Bollywood & South Hot Actress Wallpaper

Akshay Kumar may be part of Unforgettable tour

The Bachchan's Unforgettable concert will see bollywood's biggest names like Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya touring different parts of USA and Europe performing their song and dance shows. The concerts will also have Bipasha Basu and Ritesh Deshmukh as part of the tour. Sources claimed that the organisers, Wizcraft had earlier also approached Akshay Kumar to be a part of the tour; however it supposedly did not work out due to Akshay quoting an astronomical fee. But sources claim that the tour may after all have Akshay Kumar performing with the rest of the group, but only at a select few places.

Sources claim "Akshay is back in the Bachchan's world tour. But he’ll join them only at select venues because that’s all his schedule will allow.” Akshay is also supposedly being paid a huge amount for his guest appearances in the Unforgettable tour. Earlier actress Lara Dutta too was roped in to be a part of the tour; however she recently opted out due to a knee injury. Now it seems that apart from Akshay doing guest appearances at select shows on the tour, Wizcraft is also keen to rope in other bollywood biggies to do guest appearances at select shows of the Unforgettable tour. By having special bollywood guests at select locations, they would also ensure that the main focus stays on the stars Amitabh, Ash and Abhi.

Music composers and singers, Vishal-Shekhar will also be accompanying the Bachchans for the entire Unforgettable tour. The Unforgettable tour is set to take off in mid 2008 and hence all the actors are currently gearing up for the event.

Saif’s love for Kareena is not real!

Saif is a talented actor and knows how to act flawlessly not only in reel life but in real life too. He had expressed his love for Bebo in various ways and according to Kareena tattooing her name on his hand is the most unique one. His tattoo is again driving media attention. The news spread like a fire in the jungle that his tattoo is unreal and he gets it dyed weekly to maintain its color.

Kareena was highly impressed when Saif had acted like David Beckham and inked her name on his arm. The fact that his tattoo is not real and he had temporarily written her name is definitely going to hurt her. With this cheap move, Saif showed how loyal he is to Kareena. For quite sometime, Saif and Kareena’s relationship is going through rough weather and is expected to worsen with this tattoo story.

Both of them had a big fall out when Saif spoiled her holi plans. The duo also had an argument over their marriage during the shooting of Tashan in Greece. Saif wished to tie the knot early but Kareena is not in the mood to get married at this peak point and mark full stop to her booming career. Moreover, Kareena is also having a hard time convincing her parents who are against their marriage.

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.

Inside Bollywood stories only with Rohit Roy

Rohit Roy's new avatar as a talk-show host on Zoom has him excited like never before. "We shot seven episodes with two sets of guests each in three days. That's some kind of a record. I'm getting whoever I want without having to run from pillar to post. That makes me feel very reassured. I've always been a Sanjay Dutt fan. After the show I've become an even bigger fan. We all thought we'd have to wait long for him to arrive for the recording. But he actually arrived 15 minutes early. No one has been moody or temperamental with me."

Says Rohit, "I'm interacting with the best talents in the business and learning from them. Can you imagine I got a chance to interview Naseeruddin Shah and Tabu together? One is a completely trained actor. The other is absolutely untrained. And yet they are such monuments. I've already worked with Naseerbhai in my short-film Rice Plate. Now I want to work with Tabu."

Besides the guests already mentioned, Rohit has recorded episodes with directors Sanjay Gupta-Madhur Bhandarkar, father-daughter Mahesh Bhatt-Pooja Bhatt, best friends Koena Mitra-Tanushree Dutta, Dino Morea-Neha Dhupia, and Sharmila Tagore-Nagesh Kukunoor. "I walk away from every episode of Inside Bollywood With Rohit Roy with something new."

Bollywood actor Salman Khan makes his television debut

Bollywood actor Salman Khan holds a news conference on the upcoming television serial ‘Dus ka Dum’ in Mumbai.

The exciting television show ‘10 ka Dum’ will be on air from June 6, two days a week on a popular TV channel.

Salman Khan said that television was a new experience for him.

It’s very good, it’s like me doing movie ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ which was a new experience for me after I entered Bollywood from modeling. The same way television is a new experience for me and it’s very nice show, said Salman Khan.

A show with a simple formant is based on the international show Power of ten, which is already a hit in countries like Australia , Denmark , France , Greece and Russia .

Chief Managing Director of Synergy Ad Labs, Siddharth Basu hoped that the audiences in India will like the programme.

We are fortunate to have a host like Salman Khan doing the show because he does it very endearingly with a lot of warmth and he has great connection with the common people. We at Synergy Ad Labs have really enjoyed ourselves making this programme and I think and hope that this infectious fun will excite the viewer’s as well, said Siddharth Basu.

