Saifeena to tie the knot soon?

If the rumour mills are to be believed, the next Bollywood couple to tie the knot will be Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Ever since they started dating, the couple have been rather open about their relationship and many people have been speculating when they will make it official.

Over the week-end, Saif's mother, Sharmilla Tagore made an unofficial announcement when she said, ""I don't have any objection to Saif and Kareena getting married and they will get married soon."

Tagore was speaking at a meeting of the Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of which she is the chairperson in Jodhpur.

"We are very happy about their marriage. Kareena is an intelligent girl," she said when asked about the much-anticipated wedding.

However, neither Saif nor Kareena have spoken about their marriage plans. In previous interviews, Saif merely commented saying that he knew Kareena was the girl for him. He went on to say, ""I'm now looking forward to settling down with Kareena. Our marriage will happen very shortly, as soon as we both have a little less work on hand and we can give the marriage quality time."

"I'm extremely and completely committed [to Kareena]. I've found true love and I'd like people to respect that as much as I do."

It is said that both Saif's and Kareena's parents have blessed the couple.

Apparently when Saif was shooting for a film in Bangkok some time ago, Kareena had the opportunity of bonding with his children, Sara and Ebrahim.

A close friend of Saif said, "There's a kind of fierce and single-minded determination in Saif to make this relationship work for keeps. And, it isn't a defiant determination to disprove the cynics who say it won't last. Saif doesn't give a damn about what people say. He has always gone by his gut feelings, regardless of others."

We will be keeping our eyes and ears peeled on developments of any upcoming wedding plans!

Lovebirds: Ranbir Kapoor & Katrina Kaif?

There perhaps has been no day or week since their foray into entertainment when these two happening stars have not made headlines. For one of the stars in question this habit of making the news perhaps is hereditary and for the other, well she just can't help it! Yes, we are indeed talking about two of the reigning youth icons of Indian cinema, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, who have yet again taken up our attention as B-Town buzzes with talk that the two are indeed a couple now!

It should be noted that Ranbir Kapoor quite publically dated model turned actress Deepika Padukone and both were rather vocal about their relationship with stories of meeting future in laws floating around the media and exclusive photoshoots of the two making the cover of every top magazine of the nation. Sadly, the love affair that grew more and more in the public eye didn't have a fairy tale ending. Katrina too had quite a similar experience as she too had quite a well known relationship with Salman Khan, which has been a touch-and-go affair for quite some time. The two openly acknowledged it on very few occasions, Salman's show Dus Ka Dum being one of the rare occasions when Katrina appeared in an episode to promote New York. But, now it seems that Katrina has finally decided to say good-bye to this troublesome relationship which seemed to have not been progressing much recently.

Freshly out of relationships the two stars seem to have found quite a liking in each other and perhaps the extensive amount of time spent together while shooting for Raj Kumar Santoshi's Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani was what brought the two together. In addition, they are once again working together now for Prakash Jha's Rajneeti.

Buzz is the couple is trying to keep their relationship under wraps however, like all things in B-Town, it's almost impossible to keep thing under the radar when you're two of the biggest names in the nation. Close friends and other sources have spoken to the media about the relationship and the buzz is that because the couple are finding it quite hard to keep their relationship quiet, it will not be long before they stop playing this un-needed game of hide-n-seek and go public! Perhaps the first obvious move has been that Katrina is shifting residence to move nearer to the Kapoor house. In addition she's supposedly quite cozy with mum Neetu Singh, which is a privilege that Ranbir's ex-girlfriend Deepika never had according to the media who constantly reported that the two did not hit off well. As for Rishi Kapoor, well Katrina has worked with him in the past in Namastey London so the two know each other fairly well.

In all this hoopla about this budding relationship it should also be noted that Katrina's ex Salman Khan is said to be quite a good friend of Ranbir. The two didn't get off on a good foot initially while working on Saawariya, however since then they've cleared their misunderstandings and its often been reported that the two have been seen bonding on each others' sets. How this news sits with Salman will be something to find out at a later stage!

