However, one hidden aspect of this light-eyed beauty came into fore the other day, when she did a perfect take off on her father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone. Ash aped her superstar dad-in-law’s deep voice and simultaneously paid him a huge compliment saying, “It is a voice that is unmistakable.”

Of course Big B’s baritone has also been the voice of Indian cinema for the last 40-years. But Ash is too modest to say that.

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The chivalrous actor accompanied girlfriend Bipasha Basu and her mother to Ajay Devgn’s party and those who were present said, John played dutiful son-in-law to the hilt. He made sure Bips looking stunning in a black backexposing creation and her mom looking equally stunning in a sari were well looked after the entire evening.

Must say Bips is lucky to have such a concerned boyfriend. No wonder women within and outside the industry envy her.

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While in Pune, Kim Sharma was walking in the market when a stranger misbehaved with her friend. Kim could not take such absurd behaviour and it was then when she gave him a piece of her mind and raised her hand. In no time, there a huge crowd gathered at the scene. With so many people around the man was left pleading for apologies.

The feisty Punjabi kudi surely knows how to stand up for a friend and will not entertain injustice in any form!

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It is still not clear whether she will contest elections as an Independent candidate or join the Nepali Congress which senior members of her family have been involved with, but the actress is serious about an alternate career.

“I will join politics,” says the actress who is flying to Los Angeles on November 5 for a work assignment. Manisha, who has steered clear of Nepal politics so far, says that her recent trip to Kathmandu has given her some fresh insights into the socio-political scene.

“I have a couple of films to complete in Mumbai,” she admits.

But she has spent almost four months this year in the US and seriously wants to move home base from Mumbai to Los Angeles. “It is too early to say anything about the work I am planning in LA,” says Manisha. “But I have made some good contacts in the movie business. I want to make LA my base as far as films go.”

The actress says that since her parents are now in Kathmandu, she doesn’t want to live alone in her huge duplex. “It makes little sense to run this place for one person… and it is also getting a bit lonely,” she admits.

Her brother Siddharth and his family have their own apartment in Mumbai. So the next step for her is to commute between Los Angeles and Kathmandu. “My political plans are in the formative stage,” she says. “However, I do realise that if I’m to take the plunge; which I have decided, I will then I need to spend a lot of time in my home country.”

While the actress wishes to continue to dabble in movies in some form or the other (be it acting or producing) she also wants to make her foray into politics.

Manisha will return to India in the third week of November because she is likely to be conferred with a political honour in Kanpur/Delhi around that time.

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Immediate speculation will point to Ranbir’s chemistry with Katrina Kaif. It’s hasty to pin the blame on Katrina though, as Deepika had seemed insecure before the pretty actress came into the picture. And it’s not Ma Kapoor that put the spanner in the works either.

Ranbir, after all, is a hot-blooded Kapoor. He is a natural charmer as far as women go and sooner or later, Deepika would have heard about his flirtations. Apparently, Ranbir isn’t too modest about it either. Discretion about his less-than-innocent encounters would’ve been highly advisable, but he hasn’t exactly been a posterboy for it so far. Common friends carried the news to Deepika, perhaps adding a bit of tadka for flavour.

This is when Deepika decided to call it off. Apparently, she told Ranbir to mend his ways since she had given a lot to this relationship. She had cut off ties with all her ‘good friends’ like Nihar Pandya and Yuvraaj Singh. So, she wanted Ranbir to give 100 per cent to the relationship as well. She kept hearing about his ‘friendship’ with Nandita Mahtani and other girls.

At this point of time, Ranbir started feeling suffocated in his relationship with Deepika. He asked for his space and Deepika justifiably wanted to know ‘What space? Aren’t we a couple?’

The final straw was hearing about his ‘crackling chemistry’ with Katrina. The next thing she did was to land up on the sets of Rajneeti in Bhopal, where Ranbir was shooting with Katrina. She stayed there for nearly two weeks.

After she came back from Bhopal, her relationship with Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s son was almost over. The crack first became evident at Shabina Khan’s birthday party two weeks ago where the two sat in different corners of the room.

And what about Neetu Singh? Mamma Neetu, who is said to have a very cold relationship with Deepika, did not play catalyst. A source says, “Neetu wants Ranbir to be happy. She will never go against his choice. Ranbir always treated Deepika as a girlfriend and not as someone special, basically there was no passion in their relationship.”

