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I'm incapable of any violence: Adnan SamiSinger Adnan Sami says his wife Sabah filing a police complaint against him for abuse is the "most humiliating moment" of his life and rubbishes her allegations as he is "incapable of any violence".Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 3:47 pm Amitabh bags World Economic Forum awardBollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured by the World Economic Forum for outstanding excellence in art.Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 3:46 pm Actor Govinda has narrow escapeBollywood star Govinda had a narrow escape today when a bus hit him in this Sikh holy city, the actor said.Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 3:45 pm Govinda injured, hit by a bus
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 2:09 pm Big B bags World Economic Forum award
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 2:07 pm Veteran Tamil actor Nagesh dead
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 1:10 pm Magazine confirms Jennifer Aniston`s break up with John Mayer!`Marley and Me` star Jennifer Aniston has split from rocker boyfriend John Mayer after an on and off relationship that did not even last a year.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor to get Rotary Club award!Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor will be honoured by the Rotary Club for being the youngest achiever of the film industry.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm Birthday girl Preity Zinta is candid, fearless and Bollywood`s pretty face!!Preity Zinta entered the Bollywood arena with her debut flick `Soldier`, raised many eyebrows with her `on the wing` skirt scene.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm Has Akshay Kumar lost his comic touch?!The failure of Nikhil Advani`s "Chandni Chowk To China" has put a question mark on Akshay Kumar`s comic journey.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm It doesn`t help being someone`s daughter in Bollywood: Zoya Akhtar!Director Zoya Akhtar says that she virtually had to knock on all the big doors of filmdom for casting someone in the lead role, but no one agreed.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm Denzel Washington named America`s favourite actor third year running !For the third year in a row, Denzel Washington has been named America`s favourite movie star.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:35 pm Jennifer Aniston splits from John Mayer
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:59 am 'Raaz..' success story unveiled! - IndiaGlitz
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:41 am Dominique Lapierre recalls brush with Gandhi's killersHow about a re-enactment of Mahatma Gandhi's murder 61 years after his death? It sure is eerie, but compelling.Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:40 am It's raining awards for Kareena Kapoor
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:34 am Learning Odissi was tough, Shilpa writes on blogActress Shilpa Shetty, who took Odissi lessons from an Orissa-based dance guru for an India-China joint film venture, says the classical Indian dance form was tough to learn and perform.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:31 am Vijayshanti merges her party with TRSPopular Telugu film actress Vijayshanti Saturday merged her Talli Telangana Party with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:31 am Wishing Preity a Very Happy Birthday - Indian Express
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:28 am Patrick Swayze says hasn't stopped treatment
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:28 am 'Smear campaign hits Oscar-favourite Slumdog Millionaire' - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:18 am Nagesh passes away - MSN India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 11:05 am Slumdog director to work for Mumbai slum kids
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 10:54 am 'Meghave Meghave' an unimaginative, illogical love storyFilm: 'Meghave Meghave'; Director: Nagendra Prasad; Cast: Sudeep, Raam, Gracy Singh, K.S.L. Swame, Shobha Raj, Mandya Ramesh and Sanketh Kashi; Music: Hari Krishna; Rating:*Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 10:34 am 'Ambari' an improbable journeyFilm: 'Ambari'; Director: Arjun; Cast: Yogeesh, Sampreetha, Rangayana Raghu, Dinesh Mangalore, Aruna Balaraj and Prasanna; Music: Hari Krishna; Rating: **Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 10:31 am I'm incapable of any violence: Adnan Sami - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:48 am A trade fair to pamper your petsFood items like salmon sticks, chicken sticks and fish rolls, health seminars and grooming tips - no, this is not any ordinary lifestyle expo but indicative of the wide variety of products and events at the ongoing third India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF) here.