"I keep myself as busy as I can. It's like a 24-hour job. I go home just to sleep," says Karambir Singh Kang, general manager of the Taj, who lost his wife and 2 sons during the 26/11 attack last year.
Nov 13, 2009
'Life's a roller-coaster, never lose hope'
"I keep myself as busy as I can. It's like a 24-hour job. I go home just to sleep," says Karambir Singh Kang, general manager of the Taj, who lost his wife and 2 sons during the 26/11 attack last year.
Eunuchs can vote, contest as 'others'
Election Commission on Thursday gave transsexuals and eunuchs a distinct identity. Instead of having to put down their gender as male or female, they can now identify themselves in electoral rolls as 'Others'.
Koda's frontman, aides may turn approvers
Sources said Manoj Punamia, the alleged frontman of former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda, had not only started singing but was on the verge of turning into an approver.
Rahul Gandhi changes rules of bypoll game
Post-Firozabad, Rahul Gandhi may have changed the way political leaders treat byelections, with a regret in SP that Mulayam Singh chose a doctrinaire approach to the unwritten code that big leaders do not campaign in minor battles.
Dalai's Arunachal visit reopens old wounds
Ever since the the Dalai Lama spoke about touring Tawang — the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama — Beijing has upped the ante against him and India.
Can't assure end to race attacks: Australian PM
Visiting Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd said he had been "deeply disturbed and disgusted" by attacks on Indian students but refused to guarantee that such attacks wouldn't recur.
Deepika moves on to Imran
Deepika Padukone to star opposite Imran Khan, who happens to be her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor’s closest friend.
Angelina Jolie to adopt fourth child!
The Hollywood star has begun proceedings to adopt fourth child, reportedly against partner Brad Pitt's wishes.
Obama and Manmohan with Osama, Dawood among World's Most Powerful
Barack Obama and Manmohan Singh find themselves in the unusual company of Osama bin Laden and Dawood Ibrahim in Forbes' World's Most Powerful people list.
Women with big breasts are smarter!
A bigger bra size not only gives your sex appeal a boost but also reflects your intelligence, suggests a new survey.
15 secrets you never knew about your girl
The woman in your life may give you her heart, soul and, of course, her body, but still there's a part of her being that she’ll never share with you ... stuff that makes her a mystery.
Nitin Gadkari likely to be next BJP chief
Maharashtra BJP chief Nitin Gadkari seems all set to cross the finish line as the race for the party's next national president draws to a close.
Madhur Bhandarkar's case reopens, courtesy Preeti Jain
It's always said that life is Bollywood is nothing else but strange. It just cannot be truer than in the case of the most 'realistic' filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar. On one hand, while he is basking in the glory of the success of his latest film Jail, which has earned him critics' as well as the mass acclaim, on the other, a city court has ruled that Madhur will stand trial for allegedly raping Preeti Jain, the girl who shocked the entire of Bollywood, after she claimed that Madhur had raped her. Preeti's counsel Sushan Kunjuraman said that the court's said ruling happened after it felt that the FIR (First Information Report) that was filed against Madhur was not false. The next hearing is expected to happen on Dec 22, a day when the complainant Preeti Jain's statements will be recorded. In addition to that, Jain will also be submitting the details of SMS that were allegedly sent to her by Madhur Bhandarkar. For the uninitiated, Preeti Jain shot into overnight fame in 2004, by claiming that Madhur Bhandarkar had allegedly raped her, at the pretext of making her an actress in his films."I haven't yet reached my peak" - Boney Kapoor
