Matrimonials

Indian Catholic gentleman, 38 years, innocently divorced, handsome, responsible and affectionate nature, excellent family background, requests to meet a girlfriend or a female in matrimonial alliance. Hindu vegetarian lady welcome; nationality, religion or caste no barrier. Detailed information will be given in person. Please contact me by phone for appointment: (02) 9676 2512 or 0419 792 947.

Gujarati Brahmin family invites proposals for their pure vegetarian, non-smoker, non-drinker, broadminded, family oriented son, Permanent Resident of Australia, 24 years, 5’ 7”, B.E.Mechanical Engineer, settled in Perth. Alliances are sought from well educated, family oriented, spiritual and good looking girls from well cultured Gujarati families. Initial contact can be made at kulfunda@ gmail.com or 0402 433 385.

Sister seeks suitable bride for her handsome professionally qualified Punjabi Hindu Brahmin brother, 27, working as MBA in HR department in a reputed company in India. Boy teetotaller and belongs to well respected and well to do family in India. Please respond to sharmamona26@yahoo.com.au or call 0433 602 032.

Seeking Grooms

Seeking suitable professionally qualified, Hindu, well-settled match for Indianbased Hindu girl, never married, 30 years, 160cm, practicing as an architect and interior designer in India. Please contact Shivani Baheti (elder sister) on 0421530 876 or bahetived@yahoo.com.

Sister and brother-in-law seek suitable groom for Gujarati Brahmin girl, professionally qualified. Family well settled in India. Seeking 26-29 year old, qualified match with strong cultural and family background. Please email biodata and recent pictures to Meghna.joshi@ato.gov. au or contact 0433 613 676.

Parents seek educated and wellsettled boy for Hindu Punjabi girl, IT professional, Australian citizen, born 1977, 5’ 6” slim, never married. Please send details and recent, clear photo to vnsb2009@gmail.com

Australian resident, born December 74, 5’ 3” slim, fair, Hindu Punjabi Khatri girl, never married, seeks Hindu Punjabi educated boy. Please send details and recent photo to ranjeev333@yahoo.com phone 0061432 020 702.

Sister and brother-in-law invite well settled/educated match for a lovely Jatt

I recently bought a new television and a video recorder from a major shopping outlet. It was the floor model and we did get a large discount for it. When my husband and I installed it at home, we noticed there was a tape in it. We thought that it was a clean tape and when we played it, it was a demo tape but not how to turn the buttons on the TV but how to turn the buttons on your partner, during, you know, love making. Both my husband and I were totally annoyed by the tape and saw it for the next 100 minutes with our mouths open. Thank god my motherin-law had gone to satsang. We now do not know what to do. Should we return the video and the recorder to the shop or should we keep it? We are confused as we always thought these were the actions of perverts.

Auntyji says

Hai! Hai! What are you complaining about, woman! You were home-delivered a piece of erotica which normally have to be ordered in a brown bag from Canberra or for which you have to wear dark glasses and go to certain shops in Kings Cross. Just sit back and enjoy it. Make sure you do not leave it lying around the house or your mother-in-law may think it is the tape of a Ramayana episode which she misplaced when she migrated from India and the contents may just surprise her. Now if you still believe you need to get rid of this video, you can post it to (a) the shop where you bought the video, (b) a friend you believe is open minded, or (c) to Auntyji c/o Indian Link, GPO Box 108, Sydney 2001. I am sure Uncleji may learn some good touches. Though you know, you cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Either way, do not fret about all this, enjoy or discard.

Sikh girl, 24 / 5’6”, completing IT in May 2010 (USA), plans to settle in Australia. Early marriage. Caste no bar. Seeking a suitable match with strong family values. Genuine enquiries please e-mail to shaadi1109@gmail.com with biodata and recent photo.

Sister and brother-in-law seek a suitable groom for a lovely Hindu Punjabi Brahmin girl, professionally qualified. Family well settled in India. Seeking a 25-29-year-old, professionally qualified match, with strong cultural and family background. Please email bio data and recent pictures to mittalarvind@hotmail. com or contact on 0421 669 534.

Seeking a groom for sister who is very warm hearted, caring, attractive, good cook and home-maker. Never married, 47-year-old Hindu Marathi. Hotel management qualified. Can work in Australia as a Certified Cook. Half of the family based in Australia. Australian PR or citizen only. Please email at rnita45@ yahoo.com

Seeking alliance for our 24-year old, 5’4” beautiful Sikh daughter. She is a finance professional with strong family values. We are settled in Sydney for many years. Please send your details and photo at kuldeeponly@gmail.com

Brother seek suitable groom for Hindu Gupta girl, professionally qualified. Family well settled in India. Seeking a 2830 year old, professionaly qualified match, with strong family values. Please send biodata and recent picture to vikjas@gmail. com or contact 0401 318 439.

