Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez, who is starring opposite Emraan Hashmi in Bollywood film "Murder 2", is all praise for Mallika Sherawat, the lead actress in "Murder".
"I have seen 'Murder' and I loved Mallika's performance. I think she is extremely daring and that's something we can all learn from her," Jacqueline, who was here for a promotional event of energy drink Burn at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), told reporters.
"As an actress, it's so nice to see someone so bold, so daring and so brave and I think that's what she stands for, which is great."
According to reports, the 25-year-old actress will be seen in a bold avatar, doing some intimate scenes with Emraan in the film.
Asked to comment on the film, she said: "When you get into a field like acting, a lot of other things become immaterial. So if the role and the script demands something, you do it."
Jacqueline, who has worked in films like "Aladin" and "Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai", will also be seen in the sequel of Sajid Khan directorial "Houseful".
So is she becoming the replacing queen?
"I don't think it's a matter of replacing anyone. I'm in a 'Murder' sequel, which is a totally different narrative as compared to the original film. And 'Houseful 2' is also a completely different narrative from its original. It's got a completely different star cast for the girls this time. So it was not a matter of replacing anyone," the actress said.
"When people will watch 'Murder 2', they'll realize that it's such a different movie. So I don't think that they'll be able to compare even if they want to because both the films are not at all alike. If it was along the same story line or a continuation, then I would understand but here the situation is different," she added.
Jacqueline, who was crowned the Miss Sri Lanka Universe 2006, made her debut in Bollywood in 2009 with Sujoy Ghosh's "Aladin". She is happy of finally getting plump projects in the industry.
"This year things are looking a little up for me, which is great because the kind of movies I'm doing now and the kind of work I'm getting, I think I've kind of found my place in Bollywood," she said.
Katrina Kaif look-alike Barbie Dolls will hit the Indian stores on March 20. And the actress has already drawn up a list of people whom she's going to give her first batch of Barbies to.
Topping the list is her niece Maya and Farah Khan's triplets Anya, Czar and Diva.
"The first doll will go to my sister's two-and-a-half year-old daughter Maya because she is obsessed with Barbie. I'm going to London for a couple of days for work. I'll give her the doll then," said Katrina.
Katrina also plans to give the dolls to her directors Zoya Khan and Farah Khan. While three Barbie dolls will go to Farah's kids,of whom Czar is a huge fan of the actress, Katrina wants Zoya also (Zindagi Na Mile Dobaara) to line her shelves with her dolls.
"There are other tots on the give-away list too. Kabir Khan's daughter Sairah," says Katrina.
"She's just three but sings to Sheila ki Jawani with all the words and does the steps too. That's where my real compliment comes from," the actress added.
Katrina elaborated, "I will give my doll personally to all my friends in the film industry. Ali Zafar (Mere Brother Ki Dulhan's director) asked me where would he put that doll? But I snapped office or home everyone should have one doll of mine!" she laughed.
The launch of the Katrina Kaif Barbie dolls at stores will be followed by a fashion show and launch of a video introducing the doll. While the initial doll will feature as Katrina the movie star, there are plans to launch her look-alike Barbies in various other avatars too.
Katrina says, "It's a very special moment for me. It's the first time that an Asian actress has been chosen to feature in the Barbie range.My sisters are more proud of this achievement than of any of my films, which they don't have much knowledge of. But who hasn't heard of a Barbie doll?"
Lahore: Pakistani actress Veena Malik has received a "death threat" from a purported Taliban commander for appearing on the Indian reality TV show "Big Boss", her media manager said on Saturday.
"Self-styled Taliban commander Ahmed Masood issued the death threat in a hand-written letter sent to Veena for appearing on the Indian show," Sohail Rashid, her media manager, said. "Veena is in India but she will not seek asylum there or in any other country on security grounds," Rashid said.
