KBC 4's first Crorepati is a woman!

KBC 4’s first Crorepati is a woman! This Season of Kaun Banega Crorepati has already got its Crorepati. But fortunately this time it is a Crorepatni.
Last month, Rahat Taslim exhausted her cellphone balance for what she saw as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The gamble worked, turning her into a crorepati.

"It was October 16 and I had just Rs 3 on my cellphone. I knew I had to enter Kaun Banega Crorepati 4 and the only way was to answer one question via my cellphone. I took a chance and it paid off," she says. And how.

The 37-year-old from Giridih, Jharkhand, is a little hazy about that one question that changed her life. Ask her now and all she can remember is the cellphone question was something to do with Ram Janmabhoomi and Hindu mythology.

The day she got the call confirming her qualification was, coincidentally, her birthday and wedding anniversary. "I had always believed October 17 was my lucky day and that has now proved true."

But it was November 10 that made Taslim the first Rs-1-crore winner of KBC's new season. She almost lost that position to Prashant Batar of Meerut, who had reached the Rs-1-crore mark, only to lose most of it on the next question for Rs 5 crore.

Taslim has already become a celebrity. Word spreads fast in a small town and her son is already reluctant to go to school for fear of being assailed with questions. What is really worrying, however, is the effect that the family's newfound wealth will have in an area that is Naxalite-affected. But Taslim is optimistic. "I tell myself - if God has seen fit to grant me these riches, he'll also take care of me and my family."

She runs a garments shop that also doubles up as a sewing school for young girls. "I run my business and at the same time also teach these girls a skill which will help them earn some money as well," she says.

She now plans to expand and open a boutique. Her family comprises husband Imtiaz Ahmed, 50, son Faisal Mozam, 17, and daughter Tazeem Rahat, 12.

When she went on the sets, it all seemed alien at first. "But I settled down almost immediately. The crew and Mr Bachchan were all very nice to me and made me feel at home." Her nerves returned with the fastest-finger-first qualification round. "I found that I couldn't do anything right," she says, "I kept hitting the wrong buttons. I became clumsy with nervousness."

She finally made it to the hot seat and from there on it was a smooth ride. She easily tackled the questions on history, sports, movies, current affairs. "I hardly had any trouble because I'm actually very well-versed in general knowledge. I have a firm grasp of science and history. In fact, I have a Bachelor's degree in history from Ranchi Women's College." Over the years, she also kept herself clued in by regularly reading newspapers. Before the birth of her children, she had also been preparing for a job as a teacher. All that preparation came in useful when she was faced with the Rs-1-crore question - Which country in Africa was the first one to have a female President?

She could've gone on to win Rs 5 crore in the bonus round but the question - who performed the world's first heart transplant - stumped her and Taslim preferred to bow out with what she had.

Day-Lewis to play Abraham Lincoln in Spielberg film

Daniel Day-Lewis

Oscar-winning British actor Daniel Day-Lewis has been tapped to play U.S. president Abraham Lincoln in an upcoming film directed by Steven Spielberg, the DreamWorks movie studio said on Friday.

"Lincoln" is based on the best-selling book, "Team of Rivals" by Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Kearns Goodwin. It profiles the president and his political clashes with the members of his White House cabinet as the United States engaged in civil war from 1861-1865.

Day-Lewis is a four-time Oscar nominee and two-time winner of the film industry's top honors. He earned one Academy Award for best actor in 1989's "My Left Foot" and a second for 2007's "There Will Be Blood" playing a ruthless oil baron.

"Daniel Day-Lewis would have always been counted as one of the greatest of actors were he from the silent era, the golden age of film or even some time in cinema's distant future. I am grateful and inspired that our paths will finally cross with 'Lincoln,'" Spielberg said in a statement.

The screenplay was written by another Pulitzer winner, "Angels in America" writer Tony Kushner. Filming is set to begin in 2011, and the movie is scheduled to land in theaters in 2012.

