The New Nation - Internet Edition

I hope Deepika and Ranbir stay together: Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor

Entertainment Desk

By Subhash K Jha Kareena, in her words, is working like a mad woman. "I've five film in various stages of production. Then I've nine endorsements for which I've to shoot ads round the year. Plus I've all these stage shows that require rehearsals. I can't seem to find the time to do anything properly," she laments from Melbourne where she's shooting for Salman Khan's Main Aur Mrs Khanna.

She has in fact agreed to perform at IIFA in June and is rehearsing as she has never done.

"I'm performing a medley of my songs from Jab We Met and Tashan. Gone are the days when I'd go on stage with just a little practice. Now I want to be my best in every stage performance," she said.

But where's the time! "Here, at Melbourne I'm rehearsing for IIFA at nights and shooting in the day time. Am I over-worked? I'm exhausted. But what choice do I have? I've decided to take my live performances as seriously as my movies and endorsement," she also said.

She's currently Melbourne and will next move to Los Angeles for a long 40-day spell of shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambhakt Ishq

"I'll be away from home for more than three months at a stretch. I miss home. I miss my family. I've never been so much out of Mumbai.

I'll finish shooting here, then head to perform at the IIFA. In fact I'm working so hard I hardly get sleep. I'm shooting in the day time and I'm rehearsing during the night. I feel like a I haven't slept for ages." She'll join Saif in London for a week in London from June 20. Saif will be shooting in the city for his first home production to be directed by Imtiaz Ali. Yup, the same film that Deepika Padukone is doing instead of Kareena.

And Deepika is seeing Kareena's star-cousin Ranbir. "I'm so happy for them. I hope they'll be happy together. It feels so nice to have another Kapoor from my generation doing so well. He was fantastic in Saawariya. He's here's to stay. I feel a sense of pride and belonging for him. The Kapoors and Khans are rocking the industry."

No hard feelings about not being in Saif's first home production?

"None at all," Bebo laughs. "I joked at the Stardust awards about not being in Saif's first production and everyone took it seriously. Honestly I enjoy meeting him outside Mumbai. At least we can have some privacy. At home me and Saif can't even go out for dinner without people staring at us, constantly judging our behaviourt"

Mallika says 'No to Flesh’

Entertainment Desk

It is not only the unit member but also the stars that religiously followed a vegetarian diet on the sets of Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam.

It all started when Rahul, Paresh and Mallika learnt that producer Ratan Jain is vegetarian and did not like non-vegetarian dishes being ordered on the sets. The actors respected Jain's feelings and turned vegetarians themselves.

When the unit members learnt about it, they cooperated too. Sanjay Chhel and Ratan Jain, who are strict vegetarians, still haven't got over the sensitivity that Rahul, Paresh and Mallika displayed by going vegetarian on the sets of Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam.

So it was an all veg fest on the sets of Maan Gaye…!

Hats off tot or should we say Maan Gaye Rahul, Mallika and Paresh! Do we see the PETA guys smiling happily after reading this piece of news? For sure!

Srijon celebrates Nazrul’s birth anniversary

Entertainment Report

Cultural organisation Srijon organised a musical soiree at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum on May 31 to celebrate Kazi Nazrul Islam's birth anniversary.

This was Srijon's 70th monthly programme. Artistes performed songs and poems of Kazi Nazrul Islam. The programme also included songs of yesteryears.

The programme started with a group rendition of the Nazrul Sangeet 'Nobin asha jaglo jey rey aaj.' Another group rendition, of 'Jago anoshan bondi,' followed. Recitor Mahidul Islam rendered Nazrul's poem 'Shamyabadi.' Bijon Chandra Mistri sang 'Aamar apnar cheye apon jey jon' and 'Cheona shunoyona.' A solo mandolin performance by Nirmal Kumar Das was lauded by the audience.

Chhaya Karmakar, Tanvir Tomal, Sheikh Ruhul Amin and Sanjida Titli rendered 'Aji eshechhi,' 'Tumi nirjon upokuley,' 'Keno bhalobasha hariye jay' and 'Kon shey alor shopno' respectively.

Abul Kalam Azad rendered folk songs including 'Ki jadu Bangla gaaney' and 'Gramer nawjowan.'

Nurul Islam Polash compiled and directed the programme.

Art workshop at UODA ends

Entertainment Report

A two-day art workshop on etching and print making media at the Fine Art department of the University of Development Alternative, Dhaka ended on Saturday.

Eminent Bengali artist Shahid Kabir who lives in Spain, conducted the workshop. Some 40 fine art students from Dhaka University, Shanto-Marium University of Creative Technology, Narayanganj Art College and the UODA participated at the workshop.

UODA organised the workshop aiming at introducing unique style and technique used by Shahid Kabir among the fine art students of the country, said Nasima Haque Mitu, MFA course coordinator at the UODA.

The organiser will hold an exhibition at the Gallery Chitrak, featuring the art-works sketched by the participants at the workshop. 'I am impressed at getting innovative ideas from the young fine art learners in Bangladesh', said Shahid Kabir. 'More such workshops need to be organised to promote the progress of fine art in Bangladesh', he added.

Born in 1949 in Bangladesh, Shahid Kabir, who graduated in Fine Arts from Dhaka University in 1969, had worked as a teacher at the same faculty for nine years. He has been living in Madrid of Spain since 1980.

He has won a number awards including at home and abroad. He received the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy awards in 1975 and 76 and Carmen Arozamena Prize in Madrid in 1984.

Abhishek resolves his weighty issues

Entertainment Desk

After Salman, Shah Rukh and Shahid, it appears that actor Abhishek Bachchan is all set to climb on the 'six pack' brigade.

With his Sarkar Raj all finished and wrapped for release actor Abhishek Bachchan is nothing but too happy to get back in shape again.

The actor who was required to put on tons of weight for Mani Ratnam's Guru and then for Ram Gopal Verma's Sarkar Raj is looking forward to don his natural lean mean machine look again.

Speaking to reporters the actor said, "I had put on weight for Guru, and Ramu instructed me to lose just a little of that weight for Sarkar Raj, which I did. Now that the film is over, I can happily come back to my normal self. And I`m glad about that. It`s been ages since I was lean again!"

In the two previous roles the actor was portrayed as a middle age married man who matures and gains weight as his character and age progress in the film.