Saturday, February 28, 2009

Aadesh Shrivastava to make album with Justin Timberlake and Rihanna

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Music director Aadesh Shrivastava has plans to make an anti-terrorism album with international singers like Justin Timberlake and Rihanna.


After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, Aadesh is still reeling with anger and agony over loss of innocent lives. To vent out his angst in creative way, the music composer is working on an album with anti-terrorism theme. The album will feature Justin Timberlake, sensational R&B singer Rihanna , Indian violinist Kala Ramanathan and Ustad Rashid Khan.



Aadesh has already recorded with Ustad Rashid Khan and Kala Ramanathan. Justin and Rihanna have also given their confirmation.For Aadesh to make this album was an instant calling. He had other musical plans for himself - an album about the four seasons of the year. But shocked by the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Aadesh dropped that idea and began working on a global album with strong message against terrorism.


“The time to sing bhajans and qawwallis evoking Allah and Ishwar to bring peace to earth is over. Such silent pleas won`t work any more,” Aadesh told a news agency. Aadesh also makes it clear that there won’t be any references to any gods or any religion in the album.


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Aishwarya said it is always a pleasure to act with Abhishek

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Aishwarya Rai, who is currently shooting for director Mani Ratnam’s film "Ravana" here, said her character is not called Sita in the film that also stars her husband Abhishek Bachchan."The name of my character is not ’Sita’. I am playing a woman who has similarities with the Sita of ’Ramayana’, " the actress told reporters at the press conference of her new Hollywood flick ’Pink Panther 2’ here.



Aishwarya, however, refused to give further details about "Ravana"."I can’t give any details about ’ Ravana’ at the moment. You will have to wait and watch. All I can say that it is an intense film set in today’s time and Mani has given a totally new perspective to the art of storytelling, " she said.


Asked if she is paired opposite Abhishek, Aishwarya said they never played a conventional couple on-screen.


"We have never been paired opposite each other in the conventional way, apart from the film ’Kuchh Naa Kaho’. Be it ’Dhoom 2’ or ’Sarkar Raj’, it’s not the conventional man-wife pairing. Even in ’Guru’, the film revolves around Abhishek. So, by the time ’Ravana’ happened, we have become used to this, " she said.


"But, director Abhinay Deol has decided to cast us in his new film. Hopefully, the audience will see us romancing on screen there, " she added.


Aishwarya said it is always a pleasure to act with Abhishek.


"It’s always a pleasant experience working with actors like Abhishek. I am not saying it just because I am his wife, but the fact remains that he is one of the nicest co-actors I have seen so far, " she said.


Talking about "Pink Panther 2", which has released in India Friday, Aishwarya said the film is a "joyride".


"Anyone who is familiar with English films and ’Pink Panther’ will know what I mean when I say the film is a joy ride. Although I have a small role in the film, I said ’yes’ only because I wanted to work with institutions like Steve Martin.


"Besides, I have highest regard for comedy because it is the most difficult emotion to portray on screen. ’ Pink Panther 2 ’ is an easy comedy and every one can watch it with family, " she said.


The actress has been shooting for "Ravana" here since Feb 17. Abhishek is expected to join her soon. The shooting will continue till mid-March.


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The tinsel town cannot stop raving about Freida Pinto

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The tinsel town cannot stop raving about Freida Pinto as present and as the lady still basks in the glory of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ success, there could be no other time more apt for her to make her presence felt through media and print magazines.



So, this March, we will have Freida as the reigning cover girl of almost all the leading magazines. After ‘Vogue’ and ‘Cosmopolitan’, Freida will also be seen as the cover girl of Maxim India March 2009. She has already swept everyone off their feet with her witty answers at ‘The Tonight Show’ hosted by Jay Leno, her flawless sense of style, her portraits in Vanity Fair, and irresistible movie offers from Woody Allen .


The Maxim cover has Freida with a naughty playful look wearing an oversized sweater and six-inch black heels. On the covers of ‘Vogue ’ Freida portrays a different style and look with elegant attire, immaculate tresses, dripping jewelery, blood red lipstick and an evocative gaze. That’s what we call versatility!


