Farah Khan, who is a common friend of Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, wants to play the peacemaker between the two

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actors.

The choreographer-turned-director, believes that the fight between the actors is getting longer.

“I wish I could bridge the gap. I love both of them. It’s (the fight) getting longer now,” Farah told PTI.

Farah, who has turned a chat-show host with ‘Tere Mere Beach Mein’ had Salman Khan and his mother as her first celebrity guests while she is planning to bring Shah Rukh in the final episode.

“Since Salman had never come on a chat show before and was very candid during the show, we made him the first guest. But Shah Rukh will be the last one to keep the audience hooked till the end,” she says.

The two Khans of Bollywood have not been on talking terms since last year, with both taking regular digs at each other in public, after a fight at the birthday party of Salman’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

Interestingly, Shah Rukh owned Red Chillies is one of the producers of the show.

Salman and Shah Rukh shared friendly relations in the industry and they even starred together in the 1995 hit movie ‘Karan Arjun’.

Salman Khan recently appeared on a show with mom Salma, where she spilled the beans on the actor’s personal life.

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Asked if his mother knows all his secrets, even about his girlfriends, Salman confesses, “She knows everything, even before I know, she knows.”

Is it true, as his dad remarked on the same show, that he looks for his mom’s qualities in the actresses he falls in love with? “Yes, maybe. If I wasn’t an actor and was an industrialist or politician I would have looked in those fields. But I’m an actor and these are the kind of people that I meet. They are all good girls, which I’ve met.”
Asked, on a television interview, if there was ever a girl he wanted to marry but she wasn’t ready, he quips, “It’s better that the girl should not be ready to get married than the guy. If the girl is ready to get married and you don’t want to get married to the girl, it’s not a good situation. So I always hope that the girl should not be ready to get married. It’s lot less painful and the guilt is a lot lesser.”

On whether that’s happened, he says, “I don’t think anyone has ever said no. But these marriage questions don’t come up like that. When you are dating someone, it’s taken for granted that after a year or two this will ultimately culminate into a marriage. So that is just understood. But after say three or more years, suddenly the girl realises that this man is not for me. He is not the same person who I thought he was.”

Salman also said that he would prefer if an actress-wife went slow with her career. “If you are going to be greedy and do this thing that I want this film and that film, then that doesn’t work. You should be at a position that when you have children and then put on the TV they should be proud of you. They should think their mother looks beautiful on screen.”

“I’m not being a male chauvinist but it’s difficult for women to wake up really early in the morning and then you get your make up done. Then come back in the evening and spend time with your husband and children and cook food. It gets very tiresome. So, I think you can do your work and manage both the sides in a relaxed manner.”

He confirms that he doesn’t watch girlfriend Katrina’s films, “Yes I don’t. Once I saw she was wearing a really small skirt and I didn’t like it. But then you have to sometimes chill and let it go. And I don’t have a choice, and it’s better to stay away from those things. I mean I see the promos and get an idea of what is going to be in the film, so it’s better to stay away from that.”

He also chooses not to advise her on her career, “No, she’s a grown up girl. Initially I did, but after that you have to let them go. She’s good at making her own decision about choosing films and what to do. Earlier she used ask me check a couple of her scenes because of her dubbing but now I don’t do that. I don’t even go to any of her sets because there was this whole reputation that I land up on my girlfriend’s sets. I’ve been labelled an aggressive boyfriend, so I now I stay away from all that stuff.”
And, Salman is also friends with most of his ex-girlfriends. He’s cordial when he bumps into them, he maintains, “In fact I’m friends with most of them and I’ve heard they have high regards for me. At least that is what I’ve heard. I’m in touch with most of them except one. I have been for their weddings except one. So, it’s all good.”
Yes, it’s all good, Salman!

Is it insecurity, loneliness, or just love for company that drives Bollywood stars to ensure that they never travel alone? Meena Iyer analyses

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the phenomenon….

When Shah Rukh Khan was put through secondary interrogation at the Newark airport recently, one thing that appeared odd was the fact that he was travelling without an entourage. On this occasion, SRK was travelling by himself except for his assistant Subhash Jain. His bodyguard Yasin Khan was denied a visa.

Bollywood actors rarely move alone. For most of them, being surrounded by an entourage consisting of personal valet, bodyguard, sycophants and agents, are par for the course.

When Priyanka Chopra enters a hotel lobby, or preview theatre, or a studio or an event, there is no way she can go unnoticed. With Priyanka are valet Raja, secretary Chand Mishra, PR agents, hairdresser Priyanka and a security person. Her group resembles a mini congregation with the star walking in the centre like a hard-nosed politician, and the entourage protecting her perfectly from close public contact.

Kareena Kapoor moves with secretary Zahid Khan, the girl from the celebrity endorsement agency Poonam, and also her close friend and filmmaker Lovely Singh. Zahid says it makes sense to accompany his actress wherever possible simply because she is the biggest Bollywood actress, and they can’t take chances with the crowds. Lovely Singh, who is a close friend of Kareena is her one-point contact with whatever is happening in the film world. Zahid says, “Bebo spends so much time working, it is imperative that she has a comfort group around her.”

