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.

SENSEX, NIFTY CLIMB NEW PEAKS

The stock markets remained bullish and climbed new peaks on day-to-day basis in the week under review amid indications of a sharp downward correction ahead as the valuations looked stretched.

In the last nine days (including five days of the week) the bull-run was mind-boggling. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) barometer completed the fastest 1,000-point journey in just six days and gained 1,787 points or 11.5 per cent during the strongest rally beginning September 18.

The 30-share BSE index ended the week at 17,291.10 against previous weekend's close of 16,564.23, a rise of 726.87 points or 4.39 per cent in the week ended September 29.

Similarly, the broader S&P CNX Nifty of National Stock Exchange (NSE) crossed the 5,000-points level and closed the week at a new closing peak of 5,021.35, a jump of 183.80 points or 3.8 per cent over previous weekend's close of 4,837.55.

The unprecedented surge was credited to a dramatic rise in FII inflows after the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates on September 18.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) poured in more than USD 3 billion (Rs 13,600 crore) since September 19. This week's inflows stood at about USD 2 billion (Rs 8,500 crore) including the provisional number of Friday.

Analysts expect a downward correction after a phenomenal rise in share prices in a short period, while investors seemed optimistic about another rate cut by the Fed next month in the light of release of data showing sluggish housing sales and consumer confidence in the US.

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SENSEX BREACHES 17K LEVEL IN ITS FASTEST 1,000-POINT RALLY

The stock market continued its record-breaking run today with the BSE Sensex breaching the 17,000 mark for the first time in its fastest 1,000-point rally as foreign funds stepped up purchases of local shares.

The 30-share index, however, failed to hold on to the early gains and closed at 16,921.39, still higher by 21.85 points from the previous close, as investors booked profit.

Profit-booking sparked as the Sensex crossed the 17,000-point level, covering the last 1,000 points in just six trading sessions. It touched an intra-day high of 17,073.87, and a low of 16,887.07 points.

In similar fashion, the National Stock Exchange's index Nifty closed higher by 1.65 points at 4,940.50, after touching a record high of 4,980.85 and day's low of 4,930.35 points.

A steep fall in Reliance Industries, the country's biggest firm by market value, mainly drove the Sensex down. The RIL scrip, which has about 15 per cent weightage in the Sensex, fell after reports that the company may put on hold investment plans to expand retail venture in Uttar Pradesh.

Oil and gas index dropped by 160.57 points at 9,616.94, followed by realty index by 112.09 points at 8,973.38. Capital goods index lost 109.26 points at 14,654.35 and auto index ended lower by 35 points at 5,215.27.

Major support to the market came in from the bank index, which rose 172.82 points at 9,117.80. This was followed by IT index by 153.35 points at 4,501.97. PSU index gained 80.39 points at 8,055.51 and teck index rose 69.05 points at 3,720.46 points.

TROPHY DESIGNER PREDICTS INDIA WILL WIN TWENTY20 WORLD CUP

Millions of cricket crazy fans in India and Pakistan would be praying for their team's victory in tomorrow's high voltage Twenty20 World Cup final, but there is one man who is banking on history repeating itself with the Indians coming home with the trophy.

Amit Pabuwal believes the team will return with the trophy made by him after conquering arch rivals Pakistan in the final at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Here is how he supports his claim.

"All the trophies that I have manaufactured for different tournaments, in recent times, India has emerged winners in all those.

"India won the Future's Cup by beating South Africa, they won women's Asia Cup in Jaipur and did not lose in the Friendship Cup against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which resulted in a tie with the trophy being shared by both countries.

"It has been happening for quite some time and I am praying that this time also the trophy comes back to India," Pabuwal said.

He said he would also make trophies for the upcoming India-Australia seven-match ODI series.

HOWZZAT! TWENTY20 WORLD CUP IN WOMEN'S CRICKET

Encouraged by the success and popularity of the Twenty20 World Cup, the Board is seriously considering introduction of the shortest version of the game in women's cricket too.

"BCCI is planning to introduce the shorter version of the game in women's cricket and also trying that Twenty20 World Cup of womens' cricket be organised either before or after the Womens' World Cup, scheduled in England next year", BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI.

He said the shorter version of the game will not affect one-day or Test match schedules.

"People want something new everytime and there is always a chance of change in the game and BCCI welcomes the change," Shah added.

