Imraan and Avantika will get married on Jan 8

Imran Khan and Avantika Malik

The ceremony will take place in Karjat on January 8. All the informal invites have already been sent out. To coincide with the Diwali festivities on the weekend, informal invitations were extended for Imran’s wedding with Avantika Malik. The actor will tie the knot on January 8 with his fiancée at their Karjat farmhouse.A close source to the actor revealed, “Though it is exactly two months away, the preparations are in full swing. Those on the guest list were sent SMSes or told on the phone to keep themselves free on January 8 from 5 pm to 5 am. The message stated that a formal invite of the wedding card would follow later.”The source added, “As it was Diwali, it was considered an auspicious occasion to start with the invitations.”

The Malik’s are telling everyone to keep themselves free on the wedding day. They are going to have dusk till dawn bash for their wedding.The nephew of Aamir Khan had his engagement party with a brunch, followed by the ceremony and dinner in the evening. For this occasion he gifted Avantika a Volkswagen Beetle. The engagement invite was in the shape of a metal box, which had a bottle full of sand. The invite was rolled inside the bottle.Imraan has always been very open about his relationship with Avantika. They were amongst the few people who were invited for the opening of Arjun Rampal’s nightclub in Delhi and a toast was raised for them.

Movie Review: Break Ke Baad

Break KE Baad

Cast: Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sharmila Tagore, Lillete Dubea, Shahana Goswami, Navin Nischol, Yudhistir Urs Director: Danish Aslam Bollywood has a sub-genre of romantic-comedies meant for urban, chic teenagers, first pioneered with its full frontal glory by our very own coffee drinking Karan Johar. These films, and the people that inhabit it, are nothing like you have ever known, or are ever likely to know. But the reality inside it is so glossy and Cinderellaesque that everyone aspires for this free floating, un-rooted, but super fun unreality. "Break Ke Baad" is a fun example of that. Aaliya (Deepika Padukone) and Abhay (Imran Khan) are childhood sweethearts whose sweet course of sugarcane love encounters the roadblock of youthful ambition. Aaliya, a fiercely independent, risk-taking person decides to go to Australia to pursue her acting ambition, thus breaking the relationship. Both make mistakes, but eventually discover themselves only to realize that it's not that easy to say 'talaq' to a love, that has now matured. "Break Ke Baad" is the ultimate, teenage, escape, love fantasy of 2010, much like "Jaane Tu…" in 2008 and "Love Aaj Kal" in 2009, in whose magical world, almost everything happens coincidentally and all loose ends are tied up perfectly in the end and all that you see makes sense. But we know that such a mythical, unreality can exist only in Bollywood. Yet, the film is good in its own sub-genre. The strongest part of the film is a well-baked script; tight, crisp and thankfully contemporary and often rooted dialogues of Renuka Kunzru, which are funny at times, and profound in a cliched way at others. Yet the film will never make it to the annals of Bollywood greats. Neither does it have the cuteness of Aamir Khan's launch vehicle "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak", or the undertone of class struggle depicted with extreme melodrama in "Maine Pyaar Kiya", the overtone of struggle against tradition of "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" or the excessive sugar-pulp and totally nonexistent reality of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (KKHH) - a film which this one pays hearty tributes to. The conflict is mostly in the minds of the protagonist, and not real. Ironically its fault would perhaps be that it is not unreal enough like KKHH. Though the characterizations, at least in the beginning and in a few side characters, has the smell (or stench if you consider the escapist drama) of reality, it flies off to KKHH land. At least the old films were caricatures, exaggerations of people you would have encountered somewhere. No such luck with "Break Ke Baad". But it is fodder for teen fantasy, seeped in the dual confusion of maturing while finding true love. It's over two hour ride is fun, full time-pass and paisa vasool.

Movie Preview: Tees Maar Khan

Cast : Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif Director: Farah Khan We are all aware of how entertaining a Farah Khan film can be, and though there is no Shah Rukh Khan this time on, we are sure that the Akshay Kumar – Katrina Kaif jodi will be more than enough to draw audiences to cinema theaters. And of course with a splash of Salman Khan, Tees Maar Khan already looks like a blockbuster in the making. The story of Tees Maar Khan revolves around the life of a gangster and conman who is shameless and ruthless while he goes along cheating, conning and stealing. This conman, Tees Maar Khan, played by Akshay Kumar, is helped in his activities by associates Dollar, Soda and Burger and girlfriend Anya, played by Katrina Kaif. The capability of Tees Maar Khan is tested when he is assigned to steal antiques worth 500 crores from a moving train. Will Tees Maar Khan be successful in the ultimate heist which also involves a Bollywood actor? The audience will have to wait for two months while Farah Khan and her cast get ready for the promotion work. With music by Vishal and Shekhar, Tees Maar Khan is set for a December release.

