After reducing herself to size-zero, actress Kareena Kapoor has begun gaining some flesh again.

In Tashan when Kareena Kapoor walked out of a lake in a lemon yellow bikini and held her arms above her head to ooze some oomph, what caught the viewers’ attention was not her hourglass figure but her ribs protruding from under an almost flat-chested bust. And come to think of it, Bebo had slogged away so hard to acquire the waif-thin figure for a film that turned out to be the biggest disappointment yet in year 2008.

Bebo, who cried hoarse that she was not size-zero despite being labeled so, has finally begun to gain some weight. The actress is presently shooting in Australia for Main Aur Mrs Khanna with Salman Khan . She has reportedly begun eating full diets and is acquiring her curves again.

Within a week the actress would be in better shape to slip into outfits by designer Manish Malhotra at the three-day IIFA weekend from June 6-8 in Bangkok.

Kareena will walk the ramp in Malhotra’s latest creations and will also perform on stage during the weekend.

And with the likes of Priyanka Chopra and Vidya Balan also set to walk the ramp, Kareena is perhaps making sure she doesn’t look odd in her super-slim figure.

Courtesy : www.apunkachoice.com

All eyes were on the real life lovers, Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja at the music launch of India’s most expensive Sci-Fi movie ‘Love Story 2050’. Priyanka and Harman were joined by Bollywood big shots like Boman Irani and Archana Puran Singh, who also happen to be starring in the flick.

The music release of the film was the time when the ‘couple’ made their first off screen appearance together. However, the two did not attempt to flaunt their love, and surprisingly the blush and nervousness could be noticed.

Harman seemed to be so shy that he just could not hug girlfriend Priyanka, as he walked on the stage, while he was greeting all the Bollywood bigwigs present on stage.

It was the duo’s very first interaction with media, but instead of focussing on the music of the film, the media brigade keenly watched the real life chemistry between the lead pair. Harman previously commented about their chemistry, “It’s essential to have fine chemistry with your actress to carry out your scenes realistically. Fortunately, we have great chemistry.”

Music director Anu Malik and lyricist Javed Akhtar have tried very hard to come up with the integration of two time zones in the sci-fi film. ‘Love Story 2050’, the launch pad for Harman, now hailed as the next biggie in Bollywood, is set to release on July 4.

Sanjay Dutt was ‘extremely relieved’ after a Mumbai court Wednesday said his marriage with Manyata was legal and overruled a lower court’s order annulling it.

Hearing a case filed by Manyata, the Sessions Court said the order passed by the Bandra metropolitan magistrate was not valid as she had been legally divorced from her first husband Mehraj-ul-Rehman.

Mehraj Feb 15 petitioned the Bandra metropolitan magistrate that he married Manyata in 2003 and their marriage was still valid as he had not divorced her yet.

On appeal from Manyata, the Sessions Court upheld her contention that her marriage to Mehraj was dissolved as she had divorced him through ‘khula’.

Additional Sessions Judge S.N. Sardesai ruled that the divorce between Manyata and Mehraj was legal as per the Muslim Marriage Act and a woman was free to marry a person of her choice after getting divorced as per law.

The Bandra magistrate’s court had earlier said that as per the Muslim Marriage Act, 1939, the Muslim cleric (qazi) had no power to dissolve a marriage without the husband’s consent. It had termed as false Manyata’s claim that she and Mehraj were divorced on grounds that there was no substantial evidence to back it.

The Sessions Court also rejected as illegal the magistrate’s order asking Sanjay and Manyata to appear before it.

After the judgement, the actor said: ‘I’m extremely relieved by the court verdict.’

The couple had a court wedding in Goa Feb 7. Four days later, they married in Mumbai according to Hindu rituals.

Mehraj, currently behind bars in an extortion case, had claimed that Manyata’s marriage with the star was illegal since she had not yet divorced him.

Meanwhile, Dutt is expected to leave for US shortly to meet his daughter Trishala.

Priyanka Chopra fell in love with him during the shooting of Love Story 2050 .

Yup, Priyanka has a new love in her life and his name is Boo. But Harman Baweja needn’t worry coz this Boo is none other than a cute, robotic teddy bear that is Priyanka’s friend in one half of the futuristic love story.

The pink teddy was specially designed keeping Priyanka’s character in mind. Boo is her pet in the film and he does all kinds of petty chores and even runs errands for her.