Latest news about Harry Potter Given Below: New Harry Potter film casts $24 mln midnight spell

Can Katrina Kaif Be Called "The Indian Shakira"?

Katrina in Skirt

Katrina Kaif is the talk of the nation due to her overtly sexy style and dance in her forth coming Farah Khan flick Tees Maar Khan. The fact that Kat has shed a lot of kilos for the movie is evident from the promos of the flick. Her very sexy bod with her oomph factor in the movie is certainly making this one of the most awaited films of this year.

However, the real bonanza is Kat’s dance moves in the song ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’, where she has reportedly gone for six different make over’s and moves to match. This Bollywood damsel has also gyrated in Shakira style and reportedly her moves are as good if not better than the international singer performer star.

Katrina has indeed proved with every film that she is one of the most beautiful actresses in tinsel town and is trying her level best to reach up to the standards of some of the lead actresses in her performances also. Her dancing skills have always looked good on screen but this one with her international looks and great hip shaking techniques, it is being said that she truly is the Indian Shakira if there ever was one.

However to prove the point we just have to wait for the flick to release and see whether Kat does deserve to be tagged as the Indian Shakira.

Review 3: Guzaarish (2010)

The Hindi film industry is currently in a phase where laudable directors/writers are concentrating on mental inconsistencies and physical deformities that plague unfortunate individuals. Sensitive films such as Paa, which demonstrated the legendary Amitabh Bachchan’s character named Auro suffering from progeria; My Name Is Khan, which depicted the superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s character being plagued by the Asperger Syndrome and Kartik Calling Kartik, which portrayed the multitalented Farhan Akhtar’s character being troubled by schizophrenia, come to the mind. Of course, there have been sensible and moving films such as Taare Zameen Par and Black as well, which have dealt with dyslexia and Alzheimer’s.

Aish And Hrithik In Guzaarish Movie

Guzaarish is another addition to this list, with the ace director, Sanjay Bhansali, delving into the physical ailment named ‘Paraplegia’, which debilitates the protagonist’s (Hrithik Roshan’s) character, Ethan Mascarenhas, who is a renowned magician. Ethan has to endure an absolute paralysis of the lower part of his body, which includes his legs, as a result of severe damage to his spinal cord during one of his magical renditions. Ethan, who loses the determination to live contentedly due to this disorder, is nursed back to vivaciousness and optimism by his nurse named Sophia (Aishwarya Rai).

It is quite evident that Bhansali has devoted every ounce of devotion in his mind to create this intelligent and touching film, which is bereft of the glitziness and lavishness of the architecture of his previous films such as Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But the paucity of glossiness and richness in the sets in this latest venture is compensated by the heartbreaking yet inspirational progression of the film, which is revealed via a sequence of flashbacks.

The film, positioned in Goa, depicts Ethan, in his handicapped condition, hosting a program on ‘Radio Zindagi’, a FM station. Ethan’s program has an uplifting tone, which illustrates the wonderfulness of hope, positivity and brightness in individual lives, and that such messages emanate from Ethan make them all the more important and elevating as Ethan has been victimized by a spinal debilitation for the last 14 years of his life.

The film deals with the issue of euthanasia as Ethan yearns to terminate his existence with his self-respect intact, for which he launches a plea for mercy killing in the court. Only a director, with significant knowledge of human emotions, could have tackled as complex and divisive a subject as euthanasia. Some of the scenes in the film that are outstanding and that are the generators of tears are the moments in the courthouse mixed with Sophia’s outpouring of emotions in the end, the magical mishap that nearly slaughters Ethan but leaves him paralyzed and the finale. Sophia and Ethan admire each other, with their unvoiced love exhibiting sophistication and decency that is reminiscent of an earlier era.

