Apparently, the reason for the breakup is Madhu's insistence on marriage and rather than accept his proposal, Nandana has bought herself a home in New York where she plans to shift. To the both of them, a long-distance relationship is out of question, and so they have decided to part ways.

A distressed Nandana did not deny the split, saying, "Madhu and I were planning to move to New York together, but given the pace and zest with which his work in Mumbai is growing, it doesn't make sense for him to move away. We love each other deeply, we always have, and we always will.

But neither of us believes in the long-term feasibility of an inter-continental relationship." It was an excruciatingly difficult decision for the couple.

Said Nandana, "It's been the hardest and most painful decision that either of us has ever taken but there's never been a shred of negativity between us about it. We understand and support each other absolutely, and each of us insists on protecting the other's interests, like we always do.

That's why our relationship has worked so well for years. The bond that Madhu and I share is unlike any other we have ever encountered in our lives.

So, even in making this joint but heartbreaking decision, as in everything we have gone through together, we have been taking care of each other every step of the way. And I know we always will.

"Said Madhu Mantena, "Nandana is and will always remain my dearest friend. Yes, we're no longer a couple.

But she knows that I'm always a phonecall away. If she needs me in New York, I'll fly down immediately.

" (less)

My journey has been very different because I am not so ambitious. But yes, I have been offered, I have gone through a lot of experiences, directly and indirectly," the 31-year-old told reporters at the launch of the book.

"It depends on individual to individual, it's what you choose. I have made my own decisions and I am happy with them," she added.

Riya, who herself got into trouble after allegedly being part of an MMS chain, says worrying about rumours is not her style. "I have read my own interviews where people have quoted me when I have not even spoken to that journalist.

I don't sit and cry or howl or say I am running away from India or world. I still get my work, my money, I still have the same lifestyle, my friends and same producers, directors call me.

So it (rumours) doesn't affect me," said Riya, who was last seen in "Benny and Babloo". Daughter of yesteryears actress Moon Moon Sen, Riya's journey in Bollywood began with "Style" in 2001.

She has featured in films like "Dil Vil Pyar Vyar", "Jhankaar Beats" and "Shaadi No. 1" and is currently working in "Krrish 2", in which she plays Vivek Oberoi's girlfriend (less)

What's brewing? Insiders reveal that the two actors share great on screen chemistry that seems to come very naturally to both of them. "A particular scene shows Jaaved and Nandana in an intimate position while their teenage boy watches them.

The two actors pulled this scene off effortlessly because of their great on screen chemistry," revealed our source. Haute confessions Rag Jaaved about this hot new connection, and he says, "Well, the excitement of the olfactory senses are a prerequisite for the intimacy.

So, A - Nandana always smells wonderful, and B - her being extremely attractive - definitely adds to it. She's a big turn on! So, doing the scene was a cakewalk!" Forgotten resolutions Remind Jaaved about his earlier resolution about never doing such scenes on screen, and he says with disarming honesty,"I readily agreed to it because when Nandana came in front of me, I suffered a short-term memory loss about my earlier statements.

Of course, it was my wife Habeeba who brought me back to reality, only after completing the scene though." (less)

Konkona plays the wife of Odisha's freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das, who fought for four years to free the country from the British rule and had to struggle for over 30 years in free India to prove that he'd done so to get a freedom fighter's certificate! Says Ananth, "When I had first read about Gaur Hari Das in The Times of India, I had found his story very interesting. The man is a metaphor for the times we live in.

He did his bit for the freedom movement and this is what the country did for him. The very people for whom he fought didn't acknowledge his contribution.

That's the irony of the situation. I understand that it's uncannily timely to make a film on such a subject in India now.

" While Vinay Pathak is playing the role of Gaur Hari, Konkona is playing his wife Lakshmi Das. "Vinay does not have an image as such though he has been more associated with the comic roles that he has been doing in the recent past.

However, I have always seen him as a thinking actor and as someone who can delve under the skin of a character. I believe in breaking images and that's what I did with Sunil Shetty when I cast him in "Red Alert".

The most challenging part is that on-screen, Vinay's character will see a growth from the age of 35 to 70 without using too much of make-up," the director says. As for Konkona, she was an obvious choice.

