Deepika prepares for London Olympics

Deepika Padukone states that she intends to take time from her busy acting schedule for the upcoming London Olympics.

Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra are bonding

Here's looking at on-off lovebirds Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra on the sets of their film in Stratford-Upon-Avon. They've been there a for week now.

Whether it's to do with being in William Shakespeare's birthplace or the generally pleasant weather in the UK, their chemistry on the outdoor shoot is far different from what we get to see back home.

An eyewitness confirms that the good looking couple weren't just coolly comfortable, they were constantly together and couldn't seem to stop talking in-between takes. The next schedule of the film starts today in Nottingham, where Dhoni's boys will be taking on England in the second Test.

Yana's panty-less painting to be auctioned

Sometime back, Yana Gupta made headlines because of her panty-less appearance at an event. It isn’t surprising that her panty-less pictures are searched on the internet even today. But it is definitely surprising that her controversial picture has become an inspiration for painter Pranava Prakash.

Pranav Prakash made this act an immortal one by giving such stint an art form. Pranava has painted Yana in the same black outfit with pantyless. There are two children sitting next to Yana almost cloth less.

Main idea of this painting is to show the difference between Bharat and India. Bharat belongs to the Highly fashionable celebrities who prefers less cloth because of fashion. In fact Yana loved the idea of Pranav praising it as quite witty and original.

‘Definitely a good piece of Art. I wouldn’t buy it though. It is better than I expected,’ said Yana congratulating the painter. She even replied to the artist with a congratulatory message!

This painting would go for an auction with in this month.

Neil, Deepika flirt over tweets!

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh says he took a cue from Deepika Padukone’s recent reply to his comment in a TV interview which suggested that he’d be the first to turn up at her doorstep if she was single. When Deepika was asked about the comment, she said, “I don’t know what is stopping him".

So, Neil tweeted on Wednesday evening, “I stood outside Deepika’s door yesterday with a red rose for three hours. Then I realised that she had gone for the promotions of Aarakshan.” On Thursday morning, Deepika carried on the chain of flirtatious messages, tweeting, “jhooth!”

This if what you call harmless flirtation.

Tanushree Dutta ready to strip for Money!

Tanushree had won the Femina Miss India Universe title in 2004, and made her entry into Bollywood in 2005 with the hit film “Aashiq Banaya Aapne”. She starred in “Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets” the same year, and came to be considered one of tinsel town’s dark horses.

But she failed to live up to the initial expectations of her fans as most of her films except “Dhol” and “Bhagam Bhag” bombed at the box office.

Tanushree Dutta’s career is in all time low at the moment. As the offers dried up, she has come up with a new proposal from her side to attract the film makers. The actress has given a bold statement that she has no qualms about skin show and lip-lock, if the producer pays the remuneration she demands. In fact, she has set a price tag for everything from skin show, bikini and lip-locks.

Though Tanushree’s statement is gaining lot of criticism from film circles, she defends it.

“What’s wrong in my statement? It’s an open secret that film makers choose artist depending on their requirement and the budget they have. The producer should pay me if he wants me to do particular things like – skin show, bikini and lip-locks. If he agrees to pay me, then I’m ready to the film. orelse, I will not be a part of his film,” says Tanushree Dutta.

'Munni' creates storm in Nepal parliament

When Indian crooner Mamta Sharma's husky voice combined with glamour girl Malaika Arora's pulse-raising gyrations in Bollywood blockbuster 'Dabangg', no one doubted that the raunchy song 'Munni badnaam hui darling tere liye' would become an all-time hit in the sub-continent.

However, few could have guessed that almost a year after the film was released, the 'item number' - as a song and dance number is called in the Hindi film parlance - would create a mini storm in a most unlikely place: Nepal's parliament.

The song made its appearance in the house Thursday, courtesy former culture minister Minendra Rijal, whose Nepali Congress party is now in opposition and seeking to force Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's resignation by blockading parliament.

The 53-year-old member of parliament, who confesses to having been an avid Hindi film watcher in his student days, chose to use the popular song to drive home his party's point.

He tacitly likened the Nepali premier to Munni, the woman in the song who is said to have lost her reputation due to a romantic liaison, while the controversial 'darling' was none other than Maoist chief and former revolutionary Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.

