It was not just another day for the locals, particularly the street urchins, scattered outside the sleepy Kalighat temple complex here. As word spread about Bollywood actress Rani Mukherji's visit, a huge mob descended from nowhere and chaos reigned.

Her career might not be in top form at the moment, but the dusky Bengali beauty - affectionately called "Bengal's daughter" by the commoners here - still has the power to draw large crowds and prove how futile the police arrangements can become when it comes to controlling star-crazy fans.

At around 5 p.m. Tuesday, the blink-and-you-miss entrance to the famed temple was surrounded by a group of policemen to usher Rani's convoy of cars and bouncers.

This caught the attention of curious onlookers, passersby and the regular beggars and street kids (mostly semi-clad) who then started collecting behind the row of policemen to catch a glimpse.

Mediapersons and cameramen who needed to get a clear shot of the celeb had a tough time finding a spot as the milling crowd pushed and shoved. Needless to say, most had their smartphones, in the video mode, held aloft.

A few of the choicest abuses were hurled as a deaf and mute kid tried to head-butt through the ring of photographers lined up behind a rope barricade.

The clock ticked by and anticipation ran high. And all of sudden a mad rush ensued when a high-end luxury car zoomed in. And then, it was a blur!

Youngsters armed with smartphones, parents with kids perched on their shoulders and shopkeepers standing on tip-toe -- there was nobody left who didn't join in. A few scattered policemen shouted out words to control the public. The rope barricade was long gone.

While most of the reporters had to brace themselves against the onslaught of the public, the shopkeepers added to the din as more and more people wanted to get a peep.

"Ami dekhbo... aapni shorun (you move away... I want a view)," screeched an elderly shopkeeper as a media person wanted a better position jostling among the throng.

"Amra Rani ke dekhechi," said a gleeful woman after her successful star-gazing.

As Rani stepped out from the vehicle and went inside the temple, the crowd dispersed, only to come back again, with what seemed in bigger numbers and a vengeance.

Those who couldn't see Rani the first time around, gathered in numbers. As earlier, smartphones went up!

This created a problem for the media as Rani's words to the clamouring reporters could be barely heard over the numerous but small verbal fights that broke out.

Some had to drag a couple of unrelenting youngsters by their school bags out of the media-zone!

This was a day when the public seemed to have become the paparazzi.

Indeed, a weary policeman on the spot told IANS: "Nowadays, every body is the media. All they need is a smartphone."

An entertainment reporter admitted: "I have never felt so scared... for a moment I thought there would be a stampede and I would be caught in that."

Stunning in a black gown with a transparent back, Sushmita Sen turned the show stopper for Amit Aggarwal as Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 rolled off Tuesday with a display of the latest collection of Aggarwal and Masaba Gupta.

"I feel sexy wearing this and that's what Amit's collection is all about. When I first saw his collections, I asked him which is the show stopper outfit as each and every outfit looks like a show stopper outfit. I am so proud that we have such designers," said Sushmita.

The soul of Aggarwal's collection lay in incorporating tribal influences like weaving techniques, stripped tattoos and structured jewelry, while a modern interpretation of these ideas was taken forward as menswear details found their way on to coture dresses in a beautiful synthesis of androgyny with feminity.

"I think this idea started with the concept of women who lived their life on their own terms and that is when I thought about Sushmita Sen. The collections are contemporary traditional in a modern way," said Aggarwal.

The Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2014 will continue till Aug 24.

Designer Masaba Gupta Tuesday showcased her fashion line at Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2014 and her showstopper Shilpa Shetty grooved with the models on the ramp.

Donning a slinky black printed cut-out gown with an attached dupatta drape - just the right addition for a beach time soirée Shilpa Shetty said: "I feel elated taking the ramp for Masaba. I hope I have done justice to her collection."

Masaba Gupta's collection was called as "Wanderess" which absolutely went well with the theme.

"I was nervous about today's collection it's about free spirit women who loves to travel," said Masaba.

Her collections that were a blend of flared minis in beige, slinky gowns with multi prints, long sleeved, thigh length jacket with flared pants and cut-out sari gown, created a mood of the fun times of the 1960s.