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:32 am Jessica Simpson takes the stage againLondon (ANI): Donning skin-tight leather trousers, Jessica Simpson made a public appearance to blast criticism surrounding her 'curvy' body. The singer's rather 'full body' was largely criticised after pictures of her concert in Pembroke Pines, Florida on January 25, were madeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:32 am Adlabs Films revenue up 61 percentAdlabs Films Ltd, part of the Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), Saturday reported 61 percent growth in revenue for the quarter ended Dec 31.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:31 am Goldie Hawn returning to movies!Washington (ANI): Goldie Hawn is reportedly planning a comeback in the movie business, and she wants to act alongside daughter Kate Hudson. The Bird On The Wire actress retired after acting in her last flick The Banger Sisters in 2002, reportsSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:25 am Denzel Washington is America's favourite actorWashington (ANI): For the third year in a row, Denzel Washington has been named America's favourite movie star. The Training Day Oscar winner pipped Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood to grab the first position, reports Contactmusic.Late John Wayne and Hitch star WillSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:18 am Beckinsale reveals tragic death of her fatherLondon (ANI): Underworld star Kate Beckinsale has revealed how tragically her father, Richard, died in his sleep at their Berkshire home, while her mother, Judy, was undergoing surgery to have more kids. Kate recalled that she was just five when theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 9:13 am I don't make films for awards: Aamir KhanAfter Aamir Khan's directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par" failed to get an Oscar nomination in the foreign film category, the superstar has said that he does not make films for "awards" but for the "audience".Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:54 am 'Slumdog...' bags four Richard Attenborough Film AwardsBritish-Irish filmmaker Danny Boyle's globally-acclaimed underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire" has added more trophies to its haul by winning four prizes at the Richard Attenborough Film Awards.Source: Entertainment News | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:47 am Malayalam film is disappointing: RasulRasul Pookutty, who was nominated for Oscar for the best sound mixing for the film Slumdog Millionaire, said at a press meet at Trivandrum Press club that Aravindan and Adoor were his role models. "Both of them used sound as anSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:32 am Kamalini ready to exposeThe talented Kamalini Mukherjee has acquired this homely girl-next-door image in films. She has played only such roles in all her films - Godavari and Gamyam are two such examples. But the image that she cultivated is not bringing her manySource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:24 am Veteran actor Nagesh passes awayVeteran actor Nagesh passed away this morning at a City Hospital in Chennai after prolonged illness. He was 75.Nagesh (Born on September 27, 1933) was a veteran Indian comedian actor in Kollywood who had acted in more than 1000 films. HeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:17 am AR Rahman opens up on People - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:12 am Amitabh bags World Economic Forum awardBollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured by the World Economic Forum for outstanding excellence in art.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:00 am Home » TV » TV REVIEW: Ghar Ki Baat Hai - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:00 am Actor Govinda has narrow escapeBollywood star Govinda had a narrow escape Saturday when a bus hit him in this Sikh holy city, the actor said.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 8:00 am Good acting, subtle narrative make 'Luck By Chance' a winnerFilm: 'Luck By Chance'; Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Dimple Kapadia, Isha Sharwani, Rishi Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Hrithik Roshan; Writer-Director: Zoya Akhtar; Rating: ****Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 7:01 am Veteran Tamil actor Nagesh deadVeteran Tamil movie actor-comedian Cyril K. Nagesh, popularly known as Nagesh, died here Saturday, a family source said. He was 77.