Jessica’s house panic

Jessica Alba is terrified her house won’t be ready before she gives birth.

The Fantastic Four actress — who is expecting her first child with fiance Cash Warren in May — has been redecorating her whole house in preparation for the baby, but says time is running out to finish it. She said, “I’m just trying to get my house ready before the baby comes. It’s kind of hectic, it’s getting close and the house isn’t even ready yet. I’m used to having to be somewhere all the time, and it’s kind of the first time in my life where I really haven’t been working in a while, and now it’s just about the baby being healthy, the house being ready, and nesting, it’s really different. It’s cool, I feel like I’m fully absorbing the whole experience.”

Jessica also revealed she is shocked by how much her appetite has grown and admits the pregnancy is starting to take its toll. She added, “I have to make sure that I’m eating more of the right nutrients and vitamins, but I’m not used to eating this much.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Scarlett Johansson blasts Lindsay, Paris

Scarlett Johansson has blasted Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton for attempting to forge music careers.

The Match Point actress — who will soon release Anywhere I Lay My Head, her cover album of Tom Waits’ songs — thinks the starlets recorded songs solely to dance to when they go out clubbing.

She said, “I have no relationship with either Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton, even as far as my lifestyle or the music I listen to. They probably made music that fits with their lifestyle: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I were dancing to my own song in the club?’ However, Scarlett, 23, is confident her album will be better received as she isn’t trying to follow in the footsteps of other actresses-turned-singers. She added, “My album is more suited to my lifestyle. I live a very low-key life.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Beyonce’s Crazy row with hubby

Beyonce Knowles had a furious row with husband Jay-Z over one of her biggest hit singles.

Beyonce, who is believed to have married the hip-hop mogul earlier this month, reportedly lost her temper at a concert when Jay-Z told the DJ to stop playing Crazy in Love — a track which also features the rapper. Jay-Z allegedly said, “Not that. Sorry Beyonce, but not that, let’s play something else.

” A source said, “Beyonce had been side stage for most of the night, dancing and singing along. Jay-Z meant it as a joke, but she didn’t see it that way. After he came off stage, she confronted him, demanding to know what the hell his comments had been about. She was gesturing wildly and not looking happy. Later, peace was restored and they were smiling and looking happy again.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Lohan to visit India for charity work

Troubled Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan, who has had some image problems in the recent past, will visit India to campaign against child slavery and AIDS.

Her father Michael said that they would be travelling next February, a website reports.

He said, “Lindsay has made it clear that she definitely wants to visit India. Lindsay’s very spiritual. She has a wonderful heart, loves people and is very charitable.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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All the Presidents’ women

TOI on how the first ladies are getting a younger, sexier, snazzier makeover.

Here’s the scenario: Powerful man meets beautiful woman, falls in love and they have a secret affair. Then obviously, the affair doesn’t remain a secret for long because of who the couple is. But like all nice men who have affairs, the man returns to his not-so-beautiful but loyal wife and all’s well.

Now, fast forward to Circa 2007. The meeting, the love and the affair happens. But this time, out goes the wife, a second wedding happens and all’s well again.

Could have been any other story in these times but it gains significance because the man we are talking about is a head of state and the woman is a celeb in her own right. Think Carla Bruni, now Mrs Nicholas Sarkozy and the first lady of France, and Alina Kabayeva who may soon be Mrs Vladimir Putin.

But just what happened to that carefully-cultivated family man image that political leaders used to wear like a second skin? Women who have appeared nude on magazine covers, are years younger to them and divorce hardly goes with that image, or does it?

Putin and Sarkozy think it does, for sure. While Carla, her nude shots and her famous affairs with the likes of Donald Trump and Sir Mick Jagger have already got enough press, it is now the time to focus on Alina. She is 25, a gymnast and also a deputy in the Duma. And yes, has a penchant to appear semi-nude on mag covers.

So, what explains this trend at the top? “It is about power,” says sociologist Raghav Jain, “Having a beautiful and successful woman is a symbol of power for the men at the top. It is a sexual symbol.”

And it sure works well for the women. As Cory Walia, make-up artist and fashion stylist, quips, “As public figures, these ladies need carriage, grace, dignity and loads of style. Carla Bruni and Alina Kabayeva are arm candies of powerful, divorced men, but it is absolutely okay for them to be what they are. Why did Putin make news two years ago for his fabulous body shape, what do you think he was readying for? Alina may be nobody in office but she has to play the role of somebody in public. And today’s women are just getting better – they have everything going for them.”

