Rani Mukherjee and Karan Johar recently appeared on Shah Rukh Khan’s game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai? While the duo did entertain one and all with their antics, they also managed to win Rs. 50 lakhs, which they will be donating to charity.

This is not the first time that Rani Mukherjee was seen participating in a game show. It may be recollected that Rani had earlier appeared along with Preity Zinta on a special episode of SRK’s Kaun Banega Crorepati. At that time also, the two beautiful actresses had won Rs. 50 lakhs and Mukherjee had donated her share (Rs.25 lakhs) to the Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, which was utilised in building ICU in the hospital.

Now the actress would be inaugurating the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) today and needless to say, the amount donated by Rani has indeed been used for a very noble cause.

Rani Mukherjee and Karan Johar recently appeared on Shah Rukh Khan’s game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai? While the duo did entertain one and all with their antics, they also managed to win Rs. 50 lakhs, which they will be donating to charity.

This is not the first time that Rani Mukherjee was seen participating in a game show. It may be recollected that Rani had earlier appeared along with Preity Zinta on a special episode of SRK’s Kaun Banega Crorepati. At that time also, the two beautiful actresses had won Rs. 50 lakhs and Mukherjee had donated her share (Rs.25 lakhs) to the Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai, which was utilised in building ICU in the hospital.

Now the actress would be inaugurating the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) today and needless to say, the amount donated by Rani has indeed been used for a very noble cause.

 Mumbai, May 24: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and director Priyadarshan have hit it off big time, be it cinema or cricket. “After working with him I understand why he is who he is.

“No one can match his energy, enthusiasm and passion for cinema. I’m already planning many more films with him,” Priyadarshan told reporters.

Also, ever since Shah Rukh’s Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders won a Kolkata match last month that was attended by Priyadarshan, people have started calling him the actor’s lucky mascot.

“Yes, they’re saying I’m lucky for Shah Rukh. Thank god. Yes, Shah Rukh has asked me to attend more of his matches. But I’ve been shooting ‘Billo Barber’ whereas he has completed his work and has made time for the IPL,” Priyadarshan told reporters.

Many people who attended the match were surprised to see Priyadarshan sitting quietly in the audience.

“Even I was surprised to see myself there, but I went for Shah Rukh’s sake. Fortunately, the Knight Riders won the match that day when I was there in Kolkata.

“Or people would’ve said I’m unlucky for Shah Rukh. Can’t afford that image while I’ve cast him in the most unusual role of his career, and that too after four failed attempts to work with him.”

Incidentally, Kolkata Night Riders are out of IPL matches.

Recalling his own passion for cricket, Priyadarshan said: “I was a mad obsessive cricket player as a student. Then during one local match I nearly lost my eye.”

Recalling the harrowing incident, he shudders, “I can never forget that day. The ball just slammed against my eye. I had a hairline fracture and I couldn’t see. I thought I had lost my eye. Fortunately, the eye is intact. But the nerves on the eyelid were enfeebled. So one eye is half-closed all the time.”

So has that mishap put him off cricket for keeps?

“No way! I love cricket. Thankfully, I didn’t make a career out of it. Otherwise today I’d have been working in a bank. The only reason why I don’t play is because I’m making films round the clock. There’s no time for anything else,” said the director whose recent hit was “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”.

Mumbai, May 24: After Big B, Aamir and SRK, it’s the industry’s tough guy Salman Khan who has hopped on to the much talked about Bollywood blog brigade.
The actor in his first ever blog entry talks about his latest calling as a host of a small screen show that promises big bucks, ” Dus Ka Dum”.

Interestingly, Sallu reveals that he was not so impressed by the idea of the small screen when the show was offered to him; in fact the actor had even rejected the proposal.

“Hosting Dus Ka Dum sounded so impractical that I first rejected it even without giving it much thought.”

However, it was the advice of brother Sohail Khan coupled with the opportunity to have a tête-à-tête with the common man that got the star to don the host hat.

So, we wonder after Big B making tacky comparisons with SRK over Panchvi Pass, will Sallu too try to ridicule his colleagues?

“My contemporaries are highly educated and accomplished people and are very articulate. I am a simpleton in comparison.”

Salman who is much comfortable with his on screen and off screen image believes that his fans know him best and love him the way he is.

“I know masses love me for what I am and I need not project an image for establishing any rapport with them.”

But it’s not only the show that got Salman blogging, the actor who has often been misquoted and misunderstood has decided to use the tool for defending his otherwise blown out of context statements.

