Bollywood has some and then a few more. Yummy mummies, we mean. But we chose the lovely actress Kajol to be TOI’s guest editor for this special Mother’s Day issue.
Not because she’s acting in Karan Johar’s Stepmom that will release later this year. But because she’s the only actress who twice in her hugely successful career has unselfishly stepped back from the top to gladly accept motherhood.
The first time after daughter Nysa, Kajol returned in 2006 to win the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Fanaa opposite Aamir Khan. Then this year, just after another stunning performance in My Name Is Khan with her favourite co-star Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol completed Stepmom and settled down to her second baby. It must take some doing. The actress, however, dismissed the putting-career-on-hold and making-a-comeback theory with a toss of her auburn hair.
“Your career is part of your life, your family is part of your life, and your whole life — your personality — is made of every part put together. It’s upto you to strike the right balance,” she said. “I learned from example. My own mother (the actress Tanuja) always put her family first. Even when she was working, we were her top priority, she gave us quality time — when she was there, she was with us 120 per cent. I’m lucky to have had her. And I hope to be like her…”
She’s glowing with the early stages of pregnancy, and she’s comfortable with her condition, she made no fuss about the great commute from her home to our office in peak summertime to take the chair for this issue. Dressed casually in a loose white top and black trousers, feet encased in soft slippers, she slipped into the role emphatically… brown eyes flashing with expression, fists thumping the table to make a point. When coffee and sandwiches were placed before her, Kajol’s face lit up. “I’m so pregrant, aren’t I,” she giggled.
She was unhappy with Mother’s Day, per se. “Mothers are fab and kids bring out the best in women,” she said, “but you can’t relegate your relationship with your mother to just one day in a year. For a child, the mother is God… the mother has the same responsibility to her child as God has to the world. And just as you wake up each morning and worship God whether you’re 14 or 40, you should respect your mother… even when you are grown up, in complete control of your life and are probably looking after her.”
And she had a word of caution for troubled mothers in today’s society of suicidal children: “They should listen to their kids… a mother’s gift to her kid should be the power of speech. Don’t be impatient. Don’t close yourself to your child by expecting her/him to be what you want them to be. Your message to them should be, ‘I love you for what you are and will support you whether you pass or fail your exams.’ Mothers should also stop to consider what they would do if their kid was suddenly taken away from them today. I would die! Compared to that, you can make make every situation work…”
There were more tidbits from this mother and mother-to-be even while she discussed work (“I’m a nice boring person, you won’t get gossip on me!”), babies, motherhood, growing up, families (“they teach you and make you who you are”), the need to discipline kids (“spanking is not bad as a means to get attention… it’s not the punishment, that’s much worse, and devious”) and pregnancy itself (“don’t become a mother unless you’re ready, don’t let this decision be thrust on you, because then everybody will suffer… especially your child”).
Plus, a final word of advice to mothers: “Advice itself is bad, don’t be weighed down by what society says your kid ought to be doing, rely on your own instincts and decisions. As a mother, you know what’s best for your kid, by learning, by instinct, by habit… And, practise what you preach. Your kid learns by watching you. In future, your child takes reference from you.” We had just one question for Kajol, did she subscribe to the public opinion that she was Bollywood’s yummy mummy? “Absolutely,” she declared, giving the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai smile, “I was yummy even before I had my baby!”
May 8th, 2010 in
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In the absence of commercial flights to European countries following volcano eruption in Iceland, producer Sajid Nadiadwala has no option but to hire private jets to take the prints of his forthcoming comedy “Housefull” to Britain and other countries in the region. 
“This is most unforeseen. In all my years as a producer, I’ve never encountered such a a crisis. There’re about a 100 prints to be taken to Europe. Air traffic has come to a standstill,” Nadiadwala said.
Directed by Sajid Khan, “Housefull” that stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Arjun Rampal, Lara Dutta and Deepika Padukone, is set for April 30 release. As per the rules, delivery overseas has to be made a week in advance of the opening day.
Volcanic ash disrupted flights and most of air traffic to Europe was shut on Tuesday.
“I’m hiring private jets to carry the prints to the nearest city with an open air base. From there the prints will be taken to various European cities by train or road. I’m so desperate. I’m ready to employ any means of transportation - planes, trains, automobiles, whatever is available.”
The added expenditure incurred by the paralysing of air traffic is the least of Nadiadwala’s worries.
“It doesn’t really matter how much money it would cost. The important thing is to get the prints to the European centres on time. Or else the entire overseas release would be affected.”
The harassed producer won’t rest easy until a solution to the transportation deadlock is found. “It’s been one crisis after another for me. First, the underworld threats then this volcanic eruption.”
So stressed is Nadiadwala that he hasn’t been able to enjoy the completion of his next project “Anjaana Anjaani” that stars Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra.
