Angelina not planning for more kids

Actress Angelina Jolie is currently not considering having more children, but admits she may change her mind in future.

The "Tomb Raider" star raises adopted kids Maddox, nine; Pax, seven; and Zahara, six; and biological children Shiloh, five, and two-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with actor Brad Pitt, reports femalefirst.

"We are always open if it feels right, but we have a full house and at the moment, nothing has come clear to us," she said.

"It's the same, I suppose, as when somebody decides to get pregnant, there's just a moment where something becomes clear to you and, at the moment, that's not what we're discussing," she added.

Brigitte stunned by Arnold's revelations

Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen has criticised her former lover Arnold Schwarzenegger over his infidelity, saying she was shocked to learn about his secret love child.

The "Terminator" star separated from his wife Maria Shriver, and stunned Hollywood by confessing he fathered a son with housekeeper Mildred Baena over a decade ago, reports dailystar.

Nielsen, who had an affair with her "Red Sonja" co-star in the 1980s while she was married to her now ex-husband Kasper Winding, says she was shocked to learn of the Schwarzenegger scandal.

"It breaks my heart because he and Maria have four kids and you don't just have a baby with someone else. I'm surprised Arnold thought he could get away with it and I feel bad for Maria," she said.

Kate Winslet no longer shy of stripping in movies after motherhood

British actress Kate Winslet has revealed that she is no longer insecure about stripping naked in films despite her stretch marks and sagging breasts.

Winslet, 35, who stripped for sex scenes in Nazi drama The Reader, said that giving birth to her two children had made it easier for her to strip in movies.

"I think as you get older, especially once you’ve had children, so many inhibitions go out the window," the Daily Star quoted the actress as saying.

The actress has also recently stripped for photographer Mario Testino’s ‘Todo o Nada’ exhibit in Rome.

TV actresses in sex racket

Two actresses from the city were arrested by the narcotics wing of the Central Crime Branch for soliciting customers for prostitution. Suma (29), a resident of Nagarabhavi, who has appeared in several Kannada movies and serials, was arrested along with cine actress Lakshmi, who ran the racket. Based on a tip off, a police team raided a hotel on West of Chord Road and arrested the duo and two other pimps red-handed. Suma has worked in movies like Sandalwood and Arbhata in supporting roles, and was being paid Rs 20,000 by Lakshmi every day to entertain clients. "Lakshmi used to arrange the client and the room and would escort Suma to and from the points," Assistant Commissioner of Police R Lakshman said. Lakshman informed that besides movies, Suma has acted in Kannada soaps like Rangoli, Mangalya and Baduku. Lakshmi is also from the same line and has acted in many serials. The police said that the duo wanted to make a quick buck, and have been in the profession for many months. "The accused have been booked under the Immoral trafficking Act and remanded to judicial custody. The police are also looking for another pimp identified as Ravi, who managed to escape during the raid," Lakshman added.

I'm glad that I had a fight with Zayed: Dia Mirza

She swept floors and brought things from her home on the sets of her maiden production venture. Actress-turned-producer Dia Mirza got so involved in the production of "Love, Breakups, Zindagi" that her partner Zayed Khan had to actually scold her to calm her down. "I swept floors. I brought half of the things from my own house. For me, producing a film was not just about bringing in funds, making schedules and dealing with numbers, it was about realizing the imagery that we all had in our mind. There is a certain level of involvement that I feel a producer needs to have to give the film that push it needs," Dia told. Dia and Zayed, along with Sahil Sangha, have launched the production house Bornfree and are currently in the process of finishing their first film under the banner. It is being directed by Sangha and stars Dia and Zayed. "Zayed scolded me once on the sets. I was behaving as if guests have come to my house. So I was taking care of smallest of things myself. Zayed was like you are an actor also, so you just need to calm down and relax and take a seat when your shot is over," said the 29-year-old. "It was a healthy fight and I'm glad that we had it. He was scolding me because he was looking out for me and that's what you expect from your partner, to care for you, to account for you," she added. "Love, Breakups, Zindagi" is a romantic comedy and is slated to release in August. The film also stars Cyrus Sahukar, Tisca Chopra, Satyadeep Misra, Pallavi, Vaibhav Talwar and newcomer Auritra Ghosh and Umang in lead roles. Although Dia is enjoying her newfound role of a producer, she finds it extremely exhausting. "I've been asked what am I doing to lose weight, I said, I turned producer. With Sahil, Zayed and me, our day after pack up didn't end. It's been long hours, but it is just such an overwhelming experience to see what you thought to do," she said. "I didn't have any clue that it will be so enormous a task. I think you have an inclination, but you don't realize how much you have to put into it to make it happen everyday. I think you really need to love it passionately to give it all of yourself," she added. Now that she has tried production, Dia, who has acted in films like "Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein", "Tehzeeb", "Lage Raho Munna Bhai", "Shootout at Lokhandwala" and "Hum Tum Aur Ghost", is keen on donning the director's hat. "Direction is something I have always consciously thought about even when I was acting. I think it was my level of interest in the technicalities of making a film and how it all comes together. Soon I will direct a film," she revealed.

