The Best Financial Apps

I’ve been on the lookout for the financial app that will help me solve my problems. I can’t always get to a computer, so need it to be for my iPhone. I don’t need huge complexity, just an app were I can track my spending, put together some budgets and set some financial goals. Here’s what my search has uncovered.

The Nuts And Bolts App: Pennies

Pennies is beautifully designed. If you think that’s not important, spend some time trying to navigate a poorly designed app and you’ll realise how crucial a straightforward concept is. This is the nuts and bolts of financial apps, an expense tracker. Enter your monthly budget, and then start adding your expenses. It will save the expenses that occur most frequently, so after a while, the entering process is a breeze. The fuel gauge on the opening page will show you whether you’re doing well or about to run on empty for the month.

 

A Reminder Course In Budgeting 101

If you’re anything like me, your budget was beautiful in about 2007. Very accurate, thorough, exquisitely calculated. Here’s a reminder course for anyone who needs a budget (or a first up for any new readers) that tells them something about their lives in 2011, and will help set them up for the rest of the century.

Creating A Budget

We should all know how to do this, but somehow I still have months in the red so it never hurts to refresh. Even if you have a budget, sit down and write down your income. Have a spouse? Write down their income as well. In the next column, write down all your fixed monthly expenses. Rent/ mortgage, insurance, debt repayments, gym membership, electricity bill. It’s easy to forget them, so make sure you have a comprehensive list. Next, pull out your bank statement and receipts and find out where the rest of your money goes. Groceries, entertainment, subscriptions. It will probably be shocking. Potentially you should buy some chocolate before you start this. Now do the sums- you’ll see if you’re in the black or in the red, and probably some areas you can improve upon.

 

The 50-30-20 Budget

There are occasions where I like answers. There’s so much doubt in life, it’s nice to come across something that has ground rules. Generally you stick to said rules and things will work out okay. The 50-30-20 budget is such a thing. Sure, no one solution will work for everyone when it comes to budgeting. Then again, you can’t go too far wrong should you institute this strategy in your life. Here are some of the ins and outs of the budget.

Start With After Tax

It’s all very interesting to look at your paycheck and see how much money you are ‘losing’ to tax, but in the end of the day, it’s not going to make any difference to your budget. Work out how much income you have after-tax, and write it at the top of the page, probably with a big black pen to keep you on-task.

 

5 Reasons You Bailed On Your Budget

The fresh resolve of a new budget has faded into a apocalyptic mix of receipts for unnecessary purchases and wine to make to you forget. So you busted out of your budget. It happens. Yahoo Finance have inspired this article on reasons why your budget didn’t work and how to make it better for next time.

La-La-Land

I swore I was going to exercise every day. I was going to get up at six, go for a run, skive off to yoga a couple of times a week. Welcome to La-La-Land, a place I often reside when making plans. It’s impossible to keep up those kinds of schedules, and attempting to will only make your bust-out all the more intense. Be realistic when you write the budget. Don’t lie to the paper, if you spend $200 a week on grog, write it down. Know what you spend the money on, and make small alterations throughout a period of a couple of months to achieve a more balanced budget. Over-enthusiasm can be a killer; gradual change is still the best way to incorporate new things into your life.

 

Budgeting Companies – Are They Worth It?

Sometimes it’s just all a bit too hard, isn’t it? Working, shopping, cooking, cleaning… at the end of it all, you’re exhausted and you deserve a treat. You don’t want to worry about your money and all this budgeting and austerity stuff seems too much hassle.

The notion of somebody else, such as a company designed to manage your finances for you, taking over and doing it all for you is often tempting but is it really worth it?

How it works

The premise of these companies is that they take over your financial situation for you and the only way to do that is to literally take total control. The company becomes the legal owner of your money but they hold it on trust for you. This means legally speaking, they aren’t allowed to misuse or profit off your money.

If they did (and you found out) the court could order they repay you every illegally acquired cent.

While the company is managing your money, they set up a bank account for you into which all your income is deposited. They then negotiate repayment plans with creditors and manage these and other bills on your behalf.

You are given a remaining amount on which you are to live on (obviously, this needs to be decided on together) and it is issued to you much like pocket money.

 

Using Your Smart Phone To Save Money

Seems these days everyone’s got a smart phone, so why not utilise it? After hearing others sing the praises of money-saving phone apps, I finally decided to trial one for myself. There are plenty of them on the market many of which are free so in the never-ending quest to spend less, I thought, why not?

Which App To Save With?

There is a multitude of applications to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. After a little quick research online I learnt they pretty much all serve the same function, so I opted for Droid Wallet, a simple looking, free app with an easy to use interface. Whenever you are downloading an app on your smart phone it is critical to read what “permissions” the service asks for. Some of these are necessary for the app to run, but others are purely for information collecting and potentially more sinister purposes. Apps that ask for internet connectivity, the ability to make phone calls automatically, or access to your SD card need to be assessed with caution.

 

5 Tips For Job Protection

5 Tips For Job Protection

This current job environment is a whole new ballgame for us of the Generation Y grouping. No more storming out of poorly paying jobs or figuring the job would be waiting for us when we felt like returning; this is a time of holding onto what we have and not rocking the boat too much. It’s been a steep learning curve, but Nicola Pederson-McKinnon with the Sydney Morning Herald has some good tips on how protect your income and employment in tough economic times.

Be Cooperative

I feel conflicted, because bad working conditions should never be allowed, no matter the current state of the economy. I’ve seen too many examples of people putting up with outrageous situations because they’re concerned about losing their job. So while it’s a great idea to become an indispensable part of the team, I’m not suggesting that rocking the boat is out of bounds either. Indispensable doesn’t mean undermining your co-workers. Rather, it’s about working on your particular set of skills and ensuring that they complement and enhance the final effort. Don’t be too modest about it either. If you’ve done something great, it doesn’t hurt to keep a record.

 

Keeping Track Of Your Money Via A Budget

In the battle against spending the biggest enemy is temptation and your only ally is your willpower which, let’s face it, has a tendency to wimp out at the last minute. Sometimes, to win a losing fight, you need to get creative so when a friend said she tracked every cent she spent, I figured I’d give it a go too. And I did… for 6 long months.