“Some people think that I am too moody and cynical… Believe me, I have been guided by my instincts and my heart all my life! I do not depend too much on intelligence, analysis and calculations.”

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Mumbai, May 24: Item numbers are in vogue but Yash Raj Films` blue-eyed director Kunal Kohli doesn`t approve of them and says using the term `item` for an actress is derogatory.

I don`t believe in item numbers. Neither do I believe in item girls. How can you call a girl `item`? It sounds so cheap. It is humiliating,` said Kohli.

`I am not against the performance, but the term used for it. Let people use the term, but I will never call any song in my film an item number,` he added.

After carving a niche for himself with his previous films `Hum Tum` and `Fanaa`, the director returns to the marquee with `Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic`.

Starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji, the film`s story revolves around four orphaned children and has elements of magic, love and fun, but no item songs.

Although Kohli has roped in Amisha Patel for a song, he says it is not an item number.

`My film doesn`t have item numbers. It has special performance by Amisha Patel, but she is not just doing a song, she also has a very important role in the film.`

Mumbai, May 24: Producer-director-actor Rajat Kapoor has hit the gym with a vengeance to tone up his body for a towel-dropping scene in ‘Raat Gayi Baat Gayi’.

The scene will also have glamorous Neha Dhupia, and Rajat wants to look equally attractive.

‘Well, even I am conscious about my looks. Jokes apart, I want to look as lean as possible. I am in the same frame as Neha Dhupia,’ he said.

Apart from taking up a special diet and physical training, Rajat, who was seen in films like ‘Monsoon Wedding’ and ‘Bheja Fry’, has also been practising dropping the towel with flair.

‘The truth is that I have never gone to gym in my life, but for the first time I am going through such a tough workout session,’ he added.

As the title suggests, ‘Raat Gayi Baat Gayi’ is a humorous take on one-night stands. The comedy revolves around a married couple, their friends and one night of passion that turns their lives topsy-turvy.

The film also has Vinay Pathak in the pivotal role.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali picturised something similar on Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Saawariya’, but it was edited out from the film.

New Delhi, May 24: After winning the hearts of the likes of Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh off the cricket field, the zingy Zinta babe is at it again! The actress-turned-businesswoman is yet again trying her hands at something new, this time it being posing for the cover of the fashion magazine Vogue.

The pretty lass- no surprise here- has been caught candid on camera holding a cricket bat.

Don?t we already know of Preity?s cricket connection? Yeah we do, but guess the pretty woman doesn?t want to leave a single stone unturned to profess her love for the gentlemen?s game.

According to reports, the magazine in question wanted to cash upon the new sporty wave that Preity has touched on. Looking at the shots it seems that the actress just loved every minute of the photo-op she got, so do we call it business, pleasure or both?

You see him in the stands for every match of the Kolkata Knight Riders .
Arjun Rampal, dressed in the team’s black and gold jersey, cheering for his good friend Shah Rukh’s team, with his other buddies Karan Johar, Farah Khan and Sajid Khan. For Arjun, the reasons are simple: one, SRK is a good friend and second, “I see where Shah Rukh has taken the IPL — his contribution has been great and we must support him.”

Arjun has been a cricketer since school. What then is his view that T20 is ‘not quite cricket?’ “It’s a sport,” he says,
“The change in the format is what’s making it exciting. And a lot more people are watching cricket because of this. Women, normally not cricket viewers, are now fascinated by it.” Arjun’s wife, former supermodel Mehr Jesia is one. “My wife couldn’t stand me watching cricket earlier. Today, she not only watches but calculates run rates and knows the rules,” he says.

Arjun has made many new cricketer friends. “They’re all great guys,” he says, “It’s great to see our Indian cricketers learning and interacting with international cricketers. Ishant is a really nice guy, Dada (Sourav) is great for the team: he looks after the youngsters, so does coach John Buchanan. The team was different with Ricky Ponting, Brendan McCallum and Chris Gayle there, it’s pity they had to leave. And Shoaib’s a huge influence — he’s quite a character, enjoys his game and has great energy.”

Wasn’t he worried about rooting for the Knight Riders over the Mumbai Indians with the recent controversy? “It’s not that I dislike the Mumbai Indians. I like Delhi too — I’m from there, after all. But it’s the Indian Premier League and we’re Indians first. See the EPL — you can support Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool and still be British. Next year, if players are traded, Sachin might play for Kolkata or Sourav for Mumbai! Soon the club culture that exists abroad will also catch on here.”

