Celebrating Diwali - The celeb way

Kangna, Veena and other Bollywood celebs having fun

 

Veena Malik celebrates with sparklers

 

 

 

Amy Billimoria with fire crackers during her roof top bash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will the SRK magic work this time?

 

Shah Rukh has been on a promotional spree leading up to the release of his superhero flick. For the past few days SRK is everywhere, doing what the audience love to see him do- giving the Big B a massage on 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', talking about how reel and real life blurs at times with Barkha Dutt on NDTV, telling his biggest fan, Farukh about his childhood on UTV STARS' 'Live My Life'.
Love him? Hate him? But you just can't ignore him. The thing about SRK is that he is total 'paisa vasool'. He might turn up late for every promotional event but he is sure to entertain once he arrives, saying the right thing, giving the right sound byte and ever ready to break into a dance or do the 'Chammak Challo' number wherever possible.

I am not sure how seriously Shah Rukh takes himself as an actor but he sure does take himself seriously as an entertainer. While a lot of Bollywood actors might refuse to do commercials and dance at weddings, SRK has no problem breaking into a spontaneous jig on demand. In his own words Shah Rukh had once said that he's 

like the 'madari', ready to perform anywhere.

RA.One releases today and it's interesting how King Khan responds to question about why the film is important to him. He talks about the time he has invested, he talks about the technology used, he talks about how superhero films are important for Bollywood but he never talks about the Rs 175 crore that has been spent on the making of the film. When asked about the budget, he nonchalantly dismisses it, as if it's no big deal. He says that it's more important for him to have tried something new and different from what he has been doing all these years. It's safe for him to play a romantic hero but can he be a convincing superhero?

Manisha Koirala saves Miss Nepal pageant

Though its biggest sponsor Dabur Nepal abandoned Miss Nepal, Nepal's oldest and best-known beauty pageant, Bollywood diva Manisha Koirala threw her weight behind the once beleaguered contest, appearing as a judge at the grand finale. The 41-year-old actor, who held India's Hindi film industry under her sway in the 1990s, was easily the biggest celebrity at the show held at the Army Club in Kathmandu.

 

She had a simple question for the 15th contestant, Bishnu Chemjong, asking if it was better to be kind or to have integrity. A flustered Bishnu said a person who was kind had integrity as well.

 

At the end of the nearly three-hour show which, however, did not have a swim suit round out of deference to conservatives, Manisha was heard saying she was impressed with the 19 contestants, especially with the five finalists, any of whom could have become the new Miss Nepal. The silver crown studded with rubies finally went to Malina Joshi, a confident business management student from Sunsari in southern Nepal, thanks to her answer to the ... 

 

The 23-year-old replied that women were already ruling the world with their perseverance and dedication. Once known as the Dabur Vatika Hidden Treasure Miss Nepal pageant, the contest this year was a pale shadow of its former self with Dabur Nepal pulling out after suffering years of obstruction from the women's wing of the Maoist party.

 

Though the protesters said they wanted the pageant to stop because it degraded woman and displayed them as commodity, the anger was actually directed towards the Indian multinational company's subsidiary since they allowed dozens of other beauty contests to be held without any disruption.

 

After Dabur Nepal's pullout this year, the organisers, the Hidden Treasure, roped in Nepal Lever as the new sponsor and the pageant was repositioned as the Lux Hidden Treasure Miss Nepal 2011. However, though the funding and gifts for the winners decreased, there were no protests and the media trained its spotlight as one on the contest.

 

Last year, several media organisations had blacked out the show due to a fallout with Dabur Nepal after it stopped advertising with them. This year's contest had an Eid gift for the Muslim community with the first Muslim contestant winning an award. Madina Begum was crowned Miss Perseverance.

Ash steps out yet again

We spotted Aishwarya at the launch of 'Hanuman Chalisa'. See the picture? Jaya seems annoyed at the photographer while Ash smiles on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rekha: The diva

There is something about Rekha that makes her special. She gives the word Diva a whole new meaning. As she turns a year older, we take a look at what makes her a mystery.

Rekha was born Bhanurekha to a family of stars. She made her Bollywood debut with Sawan Bhandon

 

She was considered 'ugly' and she was determined to prove her skills to all

 

She has been quoted as saying "I devoted thirty-one years of my life to this industry and in turn this industry has given me everything that I can be proud of - name, fame and the perks that go with stardom.

 

She is a dreamer... she lives in her own world. She imagines a lot of things that suit her psyche as an actor. She is a very genuine, warm and a very sensitive person... And no denying the fact a very good learner. It has been an amazing experience to work with her; she is a perfect actress," Muzaffar Al

 

Rekha is nearest to the parallel of Swedish actress Greta Garbo... they both came from poor backgrounds and climbed great heights... As an artist she was first noticed in Ghar and after that she was no more termed as only a voluptuous artist in Hindi cinema because then came films like Khubsoorat and Umrao Jaan that set her apart," said noted film historian Gautam Kaul.

Rekha is a diva... In fact, the term diva (in India) was coined for Rekha. The way she has metamorphosed herself from what she was when she came into the industry is mind blowing... She has worked on her language, body, diction, everything and apart from that she's a fantastic actress," said renowned film critic Omar Qureshi.

 

Must watch movies: Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Ghar, 'Ganga Ki Saugandh', 'Umrao Jaan' 'Suhaag', 'Alaap', 'Khoon Pasina', 'Immaan Dharam' 'Silsila'

 

Her personal life has been under the scanner too. Was she having an affair with Amitabh Bachchan? We are not sure.

 

Rekha is an enigma. There is no doubt about it. You can either love her or hate her, there is no way in between.

 

But when it comes to talent, Rekha is among the best the industry have ever seen.

Bollywood Box office :30 Sep to 6 Oct

John Abraham starrer Force has collected Rs 9,69,80,668 in the first week. This is slightly lower than what was projected initially by the trade experts.

 

Mausam continues to sink in the second week collecting just around Rs 6,50,18,226 taking the total to Rs 25,07,84,587

 

Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster has in its first week collected Rs 2,90,70,680

 

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan collected Rs 72,78,418 in the fourth week taking the total to Rs 39,78,25,429

Hum Tum Shabana has collected Rs 70,28,678