Asin grows up

Mumbai, June 18: Asin has injured her right leg while practising her latest passion – Kalaripayattu – in Kerala.

The swelling in her leg cramped her plans to walk the ramp at a film award ceremony that was to take place a few days later.

The spunky South Indian lass was particular about keeping her commitment though. So she went limping to the event alone, and hid it so well that no one knew the pain she was going through. Adding to her pain is the fact that Asin takes no allopathic medicines.

Karan Johar to remake Agneepath

Mumbai, June 18: Karan Johar is all set to remake the blockbuster, Agneepath.

While he had to pay an astronomical amount to buy the rights of the Hollywood blockbuster Stepmom, which he is remaking in Hindi, he does not need to buy the rights to remake Agneepath as it is his home production. His late father, Yash Johar had produced the 1990 Amitabh Bachchan-Mithun Chakraborty starrer, which was directed by the late Mukul Anand. Amitabh had won a National Award for his performance in Agneepath.

Karan has approached Hrithik Roshan to step in to Amitabh’s shoes.

CIA pushing Obama to uphold torture secrecy

Washington, June 17: The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is urging President Barack Obama to forestall efforts aimed at releasing parts of confidential torture memos seen as ‘damaging.’

According to US media, CIA is endeavoring to cover up large sections of a 2004 internal report that depicts officers administering “degrading” interrogation techniques to detainees held on suspicions of ‘terror’ activities.

BA asks staff to work for nothing for a month

Washington, June 17: British Airways, which registered a record annual loss in May, is asking its staff to work for nothing for up to one month in order to reduce costs.

The request was made in a letter to staff through the British Airways News.

BA Chief Executive Willie Walsh, who himself has promised to work for nothing in July, said the proposal was part of measures to reduce the company’s operating expenses.

“I am looking for every single part of the company to take part in some way in this cash-effective way of helping the company’s survival. It really counts,” Walsh said.

Phirr Roshni chopra

Mumbai, June 17: Phirr Roshni chopra Television’s glam doll Roshni Chopra is now the leading lady in Vikram Bhatt’s next. She is featured in his new romantic thriller “Phirr’ with 1920 fame jodi, Ada Sharma and Rajnish Duggal. But this time Rajnish is paired opposite Roshni.

“I am playing a role of an NRI girl who is living in Newcastle in England. Rajnish is playing my husband in the film. He is a doctor and I am a law professor. It’s a romantic thriller”, she briefs about the film.

Two held for selling cricket bats with duplicate stickers in Jammu

Srinagar, June 17: Jammu police arrested two people for selling cricket bats by labeling stickers of branded companies in Hari Market area of the city, police sources here today said.

”On specific information, last night a raid was conducted in the shops selling Kashmir manufactured cricket bats by labeling the stickers of branded companies like Reebok, Addidas, SG, SS, Kookabora and others,” DSP Swatantar Arora, SDPO North told UNI.

Susanne admits chemistry between Hrithik-Barbara

Mumbai, June 17: It looks like the Roshans are disturbed by the rumours linking Hrithik Roshan with his Kites co-star Barbara Mori.

The fact is that, Hrithik and Susanne have started making public appearances together as if to tell the world that they are not splitting. Susanne also admitted that there is chemistry between Hrithik and Barbara

Buzz up!

Jab Mona Singh met Aamir Khan

Mumbai, June 17: Jab Mona Singh met Aamir Khan Jassi is a past now as Mona Singh is all geared up for her silver screen debut with the film “Three Idiots”. She will be seen with one of the ace actor of the Film Industry, Aamir Khan and is very excited about the project too.

“My last schedule of the film will complete in July. We had lots of fun while making of Three Idiots and is eagerly waiting for it to release,” says Mona.

Kissing lands woman in jail

Abu Dhabi, June 17: Kissing is ecstatic but not always! A Bahraini woman has been jailed for 20 days for kissing a man in public.

According to the court papers, the couple was caught by a police patrol when they were getting intimate inside a car.

As the police attempted to arrest them for displaying ‘indecent behaviour in public’, the woman shouted at one of them, saying what she and the man were doing was “none of their business”. The woman was arrested and convicted of public indecency and insulting a policeman carrying out his duties.

Wife Punam brings about truce between Shatrughan and Rekha

Mumbai, June 17: One of Bollywood’s oldest dushmanis has ended. Rekha and Shatrughan Sinha have kissed rather hugged and made up.

The 30-year-old cold war between the two has finally ended, thanks to the actor’s wife Punam, who took upon herself the task of pacifying the reclusive diva after the endless spate of barbs and digs Shatrughann has been making at her.

Miraculously, Rekha not only agreed to forgive and forget at Mrs Sinha’s behest, she also agreed to do the Sinhas’ home production with the outspoken actor.

Fardeen Khan gift a pooch for wife Natasha’s family

Mumbai, June 17: Fardeen Khan may be busy shooting in Goa for All The Best but that does not stop the animal lover in finding the desired pup for his father-in-law Mayur Madhvani, who resides in Uganda.

It is learnt that Natasha’s dad recently acquired an American cocker spaniel and desired another as a companion for their pet pooch. When Fardeen heard about it, he and wife Natasha decided to gift a pooch of the same breed to them.

Natasha and Fardeen Khan(left) Mumtaz and Mayur Madhvani (right)

Minisha Lamba and Sreesanth were inseparable at a recent event

Mumbai, June 17: Actresses and cricketers getdrawn to each other like bees to honey. Minissha Lamba and cricketer Sreesanth were spotted spending time together in Macau, where they had gone to attend an international award function.

Says a source, “Sreesanth was invited by Shailendra Singh, who owns Percept Talent Management who handle the cricketer’s endorse- ments and deals. It is a division of Percept Picture Company, whose film Jail was showcased at one of the events at the awards.

