Other Topics : Art Culture - Fashion - Tourism

Latest & Hot Bollywood Film News : *

Back to Hindi movies section

   

I still haven't had a hit: Katrina
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 12   Her portrayal of a British Asian girl in "Namastey London" may have earned her rave reviews, but Katrina Kaif is fed up of waiting for a big hit.

"I'm tired of waiting for my films to work. I know I am just three-films-old and my first film 'Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya' was quite a success. But I still haven't been able make a place for myself," Katrina told IANS.

She has a reason to be happy though. On the sets of her new film "Race", she has found a chess partner.

"Thank god, Saif Ali Khan is an avid chess player like me. Whenever the camera is switched off we play chess. Over here in India nobody plays chess. Earlier, I persuaded my sister. I had to virtually bribe people to play chess with me."

The London-born actress, who has found the perfect part of a Londoner in "Namastey London" so early in her career, said: "When Shah offered me the role, I wasn't very sure I could pull it off. Once I was on, he gave me the freedom to interpret the character how I wanted. That really helped me to come to grips with my character's language and personality.

"Some reviewer in Mumbai commented that I pronounced words wrongly. Hello! This is probably some guy who has spent his life in Mumbai. I lived in London and know how to speak like young Indians out there. I've a good mind to dash off a letter to him."

In fact, one of Katrina's chief attractions in doing "Namastey London" was that she had the chance to finally dub her own lines.

"But you won't believe this, I finally wanted to chicken out of dubbing my own lines. I had this lengthy 45-minute discussion with Shah, convincing him why I couldn't dub. He heard me out quietly. I think, secretly he had decided I'd do the dubbing. I finally relented. But I made the sound recordist's life miserable. He finally told me to get out of the recording studio and return only during my next film. Thankfully, it's turned out well now."
   

                             Advertisement

She's grateful to Akshay Kumar for agreeing to do "Namastey London" with her. "Not too many actors in his position would want to do a female-oriented subject. But Akshay had absolutely no qualms. I like that."

Surprisingly, Katrina had more off-camera fun with Akshay during the making of their other film "Humko Deewana Kar Gaye".

"People are talking about the compatibility visible between us in 'Namastey...' but it was the other film where we really had all the fun. This time it was a far more serious business. Off-camera we were discussing scenes, getting our stance right, and so on. In 'Namastey...', Shah and I had more fun."

Katrina and her director Shah have now established a gratifying comfort zone between them.

"Before the film released I'd ask him the same question 20 times. I guess I was just nervous. He would patiently answer the first few times and then cut me short saying, 'The answer isn't going to change, no matter how many times you ask me.'

Next Katrina will be seen in Anil Sharma's "Apne".

"Though my co-star in the film is Bobby Deol, I'm completely captivated by Sunny Deol. He's the hero I've watched in my growing years. Whenever he's on the sets, I'm totally tongue-tied."

Not without Ekta Kapoor, says Sameer Nair
By Arpana, 

New Delhi, April 12   Sameer Nair, the head of NDTV's entertainment division, NDTV Imagine, is all set to reap the benefits of the TV industry boom but not without his favourite producer Ekta Kapoor.

"Ekta has been my favourite producer and I hope to continue with her. We are in talks with her as well as other major producers like Hatsoff, Endemol, Synergy," said Nair who is planning to launch NDTV Imagine's first channel at the end of the year.

Nair, who proved his credentials as the CEO of STAR Entertainment India, promises to bring changes in the television business, which is apparently seeing a 22 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

"We are planning to be different but we are not planning to be different for the sake of being different. We are planning to be different to be ahead," said Nair.

"When you are launching a new brand you look for differentiation and that goes without saying. We are doing Hindi general entertainment and it will have soaps, dramas, game shows, singing shows, celebrity shows movies because that is the basic staple of general entertainment. But they are not going to be the same and how different are they going to be, wait and see."

To achieve his new goals he teams up with Bollywood's talented and successful filmmaker Karan Johar.

