Freida is irked at Anil Kapoor's embarrassing remark

It looks like Anil Kapoor has earned Freida Pinto's ire.

The Slumdog Millionaire actress who features as the guest in this week's Simi Selects India's Most Desirable, has confessed that Anil should not have spoken about her romance with co-star Dev Patel. Kapoor had stated in an interview that he could sense the chemistry between the two.

Says Freida, "If Anil Kapoor witnessed it when we were experiencing it, I must say that he is a genius... but he shouldn't have said it before we said it...

I was at the red carpet and he is suddenly talking to Ryan Secrest (American radio and TV personality) and saying things that are embarrassing me and I was like what is happening... where do I look?"

Guess Kapoor can only reply by saying a jhakaas! Tee hee!

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Sridevi:- I don't know how they manage to do sex before marriage

Born as Shree Amma Yanger on Aug 13, 1963, Sridevi started her acting career as a child artist at the age of four in Tamil movie Kandan Karunai.

Besides acting in numerous Tamil, Telegu and Malayalam films, she literally ruled Bollywood (Hindi film industry) in 1980s and early 1990s with films like Mr India, Nagina, Sadma, Tohfa, Aakhree Raasta, Chaalbaaz, Lamhe and Khuda Gawah.

She also acted in television serial Malini Iyer in 2004-05.

She married producer Boney Kapoor in 1996 and has two daughters Jhanvi and Khushi.

She will reportedly make a comeback in films with Gauri Shinde's debut flick titled English Vinglish.

Excerpts from her interviews given to various magazines and newspapers over the years:

Sridevi on cinema:
Cinemas was, has and always will be a major part of my life. It has made me the person I am today and I do not know a life apart from movies. It’s true that I did take a break for a while, but that was to tend to my children and my family. Even then, I was always active with Boney’s production company.

Sridevi on her parents:
My parents were lovely people, they installed good manners in me, taught me to respect elders and always guided me.


In fact the first time I was away from my parents for a long time was during the shooting of Gurudev, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja and Lamhe which were shot back - to - back, overseas.

Every morning before I left for my shoot, I made sure I spoke to my parents, they called me without fail.

One particular morning, I never got a call from my father and the next thing I was told that he was ill, but the truth was that he was no more... and the same thing happened at the time of my mother's death - I was away on a shoot for the filming of Judaai when she passed away.

My mother had always thought of me as her son , she used to tell me that. My lighting the funeral pyre was simply my way of paying homage to her belief in me. It was a traumatic and emotional decision but I had to do it.

Sridevi on Boney Kapoor:
Boney came to me in 1984 to sign me to play Seema, the lead female role for Mr India. He confessed later, that he fell in love with me outright! He however did take a few years to sort out his life before formally proposing to me in 1993.

I fell in love with him when I got to know the real him. It was difficult, traumatic even and it took me many years to finally accept the fact that I was destined to be with Boney.

In hindsight, I only wish that I had realized and accepted his love for me sooner. I always believe in following my heart and I am glad that I did. My parents had passed away by then and my sister was shocked with my decision. But now, she shares a great relationship with my husband and is convinced that he is the best thing that ever happened to me!

The same goes for my in laws. I share a fantastic relationship with them. My mother in law adores me and I always try to pamper her because she loves to be spoilt by me.

I can also never forget the support and strength I got from my sister in law Sunita (actor Anil Kapoor's wife) all through and the love I got from Boney's sister, Reena.

The affectionate bond I share with Boney's youngest brother, Sanjay and his wife Maheep is also a lifeline!"

Sridevi on love:
I wouldn't know how important the emotion love is to the kids of today. Love for me is not just saying 'I love you' neither is it physical attraction. Love does exist.

And there are some people who do believe that virginity is the most prized possession a woman takes with her to her husband's house after she is married. What's wrong with that?

But yes, it seems to have become a trend to have a lot of affairs and indulge in sex before marriage. I would never be able to do it. I don't know how they manage.

Shilpa Shetty's mother becomes Producer to save her darling daughter's career..

By Subhash K Jha

Furious with the lack of funds, progress and initiative and determined to complete and release what she considers a remarkable work of cinema, Shilipa Shetty’s intrepid mother has taken over the production of her daughter’s Indo-Chinese production The Desire: A Journey Of A Woman. She has apparently edited the film down to 95 minutes and is readying the film for various international film festivals.

When contacted Sunanda Shetty admitted, “The websites claim Tracy Shiyun is the co-producer. Not true. She went to court and lost. I am the sole producer of this project.

We’ve made changes for the betterment of the movie. If I had to turn producer I wanted the film to be what I as a member of the audience would like to see. Yes, we’ve cut the length down. ”

If Shilpa Shetty’s mother Sunanda Shetty has turned producer Lord knows there was enough provocation to do. Apparently the ambitious film about an Indian girl quest for spiritualism through her Odissi dancing was on the verge of being shelved when Mrs Shetty agreed to step in as producer.

Says a source, “The Desire …had gone grossly over-budget and had also become too long. When Mrs Shetty stepped in the length of the film was unmanageable at 2 hours 25 minutes.

