Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi returns as host of Bravo's "Top Chef 3 Miami," introducing the challenges to the contestants each week and presiding over the Judge's table alongside Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Ted Allen.

Lakshmi is known internationally as an actress, food expert, model and award-winning writer. 2007 will be a busy year for Lakshmi with a new cookbook and returning as host of Bravo's successful series "Top Chef."

Lakshmi established herself as a food expert early on in her career, having hosted two successful cooking shows and writing a best-selling cookbook. Lakshmi follows this success with the publication of her second cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet, for release by Miramax Books in October. A follow up to her successful book Easy Exotic, for which she won the International Versailles Event for best cookbook by a first time writer, it will be a larger endeavor filled with over 120 recipes from around the world and intriguing personal memoirs.

For The Food Network, Lakshmi hosted "Padma's Passport" where she cooked diverse cuisine from around the world. Lakshmi has also hosted "Planet Food," a documentary series broadcast on The Food Network and worldwide on the Discovery Channel. She journeyed to countries such as Spain and India.

On the big screen, Padma will be starring in Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta's ("Water") upcoming film, "Exclusion."

Lakshmi was last seen with Aishwarya Rai and Dylan McDermott in Paul Mayeda Berges' newest film "Mistress of Spices." She received a positive response for her performance as Princess Bithia in ABC's much anticipated mini-series "The Ten Commandments" alongside Naveen Andrews ("Lost"), Omar Sharif and Dougray Scott. The program was the second-highest rated television film of 2006. She also recently starred in BBC America's "Sharpe's Challenge" opposite Sean Bean. This two-part mini-series directed by Tom Clegg is the continuation of the popular BBC series based on Richard Cornwall's novels aired in September 2006.

She has appeared in films in the US, Italy, and India. Other television credits include hosting Rai Television's "Dominica In," Italy's highest rated program.

SRK beats Saawariya's hype

Shilpa Shetty's publicist believes that Shah Rukh Khan, the star his client began her career with, is unbeatable. And he had mentioned in his column, last week, that to pit a film against the superstar is nothing short of suicide. He had added, "I hope it is not a case of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's overconfidence versus Shah Rukh Khan's star power. Because such a game, if lost, can give a jolt to the industry." According to the publicist, "PRs build perceptions, but perception-building is not the only aspect required for a film. It seems Sanjay Leela Bhansali not only over-rated his product, but miscalculated its overall acceptance." He wonders why Bhansali did not see it coming. Just a week later, his predictions seem to be coming true. He had feared that such unjustified competition between a debutante and a megastar could result in mega shocks. Decidedly, 'Om Shanti Om' is now said to be a much stronger product, while 'Saawariya' is already facing criticism on the directorial front, after its premiere last night. It can be noted here that Bhansali has always made films with very big stars. While 'Khamoshi' starred Salman Khan and Manisha Koirala, 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' had Salman, Ajay Devgan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead. The makers' 'Devdas' went one step ahead to have a kind of a casting coup with Shah Rukh Khan pairing up with Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya, while 'Black' had the inimitable Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji leading the cast. This is the first time Bhansali took up the mantle of being a star-maker, by launching new faces Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, along with Salman and Rani in special roles.He also said that if the release of 'Saawariya' were to be postponed to another week, it would have fared better."If 'Saawariya' was postponed to another week, it could have stood a better chance. I wonder why its makers couldn't see the crisis coming," says Dale, and explains, "PRs build perceptions, but perception-building is not the only aspect required for a film. The hype for 'Saawarya' has been tremendous, but it seems Sanjay Leela Bhansali not only over-rated his product but miscalculated its overall acceptance."