"Karan is involved in the project in many ways. We would work closely with Karan to develop new ideas and concepts. We have been discussing them. We hope Karan will do some shows for us. In fact, we will force him to do some shows for us."

Quite a few big players, including Nair's former colleague Peter Mukherjea, are reportedly coming up with new channels but the former is unfazed and says it will rev up the competition.

"We all are friends and we are working. In this business there are many channels and every year when a new channel is launched people say there are too many channels, what will happen now? Usually what happens is that people make good programmes, create good entertainment but the one who makes the best wins the race. Of course, we face competition for ratings and viewership. But there is no war among us."

For the television industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) report forecast that it would be worth Rs.519 billion as against Rs.191 billion currently.

And Nair plans to rule the roost with the new channel, expected to go on air in December this year or January 2008.

"Post launch we would like to be the number one or number two and I think that's a fair enough target. There are only three or four major players in the Hindi space. Compared to others, the Hindi general entertainment market is least cluttered."

Currently, the total earning from the Hindi entertainment section is about Rs.18 billion.

Talking about the space captured by his previous company, Nair said that currently STAR occupies 30 percent of the total Hindi entertainment wing.

NDTV Imagine will introduce three new entertainment channels. These will be free to air and will have a preview period.

"We have to yet to decide the channel name yet," said Nair referring to the first one. "In the entertainment business the premium is on quality and if you are able to create superior content people would see. We are catering to the family audience."

He also cleared speculation about STAR's two prized possessions, "Koffee with Karan" and "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC) moving to NDTV along with Nair.

" 'Koffee...' is a property owned by STAR so it will remain with the channel. As far as KBC is concerned it has signed a five-year deal with STAR starting this year, so it will also remain with STAR TV," he said.

Arshad wants to play more football
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 12   Talented actor Arshad Warsi, currently in London playing a football player in Vivek Agnihotri's "Goal", is sulking because he doesn't get enough chances to actually play the game.

"They're not letting me play, yaar!" Arshad complained jokingly. "I'm hardly getting to play! John Abraham and all the rest are having the time of their life. While I'm just sitting around twiddling my thumbs," Arshad told IANS.

Reason?

"I play an injured soccer player for most of the film. So I get to be on the field at the beginning. But that's it. After that I'm out. It's very frustrating especially since I know I'm a better player than most of my colleagues on the team.

"In fact, our football choreographer saw me play and wondered why I wasn't doing more of it. I guess the script demands that John Abraham's character be made heroic while I sulk around! So be it."

But the one person who cheers Arshad up is his co-star Zara James Naqvi.

"She's a Britain-based Australian actress and she's amazing. I've never had a better co-star. She's done seven years of theatre in England."

So while Arshad has to go through the agony of watching his colleagues whoop it up on the filed, he has Zara for company.
 

Lakhia faces no awkwardness in directing Dia
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Servic

Mumbai, April 12   Apoorva Lakhia, who has cast his former pal Dia Mirza in "Shootout At Lonkhandwala", says he doesn't feel uncomfortable directing her despite personal relations having gone sour.

"My producer (Sanjay Gupta) and I mutually decided on Dia. There was absolutely no awkwardness between us. Why should there be? We're both professionals. And we're here to work, not to rake up the past," Lakhia told IANS.

"Also, Dia features only in large crowds of characters, just like everyone else in the cast. So no one needs to get into a one-on-one situation on location," he added.

Lakhia's film went through several vital changes. At the last minute Arati Chabria joined the cast in a role earlier kept for Gupta's niece Neha Uberoi.

Explains Lakhia: "That's because Neha's dates for Hansal Mehta's 'Woodstock Villa' were clashing with my film. Since 'Woodstock...' is entirely her launch-vehicle, it was thought it would be better if she concentrated on that."

But Dia's inclusion as an investigative journalist was the big surprise. It's a role based on true-life journalist Minty Tejpal, who covered the shootout in Mumbai in 1992.

Lakhia earlier thought of Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu for the role.

