It has been reported that one reason fugitive don Chhota Rajan might have got Dey gunned down was because he feared Dey was passing on information about him to the D-gang. He was in particular alarmed since he believed the supposed rendezvous with Mirchi did occur.

The police are now trying to corroborate their suspicion by ascertaining the identity of the man Dey met in London. On Tuesday, “we phoned the tour operator’s guide Dey used to enquire about his stay in England. The guide told us that Dey broke away from the scheduled programme to visit someone,” said a senior official. “We are next going to show him pictures of Dawood and Mirchi to confirm our suspicion.”

Cops on Tuesday said that the seven accused have divulged the motive behind Dey’s killing on June 11, but it is still being verified. “Rajan told Satish Kalia (the gunman) about the motive after the murder. During interrogation, Kalia revealed it to us but we are verifying his claims since it is a sensitive case,” joint commissioner (crime) Himanshu Roy told PTI.

The police intend to invoke Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, against the seven arrested men. And Rajan’s name will be added to list of the accused.

Dey’s Europe visit, the police say, is a major piece of the mystery behind the sensational murder. The senior scribe, cops claim, paid Rs 45,000 to the tour operator by cheque and another Rs 45,000 by cash. Also, he ostensibly left his mobile phone switched on in Mumbai while away on the trip that lasted about 10 days.

Another important piece of the puzzle, the police say, is Dey’s planned trip to the Philippines.

He initially refused to go on a junket to the Southeast Asian nation, but agreed after a telephone chat with Rajan. “Dey told Rajan about his visit to the Philippines and asked for a meeting,” a senior official said. “Somebody who did not like Dey might have suggested to Rajan that the meeting was a ploy hatched by Shakeel to get Rajan bumped off.”

Soon after, Rajan called up Kalia. “Tumko ek aadmi ka kam karna hai. Woh gaddar Dawood ka aadmi hai (You have to eliminate a traitor, who is working for Dawood),” Rajan told Kalia, according to the gunman’s confession to the police.

Though efforts are on to find the motive, some policemen say it might never come out. Dey’s murder might go the same way as Pramod Mahajan’s, in which no motive was mentioned in the court papers.

A veteran crime reporter, Dey was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on June 11 as he was returning to his Powai residence. More than a fortnight after the killing, the Mumbai police on Monday claimed they had cracked the case with the arrest of seven men. The hit, they said, was ordered by Rajan. The police identified the accused as Kalia, Anil Waghmore, Arun Dhake, Sachin Gaikwad, Nilesh Shengle alias Babloo, Abhijeet Shinde and Mangesh Agawane.

On Tuesday, cops said what helped them nab the accused, besides human intelligence, was CCTV footage. One of the videos showed the licence number of a motorcycle, which was used to track down Shelge.

“Shiv Sena has a long track record of politicising all issues. This is the same Shiv Sena, which had vowed to throw the Enron project into the Arabian Sea in 1993, if I recall right. But when they came to power in 1995, they went out of their way to give approval,” the minister said reacting to a question on Shiv Sena’s allegations against him.

Ramesh said Sena had lauded him for his stand on Navi Mumbai airport and Lavasa housing project near Pune and “made me a hero” but now the party has “made a khalnayak” in the Jaitapur episode.

“Consistency does not seem to be a virtue in Shiv Sena”, he said.

The minister said that looking into the environmental aspects of the project is the only mandate of his ministry and maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state government.

Taking a position with the local people in coastal Ratnagiri district who are opposing the project, Shiv Sena had termed as a “mockery” Ramesh’s statement that there would be no rethink on Jaitapur nuclear power project.

The minister wondered what made Shiv Sena, who “gave approval in unholy haste to the Enron project”, to stand against the Jaitapur project.

A day after a protester was killed in police firing in Jaitapur, Ramesh said what happened in Jaitapur is “most depressing” and it caused him “great anguish.”

(Read: Jaitapur project to continue, says Maharashtra govt)

“What happened in Jaitapur is deeply anguishing. I have been pained by what has happened and I hope that we can go back to discussing these issues in a peaceful way,” the minister said.

“There is a form of democratic protest, which we must all accept and acknowledge. But firing and people dying is unacceptable in democracy,” he said.

“The situation has to be brought under control by the state government. The ministry of environment and forest does not enter into the picture,” Ramesh said.

Maintaining that it is the duty of the state government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) to improve the public confidence and trust and address the compensation issues, he said “you cannot use environmental clearance as a shoulder to fight all your battles.”

“So it is unfair to blame the ministry of environment and forests,” he said.

The minister said the clearance for the Jaitapur project was given on November last year and the ministry has “nothing to do with” land acquisition, compensation, economics of nuclear power and nuclear safety.

“Those were not issues that the MoEF is either competent to deal with or it is mandated to deal with. One should understand this fact,” he said.

Ramesh said he was surprised at the Shiv Sena’s accusations against him and alleged that consistency did not seem to be a virtue in the party.

Referring to the Sena mouthpiece Saamna’s editorial a couple of months ago in which he was praised for his position on Navi Mumbai Airport, Adarsh housing society and Lavasa hill city project, Ramesh said, “Consistency does not seem to be a virtue in Shiv Sena.”

“One day they think that I am khalnayak and other time they think that I am a hero,” he said.

Rejecting the demand for withdrawal of environmental clearance given to Jaitapur project, the minister said, “There are genuine issues of public concern that have to be addressed.”

“I have always maintained this. The public outreach programme of NPCIL (and) state government… whatever needs to be done to improve the public confidence and trust particularly after what is happened in Japan needs to be addressed,” the minister said.

“If compensation has to be increased, the state government and NPCIL have to decide,” he said.

“There are differences of opinion and it is incumbent upon the government to address these public issues and public concerns, and even if it takes a few months more, we should address those issues,” he said.

Data from the market regulator showed foreign funds bought $2.5 billion of shares since the start of March, after being net sellers in January and February. At 11:30am (0600 GMT), the partially convertible rupee was at 44.2500/2525 per dollar, after touching 44.23, its strongest since November 5. It had closed at 44.42/43 on Tuesday.

“44.20 is a very crucial support level. So I hope 44.20-44.30 should be the range as of now,” said a dealer with a state-run bank.

He said expectations for a rate rise by the European Central Bank was driving the euro. “If the euro strengthens in the afternoon, we may see 44.20 breaking,” he said.

The ECB is largely expected to raise interest rates on Thursday that could keep the euro zone’s common currency supported in the months ahead.

The rupee could strengthen to 44.00-44.05 if it breaks past 44.20, the dealer said.

The euro was up 0.3 percent against the dollar at $1.4258 , having reached a five-month-high of $1.4269 on Monday.

The index of the dollar against six major currencies was down 0.14 percent at 75.774 points. It had been at 76.037 points at the close of the local forex market on Tuesday.

The one-month onshore forward premium was at 25.75 basis points (bps), down from 27.50 bps on Tuesday, the three-month was at 79.75 bps versus 80.00 bps and the one-year at 298.25 bps versus 295.25 bps.

The one-month offshore non-deliverable forward contracts were quoted at 44.47, weaker than the onshore spot rate. In the currency futures market , the most traded near-month dollar-rupee contracts on the National Stock Exchange, the MCX-SX and the United Stock Exchange were all at 44.4275, with the total volume at about $1.57 billion.

Asha Bhonsle, who has done many video albums, will be seen in upcoming Bollywood movie Maaee, This movie is directed by debutant Mahesh Kodiyal. The excited singer said that the story has impressed her very much. Mahesh Kodiyal’s narration made her give immediate approval for the project.

Asha Bhonsle added that actress Padmini Kolhapure will be portraying the role of her role, which is one of the reasons why the singer accepted the film. Maaee is scheduled to hit the floors in April and it will be completely shot in Mumbai.

The cause of the fire in this bus was leak of CNG Gas. The 4 Ltd Best Bus left from Oshiwara Depot and on its way near Andheri Driver spotted some leakage and came down to examine it and at that time a fire blast occured.

Luckily all passengers in the bus were safe and no casualties have been caused.

“Threatened military reprisal, this grand strategy would make it unambiguously clear to the Pakistan military that if another iconic Indian target is attacked by terrorists based in Pakistan that the Indian military would destroy important Pakistan military assets. I stress that, not bomb empty terrorist camps but attack Pakistan military assets.” Blackwill said.

Blackwill, who addressed a talk on ”Does India have a Grand Strategy” in Mumbai, defined the grand strategy as the art of pursuing national goals in a way that improves a nation”s ability to shape and cope with the conditions of an ever-changing international environment.

He stated that infiltration from the Pakistani side has been on since the past twenty years and this killed 166 people in November 2008; it was high time India retaliated with harsh words.

Speaking about the frequently raised question on why the U.S. fails to give an ultimatum to Pakistan against militancy originating from their land, Blackwill said that time has come for U.S. to reconsider its strategy towards Pakistan.

“Do we want a Pakistan that is uninfluenced essentially by the United States and the outside world? So, it is a dilemma. I was on record when I was here as Ambassador and have a sense that the United States should put more pressure on Pakistan in this regard but I don”t want to make it sound as if it is easy,” he added.

“It is not easy and so the Pakistan military has been able through at least three American administrations to avoid responding to that pressure,” he said.

For India, security has always been its top priority. India has also refused to resume the Composite Dialogue Process until Pakistan takes credible action against the militant groups based in Pakistan. (ANI)

“Things are wonderful in India, and as I said earlier, I feel very welcome here and it”s a very warm feeling, feeling a family. And, I even brought my family because I think everyone wants to come to India, except that you wait for the special invitation, you wait for a special opportunity and I just feel that finally I have this chance to be here and it”s very exciting,” said Travolta.

Travolta further added that the impression of Bollywood industry in front of the world is crucial, as it has got very talented filmmakers.

“You know the impression of Bollywood is you have an industry here which has very important filmmakers and very important contribution to the film, the world of films. So, I feel that it”s also comfortable because my industry is here as well,” said Travolta.

Travolta, who flew down to India in his private jet, was accompanied by his daughter Ella.

Later, he made an appearance at an award function. (ANI)

The 56-year-old actor, known for hit films like ‘Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Grease’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’, was given the GQ Legend of the Year award late Sunday, a day after the star flew down to India in his private Jet with his daughter.

While Aamir was awarded the GQ Cinematic Icon of the Year, Arjun was given the GQ Most Stylish Person trophy.

Aamir was so excited that John was attending the event that the actor made it a point to be there too.

‘I am a big fan of John Travolta. I have seen a lot of his films. When I heard that he has come for this function, I made it a point to attend it. I’m also wearing a suit because of that,’ Aamir, who was dressed formerly in a black suit and bow tie, told IANS.

John, who is on a two-day visit to India, launched a new model of Breitling watches Sunday morning. His wife Kelly Preston has not accompanied him as she is pregnant with their twins.

The Hollywood actor denied the news of his expected jig with Akshay Kumar. He is likely to fly out to Russia Monday.

According to sources, the mail was sent using a Tata phone connection procured through a fake identity card.

One person is understood to have been questioned by Delhi Police in this regard. Police suspect the person has some link to the firing incident.

Indian Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the Jama Masjid shootout incident in which two Taiwan nationals were injured after a tourist bus they were traveling in, was fired upon by two unidentified persons riding a motorbike

They also issued a threat to the government not to hold the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

They claimed responsibility for the incident in a mail sent to the Hindi Radio service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

“As we bleed so will you reap, …..Beware, this is the initiative of Allah”s lions. We warn if you have the guts, you dare to organise Commonwealth Games. We know preparations for the Commonwealth Games are at their peak. Beware! We are also preparing to surprise all,” the BBC Hindi Radio service quoted the threat mail, as stating.

Indian Mujahideen is believed to be a shadow outfit of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and has also been linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. (ANI)

The hospital’s medical superintendent and other senior doctors reportedly briefed Dikshit about the victims’ injuries and their present medical status. She urged medical staff to provide the victims’ with the best of care and to ensure their early recovery.

The injured Taiwanese — Zewei (40) and Chiang (38) are said to be out of danger.

On Sunday, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited the hospital to see two injured Taiwanese nationals.

A red alert has been sounded in Delhi and Mumbai following the shootout as the attack comes barely two weeks ahead of the Commonwealth Games to be held here between October 3 and 14. Security has been tightened around at least 400 ‘sensitive’ sites in the wake of the incident. Orders have issued not to allow cars or other vehicles to be parked within 100 meters of these sites.

Taking serious note of the Jama Masjid shooting incident the Home Ministry has reportedly sought a detailed report from the Delhi Police about it.

Two persons riding a motorbike shot at the two Taiwanese who were traveling in a tourist bus. Police and witnesses said eight to ten rounds of fire were directed at the bus before the attackers escaped.

One of victims was injured in his skull and the other in his abdomen.

Delhi Police said that it is still questioning the eyewitnesses in relation to the incident.

Chief Minister Dikshit has urged the people not to panic as proper security arrangements were being taken in the wake of the incident.

It couldn’t be assumed at present that the attack was “a terrorist activity”, she added. (ANI)

‘Rajat and I are very close and it’s a great feeling. Rajat has always made very creative and stunning outfit for me. This is something that I would always want to keep my wardrobe. It’s a very special day Rajat and I am happy that I am here today,’ Koena told IANS after the show.

The collection showcased at the show, was inspired by Victorian era and the designer has used thick fabric to make them fit for both autumn and winter.

‘The inspiration actually came from Victorian era when it was time for sexy, stylish silhouette. Like you have seen the entire collections have lots of exaggerated silhouettes with feminine stuff. That was the whole structured look.

‘Basically when it comes to evening wear, you could see, there were jackets, tops which were fully embellished, the fabrics you will find were very very thick. I have used like heavy fabrics and obviously with gowns there are no season,’ said Rajat.

When asked what made him choose Koena as his showstopper, Rajat said, ‘Koena is one of the most stylish people I have dressed up. She has got an amazing body and she looks stunning in fitted silhouettes. Normally, someone who is not that confident about her body might feel little conscious about the frills around the waste area. She is really fit and I thought that she is one who could really carry it best.’

According to the Herald Sun, the container arrived on September 6 in Mumbai Port, but a shipping backlog forced the vessel to anchor offshore for 12 days.

The container contained poles belonging to champion vaulter Steve Hooker, alongside training equipment, medical supplies and furniture for the association to set up headquarters during the Games.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association officials have stepped up their logistics and monitoring operations as more equipment is headed to India next week.

The recovery and release of the container was made possible after the ACGA made a desperate plea to India’s High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh, who contacted India”s Ministry of Shipping and asked that the ship be berthed for unloading.
ACGA chief executive Perry Crosswhite received an email about 9 a.m. this morning that the equipment was on the move.

He expects the container to be loaded on a train on Saturday before it begins its 1,400km. (ANI)

It is this Indian urge for peace that is the core problem in the relations that India has with Pakistan. That country is convinced that sooner or later it will be able to get the better of India because of its weakness for peace? There is no scope for peace in Pakistan”s ideology of “jihad”.

India has fought three wars with its neighbour (1947, 1965 and 1971) all because Pakistan is led to believe that India is a soft state. Even in its defeats the army of Pakistan invariably claims that it can beat India! Thus, it continues to wage a proxy war via terrorism against this country despite having been mauled more than once.

Yes, India wants peace and would like to live in peace with its neighbour, but not at the cost of its territorial integrity. Having made it clear more than once that Kashmir is an integral part of India, what is there to discuss with Pakistan except that the areas of the state still occupied by it – the POK be returned to India. Does India stick to this position firmly?

Where was the need to reopen talks with Pakistan in the wake of its 26/11 commando attacks on Mumbai? That was again a clear sign of weakness by a soft state. It is good gestures like this that make Pakistan more belligerent.

When the Indian leadership keeps harping about its readiness to talk with the separatists or with the stone pelters of Srinagar, what kind of message is it sending to them? India”s leadership knows well that it cannot under any circumstances discuss cessation of any Indian territory. Or, are there leaders who think they can do so and be able to face Parliament?

The all-party delegation that is to visit Kashmir gives the stone pelters and seperatists yet another occasion to insult India. You can be sure that none of them are going to take notice of the visit by this delegation to Srinagar. If anything, they will feel encouraged to carry on with their policy of challenging the might of the Indian state.

Yet another issue that messes around Kashmir is the desire of India to seek friendship with the United States. It would be nice to strengthen that, but the US wants to build a strange strategic relationship with India. No one has till today explained to the nation as to what that strategic relationship is supposed to mean.

India”s leadership fought hard to protect its independent foreign policy during the era of Cold War. Is India”s leadership preparing to compromise that policy while developing ”strategic relations” with the United States? It is time that the people of India are told in clear terms as to what it means.

The mess in Kashmir is partly the result of the pressure that the United States and its allies have been putting on India to get the cooperation of Pakistan in their Afghanistan operations. It is this confusion that encourages the stone throwing mobs and the Hurriyat to defy the authority of the Government. The people who seek independence or separation from India need to be tried for treason and sent to prison for their crimes against the state.
In the midst of all this din and stone throwing, it is forgotten that a minority of “Sunni” Muslims in the valley leads the protestors. They do NOT represent the vast majority of the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir who are peace loving and want to carry on with their lives.

