Sanjay Dutt sends Manyata a rose from prison

Incarceration can restrict freedom but not love. Sanjay Dutt sent roses to wife Manyata on her birthday on 22nd July from Yerawada prison in Pune. The actor found a rose blooming in the jail garden which he plucked and kept dry between the pages of a book for her. He had sent it along with a poem that he had written for her. The Dutt Wife was deeply moved by the gesture, reportedly shunning any kind of celebration while he was in jail and not in the best of health.

Munna bhai and wife are said to be exchanging letters to each other everyday. While this sappiness may have some fans cooing, another piece of news could leave them just as disappointed. Sanjay’s curative petition to the Supreme Court has been rejected like his review petition had been. Which means high blood pressure or not, the actor has to cool his heels in prison.

Convicted under the Arms Act for illegal possession of arms in 1993, it could be a long wait for the actor if he has to serve the whole 42 months in jail.

Not Sallu's finest hour yet

Bollywood's bad boy Salman Khan had taken the moniker too far when he drove his Toyota Land Cruiser over sleeping pavement dwellers on the night of September 28, 2002. The accident claimed one victim and four injured persons, though many would dispute the usage of the word 'accident'. Especially since the actor knew he was a threat of life and limb if he drove in an inebriated state. 

Many of the 64 witnesses present that night have deposed i.e. given evidence against the actor. Little now is spoken about the late police constable Ravindra Patil, who was the actor's bodyguard that night. He was the only witness who held the key to the complete details of the fateful night. He died unsung, of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The actor had his unperturbed public appearances, with good publicity coming his way thanks to Being Human and hosting TV shows. It was as if the case never existed. Salman was on a roll with box-office hits like Partner, Wanted and Veer. And then, there were the more recent blockbuster hits like Dabangg and Ek Tha Tiger.

But the bomb was dropped on the actor's paradise with a ruling by Sessions Court Judge U B Hejib when he ruled that Salman would be tried, not under the original Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code which would get him a maximum sentencing of two years' imprisonment, but under Section 304 (III) under which the punishment is a maximum of ten years. The actor was further in the firing line for putting up his website – salmankhanfiles.com – which was meant to update all concerned on the case proceedings. Ensuing controversy and a filed petition later, the site was pulled off.

The next trial date is due for 24th July. No doubt a long wait for the industry wallahs and fans alike. We wonder how badly an unfavourable verdict will affect the future of his upcoming films. His latest movies include 'Mental/Jai Ho', No Entry Mein Entry, Kick and another project with Sooraj Barjatya. His Saajan co-star Sanjay Dutt has suffered a setback where his career is concerned.

Sanjay's Ungli and P.K. were at the receiving end of the verdict. There is a lot more riding on Salman, who is the bigger star, drawing in a larger audience. 24th July is only a short while off, but all await the Court's decision. The media and other interested parties must be tired of the 'tareekh pe tareekh' state of our judicial system.

Will Ankita Lokhande star with SRK in Happy New Year?

Ankita Lokhande endeared herself to the family audience with her character Archana in Zee TV’s Pavitra Rishta. But the lure of the big screen can uproot even the most loved bahu from her traditional surroundings. The temptation is impossible to resist when the debut is to be alongside Shah Rukh Khan and is directed by Farah Khan. There’s also her fiancé Sushant Singh Rajput, who’s making it big on celluloid.

If these factors won’t compel a young actress to make the leap, we don’t know what will. Ankita reportedly beat four other contenders for the lead role - a Maharashtrian bar dancer who teaches the leading men to dance for an upcoming contest.

The multi-starrer features South actor Prithviraj (of Aiyyaa and Aurangzeb fame), Abhishek Bachchan and Boman Irani, who last worked with Farah in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi. 

Sounds like a break worth killing for, no? Ankita did just that, if sources are to be believed. Killed the productivity of the show that launched her, apparently.

There are whispers that Ankita, who had earlier left the serial, returned, after a previously unsuccessful stint in Bollywood, with some (unreasonable?) terms and conditions. She wanted a double role on the show after a time leap which wasn’t agreeable with the other actors. Most quit the show, with few reluctantly hanging on. And the actress’s list of do’s-don’ts as well as leaving the sets at 2 pm is making matters worse.

Pavitra Rishta writer Rajesh Joshi is certain she will not quit because she is contractually bound. If that is the case, there is much ado about nothing. We wonder what the final resolution will be. If her getting selected for the role is a rumour, it still does not explain her alleged high-handedness.

Film industry extends support to Uttarakhand flood survivors

It is in times of disaster and sorrow that most of humanity bands together in the endeavour to reach out and do something worthwhile. The Hindi film industry is always ready to step-up with their solidarity. Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan are the latest Bollywood stars among many others to pitch in for the Uttarakhand flood relief. 

Both actors donated 25 lakhs each. Aamir, in fact, has gone a step further with a drive to collect funds for the flood-affected. The proceeds of the initiative will be presented to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund on behalf of the Film and Television Producers’ Guild.

The Sinha clan (through their organisation ‘Prayas’), Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher are just a few of a long line of Bollywood celebs who are doing their bit for the flood survivors. FWICE i.e. the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees is teaming up with Film and TV Producers’ Guild to adopt a village and ensure the rehabilitation of the evacuated Uttarakhand residents.

For all the latest Bollywood news and updates, keep watching this space.

AND THE IIFA AWARD WINNERS ARE...

It was rocking time at the 14th International Indian Film Academy awards at Macau, where deserving new talent was awarded. Anurag Basu could hum ‘Winner Takes All’ since Barfi! swept 14 awards at the event, including best actor and best director. It was a star-studded event, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapoor, which kept all audiences engaged and the proceedings involving.
So readers! We present to you the winners of the 14th IIFA award! Have a look!
BEST FILM: ‘Barfi!’

BEST ACTOR: Ranbir Kapoor for ‘Barfi!’

BEST FEMALE ACTOR: Vidya Balan for ‘Kahaani’

BEST DIRECTOR: Anurag Basu for ‘Barfi!’

BEST STORY: Tani and Anurag Basu for ‘Barfi!’

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE): Annu Kapoor for ‘Vicky Donor’

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE): Anushka Sharma for ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’

BEST DEBUT (FEMALE): Yami Gautam for ‘Vicky Donor’

BEST DEBUT (MALE): Ayushmaan Khurana for ‘Vicky Donor’

BEST ACTOR IN A COMIC ROLE: Abhishek Bachchan for ‘Bol Bachchan’



BEST ACTOR IN A NEGATIVE ROLE: Rishi Kapoor from ‘Agneepath’

BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR: Gauri Shinde for ‘English Vinglish’

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR: Pritam for ‘Barfi!’

BEST LYRICS: Amitabh Bhattacharya for ‘Mujhme kahin’ from ‘Agneepath’

BEST SINGER (MALE): Sonu Nigam for ‘Agneepath’

BEST SINGER (FEMALE): Shreya Ghoshal for ‘Chikni chameli’ from ‘Agneepath’

BEST SOUND DESIGN: Shajith Koyeri for ‘Barfi!’

BEST BACKGROUND SCORE: Pritam for ‘Barfi!’

AUDIENCE CHOICE BEST JODI OF THE YEAR: Deepika Padukone - Ranbir Kapoor

DIGITAL STAR OF THE YEAR: Shah Rukh Khan