THIS CHILD PRODIGY IS DRUMMING UP MUSIC LIKE A PRO: MEET INDIA'S YOUNGEST DRUMMER AND PERCUSSIONIST PAR EXCELLENCE

AZIM PREMJI IS THE WORLD'S RICHEST MUSLIM ENTREPRENEUR

India's software czar Azim Premji now has a new nomenclature -- the world's richest Muslim entrepreneur -- as he holds more wealth than any other Muslim outside the Persian Gulf royalty, a US media report said.

The financial daily Wall Street Journal has written a front-page profile on chairman of India's third largest IT exporter Wipro, saying Premji defies all the conventional wisdom about Islamic tycoons -- he does not hail from the Persian Gulf, did not make his money in petroleum, and does not wear his faith on his sleeve.

"Azim Premji has tapped India's abundant engineering talent to transform a family vegetable-oil firm, Wipro Ltd, into a technology and outsourcing giant. By serving Western manufacturers, airlines and utilities, the company has brought Premji a fortune of some $17 billion," the report said.

Premji is ahead of Russia's metal and real estate baron Suleman Kerimov ($14 billion), Kuwait's Nasser Kharafi ($11 billion), Saudi Arabia's Mohammad Amoudi ($8 billion), UAE's Abdulaziz Ghurair ($8 billion), Russia's Iskander Mahmudov ($8 billion), Saudi's Maan Sanea ($7.5 billion) and Saudi's Suleiman Rajhi ($7.5 billion) among the richest Muslim entrepreneurs in the world.

The daily quoted Premji in the report titled "How a Muslim Billionaire Thrives in Hindu India" as saying that such success shows globalization is turning into "two-way traffic" that can bring tangible benefits to developing countries.

"We have always seen ourselves as Indian. We've never seen ourselves as Hindus, or Muslims, or Christians or Buddhists," Premji told WSJ in an interview.

HYDERABAD BLASTS: TOLL RISES TO 42, 50 INJURED

At least 42 people, including five women and seven students, have been killed and 50 injured in two explosions at a crowded park and a popular eatery in Hyderabad on Saturday evening, three months after the Mecca Masjid blasts, police said today.

The week-end outing at the popular Gokul Chat shop at Koti locality turned into a tragedy when a deafening explosion ripped through it killing 32 people and wounding 21, they said.

Five minutes earlier, 10 people, most of them from outside the state, were killed and 29 injured in another blast in an open air auditorium in Lumbini Park near the state secretariat in the heart of the city when a laser show was underway, they said.

The blast at the auditorium, where 500 people were present, was so powerful that some bodies were flung in the air. Among the dead at the Lumbini Park were two students from Ahmedabad.

Four Railways employee are among those killed in the blasts.

The condition of some of the injured was stated to be serious, police said.

Hyderabad Collector Chandravadan said round-the-clock medical care is being provided to the victims by experts.

"Critical care support is being provided to them at several hospitals including corporate hospitals. Every effort is being made to help the victims."

SALMAN KHAN IS OFF TO PRISON, IS PRISONER NO 343

Salman Khan, one of Bollywood's top actors on Saturday became "prisoner no 343" at the Jodhpur Central Jail after he was arrested and jailed for five years for hunting an endangered chinkara deer in 1998.

Salman, 41, looked subdued and was mostly quiet as policemen took him into custody on his arrival from Mumbai by a Jet Airways flight and rushed him in a police jeep to a courtroom before sending him to jail.

The dramatic jailing, which drew hundreds of his fans to the court and the prison complex, came a day after a district court upheld the five-year jail term given to Salman by a lower court.

Salman has been convicted of poaching a chinkara deer at the Ghoda farm near Jodhpur on the night of September 28, 1998 while filming Sooraj Barjatya's blockbuster Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Jail sources told IANS that Salman had been sent to barrack no 1.5, where the hugely popular actor had spent three nights in April 2006 before he got bail. Giving him company is Mahesh, who was with Salman during his first jail also.

Jail officials said Salman may be a celebrity but he would wear the white prison dress like everyone else and get no special treatment.

"We will follow the Jail Manual strictly and no additional (facilities) will be provided to Salman," senior jail official Ota Ram said.

The actor, Ram said, would be allowed to meet three people in 15 days.

"His food would also be similar to what is given to other jail inmates," the official said. Other sources said this would mostly be chapatis and lentils. But since the actor had been sentenced to undergo "simple imprisonment", he would not have to do any hard labour.

When he landed in Jodhpur, Salman was dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans and sporting sunglasses. Accompanying him were his brother Sohail, bodyguard Shera and his counsel Dipesh Mehta.

