Is Kalki pregnant?

These days the entire happily wed gang of heroines are under the scanner. Following actor Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan's pregnancy, every other married heroine is said to be in the family way, including Shilpa Shetty and Lara Dutta. The latest actor rumoured to be preggers is actor Kalki Koechlin.

Though the promotions for her films are on in full swing, Kalki has been taking it easy due to her health. But her sporadic appearances at the promotions have added grist to the rumour mills. Tongues are wagging about the actor being pregnant.

Says a source, “While her co-stars in the upcoming movie — Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif — embarked on a road trip, Kalki was

there only on Day 1 and that too, to see them off. In fact, she was puking that day, which may have sparked off the rumours of her being pregnant. Anyway, this is not the first time since her marriage to director Anurag Kashyap that there is a buzz about Kalki being preggers.”

Sources close to the actor have refuted any such development. “Kalki is not pregnant. She is unwell due to acute stomach infection. It is monsoon and people tend to take ill. At present, Kalki is just a few films old and is an ambitious actor. So like her counterparts, she will first want to focus on career before planning for a baby,” said the source.

Seems like this is one issue that will require a really convincing reply. So, what's the truth Kalki?!

zp8497586rq

Flash News Aishwarya with Swine Flu Symptoms

MUMBAI: Actress Aishwarya Rai is down with a “chest infection” and “flu like symptoms”, leaving her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan worried.

The 35-year-old actress who was shooting with husband Abhishek Bachchan in Ooty for the upcoming Mani Ratnam film ‘Ravana’ is down with the illness, Bachchan who is in Singapore tending to politician Amar Singh wrote in his blog.

“Aishwarya has taken ill and is down with chest infection and flu like symptoms. Had a high fever yesterday but is settling down today,” wrote Bachchan.

“Its worrying to be so far away from children and not be there to look after them. Yes, they are mature and married and responsible, but children will always remain children,” a concerned Bachchan added.

The 66-year-old veteran also complained that he has been suffering from a “strained back”.

“Jaya left this evening for Mumbai after having spent more than a month by the side of Amar Singh ji during his ailment. I stay back till he is sound enough to travel back,” he wrote.

Rajnikant launches music of ‘Eeram’ in Chennai

Chennai, Aug. 9 (ANI): Tamil superstar Rajnikant on Sunday released the music of upcoming film ‘Eeram’, a romantic thriller laced with suspense, in Chennai.

‘Eeram’ is produced by Shankar whose directorial venture ‘Endhiran’ stars Rajnikanth and Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai in lead roles.

Rajnikant said that it was exciting to work with Rai.

“85 percent of the film (Endhiran) is over. It was nice and exciting working with Aishwarya Rai,” said Rajnikant.

The Tamil superstar further slammed rumours that he planned to enter politics shortly.”About my political stand… no comments,” said Rajnikant. (ANI)

Rakhi Sawant to wear Rs.3 mn necklace on ’swayamvar’ D-day

Rakhi Sawant to wear Rs.3 mn necklace on ’swayamvar’ D-day

Aishwarya Rai New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Rakhi Sawant surely couldn’t have asked for more. A Rs.30 lakh (Rs. 3 million) necklace designed by Farah Ali Khan, a lehenga-choli wedding dress by celebrity designer Neeta Lulla, a ’swayamvar’ on national television and a grand wedding to be watched by millions across the country.

The former ‘item girl’, who has had a rags-to-riches career, will marry on NDTV Imagine’s reality show “Rakhi Ka Swayamvar” soon. She will choose her “perfect man” from among nine grooms who have come from cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Rishikesh, Jaipur and Kanpur and even from places as far off as Toronto.

National award winning designer Neeta Lulla, who is one of Aishwarya Rai’s favourite designers, and ace jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali have been roped in to help Rakhi look her best on her D-day. And the two are doing every bit they can to fulfil the bride-to-be’s wish to look like a “princess” that special day.

“Rakhi told us she wants to look like a princess that day – something like she has never looked before. I have given her a very colourful ensemble – it’s a very conservative outfit,” Lulla told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

“For her wedding day, Rakhi would be wearing a lehenga-choli in five different colours with ornate kundan work to give her an ethnic Rajasthani look,” said Lulla, who has designed Aishwarya’s clothes in movies like “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”, “Devdas” and more recently “Jodhaa Akbar”.

