Bipasha Basu ’s funk factor

Bipasha Basu has been worried about a lot of things of late. For starters, she was apprehensive about her bold look in Aa Dekhen Zara — you know Bipasha Basu

those black nails, coloured hair, tattoo on her chest... it was all just too much too handle. ”

But then her team of designers and stylists stepped in and convinced her to go along with the look. And now Bips has never been happier. “But I’ll be happiest when my home is done,” she tells us. Uff, yeh ghar ghar ki kahani kab khatam hogi?



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Just one day makes a difference: Kareena Kapoor

She wore the pants for this issue. Kareena Kapoor, drop-dead gorgeous even at touching distance in black trousers and blue top, a scarf hiding
Kareena Kapoor

her neck, strode into the BT editorial conference room at 11 am with an air of purpose.

She was here to edit today’s International Woman’s Day issue — and share in the Times Group’s plans for Women’s March... a month-long calendar of activities in Mumbai thoughtfully drawn up with the 21st century Indian woman in mind, and incorporating such bold and exciting events as riding the waves and clouds in private yachts and small airplanes, a cooking contest where men wear the aprons and toques and get behind the kitchen fires, and an all-women’s car rally from Bandra Kurla Complex to Lonavla and back. The morning ‘cuppa was ignored, so were veggie sandwiches not made in brown bread, the Bollywood reigning No 1 knows how to maintain her size zero. And she doesn’t snack in between work.

Her agenda was simple, this was a man’s world, yes, but there were quite a few women who had made a difference internationally as well — and now was the time to acknowledge them. Like who, the BT edit team asked. “Take Ash and me in Bollywood, for instance,” Kareena shot back, blue pencil poised. “Ash has gone international, she’s taken the country forward in some way... though she’s not very youth centric.” What about the other actresses? “They’re all still struggling to make the mark,” she smiled back, all dimples. And there was Meryl Streep in Hollywood who had taken acting to another level. “I’d swim the Seven Seas to get a glimpse of her,” the woman editor said wistfully. “Ditto Oprah Winfrey, who rose on the stepping stones of her former troubled life to make such a huge and positive impact on other people’s lives.” Somebody asked, what about Michelle Obama? Kareena pouted, “No, Sonia Gandhi... somebody who when she came to India, didn’t know the local language... but she changed herself and is today running the country.” And Freida Pinto? “She’s got determination and a lot of luck... Lady Luck is on her side, look where she’s come from, a one-bedroom flat in Malad, today she’s doing a Woody Allen film... even Ash hasn’t done that.”

The stories for this issue were discussed, ticked off on the editor’s list as either being approved or shot down. Kareena was asked by an over zealous lady reporter, “Why not have Woman’s Day throughout the year?” She replied without hesitation, “One day makes it more special, we excel at our jobs 24/7, but being celebrated and honoured on just one day makes a difference... it’s like our birthday or Valentine’s day, we’d look forward to it and appreciate it more.” Somebody else grumbled that women were forever taking the backseat once they got married. The woman editor pounced on that cue and tossed it back, saying, “The media does not support actresses who get married. Shaadi ho gayi, tho buddhi ho gayi. Actresses sell their talent, not beauty or souls. In Hollywood, actresses are known for their performances, not status and age... look at Kate Winslet, at Meryl Streep, here once you’re in your 30s, if you’re not sexy, you’re branded a Mata!”


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Kylie's Great, But Working With Akshay Nostalgic: Farah Khan

Director-choreographer Farah Khan says Australian singer Kylie Minogue was "a dream to work with" in forthcoming film "Blue", but she was even more excited to work with Akshay Kumar after a year's gap.

The two had last come together for Farah's directorial venture "Om Shanti Om", where Akshay was seen in a cameo as 'Khiladi Kumar'. And she didn't miss the opportunity to work with him in the much-hyped song featuring Kylie in director Anthony D'Souza's "Blue".

"I enjoy working with Akshay and have always had great fun shooting with him. In 'Om Shanti Om' he was a riot and sporting enough to have consented to do a cameo. We were in splits throughout when he came back in his 'Khiladi Kumar' image. This was a year and a half back and when we shot again in 'Blue', it was quite nostalgic," Farah told reporters.

The ace choreographer bonded quite well with Kylie even though they were working together for the first time.

"That's right, we hadn't interacted earlier but knew about each other's work. She had seen 'Om Shanti Om' and was also aware about my musical 'Bombay Dreams'. Once we started working together for the 'Blue' song, we gelled well quite quickly. She is a dream to work with," Farah said.

Farah has now become very choosy when it comes to taking up choreography assignments ever since she donned the director's hat for "Main Hoon Na" in 2004. But she has made exceptions.

In fact, one of the songs she decided to choreograph earlier also featured Akshay. The number was "Mast Kalandar" from the film "Heyy Babyy", which was directed by her brother Sajid Khan. Of course, the song had her favourite actor friend Shah Rukh kahan making an appearance too.

