Priyanka, Shahid keeps up appearances, after break-up

After his break-up with Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor was spotted some days ago with a bunch of friends in Goa. The unshaven actor seems to have taken the split quite badly. A source reveals, "He's definitely down in the dumps but has to keep up a smile when there are cameras around. After Kareena Kapoor, this was his most serious relationship. The fact that it didn't work out, says something about him!" However, despite feeling the blues, Shasha hasn't stopped flirting with new girls. The source adds that he and a couple of his friends were spotted chilling out with a bunch of phirangs.

Priyanka: Don't Blow Kisses At Me, Ranveer, Ranveer blown kisses to Priyanka

Ranveer Singh seems to be getting extra friendly with B-Town heroines. The Band Baaja Baaraat star recently bumped into Priyanka Chopra at an event.

A source caught the newbie blowing flying kisses at Priyanka. She says, "Obviously, Priyanka wasn't amused at the youngster's friendly gesture.

PC retorted, "No baby, I am your senior and you don't do this to seniors," leaving Ranveer dumbstruck.

Shah Rukh's post-Holi party

King Khan held a Holi bash late last evening
PS: It was a colour-free affair

Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan hosted a Holi bash yesterday at their home, Mannat. Held late last evening, it was different as it began at a time when all other Holi parties had ended.

Celebs at Shah Rukh's Holi bash

Says a source, "Having a post-Holi party was Gauri's idea. SRK had been out of town for a long time and a get-together would help him reconnect with friends.

The logic plainly was that Holi parties, though great fun, are too noisy and mess up the garden and house with colours and water."

Another reason was the India-West Indies cricket match in the evening. "SRK and his friends love watching the match together on his huge LCD screen at Mannat."

Adds the source, "Though it was a post-Holi party, guests were served bhaang and jalebi along with a variety of Indian sweets and a lavish dinner. Gauri sent out personal invites."

WHO ATTENDED
The usual suspects: Karan Johar, Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan, Sanjay and Maheep Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Aditya Chopra, Chunky and Bhavna Pandey, Kaajal Anand, Rima Jain, Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, Farhan and Adhuna Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia.

Fight between Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra in run for fun, fearless award

Bollywood beauties Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are in the run for Cosmopolitan Magazine's fun, fearless awards, to be held in Mumbai Saturday.

The three actresses are competing in Fun, Fearless Female All Time Reader's Choice Award this year.

Other categories include - Fun, Fearless Power Couple award, for which the nominees are - Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khan; Hrithik Roshan-Sussanne Khan and Arbaaz Khan-Malaika Arora Khan.

There is also a Fun, Fearless Male 2010 Reader's Choice Award, and Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Arjun Rampal are competing for the title in this category.

The event, in its third edition now, takes place annually in India, Britain and the US.

"The Fun, Fearless Female Awards is a cult, one-of-its-kind event that celebrates all that's iconic of the Cosmo woman - her attitude, drive, and the never-say-never spirit," Nandini Bhalla, editor of Cosmopolitan, said in a press statement.

The organisers are expecting a star-studded turnout at the event Saturday at the Taj Land's End, Mumbai.

"The response has been tremendous - from readers, Bollywood favourites, and the industry. The Fun Fearless Awards are a pat on the back to women (and some special men) from different areas of life-acting, music, theatre, and more.

"Last year's awards saw a great turnout - Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, and more. And this year's awards promise to be bigger, better, and more Cosmo than ever," said Mala Sekhri, chief operating officer, Lifestyle Magazines, India Today Group.

Shahid gifted Helmet by Priyanka Chopra, Priyanka gifts Shahid a helmet

Are they on? Are they off? Are they on a break? Phew! That's Shahid and Priyanka for you.

While one keeps hearing of their lover's tiffs, fall-outs and sweet somethings, this couple has definitely kept the media on its toes! Last heard, Sasha and PC had a big blow up and decided to part ways. A couple of days later, on Shahid's birthday, he said, "Of course I'm missing Priyanka at my party".

Wow, where did that come from, Sasha? He also confessed that PC had gifted him a helmet on his birthday. Hmnnn... we wonder what signal this gal is trying to send out... and while we can think of a zillion such reasons (and some naughty ones too), we'd like to think she's just trying to tell Shahid...'play it safe'. Lol!

Shilpa praises Piggy Chops

Now this is a rare compliment coming from an actress for another actress - Shilpa Shetty is all praises for Priyanka Chopra's work in Vishal Bharadwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf.

'Watched 7 Khoon maaf, last night Well directed@priyankachopra rockd,really complex role but u did a gr8 job effortlessly,U go girl,all d best (sic),' Shilpa posted on her Twitter page.

In the film, Priyanka plays the role of a woman who kills her seven husbands. It released Friday.

Lady Gaga made Priyanka to cut an international album

The grapevine suggests PC will be recording an album soon, in collaboration with an international singer.