The stone throwing mobsters and the Hurriyat leaders observe a stony silence about the plight of the people of Pakistan occupied territories of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. There have been massive human rights violations in Gilgit, yet the ongoing agitation there hardly gets a mention in the media. It is because, unlike in Srinagar, the media is not allowed into Gilgit or other parts of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir to report on the unrest there. And now, there are reports of the Chinese Army being present in Gilgit.

The nuclear deal with the United States is very important for India, but we need not get involved with the AfPak policy of the United States. It is time that India”s leadership, as it did in the past, tells the United States that it cannot allow Pakistan to meddle in Kashmir.

All this having been said, it is time to restore peace and development in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The current turmoil there has been created by a confused Indian policy, which mixes up Indo-Pak and Indo-US relations with Kashmir. The people of the state must know and be convinced that they are and will continue to be an integral part of India. It is important that this is reiterated to the stone throwing mobsters and the Hurriyat.

It is necessary that the central government begin to correct whatever wrongs have been done in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the past. The state must enjoy every democratic right as enshrined in the Constitution of India. If the people want the restoration of special position that was given to the state, so be it. But protect the rights of other ethnic and religious groups in the state.

The only thing that is negotiable with Pakistan on Kashmir is the return of the territories of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir still occupied by it. Involve the people of the state in getting its integrity restored. They should be as much involved as the rest of India is seeking justice for the suffering people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Government in New Delhi has many battles to fight elsewhere in the country. Maoists have been allowed to become a big threat to the country only because of a similar confused policy. Yet another disease that continues to plague India is the hydra-headed monster of corruption.

Once the leadership in New Delhi clears up the muddled thinking it has on so many issues, including on the agitation in Srinagar by stone throwers, then we can be sure of peace emerging in the country.

The Government needs to stop being a mute spectator in Srinagar. It is not fair on the security forces to be exposed to the attacks of the stone throwers at will. The policy of pampering or molly coddling the stone throwers and separatists must end now. (ANI)

Attn: News Editors/News Desks: Prem Prakash is a senior journalist.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) rallied 795.09 points or 4.23 percent in the weekly trade. The index closed in the positive four out of the five trading sessions.

Strong inflow of funds from the foreign institutional investors has led the rally at the Indian bourses for the second successive week. The country’s benchmark index has gained 1,373 points in the last two weeks of trading.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday the Indian economy would grow by 8.5 percent during the current fiscal and 9 percent in 2011-12. It grew by 8.8 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2010-11.

Sensex advanced 177.26 points or 0.91 percent to 19,594.75 Friday, the highest closing level in 34 months.

On the last trading day of the week, of the 30 stocks trading in the Sensex, 24 advanced while six closed in the red.

Reliance Comm went 5.28 percent up at Rs.166.45; ACC 3.24 percent higher at Rs.997.55; Bharti Airtel up 2.93 percent at Rs.357.90; RIL up 2.58 percent at Rs.1,026.75; and Sterlite Inds up 2.09 percent at Rs.173.25. These were among the major gainers in percentage terms at the Sensex.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty closed 0.97 percent or 56.25 points higher at 5,884.95 points Friday.

Most Asian markets advanced on the last trading day of the week, with Japan’s Nikkei rising 1.23 percent at 9,626. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed 1.29 percent higher at 21,971.

The bourses in the US also ended the week on a positive note. Dow Jones industrial index closed 0.12 percent higher at 10,608. S&P 500 advanced 0.08 percent at 1,125.59 and Nasdaq closed 0.54 percent higher at 2,315.61.

However, the European bourses closed in the red. The FTSE 100 fell 0.57 percent to close at 5,508.45 points.

The German DAX closed 0.64 percent down at 6,209 points and the French CAC 40 declined 0.38 percent to 3,722.02 points.

Arora, who participated in LFW Friday night, tied up with lifestyle brand Philips, who introduced a new range of hair styling products through the show.

The show was inspired by the period of art decor but with a contemporary twist.

‘The idea behind the show was art decor 2050. Art decor was a period of 1920s and 1930s when women for the first time decided to leave body fitting clothes and come out loose. So I took elements from people of that era and gave it a futuristic turn,’ Arora told IANS.

‘Since it was a show to launch Philips’ new haircare products, I tried to use more of lights and headgears to bring that across and give the feel of equipments,’ he added.

Arora, whose shows are known to be over the top, started the evening’s fare with a bang with laser lights filling the room. Even models were seen sporting glares with laser lights. Coupled with that, the music that included hits by Pink Flyod like ‘Brick in the Wall’, created an upbeat atmosphere of fun and energy.

The bright and vibrant line also showcased models sporting loud and shimmery make-up and colourful hair-dos, which were specially designed by internationally renowned hairstylist Andy Uffels.

‘It was really a lot of fun working with Manish for this Philips show. It was a different and wonderful experience,’ said Uffels, who is also the global artistic director for Philips haircare.

On the whole, the first day of LFW concluded with a bang owing to the glitz and glamour oozed by Arora’s collection that brought forward a rich palette of psychedelic colours with western silhouettes.

‘For AB Corp this has been a godsend and we are really, really happy for a company that has been through some terrible times,’ Amitabh, 67, told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

‘I think this is a fantastic endorsement of its capability of wanting to get back. Which is why I give a lot of credit to Abhishek because it was his decision and it was his work that made AB Corp produce this film.’

Amitabh bagged his fourth national honour at the 57th National Film Awards Wednesday for his performance as a 13-year-old progeria patient Auro in R. Balki’s ‘Paa’, which also won for best makeup, best supporting actress and best Hindi film.

‘Paa’ is his son Abhishek’s first production venture made under the AB Corp banner.

An elated Amitabh said: ‘I am so honoured that both Abhishek and me will be there personally to receive the award from the president of India.

‘We want to continue making films. We were very hesitant because we’ve had so many failures in the past but with this success, yes, we are inspired…We will continue to make films in the regional cinema.’

‘(I am) very happy for Balki because it was his vision. I felt happy for Abhishek because he took the decision to produce the film. I didn’t know that we had won four awards and obviously this is the icing on the cake. So very, very happy for everyone involved in it,’ he added.

‘Since its very inception, AB Corp has been making films in Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and we will continue to do that. We have sponsored films that are made in Bengali and we will continue this process. There are various scripts that are coming in from both Marathi producers and directors and we are studying that.’

While actors his age shy away from experimenting, this star has always managed to drop jaws by doing the unthinkable.

‘What can I say? I just consider myself very fortunate that there are people who still want to test me and throw challenges to me. I am very happy because as an actor you are always looking forward to doing something different, new and exciting.

‘And I am really, really grateful to the almighty for this streak of luck and good fortune that there are people who still want to work with me,’ he said.

How does Big B judge himself?

‘I think every day is a new craft that we need to learn. In the creative field one should never be satisfied. The moment I would say that I am satisfied, that would be the end of my career. For an artist that’s a terrible thing to live in. So I hope that there is something new for me to learn in the years to come or in the days to come,’ he said.

Amitabh had earlier received the National Award for ‘Saat Hindustani’, ‘Agneepath’ and ‘Black’. He is a legend and in his 41-year-long innings he has been honoured with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

So is a Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, also on the way?

‘No. No. Of course not. I am not worthy of that in the first place. We don’t look forward to that. These are very honourable and very big recognitions,’ he said.

What does the megastar have next in his kitty to surprise his audiences and admirers?

‘I don’t know what they will expect. Let’s see what kind of roles are coming. Obviously we can’t repeat another Auro, but let’s see… the world is full of surprises,’ he said.

‘Balki and me, we keep meeting. We have three or four ideas which we want to do next. I think some of them are very exciting and different,’ added the legend, who starts shooting next month for Rajkumar Santoshi’s film.

Amitabh’s acting projects include Puri Jagannath’s next, Prakash Jha’s ‘Aarakshan’ and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s production. He returns on the small-screen with the fourth season of successful quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.

‘I came to know about the decision through a newspaper. I am very happy that after such a long time this will be done. This was almost unknown to people. No one has ever seen the film,’ Sandip Ray, 56, told IANS on phone from Kolkata.

He, however, regrets that the original ‘Sikkim’ negative perished long back and there are no prints available now in India.

‘No one has the print of the film (in India). There is only one print which has been partly restored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. They have a restoration branch in Los Angeles,’ said Sandip Ray.

‘The original negative is gone. So we don’t have the prints of the film yet.’

Satyajit Ray made the documentary on Sikkim in 1971. It was commissioned by the last Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, Palden Thondup Namgyal, and his American-born queen Hope Cooke. It was banned soon by the government and remained in the cans after that.

Asked why it was banned, Sandip Ray said: ‘I think at that time Sikkim was a kingdom; later it became a part of India. So naturally, it shows how it was as a kingdom and it’s a part of history. But people remained unaware of that history as it was banned.’

Now a decision to lift the ban has been taken, a government source said. The external affairs ministry has recommended it after being consulted by the information and broadcasting ministry. Coming ahead of Satyajit Ray’s 90th birth anniversary May 2, 2011, the move has raised hopes that the film can be screened across the country. ‘If it’s shown somewhere next year, we would be really happy,’ said Sandip Ray.

Satyajit Ray’s legacy lives on in his son.

Sandip Ray has written ‘Aami Aar Feluda’, a book on Feluda, the famous Bengali detective created by his father that throws light on the background stories of all Feluda movies and telefilms.

He is also ready with his next movie on the sleuth series called ‘Gorosthaney Sabdhan’. ‘This story is ‘Gorosthaney Sabdhan’. This is absolutely a Kolkata story. This is the first Feluda story set entirely in Kolkata; so it will be something different,’ he said.

‘Like in my previous films in the series, Sabyasachi Chakroborti is playing Feluda, Bibhu Bhattacharya is playing Jatayu. But this time Saheb Bhattacharya is playing the role of Topshe because Parambrata Chakraborty has gone to Bristol for higher studies,’ said Sanidp Ray.

The film is slated to release in December.

‘Sonar Kella’ (The Golden Fortress), ‘Jai Baba Felunath’, ‘Bombay er Bombete’, ‘Koilash-e Kelenkari’ and ‘Tintorettor Jishu’ are the popular novels in the Feluda series which have been adapted into films.

While ‘Sonar Kella’ and ‘Jai Baba Felunath’ were directed by Ray himself, the other three films were directed by Sandip Ray.

In the event, organised by the Cancer Patients Aid Association, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said people should come forth and help the cancer patients financially and personally also.

“I think everybody should come forth, contribute in whichever way, in whatever manner you can, to help fund the treatment of people, be it children or whoever the people in need because cancer is a big fight and I think it is something that”s an ongoing fight with a large part of the human community. So, do whatever you can, financially, personally in spending time, in being there and lending support and strength,” said Aishwarya.

Bachchan was seen dancing with cancer patients to the tunes of songs from her movies.

Akshay Kumar was surprised to see the children dancing and was even more amazed to see their stamina.

“Today I felt very good after looking at them (children) dance and even looking at their stamina. I have a very old relation with cancer as my father had cancer, So, I can feel the pain,” said Kumar. (ANI)

‘This year over 10.5 lakh (1.05 million) jobs are being created across sectors but one crore (10 million) aspirants are coming into the market,’ managing director and CEO of Ma Foi Randstad K. Pandia Rajan said Wednesday.

Ma Foi Randstad, an international human resource service provider, conducted the survey among 650 companies across 13 industry segments in eight Indian cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad.

The survey revealed that 418,564 jobs were generated in the first six months of 2010.

‘The study also projected creation of 320,400 jobs the next three months (third quarter of the year) and an equal number for the fourth quarter too, taking the total job creation to over one million this year,’ Rajan said, releasing the findings of the survey.

The economic meltdown hit the global market early 2007, resulting in loss of thousands of jobs and cut down on hiring. Indian IT/ITes companies put hiring on hold in 2008 and 2009.

‘The market has not returned to the same buoyancy of pre-recession days,’ said the CEO of HumanCapital B.S. Murthy. The Bangalore based firm is into career consulting.

‘It has slowed down, and hence less number of jobs and more seekers,’ he said.

Murthy said the trend is likely to continue for a decade unless there is growth in every sector in India.

While information technology and enabled services, mainly business processing office (BPO) and call centres, created a major chunk of jobs five years ago, the retail and telecom industry added numbers in recent years, he noted.

The job generation depends on investment and the investment is only in trickles, Murhty said.

‘The difficulty, however, is limited only to the freshers,’ Kris Lakshmikanth, the founder of The Head Hunters, said.

‘It is easy for those who have already been in the industry and are looking for a placement in a different company,’ he added.

‘There has been a steep rise in the number of models coming to me for cosmetic treatments in the last 10 days. Most of them want to take care of their look before the Lakme Fashion Week,’ cosmetologist Rashmi Shetty told IANS.

‘This is the modelling season. All models want to get their faces cleaned, treat their under eye skin and take care of their frown lines,’ she added.

Modelling is such a profession that models are expected to glow and shine all the time.

According to cosmetologist Falguni Shah, the number of models coming to her at this time has increased in the last three-four years.

‘Earlier, models used to approach us mostly for hair removals and tummy tucks and liposuctions, but now they go in for a lot more.

‘This is probably because earlier they were just concerned about how they looked on the ramp, but now they get clicked a lot, so they don’t want any scar and don’t want to look tired in the pictures,’ she said.

Looking good is not easy for models who face several skin problems. For instance, due to the constant pull of the skin, there are active wrinkles on the face. These are called frown lines.

When models pose on the ramp, the flash of cameras and harsh lights also lead to frown lines. To get rid of these, they usually go in for Botox, which helps them get a fresh look.

They also have sunken eyes because of fatigue and it gives a very tired look. This is a common problem among models due to their tight schedule.

Hence, they go in for fillers that help in rejuvenating under eye skin and covering stress levels.

Other quick fix procedures in demand are higher cheek bones, lip jobs, eyebrow shaping, skin rejuvenation and jaw line shaping.

‘The most sought after procedure ahead of such occasions is Botox treatment to get rid of frown lines or other wrinkles and age sign on the face. Then comes procedure like lip augmentation and face lift through dermal fillers,’ said Surjeet Kaur Bava, cosmetologist at the Ultra Slim Laser Clinic.

Apart from these, one treatment that has really caught on among models is Botox treatment for the neck.

‘Models have to wear a lot of off-shoulder dresses. In such a situation, it is important for them that their neck looks beautiful.

‘For this they have started going for Botox treatment in the neck area, which is a relatively newer concept. After the treatment, the neck looks longer and slender,’ said Shah who gets close to three-four cases every day.

This treatment costs close to Rs.8,000-12,000.

‘We are in the show business and we have to look our best at every public appearance. And occasions like Lakme Fashion Week are really a career turner for many. So we just can’t afford to leave any flaw in our beauty. It has to be at its best,’ said a model on condition of anonymity.

Husain, keen to return to India which he left in 2006, is hyperactive, creative and sprightly as ever, say friends in the capital, who are constantly in touch with him.

Composer A.R. Rahman is setting the music for the multi-media art work by the maverick artist, who owns at least 12 racers.

Husain is also paying a tribute to the glorious history of Bollywood – the tinsel city that shot him to fame – with a large mural-format series in canvas on the history of Indian cinema – right from the days of Dadasaheb Phalke.

‘Husain wants to return home, but the situation is such that it is not possible for him to come back. He did not want to leave, circumstances forced him. It is a terrible thing to have happened to a man as active and spirited as him,’ well-known artist, designer and photographer Ram Rahman told IANS.

Rahman said Husain was working round-the-clock.

‘He is full of unbelievable energy at 95. He is currently making a sound installation of four life-size Murano glass horses that will be placed along side his fleet of racing cars in a giant solid art composition. He has recorded the engine sounds of the vehicle and asked composer A.R. Rahman to create a soundtrack for the installation from the tape,’ Rahman said.

Husain is right now in London, supervising the sculptures of horses in Venice.

Born Sep 17, 1915 in Pandharpur in Madhya Pradesh, Husain moved to Mumbai at the age of 20 to study at the J.J. College of Art. He supported himself and family by painting cinema posters in the 1940s and 1950s.

‘We were paid barely four or six annas per square foot. That is – for a 6X10 feet canvas, we earned a few rupees. Apart from the New Theatre, others did not pay us at all,’ the artist recalled in his autobiography.

The artist relocated to the United Arab Emirates in 2006 in self-imposed exile after rightwing Hindu groups in the country objected to ‘offensive portrayal of Hindu deities in his art’.

It led to several legal suits against him.

In March, the artist surrendered his Indian passport and accepted citizenship of Doha that the Sheikh (ruler) and his wife offered to him as a gesture of appreciation of his work. He was commissioned to make several high-value art pieces for the Doha Museum.

While the artist completes one more commissioned work for Doha, the Indian capital was Friday also paying him a colourful tribute.

