Friday, August 31, 2007

Watch Rakhi Sawant Live On This Video

Kareena goes cold


It seems the oh-so-hot Kareena Kapoor has gone all cold. Along with a lot of weight that she has lost for her new film "Tashan", the actress has also lost her confidence and poise. This time, her uneasiness showed clearly at the Globus new face launch on Monday. Dressed in a sea-green halter neck, Kareena kept checking it and managing it at the sides. The Globus locket strung in pearls that she was wearing didn't look that good. Maybe the lady was aware of the fact and hence posed in a very stiff manner for the cameras.

Post-launch she repeated the act for the electronic media too. It even seemed that she had memorized what she had to say by rote. She kept on repeating the same lines that she had said earlier at the launch. She also left without talking to the media. We miss the glamorous and stylish Kareena, what with a little more weight.

Salman freed from jail, returns to Mumbai

Bollywood actor Salman Khan walked free from a Jodhpur jail Friday after spending a week behind bars and returned to Mumbai to an enthusiastic welcome from hundreds of delighted fans.
Salman was granted bail by the Rajasthan High Court on a bond of Rs.100,000 and two sureties of Rs.50,000 each. He was sent to jail Saturday for hunting an endangered chinkara deer nine years ago.
Wearing a white shirt, jeans and a grey cap and carrying a bag, the macho star walked out of jail and hugged his bodyguard as the waiting crowd clapped and shouted slogans in his support.
Hundreds of fans had crowded around the jail and also the hotel where his family was staying. They were also waiting at the airport to see him and police had a tough time controlling them.
Even in Mumbai, where he arrived at night, hundreds of fans had converged to give him a warm welcome. The actor drove straight to his Bandra residence.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Only Ash was offered 'Pink Panther 2': casting director

Refuting rumours about other Bollywood actors being offered a role in 'Pink Panther 2', its casting director Ilene Starger said they only considered Aishwarya Rai. 'Most emphatically, we did not offer the role to anyone other than Aishwarya! Aishwarya was, when I first read the script, the actress I envisioned for the role,' Starger told IANS from Los Angeles in an e-mail interview. Aishwarya shot for a day with Steve Martin and Andy Garcia in Paris Aug 20 for the film by Harold Zwart. 'Her intelligence, grace, beauty and sophistication are just what the role requires. And, of course, she has a touch of mystery too. She fits in wonderfully with our fantastic ensemble cast, and all of us involved with the film are thrilled to work with her.' Rumours had it that Celina Jaitley was offered the role first but rejected it. Also, Hrithik Roshan was asked to play detective Clouseau's assistant Vincent in part two of the comedy, but he too turned it down. However, Aishwarya's international manager Simone Sheffield dismisses the reports. Sheffield said: 'Negotiations went on for a month to secure Aishwarya and her dates. The script is absolutely wonderful and the wardrobe is great.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Salman meets Arbaz, Katrina in prison

Prisoner No.343 of Jodhpur central jail, Bollywood star Salman Khan, was afforded some cause to cheer Sunday when three of his near and dear ones were allowed to visit him and spend over 20 minutes with him.
The celebrity prisoner, hero of countless films and a style icon who has been sentenced to five years in prison for hunting an endangered deer nine years ago in Rajasthan, surrendered himself to Rajasthan Police Saturday following an arrest warrant.
Jail authorities had given special permission to Salman's brother Arbaz Khan, his sister Alvira and model-turned-actor and close friend Katrina Kaif to meet Salman between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Arbaz, Alvira and Katrina along with other family members and friends came from Mumbai to Jodhpur early in the afternoon, drawing crowds of fans and onlookers at the airport.
Along with Alvira, Katrina dressed in a white kurta and jeans and Arbaz in a pink T-shirt and trousers spent over 20 minutes with Salman in the jail.
'Salman was dressed in white khadi clothes of the jail and he looked fine as he met the three of them together,' a source in the jail told IANS.

