Kashmir's Mirwaiz Umer Farooq invites Sanju and party for lunch

The cultural assimilation of Kashmir into India just got a little easier. In what could be considered a historic move to make Bollywood feel welcome in the troubled Valley, the Mirwaiz (official spiritual leader) Umer Farooq invited producer Bunty Walia for tea to his residence on Sunday afternoon, assuring the anxious producer that the Valley is open to Mumbai's cinema re-consolidating itself as a cultural centre. And now the entire cast of Bunty Walia's Lamhaa including Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor have been invited for lunch to the Mirwaiz's residence. In the light of the troubled recession in the Valley of the Dal, this invitation from the spiritual leader who has the entire Kashmir Valley supporting his ideology, Walia's interaction with the Mirwaiz acquires huge creative and commercial ramifications. Says the excited producer, "My tea invitation wuth the Mirwaiz went off really well. He turned out to be an intelligent and articulate man with a great knowledge of our cinema." The Mirwaiz spoke to Walia of the great love that the people in the Valley have for Bollywood and how it can be renewed vigorously. Says Walia, "Though the Mirwaiz doesn't have any favourites he said people in the Valley love Bollywood stars and movies. He was happy to know Lamhaa would bring such a large Mumbai crew to Kashmir." Sanjay Dutt and Co's lunch with the Mirwaiz is expected to be fixed as soon as the unit catches its breath in the Valley. "We hope to take up his invitation in the next two weeks, " promises Walia as the rest of his unit sigh in relief after having secured supreme protection by the top-most spiritual leader in the Valley.

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Kareena Kapoor rules!

Kareena Kapoor rules! Golmaal Returns biggest opening ever! Golmaal Returns has opened to packed houses and Kareena Kapoor has once again proved her clout at the box office. The czarina of Bollywood has been the highlight of Golmaal Returns. Kareena had been featured prominently in the publicity which was actually a strategy to promote the film and the strategy has paid off and how! A trade analyst reveals, " Golmaal Returns has recorded the biggest opening ever and the fact that Kareena was centrestage in all the publicity and the fact that the film has worked and how has proved that she is the biggest draw." . Golmaa Returns is a sure shot hit and possibly Super Hit if it sustains into second week. The film started with excellent collections in the morning and is doing extraordinary well in the evening shows across the country. The bookings are extremely strong for tomorrow as well which means the film should record excellent figures over the extended weekend. The opening for the first day is earth shattering and a bumper 95-100%. The film has matched historic openers like Om Shanti Om and Singh Is Kinng on day one in terms of capacity though the film has been released on a lesser volume of shows than those films. Its the best ever openinmg that Kareena has ever had and it's time for Bebo to celebrate.

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I strongly feel that Singh Is Kinng really helped me: Sonu Sood

Recently, Sonu Sood got a first hand taste of the celebrity status he has gained post the super success of Jodhaa Akbar and Singh Is Kinng. He visited his home town in Punjab and was shocked to find that throughout his short stay there, there were 150-200 people thronging at his residence to meet him or at least have a glimpse of him. On being queried, Sonu at first makes light of the happenings in his life. "It's ok, let's not make a big deal about it. It happens. I should consider myself as a real star once I start delivering hits all by myself. I am hoping Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi' proves to be a major happening in my career as a solo lead." Sonu Sood acknowledges though that it has been the Singh Is Kinng effect due to which his presence in the home town was celebrated to such an extent. "I strongly feel that Singh Is Kinng really helped me. After all, it was a huge commercial success, though it was only after visiting Punjab that I realized the impact the film has made. It is amusing to see people running behind you and absolute strangers visiting you at home. That's the magic of Singh Is Kinng ", says Sonu who had a good kick start to the year with Jodhaa Akbar. "I guess I have been successful in getting the right balance of films on my plate. There is a large commercial audience which wants to see you in a Singh Is Kinng kind of a setup while there are others who appreciate you more if you get to do an intense role in Jodhaa Akbar. It's ok, as an actor you have to cater to both the segments of society", he reasons. What made him refuse Mukesh Bhatt's Jashn in that case? Wasn't this film (which is being directed by Raksha Mistry and Hasnain Hyderabadwala) allowing him to cater to any particular segment of society? "Somehow I was not convinced about the script", admits Sonu, "I am sure Vishesh Films make great movies with great music. But I have to decide my own course too. I have some good movies of mine lined up and now for me to sign a film, it has to be something really exciting; something really better. In any case, why such a hue and cry about me choosing 'not' to do a film. In democracy, you are allowed to choose, right?"

