Kirti Malhotra Interviews: I never thought of acting

Kirti Malhotra Interviews: I never thought of acting: Her three-year long association with the Indian film industry as a costume designer never led her to face the camera, but Kirti Malhotra couldn’t say no when she was handpicked by Kiran Rao to play an important role in her directorial debut “Dhobi Ghat”.

"I never thought of acting. When the question came whether I want to do this film or not, it was clear to me it’s the kind of film I would always go and watch. I think I was really, really lucky in this case. There are newcomers every day in the masala films and you rather be in a film that stands out than be lost in the crowd with all these films,” Kirti told us.

Kirti is not the absolute fresh face as she’s done costume designing for “Sarkar Raaj”, the dream song in “Delhi 6", “Action Replayy” and recently “No Problem”. “The acting kept happening in between. And then there was dubbing, but I continued with my costume designing until last month,” said Kirti.

Kirti has portrayed the character of Yasmin in “Dhobi Ghat”.

Though “Dhobi Ghat” is a film where emotions are expressed more through action, Yasmin has most dialogues in the film, said Kirti.

“Yasmin is one character who has a lot to speak. It’s about her perspective of the city and people and how they have affected her. The whole character graph you get only through her voice,” she said.

Director Kiran Rao also identifies most with Yasmin’s character. Kirti said, “I think Yasmin is her closest character. Other than Munna (Prateek Babbar), which is one author-backed character. She knows Yasmin so well that when we were acting out the scenes, she knew how Yasmin would say a line, how she would look, how she would pause between two sentences. In fact, I didn’t have to do much.”

Apart from Kirti and Prateek, Monica Dogra (Shai) plays an Indian-American banker who is in the city for a photographic expedition.

Aamir Khan, who is producing the film, played the character of Arun, a seclusive modern art painter, but he was yet to come on board when Kirti was selected for the film.

“When I got on to the film, Aamir wasn’t in the film yet. He was, I think, still in the process of convincing Kiran that he can play a role. When I got on to the film it was going to be the small film festival kind of film.

“When Aamir came into the film my reaction was ‘Oh my God, now everyone is going to watch the film’ because immediately your audience space becomes that huge,” said Kirti.

Talking about her experience with Aamir, she said, “Nothing can prepare you best when you are acting in front of Aamir Khan. He is literally an artiste within acting. When we were doing the reading, he acted out his first scene in three different ways, just to give options to Kiran how differently the scene could be done. I felt that my voice even wouldn’t come out while shooting the film.

“He is super intelligent, very sharp, very perceptive; so I think once you get over the fact that superstar Aamir Khan is in front of you and be normal, he is very normal.”

Asked if the feeling of being an actor has sunk in her by now, she said, “Of course in the Toronto International Film Festival I had the whole fairy tale experience. But in the last three weeks, when the promos have started coming out, there are posters around, friends and parents have started talking about it, it has started sinking in.”

Kirti isn’t sure which way her acting career would head after “Dhobi Ghat” is released.

“Since I have been given this opportunity on a golden platter, I want to see how it goes with the reaction of the film, my performance and everything and then I can pursue this. Acting career can go anyway. The kind of film this is it could go to crossover films. I am not too sure about the typical masala film, may be one I have to do in my life,” said Kirti.

Shazahn Padamsee's confidence rise up after work with Ajay Devgan

Shazahn Padamsee's confidence rise up after work with Ajay Devgan: She is a novice; he is a veteran. She is just 22; he is 41. Shazahn Padamsee was apprehensive about matching up her performance with Ajay Devgn, whom she romances in Madhur Bhandarkar's first comedy Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, but says her "zero confidence" level shot up when he praised her acting skills.

"When I met Ajay sir for the first time...I wasn't nervous, but I was just hoping that there were no complaints. I felt so junior suddenly...and it was like 'My god! I am working with someone so talented!' Shazahn told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"I just hoped that I could impress him with my talent. So, when at the end of the shoot he came and patted me on the back and said: 'Well Shazahn Padamseedone!', my confidence level went from like zero to 100."

In Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji, Shazahn plays June Pinto, "a happy, bubbly young girl who is child-like, very cute and innocent". The film will release on January 28.

The actress said it was simply "inspiring" to be around Ajay, who has been active in showbiz for the past two decades.

"I remember watching him in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and his performance was so good. He was so awesome in Raajneeti. Ajay sir chooses his films so carefully and all of them are so different, because of which he is among few actors who are not typecast and that's what I love.