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We got to know that the documentary was to be shot only in English, but Priyanka insisted that they go for a Hindi version as well. The actress says, “I felt that having a documentary in English would be good to create awareness among kids in schools, colleges and cities, but to make the appeal wider we had to shoot in Hindi. That way we can reach out to rural pockets as well, where people need to be told about the wrong notions that they have regarding this disease.”

As the next step, the actress will also be spearheading the charity dinner organised titled The Beauty at the Feast that will be held tomorrow. So, how is the actress, who’s known to have air-tight schedules, making time for such causes? “I take my social responsibilities very seriously, and believe that when you really want to go something you always find time for it. If I can help a good cause in anyway by supporting it, I have always been able to find the time,” concludes PC.

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So it was a pleasant surprise to find out that the first person Shahid Kapoor took for a ride in his latest SUV turned out to be none other than dad Pankaj Kapur! About 45 minutes post driving out of the showroom, Shahid was spotted at Andheri driving his car with his father sitting beside him. It seems that Shahid had timed receiving the keys perfectly, so that he could directly go to the airport straight from the showroom and receive his father.

Eat your heart out ladies… there is a line to get into that car. The good news is, that no girl has set foot in it just yet!

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Your looks belie your age!
Physically, I feel 25-26. But I have no problems in accepting that I’m 44. In fact, if I look good, then the media writes that I’ve done plastic surgery. Honestly, if I sleep well, then I look good. Last night I slept well.

This has been a year of mixed fortunes… I enjoyed Season II with my cricket team. I was a bit disappointed when we didn’t fare well, but I know we’ll bounce back. I didn’t have film releases with the exception of Billu which was special for me. I got a honourary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, won a couple of other honours. My Name is Khan will come in February 2010. I had my shoulder surgery that kept me out of action now I’m on the road to recovery. I spent quality time with my kids. I’m finishing my book 20 Years Of A Decade. It was an unfortunate physical year but a good emotional one.

Are there any specific thoughts on growing older?
Yes, I have been constantly thinking about what I can give back to people, to society. Allah has been kind to me, He has given me so much. I have just six to seven good friends in the industry. But the media is my friend. You are the ones who remind me of my birthday at least four-five days in advance. You have given me so much love, so has my audience. Now I want to do something in return. I want to bring a smile to the faces of youngsters. I don’t want to start an NGO, but I do wish to do something for the cause of the girl child… The feeling of wanting to give is stronger now than it has been. I think of life as work. I want to introspect as to which direction I should take my life in. I want to do something to save the environment. Honestly, I haven’t done my bit yet but I will start now.

What’s next as far as films go?
RA1. It is something I’m kicked about. It’s a film that children are going to love. It will have action, special effects and a super hero.

Did you receive any special gifts?
Yeah, Karan Johar gave me a lap top bag and a pair of very expensive shoes. My children are making something for me that will come over the weekend. Parmeshwar Godrej sent me a gift. She does that each year. One of my fans has bought me a piece of land on the moon, one has bought me land in Scotland. I’m accepting gifts till this weekend, so all of you who wish to give me something can do so till Sunday.

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He should know, as brand ambassador of Head & Shoulders Shampoo and Head & Shoulders Scalp Massage Cream, the actor is a strong advocate of the products that he says help him “fight the enemy” from the source.

Celebrity hair professional Coleen Khan agreed that “the secret to healthy hair for men and women is in the shower… the use of the anti-dandruff shampoo followed by the scalp massage cream and then a rinse off is the solution”.

Dr Kalpana Sarangi, leading dermatologist, had a point when she added, “Dandruff symptoms differ in different kinds of hair. I advise a massage of the scalp with the anti-dandruff shampoo preferably with ZPT followed by a conditioner that is effective on all kinds of hair. The benefit — a healthy scalp and beautiful looking hair.”

Times

On Saturday, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan flew back on the same flight from London to Mumbai. SRK was in UK for the last couple of days on some work and Salman had gone there to promote his latest film, London Dreams.