Trapeze printed top with bell sleeves, attached dupattas for skirts, bell bottom style shararas, long sleeved tail-coat cholis with printed saris and drop waist will-power maxi added to the options that Masaba offered through the show.

Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive2014 which kick started Tuesday will last till Aug 24.

Indian actor Emraan Hashmi's debut international project "Tigers", directed by the Oscar winning Danis Tanovic, will have its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month.

A co-production between India, France and Britain, the movie has been categories under the Contemporary World Cinema section of TIFF, which is due to be held Sep 4-14, according to the official TIFF website.

"Tigers" is a based-on-fact drama in which a young salesman, who is devastated when he discovers the effects of the infant formula he's peddling, challenges the system and the powers that be.

Tanovic, a Bosnian director famed for "No Man’s Land", has helmed the hard-hitting project which "explores Pakistan's fascination with Western drugs".

Emraan's character in the film is called Ayan, and he features with a principal cast including names like Geetanjali Thapa, Danny Huston, Khalid Abdalla, Adil Hussain, Maryam D'Abo, Satyadeep Misra, Heino Ferch, Sam Reid, Supriya Pathak and Vinod Nagpal.

The producers involved in the project are Anurag Kashyap, Guneet Monga, Prashita Chaudhary, Kshitij Chaudhary, Cedomir Kolar, Marc Baschet, Andy Paterson and Cat Villiers, while Prerna Saigal has edited it.

Veteran actress and social activist Shabana Azmi and her husband, renowned lyricist-writer Javed Akhtar, have pledged to donate their organs.

“Javed Sb and I have both pledged all our organs with the NGO #Organ India #Parasher Foundation New Delhi…,” Shabana tweeted Wednesday.

The Parashar Foundation was set up in 2000 to help the poor and less fortunate by providing funds to various schools, health centers and other organisations. Their goal is also to create an organ donor system in the capital that will benefit people, regardless of religion, age, sex, caste, or social standing.

Shabana has been a social activist and jointly runs NGO Mijwan Welfare Society with her godchild Namrata Goyal.

Ace superstar Mohanlal is undergoing physiotherapy at a private hospital here for the past one week as he is suffering from pain in his left leg, a source at the facility said.

The physiotherapy sessions are progressing well, a source at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences told IANS.

The 54-year-old has been suffering the pain for a while and only after weighing different options did he decid to undergo physiotherapy, a close aide of the actor told IANS.

"The pain is on his left knee and is spreading downwards. At one point of time, even bringing in a knee expert from the US was discussed, but after weighing other medical opinions, physiotherapy was decided upon. Things are getting better for him now," said the aide, who did not wish to be identified.

Once the physiotherapy session is over, Mohanlal is expected to take rest and would be ready to don the grease paint only in October when he teams up with Manju Warrier in a film, to be directed by master storyteller Sathyan Anthicadu.

"Aaram Thamburan" and "Kanmadam" have been two films that turned out to be a huge success when the duo acted together.

"I am happy to see my son doing well," said acclaimed actor Pankaj Kapur referring to Shahid Kapoor's work in his forthcoming film "Haider", an Indian adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet".

Within a span of a few weeks both father and son will come on screen to woo the audience. If English language "Finding Fanny" will see Pankaj tickling the funny bones of the audience, Shahid's "Haider" will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

"I am happy to see my son doing well. 'Haider' is certainly a special film and coming from Vishal Bhardwaj makes it all the more special. I am extremely happy to see Shahid's work in 'Haider'," Pankaj, who has been part of Bhardwaj's well crafted dramas "Maqbool" and "The Blue Umbrella", told IANS.

Homi Adajania's quirky drama "Finding Fanny", which also stars Dimple Kapadia, Deepika Padukone and Arjun Kapoor, is coming out on Sep 12, while "Haider", part of director Bhardwaj's Shakespeare trilogy after “Maqbool” (Macbeth) and “Omkara” (Othello”), will hit the screens Oct 2.

In the film Shahid has teamed up with Shraddha Kapoor.

If the 60-year-old is impressed with his son's work, he is equally excited about "Finding Fanny".

He said: "When Homi came to me with the script I instantly said yes to the film. It's a very unusual film, which I have not done before. "

His success is about the right decisions at the right time, but Aamir Khan confesses that the important decisions of his life were never supported by the people around him. However, now when he looks back, he cherishes the fact that he lived his life on his terms and conditions.

