AF Data Digital Pvt. Ltd.,: Jul 2, 2010

MATURITY MATTERS: Neetu Chandra

Friday, July 2, 2010

Pallbearer to
daddy dearest

When Neetu Chandra's father succumbed to cancer last year, she was told that a daughter wasn't supposed to go to the crematorium. But she refused to listen. "I thought that if I could shoulder his responsibility. I had every right to be part of his last rites. That's why I insisted on being a pallbearer, Later, when I searched the reasons for barring women from being part of this ritual, I found that it was devised because women are supposedly chicken-hearted. Idon't buy the logic and hence, revolted," she said.
Her father's death matured Neetu by at least 20 years, "If all of us are supposed to die one day. what's the use of having any ego? That's precisely the reason why I took to producing a Bhojpuri film.Making money is fine but at least, I'm involved in something that'll revamp the image of the industry in the eyes of the nation."
The philosophical Neetu also seemed pretty sorted out in terms of understanding her place in Bollywood. "Stars are made while actors are born. Tehn, there are some who become actors because they are fortunate enough to get multiple opportunities," So, what about Freida Pinto - is she a star or an actor? "Freida Pinto - is she a star or an actor? "Freida is yet to prove herself. We can take a call on that once her Woody Allen film releases. Her stars are favouring her and as an Indian, I'm proud of her. Despite my talent. I've not been offered a Woody Allen film. Freida, in contrast, is already a star made by a director and her stars."

GOING PLACES: Resul Pookutty

Bigger than the Oscar

....that's how Resul Pllkutty describes his latest achievement
   It's yet another feather in Resul Pookutty's cap. For, the Oscar winning sound engineer has been recently bestowed with an international honour. Resul is now among 135 artistes and executives who have been invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to join as a voting member. Needless to say, the technician is super happy.
      "I'm exhilarated," says he, "It was in the coming for quite a while but the actual announcement of the list was certainly great news for me."
   Post the honours that came with Slumdog..., what does this announcement mean for him, personally? "This is bigger than the Oscar," gushes the engineer, "Becoming a voting member means that I'll be part of the committee that decides which film wins and why. That's a huge recognition for Indian cinema."
       So, will he be part of a sequel to Slumdog Millionaire if ever there was one made? "Well, I'd be part of anything that Danny Boyle does," states resul, "In fact, I think I'd park myself outside his house and do a satyagraha so that he makes me part of all his forthcoming projects!"
   On the Kollywood front, the technician is part of the Rajini starreer Endhiran, considered one of the biggest projects in Indian cinema. "The film has a different soundscape," he says, "It's a futuristic concept and there's a lot to explore in terms of sound."
         Any final words? "Oscar was a dream for me. Now, the news that I'm a voting member is bigger than that dream," he signs off.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Mugdha Godse

Why's Mugdha
trying bhajiyas ?

       Mugdha Godse, whose career is on slow burn after director Rohit Shetty and Madhur Bhandarkar left her to fend for herself, is apparentlyin the monsoon mode.
Now, we hear that the actress, whose culinary skills were as limited as her acting skills; is suddenly in the mood to learn to fry hot bhajiyas.
        And that a few days ago, she rolled up her sleeves and got her maid to teach her the fine art of bhajiya-making. Of course, the only saving grace in this whole adventure for Mugdha is that, despite gorging on those bhajiyas, she still has a fine shape.
   One that can make Madhur or Rohit rediscover her at any point, if they choose to.

HOPING FOR THE BEST: Deepika Padukone

Short & sweet

Deepika Padukone, who has been bonding with her parents and her new best friend Shahana Goswami in Mauritius, is on a really short vacation. For, when she returns to Mumbai, the actress has to head for the publicity campaign of her Lafangey Parindey, where she teams up with Neil Nitin Mukesh. Both Neil and she are excited because this film is a love story with a difference, set in the gritty Mumabi streets.
Lafangey Parindey is scheduled for release on August 20 and is Deepika's third release for the year. Karthik Calling Karthik was a dud, and Deepika's hoping this one does the trick.

Megha in a still from Kadhal Solla Vanden

AN ALL NEW CAST!

