The highly-anticipated new Indiana Jones movie, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, according to one of its stars.

A day after Heston died at age 84, Reagan recalled the man who played Moses and Ben-Hur as “one of Ronnie’s dearest friends.”

A heartbrokenon Nancy Reagan Sunday led a flood of tributes to Hollywood  legend  Charlton Heston whom she remembered as a big-screen giant and a “hero in life.”

“I will never forget Chuck as a hero on the big screen in the roles he played,” Reagan said in a statement. “But more importantly I considered him a hero in life for the many times that he stepped up to support Ronnie.”

Heston died of the same illness that felled President Ronald Reagan.

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actor Rani Mukherji moved a petition in

the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court Thursday,

challenging the cancellation of her ownership of a piece of land in

Maharashtra.

Rani’s father Ram Mukherjee arrived in Aurangabad and furnished the

necessary documents pertaining to the land deal before the registrar of

the court.

The petition challenging the Shrirampur sub-divisional officer’s (SDO)

order directing her to surrender the land in Ningaonkovali village, on

the border of Nasik and Ahmednagar districts, will come up for notice

before the court Friday.

Nandkumar Suryavanshi, the SDO, said that earlier there was a sugar

factory on the land that was subsequently closed. Since the factory had

excess land, the government took it over in accordance with the Urban

Land Ceiling Act (ULCA) and handed it over to the Maharashtra State

Farming Corporation (MSFC).

As the land remained unused for a long time, the MSFC sold it to the

original owner, a farmer who worked in a hotel in Shirdi town. From

the farmer, Rani bought the plot in December 2005 for Rs.3.3 million.

However, when she applied for registration of the plot in her name, the

revenue department refused permission and stressed that as it was an

agriculture land, only a farmer could buy it.

The deputy collector of Ahmednagar district conducted an inquiry and

Rani was asked to pay penalty for buying a farmland. Since the actress

failed to pay the penalty, the Shrimanpur SDO ordered her name be

deleted from the sale deed.

Suryavanshi told IANS that instead of going to the court, Rani could

have availed of the options of either regularising the plot in her name

at a reduced penalty or ask to reconsider the decision.

“But as per the ULCA, the penalty on her could not have been waived

totally,” he said.

The actor’s father Ram told the media in Aurangabad that Rani did not

commit any irregularity in the land purchase.

“The deal was transacted as per the laid down procedure and the

payment of the stamp duty. Rani was not the first person to purchase

the land - it has changed hands at least six times before Rani bought it,”

he said.

“The penalty imposed on her is totally unfair. Why did the objection

not come up earlier? Is it because she is a celebrity, a Bollywood star?

Would this ever have happened if any common man had purchased the

land?” he added.

Mumbai, (IANS) A story that Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal

Varma had a hushed meeting with mobster Dawood Ibrahim’s sister

Haseena in the by-lanes of Mumbai has him scratching his head in

puzzlement.

“I’ve never met the lady. In all my life I’ve probably seen one picture of

her in a newspaper. I don’t know where this story comes from,” Varma

told IANS.

“In fact, they invented a whole screenplay where I’m shown driving up

to a secluded spot and the lady’s car driving up to meet me. Then we

both supposedly took off for an unknown destination. This is a better

screenplay than any I can think up,” added the director, known for films

on organised crime like “Satya”, “Company” and “Sarkar”.

The shooting of his film “Contract”, which features an entirely new

star cast, is over.

“So, I don’t need to do any research for my film. And I don’t need to

meet people who can help me to know more about the underworld,”

said the director who is currently readying “Sarkar Raj” for release.

“Sarkar Raj”, a sequel to “Sarkar”, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek

Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.

“And right now I’m focusing on the release on ‘Sarkar Raj’.”

He also dismissed a report that after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena

(MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, his uncle Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray

had a preview of “Sarkar Raj”.

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actress Diya Mirza, who walked the ramp

after a gap of two years at the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), says she

used to be scared of sashaying down fashion runways but has become

confident over a period of time.

Decked in a wave embossed long satin tube dress with a side slit and

silver embroidery at empire the actress walked the ramp for designer

Arshiya Fakih at the fashion fete.

“Two year ago I used to be fearful on the ramp but now I wasn’t

nervous at all,” Diya told IANS after the show here late Wednesday.

“I walked the ramp after two years and was very excited. It is easier to

do a catwalk than acting but the adrenaline rush that you get once you

are on the runway…that one distinct moment when all eyes are only on

you is just amazing,” she added.

Diya said it was more fun to be backstage than being a part of the

audience.

“The vibes backstage are just great. I think it is more exciting to be

there than one among the audience. All the models backstage share a

great bond and have great fun,” she said.

“I had never tried a tube dress but it was so much fun wearing it. It is

how fashion should be - wearable and comfortable. When one looks at

the dress one must feel ‘Yes I can wear it’. But I must say that it is very

important that designers pay a lot of attention to smaller details,” the

actress added.

