Jessica Alba to cook Christmas meal for 84 people

Actress Jessica Alba has revealed that she will be cooking a Christmas dinner for 84 people.

Alba, 29, is hosting Christmas at her Los Angeles home for her huge family, which includes more than 30 cousins, and unlike other celebrities who hire caterers she will be in the kitchen.

“It is an 84-person sit down dinner. I’ll be cooking for three days,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.

“We rent tables and chairs, have a big tree and sing Christmas carols,” she revealed.

This is the third year Alba and husband, producer Cash Warren, have hosted the yuletide festivities at their home, but this time their house has been renovated to cope with the 84 family members and friends.

“I just renovated my kitchen so it is much more functional this year,” Alba explained.

“I have two ovens in the house, a roaster outside and a pizza oven outside where you can cook roasts and steaks so I think we have all bases covered,” she added. (ANI)

Madonna collaborator sued over $10m worth of royalties

The Spirit One Music group has sued John “Jellybean” Benitez, one of Madonna’s longtime co-writers, for keeping 10 million dollars worth of royalties for the superstar’s 1983 hit “Holiday” away from them.

According to documents filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Benitez and Spirit were to split royalties for the song, still popular after nearly 30 years, and Benitez was in charge of distributing the royalties between the two, reports the New York Post.

But the suit claims Benitez “repeatedly and unrepentantly misstated and underreported revenues due to its joint owner, Spirit,” and “repeatedly, systematically and intentionally made delinquent and tardy payments” to Spirit.

The suit says Benitez has “concocted flimsy, bad-faith excuses for its inaccuracy.”

Spirit wants 10 million dollars allegedly unpaid royalties, said Spirit’s lawyer, Wallace Collins.

However, reps for Benitez did not comment on the report. (ANI)

Emily Blunt finds 3D uncomfortable

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ actress Emily Blunt says she finds wearing 3D glasses an ‘uncomfortable’ experience.

‘Do you wear your glasses and the 3D glasses? Because that’s what I have to do and I find it an uncomfortable experience,’ contactmusic.com quoted her as saying.

‘Gulliver’s Travels’ which follows the titular character’s adventures in a land inhabited by miniature people – was mostly shot in front of blank screens, with the actors having to say their lines to specially-marked laser points rather than one another to account for the digitally-altered height differences.

Jack Black, who plays the lead character Lemuel Gulliver, admits it was a bizarre filming experience.

‘They were looking at the sky, I’m looking at the spot in the ground, but we could hear each other live in real time and have real, like, interactions and you can tell, you can feel it in the improvisational moments.’

The movie is slated for Dec 26 release. 

IANS

Harry Potter actress’ brother pleads guilty to assault

The brother of Harry Potter actress Afshan Azad, who was beaten and branded a prostitute by her family after dating a young Hindu man, is facing a stint behind bars after he admitted to assaulting the star earlier this year (10).

Azad, who played witch Padma Patil in four of the wizard movies, alleged her two family members attacked her at her home in Manchester, England in May (10).

Her father Abdul and brother Ashraf were said to have argued with the Muslim star, 22, after overhearing her on the phone to her Hindu boyfriend, demanding that she end the relationship.

The argument reportedly escalated and turned violent, with the pair threatening to kill the actress.

Azad later begged prosecutors to drop the death-threat charges against her father and brother and they were both cleared at Manchester Crown Court, England this week. The actress did not attend, reports Contactmusic.

However, Ashraf pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and has been bailed until sentencing on 21 January (10).

Ashraf, who was warned by the judge he could face jail time, has been banned from contacting his sister and from travelling to London, where she now lives.

Judge Roger Thomas QC told him, “Domestic violence can result, even for a man such as you, in imprisonment.” (ANI)

Jacqueline gets cozy with Emraan Hashmi

Jacqueline Fernandez has stepped into Mallika Sherawat’s shoes and exposes like Mallika in the ‘Murder’ sequel. Jacqueline like Mallika makes love scene with Emraan and smooches her co-star. She is trying to re-create the same magic by exposing and getting steamy with Emraan.

Mallika was keen to do the sequel but Mohit opted for Jacqueline as he wanted a fresh new face opposite Emraan.

Suri says, "I signed her as she fits the role very well. Murder is a brand and I feel Jacqueline carries the sensuality that character required very well."

He adds why he did not repeat Mallika, "We wanted give the project a fresh look.

The first Murder also had a new girl (Mallika), which worked. People are also anticipating steamier and more intense love making scenes in the sequel.

All I will say is that you will have to wait and watch. As you know, Murder came in 2005. It will be 2011 when Murder 2 will release so obviously the level (sic) will be higher."

Shahrukh spoils Farah’s show

After Farah Khan cast Akshay Kumar for ‘Tees Maar Khan’, the relationship between the two best buddies turned bitter. The crack in their relationship was quite evident at the recent Mumbai Police Mela in Andheri where Farah Khan arrived with her troupe, Katrina Kaif, Akshay Kumar to promote their latest flick, ‘Tees Maar Khan’. While Farah was addressing the audience, Shahrukh Khan with his eight bodyguards walked through the audience. When a prominent figure like King Khan walked through the audience, the attention will obviously get diverted.

Speaking to a daily, an eyewitness said, “SRK and his bodyguards started walking towards the audience. Sab logon ka dhyaan SRK par chala gaya. And though they glanced at Farah, Akshay and Katrina, their attention was divided.”

Farah and team were annoyed as the attention of the crowd divided.

The witness added, “Surely, SRK knew what he was doing. If a person of his stature walks into the audience, whose head wouldn’t turn?”

Well, Shahrukh Khan holds the view that TMK won't get grand opening. SRK tried all effort to sabotage Farah Khan but the film will decide who is the real winner.

Deepika Padukone in pain

Deepika Padukone has been chosen over Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra to shake for the chartbuster of the 70, ‘Dum Maro Dum’. The song involves lots of twists and turns and to bring perfection, Deepika has to go through extra mile. She has put lots of hard work and has been rehearing under choreographers, Bosco and Caesar. Post rehearsal, she has to groove for three days and the excessive pressure of movements has caused Deepika muscle strained.
The producer of the film, Sippy has arranged for a physiotherapist for the actor. Confirming the news, Sippy says that the song, Dum maaro dum, is a fast-paced number. “The brief was energy, and more energy. The entire song is not just dancing, but also a good mix of grooves and moves. If it involved only hardcore dance moves, Deepika would have had to rest for a couple more days,” he says.
Padukone feels great to do some toughest dance movements. “I’m doing a pure dance number after a considerable time. I’m sure that in a couple of days, with the help of yoga, I’ll be fit and fine as always,” she asserts.
Hope, Dippy’s hard work shows colors and it breaks the record of ‘Munni’ and ‘Sheila’.

Hot item girl Poonam Jhawar to play Nira Radia

Hot item girl Poonam Jhawar bagged the role of her lifetime. She has been offered to play corporate lobbyist Nira Radia in 2G Radia-tion. This will be Poonam’s second film as a lead actress. She played prime role in her own film, ‘Aanch’.

Ecstatic Poonam Jhawar said, “The producers felt my overall personality matches with that of Nira Radia’s. It’s the role of a lifetime for me”.

“It is amazing that a woman is at the centre of the controversy that shook the nation. It would be interesting to see how she came to wield such power over the most powerful names in the country,” says Jhawar. She played Sunil Shetty’s wife in film Mohra.

The film will be produced by UK based Hiten Group and Satchit Puranik will direct the film. Matthew R Blute is the cinematographer.