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.