At a glittering event of the 21st Suvidha Gaurav Achiever Awards at Khar Gymkhana grounds in Mumbai this week, Bollywood’s celebrity publicist Dale Bhagwagar was presented the ‘Crossover Publicist of the Year’ award for effectively publicizing and positioning his clients Shilpa Shetty and Ashok Amritraj in the international media.

Coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Maharashtrian New Year (Gudi Padwa), over 2,500 invitees witnessed the awards this year, as the ceremony was aired live on India’s farthest reaching television channel Doordarshan.

In the past, prominent celebrities including the late Sunil Dutt, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Govinda, Ajay Devgan, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, John Abraham and music composers Pritam and Ismail Darbar have received Suvidha awards for their contribution to Indian cinema.

Speaking about Bhagwagar, Mr Shankar Lalwani, chairman of Suvidha Gaurav Foundation said, “We are proud that a PR specialist from Mumbai has transcended the nation’s boundaries in imaging and branding his clients Shilpa Shetty and Ashok Amritraj in countries like Britain, Germany and United States amongst others. He has proved himself to be a truly global publicist.”

Doubling up as a spokesperson to his clients, Bhagwagar has himself been quoted in various publications like New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Times (UK), Guardian (UK), The Independent (UK), The Mail (UK), Daily Mail (UK), Mirror (UK), Daily Star (UK), The People (UK), Marie Claire (UK), Dawn (Pakistan), Jung (Pakistan), VN Express (Vietnam), Gulf News, The Sydney Morning Herald, Bangkok Post, International Herald Tribune (France) and Pravda (Russia), including others.

Vivek Oberoi is preparing to approach the court for a false defamatory article in a newspaper, which claimed he misbehaved with a lady at a party and got slapped.

It was reported in a leading Mumbai based tabloid this week that the actor got into trouble at a dinner party hosted at a friend’s house. The report claimed, Vivek got drunk and flirted with the host’s foreign girlfriend, kissed her and got slapped.

The piece which stemmed from another speculative write-up in a trade magazine called Film Information, quotes an “eyewitness” and carries a denial about the incident from Apoorva Lakhia (the director of Vivek’s forthcoming film ‘Mission Istanbul’) who is stated to have accompanied the actor at this party.

Vivek’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar strongly refuted all the claims saying, “Nothing of this sort ever happened. Vivek is an extremely well-behaved and cultured boy, though often misunderstood. All this talk about him being involved in a thing like this is simply rubbish and a figment of the newspaper’s over-creative imagination.”

When probed, if Vivek would challenge the newspaper to produce the mentioned ‘eyewitness’ in court, Bhagwagar laughed and remarked, “Where is the question of an ‘eyewitness’ when no such party or function ever took place.” “The incident as well as the whole story about this party, drinking, flirting and slap is all fictitious,” Bhagwagar reiterated.

Asked why so many such stories and denials by actors are doing the rounds of the media nowadays, Bhagwagar commented, “It’s a vicious circle of demand and supply. I guess, the media just does it to fill their pages on a daily basis. The irony is, innocent actors often get dragged and defamed in the process”.

Predicting some problems for his former team mate Gary Kirsten, who

is now India’s coach, former South African captain Kepler Wessels has

said that the Indian side needed some serious changes.

“I think (Kirsten) is in a difficult position, because he is saddled with

an old team that plays like a bunch of old men,” Wessels, who is the

coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings, told

Afrikaans daily Beeld .

“There will definitely have to be changes made to get them on the

wining path again, but it will probably not be a popular decision all

round.”

“Kirsten’s problem is that he cannot simply effect changes. There are so

many big names, who do just what they want to. They also have habits,

which cannot be changed overnight.

“Because he is so new in the position, (Kirsten) also does not know

what he can insist on. He feels he cannot change things left and right,

(creating) a difficult transition,” Wessels added.

Commenting on India’s chances of at least drawing the ongoing Test

series in Kanpur starting Friday, Wessels said they would have to get a

pitch prepared where the ball would turn sharply on the first day.

South Africa in India 2008

He also said that South Africa could beat England and Australia in

forthcoming series.

Until recently the most outspoken critic of captain Graeme Smith and

his leadership, Wessels is now full of praise for him.