The programme is all about winning 100 million rupees by answering five simple questions which should match with what a wide cross section of Indians think that has been already polled.

Sorry, Priyanka's busy for 2008

While 2007 was not too upbeat for the mesmerizing Goddess of Bollywood Priyanka Chopra, 2008 seems to bring her back in action after a long hiatus.

She was last seen way back in January 2007 in Nikhil Advani's SALAAM-E-ISHQ. Since then her admirers have been desperately waiting. Good news for all these Priyanka fans as the pretty lady is geared up for a smashing entry in the latter half of 2008. Starting off with LOVESTORY 2050 where she is paired with her 'beau' Harman Baweja. This Harry Baweja film marks her arrival after a year and a half long which is set to release on 4th July worldwide.

After that it would be a busy 2008 for Priyanka from here on with multiple big banner films in the pipeline like GOD TUSSI GREAT HO opposite Salman Khan also starring Amitabh Bachchan alongside, Goldie Behl's DRONA opposite Abhishek Bachchan where she is heard to play a bodyguard armed to the hilt and wields the sword to combat enemies, Madhur Bhandarkar's long time in news FASHION which appears to be a complete Priyanka Chopra film is already hogging the headlines, Karan Johar's DOSTANA starring herself, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham would be youth-oriented film sans nudity and bloodshed, and last but not the least on the list is CHAMKU opposite Bobby Deol.

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.

Mission Istanbul Review

Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sunil Shetty, Zayed Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Shreya Saran, Nikitin Dheer
Director: Apoorva Lakhia

One of India's most respected journalists, Vikas Sagar (Zayed Khan) receives an offer he cannot refuse from Owais Hussain (Sunil Shetty).

Owais is the head of an Istanbul television news channel. He offers Vikas a very high salary package with all the frills if he accepts a position within his company.

For Vikas, this offer couldn't have come at a better time. He is going through a messy divorce with his wife Anjali (Shriya Saran) and needs to get away from the stress of it all.

So Vikas accepts Hussain's offer whole-heartedly. But little does he know that one decision will change his life forever.

Well settled into his new role, he decides to voice his plans to quit the channel and move on to newer pastures.

But to his surprise, he learns from the Turkish commando, Rizwan Khan (Vivek Oberoi), on how others who quit the television channel got mysteriously killed because they knew too much.

So will this journalist be able to survive the onslaught where others have fallen prey?

Caught cheating in Shah Rukh's class

It's fun-galore on Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez hain? as the biggest stars of Bollywood descend on the small screen; Karan Johar, Rani Mukherjee and Shah Rukh Khan...

No, it is NOT Kuch Kuch Hota Hain? again; this time the trio have assumed different avatars and come together on India's biggest quiz game show Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? in which Shah Rukh officially plays the role of the knowledgeable teacher and Rani and Karan are summoned as classmates.

This Saturday, June 7th at 8 pm, viewers will witness India's finest actor, Rani Mukherjee, and ace-director, Karan Johar, stumble into Shah Rukh's classroom quite unaware of what trouble awaits them in the form of eleven fifth grade questions, as they try to prove that they are smarter than a fifth grader on Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain

While the warmth, the funny repartees and camaraderie between the guests and host is the over-powering flavour of this celebrity special episode, it really does not help Karan and Rani win brownie points and impress the strict and intelligent teacher-Shah Rukh Khan who flummoxes them with his very first question.

As India's most celebrated actor and director struggle to get their facts right with the help of five 10-year-olds, Shah Rukh has a great time pulling their leg and making them beg for answers. Karan 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 Karan reveals that, as a kid, he wanted to be a barber and cut people's hair when he grew up.

This had the audience in split's thinking India's leading film director wanted to become a hairstylist at one point. He was refused admission when this question was asked in the schools.

On a serious note, Rani 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.

Karan and Rani played in true-sportsmanlike-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 Rani's choice.

To catch this teacher-student scuffle, tune in to Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? on Saturday, June 7 only on Star Plus.

My first income was just fifty rupees: Shah Rukh Khan

All time hot item for news, Shah Rukh Khan, has recently started hitting news for his television appearance for Paanchvi Pass, too.

Starting his career with 1988 Doordarshan serial Fauji, Shah Rukh Khan has traversed a long to reach his status of King Khan. Here he has taken out few moments to have a bird’s eye view at his past life, his true colour and bit more…

Q. Who is the actual Shah Rukh Khan – an actor, a businessman, a father or a husband?
A. Even I don’t know who the actual Shah Rukh is as because I spend most of my time portraying different characters.