While Salman was with his younger brother Sohail, SRK was by himself. When the Khan brothers walked in, Sohail (who, along with wife Seema, is on good terms with SRK and Gauri) went up to Shah Rukh, they chatted for sometime after which he went and joined his brother.

This was the third in the series of the jab-they-met encounters. The first time they were at the same place at the same time post their infamous feud was last year at Amrita Arora’s sangeet ceremony. The second was this year at Ramesh Taurani’s wedding anniversary bash. Other than that, the two actors have been going to great lengths to avoid bumping into each other. So what happened when they came face-to-face with each other?

Says an eyewitness, “Both Shah Rukh and Salman boarded the flight without the slightest knowledge that both were going to share nine hours of airspace together! Shah Rukh saw Sallu first. He appeared stunned, then he quietly went to his seat and sat down.”

Both were seated a few seats away from each other but Salman was talking loudly and making sure that his dushman could overhear everything he was saying. Sallu was apparently in great spirits and kept behaving like a naughty child, reveals the source, “He kept pulling the airhostess’s legs and behaving as if he was ready to go and brawl it out with the other Khan.”

After some reading, SRK went off to sleep. He didn’t wake up for his meal. He woke up only when it was time to land. Throughout the flight, it was obvious Shah Rukh had decided to completely ignore Salman while he was itching for a fight. When Sallu saw SRK wasn’t reacting to his verbal salvos, he too went off to sleep.”

While deplaning, Sohail and SRK bid goodbye to each other. Salman and Shah Rukh (who had walked ahead) again didn’t even look at each other. At the luggage unloading section, the two actors stood at two corners, picked up their respective luggage and strode off in two opposite directions as if they couldn’t wait to get away from each other. Though the airline sources confirmed that both Salman and Shah Rukh were on the same flight on Saturday they were tight-lipped about divulging further details on grounds of client confidentiality.

Mid-Day

Katrina was in the midst of giving television interviews with good friend Ranbir Kapoor for their film, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. During the course of one of the interviews at Mehboob Studios, a reporter suddenly asked Ranbir to give a sound byte to wish Aishwarya on her birthday. Ranbir gladly obliged by wishing Aishwarya warmly. When the reporter asked Katrina to wish Aishwarya, Katrina told the reporter that she doesn’t need to wish the actress as Ranbir has already done the needful. Certainly a clever way of masking her vexation on being asked to wish Salman’s ex-girlfriend.

As soon as the interview ended, Katrina, who had kept a tight check on her anger, stormed out of the studio floor and rushed into her vanity van. She refused to come out for 45 long minutes. Guess she wanted some muchneeded space to calm down.

One thing is for sure, Katrina is slowly but surely learning that being one of the most successful actresses in Bollywood requires a healthy balance between friends and rivals.

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She has been asked to go on a complete health diet comprising of fruits and boiled vegetables as she is required to look athletic in the movie. She is also mastering kick boxing and aerobics as the film will include some stunts.

Well, after sizzling on the screen in a super hot avatar, the actress is now ready to kick some butt.

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Gauri and Karan are expected to host a surprise party for the actor with regulars like Juhi and Jai Mehta, Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Khan, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, Chunky and Bhavna Panday, Kajal Anand, Arjun and Mehr Rampal, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan attending it.

The actor will also greet fans who gather outside Mannat each year on his birthday and is expected to have an hour-long media interaction, too. “He usually ends up cutting at least two dozen cakes because he finds it hard to turn away any of his well-wishers,” said a source.

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Anyway, sources say the actor excused himself by telling Duggu that he was committed to be in Delhi that day to walk at the fashion week. It is also said that when the two actors spoke on the phone, Salman told Hrithik that he loves him as much as his younger brothers. He also told Duggu that he was completely informed of the important events in Hrithik’s life. He wanted the light-eyed dancing sensation not to over-work and spend quality time with his wife and two sons — Hridhaan and Hrehaan. Of course rumours have it that Salman told Hrithik that if he doesn’t take care of himself and his family then he would actually stop talking to him.

If you’re wondering whether grown-up men actually talk this way, well in Bollywood they do. Here superstars are often boys at heart.