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Kareena is not ready to forgive the Bachchans

The Kapoors and the Bachchans have been thick Bollywood pals for long. Until of course the much publicized Karisma Kapoor – Abhishek Bachchan breakup happened! Of late there has been news of the family friends getting back together. But according to fiesty Kareena they are just rumours as nothing of that sort is happening or likely to happen in the future. She has reportedly said, "The 'patch-up' decision cannot be taken individually. This one's quite complicated, since the two families are involved now. There's no truth to the news-report about our teaming together. There's no project on the cards either." Apparently she was miffed with Abhishek too as there were rumours of him being responsible for getting her replaced with Priyanka Chopra in Karan Johar's 'Dostana'. Kareena sings another tune altogether and says, "I have moved on. Karan is a brother and he has offered me a far more challenging role in his next film that will be directed by Rensil D'Silva." It seems Kareena's actually not ready to forgive the Bachchans yet. Abhishek had apparently also extended the olive branch and said that he would love to work with Bebo again as she was his first heroine which makes her very special. But Bebo really seems totally uninterested! She's too busy concentrating on her career and enjoying the luck bestowed upon her (even a senseless 'Golmaal Returns' has done well) to think of the Bachchans! Maybe she'll change her mind when the days are bad!

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Karan Johar finds Shilpa Shetty the hottest!

There were many options open for Karan Johar to do the sizzling item song – Shut Up and Bounce in his produced Dostana. Many top line actresses were willing to do this number shot in Miami for free for the sake of working under his prestigious banner – Dharma Productions. But Karan zeroed down on Shilpa Shetty. Why you may ask? Well Karan's reply is, "Because she is the hottest!" He adds, "We finally zeroed in on Shilpa because she has the best body in town. She has done a fantastic job but credit also goes to choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant and music director Vishal Shekhar. Shilpa's number will be the introductory song along John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan." Tarun Mansukhani who is making his directorial debut with Dostana too was impressed by Shilpa's professionalism. He says, "Shilpa was comfortable wearing anything for the song. We were to shoot the song in seven days but completed it in four days flat." Shilpa agreed to be a part of Dostana immediately, not only because it was a Karan Johar production but also because it had her favorite team of film crew members such as – Manish Malhotra as the stylist, Mickey Contractor for the make up and Latika for her hair.

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Kim Sharma: I'm not dating any Australian

Kim Sharma has no time for love. The actress is pretty amused with an international magazine that has openly claimed that Sharma is dating an Australian. It was also reported that the two have been caught red handed cootchie cooing in each other's arms. Kim can't stop laughing at this story. Quips the actress, " Arre I am very much single. What is this news?" when questioned. A close friend of Kim said, "She is very much single and not ready to mingle. " The friend said that Kim's sole focus was to concentrate on her career right now. "Kim is so much immersed in doing work that she does not have time for love.. Also she is happy being single at the moment."

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RGV ropes in Big B, Riteish, Gul for Rann