Most of the time we play such characters who are much superior from any point of view. But there is one common factor in each of the character I play and that factor is emotion. It’s impossible to depict a true sketch of a character without proper emotion.

But, when I stay at home I show my true emotions as a father and a husband. And I don’t know how much truth I can maintain while talking about my role of a father outside my home.

Q. Where do you find yourself at the best of your professional graph – as a host or as an actor?
A. Whether it’s in acting or hosting a show, success stays with me for very short period of time. I feel reaching height only when I make my cameraman or director astonished with the best of my performance.

I feel really happy when all those shots reach the remote areas of the country and people feel them from the core of their hearts.

Q. What did your teachers think about when you were in school?
A. I used to be very mischievous in school but teachers always forgave me seeing the beautiful dimples. That’s how my smile was famously known as the Satan’s smile.

Despite being so naughty I was the monitor of my class because I always topped in the class. Reading less was enough for me to bag best numbers. I had interest in everything other than learning.

Q. Any memorable incident of those days?
A. I still can remember that my few friends, including me, were doing masti because of which all of those friends were suspended from the school. My absence from the school on that very day saved me from suspension.

The five of us were the best buddies in school. We later on decided to beg pardon from the principal. All my friends were very jealous of me as I was not suspended. I agreed on going with them to the principal and told them that everything would be alright.

We went to meet the principal. He was quite friendly with me and that day also he started talking to me very generously which my friends could not accept. All of a sudden they started revealing my tomfooleries one after the other. The aftermath was very obvious.

Along with my friends, the principal suspended me also. Still I can remember all those four friends.

Q. With your KBC you offered people an amount of two crores and the amount has reached to five crores with your on going show Paanchvi Pass… What was your first income?
A. If I am not wrong then my first income was just fifty rupees. There was Sri Ram center beside my home. Even Film Fare Awards ceremonies were held at the center.

Once there was the concert of Ghulam Ali Sahab at that center. I volunteered in the show and earned fifty bucks for that. I took my friends to visit Taj Mahal with that amount.

Q. What do excite your children most?
A. They feel excitement in all those things that excites me. They are all very excited with what their father does.

Q. What do you think of education?
A. All throughout my life I have believed that there is nothing more important than education. But the same education sometimes brings in tension and creates lot of problems. Today people stress more on becoming first than learning something.

When I hear the cut off marks for colleges now-a-days, I get traumatized thinking that was I a student at this time, I would never have reached college though I passed my tenth with 92%. I think about how to make today’s generation realize to go ahead despite having all the pressures from education and job.

I want an environment where children themselves wish to go to school. I would request all the schools not to create pressure on children for education.

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.

Harman tries to shake off Hrithik jinx

Harman has been taking the comparisons with Hrithik Roshan on his chin. At his music launch last week, when someone in audience shouted 'Hey Hrithik', Harman smiled and said, "can't help the way I look. It's what my parents gave me". The ongoing comparisons between Hrithik Roshan and debutant Harman Baweja are now being nipped in the bud.

The Bawejas have decided to avert any more comparisons with the Krissh star and also to curb the unnecessary digs at Harman's glamorous girlfriend. Since it was felt that Harman even sounded like Hrithik, the newcomer's dubbing for Love Story 2050 is being done under strict supervision of a female voice expert who sits with Harman. She listens to every word that Harman dubs and if anywhere he sounds like anyone else, she immediately corrects him. For this reason Harman's dubbing in Love Story 2050 has taken a painfully long while. A month away from the film's release and the actor is still dubbing!

Says a source close to the Bawejas: "Harman is not the least conscious or worried about all the comparisons with Hrithik. They started when Harry Baweja decided to launch his son in a futuristic film. Everyone jumped to the conclusion that it was another Krissh. Then to make matters worse there was the Kareena Kapoor factor. She had opted out of Hrithik Roshan's Kaho Na Pyaar Hai after few days of shooting. The same happened with Harman's Love Story 2050."

Even more worrying to Harman is the manner in which Priyanka Chopra's presence in his life is being seen as a calculated move to gain mileage for the film. The giddy limit was when another debutante Mashoor Amrohi went on television to talk about colleagues who have glamorous girlfriends to flaunt.

Bollywood tough guy 'eyes Indian politics'

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, out of jail on bail for a weapons conviction, is considering a move into politics in forthcoming general elections, a report said Wednesday.

Dutt's family has had a long association with politics and his father, Sunil, spent almost two decades in parliament as an MP for the Congress party and also served as a federal sports minister before his death in 2005.