It's not just her drop-dead physical attributes that make Priyanka Chopra attractive. She can also hum her way through a storm. Music is in her genes; her father Dr Ashok Chopra is a trained singer and has enthralled audiences with his Mohammad Rafi songs on a number of occasions.

As of now some desi websites are buzzing with the news that Piggy Chops will cut an international album. And BT managed to find out that on her recent trip to the US, she did have a couple of closed-door meetings with some music giants. Our source says, "Priyanka even met with Lady Gaga. And, in all likelihood the 25-year-old American singer-songwriter, who is a rage and our very own B-town beauty may just collaborate on an album."

The news of Priyanka lending her voice to a pop album is exciting. If it happens she will be the first Bollywood actress to cut an international album. PC's official spokesperson however chose to play it safe, "Priyanka and Lady Gaga did meet at a concert. They spoke at length backstage. However, there is no collaboration happening between them."

No matter what their official stance on this is, an eyewitness maintains, "PC and Lady Gaga did talk about music at length. The diva of pop told her how fascinated she is with India and Bollywood. She also told Priyanka that she is keen to visit India and learn about its music and culture." There are also chances that PC will host Lady Gaga if and when the popstar does make a trip to this part of the globe.

Will it be Lady Gaga?
Is Priyanka going to collaborate with Lady Gaga? Well, the latter has had quite a few collaborations with other singers in the past few years...

Before shooting to fame, she recorded a couple of songs with hip-hop singer Grandmaster Melle Mel on a project.

Throughout 2007, Gaga joined hands with artist Lady Starlight, who helped create her on-stage fashions. In her early days she also collaborated with Akon.

After shooting to fame, Gaga paired up with Elton John to record an original duet for the animated feature film Gnomeo and Juliet that released recently.

Katrina, Deepika won't speak up

...but that keeps the ball rolling

Times have changed. Once Ranbir Kapoor wore Deepika on his arm, and she got RK tattooed on the nape of her neck. It was cool to show off your boyfriend. And be open about the fact that you had one. Lara Dutta spoke well about Kelly Dorjee, and was more than open to answer questions about him. Shahid and Kareena were madly in love and spoke openly about their feelings, same with Saif, who smiled as the entire world gasped at his Kareena tattoo on his forearm.

But time has gone by, and flaunting a boyfriend just isn't cool anymore. At least, nobody from the Hindi film industry seems to be doing it. Ranbir, Katrina won't admit that they are a couple and actually 'dating'. Siddharth Mallya and Deepika Padukone are spotted together everywhere but they remain tight-lipped about their relationship status; So what if Shahid Kapoor was the one who opened Priyanka's house door for the IT-officials, that really doesn't make their relationship 'official'. Lara Dutta preferred to keep mum on her torrid affair with Dino Morea, and went public with her love for Mahesh Bhupathi only very late. Now, Vidya Balan won't speak about Siddharth Roy Kapoor. And the one common thing about all these actors are: they won't confirm it, but they won't deny it either.

Deepika Padukone is very firm about keeping her mouth shut. "You give the media one piece of information, and they want to know everything else. You tell them you are dating, next they want to know when you are getting married, and when will you plan babies. They enter the bedroom directly, and won't give you your privacy. It's extremely important that we talk only about what we think should be written. I made a mistake by talking about my personal life once, I doubt I'll do it ever again."

Lara Dutta was on a no 'personal questions please' spree for a very long time. A firend of the actor's tells us, "Maybe she was fighting her own battle at that time. Even speaking to the media puts tremendous amount of pressure, because everyone else, who is not even closely related to you is then judging you and governing what you should be doing and what you shouldn't be doing without having a clue of the real story."

Sonam Kapoor, too, made a statement, that she'll never go to the press with her 'love stories'. "My mum says it's crass," said Deepika on a talk show, "It's not dignified."

Priyanka Chopra questions the media back when she is questioned: "So are you and Shahid a couple?" PC: Did he tell you that? Did I tell you that? And the story goes on. Nobody will say a thing, but yes, they'll open doors for IT officials in their boxer shorts , go for long drives and dinner dates, and even lip-lock in public, like Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma did at Shahid Kapoor's birthday bash (which PC didn't attend!), but those lips will be sealed, so what if only by pressing against their better-halves'... We guess, the speculation just keeps them in the news. And they manage to have their cake and eat it, too!

I want to marry six times: Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra seems to have taken her role in "7 Khoon Maaf" a little too seriously! The versatile actress, who gets married seven times in the thriller, says she would love to marry at least six times in real life - but to the same man.

"I have been planning my wedding since as far back as I can remember! My ideal scenario is getting married six times (to the same man of course)," Priyanka revealed in the upcoming, second anniversary issue of fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar.

The 28-year-old, one of the most eligible singles in tinsel town, already has elaborate plans set in her mind about the six spots and types of ceremonies she would like to have.