When Boney Kapoor was invited to the ongoing Cairo International Film Festival, it was in the capacity of being a Guest of Honour. However, to his pleasant surprise, he was also bestowed upon a Lifetime Achievement award, something which he didn't see coming at all. What acted as a cherry on the top, literally so, was the fact that the felicitation happened yesterday, 11th November, which happens to be Boney Kapoor's birthday. "I have turned 54 today and this award makes me wonder if I have really aged. In fact I feel that I have just started", chuckles Boney Kapoor when this writer spoke to him yesterday, "It's my birthday and this award has really made me feel so special. More so because I wasn't expecting it at all. I was a special invitee there as a Guest of Honour and was required to provide organizers some documentation around my work over the decades. I didn't have any clue that this profiling was being done to hand me over a Lifetime Achievement award." He was in the elite company of actors like Samuel Jackson and Salma Hayek amongst others who were also special guests at the event. Other than them, there were also quite a few renowned Arab and Egyptian film personalities with whom Boney Kapoor hobnobbed with. "Yes, it was good to be with Hollywood personalities. However, what I liked most was the fact that I was on stage with Adoor Gopalakrishnan who is on an extremely different end when it comes to filmmaking sensibilities. He too was bestowed upon the same award. It is great that industry in general is acknowledging the contribution of filmmakers belonging to farthest extremes", says Boney over phone from Cairo. Generally an award belonging to this category signals retirement time for many a filmmaker. However, Boney has been further buoyed by this and is now aspiring at starting newer projects soon. "I don't think I have reached my peak to even think of retirement", he laughs, "There are only a few lucky ones who have managed to survive the industry as a filmmaker for as many as 30 years. I guess there are just 8-10 of us. God has been kind with me to pull me out of the financial mess I was in." "With two back to back blockbusters in the form of No Entry followed by Wanted, I am raring to go. I have to be consistent from here on, pick my projects carefully and ensure that I do not repeat my mistakes. Being in a good situation like this, I can't let it slip away again", he signs off. Next in line for Boney Kapoor is Satish Kaushik directed Milenge Milenge [Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor] and brother Sanjay Kapoor's debut production It's My Life [directed by Anees Bazmee and starring Harman Baweja, Genelia D'Souza and Nana Patekar].Akshay Kumar will be torch bearer from India for 2010 Olympics
The sportiest star of the Indian Film Industry, is now going ahead and becoming the international khiladi as he will soon be seen in the most respected sporting event, The 2010 Olympics games, as the sole star representing the global entertainment industry. Akshay has been the brand ambassador from India for the Special Olympics World Winter Games for the past three years, but this year he is also going to be the torch bearer at the Winter Games being held in Vancouver, Canada. Akshay's love for sports is a well known fact; he was recently awarded the highest Japanese honour of 'Katana' at his first international karate championship. Not only that, but he has shot for 'Seven Deadly Sins' for the National Geographic channel recently. This one would be another feather in his cap, as only 15 international celebrities have been invited to Canada to participate in carrying the torch. The games will be held from January 30 to February 14, 2010. Akshay will be presented the torch on November 16 by the Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper, in Mumbai. At a high power exclusive lunch organised for 50 CEO's of respected tourism companies, the PM will be introducing Akshay as the sole torch bearer from India. It's not only an honour for Akshay but an hour for our industry and most importantly for our country. Kudos to Akshay!Vivek Oberoi's baffling non-presence Kurbaan promos, Rensil explains
Is Vivek Oberoi getting a raw deal? The Kurbaan promos feature Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor all the way. Vivek Oberoi who plays the third main protagonist is hardly glimpsed in the entire promotional campaign, triggering off a widespread feeling that things are not so right between Vivek and the Kurbaan team. However, the explanation for Vivek's absence is far more bizarre than the normal raw-deal rona-dona. Apparently, his role is so deeply affiliated to the plot's suspense that every moment shown in the promos featuring Oberoi would have the tendency to give away the story. Laughs director Rensil D'Silva, "It's a very strange situation. Vivek is one of the central characters. But almost every scene of his is a dead giveway of the suspense. What do we do?" Rensil has discussed the problem with Vivek. "And he is absolutely cool with being the band mutthi of the film. I've spoken to Vivek and explained the dilemma. He was cool with not being featured in the promos that much. He said to do whatever is right for the film because when the film opens the truth