"The journey that he has taken in his career is so inspiring because he is not someone who says 'I am an action guy' or 'I am the lover boy', he is someone who does so many different roles. That, for someone new like me, is very inspiring and one feels to be like him," she said.

Shazahn, daughter of noted theatre artiste Alyquee Padamsee and singer Sharon Prabhakar, loved being in Ajay's company not just because she got to learn a lot from him but also due to his sense of humour.

"People think Ajay sir is a very serious kind of person, but he is not so! He is very witty. Many people know that my dad has a very good sense of humour, very tongue-in-cheek, very sarcastic. And I found Ajay sir very similar with the tongue-in-cheek humour.

"I love people who are funny, so I loved being on the sets because he would always keep me in splits," she said.

For a girl as young as her, the box office fate of her debut Hindi film Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year, in which she had a blink-and-you-miss role, could have shaken her confidence. But Shazahn has no regrets.

In fact, she is more than happy that she has got the chance to work with formidable names like Ajay and Bhandarkar so early in her Bollywood career.

"I think if I wouldn't have done Rocket Singh, I wouldn't have got Dil Toh.... In life, everything happens for a reason. I don't believe in living with regrets, it's quite a waste of time. I am a super-optimistic person and very positive. It was my first film; so it will always remain special.

"Butm, of course, Dil Toh... has been a great learning experience. I just adore Madhur sir. For a newcomer it is very comforting to have someone who believes in you - and it was very satisfying to know that Madhur sir, who is such a big name in the industry, believed in me. He was confident that I have the potential to do a role opposite someone as big as Ajay Devgn in his film," she added.

Kiran Rao interview: Aamir do not take bath regularly

Kiran Rao interview: Aamir do not take bath regularly: Now that's a disadvantage of having a celebrity wife. Dhobi Ghat director Kiran Rao leaked Aamir Khan's best kept secret in one of the interviews.

In an interview to Live India, Kiran Rao said, “The one thing that I don’t like about him is the fact that he doesn’t take a bath. And trust me when I say this that his bathing habits are not very regular.” To this the actor jumped in to his rescue and said, “I do take bath when I go out for work.

And considering most of the time I step out for work, I take bath most of the time. It is only when I am not stepping out or when I am on a holiday when I don’t take a bath.”

But Kiran is relieved with the fact that she has someone in the house that she can count on to understand her in and out. “We are really happy together. We are both strong minded people but till now we haven’t faced any problem and it has been six years so far. We are more of friends, so we collaborate our ideas. There are no ego clashes; in fact it is purely enriching to be with each other.”

Kiran Rao admits that she puts across certain points firmly when she's directing a movie, and Aamir is acting. “I do tell him that I am doing a certain thing because I am the director of the movie.” To this Aamir added smiling, “And I give her a suggesting and say that I am the actor of the movie.”

When quizzed about the recent patch-up wave in the industry (SRK and Farah patching up), this is what the couple had to say. “See I don’t have any grudges against anyone in the industry. So I really don’t want to comment,” says Aamir. Adding final twist to the tale was Kiran’s answer to the same question, “I am so new to the industry that I am really no one to comment on this. But I must confess that sometimes what SRK says makes no sense to me.”

Katrina Kaif Interview: I will not happy if i am not married in five years!

Katrina Kaif Interview: I will not happy if i am not married in five years!:
A lot of people are comparing Sheila Ki Jawani to Munni Badnaam Hui – what is one thing that Sheila has that Munni doesn’t, and vice versa?
I have no idea and it’s not really my job to compare and analyse the differences and similarities between the songs. Malaika has done a fabulous job and Dabangg was a great movie. I, on the other hand, have done the best I could in Sheila Ki Jawani. As long as people love them both, I am happy.

Do you feel the media is unfair to you?
Not at all. The media has played a huge role in the recognition I get and has helped me become the person I am today.

I attribute my fan base and other accolades like ‘the most searched person on Google’ to the media. If they speculate and print what they do, it is because it is their job! It’s been done to everyone, right from Marilyn Monroe to others… so why blame them really?

Why did you choose 2012 for marriage...
One morning, I just said, “Who knows?” It could happen in two weeks if I meet the right person. If I am not married in five years, I will be very sad. Everyone wants a companion in life – I have worked very hard from a young age and find that the harder I work, the more I crave that stable home, with a partner. Unfortunately, my family lives outside India and I miss them … well, all I can do is hope that marriage, love and happiness comes to me at the right time, in the form of the right man.

