Bipasha Basu out of Raavan... Reveals Why!

Bipasha Basu, who now looks forward to multi-starrer comedy "All The Best", has dismissed rumours that her role in Mani Ratnam's "Raavan" was cancelled because her character posed a threat to the other actresses - Aishwarya Rai and Priyamani. She insists it was an amicable decision between her and the director.

Rumour mills were abuzz that Bipasha's role of Mandodari opposite Abhishek Bachchan in the film was suspended because her part was overpowering as compared to the other female stars.

"They were all rumours and only rumours. I am not a part of 'Raavan'. I was initially a part of 'Raavan' but Mani sir thought he couldn't do justice to my role... as to whatever he had promised me would definitely be in conflict with the actual story of the film once it is shot, " Bipasha told in an interview.

"So he took a call instead of being in an embarrassing position later on. He decided to tell me that and amicably we decided that it should not be done...hopefully we'll work together soon. So now there's going to be no Mandodari in the film, " she added.

The film also stars Nikhil Dwivedi and Tamil actor Vikram.

Bipasha was in the capital to promote her forthcoming release "All The Best - Fun Begins" that is releasing Friday.

Distributed by Yash Raj Films, the laughathon has been directed by Rohit Shetty. Apart from Bipasha, it also stars Fardeen Khan, Mugdha Godse, Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn, who has produced the comedy.

" 'All The Best' is a situational comedy and a total entertainer. It deals with a lot of mistaken identities, people lying and getting into trouble, " Bipasha said.

"My character is called Jahnvi who is married to Ajay in the film. She is a straightforward girl who is trying to run her life and family by looking after a totally rundown gym. She cons people to join the gym by lying because by the looks of it, nobody wants to join it, " she added.

Apparently this is the 30-year-old's sixth movie with Ajay after "Zameen", "Apaharan", "Shikhar" and "Omkara".

"We also did a film together with Sanjay Dutt that was completed 50 percent, "Mr.Fraud" (shelved), " she said
Asked how her co-star was as a producer, she said: "He is a very good producer. He in fact gifted me a Blackberry apart from giving me the money for the film. What's important is that at the end of the day he is a very good friend and a very good co-star.

"I've known Ajay for quite some time now. He is very entertaining and makes you laugh and he's a fabulous actor."

Bipasha says she agreed to do "All The Best" after she realised it had the same essence as "No Entry".

"I have done comedies before like 'No Entry' and 'Phir Hera Pheri'... And I really got the same flavour as 'No Entry' when 'All The Best' was narrated to me.

"I laughed throughout the narration and I thought if a film could entertain me so much on a narrative level, I need to be a part of it because I wanted to see it made, as it's hilarious, " she said.

Apart from "All The Best", Bipasha's future projects include "Lamha", "Pankh" and Priyadarshan's next.

Why Katrina loves Ranbir

Katrina Kaif’s New York revived the box office. She will be seen in full-fledged roles in two films this year, Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani and De Dana Dan and a special appearance in Blue. The gorgeous actress tells us about her latest film, director Rajkumar Santoshi and working with Ranbir Kapoor who is the next big thing.
“It’s been a great honour to work with Rajji. I have done most of my films with Akshay and Salman. I asked them who is the best director for an actor to work with and both of them answered that it was Rajkumar Santoshi. I had an amazing time working with him. I had a great time shooting the songs in Turkey and am grateful to Ahmed Khan for the fantastic choreography and Pritam for the wonderful music, as always,’ smiled Katrina.

Katrina has usually played the glam doll in most of her films except New York and, in APKGK her character seems to be more than just a pretty face. How does she feel about that? ‘I think I am very privileged that I keep getting fresh new chances with every film to better myself as an actress. In my opinion, Rajji has s reputation of not being just a fantastic director but also a fantastic director for actors and their performances. He has taught me a lot about improvisation. He has given my character and persona a new angle. It’s not anything like you have seen in New York or Singh is Kinng. It’s a completely different interpretation of Jenny, my character. Ranbir and I followed his guidance. We were always on the sets because being around Rajji, because you get to understand how he envisions the scene. Before every shot, he would enact my part and then enact my part. And we both would just stare at him in amazement. Then the two of us would have a competition as to who can copy him best. We just needed to follow his direction,’ she replied.

She and Ranbir are being touted as the best-looking on-screen pair of the year. About working with Ranbir Kapoor, she said, ‘He is a very talented actor and a very sweet guy. He is always lively and he fills the set with energy and enthusiasm. He makes sure everyone is having a good time. He is a positive force to be around. He is fantastic actor and dancer.’

New details in Anna Nicole Smith case scheduled

LOS ANGELES – Investigators are slated to testify about the more than two years they spent exploring the maze of prescriptions in the drug overdose death of celebrity model Anna Nicole Smith.

A preliminary hearing opens Tuesday focusing on Smith's former lawyer-boyfriend Howard K. Stern and two doctors linked to 44 different prescription drugs she took toward the end of her life.

Stern, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor and Dr. Khristina Eroshevich stand accused of conspiring to illegally provide Smith with controlled substances. All three have pleaded not guilty.

