Women of Bollywood

Saif Won’t Cheat on Me!

2011-08-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Talking about her much-awaited forthcoming Hindi release, Bodyguard, in which she stars with the dashing Salman Khan, Kapoor reveals, “I choose to do a movie depending on the role that is offered to me. Bodyguard has given me enough scope to show my acting skills. My character is very important in the movie; the script is such that this movie couldn’t have been made without a heroine in it.”

Let’s start with the talk of the town, Heroine. Finally, you signed it?
Yeah. But it’s too early to talk much about it.I’m glad we finally met midway (in terms of money) and now taking things forward. Madhur is a bold and explicit director. The film will have a lot of glamour, grit and sensationalism for sure.

“I love being in London. You can say it’s my second home. I enjoy the shopping and food scene of the city,” says the light-eyed beauty, dressed to kill in a short olive dress teamed with a printed white scarf.

In Heroine, you’ll be doing an author-backed role after a long time. Nervous?
Not at all. I am an actress and I love doing different, challenging roles. If you agree, I have always experimented with my looks and characters.

You’ve been doing films with big heroes like in Bodyguard. Is it because of the money? Or is it because working with the big boys catapult you into the bigger league?
Bodyguard is a film with a soul. It’s a love story with lots of emotions and drama. If you take the girl out of it, there is no film. I won’t do a film where I might get lost. I am not gung-ho about song and dance. When Salman saw the South version of Bodyguard, he told the producer (Agnihotri) that only Kareena could fit the heroine’s role. After the success of Dabangg and Ready, Salman is poised for a hat trick. I think I have answered your question (smiles).

Rumour had it that you have split with Saif?
Rubbish. We are together.

Do you want to marry him?
Of course, I do. Doesn’t every woman want to take her relationship to the next level? Saif and I are definitely going to marry. We just don’t want to talk about it right now. It’ll take away the focus from the good work we are doing currently.

Buzz is that the wedding will happen right after Agent Vinod releases ...
(Smiles) Speculations galore. The menu, venue… woh sab hum batayenge na. Aisi bhi kya jaldi hai?

Have you had your share of ups and downs in your relationship with Saif?
(Shrugs) Ups and downs are a normal thing in every relationship.

God forbid...but what if you catch Saif cheating on you tomorrow?
That tomorrow will never come. I am a lucky girl. There is love, so there can never be any infidelity. I am not being cynical about this because I know it happens. I have experienced it and I know what it can do.

So, how do you guys stay away from temptation… thrown into outdoor locations for long periods with goodlooking people around you?
Because we have a mental connect, which we both wanted in our lives from before we met each other. Our love is beyond just physicality. We give the much-required space to each other. Saif doesn’t stop me from doing anything - be it doing an intimate scene or getting into an ultra-glam outfit. And it’s the same with me. He is a man who does his job, comes home and I give him a happy world.

“I enjoyed shooting with Salman and rest of the crew. Every day was fun. We really worked hard to make sure the movie was ready for release by Eid”.

Are your parents keen on you formalising the relationship with Saif?
Of course. Especially my mother (Babita). My dad (Randhir) never asks me anything. He just wants me to be happy and safe.

You want to have kids (of course we meant with Saif )?
Yes. Like every woman, I too want kids. But there is a lot of childishness in me still. Saif treats me like a child. I still have to get into that phase where I want to be a mother.

If you get married soon, will the kids have to wait?
Yeah (smiles). Children should be by choice, not by chance.

Madame Tussauds?
It’s an absolute honour. The unveiling shall happen in October. My statue is going to travel for an exhibition to six different cities. I wish my sister Karisma is there with me. She has always stood by me.

"I’ve not really aspired to go Hollywood. A) LA is too far and B) I love doing Indian, Desi movies with song and dance so much. I don’t know if i really have interest to do that at the moment."

Getting over the rough patch with her husband Sanjay Kapur must’ve been tough for Karisma ...
Karisma has been a fighter. She is a very strong girl. All that matters now is that she has emerged a winner. And isn’t she looking her best? She is looking so radiant. She is simply glowing. I am very excited that she is making a comeback to the silver screen. I should be taking her kids on the sets.

You have been a pillar of strength to her during the dark phase ...
Yes. We both have always been there for each other. She is my best friend. We share unconditional love.

Nobody tells Ash what to do

2011-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

Certainly! If you boast of a Miss World crown, spate of award winning Indian films and acknowledgment at international level. But when the event sees all A-listers in attendance, throwing your weight can infuriate all and sundry.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who is the global face of India, couldn't keep in check the curt side of her at a recently held award function in Singapore. Apart from keeping the organisers on their toes all the time, Aishwarya disrupted the rehearsals of other celebrities by choosing to rehearse her act at her own sweet time without caring if it would clash with others. "Despite repeated requests, Ash refused to come on stage and remained backstage. She made it clear that if she is receiving an award, it has to be handed over by the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

We were forced to make the last minute changes to please the lady. She would come for rehearsals at her own sweet time and many a times, it would clash with others who were rehearsing too. Another incident, when we realised the might and the stubborn side of Aishwarya, was when she flatly refused to jump over the trampoline kept on the stage. Like a true sport, Vidya Balan draped in a sari, granted our request of jumping over the trampoline with joy after bagging our award but Aishwarya refused to adhere. She told us that she is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and need not be told what to do?

We were left with no choice than to keep quiet about the matter. Nevertheless, her performance won accolades from everyone and was certainly the show-stopper. But we still wonder if the lady got up from the wrong side of the bed as she gave us panic attacks at regular intervals," reveals a source. Well, big stars are expected to have bigger tantrums.