To complement her outfit, Rakhi will be donning traditional Indian jadau jewellery designed by Farah Ali Khan, the daughter of yesteryears actor Sanjay Khan and well-known interior designer Zarine Khan.

“The choker that Rakhi will be wearing for her wedding day is very heavy. It looks very traditional and covers almost her entire neck,” she said.

According to Khan, the choker costs approximately Rs.3 million.

However, Lulla has refused to divulge the price tag of her outfit.

The two designers are not only putting their creative instincts together for Rakhi’s wedding day but also for the sangeet and mehendi (pre-wedding) ceremonies.

For the sangeet, Rakhi decided to opt for an Indo-Western look in blue. Lulla says it is a very contemporary outfit. To match the dress, Khan has given her an elaborate diamond neck piece, which also costs around Rs.3 million.

If both the designers are to be believed, Rakhi was extremely “accomodating” to their suggestions but gave her inputs as well.

“Rakhi told me that her earrings shouldn’t be very heavy so that she can dance freely. She also said that I should design ornaments which don’t break,” said Khan.

If this wasn’t enough, model-turned-fashion co-ordinator Marc Robinson has also been roped in to groom Rakhi’s prospective grooms, who are vying to marry the former item girl through the reality show.

Rakhi’s wedding will take place as soon as she zeroes in on an eligible bachelor for herself on NDTV Imagine’s show “Rakhi Ka Swayamvar” – a move that has left a lot of people in tinsel town shocked.

Abhishek, Aishwarya urged to help lovebirds

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Bollywood’s popular couple – Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai – has been approached by animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to create awareness about the plight of lovebirds through a special photo shoot.
“As India’s most famous ‘lovebirds’, we believe that you are uniquely suited to help bring attention to the plight of these smart and sensitive birds. We would like to arrange a photo shoot with you for a ‘Love Birds in Cages’ ad to raise awareness about the issue,” Anuradha Sawhney, PETA India chief functionary, wrote in a letter to Abhishek and Aishwarya .

Lovebirds are small members of the parrot family and the most commonly sold birds for domestic as well as display caging, which is a punishable offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species restricts trading in foreign birds.

However, a black market involving 300 of the India’s estimated 1,200 species of birds thrives openly in many places.

Top Hero Shah Rukh to play the villain in Dhoom 3

Top Hero Shah Rukh to play the villain in Dhoom 3Lately, Bollywood has given out the message that it pays to be bad, especially when it comes to the Dhoom movies.

Starting from John Abraham in the first Dhoom to both Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Dhoom 2, success has come to the actors playing negative roles.

Ever since best actor awards went to Hrithik and Ash for Dhoom 2, other A-listers have been eyeing the role of the bad-guy in Dhoom 3.

Rumour has it that Yash Raj Films have approached the biggest A-lister of Bollywood – Shah Rukh Khan – to play the villain in their upcoming third segment of the Dhoom series.

Yash Raj Films has had a difficult time these last few months, what with the recession and the producers’ strike and a string of flops. As a result, they have approached their one-stop solution to failure – making a movie with SRK.

Analysts claim that Yash Raj Films approach Shah Rukh each time they face a lull in their year, and SRK never fails to deliver a hit for them. The last few examples of this have been Chak De! India and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Economics aside, there are some concerns over whether SRK will agree to do this role since his relationships with the Bachchans is still a little jittery. While it seems things are on the mend between him and Aishwarya Rai, are they good enough for Abhishek (who is a staple in Dhoom films) to be a friendly co-star with Shah Rukh?

The good news is that a source revealed that SRK loved the basic description of his character when Aditya Chopra spoke to him, so if all goes well, we’ll see Shah Rukh in a slightly different, and very challenging role!

Ash, Abhi Plan To Celebrate Their 2nd Wedding Anniversary In Europe

Bollywood’s hottest couple Aishwarya Rai Bachan and Abhishek Bachchan who failed to celebrate their first wedding anniversary in 2008, may head for Europe or the US on April 20.

Earlier, the couple had planned to make it a working affair but now the plans have totally changed.

The duo was supposed to shoot for their upcoming film ‘Ravana’ on their wedding anniversary as the film director Mani Ratnam desired to shoot some important scenes in Kerala’s Chalakudy jungles from April 20 onwards.

But, earlier this week, Ratnam was admitted to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital because of difficulty in breathing and chest pain, and this episode has put a interrogation point whether they will shoot or not.

