Ranbir Kapoor is relatively a newcomer in Bollywood compared toShahrukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan but he outsmart these superstars in their own game. He has replaced Shahrukh as the brand ambassador of Pepsi and Hrithik in ITC’s John Players.

On replacing the superstars, who are popular in ad world as in films, Ranbir humbly said that Shahrukh is a legend and that he is taking forward his legacy. He added that Hrithik is a style icon and have immense respect. Read more…

Almost a fortnight after Kerala’s tourism minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan wrote to Amitabh Bachchan offering him brand ambassadorship of Kerala Tourism, a section within the CPM, including some politburo members, have come out against the proposal.

For them, brand ambassador of Narendra Modi’s Gujarat for the Left-controlled state is sacrilege. Mr Bachchan, who had accepted the Kerala’s government’s proposal a week ago, had in the CPM’s eyes committed the cardinal sin of praising Mr Modi. Mr Bachchan had said that he was promoting a state, not an individual. Read more…

Kareena Kapoor has become the highest taxpayer among all actresses in Bollywood, a source said on Friday.

While what she paid has not been disclosed, it has been said that the 29-year-old coughed up a staggering amount to the income tax department.

“Kareena is a style icon and powerhouse performer. She is distinctive and has a loyal base fan which only seems to be growing. Her increasing body of work as a star and popularity with brands reflects in the taxes she’s paid for 2009-10,” said a source. Read more…

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is all set to debut on the small screen by replacing action star Akshay Kapoor to host this year’s Special IPL Edition of Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi.

The Special IPL Edition of Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi, will have 13 Indian and International cricketers competing with each other to win the show, TV channel Colors announced today.

“It feels fantastic to be associated with one of the biggest shows on Indian television today and it fits perfectly with my personality. I have been a huge fan of FF-KKK and thoroughly enjoy watching it,” said Priyanka Chopra, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Akshay in Andaaz.

“I am looking forward to begin an all new innings in TV with this show which pumps up the adrenaline levels. Its exciting to be a part of the concept which is unique and is associated with some of the biggest names in cricket,” she added. Read more…

There was one person in the film industry, who knew all along that Ranbir and Katrina are love-birds. She was none other than Priyanka Chopra, who incidentally came across Katrina Kaif, when she was discreetly meeting Ranbir in the US. According to a news daily, Katrina Kaif had frequently flown to the US to meet Ranbir where he was shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala`s ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ with Priyanka Chopra.

During her visits to her beau, Katrina always made sure that she stayed away from the set of Ranbir’s film, and no-one spotted her there. She had an alibi that she was in UK with her family for the holidays but this was not the reality as she would frequently fly from UK to the US. However, Priyanka Chopra spoiled the plans by running into her and she had to be taken into confidence. Read more…

It seems like ages since one saw Minissha Lamba on the silver screen. It was way back in October’09 when she was seen in a sizzling new avtar in Kidnap. The film didn’t do much at the box office and though Minissha had seen critical and commercial success coming her way through Shaurya and Bachna Ae Haseeno respectively, she chose to lie low. Now that she is back in Well Done Abba, wheels seem to be moving yet again for the petite Minissha.

From Yahaan to now Well Done Abba, she has been choosing a variety of films. Is she feeling lucky?

Smiles Minissha, ”I think all the films that I have done are the ones that have truly excited me. Otherwise I wouldn’t sign a project which fails to arouse curiosity in me. I love to do the kind of movies that I would want to see in theatres myself. Also, what I like to do is get involved in the process of filmmaking rather than just reporting on sets when my shot is ready. That’s not my style of working.” Read more…

Earlier we had mentioned that Arshad Warsi will soon enter the direction field. Tentatively titled ‘Akkad’, the film was said to be an action comedy which will hit the floors in 2011. Now read the latest update, which our birdies brought in….

It is said that Arshad is keen to bring out ‘Akkad’ as a tribute to our legandary icon Big B and his popular action flick ‘Zanjeer’. And guess what? Speculations are rife that the leading lady will be our Desi Gal Priyanka Chopra!

Hmm, we had wondered for the lead why Arshad didn’t rope in Vidya Balan; both of whom had become fast friends after ‘Ishqiya’. But it seems the role doesn’t suit Vidya in anyways, according to Arshad. Read more…

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai made a rare appearance at an audio launch here and took many by surprise when she broke into fluent Tamil.

It wasn’t just any audio launch but that of Tamil film Rettaichuzhi produced by Shankar, who is directing her opposite superstar Rajnikanth in Endhiran: The Robot.

Draped in a white sari, Aishwarya was at her courteous best at Sathyam Cinemas Monday evening as she got up to greet veteran directors K. Balachander and Bharathiraaja who play pivotal roles in the film.