A series of paintings, ‘Husain ki kahani-hamari zubaani’ (Husain’s life in our words), is giving a new meaning to his life on his birthday.

More than 100 students of the fine arts department of Jamia Millia Islamia Centre for Learning will paint footages of Husain’s life in a series inspired by the artist’s autobiography in Hindi, ‘Husain ki kahani, Apni Zubaani’ at the M.F. Husain Gallery in Jamia Millia Islamia.

The project is a collaboration between SAHMAT and the institute.

A photo-booth with a cutout of Husain, designed like the old studios of the 1970s is providing his fans an opportunity to be photographed with the icon – who has carried Indian contemporary art across the world.

The photographs will be presented to him by Rahman at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha Sep 22.

The outpouring love, praise and admiration for the artist was spontaneous at the gallery.

Old fans miss him in India.

‘M.F. Husain is still the greatest Indian artist. At 95, he needs to come home. What has happened to him is a tragedy perpetrated by a miniscule of rabble rousing culturally defunct people, who are known to create such phenomenon. Art is after all art, some one has to buy it,’ yesteryear actress and social activist Nafisa Ali told IANS.

Thirty-one-year-old Baby Chowdhary’s husband Shyamsunder, a biscuit factory worker, was grievously injured in a blast carried out by Pakistani terrorists in Vile Parle on the night of 26/11. He recovered only to fall very sick again six months ago.

‘Every day is like a struggle for me. For the last six months, I have been practically begging for money from people I know. Apart from the huge medical bills for my husband’s treatment, I have to support a family of eight, including myself,’ Baby told IANS.

‘I am desperately looking for a job so that I will have a regular income,’ she added.

Shyamsunder had almost recovered from his multiple injuries and he was earning from his job as a packaging worker at the factory. That was six months ago. Then he developed a brain disability that left him paralysed.

‘The right side of his brain has stopped functioning due to some infection and doctors say the infection is spreading to the left side of the brain too. Chances of recovery or survival appear bleak,’ Baby said.

She is thankful that the education of her two children, Varun, 10, and Shikha, 6, is being funded by the Taj Group, which provided relief to victims of the attack.

Congress legislator from Vile Parle constituency Krishna Hegde has committed to supporting her in any possible manner.

‘I am trying to find Baby a suitable job so that a regular income, whatever little, is generated. I have also written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, asking for funds from the chief minister’s relief fund,’ Hegde told IANS.

On the fateful night of Nov 26, 2008, Shyamsunder had left his home from Sambhaji Nagar slum in suburban Vile Parle for work at the Parle biscuit factory close by. He was on the night shift. As soon as he reached the main road, Shyamsunder blacked out after a deafening explosion in a taxi, the roof of which hit him on his right shoulder.

Residents of Sambhaji Nagar also heard the explosion, rushed to the spot and took him and other injured people to the hospital.

In January this year, Shyamsunder’s health started to deteriorate again.

He started complaining of his hands going weak and frequent pins and needles sensation.

‘He also started to stutter and we could not follow what he said. The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) detected an earlier injury,’ Baby said.

In May, doctors detected a blood clot in his brain and pressure on a nerve. Suddenly, one day he developed fits and was paralysed.

Shyamsunder cannot even speak for himself. All he does is to stare at the walls of his small room and shed some tears every now and then.

He is entirely on a liquid diet, which costs a lot of money. ‘He has been advised to survive on fruits like apples and bananas. Doctors tell me I should give him biscuits mashed in milk,’ Baby said.

‘Where do I get the money to buy fruits that are so expensive?’ she asks.

Before the attacks, the family of eight was solely dependent on Shyamsunder’s earnings. With mounting medical bills, Baby says the compensation of Rs.50,000 is not enough. Besides, the couple and their two children, the family includes Shyamsunder’s parents and his two sisters.

The 60-hour audacious attack that began on the night of Nov 26, 2008, and went on till the afternoon of Nov 29, 2009, was carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, including Ajmal Amir Kasab, who has since been sentenced to death.

They targeted sites like the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, the iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, the nearby Hotel Oberoi-Trident, the Cama Hospital and the Chabad House, a Jewish prayer centre, and Leopold Cafe, a popular hangout, killing more than 170 people.

Farah and Talwar will battle it out when their films ‘Tees Maar Khan’ and ‘Happi’ respectively hit the screens in December. This is the first time this year that two woman-directed films will release the same day, Dec 24.

But none of the directors is fretting.

‘I think it’s a matter of great pride that two movies by two female directors are releasing on the same date in India. Women directors have been few and far between in Bollywood – but this goes to show a positive trend,’ Talwar told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Over the years, a lot of women directors like Meghna Gulzar, Reema Kagti, Sooni Taraporewala, Leena Yadav, Pooja Bhatt, Zoya Akhtar, Anusha Rizvi and Rajshree Ojha, apart from Talwar and Farah, have tasted success.

Choreographer-turned-director Farah, who has given blockbusters like ‘Main Hoon Na’ and ‘Om Shanti Om’, says one shouldn’t make it a gender issue any more.

‘I really think we should stop judging people by their gender and (judge them) only by their work,’ Farah told IANS.

Farah’s ‘Tees Maar Khan’, starring money- spinning on-screen couple Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, is expected to be yet another potboiler, while Talwar’s ‘Happi’ is the simple story of a man, played by veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor, who doesn’t expect much from life.

According to Talwar, whose debut film ‘Dharm’ took the Nargis Dutt award for the best feature film on national integration at the 2007 National Film Awards ceremony, there is no comparison between the two films as the genres are completely different.

‘It is no clash at all. There is no comparison between Farah’s film and my project. Her film will be a commercial blockbuster, and mine is a sweet, simple film,’ said Talwar.

‘I don’t think my film will lose out anything. So many films are releasing on a single Friday these days. It is near impossible to get a free weekend. So then why be afraid of competition? I just hope people like my film,’ she added.

Though she is expecting critical acclaim for ‘Happi’, Talwar is also ‘crossing her fingers, legs and toes’ for good commercial success.

‘Both things matter to me – commercial success and critical acclaim. What’s the point in getting commercial success if people write bad things about a film? So, I want the best of all,’ said Talwar.

Incidentally, Sameer Karnik’s ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’ will also release Dec 24. The film stars Dharmendra and his two sons – Sunny and Bobby Deol.

Christmas time is a period that has proved most successful for actor-producer Aamir Khan. He scored a hat-trick with ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Ghajini’ and ’3 Idiots’, released in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively, around the same time. All of them set the cash registers ringing.

But one has to wait and watch which one of ‘Happi’ and ‘Tees Maar Khan’ takes away the lion’s share at the box office this December.

‘A six-member team had come to Amritsar to conduct recce as President Barack Obama is expected to visit India in November. They inspected various tourist spots, important roads and Sikh shrines in the district today (Wednesday),’ K.S. Pannu, deputy commissioner of police, Amritsar, told IANS.

‘But this is not confirmation that Obama will come to Amritsar. After evaluating various parameters and security arrangements, they will decide the places where the US president will actually go. Now the team has left for Mumbai,’ said Pannu.

The team, consisting of security personnel and officials of the US embassy, also visited the holy Sikh shrine, Harmandar Sahib, here, which is popularly known as the Golden Temple.

The team members also met senior officials of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), which manages the Golden Temple and other Sikh shrines in the state.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar was quite enthusiastic about Obama’s visit to India.

‘We are very happy and all set to welcome Obama at the Golden Temple,’ Makkar said here late Wednesday.

‘If he comes here, then we would raise various key issues related to Sikhs, who are residing in the US. There has been an increase in incidents of hate crimes targeting Sikhs mistaken for fundamentalist Muslims in the US,’ Makkar said.

A senior official of the Golden Temple said the US team visited every nook and corner of the shrine.

“It was a very sad moment. I see people burning a more than 100-year-old institution, which is for their own education, their own society,” Durani lamented.

Durani is a third generation student of the Tyndale Biscoe School. His father M.K. Durani and grandfather S.M. Durani were students in the same institution.

For more than a century, the elite Tyndale Biscoe School has served as a cradle of education for the who”s who of the state, including Union Minister and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, former chief ministers” Mir Qasim and Ghulam
Mohammad Shah.

Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani”s right-hand man and the frontrunner in the ongoing stone-pelting campaign, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Musrat Alam was also a student at the same institution.

In fact, this year”s Union Public Service Commission examination topper, Shah Faisal, is also an alumni of the Tyndale Biscoe School.

The main branch of the school is located at Lal Chowk in the heart of Srinagar, which is nearly 130 years old, and its branch, which was set ablaze by a mob yesterday, is located in Tanmarg.

A nostalgic Durani recalled that this is not the first time that the institution has been targeted by radicals. IN the early 1980s, stones were thrown at the the school over Palestine-related protests.

Durani takes pride in telling that it was at the Tyndale Biscoe school that football was introduced in the valley.

“Kashmiri Brahmins don”t touch leather. There were no facilities in the state at that point of time, and Bisco School introduced football. Biscoe school had a swimming pool from time immemorial, and it used to organize a very popular boat race at the Dal Lake called “Reggata,” he said.

The Tyndale Biscoe School also has the distinction of being listed with FIFA.

Durani is not the only one upset about the attack on the school. Kamal Haq, a student who passed out of the school in 1971, and is now residing in New Delhi, said: “I spent twelve years at the Tyndale Biscoe School. Whosoever studied in that glorious institution was extremely proud. It was extremely sad and shocking to hear that an institution with more than 100 years of history was vandalized and bore the brunt of the violence.” (ANI)

The 30-scrip sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 19,218.13 points, was at 19,352.28 points – 0.75 percent up from its previous close at 19,208.33 points.

The Sensex was earlier seen at this level before Jan 18, 2008.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.76 percent higher at 5,803.9 points.

Broader markets indices were also in the green with the BSE midcap 0.52 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.59 percent higher.

The 30-share index of the BSE surged by 287.69 points to 19,087.35 in opening trade. It had risen by 132.95 points in the previous session.

The upbeat investor sentiment also propelled the wide- based National Stock Exchange (NSE) index Nifty past the 5,700-mark.

The Nifty gained 83.60 points to 5723.65 in the early trade today. (ANI)

Neetu has reportedly been approached to appear on the show, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

‘I’m yet to confirm this news with Neetu. I haven’t spoken to her, as I’m aware that she is in rehearsals today and her phone would be on silent mode,’ said the actress’ spokesperson in a release.

Neetu and Veena made headlines when the latter accused Neetu of having direct links with her ex-boyfriend and Pakistani bowler Mohammad Asif, who is currently embroiled in a match fixing controversy.

Kajol and Ajay Devgn got married in 1999.

Kajol, who recently featured as a doting mother in Karan Johar’s ‘We Are Family’, gave birth to the child at 9.20 a.m at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, a source close to the couple told IANS.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,845.31 points, was at 19,074.29 points, 274.63 points or 1.46 percent up from its previous close at 18,799.66 points.

The Sensex was earlier seen at this level in Jan 2008.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 1.36 percent higher at 5,716.55 points.

Broader markets indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap 0.74 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.94 percent higher.

Asian markets were ruling higher after China released its industrial output data over the weekend, which showed a stronger than expected 13.9 percent rise in industrial production.

‘I was raised around the world. I wasn’t raised in America but my work has been there and you start wanting to draw from where you come from. There is a limit to that and that’s what it is,’ Sarita, 44, told IANS in an interview here.

‘I want my life to match my work now. I don’t want to work and then travel. I want to be at one place,’ added the New York-based half-Bengali, half English actress.

‘I want to (shift base to India). People think I don’t want to come back. They think I want to be in America as it has been really good to me. But I need something more culturally rich now,’ said Sarita, who travels everywhere with her seven-year-old daughter Maria.

So any deadline for the move? ‘I’d like to do it soon,’ she said. ‘I think I should do it soon.’

Sarita, who was also seen in Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’ apart from ‘Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love’, is in the country to promote her latest outing ‘For Real’. But she has been to India many times earlier.

‘My parents live in Kolkata so I come every year. I’ve been to (film) festivals; so I do end up coming but always for a short period.’

However, it is film capital Mumbai that has caught her fancy.

‘I haven’t been out on the streets enough, but even driving through (there)… I just love it. Bombay is a port city – it smells of sailors and ships and palm trees and dirt – it just has everything beautiful,’ she said.

‘Bombay is kind of tropical and then there is the film industry. Everyone is out late at night and there is so much action going on. There is life in your face there.

‘For an actor, it is a very interesting place to pick things from and put into your role…which is why I kind of like New York,’ she added.

So is Bollywood the next destination?

‘I would do Bollywood, but I don’t know if I could do that – the dance, the singing, the kind of flirting with your eyes, the outfits…But I guess it’s changing. I can totally do the independent cinema here.’

Having worked with Mira Nair, is she aware about other Indian filmmakers?

‘Sudhir Mishra, Vishal (Bharadwaj) and Anurag (Kashyap). I’ve met them at festivals in other countries but I am never there long enough. Every time I say I’m interested (in a project), I then leave. So no one really thought I’m serious.

‘So what I have really thought to do is to take six months, come and live here and just be available,’ said Sarita.

She also conceded it was time she learnt an Indian language.

‘I have decided now that it’s time I learnt Bengali may be…but Hindi would be useful,’ said the actress who speaks French, Italian and English.

Her upcoming project ‘For Real’ has been written, directed and produced by debutant Sona Jain. Shot in Delhi and New York, the English language movie is about an imaginative six-year-old girl, who, because of the ensuing depression in her parents’ life, starts believing her mother (Sarita) is an alien from a different galaxy. Having won laurels across the world festival circuit, it is releasing here Friday.

‘It is really interesting because it’s from her (the child’s) perspective and how they use fantasy to deal with real issues…It’s an important film for people living here (India),’ said Sarita.

As for her future projects, ‘I am trying to work more in India and Europe now and try and give some time to that,’ said the actress, who also plans to pen a script some day.

The CBI alleged that Pacheco entered into a criminal conspiracy with two persons– Pedro Antonio Joanes and Daniel Raymong Fernandes– along with other unknown people during 2007-2008.

They obtained crew member visas from the US consulate in Mumbai in the names of Joanes and Fernandes, besides other unknown persons on the basis of forged documents and facilitated their travel to the US

The investigation agency has so far come across two such cases, but they suspect that more people were sent using the same modus operandi.

The agency also fears that documentary evidence against Pacheco and his men could have been destroyed after media reports of his involvement in trafficking and money laundering.

Earlier on July 23, the Goa police arrested Pacheco for his role in a forgery case filed against him by his estranged wife Sara.

Sara, had filed four different cases of forgery against Pacheco in January 2009 in which she had accused him of selling her properties by forging her signature. (ANI)

‘The project, estimated to cost Rs.6,930 crore, would be financed with a debt of Rs.5,544 crore and an equity of Rs.1,386 crore,’ said the company in a regulatory filing.

A consortium of 14 banks and financial institutions with ICICI Bank in the lead are providing the debt required for the project.

The company’s shares are currently trading at Rs.70.80, up by Rs.1.95 or 2.83 percent. The scrip touched an intra-day high of Rs.71.05 and a low of Rs.69.40.

Siddharth’s mother was rushed to Lilavati Hospital Tuesday morning.

Discernibly distressed, Siddharth said: ‘My mom had been under some pain for a few days now. We suspected it to be a kidney stone and took her to a hospital. It was discovered that she was suffering from acute pneumonia.’

Siddharth’s producer Karan Johar was one of the first well-wishers to arrive at the hospital.

Gradually, friends, relatives and well-wishers from the film industry began trickling in at Leelavati. And it truly felt like family for the ‘We Are Family’ director.

The past week has been confusing for Siddharth. ‘I am told the young don’t connect with family films anymore. So should we all just make young romantic films?’ he said.

However, Salman’s brother Arbaaz who produces the film disagrees. ‘I think Salman has publicised ‘Dabangg’ as much as his last film ‘Veer’. It’s just that the media got interested in ‘Dabangg’ and splashed stories on it. We didn’t ask for it.’

Arbaaz Khan can’t stop preening about his wife Malaika Arora Khan’s triumphant item song in ‘Dabangg’.

‘I’m so glad my wife’s song ‘Munni badnaam hui’ is as big as ‘Kajra re’ and ‘Beedi jalai le’,’ says Arbaaz, barely able to keep the pride out of his voice as the song climbs up the charts.

‘Honestly I am not going to say I am taken aback by the success of ‘Munni badnaam hui’. We had designed it to be a blockbuster item song,’ he said.

‘Dabangg’ is the family film for the Khans. ‘My sister (Alvira) has done the clothes. My brother Sohail has helped me with the production and my wife is the co-producer. It’s a product from the Khan family. And we’re very proud of it.’

Arbaaz is very confident of ‘Dabangg’. ‘It could be the biggest hit of the year. Or it could be the one of the biggest hits of all time. Who knows?,’ he hoped.

Bollywood Tourism is a company that organises tours so that film enthusiasts can get a peek into the world of the Hindi movie industry. It is proving to be a big draw for Indians as well as tourists from the Middle East, Britain and the US.

