A Producer asked me to sleep with him

Her maiden film as an actress – Hum Sey Hai Jahaan bombed at the box office, but then pretty, dark and smart Vishakha Singh is not unduly perturbed by the fate of the film for the simple reason that even before Hum Sey Hai Jahaan was complete, she had bagged two more films – Abhijeet Sengupta’s Do Aur Do Paanch and Venkatesh Naidu’s Coffee Shop, which are also being readied for an early release.

Born and brought up in Abu Dhabi, Vishakha, who was the cultural captain while she studied in school, is a beauty with brains, having graduated in Business Administration in New Delhi. Vishakha confesses that it was sheer boredom with her internship in a couple of ad agencies that prompted her to try her hands at modeling.

Vishakha continues confessing that her acting stint had actually started right from home when she had lied to her strict father that she wanted to go to Mumbai to do theatre because he was not in favor of letting her act in films.

Vishakha concedes that though it is easy to get offers to act in ad films after giving the auditions, to face the camera and emote and lose one’s inhibitions to a blank lens which is just a piece which does not respond to you is quite a tough task.

“Though I did not learn acting by joining any acting academy, I am glad I was able to understand the medium by facing the camera for ad films.

Though as far as acting was concerned, I was 10 when I embarked on a career in acting, today I feel I can rate myself 4 out of 10, ” Vishakha quips.

Though Vishakha has not acted in any TV serial till date, she says that all the credit for having made her an actress ought to go to Balaji Telefilms which had auditioned her for a role in their popular serial Kasauti Zindagi Ki.

“I was given a two page long dialogue for the scene in which Prerna loses her son. After I had done the scene, I went on crying and was asked to report for the shoot from the next day.

However I decided that I could not suffer doing such scenes for 25 days every month and politely declined the role of Aparna who ends up marrying Mr Basu, ” explains Vishakha.

However, Vishakha says that she does not regret having said no to act in TV serials.

“TV is a very open medium. Touchwood, if my films do not do well at the box office, I am one hundred per cent confident that television is one medium which would still welcome me, with open arms.

I do not mean to look down upon TV. It is just that as of now I want to concentrate all my attention on making a career as an actress in Bollywood, ” Vishakha explores her world of hope.

Whether in Hum Sey Hai Jahaan or Do Aur Do Paanch or for that matter Coffee Shop, Vishakha says that she has made it a point not to expose at all, though it is the latest mantra in Bollywood.

“Losing one’s inhibitions does not at all mean that one should bare one’s clothes but emotions. It is only the director and the script which can convince me as far as agreeing to expose on the screen is concerned, ” bold goes the rising star.

What is Vishakha’s take on exposure? I ask Viashakha. She shoots back, “I have a lot of pride in me.

When I saw Esha Deol appear in a skimpy bikini in Dhoom, my heart sank, because I realized that I stood no chance of saying no to getting into a bikini, if Esha who is from the film industry had to do it. I am not at all a prude.

Though I had turned down Arjun Sablok’s offer to cast me in Niel N Niki in the role in which he had eventually cast Tanisha, because he could not convince me to expose my cleavage almost throughout the film, I’d readily do a lip to lip kissing scene like Rani did in Black if the scene changes the entire narration like it did in Black.”

Is she scared of the syndrome of the casting couch? I ask her.

Without batting her eye lids, she replies, “I am not scared at all of the casting couch, because I’d slap the person if someone makes an attempt, though I do not deny that it does exist.

A Telugu film producer told me on my face to sleep with him if I wanted to act in his film, but he was lucky because I had politely walked out, since I was new then, long before I bagged the offer for my first film.”

In Do Aur Do Paanch, Vishakha plays a typical tapori girl since the film, in her own admission, is a take off on Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, a comedy action film, which has Salman Khan doing a special appearance though the flick has no love triangle at all.

In Coffee Shop, Vishakha plays the role of a painter. “It is about the struggle of the girl who wants to go to the New York School of Fine Arts. Though in real life, I also dabble with painting as a hobby, I am not a M. F. Hussain in real life, though I could identify with the journey of the character that I am playing in Coffee Shop to a large extent, ” Vishakha casts light on her character.

When she met Mashoor Amrohi who has not only played the leading man in Hum Sey Hai Jahaan but also produced, directed, written and choreographed the film, Vishakha says that she could easily gel with him because they belonged to the same age group and there was no communication gap.

