When Vidya touched Rajinikanth's feet

Recently while Vidya Balan was in Delhi for an award function, superstar Rajnikanth happened to shower her with praises. After touching his feet with respect, Vidya was delighted to hear that Rajinikanth had watched her recent film No One Killed Jessica and had loved her performance in it. Vidya also sought his blessings. This isn't the first time that Vidya has received great feedback from a superstar. Not too long ago Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan had also raved about her on screen performances. 
Source: TOI

"No one is my competition", says Shazahn Padamsee, who feels every popular girl has something unique

She is hot, young and has got a good headstart in Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry). Shazahn Padamsee is certainly a newcomer to watch out for. This blue-chip girl who joins the league of young talent like Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonam Kapoor, isn’t insecure about anyone because she reasons, “No one is my competition. Every one of us has something new to offer. I cannot compete with anyone because she is not the same person as me. She will have something unique. There is enough space for everyone and no one has to go for another’s throat.”


Rocket Singh didn’t set the box office on fire but Shazahn got heads to turn in her debut opposite the charismatic Ranbir Kapoor. The recently released Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (DTBHJ), has pitchforked her to the list of commercially successful girls in showbiz. “Rocket Singh gave me a great start. A film’s collection is in the hands of the audiences but the fact that I managed to make a mark makes me happy. I’m a positive person and I took forward the positioning Rocket Singh gave me," she says. 


Shazahn adds, “DTBHJ has given me everything that a youngster like me could have asked for. I have to thank Madhur Bhandarkar for trusting me and mentoring me. It was a big party on the sets. I’m overwhelmed with the response that I have got for this film. I’m in a great space now and hungry to do better work, having already set the benchmark with DTBHJ.” 


Her striking looks, that are slightly unconventional as compared to the other Hi-Fi heroines, has been getting her a fair share of compliments. The actress calls herself ‘clay that can be easily moulded’ into anything. “I’m blessed. I can be a girl-next-door as seen in DTBHJ and I can also be someone who is sexy and oomphy (her men’s magazine shoots have set the temperature soaring). I like this about acting. I can be a different person in every single film. The challenge is to do it convincingly. With my acting background, I’m ready for the challenge. I was born to act. My parents (stage and advertising guru Alyque Padamsee and theatre actor-singer Sharon Prabhakar) have been very active in the acting space. I love the stage, the camera and all I want, is to be known as a good actor.” 


This forward-thinking savvy girl has no reservations about going bold on screen. Says she, “Of course everything will depend on how integral it is to the script and how aesthetically it is shot. I won’t show skin just for the sake of it.”

Source:TOI

Henna tattoos hit Hi-Fi

Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry) has a new fad. That of getting henna tattoos. After actors Shah Rukh Khan and Kangna Ranaut, it is Deepika Padukone who has got herself one, on her waist, which reads, Dum Maro Dum. Deepika’s tattoo is for her a hot item number in Rohan Sippy’s forthcoming film by the same name. Sippy had briefed choreographer Bosco to ensure that it was the hottest number this year, and conveyed the same to Padukone, too.


Bosco says, “We certainly want the track to reach at least the level set by Munni and Sheila.” All those who have had a dekko of it say Padukone’s song has a heady mix of sex and drugs in the lyrics.
Shah Rukh Khan would be seen flaunting his henna tattoo in  Don2. It is, in fact, the letter ‘D’ inked on his right arm. “We wanted to do something different with Don this time, so Don2 will see me sporting this tattoo,” he says.


