Kareena doesn’t trust Saif

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They may be the perfect couple, and they may be so comfortable with each other that lovers across the country envy their happiness, and yet, there is something about Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor that is out of joint.

On the first episode of Dus Ka Dum season 2, Kareena revealed that she doesn’t completely trust boyfriend Saif Ali Khan.

Kareena and sister Karisma had come as celebrity participants on the first episode of the show hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan. The first question that they were faced with was, what percentage of Indians check their spouse’s phone records and SMSs.

Before the two sisters could answer with a prediction, Salman posed another question, ‘why do women check messages etc?’

At which, Karisma answered candidly, “Well I certainly check my husband’s call records and SMSs…I’m telling all wives and girlfriends, pick up your husband’s phone and check.”

Kareena added, “We check because of our insecurities and we are inquisitive about who they talk to the whole day.”

At this, Karishma revealed that Kareena even answers her boyfriend’s phone in a stern voice.

Looking a little embarassed, Kareena confessed, “Well, Saif works with such good-looking heroines, who knows…”

Kareena then told the audience that this un-trusting streak in her has come from none other than her sister Karisma. She didn’t reveal what all Karisma does to keep a tab on her husband, but gave the impression that it is beyond what usual people do.

And what was Salman’s position on insecurities and obsession regarding his significant other. When aked if he has ever checked his girlfriend’s phone, he said, “I have never seen my girlfriend’s phone, nor have I ever touched it. But I am sure she checks my phone!”

He later said, “Even men check, but out of love, not because of insecurities and jealousy like you women. We trust our girlfriends and wives. And look at them, the top heroines of our industry, what an example you are setting for our viewers.”

Coming back to the game, Karisma placed her bet at 95 percent (people who check their spouse’s phones), while Kareena placed her bet at 78 percent. The answer given by audience was 33 percent.

Imran Khan jumps off a plan

Bollywood’s celebrity action director Allan Amin made actor Imran Khan jump off a plane onto a moving train in the forthcoming movie Luck.

“In Luck, Imran would be seen jumping from an airplane onto a moving train. It was a brave scene and was shot in Bangkok,” Amin said.

Imran, who won many hearts with his debut Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Ya, said it was an important scene, but refused to divulge any details about it.

“It is a major scene in the film and we will most probably use it for the promotion of the film. It will be a major part of the film’s publicity campaign so I don’t want to reveal much about the scene,” said Imran.

The scene might bear resemblance to Anil Kapoor’s famous jump in the 1993 movie Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja as well as Hrithik Roshan’s anti-gravity stunt in Dhoom 2 (2006).

Apart from this particular act in Luck, the action director has also choreographed an underwater action scene set in South Africa with Imran and his leading lady Shruti Haasan - the two will be seen swimming with sharks.

Sanjay Dutt, who is also a part of the Soham Shah directed project, will be seen in a spectacular stunt in which he is supposed to run towards fast moving trains - something we saw Aamir Khan doing in Ghulam.

Amin has been in the film industry for the last 25 years and says more actors now prefer to do their own stunts instead of asking for a body double.

“A lot of actors today want to do their stunts for the excitement. Not only the younger lot, even experienced actors like Amitabh Bachchan likes to do stunts on their own. I made Amitabh do one in Aks where he had to jump through a waterfall,” said Amin, who has directed stunts in actioners like Dhoom, Dus, Kaal and Main Hoon Na.

In 2005, he got the Filmfare Award for directing action sequences in Mission Kashmir, which had Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik in lead roles.

Amin is now excited about being a judge on reality show for MTV, where he has to select, train and judge 10 passionate bikers to perform stunts.

“The channel approached me for the show and after being in the industry for so long, I thought this would be something new for me and something very close to my heart - so I agreed. I will be more than happy to teach young kids how to do stunts properly without harming themselves in any way,” he said.

“A lot of youngsters have a passion for bikes and related stunts, but they should first be brave and positive to be able to carry off a stunt well. And then it is my job to make the stunt spectacular and safe,” Amin added.

Zoozoos in Vodafone TV Ads Aren’t Animated

On first look, these “zoozoos” in Vodafone TV ads for IPL may resemble animated cartoon characters with an alien look or simply a stupid egg-head character with disproportional white bodies and black dots for eyes and mouth.

These Zoozoo characters, in case you haven’t seen them yet, have been created by O&M for Vodafone to convey different value added services offered by the mobile phone company including phone Backup, cricket alerts, etc.

Watch Zoozoo videos

This was something which was created purely out of textbook and is totally an Indian idea. The characters are such that they lead simple lives, speak insane and incomprehensible language and move in a certain way with human emotions.

But the interesting part is that Zoozoos are not animated characters but are actually slim women actors from local Mumbai theatres, dressed in white costumes that are stuffed with foam to portray the characters.