Ranbir Kapoor-Imran Khan-Ranveer Singh now in Akshay's favorite list

Ranbir Kapoor-Imran Khan-Ranveer Singh now in Akshay's favorite list: After completing two successful decades in the Hindi film industry, Akshay Kumar is now definitely into the senior bracket and is counted amongst the top stars of Bollywood, despite the recent setbacks. The actor picked his favourite new generation of actors who he feels come closest to him.

The first name that Akshay chooses does not spring a surprise. It is Ranbir Kapoor, who Akshay feels is doing a fine job. Ranbir is not just a future super star but with super hit films like AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI and RAJNEETI, he is already a force to reckon with and amongst the top five actors of Bollywood.

Then Akki picks up Imran Khan who has already made his presence felt in the industry with hits like JAANE TU...YA JAANE NA and the runaway success I HATE LUV STORYS and is certainly counted amongst the most promising future stars of Bollywood.

The third and last name does surprise and in fact we are sure that the newest entrant in Bollywood, Ranveer Singh, who made such a terrific debut via BAND BAAJA BAARAAT will be thrilled to bits when he comes to know that Akshay finds him very good and is amongst his choice of promising talents.

Subhash K Jha talking about 'Tees Maar Khan' Movie

Subhash K Jha talking about 'Tees Maar Khan' Movie: You have to hand it to Farah Khan. The zany spirit never leaves her side. Tees Maar Khan (TMK) is a goofy oddball of a film, replete with the most outrageous takeoffs on the dreaded Hindi Film 'formula' seen in recent times.

The film, we understand, is inspired by a 1966 Peter Sellers comedy After The Fox. But the foxiness of this feisty farce comes entirely from Farah Khan's own sensibilities as a storyteller.

The laughter never deserts the belly of the plot. In TMK, she pulls out all stops to tell a tale that never grows pale under the gaze of the camera.

The plot is the kind of kinky concoction that one associates with the literature of P.G Wodehouse and the drama of Sheridan. As hard to put down on paper as it is to pin down on camera, Farah Khan manages to just about hold the myriad madcap characters into a firm comic grip. The clasp of the comic is strong and engaging.

The grin ever slips off. The spirit of a spoofy satirical homage to the larger-than-life hero-giri of the Formula Fillum never slips up. Yes, some parts of the takeoff refuses to take off. At times the storytelling becomes a casualty of its own parodic intentions. You never know when the narration slips into a parody of its own parody. That, you realize, is a part of this film's chirpychalu charm.

The energy-driven narrative propels the parody from one gag to another. The gasbag narration is never short of tricks to seduce us into a state of helpless laughter.

When the dialogues fail to lift the satire(and this fuel-shortage happens frequently), Akshay Kumar steps in to do his number. No stranger to comedy, Akshay turns in one of his zaniest performances since Priyadarshan's Hera Pheri. To say his comic timing is impeccable would be stating the obvious. Akshay just blends into the no-man's-land ambience of the film with unquestioning sincerity.

Tees Maar Khan Akshaye Khanna as the Oscar-crazy superstar comes up with a comically compelling performance. We've never seen him having so much fun before. Maybe it's the company he 'quips'. Katrina Kaif's airheaded eyelash-batting makeup-splashing item-girl act gets its rippling rhythms from her lately-honed comic aptitudes. Her 'Sheila Ki Jawani' item number which was the film's selling-point before release is performed with a gusto and elegance that could have easily overpowered the film. Happily TMK manages to hold its own right up to the crazy chaotic finale.

The plot is crammed full with empty-headed and moronic characters. Farah Khan's vibrant vision encompasses the entire gamut of giggles chuckles and guffaws in one swift confident sweep. You are hooked from the word go.

The supporting actors too furnish the hectic hilarity with enormous zaniness.Particularly notable are Aarya Babbar (fully in form as a boorish slightly dimwitted cop), Apara Mehta(endearingly nutty as Akshay's filmy mother) and Ali Asgar(as one of Akshay's sidekicks).

Tees Maar Khan is a kind of subverted homage to the cinema of Manmohan Desai. There are no lost-and-found kids in this 'ever-grin' film. But there's plenty of that spirit of daring destiny to do what it can.

Yup, MKD would've smiled on watching this one. Go for Tees Maar Khan. Ignore all the negative comments you've been hearing about. It's great unpretentious fun. To actually put so many IQ-challenged characters into an intelligent piece of comedy couldn't be easy.

So who said being the new-age Manmohan Desai was easy?

Akshay shares titbits about 'Kat' from behind the scenes of TMK

Akshay shares titbits about 'Kat' from behind the scenes of TMK: Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif return again to the big screen this Friday with Farah Khan’s much-awaited film Tees Maar Khan. As expected, the duo had a lot of fun while shooting the film.