I think Priyanka did a pretty good job: Akshay

Akshay Kumar has high regards for stutmen who risk their lives for meagre amounts of money and says if he had not been an actor, he would have been a stuntman. "Stunt is an art. When we see stuntmen flying high and jumping from a highrise, we should respect that. And how much are they paid? Not more than Rs.6,000. Having high regards for them, I can proudly say that had I not been an actor, I would have been a stuntman. It's one of the best works," Akshay told reporters here. The actor, who returns to the small screen as the host of the fourth season of adventure reality show "Khatron Ke Khiladi", performed a nerve-wracking stunt at Filmcity to show that the stunts in this season will be original and not camera gimmicks. Akshay did the stunt after almost five years and said: "I did this stunt almost after five years. Ejecting the car almost 15 feet above the ground, bursting the oil tanker and crashing it on ground. It's one of the most difficult stunts. I had given all my experience to this stunt." The show kicks off Friday on Colors. Akshay had hosted the first two seasons, while the third one was done by Priyanka Chopra. "I think she (Priyanka) did a pretty good job. Last time the design of the show required a female host. I watched it and I saw that she was very true with what she had done in the show," said Akshay, known as the Khiladi of Bollywood. "Khatron Ke Khiladi" is the Indian version of the internationally hit show "Fear Factor", and involves dangerous tasks.

Asin speaks about her relationship with Salman Khan

Asin speaks about her relationship with her co-star and how they bonded over workouts, ice creams We all know that Salman Khan and his Ready co-star Asin are very close to each other. Here is a why the two, who previous starred together in London Dream, are such good friends. Says an insider, "Asin and Salman have come very close since the time they started shooting in Sri Lanka and Thailand. It started when they spent hours not just working together but also working out together in the gym there. Asin first started asking Salman for some fitness tips. Soon, he turned into her fitness trainer. Apparently, there is also a scene in the film where both are working out together." Asin says, "Yes Salman has given me a lot of workout tips, one of which included concentrating on larger muscle work outs." The source adds, "The two are often seen hitting the gym together when they were not shooting. He has even recommended her to a few producer friends." Sri Lankan sojourn Asin narrates a story of how enthusiastic Salman is about his workouts. "We were shooting in Sri lanka and in one scene we were working out and Paresh Rawal walks in. I was cycling and he was doing push ups. Suddenly, he jumped onto my cycle! I was shocked. How could we both do the same exercise on one cycle?" However, she adds, "But lately, he has been tempting me with food including his delicious ghar ka khaana. Also, he knows I can't say no to Rollie's Ice Cream. You don't get it in Mumbai and I don't know where he gets it from for me." Talking about her relationship with Salman, Asin gushes, "We are friendly but I can't call him a good friend. He is an extremely supportive co-star and a great person. What I like the most about him is that he's very forthright and has no pretenses. Salman has no facade. It's difficult to find such qualities in showbiz especially for someone like him who has been here so long and to still maintain them."

Is Mallika self-promoting her item song?

A bitchy actress called to say that Mallika Sherawat has been tweeting that she drove through the suburbs of Boston blasting Jalebi Bai on her radio with the windows down!

