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Preeti Jain admits plotting to kill Bhandarkar: police
(LEAD)
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Model-turned-actress Preeti Jain has admitted that she conspired to kill film director Madhur Bhandarkar, police officials said here Wednesday. 

Jain reportedly confessed to her involvement in the alleged plot during a polygraph or a lie detector test conducted on her in Bangalore last week.

Naresh Pardesi, the alleged accomplice of underworld don-turned-politician Arun Gawli too had admitted that he knew of the plot to eliminate Bhandarkar, police officials said.

Pardesi made the confession in a narco-analysis test conducted on him in Bangalore last week, they said.

Jain was arrested Sep 10 and subjected to a polygraph test Sep 13 in Bangalore. 

According to Pardesi, Bhandarkar reportedly paid money to Gawli to expose Jain's plans to the police.

Jain was accused of hiring the services of Pardesi for Rs.70,000 to kill Bhandarkar.

The duo's police remand was Wednesday extended till Sep 23, and a city court adjourned their bail pleas till then.

The police officer investigating the case told the court of Metropolitan Magistrate A.V. Shete that three more arrests had been made since the last remand of the accused and the police needed further time for their probe. 

The court said full opportunity should be given to the police machinery for the probe and extended the custody of the accused.

Co-accused Gufran Mohammed Ibrahim Shaikh alias Sameer, arrested Tuesday night in the same case, was remanded in police custody till Sep 30 by the court. 

Sameer, a sharpshooter, is suspected to be part of the conspiracy, according to police. Two others - Shivam Arjundas and Satish Mohite - too were arrested Tuesday. 

Police claim Pardesi allegedly hired Shivam, Mohite and Sameer to execute the plan to kill Bhandarkar. 

Amitabh Bachchan meets Bill Clinton
By Subhash K Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Shuttling between films shootings and dinner with Bill Clinton has kept Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on his toes this week.

As the week began, he flew down to Rajasthan to start shooting for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film.

"There's no mobile network, no direct communication there. So I'm cut off... I flew down to Lucknow Wednesday to meet Bill Clinton. I asked my producer for a day off and worked overnight to make up for lost time."

And how was the experience of meeting the former US president?

"Very nice. It was a dinner hosted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. (Wife) Jaya, (son) Abhishek and I attended the dinner. Earlier, I had met Clinton's wife Hillary in Delhi when she came down for the India Today conclave.

"We both spoke though on two different subjects. I believe someone from her staff was quite fond of my films."

AB says he did not get a chance to ask Clinton if he had seen his films although he had been briefed about the actor. But he reminded that he had something in common with Clinton - social causes.

"Clinton has taken a global initiative on AIDs and tsunami casualties. I've been involved with AIDS and polio work. So we had a common interest."

But since it was an informal dinner with a multitude of people, the two did not get a chance to interact personally. "But yes, it was a pleasant experience," said Bachchan.

Now AB is back in Rajasthan shooting for Vinod Chopra's film. He is also shooting almost back-to-back for Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna". The two films are completely different, he feels.

"Very different films, very dissimilar in mood content and characterization. I'm the central character in Vinod Chopra's film while I'm just one of many characters in Karan's film."

The Big B admits he and Vinod Chopra had wanted to work together for "years and years" but somehow nothing panned out. 

"(Chopra) came to me for his first film and has returned ever since with one offer or another. Nothing worked out until this one. I wrap up Vinod's film in Rajasthan in two months and then I join Karan's unit in New York."

The 60-plus actor is undeterred by the punishing schedule.

"These are commitments that need my attention. And I enjoy being part of units as diverse as Vinod Chopra and Karan Johar."

Colonial Cousins compose Delhi Marathon anthem
Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Sep 21 (IANS) Well-known Indian music band Colonial Cousins, comprising Hariharan and Lesle Lewis, Wednesday launched the Hutch Delhi Half Marathon anthem, especially composed to be performed at the Oct 16 event. 

The duo unleashed its unique brand of music with the anthem, which maintains the delicate balance between classical and popular music. 

"Manzil hasil karo..." is about determination, effort and passion -- and it reflects the spirit of the event and celebrates the mood of the aspirants and participants of the event.

"The anthem also resonates this feeling, encouraging more people to participate and showcase this very spirit of Delhi," Hutchison Essar operations director Sanjoy Mukerji told a news conference here Wednesday. 

"We are delighted to have the anthem created by India's renowned musicians, Colonial Cousins, who have captured the sentiment so beautifully in this song," he said. 

The marathon will be held in three categories - a 21.097-km half marathon, a seven-kilometre Great Delhi Run and a 4.3-km Senior Citizens run.

Actress' lie detector test shows deception: police
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Lie detector tests conducted on Preeti Jain, one of the main accused in the alleged conspiracy to kill Bollywood director Madhur Bhandarkar, shows "deception" in some of her answers, police claimed Wednesday. 

Police, however, did not elaborate on the alleged "deception" committed by Jain, who was arrested Sep 10 and subjected to a polygraph or lie-detector test Sep 13 in Bangalore.

The model-turned-Bollywood actress was accused of hiring the services of Naresh Pardesi, the alleged aide of underworld-don-turned-politician Arun Gawli, for Rs.70,000 to kill Bhandarkar.

The police officer investigating the case told the court of Metropolitan Magistrate A.V. Shete that three more arrests had been made since the last remand of the accused and hence police needed further time for their probe. 

The court agreed on extending their custody.

Co-accused Gufran Mohammed Ibrahim Shaikh, alias Sameer, arrested Tuesday night in the case, was remanded in police custody till Sep 30 by the court. 

Sameer, a sharpshooter, is suspected to be part of the conspiracy, according to police. 

Two others - Shivam Arjundas and Satish Mohite - too were arrested Tuesday. 