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 31 Jan 2009 | 7:00 am ‘Farhan was on the verge of strangling me’ - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 6:36 am Soundarya to produce Vijay's 51st film!As we had suggested earlier, Soundarya Rajinikanth will be producing the 51st film of Vijay under the banner of Ocher Studios - Warner Bros India. Sources also revealed that Lingusamy has been paid a huge amount to direct the film. HeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 6:14 am Aamir's 3 Idiots follows Ghajini, TZP - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 6:13 am Aamir's 3 Idiots follows Ghajini, TZPThe much anticipated film of 2009 3 Idiots is all set to release on 25th December 2009. After the stupendous success of Ghajini and Taare Zameen Par which released on the Christmas weekend, another Aamir Khan Starrer 3 Idiots is gearingSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 5:55 am Hrithik's small role in Luck By ChanceEver since Hrithik Roshan started appearing in the promos of Luck By Chance, there were speculations abound on whether he had much more than just a guest appearance in the film. Since he is considered close to Farhan both as aSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 31 Jan 2009 | 5:46 am Sanjeev Kohli steps down as CEO of YRFAfter very successful 9 years as the first CEO of Yash Raj Films, Mr. Sanjeev Kohli has opted to step down from this post from 31st January 2009. However, he shall continue his association with YRF as a Senior Consultant hereafter and continue to participate in all the strategy-building exercises of the Company and be a part of its future growth.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Ajay Devgan shifts home!Well, no not permanently…but the actor has shifted base to his farmhouse in Karjat for a brief period of time. Wonder why? Ajay who is shooting for Vipul Shahs London Dreams at the ND Studio in Karjat, has considered it better to settle closer to the shooting premises. And is coming to rescue is his farmhouse!Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Happy Birthday pretty Preity!Born to a Hindu Rajput family and acquiring a post-graduate degree in Criminal Psychology she went on to become an actress, and a top one at that!Wondering who we are talking about?Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Aish signs up for Vishals filmFinally Vishal Bharadwaj and Aishwarya Rais wish to work together is going to be reality. The hit maker who is currently busy with Kaminey will be starting a movie with Aish towards the end of this year.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Raaz.. success story unveiled!Raaz – The Mystery Continues is the first smash hit of 2009! The movie is expected to gross Rs. 35 cr in its first week itself. Emraan Hashmi and Mohit Suri were in Pune to celebrate the phenomenal responseSource: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 31 Jan 2009 | 12:00 am Masand's Movie Review: Victory a forgettable film - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 30 Jan 2009 | 8:26 pm Priyanka Gandhi is the sexiest: John
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 30 Jan 2009 | 7:22 pm Angelina Jolie dropped from Tomb Raider
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 30 Jan 2009 | 5:54 pm Ranbir, Rishi on Oye It's Friday
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 30 Jan 2009 | 5:42 pm Live Chat: Zoya Akhtar on February 2 at 1430 hrs ISTWhile the son of this family has proven his talent both behind and in front of the camera, the daughter has just stepped into the glitzy world of films, with her directorial debut that hit the silver screens this week. We are indeed referring to the glorious daughter Zoya Akhtar of the super glorious parents Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. Zoya couldn't have asked for a better debut to step into Bollywood than her dream debut Luck By Chance. Bollywood Hungama gives you an opportunity to interact with Zoya Akhtar, only on Celeb Chat on Monday, Feb. 2nd at 1430 hrs IST.