News

Neil Nitin Mukesh has gone completely nude for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail. The scene was shot at Karjat.

In the film, Neil plays a prisoner and the aforementioned scene is when the jail authorities are torturing him.

A source said, “Madhur wanted to make the film as real as possible. He is known for his attention to detail and he makes sure that everything is perfect before he starts shooting. Neil, Madhur and a couple of other unit members had visited prisons across the country and had also met several criminals to get a firsthand experience of their living conditions.”

While shooting the particular scene with Neil in the buff, Madhur made sure that only he and the cinematographer were present so that Neil would be comfortable. Initially, Neil was hesitant but once Madhur convinced him that the scene will be done aesthetically, he was at ease. The scene was also shot from the top angle so that Neil would be comfortable.

Neil confirmed the news and said, “Yes, I shot for the nude scene but it has been done aesthetically. Everyone knows Madhur’s style of working. His film are realistic and he makes a lot of effort to get all the nuances right. In this sequence, I am in the jail and I am asked to strip. I was a little apprehensive but Madhur handled it perfectly. My character in the film goes to the prison and what happens to him is extremely humiliating. I think this sequence is one of the most beautifully shot sequences in the film and it will shock people.”

Madhur Bhandarkar said, “I don’t want to reveal anything at this point in time. Yes, it is an important sequence in the film and it was not easy as you rarely see a man stripping in a film. I also had to take care that the scene does not leave a bad taste in the viewers’ mouth and that they don’t find in vulgar. But it was also extremely important to show the torture that people undergo in jails. I worked out the scene’s details with my writers and explained the entire scene to Neil. Once he was okay with it, we just went ahead and shot the scene. One thing I kept in mind was that I had to shoot the scene keeping the Indian audience parameters in mind. And that’s what I have done.”

Laxmi Rai, a popular South actress, has shifted base from Chennai to Mumbai. Laxmi Rai has been constantly linked to the Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Sources suggest Dhoni has no hand in this shift of location; it’s Laxmi’s promising Bollywood career which brought her to Mumbai.

Laxmi’s link-up with Dhoni came to light last December and since then they has been spotted together a lot. Laxmi prefers to call Dhoni only a friend and does not give him the full credit for getting recognition in Bollywood. She said, “Yes, people got to know me because of the link-up but it was a magazine cover that gave me a chance in Bollywood.”

Elaborating on what caused her to shift base, Laxmi said, “I was living in Chennai and would come down to Mumbai whenever there was a work opportunity. However, in the last few months, the offers have gone up, so I have shifted base to Mumbai.”

Laxmi has apparently been approached by Tips and Yash Raj films but may not be able to do the film because of the exclusive contracts they want her to sign. However, the actress refused to confirm the news. Laxmi said, “A lot of big banners have approached me and you will hear an announcement from their side very soon but at this stage, I cannot reveal any information.”

Unlike most of her contemporaries who prefer to stay in Andheri and Bandra, Laxmi prefers to live in Malad. Explaining her choice of location, Laxmi said, “I did go to Lokhandwala in Andheri (where most film stars stay) but it is too crowded. I like quieter places so I chose to stay in Malad.”

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has emerged as the top taxpayer in Bollywood for 2008-09. Which means he has left the King Khan who ranks No.2.

Akshay Kumar paid a total advance tax of Rs 31 crore in the financial year against Rs 12.5 crore in 2007-08.

Amitabh Bachchan made it to the bottom of the top 10 advance tax payers list, with a modest Rs 1.25 crore, sliding 74.77% from the previous financial year. His daughter-in-law, was 6th on the list, paying more advance tax than both the Bachchans. While she handed over Rs 4.75 crore in advance tax (10.46% more than 2007-08), Abhishek Bachchan paid Rs 3.2 crore in 2008-09, marking a decline of 42.86%.

Salman Khan’s earnings saw the second-highest growth after Kumar in terms of percentage — 107.41% more than last year. But in terms of the actual amount, he made it only to third place with a total advance tax payout of Rs 14 crore.

Saif Ali Khan and his lady love Kareena Kapoor also figure in the list of top 10 Bollywood taxpayers. Khan paid Rs 8.63 crore (an impressive 64% more than last year) while Kapoor — the only other female film star to make it to the list besides Rai-Bachchan — forked out Rs 3.7 crore, nearly 2.78% more than last year.

Rani Mukerji has lost it; No we don’t mean a role from a Bollywood flick or a mobile phone! Well Rani has lost weight. (Good for her! ;))

Rani Mukerji was nearly seen after a looooong time making a public appearance. Rani recently appeared at the launch of a spa. Well she took everyone by a surprise!

The Aunty & Plump look she sported last year during Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic has completed disappeared! Thanks to her gym trainer Satyajeet Chaurasia, Rani is now slim and svelte!

Satya (Satyajeet Chaurasia) is a very popular fitness instructor in the Bollywood industry, he helped Rani lose the kilos she had piled on for Hadippa, where she is playing a cricketer. Determined to look fitter for a solo song that will be picturised on her soon, Rani has strictly given up mutton, chicken and sugar.

But being a non-vegetarian, Rani was allowed fish and eggs. Rigorous workouts and Yoga, Rani has succeeded in losing four kilos. Defending Rani, Satya says, “Rani may not have lost too much weight, but she has shed all her excess fat and water retention.”

All this fitness hasn’t come cheap to Rani. She has spent nearly Rs 7 lakh on buying machines that aid her workout. She religiously trains for two hours daily and that’s the secret of Rani’s renewed appearance.

