Amitabh Bachchan's first time with Katrina Kaif

Bollywood Actress Katrina Kaif made her debut with Amitabh Bachchan in Boom. About her, he wrote, ‘Katrina stabs a ‘Hey, it’s me!’ finger punch on my shoulder and we recollect old times, the time of her very first film, Boom and how, as a shy, reticent girl, she had been bullied by the director not to ever look into the monitor. She was new and uncertain like most of us, but was keen to see what she looked like on screen.

I thought it was a most natural and common desire and one that should have been allowed by the director, but when he did not express its possibility to the rest of the cast, I had dragged her to the monitor and given her the first look of what she looked like, to her. To her credit she still remembers that moment. Later as the film shoot in Dubai came to an end, I had invited all cast and crew to tour the city at night and to perhaps have a bite somewhere. I recollect the embarrassment she and all of us faced when she was stopped from going inside a club, because the man in charge of the door thought her to be underage. And now from a small insignificant part in Sarkar to the most googled and popular star in the firmament, Ms Kaif has come such a long way in such a short time.’

Vishal Bhardwaj was also a recipient at the GQ Awards. Mr. Bachchan wrote, ‘Vishal Bharadwaj is generous in his speech about success being a branch that breaks easily, but exempts me from his example, and I wonder why.’

Amitabh Bachchan was feeling slightly awkward wearing glares, but Saif gave him company. ‘Saif, Kareena and I met back stage as we were either coming up to receive or coming down after. That Saif wore glasses gave me sufficient reason to be comfortable with my own,’ wrote the regular blogger.

The superstar-actor was all praise for Irrfan Khan. ‘Irrfan Khan, that understated yet most effective actor, and I spent time together. I love the way he performs, not just in films but in commercials too and told him so. That phone call from the phone booth before he gets the heart attack in The Namesake is a masterpiece. His cool and casual appearances in the brand advertisements have been emulated on many an occasion. He talks of Muqqadar ka Sikander I talk of his acts and we separate,’ concluded Mr. Bachchan.

Salman Khan is 43 and Kareena Kapoor is 29, but their age difference is no matter. Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor make an "adorable" couple on screen in his forthcoming "Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna", says debutant director Prem Soni.

"The age difference between Salman and Kareena was never a consideration. They make an absolutely adorable couple and complement each other on screen," Soni said over phone from Mumbai.
"They look good together in the film as there are no loud moments between them. The film has romantic instances here and there, but it has a very subtle treatment. There are cute scenes in the film and both of them have carried them really well," he added.

Newcomer Soni considers Salman his "godfather" and says the superstar was on board the project as soon as he heard the script and even asked his brother to produce the film.

"I had written the script and then fixed an appointment with Salman. His reaction after the narration was overwhelming. All he said was, 'I'm doing it'. That's how the project began," the director said.

"Salman is indeed my godfather in the industry as he is the one who has given me a break," he added.

For Soni, it was a cakewalk to get Kareena to play the heroine. "I went for the script narration to Kareena in Goa where she was shooting 'Golmaal Returns'. She loved the role and when I told her that Salman is doing the film, she said - 'Why would I say no to Salman?'. She instantly agreed," he said.

"Kareena is such a delight to work with. She is among the finest actors these days. She is so effervescent and so dedicated as an actor," he said.

A co-production of Sohail Khan Productions and UTV SpotBoy Pictures, the film also features Sohail in a pivotal role. But unlike popular belief, the film's plot is not based on an extramarital affair, Soni clarified.

"'Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna' is not based on an extramarital affair. It is just a story of three people. The whole extramarital thing is only a perception. For the real thing, you need to go and check out the movie," he said.

Asked about the USP of the movie, Soni said: "Its simplicity. The movie is very ordinary, very simple. It will touch a billion hearts with its real touch and that is what will make the story effective to the audience. We have given it a very contemporary look, but it isn't flashy at all."

"Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna" releases Oct 16, the same day as much-awaited action flick "Blue" and comedy "All The Best", but Soni says he is unperturbed.

"I have no apprehensions. It takes a lot of energy for every filmmaker to make a movie. So there are no hard feelings for anyone. May the best win because they are all of different genres and have their own set of audiences," he said.

It's playtime for Katrina Kaif & Akshay Kumar

After having paired together in many films, Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar are now teaming up for something entirely different. The buzz is that the two stars are going to endorse and promote the 34th National Games 2009, which will be held from November 21 to December 5 in Jharkhand.

According to sources, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif will be promoting the games throughout India.

They will reportedly hold press conferences in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata including other Indian cities to promote the games and encourage people to go and watch them. The idea is to promote the athletic sports that haven’t got much endorsement from celebrities yet.

Akshay Kumar and Katrina kaifwill also be part of the publicity campaign of the games’ posters and billboards.

The two stars are reportedly being paid Rs 4 crores each for endorsing the games but there has not been any official confirmation of the amount by Akshay Kumar or Katrina kaif.

Akshay Kumar has always been forthcoming in promoting various sports. He has given financial support to wrestling and done his bit to encourage it among Indian youth. He’s also been the face of the IPL team Delhi Daredevils while Katrina has promoted Bangalore Royal Challengers.

I share a special bond with Adi: Rani

Rani Mukherjee, the dusky beauty has always been in question for the relationship she shares with Aditya Chopra, the filmmaker scion of Yash Raj Films. She is now ready to accept the special bond they share.