Jodhpur residents divided over Salman's arrest

With Bollywood star Salman Khan lodged in the city central jail, Jodhpur has suddenly come into the spotlight. But residents here have mixed feelings about the actor serving a five-year jail term for hunting an endangered chinkara deer nine years ago.
While his fans, who have been gathering around the prison here ever since Salman was arrested Saturday, feel he has been booked because of his celebrity status, many are of the opinion that the actor has been rightly punished.
A majority of his sympathisers are girls and the youth who consider him a style icon.
'I think he is suffering because of his celebrity status. The court has acquitted five others in the same case ... why has only he been pronounced guilty?' questioned Anupama Chaudhary, a Class 12 student.
And many Salman fans firmly believe he is innocent. Said Bhanwar Singh, another college student: 'A person like Salman can't do something like this. I have read that he helps lots of people and engages in charity. He could not have done this. All charges against him are fake.'
At the same time, several people felt he had been rightly punished. 'As an actor I love Salman but if you have committed a crime, no matter how big or small you are, you should be punished. Law is above all,' said Ashok Chaudhary.
Salman was arrested at Jodhpur airport Saturday and taken to the central jail. He has been convicted of poaching a chinkara deer at the Ghoda farm near Jodhpur on the night of Sep 28, 1998 while filming Sooraj Barjatya's blockbuster 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.
On Friday, the district and sessions court here had dismissed the actor's plea against the five-year jail term handed down by a lower court.
But several wildlife lovers felt the judgement was a landmark one, which was in favour of animal rights.
'I think this judgement will go a long way and help curb poaching activities,' said Ramkumar Purohit, a resident.
And the happiest are members of the Bishnoi community who are nature worshippers and staunch animal lovers. Deer and antelopes are seen grazing peacefully in Bishnoi dominated areas due to the care and protection offered by the community. They had launched strong protests against Salman for killing chinkaras and black bucks.
'We are very happy with the court's decision. Though it has come after many years but he is finally behind bars and we hope that he is not released,' said R.K. Bishnoi, a college student.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Salman leaves for Jodhpur to surrender

Bollywood star Salman Khan left for Jodhpur on Saturday to surrender before a court that has issued an arrest warrant against him for hunting an endangered chinkara deer nine years ago.Salman told reporters outside his residence that he would catch a flight to the Rajasthan city.A district and sessions court in Jodhpur on Friday dismissed his plea against a five-year jail term handed by a lower court.The Jodhpur police had earlier readied a five-member team to go to Mumbai to arrest the hugely popular actor.In April last year, Salman had filed an appeal in the district and sessions court against the judgement of the chief judicial magistrate's court in Jodhpur that had sentenced him to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined him Rs 25,000.The court had found Salman guilty under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Salman spent three nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before the district and sessions court gave him bail.On Friday, district and sessions judge Kamal Raj Singhvi rejected his appeal and upheld the five-year jail term and the fine. The district court also issued an arrest warrant against him.The star of hit films like "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" failed to appear for the hearing on Friday, saying he had missed the flight to Jodhpur from Hyderabad where he was shooting. However, his sister Alvira was in the court.Salman has been convicted of poaching a chinkara deer at Ghoda farm near Jodhpur on the night of Sep 28, 1998 while filming for Sooraj Barjatya's blockbuster "Hum Saath Saath Hain".A case was registered against Salman and five others under the Indian Penal Code, the Wildlife Protection Act and the Indian Arms Act Oct 11, 1998.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Salman Khan to be jailed for poaching

A Jodhpur court rejected an appeal by actor Salman Khan against a five-year prison sentence for a 1998 poaching case on Friday, a verdict that will send the actor to jail. Khan had filed an appeal against a 2006 court ruling which had sentenced him to jail for poaching a chinkara -- an endangered species of gazelle that is protected under wildlife laws -- while shooting a film in Rajasthan.That court also fined him 25,000 rupees. Hunting such animals carries a maximum sentence of seven years.He was also convicted in 2006 for killing protected black buck antelopes in Rajasthan and given a one-year jail sentence.He was granted bail while he appeals that conviction.Khan was not present in the court when the verdict was announced."His hotel room was booked but he couldn't get a flight and was therefore held back," S R Bajwa, one of Khan's lawyers, told the Times Now news channel.It was not immediately known when he would be taken into custody."Salman's Khan's advocate will now have to decide when he surrenders," said Mahipal Bishnoi, a prosecution lawyer, speaking on a local news channel. "I think he might surrender on Monday."Bishnoi said an arrest warrant would be issued.Khan is also facing charges of killing a person sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai while driving drunk in 2002. He has denied being at the wheel.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Book chronicles lives of yesteryear divas

Three divas of Bollywood Waheeda Rehman, Zeenat Aman and Helen graced the capital on Wednesday night for a book launch.It was a star-studded evening and for once no one complained that the venue wasn't Paris but Delhi.The three evergreen beauties were in town for the release of a book on Indian women in the film industry at the Imperial hotel.So, what if they appear no more on the big screen but the once-upon-a-time cabaret queen Helen, the ravishing Zeenat and the ever-gorgeous Waheeda did make an appearance.The book chronicles everyone from Sulochana to Nadira from Vyjantimala to Madhuri Dixit and of course the current leading ladies Preity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra.As crazy fans jostled for autographs one was compelled to think whether public memory is still short.

