A segment featuring Arjun Rampal had Mehta talking about Arjun on a video monitor. Rampal was Mehta's discovery and he had cast Rampal as the lead in his directorial debut Moksha.

When contacted, sounding subdued, Rampal told this newspaper, "Yes, I got to know of Ashok's condition. He's like a father-figure to me.

I guess he wanted to keep his illness very quiet." Ashok Mehta has shot for films including Shekhar Kapoor's Bandit Queen , Shyam Benegal's Mandi and Trikaal, Aparna Sen's 36 Chowringhee Lane and Paroma, Shashi Kapoor's Utsav, Subhash Ghai's Ram Lakhan, Khalnaayak and Kisna and M F Hausain's Gaja Gamini (less)

After prolonged treatment, he was quite alright. But it seems the problems have resurfaced.

” In 2011 Dr Chopra compalined of extreme weakness and his alarmed doctors advised him to take rest, but under supervision. At that time, he had gone to the US for the much-needed recuperation.

Priyanka was there again by his side, flitting between the clinic and the studios, where she was recording her album. Posted in (less)

The time when Saif was dating Moon Moon Sen, Gulzar had played host to Saif at his Pali Hill bungalow. This is when the young Saif smashed up a car around then.

Rahul Rawail, director known for introducing talent, dropped Saif from Bekhudi, because of lack of discipline. He was replaced by Kamal Sadanah.

In 2008, a police complaint was filed against the actor after his security staff assaulted a photojournalist during the shooting of his home production Love Aaj Kal in Patiala, Punjab. It is said that the journalist clicked some pictures of Khan, who was shooting at a railway station.

A verbal spat followed after which Khan’s security assaulted the journalist and snatched the cameras, apparently on Khan’s orders. The matter was settled amicably when Khan called up a press conference in Patiala and apologised.

In April 1994, Saif and his then wife Amrita Singh assaulted a female journalist — Kanan Divech of Star and Style — because of an interview she did with Singh in which some uncomfortable questions were apparently asked about liaisons, appearances etc. Apparently, the couple created havoc in Divecha’s office and ended up breaking some furniture too.

The matter was finally settled in the Bombay high court, after Singh issued a formal apology in writing. In 1995, Saif went over to journalist Ashok Row Kavi’s house and punched him because he had mocked his mother Sharmila Tagore’s acting on television.

Apparently, he even pushed Row Kavi’s elderly mother when she tried to intervene. Row Kavi later said that the real provocation could have been his review of Saif’s film Main Khiladi Tu Anadi in the magazine Bombay Dost.

The article had claimed that Saif and his co-star Akshay Kumar seemed to be so in love with each other that it should have been India’s entry to the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The incident resulted in Row Kavi dragging Saif to court and the latter apologising.

After being arrested for punching a fellow diner yesterday and getting out on bail, Saif Ali Khan [ Images ] released an official statement this morning, telling his side of the story. He said, “There was an ugly incident last night where my friends and the ladies with us were abused and I was assaulted.

He further said, “I was hit and I defended myself. I have been to the police station to answer the requirements of law as I am a law-abiding citizen.

I have also filed a complaint about what happened last night and I am confident justice will be done.” Co-diner Amrita Arora is going around telling everyone that Sharma abused the women in the group.

Says Amrita, ?I guess we are paying the price of being celebs and whatever has happened is very unfortunate. They are on TV giving interviews; it’s a common case of getting 15 minutes of fame.

When you punch one of our guys and abuse the woman on our table, any man would respond in this fashion.? We didn’t know that people from ‘cultured families’ assaulted and beat up senior citizens, even when provoked?? “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.

” Posted in (less)

"Dadamuni used to paint with water colours in the bathroom..

.in the nude," said Patel, who along with the rest of the Ganguly (Ashok Kumar was the screen name for Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly) clan is celebrating the birth centenary of the legendary actor, who died at 90.