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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Nana Patekar will adopt a Punjabi intonation

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Well,Nana Patekar will drop his distinct Marathi accent and will adopt a Punjabi intonation for his upcoming film EK - THE POWER OF ONE. Nana will be essaying a role of a CBI officer in the film. Apparently, while shooting in Punjab Nana had some scenes in which he had to carry out some investigation work while interacting with people.



For the same, we hear that, Nana went up to three women with his dialogue script and requested them to teach him how to deliver his hindi dialogues in a typical Punjabi accent. Director Sangeet Sivan was very impressed with Nana’s dedication that he couldn’t deny Nana’s request and allowed the actor to deliver his dialogues in Punjabi . Well, what can we say...Nana, Twada Jawaab Nahi!!


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The child actors of Slumdog Millionaire received a grand welcome

Slumdog Millionaire kids arrive


The child actors of Slumdog Millionaire received a grand welcome when they arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Thursday morning. Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Rubina Ali, Tanay Chedda, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Tanvi Lonkar and Madhur Mittal were greeted with cheers and garlands, as their relatives waited eagerly on the sidelines to receive them.



In the picture: Ayush Khedekar, Tanay Chheda and Rubina Ali in the airport.


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Rubina Ali’s father Rafique Qureshi, a slum dweller, came with a dozen relatives to receive his daughter. "I am so glad to be here. I’m proud of my daughter. She has made our country proud. Jai Ho!" Rafique said excitedly. "Our niece has not only become famous in our slums but she’s become world famous," added Rubina’s uncle Dilshad Mohammad Khan, who had accompanied Rubina to Los Angeles.


In the picture: Rubina Ali’s father Rafique Qureshi with his daughter.


Slumdog Millionaire kids arrive


A large crowd had assembled to welcome the children. A fleet of cars, including Mercedes Benz, waited for each child, who was then taken to their respective homes. Azharuddin ’s father, Mohammad Ismail said, "We have arranged for music and garlands. The preparation has been going on since last night. It’s going to be party time now." Mohammed Ismail sounded cheerful despite the fact that he is suffering from tuberculosis. Even the fact that his economic condition has not improved has not lessened his happiness. I hope the government gives us a flat, so that I can spend the rest of my life decently," he said.The Maharashtra Housing Development Authority had requested Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to allocate two flats to slum-dwellers Rubina and Azharuddin, who acted in Slumdog Millionaire, but Chavan turned down the request.


In the picture: Mohammed Azharuddin.


Slumdog Millionaire kids arrive


Prabha Chheda, Tanay’s grandmother, arrived at the airport with a ’Welcome Tanay’ banner. "I am so happy to see my child back," she gushed. "I made this banner especially to welcome him."


Slumdog Millionaire kids arrive


"We had a great party time," said Madhur Mittal, adding, "I cannot express my happiness in words." So how will he celebrate the big win? "Party even more! I am still living this dream," he says. "I loved the entire experience. The best part was Disney Land!" Ayush says. "I loved that place."


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Shilpa Shetty facing problems in delivering her dialogues

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Things are always as easy as they seem. This is the lesson which Shilpa Shetty has learnt recently for our sexy Bollywood lass is facing problems in delivering her dialogues for her next Indo-Chinese film ‘Desire’. Desire is her first international Indo-Chinese project where she plays a role of an Odissi dancer.



Though Shilpa informs that shooting for ‘Desire ’ was a unique experience, it was not easy for her to get her classical dance steps correct and perfect. Moreover, speaking English without accent wasn’t easy for her.


Says, Shilpa “This is the first time I did dialogues in English and so did Xia Yu . Not as easy as I thought it would be, when you are so used to saying dialogues in Hindi. Both Xia Yu and I made such an effort not to speak the English language with an accent. But all’s well that ends well. I am happy I got to do this too.”


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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan is set to play the renowned tiger hunter

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Superstar Amitabh Bachchan is set to play the renowned tiger hunter and conservationist in a Priyadarshan film.Departing from his usual genre, comedy, Priyan is set to make the first thriller of his career. Titled ‘Grrr’, the film will be about the man-eating tigers of Sunderbans with Amitabh Bachchan playing the role of Jim Corbett. Corbett, who was a colonel in British Indian Army, is renowned for having killed many man-eating tigers in the jungles of Kumaon in North India under the Raj.



