A peek at Dabbo Ratnani’s 2009 calendar

New Year calendars with Bollywood celebrities adding glaour and glitter to it are the most awaited part of any oncoming year. Among the most awaited ones is the calendar of Dabboo Ratnani. This time Dabboo has come up with his calendar featuring the brightest Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar, Kangna Ranaut, Sushmita Sen, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kajol, Riteish Deshmukh and Deepika Padukone.

The calendar has Kajol in her ‘bindaas’ self atop a Mumbai taxi in a flaming red dress. Deepika Padukone is an all different look with her warrior queen avatar with a designer sword. Riteish Deshmukh looks awesomely striking with his Beatles-inspired sixties’ black and white look. Sajnay Dutt looks deadly behind the wheels of the gleaming red Ferrari.

Says Dabboo about his work, “I have not restricted myself to any dramatic theme for 2009. Some are in black and white, some are in reds while the rest are in vivid colors,” says Dabboo who begins work on his annual ritual in September every year. “Initially, I used to collect snaps of the stars I had shot and put them together for the calendar. But later, I began shooting them exclusively for it.”

The tinsel town gives a quiet welcome to 2009

This time New Year saw a quiet celebration from Bollywood stars as the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the ongoing recessionary phase led to cancellation of events and tightened security everywhere. The Taj, Oberoi and Trident hotels opted out of hosting their annual New Year parties.

Amitabh Bachchan spent a low key evening at home with wife Jaya Bachchan. Abhishek and Ash were in Ooty in the state of Tamil Nadu busy shooting for their next. Preity Zinta is vacating overseas. Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor went for a pre-planned holiday break after Saif was released from the hospital a few days ago. Ajay Devgan continued his annual celebrations at his farm house at Karjat on the outskirts of Mumbai.

Ameesha Patel and Raima Sen set the stage afire with their performances at the Country Club for New Year celebrations. Also, Sanjay Dutt hosted a party at home to welcome the oncoming year.

 

Shahruk khan Deepika and Farah - The trio is back

The hit triumvirate of Om Shanti Om - Farah Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone are back for SRK’s home production, Billu Barber as they sizzle for the Love Mera Hit Hai.

Farah says, “It was great fun doing this song. I didn’t have any sense of deja vu because it is very different from OSO which mostly had retro moves. This song is very hip-hop, it has a futuristic look, and the moves I have given them are like that. I couldn’t say no to Shah Rukh even though my babies were just born.”

Deepika on being back with SRK and Farah excitedly says, “Working with them is special because Shah Rukh and Farah are the two people I have started my career with. I am glad he asked me. Farah these days has become very selective and will not take up anything unless it excites her, so it’s all the more reason for me to be a part of this song. We relived so many memories, I felt I was going back to the sets of OSO. My costume designer is Manish Malhotra even in this film, and we had the same caterer — Mutthuswami, serving us. It was so much fun.”

King Khan is also happy with Deepika for agreeing to dance for his home production, he says, “It was sweet of her to agree. She is very talented and works hard. Working with the younger lot is really a learning process. They are so much fun, confident, and aware. They are all my future investments. ”

Apart from Deepika, SRK will also be seen with Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor in two other item songs.

Shahid Kapoor : Kareena- The pain has receded

Shahid Kapoor in a candid interview talks about ex-Kareena Kapoor and alleged now Sania Mirza. Read below to know more…

Did the irony of your breakup with Kareena and the film’s(Jab we Met) success strike you?
It’s too glaring for me to not notice it.But that’s life for you. You can’t fight it. I’ve always accepted what life gives you. I think what defines my life is not what happens to me but how I deal with it.

Do questions on Kareena make you uncomfortable?
No. It’s been a year now. The pain has receded. See, I know that as an actor I’m not allowed to have my complete privacy even if I wanted to. I try to keep my personal life to myself.

I want to stay connected with the person I am. I want to be in a real world. Sometimes in our world we’re pulled into an illusory state. I want to stay normal. I’ll do as much as possible to uphold my privacy.

Is Sania Mirza a part of your private space?
I don’t like talking about her. But yes, we do know each other, we’re friends and we’re in touch. A lot of people have been speculating about my personal life. And I’ve always said I’m a normal person.

If I’m in a relationship I won’t be sitting in a room alone. I’ll go out with the person I’m in a relationship with. So people will get to know if something is on without giving details.

Since you’re seen with Ms Mirza does one conclude you’re seeing her?
I go out with a lot of friends. But she’s a well-known face. So when I’m seen with her it becomes a matter of discussion. Beyond that I’ll hold on to my privacy.

Did the light hearted mood of Kismat Connection help you get over your break-up with Kareena?
More than the film, I had my family and friends who helped me get over that phase. I don’t think a film can do it for me.

Shahid with Kareena or Shahid with Sania. Eeew Fugly!!!