Besides both the actors are worried about Mani’s health, and do not want him to take much tension.

Previously when the director approached them to shoot a few important scenes as he does not want to postpone the project any longer, the couple agreed.

But now the doctors asked Ratnam to take complete rest to get over an illness. In this way, Ash and Abhi decided to take a short break from their busy schedules.

The couple is expected to go on a brief holiday to celebrate their second wedding anniversary, which might be Europe or the US.

The couple couldn’t celebrate their wedding anniversary during the last year because the family was mourning Teji Bachchan’s death.

Of Musharraf, Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra and the good life!

Lahore, Apr.19 (ANI): Bollywood beauties Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra may have an unending list of fans, and the now the list also includes the name of former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf.

In an interview to a television channel Musharraf admitted that the two most famous Bollywood actresses, Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra, were his favourites, The Daily Times reports.

Musharraf said he is enjoying life after retirement, and is attending weddings and visiting restaurants, as he does not feel any danger to his life in the country.

He said dogs were his preferred pet animals as they always obey their masters, suggesting that he does not like his orders to be disobeyed.

Responding to the issues between India and Pakistan, Musharraf claimed that the Pakistan government was not involved in the Mumbai attacks. (ANI)

Abhinay Deo Ropes In Abhi, Ash For Crooked

People love watching the real life couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan together, and that’s why film producers sign them to make their films successful.

This time, director Abhinay Deo has signed Abhi and Ash together for his upcoming slick espionage film “Crooked”.

Presently, husband and wife Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are busy wrapping up Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan”.

The reports also said that Crooked also features Gul Panag, Jimmy Shergil, Boman Irani, and will be shot in Greece, Istanbul, Thailand and India.

Ritesh Sidhwani, film’s producer, said, Our slick espionage thriller will be in the same genre as The Bourne Identity.

The English-language title will most probably change, Sidhwani, who’s working with the entire cast, barring Boman, for the first time, added.

Abhinay Deo is presently

Ageing Ash Feels Insecure Without Makeup!

Gorgeous Aishwarya Rai is feeling anxious with her growing age and time. Few years back, Ash ruled the film industry completely and was known for her perfect beauty.

But at present she needs make up to give herself a young look.

Recently, Bachchan Bahu had an argument with Ace Bollywood director Mani Ratnam on the sets of ‘Raavan’.

The sources said that Ratnam asked Ash to apply no make-up for her appearance during the second half of the film ‘Raavan’ as she was supposed to portray a wife with feelings of being separated from her husband.

That’s why the director wanted the shot to be natural without any makeup.

A source said, “Mani wants to showcase her character without make-up in the second half. He believes that since she`s separated from her husband, the raw look is important to express the loss and pain she`s going through.”

But Ash refused to do so as she was in no mood to pay attention to the director and sneaked in for a basic makeup during one of the shooting breaks.

“There were times when Ash would sneak and put basic make-up and only then, do the shot. Mani would spot the slightest sliver of make-up and would ask her to go back and remove it,” the source added.

The source also said that neither Ash nor Mani would back out on this topic.

Well for Ash who is considered to be one of the most attractive woman in the world it is hard to do anything without makeup.

Indian beauties determined to bring back international crown

Mumbai, Apr 7 (ANI): Winners of Miss India Universe, Miss India World and Miss India Earth titles have said they were determined to bring international laurels to the country.

Ekta Choudhary from New Delhi bagged the Miss India Universe title. Pooja Chopra of Mumbai won the Miss India World title and shared the No. 1 position with Choudhary.

Shriya Kishore of Pune was crowned Miss India Earth.
The three beauty queens said they were determined to bring back international crowns to India.

“We made a promise to each of us that we all three will try our best and get the international crown back,” Chopra said.

All of them said Bollywood was not an option for them at the moment and were only concentrating on beauty contests.

“It’s a very lucrative industry. It’s something we all look up to but for the time being it’s only the Miss Earth pageant for me. I will look at it as an option much later if the right offers come my way, but that is only after the Miss Earth pageant in Philippines,” said 22-year-old Kishore. 3-year-old Choudhary, who will represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant later this year, said she believed that self-belief would take one on the path of success.

“What goes on making you a winner is also your belief in yourself, your family, your friends and in God. The response that I have got from my friends, family has been brilliant. I feel that it’s not just luck, not only hard work, it’s a lot more,” said Choudhary. hey won the titles at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 pageant held here on Sunday.

