Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Dor', a poignant tale of two women:Ayesha Takia

Young and chirpy actress Ayesha Takia considers Nagesh Kukunoor's 'Dor', a poignant tale of two women, as the path-breaking film of her career. She says after the movie, people started taking her seriously as an actor.

'After 'Dor', viewers showed the confidence that I could play serious roles too and so I was offered roles in films like 'Eight By Ten' and 'Wanted' and many other big movies,' Ayesha told.

Ayesha is on the verge of completing another Kukunoor film titled 'Eight By Ten'.

'Ten days of shooting is left. It also stars Akshay Kumar,' said Ayesha who plays Akshay's wife in the supernatural thriller.

Her next release is 'De Taali', which will be showcased at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, starting June 6 in Bangkok.

Talking about the film, the dimpled actress said: 'The character is totally in contrast to what I am in actual life. I play Ammu who is a complete tomboy. She is a complete brat and grows up with Aftab Shivdasani and Reitesh Deshmukh. She does what normally guys do.'

Apart from 'De Taali', she has Boney Kapoor's 'Wanted Dead And Alive', which marks southern dancing superstar Prabhu Deva's entry into Hindi films as director.

The film is a remake of Tamil film 'Pokkiri', which was also directed by Prabhu Deva. In the action movie, Ayesha is paired with Salman Khan. Mahesh Manjrekar and Om Puri too feature in key roles.
The actress is also doing Ahmed Khan's film on four children titled 'Pathshala' where she and Shahid Kapur play teachers.

Though 'Tarzan - The Wonder Car', for which she won the best debutant actress award in 2004, was released before 'Socha Na Tha,' Ayesha considers Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy as her debut film.

She said: ''Socha Na Tha' will always be my first film and close to my heart. 'Tarzan' was an entertaining film but 'Socha Naa Tha' had a lot of space for acting.'

Was she approached for Imtiaz's second film 'Jab We Met'?

'Initially, Bobby and I were supposed to do the film, but the dates did not work out between us. But, I look forward to working with Imtiaz.'

The actress faced the camera for the first time when she was four years old for an ad and later she did quite a few commercials and music videos.

How difficult was it to gain entry into films? 'It was not at all difficult. I did not go looking for work. Imtiaz went through my audition tapes and called me to his office.'

Ayesha feels that making an entry is not at all difficult if one has the talent and is ready to work hard.

So far Ayesha has worked mainly with new directors - does she have a preference for them?

'I don't have any preferences and I cannot afford it. It is just that the offers came from them. And it is always an exciting experience as new directors are always enthusiastic and hard working and give everything for the project as they know that their life depends on the project.'

Did she plan to be an actress as a child?

'I was raised in a normal Gujarati style with all the restrictions and reservations. As far as plans are concerned, I did not have plans to become an actress in my childhood.'

About a favourite co-star, Ayesha said: 'I am not being diplomatic, I enjoyed working with all of them. Also, I am a very professional type of person. I finish my work and go home. I have no favourites, I enjoyed working with all of them.'

Apparently Ayesha makes producers sign a contract on her reservations about intimate and steamy scenes.

She said: 'Yes, I do sign a contract with every producer and mother has nothing to do with it. I have lived life according to my own principles and ideologies and I adhere to it.'

The 23-year-old has done various roles ranging from comedy to serious characters, but prefers romantic movies.

'I would like to do romantic films most and my second preference would be serious roles. Though I am not comfortable with stunts, I would definitely like to do an action film like 'Tomb Raider'.'

She is dating Farhan Azmi and has started a boutique hotel business with him, but has no immediate plans to marry him.

'I want to work and don't have any plans to marry now.'

Shilpa Shetty married?

Shilpa Shetty has finally revealed details about her relationship with married businessman Raj Kundra. Talking to an Indian newspaper, the former Celebrity Big Brother winner says, “Well, he’s helping me out with my production house. He’s a great businessman and knows the nitty-gritties of a business which I’m not so well-versed with.”

