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India has forgotten how to laugh: Navjot Singh Sidhu

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Navjot Singh Siddhu, who has joined comedian Kapil Sharma's maiden production venture "Comedy Nights With Kapil" as a facilitator, says very few people laugh despite the fact that laughter is a stress-buster.

He was also part of "The Great India Laughter Challenge" and says he liked the title of the show because he felt that "laughter was taboo" in the country.

"India has forgotten to laugh, we are too formal in life. When I saw my family laughing, I realised that I had inhibitions about laughing. Let a show be a stress-buster. We don't go into that zone. We manufacture trouble for ourselves. Amidst all these troubles, laughter is a stress-buster where you sit in front of TV for an hour and unwind and de-stress yourself," he told IANS.

Talking about Kapil's show, going on air June 22 on Colors, Sidhu said: "I am a facilitator on the show. Kapil is the hero and there are side heroes."

He clarified that he is not judging the show.

"I have never ever judged people. Only god can judge people. We all have our faults and limitations. There is just scope for improvement. We just give an overview of how things can be better," he said.

Talking about his future work, he said he is interested in anything that "excites me" and "makes me happy".

"Any undertaking where I enjoy the job. I ensure that I do not accept anything, which becomes a burden. TV is merciless. You are on your own, it all depends on how good you are. It is all on merit," said Sidhu, who also participated in "Bigg Boss 6".

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'Leena' twist to rock Amit-Amita's married life

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Bollywood actress Leena Jumani has just entered "Amita Ka Amit" and says her character will be responsible for creating misunderstanding between the protagonists of the show.

The actress will be seen as Amit's US returned friend and her entry will create trouble for Amita.

"She is basically from the US. Amit is a friends' friend. There will be a misunderstanding between Amita and Amit because of me," Leena told IANS.

"I liked the role and the way they narrated me the story. This is why I took it...I started shooting a few days back," she said.

Leena has been a part of Gujarati cinema prior to Hindi television.

"For Gujarati cinema, I didn't give any audition. Someone saw my pictures and offered me the film. On the launch of the first film, I was offered the second one. I did three to four films and then came to Mumbai. I did one Gujarai serial and then did 'Bandini'," she said about her acting journey.

So far, she has done TV shows "Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna", "Ganga Kii Dheej", "Ek Nayi Chhoti Si Zindagi" among others and says all of them are important to her.

"All my shows gave me a different image and publicity. I can't say one has given me more than the other," she said.

The actress was also seen in Sajid Khan's "Himmatwala".

"In 'Himmatwala', I almost played the parallel lead. I liked it and people loved me. I got good feedback. In future, I want to play main heroine and a bubbly or tapori kind of role etc," she said.

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A guide to healthy skin during monsoon

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Come rain or sunshine, keep your skin flawless by figuring out what your skin needs and following your skin care regime religiously. From easily available over-the-counter products to kitchen beauty secrets, use them as per the demands of your skin.

Many people feel that using a moisturiser can make your skin look oily and that is the last thing you want when there is moisture-laden air. Skin care experts call it a must-have irrespective of your skin type.

IANS spoke to experts like Hong Kong-based skin care expert Ceri Silk and Indian Beauty expert Blossom Kochhar and they have come up with the following tips:

- Oily skin: Ceri Silk suggests that people with oily skin should use water-based moisturisers after deep-cleansing the face.

- Dry skin: Uma Singh, medical director, Ozone Group of Companies, not only supports use of moisturiser, but also application of a cream-based cleanser to keep the skin hydrated.

Singh gives the thumbs up to light moisturiser. She also advises the use of finger tips to apply and not to use it profusely. Excessive use of it will only work against the skin as the moisturiser will just sit heavily on the face and prevent the skin from breathing.

Capital-based dermatologist Indu Tolani recommends sunscreen lotion to people who have field work and are exposed to the sun for long hours. They should carry sunscreen with them and apply it every two hours.

Blossom Kochhar too emphasises on the Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Those just commuting between home and office should use sunscreen with SPF 15. The SPF level should be 30 for those who stay out longer in the sun. She also said that the sunscreen should have UVA and UVB protection.