Shahrukh Khan talks about his latest item Marjaani

Shahrukh Khan has something in him that always makes his item songs click, weather the film clicks or not. SRK’s latest item song for his home production Billu Barber is already on air and his sizzling song ‘Marjaani’ with hot Kareena Kapoor is the latest talk of the twon.

SRK says, “All the songs have been made in the same way as one would expect in a Hindi movie, so the song ‘Marjanni’ is done with lots of dancers and then shouts of ‘Marjaani’ which is a bit Punjabi and Sufi-ish, if I might say so but has more of a Punjabi beat to it.”The album has a fun mix of songs that help take the movie out of the small town to a different world and brings it back. So there are these spikes in the film and I think they happen mainly because of the songs.”

So are you liking SRK’s new item songs - Marjaani and Deepika Padukone starred Love mera Hit Hai?

Watch Shahrukh Khan in Supporting Role in Billo Barber

It would be wondering to see Shahrukh Khan in supporting role in for the first time in a movie with Irfan Khan and Lara Dutta in Lead role. This is SRK’s first movie with director Priyadarshan. He is acting opposite to three Indian actresses Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. The movie is set in a small village where a Barber Billo feels it difficult to match up with the changing times.

The thing starts moving in Billo’s life when one film unit with superstar Sahir Khan Role played by Shahrukh Khan Visits his village and Sahir Khan happens to be Billo’s School friend. Very soon Billo becomes a famed person in village and everyone persuades him let them to meet star. However for many reasons and his inhibitions he fails in meeting the star and thus become the cause of anger and ridicule of villagers. Watch some stills from the hilarious movie.

Aamir Khan makes Mona Singh Nervous!

Mona Singh of the Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin fame is making her Bollywood debut with superstars Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor in Raj Kumar Hirani’s Five Point Someone adaptation 3 Idiots. She is very excited and nervous about the film.

Mona says, Aamir is so good. It’s not even funny. He makes me so nervous. In fact, the thought of working with any of the big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan makes me very nervous. But for now, I am excited.”

She plays Kareena’s sister in the film and talking about her role she says, “I play a very bubbly character in the film and my look is very different from what I look right now. My role is really good and I have a major part in the climax of the film.”

Mona is a fairly good actress we saw her acting skills in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and she dances amazingly - that made her win two dance competitions on TV. We hope the actress does well on the silver screen too.

Saif Ali Khan recovers & plans for a holiday with Kareena

Saif Ali Khan had been hospitalized in Leelavati hospital on Christmas eve owing to a stomach upset, but now he is well on the way to recovery.

Speaking from his hospital bed at Leelavati hospital on Dec 26, Saif said, “I’m almost recovered now. I’m going home today (27 Jan). It was nothing, really.

I returned from Philadelphia from the shooting of Rensil d’Silva’s film on 23rd night. And since I was missing all the Mumbai ka khana, I gorged indiscriminately on local junk food, sev puri bhelpuri, paani puri….puri ki puri fauj went into my stomach.”

Saif claims it was nothing serious and he is going for a holiday with Kareena as pre-planned. She said, “It was gastroenteritis. Yes, I’ve been in hospital twice in the recent past. Once it was just an appendicitis. And the other time it was far more serious. After going through what I did the last time I’m hardly going to get scared by a little stomach infection.”

He added, “Actually it’s much less scary than it looks. I’ve got a drip coming out of my hand, so that makes it look kind of serious. But it’s nothing. I’m fine. Just a little sleepy. In fact Kareena and I are going on our holiday to the mountains as planned.”

Preity Zinta and Katrina Kaif are Jiggy Pals

We rarely get to hear about good friendship stories of actresses, on the contrary we hear alot about their catfights. Leaving actress rivalries alone, lets talk about actress revelries.

After Kareena Kapoor- Amrita Arora, Koena-Tansushree, Kim Sharma-Preeti Jhangiani, its Katrina Kaif and Preity Zinta who seemed to be getting along like a house on fire.

Katrina Kaif was often been labelled as ‘wooden or tight-lipped’ by fellow actresses. She didn’t get along with Bipasha Basu during the making of Race and Malaika Arora also doesn’t have anything good to say about her.

But regardless of all that Katrina really adores Preity Zinta and the two are really good friends. So much that they even take time out of their busy schedules and meet each other.

Now thats a little weird because Preity Zinta is Aishwarya Rai’s good friend too. Wonder if Ash and Kat meet each other in Preity’s common circle of friends.

Saif is alright now; ready for a Holiday

A single plate of Bhelpuri was enough to give the entire film industry a hiccup as Saif Ali Khan got admitted into hospital for an emergency appendectomy. Actor’s mom Sharmila Tagore Pataudi confirmed that Saif had a plate of Bhelpuri and that gave him a stomach infection. .