"Once Dadamuni was asked to exhibit his talent at a charity function, but he kept on refusing the offer. When we persisted and asked him why, he said he paints only when he is in the nude," said Patel, distributing samples of Ashok Kumar water sketches to the media.

She also said the actor, who was the eldest of the actor trio of Kishore Kumar and Anup Kumar, also practiced homeopathy as philanthropy for nearly four decades. "He has treated many people free of cost," Patel said.

Ashok Kumar, in a career spanning five decades, acted in over 250 films, won four Filmfare awards and the Dada Saheb Phalke award -- India's highest award for cinematic excellence (less)

He graduated from Allahabad University where Sasadhar Mukerji was his classmate, Mukerji subsequently marrying Ashok Kumar`s only sister Sati. Kumudlal worked as a laboratory assistant with New Theatres for a time in 1934, meanwhile, Sasadhar Mukerji had joined the newly floated company, Bombay Talkies and he persuaded his brother-in-law to come to Bombay.

Dadamoni , as he is lovingly referred to by every one in the film industry, has been around for more than six decades. He became a star accidentally.

He entered Mumbai with the idea of becoming a director. But destiny thought otherwise and he was cajoled to act by veteran director Himanshu Rai .

Meanwhile, Kumudlal had changed his name to Ashok Kumar Ganguly His first film, Jeevan Naiya , had a leading man who suddenly fell ill. So Dadamoni had to fill his place.

The film clicked and Dadamoni was stuck for life! In fact, Dadamoni`s first shoot was a disaster of sorts. He was supposed to jump on the villain`s back on the count of ten.

But he accidentally jumped earlier and the villain broke a leg! He was hospitalised and the shooting of the film was stalled for nearly four months. His second movie, Achhut Kanya where he co-starred with Devika Rani , was a social drama and a great hit, thereby establishing him as a successful actor.

The film marked the emergence of socially committed films. He played the role of a Brahmin boy who falls in love with an untouchable girl.

And then came his biggest hit, Kismat , whose record was shattered only by Sholay. He was in a way the first superstar with audiences thronging the halls only for him.

His winning streak continued with Mahal in 1949, which he also produced under the banner of Bombay Talkies. He also went on to produce films like Majboor, Mashaal, Ziddi etc.

He had a small tiff with Bimal Roy during the production of Parineeta, when the director, Bimal Roy, supposedly conned him and made Do Bigha Zameen with his money. The misunderstanding ended with their teaming together in Bandini .

Dadamoni made the transformation from a superstar star to a character artist effortlessly. Who doesn`t remember his comical role in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi .

His characterisation of the revolutionary Bikash Ghosh in Bandini won him unanimous applause. After a string of character roles, he shocked the audiences with his role in Jewel Thief .

After that started his phase of character roles in films like Aradhana and Aashirwad . He even sang a rap number ` Rail Gaddi `, remember? Khatta-meetha saw him team up with Pearl Padamsee to give a brilliant comedy.

His last film was Return of The Jewel Thief . The winner of two Filmfare awards, the National Award and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award is a man who has enchanted audiences across all age groups and who only comes once in a while.

Ashok Kumar (90) died of old age in his house at Chembur, North-east Mumbai on. He is survived by his daughter Priti Ganguly who runs an acting institute (less)

He will come at the end of every episode, sum it up and even introduce the characters. More than two decades ago, another Bollywood veteran, the late Ashok Kumar had done a similar role in the television serial Hum Log.

His style is one of the most imitated acts even today. Javed agrees that people will remember the great actor when they see this show too, but has no qualms about it.

Javed will also be penning a few lines he will recite at the end of every episode. Other stars too have played sutradhars, though only on the big screen so far.

In Silsilay, Shah Rukh Khan was the narrator who introduces the three protagonists and connects the incidents. Vivek Oberoi played the sutradhar in Firoz Nadiadwala's Deewane Huye Pagal.