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 30 Jan 2009 | 3:10 pm Victory to have a Sri Lanka premiere with Indian and Sri Lankan cricketersClick above for more stills At 3 am in the morning after the Mumbai premiere of his new film Victory , Harman, his director Ajitpal Mangat and his leading lady Amrita Rao flew off for an unscheduled premiere in Colombo. "It was totally a last-minute decision, and dictated completely by the fact that the Indian cricket team is playing against the Sri Lankan team over here, so we'll have the entire Sri Lankan and Indian team attending the premiere this evening," said a groggy Harman from Colombo on Friday morning. Sachin Tendulkar and Dhoni were also expected to attend the Sri Lankan premiere. "I haven't slept at all since yesterday. We finished the Mumbai premiere and caught our flight to Columbo. But I'm too excited to be tired," said Harman. Could Harman's excitement have anything to do with the fact that Priyanka who showed up for the Mumbai premiere, took Harman aside after the film and was overheard whispering, "I'm very proud of you. I knew you had it in you. I'm so glad it's finally happening." Repeat Priyanka's words to Harman and he laughs, "How did you get to know about this? I thought we went to a discreet corner where she said this to me. Yeah, Priyanka is very happy for me. Isn't that quite natural?" Naturally, Harman who shared the premiere arc lights with premium players from the Indian and Sri Lankan cricket team was very excited about the response of the stalwarts to his game. "They all seemed to agree I played like a pro," what more can I ask for?'Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 30 Jan 2009 | 1:25 pm Shahid gets himself a cool new sports bikeJust after his debut film Ishq Vishk, he witnessed the kind of hysteria that will hardly allow anybody to keep their feet grounded on earth. But not Shahid Kapoor! Call it as the 'Mama's Boy' effect or whatever, but it's sweet to know that the actor recently got a sports bike for himself only after his parents allowed him to do so. And for that he had to assure them that he would ride safely! Shahid loves biking. In fact when he was shooting with choreographer Ahmed Khan for Ishq Vishk, Shahid would go with him for long bike rides along the Western Express highway. His new dream machine is a midnight black, air cooled, sports bike with high torque speed and 1670cc machine, costing around Rs. 15 lakh. It is said that Shahid doesn't like anything bright, flashy and over the top but rather classy, understated and subtle stuff. Hence, he chose black colour for his bike. He is very possessive about it and insists on cleaning it himself. He has been biking a lot these days especially at nights and also while going for his shoots. All that we can say is that 'The Best only deserves the Best'. What say Sha-HIT Kapoor!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 30 Jan 2009 | 11:21 am John Abraham on GQ coverKissing a man with stubble is a lot like going to a picnic. You don't mind going through a little bush to get there! Well, one really does not have to be a psychologist or a psychoanalyst to read the minds of the million women whose mind must be playing with the aforementioned saying! The reason? Well, it's none other then the Johnny boy of Bollywood: John Abraham and his killer look that he is sporting on the cover of the recent issue of men's magazine GQ. Even before you read the article, the photographs are absolutely enough for anyone to start worshipping this hot hunk with zero negative attitude! The entire interview is less of an 'interview' and more of an inner-view of this man, whose Greek God looks have already taken the world by storm! One can get to know what ails John, his take on the 'most frustrating thing about dealing with the media', his motivation, his style and motors and the most sensitively sensational question 'Is John a one woman man?' Check out GQ to know more.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 30 Jan 2009 | 11:10 am From Rukmani to Jai hoAllah Rakha Rahman's journey is no less incredible than that of the protagonist of Slumdog Millionaire. From a South Indian regional composer with a National award for his debut film 16 years back, Rahman has now won three nominations at the Oscars for his songs in a mainstream Hollywood film 1966: On January 6, A.S.Dileep Kumar is born to R.K.Shekhar, composer-arranger in Malayalam films. His father passes away when Dileep is just nine. The family subsists on hiring out musical equipment to leading composers. 1977: Rahman joins Ilayaraja as keyboardist after training with Master Dhanraj. He also plays for M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu and with Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and soon obtains a scholarship from the Trinity College of Music in London, where he graduates with a degree in Western Classical music. 1989: The family converts to Islam and the boy is renamed Allah Rakha Rahman. Rahman becomes a keyboard player and arranger in the band Roots with childhood friend A.Sivamani. He is the founder of the rock band Nemesis Avenue and also plays keyboard, piano, the synthesizer, harmonium and guitar. 1991: Rahman starts a recording studio in his house and starts composing for jingles and television serials. 