FLYING HIGH: Mandana Karimi
Mandana acts mundane for
film release after TV boost
Mandana Karimi had appeared in three movies last year but what got her finally noticed was her appearance in the reality show Bigg Boss, where she is still cooped up in a house as it enters the final week. She has become a household name in the time she has been in the show and this should actually have been a good thing for her forthcoming movie Kya Kool Hain Hum 3, a third sequel to the sex comedy. Which is why it is a little strange that Ekta Kapoor, the producer of the movie, is none too happy with Mandana and there are rumours that she is even contemplating legal action against her. The reason is that the movie is going to come out this week and as its leading actress, Mandana is required to promote it. She could actually do a good job of it given her newfound fame. But her popularity ensured that she wouldn’t get voted out in the television show and she might even win it. That is good for Mandana but doesn’t help the movie. It will also mean she won’t be there when the movie releases.
IS IT LOVE? Siddharth Malhotra with Alia Bhatt
What’s cooking
with Alia, Sid?
The couple who have been making news for their relationship for some time now is Alia Bhatt and Siddharth Malhotra. They had acted together in their debut movie Student Of The Year. Ironically, for some time after that movie’s release, Alia was linked to the other main lead actor, Varun Dhawan. But that didn’t last too long and then came news of Alia and Siddharth’s increasing intimacy. There were news reports that Siddharth was often seen at Alia’s home. When his parents came to the city, she was seen having dinner along with them.
What strikes many is how comfortable they seem in each other’s company, an indication of either close friendship or a romantic relationship. They are often spotted together in public functions and seem happy and laughing.
Recently, they were at a noted photographer’s calendar launch and even gamely posed for photographers though they have never owned up to being in a relationship. But then why would they? Normally it takes a few years of a relationship in Bollywood before stars agree to come out in the open about it.
ALL THE RAGE: Priyanka Chopra beyond 30.
A plateful of Priyanka
What a time Priyanka Chopra is having. She should actually have been slowly going off into the sunset as Bollywood, famously unkind to actresses beyond the age of 30, starts to favour younger starlets. But she has wisely factored that and preempted it through astute strategies that are beginning to pay off. As a result, she is the envy of every heroine in the industry who has ambitions that reach beyond an Indian audience. She first took a toehold in the US after reinventing herself as a pop singer and the big takeway from that was that it got her noticed and helped land her the main role in Quantico, the television serial with which Priyanka announced her acting ambitions in the West. The show has done well and recently Priyanka even picked an award for Favourite Actress in a New TV Series category at the People’s Choice Awards where winners are decided by the votes of US television viewers. Now also comes news that she might have bagged a role in Baywatch, the movie based on the hugely successful television show. It is going to be a mainstream big budget fare and the main male lead is Dwayne Johnson. Even in India, Priyanka has not toned down her activities. Bajirao Mastani has gone on to be a huge hit and she has excelled in it. She has also become a producer and her company is said to be coming out with three regional language movies this year. All in all, she has her plate full and shows no sign of slowing down.
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