GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has launched an initiative called ‘Aahar Abhiyan’ to address the issue of child malnutrition featuring Bollywood sensation Vidya Balan as the brand ambassador.

“Nutrition does not only depend upon food but also is influenced by the environment” is the premise based on which ‘Ahar Abhiyan’ will be implemented in a phased manner beginning with a pilot project, in partnership with the Child In Need Institute (CINI) in this state.
Vidya Balan is the brand ambassador of this mass awareness programme and has pledged her support towards the cause.
“It feels great to partner with an initiative that reaches out to the needy and aims to bring a positive change to the lives of these children. I have pledged my support to this initiative and urge all consumers to join in the noble cause,” Vidya said.
Talking about the project Jayant Singh, the Marketing Director of GSKCH, said: “As a part of this project, Horlicks aims to partner with its consumers to raise funds for the integrated child development programme developed by CINI.”
“During the campaign period, with the sale of every large pack of Horlicks in West Bengal the company will contribute one rupee towards the initiative” added Singh.
For the time being the project will be implemented in Mazdoorpara slum and Chamrapatti slum in Kolkata. This project will be integrated with an ongoing scheme in the Dhupguri Block of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.
Commenting on the issue, Rajib Haldar, Additional Director of CINI said: “We are very proud to be associated with a brand like Horlicks which has always been synonymous with nutrition.”
Apart from Vidya Balan celebrities like Shantanu Moitra and Pradeep Sarkar are also associated with the project.

Even though Sunny Leone has made an entry into mainstream cinema, the adult film actress isn’t ready to quit the porn industry which made her famous in the first place.

Sunny came into the limelight last year when she featured in reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ and soon bagged the title role in Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘Jism 2’. She would also be seen in Ekta Kapoor’s ‘Ragini MMS 2’.
But when a daily recently asked her if she would quit porn industry now that her career is rolling in Bollywood, she said, “In all probability, I will be involved with the adult industry in some capacity or the other, even if I’m not in front of the camera. I work in a few porn films, though for some reason, people feel that I am actively involved. I hardly do one (adult) film a year. In fact I consider myself a very conservative girl in the (porn) industry.”
However, Sunny has no plans of acting in an adult film in the near future.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I don’t see a particular reason to get away from the (porn) industry immediately. If not for the adult film industry, I wouldn’t have been here’’.
I hope people appreciate me in ‘Jism 2’ and ‘Ragini MMS 2’, and keep me busy with Bollywood,” said Sunny.

Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit Nene turned a year older on Tuesday as she is all set to celebrate her 45th birthday.

Madhuri tweeted to her fans on Tuesday: “Thank you for all ur love and support. It is going to be a great day!!! “
In her long Bollywood career, she charmed her fans with her exceptional performance as an actor and also by her dance moves.
The ‘dhak dhak’ girl of B-town will always be remembered for her spectacular performance in films like ‘Tezaab’, ‘ ‘Beta’, ‘ Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’, ‘ Dil To Pagal Hai ‘ and ‘ Devdas’.
Madhuri won five Filmfare Awards, four for Best Actress and one for Best Supporting Actress in her career.
She holds the record for the highest number of Best Actress nominations at Filmfare, with 13.
In 2008, she was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award by the Government of India.
Madhuri married Dr Shriram Madhav Nene in 1999 and the couple has two children. The couple resided in the United States before moving to India in 2011.
In 2002, she retired from films to raise her children and made a comeback with the musical ‘Aaja Nachle’ in 2007.
Madhuri also appeared on television in 2011 as she judged dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4’ along with co-judges Remo D’souza and Malaika Arora Khan.
She will make a comeback in Bollywood again with Dedh Ishqiya and also judge Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 5.

Controversy queen Veena Malik is back in the news. The Pakistani actress was spotted getting intimate with a mystery man at a party recently. It was revealed that she was cosying up to none other than the director of her new film Hemant Madhukar. Speculation is rife that Veena might be using casting couch to gain foothold in Bollywood.