“The current team is the best I have seen in the Graeme Smith era and if

they can play like (they have against India) they can beat England and

they can certainly beat Australia”, said Wessels, who also played in 24

Tests and 54 one-day internationals for Australia between 1982 and

1983.

Wessels regarded India’s defeat by an innings and 90 runs in

Ahmedabad last week as the best South African victory since Smith

took over the captaincy, but was quick to add that it was not South

Africa’s best triumph ever in world cricket.

“I have never seen South Africa play so well under Smith’s leadership.

If (the South African squad) delivers the same level of paying that they

did at Ahmedabad, I can see no reason why they could not beat the

Aussies in their own backyard (when they tour there) at the end of the

year,” Wessels said.

Security will be increased for the third Test between India and South

Africa in Kanpur, police said, after reports that militants planned to

target the game.

The CNN-IBN news channel quoted unnamed police sources in New

Delhi as saying they had information that Islamic militants may try to

carry out an attack in Kanpur.
Vikram Singh, the police chief in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, where

Kanpur is located, declined to comment on the threats, but said there

would be extra security for the game.

South Africa eye treble in Asia | Coverage

“We are taking no chances and all possible precautions have been taken

to ensure a safe cricket match at Kanpur,” he told CNN-IBN.

Singh said police would deploy extra manpower, equipment and

technology and called on the public to “feel free to watch the match in

a relaxed atmosphere.”

The New Delhi police spokesman and officials from the Board of

Control for Cricket in India were not immediately available for

comment.

The South African team learned about the threats from the television

report, said team spokesman Michael Owen-Smith.

“Obviously we are in discussions with the relevant authorities,” he

said, declining to elaborate.

South Africa leads India 1-0, going into third and final Test starting

Friday.

American Idol judge Simon Cowell believes there is no way upcoming

British singer Leona Lewis will become a demanding diva like Jennifer

Lopez or Mariah Carey.

After her hit single Bleeding Love topped the US charts, Lewis would

have been expected to become more arrogant, but she has not changed

at all and is the same as when she won the X Factor in 2006, reports

ananova.com.

Cowell said: “Thank God Leona loves being with her family. I’ve had

no demands, no weird requests for strange-coloured water or cushions.

She’s exactly the same person I met two years ago.”

Lewis’ single has gone on to top the charts in Europe for the past four

months and has now topped more than 20 charts around the world.

Upcoming film Tree of Life, independently produced, written and

directed by acclaimed director Terrence Malick, has such a small

budget that its stars Sean Penn and Brad Pitt are paying for their

accommodation.

The film’s production company had arranged for Penn and Pitt to stay

at the same hotel, the Hyatt Lost Pines near Austin, Texas,

contactmusic.com reports. But Pitt’s people hesitated at the $2,000 a

night price and initially wanted to pay $3,000 for the entire month’s

stay. The hotel rejected this offer.

So Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie have decided to rent a house near the

shooting location.

Ashlee Simpson and her rocker boyfriend Pete Wentz are engaged.

“We know there has been a lot of speculation recently about Pete and I,

and we wanted our fans to be the first to know, because you guys are

the best,” Simpson said in a statement posted on Wednesday on People

magazine’s Web site. “Yes, we are thrilled to share that we are happily

engaged.”

Simpson’s manager-father, Joe Simpson, told the magazine he’s “totally

happy” and “so excited to have Pete as part of [our] family.”

The couple began dating in fall 2006, according to People.

Wentz, 28, is bassist for Fall Out Boy. Simpson, 23, a singer,

songwriter and actress, is the younger sister of pop star Jessica

Simpson. Ashlee Simpson’s new album, Bittersweet World, is set for

release on April 22.

A phone message left on Wednesday for Joe Simpson by The

Associated Press was not immediately returned.

Never-before-seen photos have surfaced of Elvis Presley rocking Madison Square Garden in all his jumpsuited glory. George Kalinsky, the official photographer of the famed arena, took the images in 1972, the singer’s estate said on Wednesday.

Kalinsky came across the photos while working on a campaign for a billboard company called “Great Moments in New York”. Now one of them is on display as part of the campaign on a three-story billboard atop the Virgin Megastore in Times Square; it shows The King glancing up, his outstretched arms holding the cape of his glittering jumpsuit.

