In Bollywood

Take a look as we get you the stars and their bytes about their 'Unforgettable World Tour'. We get you Amitabh Bachchan, Ritesh Deshmukh, Madhuri Dixit, Preity Zinta and many more giving you a taste of what's in store for you!

Hrithik Roshan is in the mood to do more work this year, to loosen up and have more fun while working. With his first costume drama and a second child around the corner, life never looked rosier for Hrithik. He speaks to Subhash K Jha.

After Jodha-Akbar you shot an ad. Was it a deliberate effort to lighten the load?
Fortunately for me I enjoyed both equally. In fact I've enjoyed everything I've done so far. Jodha-Akbar has been tough. Luckily people are looking forward to it.

Some for the grandeur and ambience. Others so that they get an opportunity to throw some tomatoes on the screen. I'm happy everyone is motivated to come for the film.

You were quoted as saying you'd never do a historical again.
Not true. I might've said that in a specific context. But I'd definitely not do another one for a long time. It's such a momentous opportunity. Doing it again would make it less sublime.

When you think of period you think of a grandeur that's hard to replicate. I don't think I'd want to get into that space for a long time.

Has Joddha-Akbar been specially taxing?
None of my films has been easy. Krissh and Dhoom 2 have been as physically and emotionally taxing as Jodha- Akbar. I've enjoyed it so much. And I wouldn't do a historical for the same reasons that I woudn't do a Dhoom for a long time. Dhoom and Jodha-Akbar covered two genres exhaustively. Now it's time to move on.

But playing Akbar would be radically different from playing Buddha? Apparently Shyam Benegal offered you Buddha?
I'm sure Buddha would be a great subject and a wonderful characters to explore. But again playing Siddharth is about armours and horses. And I've been there done that.

The ambience, country and language would require a similar discipline for me. I wouldn't mind doing a period-fantasy like Pirates Of The Caribbean. It's always fun to bounce off into the other extreme.

Dhoom helped me to get excited and challenged about Jodha- Akbar. It was a challenge for both Ash and me. Now I want to do something entirely contemporary.

That brings me to the question of how open the audience is to watching Aishwarya and you do a costume drama after the fiercely contemporary Dhoom 2?
It's always a challenge for any actor to make the audience forget not just the outside world but everything that they've seen before on screen, to suck you completely into the magic of the moment and to make the audience exhilarated.

You are asking me if Jodha-Akbar does that or not. Only the audience can answer that.For me the film is already a success. The boxoffice is only going to be a bonus…hopefully.

This is your first collaboration with Ashutosh Gowariker.
Yes. My primary motivation for doing Jodha-Akbar was to mingle with a mind that'd be as alert and innovative as Ashutosh's.I knew he'd help me explore a different facet of my acting. He helped me go to places in my psyche I had never gone to before.It's been great fun.

Ashutosh is a damn good combination of intelligent preparation and spontaneity. He comes fully prepared. But has the guts to throw it out of the window if he so wishes. He has the power to turn the scenes around in your head. Sometimes he'd whisper a thought in my ear.

And my entire being would be reverberating with that emotion, and with the desire to express it in front of the camera. Then you look back on the shot and you whistle in admiration and pride. Different films offer me different tunings with the director. Jodha-Akbar has benefited me immensely as an actor.

You're doing a lot of ads. Do they provide the same creative sustance as feature films?
I give the same level of commitment to whatever I do. Otherwise I can't do it. It's not a matter in which I've a choice. Giving my best is the only option I have.

I'd say working in ads and feature films different and yet the same. Ads give you a chance to explore areas that perhaps feature films do not. The dimensions are smaller. It's quickly in and out.

One is able to experiment without having to shoulder the responsibility. An ad doesn't really affect your career. So it's more fun. As an actor it's my responsibility to put myself in spaces I'm not comfortable with all the time.

Is it a challenge to say the whole story on just 90 seconds?
That's the director's challenge. Sometimes it's restrictive for the actor. I don't think an actor should be asked to accommodate his discipline to the duration of the film. So ads do cramp you.

They don't allow the though process to flow that freely. It becomes a little artificial at times. And that's something I try to avoid at any cost.

Would you like to be a slip-in-slip-out actor?
I'd want that. I think acting is about developing your skills to such an extent that you can command it at your will.That confidence when you have the experience and the body of work. Hopefully some day I'll be slipping in slipping out and forgetting my roles once I'm done.

