I am working with my first crush: Daisy Shah..

In a candid chat, Daisy Shah - Salman Khan's heroine in his upcoming film Jai Ho - shares that even though she's opposite him in the movie, he looks best with Katrina Kaif

Daisy Shah has had a dizzying journey. Once a junior artiste in Bollywood, she went on to work in South Indian films and is now starring opposite Salman Khan in Jai Ho. Standing tall in a black top and jeans, Daisy exudes the vibe of the girl next door. She is slightly nervous but gets into the groove once she realises this is a fun interview.

One question you would like to ask your Jai Ho hero, Salman Khan?
Why do you work out so much? And why do you make others work out so much? For Jai Ho, I was not asked to lose weight but I was asked to tone my body. I was not plump, just on the healthier side. Fortunately, after all that effort, I found that toning makes a huge difference to your appearance.

What's the story behind the big scar on your forehead?
I had a terrible car accident in Ooty in 2005 when I was hurrying to catch a flight. Initially, I was a little depressed because it is quite a big scar, but once I realised that there was nothing I could do about it, I learnt to live with it. I accepted it, as my life took a turn for the better after my accident. Destiny has a way of giving you things in return for what it takes away.

Are you cool with wearing bikinis and kissing onscreen?
No, I am not.


Which heroine do you think makes the best pair with Salman?
He looks best with Katrina Kaif.

If you woke up as a man tomorrow, which heroine would you propose to?
Everybody is beautiful but I would rather be single like Salman.

Who was your first boyfriend and when did you have yourfirst kiss?
I never had a boyfriend, so no kiss either.

You must have had a crush on someone?
I am working with my first crush... Salman Khan.

Something about you that no-one knows.
I am very impulsive. But I have learnt to take care of it.

And the credit goes to?
Salman Khan (laughs).

What is your idea of Prince Charming?
I can take care of myself financially; I want a man who takes care of me emotionally.

If you were to tell your background to a five-year old how would you describe it?
We are a small close-knit family. Besides me, there's my mom, my elder sister Deepali who is married and has two lovely kids. My dad passed away in 2007 due to a heart attack. I have done half of my schooling in Vile Parle and completed the rest in Dombivli because we had to shift due to my dad's job. Later, we shifted to Malad and I studied in Khalsa College but couldn't give my last year exams since I was already working. There was a time when I shot for 15days in a row without sleeping. I don't remember ever going for a holiday.


How did you spend your first pay-cheque?
All my payments go straight to my mother. I just keep a small amount for my personal expenses.

How would you describe your character in Jai Ho?
She is a whacky girl, who does bizarre things and is a big chipku. But she loves dancing, which is very much like me.

How would you describe yourself?
I am not a party person. When I am not working, I am very happy sipping my coffee and watching TV. Even if my mother is at home, she is in her room and I am in mine. I like being alone at most times and guard my 'me time'.

Mumtaz ascended from being a junior artiste to a star. Do you think you will be able to emulate her?
When it comes to our journeys, yes, I connect to her. I am what Mumtazji was.
By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Dia Mirza Speaks Out On Her Postponed Marriage..

Much speculation has been on since Diya Mirza postponed her marriage with filmmaker Sahil Sangha in December after the invitations were sent off.

There are rumours of differences between the couple doing the rounds of the film industry. However a close friend of Diya shoots down these rumours, `Diya and Sahil are for keeps. As far as they are concerned they are already wedded in their hearts and minds. The formal ceremony is being sorted out as there are two families involved.`

Diya and Sahil are not just soul-mates they're also joint partners in a production company which is currently producing Bobby Jasoos with Vidya Balan in the lead.

While so far the pretty actress has remained tight lipped over the suspension of the marital vows she finally broke her silence saying, `We will take a call on the wedding date once we complete the principal photography of Bobby Jasoos at the end of January.`

Diya admits there are health issues in Sahil's family that has led to the postponement.


When I asked Diya if it's possible for a real-life couple to collaborate on professional interests she countered, `Is that really an issue? We've managed as a couple and production partners for five years now. Our production company Born Free would always remain our collaborative brain-child.We're both strong personalities. But there are no ego issues at all.`

Adds Sahil Sangha, `We had to postpone the wedding because my uncle is not well. Once his health is under control our families will work out a new date.`By Santa Banta News Network

I Am A Mad Nomad: Meeting 'Miss Lovely' Niharika Singh..

After a long period of expectancy beauty queen and model Niharika Singh has finally found her bearings in Hindi cinema.

