Deepika Padukone is all set to light up Diwali this year.

Deepika Padukone Photo Gallery

Deepika Padukone, daughter of former badminton champion Prakash Padukone, couldn’t have asked for a better debut than venturing into Bollywood world opposite none other than the king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan in the Farah Khan Film Om Shanti Om.

Deepika has been depicted as a 1970s superstar Shantipriya and later as Sandy in the movie Om Shanti Om.

Born on January 5, 1986 in Mangalore, Karnataka, Deepika has been modelling appearances in print and television advertising campaigns for Liril soap, Limca, Close Up toothpaste receiving many prestigious modelling offers, including brand ambassadorship of the Jewels of India, an annual jewellery exhibition.

Deepika went into the international scene when Maybelline made her the new international cover girl face.

At the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards, for Indian models and designers, Deepika was awarded the title of Model of the Year. Shortly after that, Deepika was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006, thus cementing her reputation as a supermodel.

She also bagged two trophies at the Idea Zee Awards in 2006 - Female Model of the year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the year.

Like many successful models before her, Deepika chose the Indian film industry as a career. She started by starring in the music video for Naam Hai Tera a song from the pop album Aap Ka Suroor, by Himesh Reshammiya .

Deepika recently made her cinematic debut in a Kannada film, ‘Aishwarya’, directed by Indrajit Lankesh co-starring Upendra . The film is a box-office success and Deepika has received rave reviews for her screen presence.

In Bollywood, Deepika has already signed Priyadarshan 's next ‘Pirate’, and ‘Made In China’ opposite Akshay Kumar .

‘Om Shanti Om’ is to be released on November 9, 2007.

- BollywoodGossips.NET

Rani Mukherjee weds Aditya Chopra on February 10, 2008

It may be a Bollywood Gossip or a Bollywood News, Rani Mukherjee and Aditya Chopra are set to marry on February 10, 2008 at Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel in Jodhpur, following an as yet unacknowledged engagement ceremony in June.

Umaid Bhawan Palace Hotel has been famous few months ago when English actress, fashion model Elizabeth Hurley tied knots with the Indian businessman Arun Nayar there.

Some reveal it as "It's one of the most expensive place in India, but Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukherjee think its the perfect place to get away from the prying eyes of the media world.

It seems like the couple have booked the hotel in advance to make sure that everything is done in a very hushed manner. Only some close friends have the information about it. Ofcourse, Rani's family members know about it but its not sure about Aditya Chopra's family."

Earlier talking to press Rani vehemently denied that she was engaged to Aditya.

At the launch of Raga Crystals range of women's watches, when Rani was quizzed on rumors of marriage to Aditya Chopra, she sarcastically responded.

"You might not know but I have five children also. Go find them and I will reward you," Rani said.

Om Shanti Om - Movie Review

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Shreyas Talpade, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, and Malaika Arora Khan Director: Farah Khan This film focuses on Om (Shah Rukh Khan) who grows up in the seventies. This is the time when he meets Shanti (Dipika Padukone ), the love of his life but shortly thereafter suffers an untimely demise. Om is immediately reincarnated and the story flash forwards to the present day. Haunted by memories of his past life and his true love, Om attempts to solve the mystery of his death, and also reunite with Shanti, the love of his past life. Om Shanti Om is said to be inspired by the Hollywood movie, Chances Are, where a man is reincarnated and instantaneously attempts to find the wife from his previous life. Om Shanti Om has over 30 well known Bollywood stars including Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan putting in a guest appearance for a special song and dance sequence in the film, a concept recently used by Farah's brother, Sajid Khan in the opening number of his film, Heyy Babyy. Farah Khan's husband, Shirish Kunder (director of Jaan E Mann) is in charge of Om Shanti om's editing. He was previously involved in the same department for Farah's debut movie, Main Hoon Na. Om Shanti Om features Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role and introduces Deepika Padukone as his love interest. The supporting cast includes Arjun Rampal (recently seen in the film Don) and Shreyas Talpade. - SantaBanta . Com

Bipasha Basu with Cristiano Ronaldo

Bollywood Babe Bipasha Basu being kissed by Cristiano Ronaldo at a Portugese nightclub.

