Pati, Patni aur Woh: The other woman in Himesh's married life

Himesh Reshammiya says no one in his parivaar has any objections to the "other woman" in his life

While their dosti may be long-past-dead, Salman Khan and Himesh Reshammiya still make it to the same sentence. And that's because the singer-composer-actor is living in harmony with two women, a la Sallu's abba, Salim Khan.

Salim Khan married actress Helen despite being married to Salman's mother Salma. The first wife had no objections. Salma's kids address their stepmom as Helen Aunty but give her the same love and respect they give their mom.

HR's romance with TV actress Sonia Kapoor was reported in 2006. In the last four years, he has managed to ensure that his "close friend" was welcomed and loved as a "family friend" by his wife Komal, son Swayam and his parents Vipin and Madhu.

Says a source, "Himesh has been seeing Sonia for more than four years now. After her father's recent death, they've grown closer.

She has been a frequent visitor to their Lokhandwala flat -- something that upset his wife and his son initially but now they seem to have resigned themselves to it.

Komal can't leave her husband as she is very traditional but she has voiced her reservations. Swayam has been rebelling against his father as he feels Himesh doesn't treat his mother well. He has made his dislike of Sonia quite clear."

Happy Independence Day: Priyanka Chopra

From being able to express themselves freely to fighting injustices without let, the country's freedom has empowered its people in many ways. Joining in the celebration of the myriad meanings of that freedom on the Independence Day Aug 15 will be Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Neil Nitin Mukesh.
We spoke to a few celebrities from B-town and asked them what exactly independence means to them.
Priyanka Chopra: Independence for me is the fact that I get to live in a great democracy, where I can think what I want, do what I want and this year, I just want to be thankful for that.
I strongly feel that being independent is all in your mind. I would urge all women to think that they are free to do what they want and they should pull up their resources, believe in themselves, their family and find the opportunity to do what they can and want to.
Vipul Shah: Independence to me means freedom to live, freedom to express myself and freedom to fight anything that is disturbing the society.

Farah Khan: For me, independence means that I am allowed to live the life I want to, say what I want to and not have the fear that someone can stop me from saying anything that's in my heart.

Peepli [Live]

Cast: Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghuvir Yadav, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffar, Malaika Shenoy, Vishal Sharma, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sitaram Panchal, Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Bashir

Producer: Aamir Khan

Director: Anusha Rizvi

It is a miracle that a script like "Peepli Live" has been turned into a movie and has got a commercial release. It is certainly surprising that a mainstream filmmaker like Aamir Khan decided to invest money in a movie that puts the spotlight on grave issues like the plight of Indian peasants.

And, of course, kudos to journalist-turned-director Anusha Rizvi for penning down a story that focusses on rural India and its problems at a time when most Bollywood filmmakers are busy luring NRI audiences with mindlesss comedies and designer dramas.

According to a report, 200,000 farmers have ended their lives since 1997 and it is said that the rise in indebtedness is the root cause of farmer suicide. Anusha's directorial debut follows this theme in "Peepli Live" - albeit as a satire.

Aisha

Starring Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Amrita Puri, Ira Dubey, Cyrus Shahukar, Arunoday Singh

Directed by Rajshree Ojha

The thing about shallow people from the beau monde is that they shouldn’t be played shallowly when brought to the screen.

Sonam Kapoor in a ‘tailor’- made role (where more moolah seems to have been spent on tailoring her chic outfits than on exploring the locations , sound sights scents and , yes, sense of this embarrassing world of excessive self-preening) gets the Jane Austen character right. Quite a leap for the actress.

When she had played the confused lover-girl in Saawariya Sonam had imposed her own natural-born confusions on the character rendering it shaky and disembodied.

In Aisha Sonam is far more in control of her character’s misguided emotional compulsions. The fact that the young actress knows this label-centric designer world of chic shenanigans so well helps Sonam master and contour her character’s art of self-deception in a way the original author of the character would have approved.

Dabangg

Music Directors: Sajid-Wajid and Lalit Pandit

Lyricists: Faiz Anwar, Lalit Pandit and Jalees Sherwani

Singers: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Mamta Sharma, Aishwarya, Sonu Niigaam, Shreya Ghoshal, Sukhwinder Singh, Wajid, Master Saleem, Shabaab Sabri and Salman Khan

Keeping in mind the film that is set in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, composer duo Sajid-Wajid have composed a soundtrack for "Dabangg" that has mass appeal and is entertaining.

The album offers 10 tracks.

The soundtrack of the much-awaited Salman Khan flick opens with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a favourite of Sajid-Wajid, crooning romantic track "Tere mast mast do nain". The moderately paced track is likeable especially due to the brilliant vocals, and the change in tempo gives an edge to the track. This is a song you would like to hear.

The number has two more versions - one a duet with Shreya Ghoshal and the other a remix.

Then the album takes a turn and brings forward a completely different song "Munni badnaam", composed by Lalit Pandit and sung by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya. The item number goes well with the character of the film. It is fast-paced and catchy.

Kurbaani Qurban?

Fardeen Khan may have shelved the Qurbani remake

B-Town is abuzz about Fardeen Khan deciding to shelve a project close to his heart -- the Qurbani remake. FK's dad, the late Feroz Khan had produced and starred in the 1980 original.

Says an industry source, "It's been a difficult year for the film industry (and Fardeen is no exception) and several films have been shelved. Kurbaani is an expensive project with a multi-star cast.

While Khan Jr's actress friends have expressed availability for the flick, they have been asking for obnoxious amounts. Money isn't coming in and FK has instead decided to produce other films and return to the sequel later."

