PEECEE AT OSCARS 2017

So shehad lots of fun at the Oscars, no doubt giving many Bollywoodwallahs #Oscars #GOALS.

Although she did not score a presenting gig like last year, our girl squeezed herself into a tight gown (Ralph & Russo), wore US $5 million worth of jewellery (LorraineSchwartz) and strapped on the highest heels you have ever seen (no goss on which brand, sorry). She cosied up to her Baywatch co-star Dwayne Johnson on the red carpet, chatted up Dev Patel, and pretended to interview Jennifer Aniston backstage for Kelly Ripa's chat show.

Then she got changed into a black sequinned Michael Kors number and went off to the after-party. And because she hadn't eaten a morsel all day, she tucked into a massive juicy burger. (She posted a video of it).

Next day,shesaw her name listed on various Best Dressed as wellas Worst Dress lists. (Wow, thesheer talent to be able to pullthatoff).

You'veall probably seen by now the Twitter comparisons about her dress: kaju katli (thanks,AIB, for that one); avase, a blanket, ashimmering quilt, a DIY project...

Also this one: Who ate the sides of the dress?!

But theIndian actress has stopped fretting over fashion police as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Shesaid in an interview with IANS before theshow, "I used to (get bothered about fashion policing) but not anymore. Now, I wear what I like and what I'm comfortable in and if someone doesn't like that, they don't. They are entitled to their own opinion."

Oh, er, sadly, Priyanka made no comment at all about the most memorable moment of the night that came at the end.

ANUSHKA SHARMA, GHOST

Anushka Sharma's Phillauri is gearing up for its March 24 release. The beautiful star not only features here, but has also produced, for her banner Clean Slate Films.

So which role does she enjoy - acting or producing?

"Both, (even though) they are different.I haverealisedthat when I havemany responsibilities onme,I perform better. WhenI am acting I just do my job; and whenI am producing a filmI haveto collaborate with ALL, right from the inception of a film. Both are going well for me."

The Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi actor ventured into production with 2015 thriller NH-10.

In Phillauri, the story revolves around a young man who has come to Punjab to get married, but a local priest says he willhaveto get married to a treefirst in order to combat thebad setting of his stars. The tree happens to be the home of aspiritShashi,played by Anushka. The poor blokeends up marrying the spirit. Thespirit alsohas a f ashback, and we get a love story between Shashi and her fiance.

While we can't wait to see the stunningAnushka onscreen again, what's with this dakiyanoosi subject matter ?

Directed by AnshaiLal,thefilmalso features Diljit Dosanjh.

VIDYA BALAN, BROTHEL OWNER

A hookah and rife in tow, actress Vidya Balan is intimidating as a brothel owner in the first look of NationalAward winner Srijit Mukherji's BegumJaan. Set against thebackdropof Partition, thehigh-voltagedrama, a Hindi adaptation of Mukherji's stellar Bengali offering Rajkahini, is a story of survivors who defy nations to savetheir homes.

"My body, my house, my country and my rules," a brazen-faced Vidya reinforcesthe essence of her character in the maiden poster.

The film also features a whole list of actors from the world of alternate cinema including Naseeruddin Shah, IlaArun, Gauahar Khan, PallaviSharda, Rajit Kapoor, AshishVidyarthi, Vivek Mushran, Chunky Pandey, Poonam Singh Rajput, RidheemaTiwari, FloraSaini, PriyankaSetia, Mishti Chakraborty, Sumit Nijhawan, Pitobash and Rajesh Sharma in pivotal roles. It is slated to release on April 14.

SONAKSHI SINHA,JOURNALIST

Sonakshi Sinha, who featured in the primary role in Akira and is now the central character in Noor - both movies without astrong male lead- says carrying a film solely on her shoulders isn't difficult, but rather liberating for her.

"It's liberating to be promoting thefilm on my own,"Sonakshisaid at thetrailer launch of her upcoming film Noor.I felt this also whenI was promotingAkira. I don't have to depend on anybody to carry this film. I haveasolid teamto support me, and other than this, I don't needanybody else,"

"I feel like I am independent,strong andmoving ahead with my team.This is thebest feelingthatI can carry a film on my own shoulders," she added.

In Noor,Sonakshi plays the role of a goofyjournalist whowants to cover a real lifeincident, butis forced to go for a celebrity's interview.

Thefilm isbasedon Pakistani authorSabalmtiaz'snovel Karachi, You're Killing Me!andfollows aPakistani journalist-writer Noor's misadventures and lovelifeasshenavigatesher way through Mumbai.The flm, directed bySunhilSippy, isscheduledfor a worldwide release on 21April 2017.

VARUN DHAWAN, DULHA?

Currently working hardpromotinghis new project Badrinath Ki Dulhania (Badrinath's bride), thecutesyVarun Dhawan wasstumpedwhen a reporter askedhim a question about "Varun ki dulhania".

The question cameamid speculations about his rumoured love Natasha Dalal. The two have never confirmed their relationship.

Of course thesuave actor dodged the question deftly.

"Varun ki dulhan ko kaafitime hai (there is plenty of time for that)," he said, gathering himself quickly. "Let people now meet Badrinathki Dulhania."