Movie Review: Guzaarish

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Monikangana Dutta, Suhel Seth Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Rating: **** Breathe a sigh of relief. During a year when cacophonic crassness masquerading as comic entertainment has been sanctioned by critics and the masses, "Guzaarish" comes along to remind us that excellence is alive in our cinema. Ironically this wonderful work of art, nuanced and magical in its portrayal of an unstoppable spirit's quest to juice life to its fullest, is about dying. If the journey towards death in art can be so mystically explored, then let's embrace mortality as a stepping stone to immortality and a film about dying as a sign of cinema not dying on us. Not yet. Only those who suffer the numbing pain of isolation would know what it feels like. Dilip Kumar in "Devdas", Guru Dutt in "Pyasa", Meena Kumari in "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam" and Nutan in "Bandini" communicated to the audience the indescribable pain of solitude. Ethan, as played by Hrithik Roshan in "Guzaarish", is so bemused by adversity that he can actually look at his own suffering with dispassionate humour. "Guzaarish" is a joyous, rapturous and ecstatic celebration of life. Those familiar with the art of Sanjay Leela Bhansali know how ably and ecstatically he transports his characters into a universe of seamless drama played at an octave where most cinematic symphonies crack up and topple over into high-pitched extravagance. Not Bhansali's cinema. Played at the highest possible scale, his drama unfolds in wave after wave of rapturous splendour. His characters occupy a space that defies definition and seduces audiences into celebrating a state of sublimity and splendour. Ethan's inert physicality is alchemized into an ambience of animated joy. His spirit dances and sings at the sheer pleasure of every moment that is given to him to live. He radiates joy. We feel his profound happiness at the gift of life. No film in living memory has brought out the sheer blessing of being alive with such spirit and glory. While Shah Rukh Khan's "Devdas" in Bhansali's opulent opera was a character broken in spirit, Hrithik's Ethan in "Guzaarish" is irreparably damaged in body. But his spirit soars, his eyes light up like thousands of stars every time Sophie walks in. That Sophie is played by Aishwarya Rai is a stroke of genius that goes a long way in giving "Guzaarish" its flavour of exceptional elegance. No other director brings out the quiet grace and the understated beauty of this screen diva's personality with as much intelligence and spontaneity as Bhansali. In "Guzaarish", Aishwarya is far more delicate and nuanced in conveying the unspoken pain of a love that has no tomorrow than she was in "Devdas". Aishwarya imbues her role with a resplendent grace. Love in "Guzaarish" is expressed with subtle smirks, gentle smiles and hints of a smothered passion that could erupt any time, if only destiny didn't choose to be so mean to the spirited. The scenes between Ethan and Sophie, the backbone of Ethan's spine-challenged life, radiate an inner beauty and wisdom and underline the director's enormous understanding of the self-negation that a love relationship requires. "Guzaarish" is Bhansali's most tender and evocative film to date. It layers the pain of a dying body with the passion of an unstoppable spirit as manifested in Hrithik's skilled and effortless performance as a quadriplegic who pledges to make every moment of his limited "sau gram zindagi" pleasurable for himself an those around him. Barring Amitabh Bachchan in "Black" there has never been a better performance in a Bhansali film than Hrithik's in "Guzaarish". He grabs Ethan's role and makes the dying character come alive in delightful waves of provocative histrionics. And if we're talking chemistry between Hrithik and Aishwarya, then let's get one thing clear - this ain't "Dhoom". It's something far deeper and satisfying. The other performance that catches your attention is Aditya Roy Kapoor's. He is natural and vivacious and in-sync with the film's spirit of celebrating life. Monikangna Dutt is a looker. In her limited space, she lends some appeal to the proceedings. Suhel Seth, Shernaaz Patel and Rajit Kapur also make a lingering impact in a film that you carry home with you in an inviolable place in your heart. A word about Bhansali's music score. The songs communicate the rich tapestried emotions of lives that are determined to smile through an extraordinary tragedy. Every piece of music and song in "Guzaarish" echoes the film's incandescent soul. The film's technical excellence, particularly Sudeep Chatterjee's cinematography, is not dazzling and flamboyant in the way it was in "Devdas". In "Guzaarish", the appeal is far more delicate and subtle. The deep but sober colours on screen reach out to you to enrich your life in ways that cinema was always meant to, until it was waylaid by the hooligans and imposters posing as filmmakers. "Guzaarish" is the real thing. A big, beautiful, dazzling emotional movie experience. You won't see a better film this year.

