The Aishwarya Abhishek Photo Collections

Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan with his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attend a Childrens Day function, in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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Vivek and Abhishek are set to work together

Sounds like a good joke. However, our sources confirm that Bollywood Actors Vivek Oberoi and Abhishek Bachchan would be sharing the screen pace with each other in the Apoorva Lakhia's movie "Mission Istanbul".

This Bollywood movie would be produced by Sunil Shetty and he says that he doesnt have any problem to feature both the actors at the very single screen.

"Why should they have any problems? Abhishek is a thorough professional actor. He has not problem working with anyone. And werent they both part of "Shootout At Lokhandwala" ? Yes,they do have scenes together in "Mission Istanbul". And I'm sure they will do them splendidly. Its a very unfair to bring in personal matters and question professionalism. Neither Abhishek Bachchan and Vivek have expressed any misgivings about working together," Shetty said.

Shetty, currently shooting for his TV show ‘Biggest Loser’, confirms the vast star cast of his forthcoming venture.

“We’ve already confirmed Bobby Deol, Vivek, Abhishek, Shabbir Ahluwaliah. Tusshar Kapoor has problems with the combined dates required with the other actors. The problem is now being worked out,” he said.

The leading ladies are also being finalized. “They’re integral to the action. I need ladies who can kick ass as effectively as the boys,” says Shetty.

Elaborating on the preparations for the film, Shetty said: “‘Mission Istanbul’ is being made on an international scale. The theme requires an international vision. My director is browsing for F-X teams from abroad. It will be top-of-the-line technicians. They’re a step ahead not because they’re more talented but because they’re more professional.”

“We can no longer get away with sub-standard spectacles. Guys who shot ‘Dhoom’ or the forthcoming ‘Cash’ have brought an unparalleled expertise to our cinema. In both forthcoming projects ‘Mission Istanbul’ and ‘Raaste’ with Abhishek, Aishwarya, John and Sikandar Kher, I’m getting top notch technicians associated with the best of Hollywood cinema. We’re spending Rs.250 million on ‘Mission Istanbul’ and ready to spend more. I trust my director Apoorva Lakhia completely,” he said.

- Bollywood Gossips

Abhishek Bachchan paints for kids

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan tried his hand at painting for ‘India on canvas’, an art-charity project initiated by Delhi based NGO ‘Khushii’.

The charity project was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gurcharan Kaur, Praful Patel and former cricketer Kapil Dev here yesterday.

‘Khushii’ also opened their ‘art-for-charity’ site, where one can log on and bid for the works of painters like M F Hussain, Tyeb Mehta and Satish Gujral.

The proceeds of the auction will be utilised for a number of projects for children and adolescents run by the NGO. A similar auction last year raised Rs 1.5 crore.

— BollywoodGossips.Net

Casting Ouch: Shilpa Vs Ash

'Pink Panther 2' casting has now become the hotly debated issue in Bollywood. Contrary to latest media reports, Aishwarya’s international agent Simone Sheffield says, "Ms Rai was the first and only choice to play Sophie in the Hollywood film Pink Panther 2."

The casting director Ilene Starger too endorses this fact by saying, "We did not offer the role to anyone other than Aishwarya. Period. Ash was the actress I envisioned when I read the script. Her intelligence, beauty and sophistication are just what the role requires. She fits in wonderfully with our fantastic ensemble cast, and all of us are thrilled to work with her.”

A couple of actresses claim to have refused the role Ash is starring in. It’s sad. If either of them had been offered a role in such a big budget international film, they’d have jumped at the opportunity instead of passing it up.”

Giving her side of story to SantaBanta, Simone says, "Please look at the original document received from Shilpa and you will see a standard letter signed by an office assistant and NOT by Ilene Starger."

"NO WHERE in the letter is there an offer for Shilpa to read, appear or even consider appearing in the film.....it is merely an invitation for Shilpa to submit a tape of herself. PERIOD.....this process is standard in the industry," she adds.

