Dhoni, Bipasha come together for Reebok

For the first time ever, Reebok has roped in their brand ambassadors ace cricketer MS Dhoni and sultry Bipasha Basu for their new ad which showcases the latest edition of HEXRIDE footwear. The footwear comes in a new hexagonal, honeycomb style which will lure one and all.

The TV commercial shows Dhoni and Bips in a fun-run with their new comfortable and attractive footwear.

Dhoni said, 'I find HEXRIDE footwear the best for training with its benefits of cushioning and stability. I wear it during our long practice sessions and it has become my personal favourite now. I believe in this technology and am really happy to be promoting such a world class technology for Reebok in India. Shooting for the ad was a lot of fun, not to mention running with a friend, which made the whole experience even more delightful.'

Added Bipasha Basu, 'I am a fitness freak and I love to indulge in various activities like jogging, running, working out to keep myself fit. I have experienced never-before comfort in running with this footwear. In fact, HEXRIDE is the best thing that happened to my running regime. The different colours in the shoes make it so much more fun! I am sure that all fitness enthusiasts will agree that if your running gear is comfortable and trendy, you will enjoy your run even more. And looking good doesn't hurt either!'

Asin loves Archie

Asin and her Japanese co-star Tadanobu Asano will start training in Kalaripayattu for Bharat Bala’s film 19th Step from June 4.

The gorgeous Asin (who most of Bollywood is threatened by after she walked away with Best Debutant trophy at the Filmfare Awards) had hurt her hand, and hence, the training in the traditional form of martial art had to be deferred. Asin says, “My hand is fine now. I’m in Chennai for a couple of days for some commercial, then I will fly to Cochin and later to Trivandrum for the kalari training.” Asano has also arrived in India. He took the train from Cochin to Chennai to meet Kamal Haasan the other leading man in the film. He will join Asin for their on-screen combat. While on the topic of Asin, the girl is still loyal to her childhood memories (her family albums, toys, dresses and gifts). Her greatest love was and still are her favourite Archie comic books. “I have been stuck on them since I was nine years old,” she reveals. The Ghajini star says she has the biggest collection of them and still keeps adding to it. She can’t go anywhere in the world unless Archie accompanies her.

Salman-Katrina have broken up

It's been almost a year since the tense strains of the Salman-Katrina relationship have been visible to the public, and now, after months of speculation over the outcome of this growing tension, the couple has finally called it quits.

This breakup seems to have been in the pipeline for a while now, since rumours of both Salman's and Katrina's relationships with the likes of Asin and Ranbir Kapoor have made headlines for the last few months.

Salman has hardly made a secret of his affections for southern beauty Asin, for whom he bought a puppy, or for the German supermodel Claudia Ceisla whom he calls his 'special friend' and has even introduced to his family.

Meanwhile Katrina's chemistry with Ranbir, especially on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani has not please Salman, who was already upset with his ladylove signing one film after another with Akshay Kumar.

To add to Salman's insecurities, Katrina made it crystal clear that her career came before everything, and she insisted on maintaining her own friendships despite Salman's many fallouts, for instance, while Salman's fight with SRK was intense and was one of the highlights of 2008, Katrina made sure her relationship with SRK remains intact. She even toured with him on his Temptations world tour, something that did not go down well with Salman.

Recent reports claimed that Salman had repeatedly asked Katrina to marry him, but the young lady refused. She claimed that she was refusing because it would affect her career, but it could well be that the two were just not compatible with each other anymore.

Salman and Katrina started dating in 2004, shortly after Katrina moved to India to pursue her Bollywood career. Salman pushed her a lot, and used all his contacts and goodwill to make sure she got roles.

Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan bond over books

New Delhi: Bollywood's glam couple Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan have a shared passion for reading and they bond over books.

"I was always an avid reader, but I got too busy with my professional life, this hobby got left behind somewhere. Now I have revived it, and I make it a point to read for at least two hours everyday," said Arbaaz.

The couple were in the capital recently to launch a book 'Stretch Yourself' by model-turned-author Vickrant Mahajan.

"I do read whenever I get time. Arbaaz has introduced me to a number of books," said Malaika

Arbaaz and Malaika, who have a son Arhaan, have one of the most successful marriages in Bollywood.