Veena, however, has strongly denied all such accusations. Calling it absolutely absurd, she said, “If sitting and dining with someone is equal to flirting with him or dating him, it is nothing but rubbish. I share a good work relationship with Hemant, and I also know his wife. So all these reports are baseless.”
The actor who is rumoured to be going around with Ashmit Patel is playing female lead in Madhukar’s 3D horror flick, ‘Mumbai 125km’.
Some suggested that the intimate act is a publicity gimmick for the film. To which Veena retorted, “Am I seen getting banged in these pictures? How are they intimate? I am just sitting and having dinner.
If someone has cropped them or morphed them or clicked them from a different angle to make it look like we are getting close, it is not my fault. I won’t get cosy with someone to promote my film or to get roles.”

Only twice did we have the chance of seeing Rahul Bose and Konkana Sen Sharma pair up on the big screen – in Mr and Mrs Iyer and 15 Park Avenue. While the latter revolved around Konkana’s relationship with Shabana Azami, it was in Mr and Mrs Iyer that we got to see the chemistry between Rahul and Konkana.

One that gently tugged at our heartstrings. Yes, it was awkward, yet very realistic. Now, after almost a decade, the two stars are again slated to come together for Suman Mukhopadhyay’s movie based on Rabindranath Tagore’s classic, ‘Shesher Kabita’.
The story here revolves around Amit Ray and Labanya. The two protagonists cross paths in a car accident and eventually fall in love. But their love story does not culminate in marriage. This classic of Tagore’s is filled with tangled emotions, and that’s what attracted Suman to it. “I want to concentrate more on the characters. The desire to get someone and then when you finally do so, the illusion fizzles out. There is an aspect of puzzlement in all human relationships. This is what drew me to the story,” he says.
But to do justice to such roles, a director would require really good actors. And wethinks that Mukhopadhyay did a very good job of roping in actors like Rahul Bose and Konkana Sen Sharma.
What’s more, according to buzz, the shooting of this movie will take place during May-June this year in Kolkata, Shillong and Oxford.
Talking about her treatment of the film Mukhopaydhyay, promises that the narration will oscillate between poetic and realistic levels. And that bit of information really whets our appetite and makes us gear up for this Rahul-Konkana starrer. Doesn’t it, readers?

The former rumoured flames are set to shoot together for Abbas Mustan’s Race 2 in the exotic locales of Greece, but Bebo is not too bothered, she insists…

Saif Ali Khan is already filming for the action-packed thriller Race 2 in Greece and very soon Bipasha Basu will join the team to shoot her special appearance scenes.
A few years ago, it was in a similar situation – shooting for Race in Australia – that Saif and Bips reportedly had a passionate affair, which neither of them has ever acknowledged.
Back then Saif was single and Bips was going through a bad phase in her relationship with John Abraham. Today though, the tables have turned rather – the Bong babe is single and Saif is just a few months away from his marriage to sweetheart Kareena Kapoor.
In B-town, since nothing is certain till its last breath, it is natural to believe chinwag that Bebo plans to travel to Greece to keep a watch on Saif and Bips.
But when the Heroine leading lady was asked about this, she quickly denied it. Bebo says, “Why should I bother who is there with Saif?”
That doesn’t mean she will let go of an opportunity to spend quality time with her beau in Greece!
After wrapping up the Heroine schedule and shooting commercials for the brands she endorses, Bebo will take a flight straight in to be cuddled by Saif’s bulging biceps.
And Bipasha, we presume, has other company to keep!

Sometimes Bollywood is a very strange world to watch. Relationships happen and dissolve, people fall in and out of love, bonds are made and broken, but it takes a lot for the folks concerned to come out and say so. Some are brave –remember how Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor walked into a do holding hands and looking very Hollywood?