‘Mumbai as a tourist destination does not have enough to satiate the entertainment quotient of tourists while on the other hand Bollywood has been making waves the world over. This is what made us marry tourism with Bollywood,’ Mitali Joshi, coodinator of Bollywood Tourism, told IANS.

‘Our market research, which covered hotels and tour operators, only confirmed the idea.’

Their tours take people to see the homes of actors like Amitabh, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh, and Rekha – albeit from the outside, and to film sets like R.K. Studios and Film City.

In the US too, Universal Studios organises day tours, taking movie buffs around sets and historic Hollywood locations.

Apparently, Yash Raj Films (YRF), credited with popularising Switzerland in India by shooting its films there, offers its fans a YRF Enchanted Journey.

It gives consumers an opportunity to visit the original sites and locations in Switzerland used by the studio for its films like ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, ‘Mohabbatein’, ‘Veer-Zaara’, ‘Chandni’, ‘Darr’ and ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’.

Bollywood Tourism partners with Big ND Studios, Balaji Films’ production house, Whistling Woods film school, Anupam Kher’s acting school, make-up and hair stylists Bharat & Dorris and celebrity photographer Jeetu Savlani.

‘We launched this product in February this year after spending one year building relationships and fine-tuning the product. Our tours have become very popular. Till date, we have taken almost 400 tourists on various Bollywood tours,’ revealed Joshi.

‘Before we threw open the product to the market, we conducted a recce with India’s top in-bound tour operators and hotel concierge. We have also implemented their feedback. On an average, we entertain around 100-150 customers per month,’ she added.

Bollywood tourism is not just famous among the people of the country, it also interests foreigners and NRIs visiting India.

‘After Indians, we get our maximum tourists from the the Middle East, Germany, France, Britain, the US and Canada,’ said Joshi.

‘We organise full- and half- day tours. The full- day tour costs Rs.7,000 ($150) per person while the half-day tour costs Rs.5,800 ($125) per person,’ she added.

There is no specific age-group that opts for these customised tours, people of all ages go in for them. ‘We get requests from all ages. Ranging from youngsters to middle aged couples,’ informed Joshi.

A banker, who attended one of the tours earlier this month, said: ‘Bollywood has always been one of my main interests; so when I got to know about this tour, I immediately went in for it. I never imagined I would get such a close view, it was all so accessible.’

So if you want to experience the glitz and glamour of Bollywood like never before, you know where to go.

The National School of Drama (NSD) is contributing to the performing arts with its panorama of regional festivals and stand-alone plays.

The NSD will host two festivals – Jashne Bachpan and Bal Sangam – of children’s theatre between Oct 4 and 15 as part of the cultural package for the Games. These are otherwise held in November.

At least 600 children from all over the country will stage their respective traditional theatres – in formats of dance and drama – at Bal Sangam while 27 theatre troupes will take part in Jashne Bachpan.

‘We have invited one troupe each from Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan and Germany for the festival,’ said NSD spokesperson A.K. Barua.

A new award for vernacular theatre has been announced by the LNJ Bhilwara Group in the capital this week to boost the fortunes of the language genres, otherwise threatened by television and Bollywood.

The Bhilwara Natya Puraskar announced Monday carries a purse of Rs.200,000 and Rs.100,000 for two outstanding plays scripted and staged in Hindi.

‘We will award two plays from a list of three – ‘Chanakya’ (directed by Mumbai-based Manoj Joshi), ‘Main Rahi Masoom’ (directed by Bhaskar Shewalkar of Rangadhara) and ‘Ambedkar and Gandhi’ (directed by Amrit Gaur and produced by Asmita Theatre),’ said chairman emeritus of LNJ Bhilwara Group L.N. Jhunjhunwala.

‘The plays will be staged at Sri Ram Theatre in November,’ said the theatre connoisseur.

A screening panel comprising Bansi Kaul and Suresh Sharma, associated with the NSD, shortlisted the three plays from a list of 100.

‘The award will resuscitate the genre that has the potential to convey a powerful social message,’ Jhunjhunwala said.

Bharat Gupta, an academic who has been associated with the capital’s Hindi stage for nearly four decades, said: ‘Theatre now needs more creative talent to cling on to our traditions and folk legacies in the deluge of globalisation.

‘It must free itself from the influences of popular Bollywood culture.’

The annual northeast theatre festival from Sep 6 to 16 at the NSD has been timed keeping in view the Oct 3-14 Games.

‘It showcases the rich diversity of stage tradition from the region. This year we are hosting the festival in Delhi as a prelude to the Commonwealth Games. We are planning another festival of northeastern regional theatre, Octave, in November,’ NSD’s Barua said.

The panorama features contemporary language plays like ‘Guti Phulor Gamusa’, ‘Moirang Parva’ and ‘Sita Haran Bali Badh’ from the region.

Two stand-alone plays ‘The Little Big Tragedies’ and ‘Begum ka Takiya’ compensate for the lack of adult theatre in the NSD package, Barua said.

The Delhi government will present ‘Kaifi Aur Mein’, a play featuring Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar as part of the Delhi Celebrates cultural gala for the Games.

Former NSD director Mohan Maharishi told IANS: ‘A lot of good theatre is flourishing outside the NSD that should be recognised and regional repertory company artistes should be treated as professional actors.’

‘I receive several calls from IIT and IIM students who seek my advice on the feasibility of joining the stage as professionals. But the industry is unorganised.’

He is currently rehearsing for a play, ‘Andha Yug’, directed Bhanu Bharti. It will be staged at the Feroze Shah Kotla complex in November.

The modern avatar of Indian language theatre can be traced back to the 19th century with productions like ‘Harishchandra’. In the 1850s, amateur troupes, inspired by Western styles, began to perform plays in their own languages across the country.

While Mumbai hosted Marathi and Gujarati plays, stalwarts like Girish Ghosh and the Tagore clan in Bengal popularised plays about the Indian sensibilities of that time. The movement subsequently spread north and south.

The dynamics of indigenous theatre changed in the 20th century with the formation of the Indian People’s Theatre Association in 1922. Theatre became a source of livelihood, political struggle and experimentation.

Vijay Kumar, 40, who was arrested at Houston airport Aug 20 after being found carrying the prohibited item and ‘jihadist’ literature Wednesday pleaded ‘no contest’ to a misdemeanour weapons charge in exchange for time served.

A resident of Malad in Mumbai, Kumar was sentenced to 20 days in jail and given credit for time served. Kumar agreed to the plea deal to avoid further jail time and immigration charges.

‘He’s just a victim of circumstance,’ said his attorney Grant Scheiner. ‘They should have just dismissed the case once they found out he had relied on a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) website,’ he said.

‘He’d even checked the TSA regulations on the Internet and was told it was OK to transport brass knuckles as long as they were in your checked-in bags,’ the attorney said.

But as brass knuckles aren’t legal in Texas, Kumar who was on his way to Vancouver, Canada, to attend a peace conference at the invitation of a Hindu organisation was charged with carrying a prohibited weapon.

The judge ordered his passport seized, federal authorities revoked his visa and then immigration held him in Harris County jail for failure to have a passport.

‘I don’t think he ever wants to come back to America again,’ Scheiner said.

Kumar will be returned to federal detention where he is expected to be processed and ‘voluntarily deported’ back to India.

‘I was so scared. What is going on with me? But after that I feel if I am not wrong, then their people cannot do anything wrong with me,’ Kumar told Houston’s KTRK-TV.

‘Because I am making a documentary on Jihadist terrorism, I have been doing the research on this subject for the last four or five years,’ he said explaining why was carrying books on Jihadism in his luggage.

‘We Hindus are facing the same problems Americans are facing with the Jiihadic people,’ he said. ‘So they should recognise us. If they harass us in their country what will the image of America become in my country.’

Pakhi has acted in her husband Abbas Tyrewala’s directorial ‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’ which she also wrote.

‘I wrote this script for John when I was in college. But at that time, he wasn’t available. Then after my marriage, Abbas had gone to talk to John for another project…that’s when he happened to mention this. And John immediately said ‘I’m on’. There was no chance to think of anybody else for the role. It was always John from the beginning,’ said Pakhi.

‘Just like every crazy fan, even I used to collect a lot of pictures of John and even my mobile caller tune used to be his song ‘Aawaarapan’ (from ‘Jism’). It was my dream to work with him,’ the 26-year-old said.

So what happens when a star-struck girl meets her idol and gets to work with him too?

‘When I finally got the chance, I realised he has no starry tantrums…he is just truly and superbly inspiring to work with,’ Pakhi told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

‘Jhootha Hi Sahi’, set for an October release, is a romantic comedy about Siddharth (John) – a compulsive liar – who causes conflict in his own story of love with Nishka (Pakhi).

The protagonist is a boy-next-door, who wears average clothes, has a paunch and even wears bulky spectacles – a complete contrast to John’s reel-life image.

‘It used to be quite interesting to think how John, who is among the best looking men in Asia, would play a guy who has the most average looks. But he did it. Believe it or not, within five minutes of the film, you will forget you are watching John Abraham,’ she said.

The 26-year-old, who has earlier acted in Hansal Mehta’s ‘Ye Kya Ho Raha Hai’, says she is amazed at the actor’s humbleness.

‘John used to stand up and give cues for all actors irrespective of whether he is in the shot or not. Now who does that? There was an emotional scene on one bridge and I was extremely nervous about shooting it. But he came forward and encouraged me by saying very inspiring words. He knew everyone’s name on the sets…he is a completely fantastic person,’ she said.

Wasn’t hubby Abbas ever jealous?

‘Abbas did make me change my caller tune ‘Aawaarapan’ back then, but not because he was jealous. He was just concerned that his casting director for ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ couldn’t have that as her caller tune!

‘We weren’t dating then. But jokes apart, Abbas is a very secure person and he has no problems with my male friends. He understands…,’ she said.

Working with her husband on this film was a refreshing change for Pakhi.

‘Abbas never had any problems with me working in films or with him. But he was apprehensive if I will be able to keep personal and professional relationship separate. Neither of us carried our relationship to the sets. For me he was just ‘sir’ while shooting.

And Abbas can be a strict taskmaster too!!

‘As for my script, he made me rewrite it eight times before approving it and then asked me to back off from it completely. But I am happy with the outcome,’ the actor said.

‘My idea of these spiritual clinics came about when I lectured on the subject of self-actualisation some time ago. So many of us, specially from the small towns, suffer from low self-esteem,’ Anupam told IANS.

‘When I came to Mumbai to become an actor I was made to feel small about everything, from my broken English to my lack of table manners. That’s when I realised I don’t need people’s approval. I need to like myself, be comfortable with my own personality. That’s what the ‘Power Within’ workshops will strive to achieve,’ he said.

For starters, Anupam will enroll some of his colleagues from the film industry who admit to being low on self-worth.

The chain of workshops will go global after opening in India next year.

Anupam feels his play ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’ has taught him to value his failures as well as his successes.

An exhibition held Tuesday highlighted one endeavour by a painter to understand the importance of Anupam’s failures. ‘Geeta Dass did not paint me as a hero. She portrayed my failures in the exhibition. That’s what I liked,’ Anupam said.

The chief guest at the exhibition was none other than Amitabh Bachchan.

‘I didn’t have to ask him more than once. He immediately responded and agreed. What really sets the failures apart from their successes is the way you cope with time and people. Deriving pleasure in making people wait for your response is not a sign of importance. It just shows how small you are in your self-important space,’ Anupam said.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), opened deep in the red on negative Asian cues.

However, the index recouped the loss and was trading 44 points higher at 18,689.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty also trading in the positive territory after opening in the red. The index was 10 points higher at 5,614.

Broader markets indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap index trading 0.71 percent higher at 8,025 and the smallcap index ruling 1.03 percent up at 10,260.

The 20-year-old woman retracted her accusation last week before a special judge in a fast track court in Sewri where Shiney’s ‘in-camera’ trial is currently under way, an official source said Wednesday.

She also stated before the judge that she made the serious charge against Shiney allegedly because of pressure from a woman who introduced her to the actor, the official source said.

Confirming the developments, public prosecutor K.V. Dighe said the court has now declared the victim as a ‘hostile witness’, but the trial will continue.

However, in view of certain restrictions given the sensitive nature of the case, Dighe declined to go into details.

Shiney was accused of raping his domestic help at his Andheri West home here June 14, 2009.

He was arrested and spent 110 days in police and judicial custody in various jails before the Bombay High Court granted him bail on surety of Rs.50,000.

Incidentally, during the investigations and interrogation, Shiney had confessed to having consensual sex with the maid. He reportedly even confessed to having raped her.

The medical examinations, forensic reports on the incident and the DNA tests conducted on both Shiney and the victim suggested rape.

Following a nationwide furore over the incident and intervention by the National Commission of Women, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had ordered the transfer of the case from a regular court to a fast track court to ensure speedy justice for the victim.

While granting bail, Justice A.P. Deshpande imposed stringent conditions on Shiney, ordering him to live in New Delhi till the trial started in Mumbai, not to influence witnesses, deposit his passport with the police, and report regularly to a nearby police station while in the capital.

The case against Shiney will continue before the fast track court and the outcome would depend on the statements of other witnesses besides the evidence gathered against him.

About the victim, legal circles say that if she was found to have lied before the court, she could be liable for perjury and face appropriate action.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sep 15.

Set in the monsoon Mumbai season, the film revolves around intertwined lives of Aamir Khan (Arun in the lead role), and Monica Dogra (NRI girl Shai) and Prateik Babbar (washerboy Munna).

Praising director Kiran Rao and her husband Aamir Khan in the lead role for doing a ‘terrific, terrific job,” Bailey told IANS: ”Dhobi Ghat’ is really not a masala move. It has no song, no dancing. It’s really an independent film – a story that’s a love letter to Mumbai, it’s very much about the people of Mumbai. And it has Aamir Khan in a role of an artist that you often don’t see him in – he has done a terrific job. The film’s three intertwined stories really give you the feel, the texture of Mumbai today.”

Asked why he picked up the film for the festival, he said, ‘I love the film – it’s that simple. I have talking to them for months. When I saw it in July in Mumbai, I fell in love with it. It is very beautifully done. It’s very provocative, romantic. It really captures the feel of Mumbai – the things I love about the city, the vibrancy of the place, the feel of its streets, and the people. And it all happens in the monsoon season so that you get the texture of the rain, and how it feels to be there at that time of the year.”

Bailey added, ‘It is a film of great ambition – it is doing things that we don’t see in Indian cinema very often. Then you have Aamir Khan – who I think is really one of the national treasures of India – in the lead role. All these things combined made it a movie we had to have here.”

With ‘Dhobi Ghat,’ the Toronto film festival boss said, Kiran Rao has made a dream directorial debut.

‘This is her first directorial effort, though she has been working on films for years. I think she is part of a generation of filmmakers that we are seeing come up now in India – a new school in international cinema. This generation is not making films out of the Indian commercial cinema context, but making films that are referencing American independent cinema or European cinema or Asian cinema.

‘Kiran has talked to me about being influenced by a couple of Asian film makers – Tsai-Ming Liang from Taiwan and Wong Kar-wai from Hong Kong. So I find that there is now a kind of dialogue happening among filmmakers in different parts of the world.”

He said, ”Dhobi Ghat’ is a film that will work on the international stage, and I think she (Kiran) is a super talented filmmaker.”

Apart from ‘Dhobi Ghat,’ Anurag Kashyap’s ‘The Girl in Yellow Boots’ is another main Indian entry at this year’s film festival.

Manoj Srivastava, the chief executive officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), which conducts the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), has countered Devgn’s claim to the media Tuesday that smoking was permissible in the ESG complex.

The actor was found smoking in the ESG complex in May this year and subsequently fined Rs.100 for violating the provisions of the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COPTA).

‘We have displayed proper boards there. As per the law, it is banned to smoke there. Devgn must not have seen the boards,’ Srivastava told reporters.

Devgn was shooting for ‘Once upon a time in Mumbai’ when he was photographed in smoking in the complex. After the photographs appeared in a local newspaper, the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), a vigilante group, complained to the police and the state health authorities.

After nearly five months of the complaint, the actor was fined Rs.100 for the violation.

Reacting to the fine, Devgn Tuesday said: ‘I don’t want to discuss this but I would like to say that smoking was allowed in the place where I was doing that.’ The actor also said he was trying to get rid of the habit.

Speaking to IANS, Shekhar Salkar, general secretary of NOTE, which in the past has taken Bollywood’s leading men Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan to court for indirectly promoting smoking, said: ‘I am glad that Devgn knows there are places in Goa where smoking is prohibited. He should have verified with the people around whether it was a no-smoking zone he was standing in or not.’

The 20-year-old victim made the statement last week before a special judge in a fast track court in Sewri where Shiney’s ‘in-camera’ trial is currently under way.

She also claimed that she made the serious charge against Shiney allegedly because of some pressure from a woman who introduced her to the actor.

Confirming the developments, public prosecutor K.V. Dighe said the ourt has now declared the victim as a ‘hostile witness’, but the trial will continue.