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What keeps Sonali Bendre sexy at 35?

The 'Sarfarosh' girl, Sonali Bendre can still give a tough competition to several 20-something actresses if given a chance but the actress has opted to stick to television presently. The gorgeous actress is thirty-five now and is a mother of a five-year-old son but she has maintained her figure and is fit like any other actress running for the top position in Bollywood. So, what is the secret of her fit body and beautiful appearance at thirty five? The actress gives all the credit to her indoor cycling habit and disciplined lifestyle. She is very strict in her fitness regime and never misses her daily forty five minutes fitness routine. Her trainer Murtuza keeps a close eye on her work out schedule. Indoor cycling is her favorite work out style to keep her body in shape. The actress says that one can afford to be lazy and avoid daily fitness regime while at 20s but the same cannot be said at 30s when most of the women become mother. The body won't permit you to go lazy and if you do so then you will have to pay the price, adds Mrs Goldie Behl. We have seen her judging the television show 'India's Got Talent' in Colors in two seasons alongside Kiran Kher. Apart from the audience, her charm has impressed most of contestants participating in the show and she has been the soul of the show. We hope to see her soon back on the big screen. Hope the filmmakers are noticing her glowing beauty these days!

Sunny Deol's son joins papa's best friend acting school

Sunny Deol and Rahul Rawail go back a long way. Way back in 1983 Dharmendra asked Rahul Rawail to launch Sunny Deol in a film that eventually shaped into a blockbuster called Betaab. Today in the year 2010 Sunny's 19-year old son Karan Deol has enrolled in Rahul Rawail's acting school. Confirming this Rawail says, “Yes I've just started my acting school. It's the first Indian branch of the world-famous Stella Adler Studio Of Acting.And Sunny's son Karan is my first student.” Stella Adler's school in New York is named after Marlon Brando's first acting teacher. It's the world's most well-known acting school having trained many Hollywood legends such as Anthony Quinn, Warren Beatty and Candice Bergen. Says Rahul, “As proud as I am of having got the franchise for the Stella Adler Studio Of Acting I am even prouder that Sunny's son is my first student. I see a sense of continuity there.”

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Sameera gifts herself new BMW for b'day

Speed-loving Sameera Reddy has gifted herself a high-end sports car Speed-loving Sameera Reddy has gifted herself a high-end sports car. Her last vehicle was a Lexus Land Cruiser. Apparently, Sameera loves driving but she also has a chauffeur for when she isn't in the mood to battle traffic. But now with the new car, she insists on driving herself, making her driver insecure. He asked Sam's dad whether his job was secure or not. Sameera says, "Being single has its perks! I love gifting myself stuff on Valentine's Day and on my birthdays. Since my birthday is coming next month (December 14) I gifted myself the BMW. I wanted a bright blue and dad wanted a sober white so I chose to go with his decision." Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

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Anniversary gift: Shilpa gets a home in Burj Khalifa

Shilpa Shetty gets what she wants. Hubby gifts her an apartment in the Burj Khalifa, Dubai for their anniversary Shilpa Shetty spent her first wedding anniversary yesterday in Dubai with husband Raj Kundra at her new home on the ninetieth floor of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Says a source close to the actress, "Shilpa was thrilled when Raj gifted her the luxury apartment. It's his wedding anniversary gift to her. He gifted her the keys in Mumbai a week ago. She had visited Dubai a few months ago, had loved the building and expressed a wish of staying there. The couple has taken a three-day break to celebrate their first wedding anniversary there. Raj also has something else planned for Shilpa - a lavish dinner with a few surprises thrown in." Shetty will design the interior of the apartment while she's there. She then heads to Bangkok to shoot a shampoo ad on November 26. And to think, SS's trip to Dubai almost never happened! She had an attack of pharyngitis on Saturday morning. She was to fly to Dubai on Sunday but had to postpone her trip by a day. The source adds, "Shilpa suddenly developed 103-degree temperature on Saturday night and a bad bout of pharyngitis. Though the fever waned by Sunday evening, her voice has gone (sic) completely. She was in much pain but they didn't want to cancel their trip. Raj and Shilpa finally left yesterday morning." The Burj Khalifa Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and IS the tallest man-made structure ever built, at 828 m with 160 floors. The top of the building features a public observation deck and shop. The world's highest swimming pool is located on the 76th floor. The exterior cladding of reflective glazing is designed to withstand Dubai's extreme summer temperatures. Burj Khalifa is home to 1, 044 luxury apartments, 49 floors of offices and eventually a 160-room Armani-branded hotel. Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

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Sylvester Stallone to enter Bigg Boss 4?