“I was relieved to make my debut with a banner which was known to present women in a dignified way”, Vishakha quips and adds that it was a big advantage to her that Mashoor, besides being the leading man, was also the director of the film since she did not have to necessarily look tom the director behind the camera.

Inrterestingly Vishakha’s name was suggested by the unit of Chak De India after she had been rejected by Shimit Amin when she auditioned for the role eventually played in the film by Vidya Malavade, because Shimit did not find her suitable for the matured character.

Vishakha says that her wish list is to act in films like Black and Cheeni Kum since she is a die-hard fan of Rani Mukerjee, Kajol, Tabu, Vidya Balan and Minissha Lamba (“I like Minisha’s choice of films”) as far as actresses are concerned though her staunch favorite among the actors is none other than Hrithik Roshan. “I dote on Hrithik Roshan because he is so devoted to his work”, she concludes.

Theme Ringtones :

Kareena has not made me a Size Zero: Amrita Arora

Gaunt with the wind ? That seems to be the magic mantra for all the wannabe Size 0s of Bollywood these days.

The latest slim-as-a-reed candidate is the petite Amrita Arora who like her best friend, Kareena Kapoor seems to have lost a lot of weight.

Says Amrita, “Yeah, Kareena is my best friend. And like all best friends she’s a positive influence on me. She introduced me to power yoga and that changed me life and my physicality.”

Amrita insists she hasn’t lost weight drastically. “It’s only my face. Like Kareena’s, it’s naturally chubby face. I hate it when she and now I are called anorexic. What a terrible description. We both love our meals yaar.

Trust me, Kareena eats heartily, and so do I. I’m doing nothing out of the way. I still go to the gym only once a day and I’m not starving myself.

It’s just that for the first time in my life I’ve lost weight on my face. So has Kareena.”

As for Size 0, Amrita sighs, “I’m Size 6-8. O seems a distant dream and I don’t even want to get there, please. When people talk about me being anorexic and a Size 0 I feel bad. That’s not the kind of influence I want to be on audiences. “

Amrita is happy doing an assortment of films including Gol Maal Returns where her best friend Kareena also stars.

“I’m opposite Arshad Warsi and we all live as part of one family in the plot and we all make one another happy. Now how much more positive can the influence get?”

Sexy Julie will never ever leave me

Four years back the sexy Neha Dhupia sizzled in the box-office hit, Julie. Is it any coincidence that in her next keenly awaited Akshay Kumar-Katrina Kaif starrer Singh Is Kinng, Neha’s character name happens to be Julie yet again!

Blushes Neha, “I don’t think the Julie connection will ever leave me! Even today when I go up north and to the small towns, people say Arre Julie Aa Gayi!

Since the association is so strong, I said why not christen my character Julie!”

Was Julie the initial choice? “No! I’m not sure what they had in mind initially! I think it was Rosy!” she laughs.

On how she landed herself a juicy role in the film, Neha reveals, “Vipul’s (Shah) office approached me. I was slightly apprehensive initially because I wasn’t playing the romantic interest.

But I was assured that being the girl of the gang I’d have a plum part. And because I am a sardar in real life as well that helped!”

I don’t think the Julie connection will ever leave me! Even today when About Singh Is Kinng, she smiles confidently, “Just watch it! It’s an absolute blast!”

Hot Rosa taking rest under Saif shadow

Almost one and half a year have passed since Rosa and Saif Ali Khan experienced a split in their dwindling relationship and it’s only now that Rosa has thought of it as perfect time to opine about the issue.

Almost half the world is now very well aware of the matter. But the matter to ponder upon is why Rosa has decided this to be the perfect moment to melt the ice!

Albeit we do not believe in whispering words, a believable source has informed us that Rosa is completely shattered about slowly losing her piece of earth in Bollywood.

It’s true that fulfilling her daydream of getting crowned as the best heroine of the tinsel town is a far cry for the desperate babe, but she has nothing to do as dreams are always like sticky bees that keep coming back.

After the sonorous separation from Saif, Rosa, till date, has nothing, other than few episodes of tele-reality Jhalak Dikhla Ja and an item number in as-appeared-as-gone film Shaurya, in her sleeky showreel.

But those two stuffs are mere than anything required to leave an impact. Still the shunned lady is roaming with the tag of Saif’s ex.

While the scenario is like that Rosa may cry a little either reminding her past with Saif or for the extra burden of Saif’s tag.