A large number of journalists and fans gathered at the airport and later outside the court and jail to catch a glimpse of the star. The police had a tough time controlling the crowds.

"We took him into custody and took him to court, which ordered that the actor be taken to Jodhpur Central Jail," a police official told IANS.

Salman is the second Bollywood star to be jailed in a span of a month. Sanjay Dutt spent 23 nights in Mumbai and Pune prisons after being convicted under the Arms Act in the 1993 Mumbai bombings. He is currently out on bail.

Although the killing of the deer by Salman and his friends had evoked widespread revulsion, there was no dearth of Salman lovers on Saturday.

"He is my hero and is suffering because of his celebrity status," insisted Rupali Singh, a college student who described herself an ardent devotee of the Bollywood actor.

According to legal experts, Salman will have to spend at least two nights in jail as the court does not sit on Saturday and Sunday too is a holiday. Any bail plea can be taken up only on Monday.

However, Salman's lawyers Saturday filed a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday.

NON-BAILABLE WARRANT ISSUED AGAINST SALMAN KHAN IN CHINKARA CASE

A non-bailable warrant was issued for Salman Khan after a court dismissed his appeal against a five-year prison term given to him for poaching an endangered chinkara.

District and Sessions Judge K R Singhvi upheld a lower court's judgement of April 2006 sentencing Salman to prison in the poaching case.

However, the actor evaded immediate arrest, as he did not appear in the court.

The court of the chief judicial magistrate, which convicted Salman last year, issued the non-bailable warrant against the actor in the afternoon and sent it to local police for execution.

In his ruling, Judge Singhvi described the grounds used by Salman for his appeal against his conviction as "baseless".

Salman's sister Alvira was present in the court as the judge forfeited his bail bond and directed him to surrender. The judge also rejected an application filed by Salman's counsel for giving him time to surrender.

Police officials said they would act after receiving the warrant. "We are prepared to send our teams to arrest Salman. As soon as we get the NBW issued by the court, teams will move out," Additional Superintendent of Police Sawai Singh Godara said.

Salman's lawyers said they planned to file a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court. They will also file an application in the High Court seeking the suspension of his sentence and the hearing of his case on priority.

The star was convicted for poaching a chinkara in September 1999 during the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

DID JAIL AUTHORITIES SHOOT OBJECTIONABLE PHOTOGRAPHS OF MONICA BEDI?

Accusing the jail authorities of allegedly clicking "objectionable" photographs of former Bollywood actress and gangster Abu Salem's companion Monica Bedi, during her stay in the prison, Madhya Pradesh Congress on Friday sought the resignation of Jail Minister Antar Singh Arya and demanded action against the erring officials.

"Objectionable photographs of Monica Bedi were clicked through secret cameras installed in bathrooms at the Central Jail here, where she was staying while being tried in a fake passport case," State Congress Spokesman Manak Agrawal alleged.

"The photographs were used to prepare indecent MMS of Bedi and circulated," he said making public some MMS before reporters which he claimed to have acquired from a jail official.

The cameras were removed from the jail after her counsel P C Vedi had raised the issue, Agrawal claimed.

Calling for a probe into the matter, while promising to make available all the evidence related to the indecent act, Agrawal demanded the resignation of Arya besides action against officials involved in the episode.

However, Central Jail Superintendent Purshottam Somkunwar described the allegations as "totally baseless". The cameras were never installed in any of the women's cell in the jail premises, he said.

"The purported MMS may be generated through 'trick photography', he said, adding a high-level probe into the allegations will make things absolutely clear.

WANNA KEEP YOUR CLOTHES FRESH FOREVER? THEN APPLY TITANIUM OXIDE

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Believe it or not -- people would need only one set of clothes if titanium oxide in its molecular form was applied to them. Such clothes would not absorb sweat or any external particles and would retain an everlasting shine.

"Man would require only one T-shirt or any other clothes since they would not get dirtied by dust or any other particles if the chemical was used by applying nano- technology," A Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller of Research and Development in DRDO, said during an interaction with college students here.

"You can just wipe off tea if it falls on the shirt. It will not be absorbed by the shirt. The shine would remain," Pillai said, much to the surprise of over 800 students and faculty members assembled for the function.

Applying titanium oxide to the clothes would not cause any harm to the human skin, he assured.

Pillai jokingly remarked that the revenues of the textile industry would dip since people would be happy with one or two sets of clothes.