       Director Bhoopathipandian seems to be in the mood to experiment. The director, who has made several successful movies including Malaikottai and Thiruvilayadal Arambam with established stars, is now making a film with new comers for the first time. Titled Kadhal Solla Vanden, the movie stars new comers Balaji and Meghna sundar in the lead.
A source close to the unit discloses, "Meghna is the daughter of yesteryear actors Sundar and Prabmila. While her dad had acted in the film Thapputhapangal, her mom had played an important role in the hit, Vaidehi Kathirunthal."
   If one is to go by the recent statements of the director, it seems he is pretty impressed with the work of his cast members.
   Says Bhoopathipandian, "The reason I opted for newcomers for this film is because this script demands fresh faces. I am absolutely delighted with the kind of cooperation I've been receiving from the whole cast, including Balaji and Meghna, both of whom have done a fine job." The director has also teamed up with Yuvan Shankar Raja for the first time for this film. Seems like this is one movie to look out for!

Ketaki Chitale and Pratyusha Banerjee

Who will replace
little Anandi?

After months of speculation, it's official now, Colors' Balika Vadhu will soon take a five year leap. The character of Anandi, popularised by Avika Gor, is expected to go through a complete makeover from a chirpy child bride to a poised young woman. So, who will play Anandi? The channel apparentlywanted a new actress and are shortlisting three faces. Pratyusha Banerjee, a chirpy girl from Jamshedpur, and Mumbai's Ketaki Chitale have already been shortlisted and the hunt is on for the third face. They are getting the viewers invloved in this now, asking people to make a choice. The leap in the story could happen as soon as in mid-july.

REMEMBERING MJ: Mariah Carey

Sofa so good

Mariah Carey seeks to snap up MJ's old couch at auction
When she's not pampering herself, diva singer Mariah Carey likes collecting old furniture, it seems. She wants to buy Michael Jackson's old sofa. The hitmaker has ordered her interior designer Kenneth Bordewick to place bids for a living room set owned by the late singer at the Michael Jackson Anniversary Day Auction.

The set - which was purchased to be used in the London mansion he was going to rent while undertaking his This Is It residency - is among a number of special items up for sale, including the glove worn by Michael on his 1984 'Victory Tour' and the last autograph he ever signed before his death of acute Propofol intoxication a year ago on June 25.
The auction has been opposed by Michael's brother Randy, who is adamant his superstar sibling didn't wnat it to go ahead. Writing on his microblogging site, Randy said, "My bro stopped this auction before...I will do my best with Julien Auction House but I canonly do so much. Ultimately, my mom has the power to stop this. not me. This frustrates me. I know my brother wouldn't want this,"

Health Issue: Now, bone regrown

Now, bone regrown
from fat, muscle cells

London: In what is being claimed as a major break through, scientists have regrown bone and cartilage from fat cells and muscle tissue taken from a patient and then implanting them at the site of the injury.
An interantional team, led by Harvard Medical School, has achieved the feat of converting muscle and fat cells into cartilage and then bone in rodents by using a special form of gene therapy. Tests in the rodents showed that the implanted muscle and fat rapidly caused a bridge to form between broken bones within days. The bones were found to have returned to full strength within eight weeks of the injury.
Scientists say the new technology could dramatically speed up the time ti takes to heal knee injureis, the Daily Telegraph reported. "Further development of these methods should provide ways to heal bone and carilage at lower, cost, than is presently possible,"Chris Evants, who led the team, said.

Health Issue: Contraceptive pill for men

Now, contraceptive
pill just for men

London: In what would allow men to share the responsibility of birth control, scientists claim to have developed the male alternative to famale contraceptive pill.
      Until now attempts at a "male pill" have failed and scientists have been working on a contraceptive hormone jab for men given by doctors. However, recipients in trials have complained of side effects like depression, ,loss of libido.
       Now, an Israeli team has created the pill by jamming the biochemical machinery of sperm - it works by removing vital protein in sperm that's required for a woman to conceive, the Daily Express reported.
      And the scientists say the pills only needs to be taken once every three months and it's 100% effective at stopping pregnancy and has no side effects. Polls have shown many women would not trust men to be in charge of contraception if they had to take a daily pill.

