Katrina Kaif gets relief in Rs 2.79-crore service tax case

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has got relief in the Rs 2.79-crore service tax case as a tribunal has ruled that this liability has been discharged by her agent for the the modelling assignments she has done.

"In this case, appellant (Katrina) has appointed Matrix as her agent to discharge her service tax liability on her behalf and the same has been discharged by Matrix," said a recent ruling by the Mumbai bench of Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT).

 The ruling follows an appeal by Katrina R Turcotte (Katrina Kaif) against an order of the Service Tax Commissioner asking her to clear service tax liability of Rs 2.79 crore under the head classified as 'Business Auxiliary Service'. The amount included an interest and penalty of Rs 33.68 lakh.

The service tax department had slapped the duty on her for providing services to various companies for promoting products through modelling assignments through advertisement films, TV commercials and still photography.

Katrina's lawyers said that she had discharged the service tax liability through her agent Matrix India Entertainment Consultants.

 The revenue department, however, contended that the tax liability was discharged under 'Advertisement Agency Service' head and not under 'Business Auxiliary Service' category and hence Katrina was liable to pay the service tax.

The tribunal ruled that "by mere paying the service tax liability under wrong head does not meant that service tax liability has not been discharged.... We hold that the appellant has discharged the service tax liability through her agent." 

Imam does not regret verbal spat with Salman Khan

Image consultant Imam Siddique, who had an argument with superstar Salman Khan during his stint in the just concluded reality show 'Bigg Boss', says he does not regret it.

During one of the nomination episodes, Imam had a spat with show's host Salman and he even said "time out" in his typical style to the actor.

"It (argument) was unpleasant and unwarranted. I think I should have done a reality check. He is a bigger superstar. I am ashamed of it. But I don't regret it," Imam told PTI.
 

On if he would meet Salman and clarify or resolve the matter, he said, "Why should I meet him... why to interact with him on that thing."

Imam was the runner up of 'Bigg Boss 6' that concluded last night, while popular television actress Urvashi Dholakia won the show by a narrow margin.

"I am happy Urvashi won the show. She reminds me of my sister. I respect her for what she is and the way she is taking care of her children," Imam said.

"I am happy I lost. I am happy for her," he said. During the show, Imam indulged in fighting, yelling, troubling co-contestants. "I did things for entertaining people," he said.

Urvashi surprised at winning Bigg Boss, says Imam deserved it

For popular television actress Urvashi Dholakia who won the sixth season of reality show Bigg Boss says, co-contestant Imam Siddique is the winner.

"I felt Imam would win the show considering the tagline of the show is alag che. I did not think I would win. I thought I had no chance of winning," Urvashi told PTI in an interview.
 

"I was also shocked when Delnaaz was out. I felt she was a strong contender and that she could win," she added. Even though Imam was known to be picking up fights with everyone, "Imam is a winner as a wild card entry to reach till the finale ...it is a big thing. He is a perfect entertainer for the audience," she said.

Urvashi, who won Rs 50 lakh in cash and a trophy, became the third TV actress in a row to have won the controversial reality show.

Throughout her stint in Bigg Boss, Urvashi remained just herself - being straight forward. "I was just being myself on the show. I was honest and truthful on the show. I never took sides and gave my straight forward opinion," she said.

Urvashi, known by her role as on-screen vamp Komalika, feels her journey on the reality show was a roller coaster ride.

"It has been a very nice experience. I learnt lot of things. Its been a roller coaster ride...there have been ups and downs. I have made new relations here like with Sana, Niketan, Mink, Navjot Singh Sidhu," Urvashi said.

'Life of Pi' wins Best Original Score at Golden Globes 2013

Ang Lee's 'Life of Pi' took home the best original score award at the 70th Golden Globes
announced today, while British songstress Adele collected a trophy for her rendition of the theme tune to the James Bond blockbuster "Skyfall."

Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez presented the Best original motion picture score trophy to Mychael Danna from the India-set drama 'Life of Pi', who was nominated alongside Dario Marianelli (Anna Karenina), Alexandre Desplat (Argo), John Williams (Lincoln) and Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek & Reinhold Heil (Cloud Atlas).

"Thank you to Fox for being crazy enough to make this movie," said Danna, who shares the award with the film's director Lee.

Adele, whose Sunday outing was her first red carpet appearance since giving birth to a baby boy in October, said the award was, "for my boyfriend Simon who convinced me to do
it, and my wonderful son."

"I wasn't expecting this. It's very strange to be here. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives," said Adele from the stage as she collected her very first Golden Globe.

She had some big names from music world as her competitors in the Best original song category - 'For You' (Keith Urban and Michael McDevitt from Act of Valor), 'Not Running Anymore' (Jon Bon Jovi for Stand Up Guys), 'Safe & Sound' (Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars for The Hunger Games) and 'Suddenly' (Claude-Michel Schonberg, Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer for Les Miserables).

Adele's Golden Globe will share shelf space at home with her eight Grammys, four American Music Awards and three Brits, among a host of other honors.

She is up for an Oscar next month for the same song.

The Golden Globes 2013 is being held at the Beverly Hilton hotel in LA, hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler