Priyanka’s free stalker behind bars

Finally, Priyanka Chopra has heaved a huge sigh of relief with her tormentor of the last few months, Prakash Jaju, behind bars. Jaju’s bombarded the actress with lewd SMSes, which drove Priyanka up the wall. She was forced to change her cellphone number constantly.

But even that didn’t deter Jaju. Says her friend, “The moment she changed her number, Jaju got hold of the new one and messaged her instantly. He would even taunt her about trying to get rid of him by changing the number. And the messages were filthy.”

Even a monetary settlement some time ago failed to end Jaju’s compulsive obsession with Priyanka. In fact, Jaju continued to harass not only Priyanka, but also her father. He would deliberately see to it that court cases on Dr Ashok Chopra were filed from towns outside Mumbai, so that he was forced to travel unnecessarily even though he is ill. That’s what really hurt Priyanka. “He can harass me. Why does he trouble my ill father?” she would say, often breaking down before her close friends.

Jaju who has worked with several other people in the industry became Priyanka’s secretary when she came into the film industry in 2002. Initially, Jaju did get Priyanka a few plum assignments but after the release of her first two films, The Hero and Andaaz, Jaju’s interference in her personal life began to hassle Priyanka. Jaju grew so possessive that he tried to keep tabs on all her friends and social activities. Understandably, Priyanka sacked him, a snub that Jaju’s ego couldn’t take. Then began his revenge on Priyanka and her father Dr Chopra who had once welcomed Jaju into their home.

Priyanka excited about entering Guinness Book

And now Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is all excited about the possibility of her entering the record books for doing 12 roles in forthcoming "What's Your Raashee".

"I was aware about Sanjeev Kumar playing nine roles in 'Naya Din Nayi Raat' and Kamal Haasan being seen 10 times over in 'Dashavatharam'. However, even I got to know about Lupino Lane's achievement very recently. Hats off to him to have done that eight decades back and that too in a silent film," Priyanka told IANS.

In Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Raashee", she plays 12 different roles and the film has already been referred to the Guinness Book of World Records.

While there have been quite a few double role performances by leading ladies in the past, there aren't many movies where a Bollywood actress has played even a triple role, let aside coming close to enacting a dozen-odd characters in a single outing.

"Yes, I have been told about this. I guess not just in India but even in world cinema no woman has ever played 12 different characters in the film. In fact, the producers of 'What's Your Raashee' have got in touch with the Guinness Book of World Records and we are awaiting their response," said Priyanka.

If one goes down the memory lane, one can comfortably say that with "What's Your Raashee?", Priyanka may well boast of doing the biggest ever film written for a woman protagonist in the history of Indian cinema.

"Please don't make it all sound so big and heavy. Let's just look at it as an entertaining movie and leave it there. Words like 'greatest' and 'biggest' don't hold much relevance if one doesn't justify each of the characters. You may win when it comes to count but then you must also be able to put some weight in your performance," she said.

So was she overjoyed when Gowariker approached her for the role?

"Not at all. In fact I was quite nervous about how I would manage to pull it off. A role may look fantastic on paper and you too may feel confident of pulling it off. Still, you have to be extra careful to make sure that audiences too like what you bring to the table," said Priyanka, who has given three consecutive hits - "Dostana", "Fashion" and "Kaminey".

This was the reason why she stayed away from all the limelight while shooting for 'What's Your Raashee?' and her look for each of the characters too was kept under wraps.

"You end up picking on all the flattery around you but none of that helps in what comes across on screen", she said. "'What's Your Raashee?' has such a fantastic script written with each of the 12 roles boasting of such well-etched characterisation.

"I had to go all out in following Ashutosh's vision. With the coming together of a great production house, an intelligent director, a fantastic co-star and some melodious music, it all seems to have summed up well. Now that the mathematics part has gone well, it is time to see how audiences react to our effort."

"What's Your Raashee?" is set to release Sep 25.

