Snapshots from Kajal's holiday

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:44 IST

Kajal Aggarwal took off to UK and the US for a holiday recently with her family

Accompanying her was her sister Nisha who is also seen in South films.

Though B-Town eludes her presently, Kajal has been busy with her Tamil and Telugu projects that she has been shooting back-to-back. With a break in the shoot schedules, Kajal decided on a short holiday.

Beautiful, sunny morning spent by the Washington Lake in Kirkland `Morning sun rays are good for health but it's a double treat when you are at a beautiful place like Washington Lake. It was relaxing for the soul and the mind.`



She says, `I had a fabulous holiday at some of my favourite places. I have a lot of family and friends in London as well as San Fransisco. Along with a lot of shopping, I did a lot of fun things.


Getting drunk on candy. Life is.. Umm.. Sweet ! 



`The entertainment value arrives as the doors open. The smell of sweets is overbearing. 

The hidden child in me popped out after seeing an array of colours all over. I don't know about actress Kajal Aggarwal visiting the store but definitely the little kid Kajal did.` The highlight was a tour of the vineyards at Napa valley. But the best thing about my trip was the time spent with family after a long time. That's what made the holiday completely worth it.`


San Francisco Mad moment at the Golden Gate Bridge! `The bridge is simply the icon of the place... very impressive. I could not take my eyes off the sight of the bridge.` 

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In Pics: B-Town's romance goes eco-friendly

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:46 IST

The modest bicycle has once again become the Bollywood hero's wingman in his quest to woo his ladylove

Move aside swanky cars and Herculean motorbikes. The non-descript bicycle seems to have slowly crept onto the 70 mm screen with a slew of recent films. From slick urban romances to provincial love stories, the humble two-wheeler gives the couple yet another reason to sit tight and cosy together. And spreading the message of going eco-friendly? Well, that's just an extra!

Shootout At Wadala (2013)
Featuring: John Abraham, Kangna Ranaut

In this Sanjay Gupta film dealing with the city's underworld, John's Manya Surve is the 'decent' guy with a bicycle in tow. He commutes to his college on his two-wheeler and has a girlfriend (played by Kangna) too. As he ascends into the dark world of crime, his simple bicycle turns non-existent and gets replaced by expensive vehicles.

Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013)
Featuring: Girish Kumar, Shruti Haasan

Girish is a rich guy who falls for the village belle, Shruti. To embrace a simple rustic life, his character goes to the extent of even trading a sports car for a bicycle.

Fukrey (2013)
Featuring: Pulkit Samrat, Priya Anand

High school kids are better seen pedalling than vrooming around in uniforms. Armed with nothing but a bicycle and charm, Pulkit Samrat woos Priya Anand in this Delhi-based comedy.

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
Featuring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif

B-Town can't boast of many names when it comes to promoting cycling. The actor is not only known for riding casually on the streets of Mumbai but also donating bicycles to kids. Interestingly, Salman and Katrina share a rather long scene in Kabir Khan's spy thriller where a girlie bicycle plays a significant part.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey (2010)
Featuring: Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan

With the more fashionable moped zooming in, female leads are hardly shown pedalling hard these days. Ashutosh Gowarikar's period film featured a saree-clad Dippy traversing the countryside on a traditional bicycle meant for the men folk.

Falling... in love

And here are a few who took a tumble for love: 

Barfi! (2012)
Featuring: Ranbir Kapoor, Ileana D'Cruz

In this Anurag Basu film, Ranbir's character is seen on a bicycle for the most part. In fact, he meets his ladylove while traipsing on his beloved two-wheeler. Their romance ends too, as she leaves town and Barfi ends up crashing his bicycle onto a lamp pole.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)
Featuring: Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor

Milkha initially was depicted as more of a loafer with criminal tendencies in his younger days. And then he fell in love. His bicycle was his best man when he stumbled across his sweetheart (Sonam) that changes the course of his life forever.

Raanjhanaa (2013)
Featuring: Dhanush, Sonam

A small town boy, Dhanush's character roams the street of Benaras on his modest bicycle. And when his ladylove is all set to leave the city much against her wish he tries to do a Barfi by chasing the train. But not before ending up with a painful crash. 

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Why everyone is doing biopics in Bollywood now?

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:47 IST

A series of upcoming biopics starring industry A-listers have become the latest flavour in Bollywood

Hollywood has seen a spate of biopics over the years with some of them raking in the film industry's highest honour, the Oscar, for the actor/actress stepping into the shoes of the protagonist.

More recently, while Daniel Day-Lewis' resemblance to the American President Abraham Lincoln was stark, Meryl Streep earned her stripes for portraying the controversial British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. And with films like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Paan Singh Tomar, it looks like the Hindi film industry too is saluting the legends of the past.

Priyanka Chopra
Playing: Mary Kom

If one excuses her latest item number, PC's last filmi venture was Barfi! for which she garnered critical acclaim. Picking up from where she left, the actress is putting in a lot of physical training - not to mention makeup - to get Mary Kom right in Omung Kumar's upcoming biopic. Sounds great but only time can tell if this is Bollywood's reply to Million Dollar Baby.

Akshay Kumar
Playing: Dara Singh


After Milkha Singh, the focus is on another sportsperson from the north. Director Rohit Jugraj has apparently approached Dara Singh's son Vindoo with a cinematic proposal. Akshay is expected to play the lead in the project. The actor too is said to be keen to portray the celebrated wrestler-actor but needs time to work on his physique.

Ranbir Kapoor
Playing: Kishore Kumar


Anurag Basu will be helming a project based on the eccentric genius's life. Ranbir was the maker's first choice but thanks to his busy schedule, the film has been delayed. He's currently shooting in Sri Lanka for Anurag Kashyap's next.