Kochhar also shares quick tips on how to use vegetables, fruits and other natural ingredients to protect the skin from the weather's harshness.

- Take a tomato and crush it. Then take Multani mitti and mix them. Apply the mixture on the face and leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off. It is good for specially those who have open pores.

- If you have a dry skin, paste made of honey and banana will be good. However, people with oily skin should use only honey.

- Watermelon is very good. If you mix it with milk powder and put in on the skin, it will help to calm and cool the skin.

Treatment and precaution for skin infection:

As skin infections are on the rise during monsoon, Singh advises consulting a specialist in addition to two simple solutions:

- Use an anti-fungal powder on all body folds to avoid any fungal infection.

- Keep your skin dry. Don't wear wet clothes and sit for long. Wet shoes should also be changed.

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Jiah Khan's suicide very unfortunate, says Vidya Balan

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Terming Bollywood actress Jiah Khan's suicide as "unfortunate" actor Vidya Balan Thursday said she could never understand why people resort to taking their own lives.

"It is very unfortunate. I hope no one ever has reason enough to end their life. I really can't imagine whether that requires courage or the opposite of that, because I have never been able to fathom why people commit suicide...I think it is very sad," Vidya said on the sidelines of a promotional event for the forthcoming film "Ghanchakkar" at the Park Hotel here.

The 25-year-old Britain-born Jiah was found hanging at her flat in Sagar Sangeet building in the posh Juhu area of northwest Mumbai June 3 when her family had gone out.

Jiah shot into the limelight with her 2007 debut movie "Nishabd", in which she starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan. She was also seen in films like "Ghajini" and "Housefull".

Vidya was dressed up as her character Neetu for the promotional activities of the film in a polka dotted matching ensemble.

"People will see me and think this is the girl from 'Ghanchakkar'...loud makeup and matching clothes," said Vidya.

Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, "Ghanchakkar" hits theatres June 28 and stars Emraan Hashmi as the male lead.

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Goan musician ties up with Trinadad and Tobago rapper

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A Goan musician has teamed up with a Trinidad and Tobago rapper to craft an album with an eye to putting it out on international music channel VH1.

The new music video 'Cozy Together' by Varun Carvalho, a self-confessed dentist-by-day and singer-by-night, features rapper and musician Nkenge Ross aka Nick, who has earlier played in Caribbean Bands like Ecstatic and Matrix.

Speaking to reporters Thursday about his role in the video with Varun, Nick said he had been regularly coming to Goa for the last few years and that he sings a rap sequence in the video.

"I have played keyboards in bands in the Caribbean like Ecstatic and Matrix and have been rapping in several gigs in Goa too," said Nick.

According to Varun, the song "Cozy Together" has been shot in Goa and is a love ballad, a part of his album "I Gotta Go Home".

The dental medicine professional, who has four clinics in India and one in Britain, says that playing with an international artiste, in this case Nick, helped him experiment with music and expand his horizons.

"It gives the music international touch as well as helps to widen the scope of your talent too," Varun said.

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New Jersey to host Marathi film festival in October: Organiser

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New Jersey will see its first Marathi film festival in October this year, media professional Sanjay Shetye said here.

Shetye, promoter of Goa Marathi Film festival (GMMF), which is held here annually, said a New Jersey edition of the festival would be held in October this year.

"There is such a big Marathi-speaking population in New Jersey. We are moving there in October," Shetye, who operates Vinsan World, a media company, told IANS.

The festival, Shetye said, would be held in conjunction with Marathi-speaking associations located in New York and New Jersey.

The GMMF, which gets underway in Goa June 28, is now in its sixth edition, he said, adding that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would be attending the inaugural ceremony this year.

"Marathi cinema's most expensive film 'Duniyadari', directed by Sanjay Jadhav, will be premiered here in Goa," Shetye said, adding that the film festival would also have several workshops and panel discussions conducted by specialists on topics ranging from tapping funds via crowd sourcing to imparting tips on how to promote films on the global film festival circuit.