Ranaut has got a henna tattoo for her upcoming film, Tanu Weds Manu. In the film, her character Tanu gets her boyfriend’s name (Awasthi) tattooed on her chest. The actor sported a henna tattoo for nearly three months while shooting. “I had to get it re-touched a few times to maintain the continuity,” she says, adding that she has vowed to get a permanent tattoo at the same place when she finds her Mr Right in real life.
Source:HT

"I find myself drawn to dark roles", says actor Neil Nitin Mukesh

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh may be extremely choosy when it comes to picking up roles, but the young star insists that he's never afraid to experiment. "I like to surprise both the audiences and myself as an actor," he explains, adding, "I don't see myself ever doing the run-of-the-mill stuff or roles that are easily predictable." That also explains why despite his chocolate-boy looks, Neil is yet to play the conventional romantic hero on the big screen - a genre that he's consciously tried to avoid so far. "When I stepped into Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry), playing the romantic hero was the easiest thing to do and also what everyone expected of me given my looks. In fact, those are the roles I was offered the most too, but I didn't want to take the easy way into Hi-Fi and waited until Johnny Gadar came along. Since then, every film has been an experiment in itself," says Neil, whose next two onscreen outings too see him play rather unconventional roles. "Yes, being killed by your wife is pretty unconventional here," he says referring to his upcoming Vishal Bhardwaj film with Priyanka Chopra. "To be honest, I find myself drawn to dark roles. 


I find realism more challenging to depict on screen. As an actor that's more interesting too," adds Neil. Talking about playing Priyanka's husband, he says that working with both - Priyanka and Bhardwaj - is a sheer delight. "There's no other director who could've helmed it better than Vishal or an actor who could've pulled off the role like Priyanka has. She's such a live-wire on sets. And working with Vishal is definitely a dream come true," shares Neil.

Though the actor is currently shooting for an action thriller, Neil says that comedy is one genre that he's really looking forward to doing. "I'd pick comedy over a romantic role any day too," he says. "But I'm not really a slap-stick humour kind of person. What I'd really like to do is a situational comedy. But I think that in this too, a dark comedy would be just perfect," he smiles.
Source:DNA

Jiah goes international!

Dusky lolly Jiah Khan will sex up the screen with her de-glam but seductive village belle avatar in a Hollywood project that is set to use the abysmal rate of tiger population decline in India as its plot. The film that is being backed by heavyweight production houses will probe and explore the root cause of tiger deaths. It will also dissect how poaching that is considered to be the main reason for tiger deaths, has been instrumental in denting India’s image in terms of wildlife preservation. 


“The film is a very sensitive project and the preproduction plans are on currently. Casting is going on as it will have an ensemble cast of international actors and Indian character actors. From mainstream Indian actors, I will be the only one in it. I’m very excited to start shooting for this different but ambitious venture. We will start mostly next year,” Jiah confirms to BT. 


Ask the actor if going de-glam was a complete role reversal for her and she says, “What makes you think that Indian village girls are not sexy? They have great bodies and they dress up very well. So, I think I will be quite sexy on screen even in this film.” 


While she rubbishes her marriage talks as reported by many, Jiah tells us that acting is no longer the only thing that is on her mind. “I am heavily into music and there are a lot of exciting things that I’m doing with my music skills. I have decided that I will work hard and better myself as an actor as well as a dancer while I read Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry) scripts. Though I got a great debut, I haven’t really got the films that I would have loved to do and doing small roles in films is something that I’m definitely not looking to do. It has to be challenging. I felt discouraged too that I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do as an actor and so I think this break in which I’m working on myself, is a welcome one,” the svelte girl signs off.
Source:TOI

SRK mobbed at Kuala Lumpur airpot

Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry) superstar Shah Rukh Khan has a huge fan following in Malaysia and the adoration was visible for all when he landed here to shoot his much awaited film 'Don 2' with Priyanka Chopra.

The two actors were mobbed at the Kuala Lumpur international airport by fans who pushed and shoved to get an autograph of their idols.

The 45-year-old actor and Priyanka did not disappoint them and signed autographs, posed for pictures, before being escorted to their vehicle.

The Hi-Fi duo, accompanied by a 60-member crew are here to shoot the sequel to their hit 2006 thriller and will begin shooting in the historical city of Malacca, about two hours from here. Local sensation Ady Putra, known for his bad boy roles in hit Malay movies like 'Anak Halal' and 'Histeria', will also star alongside Khan in the film.

