'I did not envy John's Kisses'

''It was the most outstanding script I have ever read. Today when I see the final product, I am proud to be a part of the film,'' he said.Set in post 9/11 Afghanistan, when the Americans destroyed Taliban and those who survived tried to escape to Pakistan to save their lives, the film shows the journey of two Indian journalists Jai Kapoor (Arshad Warsi) and Suhel Khan (John Abraham) through the country.The film is inspired by director Kabir Khan’s own experiences in Afghanistan as a documentary film maker. His encounters with Taliban prisoners were the starting point of the script. ''The cast and crew were sent death threats by the Taliban to stop shooting but the Afgan government provided tight security and enabled the shoot to be completed. On some days, there were more armed soldiers than crew on the location,'' Khan said. It was shot over a period of 45 days from October to December 2005...Read more...

Rakhi on Bigg Boss? Na Baba Na!

Right now everything feels unreal. Most of the contestants were busy acting all the time, manipulating things to their own advantage, forming their own groups. I was the odd moohphat one out, and I suffered," says Rakhi happily.Re-living her one month of exile she says, "It may be a reality show. But it was unreal for me. I learnt so much about life and people. All my life I had been pampered. But there in the house in Karjat there was no one to wipe my tears when I cried…not my mother, not my boyfriend Abhishek Awasthi. It taught me to be self-sufficient and to value the people who love me."Most of all, the one-month experience taught Rakhi to be an expert at washing laundary. "I had started my own Sawant Laundary Service in there. I washed everyone's clothes. What else could I do to while away my time? I was so bored. There was nothing to do." ...Read more...

Music of Salaam-E-Ishq launched

Salaam-E-Ishq deals with the lives of six different couples who have one common problem of love. The couples of the film are Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna and Ayesha Takia, John Abraham and Vidya Balan, Govinda and Shannon Esrechowitz and Sohail Khan and Ishaa Koppikar.

MUMBAI: The music of Salaam-E-Ishq, which is slated to release on 25 January, was launched on 2 December. Katrina Kaif was the first to take centre stage for the evening as she hosted the event. The trio of Shankar Ehsaan Loy was next to have everyone's ears and eyes hooked onto them as they performed live to the songs of Salaam-E-Ishq.

Shankar recollected their association with director Nikhil Advani and said, "Our association with Nikhil goes back to Kal Ho Na Ho when Loy and Nikhil were in Pune composing the title track for the film."

Soon after their performance, an audio visual was screened, which depicted the plight of juveniles. The music release was actually a charity event for Aangan - an NGO for underprivileged children in the state run juvenile homes.

This was followed by a showcase of Vikram Phadnis' new collection, which he denoted as an inspiration from moonlight, champagne and roses. A brigade of models walked the ramp dressed in clothes ranging from western to traditional outfits. If this were not enough a brigade of actors too set the ramp on fire. After the collections were showcased, a the couples from Salaam-E-Ishq walked the ramp. While the duo of John Abraham and Vidya Balan were the first to mark their entry, it was the entry of Govinda that lit everyone's face with a smile and that of Salman and Priyanka that left the crowd craving for more.

Obscenity case filed against Aishwarya and Hrithik

Indore, Dec 02: A case has been filed against bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai and actor Hrithik Roshan for an alleged obscene sequence in their recently-released film Dhoom-2.

The case was filed in the court of judicial magistrate first class R K Batham by advocate Shailendra Dwivedi under Sections 292 (vulgarity) and 509 (derogatory to women) of the IPC.

The complainant has alleged that women felt offended after watching the scene and it promoted vulgarity in society, especially among the youth.

The court has fixed December 11 for recording evidence in the case.

Bureau Report

Nicole Kidman is the highest paid film actress

news.bbc.co.uk ) The 39-year-old Australian is paid $17m for each movie according to the Hollywood Reporter's annual list.
Renee Zellweger is in third place, also banking $15m per film.
Julia Roberts did not make the list for the first time in its five-year history, as she has taken time off acting to raise her twins.
Charlie's Angels co-stars Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz were in fourth and fifth place, respectively, both scoring $15m.
Two more Oscar winners, Halle Berry, who won for her role in Monster's Ball earned $14m per movie, and South African actress Charlize Theron - Academy Award winner for Monster - earned $10m.
Angelina Jolie makes eighth spot with $10m, followed by Kirsten Dunst with $8m-$10m, followed by former Friends star Jennifer Aniston with $8m.