I set up a spreadsheet in Excel

..and set about recording every single thing I spent money on, from the monthly rent to the banana I bought on the way to work. I was vigilant; no cent would escape my notice! But did it work? Well, yeah, actually it did!

 

100 crore is the new silver jubilee: Abhishek Bachchan

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, whose film 'Bol Bachchan' has entered the Rs.100 crore club, says the figure has become new age Bollywood's 'silver jubilee' landmark.

The actor says there is no Rs.100 crore "club". "I've just asked my team to find the address of where the Rs.100 crore club is because I would like to have a cup of coffee there sometime. There is no such club," said Abhishek.

"It's just that the 100 crore mark has replaced what the silver jubilee used to be before, it's like a milestone," added the 36-year-old, who says its "a huge honour to be part of a film with that kind of collections".

Directed by Rohit Shetty, "Bol Bachchan" also features Ajay Devgn, Asin Thottumkal and Prachi Desai. Abhishek spoke at the unveiling of his own customised Audi A8.

Asked if the new car was a gift to himself for the success of 'Bol Bachchan', Abhishek said, "That makes a good headline, but unfortunately no. We decided to do this, it's completely customised. I have been a bit slow in picking everything and have taken my time, it's really a labour of love for me."

"So, although the timing is great - with the release of 'Bol Bachchan', I received the car, but it's something Audi and I started working on almost a year ago," he added.

Vinod Khanna, Randhir Kapoor reunite

Veteran actors Vinod Khanna and Randhir Kapoor are coming together after over three decades in Prabhu Deva's Hindi remake of his Tamil hit "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana".

Their last big release together was the 1974 Prakash Mehra film "Haath Ki Safaai", in which they played long-lost brothers. But then they also shared screen space in "Aakhri Daaku" in 1978.

Prabhu Deva says the duo were a natural choice for his film. "Since I am launching Kumar Taurani's son (Girish Kumar) in my film, I wanted to cast a strong supporting cast. Randhir Kapoor and Vinod Khanna were my natural choices for two very important roles in the film," he said.

Randhir was recently seen in " Housefull 2" and Vinod featured in " Players".

Hot scene sparks tension on the Second Marriage.. sets

Love making scenes often make the actors' hearts sink to their boots.

The lead cast of Second Marriage Dot Com, Vishal Nayak and Sayani Gupta, experienced a similar feeling while doing a crucial sex scene that interestingly also turns out to be the turning point in the film. The tension on the sets was palpable so much so that Vishal and Sayani made debutant director Gaurav Panjwani shoot the scene for the second time as the first one didn't turn out as expected. Panjwani said, "Yes, we shot it for the second time for aesthetic reasons."

Actress Sayani laid this condition, of not including any lip kissing sequences. On the other hand Vishal felt doubtful about doing the scene convincingly enough.

Recalling the incident the director said, "It took some heavy discussion to prepare my lead cast for it. I told them that I will shoot the scene as naturally as possible. I decided not to say cut and kept all the action motion for ten minutes continuously." He laughed adding, "During the narration Sayani and Vishal seemed pretty chilled out. But when it actually came to shooting both got cold feet."

Vishal said, "This being my first film I was not comfortable. Also I did not want it to look fake and forced on screen. So, yes, there were some hiccups initially. But we were successful."

Sayani said, "I realised that while doing such scenes you have to just go with the flow. And I did just that."

Produced by Vin Mehta Films, Second Marriage Dot Com releases on August 10.

No one can move the audience of GOW 2: Richa Chadda

Actress Richa Chadda is unfazed that her film 'Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2' is hitting theatres Aug 8, just within a week after 'Jism 2' and just a week before Salman Khan-starrer 'Ek Tha Tiger'.

She admits the competition may be tough, but she insists 'Gangs Of Wasseypur - Part 2' has its own space.

'Jism 2' has its own market, as you know the genre of the film, people will go to watch it. 'Ek Tha Tiger' is going to be madness again because it has Salman Khan, he is the biggest star of the country," said Richa.

"So there is a thali (plate) with vegetables and other food and then there is the sweet dish! We (our film) have taken that place. So, eat the thali and when you want the sweet dish, come and watch 'Gangs of Wasseypur'," she added.

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays a pivotal role in the second part, seconds Richa.

"Part 2 has its own audience and no one can move it. Like Richa said, dessert has its own place and we are confident," said Nawazuddin.

'Gangs Of Wasseypur' is Anurag Kashyap's two-part crime thriller. The first part hit screens June 22 and received critical acclaim.

Talking about her upcoming projects, Richa said, "For the month of August, I will be shooting a short film with Mira Nair, that's the only project I can disclose."

Paresh Rawal collapses during play performance

Actor Paresh Rawal, who was in Pune on Friday, had to cut short his play performance due to ill health.

The actor suffered a nasty bout of food poisoning and collapsed backstage half an hour into the performance. On being revived and given oral rehydration, he did want to get back in the act but was instead taken to Jehangir hospital for further check-ups.

Dr C B Koppiker of the non-profit organisation that had organised the play said: "He had diarrhoea and was dehydrated. We gave him oral rehydration and medication before the show and even suggested that we postpone it by half an hour, but he refused and wanted to go ahead with it as he didn't want to disappoint the people gathered."

Less than 30 minutes into the show, Paresh went backstage and collapsed. Another member of the organisation, Laleh Busheri, said, "He said he had eaten fish in Mumbai and that caused the food poisoning. Dr Koppiker took him to hospital to rule out anything else as his pulse was low and he was extremely dehydrated and sweating profusely." The audience too was very supportive and concerned about the actor, Laleh added.

Now, the actor is absolutely fine. "I am feeling alright and will definitely be back in Pune for another performance," said Paresh.Dr Koppiker confirmed: "I got an SMS from Paresh at about 1.30-2 am on Saturday that he's fine and has reached Mumbai safely. Even after collapsing, he wanted to get back to his performance but we had to restrain him as we couldn't take a chance.

He has promised to give us another date for the play in a day or two and we've asked everyone to retain their Dr Koppiker confirmed: "I got an SMS from Paresh at about 1.30-2 am on Saturday that he's fine and has reached Mumbai safely. Even after collapsing, he wanted to get back to his performance but we had to restrain him as we couldn't take a chance. He has promised to give us another date for the play in a day or two and we've asked everyone to retain their passes."