Kareena Kapoor: 'The undeserving get the awards'

2011-01-16T23:18:00.001-08:00

Kareena Kapoor says she doesn't care about awards and would rather holiday abroad during the season

Kareena Kapoor says she prefers to be on holiday with friends and in Switzerland during the award season in India as she doesn't care about awards since they are mostly offered to undeserving candidates.

"Awards [don't] matter much to me. [A] lot of award functions requested me to attend them, but I chose to go to Switzerland because that's the only time in the year that I get to spend with my family and loved ones," Kapoor told reporters after the launch of her dietician Rujuta Diwekar's book Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha on Saturday.

Asked if she believes that the awards are rigged, she said: "I am not sure but [it] seems so, because [those] who don't attend, their names are never declared in award ceremonies. Those who don't deserve, they get the awards and those who deserve, they land up enjoying pizzas at home."
Kapoor wrote a chapter in Diwekar's book at her request.

Lara Dutta: 'I'm ready'

2011-01-16T23:17:00.000-08:00

Bollywood actress Lara Dutta is surprised with a bachelorette party in Dubai

On Friday night, the view of the majestic Atlantis The Palm from Raza Beig's lawns seemed to be crying for attention. Decked in white and red — right down to the red velvet cushions with "Lara" written on them — and the soft sound of waves from the beach below, the lawns themselves were a sight to see. However, they were going to be disappointed because the crowd only had eyes for one of the most beautiful women in the universe.

Beig, the CEO of Splash apparel stores, along with 13 friends from Mumbai, was hosting a bachelorette party for his dear friend, former Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Lara Dutta, who is expected to marry tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi on February 19. Dressed in a chic chikankari salwar-kurta, Beig played the perfect host to his clad-in-white guests. "I've known Lara for years now.

"We met through a close mutual friend, Clara Belle, soon after Lara won the Miss Universe title, and have never looked back."

Beig said the night was something of a surprise for Dutta. "Lara is presuming it's a simple dinner with just us fourteen close friends. She's not expecting a crowd of 150."

‘Life of the group'
All fourteen friends, including one-time Bollywood designer Xerxes and nutrition and fitness expert Dianne Pandey, wife of actor Chunkey Pandey's younger brother, echoed that not only was Dutta "dynamic" and the "life of the group", but an extremely intelligent woman firmly rooted to the ground.
Marianne De Souza, an erstwhile Miss India-Asia, one of Dutta's close clique, added, "We are all extremely excited about Lara's wedding. We've seen her go through her relationships and this time we've seen her really glowing from within and we can actually see the joy in her. I've known Bhupathi from before Lara has and he's a wonderful guy and if it needs to be described in one word, this is a ‘refreshing' relationship."

Pandey, who has worked with Dutta on a professional level too, Veena, explained how she was a "very simple and down to earth girl".

"She's a hundred women in one," said Pandey. "She's extremely intelligent, she's a great actress, she's sexy, she's a tomboy. She's a very strong personality yet a loving woman."

Alison, a landscapist by profession, who lives near Dutta, is always ready to meet with the star when she wants to "just chill and relax and have fun". "She's a source of so much enjoyment."

The link that keeps the group together — and main organiser of the event — Clara Belle, arrived with Dutta a little later. "I'm not just Lara's hair stylist, I'm her best friend," she said. "I've known her since she became Miss Universe. I travel with her all over the world.

"Raza is a childhood friend. And since she's getting married, I planned this thing with Raza because she's so special to us. I love everything about her. She's beautiful from inside. She's a true friend, very real — unlike people in the film industry, because she's not just an actress. She's a star but when she's home, she's just family."

‘Dubai was perfect'
But why did she choose Dubai as the place for Dutta's bachelorette party? "Well, Lara has a huge social and work circle in Mumbai, but knowing her, she would have preferred to be with just her closest friends. So, I planned to go out, yet not too far from home, and Dubai was perfect".
Dressed in a simple yet chic salmon-pink Herve Leger bandage dress — one of her signature looks — Dutta looked radiant as she mingled with guests who were enjoying wasabi shrimp, pepper chicken and mushrooms from Thai restaurant Royal Orchid around gas heaters. She posed for photographs with friends and guests.

With Housefull a super hit last year and a bagful of big films such as Don 2 and Chalo Dilli — her home production — to be released this year, plus planning the wedding, Dutta seems to have her hands full. When asked how she felt about getting married, she simply said "It's good. I'm ready."
That's not all. She has recently launched her fitness DVD and has turned businesswoman with her production house and a new line of shoes coming out soon. On top of all this she has plans to write. "Yes, I do write and would eventually like to do script writing. That was actually the reason for launching a production house. I feel, for women there's a serious dearth of good roles. I think I'm moving into a whole new phase of life and looking to do something slightly different on screen. So I am writing. I don't know whether I would like to direct, but will definitely produce one of my stories."
Dutta has been to Dubai umpteen times and concluded saying she "loved" Dubai. "When we were planning for a bachelorette destination, Dubai was the first name to come to mind. And it's ironic, because I'm here right before my wedding and will be here literally the next day after the wedding, as Mahesh is playing the Dubai Open.

"Unfortunately, Dubai cannot be my wedding destination as all our family and friends are back home in Bangalore."

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan:I miss my family in stressful moments.