However, in view of certain restrictions given the sensitive nature of the case, Dighe declined to go into details.

Shiney was accused of raping his domestic help at his Andheri West home June 14, 2009.

He was arrested and spent 110 days in police and judicial custody in various jails before the Bombay High Court granted him bail on surety of Rs.50,000.

Following a nationwide furore over the incident and intervention by the National Commission of Women, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had ordered the transfer of the case from a regular court to a fast track court to ensure speedy justice for the victim.

While granting bail, Justice A.P. Deshpande had imposed stringent conditions on ordering Shiney to live in New Delhi till the trial started in Mumbai, not to influence witnesses, deposit his passport with the police, and report regularly to a nearby police station while in the capital.

The case against Shiney will continue before the fast track court and the outcome would depend on the statements of other witnesses besides the evidence gathered against him.

About the victim, legal circles say that if she was found to have lied before the court, she could be liable for perjury and face appropriate action.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sep 15.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,571.73 points, was at 18,621.07 points, 61.02 points or 0.33 percent up from its previous close at 18,560.05 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.26 percent higher at 5,591.7 points.

Broader market indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap 0.46 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.73 percent higher.

Metals and auto scrips saw healthy buys.

‘When I select a film, I go with the script, I don’t see whether I’m doing a lead in the film or not. I’m quite secure about my career so these things don’t matter to me. If that was the case then I wouldn’t have done ‘Aisha’ at all,’ Abhay told reporters here.

When asked about his role in Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’, for which he had been shooting in Spain, the 34-year-old said he is glad Akhtar offered him this role.

‘This film is about three friends being played by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and myself. It’s a wonderful film and I’m glad that Zoya offered me this role. Also I got to work with Hrithik and Farhan, who are wonderful people – that was a bonus,’ said Abhay.

‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’, which is a story around male bonding, also stars Kalki Koechlin and Katrina Kaif.

The actor was speaking at an event here, where he was announced brand ambassador of Indian menswear brand Indian Terrain.

Throwing light on his success mantra, Abhay, who has done films like ‘Socha Na Tha’, ‘Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.’, ‘Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!’ and ‘Dev.D’ among others, revealed that to succeed in life it’s important to have a vision.

‘If you want to succeed in life, its very important to have a vision, to have an idea about what you want to achieve. You should also know about your pros and cons so that you can enhance your pros and work on your cons.

‘Another thing that works for me is that I’m not a competitive person. Competitive people lose their individuality trying to do what others are doing,’ he expressed.

The actor, who is the nephew of veteran actor Dharmendra, also informed that he doesn’t regret doing any of his films.

‘I have no regrets. I stand by all my films. Definitely I like some more than others, but have no regrets,’ he said.

‘I will never endorse a cigarette brand because that’s something very bad for health. Also I will never endorse Fair & Lovely because it makes the generation believe that you are nice and successful only if you are fair.

‘This is a very demeaning thing and I would never want to be a part of something like that,’ Abhay told reporters here.

However, the actor feels that there is nothing wrong in endorsing a liquor brand.

‘I have no problems in endorsing a liquor brand because there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Even the doctor says that if you have a drink sometimes, it doesn’t do anything to your body,’ he said.

‘If people don’t abuse it and drink responsibly, there is nothing wrong with it,’ he added.

Abhay was present at the event as the brand ambassador of Indian menswear brand Indian Terrain.

Asked about his style statement, the actor said: ‘In person, I don’t experiment a lot with my look. I like it subtle and simple. I’m a casual person and I like wearing jeans and t-shirt the most.’

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,124.29 points, was at 18,352.68 points, 131.25 points or 0.72 percent up from its previous close at 18,221.43 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.72 percent higher at 5,519.1 points.

Broader markets indices were also in the green, with the BSE midcap 0.87 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 1.04 percent higher.

Metals, IT, realty telecom scrips saw healthy buys. All 13 sectoral indices on the BSE were in the positive.

‘He (Sutherland) wants to come to India for charity work. He wants to see India and do social work. He is very keen to come here,’ Anil told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

‘He knew that I was associated with an NGO called Plan India; so he said ‘I’d love to come to India and take part in an activity for children there.’ So he might have a look at that,’ added Anil, 50, who plays Omar Hassan, president of a fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan (IRK), in the eighth and final season of the show.

Based in New York, the action thriller stars Sutherland in the lead as special federal agent Jack Bauer. Presented in the semblance of real time, each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer.

Despite sharing screen space with him for the first time, Anil was all praise for Sutherland who has been doing the show since 2001.

‘What I like about him is that he has been doing this for the last nine years, and still his commitment, energy, enthusiasm and the way he works on the sets, it looks as if this is his first season and he has just started his career. He has got that kind of commitment,’ said Anil, who shone on the global firmament with his performance in multiple Oscar-winning ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.

‘He (Sutherland) is still child-like and he wants to do his best despite working for so long on the same show. He brought a certain kind of freshness every time he gave a shot,’ he added.

Having shot the show in Los Angeles on and off for six months, Anil also imparted education about India to the ’24′ cast and crew.

‘They are so enamoured, curious and waiting to explore India. They are completely fascinated with our country.

‘I did my best to convince them, brief them and educate them and tell them about India as country, its people, religion and political scene as in how democratic we are like them. Then I briefed them about the entire Indian film industry – the fun and humour part of it and the serious part of it,’ said Anil.

’24′ premiered in India for the first time Aug 23 on AXN.

‘It is a fact that men don’t share their feelings with others because their cultural upbringing is like that. They keep it to themselves,’ Narendra Kinger, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, told IANS from Mumbai over phone.

‘Young men tend to experiment with their relationships a lot and when they fail they struggle to cope and sink into depression,’ he added.

The report says men in their 20s often lack a shoulder to cry on. If their partner is the only person they confide in, they are more emotionally vulnerable when that is taken away.

TV actor Gaurav Chopra, who broke off with Narayani Shastri, says everyone has their own threshold of pain and tolerance, but admits women have a social circle to help them cope.

‘The sense of individuality and freedom among women with the entire female liberation process that has been going on has made them a little more socially equipped, while a man has to always pretend to be the stronger one – and that pressure makes it more depressing to keep it within yourself or discuss it with a friend. You will hear comments about yourself if you do that,’ says Chopra.

‘But women have a social circle to help them out. However, individually speaking, a heartbreak is a heartbreak – what difference does it make whether it’s for a man or a woman. It’s not gender-based, it is very individual. Everyone has their own threshold of pain and tolerance.’

Mohit Aggarwal, 23-year-old CA who broke up with his girlfriend recently, told IANS: ‘My relationship never lasts for more than six months and whenever I break up, I go into deep depression. As I can’t share my feelings about my failed relationships with anyone, it leads to mood swings and even has a bad impact on my professional life. My output goes down.’

Prof Melanie Bartley, a sociology professor from University College London who conducted the survey, says that when a relationship goes wrong, it impacts on men’s identity and self worth.

‘Young women do tend to have wider relationships with friends and family to rely on. Young men don’t tend to confide in each other and that can make them feel isolated. Their friendship groups are more competitive than nurturing. They are just as sensitive as women but it’s a matter of whether they feel valued,’ Bartley said in a report.

Agreed TV actor Arjun Bijlani of ‘Miley Jab Hum Tum’ fame: ‘Men have bigger egos, and because of that they refuse to share the incident with their friends. They feel if they say that they have broken up, their friends would tease them, saying ‘Look being a man he is crying for a girl’.’

‘He would only dare to share it with those who are extremely close to him and he knows that they will understand him.’

For women, it’s easier to nurse their broken hearts as they end up sharing their depression with friends, but men are more likely to store up their feelings and even suffer low self-esteem, and as a result they often succumb to drinking and drugs.

The tension leads to insomnia, and men often get hooked to sleeping pills.

‘If men bottle up their feelings, it has to come out in some form. This is the time when they tend to consume a lot of alcohol and even drugs and vent their anger of a broken relationship,’ said renowned psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh.

Kinger added: ‘They tend to look down upon themselves, find faults. They start questioning their behaviour like, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ and ‘How could I have handled it to make it work?’

To help them, psychiatrists often put them through counselling sessions.

‘We help them focus on the reason behind failure of their relationship. Was he too possessive? What triggered the frequent fights between the couple?.. and try to instil a positive attitude,’ said psychologist Kinger.

Chugh said: ‘We try to explain to them that one broken relationship is not the end of life and they should take it as a learning experience and move on for a better one ahead.’

Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Krishna said: “I hope the Chinese government will have respect for our sensitivities on Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Kashmir is an inalienable part of India and we have noted with great concern that the comments made by the spokesperson from China. We have advised our Ambassador to take it up and express our concerns,” he added.

Earlier, he visited the iconic Taj Hotel, one of the targets during the November 26, 2008, terror attacks.

Describing the Taj Hotel as a landmark not only for Mumbai but for the entire country, Krishna said: “We met here to convey out respects to those who lost lives in the 26/11 gory tragedy.”

“We have gathered here to convey and pay our respects to all those who lost their lives in that gory tragedy of 26/11. That is a grim reminder to the entire world of what terror is all about. On behalf of the Members of Parliament, I would like to convey our deep sense of sadness and sorrow, and our condolences to the bereaved families,” he added.

Krishna also noted that terror has repeatedly hit India and it”s the strong will of the countrymen that has helped to overcome it again and again.

“The indomitable will, the resolve of the people of India to remain free, to remain fearless and to take every possible step to contain terror to overwhelm terror by our resolute action,” he said. (ANI)

The unprecedented flood calamity has handed out Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s (JuD) dipping stock a much-needed lifeline and an opportunity to fatten its nursery of young brigade.

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has his sly smile back.

He made his cadre swing into action much ahead of the state machinery. The alleged mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks, sought by the Indian government, floated a new charity organisation, Falah-e-Insaniat, to storm the flooded areas.

When Hafiz Saeed was grilled in a telephonic chat with a popular Pakistani TV channel over the source of funding for his organisation, he boasted that his funding sources are transparent and regularly audited by professional chartered accountants from Lahore who visit Muridke (headquarters of Jamaat-ud-Dawa on the western outskirts of Lahore) every month.

The terrorist most wanted by the Indian government also boasted that JuD’s huge infrastructure and network has beaten all other charities and agencies in bringing relief to the suffering millions.

Hafiz Saeed is working in tandem with Kidhmat-e-Khalq of Jamaat-e-Islami(JI) in the affected areas.

Amid a rising chorus over hardline Islam filling the void in flooded Pakistan, Hafiz Saeed is a free man in Pakistan and he and his boys are saviours for hundreds of thousands of uprooted rural families — from the backwaters of Sindh to Balochistan.

Muzaffargarh is one of the oldest districts of Punjab in Pakistan. This southern district town forms a strip between the river Chenab on its east and Indus on its West.

Of the two million inhabitants of the district, only 10 percent of those living in the district town are surviving with their brick and mortar houses intact, the remaining 90 percent population of the district has been displaced, with their houses washed away in the surging waters of the Indus and the Chenab.

Along with Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts are badly hit and account for over 10 million people who are in the throes of massive displacement and health emergency.

Cholera and other water-borne diseases are now slowly choking their little ones to death.

In the village of Abbas Wala near Daira Deenpanah, Aleena, 16, was dreaming of a fairytale wedding. The water washed away her dreams and put tears into her dreamy eyes. Her grief-stricken countenance mirrors the tragedy of a benighted district.

The Indus floodwaters dealt her multiple blows. It washed away her mud house, killed her 57-years-old father, Abur Rehman; and if these were not enough to punish the innocent, beautiful girl, her fiance called off the wedding scheduled a few weeks later. The floodwaters demolished the castle of her dreams.

Aleena’s family was preparing for her wedding to Aslam from the neighbouring hamlet. When Aslam learnt that his would-be-bride has been reduced to an orphan without home, he declined to enter into matrimony with the ill-fated Aleena.

Aslam, himself in the throes of displacement, claimed he needed dowry to rebuild his own house.

As floods ravaged the country, about 60,000 Pakistani military personnel were deployed to provide impetus to the relief and rescue operations.

The growing appreciation of the Pakistan Army’s role only reinforces the perception outside and within Pakistan that brass tacks still pull the string of power.

Observers and some media analysts told me on condition of anonymity that the next 90 days would trigger a desperate attempt to dethrone the incumbents. A power storm is brewing in air of the Blue Area of Islamabad, the seat of power.

Will the Indus’s flood fury sink Zardari? This is the open question in Pakistan on streets. Yet, nobody has the million-dollar answer as to who would bell the cat?

Still later, nobody is predicting a military coup or affirming hope in the audacity of General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to boot out Asif Ali Zardari.

Instead, observers are hoping for a third alternative, the surprise emergence of a dark horse backed by GHQ, Rawalpindi, minus Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, to clean the pungent odour.

One principal ally of Zardari, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) led by Altaf Hussain who is in exile in London, rattled the Zardari-Gilani government Aug 21 when he exhorted the Pakistan Army to step in to get rid of corrupt elements in the government.

The lukewarm response to the flood tragedy is further rattling well-reasoned Pakistanis. Even local traders and civilians in Lahore and Islamabad fear their money will end up in either hands of their much-maligned president or coffers of the Taliban.

Nazim Malik, a Lahore-based young millionaire, said: ‘Instead of bringing smiles to faces of innocent country folks, it might fund a suicide vest of a potential suicide bomber. Whom should I trust…?’

Anarchy is reigning supreme in certain areas where displaced people have begun to blame some powerful families of deliberately breaching the embankment for flooding their farmlands in order to save theirs.

Already Balochs are disenchanted with Islamabad; the fresh wave of realisation fills them with an acute sense of alienation.

To top that, food riots are rampant in several areas. A convoy of trucks carrying food materials and clothes was attacked by burqa-clad women in Dera Ismail Khan.

A foreign journalist shocked President Zardari by asking him tongue-in-cheek, ‘Mr President, your government is riled on streets for massive fraud and corruption. People don’t want to donate because of the malaise. Are you the problem?’

The image deficit and distrust virus is spreading gloom in Islamabad. When President Zardari convened a meeting of top industrialists and business magnates in Islamabad, a majority of those invited feigned unavailability citing one reason or the other.

When New Delhi, the arch rival, offered $5 million in assistance, the offer was greeted with usual cynicism.

A day later, the government sources suggested that the Manmohan Singh government offer should be routed through the UN.

Street harangues mocked the Indian offer as ‘usual suspect’s olive branch’ whereas some folks on streets of Lahore and Islamabad gesticulated that the ‘India Shining’ establishment should cough up more in hours of Pakistan’s Greek tragedy.

Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan has announced that he was alone going to raise funds through his Imran Khan Flood Relief Fund in collaboration with Mir Khalilur Rahman Foundation (MKR)-Pukaar of Jang Group, because the Pakistan government has failed yet again.

He told me: ‘There is no disaster that can’t become a blessing, and no blessing that can’t become a disaster…This national disaster needs a national mobilisation. We should not expect ‘dollar rain’ every time calamity strikes us.’

When I asked Imran whether he would fall back on his celebrity friends in Indian tinsel town of Mumbai for raising funds, he broke into a faint smile.

‘I haven’t thought of bothering my friends outside as of now. People of Pakistan shall join hands together and, god willing, overcome the crisis.’

However, Imran agreed to back any initiative of organising India-Pakistan charity cricket match if some proposal is floated by the respective cricket boards.

(Frank Huzur is a biographer of Pakistan’s legendary cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. His upcoming book, ‘Imran Versus Imran: The Untold Story’ is expected soon. He can be reached at frankhuzur@falcon-falcon.co.uk. Website link: www.falcon-falcon.co.uk)

‘I’ve always interpreted Bollywood film poster art as a larger-than-life depiction – synonymous with the stuff that our movies are made of,’ Hinesh Jethwani, founder and head of Mumbai-based Indian Hippy, told IANS.

‘The sets, songs, costumes, etc. in our films are so colourful and grand that when translated into poster art, the results are truly fascinating. What fascinated me most about Bollywood film posters was the amalgamation of so many different concepts – advertising, art and storyboard depiction – all rolled into one canvas.’

Indian Hippy offers hand-painted posters for those who commissioned them and doesn’t make use of photoshop or any other digital trickery. People can choose from thousands of movie posters, from the 1960s to now.

Even though the concept is appreciated now, it was not easy for 29-year-old Jethwani to put his plans into action.

‘I received a lot of discouragement from people who thought of my concept as a ridiculous whim. For many, my sudden interest in an extinct art form seemed absurd.

‘Then finding authentic Bollywood film poster artists was a task in itself. The industry had shifted to digital format in the early 1990s.

‘With film poster artists being displaced by this wave for nearly two decades, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Most artists had sought early retirement and had returned back to their villages. A few had shifted careers entirely.

‘I pressed on and here we are today! Very few film poster artists remain in India who haven’t given up the paintbrush entirely, and I am glad to have found them and to be working with them,’ he added.

Jethwani has 12 artists working with him and he has divided them into two groups. One has billboard artists who specialise in painting big artwork and billboards, while other group paints banners and poster.

