Action is My Forte: Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt gets talking about friendships in B-Town, his role in 'Agneepath' and his political career.

What genre of films are you most comfortable doing?
I've been working for 32 years now, and I'm comfortable with all genres. But frankly, I have an action image, and that's what my forte is. In the middle, the action bit had gone away, and everybody had shifted to comedy and love stories, but it's coming back now.

Going by your look in the remake of "Agneepath", it seems like it'll bring back the role of a proper villain in Bollywood?
I don't know, but it's a very strong character. I was apprehensive in the beginning, but when Karan (Malhotra) narrated it to me, I was just amazed and I had to do this film. It's not like what "Agneepath" was, it is totally different - very grounded, very earthy.

Do you plan to meet Danny Denzongpa before the film releases?
Yes, I'll definitely go and meet him and take his blessings before the film releases.

Your friendship with Ajay (Devgn) shows on screen in the film "Rascals". Same is the case with you and Salman. But friendships in the industry don't last these days. What has changed?
Salman or Ajay - they are people from the heart. They're not manipulative, and I'm the same way. The industry has become more commercial now. It's become manipulative. It's become a business, which it never used to be. It used to be a family. We are a few people who stick by each other like Ajay, Salman, Suniel Shetty, and Abhishek is also like that.

And it is believed you're very good friends with Ranbir Kapoor from the younger lot in the industry?
Yes. He's like a little kid brother.

And finally, do you plan to go back to politics?
Never, never. It was an eye-opener for me, those two or three months. I felt like a misfit in politics.

Samantha Takes on Suresh

After Tollywood producer Bellamkonda Suresh accused Samantha of walking out of his film after having signed a contract, a meeting was called for on Thursday by the Producers' Council to sort out the issue.

While Suresh said Sam wasn't allotting dates for his film, the actress cited unacceptable changes in the script as the reason for her quitting the film. Our source tells us that after director Nandini Reddy confirmed Siddharth as the lead actor, the original script underwent a major change.

"Sid allegedly did not like Sam's character overriding his role. He reportedly insisted on some changes and Nandini succumbed to the pressure," says our source. Apparently, Sam was advised to do the film and Nandini was told to convince her as to why the changes had to be made. Samantha said that she was ready to do the film if the producers stuck to the original script, otherwise she was ready to return the advance money too.

Not Shy to be Called Old: Akshay Kumar

After a gap of seven years, Akshay Kumar will return to action in the sequel to 2010 hit Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai. The actor, who was last seen doing stunts in Khakhee (2004), says that at the age of 44, he doesn’t care if people call him old. In fact, he claims that that he feels much fitter in
his forties.

“I don’t feel shy to be called old,” says Akshay adding, “In fact, I feel much younger. Also, the speed at which I run, jump and do all kinds of action has become faster than what I used to do 20 years back.”

The actor, who made his mark in the industry as an action hero in movies such as Sangharsh (1999) and Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994), also established himself as a performer with a knack for comedy in Hera Pheri (2000), Garam Masala (2005), Singh is Kinng (2008) and Housefull (2010).

But Akshay confesses that inspite of doing comedy for several years, his love for action never faded. “Even though I was not doing any stunts or action in films, I was not at all away from it. Whenever I return home after shooting, I spend a huge amount of time in the gym, practicing all my stunts,” says Akshay.

The actor reveals that his focus next year will be on bringing back the action.

“I am doing all heavy-duty action film. Now, I have even doubled my practice,” says Akshay, showing his bruised palm. The actor will playing the role of underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim in the sequel of Once Upon…. , directed by Milan Luthria. In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Rowdy Rathod, he will play a rustic character.

“I am also doing another action film Na Mein Boss,” reveals the actor, adding, “But it’s too early to speak about it yet.”

Recently, Akshay also shot around 30 action commercials for a Viacom 18’s soon-to-be launched action-adventure channel Sonic. “When I heard that it’s about action, I immediately agreed to get associated with it,” says Akshay, who is also the brand ambassador of the channel which will go on air from December 26.

Movie Promotions Like Election Yatras : SRK

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is city hopping to promote 'Don 2: The King Is Back', and says the visits make him feel as if he is on an election campaign.

"Off to Ahmedabad, kem cho?? And then Jaipur, Ghani khamma!! Our promotions feel a little like yatras during election times...ha ha," Shah Rukh posted on his Twitter page.

The actor and the movie's team planned to begin their multi-city promotion tour from Patna. However, they had to fly straight to Nagpur, and skip Patna due to security issues.

'Don 2: The King Is Back' features Boman Irani, Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta in key roles. The film releases Dec 23.

Lara Fed Up of Fake Twitter IDs

Pregnant actress Lara Dutta is bugged with two fake Twitter impersonators, who have been "misleading" her fans.

"Listen @_DuttaLara and @Duttalara, I'm sure imitation is the best form of flattery, but get a life and get off my page! Nobody likes a fake!" Lara posted on the micro-blogging site through her original Twitter handle -- @DuttaLara.

"And for the rest who've been here for a LONG time, my apologies you'll have to deal with fakes who mislead you," she added.

The actress, married to tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi, is looking forward to the release of her film 'Don 2: The King Is Back'.

She also recently had her baby shower and was glowing like any other mom-to-be.

Ritesh wants to Keep His Wedding Private Affair

Actor Ritesh Deshmukh, who will tie the knot with actress Genelia D'Souza early next year, wants to keep the wedding away from media glare.

However, being an actor and a politician's son, he knows it's not possible. "I would like to keep my entire wedding plan under personal space but it will not be that way eventually, but it's something that will happen when it has to happen," said the 32-year-old actor, here at a garment store launch in Mumbai. Son of Maharashtra's former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ritesh has been in the industry for eight years now and is happy the way his career has shaped up.

"I am very happy the way I have spent the past eight-nine years. I have worked with so many actors, directors and producers. It's more than what I had expected," said Ritesh, who made his Bollywood debut opposite his fiancé Genelia in 'Tujhe Meri Kasam' in 2003. It was Genelia's first film as well.