India first won a Miss World title in 1966 with the crowning of Reita Faria. Thereafter, it took another 28 years for an Indian woman to secure another world beauty title.

In 1994, Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe crown, while Aishwarya Rai secured the Miss World title. (ANI)

Ekta Choudhary Crowned Miss India Universe 2009!

The planet was their arena literally. The finalists of Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 walked down the ramp with confidence and answered with ease.

The judges- Madhur Bhandarkar, Ajay Devgan, Sushmita Sen, Asin and Deepika Padukone had a tough time choosing the winners.

Ekta Choudhary of Delhi bagged the Miss India Universe title. Pooja Chopra of Mumbai won the Miss India World title while the crown of Miss India Earth was won by Mumbai’s Shriya Kishore.

Thus, Ekta (22), the astonishing beauty, will stand for the country at the Miss Universe pageant later this year.

Along with these three beauties, Sonakshi was crowned the Miss India Sexy Legs and Diksha was declared the Miss Fresh Face. Harshita won the Miss Agile award. Karishma Karnik bagged the Miss Confident crown for her jagged acumen.

The event was hosted by sexy Malaika Arora Khan and R Madhavan. The contenders wore creations by designers Ritu Kumar, Rocky S., Pantaloons and Prasad Bidappa.

The show had former Miss World Priyanka Chopra sizzle to a medley of songs from Fashion and Dostana.

‘Janne Tu Ya Janne Na’ gal Genelia D’Souza also performed for the show, choreographed by Shaimak Dawar.

Apart from this, a stunning Kangana Ranaut paid tribute to Bollywood divas like Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai by performing to their songs “Mera Piya Ghar Aaya” and “Nimbooda”.

The Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 was telecasted live on Sony Television on Sunday night.

Miss India finale to be held tomorrow

MUMBAI: After weeks of intense training and grooming, the 20 finalists of the country’s biggest beauty contest will face their moment of reckoning
tomorrow. The grand finale of the Pantaloons Femina Miss India (PFMI) 2009 will be held at the Andheri Sports Complex on Sunday. The event will be telecast live on Sony Entertainment Television at 8 pm.

For several weeks since the shortlist was announced, the candidates have been training to walk the ramp, learning to dress and groom themselves in keeping with international standards, and needless to say, closely monitoring their diet. Now that the litmus test is around the corner, excitement levels are building up to a frenzied climax.

This year, actors Malaika Arora Khan and R Madhavan will host the formal ceremony through to the final round while funnymen Karan Wahi and Swapnil Joshi will provide comic relief by chatting with the judges and members of the audience, particularly the anxious families who will each be praying for their girls to win.

The stakes seem higher especially because reigning Miss World runner-up, PFMI 2008 Parvathy Omanakuttan has carried forward the dream run of former winners like Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza. Actress Priyanka Chopra will revisit the moment of her success when she performs at the event on Sunday. Also taking the stage will be Fashion co-star Kangana Ranaut and Genelia D’souza, both choreographed by the Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts.

The contestants will be dressed in dazzling creations by Rocky S, Pantaloons (designed by Rajesh and Anirban), Prasad Bidappa and Rajan for Arabella and Ritu Kumar. The ramp walk has been choreographed by Marc Robinson, who is contestant director and fashion director of PFMI 2009.

Girl Bonding Kangana –Priyanka Are Collaborators On Stage…

Girl Bonding Kangana –Priyanka Are Collaborators On Stage… For her show on 5 April for Femina Kangana will be paying a tribute to two screen queens Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

And when she got to know that Priyanka Chopra too will be performing Kangana gladly gave over the Fashion songs to her colleague and friend.

Says Kangana, “When I got to know that Priyanka is performing I asked her about her songs. When she said she was doing the Fashion songs I happily decided to do the tribute to Aishwarya and Madhuri. I’ll be dancing to tracks like Madhuri’s Mera piya ghar aaya and Aishwarya’s Nimbooda. This gives me a chance to try out my Kathak which I’ve been learning for three years.”

So much for the belief that two actresses can never get along together. Ironically Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra couldn’t agree over the allotting of songs from Dostana during the Filmfare awards.

Priyanka had ultimately opted out.