Medical experts and pharmacists also are expected to testify along with the model's friends and associates.

At the end of the two-week hearing, a judge will rule if there is enough evidence to order the three to stand trial.

Heidi Klum announces birth of fourth child

BERLIN (AFP) – German supermodel Heidi Klum announced on Tuesday the birth of her fourth child, a daughter, the third with British singer husband Seal.

"Lou Sulola was born and from the moment she looked into both of our eyes it was endless love at first sight," US-based Klum, 36, said on her website.

"She is beautiful beyond words and we are happy that she chose us to watch her grow over the coming years."

The couple's other two children are called Henry Guenther Ademola Dashtu and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo. Klum also has another daughter, Helene "Leni", by disgraced Formula One team boss Flavio Briatore.

The baby was born on Friday.

"New" Michael Jackson single a "mistake"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Michael Jackson didn't do it his way after all.

Hours after the pop singer's first posthumous single "This Is It" was released amid great hype on Monday, it emerged that the tune had been recorded 18 years ago by an obscure Puerto Rican singer.

Moreover the co-author of that tune, "My Way" songwriter Paul Anka, threatened to sue Jackson's estate for proper credit and his share of royalties.

The administrators of the estate quickly acknowledged Anka's claims and granted him 50 percent of the copyright, a potentially massive payday for the 68-year-old Canadian crooner. And an equally massive loss for the estate.

"They realize it's a mistake, they realize it's my song, they realize it's my production of his vocal in my studio and I am getting 50 percent of the whole project, actually, which is fair," Anka said in a video posted on the TMZ gossip Web site.

The song dates back to 1983, when it was known as "I Never Heard" -- a co-write between Jackson and Anka -- and intended for inclusion on an Anka album. But the pair fell out, Jackson took the master tapes and Anka got them back.

The song was eventually released in 1991 after Anka placed it with an unknown Latin singer named Sa-Fire.

Both "I Never Heard" and "This Is It" share the same vocal and piano line, although the latter track boasts new overdubs from Jackson's brothers.

But "This Is It" had been promoted as a new Jackson recording, one of a multitude of unreleased recordings likely to come out in the next few years.

It was released online around the world nearly four months after the singer died in Los Angeles of a prescription drug overdose at the age of 50.

Fans will be able to buy it when a two-disc album hits the shelves in two weeks to coincide with the October 28 worldwide release of the Jackson rehearsal-footage movie "This is It."

LYRICS FIT THE BILL

"The song was picked because the lyrics were appropriate because of the name Michael gave his tour," said a spokesman for Jackson's estate. "We are thrilled to present this song in Michael's voice for the first time, and that Michael's fans have responded in unprecedented numbers. The song was co-written by the legendary Paul Anka."

A spokeswoman for Sony Music declined to comment. One of the estate's two administrators, John McClain, worked with Jackson at the Sony Corp unit. The other executor is music attorney John Branca.

McClain, who is also a co-producer of the "This is It" album, had said in a statement earlier on Monday that the song "only defines, once again, what the world already knows -- that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts."

Some critics begged to differ. Jon Pareles, the chief pop critic of The New York Times, said in a blog it "won't be on anyone's list of best Michael Jackson songs, even if it's a long list" and hoped there was something better in the Michael Jackson vaults of album outtakes.

The "This Is It" movie is based on rehearsal video shot in Los Angeles in the weeks before Jackson's planned 50 comeback concerts in London. It was the subject of a $60 million deal between Jackson's estate and closely held concert promoter AEG Live and Sony's Sony Pictures unit.

Sales of Jackson's records spiked after his death and the release of the movie and album will add to the value of the "Thriller" singer's estate, estimated at around $400 million.

Sony Music said the first disc of the album will feature some of Jackson's greatest hits plus two versions of the "new" single.

The second disc will include unreleased versions of some of the singer's classic tracks and a spoken word poem entitled "Planet Earth" performed by Jackson and never heard before.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Dean Goodman; editing by Bill Trott)

Madonna shoes offered to Gypsy charity in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania – Madonna is putting her shoes where her mouth is.

The Queen of Pop has offered one of her favorite pairs of Christian Dior shoes to a charity supporting Gypsy child education. Organizers said Tuesday the skyscraper gold heels, which are autographed by Madonna, will be sold at the Ovidiu Rom annual ball later this month.

Madonna drew international attention by saying during an August concert in Bucharest on her "Sticky & Sweet'" tour that widespread discrimination against East Europe's Gypsies, also known as Roma, should end.

Thousands of fans responded by booing her.

"Madonna's very mild comment regarding equality shone a spotlight on a common European attitude toward Gypsies," Leslie Hawke, president of Ovidiu Rom, told The Associated Press. "We're thrilled to have her donation because she is such an icon of innovation and vigor and 'can do' spirit."

Hawke's son, actor Ethan Hawke, will attend the ball and speak to guests.

Guests at the ball will make donations to win raffle tickets for the auction of donated prizes. This year's items also will include a gold chain provided by actress Vanessa Redgrave.