He dismissed speculation that the media was informed about the Taliban threat to garner "cheap publicity" for Veena. Rashid said clerics in Pakistan had been criticising Veena since she appeared in Indian television shows, especially "Big Toss".
"This is not the first time she has received threats. Earlier she was given threats through SMS messages," he added. The authenticity of the letter could not immediately be verified.
Veena, 33, earned the ire of clerics and hardliners for her appearance in "Big Boss", during which she featured in several intimate scenes with actor Ashmit Patel. Hardliners have accused her of shaming Pakistan.
The actress in currently in India to host the cricket World Cup show "Big Toss". Veeena told the media that her security was a concern and the Pakistan government is responsible for protecting her and her family.
Noting that key personalities like Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer had been assassinated by hardliners despite being provided security, Veena said her life and death was in God's hands.
Sofia Vergara has denied rumours that advertising bosses had used digital technology to make her look thinner in a new advertising campaign for Pepsi.
She said that she looked slimmer in the photos because of a wardrobe choice.
The ‘Modern Family’ star is seen wearing a large blue hat and a revealing halter-neck top in the pictures to promote the drinks brand''s new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can.
The commercial, however, received criticism from critics and campaigners, who alleged computer wizardry was used to minimise Vergara''s curves, with a representative for The National Eating Disorders Association calling the advert ‘thoughtless and irresponsible’.
Vergara has now cleared the controversy, insisting the pictures have not been altered in any way.
“That is not true at all. I saw the pictures, and now with technology, they''re looking at it on the screen right after they take them. It was just a different way of dressing me,” the Daily Express quoted her, as telling the Boston Herald.
LOS ANGELES: Robert Zemeckis' performance capture system, which turns life-action into animation, gets quite a workout in Disney's "Mars Needs Moms," which opens on Friday.
Its characters, both human and Martian, tumble through space, slide down chutes, chase along corridors that turn every which way and dance around mountains and into caverns created out of huge mounds of trash. The process has also lost those weirdly inhuman faces that plagued "The Polar Express," Zemeckis' first foray into performance capture. In fact, so many things in this unique kind of animation, especially the designs and all its many details, keep getting better and better. So why does "Mars Needs Moms" feel so slight?
Other than "Beowulf," his most successful performance-capture film to date, Zemeckis has chosen to deploy this system in children's films. Which is just fine as far as that goes, but where the technical advances and story sophistication in his "Beowulf" pointed toward James Cameron's "Avatar," "Mars Needs Moms" points toward a ride at Disneyland.
This film from Zemickis' ImageMovers Digital and, appropriately, Walt Disney Pictures will certainly be a treat for younger family members. But for teens on up the generational scale, the interest level will plummet.
For that matter, it will be interesting to see how "Mars" in its first week fares against "Rango," an animated film with considerable sophistication and outreach to older audiences, in its second weekend. As with his "A Christmas Carol" movie, Zemeckis paints himself into a digital corner by ignoring adults.
"Mars" does do one thing much better than "A Christmas Carol," however: It has emotions. After all, it is based on a children's novel by cartoonist Berkeley Breathed, who admits the book came in reaction to a disobedient son expressing keen dissatisfaction with even having a (nagging) mother. Consequently, the entire story about a mom kidnapped by Martians and her rescue by her young son bubbles over with emotions. It's an illustrated laundry lists all the things moms do for their kids -- and that would include the laundry.
For this film, Zemeckis turns directing chores over to Simon Wells, who directed "The Time Machine" and co-directed the animated "The Prince of Egypt." Wells and his wife Wendy adapted the Breathed book with nearly every plot turn driving home the point that kids need moms.
Milo, age 9, is the focal point. He is enacted by Seth Green and voiced by a much younger Seth named Seth Dusky, age 11. The estimable Joan Cusack is Mom but since she spends most of the time under lock and key, the major roles fall to an extremely funny Dan Folger as Mars' only other human, a disheveled techo-wiz named Gribble; Elisabeth Harnois as Ki, a rebellious young Martian who learned English watching '70s sitcoms; and Mindy Sperling as the humorless, nasty Martian leader whose body appears as mummified as her heart.