Now take Vidya Balan. She was in the gossip spotlight when we heard that she was coochie-close to Shahid Kapoor during the shoot of Kismat Konnection. But neither she nor her dishy co-star would admit to that one. And we have heard this and that and the other about her romantic life when she was a TV actor, in Ekta Kapoor’s Hum Paanch, for instance. And then there was this geeky older woman vibe on when she did a role in Ishqiya, followed by the fat thing in The Dirty Picture, and then Kahaani soon after.
Along the way – and this happened after she found Sabyasachi Mukherjee and her fashion groove and was seen almost everywhere in heavy saris with three-quarter sleeved blouses – we did hear about this gent she called ‘SRK’, with a giggle attached.
There was some speculation then, if you remember, that perhaps Viddy had a crush on Shahrukh Khan.
But the giggle came even when the two were seen together onstage at various events. Which told us and everyone else that this SRK was someone else.
And that is where that famous picture of Vidya and her man-friend on a brief holiday in Goa made it all very clear.
SRK was Siddharth Roy Kapoor of UTV – which coincidentally is producing her next, Ghanchakkar, directed by Rajkumar Gupta of No One Killed Jessica fame. But neither of them would talk about it.
And it was really sweet that SRK – no, not Shahrukh – was there with Vidya when she got her National Award for TDP a few weeks ago.
And now, finally – can we have a flourish of trumpets here, please! – the lady has come out and admitted that she and her SRK have a ‘thing’ going. On a recent trip to Australia Vidya told the media, “I will admit that I am dating him but not beyond that. I don’t have any plans yet… and there is no engagement ring yet. It’s a while away and I am in no hurry. But it’s on my mind and there is a plan at some point.” And now we can wait and watch the rumour mills churn out stories about her engagement, wedding, honeymoon, babies…in whatever order.

Shaadi.com, a leading global matrimonial portal, today conducted a survey on Mother’s Day to find out former Miss World and Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai Bachchan topping the list of being the “Ideal Celebrity Mom”.

Aishwarya led the survey with 54 per cent respondents voting for her, followed by Karishma Kapoor with 27 per cent respondents, a company release here informed.
It said Malika Arora Khan with 11 per cent vote and Lara Dutta with eight per cent support were the other contenders in the survey.
The survey also said when it came to be an ideal mother in Hollywood, 67 per cent respondents voted for Angelina Jolie as the ideal celebrity mother, the release said adding the poll received responses from over 8200 Shaadi.com members across India.
Moreover, the release quoting the all India survey said Hema Mailini and her daughter Esha Deol were voted the “Most popular Celebrity Mother – Daughter duo” who make a great pairing and share a bond. They led the poll with 39 per cent respondents voting for them followed by the Tanuja and Kajol with 27 per cent voters responding in their favour.
The other contenders were Kareena Kapoor and Babita (15 per cent), Soha Ali Khan and Sharmila Tagore (10 per cent) and Twinkle Khanna and Dimple Kapadia (7 per cent) securing votes.
Commenting on the survey, Mr Gourav Rakshit, Business Head, Shaadi.com, said the poll conducted on Mother’s Day reflected the mindset of people in accepting celebrities as mothers in real life.
“ The survey showcases that the most successful women in the entertainment industry do have qualities which make them the ideal mother’’.
The poll is part of the constant research that Shaadi.com conducts in its attempt to gauge the preferences of its members and thereby match their preferences.”

After debuting on television with Satyamev Jayate, Aamir Khan is looking to expand his horizon. He will soon be heard anchoring a radio show. Titled Dil Pe Lagi Aur Baat Bani, the radio show will go on air tomorrow (May 12).

It will deal with social issues just the way Satyamev Jayate does. As the title of the show suggests, it will put together real-life incidents with the aim of making a difference.
Another similarity with Satyamev Jayate is that Dil Pe Lagi… will be aired on a government-owned station instead of a private network. The actor believed that Doordarshan has a wide reach and so insisted that his show be aired on both the Star network and the public channel. Similarly, All India Radio and its associate stations Vividh Bharati will air Dil Pe Lagi… so that it will reach a wider audience.