Goa is already home to the International Film Festival of India, an annual event organised by the union ministry for information and broadcasting in association with the state government.

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Vidya regrets she missed working with Rituparno

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Regretting that she did not get a chance to work with late filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, actress Vidya Balan Thursday said she would like to work in a Bengali movie.

"When I was driving to the hotel from the airport, I was thinking of Rituda because I used to have a conversation with him almost on every visit that we will work together for a movie, but that did not happen. But I'm sure I will do another Bengali film," Vidya told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event of her forthcoming movie "Ghanchakkar" here.

Vidya made her celluloid debut with a Bengali movie "Bhalo Theko".

A patient of pancreatitis, Ghosh died May 30 following cardiac arrest. He was 49.

Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, "Ghanchakkar" hits theatres June 28 and also stars Emraan Hashmi as the male lead

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Sidhu in awe of Vidya Balan

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Cricketer-turned-politician-turned-commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu praises Vidya Balan's flexibility to get under the skin of any character.

Siddhu said: "Jis rang mein use daal do, usi rang mein woh poori tarah se rang jaati hai (She manages to get under the skin of any chacrater)."

Vidya visited the sets of Colors' comedy show "Comedy Nights With Kapil", where Sidhu will be seen as a facilitator.

The actress was accompanied by her "Ghanchakkar" co-star Emraan Hashmi and was dressed as her character Neetu from the movie. The two were part of the celebrity guest segment of the show.

Later, the actress even danced with television actor Ali Asgar to her hit song "Ooh la la" from "The Dirty Picture".

Produced by comedian Kapil Sharma, "Comedy Nights with Kapil" will go on air June 22 on Colors.

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Why Anand L. Rai prefers to work with southern actors?

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Bollywood director Anand L. Rai prefers working with southern actors because his scripts demand simple characters and he finds these in them.

While he worked with Tamil actor R. Madhavan in "Tanu Weds Manu", he roped in Dhanush for "Raanjhanaa".

"I think it's because the scripts I write require characters with lot of simplicity and honesty. I find that in southern actors and that's precisely why I work with them," Rai told IANS.

He will be teaming up with Dhanush for another Hindi project in 2014.

"I don't write (stories) keeping any of these actors in mind, but they somehow are apt for the characters in my stories," he said and added that he has "developed" another "script" for Dhanush.

In "Raanjhanaa", releasing Friday, Dhanush plays a Hindu boy in love with a Muslim girl, essayed by Sonam Kapoor.

It is produced by Eros International, and also features Abhay Deol, Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in important roles.

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'Shortcut Romeo' cooly crafted cat-and-mouse game (IANS Movie Review - Rating: ***)

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Film: "Shortcut Romeo"; Cast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Ameesha Patel and Puja Gupta; Director: Susi Ganesh; Rating; ***

There are two ways of doing a full-on masala film. You either turn it on its head and poke fun at ridiculous cinematic conventions. Or you treat the stereotypical characters and sacred cows of our cinema with full seriousness.

"Shortcut Romeo" takes the midway route. It seems so full of the old-world formulistic flavour and the stench of the familiar that parts of the pulsating aggressive storytelling actually feel like a spoof.

So, we have the film's unfaithful wife Monica (Ameesha Patel) and her slimy lover (Jatin Garewal) making out in a golf turf and it is beyond logical explanation why an affluent couple, who could afford the poshest of duplex to meet, would choose such a spot.

And then the lover tells the unfaithful wife, "First time when you do it (cheat in a marriage) you feel bad. Then it becomes your style."

Er, how stylish! Come again?

But please don't laugh. First-time Hindi director Susi Ganesan is dead serious. The film shot at the speed of sound is filled with bizarre twists and turns. It's basically the story of a woman who cheats on a saintly tycoon of a husband (effectively played by Rajesh Shringapure) who has a massive portrait of Rabindranath Tagore in his bedroom, and a cheesy blackmailer named Suraj (Neil Nitin Mukesh), who believes in taking risky short-cuts to get rich.

