CHIRANJEEVI'S DAUGHTER MARRIES BOYFRIEND, AND ELOPES FILMI STYLE

Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's younger daughter on Wednesday eloped with her boyfriend after marrying him against her parents' wishes.

Srija married Sirish Bharadwaj, an engineering graduate, at the Arya Samaj ashram in New Bowenpally in Secunderabad and later the couple disappeared. A few friends of the couple attended the simple ceremony, which shocked the family of the Telugu superstar. Chiranjeevi had reportedly opposed Srija's choice prompting her to marry her love without the consent of the family.

The marriage was also telecast live by a Telugu television channel. Srija told reporters that she was in love with Bharadwaj, a resident of Hyderabad, for the last four years.

"Today morning, I escaped from home and we got married. It is a legal marriage as I am 19 and he is 22," she said.

The bride added she also loved her father and hoped he would approve the marriage. The couple said they would meet Chiranjeevi to seek his blessing but did not turn up at his residence in the upscale Jubliee Hills till Wednesday evening.

SAAWARIYA TO OPEN SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL IN NEW YORK ON NOV 7

Saawariya, the first Bollywood production from a Hollywood studio, is to open a prominent festival of South Asian films in New York on November 7 and release commercially two days later in over 80 theatres in North America.

Produced by Sony Pictures and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, it is the much awaited debut film of Ranbir Kapoor (son of actor Rishi Kapoor) and Sonam Kapoor (daughter of actor-producer Anil Kapoor).

Saawariya is the timeless tale of two young star-crossed lovers from different religions whose passions almost take them to the brink of self-destruction. It is based on Dostoevsky's short story White Nights.

It is the main draw at the five-day Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival, which will screen 70 films, including diaspora, Bollywood and short films.

The festival's closing film is The Last Lear by Rituparno Ghosh, considered heir to the legendary Satyajit Ray. The film has Amitabh Bachchan playing an ageing Shakespearean actor who takes on the bard's most challenging role. It is based on Utpal Dutt's play Aajker Shahjahan.

The festival will conclude with six awards being presented for best film, best director, best actor, best actress, best documentary and best short film.

MIAAC film festival's executive director Aroon Shivdasani said 2007 marks a groundbreaking year as Hollywood studios such as Warner Brothers, Viacom, Disney and Sony Pictures have started to invest in Bollywood films.

The festival, now in its seventh year, has earlier featured films by Mira Nair, Ismail Merchant, Deepa Mehta, Gurinder Chaddha and Nagesh Kukunoor.

The festival is organised by the Indo-American Arts Council, which is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes Indian artistes in the fields of performing, literary, visual and folk and fusion arts.

MOUNAMELANOYI... THE SONG OF A SOUL FULL OF LIFE AND JOY

Sagara Sangamam (1983) will always remain one of K Viswanath's best ever films. Not just for the unusual theme of a dancer's disgust with commercialisation of classical music, but for also for the platonic relationship that Kamal Hassan and Jaya Prada share in the film. It would be apt to describe the relationship as a marriage of two souls. And their friendship transcends all borders of human understanding -- the understanding that you and I share. True, at one stage they fall in love with each other. But their love is not the love of flesh and blood. And this video is a lovely portrayal of their wonderful feelings that can't be expressed, the joy that can't be explained, and the myriad emotions that can't be put into words. Check it out for yourself.

SCAMS, SHAMS, SIMRAN AND KRISHNA BHAGWAN: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOHN APPARAO 40 PLUS

The kuteer set at Ramoji Film City is where scribe-turned-filmmaker Kuchipudi Venkat is shooting for his second directorial venture, John Apparao 40 Plus. He pulled off a casting coup when he signed on Simran to play the heroine opposite comedy actor Krishna Bhagwan. Both were present on location shooting as cinematographer Sameer Tahir checks the light and the director talking to his lead actors while co-directors Anil Kumar Reddy and Sambasiva Rao with a sheaf of papers, wait for the director to finish his briefing so that they can read the scene’s dialogue to the actors.