Using fabrics like silk, satin and velvet, Fakih had crafted dresses and

tunics of varied styles and designs. There were bubble dresses, dresses

with gathered fabrics at the collar, pockets and waist, shirt dresses,

print dresses with pleated empire and satin dresses with puff sleeves.

The colour palette encompassed hues like black, silver, grey, magenta,

blue and beige.

“The collection depicts the concept of a utopian world. To give the

robotic feel, stiffer fabrics were used unlike my previous lines where I

used flowing fabrics. The line encapsulated the sensuous and elegant

side of a woman,” said Fakih.

The outfits were accentuated with embroideries in black, grey and

beige and chunky precious stones.

while doing precious little for Maharashtra.

Mumbai, (IANS) It took music maestro A.R. Rahman three years to

finish the album for the stage adaptation of “The Lord Of The Rings”,

working with 200 musicians and technicians for every song. The

album, which has pushed up his international status, was released in

February.

“Since it required more finances than I could afford, a private airline

(Jet Airways) is sponsoring it,” Rahman, who has recently opened a

western classical music conservatory in Chennai, told IANS.

“Every song has a minimum of 200 musicians and technicians

involved in it. Huge choirs and orchestras were brought into play. We

recorded the album in London and mixed it right here in Chennai in my

studios. The whole crew came down from all over the world,” he

added.

All songs are in English and in Elvish… the language of the “Lord Of

The Rings”.

“I had lots of help from fellow-musicians like Christopher Nightingale.

It took me three years to do the album. Without help from like-minded

musicians it’d have taken five years.”

With Rahman increasing his Western assignments, it looks like to be

Bollywood’s loss. Rahman is deliberately turning down big Bollywood

assignments because of copyright and royalty issues regarding music

sales.

Rahman is reluctant to talk about the issue. “It’s too complicated. But

yes, the issue of publishing rights does stop me from accepting more

Bollywood offers,” said Rahman.

“Those who want to work with me in Mumbai are agreeable to my

terms and conditions. Those who do but won’t agree to my conditions

are going to other composers.”

“At the moment, I’ve also cut down my film assignments because I

want to focus on my western-classic music conservatory. With this

conservatory I hope to bridge the gap between Western classical and

Indian ragas. Imagine a thumri being played by an orchestra! Or a

Carnatic raga being a part of a big Hollywood epic!” he added.

Commenting on his Bollywood assignments, Rahman said: “I can’t be

doing just films all my life. I need to take my music to another level

now. But whenever I work in Mumbai, I give it my fullest

concentration, as I did for Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, which

I’m very proud of. The music takes both Ashutosh and me to another

level.”

Looking back, the talented composer is not the least content with his

achievements.

“No matter how much you do, it’s never enough. Music is my only

therapy. There’re so many awful things happening in the world. I wish I

could heal the world. All I can do is use my music, which I do. My

peace anthems like ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Pray for me, brother’ are a

small candlelight in the storm. But you never know which candle will

light a thousand other candles.”

New Delhi, (IANS) They are beautiful, gooey-eyed and forever in love.

The picture perfect, real-life Bollywood couples are emerging as the

most coveted brand ambassadors and seem set to test the adage that

real-life couples do not sizzle on the silver screen. Among star

couples, Ajay-Kajol is undoubtedly the most visible.

They are also the ones who set the trend of endorsing products

together.They make a neat Rs.80 million to Rs.90 million per ad.

Clearly, being in love and flaunting it was never so lucrative.

Says film critic Indu Mirani: “For advertisers, married real-life

Bollywood couples are a picture of happy matrimony which is highly

sellable.”

Advertisers already swear by the pull factor of casting such couples

and are willing to shell out unheard of amounts to rope them in.

Box-office performance of upcoming releases like “U Me Aur Hum”,

Ajay’s directorial debut in which he stars with wife Kajol, and

“Tashan”, which has Saif Ali Khan and real-life girlfriend Kareena

Kapoor in the lead, will determine whether filmmakers join the queues

outside the homes of perfect duos.

Now with Ajay appearing on a reality show along with Kajol and

mother-in-law Tanjua, they may just start yet another trend.

And advertisers are hoping that the other famous couple, Abhishek

Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai - along with his father Amitabh - would

relent and be up next. It is estimated that the trio together could be

worth around Rs.700 million.

And it is only a matter of time before some brand comes up with a deal

that the three just cannot refuse. Already, they are setting off on ‘The

Unforgettable World Tour’ sometime this year.

The other big question on everyone’s mind is when Abhishek and

Aishwarya will do a joint endorsement. While Aishwarya is

internationally known and one of the global faces of L’Oreal Paris,

Longines, Lux and Coke as well as jewellery products in India,

Abhishek endorses 11 products from motorcycles to radio stations.

The couple has been offered between Rs.100 to Rs.120 million per

endorsement.

But the duo is yet to be seen endorsing a brand together. According to

reports, the couple has been quoting astronomical prices to give joint

endorsements. Rumour has it that Abhishek’s deal with LG was called

off when he insisted on joint endorsement and asked for way too much.