Slideshow - Bollywood’s Bikini Babes

Killer Curves Nothing highlights the killer curves of Bollywood babes better than a bikini. But how much can a bikini excite if it were not for the hot bods that don it? To see the curvy babes of Bollywood in a two-piece or a swimsuit can be worth the price of a ticket for many a movie buff. For most of the actresses, putting on a two-piece is often the “demand of the script” thing and for some it’s simply a publicity gimmick. The truth is, to flaunt oneself in a bikini is not easy; ask our Bolly divas and they will tell you how hard it is to get that perfect shape - a bikini bod. From, former beauty queens Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta, new comers like Shruti Haasan and Minissha Lamba, the glamorous Kareena Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty, to Rani Mukherjee, the newest to join the bikini brigade. Here, we have some hot actresses, who have dared to wear a bikini. Hold your breath…

Rani Mukherjee She is the latest to join the bikini brigade. Who could have imagined an actress like Rani Mukherjee, mainly seen in sarees and salwars, would don a bikini, that too in a Yashraj film. The test of her oomph quotient is still not over. Kareena Kapoor She created hullabaloo with her bikini avatar in Tashan and people still love to talk about Kareena Kapoor in that lime-green, teeny-weeny two-piece and, of course, her size-zero figure. Priyanka Chopra For even the swimsuit round at Miss World pageant she gave a miss to bikini and worn a monokini. In Dostana again Priyanka Chopra chose a single piece swimsuit that was like a bikini from the back side. The lady seems to have something against the two-pieces. Bipasha Basu The sultry, dusky babe not only entices you with her seductive glances but also with her curvy body. Bipasha Basu wore bikini in Dhoom 2 and made the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai almost forgetta Lara Dutta She might have done innumerable photo shoots in that itsy-bitsy swim wear, but the sensuous Lara Dutta has for the first time donned a bikini for the movie Blue, and what a svelte figure the lady has. Marvelous to the eyes Shilpa Shetty This lithe lass is just too perfect for a bikini, but the sexy Shilpa Shetty never wore a bikini for silver screen; it was only a bikini top in ‘Dostana’. Now that’s a bummer! Minissha Lamba The chirpy babe tried to look hot as well as sizzling in a white bikini in Kidnap, providing her co-star Imran Khan ample reason to kidnap her. Minissha Lamba has made a leap from being a girl-next-door to a siren that sends men swooning. Shruti Haasan We don’t know why Kamal Haasan’s talented daughter had to be in a bikini for her maiden film Luck as we know by now it wasn’t for the script’s sake. Nevertheless, Shruti Haasan knows how to flaunt what she’s got.

12 roles in one film get Priyanka a Guinness mention

If her role in Kaminey won her critical appreciation, then her next film, What's Your Rashee has won her a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, what Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra is really busy with is helping underprivileged children.

Don't be surprised if you see her flashing a ring - not an engagement ring, but just a token of appreciation received by her for pledging her support to Save the Children's "Rewrite the Future" campaign on Monday in Mumbai. And the actor played her part by giving a pep talk.

"I come from a simple Army family in Bareily. Winning the Miss World pageant wasn't expected by me or my family. What I knew is when I had to represent myself at the function I had to give it my best. I was 17 years old when I won the title and within two months, I had to grow up and face you people and not get fazed out," she said.

Miss World is a thing of past though and for now, Priyanka has her fingers crossed for her forthcoming release What's Your Rashee. In the film, she plays 12 different characters, a feat that's got her name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

"I am am looking forward to it. Choosing entries for the Guinness Book of World Records is a long process. The officials have to see the film and then take a call but from what the officials are saying, it will be announced before the film releases so I am keeping my fingers crossed. It's something that I would show my grandchildren and tell them this is what your granny was," she said.

Well, three hits in a row in Bollywood is a record of sorts in itself.

Priyanka defeats Kareena on web

Well Kareena Kapoor recently said that twittering and computers are only for people who have no work to do, while commenting on Pritish Nandy’s rude remarks on her and Kambakkht Ishq made on Twitter.

