Audiences seem to be having Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan coming out of their ears together. And that is perhaps one reason why the market has been reacting a tad too slowly to the film Agent Vinod. The apparent lack of interest in the movie from the film trade is now getting the filmmakers Saif Ali Khan, Sriram Raghavan and Dinesh Vijan think about whether they should not go in for a thriller, but get into a romantic film instead.

It is being said that Saif now wants to do a romantic film and has been pushing Sriram hard for it. Sriram on the other hand, is a great maker when it comes to thrillers and stylish movies rather than a lot of feel good films. And more so when Saif has cast his ladylove in the film, purely because he wants to work with her and be with her for longer periods, we think it’s a case of hara-kiri… but then we still hope that love triumphs over everything and we are proved wrong.

It is confirmed. Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra is all set to reprise her role of femme fatale Roma in the sequel to Farhan Akhtar’s 2006 Don-The Chase Begins Again. Though it was always on the cards that Shah Rukh Khan would feature in Don 2 which is expected to pick up from where the remake of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don left off, there was always mystery around the presence of the leading lady in the film.

Her recent release Pyaar Impossible may have failed to take off at the box office but the 27-year-old actress is looking forward to an eventful year ahead. She is busy wrapping up Anjaana Anjaani and will begin shooting for Vishal Bharadwaj’s next film.

Kareena Kapoor gets candid on being known as the queen of endorsements and being the highest-paid actress in Bollywood.

She digs into a bowl of poha especially prepared for her, while her man Friday slips some cheese slices into the tiny fridge in her vanity van, and there lies a sole banana on the table. Though she would rather munch on a packet of Masala Kurkure, Kareena Kapoor carefully follows her diet of eating small healthy meals every two hours. There is not an extra inch on her well-toned body, but the actress presses some invisible fat on her stomach grumbling, “I’ve put on weight”. She is shooting for Karan Johar’s adaptation of Stepmom in Mumbai’s Filmistan Studios and looks chic even in a simple tee and casual pants. “I play a very spirited and fun-loving girl,” she chirps about her role in the film, which will also see her sparkling chemistry with Kajol once again. She is also kicked about receiving the Screen award for the Best Actor (Popular Choice) for Kurbaan and 3 Idiots. “Like every actor, even I want an award and I started preparing my speech well in advance,” she gushes.

Besides pocketing all the plum assignments in Bollywood, Kareena is also one of the biggest names in the ad world, endorsing a wide range of products from electronics to cosmetics to jewellery. “The best thing about ads is that you reach out to your fans on television. Otherwise, they have to buy a ticket and go to the theatre to see you. Of course, there is the big fat cheque that comes with them,” she grins. So as reported, is she one of the highest-paid when it comes to brand endorsements? “Well, every actor gets what he deserves and the ad guys know that. Anyway, an actor’s price is not something to be discussed in public, though I baulk at the different figures in the newspapers every day.”

But like her acting assignments that she chooses with great care, Kareena is choosy about the products she endorses. “Since I am a teetotaller I don’t endorse liquor and having turned vegetarian, no non- vegetarian stuff either. Otherwise anything and everything is welcome. It’s great fun to endorse different brands,” she says like an excited child. And she likes it when she does an ad with Saif Ali Khan as “his comic timing in ads is impeccable.”

What irks the actresses about the ad world is when her size-zero is used to promote products like pizzas and television sets! “It’s good to know that people are influenced by my size, but except for the Sony Vaio laptop which I endorse, it annoys me when “Size zero”, a term associated with me, is used for other products.”

But more than endorsements, Kareena would like her name to be associated with remarkable performances, because that is what brings these endorsements to her. And she gives a damn for the number game, which she feels is decided by the media. “It’s so unfair, as every actor has his own space and standing. I will be happy to be known as number 10 as long as I do justice to my varied roles. Like last year, there were Kambakkht Ishq, Kurbaan and 3 Idiots and this year too, you will see me playing different roles. You will not see the same Kareena in any film. For me, it’s not about doing successful films but about evolving as an actress.”

After completing Karan’s film, Kareena will be off to Miami for Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra 1 and then there’s Saif Ali Khan’s Agent Vinod in which she plays a CIA agent. “Though both are action films I am not required to do any stunts. I get a chance to display my histrionics in both ,” she clarifies. And then she has signed on the dotted line for Golmaal 3.

“It’s a great brand and my now fans associate me with the Golmaal series. I’m not going to let anyone take that away from me.” Her reply when asked whether her charging nearly 10 crore for the film will make her the highest-paid actress in the industry is just a sweet smile!

