Singer-composer Sonu Nigam, whose work for “Jal” missed a nomination in the Original Score category of the 87th Academy Awards, isn't bogged down for not making the shortlist.

Sonu and Bickram Ghosh were part of the longlist of the category for "Jal", but they couldn't make it to the final nomination list, which was announced Thursday.

“So there is news everywhere that we couldn't make it in the final nominations for Oscar
thankful 2 God just 2 b spoken in this light,” Sonu tweeted.

The artist, who has garnered appreciation with songs like “Abhi Mujh main Kahin”, “Sau Dard” and “Kal ho naa ho”, said that the opportunity highlights that the duo is on the right track.

“Awesome that our very first outing as composers has brought us in this elite list. We. Must be doing something right wth d Music we know,” he posted further.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan seems to relate lifetime achievement award to retirement. And the king of romance is in no mood to hang up his boots for another 110 years!

The actor, who has entertained audience with movies like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Veer-Zaara" and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...", shared his thoughts over the award at 21st Life OK Screen Awards, held in Mumbai earlier this week.

Shah Rukh said that he is not looking forward to receiving a Lifetime Achievement award for next 110 years at least. He said that wants to stay young, feel young and keep going with his work, as he feels that that there is a long way to go before he plans to retire and give up on acting, said a source from the event.

Putting education before showbiz, the actor also said that he wants his elder son Aryan to focus on his studies first as films can wait.

“It is not a favourable time for him to make his film debut as he is too young,” the actor said.

Actress Tisca Chopra said here Friday that the star kid phenomenon is like a "double-edged sword". She agrees that debutants who are acquainted with the pressures of the film industry have an advantage, but says that they also have to face "huge expectations" for being related to a star.

"The star kid phenomenon is a double-edged sword. If you have grown up watching the business, the chances of doing well are high. To get used to people looking at you minutely and behave as if nobody is looking at you, is hard anyway," she said.

Tisca, who belongs to a family of educationists, said there are additional pressures.

"There is a pressure of being in public space, to have that kind of money riding on you, to perform on that precise moment even if you don't feel like it.

"If you have watched your mom or dad or other family members doing that, then it's that much easier. You are just so used to it," she said at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival.

The "Taare Zameen Par" actress has authored the book "Acting Smart", which is about making a career in Bollywood.

"The downside (of being a star kid) is even before you take your first step, there are huge expectations," she noted, adding its "better" to be from outside showbiz.

Actor Gulshan Devaiah, known for playing intense roles in "Shaitan", "Hate Story" and "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", is happy to play a sex addict in upcoming film "Hunterrr", as he feels it will help him change his image in Bollywood.

"Hunterrr", produced by Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films, is all about a sex addict, played by Gulshan, and his lustful journey in life.

"I want to try different things as an actor. I don't want to get trapped in one zone. So far, people associate me with negative roles and characters with grey shades. I've got a chance to flip from this zone thanks to 'Hunterrr'," Gulshan said at the trailer launch of "Hunterrr" here Thursday.

"Since a long time, I wanted to do this kind of a straightforward comedy and a light film. Harshavardhan (director) gave me this chance through 'Hunterrr'. Nobody was offering me a comedy film. I was getting serious kind of roles -- they (filmmakers) wanted me to fight or abuse someone.

"So, I liked the fact that makers of 'Hunterrr' looked at me with a different viewpoint," he added.

Directed by Harshavardhan Kulkarni, "Hunterrr" also stars Radhika Apte and Sai Tamhanka in important roles. The film is slated to release March 20.

National Award winning costume designer Neeta Lulla has come on board Ashutosh Gowariker's "Mohenjo Daro" for styling the looks of the cast.

The movie's costume designing was being taken care by Oscar nominated and Emmy Award winning April Ferry, and Lulla's addition to the crew will add to the turnout of the members of the cast, including Hrithik Roshan

This will be Lulla's fourth film with Gowariker after "Jodhaa Akbar", "What’s Your Rashee?" and "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey".

Confirming the news, Gowariker said in a statement: “April Ferry designed 'Mohenjo Daro', but when Hrithik's injury pushed the schedule ahead, April had to leave as her contract period ended in December. Thankfully, Neeta was gracious enough to come on board and work from where April left off.

"Now, she will be handling the styling and looks for the cast. I am glad, because it is wonderful to be working with Neeta again.”

