Dhan Te Nan – It’s Shahid versus Saif in the charts

Mumbai, July 29: It’s Shahid versus Saif in the charts. And if Shahid is jiving to Vishal Bhardwaj’s Dhan ten nan in Kaminey, Saif grooves to Twist in Love Aaj Kal as though there’s no tomorrow.

As far as listeners’ choice goes, Vishal’s track has a marked market edge, and Pritam has no qualms in admitting it.

“I’m the biggest Vishal Bhardwaj fan, no two ways about it. His Dhan te nan is awesome.I can’t stop listening to it. I wish I had composed it, ” says the exuberant composer.

Breaking up with Kangna wasn’t easy: Adhyayan

Mumbai, July 29: If Adhyayan Suman’s performance as a struggler on the skids in Jashnn seems convincing it’s because he delved into a part of himself that he had buried too deep for tears.

“And now it’s all come gushing out, ” says his emotional mother Alka Suman.

“People are commenting how emotionally he responds to the dramatic scenes, and how convincing he is when he cries. But that’s because early in his life Adhyayan lost his brother.

The time starts now for Saif Ali Khan

Mumbai, July 29: Saif Ali Khan is getting the jitters, but is equally confident as LOVE AAJ KAL is set to test his abilities.

Without doubt, the expectations from LOVE AAJ KAL are humungous and this makes actor turned producer Saif Ali Khan anxious. He’s got a lot riding on this film, which is predicted to toss him into the industry’s Top 3 slot, if luck sides him. “LOVE AAJ KAL gives me very positive vibes. But, trust me, I don’t like the number game. We should be our own competition, ” Saif tells me.

Emraan Hashmi is staying away from limelight deliberately!

Mumbai, July 29: It’s been a while since Emraan Hashmi has made any news on the big screen, but he says he’s been lying low, deliberately. Hashmi, it seems, is strategising on reviving his career and moving away from playing the hopelessly romantic lover in small-budget films.

Tum Mile, now ready for release, revolves around Mumbai’s 2005 floods and Hashmi hopes it might just be the film to thrust him back into the limelight. He plays a struggling artist who finds himself stranded with a complete stranger in the rain.

Fate is playing a lot of tricks on Harman Baweja

Mumbai, July 29:Nowadays fate is playing a lot of tricks on Harman Baweja. Even at work he finds himself succumbing to efforts to lead him up the garden path.

This, Harman discovered when he was asked by his director Ashutosh Gowariker to pitch in some lines for a song in What’s Your Raashee?

When he reached the studio the recording the director and music composer Sohail Sen played him a track by a beautiful female voice.

Why go to Hollywood when it’s coming to us: Akki

Mumbai, July 29: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who recently shared screen space with international stars Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Brandon Routh in “Kambakkht Ishq”, says he has no plans of heading to Hollywood.

“Why go to Hollywood when Hollywood is coming to Bollywood? I’m happy doing my work here as of now, ” Akshay told.

Now that “Kambakkht Ishq” has registered good profits at the box office, Akshay is looking forward to his other films that include “Blue”, “De Dana Dan” and “Action Replay”.

-Agencies

A Wednesday director caught in a double dilemma

Mumbai, July 29: Rightfully, A Wednesday director Neeraj Pandey has reached the land of plenty. From the time when he had to struggle to put together his first political thriller a year back to now, when Neeraj is spoilt by choices…the director has indeed come a long way in no time.

Just when Neeraj was ready to direct a film for Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Films, his dispute with UTV over the prequel has been resolved.

Akshay Kumar Takes Good Care oF Deepika!

Mumbai, July 29: Akshay Kumar Takes Good Care oF Deepika!Akshay Kumar’s gallant nature was revealed in London when his “Housefull” co-star Deepika Paudkone was laid up with a bout of malaria.

He not only made sure Deepika was looked after, but also persuaded her to stay away from shooting.

While Deepika was resting, alternative scenes that didn’t require her were shot.

