Preity, Amrita at a joint birthday party

Preity Zinta shared her birthday on January 31 with Amrita Arora. Preity was also the surprise guest at Amrita's theme party on the night of Jan 30. The two Aquarian girls even cut a cake together.

Says Preity, "Amrita is a really sweet girl and she has been inviting me every year in order to celebrate our birthday together. This year I said I had to go. Besides it was a theme party…wigs and hats. And I love hats. I am a very hat person. So I went in one of my favourite hats. Thank God I didn't wear the big blonde wig as I was planning to. Because the whole industry was there. How would I've looked?"

The fun-loving Aquarian side to Preity remains predominant. "All us Aquarians are gregarious and hassle-free. Maybe Abhishek, Urmila, Amrita, and I can have a collective birthday party next year. We are all chatterboxes. But I'm now learning to listen more carefully." Preity remains intact although she's now, in her own words, a better listener. "I have to be. I'm in all these board meetings for my cricket deal. And there I better shut up and listen. There's so much to learn."

Preity was in fact in a series of meetings on the eve of her birthday. "But on my birthday I've just decided to chill out. I'm at home watching a DVD, relaxing sleeping. Last year was a sad birthday for me. My dog had died. This year I've lots to look forward to. And I'm happy. The only thing that irritates me is the constant reference to my age from media persons."

- IndiaFM

Anil Kapoor to host a T.V. show

Anil Kapoor donned the hat of a successful producer with his critically acclaimed film Gandhi My Father last year. The versatile actor even got all the ceetis and taalis for his smashing performance as the lovable Majnu Bhai in the smash hit Welcome.

This year Anil has decided to do something which he probably hasn't done before. The actor would be seen hosting a quiz show on television., thereby following the footsteps of some of his other colleagues like Big B, SRK and Govinda who have hosted T.V. shows in the past.

The format of the show, still kept under wraps, would be based on an American show and would be similar to the hugely popular Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).

Well from acting to producing to anchoring a T.V. show….what next Anil???

- Bollywood Hungama News Network

School in Bahu's Name - Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan

Lucknow, Jan. 22: Call it playing the perfect pa-in-law.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has decided to gift a girls’ school to the people of Daulatpur and the buzz is he will name it after “hamari bahu” Aishwarya.

What exactly the name will be has yet to be worked out, but sources close to Bachchan quoted him as saying “it will bear Aishwarya’s name”.

The school, to be built on a 1.09-acre plot in Barabanki district, has revived whispers about the dispute the actor was involved in last year. But this plot — No. 711 — is different, though close to No. 702 that is now owned by the gram sabha.

The foundation-laying ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, at which Bachchan is expected to unveil a plaque carrying his name. Three former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chandrababu Naidu — are likely to attend, apart from the star-studded Bachchan clan.

Although Bachchan baiters have been questioning his motive in building the school and even alleging “he wants to clear his conscience”, a former Mulayam minister said the actor merely wanted to contribute his bit to increase literacy among girls.

The actor had floated such a suggestion even in the middle of the legal wrangle last year in which he has been cleared by Allahabad High Court.

“Why didn’t Bachchan talk about the school before the dispute? It has come as an afterthought. But good sense, whenever it comes, is welcome,” a Bahujan Samaj Party leader said.

“We would call it a school to clear his conscience.”

A spokesperson in the Delhi office of Bachchan’s wife Jaya confirmed the Barabanki inauguration on Sunday. He said the proposal for the school had been announced last year.

“Mr Bachchan does not need any counselling from anyone on his social commitments,” Arvind Singh Gope, a Samajwadi member, said.

Samajwadi Party sources said the school was likely to be run by a trust and would provide free education to girls from underprivileged families.

- TheTelegraphInidia