"You need to understand the demands of your professional life as well as your family, and strike a balance," said Malaika when asked how she juggles between home and career.

Malaika and Arbaaz recently shot a steamy song together for the film Prem Ka Game which has Arbaaz in the lead.

However, when asked whether the couple were planning to star together in a future project, Arbaaz had a cryptic reply, "Very soon, very soon."

Arbaaz started his career with Hello Brother and worked in some unsuccessful films before striking big with Fashion.

He is also planning to move into film production. His maiden venture will launch Shatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonakshi in the lead. The film is scheduled to go on the floors in September.

Katrina turns down Salman's marriage proposal!

Amidst the rumours that Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have broken up following Salman's closeness to the German supermodel Claudia Ciesla, another news is doing the rounds that Katrina had turned down Salman's marriage proposal.

It is rumoured that Salman might have popped up the question to Katrina many a time. However, it said that the beautiful actress is not in the mood to settle down with her film career doing really well. She continues to attract lucrative deals, be it films, endorsements, shows or events. She had rocked the world a couple of days ago with her wonderful dance performance at the IPL2 closing ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa. She danced to the Oscar winning number “Jai Ho” and later shared the stage with R&B sensation Akon.

Katrina has a few promising projects in her kitty like Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani, De Dana Dan and Rajneeti. With bright future awaiting her, Katrina is said to have been using her booming career as the reason to turn down Salman's marriage proposal.

Is Katrina testing Salman's patience? Well, she should understand Salman's age factor too!

Sonia Gandhi upset with Sanjay Dutt

Everyone knows that Sanjay Dutt was in Delhi when the election results were announced. But few people know that while in the Capital city, he connected with Madam aka Sonia Gandhi. It is believed that Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh had invited the actor to Delhi. Sure of a win, Singh asked him to come to the capital city for a meeting with Madam. But, his party lost and they never got an audience with the leader of the Congress party. However a telephonic conversation did take place.

A source confirms, "Sanju Baba spoke to Soniaji, and she expressed her displeasure over Sanju's statement, "Congress killed my father," during a campaign rally in Lucknow. She also told him that his family had always been a Congress supporter and she was disappointed by his statements against the party." It is not clear how the actor defended his statements but he expressed his concern over his impending case.

The source adds, "He feels that his Congress bashing will be used against him, now that they are in power." Dutt is presently shooting in Goa is said to be depressed about his party losing, as he'd been told that being defeated was not an option. A source close to Dutt admits that he was in Delhi but denies any meeting between the actor and Sonia, "Sanju didn't go to meet Madam in Delhi last week. He had gone for some personal work — meetings with people for his production house." 

He was there to meet Amar Singh, who was unwell. Meeting madam wasn't part of Sanju's plans nor did he try to make an appointment with her. Also if Amar and he had gone to meet Madam at her residence, the entire media would have landed up there and it would become public knowledge."

Shahrukh Khan turns villain again in Dhoom 3

Audiences have accepted me in villainous role then why not continue the old trend again, this is the call of Shahrukh Khan’s heart who is all set to revive his old image and perform an anti-hero act in Dhoom3. If on one hand, with this film, he will try to get out of his lover boy image then on the other hand, he will save the Yash Raj banner from getting drowned as YRF has not seen success from long period.

After the super success of Dhoom and Dhoom 2, YRF camp is making a sequel to it and has roped in SRK to play the role of villain. Looking at the last two flicks, we can assess the importance of the role of a villain in the film. When Yash Raj approached King Khan, he readily agreed.

For a long time, Yash Raj fail to give a hit. Their last two flicks that faired well at the box office starred Shahrukh Khan. So when they are going through tough luck, Shahrukh has thought to rescue the banner which have given him stardom.

The last two flicks of 'Dhoom' has been directed by director Sanjay Gadhvi but after the fall out, speculation is rife that Aditya Chopra will himself direct the movie.