"We turned the real-life male correspondent into a female character. 'Shootout' was turning into a stag party with so many male actors in it. We needed feminine glamour."

Dia shared a warm friendship with Lakhia in the past. But things went wrong between them and she opted out of his "Ek Ajnabee". Her role was finally done by Perizaad Zorabian.
 

Akshay Kumar stands up for Viveik
 
Mumbai, April 12   Could there be a lobby working against Viveik Oberoi? The actor is definitely keeping a low profile these days. Anyway, he seems to have found a friend in Akshay Kumar.

Last weekend it was rumoured that Viveik had approached Vipul Shah for Upen Patel's role in the recently released "Namestey London".

When Akshay heard the rumours, he got angry and said in disgust: "I'm absolutely shocked that people can actually go to such an extent without verifying the facts. Viveik is like a younger brother to me.

"I wanted Viveik to work in the film and suggested as much to Shah. I can't believe why people are saying otherwise. I have great regard for Viveik and his potential as an actor."

Sources close to Akshay confirmed that Shah asked Viveik to meet him at his office to go through the script and he went to meet the director out of respect. But when Viveik heard the script, he felt the role would fit a newcomer and politely told Shah that he would not be able to do it.

The role eventually went to Upen Patel. It proved to be a great vehicle for him, and in spite of being a newcomer Upen was highly appreciated for his performance in the film.

 

Supreme Court upholds policy on film awards
 
New Delhi, April 12   The Supreme Court has held that the government policy of allowing only censored films to compete for the National Film Awards is not an "unreasonable restriction" on a filmmaker's rights.

In a ruling, pronounced Wednesday but released Thursday, a bench of Justices Tarun Chatterjee and R.V. Raveendran held that "the requirement that films should have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for entry for the 53rd National Film Awards is not an unreasonable restriction of any fundamental right of the filmmakers".

The bench delivered the ruling while quashing a July 2006 judgment of the Bombay High Court permitting even uncensored films to compete for the award.

The bench also ruled that allowing only censored films to compete for the National Film Awards was a policy of the government with the judiciary having no scope to tinker with it.

It said, "The decision to consider for awards only those films which are certified by the board for public exhibition is a policy of the ministry. The scope of judicial review of governmental policy is now well defined. Courts do not and cannot act as appellate authorities examining the correctness, suitability and appropriateness of a policy.

"Nor are the courts advisors to the executive on matters of policy, which the executive is entitled to formulate. Courts cannot interfere with policy either on the ground that it is erroneous or on the ground that a better, fairer or wiser alternative is available," it ruled.

Upholding the government's policy of allowing only films cleared by CBFC to compete for awards, the bench said, "The object is to select the best from among those which the public can see and enjoy or gain knowledge.

"The said policy neither relates to nor interferes with the right of a filmmaker either to make films, or to apply for certificate or to exhibit the films. There is nothing illogical, unreasonable or arbitrary about a policy to select only the best from among films certified for public exhibition," the bench said.

The bench said "the judiciary cannot, in judicial review, change the policy by requiring the government to select the best from among all 'films made' instead of 'films made and certified for public exhibition'".
 

I want to connect with kids: Urmila Matondkar (INTERVIEW)
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 11   Urmila Matondkar has done her first children's film called "Fun On The Run". She complains that programmes for children are few and far between.

She told IANS. "I've just two scenes. But what a pleasure it was to work with these two child actors. I always want to connect with kids. Not much is done for them in the way of education and entertainment. Barring a few, no special films are made for children in this country. Hullo, are kids just supposed to study and grow up!"

An adaptation of a Ruskin Bond story, the film is Urmila's second literary adaptation after "Pinjar". Apart from this, she also is doing an item song in Ram Gopal Varma's much-publicised film "Sholay" as well as in "Speed".

"I'll be dancing for Amitabh in Ram Gopal Varma's 'Sholay'. It'd be awesome. Who wouldn't want to perform 'Mehbooba' for Amitabh."

Excerpts:

Q: You've just done something totally unexpected.

