I got 115 crore?Prove it: Big B

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan today pooh-poohed the reports in a section of the press that he had been paid Rs 115 crore by server ”bigadda.com” to write his blog.

”This in entirely incorrect. I use the services of the server bigadda.com and nothing else, there are no finances involved at all”, the Bollywood actor said.

Writing in his blog after attending the opening night of the Cannes film festival, Amitabh has challenged the Mumbai-based tabloid to show him receipts of the payment made or any contract signed by him and disclose the source that has confirmed the information to it.

Besides Amitabh, his wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also attended the opening night function at Cannes, where the film ‘Blindness’ was screened.

Are they jealous of Mallika’s legs?

Moral police goes skirt-chasing with Mallika.. Bollywood reacts.

Malaika Arora: “I think Mallika has become a favourite punching-bag in the press. Leave the girl alone. It’s ridiculous. Maybe the moral police in the South should take a closer look at their own films for obscenity.

Shilpa Shetty (actress,reality-show celebrity, yoga instructor): ” I’m just happy that the obscenity case against my dress in Tamil Nadu is quashed. I won.

Rahul Khanna (actor): ‘”I feel quite sad for the moral police. Perhaps they’re jealous of Mallika’s legs. They seem to have a lot of free time on hand? Why not use it for issues more important than length of skirts?

Hema Malini (actress, dancer, parliamentarian): “I was there in Chennai. Mallika’s dress was looking good. She too was looking very good. But perhaps the dress was a little too short for the occasion. Who knows!

Sonu Sood (actor): “Some people have all the time in the world to measure dress lengths. Good for them. At least moral policing keeps some people busy. At the same time I feel some celebrities dress a certain way to attract attention and create controversies. Ignore them. It will avoid unnecessary publicity.

Rohit Roy (actor, tv anchor): “What can one say…I’d love to know what the moral police was doing looking at Ms Sherawat’s crossed legs? Maybe waiting for them to uncross???

Lilette Dubey: “Who’s this self-appointed brigade? And what are they afraid of? Influencing the youth of this country?

A generation that’s now exposed to cinema, fashion and images from around the world right there in their homes? It’s up the individual to decide what she wears and if she can handle the public gaze then it’s her prerogative to dress the way she wants.

Amrita Arora (actor): “It’s ridiculous. What’s wrong with wearing a short skirt? And why only target Mallika for it? Girls in colleges and work places across the country are wearing them. Go get all of them,you moral cops! By the way there’re much more serious things to be done in our country than ’skirt-chasing’.

Diya Mirza (former beauty queen,actor): “I think they’ve no right to comment on Mallika. I think they should instead give attention to the sleaze content in some of their films. Stop pointing fingers at someone just because you’ve nothing better to do.

Niharika Singh (beauty queen, model, actor): “I think this is complete hypocrisy. Films down south have a lot more skin show. There’s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill

Sophie Chowdhary (veejay/singer/actress): “I think the reaction to Mallika’s skirt is ridiculous. According to me the outfit is definitely not vulgar or offensive. Surely there’re a hundred other issues in our country to get upset about. Leave Mallika and her clothes alone.

Priyanka (Nisha) Kothari: “I think the moral police are more publicity crazy than any other section of our society.

Samir Soni (model/actor):“I believe what is moral or immoral is an extremely personal decision. No group of people have the right to force their value system on us unless an individual’s action inconveniences others or obstructs someone’s fundamental rights.

Aryan Vaid (model, actor, tv anchor): What can one say? This isn’t really about protection of any morals but the narrow political interests of a group of people.

The laws of the land seem to apply in different measures to different sections of people. There was nothing wrong with Mallika’s outfit. But there’s a long wrong with these moral terrorist outfits.”

Sandhya Mridul: “With due respect the actresses down South wear clothes that seem pretty suggestive and sexy. So what’s their problem?

The moral police all over the country should keep tabs on real moral issues rather than the clothes actress’ wear. Incidentally why are only actresses pulled up for extra-censoring? Why not the males who nowadays pose in less than women?”

Pooja Bedi: “I think the more importance the media gives such people the more such cases we’ll see. The quickest route to fame is to sue celebrities. Morality is so subjective. Do these moralists want to take us back to the days of the purdah?