Curiously enough, Konkona is supposed to have striking similarities in terms of looks with Lakshmi. "Konkona has met with her.

Though she is more of a silent observer, Laksmi is strong person in her own way and provides the balance between Das and his son. The son had initially been disilluioned by his father.

Konkona's character is the balancing factor between two different schools of thought of the father and the son. His son had shifted to the US and obviously had a different approach to life.

Konkona has the maturity to play such a character. I was overwhelmed by her performance in "Dosar" and the wide range of emotions she has portrayed in the film.

The kind of film I am trying to make is subtle. I am not trying to preach," he adds.

"She is more mature and complete now. The domestic changes in her life has perhaps made her see life differently.

We had some workshops before we began shooting. On Sunday, she took to acting as if she had left it the day before.

It didn't take her any time to get back to the groove. The white streaks in her hair makes her resemble Lakshmi Das so much.

On-screen, Koko has aged gracefully," the director insists. Meanwhile, Konkona's husband, Ranvir Shorey, is also a part of the cast.

But he has nothing to do with Konkona's character. The director has merged two characters to create Ranvir's role.

In the film, he plays a newspaper reporter. Tannishtha Chatterjee is playing another reporter who also unearths Gaur Hari's case.

Though Odisha is an important part of the movie, the film will not be shot in the State. "We have found locations closer to Mumbai that resemble the old Odisha.

This story is very important because Odisha needs to feel proud of the son of its soil. Gaur Hari's tale started off from Balasore.

He had spent 180 days in a jail in Balasore. In the film, we will go back in the flashback mode and recreate the Balasore jail.

For me, it's important to show what the common man in the form of Gaur Hari was doing when India got independence. We will also be showing the countryside of Odisha in the film though we will not be shooting there.

" Gaur Hari himself has been very involved with the project. "He is touching 80.

He has been with us since the beginning and has shared a wealth of information, including the files and correspondences that he had with the government. That's enough for me to make five hours of cinema.

It is a difficult task for me to pick and choose what I want to make this movie," he signs off. Was it difficult for Konkona to face the camera after her comeback? "She is more mature and complete now.

The domestic changes in her life has perhaps made her see life differently. We had some workshops before we began shooting.

On Sunday, she took to acting as if she had left it the day before. It didn't take her any time to get back to the groove.

The white streaks in her hair makes her resemble Lakshmi Das so much. On-screen, Koko has aged gracefully," the director insists (less)

She is back now with her next film and is loving it. As her son turned one, Konkona talks about juggling mommyhood with work.

You're a first-time mother. How are you managing on that front? Motherhood is wonderful.

I can't even describe it in words. Like other mothers, I too want the best for Haroon and wish to see him grow up to be a good person who respects women and all.

The funny thing is he teaches me a lot and keeps me balanced. Also, Ranvir (Shorey) is a delight as a supporting husband and dad.

Initially, the whole experience was overwhelming with us having no clue what needs to be done and what to do but with every passing day, I guess we're getting better at it. How does it feel to be on the sets after quite a long interval? Feels great.

I was away for my pregnancy and now that I'm back, it's refreshing - like reconnecting with myself. Tell us something about your character in your new film.

I'm playing the wife of a freedom fighter who holds a key role in the film. You're almost a recluse in an otherwise publicity-hungry industry.

Can we call you media-shy? Yes. Why so? I hate talking about myself.

It's very boring. I'd rather prefer my work do all the talking.

I'm an actress first and I don't take this position for granted. What I like about my profession are the challenges and I concentrate on my art.

To me, that's what matters. Tweet (less)

The two met up at the Vidhu Vinod Chopra film festival held in the surburbs recently. An eyewitness said, "Raima kept whispering in Vidya's ears and Vidya kept laughing.

Ever since the two met during Parineeta, Vidya and Raima have been great friends." A source said, "The two always make it a point to catch up whenever they can.

They dine or at times catch up at a coffee shop in the evenings. It is a very rare to see two actresses share this kind of a camaraderie.

" The actresses have no qualms just hopping in an autorickshaw and meeting each other. "The two enjoy using public transport at times just to meet up.