A: Yes, I did my first children's film called "Fun On The Run". It's an adaptation of a Ruskin Bond story. It is my second literary adaptation after "Pinjar".

It's about the adventures of two kids on the run, and all the people they meet on the way. Towards the end of the film they meet this music teacher played by me.

Q: How was the experience?

A: Lovely. I've just two scenes. But what a pleasure it was to work with these two child actors. I always want to connect with kids. Not much is done for them in the way of education and entertainment. Barring a few, no special films are made for children in this country. Hullo? Are kids just supposed to study and grow up? My two little co-stars in this film were so skilled. Luckily, they weren't filmy kids.

Q: How was the experience of shooting for Sahara TV's "Superstars"?

A: I really like it. For the first time I interacted with people beyond my scope as an actress. It's like every evening you come in direct contact with people. Since this is a show that doesn't look at singing or acting abilities but the complete personality, I find it very exciting.

Q: Do you think these talent-hunt shows on television make it easier for newcomers to make it?

A: The quick exposure that a wannabe gets is really heartening. Bollywood is the no.1 entertainment channel today. Everyone wants to get into it. Even people from non-film families want their children in. Of course, once you get the first opportunity you are on your own. It isn't any easier for star kids. I wasn't a star kid. No one spared me when I came into the industry.

Q: What's that 'IT' quality that makes a star?

A: It is that whole aura, a complete personality that makes a star. You cannot imagine anyone but Nutan in "Bandini" or "Sujata" or Rekha in "Umrao Jaan".

I was watching Amitabh Bachchan in "Don" the other day. I couldn't take my eyes off him. That's what I call star quality. He has stayed in my mind forever. In "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" he has just two-three major scenes. But he's so wonderful. Really, if you ask me about the most complete star it will have to be Amitabh.

Q: Isn't it sad you've never shared screen space with Amitabh?

A: But that will soon be rectified. I'll be dancing for Amitabh in Ram Gopal Varma's "Sholay". It'd be awesome. Who wouldn't want to perform "Mehbooba" for Amitabh? It better be special. I've done some fairly well received item songs. I've always tried to keep all my item songs separate from one another. Mehbooba has to be special. I want it better than what I've done. And to match Helenji's steps! I know every dance of hers inside-out. "Mehbooba" is my all-time favourite. I can't wait to do it in my own way.

Q: You've a completely different film coming up.

A: Yes, "Speed". I hadn't done a thriller before. I share a very warm rapport with the producer Harry Baweja and his family. I'm listening to a lot of other scripts. I don't want to make old mistakes. Rather make fresh ones. I'd love to do comedy.

Q: What happened to the comedy M.F. Husain wanted to make with you?

A: That's what I'd like to ask him. Basically, he just got busy with other things. He's a very humorous person. And would make a great comedy. When others come to me with comedies I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I just want to be in a comedy and have fun.
 

Bollywood films on demand in California
 

Los Angeles, April 11   To cash in on the growing popularity of Indian films in America, the fourth largest cable provider in the US has launched a Bollywood category on its on demand channel line-up in California.

Launched in association with BODVOD, a company that holds exclusive rights to popular Indian movies from top studios such as UTV and Adlabs, the service will bring latest Bollywood hit films to Cox Communications subscribers in San Diego and Orange County.

A record number of Indian films reached blockbuster status in the US in 2006, with seven Hindi movies grossing over $2 million, making half of the 14 foreign language films to achieve that distinction.

No other language came close to contributing so many box office hits to the list, and the seven hits of 2006 easily shattered the previous record and showed immense growth for Bollywood films in America.

Recent hit films like "Deewane Huye Pagal", "Lakshya" and "Chup Chup Ke" are currently on Cox's on demand Channel 1 with additional blockbusters premiering every month.

One of the highest-grossing films in India last year, the Adlabs sci-fi action thriller "Krrish", has also made its Cox on demand premiere. Shot in Singapore, the groundbreaking special effects in the Hrithik Roshan smash have made it Bollywood's first superhero blockbuster.