You can expect all the unexpected things to happen in Colors' reality show 'Bigg Boss 4'! The first surprise for the house mates in this season was the entry of 'The Great Khali' and then came the drama queen Dolly Bindra, who took the house on fire with her weird activities and fights. Now, the house is celebrating some peaceful moments after the exit of the loud lady Dolly Bindra. In the meantime, the house got two days to relax and have fun with former 'Baywatch' star Pamela Anderson, who entertained the housemates with her 'Dhak Dhak' performance. Now, it's time for some action! So, the talk is on to bring the 'Rambo' star Sylvester Stallone as the second international celebrity guest in the Bigg Boss house. If everything goes well, then we will get to watch Sylvester Stallone inside the Bigg Boss house for few days. So, we can expect another great gym session of Ashmit, Hrishant and Khali with this Rambo star. However, what about the female housemates of Bigg Boss 4? How will they react seeing the macho man? If Sylvester Stallone enters the show before this week's elimination then he will have to save himself from Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who is ready to go to any extent to seduce even a flop actor like Ashmit Patel! So, if she sees a Hollywood star like Stallone, we can't imagine how will she react and at what extent she will go to impress him! Sara Khan and other female housemates like Shweta Tiwari and Seema Parihar have control over their hormones and they behave in a rather mature way in such conditions but Veena Malik is sure to show her antics!

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I do get slapped by my wife for kissing girls: Emraan

Serial-kisser Emraan Hashmi amazed everyone when he didn't kiss in his last film 'Once upon a Time in Mumbaai' and yet it became one of the biggest hits of his career till date.

But just after a sabbatical from kissing, Emraan is back to what he does the best and in a more grand fashion as he goes international with his kissing this time.

The actor will be seen romancing in the film with a 'Firang' (foreign girl) and simultaneously Neha Sharma the co-star in his next film 'Crook- It's good to be bad'.

However his track in the film with the blond girl has some real intimate scenes which are also very much visible in the promos that have been released so far.

The Kisser boy is back with a bang and after romancing the Indian girls on screen, it seems that Emraan is now taking it a step further by spicing it up on the celluloid with the foreign actresses too.

“I know that it always raises questions when I am kissing on screen but now I am habitual to facing such questions. It is not that I always want to kiss in every film. If it is the requirement of the script I don't mind doing it, otherwise I too get apprehensive about it, ” says Emraan.

“But in Crook, it was the real need of the hour at that point of the story and screenplay, because it is one of the trigger points which take the story further to another level. People will realize that when they watch the film, ” he said.

On being asked how his wife reacts to his on-screen image, as Emraan is a married man, blessed with a seven month old baby boy now, Emraan says: “Well, I do get slapped around by my wife always after she comes out of the first screenings of my films. Obviously I expect her not to understand but she knows that these are my professional decisions which I have to comply with.”

“ I am awaiting my quota of slaps after she watches Crook, ” adds the actor.

Emraan wants these erotic scenes deleted from Crook

Emraan Hashmi is in an argument with his uncle & veteran Film-Maker Mahesh Bhatt over some really steamy scenes with Shella Allen in his upcoming film ‘CROOK-It’s Good to Be Bad’, which releases on 8th of October 2010.

Infact it is the first time ever that the serial kisser Emraan is wanting erotic content to be cut down from his film. The actor has been lately been enjoying a lot of success as his first film outside the Bhatt banner, Once Upon a Time In Mumbai (OUATIM) became a massive hit.

Henceforth, Emraan has become very image conscious as OUATIM didn’t have much intimate scenes either but the film did very well.

So Emraan feels that sensuality in Crook is only required till a certain point and not beyond the limit, and that is what the topic of debate is between Mr. Bhatt and Hashmi.

However Mr. Bhatt is adamant on retain the scenes as they are. It seems that Emraan has had his cake in the film but now it’s becoming difficult for him to digest it!

More Pictures:

Kajol-Ajay blessed with a son

Bollywood star Kajol gave birth to a baby boy Monday morning, seven years after her daughter Nysa was born.

Kajol and Ajay Devgn got married in 1999.