Way to go Rani, you are looking superb. Good to see you back!

Actor Hrithik Roshan known for his perfect muscular body in Bollywood was recently asked to shed some inches!

No it isn’t that Hrithik has gained some inches; Hrithik Roshan was asked to shed his muscles in order to look lean before he shot for a clothesline ad. This despite the fact that Hrithik is one of the fittest actors in the Hindi film industry!

A close friend of Hrithik said, “The brief given to Hrithik by the ad filmmakers was that they wanted him to sport a lean look. Being the perfectionist that he is, the actor was determined to work towards achieving his new look even though papa Rakesh Roshan wasn’t too happy with the fact that his son was going to shed his muscles.”

Hrithik earlier had a muscular body and a 30-inch waistline, his waist is now 28 inches

“Rakesh Roshan argued with Hrithik asking him not to shed any weight or muscle as he would soon start working on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next untitled film and the lean look would not suit his character too well. But Hrithik stuck to his decision and decided to get lean as he wanted to do justice to the ad. While Hrithik earlier had a muscular body and a 30-inch waistline, his waist is now 28 inches,” added the source.

Good to see Hrithik’s dedication towards his profession!

Kareena Kapoor best known for her attitude and sexy appearance in movies has decided to go for a complete image makeover!

Kareena who has wore a black swimsuit in Sajid Nadiadwala’s forthcoming Kambhakt Ishq has firmly decided to dress in dignified manner now onwards.

So how come such a sudden makeover Bebo?

“Kareena feels very comfortable with Saif’s parents. She has never felt more a part of any family outside her own. Although Saif’s mother Sharmila too wore a bikini for a magazine cover in her heyday, she completely revamped her wardrobe and bohemian attitude once the Nawab of Pataudi came into her life. Kareena now sees the legacy of the Khan bahu being passed on to her. She will not do anything that’ll compromise her status in Saif’s life.” said a friend of the actress.

Bebo came to this decision after giving a promise to loving mother Babita that she wouldn’t do any more bikini scenes. There might be one more reason why Kareena took such a decision that since when she is engaged with Saif Ali Khan, she has been tagged as next Khan bahu.

Interestingly Kareena shares a good rapport with Saif’s parents may not want to spoil her relation with such an act. Ready to be the next Khan bahu (maybe!), Kareena might be feeling the new family responsibility on her shoulders.

And as there is news about her swimsuit scenes in Kambhakt Ishq, Kareena denies it and says, “Maine bikini kahaan pehna hai? In logon ne chalu kar diya ‘bikinibikini’. I will never wear a bikini.”

Kareena has been spotted wearing sari instead of western outfits at many events. “Enough of those gowns. Why can’t we actresses dress Indian?” says Kareena.

Way to go Kareena! Do we see a start of a new trend in Bollywood?

Katrina Kaif was recently spotted with a tattoo on her chest and another on her arm at Rajkumar Santoshi’s wrap up party for the film, ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.’ The party was held on Sunday night at producer Ramesh Taurani’s home and all crew members attended, including Katrina Kaif’s co-star in the film, Ranbir Kapoor.

The tattoo surely created a lot of buzz and hype to which Katrina mentioned that the wasn’t permanent! It is learnt that Katrina got inked for a photoshoot she did on Sunday.

Kats liked the tattoos so much that she chose not to remove them immediately and flaunted them at the party creating a lot of buzz, rumors and speculation.

Bollywood couples and split rumors! Well nothing new. Its now turn of Hrithik-Suzanne to make some headlines.

Recently a tabloid carried a major news item with the headline “Hrithik-Susanne split?”. The article suggested that the couple is heading for splitsville.

Rumors suggest Hrithik and his Mexican co-star Barbara Mori are having an affair. Media had began linking both of them ever since they began shooting the film ‘Kites’ (Kites stars Hrithik & Barbara Mori in leading role).

But the latest grapevine is that the alleged affair between Hrithik and Barbara has caused a permanent rift in Hrithik’s marriage life and that his wife Suzanne has walked out of their home and gone to her parent’s place.

To which Hrithik Roshan laughed off, calling it funny. He says, “It is too funny!! Yes Suzanne has shifted to her parent’s place with the kids two days ago and I was to join her on my return as there is a white ant treatment going on in my house and a section of my floor is being renovated”.

Further Hrithik added, he was with Suzanne right now having a picnic with his kids and parents-in-law.

When it comes to fit n hot bodies, our Bollywood actresses are always spoken about! Neha Dhupia is one bollywood actress whose stayed fit always and surely looks hot!

So how does she maintain such a body and manage to look at her best always?

Neha Dhupia reveals that it’s Yoga which is secret behind her hot body. Also the regular workouts and balanced diet makes her stay fit.

“I swear by yoga. It is the best form of exercise one can do to relax the mind and body. Also my dietitian makes sure I do not starve. I have small meals throughout the day, but avoid fried and sweet stuff.” says Neha!

So you have got that fitness tip from Neha! If you aren’t yet practicing Yoga start now, afterall all our leading bollywood ladies seem to be following the yoga league!

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan & Akshay Kumar have been conferred with one of the most prestigious civilian awards of India - Padmashree Award.

The function took place at Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Apart from Aiswarya the entire Bachchan family was also present at the award where she was awarded padmashree award by the president of India.

Akshay Kumar’s name was also announced for this recognition. Akshay’s wife Twinkle was also present at the event.