SRK on the Big B and Aamir’s blog

From Amitabh Bachchan to Aamir Khan, the stars appear to have taken to blogging in a big way. Surprisingly though, their viewpoints seem to revolve around Shah Rukh Khan. First, the Shahenshah of Bollywood, in an indirect attack on the Badshah, put up the TRPs of his show, Kaun Banega Crorepati as well as those of SRK’s Kya Aap Paachvi Pass Se Tez Hain?. Then came snide comments on Aamir’s blog about his caretaker’s dog named Shah Rukh. Shah Rukh Khan was diplomatically candid about the verbal onslaught: “I don’t think there is anything negative about the content in these blogs. I think in the first blog, Amitji is trying to figure out for himself if he should work on a show with a quiz format. He has done good research. After all, he’s been the anchor of one of the greatest shows in the history of Indian television. As for the second blog, I haven’t read it yet. See, we do joke around. I do. I make remarks about other people. It has to be taken in that spirit. So I can understand if it gets blown out of proportion. We belong to the same age group. We know each other. We speak of weirder things in person.”

As for people splashing his name all over the print and electronic media, he jokes, “I don’t have a copyright on my name unless it is used commercially.” After thinking some more, he adds, “There are two reasons people blog. One, you think journalists aren’t doing a good job of making your viewpoint clear to the world. So, you become a journalist yourself and write. I have no issues with journalists. What I don‘t understand is, if you have a problem with this fraternity, how come you are being part of the same? I am an actor and I’d rather stick to that.”

He concluded saying, “I am not into blogging. However, this is just a personal point of view. I am a little unsocial. I write in caps and I like it.”

Bollywood: Too fast, too furious

Anger management classes are a must for Bollywood celebs these days. No, no one has flung a cell phone at a scribe yet, but the angry young men and women of the industry are supposedly being driven up the wall by the media. While director Sanjay Gupta thinks they need to get their act together, Katrina Kaif is distressed by ridiculous questions. And while the petite Riya Sen candidly says that the media has flipped, the mellow John Abraham hints at it in a more subtle manner. Salman Khan, whose sense of humour precedes his raging temper, feels the media is stealing his thunder by acting like him. It was SRK’s displeasure with the media though, that won our sympathy. The superstar was actually being compared to Rakhi Sawant! Even a paanchvi pass could’ve come up with a better comparison.

Ayesha Takia’s business dreams

New businesswoman on the block Ayesha Takia is visibly excited these days. The pretty actress, along with hotelier boyfriend Farhan Azmi, has just launched a ritzy hotel on a beautiful beach in Goa. Ayesha, who has big films lined up for the year, has taken on the responsibility of her hotel as fervently as she has her film career. The actress is also happy about the fact that people are aware of her love for Farhan, but is quick to dismiss reports of a wedding.

With summer setting in hard, and Goa being a favourite holiday destination, we wonder if the budding star will find time for her films, let alone a wedding.

Salman Khan: Godfather part 2?

We all know of a Miss Kaif, whose shaky legs in Bollywood were given a firm footing as she turned into an overnight star. Now that the long-limbed beauty is a household name and needs no support, ‘boyfriend’ Salman Khan is allegedly playing godfather to another little known face. The lucky girl this time is Mahek Chahal. In case you’ve forgotten, Mahek started her film career with the slapstick comedy Nayee Padosan, followed it up with an item song in Chameli and soon disappeared into oblivion.

The model-turned-actress is adamant she’s back on her own though. No (Sal)man can take credit for her success, she insists.

Intimate scenes no bother for Sonal

After introducing the likes of Bipasha Basu, Udita Goswami, Kangana Ranaut and Mallika Sherawat to Bollywood, the Bhatt camp is ready with their latest find. The girl in question is Sonal Chauhan. In their latest venture, Jannat, the beautiful Sonal will be seen romancing the blue-eyed boy of the Bhatts, Emraan Hashmi. The newcomer says, “I consider myself to be really fortunate to get my first film from the Mahesh Bhatt camp. I have grown up watching their films and am a great fan.”

A model and ex-Miss India contestant, Sonal was crowned Miss World Tourism 2005 in Malaysia, the first Indian to win the title. While Jannat will be her first stint on the big screen, she has been part of the modelling and advertising worlds.

Like most films from the Bhatt camp, the story is bound to give importance to bold scenes. Was she prepared for them? Sonal retorts, “As far as intimate scenes were concerned, it didn’t really bother me — not because I am comfortable doing them, but because my major concern was the role and script.”

While the Bhatt camp has given many new faces a break, most stars usually part ways with them after doing a couple of films. However, according to Sonal, people do not distance themselves from the Bhatt camp. She believes if there is a good film and good role, every actor wants it, including those no longer in the so-called ‘Bhatt camp’. She is also candid enough to admit that she’s too new in the profession to make big statements like the remuneration doesn’t matter.

Ranbir-Deepika: Head over reels in love

In 1975, Rishi Kapoor was paired with his future wife, Neetu Singh; five years later, they were married. Now, it seems like history might repeat itself with their son! Ranbir is set to romance real-life lady love Deepika Padukone in Vikram Singh’s next flick, Mera Jahaan. The director, however, feels it is too premature to comment. “I have approached Ranbir,” says Vikram. “I don’t want to comment on the casting right now though. I’ll be in a better position to comment next month. I’m a bit superstitious, so let everything just fall into place. I will then give you the full low-down!” Stay tuned.

Bollywood focus: Dia Mirza

Born to a German father and a Bengali mother, this light-eyed damsel first started working at the age of 16 as a marketing executive at Sriven Mult-tech in Hyderabad.

Born to a German father and a Bengali mother, this light-eyed damsel first started working at the age of 16 as a marketing executive at Sriven Mult-tech in Hyderabad. She earned a monthly salary of Rs 5000, with a 15 per cent commision. She has done an advertising campaign which appeared in Femina. After the pictures came out she was encouraged to participate in the Miss India competition thats when Miss India happened.

At 18, this quiet, introverted girl entered the Femina Miss India Contest to have some fun. She walked away with 3 titles – Miss Beautiful Smile, The Sony Viewers’ Choice Award and Femina Miss India-Asia Pacific.
As a career move, the Hyderabad girl shifted to Mumbai, away from home and family.

She opted to do her First Year Bachelor of Arts via correspondence, but as the Miss Asia Pacific competition drew closer, juggling work and studies became close to impossible, especially with her modeling assignments, traveling and training.

Her first film, opposite Madhavan – ‘Rehaana Hai Tere Dil Mein’ did not make a big splash. But it spelt one thing - Diya Mirza had arrived. Diya Mirza also worked in a film with Arjun Rampal titled ‘Deewanapan’ and ‘Tumsa Nahin Dekha’ which did not do well either.

In 2005, Mirza appeared in ‘Parineeta’, a Vidhu Vinod Chopra production. In 2006 she teamed up once again with Chopra and Sanjay Dutt for the successful film ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’. She also played in the music video Kajara Mohabbat Wala from Sonu Nigam album Kajara Nite. She has also appeared in ‘Dus’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Shootout in Lokhandwala’ and also in the latets, 'Dus Kahaaniyan'.