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

THE NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA TURNS 78, STILL GOING STRONG

Lata Mangeshkhar, the doyen of playback singing, turned 78 today, and the film industry wished her good health to continue mesmerising generations with her voice.

As the Nightingale of India celebrated a quiet birthday, it was time for other leading musicians to shower praise on Lata.

"I worked with her as a junior artiste. But she brought me up to the position that I am today. My compositions from films like Rudaali are still remembered because of her," veteran singer and music composer Bhupen Hazarika told PTI.

"I was a famous Bengali singer and known for my Assamese tunes. But it was after she lent her voice to my compositions that I got universal recognition," Hazarika said.

"I could not go to wish her today but through you I am sending her wishes and pray she lives long to continue singing," Hazarika said.

For singer Manhar Udhas, Lata Mangeshkar was an institution in herself.

"I have sung a few hit songs from films like Abhimaan and Hero. I feel proud of the fact that I have been her colleague. Times may change but she will remain untouched. Her glory will live on," Udhas said.

Lata Mangeshkar's global fame can be gauged from the fact that the Royal Albert Hall, London, has recorded the graph of Lata's voice with the help of a computer which is by far the "Most Perfect" in the World.

DIL CHAHTA WAS A REAL EYEOPENER: IT TAUGHT ME SOME AMAZING THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED

DEV ANAND'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 'ROMANCING WITH LIFE' PROMISES TO BE A GUIDE TO GOOD CINEMA OF YORE

Not content with his first book which is going to be released on September 26 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, veteran actor Dev Anand plans to start writing another book soon.

"I am very excited and anxious to know the people's response to my book. It covers my 62 working years in the show business. But there is still so much to say. Such a long journey cannot be entirely covered in one book," said Dev Anand.

"My life is still going on and will go on, no matter what people say. I am still functioning and growing with very experience, which means I am still strong enough to continue further. One book is finished. But the life has not stopped," the evergreen actor said.

Dev Anand's autobiography Romancing with Life, published by Penguin, will be released on September 26 by the Prime Minister in Delhi. UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will be the chief guest at book release function.

"Imagine a man of 62 years of standing in the show business, on his own strength making original movies, no remakes, no plagiarism. We have made 36 motion pictures, with every movie different from the other. We are still making films," he said.

The legend goes that the darling of the masses, Anand began his career in the military censor office at Churchgate, Mumbai, for a salary of Rs 160. Even as he stayed as a paying guest in the innumerable cheap guest houses in Mumbai and also with some of his friends, Anand always knew that he would soon be part of the elite circle of glamour and flashbulbs.

He was soon offered a break as an actor by Prabhat Talkies to star in their Hum Ek Hain (1946) during the shooting of which he struck a friendship with fellow actor Guru Dutt.

From swapping shirts to double dating and sharing dreams, they went on to make a pact: if Anand produced a film, Dutt would direct it; if Dutt produced a film, Anand would act in it.

As destiny would have it, Anand was offered his first big break by Ashok Kumar, his favourite star. Kumar spotted Dev hanging around in the studios and picked him as the hero for the Bombay Talkies production, Ziddi, costarring Kamini Kaushal (1948) after which he never looked back.

In 1949, Anand turned producer and launched his own company Navketan along with his elder brother Chetan Anand which continues to churn out movies even now.

As promised, Dev placed his bet on Guru Dutt as director for the crime thriller, Baazi (1951). The dice rolled in favour of this creative collaboration; the Sahir Ludhianvi, lyricist song, Tadbeer se bigdi huyee taqdeer bana de, (transforming bad fortune into good though prayers) proved prophetic and Anand became a true blue star.

He never shied away from playing out roles with grey shades. His grey character role in films like Jaal (1952) in which he played a gambler, a smuggler and a blackmarketeer was well appreciated by the audience.

The year 1954 was a crucial one. Anand was one of the earliest Indian stars to visit Russia. His starrers, Rahee and Aandhiyan, were screened there along with Raj Kapoor's Awaara.

In the same year, Taxi Driver was declared a hit. Dev's heroine was Kalpana Kartik and the two soon got married in a quiet ceremony.

