Hrithik regrets rejecting Gowariker

Ashutosh Gowariker had offered Swades to Hrithik first. However, Hrithik rejected his offer and the role was finally finely executed by Shah Rukh. Ashutosh however wasn’t bogged down by Hrithik’s previous rejection. As soon as he thought of casting an Akbar for his film... tall, athletic, good looking he only thought of our Roshan junior and this time around Hrithik accepted the role. However, not all has been hunky dory between the two was the news doing the rounds for the past few weeks. Hrithik hurt his knee while shooting for the film. The sword-fighting, elephant rides, wearing the heavy armour and accessories took a toll on his health. The good two years that the film took for its completion had also apparently annoyed the star

UK woman allegedly raped in Goa

PANAJI: A 32-year-old British national was allegedly raped here on Saturday night, said police. "The lady has complained that she was taken to an open place and raped by an unknown person in Panaji," deputy superintendent of police, Mohan Naik, said. This is the second case of abuse against a foreigner registered in this tourist state during this week. Earlier, a Russian lady had complained of molestation against a shack owner in south Goa who had allegedly tried to drag her into a jeep. The police have sent the lady for medical examination. "We would be able track down the accused soon," Naik said.

Abhiash: 2008 Glam Couple

The Bachchans, still in a happy after-honeymoon flush, graciously accepted the award and were excited about it. The criteria for choosing the winning couple was an evolved one – glamour and style quotient was paramount; the couple had to have made waves this year and be the popular choice as well! Upon receiving the award, while Ash tried modesty, “It’s the perception of you all that has accorded us this status...”, Abhishek sounded much like Big B when he said, “ Iss award ke zariya hum jitney bhi chahane wale fans hain, unko dhanyavad kehna chahenge. ..”

Sallu smitten by Amrita Rao

Amrita Rao received a surprise call from Bollywood hunk Salman Khan. Amrita, who's shooting in Jaisalmer for Anil Kapoor's film, flew to Mumbai to partake in the music launch celebrations of My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves.Looking radiant, the pretty actress received compliments aplenty during the music launch. Salman, who was shooting in Hyderabad for Boney Kapoor's film, was watching the music launch on television and promptly called Amrita, showering generous compliments on her.

Aish on life after marriage

Looking gorgeous as ever, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reflects the same elegance and charm as her character Jodhaa in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodhaa Akbar. The extended honeymoon with hubby Abhishek Bachchan seems to have added an extra glow to that already stunning smile. Was it easy to slip into the character with so much happening in her personal life? Were there no distractions? "After marriage when I reported back to the shooting, Ashu and the rest were actually trying to find something that might have changed, but couldn’t. ‘You haven’t changed a bit!’ was their verdict. As an actress, I have a clear demarcation between my personal and professional life, so those two never overlap. When I am in front of the camera I cease to be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and when I am off it, I cease to be an actress. And that’s the way it has always been with me," the Bachchan bahu said. Laughing off the numerous rumours that were doing the rounds during the making of the epic love story, including that of her pregnancy, she revealed, "We were too immersed in shooting to either think about the baseless rumours or clarify them." How was it working with Hrithik Roshan again after the stupendous success of Dhoom 2, their last film together? "Hrithik’s a great co-star and it’s always a pleasure to act with someone as talented, sincere and hard-working as him." And how was the experience of playing a queen? "Tiring!" she laughed. "Their lifestyle doesn’t cease to amaze me. I mean, it took them ages to get ready for one appearance and imagine staying behind curtains all day long. There is no doubt that there is a certain charm and beauty about that era. But being where I am today and knowing the rights we have as women, I find it impossible to even imagine being born in those times." So she’d never wish to be born a queen? "Well, the royal treatment is welcome always. But I consider myself lucky to be born in today’s era, where a woman has far more freedom to exercise her rights," Aishwarya said

Sameera as Sita?

Guess what Sameera Reddy has been doing lately? Reading the Ramayana. No, she’s not gone all religious suddenly. The thing is sexy Sam is lending her voice to Sita in Mahayoddha Rama, the animation film which is directed by Raizada Rohit Jaisingh Vaid. The pre-production work is already over and Sameera starts recording for the film later this week. As a part of her preparation the actress has been reading passages from the original Ramayana. “I’ve just done a crash course on Ramayana. Reading more on it always helps,” she says.

Benazir's niece attacks Bilawal's appointment

Slain former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto's niece has attacked her 19-year-old cousin Bilawal's appointment as the PPP Chairman, accusing those around him of perpetuating dynastic politics and trying to cash in on his mother's blood. 25-year-old Fatima Bhutto, the daughter of Benazir's brother Murtaza, described as "dangerous" the idea that the party must be led by a member of the family. "It's become in a sense the family business, like an antique shop, where it's just 'So and So and Sons' and then grandsons and great grandsons. It just gets handed down," she said in an interview to 'The Times' published today.

I'm in a lonely phase of my life: Ratan Tata

Competitors scoffed. They said it couldn’t be done, it would take a miracle to make it happen. Today, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata is having the last laugh. On the eve of the launch of the Nano, in a freewheeling conversation with TOI, Tata looks back on the four-year journey that led up to the most eagerly awaited launch in the history of India’s automobile industry — and discusses his vision for the group, why this would be an ideal time to retire, his search for a successor, rivalries that may have stymied Tata projects and how the Jaguar deal fits into his gameplan...

NANDANA HAS NO QUALMS IN DOING BOLD SCENES

Nandana Sen has no qualms in doing bold scenes! She has proved it in her 'Strangers'. Her co-star Sonali Kulkarni has enacted a very bold semi-nude scene in this movie. Why should she remain behind? She has boldly expressed her views about 'Strangers' to the media. "Strangers' is a beautiful but strange movie. The story is about two strangers who meet together, about two people falling in love in a strange land. It has lot of complexity, it has suspense, it's a thriller but not a complete thriller, and it's a combination of different genre above all it's a deeply emotional film