Priyanka, who is a self-confessed gadget freak, became so fond of Boo during the shooting that she now wants to keep the pet with herself.

However, Harry Baweja , the film’s writer-director, wants to keep Boo with him until the movie’s release because any last minute changes in the film may require Boo’s presence.

The director says once the movie releases he would gladly present Boo to Priyanka. Well, now the actress has another reason to eagerly await the film’s release.

Courtesy : www.apunkachoice.com

‘Love Story 2050’ marks the debut of Harry’s son Harman.

It looks like after Ram Gopal Varma`s Sarkar Raj, the Bachchans (Amitabh, Aishwarya and Abhishek) can’t just do without each other. The Bachchans may team up together, yet again, in Taalismaan.

According to sources, both Abhishek and Big B were finalised in Ram Madhvani’s Taalismaan, and they certainly felt itchy when the Bachchan bahu wasn’t included in the cast. Sources further reveal that both Abhishek and Amitabh insisted on Aishwarya playing the role of princess Chandrakanta, and thought she would be a perfect fit for the role.

However, Vidhu Vinod Chopra isn’t much convinced about the casting. Perhaps Ash’s negative response to Vinod’s proposal twice has caused resentment in him. It is believed that the Bachchans requested Anil Ambani (who is co-producing Taalismaan with Vinod Chopra) to cast Ash in the film, but the Eklavya director was reluctantl.

He feels that Chandrakanta should be played by a `fresh` face. He also feels that Ash had played a princess in Jodhaa Akbar far too recently.

For a certain scene in Sunny Deol-directed The Man, Shilpa Shetty had to slap her co-star Sudhanshu Pandey. And if the latter is to be believed, the actress was very reluctant to do so.

“It was an emotional scene where I was supposed to console her and she was required to slap me in a fit of rage. But Shilpa was so reluctant and scared. She had to be literally convinced to slap me to get the shot right,” Sudhanshu, a singer, model and actor, told IANS.

Sudhanshu said that he had to ultimately hold her hand and make her slap him to be more comfortable with the shot. “It was funny as she still couldn’t do it. But since she had no option, she did it very lightly,” he quipped.

The actor, who featured in Sanjay Gupta’s film Dus Kahaniyaan, was in the capital to attend the launch of an All Sports Bar.

Year 2008 has proved to be lucky for Sudhanshu, who became a father for the second time earlier this month and also has some big banner films lined up for release.

Talking about his forthcoming projects, Sudhanshu said, “Alibaug, The Man and Singh is King are in the pipeline and I am really excited.”

Sudhanshu, a former member of the music group Band of Boys, has sung in Sanjay Gupta’s Alibaug, where he plays a business tycoon.

“Yes, I have sung in ‘Alibaug’. It was Sanjay (Gupta) who dragged me into it and the experience was fantastic,” he said, making it clear that he would never get associated with a music band, however.

The actor, who calls himself a “simple, focussed and a family man”, is looking for a name for his newborn son. “It has become difficult to decide on a good name.

Shah Rukh Khan tops her list of favourites. After a career spanning 12 years and 40 films, Shah Rukh is still the man who holds “a special place” in Rani Mukerji’s professional life.

“I was considered a newcomer in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, but Shah Rukh never let me feel like one. The treatment he gave in spite of his superstar status then overwhelmed me,” Rani, who made her debut with “Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat” in 1996, said.

She said Shah Rukh had always guided her in the right direction and she had gained a lot from him.

“I respect his dedication and the extra effort he puts towards his work. I still learn a lot from him,” Rani told IANS on the sidelines of a function here.

The two have acted together in several films, including hits like “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”, “Chalte Chalte” and “Veer-Zaara”.

They were also seen together in the critically acclaimed offbeat film “Paheli”, which was based on a short story written by Vijayadan Detha.

Queried about her rapport with Saif Ali Khan, with whom she was seen in “Hum Tum” and “Ta Ra Rum Pum”, Rani said: “In my recent film ‘Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic’ it was a good experience working with him. But while doing ‘Hum Tum’ we had some reservations. With time, we get along well and have mutual respect for each other.”

In “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic”, which is releasing June 27, Rani says she essays the role of an angel who has been sent by god to bring happiness in the life of a business tycoon and four orphan children.

She had to do a lot of practice with action director Shyam Kaushal, especially for the flying scenes.