The DRDO has been conducting research in nano-technology for quite some time.

HEYY BABYY IS A SPECIAL FILM FOR ME: AKSHAY KUMAR

He is the one actor in tinsel town who has always proved his critics wrong. When he was labelled as an action hero with his 'Khiladi' series films, he did romantic films, negative shade characters and comic roles and proved everyone wrong by his acting and always added feathers in his cap. Now, Akshay Kumar who has been doing consecutive hits is all set with his latest comic film 'Heyy Babyy' which according to him is a very special film.

At Rajasthan's Jaisalmer city shooting for Yash Raj film's upcoming film 'Tashan,' Akshay spoke on various issues candidly with PTI exclusively over phone from Jaisalmer despite his hectic schedule.

'Heyy Babyy,' he said, it is a very special movie for me, because i have done this film only for my little son Aaarav. And i did this because I had never worked with a child artiste, and with this film i have learned that how difficult is this to shoot a film with a child artiste," he said.

They (producer and director) ensure everything for the baby Juhaina who has played vital role in the film. Mind you this baby is only star in the film and we had three doctors and three nurses round the clock for the baby, he said.

"At this stage of my career, working with the child artiste taught me that they are big stars," Akshay Kumar said.

There was no shooting when the baby was sleeping, we were instructed not to disturb the mood of baby when he was having food. All of us (Ritesh Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Akshay Kumar) had to wait on the set to get his mood right for the shoot.

It was also heard that during the shooting of the film, Akshay proved to be the best babysitter as whenever the baby got into restless mood on the sets, Akki used to take baby onto his lap and soothe her. Up to some extent that's true. Not only me but Ritesh too had looked after the baby well. It was a memorable experience that would not be forgotten, he said.

On the storyline of the film, Akshay, said, "Main kuch nahien bataoonga (I will not tell anything)." All what I can tell you is that people of every age especially kids, parents and grandparents are going to enjoy the film. It is the funiest film that would also make people cry."

Is it true that the film is based on famous Hollywood film 'Three men and a baby?' No, only similarly in our film is that we too have three men and a baby but it is an altogether different film in terms of story telling and direction," he said.

Akshay recalls how he called his costar Vidya Balan up and pretending to be an Australian journalist requested for a interview. She agreed and I interviewed her for about 20 minutes, I had switched on the speaker of my cellphone and let other crew members listen to our conversation. She did that interview so seriously."

'Heyy Babyy' is the directorial debut of anchor Saajid Khan (Farah Khan's brother). Akshay Kumar said he " I know him for the last 20 years.

With this film I can say confidently that film industry has lost a comic actor but we got a good director who would be appreciated for the work he has done in Heyy Babyy." On his stunts and actions the actor says he is ready with Nikhil Advani's 'Made in China' in which he would be seen with all stunts and action.

"I have done action again almost after five years. And when I was doing such film after a long time I thought I should do something special to the audience, and people would definitely love the action and stunts of this film," he said.

Akshay is presently wrapping up the shooting of Yash Raj productions 'Tashan' where he has teamed up with Saif Ali Khan almost after 10 years. He said, "I cannot say much on this film. All what I can tell you is that I am with Saif after 10 years and he is the best co-star to work with."

BAMBOO WORK 'ENRICHES' SANJAY DUTT, WHO IS OUT ON BAIL TODAY

When actor Sanjay Dutt walked free out of Yerwada central prison this morning, he was richer by Rs 25 paid for the work done by him under rigorous imprisonment drill.

"Munnabhai" of the celluloid screen, Dutt, a convict in 1993 Mumbai blast case, who spent three weeks behind bars had been weaving and enmeshing bamboo chairs under "cane work" category of manual labour, said jail superitendent Rajendra Dhamne.

Though the highly paid Bollywood actor known for acting skills, Dutt was treated as an unskilled labourer under training which entitled him to wages of Rs 12.50 for an eight hours shift called "vardi" in jail parlance.

His work hours were counted after he finished learning the job which totalled 16 hours equivalant to "two vardis", at the rate of Rs 12.50, Dhamne said.

The actor sentenced to six years RI under the Arms Act, showed good application at assigned work and made nearly two sets of cane chairs consisting of seat and back-support, jail sources said.

RANVIR SHOREY WANTS TO DIRECT, BUT CONFUSED ON WHAT KIND OF FILM TO DO

VJ-turned-actor Ranvir of 'Bheja Fry' fame says he desires to go behind the camera and that there is a budding director in him. However, he is not very clear what kind of film he would want to choose for his first directorial venture.