Indian film industry is in an exciting phase: Jiah Khan

Jiah Khan who is signing "a few exciting highly stylized projects," is happy over the way things are happening in Bollywood as there's a film being made for every type of an actor. She says, "Cinema is changing at a rapid pace and so are our audiences. It's an exciting time right now in the Indian film industry. Challenges are engaging and I love it! The genres that are accepted today are a far cry to what the industry was five years ago. As an actor it makes it much more exciting."

So, has she now finally got used to living in India? "I love India," she says, adding, "I love the people, food and the environment. Yes, I am from London, but right from when I was a toddler, I've always lived between Mumbai and London. So there is no question of adapting to India. India is my home." One of the sexiest actors around, Jiah has a great body too. Quiz her on her fitness mantra and she says, "Sexy is attitude, but fitness for me is my dance. I dance two hours nearly every day. You break into good sweat and it doesn't even feel like exercise. Apart from that I enjoy pilates."

Kareena to go gothic for LFW finale!

Kareena Kapoor will go dark and gothic for Lakme Fashion Week finale 2012!

Kareena Kapoor, the gorgeous face of Lakme Absolute will be seen flaunting Lakme Absolute's Monochrome collection at LFW's winter festive finale 2012.

The actress who launched Lakme Absolute same month, last year had walked the ramp for Manish Malhotra at last year's finale looking angelic in white.

Contradicting Manish Malhotra's finale outfit, we are told, she will be going dark this season as she will walk the ramp for our very own king of goth Kallol Datta.

The designer is known for his unconventional Tim Burton-esque outfits. The designer even told TOI.COM that he loves black and loves Burton and in particular his wife Helena Bonham Carter's style.

Kallol Datta along with Pankaj Nidhi will be hosting LFW finale and Kareena will walk the ramp for Kallol as Lakme's face yet again.

Going by Kareena's flawless complexion we can't wait to see how she pulls off the gothic look which is quite a rage internationally.

Priyanka Chopra gets inked for Daddy!

PC is the latest actress to get a tattoo on her right wrist.

Priyanka was away recording, shooting her first album in Malibu. The desi girl was away from India for a while singing and vacationing.

The actress returned home and was clicked at the Mumbai airport sporting a new tattoo on her right wrist. This is Priyanka's first tattoo. She now joins the league of Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Amy Jackson, Prateik Babbar, Sushmita Sen who are known for their tattoos.

PC has however not inked any 'lover' initials on her wrist. She has apparently etched the words 'daddy's lill girl' on her wrist.

Priyanka's dad wasn't keeping well for some time and looks like this is her way of telling the world, who matters the most to her.

We loved the tattoo PC and even the bangs that you have been sporting post your trip.

My song is different from other item numbers: Sonakshi

Sonakshi Sinha feels its not right to call her latest song 'Go go Govinda' an item number. It is a song with a difference, says the actress, who shares screen space with ace choreographer Prabhu Deva in the number.

"The term 'item song' is used very loosely today. Any solo number is termed as an item song. This is a good song with Prabhu, and is very different from other item numbers," Sonakshi said here on the sidelines of a promotional event.

Sonakshi and Prabhu Deva will be seen dancing to the tunes of 'Go go Govinda' in Umesh Shukla's Oh My God. According to reports, the two are not part of the film and only feature in the song.

Sonakshi is glad she has got a chance to retain her nose ring for the song.

Her overall look is quite casual as the song is 'associated with young people', said Sonakshi, adding, "I feel nice about the song. It is very festive."

Talking about the making of the song, she said, "The human pyramid had only women between the ages of 6 to 60. The sturdier women were at the bottom while the teenagers stood on them and the small kids broke the matki."

Sonakshi is currently busy promoting her film Joker, which also features her Rowdy Rathore co-star Akshay Kumar.

Directed by Shirish Kunder, Joker is set to release Aug 31.

B -Town recalled Kishore da's evergreen charm

On Kishore Kumar's 83rd birth anniversary Saturday, Bollywood celebrities like Anupam Kher and Madhur Bhandarkar recalled the legendary singer's evergreen charm, which continues to live in the hearts of his fans.

A few celebrities took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the singer, who sang numbers like 'Saamne ye kaun aaya', 'Mere saamnewali khidki' and 'Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi si'. Here's what they had to say:

Anupam Kher: Kishore Kumar gave us every colour and every emotion of life through his songs. He decided our daily moods. Happy Birthday Kishore Da.

Farah Khan: Its Kishore Kumar's birthday! For 35 years Sajid and I lived three buildings away from his house in 'Kishore Kumar Lane'. He still lives in my heart. In my films.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Happy birthday to my all time favourite Kishoreda. Your songs make our zindagi ka safar suhana (make the journey of our life beautiful).

Vishal Dadlani: Kishore Kumar. There will never be another.

Sujoy Ghosh: Best way to celebrate today is by singing Kishore Kumar songs. Chillaake gao (Scream and sing).

Suniel Shetty is upset over hockey not a national game

The website of Government of India has been showcasing hockey as India's National Game for donkey's years, but it took a mere child to unveil the truth behind the facade.

Ten-year-old Aishwarya Parashar asked the Prime Minister's Office through an RTI enquiry - when the Government of India had notified hockey as a national game. And SPS Tomar, Under Secretary, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs replied: "I haven't come across any official order or notification in the ministry saying that hockey is our National Game." This revelation has left many sports lovers seething. And Suniel Shetty, who's been ardently promoting the game, says that he is "simply appalled." TOI brings you more on this interaction...

Now that it's out in the open that hockey is not our National Game, your thoughts...
I am shocked! Right from our childhood, we were taught in school that hockey is our National Game. And now that I know differently, I'm upset because this game is very close to my heart.

I sent Bips on a date with Dino: Suzanne Dadhich

In a world full of glitz, glamour and popping flashbulbs, it's friends who keep you grounded. And no one knows that better than Bipasha Basu.

