Censors wanted Sheila out!

                                                                         Farah Khan has had a difficult time getting her film, Tees Maar Khan, cleared by the Censor Board Of Film Certification who reportedly raised 18 objections, ranging from the name, Sheila, in the song, Sheila Ki Jawani to calling a “rural character” Doordarshan. Fortunately, thanks to a sensible chairperson, Sharmila Tagore, and a mature Revising Committee, the film was passed with no cuts.

Khan refutes rumours that Sheila was a problem because of the name of the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dixit. “I didn’t find any logic in the argument because aren’t Monica, Sonia or Munni names of people too? So why was Monica o my darling, You are my Sonia and the more recent Munni bandnaam hui passed.”

tees maar khanBut Khan had to beep out the word tawaif (courtesan). Sheila’s naval was also a cause of concern, until Khan pointed out that half the women in the country wore a sari and their stomachs were seen too.

The national flag was another issue even though the director used only the saffron, green and white in her flag and not the chakra: “I didn’t want to offend anyone’s patriotic sensibilities, so I replaced the colours in my flag with red and white.”

She’s also edited out a reference to our national broadcaster. In the film, Akshay Kumar has a problem remembering the name of a character, Dhurinder, and calls him everything, from Dharmesh and D’Souza to Dadar and Doordarshan. The censors weren’t happy with a rural character being called Doordarshan, so Khan changed it to Duryodhan.

There was a difference of opinion over the use of the phrase Maa ki aankh (Hindi expletive) also. Khan had no idea that it was a derogatory term since it was being bandied around openly, even in the promos of Golmaal 3. In Tees Maar Khan, it’s a spontaneous reaction by Kumar.

Khan is upbeat about her Christmas attraction — a charity premiere, the proceeds of which will go to her charity, the Jai Vakil School for the mentally challenged: “Whoever wants to be there on December 23 can buy a ticket since it’s for a good cause.”

Meanwhile, her husband producer-scriptwriter Shirish Kunder has said that the sequel will go on the floors in January 2012. Says Khan, “That’s good since he’ll be the one writing the script again.”

Hrithik, Priyanka Pair up Again!

                                                                  Priyanka Chopra will work with Hrithik Roshan in two movies next year —Krrish 2 and the Agneepath remake. “It’s a coincidence that Hrithik and I will be together for long spells after about five years. It’s too early to talk about Krrish 2, but I’m happy that the film is finally flagging off. Agneepath will also roll in January,” beams the actor.

Haven’t director Karan Malhotra and producer Karan Johar reworked the part of the nurse in Agneepath and turned her into a sex worker? “The film has been adapted to modern times and even the love track has been redrafted. Beyond Krrishthis, my lips are sealed,” smiles Chopra, who’s equally upbeat about Vishal Bhardwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf that opens on February 18. “It’s been my toughest role so far and I’m anxious to see how people react to my performance.”

She is also in talks with Madhur Bhandarkar. And no, not for Heroine, which had been planned with Kareena Kapoor, but was reportedly shelved. “If he has a script that suits us both, we’ll work together again. Fashion (2008) bagged me the National Award, remember?” she says.

Kapoor and Chopra were in a catfight of sorts on Koffee With Karan, with barbs about where accents had been picked up from. But recently when the two met at a function, they were all smiles. “I reacted to her comment on my accent by saying I had got it from the same place that her boyfriend got it from. It was all fun and games. Everyone keeps cribbing that I’m too diplomatic so this time I let go. And the media made a big hoo haa about it,” she grimaces.

Lara Dutta, with whom she started her film career, on the other hand has flagged off her production company with Chalo Dilli, which is currently being shot in Jaipur. Chopra is excited for Dutta: “We haven’t spoken about her project and what we can do together. I’m glad she’s taken such a brave step.”

She recently walked the ramp for Salman Khan’s Being Human charity. When did they bury the hatchet? “It’s a great cause and I met so many of the girls over there after a really long time. It took just one phone call from Salman to get me on board,” she says.

The National Award-winner made her small screen debut this year too, replacing Akshay Kumar as the host of Khatron Ke Khiladi (KKK) 3. The show registered one of the highest opening ratings in the year and the lowest closing TRPs. Will she return to the show with season four? “Of course, but it will depend on my shooting schedule. I have a lot happening next year, but if the combination works out with Colors, I’d love to be a part of KKK again,” she asserts, admitting that she has also been approached for several other reality shows. “But it should wrap up in 20 days. Only then I’ll do TV.”

