Amitabh Bachan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan @ Karan Johan and Varun Bahl show at HDIL

Aishwarya Rai at HDIL fashion show photos

Aishwarya Rai hit up the first day of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai on Wednesday. Checkout the pics below.

Joining designer Manish Malhotra, the Bollywood beauty helped kick off the first day of the event – which is five days long with twelve leading designers being showcased. 

Rituparna SenGupta pics from the movie Trishna

Kareena shakes hips Shakira style!

In the title track of the much awaited Golmaal 3 we will see Kareena Kapoor swaying her hips Shakira style!!

Kareena will be seen belly dancing in this hot new number. Sources from the sets revealed that Kareena was quite a pro when it came to learning these steps. She picked up the steps quickly and gave excellent takes without much rehearsal. 

People who have seen the song are raving about her look in it. In Jab We Met Kareena made the harem pants a popular trend and with this song she has brought the trend back with a twist! She is sporting harem pants with ganjis and a lot of bangles. 

Whatever Bebo does she does it with her very own magic touch and with this song we are sure she will bring back the charisma of belly dancing!  

Shreya Saran at South Scope Cine Awards

Shreya Saran at South Scope Cine Awards

Shreya Saran hosted the even of south scope cine awards 2010(awards presented for the year 2009),she was wearing a trendy transparent light green saree. More images after the break...

Rajinikant’s bathtub tales

No language barriers, no age bar….. That’s the magic, power of Rajinikant for one and all. And there’s no doubt he’s being considered as “the” Super star.

Come October first, and the icon will be welcomed with hearty support which will be poured in by his fans from all over the world. In a way, Shankar’s ‘Robot’ is patiently waiting to hit the screens.

While our B-town’s legend Amitabh Bachchan had faced discomforts during the shooting of ‘Paa’, even Rajini had his own share of experiences with ‘Robot’. Talking about the behind-the-scene stories, one can get to know that the veteran star had undergone tough situations. Rajini said to have spent nearly 17 hours in a bathtub for a sequence, where he (as a robot) is being assembled by his maker on a table.

Being a well-committed person, he had surprised director Shankar by not going with the idea of using body double and gave is consent immediately for lying within the confined space. According to sources, Rajini had been provided with vitamin supplements every two hours, lest he felt weak without food and water.

"Rajnikant is a thorough professional and dedicated, even though the scene was physically taxing," remarked Shankar to sources on recalling the incident.

Phew!

Hrithik-Aishwarya ki ‘Guzaarish’

Finally the wait is over! The first look of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much awaited project ‘Guzaarish’ was unveiled today at a press meet. Starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the film is reported to hit the screens on 19th November.

‘Guzaarish’ revolves around Hrithik who is a quadriplegic, wheelchair-bound patient while Aishwarya comes in the role of a married nurse who develops a bond with Hrithik. Going by the trailer, one gets the feel of some English film, which is soft, subtle yet imposing. One can get to see Hrithik’s flashback when he was a magician.

At the press meet, Bhansali stated that the film is about the beauty, hope and the joy of living. Talking about the film’s music, he said, “I did the music because I understand the characters well. This was just an experiment. There are eight songs in the film and 12 in the music album." As a matter of fact, ‘Guzaarish’ marks the debut of Bhansali into music direction.

Rahman adds more flavour to ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’

Just weeks after he made an impromptu decision to record two more songs for his upcoming Bollywood flick ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’, A R Rahman is now making one more effort to make the film a musical treat for fans.

The music composer, who added pride to India by brining home the Oscars and Grammy, has recorded some of the background score for the movie at an iconic studio in Hollywood.

“Recorded with an LA jazz quartet, a couple of whom have played with the likes of Barbara Streisand and Billie Holiday,” wrote the Mozart of Madras on a social networking website.

Rahman added, “It’s been a great experience working with Abbas Tyrewala again.”

Releasing on October 15th, ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’ stars John Abraham and Pakhi along with Raghu Ram, Manasi Scott and Anaitha Nair.