On the occasion of Friendship Day, we decided to ask the Bong belle about her best pal, and pat came the reply — the Philadelphia-based Suzanne Dadhich. "Suzzie is understanding, loving and encouraging. We've been friends from the time I was a nobody! She is the best human being ever," says Bipasha about her buddy.

It's late in the night when we call up Suzanne in the US. But the moment we mention Bipasha, she's more than willing to share her thoughts. "I first met her while working in a production house. She was 16 and had just come down to Mumbai. She said she had no friends and we would go out. She is very down to earth and remains just the way she was when I had first met her. Contrary to perceptions, Bipasha is very shy. She loves rice but has it only once a year on her birthday."

Sherlyn Chopra: No regrets for India's first 'Playmate'

The first Indian woman to pose naked for Playboy magazine says she is proud to have "pushed the envelope" in a country where public nudity in any form remains largely taboo.

Minor Bollywood actress Sherlyn Chopra, 28, will feature in a nude spread in the November issue of the magazine, although her Indian fans will be hard pushed to get hold of a copy.

Playboy, along with a host of other foreign "adult" magazines, is banned in India, which has strict obscenity laws proscribing any public act or published material deemed to be "lascivious or appealing to prurient interests".

News that Chopra had become India's first "Playmate" caused quite a stir, fuelled by Chopra herself posting nude out-take pictures from the Playboy shoot on the microblogging site Twitter.

As well as some inevitably lascivious and prurient responses, many Indian Twitter users criticised her decision and accused her of a desperate publicity stunt to further her acting career. She had written to Playboy herself expressing an interest in posing.

Abhishek Bachchan to attend Olympics

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has confirmed that his son Abhishek will attend the ongoing London Olympics.

"Abhishek travels out to the Olympics tonight. As brand ambassador for Omega and the watch company being one of the sponsors of London 2012, he goes to attend some events! Lucky," Bachchan posted on his blog.

The 69-year-old actor himself was invited by the Organizing Committee to carry the Olympic torch a day before the opening ceremony in London. He also attended the opening ceremony.

Indian music maestro A R Rahman lent an Indian touch to this year's greatest sporting extravaganza as he teamed up with his " Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle to compose a track for the inaugural event.

eha always surprises her friends with gifts

When it comes to her pals, Neha Dhupia relies on Priyanka Thakkran.

The two met professionally and according to Neha, "Priyanka is awesome. She is sorted out, has tons of substance and is super fun when it's required and serious when she needs to be. She is always ready to live it up!"

Ask Priyanka about her friend and she says, "Neha is very generous and always surprising her friends with gifts. She is a big foodie. She loves swimming. She takes to the pool as happily as mermaids take to the sea. She can complete 50/100 laps of swimming just like a pro without feeling tired at all."

It's but natural that the two get along like a house on fire when they are together. "Once while traveling to South India, Neha got tired of being approached by strangers for photographs. She obliged but after a point, we hit upon a plan. When someone came up to her and asked whether she was Neha Dhupia, she said: "No, I look like her!" Surprisingly, people believed her too. We laughed like crazy and enjoyed our holiday."

Jism-2: Sunny sells tickets of the film

On Sunday, the crowd at Cinemax, Sion, in Mumbai went berserk and rightly so. It's not everyday that they can buy a movie ticket from Sunny Leone!

Sunny and Dino Morea were at the ticket counter, selling tickets for their newly released film, Jism 2.

The film may have got mixed reviews but that didn't stop movie goers from making a beeline for the film! Seems like the industry-wallahs are pulling out all stops when it comes to promoting their films before and after the release. And it's working! Mahesh Bhatt, who has written the film, tweeted a picture of Sunny and Dino at the ticket counter. Sunny was quite covered up in a smart tie-knot white shirt and smiled for the many mobile phone cameras focused on her! While Sunny sold tickets for the film, Dino, who has co-produced Jism 2 along with Pooja Bhatt, happily counted the moolah.

Mahesh Bhatt also tweeted along with the picture: 'DinoMorea laughs his way to the bank as @Jism2 heroine @SunnyLeone sells tickets at cinemax, sion (sic)'.

Call it gimmicky, but then all's fair in this Box Office war. Clearly, promoting a film has gone way beyond mere interviews and appearances. And, for the starry eyed lot, it's a welcome move.

Shatrughan Sinha will be in hospital for another week

Shatrughan Sinha is getting ready to return home after a month of hospitalization. The ground floor of the newly-renovated Sinha residence would contain all the equipment for Shatrughan Sinha's exercises.

Says a source, "Sonakshi will personally look into her father's new physical regimen while his diet would be completely supervised and controlled by Mrs Punam Sinha. And when Shatruji returns home the inflow of guests would be gently controlled so that a strain is not imposed on the healing process," says a family friend.

But Shatruji is not going home right away.

Though fully recovered and raring to get back to a normal routine, Shatrughan Sinha would be confined in his cushy suite on Tina Ambani's hospital until the Sinhas' newly-rebuilt residence, is considered a safe zone for the newly recuperated star.

Mika and Shaan turn actors

Having carved a niche as singers, Mika Singh and Shaan are all set to act now in Balwinder Singh... Famous Ho Gaya, directed by Sunil Agnihotri.

Said Agnihotri, " Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Mark Wahlberg, Frank Sinatra, Snoop Dog, to name a few, who were primarily known for their singing turned successful actors. I am sure Mika and Shaan too will succeed in creating space for themselves in the acting arena. Also, I wanted to come up with an interesting cast and they fit the bill perfectly. Once they heard the script, they found it to so hilarious that they instantly agreed to be a part of the film. What's interesting is that they will be dancing to songs sung by themselves."

Mika told us, "Though I have made appearances in films earlier, this is my first venture where I will actually be acting and playing a character. Besides an interesting script, Shaan, who is my co-star in the film, is like a brother to me. It's great to do a film together."

Shaan's equally excited. "I was looking for a right script and this is just the perfect one," he said.

Balwinder Singh... Famous Ho Gaya, produced by Sunil Agnihotri Productions in association with Vandana Motion Pictures Pvt Ltd, will hit the floors soon.

Salman Khan’s love for a cat

Salman Khan's love for animals is well-known. While he has dogs of his own, he also likes to pamper strays.

Recently, one saw the actor have a cute interaction with a stray cat in a studio compound.

