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starbytes |
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Clash
of the Bollywood titans
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| They
are both too big and dignified to resort to mud slinging but the cold
war between Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan sure is brewing into
a storm. Their differences have been taken up by the media for the
past six months and now with Shahrukh hosting the hit TV series Kaun
Banega Crorepati, speculations are rife as to who will win the popularity
poll of India's masses. "I am sexy, smart and young, that was
his century, this is mine," said SRK in a recent interview, to
which the Big B replied "Let's see what happens to him after
35 years." In another instance Amitabh was reported as saying
that he wanted to do more good work so that people could imitate him.
SRK retorted to this by saying, "I have never imitated anyone.
I am quite good at what I do." The media is having a field day
by the pitting the titans against each other and analyses have still
not managed to reveal which season of KBC is a bigger hit. It has
been suggested that the stars have been spending a lot of money to
buy |
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| favourable
statistics. Amitabh was too scholarly and distant as host whereas
Shahrukh does seem to be trying too hard (though his charm overshadows
his tendency to overact) but one thing's for sure, they both are giving
each other a good run for their money. |
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| Bachchans
bring bad luck for Ash |
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In what could be considered
a reversal of fate, it seems the Bachchans are bringing more bad luck
for Aishwarya Rai, though she was the one with the Manglik jinx. Recently
lawyer and Women's rights activist Shruti Singh filed a PIL (Public
Interest Litigation) against the Bollywood beauty for taking part
in a banned Hindu ceremony in which she was married to a banana tree
at a Bangalore temple and an idol in Ayodha. The rituals, done to
overcome astrological differences between Aishwarya and Abhishek,
actually promoted untouchability thus violating fundamental human
rights. "I filed a PIL to stop such practices as reportedly conducted
by actor Amitabh Bachchan for his future daughter-in-law Aishwarya
Rai. It is in violation of Article 17 of the Constitution." said
Shruti. "The rituals performed by Aishwarya, Amitabh and Abhishek
would only promote superstitions and blind faith among common people,"
she added. This definitely does not |
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promising for the first family of Indian cinema. Though many devout
Hindus may understand the rituals, popularity of the stars especially
Ash and Amitabh may suffer internationally. Would L'Oreal want Mrs
Banana Tree as brand ambassador? Probably not. |
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| Rani
Mukerji resurfaces |
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| Rani
Mukerji's relationship with the media has been directly proportionate
to Abhishek and Aishwarya's. The higher their profiles have risen,
the lesser have we heard from her. She disappeared from the forefront
when KANK was released, did not appear for the premieres and only
recently has she returned from what has been considered as 'hiding'
from the assumed betrayal she has suffered from the Bachchan family
as well as her alleged links with Aditya Chopra. The media even reported
a stressful situation when Rani was shooting for Pradeep Sarkar's
untitled film in Varanasi. She was apparently rude to journalists
at a press conference. "Can you believe that they burnt my photographs
in Varanasi? What have I done? I wasn't even aware of what had transpired
before I arrived for the press conference. I came to know there was
some kind of a scuffle," she clarified in a recent interview.
"I came there after shooting, hot and tired and in no mood to
answer personal questions. What was so wrong if I said my marriage
is my parents' concern? I really feel men get |
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| intimidated
by women who assert themselves, specially if the woman happens to
be Bengali." Rani also asserted that she had not been in hiding
and was merely shooting for Tara Rum Pum in New York and wanted to
keep her personal life out of tabloids. She is now working with Sanjay
Leela Bhansali on his next film, Saanwariya. For all love lost and
what it's worth, we can vouch for the fact that Rani's a fighter and
will win her way back into headline news. It is a small consolation
that she's the only woman on the Filmfare Power list - one up on Ash! |
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| Anna
Nicole Smith dies |
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Anna
Nicole Smith, popular Playboy model, died in a Florida hotel last
week. Anna, who came in news when she married an 80 plus billionaire
was found unconscious and was declared dead after being taken to
a hospital. Recently, Anna Nicole's 20-year-old son and she had
been facing paternity suits by three different men who claimed to
be her five months old daughter's biological father. Even though
an autopsy was conducted, medical examiners are still unclear about
the cause of her death and have stated that further tests are needed
before a plausible reason can be determined. One cause can be suicide
since anti-depressants were found in her hotel room. Anna's death
has left her 5-month daughter stuck in a tough spot as the identity
of her father still needs to be genetically proven. The infant is
entitled to millions of
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that Anna inherited from her wealthy husband when he died in 1995.
A judge presiding over the case has called for a DNA test of Anna
as well as the three men to determine the real father. Dead at the
age of 39, Anna's abrupt end has shocked her fans. She lived keeping
Marilyn Monroe as her ideal and died the same way. |
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