She then went on to disclose that she does intend to marry Raj, but has a few things to take care of before. “I can’t give out all the details like date, time and venue. But yes, I’ll announce it when the time is right. I have decided to settle down after marriage and take it easy. But before that happens, I want to give it my best and try out everything so I have no regrets of missing out on anything later.”

I am still dating:Amrita Arora

There are constant speculations about Amrita Arora’s personal life, especially pertaining to her London-based cricketer boyfriend, Usman Afzaal. “Let me set the record straight. Every three weeks I hear that I have broken up with Usman, but that is not true at all. I am still dating him. And we are very happy together,” clarifies Amrita.

So how does she maintain the spark in the long distance relationship? “It is not easy to maintain a long distance relationship, but if you know your commitment level and trust each other, then it is not that difficult.

You just have to set your priorities right,” she says.
Amrita of late is not seen in her Dilli Ki Sardi type of item numbers. Why? “Firstly, I hate the term ‘item number’. However, it does not imply that I am averse to the idea of doing them. If I get an offer to do a song that really excites me, then maybe I will take it up. I sign only those projects that interest me,” she says.

Amrita has a string of releases this year. “I am doing Atul Agnihotri’s Hello starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Sohail Khan. Then there is a sequel to Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal, where I play Ajay Devgan’s sister. I am also doing Samir Karnik’s Heroes, which stars Sohail Khan, Riya Sen and Vatsal Seth. Finally, I am also doing a guest appearance in Ravi Chopra’s Pappu Pass Ho Gaya,” says the pretty actress, who is all set for the next schedule of Golmaal in Bangkok next month.

Sexy's Riya & Raima Sen together On screen

Riya and Raima Sen are coming together….and as sisters…in Vicky Chopra's Seasons Greetings.

The episodic film directed by Vicky Chopra will apparently have six stories all coming together in unexpected ways.

The two sisters are not too willing to discuss the project.

Raima shooting in Italy says, "Yes Riya and I are finally coming together as sisters.
But I'm yet to hear the script, though I've given the nod. Though she's quite mad we're very much alike in most respects."

Riya speaking about the project earlier has said, "Raima and I stay together in Mumbai. There is not a thing that we don't share. All our friends are common. If she likes someone, so do I. And if I dislike someone, she doesn't have a choice. Our friends say we should've been twins."

The sisters had offers earlier to act together.

"But we were pretty sure that that if and when we come together it would have to be as sisters," said Riya.

Interestingly when Shilpa and her sis Shamita came together it was to play soutens Deepak Tijori's Fareb.

Aishwarya Rai will be playing the role of a prostitute In A Hollywood Movie!

Ash is going to Hollywood once again and this time she'll team up with Oscar winner Meryl Streep.

The movie is an adaptation of a French film, Chaos, and focuses on the distress that upshoots when a young prostitute, unintentionally, intrudes into the life of a modern middle class couple.

Reports add that Ash will be playing the role of a prostitute, who suffers physical and mental torture. The film emphasizes on the struggle that the prostitute has to make for her survival, her resurrection and dignity.

Although the film’s name has not been officially announced since it has first to be adapted for American audiences, reports confirmed both Ash and Meryl as a part of the project.

Sexy Mumait Khan is very busy!

Mumait Khan has been keeping a low profile these days.

The reason we found out is that she's been busy shooting for her upcoming film, Punnami Nagu. If you are thinking the name rings a bell, you are not off the mark. Megastar Chiranjeevi had acted in a namesake that released in the early eighties. That was also one of Chiru's first big hits. But the similarity ends with the name, say the filmmakers. Veteran director A Kodanda Rami Reddy is directing the film being produced by G Vijaya Kumar Goud. Yandamuri Veerendranath who had written the script for many Chiranjeevi films has written the script for this one.
With so many big names the film, will be ithe one to watch out for.