Bollywood runs on news and whether it’s the flash of hero slapping his girlfriend or glitz of slipping pallu of any heroine, everything gets served to people with perfect masala. How can such a media savvy town miss such an incident where sad Rosa seemed so desolated and helpless and desperate for free publicity!

Still… under the name of Saif!

Audrina Patridge and Lauren Conrad stage a backyard spat?

Truthfully I am not much into these fake celebrities.  But apparently Audrina Patridge and Lauren Conrad from “The Hills” got into a backyard fight over some stupid photo shoot according to TMZ. Lauren came home to find Audrina in the middle of a shoot with some magazine and she flipped out, supposedly because she promised exclusive pictures of their backyard to another magazine.  Audrina apparently got approval from Conrad’s manager but nobody apparently told Lauren.  Perhaps of course the whole thing was staged if you believe Audrina and LC are capable of acting out such a scene convincingly.  I mean after-all it’s a backyard not a baby or something a magazine is gonna pay big bucks for.  Or maybe LC is just a b**ch.

If Aishwarya can do item numbers why can’t I: Neetu Chandra

When I meet Neetu Chandra in sweltering and scorching heat on location in Bhopal where she is shooting for director Gary Grewal’s maiden venture as a director- Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot in which she has been teamed opposite Randeep Hooda, she is excited about her role in the film.

“I play the role of Chabeeli, a woman of loose character in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot. What is interesting is the fact that I am the only girl in the entire film.

Chabili is liked by all the characters in the film. Everyone in the film tries all the time to hit on me. Thanks to the script, I am now having the opportunity to do a performance oriented role in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot.

It is my fourth film with Paresh Rawal, with whom I had acted in my very first film Garam Masala”, exclaims an excited Neetu.

Neetu is of the opinion that her role as Chabili in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot is quite different from her earlier roles till date.

“It is a big transition for me as an actress if you just compare my role in Khusar Prasad Ka Bhoot with my earlier characters in earlier films.

It is totally opposite to the character I did in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Traffic signal or for that matter the character of the Haryanvi lady cop that I played in Ashwani Dheer’s One Two Three.

The best thing about my character in this film is that mostly I have got to deliver my dialogues on the louder side through my eyes”, explains Neetu.

Neetu says that she preferred to be launched as one of the three girls in Garam Masala instead of waiting for a big break as a solo heroine.

“I am from a film background. Priyan Sir chose to give me a break with a big banner, ” goes on the charming lady, “If I had done a solo lead, I do not think anyone would have come to watch me in the film.

In Garam Masala, I had two big leading men like Akshay Kumar and John Abraham to lure the audiences to the theaters.

I preferred to have a safe launch like Garam Masala after having appeared as a super model in several ads including Parker, Minto, and Reliance etc. Priyan Sir had directed the Parker ad in which I had the privilege to appear alongside with Amitabh Bachchan”.

Neetu asserts that her glamorous post Garam Masala image almost affected her prospects in films.

She further adds, “Though I had acted in a serious role in the play Aao Saathi Sapna Dekhe directed by Swanand Kirkire who had composed the music for Parineeta, I started getting roles which needed me to appear in a bikini after Garam Masala since I had projected a glamorous image in the film.

In fact the image with which I was saddled after Garam Masala actually almost affected my career prospects since there were people who even tried to scare Madhur by telling him that it was wrong on his part to cast a girl like me in a deglamorised role in his film Traffic Signal”.

After having played a glamorous role in Priyadarshan’s Garam Masala, Neetu is glad that she played a deglamorised role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Traffic Signal, though several so called well wishers of hers advised her that it was a suicidal move on the part of a newcomer like her to take up an arty role like that.

Adds Neetu, “I am glad I received accolades for my performance in Traffic Signal. I am now acting in Rahul Dholakia’s Mumbai Cutting, believe it or not, in yet another path breaking as well as deglamorised role as a housemaid, with an entirely different dimension”.

Neetu admits that it was tough to play a housemaid in Mumbai Cutting.

“It is for the first time that I have played the role of a housemaid in Mumbai Cutting. I have not touched make up at all throughout the film. There are two brilliant actors from the theater in the film, but they have not been cast opposite me.

Even in Traffic Signal, I had to apply a tanned make up whereas in Mumbai Cutting I shunned make up to get into the skin of the character”, Neetu explains her serious approach towards her characters.

