

Saif is openly appreciative of Kareena's on-screen bonding with Akshay. "Akshay is a great guy. I've had a great time working with him in so many films. In 'Tashan', all three of us, Bebo, Akshay and I had great fun. He's one co-star both Bebo and I like."

There was therefore no awkwardness at all regarding the kissing scenes between Akshay and Kareena. "They are more funny than titillating," grins Saif.

Says Saif, "I loved the film. Bebo and Akki look their career best. I think the film is great fun! I'd love to see it again. I think it is going to be a huge hit. And oh yes, my kids loved it too."

Saif and his two children Sarah and Ebrahim saw Kareena's 'Kambhakkht Ishq' on Tuesday night and they were bowled over.

Sarah and Ebrahim are hugely fond of Kareena, and fans of her films. The bonding between Kareena and the two children is very easy to see.

Says Kareena, "Oh Sarah and Ebrahim loved the film. Unfortunately, my sister and my father are out of country and couldn't attend screening. I can't wait for them to see KI."

Complaint against John Abraham's "nude pic";police asked to probe

Complaint against John Abraham's "nude pic";police asked to probe
Bollywood star John Abraham could be in trouble as a city court Tuesday asked Delhi police to file a report on a complaint seeking registration of a criminal case against him for posing allegedly nude in a photograph published in a daily.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ashish Aggarwal directed the station house officer (SHO) of the Moti Nagar police station to submit the report to the court within two weeks.

"Since the complaint alleges commission of cognisable offences under Section 292 and 294 (relating to spread of obscene material) of the Indian Penal Code, the SHO is directed to file his report within two weeks," the court said.

C.M. Dua, who runs an NGO, sought registration of a first information report (FIR) against the model-turned-actor as well as the publisher and the editor of the daily.

"....the lascivious, prurient and obscene acts and photographs being published and shown by established members of society and publication house... tend to corrupt young minds, which is very dangerous and suicidal for the coming generation, if not taken care of," Dua said in his petition.

He said he was appalled to find the magazine supplement of the daily dated June 11, 2009, carrying a "nude photograph" of Abraham at the study desk of his children.

Dua said police had not taken any action on his complaint, prompting him to approach the court.

'Short Kut...' a fun hare and tortoise story: Neeraj Vora

'Short Kut...' a fun hare and tortoise story: Neeraj Vora
"Short Kut - The Con Is On" is a fun-filled "hare and tortoise story" that has Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi playing a "lethal combination", says writer-director Neeraj Vora, who adds that it has no semblance to his last film "Phir Hera Pheri".

"'Short Kut' is about a struggling writer-director (played by) Akshaye who believes in the hard way of living and his actor-dancer friend (Arshad) believes in taking shortcuts to success. In the film, Arshad steals Akshaye's script and becomes an overnight star," Vora told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"But 'Short Kut...' is not a 'Phir Hera Pheri'. This film tells you that shortcuts don't pay, they don't last and they don't satisfy. It's a very serious film, but with a lot of humour and drama. It's like a hare and tortoise story with Akshaye and Arshad in a terrific lethal combination," he said.

Talking about the comic element in the movie, Vora said: "As far as comedy is concerned, it is physically an action and reaction story. Akshaye is in a serious part and he is not supposed to be comical at all. While Arshad has to deliver humour punches and Akshaye has to react."

Vora entered showbiz as an actor with 1984 movie "Holi" and later debuted as a writer in 1995 with Aamir Khan-starrer "Rangeela". In 2000, he donned the director's cap for "Khiladi 420", which had Akshay Kumar as hero. He then made "Phir Hera Pheri" in 2006.

As a writer, Vora has mostly been associated with comedies like "Bhool Bhulaiyaa" (2007), "Hulchul" (2004), "Yeh Teraa Ghar Yeh Meraa Ghar" (2001) and "Hera Pheri" (2000).