Girlfriend Kareena Kapoor says, “He is all right. He got a stomach infection due to some thing he ate that didn’t suit him. He’ll be discharged from hospital in 2-3 days.”

Saif and Kareena were planning to leave for a month long vacation soon after Christmas. Saif is said to have recovered almost and rearing to go on his holiday.

Saif fine now and ready to zoom off for a holiday

Saif Ali Khan is fine now and is on his way to a very soon recovery.

He says from his bed at Leelavati Hospital, “I’m almost recovered now. I’m going home today (27 Jan). It was nothing, really.

I returned from Philadelphia from the shooting of Rensil d’Silva’s film on 23rd night. And since I was missing all the Mumbai ka khana, I gorged indiscriminately on local junk food, sev puri bhelpuri, paani puri….puri ki puri fauj went into my stomach.”

Quiz him whether he was frightened about the stomach pain, he says, Not at all. It was gastroenteritis. Yes, I’ve been in hospital twice in the recent past. Once it was just an appendicitis. And the other time it was far more serious. After going through what I did the last time I’m hardly going to get scared by a little stomach infection.”

“Actually it’s much less scary than it looks. I’ve got a drip coming out of my hand, so that makes it look kind of serious. But it’s nothing. I’m fine. Just a little sleepy. In fact Kareena and I are going on our holiday to the mountains as planned.”

Well we hope you get well soon Saifoo.

In the best phase in my life: Kareena

Kareena Kapoor is flying high these days. She thinks she is in the best phase of her life both personally and professionally and she just feels lucky. Here are some excerpts from an interview of hers.“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.”“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.”

Talking about Saif, Kareena said,“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”.” 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.” Good going girl!

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.

Kareena Kapoor - Surgeon as well as supermodel???

For her forthcoming ‘Kambakth Ishq’ Kareena Kapoor has decided to follow the looks of Sarah Jessica Parker from ‘Sex and the City’. Kareena is quoted as saying, “My looks in Kambakht Ishq will be something audiences have not seen before. It is completely different from Tashan, Golmaal Returns and Jab We Met. I play a surgeon and a supermodel in Kambakht Ishq and my styling has been done keeping my character in mind. I always discuss my roles with Lolo and when I asked her about Kambakht Ishq, she told me to get inspiration from Sarah Jessica Parker’s look in Sex And The City. Lolo loves watching TV serials and Sarah’s cool, chic, glamorous and yet simple styles”.

The movie has Kareena playing a surgeon who then gets transformed into an international supermodel in Italy. However, Kareena has decided to let go for her zero-size figure and go for a fuller look as she has to look convincing both as a surgeon and an international model.

“Yeah my character flies to Italy to become a super-model to support herself financially. I didn’t want to play the character looking like an international model because she’s basically in another profession. So she can’t really have the figure of Victoria Beckham, can she? I had to look more filled up. Again, for my next release Main Aur Mrs Khanna with Salman, I play a wife. So I wanted to look more filled up. Not that wives can’t be curvaceous. The one I played in Golmaal Returns certainly was,” says Kareena.

Now Kareena has decided to hold steady with her new weight. “I weigh 54 kgs now, which for a girl of my height is quite fine. People used to wonder what ‘Size 0′ is and I’d joke, ‘Just look at me’. I don’t want that anymore. I want to look like a nice normal healthy girl,” she says.

 

Femina five cover issue

Check out Femina’s 50th year exclusive five cover issue with Bollywood beauties, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif gracing the five individual covers which read “Fifty most beautiful women”.CEO of Femina, Tarun Rai says, “We continue with the 50 year celebrations of Femina. We plan to build the ‘50 Most Beautiful Women’ as an annual property. Next year it will be much bigger and will include an event.” The list of 50 most beautiful women were decided by the Femina readers from a list of 100 beauties.

So which cover looks the best?

Saifeena upset with the terror strike in Mumbai

Both Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were out of the country busy shooting for their upcoming films when the unfortunate incident took place in Mumabi. The duo have expressed their anger, grief and bitterness through letters. Have a look at what they have to say:-

Kareena Kapoor writes:

7000 miles away and very, very angry.

On Wednesday, 26th November, when the terrorists attacked Mumbai, I was getting ready to start my day 7000 miles away in Philadelphia. I got a call from my sister saying there are bomb blasts in Mumbai. It was an eerie feeling. Seven years ago, we were in India following the news coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York. Today, I was in the US, following the news coverage of the 26/11 attack on India’s financial capital. CNN was carrying live coverage of the attacks.

In the days that have followed the 26th of November, I have felt a surge of mixed emotions. Sadness at the loss of lives and property. Admiration for our police, armed forces and firemen, who did their best and fought bravely despite the limited means at their disposal. Disgust with the so-called political leaders who provide no leadership and ironically surround themselves with so many security guards while doing little or nothing for the security of the people who have voted them to power. And anger at the cowards who kill in the name of religion, and anger at the cowards who support them without owning up.