Ranbir is a very shy guy: Rani

Rani who plays a spicy tart in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya is thrilled to be part of the film. For her the director and his mother are family. "I don't want our friendship to get buri nazar (the evil eye). So I'd rather not talk about it much. I'm a prominent part of Sanjay's life and movies. We're always there for one another.Even if Sanjay asked me to walk across a frame and finish with my role, I'd happily do it.Even that one frame would be immortal. We're very comfortable in each other's company. We pour our hearts out to one another.The first role he ever offered me was Bajirao Mastani. That didn't materialize.When I invited him home he quipped, 'Since you aren't doing my film there's no point in our lunch.' I think our friendship started there. After that we spent a lot of time together for the reading and rehearsals of Black. That's when we really bonded. I'm glad our bonding has outlasted all the games of showbiz."Unlike Black where she featured in the pivotal role, Rani 's role in Saawariya is not pivotal."The actors don't choose the role. It's the other way around. I've implicit faith in Sanjay's vision. I'm lucky to have got such a variety of roles. In Saawariya I do something I've never done before. In both my films with Sanjay I was hesitant.He insisted nobody else could do them. If you compare it to my role in Black, then Saawariya was far less daunting. But I've never played anything like this prostitute in Saawariya before.I think Sanjay loves to challenge me as an actress. That thrills him and me. I've realized Sanjay finds me a far superior actor than I think of myself. I think he believes in me more than I do. There're times when he gave me a scene which I thought I couldn't do. He thought I could." After playing the central character in so many of her recent films was it hard to let two newcomers take centrestage in Saawariya?"I didn't look at it that way. Having said that, let me tell you I wouldn't do the same role for any other filmmaker. This is my family film. He had already cast Sonam and Ranbir when I came into picture. One day we were talking and he said he was really missing me in the film. It was then that he offered this role because he couldn't bear to do the film in my absence. That's the kind of confidence and love I find so encouraging. I immediately agreed.It doesn't matter what he offered me. Salman and me in Saawariya are like family supporting a collective endeavour. We didn't care about the length of our roles."Once she agreed to do the golden-hearted prostitute's role in Saawariya she gave herself wholeheartedly to it. "Sanjay's love and passion for his work are so infectious. And I 'm fond of Sonam.I'm very close to her mother. But there're things she can't tell her parents. She pours her heart out to me. I'm always there to guide her. She's a very very good child. As for Ranbir, I haven't spent that much time off-camera with him. He's a shy well brought-up kids. I'm too close to the project and these youngsters to talk about them." Rani left for LA and Bangkok after the premiere of Saawariya.

Jhia Khan host Wrangler

jiah khan will be the brand ambassador of the international denim brand Wrangler Jeans, the clothing brand from VF-Arvind brands. She will now be joining the likes of Wrangler’s other brand ambassador, none other than the hunky John Abraham. Even after a dream debut with ‘Nishabd’ opposite none other than Big B, things were not happening much for Jiah Khan except A.R. Murugadoss’ remake of ‘Ghajini’ with Aamir Khan. Now she seems to have taken a step further with bagging in her first endorsement deal

Shah Rukh Khan turns 42 on November 2

First Appearance: While audiences saw SRK for the first time in the television series Fauji in 1988, in the same year he featured in his first film, an English tele-film by Arundhati Roy, titled, In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones. He played a homosexual character in this one.


First Release: Raj Kanwar's Deewana (1992) opposite Divya Bharati was his first release but his first signed film as a lead was actress Hema Malini's directorial debut, Dil Aashna Hai.



First Hit: Deewana went on to become a huge musical hit with the title song filmed on SRK and Divya Bharati topping the musical charts.

First House: After coming to Mumbai in 1991 he had a brief stay in actor – producer Vivek Vaswani's house in Colaba. He purchased his first flat in Bandra, from the money he got from Producer Prem Lalwani for doing his Guddu (1994). He purchased his present house, Mannat, a sprawling 23,400 sq. feet sea facing villa situated at Bandra, Bandstand for a whopping Rs. 13.32 crores in 2001.


First Award: It all began with winning the Raman Subramanyam Award for Character, All Round Performance in Studies, Sports & Extra Curricular Activities in the Year 1983 in his school days. His first Bollywood award was – Filmfare Award for Best Newcomer in 1993. Till date he has won 21 National and International Awards.

First Special Appearance: For pal Ashutosh Gowariker's directorial debut film Pehla Nasha (1993), he did a guest role and featured in a scene playing himself along with Aamir Khan. This was probably the only time he featured with Aamir till date. He has done a total 14 guest appearances till date with the latest one being Heyy Babyy (2007). Most of these have been for his buddies.