Adds Neeti Kalra, fashion stylist, “On Carla and Sarkozy’s trip to the UK, it was easy to see why everybody went bonkers about Carla and how she got the better part of the media publicity. Confidence, glam and attitude are the key words now. The first lady isn’t expected to be a wallflower anymore, she is happy being the liberated woman, as is expected from her.”

Now with Miss Pakistan Mahleej Sarkari accepting that she loves “that hunk” President Pervez Musharraf, chances are – Mush permitting – we will get a replay of this scene right in our neighbour’s backyard. What say Pervez, mush mush hota hai?

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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‘There’s no trouble in my paradise'

Mahima Chaudhry is glowing these days.

And yes it is love, says the happily married actress, who’s enjoying mommyhood to the hilt. “I am absolutely content and relishing this phase,” adds Mahima. Top this “picture-perfect phase” with the icing of Mahima’s first English film Hope And A Little Sugar and “Life,” Mahima says, “couldn’t have been better.”


Nestled comfortably in her Lokhandwala pad, she shares with her parents, Mahima’s looking more stunning than ever. However, the yum mum insists that shedding the post-pregnancy pounds was never her aim. “I only worked out towards being fit!” And she seems to have done a fab job too, if her svelte post-pregnancy figure is any indication to go by.

Ask about her ten-month-old daughter Ariana and Mahima’s face lights up. “Ariana has completed me. I felt I’d lived all my high points, till the baby came and life’s been on a high ever since. It feels like, with her I’m discovering innocence all over again. And a lot of things that I had somewhere begun to take for granted now have regained a whole lot of new value. And that includes my work,” she says. “And I think that motherhood has made me a better actress as well.”

Talking about her previous films, does she regret doing some of them? “Oh absolutely. In fact I suffer from complete amnesia when it comes to even remembering their names. Like every actor I too have some ‘classics’ in the closet, but I am not keen on adding to that collection,” she laughs. And that’s why this time around she’s picking her films very carefully and is in no rush to sign every film coming her way. “The film has to be worth every second spent away from my family,” she says.

All charged up about her comeback film the Tanuja Chandra-directed Hope, And A Little Sugar — that’s also her first release since her hush hush wedding and pregnancy — she says, “It’s a lovely story about a family grappling with their son’s loss in the 9/11 event and coming to terms with it. I play the widow who also runs a sweet shop called Hope And A Little Sugar. I am very excited about this film, since it echoes my personal beliefs as well. I’ve always believed that thodi si mithaas zindagi mein zaroori hai and that’s also what the film says.” Having received rave reviews at several international film festivals as well, Mahima says, “Just about anyone can relate to the film. The situations change, but basic emotions never do.”

In fact, the actress is so excited about her film that even rumours of ‘trouble in paradise’ haven’t been able to burst her bubble of joy. And she’s quick to squash such rumours too. “My marriage with Bobby (Mukherjee) is absolutely fine. It’s just that he travels a lot and when he’s away I often stay here with my parents. Once Bobby is in town, I’ll move back with him in our house at Bandra.”

She also brushes aside reports of Bobby’s violent nature. “Bobby and his ex-wife are entangled in a custody battle, which often turns ugly and bitter. But it’s between the two of them and I won’t interfere in that. They are two matured adults and will handle it. All I can say is that there’s no ounce of truth in the rumours about Bobby for sure.”

So what keeps Mahima going when dodging rumours, managing a baby and juggling a profession tend to take a toll on her? “Like I said, hope and a little sugar can take care of almost anything in life and that’s what’s happens with me too,” she smiles.

Surce: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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How Kareena became so thin...

All the stories about Kareena Kapoor going on a crash diet and crashing on the sets are absolutely false.
Here’s the real story and that too right from the original source, the actress’s nutritionist and dietician Rujuta Diwekar. She told us how Bebo changed her diet and eating habits. Read on..

“Kareena gave me a brief saying that her character requires her to be lean and sexy and she wanted a diet that will help her lose weight. I knew that Kareena is pure vegetarian and wondered if she’d be able to achieve her target by just having a vegetarian diet.

Kareena and I met in May 2007 and I have been her dietician ever since then. But besides that Kareena has been strict and regular with her fitness regime. But she was never pencil thin so I planned her diet that consisted of healthy nutritious food. And the reports that said that the actress starved herself and had only orange juice are false. There were also stories that she fainted while doing some scene which is again rubbish,” says her dietician.

Her dietician further said, “What worried Kareena was that her fans, especially the teenage girls who look upon her as their icon, would blindly follow the false articles to emulate her and the results could harm them in some way or the other. Kareena did not want that to happen and thus this clarification.