He admits comedy is his forte. "Comedy comes naturally to me. I derived it from my father. The main success point of my career was comedy because I used the personal aspect of a character and not SMS or Internet jokes like others."

After juggling different roles Vora, a self-proclaimed "strict" and "clinical" director, wants to concentrate on direction now. His future projects include "Run Bhola Run" and "Family".

"I'm 100 percent in the director's chair now and I'd also love to produce a film because it will give me more creative control on the project. The clarity that I've had in direction is the most among all my endeavours," said Vora, whose "Short Kut" is being produced by Anil Kapoor.

"Anil Kapoor is a very large-hearted producer...he is in love with cinema and every intricate detail associated with it. He is one producer who gives full freedom to his directors and will go to any extent for cinema," the director said.

Vora added that Anil was very keen to make the comedy.

"Anil always wanted to make this film and Anees (Bazmee) had already written the script from Roshan Andrews' Malayalam film ('Udayananu Tharam'). But then I made a lot of changes in the script. I wasn't looking for any flavour, but a story and it came out well," said Vora.

This is not the first time Anil has ventured into production. He first turned producer with "Badhaai Ho Badhaai" in 2002 and followed it up with the critically-acclaimed "Gandhi, My Father" (2007). He is also producing forthcoming movies "No Problem" and "Ayesha".

Toll Free Numbers ( Airways, Automobiles, Banks, Cell Phones, Computers, Couriers, Education, Healthcare, Insurance, Travels & Etc.

Airways
Indian Airlines – 1800 180 1407
Jet Airways – 1800 22 5522
SpiceJet – 1800 180 3333

Automobiles
Mahindra Scorpio – 1800 22 6006
Maruti – 1800 111 515
Tata Motors – 1800 22 5552
Windshield Experts – 1800 11 3636

Banks
ABN AMRO – 1800 11 2224
Canara Bank – 1800 44 6000
Citibank – 1800 44 2265
Corporatin Bank – 1800 443 555
Development Credit Bank – 1800 22 5769
HDFC Bank – 1800 227 227
ICICI Bank – 1800 333 499
ICICI Bank NRI – 1800 22 4848
IDBI Bank – 1800 11 6999
Indian Bank – 1800 425 1400
ING Vysya – 1800 44 9900
Kotak Mahindra Bank – 1800 22 6022
Lord Krishna Bank – 1800 11 2300
Punjab National Bank – 1800 122 222
State Bank of India – 1800 44 1955
Syndicate Bank – 1800 44 6655

Cell Phones
BenQ – 1800 22 08 08
Bird CellPhones – 1800 11 7700
Motorola MotoAssist – 1800 11 1211
Nokia – 3030 3838
Sony Ericsson – 3901 1111

Computers/IT
Adrenalin – 1800 444 445
AMD – 1800 425 6664
Apple Computers – 1800 444 683
Canon – 1800 333 366
Cisco Systems – 1800 221 777
Compaq – HP – 1800 444 999
Data One Broadband – 1800 424 1800
Dell – 1800 444 026
Epson – 1800 44 0011
eSys – 3970 0011
Genesis Tally Academy – 1800 444 888
HCL – 1800 180 8080
IBM – 1800 443 333
Lexmark – 1800 22 4477
Marshal’s Point – 1800 33 4488
Microsoft – 1800 111 100
Microsoft Virus Update – 1901 333 334

Seagate – 1800 180 1104
Symantec – 1800 44 5533
TVS Electronics – 1800 444 566
WeP Peripherals – 1800 44 6446
Wipro – 1800 333 312
xerox – 1800 180 1225
Zenith – 1800 222 004

Couriers/Packers & Movers
ABT Courier – 1800 44 8585
AFL Wizz – 1800 22 9696
Agarwal Packers & Movers – 1800 11 4321
Associated Packers P Ltd – 1800 21 4560
DHL – 1800 111 345
FedEx – 1800 22 6161
Goel Packers & Movers – 1800 11 3456
UPS – 1800 22 7171