The Man United ace was reportedly getting very cosy with the supermodel at a VIP bash held after the new Seven Wonders of the World ceremony in Lisbon.

The photograph has surfaced just one day after Ronaldo's girlfriend, Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson was forced to deny rumours that she cheated on Ronaldo with his fellow Man United team mate Alan Smith.

Here are the exclusive pictures of Bipasha Basu getting cosy with Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I'm happy about Sanjay's Arrest" - Rakhi Sawant

Bollywood Item Girl Rakhi Sawant said in an interview that she is happy about Sanjay Dutt's Arrest and everyone in the Bollywood knows that this arrest is reasonable. She added that people in Bollywood dont dare say anything against Sanjay Dutt because they have invested some good amount of money on the actor.

Rakhi Sawant challenged that no one has the guts to ask her why she said like this.

Rakhi Sawant, the bollywood celebrity who has been very famous among bollywood celebrities due to her sexy dance numbers, celebrity controversy, rumors has commented on many other bollywood celebrities in the past which also includes Amitabh Bachchan.

When Rakhi found that she might get into some kind of trouble for giving such a daredevil interview, she tried to change her statement saying that she did not say such things about Sanjay Dutt. All she said was that the guilty must be punished.

- Bollywood Gossips

Whats up ? Ramu !!

Before the release of his much awaited and talked about film Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag , Mr. Varma definitely must have had ‘Butter- flies’ in his stomach. Moreover, since it was not just any usual copy or remake heard of but was a remake of the legendary film, Sholay . Well the film did release and as expected ( especially by Ramesh Sippy) Varma did get his share of flaks pelted at him, but what was really unexpected was that people who usually butter him up too melted away. So when we have the famous and popular ‘Butter ad’ take a dig at him saying, “Ab tera Kya hoga Ramu” one cannot help but be the mean Gabbar Singh to him.

- indiafm.com

Favourite rain song? Bollywood responds

Be it the softly romantic 'Pyar hua iqraar hua' from Sri 420 or the frankly sensual 'Aaj rapat jayen' from Namak Halaal, rain songs have been a constant in Bollywood films down the ages. Here, stars and directors list their favourites:

Saif Ali Khan: My favourite rain song will have to be 'Tip tip barsa pani' from the film Mohra. I like the lyrics and the ambience created by the tune.

Hema Malini: I'll choose one of my own songs. It will have to be 'Rama rama gazab' from Naya Zamana. It was a scene where this rich girl gets in a folk costume and sings and dances in the rain with the folks in the basti. I loved the simplicity and grace of the moment. And it was filmed with great dignity.

Shabana Azmi: 'Pyar hua iqraar hua' from Sri 420. It contains the iconic image of Nargis singing to Raj Kapoor with her entire soul embodied under the umbrella as the three little kids (actually, Raj Kapoor's real-life children) pass by.

Urmila Matondkar: 'Pyar hua iqraar hua' in Sri 420 had an unforgettable melody by Shankar-Jaikishan, truly sensuous sung by Manna Dey and Lata Mangeshkar and great chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Nargis. I also love my own 'Geela geela pani' from 'Satya'. Lataji's voice, Vishal Bharadwaj's composition and Gulzar saab's lyrics soak you in ravishing rain even if you are perched in a parched desert.

Alka Yagnik: 'Rimjhim ke geet saawan gaye' by Lataji and Mohammad Rafi saab in Anjana and my own 'Tip tip barsa pani' from Mohra, for different reasons - first one because it's the height of romance and the other because it's very seductive.

Bappi Lahiri: My favourite rain song is 'Aaj rapat jayen' from Namak Halaal because Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan) and Smitaji (Smita Patil) danced so well in the rain. I also like 'Tip tip barish' from Afsana Pyar Ka where Aamir Khan stood the whole night in the rain singing to his beloved. Very romantic!

Vipul Shah: 'Pyar hua iqrar hua' from Sri 420 because it's romantic and sexy, and still not vulgar.

Aftab Shivdasani: 'Tip tip barsa pani' from Mohra, I had loved it on the audio. I loved it even more when I saw it on screen featuring Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon.