The hits keep coming later this season with the much-anticipated premieres of Shah Rukh Khan's action blockbuster "Don", the New York-set comedy "Jaan-E-Mann", and the epic Moghul-era romance "Umrao Jaan" starring the newly engaged Bollywood power couple Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.

New York based BODVOD Networks was created in 2004 to acquire, package, market and distribute Bollywood and other South Asian films, TV shows and music on all on-demand media platforms

It's Suneel Darshan versus Kangana
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 11   The just released "Shakalaka Boom Boom" hasn't been a very happy experience either for its director Suneel Darshan or his leading lady Kangana Ranaut.

From day one, the two appeared to have a compatibility issue, culminating in what appeared to be an un-resolvable face-off when Kangana's voice was dubbed in another voice that sounds suspiciously like the film's supporting actress Celina Jaitley.

"It does sound like Celina, that's what my sister and my best friend seem to think," said Kangana. "I've no clue who it is. All I know is, that isn't my voice in the film," Kangana told IANS.

Apparently, the "Gangster" girl came to know what was in store only a week before the film's release.

"I hadn't dubbed my entire portion. When I kept asking Suneelji's production house about the remaining dubbing, they wouldn't reply. Then I knew what was in store," says Kangana.

But Darshan has another story to tell.

"I don't do anything that's not contractually specified. And I certainly don't do anything underhand. Beyond that I don't wish to comment on Kangana and her dubbing at all."

Suneel admits that the dubbing was done by another artist.

"I needed a particular twang and accent for Kangana's character. If she had given the film the time and attention that it deserved, we'd have worked on her character's language. Alas, Kangana didn't think 'Shakalaka Boom Boom' was important enough."

Replies Kangana: "What can I do if I don't speak the King's or Queen's English? I am from a small town and proud of it. In fact, I'm most comfortable speaking in Hindi. I am a Hindi actress and unlike some of my colleagues, who need to write out their dialogues in the Roman script, I write, read and speak Hindi very well. In fact, at an awards function in Malaysia I gave my thank you speech in Hindi which was much appreciated."

But Kangana is proud of "Shakalaka Boom Boom".

"If Suneelji thinks I didn't give the film the attention it deserved, then I apologise to him. To me 'Shakalaka...' is as precious as 'Gangster' and 'Woh Lamhe' and 'Metro' that releases next." `
 

An exquisite red sari - for Aishwarya, with love
By Imran Khan,  

Patna, April 11   While Aishwarya Rai may be getting ready to don glitzy designer wear at her wedding, a young girl in Bihar is toiling away at an exquisitely embroidered red sari for the actress to wear on that special day.

Joyti Kumari, a 17-year-old college girl from Sipaya Tola in Gopalganj district, about 250 km from here, is a diehard fan of Aishwarya. And she is very busy these days.

For, the actress is getting married to actor Abhishek Bachchan in Mumbai on April 20, and Joyti hopes she will finish the sari in time to present it as a gift.

"She has been working day and night for nearly a month to create the finest embroidered sari for Aishwarya to wear on her wedding day," a close relative of hers said.

The relative said that Joyti selected a bright red sari keeping in view the beauty and fair complexion of Aishwarya. The sari, it is estimated, would easily sell for around Rs.7,500 if sold in the market.

Designer Neeta Lulla is reportedly designing embroidered saris for Aishwariya. But Joyti has her fingers crossed.

"I plan to visit Mumbai next week to personally hand over my gift to Aishwarya," Joyti said. But she was not sure whether Aishwarya would meet her. "I will try my best," she said.

She was in Class 10 when Aishwarya was crowned Miss World in 1994. "Since then, I have been a diehard fan of her and want to share my joy with her," she said.

A BA first year student in Mahendra Das College, Joyti is quite well known locally for designing women's clothes, particularly embroidered saris and salwar-kameezes. She trained in embroidery and stitching at an institute here a few years ago.

In her free time, Joyti helps girls from poor families by teaching them how to stitch and embroider. "It is my dream to help others," she said.