During the shoot of the song ‘Bade Dilwala’, a funny incident happened when Katrina accidentally hit Akshay.

“We were shooting for the song Bade dilwala and Katrina got so involved in her dance that she actually hit me hard with her elbow. The impact was such that the shooting had to be stalled for two hours,” Akshay told reporters while promoting the film in New Delhi. He was accompanied with Katrina and Farah Khan.

When asked if he isn’t worried about being typecast as a comedy hero, Akshay said he did comedies because that what audiences want to see.

“I don't think I have lowered down my experimentation level as I am only doing what the audience wants. Audience today only want full entertainment which can be provided only through comedy,” Akshay said.

To everyone’s delight Akshay and Katrina also danced to the tune of ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’ at the promotional event.

“When we shoot for any song, there are often many cuts but I enjoy performing in front of live audiences because the response makes me feel good,” Akshay said after the dance.

Katrina too talked about her raunchy song in the film.

“Sheila is a character which will always remain close to my heart as compared to my earlier roles,” she said.

Rani Mukherjee talks about her role in 'No One Killed Jessica'

Rani Mukherjee talks about her role in 'No One Killed Jessica': Rani Mukherjee is coming back with a bang. After a slew of weepy roles, the actress steps into the shoes of a fiery, foul-mouthed crime reporter in No One Killed Jessica which is slated to release on January 7.

The 32-year-old actress said that by playing the role of crime reporter she realized how difficult and risky is the job.

“Through my character in the film I am sure people will respect and salute them for the kind of job they do. It is very fascinating profession where the basic job requirement is to be fearless and brave. I feel great that I am portraying the role of a crime reporter,” Rani is quoted as saying by a news agency.

Stressing on the risk faced by crime reporters, Rani added: “When we see crime reporters on TV we do not understand how difficult and risky their work is. I think in a day-to-day life, crime reporting is more risky as they are unaware of what assignment they would go for. They go to weird and dangerous places. Especially for girls it is tougher.”

The film, directed by Rajkumar Gupta, is based on the murder of model Jessica Lall in 1999 by Manu Sharma, son of a Haryana politician, in a Delhi night club. It has Vidya Balan playing Jessica's sister Sabrina, who fought the case to get justice and Rani plays a journalist in the movie.

“The very fact that I am playing a journalist in the film is also one of the reasons why I am part of it. It is the first time that media is shown in a powerful light in the movie,” Rani said.

Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Farah Khan's exclusive Interview

Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Farah Khan's exclusive Interview: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif and Farah Khan flew into London this week to promote TEES MAAR KHAN. From 'Sheila Ki Jawani' to Shah Rukh Khan's casting controversies, the film consistently generated column inches. Our correspondent went head-to-head with the director and stars of the movie, to talk about the production. Trade analysts are predicting it will be the biggest Bollywood grosser of 2010.

What is the USP of this film?
Akshay: The USP of TEES MAAR KHAN is the kind of role that I have been offered in the movie. Also, that I am working with Farah for the first time. On top of that we have 'Sheila Ki Jawani'.

Can you confirm the rumours that the project was first offered to Shah Rukh Khan?
Farah: When it was decided that I was going to direct the film the first person I called was Akshay and he was the only choice. Akshay was fabulous to work with. As a star to have in your film, he is bang on with time. If you want him there at 6am he will be there at 5.30am. He brings 200% and gives everything to the shot. Other than that, he improvises and will give you two or three variations of how to do it.

How did you decide on the casting of Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif?
Farah: For me, it was the first time I was working with Akshay and Katrina both. For a long time I resisted bringing the two of them together as I thought they had been together in too many movies. But I think we have presented them in a very different way, both of them are not doing anything we have seen before, and they look like different actors. When they come together their chemistry is so special, and when the camera goes on, magic happens. You cannot explain two people's chemistry, but for them it is there in abundance. They are also both tall, good looking and they complement each other physically.

What was it like working with Farah?
Katrina: There are a few directors who you want to work with on the basis of their talent and their reputation. In this film it was definitely a case of that with Farah. Luckily for me there were a lot of things that I found challenging in this film, obviously the songs and the level of the dancing expected.

Akshay: She is a very strict director, and if she was only allowed to have a cane in her hands. She loves beating up people.

And working with each other again?
Katrina: (Laughs) I had to be brought to set screaming and kicking.