2011-01-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

The tired eyes said it all. Actress Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (that’s the way she signed the autographs) admitted that she’s been unwell and missed her family around her.
“Yes, I am not well at all. I am here to honour a commitment that I made. I always live up to my commitments. I am on antibiotics now,” says Rai-Bachchan moments after her performance at the Zee Cine Awards on Friday evening.

Rai-Bachchan says that in stressful moments like these, the one thing that she misses around her is her family — specially her Pa (Amitabh Bachchan) and husband Abhishek.
“They are in two different locations. Pa is shooting at a location outside Mumbai and Abhishek is in Italy. It would have been great had they been around me. I am definitely missing them. I so wish that they were here to watch me win this award (the Jury’s Choice for the film Guzaarish). It’s a first and I so hoped that they would have been around. But I’m sure they must’ve got to know about it by now,” smiles Rai-Bachchan.
The actress does not mind the interruptions by fans who’ve been waiting for hours to get her autograph or a picture, and indulges them. “It’s the love and affection of fans in moments like these that make all the effort seem worthy. I’m aware thatthey wait to see me, and so small things (like being unwell) don’t matter in times like these,” she explains.

Her recent film Guzaarish, which failed to make an impact at the box-office, is faring well when it comes to winning awards. But Aishwarya is quick to point out that she does not mind thebox-office results of a film if she’s satisfied as an actress.

“My character in Guzaarish was multi-layered. Some people have appreciated it and I’ve been awarded for it. Besides, Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) has given me some of the biggest milestones of my career like Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. He is a director who’s never lost his faith in me. And I want to say that Guzaarish is one of the best gifts that he has given me. The rest of it doesn’t matter as I got to play someone who I’ve been waiting to play for a long time,” says the actress.

Ratan Rajpoot's groom hunt begins

2011-01-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

After the first two Swayamvar seasons with Rakhi Sawant and Rahul Mahajan, comes the reality show Swayamvar Season 3

Taking centre stage this season is Indian television's popular actor Ratan Rajpoot. The much loved daughter of television will embark on a journey to find her Prince Charming in Swayamvar Season 3 – Ratan Ka Rishta.

After Rakhi Sawant and Rahul Mahajan, Ratan Rajpoot to be seen in Swayamvar Season 3

The search for Ratan's ideal life partner begins with a countrywide audition process that starts with a worldwide call for entries. The next step will consist of bringing prospective grooms together under one roof, where they will undergo a series of tasks to test their compatibility with Ratan and prove their love for her. In the show Ratan's friends and family will help and support her in arriving at the most important decision of her life.

Says the bride-to-be Ratan, "I am very happy and nervous at the same time. This is a very big decision of my life and it would not be possible without the support of my family. Swayamvar is our very old tradition and I am lucky that I will be getting married through a swayamvar. I hope that all my fans and friends will support me and help me find my dulha."

Announcing the launch of Swayamvar - Season 3, Harsh Rohatgi, head content and communications, Imagine TV said, "Swayamwar has become an iconic show for us as a channel and part of our annual calendar. What's great about the show is that it draws upon an ancient Indian tradition which all Indians know of, and makes the choosing of a life-partner a grand spectacle that people can relate to. In Ratan, we have someone loved by audiences all over the country. She has all the qualities that make for a perfect wife and we hope she finds her Mr Right on the show."

Sonam and Punit Hate Love Stories

2011-01-10T22:05:00.005-08:00

Their own that is, which they have tried very hard to keep a well-concealed secret. The couple though is very much an item, we hear

Sonam Kapoor claims that she is single. While speaking to Mumbai Mirror (April 30, 2010), I Hate Luv Storys director Punit Malhotra had also claimed that he is single.

And one thought that their attraction towards each other had indeed fizzled out after the film released. But this is far from the truth. Sonam and Punit are very much a couple even now.

Rumour had it that their public display of affection didn’t go down well with Punit’s mama Manish Malhotra and producer Karan Johar, who told Punit to “concentrate only on his work”. Was that the reason why Sonam and Punit decided to be low profile on their love story?

Or had they taken a break from one another and come together only recently? Last evening, a source close to Sonam and Punit told Mumbai Mirror, “Sonam is not single; she is dating Punit.

One doesn’t know why they are not open about their relationship. But yes, they are very low profile at the moment, much more than they were even during I Hate Luv Storys. Sonam confides about her relationship with Punit to only a few close friends of hers.”

Sonam’s case is just like that of Deepika Padukone’s, who is certainly dating Siddhartha Mallya but never speaks about it publicly.

But then, Deepika and Siddhartha at least go out in public. But in the case of Sonam and Punit, they invariably make it a point to have a lot of friends around them,” added the source.

Punit Malhotra

Sonam and Punit were attracted to each other during the New Zealand schedule of I Hate Luv Storys. They used to go out for dinners together and enjoyed each other’s company.

Soon they began to love love stories. The entire crew of I Hate Luv Storys knew about their closeness; her co-actor in I Hate Luv Storys, Imran Khan, even used to tease them about it.

And now it seems the lovebirds are very much an item. Despite text messages and calls, Sonam and Punit remained unavailable for comment.

The Look of love

2011-01-10T22:01:00.000-08:00

Spotted at a cricket match recently, Shahid and Priyanka’s body language proved to be a give away

A picture speaks a thousand words. Both Shahid and Priyanka have tried their level best to convince us that they are single but this moment caught on camera proves they are anything but.

The cosy twosome were spotted on Sunday afternoon in Durban enjoying the T-20 match between India and South Africa.