The film has a sizable number of English dialogues, which may position impediments in the path of this film, preventing it from becoming a comprehensively embraced film. Nevertheless, it is worthy of appreciation for several reasons, one of which is the soulful and lilting music of the film, created by Bhansali, which displays his dedication towards this project. ‘Udi’ and ‘Sau Gram Zindagi’ are two songs that will gradually seep into the viewers’ minds and become a part of it due to their musical excellence and poetic personality. The dialogues of Bhavani Iyer and Vibhu Puri befriend your heart and make you feel like taking a stand on mercy killing. The cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee is breathtaking, with spectacular images of Goa and visuals that will fascinate the thinking viewers.

Sophia and Ethan, completely devoid of glamorousness and showiness, with Ethan in a thick beard, make the film realistic and associate the viewers’ hearts with them. There is a colossal degree of respectability and self-respect attached to their characters by Aishwarya and Hrithik. Hrithik needs to be lauded for courageously embracing this character, which can be quite risky, as the audience is used to seeing Hindi heroes in a handsomer and dashing condition, who magnetize female attention better than a magnetic substance. He has bequeathed grace and poise to Ethan with a splendid enactment of Ethan’s joyfulness, naughtiness, lugubriousness and hopefulness. Sophia’s character has been enacted awesomely by Aishwarya with oodles of gracefulness and classy sensuousness that never becomes uncouth. Aditya Roy Kapoor, as the aspirant magician named Omar, is likable, while Nafisa Ali, as Hrithik’s Mom, who endorses his yearning for euthanasia, is poignant.

Guzaarish is, on the whole, an excellent creation that is unlike other crass Hindi films, with its likability undeniably enhanced by the sophisticated chemistry between Sophia and Ethan. Bhansali has engendered a film that talks about human emotions and tribulations and how one must try to live and die with one’s self-esteem intact. It can be watched. For sure!

Victoria doesn’t use fake tan anymore

Victoria Beckham

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham admits she doesn’t go for a fake tan anymore.

The 36-year-old, who is married to soccer star David Beckham, admits she has previously experimented with giving herself a bronzed glow but has now realised it is not a good for her.

“I don’t wear fake tan anymore. Sometimes I’ve been turned orange but that’s definitely a look from my past,” contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

“Being overly tanned is very ageing and, dare I say it, a bit footballer’s wife. I’m a little tanned from being in Los Angeles but I don’t use self-tan. Embrace your natural colour,” she said.

Life has been so hectic from class 12, Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai

Doing four to fives films in a year is not a matter of joke. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has proved her capability, power, energy to act in four films in a year. Year 2010 has been very hectic for Aishwarya but Ash feels that her life has been hectic from the 12^th standard.

"I keep joking that the pace of my life has been so hectic ever since high school. From Class 12, when I was a science student, till date it has only been a hectic pace and that`s the only pace perhaps my body knows now," Aishwarya said.

This year the 36 year old actress has got four releases, ‘Raavan’, ‘Robot’, ‘Action Replayy’ and ‘Guzaarish’ one after the other. She was little feverish but not at all complaining.
"Come on! I`m okay now. If you think work pressure has affected me, how would you explain Hrithik (Roshan) getting unwell after doing just two films in two years? I just got a day`s fever and I`m all raring to go," she said.

She has left a little part of December for relaxing, "It`s almost the end of November and very little of December is left. I had deliberately kept a little part of December off...because since 2008 I have been working continuously.

"Doing five films – ‘Raavan;, ‘Raavanan’, ‘Robot’, ‘Action Replayy’ and ‘Guzaarish’ - has been mammoth. Hrithik keeps joking about my plight and says he did just ‘Guzaarish’ all this while, apart from ‘Kites’. But, yes, I did all that work and also promoted those films. Now I need a break ...so a bit of an off in December and then further work next year," she said.

For the coming year, she has signed two films.

PC's role as nurse rewritten by KJO…

Priyanka Chopra brings a very large amount of sensuality into every project she is given.

In Karan Johar’s Dostana, the swimming costume shots came in only after Aishwarya Rai said ‘No’ to the film, and now Priyanka’s entry into Karan’s next, Agneepath 2, has ruffled a few feathers.

