Being Rajinikanth’s son-in-law hasn’t helped me: Dhanush

Tamil superstar Dhanush, who is married to Rajnikanth‘s daughter, says being the son-in-law of the iconic actor has not helped or affected him.

Dhanush got married to Rajnikanth’s daughter Aishwarya in 2004.

“Being his son-in-law doesn’t do anything to me actually. I have always done my own work. It (his name) neither helped me nor affected me,” Dhanush said in an interview in Mumbai.

He says it’s not worth comparing his work with his father-in-law as their styles of working are quite different.

“My choice of films are different. My method of acting is completely different from his. So there is no room for comparison. And comparing a 20-25 films-old guy with an icon is absolutely rubbish,” he said.

Dhanush is entering Bollywood with Raanjhanaa, but has not discussed about the film with his father-in-law. “To be very honest he has been very busy with his work while I’ve been with mine. We haven’t spoken about this film yet,” he said, adding he never discusses work with his dad-in-law.

When asked about Aishwarya’s reaction about him doing a Hindi film, Dhanush said she is yet to watch it, but right now they are quite thrilled that he is speaking in Hindi.

Dhanush will be seen romancing Sonam Kapoor in Raanjhanaa which also stars Abhay Deol, Swara Bhaskar and Suraj Singh and is set to hit the screens on June 21.

Even before his film releases, Dhanush has decided to do yet another Hindi movie with Raanjhana director Anand L Rai.

“Yes I am doing my next film here with Anand sir. We share a very good rapport. When we were shooting for Raanjhanaa, we came up with an idea and it was very fascinating. I thought we would do something later, but when we finished Raanjhanaa we got very close to each other and then I agreed for the film,” Dhanush said.

However, the actor refused to divulge details about the film, saying it was too early to say which genre it falls into. But he revealed that he would co-produce it.

Lady Gaga as a Bridesmaid

Gaga was a bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding

We’ve become used to seeing Lady Gaga wear some crazy, out-of-this-world outfits, so when we spot her in normal clothing it’s nothing less than a shock for us.

Gaga was recently spotted in Mexico where she was a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding, and we have to say we’re really digging the singer’s attempts at more normal attire.

Lady Gaga tones it down for best friend’s wedding; blends into bridal party wearing simple, Grecian goddess pink gown.

 
Mama Monster trades in the usual outlandish costumes for a simple $388 gown with a flower in her hair.

She’s known for her outlandish costumes and monster-like garb, but when her best friend got married on Saturday Lady Gaga ditched her usual wardrobe to blend in with the bridal party.
 
Gaga, 27, looked simple and elegant in a blush pink halter dress by Twobirds Bridesmaid, according to Marie Claire UK.

The “Born This Way” singer’s gown showed off her slender physique, as Gaga recently revealed she’d lost 30 pounds.

She has been out of the spotlight recently after taking time out to recover from hip surgery.

Pressure from Kristen Stewart led to break-up with Robert Pattinson

The 27-year-old actor was allegedly given an ultimatum by Stewart, 23, and decided to break up with her after she ignored his pleas to take their relationship slowly.

Kristen Stewart with Robert Pattinson in happier times – Getty Images

Actress Kristen Stewart reportedly put too much pressure on actor-boyfriend Robert Pattinson and that led to their break-up again.

The 27-year-old actor was allegedly given an ultimatum by Stewart, 23, and decided to break up with her after she ignored his pleas to take their relationship slowly, reports contactmusic.com.

A source said, “Kristen wanted to go straight back to where they’d been before they first split up and pushed Rob really hard on it. She wanted the whole package- the house, the wedding and even the baby. It was all way too much for Rob to handle.”

“If Rob had got his way, they would still be dating but taking things slow. Rob asked for space and it sent her over the edge. She told him if he wanted a break, it would be permanent,” the source added.

Stewart is reportedly furious that Pattinson took the “easy way out”.

A friend of Pattinson said, “Rob has been a mess. He’s the one that ultimately pulled the plug, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier on him. Rob loves Kristen and he truly wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.”

Related articles

• Pressure from Kristen Stewart led to her break-up with Pattinson (ibnlive.in.com)
• Kristen Stewart’s pressure on Pattinson (contactmusic.com)

Bollywood reacts to Mallika Sherawat’s ‘anti-India’ remarks

B-Towners react to Mallika’s statements asking her to leave the country if it depresses her so much, and settle abroad.

Hema Malini
Mallika should not have forgotten what this country has given her. Instead of badmouthing us at an international gathering, she should join hands with other women who are working towards improving the status of under-privileged women.

Lilette Dubey
Women in India are in some ways freer than in other countries. But there are parts of India where women live wretched lives and tradition is a pretext for regressive values. But Mallika’s observations should not be taken that seriously.

Gauhar Khan
If she really feels this way I feel sorry for her regressive thoughts. I wish her a great life somewhere outside India that she finds non-regressive.

Pooja Bhatt
It is said that we do not see the world as it is, but as we are. While there are pockets of India that are way more regressive than even Afghanistan, there is another India that is way more progressive than Europe or America. India is too complex a nation to be reduced to a blurb. At the same time it is also a nation that permits everyone to have an opinion, no matter how banal or profound.

