“Aishwarya Rai and her husband Abhishek Bachchan just passed through here for a photocall on the beach not too long ago. I could only look at her for a few seconds. Same goes for when she’s been on the carpets at the galas every night. Not because she’s not nice to look at, but because she’s TOO nice to look at. I read one of those freak ass fairy tales once about a man who never wanted to see true beauty because some craggly old shaman told him when he was a boy that the day he saw true beauty would be the day he would die. He fell in love when he was 25 with a gorgeous girl, then got hit by a car.

That’s Aishwarya Rai for me. There’s, like, nothing beyond her.” (05-17-2010)

Check out more photos of Ash and company in the south of France: Just Jared/Cannes

Vipul Shah, who brought us London Dreams last year, is directing Action Replay and he is full of praise for his talented leads: “Akshay and Ash look terrific together. I am surprised that no one has thought of casting them as a romantic pair. They are outstanding!”

The film, which will have a release date this July, is based on a “1994 Gujarati play of the same name”, and the story involves time traveling in Mumbai in the fifties! (wikipedia)

Shah reveals that “Action Replay is going to show a new side of Ash. She is playing a character which has lot of humor, something she has probably not done very often…It’s fantastic to see her in the new light…It’s a new way of looking at Akshay too.”

The film also stars Neha Dhupia and Kareena’s dad, Randhir Kapoor! With these tidbits, we can’t wait for the stunning duo to hit the big screen again!

Now it seems the 41-year old hot Scot desires to star alongside Priyanka on the big screen too! Her Kaminey director, Vishal Bhardwaj, is planning his next film called Saat Khoon Maaf, which has a character of Russian descent opposite Priyanka’s leading lady. It is reported that Gerard approached Bhardwaj in hopes of securing the role, in what would be The Bounty Hunter’s first Bollywood appearance! He might have also reasoned with the award winning director (and composer) to change the character from Russian to Scottish so he would fit in more easily. The rumored cast so far includes some other big names like John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah.

I fear that Gerry’s hopes are dashed here, but it would be interesting indeed to see him in a Bollywood production (of good quality). Though Priyanka Chopra as his leading lady is optional!

The 25 year old beauty has high hopes: “A lot of people have given tremendous feedback… hopefully audiences will like it and it would be a new step for me in my career.”

As for the obvious comparisons to Sonia Gandhi, “the Italian-born President of the Indian National Congress, and the widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi”, Katrina says, “For me Sonia Gandhi-ji is one of the most inspiring women in India. And personally, she is an inspiration. But this film and my character in the film does not resemble her or is not based on her life at all. I think it’s really important to clarify.”

It’s quite admirable of KK to venture out of her ultra-glamorous roles and take a bite of something with more weight. I hope she does find success in this new avenue of Bollywood. The film also stars Ajay Devgan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai, Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar.

Anil is keeping up his successful Slumdog momentum in the states by winning over both fans and critics on 24, alongside Keifer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Freddie Prinze, Jr. On G4, Anil speaks with co-host Kevin Pereira about the differences between Hollywood and Bollywood, most notably on securing roles and payment. His revelations are surprisingly bold and honest, which only makes the actor more endeared to his fans worldwide! Anil also comments on his 30-year career in film (which he jokingly attributes to his hair)!

The interview makes for an interesting and funny watch! Check it out here:
Anil Kapoor, Attacking the Show

She is the newest 20-something on the block to catch the silver screen fancy of one of Bollywood’s leading men. Salman Khan cast the bright-eyed novice in his latest costume epic, Veer, and while some can’t get over just how much she looks like his girlfriend, Zarine hopes to do more in movies than just “run around trees”.

Zarine started out as a model. Actually, she started out as a diligent college student in Mumbai who had to quit her studies in order to help her family financially. Eventually, she caught the veteran eye of Salman Khan (searching for a Kat look-a-like maybe?) and was subsequently cast as his torrid love interest in Veer. This bit of luck is not ignored however, Zarine admits, “I am here because of Salman Khan. He is my mentor who discovered me and gave me my first Bollywood break. He has always been very supportive and I owe a lot to him.”

If Zarine makes the right moves in Bollywood, she can side step the whole Katrina-clone issue (remember the Sneha Ullal/Ash resemblance?) and carve out a unique place for herself. But the Mumbai native has no problems with the comparisons. She says, “It’s fair enough if people compare me to her. She is a beautiful woman and I take the compliment in a positive manner.”

BollywoodHungama got the scoop on why Sony chose the Bollywood stunner: “Deepika was the obvious choice to become the company’s brand ambassador due to her persona plus her instant appeal and connect with everyone alike. In addition to this, the company officials were also looking at someone whose personality could mirror the effervescence of a free spirited bubbly young girl, who, at the same time, is also extremely talented and a professional. And needless to say that Deepika fitted the bill to a ‘T’.”

On the business side, Sony hopes to dominate the digital camera market in 2010. Of course, Deepika will help, but the Japanese electronics giant will also increase their marketing efforts significantly…this means more commercials, print ads, and store displays.

“I don’t have a definition for love. I think it’s something which happens… it is something beautiful. When I get an innocent peck from a ten-year-old child and there’s a smile on his face, when my mum gives me a hug when I’m tired, that’s love. When my father looks in my eyes, and says, ‘Beta, I’ve found the subject of the film which I will make with you as an actor and myself as the director.’ I see love there. So love exists in all forms.”
- SHAHID KAPOOR (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)

“There are new stories about me everyday, so should I leave everything and make clarifications?…I have got a nice life – let me live it. Otherwise I should be on the hotline with the media constantly. I am genuinely sick of it. People should stop it now…They are all happy with their own lives. I am doing great work by god’s grace, my personal life is very happy, I have got a great life and wonderful friends. They (Abhishek and Aishwarya) are married, they are really happy, doing really well and they are wonderful, civil to me as I am to them and there is no problem. It is irritating that people just keep bringing it up.”
- VIVEK OBEROI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)

“I have the next five years of my career worked out. I know where I want to be at 45 and I know what I wish to be doing when I’m 50 years of age. I live on tenth floor with my office on the second floor and I spend a lot of time with my CA/lawyers working out my investments. I want my children to be comfortable. I want my lady love to be completely and absolutely cared for. For someone who looks like I don’t care a fig about things… I’m sorted in my head.’’
- SAIF ALI KHAN (http://www.indiatvnews.com/)

After losing Ash, the team was forced to look for a replacement, and so they found another beauty queen to costar with Bachchan Jr.! It seems Akhtar and his producers were keen on finding a new face, and so they did, in 27-year old Sarah Jane Dias. Dias, who won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India World title in 2007, was a former Star TV VJ; and she is about to make her big screen debut in a forthcoming Tamil-language comedy. She confirmed the Crooked job indirectly, saying, “Yes, I did meet the filmmakers. But I can’t say anything more than that, because I don’t know. It’s up to them to confirm the news first and make the official announcement.”

The Crooked director added some further vague comments: “Only after everything has been finalised, in some days, the producers will give out the necessary information.”

I’m sure Ash is not hurting for work lately, so all the best to Sarah Jane, she’s been afforded the chance to share the screen with one of Bollywood’s top men! Hope this fresh face can deliver come opening day!