'I am doing a comedy after a very long time'

At 73, the veteran director Shyam Benegal is one of the most enthusiastic people around. His new film, Welcome To Sajjanpur is ready for release this Friday, and the director clearly loves talking about it.

But when Patcy N went to meet him, the great director was running late. He needed to wrap up this interview quickly, as he had to be home in time to pick up his wife, and take her to watch the films, Tahaan and A Wednesday, back-to-back.

Benegal still squeezed in time to talk about Welcome to Sajjanpur, as well as his favourite films and directors these days.

Is it true that you have an item number in Welcome To Sajjanpur?

I have songs and dances. You can call them item numbers if you like but they are not. They are a part of the fabric of the movie.

After Mandi, this will be your second comedy. How come a comedy at this stage? Did you want a break after the seriousness of Bose? What is the film about?

This is not my second comedy but the third. First, there was Charandas Chor (1974), then Mandi (1982) and now, Welcome to Sajjanpur.

I am doing a comedy after a long time. There has been comic situations in most of my films but this is the first film where I have comedy all the way.

I had a good subject for a comedy, that's why I am doing one. Also, it's a romantic comedy, so that's a nice combination. It also has satire. It has politics and many sub-angles.

Welcome to Sajjanpur is a story set in today's Indian village. A village, which is remote but not isolated. It is connected by way of cell phones and television.

But the remoteness is emphasised because of the low level of literacy, like in most parts of India. So the educated people in that village can make a living as a letter-writer.

This is the basis of the film as well as the comedy in the film.

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"Yes, I have joined the bikini bandwagon" - Minissha Lamba

A much coy Minissha Lamba is going through a massive image makeover. In her soon-to-be-released Kidnap, she would be donning a bikini which certainly comes as a surprise to those who have been following her career in films like Yahaan, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd, Shaurya and Bachna Ae Haseeno.

"Well, it is shocking for quite a few people but if you ask me, I am really enjoying it all", says Minissha who has seen an eventful 2008 so far, "Seriously, I felt beautiful when I donned the bikini for Kidnap. And though people do ask me how comfortable I was with the thought of wearing a bikini, let me tell you that I was more focused on getting my body into the right shape than worrying about anything else."

Talking about her decision to join the bikini bandwagon, Minissha admits, "Yes, I have joined the bikini bandwagon. After all, not many girls are doing it even today, isn't it? In any case when you see Kidnap, you would realize that the makeover isn't for the sake of it. This was meant to be a part of the character and I was duly convinced that donning a bikini was indeed an integral part of the script."

While industry and cine-goers are definitely noticing this makeover, what were the kind of reactions that she got from people close to her - read friends and family? "We are not grown up in a conservative household and together, we watch a lot of Hollywood films", discloses Minissha, "Something like a bikini is hardly a culture shock since as a family, we are quite modern in our outlook and very progressive. In any case, everyone today understands that at the end of the day, it is just a part that you are playing for a film. The buck stops there."

By wearing a bikini for Kidnap, Minissha now joins the gang of young women who have willingly agreed to get into the costume for a Sanjay Gadhvi film. After Esha Deol (Dhoom) and Bipasha Basu (Dhoom 2), she is the new bikini girl for Gadhvi.

"And I am so very proud of that", exclaims Minissha, "When Sanjay told me that I had to go through this image change in Kidnap, I was game for it. I feel it was great to explore a new side of me. Going by the reaction that I am getting from people, I guess the experiment has indeed paid off."

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Bollywood Actor Dev Anand brings love to Nepalese

"Bollywood actor Dev Anand has made great contributions to strengthen the relations existing at the people to people level by making some very popular films in Nepal. His film helped introduce Nepal's image in India. For the last four decades, Dev Anand's passion to visit Nepal has continued. Even at this stage, he came to Nepal to unveil his autobiography Romancing With Life. Although he is 85, Dev Anand still has the same charisma, and his smile still has the same power to steal hearts".said Spotlight magazine in Kathmandu.

It is always a pleasure watching Dev Ananda's movie and his acting. Dev Ananda's enthusiasm, passion for acting, and for working for the cause of beauty has always impressed me. I am not just praising Dev Ananda. It is a great quality to have an actor like Dev Ananda. His commitment, dedication and tireless efforts help movies and our hearts. Truly admirable.

"Dev Anand's films are best known for their successful songs. Most of his films are an expression of his world view and have dealt with socially relevant subjects. He always emphasises this in his interviews. He thinks that his films represent his personal points of view," according to Wikipedia.

Dev Ananda was born in Punjab. His film was Hum Ek Hain (1946). Dev was offered his first big break by Ashok Kumar.

Dev Ananda said in Kathmandu. "The way I have seen Nepal, most of you have not. It is a very beautiful country and we have many cultural and religious commonalities. I've traveled the world. Mark my words, no place in this entire universe is as beautiful as your country. Even in Switzerland, many things are man-made. Nepal is god-gifted. I appeal to all to go to Nepal, go to the high mountains. They're tremendous. That's Nepal to me."

Dev Anand is making a lot of difference in Nepalese hearts. We people certainly deserve better music and arts. We have beautiful art and music with abundant natural heart.

A Local artist Sanu Thapa said to me in Kathmandu "I am deeply concerned that we might have to develop our arts and dance along with music like Dev Ananda's acting. The old movies in Nepal that we have are perfectly fine and only needed development on music progress and emancipation. There is no need to destroy our old arts and dance. Indians and Nepalese dance and music have lasted for hundreds of years, and will continue for more times to come for the future generations," she said.