First Hot Scene: For Ketan Mehta's Maya Memsaab, the King Khan featured in his first and only sexually explicit scene that incidentally featured the director's wife, Deepa Sahi in the nude. He hasn't done any kissing sceen on screen till date and is very clear that he will never ever do it.


First Production: He floated Dreamz Unlimited, a production company in partnership with close pals, filmmaker Aziz Mirza and Juhi Chawla and produced his first film, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000). He followed it up with Asoka (2001) but both these films flopped. But he went on to be third time lucky with Chalte Chalte (2003). He also set up another production company Red Chillies Entertainment under which he produced his first film for another close pal Farha Khan, Main Hoon Naa (2004).


First Stunt Direction: He has been the 'Thrills' co-coordinator for four films till date. His first stint was for close buddy, Karan Johar's debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) followed by, Main Hoon Naa (2004) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006).

First Singing Experience: Shah Rukh sang for the first time in Mansoor Khan's Josh (2000), the Apun Bola number picturised on him and Aishwarya Rai.


A few famous quotes from the Witty Khan down the years –

I am Try-sexual. I try anything that's sexual.
Awards that ignore me are losers.
I have no competition. Every year the names I'm pitted against keep changing. You can't cream the competition, you have to kill it.
If I talk to a girl, it's assumed that I'm having a scene with her. If I don't, then it's assumed that I'm gay.
I'd like to believe there's a little of Hitler and Napoleon in me. Even if I try, I can't be as selfless as Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa.
My children look like Gauri, but Thank God they have my brains!
Though my wife thinks I'm mad, I know I'll drop my daughter to the parties she's invited to. I'll want her friends to say, "Wow what a handsome father you have!" When she's with her boyfriend in the backseat of our car, I'll be at the wheel, driving her around.

Priyanka, now Virgin supergirl

Bollywood actress and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra is all set to become a super heroine character in comic books, games and animation films through Virgin Comics.

Priyanka's as-yet un-named character would be an adopted girl who discovers she is of royal lineage and blessed with great mystical powers and has a duty to destroy evil.

For the comic book series, to be launched in 2008, Priyanka will team up with well-known author Deepak Chopra and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.

The new role will make Priyanka the first winner of a Miss World crown to feature as a super heroine character in comic books.

"I love cartoons and animation, so being able to create my own original super heroine with Virgin Comics is a dream come true. I hope it will capture the imagination of the Indian youth," Priyanka said about the venture.

Announcing the launch before a select gathering in Mumbai Wednesday night, Sharad Devarajan, CEO, Virgin Comics said: "Priyanka is a real-life heroine who embodies both sophistication and beauty.

Together, we plan to create a new super heroine character that will capture her spirit and carry forward Virgin Comics' mission of redefining the Indian character entertainment industry."

Virgin Comics president Suresh Seetharaman said it would be developed across other platforms, including animation games and theatrical live-action films. "It promises to be an exciting and fun entertainment character cutting across age barriers," he said.

Virgin Comics was founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2005. Apart from Priyanka, it is developing new stories with acclaimed filmmakers, actors and musicians like John Woo, Guy Ritchie, Terry Gilliam, Dave Steward, Ed Burns, Nicholas Cage, Duran Duran and Sachin Tendulkar.

Some rare facts about Ash

Aishwarya Rai – the name itself spells grace, scintillating beauty, fame and adulation.

She turns a year older today and enjoys perfect bliss as she celebrates her first birthday after marriage, as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with her hubby’ s family.

Here're some facts about Aishwarya...

The first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival.

Is reportedly the highest paid actress in Bollywood.

Created a frenzy at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival when she arrived at the premiere of her film ‘Devdas (2002)’ in a coach and wearing a beautiful yellow-orange embroidered sari.

Made her first commercial for Camlin pencils when she was in the 9th grade

Was the Coca Cola Girl for the Middle East and South Asia

Favorite subject in college was Zoology.