Shahid Kapoor has no bodyguards but his PR manager Rajnigandha Shekawat who travels constantly with the actor says, “Post Kaminey, there is so much madness happening, a bodyguard is now mandatory.’’ The actor usually has best friend, choreographer-cum-filmmaker Ahmed Khan, with him to keep him company and also for cerebral games. Also, a part of his permanent inner group is the man who raised him from his childhood, Mamu. “Mamu stays as close to me as my shadow,” says the actor.

Deepika Padukone travels alone to most places, at least in Mumbai.

Katrina Kaif has manager Sandhya with her at all points. “Sandhya can fix everything from a switch in the house to organising my daily affairs with super-efficiency,” says Katrina, who has come to depend largely on her. Those on a flight with Katrina noticed that the actress wouldn’t even talk to the air-hostess, she always conveyed her needs to Sandhya and Sandhya in turn passed on the instructions.

Hrithik Roshan has his security guards and secretary Ashok Vasodia with him at all points, but he doesn’t encourage too many people to travel with him unless it is to a film shoot, where he then has his make-up man, valet and driver around.

In other words, the agents, managers, body-guards act as the wall of security between the actor and the junta. “Often they double as our friends,” says an actress. “I hate to admit this, but I do lead a very lonely existence in Mumbai,” she confesses. “My family is away and whether I like it or not, I find my manager doubling up as my friend, confidante and even soul-mate sometimes.” The only reason the actress doesn’t wish to be named is because she doesn’t want her audience to know how lonely it is at the top.

Dharmendra, who travelled everywhere with valet Bhanwar says, “Bhanwar has travelled with me to more destinations than either of my wives, Prakash or Hema.”

Amitabh Bachchan was one of the first actors to travel alone. Big B didn’t encourage any kind of sycophancy and he spent time between shots either reading, writing or as is the case these days, blogging. Today his valet Praveen travels with him even when he is on vacation because he needs to be given his medication on time and also to ensure his general well-being.

Akshay Kumar used to travel by himself once. Now, he has weight trainer Jenny, two bodyguards, make-up man Narendra and valet Nitin, plus one permanent hanger-on around him at all times.

Salman Khan travels with a team. He has his bodyguard Shera, brother Sohail, and a couple of small-time actors, who owe ‘bhai’ complete allegiance.

It’s official! Bollywood’s young heartthrob Imran Khan is engaged to his sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, Avantika Malik.

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And although the actor is keen on making the formal announcement only in January, the industry has already raised a toast to the couple.
“Yes it’s true. But we’re planning to have a proper ceremony later, so right now it’s just for us and our families,” admitted Imran refusing to reveal the wedding date. But, a source said, “Imran had thrown a surprise party for Avantika on her birthday on July 18, a very private affair, with only very close family and friends present. There he surprised everyone by proposing to Avantika. Amidst much cheering, she accepted.”

But Bollywood got whiff of the news last week at Arjun Rampal’s nightclub opening in Delhi where Imran and Avantika were spotted. When Arjun found out about the couple’s engagement, he doubled the celebration quotient by announcing it. Several Bollywood biggies including Karan Johar who were present congratulated them.

The couple, who’ve been dating for quite a while now, have always been candid about their relationship and are always seen attending parties and events together. Now that the two have taken their relationship to the next level, when’s the wedding?

Actress Amrita Rao is going to be torn between two of her loves for the next six

Anchor Archana Vijaya

months.

No, we’re not talking about link-ups of the romantic kind, but something she’s just as passionate about – cinema and cricket.
Why so? Well, NEO cricket’s got six solid months of cricket lined up, with anchor Archana Vijaya and a new theme for its cricket season – Dekh Lega India – which conveys attitude as well as confidence that India has the wherewithal to trounce her opponents on the cricket pitch.

So, as a taste of what cricket-crazy fans can look forward to, the proceedings will kick off with the Corporate Trophy which features the best cricket teams of India versus the best teams of India from various bluechip corporate teams, with players like Dhoni, Yuvraj and, of course, Harbhajan Singh. The international season will roll out with the India-Australia series, India-Sri Lanka, a tri-series featuring India-Sri Lanka-Bangladesh and an India-South Africa tour, in that order, all from September to March next year. And with “ad rates in the range of Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for a 10-second ad spot,” as Prasana Krishnan, COO, NEO Sports says, the sweet stuff is not just off-pitch.

So who does Bhajji reckon will stand a good chance? “I’m quite excited about this. I think South Africa are strong contenders but India have the maximum number of matchwinning players.” All ODIs are day/night matches or will be played across weekends and all Tests are across weekends, thereby making it more viewer friendly. To sum it up, as Harbhajan says, it’s “pure Indian cricket”.
The Corporate Trophy starts September 1 on NEO Cricket at 2.30 pm.