Raveena, Sohail in a comedy show

An upcoming comedy reality show on a leading TV channel is said to have roped in some big Bollywood faces as participants.

Kirron Kher, Sohail Khan and Raveena Tandon Thadani have been signed on as the team leaders and the fourth team leader could just be Arshad Warsi or Boman Irani. Anil Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor have both been approached to don the grandmaster's hat. There will be TV actors too on the show including Pooja Gor, Shweta Tiwari, Rashmi Desai along with stand-up comedians.

Rahman hasn't made an everlasting song: Abhijeet

Singer Abhijeet as he readies for his live show at the Times Hyderabad Festival chats with TOI...

This is your first public concert in Hyderabad. How come you haven't performed here before?

I have performed in Hyderabad many a time, but all of them have been for private shows. I've done stage shows all over the world and have always been looking for a chance to do a public concert here. Hyderabad is close to my heart because the language and nazaakat is very similar to my hometown Lucknow. I'm really looking forward to perform at the Times Hyderabad Festival and entertaining my people.

What do you enjoy more — playback or live performances?

Definitely live performances. My shows are family oriented and there is something for every age group. So it's a lot more fun doing stage shows. Even the kids connect with me thanks to my stint as a reality show judge in a children's singing competition.

Talking about reality shows, why don't you judge a show for adult singers?

I'm not comfortable doing that at all. With children I know that I can contribute a lot. I can groom them, guide them and most importantly, become a child once again. With adults it's a different ball game. Most of the shows already have four to five judges who are composers. All they do is show-off and make tall promises to the singers which most of the time they don't fulfill. I don't make promises to anyone because I know I can't fulfill them. Most composers go on reality shows only to promote themselves and their projects.

But most of their songs are hits today.

That's because they promote it so much that it sticks in your head like a washing powder jingle. The quality of these songs is as good as washing powder. Plus, most musicians these days are clones of AR Rahman. But I have news for you — winning an Oscar does not make you a good musician, you just become the 'news'. So if they want to be in news, then what they do is fine. They have gone so much into using technology that they don't have knowledge of music. Using 'autotune' they have made singers out of besura people. I'm glad to be have worked with people like Nadeem-Shravan, Jatin-Lalit and Annu Malek. None of the composers today have made an 'everlasting' song. Not even Rahman. Apart from " Roja", " Bombay" and " Guru" can people remember songs from his other films? Except for RD Burman no other composer has recall value to his music.

Aren't you courting trouble by making such statements?

That's how I have always been. The truth is today, in every film most good songs are sung by the composers themselves. They don't give the good songs to singers. And honestly most music directors are horrible singers. I have never been diplomatic or cunning. Earlier I used to sing for every film, today I hardly do playback. In spite of that my status as a good singer has not changed.

Don't you feel upset about not getting enough songs to sing?

Not at all. There are 5,000 singers today who don't have any distinct identity. They are merely used as an add-on. Why should I be part of 5,000 mediocre singers? Today any bhikari singing a Sufi song will get a chance to sing for an SRK or Aamir, but nobody can match the magic of my voice. No radio station can run without playing my songs. The last of the known singers today are Shreya Ghoshal and Shaan. My distinct identity as a singer has helped me amass a lot of wealth to be comfortable. Monetary issues are not a problem at all. When I read that Priyanka Chopra has 9 flats I was shocked, because I have 11! Plus, I have other commercial properties and investments as well. I have most of the comforts than a star like SRK has. So I don't have to worry.

I'm the villain, not the vamp: Pooja

When Pooja Bedi is kicked about something, she doesn't even make an effort to play it down. Right now, she's totally stoked about playing an Egyptian princess in the Tamil/Telugu bilingual Shakti, touted to be the most extravagant and expensive film to be made in Tollywood.

I'd a blast doing this role. I'm mightily impressed with the professionalism that exists in the south film industry. Even two decades ago, when I was doing this Telugu flick with Mohan Babu, I was aware of how organised everything was. That was a time when everything in and about Bollywood was chaotic.

Not willing to give away too much about her role, Pooja says, "This is a negative role. And, no, I'm not the vamp; I'm the villain! And that's really a big deal. I play an evil Egyptian princess vested with magical powers." Taken in by the grandeur of the sets, she continues, "I've never seen a grander or a more magnificent set. We shot a substantial portion in Egypt.