"The sexy siren feels that her Double Dhamaal track will overtake the Sheilas and Munnis of Bollywood.

If only she had given that much importance to her career, she would be driving with those windows all rolled up to avoid the papparazzi and fans.

But she's known to hire her own paparazzi to follow her and now even to listen to her music!"

Twinkle has given up on me a long time ago: Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar on cable-less stunts, wild animals and his 13 females in Khatron Ke Khiladi 4 Akshay Kumar returns to the small screen tonight with Khatron Ke Khiladi 4. The star anchor feels that in his third outing for the reality show he has managed to 'torture' the 13 female contestants to the maximum. With stunts designed by him, he says he had an extra dose of adrenaline rush performing it first himself, as we ask him... How does your wife Twinkle react when she sees you indulging in daredevil acts? Is she nervous, scared? Not at all! She's far from all this. She has given up on me a long time ago! And your son Aarav? He's the one who encourages me. He tells me go for it, take yet another shot. Your sister-in-law Rinke Khanna has styled you for KKK4. Did you have any specific look in mind? When your in-laws tell you something, you just listen. You don't ask questions. She decided how I should look and I just followed her instructions. There was no discussion, no look in mind. I could not tell her anything, She is my sister-in-law remember. I just had to wear the clothes! Which contestant did you have to 'torture' the maximum? I have screamed at all of them but at the same time, encouraged them, wiped their tears and hugged them when the task was done. Women are physically and emotionally strong. The show is all about conquering fear. I have studied the physics and chemistry of it. I would tell them that the audience is watching you, so go for it. Instead of creepy crawlies, this time there are animals to contend with? Yes, this was my idea. All this while we have seen participants battling the creepy crawlies. I wanted to take fear to a new level with wild animals. Most of the stunts were done without the support of overheard wires? This was again my idea. Wires give you support, you feel you are safe so you are not conquering your fears. Almost 90 per cent of the stunts have been done without wire support. You have also hosted a cookery show on TV? Which do you enjoy more? Both. They are my passions. That's the reason I do such shows. Doing daredevil stunts and cooking is something that gives me a high.

Sonakshi gives all her Bhojpuri KBC prize money to Salman

Sonakshi Sinha donates her Bhojpuri KBC prize money to Being Human Sonakshi Sinha, who was on the hot seat for the Bhojpuri version of Kaun Banega Crorepati, has given away a major part of her prize money to Salman Khan's Being Human charity. The show is hosted by her father Shatrughan Sinha. Says the Dabangg actress, "It's a charity I know, trust and believe in. I've seen the money move in the right direction. A lot of us want to help the needy. But how to ensure the money gets to the right place? I know the money is used to help those who need it." On the show, Sonakshi spoke in Hindi while her dad in Bhojpuri. "I had never seen him talk in Bhojpuri. He did it very well. I'm looking forward to doing a film with my dad." Sonakshi did not reveal the amount donated. Birthday musings Sonakshi Sinha turns a year older today. She says, "The last year has been a roller-coaster for me. When I look back I feel it's been a whole lifetime in one year. It went by so quickly! I wish I had more time to enjoy what was happening to me. I never thought all this will happen to me. I can't ask for more. I've gotten into my calm meditative mode this birthday. I've to admit it's a new birth for me." Sona had planned to spend it quietly, though her family had other plans. "I am not much of a party girl. My family is more enthusiastic about my birthday than I am."

Shah Rukh Khan to launch small-town girl

Kanika Dhillon is Red Chillies content head whose debut novel hits stands this week A young girl from Amritsar -- another fan wanting to work with Shah Rukh Khan -- came to Mumbai to realise her dream. Five years later, she is not only the content head of the superstar's production company but has also written a book that will be launched by King Khan himself. This is a dream come true for protege Kanika Dhillon's, whose debut novel Bombay Duck Is a Fish hits stands on June 6 in Mumbai. An insider states, "Kanika has always looked up to SRK who has mentored her and guided her. She could've asked for nothing more than him launching her novel." Kanika says, "He is the raison d'etre for me to pursue my career in Bollywood. He's been a mentor and has guided me right from the outset of my journey in films. I was humbled and elated when he readily agreed to launch my debut novel without batting an eyelid. Many directors and careers have been instigated by him over the years, and that's why he is what he is -- the King Khan!" About the book Bombay Duck Is A Fish traces the journey of small-towner Neki Brar, who like countless other star struck people, leaves her MNC job and comes to Bombay to make it big in the film industry. Neki is relentless in her pursuit of being a filmmaker. She starts assisting on a project and is enamored by the pull of Shah Rukh Khan. Hers is an insider's perspective of all that everyone's ever wanted to know about what goes on behind the scenes while shooting a film.