Kalinsky needed to get permission from Elvis Presley Enterprises, the business arm of the performer’s estate, to reproduce Presley’s image for the campaign. The estate asked if he had any more photos, and Kalinsky came back with about 40 unpublished images from Elvis’ second-night performance at the Garden in 1972, said Kevin Kern, spokesman for Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Kern said a team of archivists well acquainted with publicised images of Presley were quite impressed with Kalinsky’s photos.

“What came from their mouths was ‘Wow!’” Kern said. “These are very crisp, clear, professional photos of Elvis. It’s such a rare find.”

The collection will be displayed at Graceland starting Memorial Day weekend as part of “Elvis Jumpsuits: All Access,” an exhibit that will also feature more than 50 of Elvis’ famous jumpsuits.

Kalinsky said he didn’t realise at the time that he had so many good shots.

“When I photographed the show, I thought I only had a few good ones,” he said. “I just never really looked at the files until recently.”

Kalinsky has been the official Garden photographer for more than 40 years. He’s also the official photographer of Radio City Music Hall and a special photographer for the New York Mets.

He has photographed scores of celebrities and famous athletes, including Muhammad Ali, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti and Pope John Paul II, and his images have appeared in Life, Sports Illustrated, Esquire, Time and Newsweek. Kalinsky’s images of Jimi Hendrix and Sinatra are also part of the Times Square billboard campaign.

Back in ‘72, he went backstage to meet Presley.

“He was electrifying in his white jumpsuit, with his cape on,” Kalinsky remembered. “He was quite humble, but he had an aura. There are very few people who have triple-X charisma, and Elvis was one.”

Snoop Dogg has settled a lawsuit with his former record label, attorneys say, though they won’t disclose how many bones it took.

The 36-year-old rapper, born Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., and Priority Records have settled a lawsuit involving fees and advances for a 1998 recording agreement, attorneys for both sides said Wednesday.

“The litigation has been amicably resolved,” said Snoop Dogg’s attorney, Joseph Scleimer.

Priority lawyer David Steinberg said, “I don’t believe a settlement would have been reached unless both sides were happy.”

Neither attorney would discuss the terms of the confidential agreement.

The rapper sued the company in November 2006, alleging it owes him $2 million in fees under the recording agreement and did not consult with him before releasing his greatest hits CD. He also claimed breach of contract, contending the company did not pay him a $950,000 advance promised after he recorded Tha Last Meal.

Judge Helen Bendix, who approved the deal last week, had been pushing for a settlement since the lawsuit was filed.

Singh Is Kinng, among the most keenly anticipated titles of 2008, will reveal its first look on Baisakhi, April 13. The Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer releases worldwide on August 8.

From Vipul Shah & Anees Bazmee, the hit makers of Namastey London, Waqt, No Entry and Welcome, Singh Is Kinng is a whopper of an action comedy about an adorable bumpkin from Punjab who ends up in Australia in a zany situation that he had never imagined.

The minute-long teaser of Singh Is Kinng, which will reveal superstar Akshay Kumar’s stylish new Sikh get-up, will play across television channels from the following Sunday. The trailer will also play in cinemas worldwide from April 25, along with Tashan.

Singh Is Kinng is an Indian Films - Studio 18 release.

Kareena Kapoor did it. Even John Abraham has also has done it. Then, how can Bipasha Basu be left behind? Well she is also doing it and yes! She is doing it her way and in style! We are indeed talking about launching their own labels!

Bipasha gave out her fashion dreams recently by saying that she is all set to launch her fashion label within a year, as she wants to extend her signature brand in accordance with her impeccable sense of dressing and style.

With Bips having her hands full with product endorsements films, one need not be a rocket scientist to say that Bips is surely leading the Race

Now that Star Plus has Shah Rukh and Zee TV has Kajol and Ajay, Sony Entertainment television has roped in Bollywood’s super hunk, Salman Khan. Yes, Salman will be seen hosting a reality show on Sony.

“The program is a reality show and is called The Power of Ten. The date is not yet confirmed as to when the show will begin,” informs Salman’s spokesperson Vikas Kapoor.

After John, Kareena and latest being Bipasha, now Salman would be the next to launch his own brand of clothes. It is also believed that some of the T-shirt designs will carry Salman’s art work. “Yes, Salman is planning to launch his own brand of clothes. It is still a thought process and he hasn’t signed any deal with any clothes brand yet,” adds Vikas.