Is featured in the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records

In a poll conducted by Hello magazine, she was voted the number-one attractive woman of 2003, beating actresses such as Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Gwyneth Paltrow

In April 2003, L'Oréal signed her as its new international brand ambassador (spokesperson)

The first Bollywood star to appear in Rolling Stone magazine (Issue 932, October 2, 2003)

Gained 20 pounds for ‘Bride & Prejudice’ (2004) because she didn't want her character to look like a supermodel and also felt that it would add a sense of realism to the character

The first movie star she ever met was Rekha. Aishwarya was still in high school at the time and was a model. While at a grocery store with her mother, Aishwarya was tapped on the shoulder by none other than Rekha herself.

Rekha recognized Aishwarya from her modeling ads. She complimented the young Aishwarya on her good looks and wished her all the best

Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai are the only stars to advertise for both Coca Cola and Pepsi

After winning the title of Miss World in 1994, the host of the event, Richard Steinmetz, actually asked Aishwarya out. But being a professional, she refused right away

During the filming of the song 'Dola Re Dola' from the movie ‘Devdas (2002)’, Aishwarya's ears were bleeding because to the heavy earrings she had to wear, but she continued to perform anyway

Is a trained classical dancer. She learnt classical dance and music for five years while in her teens

Won the title of Miss Photogenic in the 1994 Miss World Pageant

Has won over 100 awards since 1994 when she was 20

Is good friends with actress Preity Zinta

Was listed in Time magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world (The 2004 TIME 100)

Ran the Olympic-torch relay in June 2004

Turned down a role in ‘The Myth’ (2005) due to her touring schedule. The role was eventually given to Mallika Sherawat

Has over 17,000 Web sites dedicated to her

In 2004, Aishwarya became the first Bollywood and Indian actress to have her own statue at London's Madame Tussauds museum

On January 2nd, 2005, she became the first Indian actress to be interviewed on "60 Minutes" (1968).

Voted #9 in Harpers and Queen magazine's list of the 100 most beautiful women of today. (Harpers and Queen, June 6, 2005)

A tulip produced in 2005 was named for her

Member of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival

When Oprah Winfrey saw Aishwarya's interview on ‘60 Minutes’ (1968), she was so fascinated by her that she got a hold of Ash and invited her to be a guest on her show. On April 25, 2005, Aishwarya became the first Indian and South Asian actress to be featured on ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’

Is said to have turned down the role of Helen in the film ‘Troy’ (2004).

Director Andy Tennant offered her a part in ‘Hitch’ (2005), but she turned it down because she was so busy with other films. Actor Will Smith later talked about how he missed out on working with the beauty

In the summer of 2005, Mattel released limited-edition Barbie dolls inspired by Aishwarya and her costumes. They were released only in Britain and sold out within minutes. These dolls are now considered rare collectibles among fans.

Her favourite film is Casablanca.

Was voted number 12 on VH1's 50 Sexiest Actresses of the Last 20 Years. (December 2005)

Roger Ebert has said he considers her the most beautiful actress in the world.

Was voted as E's 7th sexiest celebrity in the world

The first actress from India to get signed on with the American Library Association and also have a poster made of her for schools and library's all across America

When President George W. Bush visited India in March 2006, he invited Aishwarya, along with Aamir Khan, to a luncheon. Aishwarya could not attend because she was in Brazil at the time filming for ‘Dhoom:2’ (2006).

Performed to an audience of 85,000 in Melbourne, Australia at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games with 800 backup dancers (March 2006)

Is very popular in many Arab countries

Featured in People Magazine as one of the 100 Most Beautiful People in the World. (Issue May,8,2006)

Caused a day long traffic jam in Dubai, United Arab Emirates while filming a soap commercial. People would stop for hours just to catch a glimpse of their favorite actress. (September 5, 2006)

Listed #3 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/ 2006)

Her Pepsi ad with Aamir Khan was shot in one night during the infamous Bombay riots.

Came in #1 in BollySpice.com Magazine's list of "Top 10 Actresses of 2006"

Was invited in 2005 to be a presenter at The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV), but was unable to attend because she was busy filming for The Mistress of Spices (2005)

Is active in various charities and often visits orphanages.

