Fearless Franka

Director Vishal Bharadwaj has signed Run Lola Run actress Franka Potente for his upcoming film, Julia. The script of the film is based on the life of Mary Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia, who ruled the Hindi film industry in the '30s. Fearless Nadia was also famously called Hunterwali.Our source reveals, “Vishal met Franka in Berlin sometime in August. He had discussed the subject of his film, Julia with her and told her that he was keen to cast her in the lead role. Ajay Devgan is being considered for the film, too.”Vishal finally got Franka flown down to Mumbai a few days ago. Our source says, “Franka has already done the screen test yesterday...

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Dutt teri ki!

While shooting for a rather long rain sequence for Sanjay Gupta's upcoming film Dus Kahaaniyan, Sanjay Dutt had a very tough time. However, it was seen that his co-actor Suneil Shetty did not even flinch despite being doused with water for days on end. No, it wasn't Suneil's stronger constitution, just some clever pre-planning. A source tells us that Dutt was really uncomfortable all through the shoot. “The shoot lasted for nearly a week. It is not easy to get wet every day and continue shooting for long hours. Dutt even lost his cool a couple of times,” says the source.So how was Suneil so comfortable? “Well, Suneil had worn a wetsuit (usually...

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Neil strikes diamond

If all goes well, legendary singer Mukesh's grandson Neil Mukesh will sign a three-film contract each, with Eros and Ashtavinayak respectively. If sources are to be believed, these projects were originally meant for Shahid Kapoor.Our well-placed source in the industry says, “Ashtavinayak had spoken with Shahid but he kept dilly-dallying. He did not tell them why he was not saying a 'yes' or a 'no', but he kept buying more time.”Well, Shahid's loss became Neil's gain. “They have approached Neil Mukesh now. In the next couple of days, Neil may finalise not one but a three-film contract with them,” the source adds.When contacted, Neil confirmed...

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Vroom macha de!

Producer Sanjay Gupta is all set to go on a long bike ride after December 15 with his gang of friends. Gupta with friends, Dino Morea, Parvin Dabas, Rohit Roy and Sanjay Dutt's brother-in-law Owen Roncon and others will go on the long road trip on their bikes from Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Goa, Goa to Kerala and back from Kerala to Mumbai.Sanjay Gupta confirms the news and says, “Yes, we will be going all the way from Mumbai to Kerala and back in December as the weather will be fantastic. I love bikes and I will be riding a Yamaha MT 01 which Rohit has also recently brought. It is a 1700 CC retro bike and this was something that was on our minds...

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Not yet, Re!

A few days ago, there were reports that Shabana Azmi and Rekha had sorted out their differences (they were last seen together in a film 30 years ago) and were set to act together in Raj Kanwar's upcoming film starring Rishi Kapoor and Luv (Shatrughan and Poonam Sinha's son). However, the latest is that Shabana has walked out of the film.If sources are to be believed, Hema Malini will step into Shabana's shoes. An insider from the unit says, “Shabana is not doing Raj's film. She pulled out simply because of Rekha's presence in the film. We don't know if she was unaware that Rekha had been signed when she had said 'yes' to Kanwar. What else could...

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Sorry Bebo, Deepika goes first

Although Saif Ali Khan is all set to turn a producer next year with his film Agent Vinod to be directed by Sriram Raghavan, there are rumours that before the film goes on the floors, he will start work on his second home production.Saif is keen to start a film with Jab We Met director Imtiaz Ali in which newcomer Deepika Padukone will play the leading lady.Our source says, “Saif's film with Sriram Raghavan will happen some time late next year as the filmmaker is currently busy with the John-Aishwarya starrer for producer Rohan Sippy. In the meantime, Saif is quite keen to start a film with Imtiaz Ali. Saif was very impressed with Jab We Met and...

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Heath adds two to his ledger

Heath Ledger has been linked to two more Hollywood hotties. The Brokeback Mountain star has already stepped out with Helena Christensen and Kate Hudson since his split from partner Michelle Williams.Now the Aussie star has reportedly set his sights on actress Heather Graham and Australian supermodel Gemma Ward. “He’s following Gemma around everywhere,” an insider told the New York Post.“He somehow finds out where she is going to be then miraculously shows up at the parties or bars where she is. She is definitely not interested.”Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Ledger was spotted chatting up Graham at New York’s ‘Gonzales y Gonzales’ restaurant...