A Sigh Of Relief For Film Industry

The film industry heaved a sigh of relief as Sanjay Dutt got a breather. More than Rs 70 crore is riding on three films he is acting in Abbas-Mustan’s Mr Fraud and Kidnap (both for Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision) and Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug.The anxious film fraternity is relaxed now. It’s good for producers whose films are incomplete, said trade analyst Taran Adarsh. Adarsh said that Rs 80 to Rs 100 crore was riding on Dutt. It’s the result of the prayers of millions. He has been punished enough for his mistake and now let him make his late father, family and nation proud of him, said Subhash Ghai.Dutt’s close friend, Sanjay Gupta, who has worked extensively with the actor, was a happy man. Although it’s an interim relief, justice has prevailed and our faith in the judiciary has been restored.While some in the industry feel that Dutt may soon return to the studios to complete the pending movies, others are doubtful.It depends on how long the interim relief lasts, because it’s going to take quite some time to complete these films. Besides, it would be very improper on part of the producers to ask him for dates considering what he’s been through, said Vidhu Rajkumar Hirani.

Sanjay Dutt has finally been released from jail on interim bail.


Though the actor was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Monday, he spent three nights in jail as documents relating to his release had not reached jail authorities.The release is only temporary and Dutt will go back to jail as soon as he gets a copy of the TADA court order convicting him. His friend Yusuf Nallawalla who was also convicted in the case came out of the jail with him. Sanjay Dutt has reached his Bandra residence in Mumbai.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

SRK gets booked!


Actor Shah Rukh Khan shows his biographical book 'King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan' by Anupama Chopra at a function held to celebtrate Book's success, in Mumbai on Monday, August 20, 2007. Over 10,000 copies in have been sold in a span of two weeks.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Sanjay Dutt Is Probably To Be Released Today

Sajnay Dutt fans patience is running out as the “Munnabhai” star awaits his release from Yerawada Jail here a day after being granted interim bail. He is now likely to be released Wednesday.Outside the jail, Sanjay’s fans are hoping against hope to get a glimpse of the star. Sandeep Bajaj, an avid fan, says: “I would love to see him. I have come all the way from Nasik to see him,” Bajaj told IANS outside the jail.Meanwhile, in Mumbai Sanjay’s lawyer Farhana Shah is waiting too. “I still haven’t received the papers. It’s impossible that he will be released today.” Inside the jail, Sanjay is busy with the chores of carpentry and caning (of chairs) that he has chosen as part of the six years “rigorous imprisonment” he was handed by a court in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings. According to Asim Sarode, lawyer and social activists who works at Yerawada Jail, Sanjay Dutt has worked for 16 days and will receive Rs.204 as his allowance.
“He has picked up carpentry very fast,” Sarode said.The Supreme Court Monday granted interim bail to Sanjay, jailed for six years for illegally receiving guns from terrorists involved in the 1993 Mumbai bombings.He is expected to be released after the Supreme Court order is submitted and certified before a Mumbai court and then passed on to jail authorities.
Shah said that Sanjay would most probably be released Wednesday.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Sanjay's release from Yeravada jail only tomorrow

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is expected to be released from Yeravada jail on Tuesday after the Supreme Court order granting him bail reaches the prison authorities here. The copy of the apex court order will be routed through the TADA court in Mumbai before it can be handed over to the jail authorities here, Satish Mathur, IG Prisons, Maharashtra said. Under these circumstances, the actor, who has served about three weeks of his six year rigorous imprisonment sentence slapped by the TADA court in the Mumbai blasts case, is likely to walk out of jail only tomorrow. Dutt was brought here on the night of August 2 from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail which houses only under trial prisoners. He is said to be doing "cane work" assigned to him a week back after he underwent a routine medical check-up.