CELEBS FACTORY

Rubina Ali, the child artist who played the role of young Latika in the Oscar-winning film ‘Slumdog Millionaire', spent a sleepless night on Friday at the Bandra railway station after a massive fire gutted down her house and many other shanties in front of her eyes in Gharibnagar. “I saw the entire area up in flames. We ran away with only a few things that my parents could manage picking up,” she told The Hindu here on Saturday.

“I lost everything in that fire. The awards that I had won for the film, the newspaper clippings, some expensive dresses that I had worn during the Oscar ceremony, my school uniform, books — everything is gone,” she said.

What happened

Elaborating on the turn of events, she said, “I was watching TV with my family yesterday [Friday] night when we came to know about the fire. My mother picked up a few things and we ran away to Bandra station,” she said.

“We could manage pulling out the TV and some clothes,” Rubina's father Rafiq Asgar Ali Qureshi said.

I thought it was a joke

“I initially thought people were joking when they told me about the fire. I was sitting on the stairs of the skywalk. When I myself saw the flames, I came home running to inform my family,” he said.

Rubina's mother Munni Qureshi could barely manage to speak. She kept lying down as she was feeling dizzy due to the frenzy.

Rubina, a class III student, said her friends and teachers had come to meet her in the morning. “They wanted to help me,” she said.

She said that the family had been offered a flat in Santacruz but they did not shift there. “It was too far for us. So my father said we will wait. We have now got a flat in Bandra west. It will take us two to three months to shift there as it is not yet ready,” she said.

Help pouring in

She said that the officials of the ‘Jai Ho' trust (started by the ‘Slumdog Millionaire' film-makers) had called her father and talked to her about her well-being. “There are so many people pouring in to help everyone here,” she said.

When asked if she expected any help from 'Bollywood' and what was her message for the industry, she said, “Please help everyone in the basti.”

Meanwhile, the government of Maharashtra has announced that Rs. 1000 will be given to each victim, with a cap of Rs. 5000 per family.

Survey ordered

“The government has also instructed the authorities to conduct a survey of the area on a war-footing. We have provided mobile toilets and water-tankers here to facilitate the people. Not only the government, but the non-governmental agencies have also set up relief camps here. The government provided breakfast and lunch to around 3000 people today,” Arif Naseem Khan, Guardian Minister of Suburban Mumbai, told the media during his visit to Gharibnagar.

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi has demanded timely shelter to the victims of the fire.

The fire which broke out at around 8.20 p.m. on Friday was extinguished completely on Saturday morning at around 6 a.m., fire brigade officials said. “26 fire engines and 16 water-tankers were pressed into service,” they said. They said that 21 residents and four fire brigade personnel sustained injuries.

“The cooling work is still going on. We have stationed two fire engines and an ambulance there,” an official said.

Buzz is in the air that Salman Khan has found a special someone. These days he is often spotted together with British beauty and his co-star in Bodyguard, Hazel.

Sources state that Salman had taken her for a bike ride in Pune 3 weeks ago where the two enjoyed each other’s company.

Both, before and after the shooting of the film, the two spent quality time with each other.

During his shooting for “Ready” in Bangkok he spent time with his buddies Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt who are shooting for “Rascals”.

Salman will also be seen romancing Katrina Kaif in a movie under Yash Raj Films.

This year he will also be seen in films like Bodyguard and sequels of No Entry, Wanted and Dabangg.

He has also roped in Mexican model Ximena Navarrete Rosete in the sequel of Partner.

Salman Khan is at his frankest best on Shaina NC's TV show titled India First. The socialite-cum-politician, who is friends with the actor, has managed to talk about the one subject he hates Shah Rukh Khan.

In an interview that appears tomorrow, Salman Bhai reveals why he and SRK can't be friends' Shah Rukh Khan har show par jaa kar maafi mangte hai. Woh chahate to mere ghar par bhi aa kar maafi mang sakte the.

Lekin ab wo bhi samay gaya. Is jhagade ko shah rukh ne shuru kiya hai so use maintain bhi kare. Shah Rukh se dosti ke sare raaste band. He talked about the poaching case against him in Jaipur, Us din main akela nahi tha. Mere sath waha 12 log aur bhi the. Lekin vivado me main hi tha. Kyuki mera nam Salman Khan hai. Mujhe Rajsthan ke sadko ke bare me nahi pata to waha ke jungleloon ke raste kaise pata honge?