Paris Hilton style of carrying dogs in handbags no longer a craze

The style of carrying dogs in handbags as an accessory, apparently popularised by Paris Hiliton, has gone out of fashion.

Five years ago, animal welfare charities reported that only a handful of unwanted toy breeds were handed over by their owners but now they are being dumped on a daily basis, reports the Daily Express.

In 2009, The Dogs Trust, Britain’s largest dog welfare charity, had 285 toy dogs handed in to its re-homing centers but last year that number increased by 44% to 409.

So far in 2011, 149 toy breeds have been left. It is also a similar picture at the Blue Cross animal welfare charity. 

Numbers of unwanted bichon frise, chihuahuas, shihtzus, Yorkhire ­terriers, lhasa apsos, pugs, pomeranians, papillons and cavalier King Charles spaniels rose from 53 in 2006 to 177 in the past year.

Sonakshi kicked about meatier role in 'Kick'

After the success of Dabangg, actress Sonakshi Sinha has again been paired opposite Salman Khan in Kick, but this time she will be getting much more screen space. 

"Kick is a remake of a south Indian film. The girl has a lot more to do. It's a damn good role. I'm very kicked about it. Yeah, there's definitely much more scope for me in Kick than Dabangg. And I am going to make the best of it," says the confident newcomer. 

The actress also talks about her brother Kush, and his plans to assist Dabangg director Abhinav Kashyap.

"Kush wants to direct films. He's assisting Abhinav in directing ads. I don't think Abhinav is directing another feature film right away. As and when Abhinav makes a film, I'd love to be part of it, provided he wants me to."

She also talks about how her father Shatrughan Sinha hosted "Kaun Banega Crorepati" in Bhojpuri language.

"I had never seen him talk in Bhojpuri. He did it very well. I'm looking forward to doing a film with my dad."

She has now got three back-to-back films. 

"There's Kick with Salman Khan, Rowdy Rathore with Akshay Kumar and Vishwaroopam with Kamal Hassan. Then there's Dabangg 2 coming up." 

For Vishwaroopam, Sonakshi gets to sport both the Indian and western look. "I love to see myself in saris. I hope I get to wear lots. We start shooting in June." 

Producers will have to wait for a year as Sonakshi has no time. "I can't do any more projects for a year."

Including the one with Ranveer Singh which she was so keen on? "He's quite a bundle of talent, isn't he? Yeah, there are talks of a project with him. It'd be a good combination." 

The actress also says that she feels wiser. "I've realised many things about myself. Like when pushed to the wall, I can fight back. I can handle all the pressure. Yes, there were lots of attempts to corner me. But thankfully, I could take the beating on my chin."

Ramdev supporters burn Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan’s posters

Baba Ramdev’s supporters today burned bollywood film-star Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan’s posters in central Gujarat’s Godhra town. They were protesting against Shahrukh and Salman’s reported statements against Baba Ramdev’s fast against corruption and black money. 

When a journalist asked why cine starts don’t support somebody like Baba Ramdev who’s fighting on national issue, Shahrukh Khan replied in his press conference in Ahmedabad to promote his film Ra.One, “I don’t support someone. I have nothing personal against this gentleman(Baba Ramdev), but I don’t know what is their agenda. As soon as one becomes politician, I think he has his own way of thinking. I think what he is saying is very good. But if you have a political party, I am apolitical by nature. I don’t align myself to it. I think he has political party now, isn’t it? Tomorrow if I go on street, if everyone go on street, I don’t think that is the right way.”