Her favorite Western designer is Giorgio Armani. Whenever she is in London, clothes are taken to her hotel for her to choose from

Director Brett Ratner is a fan of Aishwarya's and he wanted her to be cast in ‘Rush Hour 3 (2007)’, but she turned down the offer

Her wax statue at Madame Tussauds Museum in London was borrowed by the museum in New York for six weeks. The statue was flown to New York and made its debut on August 15, 2007, making her the first Indian actress in the American version of the museum

Her wedding invitations were embossed with two entwined As and delivered along with a box of chocolate meringues.

SRK is just like an old wine

His charisma, wit and intelligence make him stand apart and his humility has endeared him to the masses. No wonder, in a short span Shah Rukh Khan has become a phenomenon. And now the Bollywood superstar, who turns 42 Friday, is set to charm movie buffs with his much-awaited "Om Shanti Om".

Shah Rukh, who has specially cultivated six-pack abs for the film and even gone shirtless, is fiercely promoting the film and says it will compete with the year's best "Chak De! India", which again had him in the lead role.

And "Chak De.." has been the only superhit of the year.

"I'm very competitive. I compete with myself. I don't look at anyone; I just look straight. I don't even watch films which don't star me," Shah Rukh, who reportedly earns a mind-boggling Rs.247 every minute, has been quoted as saying.

Set in the backdrop of the 1970s Bollywood, "Om Shanti Om" has the re-incarnation theme as its backdrop and is directed by good friend Farah Khan. It also introduces the lovely Deepika Padukone, former badminton ace Prakash Padukone's model daughter.

The actor is reported to have sold the film, made at a budget of Rs.400 million, for Rs.700 million.

When it releases Nov 9, the film will clash with another much-hyped movie - Sanjay Leela Bhansali's musical extravaganza "Saawariya" which stars, Nitu and Rishi Kapoor's son Ranbir and Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam. Sony Pictures, co-producer of the film, is splurging big money on its publicity.

But Shah Rukh is unfazed.

He said: "Nobody is going to use money to oust the goodwill that I have created."

Ragini Talwar, a die-hard Shah Rukh fan, explains his popularity, saying: "He is a thinking man, he is intelligent, level-headed and doesn't exude any arrogance. All these qualities make him very endearing."

Although not good-looking in the conventional terms, Shah Rukh's mass appeal is amazing. This was quite obvious when he became host of STAR Plus' popular quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati", which had become synonymous with icon Amitabh Bachchan.

When launched on Jan 22 this year, the initial response to the quiz show was not so encouraging. And comparisons with original host Amitabh were inevitable.

But soon the comparisons stopped, and people began enjoying the show. With his irresistible charm and wittiness, Shah Rukh gave a new makeover to the show and viewers began looking forward to it. Its witty content made the show a kind of a stress buster.

Shah Rukh is considered one of the premium brands of India. However, he says that he never worked consciously to achieve the status.

"Brands are made by the conventional way of working hard. I never worked in a special manner to build my brand. I just worked hard. Getting somewhere is easy but holding on to it is very difficult. Brands work if you think positively," he says.

At a time when most of the successful actors are Hollywood bound, Shah Rukh brushes aside such aspirations.

"By acting in a Hollywood film I will not become a good actor. Acting has no language," says the actor, his feet firmly on the ground.

Shah Rukh, who started off as a stark newcomer in the industry in 1992 minus a godfather, is keen that India have Oscar-like academy awards. He also wants to introduce new film technology and has plans to build his own studio. But he has yet to find a place.

Age is no bar to the superstar who seems to look younger, get better and more energetic with the passing years, just like old wine.

Ash won't do item no. even for Abhi

Ash is turning out to be a really docile Bahu for Bachchan clan.

Gone are her Dhoom 2 days when she flaunted skin with an aplomb. We hear that queen bee have been regularly rejecting offers on the grounds of excessive exposure including the one from Karan johar.

