3.5 crore spent for Bollywood’s costliest song in Veer

Salman Khan has given a lot of creative contribution to the song of Veer which was shot with a budget of Rs 3.5 crore. Directed by Anil Sharma, Veer is written by Salman himself and also stars a newcomer actress whose name has been kept a secret by the makers of the film along with Sohail Khan and Mithun Chakraborty.

Sources inform, “Salman Khan, Sohail, Mithun and the new starlet participated in a 11 day long marathon shooting schedule for this particular song in a Mumbai studio earlier this month. The song also had around 600 junior artists dancing along with the main stars. Salman’s contribution to the song had begun right from the conceptualisation of it to helping in executing in it all. Salman personally took part in all the discussions with the creative team of the film and the choreographer before the shooting of this song began. He offered valuable suggestions which were accepted by all unanimously. Also, he was present on all 11 days even at times when his part was not being shot. Salman has been extremely passionate about this particular song which he thinks shall be the film’s biggest highlight.”

“With a budget crossing Rs 3 crore this song has become the costliest song over taking a Jodha Akbar song shot on Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in Karjat’s ND Studios last year.” the source concluded.

Looks like Aamir Khan rubbed off his quest for creative perfection to Salman during the 10 Ka Dum episode they shot together!

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Bipasha Basu now joins the reality show bandwagon

After Kajol, Urmila Matondkar and Raveen Tandon, the latest Bollywood actress to work for the small screen is Bipasha Basu.

Of course, she has had her share of appearances on a few reality shows, but Bipasha now joins the reality show bandwagon as a judge for the dance-based show Chak De - Shehar Di Kudiyan Te Galli De Gunde. Sharing the bench with her is Raveena.

Our well-placed source from television says, “Karisma Kapoor was initially approached for the show, but she declined due to reasons best known to her.

So Bipasha is on board now and this has excited everyone associated with the show. Having two Bollywood actresses will add a lot of value to the programme.”

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Minissha Lamba wears a bikini in Kidnap

Titillation is not something one would expect from Minissha Lamba. But the actress is going to provide you exactly that in the action thriller Kidnap .

Though Minissha has previously done some steamy scenes with Arshad Warsi in Anthony Kaun Hai , the actress slips into a two-piece bikini for the first time in Sanjay Gadhvi’s ‘Kidnap’ that stars Sanjay Dutt and Imran Khan in lead roles.

Sanjay Gadhvi , known for making actresses like Esha Deol , Bipasha Basu and even the usually prim-and-propah Aishwarya Rai shed their clothes in films like Dhoom and Dhoom 2 , has now made Minissha do the same.

Gadhvi reportedly told Minissha at the very start of the film that she would have to don a bikini – and that too a white one – for a few sequences in the film.

Minissha Lamba from a scene in BikiniMinissha, surprisingly, was game for it. Funnily, what proved more difficult than convincing Minissha was to find a good white bikini. But her stylist in the film, Shilpa Bhatia, scoured the market and managed to find a sexy bikini for the actress.

And now that Minissha was finally showing off her skin, she wanted to look her best. The actress slogged away in gym and followed a strict diet to be in good shape.

Minissha’s bikini sequence was shot on the beaches of Mauritius.

Well now we have an extra reason to watch ‘Kidnap’

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Ranbir Kapoor and I are friends

Bipasha is candid enough to admit that during 'Race' Katrina and she were barely cordial with one another.

"Some people you jell with. Others you just do your job with. Katrina is one of those cases when we were just professionals on the sets. But there was no rivalry or anything. We were both working for the same film not at cross-puposes. We were both liked in Race. Though people would like to believe otherwise, there was no negativity or animosity between us. There was no dramatic tension on the sets. We're both too sensible for that. There was just no scope for one-to-one interaction."

She has one other unfinished project Mr Fraud with Abbas-Mustan. "I'd love to complete the film. Right now I'm going through a phase when I'm searching for roles. I've no idea what I want. But yes, I'd like to an author-backed zany fun-filled film. At the same time I love multi-strarrers. They're more fun on the sets. Lots of unfulfilled wishes before I give up acting.If I don't like what's being offered I won't sign anything. For now my last film is Freeze with Neil Nitin Mukesh."

Bipasha had to miss John's brother Allan's wedding on Romania in May because she was shooting in Bangkok.

But she was very conspicuously present at the wedding reception in Mumbai where everyone commented on her bonding with her sister-in-law Anka.

"She's really sweet. John's brother and Anka were seeing each other for three years. Beyond that I wouldn't like to say anything about them. Let them lead their own lives."

John's ambitious film Aashayein is ready. Though Bipasha loves the film she won't be helping to promote it.

"Beyond buying a ticket I'm doing nothing to promote the film. That's a very good way to pitch in."

Bipasha's new ring tone is a song from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. Strange for an actor to flaunt another actor's ring tone.

"I love that song and I adore Imran. I think he's going to be a huge star. He and Ranbir Kapoor are my current favourites. In fact I told Ranbir how much I like Imran. No, he didn't mind at all. Ranbir and I are friends after Bachna Ae Haseenon."