Hmm… well Kareena needs to set up her own twitter account because the world really swings that way and it’s the best way to tell the world what you are up-to and make contacts like the way Priyanka Chopra is doing.

We recently heard via Twitter that Priyanka Chopra and UK-based pop star Jay Sean are planning to work together, well there goes Kareena's theory on Twitter and ‘having no work to do.’ Jay, it is learnt, is smitten by Priyanka Chopra and wants her for his new album.

The actress is well known to be a big fan of Jay Sean’s music and gets VIP enclosure for his performances. They are said to be active friends and share a mutual understanding and trust level, as Jay told Priyanka Chopra on Twitter that no matter what, he will ‘steal’ her for his video!

So well, Kareena can lay to rest all her inhibitions about Twitter being a place meant for nerds and people who have nothing to do! Though being miles apart Priyanka Chopra and Jay have bonded well and are known to exchange pleasantries over the web.

Jay Sean has earlier worked with the sultry Bipasha Basu who made a guest appearance in his music video Stolen. The track Stolen is from Jay Sean's debut album Me Against Myself, released in 2004.

Priyanka Chopra at war with Katrina?

Speculations are rife that Bollywood actors Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif are at war fighting for the top position. Adding more fuel to the fire, it was reported that Katrina has replaced Priyanka in the hit film Dostana by Karan Johar.

However, Priyanka, who is basking on the stupendous success of Kaminey, denied having cold vibes with Katrina. She said that she has no problem with Katrina and that her character in Dostana had reached the end, as depicted at the end of the film . She added that every actor is a competitor including Katrina.

It's worth mentioning that Priyanka and Katrina are the top heroines in Bollywood today. But who is the No.1? You decide!

Piggy Chops to top the records

Hardly would have this actress dreamt of making it to the Guinness records one day. Priyanka Chopra topped the gossip pages with her 12 characters in Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ Now the latest is that her multi-attempt has made the producer Sunita Gowariker to approach the officials of the prestigious records.

The producer said to sources, “Priyanka has not only played 12 different roles, but breathed life into 12 distinct characters without the aide of any prosthetics. Few people realise how difficult a challenge it is. This we gauged when we spoke to the Guinness officials. No actor has ever played so many different roles in cinema of any language. So it truly is a world record.”

Meanwhile the actress is quite elated about the news and said to be saying, “If this does happen, it will be phenomenal. I’m overjoyed and honoured to be a part of this record-breaking film.”

If one goes by movie-list, both of Indian and International ones, it would be hard to find any actor donning so many roles, as many as 12 roles. In ‘What’s Your Rashee?’, Priyanka will be featured as 12 different girls under each zodiac signs respectively.

Way to go, Piggy Chops!

Priyanka's got no reason to sweat it out

Priyanka Chopra definitely has one of the hottest bods in Bollywood, but the actress doesn’t spend long hours in the gym like her contemporaries.
A fact most girls must be jealous of, we are sure. Priyanka says, “I hate going to the gym. I was supposed to lose some weight after shooting a certain part of Fashion. But everyday when my trainer would turn up, I would give her some excuse to avoid my workout session. Soon she realised it and gave me a more outdoor kind of workout. That worked for me. Plus, I am blessed with great metabolism, so I don’t have to watch what I am eating.” Well some girls just have all the luck!

Music launch of Whats your Rashee?

about VIDEO: The event was the music launch of the upcoming film, ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ and the media got a chance to catch a byte from the lost duo together. Post the failure of ‘Love Story 2050’, buzz was that Priyanka and Hurman broke-up and they are not in talking-terms also. The media couldn’t resist asking the duo, Priyanka-Hurman about their relationship which was a big hype then. However Hurman, when asked the question about the break-up turned his deaf ear and ignored the question. Priyanka, on the other hand was seen confronting the media by saying that they never dated so how could they break-up? When the press was busy jotting the duo gossip, the director of the film, Ashutosh Gwarikor, caught some attention and spoke about the film…take a look! PB320 Music launch of ‘What’s your Rashee?’