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Karma Chameleon

Australian model Miranda Kerr has revealed that Paris Hilton acted like a princess backstage at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show and stole her gorgeous runway outfit. The 24-year-old model has revealed the whole incident on a blog, which ultimately left the hotel heiress humiliated when she had an embarrassing naked moment.Kerr reveals Hilton showed up 10 minutes before the show opened at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on November 15 and decided she wanted to close the catwalk show.Organisers told her to pick an outfit and she chose a pink dress that Kerr had been allocated. Upset Kerr says, “I was standing by my rack and she goes, ‘I want that...

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Madonna in sheep trouble

Pop icon Madonna has angered animal rights activists by dyeing her sheep in different colours. The multiple Grammy and Golden Globe award winner dyed the sheep on her country estate in blue, pink, yellow and green for a photo shoot in Vogue magazine.The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or RSPCA says the incident is an “irresponsible publicity stunt” and it would provoke more such incidents.“Why is it necessary and what are they trying to prove?” the RSCPA spokesperson questioned Madonna’srecent animal-related activity. “It sends out the wrong message about how to use animals. Even if the dyeis safe for the animals, others...

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Ex-Japan defence man arrested on bribery charges

Tokyo: A former top Japanese defence bureaucrat and his wife were arrested on Wednesday over allegations he was wined and dined by companies — including one linked to General Electric — in exchange for contracts, news reports said.Former Vice Defence Minister Takemasa Moriya was arrested after a questioning session in the scandal, which has also been linked to Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, further weakening the two-month old government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency reported. Investigators also raided Moriya’s home to search for more evidence in the bribery allegations, reports said.Moriya faces...

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Rights lawyer who sued Bush convicted for fraud

Los Angeles: A civil rights lawyer known for his high-profile cases against police and President George W Bush was sentenced to three years in prison for federal tax evasion, bankruptcy fraud and money laundering.Stephen Yagman, 63, was convicted of trying to avoid paying more than $100,000 (Rs 39.8 lakh) in federal income taxes while living what prosecutors said was a lavish lifestyle that included shopping sprees and vacations in Aspen, Colorado.Yagman told US District Judge Stephen Wilson that he was “a target” for prosecutors because of his legal campaigns against police.In a statement spanning two days at the end of his sentencing hearing...

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Restraint please, Taslima

New Delhi: In a delicate balancing act, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee assured “shelter” in India to Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, but urged her to “refrain from activities and expressions” that may hurt the sentiments of Indian people and harm relations with friendly countries.“Throughout history, India has never refused shelter to those who have come and sought our protection. This civilisational heritage, which is now government policy, will continue, and India will provide shelter to Ms Nasreen,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha.“Those who have been granted shelter here have always undertaken...

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Businessman to hit streets to shame BMC

City businessman and socialite Viren Shah is taking to the streets, literally, to shame the BMC over the Crawford Market deal and a host of other policies cleared by the civic body.With help from prominent RTI activists and NGOs, Shah is busy rehearsing a song based on an old hit — Dekh tere sansar ki halat kya ho gayee bhagwan — which he intends to sing on city streets to ridicule the BMC.Helped by RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi and NGO Agni, Shah will also stage street plays to expose BMC’s alleged acts of omission and commission.“This is not my business. But as a citizen, I vote for corporators and elect them to run the BMC. It does not mean...

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Amy Winehouse Cancels All '07 Commitments

Battling health problems and broken up about her husband's stint in jail, British singer Amy Winehouse has canceled the remainder of her tour and promotional appearances for 2007.In a statement released to ABC News, the 24-year-old singer said she "can't give it my all onstage without my Blake.""I'm so sorry but I don't want to do the shows half-heartedly; I love singing," the statement continued. "My husband is everything to me and without him it's just not the same."Winehouse's 25-year-old husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is in custody in the U.K. on charges of beating up a bartender and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He is due to...