Thefilm,thesecondfilm in the Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania franchise and is produced by Karan Johar, releases on 10 March.

KARAN JOHAR, DAD!

As Bollywood's celebratedfilmmaker Karan Johar takes thesurrogacy route for fatherhood, B-Town rejoices

The daughter hasbeen named Roohi - a rearrangement of Karan's mother's name Hiroo, and thesonhas been christened Yash - after Karan's late father.

Karan, 44, said, "I am ecstatic to share with you all the two most wonderful additions to my life, my children and lifelines: Roohi and Yash. I feel enormously blessed to be a parent to these pieces of my heart who were welcomed into this world with thehelp of themarvels of medicalscience."

Best known for directing films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Karan is stillsingle. Hesays parenthood is "an emotional yet well thought out decision" he hastakenafter considering all the responsibilities andduties that come with being one.

"In order to arrive at thisdecision, Ihavepreparedmyself mentally, physically, emotionally and logistically to ensure that my children get allthe unconditional love, care and attention from me andmine.I havesubmitted to the fact that my children are my world and priority."

In his book An Unsuitable Boy released recently, Karan notjust opened up about his sexuality - albeit in a veiled manner -but also expressed a desire to adopt a child or opt for surrogacy.

The filmmaker, who keeps travelling around the world and is known for his knack of making romantic dramas, understands that having children would mean that "work, travels and social commitments would have to take a back seat".

Karan also extendedgratefulness to the surrogate who fulfilled his "lifelong dream and provided a warm, loving and nurturing environment to my children before bringing them into this world. She willalways remain in my prayers."

Roohi and Yash were born thanks to celebratedIVF specialist Jatin Shah, whowasalso instrumental in the successful birth ofAbRam Khan (son of Shah Rukh and Gauri) and Azad Rao Khan (son of Aamir and Kiran), both through surrogacy. calls him Chintu, these days ).

Karan's new family havecomein for a fair bit of media attention. While one line of questioning has been intrusive (why could he not havehadkids the normal way, or adopted?), others havebeen more congratulatory, such as Amul's cute new ad: Kabhi Beti Kabhi SonJohar se cheer karo!

There was hardly any hullabaloo when actor Tusshar Kapoor announced last year the birth of hisson Laksshya Kapoor, through surrogacy.

His earlier profile read, "Son of a famous Father-Father of afamousSon.I am the hyphen in between them."

GUNEET MONGA, IRRITATED

Film maker Guneet Monga has produced a new short film entitled Shut Up.The film is based on how freedom of speech of common people is being questioned in the country.

"It'stime we get out there andspeak," Mongasaid in astatement. "Our voices need to be heard and as film makers, it's our responsibility. We do live in a strange time where options are being manufactured. Hoping each one of us can be the change we wish to see."

What's the chitchat between KARAN JOHAR and ALIA BHATT?

Send in your responsesto win@indianlink.com.au and win a movie pass

RISHI KAPOOR, ANGRY

OLD MAN

He usedto be the 'chocolate hero' with the cherubic face who sang Khu/lam khulla and launchedhis generation's mohabbat karne ka ishtyle.Today, he is a grumpy old man, who abuses Twitter trolls, khullam khulla, f words galore.

"Released new warning bio for future trolls, abusers and idiots! Refer profile. Please ignore,sensiblefriends. Let's live in a fun world," hetweeted recently.

The actor also changedhis prof le picture, to asnapshot of him brandishing a gun, from his film Aurangzeb.

Rein it in, @chintskap!(That's Chintu Kapoor, for the uninitiated,a name by which heisalso known. Wonder who

Directed by Ashutosh Pathak, the film is based on a common person who finds himself participating in a silent protest only to find revolutionin the most unlikely place.

Pathak says that Indians seem to have forgotten how to debate over these things constructively.

"From the well of the parliament to our dinner tables, we are like a bunch of monkeys shouting off with your head every time anyone disagrees with us.It's funny andscary at thesametime, and that's the feeling I wanted to highlight with this film. Are we really free to speak our minds, or just getting fearful, and learning how to shut up," he said.

What Tweety Bird Told Us This Week

Match the followingstars to the tweets below Twinkle Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra,Amitabh Bachchan again, Vidya Balan

This was too much fun. @chrissyteigen @KellyRipa #JenniferAniston #backstageshenanigans

41 years of "Kabhi Kabhie" !!

Just asI was about to begin sprouting 50shades of grey,I am rather gladI am sporting 50 shades of L'Oreal instead :) #lorealproindia

When I die, the assets that I shall leave behind shall be shared equally between my daughter and my son! #GenderEquality #WeAreEquaI.

Aa rahi hoon main! #BegumJaanFirstlook.

What'sthe chitchat between VARUN DHAWAN and ALIA BHATT?

VARUN: Sochtihai zyada, kam wo samajhti hai Di/ kuch kahta kai, kuchh aurhikarti hai Ladki kyon, najaane kyon, ladkon sinahin hoti.

ALIA: Jeene ka tumko dhangsikhlate hain Tumheinjaanvarse insan banate hain... lsliye ladkiyan ladkon si nahin hoti.

ARSHIA LAGHARI

Cranbrook QLD Arshia winsa ticketto Badrinath Ki Dulhania