And should their standards of morality be applicable to society? Was there a dress code at the music event ? If not how could they expect a girl with a glamorous sexy image to land up in a salwar-kameez?

Gul Panag: “Why should it be anyone’s business what someone wears or doesn’t wear? The moral police should close down Khajuraho or dress up the sculpture in ’suitable’ clothes before attacking anyone.

Nandana Sen: ” It’s absurd! Mallika is beautiful and has a style of her own. How can anyone have the right to say that style is wrong? Should we all start wearing uniforms now to make everyone happy? Clothes are one of the ways in which a person expresses her or his individuality.

Dictating what another individual wears is as ridiculous as a third party forbidding you, a writer, from choosing certain topics.Or me, an actor, from taking on certain roles. And if I decide to do what I choose, should my nose and ear be cut as happened today?

What’s the issue with Mallika’s clothes? If the concern is protecting women’s dignity, why don’t we create a safe and protective environment so that little girls aren’t thrown into fires for stepping beyond boundaries that should never have been set up?

Howzaat:Emraan hates cricket

There was a time when Emraan Hashmi used to get bored of cricket. So much so that he didn’t even have any basic idea about the tournaments in progress or the players in the squad.

Not that the situation has changed dramatically for him even today but the fact is that at the least he has started warming up to the sport, courtesy his role of a bookie in Jannat.

“Frankly, cricket used to bore me. The only matches which I could probably catch for a while were the ones between India and Pakistan and that, too, when they were one day internationals. However, 20-20 is able to catch my attention to some extent,” reveals Emraan Hashmi.

“For someone like me who has a short attention span, it is impossible to be sitting in front of a TV for 8 hours and watch 100 overs being bowled. I tend to become quite impatient.

However, with so much glamour and entertainment being a part of the game now, I am considering it all as a masala outing in the offering”, quips an amused Hashmi.

Isn’t it divine intervention that Jannat is releasing at a time when 20-20 is at its peak?

While all other recent releases are falling like nine pin, Jannat appears to be only film which should keep the box office busy, considering its contemporary theme of cricket and the world of betting and match fixing?

“Of course we never planned it that way when Jannat was being made”, Emraan says with an honest tone, “But yes, when it is all working now for us, it couldn’t have been better.

We are arriving solo as well which is an added advantage. With films and cricket merging, courtesy 20-20, it should benefit Jannat.”

Coming back to 20-20, how does he see it changing the scene of Indian sports?

Hashmi shares his point of view here, “So many people, like me, have already joined the fray while I am sure people, who were diehard one day international followers, have also shown signs of tilting towards the shorter version.

With 20-20 cricket, 50 over match seems like a passé. I think it would be quite difficult for people now to go back to spending their entire day watching cricket.”

Bebo-Saif:Khullam Khulla love

The Chote Nawab might allege that the media has a deliberate agenda against him and his arm candy Kareena, but you cannot blame them because Saif and Bebo seem to be the flavour of the season.

If the onlookers of Zee Cine Awards are to be believed, both Saif and Kareena were all over each other in London.

So much so, that there was no dearth of PDA. They could barely keep their hands off each other.

They even went as far as requesting the organizers to book them a hotel which was far away from the hotel where the rest of the guests were putting up.

Although their Tashan might have failed to sizzle on screen, but surely the off screen chemistry is piping hot and creating a lot of ripples.

Aamir’s blogging ways has SRK smiling

The battle of the Blogs has just intensified; what with the Taare Zameen Par self-crowned genius and the universally acknowledged clutter-breaker, Aamir Khan proclaiming that he has a dog named Shah Rukh Khan.

The shocking display of insolent humor has sent shock waves in the otherwise-insulated and unconcerned film industry. Says a very popular character-actor who has worked with both the actors, “I guess the freedom provided by a blog tends to loosen tongues. Amitji has never been known to be as undiplomatic as he’s on his blog. Aamir must have thought it’s time to increase the odds, what if Amitji’s blog gets more eyeballs! Also, his nephew’s film is around the corner. During the release of Taare Zameen Par, Aamir created a controversy by taking on Amitji and Black. Now for the nephew it’s Shah Rukh being called a dog. All I can say is life’s a bitch.”