One must bear in mind Priyanka's remark on Karan Johar's chat show. When asked about the one thing she would like to know, Piggy said, "Whatever's on Shahid's mind." But it's evident in this picture that even with dark glasses on Piggy can see right through her lover's eyes.

You wonder why they denied it for so long then. Ever since Kaminey released in August 2009, this game of the pursuer and the pursuee, so to speak, has been on between Sasha and Piggy.

The couple fell in love soon after but kept denying it. They were spotted together on several occasions later.

Meanwhile...

Now that they are back to being a couple, Piggy is trying to be Shahid's useful better half. The recent awards function had caused a rift between SRK and Shahid but last Saturday, on a flight from Mumbai to Durban, Piggy helped SRK and Sasha patch-up.

Says a source, "On the flight she opened a conversation between SRK and Sasha and also spoke to them about their common interests.

Soon the three were talking like old buddies, eating and joking."

Yogen shah

1. They were spotted for ther first time together at Tarun Mansukhani's birthday bash in April’09.

2. The industry was abuzz with rumours until they made an appearance during the Rajiv Gandhi Awards in August 2009.

3. After that the couple suddenly drifted apart. They even stopped following each other on a social networking site.

But love couldn't keep them apart and they were seen together at a good friend Mubina Rattonsey's party at a Juhu nightclub in August 2010.

4. Barely a week later, Priyanka went to Brazil to shoot for Khatron Ke Khiladi and Shahid drove her to the airport.

5. Shahid, who was advised by his father Pankaj Kapoor to protect his look in Mausam and not step out in public, paid no heed to him and met up with Piggy for the trial of Anjaana Anjaani at Yash Raj Studios in October 2010.

6. Problems developed yet again between them. However, soon after they appeared on Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan, they decided to give their relationship another shot. A month ago Sasha headed to Goa to spend the New Year with Piggy.

2011, A Love Story

2011-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

After contemplating a separation from her hubby Surendra Dahal, Manisha Koirala decides to give her marriage a second chance after friends counselled her

In 2001, she broke off her engagement to the then Australian ambassador to Nepal, Crispin Conroy, saying she was not yet ready to enter into a marriage.

In 2009, she was to tie the knot with American author, speaker and mental toughness trainer Christopher Dorris, but things fell apart.

Yogen shah

And then last year, on June 19, when she finally tied the knot with Samrat Dahal, son of famed Nepalese businessman Surendra Dahal, not many were placing theirs bets on this marriage lasting. Cynics were almost justified in November 2010, when she posted on her Facebook account that she is planning to get a legal separation from Samrat and moved into her parents' residence.

The latest update on her personal life is that she is going back to Samrat. Manisha and Samrat are giving their marriage another shot.

A source close to the couple told Mumbai Mirror, “Samrat loves Manisha very much. Ditto for Manisha's feelings for him. Both have almost ironed out all their differences and are working on the others that remain.”

Koirala, who is currently in Mumbai, leaves for Nepal very soon. “She will join Samrat in a few days from now,” revealed the source.

The story goes that friends and relatives of Koirala counselled her to understand that she should not take her marriage lightly. Revealed the source, “They explained to her that a few ifs and buts exist in every marriage and a few teething problems invariably will crop up.

Manisha seems to have taken it in the right spirit and vein.” Apparently, Samrat was also cajoled by people who matter to him.

Confirming that Koirala is indeed going back to Dahal, a very close friend of Koirala's also told this paper, “Manisha was in a very grumpy mood for the past few days. It's good to see her happy again. She starts 2011 on a smiling note.”

Koirala remained unavailable for comment, but we're taking this opportunity to congratulate her on this rapprochement.

Kat fight continues

2011-01-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

The hugs and kisses were fake. Katz and Chops still cannot see eye to eye

It’s a new year but some things just refuse to change. Last evening, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif crossed each others paths but completely snubbed each other without even saying a customary ‘Hi’.
The incident happened at an awards function at the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla Complex. Says an eyewitness, “Priyanka and Katrina were next to each other for quite some time backstage.

Their eyes met, but they did not give each other even a faint smile. They behaved like total strangers. There was ample opportunity for both the ladies to at least acknowledge each other’s presence but even that did not happen. Everyone around them noted this.”

History has it that Priyanka was upset when Katrina stepped into her shoes for Tarun Mansukhani’s Dostana 2.

And then Katrina walked out of Anurag Basu’s Barfi (earlier titled Silence) when Priyanka signed up for the second lead’s role. Katrina told a friend then, “Basu had told me that they would take a newcomer in the second role. But when he did not live up to his word, I didn’t feel the need to continue.”

And with time, the cracks widened. At the IPL awards in April last year, we heard that all of Priyanka’s and Katrina’s moves were choreographed perfectly to avoid any kind of fireworks. It was planned so the two ladies don’t even see each other.

A few days ago, the two girls hugged and kissed at Salman Khan’s Being Human function. How about forgiving and actually being human for a change?

Disastrous debuts of 2010

2011-01-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

There are debutants who make a mark. There are debutants who don't quite make a mark. And then there are debutants who fade away after that one attempt that goes unnoticed. One can't (and shouldn't) predict whether the names below will ever get a second chance. However, one can say for sure that their first Bollywood outing was a disappointment, whether due to their own act or the film as a whole.

Monikangana Dutta (Guzaarish)

The way Monikangana Dutta was hyped; perhaps it was next only to Sonakshi Sinha in Dabangg. She was being hailed as the find of 2010 by those who stood by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and that too when let aside her characterisation in Guzaarish, not even a single frame from the film had been shown to the world. As it turned out, the length of a single interview of hers was twice the size of her character sketch and dialogues in Guzaarish.

Pakhi (Jhootha Hi Sahi)

Though technically Jhootha Hi Sahi wasn't Pakhi's debut (she had played a small part in Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai half a decade back), this John Abraham starrer was one film which properly launched Pakhi. She was universally panned though in majority of reviews as critics didn't take kindly to her. As a leading female protagonist in Jhootha Hi Sahi, she was required to shoulder a huge responsibility but along with the falling of the film, Pakhi fell too.

Aditya Narayan (Shaapit)

During the making of Shaapit, there was much buzz around Aditya Narayan's debut as a leading man in this Vikram Bhatt horror show. However, by the time the film was ready to release, the buzz was gone and so was the hype. Result? Though Aditya did act decently, it wasn't good enough for him to carry an entire film on his shoulder. There were rough edges for sure and if the boy further works on his craft, there is still some good hope ahead.

Vikram (Raavan)

This has to be the 'oldest' ever debut in Bollywood. One doesn't remember when was the last time a leading man debuted at an age of 50. Well, Vikram did and though he is a huge name down South, Raavan didn't quite prove to be the calling card in Bollywood for the actor. He was good in this Mani Ratnam film though but since the film was an all around disappointment, Vikram too got under the line of fire. One sincerely hopes though that he gets a good movie for himself in Bollywood to make a mark all over again.

Luv Sinha & Ferena Wazeir (Sadiyaan)

Oops. Oops and a big Oops was what one mouthed in their very first scenes that Luv Sinha and Ferena Wazeir were seen in Sadiyaan. Totally clueless about what they were required to do on screen, not quite knowing what were the expectations from them and disappointing all around with their act, Luv Sinha & Ferena Wazeir didn't leave a mark at all. The ill fate of Sadiyaan did clear one misconception that 'it always isn't in the genes'. Case in point being Luv's sister Sonakshi's act in Dabangg.

Mona Laizza (Kajraare)

Mona Laizaa from Pakistan must have been thrilled when she was signed for Kajraare. She had Himesh Reshammiya for company who was on a high after his debut film Aap Kaa Surroor was a hit. The film's writer was none other than Mahesh Bhatt and it was backed by Bhushan Kumar who was once Himesh's friend with a successive collaboration to boast. However everything changed two years down the line and the film had the misfortune of releasing straight on DVD, hence shattering Mana's dream of being seen on the big screen.

Sukhwinder Singh (Kuchh Kariye)

Sukhwinder was bad in the film? Yes. He should have never made an attempt to act? Yes. Compared to him, Himesh Reshammiya and Sonu Nigam were far better in films like Aap Kaa Surroor and Love In Nepal? Yes. He should never act again? Yes. He should continue singing? Absolutely yes.

Amruta Patki (Hide & Seek)

A former Miss India Earth, Amruta Patki is perhaps the only beauty queen to make such an unsung debut in a mainstream Bollywood flick. One wonders what made her sign this whodunit with a paranormal theme to it as she was surrounded by half a dozen other actors. With a new producer, new director and a meagre budget to boast of, Hide & Seek was a flop, hence taking away with it a debut which went totally unnoticed. She was decent in the film with a great body to boast. It's a matter of starting all over again for Amruta who has it in her to crack it.

Aruna Shields (Prince, Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta)

Though she has worked in a few movies out there in West, in Bollywood her calling card was Prince. With a single expression being reserved for 'kabhi khushi or 'kabhi gham', she was known most for her dare bare acts in those films from West. This did lead to intensive Google search for her images but beyond that, her only redeeming moment in the Vivek Oberoi starrer was the chartbuster track 'Tere Liye'. As for Mr. Singh Mrs. Mehta, she did pose topless but Censors ruined whatever excitement that audience may have carried to see Ms. Sheilds on the big screen.

Neha Sharma (Crook)

2010 was the first instance when as many as two girls were launched by the Bhatts and still they went unnoticed. Known for presenting their leading ladies with a strong characterisation to boast of, Bhatts couldn't salvage the Bollywood career of Mona Laizaa (Kajraare). The same was the case with Neha Sharma as well who escaped a kiss from Emraan Hashmi but couldn't quite escape from the box office disappointment of this film which had racism as its theme. She was good in the film but along with Crook, Neha's act went unnoticed as well.

Actors who had a bad 2010

2011-01-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

In 2010, quite a few mighty stars and superstars had a bad year at the box office. Quite a few of them acted well but the film as a whole let them down, hence leading to a red in the report card. If Bachchans had to hunt for the box office success, someone like Hrithik who picks up films quite sparsely had to face double disappointment. Old gun like Sanjay Dutt couldn't fire either while the real life couple of Bipasha Basu and John Abraham didn't have much to smile either.

Abhishek Bachchan

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey - Disaster
Raavan - Flop

For Abhishek Bachchan, 2010 was mighty disappointing with two of his epic films - Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey as well as Raavan - turning out to be quite bad at the box office. He played two contrasting characters in these films. While he was overtly aggressive in Raavan, Khelein Hum... had him keeping the pitch of his performance low. However, while box office was quite cold to him, even from critical reception perspective, Abhishek didn't find many takers. What went well for him though was the fact that he accepted the failure of both the films with utmost humility rather than turning offensive.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Raavan - Flop
Action Replayy - Flop
Guzaarish - Flop
Robot (dubbed) - Above average

After a quiet 2009 where she didn't have a single release to her name, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had luxury of riches in 2010. To her misfortune though, she had to face the ignominy of a hat trick of failures with Raavan, Action Replayy as well as Guzaarish seeing a mighty fall at the box office. She did find some good critical acclaim coming her way in Raavan as well as Guzaarish but from commercial standpoint; she had a forgettable year in Bollywood. She can take solace from the fact that Endhiran (seen in Hindi as Robot) is still running to packed houses down South.