Ace Director Selvaraghavan and his assistant Geetanjali got engaged today (10th February) at the bride’s residence. Their marriage has been fixed on the 3rd of July 2011 and this will happen in Chennai.

Selva was dresses in a simple red cotton kurta holding hands with his sweetheart bride Geetanjali who wore a beautiful Kanchivaram silk saree. Selvaraghavan looked extremely joyful.

Geetanjali’s parents Advocate General of Tamilnadu P.S. Raman and his wife Padmini Raman hosted the engagement that marked the presence of Selvaraghavan’s parents, director Kasthuri Raja & his wife Vijayalakshmi, Super star Rajinikanth and his family, Kamal Haasan and Gauthami, Suhasini and Mani Ratnam, and Yuvan Shankar Raja.

Telugu Star Venkatesh and his nephew, actor Rana Daggubati were also present at the event.

Selva was previously married to actress Sonia Agarwal on 15 December 2006. After their two-year-long marriage, Sonia Agarwal and Selvaraghavan had filed for divorce with mutual consent in a family court in Chennai.

Selvaraghavan later fell in love with Geetanjali who was his assistant director and they have now decided to take their relationship ahead with marriage.

In a recent interview in Hyderabad, south Indian actress Nayanthara has revealed that she is quitting movies after her ongoing Telugu film Sri Ramarajyam in which she plays the role of Sita.

“Sri Ramarajyam will be my last movie and based on Prabhu’s advice I am quitting movies,” Nayan was quoted as saying to Telugu media. Nayan is cast alongside legendary actors Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Balaiah in the movie.

Nayanthara further laughed off rumors that her relationship with beau Prabhu Deva is on the rocks. “These are just rumors. We are still together and we will announce our wedding soon,” she added. Prabhu’s divorce is likely to be through in the coming days and the couple has decided to announce their wedding after that.

The Tamil version of the super hit film 3 Idiots has been named ‘Nanban’. Sources say, Vijay will play the main lead, which we know without saying. Jeeva who will play Sharman Joshi’s role is super excited about it. And the role played by Madhavan will be done by Srikanth.

The powerful role of Boman Irani as Virus has gone to Sathyaraj while Sathyan will be stepping into Omi Vaidhya’s shoes. Director-actor SJ Suryah will make a cameo in Nanban and play Javed Jefri’s character. Ileana is the leading lady and Anuya will play her sister in the film.

Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have been roped in by filmmaker Kunal Kohli for his upcoming film which is based on 100 years of love.

Kunal stated “A period love story needs to have the correct title. I haven’t finalized on any as yet. I would love some suggestions; it would certainly make it easier for me.”

He added “I am currently doing a recce for the film. We have to zero down on various locations, as the movie covers 100 years.”

The title of this love story has not yet been finalized. In the film the duo will be seen in various getups. Shahid and Priyanka were earlier seen together in “Kaminey”.

Kunal Kohli’s upcoming untitled film will go on floors this May. Hope the duo can create the same magic once again which they had created in “Kaminey”

There were sarcastic winners, witty presenters, disinterested hosts and then even funny actors' relatives seated in the audience!

Fair, unfair, we do not know but the Oscars were entertaining for sure. We list down few moments which grabbed our attention, for good and then sometimes for not good!

Melissa Leo drops the F bomb!

Probably the biggest oops moment of the evening, Melissa has made it to the Oscar history was using the F word on the Oscar stage in her acceptance speech after she won the Best Supporting Actor trophy! She went, "When Kate won two years back, she made it look so f****** easy!"

Christian Bale takes a dig at himself

Christian Bale who won the Best Supporting actor Oscar said, "I won't drop the F bomb like Melissa, I've used that a lot before". He referred to his swearing tapes that were leaked on the internet. Bale had apparently abused a cinematographer working on his film as he had distracted him while Bale was delivering his lines.

Anne calls Hugh Jackman 'Huge Jackass'

Anne Hathaway seemed over-excited while James Franco seemed disinterested! Together the two weren't half as funny as last year's host Hugh Jackman. Anne Hathaway in one of her fillers aped Hugh as she too sung and said, "A certain Huge Jackass had promised me that he'd sing with me!" Hugh took it all sportingly.

Kirk Douglas heightens the anticipation

Kirk Douglas made the lives of actresses nominated in the supporting actor category miserable as before presenting the trophy to Melissa Leo, he kept telling unending stories about himself, everytime starting his story with, 'you know..'!

