Abhay Deol and Preeti Desai to get engaged

Abhay Deol is set to give his long-time relationship with former Miss Britain, Preeti Desai, an official tag. BT has learnt from reliable sources close to the couple that they are planning to get engaged in a private ceremony soon.

A friend of the couple said, "Preeti and Abhay are with each other around the clock, despite having separate addresses. There has been a death in the family (Dharmendra's elder sister passed away) and that's why they are not rushing their engagement. When the family overcomes the sorrow, Abhay and Preeti will exchange rings, maybe later this month or in June."

The source adds, "Abhay and Preeti have great compatibility. Both are impulsive, fun-loving people who love to travel and enjoy. They don't have a big circle of friends and they like it that way."

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) trailer gets 55 mn hits in 48 hours

Since we have information at our fingertips, Excel Media has set a trend in Bollywood with a digital launch of their Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara trailer, last Sunday. Within 48 hours of its launch, the trailer got over 55 million hits. That's an amazing 5.5 crore people.

Actors Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol viewed the launch live. Excited with the response and confident that the digital approach is the way ahead, Ritesh Sidhwani says, "This is an astounding number by any standards. And the audiences include ones on mobile phone, social media and You tube. The trailer on FB is receiving frequent 'likes'.

The entire driving force behind the digital platform is the transparency that it offers. Every view is direct, from across the world and immediately available for the filmmakers to see. To the extent that one can check viewers from which city are watching the trailer. As ZNMD dons the role of a trendsetter, let's wait and watch how many others toe the line.

Katrina Kaif has no talent: Sofia Hayat

She has been in the news for her raunchy bikini act in her debut film, Diary of a Butterfly, but British-Indian actor Sofia Hayat insists her talent lies elsewhere.

"I am a trained actor with a degree in acting and dance. How many actors in India have that? I have come here with six years' acting experience," says Sofia.

The actress, who has been in Mumbai for the last six months, has already been signed up for three films. She claims she knows her "trade well", unlike other Indian actors. "If Katrina Kaif, who has no talent, can make it big, then watch out India, here comes Sofia. I've watched her (Katrina) perform live to Sheila Ki Jawani and she was expressionless. She was like, 'How much am I getting paid to do this show?'" claims Sofia.

Quiz her about the media reports claiming that she is of Pakistani origin, and she sets the record straight: "Both my parents are Indian, while my great grandfather was Persian. I don't know how these reports came out wrong."

The actress, who is noted for her glamorous image, says that she is not in India for the money. "Believe me, I have made big money in England. I have written a book and I have starred in a BBC series as well. I am a successful actor and I am here only to do meaningful cinema," she says.
And though she's used to wearing skimpy outfits, Sofia says she has outdone herself with her latest sexy photoshoot. "It's my first bikini scene ever in my six-year-long career. And I know it's quite hot on the web, what with people comparing me to other Bollywood stars in a bikini. I worked hard for it as I am not naturally thin. I lost three kgs and my picture has not been photoshopped. I am very pleased with the result and it's my body you see in those pictures. I know for sure that Minissha Lamba's picture has been photoshopped from head to toe," says Sofia.

The bikini scene has earned Sofia many male fans, something that does not bother her. "I have no qualms about doing bikini scenes. After all, I am an artiste and an artiste's job is to entertain," she insists.

As to how the industry works, Sofia says, "The Indian film industry is way different from the one in UK. There, the focus is not so much on what you look like but on your talent. Here, Bollywood demands one to be glamorous as well." Does she network with Bollywood biggies? "I think Indian actors are a little stuck-up. They are very pretentious," she laughs.

I haven't met Maria: Mahie Gill

The infamous Neeraj Grover case is yet to reach its outcome but Mahie Gill, who's working in Ram Gopal Varma's Not A Love Story inspired by the case, is quite excited about the film. And one of the reasons is working with RGV. "When I'd completed Dev.D, Anurag Kashyap had told me I should work with Ramu," she says. Excerpts from the interview...

Have you done any research on the case or the people involved?
I had just come down from shooting for Buddha in a Traffic Jam and had no time to do the research. But Ramu has done everything from speaking to Maria's friends to meeting the lawyers involved in the case. I haven't met Maria, so I don't know her mannerisms but I have contributed in my own way. Maria had worked in the Kannad film industry, whereas I'm shown as someone who's worked in Punjabi films.

The case is still going on, will the outcome have any effect on the film?
The film is just inspired by the events, it's not an exact version. The film has shown everyone in a positive light. In the film, Anusha Chawla played by me is a normal, sweet girl. It's basically the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident. Usse galti hui thi. But in the end, it's just a film.