1992: Mani Ratnam, who has been watching Ilayaraja's assistant, gives him an independent break with Roja, the original Tamil film. A new style of music is introduced and in a first-time feat later equalled only by Ismail Darbar with the Hindi film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, bags the National Award for a debut score, the first of four. 1993: Roja is dubbed in Hindi and as it sweeps the charts, led by Dil hai chhota sa and the "item" song Rukmani Rukmani, Roja also brings into focus the hitherto-neglected talent of singer Hariharan, who is suddenly considered chart-friendly! With this score, Rahman forever changes the future of Hindi film music. His Tamil chartbuster that year is Thiruda Thiruda. 1994-1995: Two films of Rahman are dubbed in Hindi - his hit Kaadhalan as Humse Hai Muqabala and Bombay. More importantly, several music directors officially (The Gentleman) and otherwise (Angrakshak, Sabse Bada Khiladi et al) pilfer his Tamil hits. Duet, Indira and Muthu are his Tamil hits that year. And Rahman gets his first international honour - the Mauritius National award in 1995. In late 1995, Rahman writes history all over again with his debut original Hindi film, Rangeela. Asha Bhosle returns to high-tide with Yai re and Tanha tanha after a lull. 1996: More of Rahman's films are dubbed, with indifferent results except for Hindustani (Indian). But the Tamil scenario is still upbeat with Love Birds and Kadhal Desam. Rahman also scores the background music for his first crossover film Fire. And Minsaara Kanavu wins Rahman his second National award. 1997: Sapnay, the dubbed version of the 1996 hit marks the debut of singer KK with Strawberry aankhen, a top name today, and the breakthrough of Hema Sardesai with Awara bhanwre. It begins his long association with Javed Akhtar. Sony Music (now Sony-BMG) signs Rahman as their first-ever South Asian artiste for the hit album Vande Mataram. The Tamil hits include Iruvar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's debut. 1998: The composer storms the charts with Mani Ratnam's first original Hindi film, Dil Se..., ending the struggle of singer Sukhwinder Singh with Chal chhaiyya chhaiyya, and the singer's association with him will now peak with the Oscar nomination for Jai ho from Slumdog Millionaire. The same is true of his journey with Gulzar, whose best phase as a top lyricist begins. The film also features his first song with Lata Mangeshkar, Jiya jale. Also released this year is Jeans. 1999: Rahman finally makes a proper pan-Indian breakthrough with Subhash Ghai's Taal, a musical love story that wins him his first Screen award. In the same year, Deepa Mehta's Earth is released in Hindi as 1947 with a highly-appreciated, underrated but not-too-popular score. These two films cement his association with Ghai and Anand Bakshi (till his death in 2002), Javed Akhtar and Aamir Khan. He also tours Germany with Michael Jackson in the Michael Jackson & Friends Concert. 2000: Rahman scores his first home production of a Mumbai hero - Anil Kapoor, in Pukar. This is also the first of his only two films with Phalke laureate lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri. The Tamil side is noted for Kandukondain Kandukondain and Thenali. 2001: Lagaan, Aamir Khan's first film, wins him the National Best Music award for the first time for a Hindi film. Careful observers term this his most accomplished score in Hindi till then. 2002: Saathiya makes the industry take note of Kunal Ganjawala with O humdum suniyo re. There is also an evocative score in The Legend Of Bhagat Singh. Back home in the South, Rahman scores with Kannathil Mutthamittal and Baba. 2003-2004: The Rahman Hindi bandwagon hits a lull with dull scores like Tehzeeb, Meenakshi - A Tale Of Three Cities and Lakeer. But it ends on another high with Swades. Rahman get the rare honour of scoring for the Chinese film Warriors Of Heaven And Earth and Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage presentation Bombay Dreams. He backs out of Indian commitments like Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa and Kisna after recording a few songs. He also notches the highest tally among National award-winning composers with Kannathil Muthamittal, his fourth trophy. With Finnish folk music band Varttina, he scores music for The Lord Of The Rings, a theatre production, and also composes the piece Raga's Dance for Vanessa Mae's album Choreography. The whizkid is also appointed Global Ambassador to the WHO initiative, Stop TB Partnership. 