Bollywoods

Vivek Oberoi, whose name is now being linked to sitar player Anoushka Shankar, says good friend Kareena Kapoor pesters him most to find a suitable match for himself and settle down soon.

"The pressure (of getting married) is on, not only from my family but from even Bebo (Kareena’s pet name)," Vivek, who will be seen with Kareena and Saif in Rensil D’Silva’s untitled film, told IANS in an e-mail interview.

"Every time we go out for dinner, she would shake her head and tell me - ‘find a nice girl and settle down’ and I would hide behind Saif to dodge the bullet. We had some great laughs," he said.

Vivek’s personal life has always been in the spotlight - from the time his engagement to long-standing girlfriend Gurpreet Gill broke off to the short but much-hyped relationship with former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai. But now the actor is single.

He reasons his stag status by saying: "I’m single because I am waiting to find the girl who will make me want to never be single again."

His personal life apart, Vivek has his hands full with big banner movies like Ram Gopal Varma’s "Rakta Charitra", Prakash Jha’s "Rajniti" and Tips Films’ "Prince" besides Rensil D’Silva’s untitled romantic thriller.

So Vivek will be back with a bang after experiencing a series of ups and downs in his career.

Vivek is in no mood to assess his stint in Bollywood since his launch in Varma’s "Company" in 2002 as he says he is still raring to go.

"When I retire, I will have enough time to sit back in a rocking chair and judge my career. Right now, it’s time for me to grab every opportunity and give it my very best," said Vivek, who was loved by audiences in films like "Saathiya" and "Yuva" as well.

The actor also spoke about the only mistake he thinks he made during his seven-year-old career.

"What went wrong in between was that I had forgotten why I came here…to be an actor…just that…Not all the trappings of stardom but just the pure fire of burning desire to act," he said.

Now Vivek says he has set a goal for himself.

"Every day, in every way, I want to be better and better…that is my mission and my prayer," he said.

It’s official – L’Oreal, the brand which was to have both Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, its long-time brand ambassador, and Sonam Kapoor, its latest one, walk the Red Carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, has said that it has asked Sonam not to go.

Sonam had giggled excitedly about rubbing shoulders with Ash at the French film fest, but after her no-show, reports appeared that she was asked not to go because Ash didn’t want her to steal her thunder.

After Monika Bhattacharya, Sonam’s manager, issued a statement saying Sonam had been asked not to travel to the fest, L’Oreal issued one too, confirming that the brand has indeed advised Sonam not to go.

DT did some digging, and this is what we found. L’Oreal first invited Sonam to be a part of the L’Oreal Paris dream team and issued a press release that said, “Raising the toast to celebrate the association, Sonam Kapoor was welcomed as the youngest member to join the L’Oreal Paris dream team that includes awe-inspiring beauties such as Aishwarya Rai (Bachchan), Penelope Cruz, Naomi Lenoir, Andie MacDowell, Beyonce Knowles, Laetitia Casta, Kerry Washington, Milla Jovovich, Michelle Yeoh, Eva Longoria and Scarlett Johansson. 2009 will be a highlight year for the L’Oreal Paris brand in India as both its spokespersons – the iconic Aishwarya Rai and Sonam will represent Indian beauty and talent oversees at the Cannes Film Festival alongside other members of the dream team.”

But then came the real surprise. It was announced that Sonam’s not going at all. “Sonam’s not travelling to Cannes,” said Monika. But why? “The brand should know best. She’s been asked not to go,” she added.

Lots of compliments are following the most powerful actress of the country Kareena Kapoor. Recent to add to this list is director Raju Hirani who is shooting with Kareena for his forthcoming film 3 Idiots.

Kareena performned an emotional scene so well that it left director Raju Hirani speechless. Raju Hirani was so impressed with Kareena’s performance in 3 Idiots and specially that for an emotional scene that he and the whole unit clapped and gave a standing ovation for Kareena after the scene.

