BUZZThe

Arjun is Alive!

It’s taken a while to assault our olfactory senses but finally, after nearly two years of negotiations, discussions, trials and delays, Arjun Rampal’s perfume Alive has been launched. It will be available in two different scents to begin with. Arjun joins an elite group of two in Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, who have perfumes to their credit, handpicked, manufactured and marketed by them.

six months to select the fragrance for his perfume, which he found an extremely time-consuming and tough task. But it was worth it in the end, as Arjun found out after inviting all his friends from the film industry to a smelling party after he finally shortlisted the fragrances. Needless to say, they all loved his choices of fragrances. So now Arjun’s not just looking, but smelling good too! Mmmmm…

Sallu to feature in Dabangg 2, the sequel of their 2010 blockbuster.

The awkward thing is that when producer Arbaaz Khan announced the sequel, he mentioned that the script didn’t allow him to cast Sonu in the role of villain Chhedi Singh once again. But apparently, Sallu thinks Sonu’s integral to the Dabangg franchise and wants him back. Arbaaz may have decided to write Sonu’s role out of Dabangg 2, but big brother Sallu wasn’t too pleased and we know just who’s the boss!

“Salman asked Sonu to return to Dabangg at his birthday bash in Panvel recently,” revealed a friend of Sonu. “This happened in front of Arbaaz, Sohail and a whole lot of other people. Sonu was embarrassed. He didn’t know what to say because this was not the first time Salman had asked him.

Earlier in Hyderabad, Salman had broached the subject, saying Dabangg wouldn’t be the same if the two of them - Salman and Sonu - didn’t share a climax fight. Sonu loves Salman to death.

But at this juncture of his career, Sonu isn’t sure. After all, he has a solo-hero film Maximum ready for release, and he’s not too keen on doing a marginal part. However, for Salman, Sonu might agree to Dabangg”.

Well, if brother Arbaaz couldn’t stand up to Sallu, Sonu hasn’t much of a choice. At least we can look forward to another interesting performance in the movie which is scheduled for release in December 2012.

Puja takes on male trio

Puja Gupta’s proving her mettle as an actress in an unusual manner. She’s teamed up with not just one, but three male actors, and is more than happy to take them on. But I guess practice makes perfect, as this isn’t the first time the young actress will palthan of guys. In her debut Bollywood movie F.A.L.T.U, the former beauty queen was the only female among the boys - Jackky Bhagnani, Ritesh Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi. This time Puja stars with Saif Ali Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Khemu in Go Goa

Abhilasha Sengupta

Gone, and the line up isn’t making her a bit insecure. “I’m just happy with my character. And insecure? Not at all! Being again the only girl at the sets, it’s just second time lucky for me! It’s a lot of fun shooting with them,” said a pretty upbeat Puja.

The young star won the Miss India Universe crown in 2007, and has since modelled for brands like Pantaloons, Coca Cola, Monte Carlo, Bausch & Lomb, as well as the Lay’s Tango campaign with Saif.

In her upcoming film, Puja plays a young college girl who is very independent and believes in herself strongly. “She is a very easy-going yet adventurous person, and that’s what brings her to Goa with her friends in the movie,” said Puja, who has already shot the first schedule of the film. The actress admits that Bollywood has always been a “dream destination” for her, but as she says, there’s a “long long way to go”. Good luck Puja, we look forward to seeing you in some more solo heroine to many male heroes in the future!

K’s are kings (and queens)!

It’s probably one of the most popular alphabets in Bollywood, and for good reason. ‘K’ seems to be lucky for actors Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor who have all been named the most profitable actors of the Hindi film industry in India and abroad respectively by ETC Bollywood Business Awards.

Actress Kareena Kapoor, who featured in Bodyguard and RA.One in 2011 opposite the two actors was titled in the female category, while the Khans made it to the top of the male list.

Salman’s Bodyguard, the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film by the same name, was titled the top grosser of the year. The film’s director Siddique walked away with the most profitable director’s trophy.