There was no doubt that Anand was a 'man of style' but his detractors cast doubts on his acting abilities and even questioned his inclusion in the hallowed Raj Kapoor-Dilip Kumar league.

But Anand, proved his detractors wrong with his classic act in Kala Pani (1958), as the son who is willing to go to any lengths to clear his framed father's name. He won the Best Actor Award for the film.

He followed it up with an interesting double role in Hum Dono (1961) as a mustachioed major and his clean-shaven lookalike.

But what was the most celebrated was the film Guide (1965), directed by younger brother Vijay Anand.

Dev Anand played Raju, a voluble guide who supports Rosy (Waheeda Rehman) in her bid for freedom but is not above thoughtlessly exploiting her for personal gains. Combining panache with probably his best performance, Anand gave an affecting performance as a man grappling with his emotions in his passage through love, shame and salvation.

He reunited with Vijay Anand for the much-hyped Jewel Thief, featuring a bevy of beauties led by Vyjayanthimala Bali, including Tanuja, Anju Mahendru, Faryal and Helen.

With their next collaboration, Johnny Mera Naam (1970), Anand proved that he was worth his weight in gold. The film was released in the same year as Raj Kapoor's magnum Mera Naam Joker, and was a golden jubilee hit while Kapoor's film bit the sand at the box office.

AT 65, AMITABH BACHCHAN MAKES HIS HOLLYWOOD DEBUT WITH 'THE LAST LEAR'

Working in English and simply growing old are offering new opportunities to movie icon Amitabh Bachchan whose first English-language film, The Last Lear, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this week.

Bachchan, described on industry website www.imdb.com as "arguably India's greatest ever superstar," said making a film in English had brought back memories of school and college. An English-language film was different, but logical at the same time, given the role of English as a common language in India.

"It's always wonderful to experiment with something different," said Bachchan, the day after the sold-out Toronto premiere.

"At 65 you get an opportunity to experiment with all kinds of films and that's what's happening, and I am happy that there are people that want me to work with them, and it gives me the chance to do something different."

In The Last Lear, Bachchan plays Harry, a reclusive stage actor who quotes Shakespeare with relish and who -- somewhat reluctantly -- is making his movie debut at the age of 65.

He stars alongside Preity Zinta, who is also acting in her first English-language film, as are others in the cast.

Director Rituparno Ghosh has chosen to add subtitles, even for a North American audience. "I did it because we Indians speak English in various ways -- the same language can take various forms," said Ghosh. "And the tongues of the various communities of India may not be so easily comprehensible to a Western audience."

Bachchan said the role of Harry, and the way he used Shakespeare's language to illustrate his points, had brought back memories of his own early acting days, including the role of Cassio in Shakespeare's Othello.

He named Hamlet as one role he has always wanted, but admitted that "at my age, I would probably be playing the ghost."

At just over two hours, The Last Lear is short by Indian standards, and there are none of the song and dance routines that form the usual highlights of a Bollywood extravaganza.

Bachchan bristled at the idea that the new movie might be considered "Bollywood."
"We don't like that word," he said. "It was coined by some smart journalist and it just stuck, and now it's in the Oxford dictionary."

SANJAY DUTT WILL BE BACK TO BUSINESS ONCE AGAIN: NO, NOT JAIL, BUT ACTING

Bollywood bad boy Sanjay Dutt said he could resume work as early as this weekend after being temporarily bailed from his six-year jail term for arms possession. "I will resume my movie shoots very soon, starting possibly this weekend to meet contractual commitments," said Dutt, sporting prison-cropped hair. "I have to grow my hair back and get into shape," joked the burly actor, who has already spent three weeks behind bars.

The film Kidnapped, directed by Sanjay Gadhvi -- known for last year's top grosser Dhoom 2 (Have a Blast) -- will be one of the first Dutt will start shooting. "Alongside, I will shoot for Dus Kahaniyaan (Ten Stories)," said Dutt, known for his macho image and gangster roles.

With six movies in production, some Rs 75 crores of Bollywood money is riding on Dutt.