Produced jointly by Ashutosh Gowariker Productions and Disney India, "Mohenjo Daro" is an Indus Valley set, epic adventure-drama-love story slated to release Aug 12, 2016.

Leela Samson has resigned as the censor board chief, protesting against what she termed interference by the government, while denying Friday that her exit was linked to controversial film "MSG", which is ready for release after the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) gave it the green signal.

"It is absolutely true that I have resigned. (I resigned) last night by SMS and today (Friday) by email and hard copy letter," Samson told IANS via SMS.

Samson has headed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), a statutory body under the information and broadcasting ministry, since 2011. It regulates the public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

An acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, Samson said her resignation followed interference by the government in the censor board's working and what she described as coercion and corruption of panel members.

But she denied speculation that her departure was due to the clearance given by the FCAT - which hears appeals of applicants aggrieved by a CBFC order, for film certification - to Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's film "MSG - The Messenger of God".

When IANS asked Samson if "MSG" was the factor, she said: "That is not the reason."

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said Samson's resignation was her personal decision and there was no coercion by the government.

"Whatever the decision, it has to be acceptable to all," he said, in an obvious reference to the FCAT's green signal to "MSG". "There was no coercion by the government. If she feels so, let her convey it to the government."

"MSG" was reportedly first rejected by the examining committee of the censor board and referred to the revising committee.

When it too decided against clearing the film, it was referred to FCAT, which cleared it for release after asking producers to make minor changes.

The film's producers claimed they have got the required permission from the censor board for the movie's release, but it didn't hit the screens as scheduled Friday.

A high-profile premiere was planned for the movie in Gurgaon. Thousands of his fans had gathered at Leisure Valley Ground there to watch a screening, amid protests by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) workers and the party's student wing Indian National Student Organisation (INSO) activists.

The movie's premiere had to be postponed to Sunday, and police and security agencies in Punjab and Haryana were put on alert following the protests.

Sect leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is said to have around 50 million followers and has has been mired in a controversy since 2001, facing murder and rape cases in courts, told media in Gurgaon that there was nothing objectionable in his film.

"There's a move to stop the release of the film. I have no knowledge on why the censor board objected to the film," he said, adding that the film carries a message against social evils like alcoholism, prostitution and drugs and promoted good causes like blood donation and doing voluntary work.

Samson said in an earlier statement: "Interference, coercion and corruption of panel members and officers of the organisation appointed by the ministry and having to manage an organisation whose board has not met for over nine months as the ministry had 'no funds' to permit the meeting of members."

"The term of all members and the chairperson is over. But since the new government failed to appoint a new board and chairperson, a few were given extensions and asked to carry on till this procedure was completed."

"However, recent cases of interference in the working of the CBFC by the ministry, through an 'additional charge' CEO and corrupt panel members have caused a degradation of those values the members of this Board of CBFC and chairperson stood for," Samson added.

Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi will be honoured with the first International Lifetime Achievement Award at the Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) in February.

"The first International Lifetime Achievement Award of JIFF will be given to filmmaker Majid Majidi from Iran. He is a well known name in the world film fraternity. His film 'Children of Heaven' has given him tremendous popularity," JIFF film market director Nand Kishor Jalani said in a statement.

Majidi has made acclaimed films like "Baran", "The Willow Tree" and "The Song of Sparrows".

The seventh edition of JIFF, to be held Feb 1-5 at Golcha Cinema, Chamber Bhawan and Manipal University in Jaipur, will open with Afghani film "A Few Cubic Meters of Love".

Alongside film screenings, the festival will also feature a directors' meet, writers' meet, animation workshops and seminars.

International filmmaker Shaji N. Karun will be the chairperson of the director's meet which will take place Feb 2. President of Indian Motion Picture Producers Asociation T.P. Agarwal, Director's Association president Ashok Pandit, actress Pallavi Joshi and film director Vivek Agnihotri will interact in this meet.

Writer of films like "Satyagraha" and "Raajneeti" Anjum Rajabali is the chairperson of the writers' meet which will be held Feb 3. Writers Kamlesh Pandey and Shridhar Raghavan will be the main speakers at the meet.

Animation workshops and seminars will be spread across two days starting Feb 4.

As many as 25 stories and scripts from 10 countries have been selected this year for an International Script Writing Competition. The top three stories and scripts will be selected by the jury and the winners will be declared during the award ceremony Feb 5.

Spanish premium fashion studio Custo Barcelona has entered the Indian market with a lifestyle exhibition “The Reverie”.