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Sennheiser Shines at the MTV Europe Music Awards

A rapper dressed in lederhosen and a kilt, a mini alphorn and a dachshund podium: as well as the best of the year's music, the 14th MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on November 1st offered plenty of unusual sights. Happily, as far as the microphone technology was concerned, everything was on more solid ground: almost all the stars in Munich's Olympiahalle sang using Sennheiser microphones, with the Sennheiser G2 evolution wireless system exclusively used for wireless monitoring. 160 countries and some 1.5 billion potential viewers tuned in live as the Foo Fighters opened the show. Frontman Dave Grohl had complete confidence in his MD 431 II as the band performed their new hit 'The Pretender' and thepunk classic 'God Save the Queen'. Snoop Dogg, who had promoted the awards on posters dressed...

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Lohan's civil testimony to be taped

LOS ANGELES - Lindsay Lohan will soon appear on camera for a taping she has tried hard to avoid.A judge on Tuesday said he would allow the videotaping of Lohan's deposition in a lawsuit over a car crash that injured a busboy.Raymundo Ortega alleges that Lohan drove her Mercedes-Benz into a van he was driving in October 2005 after she drank alcohol and later tried to escape paparazzi.A California Highway Patrol investigation concluded that Ortega caused the crash by making an illegal U-turn in Beverly Hills.Lohan attorney David J. Ozeran argued in a motion that a leak of the videotape could hurt his client's career much more than the $200,000...

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Levon Helm, silent no more

NEW YORK - The voice is raspy but recognizable, reminiscent of a time when he played with a band so amazingly good they were simply known as The Band. That was more than three decades ago, before the throat cancer and the surgery and the radiation left Levon Helm with no voice at all. The singer on classics like "Up On Cripple Creek" and "Rag Mama Rag" was resigned to resuming his musical life as strictly a sideman — a little drums, or strumming the mandolin."My dream was to have (daughter) Amy make an album, and I'd play some drums and still get to ride on the tour bus," Helms says by phone from his home in Woodstock. "And then it finally got so I could sing harmony parts here and there, if the key was right, and the melody would accommodate it."It wasn't until eight years after his cancer...

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Kylie Minogue announces new tour

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian pop star Kylie Minogue announced a European tour and promised the show would be "totally different" from previous performances.The 39-year-old, who released her new album "X" this week, starts in Paris on May 6 and crosses Continental Europe, Scandinavia and Northern Ireland before winding up at London's O2 Arena on July 27."The eclectic mix of sounds on 'X' is affording me an opportunity to explore and develop a new live show that will be fresh, exhilarating and innovative," Minogue said on her Web site www.kylie.com."After two celebratory tours, 'X' will be a look to the future but will definitely include favorites...

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"Oprah" visit helps Groban soar to No. 1

NEW YORK (Billboard) - After seven weeks on the chart, Josh Groban's holiday set "Noel" has nabbed the top spot on the Billboard 200.The 143/Reprise album ascends from No. 2 to No. 1, selling 405,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The 81 percent increase was fueled in part by Groban's surprise appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last week."Noel" is the first Christmas-themed set to top the chart since Kenny G's 1994 album "Miracles," and the 405,000-unit tally marks Groban's best sales week ever.Alicia Keys' "As I Am" (J) flip-flops with "Noel," slipping from No. 1 to No. 2 with a 53 percent sales decrease to 349,000....

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50 Cent shows off mansion on `Cribs'

NEW YORK - When 50 Cent bought Mike Tyson's 48,000-square-foot mansion three years ago, the rapper felt like he'd stepped into a time warp."It kind of had a `Miami Vice' feel. It was like turquoise blue on the floor and purple," the 31-year-old rapper told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "It was crazy looking when I got there."Now, 50's stamp is imprinted all over the massive 19-bedroom property in Farmington, Conn. The mansion now includes a nightclub with a swing dangling from the ceiling for some of his wilder parties.But those touches may not remain. 50 is selling the property for $18.5 million. And Thursday, he's showing off...

