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Salim Khan on why son Salman is still single

Why is Salman Khan still single?

Dad Salim Khan has the answer to the question that has vexed so many of his fans – he’s a mama’s boy. Salman, he says, mostly falls for actresses who can’t pamper him like his mother.

“Now that is not possible,” Salim told trade analyst Komal Nahta on the TV show Bollywood Business

“A woman who has just started her career can’t be doing stuff like preparing meals, washing clothes, preparing kids and yet lead the hectic life of a movie star! This expectation can’t be met by a woman who has just started her film career…not even if she tries,” reasoned the 74-year-old, who made a rocking scriptwriting team with Javed Akhtar.

Salman, Salim’s eldest son, has been

Sangeeta Bijlani and Aishwarya Rai.

The 44-year-old is said to have split from his latest girlfriend, actress Katrina Kaif. Salim dodged the question, saying: “I can’t say if Katrina is in Salman’s life... If a marriage decision stretches for so long, it usually does not happen. It means that the person is not 100 percent sure to get into it…that’s why the delay.”

According to Salim, Salman suffers heartbreaks because for most of his girls the prime motive is stardom.

“Whenever girls have come into Salman’s life, they are looking to be a movie star. So settling down is the last thing on their minds. So the relationships reach a saturation point and then fizzle out.”

Whatever Dad may say, we think Sallu simply likes to be footloose and fancy free…

It was an unusual sight.

Bollywood hunk John Abraham, all bespectacled and in his best nerdy avatar, distributing copies of Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography My Experiments With Truth at a Mumbai book store on Oct 2, Gandhi’s birthday.

Where’s the sleeveless leather jacket, man, and the motorbike? The beard, the unkempt hair, that has the women all swooning over you?

“I’m a very non-violent man,” John said (or was this his twin?) “I respect Gandhiji a lot and totally believe in his ideology of non-violence”.

It was a promotional set-up for the actor’s forthcoming film Jhootha Hi Sahi where he plays the role of a bookstore owner.

And what does his hot girlfriend Bipasha think of his geek look?

“She’s quite happy, really; she thinks it’s unique and fresh,” John said. “She says that if there is any director who can break me down physically and in terms of a character on screen, it’s Abbas Tyrewalla!”

The film, slated to hit screens Oct 15, is about a suicidal woman whose final call mistakenly connects her to a man who gives her something to live for. (Find the answer under Caption Contest)

Guess Who

Ash is “smashing”: Big B

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is quite impressed with his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai’s looks in Robot her on-screen presence as “smashing”.

Director Shankar’s bilingual film ( in Hindi and Endhiran in Tamil), which has Rajnikanth in the male lead, opened to rave reviews.

“Aishwarya looked smashing and danced like she had never danced before. Rajni… what can one say for this man. He is just unbelievable. The film is a roller-coaster ride of fun and ecstasy and events of mammoth proportions,” Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

He saw the movie at a special screening organised by Rajnikanth in Mumbai for the Hindi film fraternity.

The sci-fi thriller, apparently made at a whopping budget of Rs.175 crore ($38 million), boasts of a lot of special effects and Amitabh is in awe of it. “An incredible experience it was and I sincerely urge all… to go see it,” he added.

Anything for bums on seats, really.

Vidya Balan in ABCL’s next?

Vidya Balan is considered a lucky mascot for the Bachchans’ production house and rumours are that she may feature in their next venture too.

AB Corp Ltd’s Paa, which starred Vidya along with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, not only received rave reviews, but also won four National Awards - best actor for Big B, best supporting actress for Arundhati Nag, best make up artist award for Christein Tinsley and Dominie Till, and best Hindi film.

Vidya is also said to be one of the favourites of Jaya Bachchan.

All we can say is, you go girl!

When Ajay Devgn kicked Paresh Rawal

It seems Ajay Devgn took his role in Aakrosh too seriously and ended up kicking co-star Paresh Rawal.

Based on honour killing, Aakrosh will see Paresh Rawal in the role of a cop. The film also stars Bipasha Basu and Akshaye Khanna.

While shooting, there was a scene which required Ajay to kick Paresh, who was seated on a revolving chair. But as the camera rolled, Ajay got in character and hit Paresh so hard that he fell down. Paresh gasped in pain as Ajay profusely apologized.

Sounds a bit like a Govinda movie, doesn’t it?

Ranbir brought me back: Neetu Singh

She was a huge hit as an actor herself many years agop, but now in her second coming, she is giving all the credit to her heartthrob of a son Ranbir Kapoor.

Neetu Kapoor’s Do Dooni Chaar will be released shortly and marks her return to the screen after she gave up films for the sake of her family, retiring at the top.

Directed by Habib Faisal, Do Dooni Chaar has her actor husband Rishi Kapoor opposite her. The cute pair that sang those youthful songs all those years ago, will not be more subdued this time round ordinary middleclass housewife, and not just in a filmy way. Habib wanted me to grow my hair and colour it black, unvarnish my nails and wear only three sets of clothes - three saris for when my character steps out and three housecoats for when she is home - throughout the film. And not just that. Those six pieces of clothing had to look worn by the time I was ready to face the camera!”

So was it daunting facing the camera after the long gap?

“Ranbir helped me out. He showed me how to find my way into the character and then project it out on camera. He pointed out the best way to approach my role was to unwind, to let go. He showed me how to make friends with the camera”.

Hmmm, did you not know all that when you were a raging hit in the ‘70s, Neetu?

Neetu made a brief guest appearance in Love Aaj Kal recently.

Deepika is still fond of Ranbir...

Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor may have gone their separate ways long long back, but the actress is very very fond of her ex-beau and is keen on working with him.

“Ranbir is someone I’m very fond of, I’m really looking forward to working with him because I think we have not worked enough together,” the 24-year-old actress said.

Deepika and Ranbir were last seen together in Bachna Ae Haseeno

The actress was present at an event to launch the bridal edition of the Marie Claire magazine where she is on the cover.

On her break up with Ranbir Kapoor and how she coped with it, the actress said, “I think everyone has a different way of dealing with it. Some people immerse themselves in work. I feel everyone has a certain strength within themselves to come out of any situation whether it’s a break up or anything else. So, as long as you believe in yourself, you can challenge

So what is the kind of guy Deepika would like to tie the knot with?

“He needs to be my friend most importantly, a great companion, someone with whom I can spend the rest of my life, someone I can make good conversations with and also someone who understands my silence as well.”

“He should accept me with all my flaws. So it’s not just about romance, it’s also about the layers of romance that one feels,” she said. So all you single guys out there, get going!