Neetu is now acting in a Tamil film called Yaavarum Nalam as R. Madhavan’s wife. The actress asserts, “It is a horror thriller film backed by Reliance Adlabs and directed by Vikram from the South.

It is being made in two languages – Hindi and Tamil. The Hindi version has been titled ‘Flat No 13 B’. Poonam Dhillon plays my mother in law in the film”.

Neetu is playing the role of a college student in Dibankar Bannnerjee’s Oye Lucky Lucky Oye opposite Abhay Deol.

“It is an out and out commercial movie from the stable of Dibankar who had made his debut with a brilliant film like Khosla Ka Ghosla. I play Abhay’s love interest in the film. I play a second year college girl.

It is Abhay’s story but I play an important role since I change him in the film which was shot in Manali. Paresh Rawal is also playing a very important role in the film, ” the lady adds on offers being showered on her.

Neetu, who is happy that she has proved to be a good survivor in this industry considering the fact that she has made it here without the help of any God father and does not have any filmy connections to work for her, is game to do item numbers, too.

“I am game to do item numbers today. Why not? Today I feel that item numbers are great because not every one can do it with finesse. Raakhee Sawant, Mallika Sherawat and Aishwarya Rai would not have been able to deliver their item numbers if they did not know dancing.

Today there are instances where films which remain unsold are snapped up by distributors if an item number is added to them”, Neetu clears up the matter. Neetu asserts that she is not at all insecure considering there is stiff competition in the film industry, because she has confidence in her mettle as an actor.

“I am basically a sports person and have the killing instinct because of that. The role that I did in One Two Three was offered to different actresses including Bipasha Basu and Sameera Reddy.

Since I do not want to limit myself, I grabbed the role though I felt that it was a stupid role. My gamble paid off when the critics showered their praises on me for my performance in the film”, sums up Neetu.

Will Aishwarya play a sex worker?

According to a source plans are afoot to bring Ash and the ethereal Meryl Streep together in an American production of Chaos.

Says a source, “They ran the concept with Meryl and Ash and they were game .They need to Americanize the theme because Chaos was a very French movie. But yes, in principle Ash is on for this film.”

Another international project that Aishwarya has given the nod to is Roland Joffe’s Singularity with Brendan Fraser.

Speaking on Singularity Ash says, “I’ve asked them for the final draft of the script. Now the time factor has to be worked out. The time they want is devoted to Mani Sir (Ratnam)’s project.

New dates have to be worked out. There’re so many projects that I want to do but because of the dates or a delay I can’t. There’re only that number of assignments I can take on. I’ve never done more work that I can do. I never can.”

In the meanwhile Aishwarya gets ready to shoot for Shankar’s Robot and Mani Ratnam’s film with Abhishek.

Informs the actress, “There has been a little delay in Shankar’s Robot because of his writer Sujata’s death. That has delayed Robot a bit. All kinds of rumours have been floated about the project.

The dates situation does get tighter for me because I was supposed to shoot Robot now and Mani Sir’s film a little later during the year. We just have to work under a tighter schedule now.”

Neha Dhupia Says No To Unnecessary Skin Show

The sexy and bold actress has now suddenly become a little conservative!! Known for her sultry and bold image, Neha has now decided to cut on the unnecessary show of skin on the screen. With “cut down the unnecessary skin show” we don’t mean that she would not be baring her skin at all. Well, she still has no problems with dare to bare act provided that it’s projected in a good way. Reports also say that she has already refused some offers which demanded the “unnecessary skin show.”
With Neha not very popular with the directors already, will her NO to skin show fetch her any movie from now on??

Mallika Sherawat Challenged To Bare-It-All

Now here’s a treat for the fans of the sex symbol of bollywood, Mallika Sherawat. The sex king of Hollywood recently compared the Indian bombshell with the rich n famous Pamela Anderson. With this, he even offered her to bare it all at the Howard Stern TV show. Sources say that Mallika was asked to pose naked in a swimming pool even in her much talked about movie “Murder”, but the bikini beauty thought the scene was too bold and had refused then. But this time the tables might turn and the actress might agree to the offer as it is supposed to involve millions of dollars and huge modeling consignments.
With the movies coming rarely her way, we surely can expect the naked sexy actress soon on the show.

Are they jealous of Mallika’s legs?

Moral police goes skirt-chasing with Mallika.. Bollywood reacts.

Malaika Arora: “I think Mallika has become a favourite punching-bag in the press. Leave the girl alone. It’s ridiculous. Maybe the moral police in the South should take a closer look at their own films for obscenity.