Designer Doug Chiang has a grand time turning the Red Planet into a giant fun ride from those loopy Martians with triangular heads, no real noses and otherworldly bodies and gaits to an underground world of stark simplicity and sterility. Women run the place while men -- Gribble calls them the Hairy Tribe Guys -- get tossed down chutes with the garbage as they're apparently the most expendable resource on the planet.
The entire movie is set up as a race against the clock by Milo to save his mom but the film finds time to take in the Martian civilization in passing, a gag-filled and mostly lighthearted re-imagining of our own world if women ruled. (It is odd though how a movie meant to glorify moms is so riddled with anti-feminist concepts. These are, of course, Martian females not human ones but still ...)
Anachronistic dialogue rules for the most part as not only does Ki brim with the hep lingo of the Flower Children era, but Gribble, who is thirty-something, is stuck forever in the '80s when he left planet Earth.
The movie shrugs off any real attempt at science fiction other than oxygen helmets for the surface of Mars. The characters still dash around those surfaces in short sleeves in what should be an 87 degrees climate and make the round trip from Earth to Mars, which should take about 18 months, in a half minute.
The skill level of this motion capture animation is getting better all the time. So "Mars" is accomplished at every level. But the three most important things in movies are story, story, story so the movie never comes off as the considerable achievement it truly is. (Reuters)
MEXICO CITY: Actress Jennifer Aniston says some non-comedy movie projects are in her future, including a film based on the true story of an all-female country-western band that formed at a Texas prison in the 1940s.
Aniston says the band was "sort of the Dixie Chicks of their time." No production or release dates have been set for the project, tentatively titled "The Goree Girls."
After starring in a string of romantic comedies such as "Just Go With It," Aniston may be turning her sights to more serious fare. Another project, tentatively called "Counterclockwise," may focus on the studies of Ellen Langer, a renowned Harvard psychology professor.
Aniston was in Mexico City on Thursday to promote her new perfume, which bears her name. (AP)
LOS ANGELES: A film of grimm banality, "Red Riding Hood" puts a bloodthirsty "Twilight" spin on a fairy tale already possessed of an unusually macabre climax.
As it thuds along from one wolf attack to the next, Catherine Hardwicke's first film since taking leave of Bella and her toothy friends adamantly refuses to provide any wit, humor or fun, concerning itself mostly with the heroine's taxing dilemma of picking between the rural village's two best looking boys.
Still, with Warner Bros. delivering a massive campaign aimed at a ready-and-drooling target audience, some big opening numbers lie in wait this weekend.
"Red Riding Hood" is in the vanguard of what appears to be an onslaught of live-action fairy tale-derived studio features over the next year or so. What triggered this trend remains unclear, but one can only hope that the level of cleverness and invention improves, as things hardly get off to an inspired start here.
Restricting the action almost entirely to a small Ruritanian community where everyone but the visiting Gary Oldman speaks in mundane American accents, the script by David Leslie Johnson ("Orphan") pivots on two central creative ploys -- to turn a mere wolf into a werewolf and to transform the ancient story into a whodunnit in which the lovely young Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) must figure out who among the locals nocturnally mutates into the massive black hound that killed her sister and converses to her, hoping she'll run away with it.
Is it Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), the cute but poor woodcutter who has been her true love since childhood and himself would love to take her away? Might it possibly be his rival, Henry (Max Irons), the prosperous blacksmith Valerie's mother (Virginia Madsen) has arranged for her to marry? Could it be Dad (Billy Burke, the sad-sack father from "Twilight"), who boozes it up with regularity? Or, heaven forbid, is the wolf perhaps Grandma herself (Julie Christie), a bohemian eccentric who lives on her own out in the forest and has yellowish-brown eyes quite like those of the wolf itself.