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One can remember that eventful night of July 2008 when Shah Rukh Khan crossed swords with Katrina Kaif’s boyfriend, playboy lothario Salman Khan. The war of words between the industry’s two biggest stars sent shockwaves across the world. On that day two camps were created, the Shah Rukh camp and and Salman camp. Those who were old time friends of Shah Rukh sided with him while the rest decided to talk up for Salman. Everyone had a word to say and everyone took sides. But one lady had to bear the biggest brunt of all… Salman Khan’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

For Katrina this was a huge problem caused not by herself. On the crisp of a career high, Katrina was all set to recieve the biggest accolade for a Bollywood starlet; a leading lady role oppisite King Khan Shah Rukh himself. She was offered a mega budget film by the biggest Bollywood banner, Yash Raj Films. Even entertaining the idea of starring opposite her boyfriend’s enemy number one was no-go for Kat. The next few months she dodged every question put to her regarding Shah Rukh Khan. Rather than turning down roles opposite him she just said she was ‘busy’. But now the scene has changed for her. She is now not on the crisp of a career high but is indeed riding way up there. With hit after hit no one can say that Katrina Kaif is a nobody. She has made a name for herself in a competitive market and not only that, but fast-tracked to the elite list of Bollywood heroines.

Now Katrina Kaif has decided to become bold and risky. She will not let her boyfriend come in-between her career. So she is letting the world know that she is ready to star opposite Mr. Shah Rukh Khan.

The first step to show this new Katrina Kaif was for the lady herself to bee seen at major parties mingling with none other than Shah Rukh Khan. Only last week the whole world witnessed Katrina and Shah Rukh together at two different parties within days of each other, Subhash Ghai and Pinky Roshan’s respective birthday celebrations. When the media asked her about this, and what Salman Khan would make of it, Katrina replied, “I fail to understand why people must constantly focus on just one aspect of an event. I’m not complaining because I know that if you are in the eye of the media, it only means that you are important enough to them. However, my bumping into Shah Rukh or spending time with him at an event is just a regular thing. I think people should stop trying to look for controversy in every nook and cranny. All of us are here to work. And we have common functions to attend. Naturally, when we’re under the same roof, we will interact. Why make a fuss? Who wouldn’t want to associate with Shah Rukh or Karan Johar?’’

“After four years in the industry, I know fully well that if your work doesn’t speak for you, everything else is inconsequential,” admitted Katrina. “Believe me, I’m not excited about being in the paper everyday, or on TV, unless there is something in my career worth talking about. Media hype and publicity can’t sustain a star for long. It’s like an air balloon that can be pricked anytime… and will go phut.’’

“Karan thinks out of the box. On the one hand, he makes a Dostana and then a path-breaking film like Wake Up Sid. Naturally, I’d like to do a film for his banner. Likewise, working with Adi (Yash Raj Films) is a pleasure. He has a young unit and they work with clockwork precision. Doing a film for them is being on a school camp, but completely result oriented,” says Katrina when asked about her future films.

“Honestly, I have no illusions about where I’m positioned,’’ said the pragmatic girl. “I’m nobody’s fool and for the moment, all I want is to do is some good work.’’

“We do discuss marriage but this is not the right time because Saif is busy in his production house and I am getting very good roles. So marriage can wait,” Kareena said at the HT Leadership Summit here Saturday.

Saif said: “People say that marriage doesn’t affect your career but the fact is it does. Today the whole definition of marriage has changed. We are so well connected, so close that marriage is just a stamp of validation for the society.

“I love her for what she is. We manage to spend a lot of time together and this is the most important factor to make a relationship work.”

The actor, who has some website dedicated to his next release Three Idiots, spends at least six-seven hours a day on his computer. Sources say Kiran isn’t very happy with this habit of Aamir’s. She has tried to yank him away from the computer several times, but to no avail. In fact, Kiran reportedly calls her superstar husband PI (meaning Pucca Idiot).

Earlier she used to call him Chotte Lal (guess it is an endearment), but since she can’t get all the kings horses and all the kings men to move away from his constant blogging, she has decided to stick to calling him PI.

How’s it feel to be the most beautiful face in Bollywood 15 years after you won your crown?• I’m not very good at handling compliments but I accept it with grace. I’m grateful to God, my audiences and my filmmakers —be it Mani Ratnam (Iruvar, Guru, Raavan), Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Guzaarish), Mansoor Khan (Josh), Ashutosh Gowarikar (Jodhaa Akbar), Ram Gopal Varma (Sarkar Raj), Raj Kumar Santoshi (Khakee), Aditya Chopra (Mohabbatein, Dhoom II) and others who never used just my beauty as the fulcrum. Instead, they kept the beauty and the aesthetics going at the same time in each of the film characters I played.