Education
Edu Plus – 1800 444 000
Hindustan College – 1800 33 4438
NCERT – 1800 11 1265
Vellore Institute of Technology – 1800 441 555

Healthcare
Best on Health – 1800 11 8899
Dr Batras – 1800 11 6767
GlaxoSmithKline – 1800 22 8797
Johnson & Johnson – 1800 22 8111
Kaya Skin Clinic – 1800 22 5292
LifeCell – 1800 44 5323

Manmar Technologies – 1800 33 4420
Pfizer – 1800 442 442
Roche Accu-Chek – 1800 11 45 46
Rudraksha – 1800 21 4708
Varilux Lenses – 1800 44 8383
VLCC – 1800 33 1262

Home Appliances
Aiwa/Sony – 1800 11 1188
Anchor Switches – 1800 22 7979
Blue Star – 1800 22 2200
Bose Audio – 1800 11 2673
Bru Coffee Vending Machines – 1800 44 7171
Daikin Air Conditioners – 1800 444 222
DishTV – 1800 12 3474
Faber Chimneys – 1800 21 4595
Godrej – 1800 22 5511
Grundfos Pumps – 1800 33 4555

LG – 1901 180 9999
Philips – 1800 22 4422
Samsung – 1800 113 444
Sanyo – 1800 11 0101
Voltas – 1800 33 4546
WorldSpace Satellite Radio – 1800 44 5432

Hotel Reservations
GRT Grand – 1800 44 5500
InterContinental Hotels Group – 1800 111 000
Marriott – 1800 22 0044
Sarovar Park Plaza – 1800 111 222
Taj Holidays – 1800 111 825

Insurance
AMP Sanmar – 1800 44 2200
Aviva – 1800 33 2244
Bajaj Allianz – 1800 22 5858
Chola MS General Insurance – 1800 44 5544
HDFC Standard Life – 1800 227 227
LIC – 1800 33 4433
Max New York Life – 1800 33 5577
Royal Sundaram – 1800 33 8899
SBI Life Insurance – 1800 22 9090

Mattresses
Kurl-on – 1800 44 0404
Sleepwell – 1800 11 2266

Investments/Finance
CAMS – 1800 44 2267
Chola Mutual Fund – 1800 22 2300
Easy IPO’s – 3030 5757
Fidelity Investments – 1800 180 8000
Franklin Templeton Fund – 1800 425 4255
J M Morgan Stanley – 1800 22 0004
Kotak Mutual Fund – 1800 222 626
LIC Housing Finance – 1800 44 0005
SBI Mutual Fund – 1800 22 3040
Sharekhan – 1800 22 7500
Tata Mutual Fund – 1800 22 0101

Paints
Asian Paints Home Solutions – 1800 22 5678
Berger Paints Home Decor – 1800 33 8800

Teleshopping
Asian Sky Shop – 1800 22 1800
Jaipan Teleshoppe – 1800 11 5225
Tele Brands – 1800 11 8000
VMI Teleshopping – 1800 447 777
WWS Teleshopping – 1800 220 777

Travel
Club Mahindra Holidays – 1800 33 4539
Cox & Kings – 1800 22 1235
God TV Tours – 1800 442 777
Kerala Tourism – 1800 444 747
Kumarakom Lake Resort – 1800 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours – 1800 22 9900
Sita Tours – 1800 111 911
SOTC Tours – 1800 22 3344

UPS
APC – 1800 44 4272
Numeric – 1800 44 3266

Others
Consumer Helpline – 1800 11 4000
L’Or?al, GARNIeR – 1800 223 000
KONE Elevator – 1800 444 666
Indane – 1800 44 51 15
Aavin – 1800 44 3300
Pedigree – 1800 11 2121
Kodak India – 1800 22 8877
Domino’s Pizza – 1800 111 123
World Vision India – 1800 444 550
Telecom Monitoring Cell – 1800 110 420

Did these numbers work for you? Let me know in comments page. BTW, updated the numbers from 1600* to 1800*

I know dad will love me in 'Kambakkht Ishq': Kareena Kapoor

Of late, Kareena has been bonding big-time with her father. And Randhir Kapoor couldn't have chosen a worse time to be out of the country. Just when Kareena's most important film was about to release, both her sister and dad are out of the country, hence their absence from the special screening on Tuesday night, last week, when Kareena invited just her family and no friends.