Prakash Varma, who directed the Vodafone ZooZoo commercials, told Afaqs that they only had women – and occasionally children – as their main cast to keep the hands and legs thin of the Zoozoo characters. Such is the craze with Zoozoo that Vodafone ads are among the most watched videos on YouTube and there are over 50,000 Zoozoo fans on Facebook.

Vodafone has an IPL microsite for quizzes and contests where one can know the kind of Zoozoo he or she is as each Zoozoo character has a unique set of characteristics and traits allotted to it. Fans may also download wallpapers and screensavers from the Zoozoo microsite.

It seems that the new Vodafone campaign, which is immensely popular during IPL ad-breaks, would make way for the departure of good old pug ‘Chitika’

Kidman hints at retirement to have more children

Superstar Nicole Kidman has said she was unsure about her acting career because she wanted to have more children.

The actress said it was difficult decision for her and husband Keith Urban to leave behind their newborn daughter Sunday Rose to attend the premier of ‘Australia’.

The USD 130 million film, which has been directed by Luhrmann, opens in Sydney on 18th November.

“In terms of my future as an actor I don’t know.”

“I’m in a place in my life where I have had some great opportunities but I may choose to have some more children, She said in a press conference.

“…There are many things I want to do besides act.” Kidman is the second famous actress after Angelina Jolie to express a desire to retire from and active career to become a full-time mother.

Her daughter Sunday Rose, was born in August and she has two children, Connor and Isabella, from her marriage to actor Tom Cruise.

Talking about her latest film, Kidman said working on Lurhmann’s movie was an opportunity she could not pass up.

It is Luhrmann’s first film since “Moulin Rouge” in 2001 and has a budget of USD 130 million. The film is also being touted as saviour of the ailing local film and tourism industries.

The director said it was up to the film now to find the audience. “We’ve given it our all, we’ve done our best and now it’s out in the world,” he said.

“This is a once in a lifetime film,” Kidman said at the press conference.

“This is a celebration for me and hopefully for the country. It’s not meant to be the Second Coming but it’s about let’s have some fun and enjoy,” she said.

Mickey Mouse 80 Years On

Eighty years ago, a clothes-wearing rodent named Mickey Mouse whistled his way onto the silver screen, as “Steamboat Willie” made its cinema debut at the Colony Theater in New York.

That day, 18th November 1928, is widely considered the official birthday of Mickey Mouse, even if he was born of the imagination of Walt Disney months before his movie debut and also featured in a short animated film called Plane Crazy, which was made before Steamboat Willie but released afterwards.

Mickey Mouse was created almost by accident: Walt Disney’s first cartoon character was a rabbit called Oswald, but the man who was to rise to become a pre-eminent force in global entertainment lost the rights to the rabbit in 1927 and returned to the drawing board.

He came up with a mouse, whom he wanted to call Mortimer.

According to popular legend, his wife preferred the name Mickey, and Walt Disney deferred to her choice.

The storyline of Steamboat Willie is flimsy, politically incorrect and features little, if any, comprehensible dialogue.

But the cartoon marked an animation landmark with its synchronized sound track that includes Mickey whistling and blowing raspberries at the irascible ship’s captain, a large tobacco-chewing cat called Captain Pete.

In roughly seven minutes, viewers watch as Mickey Mouse is kicked out of the steering room of a riverboat by Captain Pete; hoists Minnie Mouse on board using a crane that grabs her by the knickers; swings a cat by the tail, strangles a goose and plays keyboard on some suckling piglets as the American folk song “Turkey in the Straw” plays from the innards of a goat.

Michael Jackson converts to Islam

Pop singer Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel, the 50-year-old star, pledged his allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a friend’s mansion in Los Angeles, a British tabloid reported.

Jackson sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate — days before the singer is due to appear at London’s High Court where he is being sued by an Arab Sheik, the paper said on 21st November.

The star decided to adopt the new religion while he was recording a song at the home of his friend where a Jehovah’s witness was brought up to help him through the ceremony.

Apparently the star of hits like ‘the Way You Make Me Feel-was convinced by his producer and songwriter friends David Wharnsby and Phillip Bubal.

“They began talking to him about their beliefs, and how they thought they had become better people after they converted. Michael soon began warming to the idea.

“An Imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief,” the source revealed.

Mikaeel is the name of one of Allah’s angels.

“Jacko rejected an alternative name, Mustafa meaning “the chosen one”, the source added.

Bips to break stereotype of Kashmiri women

After Corporate, Bipasha Basu once again gets real for her role in Rahul Dholakia’s hard hitting drama Lamha and she says the biggest challenge for her is to break the stereotypical image of Kashmiri girls in Hindi movies.”When you think of a Kashmiri girl in our movies, what comes to mind is a fair-skinned, light-eyed girl. But I want to disprove that myth. The pre-conceived notions have to be overcome,” Bipasha, whose performance in Bachna Ae Haseeno got her much praise, said.