After judging a reality show, Javed Akhtar will again be seen on television, but in a whole new avatar. The poet lyricist will play a sutradhar or narrator for the Star Plus show Chand Chupa Badal Mein.

He will come at the end of every episode, sum it up and even introduce the characters. More than two decades ago, another Bollywood veteran, the late Ashok Kumar had done a similar role in the television serial Hum Log.

His style is one of the most imitated acts even today. Javed agrees that people will remember the great actor when they see this show too, but has no qualms about it.

Javed will also be penning a few lines he will recite at the end of every episode. Other stars too have played sutradhars, though only on the big screen so far.

In Silsilay, Shah Rukh Khan was the narrator who introduces the three protagonists and connects the incidents. Vivek Oberoi played the sutradhar in Firoz Nadiadwala's Deewane Huye Pagal.

After judging a reality show, Javed Akhtar will again be seen on television, but in a whole new avatar. The poet lyricist will play a sutradhar or narrator for the Star Plus show Chand Chupa Badal Mein.

He will come at the end of every episode, sum it up and even introduce the characters. More than two decades ago, another Bollywood veteran, the late Ashok Kumar had done a similar role in the television serial Hum Log.

His style is one of the most imitated acts even today. Javed agrees that people will remember the great actor when they see this show too, but has no qualms about it.

Javed will also be penning a few lines he will recite at the end of every episode. Other stars too have played sutradhars, though only on the big screen so far.

In Silsilay, Shah Rukh Khan was the narrator who introduces the three protagonists and connects the incidents. Vivek Oberoi played the sutradhar in Firoz Nadiadwala's Deewane Huye Pagal.

After judging a reality show, Javed Akhtar will again be seen on television, but in a whole new avatar. The poet lyricist will play a sutradhar or narrator for the Star Plus show Chand Chupa Badal Mein.

He will come at the end of every episode, sum it up and even introduce the characters. More than two decades ago, another Bollywood veteran, the late Ashok Kumar had done a similar role in the television serial Hum Log.

His style is one of the most imitated acts even today. Javed agrees that people will remember the great actor when they see this show too, but has no qualms about it.

Javed will also be penning a few lines he will recite at the end of every episode. Other stars too have played sutradhars, though only on the big screen so far.

In Silsilay, Shah Rukh Khan was the narrator who introduces the three protagonists and connects the incidents. Vivek Oberoi played the sutradhar in Firoz Nadiadwala's Deewane Huye Pagal.

After judging a reality show, Javed Akhtar will again be seen on television, but in a whole new avatar. The poet lyricist will play a sutradhar or narrator for the Star Plus show Chand Chupa Badal Mein.

He will come at the end of every episode, sum it up and even introduce the characters. More than two decades ago, another Bollywood veteran, the late Ashok Kumar had done a similar role in the television serial Hum Log.

His style is one of the most imitated acts even today. Javed agrees that people will remember the great actor when they see this show too, but has no qualms about it.

Javed will also be penning a few lines he will recite at the end of every episode. Other stars too have played sutradhars, though only on the big screen so far.

In Silsilay, Shah Rukh Khan was the narrator who introduces the three protagonists and connects the incidents. Vivek Oberoi played the sutradhar in Firoz Nadiadwala's Deewane Huye Pagal (less)

However, Pundit, known for directing out-of-the-box movies, insisted in his speech that words like "spirit" were being used by media and politicians to cover up the helplessness of the people of the city. "After every calamity Mumbaiites get settled within hours and return to their daily businesses.

But it's not their spirit which drags them on, it's the lack of option. If they don't go to work what will they earn, and in a city like Mumbai which runs 24x7, one cannot think of wasting one whole day.

Families who lose their loved ones also have to return to work," Pundit said. He pointed out that the event should ideally have been held at Shivaji Park, a bigger venue, facilitating more people to attend it.

Also, it should have been initiated by the government. The only way to solve these problems, Pundit said, was to make the governance accountable for any such disaster and "raise our voices and ask why it happened".

-Jayant Mishra (less)