He was also a conservationist who stressed the need to save forests and wild life. Priyadarshan so far directed Amitabh in advertisements, but ‘Grrr’ would be his first film with the superstar. The director says he could envisage none other than Big B in the role of the fearless Jim Corbett .The film won’t be shot with real tigers. Rather Priyan will use animatronics (robotic tigers) for the film.


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Freida Pinto is now the cover girl of Vogue magazine

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After wowing fans with her acting and lately, her fashion sense, Freida Pinto is now the cover girl of Vogue magazine.Pinto, 24, who was signed on by Hollywood filmmaker Woody Allen, posed for the cover of Vogue’s March issue.



The magazine which hits stands today, features exclusive interviews about life before the Oscars, bonding with Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio and her future plans.Slumdog Millionaires Latika caught the attention of New York’s hip fashion commentators, the Fug Girls; she even topped style.com’s 10 Best Dressed List in February -- beating Renee Zellweger and Wendi Murdoch.


At the Vogue shoot, when a reporter asked stylist Tiina Laakkonen why Pinto isn’t being dressed exclusively in Indian fashion, Pinto grabed a pencil and scribbled her answer on a scrap of paper, ’Because she’s international now!’


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Kareena who graces the cover of the first edition of Harpers Bazaar

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‘Harper’s Bazaar’ is having their very first India issue released this March and who could be the better choice than to feature the hot couple Saifeena in the issue. The magazine recently covered a photo shoot of the couple in the exotic locations of Mauritius with Kareena wearing a cue from Giorgio Armani Spring 2009 dress and Saif wearing an Ermenegildo Zegna suit.



The pics came out great with the couple looking very much in love but it is only Kareena who graces the cover of the first edition of Harpers Bazaar India in a floral strapless maxi.


Check out the photo shoot of Saif and Kareena and also the cover of the magazine with Kareena looking as ravishing, gorgeous and perfect as ever.


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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Slumdog children Team to meet Pop queen Madonna

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As the winning team of Slumdog Millionaire finally made it to the ’Vanity Fair’ ball, the children in the group were disappointed to learn that superstar Madonna had already left the party. The cast members of the team were the last to enter the party at around 2 am, having made the rounds of the other celebratory bashes including the one thrown by the producers of the film, Fox Searchlights and the Governor’s Ball.



And young actor’s Tanay Chedda and Ayush Khedekar were disappointed to know that superstars like Madonna and Mick Jagger had already left the party."Everywhere we go, everyone says ’Vanity Fair’ is the party to come to," a child actor said, while adding that they hope to make it in time next year to meet their idols.


Oscar winners Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz, Kate Winslet partied amongst other A-listers like Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, Reese Witherspoon, Will Smith and Jessica Biel. But the post-Oscar bashes received a royal snub from the golden couple, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.


Pitt and Jolie were nominated together in the Best Actor and Best Actress category but returned empty handed as the highly-competed category wins went to Sean Penn and Kate Winslet. Pop queen Madonna , whose entry was anticipated eagerly, disappointed the gathered media by turning up solo without current love interest, 22-year-old Brazilian model Jesus Luz.


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Exclusive The Best Quotes From Oscar Winners 2009


Rahman , who came onstage again to accept the award for Jai Ho, he said, "All my life I had the option of choosing love or hate. I chose love so here I am."




"My kids are too old to remember this now, but when they were much younger, I swore to them that if this miracle ever happened that I would recede into the character of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh," Danny Boyle said jumping up and down, after winning the best director Academy Award for Slumdog Millionaire. Boyle also thanked the city of Mumbai. "You dwarf even this guy," he said pointing to the Oscar statuette.



"Art is the universal language! Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one," Penelope Cruz said accepting the award for the Best Supporting Actress. This was the first award of the evening. Cruz also thanked Woody Allen for ’trusting me with this beautiful character. Thank you for having written all these years some of the greatest characters for women."



"OK, that fainting thing, Penelope," Kate Winslet joked later as she accepted her best-actress prize for The Reader, in which she plays a former concentration camp guard who has an affair with a teen. "I’d be lying if I haven’t made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror, and this would be a shampoo bottle. But it’s not a shampoo bottle now."



"You commie homo-loving sons of a guns! I did not expect this, and I want it to be very clear that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me, often, but I am touched by the appreciation." Sean Penn said while accepting his Best Actor award for his role in Milk.Penn added, "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone."