ABHILASHA SENGUPTA brings us up-to-date on what’s hot and happening in Bollywood

Saif snags the Padma Shri

An overwhelmed Saif Ali Khan thanked all his directors for his successful film career that fetched him his Padma Shri national honour recently. “I am very proud and honoured to have received this honour. I would like to thank my family and loved ones who have been there for me and the industry for supporting me,” Saif said in an e-mail message. “I would particularly like to thank Imtiaz Ali, Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar, Ramesh Taurani, Farhan Akhtar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Siddharth Anand, Kunal Kohli and Vishal Bhardwaj for having faith in me and making me who I am today,” he added. After debuting with Aashiq Awara in 1992, Saif had to struggle a lot till Dil Chahta Hai happened in 2001, marking a turning point in his career. Since then there’s been no looking back for the actor, as he enjoyed hits like Kal Ho Naa Ho, Ek Hasina Thi, Hum Tum, Parineeta, Salaam Namaste, Omkara and Love Aaj Kal. Well done and well deserved, Saif!

It’s finally happened, and about time too! Bollywood is set to stage its own Broadway at a special destination called Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon. The venue will offer Bollywood musicals, stage shows, theatre, performing arts, Indian culture, heritage, crafts, cuisine and shopping, all under one roof. According to a social networking link to the property, it will house an ensemble of a theatre and a lounge. While the 850-seater Nautanki Mahal will showcase Bollywood musicals every day, the approximately 100,000 sq ft Culture Gully will be an air conditioned arts, crafts and food boulevard.

shows a day, including Indian mythology, Balle Balle - My Big Fat Indian Wedding Show, and A Great Indian Talent Circus.

role in the dark drama which is releasing shortly.

Feisty Preity Zinta pulled off a stunt by jumping off the wall of a toilet at the Delhi airport after she got stuck inside for more than 10 minutes. “Spent 10 minutes stuck in the toilet at the airport...Finally had to climb the wall and jump over... People were calling out my name,” Preity posted on her Twitter page recently. The 34-yearold says she felt she would die in there, but managed to escape. “Thought I was going to die as I am claustrophobic. Pulled a muscle in my arm...,” she added. “Being a tomboy when I was younger definitely helped. Trying to climb a wall is never easy. Phew! Happy to go home now.”

So Preity’s doing her own stunts now, how’s that for a true artiste?

Vidya Balan in never-seenbefore role in Ishqiya

Promos of Ishqiya have caught on in a big loves someone, she does so with an open heart and is all passionate. On the other hand, you make yourself her enemy and she won’t think twice about showing the violent and aggressive side of hers.” She also engages herself in a lustful bout with another man.

,” adds Vidya.

What do you mean, ‘direct dil se’?

“Well, she is someone who will do what she wants. In fact, the most thrilling part for me was that I was playing a bad woman for the first time. This doesn’t mean though that she doesn’t have good shades at all.

Guess Who Guess Who

(Find the answer under Caption Contest)

She is a consummate Indian woman who can be a mother as well as a caretaker. She would make chai and food for you when you wish while behind closed doors she would expect her own needs and desire to be fulfilled. She is Rambha, Saraswati, Durga and Kaali - all brought together in one body.”

“2009 ended on a positive note for me with Paa turning out to be such a good commercial success while also gaining immense critical acclaim. Now in the case of Ishqiya, I genuinely hope that people like the film.”

Zarine says zilch to bikini

Flaunting one’s body in a bikini is no longer taboo in Hindi films, but new entrant Zarine Khan, who debuted with Veer says she would never be able to don a two-piece costume on screen. In Veer, the Mumbai girl was covered from head to toe throughout the film. But is she ready to play a chic urban girl and wear contemporary costumes in her future movies?

“I am more than willing to do so. What I am sure about though is that I would never be able to wear a bikini. That’s because I am constantly thinking that I am fat! Till the time this voice reverberates inside my head, I will always be apprehensive,” said Zarine in an interview. “I’m very conscious about my weight. In fact, during my school and college days, I used to weigh as much as 100 kilos. It’s only now that I weigh a lot lesser. I want to play all kinds of roles and get into the kind of attire that a Hindi film heroine is required to wear,” said the young actress, adding “However, before that I will have to get rid of all the excess weight that I currently have on me. It’s just a few more pounds to go and after that it should all be well.”

Zarine, who plays princess Yashodhara in Veer understands that if she wants to be in the business of showbiz, she will need a good figure. “Whatever role that I consent to play, it has to be done with dedication. However, I’m a new entrant and there are so many established actresses who are taking the size zero route. Obviously, I can’t beat them due to my body structure, but I wish to get into shape to the best of my ability,” she said.