Now whether this pair takes the podium to be the next Saifeena will be something we'll have to wait and watch out for! For now fans of Ranbir would be enjoying his latest release Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year and as for Katrina fans, they're all eagerly awaiting her next release Rajneeti. Stay tuned to BS and we'll bring you all the latest gossip on hot and happening pair!

Shahid Kapoor used to eat street food to save money

It is rather hard to believe that one of the most sought after actors of the present day, Shahid Kapoor also had to pass through a bad phase on his way to the top. With hits like Ishq Vishq, Kaminey, and Jab We Met under his belt, Shahid is gearing up for his first release in the year 2010, Chance Pe Dance. The movie directed by Ken Ghosh is hitting the screens on the 15th of January with Genelia D'Souza starring opposite Shahid.

In the movie, the character played by Shahid goes through some of the same struggles the actor has been through during the course of his desperate efforts to establish himself in the industry including driving an old beat up car. The difficulty with which the character has to make ends meet while paying the rent, buying decent meal or even petrol are believed to reinforce Shahid's past on the screen.

In a recent promotional function, Shahid confessed driving around in an old Maruti 800 and also accepted the fact that he often used to hitch a ride with a friend and also ate street food in order to save money because most of the times he was just left with Rs. 100. Shahid seem to have accepted the struggle as a part of the parcel of the entertainment industry and has no grudges.

It is going to be rather interesting to see Shahid teaming up again with Ken Ghosh because the movie promises to put forward many real life elements on the screen. Now, it is up to audiences to decide whether they put their stamp of approval on the credibility of the reel life version of the elements from the actor's real life.

Ram Gopal Varma's Rann moved ahead for Salman's Veer

This Republic Day audiences were all set to be treated to two big-budget films featuring the mega-stars Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan, respectively. Ram Gopal Varma's Rann and Anil Sharma's Veer were scheduled for release on 22 January.

But now comes the news that Ram Gopal Varma's Rann has dropped out of the race.

Apparently, Anil Sharma called up the Rann co-producer Sheetal Talwar explaining why and how a clash between the two films must be averted.

Says Talwar, "I saw reason in what Anil Sharma said. There's no sense in creating a no-win situation for two films. See, when Gadar and Lagaan came together, things were different. But now audiences are in no mood to buy tickets for two big films in the same week."

It was supposed to be a clash of patriotic passion somewhat like Anil Sharma's Gadar and Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan which were released on June 15, 2001. Both proved to be historic blockbusters.

Both in their own ways were highly patriotic films.

Veer, like Anil Sharma's Gadar, is set in Colonial India. Sharma with considerable creative assistance from his leading man Salman Khan has created what he thinks is patriotic period film.

Varma's Rann set in the modern world of media manipulation was perceived by its makers as a comment on our times and hence patriotic.

The people behind both films were adamant on a Jan 22 release. But now Talwar says, "There's no point in creating an ego issue by insisting we release Rann on the same day as Veer. One or the other film is bound to suffer at the box-office. Why not release a week later when we get a relatively free Friday?"

Ranbir-Deepika get cordial

For a jilted lover, ‘lets stay friends' is a hard nut to swallow. But for Bollywood, nothing is so difficult to do. Look at Bipasha Basu. She's still good friends with ex-lover Dino Morea without making John Abraham jealous. The nest break up couple to join this lead captained by Bips is Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. Recently, at a jewellery design show hosted by Sanjay Kapur's wife Maheep, the two ex-love birds broke the ice and got along too well! No comments!

A source present at the party said that the party which was held after a fashion show, was a star-studded, high-profile bash. Shah Rukh Khan was present with his usual gang of friends, Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal with wife Mehr, costume designer Shabina Khan and Ritesh Deshmukh. Sonam Kapoor (who was once reportedly dating Ranbir) was also present at the party and so was Nandita's boyfriend Dino Morea. Deepika stuck to her Houseful co-star Ritesh's side throughout, while Ranbir was seen socialising with everyone. Though aware of the presence of each other, both Ranbir and Deepika avoided eye contact. The cold vibes was sensed by one and all. So what did people expect? They start kissing and hugging each other for old time's sake?