School protest stops S Mumbai

Mumbai, July 29: A protest by 300-odd students and parents of the New Era School on Hughes Road, demanding the reopening of the school, during peak hours on Tuesday caused a huge traffic snarl in South Mumbai. The six-lane arterial Peddar Road was blocked for hours and the police could not do much as there were scores of children among the protesters.

We’ll go better prepared at next T20 WC: Kirsten

New Delhi, July 29: India may have been outplayed in the Twenty20 World Cup this time but coach Gary Kirsten says they will come back hard in the next edition of the event which is just eight months away.

“We will make sure that our preparations next time are good,” Kirsten said.

India, who won the inaugural edition in 2007, did not even make the semifinals this time, losing all their super eight stage matches.

The former South African opener once again stressed on the importance of preserving Test cricket.

German 11-year-old feared imprisoned in her home for nine years

Neuruppin, July 29: An 11-year old girl in eastern Germany is believed to have been imprisoned by her parents for up to nine years, media reports said Wednesday.

The girl, who never attended school, was believed to suffer from both mental and physical disabilities, local media said.

Social services took charge of the girl and brought her to a clinic after a neighbour reported the case, a county government spokeswoman said.

Salman Khan embarrassed Farah Khan

Mumbai, July 29: If you want to know more about Salman Khan, you got to watch his show 10 Ka Dum.

Farah Khan, who is known for her closeness to Shahrukh Khan, came to the show and made Salman blush for embarrassing her about 20 years ago.

The choreographer turned director Farah Khan revealed on the show that she was left red-faced when Salman took her along for the audition of his debut hit film Maine Pyaar Kiya in 1989 so that she could show him some steps to do before director Sooraj Barjatya.

John mingles with a new girl

Mumbai, July 29: There seems to be a new girl in John Abraham’s life. Well he hasn’t dumped Bipasha Basu and hooked up with some one for sure but these days he often mingles with jewellery designer Paulomi Sanghavi.

Although there is no romance brewing up between the two, John constantly keeps in touch with Paulomi whom he met through a common friend.

Warne to captain All-Stars at the Gabba

Melbourne, July 29: Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden will once again play at the Gabba after Cricket Australia confirmed the trio would be part of the All-Stars Twenty20 match to launch the 2009-10 season.

Warne will captain the All-Stars line-up, which will play against a full-strength Australian XI on November 22, four days before Australia’s first home Test of the summer.

Sibal: No place for profit-making foreign varsities

New Delhi, July 29: As it plans to bring in a legislation to allow foreign universities to begin operations in India, the government on Tuesday indicated that it would not allow profit-making foreign educational institutions to set up campuses in the country.

“The government policy is not to allow profit-making institutions even in India to flourish in the field of education because education is a charitable exercise,” Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told the Rajya Sabha.

Ponting ponders spin options

Melbourne, July 29: Mitchell Johnson’s chances of playing at Edgbaston may have firmed but Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting said the soggy conditions had given them plenty to think about regarding the position of the spinner Nathan Hauritz.

As the selectors ponder whether Stuart Clark can squeeze into the line-up, Ponting said Australia’s research into Edgbaston didn’t make for happy reading for the spinners.

Drug agents raid Jackson doctor for second time

Las Vegas, July 29: Police seized cell phones and a computer hard drive from the Las Vegas home and office of Michael Jackson’s personal physician on Tuesday as the probe into the pop star’s sudden death focused increasingly on the doctor who was at his side when he died.

It was the second raid on Dr Conrad Murray’s offices in less than a week as officials seek evidence into the cause of the Thriller singer’s death of cardiac arrest on June 25.

Yusuf slams BCCI for ignoring Irfan

New Delhi, July 29: Yusuf Pathan courted controversy with the BCCI by saying that his brother Irfan has been left out of the Champion’s Trophy squad because of reasons unrelated to cricket.