Asin The New Dream Girl Of Bollywood

When Vipul Shah announced his next film London Dreams with its original star cast Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan everyone thought that his favorite Katrina will be part of it. But Vipul was quite clear about his star cast and when it came to the leading lady of the film, Katrina was not at all in his mind.

It is now confirmed that after a lot of auditions Vipul has finalized south fame Asin for London Dreams . Asin is the chosen one who will be seen opposite Aamir Khan in A.R. Murugadoss’s Ghajini . She will also be seen opposite Kamal Hasan in his much talked about film Dashavataram . With such a list of list of films under her belt, this rising star is apt for the Vipul Shah’s next.

This talented actress is on a career high. She has been selective about her roles. It is learnt that Asin is in contract with Vipul’s production house and has been forbidden to talk about her prized role.

When we contacted Vipul said “It’s not true. I am still working on it.” His denial is due to the fact that the producers want to make it a big splash in the media with a surprise announcement.
Well, let Vipul go according to his plans and announce his actress at the right time but don’t forget we were the first to give you the inside dope.

Reena is quitting!

There’s buzz that Reena Kapoor, lead actress of Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki on SaharaOne, is quitting the serial. Reena, who’s been on the show for the past three years, however, prefers to be noncommittal.

“At the moment it’s too early to comment on this,” she says, when contacted by BT. “Nothing is confirmed, so I can’t really say much.”

One story doing the rounds is that the actress has bagged a good role in a movie and that’s the reason for her decision to opt out of television. However, Reena categorically denies this saying, “That’s not true at all.”
Reena became a household name with this serial. The past three years that she’s been doing this show have been wonderful, she says. “It’s a beautiful journey. Every single day of working has been beautiful. I have enjoyed myself.”
So if this journey had to end would it upset her? “Not really because I know nothing lasts forever. Everything has to come to an end,” she reasons and quickly adds, “Why are we talking about this? I’m still not sure about whether I’m quitting the show or not. As I said it’s too early for me to say anything.”

Work apart, Reena is busy at home. It’s her new house and she is very happy about moving in here. “We bought this place in Goregaon. It feels really nice. We have a lovely view from our house. My husband Karan Nijher and I moved in here a month back,” she says. And does hubby Karan watch her show? “Not really. He doesn’t have the time. And besides he doesn’t really watch TV soaps. But once in a while when he has watched me on screen, he’s appreciated my work,” she smiles.

Neetu Chandra to appear in a bikini

When I meet Neetu Chandra in sweltering and scorching heat on location in Bhopal where she is shooting for director Gary Grewal’s maiden venture as a director- Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot in which she has been teamed opposite Randeep Hooda, she is excited about her role in the film. “I play the role of Chabeeli, a woman of loose character in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot. What is interesting is the fact that I am the only girl in the entire film. Chabili is liked by all the characters in the film. Everyone in the film tries all the time to hit on me. Thanks to the script, I am now having the opportunity to do a performance oriented role in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot. It is my fourth film with Paresh Rawal, with whom I had acted in my very first film Garam Masala”, exclaims an excited Neetu. Neetu is of the opinion that her role as Chabili in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot is quite different from her earlier roles till date. “It is a big transition for me as an actress if you just compare my role in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot with my earlier characters in earlier films. It is totally opposite to the character I did in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Traffic signal or for that matter the character of the Haryanvi lady cop that I played in Ashwani Dheer’s One Two Three.