This is not the first film about a cheating wife and a blackmailer. Reena Roy and Naseeruddin Shah had done the roles with heart-stopping tension in "Bezubaan". "Shortcut Romeo" scores in the way the the plot paces out its drama in the ongoing friction between the cheating wife and the blackmailer.

Neil plays the cheesy go-getter with a schemer's delight. His eyes glint when he talks of teasing more money out of Monica. He drools when she transfers cash into his trashy life. Alas, some of the narrative's display of the protagonist's excessive hedonism is just an excuse for African tourism.

The Kenyan expedition reads like a botched-up touristic brochure.

Bad idea, Ganesan. Even worse is the director himself showing up in the second-half as the cheated husband's detective-friend. Ganesan's accent is so thick, it slices the gamboling narration into smithereens. At least for a while. But then again the film gathers momentum towards the end-game. The finale is a breathless whammy with Neil making a run for his freedom, quite literally, with the narrative panting behind him.

"Shortcut Romeo" is redeemed by a strong message on today's 20-something's yearning for materialism. And when our Shortcut Romeo finds his short-skirt Juliet (Puja Gupta, pretty) there is a delicious irony attached to the association. The film's most vivid interludes go back to Neil's childhood to show how he learned to be corrupt, acquisitive, and inquisitive, at a tender age.

Some of the action sequences with Neil, specially one key fight with African tribals, are first-rate. But then the songs - oh my god! - they pop up at the most inopportune moments.

In spite of its massive flaws, including the cheesy dialogues, Ganesan's stylish shocker of a thriller manages to stay constantly one step ahead of the audience. A coolly crafted cat-and-mouse game "Shortcut Romeo" finds Neil giving grit to the gripping goings-on. The last half-hour is a knock-out.

But the overall product could have been far less retrogradatory in tone. Nonetheless enjoyable while it lasts.

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'Ramaiya Vastavaiya' wholesome entertainer

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Girish Kumar, producer Kumar Taurani's son, says his debut film "Ramaiya Vastavaiya" has all the elements to make it a complete family entertainer.

Directed by Prabhudheva, the film is a remake of the director's first Telugu film "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana". Also starring Shruti Haasan and Sonu Soon, it is scheduled for a July 19 release.

"'Ramaiya Vastavaiya' is a romantic film. It has a lot of emotions and a lot of family elements. It's a wholesome family film. There is brother-sister love, father-son love and love between a boy and a girl," Girish said here in an interview.

"The emotional content of the film will touch the people's heart. Since it's a Prabhudheva's film, so definitely it has masala, dance, comedy and all. So people will enjoy it," Girish said.

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A 'Fatwa' issued against Shah Rukh Khan for hiring a surrogate mother

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We know that there is a bundle of joy waiting to occupy its rightful place in 'Mannat'. As Shahrukh Khan and his family get ready to welcome their third child, they are already surrounded by many an obstacle.

Recently, SRK was questioned by the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) as to how the actor came to know about the unborn child's sex when sex determination is illegal in India. However, this issue was set straight by SRK who confirmed that he did not conduct any such sex determination tests. Jaslok hospital backed the Khan saying that no such tests were made.

The next obstacle standing between SRK and his surrogate baby is that of 'Markazi Darul Ifta Dargah Al Hazrat' issuing a Fatwa against Shah Rukh Khan for 'shariyat'. While blaming SRK for hiring a surrogate mother, they make it clear that this is a violation of Sharia laws.

Well, the baby is said to be due in July. Wonder how the coming events will unfold in this case.

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Huma's claim: Naseeruddin Shah's biggest fan

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Actress Huma Qureshi, who is sharing the screen space with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah in "Dedh Ishqiya", describes herself as the veteran's biggest fan and says it was an honour to work with him in the movie.

"Naseer sir is so amazing... I am his biggest fan and I have seen all his plays. It's an honour to work with him. We have almost finished the shooting for the film," Huma told IANS.

The "Gangs of Wasseypur" fame actress would also "love to dance with her co-actress Madhuri Dixit" in "Dedh Ishqiya", "but I haven't done any dance with her yet... let's see."