Why work with Ramu?
Yes, I don't know why because I felt that Rann and Rakta Charitra were good films. But sometimes destiny plays its part.

You were probably the only one who didn't benefit from a superhit like Dabangg...
Sometimes you do films for friends. I did Dabangg for Abhinav Kashyap. He told me that it's a very small role but he wants me to be a part of his debut film in some way. I'm happy I did the film because I got to meet the lovely Khans. Maybe I didn't get more films because of the film, but I got to meet good people.

What's on your plate now?
I've got five releases coming up . Michael with Naseeruddin Shah, Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster, Paan Singh Tomar, Buddha in a Traffic Jam and Not a Love Story.

Kalki Koechlin smooches a girl!

Interestingly her costar Kirti Kulhari was completely unaware of the impending kiss while the scene was being shot.

Smooches have become common phenomena in Hindi films now. But locking lips with a person from the same gender can still raise eyebrows. That's exactly what happens in Anurag Kashyap produced Shaitan where Kashyap's newly-wed wife Kalki Koechlin will be seen kissing costar Keerti Kulkari on her lips.

Anyone who has seen the trailer of Shaitan might have noticed the scene which makes a fleeting appearance in the promo. However the scene is not essentially an outcome of lesbian romance but is filmed in a more casual tone where some youngsters play truth and dare in the film.

Kalki initially thought director Bejoy Nambiar was kidding until she was actually asked to kiss costar Keerti Kulhari in the scene. However Keerti was not even informed about the scene and when Kalki planted a kiss on her lips, she was caught completely off-guard. So the expression that one gets to see in the scene is absolutely real.

Imran likes Katrina's ( Sheela ki) jawaani

It's usually girls who can talk all through the afternoon, but this time around it was Imran Khan and his gang of boys who made the afternoon a whole lot fun.

It sure helped that he had stand-up comedian Vir Das for company.

Kat calls: Imran was very keen to have Katrina Kaif as the item girl in his movie. When asked why, he said that he found Katrina's jawaani very attractive.

Harassed Minissha Lamba gets relief

First she nearly misses her red-carpet call, next she loses her baggage, and then she forgets to declare jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh

Even as the Indian contingent made the most of the world's biggest film spectacle in the south of France, Cannes first-timer Minissha Lamba tottered from one disaster to another, and what began as a dream red-carpet walk wound up with a detention in the far-from-glamorous Custom's interrogation room at the Mumbai airport.

The actress, who was in Cannes for the premier of Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, almost missed her red carpet moment, had people tripping over her trailing Gauri and Nainika gown and lost her baggage at Nice airport. To add insult to injury, she was detained for over 12 hours at the Mumbai airport for carrying undeclared diamond jewellery.

In her excitement to rub shoulders with the mighties of filmdom, the starlet apparently forgot to carry the all-important letter from the jeweller who had loaned her Rs 50 lakh worth of diamond jewellery to flash on her big day.

What complicated her case was that Minissha had seemingly forgotten to declare the jewellery on her way to France.

Around 8.30 am on Wednesday, Minissha, who arrived by an Emirates flight was intercepted by Assistant Commissioner of Police Sameer Wankhede while she was passing through the Green Channel. After screening and checking of her baggage, the Customs officials found undeclared jewellery.

On questioning, Minissha said that she had carried the valuables even while leaving the country but forgot to declare them. She was carrying diamond studded semi-precious stone and assorted jewellery.

"Minissha was supposed to obtain an export certificate from the Customs department while she was leaving the country. Since she had not followed the procedure, she was detained for not declaring the valuables," a Customs officer said.

According to the officer, Minissha told them that the valuables do belong to her, but were given to her by Anmol Jewellers for the festival.

She also told the officials that she was given the jewellery for the "purpose of promotion" at Cannes.

"A jewellery evaluator was called by the Custom officials to ascertain the exact value of the jewellery.

Lamba appeared calm and co-operated during the questioning and told the officers that it was an inadvertent mistake on her part," said the officer.

However, Customs authorities didn't find any document on her that could support her claims.

A spokesperson from Anmol Jewellers said, "Minissha had carried some of our jewellery, worth around Rs 40 lakh, with her for promotional purposes to Cannes and we had done the necessary paperwork for it. Unfortunately she forgot to carry the document.

We are aware of the situation at Customs and are in constant touch with them to sort out the matter. We have also forwarded a copy of the document to them."