Does she speak Tamil and Telugu? "Heavens, no! But I did pick up some Telugu lines, and my favourite is Na aaina peddha veeradu...." Of Jr NTR, who's the hero, she says, "He's really very sweet. He refused to do a fight scene against me because he said he did not fight with women!"

For someone who's lived life on her own terms and not let any kind of negativity seep in, from where does she find the strength to be this positive person? "I'd be lying if I said that I took it all very calm and cool when my 12-year-old marriage broke up. I did feel angry, bitter, sad, but I didn't let them consume me. They were not the most overriding feelings. Once I came to terms with the development, I chose to dwell on the beautiful moments we had shared. I've had two lovely children with him, and plenty of good memories.

Nor does she rail against the institution of marriage. "I can't wait to get married again. But, yes, there are things I've learnt, and I'll go into the next one with my head as well as heart."

Finally, how did she deal with the flak that she received for being part of Maa Exchange, a reality show akin to Wife Swap? Defending her decision, she says, "Have you seen the kind of comments I've got on social networking websites? I've been flooded with congratulatory messages. While I went to her (rival contestant) house and set so many things right in their relationship, she was malicious and toxic. I've had people telling me they were moved by the way my daughter Aalia defended me.

Pooja revels in living life king-size, and her zest for life evident when she says, "We need to celebrate our lives. One day, we're all going to be dead and gone, and be nothing more than a pile of ashes. This is one life we've got and the only way to live it is to live it up shamelessly and joyously.

We're ready for more feel-good wisdom, but there's the chess class beckoning. "I'm being tutored by a champion," she says, excusing herself. A full life, anyone?

Kareena, Shahid patch up!

A few months ago, they could barely stand each other. But this is a sign that things have indeed changed. At the recently concluded Filmfare Awards, former lovers Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor spoke to each other rather fondly.

It should be noted that when the two met two years ago at an award function and almost bumped into one another, they had turned the other way to avoid any contact.

But the season it seems is shifting. With both, Kareena and Shahid settled in steady relationships, the former with Saif Ali Khan and the latter with Priyanka Chopra, it seems that they are ready to let what betided remain a thing of the past.

This is how it happened: when Kareena was walking out after her performance was over, on her way out she noticed Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid having a conversation. In another time, Kareena would have just brushed past (and then perhaps have explained why she did this to SRK, who is a good friend).

But not this time. She went up and said hi to both the parties. Shahid was pleasantly surprised. The conversation continued for a short while. When contacted, Saif picked up the phone and said, "Yes, Kareena did speak to Shahid at Filmfare. They met as one should."

It should be noted that barely a few weeks ago, an excerpt from KJo's Koffee with Karan had Priyanka scoffing that she didn't think that Kareena would have laptop (the naughty director was stoking Chops for an aside, given the cold vibes the two share).

To this, Kareena had responded with something like, "I may not have a laptop but at least accept that I am beautiful." All these catty comments could well be a thing of the past, if what transpired between Sasha and Bebo, and Saif's own mature handling of this rapprochement, is anything to go by. Let bygones be bygones. That's what makes life truly beautiful!

Make-up Season Continues

Meanwhile, Bebo and Sallu have buried the hatchet too. The hidden truth is that they were just cordial to each other when they worked last in Main Aur Mrs Khanna (2009).

Apparently, during the making of Main Aur Mrs Khanna, Sallu and Bebo would only exchange a bland 'hello'. "Kareena was supposed to do David Dhawan's Yeh Hai Jalwa (2002), which starred Salman.

It was a closely guarded secret. Due to some reason, Amisha Patel replaced her. Thereafter, all was never well between Salman and Kareena.

They have met on several occasions after that, but it was formal at best." Only a few days ago, Sallu and Bebo cleared the air while shooting for Bodyguard in Pune and are now back to being real good friends.

Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif exposed

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif can not hide it any longer that they are a couple.

Ranbir and Katrina were seen partying at midnight at a lounge in Mumbai on January 28.

The duo spent quality time with each other there.

This is the second time when the duo was spotted at a public place. Few days back Ranbir had taken Katrina on a ride in his red two-seater Audi.

Their love story started when they worked together in the movie Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani. They have also worked together in Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti.