Kajol, who recently featured as a doting mother in Karan Johar's "We Are Family", gave birth to the child at 9.20 a.m at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, a source close to the couple told.

Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Monday sent congratulatory messages to Kajol and Ajay Devgn through micro-blogging site Twitter on the birth of their son.

Shah Rukh, who is one of Kajol's closest friends in the film industry, posted: "Bringing life on earth is the most beautiful gift of god. Allah bless Ajay and Kajol with happiness and health. Son of a Devgn! Wow."

Kajol gave birth to the baby boy at 9:20 a.m. at Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital. The couple tied the knot in 1999 and has a seven-year-old daughter named Nysa.

Riteish Deshmukh, who has shared screen space with Ajay in "Cash" and "Masti", was among the first actors to announce the news on Twitter.

"Congratulations Ajay and Kajol…a baby boy arrives, " he posted.

Following his post, several celebrities began posting their good wishes for the couple and the new born.

"It's amazing when a new life comes into the world. Congrats Ajay and Kajol on the birth of your baby boy, " posted Priyanka Chopra. Divya Dutta too posted the same.

Fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who has worked on the actress' wardrobe for many films, including "Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham", said: "My dearest friend kajol is blessed with a baby boy today".

National award winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar too sent in his wishes, and so did Mallika Sherawat, Bipasha Basu and Arshad Warsi.

"God bless the little rock star that has come into the lives of Ajay and Kajol, love the Devgn family, " posted Arshad.

Farah Khan to launch Katrina's sister Isabel?

Buzz is that Farah Khan might be launching Katrina's sister Isabel in another project sometime mid-2011.

Even though Kat has been often quoted saying that her younger sister wants to concentrate on studies, the choti behen is attending acting classes in New York.

It is learnt that Kat floated the idea of her sister following her footsteps to Farah, who said 'Why not?'

Courtesy: Mid-Day.co

Music Review: Robot

Music Director: A.R. Rahman

Singers: Srinivas D, Khatija Rahman, Mohit Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Rahman, Suzanne, Kash 'N' Krissy, Pradeep Vijay, Pravin Mani, Rags, Yogi B, Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Benny Dayal, Naresh Iyer, Javed Ali, Chinmayi, Madhushree, Keerthi Sagathia and Tanvi Madhushree

Rating: **

There are many factors that compel you to have high expectations from the soundtrack of director Shankar's forthcoming film "Robot" - it is one of the most expensive films of the year, it stars Rajnikant and Aishwarya Rai and, most importantly, the music has been composed by Oscar-winning music director A.R. Rahman.

In spite of all these factors, the music of "Robot" doesn't impress that much. It lacks the punch and the wow factor that Rahman's songs are known for.

The album has seven tracks.

The soundtrack of "Robot" begins with "O naye insaan", sung by Rahman's daughter Khatija Rahman and Srinivas D. The slow-paced track is a gloomy one and is sung in a way that it seems a robot is singing it. It's a situational track. Even though it is not such a treat to hear, the song might look good on screen.

Next is a romantic song "Pyaara tera gussa hai", which has something like a scientific language. With Mohit Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal behind the mike, it has some weird lyrics, maybe because the film features a robot.

Then comes "Naina mile". The fast-paced number is sung by Rahman along with Suzzane and Kash 'N' Krissy. It fails to make a mark.

Strong orchestration marks the arrival of "Arima arima". Sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, the song describes the protagonist of the film. This is also a situational number and and not hummable.

Up next is the song called "Kilimanjaro", a very strange title for a song. Javed Ali and Chinmayi have crooned this peppy track that talks about a girl from the hills. It is better than others but doesn't exude the charm of Rahman's compositions.

Then comes the title track of the film in two versions. One titled "Chitti dance showcase" and the other "Boom boom robo da".

"Chitti..." sung by Pradeep Vijay, Pravin Mani, Rags and Yogi B fluctuates between slow and fast beats, while "Boom Boom..." voiced by Madhushree, Keerthi Sagathia and Tanvi Shah along with Rags and Yogi B is a fast number with a hip hop flavour.

Unfortunately, none of the versions really appeal to the listeners.

On the whole, the music of "Robot" does not appeal. They may suit the script of the sci-film, but the audio is not impressive.

Movie Preview: Crook

Emraan Hashmi's next release 'Crook It's Good To Be Bad' is going to deal with the serious issue of racism, which had occurred in Australia recently. Mohit Suri of 'Kalyug' fame will be directing the movie.