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, "Dedh Ishqiya" is a sequel to "Ishqiya" and the film also features Arshad Warsi.

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Brett Lee launches t-shirt to mark World Music Day

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Former Australian pacer Brett Lee launched a signature t-shirt for his Foundation, Mewsic, to mark the occasion of World Music Day, which will be celebrated Friday.

Available online, the t-shirt has cricketer's personal signature and the Mewsic Foundation mascot, a guitar playing cat called Binga, and is a collector’s item.

“June 21st has been celebrated across many countries as World Music Day since 1982. Given my passion for music and the focus of my foundation, I felt we should do something to mark the day, celebrate music and generate awareness for our work,” Lee said in a statement.

The proceeds from the sale of the t-shirt will go to support Mewsic programmes that heal, educate and empower disadvantaged children in India through music.

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Aman Verma to be seen in Bengali film soon

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Aman Verma will be seen in Partho Ghosh's Bengali movie "Hashi Kannar Iti Kotha" and the actor says he has known the director for a while and they always wanted to work together.

"I know Partho Ghosh for a long time. When I had come to Mumbai some 13 years ago, we were planning to do something. Whenever we used to meet, we used to talk about working together. Here was an opportunity and I said I must try something new in a different language," Aman told IANS.

The actor said that it was tough to shoot in an unknown language.

"It was a little difficult to understand the scene. But when you realise what you are shooting, it becomes easier. I understood the gist of it as we were shooting it in Hindi," he said.

The actor has been part of regional cinema as he did "a couple of Punjabi films, a Bhojpuri film" and now Bengali movie. "Work is work no matter what language it is," he added

As far as release date of "Hashi Kannar Iti Kotha" is concerned, Aman said probably by the end of the year.

"The production team will be able to tell you when it will release. I guess they are saying somewhere in September-October," he said.

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Those were very dark days: Kaizad on his 6-year

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In May 2004, while shooting for a film at the Mahalaxmi railway station, Nadia Khan, female foreigner crew member of Kaizad Gustad's film, was hit by a train and killed. For the first time the filmmaker talks about his six-year legal and moral battle and his comeback film "Jackpot".

Kaizad came into renown as a filmmaker with "Bombay Boys" in 1998, followed by fiasco of a caper "Boom". Thereafter, the mishap on the railway stations signalled a dry phase in his career.

"I've never spoken about what happened. I couldn't bring myself to explain the situation because I didn't understand it myself. When I look back at the whole train of incidents, it all seems unreal," said the 45-year-old director.

"We tried to save the injured girl's (Nadia Khan) life in the best way we could. There were two friends of mine who took her to the hospital where they were told they had to fill a panchnama (FIR). The funniest thing was, we went to the police to tell them exactly what happened. It was all so weird and we didn't know how to deal with it."

In May 2010 Kaizad was sentenced to one month jail by a Mumbai Central Railway court in connection with the death of Nadia Khan. He was also slapped with a fine of Rs.75,000.

Kaizad came away disillusioned from the incident.

"I lost six years of my life. That's how long it took for the case to be closed. I lived with the burden for six years. Those were very dark days. There wasn't a day when I didn't cry... I just wanted a closure, whatever the verdict. Finally, the honourable judges were very fair to me," he said.

The good part of the ordeal was all the support Kaizad got during the ordeal.

"Alexandra and I were just married for five months when this happened. We've now been married for 10 years. Though she was new to the marriage, country and the crisis, I was in, she stood by me like a pillar of strength. My family was with me. My entire extended family of very crazy Irani cousins were with me. I met cousins and relatives, I had never met before."

"After what happened, I just went up into the mountains and meditated in the Himalayas where I had grown up... I surrendered to nature. I have become a Buddhist in spirit. I also travelled all over the world including Indonesia and Vietnam," said Kaizad.

"I was feeling enormously restless because I wasn't making any movies... I was completely cut off from the Mumbai film industry. In any case, I am not part of the normal circle of entertainers. I don't even watch films... I've always done my own thing and hoped it would work," he added.