Did you realize 'Sheila Ki Jawani' would be such a hit?
Katrina: I had not worked with Farah for many years, and her songs are always hugely talked about and they have always been a focal point. Especially the songs the girl have done like Sushmita Sen's 'Tumhe Jo Maine Dekha' in MAIN HOON NA and Deepika's [Padukone] introduction song in OM SHANTI OM. All her movies have that one really special song for the girls and I didn't want to let anyone down. I was very nervous about it and put in those hours to make sure I did the best that I could.

Farah: I knew 'Sheela Ki Jawani' would be a big hit. We composed it, constructed it and choreographed it in such a way. But it is incredible that it has gone onto become this kind of a rage, with people watching it a hundred times on YouTube. What is surprising is that little kids are loving it. Maybe it is a children's jingle. When Akshay saw it, he said in small cities they are going to stop the film and replay the song again.

Akshay: It will be fun watching this song in the interiors of India. I watch each and every film on the theatre, and when I am shooting in the interiors I love to watch films and literally they throw money at such kind of songs.

Farah: And this time I am going to be there right in front to pick up all the money.

How do you feel about the battle that has developed between Munni vs Sheila?
Katrina: I don't think we ever realized it, as when we were shooting the song, DABANGG had not yet released. I don't think Farah and I want to compare or fight or anything like that. It is about doing the best that I can do for this song. In my opinion, it is very different to the songs in DABANGG, which coincidentally Farah has done anyway.

How did Salman Khan come onboard for the project?
Farah: I asked Salman Khan to do a song for our movie as there were rumours already that he was in it. I asked him if he would do it and he agreed. It was as simple as that.

Does the movie show off your comic actor or action hero skills?
Akshay: Well there is not much action in this film. It is more comic, because the way the character is written, if there is any action he doesn't want to fight he just wants to run away, and will come back when there are less people and he can handle then very easily. So the character is like that.

Why is the film releasing earlier in the international market?
Farah: In the UK and US we are releasing earlier because the holidays begin on 22nd, so we get a really long weekend. We want to get the advantage of a bigger opening weekend and we get a five-day weekend this way. In the Middle East we release 23rd because all films release on a Thursday over there.

Monikangana Dutta: I have a boyfriend already!

Monikangana Dutta

Monikangana Dutta: I have a boyfriend already!: The Guzaarish debutante Monikangana Dutta finds it a bit hard to stomach the rumours linking her with co-stars Hrithik Roshan and Aditya Roy Kapoor because she is already dating someone.

"Thank you, I have a boyfriend already," Moni is quoted as saying. Though she hasn’t revealed his name, she does make it clear that she wouldn’t date anyone from her professional line and also that she can never marry an actor. So, who is that lucky fellow whom this lithe lass is dating? He is an entrepreneur, says Moni.

The model plays Hrithik’s beautiful ex lover and assistant in Guzaarish. Moni says she never faced any problem on the sets. Her co-star Hrithik was not only supportive but also helped her during the shoots as the model was new to working in a movie set-up, and she thinks herself lucky because she found Hrithik to be as handsome and gallant as she had imagined him.

Moni is just speaking her mind about Hrithik, so no rumours please!

Kareena Kapoor Interview: showering praise on the Shahid Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor Interview: showering praise on the Shahid Kapoor: Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor might not be on talking terms but this does not stop Bebo from showering praise on the actor.

Recently, in an interview, Kareena has admitted that she likes Shahid as an actor and thinks highly of his talent.

Kareena also made it clear that she is open to working with Shahid in future and will not shy away if the right opportunity comes her way.

Though Kareena might be contemplating marriage with Saif Ali Khan, it seems the actress has no qualms about dealing with her past love Shahid when it comes to being professional.

Aishwarya Rai Interview: i play best role in the industry!

Aishwarya Rai Interview: i play best role in the industry!: Aishwarya Rai, who plays a 'typical' girl of the 1970s in the retro comedy " Action Replayy", says she didn't try to imitate any particular actress, but picked from the looks and mannerisms of all reigning heroines of that era.

"There isn't any particular actor whom I followed. In terms of visual styling, make-up and hair, there are lots of actresses from that time. There is no signature reference of any particular actor of that time. It's a collage of all actors," Aishwarya, 37, told in an interview.

Preceded by serious roles in period films like " Umrao Jaan" (2006) and " Jodhaa Akbar" (2008), it was the word 'retro' that caught her attention when the film was offered to her.

Aishwarya reveals that "Action Replayy" was originally a play by the film's director Vipul Shah himself, and he did not deviate much from the original script.