I am writing this after seeing pictures of the citizens’ rally at the Gateway of India and I am filled with pride. It was wonderful to see so many of us speaking in one voice for our city, our country. I am writing this piece as this is the only way I can reach out to our people from so far away.

I want to applaud the media for being pro active… and for being the force that is trying to unite the nation. We must genuinely unite if real change is to come… there are too many divisions…political and religious in our minds. If we are to be secure and strong we need to fight terror together… without any negotiation.

Saif and I both would like to offer our deepest condolences to all the bereaved families…you are in our thoughts and will stay in our minds…I love my city very much…Mumbai is my home, our home… and is the city that has given us all so much. I pray that we can build a better tomorrow on the rubble of our today.

With all my love,

Kareena Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan writes:-

To my city…

Mumbaikars are resilient!! The spirit of Mumbai! Back on its feet…I am sick and tired of hearing about the spirit of the resilient Mumbaikars …what bloody choice to we have?? I really hope we don’t forget this…

The government has failed us again. The B.J.P. are advertising for your votes while the bodies of the dead are not yet cremated….Mr. Modi has offered a crore to the widow of Mr. Hemant Karkare… everyone as usual gaining their own mileage from a deplorable situation…the Taj in flames…60 people shot dead at the C.S.T. 9/ 11 was not so close to us…terror has come home. Who will protect us from this happening again? Is getting shot in the coffee shop of a 5 star hotel or getting killed in an explosion another legitimate way to die… like getting run over or dying of some disease? In our parents’ time Beirut was called the Paris of the East…will Mumbai succumb to a similar fate?

As an Indian and a Muslim, I feel like expressing my condemnation and outright disgust at any party killing innocent people in the name of God, Allah…or whatever we choose to call him… I am so worried that the whole religion will be judged and condemned. There are strong communal feelings running through all stratas of our society… and I find it hard to defend the fact that there seems to be a Muslim hand behind every detonator…Indians must unite as Indians and not split under any circumstances on any line.

I too want revenge for what has happened. I know the whole city is baying for Pakistani blood… We want to bring back draconian laws like Pota, while I might agree with this…I feel we should all remember that 500,000 Indians are in jail under this law…without a trial… our judicial system is so slow anyway…is it humane to go in this direction without fully understanding the situation…I feel a little scared as a Muslim… I want to urge us to fight the right enemy…this is beyond religion India v/s Pakistan. I do feel that to fight Pakistan or to go to war is to play into the hands of the terrorists… This is what they want. We need to unite as a region against this common enemy. Pakistan is fighting the Al Qaida on the Afghanistan border…the U.S. has pledged support…the Marriott Hotel was destroyed and Mrs. Bhutto was killed…we have the same enemy. I applaud Condoleezza Rice for flying to India and saying that non-state actors sometimes act in the confines of a state and there has to be strong action against them and it is still a matter of Islamabad’s responsibility and Pakistan has to act against them.

I would like to thank the NSG and the Mumbai police who handled the situation so well with so little on their side in terms of equipment and support….

Our government agencies like R.A.W have failed us yet again…since1970 there has been more politicizing of these agencies leading to their inefficiency.

Let’s get it right this time…lets vote for the government that we believe in and then stand by them…let us unite on this issue as Indians.

Shooting cold wintry nights in Philadelphia, in the United States…already miserable with the weather and the hours…making a film on terrorism of all things…both Kareena and I were exposed to the news that has shaken the foundations of our city and destroyed our already shaky belief in our government’s ability to protect us. We feel so terribly sad and depressed for our city… our thoughts and prayers are with you Mumbai.

Saif Ali Khan Pataudi

Kareena and Carmen Electra to dance together

Now, ‘Kambakkth Ishq’ is getting just too international. After rubbing their shoulders with the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and the super sensuous Denise Richards, the stars of this Sajid Nadiadwala’s upcoming production will also be seen shaking their legs with the ultra-hot Baywatch babe hot Carmen Electra for a promotional song of the film.Previously, only Akshay Kumar was chosen as the lucky one to shoot the song with Electra, but now Kareena Kapoor will join the two for this expensive video.Bebo has confirmed the news: “Yes, it’s true that I’ll be there in the music video with Carmen Electra and Akshay.”Presently, Kareena is in Philadelphia shooting for a Karan Johar production and will be back in December last week. On the other hand, Electra is expected to come to India in February to shoot the number. Not to mention here that producer Sajid must have loosened his pocket considerably to get this sexy lady say yes to his proposal.What remains for us to see is that which babe outshines the other- The Hollywood sex symbol or our desi glamdoll?