Ritesh has done some brilliant comedies such as 'Masti', 'Apna Sapna Money Money', 'Malamaal Weekly', 'Heyy Babyy', 'Housefull' and 'Double Dhamaal'. He is currently working on 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya', 'Housefull 2' and 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum'.

Minissha Lamba fined Rs 4L for Duty Evasion

The customs department has imposed a penalty on actor Minissha Lamba for evasion of duty on the jewelry and dutiable goods she carried on her return from Cannes in May.

In an order dated December 8, customs joint commissioner R P Khandelwal has asked Lamba to pay Rs 3 lakh fine, Rs 95,000 as penalty and applicable duty to claim the jewellery worth Rs 31.32 lakh. Lamba has been asked to pay an additional penalty of Rs 10,000 on other goods like branded bags and shoes.

Her lawyer Sujay Kantawala said he would appeal before the commissioner.

On May 18, customs department stopped the actor at the airport. The department in its order said that there were "factual inaccuracies" in her claim.

Lamba said the display of the jewellery at the film festival would be an advertisement for the jewellers.

'We don't Need No Limitation'

The suggestion put forward by minister Kapil Sibal to introduce screening of social networking sites has been mostly met with opposition by users.

The new villain in the social networking circuit seems to be none other than Telecommunications Minister Kapila Sibal who, on Monday put forward a suggestion that the government would be forced to take necessary steps if internet giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Google failed to screen derogatory material from their sites.

The virtual world has come up with protests against the move, mostly accusing the government of questioning their freedom of expression, with some going to the extent of starting anti-Sibal pages on networking sites.

Zac Thomas, who describes himself as a ''puzzled Congress supporter'', says he was more surprised than anything else by the report which he found on New York Times on Monday.

"It must be some sort of a stunt to publicise its India centric blog. Kapil Sibal is not a humongous idiot and nor is the government that dimwitted to suggest such an attack on freedom of expression. Surely some mistake."

Noted film director Ashiq Abu seconds this view, "I think the minister's move has been misinterpreted. While it is true that certain posts have incited religious sentiments, it's also true that r evolutions have happened through such sites. It's virtually impossible to introduce such a screening in a country like ours. What they should do instead is make cyberlaws more stringent; most social networking sites have options for reporting spam and offensive material.Make better use of it.""

Many others are of the opinion that such a move questions the very concept of social networking sites. "Such networking sites have definitely given "freedom of expression" a whole new take! For a government which has practically remained deaf to many public pleads, they have been constructive platforms for the public to discuss issues that matter to them and reach out to the concerned. If that has started bothering one of the largest democracies in the world, I fear it will be not far when we will be like one of those nations where such sites are totally banned! Only the Government knows what is "objectionable" and so on the lighter side, I feel that would definitely give more job opportunities!" says Devika Menon, a content writer.

"Every post is going to be moderated? What's the fun of social networking sites if there is no real time interaction and commenting? That will be like taking away the freedom of the common people, equal to talibanising," says Prashant Chandran, a freelance photographer.

However, actor and model Archana Kavi asks everyone to pause and think a bit before jumping into conclusions.

"We should appreciate the kind of freedom that we've been given, and make good use of it. It is very easy to just sit at home and malign someone's image through these sites, create jokes, morph pictures, but what do you do constructively? I say we should help the government and be more responsible about what we do online.""

Meanwhile, Sibal has said that the government was not trying to censor the freedom of speech and expression or the press; it merely wants to stop offensive material from being uploaded on social networking sites. The Minister had met executives from Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft on Monday, but the meeting was not fruitful, he said.

Mayakkam Enna (2011) - Tamil Movie Review

Cast :

• Dhanush as Karthik Swaminathan
• Richa Gangopadhyay as Yamini
• Sunder Ramu as Sunder Ramesh
• Mathivanan Rajendran as Shankar
• Pooja Balu as Padmini
• Soni Barring as Ramya
• Shilpi Kiran as Vindhya
• Rajiv Choudhry as Ramesh
• Raviprakash as Madhesh Krishnasamy

Directed by : Selvaraghavan
Story by : Selvaraghavan
Singers : Selvaraghavan, Dhanush, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Harish Raghavendra, Naresh Iyer, Saindhavi
Lyricist : Selvaraghavan, Dhanush
Music by : G. V. Prakash Kumar
Cinematography : Ramji
Editing by : Kola Bhaskar
Studio : Aum Productions
Distributed by : Gemini Film Circuit

"Mayakkam Enna", one of the most awaited films of the year, brings together the celebrity brothers - Selvaraghavan and Dhanush - after a long time. The duo brings a touching story of a young man's dream on screen.

The movie has all ingredients to attract youngsters - friendship, romance, betrayal, heartbreaks and passion to achieve. Selvah has stepped out of his comfort zone to touch upon new elements in life. With an astute performer like Dhanush by his side, Selva has hit the bull's eye.

Karthik (Dhanush) is a freelance photographer who lives life on his own terms and conditions. He is called genius among his group. He works hard and wants to leave a mark as a photographer. He has a special eye for capturing the elements of life and in its best possible moments. Though he does portfolio and weddings assignments, his passion is wildlife photography.

Karthik spends his time with his close friend Sundar (Sundar) and their gang and they have a typical lifestyle that today's youngsters enjoy. One fine day, Sundar comes with Yamini (Richa), his girlfriend.

Unfortuantely, in their first meeting Karthik and Yamini have a bitter experience but they slowly develop some special bond. Though Karthik tries to stay away from the girl since he doesn't want to break his friend's heart, but sequence of events brings them closer.

After some drama Karthik and Yamini get married but their married life starts on a disastrous note as Karthik is insulted and cheated by a renowned photographer.

The man is shattered. The young couple is in turmoil. Yamini tries her best to bring back Karthik's charm and enthusiasm, but he has gone to a stage which is termed as madness by others.

The rest of the movie deals with what happens to the couple's life and Karthik's dream.