Health Issue: Procedure To Help Career for Women

Simple blood test to predict menopause age
Procedure To Help Career Women Plan Kids Before They Cease To Be Fertile
Doctors have devised a test that could tell young women the precise age at which they will no longer be able to have babies.
A blood test that measures levels of a hormone produced by the ovaries could allow women as young as 20 to pinpoint within a few months when they will cease to be fertile. The procedure would be valuable to women trying to balance careers with haveing children. Among western women, menopuse occurs on average at 51. However, about 15% of women experience it early, under the age of 45. And in Britain about 110,000 women in their thirties are going through premature menopause at any given time.
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, who led the research said in a scientific abstract: "Our results suggest that the novel marker anti Mullerian hormone (AMH) (Produced by the ovaries) could precisely forecast the age at menopause, evenin young women."
Tehrani analysed levels of anti-Mullerian hormone in 266 women aged 20-49. The hormone controls the development of the cells in the ovaries from which eggs develop. It was known that levels of the hormone vary between and also decline with age. Scientists have suspected that changing levels are linked to the menopause but there has been insufficient data to use this knowledge as a predictive tool. By gathering data from a large number of women, Tehrani believes she has created a mathematical model that can predict the age of menopause for any woman.
The test developed by Tehrani, a senior researcher at the Endocrine Research Centre in Tehran, which is backed by the World Health Organisation, would need to be validated in large-scale trials before it could come into common use.

THE RETURN OF LIZ" Elizabeth Hurley

Liz Hurley
back in style

British model-tuned actress Elizabeth Hurley, wife of Arun Nayar a businessman of Indian origin, is planning to make a comeback in movies. For several years, 45-years-old Hurley has concentrated on bringing up her son Damian, eight, and running her organic farm in Gloucestershire and her beachwear business, But now, she is in talks for 'a really fun movie' due to start shooting in autumn, a website reported.
Hurley said she did not regret taking time out to spend with her son and 'now it feels right to spread my wings again." Best known as Mike Myers's love interest Vanessa Kensington in the Qustin Powers movies, her last lead role was in Method in 2004.

BACK IN ACTION: MADHOO SHAH

'I CANNOT FORGET ACTING'
Roja girl Madhoo shah is all set to
make her big-screen comeback
'ACTING WILL ALWAYS BE
A PASSION FOR ME'

       She created waves with Raja and Gentleman, and gave a few more stunning performances before her personal life took precedence over her career, After a long hiatus, Madhoo Shah is now back on the big screen, in a flick, which also stars Amrita Rao and Tusshar Kapoor.
"When I got married and then had two kids, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to acting. Shooting for movies takes you away from home and I wasn't sure I wanted to do that.But I watched some lovely movies recently and wished to be a part of them. That's when I decided to give it a shot," she says.
        Her first project after the break is her aunt Hema Malini's production Tell Me Oh Khuda, in which she makes a guest appearance. "When Hema asked me to do a couple of scenes in the movie, it was like being part of a family venture. I didn't have to negotiate anything. We went to Rajasthan for the shot and it was a trial to see whether my family was ok with it. And everyone was,"she says.
   Appearing in front of the camera after so many years didn't prove to be a challenge either. "I love acting and can't forget it. I love emoting and taking up different characters. Acting will always be a passion for me, but I will do roles keeping myfamily in mind' they are my priority," she says.
Madhoo plays a young widow in her next film. "My character is very progressive in her outlook. While the movie is a family-oriented one, my character is modern and relates to the woman of today," she says.
          Madhoo feels that the industry has changed for the better since the time she made her debut. "Earlier, when I would do a shoot, I'd be surrounded by men. Now, I see women working on different aspects of production. It's refreshing to see this change," she says.

WINNING A BATTLE: Kylie Minogue

Kylie to be
cancer-free

Australian singer Kylie Minogue, who has been battling with breast cancer for some years now, has reasons to be happy. The singer will be fully free of the deadly disease by 2011. "I'll get the 'all-clear' early next year, and it will be momentous," she says. "I'm emotional just thinking about it, but I don't want to pop that cork just yet. I think back to the time when I was given so much information, and thinking. This seems like an eternity. But no matter where we are, no matter what situation we're in, the clock keeps ticking. I will be rally proud to get there. It's such a milestone to achieve, and testament to the treatment that's available to us. I'm thankful for everything," she adds.

DADDY'S BOY: Neil Neitin Mukesh

'Car'mic connection!

Neil Nitin Mukesh is the latest to buy his dad a fancy car. Apparentlyhis father Nitin Mukesh is his best friend and his biggest critic. For his father's birthday, Neil gifted his dad a new car and even took the entire family out to a nearby hill station. We heard that Neil and his father Nitin were like two excited school boys when they raced along the expresswayin their new gaadi; and passersby were happy for them.
Though Neil's films are not really making waves in the market, it's always nice to know that people have something to cheer about.