The actor has agreed to be a part of the United Nations Save the Girl Child campaign

As mother to a baby girl (Aaradhya) born a few months ago (November 16), we’re sure Ash had no qualms about accepting the offer. All she must have checked is her schedule. The actor supports various other causes, including eye donation for the Eye Bank Association of India, Smile Train for children with cleft lip, and the PeTA campaign to save love birds, the last along with husband Abhishek Bachchan. A school for girls is also being built in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh in Aishwarya’s name.
As for her colleagues in B-town, the Maharashtra government has asked Aamir to be a part of their Save the Girl Child campaign. The Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments have taken action against sex determination centres. And actor-couple Ajay Devgn-Kajol, who have a daughter, will be making a documentary on the girl child for the state government, all for free. And if you remember, actor Priyanka Chopra was appointed national ambassador of the UN Children’s Fund in 2010. MI4 actor Anil Kapoor, too, had appeared in a documentary, Trapped by Tradition, which covered the issue of trafficking of females that has become a tradition in some families.
With big Bollywood stars coming forward and showing their support to the girl child, let’s just hope they are able to bring about a big change in the mindset of millions of Indians who crave a male child. And with Aishwarya leading the way, the movement could trigger a global change, too. What do you think?

For those who have been wondering why actor Harman Baweja has been rooting for the Rajasthan Royals in this season of IPL, here is the answer. News has it that the actor is dating Shamita Shetty, younger sister of Shilpa Shetty, the owner of Rajasthan Royal team.

The two have bonded majorly and have been spotted spending quality time with each other. Speaking to a daily, a source revealed, “They`ve just started dating; it`s only been a few months. They first met over a year ago, when Harman was in talks to star in Shilpa`s home production. They`ve been meeting a lot more lately, at the matches of the team owned by the Kundras. Since the relationship is still new, neither wants to come out and talk about it openly.”
The two have bonded so much that when Harman recently sprained his ankle while doing some stunts in his new film, Shamita nursed him back to health. And elder sis Shilpa is super thrilled with the new developments in Shamita’s life.
“Shilpa will be thrilled if Harman and Shamita make it official. Now that she is happily married and expecting her first child, she wants Shamita to settle down too”, added the source.
Of course the couples seem to be in no rush to confirm their relationship yet state that they are good friends.
Harman was last in a relationship with Priyanka Chopra and Shamita was linked to designer Rocky S.

This may be old news that’s come into the limelight just recently, but what surprises us is the fact that while most chicks would give their enthusiastic nods to such an offer, Ash simply let it go.

Director Wolfgang Peterson thought Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would be a perfect cutout for the role of Briseis for his 2004 blockbuster, Troy. She was asked to play Brad Pitt’s love interest in the movie. Although Pitt’s portrayal as Achilles was appreciated by all and sundry, now we have all of a sudden started to wonder what kinda couple Pitt and Ash would make ? Would they have a sizzling or an average chemistry? Just when we figured that it’s pointless thinking about all this now, there’s one more thing that started gnawing away at our brains. We checked Ash’s film resume and discovered that in 2004 the actor was busy gearing up for movies like Bride and Prejudice and Kyon…! Ho Gaya Na. We suggest she gets into the retrospection mode and figure the kinda mistakes she’s made career-wise.
And just when you thought the babe only has weight related issues, here’s a revelation – she also has dreadful acumen when it comes to choosing her films.

They will most likely use the festival to promote their film Heroine. Why doesn’t that come as a surprise? It’s a strong line up of films at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) this year and Kareena Kapoor has no intention of missing it. She and her Heroine director Madhur Bhandarkar will be the special guests at the festival. The NYIFF is the longest-running festival of Indian films in America and it’s not at all surprising that Kareena has agreed to attend it. Especially when her career’s most important film will release this year.

Heroine made a splash internationally when Madhur launched it last year at the Cannes Film Festival with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Now that Bebo has stepped into Ash’s role – or as she would put it, reclaimed her role since Heroine had been offered to her first -  it is but natural for her to do everything she can to interest global cinegoers in her film. Kareena is too busy to go to Cannes, but the NYIFF offers her the perfect platform to target both Indian and foreign viewers. After all,the festival plans to commemorate 100 years of Indian cinema by screening Rituparno Ghosh’s Chitrangda, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Shagird, a Shyam Benegal retrospective with Sardari Begum, Mammo and Zubeida, and the National Award-winning film Azhagarsamy’s Horse. NYIFF will close with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur.
We are guessing the NYIFF is just a springboard for Kareena and Madhur’s promotions for Heroine. So what if they haven’t wrapped up shooting yet? That doesn’t mean they can’t create a buzz about it! Bebo has already got some unexpected help from Ash. The new mom has decided to stay away from public events – even the Cannes Festival – this year, leaving the way clear for Kareena to tom-tom her film at whichever festival she chooses to. With her hero Arjun Rampal flying to Cannes, we can’t wait to find out which festival Kareena is eyeing next.