Kareena is the number one on the power list and the best actress in the country and she deserves everything which comes her way, as she is been working very hard and putting in a lot of efforts and has come a long way from where she started. Kareena is truly a czarina of Bollywood.

Rakesh Roshan has said that Mexican babe Barbara Mori is not coming to India. There were reports that Hrithik Roshan wanted Barbara to come to India with her family after the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. Rumours are also doing rounds that Hrithik is having a extramarital affair with Barbara which even made his wife Susanne leave his house. Rakesh has apparently stood by his daughter-in-law and asked his son to mend his ways which made sure that father and son were no longer in talking terms.

Rakesh rubbished all these rumours and said that he was proud to have a son like Hrithik and all was going well in his family. He also denied that he was having any creative differences with Hrithik over the movie Kites. Rakesh added that Barbara Mori has no plans to come to India right now as her work for the movie is over. She will however come during Diwali for the promotion of the movie. Well seems like Rakesh Roshan is trying his best to save his son’s marriage.

Shah Rukh Khan is back in Mumbai, coughing and wheezing, he’s got a congestion — it’s not what you’re thinking!

He returned to vote, now he’s shooting for Karan Johar, getting kids Aryan and Suhana ready for school, while watching his IPL team Knight Riders take a beating in South Africa over television like you and me.

Tuesday night, it was like that again, with the Bollywood Badshah’s knights losing poorly to Delhi in Durban and thereby becoming the first of the eight teams to bite the dust in the race to the semis. Shah Rukh, however, was not in mourning. “What can I say,” he laughed, “we’ve had a string of losses, but we haven’t lost motivation, what we’ve got to do is see where we take the team from here. Some of the matches were close and almost broke our hearts. But the others were complete losses. We had nothing to prove. So I told the boys, go out and have fun!”

He’s aware that the Knight Riders, despite being written off as the worst-performing team in the IPL, is the most valued brand of the T20 tournament. The Economic Times pegged its brand value at $42.1 million, followed closely by Mumbai Indians at $41.6 million and Team Rajasthan at $39.5 million. “Personally, that doesn’t make me happy,” Shah Rukh regretted. “What is a brand? I, as an actor, am a brand… and that puts pressure on myself to perform better and make sure my films do well. Brand is all about giving quality content.

Our cricket content has to improve if it is to be deserving of the top brand spot. That didn’t happen last year. So we tried harder. It didn’t happen this year. Now we need to build the brand up again from scratch on content… rather than other social aspects. I’m happy, of course, that the business is doing well, we have the maximum sponsors and are making money. But the money needs to be put where the product is.”

The team’s hopes have perished this IPL as well, but he isn’t ready to look at the next season as yet. “I believe when you’re down, you shouldn’t take decisions; and when you’re up, you shouldn’t either. Just step back and relook at the situation. That’s what I’m doing,” said the actor. Did his absence in South Africa affect the morale of the team? “Not really,” replied Shah Rukh. “I had decided at the start to be with them for 15 days. The boys are depressed, they can’t do more, and my being around only makes it worse for them. My presence in the dressing room makes them break down. I’m fond of all of them and they like me. But my goodness comes in the way of losses. The defeat gets highlighted because I own the team. They feel worse because they think Shah Rukh Khan has been let down and is hurt… though I don’t show it. Whereas when I’m away, they’re able to go out and play cricket normally.”

Does he have a Chak De! message for his disheartened team? “They are all professional players, they play cricket the whole year, and win or lose… they just get on with the next game. I can’t tell them how to play. But I hang around them. Some players are cynical in defeat. Others raring to go. I meet the two up, sit and chat with them, tell them not to be disturbed. We have lost as a team, we don’t have what it takes to win, and we can’t go on depending on hope. I really can’t find fault with anyone. The idea is we go up and come down together. If I jump up and cheer when somebody hits a six then I must also be prepared to go down with them when they fail. The important thing in sports is that it teaches you how to lose, but not to become a loser. Sports always gives you the chance to come back. It’s a great leveller. The whole success in my life is because I think like a sportsman. There’s always another chance. But I wish I didn’t have to learn this lesson so fast!”