Narrating her journey of weighty issues, Zarine said, “It was only after I started doing modelling that my weight went down by 40-45 kilos from an original 100. I have a tendency to lose and put on weight. While working on Veer, I was so happy. For a change no one was asking me to lose weight!”

In Veer she was not required to look skinny; therefore she could even pile on chocolates.

Well, let’s hope Zarine keeps off the pounds, because this Katrinalookalike is already being called ‘Fatrina’!

Ranbir, Katrina up for awards?

Director Prakash Jha is confident that his film Raajneeti will fetch the prestigious National Awards for Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. “This film will take Ranbir to another level,” said Jha. He has cast the actor as USeducated scion of a political dynasty who has to reluctantly return home to shoulder his family’s duties. “I hope, no,

I’m in fact pretty certain, he’ll win the National Award for his performance,” confided Jha recently. “Katrina has breathed fire and passion into her role. From the way she metamorphoses from a young vivacious girl, to the way she walks to give her public speeches as a politician. Audiences won’t be able to believe the transformation of Katrina.

I won’t be surprised if both Ranbir and Katrina win National Awards,” he added. He can’t stop preening over the fact that his Raajneeti features the maximum number of National Award winners in its cast, Arjun Rampal being the latest. “Everyone is outstanding in the film. And why not? I’ve a line-up of National Award winners in the cast - from Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar to Manoj Bajpai and Ajay Devgan. When I heard Arjun had won the National Award for Rock On!, I was ecstatic. He is fantastic in my film,” enthused Jha, claiming that the film is the biggest multistarrer. “I think it’d be impossible to get so many stars under one roof for any other director,” he said proudly.

SRK’s query on love

How far would you go for love? If you haven’t given it a thought so far then have your answer ready because Shah Rukh Khan would soon be asking this question across the country. The superstar’s love query to Indians is part of a special promotional campaign for My Name Is Khan, says filmmaker Karan Johar. Establishing a connection with the people and Kajol together on screen after eight long years, one can expect some fireworks during its promotions as well.

Keep on Rocking?

After its unprecedented success back in August 2008, a sequel to Rock On!! has been on the anvil. The movie’s two leading men Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal were enthusiastic about the sequel right away, but director Abhishek Kapoor wasn’t keen on a follow up of the cult film. But on winning the National Award for Best Hindi film, he’s ready to change his mind. “A sequel seems like the right thing to do, and I’m all for it,” says Farhan. “However, the decision is entirely Abhishek’s.” On the other hand, Arjun Rampal, who never stopped his guitar lessons, is quite a proficient player now. Abhishek Kapoor reluctantly admits that he’s working on a couple of ideas for the sequel. “I don’t want to rush into a sequel just because it will be commercially viable. The sequel has to stand on its own feet and not just be a carryover of the original,” he said in an interview. Let’s hope the sequel rocks the box office, just like its predecessor!

Aamir’s Padma Bhushan memory

Bollywood star Aamir Khan, who is riding high on the success of 3 Idiots, couldn’t have asked for more. When the actor received the “wonderful news” that he was recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian honour, his mother’s smiling face flashed in his mind. “I’m so happy to receive this unique honour. The first thing that comes to my mind is my mother’s smiling face,” Aamir SMSed from Utah, US, where he was attending the Sundance Film Festival. His production venture Peepli Live had its world premiere there. Directed by Anusha Rizvi, Peepli Live is a satire on rural life in India. It features Raghuvir Yadav along with debutant actors from Madhya Pradesh. “Indeed this has been a good day for me. First my film Peepli Live gets a superb response at the Sundance Film Festival, and then I receive this wonderful news of receiving the Padma Bhushan,” said the actor. “I only wish I was back home right now. I would like to thank God for these happy moments, and all my fans and wellwishers for their love, support and good wishes,” added the 44-year-old who is already a recipient of the Padma Shri. The actor has blazed a new trail to success with 3 Idiots. According to latest reports, Aamir’s movie that takes a critical look at the education system in the country has become the biggest grosser by earning Rs.382 crore worldwide till date. Well, that’s the Aamir we know and love… anything but an idiot!

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What’s

Some other good ones is fast turning out to be a trend amongst the Bollywood biggies. Way back in 2006, Shah Rukh himself did so to promote Don - The Chase Begins Again. In recent times, while Aamir Khan has pulled out all stops to mingle with people across the country for his Ghajini and 3 Idiots, even a normally reluctant Salman Khan was seen stepping out for Veer.

As the much-hyped My Name Is Khan, which releases Feb 12, brings Shah Rukh

After

You better get uncle Yash to sign me for his next movie… this pic with you can do so much damage to my career. Maninder Sandhu