Bollywood Stars In Saris: Priyanka, Bipasha, Vidya, Katrina, Deepika Or Shilpa?

                                                             Bollywood actresses and their various style mantras are always in big focus whether it is their western outfits or otherwise. The Indian traditional outfits have always been something which has been under the scanner as soon as the B town actresses wear it. However, no other garment has made such an impact such as the sari.

The sari is the most popular garment in the traditional Indian context of fashion. This attire has undergone quite a change in the way it used to be draped around a woman.

The Bollywood top female stars who look simply great in this six yard cloth are of course many. But the ones who truly look stunning are Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone and Shilpa Shetty.

Who can forget Priyanka Chopra in the Desi Girl number from the flick Dostana, looking piping hot ? Or Bipasha Basu creating a storm in her beautiful sari at the IIFA Awards?

Even Deepika Padukone at the Cannes film festival in an exquisite sari was the talk of the nation, while Kat is well known for her wet sari look in most of her films. Vidya Balan makes it a point to look as cool as ever in sari at most formal events and ditto Shipla Shetty, who is quite often spotted in this attire at public events that almost start the nation’s heart beating a tad bit faster.

Well, with most of our Bollywood stars opting for this Indian attire to look their best it seems like the fans of these stars just can’t get enough of them. Each time a star appears in a designer sari-it becomes a rage with almost every one wanting the same look.

The sari has traveled a long way from being a modest garment to being transformed into the most fashionable garment from the Indian attire range. Now with all these beauties mentioned above looking astoundingly smashing in the sari it’s a tough job to pick who the best one is. What do you think?

Manoj Tiwari blames Salman Khan

                                                                         Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari blames Salman Khan for his eviction from Bigg Boss 4. He has taken a dig on the actor and send a team to Delhi to search for the original ‘Munni Badnam Hui’ composer’s family. Manoj feels that his ouster from the show against a weak contestant Ashmit Patel is a slap for his thousands of fans.

After eviction, he came to know that Salman Khan and his brother Arbaaz Khan has campaigned for Ashmit Patel and urged their fans to vote for the actor. Manoj has now decided to teach the Khan Brothers a lesson. He has send his team to look for the family of Tarabano Faizabadi, the original composer of Munni Badnaam Hui that went into making the Khans' Dabangg a blockbuster.

Says Tiwari, "This is not about me and Salman and Arbaaz Khan. It's about creative rights and compensation to a family in dire need.

Tarbanoji composed the original song more than 12 years ago and passed away unsung. It's only natural that her family get their dues."

Tiwari had raised the issue before the release of Dabangg. Says the regional actor, "When I heard Munni Badnaam Hui, I knew it was a reharsh of the old popular number Launda Badnaam Hua by Tarabano.

I don't know why Jatin Pandit claims to have composed it. I took it up with Arbaaz Sir. He shut me up accusing me of creating trouble for his film."

Let’s see whether Manoj will able to get justice for the original composer’s family.

Tusshar visits Kareena in Las Vegas

                                                                        Kareena Kapoor is shooting in Las Vegas and she invited her best friend Tusshar Kapoor to enjoy holiday there. Tusshar took a break from his film shooting and flew off to Las Vegas. They had a gala time there along with Lovely Singh and Kareena's hair stylist Pompi. Bebo was shooting for Karan’s untitled film in Las Vegas.

Says the actor "Our whole gang of friends Lovely Singh and Kareena's hair stylist Pompi included was there.

She was busy shooting, so we could only hang around with her in the evenings but my purpose was just to chill and I did just that.

Luckily, I managed to get two weeks off from the shooting of Hum Tum Aur Shabana, so I could make the most of it."

Kareena did a lot of shopping with Tusshar and had lots of different foods. "I broke almost every rule... I binged on pizzas, pastas nachos and even rice at night.

Though I am not a shopper, I shopped and raided most of the malls for food and outfits.

I have eaten at every good restaurant in town Cheesecake Factory, Tao, Denise which is (the quintessential family restaurant open for 24 hours), Lavo and the Bellagio. "

Tusshar and Kareena are best of buddies and they had a rocking holiday in Las Vegas

Priyanka Chopra: A superstar in the making

                                                                                 Miss world 2000 and National award winner famous Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will celebrate her 28th birthday on 18th July. Priyanka is in the good books of all the major producers and directors of Bollywood today and has some interesting ventures in her kitty. In a short span of time, Priyanka has achieved a decent status and success in Bollywood. She worked hard to earn this status and success.