I don't look forward to that day.
I do. Believe me I do. That's why I enjoy doing ads. Like I said the responsibility lessens. I shoulder less responsibility and have more fun in ads.

Having to dance in all your ads…is that an irritant?
It might become annoying for viewers. I mean you may enjoy eating mangoes. But you can't keep eating them all the time. I think it's better to get cautious about the dancing before it gets excessively in-your-face. Now some of the ad-makers agree with me on this.

You like to work only with like-minded people?
Yeah. There's no point being okay with mediocrity.And you can only be heading towards mediocrity if the effort isn't collaborative enough.

Do you feel you'veso far achieved what you set out to ?
One of life's greatest lessons is that you never reach the summit. I've seen my dad achieve more success than anyone else. Mine pales in comparison.

I still see him tense fearful anxious unsure and ready to fight every time he starts a new film. I don't want to reach that summit where I say, 'Ah,I've arrived' Right now that place doesn't even exist in my head.

Amitabh & Rekha

While Abhishek Bachchan has had his link-ups before marriage, his father was more of the extra-marital guy with rumours of relationships with quite a few women. Prominent among them being, of course, his hot-hot affair with Rekha. While Rekha has gone onrecord making statements that she was still in love with the actor, Amitabh Bachchan has always brushed off all queries. The couple starred in films like ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikander’, ‘Silsila’ and ‘Mr Natwarlal’

Abhishek & Rani

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Abhishek and Rani came close to each other on the sets of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Yuva’ and subsequently appeared as a married couple again in ‘Hum Tum’. Both the films made people sit up and take notice of the sizzling chemistry between the stars. Little wonder,speculations about the pair seeing each other sparked off. They went on to work in quite a few films like ‘Bunty Aur Babli’, ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ and then ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’. Obviously, rumour mills worked overtime and Rani was close to being tagged as Mrs Bachchan, before Aishwarya breezed in and took Abhishek away.

Abhishek & Karishma

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Long before anything brewed up between Abhishek Bachchan and Rani, the actor was almost set to get married to Karisma Kapoor. The actors, who first starred together in ‘Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya’, fell for each other and even got engaged on Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday. The marriage was, however, called off with various rumours concerning the two families coming out as reasons for the break up. Nothing was ever confirmed though.

Abhishek & Aishwariya

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Abhishek seemed to get tired of relationship rumours and finally found his ladylove in the ex-Miss World. They met during the making of ‘Dhai Akshar Prem Ke’, but the chemistry was evident only when they came together in ‘Kuch Naa Kaho’, a few years later. This was also after the separation of both the actors from their previous partners. They appeared in the popular dance number ‘Kajra Re’ from ‘Bunty Aur Babli’ and then were seen in ‘Umrao Jaan’ and ‘Guru’. Soon after ‘Guru’ the two tied the knot, putting an end to one of Bollywood’s most talked about courtships.

Salman & Aishwariya

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Ash’s fascination for Salman was clearly visible when she had gone on record in an interview at the initial stages of her career that she found Salman Khan the best looking man in Bollywood. And then they worked in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s movie ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ and equations changed; Salman fell head over heels in love with Ash.

Vivek & Aishwariya

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While her husband had quite a list of link-ups prior to marriage, Aishwarya herself has two hyped up relations - with Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi. Vivek and Ash fell for each other much before they appeared together in ‘Kyun! Ho Gaya Na’. The romance had its candy floss element, but it broke and Vivek’s career drowned along with it. The relationship’s most talked about moment was definitely Vivek’s press conference where he announced that Salman had threatened him over the phone

Ajay & Kajol

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Ajay Devgan and Kajol is one of such fortunate pairs who after setting the on-screen ablaze also succeeded to become equally successful off-screen. After giving some box-office mega-hits, this charming pair is set to afire the silver screen with Ajay’s directorial venture ‘U, Me aur Hum’ which will be released in April 2008.

Ranbir & Sonam

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We saw these star son and star daugher making their debut on the same day and through the same vehicle, ‘Saawariya’. vehicle, ‘Saawariya’. Although the film proved to be a bigger disappointment, both Ranbir and Sonam have managed to bag big banners easily. Time will tell if this talk-of-the-town on screen pair continues their glory off-screen or not.