Guess Who

SRK’s mega-budget dream project RA.One was recognised as the best marketed film of the year and also bagged an award under the highest single day collection category.

“Now I can safely say, har mulk ki public mujhe dhoondti hai,” said Shah Rukh. “RA. One, Bollywood’s most expensive movie, was my dream project. It feels great that my long cherished dream has been applauded and acknowledged”.

Other films like Pyaar Ka Panchnaama, The Dirty Picture, Don 2:The King Is Back and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol bagged awards for being the most successful small budget film, ETC Box Office surprise of the year, most popular first look of a film and most successful foreign film respectively. Looks like Bollywood’s looking forward to a great and commercially successful 2012. Let’s wish the industry all the best in keeping us entertained!

Raveena rants about health

“Actresses are too thin to be healthy,” says Raveena Tandon who started her career with Patthar Ke Phool, adding that the current lot of actresses are under a lot of pressure to look slim and in the process, compromise on their health, ending up being unable to withstand the rigours of the job.

“After coming to this industry, we actresses face so much pressure to look thin all the time. We are working at erratic hours...we also go through such strict diet plans, it is important to have a strong base,” she adds.

“I did Patthar Ke Phool 16 and from that day onwards I have been shooting. That time people were not conscious about their looks to such an extent. We were very healthy back then. Me, Kajol, Manisha (Koirala) were strong when we entered the industry, we looked like we belonged to healthy families,” claims the actress last seen in Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap after a sabbatical since 2004 follwing her marriage to Anil Thadani. She is currently shooting for Gin Liya Aasmaan be seen in E-dil Sambhal Zara Seven Nights. Well, now that Raveena’s back in Tinseltown, perhaps she can give the younger brood health tips ….if they listen, that is!

Vidya vetoes marriage –

for now!

Vidya Balan is still in the news and for very good reasons. She caused quite a stir with the super success of recently released Picture, which saw her in a role unlike any she had done before. And now that she’s enjoying the limelight, Bollywood is typically beginning to take an interest in her views on love and marriage. Now Vidya says that she believes in the institution of marriage and cannot avoid it for long, but she is not thinking about it right now.

“My career is going good. I am very happy. Emotionally and mentally I am in a very happy space, by God’s grace. I am not thinking about marriage as of now, but I’m sure it will also come at the right time. I believe in the institution of marriage. I will not ignore it for a longer duration, but yeah, for now, I am keeping it aside. I will definitely get married,” said Vidya. The actress is rumoured to be dating

CEO of UTV movies Siddharth Roy Kapoor.

Vidya’s plate is pretty full right now, what with promoting her forthcoming Kahaani, directed by Sujoy Ghosh. She will also be seen in Nikhil Advani’s Chand Bhai opposite Akshaye Khanna. And the gorgeously sultry actress admits it’s the greed for good roles that keeps her on her toes.

“I am a very greedy actor. I want to play different people, I want to do different kinds of films. Even if it means that the hero is the protagonist, as long as I have enough to do in the film I am more than happy doing it,” said the 33-year-old actress recently. “I am very happy with the kind of films being made today and that I am getting a chance to work in them. They are appealing to the audience as well, which is most important. Women-oriented films are being made since years, but it is only today that they are tasting success,” added Vidya. She is not restricting herself to women-oriented films, says the actress who has done films like Parineeta, Ishqiya Paa

“I have not made any boundaries or limitations for myself. I have not dictated to myself that I will only work on womenoriented scripts. If the film is good, if the of fact, my sister was given an extra edge over me. I think that is how every Indian family should bring up their children,” said the 29-year-old, with surprising candidness.

Meanwhile, Ranbir’s first release this year would be Anurag Basu’s Barfi!, set to hit theatres in mid-July. He will also be seen with ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone in Karan Johar’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani, so watch this space. Good on you, Ranbir, keep up the good work!