Vidya Balan
Playing: MS Subbulakshmi


Rajiv Menon is said to be ready with a script following the late Carnatic exponent's life. Moreover, the late vocalist who became the first musician to be awarded Bharat Ratna started her career as a film actress. Following her portrayal of Silk Smith in The Dirty Picture, Vidya was apparently approached for the film.

Shah Rukh Khan
Playing: Dhyan Chand


There have been a lot of speculations suggesting that King Khan is very interested in Playing the hockey wizard in a film. However, there has been no official announcement on it. But given his past association with the sport in question (also Chak De! India), he is expected to give a green signal to the much-delayed project.

Producers' lot

Anurag Kashyap
Vashistha Narayan Singh


After producing a biopic on Shahid Azmi, the filmmaker has apparently set his sight on Vashistha Narayan Singh, a celebrated mathematician who has worked with NASA, IIT-Kanpur and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Once Kashyap is done with the film, he is expected to start casting for his biopic, which will go on the floors early next year.

Riteish Deshmukh
Khashba Jadhav


Riteish Deshmukh will produce a film on Khashaba Jadhav, independent India's first individual Olympic medalist. Titled Pocket Dynamo, it will be a bilingual in Marathi and Hindi.

On Hollywood front

Several biopics are about to release in the coming months...


Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher, explores Steve Jobs' amazing journey.

Diana, starring Naomi Watts, features the last two years of Princess Diana's life.

The Fifth Estate, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, follows WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange.

Lovelace, starring Amanda Seyfried, is the story of adult star Linda Lovelace.

Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, is about the tempestuous six-year relationship between European musician Liberace and his protege Scott Thorson.

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Guess Who: This star wants to publicise himself through his love life

Guess Who: This star wants to publicise himself through his love life

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:48 IST

Most often than not, it's the shutterbugs chasing stars to get pictures of them getting 'intimate' with their romantic interests 

But this star, who's had a slew of recent flops, is apparently trying to shift the attention off his work to his 'imaginative' love life.

And in his quest, the humble coffee cup has become his wingman. According to sources, every time the actor steps out for a piping hot cuppa - with friends or work mates - he apparently tells those around him to 'leak' the news of his 'romantic' outings.

And while rumours about his alleged dalliances have all been denied by him, it is said he secretly wants the paparazzi to never get off his back.

Says a source, `There was a lot of buzz recently about him dating an actress, who made her debut in a 'serious' film. Last year too, during his birthday celebrations in Goa, he leaked pictures of him getting cosy with another actress. `

A bitchy birdie from Versova even told us that on one of their romantic coffee dates, she was caught off guard by photographs present at the venue, who had been apparently summoned there on the insistence of the star himself. 

An insider says, `He may or may not be single but he loves to flaunt his Casanova side for a few moments under the sun. ` 

With him becoming a frequent visitor at suburban coffee shops, one thing the star is definitely generating is a long beverage bill. 

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Neetu talks for the first time post her break up with Randeep

Neetu talks for the first time post her break up with Randeep

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:54 IST

After disappearing from the scene for over two years, actor Neetu Chandra is now back in action with a couple of films 

`Well, I did a Greek and a couple of Tamil and Telugu films in between. I feel that it is better to sit at home and indulge in other things rather than sign on bad films just to stay busy, ` says the 10 film old actress. CS caught up with her for a shortinterview.

Hindi hain hum!
I did a couple of projects in Tamil and Telugu and I was getting more offers from the South. However, I want to concentrate more on Hindi films, as Hindi is my mother tongue. I feel that I can challenge and explore myself in a better manner in Hindi films. An actor needs a have a good grasp of the language to deliver well. 

Wait and watch
Acting is my passion. Whenever, I take on a project I hope to get some creative satisfaction from it. I can't bring myself to take on a film if I know that it is going to be a bad project. Yes, there are phases of anxiety and irritation but you have to be patient. I live with my family and they keep my spirits up.


Hobby time
I gave a lot of time to my Kathak training in the past couple of years. Dance is a very spiritual thing for me. Plus, I practise my martial arts. It is very important to have a life beyond films to stay in perspective.

Producer's hat
I produced my brother's film Deswa but I am not planning to get into production anytime soon. I was very happy with the response it got from the critics and audiences. At times, I feel sad to see that people can't watch the kind of Bhojpuri films being made nowadays with their families. I wish there were more sensible films in Bhojpuri.


It's personal
A lot has been written about my personal life. I don't want to comment on it further. As of now, my focus is on my work. I believe in life, everything has a time. Right now, it's only work, work and more work for me. 

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Savage Sabotage: How Poonam Pandey was kept out of Multiplexes

Savage Sabotage: How Poonam Pandey was kept out of Multiplexes

Friday, August 02, 2013 17:52 IST

By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News

Poonam Pandey feels she has been give araw deal.

While her film debut Nasha is doing well at the single theatres Poonam says the film has deliberately been kept out of multiplexes.

Says the defiant Pandey, `It is sad that our film is not playing in any multiplex in Mumbai. The director Amit Saxena had packaged the film for multiplex audiences!

We are a victim of the politics of other other big production houses. We haven't got theatres in multiplexes. 

Still our film was houseful wherever it was released, although we got fewer shows than expected. Our film got the best opening among all the releases last week.`


A source from one of the leading multiplex chains in Mumbai let the cat out of the bag admitting that Nasha was boycotted. `There were too many releases this week. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is still doing well.We just didn't have any slots for Nasha.`

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