Divya Dutta
Wonder why she said what she did! Isn’t she undermining all the Indian women achievers who’ve been given great opportunities by this country? She got her fame here. Women in this country are on par with their sisters in any part of the world.

Raakhee Gulzar
Poor thing. She tried every trick, yet made no impact. If she says we’re regressive then she must leave, find herself a more suitable place of her choice. Maybe a nudist’s colony?

Amrita Puri
The context in which Mallika spoke was ridiculous. She made it sound like she is the only progressive actor in this country. It’s a shame that she was given a platform where she presented such a false and unintelligent point of view.

Shibani Kashyap
She shouldn’t be talking against India. It shows her lack of empathy with her roots and an absence of loyalty to the country that has given her name, fame and stardom. Rather than bitching about India why doesn’t she work towards the safety of women here?

Tapsee Pannu
I don’t want to waste my time and energy commenting on the comments of such people.

Tannishta Chatterjee
The status of women is no different in other countries. The expressions and manifestations are different. The cosmetic pressure on women comes from the West. In the US, being a woman president was made into such a  big deal.

Dia Mirza
Honestly, I believe India is a paradox and for many women in our country the benefits of progressive thought, equal opportunities and a level playing-field are denied.

There have been times when I’ve been deeply disturbed about many issues that trouble women in India. Having said that, I think it’s unfair to make a sweeping statement that encompasses all women. Such a rash generalisation undermines the very voices that strive to make India a better place for women.Instead of being pessimistic we should all make a conscious effort to strengthen those voices thereby further empowering women.”

Richa Chadha
I saw her interview and found it typical of a Colonial prejudice, replete with a gora accent and all. Yes, India has regressive elements that results in rapes, female foeticides and a gender bias. But India is also a country where women choose to wear and say what they want. It has Indira Gandhi, Indra Nooyi and Medha Patkar. And yes, we also have space for Mallika Sherawat. It is uncool for an Indian woman to go abroad  and speak ill of our country.

Dolly Ahluwalia
If she feels so strong against this country, why has she tolerated India for so long? She is forgetting her identity as a woman is due to this country. I am proud to be an Indian woman and to represent my country at international forums.

Khusbhoo
As a woman and a proud citizen of my country I find her statements very harsh. Her comments project my India in a very bad light to the outside world. We do have our flaws. But which country doesn’t? A child was flushed down a toilet in China this week.

Could society get any more regressive than that? Mallika is an Indian. She has the freedom to speak her mind. That shows how progressive we are.

SUBHASH K JHA

SRK to lock horns with Akshay, not Salman Khan during Eid

‘Mental’ will not release during Eid this year, leaving the other actors to battle for box-office glory

Salman Khan bows out of the box-office race during Eid this year, leaving Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar to battle it out.

For the last four years in a row, Eid is exclusively reserved for Salman Khan. And every year, he indisputably wins box-office glory.

This year, however, things are going to be different, with SRK and Akshay Kumar pitched against each other.

Audience will have to choose between SRK’s ‘Chennai Express’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Again’, which will hit theatres on August 8.

With the date not so far away, the two actors are working overtime to ensure they meet the Eid deadline.

“Akshay and the unit (of Once Upon…) have been shooting at nights. They’ve also been dubbing throughout the day to make up for lost time. This way, once the shoot is finished, the film can straightaway go into post-production,” reported Hindustan Times.

The situation is similar on the set of ‘Chennai Express’ as well, with the media reporting on how SRK has even set up a temporary business office in Wai, where the movie is being filmed, so that he doesn’t disrupt the schedule.

In fact, Akshay and SRK have put all other movie commitments on hold and are focusing only on their Eid release.

“Akshay has put all other work on hold. Right now, Once Upon… is of utmost importance. All his public appearances, except for a few promotions for the film, have been restricted,” reported the Indian daily.

While the two big stars are working endless hours, Salman Khan is taking it easy.

His brother, and movie director, Arbaaz believes there’s no point in rushing ‘Mental’ to meet the August 8 deadline.

All Salman’s Eid releases, barring the recent ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, were blockbusters. There was ‘Wanted’ in 2009, ‘Dabangg’ in 2010, ‘Bodyguard’ in 2011, and ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ in 2012.

“For his (Salman’s) film to come on Eid, he should have started work as early as January, but they started sometime in March. So it is difficult,” Arbaaz told a news agency.

“There is no need to do a rush job on any film. The stakes are too high, the expectations are too high. So, no need to get fixated because a Salman Khan-starrer is a Salman Khan-starrer.”

Salman is currently shooting for younger brother Sohail’s ‘Mental’

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• #ShahRukh – #Aamir together on screen for the first time? (ktrmurali.wordpress.com)

#ShahRukh – #Aamir together on screen for the first time?

One filmmaker couldn’t have achieved this feat. It’s taken four of them to attempt it together, or so we hear. Sources say that Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who were last seen sharing a podium when the multiplexes locked horns with producers over the commission issue, will be seen together for the first time on Indian screen.