An overwhelmed Resul Pookutty while accepting award for best sound mixing said, "I come form a country that gave the word ’OM’ to the world."



Slumdog Millionaire Producer Christian Colson while accepting the award for Best Picture said, "(This was possible) for our shared love for the extraordinary city of Mumbai. When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle, we didn’t have enough money really to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that inspired mad love in everyone who read it. Most of all, we had passion and we had belief and our film shows that if you have those two things, truly anything is possible."



Simon Beaufoy dedicated the award for the best adapted screenplay to ’Danny and Christian, the other two musketeers’. Oddly though the other person he named in his speech was ’the beautiful Latika’. Wonder if he’d forgotten Freida Pinto’s name or he actually meant the character.



Megan Mylan, the director of Smile Pinki thanked the protagonist of her award-winning documentary. "Thank you Pinki Kumar for letting me tell your story," she said.



Heath Ledger’s sister spoke for many people present in the audience when she said, "Wish you were here!"Ledger’s father added, "I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry. We’d like to thank the academy for recognising our son’s amazing work, Warner Bros. and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative license to develop and explore this crazy Joker character."The two, along with his mother accepted Ledger’s award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role.



Dustin Lance Black, winner best original screenplay for Milk said, "Thank you mom for loving me for who I am. Thank you god for giving us Milk."



Jochen Alexander Freydank winner of Live Action Short Spielzeugland said, "I spent four years of my life for this 14-minute movie."



"Due to cutbacks, the Academy said they didn’t have enough money for an opening number," Hugh Jackman declared. "I’m going to do one anyway." Jackman who hosted the evening held the audiences in splits with his wisecracks.He opened the evening saying, "Kate Winslet, British, plays a German in The Reader - nominated. Robert Downey Jr., American, plays an Australian who is playing an African-American in Tropic Thunder - nominated. Whereas I am Australian playing an Australian in a movie called Australia - hosting!"


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Mallika Sherawat’s ‘Hisss’ will be lengthiest kissing scene ever in Bollywood

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Gone are the days when Mallika Sherawat ’s ‘Khwahish’ created nationwide stirs due to as many as seventeen liplocks. In the days to come, Bollywood viewers are going to get their due visual treats of passionate steamy kisses in intense romance scenes.



The latest buzz in the B-town says that the kiss in Mallika Sherawat’s ‘Hisss’ will be the lengthiest kissing scene ever in Bollywood. That is what the buzz from B-Town is. However, it is not the sex kitten Mallika who will be seen locking her lips on-screen, but the artists in the stretched out lip locking scene are Irfaan Khan and Divya Dutta.


The film is being directed by the Hollywood film maker Jeniffer Lynch and Irrfan did feel jittery when Jennifer told him about the steamy scene with Divya. The director sensing that Irfan and Divya were quite tensed promised them that the scene will be taken care of in the most possible aesthetic manner. The scene was shot in Kerala. The actors had to do the act in front of the entire unit and not break the lip-lock until Jennifer Lynch asked them to do so.


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Monday, February 23, 2009

People in Chennai celebrated Rahman’s win



People in Chennai, the home city of A R Rahman , are ecstatic over the homeboy’s clean sweep at the Oscars.


Youths, kids, old men and women and even the folks who aren’t film buffs are joyous with Rahman’s winning of two Oscars on the Academy night in Los Angeles. As soon as Rahman was declared the winner (around morning time in Chennai) fans came out on the streets and celebrated Rahman’s win by cutting cakes, distributing sweets and bursting crackers.



Family members of Rahman and his fans cut a huge cake right in the middle of the street opposite his house in the Kodambakkam area and burst ‘10,000 wala’ crackers.Students of several city colleges also joined the celebrations distributing sweets while the film fraternity, including singers, hailed his achievement.


Similar scenes of celebrations were witnessed at the house of Rahman’s sister AR Rehana in nearby Virugambakkam area. "We were just waiting for his name to be announced. I was praying to God at that time," an elated Rehana said. "I always wanted him to talk in Tamil after receiving the award and that is the way he spoke; I am happy about it," she said overwhelmed by joy.


