He said, "His Maharana of Mewar Foundation's chosen me for their annual award for National Integration." Incidentally, the past awardees of the Maharana of Mewar Foundation award for National Integration include names as the Dalai Lama , Shashi Tharoor , Shabana Azmi , Javed Akhtar.

Rahul added, "Other awardees of the (MMFC) award for National Integration have been Teesta Setalvad , Sunil Dutt . Privileged to be in this company.

" The actor is also thankful to Suchismita Bose and Divya Mansukhani for being the "best directors an NGO dedicated to the removal of discrimination can hope for". He continues, "Directors Suchismita Bose and Divya Mansukhani will accompany me to Udaipur for the 26feb ceremony.

It's theirs. It's ours.

" Now that sure calls for celebration, whay say? (less)

Money". The song, which is choreographed by Vishnu Deva, has been aptly picturised in a dhaba setting.

Says Kashmera, "Now when people want to place an order for biryani, they will probably say, 'get a plate of Kashmera'." And Kashmera believes that she can give many item girls in Bollywood a run for their money.

"These days almost every heroine is trying to do an item number but I am the best. I am the only item girl after Helenji to have given about seven to eight super duper hit songs.

" Giving her company for this number is her beau Krushna Abhishek who has mimicked the dance moves of actors like Dev Anand , Dharmendra , Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna for "Boneless Biryani". "Mr.

Money" is produced by Sunil Gulani and Anand Gupta under the banner of Idea International. Says Sunil Gulani, ""Boneless Biryani" will be a hit like "Chikni Chameli", I loved the music.

I am not saying this as a producer, but as a music lover." The song is composed by Sanjeev Darshan, while Raj Sharma has penned the lyrics and Lakshita Mitta along with Darshanand have lent their voice for the same (less)

With V-Day round the corner, celebs recount inspiring tales of love ..

. Dipan Dash, actor Among the celeb love stories, I like the one between Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan.

They are from different religious backgrounds, but they never had any issues regarding that. This society is fractured with conflicting issues between Hindu and Muslims, but this love story has stood the test of time.

Behind Shahrukh's success, Gauri has a lot of contribution. Gauri performs the Hindu rituals at home and Shahrukh has always honoured that.

Another thing is that, despite leading a busy life, Shahrukh always spends quality time at home. He cares and gives maximum priority to his family.

That's what makes their relationship so unique. His V-Day Story Since Valentine's Day is my parent's marriage anniversary, I stay at home on that day and celebrate it with my parents.

Personally, I have never celebrated V-Day since I haven't been in any serious relationship. I remember, when I was in Class VIII, a girl had proposed.

I was actually very clueless about love at that time. So, I told her that I have to ask my mom about it before I say yes! The girl was astonished.

I also told her that if I don't take my mom's permission, she might scold me! That's the most weird experience I had on V-Day. Aishwarya Pathy, actor Neetu Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor have a great love story.

They share a very good understanding between themselves. I have seen many couples in the film industry and but I still feel that there is something special between Rishi and Neetu that makes them the unique jodi of Bollywood.

You know, according to the tradition of the Kapoor family, Neetu had to quit acting after marriage. She gave up her career without complaining.

In fact, she has happily adapted to her new life with Rishi. That is love.

Her V-Day Story When I was in college, there was a guy in my group with whom I used to hangout regularly. He was really a good friend of mine, but nothing more than that.

On one V-Day, he came with my other friends and proposed. I was really surprised.

Then I told him that I am sorry that I don't feel anything special for him. But I assured him that I will remain his good friend.

Rituparna Sengupta, actor Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's romance has been the most profound example of true love that crosses all barriers. While she came from the Tagore family, he was the Nawab of Pataudi.

The cultural backgrounds were different. So were the religious beliefs.

What's also important is that all this happened decades back when society wasn't this progressive. Yet, their marriage was so beautiful.

She continued being in the public glare, did some bold acts on screen as well as gave quality time to her family while raising her children so well. All this is possible with a great understanding between the spouse.

Her V-Day Story I was in Class IX when this incident happened. One day, while going to school, a boy came running up to me.

He said he couldn't take his eyes off me and handed over a parcel to me. It was a V-Day card where he had written: "To the most beautiful woman I know".

I showed the card to my friends in the bus and secretly enjoyed being the centre of attention of everyone! Arjun Bajwa, actor One profound romance was that of Sunil Dutt and Nargis who stood by each other to give rock solid support. They lived life to the hilt.

Their's was an unusual love story and stood the test of time. They lived a happy life as a couple together even while retaining their individuality.

Sunil Dutt took utmost care of her when she was suffering from cancer. They acted in "Mother India" as mother and son.

It intrigues me how they portrayed such a relationship so well that the movie went on to become a classic. Sunil Dutt set up the Nargis Dutt Memorial Fund, which has collected millions of dollars for cancer victims in India.