Officially taking charge of the case once the wolf begins attacking humans for the first time in 20 years is Father Solomon (Oldman), an itinerant werewolf hunter in cleric's robes who resembles his Biblical namesake far less than he does Torquemada, so convinced is he that his inquisitional techniques can elicit a confession of lycanthropy.
As in "Thirteen," "The Nativity Story" and "Twilight" before it, "Red Riding Hood" allows Hardwicke to focus on the emotional trials of a teenager thrust unceremoniously onto the rocks of extreme grown-up dilemmas and feeling her way toward solutions.
Unfortunately, the context here is hokier than in any of the director's previous films and, as she's not a stylist or genre specialist, she has little to bring to this sort of material other than a natural empathy for the lead character. The dialogue exchanges possess no spark, the action is indifferently covered by random camera moves and cuts and the only jolts are provoked by cheap shock-cuts to the growling or roaring wolf.
The only memorable image is the fortunately frequently appearing one of Seyfried with her blond hair flowing from beneath the eponymous scarlet cloak that matches her pillow lips. Otherwise, the young actress has seen better days than this before and assuredly will again. The local men are boringly one-note but the casting of Christie was smart, as she bestows her iconoclastic spirit upon the ambiguous grandma.
The Vancouver-shot production, mostly confined to a studio set, has a rather dreary look spiced here and there by unusual production and costume design details that lend modern touches. (Reuters)
"World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles"; Actors: Aaron Eckhart, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Michelle Rodriguez, Ne-Yo; Director: Jonathan Liebesman; Rating: ***
There is nothing original about "World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles". In brief, it is "Independence Day" meets "Cloverfield" meets "Black Hawk Down" meets "Saving Private Ryan" with state-of-art special effects thrown in. And this, as you would have guessed, makes it a fun film, a total value-for-your-money movie.
Gulf War veteran Marine Staff Sergeant Michael (Aaron Eckhart) has put in his papers. But when the world is under attack from an alien race, he unwillingly becomes part of a platoon with zero combat experience to fight an enemy with superior power.
As things escalate and most of the air power of the United States is wiped out, it is up to the Staff Sergeant to command the inexperienced group of soldiers and a few civilians to safety.
Along the way, he discovers he could be the key to defeating the undefeatable aliens and as the world is retreating to a defence, he and his motley band of soldiers, decide to go on the offensive.
"World Invasion" takes itself less seriously than even the fun-film "Independence Day". If you consider the patriotic rhetoric of that film, this is a good thing. And there's no politics of "Saving Private Ryan" either. Though there is a hint of politics when the reason for the invasion is believed to be the one resource that the earth has an abundance of - water - and an expert claims on TV, "Rule of colonisation states that you wipe out the indigenous population. Right now we are being colonised."
There was a scope to throw in more of how dominant nations have been doing to their colonies what the aliens are doing to earth - decimating them. That would have made the film much more exciting.
Thus you have the usual sacrifices just at the right time, the fight over who's in command, an unresolved enmity, an unsure commanding officer, a band of brothers unwilling to leave the wounded behind, the usual teasing where you are not shown the full view of the alien for long, a civilian with just the information needed at crucial times, the expected twist in the tale a little after centre point, the usual last crucial missile shot that can save the planet etc.
Yet, despite its slightly longish take at over two hours, the film does not get boring or lose momentum at any point.
Director Jonathan Liebesman who has given some forgettable films, finally makes one that would be remembered. Writer Christopher Bertolini, who seemed to have disappeared after his delightful screenplay of "The General's Daughter", over a decade back, resurfaces with this film that is just the beginning of a franchise.
"Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1" has become the highest international grosser of "Harry Potter" franchise.
It has earned over USD 657 million at the world box office, reports contactmusic.com.
