After Shilpa Shetty’s ‘yogic’ success, upcoming actress Nikita Anand seems to be head over heels for the magic of ‘nature’s remedies’ like Yoga and spiritual healing.
 
The former Miss India who made a mark with last year’s sleeper hit ‘Dil Dosti Etc.’ has been practicing the ‘back to nature’ philosophy following her association with the Dhyan Foundation, under the guidance of Yogi Ashwini.
 
"Its all about the ’science’ of spiritual healing; an ideal path towards achieving a peaceful and stable existence," says Nikita. "’The basic purpose of the spiritual healing process is to give a perspective on how one should lead his or her life, especially the way one goes about doing things in day-to-day life," she adds.
 
After undergoing such ‘pranic healing’, Nikita has experienced a lot of change in her. "It feels good. But the biggest impact of my association with the Foundation is that it has given me an opportunity to reach out to the people who make us what we are,"’ she says.
 
Nikita’s association with Dhyan Foundation and Yogi Ashwini began a few years ago when she came in contact with them in connection with various social causes she was involved with. "A lot of social work is being done by the foundation – from adopting a leper colony, organising camps for Polio and meals for the poor," informs Nikita, who is now the ambassador of the foundation.
 
Asked how she managed to find time for her activities with the Dhyan Foundation amid her busy shooting schedules with two of her films ‘Monopoly’ and ‘Ek Second – Jo Zindagi Badal De’ currently on floors, she says, "If one is committed to a cause, it is not difficult to find time. In any case, I am not the only one from the tinsel world to be associated with social activities. A lot of celebrities are involved in charity work or associated with a social cause, but do not talk about it." (SAMPURN)

It is a known fact that the slick ‘n scandalous "Dard-e-Sherlyn" video is Sherlyn Chopra’s ‘tribute’ to the original Dream Girl, Hema Malini’s hit number "Dard" from ‘Dus Numbri’.
 
But in a recent interview in Delhi, Hema Malini has hit at Sherlyn with stinging sarcasm and said that the newbie is trying to gain mileage on her name, attaching nudity to it.
 
She said, "It’s (the video) very hot, haan? My God, I don’t even know why she’s (Sherlyn’s) linking me with a hot-hot thing. She’s trying to change her image maybe with my name. If she’s doing this, poor thing, I wish her success, for all those who see nudity will be happy. But my name is Hema Malini and that won’t change for anything."

When quizzed, Sherlyn’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar said, "I’ve known Hemaji as a wonderful person, and if she says Sherlyn is promoting nudity on her name, I dare not contest her opinion. After all, the video did receive 19 cuts from the Censor Board. If Sherlyn has a diva-like image, she can’t help it. You can’t ask a Madonna to be like an Alka Yagnik, can you?"
 
He explains, "See, Sherlyn made this video as a ‘tribute’ to Hemaji’s "Dard". Hemaji ki ‘Dus Numbri’ 1976 mein release hui thi. Unka dard uss zamaane ka tha. Sherlyn ka dard iss zamaane ka hai, jo ki har naujawan ko hota hai. Hum sab jaante hain ki yeh dard thoda sa emotional hota hai, aur thoda sa sexual bhi."

As of now, Sherlyn’s "Dard" has emerged a big hit, but the influential Hema Malini sure seems to be furious and upset. God bless Sherlyn. (SAMPURN)

‘RUSLAAN’, the film revolving around train blasts in Mumbai on July 11th 2006 , has completed its shoot with the last schedule at Hazi Ali Shrine on August 20, 2008. Team has shot a song sequence at Hazi Ali. Song ‘Maula Mere Maula’ is sung by master Salim and music is by Rais Khan.

According to the producer Mukesh Sharma, "I had planned the entire shoot schedule with dates, locations and artistes dates before going on floor. Everything has gone as per the plan. In fact we were a little apprehensive for our schedule in Kashmir but Shrinagar and Pehelgaon shoots were very smooth and peaceful. It went on the dot and everybody had great time. In fact Hazi Ali shoot had to be postponed a bit because of the heavy rains and permission problems. Finally we will go 100% into post production."
‘RUSLAAN’ is a story that deals with our perceptions and their impact on the life of innocent bystanders. Ruslaan leaves home in happy mood. As he boards the train he receives a call and there are series of blasts. Ruslaan is picked up for questioning.

Produced by Jagdish Sharma and Mukesh Sharma film RUSLAAN is directed by Mohan Sharma.
Star cast includes Rajveer Sharma, Megha Chatterjee, Asrani, S.M. Zaheer, Shahbaaz Khan, Smita Jaikar, Ganesh Yadav, Rajendra Sharma, Rajan Sharma, Prithvi Zutshi, Shabnam Kapoor, Baby Annaya and Tanveer. (SAMPURN)

So, everyone talks about getting into the skin of the character to get a more realistic performance. Eesha Koppikhar takes the involvement to the next level in that case! For Ram Gopal Varma’s Shabri, it wasn’t just the look that Eesha worked on. During the shoots of the film Eesha got so involved that she did things in real life which nobody can think of. Let’s begin with her look. To look like a slum girl, Eesha didn’t wax her body, didn’t pluck eyebrows, didn’t use any beauty products and, in fact, did not even comb her hair! On one incident, RGV production was shooting in a slum area of Mumbai and during the evening snacks break, when a spot boy brought snacks for Eesha, unmindfully, instead of going to her make-up van to eat, she sat near a dustbin to eat like a street beggars! She didnt realize that next to her was a dumping ground. It was only when her make-up boy came and said "Didi, aap yaahan kyun baithi hain? Make up van mein chaliye," that she realised where she was sitting. "I was so engrossed in my chraacter that I didn’t even realize what I was doing. If my make-up boy hadn’t made me realize that I was sitting beside a dustbin I would have had my snacks there," says Eesha. It is also heard that it took a couple of hours to put make-up on her body and face. She even lost weight and changed her walking style also. Of course it got too much for her and after the shooting, Eesha fell sick and was on complete bed rest.  (SAMPURN)

Will a Bollywood actress play Bo Derek?