Says Kangana, “I think girl bonding is very cool. I can’t say Priyanka and I best friends. I think two actresses fighting is very unfashionable. After Fashion there’s a comfort level. And if we can share a platform without getting in one another’s way then isn’t that just great?”

Non-stop dancing for two back-to-back shows has taken its toll on Kangana Ranaut’s legs.

On Friday when she was scheduled to perform for an FM channel(98.5) Kangana’s legs could barely move.

Wincing in pain Kangana recounted her horror.”On Thursday I kept rehearsing non-stop for two shows for six hours. I never realized what I was putting myself through until the next morning when I woke up with swollen legs.”

Kangana somehow managed to drag herself to the show where she danced to her Fashion tracks.

President presents Padma awards

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI) chief Anil Kakodkar were among the recipients of the Padma awards from President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday.

Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and now a member of the Bachchan family, received a Padma Shree award for her contribution to the field of entertainment.

Akshay Kumar, a globally acclaimed actor, also received a Padma Shree.

Kakodkar received the Padma Vibhushan award for 2008 for his contribution to the field of nuclear science and technology.

Sister Nirmala, who served for 12 years as the Superior-General of the Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity, received the Padma Vibhushan.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Director Ashok Ganguly was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

Sixteen people were awarded Padma Bhushan, including renowned classical singer Shamshad Begum and Tech Czar Sam Pitroda.

Forty-five people were given Padma Shree awards, for their contribution in various spheres of activity, including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, sports, social and public life.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and a host of other dignitaries attended the function. (ANI)

Miss India beauty contestants get in shape

Mumbai, Mar 18 (ANI): About twenty finalists of the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 contest are undergoing rigorous fitness training ahead of the contest in Mumbai next month.

The month-long training is being conducted in a gymnasium under the watchful eyes of fitness freaks and professionals to ensure that the eventual winners fare exceptionally well at international pageants.

“It’s been someday of training but it’s not done. As far as I am concerned, I have really worked hard, not only this month, but I have been working from two years on this. I think, I should be there in top three,” said Ishita Sarkar, a contestant.

Bollywood actor Isha Kopikar met the finalists at the gymnasium and gave them some tips.

“I told them how important it is to stay healthy versus any particular size. Secondly, it is very important to be disciplined and to focus all you energies on what is really important to win. All other things, which may cause distractions or are less important, have to be overlooked,” said Kopikar.

India first won a Miss World title in 1966 with the crowning of Reita Faria. Thereafter, it took another 28 years for an Indian woman to secure another world beauty title.

In 1994, Sushmita Sen won the Miss Universe crown while Aishwarya Rai secured the Miss World title.

The Miss India contest with its 45-year-old legacy is the oldest and most credible beauty pageant in India.

The pageant has launched many a face like Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra to name a few, all of whom have carved a niche for themselves in the business of glamour. (ANI)

I’ve always been an A R Rahman fan: Aishwarya Rai

Kolkata, Feb. 27 (ANI): Bollywood actor and former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said on Thursday that she has always been a fan of double-Oscar winner A. R. Rahman, and feels fortunate that maximum of her films featured maestro’s music.

“Working with Rahman has been an absolute pleasure. It’s not just from Taal to Guru, but it’s from ‘Iruvar’ till ‘Ravana’. In fact, maximum of my films have enjoyed the music of Rahman and as a music lover and fan, I have always admired his music and he is a gifted musician,” Rai said, while addressing a press conference in Kolkata.

The Bollywood actress, who was in Kolkata for the shooting of her upcoming flick ‘Ravana’, said she was elated at Rehman’s double win at the Oscars for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

Rai added, though Rahman was very much celebrated in India but winning Oscar meant the global recognition, which was special.

Talking about Hollywood flick ‘The Pink Panther 2′, Rai said the experience of working with actor Steve Martin has been enriching.

“Working with Steve Martin was a good experience since he is the institution of comedy. We grew up watching his movies. So when it came to working with him and since he had already worked in Pink Panther before, so you know the kind of film you are going to be a part of. I am very happy that I got a chance to work with all these great actors because I feel experience is the greatest teacher of all,” the Bollywood star said.

Comparing her character in ‘Ravana’ with the one in hardcore Hollywood flick, Pink Panther, the former Miss World said her characters in both the films were quite challenging.

