Winning Stroke

The actor stressed the need for encouraging such sports among children.

Joyous Moment

Elated with the success of Endhiran,superstar Rajinikant wants to take a break and go on a holiday. He said this when he was recently in Mumbai where he held a special screening of the movie for some select members of the Hindi film industry.

Rajinikant even took the opportunity to meet Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. The duo shared some hearty jokes about each others ages and fitness levels. Thackeray asked the superstar his age and asked him what was the secret of his fitness. Rajinikant answered he was 60 and remarked that the leader,too,looked fit and healthy. Thackeray replied cheekily that he was 85,but what had age got to do with it?

Rajini,who was born to Maharashtrian parents,also expressed his desire to act in Marathi films.

Being Himself

He is an actor who does not act. From playing a corrupt but endearing cop on the big screen to hosting the most controversial reality show on TV,Salman Khan says he is just being himself in front of the camera.

The first and only lesson I have learned in acting is to be myself. Viewers will get 100 per cent unadulterated Salman Khan in Bigg Boss. I am hosting it in my own style frank and uncut, said Salman. While the actors family are ardent viewers of the reality show,he consulted his mother before accepting the programme.

With Dabangg becoming a major hit,Salmans fans are referring to him as Chulbul Pandey,his character in the film. The actor thinks that its the unpredictability and heroism of the role that has made him so popular.

Low Maintainance

Bipasha Basu is trying hard to be Bollywoods de-glam queen. She stars in Priyadarshans latest movie Aakrosh and since the film is based in a small town in Bihar,the characters had to be realistic and simple.

Though this is not the first time that Bipasha has tried to shun her glamorous look,the director was nervous about her looking the part. So he banned the use of combs and make-up. Every time Bipasha looked slick,he made sure he messed up her hair. After all,achieving a non-glam look is not easy for those who are used to being high maintenance.

Reddy to Rise

It seems Sushma Reddy,last seen in a melodious soft drink advertisement,is now ready to wear the producers hat. Shes probably had enough of running around trees and splashing water.

Well,if big banners and Bollywood A-listers have turned to production successfully,Sushma can surely try her luck. She joins hands with producer Sanjay Bhattacharjee for her first venture Dus Tola,which is slated for an October 22 release.

The movie,with its Warner Bros connection,is already creating a buzz and a little luck might also help propel sister Sameeras career. After all,B-town siblings have proved that success is sweetest when shared in the family.

What’s in a name?

Diego Maradona is a football legend and anyone who shares his name with the great Argentinian is bound to make people curious. And that is what happened when Maradona Rebello,who will be seen next in Dunno Y… Na Jaane Kyun,caught Zeenat Amans fascination.

The veteran actress,who is making a comeback to movies with this film,kept asking the young actor the secret behind his name. The story goes that Rebellos father was a great fan of Maradona. And,it was quite a coincidence that the day his son was born in 1986,Argentina won the Soccer World Cup. So thrilled was his dad with the double dhamaka that he decided to name his son after his soccer idol.

The son,however,is thankful that he was not coaxed into taking up football as a career. Whose loss is it,by the way?

Politically correct

Actress Rati Agnihotri is elated to have been roped in by Janata Dal (U) to boost its campaign for the election to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) that was held on October 10. The actor,however,ruled out the possibility of plunging into active politics and said that she was just supporting the JD (U) candidates.

Grand affair!

Who would have thought that the sensational Emraan Hashmi would be a rage in a conservative country like UAE? But apparently he is.

His films Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai,Jannat and Raaz-2 were huge blockbusters there. Hence,it is natural to host the premiere of his latest film Crook- Its Good To Be Bad in Dubai. The grand red- carpet premiere was held recently at a Dubai hotel.

While the entire cast and crew of the film including Neha Sharma,Mohit Suri,Arjan Bajwa and Mukesh Bhatt glided in with a sombre air,Emraan took center-stage with his live performance on the movies popular track Chhalla.