Russell Brand teases Colin Firth

British comedian, Russell Brand presented the Best Foreign Language film Oscar along with Dame Helen Mirren. When Helen tried to address all in a foreign language, Russell translated it for all by saying, "She means she was better as the queen than Colin Firth was as the King!" Helen called Russell Idiot in return, again in other language to which he reacted, "Thank you but I am married."

Sandra Bullock wants Jesse on her facebook!

Sandra is effortlessly funny. When she introduced the best Actor nominees she asked Jesse Eisenberg as to why hasn't he accepted her Facebook request! She also asked Jeff Bridges, "how much is enough" taunting him on his consecutive nomination after his last year's win for crazy Heart. Jeff was nominated this year again for True Grit.

Kirk wonders why Hugh laughs so much!

Kirk Douglas asked Hugh Jackman why he laughed so much when he was speaking. "Hugh Jackman is laughing. Everyone in Australia thinks I am funny. I don't know why. Colin Firth is not laughing! He is British" said Kirk.

Colin Firth's sarcastic speech

Brits are known for their sarcasm and when Colin said, "I have a feeling my career has just peaked" after winning the Oscar, it was hilarious.

Best Oscar speech!

73 years old, King's Speech screenplay writer David Seidler gave the best speech of the Oscars. He said, "I am probably the oldest one to win Oscar in this category so I want someone to break my record fast! I say this on behalf of all the stutterers in the world — we have a voice, we have been heard. I'd like to thank her majesty the Queen for not putting me in the Tower of London for using the Melissa Leo f-word" he added.

Reese Witherspoon's ouch moment!

Resse Witherspoon showed up in black and white Valentino but since her outfit was just like Julia Roberts' which the latter had worn at the Oscars few years back, instead of wows, Reese got 'Oh' moments!

Anne screaming at Lesbians!

Anne Hathaway was clearly referring to Black Swan when she screamed 'Lesbians Lesbians' just after the show begun but it was extremely lame!

A chance to watch Kangna Ranaut a la Ursula Andress of the ‘Bond’ fame emerging out of water in a two piece just got a miss. Buzz has it that the talented actress was to appear in a bikini for a scene in her next film ‘Rascal’. Apparently the young actress developed cold feet at the eleventh hour.

The scene wherein Kangna had to slip into a bikini had Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt checking her out as she walks out of the waters. But the otherwise extrovert actress went volt-face for reasons unclear.

If earlier reports are to be believed, Kangna was earlier enthusiastic about the scene and even shopped for some, but backed out when the shots were called. A source, while talking to a daily revealed, "Kangna had even told her friends that she was very excited to wear a two-piece and was looking forward to the day. Nobody could understand what prompted her to change her mind.”

However, another source had a different reason to cite and said, "Kangna felt that she had put on a lot of weight during the making of ‘Tanu Weds Manu’."

Well, whether or not Kangna gets bold again, we know that she has all what an actress needs to make it big. After all, she is a self- made personality with no godfather.

From the start, Deepika Padukone and Siddharth Mallya have been tight-lipped while talking about their relationship.

When pressed by the media, the duo often mumbled that they were just friends though their body chemistry belied the feelings they had for each other. Now, the cat has sprung out of the bag in the most unexpected way. Of all people, it’s the English batsman Kevin Pietersen who has unwittingly revealed the truth about the couple’s relationship status.

Kevin had lunch with the couple recently and later on tweeted: “Just had a lovely lunch with Sidhartha Mallya & his girlfriend Deepika Padukone.”

Deeps and Sid were earlier spotted enjoying the India-England world cup match in Bangalore on Sunday. The duo has apparently been together for a year now.

These days we are coming across several projects in Bollywood that are remakes of some hit south projects. While few top stars are busy in such films currently, latest to join the remake bandwagon is our Youngistan handsome Ranbir Kapoor.

Buzz is that Ranbir has been approached for the remake of 2009 Telugu super hit film ‘Magadheera’, starring Ram Charan and directed by SS Rajamouli. The Hindi version will also be helmed by Rajamouli and produced by Madhu Mantena and Allu Arvind. According to sources, the producer wanted to sign in the likes of Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapoor. However things didn’t work as planned and finally Madhu went for Ranbir who is also associated with Madhu's brand management company.