Aishwarya Rai is common man's heroine

Robot is a highly technically advanced bilingual but filmmaker Shankar has made sure there is enough to entertain the common man, says Aishwarya Rai who stars in the film. The actress says she chooses a film on the basis of her role as well as the director and the team.

"When I am working in a movie, it's not only my part in the film but the film in totality (that I think about). I think post-'Devdas', I kind of went on this sudden trip of experiencing movies," Aishwarya told in an interview here.

"Of course, my part is important because as an actor what you are doing has to be exciting, but it's also the experience of working with the filmmaker, the team - all these factors make an opportunity exciting for me."

Praising Shankar's filmmaking skills, she said: "He had to experiment with a lot of things during 'Jeans' and for the first time I was experiencing something like that. He at that point of time brought in that much of technically forward thinking in cinema; I kind of learnt a lot about making a film at that time and, of course, over the years I learnt more.

" 'Jeans' itself was so ahead of its time and here he has pushed it manifold; so, obviously, it becomes more fascinating and intriguing."

This is her second film with Shankar after "Jeans" (1998) and the actress maintains that the USP of Shankar's filmmaking is the importance he gives to the common man.

"I felt that in all his movies with every other new thing, he never forgets the common man. He keeps in mind how a layman would be humoured, what will be entertaining for the common man and what will be the sense of fantasy for the common man.

He brings all those elements in his cinema and more. That's why probably you know you would call entertainment as his signature," said Aishwarya.

Shankar has made the film in two languages - "Robot" in Hindi and "Endhiran" in Tamil - and they are releasing Oct 1. Apparently, made at a budget of Rs.175 crore ($38 million), it's the costliest Indian film ever.

It was a long-awaited opportunity for the actress to work with southern superstar Rajnikanth and Shankar together.

"There were lots of wonderful ideas we could have collaborated on and we could have worked together, but my schedule didn't permit. When 'Robot' came, we were more than happy, the schedules kind of worked out.

"Even with Rajni sir, there had been several attempts to work together, but with him again, the schedule didn't permit. I think when we all came together for a film like this, it allowed me to explore a technically way ahead film. So it was obviously a very exciting opportunity creatively," said Aishwarya.

Asked about her experience of working with Rajnikanth, she said: "Just like everyone I had seen and read about his work. We have enjoyed his work as an audience. So to actually get to see him in person every day and see how simply he does it has been an experience. The way he quietly comes to the set and surprises you with his shots, just brings a smile to your face, which is wonderful."

After doing exponentially high budget films - "Jodhaa Akbar", "Ravan" and now "Robot", would she like to do a small budgets film?

"Firstly, I don't say yes to the movie for their budgets; so that's not really my criteria. My criteria is the director I am working with, the film, the character, and what I can give to my audience and hopefully a different Aishwarya each time," said the 36-year-old.

Ash has two more films releasing this year - "Action Replayy" releasing Nov 5, followed by "Guzaarish" Nov 19.

"It has been exciting, the last two years, making these movies. Now it's time to share our hard work with the audience. I enjoyed sharing 'Ravan' with my audience. And now I am excited to share 'Robot' with you all," she said.

Gay kissing & love-making scene banned by Censor

The scandal-prone new film Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyon has gotten itself into trouble with the censorboard. Blurbs boasting that it is Indian cinema’s first gay love story have apparently not encouraged the censors to loosen up and act liberated.

The censorboard has clamped down heavily on the love-making sequences between the film’s leading man Kapil Sharma and the Delhi-based model Yuvraaj Parasher who plays Sharma’s lover.

Apparently the film which also features stalwarts Zeenat Aman and Helen, is carpeted with smooching and love-making sequences between the two guys.

There is also a lingering gay love-making scene which goes all the way. It apparently had the ladies in the censorboard walking off in a moral huff and eventually asking the film’s director Sanjay Sharma to delete the torried kissing sequence and the love-making sequence.

The film leading man who says he’s straight in real life, is appalled by the hypocricy of the censorboard. “Why should the censors be scandalized if two men are kissing and making love?