Saif tried to keep her spirits up. But Kareena was undoubtedly missing her father. Kareena these days is constantly in touch with her father, inquiring about his diet and health, visiting him as much as possible. And when Randhir Kapoor signed two films lately, his younger daughter was the happiest.

"He needs to work. He must work. He's such a talented actor. I've inherited my comic timing from my father, which you can see in Kambakkht Ishq. I know he'd love me in this film," says Kareena emotionally.

Randhir Kapoor is currently on a cruise holiday in Lisbon.

When 'My Name Is Khan' left Karan Johar stressed out

After making candy floss romances, Karan Johar is dealing with serious issues in his 'My Name Is Khan', which brings Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol together on screen after a long time. Though he is excited about presenting a different side of Shah Rukh, making the film did turn unpleasant when actor Aamir Bashir was denied a visa to the US.

Karan's latest directorial venture is 'diametrically opposite' to his earlier films.

'You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this'. Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being ... I've never directed that person before,' Karan Johar told IANS in an interview.

But he had his share of problems too.

'Yes, there were problems. We had certain legal issues. We had to make some changes to accommodate the developments. They were sorted out. I believe in completely going by the law of every land. That's what we did in LA (Los Angeles) when troubles arose,' said Karan, who replaced Aamir with Jimmy Sheirgil in the movie.

Were you upset with Aamir for going to the press about the visa problem?

'I don't see why the issue had to be reported so prominently in the Indian media. It complicated things for me. If creating hurdles for a filmmaker on a difficult foreign location makes news, so be it. It constantly kept creating stress for me,' he added.

Written by Shibani Bathija, 'My Name Is Khan' is about a Muslim (Shah Rukh) who suffers from the Asperger syndrome, a form of autism that impacts social interaction abilities, and he is arrested as a suspected terrorist in post-9/11 Los Angeles after authorities mistake his disability for suspicious behaviour.

Excerpts from the interview:
Q: You could make a film on the things that happened during your Los Angeles schedule of 'My Name Is Khan'.
A: Besides normal problems, there were unforeseen problems. Thank god for my fabulous technical team. Without them I could never make my film the way I want to. Yes, there was stress.

Q: There were visa problems for some Muslim members of your cast?
A: Yes, there were problems. We had certain legal issues. We had to make some changes to accommodate the developments. They were sorted out. I believe in completely going by the law of every land. That's what we did in LA when troubles arose.

Q: Was Aamir replaced by Jimmy Sheirgil after a great deal of deliberation?
A: Yes, we did have to do some serious re-thinking. I spoke to my casting director Shanu Sharma for immediate release. I was very happy to have Jimmy Sheirgil on board. I had done his clothes for Aditya Chopra's 'Mohabbatein'. So I know him from his debut. It was unfortunate that things didn't work out with Aamir Bashir. Like Jimmy, he was terrific in 'A Wednesday'. I look forward to working with him some other time.

Q: Were you upset with Aamir Bashir for going to the press about the visa problem?
A: I don't blame anyone for the situation. I don't see why the issue had to be reported so prominently in the Indian media. It complicated things for me. If creating hurdles for a filmmaker on a difficult foreign location makes news, so be it. It constantly kept creating stress for me.

Q: Was it a painful experience to shoot in LA?
A: In all my 11 years as a filmmaker, I've never felt the experience to be so different. Content-wise 'My Name Is Khan' is diametrically opposite to whatever I've done in the past. You know, on the very first day of shooting my cameraman Ravi Chandran looked at me and said, 'I don't think you've ever shot something like this.'