Shilpa Shetty (actress,reality-show celebrity, yoga instructor): ” I’m just happy that the obscenity case against my dress in Tamil Nadu is quashed. I won.

Rahul Khanna (actor): ‘”I feel quite sad for the moral police. Perhaps they’re jealous of Mallika’s legs. They seem to have a lot of free time on hand? Why not use it for issues more important than length of skirts?

Hema Malini (actress, dancer, parliamentarian): “I was there in Chennai. Mallika’s dress was looking good. She too was looking very good. But perhaps the dress was a little too short for the occasion. Who knows!

Sonu Sood (actor): “Some people have all the time in the world to measure dress lengths. Good for them. At least moral policing keeps some people busy. At the same time I feel some celebrities dress a certain way to attract attention and create controversies. Ignore them. It will avoid unnecessary publicity.

Rohit Roy (actor, tv anchor): “What can one say…I’d love to know what the moral police was doing looking at Ms Sherawat’s crossed legs? Maybe waiting for them to uncross???

Lilette Dubey: “Who’s this self-appointed brigade? And what are they afraid of? Influencing the youth of this country?

A generation that’s now exposed to cinema, fashion and images from around the world right there in their homes? It’s up the individual to decide what she wears and if she can handle the public gaze then it’s her prerogative to dress the way she wants.

Amrita Arora (actor): “It’s ridiculous. What’s wrong with wearing a short skirt? And why only target Mallika for it? Girls in colleges and work places across the country are wearing them. Go get all of them,you moral cops! By the way there’re much more serious things to be done in our country than ’skirt-chasing’.

Diya Mirza (former beauty queen,actor): “I think they’ve no right to comment on Mallika. I think they should instead give attention to the sleaze content in some of their films. Stop pointing fingers at someone just because you’ve nothing better to do.

Niharika Singh (beauty queen, model, actor): “I think this is complete hypocrisy. Films down south have a lot more skin show. There’s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill

Sophie Chowdhary (veejay/singer/actress): “I think the reaction to Mallika’s skirt is ridiculous. According to me the outfit is definitely not vulgar or offensive. Surely there’re a hundred other issues in our country to get upset about. Leave Mallika and her clothes alone.

Priyanka (Nisha) Kothari: “I think the moral police are more publicity crazy than any other section of our society.

Samir Soni (model/actor):“I believe what is moral or immoral is an extremely personal decision. No group of people have the right to force their value system on us unless an individual’s action inconveniences others or obstructs someone’s fundamental rights.

Aryan Vaid (model, actor, tv anchor): What can one say? This isn’t really about protection of any morals but the narrow political interests of a group of people.

The laws of the land seem to apply in different measures to different sections of people. There was nothing wrong with Mallika’s outfit. But there’s a long wrong with these moral terrorist outfits.”

Sandhya Mridul: “With due respect the actresses down South wear clothes that seem pretty suggestive and sexy. So what’s their problem?

The moral police all over the country should keep tabs on real moral issues rather than the clothes actress’ wear. Incidentally why are only actresses pulled up for extra-censoring? Why not the males who nowadays pose in less than women?”

Pooja Bedi: “I think the more importance the media gives such people the more such cases we’ll see. The quickest route to fame is to sue celebrities. Morality is so subjective. Do these moralists want to take us back to the days of the purdah?

And should their standards of morality be applicable to society? Was there a dress code at the music event ? If not how could they expect a girl with a glamorous sexy image to land up in a salwar-kameez?

Gul Panag: “Why should it be anyone’s business what someone wears or doesn’t wear? The moral police should close down Khajuraho or dress up the sculpture in ’suitable’ clothes before attacking anyone.

Nandana Sen: ” It’s absurd! Mallika is beautiful and has a style of her own. How can anyone have the right to say that style is wrong? Should we all start wearing uniforms now to make everyone happy? Clothes are one of the ways in which a person expresses her or his individuality.

Dictating what another individual wears is as ridiculous as a third party forbidding you, a writer, from choosing certain topics.Or me, an actor, from taking on certain roles. And if I decide to do what I choose, should my nose and ear be cut as happened today?

What’s the issue with Mallika’s clothes? If the concern is protecting women’s dignity, why don’t we create a safe and protective environment so that little girls aren’t thrown into fires for stepping beyond boundaries that should never have been set up?