"It's wonderful that I had so much of period films to do and yet they are all different. When Vipul said he wanted to do a retro film, the word retro was quite catchy. He didn't call it historical era, period piece, pre-independence, he called it retro era," she said.

"The moment you say retro, we all go into the 70's. I instantly knew it was different," she said.

"It's a fun genre. Vipul was very clear about the film he was making. It was a play that he made several years ago. He was very clear in his narrative, and didn't want to change anything except when most necessary. Of course, we improvised, but not that much, because Vipul was clear about what each character was supposed to do," Aishwarya said.

The actress said though it's a comedy film, she got enough scope to exhibit her acting skills.

"This film gave me the opportunity to do something. We have pushed the envelope even in the comedy genre, where we have revisited another era. Of course, visually there are aspects of styling, make-up and costume, and there are nuances in acting. As my character is very boisterous in the beginning of the film and then becomes mellow and feminine, we have spoofed it in the acting style of that time," said Aishwarya.

Did she ask for tips from her parents-in-law Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan?

"No, I didn't sit with Ma or Paa because, like Paa has always said, your work speaks volumes. You need not sit with them and literally speak. You have their films to refer to," she said.

Aishwarya feels her career has come full circle in the past two years as she is doing films with directors she worked with in her initial days.

"I am thankful to get such good roles in my career. It's a blessing and there are lots of very good memories and they were fulfilling," she said.

Dev Patel loving punched to Freida Pinto!

Dev Patel loving punched to Freida Pinto!: Freida Pinto still remembers small incidents that brought Dev Patel closer to her while filming Slumdog Millionaire.

One such incident was when Dev accidentally punched her in the face while giving one of the promotional interviews for the Danny Boyle-directed film.

“Small things bring so much joy to us, like when we were first doing interviews, there was one time when Dev punched me in my face by mistake,” Freida is quoted as saying by femalefirst.co.uk.

Apart from this ‘love’ punch, there were many other small incidents that Freida says only she and Dev can fully appreciate.

“The only two people who can understand what happened on Slumdog... are the two of us. Even our families, who appreciate and support us, are still on the outside and that is why we hold it so very dear to our hearts,” the 26-year-old star said.

Freida is presently in the news for her film Miral and the soon-to-release You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.

Kareena Kapoor Interview: I am a good actress!

Kareena Kapoor Interview: I am a good actress!: Kareena Kapoor says she hasn't been doing good roles because she knows she is a good actress and doesn't have to prove it to anyone. No! Gossip Mamu didn't make that up!

Loud mouth Kareena, who turned 30 in September, made her histrionic brag in an interview with CNN IBN after host Rajiv Masand observed that Kareena's ambitions appear to have changed.

Masand quizzed her on why she was going for big ticket movies such as RA.One, Agent Vinod and Bodyguard, instead of seeking challenging roles such as the ones that she did in Chameli, Dev and Omkara.

"Everyone knows that I am a good actor. I have proved it time and again. I can always come back to those kinds of roles," Kareena replied without a trace of humility.

Bebo went on to explain that talent doesn't matter these days. At the end of the day what matters is the box office success or failure of a film.

"How many people are concerned about an actress' talent? Let's be honest here."

Gyaan for Vidya Balan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji?

Bebo went on to say that other actresses like Katrina Kaif (Rajneeti) and Priyanka Chopra (Kaminey, Saat Khoon Maaf) are now getting good roles only because she cannot be paired with Ranbir Kapoor.

Because of it, "they are having a field day!" says Bebo.

Gossip Mamu is perplexed with the Ranbir logic, considering he didn't feature in Kaminey and Saat Khoon Maaf?

Here are some other Bebo nuggets from the interview.

"I stay miles away from action. I am the song and dance chick, not an action chick."

For those of you who don't care to listen to Kareena for the entire 6m 41s duration of the video clip below, jump to 2m 54s to hear her brag.

Aishwarya Rai to attract the Directors at 37

Aishwarya Rai to attract the Directors at 37: For most leading ladies in tinsel town, their career takes a downfall after they touch 30. But certainly not in the case of Aishwarya Rai, who continues to flourish in Bollywood as she turns 37 on Monday and has two mega projects -- “Action Replayy” and “Guzaarish” -- lined up for release.

The former beauty queen has come a long way from being crowned Miss World in 1994, to working in Tamil films, moving to Bollywood and finally topping it up with international fame through movie projects as well as attending prestigious foreign film festivals. But all through her 13-year film career, filmmakers feel she has remained a director’s delight, and is here to stay for a long time to come.

“Aishwarya always followed me during the shooting of ‘Taal’, and is a complete director’s actor. I’m proud she has evolved so much as an actor.