"It's always a great experience to work with Akshay since he is a fun-loving guy. Moreover, he is very professional and very punctual. There were many factors that contributed to me agreeing to work on the song and Akshay being a part of it only helped," Farah said about accepting "Blue".

Apart from Kylie and Akshay, the much-awaited song also features Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta and Sanjay Dutt. Composed by Oscar-winning musician A.R. Rahman, the number has been sung by Kylie and Sonu Nigam.

"The number is a mix of Western and Punjabi bhangra, hence turning out to be a great mix. Rahman has come up with a great tune again. To begin with, while Kylie sings her own portion in English, Sonu Nigam brings on a Punjabi element in the second half of the song," she explained.

"Blue" is set to release in the latter half of 2009.





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Jade Goody has only a week to live

British reality TV star Jade Goody, who has been terminally ill with cancer, has just a week to live, say doctors.

The "Big Brother" star's condition has worsened as her cancer has spread to her brain. Consultants at London's Royal Marsden Hospital believe that she has only a week to live, thesun.co.uk reported.

Goody, 27, will be baptised along with her kids - Bobby, 5, and Freddie, 4 - at the hospital despite not having the strength to speak properly or even standing unaided.





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Kate Winslet is the El Dorado for politicians

UK''s political party The Liberal Democrats was left red faced after it used Kate Winslet''s pictures in an advertisement without her consent.

Party leader Nick Clegg, a pal of the actress'' director-husband Sam Mendes, was left guarding his pride after a snap of the Oscar winner was made to appear promoting a Lib Dem awards ceremony.

The picture, apparently showing her at the recent Lib Dem Council Awards in Harrogate, was featured in the party''s conference brochure.

It allegedly offered the belief that Winslet, who has always sealed her political affiliations, was a Lib Dem supporter.

"They did not request permission to use the image and, so far, Kate has not been made aware of its use. I am not aware of her political position," the Independent quoted her rep as saying.

However, a Lib Dem spokesman insisted: "It was a humorous piece for a fairly low-key event."

On being questioned if the ad backed the idea of depicting the star as a party supporter, he added: "That is not the idea.... We are more than happy to make it clear that it is not the case."



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IIFA Awards voting weekend announced

MUMBAI: The countdown to the tenth year of IIFA has begun. IIFA celebrates a Golden Decade in Indian Cinema. The Film Industry is excited and feeling the IIFA fever, and all set to cast their votes. Each year industry stalwarts, actors, directors, producers, technicians, composers and behind the scenes communities cast their votes, which would decide the nominations for the main awards. The Industry is invited to cast their votes and shortlist nominations in the category of the Popular Awards. The 6th, 7th and 8th of March will mark the 10th year of IIFA's Voting Weekend, where Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA Brand Ambassador will cast the first vote as he does each year to initiate proceedings. The IIFA Voting process is a stringent and methodical procedure that is closely monitored by the official auditors for the event. The popular category nominations are put up on online for the global audience to participate in the voting process. Around a thousand people on average from the film industry from Directors to spot boys come in each year to vote at the Weekend. Manmohan Shetty, Producer & IIFA Advisory Board member said, "IIFA has grown into an event of repute over the last 9 years. This year, being the 10th year of IIFA, the celebrations will be bigger! At the IIFA Voting Weekend is the only Awards where the entire film Industry comes to vote. The Technical Award winners and the Popular Award nominations are derived from this voting weekend." Arjun Rampal said, "The IIFA Voting process is a very credible one where the entire film industry comes in to vote over a Weekend only to learn the results at the main Awards night. I have visited IIFA before and have even played at the IIFA charity match. I am very excited about casting my vote this year especially cause my movies may just be nominated." Farhan Akthar said, "I have visited the IIFA's before and am extremely hopeful that ROCK ON will be nominated for the tenth year IIFA Awards. The entire cast will be on hand to cast our votes at the Voting Weekend as will many members of the film fraternity." David Dhavan said, "I have been to several IIFA's and have enjoyed myself more with each year. I have even showcased my movies there like Partner. I have also cast my vote for IIFA several times and will be doing so this year as well for the biggest IIFA so far."



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Celina Jaitley to copy Priyanka

MUMBAI: Looks like Celina is all set to become the flavour down south. After her award winning performance as a South Indian belle in Golmaal Returns, former Miss India Celina Jaitley is all set to do a full fledged role in a south Indian film and has signed her first Kannada film named Shreemati opposite South Superstar Upendra. Apparently her co-star Upendra has already written the story and screenplay of the bilingual movie in Kannada and Telugu. We hear that the film is the remake of the Bollywood Blockbuster Aitraaz and Celina will be essaying the same role as that of Priyanka's in the Hindi film. Interestingly, Priyanka's role in Aitraaz had earlier been offered to Celina by Abbas Mustan but she had turned it down and now Celina is doing the same role in Kannada. The shooting for the film started on 4th March in Bangalore and the next schedule will be held in South Africa. Looks like Celina is all set to entice the South Indians!!



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