"It's tremendously gratifying to reach this benchmark as we enter the final stretch of this remarkable journey. We share this achievement with Jo Rowling, whose books are the foundation of this rich and vibrant world, as well as the talented people who brought her vision to life on the screen," Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, said in a statement.
Warner Bros. representative Veronika Kwan-Rubinek said: "These numbers speak to the phenomenal and enduring strength of this property, which has captivated audiences across all borders, regardless of age or culture."
The success of the franchise has also made actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - who play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley respectively - among Britain's richest young celebrities.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" will be the last of the historical "Harry Potter" franchise. It may hit the screens July 15.
A host of Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shekhar Kapur and Madhuri Dixit have expressed grief at the devastation in Japan, which was hit Friday by a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami.
The celebrities are shocked at the images of the country after the disaster and, in postings on their blogs and social networking site Twitter, they hope that the pain and suffering will subside soon.
Here's what they had to say: Amitabh Bachchan: The horrible visuals of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan are just unbearable to watch! The fury of the devastation and the helplessness of those that suffer is petrifying. In this hour of grief our heads bow down in prayer and hope, for those that face this trauma and wish that we can through our thoughts give them solace and comfort.
Shekhar Kapur: Watching videos from Japan was like watching an apocalypse. Heart and prayers go out to people of Japan.
Madhuri Dixit: Can you believe another quake and tsunami? My heart goes out to them.
Gul Panag: My heart goes out to all those affected by nature's fury in Japan. Gut-wrenching images on TV.
Vivek Oberoi: Just got back and saw the heartbreaking images of the tragedy in Japan... brings back memories of the destruction and devastation I saw during the tsunami in India. The images we see on television are nothing compared to the real pain and anguish of the people going through it... my thoughts and prayers are with them.
Shahana Goswami: Feel really helpless and upset with the tsunami and what its done to Japan. All the support and love to the survivors.
Aftab Shivdasani: Shocking visuals of the earthquake in Japan... Dreading the loss of life there. It's nature's way of saying do not spoil the planet... Must respect nature before it gets too late. My condolences and deep compassion to all those who lost their loved ones in this unforeseen fury of nature. May the divine bless the souls.
Arshad Warsi: God be with the ppl of Japan...
Siddharth: The visuals of yesterday (Friday) still haven't sunk in. It's all so very tragic. 2012 does seem like just another doomsday prophecy anymore!
Shahid Kapoor: Spread the love people... Life is just too short... Japan could have been us... Live with no regrets... May god bless us all!
R. Madhavan: My heart goes out to Japan. Having lived through one in Chennai I can't even imagine how this must be.
Lisa Ray: Deeply saddened by news of natural disaster in Japan.
Sanjay Suri: Heart and prayers for all suffering in Japan. Life is so very fragile.
Divya Dutta: EverythIng that we run around for is so frivolous in front of nature's fury. Let's make every day magical as if there's no tomorrow... prayers for Japan.
Sophie Choudry: As I lay me down to sleep, can't help but think of today's (Friday's) tragedy. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of Japan. Lord have mercy.
Shreya Ghosal: The Japan Earthquake, Tsunami is MASSIVE!! I am just praying... Dear God, have mercy..
It seems that after the reality game show ‘Zor Ka Jhatka,’ hosted by him was not as attention-grabbing as expected, King Khan has become quite concerned about the success of his forthcoming undertakings.
Well, the international gangster of Farhan Akthar’s ‘Don 2’ is up with some mind-blowing endeavors for promoting his IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders.
Grapevine has it that Shahrukh Khan, the celebrity co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, is all set to make a rocking music video with the Colombian singer Shakira, for promoting KKR.
SRK is also tuning up to sizzle with the bombshell in the upcoming music video, the making of which will start only after the actor is done with his shooting for ‘Don 2’, in Malaysia.
While the celebrated music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman will be compiling the song for SRK’s forthcoming musical venture, prominent Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will be lending his voice to it.