The best thing about my character in this film is that mostly I have got to deliver my dialogues on the louder side through my eyes”, explains Neetu. Neetu says that she preferred to be launched as one of the three girls in Garam Masala instead of waiting for a big break as a solo heroine. “I am from a film background. Priyan Sir chose to give me a break with a big banner,” goes on the charming lady, “If I had done a solo lead, I do not think anyone would have come to watch me in the film. In Garam Masala, I had two big leading men like Akshay Kumar and John Abraham to lure the audiences to the theaters. I preferred to have a safe launch like Garam Masala after having appeared as a super model in several ads including Parker, Minto, and Reliance etc. Priyan Sir had directed the Parker ad in which I had the privilege to appear alongside with Amitabh Bachchan”. Neetu asserts that her glamorous post Garam Masala image almost affected her prospects in films. She further adds, “Though I had acted in a serious role in the play Aao Saathi Sapna Dekhe directed by Swanand Kirkire who had composed the music for Parineeta, I started getting roles which needed me to appear in a bikini after Garam Masala since I had projected a glamorous image in the film. In fact the image with which I was saddled after Garam Masala actually almost affected my career prospects since there were people who even tried to scare Madhur by telling him that it was wrong on his part to cast a girl like me in a deglamorised role in his film Traffic Signal”. After having played a glamorous role in Priyadarshan’s Garam Masala, Neetu is glad that she played a deglamorised role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Traffic Signal, though several so called well wishers of hers advised her that it was a suicidal move on the part of a newcomer like her to take up an arty role like that. Adds Neetu, “I am glad I received accolades for my performance in Traffic Signal. I am now acting in Rahul Dholakia’s Mumbai Cutting, believe it or not, in yet another path breaking as well as deglamorised role as a housemaid, with an entirely different dimension”. Neetu admits that it was tough to play a housemaid in Mumbai Cutting. “It is for the first time that I have played the role of a housemaid in Mumbai Cutting. I have not touched make up at all throughout the film. There are two brilliant actors from the theater in the film, but they have not been cast opposite me. Even in Traffic Signal, I had to apply a tanned make up whereas in Mumbai Cutting I shunned make up to get into the skin of the character”, Neetu explains her serious approach towards her characters. Neetu is now acting in a Tamil film called Yaavarum Nalam as R. Madhavan’s wife. The actress asserts, “It is a horror thriller film backed by Reliance Adlabs and directed by Vikram from the South. It is being made in two languages - Hindi and Tamil. The Hindi version has been titled ‘Flat No 13 B’. Poonam Dhillon plays my mother in law in the film”. Neetu is playing the role of a college student in Dibankar Bannnerjee’s Oye Lucky Lucky Oye opposite Abhay Deol. “It is an out and out commercial movie from the stable of Dibankar who had made his debut with a brilliant film like Khosla Ka Ghosla. I play Abhay’s love interest in the film. I play a second year college girl. It is Abhay’s story but I play an important role since I change him in the film which was shot in Manali. Paresh Rawal is also playing a very important role in the film,” the lady adds on offers being showered on her. Neetu, who is happy that she has proved to be a good survivor in this industry considering the fact that she has made it here without the help of any God father and does not have any filmy connections to work for her, is game to do item numbers, too. “I am game to do item numbers today. Why not? Today I feel that item numbers are great because not every one can do it with finesse. Raakhee Sawant, Mallika Sherawat and Aishwarya Rai would not have been able to deliver their item numbers if they did not know dancing. Today there are instances where films which remain unsold are snapped up by distributors if an item number is added to them”, Neetu clears up the matter. Neetu asserts that she is not at all insecure considering there is stiff competition in the film industry, because she has confidence in her mettle as an actor. “I am basically a sports person and have the killing instinct because of that. The role that I did in One Two Three was offered to different actresses including Bipasha Basu and Sameera Reddy. Since I do not want to limit myself, I grabbed the role though I felt that it was a stupid role. My gamble paid off when the critics showered their praises on me for my performance in the film”, sums up Neetu.

Is Sameera Dating Ishant???

Here’s another actress who has fallen for a cricketer, and this time it is sexy and sultry actress, Sameera Reddy. The bollywood beauty is reported to be dating the new bowler in the team, Ishant Sharma. Sameera has had a split with her former boyfriend Shamshul Lalani recently and also has been seen in the crowd, cheering for KKR

The actress and Ishant also seem to be in constant touch through phone calls and text messages.