The director was quoted sharing an experience during one of his visits to Australia. Mohit said that he was once standing outside a 24-hour convenience store, which is situated in the Sunshine district of Melbourne. The most brutal attacks on Indians had taken place in that spot in Australia. Suri said that he was shocked to known how they beat up the Indian only because of color and religion.

As a sensible filmmaker, Mohit felt that it was his duty to raise voice on this issue. He informed that while leaving the store, he saw an ad on the window of the store that read, 'Accommodation is available for the Indian students for Gujarati boys only'.

The director said that that particular ad was the starting point of the movie. He realized that the social evils like racism are part of all human heart. But it depends on an individual to decide whether it is good to turn bad in this current scenario or does one need to pay for being good.

'Crook It's Good To Be Bad' stars Emraan Hashmi, Arjan Bajwa of Fashion fame and new face Neha Sharma. In the movie, Emraan plays the guy, who has to decide to turn bad for good.

Movie Review: Hello Darling

Starring: Javed Jaffrey, Gul Panag, Celina Jaitely, Eesha Koppikar, Divya Dutta and Chunky Pandey Director: Manish Tiwari Rating: *1/2 A blatant copy of Hollywood film of the 80s, Nine To Five, Hello Darling is for those who enjoyed comedies like Kya Kool Hain Hum and Apna Sapna Money Money. Sat (Eesha) comes to Mumbai for a job from Haryana. She joins a fashion house headed by Harddick Vasu (Javed Jaffrey), a lecherous boss who leaves no chance in sexually harassing his employees. Though married to a devoted wife Purvi (Divya Dutta) Vasu is philandering and harassing his female employees. Also, working in his office are Candy (Celina) as his personal secretary and Manasi (Gul Panag) as a senior manager. They two are fed up of his constant passes. Sat joins Manasi and Candy to teach him a lesson. Circumstances lead to Manasi accidentally pouring rat kill powder instead of coffee meant for Vasu. Vasu collapses but it is because of his chair falling down. But the three ladies mistook him for dead and the chaos that follows leads them to stealing a wrong dead body from the hospital thinking its Vasu's. Meanwhile Vasu captures this all on his mobile video camera and blackmails them into spending a week with him at a hill station. The three ladies have no option but to say yes to him but with a condition that he will spend the seven days in Manasi's house instead. What plan do the three ladies have in store for Vasu and what all it leads to forms the rest of the film. The film is full of double intender jokes and one-liners that amuse you at times but don't really entertain. While the first half is quiet pacy and hilarious at places, the pace drops considerably after Vasu's visit to Manasi's house. Nothing much happens in the second half and it simply drags. The climax too is unnecessarily stretched and the entry of Sunny Deol (in a cameo) doesn't add much. One wonders why his voice appears dubbed by a mimicry artist. The whole section of Chunky Pandey being mistaken as Divya Dutta's hubby and kidnapped by Seema Biswas's hench men is howlarious at first but then gets repetitive. While Javed Jaffrey enacts his part well he doesn't appear lecherous from any angle. He however gets his comic timing perfect. Gul Panag, Eesha and Celina all three have managed to do their job well. Eesha especially displays a better comic timing than the rest two. Chunky Pandey as Celina's unfortunate boy friend in a desi Elvis avatar is first rate. Divya Dutta is endearing. Music by Pritam is nothing worth to rave about and the only passable song being the redoux version of yesteryears super hit track Aa Jaane Jaa. Hello Darling seems to be aimed completely at the front benchers. Watch it if you like corny humour.

Movie Review: Aashayein

Starring: John Abraham, Sonal Sehgal,

Written & Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor

Rating: *** ½

This is a film about coping with dying. But that’s not what makes it such a special experience. It’s the writer- director’s profound understanding of human nature that furnishes the simple story with a lucidity and coherence even when the protagonist’s mind is so numbed by physical pain he can barely think straight.

Aashayein is structured as a journey from a bright delusory light into a place where the radiance comes from a consciousness of why mortality is not to be feared.

In John Abraham’s eyes are mapped the entire history of the human heart, its follies and foibles as it struggles to make coherest the indecipherable logistics that define our journey across that bridge which everyone crosses from this world to the next.

As that very fine actress Prateeksha Lonkar (a Kukunoor favourite) says, “The only difference between the healthy and the ill is that the former don’t know when they are dying and the latter do.”

Between that state of blissful oblivion where we all think life is forever (and a day) and that one moment when our delusions come crashing down there resides some very fine cinema. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand where Rajesh Khanna smiled his way though that wobbly bridge taking us to the next world, is an interesting reference point in Aashayein.