When Kaizad was ready to make another film, Bollywood was in no mood to accept him. "I spent three years trying to re-introduce myself to Mumbai. But no one was willing to give me a movie to make. It was worse than the time when I had to make my first film."

Kaizad returned a different man from the period of post-mishap hibernation.

"During the time that I was away in exile I had two lovely children Zahaan (age 4) and Zachary (age 1) with the love of my life my wife Alexandra. My inspiration for returning to filmmaking were my children. For their sake, I couldn't just sit back and watch the world go by."

Kaizad is back now directing a film entitled "Jackpot" with Sachin Joshi and Sunny Leone in the lead. The entire film is set in Goa during the rains.

Revealing details, Kaizad said: "It's not a romantic film, and my lead pair Sachin Joshi and Sunny do not run off to sing songs in the rain. It's a crime thriller shot in the backwaters of Goa on board a floating casino boat done in the style of the noire films in the 1920s and 1930s, very dark and moody. Everyone is trying to con everyone else. Sunny plays a femme fatale."

He added: "We've never seen Goa in a noire-ish laidback and lazy and yet frantic."

Naseeruddin Shah, with whom Kaizad last worked in "Bombay Boys", is back in "Jackpot".

"I did make one English-language film 'Bombil & Beatrice' after what happened to me in 2004. It didn't get released at all."

Having been out of the loop for so long one wonders if Kaizad feels like a fish out of water.

"I remember running around 15 years ago running around with a script called 'Bombay Boys'. Now I feel like the new kid on the block. A whole generation hasn't seen my 'Bombay Boys'. The film industry has changed radically. It's far more open to films like 'Bombay Boys'. The audience too has grown up. This is boom-town in Bollywood."

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Make style statement with bags

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From stylish multi-coloured handbags, casual tote bags to designer clutches embellished with peacock motifs and printed laptop bags - choose your favourite from the latest collection of bags launched by a leading accessory brand.

Holii has launched its collection titled "Neons", which includes clutches, iPad cases and laptop bags available in varied sizes and bold and bright shades like organe, pink, purple and peach.

There is an aquamarine clutch embellished with peacock motifs and intricate patterns. It cost Rs.1,495.

A gadget freak can opt for a stylish iPad case, whose price starts at Rs.1,595. One can go for designer holdall leather bags, perfect for professionals. Available in various colours and delicate designs, it comes at Rs.2,995.

Another accessory brand, Addons has also launched a wide range of sling bags.

One can choose from different colours, designs and patterns. You can team up these bags with both casual and formal attire. The price range starts from Rs.1,499.

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Madhuri Dixit set to make IIFA debut

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Known for her iconic dance moves, Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit is all set to make her debut at the IIFA and says she is very excited about it.

The 14th edition of Videocon DDB IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) weekend will start July 4 and the actress will perform on some of her unforgettable songs on July 6 at the 15,000-seat Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macao.

“I have never been to an IIFA before and I'm very excited to be performing on the IIFA stage for the first time. I think that it a great fit especially since we're celebrating 100 years of Indian Cinema,” Madhuri said in a statement.

With 100 years of Indian Cinema being the theme of this year's celebrations, Madhuri will recreate the magic of cinema with her most memorable numbers including "Ghagra" from "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", "Dance of Envy" from "Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and "Ek do teen", the song that made her a queen of hearts in the 1980s.

The IIFA Awards 2013 will be choreographed by Remo Fernandes.

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Revive Pakistan's film industry: Daily

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Much needs to be done for reviving Pakistan's film industry, said a leading Pakistani daily Friday.

"Given the challenges this country faces, the casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that cultural activity is at a low ebb. That, however, is not the case. From Karachi to Peshawar to Swat, cultural activities are drawing audiences," said an editorial in the Dawn.

"From time to time, these are of a nature that cause haunting nostalgia, a tangible desire to return to the gentler Pakistan where music, art and culture were amongst the state’s priorities," it added.