In another press interaction film-star Salman Khan said, “Huger strike against corruption that’s a dam good thing but why did they go on hunger strike against corruption. He has lots of followers, he should tell those followers not to give any money for corruption. That is one way to stop corruption. But I think also there is something about getting ‘baharka paisa’ inside. I was just watching on TV. So I hope he is successful in that. I hope he is successful.”

Section of media had presented Salman and Shahrukh’s statements widely, projecting in a way that they were totally against Baba Ramdev and his agitation. Driven by this, the followers of Baba Ramdev burnt Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan’s posters in Godhra.

New-look Bebo brings back Jab We Met zest

Kareena Kapoor's look in the forthcoming Salman Khan biggie, Bodyguard, has been leaked online. In the snaps that are doing the rounds on the net, Kareena sports primarily an Indian attire that brings back flashes of her look in the 2007 superhit, Jab We Met. A fan reportedly clicked her on the sets of Bodyguard and then posted the pictures on the Twitter site, kareenak_fc.

The fact that Bodyguard is being shot in extremely-guarded sets has meanwhile given rise to speculations if the Kareena photos were deliberately leaked by the film's unit to kickstart a publicity campaign for the film.

Coincidentally, this is the second time in a couple of weeks that onset photos of Kareena in a forthcoming film have been leaked online. Recently, someone posted snaps and a video clip of Chhammak chhallo, Kareena's much-hyped dance number in Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming Ra.One.

"Leaking photos and video clips of upcoming movies is a common ploy that Hollywood biggies resort to, to generate buzz for a big film. "It's too early to say if Kareena's looks in Bodyguard and Ra.One were deliberately posted to create hype but whatever happened does help in generating buzz for both the films," said a trade analyst.

Ready fails to match up to Dabangg

Even before its release, Ready was expected to take a big opening. It netted Rs 13.15 crore across India on Day One. Trade experts attribute it to Salman Khan. “Wanted, followed by Dabangg, has helped Ready open to full houses,” says  trade analyst, Amod Mehra , who’s expecting the film to make over Rs 40 crore in the first three days.

Manoj Desai, executive director of Maratha Mandir and G-7 Cineplex, adds that it has broken the jinx of big films failing to take off. “Ready will ensure full houses at my theatres till Monday,” he exults but declines to comment on why it did not match up to Dabangg that netted Rs 14.50 crore on the opening day. 

Mehra attributes this to the lack of content: “The story is typically South Indian cinema. And it’s hard for audiences in the Hindi belt to accept cousins getting married. For us such a union is incestuous.”

A veteran distributor, on condition of anonymity asserts that Ready will, at the most, net as much s Golmaal 3 (Rs 117 crore). “It’s opened big like Welcome (2009) and Singh Is Kinng (2008), but it’s not as good as Dabangg,” he rues.  

The vacation period has helped the film take a start, along with the lack of family entertainers in recent times. Observes Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax, “With schools and colleges to re-open in a week, people are flocking to theatres. The weekend should see 100 per cent occupancy but audience response is mixed. The first half is fantastic but the second half is slow and disappointing. Tuesday will be the acid test.”

Review: Hanna

Review: Hanna
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett
Director: Joe Wright

In Hanna, director Joe Wright creates a world that isn’t remotely realistic.

We begin in the wilds of Finland, where Hanna, played by Saoirse Ronan, is hunting a deer. She shoots it, first with an arrow and then with a gun. Her startling blue eyes betray no emotion. It’s chilling to watch a teenage girl kill so casually.

Then at a furious pace, Wright takes us through a story that is mostly both, outlandish and believable. Hanna has been raised and trained by her widowed father Erik, played by Eric Bana, as a lethal assassin. She breaks bodies in seconds.

Hanna, who has never seen a television or an electric bulb is then pushed out into the real world, where she must escape Marissa, a CIA agent who wants Hanna and her father dead.


Using hyper-kinetic action, thrilling chase sequences and Ronan’s incredible talent, Wright creates an intriguing, modern day fairy tale thriller. For a while, Hanna travels through Morocco and Spain with a regular family, which only accentuates how weird her life has been – there is a lovely scene in which a boy tries to kiss her and she immediately has him in a death grip.

But largely, the film occupies a dark Neverland, in which the blonde princess must confront the wicked witch. The big reveal, which tells us why Hanna is who she is, isn’t as effective as the events leading to it.

Wright also makes the fairy tale connotations too literal: the film climaxes in an unused Brothers Grimm amusement park in Berlin. Still, Hanna has enough to recommend it – above all Ronan, whose serene, otherworldly beauty and innate strength is haunting.

I’m going with three and a half stars.

Mallika's Shalu Is A Copycat

Ever wondered what would happen when Sheila met Munni? Well, they'd do a Mallika Sherawat, of course. Confused? Choreographer Ganesh Acharya (otherwise known as Govinda's best buddy) has ripped off Farah Khan's patented dance steps from Sheila Ki Jawaani in Tees Maar Khan, and Munni Badnaam Hui in Dabangg for Mallika Sherawat's new item number Shalu Ke Thumke. The song features in the forthcoming Bin Bulaye Baraati.

His justification for 'being inspired' by the two songs that had everyone on the dance floor on New Year's Eve in 2010, is a line from the new song: Munni Bhi Maani Aur Sheila Bhi Maani, Shalu Ke Thumke Ki Duniya Deewani.

Sources however, say Acharya was compelled by the film's team, who believed that incorporating Katrina Kaif's and Malaika Arora's dance steps would add to Sherawat's oomph quotient.

"It was felt that since Munni and Sheila have been mentioned in the lyrics, the trademark dance steps from the two songs should reflect in Mallika's moves. Ganesh's objections were quickly shouted down," said a source.

Of course, Kaif and Arora are far from amused. "What was Mallika thinking when she launched into the Munni and Sheila steps? It's not done. You can't borrow steps just because the lyrics make a reference.

Choreography is patented just like tunes are," fumed another source. On probing, we discovered that the person responsible for the idea was none other than composer Anand Raj Anand. Prakash Jaju, the film's producer confirmed the news. "It was Anand Raj Anand's idea, and we liked it," he said. Jaju said Sherawat had no objection. "We offered her a choice of two item songs and she chose this one. We offered the other one to Shweta Tiwari."

Farah Khan who has lately been embroiled in an extended tu tu main main with choreographer Ganesh Hegde, steered clear of controversy surrounding Acharya's song. "I haven't seen it. Maybe they are just spoofing the Sheila and Munni steps," she said. When informed that Sherawat was dead serious in her item song, Khan, said, "In that case, I'm flattered." Kaif and Arora are not.

'D.K. Bose' Is An Anthem Now: Kiran Rao

Trust Aamir Khan to do things differently. The star organised a first ever success party for a song - "D.K. Bose" from his upcoming film Delhi Belly that his wife Kiran Rao says has become an anthem.

"We are happy that people liked this song so much. It has become an anthem in such a short span. It was an idea that came from the brain of our writer Akshat Verma and then Amitabh Bhattacharya wrote the lyrics and Ram Sampath composed it brilliantly," Kiran told reporters.

The party was attended by director Abhinay Deo, co-producer Ronnie Screwvala, the cast Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapoor and other members of the film.

The night also saw composer Ram Sampath playing the unplugged versions of the film's songs, including "Nakkadwale disco" and "Bedardi raja" along with his band, ending with a splendid performance of "D.K. Bose" with Imran, Vir and Kunal providing backing vocals.

"When I had heard this song, I knew that it will be liked, but I never thought that it will become such a rage. I'm happy with the concept of a party for the success of this song," said Imran.

A bold, youth-centric film, Delhi Belly is slated to be released July 1.

Don't Say Tomato To Kat!

The mango may be Katrina Kaif's chosen fruit for endorsement, but we've heard the actress won't have anything to do with tomatoes, even if it means an endorsement deal worth millions.

Sources say the squishy-squashy time Kaif had at the Tomantino festival in Spain, while shooting for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, was enough to put her off tomatoes, much to the disappointment of a tomato ketchup brand.

Sources reveal that a ketchup company offered Kaif a three-year deal worth an eyebrow leaping amount, but Kaif politely turned down their offer. Said a source close to the actress, "They wanted to use her connection with kids to enlarge their customer base. Unfortunately, Katrina's stomach does somersaults at the thought of tomatoes. She just couldn't take up their offer."