As for why SRK is such a popular team owner, the reason’s simple, says Arjun: “He’s a team player, whether in films, shows or cricket. He’s patient and caring. He looks at this as a sport — some days you win, others you lose. His leadership is great. Take Shah Rukh out of the IPL and it’ll be a great loss for them.”

The elusive and enigmatic Tabu is living life queen-size in Hyderabad.
Far from the Bollywood bustle, the choosy actress has been turning down offers from topnotch banners, opposite the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Rahul Bose.
Tabu refused Shoojit Sircar’s Shoebite and Sanjay Chhel’s Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam. But it doesn’t mean that she is saying no to every offer that comes her way.

Tabu will soon be seen in a comedy film, Seasons Greetings. It’s a segmented multi-story film. Although Seasons Greetings is light and frothy it also takes a deep look at the nature of suburban relationships. The film will be directed by Fight Club director Vicky Chopra.
According to those close to Tabu, she is now deliberately seeking roles that bring out the lighter side of her personality. “Enough of those rona dhona and stern roles for Tabu. She now wants to have fun,” says a source.
 

Your IPL team has made it to the semi-finals.

Well, there were ups and downs when our team started out and I wasn’t sure where we were heading. I used to wonder what I was doing at the initial IPL meetings. So, I took the matter seriously and did my homework. I came out a winner finally. It feels good as I’ve worked very hard to get here.

• You seemed to be cheering Sachin Tendulkar even though he was in the opposite team…

Yes, I was. For me, it’s not about winning only. Both the teams played extremely well on Wednesday. I was so much on the edge of my seat that I nearly toppled over.

• Did you brief Sreesanth about keeping his temper in control?

No, I don’t instruct anybody. It’s not my job. We have a coach and a captain to do that. I don’t think it is right for me to intervene during matches.

• You’re the first woman from the entertainment business to have forayed into sports in such a big way…

Am I? Let’s see where we are headed. If my team wins the Cup, then I can proudly say yes, I’ve done it. It hasn’t been easy. I have put in a lot of effort to get players from different countries together, it signifies true sportsmanship. Looking back, I don’t know how we managed to do it. Now, when we’ve made it to the semi-finals, what we really want is the Cup.

• Have you personally gained from the whole experience?

I’ve learnt a lot about cricket. I feel very nervous during the matches though. Our team has had a good overall performance. I’m proud of them. Yuvraj has been an outstanding captain.

• The general consensus is that Ness and you managed to get the best IPL team…

We have the most balanced team. We also wanted a young and India-heavy team. People think that we have a glamorous team. But, our prerequisite was talent and the glamour is just an add-on element.

• What is it like to have Shah Rukh Khan as a competitor?

I don’t see him as competition. He’s a colleague and a dear friend. IPL is not about Shah Rukh or me. We are not playing on the field anyway.

I used to wonder what I was doing at the initial IPL meetings. So, I took the matter seriously and did my homework - Preity Zinta

Kareena Kapoor can put her hopes of being cast in My Name Is Khan to complete rest. For finally Karan Johar’s first choice Kajol has agreed to do the film. Kajol gave the nod to the project on Thursday.

A source close to Kajol’s husband, Ajay Devgan, tells us, “Kajol indeed took a long time to take a call on her participation in Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan, but the problem was that she had not heard the script in detail. This week, she took a long look at the script and finally said ‘yes’.”

“Karan and Kajol go back a long way. Their dosti is not only friendship but respect for each other as well. Kajol could not have refused the film outright,” the insider further says.

So how will Kajol adjust to the US schedule? Will her daughter Nysa accompany her? Wasn’t that one of the reasons why Kajol took long to give her nod of consent? “Well, that all will be sorted out. Kajol has worked out how to look after Nysa during that period. Whether Nysa will go with Kajol or not is still not known,” our source adds.
We sent a text message to KJo (as Karan is fondly called in the industry), but he did not reply.

My Name Is Khan, directed by Karan Johar, stars Karan’s best buddy, Shah Rukh (who co-produces My Name Is Khan) in the male lead.

The only time Shah Rukh and Kareena have been romantically paired earlier was in Asoka the Great (2001), which too was produced in part by Shah Rukh Khan.
 

Rajeev Khandelwal and Aamna Shariff have been much talked about as a couple, though they have never come out in the open about their relationship.