Shah Rukh remains characteristically unfazed and humorous in the face of his colleague’s uncharitable and tasteless remarks. When this writer expressed shock and indignation at Aamir’s remarks, SRK responded, “Earlier on, people used to name their children after famous people. Somebody naming a dog after a known person is a new beginning in that direction. I don’t have a copyright over this name if used non-commercially.” But a close friend of SRK on promise of anonymity reacted far more aggressively. “Aamir’s megalomania has been brewing for a while. Earlier he declared himself No.1 as compared with SRK who took it smilingly. Now Aamir is down to street-level provocation. You know those neighbors who try to get your attention by breaking your windows, letting their dogs crap on your lawn or just dirtying your car. It’s best for Shah Rukh to ignore these efforts to get his attention.”

John will make it a memorable wedding

It’s felt by most members of Nagesh Kukunoor’s Aashayein that this film would be John’s turning point as an actor.

No stone is being left unturned to make sure John appears in the best light possible in this make-or-break film.

In this context it has now been decided to move the prestigious Aashayein forward by a couple of weeks, possibly to July 4 which is the date for Harman Baweja and Imran Khan’s debut films.

Says a source, “Aashayein is crucial for both John and his director Nagesh Kukunoor. Both were banking heavily on their last projects. John on No Smoking which turned out to be a no-show and Nagesh on Bombay To Bangkok which was a fiasco. Both the actor and director feel Aashayein would be a new beginning for them.”

But for John family always comes first. And now that his brother’s wedding is days away he finds a lot of the attention that he would have ideally given to Aashayein is now being taken up by the wedding in the family.

Says a source, “Since Allan’s wife is Romanian the wedding is in Romania. The arrangements therefore become doubly difficult. John’s parents are too old and frail to manage the nitty-gritty.

Even Bipasha is shooting in Bangkok. That leaves John to supervise all the wedding plans. And Allan is his only brother. John wants to make it a memorable wedding.”

It was therefore felt in the best interests of the film that the original release date June 20, be postponed by at least a couple of weeks.

Nagesh Kukunoor’s associate and co-producer Elahi Hiptoola confirms these developments. “Yes, we did feel that we needed a couple of weeks extra, what with John’s brother’s marriage.

So yes we’re moving to July, probably the first week. Aashayein is a film that needs careful nurturing. We don’t mind waiting a bit. But we don’t want the release to go wrong.”

Interestingly John has no love interest in Aashayein. There’s a new girl Sonal Saigal to begin with. But the female lead is played by Anaitha Nair one of the Chak De India girls. John and she share an unusual equation, quite like Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Sarkar Raj.

Shahenshah Bachchan vs King Khan

When a superstar-turned-’national figure’ like Amitabh Bachchan starts toting graphs and pie charts to show that he is far ahead in television show ratings than a much younger colleague, Shah Rukh Khan, it reveals a great deal about the icon.

A few days on, when the same superstar announces that it was not his intention to indulge in comparisons with colleagues, it reveals a few more layers of the famed star make-up.

These actions are an involuntary admission on Bachchan’s part that his iconic status notwithstanding, he is a brand in the market and has to fight for his place in that mercurial space, like anyone else.

Like Shah Rukh, for instance, who consistently trails him in ‘all-time popular star’ polls. Khan is so damnably comfortable being a brand in the market and having a price.

He thinks being priceless is a waste of time in an age of convergence when cinema, television, advertising and live shows form a giant entertainment block, feeding off each other, and offering blockbuster revenue models to he who dares.

This space demands a different kind of star. In the late 1970s and early 80s, when Bachchan became a big name, television was a cottage industry. The big screen was the big turn-on; a star’s aura depended in part on mystique born out of his/her remoteness.

But life in the coiled times of 24-hour television, 24-hour entertainment and 24-hour advertisements, promotions and endorsements is totally different.

A star is one, whose visage, still or moving, is carpet- bombed in magazines, on TV channels and in ads that sell the good life. It testifies to his popularity and brand value; can you imagine the hard work in being top of the mind of nano-attention spans?

