Kim Cattrall - ROLE CALL

Kim Cattrall to

play Cleopatra

          Her turn as a man-eating New Yorker in Sex And The City won her many fans, and now, actress Kim Cattrall is all set to play the original femme-fatale, Cleopatra, on stage.

           The actress is set to play the Egyptian queen in a production of Shakespeare's tragedy Antony And Cleopatra in Liverpool, the city of her birth.

            Cattrall, who won rave reviews for her performance in Richard Eyre's Private Lives, has been in talks for two years with a theatre to explore the Egyptian enchantress and has now agreed to do the play in the autumn for a limited run.

            It will be a stunning coup of Cattrall, 53, can triumph as the Queen of the Nile, the ruler for whom Mark. Antony gave up everything, including two wives and his friendship with Caesar. Decadent life on the Nile is sure to become the actress, who played the seductive cougar Samantha Jones in Sex and The City on television and in two movies, the second of Which, Sex And the City 2, comes out this summer.

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Ashiey Tisdale - YET AGAIN

Role

      reprisal!

          Ashley Tisdale is all set to reprise her High School Musical character for a movie spin-off.

           The 24-year-old has played snooty Sharpay Evans in the film Frnchise's first three outings, which made stars out of Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. The fourth installment is set to feature an all-new cast, but Tisdale will play the teenager again in the movie. 

 

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Cameron Diaz - ON A ROLL

Diaz is a generous woman

     Cameron Diaz reportedly treated her stunt double to a holiday after wrapping the shooting for Knight and Day, The actress, who stars in the upcoming movie with Tom Cruise, paid for the onset action woman to holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, as a way of saying thank you for all her hard work. A source said, "There were a lot of serious stunts in the movie, The double got pretty banged up.Cameron sent her away to heal her bruises in peace," In the film, tom plays secret agent Milner who goes on a blind date with Cameron's character June Havens and the pair end up having to protect a powerful battery that can produce infinite power. The action comedy marks the first time the Hollywood pair have starred together since 2001's Vanilla Sky.

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Sayali Bhagat and Shoaib Malik - TALL CLAIMS

Sayali 'times it right

   Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has enough controversy on his plate and hardly needs some Sayali Bhagat to use his name to get mileage. But Sahali has timed it right. When news broke that Shoaib would marry tennis whiz Sania Mirza, Sayali was "ready" (read;keen) to break her silence about her "acquaintance" and rumoured ex-boyfriend. And what does she say! That she didn't know him well and it was all part of their marketing strategy (Yeah, the two were supposed to do a film together). She even said she wouldn't marry Shoaib. We are sure Shoaib doesn't temember asking either.

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Bipasha Basu - FIT-IN-FINE

Buck up guys!

   Bipasha Basu's toned muscles are enough to give even out heroes a huge complex. The actress recently said that in Bollywood. The heroines managed to get in shape much before the actors. She admits that there is a lot of pressure on actors to look good, but she also feels that it has done everyone a lot of good.

        

        The actress, who plans to release two more fitness videos, says that actors still have a long way to go when it comes to being fit. Buck up guys, or this Bong babe's gonna race ahead.

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Ajith and Dhayanidhi alagiri - THE BIG 5

ON THE 

FAST TRACK

 Well, here's the latest on actor Ajith's 50th film. Sources close to the film's unit say that the subject for the film has been finalised and that shooting for the movie is expected to commence sometime in July, after Ajith's return from his F2 schedule. the film, which many claim will give a huge impetus to Ajith's career, is expected to be released in two languages and will have music by A R Rahman. The movie has already raised huge expectations as it is being directed by Gautham Menon and produced by the powerful duo of Vivek Rathinvavvel and Dhayanidhi Alagiri, who have already delivered two hits with Vaaranam Aayiram and Tamizh Padam and are well on their way to delivering a third hit with Paiyaa. Sources also reveal that the producers, who are determined to continue their winning streak, have chosen Vetrimaran's script as their next project after Ajith's 50th film.

