ONE SONG. TWO LANGUAGES. ONE HEROINE. TWO HEROES

THE ORIGINAL IN TELUGU



THE REMAKE IN TAMIL

HECTIC LIFE IS NOT FOR KONKONA SEN SHARMA

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.

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.

THERE IS MORE TO PRASHANT TAMANG BEING 'VOTED' AS THE INDIAN IDOL: HERE'S THE TRUTH THAT TRANSCENDS BOUNDARIES

When he decided to try his luck at the Indian Idol reality show, winner Prashant Tamang probably did not dream that he would make it to the top.

Even if he did imagine that, the 24-year-old from Tungsung village in Darjeeling district could have never thought, even in his wildest dreams, that for many in Nepal his win would become a symbol of political victory over their southern neighbour India, frequently regarded as an arm-twisting bully.

For nearly two months, Nepal agonised over Indian Idol while its own contest Nepali Tara went ignored. Indeed, the Nepalese contest had to change its timing since no one watched it while it clashed with Idol.

Why would a nation ignore its own talents and devote its energies to promoting a singer whose ancestors originated from Nepal?

The answer is because, for many Nepalese, Darjeeling is still part of Nepal. In the 19th century, Darjeeling and other parts of Sikkim had been annexed by Nepal. However, as the British East India Company tried to open trade routes to Tibet via Sikkim, Nepal waged war against the Company and lost.

As a result, it was forced to sign the Sugauli Treaty and withdraw from all the territory it had occupied in Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal and much of the Terai.

Though the British found it difficult to govern the Terai and restored some of it to Nepal, Darjeeling, Kumaon and Garhwal remained part of British India.

When India obtained independence in 1947, Nepal hoped to get back its wrested land but did not.

Since then, the dream of achieving a "Greater Nepal" some day in the future with the lost area still remains in the mind of the Nepalese.

Royalists had been demanding a Greater Nepal and the Maoists, the opponents of the royalists, want it as well, demanding that the Sugauli Treaty be scrapped.

There has been no formal treaty between Nepal and India after 1947, even after Sikkim's merger with India in 1975, which Nepal regards as the annexation of Sikkim.

Nepal still does not formally recognise Sikkim's "annexation", nor has India sought recognition from Nepal.

Therefore Nepalis still regard Darjeeling as a part of Nepal that should be restored and Prashant Tamang is considered a Nepalese.

His victory Sunday therefore is the victory of Nepal over India in a way, which is why, despite his Indian citizenship, the fact that Prashant speaks Nepali at home, which constitutionally is an Indian language as well, is being regarded as evidence of his being a Nepalese.

Ironically, actress Manisha Koirala, who carved a niche in Bollywood, was never an icon in Nepal. One reason was probably because she came from one of Nepal's most influential families and the average Nepali did not identify with her.

Her popularity also took a dive after she supported King Gyanendra when the king tried to seize absolute power through an army-backed coup.

Nepalis feel that Manisha obtained stardom with the help of the Indian film industry, she did not "defeat" thousands of Indian contenders to attain success.

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

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."

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.

AKSHAY KUMAR TO STAR IN FIRST INDIAN FILM TO BE SHOT IN CHINA

Bollywood has joined hands with Hollywood major Warner Brothers for Made in China, the first Indian movie to be shot in China.

Shooting for the film, which will feature action star Akshay Kumar and model Deepika Padukone, will begin in January 2008, Warner Bros said in a release Thursday.

Akshay will play a lowly Mumbai cook who is mistaken for a martial arts hero in the movie to be directed by Nikhil Advani of "Kal Ho Na Ho" fame.

The script has been written by Shridhar Raghavan and the music is to be composed by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca.

Shooting on location in China will mark a first for an Indian production, said Warner Bros, which is making its initial foray into Bollywood.

The movie will be produced by Ramesh Sippy Productions and Advani's Orion Pictures, while Warner Bros will distribute it worldwide.

Ramesh Sippy, the director of "Sholay", said: "At the turn of the century there was a lot of promise in the air about globalisation in Indian cinema and now with this venture, RSP and Orion are joining hands with Warner Bros, bringing that dream closer to reality.

"Certainly what we hope to achieve at the minimum is a greater knowledge and understanding of the workings and systems of Hollywood and the Indian film industry. And I am sure we both stand to gain a lot from each other."

Blaise Fernandes, country manager for Warner Bros Entertainment India, said, "We'll count on our partners' expertise and will do everything in our power to make a well-crafted, popular and successful Indian film."

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.

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.

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.

BOLLYWOOD BAKWAS: IS SHILPA SHETTY THE DIVA OF ALL THE GOOD THINGS?