The title of the hottest couple on the circuit, however, would go to

Saif and Kareena. According to a media report, companies are willing

to offer over Rs.100 million per ad for the duo to make joint

endorsement.

Saif, who makes a neat Rs.360 million a year from his 12

endorsements, and Kareena, who represents five brands, have been

approached to appear together by five companies.

Perhaps, Saif and Kareena want to take their time and not go the John

Abraham-Bipasha Basu way. The real-life couple had to do a lot of

explaining when they decided to end their joint endorsement for a hair

shampoo.

The contract was discontinued around the same time as their film -

“Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal” - failed to put the box-office on fire, setting

tongues wagging. All is well in lovers’ paradise again but the makers of

the hair shampoo ad have smartened up.

New Delhi, (IANS) Kajol is a director’s delight, says Bollywood actor

Ajay Devgan of his talented wife whom he has cast in his directorial

debut “U, Me Aur Hum”.

“Very few actresses can perform like her. Doesn’t every director want

to work with Kajol?” Ajay told IANS.

“Working with her is a delight. When a writer writes his book, he uses

words to express himself and when a director makes a film, actors like

her help convey the message rightly,” added Devgan, who was in the

capital Saturday to promote his upcoming film.

The actor denies he would only select Kajol for his future projects.

“Taking her in my first film doesn’t mean that I would only work with

her. Casting depends on who suits the role most, and for this character

she fitted the bill.”

Apart from Ajay and Kajol, the movie also stars Divya Dutta, Karan

Khanna, Isha Sharvani and Sumeet Raghavan. It narrates the story of

three couples and how the successful marriage of one couple helps

mend another’s relationship and how the third is urged to tie the knot.

“I have not tried to make a pseudo intellectual film, instead a

commercial one. ‘U, Me Aur Hum’ is about love, life and relationships.

The aim is that people must come out of the theatre with a smile and

feel good,” the national award winner said.

Ajay believes directing a film and acting in it is not difficult.

“Doing two things at a time requires a lot of hard work but once you

are clear about what you want to do it is not that difficult.

“Moreover, direction wasn’t a big change for me. I started my career as

a director. I used to make small films and would do everything except

acting in them. I always wanted to direct a full-length film,” he said.

“It all started with a thought that gradually took shape. Only when a

second thought comes along will I roll out my next film.”

Commenting on whether his role in the film is a reflection of his

personal life, he said: “No, there are no similarities.”

“For instance, in the film the character falls in love at first sight but

nothing like this has ever happened to me in real life. However, I

believe in what the character believes in.”

Agra, (IANS) Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy, the great grandson of the last

Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, has filed a writ petition in the

Supreme Court against what he calls “molestation of history and

character assassination of emperor Akbar” in Ashutosh Gowariker’s

“Jodhaa Akbar”.

In his writ petition filed Thursday, Tucy prayed to the apex court to

direct the producers of the film to change the name of the character

“Jodha” to “Harkha” or some other fictitious name which “does not

distort history and defame the name of Akbar or the illustrious Mughal

dynasty”.

Talking to IANS from Hyderabad, Tucy said he presented documents

and statements of prominent historians like Jadunath Sarkar, Satish

Chandra, Ashirwadi Lal Srivastav, and R. Nath to establish that

emperor Akbar had nothing to do with Jodha Bai “who was actually

the daughter of Udai Singh and daughter-in-law of Akbar.”

He objected to the distortion of history in the movie, which the

producers were promoting as a “period film”.

Tucy said he wanted the film’s screening to be stopped as it was

misleading people and creating a wrong image of the Mughal dynasty.

Noted Mughal historian R. Nath said “Jodhaa Akbar” is an example of

perverted history for entertainment.

“The film by Gowariker is no match to K. Asif’s ‘Mughal-e-Azam’. No

doubt Asif added characters and events to romanticise the film, but

hardly ever did he try to transgress the limits of history or outrage its

sensitivity or authenticity. That was how Anarkali was permanently

imprinted on the collective psyche of people.”

Nath said “Jodhaa Akbar” is a poor imitation of “Mughal-e-Azam” and

without any historical basis whatsoever.

“In history, there was only one Jodha Bai, daughter of Mota Raja Uday

Singh Rathor of Jodhpur, and was married to Salim (Jahangir,

1628-58).

“She was called Jodha Bai because she belonged to Jodhpur. Jahangir

bestowed upon her the title of Jagat Gosain, as he styled himself as

Jagat Guru. Jahangir’s queen Jodha died in 1619 and her son Shah

Jahan built for her a magnificent tomb at Agra.”

Akbar had four wives and with none did he have any romance as “all

these were political marriages”.

Nath said Gowariker had done “injustice” to Mughal emperor Akbar

whose dignity, majestic looks and grandeur had been “caricatured” in

the form of Hritik Roshan.

Even the inscription outside the so-called Jodha Bai palace in Fatehpur

Sikri clearly mentions that Jodha Bai has been mistakenly called

Akbar’s wife, said Tucy. With such material proof how can filmmakers

claim they had researched and presented true Mughal history, he asked.