For me, this is a timeless romance. His V-Day Story When I was a teenager, I invited my girlfriend on a date to a restaurant at a remote location in Delhi thinking no family member would ever spot me there.

To my shock, when I was having dinner, my father turned up there at the same restaurant with my mother and a family friend. I was extremely embarrassed as I had told them I'm going to a friend's house to study for my forthcoming exams.

Chandan Roy Sanyal, actor I think, the romance between Guru Dutt and Geeta Roy was truly profound. They had a tragic story.

On the day he died, he started drinking at five and the last call he made was to Ashaji to find out if Geeta was there even after finding out that she was seeing someone else. I think, he just loved her a lot.

That's an overwhelming feeling and love is like that. Love is just a feeling which is beyond wanting to restrain the partner.

It's a desire for the person's well being that makes it so special. Love can be destructive.

I read about him and I realised that his feelings were too intense. I could relate to his emotions because I have also loved someone to the point of actually feeling that I would almost get devastated.

His V-Day Story I was going to England for the first time in my career. That was for work.

When I was leaving for England for my performance in February 2006, my ex-girlfriend called me up on the phone. It was Valentine's Day.

I was rehearsing in Puducherry then and she was in Mumbai. I still remember how heartbroken I felt when she said that she wouldn't continue because I would be going out for a long tour.

She was still in love with me but she didn't want to wait. Her priorities were different.

I still love her and will continue to do so all my life. Sujata Mohapatra, Odissi Dancer Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan are the most romantic celebrity couple I have ever seen in my life.

Both of them are great artistes and they share a great chemistry. Though Amitabh Bachchan is still in the limelight and still giving amazing performances, he never lets his family life get disturbed.

It amazes me, how despite having a hectic life, they share this kind of a strong and loving bond. Her V-Day Story I remember when my Guru asked me to marry his son.

I had also noticed that Ratikant, my guru's son and now my husband, was interested to marry me. We were aware of each other's feelings, but didn't acknowledge it.

But when my guru came with that proposal, I happily accepted. It was a love-cum-arranged marriage.

Compiled by Priyanka Dasgupta and Jyoti Prakash Naik (less)

"I always believe that animals and people should be treated in a similar way. But humans are supposedly more intelligent and greedy.

..

so they started making the lives of animals miserable and difficult," said Gulshan, while announcing the partnership between PETA and WIFW-organising body Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). "We (humans) started to put them (animals) in cages and use them for entertainment.

PETA has been trying to break this notion and their efforts are immediate. I am absolutely grateful to my friend from college, FDCI chief Sunil Sethi and fashion designers, who are helping animals through this cause," he added.

Gulshan was accompanied by Mahima as well as actress Monica Dogra of Dhobi Ghat fame. They also extended their support to the campaign.

All the actors were seen sporting outfits with animal prints. "This is a great campaign by PETA.

People love looking at animals in zoos, and now it's time to bring out animals from the cage and bring them in the natural habitat. Even kids like to see them roaming around in open environment in wildlife sanctuaries," said Mahima, who looked elegant in a black and white sari.

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"I always believe that animals and people should be treated in a similar way. But humans are supposedly more intelligent and greedy.

..

so they started making the lives of animals miserable and difficult," said Gulshan, while announcing the partnership between PETA and WIFW-organising body Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). "We (humans) started to put them (animals) in cages and use them for entertainment.

PETA has been trying to break this notion and their efforts are immediate. I am absolutely grateful to my friend from college, FDCI chief Sunil Sethi and fashion designers, who are helping animals through this cause," he added.

Gulshan was accompanied by Mahima as well as actress Monica Dogra of Dhobi Ghat fame. They also extended their support to the campaign.

All the actors were seen sporting outfits with animal prints. "This is a great campaign by PETA.

People love looking at animals in zoos, and now it's time to bring out animals from the cage and bring them in the natural habitat. Even kids like to see them roaming around in open environment in wildlife sanctuaries," said Mahima, who looked elegant in a black and white sari.

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I have green eyes as that of my father," Kareena told reporters. "During summer seasons he would give two mangoes to Karisma and I would end up getting just one.

I had to work hard to please him," she added. The statue was unveiled at the inauguration of UTV Stars' property Walk of the Stars at the Bandra Bandstand Promenade.

The event witnessed the felicitation of the 'Kapoor Khandan', one of the legendary families of Indian cinema. Kareena was accompanied by father Randhir Kapoor to unveil her grandfather's statue.

"I am short of words, what more would I ask for. My father and my grandfather had made me who I am.

Which girl has got this opportunity guys," she said. "Kapoors have acting in their veins and blood.

I am looking forward to walk down a memory lane. What better gift than this to the 100 years of Indian cinema.