Bipasha had asked her producers to invite a born-and-bred Kashmiri girl to Mumbai to study her body language, speech patterns and mannerisms.

“I’ve never done a film like this before. The role requires me to be someone else altogether. I’ve to change my entire personality. And for this I needed help. I wanted to play the character the way girls really are today in Kashmir. Very basic.

“I’ve done a bit role in another authentic film - Prakash Jha’s Apaharan. For that matter, Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate was very real and so is Rituparno Ghosh’s Sab Charitra Kalpanik. But Lamha is something else.”

The actress is hell bent to look convincing in the role.

“I think I’m going to be more keen on getting it right than the director. Going to Kashmir and getting to know the local way of life was difficult. All said and done it’s still not entirely safe in Kashmir.

“My boyfriend John (Abraham) shot in strife-torn Afghanistan for Kabul Express. Now it’s my turn in Kashmir.”

Bipasha’s co-star in Lamha is Kunal Kapoor.

“We did a film together recently, Bachna Ae Haseeno. But we had no scenes together. Still we ran into each other all the time during the shooting.

“Sanjay Dutt is also there. He’s a nice man. We share a good working relationship. He’s very protective and sweet,” Bipasha said.

Asked how it was working with Dholakia, she said: “I’ve known Rahul Dholakia for years - long before he made Parzania. In fact, he had offered me his first film Kehta Hai Dil Baar Baar. He’s a man of a few simple words. The story in Lamha is very powerful and real. It’s a hard-hitting look at present-day Kashmir.”

The actress said that she had been to Jammu and Kashmir as a child, but things have changed drastically since then.

“This was long before militancy occurred. This is a different Kashmir I’m going to. We’ll be learning the language and by the time I start shooting, I’m thoroughly convinced I’ll look convincing. The director wants to shoot in sync sound. But I don’t think that’s advisable. We’ll tell the story of Kashmir in a layman’s language. It’s not going to be an arty film.”

Amitabh Bachchan shows improvement

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s health is improving and he has been put on a liquid diet on the fifth day of his hospitalisation following complains of abdominal pain, a spokesperson for Lilavati Hospital said.

“Amitabh Bachchan continues to improve in health. He is on a liquid diet. While the doctors are definitely happy with his constant progress, they are not ready to comment on when he is going to be discharged,” said Lilavati Hospital spokesperson Mohan Rajan in a statement.

“The media has been requested to do factual and responsible reporting and not indulge in any speculation whatsoever,” Rajan added.

Bachchan was rushed to the Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle, a northwest suburb on Saturday afternoon following complaints of abdominal pain and breathlessness. Later he was shifted to Lilavati hospital. He was celebrating his 66th birthday at his bungalow Pratiksha in Juhu.

Apart from his wife Jaya, daughter Shweta Nanda, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai are present at the hospital. Bachchan is now talking to his family members, all of whom are with him.

Shilpa Shetty’s spiritual guide

Shilpa Shetty may be known as a yoga guru, but she’s now promoting a whole new sort of wellness through the spiritual organization the Oneness University.

Shilpa was present to launch the book Awakening into Oneness being launched by the Oneness University which Shilpa claims has changed her life.

But after such spiritual awakening doesn’t Shilpa find it tough to deal with the big bad world of Bollywood ?

Shilpa insists that the university has given her the ability to disconnect when necessary from Bollywood.

Then comes the inevitable question, since the university promotes healthy relationships, has she introduced a certain Mr. Kundra to the course?

Yes, says the most glamorous host Bigg Boss has ever seen.

Guess we all now know the reason behind Shilpa’s blossoming personal and professional life.

Amitabh Bachchan taken to second hospital

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who tunred 66 on Saturday, was rushed to the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai following abdominal pain and then shifted to the Lilavati Hospital after a preliminary medical check up.The Big B was celebrating his birthday at his residence Pratiksha when he suddenly experienced severe pain, a family source said.

He was rushed to Nanavati Hospital, barely a kilometre from his house in Juhu, around 12.30 pm (local time). Less than an hour later, he was taken to Lilavati Hospital, located around five kilometres away at Bandra Reclamation.

However, hospital authorities have refused to comment on the exact nature of illness for which Bachchan underwent a check-up.

The Bachchans are regularly treated at Lilavati Hospital. Many Bollywood stars undergo treatment there and last month Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was also admitted there.

Amitabh’s daughter Shweta, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya accompanied him to the hospital, while Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh who was in the city to take part in the birthday celebrations later visited him at the hospital.

The hospital has been cordoned off by police since they expect a large number of fans to come there. (With Agency inputs)