Life has come a full circle. Even after marriage, you still have the best makers backing you.• These are the same filmmakers I have worked with in the beginning of my career. I got married in the middle of shooting Jodhaa Akbar and when I reported back on his set, Ashu told me that nothing has changed. It just meant so much more hard work for me because when I come to the work front, I don’t want anyone to think of me as being any less professional than I was when I was single. It was important for me to strike the right balance between home and work. All the film-makers I’m working with are super passionate about their work. Thanks to them, I still feel the same adrenaline rush that I always feel when I’m on set.

Earlier this year, you were awarded the Padmashree…• It has been a memorable year, every other month there has been some honour. I have much to thank God for.

Abhishek and you have tickled audiences with that recent soap commercial.• It is ten years of my association with the brand. So they suggested that it would be nice to bring Abhishek on board. Honestly, how time flies.

Amitabh Bachchan said it is for you and Abhishek to make him a grandpa whenever…• Well, if you ask him a question like that, what can he say? It is an apt answer for a parent to give. When I was on the Oprah Winfrey show, I told her that every time there is even a bump, it is assumed that I’m with child. Being pregnant is not something one can conceal. When I am pregnant, the world will know.

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At least she doesn’t blatantly deny the relationship (like some of our beauties often do), or pretend that jab they met nothing really ever happened. That’s the cool Kapoor gal for you. Recently during an exclusive interview with ZOOM, when she was asked if she’s in touch with Shahid Kapoor, without appearing even faintly unnerved by the question, she said, “No, we are not in touch. Shahid and I shared a wonderful relationship in the past, the least we can do is wish each other well. At least I know I do that from my side.”

Bebo is such a darlin’, no? We see one head nodding already.

Salman Khan isn’t too far behind in the cause, in fact; the super-smart star uses a double-edged sword. With all noble intention only. During an exclusive interview with ZOOM, Sallu revealed, “Earlier I was not conscious of the way stars were used for charitable causes. They went and entertained kids, orphans, interacted with them, did photo-opps etc, which is all good. It also made the stars look very good. Once that was over, no one really cared about the wellbeing of the children. So as producers, Sohail, Arbaaz and I decide to always contribute a certain amount, and then we casually ask our other sponsors and organisers how much they will be putting in? We tell them — Why don’t you double what we are putting in? It embarrasses them so much that they have no choice and have to make a contribution.” With this the movies gets promoted better, the producers, actors, and sponsors are all khush. And the NGOs’ go home with their hearts and hands full.

Kudos to Sallu. That’s what we call being human. So sweet!

With their film, ‘Kurbaan’ – centered on world terrorism, all set to release, the move may seem like more of a marketing gimmick but the couple is quick to defend all such claims.

Talking to a news daily, the lovebirds raised their concern about the present terrorism scenario. As for speaking at the conference goes, Saif is already ready with his list of pointers while Kareena plans to be spontaneous.

Talking about the conference, Kareena told a news daily, “I`m a very spontaneous person. It`s like that with my acting. It would be like that when I meet Mr Bush. Jo dil mein hai woh bolungi. By now, I`ve gained enough confidence to be able to speak at such summits with some amount of confidence. Nowadays, you can`t afford to have your head buried in the sand. You have to know what`s happening in the world around you.”

Now that’s the way to go gal!

Mallika is presently in Los Angeles shooting for a film inspired by San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Devi Harris.

Talking about her going under the knife for getting her lips enhanced, a source says, “She was waiting for the shooting of ‘Hissss’ to end. After that, she was to start shooting for her new Hollywood film. Mallika wants to look the part and that`s why she had her lips done, while she was in India. She was here for more than a month. In fact, she was supposed to leave more than two weeks ago but left for LA only last week.”

However, her brother Vikram Singh has denied all such rumours. When asked about the same, he said, “What rubbish! Mallika is the same as ever before. I would have definitely known had she done something.” Really?

Well, Mallika remained unavailable for comment!