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I'd never participate in Akshay's Khatron Ke Khiladi

Beauty queen Neha Dhupia was tagged a 'sex symbol' after the portrayal of a prostitute in "Julie", but she feels the image is now fading.

"I'm happy with the kind of films I am getting, and, yes, the 'sex symbol' tag that I had got after 'Julie' is fading, " Neha, who turns 28 Wednesday.

Recently she was seen doing a variety of roles - she played a homely Gujarati girl in "Chup Chup Ke" and an ad executive in "Delhii Heights". She was also seen in critically acclaimed "Mithya" and hit gangster movie "Shootout At Lokhandwala".

Recently Neha showed her action skills with a few stunts in Akshay Kumar-starrer "Singh Is Kinng". Though she managed the action scenes in the film, Neha says she will never take part in a show like "Khatron Ke Khiladi".

Neha said, "I wouldn't have done 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' even if I was offered it because it won't challenge me creatively. There is nothing creative about it. It would force me to do stunts and stuff; so I would not do it."

The actress was in the capital to attend the Blenders Pride Magical Nights Party Tour 2008.

After making her debut in 1997 with a cameo in "Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya", Neha has been doing almost three to four films in a year.

"I am comfortable doing about four films a year. Unless I get burnt out and totally exhausted, I think I will continue doing so, " she said.

Asked about her birthday plans, Neha said that she has "no party plans; only work for the day."

"I will be happy if in the morning I get a birthday wish call from my production people instead of a work call. But no party plans yet."

As for her future projects, the young actress, who won the Miss India crown in 2002, is looking forward to a line-up of films including "Maharathi", "Raat Gayi Baat Gayi", "I Am 24", "Paying Guest", one Percept Picture Company-produced film with Emraan Hashmi and a yet-to-be-titled film with Priyadarshan.

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Why Deepika Padukone envies her sister

It's been a time of horrendous homesickness for the rapidly on the rise Deepika Padukone.

"I've either been shooting out of the country or just been busy in Mumbai.It's been a really hectic time for me. I haven't been to my home in Bangalore for three years."

Now for Ganesh Chaturthi Deepika heads home to Bangalore. "I'm going home after three years. It feels really good."

But Ganesh Chaturthi is very big in Mumbai and also extremely important at her boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor's RK Studios.

Even if Ranbir would like to have her stay in Mumbai for the occasion Deepika is adamant.

"Ganesh Chaturthi is also a very big event in my home in Banglore.It's a time when my entire family including my sister, comes together.Or whatever remains of the family in Bangalore. A lot of my relatives are now in the US.

I've missed the occasion for the past three years. So I can't help it. I've to go home now. Am I religious? I don't go to the temple every day. But my God is right here in my heart. I believe in a force. And that keeps me grounded."

Interestingly Deepika's younger sister Alisha is a professional golfer.

Says the proud sister. "My sister is five years younger to me. I sometimes envy my sister. She has gone into sports, like my father. And she gets to play golf professionally. That's a unique position for a 19-year to be in. Acting seems rather ordinary in comparison."

In fact Deeepika's sister has recently got an offer for a film in their native language.

"That's right she has been offered a Kannada film. But she's absolutely not interested in a film career. One actress in the family is enough, " laughs.

The brings to the one roles that's on Deepika's wish list. "I'd love to do a sports film. Not neceassarily my dad's game badminton but any sport except cricket. I feel too much priority is given to cricket in our country. I'm so glad films on other sports like hockey and football are being made. I'd love to do film based on badminton."

Unconventional roles are coming Deepika's way without asking.

"When I was told that in Bachna Ae Haseenon I had to play an Indian cab driver in Australia who doesn't believe in marriage, I said I had to do this even if there were two other girls in the story.

Luckily for me I got along like a house on fire with Bipasha Basu and Minissha Lamba. Even if I hadn't I'd still have enjoyed doing the role thoroughly….And not because Ranbir was in it, " she adds quickly.

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Red Hot Air Hostess Esha Deol

Esha Deol, like most people, always believed that being an air-hostess was an easy job. But that was only till she got to play an airhostess herself. And that experience changed Esha’s perception for good. It was during the shoot of Kunal Shivdasani’s film Hijack — an action-thriller that also stars Shiney Ahuja — in which the sexy actress plays an airhostess that Esha realised how tough their jobs can be.

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‘Sen’sation Riya at Hawaiian Shack Princess event

‘Sen’sation Riya at Hawaiian Shack Princess event

Posted on 27 August 2008 Bollywood, Celebs(F), Riya Sen



‘Sen’sation Riya at Hawaiian Shack Princess event. Hawaiian Shack is Mumbai’s little secret. This cozy, unassuming shack-like bar is a refreshing place to be in. Wooden logs in place of cement and bare bamboo strips for the internal decor, it is a replica of the authentic shacks in Goa and Hawaii. Lit by florescent blue and green light, it plays trendy and popular music and gets really congested as the night goes on.

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