Selvaraghavan has presented the story in a sensitive manner and has avoided cliches. The story develops at a natural pace without compromising much on the entertaining aspect.

Selva has the guts to show a girl falling in love with her boyfriend's friend. The romance between the lead pair comes as a surprise. but the developments after that are predictable though executed well.

The way Richa's character shapes up in the second half is appreciable.

Though the movie tends to become slower in the second half, emotion packed climax compensates it. Though the climax is predictable, the way it has been executed could bring tears in eyes of the viewers.

It's Dhanush special. The actor, who surprised one and all winning national award for his performance as a rustic youth in "Aadukalam", plays a contrasting role. As a freelance photographer, who is city-bred, he gives his best. His expressions and body language are the hallmark of the movie.

Newcomer Richa fits the role well. She brings out right emotions. She has proved her worth as a powerful performer.

Cinematographer Ramji and music composer G.V.Prakash should be complimented - they have done what they did in "Ayirathil Oruvan" - complimenting the theme with their work. GVP's back ground score is marvellous.

Selvaraghavan has succeeded in presenting a sensitive and engaging movie. Though the developments towards the climax look dramatic the impact of the climax compensates for it.

No hero roles right now: Santhanam

Despite receiving several offers to play the solo lead, Santhanam says that he is content playing a comedian

Despite most of his previous flicks being big blockbusters, comedian Santhanam says he's content doing what he's doing right now. While there many offers of playing a solo hero knocking on his doors, the comedian says that he would rather concentrate on his current projects right now.

"I am getting quite a lot of offers to do films as a hero but right now, I don't think I should take that route. There were even offers to do remakes of successful Telugu films like Maryada Ramanna.... They would have suited me, but I have been fairly successful playing a comedian and I would rather like to continue in this vein.

Also, I don't have the time right now to concentrate on a solo hero project," he explains. Santhanam is happy with the response to the teasers of Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (OKOK), his third collaboration with director Rajesh with whom he earlier worked for Siva Manasula Sakthi (SMS) and Boss Engira Baskaran (BEB). He says this film will show him funnier than the previous two collaborations.

"A couple of one-liners in SMS and BEB became a rage. There will be enough punchlines in this film as well. Like 'That is life...' (which appears in the teaser) and 'Fact, fact fact...', though I can't say which is going to ultimately click with fans."

Talking about his other projects, the actor says, "Each role is distinct from the other. For example, in Thaandavam, I play a taxi driver in the US, while in Gautham Menon's Neethane En Ponvasantham I appear as a college student in the first half and as a professional in the second half," he says.

Point out to him that it is only the second time that Gautam has opted for a comedian in his film and he says, "I play the friend of the hero who makes a witty comment or two now and then. But Gautham's films are quite classy and the comedy too will be subtle, reflecting his style," he says.

Siddharth Narayan to Turn Producer?

The Nootrenbadhu actor is all set to co-produce his latest bilingual.

He's always maintained that he fluctuates between the actor and the management professional in him. Now, Siddharth is all set to mix his two passions as he will co-produce his latest bilingual titled Kadhalil Sodhapuvadu Eppadi. A few days back Siddharth has tweeted saying, "Ok so the thing is... BIG announcement coming up in a week... its fun when you keep a secret well".

While rumours did the rounds on whether Siddharth would openly up about his relationship status and give the 'good news' or if he'd announce a big Bollywood project, sources close to him reveal otherwise.

"Siddharth is all set to co-produce his latest bilingual, which will have Amala Paul opposite him. He's currently happy with the way his film Oh My Friend! has been received and hopes his next project fares equally well at the box office," says the source, who adds that Siddharth is not new to filmmaking as he's worked as an associate director with Mani Ratnam.

Asin Thottumkal has a Dream

Asin entered Bollywood with a bang with Ghajini but has not really soared high despite Ready being a success.

While the 26-year-old is now settled in Mumbai, one dream that she does have is that of a white wedding admitting that she is a romantic. And who would she have in attendance at this romantic wedding? Well, none other than her family and close friends. As of now she is focused on Hindi films and though she might have missed out on doing Delhi-6 and Karthik Calling Karthik, she believes bygones are bygones. Looks like Asin is ready and waiting for the next big on-screen dhamaka.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Aims to Get Sexy

There were talks only recently about Sanjay Leela Bhansali having visited Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and having offered her movie, which Ash is excited about.

If talks are to be believed, the film in question is Bhansali's dream project - the epic, Bajirao Mastani. Sources inform us that the shooting of the film will begin only around mid-2012.

Apparently, Aishwarya is so keen to get back to the big screen and do what she loves most - act - that the gorgeous damsel has already hit the treadmill and is on the course of becoming fit and sexy all over again. We are told that the dedicated actress has already hired a fitness trainer and has begun to sweat it out.

A pregnant Ash had put on a sufficient amount of weight, and she felt that the time to lose it all has indeed come. However, still basking in the glory of motherhood, Ash, we hear, is taking it one step at a time.

It is being widely specualted that the actor cast opposite her in this magnum opus is none other than her Devdas co-star Shah Rukh Khan.

It's only a matter of time, in that case, that we'll see a much-in-shape Aishwarya emerge on the silver screen to wow the audiences and her fans all over again.

Amrita Rao to Play Maharani Gayatri Devi

Amrita Rao sure has bagged a meaty role. She has been cast by Shyam Benegal in his next, a biopic on Maharani Gayatri Devi, where Amrita plays the protagonist.

Apparently, Benegal is extremely fond of Amrita and had even approached her for Well Done Abba, as he considers Amrita as his favourite actress. Benegal even fondly calls her 'Aamgel Gomti' which in Konkani means 'our beauty'.

Meghana Raj’s New Avatar

When she started her Mollywood innings with director Vinayan's Yakshiyum Njaanum, many wrote her off as a one-film wonder.

But Meghana Raj has stood the test of time and is now a busy actress with films in all the four south Indian languages. The actress, who is known for her role in Kaadhal Solla Vandhen, is excited about her Malayalam film, V K Prakash's Beautiful.