“These are very different. One is Mani Ratnam and the other Pink Panther. So you can assume what the audience can expect. Those who watch English movie know about Pink Panther. Mani Ratnam is the kind of filmmaker we know he is, so he will present that kind of cinema only,” Rai opined. (ANI)

Abhishek Bachchan ready to ‘scream from rooftops’ to promote Delhi 6

London, Feb 21 (ANI): Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan is promoting his new flick ‘Delhi 6′, and is so excited that he wants to scream from the roof tops and ask “people to go watch his film”.

During an interview on his recent visit to London, the actor said that the movie, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, would hit the right chord with people living away from India.

“I think especially for a lot of people here in the UK or anyone living outside India whose families are from there will associate with the film,” the BBC quoted him as saying.

He added: “It’s the journey of one boy who goes back home to Delhi from New York. It’s really going to touch a chord with people who know what it feels like to spend a lot of time outside their homeland. I’m very proud of the film. I saw the rough cut of the film and I’m immensely proud. I want to scream from the rooftops ‘people go watch this film’. It’s a good film.

On working with some of Bollywood’s legends in the film, like Waheeda Rehman and Rishi Kapoor, the ‘Guru’ actor said: “Brilliant! Brilliant! I think the greatest thing about them is they’re more like kids on set. You go there thinking I’m just going to absorb and learn from these great actors but you end up realising they’re actually observing you and learning from you. That’s what makes them great!”

Speaking about his co-star in the film, Sonam Kapoor, Abhishek said: “She’s such a wonderful young actress and I wish her all the best because I think she’s done a very commendable job in the movie. She’s someone who’s really going to leave her stamp on Indian movies. She’s great fun and a pleasure to be with on set.”

On the character in the film named after an Indian sweet, Jalebi, he said: “Jalebi is played by Divya Dutta, another wonderful actor. That’s just it – it’s a huge bouquet of wonderful characters – it’s just wonderful to be part of it.”

When asked about his next film with wife Aishwarya Rai, the 33-year-old star said: “We’re currently shooting a film with Director Mani Ratnam in India which hasn’t got a title yet but will be ready by the end of the year.”

Meanwhile, Abhishek’s wife Aishwarya is all set to woo the audiences in ‘Pink Panther 2′ alongside Steve Martin. (ANI)

Bollywood impresario gets 7yrs in prison for mortgage scam

Washington, January 31 (ANI): A Bollywood film impresario has been sentenced to seven years in prison for mortgage scam.

Vijay K. Taneja, 48-year-old Fairfax County mortgage broker, was sentenced in federal court for defrauding banks of 33 million dollars, and scamming fellow immigrants in the local Indian community with phoney home loans.

The charge against him was that he took phoney home loans in local residents’ names, and damaged their credit.

In November, he pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which prosecutors said was the largest mortgage fraud case in at least two decades.

“I’m very sorry about my conduct and the embarrassment to my family. I fully except my responsibilities, and I am really very sorry,” the Washington Post quoted him as telling the court in low and halting tones at yesterday’s sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Learned called the sentence significant and fair for what was “a serious matter and a complicated matter.”

Court documents suggest that Taneja worked at several banks before launching his own mortgage company in 1990, and that his early clients were from the close-knit Indian community, many of whom were purchasing their first homes with his help.

His reputation grew when he founded a company called Elite Entertainment that brought glamorous stars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai to the United States.

Taneja later began investing in Indian films as well. (ANI)

Government honours Bollywood actors for contribution to cinema

Mumbai, Jan 27 (ANI): The Government has honoured Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay Kumar with prestigious civilian award Padma Shree for their contribution to the world of cinema.

Expressing her pleasure on being bestowed with the Padma Shree on Monday, Aishwarya said, it was the love and support of her family and fans that had helped her in getting the prestigious award.

“It is an occasion of great happiness. I only hope that I will be able to live up to it and continue doing my best. It’s the blessings of our parents and it’s the love of the people that helps recognize the hard work that we invest in whatever we take up ,” said Aishwarya.

Akshay Kumar was completely bowled over by the news of being conferred with the Padma Shree award.

An ecstatic Akshay, whose latest film ‘Chandni Chowk To China’ failed to set the screen on fire despite a big banner, said that he felt honoured.

“I’m feeling great, and I’m feeling honored. At the same time, I don’t know how to react. I’m speechless. Basically I would say, I never expected something like this happening but it came to me without any kind of notice or anything,” said Akshay Kumar. (ANI)