Amitabh Bachchan

Teen Patti - Flop
Rann - Flop

All said and done, the man is beyond the numbers game. However, the fact remains that his fans were mighty disappointed when they saw him in an irrelevant film like Teen Patti. He tried hardest to get some sanity in the proceedings but a poor narrative meant that his central protagonist role in the film didn't find any takers. Same holds good for Rann which was an unfortunate flop as Amitabh Bachchan was quite good in his comeback film with Ram Gopal Varma.

Bipasha Basu

Pankh - Flop
Lamhaa - Flop
Aakrosh - Flop

Bipasha Basu isn't quite having the best of the times at the box office and this showed in 2010 as well where she had to suffer a hat trick of flops. One wonders what made her sign Pankh which was the most bizarre film to come out of Bollywood since her partner John Abraham's No Smoking. She was quite good in Lamhaa but the film was patchy due to which her act went unnoticed. On the other hand, she herself was hardly noticed in Aakrosh where Bipasha hardly had a couple of important scenes for herself.

Hrithik Roshan

Kites - Flop
Guzaarish - Flop

For someone who is overtly selective about the work that he does, Hrithik Roshan had as many as two films to his credit in a single year, something which is a rarity. To his misfortune though, both Kites as well as Guzaarish were major flops. He can take solace from the fact though that Kites did take a massive opening due to his name being attached to the project. As for Guzaarish, he can well expect the awards of the highest stature being extended to him once the ceremonies begin.

Irrfan Khan

Right Yaaa Wrong - Flop
Knock Out - Flop
Hisss - Flop

Irrfan Khan is the trusted one if one expects a performance per se in each of his outings. He is also in news for an integral part he is supposed to play in Spiderman Reboot. However, closer home, Irrfan didn't have much going for him with 2010 turning out to be an inconsequential year for him. He was quite good in both Right Yaa Wrong as well as Knock Out but both films were major flops. As for Hisss, he was clueless in the entire narrative but only has himself to blame that he actually gave a go-ahead to such a shoddy script.

John Abraham

Aashayein - Flop
Jhootha Hi Sahi - Flop

It was a matter of delayed releases for John which must have been really frustrating for the actor. On a high after back to back successes of New York and Dostana, John had to suffer a delayed release in Aashayein which failed miserably. Jhootha Hi Sahi too came after a delay and though the man was appreciated from many quarters for an act that totally went against his hunky image, box office had a different story to tell.

Mallika Sherawat

Hisss - Flop

She came, she was hardly seen and she didn't conquer anything at all. It was a typical case of 'na ghar ke na ghat ke' as after making Hollywood as her home, Mallika Sherawat could neither find any luck running there nor did she have much to show in Bollywood. Resultantly Hisss, which was once pitched as that true blue crossover film, found a poor release for itself and the most terrible reviews of the year. Madame Sherawat's act too didn't have much to talk home about and as a result, her only appearance in Bollywood after a long-long time didn't quite see a 'heroine welcome'!

Sanjay Dutt

Lamhaa - Flop
Knock Out - Flop
No Problem - Flop

While he is accused of sleep walking in quite a few of his films, that wasn't really the case in Sanjay Dutt's three releases of 2010 - Lamhaa, Knock Out and No Problem. Lamhaa, a long-in-the-making film was the worst hit of all and though Dutt was decent here, the film was totally ignored by the 'junta'. Knock Out did have a few interesting moments but the film just didn't appeal to the audience and failed to take an opening. As for No Problem, Sanju baba was the best part of the film and though the film did take a decent start, it couldn't sustain much beyond the first week.

Sushmita Sen

Dulha Mil Gaya - Disaster
No Problem - Flop

One wonders if Sushmita Sen would actually be continuing to do films from this point on. She hasn't seen a single successful film since Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) and the first decade of the millennium is now ending on a disappointing note for her with both her films turning out to be flops. She tried to 'shimmer' in Dulha Mil Gaya at year beginning but the film was a disaster. As for her year end release No Problem, she could have made her 'multiple personality disorder' comic act far more interesting but that didn't quite come off convincingly on screen.

Anushka Sharma & Akshay Kumar Promoting Patiala House

2011-01-03T04:55:00.000-08:00

Deepika Padukone Chatting with Fans

2011-01-03T04:50:00.000-08:00

Karishma Kapoor with Young Kareena Kapoor

2011-01-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 1993

2011-01-03T04:44:00.001-08:00

Aamir's name hunting on twitter

2010-06-23T21:33:00.001-07:00

Mere announcement of his film's progress makes waves. His ways of promoting films make news for their innovation. He is after all Aamir Khan.

So it came as a surprise when the otherwise reclusive Aamir decided to join the miocroblogging site Twitter and that too on the insistence of Amitabh Bachchan.

"At dinner with Aamir... coaxing him to come on Twitter. Success come to those that dare and act!! Convinced the inconvincible Aamir over dinner to come on Twitter,"

Bachchan posted on his Twitter account.

So, it is not a secret anymore that Aamir will be on Twitter on July 1.