Indian Hippy has given the artists a new lease of life.

‘Our generation was lost and forgotten after everything became digitised. Hand-painting disappeared, leaving us with no job. Most of us changed jobs and some were left with no jobs. It was a difficult phase,’ Lucas Mondal, 58, told IANS.

‘We used to sit and remember the times when we used to make posters and billboards and what fun it used to be. While walking on the road, we could say, ‘I have painted this’. Now we have just memories.

‘But Indian Hippy has come as a bright spot in our lives. It encouraged us to pick paint brush again and do what we love doing. Even financially it has helped us a lot. We are also learning new designs now and the work is very satisfying,’ said Mandal.

The artists are paid on assignment basis.

‘The payment depends upon the detailing of the poster, how much effort has been put in, the number of hours consumed and the size of the poster,’ said Jethwani.

The price range of the posters also depends on various factors, like layout, number of faces, size (as small as A3 size and as large as 30 feet), quality of the medium – oil or acrylic paints – and the canvas used.

Depending on these factors, prices can vary. The price of A3 sized portraits starts at Rs.5,000 onwards. It usually takes 7 to 10 days to finish an order.

When asked which posters are the most sought after by customers, Jethwani said: ‘We receive orders for posters ranging from vintage Bollywood movies to the more recent hits, as well as the occasional Hollywood film. Among vintage Bollywood films, ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ is the most preferred by customers.’

It’s not just Indians who are crazy about it, people from all over the world have been sending orders.

Placing the order is also quite easy – through the website www.hippy.in. Select a favourite film poster, then send photographs of the person whose picture needs to be on the poster.

‘Our customer segment comprises a mix of both. Our online, e-commerce website allows us to serve a worldwide audience. Customers looking for hand-painted customised posters are pouring in from all over the world. We have completed paintings for clients far and wide, including countries like Italy, Netherlands and the UK among others,’ said Jethwani.

According to a Canada High Commission release, the delegation will meet Indian ministers, government officials, business leaders and academics to understand the potential that India holds as an emerging market and as one of the fastest developing economies.

Speaking on the eve of the tour, the committee chairperson Senator Raynell Andreychuk said: “India is fast emerging as a global power. Both Canada and India share the values of democracy, rule of law and diversity of culture. Our mutual relationship has strengthened in the recent past with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Canada in June 2010 and the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India in 2009. We look forward to meeting several key decision makers and industry leaders during our forthcoming visit to India.”

In New Delhi, the delegation will meet the External Affairs Minister, Mr S. M. Krishna, Minister for Human Resource Development, Mr Kapil Sibal, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Mr Kamal Nath and the Minister of Power, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde. The Senators will also meet Dr T Subbirami Reddy, Chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Science & Technology and Environment and Forests.

In Hyderabad, the delegation will meet the State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Public Relations, Dr J. Geeta Reddy.

In Mumbai, the delegation will meet the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Ashok Chavan, and have discussions with educationists, economists and business representatives. (ANI)

‘There may be gaps in between, but I am not going anywhere. I have a film called ‘I Am’. It has four short stories and in one of the short stories called ‘Medha’, Manisha and I are playing the lead. It’s Onir’s film,’ Juhi told IANS. This will be her third film with Onir after ‘My Brother… Nikhil’ (2005) and ‘Bas Ek Pal’(2006).

The actress was speaking at the unveiling of the first look of ‘Ramayana – The Epic’ Thursday.

Talking about her experience, Juhi said it was her first animation film and she didn’t find it difficult to emote Sita’s character.

‘I wouldn’t say it was difficult. Since I didn’t have any visual to help me, so I had to imagine the scene. Some scenes which I found really difficult were when Sita was in captivity of Ravan and had broken down while waiting for Ram,’ said the former Miss India.

In Hollywood, most of big stars give voiceover in animation movies. Juhi maintains that as not many animation films are being made in India, so actors lending voice to them is not in vogue yet.

‘We haven’t done it so far and also animation movies have come recently in our country. I will not be surprised to know that lot of people are willing to lend their voice. All the A-list stars abroad do it and it is considered ‘the thing’ to do,’ said Juhi.

The nine-member delegation of Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade will visit New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad, a Canadian high commission pressnote said.

Speaking on the eve of the tour, committee chairperson Senator Raynell Andreychuk said: ‘India is fast emerging as a global power. Both Canada and India share the values of democracy, rule of law and diversity of culture. Our mutual relationship has strengthened in the recent past with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Canada in June 2010 and the visit of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to India in 2009. We look forward to meeting several key decision makers and industry leaders during our forthcoming visit to India.’

In New Delhi, the delegation will meet External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The senators will also meet T. Subbirami Reddy, chairperson of the parliamentary committee on science and technology and environment and forests.

The parliamentary committee had given a report on the civil nuclear liability bill in the monsoon session of parliament.

In Hyderabad, the delegation will meet the state’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Public Relations J. Geeta Reddy.

In Mumbai, the delegation will meet Maharshtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and hold discussions with educationists, economists and business representatives.

‘The only retrospective of the film happened in Lincoln Centre in New York and another screening in Nandan in Kolkata,’ Ritaban Ghatak, Ritwik’s son who is a filmmaker himself, told IANS.

Many filmmakers and scholars say the haunting existential cry of the Bengali film’s protagonist Neeta – ‘Dada ami banchte chai (Brother I want to live)’ – is relevant even today, but few want to hear it.

Set in a refugee camp, the film – literally meaning The Cloud Capped Star – shows the repercussions of partition through an impoverished genteel Hindu family. Based on Shaktipada Rajguru’s novel by the same name, it was released in 1960.

The film starred big names of Bengali cinema. The cast included Supriya Choudhury, Anil Chatterjee ad also Gita Ghatak, Bijan Bhattacharya, Niranjan Roy and Gyanesh Mukherjee.

‘First of all ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ is one of the first films on refugees and their problems,’ says journalist and film scholar Shoma Chaudhury.

‘Secondly, the female protagonist is one of the rarest characters in cinema history as she works not with the intention of becoming independent or to be liberated from a patriarchal society, but to sustain her extended family.’

Ghatak was a cinematic master who never got his due during his lifetime. But spurred by the efforts of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students who studied under him – like Mani Kaul and Kumar Shahani – his stature has been resurrected after death in 1976.

Today some say he is the greatest director India has produced, with ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ widely considered his best work.

Ashish Rajadhyaksha, an eminent film historian, believes accessibility to his films has not resulted in an increased understanding.

‘Most people see Ghatak’s work as melodramatic. They have no clue about his technique, the specific politics in the film or even the geographic milieu that is screaming from it,’ he says.

Rajadhyaksha was one of the first to articulate Ghatak’s cinematic style in his book ‘Ritwik Ghatak: A Return to the Epic’. He co-authored a second book on the director with Amrit Gangar, ‘Arguments-Stories’.

Says Gangar: ‘Ritwik Ghatak’s oeuvre is becoming prophetic as we are growing as a nation.’

Chowdhury and Gangar say ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ is one of the rare examples in the world where the movie towers over an otherwise average novel that it was based on.

‘Pained by partition, Ghatak, through his works, kept reminding us of this avoidable history. Fifty years of the film induces us to reflect upon the divisions emerging from the inequities and oppressive powers at play,’ Gangar told IANS.

‘The existential cry of Neeta echoes the cry of millions of men and women in India today. But somewhere, we have lost our ability to hear that cry, perhaps we don’t even care.

”Meghe Dhaka Tara’ remains ever so contemporary as it would keep questioning the state of our being, our increasingly self-centred and fragmentary being.’

Chowdhury agrees as she reminds us of the allegory of Neeta’s death through tuberculosis.

‘TB back then was considered to be a disease of consumption. But it is not really TB that kills Neeta. She is instead consumed by her self-centred family which itself is trapped in its circumstances. The film shows a manifestation of violence rarely seen in cinema.’

Film historian Subhash Chheda, who is restoring another partition masterpiece, M.S. Sathyu’s ‘Garm Hava’, states that it is ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ that inspired him to get into restoring cinema.

‘It is a bright sun of cinema that no amount of mediocre cinematic clouds in the world can hide.’

Ghatak, originally from what is now Bangladesh, considered himself an eternal refugee. He once described his restive mental state in these words: ‘My feet are not on my soil. That is my obstacle. How shall I find another soil and when? Because I have to return to my mother’s womb to seek the source of this archetypal idiom.’

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,238.03 points, was at 18,260.04 points, 21.73 points or 0.12 percent up from its previous close at 18,238.31 points.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.06 percent higher at 5,489.25 points.

Broader markets indices were doing relatively better, with the BSE midcap 0.5 percent up and the BSE smallcap index 0.58 percent higher.

IT, auto and telecom scrips saw some buying, while oil and gas stocks came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was tilted towards the positive with 1,481 scrips advancing, compared to 1,023 stocks declining and 79 remaining unchanged.

‘The day Ranbir does an action film and does it well, he has the potential to fill the void that Bachchan created,’ said Anand who teamed up with Ranbir for the second time for his new romantic comedy ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ releasing Sep 24.

The two had earlier worked together in ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ (2008). Ranbir, 27, is the son of well-known Bollywood actors Rishi and Neetu Kapoor.

‘Ranbir is the perfect guy to play Anthony (a character played by Big B in ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’), he can play coolie, he can play the characters Bachchan played in his prime. There is no one else but him,’ Anand told IANS.

‘He has got everything it takes to be the complete Hindi film hero that Bachchan was.’

Anand, who debuted with ‘Salaam Namaste’ (2005), says he has tried to push the boundaries with his first film and completely smashed it with ‘Anjaana Anjaani’.

‘I have torn the boundaries here. When you see the film, it’s something unlike you have seen at any point of time. It’s a love story but its situations are very unique,’ said the young director.

‘I made Ranbir do strange things. During the shooting of the song ‘Khuda jaane’ in ‘Bachna Ae Haseeno’ I made him stand on the tip of a cliff and spread his arms and he was shit scared as he has a vertigo problem.

‘In ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ there is a sequence where they are stranded in the middle of an ocean. It was the Pacific Ocean and he had to dive into the freezing waters. He did it even though he has aquaphobia,’ said the director.

Talking about the film that co-stars Priyanka Chopra, he said: ‘ ‘Anjaana Anjaani’ is the story of two strangers who meet in strange circumstances and then part as strangers. So it’s a very unique concept for a Hindi film, but it’s deep-rooted as a Hindi commercial film. It has songs, stories, beautiful locations and fabulous performances.’

Siddharth says more than the actresses, he bonds well with actors.

‘I am a hero’s director. I bond with my heroes more than I bond with my heroines. Once we become friends, I like to work with them repeatedly if they are okay with it. I have been fortunate enough to work with two superstars,’ said Anand.

And what made him pair Ranbir with Priyanka?

‘I wanted to have a virgin pair. I wanted a brilliant actress because the film is only about the chemistry between two people. It’s about their sparks, what they speak, and the banters to and fro.

‘Ranbir is a brilliant actor; so I needed someone who would be able to match that. Priyanka just fitted in unbelievably,’ said Anand.

The director insists that he is very particular about the songs in his films.

‘I’m surprised people liked the song ‘Hairat’. I was very clear that I wanted music for a love story that you cannot imagine. It doesn’t belong to a love story. I didn’t want mainstream music,’ said Anand.

Asked if he was planning to explore only unique love stories, he said: ‘Not really. I am a storyteller. If I am in a mood to make you laugh, I will tell you a joke. If I want to scare you, I will tell you a horror story. So it depends on what comes to me at that point of time.’

With huge prize money at stake, Govindas in Panchpakhadi area of Thane aimed to break the Spanish team’s world record of a nine-layer pyramid, and planned to make a 10-tier pyramid for the dahi handi – a popular sport associated with Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna.

With rain playing hide and seek, preparations were affected Thursday morning. ‘But then, the sun shone brightly and we breathed a sigh of relief,’ said Monu Patil, a Govinda, as the participant in the human pyramid making is called, from suburban Borivli.

With most Govinda groups still strategising their plan of action, a small group at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai became the first in Mumbai to break the handi.

‘We aimed at celebrating the festival in a safe manner. We tried to keep the handi at a manageable level as we did not want to risk the lives of any of our Govindas,’ said a participant from the group.

The Govinda group from Dadar closely followed in breaking the handi. It had women Govindas too.

‘We have been practising for two months for 3-4 hours every night to get used to the human pyramids,’ Patil said.

Preparations for dahi handi are on a high this year, with several places offering a whopping prize money of Rs.25 lakh (around $53,000).

The celebrations were at their peak at Thane, Worli, Malabar Hill, Dadar and Borivli, and will continue till 5:30 p.m.

Special festivities for children are also being held on the occasion across the city.

Already crores of rupees are riding on the Govindas.

Dahi handi is the celebration of the spirit of Lord Krishna, who loved eating curds and butter and broke earthen containers to get these.

An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits and purified butter is hung around 20-30 feet high in the air with the help of a rope.

Enthusiastic young men form a human pyramid by standing on top of one another, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men to prevent them from doing so.

Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. Devotees believe the broken pieces of earthen pot keep away mice and negative influences from their homes.

Devotees were seen thronging Krishna temples to worship the lord on his birthday. Most Krishna temples will celebrate the Krishna-janma (birth of Lord Krishna) at midnight with devotion and fervour.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,215.28 points, was trading at 18,231.64 points, 25.77 points or 0.14 percent up from its previous close at 18,205.87 points.

It had risen to 18,355.84 points earlier.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.2 percent up at 5,485.35 points.

Broader markets indices were also ruling in the green. The BSE midcap index was up 0.65 percent while the BSE smallcap index was ruling 1.06 percent higher.

Consumer durables and auto stocks were among the gainers, while IT and telecom scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was positive with 1,886 scrips advancing, compared to 951 stocks declining and 78 remaining unchanged.

Other Asian markets were in the green, backed by positive cues from Wall Street and traders doing some bargain hunting.

The Japanese Nikkei closed 1.52 percent higher at 9,062.84 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling 1.23 percent higher at 20,877.53 points. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index went up 1.09 percent to rule at 2,651.48 points.

‘The US Mission in India alerts US citizens travelling to or residing in India to safety and security issues related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in New Delhi,’ a statement by the US State Department said Wednesday.

The Games will be held Oct 3-14 in Delhi.

The statement warned of a ‘worldwide caution’ regarding the threat of terrorist actions and violence against US citizens and interests.

It, however, stated that the US government has no information on any specific threat of attack that any individual or group is planning to coincide with the Games.

The US asked all its citizens planning on travelling to India during the Games to be up-to-date with the travel alerts or security warnings issued by the State Department.

American citizens were advised to monitor local news reports and think about their security when visiting public places, including religious sites, or while choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment and recreation venues.

They were also advised to take care when travelling within Delhi.

‘Special care should be taken when using public transportation or driving at night,’ it said.

It asked all US citizens ‘to be on guard against petty crime, pickpockets, and the theft of personal property on trains or buses’.

Tourists were asked to be on alert at airports, train stations and tourist sites and be aware of ‘scam artists looking to prey on visitors’.

The citizens were asked to enroll with the nearest US embassy or consulate through the State Department’s travel website.

In case of any emergency, citizens have been asked to call up the US embassy in New Delhi, the US consulate general in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Hyderabad.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 18,027.12 points, was trading in noon trade at 18,087.72 points, 116.6 points or 0.65 percent up from its previous close at 17,971.12 points.

It had risen to 18,125.56 points earlier.

At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling 0.6 percent up at 5,435 points.

Broader markets indices were also ruling in the green. The BSE midcap index was up 1.37 percent while the BSE smallcap index was ruling 1.53 percent higher.

Consumer durables, PSU, and telecom scrips also saw healthy buys. All the 13 BSE sectoral indices were in the positive.

The market breadth was positive with 2,117 scrips advancing, compared to 714 stocks declining and 79 remaining unchanged.

Other Asian markets moved up, tracking positive cues from Wall Street.

The Japanese Nikkei rose 1.17 percent to close at 8,927.02 points.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was ruling 0.29 percent higher at 20,596.27 points. The Chinese Shanghai Composite index, however, fell from its intra-day highs to rule 1.02 percent down at 2,611.91 points.

Mehboob’s brief for the song was simple — it should be targeted at youth and bring out the essence of India and sportsmanship.

‘If you hear the song, you will see how we have used words to give this song the punch and feel it required. The title of the song ‘Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto’ means live, rise, ascend, win in English and such words are very catchy. So while writing we have kept the young generation in mind,’ Mehboob told IANS in an interview from Mumbai.

Apart from this, the song has lines such as ‘Milap ho to khel mein bada mail hai’ (If you have harmony in the game, there is fun to enjoy it). Explaining the meaning, Mehboob said: ‘The line conveys the idea that if a game is played without malice, it is the best way to do it.’

There are interesting lines like ‘Josh hona chahiye dhakka na maro’, meaning the conduct of the game should be fair and one should play the sport with fervour.

Mehboob and Rahman go a long way back. Be it ‘Rangeela’ or ‘Vande Mataram’, the two have produced all kinds of music together.