Kareena has religiously stuck to her diet and is feeling more energetic, healthier and sexy. She wants her fans to know that she has achieved her super sexy body, over a period of time, by being dedicated and disciplined about her eating and fitness habits.”

Besides that Kareena told us she’s massively into a strict exercise regime of yoga which she practices for almost two hours a day. “I’m into Power Yoga and it has helped me lot,” says Kareena. Kareena been eating parathas, momos, cheese, pastas, bananas (foods which most people perceive as ‘fattening food’). Let’s hope this will put to end all the speculation!

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Ravi and Juhi connect

It’s been 25 years since they acted in the landmark super duper hit film, Prema Loka. But the film’s heroine and hero Ravichandran, remain friends even today.

So when Juhi arrived in the city for the recent IPL match, the first person she called was the Crazy Star himself!

Says Ravichandran, “We’ve been in touch off and on. And since it’s been a while since we’ve spoken, I was surprised when she called me! Juhi’s come to Bangalore after a long time and asked me about the well-being of my family,” says the actor. Now do we also see plans for a sequel to Prema Loka?

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Bombay to Bangkok

From lights, camera to even the action now has moved from Mumbai to Bangkok. Bollywood’s getting drawn towards the land of the golden temples.

The already busy tourist destination is now having an added attraction in the form of our Bollywood stars. Filmmakers are flying their cast and crew to the city to shoot their films and their tourism ministry is not complaining either.

Apparently at present, there are about four Hindi films and a Bhojpuri film being shot there. Right from Chandni Chowk to China starring Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone, De Talli featuring Aftab Shivdasani, Ayesha Takia and Riteish Deshmukh, Loot starring Mimoh, Govinda, Suniel Shetty to Jai Veeru starring Fardeen Khan and Kunal Khemu, all of them are busy delivering their dialogues and dancing on the streets of Bangkok.

And coincidentally, they are all huddled up in the same hotels too. Akshay Kumar, who is emotionally attached to this place where he learned martial arts and worked as a chef, thought it was wise to shoot some scenes in Bangkok instead of China where they were reportedly facing some problems. He keeps shuttling between the two places. “Since the Chinese and the people of Bangkok have similar features, it’s easier to portray Bangkok as China,” says a source about why Chandni Chowk to China is being partly shot in Bangkok.

Mithun Da’s son Mimoh too has been busy showing his dancing moves to the people of Bangkok and that was precisely the reason why he couldn’t be present for the music release of his film Jimmy in Mumbai. Kunal Khemu after recuperating in a hospital in Mumbai, where he was admitted after he fell ill on the sets of Goa, flew straight to Bangkok to shoot a song sequence with the other stars of the film. His leading actress Anjana Sukhani has also packed bags to join her hero there.

It could be well said that it was the Bhatts who introduced Bangkok to Bollywood, as most of their films were extensively shot there. Mukesh Bhatt cites reasons why Bangkok is drawing in our filmi crowds: “It’s economically viable.

currency is almost equivalent to that of the rupee and Bangkok has it’s own film industry which makes things easier for us filmmakers.” According to him, the place also has a film culture. “They have good studios so you can get special effects, action coordination etc done there itself,” says the filmmaker and adds, “Besides the fare from Mumbai to Bangkok is cheaper than the fare from Mumbai to Delhi!” Perhaps that’s the reason why Nagesh Kukunoor thought of making Bombay to Bangkok!

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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'NYC Freedom Tower plans found in trash'

The government agency building a 102-story skyscraper at the World Trade Center site is investigating the discovery of two sets of blueprints for the building that a homeless man says he found in the trash.

The schematic documents for the Freedom Tower, under construction at ground zero, were marked "Secure Document — Confidential", the New York Post reported on Friday.

The documents, dated October 5, 2007, contain plans for each floor, the thickness of the concrete-core wall, and the location of air ducts, elevators, electrical systems and support columns, the Post reported.

Michael Fleming said he found the documents on top of a public trash can in downtown Manhattan, with written warnings on it to "properly destroy if discarded".

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owned the World Trade Center and is building the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, has protocols requiring contractors and architects with secure and nonsecure documents to shred them, spokeswoman Candace McAdams said.

The agency's inspector general is investigating the disposal of the documents, which McAdams said are bidding documents given out to contractors, agency staff and selected companies bidding on work.

Mishandling the blueprints would be "cause for serious disciplinary action — up to termination for employees and breach of contract and legal action for contractors", she said, although she added the plans have been updated many times since October. City police weren't investigating the disposal; Tishman Construction Corp., the main contractor building the tower, declined to comment Friday. A spokesman for the building's architect, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, did't return a message.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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