Sources believe that Katrina Kaif will play opposite Ranbir, for the leading lady which was played by Kajal Agrawal in the original. For the records, ‘Magadheera’ is a reincarnation story that travels 400 years back and forth. The film is about a warrior who lived at a time when Mughals ruled a part of North India around the 17th century. The warrior falls in love with the princess he is to protect but they both die only to be reincarnated again 400 years later. The film had created records by being the highest grosser movie in Telugu.

It is said that Ranbir will feature here in double avatars. And to match the script’s character, the actor has been asked to work on his body to get into a macho shape.

However, one has to wait for the confirmation from the concerned parties…. So stay tuned…

She has been the leading voice of Bollywood for close to six decades but at 77, singer Asha Bhosle has decided to take up another challenge. She is all set to make an acting debut with Hindi film 'Maaee'.

The singer has done many music videos but it is for the first time that she is doing a lead role in a movie.

The film is being produced by Subhash Dawar-Nitin Shankar and tells the story of what happens when a woman is abandoned by her only son and then goes to live with her daughter and son-in-law. The film will be directed by debutante Mahesh Kodiyal.

"It was something that I hadn't done so far. My fans know very well that I do whatever my heart says is good to do. And the moment this story was narrated to me I connected so very strongly with it as a mother and a human being even though it was so far removed from my own life and experience," Bhosle said.

"I knew then and there that there was no way I could let the opportunity to essay this character pass me by," she added.

The 'Dil cheez kya hai' hitmaker said she also agreed because Padmini Kolhapure will be playing the role of her daughter.

'Maaee' will go on the floor in April this year and will be shot entirely in Mumbai.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards had quite an Indian presence – Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, AR Rahman with wife Saira, Mallika Sherawat, (why was she there, by the way?) and even Ashutosh Gowarikar .

Ash, whose international Red Carpet appearances have become something of a habit now, was here too – with hubby Abhi in tow. And we thought, it's yet another Aishwarya-on-an-international-Red-Carpet moment... yawn.

However, much to our surprise and relief, Aishwarya, who has displayed an uncanny knack of making the absurd-est of fashion choices when she's on foreignshores, didn't look too bad after years of being panned for her Red Carpet sartorial sense. And so we decided to ask our desi experts what they thought of her this time in her charming rust-amber sequined Giorgio Armani Prive gown. As for Mallika, who had earlier posted online that "Maybe I'll wear veggies!" thankfully opted for a sparkling white gown instead, something Nicole Kidman apparently admired. For, Mallika posted online, "Lovin being here! Nicole Kidman is so sweet said I looked stunning".

But designers here don't seem to share the same sentiments as Nicole. Manav Gangwani gives Mallika a 2.5 on a scale of 10. "I don't know what she was thinking when she wore that outfit – which, by the way, is quite nice – with black shoes and black painted toenails. And she has French manicure on her hands. Sometimes, a single element can ruin the entire look. She could have carried it off better." Rina Dhaka is more generous as she gives Mallika a score of 7. "I quite like the dress, but the jewellery is all wrong for the outfit," says Rina.

Ash has scored better, well, some would say, she's had years of practice! "I give her an 8," says Rina, "She looks beautiful, and her outfit is right, but I have always liked her better in those sleeveless dresses with a deep V-neck. When she wears these dresses, the focus shift to her arms – not really what she should flaunt," says Rina. Manav thinks "Ash looks stunning. I would give her an 8.5. I love the way she's done up her eyes, she looks glamorous."

Thin is ‘in’ but the actor, who made size zero famous three years ago, would rather be vulnerable and voluptuous now. “I’m still slim but no longer stick-thin and that works better for me. Let the other heroines lose weight now since I’ve decided I’m not going to be wearing a bikini on screen ever again,” insists Kapoor, who has been voted Bollywood’s sexiest heroine by a leading film glossy, owned by media baron Nari Hira.

The focus today is on performance-driven roles and her look will be differently sensual in the five films she is currently juggling. In RA.One, she’s Shah Rukh Khan’s sexy wife. “Very Punjabi,” she laughs. Agent Vinod’s mystery miss also doesn’t shed clothes. “Her sex appeal lies in her eyes,” says Kapoor. Bodyguard’s Divya is “innocently sexy” and Short Term Shaadi’s Tiara “crazily sexy”. As for the Aamir Khan thriller, she can’t talk about that at all.