In fact, lately, there has been much dispute in Karan’s company Dharma Productions over Priyanka’s sensuality-quotient in their forthcoming remake of Agneepath.

The original character of the nurse (played by Madhavi) has been found a bit boring for Priyanka’s presence.

The character is now being re-written into a different professional space to accommodate Priyanka’s presence. All said and done, Priyanka will not be seen as a nurse in Agneepath 2.

Says Karan, “We can’t have Priyanka playing a nurse, please!”

Wonder what nurses would say that, KJo!

Arjun Rampal agrees for cameo in ‘Rascals’

Actor Arjun Rampal has given the nod for a guest appearance in ‘Rascals’ to be directed by David Dhawan.

The movie has been co-produced by Sanjay Dutt Productions and Rupali Aum Entertainment.

‘Arjun is happy to do the cameo,’ said a source close to the actor.

The actor had become quite choosy about his projects ever since he was lauded for his performance in ‘Rock On!!’ and received a National award for it too.

He followed up the success of ‘Rock On!!’ with films ‘Raajneeti’ and ‘We Are Family’.

Reason behind Imran Khan’s decision for court marriage …

There have been many rumours about how Imran Khan will wed his girlfriend of many years Avantika Malik. The couple had set their mind on some date in January 2011, they were not sure how they would want to go about it. While some suggested a nikaah, some advised on a big reception.

But both Imran and Avantika agreed on one thing, they wanted a quiet affair.

It was during the shooting of Break Ke Baad, that Imran Khan finally decided to go for court marriage. The inspiration came from the director of the film, Danish Aslam, who has had a court marriage with actress Shruti Seth not too long ago.

So, as of now Imran has decided that he will have a very private, court marriage at his house in the second week of January, next year.

Confirming the same, Imran says, “I am from a Muslim family and Avantika belongs to a Hindu family. I personally didnt want to commit our wedding to one religion or other. We felt the best way for us would be to keep it neutral and have a court marriage. Danish was in the same situation and so went for a court marriage.”

Pamela grooves to ‘Munni Badnam Hui’ with Salman

Salman Khan And Pamela Anderson in Bigg Boss 4

The Baywatch babe is all set to shake a leg on the most popular item song ‘Munni Badnam Hui’ with Salman Khan tonight.

Pamela’s three day stay in Bigg Boss house has come to an end and finally she will be seen interacting with host Salman Khan on tonight’s episode. Interestingly Pamela will sing and dance on the popular item song Munni Badnam Hui from Salman Khan’s Dabangg on tonight’s episode. Of course Salman Khan will give her company.

The housemates who have already started missing Pamela had suggested she perform on Salman’s current favorite number Munni Badnaam Hui and charm him by her moves. Dressed in sexy pink top and red shorts, Pamela who has barely learnt some Hindi words did not know how to react when Salman started conversing with her in Hindi. When she started singing Munni Badnaam, Salman came to her rescue and helped her get the song lyrics right.

Soon Pamela changed into traditional Indian outfit and looked stunning in a blue lehanga-choli. That’s when they started dancing on the song. Salman added his funny touch to the performance by imitating Pamela by scratching his head while singing the song.

We must add that Pamela’s sensuous moves can give Malaika a run for money.

‘Dhobi Ghat’ is ‘hatke’: Aamir Khan

Bollywood star Aamir Khan says he was apprehensive about the response to the first look of his next production ‘Dhobi Ghat’, but is glad viewers have appreciated the ‘hatke’ film.

‘Thanks guys. K (Kiran) and I have been reading your reactions to the trailer. Most encouraging! So glad that you all are liking it. It is a very unusual film, proper ‘hatke’, so we were very nervous. Relief. Thanks,’ Aamir posted on his Facebook page Saturday.

‘Dhobi Ghat’ is Aamir’s wife, Kiran Rao’s directorial debut and narrates the story of people from different classes and how they are drawn together in compelling relationships.

Aamir was initially hesitant that the film may not be liked by the masses. But the reactions are changing his thinking.