"Of the 14 films I've done so far, Beautiful is really special. The film offered me a challenging role," she says.

The film has her in a never-seen-before avatar, wherein she is dressed in saris for most part of the film.

"The makers have given a different definition to glamour with my look in this film. It's simple; yet sensuous. We've infused a Bengali style, replete with a big bindi and colourful saris. I haven't put on any makeup for my role. I was the one who used to be ready first for every shot a bindi was all I needed," she laughs.

Besides, Meghna's awaiting the release of her two Tamil films - Kalla Sirippazhaga with Skakkthi and Nanda Nanditha, which is the Kannada remake of Nadha Loves Nanditha.

Amala Paul to Fire Her Manager Soon?

Actress Amala Paul is said to be not so happy with the ‘functioning’ of her manager who manages her call-sheet dates and fee, etc. in all her films. Usually, managers play an important role in the development and in helping to sustain the careers of most of the actresses; they are the ones who to go out and seek opportunities to lift the sagging careers of their bosses and also act as PR agents of those actresses.

In the instant case, though, Amala Paul is reportedly feeling dissatisfied with the performance of her manager. Some time back, Amala Paul was cast as the heroine opposite Dhanush in the film 3 directed by his wife Aishwarya. Soon enough, Amala Paul was ‘out of the project’ and pretty Shruti Hassan stepped in as the heroine opposite Dhanush. The super-hit song Why this Kolaveri di..., incidentally, is from the film 3.

Sources close to Amala Paul say that she recently had a spat with her manager over his ways of ‘managing’ her career. In fact, Amala Paul realized only after everything was over that she lost the opportunity to star in the film 3 only because of the goof-ups by her manager. Though the details are now clearly known as of now, it is rumoured that a ‘communication gap’ is what cost the film for Amala Paul.

What really caused the manager’s tenure untenable was that when the manager couldn’t get Amala Paul paired up opposite Vikram in his upcoming film Thandavam. The fact that Amala Paul and Vikram share the same manager makes it all the more baffling that the person failed (?!) to get them paired in the latter’s new film.

Considering the fact that Amala Paul was in reckoning to play the heroine’s role when the film was announced, the actress couldn’t digest the fact that she is not part of the film. Reports say that Anushka might be paired up opposite Vikram in Thandavam. Incidentally, both Anushka and Amala Paul starred with Vikram (not as heroines, though) in Deiva thirumagal which released a few months back.

Jeeva's Super Busy!

Jeeva is busy with the second schedule of the Gautham Menon film Neethane En Ponvasantham.

Touted to be a romantic entertainer from the director who did Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya, this film has him playing a college student.

The actor is much south-after post the success of his K V Anand-directed Ko and his decision to join hands with Gautham Menon is pleasant news for his fans. The film, meanwhile, is being done in three languages with Samantha playing the female lead in all the three.

Priyamani Escapes Mishap

The Paruthiveeran heroine had a escaped unhurt when she was on the way to her outdoor schedule.

This weekend has proven to be extremely lucky for Priyamani. The actress narrowly missed getting hurt in an accident on Saturday morning. She was on her way to shoot for a Kannada film Anna Bond in the jungles of Muthathi, Karnataka, from Bangalore. "We were driving when we were involved in an accident. Luckily, the car's sides were damaged but we were all fine in the car," says Priya.

The Paruthiveeran heroine is currently filming for Anna Bond, which co-stars Puneet Rajkumar and Nidhi Subbaiah, and awaits the release of her other Kannada film Vishnuvardhana opposite Sudeep, which will release this Friday. She also has other projects in Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam that are currently under production.

Ann Augustine Busy with Her Exams

Ann Augustine is trying her best to balance her studies and passion for acting. The young actress, who is currently shooting for Vaadhyar and Ordinary, is on a short break.

She is busy with her exams. A student of MA psychology at Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore, Ann could not attend class for two months at a stretch due to her shooting schedules.

Now, she is making up for the lost time, says a source close to the actress. Her friends are there for her extending a helping hand. All the very best, Ann. Hope your hard work pays off!

Thuppakki is My Biggest Film, says Kajal Agarwal

The actress has just begun shooting for director A R Murugadoss's Thuppaki and she's super excited.

Kajal Aggarwal thinks that her new Tamil signing is one of the best things that could happen to her. The actress has just begun work on Thuppaki, which is A R Murugadoss's latest film, which will have her starring opposite Ilayathalapathy Vijay.

"It is my biggest film. I have always wanted to work with Murugadoss sir and Vijay. Now I get to be part of their first film together. What more could I ask for," gushes Kajal, who knows that she's bagged what was one of the most sought-after project by most heroines.

And she believes that the role she's playing in this film is tailor-made for her. "While it is a typical commercial entertainer, my role is just like who I am in real life. She's full of masti and completely bindaas. This is a very powerful role too, like all of Murugadoss sir's heroine's characters," says the actress, who began shooting for Thuppaki on Friday in Mumbai.

"It was a very nice feeling to be on the sets of the film. Murugadoss sir and Vijay made me feel at ease," says Kajal, who will be back in Chennai later this month. "This time, I will be coming to finish my work on the film with Suriya and K V Anand," she signs off.

Lekha Washington has a Blast

Lekha Washington sure knows how to balance work and fun. The actor was recently in Pune for a music festival that saw artists like British singer-songwriter Imogen Heap, Raghu Dixit and bands like Indian Ocean, Swarathma, Mother Jane, Pentagram, perform over three days.

Lekha says that she was at the festival to give her inputs on design. "Both the organizers are very close friends and they wanted me to design the four stages," she says.

Lekha, who was present for all three days of the festival, caught up with all her old friends. "Apart from Vinay and Dhruv (the organizers of the concert), Vasu from Swarathma is an ex-classmate of mine. His brother Raghu Dixit is a good friend. So the festival was more like a reunion for me," she says.