The hugely popular star was sentenced to six years in prison on July 31 for possessing illegal weapons received from the plotters of the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which killed 257 people and injured 800.

Dutt has always maintained his innocence, arguing he kept a Kalashnikov assault rifle to protect his family from sectarian violence.

Last month, the Supreme Court agreed to his conditional release after the anti-terror court in Mumbai failed to provide the actor with a copy of its judgment.

The Supreme Court ordered Dutt to turn himself in when his lawyers receive a copy of the judgment later this month.

DID YOU KNOW? ABHISHEK HAD 15 FLOPS BEFORE HE FINALLY GOT A HIT

AND THE ACTOR WAS SO DISGUSTED BY HIS DISCOURAGING CAREER THAT HE WANTED TO BID GOOD-BYE TO FILMS, UNTIL...

After a string of flop movies early in his career, actor Abhishek Bachchan thought he had joined the wrong profession. But, a dressing down from his father Amitabh made him decide to stick it out in Bollywood.

"Yes, I went to my dad and told him I think I made a mistake," he said. "He fired me. He said I didn't bring you up to quit. I have faith in you. He said just go back and keep working," Abhishek told NDTV.

"Dad asked me to spend time in front of the camera and learn to improve as long as I get an opportunity," said Abhishek, who was once considered a pale shadow of his father.

Asked what crossed his mind after his 15th flop, Abhishek said, "It becomes a habit. It's very weird."

Queried whether it is difficult to handle failure now that he had had quite a few hits, he said it is comparatively easier to handle failure in the early days of one's career.

"Initially when you start you still live in hope. You know your first film does not do well, it hurts -- second, third...it hurts but still you believe in yourself," he said.

The actor said he was enjoying his married life with Aishwarya Rai. "The best part is that you get to live with your best friend. Somebody you enjoy spending time with, which I think is the reasonable criteria to get married. It's wonderful. I am enjoying myself," he said.

When asked whether the film industry's most eligible bachelor is now its most besotted husband, Abhishek said every husband should be besotted. "I do not know if it is correct to call me the most eligible bachelor. I never believed that. I know many people were considered far more eligible then me. As far as besotted is concerned, every husband should be besotted," he said.

"I think it is important for every husband to care for his wife and family and they should not marry if they do not. You should get married if you are prepared to live with somebody for life," he said matter-of-factly.

Asked whether the Bachchan family discusses films at the dining table, Abhishek said talk about movies was totally banned at the table. "Ma does not allow film talk at the table. After my sister got married, there were only three of us, and I was just starting my career and then a little bit of that would slip in," he said.

"You just get a typical glare that a mother gives a child when you do something wrong," he explained.

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.

ABHISHEK SAYS ASH TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER EVERYTHING IN HIS LIFE

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, newly married to co-star and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, is so much in love that he says when it comes to sharing things his wife takes precedence over all.

"You always give things first to the wife, and then you have," the actor said, adding that this was how marriages worked among Indians.

Though he may not admit it, Bachchan struck gold at the box office with several hit films around the time he began dating Rai. Now, all he will say is that his time has come.

The two tied the knot in April and industry analysts say their marriage created Bollywood's ultimate power couple.

The wedding celebrations sent India's celebrity-obsessed media into frenzy, and even months later, public interest in the couple -- likened to Hollywood duo Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie -- remains as strong with talk that Rai could be pregnant.

But Bachchan scotched the speculation. "That's incorrect ... there's no such good news. When there is, I will tell you," he said, on the sidelines of an endorsement event late on Thursday.

Rai, 33, and Bachchan, 31, have worked together in at least five films. Rai was crowned Miss World in 1994.

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.

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.

SHAH RUKH KHAN GETS A ROYAL RESPONSE TO HIS BOOK 'KING OF BOLLYWOOD'

Actor Shah Rukh Khan shows his biographical book King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan by Anupama Chopra at a function held to celebtrate the book's success, in Mumbai on Monday. Over 10,000 copies in have been sold in a span of two weeks.

IF SALMAN IS DRAWING A PAINTING FOR AMRITA ARORA, WHY IS THE CATHOLIC FORUM UPSET?