"My father has done social work all his life. Why shouldn't I too do the same as a social servant? Why should I be deprived of an opportunity?" Dutt told the Times of India newspaper.

Sanjay's sister Priya Dutt was elected as a Congress MP for her father's constituency in northwest Mumbai, where India's prolific film industry is based.

"I am sure the party (Congress) will give both of us tickets from two different seats," Dutt was quoted as saying.

Dutt, known for his roles as a tough guy, is one of Bollywood's most popular and bankable stars -- despite his criminal conviction.

Last year the 48-year-old, a former heavy drug user, was found guilty of possessing illegal weapons that he bought from men accused of plotting serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993, which killed more than 250 people.

He was sentenced to six years in jail, but is out on bail pending an appeal.

Last week there were reports that some Mumbai residents had started a petition against Dutt standing for elections because of his conviction.

But he dismissed any whiff of a scandal.

"This theory has been started by people with vested interests. If I get a chance, I will do my best for the people of these areas," he told the paper.

Convicted criminals are not barred from standing for office in India.

A study by an Indian watchdog found that nearly a quarter of the 542 people elected to the federal parliament in 2004 had faced criminal charges, including murder and rape.

Bollywood nights: Has IPL turned cricket into a 'sixy' beast?

It’s over and we’ve survived. The inaugural season of the IPL has been run and won and we can put the circus to rest for at least another year.

The IPL will be seen as a success. Good crowds (albeit supplemented by free tickets), excellent TV ratings – what else could any sporting tournament hope for? With a victory to the Rajasthan Royals, it’s even been won by the underdogs (led by an Aussie) in a cliffhanger final.

That’s not to say that everything is perfect and that there aren’t some lessons to be learned. Probably the most important lesson is that reputations are meaningless. Some of the more fancied players have failed to repay the investment.

Indeed, the Rajasthan Royals were the cheapest franchise, spent the least on players and yet headed the points table at the end of preliminaries and made some of their more fancied opponent look decidedly second rate.

The whole “you get what you paid for” concept has been completely turned on its head. The tournament's leading batsman, Shaun Marsh, was picked up for the bargain basement price of $50,000, the leading bowler, Sohail Tanvir, for a miserly $100,000 and Player of the Tournament, Shane Watson, for an equally thrifty $150,000. Do you think these blokes might look to renegotiate their contracts?

Rajasthan also turned the theory of the game upside down. Traditionally Twenty20 is considered to be a batsman’s game and yet they have three of the top five bowlers in the competition. The game is still evolving and no doubt other teams will take note.

In fact, the whole concept, not just the game itself, is still evolving and there are a number of things that could bear some scrutiny and maybe even change before next year.

Firstly, get rid of the bloody cheerleaders. Dancing girls were introduced to entertain Americans in the interminable breaks in their football games so that the fans didn’t forget why they were there and decide to go home. There is absolutely no need to have them shake their over-stuffed money-makers every time a boundary is scored. And don’t get me started on the male cheerleaders.

Secondly, there should be some reward for finishing at the head of the points table. Rajasthan had probably earned the right to host a home final and give them the best chance of getting to the Grand Final. A neutral ground for the Grand Final is fine, but pre-ordaining finals' venues is a risky business.

The kit that some of the teams force their players to take the field in could also bear some scrutiny. The gold and black outfit of the Kolkata Knight Riders is so garish that it would make Donald Trump blush.

In hindsight, it appears that the TV rights were sold a little cheap - $1bn sounds like a huge sum, but spread over ten years, it’s not quite as impressive.

To put things in perspective the American National Football League demands $3.75bn per year for their TV rights. Even the Australian Football League gets £150m year with only two per cent of the potential viewing audience. It’s probably too late now to ask for a rethink.

There may be a case for a slight name change too. Given that four of the top five batsmen and three of the top five bowlers were imports, there is a good case to change the name to the International Premier League – just kidding, but it’s a thought.

Now, thankfully, it’s back to serious cricket for a while but, no doubt, we haven't seen the back of the IPL just yet. It has captured hearts and minds in its home region, but still has much to do elsewhere. The final was broadcast to 122 nations, but few outside South Asia would have had it as a ratings blockbuster.

As for talk that the IPL could take on the world, there’s an awful lot of work to do first – and that includes convincing the rest of the cricketing world that the IPL is a concept worth backing. But I’m sure that if the BCCI thinks there’s a quid in it, they’ll give it a red hot go.

One final question. What is the obsession with royalty all about? There are two kings, two royals and a knight amongst the team names. If someone could explain it, I would be eternally grateful.