It was evident that the estranged lovebirds were deliberately avoiding each other. The source added that to cut the cold vibes, Karan and Shabina took the initiative to get the two talking. Everyone joined hands and kept pushing Ranbir and Deepika close to each other. Eventually their effort and persuasion paid off and the ice began to thaw. It happened when the duo was forced to sit at the same table, next to each other. They began by gradually exchanging smiles and later, a few words. It was just a matter of time till the couple began having a full blown conversation. They had so much to catch up with, don't they?

Top 5 comedy Bollywood films

5 All Time Great comedies

It isn’t easy to make people laugh. And certainly not in India, where the audience full paisa vasool, and at the same time, the critics expect a fine cinematic example. It is nigh impossible to pick the best of the lot and make up a list of only five films. Here is what we came up with:



Hera Pheri - Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty, Tabu



5. Hera Pheri: Priyadarshan entered the comedy genre with this rollicking flick. The story is basically revolves around the wrongly attributed telephone number of a rich businessman’s house to that of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte's (Paresh Rawal) garage in the telephone directory and all the hassles and situations that follow and precede the climax. With sub-plots as funny as the main ones, this film is a must watch for all comedy lovers. Check it out for the impeccable comic timing perfected by Rawal and Akshay Kumar (who was a welcome change from his Khiladi series).



Chupke Chupke - Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore



4. Chupke Chupke: This Hrishikesh Mukherjee classic is a delight to watch with family and friends. The story is basically about Prof. Parimal Tripathi (Dharmendra) who is a botany professor and decides to stage a drama to fool his wife’s (Sharmila Tagore) jijaji, after she praises him to no ends. The hilarious sequences involving Dharmendra as the crazy driver Pyaare Mohan and Om Prakash (Jijaji) are still etched in viewers’ minds. Amitabh Bachchan as another actor in the ‘drama’ also provides genuinely funny moments.



Padosan - Sunil Dutt, Kishore Kumar, Saira Banu



3. Padosan: A timeless classic, the story involved is a very simple one. A simpleton (Sunil Dutt) falls in love with his neighbour Bindu (Saira Banu). To impress her by singing, he seeks Guru’s (Kishore Kumar) help. The situations that follow make for some amazing comic scenes. There is also the famous song Ek Chatur Naar, sung by Kishoreda and Manna Dey, which has gained cult status. The film belongs to the sublimely talented Kishore Kumar, both as an actor and a playback singer. The jolly gang with its sharp characters certainly is a treat to watch.



Andaz Apna Apna - Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karishma Kapur



2. Andaaz Apna Apna: Rajkumar Santoshi’s comic caper, which released in the 90’s, set off the careers of two stars (Aamir and Salman). The crazy plot, insane characters and unmatchable performances by the whole cast makes this movie a must for every movie lover. Ask anyone in India the same question which we are answering now and AAA will be a film certainly to be included.



Golmaal - Amol Palekar, Utpal Dutt, Bindiya Goswami



1. Gol Maal: Finally down to number one. This film is perhaps one of the most well written films of all time. The story is basically about Ramprasad Sharma (Amol Palekar) who is looking for a job. He manages to get one at Bhavani Shankar’s (Utpal Dutt) company, but Bhavani Shankar has a set of rules and ideals which he expects from the youngsters. Ramprasad overdoes it and rib-tickling situations follow. Utpal Dutt’s act as the suspicious boss and father is one of his best known roles.

Katrina turns down Salman's offer

No many know that before Zarine Khan, Katrina Kaif has been approached for the role of Princess Yashodhara in ‘Veer’ but Kat refused to enact the role. After Katrina Kaif’s refusal, the role went to newbie Zarine Khan and she grabbed it immediately.