And now the buzz is Ash has refused an item number even in Goldie Behl’s ‘Drona’ which stars her husband Abhishek in the lead role.

Behl had plans to rope in Ash for an item number in the film though Priyanka Chopra is the lead heroine for Drona.

But Ash reportedly put down both the director and her hubby.

Considering the fact that Ash’s kitty is now filled with some prestigious projects and international films like Pink Panther 2, it is not surprising that the former Miss World quietly refused the offer from Behl rendering more importance to her individual career than wanting to add zing to Abhishek’s film.

Goldie and Abhishek have now reportedly approached Bipasha Basu for the item number.

Male Nudity comes Ranbir bares Butt

34 years after Rishi Kapoor dropped his towel to expose his bare behind to the camera and to an embarrassed Aroona Irani in his debut as the male lead in Raj Kapoor's Bobby, his son Ranbir has done the same without any inhibitions in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya.

Yes, for the first time in a mainstream Hindi film the hero has done a nude shot. The unexpected occurs during the course of a song Jab se tere naina shot with the debutant- hero waltzing in a towel

Ranbir feels no awkwardness about the shot. "It's a song where a guy is celebrating love when he comes out of a bath…so many of us have danced in a towel in our bedrooms. What's the big deal if it slips off?

I did exactly what the character was required to do.If my father could do it for his father in the conservative 1970s why can't I do the same in this day and age when everything is out in the open?

And that too for a film by Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali who according to me and my family, is the true inheritor of Mr Raj Kapoor's legacy."

Interestingly Ranbir's mom Neetu Singh finds her son's towel number very cute.

The question is, would the censor board allow the butt-shot ?

"I don't see why not? There was one in Bobby so many years ago. Besides it's so aesthetically done," reasons Ranbir.

The only other 'Bollywood star' (if he can be called that) to have done a nude shot is Rahul Bose.

Rahul dropped his trousers for a full-length back shot with model Laila Rouass in Dev Benegal's Split Wide Open 8 years ago.

"Why not ?" shoots back Rahul.

"When you submit to a character you submit completely. In one of my earliest films Bom-gay I played a homosexual who steals his guilty pleasures wherever he can. I had to be shown making love in a passive position. When you are in character you drop everything you have to, including your pants."

Manish apologizes to Vidya Balan!!!

Displaying a grace that one automatically associates with his sartorial expertise super-designer Manish Malhotra has sent an SMS of apology to Vidya Balan for her supposedly mal-dressed look in Sajid Khan's Heyy Babyy.

Confirming this charming display of self-criticism Vidya Balan says, "Yes, Manish did send me an apology and that was very sweet of him. I don't think my malfunctioning wardrobe in Heyy Babyy was his fault entirely.

I completely trusted Manish. But Manish and I couldn't share a direct connect to discuss my clothes. He couldn't be physically present at the shooting for Heyy Babyy.

And considering I was doing a makeover in my looks it was very important for him to be there. We should've both worked very closely on my clothes."

However Vidya holds no grudges against Manish. "The onus isn't his alone He sent me a very sweet message saying, 'I'm sorry I messed up. I hope we get another opportunity.'

He needn't have apologized. He got a lot of flak for my look. So did I. I accept the criticism as much as I accept all the praise that comes my way. When I look at Heyy Babyy, I say, 'Gawd, what was I thinking?!'.

Vidya now accepts that glamour for her has to be defined in a different more subtle way than it was defined by Manish for Urmila or Kareena. "And we'll prove it. I've to do one more film with Manish very soon. We need to prove that we can work out a sensible sartorial equation."

Vidya is sure she can break free of the Sari mould to look Western. "All we need to do is work harder. It was a personality departure and I wasn't paying attention. What was I doing? I had a mirror handy, no?

I just thought surrendering to someone like Manish Malhotra is enough. It doesn't work that way. I messed up in Heyy Babyy though hopefully not in any permanent way. I'll get a second chance. I've realized how important clothes are to playing characters."

Vidya's clothes in Bhool Bhulaiyaa have been done by a new designer Sheena Parekh. "She happened do my clothes by chance in Lage Raho Munnabhai. The girl doing my clothes got pregnant and we just didn't have time to find anyone else.

