KBC comeback!

THE month of June is going to bring refreshing showers from the sky, and we’re not talking about the wet ones. The Big B has emerged th...

THE month of June is going to bring refreshing showers from the sky, and we’re not talking about the wet ones. The Big B has emerged the winner yet again, proving that he is (so far) unbeatable. Because Kaun Banega Crorepati is coming back on air, claiming its prime time, and making it worth your while to stay indoors. A little bird told us that the channel is also going to use this opportunity to edge out Kamzor Kadi Kaun, just like they did with KBC last year. So after the ‘‘break’’, the show is expected to be back, same time, new format. If the infamous Anne Robinson could not sustain the ‘bitchy’ image — her show The Weakest Link was pulled off air recently — how much of a chance did our own Neena Gupta have anyway?

Ghar ka murgi!

NOT surprisingly, Aishwarya Rai has been ultra-professional during the making of her new film Dil Ka Rishta. Known to be moody and difficult normally (ask Sanjay Leela Bhansali how she drove him nuts during the making of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, or ask Vidhu Vinod Chopra how she behaved recently when he refused to pay her a fancy sum for his next film), the actress has turned over a new leaf lately. If you’re wondering why, here’s the reason. Not only is the movie scripted by her mum Vrinda Rai, it is produced jointly by Aishwarya and Shabbir Boxwala. While shooting for this one, the actress always reports on time, and has struck up a warm relationship with co-star Arjun Rampal.

Switching Debuts

AFTER all the hype surrounding his grand film debut in Kaante, looks like Lucky Ali will be first seen not in that Reservoir Dogs remake, but in Pooja Bhatt’s Sur. Cast opposite newcomer Gauri Karnik, Lucky plays a good-natured musician who ends up with a huge ego complex when his protege turns out to be more successful than himself. Meanwhile, according to the Bollywood grapevine, Lucky isn’t particularly thrilled about Kaante in the first place. Not only has he been grumbling about his role but he claims he was disappointed with the entire film-making experience.

A Perfect Role

THE industry can’t stop talking about what a commendable job Akshaye Khanna has reportedly done in the forthcoming Abbas-Mustan starrer Humraaz. A remake of the Michael Douglas-Gwyneth Paltrow-Viggo Mortensen starrer A Perfect Murder, the local thriller also stars Bobby Deol and Amisha Patel in leading roles. Cast in the negative role of the three, Akshaye is supposed to have performed excellently. So much so that the director-duo have offered him a plum part in their next film. And in typical AK fashion, he’s hemming and hawing before he finally decides whether he will or he won’t take on the offer.

Nagging Doubt

Jackie Shroff: ‘‘Salman’s had the cut at the right time as the weather is quite hot these days. In my opinion he looks really cool, and should keep the same look for his films.’’

Sanjay Gupta: ‘‘Salman’s done something no other actor has had the courage to do. He should never wear a wig. This look is smashing!’’

Rahul Dev: ‘‘Salman’s new look is really cool. I don’t know if the bald look will suit the roles he’s choosing, but it makes him look really good.’’

Aditi Govitrikar: ‘‘I haven’t seen Salman’s new look, but I think if he keeps the bald look in his films, it will give the character he plays a new dimension. It would be interesting to do that, I think.’’

Day after PM Modi’s visit to the town, Manipur’s Churachandpur sees violent protest

India7 hr ago

Protests in Manipur's Churachandpur turned violent as two men were arrested for damaging decorations for PM Modi's visit. The crowd demanded their release and attempted to storm the police station. The men were eventually released after a bail hearing. The incident occurred after a clash between locals and police on Thursday, but the situation had calmed down before Saturday's visit.

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