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Wife of Wagner festival director dies

BERLIN - Gudrun Wagner, wife of the Bayreuth Opera Festival's director and a key figure in the family battle over control of the arts institution that was founded by composer Richard Wagner, died Wednesday. She was 63.She died unexpectedly Wednesday morning at a Bayreuth hospital. No cause of death was given, said Peter Emmerich, a spokesman for the festival."It is with deep emotion and with silent grief that I must convey that this morning my loving wife and close co-worker Gudrun Wagner died fully unexpectedly," Wolfgang Wagner said in a statement.Her death comes amid the feud over who will succeed Wagner — a grandson of the composer — as festival...

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Friendship endures for King and Taylor

LOS ANGELES - James Taylor still has a friend in Carole King.Taylor and King were a match made in 1969 at Hollywood's famed Troubadour nightclub. They were rehearsing there Tuesday afternoon for a series of benefit concerts coinciding with the club's 50th anniversary.He reached the top of the Billboard pop chart in 1971 with "You've Got a Friend," written by King, who performed the song on her Grammy-winning "Tapestry" album."I was standing right up there," Taylor, 59, recalled, pointing over to the bar. "And I would listen to Carole play it every night. I was working it up on guitar. She heard me playing it, and she said, `You should cut that....

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Usher and wife welcome baby boy

ATLANTA - Usher is the father of a baby boy.His wife, Tameka Foster, gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in Atlanta on Monday night, a publicist for the 29-year-old singer said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.The baby weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces. He is the couple's first child. Foster, 37, has three children from a previous marriage."We are so happy and proud of our beautiful son. What a blessing!" Usher said in a statement provided Tuesday night by publicist Patti Webster.The couple wed in a large, glitzy ceremony in early September after exchanging vows a few weeks earlier in a civil ceremony. They had called off their July 28 wedding...

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EMI seen cutting funding to trade groups

LONDON (Reuters) - British music industry major EMI wants to cut its funding to the industry's trade bodies, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday, which could deal a blow to the fight against music piracy.The source said EMI, which was recently taken over by private equity group Terra Firma, was looking at ways to "substantially" reduce the amount it pays trade groups.The groups, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other national associations, represent music companies and the fight against illegal piracy.They receive funding from...

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Evel Knievel, Kanye West settle lawsuit

TAMPA, Fla. - Evel Knievel and Kanye West have worked it out.The 69-year-old iconic motorcycle daredevil said he and West met at his Clearwater condo recently. They settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.Knievel sued West and his record company last year. He took issue with a 2006 music video for the song "Touch the Sky," in which the rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevel" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.Knievel failed in his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon in Idaho in 1974.West's attorneys argued the video amounted to satire, covered under...

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Black Crowes Going to War

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Chris Robinson's divorce from Kate Hudson became final last month, and now the Black Crowes are getting back to doing what they do best—making music.Atlanta's favorite blues rockers have completed work on Warpaint, their first album of original material since 2001's Lions and seventh studio album overall."[The title signifies] the revolution that could take place in our souls," says Robinson in a statement.Warpaint will be released independently on Mar. 4 through the band's newly formed label, Silver Arrow Records, and distributed via Megaforce/Sony Red BMG.The collection features 11 tracks that the band recorded at...

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Groban Gets Oprah Bounce, Jordin Sparks Doesn't Fly

Los Angeles (E! Online) - The Grinch might be stealing Christmas from music retailers, but thanks to Josh Groban and Oprah, there's still some singing in Whoville.For the sales week kicked off by Super Tuesday—the release date before Thanksgiving when record labels typically schedule their big guns—the figures were abnormally bad, with only one Top 10 bow and a seven-week-old album topping the charts. Still, that album, Groban's Noël, can thank last week's performance on The Oprah Winfrey Show for driving it past Alicia Keys and into the number one spot.Noël crowned the Billboard 200 by selling 405,000 copies for the week ended Sunday, according...

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Isle of Wight anchors Police '08 schedule

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Police will headline the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival, to take place June 13-15 at Seaclose Park. Additional acts have yet to be announced.The performance, which is being touted as the band's only U.K. festival appearance for 2008, will anchor a new run of dates from the re-formed rock trio. The itinerary starts January 17 in Wellington, New Zealand, and runs through June 28 in Leipzig, Germany.The Police are touring in Mexico and will proceed to Argentina, Chile and Brazil in the coming days. A live DVD chronicling the reunion tour, which recently was named the top-grossing and top ticket-selling outing...

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Black Crowes enlist for "War" on new album

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Black Crowes have wrapped "Warpaint," their first studio album since 2001. The band will release the set March 4 internationally via their own Silver Arrow imprint.The 11-track set was recorded at Allaire Studios in Woodstock, N.Y. It features the recording debut of new guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and keyboardist Adam MacDougall. They join original members Chris and Rich Robinson and drummer Steve Gorman, as well as bassist Sven Pipien.All of the tracks are Robinson brothers originals, except "God's Got It," which was penned by the Reverend Charlie Jackson.The Crowes will perform "Warpaint"...

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Knievel, Kanye Call Truce

Los Angeles (E! Online) - Evil Knievel's latest stunt: making peace with Kanye West.The world's most famous daredevil has "amicably resolved" his lawsuit against the Grammy-winning hip-hopster over West's Knievel-channeling "Touch the Sky" music video.The rapper's label, Universal Music-owned Roc-A-Fella Records, confirmed the settlement on Tuesday. In a press release, the label says West recently paid a visit to Knievel's home in Tampa to seal the deal. (See above for photographic evidence of that summit.)Details of the agreement were not disclosed, but Knievel said, "I was very satisfied and so was he."In the suit, filed last December in U.S....

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Winehouse Takes Herself off the Road

Los Angeles (E! Online) - With her husband in jail, Amy Winehouse is having trouble keeping her solo act together.The troubled chanteuse has called off her remaining concerts and public appearances for the year on doctor's orders, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. She had been scheduled to perform a 17-date tour in Britain and Ireland."The rigors involved in touring and the intense emotional strain that Amy has been under in recent weeks have taken their toll," Winehouse rep Tracey Miller said in a statement."In the interests of her health and well-being, Amy has been ordered to take complete rest and deal with her health issues."The cancellation...

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Morissette tapped for Canada's music Hall of Fame

TORONTO (Hollywood Reporter) - Singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette is being inducted into the Canadian music industry's Hall of Fame, organizers said Monday.Morissette will receive the lifetime achievement award March 7 as part of the Canadian Radio Music Awards that will be held during Canadian Music Week in Toronto.Ottawa-born Morissette will join past inductees who include record producer David Foster, singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and music groups Triumph and Rush.Canadian Music Week organizers earlier announced that Nettwerk Music Group CEO Terry McBride and TV producer John Brunton ("Canadian Idol") will be inducted into the Canadian...

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Rapper 'Birdman' arrested in Tenn.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Rapper Bryan "Birdman" Williams was among 16 people charged with possession of marijuana Tuesday after the RV they were riding in was pulled over by police for making an improper lane change.Kingsport Police Cpl. Tim Horne said he stopped the vehicle after seeing it force a tractor trailer into the emergency lane on Interstate 81.Horne said he could smell marijuana from inside the rented RV and located about a pound of marijuana in a trash can in the kitchenette after obtaining consent to search the vehicle.Williams, 38, his wife Brittany, 18, and his brother, Ronald Williams, 43, were each charged with possession of more than...

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Lily Allen Still All Right After Ticker Trouble

Los Angeles (E! Online) - It isn't the type of heartache Lily Allen is known for waxing on about, but the British songbird has come clean on a recent health scare.The "Smile" singer told U.K. supermarket staple Grazia magazine that she was diagnosed with a heart murmur three months ago. Allen credits the condition with her decision to focus on her health and shed some excess baggage from her frame.The 22-year-old revealed the diagnosis while accounting for her slimmed-down physique, setting the record straight that her sudden weight loss of 19 pounds and two dress sizes was not the result of attempting to fit into the cookie-cutter starlet mold,...

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