The brand announced its arrival in the country with a fashion show Friday at Radisson Blu here.

"India is a volatile and cost-efficient market,” said Custo Dalmau, founder of international design house Custo Barcelona.

What are the plans to cater to Indian fashionistas?

“We will lower our pricing in sync with local spending power but definitely not the quality. About 65 per cent of India’s population is below 35 years of age. Unlike other premium brands, whose colour segments mostly offer black, blue and grey products, Custo Barcelona promises attractive and colourful patterns,” he added.

At present, Custo Barcelona has 80 exclusive outlets and close to 3,000 fashion retail associates across 40 countries. India is now the 41st country where it has a presence.

Keeping the Indian consumer's affordability in mind, the price range of the brand will start from Rs.5,000.

The brand is expected to begin operations with three standalone stores in Delhi, Noida and Mumbai before March this year.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday hit out against Censor Board chairperson Leela Samson who quit citing corruption and the nine board members who followed suit, saying they are all "UPA appointees" and if there's any corruption they "have themselves to blame".

In a Facebook post titled "Rebels Without a Cause", Jaitley has slammed the allegations of "alleged interference by the government and corruption in the (censor) board" cited by Samson and the nine members.

Jaitley said that he and junior minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore have neither communicated with any member of the censor board, and never desired that any bureaucrat do the same.

"I have not met or spoken to any member of the censor board nor authorised anyone to do the same. It is the UPA appointed Central Censor Board which has since continued.

"If there is any corruption, the UPA appointees have themselves to blame. I only wished that the fact of corruption had been communicated even once by the chairperson of the censor board to me. The non-functional chairperson never did so," Jaitley added in his post.

Samson has alleged that the "board has not met for over nine months as the ministry had 'no funds' to permit the meeting of members".

Rebutting her charge, Jaitley said: "The charge that meetings of the censor board are not being held is a self-condemnation. The meetings are to be convened not by the minister or the secretary, but by the chairperson.

"If the meetings are not being convened, it is for those responsible for non-functioning who must blame themselves. I have checked up from officials of the Ministry who informed that the funds for the censor board have been returned to the ministry as unspent by the board."

The controversy came up following the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal's (FCAT) clearance to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's film "MSG - The Messenger of God", despite the fact that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)and its revising committee had not given it a green signal.

While many have claimed that Samson's resignation was triggered by this clearance, she told IANS Friday: "That is not the reason."

Clarifying the legal regime with regard to the functioning of the censor board, Jaitley said: "If an Appeal Tribunal disagrees with the board, it is a part of the due process of law and not an onslaught on board's autonomy.

"Can a subordinate judicial authority ever cry foul if its decision is upset by an appellate authority? The NDA government maintains arms length distance in all matters relating to film certification.

"The UPA Government had politicised the Censor Board. In 2004 they dismissed the existing Censor Board headed by eminent film actor Anupam Kher merely on the ground that Anupam Kher was appointed by the earlier government. We did not wish to do that. It is regrettable that the UPA appointees have decided to politicise routine issues."

The censor board was Saturday hit by mass resignations a day after board chairperson Leela Samson quit citing coercion and corruption even as Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley hit out at those quitting, calling them "UPA appointees" who had themselves to blame for any corruption.

Amidst the drama, the Punjab government Saturday banned the screening of controversial film "MSG - The Messenger Of God", which features Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in wake of a central advisory and intelligence reports that it could lead to tension.

The film was cleared by the Certification Appellate Tribunal's (FCAT) despite not getting clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and its revising committee. The film, written, produced and directed by Ram Rahim also has him in the lead role. He has also written and given music for the seven songs in the film, including one called "Love Charger".

It is yet to be officially released.

Saturday saw eight of the CBFC members quitting. Ira Bhaskar, Lora Prabhu, Pankaj Sharma, Rajeev Masand, Sekharbabu Kancherla, Shaji Karun, Shubhra Gupta and T.G. Thyagarajan sent a joint resignation letter to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. By evening, two other members Mamang Dai and Arundhati Nag had quit too, Samson told IANS.

In their letter, the members said the events that led to Samson quitting were "merely the proverbial last straw" and also protested the "cavalier and dismissive manner" in which the board is treated by the government.

The CBFC, which has 23 members on its board besides the chairperson, is a statutory body under the information and broadcasting ministry "regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952".

