The Khans keep away from IIFA

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend is set to kick start in Bangkok on Friday, but the three top Khans of Bollywood won’t attend it.

Helmed by Amitabh Bachchan , who is the brand ambassador extraordinaire of IIFA, the event will see participation by the who’s who of Bollywood, including Akshay Kumar , Kareena Kapoor , Katrina Kaif , Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja and others. But conspicuous by their absence would be the three Khans – Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman.


Shahrukh Khan has stayed away from the event from the last three years because he says IIFA clashes with the summer holidays of his kids whom he has to take on vacation in June every year. But insiders believe SRK doesn’t want to play second fiddle at an event that centers on the Bachchans.

Salman Khan , who has been regular at IIFA every year, would give it a miss this year because of his other commitments like the TV show ‘Dus Ka Dum’ and the movie Main Aur Mrs Khanna . However, his ladylove Katrina Kaif will be shaking her leg with Akshay Kumar at the IIFA finale.

Aamir Khan , who hasn’t kept secret his dislike for award shows, has stuck to his principles and decided not to attend the IIFA. Aamir did not even formally apply for the nomination of his film Taare Zameen Par , which, consequently hasn’t been nominated in any IIFA category.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, stars were spotted arriving at the Thai capital for the event. Urmila Matondakar and Arshad Warsi and his wife Maria were among the first to arrive.

Kya Salman Shahrukh Se Tez Hai

These days the glam guys have turned really indiscreet about the medium they are posing for. As soon as the Big B stepped on the small screen with Kaun Banega Crorepati, the rest of the tinsel town started thinking the same to pull more eyeballs towards the booby box and money to their accounts. The list of biggies entering the TV zone includes Shahrukh, Salman Akshay Kumar as well as Hrithik Roshan.

While one star has decided on measuring the IQ of people by comparing their knowledge with fifth standard education, others have stepped in either to allow percentage in accordance with people"s dum or to solace and stand by contestants by providing moral support to them. For the time being the talk should be concentrated only on Salman and King Khan as because all the eyes are waiting to compare their small screen performance.

Despite being flopped in the third session of KBC Shahrukh showed the guts to ask people Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hai. On the other hand Salman has taken care of % quotient in people with his 10 Ka Dum. But there is nothing wrong in people who get attracted to the amount Salman or Shahrukh promise to offer to the winners of their shows.

Well, there is no need to apply extra effort to calculate that ten comes exactly as double to five. Yes, we are talking about the money the shows are offering to people. In that scenario we can assume that Salman is pocketing just the double amount of what Shahrukh is bagging from his fifth standard show. And what public is having from them? Well, it's public and they are always happy seeing their stars getting happy. Whether it"s Shahrukh or Salman.

Bollywood's first family star in "Enron" drama

A new Bollywood film on a shrewd businesswoman's plan to build a power plant caught up in development politics is drawing comparisons with the controversy behind the failed Indian project of U.S. utilities giant Enron.

"Sarkar Raj", starring Bollywood's first family the Bachchans, has an uncanny resemblance to the real-life drama involving powerful politician Balasaheb Thackeray, whose party opposed a $2.8 billion power plant built by Enron in the 1990s.

The controversy surrounding the private power plant, India's largest then, highlighted the politics of development and the difficulties of doing business in a country replete with corruption, political intimidation and red tape.

Director Ram Gopal Varma, however, said neither Thackeray nor Enron inspired "Sarkar Raj", or Absolute Rule, which opens on Friday.

"There is politics, but it's not entirely a political film," he said. "When you make a realistic film, there is bound to be some reference point in existing characters and the existing issue."

"Sarkar Raj", billed as a sequel to "Sarkar" released three years ago, picks up on the life of Subhash Nagre, a charismatic, grey-haired leader played by Amitabh Bachchan, who like Thackeray, is not in government but wields enormous influence through an army of die-hard followers.

My style is better than SRK`s: Salman Khan

So the IPL ‘Karmayudh’ is finally over, but believe us when we say that the small screen is sure to get more interesting over the weekend. In fact it has never been this gripping before., come Friday the idiot box shall have an all new meaning to itself as TV most awaited battle shall begin and it would be the Khan vs Khan

Yes, after the battle of the states, the idiot box will now feature the war of stars as actor Salman Khan is all set to make his small screen debut with Dus Ka Dum.

With the actor all set to don the host hat, comparisons are already running wild between him and King Khan who is also hosting the much hyped but little glitz show `Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hain`.

But even before the audience deliver their verdict as to who is the Badshah host, Sallu has put all end to any kind of competition by saying that he is better of the two.

In a press conference held by the organisers of the show, Salman said, "We can’t be compared. Our styles are different and mine is much better."