It seems as if Ranbir, who had parted his ways with Deepika Padukone, has finally found her soul mate.

Katrina Kaif, ex flame of Salman Khan, also seems to be happy in Ranbir’s company.

Aamir to play mediator for a cause!

Aamir Khan has done something that will certainly raise a lot of eyebrows.

He is extremely fond of his bhanja, Imran Khan, for whom he is hosting a wedding reception party at Taj Land's End on February 5.

The party will be special for how many warring factions will be under one roof though.

Aamir has personally invited sibling rivals Mukesh and Anil Ambani. If that is not enough, he has personally invited Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan; everyone knows the equation between these two.

A source says, "Aamir has always wanted Salman and Shah Rukh to patch up. If you recall, he spent the entire night shuttling between Mannat (SRK's residence) and Galaxy (Salman's residence) when their fight took place at Katrina Kaif's birthday party two years ago.

This could be just the occasion he might go the extra mile and make them warm up to one another."

And what if either of them don't attend or come at different timings? "How can that be ascertained now?" said the source. "Of course, most people from the industry have been invited.

Add this to Imran and Avantika's close family members and the guest list looks rather impressive."

Come to think of it, it's isn't as if Aamir and SRK as the best of buddies. But then again, this is patch-up season...

Vulgar SMS against Veena Malik

The controversies related to Big Boss and it’s housemate will surely not die soon. Pakistani actress Veena Malik is one name which has been under constant hammer and criticism for her alleged relationship with Hrishant Goswami and then Ashmit Patel.

Recently, she also called off her engagement to New York based businessman Faisal Akbar Khan. As rumours have it, the reason for calling it off has been the budding romance between Veena and Ashmit.

Reportedly, the new twist to the story are the vulgar messages which is doing rounds regarding Veena’s name. Veena has defended herself on TV shows, but her criticism has grown into a defamation campaign through sms and messages. The jokes related to Veena Malik are now in circulation by all active mobile users.

So, how will Veena react to all her critics now?

Rahman makes music for Boyle again

AR Rahman has been nominated for the Oscars again, much to the delight of his fans. His success in the West is an inspiring story, and his collaboration with Hollywood director Danny Boyle for "127 Hours" for the second time has worked out brilliantly once again.

Yet, while it's a euphoric time for the composer, the strain is also beginning to tell on him. He realises that it saps him out and hence, he has decided to cut back on his work and be kinder to himself.

The reticent composer confesses this and says, "Working with Danny Boyle was challenging as it required a different sensibility. He is known for the music of his films. It's a big thing to get accepted into another culture. But it hasn't been easy for me because of all the travelling. I've realised I have not been kind to myself." The hectic schedules and different time zones meant that he has spread himself too thin. "I'm going to do one movie at a time. I have realised that I need to cut back now to do justice to my work. Also, I want to spend more time with my family now."

Shruti Hassan is part of 'The Businessman'

After making her memorable debut with Anaganaga O Dheerudu (AOD) in Tollywood, multifaceted personality Shruti Hassan has inked a deal with The Businessman! Yes, she has bagged Mahesh Babu starrer next film.

Shruti has been roped in to play the female lead in Puri Jagannath's The Businessman, which will be made in Telugu and Hindi. After watching her wonderful acting in AOD, the makers of the film decided to cast her in the movie, says report. She was impressed by the storyline and she had no second thoughts, claims a report.

The Businessman has already created a huge hype in Tollywood, as the successful combo of Pokiri, Puri Jagannath-Mahesh Babu are joining hands again. The prestigious project will take-off in May and it has the tagline ‘Guns don’t need arguments’.

Madhuri does 'Munni Badnaam Hui'

The ‘Munni’ magic has rubbed on the undisputed dance diva Madhuri Dixit as well.

Not so long back, when Madhuri was asked to choose between the two hot item numbers - Munni Badnaam Hui or Sheila Ki Jawani - she praised both the numbers but chose Munni for its flat-out energy.

So while judging the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4 with Malaika Arora, Madhuri did get a chance to shake a leg to the steps of ‘Munni’. Apparently, it was Malaika herself who took the lead and showed the ‘Munni’ steps to Madhuri.

What followed was the rare sight of two of the best dancers of Bollywood dancing to the beat of the most popular song of 2010.

The episode will be aired on Tuesday night. Don’t miss it.