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Shilpa Shetty - OPEN TALK

Hail the spirit

             Actress Shilpa Shetty is bonding big time with her team boys and the Mr Romeo girl even says they are all one big family. So, we asked her that with so many Bollywood celebs involved in IPL, does winning or losing become a prestige issue? "At least for me, this has never been the case, " she says, "It's just that such things are great for the media to talk about. Speaking of myself, I can say that whenever my team is playing against any team, I want mine to win. And honestly speaking, as long as people enjoy the game, we don't mind being pitted against each other."

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Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor - DATE GAME

Shahid equation

     The talk going in B-town is that it started with an innocent audition. Sharaddha Kapoor, daughter of screen baddie Shakti Kapoor, apparently. went to the audition of Pankaj Kapur's Mausam. And now it is being insinuated that though she didn't get the film (Sonam Kapoor has been signed for it). the leading man of Mausam has taken a keen interest in the newbie. Sharaddha was first seen in Teen Patti...and there were rumours earlier linking her to Prateik. However, her mother Shivangi categorically denied these rumours. Now, we hear that Shahid is coaching Sharaddha. And these two are also good friends. A round of denials will follow. But, for the moment, the industry is abuzz with talk of this new found friendship.

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Zac Efron - A REAL PREY ?

Perfect boyfriend!

Actress Courteney Cox believes that actor Zac Efron would be a perfect boyfriend for an older lady.

       Cox, who is currently seen in the US drama Cougar Town, thinks the High School Musical star is prime target for other "cougars" , despite thinking he is too confident to be seduced.

        "My husband is seven years younger than me, so I must be a cougar. Older women have more experience, " a website quoted her as saying, "Zac Efron would be perfect, but he probably has too much confidence to be feal prey for a cougar. You know you're attracted to your son's friends, " she added.

          The 45-year-old, who shot to fame with the hit sitcom Friends, also admitted she is struggling to cope with getting older and constantly worries about her flaws.

         "I don't think ageing is great; I'm not having a ball with it. I'[m a pretty self critical person, " she said. "I've been that way my whole life, I come from a vain family; so this is bound to happen. I'm running that race pretty hard, " she added. 

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Priyanka Chopra - BUSY GIRL

Priyanka's on overdrive

...and driving herself to exhaustion again

Priyanks Chopra and Katrina Kaif may not have much in common except super success. But both are prone to suffer from exhaustion due to over-work. And both actresses have been advised to take it easy by doctors. Unfortunately for them, their schedules are not listening to their physiology.

         Last year, Priyanka had a series of exhaustion-related health problems including a scary blackout during the shooting of What's Your Raashee? that resulted in hospitalisation. Having resolved to take it easy in 2010, Priyanka has gone back to her impossible schedules.

       After a gruelling schedule in Kashmir for Vishal Bharadwaj's Saat Khoon Maaf, the actress had to rush to Mumbai for an added seven-day schedule of Sajid Nadiadwala's Anjaana Anjaani involving Ranbir Kapoor. This stint comes out of the blue and involves hospital scenes that couldn't be shot in the US because of lack of permission to shoot in restricted public areas. From here, it's back to Vishal's coutdoor for Priyanka, in Coorg this time.

        Priyanks admitted, "It's been hectic. I must say Saat Khoon Maaf is a very exhausting film. I guess every film I do is gruelling in its own way. Otherwise I wouldn't be doing it."

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IPL CRICKET 2010 - Delhi Dredevils Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

IPL CRICKET 2010

Delhi Daredevils Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Collingwood sets up DD win

New Delhi:From the very beginning Delhi Daredevils skipper Gautam Gambhir has been lucky with the toss and Sunday was not exception. He won the toss for the sixth time in a row and opted to bat against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Ferozeshah Kotla here. His team gathered miximum purchase from the fresh Kotla track by scoring 184 for 5.

                 That was enough to restrict Royal Challengers, who could only manage 147 to hand the Daredevils a 37-run win. Leggie Amit Mishra (3-32) and medium trick as Royal Challengers struggled to increase the momentum.