It was a dig at the prime minister's alliance with the Maoists, which enabled him to come to power in February but now could make him lose his chair.

The Maoists, with only days left for a constitutional deadline to draw, are pressing the premier to reshuffle the cabinet and induct 24 ministers from their party.

The Nepali Congress has warned it would not allow the reshuffle and has been obstructing parliament since this month, asking Khanal to step down.

The Maoists, on the other hand, have intensified pressure, threatening to withdraw from the government if the reshuffle is stopped.

Referring to Khanal's dilemma in parliament Thursday, the opposition MP said the prime minister was tarnishing his name because of his 'darling'.

"Don't tarnish your image by choosing as your darling lack of disagreement, conflict and dictatorship," Rijal said, obliquely referring to Prachanda and his party that in the past waged a civil war for 10 years.

While even the beleaguered prime minister's own party men and parliament Chairman Subash Nembang looked amused at the Bollywood reference, others were not.

Sarita Giri, an MP from Terai party Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi), objected, calling the reference sexist.

However, the unflustered Rijal quipped that 'darling' had no gender.

In India, politicians have often used hit Hindi film songs in state assemblies to prove a point.

But Nepal, that has a love-hate relationship with Bollywood, looked partly askance at the gesture.

Himalayan Television, a private TV station, said frostily Friday that an august institution like parliament had been reduced to a place for cracking low jokes.

Selena Gomez has a wardrobe malfunction!

Uh oh! The 19-year-old singer’s daisy dukes showed off a little too much! Will Justin Bieber mind? Selena Gomez joins an illustrious group of stars whose clothes haven’t always kept them covered! But don’t worry Selena, even Kate Middleton has made the same mistake! Selena’s denim shorts are very short! Maybe next time she should wear them a little bit longer!

Deepika 'slams' insecure Kareena!

Deepika Padukone on her ex beau and the current men in her life Siddhartha Mallya and Saif Ali Khan

Is it true you weren't keen on working with Ranbir Kapoor in Ayaan Mukherji's film?

As far as I know, Ayaan is still writing the script. Of course, I'm keen to do a film with Ranbir. And he's just as keen to work with me. I know that as a pair, people liked us together. But we haven't got a suitable script after Bachna Ae Haseeno. We'd love to work together again.

Wouldn't Siddhartha Mallya object? Why?

My decisions are totally mine. You were more open about your relationship with Ranbir Kapoor... I've reached a stage where I don't need to talk about my personal life. Whether someone is there or is not there, whether something is happening or not though people want to know, they don't need to know.

What's the funniest rumour you heard about yourself?
That Siddhartha has gifted my new house to me.

You are doing three movies with Saif. Aren't you apprehensive that your pairing with Saif could be over-exposed?

Love Aaj Kal just happened. It's coincidence that we have Aarakshan, Cocktail and Race coming up one after another. In fact, we didn't know we were being offered the same films. The filmmakers concerned approached us individually. But yes, we do share a great rapport and I love working with him. As for worrying about over-exposure, Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif did a lot of films as a pair till people got tired of seeing them together. I hope that doesn't happen to us. Every time you shoot an outdoor spell with Saif, his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor lands up at the location... That's her personal issue. She comes to spend time with Saif. I don't think it's our concern.

Coming back to your films, Aarakshan seems like a male-dominated movie. Aren't you perturbed about being just a glamour quotient in it?

I've gone completely with my gut instinct. My character is an important voice in the movie. Besides, she's also torn between her father and her boyfriend. The film also explores how reservation can cause differences and strain on personal relations between people. However, if people still think I'm just a glam factor, it's okay. I love it.

Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and even Asin are said to be your rivals. Do you have any friends in the industry?

The industry is far too competitive to have best friends. I'm cordial with everyone. But yes, Shahana Goswami is a very good friend.

What about Sonam Kapoor?

Somewhere, I don't think we've been able to keep in touch even if we wanted to. Seeing Koffee With Karan, many people thought we're very good friends. But honestly, we were meeting on the show after many months.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Katrina Kaif wants some peace of mind

Katrina Kaif doesn't have love on her wish list this year. She says, "I don't want love. Peace of mind is on my wishlist.

