Aamir Khan turns barber, gives fans the 'Ghajini' look

New Delhi, While many star struck men and boys visited salons to get the perfect "Ghajini" cut, two lucky fans got their hair buzzed by Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan himself at a market in the capital.

"Quite a lot of people are getting this 'Ghajini' haircut from various places, so I thought I will give the cut to some of my fans myself. I felt very light when I got it done - there was no need to comb my hair after the bath," said Aamir, who gave hair cut at Bengali Market in central Delhi as part of his promotional activities for "Ghajini".

Aamir gave the hair cut to Shamshir, a hairstylist, and Shivek, a grade five student in the presence of a huge crowd.

"I felt very nice when Aamir cut my hair for me. It's like a dream come true for me. I was waiting for him since five in the morning and I will definitely watch 'Ghajini' on the first day," said Shamshir after his 15 minutes of fame.

While Shamshir was keen to get the nearly bald look, Aamir took special care before snipping Shivek's tresses - he took permission from Shivek's father before cutting his hair.

After doing his bit as a barber, Aamir said that it was a fairly simple job.

Several others were craving to sit on the hot seat, but the actor couldn't oblige all his fans. But he compensated by singing a few songs including "Guzarish" from "Ghajini".

Apart from adults, children were present in huge number at the event. Some of them sat and stood on their parents' shoulders and shouted "Aamir bhaiya, Aamir bhaiya" until they managed to establish eye contact with the star.

Four-year-old Kavya came with her father just to catch a glimpse of the star, but managed to reach his arms when Aamir said he was keen to give the "Ghajini" look to a woman. Kavya was the only one sporting enough, but Aamir didn't quite want to spoil the little one's soft hair.

Lots of other kids came with autograph books, but returned dismayed because of multiple barricades and heavy security. Others came equipped with cameras and were busy taking Aamir's pictures and videos.

About "Ghajini", Aamir said: "It is an action film yet deals with a lot of human emotions. It is a beautiful love story."

Aamir has teamed up with south Indian actress Asin and Jiah Khan in the film.

My best phase started with Saif's entry: Kareena Kapoor

Mumbai, Kareena Kapoor is on a high. She is getting one film offer every day and receives more than 300 SMSes daily. The actress says her career has started looking up ever since Saif Ali Khan entered her life."Saif is extremely loving and supportive. In fact, the best phase of my career started when Saif came into my life. Now he's enjoying this phase in my life along with me. That makes this phase even more special," Kareena told IANS.
Many people gave her relationship with Saif no more than six months. Reacting to that, Kareena said: "There's absolutely no room for such negativity in my life. I only have place for people who are positive and who make me happy by sharing in my happiness.
"This is the best phase in my life. And I feel I'm in a place where I've never been before."
Commenting upon her career, she said: "I'm a lucky girl. I'm being offered one film every day. Normally a Bollywood actress does about 40 days' work. My directors are taking about 100 days with me. I've already given Karan (Johar) 100 days for his film directed by Rensil D'Silva."
Excerpts from the interview:

Q: What are you doing in this guy-oriented cast of Rajkumar Hirani's "Three Idiots"?

A: I've an effective role. And no power on this earth would've made me miss the chance of working with Hirani. I'm a lucky girl. I'm being offered one film every day. I don't have time to read scripts. I'll do so in March 2009 after I finish my current lot of films which includes Karan Johar's film with Saif. Normally a Bollywood actress does about 40 days' work. My directors are taking about 100 days with me. I've already given Karan 100 days for his film directed by Rensil D'Silva.

Q: Looking back, has it been a turbulent year for you?

A: I wouldn't call it turbulent. It was an exciting phase in my life when so many things rushed down on me at the same time. The last year was a turning-point in my life. But the end result is happy. Both, professionally and emotionally, I think I've come out a winner. I've tried to be as dignified about my personal life as possible. As for my work, god has been kind.

Q: Do you think you're lucky?

