Thursday, February 08, 2007

Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

The Indian actress met UK Prime Minister Tony Blair today (has he ever met Big Brother winners before?) and caused a near riot at the House of Commons with a posse of mediapersons and even MPs queuing up for a glimpse.

Shilpa was all praises for Blair, who along with wife Cherie gifted her a signed photo of the House (of Commons not Big Brother).

"He said I had carried myself with the utmost dignity. I thanked him for the support he showed. He was very, very sweet. I feel like Britain has become my second home. People show me such love and warmth."
The highlight of the tour - The menu. There was salmon, there was chicken and also a Shilpa's Delight for dessert.
ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Much Ado about Parzania

Poor Rahul Dholakia. He takes the trouble of making a movie about a child who goes missing during the 2002 riots in Gujarat. And then the moral police play spoilsport - by not allowing its release in the state.

The villain of the piece (or at least the one in the public eye) is a guy called Babubhai 'Bajrangi' Patel, head of the local unit of the Hindu nationalist Bajrang Dal. Bajrangi feels the film is biased and could ignite communal passions once again.

Call it moral policing or what you will, a film cleared by India's Censor Board is being held ransom by someone who hasn't even seen it yet. An unabashed Bajrangi claimed on TimesNow last night that Dholakia made 'Parzania' only to mint money.

If they want to find the missing child, let them go to the police. Just by showing the film, will the child be found?
Exhibitors, fearing violence and riots, have decided not to screen the film in Gujarat. Having watched the critically-acclaimed film at its Goa film festival premiere in 2005 and then closely followed the director's attempts to get it released in India, I must say I am disappointed.

But I also know Dholakia won't give up that easily. A fortnight ago, he told me that several NGOs had come forward to help him screen 'Parzania'. The truth will be out some day. But until then, Dara and Rupa Mody's wait for news of their son Azhar is destined to be a long one.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Shilpa to star opposite Hugh in new film

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Yes, you read that right. Writers are working on a script that sees Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty and British actor Hugh Grant star in a romantic comedy on the lines of Notting Hill.

An industry insider told Daily Star the script is about a Bollywood actress (Shilpa) and a producer (Hugh) "who promises to help her crack the British and US markets".

Ummm...seems like Shilpa's crossover film is in the offing. The Bollywood actress was also spotted at Leicester Square on Monday at the premiere of Hugh's new film Music and Lyrics. Did the two discuss the possibility of acting together? We'll have to wait to find out.
ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

Monday, February 05, 2007

Salaam-e-Ishq: Snippety-snappety

Ya, ya - I've heard all about how long this movie is. But then a monumental epic never hurt anyone - as long as it's entertaining. Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq has all the right ingredients - an incredible cast, rocking music and six delightful stories about love. The Problem? When the theatrewallah gets into scissorhands mode, viewers are in for some trying times.

How did Anil Kapoor get his arm in a sling? Apparently, he fell down (a colleague informs me). But shouldn't I see it on screen instead of wondering why Kapoor is sling-free in one frame and sling-full in the next. Media reports suggest that Advani, bombarded with complaints of the film being unbearably long, decided to make a few cuts himself. Bad move cos there's nothing worse than bad editing.

Anyway, that's not the only problem. Advani also has problems weaving in the six love stories together - the stitches are quite visible in some cases.

My favourite couple - Govinda and Shannon. The taxi-driver falling for an American was quite an original concept. Can't say the same for the Haryanvi combo of Sohail-Ishaa though. That track could have been safely edited out.

John Abraham and Vidya Balan have done some good work too and so have most of the others (including Priyanka Chopra). But Advani lacks the finesse of Karan Johar (who btw has a phone-in cameo in the film). In Johar's hands, Salaam-e-Ishq would have been gold. In his protege's hands, the film is not the blockbuster it could have been.

Rating: ***
Remarks: Watch out for Kailash Kher's Ya Rabba number. It left several in the audience teary-eyed and is easily the best song of the film.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Shilpa Shetty and life after Big Brother

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Twenty-six days. That's how much time it took Shilpa Shetty to catapult herself from an unknown entity in Britain to an international celebrity. Her stint on Celebrity Big Brother brought her to the big league and the Bollywood actress is flooded with offers to peddle everything from diapers to lottery tickets.

Also in the pipeline are dozens of film and television offers, a book deal and a chance to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams stage revival. Of course, not counting reports of her being nominated for the Nobel Peace prize.

One of the first Bollywood filmmakers to reveal his plans for Shilpa was K Shashilal Nair, someone who doesn't have too many hits to his name. Best known for his titillating Ek Chhotisi Love Story (2002), Nair says he wants Shilpa and arch-rival Jade Goody as protagonists for a new movie.

But Nair hasn't revealed the plot and methinks it cannot be a mere dramatisation of the Jade-Shilpa row. For one, far too many people have seen the video of the Day 14 stock cube argument. And more importantly, would anyone still be interested in it having already witnessed the 'real' fight on the show.

Maybe Shilpa and Jade will star as the premiers of India and Britain respectively in the midst of a diplomatic row. Nah! Or would you rather have Shilpa as a call-centre employee in Bangalore having a telephonic spat with irate UK customer Jade. Plausible but still not interesting enough.

Methinks we should leave Nair to his plots and cheer Shilpa on as she prepares to enter the House of Commons on February 7 to shake hands (and hopefully shake a leg) with British premier Tony Blair, Chancellor Gordon Brown and other parliamentarians.

The biggie for the Indian beauty - a meeting with the Queen - will come on March 12 during a reception at Marlborough House in London to celebrate Commonwealth Day. And that's surely tops Shilpa's itinerary on the British Isles.
ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

Monday, January 29, 2007

The Best of Shilpa Shetty

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Footage of Shilpa Shetty's stint on Big Brother


ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Footage of Shilpa's final moments on Big Brother


ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

Shilpa Shetty wins Big Brother

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been crowned the winner of Celebrity Big Brother walking away with 63 percent of the audience vote. The 31-year-old won the top prize of 100,000 pounds. Isn't it weird that an Indian has won a British TV show? Reverse colonialism?

As her name was called out, Shilpa let out an ear-splitting scream and asked "Are you kidding me?"

Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine and A-Team actor Dirk Benedict finished second and third respectively.

Jade's boyfriend Jack Tweedy was the first of the six celebrities to be evicted on the final day, followed by model Danielle Lloyd and gay musician Ian 'H' Watkins.

Dirk and Shilpa: The Final Moments

As presenter Davina calls out that Dirk has 30 seconds to leave the house, the A-Team actor says he's hugging Shilpa and 30 seconds is not enough. The 61-year-old Dirk is obviously the world's best flirt. And that's the end of the Dirk-Shilpa love story.

Transcript of Shilpa's interview with Davina

Davina: What was it like waiting in there on your own?

Shilpa: I was in shock. I was in shock. Chicken curry rules (to the crowd)

Davina: Shilpa you've been on such a journey in that house. What's it been like for you?

Shilpa: Oh, tell me about it. I don't want to sound cliched but it's truly been quite a rollercoaster. The highs the lows... [it] taught me so, so much.

Davina: From where you've come from and the kind of lifestyle you lead, being thrown into that house must have been a shock. What was the biggest shock for you, domestically?

Shilpa: Oh, to cook!

Davina: I can see! On a more serious note, it was one of your downs that caused a complete furore here on the outside. It's been an international incident - have you got any idea what that could be?

Shilpa: Really? I have no idea what's been happening on the outside. We didn't even have a real lawn, we had plastic grass!

Davina: So you've got no idea what this enormous controversy could be about?

Shilpa: I have an inkling but I'd love to hear some news.

(Footage of racism row)

Davina: That's quite heavy watching that back, because obviously you weren't privy to a lot of what was said. How are you feeling?

Shilpa: (Tearful) I just want to forget things. Things happen and people make mistakes. We're all human beings, we're all fallible. Jade didn't mean to be racist...If this created any sort of misunderstanding, I want to put things to rest - she is not a racist...I am so happy I took up this opportunity. I don't want people to think [they] welcomed an Indian and she made trouble here.

Davina: After that speech, I'm not sure if this is the right word, this magna... mangnamanity? Shilpa, you understand what I'm trying to say! After that, I think that is why you are sat there. You are a very forgiving and loving person. You've said it all in a nutshell. Let's move forward, past the argument, to happier times. How do you think you've changed?