She is giving good performances, she has achieved international fame, and she is leading a happy married life -- what else can she ask for from life? But she is as grounded as ever,” filmmaker Subhash Ghai told IANS.

The director, who worked with Aishwarya in 1999, says the actress will “definitely be in Bollywood for another 10 years” and is looking forward to associating with her once again.

Ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who gave Aishwarya’s career a big push with “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” followed by “Devdas”, says she is a timeless beauty.

“Aishwarya is my muse, my jaan and I get terribly excited when I make a film with her because she is very, very special. Some people are timeless and Aishwarya will be there for another 20 years,” said Bhansali, whose third project with the actress, “Guzaarish”, releases Nov 19.

Aishwarya, who married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, has broken the notion that married actresses discontinue their film careers... and her husband is proud of her.

“I feel great about Aishwarya’s achievements, I’m very proud of her. Whatever adulation she has got, she truly deserves it. I’m happy that she broke the notion that women can’t work after marriage. Why are we so regressive in our thinking? If she wants to work, her audience wants to see her, what is people’s problem? I as a husband am very happy that she is doing so well. I think she is doing better work now,” Abhishek had said.

Aishwarya started acting in 1997 with Tamil film “Iruvar”, followed by her Bollywood debut in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya” -- both of which flopped.

But the next year, she won her first Filmfare Best Actress award South for Tamil film “Jeans”. She also bagged the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Bhansali’s “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”.

She gave a power-packed performance in “Taal”, but then delivered a string of duds like “Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai“(2000), “Dhai Akshar Prem Ke“(2000), “Albela” (2001), “Hum Kisise Kum Nahi“(2001).

But it was Bhansali’s “Devdas” that resurrected her career and fetched her another Filmfare award in the Best Actress category.

She also gave good performances in “Chokher Bali“(2002), “Raincoat” (2004), “Guru“(2006), “Dhoom 2”, “Provoked“(2007), “Jodhaa Akbar” (2008) and “Sarkar Raj” (2008). She recently featured in Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan” and opposite superstar Rajnikanth in “Robot”.

Some of her English projects include “Bride & Prejudice” (2003), “Mistress of Spices”, “The Last Legion” (2007) and “Pink Panther”.

According to a 2009 Forbes list, Aishwarya Rai is India’s most bankable star in Hollywood, and is also counted among the 100 most beautiful women in the world.

She has been attending many international film festivals and was also the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in 2003.

Now she is gearing up for the release of “Action Replayy” on Diwali and “Guzaarish”, and is busy promoting them. But she hopes to spend some time with her family as she steps into her new year.

Aishwarya Rai celebrate her birthday with family

Aishwarya Rai celebrate her birthday with family:
The Bollywood still the best queen and bachchan's Bahu Aishwarya Rai, who is busy promoting two of her upcoming films releasing next month, will squeeze out some time to be with her family on her birthday Nov 1.

‘I am busy promoting my films. ‘Action Replayy’ is releasing on Nov 5 so lots of intense work every day.

I have kept aside time on my birthday as always I spend it with my family, and how the day will roll I have no idea,’ Aishwarya, who will turn 37, told IANS in an interview.

After director Vipul Shah’s retro comedy ‘Action Replayy’, Aishwarya has Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish’ releasing Nov 19.

I wanted to be a writer and a director: Salman Khan

I wanted to be a writer and a director: Salman Khan: Had director Sooraj Bharjatya not prodded him to become an actor, Salman Khan might have been a writer and director today.

“I don't even know how acting happened. I wanted to be a writer and a director. I guess the Barjatyas liked my shakal (face), though I don't know what they saw in it,” Salman is quoted as saying by a news daily.

Salman Khan shot to fame with director Sooraj Bharjatya’s film Maine Pyar Kiya. After the film’s stupendous success, there was no looking back for Salman. He rose to the status of a superstar.

Eventually, he also wrote a script that was made into the film Veer, which, sadly, came a cropper at the box office. Following the movie’s debacle, Salman is staying away from script writing. And what about direction? Salman says he’s content being an actor presently. But he may direct a film someday.

Hrithik Roshan in depression!

Hrithik Roshan in depression!: Hrithik Roshan is eagerly looking forward to his next release 'Guzaarish' with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. While talking about the film, he takes awhile to ponder and then reveal that he can completely relate to his character in the film.

The actor can relate his character to the time when he was nursing a knee pain and was on wheelchair for more than six months. He had given up hopes of acting and dancing ever again...