It is for the first time I'm directing a screenplay I haven't written myself. This gives me a level of detachment from the proceedings and yet a lot of attachment. It has released a plethora of unexplored emotions in my head.

This time I'm being creative in a different ways. And Shah Rukh plays a completely different human being ... I've never directed that person before. It took a few days for all of us to get into the groove. How this exploration of a new territory will turn out, no one knows.

(Subhash K. Jha can be contacted at jhasubh@gmail.com)

So long Jacko (MJ)

Berry Gordy, who signed The Jackson 5 in 1968 pays his tribute to MJ: "The more I think about Michael, and talk about Michael, the more I think that 'King of Pop' is not good enough. I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived. Though it ended way too soon, Michael's life was beautiful. Sure there was some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of," said Motown Records founder.

Akshay upset at strategy to pull him down

Akshay Kumar is thrilled and upset at the same time. Thrilled, because his new movie, 'Kambakkht Ishq', has taken an incredible start from East to West and from North to South. Post 'Jumbo', 'Chandni Chowk to China' and '8 x 10 Tasveer', Akshay had become everyone's favourite punching bag. Once considered the blue-eyed boy of one and all, Akshay was dropped like a hot potato after a string of flops.

"I was disillusioned. I would be lying if I said that the flops didn't affect me. They did, especially the failure of 'Chandni Chowk to China'. I was heart-broken, crest-fallen," Akshay informs me. He's just back from a whirlwind tour [Puerto Rico, London, Delhi, now Mumbai] and has barely slept since the past few days.

"I was extremely nervous. I couldn't sleep. What if 'Kambakkht Ishq' doesn't open well? That thought kept bothering me," Akshay admits. But now that the film has fetched a superb start, the actor is feeling relieved. "Aaj raat achchi neend aayegi," he flashes his charismatic smile, when he's told that the film should have a record-breaking opening weekend.

But Akshay's upset too -- and it shows -- when he feels that there's a strategy to pull him down. The negative sms-es during the paid previews and the subsequent messages ridiculing his film have hurt him. "Why do we resort to such things? Aren't we happy that the audiences are back? 'New York' attracted crowds, now 'Kambakkht Ishq' has. 'Luck', 'Love Aaj Kal' and 'Kaminey' would also bring crowds. The volume of business is only increasing. But by resorting to such things, we are only harming ourselves," Akshay says.

Only Anil Kapoor can repeat 'Mr. India' : Shekhar Kapur

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur says if there is anyone who can reprise the protagonist's role in the remake of his 1987 hit "Mr.India", it is the original hero Anil Kapoor.

"Anil should definitely stay in the remake of 'Mr.India'. He has become synonymous with 'Mr.India' and the project would be incomplete without him," Kapur, who has been in discussions with Manmohan Shetty, Boney Kapoor and Anil for the film, told IANS.

Though Kapur has no intentions of directing the remake of the Bollywood science fiction superhero film, he is lending a helping hand in giving shape to a new villain and a new story for the film.

However, the filmmaker doubts if the producers would ever be able to find an actor who could match the aura of Amrish Puri as the crude villain Mogambo.

"I wonder if anyone would find a Mogambo as exciting as Amrish Puri. His performance was outstanding - it's very difficult to replace him and wash out memories of the original Mogambo because he was ultimate in that role," he said.

Kapur carved a niche for himself in showbiz with distinct films like "Bandit Queen" and "Masoom" and "Mr. India" and earned international recognition with "The Four Feathers", "Elizabeth" and its sequel "Elizabeth: The Golden Age".

But directing a Bollywood potboiler complete with song and dance is the last thing on his mind right now.

"Bollywood films have got better and better over the years. But I don't think I am the best director to make a typical Bollywood entertainer. My sensibilities as a director differ from a lot of them here," he said.