"Yes, I would like to direct a film. But right now I have no idea what kind of film it would be," quips Ranvir, who has earned critical acclaim for his films like 'Khosla Ka Ghosla', 'Pyar Ke Side Effects', 'Bheja Fry' etc.

The actor is quite happy with the way his career is shaping up. With big films like Yash Raj's 'Aaja Nachle', in which Madhuri Dixit is making her comeback, and Rajat Kapoor's 'Mithya' in his kitty, he sure would be more than delighted.

"I am happy about ''Nachle'. Getting the film is, in someway, recognition of my work," avers Ranvir, without revealing anything about his role in the film except that he plays "a man in love with Madhuri." The actor, who started his career with some blink-you-miss roles in films like 'Ek Chhoti Si Lovestory', 'Jism', 'Lakshya', has sure come a long way since his VJing days. He's been part of some big multi-starers like Reema Kagti's 'Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd', Naseeruddin Shah's 'Yun Hota To Kya Hota' and Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Traffic Signal'. He will now be seen in Rahul Rawail's 'Buddha Mar Gaya' and Anurag Kashyap's 'No Smoking' which also stars John Abraham.

RAM GOPAL VARMA WANTS TO DIRECT AN EROTIC FILM, NO NOT NOW, BUT SOMEDAY

He has explored the gory mob world and dabbled in the supernatural, but for Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma nothing gets him excited like refined erotica.

By Indian standards, Varma is unconventional, even bold, and he raised conservative eyebrows last year with a film about love between a girl and a man old enough to be her grandfather.

Like most Bollywood cinema, titillation is integral to his films -- mostly explored through raunchy dance numbers by the heroines. But Varma says if there was one genre of cinema he wanted to explore honestly, it was the erotic.

"I think I can capture the subject through my camera," the filmmaker told Reuters. "I would love to direct an erotic film someday."

And, in India, more often than not that would mean courting controversy. "I honestly don't care about it," he said.

The 45-year-old filmmaker, an acknowledged Bollywood master at making gangster movies, is no stranger to controversy -- be it making a Lolita-esque film or remaking a Bollywood classic.

Varma's remake this year of the landmark 1975 film "Sholay" (Embers) -- which he calls "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag" (Ram Gopal Varma's Fire) -- first had critics denouncing the attempt at tinkering with classics and then it got into trouble for trying to use the original title.

Varma says the flak actually gave him strength to finish the film -- which is due out this year and narrates the story of two reformed crooks who save a village from a blood-thirsty bandit.

"I have never taken so much care with my other movies," he said. "When I went ahead with the idea of remaking 'Sholay', I knew it was a classic and somebody else's masterpiece which I should take good care of."

Bollywood is remaking a slew of classic Hindi movies, egged on by what it says is the creative challenge of packaging old blockbusters for modern audiences. But many criticize the trend, saying it reflects creative bankruptcy.

Varma disagrees. "It's a new work at the end of the day," he said. "I think there's nothing wrong with someone getting inspired from a masterpiece and then going ahead and trying to recreate the film's spirit in a new time and space."

The style and look of the remakes are also obviously new.

For instance, Varma in his remake of "Sholay" stunned Bollywood by casting Amitabh Bachchan in the iconoclastic role of Gabbar Singh, the merciless villain, while in the original version he was one of the two heroes.

Such is his passion for cinema that Varma, who made his directorial debut in 1989 and has directed 27 films, says he would be dead if he wasn't making films.

"I think I would have been a big failure," he said. "I guess I would have been too bored with life and may have possibly died too. Seriously, I cannot imagine my life without films."

VAJPAYEE'S CONDITION STABLE, TO BE DISCHARGED TOMORROW

New Delhi, Aug. 22 (PTI): The condition of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was admitted to AIIMS here after he complained of giddiness, is stable and he will be discharged tomorrow.

The condition of the 83-year-old BJP leader is "stable and satisfactory", AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Gupta said in a release today.

Vajpayee had his morning breakfast and his vital signs are normal, the release said.

"He will be kept in hospital for one more day to complete all investigations," the release said.

Vajpayee was admitted to a private ward in the Cardio-Thoracic and Neuro-Sciences Centre of AIIMS after he complained of drowsiness and giddiness yesterday.

A team of doctors, including a cardiologist and neurologist, are looking after him.