As for doing Imtiaz Ali’s film, she wonders. “But isn’t he taking Ranbir for that film? How can I work with my brother? All the heroines should thank me for not being able to do the film, for that way they get a chance to work with him !” she laughs.

source : screenindia

One of the most stylish star-wives in tinsel town is none other than Twinkle Khanna. Twinkle, who still looks like she could give the current breed of actresses a run for their money, features on the cover page of this month’s issue of fashion and style magazine Grazia. Looking like a million bucks, Twinkle is seen wearing a red coloured textured dress by Blugirl.

In an exclusive interview with Grazia, Twinkle talks about her style statement and her favorite designers. She says, “A woman has to always go by her structure and make the most of it, rather than try to dress like someone else. I love flowing dresses, but I can’t really wear them because they overwhelm my frame. For me, everything has to be cinched at the waist.”

Finally, Twinkle also shares some valuable insights on how she manages to juggle between her various roles of a devoted mother, loving wife, successful businesswoman and veritable style genius. All this and more indeed makes for some very interesting read.

A source from the unit reveals, “Manish Malhotra is styling Priyanka, who is shooting for Anjaana Anjaani in the US. She has an extremely glam look in the film. While Priyanka likes the look Manish has given her, she has a lot of issues with the assistant  sylist assigned to her by Manish.

Priyanka isn’t happy at all with what the assistant stylist has been coming up with, right from the color combination, the outfit combination, etc. She is finding the combination of colors and clothes given by this stylist very jarring.”

The source continues, “The assistant stylist herself seems petrified by the situation. Since she is a junior person, she can’t even explain herself. Priyanka has complained to Manish and he is now himself helping out with the combinations.

But it is practically impossible for him to reach every location. He has pacified Priyanka and has spoken to the assistant too. But each day passing day is proving more and more difficult for the stylist, because Priyanka seems to have an issue with everything she is giving her to wear.”

While eyewitnesses say that to some extent the stylist must be going wrong with her selections, but Priyanka is also being very rude to her. “The entire crew is in New York and the stylist has no option but to stick on. She can’t just walk out,” adds our source.

With Mani Ratnam’s Guru, the actor came into his own, getting even Bollywood’s biggest legend  Amitabh Bachchan to endorse his talent. And though some films in between put him on a see-saw, R Balki’s Paa once again brought to light the fact that despite sharing screen space with his father, in what is an award-winning performance for the Big B, AB Junior can very well hold his own.

This year could be the culmination of all these years of ups and downs for the actor. He gets into the most eventful phase of his career. Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Crooked, Karan Johar’s Dostana-2, Abbas Mustan’s The  Italian Job (Hindi remake), Anurag Basu’s next, and, Rohan Sippy’s untitled venture are five of the films that go on the floor this year with Abhishek in the lead. And on June 18, Raavana — Mani Ratnam’s most ambitious venture so far, with AB Jr as the protagonist, will open to a global audience.

When asked how he had suddenly become so prolific, Abhishek who has a great sense of humour says, “I haven’t mastered the art of doing one film at a time.’’ The actor feels he is blessed (yes he couldn’t ask for a more rocking birthday gift) because suddenly his life and career are zooming. His television debut was better received than many other  superstar small-screen acts; and what is more, even in Bollywood, he has found a definite spot for himself. “I’m truly fortunate that I can mix and match my genre of cinema,’’ says the actor. “If Crooked is a thriller, Raavan a socio- drama and Dostana-2 a comedy, then it only means that I can fit into cross-genre cinema with ease. I’m truly happy that I’ll be working round the clock for the next couple of years. And more importantly, I will be doing cinema that I believe in.’’

At 34, Abhishek is a decade younger than the ruling Khans, that also means he has the advantage of age on his side. Whether in his acting style or his positioning in the Bollywood hierarchy, the actor sees himself “competing only with himself’’ and the endeavour is to constantly strive to do better work. “Good  box office is gratifying of course, but good work is equally gratifying,’’ he says.

And asked if there is anything in particular he may still want on this birthday, the actor says, “I’d like to do more work with my wife Aishwarya. The advantage of working with Ash is that the two of us get to make a good film together (Guru, Sarkar Raj, Raavan) and on the personal front, I also get time to spend with my wife.’’ Well, with one of the world’s most beautiful women more than willing to comply with Abhishek’s wishes, there is very little anyone else can offer him. He is truly blessed.