"This is a fascinating thing that right through my life, every important decision of my life, all people who are important to me, close to me, have always told me, 'You are making a mistake, don't do this'. I have always been told that," the four-time National Award winner said.

The 49-year-old was speaking at the Young Inspirator's seminar here Tuesday.

He further said: "I always listened to them carefully, I never ignored them. But I finally did what I felt like doing and when I look back after 25 years of being a professional, I think that is the one thing that I feel happy about. I lived on my terms."

"Today, I am successful, but I may not have been successful as well. But I am happy that I never compromised. Whenever I was offered something I was not happy with, I didn't do it."

Aamir started his full-fledged career in 1988 with "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" and carved a niche for himself with films like "Raja Hindustani", "Sarfarosh", "Lagaan", "Fanaa", "Rang De Basanti", "Ghajini", "3 Idiots", "Dhoom 3" and many more.

As a director, he made a successful film "Taare Zameen Par" and the film on dyslexia earned him Filmfare's best director award.

Currently, he is gearing up for the release of his next "P.K." that will hit the theatres in December this year. The actor received a lot of flak for posing nude for the film's poster.

The combo of Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn has once again hit the jackpot - their lates offering “Singham Returns” has earned over Rs.100 crore within four days of its release.

Also starring Kareena Kapoor, the action-drama released on Independence Day.

“#SinghamReturns Fri 32.09 cr (crore), Sat 21.05 cr, Sun 24.55 cr, Mon 14.78 cr, Tue 8.21 cr. Total: (Rs.) 100.68 cr nett. India biz,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted.

The film is co-produced by Ajay Devgn Films, Rohit Shetty Productions and Reliance Entertainment.

In the past, Ajay-Shetty churned out hits like "Singham", "Bol Bachchan" and "Golmaal" series.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has never experienced bribery for film certification. He says he doesn't support palm-greasing and in case he comes across it, he will immediately inform the police.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) CEO Rakesh Kumar was arrested in an alleged bribery case Monday. He was sent to police custody for three days Tuesday by a special court.

“I don’t have any information about him,” Aamir said when he was asked about Kumar.

“I had no personal experience with him, so I cannot comment on it,” he told reporters at the “PK” poster launch Wednesday.

Shripati Mishra, CBFC advisory panel member and an authorised agent for censor certification, was also arrested for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs.70,000 for issuing a certificate to "Mor Dauki Ke Bihav", a regional film from Chhattisgarh.

Members of film fraternity have come out in the open and spoken about their experiences.

When asked if has ever come across any such agent, Aamir said: “It has never happened with me. In any case, the kind of person I am, if somebody will ask me for bribe, I will immediately call the police. I will make an official complaint then and there.”

The film’s co-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra too said that he never had to bribe anyone to get clearance for his film.

“Fortunately, my reputation has been so bad that I never had any such bad experience…,” he said.

Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who has also co-produced he film, “PK” is expected to come out in December.

"Issaq" fame Amyra Dastur, who is paired with Emraan Hashmi in Vikram Bhatt-directed "Mr. X", says the romance in the film is darker than a usual romantic entertainer.

"It's ('Mr. X') a love story, but it's not your happy, teen romance. It's darker than your usual romantic films because it's also a thriller. It's a superhero film," Amyra told IANS.

"What's really interesting is that I'm not actually romancing Emraan, I'm chasing him in the film. That's what makes this a darker love story and quite different from other films," she said.

Amyra, who is simultaneously shooting for Tamil film "Anegan" with Dhanush, finds Emraan to be extremely "witty".

"Mr. X" also features Arunoday Singh in an important role.

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who is a trained dancer, found it challenging to move in an unusual manner to the music of the song "Bismil", which features in his forthcoming film "Haider".

The actor says it is the best shot song of his career.

"It is one of the best shot songs of my career. The location, the elements like facepaint to depict war situations, have been used in 'Bismil'. Then there are 100 feet tall puppets, which I have never seen in any song before," the 33-year-old said here at the music launch of "Haider" here Wednesday.

The song was shot at the Sun Temple in Kashmir.