It even extends to burning the midnight oil for blog posts to connect to that vast audience with a sudarshan chakra called viewers’ response.

But look at the bonanza it fetches through endorsement, that contemporary fairy tale of the marketplace. Endorse a string of products and see your home fires burn brighter, with a film thrown in every year.

Whether it is curing indigestion, fanning a neighbour’s envy or putting down unimaginable stunts or emotions to fizz bottled inside, how does it matter?

Everything hinges on how you create a persona and positioning to attract the market, meshing personal and professional aspects. Here’s where Bachchan and Khan present an interesting contrast.

The aura of ‘Shahenshah’ Bachchan subtly signals that he may be in the market for whatever reasons but is above it; he is a man of lineage harking back to the literary, cultured old world elite.

Thus a mundane ad for a muscle relaxant is couched in ringing poetry as befits his background. Even his critiques of colleagues must sound urbane. Alongside, Bachchan’s world is one of ‘tradition’ as witnessed in the wedding of his son.

It’s a persona that has great appeal. It holds out the promise that you do not become what you consume; your past, your ‘tradition’ and the privilege of heredity remains intact.

In complete contrast, ‘Badshah’ Khan gleefully admits that the market is his world. That in a shrinking world, possibly the biggest adventure is the act of buying.

Whether it is a Kajol in his arms or the keys to a new car, he lights up in the same way. What are you made of, is the punchline of a branded watch ad that Khan does, and it sums up his persona.

In Khan’s world, it is all right to desire. In fact in an ad for a dish satellite, he chides the viewers for not asking for more. You don’t need lineage; it is possible to create your own world in the present free of the fixities of the past.

After all, didn’t Khan gargle with a soft drink first thing in the morning in “Dil To Paagal Hai”? No wonder Khan is a first choice mascot for much of the corporate world…

The stakes are high in this world. But for those who inhabit it, it is a land of cash cows and eternal light. Be it Bachchan or Khan, they have to work at sharp silhouettes of personas to keep their individualistic brand values alive.

So one breezily buys (okay, in part) an entire team of cricketers - who at times seem like non-performing assets - and adds another acute angle to his persona.

The other, befitting his elder statesman image, works late at night on a ’serious’ - almost academic - blog post about the risky business of TRPs. Life is tough, boss.

Why my clothes become more important than me: Aishwarya Rai

By Subhash K Jha

While the amazingly focused and sensible Aishawrya Rai understands the constant need for people to check out her clothes and accessories at important events, what she can’t understand is why the clothes she wears at Cannes become more important than what she does at the annual event.

Exhausted and jet-lagged Mrs Rai-Bachchan laughs, “I don’t even want to think about what people thought of my clothes earlier and what they think of it now.

To me how I conduct myself at Cannes and how people react to me is far more important than what I wear. Cannes has always been a marvellous and memorable experience. This time was no different. It’s never about the wardrobe for me. I don’t focus on that at all. ”

She reminisces about each year she has attended the Cannes film festival since 2002. “That was the year of Devdas. That experience remains embedded in my mind.

It wasn’t just about how much they liked me in a sari or walking the red carpet. It was more memorable for the standing ovation that we got after the screening of Devdas. What an ovation! It was a very special experience.

Next I was in Cannes as a jury member and that’s where sections of the media formed their own jury and began to assess my dress. After that I was there to inaugurate the festival and thereafter each year as the brand ambassador for Loreal.”

What made Aishwarya’s visit to Cannes special this year was the fact that the entire Bachchan family was there.

“Also,” she adds happily. “It was always flash- visits to Cannes. This time I was actually there for four days. Otherwise I’ve always been there in the middle of things. I spent two full days with the family.

We’re all so happy when we’re together In an interview there I was asked if our visit to Cannes was a delayed anniversary celebration. I was like….noooooo!”

And then the entertainment. ” I caught three and a half movies including the opening movie Blindness and the new Indiana Jones film.

And I could only catch the latter half of Kung Fu Panda because I had to do some press interviews during the second half. I’ve to catch the rest of the film it was so entertaining.

And I also saw the new Woody Allen film Vicky Christina Barcelona. And yes I met Woody Allen. He’s wonderful.”

Speaking on her stunning sartorial grace on the red carpet Aishwarya says, “I guess I had more time to prepare.” She smiles at the memory of bonding with Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives. “We bonded so well at Cannes, no one would believe we had just met.

Actually Eva, Rachida Brakni (who did the original French version of Chaos which I was supposed to do and who’s now been taken on as Loreal’s brand ambassador) …all of us have got married recently. So all three of us had something in common.”

Another memorable moment at Cannes. “That wonderful French actor Jean Reno came up to me and said he had heard good things about my film Pink Panther.

These legendary actors are so hassle-free. They don’t think twice about approaching you with a smile and kind words. That stays with you. So much less taxing than making an effort to avoid people.”

Yuvraj has been outstanding: Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta speaks on her Team’s victory…

And now you’re into the semi-finals?
Well, there were ups and downs when we started. For a while I wasn’t sure where I was heading. I remember at the initial meetings for the IPL I’d wonder what I was doing.

It felt so different from being an actor. But I took the matter very seriously. I did all my homework before the meetings, carried these big bulky files that nearly broke my hand.

And yes, at one of these IPL meetings my eye was badly injured. But I finally came out a winner. Feels good. We’ve worked hard to get here.

Wednesday’s match in Mumbai was really touch-and-go. Your team won by just 1 run?
It was really touch-and-go for us. My team played splendidly. But on Wednesday even Mumbai played very well. I got several small heart -attacks while the match went on.

I was doubly excited because Sachin was playing. And I’m his biggest fan. I was watching him live for the first time. It was a treat to watch him play.

But he was in the opposite team!
Yes. But to me it’s not about just about one team winning over the other. Both the teams played really well on Wednesday. And I was so on the edge of the seat I nearly toppled over.

Did you have to brief Sreesanth to keep his temper in control?
No no. I don’t instruct anyone. That’s not my job. We’ve a coach and a captain to do what they have to do. And I don’t think my intervention on what goes on during the matches would be proper.

You’re the first woman from the entertainment business to have made such a name in the playing field.
Am I ? Let’s see where we’re heading. If my team wins the Cup then I can proudly say yes I’ve done it. It hasn’t been easy. A lot of hard work has gone in.

There have been players from different countries merging in a never-before spirit of sportsmanship.And I’ve been right there trying to strike a balance among the various players and forces.

Looking back I don’t know how we managed it. We’ve been taking it one step at a time. Now when we’ve made it to the semi-finals we really want that cup.

Quite naturally so.
When it wasn’t the cup, we just wanted to make it to the semi-finals.

The competition is fierce.
I think the cricket we play at the IPL is a display of the game’s skills at the grassroot players. Look at the democratic spirit of our team. A young local player getting to play with an international star of cricket.

What have you gained personally from the experience?
I’m learning a lot about cricket. Every day I pray hard and cross my fingers and hope our team will get the Cup. Earlier I used to go to the matches and just hope our team will play well. Now I want them to really excel and win.

I sit nervously watching. But our boys are performing really well. Our team has had its highs and lows. But overall they’ve been playing well. I’m proud of them. Yuvraj has been an outstanding captain.

Karan Johar

What more can make a Father happy in heaven than see His son not just carrying forward his legacy, but also doing that in style, élan and class! We are indeed talking about the legendary late Yash Johar, whose son Karan Johar celebrates his Birthday today. The fact remains that the celebrations are not just confined to his premises, but the whole of Bollywood! After all, Karan has played the Godfather to many; his Midas Touch has resurrected many a lagging career. And to top it all, he has been hugely responsible in giving Bollywood its international status.

Karan is one man, with whom the Bolly residents simply die to work with. After all, he is the man responsible for giving Bollywood its eternal romantic blockbusters cum family dramas like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Na Ho, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna etc… to name a few! If that was not enough, Karan went one step ahead and gave TV anchoring a new dimension altogether, with his very own chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’, a show which had many A-league actors shed their mental inhibitions and speak (read ‘pour’, ‘cry’) their hearts out, in a show that gave the world India’s answer to Oprah Winfrey!