When news about directors Abbas Mustan not doing the sequel to their 2008 blockbuster Race started doing the rounds, many eyebrows were raised. Apparently, the producer, Tips and the usually-affable director duo had certain issues to be resolved, which resulted in Tips searching for another director.

When Saif got to know about producer Ramesh Taurani’s decision, he quickly sprung into action. When he made Taurani understand that the director duo’s track record of churning out hits with thrillers (Khiladi, Baazigar, Ajnabee) was good enough reason for them to direct Race 2, the producer relented.

Confirming the news, Saif says, “Abbas-Mustan understand the pulse of the plot. Race was a fast-paced action-adventure caper. Not too many filmmakers in Bollywood would’ve done such a wonderful job of it.”

Apparently, Race 2 will be more gadget and gizmo-friendly and as upwardly-scaled as Dhoom 2.

Had the directors in white not been roped in, more than the directors, Saif would feel the pinch. His ladylove Kareena Kapoor co-stars with him in the sequel and Saif wants to ensure that the film is a success.

Race had both Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif opposite him. However, in Race 2 Katrina’s character is shown as dead and Bipasha’s has been removed from the script to make way for Kareena.

Sharing his enthusiasm about the film and his pairing with his real life sweetheart, Saif says, “Yes Kareena will be part of Race 2. We’re yet to flesh out the details. But Race 2 has to be bigger and larger than Race. Otherwise there is no point in making it.”

Kareena Kapoor  It was a grand day for Babita when she turned another year older recently. And her daughters – the lovely Karisma and Kareena – were present in full force (read: with their respective better halves). Yes, Sanjay Kapur and Saif Ali Khan were all set to make their saasu and potential saasu (respectively) feel on top of the world.

“It was the most touching and memorable moment for Babita,” said a close friend of the family, “Bebo gifted Babita a surprise holiday package… She thinks her mom is one person who truly deserves a vacation!”

And while Kareena has sent mommy on an international trip, actor Arjan Bajwa (you saw him in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion) is taking his ma to Malaysia for Mother’s Day! “I have not got to spend much time with her for more than a year now because I have been busy with work commitments. So I think I need some bonding time with my mom,” he told us.

So some mommies are flying high this Mother’s Day.

What’s the best Mother’s Day gift? Help actors decide what they can present their moms on this special day… Write in.

We thought actress Dia Mirza would’ve loved the opportunity to be the sole woman among six handsome, male actors in Acid Factory. But it wasn’t so smooth and rosy for the girl who thought it to be a pretty frustrating experience sometimes, you know with all the boy-talk and all that.

“I used to scream sometimes… Boys can talk a lot, and can be super distracting. They were always discussing the matches, or then car racing, and I used to constantly tell them to shut up and ask them to concentrate on their dialogues,” said Dia, “But I’ve worked with most of them before, and love them all!”

Now Mirza better get used to ‘match talks’, especially since a lot of our Bollywood ladies – like Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty – can do some ‘ball talk’ too these days… we of course mean, cricket, fellas! After all it’s the marriage of B-wood to C-world (read: cricket world). So it may just help knowing the ABC of such things. Ok, D?

What do you think of Bollywood getting into IPL? Tell us…

Vivek Oberoi is suddenly back in business, and how!

Whether it’s for a film that he is doing with Ram Gopal Varma or for a film that he isn’t doing with Satish Kaushik (featuring Abhishek Bachchan)… Oberoi seems to be in the news constantly.

Currently in New York shooting for Rensil d’Silva’s untitled film (not called Jehad) Vivek has endeared himself to the film’s other principal leads Saif and Kareena, and not just because they share camera space so comfortably, but because he was directly instrumental in getting them an impromptu holiday in New York, ahead of the holiday that they have planned after the schedule in New York.