BOMB HOAX IN NAMPALLY CRIMINAL COURT

Proceedings at the Nampally criminal court here were disrupted for over three hours today following a bomb scare in the four-storey building that later proved to be a hoax.

Commotion prevailed in the court as advocates, staff and public ran outside the building, which houses 35 court rooms, after an anonymous caller rang up the second and third metropolitan sessions judges' chambers at 10 am and warned that four bombs planted in the premises might explode at any moment, police said.

Two calls were received by court staff, who immediately alerted police. Soon after, four bomb disposal and sniffer dogs teams, comprising 15 personnel of the City Security Wing, rushed to the court and searched the building for about three hours but found no explosives, police said.

"No explosive material was found and the bomb threat calls turned out to be a hoax," a bomb disposal team member said.

Officials said the calls were made from a from a public telephone booth.

This was the second bomb threat received by the court in the past one month. Earlier, the court had received a similar call on July 18.

THE GREAT INDIAN FAT WEDDING IS GETTING FATTER THIS SEASON

It might be a 'seasonal' industry, thriving only during the auspicious months of the year but with an estimated worth of Rs 1,25,000 crore, the Indian wedding industry is getting bigger and fatter.

With the industry growing at an average rate of 25 per cent per annum, the lavishness doled out by Indians on weddings is just getting larger this season as exhibitors and even designers from Pakistan entering the market to target the customers who have begun shopping for the post October marriage season.

"The weddings just grown larger only. The latest trend is now to fly out the barat comprising 250-350 people to Kaula Lampur or Singapore to have the wedding there," says Tarun Sarda, CEO, Vintage Group, Vivaha Interactive, the organisers of Vivaha exhibitions.

Citing seven such weddings which have taken place in foreign locations, such as Sunway Lagoon and the Palace of the Golden Horses in Malayasia recently, he adds, "Everyone is trying to outdo each other. With the property and stock boom, India has seen new generation of millionaires coming up and the lavishness that they indulge in weddings are just mind-blowing."

Gone are the days when great weddings were the ones to be held at some five-star hotel with baratis trooping in fanning Rs 10 bundles, points out wedding organisers and industry experts.

BREATHER FOR SANJAY DUTT: SUPREME COURT GRANTS BAIL, MAY BE RELEASED TOMORROW

The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, jailed for six years for receiving guns from gangsters involved in the country's worst bombings.

Dutt, 48, began serving his six year sentence on July 31 in a prison in Pune -- less the 16 months he served while awaiting trial over the bomb attacks which killed 257 people in India's commercial capital of Mumbai in 1993.

Dutt's lawyers said the actor could be released from jail in the city of Pune on Tuesday. "There is a lot of paperwork involved. He is expected to be released tomorrow," said Karan Singh, one of Dutt's lawyers.

The lawyers had petitioned the court against his conviction and sought bail until that petition was ruled on. But they said they could not argue the case as they were yet to get a copy of the judgment of the Mumbai court.

A three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice agreed and said that "the nature of the offence and the evidence is very difficult to examine at this stage", and granted bail to Dutt until the lawyers get a copy of the verdict.

An official at the Mumbai court said it could start delivering copies of the sentencing of the 100 people convicted in the case from September. Dutt was among the last of the 100 to be sentenced.

BOLLYWOOD THRILLED

Dutt's appeal said his conviction by a special anti-terrorism court in Mumbai was based on his confession that he had later retracted. "A retracted confession is a weak piece of evidence," the petition said, arguing that the conviction should also be overturned because no arms or ammunition were ever recovered from Dutt or his home.

The petition, which said Dutt should be granted bail because he was "not likely to commit any offence while on bail", urged the court to award him some form of punishment other than jail.

Bollywood, the world's largest film industry by ticket sales, had backed the actor saying he deserved a second chance because he was impulsive but not dangerous.

On Monday, the industry welcomed his bail. "It's fantastic news," said top Bollywood producer Ravi Chopra. "He's learnt the lessons he had to learn and now we hope the court takes a lenient view."

Industry analysts hoped that the actor would be out long enough to complete three underproduction films. "If he is out for, say, 60 days and shoots every day then he should be able to finish them," said Bollywood trade analyst Komal Nahta. "There's about 500 million rupees ($12 million) riding on him."

Dutt, a droopy-eyed, muscular actor, earned fame playing gangsters and the anti-hero and also tried his hand at comedy in recent years.

In jail, he undertook carpentry as prison labor and was paid about half a dollar a day. He ate the frugal jail meals and shared a toilet.