Salman & Katrina

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After his relationship with Ash came to a naught, Salman was heartbroken until he met Katrina. He helped her in the industry and in no time fell in love with her. They worked together in two big hits ‘Maine Pyaar Kun Kiya’ and ‘Partner’. And like Ash, Katrina too happened to admire Salman since her childhood. But recently there are reports that the pair is going through some troubles, most of which are, apparently, related to Salman not approving Katrina’s working with Akshay Kumar in so many movies.

Shahid & Kareena

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While most people still go by the fact that the couple never looked good together, Shahid and Kareena did strike a chord and stayed together for over three years and were almost set to get married. Their first film together is yet to release, but their fifth one together - ‘Jab We Met’ - has kind of refused to get off the theatres and people’s mind. They worked in films like ‘Milenge Milenge’, ‘Fida’, ‘Chupke Se’ and ‘36 China Town’

Saif Ali Khan & Kareena

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While Shahid’s heart bled, Kareena found her new love in Saif Ali Khan who had just broken up with his Italian girlfriend Rosa. Easily the most talked about ‘jodi’, they worked together for the first time in ‘Tashan’ and fell for each other on the sets. Currently after many reports that they might have tied the knot, Saif has decided to make it clear that they have no marriage intentions for another three years.

Shahid & Amrita Rao

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While Kareena is busy with her newfound love Saif, Shahid’s name was yet again linked to the heroine of his first film - Amrita Rao. The cute looking pair, who stole the audience’s heart in ‘Ishq Vishk’ and ‘Vivaah’, was spotted together a couple of times. However, while Shahid has refused to comment on this, Amrita has declared that they are just good friends. Shahid, in the meantime, was also rumoured to work his way with Tennis sensation Sania Mirza and the graceful Vidya Balan.

See Bollywood Baadshah Shahrukh Khan receiving the French honour of the Insignia of Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters from the Ambassador of France in India. Don't miss an emotional SRK express his gratitude to everything French and his hope to do more always. A Must See!

The Bachchan Family seems to draw the media like lights do moths. The Bachchan Bahu's first karva Chauth captured media attention of Nation level importance. Not one to be left behind, IndiaFM brings you some candid moments spent between Abhishek and Aishwarya on Karvachauth and their trip to Agra where the Bachchan clan celebrated Ash's birthday. A Must Watch. You don't want to miss this video.

You’re turning a year older. What’s your plan for the day?
I don’t plan much on my birthdays. We are quite an underplayed family. We like to stay at home. We like calling close friends over and then head out to a restaurant. I don’t like going out that often. But on my birthday, I’m forced to go out. What I look forward to, are presents from my friends. But my friends can be very cheap; sometimes they don’t give me good presents. However, most of the time Karan (Johar) and Adi (Aditya Chopra) get good presents for me. I hope they bring some nice electronic gifts.

What gifts did you get last year?
Karan got me a computer. A friend of mine gave me a Louis Vuitton bag. Let me tell you, I have a fetish for bags, especially handbags. Adi gave me camera. I got some really nice pens - Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) had given me a beautiful pen. He has asked me to use it on Kaun Banega Crorepati. I will use it when I film for it next year.

Do you write with those pens?
I write a bit but not with those pens, as they are nice and expensive ink pens. I like keeping good pens and whenever I need to make notes, I use them.

Do you practise any rituals on your birthday?
I do pray to my parents for their goodness and their blessings. I think of my parents’ pictures and then go on my rooftop to say a little prayer. I believe that they are these two stars in the sky. I thank them for having given birth to me…. I pray for my family - my sister, my wife, my children and my friends.

How were your birthdays when you were a kid?
Now that you ask, I don’t remember throwing any birthday parties. We were not rich enough to waste money on parties. But I remember my father giving me some of his old things. I think he couldn’t afford to buy me new things. On my 12th birthday, he gave me his Olivetti typewriter. I was too young to learn typing, but I used it very carefully. On another birthday, he gave me his Grundig gramophone, which I could never run.

Have you preserved those gifts?
I wish I had. When I was moving out of Delhi, I had to leave in a hurry. The only thing that I could bring back with me is a Videocon TV that my mother gave me. I have my TV somewhere. Every once in a while, I think: Where is that typewriter and where is that gramophone? Every few months, I feel that I should go back and find them.