HEART OVER HEAD: Chitrangda

No more arty
aspirations

         Chitrangda singh's kitty of films is all right. Not bad for an actress, who was not too sure of coming bck to the industry that she'd quit, soon after Hazaaron Khuwaishein Aisi.
   In fact, the wife of golfer Jyoti Singh Randhawa was contemplating doing an art appreciation course abroad and plunge fulll-time into studying art. But that was until Bollywood beckoned her again.
            "Yes, I am glad that I let my heart rule my head and I decided to come back to Bollywood. And now that I'm here, I don't think I'm giving it up ever again," she says. As for her arty dreams, guess she can always get a dose of that by doing off beat arty films. After all, she is an actress of substance.

LUCKY GIRL: Tapasee

The chosen one

Lady Luck is smiling on Tapasee. The pretty lady from Punjab, who's making her debut as a heroine in Kollywood with Vetrimaran's yet-to-release Aadukalam, has already signed her second film. She will now be paired oppsite Jiiva in Vandaan Vendraan, directed by Kannan )of Jeyam Kandaan and kandein Kadhalai fame).
Says Kannan, "We'd earlier approached Tamannaah for the film, but she didn't have dated until next year. Then, we saw Tapasee's performance in Aadukalam and were really impressed. She wanted to wait till her debut flick released, but we convinced her to sign our movie."
The film will go on the floors in Mumbai in August "After completing the shoot for Ko,Jiiva will start filming with us. Tapasee will join the unit in September. While I'm retaining most of the crew of Kandein Kadhali, I'm yet to finalise a music director. But it will definitely be someone established," he says.

NO KIDDING: Amitabh Bachchan

Having the
last laugh

Amitabh Bachchan wrote a funny dialogue from a south Indian film on a social networking site. It became an instant hit amongst the net community, getting repeated, and used as status messages and updates across the net. Of course, no one bothered to give credit to the person who set it all in motion.
The funniest part is that five days after he started the joke,it is coming back to him and people are sending it to him as a brand new original joke, asking him for updates about it. not knowing that he himself started it; Looks like our junta is really following every pot that Big B posts online and also follows them religiously.

Katrina Kair: STAR POWER

Kat's 'loo' ney tunes

        Honestly, one more Ms Goody-two-shoes story about Katrina Kaif should give the Junta a diabetic stroke. Since she is the current reigning Bollywood princess, everyone has only nice things to say about her. But this little story is still worth telling.
   Apparently, Kat who travelled to some small time village a couple of months ago for her charity work surprised the locals when she was most non-fussy about the toilet she used. it seems the locals were embarrassed with their modest facilities and thought that a superstar like Kat would hesitate to use their loo.But the actress just cleaned the loo on her own and used it without a fuss. She even remembered to thank the viollage folk for letting her use their toilet.
        We know of one Bengali siren who actually threw a fit in some far out location and had her producer pulling his own hair out in sheer frustration because of her unreasonable demands.

Model: Viveka Babajee

Viveka's SOS to Tina Chatwal
Supermodel is reported to have poured her heart out to beauty queen

The last person supermodel Viveka Babajee is supposed to have called up on Friday before committing suicide was Delhi-based model and Miss Asia-Pacific 2002, Tina Chatwal. Whether the gal pals splke before Viveka reportedly called her sister Neeta (not Vineeta, as was reported by the press) and said she was going to end her life is not yet confirmed. But, sources say, Viveka poured her hert out to Tina and wept about the trauma she was undergoing in jher relationship and business. If this is true, and Tina does admit that Viveka was anguished by her love life, then the police would certainly have some raher pointed questions to ask the deceased supermodel's stock analyst boyfriend Gautam Vora.
The call to Tina was reportedly made after Viveka and Gautam had a spat in her highrise apartment in Bandra, and he walked out on her. Tina, who was in Mumbai forViveka's funeral and prayer meeting, is expected to make a statement to the police which could clear up much of the mystery. Meanwhile, the buzz is that efforts are being made by some people to distract the focus from Gautam by spreading rumours of Viveka's unhappy past with the other men in her life.
When the mother and her other daughter Alka arrived for Viveka's last rites, they were met at the airport by Bollywood filmmaker Rohit Jungraj with whom Viveka was involved two years ago. The family chose Mumbai as her final resting place despite Viveka's Mauritian citizenship, because her heart belonged to Mumbai. "Sadly, it also got brokenin the city she loved," said a tearful friend.

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