Sheena is predominantly a screenwriter, wrote K3G with Karan Johar and assisted Raju Hirani in Lage Raho Munnabhai. It was my gut feeling that Sheena could do it. She has an aesthetic sensibility and being a writer she understands what her character should wear.

In Bhool Bhulaiyaa the director Priyadarshan was very clear as to how I should dress. He wanted plain unobtrusive tassar saris with contrasting blouses.I'm very happy with my look in Bhool Bhulaiyaa. I feel very flattered when people say it harks back to the Shabana-Smita days.

Sheena was there throughout Bhool Bhulaiyaa. I'd like my costume designer to be with me all through a film and not send instructions through assistants.

John-Biapsha put family first

Of late John has been almost completely out of the public glare.

Ask him why, and he sighs a deep fatigued but relieved sigh.

"It's not as if I'm being a recluse or anything. My father was very unwell. We were in and out of hospital all the time.

For that period of time nothing else mattered to me…nothing at all. While he was ill I couldn't think of anything else. Even all those rumours of my so-called break-up with Bipasha just passed over my dead."

Bipasha was by John's side all through the time that his father was in hospital. "She's very family-oriented, just like me. To both of us family comes first. Then just when my dad recuperated my mom broke her leg. So it's been all about a bout of loving my parents," chuckles John at his own cleverness.

The naysayers have been proven wrong, at least about this Bollywood relationship.

Says John, "Isn't that so with all speculation about relationships? Only the two people in the relationship know the truth. Everyone else makes wild speculations, the wilder the spicier. Sure every relationship has its ups and downs. "

Quietly he has completed and wrapped up work on two very unusual films.

"The unusual has become usual for me," John chuckles cleverly. "People expect a certain kind of unpredictability in my work. And both my forthcoming films No Smoking and Goal move away from the safe zone. But when have I ever been safe in the safe zone?"

In Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking which opens at the end of October John plays a man loath to quit smoking. "Again it isn't the kind of film that you'd call conventional. I don't mind dancing around trees. But I'd rather embrace the trees than run around them," he draws a sharp reference to his environmentalist's role in Deepa Mehta's Luna.

John reverts to his current favourite. "I'm very very fond of Anurag Kashyap's approach to filmmaking. I seek out directors like Anurag Kashyap and Sriram Raghavan. I don't really care to walk the trodden path. So what if I'm not working with all the bigwigs of the entertainment industry?

The thrill of working with talent that gets discovered while working with you is something else. It's like finding a new road map to a treasure- chest. I saw the spark in Sriram long back and have supported him into making the cinema he believes in."

Goal too takes John on a different trip. "From the time I came in I've walked the lonely path. As a newcomer from outside the film industry with no connections I had no choice but to deliver from the start. It's not like I had a godfather or a father to support me. And even if you do, you can't fool the audience.

Abhishek Bachchan's career worked after so many hiccups not because of who he is, but because he was good. You can't hold a good man down."

Right now John is raring to go. "I worked really hard on No Smoking. Started smoking and became quite an inhaler because we had to show the character's metamorphosis from smoker to no smoker.

In a film like this you can't fake the smoking. I hated smoking. Everyone knows how health conscious I am. But I'd so anything to be true to my character. I don't want to be called a dishonest actor."

John had a tough time quitting the cancer stick after the film. "I had a cough and craving for months. Fortunately I was doing a complete health-friendly film Goal side by side. So things got kind of balanced out as they generally do for me,touch wood."

Talk veers to John's other favourite director. "Deepa Mehta was in Mumbai recently. Of course I met her although I'm not in her new film. I'd love to be in all her films. Would I do a guest appearance in her next Heaven On Earth with Preity in it?

Anytime. Deepa is like family. Who says there can't be permanent relationships in this business? People are as genuine down here as you are to them."

Ranbir's Nude scene deleted from saawariya

Ranbir Kapoor's female fans are in for a disappointment. The towel in his much-celebrated Jab se tere naina number stays in place.

The shot of the towel dropping has been deleted by the censorboard.