" Director Madhur Bhandarkar joined Kareena in unveiling the signatures of her great grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt and Nargis. Madhur said: "The way Hollywood has its Walk of Fame even the Hindi film industry now has its Walk of Stars.

" A special picture was clicked with Kareena sitting in the lap of the statue of her grandfather where she said: "This is the only lap that Saif would allow me to sit on." The event was held at a five-star hotel but simultaneously the tiles dedicated to Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Karisma and Kareena were also installed at Bandstand.

A special honour brass statue on a bench of cinema greats Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor was also installed. Tweet (less)

This ambassador is Shah Rukh Khan , and his 'korbo, lorbo, jeetbo' attitude may be a boon for the 'cholchhe na, cholbe na' state, say ad and film gurus..

Alyque Padamsee , Ad guru There are two things that Bengalis are crazy about - drama and cricket. SRK is the best brand ambassador for both.

He is the country's top acting talent and a great supporter of Team Kolkata. So, I'd want him to quote from one of Tagore's dramas.

He should also be seen cheering, chatting and laughing with the Kolkata team. That'll establish his connect with Bengal.

Even though he isn't a Bengali, such a campaign will reinforce that he is a true Bengali at heart. The baseline for the campaign should be: "My heart is in Bengal.

Isn't yours." Prahlad Kakkar , Ad guru SRK should be used to promote the passion of Bengali.

From the hobe na and cholbe na motto that has been associated with Bengal, I want him to talk about a Bengal that is about hobe and cholbe. Everyone in Bengal dreams in Bengali and most of them speak in a Pranab Mukherjee kind of an English.

In the act of transition from Bengali to English, everything is directly translated. So, when Shahrukh speaks Bangla in the ad campaigns, he must stick to this lingo.

How about having a catchphrase for Brand Bengal saying: "Come and fish with us. We are no longer in troubled waters!" Bharat Dabholkar, Adman I would want Shahrukh to be used for Bengal just the way Bachchan has been used for Gujarat.

He should be the tour guide for all the high points of the state. Or perhaps, have him interact with writers, poets and rickshaw pullers.

He could eat mishti, participate in a para discussion or accompany a man buying fish. He should be a part of that Bangla is known for.

Bauddhayan Mukherji, Adman I'd love to see SRK dressed as Raja Rammohan, Vidyasagar and Tagore. If Ben Kingsley can be roped in to play Gandhi, I see no reason why SRK can't play Bengal's luminaries.

I see him playing different celebs from our state. I know such a whacky campaign idea will divide the argumentative Bengal.

But that's what SRK has always stood for. You can love him or hate him but can't ignore him.

The catchline should be: "If you want to feel the land that produced such luminaries, come to Bengal". But I don't want him to say K-K-K-K-Kolkata.

Sunil Alagh , Marketing guru and business consultant The campaign must focus on the core strength of Bengal, which is a state where people love being intellectual, have no qualms of being poor and also love arts and sports. Shah Rukh's campaign should say that Bengal is poised to become an example for others and present the positive aspects of new Bengal for industry, tourists, etc ending with him saying "Notoon Bangla - Aashoon! Ami toh achhi apnar shonge".

Main Hoon Na (in Hindi). Shantanu Moitra , Composer I 'd like to have a film that starts with clips of SRK from his childhood.

That would take the viewers to the time when SRK didn't know that he would become this star. Today, SRK has little time and realizes that he hasn't yet seen the beauty of this country.

The first place he goes to is the Sunderbans. Once there, he says that a person might've toured the world but if one hasn't seen the beauty of the Sunderbans, one hasn't seen anything at all (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)

Akshay Kumar and Abhay Deol who were to play the roles essayed by Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in the original will have to follow suit. Mumbai Mirror has learnt that the remake that was stuck due to the Sippy family feud will soon go on floors now that the fight has been resolved.

When we had spoken to Katrina about the Seeta Aur Geeta remake a few days before she left for London to shoot Yash Chopra's next, she had told us, "I don't know what is happening on that film." "But now, Bohra can definitely go ahead with that film.

I have told him that we Sippys are now on the same page. Also, I am meeting Bohra next week," GP Sippy's son Suresh's nephew Sascha told Mumbai Mirror.

"We are also very pleased to announce that our younger cousin Shehzad, Suresh Sippy's son has joined the team," Sascha added. Suresh's son Shehzad said, "I am very happy that we are moving forward.

I'm glad to be working with my cousins Sascha and Shaan. All issues and misunderstandings between us have been resolved.

We are withdrawing the case. The process for that has been initiated.

" Explaining how they ended the fiasco, Suresh said, "We are one family and we decided to put an end to our personal differences." The end of the Sippy family feud also paves the way for the conversion of Sholay into 3D.

Ketan Mehta's Maya Digital was working upon the version supposed to be presented by Jayantilal Gada of PEN India. Put off by the legal hassles of the Sippy family, Subhash Ghai who was supposed to partner Mehta in the project had opted out of it.