Jaitley, in a scathing Facebook post titled "Rebels Without a Cause", dismissed allegations of "alleged interference by the government and corruption in the board" cited by Samson and the others, noting he and Rathore have neither communicated with any board member and never desired that any bureaucrat do the same.

"If there is any corruption, the UPA appointees have themselves to blame. I only wished that the fact of corruption had been communicated even once by the chairperson of the censor board to me. The non-functional chairperson never did so," Jaitley added.

He said the charge that meetings of the censor board are not being held "is a self-condemnation. The meetings are to be convened not by the minister or the secretary, but by the chairperson".

While many have claimed that Samson's resignation was triggered by clearance given to Ram Rahim's film, Samson told IANS Friday: "That is not the reason."

Clarifying the legal regime with regard to the board's functioning, Jaitley said: "If an Appeal Tribunal disagrees with the board, it is a part of the due process of law and not an onslaught on board's autonomy.

"Can a subordinate judicial authority ever cry foul if its decision is upset by an appellate authority? The NDA government maintains arms length distance in all matters relating to film certification," he said, accusing the UPA government of having "politicised the Censor Board".

Jaitley noted that in 2004, the UPA dismissed the existing Censor Board headed by eminent film actor Anupam Kher merely because he was appointed by the earlier government. "We did not wish to do that. It is regrettable that the UPA appointees have decided to politicise routine issues."

However, his UPA predecessor Manish Tewari retorted that the government's "inability to finesse relationship with CBFC is being twisted by BJP ministers into a NDA vs UPA issue".

"If BJP felt UPA had politicised CBFC appointments, they should have sacked the board," said the Congress leader, noting that the government says the board was politicised but also hold that they are not vindictive.

The board members in their letter said they had tried to make the film certification process more uniform, transparent, consistent and sensitive to the freedom of filmmakers' right to expression with responsibility but their struggle "has been extremely frustrating and disappointing".

"It is our firm position that given the cavalier and dismissive manner in which the CBFC is treated by the government, it is impossible to perform this duty with even a modicum of efficacy or autonomy," they said, adding they also objected to the way the chairperson has been treated by the ministry "which we feel has been humiliating for us all".

Eight members of the Censor Board, including Ira Bhaskar, Saturday resigned saying the events that led to chairperson Leela Samson quitting were "merely the proverbial last straw" and also protested the "cavalier and dismissive manner" in which the board is treated by the government.

The members, who are Lora Prabhu, Pankaj Sharma, Rajeev Masand, Sekharbabu Kancherla, Shaji Karun, Shubhra Gupta and T.G. Thyagarajan, said that since the time they came on the board, they have been asking for some critical changes which were imperative if the functioning of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has to be reformed.

The members said that despite sending numerous recommendations and appeals, and holding several meetings with the secretaries and senior officials of the information and broadcasting ministry, and even one with a previous minister, "not a single positive step has been taken by the ministry".

They said they had also written to the then minister in December 2013 making several recommendations to strengthen CBFC as an institution, and that they were willing to work with the government on the issue.

"None of the recommendations that we made in that letter have been taken on board, and there has been no engagement with us on crucial issues that we were raising," the resignation letter addressed to the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore says. A copy is with IANS.

The members alleged that the CBFC Advisory Panel "continues to be filled up with people of questionable credentials appointed directly by the ministry, without taking the Board's recommendations into account".

They said no funds have been released for conducting orientation workshops for the panel members and that officers from other departments without any understanding or experience in cinema are appointed as officials.

Several positions in the regional offices do not have regular appointments. No Board meeting was held for the last one year to discuss developments and make recommendations " as we were told that there are no funds to organize it! It seems that the CBFC Board is not required at all", they said.

The members said that they had consistently attempted to make the film certification process more uniform, transparent, consistent and sensitive to the freedom of filmmakers' right to expression with responsibility. "The struggle to do so has been extremely frustrating and disappointing," they said.

"It is our firm position that given the cavalier and dismissive manner in which the CBFC is treated by the government, it is impossible to perform this duty with even a modicum of efficacy or autonomy.

"We also object to the way in which the chairperson has been treated by the ministry which we feel has been humiliating for us all. This is not the way in which the head of an organization ought to be treated, and it is certainly not one that is conducive to any productive relationship," they said.

They hoped the new board would find the government more responsive than they had.

The controversy was triggered following the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal's (FCAT) clearance to Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's film "MSG - The Messenger of God", despite the fact that the CBFC andits revising committee had not given it a green signal.