"My dadaji's (grandfather's) house in Ambala - my ‘big, fat Indian wedding'; underwater at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; a church in Las Vegas - wearing a short black dress and with the priest dressed as Elvis; the intimate ceremony - at a small, beautiful church in Locarno, Switzerland. It's on top of a hill that overlooks parts of Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

She also wants to go in for a nikah.

"Only very close family and friends will be present; a nikah - I think it's a beautiful, romantic ceremony - the curtains, the stolen glances, the words, and finally the acceptance... ‘Kabool hai'; and lastly, the groom's choice! If my future groom survives all that, then we'll survive anything!" she added.

The plans are all quite set of course, but Priyanka says marriage does not figure on her priority list as of now.

"There is so much happening on the work front right now, which is my priority. I will get married, but I can't say when. It's not really in my control. I am a hopeless romantic, so I'm waiting for the man who is meant to be with me; he may arrive today, or five years later," she said.

In the meantime, her hectic schedules and film promotions will keep her on her toes.

She has almost finished the shoot of "Don - The Chase Continues". She will start work on Karan Johar's remake of "Agneepath" and then she has Anurag Basu's "Barfee", Kunal Kohli's next, as well as "Krrish 2".

In her interview to Harper's Bazaar, the National award-winning actress has spoken about her journey to fame, the importance of awards, industry rivalry, her style, aspirations and her much-talked about chemistry with Shahid Kapoor.

The magazine hits the stands Wednesday.

At 43, Madhuri Dixit still casts a spell

You can't be in showbiz and not be visible - but that doesn't apply to Madhuri Dixit. If she ruled the box office in her prime, the soaring TRPs of "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" now prove she is equally saleable when she is a mother of two and spends much of her time being a homemaker in the US.

"We had been trying to get Madhuri as a judge for the past two seasons. She has been known as a dancing diva and who better could we have got for a show which is all about perfect dancing," Ajay Bhalwankar, programming head, Sony, told IANS.

"She has added a lot of freshness to the show and she is an extremely honest judge. In all our four seasons, this season has been the highest TRP earner thanks to Madhuri," he added.

Madhuri's India sojourn is coming to an end with the "Jhalak..." finale set to take place in the first week of March. But her stay has proved that the graceful actor's charm hasn't faded even after 25 years, marriage and a sabbatical.

Ever since she set foot again in India in November last year, she has been hogging the limelight.

The 43-year-old broke many hearts when she tied the knot in 2002 with Shriram Madhav Nene, a doctor based out in Denver, US. Post- marriage, Madhuri featured only in "Aaja Nachle" because she got busy with family and children.

The beautiful actress was after all a rage in Bollywood. Despite her garish clothes and loud makeup, the trained kathak dancer lit up the screen with her million-dollar smile, dance and her performances in "Tezaab", "Ram Lakhan", "Sajan", "Beta", "Dil" and many more.

When Rajshri Productions, which had launched her in 1984 with "Abodh", teamed up with Madhuri a decade later in "Hum Aapke Hain Koun!", they created history by giving Hindi cinema one of its biggest grossers. The audiences lapped up the movie, which ran about a year and earned over Rs.600 million.

Another turning point in Madhuri's career was when Yash Chopra roped her in for "Dil Toh Pagal Hai" and paired her with the king of romance, Shah Rukh Khan. The dream merchant gave her a makeover, presenting her in a stylish manner. The love saga was a box- office bumper and the lead pair repeated the success story with "Devdas".

In 2000, the multiple award-winner became the actress of the millennium. And the Madhuri magic hasn't faded even now.

Rani Mukerji, a successful actress herself, surprised everyone when she lay prostrate before Madhuri on "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4" to show her love and admiration for the diva.

And Priyanka Chopra paid a glowing tribute to her at the Filmfare Awards.

Ravina Kohli, creative head of Yash Raj Films TV, said: "Madhuri definitely has an undying charm. Even after being in the industry for so many years, all she has to do is smile and she takes us back to the same time when she was the number one in Bollywood. This charm of hers will never go because her smile adds a lovely warmth to her personality."

There are many who still want to work with her. From her co-star of many films Anil Kapoor to southern superstar Rajnikanth, she has got offers for movies from many and even shot a commercial for Hindustan Lever.

There was a black patch when Madhuri landed in tax trouble after her name was found in Chitresh Shrivastava's record for a Rs.3-million payment. But it failed to diminish the Madhuri aura.

"She is a a very down-to-earth lady and a great actor to work with. She is very honest. She is the most beautiful actress. She respects those who are good at their work," said makeup artist Bharat, of Bharat and Dorris, who is working with her for a Basmati Rice ad.

Mona Singh, the "Jhalak..." co-anchor, told IANS: "I have hosted a lot of shows before...but this season of 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' is like a dream come true. I was super nervous when I had to face the camera in front of her...but her presence is comforting as she is very encouraging.

"She is a big star, but was humble enough to tell me that she had seen 'Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin' and that she likes me since then."