"The Sun Temple is a very beautiful place and there were 5,000 to 6,000 people there everyday to watch the shoot. It was challenging to dance as an emotional character at such a place," he added.

Shahid says that the choreography of the song involved more than just dance steps and that's why it was important that his usual style of dance does not reflect in it.

"It was very essential that Haider (my character) does not dance like Shahid. He had to have his own body language. His dance and acting had to be different from my usual style. So we had choreographer Sudesh who has done an opera with Vishal (Bhardwaj) sir and he is from Norway," Shahid said.

The track comes in the film at a time when the lead character is "emotionally upset".

"So, the song's emotion had to reach the audience. Apart from the dance steps, what was important was to get across the character's angst and feelings to the audience through choreography," added the actor.

Directed by Bhardwaj, "Haider" is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" and also stars Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu and Kay Kay Menon. The film hits theatres Oct 2.

Actor Arjun Kapoor, who is said to have hurt his back while grooving to a peppy number for "Tevar", says he's fine.

"Ok for the record me n my back r just fine...one of the most random articles I have read recently about myself.. Btw Tevar's last day today," Arjun posted on his Twitter page Thursday.

He was shooting the song sequence with Shruti Haasan.

Earlier, Arjun had suffered a prolapsed cervical disc while shooting for "Gunday" and the pain in his neck aggravates sometimes.

While speaking to IANS sometime back, Arjun had said "it was one of those action injuries when you think you're young enough, and then suddenly your body tells you - 'No, you can't handle everything'."

Actress Priyanka Chopra is trying her best to fulfil her multiple commitments, but one thing she finds tough to cope up with are early mornings.

"Hate early mornings...but love going to work! #IronyOfLife! Song shoot for #DilDhadakneDo ..gotta go look #Fancy," the National Award winning actress tweeted Thursday morning.

Apart from her shooting schedule, it's the aggressive promotion of her forthcoming film "Mary Kom" that's keeping Priyanka on her toes constantly.

Actor Anupam Kher is due to stage his autobiographical play "Kuchh Bhi Ho Sakta Hai" in Kathmandu.

"On my way to Kathmandu. Looking fwd to staging my autobiographical play @KBHSH. Meeting people will be a bonus," tweeted the veteran actor.

The play narrates the journey of a man who should have been a failure, but he manipulated his destiny and forced it to make him a success. It is written by Anupam himself and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.

) Malayalam actors Fahad Fazil and Nazriya Nasim got married here Thursday.

Celebrities and dignitaries attended the 'nikaah'. The entry to the venue was only by invitation and as a result fans and the media were left disappointed.

Nazriya is from the state capital, while Fahad hails from Alappuzha. The two got engaged early this year.

Fahad, the son of director Fazil, made his debut as a child artiste with 1992 release "Pappayude Swantham Appoos" and a decade later he entered filmdom as a hero in his dad's film "Kaiyethum Doorath", but it bombed at the box office. Soon after his first film's fiasco, he moved to the US for higher studies.

In 2009, he made a comeback and churned out a string of hits like “Akam”, “Chaappa Kurishu”, “22 Female Kottayam”, “Diamond Necklace” and “Annayum Rasoolum”.

Nazriya too started her acting career as a child artist with director Blessy's "Palunku" in 2006 and turned into a lead actress with "Maad Dad" and later featured in films like "Neram" and "Naiyaandi".

"Pareshaan" fame singer Shalmali Kholgade has lent her voice for the "Janiyaa jaaniyaa" track from upcoming movie "Pocket Gangsters".

According to sources, Shalmali had a great time recording the love song with music directors Lucky Narula and Navi Singh. The trio bonded well in the music studio and the song was completed within a few hours, read a statement.

The composers said that working with Shalmali was an awesome and enriching experience and that she is one of the most versatile singers in the country.

Narula has penned the lyrics for the song which has two versions - Singh sings the male version, Kholgade has sung the female one.

"Pocket Gangsters" is a high octane thriller directed by Hemant Nilim Das and produced by Vikram M. Shah.

The movie stars Madhur Mittal and is slated to release later this year under the banner Ciemme Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Versatile actress Konkona Sen Sharma, who has been maintaining a low profile for a while now, has been busy writing a script and says she hopes to wield the megaphone soon.