How did you decide on doing the Cinthol ad?
Cinthol has always been about the energy. Its philosophy - don’t stop regardless of the barriers - is very close to my heart. As long as there’s movement there’s progress. That’s what the ad was about. And I went with that flow. Cinthol is being relaunched with my ad. The ad film is bigger than Dhoom 2.

In what way?
There was more action in the Cinthol ad than in Dhoom 2. It was so much fun. I did kayaking, free-running, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, mountain biking, diving into the ocean from the mountain and rugby…all crammed into one ad.

All this with a bad knee?
Well, they say adversity is the mother of all inventions. So I’ve found a way.

Adversity could also be the mother of all further adversities.
Ha. It gave me a chance to heal myself by my own formula. I’m doing all it takes.

After being ultra-choosy for so long you’ve decided to work extensively?
So far this year I’ve said yes only to Anurag Basu’s Kites which he’s making for my dad. But yes, in my mind I’ve green-signaled a lot more work. Actually, I’ve always been game for more work. I’ve never been in a position to lay down pre-conditions. My basic criterion is that I should be excited about the films I agree to do. And then those films should be completed within the stipulated time so that I’d have the time and freedom to take up more assignments.

What about the rumours of serious leg injuries during Jodhaa Akbar?
This is one of those false stories that have gained credence only because I’ve kept quiet. Let me state once and for all that the injuries did not happen during Jodhaa Akbar. My right knee has been facing a battering from the time I started training for Krissh. It was an ongoing process since 2004. The knee was crying for a break that I did not give it. We sometimes, forget how human we are. We start looking at ourselves as heroes immune to injury and pain. That’s stupid. I’ve learnt it the hard way. Hopefully, I’ll be fully cured soon, and I’ll be back in action knee-down. I am a very physical person. When I see the outdoors, I just want to run.

In an apparent attempt to take the wind out of his detractors’ sails, superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Monday expressed gratitude to Maharashtra, saying the state has “given me so much in the last 40 years - my wife, my children and so much love…..Jai Maharashtra”.

Speaking in chaste Marathi on the newly launched IBN-Lokmat Marathi news channel, Bachchan said he owes a lot to Maharashtra in whose capital his film career has blossomed.

Switching to Hindi after winding up his Marathi salutation with “Jai Maharashtra”, the Bollywood icon said his father Harivanshrai Bachchan had many friends in the Marathi literary circles and was very happy to see the Marathi translation of Madhushala - his celebrated poetic work in Hindi.

Bachchan also recalled his own association with several distinguished Maharashtrians in different walks of life including Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray and his participation in Marathi literary meets.

In the eye of a storm following the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena questioning his commitment to Maharashtra, the superstar had said that the constitution has given every Indian the right to live and work anywhere in the country.

In the panel discussion that the channel conducted on the controversial issue, its editor Nikhil Wagle drew viewers’ attention to Bachchan’s little known gestures for Marathi individuals like ailing Dalit poet Namdeo Dhasal and films like the Oscar-nominated Shwaas

Jaya Bachchan, one of Indian cinema’s most formidable actresses, turns 60 on Wednesday but there will be no celebrations on the occasion.

Amitabh and Jaya and their daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai have, in fact, left for Miami where Abhishek is shooting for Karan Johar’s Dostana.

“We’re just going to be with Abhishek for a few days. It’s Jaya’s 60th birthday on April 9. There will be no celebrations because of the death,” Amitabh told IANS, referring to his mother Teji Bhachchan’s recent passing.

It’s Abhishek-Aishwarya’s wedding anniversary on April 20. While Aishwarya is expected to stay back until the anniversary, the Big B and his wife will return after Jaya’s birthday.

How unlike her husband Amitabh Bachchan’s 60th birthday when there was a huge bash with the who’s who of Mumbai attending!

Jaya, alas, believes in no celebration. Her 60th birthday on April 9 will be a very quiet affair restricted to her immediate family.

“Firstly she wouldn’t have celebrated even if things were normal. But this time with the family mourning her mother-in-law’s death there’s no question of any celebration. When you tell her that turning 60 is an event, she shrugs and says it’s just another day,” said a source close to the Bachchans.