The two Khans are expected to be part of a song for Bombay Talkies, the film that is made to commemorate the 100 years of cinema. Bombay Talkies is an amalgamation of four short films made by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee. It will have one song that is common to the entire film, expected to play either with the beginning or end credits. Our source indicates that the song will feature most of the top actresses — like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone — all dressed in golden-coloured costumes.

The men who are expected to be part of the song are Anil Kapoor, youngsters Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra and, of course, the Khans, among several others. The dress code for the men is a tuxedo. Aamir has apparently shot his portion of the gaana and the filmmakers are now waiting eagerly for SRK to keep his side of the commitment. A unit member said, “It would have been great to have SRK and Aamir shoot simultaneously.

But since their busy schedules didn’t allow that to happen, now we are waiting for Shah Rukh to can his portion separately.” Well, here’s looking forward to one of those magical on-screen moments when the two Khans are seen together in the same song… if not in the same frame.

The Canadian adult star Sunny Leone to get Rs 1.5 crore to promote an energy drink

The Canadian born Indian adult star Sunny Leone who took Bollywood by storm with her film Jism 2 has since become a name to reckon with in the Indian advertising circuit. Post her signing her second Bollywood venture Ragini MMS 2, we hear that Sunny has been roped in to be the face of energy drink XXX, owned by actor-entrepreneur Sachiin Joshi.

Apparently, Sunny was paid a whooping figure of approximately Rs. 1.5 crore to be a part of the campaign. The reason behind signing on the actress we learn is that research carried out by the drink major revealed Sunny was by far one of the most popular faces among its target audience of youth in the age group of 18 to 25.

If that wasn’t all, the energy drink major will also be casting two other Bollywood personalities alongside Sunny in its adverts. While on the film front, Sunny will soon be seen in an item song Laila in Shootout At Wadala.

Oprah named most influential celebrity for second year

Oprah Winfrey was crowned America’s most influential celebrity for a second straight year on Friday, despite having dropped off daily television in 2011.

Forbes magazine ranked Winfrey, 59, ahead of Hollywood titans Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood and towering over other TV figures such as journalist Barbara Walters and financial guru Suze Orman. Forbes said that 48% of people surveyed rated Winfrey as influential, down just one point from last year.

The list was drawn from polls of Americans conducted by E-Poll Market Research, which ranks more than 7,500 celebrities based on 46 different personality attributes. Winfrey ended her daily The Oprah Winfrey Show in May 2011 after 25 years to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which features lifestyle programming aimed at women.

After struggling in the ratings since its launch, OWN has seen audiences rise recently, thanks to Winfrey’s January world exclusive with cyclist Lance Armstrong admitting to years of doping, and her wide-ranging interview with R&B singer Beyonce.

Forbes noted that Winfrey’s magic had rubbed off as well, with one of her protégées, TV physician Dr. Mehmet Oz, ranking sixth on the list. Film directing, however, seems to be the profession most associated with influence, as four directors, including Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese, crowded into the Top 10.

E-Poll Chief Executive Gerry Philpott said that while influence could mean different things to different people, most often it reflects someone’s impact on the culture. Reflecting on Spielberg’s runner-up ranking, Philpott said “To this day, ask anyone what they think about before going in the ocean,” referring to the filmmaker’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws.

Dropping out of the Top 10 entirely was last year’s No 2 finisher, actor Michael J. Fox, who has been out of the public eye of late. Eastwood, who made headlines by addressing an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention, rounded out the Top 10.

The Top 10 Most Influential Celebrities of 2013, according to Forbes are; 1. Oprah Winfrey 2. Steven Spielberg 3. Martin Scorsese 4. Ron Howard 5. George Lucas 6. Dr. Mehmet Oz 7. Barbara Walters 8. U2 frontman Bono 9. Suze Orman 10. Clint Eastwood The full list can be seen at http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/03/14/oprah-winfrey-tops-our-list-of-the-most-influential-celebrities/

#Google doodle commemorates #Jagjit Singh’s 72nd birth anniversary

Google dedicated its search homepage to late ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh (February 1941 – October 2011), whose 72nd birth anniversary is on Friday. Incidentally, the legendary singer recently topped a list of popular singers of the ghazal genre. According to Google Search Trends, Jagjit Singh was people’s first choice – both in India and abroad, when it came to songs, lyrics, and mp3s of ghazals.

To view a museum of Google doodles, visit http://www.google.co.in/doodles/

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie to adopt kid from China?

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have developed a sudden interest in China and have reportedly started taking Mandarin lessons.

The Hollywood couple, who have already adopted Cambodian, Ethiopian and Vietnamese children, and have biological kids Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne, have also enrolled their six kids for classes in the language, as well as, Jolie’s dad John Voight, so he can help with the homework, the Sun reported.

The family’s newfound interest could be a clue that the couple is ready to adopt another child, according to sources.

A source said that the couple want their children to be international and reckon China will soon be the most powerful country in the world and it’s also the world’s largest culture and one of the oldest.

The source also added that Jolie is broody and friends reckon the next child will be Chinese as they have become so obsessed with the country.

Pitt’s already on China’s version of Twitter and has had an interest in the Orient since his 1997 film Seven Years In Tibet.