Well is that confidence or over confidence only time will tell, but has Sallu learnt a thing or two form King Khan who has more experience in this game of big bucks.

Apparently Not! As Salman says, that there is no reason why he should take any kind of prompters for King Khan as he is ‘better’ of the two.

Better or not…But what is sure to get his show eyeballs is the big big bucks that the show is offering, about 10 crore, and then of course Salman Khan has been always saying that that he is good to people and not to media.

"The media has often misquoted me. Anything I say is blown out of proportion. With this show I will come closer to people. They ask me questions and I will answer them. So I hope not to be misquoted again".

SRK quizzes Karan Johar, Rani on Paanchvi Pass

Mumbai: Rani Mukherjee and Karan Johar will appear on Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? on 7 June where they try to prove that they are smarter than a fifth grader.

As India's most celebrated actress and director struggle to get their facts right with the help of five 10 year olds, Khan has a great time pulling their leg and making them beg for answers. Johar even gets down to his knees to beg for answers. "Hamari bahot beizzati hui hai yahaan par", Karan jokingly kept saying. When Karan and Rani tried to cheat from the audience, SRK gave them a fitting punishment by making them stand on the chair in the classroom.

There are many hilarious and emotional moments intertwined in the show. The most funny being where Johar reveals that, as a kid, he wanted to be a barber and cut people's hair when he grew up. He was refused admission when this question was asked in the schools. On a serious note, Mukherjee reveals that she always wanted to make it big but did not know which direction to go. She speaks of wanting to return plenty of happiness to her parents for all the hardship she has seen them face in her growing years.

Johar and Mukherjee played in true sportsman-like spirit giving everybody their share of laughter, entertainment and fun.

They won a handsome amount which they intend to donate partly to Nanavati Hospital and partly to another medical facility in the country of Mukherjee's choice.

"I will go solo too" - Riteish Deshmukh

One suspects Riteish Deshmukh to get irritated, in fact really irritated, on being prodded incessantly about his long delayed solo hero act. However, to one's pleasant surprise, he is quite patient when the query is raised and surprises by saying that going solo is indeed in his mind now.

"If you look at my career graph in last few months, I have been making a conscious effort to be seen with lesser heroes around me", he smiles, "I have been seen in four hero films and also three hero films. Off late, I am also making progress on being a part of two hero films. Soon it should be time to solo too!"

In last few months, Riteish has been seen in Cash (Ajay Devgan, Suneil Shetty, Zayed Khan) and Dhamaal (Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Javed Jaffrey, Aashish Chaudhary) where he was surrounded by number of men. Earlier too, Malamaal Weekly and Apna Sapna Money Money were multi starrers though the latter clearly had Riteish as the key man.

Later he went on to deliver yet another success in the form of Heyy Babyy where he was next only to Akshay Kumar in spite of Fardeen Khan being the senior colleague.

"I am happy with the progress I am making", adds Riteish, "Now in Sajid Khan's Housefull, which is a two hero project, I am there with Akshay Kumar. Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai is another good project in the making. I play this guy from planet Earth while Ayesha Takia is the girl from Venus. The film stars the young boy Ruslaan Mumtaz (of Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar fame) as well."

While Housefull and Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai are waiting to happen, Riteish already has a two hero film closer home. Come 20th June and De Taali, where he shares screen space with Aftab Shivdasani, would hit the screens.

"The film is coming at just the right time when a comedy like this should make an impact", informs Riteish, "I love the kind of gags that have been incorporated in the film."

Before year end, Riteish would be seen in Aladin And The Mystery Of The Lamp where he plays the title role of Aladin. The Sujoy Ghosh starrer features Amitabh Bachchan as Genius - The Genie along with Sanjay Dutt as a 'lovable villain' - as put by Ghosh!

Katrina Kaif, Akshay Kumar to rock at IIFA

They make one of the most desirable onscreen jodis in Bollywood. Now, they are set to perform together on stage for the first time.

Yup, Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar are set to team up for a sizzling dance performance at the finale of the upcoming IIFA weekend. Katrina has already been rehearsing for stage performances of her songs from Race . Now, she will tag along with Akshay for a song from their forthcoming film Singh Is Kinng .


Katrina has never looked as good with any other male actor in Bollywood as she has with Akshay in films like Humko Deewana Kar Gaye , Namastey London and Welcome .

In fact, Akshay and Katrina share a very good chemistry off the screen as well. Katrina was recently snapped leaning too close to Akshay at an IPL match between Delhi and Bangalore, sparking the rumours that something was probably brewing between the much-married Akshay and the yet-single Katrina.

And now that they are set to shake their legs together at the IIFA, guess who will be missing from the event? Salman Khan .

The three-day IIFA weekend will be held from June 6 to 8.