The cat was stretching herself, purring and not showing much interest in her surroundings, when Salman was overheard telling her to get her 'act' together. The Bollywood star also called for some food for the furry creature and personally fed her.

We even heard someone passing a catty comment. "Salman has taken a liking for this cat. And this one is spelt with a C, not a K!"

Amrita Rao’s scooty lessons

Amrita Rao, who has been working hard on her character in her next film, found herself in a challenging situation.

She was to ride a scooty with her co-star Arshad Warsi riding pillion. However, since she has never ridden a two-wheeler before, Amrita was hesitant. But the petite actress has always loved challenges and decided to take this one up too.

Incidentally, it was during Main Hoon Naa that she learnt to ride a bicycle for the first time and that too from Shah Rukh Khan. So this time around, it wasn't that difficult and in just half an hour the girl managed to ride a bike.

Amrita, of course, was glad that the lessons she learned from Shah Rukh all those years ago came in handy again.

Priyanka Chopra’s Bollywood singing debut quashed

She eagerly awaits the launch of her international music album but Priyanka Chopra's dream of singing for a Hindi film remains far from being fulfilled.

Reason being while music composer Pritam Chakraborty wanted the actress to lend her voice to one of the tracks in Anurag Basu's Barfi!, Priyanka, who has signed a worldwide recording agreement with Universal Music and Desi Hits, cannot lend her voice to any other project till her music album sees the light of day. The album, which contains ten pop songs, is expected to release worldwide not before end of this year.

It was Pritam's idea to make Priyanka sing for Barfi! He felt since he had Ranbir, he should have Priyanka's voice too in the song. However, her contractual obligations made it impossible for Priyanka to concede. This was conveyed to both Pritam and Basu.

Shahid's typo error gets him famous on twitter again

When Shahid Kapoor took to a social networking site on Sunday to cheer for world champion MC Mary Kom a few hours before her Olympic boxing match, he didn't know he would end up being the butt of all jokes! The actor tweeted: '?@shahidkapoor: Bust them up marycom ............ U r indias million dollar baby ....... (sic)'

From stand-up comedians to his followers on the site - a lot of people took a dig at the actor for the spelling error. While some directly corrected him, saying it's 'Mary Kom' and not 'Marycom', others went on to post sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek comments.

Few of them tweeted: '@TheUnRealTimes: dotcom, sitcom, intecom etc and now thanks to the great Shahid Kapoor, new word to enrich English vocabulary - marycom (sic)'; '@Geethu_Jose: Are you mad? She is not an internet domain.'; ?'@KainazM: Why is Shahid Kapoor trending? Did he make some typo again?'; '@sukhkarni: Thank god for there's no grammar in Shahid Kapoor's dance moves (sic).' And, it went on and on.

The actor obviously soon realised his mistake and wrote: 'Sorry its mary kom ..... Wat time is her match today ? (sic)'. But it did take a while for the storm to die and people to cut him some slack!

Deepraj in Once Upon a Time in Mumbai's sequel

Allahabadi lad Deepraj Rana is in the news again. After bagging a number of projects recently, now it seems, the actor has also managed to bag an important role in director Milan Luthria 'Once Upon A Time in Mumbai-2', sequel of the earlier part.

"Though a lot of things are not defined, most probably I will be playing a role of a gangster in this sequel. Akshay Kumar is expected to play the lead character in the movie," claims the actor but refuses to divulge the details further, "Discussions on a lot of things are still on so it would be very premature to comment on them right now. Just wait for a little more time and you will get to know all the details."

Deepraj is doing a number of movies at present including Enemy (being produced by Mithun Chakraborty), Neeraj Pandey's Special 26, Saheb Biwi aur Gangster-2 and Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh.

Jism 2: I'm not ashamed of my past, says Sunny Leone

Post the release of her Bollywood debut, Sunny Leone opens her heart on her Indian plans...

Has your family seen Jism 2?
My parents are no more. I've a brother. He doesn't understand too much Hindi. So I hope to show him a subtitled print. Most of my friends and family are in LA. I want to sit with them and watch my film. It's the only film I've done so far that I can watch with my family (laughs).

What's your second film going to be?
It's Ragini MMS 2. That's my second film. It will be shot closer to the end of the year.

Your voice in Jism 2 is dubbed by an Indian dubbing artiste Smita Malhotra. Don't you think your performance would have come out better if you had spoken your own lines?
Yes, I realize that. My Hindi needs improvement. I am definitely using my own voice in my next film. I wish I had worked more closely with my Hindi tutor over my Hindi during Jism 2. I was having so much fun shooting for this film I forgot to concentrate on improving my Hindi. It was a mistake.

Shah Rukh celebrates 'Friendship Day' with daughter

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan's daughter gifted him a bright coloured band on Friendship Day and the actor seems to be excited about it.

"Got a bright orange friendship band from daughter and a black one from a lovely Russian family outside my house. feeling friendly now," Shah Rukh tweeted.

The 46-year-old, who is married to Gauri Khan, has two children - son Aryan and daughter Suhana.

Kareena, Imran to team up for romantic flick

Kareena Kapoor

After their sizzling chemistry in 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu', actors Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan will again team up for Karan Johar's untitled home production, to be directed by Punit Malhotra.

"We are making a film with Kareena and Imran in the lead. Karan is producing the film and I would be directing it. We are very happy to have Kareena and Imran on board with us," Punit told PTI.

Released in February earlier this year, Kareena and Imran's romantic comedy 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu', produced by Karan and directed by Shakun Batra, was a hit.

On the untitled venture, Punit said, "It is a romantic movie, as well as a little more than that. It is tough to be put in a genre. It is different from 'I Hate Luv Storys'. It is not a rom-com, but definitely a romantic film, a little more serious."

So, if it is a mature love story, Punit said, "I can't talk about it (the film)."

The film is likely to go on floors later this year or next year.

"We are waiting to lock dates (of actors). Hopefully we will start shooting for it from this year or may be next year," Punit said.

This is Punit's second directorial venture after 'I Hate Luv Storys' that had Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor in the lead.

Bollywood condemns gurdwara shooting

Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Shabana Azmi are "pained", "shocked" and "sad" at Sunday's attack on a gurdwara in a Milwaukee suburb in the US. They have expressed condolences to the victims.