What are the craziest gifts you have received so far?
Last year on my birthday, I went to a party hosted by my friends. They gave me 41 gifts. There were a few crazy ones, too -- Badshah lal mirchi powder, and strange stuffed toys, etc.

What does your wife give you?
My wife is very cheap. She doesn’t give me anything. She says that she has given me the kids.

What about your kids, Suhana and Aryan?
My daughter is very sweet. She picks up tid-bits from the house and wraps them up neatly. She writes a beautiful card, saying ‘I love you papa. Happy birthday!’ She will paint something that I always put up in my office. My son doesn’t gift me anything. He just comes up and says ‘Happy birthday, papa.’ My son forgets. I sympathise with the girls who complain that their boyfriends don’t get them any gifts. I wonder what it will be like on my son’s wedding anniversary.

Do you feel that you are 42?
Physically, mentally and emotionally, I feel I’m still 26 years old - that’s when I had come to Mumbai. I still feel I have to work hard. I feel the same enjoyment that I did when I gave my first shot.

Do you get annoyed when people call you ‘uncle’?
Actually, my kids’ friends call me Shah Rukh Khan. Not too many people call me ‘uncle’, but they will soon, I’m sure. Sometimes I’m taken aback when the kids call me by my name during our soccer sessions.

They usually say, “Shah Rukh can you pass the ball. We need to practise.” I wish they would call me ‘uncle’. My daughter feels awkward when her friends call me ‘SRK’.

SRK’s wishlist

• I want to make 10 beautiful films. I have no idea what they are going to be like
• I would like my son and daughter to beat me at all sports
• I will like them to be more educated than I am. I want them to have more knowledge than I do
• Make a beautiful film studio. I'm yet to acquire land for it
• Make a trust and a hospital
• Make public utilities and amenities for women all around the country

These are just good thoughts. I hope they come true.

'Punjab ki sikhani' Kareena Kapoor talks about her movie Jab We Met which brings her together with her ex beau Shahid Kapoor. She tells us about her character, the story, the freshness of the movie and the director Imtiaz Ali and how he is responsible to getting her and Shahid to work in the movie. Kareen would love to work with Imtiaz Ali and feels Shahid is a very talend and would be able to carry off any role.

Slice Mangola Dandiya Express roped in style dude Zayed Khan and bong beauty Raima Sen to play to the tunes of the Dandiya. Take a look as both of them have fun at the Dandiya Express and also tell us why they love playing the dandiya in their own way

Amitabh Bachchan the ‘superstar’, in other words ‘God himself’; since ages people have watched him act and talk. He is an actor who can mesmerize and hypnotize a person with his mere existence. Today is Amitabh Bachchan’s 65th birthday. From his 20’s to his 60’s he has been a performer and continues to be one. To some he is a muse, for many he is an inspiration but who is his role model, his inspiration?

Amitabh Bachchan went to Sherwood College in Nainital. No matter what he did, he knew that his father would support him at all stages. Amitabh grew up with his share of female admiration and adulation. He was no different than any teenager, with his ever-charming smile he sure won many hearts.

Acting occupied a corner of his heart even then. His play performance had won him the best actor’s award, which no doubt he treasures even today. Although now he owns a whole collection of them. One such performance was what he was eagerly waiting for; he practiced until perfection. He was to play the role of a judge in an Agatha Christie play titled ‘And Then There Were None’.

On the final day of his act he suddenly felt dizzy and was confirmed with measles, he was restrained to a room. He no longer could do the play, disappointed and dejected, in solitude he sat in the hospital room to hear the play. The play was about to begin…with every minute his heart sank. And suddenly the door opened and in walked his father. His father spoke to him for the next two hours in order to distract him. It sure was not easy seeing another actor say his lines, wear his costumes. But that day he learnt the most valuable lesson of his life told to him by his father, ‘Jeevan mein apne mann ka ho toh acha hai, apne mann ka na ho toh zyada acha’. (If life goes your way, well and good. If not, one mustn’t worry as it’s not in one’s control…it is in control of the Almighty and the Almighty will do nothing to harm an individual.)

At the crux of the moment those words did not make any sense but later he saw the enormity of those words. For when you are 20, you do not see logic, but when you are 30, you do. And when you are 40 you mellow, at 50 you accept and at 60 you follow. This is what his idol left him with, a thought that Amitabh Bachchan still follows and passes on to his next generation.