Raj Kundra apologises to Shilpa Shetty and her family for his wife, Kavita's "shocking allegations"

Is Shilpa Shetty quite as charming and saintly as she's been painted?

The hair-stylists of Bollywood's bold and beautiful denizens, 24 in all, are coming together for a Cut-A-Thon next Sunday and offering to give 300 fans the film star style and look.

Karan Johar not only makes his actors shed copious tears on screen, but off it too.

Take a dekko of how the Bollywood heroes have transformed over the years from the simpleton to the sizzling hero.

Not just US and Britain, even Shanghai grooves to Bollywood beats

Bollywood stars are not just entertainers, they have designs on your clothes too

A TICKET TO INDIA'S CINEMATIC HISTORY

Pravinbhai Thakker's eyes are alit as he displays his treasure, handling each piece carefully, explaining its significance and reminiscing about the effort his nearly 40 year long obsession has taken to maintain.

Thakker, a former peon with the Golden Tobacco Company has a unique hobby, one that is symbolic of the nation's obsession with cinema -- he has a collection of 3,397 movie tickets that he has collected painstakingly since 1968.

"I have worked with a tobacco company for 28 years, but never smoked a cigarette. My only vice is that I have to watch the latest movie every week and then store away the ticket. Each ticket is a memory of some celluloid moment that I have enjoyed," Thakker says.

"I watched my first movie in 1957, when I was all of 19. The movie was Mother India and the ticket at the time was 69 paise. At the time I used to work as a helper in a store in Central Mumbai, and earned a total of 12 anna per day," he says with a smile.

Thakkers collection fills up an entire suitcase, with tickets marked according to the year. Dog eared, torn and literally falling to pieces, some of his tickets date way back as 1968 and cost as little as 50 paise.

Each piece has markings on it, stating the date and time the movie was watched, the number of reels it had, the number of people Thakker watched the movie with.

In many ways, his collection is a chronicle of India's cinematic history from the late 60's and Thakker has been a avid witness to the movie revolution India has witnessed.

"I have so far spent Rs 31,407.37 on my hobby, but no regrets. My children are all settled. My family does not begrudge my this hobby at all, and I am happy to continue with it," Thakker says.

His achievement has also been noted in the Limca Book of Records in the year 2003.

Having watched so many films, however makes Pravinbhai somewhat of an expert on Indian cinema, and he is not afraid of airing his opinions on the same.

"Amitabh Bachchan should retire now," he declares, saying "he has overstretched himself. I remember him in his earlier days, and he has none of the energy that he displayed then. Of course, he still remains one of my favourite actors".

Thakker also has something to say on the new breed of multiplexes springing up all over the city. "They are too expensive. With Rs 200 I can watch four movies in a single screen theatre, but it may not even buy me a single ticket in one of these new fangled multiplexes. And after all, they both show the same movie, isn't it", he asks with a twinkle in his eye.

PHEW! KAJOL AT HER SIZZLING BEST

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

'GORGEOUS-AS-EVER' SRIDEVI GETS READY TO HIT THE SCREEN LIKE A TSUNAMI ONCE AGAIN

The 'thunder thighs' girl from Andhra, who went on to carve a place for herself in the hearts of the Hindi audiences, is back once again. And if you see the photographs (below) you would agree with us that she hasn't even a wee bit of her sizzle. She continues to be ravishing and raunchy as ever.

The fact of her comeback to Hindi cinema has been confirmeed by none other than her producer-husband Boney Kapoor. Says he, "We're certainly putting together a project that will hopefully do full justice to Sri's comeback. I'm aware her fans haven’t changed their loyalties. As for Madhuri, she is in many ways a product of our production house. She did some of her finest films like Pukar for me. Both Sri and I are very proud of her."

Boney has just returned from a 5-week tour of the US and Russia looking for virgin locations for his wife's comeback project.

The return of the screen goddess has been in the pipeline for months now. But now when Madhuri Dixit who at one time was Sridevi's closest competitor, has almost completed work on her comeback film Aaja Nachle, the mood in the Boney camp regarding the stunning Sri's return is upbeat.

Says a source, "If Madhuri can be re-launched with such style by Yashraj Films why not Sri? With Aaja Nachle almost complete, Boney Kapoor has decided to speeden up his still-gorgeous wife's comeback project."

In fact, some years ago Yashraj was all set to re-launch Sridevi's career. That project fell through.

Boney is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Sridevi, last seen in Boney's Judaai ten years ago, is brought back in style.


CHECK OUT FOR MORE OF THE SENHSUOUS SRIDEVI IN THE NEXT POST