When Katrina Kaif was flattered

The Barbie doll of Bollywood,Katrina Kaif was on top of the world when she was awarded the Zee Cine Award for the Best International Icon Female. Her happiness doubled when she was presented the prestigious award bySridevi.

Beaming with joy, Katrina said,“Well I think first and most importantly, it’s a huge honour to get any award from Sridevi. It’s a huge honour to stand next to her and I think this year honestly belongs to you and Boneyji. I don’t know what to say but he’s (Boneyji) been extremely important to me in the years I’ve been here, and a huge support to me. So to receive this award from Sridevi and from you (Boneyji) is seriously a great honour. So thank you Zee and thank you everyone for this award… thank you very much.”

The emotional moment turned hilarious when Shahrukh Khan on recieving the same award (Best International Icon Male), gave his thanks giving speech. The superstar at his witty best imitated Katrina and said, “Thank you so much… it has been one of my most cherished dreams… aur meri zindagi ka bahut bada din hai ki Boney Kapoorji ne mujhe yeh award diya hai, aaj jo meri feeling hai, main aapko bata nahin sakta aur Sri bhi aayi hain… thank you!!! But, seriously, thank you so much Sri and Boneyji for this award and thank you Zee Cine Awards and thank you Subhashji.”

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh and Katrina along with Anushka Sharma and Karisma Kapoor paid a tribute to the late filmmaker Yash Chopra by dancing to the evergreen music from his movies.

Ajay Devgn and Tamanna sizzle in Himmatwala

Ajay Devgn and Tamanna share a sizzling chemistry in their upcoming film Himmatwala. Recently, the duo shot for the famous song Taki O Taki Re in the Pink City.

Himmatwala is a remake of the 80s superhit with the same name, starring Jitendra and Sridevi. The song Tathaiya, Tathaiya has already been shot in Mumbai.

Says Sajid Khan, the director of the remake, “My sister Farah has really worked very hard on this song Taki O Taki… with Ajay and Tamanna and we all are very satisfied with the results.”.

Sajid also confirmed that the film is not a of the 80s hit. He said, “No. It’s not a remake. I would say, it retains the essence of the old one.”

The director also revealed, “The film is set in Mumbai city in the ’80s and one of the key features of Mumbai in the ’80s was the advent of a disco culture”.

Meanwhile, Sonakshi Sinha will revives the 80′s era with a disco number, choreographed by Chinni Prakash, is called “Thank god it’s Friday”.

The remake of Himmatwala stars Ajay Devgn and Tamanna in lead roles. directed by Sajid Khan, the movie is expected to hit the big screen on March 29.

Big B to launch BMC's cleanliness drive today

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will launch the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's 'Swachh Mumbai Prabhodhan Abhiyan', a drive aimed at cleaning the slum areas, here today.

Bachchan will also participate in the civic body's public awareness campaign for the drive.

BMC's standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said, "Since Bachchan is a public figure, people will pay heed to his appeal on cleanliness measures."

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray had approached Bachchan for the drive which the actor accepted, Shewale said.

Sena, the ruling party in the BMC, has decided to launch the scheme tomorrow, which is also the birth anniversary of late party supremo Bal Thackeray, sources said.

Bachchan will inaugurate the cleanliness drive at the Mayor's bungalow in Dadar tomorrow, civic officials said.

The veteran actor will also inaugurate the virtual class room of the BMC. "As many as 400 schools will be connected through this virtual classroom," Shewale added. 

IIFA not going to Vancouver in 2013

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) has confirmed that they are not holding their
three-day film extravaganza in Vancouver this year.

Vancouver was rejected as a venue for 2013 and IIFA will be announcing the new dates and venue for this years award function soon.

Recently, IIFA received a copious number of emails and enquiries from fans in Canada and around the world for tickets to the awards.

But Wizcraft International, organisers of the event, confirmed that the city is out of the running for June 2013.

The bidding process for the awards is currently on with a number of countries from the Middle East, South America, Europe and Africa vying for the biggest extravaganza of Indian
Cinema to come to their city.

In 2011, IIFA successfully forayed into North America, marking its premiere in Canada, in the city of Toronto.