Talking of tomatoes...

Famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote of Spanish tomatoes in his poem, Ode to Tomatoes, which uses the fruit to paint an immensely visual picture of the country, in all its heat, beauty, sensuosness and colonial cruelty:The street filled with tomatoes, midday, summer, light is halved like a tomato, its juice runs through the streets.

Ready for more | Asin

After a lull, Asin is back in the reckoning. Harshikaa Udasi talks to the actor about her upcoming films with Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan

A two-year gap is huge, especially when there are youngsters clamouring to be part of Bollywood. But trust Asin to get back in the reckoning in style. Busy with the promotions of Ready (remake of the Telugu film Ready) with Salman Khan, the effervescent actor is packing her bags for a month-and-a-half stay in London for her film Housefull 2 opposite Akshay Kumar and is also bracing herself to face Shah Rukh Khan in the film adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's “2 States.” Ask her if she is all set to pull out one ace after another in Bollywood, and she says, “I just feel happy and blessed that I am working with actors of such repute. First Salman and next up is my film with Akshay. Not just that, the banners I am working with are also huge. As for 2 States, I wouldn't like to comment.”

A picture of confidence, Asin knows now is the time to make up for her last film's dismal box office report. Bollywood's been a mixed bag; while Ghajini made a huge impact, the big-budgeted London Dreams didn't fire anybody's imagination and, except for television commercials, the actor has not been seen in a single movie since 2009. Does she regret the decision to move to the Hindi film industry when she was at her peak in Tamil films? “I think it was a good decision,” reiterates Asin. “But it isn't like people think; I hadn't planned my move to Bollywood, though I will agree that the scope of reaching out to a larger audience exists in the Hindi film industry. I was approached by the producers who were thinking of remaking Ghajini and I saw no harm in being part of this wonderful team,” says the actor, denying any ambition of shifting to Mumbai for work then.

“I'd like to believe I am an actor of Indian cinema, and I have a soft spot for cinema in the South as it gave me the opportunity to explore myself as an actor,” she says, when asked about her plans to continue in southern films. “I have a lot of offers coming in for Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam films, but I seriously think I should choose with care. I have done several films in the South and don't want to repeat myself. The day I get something new and exciting, I will sign it,” she says, adding she hasn't currently green lighted any regional project.

Despite the failure of London Dreams, she has got another chance to work opposite Salman. An opportunity any other actor would have given her right arm for? Asin chuckles, “Having worked with Salman twice, I can say I am armless!” Speaking about her co-star, she says, “As an actor, Salman is a challenge to work with because he throws anything at you once the camera rolls. You have to think on your feet and be ready for anything, he is that spontaneous. As a person, Salman is absolutely unpretentious.

It's difficult to believe that a person like this exists in the world of showbiz.” In Ready, Asin plays Sanjana (essayed by Genelia D'Souza in the original) who falls in love with Prem (Salman) and has to fend off the greedy intentions of some of her relatives who are eyeing her wealth. The focus is clearly on Salman in this one, with Asin admitting that the Telugu script has been tweaked to not only suit North Indian sensibilities but also Salman's superstar status. 

Doesn't it make her insecure that consequently the hero is hogging the limelight when it comes to promotions? “It's a reflection of our male-dominated society. A commercial format naturally focusses on the hero. I have no problems with that. I am happy with the space I am occupying. Also I think that as a superstar, Salman deserves every bit of the adoration and space he is getting.”

The actor says she hasn't been influenced in the least by Genelia's portrayal of Sanjana. “I had watched the original film casually even before I was approached to do it. I have followed Anees Bazmee's (director, Ready) vision of the story and the character.”

Stories abound in tinsel town that Asin's refusal to wear revealing clothes and be part of intimate scenes is proving to be a hindrance to her career. Ask her about it, and her reply is straightforward. “I am not aware of this but at the same time I am comfortable only in a certain setup. 

There is a thin line dividing the aesthetic and the vulgar. I will do only what I am comfortable with. As for intimate scenes, nobody has yet approached me for any such so that's merely speculation. My career will run with or without such support,” she asserts.