Priyanka was born in Jamshedpur. She hails from an army background. Her father was in the army and thus her family moved quite frequently. Hence she spent her childhood in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Newton, Massachusetts and Cedar Rapids. Priyanka’s father Ashok Chopra is a Punjabi but settled in Bareilly and her mother Madhu Akhauri was a residence of Jamshedpur. Priyanka has a seven years younger brother Siddharth. Priyanka studied in Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts and then in John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She returned to India and did her high school at Army Schoolin Bareilly. She studied at Jai Hind College in Mumbai but left after winning the Miss World pageant.

Priyanka Chopra worked as a model before starting her acting career. She gained fame after winning the Miss World title in 2000. When Chopra won the Miss World crown, she became the fifth Indian woman to win the title, and the fourth Indian woman to win in a span of seven years.

Priyanka Chopra made her debut in 2002 in a Tamil film,’Thamizhan'. She appeared in her first Bollywood film in 2003 opposite Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta in Anil Sharma's film, 'The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy' and in the same year she won the Filmfare Award for best debut and was nominated for best supporting actress. Priyanka never looked back after that. In 2004 she became the second woman to win the Filmfare Best Villian Award for her thrilling performance in 'Aitraaz'. Priyanka later achieved commercial success with films like 'Mujhse Shaadi Korogi' (2004),' Krrish' (2006) and 'Don-The Chage Begins Again'. Priyanka Chopra won the Filmfare Best Actress award and a National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in 'Fashion' (2008) and has thus established herself as one of the leading versatile actresses in Indian Film Industry.

Priyanka’s fans are now waiting for Sajid Nadiadwala's with Ranbir Kapoor and Vishal Bharadwaj''s Saat Khoom Maaf' in which she plays the role of a woman with seven husbands. Here's wishing Priyanka Chopra a very happy birthday and a rocking life ahead!

Sonakshi’s bikini picture annoys Salman

                                                                      Salman Khan is very protective about Sonakshi Sinha and does not want that she exposes in films. But the latest issue of Maxim that shows the ‘Dabangg’ actress featuring in white bikini has irked the actor. It was heard that Salman had already warned Sonakshi against posing for the magazine.

Sonakshi Sinha has earlier expressed her disappointed about the sexy picture on her micro-blogging site, saying, “Quite shocked to see India Today carrying an article on me appearing on maxim in a bikini!! Yeah right. These guys generally have their facts n figures right! Got the fact that I'm on maxim right, but the figure (pun intended) completely wrong! Would have been smart if they checked out the magazine before writing whatever they felt like. It's not about me anymore but about their credibility.”

It was found that the photo of Sonakshi was photo-shopped. Now the question is why the magazine has embarrassed the newcomer.

Ajay and I don't agree on scripts much: Kajol

                                                        Actress Kajol says that she and her actor husband Ajay Devgn rarely ever agree on a script. "It has to be few movies over the years," Kajol said when asked why the star couple is rarely seen together onscreen.

The 35-year-old mother of two said when her husband feels he has found a "workable" script, she rejects it saying it is too boring and does not work for her.

Ajay and Kajol were last seen together three years ago in his directorial debut "U Me aur Hum".

Since they made their debut in the 1990s, the couple has starred in movies like Hulchul, Goondaraj, Ishq, Pyar to Hona hi Tha and after marriage in Dil Kya Kare, Raju Chacha and U Me aur Hum.

Even though individually this year, Kajol has tasted success with 'My Name is Khan' and Ajay is basking in the success of 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge', 'Once upon a time in Mumbai', 'Golmaal 3' and 'Raajneeti', Kajol said the biggest celebration for the couple personally has been the birth of their son Yug in September.

The actress said she has no immediate plans to get back to the studios after 'My Name is Khan', 'We are Family' and now 'Toonpur ka Superhero' which releases on December 24. "Raising two children is keeping me very busy. We will talk about my comeback film some years later. I keep making such comebacks," she said.

Kajol said 'Toonpur ka Superhero' is diametrically opposite 'U Me Aur Hum'. "This is a good, fun film," she added.