Known for her performances in “Mr. and Mrs. Iyer”, “Amu”, “Page 3” and “Wake Up Sid” among others, the National Award winning actress has been away from the silver screen post “Ek Thi Daayan”. But she was not sitting idle.

"I was busy doing a Bengali film. I also did couple of Hindi films and I will be doing Meghna Gulzar's next. I was busy with my little toddler and I am also writing a script," the actress said.

When asked if that means that she will soon direct a film and follow in her mother Aparna Sen's footsteps, she said: "Let's see. I would like to hopefully soon."

She was speaking on the sidelines of Lakme Fashion Week Winter/ Festive 2014, which was kicked off Tuesday. She walked the ramp as a showstopper for designer Anavila Mishra at the fashion gala.

The government Thursday blocked the release of controversial Punjabi film "Kaum De Heere" which reportedly glorifies the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The decision was taken by the information and broadcasting ministry, the home ministry and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) after watching the film.

"We saw the film and decided that it will not be released tomorrow (Friday)," CBFC chairperson Leela Samson said here after a review of the film and taking cognizance of the recommendations of the home ministry.

"Because of the law and order situation that might result from showing the film and based on the ministry of home affairs report, the home ministry, the CBFC and I and B officials have taken the decision," she added.

The home ministry had expressed reservations and serious concern over the contents of the film and asked the information and broadcasting ministry for a relook into the clearance granted to the film. It had conveyed to the information and broadcasting ministry that the film could impact communal harmony in Punjab and other northern states.

The home ministry had said that some content in the film was "highly objectionable" and could create enmity between communities and lead to communal tension.

The film is reportedly based on the lives of the assassins of Indira Gandhi and glorifies their act.

The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded a ban on the Punjabi film.

Filmmaker Arun Vaidyanathan, an ardent fan of Cho Ramaswamy's 1971 Tamil political-satire "Muhammad Bin Tughluq", says the satire in his forthcoming Malayalam film "Peruchazhi" is influenced by the cult classic.

"Peruchazhi" stars Mohanlal.

"I'm a huge fan of Cho sir. We still love 'Muhammad Bin Tughluq', which I think was at least 20 years ahead of its time when it was made. Some of the jokes in that film are so relevant today. I'm not saying my film is ahead of its time, but it has the kind of humour used in '...Tughluq'," Vaidyanath told IANS.

He points out that what he has written is an original concept.

Vaidyanath cast superstar Mohanlal because he feels he's a great "humourist".

"I love actors like Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Steve Carell. They're all heroes who make us laugh too. Lal sir is an amazing humourist. He's got great comic timing. I feel I've got the opportunity to present the comical side in him," he said.

The movie was not written with Mohanlal in mind.

"I believe the script found the actor. I never wrote the film keeping in mind Lal sir. But when I eventually wrote it, I felt he would be apt. It might sound philosophical, but when I asked him what made him sign this project, he said the film was destined to happen.

"When I narrated the script, he agreed to do the film right away. I was quite surprised and wondered what he would have really liked. But I assume he must have been impressed with the story and my passion to make it with him," Vaidyanath added.

Talking about the movie, he said: "This is a dialogue-driven political satire. Most of the funny lines will make audiences laugh at themselves. It will make us laugh at our own democracy, but in a healthy way"

Any kind of humour that "works at the box-office" should be welcomed, feels Vaidyanathan.

"I think all kind of humour should be accepted. I personally liked the humour in the recent Tamil film 'Jigarthanda'. Nobody can judge what kind of humour will work at the box office, but whatever works should be appreciated," he added.

"Peruchazhia was predominantly shot in the US, where the filmmaker's first film "Achchamundu Achchamundu" was also shot.

He says his stories are more suitable against the US backdrop.

"I chose to shoot in the US because the story happens there. In my first film, which was about pedophiles, I've read more stories about them in the US. So I shot my film there because I felt more comfortable," he said.

"In 'Peruchazhi', I'm comparing two of the world's biggest democracies - India and US. This story can only be shot in the US, but not Dubai or Singapore. But now I realize that's my strength. Why should I not choose to make films in America when I can include foreign characters too in my story," he asked.

"Peruchazhi" also features Mukesh, Poonam Bajwa, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Baburaj and Ragini Nandwani in important roles.