Recalling that phase as one of the learning experience, Hrithik informs that he was in depression for six moths when his knee surgery failed to cure his pain. "After Jodhaa Akbar I was treating my knee for six months. I did a lot of things to cure it. I did Chinese therapy, ayurvedic treatments, visited more than 35 to 40 specialists and tried local massage too but nothing helped. I was in depression for six months.

"I did a lot of things during that time. What I didn't think of during that time was acting and dancing. I was completely disheartened and thought of giving up acting for good. It was then that Sanjay Leela Bhansali came to me with the script. I did not think twice before accepting it as I felt it would be my last film," he reminisces.

Hrithik informs that playing a paraplegic wasn't easy but it definitely boosted his confidence. "I interacted with a lot of paraplegic patients before taking up the film. Before that I used to be irritable and edgy but they taught me to live. My character of a paraplegic touched my heart," he concludes

Aishwarya Rai and Bhansali have a special connection!

Aishwarya Rai and Bhansali have a special connection!: Aishwarya Rai, who once again teams up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Guzaarish, says they share a strange connection. The beautiful actress also says that the sensitive film helped the whole team reconnect with the goodness inside them.

"We are so strangely connected that we can communicate so much in silence. You can't bring down the experience of working with Sanjay in one word, sentence or a paragraph. Sanjay can't be contained in a word. We all say he is a genius, multi-faceted, but actually he is a real artiste. He sings, he breaks into dance, he loves music and he is very intense," Aishwarya told IANS in an interview.

Guzaarish being her third film with Bhansali after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Devdas(2002), the actress reveals that she has always felt being an important character in his films and not just the lead heroine.

"In his film, everyone is a character integral to his narrative and it's a pleasure working with him. You always feel that you are in a team. I experienced that in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, I experienced that in Devdas, I experienced that in Guzaarish," said Aishwarya, who plays a nurse to actor Hrithik Roshan's character of a paraplegic in Guzaarish.

The actress refrains from saying that intense roles are harder than playing the typical Bollywood heroine. Citing her last two films with Hrithik - Dhoom2 (2006) and Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Aishwarya says her roles were equally intricate to the genres of both the films.

"I have done a lot of intense films, lesser comedy films, and lesser commercially typical heroine films and yet I say all could be equally easier or tough. When you go without make-up, wear a sari, suddenly that role becomes more intense and just because you put make-up, wear dresses and do hair styles the role becomes frivolous...I think it's unfair to compartmentalise creativity like that. How you pose for the camera is also a craft.

"In Dhoom we had to look smashing in every frame, the character's incidental in terms of acting nuances, but everything had to look perfect. That's also a method of the craft.

"In Jodhaa Akbar we were doing a history together, but in every point while we were working with the detailing and authenticity with a director like Ashutosh Gowariker, we brought that in. It always played in our mind that it shouldn't look that today's kids are donning historical costumes. That needed a certain kind of craft," Aishwarya explained.

In Guzaarish, Hrithik plays a paraplegic and "yes, I am playing a caretaker nurse, but within that we had to bring in the story that Sanjay really wants to tell and at the same time we have to be honest to our character in terms of expressing our inter-personal relations," Aishwarya said.

Asked if through the journey of making the film, she had subtly evolved as a better human being, she said: "The whole team felt that. Everyone has goodness in him or her. But everyone has experiences which help you connect or reconnect with the goodness in you or the goodness you wish to share. This film has been a very positive film for the whole team because of the intensity of the genre and the sensitivity of its nature."

Vivek Oberoi's wedding will be grand!

Vivek Oberoi's wedding will be grand!: October 29 is the day when actor Vivek Oberoi will tie the knot with the Bangalore girl Priyanka Alva. He says his wedding would be a grand affair.

“The wedding will be grand but a very private affair followed by a reception in Mumbai with family and friends attending,” Vivek told a news agency.

However, the groom-to-be has not even started doing shopping for his wedding.

“I am so preoccupied with Rakta Charitra that I did not do any shopping for my marriage. Now my family is taking care of that. I will soon be a married man but the feeling is yet to sink in,” Vivek added.

Incidentally, Vivek is so tied up with the promotion of the film, that he’ll also postpone his honeymoon. And when he explained his reasons for doing so to Priyanka, she did not complain.

“Priyanka has been very understanding and supportive. It is very unusual for a bride to be this practical and understanding about my career. She is really a lovely girl and means a lot to me. I thank Karnataka for giving me their most beautiful daughter,” Vivek said.

Incidentally, when Vivek visited Bangalore to promote the film, he was referred to as Karnataka ka damaad.