My sequences with my screen partner go as far as the scenes showing a guy and girl doing it in our films. And let me tell you, some of these heterosexual sequences are extremely vulgar. The ones in my film are very aesthetic. And so what if it’s two men making love? Love is love regardless of gender. ”

The film’s makers have now submitted their film to the revising committee where they hope the ostensibly objectionable sequences will be.

Says Kapil, “The censorboard objected to the kissing and love-making. They asked us to delete them. We refused. We aren’t trying to create any kind of sleazy stuff here. Ours is the first ever serious gay love-story. The intimacy is essential. Our film is now with the revising committee. ”

This isn’t the first mainstream film to show intimacy between two men. In Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion there was masculine passion in the form of a kiss between Samir Soni and his screen partner.

Bhandarkar voluntarily snipped it out. Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s Pankh had a smooch between Maradona Rebello and his screen partner. In Onir’s I Am Rahul Bose and Arjun Mathur play a gay couple and have a kissing sequence.

Dunno Y Na Jaane Kyon is the first film to show a gay love-making sequence. Defends Kapil Sharma, “It is sensual and bold, not at all vulgar. It’s like any lovemaking between a guy and a girl. Why should we delete it?”

Yuvraaj Parasher who has gone nude for the camera plays Sharma’s gay partner. He adds, “I feel cinema and the audience have changed. I never wanted to make my debut as a collegian wooing a chick from my mo’ bike. When I was selected to play gay in the audition I was elated. I’d rather do something unconventional. ”

Speaking about making love to a guy on camera Yuvraaj says, “It was awkward. After doing it with Kapil we avoided each other. Finally we looked at one another and burst laughing. ”

Maybe Rituparno Ghosh who constantly has a problem casting his gay characters should meet these two guys.

Katrina and Deepika Fighting For Joker!

Two leading ladies of Bollywood Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone are again pitted against each other! However, Ranbir Kapoor is not the issue this time. The actresses are fighting to be the leading lady of Akshay Kumar's Joker.

Joker is an upcoming movie to be made jointly by Akshay's Hari Om Productions and Farah Khan and Shirish's Three's Company. There is a buzz that two leading actresses are in the run to star opposite Akshay in this movie.

A source was quoted saying that both Katrina and Deepika think that they are doing Joker whereas the other one does not know about it. During the shooting of Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan, Kareena had a talk with Akshay regarding this and has taken it for granted that she will be starring in it.

The source added that the recent development is the inclusion of the other lady Deepika as she is best suitable for the script. So, this has left Akshay in a dilemma and he's trying to find out the best way to inform one of the actresses to take a walk.

This has become tougher for Akshay because of his close association with both the ladies and does not like to hurt feelings of either of them.

In the meantime, there was a buzz that Katrina had a fallout with Akshay and this has upset the actress very much. She wants to declare it clearly that she is still very close to the actor.

The co-producer Shirish opted to stay out of any controversy by saying that they are still hunting for the female lead opposite Akshay and have not finalized anyone yet. He added that they are considering the top actresses as it is a performance- oriented role and will make a final decision jointly with Akshay in a week.

Well, now its on Akshay whom he prefers to shed tears and who will enter happily in the Joker team!

Priyanka's Chopra passion surprised many

Quite excited about gathering knowledge about the nitty-gritty when it came to framing a shot and also learning other technical aspects of cinema, Priyanka Chopra was involved with the making of 'Anjaana Anjaani' right from scripting to the final day of shoot.

"This is the reason why she went on to do a lot more than just prepare for the role of Kiara who meets a complete stranger Akash (played by Ranbir Kapoor)", says Siddharth Anand, the director of 'Anjaana Anjaani', "She worked in tandem to flesh out the character, work around on all the intricacies and also bring her wide range of experience to sets the when it came to actual shooting."

Priyanka's passion about the making of the film pleasantly surprised the makers here as she was curious about everything from lighting to set design to locations to the mood of the scene to costumes and even the conduct of people who were walking in the background.