Also I don't think love is something you can ask for — when it is meant to happen, it will happen. It's been an interesting year for me. I want memorable roles . The rest is in God's hands. I let things take their own course." And what about a birthday gift? "I would love to have a bike but if a friend gifts it to me." Are Ranbir Kapoor or Salman Khan listening?

Why is Katrina dragging Rahul Gandhi?

From the lack of a father in her life, to the lack of a godfather in the industry, Katrina Kaif opens up to DT with both her strength and her vulnerability...

You were a little unsettled, lots of questions facing you, six months back

I think it's sort of settled down now. I am at, let's say, a calm place in my life right now. There are times in life when you are going through real highs or lows in terms of emotions, the waters are really choppy. And then there are times when the waters are still. They're just going, you have to let life unfold as it will, and these are the times I think that you have to trust in God, that there is Someone watching over you. That life will bring to you what is meant for you. And you go on.

You're happier and much more settled – or at least that's how it looks.

I am, I am. Much, much more. Yeah, it was very hectic. I realised that you can go through times of extreme happiness, but if that happiness is not coming from a deeply rooted place, you will also be going through extreme lows of sadness. And that kind of roller-coaster I feel is worse than a slightly safe, calm-ish feel of maybe I'm not extremely happy, but at least you're at peace and at comfort; it's a little more settled. I think that's better than going through extremely tumultuous kinds of equations, and you hold on to them for the moments of extreme happiness, but there are so many more moments of extreme lowness and sadness. I think that's when you should take it as a warning sign and realize that this is not inherently grounded, and it's not coming from a healthy, nurturing place, that it's not good for you.

Those people who, for a while, have attributed your professional standing to personal equations, would have expected you to be a little unstable professionally once there was no 'supporting' superstar. Do you think they've been disappointed?

See, this is where you realize that you have to learn to separate the gossip and the tabloid journalism from what the reality is. That's where you have to have confidence and belief in yourself, and know that whatever people say, no personal equations and friendships can help you in this industry. The success of a film is in no one's hands but God's. No support of one star or one director or one producer can make any individual actor a star. You have to connect with the audience; the audience have to like you. That is something that cannot be manipulated or fought for or tried for. Either they like you or they don't. And you have to know that that is the reason. God's been kind, you've worked hard, whatever be the reason, but it is in the hands of the audience whether you are – if you can use the word – a star, a popular actor. That is it. That's where you have to realize that those kinds of things (star backing) are empty conversations. There is no such thing like that.

And like you rightly said, it's a very good time for me right now. It's always been my dream to do a Yash Chopra romantic film. I remember watching " Veer Zaara" in 2004 and thinking, I want to be part of that kind of cinema – and that's happened now. So I think I have a lot to be happy for.

You said in our earlier interview that till " New York", you really didn't feel part of the process of the making of films, didn't really enjoy yourself. Now, the impression one gets is that you're more comfortable, that people are happy to have you with them just as you, without the hyphens or the associations? You seem to be working with people who want to hear what you have to say – rather than you just reading your lines and moving on.

Yeah, yeah. I think that's a very correct observation. I think that I am pretty fortunate that the people I am with now – they do not always agree with me, they do not always go by what I say – but they do want to hear what I say. And that is something I worked hard for. Maybe not for every topic, but there are certain areas where I feel that because I have observed people around me who are very senior, and I have actually put an effort into understanding it. Areas like, whether it's promotions or marketing, I can input a certain bit.

If you're working with people who don't care about or don't appreciate anything you do, that's going to be a bit disheartening.

Is this a maturing of you as a person, or as an actress, or a coming together of both?

See, to a certain extent it's going to happen, right? Because you start when you are 17 and now I am 27, and you grow and you learn from your experiences – and I've had some, some pretty – SOME experiences, actually, you can put it that way! (laughs) so you can put it that way. You have to grow. I can't be the same person I was at 18, otherwise I'd be stagnant.

