Aishwarya Rai does a Beyonce

Shoots a retro track in a dress that's quite similar to one the pop diva wore in one of her videos.
PS: She even mastered a few of the ace performer's moves

Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai got groovy to the tunes of Zor Ka Jhatka in Vipul Shah's Action Replayy.

Retro track

The song will have Ash dress up like Beyonce wearing a hot dress and also move and shake to a hip hop tune. The song that goes on air today will have the actors going retro.

Ash gets conscious

A source reveals that during the shoot of the song Ash refused to let photographers take full-length pictures of her in the short dress.

"She's wearing a golden-coloured short dress with sequins on it. The look is very similar to an ensemble Beyonce wore for her music video Upgrade U. However, she didn't let any one on the set take any full-length pictures of her. She said it was too short and it made her feel self-conscious."

To look like Beyonce, Ash even watched a few of the pop singer's videos and mastered her moves.

Shabana Azmi's cake = Poverty porn?

At least a writer for leading UK newspaper, The Guardian, seems to think so!

Here's an interesting take on Shabana Azmi's 60th birthday party held last Saturday and her bizarre birthday cake (in the shape of a Mumbai slum) by The Guardian's writer Parvez Sharma.

The piece called 'Is a slumdog birthday cake not the real poverty porn?' is a scathing denouement on the hypocritical attitude taken by some B-Townies.

Here are some excerpts:

"India's Bollywood elite turned out in force for a 60th birthday bash. The birthday girl in question, Shabana Azmi, is almost as old as independent India, having been born just three years after the British Raj ended.

A friend disgusted by this cake sent me a picture. I was appalled and needed to write about it. The half-eaten cake is a baked replica of what a slum looks like to India's large middle class and its rather small elite.

Open drain

A river seems to run through it in blue icing but a careful look reveals it is a nallah or a sewage-filled open drain -- the trademark of neighbourhoods where India's urban poor build their makeshift homes.

A clothes line full of washing can also be seen among the remains of the cake.

As I look at the picture of Shabana Azmi's birthday cake, I wonder about her husband's sense of humour. I wonder if the irony was lost on most of the Bollywood elite, who dutifully showed up and no doubt ate big chunks from the makeshift huts and open sewage drains.

I wonder, if they are aware of India's latest poverty statistics. I am sure the cake, like the rest of the food on offer, was delicious.

Some of these very same elites had been up in arms against what many activists called the 'poverty porn' of Danny Boyle's film, Slumdog Millionaire.

Tasteless?

The question is: Is eating Shabana Azmi's slumdog cake while dancing to Bollywood music at a rather posh and expensive party not a tasteless representation of 'poverty porn' yet again?"

Deepika and Katrina for Ranbir? Dad Rishi to decide

Rishi Kapoor to co-produce son Ranbir's world concerts

Ranbir Kapoor's first world concert tour, which kick-starts in June 2011 and goes on till the the third week of July covering 16 cities in Europe, the US and Canada, would have Rishi Kapoor co-producing the world event along with the Moranis.

This is the first time that Rishi Kapoor is actively involved with producing live concerts.

Rationalises Rishi, "And why not? This is the first time that my son will be stepping on to a live stage. I want to make sure everything goes right. So yes I'm producing and presenting the live concerts. With my experience in live concerts I know I can be useful. I don't want anything to go wrong for my son."

It is being reliably learnt that Rishi will for the first time share a public platform with his son. Yes, Ranbir will be seen dancing with his super-dancer father for the first time.

Rishi tries to dodge giving a categorical answer to that one. "There's talk on this. We're thinking of a retro section. We're exploring the possibility of Ranbir and I coming together. But right now I can't tell you more on this."

Deepika and Kat?

Rishi is also evasive on the rumours that Deepika Padukone has not yet been signed for the shows, apparently because there would be friction between Deepika and Katrina when they're together for so many weeks.

Says Rishi, "All I can tell you is that we have Katrina, Priyanka and Shahid Kapoor are on board. Deepika is likely to be on board. She hasn't been signed yet. No Bollywood concerts have happened abroad in the last three years. Audiences abroad were bored of watching our stars perform the same songs over and over again.

My boy has waited patiently for three years until he thought he was ready to face a live audience. He has turned down all offers to perform at awards functions. And that's his show's USP. When actors perform at awards functions, these are beamed to dozens of countries across the world. Therefore there is no novelty left in watching a star dance on stage. My son has never been seen live."

Pak connection

A singer from Pakistan is also being finalised. While the first lap of Ranbir's world tour will take him to Europe, America and Canada, the second lap, expected to begin in 2011 will take Ranbir to the Gulf and South Africa.

Priyanka dancing on the street for Ranbir

Desi Girl Priyanka Chopra shows off her moves as she joins the RK Studios' visarjan crowds and her Anjaana Anjaani co-star, Ranbir

Priyanka Chopra spent the day in Chembur dancing her way through the streets as the Kapoors (Ranbir included) bid farewell to their Ganpati Bappa.

As the procession made their way to the immersion site, they created quite a commotion with teeming crowds following Rajiv and Ranbir who played drummer boys to the hilt even as PC jhatka-matkaoed her way into public memory.

It was clearly visible to all present that the actress was enjoying the experience, the company and the attention.

Kareena Kapoor's father Randhir was also part of the procession. Actor Jackie Shroff was also spotted.

