Kareena Kapoor Shines On The Inaugural Issue Of Harper's Bazaar

The aforementioned words aptly and also literally describe the lissome lass of Bollywood as she is the 'Inaugural cover-girl' of the mega launch issue of the world-famous fashion and lifestyle magazine Harpers' Bazaar.

As we had (exclusively) carried the news earlier this week, the issue does contain some of beautiful pictures of Kareena And Saif on the beaches of Mauritius. After seeing this couple romancing along the coastline, one wonders if this romance is enhancing the scenic beauty of the to-die-for beaches or is it the other way round! Get this issue to see for yourself some of the most precious verbal gems that Saifeena have belted out in this issue, with Bebo saying, "I think I am just perfect, because on screen, being my size looks great".

All in all, a must buy-issue for the Bollywood buffs! BTW, when we said that 'Kareena shines on the inaugural issue of Harper's Bazaar', we really meant our words as this issue comes with 'diamonds' attached on its cover! Go and check for yourself!

Sajid Nadiadwala Signs Siddharth Anand For His Next

Siddharth Anand is the latest director to branch out from Yash Raj Films. After having made successful films like Salaam Namaste, Ta Ra Rum Pum and Bachna Ae Haseeno, Anand is all set to direct a film for producer Sajid Nadiadwala. "The contract with YRF is over. We are starting a film with him in August," Sajid confirmed with Indian Masala News.

We probed him about more details and this is what he had to say, "It's an interesting film which has its moments. The cast should be finalized in a week's time. In the first week of April we can announce everything...it's an interesting star cast."

Nadiadwala is eagerly looking forward to his next release Kambakht Ishq which apart from Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor, also stars his all time favourite actor-icon Sylvester Stallone in a pivotal role. Those who've seen the first look promo of the film just can't stop raving about it.

Vijay - The Man Who Too Deserves Credit For 'Jai Ho'

'Jai Ho' has won an Oscar for A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, hence making India proud. While the entire country is singing the song and Sukhwinder Singh, the man who originally sung the number behind the mike, is basking in its glory as well, there is a man who is missing out on all the action. He goes by the name of Vijay Prakash, who is incidentally one of the four singers that were roped in by A.R. Rahman for the song, the other two being Tanvi Shah and Mahalaxmi Iyer.

"I don't have any regrets though", says Vijay Prakash who has been contributing to the Bollywood music scene for close to a decade now and is slowly but steadily making his presence felt, "Sukhwinderji is a fantastic singer and a very well known person. It happens and I don't blame anyone for not being in the limelight. As an audience, when you are listening to a song, you tend to stick to one individual whom you probably know and hence can identify with."

Smiles Vijay, "That's true, the echo is sung by me though the main song belongs to Sukhwinderji. However, Rahman sir has always been on a forefront when it comes to giving credit to his team. In some of the speeches made by him at award functions, he has named not just Gulzar saab but even me. Now that's an award in itself for me."

After years of being around on the Bollywood circuit, and singing in movies like Yuvvraaj (Manmohini) and Cheeni Kum (title song), Vijay Prakash his happy that his hard work is finally fetching him some good recognition.

"Of course, the name Sukhwinder Singh is much bigger and hence the name Vijay Prakash was perhaps relegated to the background. However, now that I am a part of an Oscar winning song, people have been taking notice. I am sure Tanvi and Mahalaxmi too will get due credit for their work in the song. 'Jai Ho' reaching at such a level is indeed quite big at this stage of my career", he says with a grin.

Any regrets that he couldn't walk the red carpet and be on stage when the award was announced? "I won't deny that", says Vijay, "I did wish if I was there but then considering the fact that Mr. Sukhwinder himself wasn't there, I didn't have any reason to feel overtly disappointed. Yes, the dream situation would have been for all us singers to be there on stage and perform live in front of a global audience. But that's ok, some other day, some other time."

Ilaiyaraja-Gulzar Team Up Again After 25 Years

Even while the Guru team of A. R. Rahman and Gulzar is being feted in the US for their 'Jai Ho' track in Slumdog Millionaire the poet par excellence has gone to the Guru of Guru's composer for his next cinematic collaboration.