The most important thing I have noticed is no matter what I have gone through, when people say, this was a low phase, a bad experience, a sad point in your life, would you like to change it – I'm like, no, I wouldn't. I would never change it because I now know that you get over it. And it gets better. You really DO get over it; you can be at the lowest point where you just think that you can be crying your eyes out till you think you have no more tears left – and you get over it. And learning what all you can overcome as a person, as a human being, is very important. It's very important to understand your strength. Which is not to say you become hardened, or bitter. No. I am still sensitive. I am still waiting for that person, for everything to come together maybe, for someone who is going to be in your life and support you, and I want that. I do need that. It's not like I am this strong person who doesn't need that and is fine being on her own, no. but you do realize that you do have some amount of strength and you do recover and you do rise above things.

At 22, you wouldn't see it this way.

NO, no! I would like, oh my God, I'm gonna die, what's gonna happen, I'm never gonna get over it. I would cry my eyes out. Because you're young, these are new emotions, new experiences for you. After you've seen it, you realize that life is filled with these kinds of moments. It's filled with happiness, it's filled with disappointment, it's filled with extreme love, extreme anger, extreme sadness, extreme hurt – and everything gets over!

I remember my mom saying to me, three years back, when I was really at the end of my tether in some ways, I was really upset – and she said to me, I promise you, you don't believe me now, but I've lived 40 years longer than you, and I am telling you, you'll get over it, it passes. And it's the truth. And that's what I have learnt out of these experiences.

Not the most pleasant reference point here, but your mom has lived through the bulk of her life without a strong male support.

Yes, yes. I think that has been very instrumental in forming the person who I am today. Whether it's responsible for some of my weaknesses, but it does make you feel a slight lack of belonging, a slight sense of lack of completion. You're kind of looking for that finality in everything you do, you're looking for that last stamp of approval from your father. So growing up without a father has, I think, made me look for that nod of approval, that seal of approval, from somewhere. And now when I think about it, since I've not got that in my personal life, I've gone looking for it in my work, wanting it from somewhere. If it's not from here, it should be from there. You want that sense of security, that sense of approval, from people you work with.

Which is why I would never like to have – while I know there are some strong and amazing women who have children on their own, and done a beautiful job of it, hats off to them. Some have done it out of a lack of a choice, but if I have a choice in the matter, I would always try to make sure that your child grows up with his father.

If you're profiled a decade from now, to my mind, wouldn't the core mystery remain your karmic connect with India, with capturing the public imagination in a country where you hadn't spent a day till you were 18 or so?

I actually feel the opposite way! It's very hard for people to understand here. Because when I'm here, you see, I'm considered very Western-looking. My dad is Indian, but I am not considered very ethnic looking in the industry. But growing up, I was very overly aware of the fact that I was Indian. I was darker, and all my friends use to be girls who were fairer and with blonde hair, and I used to feel very out of place. I was never really noticed –the girls with blonde hair and blue eyes got all the attention in school. I always grew up feeling inferior, to use one word. So if you ask me what is the karmic connect, I honestly feel that this is the end of a circle of that. I always grew up feeling that I was not attractive, that I was never getting any attention, and that I was a little different. And when I came here is when I for the first time... I had that sense of – I remember that so vividly – that people here actually appreciate me. They think that I am beautiful, that I am something special. And that was the first time in my life that I did not feel inferior, for the first time in my life I felt very wanted.

There was this side of me that I felt uncomfortable with, growing up, my whole life, and that side is what has now given me my life, what I am now. It was in India that I found my identity, my sense of belonging.

And that's why you've been touchy sometimes about people making snide remarks about your passport, ethnicity, surname?

Yes. Because people are insinuating that there is something wrong in it! Please understand that I am not – I assure you, I promise you – I am not the only half Asian half British person alive on this planet! My passport's copies are with every news channel in this country – don't ask me how they got them. Everyone has my name, which is my mother's name, on the passport. It's never been hidden, that, or my date of birth, or where I was born – I was born in Hong Kong, for all those who've missed that part of the breaking news – and I just find it so funny. Am I supposed to be ashamed that I am half Asian, half European? I mean, no! Rahul Gandhi is half Indian, half Italian. So? I am very proud of what I am and I just don't understand the confusion – as if I'm trying to hide the fact that my mother's British. Why would I?