Anurag Basu apparently thinks he can, and might even sign him up to play one.

Barfi! director Anurag Basu is already planning his second film with Ranbir Kapoor. Yes, it’s a biopic, but it’s got nothing to do with legendary singer Kishore Kumar. The latest buzz in the industry is that Anurag is planning to make a film on math genius Anand Kumar.
Before you ask, ‘Who is Anand Kumar?’, let us refresh your memory. Anand is the math expert who devised a programme called ‘Super 30’ to educate economically backward students in Bihar free of cost. The 38-year-old has been doing this quietly for several years now. He first gained Bollywood recognition when Prakash Jha based Amitabh Bachchan’s character in Aarakshan on him. Now Anand has impressed Anurag. Rumour mongers state that the director has been making regular trips to Patna and has gathered enough information to make a film on the genius. When Anurag mentioned this to his Barfi! hero, Ranbir immediately expressed his interest in the project. This seems to be a win-win situation all around. Anand will get recognition, which will help him teach even more students. Anurag is more than glad to have a talented and commercially viable actor to play the lead role. And Ranbir too, as he has found more success in doing offbeat roles than he has in chocolate boy roles (remember the crash and burn of Bachna Ae Haseeno?). We think this is a much better idea than a biopic on Kishore Kumar, don’t you agree?

The actor’s film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara won more awards than SRK’s RA.One.

The 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards will be held in Singapore this year from June 7-9. While the nominations for the main categories were announced a few days ago, the awards in the technical category have already been declared.
But believe it or not, Shahrukh Khan’s sci-fi adventure film RA.One – touted to be the frontrunner for its special effects – has not won more awards than Hrithik Roshan’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, Zindagi… garnered five awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Screenplay, while SRK’s film got four awards including one in the Special Effects (Visuals) category. Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture is No.3 with three awards, including Costume Designing. AR Rahman won for best Background Score for Rockstar. The winners will be handed over the trophies in Singapore.
Find the full list of IIFA Technical Awards 2012 winners below:
Cinematography: Carlos Catalan for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Screenplay: Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Dialogue: Rajat Aroraa for The Dirty Picture
Editing: Anand Subaya for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Production Designer: Sabu Cyril for RA.One
Choreography: Bosco-Caesar for Senorita in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Action: Jai Singh Nijjar for Singham
Sound Recording: Resul Pookutty and Amrit Pritam Dutta for RA.One
Song Recording: Vishal for Chammak challo in RA.One
Sound Re-Recording: Anuj Mathur and Baylon Fonseca for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Special Effects (Visuals): Red Chillies VFX for RA.One
Background Score: AR Rahman for Rockstar
Costume Designing: Niharika Khan for The Dirty Picture
Make-up: Vikram Gaikwad for The Dirty Picture.
Meanwhile, we hear that the cool Shahid Kapoor might just replace Riteish Deshmukh and Boman Irani as IIFA Awards 2012 host. Will you miss Boman and Riteish, or would you rather watch Shahid? Also, we wonder whether Shahid will have the company of Priyanka Chopra, especially since they have a new film, Teri Meri Kahaani to promote!

The makers of Dangerous Ishhq have come up with an innovative idea to promote their film. They have released an exclusive clip, in which Karisma is seen undergoing past life regression therapy.