I don’t want to date Rahul Gandhi: Kareena

Kareena Kapoor isn’t your regular star! That’s pretty obvious the minute you step into the room for an interview. She is style personified. Yet she nonchalantly tells us how much she hates the ‘glamour queen’ tag. “I should be recognised as an actor. I take it as an insult when they call me ‘Bollywood Goddess’. I did not do roles like Omkara, Dev, Jab We Met to be known as a glamour queen.

On her second trip to Ahmedabad, for a live show, the Kapoor girl finds the people of the city to be very receptive. “I studied in a Gujarati school and I love Gujarati food. I have been asking for it ever since I came here.” And the rising mercury doesn’t really bother her. In her characteristic cool way, she says now everybody in India is used to the heat. “There’s no point in cribbing about it,” she says. ,

aving done a variety of roles in Bollywood, the uninhibited actor will have three releases — Kambakth Ishq, Three Idiots and Jihaad this year. “Kambakth Ishq was a learning experience with Sylvester Stallone. You realise that unlike Bollywood actors, Hollywood actors come without any baggage or entourage. They are not spoilt like us and they don’t require a huge number of people to travel with them. They are much more professional.” Next, there’s continuous talk about her love life but the Kapoor girl has learnt to live with it. “There are instances when I get annoyed because Saif and I are quite non-filmi in that context. I am the kind of person who’s very comfortable in my own zone. I don’t bother about what is written or what everyone else is speculating. But I feel I have always spoken about my relationships with respect.”

Rooting for love, loyalty and stability from a relationship, Kapoor is not worried that Saif is 10 years older to her and has a past. The most important thing about a relationship is “that we are happy right now. We do live separately but we spend a lot of time together. I really don’t know what happens tomorrow, but now, I enjoy my time travelling and running away to undisclosed destinations of Europe with him. We are really a very ‘settled’ couple.” Ask her if she remembers having mentioned about wanting to date Rahul Gandhi in a television interview and she exclaims, “That was long time back. I said that because we both have famous surnames. I would love to host him someday and see him as our PM but definitely I do not want to date him.”

We can’t let the Bollywood diva go away without asking her about her much talked about size zero figure and she says, “Do I look like one? Look at my arms, my frame. Every girl dreams to be thin. I did lose a lot of weight for Tashan. I used to be round like my father in my Refugee days, but I am definitely not size zero. I eat, I do yoga for an hour everyday and there are days when I don’t look pretty. People should realise that.” Five years from now, the actor sees herself working and maybe doing another show in Ahmedabad. “Yes, I will continue working even after my marriage. Didn’t Saif’s mother continue to work after marriage?” Yes, it’s all very clear in her mind.

Big B bangs at the Media

Amitabh Bachchan is miffed with the media for forgetting the importance of the situation and becoming restless to get bites from the celebrities who have come to attend filmmaker Prakash Mehra’s funeral. He vents out his anger at the media on his blog and slams them for forgetting the sensitivity of the occasion.

Big B writes on his blog, “Prakash ji’s eldest son Sumeet returned from USA this morning and the cremation took place by the afternoon. Abhishek and I attended it, but the behavior of the electronic media at the crematorium was just disgusting. No respect shown for the sensitivity of the occasion. No regard for the moment and no ethics at all in maintaining some decorum for this very private and sombre ritual. All they were interested in was in getting that ‘bite’ or shoving their cameras inches away from your nose, at a moment when one desired peace and quiet. Shameful. But what of some of the mourners, if they can be called that! They were no less. Pushing and shoving to get a position behind or near about the celebrity, so the cameras can catch them.”

He ends up saying, “I shall not dwell on this anymore. I may just burst a blood vessel.”

Yuvraj Singh in a Charity Mode

To add brand equity to this initiative Yuvraj Singh has invited Vikas Swaroop, the current Indian Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, who is now more popularly known as the writer who wrote Slumdog Millionaire. It is incidental that the name of the book written by Vikas Swaroop was Q&A, but is now more popularly known as Slumdog Millionaire.

It is worth underlining the fact that Yuvraj Singh has been helping the needy through his foundation Yuvraj Singh foundation in India now is expanding his wings and plans to begin initiatives of the same kind in South Africa as well. The project has been christened as “Cricket Beyond Boundaries”, and would be implemented in the Western Cape Region in South Africa. A fund raising for this event is going to be organized in Durban on 19 May in which Vikas Swaroop has been invited as the Guest of Honor.