Fashion designer Archana Kochhar, popular for her traditional creations, ran the Mumbai Marathon here Sunday in support of the girl child empowerment through education, with Smile Foundation.

This was the first opportunity for Kochhar to participate in the Mumbai Marathon, an annual event that attracts scores of top people from different walks of life.

She also cheered for her favourite charity Smile Foundation, which saw support in the marathon by corporates like SBI, Abbott and LIC.

She said the cause of girl child education is "extremely close to my heart".

"In this Mumbai Marathon as a Goodwill Ambassador for Girl Child Empowerment with Smile Foundation, I have pledged my support to send more girl children to school. I am a firm believer of the fact that education is both the means as well as the end to a better life," Kochhar told IANS.

"Also, when you educate a woman, you educate a family."

The designer's association with Smile Foundation began with the Lakme Fashion Week in 2014.

"I feel strongly connected to this organisation because of the superb work they are doing on ground. They are benefiting around 3,000,000 lives pan India and I am happy to be a part of this movement in whatever way possible," she said.

Thus, "running a marathon to support a cause which is close to heart is like being given a voice to the unspoken desire to give back in the best way possible."

"You not only raise the required resourced to support the cause you are supporting but also to sensitise many more people to participate and be the change they wish to see," she said.

On an individual level, several designers do something or the other for society, but as an industry, how do you think can they help in alleviating a social concern?

Kochhar said: "Fashion industry has always been very vocal and supporting about various social cause and we have majorly portrayed it through the work we do. In order to give back to the society, I have adopted four villages to revive their dying arts and handicrafts. This initiative is for the welfare of these craftsmen."

"Some of the other causes close to my heart include women empowerment and skill development."

Filmmaker Shankar has earned the wrath of a group of transgenders here after they found objectionable scenes about their community in his latest Tamil magnum opus "I", which is currently running in cinemas.

The transgender community is upset with the way Shankar has portrayed the character essayed by popular make-up artist, a transgender, Ojas M. Rajani.

In the film, Rajani lusts over actor Vikram and this has not gone down well with many people.

"We want Shankar to remove those scenes from the film. It belittles our community and we plan to lodge an official complaint on Monday with the police. If required, we don't even mind taking the legal recourse," popular transgender TV personality Rose Venkatesan told IANS.

Rose has sought the support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender community (LGBT).

"The way Shankar has portrayed Ojas's character makes us look like some sex-starved individuals. We are in talks with the members of LGBT community to decide the next course of action," Rose said.

On Saturday, a group of transgenders staged a protest in front of Shankar's house here.

"I" also features Amy Jackson and Upen Patel.

Remembering Harivansh Rai Bachchan on his 12th death anniversary Sunday, his son and megastar Amitabh Bachchan paid a tribute to the noted poet.

Harivansh Rai, who is credited with works like "Madhushala" and "Agneepath", died Jan 18, 2003.

“It is the death anniversary of my Father. When you think of those moments it sends shivers, apprehensions, prayer and remembrance to the one departed, especially when it happens to be your own Father,” the 72-year-old posted on his official blog srbachchan.tumblr.com Sunday.

“I shall be in prayer with him in his surroundings... for whatever little that we can do for him... it is after all the day of his passing. My Father... my father... lost today but in my thoughts and mind continuously... where do they go, and where are they that seek indifference to their problems."

"Many wonder if they reached the doors of heaven, of meeting that phantom like ‘old man’ with rather large beard and a guffaw at his disposal... reverential and obedient and filled with pardon to be sought from the one that sacrificed his," he added.

Meanwhile, Big B, currently busy promoting his forthcoming film “Shamitabh”, has cut his finger.

"Umff !! A crucible carrying my medication slipped out and smashed on the ground ! Glass all over ! Swept it aside ... finger cut," he tweeted.

"The kite finger cut had just healed when there was fresh blood all over ... sounds gruesome no??? Ok no more...," he added.

Filmmaker Shankar has sought police protection following protest by a group of transgenders outside his residence here after they found objectionable scenes about their community in his latest Tamil magnum opus "I".

The transgender community is upset with the way Shankar has portrayed the character essayed by popular make-up artist, a transgender, Ojas M. Rajani.

"They have been protesting since the last two days. Since everything was out of control, Shankar sir has requested for police protection," a source close to the filmmaker told IANS.

Popular transgender TV personality Rose Venkatesan told IANS that the way Shankar portrayed Ojas in the film "belittles our community".