A: It's not just luck. I've worked really hard to get here. It's my perseverance that has got me where I am. And I owe my success to no one else but myself.

Q: Perseverance? You've begun to sound like Saif.

A: Yes, my vocabulary has increased. He makes me memorise some pages of the Oxford dictionary every day, ha ha. That's a joke. But seriously, he does speak very well. So I'm trying to catch up.

Q: Who's your favourite Khan?

A: Ah-ha. Do I have to spell it out?

Q: Is there anything you want?

A: I have it all. For me, the journey as an actress has just begun. And I'm not going to shift focus from it for four-five years.

Q: No marriage for four-five years?

A: I know, I definitely want to. But not at least for three years. The work I'm doing is giving me so much satisfaction. No 28-year-old can ask for more.

Q: People gave your relationship with Saif no more than six months?

A: There's absolutely no room for such negativity in my life. I only have place for people who are positive and who make me happy by sharing in my happiness. This is the best phase in my life. And I feel I'm in a place where I've never been before. As an actress I feel everyone and that includes me, expects things from me that are not generally expected from Bollywood actresses except maybe Kajol. Or my sister Karisma.

Q: Do you get enough time with Saif?

A: He's extremely loving and supportive. He knows how long it's taken me to get the work that I'm getting now. In fact, the best phase of my career started when Saif came into my life. Now he's enjoying this phase in my life along with me. That makes this phase even more special. The only thing I miss is time with my family and Saif. When I finish this schedule I head straight to Venice for Sajid Nadiadwala's "Kambakht Ishq".

Q: Are you and Saif doing a lot of endorsements together?

A: We're offered a lot of endorsements. But we are not doing any except a shampoo brand (Head & Shoulders). But we'll soon be signing on for endorsements. And we're doing another film for Asthvinayak. That starts in April 2009. We want it to be a fast and furious action film. Something larger-than-life. Saif is working very closely with the producers. He's trying to lock in on the script and director.

Q: You've changed so much in appearance and behaviour.

A: Ha, that's what you think. I'm still the same. It's just that I'm so busy. I've been working constantly. On top of that my house is being done up. There're a dozen things demanding my attention. I get 300 SMSes a day. I can't answer them personally.

Only Shahrukh & I Have Made It Big Without Godfathers : Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar’s upcoming flick Chandni Chowk To China has a special promotional song being shot on Akshay Kumar. Very much in the mould of the promotional song from Singh is Kinng that had Akshay Kumar rapping along with international sensation Snoop Dog, even this movie has Akshay Kumar rapping with Bohemia.

'Ghajini' music unconventional, but a sure hit (Music Review)

The cold war between the two reigning Bollywood Khans, Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan, seems set for a thaw with Shahrukh appealing to everyone to watch Aamir’s upcoming flick Ghajini that release on Wednesday 24 December. A day after proclaiming himself the biggest brand in the sountry, Shahrukh, in an apparent change of heart, said at a press meet, “I appeal to all to watch Ghajini”.