Flashback The Seeta Aur Geeta remake had run into legal hassles over licensing issues. Producer GP Sippy's son Suresh had raised objections against GP Sippy's grandsons, Sascha and Shaan , claiming that they had no right to license the Seeta Aur Geeta remake (February 7, 2011).

Sascha had then told us, "The matter is actually in court. The Delhi High Court has in fact restrained Mr Suresh Sippy from infringing our copyrights in several films, including Seeta Aur Geeta.

" Suresh had said, "Speak to my lawyers. The matter is under dispute.

It is going to the Mumbai High Court." But on being questioned further, he said, "Why just Bohra, I don't want anybody to remake Seeta Aur Geeta at this point of time since I have not licensed the remake.

The rights belong to me." (less)

Says Gangopadhyay, "A couple of months ago, the producer had sought the rights for my book. I had told him then that he would find it extremely difficult to adapt this film.

But he insisted that he would be able to go ahead with the project. Fearing this controversy, I suppose, no one in Bengal has ever sought the rights for the movie.

I've been told that the Hindi film will be a kind of a biopic. We have no intentions to belittle Tagore.

We are not even casting aspersions on anyone. But our problem is that we always think that our icons are asexual and can't ever have affairs.

" Back when the book released, there was a huge upheaval in the culture corridors about how Gangopadhyay could have written something about Tagore seeing Lady Ranu in the nude. "This is not a fictitious account.

Lady Ranu had herself written about this and that's how I got to know about it. But one has to remember that writing such a thing in a book is one thing while showing it on screen is quite another.

One has to remember that in our country, we have no reservations about young girls being in the nude. Ranu was a bit of a tomboy and her parents would often have her dressed in trousers and shirts.

Initially, Ranu's family used to live in Benaras and they would be in touch with each other through letters. Later on, when they shifted to Kolkata, Tagore would visit them.

In fact, Tagore found a similarity between his daughter and Ranu. When his daughter was ailing, he would go to meet Ranu because the latter reminded him of her.

During one such visit, he had seen Ranu in the nude," he adds. Reports claim that Amitabh Bachchan's name has been in the wishlist of actors who might play Tagore and Gangopadhyay seems okay with the idea of such a casting.

"He is a good actor and is also aware of Bengali culture. As for Ranu, one would need a girl who will age from 10 years to 22 years.

That is if one follows my book," the author says. Meanwhile, Dwivedi says, "I am an avid reader of Hindi literature and Ranu O Bhanu was the first English novel that I finished at one go.

It was an amazing subject and Manish was very keen that he made the film. We discussed it at length and I know this will be a lifetime opportunity for me to direct such a film.

Initially, when I read the book, I was very surprised with the revelation on how Tagore saw Ranu in the nude. A part of me had felt it was an imaginary account.

But come to think of it now, one knows that there are so many girls in villages in that age group who have not really bothered much about their attire. Nobody would even raise their brows at such incidents.

" However, Dwivedi admits that showing such a scene on-screen would be the toughest job in his career. "It is a very sensitive subject and one has to handle it with kid gloves.

I have spoken to some poets about the relationship that Tagore shared with Lady Ranu. All of them have said that certain relationships should be left undefined.

There is a Hindi poem that goes like: "Dheekha baat azm ki/kahn sunan ki nahi/jo janat hai so kahat nahi/jo kahat woh janat nahi." These lines, I believe, perfectly define the relationship between Lady Ranu and Tagore.

Here were two people who were happy with their interaction even when the outside world was seeing it in a different perspective." As for casting Dwivedi is still undecided.

"Amitabh Bachchan was part of the wishlist but we haven't had any talks on it yet. For Lady Ranu's character, we need someone who is not only beautiful but has a great degree of innocence on her face.

People are surprised with my casting of Sunny Deol as a panda in my film adaptation of Kashinath Singh's Kashi Ka Assi titled "Mohalla Assi". This is a play that was first adapted by Usha Ganguli and I decided to make the film after reading the review of Ganguli's play.

Those who have seen the rushes of my film are amazed to see Sunny Deol in the role of Sanskrit teacher from Benaras. For this Tagore movie, I am first going to decide on the screenplay and then finalise the casting.

" Shooting for the film will begin in Kolkata. Says Goswami, "It is a fascinating book and I am very keen on starting the film.

We will strictly follow what's written in the book. Though the content might be controversial, we mean no disrespect to Tagore in any which way.

Some relationships are above definitions and we stick to that. I am contemplating on making a bilingual film on this.

We will be locking the script of the film in a few months. Once the script is ready, we will decide on the shooting dates.

Tentatively, it will be done during the end of this year. We haven't locked the title as yet but we will certainly not go with the name of the book.

Few would know that Tagore's name is Bhanu. We will have to come up with a title that is nationally relevant.

" (less)