Quiz her about the gigs she enjoyed the most and she says, "I enjoyed the performances of Basement Jaxx, Ankur Tiwari, Raghu Dixit and even Imogen Heap. Strangely, though, not everyone enjoyed her performance." Team BT

Ram Charan Teja Gets Engaged Today

Ram Charan Teja, son of actor Chiranjeevi, who wowed K-Town with Mahaveeran, is all set to get engaged tonight. He gets married to his sweetheart for a long time, Upasana Kamineni.

The duo will be getting married in a simple ring ceremony at a friend's farmhouse (entrepreneur Pratap Reddy's farmhouse).

A friend of Charan's says, "This is a big event for all of us in Tollywood. It is a big vacation for us, where all of us are looking forward to catching up with each other and being part of the couple's big day."

The wedding is scheduled to be sometime in early next year and Upasana, we hear, has already shown a lot of interest in Charan's career and decisions. What's more, the actor too consults her for everything, it seems!

Haripriya Mobbed by Media

On Tuesday morning, Haripriya faced an uncomfortable situation at Tirupathi.

The Muran actress, who was making a short pilgrimage trip to the temple town from her residence in Bangalore, was flummoxed when she saw a barrage of local television channels awaiting her arrival.

Haripriya, who's enjoyed some successful releases in the recent past, including the Telugu film Pilla Zamindar, made a quick dash from the media and fans. "She was quite upset as the trip was a private affair and she's upset how the media wouldn't spare her even at such times," says a friend of the actor.

Meet Facebook Star Nisha Shetty

Music director turned director R P Patnaik won praises for his directorial venture, Broker.

Now, he focuses on the new age problem - cyber crime. His new film titled Facebook revolves around the fake identities on social network websites and deceit. Produced by Malla Vijay Prasad, the film has completed its shoot recently.

The film has Nischal, Uday, Surya Tej, Gemini Suresh, Archana Sharma, Nisha Shetty and Preeti as the lead cast.

'It is a new concept. We are talking about the habits of this generation and how some people are using social network websites in a wrong manner. Yet the film is told in an entertaining manner,' R P Patnaik said.

Porn Star Sunny Leone to Enter Bigg Boss House

Last year we had Pamela Anderson on Bigg Boss and the TRP soared through the roof.

And now the show's producers are flying in Sunny Leone from the US. No guessing what the TRPs will be like this time.

For those who are going 'Sunny who?', here's the dope.

Sunny Leone is a porn star! Yup, you got that right.

And for some reason, censorship rules that go 'uh-uh' over a kiss here or a short hemline there have no problems about an actress who deals in pornography being on our TV screens!

Of Indian descent - Sunny was born to Sikh parents - she grew up first in Canada and then later moved to the US.

Growing up, Sunny was quite the tomboy. She was athletic and liked nothing better than challenging the boys to a game of ice hockey.

Though she was raised a Sikh, Sunny was enrolled in a Catholic school because her parents didn't want her attending public school.

School girl gone bad - sounds like a storyline that many porn films favour.

On her website, Sunny describes her adolescent years and the time she spent in Catholic school. She claims she had her first kiss at 11, found out she was bisexual at 14, and lost her virginity to a basketball player at 16.

It's not like Sunny dived head first into the 'blue' side of entertainment. She tried her luck with other job options. For example, she worked in a German bakery, a Jiffy Lube - a company that offered automotive services - and also had a short stint with a tax and retirement firm.

She even thought about becoming a nurse! For real, and not dress up for a porn film.

But while studying nursing, a friend introduced her to an agent who put her in touch with Jay Allen, a photographer for Penthouse magazine.

Then followed a slew of magazine appearances, with labels like Penthouse, Hustler, High Society, Swank, Cheri and Mystique Magazine.

She was so good at what she did that she was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003.

But pantyhose modelling and magazine spreads were getting too tame for Sunny.

She signed a 3-year contract with Vivid, and with that she moved into the world of hardcore porn - from which there was no return.

Today, Sunny has her own website, is one of the most searched porn stars on the internet, is a businesswoman and was named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars of 2010!

Her entry into Bigg Boss is sure to ruffle feathers. It's already got Rakhi Sawant's goat.

'They [the channel and the production house] could have selected any other woman from India. There are so many controversial or bold girls like Sambhavna Seth, Kashmira Shah, Poonam Pandey to name a few,' she said.

'Why have they selected a sattebaaz who has ruined the name of her own country? Once was probably OK, but now they are doing it again and again. I strongly condemn this move,' added Rakhi.

Meanwhile, in the house, the housemates better get ready for a hurricane.

Pooja Misrra is going to get some competition, and the guys are going to have to watch themselves.

Bachchans Upset with Morphed Pictures of Newborn

Pictures of Aishwarya Rai and her newborn baby girl have been doing the rounds on the internet. However, Ash's father-in-law, megastar Amitabh Bachchan and her husband, Abhishek Bachchan have claimed the pictures to be fake.

'Many morphed pictures of the 'little one' with her mother in hospital doing the rounds on the net... all fake!!' -- Amitabh posted on his Twitter page.

'To be my daughter in her mother's arms. Full points for creativity to the people who made them. Spent the morning with the girls and showing them some rather entertaining photos morphed by some very talented people of who is supposed...' Abhishek wrote with sarcasm.

Aishwarya gave birth to her first child Wednesday morning at a private hospital in Mumbai. Abhishek announced the news through the micro-blogging site.

The electronic media gave only limited footage to the news of Ash's delivery, following a reported 10-point directive from the Broadcast Editor's Association (BEA) warning news channels against excessive coverage on TV of her childbirth.

Thanking the media, the Bachchan senior tweeted: 'And once again a word of kindness to the electronic media for their non interference and dignified distance... thank you!!

'A word of appreciation too, to the print media for highlighting a few salient points... our joy in welcoming the girl child... and emphasising the commendable desire of Aishwarya in having a normal delivery without any epidural or pain killers. The often coined phrase 'too posh to push' was put to rest in her case... she was determined to do it the way she felt was correct!' he added.

The 69-year-old third-time grandfather is already receiving suggestion for the baby's name, though Abhishek has chosen to nickname her 'Beti B'.

