Dune Kossatz named IPL's Miss Bollywood

Model and actress Dune Kossatz, 35, of East London was named Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa at a glittering event at the Montecasino entertainment complex in Johannesberg early Sunday (May 24) morning.

Kossatz, who had garnered the most Internet votes of 48 finalists selected from each of the IPL games held at various South African venues, was ecstatic at the opportunity to do screen tests for a movie with Shah Rukh Khan as part of her prize package.

This on-off component of the prize was finally revealed at the event after it was announced at the start of the series, and then changed midway through the contest to "a guided tour through Bollywood", because organisers said guaranteeing a role with Shah Rukh Khan would be difficult.

Johannesburg Business Marketing graduate Genna Cloud, 24, who got the second greatest number of votes, was also named First Princess by the panel of judges and Dunay Nortje was crowned Second Princess.

Confessing that she had not seen any Bollywood movies yet, Kossatz said she was going to start doing so immediately. She also promised to start learning Hindi.

Commenting on the fact that all three winners were white South Africans who beat several Indian contestants, Kossatz said it showed the true nature of the rainbow nation that the country was: "I think it's great! I think we should all stick together and love another and be respectful and tolerant of each other and their cultures."

Kossatz received a specially made crown from Gitanjali Jewellers containing gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones from former Miss Universe Michelle McLean of South Africa.

Earlier, Mclean got out of her seat in the small overhead booth to dance to the music of Caribbean music legend Eddy Grant. She even got IPL supremo Lalit Modi to join in. They were two of the judges on the one side of the theatre, while opposite them; Shilpa Shetty joined a more staid group.

For Modi, there was extra cause for celebration to add to the huge success of the IPL that culminates with the final later on Sunday at the Wanderers in Johannesberg. The compere announced that Modi had just become a grandfather for the first time just an hour before the show started late on Saturday night.

The scene outside Montecasino as leading lights from the sports, business and arts field from India and South Africa walked the red carpet was reminiscent of when a horde of stars descended on the venue a few years ago for the IIFA Awards there. But the excited crowd was left disappointed as the only star they got a glimpse of was Shilpa Shetty, who passed them fleetingly without even stopping for photographs scheduled by organisers for the media at a spot along the route.

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Deccan steal IPL show amid the glitz

The transplanted Indian Premier League finished in front of a capacity crowd with a blaze of fireworks and an array of international entertainers headed by Guyanan rock star Eddy Grant.

The Deccan Chargers took the title with a six-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final, but throughout the 37 days of the tournament in which 59 matches were played, the cricket shared top billing with the lights, music and cheerleaders that were part of the IPL package.

Arranged at short notice in South Africa following security concerns because of elections in India, the IPL captured the imagination of South African sports followers.

The opening weekend in Cape Town, with two double-headers on successive days, was sold out. So were the semi-finals, in Centurion and Johannesburg, and the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

In between, near-capacity crowds attended many of the games, attracted by low prices, the glitz and glamour of the tournament, and the chance to see most of the world's best players in action.

The unpredictable nature of Twenty20 cricket was shown when Bangalore and Deccan, who filled the last two places on the log in the first IPL in 2008, reached the final.

Even on 2009 form that was a surprise, because they beat the two teams that dominated the round robin stage, the Chennai Super Kings and log-topping Delhi Daredevils respectively.

Conditions were different in South Africa from those in India last year, with bowlers having a bigger say on late-season pitches that offered assistance to both seam and spin bowlers.

Even so, it remained a batsman's game.

Matthew Hayden, the powerful Australian left-hander who retired from international cricket in January, was Chennai's mainstay as he topped the tournament run-scorers list with 572 at an average of 52.00 and an impressive strike rate of 144.81 runs per 100 balls.

Another former Australian player, Deccan captain Adam Gilchrist, played the stand-out innings of the tournament when he slammed 85 off 35 balls in the semi-finals to get his team past Delhi.

Left-arm opening bowler RP Singh of Deccan Chargers was the leading wicket-taker with 23 at an average of 18.13, but many of the most effective bowlers were spinners, led by Bangalore captain Anil Kumble, who finished with 22 wickets, including four for 18 in the final.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was a consistent performer for Deccan and experienced international bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh were consistently economical.

While much of the focus was on established international stars, the tournament provided a platform for young Indian players such as Bangalore's Manish Pandey, 19, who became the first Indian to hit a century in two seasons of the IPL.

While Deccan leapt from last place in 2008 to the title in 2009, defending champions Rajasthan Royals failed to reach the semi-finals, with former Australian star Shane Warne unable to inspire his comparatively modestly-funded teams to another triumph.

Much of the early focus was on Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Preity Zinta, all co-owners of franchises, but none of their teams did particularly well.

Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders finished an embarrassing last, winning only three out of 14 matches and Khan returned to India early in the campaign.

Zinta's Kings XI Punjab were squeezed out of the semi-finals on run rate, while Shetty's Rajasthan were sixth.

In the end, the cricketers were able to claim centre stage.

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I am working hard to be in shape for Kiss Mix: Priyanka Kothari

A couple of years back when DARLING had released, Priyanka Kothari (then known as Nisha Kothari) had delivered a chartbuster item song in the form of 'Aa Khushi Se Khudkhushi Kar Le' [Darling] where she got naughty with Fardeen Khan. Though she hasn't been very active in the Bollywood circuit ever since the release of the film (barring an occasional GO which was a delayed release), she is all set to return with a bang with AGYAAT. The film features her a solo female lead and would also boast of a sizzling dance number which has been tantalisingly titled 'Kiss Mix'. "Yes, that's my song in AGYAAT", smiles Priyanka who has kept a brave face in spite of those harrowing days that she had to spend to recover from her injury, "Don't you like the sound of 'Kiss Mix'? I find it quite cute actually; it is just one of it's own kinds." When the shooting of AGYAAT had come to a standstill, only a few scenes involving Priyanka were waiting to be shot. The earlier plans were to have only song to be picturised but later 'Kiss Mix' was added as an after thought. "This is one song which has excited me so much after a very long time. And before you call it as an item or a promotional number, let me clear this at the very onset that 'Kiss Mix' would be very much a part of the film", says Priyanka. Priyanka adds in an excited tone, "I am hooked to the sound of the song and have really become possessive about it. Moreover, since the number is about a kiss, something which is a universal phenomenon, I am doubly excited." Quick to find herself back on feet after an accident during the shoot of Ram Gopal Varma's AGYAAT kept her bedridden for a few weeks, Priyanka Kothari is raring to go. She says, "I am working hard to be completely in shape before the shooting begins for 'Kiss Mix'. I am concentrating on my diet, exercises as well as costumes." Produced by Ram Gopal Varma and Ronnie Screwvala, AGYAAT has music by Bapi and Tutul. Other than Priyanka Kothari, the film also stars Nitin Reddy along with Ramu regulars like Ravi Kale and Ishrat Ali. Others in the cast are Harvey Rosem

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I goofed up by exposing so early in films: Payal Rohatgi

Actress Payal Rohatgi has no issues with exposing in front of the camera, but admits that early on in her career she might have shed her inhibitions for the wrong sort of films as she didn't know how "these projects would depict" her. "Today many successful actresses are seen on magazine covers and are participating in bold photo shoots. Even in movies, it's a no-holds-barred approach for so many of them, " said Rohatgi. "However, what really works for them is the fact that they are doing so in films where their male co-stars are pretty established, " Rohatgi adds. The actress has made a concerted attempt during the last three years to choose her roles with care. Rohatgi, who has also studied computer engineering, has since 2006 only been seen in relatively big budget films like Abbas-Mustan's "36 China Town", Madhur Bhandarkar's "Corporate", Priyadarshan's "Dhol" and Irrfan Khan starrer "Dil Kabaddi". However, the repertoire of films from her past includes "Tauba Tauba", "Laila - A Mystery", "Chetna - The Excitement", "Mazaa Mazaa", "Mr. 100% - The Real Player", "Men Not Allowed" and "Ek Se Mera Kya Hoga". She admits she made a mistake in her selection of roles early in her career: "My biggest goof up was to expose in women oriented films. This turned out to be a huge drawback for me as I didn't know the nuances of filmmaking at that time. I didn't know how these projects would depict me and how would they be eventually marketed." "Look at Yash Raj productions. In their films too you find skin show on a regular basis. However, what works in their favour is the fact that these scenes are aesthetically done and they know how to market their films and project their heroines, " she said. She is not against skin show but says an actor should be comfortable with it. "Come on, let's be realistic. At the end of the day every actress wants to be hot. Everyone dies to have a great body, be fit and look glamorous, " she said. Any regrets over the years gone by? "Not at all! I don't regret my initial years as these were my learning steps. For a middle class girl who didn't come from a metro, I have done well and managed to establish myself to a good extent. I have realised over a period of time that my earlier decisions were not good and I don't think there is a big deal in admitting that." "It requires a lot of guts to figure out what was going wrong in your life and find a way to fix it, " she said.