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Freida Pinto was signed as the romantic lead opposite Dev Patel


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When Freida Pinto was signed as the romantic lead opposite Dev Patel about two years ago for Slumdog Millionaire, the 22-year-old actress wondered if it would look like she was cradle snatching. Dev was just about 17. Now, everyone seems to wonder -- and this was the big question thrown at both of them at their red carpet appearance before the Oscar ceremony -- if the on-screen chemistry has become real-life chemistry.



The gorgeous looking handsome couple did not expect the question, at least it seemed so. Flustered, Dev grabbed Anil Kapoor who tried to distract everyone from the question, and declared his love for the film, and the Indian movie industry.Pressed more about their romance, Freida said like his character in the movie, Dev was just a kid.


But the grapevine says no one should really be surprised if Freida and Dev are truly dating each other. In any event, the two have spent several months together promoting the film, giving over 200 interviews, appearing on half a dozen top TV shows in the UK, US and Canada. Since the film premiered at the Telluride film festival in September last year, and soon started the Oscar buzz at the Toronto International Film Festival, the two have hardly gone home. He is based in London where he lives with his parents, and Freida in Mumbai.


Freida half-heartedly said she wasn’t dating any one. She blushed when she was asked if a lot of big names in Hollywood had asked her out. No, she said, repeating it several times. Fox Searchlight which released the 10-Oscar nominated Slumdog Millionaire in America and couple of other territories including India, flew in the film’s other seven artists (apart from Dev and Freida) who play the three children at various stages of their life in the movie.


The children, carrying themselves with grace, drew wide attention and got over three minutes of limelight. They were asked to announce their names, and they did it cheerfully, without any hesitation. The fact they got so much of TV time on an evening that had Hollywood ’s biggest names including Brad Pitt and Kate Winslet was no small thing.


Director Danny Boyle was asked on the red carpet whether some of the children were indeed from the slums. He said some of them came from poor families but the film unit treated every child as equal. According to the Hollywood press, Fox Searchlight went out of the way to groom the children for the event, bring along a family member (for each child) to Hollywood and put them up in good hotels.


Also on the red carpet were Irrfan Khan who has just about 10 minutes in the film but leaves a powerful impact as the nasty police inspector and Anil Kapoor who plays the devious talent show host.Irrfan said the reason the film became such a hit was that it offered the masala Bollywood offers. But it was also a tightly knit cerebral film, and that made its appeal universal, he suggested.


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Salman Khan was known to care a damn about his image


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The notorious bad boy image withstanding, Salman Khan was known to care a damn about his image in the industry circles as well as the media but now he is a changed person. It perhaps may be the string of flops that he saw in last 16 months or a sense of maturity dawning upon him, Salman changing for the better.



Salman Khan has been known for his attitude and coming late on the sets but he has now changed his lethargic attitude towards his film Veer. The actor has reportedly been reporting on the sets dot at nine in the morning and shooting till late in the evening. This has surprised every single person on the sets.


Salman has never been so up and about his films. He has never bent his rules even for his brother Sohail Khan’s film Main Aur Mrs. Khanna.


Sohail had earlier even commented, "Salman is a master on his own. He will not change his rules because I am a brother. When he is on my set I am just a producer for him."


But working for his dream project Salman really seems to have changed completely.


It was reported that he had given up his bouts of drinking and now members of the unit claim that Salman is on the sets early in the morning even before the others arrive. He has taken the film seriously and is really working hard.


His director Anil Sharma vouches for Salman’s sincerity and tells us, "Yes Salman has changed a lot he comes on the set in the morning and shoots the whole day without a single break. He is putting all that he can into this film to make it a success."


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Friday, February 20, 2009

Hugh Jackman and Beyonce Knowles To perform in Oscars

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Hugh Jackman is turning singer for the Oscars. The ‘X-Men’ star is not only hosting the but will perform along with sensuous singing diva Beyonce Knowles. Hugh, Beyonce will team up with ‘High School Musical’ couple Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens for a musical performance on Oscar night.



For the 40-year-old actor who knows singing and dancing, the invitation to host the Oscars came as a pleasant surprise. Hugh was in Australia promoting his film ‘Australia’ at that time. He got a call in December regarding this and didn’t even know that his agent was on with negotiations.


The actor started preparing soon after and is constantly in touch with actors like Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Ricky Gervais and Billy Crystal, seeking advice and ideas. It’s been reported that he is practicing for six hours a day.