“Ranbir Kapoor had a wrap-up party for ‘Anjaana Anjaani’. But I wasn’t able to attend because of these two back-to-back crises at my workplace. Now I’ll celebrate only when “Housefull” is released properly everywhere.”
I belong to semicommercial cinema says actress Rituparna Sengupta, who thinks she belongs to the league of Rani Mukerji, Kajol and Vidya Balan.She says that Bollywood happened by chance and she was happy doing Bengali cinema.
Why did you choose Main Meri Patni Aur Woh as your debut movie in Bollywood?
Bollywood never figured in my plans. I didn’t have that kind of aspiration, as I was very happy with the kind of work I was doing – and getting – in Bengali cinema. But when Chandan Arora came to me with the script, I simply loved the story. I was such a sweet and interesting role that I had to do it. I felt instinctively that I wanted to do it. That’s the way I am.
A few days ago, Preity Zinta vociferously denied the reports that Team Punjab owners were planning to sell their IPL team, because of its poor showing in the tournament. “How many times the news has 2 be WRONG about our stake sale!” she had tweeted.
However, the winds seem to have changed direction, or at least, no one’s outrightly denying it now. Ready to dispose off their stakes, the owners of team Punjab are looking for “genuine buyers.” Will IPL season 4 see a change in ownership? Is Venugopal Dhoot’s company in the race? We spoke to the owners to find out the latest …
Ness Wadia
Business is not emotional
I have been saying that I am open to the idea, but we need to find genuine buyers. The talks are on with some buyers, but so far, nothing has been decided. I have no issues in selling my stake. My journey with the Punjab team has been fruitful, but here, we are into business and there’s nothing emotional in it.
On Dhoot’s company in the race: Let me make it clear, we are not in talks with his company. The market is abuzz with the news, but I don’t know where it has come from. To the best of my knowledge, we haven’t talked with him, and once it happens, I’ll announce it myself.
IPL and the controversies: The IPL has generated good business and hype. And I think now, when it has become successful, people are trying to bring it down.
On owners losing interest: None of us has lost interest in the game and the team. Yes, I was unable to attend a couple of matches, as I was ill. We still love our team and will continue to do so.
Will IPL 4 see change in ownership? It’s not clear yet. Maybe, it will happen, but the situation will be clear only when the team is being sold. Right now, I can’t say anything.
On buzz that Preity isn’t letting others sell their stake : It’s not true. There’s no conflict within the management. We work like a team and whatever the decision is, will be of everyone.
Mohit Burman
We are ready to sell
On selling: Yes, we are ready for that. I’ve been saying for long that if I get a good deal, I’ll have no issues selling it. So, now I’m waiting for the final word from the others.
When will it happen? That, I can’t say. It might happen soon. So far, nothing has materialised, and I don’t like spreading rumours. On controversies involving his brother, Gaurav Burman: Things will be clear as the investigations are on. I have left everything on the future.
On experience of being team owner:
Fabulous. I loved my association with the team, and I think I learnt a lot in these three years.
Preity Zinta
Time will tell
On selling: I can’t say anything on it now . Let time tell everyone.
On the team’s bad showing : This season, we didn’t do well, but then, it’s a game and one has to win and another has to lose. I don’t get trapped in negativity, so I’m not taking the defeat to my heart.
Post IPL: I’ll get on with my regular work – movies . I have a lot many things pending.
Bollywood star couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai are set to ring in their third wedding anniversary (which is today, by the way) in the US, according to sources close to the actors.
Amitabh Bachchan revealed that the couple was taking a flight to New York. A source close to the couple said, “The two have gone to an undisclosed destination and will be back in time for the music release of Mani Ratnam’s Raavan.” Abhishek also posted on his Twitter page, “…It’s Houdini time again. Have managed to abduct the wife. See you all soon.”
According to another source, the duo have been planning this holiday so that they could spend some time together after keeping busy with their respective shooting schedules. Last year, the actors took out time for a week-long vacation while they were shooting for Raavan, which is among their most awaited films this year.
On their first anniversary, Abhishek was busy shooting in Miami for Dostana, but wife Aishwarya joined him there. The couple got married in 2007 in a grand wedding ceremony at Bachchan’s residence Prateeksha in Mumbai.
Mexican actress Barbara Mori, who is in India for the promotion of “Kites”, left for the Maldives to shoot an ad campaign for Provogue with co-star Hrithik Roshan.
The Roshans wish to keep her visit as low key as possible until she returns from the Maldives Thursday for a series of press interactions in Mumbai.Hrithik wrapped up the final few days of shooting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for “Guzaarish” before Barbara’s arrival.
Hrithik and his wife Susanne gladly played Barbara’s host on her arrival in Mumbai Monday.About her current visit to India, Rakesh Roshan, the film’s producer, said: “We don’t want to create any unnecessary hype about her presence. But we do want to make it clear that we didn’t sign Barbara for ‘Kites’ because we needed any Caucasian girl.”
