Nagesh Tamil comedian dead

January 31st, 2009

Chennai, Veteran comedian Nagesh, who carved a niche for himself in the Tamil film industry both in humourous and character roles, died here today after a brief illness, family sources said.
Born as Gundu Rao to a Kannada Brahmin family in 1933, Nagesh was the most sought after actor in the MGR-Sivaji era of Tamil cinema in the 1960s and mid-seventies, and was a regular feature in the movies of these late superstars.

Nagesh, who was suffering from prolonged illness, breathed his last at his residence.

A 1000-film veteran, Nagesh was known for his timing and intonation that had the audience in splits. Even in serious movies, his roles were well-appreciated.

Nagesh has played some memorable characters. His role in ’Thiruvilaiyadal’ as Dharumi, a poet struggling to make ends meet and who gets a tete-a-tete with Lord Shiva, and as aspiring director Chellappa in ’Kadhalikaa Neramillai,’ are still remembered by Tamil movie-goers.

The actor also proved his mettle with serious roles in films like ’Ethirneechal’ and ’Neerkumizhi,’ besides playing the villain in Kamal Hassan starrer ’Apporva Sagotharagal,’ dubbed in Hindi as ’Appu Raja.’

Deepika overtakes Katrina

January 31st, 2009

Deepika Padukone raced to the top in a short span of time. She is now giving a tough competition to Katrina Kaif in terms of number of fans and popularity.

Katrina was voted as the most popular actress and also the most widely searched name on Google in 2008.

Now Deepika has overtaken her as the most popular and widely searched name on internet, this time it is on Yahoo. Deepika is the most searched name on Yahoo.

Deepkila shot to fame with the film Om Shanti Om and other films but her latest film Chandini Chowk to China was a flop.

The battle for supremacy between Katrina and Deepika is likely to intensify in 2009 with both the actors now acting in some big budget films.

Shah Rukh in legal soup over copyright

January 31st, 2009

A petition has been filed against Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Private Ltd, TV channel NDTV Imagine and Sunanda Oberai by Neha Joshi for making a serial Ghar Ki Baat, based on the script written by her father, Sharad, for a comedy serial called Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, without obtaining any prior permission and violating the Copyright Act.

In the petition, Neha has said that the script was written by Sharad for the Oberais in 1984 and alleged that they have sold it to the Khan’s production house without the Joshi family’s permission.

Neha’s lawyer said they came to know about the script through one of the Khan’s interview. In the petition, Joshi has asked for compensation for violating the Copyright Act. Oberai’s lawyer told the media that Sharad had written the script for the Oberais and thus they are ultimate owners of the script and hence there was no copyright violation.

The court has asked Red Chillies to file its reply by February 14 and the next hearing is on February 16.

Lara Dutta's launching another website

January 31st, 2009

Mumbai: Actress Lara Dutta is launching yet another website mylaradutta.com on February 2. She had in 2007 launched a portal laraduttaonline.com in Paris but looks like the new site will be her official page for her fans.

A source close to the star says, "This website will have an interactive blog which Lara will update regularly. Her fans can chat with her too through her site. It will also have some exclusive pictures of Lara right from when she was a child, her growing up years, her modelling days to pictures clickedby some of the bestBollywood and fashion photographers."

Katrina to spend Valentine’s Day with Ranbir; Salman chooses Asin!

January 31st, 2009

Mumbai : According to the latest B-town revelation, leggy beauty Katrina Kaif and her beau Salman Khan are not going to celebrate Valentine`s Day together but with two different people. Reports suggest that while Katrina would be spending the V-Day with none other than Ranbir Kapoor, Salman, on the other hand, would have Asin for company.

Before you let your imagination run wild, let’s clarify that Katrina and Ranbir are not planning a special Valentine’s Day celebration together. It’s just that the actors who are presently working for their upcoming venture, ‘Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani’ in Turkey, would be shooting for the same on the V-Day as well.

However, grapevine has it that Ranbir does have plans to surprise co-star Katrina by arranging an intimate dinner.

On the other hand, possessive beau Salman seems to be proving to Kat that he’s equally busy on the special occasion, for the actor would reportedly be shooting for his upcoming venture ‘London Dreams’ with much appreciated co-star Asin.

Well, it seems that Salman and Katrina have no issues with each other’s V-Day plans. But we wonder if Deepika has planned a surprise for beau Ranbir!

SL to roll out red carpet for ‘Victory’

January 31st, 2009

This is one victory that Colombo will claim on Friday. Over Dubai, of course.

For the first time, the world premier of a Hindi movie, Victory, is being held in Colombo on Friday evening after the venue was changed from Dubai to Colombo.

The plush Regal theatre was chosen following the green signal to the India-Sri Lanka one-day series. It is also being seen as one of the biggest events in the entertainment industry here.

The movie, shot extensively in Sri Lanka, starring Harman Baweja, Amrita Rao, Anupam Kher, Gulshan Grover and 60 Indian and international cricketers, is about a boy from Rajasthan making it big in the world of cricket.

The Lankan ministries of sports, tourism and foreign affairs assisted the film crew during the shooting, which was done at grounds in Colombo and indoor stadiums in the suburbs.

The Indian team along with the Sri Lankan players will be part of the premier. Australian fast bowler Brett Lee and former team-mate Shane Warne are also expected as is actress Priyanka Chopra along with several stars.

“We thought Colombo would be the perfect venue for the premier because the Indian cricketers are here,” said a spokesperson of Event Concept, the event management company. “It is also a very important step in strengthening relations between the two countries,” he added.

Hindi movies are popular in Colombo and currently Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini are running to packed houses.

Preity's thinking of children

January 31st, 2009

It’s Bollywood cutie Preity Zinta’s birthday today.

But you needn’t worry about a present. For, the bubbly, 34-year-old actress has got a bagful of gifts that she wants to distribute after a “small get-together with friends”. Talking to BT yesterday, Preity said, “I want to do something more meaningful. I feel like it’s my new beginning and I want to do something completely different. I’m going to be a part of this campaign called Light a Billion Lights where you sponsor electricity to a complete village which works on solar technology. That is something I’m going to do.”

Then, Preity also intends to sponsor the education of underprivileged children. “I feel the only difference between a rich and a poor kid is that the former has the resources to get proper education whereas the poor kid doesn’t. I feel if a poor kid is given the same, he will do much better than the rich kid,” said the actress who is hell-bent on making a difference in whatever capacity that she can. “God has given me so much so now I feel it’s my turn to give back,” explained Preity. And what will she gift herself today?

“I was thinking of buying myself a luxury car but then everytime I drive on bumpy Mumbai’s roads, I get disappointed and change my mind!” But if there is one wish she has for herself this year, then Preity wants her IPL team to lift the trophy this year. “It has these little diamonds on it and diamonds are a girl’s best friend - so you know what I mean, don’t you,” smiled the pert actress saucily.