I also thought of the actress Supriya Choudhary shouting into the dispassionate mists in the mountains, “I want to live.”The echoes reverberate all the way to Kukunoor’s heartwarming funny and elegiac exposition on the truth that lies on the other side of that illusory mountain we call life. Kukunoor pays a homage to life per se, and life as we know in the movies about death.

Even in the most poignant places in the art Kukunoor ferrets out some humour.When John’s lovely girlfriend (Sonal Sehgal) hunts him down in his exilic place of the dying John quips, “So you are not going to behave like one of those heroines in films who dumps the dying hero?”

The fantasy element creeps into the hospice (yes, that’s the spotless space that the story inhabits unostentatiously) with the least amount of fuss. There’s a little boy (the bright and expressive Ashwin Chaitale) who weaves mystical tales borrowed from the comicbooks for the desperate and the dying. Here Kukunoor brings in an element of rakish adventure borrowed from the edgy hijinks of Indian Jones.

Who says money can’t buy love? John uses bundles of cash to bring a smile into these doomed lives. When he doubles up with pain in womb-like postures of helplessness we feel his pain.

John in Harrison Ford’s hat and whip cuts a starry figure. He has never been more fetchingly photographed. John’s smile reaches his eyes, makes its way to his heart and then to ours. This film opens new doors in John’s histrionic hospice.It’s a performance that heals and nurtures.

John’s finest moments are reserved for a hot-tempered sharp-tongued 17-year old girl on a wheelchair, played with intuitive warmth by Anaitha Nayar. He guides the relationship between these two unlikely comrades of unwellness with brilliant restrain and candour.She wants him to make love.He does with his eyes using his unshed tears as lyrical lubricant.

Here is a performance that defines the character through immense measures of unspoken anguish. Rajesh Khanna in Anand? Nope. John pitches his performance at a more wry and cynical world where true feelings are often smothered in worldly sprints across a wounded civilization.

This is unarguably Kukunoor’s most sensitive and moving work since Iqbal. We often find little sobs pounding at the base of our stomachs. Not all the characters or situations are fully formed and fructified.

But even the partly-realized truths in Aashayein convey more common sense and uncommon affection for life than the “entertainers” of today’s cinema where laughter is generated through cracks in places very far removed from the heart.

This one takes us straight to the heart.

I want to thank Akshay Kumar: Priyanka Chopra

Actress Priyanka Chopra says she is venturing into TV as a reality show host at the peak of her Bollywood career as she loves breaking rules. But she is quick to shrug off comparisons with Akshay Kumar saying he is the "original khiladi".

She will be host of "Fear Factor-Khatron Ke Khiladi" season three, which she says will be scarier than its previous editions that saw Akshay play host to 13 women celebrities.

"I want to thank Akshay. He was so wonderful in the last two seasons of 'Khatron Ka Khiladi' that he has already brought the show to one level, I only have to carry it forward. Comparisons would be unfair, " Priyanka told in an interview.

"Akshay is not only the industry's but also India's action hero. He is an original khiladi and I can't be like him; neither will I try following in his footsteps. I will try to make a mark of my own."

Breaking rules excites Priyanka and that's why she chose to venture into television now.

"Television is the biggest medium to reach your audience. There is a set rule that when actors are leaving films, they come to television. It's always exciting to break rules. I'm lucky that I'm in such a stage of my career where I'm doing good films with talented people. At this point, doing something different is quite exciting, " said Priyanka.

Asked why she chose "Fear Factor..." as a television debut, she said: "Actually I'm doing so many films right now that there's no time for television.

When 'Fear Factor' came to me, because it's my favourite show and I love spontaneous things...and the fact that I could grill the boys and be really mean to them, I guess being a part of a show like this was really exciting for me. What made it easier for me was they required only 20 days from me."

"Fear Factor" on the Colors channel will bring together 13 celebrities competing with one another by performing daring stunts and the one who survives through all the tasks is the winner.

"This time the stunts are bigger, a little more scary, a little more gross. Actually they play with your mind at lot...There can be trivial things that scare you. Some fear darkness, some may fear cockroaches, so it's basically playing with your fears, " said Priyanka.

The show was earlier supposed to have cricketers as contestants this season but now they have male celebrities including model-actors Rahul Dev, Milind Soman and Dino Morea, actors Rahul Bose, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Karan Singh, funnyman Cyrus Broacha, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor and squash champion Ritwik Bhattacharya.