Though any experienced actor is expected to be involved in her characterisation, Priyanka was inclined towards playing a much bigger role.

"She ensured though that her involvement didn't come across as interference. There is a thin line between that and many have burnt their hands when their over enthusiastic approach and inquisitive nature have turned out to be counter productive for an actor-director relationship.

Priyanka made her point, in fact even had healthy discussions at places and was basically in learning rather than dictating mode. 'Anjaana Anjaani' was basically a platform for her to learn the ropes on the job and Priyanka was glad that no one minded that", smiles Siddharth.

Though elements of her inclination towards being in the know-how of most minute details of direction were visible in her earlier attempts as well, it is pretty apparent that they were pretty much on fore during the shooting of 'Anjaana Anjaani'. Guess Priyanka is fast making progress to move into a bigger role and picking up bigger responsibilities pretty soon!

Hirthik's Guzaarish - Allow Mercy Killing!

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is trying to recreate the crackling screen chemistry between Aishwarya and Hrithik Roshan through his upcoming film Guzaarish, which is reportedly dealing with a very sensitive and controversial issue of ' mercy killing'.

The pairing of these two actors created two big hits Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar. Both the films were very different from each other as in Dhoom 2 both of them donned very stylish look and Ash had given some most sizzling performance in her career. Again in Jodha Akbar, they donned royal look and gave a very graceful performance.

Bhansali has revealed the first look of his much talked movie on Thursday and it indicated the wonderful onscreen chemistry between the two stars again.

The teaser of Guzaarish has been very impressive as the director himself has done the brilliant cinematography and music in this film. Hrithik's long hair and beard look of Kites continue with this film too and Ash looked full of elegance.

As the trailers suggest, Hrithik will be seen playing a magician, who suffers from paraplegia and takes to wheelchair-bound and Ash will don the role of a nurse, who has separated from her husband. She is also working as his assistant and takes care of him.

The character of Hrithik asks for euthanasia as he gets tired of his sufferings. Hrithik claimed that his perspective on life has changed after working on this movie.

The film is set to release on November 9 and it is rumored to be inspired from the movie The Sea Inside, which was again based on a true story.

It's Tusshar v/s Ekta Kapoor now

Television queen turned film producer Ekta Kapoor is going to face competition from her younger brother Tusshar Kapoor as the actor is turning producer by launching his own production company ' Tushar Kapoor Motion Pictures' by early next year.

Confirming the news, the actor was quoted saying that he is producing director Sagar Bellary's movie Double Jhol, which will have him playing double roles. The actor turned producer said that he has already read the script of this movie.

Everyone might be wondering why Tusshar is opening a new company when his sister Ekta is already running two production companies named Balaji Telefilms and Alt Entertainment. On this, Tusshar has clarified that he wants to take creative control of the films he wants to make and launching a new company was the best way to do it.

The 33 year old actor added that he has already purchased a bungalow adjacent to his parents' residence ' Krishna' in Juhu. However, Tusshar has not shifted there yet, as per the source.

Tusshar has reportedly claimed to be familiar with film collections, marketing strategies, distribution channels and production work. The actor said that Balaji Telefilms and Alt Entertainment often take advice from him regarding the films they produce. However, the directors of the company take the final creative call so in this way he has gathered some experience.

He is done with the shooting of director Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3 and Neeraj Vora's Run Bhola Run and is working on his first Rajshri production movie Love You Mr Kalakar. Tusshar is also busy making the promotion strategies for Balaji's Shor, which will release by the end of this year.

In the meantime, he is in search of medium budget scripts, directors and other staff for his new company that will start functioning either from the Balaji Office in Andheri or from his bungalow in Juhu.

Tusshar made it clear that there will be no confusion with Balaji because as a producer he would spend his own money and will later work with Balaji for emotional reasons.

The actor could make a very good mark in Bollywood with his single hero films. Hope he becomes successful as a producer! All the best Tusshar!

John Travolta-Akki to dance on stage together?