According to the team that accompanied director Sanjay Leela Bhansali to the censoring the director was offered the choice of keeping the nude shot with an Adults certificate.

But the filmmaker didn't want to lose an extremely large crucial portion of the potential audience for one shot.

"In fact several members of the censorboard who loved the film suggested I take the cut and go with the 'U' certificate. Though in principle I'm against any cuts beyond my creativity this one time I agreed. The shot doesn't really make any difference to the flow of my story," says Sanjay.

With the censor certificate, the film is all set for release on November 9.

Sony Pictures seems pleased enough with Saawariya to offer Sanjay Leela Bhansali yet another film.

Says the Sony CEO, Uday Singh, "Saawariya is an extremely high-calibre product. We'd love to have him make another film for us. We can only hope that his experience with us has been as fruitful as our experience of working with him. And that he'd take up our offer of making another film for us."

kareen- finally i am having fun

Suddenly Kareena Kapoor is walking on sunshine.

After playing the free-spririted Sardarni from Bhatinda in Jab We Met she's all set to do a full-on comedy in the Gol Maal sequel entitled Phir Gol Maal where she teams up with Ajay Devgan after the very serious Shakespearean tragedy Omkara

And Kareena is mighty pleased about this leap from the grim to the grin.

Though she doesn't say it, friends close to her feel she has been trying to curb her naturally ebullient personality for some years now, attempting to be the person that she was not. Now suddenly, say her friends, Kareena is herself again.

Laughs Kareena joyously, "Although there're lots of comic moments in Jab We Met I've never done a full-on comedy before. Even when I worked with Priyadarshan (who's renowned for his comedies) I starred in his only serious film (Chup Chup Ke) in recent times.

And when we did a comedy together (Hulchal) I was the only serious character around. I guess I didn't have the chance to have fun with my roles before Jab We Met. That's why I'm looking forward to Gol Maal Returns It's my chance to pull out all stops."

The response to her performance in Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy Jab We Met has so far been phenomenal.

"The only other film I've felt so so good about in recent times is Omkara. The director Imtiaz Ali has brought out the playful extroverted side of me.While I was quiet subdued and withdrawn in Omkara, in Jab We Met I'm in my full element.

This character is really close to my heart. I think from my heart and like to speak my mind openly. And what I liked about this role was the amount of fun we had while traveling and shooting."

The fun quotient shows up in the film. "I think that enjoyment during shooting has shown up on screen. Everyone who has seen Jab We Met has been appreciative. "

And now Kareena after doing seriously angst-filled roles in Fida and Omkara is all set to let her hair down, throw her feet up in the air and have fun on screen.

Yes, Kareena is truly walking on sunshine. Tell her she looks different these days and she seems surprised.

"Do I look different? It's just that I've become thinner. And I'm happy being myself."

Kareena-Saif fight in Market

Yesterday we heard Saif saying, "To have a crush on someone is a quick thing, but love takes time." Apparantly the juniour Nawab was talking about Kareena. And now we hear that just a few weeks into the relationship and the couple have already had their first spat.

The duo had a heated argument at a party and Kareena was even seeing crying. It all happened at a nightclub in Mumbai where they were attending a party thrown by filmmaker and wannabe actor Farhan Akhtar.

Saif who has acted in Dil Chatha Hai which was directed by Farhan also turned up for the party with his new found love Kareena in tow. However a source claims that Saif and Kareena were seen arguing at the party in full view of all the guests.

However when Saif told Kareena to ‘Shut up’, she burst into tears. Kareena was extremely upset as she felt that Saif shouldn’t have treated her like that especially since she had dumped Shahid for him.

Eventually the two made up and were seen in good cheer again and later left the party together.

The turnaround was understandable. Saif has been indulging the Kareena of late having gifted her solitaire diamonds "worth a few lakhs very recently," according to a leading tabloid.

He has also been looking for a specific-sized diamond ring.

"He told us that it's for a very special lady and he gave us the ring size also," says a salesman at a jewelry store.

Kareena and Saif will soon be seen together in Yash Raj film Tashan.