The concept of past life regression has always fascinated the audience. Books based on this subject have turned out to be bestsellers and reality shows dealing with it have managed to achieve decent TRPs.
But will the film manage to impress people? We aren’t quite sure of that yet. And even if it does, Kapoor will definitely have a sleeper hit on her film resume.
The film also gives references of Dr Brian Weiss in its promos. Weiss is the author of Many Lives, Many Masters, and he talks about the concept of past-life in his book with much profundity.
We hope this psychological-thriller turns out to be a decent watch!

All those who were waiting for a glimpse of Aishwarya Rai’s daughter at the Cannes Film Festival this year would have to bite dust yet again.

Buzz has it that Ash might not attend Cannes Film Festival that is to be held from May 16.
While reasons of her backing out from the prestigious event may vary from work commitments to taking care of her baby, strong rumour doing the rounds suggest that she is skipping the annual event because of her weight.

Ash gained `oodles of weight` after the birth of her daughter and when she was spotted in a fat avatar recently at an event, the pictures set off a buzz on the internet and social media.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been a regular at Cannes ever since she paved the way for Bollywood to be highlighted at international forums. And it was reported earlier that Ash would attend the event in the company of her 5-month old daughter.
Cannes Film fest holds a reputation of showcasing the best of the movies along with some avant garde fashion displayed by guests who attend the event. And, given Ash’s current shape, her withdrawal from the event doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

Kiran Bedi: I would give full marks to Aamir Khan’s TV Prog Satyamev Jayate, very creative, evidence based and emotionally connecting, inspiring! Thank u.
Preity Zinta: Watching Aamir Khan on Satyamev Jayate discussing female foeticide. I love this effort from him and thank him as a woman.
Dia Mirza: I always wanted something like this on TV. Thank you Aamir for stirring people(Sic).
Farhan Akhtar: Satyamev Jayate. A show with a heart.
Boman Irani: Good show Aamir.
Shabana Azmi: Aamir Khan’s show can bring a revolution. Thoroughly researched, covers all aspects, touches emotional chord n forces us to reexamine ourselves.
Neha Dhupia: Watching Aamir Khan address the unreal problems of real India. I am a fan as always.
Mandira Bedi: A reality show in its truest sense. Some stirring and troubling realities of our times.. I applaud Aamir Khan.
Kabir Bedi: Aamir Khan’s 1st episode of Satyamev Jayate exposes killing of baby girls, India’s darkest secret. Brilliant.
Mini Mathur: Aamir Khan I am so proud of you. You have put your stature to use in the most straight and compelling way. TV has woken up to a new era.
Kabir Khan: For an hour this morning. Television stopped being the idiot box.
Maria Goretti: An hour well spent watching Satyamev Jayate. Aamir Khan take a bow, poignant issues, heartfelt and emotional content TV never felt as good.
Positive comments by the man on the street:
Jaydeep Sarkar: Bravo, Aamir Khan! Thank you for not wasting the nation’s time on game shows/ cultivating greed. THIS is how stardom should be used.
Mitali Chatterjee: The concept of Female Foeticide…needs every voice it can get .. thank you Amir #Satyamev Jayate.
Dinesh Dasa: Aamir Khan is providing a best example of how stardom earned could be returned back 2 society 4 societal cause.

Sonakshi is disheartened as Ranbir chose to walk out of a project, refusing to romance the Dabangg gal on the silver screen

Sonakshi is currently shooting her upcoming film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2, in which she has been paired opposite Imran Khan. Imran it seems has no qualms about Sona’s mature looks. Perhaps that made the gal hopeful about working with Ranbir. But unfortunately for Sona, Ranbir declined the film when he realised that the producers of the film were adamant on casting Sonakshi.

After Rowdy Rathore, Sinha will be seen in Lootera with Ranveer Singh. Sonakshi is only 24, but such is the perception of her in the industry that young crop of actors feel that Sona works best only with older stars. We think Sonakshi should not lose heart. After all, she’s got some serious projects to look forward to. With films like Joker, Lootera, Once Upon A time in Mumbaai 2 and Dabangg 2, Sonakshi has a promising future. All she needs is a couple of big hits. Once that happens, all those who are scrunching up their starry noses at the prospect of working with Sona will queue up outside her house to do films with her for sure.