Speaking about pairing with Ajay, Kajol said over the years, the comfort level is grown. "In the process of working together, we got married," she added.

Kajol said her childhood superhero has been "Superman". "they were eternal classics. Nobody can beat them not even Ajay who plays a superhero in Toonpur...", she added.

"Only thing is Superman is not real. I feel viewers need to identify with the superhero....he has to be real and humane. He has to have his own weakenesses," the actress felt.

Apart from Superman and Phantom, Kajol said her childhood comic books included Tinkle and Bahadur.

I won't give up acting for anything, anyone: Vidya Balan

                                                                             Marriage may or may not figure in her five-year plans but Vidya Balan is not ready to give up acting for "anything or anyone" and feels life has been "good" ever since she turned 30.

"Acting is a part of who I am. I don't think I will remotely give it up for anything or anyone," the 32-year-old actor told IANS in an exclusive chat in the capital.

"But having said that, if it comes naturally to me and I do feel like taking it easy at some point of time, maybe I will. But that shouldn't be a pre-condition to get into any relationship," she added diplomatically.

Vidya, who will soon be seen in "No One Killed Jessica" based on the Jessica Lall murder case, says she is glad women are not giving up their careers just for their personal lives any more.

"I think today women continue to work at every age. It's fantastic! And it is happening in every profession. I met a girl at a store who got back to work within just two months of delivering a child - such is the dedication.

"But, yes, in our profession (acting), in the earlier days, the moment you got married, you ceased to be an object of desire, which is why a lot of actresses retired. Today, no longer! I guess that's also got to do a lot with the fact and attitude that today if someone is with someone, it doesn't stop you from desiring them!" she said and broke into a naughty laugh.

The critically acclaimed actress, who featured in films like "Parineeta", "Ishqiya", "Guru" and "Paa", is on a high these days. Neither her performances, nor her dressing sense are being criticised - and she admits she has started being very careful and fussy.

"Over a period of time, I think rightfully so, I have found the courage to do only what I want to do. I will not get pressurised to do anything that I don't want to do, even if it is a right film, or maybe it's the kind of film that one should be doing.

"It has to challenge me and it has to excite me. It can be an extremely simple film, it could be a mad role, it could be intense...it could be anything across the spectrum...but I have to feel excited," she said.

That's also her mantra when it comes to dressing up - especially since she became the favourite child of India's fashion police. Now she often sports designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's elegant saris and steals the show wherever she goes with her style.

"I stick to what makes me feel I look good in. If I feel I am looking good in something, I will wear it. And if it isn't, then even if it is the most beautifully crafted creation, I won't. That's the only criterion I use while wearing anything now and I guess that's what has worked for me," she said, as she sat pretty in a black and red gown at a five-star hotel here.

Vidya has completely dressed down for her role in "No One Killed Jessica", where she portrays the strong-willed and simple Sabrina Lall, who fought an over-a-decade-long legal battle to get justice for her youngest sister, model Jessica Lall, who was shot dead by Manu Sharma in 1999.

She has gladly worn an "almost no make-up look" and worn "asexual" clothes in the film, releasing Jan 7.

"There's no shape to the clothes I have worn in the film. Loose t-shirts, men's shirts, loose jeans, spectacles...these are what I have worn to show what a regular girl Sabrina is," she said, and added she dare not be caught wearing those sort of clothes in real life.

After "No One Killed Jessica", Vidya is looking forward to the release of Sujoy Ghosh's "Kahaani", and will start working on Milan Luthria's "A Dirty Picture". The latter will see her at her sensual best as she prepares to essay south-based actress Silk Smitha, best known for her sex appeal. The actress was found dead in her Chennai apartment in 1996.

Akshay, Katrina on a holy trip

                                                                 
                                                               Actors Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif paid a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday. The two were in the city to promote their upcoming film Tees Maar Khan, directed by Farah Khan. While Akshay sported a short white kurta paired with blue denims, Kaif was seen sans make up in a white cotton salwar-kameez, with a quilted black jacket to keep her warm.

Reports claimed that while the two almost got mobbed, thanks to Kumar’s huge fan following in Punjab, he made sure he protected his leading lady.

The actors were then supposed to head to Dubai, but Akshay was unable to do so. “Katrina is already in Dubai! Akshay has to go for an MRI for his back! Doctor is not advising him to travel,” Farah tweeted