Mrs Shetty cut the film down to size at 95 minutes and is sending it off to various international film festivals. She also had areas of dispute with the director R Sarath on several counts. ”


Says Mrs Sunanda Shetty, “When I decided to step in as producer the film was in serious trouble. It was stuck for over a year. But I immediately saw the potential in it.

I was told there was just a few weeks’ shooting left when in fact we had to shoot for a good six months more. But it’s been worth it. It’s a beautiful story and has a great role for Shilpa. My daughter warned me not to turn producer now when I had desisted from doing so all these years.

But somehow more than the concerned mother it was the film buff in me that realized the potential of this film. I jumped into the ocean without knowing how to swim. ”

The proud and protective mother makes it very clear that she took on the onus of being the sole producer of this film because of her darling daughter’s sake. “What appealed to me in the film is the fact that a girl could lead her life on her own terms without adhering to the so-called dos and don’ts. I strongly believe a girl child should be allowed to follow her heart. ”

Aarakshan

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, Prateik Babbar, Manoj Bajpai

Director: Prakash Jha

Rating: ** 1/2

Choose an explosive title for your movie, hire a clever PR agent and then pick up some controversies along the way.

At a time, when politicians and the rest of our moral brigade are just waiting for the slightest opportunity to shout themselves hoarse if they find something or someone 'offending' their sensibilities, there couldn't have been a better way of getting a movie wanted as well as unwanted attention.

When Jha made films like Mrityudand and Gangajal, you could sense a genuine intention behind them. With Aarakshan, I am not so sure.

Do I even need to mention that Aarakshan deals with, or is supposed to deal with, reservation for Dalits and other 'pichchde jaati ke log'? Everyone in India (even those who aren't Bollywood buffs) knows by now what all the noise has been about.

But here comes the twist ”while you go in expecting an explosive movie on the issue of caste-based reservation, you end up listening to a lambi bhashan on the commercialisation of education!

Deepak Kumar (Saif Ali Khan) doesn't use his second name, so you have to assume he belongs to the Dalit community, and Dr. Prabhakar Anand (Amitabh Bachchan) dotes on him and his brilliance. Anand is the principal of the college and is a strict disciplinarian with rigid rules against corruption.

Some of the trustees aren't too happy with the stubborn principal. Anand, saviour of the downtrodden, gets into trouble when some people take advantage of his generosity.

Anand's daughter Purbi (Deepika Padukone) is in love with Deepak, but breaks all ties with him when he has an argument with her dad. Sushant (Prateik Babbar) is Purbi's college mate and he wants to fight against reservation in education.

This film, which deals with education more than reservation, holds your interest in the first half, but meanders aimlessly in the second half. Some of the scenes, especially the climax, are unwittingly hilarious.

But I must make a mention of a few rare scenes and dialogues that are likeable. Like the scene between Anand and his wife (Tanvi Azmi), when she presents her layman view on reservation.

As for the performances, Amitabh Bachchan is more than excellent. His transition from a person in authority to a helpless teacher shines above everything and anyone.

One can't really imagine anyone else doing that role as well as Mr Bachchan. Saif has made a sincere attempt and is more or less convincing, but his character is sketchy.

Deepika is pretty good, but I wish she didn't deliver dialogues like she has just mugged them up in her dad's classroom. Prateik is a huge disappointment. This guy needs better direction. Manoj Bajpai's mediocre performance as a greedy and power- hungry teacher comes as a surprise.

Given how extensively the film talks about the commercialisation of education, I think someone should take up the cause of commercialisation of inflammatory issues.

While Jha has succeeded in garnering enough attention for Aarakshan as a result, he has failed to give this sensitive issue its due. That, in my opinion, is not a good thing either.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Can't I expect little respect, asks upset Katrina

Actress Katrina Kaif is upset with a report that she cancelled the shoot for Yash Raj Films' "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan" because her favourite make-up man Subhash was unavailable as he had booked his dates for Anushka Sharma. 


Katrina, 27, said people should not pull her down by writing such false stories and should give her respect considering her contribution to the industry.


"That was something really disheartening. I am not that kind of person who ever stood up and says, 'Look what I have done, look at me' or asked for any kind of respect or recognition or walked around with any kind of ego. 


"But when I see people stoop down to that level and write these kind of stories, that's the only time I feel that I am not asking for recognition, but a little bit of respect after these years I have worked in the industry. Please don't pull me down to this level," Katrina told.


The actress entered Bollywood in 2003 with "Boom". Though her debut film was not a hit, she went on to deliver hits like "Namastey London", "Singh Is Kinng", "Race" and "Raajneeti".


Releasing Sep 9, the directorial debut of Ali Abbas Zafar, "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan" is a comedy where Katrina is teamed up with Imran Khan and Pakistani singer-turned-actor Ali Zafar.


The current favourite of YRF, Katrina, will be also seen in their "Ek Tha Tiger" opposite Salman Khan and Yash Chopra's next undeclared directorial venture opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan. She has teamed up with Anushka in the latter. 


"Anushka is a lovely girl, starting off her career now," she said.