about the extent of his role would be out. Vivek has worked very hard in the film. He had to acquire a true New Yorker's accent and not the kind Indians get at the John F Kennedy airport." Vivek worked really hard on the accent. "We had a couple of New Yorkers on the sets to coach him. He's got the NY accent bang-on. It's not a borough-specific accent (NY has 5 boroughs each with its own speaking pattern). It's a general New York twang. And Vivek is superb with it." Rensil cuts down the belief that Vivek has a cameo in Kurbaan? "Not true at all. Vivek is in 80 percent of the film. He's central to the drama. Vivek worked very hard on the role. He was in my room in Philadelphia every night to discuss his diction, dialogues and looks. I seem his career at the cusp of something really exciting."AB Corp plans to launch 'Auro' merchandise after the release of Paa
After the release of Paa, merchandise connected to the film's young protagonist Auro played by the Big B, is being planned. For the first time his younger fans will have Big B merchandise including dolls to play with. The producers, AB Corp Ltd, have planned an 'Auro' blitzkrieg to connect the character with children across the world. While a series of Auro merchandise are planned post the film's release, on Children's Day, Mr. Bachchan as Auro will come on television with a very special message for children. Confirms the director, ''We're most definitely targeting Paa at children and parents alike. Mr Bachchan's Auro is a special child suffering from an extremely rare age-hastening disease. Auro could've easily become lonely isolated or abandoned. Paa shows how special 'special' kids can be. It has a message on parenting rather than any disease. When your child is born with a special impairment, you need to make him feel special, not unwanted or isolated.'' In what could be the first campaign-oriented big-budget Bachchan starrer, Paa promises to bring into focus the parent-child relationship in a series of television campaigns. There are now plans to do special shows of Paa to collect funds for the Progeria Research Foundation. Says Balki, ''We really had no concrete plans to tie up with the Progeria Foundation. Though our protagonist suffers from the disease, the film is not about Progeria. It's about how special children can fill your life with special brightness. Not for a minute does my protagonist's special condition qualify his relationship with his parents. That's why we avoided pitching Paa as a Progeria project. However, we'd be more than happy if our film proves helpful to children who suffer from the rarest-of-rare diseases.'' A special show in aid of the Progeria Research Foundation is now being planned. Says Balki, ''We're still to work out details since we hadn't really planned any Progeria events Paa. We're definitely holding a charity screening of which the proceeds will be given to the Progeria foundation in the US.''Ashutosh Gowarikar, PVR starts 'Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey'
Ashutosh Gowarikar and PVR Pictures' KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY went on floors with a mahurat on a set in Goa. Lead actor Abhishek Bachchan along with producers Ajay Bijli, Sanjeev Bijli and Sunita Gowariker graced the occasion. KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY is a period thriller and is based on the book DO AND DIE by Manini Chatterjee, based on the Chittagong Uprising of 1930. The film is being shot in Goa and is looking at a release in the fourth quarter of 2010. Deepika Padukone will join the unit soon. The film is presented by AGPPL and PVR Pictures and will be jointly produced by Ajay Bijli, Sanjeev Bijli and Sunita Gowariker. Other credits include lyrics by Javed Akhtar, costume designs by Neeta Lulla, art direction by Nitin Desai and cinematography by Kiiran Deohans.
Simple Kapadia passes away
Yesteryear actress Simple Kapadia, better known as actress Dimple Kapadia's younger sister, passed away today (November 10) in Mumbai. The actress was battling cancer for the last three years, undergoing treatment at various hospitals, but finally succumbed to the dreaded disease. Though Simple did foray into films as an actress, she did not achieve the success that her sister achieved and had more misses than hits in her career. She however made a name for herself as a successful costume designer and even won a National Award for costume designing for the film Rudaali. Bollywood Hungama expresses its heartfelt condolences to Simple's family members and prays that her soul rests in peace forever.
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