Now, our sources informed us that the actor, who is debuting in Bollywood with Aamir, has organised a special screening of his film, only for Aamna.

We caught up with the two at a suburban multiplex where the screening was held at 4 pm on Saturday. When asked, Rajeev, as he walked out of the theatre, said, “Yes, the screening was mainly for Amna.

She had been waiting to watch the film for a long time after hearing the songs and watching the rushes, so I requested the producers to get a screening organised.”

Having a screening especially for Amna signifies her importance in Rajeev’s life. However, the actor shuns any such possibility by saying, “There are very few people for who I’d want to do this, and Amna is one of them.

She’s a close friend. I knew even before organising the screening that people would start talking again, but we’re not in a relationship. We’re friends.”
 

It had to happen sooner or later. Most of their friends said it would be sooner. “Two volatile souls like Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor can never last together,” a close friend of Kareena had whispered when she wasn’t listening.

The ‘inevitable’ has happened. There are cracks in the perfect passion already. If rumours floating out of the couple’s friendly circle are to be believed, Kareena and Saif are constantly having problems, and it isn’t Saif’s fault, really. Not yet.

Says a source, “Saif is constantly crowding her for attention. Nowadays, if you see him on his cellphone, which is most of the time, he’s only talking to Kareena. Saif has stopped communicating almost completely with all his family and friends. He never was someone to call up his parents.

Now even his mother doesn’t hear from him for weeks. Soha of course, never heard from him anyway. So that’s no different. In fact, when Soha heard that her brother was at the premiere of Saawariya (with Kareena, of course) she said, “I wish I knew, I could’ve met him.”

Dropping all communication with the rest of the world Saif has now found himself a constant preoccupation. Keeping tabs on the love of his life, and accompanying her to events all over the country which have nothing to do with him.

Says the source, “Kareena likes her space. She’s very giving in love, but doesn’t want her man to constantly question her. That’s what Saif is doing. She gets what-are-you-doing where-are-you calls from Saif throughout the day. Initially she enjoyed all the attention.

Who wouldn’t? But now it’s began to take its toll on her nerves. More than Kareena, it’s her mother Babita who’s worried and angry that Saif’s ceaseless trailing may affect her career.”
Friends say, Kareena has asked her beau to back off a bit. Quite a bit.

“But Saif is Saif. When he’s in love he’s nothing else. Ironically, he used to complain about Rozza’s constant attention. Today he’s behaving exactly the way that put him off her for good.

Hounding Kareena with his attention. She can’t help remember Shahid’s laidback easy-does-it gentle attention,” says the source.

So where does the relationship stand? “Well… it’s a little shaky. But nothing alarming yet. All Saif needs to do is give Bebo the space to find her pace.

Otherwise he’d have to get another girlfriend with a name similar to Kareena so he can get the tattoo re-done without too much pain,” says a friend.

Aishwarya smiles at the memory of bonding with Eva Longoria at Cannes.

“We bonded so well there. No one would believe we had just met. Actually, Eva, Rachida Brakni (who did the original French version of Chaos which Ash was supposed to do) and I got married recently. So we bonded over that common element,” says Aishwarya.

She then talks excitedly about another memorable moment at Cannes. “Jean Reno, the wonderful French actor, came up to me and said he has heard good things about my film, Pink Panther. These legendary actors are so hassle-free! They don’t think twice about approaching you with a smile and kind words. That stays with you and is easier than making an effort to avoid people.”

And which films did she catch there? “I caught three-and-a-half films, including the opening movie Blindness, and the new Indiana Jones film. I could only catch half of Kung Fu Panda because I had to do some press interviews. I also saw the Woody Allen film, Vicky Christina Barcelona. And I met Woody Allen, he’s wonderful!”

On her fetching look on the red carpet, Aishwarya says, “This time around, I had more time to prepare. To me, how I conduct myself at Cannes and how people react to me is far more important than what I wear. Cannes has always been a marvellous and memorable experience. And this time too, it was no different!”

Just the other day, we were wondering where’s Sameera Reddy…

Now, she’s surfaced and informs us that she was recently in Spain for a show and loved the place and the culture so much that she decided to stay back after her shooting schedule for a holiday. But then, her euphoria was short lived. She had to return back to India for a film festival in Orissa.

And now that she’s back, she is missing the sangria, tapas and beautiful beaches of Spain. But, she says she’s promised to get herself back there for more Spanish fun and frolic. But till then, we guess its going to be work over pleasure for the busy as a bee Sameera