“Barbara is not just a pretty girl. She is an amazing actress. You have to see her in ‘Cosas Insignificantes’ where she had shaved off her hair. She is an outstanding dramatic actress,” he added.
Barbarba spent Monday in Mumbai with the Roshans and left early Tuesday morning for the Maldives.She leaves Mumbai May 2 and will join Hrithik for the US premiere of “Kites”.
Karan Johar seems to have mastered the art of spotting talent. Be it Tarun Mansukhani, Ayan Mukerji 
or Rensil D’Silva, Karan has not only found fresh talent, but has also tried to experiment with different genres of movies.
While Dostana was a great laugh riot, Wake Up Sid proved to be a coming-of-age kind of a film and his next release Kurbaan is a love story set against the backdrop of terrorism.
With all these movies making it big at the box office, Dharma Productions has proved to be a banner that’s keen to make movies of different genres. And Kurbaan seems to be the next step forward for the banner.
Besides providing the young directors with a great platform, Karan also believes in stepping back and not interfering with the project at all. “I greenlight the project and then I step back. I let the director do his job and that’s the way it should be,” he says.
So, what spurred him to launch new directors? “All those who have directed for me have their own thought process. Be it Rensil, Tarun or Ayan, they all had a vision for the film that they were making. I think it’s very difficult for a first time director to put together the kind of project that he would want to make. Also, I have worked with these directors previously and have complete confidence in them,” he says.
Karan is “proud” of his next offering — Kurbaan — and is also confident of Rensil’s work. “Rensil was so passionate about the movie that I knew he would do complete justice to it,” says Karan
There’s a chance that Shamita may not be able to attend her sister’s wedding. According to highly-placed sources at Colors there seems to be no provision to get a contestant out of a game show for a wedding.
Hard as it may be to believe, Shilpa Shetty’s kid sister, now locked away in Bigg Boss, is oblivious of the momentous developments in her star-sister’s life. Says a highly-placed Colors source, “Shamita has not been told anything about Shilpa’s engagement or the marriage in the last week of November. As far as Shamita knows, the marriage was supposed to happen in December after the show was over.” Now that Shilpa has approached the channel to evict her sister in time for the wedding—and a meeting between the two parties is on the cards this weekend—the channel bosses are at a loss as to how the rules can be bent to get Shamita out of the Bigg Boss house. Says the source, “There’s a provision for a house-mate to be brought out in a case of an extreme emergency. It happened with Jade Goody last year. But does a sister’s unscheduled wedding qualify as a family crisis? We’re now wondering if the same rule as Jade can be applied to Shamita’s case.” 
The international Big Brother rules are being consulted. If there’s no provision for a contestant to leave the game for a family wedding, then Shamita Shetty may not get the permission to leave Bigg Boss house for the wedding! This, however, seems improbable, considering Shilpa’s old relations with the reality show. (She was contestant on Bigg Brother and hosted Bigg Boss 2). Says the source from Colors, “After meeting Shilpa this weekend we’ll work out a strategy on Shamita’s eviction.” According to plans if rules apply, Shamita’s eviction will be done live. “If an unexpected turn of events helps us boost our TRPs we’re certainly not shy of putting it on camera. We did with Jade Goody. We’ll do it with Shamita.”
The pop philosopher of the show Amitabh Bachchan is expected to do the needful. He will be breaking the news of Shilpa’s engagement and impending marriage to Shamita. “The rest is up to Shamita. Once we’re sure she can be evicted whether she decides to come out or stay in the House is entirely her decision,” ends the channel source.
Amrita Rao is all set to celebrate Diwali with a big bang.
The actress has decided to take a break for the festival from her film and television assignments. “I will not be shooting for any of my upcoming movies during Diwali, as this is the only time in the year I get to unwind and actually catch up with all the family gossip that I’ve missed out on. I had initially planned an extended trip to Dubai and sign on three-four film projects, but I was unable to go as I have been caught up with my reality show.”
October 17th, 2009 in
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It was a special night, as the Bharat Shiromani Awards were presented in the capital recently. The function included 30 series of awards for the Jaya Prada year 2008-09. 
And The Award Goes To: Orissa governor MC Bhandare gave away the awards at the function. He along with former Army chief General JJ Singh and AR Lakshmanan were conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, MP and former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, santoor player Abhay Rustom Sopori, MP and actress Jaya Prada, fashion designers Ashima and Leena Singh, boxing champion Vijender Singh, Raja Fateh Singh, Gajanand K Malpani, MP Rozario and Vincent Consscaso were among some of the other winners.
Please give me a break! Abhinav Bindra told us, “I’ll be leaving for London soon, to receive the 2010 Commonwealth Games baton from Queen Elizabeth II.” When we asked him about rumours of him acting in a movie, he rubbished them saying, “I wouldn’t be interested in doing a movie based on my life. Please give me a break!”
October 7th, 2009 in
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