         Earlier, it was a tough call whether to bat first against the Challengers, who have won four out of five chasing, Still Gambhir trusted the reputation of the Kotla pitch, where chasing is really difficult. For the hosts. it was Paul Collingwood who held the Delhi innings together. He came into bat when match was evenly poised and Delhi were 83 for 3 in the 10th over.

        Therefore, he did everything right. Starting from smashing seven sixes to taking smart singles, his approach towards the game was impeccable.Collingwood scored most of his runs through the on-side. In the 12th and 19th overs of the Delhi innings, he scored 19 runs each off Cameroon While and Abhimanyu Mithun. The striking feature was the way he paced his innings and never looked in a hurry to score his runs.

       The Delhi openers-Wirender Sehwag (35 off22 balls) and David Warner (33 off 22 balls) were off to a finestart. Sehwag, in particular, looked in good touch and treated Challengers captain Anil Kumble, who started the proceedings with the new ball, with disdain in the third over of the match. He struck five fours and two sixes and shared an opening stand of 41 runs with Warner. 

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IPL CRICKET 2010 - Kolkat Knight Riders Vs Kings XI Punjab

IPL CRICKET 2010

Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Kings XI Punjab

LANKAN KINGS RULE EDEN

Jayawardene, Sangakkara Show The Way

As Preity's Boys Return To Winning Says

Kolkata:Lankan duo of Mahela Jayawardne (110 off 59 balls ) and Kumar Sangakkara came good just in time to pull off an incredible eight-wicket victory and earn a sweet revenge against the Kolkata Knight Riders who beat them at their den in Mohali during their last meeting.

           Although the win did not lift the Punjab outfit in the points table, but it dented a huge blow to the KKR's semifinal hopes. KKR coach Dav Whatmore's fears ultimately came true as the Kings' men proved to be a party spoiler against them at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. 

          Very few must have expected this result after Chris Gayle's hurricane 42-ball 88 runs innings saw KKR reach the highest IPL total at the Eden Gardins and became the first team to score 200 runs at the venue after skipper Sourav Ganguly elected to bat.

        But the 98-run second wicket partnership between Jayawardne, who came in place of injured Shaun Marsh, and Sangakkara took the match away from the Knights.

        KXIP's second victory in this IPL came as welcome relief for a team pegged by reports of internal rift and low on morale after successive defeats. KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan must be a dejected man as he rushed back from Sepang after Formula One only to see his players being sent on a leather hunt as captain Ganguly tried out seven bowlers to stop the onslaught but in vain.

        It was a sublime batting display by the Lankans who paced their partnership so well on a slow wicket where stroke making was not that easy. Instead of going for the aerial route, the two started playing in the gaps and put the pressure on the Knights by taking quick singles. And in between they hit the boundaries to keep the required run tare always under control.

        It was a T20 baptism by fire for Saurashtra under-19 player Jaydev Unadkat who gave away 32 runs in his 2.2 overs. Although skipper Sangakkara perished late in the chase for 38, Yuvraj Singh came good hitting 16-ball 33 runs as Man-of-the-Match Jayawardene remained unbeaten on 110 (59b, 4x14, 3x6) to seal the issue.

        Earlier Gayle, who had not really fired in this IPL so far, Lived up to the faith being imposed on him by the team amnagement who preferred him ahead of New Zealand's Brendon Mc Cullum.

      The West Indies opener began quietly, playing second fiddle to in-form Ganguly after the skipper won the toss and elected to bat.

       Ganguly once again gave the side a good start and looked good for another big one after his 88-run innings in the last match against the Deccan Charters. But his soft dismissal, being caught and bowled by Ravi Bopara for 36, suddenly saw KXIP's Ravi Bopara and Ramesh Powar put the screw on the runflow.

         It was then that the big West Indian decided to rise from his slumber. He hit Bopara for four consecutive sixes in the 13th over of the innings which yielded 33 runs, the highest so far in this IPL and virtually took over the reins of the match.