The initiative undertaken by Yuvraj is his own humble tribute to the game of cricket, which has provided him such a name and fame. It would also be one of the first initiatives undertaken by a plying Indian cricket player and some credit is due to IPL as well. It is owing to the initiative that IPL has undertaken to promote the cause of education in South Africa by donating 100000 Rands to various schools in South Africa, which would have egged on Yuvraj to do something of the similar kind. Incidental also is the availability of Vikas Swaroop who has developed his own equity on account of the stupendous success of Slumdog Millionaire.

Coming close to an unsavory controversy in which his team owners were involved, it would indeed be worth watching what response Yuvraj Singh’s initiative is going to elicit. Ness Wadia and Mohit Burman the two owners of Kings XI Punjab were involved in a brawl with a lady, who is a locally influential businesswoman of Indian origin having close association with the President of South Africa. As a result of this brawl, both Wadia and Burman had to be kicked out of the stadium.

Prakash Mehra was honest and straight: Amitabh

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan must be feeling empty inside following the demise of veteran filmmaker Prakash Mehra, who worked with him in seven films such as Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Namak Halal, Sharaabi and Jaadugar. Amitabh pours out his grief on his blog on the death of Prakash.

“A long fruitful and incredible period of his remarkable films that he did with me, flashed past. His first meeting with me at Raj Kamal studio where he had come to cast me in Zanzeer in 1971 right through to the mid 80’s, year after year of unbelievable successes - Zanzeer, Hera Pheri, Khoon Paseena, Lawaris, Muquaddar Ka Sikander, Sharabi, Namak Hallal. What a huge bank of amazing films, right down to his last with me, Jaadugar. The only one that did not work,” Amitabh wrote.

Big B said that Prakash was honest and straight. He wrote: “I still remember his phone call to me in Bangalore after the release. ‘Lalla’, as he endearingly called me ‘gadbad ho gayee hai !’ he said. Things have gone wrong. Honest and straight. He had always maintained that the day I cannot make a successful film with you I shall stop working with you. He never did anything after Jaadugar.”

Amitabh recalled the simplicity in this great filmmaker. “A simple man who had the capacity to narrate great stories through the medium of cinema in the most simple manner. No fuss, no calisthenics. Just very ordinary camera placements and extraordinary content. A writer, a lyricist, a musician, he added all these qualities to his creativity behind the camera and gave me some of my most challenging roles. Never rewarded by any institution. And never sought one either. His films have lived out longer than him. A true mark of excellence. The music he gave to his films still ring in the hearts and ears of each generation that came after him. The performances he extracted from his artists were never ever considered for any recognition. It never bothered him. Critics panned his films and the greater the criticism the longer became their duration, at the box office,” he wrote.

70-year-old Prakash Mehra died on May 17 morning at the Kokilaben Hospital, Mumbai. He had been ill for the last three years.

Shahid replaces SRK as Raj?

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapur seems to have become Yash Raj Films' (YRF) favourite. His first venture with the production giant is yet to hit the screens, but the actor has already signed another film with the banner.

Shahid's first film with YRF is being directed by Anurag Singh. He has teamed up with Rani Mukerji in the film, which was earlier titled Hadippa, which is said to be about cricket.

The second project that Shahid has been signed up for will be actor Parmeet Sethi's directorial debut and he teams up with Anushka Sharma of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi fame.

"The Yash Raj camp sees Shahid as the classic romantic hero who has the potential to turn on the sexy or rugged vibe when required," said a source close to the actor.

Mallika without clothes in Movie Hissss!

Has Mallika Sherawat given a scene without clothes in her upcoming Hollywood film Hissss is the first question that comes to mind after watching its trailer. Just recently, the first promo of the much in news anticipated Mallika Sherawat starrer Hissss is out and we must admit it does make for an interesting watch.

The promo gives the impression that it is a no nonsense thriller that is certainly not meant for the faint hearted as it has plenty of blood and gore. A surefire Adults Only certificate cannot be ruled out from Indian Censor Board.