Hold on to your bellies. Because Aftab Shivdasani is all set to do a sequel to that risqué comedy Masti.

"A lot of people found it objectionable. But a lot of others found it to be fun. My father didn't like it. …Look, on the script level we were all a little embarrassed. But nobody thought it was vulgar while executing it.

So yeah, there're talks of a sequel. Director Indra Kumar cannot stay away from boys' comedies. His Dhamaal will be a huge hit…I can tell you that. I was offered Dhamaal too. But I had date problems."

Aftab Shivdasani in his newest collaboration with director Vikram Bhatt plays the villain in Speed.

"It's a relatively small role. But important…Then I return to comedy in E Niwas's De Taali where I'm with Riteish. I've also done a short film for Sanjay Gupta's Love Dale with Neha Uberoi. It's directed by Jasmeet. This was my first film with a female director after all these years."

Earlier Aftab had done a shelved film Dost with a female director Veena Mehta."I loved working with Jasmeet. I'd love to work with Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair. They make films close to my heart. I've always done films that push the envelope."

He has been on an extended holiday."I've been to Toronto and the US. Earlier I was supposed to go to Barbados for the World Cup. But when India was out I didn't feel like going. I went to New York, Miami and Orlando and I had a blast. Everywhere I went they referred to our film industry as 'Bollywood' Every time I cringed. But what to do?"

But the bright spot? "My film Red which didn't do well at home seemed to be a talking-point abroad. Everywhere I went people asked me about it, although Red didn't get a decent release overseas. I got responses like, 'Suddenly you've evolved…you're looking so hot…you've turned into a man. ' I wanted that maturity to show up. I think Red helped me to grow."

He's honest enough to admit nothing much has been happening to his career."I'm doing a film called Jazbaa for Sanjay Gupta which is a remake of Four Brothers. Sanjay makes men's films, and that's where I want to be now.

I don't want to sign any and every films at this moment. I'd rather wait for challenges, even in briefer roles like Speed. I don't need to do sub-standard stuff to keep my kitchen fires burning. I'd rather work with dependable banners."

Talk veers to his personal life and rumours of a split with girlfriend Yana Gupta.

Aftab grows guarded. "My personal life is fine. Nothing has changed. I know people have broken us off. Let people speculate on whether I'm single or not. There're many unanswered questions in my mind. I need to sort them out. I really don't wish to comment on this.

Even when I got into the relationship (with Yana Gupta) I didn't speak about it, but I didn't deny it either. Not because we were shy of being seen together. But because we're private people. Yes, I'm certainly shy. But you'd be surprised to know even Yana is shy."

After racing Nascar in Ta Ra Rum Pum, Saif Ali Khan is ready with a pacy and pulsating thriller called Race. Going with the rate at which Saif is changing his looks and style at the drop of a hat, it won’t be a surprise if anyone cast him in the title role of The Saif Chameleon. The city tabloids were recently flooded with pictures of Saif’s new look for Tashan. But the man looks equally dashing in his makeover for Race.Race comes from the stable of Abbas-Mustan and is obviously expected to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Even though it’s being headed for a release later this year, it has started creating ripples all over. Added to its tight and sleek plot, the icing on the top was the visit on the sets by international designer and fashion guru Jean Paul Gaultier, who was in Mumbai recently. On his insistence, a meeting was arranged to meet up with Pataudi Jr, at the Yash Raj Studios to ‘witness’ an item number of the film that as being picturised on Saif along with Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif. News has it that Gautier was so tad impressed with the progress of the song that he told the directors not to call for a break

Sanjay Dutt added a dash of life at the super hit singing competition show Indian Idol. Also joining him in the fun and games was Dhamaal co-star Ritesh Deshmkukh. Catch all the excitement right here right now....

Arshad Warsi, after being widely appreciated for his performances in Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai, has been on a hit spree with his recent films. Whether it was Golmaal or Anthony Kaun Hai even, the audiences and critics alike are having a ‘Dhamaal’ watching him perform on screen as well as off screen.

Be it tele-shows to popular award function, his absolute amiable character has made him give ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal’. But what we see in the above pic (Arshad sporting a tee at one of his movie Premieres that reads “Nobody Knows I am a lesbian’) is a little too hard to believe and makes us wonder if his ‘Kabul Express’ journey made him change his mind ya phir “Circuit ka biological Locha ho gaya hai?”

What say Maria? Are you happy or gay?