Kapoor, who had to bring in Valentine’s Day a day early because beau Saif Ali Khan flew back to Bhopal to play a scheduled caste professor in Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan based on the thorny reservation policy, admits that Khan finds her kajal-streaked eyes and spiky-heeled stilettos hot. “The kohl I wear often since it lights up my eyes and after Qurbaan (2009), 3 Idiots (2009) and Golmaal 3 (2010), has come to be associated with me. But the stilettos are only for holidays. For every day wear, it’s track pants and chappals, and Saif has no choice but to accept it,” she chuckles.

Buzz is that she may be roped in to play a character modelled on Mandakini in the sequel to Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. The actor says that if she likes it, she will take it up as a challenge. “It was one of last year’s best films after 3 Idiots but I haven’t got any offer yet. Tusshar (producer Ekta Kapoor’s actor-brother) is my best friend but we don’t talk shop,” she says, adding that Mandakini became a sex symbol after the famous waterfall scene in her grandfather Raj Kapoor’s Ram Teri Ganga Maili (’85). “But I don’t think the role, if it develops, will be along those lines.”

Vidya Balan has been collecting Best Actor trophies for her portrayal as Krishna in Ishqiya at several recent film award ceremonies. From April, she starts shooting for Ekta Kapoor’s The Dirty Picture, in which she plays soft porn queen, Vijaylakshmi aka Silk Smitha, who worked in over 200 Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films before she was found dead in her Chennai apartment.

Her untimely death in 1996 was attributed to financial problems, disillusionment with love and alcohol. But in her short career, Silk Smitha became a cult figure with films like Moondru Mugam (1982) and Layanam (1989), that had her playing a bikini-clad super agent beating up king-size thugs.

“This film takes me into unexplored territory and I am pinning my hopes on Milan (director Milan Luthria) to carry me through what promises to be one of my most challenging roles ever,” admits Balan, who will reportedly get up close and personal with Tusshar Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah. She has already shared some intimate on-screen moments with Naseer in Ishqiya last year.

“I can’t thank him enough for being such a rock during Ishqiya and am looking forward to working with Naseer saab again. I’m as excited and nervous as a schoolgirl but am sure I will be far more comfortable with him this time after having seen the chemistry in Ishqiya.”

Balan has also been asked to put on a few extra kilos so she can look as voluptuous as the south Indian actor. “These days, everyone from my director to my stylists have been telling me to stop dieting and start eating more. Silk Smitha wasn’t exactly reed thin,” she smiles, quickly adding that her character will be Luthria’s interpretation of the actor.

“Sabrina, my character in No One Killed Jessica was a very fulfilling experience as an actor, given that it was modelled on such a strong real-life personality (slain model Jessica Lall’s sister Sabrina). So was Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahani, which I filmed at a stretch in Kolkata last year, and has me playing a pregnant woman on a revenge trail. But The Dirty Picture is another story altogether. Like everyone else, I’m wondering what Milan’s Silk Smitha will eventually turn out to be like.”

They got intimate too...

* Neha Dhupia-Raghuveer Yadav My Friend Hitler, 2011

* Priyanka Chopra-Annu Kapoor 7 Khoon Maaf, 2011

* Rajesh Khanna-Laila Khan Wafaa: A Deadly Love Story, 2008

* Amitabh Bachchan-Jiah Khan Nishabd, 2007

* Amitabh Bachchan-Tabu Cheeni Kum, 2007

* Victor Bannerjee-Perizad Zorabian Joggers’ Park, 2003

* Manisha Koirala-Ranveer Shorey Ek Chotisi Love Story, 2002

* Rekha-Akshay Kumar Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, 1996

* Shah Rukh Khan-Deepa Sahi Maya Memsaab, 1993

* Rajesh Khanna-Sabiha Anokha Rishta, 1986

He doesn’t shave because she loves his stubble, flies down from Mumbai to surprise her on her birthday and the two can’t take their eyes and hands off each other — yet, actors Ashmit Patel and Veena Malik call their equation everything but love.

“I had a wonderful birthday. Ashmit came over from Mumbai to surprise me,” says Malik, who celebrated her 27th birthday on Saturday in Delhi at Ramada Plaza hotel.

As the two cosy up after the cake-cutting, Ashmit says he can’t label their relationship. “If she wants to hug me or hold my hand, she will — people can talk all they like. She’s special to me. There’s a big ‘if’ to what happens next.”

To which Malik adds, “There is something very special between us, a very strong chemistry,” she says.