"I always wanted to make a comedy. But it should offer some novelty," says Venkat. "Usually most movie love stories are of teenage kind. Love, struggle, action and reunion all this high drama happens by the time they reach 20 or at the most 25. After that, there is no scope for any drama in their life. So, I weaved a story around a man who after completing all his family responsibilities feels the need for a companion. By then he turns 40, but feels young at heart," smiles Venkat watching his lead actor Krishna Bhagwan.

After briefing about the dialogues the actors have to deliver, the co-directors withdraw from the shooting arena. Sameer’s camera zooms to catch the cozy twosome locked in a conversation. As we keenly watch them, it is unfolded that the two are not exactly conversing but are testing each other's CQ meaning compatibility quotient. "She is a businesswoman from UK and takes a liking towards this straightforward, witty and honest fashion designer from Vizag. He finds a perfect companion in her. To clear his doubts whether she is in love with him or not and also whether they can make a compatible pair, he invites her for this quiz of 50 questions. For him, even if two or three answers tally it is enough," smiles Venkat.

"Which is the best scam that comes to your mind?" he asks.

"Bofors," she answers.

And his answer is "Ring Road."

A note of disappointment is visible on our hero’s face as the answer did not tally.

"The question and answer session goes on, on those silly lines that include eateries etc. The scene is meant to create fun and there is nothing much to it," reveals the director.

"Simran is an ideal choice for the role. She liked the script and her character so much that she said she is thrilled to act in a role that she hasn’t done before. And Krishna Bhagwan in all his films, generally ends his dialogue with a satirical punch, but here he is at the receiving end," says Venkat.

The director is planning to complete the talkie shoot by October 22 and "next month we will by flying to Hungary to can two songs on the lead pair". Kiran Varanasi composed the music. "Simran is a good dancer. Krishna Bhagwan is a non-dancer. Choreographers Shankar and Babu Yadav composed the steps for him in such a way they create a laugh riot," says Venkat before moving to his cameraman for some consultation.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN FOR SHEKHAR KAMMULA

With audiences going gaga over Happy Days, since its release on October 2, Shekhar Kammula, the director of the film is a happy man.

Shekhar said that he thoroughly enjoyed making the movie. It was a happy journey all through and the best part was that Happy Days has managed to capture the imagination of young college going crowd for whom the movie was made.

"However, lot of practice went into moulding the new-comers into being actors. A parent-teacher sort of relationship had developed between the actors and me. I wanted to cover all the aspects of the college life through this film. First love, heartbreak, careers, relationships, how strangers meet and become great friends, bonding between the students and the teachers," he said.

"Though I expected a good response from the audience but never expected it to do so well. I feel no Telugu movie in the last 30-40 years has been so successful in depicting the college life, as the movie has been able to do. It seems I have been able to reach to my audiences through this movie," says Shekhar with a smile.

ONE SONG. TWO LANGUAGES. ONE HEROINE. TWO HEROES

THE ORIGINAL IN TELUGU



THE REMAKE IN TAMIL

HECTIC LIFE IS NOT FOR KONKONA SEN SHARMA

IS SHAHID GOING AROUND WITH AMRITA RAO AT THE COST OF WRECKING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH KAREENA?

There are enough rumours doing the rounds that the Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapur relationship is on the rocks. While the Shahid camp followers blame Kareena for going around with Saif Ali Khan, here comes a new twist to the story. It seems that Kareena is reportedly miffed with Shahid's dalliance with the Atidhi girl Amrita Rao.

Close friends of Kareena indicate that one of the reasons for the relationship going awry is that Kareena is not too happy with Shahid's friendship with Amrita Rao. For she feels that there is more to the friendship between the two, and that the two -- Shahid Kapur and Amrita Rao -- have become thick pals during their Vivah days.