Penelope Cruz control

Penelope Cruz keeps a strict separation between her work and family. She's happy to talk about her new Pirates of the Caribbean film, but don't ask about baby Leo

Penelope Cruz is prepared to go this far: she'll concede that she was pregnant during the shooting of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, but don't expect her to say much more about her personal life.

She's also prepared to reveal that director Rob Marshall had to be careful with camera angles because of her expanding midriff. And yes, her pirate costumes were something of a challenge for the wardrobe department.
"They had to do a few adjustments for me over the months," she admits cautiously in her softly accented English. But she did love wearing the outfits, even when they had to conceal her approaching motherhood.

"For a character so far away from our own reality and nowadays, they really helped me to imagine what a pirate would have been like in those times. It really helped to get into those boots and those clothes and those locations."

It's interesting to watch the 36-year-old Cruz draw a line in the sand when talking to reporters. There was a time when her English was less confident and she was more hesitant in her media sessions. But now she has the necessary confidence and has no trouble making it clear there are some things she doesn't want to talk about.

Things like her marriage to fellow Spanish actor Javier Bardem, and her son Leo, who was born in January.
Things like the new Woody Allen movie she's about to start filming in July.

Still, it's questions about her private life that especially raise the barriers. Reporters routinely ask actresses about the joys of parenting -but they needn't bother with this lady.

"I have a rule of not talking about my family in interviews." Cruz is polite but firm. "I don't have a problem with saying I am very happy, because I am, but I don't want to give details of our life. It is important, I think, from the beginning, to maintain that privacy and separate it from my work. For me, that's sacred."

She doesn't mind talking about her work, but again, she makes the rules. In the case of Woody Allen, who wrote and directed her into an Academy Award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, she's tight-lipped about the plot of Bop Decameron, their new project together.

"Hmm ..." she responds when pressed to discuss it. "He doesn't want us to talk about the film or the character, so I will respect that."

We do know that it co-stars Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page -but not much more. And Cruz does concede that she's looking forward to working with Woody again.

"We're going to shoot in Rome in July. I can't wait to be around him again, because he makes me laugh so much."

Furthermore, she's grateful for what Vicki Cristina Barcelona did for the Hollywood side of her career.
"It gave me a great experience making it, along with the privilege of working with Woody Allen, whom I first admired as a little girl. I've seen all his movies, so just to be around him, to spend time with him, to work with him. ... It also gave me an Oscar, so it's a very special movie for me."

She's intensely loyal to friends and colleagues. Allen is one example. Johnny Depp, who's back as Capt. Jack Sparrow in On Stranger Tides, is another. The two previously worked together in Blow more than a decade ago, and she adores him.
"He was already a big star when I worked with him the first time, and he just kept growing and growing in every way and evolving. He just gets better and better every day. And he's an amazing human being.

When you spend a lot of time with him and see how he is with his friends and his family, with everybody he works with, he's an example in so many ways. He's really humble. He's really smart, and I only have great things to say about him."

She remains astonished by her career successes -astonished that she starred in a Hollywood blockbuster like Pirates, astonished that someone like Woody Allen wants to work with her, astonished by her Spanish-language triumphs with awardwinning director Pedro Almodovar.

"I didn't imagine any of this," she stresses. "I just wanted to work as an actress or a dancer. And every night, I was praying, please, to have a job that was not boring, a job that was inspiring, to wake up every day and to be able to go and spend my hours of that day doing a job that I liked. That was my wish. So when that became true, and much, much more happened that didn't even cross my mind then -it didn't seem possible, no."

Hers is a trans-Atlantic career, so she and Bardem keep homes in both their native Spain and the United States. That much she'll tell us. Also, she ends up confiding that she's not that domestic, although she can do some things in the kitchen.

"I know how to do a few Spanish dishes, a few Italian dishes. Everything I know how to cook is from my mother. I'm not a great cook, but I know how to do a few things."

As for the secret of looking so great at the Oscar ceremonies only weeks after giving birth: "I didn't go on any strange diets. My diet is the Mediterranean diet, which is very healthy if you eat well -and I eat well. I've also danced for 17 years, although I have to push myself to do it."