Ram Gopal Varma has roped in a huge ensemble cast for his up coming next, Rann. Apart from signing his favourite actor, Amitabh Bachchan to play a pivotal role, the maverick filmmaker has also got in Riteish Deshmukh, Sudeep (hero of Phoonk) Gul Panag and Paresh Rawal to play important parts. Manisha Koirala too gets a new lease of life in Bollywood as Ramu has cast her too in his film. She is back to Ramu camp after almost six years gap since Company (2006). "When News Channels, Political parties and Industrial czars are the principal movers and shakers in a film, there is obviously a tremendous scope for high drama. This is not so much my conscious intention as the director of the film, but the very demand of the subject matter. Having said that, even the so-called high profile people at the end of the day are, 'people'. And no matter how powerful they are, they are not without their share of insecurities, egos, jealousies, and dilemmas." states Ramu in his blog about Rann. Explaining in details each and every cast member of his film, Ramu states - I really enjoyed the process of casting for the incredibly exciting and thrilling characters of Rann. The cast of Rann - Amitabh Bachchan as Harshvardhan Malik - The founder of the first ever private news channel in the country INDIA 24/7, the Harvard-educated Harshvardhan Malik is India's most respected media personality. He is a hardcore upholder of journalistic ethics. No wonder his Channel is battling for survival! Riteish Deshmukh as Purab Shastri - Armed with a degree in journalism, Purab Shastri truly believes that the media should be the check point for the people of a country, and therefore, it should report news, instead of manufacturing news. Purab's thinking sets him apart from most youngsters of this country. While everyone is chasing their individual dreams, Purab aggressively wants to work towards a better India. Needless to say, a clash between Purab and the powers-that-be looks inevitable. It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong! Sudeep as Jay Malik - A go-getter and highly aggressive and ambitious son of Harshvardhan Malik, Jay looks at his Dad's news channel purely as a business enterprise that must make profits to justify its existence. He hates that his competition is doing better than him. Manisha Koirala Nalini Kashyap - She is the programming head of Harshvardhan Malik's news channel, INDIA 24/7. Having been in the industry for long enough, she has developed a practical view of how things operate here. And this comes in direct conflict with what her boss Harshvardhan Malik, thinks. Juggling the cut-throat world outside with the idealistic universe of her boss, Nalini Kashyap has her job cut out. Paresh Rawal as Mohan Pandey - It is every politician's dream to become the Prime Minister of his country. To that extent, the leader of the opposition Mohan Pandey is no different from his contemporaries. The only difference being - if the need arises, Pandey can and will kill to get the coveted chair. Gul Panag as Nandita Sharma - The assistant of an ad filmmaker, Nandita Sharma someday hopes to bag an independent feature film. She is in a live-in relationship with her boyfriend Purab. Nandita is smart, educated, and intelligent. She is also highly indifferent to what's happening in the country, and first thinks about herself and her man, before anything or anybody else. On both counts, she represents the youth of India. Mohnish Behl as Amrish Kakkar - He was the first to have the VISION and the foresight to realize that even the business of delivering NEWS can be made ENTERTAINING. Amrish therefore can be safely held singularly responsible for taking the television news industry to the dogs, or to the heights, depending on how you see it. His channel is no less than a shady brothel, the content that is NEWS is no less than a cheap hooker, and Amrish Kakkar - the most powerful pimp around. Rajat Kapoor as Naveen Shankalya - Apart from being the son-in-law of Harshvardhan Malik, is also one of the topmost industrialists of the country. Despite this, he is the most insecure man on earth, and won't rest till he becomes the number one industrialist in the country. His best buddy Mohan Pandey becoming the Prime Minister of India will surely help his cause. Raima Sen as Yasmin Hussain - An ex-model, and fiancée of Jay Malik, Yasmin watches TV, reads gossip columns, and for most part, takes everything that is dished out to her, AT FACE VALUE. She does not understand the intricacies of power games, and hidden motivations behind actions of people. The resources at her disposal to know what is true and what is not, are limited. She is not innocent, and she is not clever either. Yasmin therefore epitomizes the 'common man'. Rajpal Yadav as Anand Prakash Trivedi - A creative editor, Anand Prakash Trivedi has a knack for sensationalizing even the driest story and making it sound like the story of the decade with super catchy headlines. More than any filmmaker, he makes far better movies. Only, he calls them NEWS. Well, looking at the starcast of RGV's Rann, one can say that this in itself is a 'breaking news'.

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Hollywood hunks love Bollywood hotties

What's with our Bollywood babes bragging so much about being admired greatly by Hollywood biggies? Will Smith has been a great fan of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's beauty and appeal for long. He's talked about his admiration for her openly and during his visit to India some two years back. He also said that he had offered her the leading lady's part in 'Hitch' but she couldn't do it! Appearing in big talk shows in the US and doing a few small time international flicks must have made it possible for Ash. We only wish this appreciation had actually helped her to bag a big mainstream Hollywood film as well! The others have made sure that they are not left behind either. Mallika Sherawat had screamed from rooftops about Jackie Chan being completely floored by her. Later it appeared that she was shooting her mouth off for her 'few seconds role' in her disastrous international debut 'The Myth' Pictures of Kareena Kapoor and Sylvester Stallone were splashed across the media recently. There were talks about him finding her pretty, wanting to work with her and so on. However there were claims that Stallone only did the Bollywood film- 'Kambhakt Ishq' because he was in a financial soup. Maybe that's what made him talk overenthusiastically about Kareena! Now there's news of Priyanka Chopra spending time with Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith at the opening ceremony of the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF). Reportedly Banderas even expressed a keen desire to work with the actress and also talked about his knowledge of Bollywood and the financial leaps it has made in recent years. The heroes haven't been far behind either. There have been Hollywood fans of SRK and mostly Akshay King Kumar after he shot for 'Kambhakt Ishq'! We only wish the so called admiration would produce a true blue international star from India too much like how the South Americans Benicio Del Toro, Gael García Bernal, Salma Hayek etc or the South East Asians Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh or Gong Li have made it! Or is it just big talk and no action for us?

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