Just like the original, 'Don 2' will be filmed on locations in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Khan will be in the country for about a month. Though Malaysia has a large ethnic Indian population, most of the actor's fans are Malays who love watching Hindi language films and Khan was awarded the title 'Datuk' by the Malaysian government three years ago. 
Source:NDTV

"I look forward to being in love", says single-in-the-city Hi-Fi actress Amrita Rao, as she gets chatty about love on V-Day

The past few months have seen actor Amrita Rao deal with rumours about her link-up with co-star Tusshar Kapoor. But while the actor laughs them off, insisting that she's very much single, she does admit that, 'being in love' is something that she looks forward to. "Of course, I'd love to be in love someday, but it's not something that you can go hunting for either. So, the wait for my Prince Charming continues," reveals Amrita.

She may be single, but that doesn't keep Amrita from celebrating Valentine's Day today. She reveals her plans for the day to After Hrs, "I plan to celebrate it with a bunch of very close friends." She is quick to add that despite her single status, she does not feel the 'love-pangs' at all. "We might have picked one day in the calender to celebrate love... but I choose everyday!" smiles Amrita, as she shares her love mantra. "I think our generation believes in making things happen and not in waiting for a day or a reason for things to happen," says Amrita. But that does not mean that she brushes aside V-day as just another day. Amrita still believes in the magic in the day as she says, "Yes, there's something special about Valentine's Day." So, what's the best Valentine's gift she's ever got? "A fan from Nagpur spent probably all his savings to gift me a guitar and waited outside my house for days just to present it to me! It was straight out of a romantic novel!" she gushes.

A die-hard romantic at heart, Amrita explains, "To be in love with every breath you take, flutter those dreamy eyes and flaunt that mooney smile every time your character falls in love on screen... oh, yes you got to be a 'helpless romantic' to transcend all that, each time with more conviction on screen!" But that's on screen. Off it, she does admit that being a celebrity takes a toll on personal relationships. "It's funny the way people link you up and then have imaginary break-ups too. It's hurtful. But I have always chosen not to make a daily soap of my personal life!"

What she doesn't mind revealing though is how she would want to be wooed by her Prince Charming... "I'd want my man to stop all traffic and propose to me in the middle of the Bandra-Worli sea link," she laughs as she signs off to celebrate the day.
Source:DNA

On Valentine's Day, actor Hrithik Roshan credits his wife for keeping the magic in their 10 year marriage alive, even today

Actor Hrithik Roshan says his wife, Sussanne has changed him in more ways than one and credits her for teaching him one of the most valuable lessons in life. The hunky actor recalls the day he had a big fight with his mom (he describes it as 'some sort of an argument') Pinky Roshan.

"When I was young, I was very stubborn. I'd never see the other person's point of view. I'd never saying sorry or apologise to anyone either. I clearly remember once I met Sussanne with a very long face and when she asked me, 'What's wrong?', I replied that I had an altercation with my mom and I was not too happy about it," Hrithik says, remembering the days when he was courting his girlfriend and now wife, Sussanne, a good decade back. Sussanne, he says, came up with a wonderful idea that at first, seemed to ridiculous to Hrithik. 

"She told me to go and give my mother a big hug. In my family, we were never used to hugging each other. I don't know why but it was just something that we never did. But after Sussanne told me to do so I garnered enough courage and went up to the terrace where my mother was sitting. I walked up to her and hugged her tight. I could see tears rolling down her cheeks," says Hrithik.

The actor is now into the 10th year of his marriage to Sussanne and he says that it is this quality of his wife that has managed to keep the magic of their marriage intact. "It (the hug incident) was the most valuable thing that she taught me in my life. Even now, when we fight and then we decide to end it, it's just a matter of walking up to each other and giving each other a hug. Sussanne definitely changed me as a person and I must add that she has made me a better person," says Hrithik.