'More time spent with the 'little one'... each and every movement sinking deep into our memory cells... to narrate to them when older! Thank you all for sending in suggestions for names for the baby... some of them really good... will run it by the parents!' he wrote.

Delhi Belly to be Remade in Tamil!

It's offical UTV's successful Hindi hit of the year Imran Khan's Delhi Belly is going to be remade in Tamil by director Kannan.

Kannan will be joining hands with director John Mahendran who will be writing dialogues for the film with an young rising star as the hero.

Kannan has made earlier Kanden Kathali the remake of Jab We Met. His last film as a director Vandhan Vendraan was a failure, so he is going back into the remake mode.

Delhi Belly remake will be shot with a Chennai milieu. Some hard Chennai swear words will be used in the film. As of now the producer of the film remains unknown and Kannan himself is not willing to talk.

Sonia Aggarwal’s Big Comeback Film

Actress Sonia Aggarwal's big comeback film, Oru Nadigayin Vakkumoolam, is nearing completion.

With the audio of the film being launched on November 28 and the film hitting the screens in the first week of December, looks like things are proving to be quite hectic for its director Rajkrishna.

He says, "This is a big project for me as my gurus, Vikraman, A Venkatesh, Rajkapoor and Manobala have acted in this film."

We hear Jithan Ramesh has also danced for a racy folk song for this film. "He comes as himself in this. For this song, I got in folk singers from Madurai, Karaikudi, Vathalagundu and Usilampatti to write the lyrics. It's a typical naatupura pattu and will be one of the highlights of the film," he insists.

Ritesh, Genelia to Enter Wedlock in 2012

Bollywood actors Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza have confirmed reports that they will be tying the knot next year.

"Its an exciting new chapter in our lives and all your wishes and blessings make it even more beautiful and special for Riteish and me," Genelia wrote on Twitter. Wishes started pouring in for the couple, since the time the news of their wedding started floating around. "Am thrilled to bits and excited about one of my closest friends upcoming wedding!!

@Riteishd is truly a special guy!! And he and @geneliad make an absolutely wonderful couple!! Big love to them!!," filmmaker Karan Johar had tweeted. "@Riteishd Congratulations 'Chupe Rustom' lol..time for celebrations. Love to G," actor Arjun Rampal said. "@Riteishd happy happy for u Rits and @ geneliad at the announcement, congrats, good luck and God bless," celebrity photographer Atul Kasbekar tweeted. "One of my closest friends just gave me the best news!

I am so happy. Good things happen to good people! Thats what makes every day worth it. Yes, the 'good things and good people' tweet was about @geneliad and @Riteishd. She is like family to me and he is a treasure! Thrilled," actor Siddharth said. "@Riteishd U & gene have balanced career & personal life with equal priority! Inspiring! My best wishes Ritz!," actress Amrita Rao said. "Thanking everyone for the best wishes..A big thank you for all your good wishes. Love you all," Riteish tweeted.

Riteish and Genelia began seeing each other on the sets of their Bollywood debut, 'Tujhe Meri Kasam' in 2003. Neither of them ever publicly acknowledged their relationship but Riteish, son of Congress minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, said in a media report recently that they will seal their relationship with a wedding in 2012.

Shriya's Puppy Love

Every dog has its day! Ask Shriya Saran! Apparently, the actress, while shooting for Rumi Jaffery's Galli Galli Main Chor Hain came across this abandoned stray puppy and took it under her wings.

A unit source revealed, "We were shooting in one of the roads in Bhopal when Shriya happened to spot this puppy struggling to remain afloat in an overflowing gutter. It was badly bruised and could barely manage to take care itself. Seeing it in a sorry state, Shriya gave it shelter. The first thing she did was got him cleaned and took him to a vet. She even named him Turu and became quite attached to him. Since she didn't have the heart to part with him, she decided to keep it with her."

The pup had a whale of a time playing inside Shriya's vanity van while the actress shot for the film. "Those few days that Turu was on the sets, it had practically become a part of the unit." After she finished her schedule, she wanted to leave him in safe hands. She advertised on her micro-blogging page, and soon, a die-hard fan of hers came forward to adopt Turu.

India can Host the F1 World Championship: Akshay Kumar

India's first Formula One race at the Buddh International Circuit made heads turn as thousands of people turned up to catch the action live and besides sport lovers, a host of Bollywood celebrities descended on the venue.

Though actor Akshay Kumar was busy shooting for Housefull 2, he praised India's endeavor to host the international sport in Delhi. Akshay was unable to attend the Formula One event in the capital but the actor had something to say. "I really wanted to attend the F1 race but since I was busy shooting, I saw the race on television and I must say that the track was great," Akshay told us adding, "This was an important moment for the country and a huge step in the field of sports." And with a dash of optimism, he said, "Though it is too early to say but I feel that India has the potential to host the Formula One world championship soon."

Dhanush's Kolaveri a Rage!

The Superstar's son-in-law is proving his mettle as a singer as well.

The single from the movie 3 first made headlines because it was leaked online. Then actor Dhanush clarified saying that the song that was leaked was only two per cent of the original song. It was tweaked by young music director Anirudh and finally released as single a few days back. And no sooner had it been released it is already a rage among the youth in the city. Says youngster Ajay S, "The song is fab. Dhanush sure knows how to give youth songs that they like."

The National Award winning actor has also sung some songs in Mayakkam Enna, a movie directed by his brother Selvaraghavan, that will be released next week. Looks like the Superstar's son-in-law is now turning ac singer as well!

Kajal Bags the Lead in Vijay’s Next

Post his successful outing with Velayudham, Vijay is all geared up to start working on his next project with 7aum Arivu director A R Murugadoss.

According to an industry source, the heroine has been finalized and it's none other than Kajal Aggarwal! This will be the first time that the three will get together to work on a film. The actress has already proved her mettle in Kollywood and even in Bollywood with the success of Singham, the remake of the Tamil flick.