So will this song be as popular as their patriotic song ‘Maa Tujhe Saalam’ from their album ‘Vande Mataram’ to commemorate 50 years of India’s independence in 1997?

‘Well, first of all, it is a matter of pride and honour for me to get the opportunity to write the lyrics of this song. Then, I am sure the song will definitely reach out to everyone,’ said Mehboob.

‘I am sure, music and sport lovers will enjoy this song as much as like our previous songs,’ he added.

It took them six months to finish the CWG song, which involved a bit of travelling as Rahman sits in Chennai and Mehboob in Mumbai.

Mehboob had to postpone plans for his directorial venture ‘Ek Minute’ for the CWG song.

He doesn’t reveal much about the project and says he will talk about it when the time is right. As of now, all he wants to do is hum ‘Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto’.

Talking about his relationship with Rahman, he said: ‘We share a comfort level and have no ego problems. Apart from this, our first film together, ‘Rangeela’, was a huge hit. Ever since, we have worked on several film projects together. I feel ours is a give-and-take relationship.’

‘Over these years, we have become more of brothers and are a family. So, that chemistry reflects in our music,’ he added.

Besides ‘Rangeela’, the two have worked together on several film projects like ‘Bombay’, ‘Doli Saja Ke Rakhna’, ‘Daud’, ‘Yuva’ ‘Thakshak’ and ‘Dil Hi Dil Mein’.

Special festivities for children are also being held on the occasion. With organisers – among them political leaders – trying to outdo each other, already crores of rupees are riding on the Govindas – young men who form a human pyramid to reach the ‘dahi handi’ or pot of curd suspended high.

As many as three organisers in Thane have announced a Rs.25 lakh prize money for the Govindas.

Sanskruti Yuva Pratishthan’s Vihang Dahi Kala Utsav, organised by Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik, has announced the high cash prize for those who make a 10-layer pyramid.

‘For 20 layers of pyramid, we have announced a prize money or Rs.25 lakh, for a nine-layer pyramid it will be Rs.11 lakh, and a 500 gm silver memento and a trophy will be given to those who form an eight-layer pyramid,’ Sarnaik said.

‘There are similar prizes for other groups too,’ he said.

Also making similar announcements are Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Jitendra Awhad and Congress leader Ravi Phatak.

While Awhad has announced a prize money of Rs.25 lakh for a 10-layer pyramid, Rs.15 lakh will be awarded for a nine-layer pyramid and so on.

Janmashtami falls on Thursday. Dahi Handi generally takes place on the second day of Janmashtami. An earthen pot containing a mixture of milk, dry fruits, ghee is hung around 20-30 feet high in the air with the help of a rope.

Enthusiastic young men form a human pyramid by standing on top of one another, trying to break the pot. Onlookers throw water on the young men to prevent them from doing so.

Breaking of the pot is followed by prize distribution. Devotees believe the broken pieces of earthen pot keep away mice and negative influences from their home.

Beating all the organisers in terms of money is Ram Kadam, a legislator of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) who has announced a whopping Rs.31 lakh for Govinda groups who make a nine-layer pyramid.

Also gearing up for Dahi Handi on Janmashtami is legislator Krishna Hegde from suburban Vile Parle. But, as he claims, this year it will be celebrated with a difference.

‘When all Dahi Handi groups are gearing up for the festival that is tagged by big prize money, our programme will be for children and will consist of a fancy dress competition. There will be prizes for the children best dressed as Lord Krishna,’ Hegde said.

‘Apart from the ‘best Lord Shree Krishna’ competition, we are also organising free train rides, games and DJ music for all the little Bal Krishnas to enjoy,’ Hegde said.

Parents of the area appreciated the move saying they are glad children were being made a part of the celebrations. ‘This is a great way to involve our young ones and celebrate Dahi Handi without the usual political drama,’ said Samruddhi Wadekar, a parent.

Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam has announced a prize money of Rs.11 lakh this year. He has also announced special prizes for women groups.

Taking a different stand on the celebrations, a senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar has criticised Dahi Handi organisers saying they place the pot so high that it is impossible to break it.

Nandgaonkar lamented the way some Govindas lost their lives or were injured while making 10- or 11-layer pyramids. He also called for government intervention to restrict the height of pyramids to eight layers.

‘India is one of the largest consumers of luxury watches and the market is booming here. As we know the market value that India offers, we have great expansion plans. But the greatest challenge that one faces in the Indian market is infrastructure and logistics,’ Ivana Perovick, CEO of Guess, told IANS.

The high-end watches cost anywhere between Rs.15,000 ($320) and Rs.50,000 ($1,100). There are some limited editions that cost up to Rs.5 crore (over $1 million).

Price notwithstanding, people are splurging on these luxury time pieces and, keeping the buying capacity of Indian consumers in mind, international brands are desperate to expand business in India.

‘Indians are very well-educated and aware of luxury brands. Indian customers are intelligent and when they get quality they don’t hesitate in splurging,’ said Guillaume Marx, area sales director of Parmigiani Fleurier.

‘We have established our brand in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and now we are here. We don’t have any boutique or multistore partnership till now, but our target is to establish ourselves in the Indian market by the end of this year.’

Perovick said: ‘We have very big plans for India. In the next five years, we plan to expand by five times of what we are right now. We are working on opening 30 stores, including watches, accessories and shoes.’

‘Early this year we opened a store in DLF Promenade. We are aiming at three more by the end of this year in Saket (Delhi), Inorbit (Mumbai), Phoneix (Mumbai),’ she added.

Echoing him, Tetsuji Ishimaru, managing director of Seiko India, told IANS: ‘We started three years ago in India. As we are a new company, we are looking for expansion in terms of the number of stores, the product line serving variety from wrist watches to wall clocks to table clocks. We are set to open 20-30 stores all across India by the end of this year.’

Marc Antoine Abadie, regional director of Harry Winston, says these expansion plans suffer because finding the right location is tough.

‘Even after wanting to expand the brand desperately, we feel helpless as finding the right location and infrastructure is toughest. Now there are malls that have given us some space to enter the heart of India,’ said Abadie.

Gurinder Sahni, CEO of Jot Impex, said: ‘The location for the boutique has been a constant problem as the luxury brands were limited to hotel lobbies and shopping arcades. But with the opening of luxury malls, the destinations for opening luxury brand stores and boutiques have increased manifold.’

Malls like Shoppers Stop, DLF Promenade, and DLF Emporio in the capital have allowed the finest brands from different countries like Bvlgari and Morellato (Italy), Guess (Los Angeles) as well as high-end watches from Switzerland such as Longines, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega, Rolex and Tissot to increase their reach.

In other metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, malls are serving as an ideal platform to promote luxury watches.

Although the malls are seen as an ideal place to own a shop, Govind Shrikhande, managing director of Shoppers Stop, says steep rents play spoilsport.

‘High rents have always been a state of concern for every brand which wants to position itself in the market. Last year, rent rates were as high as 12-15 percent, but now it has come down to 7-12 percent, giving relief to many of us,’ he said.

Sahni pointed out other perpetual problems hindering expansion plans. ‘The problems of customs duties, red tapism, etc. do remain and will always pose a hindrance in the growth of this segment.’

The Sailor Pen Co has brought in the Chugu and Maya series, the former based on three chapters of the early 11th century novel ‘The Tale of Genji’ and the latter depicting examples of the special hieroglyphic script from the Maya civilisation of Central America.

The pens are displayed at Mumbai’s William Penn – The World Pen Store, a chain of stores across India, including in the national capital and Bangalore.

Each Chugu pen tells a story with images related to a chapter of the novel drawn on them.

‘There are only 50 exclusive pieces in the series available worldwide, each costing around Rs.70,000,’ Willian Penn managing director Nikhil Ranjan told IANS.

‘The Tale of Genji’ tells the life story of the son of a Japanese emperor, known as Hikaru Genji, or Shining Genji. For certain political reasons, Genji is relegated to commoner status (by being given the surname Minamoto) and begins a career as an imperial officer.

The tale then concentrates on Genji’s romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic Japanese society of the era.

‘Through the Chugu series we are commemorating the 1,000th anniversary of the classical piece of literature,’ said Sailor’s nib-designer Yukio Nagahara.

‘The pens have been designed by Misako Azumai, a young Kyo Maki-e (an art technique) artist,’ Ranjan added.

The Maya series has 388 exclusive pieces. The script engraved on the pen comprises unique signs or glyphs (either ‘ogograms to express meaning or syllabograms to denote sounds).

Each piece, costing Rs.75,000, has 21-carat gold nib. The barrel and cap are made from solid sterling silver, said Ranjan.

The pens were introduced in India last week. Along with it, the company also held a two-day workshop, Different Strokes, ending Sunday. The one of a kind workshop, focusing on repair and customisation of nibs of fountain pens, was attended by 40-50 pen connoisseurs.

The sessions gave a glimpse of the painstaking work that goes into the making of each pen such as those in the Chugu or Maya series.

Conducting the workshop was nib-master Yukio Nagahara, who not only repaired broken nibs but also customised them according to individual requirements and writing styles.

Nagahara, 50, uses a grinder-cum-churning machine fitted with ceramic stone and hard and soft rubber that help to polish the nib.

Born in the historic city of Hiroshima, Nagahara learnt the art of nib making from his father Yoshinobu who is now 78.

Most Sailor fountain pens are fitted with different kinds of Naginata-Nagahara nibs made by the father-son duo.

Explaining the fine art of nib making through an interpreter, Nagahara said: ‘First, gold and other precious metals are melted and rolled into a plate. It is then crafted into shape and iridium-tipping material is carefully applied to the pen nib.

‘Refinement and polishing are then needed to prepare it for the next step. At this stage, the perfect ink flow and nib elasticity is determined. With careful precision, the nib is severed along an exact vertical line.’

‘This process ensures correct air flow and flexibility unique to each Sailor nib. Finally, the top of the nib and the writing surface are polished and tuned to ensure the smoothest writing experience possible,’ he added.

Nagahara, who has perfected the art of nib making, is credited with the invention of the Sai-bi Togi, an extra fine nib, for a unique writing experience.

One of those who attended and watched carefully was Roosi Modi, a cinema owner from Pune who owns a range of high-end fountain pens. He came with five/six pens that were customised for him.

‘I like the way Nagahara customised them (the pens). They write much better,’ Modi told IANS, adding that he would look foward to buying work of art pens like those of the Chugu and Maya series

‘We’ll let you know when we have any further updates,” RIM told IANS in its brief response.

The wireless giant, which has more than a million BlackBerry subscribers in the world’s second fastest growing economy, has reportedly given some solutions to India to monitor its encrypted emails and instant messages.

‘RIM have made certain proposals for lawful access by law enforcement agencies and these would be operationalized immediately. The feasibility of the solutions offered would be assessed thereafter,” an Indian home ministry statement said Monday, a day before the Aug 31 deadline for the BlackBerry maker.

Though RIM has already made BlackBerry Internet, voice calls and messenger available to the authorities, India is seeking access to its unique encrypted service for business and corporate clients which is routed through RIM’s own servers based in the UK and Canada.

India wants access to all encrypted communications as the terrorists involved the 2008 Mumbai attack communicated with their handlers by using sophisticated technology. It wants the Canadian company to install a server in India to monitor this service, though fears have been expressed that countries seeking access to encrypted business emails are interested more in corporate espionage.

RIM is not willing to compromise on the privacy of this encrypted service which has made its smart phones a darling of businesses.

Reacting to Monday’s developments, Canadian International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan is reported to have said that he was ‘pleased’ with the outcome as the delay offers some breathing room, according to the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Re-iterating his government’s support for the iconic company, the minister was quoted as saying, ‘It is our practice to stand up for Canadian companies doing business around the world.”

Reports said Canadian government officials based in India will be involved in thrashing out a strategy in dealing with Indian officials in the coming weeks.

With the Indian smart phone market expected to reach 12 million by the end of this year and 40 million by 2015, RIM cannot afford to jeopardize its chances in the world’s fastest growing wireless communication market.

The two-month reprieve for the company helped halt the slide in RIM stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange Monday. After rising almost $2 during the day, the stock closed two cents higher at $48.37.

From its high of more than $150 in June 2008, RIM stock has lost more than two-thirds of its value since then.

‘I don’t have the privilege to plan what film I want to do. I am really at the mercy of what I am offered by writers and directors. But if I ever turn into a director, then I would choose the genre I want to work in,’ Sharman told IANS in an interview.

The actor, who will be seen next as a criminal from a slum in debutant actor-director Faruk Kabir’s ‘Allah Ke Banday’, says he doesn’t work hard to get into any character and relies on his instinct to play it with conviction.

‘I generally like to rely on my impulse and vision of the director. So I didn’t spend time in the slums,’ Sharman, 31, said about his latest film.

‘I wanted to rely on my instincts; so I didn’t interact closely with any kid from the juvenile prisons because I didn’t feel the need,’ said Sharman, 31.

Releasing Oct 22, ‘Allah Ke Banday’ also stars Naseeruddin Shah and Atul Kulkarni.

The film narrates the story of two 12-year-old boys living in one of the most ruthless slums of India. From delivering drugs for the mafia to looting people, they do everything conceivable in the crime world because they aspire to be a mafia don.

‘In slums, where people struggle for their daily meals, providing education to their children is a far-fetched dream. It’s a Catch 22 situation. The kids who grow up in this atmosphere unknowingly become susceptible to petty crimes starting from pickpocketing and with time graduate to more complicated crimes, even contract killing. Your heart goes out when you meet these kids.

‘When they are put into juvenile prison to be refined into a better citizen, the inhuman exploitation they are subjected to raise their anger towards society and they come out as a bigger criminal.’

He heard the script three years ago and was bowled over.

‘The idea was narrated to me three years back. I found it quite interesting. Faruk and me live in the same building actually. He took around six months to develop the story and the screenplay. Then he took time to cast other characters. It took a-year-and-a-half to prepare before starting the film,’ said Sharman.

‘Don’t charge any money for working in such (issue-based) films. It’s the only way to make issue-based films commercially viable,’ said Bipasha, whose ‘Lamhaa’ dealt with the problems in Kashmir. But it couldn’t earn enough profits at the box office.

‘After ‘Lamhaa’ I am tempted to tell a committed filmmaker like Rahul Dholakia to make out-and-out commercial films. Or if you make a film on a social issue then make sure it doesn’t go over-budget.

‘It’s shameful that ‘Lamhaa’ was so costly. If it was made for Rs.4 crore, it would have been a hit. When a mainstream actor does a film on a social cause, it should be done free of cost as a sign of commitment to society,’ she added.

The actress has signed another issued-based film titled ‘Aakrosh’ about honour killings. She plays a schoolteacher in a tradition-bound village and wonders how audiences would react to the movie.

‘The social issue, honour killings, is treated like a thriller. Even ‘Lamhaa’ was treated like a thriller. But how many people went to see it?’

One of the main reasons to sign the film was to get rid of the glamour girl image, says Bipasha.

‘For me, the interesting part of doing ‘Aakrosh’ was to see how far I can get away from my glamorous image. I discovered it was easy for me to do real characters. The director Priyadarshan is a delight to work with. And my co-star is Ajay Devgn who is a good dependable actor. I’ve another film ‘Mr Fraud’ with Ajay directed by Abbas-Mustan which got stuck. I don’t know if that will ever release.’

She will be spending a lot of time in Goa in the coming weeks. First, she will shoot her fitness video on the beaches quickly before winter sets in. Then she will shoot a remix of title song for Rohan Sippy’s ‘Dum maro dum’.

The copyright issues with Dev Anand and his film ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ have apparently been sorted out. Pritam Chakraborty is all set to record a new version of the Asha Bhosle classic.

To some extent ‘Dum maro dum’ too touches on a social evil – it takes up the issue of drugs.

‘I can’t talk about it right now. But when it happens it will happen. Give it another two weeks,’ said Bipasha.

Talking about her fitness video, she said: ‘I want it to be shot outdoors in Goa. Winter gets too crowded. And I’ve a film to shoot in September. So I’ve to rush the video. I am going crazy doing my calorie counts. This time I’ve no team. I am doing everything on my own. It’s a little boring to do it by myself. But I’ve always been a loner.’

And, yes, all is well between Bipasha and John Abraham.

‘If god forbid, anything were to go wrong between me and John, he would be the loser, not me.’

John apparently has plans to insure his body parts, but Bipasha isn’t doing any such thing.

‘I’m a body person and I am definitely into fitness. But I’d never insure any body part. He’s welcome to do what he likes. I just want to know which insurance company is insuring his butt.’

Fifty-three year old Nazeer Ahmed Abdul Rehman had not been out of his apartment for four years due to his weight and stiffened limbs.

Six fire-fighting troopers participated in the rescue operation to get Rehman safely out from his apartment.

Rehman has blamed his lifestyle and eating habits for the obesity.

“The habit of eating has brought me to this condition. I was eating junk food and had a bad lifestyle. I used to sleep late and get up early. I had sleeping disorders, stress, which lead to an increase in the uric acid in my body and it stiffened my joints,” said Rehman.