Right now, though, she is dreaming of a very special gift for a very special person!
 

Priyadarshan accused of 'hijacking' remake
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 11   Priyadarshan's decision to remake Malayalam hit "Manichitrathazhu" has rattled Hyderabad-based director Narren Aditya, who claims the film is his baby.

"How can Priyadarshan remake 'Manichitrathazhu'? This is something that happened without my knowledge and I regard it as a great betrayal," said Aditya, who claims that he did all the legwork to get the remake rights of the original.

Hyderabad-based producer K.S. Rama Rao of Creative Commercials purchased the rights of the Malayalam film from producer K.S. Appachan.

"I negotiated between Appachan and Rao. The producer of the original Malayalam film didn't even know Rao and I took the project to Mumbai. I've met Amitabh Bachchan for the lead role and he showed interest," Aditya told IANS.

"I made the 'Chandramukhi' (the Tamil remake of 'Manichitrathazhu') project hot. Now because Rao has got extra money from T-Series, he has sold off the rights without my knowledge. This is not done! I'm planning to take legal action against Rao. He has betrayed not only a filmmaker like me but also a legend like Amitabh.

"How could Akshay insist on Priyadarshan when he knew I was going to direct 'Chandramukhi' in Hindi? Since the project had gone to Amitabh through me, I was willing to pay the producer the money and buy out the remake rights. Now my career is affected. It's illegal, immoral and unethical," he added.

"What face do I show Amitabh? I believe T-Series and Priyadarshan want to make a typical comedy out of 'Chandramukhi'. I was going to make it a refined classical aesthetic experience," he said.

Aditya is determined to go ahead with his own version. "My version of the screenplay has nothing to do with what these people are doing. And there's a lot of difference between Amitabh and Akshay."

Quizzed about the controversy, Bhushan Kumar of T-Series said: "Aditya has written to me with his grievances. I believe he was verbally committed to make the film with Rao. Because the producer got a good offer from us, he sold us the rights and we're making it with Priyadarshan.

"On what grounds will Aditya take legal action? Verbal commitments mean nothing in this industry.

"The Tamil version modified the Malayalam original to suit Rajnikant's image. We're doing the same to suit the image of the Akshay-Priyadarshan combo. Audiences do expect laughter from them. So we're adding a dash of comedy to the original. But it won't be an out-and-out comedy," he added.

"Chandramukhi" will be T-Series' first independent film.

"So far we've been doing joint ventures. This will be T-Series' first solo venture. It's a departure from whatever we've done so far, and also very different from the films being made these days. Initially we were trying for Aishwarya Rai for the female lead but she had date problems. So we opted for Vidya Balan," said Kumar.
 

'Lajjo' a double bonanza for Kareena
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, April 11   Kareena Kapoor is excited about the "double bonanza" of working in Mani Ratnam's new film "Lajjo" with Aamir Khan for a co-star.

"I feel I'm in seventh heaven. First the amazing response to 'Omkara' and now I've signed a formal contract for Mani Ratnam's film. He wants me to prepare for the role until next winter," she said.

"To work with Mani sir again and Aamir for the first time... It's like a double bonanza for me," Kareena told IANS.

On the success of "Omkara", she said: "I'm waiting for Vishal Bharadwaj to sign me again. I'm hugely satisfied with 'Omkara'. I had hoped it would be a new beginning for me. And that's exactly how it turned out."

On the newly mellow and contemplative phase in her career, she said: "You know, it can't be a coincidence that I'm doing two literary adaptations one after another - first Shakespeare in 'Omkara' and now Ismat Chughtai's story 'Lajjo'.

"I know Urdu is a long way off from Shakespeare. But literature is literature, and I'm glad I've arrived at this new juncture in my career so effortlessly."

"Lajjo" is Kareena's second period film after "Ashoka" and she has already started reading Chugtai's period love story.