There was a buzz initially in Kollywood that Priyanka Chopra had been approached to play the lead in this movie which will be shot extensively in Mumbai. Vijay, who will also be working with the Ghajini director for the first time, is excited about this actionadventure flick.

Now with the cast settled, it looks like the movie will take off as planned at the earliest. It's rumoured that the movie will start off in Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi and then move along the coast to Mumbai.

Sonakshi Comfortable with Indian Look

Sonakshi Sinha shot to fame with her rustic village belle look in 'Dabangg', and the actress is still in love with her desi avatar. She says she wouldn't mind playing a simpleton again.

'Why not? You know, I am an Indian, I am a Hindi film heroine, and I am getting roles. There is no dearth of work and all the roles coming my way have been Indian. I am definitely open to doing western roles but if people see me fit enough to play that Indian heroine, I am absolutely okay with that,' Sonakshi said during the launch of her film 'Lootera'.

Sonakshi, who plays the role of a traditional Bengali woman in 'Lootera', has a lot of meaty projects in hand like 'Rowdy Rathore' and 'Joker'. However, she is upset about losing out on 'Race 2', which she had to forgo for 'Dabangg 2'.

'It was unfortunate because I was looking forward to it and I had signed on the film because I had felt it would be great to be a part of that film. But the dates were shifted forward and I couldn't accommodate the film as 'Dabangg 2' is starting in March,' she said.

'Lootera' is a love story set in the 1950s and stars Ranveer Singh opposite Sonakshi and is written and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane of 'Udaan' fame.

No Bans Issued Against Me: Genelia

Actress Genelia D'souza has rubbished reports that she has been banned from the southern film industry due to her non-cooperative attitude.

A media report said that the Movie Artistes' Association (MAA) of Andhra Pradesh announced that the actress, who has been working in the southern industry for the past eight years, hasn't sought a lifetime membership with the association despite repeated reminders from the association.

Reacting to this on Twitter page, she wrote: 'It's not nice when people make u a target only because ur strong enough to take it. With no bans or notices issued against me, there's no reason why there should be this hoopla created.'

'I have been travelling constantly over d last few months n hence have informed some1 from my production 2 hand over all d papers w d required amount. When I signed up 4d south Indian association 4 movie artists I was promised that it would cover all 4 industries n that is also what d body states (sic),' she further posted.

Down south, the actress featured in movies like 'Boys', 'Bommarillu', 'Santosh Subramaniam' and in Bollywood she made it big with 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'. After that she did Hindi films like 'Life Partner', 'Chance Pe Dance' and 'Force'.

The 24-year-old hopes people would understand her side of the story.

'I hope people would understand the truth and stop making this an unnecessary battle. I'm very happy n proud that I belong to five industries and hope people understand that,' she tweeted.

Miley naa Miley hum (2011) - Hindi Movie Review

Cast :

• Kangna Ranaut
• Neeru Bajwa
• Sagarika Ghatge
• Chirag Paswan

Directed by : Tanveer Khan
Produced by : Maverick Productions Pvt Ltd
Music by : Sajid-Wajid
Cinematography : Baba Azmi

How many times must a debutant hero emerge from the same screen, to repeatedly announce his arrival: The one here first gets out in slo-mo from a BMW (first shot), then out of a chopper (to meet his mother), on a Lexus convertible (that his mother gifts him), bang in the middle of a wedding dance party (in a village), into the tennis stadium (where he plays the National finals)….

The boy is called Chirag – in life, as in this movie. “Chirag baba” is the oddly uncomfortable, untrained performer, casually low on body movements, high on screen time; he plays a quiet young heir, given to monosyllables and mono-expressions. His father (jaded Kabir Bedi) orders him around in his vineyard. Old man looks like the hammy old-world zamindar.

For the obedient son, the nights belong to floodlit tennis courts, where he practices whacking the tennis racket like a ping pong bat, only backhands, so he can become India No 1 some day: that’s his father’s dream, and his mother’s nightmare.

Excellence at sports is measured on more real, tangible achievements. It’s easy to tell why Sachin Tendulkar is a superstar. He takes care of runs; the runs take care of everything else. Stardom acquired from Indian politics, and cinema (as the hero here seems to be seeking), work differently. Though, in construct, they’re probably both similar to each other.

Firstly, they’re not always based on performance. You could be the world's best actor and yet not make it as a star; most well meaning visionaries may fail at politics. People directly elect their stars, who in turn, play themselves round-the-clock, protecting or perpetuating a particular public image of themselves.

Actor Chirag, I’m told, is the blue-eyed boy of a popular Bihari politician (Ramvilas Paswan). Literally. Unless those are blue contact lenses in his eyes. You can tell why his father must think he could succeed at show business. He has experience at winning elections.

The boy signs land deals, tenders, contracts, in the film. He comes from a super-rich, separated family. The mom (Poonam Dhillon) wants him to date her London buddy's daughter. Their nights out make for lead story on front page of The Times of India. As is everything else they do. Divorced dad wants his boy to marry a pretty Punjabi girl from the pind. That, by the way, is the central conflict in a film also about sport.

Tennis champ “Chirag baba” claims to be in love with a fashion model instead. He’s never quite met her. Daddy, mommy are after this girl. He pays her Rs 20 lakh a day, for 20 days, to carry on with the pretense of being in love with him. That model's Kangna Ranaut. Reports in trade circles suggest she was paid Rs 5 crore to do this movie. Anybody should be.

Bollywood is Fickle: Sameera Reddy

Actress Sameera Reddy, who's balancing work in the south and north, feels that Bollywood is 'fickle'. Ask her why and she reasons, "It just moves. Today you're there, tomorrow you're not. South is also like that, but to a lesser extent in comparison with Bollywood. People really stick to you. Even if you go up or down this Friday or the next, they still really support you. People in Bollywood shift like the wind."

However, that's not the case with people down south, in her opinion. "The most important thing is they're time bound, they don't waste your dates, they're God-fearing, they take care of you, if they love you, they make sure you don't leave, they make sure you're happy," she says.