Mahesh Bhatt: It will have to be 'Dil tera diwana hai sanam'. The black and white film Dil Tera Diwana, which I saw in primary school, still twinkles in my mind. It was a great tune by Shankar-Jaikishan. And there were super performances by Shammi Kapoor and Mala Sinha soaked in rain and marinated in the spice of nostalgia.

Pritam Chakbraborty: 'Rimjhim gire sawan' in Manzil. I love the song. Awesome composition by Rahul Dev Burman, fabulous lyrics by Yogesh and terrific singing by Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. And it was shot on Amitabh Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee on Marine Drive. I loved the chemistry between them. I also like 'Dilbara' from Dhoom because it's my tune and I like how Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Esha Deol romp in the rain.

Zayed Khan: It would have to be 'Kaate nahin kat-te yeh din yeh raat' from Mr. India. It had Sridevi in a wet blue chiffon sari at her sensuous best. She projected the quintessential Indian woman. Simply super!

Rahul Bose: Sridevi in 'Kate nahin kat-te yeh din yeh raat' gave an entirely new definition to the 'blue wet Indian clingy sari' trick. She was in splendid form. Pure magic. And the rains did the rest.

Rituparno Ghosh: 'Chotisi kahani se, baarishon ke paani se' in the film Ijaazat. Gulzar bhai has written other rain songs like 'Barse phuhar' in 'Thodisi Bewafaii' and 'Phirse aayo barda bidesi' in Namkeen. But the 'Ijaazat' song remains special. It defined the entire mood of the film. I wish I could've used it in my own film Raincoat.

Madhur Bhandarkar: My favourite rain song is 'Rimjhim gire saawan' from Manzil. It has an earthy aromatic feel to it and has been shot candidly in the streets of Mumbai.

Aadesh Shrivastava: 'Bheegi-bheegi raaton mein' from Ajnabee sung by Kishore da and Lata Mangeshkar. What I like the most about the song is the on-screen pair Rajesh Khanna and Zeenat Aman.

Manoj Bajpai: 'Rim-jhim gire sawan' in Manzil. It's simple yet sensuous. I don't like in-the-face sensuality. I don't think we can capture that mood ever again. We aren't that simple any longer.

David Dhawan: 'Hai hai yeh majboori' in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. Laxmikant-Pyarelal's tune, Lataji's singing, Zeenat Aman on screen and Manoj Kumar's direction. What else?

Raveena Tandon: 'Ab ke sawan' by Shubha Mudgal. It has amazing energy. And it immediately makes me want to get wet and wild in the rain. 'Lagi aaj sawan ki phir vo jhadi hai' in Chandni when the rain makes me mellow moody and romantic.

Rajit Kapur: 'Rimjhim gire sawan' - it's a brilliant composition, serene and sensuous, fragrant and romantic, and to this day, as fresh as the first showers.

Sammir Dattani: I've three favourite rain songs from three eras. I love 'Tip tip baarish shuroo ho gayi' from Afsana Pyar Ka. As kids we all loved to get wet and sing this number because it was so easy to sing. My second favourite is 'Lagi aaj sawan ki Phir vo jhadi hai' from Chandni. It's filled with romance and nostalgia and Sridevi was so dignified in the rain. Finally, my new favourite rain song is 'Barso re megha' from Guru. For one reason only - Aishwarya Rai.

© Copyright 2007 Indo Asian News Service.

"Himesh is the Laxmikant-Pyarelal of today" - Subhash Ghai

Subhash Ghai has recently sold the rights for his Karz to T-Series. But wasn't Karz inspired by The Reincarnation Of Peter Proud?

“Yes," Ghai admits. "But only in one scene where Peter meets his mother. The rest of the story and script was written afresh as per Indian myths and beliefs. You have to see Reincarnation Of Peter Proud to see how different it was from Karz."

Ask him if Himesh Reshammiya would do as much justice to the main lead as Rishi Kapoor and SG replies, "I'm no authority to judge the future work of any talent. Himesh may even prove better, who knows? I know Laxmikant-Pyarelal did a fabulous job in my Karz. But I'm sure Himesh will do a good job. Himesh is today's Laxmikant Pyarelal ...time brings new people too."