2005: Rahman fails to recreate the period magic of his two earlier films with Mangal Pandey - The Rising and Netaji - The Forgotten Hero. But his two songs in Kisna are noticed. And for every low the composer gets a compensatory high: He inaugurates his state-of-the-art AM Studios in Chennai and Time Magazine lists Roja among the Top 10 Movie soundtracks of all time. 2006: Rahman composes the heady Daler Mehndi - Chitra sarson-sambar title-track for Rang De Basanti. Here begins another fruitful association - with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and lyricist Prasoon Joshi. Rahman also launches his own music label, KM Music, with his score for Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. He also gets an Honorary award from Stanford University for his contribution for global music. 2007: On his 42nd anniversary, he inaugurates the K.M.Music Conservatory. In a double whammy, Rahman grabs both Best Music and Best Background Score trophies for Guru from Nokia Star-Screen. He also scores the background music for Provoked and composes the third of Deepa Mehta's trilogies, Water. Rahman also co-composes Shekhar Kapoor's Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The home front is represented by the all-time blockbuster Sivaji - The Boss. 2008: Jodhaa Akbar (for which he clinches another Screen trophy for Background Score) and Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na (for which he gets Screen's Best Music Award) are highs enough, but that great times are coming is evident from his tail-end 2008 release Ghajini becoming India's all-time biggest grosser. Slumdog Millionaire, his mainstream Hollywood film has won him a Golden Globe Best Music nomination and hosannas galore abroad including 10 other nominations and awards from various organisations for Best Score and Best Song. 2009: The incredible happens - in his birthday month, A.R.Rahman wins the two Screen awards mentioned above, the Golden Globe for the score of Slumdog.. and Best Music and two Best Song nominations for Jai ho and also O saya, for which he also co-writes lyrics. He is the first Indian to win three Oscar nominations. The Oscar is now a possible - no, make that likely - dream. And the journey continues.. Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 30 Jan 2009 | 10:44 am Shammi aunty getting naughty at 80All of eighty years, Shammi Aunty as she is lovingly called, has lost count of the films in which she has acted. Starting off playing heroine in her earlier films, Shammi switched on to comic and later character roles. Even today, her conversation is interspersed by frequent giggles, bringing out the naughty trait within. A lowdown... Born in 1929, Shammi began life as Nargis Rabadi in a family of Parsi priests. Her father died when she was just three and her mother made a living by cooking at religious functions. Both Shammi and her elder sister Mani Rabadi, the well-known Hindi film fashion designer, worked in toy factories after school to source their tuition fees. After schooltime, they worked at offices, ran a magazine and did odd jobs. Mani also worked with the Indian People's Theatre Association and did some Gujarati films. "It was in January 1949 that I entered the film industry when I signed a 3-film contract with Sheikh Mukhtar for his film Ustad Pedro that had Begum Para besides me and Sheikh Mukhtar himself. The film was directed by Tara Harsh," says Shammi. Simultaneously she was signed for crooner Mukesh's film Malhar. "The film had an all-new cast, of which Kanhaiyal and I had faced the arc lights earlier. The film directed by Tara Harsh again marked the breakthroughs of music director Roshan and lyricist Indeevar," recalls Shammi. "I was allowed to do the film because Tara Harsh was directing this film too," sighs Shammi. For the three-year contract Sheikh Mukhtar's production house paid Shammi Rs. 500 per month (quite a big sum in the '40s). "My friends expressed their surprise when they heard that I was being paid that kind of an amount." Two or three more films were announced by Sheikh Mukhtar, "but since the roles weren't to my liking, I refused them," avers Shammi aunty. "So in short Ustad Pedro was the only film I did for Sheikh Mukhtar. In-between, there were umpteen offers, some of which were to be directed by the likes of Bimal Roy and Nitin Bose, but since I was tied by the contract, I had to flatly refuse them," adds Shammi. Once out of the contract, Shammi was signed for Sangdil that starred Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. "You see, those were not the days when there was something like having a 'Godfather' or someone to back you. Since those days there was a practice of featuring a hero and two heroines, I was lucky to share screen space as Mohini with the likes of Dilipsaab (Shankar) and Madhubala (Kamal) ." Soon after, she began getting varied roles opposite Mahipal, Manhar Desai and Karan Dewan. When her role with comedian Johnny Walker in K Asif's Musafirkhana became a hit, she was flooded with similar