Shilpa: Woah. My mother will be in for such a huge shock...She never never has not been around when I've achieved something, travelled. This is the first time in my life I've done something on my own and I've never won anything in my life. I was rejected as a model...before that I entered some stupid competition, Netru, Indru, Naalai, I lost even that!

Davina: Listen, quickfire questions for you. This is a very important one, yes. What would it take for Dirk to win you over?

Shilpa: Oh well, he'd have to be 38 years younger and start eating chicken and move to India...or England.

Davina: The young thing is an issue though, we can't ever make him younger. Can you sum up your experience in three words?

Shilpa: In three words. Incredible, overwhelming....chicken curry rules!

Davina: Shilpa, you have been though your ups and downs, you really have, but never knowingly without a knockout pair of earrings. Here's the story of your time in the house...

(Footage of Shilpa in the House)

Shilpa: Oh my God!

ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Shilpa Shetty in Big Brother (Day 26)

Click here for the Richard Gere - Shilpa Shetty kissing controversy

Shilpa Shetty's final day on Big Brother dawned with Take That's Never Forget blaring from the speakers. Shilpa and Danielle are hugging - the last wake-up call in Big Brother's bedroom.

Ian: Last day! I thought it'd never come

Shilpa: I had the worst sleep in 25 days. Are you happy?

Ian: I'm ecstatic! Over the moon. Just don't know what I'm going out to. I'm going to miss you

Shilpa: You too

Topple them over

The housemates have a fun task today. They have to set up dominoes through the house and then topple them in one fluid movement. Mission accomplished and they receive a hamper. But it wasn't as easy as it sounds, specially with Danielle around. Poor girl, she's so dumb I wonder how Shilpa tolerates her.

Ian: (reciting instructions) Dominoes must topple in one fluid movement. Housemates have 1.5 hours to do the task

Danielle: What's 1.5?

Shilpa: This is not a game of patience. It's a game to irritate you

But despite Danielle's clumsiness, the housemates manage to pass the test.

Hurrah for lipgloss

The housemates discover lipgloss in the hamper basket. Shilpa and Danielle are screaming as they display the prizes.

Shilpa: Lip gloss! Thank God

Jermaine: Face cream

Ian: For men..

Jermaine, Dick and Jack aren't too excited about the contents of the hamper and leave the other three drooling over it. But Ian and Shilpa are having fun applying all that make-up.

Simon Says

Before the final round of evictions, Big Brother decides to have a bit of fun with the six housemates. And what's his idea of fun - a game of Simon Says.

Big Brother: Big Brother says, put your hand in the air

Shilpa, who doesn't do so, is the first one to be kicked out of the game. Big Brother gives further instructions to the remaining housemates - jump on beds, shake your booties, walk on your hands, dress like a woman.

For this last task, Ian gets death threats from Shilpa who's worried the ex-Steps singer is going to crumple her favourite sari. But things work out and the housemates forget tonight's evictions with this impromptu game. But then nothing can stop the inevitable.

ALSO READ
Shilpa in a Hugh Grant flick!
UK celebrity lashes out at Shilpa's attitude
Shilpa fever rocks British Parliament
Shilpa's life after Big Brother
SPOOF - Shilpa nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
COMMENT - Of India, Sexual Racism and Shilpa Shetty
ANALYSIS - Racism on Big Brother: Shilpa Shetty to win
FORUM - Racism on Big Brother
Shilpa says Jade's behaviour not racial

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS of Shilpa's stint on Big Brother
Shilpa wins: The final moments
Day 26
Day 25
Day 24
Day 23
Day 22
Day 21
Day 20
Day 19
Day 18
Day 17
Day 16
Day 15
Day 14
Day 13
Day 12
Day 11: Part Two
Day 11
Day 10: Part Two
Day 10
Day 9
Day 8
Day 7
Day 6
Day 5
Day 4
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1


VIDEOS
The Best of Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother
And the winner is - Shilpa Shetty
Day 14 - The Jade-Shilpa row
Day 11 - Shilpa in the Jackson Five band
Day 20 - Shilpa's Showgirl routine
Day 19 - Shilpa's Aunt Jameela act

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