Sonia Gandhi, Shah Rukh ranked among 50 most powerful people

New York, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan have been ranked among the 50 most powerful people in the world by the prestigious Newsweek magazine. President-elect Barack Obama topped the list.Placing Sonia Gandhi at the 17th spot, the magazine said: "Although India's political scene is riven by factions, Congress remains the strongest national force, and the Italian-born widow of late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi rules it unchallenged. In the world's largest democracy, she's queen."
Shah Rukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot in the magazine's 50 most powerful people, was described as the "King of Bollywood."
"It's not just that his (Shah Rukh Khan's) romantic flicks make gazillions, it's where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mullahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.," the newsweekly said.
"Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan (a Muslim married to a Hindu) makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry."
Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who controls the country's nuclear weapons, is placed 20th on the list of the global "power elite" at the beginning of 2009 in the magazine's January issue.
Obama, who scripted history by becoming the first black-American to be voted to the White House, is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
A surprise inclusion in the list, which the magazine admits is subjective, is Osama Bin Laden, whom the Newsweek describes as "global terrorist". North Korean dictator Jim Jong II also finds a place in the list.
About 47-year-old Obama, it says the presidency of the "intensely charismatic" Democrat, who will be inaugurated Jan 20, will be judged on how he handles the economic crisis that now envelops the US and the world. "For Obama to be remembered as a great President, he has to do nothing less than rescue capitalism."
For Bin Laden, who finds 42nd spot, the magazine says the manhunt may not have been successful, but it has driven him far underground. Once a glutton for publicity, he has not shot a new video since September 2007, and no audio message from him has been heard since May 2008, it says.
Chinese President Hu, who was awarded the second place after Obama, Newsweek says, is a guy "you wouldn't think twice about...cautious, colourless and corporate. In the past he has often lost the spotlight to other world leaders with bigger egos and sharper elbows. But to underestimate Hu Jintao would be a monumental error."
"His position as China's president makes him CEO of a financial juggernaut that's projected to post a $280 billion trade surplus this year. While the rest of the world plunges deeper into recession, Hu the Humble is emerging as the one who is holding the lifeline."
Among others on the list include the Dalai Lama, former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, Iranian strongman Ayatollah Ali Khemenei, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, American General David Petraeus, Iraqi leader Nuri al-Maliki, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Pope Benedict XVI, Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and popular show host Oprah Winfrey.

Kalpana Lajmi chooses Deepika over Aishwarya

There is no questioning about the talent of the ace filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi. Now, it is so that Lajmi had written a script based on political drama. The film titled “Singhasan” was written by Lajmi with Aishwarya Rai in mind. But now, it seems that the maker has changed her mind and wants to make it with Deepika Padukone instead, who happens to be a distant relative of hers.

Explaining her relationship with Deepika, she said: “We’re both descendents of the great Guru Dutt. Deepika and I are Saraswat Brahmins. Her family and mine can be traced back to Kashmir. We’re basically evicted Kashmiri pundits who migrated to Bangalore.

If you remember my uncle Guru Dutt (her artist mother Lalita Lajmi’s brother) was settled in Bangalore and so is Deepika’s father Prakash Padukone. Deepika is definitely related to me, though she doesn’t know it. But I hope she knows about me,” Lajmi said.

Reasoning out Deepika as her choice, she said, “I saw her in ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ and found her to possess that old world grace that comes naturally to Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai. I don’t think any other girl today has that quality. I was once planning to cast Aishwarya as a politician in ‘Singhasan’. I’d love to cast Deepika in that role.”

“Maybe she can get R.K. Films to produce it,” she joked.

However, Kalpana has doubts whether Deepika would agree to her offer. “Why should she? I’m a down-and-out filmmaker. I haven’t put a project together in the last three years because of various reasons, the main being finances. A filmmaker like me suffers a double disadvantage by being a woman,” said Lajmi, who has made films like “Chingaari” and “Daman”.

What makes Mugdha Godse homeless?

Mugdha Godse is homeless at present and is staying at each of her friends’ place for a day. No, she has not been thrown out for some bizarre reason. It is just that the gal who has just tasted success with ‘Fashion’ has decided to fashion up her house a bit and has workers spread in her entire house doing it for her.

Though Mugdha decided to spend some days in a 5 star hotel, her friends did not allow her to do so arguing even if her family was in Pune, she was to treat their homes as her home.

So, for at least next 15 days, Mugdha with her luggage in her car is living life hippie style stopping for a day at each friend’s house. That’s a foreign lifestyle in India!

Bipasha Basu has a day full of mishaps

Last Sunday was a day whose memories bring shudder to sultry Bong beauty Bipasha Basu. The gal was shooting an action scene last Sunday and then a mishap took place and she had to be taken to the hospital.