But the already existing Twitter handles in his name don't leave our man with much choice. So what handle does he use?

With all possible permutations and combinations of his name already floating on the microblogging site, we got our thinking hats on and asked the public at large to help him. Clearly there aren't many names (based on the combinations of his initials, his birth date, films, banner etc) left. We give him a few options, based on various aspects of his life, that he could possibly use as his Twitter handle. (See lower box on right).

Twitter or no Twitter, it seems that if you announce your arrival too soon, toh naam gum jayega!

Existing Twitter handles

amir_khan, ammirkhan, khanamir, AmirsKhan, IammAmirKhan, meamir, imamirkhan, amirkhan, amirkkhan, amirkhanmumbai, i_am_amir, Amir__Khan, amirkhanonline1, Iamamirkha, aamir_khan, iaamirkhan, Aam1rkhan, iaamirk, Aamirkhanh, ikhanaamir, TheAamirKhan, aamirrkhan, AamirKhan65, aaamirkhan, a_amirkhn, aamir_khan1403, Aaam1r, aamir007khan, Aamir1965, mail2aamir, aamirkhanhusain, aamiraamiraamir, khanaamirkhan, aamirrr, iam_amir, AmirKingKhan

Alternatives for Aamir

IdiotAamir or AamirIdiot – After his last successful film 3 Idiots

GhajiniAamir or Aamirghajni – His still remembered Ghajini look

iAamir – a la Ihrithik

RealAamirKhan – As in Real Priety Zinta or Real Kangana

Beingaamir – As in Being Salman Khan

Indianaamir or AamirIndian – His efforts to promote Indianness

Aamir Khan Productions – After the name of his company

AamirTKhan or AamirTahirKhan – After his father's name

AamirLive – As in Peepli Live

PerfectionistAamir – That, of course, he is

Kirankaaamir – As in Kiran Rao's husband Aamir

Aamirthesuperstar – After Aamir announced he is the new No 1

Aamirkhan1 – After Aamir said he is No 1 and SRK is No 2

If you're right, prove it: Amitabh

2010-06-23T21:31:00.001-07:00

Five things Amitabh Bachchan did not tweet or blog about in response to the criticism Raavan has faced...

1. If there have been rabid remarks on Raavan then that is what the people who made these observations have felt.

When you are in the public arena, you will always be vulnerable to adverse comment and accusation. You will also be the idol of several, loved and admired equally. You cannot have it good all the time. You must learn to live with it or stop being a member of the celebrity club. Take it on the chin and smile. If you are right, get up and prove it. If you are wrong, acknowledge and accept it.

2. Mani Ratnam is an exceptional talent, even his so called 'worst' is a million times better than many so called 'bests'.

When one sets such high standards of credibility, you garner high expectation also. And when the audience feels that that standard has been even minutely compromised, it expresses disappointment. Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan may have disappointed you in Mela and Paheli, respectively. But that never stopped you from loving them for box office excellence in 3 Idiots and Kabhie Alvida na Kehna.

3. The film is an astonishing mix of mythology and politics put out in ethereal poetry. It is an intelligent film that the ticket- paying audience and the box office pundits are not necessarily impressed with. Hence the adverse reactions. Fair enough. It is Mani's vision. We may not like his creativity, but we do not have the right to tell him not to create, as has been most harshly expressed by some.

4. Abhishek and Aishwarya have come in for flak.

There is diverse opinion. Two critics from two different prestigious print mediums have on the same day tabulated two exactly opposite reactions! One says 'Abhishek has hammed his way through the film' and the other expresses that 'This is Abhishek's best performance to date'. One castigates Aishwarya's 'silent and stone presence' in film, the other gushes that the most endearing quality of the film is her 'stunning performance, never seen before'. Whom do you believe?

5. Abhishek and Aishwarya will perform according to what the director demands.

Critics have an onerous and difficult task. They have to be producer, director, actor, screenplay writer, dialogue writer, musician, playback singer, stunt co-ordinator all in one, and some more – they need to have the ability to assimilate all of this in an opinion and put it down against time lines within 500-600 words. It's a tough ask. Commenting on their credibility would unnecessarily stir up sensationalized 'breaking news' bulletins for a hungry and starved idiot box ogre. So I shall refrain. But personally, I liked both their performances.

(As told to Subhash K Jha)

Big B in Raavan blame game

2010-06-23T21:30:00.001-07:00

Blame it on the editing. Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan did exactly that on the weekend. In his tweets with Filmfare editor Jitesh Pillaai, the concerned father expressed the view that it was the editing of Mani Ratnam's Raavan that led to the inconsistency of the performance of the protagonist — Abhishek Bachchan.

Amitabh implied that had the film not been so "sadly edited", Abhishek's erratic behaviour (and all that jazz about his 10 heads) would have been easier for the common man to comprehend. One of the Big B's tweets read: "Lot of merited film edited out, causing inconsistent performance and narrative, but what presentation!''

However, trade specialists don't seem to be in tandem with the legend's views. Says trade guru Taran Adarsh, "The film (Hindi) opened to a weak response. The figures have just come in this Monday morning. It has collected only 45% of what Kites and Raajneeti collected over the opening weekend. It has fared very average in the UK too.''

Taran who has been following Amitabh on the micro-blogging site says, "When a film flops everything about it seems at fault. It is very easy to blame the editing. But, according to me, Raavan failed because the script was too linear. It was stretched. If the editing is consistent, it can make a film slicker; it can make a performance look better. But inconsistent editing can't save a bad performance. In my opinion, Aishwarya was good in the film, however Abhishek lacked the maturity for this role. If the editing was bad, then even Ash's performance would have got diluted.''