SRK to promote KKR via social networking sites With the IPL season drawing nearer, the Baadshah of Bollywood, who had formerly lost interest in social networking sites, is now looking forward to make the most of them.
Apparently, as social networking sites have become the most happening things in one’s day to day life, Shahrukh has appointed a group of individuals to look after the publicity of KKR on these sites.
Well, seems like SRK is going to leave no stone unturned for promoting Kolkata Knight Riders.
Veena Malik has ruffled many a feathers in the past, almost with nonchalance, but possibly even she didn't anticipate that she might end up offending one of the most dangerous Islamist militia groups, the Taliban. And the reason for this is, well, India.
The actress recently claimed that she had been threatened by the militant group Taliban. Malik apparently received a letter from Islamist group via a media house in Pakistan, the representatives of which confirmed the authenticity of the source, reported The Express Tribune.
The actress says the letter has been sent from a Ahmed Masood of the Taliban. The contents of the letter threaten to give Malik ‘exemplary punishment for her work in India’, she claims. In fact, the letter even threatens her family and Malik declared that if anything happened to them she would hold the government responsible.
The actress shot to the centre of controversy when she gave match-fixing evidence against her former beau cricketer Mohammed Asif. She then hit headlines with her intimacy with co-participant Ashmit Patel on Indian television show Bigg Boss.
She is currently in India appearing on television shows for the cricket World Cup and is reportedly getting security from Indian authorities. She will soon be informing the Pakistan authorities of the situation as well.
Katrina Kaif has announced that she will move into film production to help launch her sister Isabel.
The actress, whose family are based in the London borough of Finchley, will also act in the project, Mumbai Mirror reports.
A source close to the actor commented: "She would have turned producer some time ago but she decided to save the moment and use it for her sister's benefit."
Kaif's younger sibling has recently completed drama training in preparation for her industry launch. The source added: "Isabel has finished attending acting school in the US and Katrina will now take the plunge."
Additionally, the Welcome star revealed that she plans to educate her sister on the history of Indian cinema.
"When I came to Bollywood, I couldn't tell Sholay from Mughal-e-Azam," former model Katrina said.
Facing a little trouble in the bedroom and Viagra doesn't work for you? Well, spiders may help you. New research shows that one arachnid might actually be best kept by your bedside.
A single bite from the Brazilian wandering spider has been shown to have side-effects including four-hour long erections. The eight-legged creature - also known as the armed spider, banana spider or Phoneutria nigriventer - is native to South and Central America.
Scientists at the Medical College of Georgia believe the species contains a possible breakthrough for erectile dysfunction.
"The venom of the Phoneutria nigriventer spider is a very rich mixture of several molecules," the Daily Mail quoted Dr Kenia Nunes, a physiologist at the college, as saying.
"These molecules are called toxins, and then we have various toxins in this venom with different activity.
"Because of this, when a human is bitten by this spider, we can observe many different symptoms including priapism, a condition in which the penis is continually erect," Nunes added.
Other side-effects on top of the long-painful erections include loss of muscle control, severe pain, difficulty breathing and if its victim is not treated with anti-venom, could lead to death due to oxygen deprivation.
But its unusual effects could be used to treat sexual dysfunction in both men and women, according to Nunes.
In her study Nunes' experiment managed to give erection-challenged rats with high blood pressure a bit of a boost.
A peptide called PnTx2-6 was given to the flaccid rats, who achieved side-effect free erections.
Nunes said: "We found the toxin responsible [for the erections] and performed experiments using hypertensive rats which have severe erectile dysfunction. The toxin was able to normalise the erectile dysfunction in these animals."
The spider's toxin worked in a different way to drugs such as Viagra though and Nunes told MSNBC: "This is good because we know that some patients don't respond to the conventional therapy.
"This could be an optional treatment for them."
The study has been published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Irrfan Khan and Sunil Shetty is trying to re-register their weddings
Come Friday, Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Irrfan Khan and Sunil Shetty expect to get the necessary approval to re-register their marriages at the Bandra Family Court.