In Bangalore, beggary is booming profession

Bangalore, June 17: It’s been almost eight years since Prasad migrated from Suganahalli, a small village in north Karnataka, to earn his livelihood in India’s tech hub. After failing to land a job, he took to begging and is “happy’ earning around Rs.40 a day now.

“I didn’t come to Bangalore to be a beggar. After failure to get any job, I decided to beg. I manage to earn Rs.30-40 a day and am happy,” Prasad, 40, told IANS near Cubbon Road in the heart of the city’s central business district.

Saif & Deepika in London for film

London, June 17: It is not just cricket that is keeping London in news.

Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan are also in London promoting their upcoming film Love Aaj aur Kal.

Director Imtiaz Ali, Saif and Deepika recently attended a press conference in London to promote the film among the international audience.

The stars were also seen talking to Bollywood fans there.

——Agencies

Shah Rukh to turn into a daredevil

Mumbai, June 17: Shah Rukh KhanUndeterred by his recent shoulder injury, Shah Rukh Khan is preparing to do some daredevil stunts in films. And though he is yet to completely recover from the arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, SRK is raring to return to action for Farhan Akhtar.

Farhan, who plans to make two films with King Khan, has already confirmed he has asked Shah Rukh to build eight- pack abs for his next film Happy New Year, which is still in the scripting stage.

Man attempts suicide demanding action against estranged wife

Rajkot, June 17: Nearly 10 days after a centenarian and his 60-member Thummar family staged a dharna to protest against the alleged harassment by their estranged daughter-in-law, the woman’s husband on Tuesday attempted suicide in Rajkot in public demanding action against his wife.

The Thummar family has also given a 24-hour ultimatum demanding action against Rekha, the wife of Shanitlal who attempted suicide on Tuesday.

“If no action is taken by the administration in 24-hours, we all will commit suicide,” said Suresh, Shantilal’s nephew.

Police find MMS clips of Surat gangrape

Surat, June 17: The police have found two MMS clippings of the gangrape of the minor school girl in Surat on Friday.

The two clippings are of Tariq and Abubakar; Tariq’s clipping is of 35 minutes duration while that of Abubakar is 12 minutes. The police said the three accused are proving to be habitual sex offenders during investigation. They are in crime branch’s custody under the 14-day remand.

Probe into Modi’s role in riots: SIT yet to call any witness

Ahmedabad, June 17: ‘However, as alleged, no statements of witnesses have been recorded so far and no arrests have been made’

Nearly two months after the Supreme Court issued an order to look into the petition lodged by Zakia Jafri against 63 people including Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the Gulberg Society massacre, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is yet to record statement of any of the witnesses in the case. This was revealed by SIT Convenor Geetha Johari in her affidavit before the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday.

Gangrape accused suspected in sex worker’s murder: Cops

Surat, June 17: Tariq Saiyed’s sketch matches with that of the accused in the murder of a Nepalese sex worker in January 2009

The Surat police are now investigating the role of one of the three accused — arrested in Friday’s gangrape incident — in connection with the murder of a sex worker on January 16 this year in the city.

The police have seized the mobile phones, laptop and a desktop computer of the trio and have found several MMSes that point to their being habitual sex offenders. They sought services of sex workers and filmed them in the act.

Machhian Khurd sarpanch booked for rape by UP Police

Ludhiana, June 17: A police team from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district has rounded up Machhian Khurd village sarpanch Rajinder Pal Singh on charges of rape and abduction.

Meanwhile, the panchayat members of this dusty village in Koomkalan police station near Khanna are crying foul alleging that the sarpanch has been falsely implicated in the case to settle political scores.

T20 a bowlers’ game, says Sangakkara

London, June 15: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said Twenty20 cricket was now a bowlers’ game after his side were given a major scare by Ireland.

The only non-Test team left in the World Twenty20, Ireland held Sangakkara’s side to 144 for nine at Lord’s on Sunday before tight bowling from the likes of Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga restricted the minnows to 135 for seven.

Aamir sad on Team India’s early ouster from T20 World cup

Mumbai, June 15: Noted Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who essayed the role of villager and cricketer in Oscar nominated classic film ‘Lagaan’, expressed disappointment on Team India’s heart-breaking early ouster from the T20 World Cup at Lords.

Aamir aka Mr Perfectionist dubbed the defeat as ‘disappointing’ after England won yesterday match by three runs and knocked out last year’s champion India from ICC World Twenty20. The actor was surprised on the decision of sending Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Yuvraj Singh in Super 8 match against England.

Big B wants rest, sleep

Mumbai, June 15: Renowned Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan wanted to have some rest after hectic and energy sapping tenth IIFA function at Macau.

Mr Bachchan took a snap decision not to travel immediately after the conclusion of IIFA awards but stay there to rejuvenate himself with a bounty of sleep sans break.

Dissident TRS leaders complain to police against leadership

Hyderabad, June 15: Dissident Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders Ravindra Naik and A Chandrasekar today complained to the police against the party leadership for ”attacking” them with the help of ‘goondas.

‘ The rebel leaders lodged a complaint with the Banjara Hills police, pressing for invocation of Prevention of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

TRS Executive meets amid dissidents protest

Hyderabad, June 15: The emergency State Executive Committee meeting of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti(TRS) was held today even as party dissidents made a vain bid to ”capture” the ”Telangana Bhavan,” the party state headquarters.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Party President K Chandrasekar Rao, resolved to constitute a Political Affairs Committee to chalk out strategy for strengthening the party and the Telangana movement ahead of the Local Body elections in Hyderabad, party senior leader N Narasimha Reddy said while briefing newspersons about the ongoing meeting.