The Catholic Secular Forum has threatened to file a first information report against Bollywood actor Salman Khan for his decision to paint the famous 'Last Supper' scene for actress Amrita Arora.

Khan is reported to have announced that he would replace Jesus Christ and his disciples with Arora and members of her family. The fact came to light after Arora spoke about the painting in an interview to an English daily.

The Mumbai-based Christian activist organisation has also threatened to hold a demonstration outside Arora's house if Khan proceeds with his art project.

The forum has asked Union Minister for Minority Affairs A R Antulay to take up the issue with the actor. "If Khan does not offer an apology or deny the reports, we will register a case against him tomorrow," said CSF General Secretary Joseph Dias.

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.

NISHA KOTHARI UNPLUGGED: I REVEAL BECAUSE I LOOK SEXY IN A SHORT SKIRT OR HOT PANTS

ON HER PROPENSITY TO SHED CLOTHES ON SCREEN
I have a beautiful body and can carry any outfit with grace. If I reveal or do intimate scenes that's only because I am convinced the role needs it. The director has to convince me that the scene is required, and I know that I look sexy and not vulgar donning a short skirt or hot pants.


ON HER CHARACTER GHUNGROO IN RAMGOPAL VARMA KI AAG
It's a very peppy character. She is a tapori who puffs beedi (hopelessly imitating her favourite actor Rajnikanth), drives an autorickshaw (called Laila) and looks after her parents. People are bound to compare this character with Basanti played by Hemaji in Sholay, but though both have the same flavour -- they are entirely different in attitude, and have been treated differently. I am sure people will love me and my character.


ON WORKING WITH SUSHMITA SEN, AJAY DEVGAN, AND EMRAAN HASHMI
There was a time when I would dream of working with these stars and today I am sharing the screen space with them. It is like a dream come true. The best part is that these senior actors make the newcomer feel so comfortable on the sets that you feel you have been working for ages with them.


ON HER LOVE FOR DANCE
You just have to put on the music and I can break into a jig. I love to dance and sometimes when I am feeling low, I put on soft music and dance


ON WHAT SHE LOVES TO DO GENERALLY
I either play video games, work out or catch up with my sleep. I don't party at all. I am a traditional person and like to maintain a low profile. I have a long way to go and I am concentrating only on my work.

PHEW! KAJOL AT HER SIZZLING BEST

THESE BOLLYWOOD BABES OOZE OOOMPH IN EVERY PORE OF THEIR BODY: CHECK THEM OUT

Emraan Hashmi is tired of kissing, wants to send shivers down the audience's spine. Are you game for it?

With the release of Awaarapan, Emraan Hashmi has apparently broken out of his typecast playboy, lover image and is now looking out for roles that are somewhat different ranging from horror, to fantasy and the realm of magic.

"I love horror and apparently it is a genre that has not been explored much in India. Maybe it is a risky thing to do, perhaps, that is why, I do not know," says the actor.

The 27-year-old, who began his career with the film Footpath, had become known in the industry for his roles involving kissing scenes, particularly in the movie Murder with co-star Mallika Sherawat.

One of the upcoming movies of this Mumbai-based actor is a thriller, the sequel to the Bhatt movie Raaz, starring Dino Morea and Bipasha Basu.

"People want to see something new and something more," says Hashmi. Typecast as a serial kisser and a playboy the actor seems to have finally come of age with his latest Mahesh Bhatt flick Awarapan, where he plays a gangster who helps free a Pakistani girl from the clutches of human trafficking.

Sporting straggly hair and an unshaven look, the film also sees the actor depart from his earlier clean shaven and a chocolate boy image.

Hashmi plays the role of a bookie in the upcoming movie Jannat, whose script revolves around the sudden and mystery-filled death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer during the World Cup. Another film that Emraan is working on is a yet to be untitiled comedy by Feroz Nadiawala.

CAN YOU SPOT THIS ACTRESS?

1. Jiah Khan

2. Amrita Arora

3. Kim Sharma

4. Preeti Jhangiani

Scroll down for the answer

Jiah Khan