Hugh, who is voted sexiest man alive by People magazine, admits that he is not a stand-up comedian but is confident of pulling up a good act on the big night. He has hosted Tony Awards thrice.


According to some reports, ’Mamma Mia’ couple Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper will also perform on the stage. Robert Pattinson, too, is likely to act as a presenter. Whereas ‘Australia’ director Baz Luhrmann is choreographing the numbers.


Oscars will be held at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood on Feb 22.


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Shilpa Shetty is very much concerned about cancer-strickenJade Goody


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Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is very much concerned about cancer-stricken British Television star Jade Goody’s deteriorating health. Doctors have informed that she has only a few weeks to live but Shilpa has not lost all hope. She wrote in her blog that she is still hoping for some miracle to happen.



Shilpa wrote in her blog that Goody had invited her to her wedding with fiance Jack Tweed on Sunday but she couldn’t make it to the event due to her film commitments. She said that she would surely attend her wedding to show her solidarity if she were in Britain. She requested the public to forget the controversy between them during her stint at Celebrity Big Brothers and pray for Goody’s speedy recovery. She added that they had turned friends long before Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer.


In fact, it was during the reality show Bigg Boss 2, hosted by Shilpa, that Goody was informed of the cancer, forcing her to leave the show midway.


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If you have any problems in love life Celina to solve it


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If you have any problems in love life then don’t worry now Celina Jaitley ’s there to solve it. This beautiful actress is all set to get in touch with her fans through her website.

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She has recently launched her official website. Apparently some interesting features like ‘Talk about love’ and Talk to Me makes her website different from others. Interestingly there’s a section called ‘Talk about love’ where she will try to solve love queries.


Speaking about it she said, “You can talk to me and discuss issues about love or any other problem. Apart from that I would like to share my own experiences on my site.” She informs that she is going to have her favorite play list on the site that her fan can download on their phone.


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Thursday, February 19, 2009

A R Rahman is set to perform with American jazz pianist

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Indian music wizard A R Rahman is set to perform with American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock later this month in Chennai.Hancock, who "absolutely loves" the music of the Oscar-nominated film Slumdog Millionaire is looking forward to jam up with Rahman after the latter returns from the upcoming Oscar ceremony, presumably with a golden man or two.



Hancock is part of the official US delegation accompanying Martin Luther King III on an 11-day tour of India. He would perform on a special composition by Rahman on the theme of non-violence. "I absolutely loved the music of ’Slumdog’. It combines the influence of several cultures," Hancock said. Although the Chicago-based piano legend has not seen the film he said he is looking forward to performing with Rahman in Chennai scheduled on February 24.


Hancock, accompanied by vocalist-actor Dee Dee Bridgewaters and diva singer Chaka Khan and keyboard player George Duke on his India tour, said, "The spirit of music is firebrand and amazing. More and more artists and musicians are now crossing invisible boundaries of countries and continents and becoming cultural ambassadors."


The 12-time Grammy winner who was greeted with resounding applause after his performance of the "Living Dream" concert in the capital said, "We are here to celebrate peace and music is all about bringing people together."


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Sachin Tendulkar can bring his cricketing magic to real-estate

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Yachting enthusiasts Suniel Shetty and Sachin Tendulkar attended a boat party hosted by Samira habitats. There was more to this party than just pleasure. Mihir Nerurkar, Director, Samira Marinas said, “Sachin is going to be involved in a housing project in Alibaug.



It’s a residential resort that will have row houses.” We wonder if Sachin can bring his cricketing magic to real-estate. We’ll just have to wait and watch.


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Red Hot Bipasha Basu In Indian Idol Sets


She is Really Providing the Definition of Hot






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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Freida Pinto to wear their outfit for the Oscar night

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Many designers have been vying to get Freida Pinto to wear their outfit for the Oscar night on February 22.


Besides awarding the talents of the year, Oscar night is also about dressing up in one’s best togs. All preened and dolled up, celebrities walk the red carpet, flaunt their fashion statements and pose for photographs that find place in international magazines and tabloids.



This year, strobe lights will be aimed at the stars of Slumdog Millionaire , which has 10 Oscar nominations. Freida Pinto, Dev Patel , Anil Kapoor and A R Rahman will be part of the ‘Slumdog’ team to attend the gala event. And preparations are already underway on their part to be decked in best outfits.