Members of the community are likely to lodge an official complaint with the police Monday.

Starring Vikram, "I" also features Amy Jackson and Upen Patel.

Actor Suriya's home production 2D Entertainment has bagged the all-India remake rights of last year's Malayalam hit "How Old Are You". Plans are on for the film's remake in Hindi as well as Kannada.

"Suriya had already bought the Tamil remake rights of the film. Now, he has snapped the remake rights of the film in all languages. The makers are planning to remake the film in Hindi and Kannada," a source close to Suriya told IANS.

In the yet-untitled Tamil remake of "How Old Are You", Jyothika, wife of Suriya, is reprising the role of Manju Warrier from the original.

The Tamil version, which is currently on floors, is being helmed by Rosshan Andrews, who directed the original.

It's not yet confirmed if Jyothika will feature in the film's remake in other languages as well.

"It's too early to comment on it. She may or she may not feature in other languages," the source added.

Bollywood celebrities and Kashmiri Pandits Anupam Kher and Sanjay Suri have expressed solidary and support to the victims who were displaced from the Kashmir valley due to militancy 25 years ago.

Anupam, a veteran actor, changed his Twitter account’s display photograph to a black one with 25YearsofKPExile written in red. He has urged his followers to do the same.

“In solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits who complete 25 years in exile today, please change your DP. #25YearsofKPExile,” he tweeted Monday.

Sanjay, an actor and producer, also expressed his grief on the microblogging site.

“25 yrs gone! Kashmiri Hindus who complete 25 years in exile today. #25YearsofKPExile #displaced #LostHome,” he posted on Twitter.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also spoke his mind though not being from the community.

“When one is displaced from their roots the trauma is beyond words. This exile is etched with deep pain in every heart #25YearsofKPExile #Hope,” he tweeted.

Fans who had gathered outside the residence of megastar Amitabh Bachchan here were in for a double treat as the screen icon emerged from his home with his granddaughter Aaradhya. But the little one got scared!

Talking about Aaradhya's tryst with stardom, the 72-year-old said that the three-year-old was scared with all the fan frenzy around her.

“I took the little one out to meet the Sunday well wishers...apprehensive and wonder filled her little delicate hands and feet and mind...BUT...they are the sweetest gifts of the Almighty...and we are blessed to have them,” a post on his official Facebook read.

Amitabh also posted a series of photographs with his granddaughter, who can be seen clutching onto her grandfather's shoulder.

Fans gather outside Jalsa, Amitabh's house, almost every Sunday morning. The “Paa” star also shared a photograph of the Sunday ritual on micro-blogging site Twitter.

“But the best moments come with 'little ones' even though a bit apprehensive,” he posted.

Star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai's daughter was born in November 2011.

Meanwhile, the actor is busy in promotional activities for his forthcoming film "Shamitabh", which also stars Dhanush and Akshara Haasan. The film will release Feb 6.

History lessons are often synonymous with being boring, stretched and dull. But actress-producer Preity Zinta seems to have come up with an interesting method to gulp down all the facts, and that's through watching "true stories" on screen.

"I love 2watch true stories. It's like a history lesson. Sadly these people changed the course of history but still struggled personally," the actress tweeted.

The actress, who was last seen in the 2014 release "Happy Ending", also heaped praise on Hollywood movie "American Sniper", which is based on the biography of American army sniper Chris Kyle.

"Loved how 'American Sniper' showed the personal side of war and how it affects people emotionally...Eventually there are NO winners in war," she further posted.

Starring Bradley Cooper, the film encapsulates the internal as well as external turmoil of Chris, starting from his childhood right through his marriage and short career span that lasted only four trips to the strife-torn zone in Iraq.

Tennis star Sania Mirza grabbed the fifth rank in the world in women's double category. Her friends from the Hindi film fraternity wished more milestones for the tennis player.

Filmmaker Farah Khan, who is one of the few female directors who has broken the myth that a woman can't helm masala movies with hits like "Main Hoon Naa", "Om Shanti Om" and "Happy New Year", wished Sania in a filmy way.

"@MirzaSania: Number 5 in the world career best 'picture abhi baaki hain meri dost!'," she tweeted.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh also took to the micro-blogging site to wish his friend.

"Proud of u my friend @MirzaSania monster congratulations- world no. 5," he posted.

Sania, who is also the first Indian to break into the World Tennis Association's top 50 rankings, is UN Women's goodwill ambassador for South Asia.