For both, friendship is all about meeting up whenever and whichever they can. Vidya and Raima know that they can always depend on the other.

It is this 4 am friendship that has bonded them closer." (less)

"We wanted to make a sequel from quite some time. But now I have a story, which I would be comfortable turning into a sequel.

I think 'Jhankaar Beats' was made 10 years back and in past 10 years I have gained some experience. I have seen enough life and now I can share it with you all," Ghosh told IANS.

"I am ready with the story. Once I am done with 'Kahaani', I will focus on the sequel of 'Jhankaar Beats'," added the director who is busy promoting Vidya Balan starrer "Kahaani", which is coming out March 9.

"Jhankaar Beats", a small budget film, boasted of a wonderful cast - Juhi Chawla , Sanjay Suri , Rahul Bose , Rinke Khanna , Riya Sen and Shayan Munshi - and their good performance complemented Ghosh's storytelling technique and made it a good watch. Ghosh plans to repeat the same cast for the sequel.

"It has to be the same star cast for the sequel. However, for the sequel I want to stick to more of life and less music.

You can't escape life," he said. In the original, the focus was on music as it was a tribute to legendary composer Rahul Dev Burman (less)

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," Chatterjee said. Chatterjee, one of India's most talented actors, made his debut in 1959 with Ray's super-hit movie Apur Sansar .

The film gave him the much needed platform, and he never looked back. Chatterjee soon became Ray's favourite, and became the lead actor of most of the movie maker's classics including Sonar Kella , Charulata , and Ghare Baire .

Chatterjee's association with Ray is often compared with the chemistry between famous actor-director duos of the world such as Akira Kurosowa-Toshiro Mifune and Marcello Mastroianni-Federico Fellini. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Some of his notable movies are Jhinder Bandi, Koni, Kaapurush, Akash Kusum, Aranyer Din Ratri, Joy Baba Felunath, Teen Bhubaner Pare, Ganashatru and Sakah Prashakha . The Padama Bhushan awardee has also worked with other famous directors such as Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh.

Besides films, Chatterjee is also known for his passion for the stage where he has both acted and directed plays. He is also one of the all-time best elocutionists of Bengal.

He has also received The Officier des Arts et Metiers , the highest award for arts from France and lifetime achievement award from Italy. Tweet (less)

"I am extremely happy. Till this evening I had not thought of this award.

But after I got the news I am extremely happy," Chatterjee said. Chatterjee, one of India's most talented actors, made his debut in 1959 with Ray's super-hit movie Apur Sansar .

The film gave him the much needed platform, and he never looked back. Chatterjee soon became Ray's favourite, and became the lead actor of most of the movie maker's classics including Sonar Kella , Charulata , and Ghare Baire .

Chatterjee's association with Ray is often compared with the chemistry between famous actor-director duos of the world such as Akira Kurosowa-Toshiro Mifune and Marcello Mastroianni-Federico Fellini. Apart from Ray, Chatterjee has worked with all internationally acclaimed directors of his time, including Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar.

Some of his notable movies are Jhinder Bandi, Koni, Kaapurush, Akash Kusum, Aranyer Din Ratri, Joy Baba Felunath, Teen Bhubaner Pare, Ganashatru and Sakah Prashakha . The Padama Bhushan awardee has also worked with other famous directors such as Aparna Sen, Goutam Ghose and Rituparno Ghosh.

Besides films, Chatterjee is also known for his passion for the stage where he has both acted and directed plays. He is also one of the all-time best elocutionists of Bengal.

He has also received The Officier des Arts et Metiers , the highest award for arts from France and lifetime achievement award from Italy. Tweet (less)

That's the reason he is keeping his personal life away from media," he adds. Randeep has never accepted that he has been dating Neetu for over a year, and Neetu always avoids questions about her personal life.

However, one cannot miss the fact that both managed to get together in Goa for a few days before she left for her Greek film schedule. "Neetu has been shooting in Goa for 10 days, and Randeep's shoot for a new film was to begin a day after her pack up.

Neetu manouvered things so that she could delay her departure by a day and spend time with her man," informs the source. With her leaving the country for more than two months, guess this time together was necessary, eh? (less)