The attack in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, left seven people dead, including the shooter.

Hindi cine stars, upset with the attack on religious sects, took to Twitter to share their thoughts. Here's what they had to say:

Amitabh Bachchan: What is happening in US? Another shooting of innocents! And inside a temple, a gurdwara! Pained and shocked beyond words. Prayers for those affected.

Anupam Kher: Attack and killing of innocent people in a gurdwara in America is a sad and cowardly act. My heartfelt condolence to the families of victims.

Shabana Azmi: We condemn the loss of innocent lives at Sikh gurdwara, Wisconsin and pray for the swift recovery of injured. When will this madness end? Attacks at houses of worship (Wisconsin) must be condemned by all. This type of crime strikes at the very foundation of religious freedom.

Sophie Choudry: Absolutely shocked about the Wisconsin gurdwara shooting! Prayers and condolences. Cinemas, college campuses and now temples... Is no place safe?

Onir: Anguished at the gurdwara shootout in US. When will race/religion/gender hate crime stop. Once again we see the worst aspect of human beings.

Pooja Bedi: Shocked and saddened by the shootout at Milwaukee gurdwara! Strength to victims' families. I hope his sentencing is severe and swifter than Kasab's!

Vishal Dadlani: What on earth is wrong with this world? Why are people just killing innocent people for no reason?

Ek Tha Tiger's a swift, nice & clean film: Salman Khan

Mega stars Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif feel the promos of Ek Tha Tiger have been well-appreciated and the expectations are huge

On a muggy August evening, scores of fans in Ahmedabad waited for more than three hours just to have a glance at Salman Khan, the star who has changed all rules of Box Office with mega hits like Bodyguard and Dabangg in recent times.The restlessness to soak in that desire was so very evident on their faces. Salman Khan was in Ahmedabad on Sunday with his co-star Katrina Kaif to promote the film Ek Tha Tiger produced by Yash Raj Films which will be released on August 15.

The security at the plush hotel was tight to the T to make the going smooth affair. Cameramen just couldn't have enough of capturing Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in their lens. As the shutterbugs went on a fast track, the stars settled down for an open interaction.

Salman Khan tops Sunny Leone's co-star wish list

Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone teamed up with Arunoday Singh and Randeep Hooda in her Bollywood debut " Jism 2", and now she has expressed a desire to work with Hindi movie star Salman Khan.

"Whoever wants to work with me, I want to work with them. But Salman Khan is on the top of my list," the 31-year-old said here Sunday during a visit to a theatre for a public interaction.

Recently released "Jism 2" was promoted aggressively before its release and Dino Morea, co-producer of the erotic thriller, says it's important to promote a film after it hits the screens.

"We got a great opening, the first day was very good. I would like to say that promotions should continue even after the film's release because you should see how the audience is reacting. Most often after a film's release, the actors and crew disappear. We don't want to do that," the 36-year-old said.

"We want to show people that we are still promoting the film and we will be visiting more theatres. People are coming to watch Sunny," he added.

Dino also thanked the public for their positive response to the film.

"Thank you all for coming and buying tickets. We have brought you Sunny and everywhere else it is totally a 'paisa vasool' show," said Dino.

Sunny said: "Thank you for coming and buying tickets. Thank you so much for inviting me in your homes and hearts. I love you all and hope you do too."

Chennai Express shooting date not advanced, says SRK

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has rubbished reports that he got the shooting dates for Rohit Shetty's " Chennai Express" advanced to September so that he could be with his team Kolkata Knight Riders for the Champions League starting Oct 9.

"No, please don't believe what you guys read, write and show. I'll tell you if you start believing the lies you only say, it's going to be really bad for you. You at least should know," the 46-year-old said in an interview.

"It's normal shooting, whenever we start shooting... Inshallah, in September. We were always starting in September," he added.

Shah Rukh also spoke about the importance of Independence Day for him and said that it means "everything for us".

"It's a very proud moment for the country. My father fought for the freedom of this country so I take it even more personally. We should be very, very proud that we have had this opportunity and did it on our own," he added.

When asked what freedom means for the youth, he said: "I think freedom to think, freedom to live, freedom to believe, to dream, I think these are the freedoms the youth will want."

Currently Shah Rukh is busy wrapping up shooting for Yash Raj Films' untitled film in the next 10 days. He has teamed up with Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in it.

Will it be Ajay instead of Salman for Bajirao?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been dreaming of making his biopic on the Peshwa, Bajirao and his wife Mastani for nearly a decade. In these 10 years, there has been extensive reporting on this movie, and so has SLB's wish-list for his lead players to play Bajirao.

SLB had started talking about this dream project soon after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and had wanted his original favourite Salman Khan as the lead actor and Kareena Kapoor to play Mastani.

An insider said, "Salman and Kareena even did the photo-shoot in the attire at a five-star hotel in Juhu.'' However, the film didn't take off and when Sanjay wanted to revive it, Salman who was dating Katrina Kaif had insisted he consider Kat instead of Bebo.

In the years gone by, this film has been one of the most speculated movies and the casting for the lead roles seems to have done a complete round of the top brass in Bollywood.Post Black, there was talk of SLB wanting the Bachchans for this dream historical project and later there was speculation that he may even consider Salman's bete noire and his own Devdas,ShahRukh Khan for the role of Bajirao. The latest card that has been opened in this drama reveals that SLB is reportedly in talks with Ajay Devgn, the other leading man of HDDCS for the role of the famous Peshwa. And of course we also hear that Kat, who now speaks Hindi adeptly, may be Mastani.

SLB who is eating, sleeping, breathing Ram Leela (the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone film) that will roll this August, is obviously in no mood to throw light on his next project. But an insider tells us that Bajirao-Mastani is very much on the anvil, and yes Ajay and Sanjay have been "in talks''.

Salman Khan's Dabangg 2 to release on Dec 21

Salman Khan-Sonakshi Sinha starrer 'Dabangg 2' is half-way through and will hit the theatres on 21 December .

The film is a sequel to the 2010 blockbuster of the same name and is being directed by Salman's younger brother Arbaaz Khan.