Shankar said it was great to have Aishwarya as she hardly attended audio launches. He recalled that the former beauty queen wasn’t present for the launch of his Jeans, one of her first hit films. Read more…

Veteran actor Dharmendra was Wednesday admitted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education (PGIMER) in Chandigarh following chest pain.

A PGIMER spokesperson said that the actor was examined by doctors at the institute and later discharged.

He had complained of fatigue and chest pain on Tuesday night.

Dharmendra has been in various places in Punjab to shoot his new Hindi film “Yamla Pagla Deewana”. Both his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, are also acting in this movie. Read more…

Bollywood actor Salman Khan says he is supporting actress Preity Zinta’s Kings XIIndian Premier League team, though he admits he hasn’t watched any of the matches in season-3 of the tournament.

“I am supporting Zinta’s team, but I haven’t watched any of the matches as yet,” Salman told reporters at the ‘mahurat’ (inauguration) of Rahul Dholakia’s film Society in Mumbai. Read more…

The IPL throws up some interesting equations and new friendships. The buzz is that Deepika Padukone’s friendship with Vijay Mallya’s son, Siddharth, is blossoming. Apparently, she has been bonding very well with the liquor baron’s heir. Turns out this friendship is proving rather lucky for the younger Mallya. Yesterday, when his team Royal Challengers thrashed Kings XI Punjab in Bangalore, Siddharth jumped with joy and almost started dancing in the stadium. He spontaneously turned to Deepika and exclaimed, “You are my lucky mascot. I will get you a big gift tonight.”

An eyewitness says, “Siddharth’s reaction was very impulsive. It clearly came from his heart. His joy knew no bounds.”

And what was Deepika’s reaction to Siddharth’s very public show of affection? “Deepika blushed. What else could she do?” said the witness. Read more…

Shah Rukh Khan, the star attraction of the FICCI FRAMES 2010, held out a three-fold prescription for globalisation of Bollywood films by learning for Hollywood the screenplay writing techniques, visual effects knowhow, and the discipline and organisation in doing film business.

In his keynote address at the inaugural session of FICCI FRAMES 2010, Khan cautioned that “Learning Hollywood screenplay and technology is not about losing the intrinsic quality of our stories. We have to maintain our own cinematic individuality.”

He called for the formation of alliances with Hollywood to help the Indian film industry nurture its potentially different story format, the drama- musical format, and “make us travel around the world.” Read more….

Actor Vivek Oberoi says he lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer when he was 18.

“When I was just 18, I lost my first love. My childhood sweetheart since the age of 13 died of cancer,” he wrote on his Twitter page.

The actor, who is the brand ambassador of Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), says by helping those who cannot afford treatments he feels he’s honouring his late girlfriend.

“Every time I help CPAA, spend time with the patients going to the hospitals on RoseDay or celebrate my b’day with terminally ill children, I feel I am honouring her memory,” he added. Read more….

After the success of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Ranbir Kapoor, apparently the film’s producer Ramesh Taurani was most keen that Santoshi do a sequel. Admits Rajkumar Santoshi, “Yes, the pressure to do another Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani was there. But I wouldn’t repeat myself. To me repetition is death.”

So now the director who has constantly been identified with gritty films is back in form, with Amitabh as his hero.

Speaking for the first time on the song-less, rigorously researched saga of an elderly NRI’s struggle abroad, Santoshi says, “I’m returning to my style about one-man crusade that I patented in Damini and Ghayal. The Outsider is a story of man’s fight for justice and tolerance. It’s the story of a hero who stands up for what he thinks is right, even if it means losing everything.”

The recurrent theme in Santoshi’s cinema is one individual’s fight for his or her beliefs. “And that’s precisely where I’m taking Mr Bachchan in The Outsider. Interestingly, in Khakee he was a law maker, in Family he was law breaker. In The Outsider he’s placed in an ambivalent position. The challenge is to project this amazing actor in a new light. In The Outsider Mr Bachchan’s character controls the entire plot and its movements.” Read more….

Hollywood big shot ‘Avatar’ director James Cameron was in New Delhi last week  to attend “India Today Conclave 2010” on the theme ‘New Decade: Great Expectations’ organized by  The India Today Group.

At the conclave Asin was also invited to speak at the youth forum about the theme of Reality Vs Idealism in movies in front of James Cameroon.  Our Asin pulled it off with grace and confidence. Asin spoke on how the youth can break free and think out of the box to bring change in movies.

Asin also said “Change, according to me, is not just brought about by the youth, but by anyone.  She said it may not be a revolution, but just a small change” and went on to cite a personal example to elucidate this f urther. “I was born into a traditional and orthodox Kerala Catholic family and I should have been named after my grandmother. But my parents thought out of the box, and named me Asin, which means without sin,” she says. To live up to this name is what she strives for everyday.” Read more….