“The speciality of the role is that I have to smile throughout the film unlike my other films where I had to cry as well. Even my fans told me that they have had enough of my crying. So this film is special for me and my fans; besides, ‘Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic’ is my only release this year.”

In real life, her angel is her two-year-old niece Myiesha. “She keeps me smiling. Whenever I am free and have some time, I play with her. She keeps me going.”

Famously reclusive when it comes to parties and social appearances, Rani said emphatically: “I don’t like parties. I am more of a family person. I prefer spending time with my family.”

Rani has been paired with almost all superstars except perhaps Akshay Kumar.

“Many projects came to me where Akshay and I were paired together but somehow the roles didn’t excite me.” Refusing to name the films, Rani said many of those did well. “But, we hope to do a film together.”

The talented actress has cut short her assignments because roles don’t excite her any more.

“The roles or the stories that came my way did not excite me. I don’t want to do a film just for doing it or to please the journalists. There was a time when I did even three or more films at a time. I did ‘Veer-Zaara’, ‘Mangal Pandey’ and ‘Black’ together because the roles excited me.”

Her much talked about marriage plans are dismissed.

“You people are too much interested in my marriage. But let me tell you that I don’t have a marriage plan for a long, long time. I want to do a lot of films now and don’t see marriage in the near future.”

Rani’s next project is a Yash Raj Film production with Shahid Kapur to be directed by debutant Anurag Singh. The yet to be titled film will go on the floors in June.

Mumbai, (IANS) While Aishwarya Rai understands the constant need for people to check out her clothes and accessories at important events, what the star actor can’t fathom is why her clothes at the Cannes Film Festival become more important than what she does.

“I don’t even want to think about what people thought of my clothes earlier and what they think of it now. To me how I conduct myself at Cannes and how people react to me are far more important than what I wear,” Aishwarya, who has been attending the prestigious film fest since 2002, told IANS.

“Cannes has always been a marvellous and memorable experience. This time was no different. It’s never about the wardrobe for me. I don’t focus on that at all,” added the actress who went there for the first time with “Devdas”.

She reminisces about each year she has attended the Cannes fest, saying: “That was the year of ‘Devdas’. That experience remains embedded in my mind. It wasn’t just about how much they liked me in a sari or walking the red carpet. It was more memorable for the standing ovation that we got after the screening of ‘Devdas’. What an ovation! It was a very special experience.

“Next I was in Cannes as a jury member and that’s where sections of the media formed their own jury and began to assess my dress. After that I was there to inaugurate the festival and thereafter each year as the brand ambassador for L’Oreal.”

What made Aishwarya’s visit to Cannes special this year was the fact that the entire Bachchan family was there.

“Also,” she added happily. “It was always flash visits to Cannes. This time I was actually there for four days. Otherwise, I’ve always been there in the middle of things. I spent two full days with the family. We’re all so happy when we’re together.

“In an interview there I was asked if our visit to Cannes was a delayed anniversary celebration. I was like… noooooo!”

Apart from attending events and obliging shutterbugs, the actress managed to entertain herself by catching up with a couple of movies.

“I caught three and a half movies including the opening film ‘Blindness’ and the new ‘Indiana Jones’ film. And I could only catch the latter half of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ because I had to do some press interviews during the second half.

“I’ve to catch the rest of the film; it was so entertaining. And I also saw the new Woody Allen film ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’. And, yes, I met Woody Allen. He’s wonderful.”

Speaking on her stunning sartorial grace on the red carpet, Aishwarya said: “I guess I had more time to prepare.”

She smiles at the memory of bonding with Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives”.

“We bonded so well at Cannes no one would believe we had just met. Actually Eva, Rachida Brakni, who did the original French version of ‘Chaos’, which I was supposed to do and who’s now been taken on as L’Oreal’s brand ambassador - all of us got married recently. So all three of us had something in common.”

She refers to meeting French actor Jean Reno as another memorable moment at Cannes.

“Jean Reno came up to me and said he had heard good things about my film ‘Pink Panther’. These legendary actors are so hassle-free. They don’t think twice about approaching you with a smile and kind words. That stays with you. So much less taxing than making an effort to avoid people,” she said.

On the home front, her fans are eagerly waiting to see her with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan in “Sarkar Raj”, which is releasing June 6.

Courtesy : www.bollywoodworld.com