Subhash Ghai is working with Gulzar Saab for the first time in his new directorial venture Main Yuvraj. Why the change from Javed Akhtar Saab? Smiles Ghai, "It's the script that tells a director to choose the right talent and technicians to justify the mood of the film ... its nothing personal .You’ve to wait and watch what we do together. But it has to be unique. Every film of mine has its own rhythm and pattern. Khalnayak came after Saudagar, Pardes came after Khalnayak, Taal came after Pardes; so every film is a new child with a different face for a director and he enters into a new avenue, risk and challenges. That’s the thrill of a good director being on the scene."

But before Main Yuvraj featuring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anil Kapoor, Subhash Ghai has a smaller directorial venture Black & White ready for release.

Ghai defends the 'smallness' of the venture. "Mukta has given Iqbal and Joggers Park too. They were smaller more intimate films. Yes, Black & White is being made under the Mukta Searchlight banner with minimum budget. It's an issue-based subject with a different approach. Whereas Main Yuvraaj is a full- on entertainer to release in 2008. Let’s see what Subhash Ghai brings to you. May be a surprise if not a shock. He is working hard as usual with a smile," Ghai ends in the third person in true royal showman fashion.

Jiah Khan's Groovy Sensuousness

Jiah Khan oozes sensuous charm. In this photoshoot for stardust front cover, she unravels her sexuality. There's something mysteriously beautiful about her that grips attention.watch this special photoshoot as it's Exclusively for you

- IndiaFM

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."

Buddha Mar Gaya - Movie Review

Starring : Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal, Mahbanoo Mody-Kortwal, Rakhi Sawant
Directed by Rahul Rawail
Rating: None

Whose laash is it anyway? Decades ago Kundan Shah killed us with laughter in a comedy about a corpse that needed curious manoevering.

To his corny credit, Anupam Kher plays an inert deathly-still corpse in Rawail's feel-crude film as convincingly as Satish Shah did in Kundan Shah's film.

But the catchline 'You'll Die Laughing' is not really applicable in Buddha Mar Gaya…. one just dies of shock and shame watching the director of such modern classics as Arjun and Dacait plunge to unimaginable heights of infantile crudity.

The ensemble cast of this pitch-black comedy is devoid of all motivation except a searing self-serving greed. Every member of this multi-millionaire malfunctional family scoffs at all moral values and sniggers at finer sentiments.

In a sense Rawail's family's complete lack of innocence is in direct and devilish contrast to the family Sooraj Barjatya gave us in Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Hain.

Cunning, wicked, evil and vulgar, the family in Rahul Rawail's films spoofs the aesthetics of the archetypal Family Drama with a lingering appetite for red-hot crudity. It's hard for us to share their enthusiasm for the low life, specially when the dead man's grand -daughter performs an item song in front the corpse-pretending-to-be-alive.

The opera of the grotesque opens with the death of a tycoon (Kher) who dies while making love to the indefatigably saucy Rakhi Sawant. She eventually seduces and kills several other men from Vinay ( Bheja Fry) Pathak to Prem ('Mera Naam Hai Prem') Chopra.

What are all these talented actors doing in this over-heated over-cooked comedy of a disintegrated generation?

"What a glorious death. He came and went simulatenously, " says the dead man's grandson who finally turns out to be the dead man's son sired by the (now-dead) old man in lieu of his gay son (Mukesh Tiwari), secretly having an affair with the family godman (Om Puri) who's also doing it to the dead man's plump sister (Mohbanoo Mody-Kotwal, coming a long way off from her extraordinary 'Mrs Nair' act in Black).

By the time the cacophonic bump-and-grind satire creaks to a halt, you are looking at a film that makes a fashion statement out of anarchic iconoclasm.

By simply disregarding and rubbishing social institutions like the family nucleus and the rituals of death and mortality (Ranveer Shorey plays a cremation-ground broker who sells bodies to the 'needy') Buddha Mar Gaya attempts to give a tantalizing twist to the school of stripped-down satire.