Kaminey | Good, bad and the sexy

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey has been the most anticipated film of this year. And justifiably so. His earlier works are products of a ripe, evolved imagination—one that gives flight to the ugly, and revels in it. In his two most successful films—Maqbool and Omkara—lurks a thick texture of rot and violence. It is in the air that the bad, foul-mouthed goons and gangsters inhabit. It’s in the milieu, the story, the climate and the temper.

Kaminey is no different, although alongside the evil, there’s its equally riveting—and flawed—flipside, the good. The bad and good are intertwined by blood, hate and circumstances in this multi-plot story—a narrative circle of interconnecting, time-jumping episodes that involve gangsters, druglords, their flunkies and some ordinary people. As in all his films, Bhardwaj blurs the boundaries of morality.

Suffice it to say, it is indeed the year’s best film so far.It is everything you expected it to be: brutal, sexy, and not pretty. The song Dhan ta nan, which pulled off the film’s promotion, is, in fact, not one of the film’s best things. There’s much more happening here.

The story has too many strands for me to outline here. Essentially, it’s about Charlie and Guddu, twins separated after their father died a sudden, tragic death. They are each other’s diametric opposites: Guddu (Shahid Kapur) is an NGO worker who lives in a concrete Mumbai chawl; he stammers. He has planned his life: success in 2009, marriage in 2014, children in 2016, towards which he is earnestly working. Guddu is in love with Sweety (Priyanka Chopra), a feisty Maharashtrian girl, the sister of a gangster, Bhope (Amole Gupte). Charlie on the other hand, is only after money. He hedges bets in horse races and has no qualms about killing someone for a lakh of rupees. Fearless and gleefully self-destructive, he dreams of owning his own betting booth one day. Guddu and Charlie don’t see eye to eye.

These three characters are the story’s centre, but much of what makes Kaminey so engaging are the other characters propelling the story.

Bhardwaj uses the entire first half of the film in establishing the characters, but there’s hardly a dull moment because the scenes are bolstered by superb dialogues (written by Bhardwaj himself) and a humour that has his roots as much in the situations and the characters, as in the city in which the characters live. Gritty Mumbai, by the gutters, and in luxury hotel suites, gets its due. The entire film is visually enticing, filmed by Tassdduq Husain, who also shot Omkara.

You watch one potent scene after another, and then get to the climax. Kaminey has this effect: it psychs you up to accept everything it shows you. After I walked out of the theatre, I took time to absorb all that had happened. Which is not to say that the story is so intricately layered with meanings. It’s not. Kaminey is meant to be a thrilling ride; it is a smart and stylish potboiler.

Its calculated grunginess somewhat works against it. The cleverness of the writers (four people get credit: Vishal Bhardwaj, Abhishek Chaubey, Supratik Sen and Sabrina Dhawan) are evident is every scene. Although Bhardwaj never loses touch with the ordinary look of things, or the common touch, the style overpowers the film. The climax scene is a bizarrely funny episode that is meant to be ironic, but it gets drowned in all the noise.

Kaminey is in the genre of Pulp Fiction, Mean Streets, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Satya. In these films the multi-plot narrative is taken to the perfect pitch, where every character has a complete, satisfying graph. Here, it’s more a mosaic. Like one of its memorable characters, Kaminey is a tad too high on cocaine in parts.

Bhardwaj’s biggest achievement is in extracting performances out of Shahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra. In two different roles, Kapur is always in character; the lisp and the stammer comes at just the right time. Kapur’s career should take a different turn after this performance, undoubtedly he can be one of the best actors we have. Chopra’s role as the mulgi (Maharashtrian for girl, that’s what her brother calls her) doesn’t seem laboured although the Maharashtrian accent doesn’t really have that raspy zing. The performance by Amole Gupte as the mean, hilarious gangster whose enemy is any outsider who comes to live in Mumbai is memorable.