For those of you who don't know, Vivah starred Shahid and Amrita and it went on to become a roaring hit. Kareena is allegedly angry with Shahid over the latter two timing her.

Recently, when a journo asked Amrita about the rumours doing the rounds, she shot back saying, "Excuse me, Shahid going around with me, no way". She also went on to say that she has better things to do than wreck someone's relationship. Whatever the truth of the matter is: for now Atidhi girl is in the news for all the wrong reasons.

RAJNIKANTH IS MIGHTY IMPRESSED WITH RAM CHARAN: HE IS NOT A CHIRUTHA, HE IS A BIG TIGER, SAYS THE ACTOR

Getting a certificate from superstar Rajinikanth is usually considered the ultimate compliment and that's what megastar Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan Teja has managed to do after his very first film.

After watching the special screening of Teja's debut film Chirutha in Chennai, Rajinikanth said the son has proved to be a worthy successor of his father.

"He is not a chirutha, a small tiger. He is a big tiger. After seeing his performance, it doesn't look as though it is his first film, but as if it is his 70th film," said Rajinikanth, actor.

Chirutha is a love story and Ram Charan plays a travel guide. He says he certainly hopes to become competition to dad.

"It will certainly be healthy competition," said Ram Charan Teja.

After one week in theatres, diehard fans of megastar Chiranjeevi, most loved for his dance, more than willingly concede that the junior can follow in his father's footsteps, at least on the dance floor.

NOT JUST IN ANDHRA, OUR FILM CRAZY FANS HAVE TAKEN THEIR STAR MANIA TO CHENNAI THEATRES AS WELL

Theatres in Chennai that screen Telugu films of late are marked by fanfare and huge billboards on the day of film’s release.

Fans of Telugu actors indulge in elaborate celebrations to rejoice the film’s release on the same day as in Andhra Pradesh. Staff of city theatres observed that such enthusiasm by Telugu film fans' associations emerged in the city in the last five years.

The recent festivity in the city was for the much-awaited film, Chirutha, with debutant actor Ram Charan Teja, son of matinee idol Chiranjeevi, in the lead. Several fans who thronged the theatres burst firecrackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the release.

A staff of the Casino theatre said the merriment was almost on par with the celebration for Tamil movies. Huge billboards were also put up by members of Telugu film fans association to cheer the movie. However, most of these fans associations that are formed by a group of youngsters or college students are short-lived.

Earlier, the students used their college names in the billboards. After they faced disciplinary action from their colleges, they had formed associations, he said.

CHECK OUT FOR SOME AMAZING PICTURES

NUVVU NENU GIRL ANAITA AKA NATASHA IS SINGING A NEW TUNE WITH HER HUSBAND: YOU, ME AND DIVORCE

She made a splash in Tollywood with Nuvvu Nenu. But somehow Dame Luck didn't favour her to establish herself as an actress. But she was mighty cute in Thotti Gang. If Anita Hassanandani aka Natasha didn't find her bearings in the Telugu film industry, it is because she was the blue-eyed babe of the queen of the small screen Ekta Kapoor. Ekta considered her as her lucky mascot, which is why she refused to let go of her and gave her prominent roles in her K serials.

The latest about the actress is that her marriage is on the rocks. She fell in love with her co-hero Eijaz Khan on the sets of the tele serial Kaavanjali and tied the knot soon enough. She even quit acting in tele serials for her beau much to the chagrin of Ekta. But she soon realised that marriage is a stifling institution and the demands of her husband are too much to have even a semblance of happiness. And so she decided to walk out of the marriage. And how? By looking out for work.

Her mentor Ekta was too glad to take her. And this was the last straw that broke the dispirited marriage. And recently, when Ekta hosted a party, the couple not only came separately but also refused to see eye to eye. Very sad for her, isn't it? But we must say, the actress looks wow now than she was before.