“Irfan’s performance was always up to the mark. He has not been left out because of his performance. Everybody has seen what is happening,” an angry Yusuf responded when asked for his reaction on Irfan’s omission from the probables squad.

“What will I comment,” Yusuf went on. “It is for you (the media) to react and comment on what is happening.”

Recipe: Chocolate Curd Burfee

Try this unique burfee made from sweet curd, fresh fruits and a dash of chocolate this Rakhi. Ingredients:

• 1 cup Pineapple
• 2 tbsp Cocoa Powder
• 1 bowl Black Grapes
• 12 Almonds
• 12 Cashew nuts
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 kg Curd
• 2 Apples

Procedure:

• Squeeze out water from the curd by hanging it in a cloth for 1 hour.
• Now, add cocoa powder and sugar and beat well.
• Peel off the apples and pineapples and grate them.
• Now, mix the grated fruits into the curd paste; refrigerate.
• Garnish it with almonds and cashew nuts.

Ponting is one of the greatest: Clarke

Melbourne, July 29: Michael Clarke hailed Ricky Ponting as ‘one of the greatest players’ as he gets set to achieve a significant personal milestone in the third Ashes test at Edgbaston.

The Australian captain is just 25 runs away from becoming Australia’s highest run scorer in Test cricket – overtaking another legend, Allan Border, in the process.

Ponting currently stands at 11,150 runs (average 56.31) while Border had 11174 runs (average 50.56).

Aussie greats to launch 2009-10 season

Melbourne, July 29: Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australia Cricketers’ Association (ACA) today announced that legends Shane Warne, Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath will return to the field to launch the 2009-10 season in a blockbuster All Star Twenty20 match at the Gabba.

The trio of ex-greats will turn out for the Johnnie Walker ACA team against a full strength Australian XI in a Twenty20 match on Sunday, 22 November.

This match would be the precursor to Australia’s summer schedule where they take on the West Indies and Pakistan.

Healthy food, hearty laugh: Supper theatre in Bangalore

Bangalore, July 29: How about some rib-tickling theatre and delectable dishes thereafter? Come August and that’s what many Bangaloreans will do every weekend for six months.

The brainchild of Hubli-based theatre troupe Guru Samste, Bangaloreans will be entertained with some of the most hilarious Kannada plays along with the best of south Indian cuisines under one roof.

Guru Samste has joined hands with popular city-based south Indian restaurant Maiya’s to come up with Bangalore’s very own supper theatre christened ‘Maiya’s Rangavali’.

US to hire 4,600 police as part of economic recovery plan

Washington, July 29: More than 4,600 new police officers are to be hired across the US at a cost of one billion dollars as part of the country’s economic stimulus plan, administration officials have said.

The grants will be awarded to some 1,046 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and will provide the full salary and benefits for 4,699 officers for three years, according to a Justice Department statement yesterday.

There is also a provision that departments receiving the funds retain the positions for at least a fourth year.

Maoists kill panchayat head in Bihar

Patna, July 29: Suspected Maoist guerrillas Wednesday shot dead a panchayat head in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar as he refused to pay levy to the rebels, police said.

Premchand, head of Paigampur panchayat in Muzaffarpur, was killed outside his residence by a group of armed Maoist rebels at Dera Chowk in Minapur block, a police officer said.

The village head had been demanding security from the state government fearing a threat to his life. He also sought help from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by appealing in the local dailies a few months ago.

Pune: Number of swine flu cases rise to 66

Pune, July 29: Two more schools in Pune reported swine flu cases among their students as the number of H1N1 infections in the city went up to 66, an addition of six during the day.

With detection of fresh cases, Maharashtra has recorded 101 cases of the viral pandemic, health officials said on Tuesday.

In Pune, Balshikshan and Spring Dale schools were added to the list of four educational institutions already hit by the spread of the infection. The authorities, who have closed down the four schools, were yet to take a decision on shutting down the two newly-affected schools.