Ashim Ahulwalia's highly-acclaimed Miss Lovely has brought Niharika the kind of acclaim she has not known so far. It isn't as if Niharika hasn't been doing any films.It's just that nothing had worked out so far.

Laughs the self-proclaimed gypsy, `It feels good to hear and read all those lovely things about Miss Lovely and my performance. It all seems in a distance since I shot for Miss Lovely in 2009. When critics write that I'd find it easy to identify with my role of the desperate and frustrated wannabe actress I've to say it isn't true. Between 2008 and 2010 I shot for four films.True, my two films with Himesh Reshammiya didn't work out. But I didn't sit at home sulking or knock frantically on producers' doors. I moved on to my other interests.Of course there's struggle in everything you do.Even the most successful actors of this industry are struggling each day. As far as I am concerned the struggle was not so much to establish myself as an actress but to find my bearings in life.`

Niharika says she has always been a bit of a drifter. `I am a mad nomad. I started my career as a model with local shows in my home-town Dehradun.I then did small fashion shows in Delhi. Then I came to Mumbai where I was signed for two films with Himesh Reshammiya. That didn't work out. But I wasn't disheartened. I could also see John Mathew Mathan the director of one of my stalled films A New Love Issshtory struggling So the struggle in life is relative.Today I've got a bit of recognition for Miss Lovely. But I am struggling in commercial cinema.`

Not that Niharika is keenly compelled to crack the commercial code. `It's not that I can't identify with commercial cinema. It's the workings of the film industry that disturb me. The long hours of waiting for stars to show up,and the disorganized system of shooting just gets to me. I don't think I can handle it, not after Miss Lovely where the atmosphere was completely egalitarian. Everyone from the spot boys to the actors was treated equally. I enjoyed that community feeling while working in Miss Lovely. I don't know if I can adjust in a more hierarchy-driven way of working....`


She trails off and then adds, `Cinema to me is not just Hindi cinema. I love the work being done in Bengali and Malayalam cinema.I love the idea of exploring characters, like the mysterious girl I play in Miss Lovely.`

Niharika says she didn't study the porn-horror cinema of the 1970s before playing the wannabe actress in Miss Lovely. `Firstly ,my character remains outside the porn-horror milieu of the plot. And secondly, my director had done so much homework on the period that we actors just had to follow his thought-process. Ashim knew the era in and out. But he never weighed down the film with information.`

Niharika is all praise for her co-star. `Nawazuddin was not known when we shot for Miss Lovely. But it was obvious he was a brilliant actor. I learnt so much from him. Now I am doing another film Buddhadeb Dasgupta's Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa with Nawaz. It's his film through and through. I've a relatively small role. But I love being part of a good film like this.`

Niharika says she is not a natural-born actress. `Until I signed those films with Himesh and did a Kannada film called Private Number I didn't know I could act. Even while doing these films I wasn't sure. I enjoyed acting and writing in equal measures. I still do.`

It was her fondness for writing that got Niharika close to Miss Lovely. `When the casting director came to me with the film I was bowled over.I got to know that several actresses had turned down the role because they saw it as a cheesy sex film.They couldn't get it. So I got it!!`


The gypsy at heart who divides her time between her home-town Dehradun and Mumbai says love is never in shortage in her life. `I always have someone to love in my life. But it never lasts. Love moves on. I move on.Yes, there is someone in my life right now. Hopefully it will be there for a while.`By Subhash K Jha, Santa Banta News Network

We suffer from the 'crab' and 'grab' mentality..

Director and producer Rakesh Roshan rubbishes reports that "Krrish 3" box office collection has been fudged and says that the criticism shows the kind of jealousy and negativity that this industry thrives on.

He says that the film has grossed Rs.244 crore and is likely to touch Rs.250 crore.

"Isn't this the way it has always been in the entertainment industry? We suffer from the 'crab' and 'grab' mentality. We can't watch anyone succeed," said Roshan who teamed up with his son and Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik for the movie.

"We should all be celebrating the success of a film, no matter who produces it. Because every individual film that succeeds benefits the entire industry," he added.

Excerpts from the interview:

It is being said that the quoted box office collections of "Krrish 3" are being inflated?
Why should I fudge figures at this stage of my career? Do I need to? Who is saying all this?

Some of your colleagues from the industry, to begin with.
It just shows the kind of jealousy and negativity that this industry thrives on. We should all be celebrating the success of a film, no matter who produces it. Because every individual film that succeeds benefits the entire industry.