Even though she is a star wife, Sussanne has always avoided the limelight and Hrithik says that had she not been there, leading a normal life would have been very tough for him. "We actors always remain busy but with Sussanne being around, I know that everything in my life is taken care of. Sussanne manages me and my two children and the best part is that even before I wonder as to how she's going to handle so many things at once — it's all done," he concludes.
Source:DNA

Kajol-Ajay don’t know where to celebrate

Kajol and Ajay Devgn are getting ready for their wedding anniversary on February 24. This superstar couple can’t decide on the destination though. While Ajay who is in Bangkok wants Kajol to fly down, she is not too happy to leave her little son Yug behind. So, perhaps Ajay may need to come to Mumbai instead. Of course, the Devgns had originally planned a Dubai holiday. But again they're not sure if the five-month-old Yug can take the travel.
Source:TOI

Vivek’s special plan for Valentine’s

Vivek Oberoi has his entire day only for wife Priyanka. The actor, who married end of last year, is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a husband and he wants to make things memorable for his wife. Not only is the actor gifting something very special to Priyanka, he is also in the mood to take her out for a small vacation. The actor was very busy at the end of last year with his work commitments as both parts of Rakht Charitra released simultaneously. And so he could not really give as much time to his wife as he would have wanted to.
Source:TOI

Rohit smitten by SRK

One would have imagined only women are crazy about Shah Rukh Khan. It appears that even the men are smitten by him. Director Rohit Shetty, who believes that Diwali is lucky for him and invariably has a release on that date (the Golmaal series, All the Best), was originally planning to bring his Bol Bachchan on Diwali this year. However, when he realised that his current favourite SRK is coming out with RA.One on Diwali, Rohit quietly postponed his film to a later date. Says a trade source, “Rohit is going to be working with SRK on the Angoor remake in 2012. So he is ready to bend backwards to please the Badshah of Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry). Besides the G-3 director is said to be floored by SRK’s charm.”
Source:TOI

‘We celebrate Valentine’s every week’: Hi-Fi's high-profile couple Akshay and Twinkle say life is bliss

Akshay Kumar is flight-hopping from Dubai to Patiala gathering critical acclaim for his sensitive performance in Nikhil Advani's Patiala House. Despite such a hectic itinerary, the actor has made it a point to return home to wife Twinkle Khanna on Valentine's Day. 
    
This handsome couple has spent a decade in marital bliss and Valentine’s is yet another occasion for them to seek each other out. Says Akshay, “Days like Valentine’s and our wedding anniversary definitely have a special significance. But honestly speaking my wife and I celebrate Val entine’s every week.” 
    
The Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry) A-lister explains that it is 10 years since they married, but Twinkle and he do not take each other for granted. Says he, “When planning a vacation I bring the plastic globe in our home and rotate it in front of Tina (Twinkle). She has to just put her finger on a place and we fly there for our next holiday with our son Aarav. Twinkle knows her every wish is my command. Whatever she desires, be it diamonds, a car or a villa; she has to ask and it will be hers. But the beauty of the whole thing is, that in the decade gone by, I have realised that what my wife really craves for, is my time. She has made me promise that I will always spend quality time with her and Aarav.” So the Kumars have a set routine. Every weekend is a do-not-disturb affair. “On Saturdays we usually dine with Aarav. However, on Sundays it is just the two of us who go out for a romantic meal and a drive,” he smiles. 
    
A little known fact about Akshay is that he has the image of an action hero. He has even done several comedies successfully. But somewhere deep within, the actor is very romantic. Says he, “If you see Patiala House, you will realise that the romantic scenes between Anushka and me are very subtle. These scenes were not even written down. We added them spontaneously. I have a romantic side to me that I don’t necessarily flaunt. I feel love whether it is on or off the screen cannot be scripted. It is something you have got to feel from within.” Now you know why Twinkle is one of the envied superstar wives. Her husband’s world definitely revolves around her.
Source:TOI