The actress, whose last release in Tamil was Prabhu Deva's Vedi, is currently doing the lead role and an item number in Priyadarshan's Hindi flick, Tezz. About the item number, she says, "It's quite a pressure today, and producers understand the importance of it. At one point, an item girl was frowned upon but today, she can actually rule the show business. I salute every item girl out there."

Raveena Tandon’s Narrow Escape

This is one experience that will be etched in Raveena Tandon Thadani's mind for long. The actor had gone for her second jatra performance to Malda on Thursday but when she boarded the Mumbai flight on Friday, there were bitter-sweet memories of the day gone by.

Blame it on a humongous crowd of nearly 40,000, the producer of the show was left with destroyed equipment, a torn-down stage and a few "injured" unit members.

An unit member recounted, "From Behrampore, where there was a show on Wednesday, the journey to Malda on Thursday took a good six hours by car. The jatra location was 70-75 kms further in a remote village. The show sarted at around 9.30 pm. Surprisingly, there was a huge turnout of nearly 40,000 people, much beyond the capacity of 15,000."

Said an eyewitness, "There were scenes ahead of Raveena's but the crowd started chanting her name. At one point, they even started pelting stuff on stage. The scenes eventually had to be cut short and Raveena made her entry. When she started her "Mast mast" number, the crowd at the back started forcing their way forward." By the time she was through with it, the first barricade gave away. Raveena requested and pleaded with the crowd. "She requested with 'Apnara boshun, please" and then urged them in Hindi telling them that she had come all the way from Mumbai to perform. In fact, the jatra had to be stopped mid-way and lights were switched on. But her words fell on deaf ears. By this time, the second barricade too came apart. She was advised to go to the greenroom but soon after, the crowd barged in there too," added the unit member.

The ordeal did not end there. "Seeing the crowd go beserk, I ran for cover and barged into a house. Thankfully, Raveena had parked her car nearby and got inside it asking her driver to speed away. She had to lie low in the car till the time she left the village behind. I shudder to think what might have happened had she stayed back for things to be brought under control," recounted the unit member adding that police had to resort to tear gas and fire a few rounds in the air to control the crowd.

When CT got in touch with the actor she said that "it was quite an experience!" and added on a lighter note, "In fact, the seriousness of it all set in only the day after. The first thing I did was call up my husband and he asked me, 'You are coming back in one piece, right?'" So, will she be interested in more jatra outings? "Honestly, I would because I loved my stage experience. But this time around, I will make sure that the security arrangements are foolproof," she signs off

Karthika Nair is Annakodi!

Veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja has chosen his protege Radha's daughter, Karthika, in his next titled Annakodiyum Kodiveeranum.

While Karthika, who is currently in Kerala, could not be reached, Radha confirmed the news and said, "Yes, Karthika is doing my guru's film. She will play the titular role." Apparently, the director was impressed with the young actress' performance in her debut film, K V Anand's Ko and decided that she would be apt for the lead role in his film.

"During a special screening of Ko for Bharathiraja sir, he appreciated Karthika for her matured performance. He could not believe that it was the same little girl he had seen 10 years ago. Karthika was shooting in Hyderabad for Dammu (starring NTR Jr and Trisha), when Sir called to tell me that he felt she would be apt for the role. So, I met him in Chennai and heard the story," says an overjoyed Radha, who was introduced by the filmmaker in Alaigal Oyvathillai.

Not revealing the exact nature of the role, the actress adds, "For a beginner like my daughter, the character offers a lot of scope for performance. It is a beautiful role with variations."

The film stars Parthepan and also has Iniya of Vaagai Sooda Vaa fame and actress Eswari Rao in a crucial role. G V Prakash is the composer for the film. While there were reports that actor Vinay has been signed, Bharathiraj's manager clarified that the actor had not even been approached.

"The director is looking at dusky people who will look the parts. He has cast newcomers Acchan and Nakshatra, who are the children of his friend. The plot is a period romance and will talk about how life was in an earlier era and how it is now. We will be officially starting the project on November 17 in Theni in a grand manner. Around 150 people from Kollywood including Mani Ratnam, K Balachander and Balu Mahendra are expected to attend the puja. The first schedule will go on for 20 days after which there will be a break as Parthepan requires two months to get lean and prepare for his role," he said.

Madhuri Dixit's Secret Revealed

The Dhak Dhak girl is back and set to win hearts once again. It may be a while since Madhuri Dixit lit up the big screen, but the diva looks just as radiant as before.

She says, "I'm so glad that Olay Regenerist has finally launched in India. It's something I have used, and can personally recommend to anyone who wants to challenge what's possible with their skin."After winning recommendations and awards from beauty magazines across the globe, Olay Regenerist, a premium anti-ageing skin care range is now available here. More than 11, 000 women have joined the waiting list for Madhuri's favourite anti-ageing skin care range.

Dr Rodney Sinclair, founding member of the Australasian Society for Dermatology Research, dermatologist and panel member of the Olay ACRC, says that the ingredients used in the range help achieve younger looking skin. The products have innovative cellular technologies making them an option for cosmetic treatments, according to the Olay Asia Cell Technology Research Centre. So go ahead, take Madhuri's word and achieve visible results.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Takes on Her Role as Bachchan Bahu

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – beautiful, successful and wealthy is the epitome of the perfect Indian bahu. Aishwarya, like all Indian bahu has tried hard to live up to the expectations that comes from being a Bachchan bahu.

Speaking to the Times of India, a source revealed that Aishwarya was very active at the last two functions at the Bachchan residence – Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday and the mehendi function before karva chauth. Ash was also very active at the godh bharai function which took place at Jalsa.

If sources are to be believed, Aishwarya along with her mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan made the guest list for the godh bharai function. Ash was also seen interacting with each and every guest in the house and took special care to ensure that all arrangements were well taken care of. It was apparently Aishwarya’s decision to gift every guest a designer dupatta at the godh bharai.

As Aishwarya gets ready for the ultimate role in her life – of being a mother, let’s wish good luck for the mother-to-be. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is expected to deliver in the second week of November.