It so happened that Vivek had plenty of solo scenes which apparently Oberoi suggested to the director be shot all in a bunch so that Saif and Kareena could take time off.

Resultantly Saif and Kareena ended up with two full empty days in New York.

Laughs Kareena from New York, “Yeah, Saif and I got a two-day break in the middle of our hectic schedule because Vivek’s scenes are being shot. Saif and I just chilled out, saw some films, ate at our favourite restaurant. It was an unexpected treat. Thanks to Vivek.”

Kareena seems to be renewing her friendship with Vivek. “If you remember we did one of my best films Yuva together. He was very sweet and considerate then. I find no change in him. Yes, Vivek and I friends.”

It looks like Vivek’s fence-mending tactics are paying dividends.

Shah Rukh Khan is back in Mumbai, coughing and wheezing, he’s got a congestion — it’s not what you’re thinking!

He returned to vote, now he’s shooting for Karan Johar, getting kids Aryan and Suhana ready for school, while watching his IPL team Knight Riders take a beating in South Africa over television like you and me.

Tuesday night, it was like that again, with the Bollywood Badshah’s knights losing poorly to Delhi in Durban and thereby becoming the first of the eight teams to bite the dust in the race to the semis. Shah Rukh, however, was not in mourning. “What can I say,” he laughed, “we’ve had a string of losses, but we haven’t lost motivation, what we’ve got to do is see where we take the team from here. Some of the matches were close and almost broke our hearts. But the others were complete losses. We had nothing to prove. So I told the boys, go out and have fun!”

He’s aware that the Knight Riders, despite being written off as the worst-performing team in the IPL, is the most valued brand of the T20 tournament. The Economic Times pegged its brand value at $42.1 million, followed closely by Mumbai Indians at $41.6 million and Team Rajasthan at $39.5 million. “Personally, that doesn’t make me happy,” Shah Rukh regretted. “What is a brand? I, as an actor, am a brand… and that puts pressure on myself to perform better and make sure my films do well. Brand is all about giving quality content.

Our cricket content has to improve if it is to be deserving of the top brand spot. That didn’t happen last year. So we tried harder. It didn’t happen this year. Now we need to build the brand up again from scratch on content… rather than other social aspects. I’m happy, of course, that the business is doing well, we have the maximum sponsors and are making money. But the money needs to be put where the product is.”

The team’s hopes have perished this IPL as well, but he isn’t ready to look at the next season as yet. “I believe when you’re down, you shouldn’t take decisions; and when you’re up, you shouldn’t either. Just step back and relook at the situation. That’s what I’m doing,” said the actor. Did his absence in South Africa affect the morale of the team? “Not really,” replied Shah Rukh. “I had decided at the start to be with them for 15 days. The boys are depressed, they can’t do more, and my being around only makes it worse for them. My presence in the dressing room makes them break down. I’m fond of all of them and they like me. But my goodness comes in the way of losses. The defeat gets highlighted because I own the team. They feel worse because they think Shah Rukh Khan has been let down and is hurt… though I don’t show it. Whereas when I’m away, they’re able to go out and play cricket normally.”

Does he have a Chak De! message for his disheartened team? “They are all professional players, they play cricket the whole year, and win or lose… they just get on with the next game. I can’t tell them how to play. But I hang around them. Some players are cynical in defeat. Others raring to go. I meet the two up, sit and chat with them, tell them not to be disturbed. We have lost as a team, we don’t have what it takes to win, and we can’t go on depending on hope. I really can’t find fault with anyone. The idea is we go up and come down together. If I jump up and cheer when somebody hits a six then I must also be prepared to go down with them when they fail. The important thing in sports is that it teaches you how to lose, but not to become a loser. Sports always gives you the chance to come back. It’s a great leveller. The whole success in my life is because I think like a sportsman. There’s always another chance. But I wish I didn’t have to learn this lesson so fast!”