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Victoria Beckham - ALL FOR FAMILY

Fat Posh!

Victoria Beckham is on a waistline expanding diet in a bid to get pregnant. The former Spice Girl -- who already has three sons, Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, seven, and five-year-old Cruz, with her soccer superstar husband David--wants to add a daughter to her family and has taken up a new eating plan loaded with carbohydrates to achieve her dream.

           The 35-year-old star -- who is known to predominantly eat fresh fruit and vegetables and steamed fish to maintain her slender figure -- has been munching on pasta dishes, brown bread, rice and meals which include potatoes.

         A source said, "IT's no secret Victoria and David want  a little girl. She's been told by docs that her diet, though healthy, would not give her the best chance of conceiving, particularly in her 30s.

         "Instead, she has been advised to eat a lot more carbs and fattenup. She has agreed and David is over the moon."

           Although Victoria has agreed to overhaul her diet to conceive agtain, she won't be gorging on any foods which are too calorie laden.

        The source added, "She draws the line at junk food." In February, it was reported Victoria had become broody for a baby girl after her younger sister Louise announced she was expecting her fourth child.

          A source close to the family had said at the time, "Louise has just told every one she is expecting and Vic has immediately become broody. She and David have always wanted a girl. He's love more Kids."

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A Still From - Tamizh Padam

Tamil Film: Tamizh Padam

           Kollywood is aghast and it has reason to be The first quarterly (Jan 1 to March 31) report card for the year 2010 of Tamil films presents a dismal picture. Of the 31 films, involving an investment of around Rs 200 crore,l that release during the quarter, only two will make profits while just one will manage to break even. the industry is estimated to lose around Rs 75 crore.

       Says a leading producer. "It is a report card that will set the alarm bells ringing. Many small producers have stopped film production as it is no longer a viable option. Nearly 40 films both small and medium are lying unsold as no distributors have come forward to distribute them."

        Says market analyst and distributor T Ramakrishnan, "The basic reason for the failure of these films is that their content was poor. Also, the cost of production has gone through the roof, thanks to artistes'[ salaries and marketing costs. A year ago, films like Subramaniapuram were made on a budget of Rs two-and-a-half to Rs three crore. To day, a similar film would require at least Rs five crore."

          Till last year , the concept of 'small is beautiful' worked big time. However, this year, there has been a plethora of  'formula small films' which the makers claim are based on real-life incidents that happened in Madurai or Chennai However, such films, including Pugaipadam, Porkalam, Yaathumagi, Maathi Yosi and Aval Peyar Tamilarasi, have failed to create an impact at the box-office.

        The biggest hit of the year so far is TamizhPadam, a spoof on Tamil films. As per trade sources, the film, made on a budget of Rs three-and-a-half crore. Will end up doing business to the tune of Rs 10 crore and can be classified as a blockbuster.

        Says CS Amudhan, the film's director, "Tamizh Padam worked big time because the audiences were comparatively new to the spoof genre and they had a hearty laugh. It does not mean the film will start a trend, but it will bring some change in the formula used to make Tamil mass movies."

          Take the case of Gautham Vasudev Menon's Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (VTV). It became a superhit because there was comething different in the romantic tale and the music sorked. Says Gautham Menon, "I believe that content is king, and if marketing is good, people will come to watch the movies irrespective of other factors."

         VTV is said to have cost around Rs 12 crore and is likely to do business worth Rs 20 crore from theatricals, television rights and probably a Hindi remake as well.

          Selvaraghavan's Aayirathil Oruvan also is said to be a hit, because of its fantastic opening. An abridged version of the film in Telugu helped producer R Raveendran to rake in the profits. The film, made on a budger of Rs 22 crore, is said to have done business worth Rs25 crore, thanks to its Tamil and Telugu-dubbed versions.

        The message emerging from the first quarter report is that audiences are looking for a change, something different from the usual formula movies. Also, a film has to open big if it has to survive which means more screens and hype.

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