SENSEX SETS NEW RECORD, FLIRTS WITH 18K

The stock market benchmark BSE Sensex today zoomed to a new intra-day peak of 17,953 points, just sniffing distance from the 18,000-point level, on aggressive buying by funds in blue-chip stocks.

The Sensex extended its gaining streak for the 11th trading session in a row and ended with a gain of 518.42 points at 17,847.04 points. If the market barometer touches 18,000-point mark tomorrow, it will be its shortest 1,000-point journey -- of just five sessions.

It turned volatile after Finance Minister P Chidambaram cautioned retail investors, while welcoming the interest shown by foreign investors.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty crossed 5,200-point level to settle at a new peak of 5,210.80, by adding 141.85 points. It touched the day's high of 5,261.35 points, a level never seen before.

Buying activity was confined to power, realty and refinery segment stocks.

INDIAN, AUSTRALIAN TEAMS ARRIVE IN HYDERABAD FOR THIRD ODI

The Indian and Australian cricket teams arrived in Hyderabad today to a rousing welcome for the third one-day international to be played in the city on Friday.

A large number of fans greeted their favourite stars at Begumpet airport. The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) had made elaborate arrangements to welcome the teams.

The city is in the grip of cricket fever with tickets being sold out yesterday for the crucial encounter to be played at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Uppal.

Soon after their arrival, the tourists proceeded to the stadium for net practice, while some of the Indian cricketers were scheduled to make an apperance at the launch of Hyderabad 10K Run - Half Marathon 2007.

Sachin Tendulkar, an ambassador of the Hyderabad 10K-Run Foundation, will be the star attraction at the event.

Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made at the 40,000-seat capacity stadium as well the hotel where the players are put up.

The police are not leaving anything to chance to ensure security for players, particularly in the wake of the recent bomb blasts in the state capital.

Australians have taken 1-0 lead in the seven-match series having won the Kochi ODI, while the first tie at Bangalore was washed out.

NEHA SHARMA, THE DARLING OF CHIRUTHA, HAS OODLES OF GLAMOUR AND TALENT

RELIANCE LAUNCHES CHEAPEST COLOUR PHONE AT A PRICE OF RS 999

In a bid to break entry barrier for coloured-display phones, Reliance Communication today launched 'Classic 732' at a price of Rs 999, the lowest in Indian market.

Classic is India's largest operator-driven handset brand introduced by Reliance at a very low entry level pricing, a top company official said.

"We have crossed the one crore sales mark in Classic handsets. Now, the Classic 732 will become the entry level handset for new mobile users in the country," Reliance Communications President, Personal Business S P Shukla told reporters here.

Earlier in May, the company had launched the Classic monochrome phones at a price of Rs 777.

"With about 200 million mobile users in India, the penetration still is at a low of 20 per cent. Apart from affordability for new customers, we have to enhance the experience of existing customers," Shukla said.

He declined to comment on the handset manufacturing cost or the cost at which the company was purchasing it.

"The pricing is through a comparison of acquisition cost of a new customer and the customer life cycle value," he said.

Reliance Communication has a total customer base of over 38 million including 1.2 million individual overseas retail customers. Its average revenues per users (ARPUs) was Rs 375.

CHINES GO BONKERS OVER AISHWARYA'S BEAUTY

Aishwarya Rai is among the few crop of current Indian actors to have a considerable following among the young Chinese in the sub-provincial district Shenzhen.

Just opposite to the majestic hotel Pavilion on the Huaqiang Road is a huge L'Oreal hoarding featuring Rai.

"She's beautiful. I pass through this road every day and never fail to have a look at the hoarding," says Zu Shan, who works as a marketing executive of an advertising company.

Aishwarya is the brand ambassador of L'Oreal's cosmetic products. "Aishwarya is a good actress. I have seen most of her movies," he says.

Zu's favourite male star is Abhishek Bachchan. "The two make a great couple," he says.