"Well for all the Chulbul Pandey fans... Dabangg 2 is almost 60 percent complete, we resume shoot after the promotion and release of 'Ek Tha Tiger'.

"Dabangg 2 is slated for an end of the year Christmas release... 21st Dec 2012," he posted on his Twitter page.

" Dabangg 2" will also star Vinod Khanna and Prakash Raj.

Bollywood's bikini bombshells

Louis Reard would have been happy to see how much his designed garment— 'bikini' (in 1946) not only redefined beach fashion, but helped B-Town beauties sizzle on screen.

The mandates of wearing a bikini in Bollyland haven't changed since Sharmila Tagore wore one for a magazine cover in the 60s — great body, confidence and attitude. It has now evolved as a must-wear for actresses who have fab figures to flaunt.

Amping the oomphometer with their bikini acts in recent times are Deepika Padukone (in Cocktail, a scene that according to many was the only high point in the film), Sunny Leone (in Jism-2), Shazahn Padamsee (in Housefull 2), Sarah Jane Dias (in Kya Supercool Hain Hum), Bipasha Basu (in Players). Katrina Kaif is reportedly toning herself for a bikini act in Dhoom 3. While Sonakshi Sinha categorically says she will "never wear a bikini," most actresses have come to terms with the garment and want to join the two-piece club to make a point. Celeb dietician Pooja Makhija says, "Deepika (Padukone) has a great body but even for her bikini shot in Cocktail, her diet was fine tuned in such a way that she had fat loss. You need a trainer and good diet plan for a bikini body."

They all want a headline from me: Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor on how she had to dumb herself down but still remains her PR's worst nightmare

You say when you initially began talking about the authors and books you read, they were so high-brow that people thought you were being pseudo-intellectual. How have you resolved that and metamorphosed into the style diva - by dumbing down the communication?
Not dumb down, but simplify it, you know what I mean? And anyways people stop asking you those questions very quickly. They're more interested in knowing 'have you signed this film? / why haven't you signed this film? / what is your relationship status? / have you had a catfight with X? / why haven't you had a catfight? / so what exactly is your relationship? / you seem too friendly with X and Y' - by now I know, by rote, the questions that certain journalists are going to ask me. That is their job, because that makes for a good copy. I guess people want to read all this. If they want to read more intellectual stuff, they can always read interviews of social workers, politicians, intellectuals, authors... They don't want to - actually I don't know if they don't want to, but perhaps they don't expect to hear anything literary or intellectual from an 'actress' - let's just say that! (laughs)

I don’t care what B'wood actors do: Diana Hayden

Over a steaming cup of coffee, former Miss World and actor Diana Hayden talks about the multi-tasking hat she adorns...

From Miss World to actor, grooming expert and author — you have been constantly transforming...
You know I'm someone who doesn't shut up. I am always talking, listening or absorbing information. Perhaps, that's why I'm always doing something different. My book is my labour of love... my baby. This grooming guide takes anecdotes from my real life experience. I've always taken strength from whatever crumbs have been thrown my way. There was a time when I was low on confidence and I committed so many fashion blunders. It goes back to days when I had nothing, to my stint in Bigg Boss and to my Miss India days.

Are you following the footsteps of Bollywood's leading ladies who have launched their own fitness DVDs and books?
Honestly, I just wrote this book because I wanted to. I don't care what Bollywood actors do. I've had my share of competitions and I won them all hands down.

Anything happening in movies?
My movie is releasing after two months. Titled The Loving Doll, it's a supernatural thriller. I'm picky about movies. I can't see myself doing mainstream Bollywood movies with all that naach-gaana and running around trees even though I love watching them.

Have you been offered item numbers in Bollywood?
Yes, and I will not do them.

I am very much single: Katrina Kaif

Happiness has eluded her at least on two earlier occasions. Once, when her relationship with Salman Khan went bust and the second time, when her affair with Ranbir Kapoor ended on a sour note. However, Katrina Kaif who TOI caught up with on Friday evening was far more calm and collected than she has ever been before.

Does it have anything to do with her current tag of reigning box office queen, as given by trade pundits?

Kat (as she is fondly called) coolly said, "My last film, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan released eleven months ago. I am happy with the pace I am working at. Earlier, I had less to fear (read: lose) but I felt more frightened. It will be so unlike me if I get interested in what others are doing. But yes, if someone wants to stand on a public platform and declare themselves in any position, I find it odd."

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan faces camera again

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan returns to face the camera nine months after giving birth to Beti B, Aaradhya.

The last time the actress faced the camera was when she was six months pregnant and it was for a commercial. Post-delivery, she chose to stay away from the arclights completely so she could be with her bundle of joy.

A source revealed, "Ash did a photo-shoot for a jewellery brand. Having lost oodles of weight, there is a marked glow on her face and she looks even more ravishing now."

Shrikumar, who shot the commercial in Mumbai said, "This is my first ad with Ash. What impressed me about her was a passion for detailing." Adds Shrikumar, "There are a few interesting underwater shots in the ad too. For me, it has been the most memorable experience shooting with her."

Amrita Singh ignores Kareena Kapoor

There's an unwritten rule in the industry. Uncomfortable situations involving personal or professional rivals are studiously avoided. However, Saturday evening turned out to be an exception; call it a goof up of sorts on the part of YRF Studios, which is otherwise quite well organised.

According to an eyewitness, Saif Ali Khan's ex-wife Amrita Singh walked into the studio and headed for her make up room on the ground floor. However, when she saw Saif's beau Kareena Kapoor's name on the door of the opposite makeup room, she left the area and went to a different location to avoid a sticky situation.

It is learnt that minutes later, a walkie-talkie message was conveyed to the team to have Amrita's makeup room shifted to another floor. Also, the plate on the door of her original makeup room, which read somewhat like: 'Amrita Singh look test for Aurangzeb' was removed.

Abhishek and Emraan top Babloo Srivastava’s wishlist

Gangster Babloo Srivastava, who's currently lodged in Lucknow Jail, is believed to be planning his biopic.