The trailer shows Mallika Sherawat slithering in mud and becoming a deadly snake. She is shown covered in a body suit that fits her like second skin and during many times while watching the trailer it gives the impression that Mallika hasn't worn anything. There are sequences shown with many murders happening. In one scene Mallika is shown slithering up a tree and baring her fangs and shocks your wits. Then in another scene she is shown transformed into a helpless woman. Also seen in the trailer are the film’s other Indian stars, Irrfan Khan and Divya Dutta.

The plot of Hissss revolves around a snake woman played by Mallika Sherawat looking for revenge. Irrfan and divya dutta play a couple and reportedly there is a very passionately shot lovemaking scene between the two. The film appears high on Special effects.

Lisa Ray in Hello's 50 Most beautiful list

Lisa Ray, the Indian origin actress who catapulted to international recognition through Deepa Mehta's Water has been featured in the Canadian edition of Hello magazine as one of the '50 Most Beautiful People' of the country.

The 37-year-old supermodel-turned-actress features along with Ruby Dhalla, a Canadian politician, in the list which features only two Indians, reported Hello online.

While reacting to her inclusion in the list, Lisa Ray said, "I guess I need to thank my parents for this. I am really proud to feature along with such prestigious people."

The list which was topped by country singer Shania Twain , featured renowned names like 'Complicated' singer Avril Lavigne, actor Keifer Sutherland, Sex and the City star Kim Catrall and model Gabriel Aubry among others.

Lisa Ray who was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother originally planned to study journalism but started modelling when she was spotted by an agent in India at the age of 16. Ray first came to the public attention when she appeared in an advertisement for Bombay Dyeing wearing a high-cut black swimsuit.

Sonam Kapoor reveals her Wild side

Anil kapoor’s daughter is quite a wild cat as in an interview given to ‘Movie Mag’ she reveals about having a tattoo on her hip against the wishes of her parents in an interview given to ‘Movie Mag’

Here is an excerpt from the interview

Like my character bittu in Delhi 6, I too defied my parents and got a tatto on my hip. The tatto was my name, Sonam, written in Chinese language. I don’t believe in getting anyone else’s (Any guy or boyfriend’s) name tattoed on myself. My name means ‘good luck’ and the tattoo has been lucky for me. Mom and dad were fine with it later. I got it done after the release of Saawariya. It looks cool.

Ajmal Kasab wants to meet John Abraham

He took help from Bollywood before coming to Mumbai on a killing spree.

Since Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, c/o Lashkar -e- Tayyeba, needed to learn at least a smattering of Hindi for the operation, his handlers showed him some Bolywood flicks – the easiest way to learn the enemy’s lingo.

That’s how Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive during the November 26 attacks in Mumbai, watched a John Abraham – Ebrahim, according to him – and Bipasha Basu starrer Goal during his training days.

And the gunman fell for John’s chiselled body and charm. He now wants to meet the matinee idol.

Since his arrest, he has been living in a high security capsule – known as the Anda cell at Arthur Road prison in Mumbai. He cannot get a newspaper, nor can he communicate with other inmates.

Kasab’s only bridge to the world outside is the men who guard him 24 hours, seven days. Sometimes, he tends to have a chat with them. But they have been warned against talking too much with the killer.

In one such conversation with a police official, Kasab expressed his desire to meet John Abraham.

“He talked about films and in particular John Ebrahim. Kasab likes John’s looks and well-chiseled body. And then went ahead to express his desire if he could meet him,” said a police official on condition of anonymity.

Freida Pinto upset with leak of her bold pictures

Actress Freida Pinto has made a name for herself with Slumdog Millionaire , but isn’t a happy lady at the moment. The gorgeous diva is upset with her bold pictures being circulated all over the internet, which she had shot for a calendar in a few years ago.

If this wasn’t enough, Freida was stunned to find picture of her while stepping out of a portable toilet during the shooting of Julian Schnabel’s Miral. The actress is paying a heavy price for being famous as even her private moments with her boyfriend Dev Patel was been captured in a camera and posted on the internet. 
But Frieda should understand that a celebrity has to go through all this and shouldn’t get upset. Way to go Freida!

Salman, Aishwarya turning neighbours!

There were reports earlier that Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan were moving to the new bungalow from their current abode Jalsa in Juhu, but the two rubbished it, saying they had no intentions of living separately and away from Maa and Paa (Jaya and Amitabh). 

For the past two and a half years, work is going on a huge bungalow situated at Carter Road, Bandra, Mumbai. While no one seems to be confirming it from the Bachchan family, there is a strong buzz within the industry circles that this bungalow, named Naivedya is going to be the new abode of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan. Now incidentally, this Naivedya is bang next door to Salman Khan 's plot.

Reveal sources, "Abhi and Aish have been making late night visits to Naivedya to check the progress on their house. Call it a twist of fate or just luck, Aish's ex boyfriend Salman Khan ’s plot, on which he is reportedly constructing a building for himself and his family, is just next door to Aish's to be new abode. The building doesn’t have a name yet and the plot is numbered ‘83-A’.

As one passes The Road one can see the building under construction (plot 83 A) on the left belongs to Salman Khan , while the white bungalow, Naivedya, on the right belongs to Abhi-Aish. Interestingly, Salman Khan’s building is a little taller with more floors than Abhi-Aish's villa.

Salman currently stays at Galaxy Apartments on Bandra Bandstand with his parents.

Bachchan recalls his magic innings with Mehra

Mumbai: Condoling the demise of legendary filmmaker Prakash Mehra, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said that he had lost a friend and a colleague and an entire era of cinema has passed away with him.

"An entire era of cinema and my association with him passed away. He was recuperating well in hospital and was to be shifted from the ICU to a general ward. A sudden infection resulted in multiple organ failure and he breathed his last," Bachchan said on his blog.

Bachchan recalled their first meeting at RajKamal studio where the filmmaker had come to cast him in Zanjeer in 1971, and then right through to the mid 80s.

"Year after year of unbelievable successes - Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Khoon Paseena, Laawaris, Muquaddar ka Sikander, Sharabi, Namak Halal. What a huge bank of amazing films, right down to his last with me, Jaadugar. The only one that did not work," Big B said.

Bachchan wrote that Mehra called him in Bangalore after the release of Jaadugar and said, "'Lalla', as he endearingly called me, gad bad ho gayee hai!(Things have gone wrong).

"Honest and straight. He (Mehra) had always maintained that the day I cannot make a successful film with you I shall stop working with you. He never did anything after 'Jaadugar'," Bachchan said.

The actor described Mehra as a simple man who had the capacity to narrate great stories through the medium of cinema in the most simple manner.

"No fuss, no calisthenics. Just very ordinary camera placements and extraordinary content. A writer, a lyricist, a musician, he added all these qualities to his creativity behind the camera and gave me some of my most challenging roles," the megastar said.

"Never rewarded by any institution. And never sought one either. His films have lived out longer than him. A true mark of excellence," Bachchan said.

"The music he gave to his films still ring in the hearts and ears of each generation that came after him. The performances he extractedfrom his artists were never ever considered for any recognition. It never bothered him," the actor said.

"Critics panned his films and the greater the criticism the longer became their duration, at the box office," Bachchan said.

"Unko likhne do woh, jo bhi likh rahe hain, aur jahan bhi likh rahe hain. Main jaanta hun main unhe kahan likh raha hoon!," he (Mehra) would often retort. A friend and a colleague, gone forever," Bachchan concluded.

Akshay Kumar arrested in obscenity case

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was arrested and later released on bail for allegedly indulging in obscene behaviour during a fashion show in Mumbai during the Lakme Fashion Week held in March.

"Akshay, who arrived in Mumbai from abroad, surrendered before the police today. He was accompanied by his lawyer," a senior police officer said.

"He was then arrested under section 294 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged obscene behaviour," the officer added.Akshay's wife Twinkle was also arrested under the same charges last month and immediately released on bail.Akshay Kumar, his wife Twinkle and the organiser were booked after an "unbuttoning" act during the Lakme India Fashion week.

Twinkle had unbuttoned Akshay's jeans in public when he asked her to do so while he was on the ramp.A Mumbai-based social worker had lodged a police complaint against Akshay, Twinkle and the organisers for his alleged obscene behaviour in public.