The Karachi Arts Council is holding an exhibition to celebrate 100 years of cinema. Arranged by the group Amateur Melodies in collaboration with the Progressive Writers’ Association (Sindh) and the Arts Council, the exhibition features posters related to various aspects of film in the subcontinent.

"From the elegant to the kitsch, from Nargis in Mother India to Sultan Rahi as Maula Jutt, these images communicate what we, as a region, have contributed. And not just posters: also on display are memorabilia such as gramophone records, film booklets and photographs that remind of a field that was once an industry but which now stands decimated," said the daily.

It went on to say that beyond the nostalgia, "this exhibition should serve as a reminder that much needs to be done in terms of reviving Pakistan’s film industry".

"While certain Pakistani films have seen domestic and international success over recent years, we have not seen the sort of state-sponsored push and investment that is required to pull an industry out of the doldrums.

"With cinemas doing good business around the country, it is time to stop arguing over whether or not to allow films to be imported and turn, instead, to bringing the domestic film industry up to competitive standards. With digital technology, the costs of film production have become a little more manageable. This needs to be capitalised upon," it added.

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I can never compete with Aamir: Kiran Rao

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Having a star actor-filmmaker like Aamir Khan as her husband doesn't give Kiran Rao reason enough to either cast him in a movie or compete with him at the box office. The "Dhobi Ghat" director will be content if "different kinds" of movies can co-exist with the "changing" star system in filmdom.

"I don't think I will ever be able to give competition to Aamir. Different kinds of films don't need to compete," Kiran, who had teamed up with Aamir in her directorial debut, told IANS.

Aamir is known as one of the biggest commercial stars in tinsel town, with blockbusters like "Taare Zameen Par", "Ghajini" and "3 Idiots" to his credit. He is popular as the man with a Midas touch and this was evident when he presented non-commercial comic satire "Peepli Live", which emerged as a major commercial hit of 2010.

Kiran, who has Aamir's constant support, isn't too much into calculating the box-office figures, but believes that when "some films earn Rs.100 crore, it's good for small films like ours (mine), because it strengthens the industry and more money comes in."

She doesn't feel her movies and Aamir's films are "necessarily competitive".

"I only hope that everybody continues to make different kinds of films," added the filmmaker, who is inclined towards non-commercial and offbeat scripts.

She is glad the star system in the Hindi film industry is changing.

She feels that it will still take time, but "(now) people don't necessarily go (to cinemas) because there is a star in the film. I don't think the star system, which existed 15 to 20 years ago, still exists."

After working with Aamir, one of Bollywood's top four Khans - the others being Shah Rukh, Salman and Saif - in "Dhobi Ghat", does she plan to cast him in a commercial project in the near future?

"I don't," she replied promptly, adding: "Because I do cinema that excites me. I don't even watch many huge films. I don't go to the cinema every weekend. I watch selective cinema and want to make my kind of films. I don't judge cinema on its box-office success.

"I would never make a film because I think it's going to be a box-office success. I don't know if I have it in me to make a 'Dhoom' or 'Dabangg'. But never say never, I can't say no, but it's unlikely."

Incidentally, Aamir stars as the antagonist in "Dhoom 3"!

Kiran and Aamir married in 2005. Together they raise a son named Azad, born through a surrogate mother.

These days, Kiran is busy promoting Anand Gandhi's "Ship Of Theseus", which she is presenting. A critically acclaimed film at international film festivals, "Ship of Theseus" is releasing July 19.

The movie is about human values and features three characters - an experimental photographer, an ailing intellectual monk and a stock broker.

She admitted a film like "Ship of Theseus" is not for the box office. "It's so small, such an unusual, challenging film to make. You would not be able to compare it with a commercial film."

"The box office in an arthouse film is always going to be small. We have to face this and overcome this. So, we overcome that by keeping the marketing cost low," she added.

Kiran didn't deny that movies which click at film festivals don't necessarily mint money well at the box office. She says "it's not a myth".

"Films that go to festivals are made with a different style and different cinematic language, which often the mainstream audience is not used to," she said.

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