Interestingly, he also has a wishlist of actors whom he'd like to portray his life on screen. Ajay Devgn, who played characters based on Dawood Ibrahim in Company and Haji Mastan in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, is the underworld don's first choice to play himself in the biopic. If not him, Emraan Hashmi and Abhishek Bachchan are the others on the gangster's wish list. Besides, he has asked Vinay Sharma, writer of the forthcoming Zilla Ghaziabad, to pen the script.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Srivastava is planning to get a biopic on him made. Some time in May 2008, he had reportedly signed producer-director S Rauf Jeelani to make the movie, based on his autobiography, Adhura Khwaab.

SRK not doing a cameo in Krrish 3

Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan are inseparable as friends. But Shah Rukh is most certainly not doing a cameo in his best buddy's superhero flick Krrish 3.

Rakesh Roshan, who is directing the film confirmed this news. "There is no talk of SRK doing a cameo in my film,'" said the maker. Of course, one hears that SRK will be helping the Roshans with the special effects, especially because his own RA.One had some really fine special effects work — all of which was indigenously done.

John to back Satya sequel?

If the buzz going around in tinsel town is any indication, John Abraham could well be producing the sequel of Satya.

A source said that after making a light-hearted and a frothy film like Vicky Donor, the actor-producer wants to try his hand at serious subjects too. "Satya was an intense film about life in Mumbai's underbelly. Ever since John heard that Ram Gopal Varma has plans to make a sequel to Satya, he has shown a keen interest in producing it. Besides this, there are a few other projects in the offing too. The movies are a mix bag of various subjects. And John is gung-ho to have the best projects under his banner," said the source.

When shops were opened at 1am for Kareena Kapoor

Recently Kareena Kapoor was shooting a music video with Aamir Khan over the weekend. They were shooting in nights at the Famous Studios in Mumbai.

"Unfortunately on second night, there was some problem with the second change. The outfit got spoiled in rains. And since shooting was already underway, they couldn't even cancel", says a unit-hand present at the shoot.

For the shoot to continue, producer Ritesh Sidhwani called couple of friends frantically and checked as to who could open the showroom at such an odd hour. "Two of his friends, Manisha Jaisingh and Nandita Mathani, stepped in and opened the showroom at 1 am in night", adds the unit-hand. "The crew ran across both showrooms and picked up all clothes available. Thereafter the shooting continued as it is".

Talaash is Aamir Khan's first big release after 3 Idiots and one of the most awaited films of the year which releases on Nov 30. This movie brings together Farhan Ritesh and Aamir 10 years after Dil Chahta Hai.

12th Osian’s Cinefan Festival: Freedom of Expression was primary theme

Marking a return after a gap of two years, the 12th Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema proved to be the biggest film event in the country with as many as 176 films from around 38 countries from India, Asia and the Arab world. The Film festival which was held in New Delhi from 27 July to5 August 2012 at Siri Fort Complex and the Blue Frog at the Kila Complex, had 15 World premieres, 8 International premieres, 104 Indian premieres, and 13 Asian premieres. The screenings included 61 shorts.

The films were shown within a framework which focused on Freedom of Creative Thought and Expression - the special theme for this year according to Osian's Group Chairman Neville Tuli. Five Landmark films from the history of cinema made against prevailing censorship norms - Pier Paolo Pasolini's Salo, Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh-Thi's Baise-Moi, Shuji Terayama's Emperor Tomato Ketchup, the Devika Rani-Himanshu Rai starrer Karma and Jafar Panahi's This is Not a Film.

Multiplexes to hike ticket prices for Ek Tha Tiger

Websites had started pre-booking shows a month before Salman Khan's much-awaited Eid release Ek Tha Tiger was scheduled to hit the theatres on August 15. And now, TOI has learnt that most multiplexes have decided to hike the ticket prices by as much as 12-16 percent.

Pricing tickets higher for certain films or during special occasions like Diwali and New Year is not uncommon. In fact, earlier Salman releases Ready and Bodyguard had been priced higher than regular rates. However, a 12-16 percent hike is unprecedented.

Explaining the hike, an insider said, "Most multiplexes rolled back the ticket prices (ref. Mirror, May 3, 2012) a few months ago. So, a 12-16 percent hike will come out to be about Rs 20. Which is fair. After all it is the festive season. People are willing to shell out extra money for a Salman film especially during Eid. The multiplexes have taken this decision after a lot of research."

Hrithik Roshan's special ode to dad Rakesh Roshan

Rakesh Roshan completes three decades of film production and 25 years of being a director in the Hindi cinema industry this year. To celebrate this milestone, son Hrithik has planned a very special ode for the filmmaker. An insider told us how the actor, who's currently busy shooting for Krrish 3, has decided to get in touch with all the veteran directors, actors, music composers and even technicians who had worked with his father through the years.

"Hrithik has chalked up a list of people he wants to meet. This includes his father's contemporaries. Apart from actors like Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Aruna Irani, Rekha, Randhir Kapoor, Jeetendra and all those who Sr Roshan had worked with, will be the filmmakers and cameramen and even technicians," said the insider.

Hrithik wants to meet these people who have worked closely with his father and make them talk about their association. "He will eventually convert the entire footage into a neat audio visual," added the insider.

Roshan Sr, who started his film career as an actor in 1970, started his own production in 1982. In 1987, he directed his first film Khudgarz. After which, he has had a successful spate of movies, his last hit as a director being Krrish in 2006.

Nikhil Advani-Karan Johar clash over release

It's official now. Director Nikhil Advani's 3D stereoscopic animation feature film titled Delhi Safari will release nationwide on October 19. However, it will clash with Karan Johar's comeback film as director, Student of the Year, which is slated to hit theatres on the same day.

Interestingly, after the 2003 blockbuster Kal Ho Na Ho, Karan and Nikhil never teamed up on any film. Reportedly, the two parted ways after creative differences cropped up between them while working on another project.

Asked why he opted to release his film on the very same day as that of his mentor, Nikhil said, "Who wants to clash with Karan? The decision has been taken by the distributor and producer. The first week of October is observed as wildlife week. It made sense to release the film during that time as it will help our campaign."

Delhi Safari tells the story of five animals, who journey to Delhi to protest in front of the parliament when builders encroach upon their forest.

Urmila Matondkar, Govinda, Akshaye Khanna, Boman Irani and Suniel Shetty have lent their voices to the characters in the film while music has been composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.