Author and columnist Shobhaa De is quoted as saying on her blog that Jemima Khan, ex wife of cricketer Imran Khan, has expressed her interest in dressing Freida up for the big night.


Freida has become a head-turner at award functions with her top-of-the-line dresses from Christian Lacroix haute couture, Oscar de la Renta, Zac Posen, Moschino and Marchesa. And her stylist George Kotsiopoulos has said that she is on the wishlist of many designers and brands.


It’s still not clear if Freida has indeed teamed up with Jemima for her Oscar dress.


A R Rahman , who has three nominations and is expected to win at least one Oscar, will don a black bandhgala (an Indian dress buttoned up to neck) designed by Rohit Bal .


Anil Kapoor apparently is uncomfortable with bandhgalas and is expected to wear a suit, most likely an Armani.


Dev Patel, too, will slip into a black suit for the night. But it’s not confirmed which brand he will opt for.


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The pigeon is quite a star in some Bollywood movies

A scene from Maine Pyar Kiya


The pigeon is quite a star in some movies. Sometimes as the messenger of love. On others, a comedy-inducing prop. Thanks to his winged-status, he can be pretty symbolic too.we examines Bollywood’s legendary fascination with the fluttering creature.



Maine Pyaar Kiya


Postmen lack the personal touch that Bhagyashree and Salman Khan can avail of courtesy Handsome, the iconic pigeon to exchange ’pehle pyaar ki pehli chithis’ in Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic blockbuster. And so Kabootar ja ja it is.


A scene from Parinda


Parinda


One of Parinda’s most memorable scenes involves Anupam Kher getting shot at the hands of a bunch of hit men in broad day light, to the horror of hundreds of pigeons as well as Anil Kapoor who plays his best friend in the film. It’s a hard-hitting moment and the use of birds only heightens its overall impact.


A scene from Bombay


Bombay


The Gateway of India, a Mumbai landmark, is synonymous with the sight of pigeons. It also forms a stunning backdrop for Mani Ratnam’s dramatic visuals in the song picturisation of Halla Gulla.


A scene from Junoon


Junoon


Inspired by Ruskin Bond’s A Flight of Pigeons, Shyam Benegal’s compelling classic employs a set of pigeons to convey fascinating props in a Nawabi household. Be it as the recipient of the otherwise temperamental Shashi Kapoor’s tender, love and care, Nafisa Ali’s demure fondness, a subtle bond between the two or Naseeruddin Shah’s uncontrollable wrath.


A scene from Muhafiz


Muhafiz (In Custody)


In Ismail Merchant’s adaptation of Anita Desai’s novel, In Custody, Shashi Kapoor plays a disillusioned Urdu poet perturbed by the increasing modernisation around him. Playing upon the same are a bunch of sycophantic drink-buddies, more interested in the hospitality that follows than his actual creativity. Images of Kapoor weighed down by pigeons highlight the same.


A scene from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge


Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge


Love me. Love my pigeons. That certainly seems to be the order of the day as far as stern Bauji Amrish Puri ’aao aao’ and wayward Dilwala’s phurr-phurr escapades with the ever-hungry pigeons go.


A scene from Jodhaa Akbar


Jodhaa Akbar


Though bound by royal tradition, decorum and rules, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Jodhaa releases a bunch of pigeons to enjoy the high of freedom, sending the message of free will to an amazed Akbar [played by Hrithik Roshan] loud and clear in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s historical romance.


A scene from Bachna Ae Haseeno


Bachna Ae Haseeno


Getting a perfect shot with pigeon food placed on your arms can be quite stressful as Deepika Padukone discovered while filming the Khuda jaane ditty in Italy.


A scene from Awarapan


Awarapan


It is reported director Mohit Suri set around 700 pigeons free whilst shooting a sequence for Awarapan, which featured its leading lady Shriya Saran do the same on a much smaller scale.


A scene from Delhi 6


Delhi 6


Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest marks the debut of the rather capricious pigeon, Masakali. Not only does the vision in white has an entire A R Rahman creation dedicated to her. But she also gets to perch herself on Sonam Kapoor’s dainty head and hog a considerable footage in the film’s promos, publicity and press.


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