Last week, Ash shot for the film in Paris shooting alongside Steve Martin (who reprises his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau) and Andy Garcia (Vincente) and has now returned to Mumbai to complete Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodha Akbar and Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj.

- SantaBanta.Com

'I wanted none other than Aishwarya'

Refuting rumours about other Bollywood actors being offered a role in "Pink Panther 2", its casting director Ilene Starger said they only considered Aishwarya Rai.

"Most emphatically, we did not offer the role to anyone other than Aishwarya! Aishwarya was, when I first read the script, the actress I envisioned for the role," Starger told from Los Angeles in an e-mail interview.

Aishwarya shot for a day with Steve Martin and Andy Garcia in Paris Aug 20 for the film by Harold Zwart.

"Her intelligence, grace, beauty and sophistication are just what the role requires. And, of course, she has a touch of mystery too. She fits in wonderfully with our fantastic ensemble cast, and all of us involved with the film are thrilled to work with her."

Rumours had it that Celina Jaitley was offered the role first but rejected it. Also, Hrithik Roshan was asked to play detective Clouseau's assistant Vincent in part two of the comedy, but he too turned it down.

However, Aishwarya's international manager Simone Sheffield dismisses the reports.

Sheffield said: "Negotiations went on for a month to secure Aishwarya and her dates. The script is absolutely wonderful and the wardrobe is great.

"The film's costume designer Joe Aulisi has chosen some really hot items from Dolce & Gabbana. If any one of the actresses mentioned had really been offered this A-level role in such a big-budget international film, they would have jumped to join it and not have passed on the opportunity as they state, believe me.

"What I love about Aishwarya is that she just calmly continues along the path she has chosen, does her work, lives her life and never has a bad word to say about anyone."

Sheffield also has a lot to say about the actresses' absence at the unveiling of her statue at Times Square and for the promotion of her latest international film "The Last Legion".

"I see this trend happening more and more in the media with events falsely confirming Aishwarya's attendance to boost sales and media attention.

For one, Aishwarya was never confirmed to appear at the unveiling in New York City, nor did we confirm she was appearing on the late night talk show and a morning news programme during her brief visit to Los Angeles.

"She did, however, confirm she was appearing at India Splendor celebrating the 60th anniversary of India's Independence. When Aishwarya confirms an appearance, it is confirmed and she will without fail attend and always has.

"As for the promotions for 'The Last Legion', it is up to the producers and distributors of the film to make such arrangements and in this case numerous phone interviews with the international media took place over the past two months. There was nothing else requested of Aishwarya prior to the film's US release."

Aishwarya Rai is not Pregnant!

Refuting the reports about Aishwarya Rai's pregnancy, Abhishek Bachchan has made clear it amply clear that his wife is too busy to start a family.

In fact, she is going to be very busy shooting for the next two years. Just after completing the shooting of Sarkar Raj, the actress will fly to Europe for her third Hollywood venture which is a sequel to Hollywood blockbuster Pink Panther.

It is also reported that the actress will be playing the female lead opposite Steve Martin. Actors Andy Garcia, John Cleese and Alfred Molina have also joined the crew of Columbia Pictures/MGM's ‘The Pink Panther 2’.

Ash will star as a detective along with ‘Spiderman 2’ villain Molina and Garcia, who join forces with bumbling French police detective Jacques Clouseau, to be played by Martin, to catch the thief who has been stealing artifacts around the world.

Cleese will play Clouseau's superior chief inspector Charles Dreyfus in the movie, according to reports.

Agent Cody Banks director Harald Zwart will be directing the film, which was penned by Scott Neustadter, Mike Weber, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel and Steve Martin.

The film will be produced by Robert Simonds and Ira Shuman will be executive producer.

It is also learnt that Ash will start shooting for a film with Abhishek Bachchan to be directed by Tarun Mansukhani for Karan Johar's Dharma Productions early next year.

With a such packed shooting schedule ahead Ash might just be glowing with work only.

Meri Biwi Aishwarya Rocks!