Kamaal Karte Ho Yaar... Salman is back on Twitter

After his comments on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks caused an uproar, Salman Khan stated that he was going off Twitter.

But he has done a rethink. Sallu posted on the micro-blogging site, "Kamaal karte ho yaar!

Thank you for wanting me to come back and sorry to leave but do understand that I tweet anything and friends and family panic."

And later he posted a sketch and wrote, "Sonakshi ji yeh Chullll Bulllll Pandey bana rahi hai."

This was followed by some national integration: "Hindu Muslim Sikh Isahi sab hai bhai bhai. Na ladna na jhagadna bus ek doosare se pyaar karna. Hum sab saath saath hai." Sallu is back and raring to go yet again.

Retard Mat Kaho Na: Salman and Katrina join Akki

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has raised voice against a very sensitive issue, which is often ignored by all of us. The actor, who is Brand Ambassador of the Special Olympics, has started campaigning against the use of the word 'retard' for the mentally challenged people.

The 43 year old actor is not the only one in this campaign as he is getting support from the big names of Bollywood in this noble step.

Now days, the micro-blogging site Twitter has become the most popular place to raise any issue and Akshay has also utilized this platform to speak for this noble cause. He posted informing that he is overwhelmed by the support he is getting from the industry people in this campaign to ban the use of word 'retard'.

Akshay feels that these mentally and physically challenged people should get the same kind of recognition like the other people get and they should be given a chance to blossom in their abilities.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has come out in support of Kumar and posted on his blog that Akshay wanted him to do a small TV bite stating how people should not refer to the disabled children with the term 'retarded'.

They should be rather handled with proper care and understanding and they should be supported to stand on their own feet, Mr Bachchan added saying that he felt good.

Apart from Big B, other Bollywood celebrities like Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Farah Khan also came out in support of this appreciative step taken by Akshay Kumar.

An overwhelmed Akshay tweeted that it feels great to get such a support from your own fraternity. He added that Mr Bachchan, Katrina, Salman and Farah have promised on camera to support and show respect to the fellow citizens with special requirements.

Hrithik in London for his Madame Tussauds statue

Superstar Hrithik Roshan is the latest entry from Bollywood to Madame Tussauds statue and now the actor has left for London with his wife to give his measurements to the gallery people, who wil stark work on his statue immediately. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, superstar Shah Rukh Khan and 'Bachchan bahu' Aishwarya Rai Bachchan are the Bollywood stars, who have already made their place at Madame Tussauds. Now, Hrithik will join these big names of Bollywood. There is a report that Hrithik has left for London with his wife Sussanne Khan and his stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania for being measured for his statue. A source close to the Roshan family has confirmed the news that the actor is in London now. In fact, Hrithik has shared this on the microblogging site Twitter. He posted the tweet on his way to the Tussauds, where he was accompanied by Sussanne and his stylist, whom he addressed as his bosses. Roshans are eagerly waiting for Hrithik's wax statue for being unveiled. Sussanne is also very excited that her hubby is getting a place near those big name is Madame Tussauds waxworld. Apart from the Roshan family, all the fans of Hrithik are also eagerly waiting to see his wax statue.

Aishwarya is my jaan: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is back with "Guzaarish". And he has once again teamed up with Aishwarya Rai in the film and says she is his muse. He also describes her as a timeless actress of Bollywood.

"Aishwarya is my muse, my jaan and I get terribly excited when I make a film with her because she is very, very special.

Some people are timeless and Aishwarya will be there for another 20 years, " Bhansali told reporters Thursday at Cinemax, where the first look of "Guzaarish" was unveiled.

This is Bhansali's third film with Aishwarya after "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999) and "Devdas" (2002).

Aishwarya said: "This was a very special film for us. We are glad to share this special piece of work with you before we reveal it to the rest of the world."

The director was also all praise for his male lead Hrithik Roshan.

"I have never enjoyed working with any other actor as much as I have enjoyed working with Hrithik, just for the kind of talent he has, for the kind of person he is, " said Bhansali.


In the film Hrithik Roshan will be seen as a magician, while Aishwarya Rai plays a nurse who is estranged from her husband. The film will reportedly touch the issue of controversial mercy killings.

Bhansali has even composed music for the film as he couldn't rely upon anyone to get the right effect. There are eight songs in the film and 12 songs in the album.

"The reason behind doing music of the film is that I think I understand the characters and understand most what they would express musically than any other music director.

Some deep thoughts are my concern, so whatever little music I knew, it was a sort of experiment. But I am happy with what I have done, " said Bhansali.

Jointly produced by UTV Blink and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film would hit the theatres Nov 19.

Sneak Peek: Take stock of Malaika Arora Khan's assets

Malaika Arora Khan put on quite the 'show' at a recent Munni bash held in her honour. We took a peek...

If Malaika Arora Khan aka Munni doesn't want to get badnaam over a few moments of indiscretion, she might do well to note whom she poses for at parties.

Partying hard

At one of the recent parties held to celebrate her production, Dabangg's success along with the popularity of her character and item song (and now, calling card) Munni Badnam Hui, the actress really let her hair down and partied hard.

Quite literally, she went to town showing off the assets that have made Munni as delectable.

Our sources at this recent party reveal that Malla (as she is fondly called by friends) was in a celebratory mood and was spotted posing for pictures with all and sundry.

Apparently, Dabangg lead pair Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha were also present at the party