"I think BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) had a commitment with the channel but later what happened I really don't know. But now I have contestants from various fields...so I feel it's much better because you have various people who will talk about many, many things. It's a different mix of people, " said Priyanka.

Asked whom she would choose if she had to select participants among her co-stars, she said: "I would love to see Shah Rukh Khan in this show. If Ranbir (Kapoor) had been a participant it would have been great entertainment."

Priyanka reveals that her mother is scared about her being on the adventure show.

"My father and brother were very excited, but my mom got very scared and she said she would stay with me during the shoot and keep praying for me, " the actress said.

So will we get to see her perform dangerous stunts as well?

"You will see me showing stunts. Quite a few actually...may be not in every episode. See the lucky thing is I'm the host and I can pick my stunts, " she quipped.

"Fear Factor..."' is expected to go on air in September and will be shot in Brazil this month.

Salman Khan is the new 'Octopus Paul' of Bollywood

Paul the Octopus created a worldwide stir with his accurate predictions for the World Cup matches.

But nearer home it is Salman The Rocktar who is rapidly building up a reputation for accurate prophecies on the Twitter.

Ever since Salman started tweeting he has been regularly recommending one film or another. And the ones that he has so far recommended have all been successes.

It started first with Raajneeti. One of Salman's first tweets was in favour of the film, although he had not seen it. Raajneeti became the first blockbuster of 2010.

Then came Salman's tweets on debutant Punit Malhotra's I Hate Luv Storys. That too jelled with the audience. Lately Salman has been gung-ho about another debutant Abhishek Sharma's Tere Bin Laden, apparently because the producer Pooja Shetty is a pal.

That too has been very well- received.

The aftermath of Salman The Soothsayers's soothing recommendations? Brother Arbaaz Khan is now sure the tweet-magic would work for their home production. Without informing Arbaaz, Salman has already started posting images and comments on Dabangg on the social network.

Laughs Arbaaz, “If Salman's recommendations worked for three films so far, why not for us? We seem to have a resident soothsayer. And I plan to make maximum use of him.”

Arbaaz admits Salman has started his Twitter campaign for Dabangg a little prematurely. “He has been going around taking pictures on the sets and putting them on Twitter. It shows his enthusiasm for the film.

I am happy to have Salman on my side. Dabangg is a very important release for Salman. He has no other release this year. We hope to use his time for him to visit non-metropolitan cities for promotion, since Dabangg is set in a small North Indian town.”

As for his uninterrupted luck on Twitter Arbaaz laughs, ”I think more producers need to have Salman on their side, if the industry is to have more hits.”

Music Review: Dabangg

Music Directors: Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit

Lyricists: Faiz Anwar, Lalit Pandit and Jalees Sherwani

Singers: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mamta Sharma, Aishwarya, Sonu Niigaam, Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh, Wajid, Master Saleem, Shabaab Sabri and Salman Khan

Rating: ***

Keeping in mind the film that is set in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, composer duo Sajid-Wajid have composed a soundtrack for "Dabangg" that has mass appeal and is entertaining.

The album offers 10 tracks.

The soundtrack of the much-awaited Salman Khan flick opens with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a favourite of Sajid-Wajid, crooning romantic track "Tere mast mast do nain". The moderately paced track is likeable especially due to the brilliant vocals, and the change in tempo gives an edge to the track. This is a song you would like to hear.

The number has two more versions - one a duet with Shreya Ghoshal and the other a remix.

Then the album takes a turn and brings forward a completely different song "Munni badnaam", composed by Lalit Pandit and sung by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya. The item number goes well with the character of the film. It is fast-paced and catchy.

This song too has a remixed version attached to it.

Romance again creeps in the soundtrack with Sonu Niigaam and Shreya Ghoshal behind the mike for "Chori kiya re jiya". The song is a soft and melodious love ballad. Even though the composition doesn't offer too much experimentation, the song exudes a pleasing effect.

Next is the title track of the film, which has a faint resemblance to the title track of the film "Omkara". Yet, it is hard-hitting and appeals to the listener. The song crooned by Sukhwinder Singh and composer Wajid himself, describes Salman's character in the film.

Then there is "Humka peena hai", a song soaked in the folk flavour. Vocals by Wajid, Master Saleem and Shabaab Sabri, this dance number is meant for the masses and has dholak as the predominant instrument. This has a remixed version too.

Finally, there is the theme song of the film that is packed with dialogues by Salman.

On the whole, the soundtrack of the film is entertaining and apt for the film.