Gulzar Saab is working with Rahman's mentor Ilaiyaraja for the first time in 25 years. Says Gulzar saab, "The last time Ilaiyaraja and I came together was for Balu Mahendra's Sadma. Now we're working together in another film after so many years."

The film is directed by Ajay Verma, who is grandson of the legendary inventor of calendar-art Raja Ravi Verma. "It's interesting that Ajay Verma has made a film at just about the same time when a film on the life of Raja Ravi Verma by Ketan Mehta is ready for release," says Gulzar.

Gulzar saab is not too fond of the title though. "The film is at the moment called SRK. Hopefully it will change. What the film most certainly changes is the idiom of expression for film music. I feel Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Anurag Kashyap's No Smoking gave me a chance to experiment with words in a way that film music generally doesn't. Now I feel the same way about my poetry in SRK."

About working with Ilaiyaraja again after 25 years, Gulzar Saab says, "His aptitude and skills for creating the perfect harmony have not altered at all. Ilaiyaraja is one of his kind. I wish he was heard more often in Hindi cinema."

Gulzar Saab would be pleased to learn Ilaiyaraja is also scoring music for Balki's Pa which features Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek and Vidya Balan.

Says Balki, "He did the music for my Cheeni Kum, and now Pa. For me there can be no cinema without Ilaiyaraja."

Feroz Khan Admitted In A Critical Condition

Veteran actor and filmmaker Feroz Khan was rushed to Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital and admitted in the ICU yesterday. The actor, producer and director of films like Dharmatma, Qurbani, Jaanbaaz and Dayavan was in a critical condition while he was being admitted.

It may be recalled that Feroz Khan has been not keeping well for a while now and yesterday's incident did give his close family members a scare. Most of his close family and friends immediately rushed to be by his side.

We at Indian Masala News pray for his speedy recovery.

Woody Allen Signs Freida Pinto For His Next

The film Slumdog Millionaire has been making waves not just in India but even across the seven seas. Along with the film, the two new found stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto are also riding high on the wave of their debut film's success. Following an almost clean sweep at the recent Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire's actress Freida Pinto is quite literally going places.

Quick on the heels of this recent success, Freida has bagged herself another highly prestigious project. Freida confirmed this on an American show (The Today Show) saying that her next is a film being made by the legendary director Woody Allen. Freida and the rest of the cast of Slumdog Millionaire were on the show talking about the success of their film at the Oscars.

The legendary Woody Allen was impressed with Freida's work in Slumdog Millionaire and decided then and there that he would be casting her in his next. The film, which is as yet untitled, will also star Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin and Sir Anthony Hopkins in all probability.

While in Hollywood promoting Slumdog Millionaire, Freida (who has been eyeing to make a mark in Hollywood) has done the smart thing of hiring herself an agent along with whom she has been meeting several producers and studio owners.

Must say Freida is slowly and steadily making her presence felt among the bigwigs of Beverly Hills.

Sajid Nadiadwala Spends 1.5 Crores On A Song In Kambakth Ishq

Kambakth Ishq now has two faces...rather voices. There was an item song by that catchy title that Sandeep Chowta had composed for Ram Gopal Varma's Pyar Tune Kya Kiya. Urmila Matondkar and Fardeen Khan had danced that track into the charts.

Now there's a new song by that title for Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakth Ishq composed by RDB. No, not another R.D. Burman remix -God Forbid! It's the bhangra -pop group from Briton RDB, acronym for Rhythm Dhol Bass.

A favourite with Akshay Kumar, RDB were first heard in our cinema for Vipul Shah's Akshay vehicle Namastey London followed by Singh Is Kinng.

RDB walked into Kambakth Ishq after Carmen Electra and other international artistes who were supposed to participate in the song walked out.

Says Sajid, "It's just Akshay and Kareena dancing to RDB's tune and what a tune it is. It's not a music video but a song that we'll use as an integral part of the film. It will occur close to the film's interval. It will also be the first promotional song."

Press him for a sum of money spent on the song, and Sajid says it's close to 1.5 crore rupees.

Wonder what Sajid's old associate and faithful music director Anu Malik who scores the rest of the songs in Kambakth Ishq has to say about this invasion from the outside!