Big B steals the limelight in Abhishek's 'Bingo'

After watching the first episode of Colors' game show "National Bingo Night", one really wonders whether or not it was wise on Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan's part to invite his father, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, as the celebrity guest on the show.

The senior Bachchan, who proved himself as a superb host on game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati" almost a decade ago, kept the audience engrossed with his famous dialogues from films like "Zanjeer", "Agneepath", "Deewaar" and "Amar Akbar Anthony" et al, as well as performing the Auro dance from "Paa", while son Abhishek stood in awe of him.

Just a few hours before the episode began Saturday at 9 p.m., Abhishek said that he was extremely nervous about his small screen debut, and he did look nervous on the show too.

"Want to run away and hide!!! Bingo in a few hours! Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh. This is worse than the release of a film. Anyway, let's see what destiny has in store today," the actor posted on his Twitter page.

Though Abhishek made a roaring start with a short performance on songs like "Right here right now" and "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom", shook a leg with the studio audience, hugged an old man and danced with old ladies - he couldn't hold the attention for long enough.

"National Bingo Night" is a 13-episode show, to be aired every Saturday. It will have celebrities as well as common people playing two fast-paced rounds of the popular game Bingo. Celebrities like Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi and Kirron Kher will be seen in the subsequent episodes of the show.

Given the cold feet that most actors develop while sharing screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek's real test on the small screen will be when he plays the game with the common man.

Aditya Chopra encouraged me for 'Roadside Romeo': Jugal Hansraj

Bollywood actor-director Jugal Hansraj, whose "Roadside Romeo" was adjudged the best animation film at the 56th National Film Awards Saturday, says producer director Aditya Chopra gave him the idea to write and direct an animation film.

"I have written the story and directed the film but the idea that I should write an animation film and direct it was given to me by Adi (Aditya). He encouraged me to write and direct the animation film. He wanted to produce it," Jugal told IANS.

Jugal said he feels happy and honoured to receive the award not only for himself but also for his team members.

"I am very, very happy and very, very honoured. Not only for me but also for the whole team. A lot of people have spent lot of time and effort to make this film happen. The effort has been recognized so it's a big thing for all of us," Jugal told IANS.

It is the story of a cute pet dog, Romeo, who was leading a happy life until the family decides to move. They abandon him on the mean streets of Mumbai. Romeo faces the hardship of a stray dog but with time, he adapts to the roadside life style, finds love and settles into a normal life.

Jugal has several other plots for an animation film ready and is just waiting for an opportunity to start doing a film on any one of them.

"I have a few ideas in my mind but I am waiting for an opportunity. If I get the right opportunity I will make animation film on them," he said.

Court to hear lawsuit against 'Veer' Monday

The Delhi High Court will Monday hear a lawsuit against Salman Khan-starrer "Veer" and its director Anil Sharma for alleged illegal use of some concepts from author Pavan Choudhary's book.

In the lawsuit, Choudhary has alleged that some of the concepts of the film "Veer" are from his book "Trilogy of Wisdom".

Choudary has sought damages of Rs.20 lakhs (Rs. 2 million) from the producer and the director of the film Anil Sharma for alleged violation of his copyright for making illegal gains by lifting a portion from his book.

"The producer, the director, and the story writer are well aware of his extraordinary and remarkable reputation and are also well aware that use of idea and concept that India should not be a 'Sone Ki Chidiya but Baaz' in the film are violative of intellectual property rights," says the petition filed through advocates C.S. Yadav and Pandey Rajiv Rajhans.

Choudary submitted in his petition that he had earlier sent a legal notice to the film's makers not to use his concept, but they went ahead with the release.

"Veer", a period drama about the bravery of pindari soldiers in Rajasthan, was released Friday.

Priyadarshan strikes big deal

Popular director Priyadarshan’s home banner Four Frames has entered a mega deal worth $20 million with a US-based entertainment firm Woodpecker Pictures to produce two films in Hindi. Both these films will be directed by Priyadarshan.

The first film is expected to roll from April 2010 and the second will start by December. Meanwhile, there are also reports that the first venture will the Hindi remake of critically acclaimed Tamil film Naadodigal (which was also remade in Telugu as Sambo Siva Sambo, both directed by Samuthirakkani). The film will also soon see a Kannada makeover.

To strengthen its presence, there are rumours that Woodpecker is also considering making a mainstream international movie with top stars from Hollywood to be shot in Mexico. Priyadarshan may direct this also as part of an extended agreement.

Priyadarshan has made more than 60 films in Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil. He is a popular name in Indian cinema. Last year his Tamil fil

Yes, I’m getting married in Europe: Adnan Sami

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami, who has his base here, admits that he is tying the knot for the third time — this time with Roya Faryabi, qualified engineer in Munich, in Europe Jan 31.