Meanwhile, the customs officers were seriously considering an arrest. "The matter is complicated that's why only after investigation, it will be decided whether to arrest her or not," said Commissioner, Customs, P M Govande.

Thankfully for Minissha, the relevant documents from Anmol arrived just in time to save her from further embarrassment, and at the time of going to press to, the actress was preparing to walk out of the airport.

The actress had been tweeting about her harassment at Nice airport where her baggage went missing, and also gave interviews about how she nearly missed her call for the walking into the star-studded Woody Allen premier because of a miscommunication.

Salman steals SRK's DDLJ scene

Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are not the best of friends. Not anymore. Ever since Katrina Kaif (Sallu's then girlfriend) turned 24, the once good friends, the Karan and Arjun of the Hindi film industry parted ways.

But that did not keep Salman from aping SRK's unforgettable train scene in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge on Monday, for his next Bodyguard.

Shooting at the Mumbai Central station platform, Salman did a SRK and pulled his 'good friend' Hazel Keech (whose role in the film might have been increased at Salman's behest) aboard a moving train much akin to what Raj (SRK) does for Simran (Kajol) not once, but twice in Aditya Chopra's debut blockbuster DDLJ in 1995.

Now this very prominent train scene based on the famous DDLJ moment, was shot by Sallu's brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri (the producer of the film) under tight security. Very few people were allowed to enter the area where cameras were placed. "Phir bhi thoda door se, if you see it from the adjacent platform, dikh raha tha ki kya ho raha hai.

If you had been there on the site, you couldn't have helped noticing the uncanny resemblance between the two scenes, the one in Bodyguard and the one in DDLJ. And since it was Salman, plus he was doing a SRK, it obviously garnered more attention," said an eyewitness.

The story doesn't end here. Nor does the resemblance to DDLJ. "Hazel comes running to the platform as she is late," informed our source. Wasn't Kajol aka Simran late as well in the first train scene in DDLJ, right before the protagonists embark on their Europe trip?

And this is not just hearsay! When asked, producer Agnihotri confirmed, saying, "Well yes, we did shoot a scene at Mumbai Central station," and describing the scene, he added, "Aisa hai ki Hazel is late for the train, which is pulling away from the station when she reaches the platform. So, Salman helps her in." So, there!

However, Agnihotri trying to establish the fact that the scene was not a complete lift from Aditya Chopra's hit, continued, "Arre, the one in DDLJ comes in the climax!" Well, it sure does. In Punjab. Right after Amrish Puri tells Kajol, "Ja Simran ja, jee le apni zindagi." But we surely can't forget the one shot in London as well, right?

Well, it's okay to ape an iconic film DDLJ, Mr Agnihotri. Imtiaz Ali did too. In Jab We Met.

Meanwhile...

Salman Khan has launched his own banner and will be seen co-producing UTV Spotboys film, Chillar party. This will be the first time that Salman will have his own banner attached to a film.

Our source said, "Salman is the only 'Khan' that didn't have any production house. He has decided to take the plunge with Chillar Party.

Salman saw Chillar Party a few weeks back and loved it. Apparently Ronnie Screwvala asked him to join in as the co-producer. However, the most interesting part is that the film has a special item number by none other than Ranbir Kapoor and it is a known fact that there is no love lost between the two.

All has not been well between the two, since Ranbir started dating Katrina Kaif who was with Salman earlier."

When contacted Siddarth Roy Kapoor of UTV confirmed, "Yes, Salman Khan is on board and we are very happy that he has chosen Chillar Party as his first film as a producer."

KKR has nothing against Dada: SRK

As Shah Rukh Khan's IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders gets ready to take on Pune Warriors on Thursday, SRK makes it clear that he or his team has nothing against Dada.

Sourav Ganguly, who has been a part of KKR ever since Indian Premiere League began, was incidentally left out from the team this season. Dada then joined the Pune Warriors and now, all eyes are on the SRK and Dada face off on 19th May.

However, when quizzed if SRK's hoping to defeat Dada at the match, Shah Rukh said, "I or my team has nothing against Dada. We don't play as individuals but play as a team and our target is to win against a team, not against a particular person."
King Khan further added, "And yes, of course I am hoping that KKR wins this match and secures a place in the Semi -finals. The team is all geared up and inshaallah it will win too."

It was recently reported that SRK has invited Dada at his Mannat bash but the latter failed to make it. However, SRK denied inviting Sourav and declared that the party was only for his Kolkata team and a few friends.

Very clearly, SRK has not just excluded Dada from KKR this season, but also from his friend's list.