The other trade consultant Amod Mehra, adds, "Everything about Raavan except the cinematography was mediocre.'' He feels the performances of all the lead actors was strictly below average. "When a film goes wrong people are looking for various factors to put the blame on. But the fact is that Raavan has failed. Mani couldn't justify Abhishek's character well. And he made Beera look like a lunatic muttering to himself.''

A staunch supporter of the editor of Raavan, Sreekar Prasad, says, "Sreekar has won 11 National Awards. So to blame his editing is the lamest excuse one can throw up. When Mr Bachchan spoke about Raavan being sadly edited, he probably felt that the length went awry and some scenes got left out as a result of which Abhishek's performance as the 10-headed Beera came out looking half-baked.''

Whatever the implications, the debate continues. Unfortunately, Bollywood feels that Mani's labour of love doesn't merit the debate either. It is reportedly a dead duck.

It's Raavan Gopal Varma!

2010-06-23T21:22:00.001-07:00

Ram Gopal Varma is turning introspective. The director tweets, "It's incredible that we are all such experts on solutions for others' problems and complete idiots when it comes to our own."

He also tweets about films flopping and its effects on him, "A film flopping is like its death. Only difference is at a Man's funeral people sympathise and at a films funeral they tear it apart".

Ramu, who recently suggested that Mani Ratnam attempt a remake of Aag and RGV himself remake Raavan, now remarks, "Ha ha now people are calling me Raavan gopal varma."

RGV used the social networking site to say, "I have to bear with my flops and then also with everyone's flops because whenever whoever has a flop, they invariably compare it with Aag ... . For Tashan they said its Aditya ki Aag, For Chandni Chowk they said Akshay ki Aag and for Kites they said Hrithik ki Aag and now it's Mani ki Aag."

Yesterday he dragged in rival Karan Johar into the scene, by commenting, "I got a better idea, I will make 'My name is Raavan' and Mani should make 'Raavan ki Kurbaan'," taking a dig at Karan Johar's 'My Name Is Khan' and 'Kurbaan'.

Karan Johar gave him a fitting reply. KJo's tweet read: "You have an amazing sense of humour ramu!! Never shows up in your films though...." To which the irrepressible RGV replied, ha ha karan becos of the constant bashing I receive I developed my sense of humour as a defense mechanism. nd talking of my films not havng humour check out ths great comedy I made cald Rgv ki Aag."

Don't stop, Ram.....we're having too much fun!

Lovesick Ash drops in on Abhi

2010-06-15T18:58:00.001-07:00

Normally the Bachchans have a very rigid rule about not mixing business with pleasure. But on Thursday morning when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan landed in Mumbai from Paris she broke the golden rule when she dropped in unannounced to meet Abhishek at the Reliance Web World where he was doing out-of-town press interviews.

Says a source, "Lately Abhishek and Aishwarya have had very little time to spend together. After their short anniversary holiday, Abhishek got busy with the shooting of Abhinay Deo's Game in Greece while Aishwarya returned to India for a stint of Robot. She was then in Paris to honour Brazilian tennis champ Gustavo Kuerten for his work with disadvantaged children."

Says a source, "At the charity dinner that followed Aishwarya bonded with Steffi Graf and Mary Pierce and kept missing Abhishek because he was a big fan of both." The minute she landed in Mumbai from Paris Aishwarya asked the family driver to take her wherever Abhishek was. A first for her because normally she doesn't intrude when her husband is working. Even when she joins him on long outdoors she never hangs around the sets when he's shooting.

Says a friend of Aishwarya, "This time she made an exception because she was missing Abhishek all the way from Paris to Mumbai. And besides Abhishek was doing promotional work for their film together. She not only met him, she also joined impromptu to talk to their fans on radio in Jaipur and Ahmedabad."

Says a family friend, "The funny part is, the Bachchans are never together these days. Now that Aishwarya is home the senior Bachchan left for Paris, the city that Aishwarya left yesterday. In fact their flights must have crossed each other."

Low-key wedding for Manisha?

2010-06-15T18:46:00.001-07:00

Manisha Koirala, who's all set to tie the knot with her Nepali fiancé Samrat Dahal on June 19, is not expecting too many of her friends from Mumbai to arrive in Kathmandu on the most special day of her life.

Only Manisha's best friend Deepti Naval, who recently directed the actress in her directorial debut Do Paise Ko Dhoop Chaar Anne Ki Baarish, confirmed her presence at the wedding.

The wedding, according to Bollywood's hushed whispers, is not quite safe to attend.

Says an actress-friend of Manisha, "I'd love to go. But Nepal is not high on my list of seeable countries. One hears about the violence there. It isn't safe."

Sadly, even the big post-wedding reception that Manisha had planned in Mumbai is not happening. Says the lovely actress, "I had planned a big do for all my friends in Mumbai right after the wedding. But that seems unlikely now. Family and friends in Delhi also want to host a reception.So we can't have one and ignore the other. We'll leave for our honeymoon immediately after the wedding. After we come back, I plan to have a reception-cum-birthday party."

IIFA 2010 Fashion Show: Salman Khan & Sonakshi Sinha

2010-06-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

IIFA Awards 2010: Dia Mirza, Sharman Joshi & Vivek Oberoi

2010-06-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the French Open in Paris

2010-06-06T21:39:00.000-07:00