Kapur doesn't even have a wish list of any Bollywood A-list actor whom he would like to work with in a future film.

"I never work with stars. When I worked with Anil Kapoor in 'Mr.India', he was no star. Same with Naseeruddin Shah in 'Masoom' and with Heath Ledger in 'The Four Feathers'. People hardly knew Heath back then - so for me stars don't matter as much as an actor's suitability to a role in my films," he explained.

His much-awaited "Paani", which he is making in collaboration with Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle, is currently in its last stage. His plans to make the third instalment of "Elizabeth", based on the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England, are on hold.

"I've always said the third part of my 'Elizabeth' series would be about the time just before she died. And right now Cate Blanchett, who has played the role in both the films, is too young to portray an old lady. So we will have to wait and see when the third 'Elizabeth' happens," he said.

For now, Kapur is busy being a judge on TV reality show "India's Got Talent" on entertainment channel Colors.

'Kambakkht...' collects Rs 19 Cr on opening day

Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor starrer "Kambakkht Ishq" that released Friday has recorded an impressive collection at the box office by raking in a whopping Rs.19 crore (Rs.190 million) worldwide on its opening day.

Despite mixed reviews and a major thumbs down from the audiences for its weak storyline, the romantic comedy heated up the box office with its first day collections. It has certainly carried forward the positive trend set by Kabir Khan's "New York", which released June 26 after a long lull, thanks to a revenue sharing row between the producers and multiplex owners.

Both movies have brought some respite for the Hindi film industry, which saw losses to the tune of Rs.3.5 billion due to the strike and failure of movies like "Kal Kissne Dekha", "Paying Guests", "Let's Dance", "Chandni Chowk To China" and "Delhi 6"
"'Kambakkht...' is a masala film for masses in comparison to 'New York' and it is doing exceptionally well in the B and C grades of the audiences too while the latter is only meant for the gentry class. However, both have full chances for business until the next big-budget movies like 'Luck' (July 24) and 'Love Aaj Kal' (July 31) hit theatres," Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based distributor told IANS.

A source from PVR cinemas said: "We are having jam packed shows for 'Kambakkht...' and the weekend was housefull, but we are also getting crowd for 'New York' too."

Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, Noida however says the Akshay starrer won't be able to sustain much.

"We had 19 shows housefull both on Friday and Saturday and 16 shows full on Sunday but the film will fall to about 50 percent Monday onwards because of its weak storyline vis-a-vis 'New York' that sustained Monday (on its fourth day) onwards by up to 75 percent. Majority of the audience is disappointed with Akshay's film and it doesn't look it will stretch further due to bad word of mouth," said Awasthi.

Co-produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Sunil A. Lulla, "Kambakkht Ishq" has been made at a budget of Rs.40-45 crore (Rs.400-450 million) and it grossed around Rs.12 crore (Rs.120 million) domestically and about Rs.7 crore (Rs.70 million) overseas while "New York" grossed around Rs.350 million worldwide over the opening weekend.

Directed by debutant Sabbir Khan, the film released across India, Pakistan, Britain, US, Australia, Europe, South Africa, Fiji Island, Middle East and Malaysia, among others.

Distributed worldwide by Eros with around 2,000 prints worldwide, "Kambakkht..." hit more than 1,400 screens in India and about 600 overseas in a combination of prints and digital format, while Yash Raj Films released "New York" over 900 screens across the world.

Both films had massive advance bookings and continued to register more demand from the viewers after the first day. In fact the advance bookings for "Kambakkht..." opened three days ahead of the normal booking opening day (generally Wednesdays) on June 28 (Sunday).

"New York", starring John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan, is about three friends whose lives change post the 9/11 terror attacks on the twin towers, while "Kambakkht Ishq" is a romantic comedy shot in Hollywood.

The highlight of "Kambakkht Ishq" is death-defying action sequences. It also has much publicised cameos by Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.