Police claim Pardesi allegedly hired Shivam, Mohite and Sameer to execute the plan to murder Bhandarkar. 

Ash busy in her international film, J.P. Dutta waits
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Aishwarya Rai has been shooting non-stop for her first full-fledged English film "The Last Legion" in Tunisia, as director J.P. Dutta waits for her return next month to start shooting for "Umrao Jaan".

But there seems to be a bit of problem there. Ash won't be back in time to start "Umrao Jaan" on schedule.

Says Dutta: "It is not her fault at all. Apparently, the shooting of her foreign film is behind schedule. And there will probably be a delay of a week. It's a routine delay and one for which she is in no way responsible. 

"Her contract for the foreign film clearly states that there can be a spillover in the shooting dates. She has no choice but to stay back. 

"But that really puts me in a fix. How do I start the film without Ash? There is no 'Umrao Jaan' without Umrao! It is like Agra without the Taj Mahal."

Has JP spoken to Ash? 

"She had called for Ganesh Chaturthi. About the dates? No! Her secretary has been in touch and he has informed me of the inevitable delay. We are trying to work out a solution. But it looks like I will have to start building my Agra without the Taj Mahal."

The mysterious disappearance of Chitrangada
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service 

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Rituparno Ghosh wants to cast her as Draupadi. She has a new release coming up. But Chitrangada Singh is firmly out of bounds - for Bollywoood at least.

And everybody seems to have a reason to explain her withdrawal except the actress herself. When she was finally tracked down, Chitrangada told IANS: "I'm not saying anything. 

"All kinds of rumours are being spread about me. All I can say is the truth is known only to me. I'll speak out at the right time. But not now." 

Said her mentor Sudhir Mishra: "What's happening with her is very, very unfortunate. She got it all... and now she's hell-bent on throwing it away. She has made herself inaccessible to everyone, and not just the press. I've lost track of the number of efforts I've made to contact her. She's just not taking my calls!"

Apparently it's in-law pressure that has persuaded Chitrangada to go underground. 

It is being said that after a flying start in Mishra's "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi", the married, Meerut-born actress was given an ultimatum - choose between a movie career and marriage. Chitrangada had little choice. 

She had to sever links with showbiz or face the consequences in her domestic life even as her second film "Kal: Yesterday & Tomorrow" was about to be released. 

But Chitrangada says: "I've nothing to say right now. Director Ruchi Narain has done a terrific job. I hope 'Kal' does well. I'm afraid to say more because I don't know who's on my side and who's not."

People compared her with Smita Patil, and she didn't mind. Raring to go after the unexpected critical success of "Hazaaron Khwaishein...", Chitrangada seemed to be on a roll.

"What I did in 'Hazaar Khwaishein...' wasn't easy. If I can carry off that, I'm confident I can carry off any role. It's fascinating how much variety Bollywood has to offer an actor. It's like an ongoing party. 

"Everyone is making a film. Some are crossing over; others are going parallel. It's the best time for an actress to be in Indian movies. I'd love to work with Ashutosh Gowariker, Farhan Akhtar, Mira Nair... I just need to hold on," she had said after her first film's release. 

Now when her second release "Kal" is around the corner, Chitrangada has disappeared - with apparently no forwarding address! A pity since she seemed pretty excited about her second film just a while ago. 

"I guess because I've done the offbeat role well, they presume I can't do anything else. Fortunately I've another film coming up. 'Kal' is directed by Mishra's former assistant Ruchi Narain. 

"I play a regular 26-year-old Mumbai girl. It's a female-centric plot. And it's completely in Hindi. It isn't an out-and-out commercial film. But it's a thriller, a murder mystery... Then I'm talking to other people about other roles..."

This was Chitrangada two months ago. Today she's in a different space in her life altogether where movies and movie folks have no room. Will she remain a two-film wonder?

Pankaj Parashar makes another film for kids
By Manissha Despaande, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Sep 21 (IANS) Pankaj Parasher, whose last children's film "Aasman Se Gira" won him great critical acclaim, is ready with his next offering for youngsters, tentatively titled "Sab Golmaal Hai". 

The film revolves around two little boys who look alike but hail from completely different backgrounds, reports Bollywood Trade. 

"It is about how your surroundings and upbringing can make a significant difference to the way you perceive situations in life," says Parashar. 

There are 18 other children in the film with the star-element provided by Johny Lever, who plays the role of a policeman aspiring to be a great actor. 

According to Parashar, the film was commissioned by former Children's Film Society of India chief Raveena Tandon soon after she took over office. "She also ensured that I got formal approval before she decided to quit from her position." 

Parashar is also getting ready for the release of his much-talked about film, "Benares", starring Asmit Patel and Dimple Kapadia. "It is one of my best films so far and I am proud of it." 

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'Salaam Namaste' was for urban audiences

The criticism levelled against "Salaam Namaste" and the mixed response to the film in the northern pockets of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh haven't discouraged its director, Siddharth Raj Anand. 

"I am aware of the fact that the film hasn't appealed to audiences in the north, but it was never made for them anyway; nor was it expected to find appeal among the masses. The film was essentially made for city-centric audiences and they connected well to it," Bollywood Trade quotes Siddharth as saying.

He is also unfazed by critics and people in the trade describing the climax as a total letdown. "A lot of people didn't like the climax and that's their point of view. I wanted to give it a slightly witty and humorous turn, and it appeared quite convincing to me." 

According to Siddharth, both Yash Chopra and Aditya Chopra were absolutely okay with the way he perceived and presented the whole story. 

Siddharth is now set to start scripting his next film, once again for Yashraj Enterprises. "I am only waiting for a one line subject that will lead me on to go ahead with the whole story."