No, it wasn’t a fall or a leg or back injury. It was just a small flying pebble which landed right in her ear. Though the actress tried to shake the pebble out, but it did not help. To save her eardrum Bips decided to take the medical help but unfortunately, it was Sunday and all clinics in the vicinity were closed.

Now, it was John Abraham, who as a true boyfriend, came to her rescue. Receiving Bipasha’s SOS, he immediately called an ENT doc friend of his. Bipasha rushed to Leelavati hospital where the ENT specialist took out the pebble with a suction machine.

A relieved Bipasha went home with her parents, but another trouble awaited her. She, her parents, and her claustrophobic sister got stuck in the lift of their building. It took some time before the Basus were rescued.

Phewww! What a day it was!!

Big B impresses Madhavan with golfing skills

 

Mumbai, Actor R. Madhavan, known for his golfing prowess, says he was surprised by his "Teen Patti" co-star Amitabh Bachchan's skill at the game. Madhavan has won prizes for the game while Amitabh had never played golf before. "Or so he said," said Madhavan.
"But seeing how he played, I was shocked. No one except Mr. Bachchan can be so good at a game he has never played before," Madhavan told IANS.
It happened suddenly when one day Big B decided to join the young actor at the golf course in Pune where they are shooting for the movie.
"I thought I'd be privileged enough to teach him a few moves. I was stunned at the way he played. He was spectacular. And if this was his first time ever at golf then I've just become an even bigger fan of his," said Maddy who played an Amitabh admirer in "Ramji Londonwale" and even got the superstar to make an appearance at the end of the film.
"I don't know how he did it! He's unbelievably athletic. His hand coordination is extraordinary. Other people generally take four years for what he did on the golf course on his first day... and so easily. He has phenomenal pick up powers whether it's on the golf course or on the (movie) sets," Madhavan said.
In the film, Amitabh plays the professor who tutors five of his brightest proteges, played by Madhavan, Siddharth Kher and newcomers Druv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor for high-stakes gambling. It is being directed by Leena Yadav.
Not much of a card player either, Big B picked up the card game so fast for "Teen Patti" that he left Madhavan and other team members gasping.
"He is extraordinary in whatever he does. I feel like his pupil," said Maddy.
"And then I go right back to playing the student in Raj Kumar Hirani's 'Three Idiots'. But being around Big B, I always feel like a student."

Akshay Kumar runs for 'special athletes'

New Delhi, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who hails from the capital, returned to the bylanes of Chandni Chowk Sunday to carry the 'Flame of Hope', the relay torch for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The torch made its way to New Delhi Sunday, where 150 Special Olympics athletes, law enforcement officers and residents joined Kumar as he carried the torch on a two-km run through Chandni Chowk as part of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run - a signature event honouring the Special Olympics movement.
Kumar is the celebrity supporter and brand ambassador for the event that is being organised prior to the world games set to be held in Boise, Idaho, US, Feb 2-13 next year.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit flagged off the event at the Red Fort.
Craig Grossgart, country manager of DHL Express India, and Air Marshall Denzil Keelor were also present.
The Bollywood actor asserted that he wasn't here to promote his upcoming film "Chandni Chowk to China".
"It is just a coincidence that I am here at Chandni Chowk for this event and that the torch will next be taken to Shanghai. I am here to support the event and the athletes," he told mediapersons.
Athlete Achint Babbar was among the special athletes to share stage-space with the star and was overjoyed when Akshay commended him on having won in the swimming category of the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2008.
His mother said: "Achint was happy to meet the star that he normally sees on TV. Seeing a star like this in their support, the athletes will feel motivated."
The Flame of Hope was lit Nov 12 2008 in Athens, Greece, using the rays of the Sun in accordance to Olympic tradition. The flame then left Greece to begin a 60,000-km journey across five continents.
Carried by members of the global law enforcement community and Special Olympics athletes, more than 12,000 people around the world will participate in this pivotal event for the Special Olympics movement delivering hope, inspiration and encouragement to all people with intellectual disabilities.