Kaminey is a film of danger, hilarity and vibrant local colour. It is thrillingly alive; go get high.

Kaminey released in theatres across the country on Friday. In Mumbai, navi Mumbai and Thane, it is scheduled to release on 17 August, Monday.

Priyanka Chopra looks hot in "Whats your Rashee"

Mumbai: Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowariker's next flick "Whats your Rashee?" starring Priyanka Chopra and Hurman Baweja is all set to release on September 25, 2009.

The movie is based on a guy Yogesh Sharma (Hurman Baweja) who dreams of a love marriage. But due to some unavoidable circumstances he forced to get married in ten day to prevent the disaster.

Following this, Yogesh decides to select a girl from every zodiac sign. He meets two girls every day and found the best girl for himself. However, the fate has decided something else for him. Interestingly, Priyanka has been seen in 12 different zodiac

Priyanka got diamond ring for her b'day

Rumour-mongers were having hay day speculating why Priyanka Chopra looked so happy on her birthday in spite of the absence of her boyfriend (just good friend) Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka did have a reason to smile.She received a surprise special gift from her parents. Believe it or not, she was gifted a diamond belly button.“Hey tweeple got some rocking news… My parents got me a diamond belly button ring for my b’day. Guess what? Just got my piercing done! Yay!” posted Priyanka, a regular on Twitter.

It is said that Priyanka couldn’t believe her eyes when her parents gifted her a butterfly- shaped diamond belly button on her birthday, on 18th July, because she never expected such a gift. Priyanka had pierced her belly earlier and used to wear belly button until she was forced to part with it following the demand of her film roles.Well, Priyanka must be looking forward to show off her diamond- studded-belly the next time she appears in public. She also has a lot to look forward to this year with many promising projects in her kitty. Her film Kaminey, where she acts with Shahid Kapoor, is releasing this August and What’s Your Raashee with Hurman Baweja is scheduled for release in September.She also has another film titled Pyaar Impossible with Uday Chopra.

Diamond belly button for Priyanka Chopra

Rumourmongers were having hay day speculating on why Priyanka Chopra looked so happy on her birthday in spite of the absence of her boyfriend (just good friend) Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka did have a reason to smile. She received a surprise special gift from her parents. Believe it or not, she was gifted a diamond belly button.

“Hey tweeple got some rocking news.. My parents got me a diamond belly button ring for my b’day.. Guess what? just got my piercing done! Yay!” posted Priyanka, a regular on Twitter.

It is said that Priyanka couldn't believe her eyes when her parents gifted her a butterfly-shaped diamond belly button on her birthday, on 18th July, because she never expected such a gift. Sources said that Priyanka had pierced her belly earlier and used to wear belly button until she was forced to part with it following the demand of her film roles.

Well, Priyanka must be looking forward to show off her diamond-studded-belly the next time she appears in public. She also has a lot to look forward to this year with many promising projects in her kitty. Her film Kaminey, where she acts with Shahid Kapoor, is releasing this August and What's Your Raashee with Hurman Baweja is scheduled for release in September. She also has another film titled Pyaar Impossible with Uday Chopra.

Expect the unexpected from Priyanka!

Priyanka reuniting with Hurman?

Shahid Kapoor may be picking up fights for her but seems like Priyanka Chopra is more interested in getting cosy with ex beau Hurman Baweja. The stars who are shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's Whats Your Rashee? were busy mingling with each other on the sets. The crew members were left amazed seeing this. They could not believe two exes were so comfortable in each others company as the case is always the other way around.

Priyanka and Hurman shot a sizzling rain dance which wrapped up the shooting for the movie. The cast and the crew decided to celebrate this by organising a party at a bungalow nearby in Khandala. Priyanka and Hurman who attended the party had their eyes locked on each other. The crew members could sense the sparks between the former couple and they didn't intend to hide it. Well it's a wake up call for Shahid to find some new actress to mingle with.