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Shakira was right. Hips don't lie: Nandana Sen

During the shooting of Tips Films Prince with Viveik Oberoi Nandana Sen sustained a serious hip injury. Now in deep pain the Rang Rasiya actress might have to cancel film shooting in New York for urgent hip surgery. Nandana injured her hip during a fight sequence. “These things happen during a film. Can’t be avoided. My joint has sustained a major labrium tear. Only surgery can rectify it, and the soonest possible.” Nandana got temporary surgery done so that her schooting doesn’t get disrupted. “It was a bit complicated and very painful. Steroid was administered directly into the injury track by scanning machines. It should work for two weeks.” Although her worried family has advised her against it, Nandana hopes to complete Prince in these two weeks before going for permanent surgery. “I don’t want the shooting to suffer. But I’m suffering. Shakira was right. Hips don’t lie.”

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Neither our bodies were touching, nor are we kissing: Neetu Chandra

After facing the wrath of political affiliates while doing a bold and scandalous bikini photo shoot for a men’s magazine, actress Neetu Chandra has now developed cold feet. Recently, while the actress was shooting for The Man magazine at a 3-star hotel with model Krishikka Gupta, a group of regular male customers started shouting “Jai Maharashtra’ slogans and threatened action from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashrtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). They even tried to confiscate the camera, resulting in the shoot having to be abruptly called off. After talking about the incident, the actress has suddenly developed cold feet. In an attempt to backtrack and do a volte-face, Neetu has now stated on her Facebook account, “nothing like that ever happened”. Earlier, Neetu was quoted by Mid-Day, saying, “The hotel management didn’t tell us to leave because of complaints from other guests but it was a mob of over 80 people that disrupted the shoot… They were being a nuisance and that’s why we halted the shoot.” In The Asian Age today, she has given contradictory quotes feigning ignorance. “I didn’t know anything about this controversy… It was shocking… Neither our bodies were touching, nor are we kissing… I am a Bihari and this can cause a lot of trouble.” But publicist Dale Bhagwagar who broke the news, has stuck to the report. “It’s strange that Neetu is trying to take the media for a ride now, denying the whole incident. A lot of people were witness to it. Above all, I have Neetu on record talking much more about the incident and indecent attitude of the group that created the ruckus and brought the shoot to a halt, ” said the publicist. In Neetu’s words (recorded) to the publicist, she has stated, that “the shoot was about how men find sensual female bodies very attractive. It was aesthetically done but the public did not let the shoot happen and we had to cancel it. The members of this group were chauvinist attention seekers. We are part of a hypocrite society and these were frustrated old men. When females are around in bikini and swimwear, they (such men) always want attention… ke humein bhi dekho. But who wants to see them?”

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We kissed like real-life couples - Says Hrithik

Hrithik Roshan’s much awaited ‘Kites’ was unveiled at Cannes 2009. The film has Barbara Mori and Kangana Ranaut as his co-stars. The film has a much talked about lip lock between Hrithik and Barabara. Hrithik says that he was comfortable doing the scene and they did kiss each other in the scene like real lovers.

Hrithik says, “Why are we even talking about kissing? Is that such a big deal? Hasn’t our cinema grown up? Yes, there’re kissing scenes in the film, but nothing to make me squirm. In fact, I’d be more than happy and completely comfortable watching those kissing scenes with my wife, son and parents when the film is released.”

” ‘Kites’ is a love story. It’s about people in love. And what do people in love do to express their mutual feelings? In fact, it was Barbara Mori who made me realise how silly we look on screen while shying away from expressing love naturally.”

“We were both supposed to jump off from a rooftop at an impossible height. Before we did so our director Anurag Basu suggested I kiss Barbara since we were doing something death-defying and dangerous and potentially lethal. I reached out and kissed her on the cheeks.”

“Barbara turned around to ask why I had kissed her on the cheek. ‘Given the same situation with your real-life wife, Suzanne, would you kiss her on the cheek?’ I was floored by her logic.”

“And this time I kissed her the way real-life couples would in the situation. On the lips.”

Have a look as Hrithik, along with Papa Roshan and Barbara, arrives for the screening of ‘Bright Star’ during the 62nd International film festival in Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 15,

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Freida Pinto chosen to be the face of L’oreal

She may not be the prettiest actress, she may not have won the best actress award or may be the best newcomer award, but she definitely has something better than the rest of the bandwagon- she has the best piece of luck.

Talking about Freida Pinto, she is just one film old, but she has definitely made her presence felt in the world of glamour, be it on the national front or in the map of the world.

The reputed cosmetic brand, ‘L’oreal’ has chosen Freida to be the face of the cosmetic group L’Oreal Paris. With this she becomes the third Indian actress to be the face of the brand after Aishwarya Rai and Sonam Kapoor.

At present the actress is gearing up for her forthcoming project with Woody Allen, the shooting for which will begin in July this year. The film has top names like Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderes and Nicole Kidman.

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