"I remember how excited I was when I had signed 'Ashoka' with Shah Rukh Khan. Now it's with Aamir in 'Lajjo'. It's every actress's dream to work with Aamir. When I saw 'Rang De Basanti', I was jealous. I wanted to be a part of it," she said.

Kareena shares a very special bond with Ratnam. In fact, the director has gone on record to talk about what a special performance she gave in "Yuva".

"Is it so?" Kareena asked delightedly. "He is definitely one of the most special directors I've worked with. When he contacted me to do 'Lajjo', I couldn't believe my luck. This was just what I wanted to do after 'Omkara'. I can't forget what fun I had shooting for 'Yuva' in Kolkata and Chennai."

"Now I can't wait to start work on 'Lajjo' with Mani sir and Aamir. You know, I came close to working with Aamir in Bharadwaj's 'Mr Singh & Mrs Mehta'.

"That was a love story about two married people who aren't married to each other. Now I'm doing another intense love story with Aamir and I can't wait to start," she added.
 

Mahima in the family way?
 
New Delhi, April 11   A visibly embarrassed Mahima Chaudhary, who was in the capital Wednesday to inaugurate a jewellery exhibition, neither refuted nor confirmed rumours of her secret marriage and pregnancy.

Asked whether there was any truth in these reports, she said: "I do not read magazines neither do I lend my ears to rumours."

The actress was clad in a brown and beige salwar-kurta and an extensively spread dupatta.

Mahima, who inaugurated MMTC's Festival of Gold, admitted that the presence of Bollywood celebrities at exhibitions proved to be a hit formula in attracting crowds.

"India is a celebrity driven country and the presence of Bollywood stars in exhibitions proves a success in drawing more and quick attraction of people," Mahima told reporters here.

The former girlfriend of tennis player Leander Paes confessed that her heart melts for gold.

"I like platinum but I love gold, especially yellow gold. When it comes to jewellery I love Indian ethnic designs. I am very fond of rings, bangles and earrings but I do not like chunky neckpieces hanging around my neck."

The actress, who gained immense popularity with her debut film "Pardes", is still waiting to prove her acting prowess.

Talking about her upcoming projects, Mahima said, "I have done 'Hope and a Little Sugar' with director Tanuja Chandra, which is slated for worldwide release around September."

"The film is based on the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US which led to a lot of racism towards Asians living there. Travelling abroad during that period was so difficult. Anybody wearing a turban or having a beard was treated badly," the actress said.

In the film, Mahima plays a Sikh girl Saloni who marries a Muslim boy, played by Vikram Chatwal.

"Anupam Kher plays the role of my father-in-law. The film is about the love story of Saloni, who loses her husband in this unfortunate incident," she added.
 

Mandira Bedi in midst of Sikh religious storm
 
Chandigarh, April 11   She may have turned heads with her appearance as a cricket anchor but model-cum-actress Mandira Bedi's "extraa innings" with a Sikh religious symbol has raked up a storm in the Sikh-dominated Punjab.

Anti-Mandira protests were held in Ludhiana and other cities in the state after she appeared Tuesday on the ramp with a Sikh religious symbol tattooed on her bare back.

Mandira sported the tattoo of "Ekom Kar" (God is one) in Gurmukhi. These are the first words of the holy Sikh scripture - the Granth Sahib.

Youth Akali Dal workers held protests on the streets of industrial city Ludhiana and burnt an effigy of Mandira in a busy market there Wednesday to denounce her action.

In the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) - the mini-parliament of Sikh religion - expressed its displeasure over Mandira using the Sikh religious symbol on her body for fashion modelling.

"This action is anti-Sikh and has hurt the sentiments of millions of Sikhs. She should tender a public apology for this," SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said in a statement.

Mandira, who has mostly lived in Mumbai, is a Sikh.

She had generated controversy three years ago after she gave Sikh names to her two pet dogs saying they were her family members.

After protests from the Sikh community, she had tendered an apology.

Mandira, who is a successful TV personality, shot to fame after becoming a TV anchor during the 2003 Cricket world cup in South Africa.

IANS