When I watch his wonderful acting it is certainly a reflection of all my emotions. His skills in creative acting is advanced. Dev Ananda become a world class actor now. That is something I aspire to as a poet. Dev Ananda's has evolved as a modernist, beautiful artist, emancipated actor, and purpose in his life.

I just hope the arts schools in Nepal develop as institutions like in India based on reality. Of course, every individual is responsible for new actions and ideas for music and arts. Everyone of us must follow the path as taught to us by our arts, culture, drama and our dance. Our arts and music are the basis on which we must live our lives. If this is not the case then our society, civilization would never have existed. If our society respects artists and place them in a respectable position them our arts will have true meaning. No arts, movie or music can survive by relegating artists to second class or subservient status as some societies tend to do.

To me, for all of Dev Ananda's beauty his isthe best acting in the world. Dev Ananda wants our way of life. If Dev Ananda and I join hands together, we can make a big difference in our arts world.

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Priyanka Chopra performs with 'Son Of a Bitch'

Bollywood is known to be the 'Masala Industry' for nothing. The reason being this is one place whereby you can find millions of masala.

After having tasted 'videsi' tadka like, the latest one being Snoop Dogg in Singh Is Kinng, Bollywood is all set to say hello to an underground club called…hold your breath… 'SoB' (son of a bitch) in Goldie Behl's much anticipated venture Drona.

The song 'Oopcha' (whatever that means) which features none other than the sexy Priyanka Chopra, also features 'SoB'.

For starters, 'SoB' are a troupe from New Jersey and are known to perform at all the celebrity do in New Jersey.

News has it that Goldie Behl was so tad impressed with these guys that he actually brought them from New Jersey to Mumbai! And for those who have seen the guys performing simply swear by their blessedly agile bodies!

Speaking about his choice of the boys, Goldie said, "When I saw these boys perform at a high profile club in New Jersey, I was completely blown away. These guys were really good.

From there on, we initiated to get these guys down to Mumbai and start rehearsals for the song and it hardly took them two days of practice to get into the groove of the music and perform to their best take after take".

But there was something exceptional done by the boys that touched Goldie the most. Says Goldie, "What was really special was that after we finished shooting, they actually performed the entire song for all of us, at one go as a thanks giving gesture".

Wonder when Bollywood will be touched by such professionalism!

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There is no cold war going on with Katrina Kaif

Malaika and Arbaaz's little son Arhaan seems to have taken after his Chachu Salman.The 4-year old boy has quite a crush on Katrina Kaif.

Far from sharing cold vibes with her brother-in-law Salman Khan's friend Katrina, Malaika Arora actually has a very close and indelible bonding with the boxoffice's wunder-babe.

"My 4-year old son Arhaan has the most incurable crush on Katrina. Whenever she's around I become completely unimportant to my son. It's a family joke…that Arhaan is smitten by Katrina. Every time Katrina and I speak she wants to know where Arhaan is so she could take him out."

Not just Katrina, Kareena too is a favourite with Arhaan. "When Arbaaz and I visited Kareena's location in Hollywood last month Arhaan became a total lamb. I ceased to exist. Everything was about Kareena only.

And I was shocked when my boy who gives me a hard time feeding him would ask for everything that Kareena ordered at restaurants and eat quietly without taking his eyes off Kareena."

So what are these stories about Malaika's cold war with Katrina?

Sighs Malaika, "There's absolutely nothing to this talk of my cold war with Katrina. I've no space or time for having these kinds of issues with people. I feel life is too precious for these kinds of run-ins.

It was written that I didn't attend Katrina's birthday. But I was shooting for my reality show and I couldn't make it. Is that a crime? Are there laws against skipping a family gathering because I was working?

It was said I didn't go to Katrina's birthday because I couldn't get along with her. Bullshit! And now we're supposed to have shared cold vibes with Katrina and Salman's sister birthday party. Why would I spoil Arpita's party by behaving like such a partypooper? "

Malaika says she's a total family woman. "These are very upsetting rumours because it involves the entire family. I'm such a family person. I'd drop anything for family. Katrina isn't someone I hang around with every day or go out with for coffees and lunches.

But she's part of our family and I completely respect her presence. But no, she isn't part of my close friends' circle. Both of us come from decent families. My parents would slap me if I misbehaved with anyone, least of all Katrina who's part of our family.

Sighing deeply Malaika says, "No one from Arbaaz's side or my own side of the family can accuse me of behaving highhandedly or aloof. I go out of my way for family. My mother would kick my ass if I behaved like a prima donna. Someone is obviously getting a lot of pleasure by spreading these rumours."

Is it someone from the Khan family? "I wouldn't know. But whoever it is, I hope he or she is having a good time."

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Bong Babe Riya & Raima Sen Ritu Kumar Fashion Show

Bong Babe Riya & Raima Sen Ritu Kumar Fashion Show. Riya Sen and Raima Sen displays a creation by designer Ritu Kumar during the inaugural show of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai on September 16, 2008

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Elegance personified: Neha Dhupia Walks Ramp

Elegance personified: Neha Dhupia Walks Ramp. Neha Dhupia displays a creation by designer Ritu Kumar during the inaugural show of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai on September 16, 2008.

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'Fashion' is fun: Priyanka Chopra

'Fashion' is fun: Priyanka Chopra displays a creation by designer Ritu Kumar on the opening show of the HDIL India Couture Week in Mumbai on September 16, 2008.

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