‘All my family members and all of Roya’s family are going to be at the wedding. I’d like all my friends from Mumbai to accompany me to Europe for the wedding. Unfortunately, there’s no time for them to make travel arrangements. So I’ll have a large wedding reception in Mumbai as soon as Roya and I return after the wedding,’ Adnan told IANS.

At the moment, Jermaine Jackson and his wife are on the guest list.

Talking about his second wife Sabah Galadari, he said: ‘According to Islamic marriage laws, she was technically never my wife at all. Even if she was, my religion permits me to have three wives.’

‘I was going through the worst phase of my life when I met Roya. I lost my grandfather, then my father. She held my hand during my darkest hours while I was fighting the ugliest court battle with my former wife.’

‘Roya is very family-oriented. More than the fact that she loves me, I love her for understanding the importance of family ties. Roya respects my mother. This is something I didn’t have in my earlier marriage.’

Most important of all, Adnan’s son Azaan gets along like a house of fire with his new stepmom-to-be.

‘The most important criteria for me in any woman is that she has to get along with my son. While Sabah couldn’t get along with Azaan, Roya loves my boy. In fact, they are best friends and I’m often the brunt of their jokes.’

Happiness has come to Adnan at a time when he had hit rock bottom on a personal level.

‘I wouldn’t say Roya came into my life suddenly. We got to know each other gradually. After having gone through what I have, I was in no mood to jump into a new relationship. But it didn’t take me long to realise she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.’

Roya will move to Mumbai with Adnan right after the wedding.

‘She is a qualified engineer in Munich and works in the communication services. The organization has branches all over the world. They’re looking at opening a branch in Mumbai now that Roya is shifting to the city,’ said Adnan who wants his wife to continue working after marriage.

‘Isn’t it enough sacrifice that she’s leaving her family behind to join me in Mumbai? I don’t want her to give up her career,’ he said.

Vivek avoids Abhishek!

Although Vivek Oberoi was successful in making amends with Amitabh Bachchan last week, he still hasn’t made much headway with Abhishek Bachchan. This was evident on Wednesday, at the music launch of Apoorva Lakhia’s Hide and Seek where he was invited as a special guest, as was Abhishek. While everyone waited with bated breath, expecting sparks to fly when Vivek and Abhishek crossed paths, little did they know that Vivek was timing his entry to the event after Abhishek had left.

A source says, “Abhishek entered the party at 7.30pm and left soon after. All this while, Vivek kept calling the production people to find out if Abhishek was there. While he was being requested to arrive quickly, Vivek kept dilly dallying till he got confirmation that Abhishek had left. Vivek arrived at the venue minutes later.”

My National Award made my family emotional: Arjun Rampal

Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal, who has been declared the best supporting actor at the 56th National Film Awards for his performance in Director Abhishek Kapoor's "Rock On!", says that it was a very emotional moment for his family.

"It's a real honour and a wonderful feeling. It's a big one. It's a very emotional moment for everybody in my family. It was same for my friends and whole team of 'Rock On!' as well," Rampal told IANS.

Asked about his wife Mehr Jesia's reaction, he said, " I won't tell you whether she cried or not, but definitely she became very, very emotional."

The story of "Rock On!" is about five band stars as once-aspiring musicians who chucked up their dream of taking their band professional. But a chance reunion ten years later inspires them to consider returning for one last gig.

Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli and Luke Kenny played the lead roles in the film.

Rampal celebrated the occasion with the team of "Rock on!" at his house.

"We are going to party tonight at my house. We are going to start now, as a part of celebration," said Rampal.

The actor, who has recently opened up a restro-bar named LAP Lounge And Party in Delhi as joint venture with Restaurateur AD Singh, is going to celebrate there too, very soon.

"I am looking forward to celebrate in LAP soon," said Rampal.

It is none other than the Baadshah of Bollywood

The team owners of the India Premier League (IPL) have so far stood together on the issue of not bidding for any Pakistani players in the third edition of the event.

They had come out in the media denying any foul play. But now a prominent voice among them has stood up and voiced his opposition to the issue.

It is none other than the Baadshah of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders.

In an interview to a leading news channel Shahrukh Khan said "They are the champions.

They are wonderful but somewhere down the line there is an issue and we can't deny it. We are known to invite everyone. We should have. If there were any issues, they should have been put on board earlier. Everything can happen respectfully,"

It may be recalled that Shahrukh Khan who had taken active part in the bidding of the players in the first season had shown keen interest in Pakistani players. He had roped in Umar Gul and maverick Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar in the first season. Shahrukh's statement is bound to add to the controversy especially after fellow Bollywood celebrities Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty having gone out in full support of the fairness of the bidding process.

Bollywood had something to cheer about when the 56th National Film Award

Bollywood had something to cheer about when the 56th National Film Award for 2008 were announced on Saturday. Priyanka Chopra won the coveted Best Actor (Female) award for her performance in director Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Fashion.