roles. "Offers started coming my way and I, as an artiste, went on accepting them. Among them I did some films in which I had a couple of vampish and also mythological, action and comic roles. People used to ask me to cautiously choose the roles I wanted to play and not just accept anything, to which my reply would be "For an artiste it doesn't matter whether it is a leading, vampish or comic role". I know it amply well because I did all types of roles and met several artistes, and today people respect and love me." Dubbing During her career, Shammi also tried her hand at dubbing. Gemini's boss S.S. Vasan was so impressed with her dubbing in his Samaj Ko Badal Dalo and Teen Bahuraniyan that he frequently had her flown to Chennai to dub even for minor artistes. She would be sent back to Mumbai in the evenings. Marriage Johnny Walker and Shammi were good friends and she used to go often to his office. "It is there that I met Sultan Ahmed. We got friendly and slowly the friendship blossomed into marriage in 1970. But as luck would have it, we were together for only seven years. I assisted him in Heera and Ganga Ki Saugandh as a production assistant. In the meantime, Sultan started having an affair with another woman and paid less attention towards me. Soon I started realising that he married me just to get access to the film people with whom I was friendly. I can still proudly cry from the rooftop that Amit (Amitabh Bachchan) signed Ganga Ki Saugandh just because he had a good rapport with me. On that fateful day, at a friends party at Carter Road, we had a big quarrel. All I did was pick up my purse and barge out. That was the end of it. Thankfully, I had my old rented house in my custody. " Remembrance * Shammi was playing a lead role in Ayub Khan's film in which she was paired with Anwar Hussain (brother of Nargis). The other hero was Ranjan. "In that particular film, I had to do a stunt. For that I was trained in horse-riding. I remember we were shooting at Ghodbunder Road from as early as 7 am. Initially when I got on the horse's back, it was behaving well, but after a while the horse got out of control and started galloping at an uncontrolled pace. I wanted to jump into a stretch of water that was fast approaching, but as the spot neared I couldn't dare jump because the horse was regularly increasing its speed and I couldn't dare jump as I knew I would break my bones. This spot was on a hill; soon I saw crew members coming in my direction from the opposite side and there was a railway line in-between. As I was nearing the railway tracks I saw a green patch and slowly took off my leg from the stirrup and jumped. From the ground I saw the horse speed away and as it was about to cross the railway track, its leg got entangled in the tracks and it fell with a thud and started moaning in pain," recalls Shammi. *One more incident I will never forget is the day when Dilipsahab was paid rupees one lakh as a signing amount by a South-based production house, the first by anyone in the film industry." There was a big hungama in the industry and we all were very happy." Television Roles never stopped coming Shammi's way. Somewhere in the 1990s, as good character roles finally began drying up, Shammi found new opportunities on the small screen. She was much appreciated in Dekh Bhai Dekh, Shriman Shrimati and Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Woh. She was also the executive producer of serials produced by Asha Parekh on Indian music directors. Currently she is seen in Ajai Sinha's Ghar Ek Sapna. Shammi was always one to give back more than what she had received from the industry, and for over 30 years, she had been the most remarkable do-gooder of Hindi cinema. With music director C Ramachandra and later with Sunil Dutt, she had visited the border areas in remote regions to entertain Indian troops. She participated in numerous shows to raise funds for all shades of charity. "The Defence Ministry would not permit me to go," says Shammi. "Till C.Ramachandra argued that she could rough it out like any other man. " Shammi was also a permanent fixture with Sunil and Nargis Dutt's Ajanta Arts troupe. But though they collected a lot of money, they did not know how to invest it and so gave it away to needy artistes. Today, her CAA has invested its money in fixed deposits and other saving schemes. Take on life "God has given us life. It's up to us to treat it the way we want. We should not do anything that makes our life meaningless. I for one am highly satisfied and have no complains whatsover. I celebrate all the festivals and get a lot of satisfaction by doing so." Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 30 Jan 2009 | 10:39 am
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