“I used work at Lagoon restaurant, after working there for five years I reached a situation when I was unable to walk. Since the last five years, I have been facing a lot of problems. But my wife and children have stood by me,” he added.

Rehman will go through a stomach surgery, which will help him reduce his weight.

“I can”t give up this habit of eating. Only if the size of my stomach is reduced, then may be it can stop. Therefore, this therapy of weight loss surgery is best for me. All the other…. like liposuction, etc., are not very useful because I will regain weight. I am incapable of reducing my diet. I tried cutting down on my diet but I gave up in 1-2 and went back to the same position,” said Rehman. (ANI)

The lab will enable cardiac patients to immediately undergo a surgery if their angiography shows that he or she requires it.

“I feel that, with this facility in the hospital, we have been blessed to serve the community,” Tendulkar said on Sunday.

He added that the date of inauguration coincided with his mother”s birthday.

“The doctors have been doing a wonderful job for a number of years now. And I have no hesitation in saying that I have full confidence in you that you will continue to do this noble job. And it becomes our responsibility…not only of the doctors, but whoever is able to help a common man or a needy person, we should try our best,” said Tendulkar.

He also revealed that machinery used in the labs is second of its kind in India.

A catheterisation laboratory or cath lab is a diagnosis room in a hospital or clinic with examination imaging equipment used to support the catheterisation procedure. (ANI)

‘The incident happened around 4.30 a.m. at Ambedkar Nagar slums. A wall of the neighbouring building came crashing down on the hut when the victims were still asleep,’ said a police official from Hill Line Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the Ambedkar Nagar slum falls.

Ulhasnagar is in Thane district.

The bodies of the victims were pulled out from the debris by neighbours and local residents before the fire brigade came in. No injuries were reported in the accident.

The neighbours identified the victims only by their first names – Santosh, Dhara, Pintya and Vinod. All were between the ages of 20-25.

”Peepli Live’ is a film about the insensitive middle class, the media, politicians, etc. Nowhere is it a film about farmers. Where are the causes that lead to his condition, his problems with seeds, monsoon, pesticides, etc.? The real issues of farmers are never touched upon,’ says Jamal, director of the moving documentary ‘Harvest of Grief’ on farmer suicides in Punjab.

While most know Punjab as the land of plenty of green and yellow fields, big glasses of lassi and butter, thanks to Bollywood, not many know that in the last 20 years, over 40,000 farmers have committed suicide in the state. This is what Anwar’s film that has been shown in festivals across the world deals with.

According to a report, 200,000 farmers have ended their lives since 1997 and it is said the rise in indebtedness is the root cause of farmer suicides.

Deepa Bhatia’s ‘Nero’s Guests’ is a gut wrenching documentary that shows the contrast between city life, and that of farmers in the country. The film, which took her five years to make, travels to the farmer suicide capital of the world – the Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra – with journalist P. Sainath, the man credited with bringing the issue into urban attention.

Deepa, a reputed editor of Bollywood, says, ‘Farmer suicide is a crisis of huge magnitude that has not got adequate space either in the media or in the mind of the middle class. Sadly, most urban people don’t engage with society. I wanted to understand the issue and having known P. Sainath, I found in him the right means to approach the subject.’

Deepa had collected over 500 hours of footage for this hour-long documentary.

Satish Manwar, director of what is by far the most popular feature film on farmer suicides and also the most poignant – the Marathi film ‘Gabhricha Paus’ (The Damned Rain) -, says, ‘India has diverse groups who do not interact with each other. Farmers are one such group about whom the rest of the nation doesn’t care much.

‘But it is an issue waiting to explode and unless we as a society pay attention to it, it will snowball into a major internal crisis.’

The desire to engage was what prompted Satish, himself from the dry Vidarbha region, to slog for four years before he found a financier. ‘It was a ‘different’ and difficult subject which no one was willing to fund. Finally after a producer backed out, Prashant Pethe produced it.’

This black comedy about a wife, who, distraught by a neighbour’s suicide, does her best to keep her farmer husband in high spirits, proved to be a critical and commercial hit and has recovered its money.

But even Satish feels that ‘Peepli Live’ is not really about farmer suicides. Yet, neither he nor anyone else has any complaints about ‘Peepli Live’ as a film and believe the very fact that it got made is a cause for celebration.

It no doubt brings farmers’ plight into the limelight. They now want to ask the people ‘what do you do, now that you know?’

‘You have to decide that for yourself. I can only show you and I have. There are so many issues; just start engaging with life around you and do what you can,’ says Deepa.

‘It’s the children who suffer. You will see what happens to children and that’s the message we are going to give through the film. The film is about the whole dynamics of everything,’ Arjun, 37, who himself comes from a broken family, told IANS in an interview.

‘The film breaks the mould of a stereotype that stepmoms are like wicked witch, the way it has been portrayed on the silver screen so far. The film is not about that; it’s about the crisis and how love prevails over everything and finally new relationships could also be made and I think that’s the beauty of the film.

‘I come from a broken home; so I work much harder to make my marriage work. I have been, by the grace of god, very happy. I have a very nice family.’

Directed by Siddharth Malhotra, ‘We Are Family’ is a Hindi adaptation of 1998 Hollywood hit ‘Stepmom’ and Kajol and Kareena reprise the roles of Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon respectively.

Arjun insists it was not easy to act in an adaptation.

‘This is not an easy film to act in. Already very strong performances had been given by Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon, but it’s wonderful to see how Kajol and Kareena bring their own to their characters. They bring a lot more of themselves and change it around so much that it makes it so watchable, enduring and beautiful,’ Arjun said.

The actor, who recently gave super hit political thriller ‘Raajneeti’, maintains men too have some responsibility in women-centric films.

‘There are some responsibilities on men in women-centric films, hope I have fulfilled it. (Laughs) In the original ‘Stepmom’, Ed Harris played the character I am playing here and I think it was an older character and the way it was written, it had some restrictions.

‘It’s not a complete remake, but an adaptation. The way Siddharth has interpreted characters in his film is a new part of the film and I think that is something which I really enjoyed doing,’ said Arjun.

The National Award-winning actor, who has two daughters with model wife Mehr Jessia, found it easy to play a dad of three children.

‘It was rally easy to play a father because I am a father myself. Karan, on seeing the film, said my body language with the children was fabulous,’ said the actor who teamed up with child actors Aanchal Munjal, Nominath Ginsburg and Diya Sonecha.

‘I have seen Kajol how she is with her daughter Nysa, very hands-on, very protective, takes care of her every single thing and she is like that in the film as well. Kareena has no children, her awkwardness creating a relationship with kids came out very naturally.’

Scheduled for a Sep 2 release, the film has been produced by Karan Johar who went through the right channel to get the rights to remake it in Hindi.

‘The stories are needed to be told. It’s better to take it and be noble enough to say this is what we are adapting from, rather calling it an original idea. But working on an original subject is a lot more exciting. I think adaptation is tougher because once you do it, immediately comparisons are drawn,’ said Arjun

He is all praise for first time director Siddharth.

‘Siddharth was fantastic. He brought in so much dignity. This film could be very melodramatic – he has given a lot of realism in it. Handling all by himself and get what he wants made us feel proud of him,’ said Arjun.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik met Interior Minister Rehman Malik here briefing him over the latest development concerning the issue.

Headley, an American citizen of Pakistani origin, was arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in October 2009 for plotting an attack on a Danish newspaper.

During his interrogation, he also confessed to his role in the Mumbai attacks in which Pakistani terrorists killed 166 people and injured over 200 others.

Headley,49, told US interrogators that he had conducted a reconnaissance of the Mumbai sites before the attacks, having visited the country several times.

Headley has pleaded guilty on all 12 criminal counts against him, including his role in the 26/11 attacks conspiracy.

In June, a four-member National Investigation Agency (NIA) team quizzed Headley for over a week, drawing information about his role in the ghastly 26/11 attacks. (ANI)

The Jet Airways Mumbai-Chennai flight 9W-2302 with 145 passengers, including six crew members, was scheduled for departure around 9 p.m. when some passengers noticed smoke emanating from the left engine of the craft.

The plane had already pushed back from stand A6 and was on the taxi-way when the suspected fire alarm was raised.

The flight commander alerted the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) authorities for help, aborted plans for the journey and declared a precautionary emergency following the fire alarm.

Even as the authorities were in the process of reaching the plane and moving ladders to facilitate evacuation, some of the passengers on board panicked and attempted to jump out of the aircraft onto the tarmac.

An emergency evacuation exercise using chutes for sliding down from the emergency exits was used in which around 25 passengers sustained minor injuries, while at least two sustained suspected fractures, airport officials said.

While two passengers, who complained of fractures, were admitted to a private hospital, another 10 were rushed to Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle, for further examination.

The remaining passengers were treated by MIAL doctors of the medical teams at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Around midnight, Jet Airways operated another flight to Chennai that departed with 117 passengers.

The stranded aircraft was subject to thorough checks but there were no visible traces of any fire on the engine, a spokesperson for the airline said.

If this is the situation in the national capital, it is not difficult to imagine how dismal the conditions are in the other cities and smaller towns. Mumbai and Bangalore citizens have their own dismal tales to tell. The monsoon is undoubtedly the worst time because it aggravates the numerous existing problems, which include both overflowing drains and the accumulation of stagnant water, breeding mosquitoes.

Such pools near the unfinished construction sites for the Commonwealth Games have been blamed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for the spread of dengue in Delhi, which has also highlighted the paucity of hospital beds. However, Urban (non?)Development Minister Jaipal Reddy wants the news to be kept under wraps lest it scare away the athletes. Reddy, however, was quick to blame the delay in Commonwealth Games preparations to the rains as well.

In Mumbai, the outbreak of malaria has given a fresh boost to parochial politics with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray blaming the immigrants, who are mostly from Bihar, for the problem.

What these reports show is that the urban scene in India is one of unrelieved gloom. A citizen steps out every morning to contend with potholed roads, endless traffic snarls, unannounced diversions, beggars at every crossing, the unavailability of a sufficient number of public transport vehicles and their not infrequent breakdowns and general urban chaos.

For instance, on Raksha Bandhan day, Delhi Metro’s promise to run more trains was blighted by a two-hour breakdown of a train near Connaught Place, causing breathing problems to passengers because of inadequate ventilation, and disrupting the entire system.

Delhi, of course, is the most pampered of all cities, with a massive amount of funds being spent for upgrading its infrastructure in preparation for the Games. Roads are being widened, flyovers being built and saplings being planted. Yet, there is hardly any lessening of the average citizen’s plight.

It has always been a feature of Indian metropolises that except for the small areas where the affluent and the rulers live, the rest of the city bears the scars of persistent neglect. The reason is the almost total absence of urban planning due to lack of funds and lack of interest on the part of the so-called city fathers, whose proverbial corruption and incompetence made a Kolkata newspaper call them ‘city duds’ in the 1960s.

The Calcutta Corporation was usually called ‘Chor-poration’ by the disgruntled citizens just as another name for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is ‘most corrupt department’.

There is little doubt that it is the conversion of these municipal bodies into political playgrounds which is partly responsible for their fecklessness. Since the elected councillors regard their entry into the municipalities as the first step (or the second, if they had also contested student union elections) towards the larger political field, they have little time or inclination to look after the crumbling urban infrastructure and city improvement that is their primary charge.

Considering that the urban population has gone up from 79 million in 1961 to 285 million in 2001, and is expected to reach 400 million in 2011, the municipal failures – or the failure of local governments – have become more and more glaring. All the towns and cities are marked by housing and water shortage, leading to the proliferation of slums that stand out festering eyesores all over Indian cities.

One reason why the civic bodies are unable to cope with the problems is their limited funds due to a restricted revenue base, based mainly on property taxes, while the user charges are either low or non-existent. Hence the proposals for increasing non-property taxes and opting for commercially viable infrastructure services. But the general reluctance of citizens to pay their dues, along with the siphoning off of the funds by the staff, not to speak of the city fathers, ineptiwill continue to be responsible for the ineptitude and bankruptcy of these bodies.

The urban development ministry, whose contribution towards improving the scene has been minimal, has called for greater private investment in view of the gradual reduction and, ultimately, the withdrawal of plan and budgetary allocations, and the rationalisation of subsidies. Considering, however, that the annual investment for water, sanitation and roads has been estimated to be Rs.28,036 crore (about 6,000 USD), the ministry has had to admit that the ‘funds to that extent are not available’.

Private investors may have shown greater interest in the urban sector if the town planners could come up with innovative and viable schemes. However, there is a shortage in this field, too, for the total number of planners registered with the Institute of Town Planners is 3,000. In a country of 300 million urban dwellers, this means one planner for every 100,000 people. In the US, there is one planner for every 5,000 people.

Since urbanisation is a global trend, the problem in India is bound to get worse as no one from the urban development minister down to the mayors and councillors seems interested in giving focussed attention to the challenges of the urban scene. While the politicians play partisan games, or as in the case of present minister Jaipal Reddy plainly not interested, the bureaucrats are mostly time-servers, who regard their postings in the urban development department as a point of transition to more consequential (in their view) assignments. There is no respite in sight for the hapless citizens.

Industry insiders say films in the Hindi dialect can do even better if the government extends support.

‘We now release about 100 films in a year. The average money spent yearly on Bhojpuri films is close to Rs.100 crore and the gross collection is about Rs.125 crore every year,’ Ranjan Sinha, spokesperson for the Bihar Jharkhand Motion Picture Association, told IANS on phone from Patna.

‘Even if a film doesn’t work, the producer doesn’t have to bear a big loss. His loss is not more than Rs.10 lakh to 15 lakh.’

The turning point, he said, came with the 2003 blockbuster ‘Sasura Bada Paisa Wala’ with superstar Manoj Tiwari, sometimes compared to Rajnikanth.

The film was made at a budget of Rs.35 lakh to 40 lakh and made massive profits all over India.

‘The film did a business of Rs.1.90 crore in Bihar, Rs.1.25 crore in Uttar Pradesh. Its all-India collections were Rs.4.5 crore,’ said Sinha.

The biggest consumer of Bhojpuri films are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh as well as Mumbai, which has sizeable migrant population from the Hindi belt. Bhojpuri films also get good audiences in West Bengal, Punjab and Gujarat, which are also home to migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

‘There are 372 cinema halls in Bihar and Jharkhand; of them, 180 run Bhojpuri films,’ said Sinha.

‘There are 32 centres in Mumbai where we run Bhojpuri films. After Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai is the biggest market for Bhojpuri films. The major collection comes from Super Cinema at Grant Road and Navrang Theatre in Andheri – Bhojpuri films earn about Rs.300,000 to Rs.400,000 per week at these centres,’ added Shashikant Singh, a Mumbai-based film publicist.

Costs are low. Most Bhojpuri films, costing about Rs.30 lakh to 45 lakh unless a big star like Tiwari is involved, are shot in small Bihar towns like Buxor and Gaya.

Bhojpuri heartthrob Tiwari charges somewhere between Rs.50 lakh and 60 lakh. Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, Pawan Singh, Ravi Kishen and Vinay Anand round up the top five stars list.

Among the actresses, Rinku Ghosh and Mona Lisa are most sought after. Anara Gupta, Pakhi Hegde and Rani Chatterjee are the others in the top five list.

According to Tiwari, the picture would get rosier if the government steps in.

‘It is indeed a growing industry, but our growth is slow. We could be five times better if the government supports us. Bhojpuri is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution and so Bhojpuri films aren’t bought by Doordarshan,’ he told IANS.

‘As we are not listed in the Eighth Schedule, we are not eligible for National Awards also,’ he added.

‘The sad part is that people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who represent us in parliament are not thinking about our culture,’ said Tiwari, who contested elections as a Samajwadi Party candidate for the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat and lost.

The future is bright but could be better if filmmakers spread the net wider to lure middle class audiences, instead of just targeting the front benchers.

‘They should avoid using cheap words in the song and they should also try to come out with original scripts,’ said Sinha.

Manoj agreed: ‘Till now, the viewer for a Bhojpuri movie is from the lower strata of life. The middle classes don’t come to see our films.’

Manoj, whose ‘Mard No.1′ will have an international release, feels that the government should try to release Bhojpuri films in multiplexes at subsidised rates to lure the affluent movie audience.

‘Marathi films are being shown in Mumbai multiplexes at subsidised rates, something similar should be done for Bhojpuri films,’ said Manoj.

Bhojpuri cinema had an interesting beginning in the 1950s following an encounter between India’s first Bihar-born president Rajendra Prasad and Mumbai-based character actor Nazir Hussain.

The president, upon realising that Hussain was a native of Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh, began to address him in his mother tongue Bhojpuri.

The conversation soon veered to movies and Rajendra Prasad asked Hussain, ‘Why don’t you make a film in Bhojpuri?’.

According to a book ‘Cinema Bhojpuri’ by Avijit Ghosh, the encouragement from the president resulted in ‘Ganga Maiya Tobe Pyari Chadhaibo’.