Read more: Katrina turns down Salman's offer | Katrina Kaif | Salman Khan | Veer http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/news/katrina-turns-down-salman-s-offer/5203/#ixzz0aCPWqoPF

Shahrukh, Kajol unveil ‘My Name Is Khan’

My Name Is Khan Press Meet

Audiences are waiting with deep breath to see the golden jodi of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol to ablaze the silver screen again. Their much awaited flick, ‘My Name Is Khan’ is slated to release and the first look of the film has been unveiled in a grand way at Mumbai's J W Marriott on Thursday.

Read more: Shahrukh, Kajol unveil ‘My Name Is Khan’ | Shahrukh Khan | My Name Is Khan http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/news/shahrukh-kajol-unveil-my-name-is-khan/5204/#ixzz0aCOzIDJe

5 Most Awaited Bollywood Releases of 2010

The second half of 2009 was a dull one. With duds like What's Your Raashee, Main aur Mrs. Khanna, Blue, the only way to look up is to look forward. Here's a look at some of the releases for next year.

5. Karthik Calling Karthik: This one is starring Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone. Having been in the news for quite a long time, this film, scheduled for a February release promises to be a good watch, especially with the very natural and amicable Farhan in the lead.

4. Rajneeti: This one comes from Prakash Jha, the director of the critically acclaimed Gangaajal. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgan and Manoj Bajpai (Nana Patekar isn’t there anymore), it’ll be surely interesting to watch how chocolate boy Ranbir handles serious cinema.

3. Ishqiya: We've all seen the trailers and they look absolutely fabulous (yes, even Vidya Balan). The unconventional story with a Vishal Bharadwajesque treatment by his protégé Abhishek Chaubey, ‘thif one fould be on the lift for every film enthusiast. The film is said to have some really bold scenes and powerful dialogues (there's Naseeruddin Shah, no?)

2. Rann: Ram Gopal Verma returns to what he does best. Dark and powerful cinema. The first look of the film is enough to lure viewers to the screens, even if RGV carries the baggage such ‘Aag’ and ‘James’ with him. Watch out for Amitabh Bachchan’s performance as a news media baron. 

1. My Name Is Khan: It’s been talked about for almost two months. Karan Johar returns to direct his favourite couple SRK and Kajol set again in New York, but this time in a serious backdrop, that of the 9/11 massacre. There have been many controversies created regarding the film, and it has all worked for the publicity. Let’s see if the film lives up to its mammoth expectations.

Aamir Khan lands a hotel owner into trouble

Perfectionist Aamir Khan has taken a different strategy to promote his upcoming film ‘3 Idiots’. His unique way of promoting ‘3 Idiots’ unknowingly landed a hotel owner into trouble. The hotel owner in Mughalsarai served a legal notice for allowing the actor to stay in his hotel without proper verification.

A.R. Rahman receives fellowship of Trinity College of Music

2009 is a year A.R.Rahman won't forget for a long time to come. After all, this year the music maestro won 2 Academy Awards for his score in Slumdog Millionaire. Later in the year, he even received 2 Grammy nominations for the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire. Surely it has been a memorable year for A.R.Rahman.

The laurels however continue for Rahman even as the year comes to a close. On December 16th, A.R.Rahman was made a fellow of the world famous Trinity College of Music at a function in UK. This is yet another honour for the musical genius.

That's not all, Rahman has even been nominated for the 'Person of the Year' award by Forbes India business magazine. The talented composer finds himself in august company of personalities such as Nandan Nilekani, Chetan Bhagat, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rahul Gandhi all of whom would be vying for Forbes India's 'Person of the Year' award. The final winner will be selected on the basis of public voting.

Whether Rahman eventually wins or not, this is surely yet another feather in the already impressive cap of the musical genius.

Sushmita Sen adopts another girl

The grape vine was rife with speculation that Sushmita Sen had or rather would be adopting her second child. However, with no confirmation from any front, these pieces of drift news faded into oblivion.

However, last night at the press conference held for her upcoming film Dulha Mil Gaya, Sush confirmed that she has adopted another baby girl on November 19 this year, which also happens to be the actress' birthday. The doting mother has since christened the 3-month-old girl as Alisha.

With this, Sushmita has definitely put to rest all those prying questions and the rumour mills.