"We are truly excited about the bids we have received from various countries. The decision is subject to many contributing factors that are required of a host destination in terms of support-initiatives for Hindi cinema production, funding and distribution; event-funding, support, facilitation, and infrastructure.

"We are committed to the film Industry and hosting an IIFA in any destination must meet the larger interests of Indian Cinema and a spectacular-staging of the annual celebration," said Sabbas Joseph, Director, IIFA and Wizcraft International.

A number of destinations have played host to IIFA in the past including London, Yorkshire, Johannesburg, Dubai, Amsterdam, Singapore, Bangkok, Colombo and Macau. 

'GoW' star Manoj Bajpai gets international film offers

Manoj Bajpai, who garnered critical acclaim for his potrayal of a ganglord in 'Gangs of Wasseypur', has received several acting offers from abroad, courtesy filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

'GoW' was premiered at 65th Cannes International Film Festival and screened at Sydney Film Festival among others. The film seems to have been instrumental in getting Bajpai noticed by foreign filmmakers.

"I have received offers...I am going through a script. It has come from an American independent filmmaker and not from any studio. I would love to do an international film,"
Bajpai told PTI.

His portrayal of Sardar Khan in the revenge drama won him a lot of accolades.

"I think somewhere Anurag Kashyap is my ticket to international films. I keep pestering him to get me scripts. I have got offers and that came through Anurag," the 43-year-old actor said.

Actors like Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan are doing Hollywood projects. Bajpai, who is known for playing off-beat and unconventional roles is perfectly fine doing small roles in international projects.

"I remember telling Tabu that if I get to do one scene in Oscar winning director Ang Lee's film I will do it. As I believe life is short I don't know when I will get next chance," he said.

"I did 'Veer Zaara' for Yash Chopra. I did the film thinking when will I get opportunity to get directed by Yash Chopra...so I did it purely for him. It was just to get an experience of working with him. But at the same time one should feel the urge to do the film," he said.

The actor will be seen next in Neeraj Pandey's 'Special Chabbis'.

Marriage won't affect my work: Vidya Balan

Newly wed Vidya Balan, who stars opposite Emraan Hashmi in upcoming comedy 'Ghanchakkar', says that her marriage won't have a bearing on her career in Bollywood.

'Ishqiya' and 'The Dirty Picture' showed Vidya at her boldest and helped her win a lot of awards.

When asked if she would be ok doing bold roles or kissing scenes post marriage, Vidya said, "I am an actor and I am married are two different things. Both of us (Siddharth and I) respect each other and our work."

The comedy directed by Rajkumar Gupta releases on June 21. This is Vidya's first film after her marriage.

"This film is special in a way as it's releasing after marriage. It was great working with Emraan this time," she said.

The 35-year-old would be seen playing a Punjabi housewife in the film.

"My character is loud, boisterous and she feels she knows everything. She wears her heart on her sleeve. It is first time I am attempting something like this," she said.

The actress tied the knot with Siddharth Roy Kapur of UTV in December last year. 

HC abates 10-yr-old IT appeal case against Rajesh Khanna

The Bombay High Court yesterday abated (nullified) a ten-year-old Income Tax appeal case against Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna considering his death last year.

In 2003, the Income Tax department had approached the High Court challenging Khanna's acquittal from a case registered against him for his alleged involvement in investment of a benami property, Ashirwad Mini Theatre, in suburban Juhu in March 1983.

According to prosecution, Khanna had not disclosed his income from the mini theatre and had carried out a benami transaction and invested Rs 3.51 lakh in two different years in the theatre, in the name of his wife Dimple Kapadia.

During the trial, Khanna himself deposed before the court and submitted that he was not concerned with the theatre and had not invested any money. Dimple Kapadia had also deposed and denied all charges against Khanna.

On December 27, 2000, additional chief metropolitan magistrate C L Thool acquitted Khanna from the case due to lack of evidence following which the Income Tax department filed an appeal in High Court.

The appeal yesterday came up for hearing before Justice A M Thipsay, who abated it, considering the fact that the accused (Khanna) had already died.

Khanna (69) died on July 18 last year due to failing health.