When it comes to sex symbols, Bo Derek has ruled the world for decades with just one performance that shook the world and made men go weak in their knees for a couple of decades.

When Bo performed the classic scene where she came out of the water of a Mexican beach, clad in a golden bikini in her 1979 film ‘10′, she sent countless hearts aflutter not only in the US but all over the world. Overnight, the actress became the world’s biggest teen icon; a fantasy for every man; a sort of phenomenon, going down in the history of cinema as the biggest sex symbol the world had ever seen.

Written and directed by Blake Edwards, the temptingly tasteful adult comedy co-starred the ‘The Sound of Music’ actress Julie Andrews and actor Dudley Moore with Bo Derek.

Now, almost thirty years later, Hollywood’s biggest Indian producer Ashok Amritraj has managed to procure the remake rights of ‘10′ and is all set to cast ‘the next Bo Derek’.

"Mr Amritraj plans to launch a worldwide search for the girl who will play Bo’s role in the remake," informs the filmmaker’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar. When asked if there is a chance, the maker might cast a Bollywood actress for it, the PR specialist doesn’t rule out the possibility, though he says, "it’s a little early to throw up names, but you will soon get to know".

One thing is rest assured, whosoever plays the role in the remake, is going to be closely watched and adulated by millions all over the world. Only time will tell, if that name is going to be from Bollywood. -(SAMPURN)

In a strategic move hi-profile celebrities and real life lovers Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan will be performing for their first solo show in Sharjah. The deal marks Kareena and Saif’s venture into doing shows apart from films and endorsements together.

Bringing Kareena and Saif together for live performance was the brainwave of Morani brothers who are going to script and direct Jashan 2008 to be held at the Sharjah Stadium in Dubai.

"Kareena has a huge fan following in Dubai. So has Saif! When the Moranis approached them to come together for a show, the first of its kind, both, Kareena and Saif were thrilled! They agreed instantly," said a source.

The only other star to join the duo for the show will be Minnisha Lamba.

The three stars will make solo entries. Besides the solo acts, Kareena and Saif will be performing together too.

Kareena said, "I am very excited because this is for the first time that Saif and I will be performing together on stage." (SAMPURN)

Rahul Khanna has always disliked working with kids and animals as he believes that they are difficult to deal with on the sets. Rahul reluctantly agreed to ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan’s  directorial venture - TAHAAN which required him to shoot with a kid and a donkey.
 
But his whole perception about working with kids and animals changed while shooting on the sets . He reveals that he was totally impressed with the kid who was so natural while acting. A scene required Rahul to hold a cold face while the kid cries. The kid enacted it so well that the entire crew was in tears and Rahul had to hold back his.

And about the donkey he exclaims that he has not seen an animal as beautiful as the donkey. He thinks he was more expressive than the kids and very well behaved and disciplined.
 

Lara Dutta who started her career in modeling after winning the Gladrags Super Model and subsequently winning Miss India and then Miss Universe in 2000, made a promise to do more for the betterment of society.
In 2001, Lara Dutta was made the Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Population Fund. Since then she has worked on different projects from their end involving educating people on the subject of AIDS and has helped raise global awareness of women’s lack of rights and access to reproductive health services in India.
This year, 2008, she has also been given this prestigious award for her above involvement along with her contribution to the field of entertainment by giving outstanding performances in her movies like Partner, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Zinda, No Entry, etc. (SAMPURN)

"My Friend Ganesha" was one of the biggest super-hit films of last year. It is still popular with everybody, particularly children. Within a span of one year, the film was telecast on television 53 times – almost every week – a record of sorts.
 
The popularity of  INDIA’s First composite animation film is so tremendous that Mr. Ajhai Acharya of BABA Arts Limited has joined hands with the entire team & have completed its sequel – "My Friend Ganesha II" which is scheduled for release this July, and they are so confident of the  movie that the work for "My Friend Ganesha III" has already started.
 
In "My Friend Ganesha", the animated character Ganesha had learnt a few English words. Now, in the sequel, he plays a Westernised Ganesha; with a guitar in hand, donning bermuda shorts, a tattoo and a cap, speaking more English words.
 
Recently a huge set was erected at Filmistan Studios where director Rajiv S Ruia and choreographer Lollypop were picturising a song for the film. Director Rajiv S Ruia, who had also directed the first version, was saying that children would love the song sequence as well as the film. It was evident from the reactions from the children who were participants in the song; they were thoroughly enjoying the song sequence.
 
Rajiv S Ruia says that more or less the entire technical crew, which was associated with the first part, have been retained; only the sequel is produced by renowned banner Baba Arts Limited, known for its multi-starcast blockbusters.
 
"While making the first part I and my writer Sachindra Sharma decided that if the film becomes a hit we will go for its sequel. Since the film was a big hit, we made the sequel and now we will launch the third part," says Rajiv S Ruia.
 
"My Friend Ganesha II" features, besides animated Ganesha, Master Ali, Harsh Chhaya, Bhairavi Goswami, Suhasini Mulay, Sulbha Deshpande and Upasana Singh.(SAMPURN)