With Kim Sharma being rejected by Yuvi’s mom, is Sameera ready to impress Ishant’s mummy first??

Vidya Balan is all set to for a Sexy role

After Amrita Rao, now it’s baby Vidya who is desperately trying to change her looks and probably image also. And folks, what could have been better for Vidya Balan than to follow the fashion statement of stars like Saif Ali, Aamir and King Khan.

Yes, we are aptly talking about Vidya opting for a tattoo tale for her silky skin. Roaming around in the alleys of tinsel town all alone, the senorita has already gone crazy for attention and her heart is aching of pumping only blood and no adrenalin for affected affection. You know what we mean!

Thus, Vidya is all set to shed her next door girl image and adopt a brand new style statement. The gorgeous lady has accepted that she is going to tattoo her body. For the record we must recap that recently baby Vidya has been in the news with her brewing romance with lonely baba Shahid. After witnessing Shahid’s ex-girlfriend Kareena’s new dude Saif inking Kareena’s name on his arms, it would really be interesting to see whose name or which design Vidya would be choosing to cover her lonely skin.

Well though, Vidya’s upcoming venture Kismat Konnection has Shahid Kapoor as her co-star, the hotter cake should be counted on Vidya’s glistening skin. Sad part of the matter is now even Vidya will be out of the next door (image). Well, NEXT!

Neha dons on the sexy avataar!

At a time when Bollywood’s flooded with newcomers, Neha Uberoi’s already making waves with her brazen, in-your-face-sexy number in a hot music video for her new film directed by Hansal Mehta.


Playing a sexy siren, Neha revealed that the look even took her by surprise. “I didn’t know I could look that sexy,” Neha said on seeing herself across hoardings in the city. But the young actress is not complaining. “Every woman likes to be called sexy,” she said. “And I’m no exception, especially because I’ve carried off a look which is a far cry from the real me.”

So, what’s the real Neha like? “Simple, shy and sweet,” she laughed. Didn’t she want to kickstart her career with something sweet and romantic? “It’s far more exciting to do something not expected of you. This role was more challenging and exciting,” she explained. And what about the buzz of her sharing cold vibes with co-actor Sikandar. “Sikandar and me bonded well professionally. But just because we don’t party together doesn’t mean we can’t stand each other.”

Barely a film-old, this hottie’s kitty is already bulking up with interesting films including EMI starring Sanjay Dutt and Soham’s Luck, among others. Unfazed by the hordes of debutantes in Bollywood, Neha said, “Competition doesn’t scare me. There’s room for everyone.”

And while professionally Neha’s on cloud nine, personally too she has much to look forward to. “I’m single, but dating is not off my radar. I’m like any other girl looking forward to falling in love. I don’t believe that it would take away my focus from work. But I’m not desperate to fall in love either,” she smiled.
aakanksha.

Katrina’s exposed her bare legs

Katrina Kaif has just returned from Egypt after shooting a song with her favourite co-star, Akshay Kumar, for the keenly awaited Singh Is Kinng.

And while Katrina is delighted with the way the song has shaped up, she is even more charmed by Egypt and its culture.

"It's among the most beautiful countries I have visited - the pyramids, the temples and the landscape are absolutely exotic. I even enjoyed the barbecue dinner on a boat on the Nile. We shot in a number of places and I've come back with fond memories of my trip."

Ask her about the song she shot, Jee Karda, she smiles, "Wait and watch. It should be on air later this month. We shot at 4am every day to capture the light and it was scorching. To keep cool we would stay in shades and sip fruit juice or mint tea."

But her recent tour to the African land almost got into trouble when local police reportedly arrived at the scene and objected to Katrina’s outfit that exposed her bare legs while she was shooting against the backdrop of the great pyramids along with Akki.

Egypt is predominantly a Muslim nation and revealing outfits are not accepted in public places.

According to reports director Anees Bazmee, who was determined to shoot at the pyramids, managed to get the matter resolved with the help of others. And another skirt controversy was successfully skirted.