Getting a second registration done (while the original one is still valid) is still technically possible, the cast has requested the court to grant them special permission to go through the entire registration process again, their wives in tow. So Akshay-Twinkle, Bobby-Tanya, Irrfan-Sutapa and Sunil-Mana will make a beeline to the Family Court.
A source reveals, "It was Akshay who suggested they do something around renewing their wedding vows. His co-stars were more than willing to co-operate. Since all the four actors are married, they also wanted to spring a sweet surprise on their wives by doing so."
The men want to re-register their marriages at the Bandra Family Court, and have requested the registrar to allow them to do so. Since they have given a short notice period, the request is still pending.
But given the clout of the actors and the media attention it would bring the court, chances are they might be given approval.
Bazmee confirms, "When Akki came up with this idea, I was amazed. Thank You is all about infidelity, so to go and prove your fidelity seemed like a brilliant idea. We hope to get the permission to re-register these marriages."
Shilpa Shetty has reportedly been snubbed at a major industry party because she is 'only famous for showing off her body'.
The actress has not been invited to the World Kannada Meet despite an initial invitation being extended to fellow Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai.
Speaking to Mid Day, a source said: "We prefer Shilpa to other Bollywood stars since she has acted in Kannada movies and connects well with the Kannada audience.
"But some writers are not comfortable with the idea and plans have been changed just to avoid controversy."
The Celebrity Big Brother winner has starred in two films translated to the Kannada language.
The sex siren was scrapped from celebrity invitee list after writers criticised her for exposing her navel while starring in two Kannada films
Following close on the heels of the recent displeasure expressed by writers over Infosys chief N R Narayana Murthy inaugurating the Viswa Kannada Sammelana (World Kannada Meet), another noted personality faces their ire for a very different reason.
Writers preferred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as special invitee and perfect representative of Kannada pride outside the state, as opposed to Shilpa Shetty, because they think that the latter is known for her skimpy dressing sense.
The list Shilpa has acted in Kannada films including Preethsod Thappa and Auto Shankar. But, the writers were not happy with her because of her steamy scenes and she exposing her navel while draped in a sari. They added that while she was a celebrity outside the state, she could not be seen as the pride of the state.
Deepika Padukone was also short listed along with Aishwarya and Shilpa as these glam dolls of Hindi filmdom are from the Tulu speaking part of Karnataka. But, since she was currently out of India and since the orthodox writers did not favour Shilpa, former Miss World Aishwarya was a clear winner.
Organisers speak However, organisers sought to decline that skimpy dress sense was the criteria saying that Aishwarya was always the proffered choice.
A source from the organising committee requesting anonymity said "We prefer Shilpa to other Bollywood stars since she has acted in Kannada movies and connects well with the Kannada audience. But some writers are not comfortable with the idea and plans have been changed just to avoid controversy."
"Shipla Shetty was in the list, but we could not include everyone because of the space and time limit. Also, security was another major concern and we decided that Aishwarya would be the only invitee among all the film stars, " said Prabhakara Kore, working president of the meet. "I hope she will speak Kannada when she greets the audience, " Kore added.
'Ash no different'
Tara, Kannada film actress and a member of the BJP, was irked. She said, "It is ridiculous to reject anyone for their onscreen dressing. We have to be mature enough to see an actor beyond their onscreen roles.
If we say Shilpa was seen in revealing clothes, then Aishwarya is no exception as she has been seen in steamy scenes as well."
"Shilpa or Deepika are a better choice since both have acted in Kannada movies unlike Aishwarya, who has none to her credit, " she said. She also added that while people have heard Shilpa and Deepika speaking Kannada, no one she knew could vouch for Aishwarya.
I M Vittalmurthy, special officer of the meet, said, "Not that we have ignored other achievers by inviting Aishwarya alone. We have selected her as a representative of all of them."