John Travolta’s visit to Mumbai at a time when Akshay Kumar’s retro John Travolta act in Vipul Shah’s Action Replayy is hotting up, appears to be an uncanny coincidence.

Vipul Shah has noticed the favourable turn of fortune too. His production team is right now busy negotiating with Travolta’s office to work out an audacious collaboration between Travolta and his desi counterpart Akshay Kumar.

Yes, the two will be dancing together at a live event. Vipul is in serious talks for this historic coming together.

Akshay Kumar who loves collaborating with international entertainers (Kylie Minogue in Blue, Snoop Dogg in Singh Is Kinng, RDB in Kambakkht Ishq) has also pitched in very strongly for an evening of collaborative Saturday Night Fever.

Akshay is apparently using his Canadian connection to convince convince Travolta to get jiggy on stage with the Kumar.

When contacted Vipul Shah tries to underplay the excitement of a Travolta-Kumar concert. “There are talks going on. But talking about it would only make things difficult. You see, negotiating with an international star is painstaking. Water-tight contracts have to be drawn up. Unquestionable deals have to be sealed. We’re in the process of doing all that. But like I said I can’t talk about it until the papers are signed. ”

While Vipul plays it safe it is reliably learnt that Travolta’s songs and dances from Saturday Night Fever and Grease are being handpicked as part of this historic live performance.

Let’s hope Travolta would have more to do in Akshay’s presence on stage than the other Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone had to do in Kambhakkt Ishq.

Priyanka Chopra & Ranbir Kapoor visit Lalbaughcha Raja Ganpati

Freida Pinto's Tall Dark Stranger in Toronto

Here's what your favourite celebrities have been up to.

Freida Pinto and Dev Patel arrive at the gala presentation for the film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Julian Schnabel's Miral, starring Freida Pinto in the title role, is becoming a marketing nightmare for Harvey Weinstein.

Pinto's character in the film is based on Schnabel's real-life Palestinian girlfriend, Rula Jebreal.

The message movie will be released by the Weinstein Co. on December 3.

It was screened this week at the Venice Film Festival but failed to impress critics.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hands out the Golden Globes, gave Harvey a hard time during a long interview because he's historically been very supportive of Israel.

But 'the real problem is the movie is pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel and it is going to be very difficult to get American audiences excited to see it,' the New York Post quoted one source as saying.

Schnabel left his gorgeous Spanish wife, Olatz, mother of their twin 17-year-old boys, two years ago after meeting Jebreal and deciding to adapt her 2004 novel about a beautiful Palestinian orphan growing up amid ethnic hatred and violence -- much of which is perpetrated by Israeli authorities.

'I felt it was my responsibility to [turn] Rula's book into a film,' Schnabel told reporters in Venice this week.

'And I thought that I would have something -- coming from my background as an American Jewish person whose mother was the president of Hadassah in 1948 -- I figured I was a pretty good person to tell the other side,' she added.

Schnabel's daughter, Stella, 27, plays a Jewish girl in Miral who falls in love with a Palestinian man.

Image: Freida Pinto and Dev Patel at the gala presentation for You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival

Elsewhere in Venice, director Anurag Kashyap poses with actresses Kalki Koechlin and Puja Sarup (left) during a photocall for the movie That girl in yellow boots at the recently concluded 67th Venice Film Festival.

Image: Puja Sarup, Anurag Kashyap and Kalki Koechlin

Also in Mumbai, Rishi Kapoor and wife Neetu Singh arrive for the launch of their new film, Disney's Do Dooni Chaar.

The couple will be seen together after 30 years in Habib Faisal's film about a couple called the Duggals who try to get rich the honest way.

The film also stars Archit Krishna and Aditi Vasudev as the couple's children.

Image: Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh

Meanwhile in Mumbai, Geetanjali jewellery's new brand ambassador, Celina Jaitely poses for shutterbugs.

Image: Celina Jaitely

Mallika Sherawat, Isha Koppikar other celebs on day 1 of Lakme

Mallika Sherawat, Isha Koppikar other celebs on day 1 of Lakme