In a recent interview published in a news daily, she says, "I have a very special relationship with Adi. He's a person who I absolutely admire and respect. He always had faith in me since the beginning. He was the one who spotted me in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat and recommended me to Karan for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I'm in a very happy state of mind right now. My film has done well; my family is here; my friends have appreciated my work."

Rani, is it the result of the puja that you performed recently?

Katrina Kaif reveals her success mantra!

Taking inspirations from actor Anil Kapoor, actress Katrina Kaif feels concentration and focus are the two most important things that every actor needs to follow.

"During the shooting of Humko Deewana Kar Gaye, Anil used to tell and teach me as to how concentration and focus are important things in an actor's career. This is one thing that I will not forget and feel that will flourish my career," Katrina said.

The actress, who has worked with several senior and experienced actors like Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Salman Khan, feels blessed to have such talented co-stars from whom she has learnt a lot.

"The more films you do you get more experience and then you get to know what you want to do as an actor, what different and special thing a role or a script you are looking for," she said.

Katrina who plays the lead role in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, a romantic-comedy, opposite Ranbir Kapoor, said, "I was kind of chilled out and had fun while shooting with Ranbir. He is a good co-star who is passionate about his work and does not have ego."

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani features Ranbir, Katrina and Upen Patel in lead roles with Salman Khan in a special appearance. The movie is produced by Ramesh S Taurani and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.

Talking about the film, Katrina said, "It is a romantic-comedy movie. Though hundreds of movies have been made on love but this is unsual, it is unique, wacky and stylish."

The film is a romantic story of two youngsters, Prem and Jennifer, played by Ranbir and Katrina. It is a love drama packed in fun and joy. The movie will hit the silver screen on November 6.

Shahrukh Khan flies off to Italy with Gauri

Bollywood Baadshah Shahrukh Khan surely knows what his woman wants. He has left for Rome, Italy, with his wife Gauri Khan to celebrate her birthday, which falls on October 8.

This time, Shahrukh and Gauri want to have good time together with people who are very close to them sans any media glare. Their close friends Kaajal Anand and Karan Johar are likely to join them for Gauri's 40th birthday.

It is said that the couple has chosen Rome over the US, London and Dubai for privacy. Maybe Shahrukh doesn't want to face another humiliation by going to the US.

Reviving breath of reality for over-the-hill stars

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(From top) Shamita Shetty, Poonam Dhillon and Rajesh Khanna

Mumbai, Oct. 4: Reality bites, but for over-the-hill celebs, reality rocks.

Ask Shilpa Shetty, who perched her flagging Bollywood career on the coattails of the British TV hit Big Brother to ride to international fame and fortune.

She has now inspired a sister-act. Sibling Shamita, a Bollywood starlet once linked to cricketer Yuvraj Singh, has now entered the desi Bigg Boss for its Season 3 run.

Keeping her company in the House — with a much smaller floor plan this season owing to recession — will be the long forgotten Loveleen Mishra (Chhutki of Humlog vintage) and Poonam Dhillon, the 70s and 80s actress who began promisingly with Yash Chopra hits like Trishul, Noorie and Kaala Patthar, but had few successes after that.

It is back to the 70 and 80s for the men as well — Aditya Panscholi (in the news last year for a romantic involvement with daughter’s friend Kangana Ranaut) and Puneet Issar — Duryodhan of the TV blockbuster Mahabharat.

The icing on the cake of course is said to be a later entry into the Bigg Boss house by Rajesh Khanna, India’s first megastar until eclipsed by Amitabh Bachchan, the host of the show this season.

Sources in Colors, which will telecast the show from tonight, said though last-minute details are yet to be finalised, the presence of Kaka — as Rajesh Khanna is known — in the House at a later stage is more or less certain.

“We saw it as an opportunity to play up the old rumoured rivalry between the Big B and Rajeshji. After all Mr Bachchan is the host of the show. But Kaka himself had no qualms about it. He was very excited in fact to get back into the mind space of today’s generation,” said a source in the creative team of Colors.

In the West too, reality TV has revived many a slipping celeb career. Before American reality show Newlyweds, Jessica Simpson was just another blonde bubblegum pop singer in the mould of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. But then she married Nick Lachey of boyband 98 Degrees and kept the cameras rolling long after their wedding.

The pair have since split up, but not without milking their fifteen minutes of fame — Simpson’s album In This Skin was re-released due to her increasing popularity, and hit Number 2 on the Billboard charts. Lachey too released What’s Left of Me, still clutching on to the straws of fame he had attained with his ex-wife.

Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of rocker Ozzy Osbourne, became a celebrity in her own right when MTV chronicled the antics of her dysfunctional family in The Osbournes.

Back home, there are the likes of Kerala actress Shobhana who is now being seen in the new avatar of a judge on reality show Vanita Ratnam telecast on Amrita TV.

Reality TV has also made stars of virtual nobodies. Bhojpuri actor Raja Chowdhury and Rahul Mahajan, the son of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, devoid of any particular individual talent but regular in social circles, are now household names after the success of Bigg Boss last year.

“Both Raja and Rahul’s careers got a huge boost after Bigg Boss Season 2. Now they are professional reality TV stars, splashed over all channels.

Not everybody can be a small or big-screen superstar. Reality TV offers these people the opportunity to get back into circulation and emerge as an all new species – the Reality TV star. It is the most sought after and paying job on Indian television today,” says the Colors source.
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