So what's the truth about the box office figures of "Krrish 3"?
The truth is that those, who are being sceptical about the figures, are not calculating the collections in the Tamil and Telugu versions of "Krrish 3". In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, both the Hindi and the regional versions of the film were released. But in Mumbai they are cutting out the box office figures of the dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions of the film.


Why are members of your fraternity so eager to prove your figures wrong?
Isn't this the way it has always been in the entertainment industry? We suffer from the 'crab' and 'grab' mentality. We can't watch anyone succeed. And if someone does well we want to grab that success for ourselves. The minute I took the unpopular decision of releasing my film in partnership with single-screen distributors I knew I was looking for trouble.

Why do you say that?
I haven't become corporatised yet. I am the only major producer, who still makes films and releases them without tying up with corporate houses. That makes me an easy target for everyone in the film industry. Or so they think.

Are you saying you are arm-twisted because you are not tied up with any corporate houses?
Yes, there is a lot of pressure from corporate houses, film federations and union bodies. But we are very sure of our box office collections. It's the so-called trade experts who are giving conflicting figures. They should all come together and give one figure that is correct, according to them. And they should stop talking nonsense about how Hrithik and I are at loggerheads over the figures.


Among the blockbusters of 2013, "Krrish 3" collections was the most debated?
Like I said the trade experts chose not to consider my Tamil and Telugu collections, though the collections in those two languages were happily considered in the case of "Dhoom 3".

So what is the exact collection of "Krrish 3"?
Up till now the movie has collected Rs.244 crore. And it's still showing in theatres. But I don't think it will touch Rs.250 crore.By Santa Banta News Network

Alia thanks Rahman for being patient with her..

Had it not been for composer A.R. Rahman's patience, actress Alia Bhatt, who has sung a song for her forthcoming film "Highway" under his guidance, would have been "screaming into the pillow".

Alia has sung the track "Sooha saha" in "Highway", in which she stars with Randeep Hooda.

"I didn't rehearse much, we went twice (to the studio). We spent quite a lot of time and Rahman sir was very patient with me for which I am truly grateful. That really stopped me from going home and screaming into the pillow," the 20-year-old said here at the song's launch Saturday.


Alia says singing is an experience she never thought she would have.

"This is the kind of experience you think you will never really have in your life. I always knew that somehow I will act, but this experience...I never really thought will happen and it did. So, if I fail as an actor, I can become a singer," Alia said.
Directed by Imtiaz Ali, "Highway" hits theatres Feb 21.By Santa Banta News Network

Aish To Make A Comeback With Mani Ratnam..

She started her acting career with Mani Ratnam's Iruvar where she played a character uncannily similar to Jayalalitha and now Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to make a comeback to screen after a long maternity leave with a film to be directed by Mani Ratnam.Mani is very close to both Abhishek and Aishwarya. He has worked with the couple in Guru and Raavan.

But for his next he wants only Aishwarya.

Says a very reliable source, `Mani shares a fabulous equation with Abhishek and Ash, more the former. But this time he's planning to direct a film which has a very strong female protagonist's character. Mani feels there is little room for Abhishek in his next.`


Aishwarya has given her consent to her presence in Mani's next.

Says the source, `Aishwarya was very clear about her priorities after she became a mother.She gave a hundred of her time and concentration to her daughter Aaraadhya for two years. Now that Aaraadhya is ready for playschool Aishwarya can start thinking of seriously coming back to acting.`


Aishwarya was keen to return with a film directed by either of her two favourite directors, Sanjay Leela Bhansali or Mani Ratnam. Says the source, ` She was all but finalized for the item song in SLB's Ram Leela. But Aishwarya wanted some changes in the lyrics which Sanjay refused. While she's looking forward to working with SLB she's all set to return with Mani Ratnam's next project.` The movie-making genius' career has been under a cloud. His last two films Raavan and Kadalan have bombed and been heavily panned by critics as well.

`Mani too needs to make a comeback,` says the source which informs about Aishwarya's nod to the Mani Ratnam project.By Santa Banta News Network

Salman is often misunderstood?

Newcomer Daisy Shah, who is making her debut as Salman Khan's leading lady in forthcoming film "Jai Ho", describes her co-star as an "emotional person", who is often misunderstood as being "impulsive".

"He is a very wonderful human being and people think that he is very impulsive, and that he gets very angry. I would say that it's not his anger, but his love, which he wants to express because he is a very emotional person," the 28-year-old told reporters Saturday at a function here.


Daisy was a background dancer until Salman spotted her.

"Jai Ho" is set to release Jan 24.
By arrangement with Mid-Day.com