But sorry, it isn't comic or cool to cut up the patriarch into pieces, literally.

This could be elected the one 'comedy' that tells you how not make a supposedly funny film. First of all, please don't convert the joint family into a circus of circumstantial irreverence…not if irreverence means anything from alternate sexuality to incestuous intentions.

Marigold - Movie Review

Cast: Salman Khan (Prem), Ali Larter(Marigold Lexton), Nandana Sen(Jaanvi), Helen, Suchitra Pillai, Ian Bohen (Barry), Shari Watson, Vikas Bhalla, Vijayendra Ghatge, Kiran Juneja, Gulshan Grover, Rakesh Bedi
Director: Willard Carroll

Marigold is a musical romantic comedy about a young American woman who travels to India.

There, she finds her life transformed in the most unexpected ways by her experiences and adventures.

Beautiful and bad-tempered American actress Marigold Lexton (Ali Larter) arrives in India with no luggage.

Stranded in Goa when finance for her low budget Hollywood movie falls apart, Marigold finds herself in a small role as part of a Bollywood musical.

Eager to prove herself, she enlists the aid of Prem (Salman Khan), the film's choreographer. Talented and hard working, Prem left his privileged life behind to follow his dreams.

After several heated arguments, during Marigold's dancing lessons, she experiences renewed confidence and growing love for Prem.

In rapid succession, Marigold discovers that Prem is not only descended from royalty but is about to have an arranged marriage to a beautiful Indian girl, Janvi (Nandana Sen).

Unable to deal with this development, Marigold angrily departs Prem's family estate. But she is urged back by Janvi who confesses that Prem doesn't love her and never will.

Another complication unfolds in the form of Marigold's boyfriend, Barry (Ian Bohen), who arrives unexpectedly in India and finds Marigold emotionally drained but still very much in love with Prem.

Does love ultimately triumph? Will Marigold and Prem ever be brought together? And what happens to Janvi and Barry? This romantic journey, pure Bollywood style has all the answers.

Kaisay Kahein - Movie Review

Starring: Rajveer and Neha Julka With Kunal Kumar, Aditi Govitrikar, Meghna Malik, Chavvi Mittal and Zarina Wahab
Music: Pritam
Directed by Mohit Hussein

Kaisay Kahein is a modern-day love story that pits romance against career. What happens when love breaks into the lives of two career-minded people?

Aditya (Rajveer) is a young banker with a bright future, but with no time for anything personal. That is till Radhika (Neha Jhulka) comes into his life.

A hardcore TV journalist devoted to her work, she meets Aditya during a sting operation. They fall in love, but the relationship is negotiated around their careers. Their professions remain priorities.

To keep their love alive, they decide to keep their personal lives separate from work.

But it's easier said than done, as love can't keep up with the erratic demands of their careers. Aditya can't leave his job and Radhika decides to take a much-awaited promotion that would take her away to another city.

Can love survive long-distance? Can Aditya and Radhika find the same passion in them as before?

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls - Kareena Kapoor

She took over role of the seductress Kamini, played by Helen in the sensuous number 'Yeh Mera Dil Pyar Ka Deewana'.

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls - Urmila Matondkar

This Chamma chamma girl made her fans go crazy with her sexy number in 'China Gate', and is now set to be the new 'Mehbooba' of Bollywood.

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls : Mallika Sherawat

'Mehbooba Mehbooba' is Mallika's claim to fame. She turned the most expensive item girl with the movie, as she charged Rs.1.5 crore for her appearance.

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls : Aishwarya Rai

She shocked everyone with her image when she appeared with Shah Rukh Khan in 'Ishq Kameena'. And who can forget 'Kajra Re' number with then-beau Abhishek and his father Big B.

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls - Sushmita Sen

Susmita Sen, clad in white, with heavy jewellery did a brilliant job in 'Mehboob Mere,' in Fiza.

Sexy Bollywood Item Girls : Shilpa Shetty

Not just UP and Bihar but the whole nation tapped their feet when Shilpa Shetty danced to the tune of 'Main Aai Hoon UP Bihar Lootne' in the movie 'Shool'.