Abhishek Bachchan says it is too early to feel any change after marrying Aishwarya Rai, a news report said on Monday.

He was shooting for Laaga Chunri Mein Daag at a suburban studio and took a short break to talk.

“Give me some time. It's not like she is waiting for me when I get back home. Things around me may have changed, but I am the same old Abhishek, a Boston student once, now an actor just married. It's no big deal,” a daily quoted Abshishek as saying.

“Ash is working too, you know,” he added.

The couple will now work together in Sarkar 2 in which Aishwarya will play a powerful woman who manages mob business.

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the movie is a sequel to the 2005 hit Sarkar about a ruthless mob boss played by Amitabh Bachchan. The three will appear on screen together in the movie. They had earlier worked together in Bunti or Babli.

“I am looking forward to working with my wife. She is a wonderful co-star,” Abhishek said.

“But whether she will get us a dabba of home-cooked food and whether the sets will resemble our home, you've got to ask Ash,” he said.

Speaking to the press for the first time following her marriage, Aishwarya also started off by promoting brand Bachchan.

"I feel blessed, I think it's wonderful to be married to your best friend. There is immense love and respect. I have the most wonderful father-in-law and mother-in-law, who treat me like their daughter," she told.

Her effusive praise for the Bachchan brand turned to evasive circumspection, befitting an Indian bahu, when quizzed what kind of a husband was Abhishek.

"If I start on that, we'll have to get onto an autobiography… there are too many details involved. In short, I'm in a happy place."

Interestingly, Aishwarya gave an insight into Bachchan's desire to make amends for the huge controversy over the exclusive Abhishek - Aishwarya wedding guest list.

"We do hope that in future, during a festival or our anniversary, we will have a larger celebration. The family has always partied and will continue to do so."

Aishwarya denies she and Abhishek broke many hearts when they married on 20 April, 2007.

"Going by the emails and letters, people are happy for us. We saw so much happiness, both among men as well as women… So contrary to what is assumed, our marriage hasn't broken hearts. We can feel it."

BREAKING NEWS : Abhishek and Aishwarya in New Zealand

Honeymoon in Tahiti for Aishwarya rai and Abhishek Bachchan

Aish abi couple were married 10 days ago in Mumbai and last Saturday morning a Stuff reader said he saw Ms Rai at Papeete Airport. He was boarding an Air New Zealand flight home while she had just come in on the inbound flight.

She was seen to give an autograph to a person at the airport.

Indian media say the couple are honeymooning in France - and Tahiti is part of French Polynesia.

Ms Rai, a former Miss World, is one of India's top female leads while her new husband is the son of legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

According to Indian community sources in New Zealand, who did not want to be named, Abhishek has visited New Zealand several times and made movies here.

There were rumours they were honeymooning in New Zealand but these have been discounted.

"If he was coming here we would have heard, and we're 99.9 percent certain that they are not here," the source said.

Abhishek-Ash, now man and wife

Abhishek Bachchan has married Aishwarya Rai. The much-publicised wedding has been solemnised at Amitabh Bachchan's home Prateeksha, in suburban Juhu.

The Ash-Abhishek wedding

Clad in a cream and gold sherwani and his face covered by strands of flowers, Abhishek looked every part the jubilant groom, waving at his friends and onlookers as he made his way -- astride a beautifully decorated white horse -- to Prateeksha.

Before he started off, younger sister Shweta performed Nazar Utarana to ward off the evil eye.

The guests included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, industrialist Anil Ambani and wife Tina, Sahara Group chairman Subroto Roy, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, Dimple Kapadia, Anupam Kher, Shammi Kapoor, Vashu Bhagnani and Ashutosh Gowariker.

Among the first to leave were Ram Gopal Varma and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, and his wife.

The waiting media was left disappointed as their view of the baarat entering was obstructed by a row of buses parked deliberately before the gate.

The main ceremony was a short and simple, sources said, adding that Ash's bidaai will be held on Saturday, early morning at her Bandra residence.