Kangana Ranaut won the Best Supporting Actor (Female) award for the same film while Arjun Rampal won Best Supporting Actor (Male) for his seething performance in Rock On.

It’s the first National Award for all of them. Dibakar Banerjee's film Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, which sadly released a day after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and flopped, won the Best Popular Film.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali had announced Chenab Gandhi right after his Saawariya debacle

Sanjay Leela Bhansali had announced Chenab Gandhi right after his Saawariya debacle. With a cast including Vidya Balan and Amitabh Bachchan, the film held promise. But it hasn't taken off yet.

The initial problem was the film's hero. Though the first choice was John Abraham, Bhansali later chose Harman Baweja for the role.

And now, we hear the lead actor is Rajeev Khandelwal. That's not all. Vidya, who was very excited about the project, is not willing to wait forever. Rumours are that she has quit the film.

And Asin, who doesn't have any film on hand, has been approached for the role. Vidya recently signed on director Rajkumar Gupta's film No One Killed Jessica based on the Jessica Lall murder case.

She plays Jessica's sister Sabrina Lall in the movie, which is expected to release by December. Post the success of paa and the hype around Ishqiya , Vidya is all set to do two more films this year.

She will get married in 2012

Call it an ultimatum or whatever but Katrina Kaif is certain she will get married in 2012. And since that’s just two years from now, she is all set to have the time of her life in films.

That also explains her choices, which currently consist of Farah Khan’s Tees Maar Khan.

Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar and Tarun Mansukhani’s Dostana 2, which should take care of this year.

It also means she has stopped looking for another home. “I’ll get married and go to my husband’s home,” she says fluttering her eyelashes.

“Why put in so much money into a new home when I have a perfectly comfortable one at the moment?”

Whether the 2012 groom will be Salman Khan or someone she still has to meet, or whether.

It will even be another actor, is something she refuses to comment on.

Kat, Bebo carry on their catfight!

Apparently, things are not well between the two KKs - Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. But then that's what happens when two pretty women with humongous egos come together. Last heard, the glam dolls have been openly criticising and talking about their dislike for each other at the recently held Star Screen Awards, held at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.
So when the organisers asked Bebo to give away an award to Katrina, she simply refused saying that Kat too had declined to give away her a trophy, so why should she? Point taken Bebo!

But knowing Katrina, who has always been politically correct, what prompted her to do so we wonder. Perhaps the paycheques! Remember, Kareena is the highest paid actress in B-town.

Rituparna Sengupta on the Cover of T2 Magazine

Mallika Sherawat's New Photoshoot for Ash gupta

Vindu Dara Singh with wife Dina at Manish Chaturvedi's Bikini Calendar Launch

Genelia D’Souza is the new brand ambassador for Virgin Mobiles in India

Genelia D’Souza is the new brand ambassador for Virgin Mobiles in India. That’s not all Virgin Mobiles have also roped in Ranbir Kapoor along with Genelia for their ad campaign. She is wearing a red Gauri Nainika outfit in this promotion

Amrita Rao New Unseen Photoshoot 2010

Salman whether he is dating Katrina and he candidly told a firm

In a recent interview session with Koel Purie on her show On the Couch with Koel Purie, Koel asked Salman whether he is dating Katrina and he candidly told a firm Yes. Read the excerpts from the interview.

Public: Will we ever see you and SRK in a movie?

Salman: “It’s not that we are husband and wife, you know… I’m not married to him. He’s an actor, I’m an actor, if there’s a film on the level of Karan and Arjun – definitely.

Koel: Recently you were both seen at Aamir’s premiere together. Was it awkward ?

Salman: No, not awkward. Maybe for him, not for me.

Koel: SRK says you are two parallel people running at different speeds (that’s why the two will never meet). Do you buy into that?

Salman: No. We’re two different people, running in two different directions altogether.

Public: When can I expect another film pairing Ash and you, like the hit Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam?

Salman: I don’t think ever

Public: Who do you prefer: Katrina or Ash?

Salman: Definitely Katrina. Ash is married to Abhishek Bachchan, she’s very happy and I… definitely Katrina.

Koel: Firstly, are you still with Kat?

Salman: Ya ya… ya ya.

Public: Are you still in love with Ash?

Salman: No, buddy.

Public: Who’s the greatest Khan?

Salman: Yusuf Khan.

So, its official now Sallu is indeed dating Katrina.

Rock On star Purab Kohli graces the Men’s edition

Rock On star Purab Kohli graces the Men’s edition of Salon International, the female edition has been graced by Amrita Rao. Like?

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara was first witnessed in the year 1988

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara was first witnessed in the year 1988, now the anthem is back again to celebrate New India and has transformed into Phir Mile Sur.

Phir Mile Sur feautres heroes like SRK, Aishwarya, Salman, Big B and other Young Indian icons including sports and music icons.