Zeng Fangjun also adores Aishwarya's beauty as well as her acting talents. "She is quite talented. I got to watch some of her movies on the local cable network," says the communications manager of an IT firm.

Local channels like CCTV feature Indian movies with Chinese subtitles. Zeng said she watched Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Aur Pyar Ho Gaya among others on cable TV.

Zeng's Indian friends also provide her with their stock of Aishwarya films.

GABBAR KA GUSSA: KISNEY LAGAYI YE AAG?

ISKA JAWAAB HUMKO DEDE THAKUR

SHAH RUKH KHAN WAS WEAK IN HINDI, SAW BOLLYWOOD FILMS TO IMPROVE IT, AND GOT HOOKED ON TO MOVIES

Heart-throb of many a damsel, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan as a child was weak in Hindi, dreamt of representing the country in international sports events, and as a young man had to court his love Gauri for six years before he could win her, says a new book.

Shah Rukh was bright, naughty, fond of sports but was weak in Hindi either scoring very low marks or failing in the subject says the book SRK: King Khan by journalist, critic Deepa Gahlot.

Instead of scolding him, his mother once told him that she would take him to a Hindi movie in a cinema hall if he did well in the subject. The bait was attractive enough for young Shah Rukh and his first visit to cinema must have triggered off the acting impulse in him, says the book.

The newly generated interest in Hindi made him understand Hindi films better and gave him a command over the language, a skill that stands him in good stead in his career even today, it says.

In the school he was more interested in sports such as cricket, hockey, football and athletics than in studies and hoped to become a sportsman capable of representing his country in international events.

In Delhi, while performing for both television and theatre, Shah Rukh was also wooing the pretty Gauri Chibba, a Hindu girl. Because of the difference in the religion, Gauri's family disapproved of their relationship. The courtship carried on clandestinely for over six years. Gauri was not too pleased about his choice of career or his decision to move to Mumbai but their love overcame all problems, pretty much like it happens in the movies, the book says.

AISHWARYA RAI BOWLS OVER BEN KINGLSEY WITH HER 'EXCELLENT AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE'

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai has been showered praise from none other than Sir Ben Kingsley, who co-stars with her in The Last Legion and calls her an "excellent and outstanding" actor.

Kingsley, who won an Oscar for Gandhi, said Aishwarya would surprise movie buffs with her performance in the film.

Kingsley, who was attending 58th Annual Emmy Awards, spoke to Sheeraz Hasan, founder of www.hollywood.tv, about the film and his Indian co-star and praised her profusely.
"It was a pleasure working with Aishwarya in The Last Legion, and her fans are in for a big surprise. She is an excellent and outstanding actor. She is a shining example of beauty from India and I'm sure we will be seeing her in more Hollywood movies real soon," Kingsley told Hasan.

Hasan was the only South Asian at this years Emmy's and was holding the flag of Bollywood on the red carpet.

NEHA SHARMA THROWS ATTITUDE WITH THE FINESSE OF A PRO AND SHE COMES UP TRUMPS IN CHIRUTHA

It is easy to go bonkers over the hero's larger-than-life image, but you don't need to play down the heroine. Especially when she has done a marvellous job. Have you seen a heroine in recent times who has thrown attitude with the flair of a pro? Even big time heroines find it difficult to throw attitude with felicity. But not Neha Sharma. She has done it with such style and conviction that she steals the show from right under the feet of Ram Charan. And when Ram Charan's turn comes to put her in her place, he is absolutely no match for her.

All the journos have written her off as if Puri Jagannadh has committed hara-kiri by signing her for the leading lady's role. But let me tell you very frankly that if at all there's anyone who has done justice to the role in the film it is Neha. She was fantastic and, as the object of her father's affecton, and the only glamour prop in the film, she is really adorable.

So, don't believe what all the reviewers have said about her. See the film for yourself and you will understand what I am telling you. Neha is real wow, and she would definitely go places.