Last year, Sanjay Dutt had said he would produce and act in Kurbaani. While Fardeen Khan would play his father Feroz Khan's role, Dutt would step into Amjad Khan's cop role. However, Dutt has already announced his first home production Rascals starring himself and Ajay Devgn. David Dhawan directs.

Prior to that, Sanjay Gupta was to make Kurbaani with Saif Ali Khan and Fardeen as the protagonists. Apoorva Lakhia, Soham Shah and Sanjay Gadhvi were top contenders for the director's post.

Hrithik and Abhishek are not worth crores anymore

Post the box office duds like Raavan and Kites that starred Bollywood biggies like Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan respectively, the two have lost their 'pricy status' so to speak!

According to a buzz, it has been found that, both Abhishek and Hrithik, who've been two of the most sought-after Bollywood male stars, have sort of lost their charm and are really not in demand like they used to be.

According to the Bollywood buzz that has been doing its rounds, the forthcoming flicks Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara and Game, starring Hrithik and Abhishek respectively, haven't garnered a huge amount of interest among the average movie goers.

The flicks are not even fetching the cost that the producers are demanding, as after the disaster of Raavan and Kites, the company houses are suspicious of trading films at a high price even if they star the biggies of B-Town.

Hashmis on holiday: Why Emraan & wife aren't shopping

Emraan and family will take a 10-day vacation to Singapore and Bali
PS: This will be the actor's first vacation in six months

After a publicity blitzkrieg spanning 12 cities for Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and shooting for Madhur Bhandarkar's Dil Toh Bachcha Ha Jee, Emraan Hashmi has now decided to take a much-deserved break with his wife Parveen and son Ayaan.

Our first time
In his first vacation in six months, the actor and his family will visit Singapore and Bali over 10 days. He has requested Madhur to postpone a ten-day schedule beginning August-end to sometime later next month.

He has also delayed the dubbing and promotion of Mohit Suri's Crook to September. Emraan says he's very excited to be travelling with his son Ayaan for the first time. "I am super excited! I'm sure he'll be thoroughly entertained."

The actor and wife had travelled to Maldives last year. "Bali was next on our must-visit holiday destination list. I am looking forward to going snorkelling and scuba diving -- my favourite water activities, " reveals Emraan

Sanjay Dutt isn't ashamed of Maanayata's item song

Recent reports claiming that Sanjay Dutt called up Prakash Jha and asked him to delete Maanayata's item song from the technically enhnced version of Gangaajal, have angered the actor.

Dutt, who is right now in Oman, clarifies, "Maanyata is the love of my life and I am proud of her choices. I am not embarrassed about the song, so there is no question of me wanting to have it removed.

Prakash Jha is a sensible and talented director you cannot expect nonsense from him.

The song in the film is an important requirement as it takes the story forward; it's not for mere entertainment purpose." Chalo guys, breathe easy again. Mrs Dutt's screen debut remains for posterity.

Shahid Kapoor has made lifelong friends with Sonam

Shahid Kapoor has made lifelong friends with Sonam Kapoor. Back in Mumbai after a marathon schedule with her in Scotland the first film Shahid wants to catch is Sonam's I Hate Luv Storys.

Says Shahid, “Yeah I want to see Sonam's film and all the other films that I've missed while I was away.”

Shahid's domestic portrait cannot get any more rosy. He has just returned to to Mumbai after a hectic two-month schedule of his father's film Mausam in Edinburgh, bid his dad adieu for now and headed to his Mom's place.

Says Shahid, “Shooting in Edinburgh was like a dream. The place was so beautiful I felt I was transported to paradise. And then being directed by Dad was a dream come true. He is like an encyclopaedia of acting. I've learnt so much in the last one month. I tried to absorb as much as I could.”

Shahid missed his mom and kid-brother like crazy during the shooting abroad.

“In fact I wanted my brother to come over to Scotland. But kids that age have their own life and commitments, ” says Shahid sounding every inch the concerned Bade Bhaiyya.

Secret is out: Everything Lara didn't want you to know

...about her fitness video, you can read here. We bring you a scoop filled with details, details, details!

For some odd reason, Lara Dutta's being very secretive about her fitness video. The actress continues to deny that she is working on one. Even yesterday, her publicist swore that there is nothing happening on that front. However, we bring you all the inside details:

* The actress has finished working on the video.

* It has been shot on a set at Mehboob Studio.

* It has been produced by her boyfriend Mahesh Bhupathi's firm Globosport. He has closely worked with Lara on the ideation and design for the DVD.

* The video begins with a half-hour cardio session and then gives the viewer the option of choosing either the beginners' or advanced levels.

* While Bipasha's video featured her friend and fitness expert Deanne Pandey, Lara's expert is Zarine Watson, who runs a gym called Watson Fitness centre in Bandra, where Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal and other celebs work out.

These hotties have a lot of free time. Got work?

These B-Town ladies have a lot of free time on their hands. Got work?

Do you remember the last time you saw Shilpa Shetty on celluloid? Not on the small screen during IPL matches or judging a reality show, but on the big screen? Or Urmila Matondkar?

Though the Mast girl is seen at events and bashes, when it comes to movies on hand, it is a big fat zero. Ameesha may do photo shoots or be in the news for bonding with Maanayata Dutt, but for projects on hand -- she draws zilch. Here's looking at actresses who seem to be fading away...

Name: Ameesha Patel
Last film: Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic (2008)
Now shooting for: Nothing
Films on hand: Chatur Singh 2 Star, Run Bhola Run (both stuck)

Name: Ayesha Takia
Last film: Paathshaala (2010)
Now shooting for: Nothing
Films on hand: Hamesha I Will Love You (stuck)

Name: Tabu
Last film: Toh Baat Pakki (2010)
Now shooting for: Nothing
Films on hand: Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai