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Couldn’t get enough “Avatar”? Want to see MORE of it? Well, it’s gonna happen, so bust out your 3D glasses and get ready because Fox Studios just announced that James Cameron’s technical epic is eyeing a summer re-release ONLY in IMAX theaters! Read the rest of this entry »

International R&B singer Akon, who is here to record songs for Shah Rukh Khan’s film Ra.1, says he is a big fan of the Bollywood superstar and that he will not only have shows in India during his world tour but would also do more work here soon.

“I am a big fan of Shah Rukh. I am very familiar with Shah Rukh’s work. I am meeting Kareena (Kapoor) for the first time today,” Akon told reporters in a press conference here Tuesday. He is not only singing but also composing song for Ra.1. Read the rest of this entry »

Daniel Radcliffe was bedridden in hospital for two days after a severe bout of food poisoning, it has emerged.

The 20-year-old Harry Potter star was treated for dehydration in New York after he picked up the stomach problem on his way to the Big Apple last week.

Radcliffe was travelling to the US to support the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention charity for gay and transgender youth.

He flew back to London yesterday. Read the rest of this entry »

The global economic recession hasn’t hit Paris Hilton for sure – as the socialite spent 140 dollars a minute in Melbourne’s Chapel Street shops. The hotel heiress, estimated at more than 50 million dollars, had arrived in the city with sister Nicky ahead of their appearance at the Bongo Virus New Year’s Eve party in Sydney.

The party-lover spent 40 minutes while trying a range of different frocks, subsequently “cleaning out” the designer racks, and putting more than 20 dresses in her kitty for a discount of about 5000 dollars.

“It was actually over 10,000 dollars worth. But she did a show for me about four years ago (so the price) was marked down.” said designer Wayne Cooper while talking to the Daily Telegraph.

However, the socialite’s 140-dollar-a-minute spree has been slammed by charity heads, with World Vision Australia chief Tim Costello adding that the splurge could have supported a Third World village.

Costello said: “In World Vision terms, 5000 dollars would ensure that a village of 2000 people in Africa or Asia would have clean water for the rest of their lives.”

Similarly, social worker Les Twentyman said, “It is quite obscene spending money like that. Some people are homeless and thousands of people a week are losing their jobs and it is quite obscene in some ways.”

Well, Paris Hilton just can’t seem to stay out of news and that is nearly always for the wrong reasons whether it’s chasing her ex-boyfriend or merely shopping for a party!

One would have thought Akshay Kumar was only shaking up the Khans of Bollywood, with his recent stream of hits, most notably 2008’s mega Singh is Kinng. But his star-power is now even Hollywood. After charming the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Akshay Kumar is going to shock Jackie Chan with his stunts, somersaults et al. Jackie Chan has expressed a desire to watch Chandni Chowk to China. Jackie is supposedly close to Gordon Liu (of Kill Bill and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin fame), who plays the villain in the movie, and he’s keen to watch his buddy’s first stint with Bollywood.

Apparently, Gordon Liu was casually asked about his experience of working with Nikhil Advani vis-à-vis Quentin Tarantino. Of course, Nikhil was terribly embarrassed about even being spoken in the same breath as the Oscar winning filmmaker. But Gordon’s response totally stunned them all. He revealed that Quentin Tarantino is always seen laughing on the sets, also he doesn’t tell anyone with what he’s about to do next. On the other hand, Nikhil is always serious and all he does is work, work, and work. Now that’s a compliment!

And who knows, after watching Akshay Kumar in action, Jackie Chan may make a move from China to Chandni Chowk! After all, anything is possible in Bollywood!

Jennifer Aniston celebrated her Christmas with friends David and Courteney Cox Arquette and daughter Coco at Mastro’s Steakhouse in BH.

A source says, “Jen and Courteney chatted non-stop.

“Jen was also very sweet to Coco and the two giggled together.

“Jen usually gets steak, but she asked for fish instead and she ended up getting the sole and vegetables.

“Jen also had some white wine with her fish, while the rest of the table enjoyed steak. Courtney and David were also in a great mood and they acted very sweet to each other.

“Coco was walking around the restaurant without any shoes and when Courteney asked her where her shoes were, Coco said they were too tight and that she had to take them off.

“Both Jen and Courteney were smiling at her. Jen and Coco seem to have a very special bond and it was cute to watch Jen dote on Coco.”

We wish Jennifer a very happy Christmas.

X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke is on a high these days as she is all set to hit the stage with super singer Beyonce Knowles.

Beyonce will perform with Alexandra in London, Brimingham and Manchester.

A source says, ” Beyoncé was blown away by Alex.

“She thought she had exceptional talent and told her so during their rehearsal for last week’s performance of Listen.

“In the dressing room, Beyoncé told Alex she’d like to work with her in the future and suggested the possibility of recording a new single together. She also said she’d love Alex to take part in her UK tour, possibly as a support act, although nothing is set in stone yet.

“After their duet last week Beyoncé then told X Factor supremo SIMON COWELL ‘I want to work with this lady. She is going to be a massive star’.

“Alex couldn’t believe what she hearing.

“Beyoncé is one of her all-time heroes and to be given her approval is like a dream come true.

“Beyoncé was outstanding and really helped Alex shine.”

Britney Spears is flying to India for being choreographed by famous choreographer Sandip Soparrkar and has decided to let go off her choreographers Wade Robson and Andre Fuentes.

A source reveals, “Wade and Andre were only hired to choreograph the promotional tour for Britney’s new album ‘Circus’ which ended in Japan last week.”

The singer is all set to meet Sandip at Jodhpur and is keen to learn some new dance moves.

Sandip said: “I’ll be meeting her for work only, when she visits Jodhpur. We’ll just be doing a bit of rehearsals, since I am planning to do the rumba, which is the dance of love. Britney is really looking forward to coming to India.”

So are you looking forward to it?

After Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle is another book by Candace Bushnell that has been made into a TV show. And like SATC, it explores the lives of fashionable and successful women in the city of New York.

By Saba Imtiaz

Writer Candace Bushnell is most widely known for penning the novel Sex and the City (SATC) – which went on to become a bestseller, was turned into an acclaimed television series with Sarah Jessica Parker and a critically panned film. But as the author milks the success of SATC dry, another one of her books has come to the forefront with a television series being made on it. Candace Bushnell’s novel Lipstick Jungle has been turned into a series starring Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price.

But – first things first – the novel: Lipstick Jungle is a very different story from SATC. Based on the lives of three high flyers in New York City, the book spins a tale of a true ‘lipstick jungle’ – replete with the fact that they all work in interlinked worlds: Wendy Healy heads a film studio, Nico O Neilly is editor for one of the most prominent magazines in NYC, and Victory Ford is a fashion designer. A story primarily of relationships: the book shows how the older (and wiser, in more ways than one) Wendy and Nico take Victory under their wing and guide her through life and society as she struggles to keep her footing in the uber competitive world of fashion. However, as the women work their way up the career ladder they are met with different dilemmas: Nico, for example, is having an affair with an underwear model and Victory can’t get her billionaire boyfriend to fit the mould of partner that she wants, simply because – he’s a billionaire who is set in his ways! Lipstick Jungle is, at the end of the day, the epitome of chick-lit, but what sets it apart in one way is the very strong bond shown between the characters. The fact that, despite having different career ambitions and perspectives on life, love and family, they are always there for each other is what stands out most in this book. And add to that Candace’s well-known formula of glamour and designer names – and you have a book that mirrors reality for female high flyers.

And since Candace Bushnell’s SATC was such a hit – Lipstick Jungle has also been turned into a television series. Obviously, turning a book into a show is not the easiest of tasks, but the makers of Lipstick Jungle have done a decent job at retaining the essence of the novel. And obviously, the problems of the characters, both at work and home take a new turn altogether as it is obviously far more dramatized for television. However, the Lipstick Jungle TV show portrays the characters in far softer tones than in the novel: for example, in the book Nico (Kim Raver) is a cut throat, career driven editor, she is extremely compassionate on the show and shows more shades of grey than Victory (Lindsay Price) or Wendy (Brooke Shields). Initially, I had assumed Brooke Shields would be the biggest draw to watch the show but she isn’t. The limelight is entirely, and deservedly on Nico; and her affair with a photographer, which she juggles with her staid and practically dead marriage without batting an eyelid, and much to the dismay of her friends.

While the show is being dogged with bad ratings and is currently on hiatus, it does have the potential to pick up pace – given how much interest the first season of the show received. One of the issues is that the story often becomes clichéd in a soap-worthy saga way: much like The Bold and the Beautiful. If one looks at the shows that have become incredibly popular in recent times; it is over-the-top fantasy like Heroes or down to earth comedy such as How I Met Your Mother or Scrubs. However, Candace Bushnell’s ability to paint strong female characters that are quirky, edgy and in a jetset mould is something that has taken her a long way. Whether it is SATC’s Carrie or Lipstick Jungle’s Wendy, Candace portrays the trials and tribulations of women in a highly engaging way. And that has trickled down to other authors. Shades of it can be seen in Lauren Weisberger’s (author of The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing) writing as well. However, Candace’s refusal to acknowledge that the ‘bonds of sisterhood’ can be broken is what has made her books irrelevant in this day and age, where it is truly, each one for herself. And while the televised show has not capitalized on the bonds that the characters have and more on their individual

lives, Candace’s book is still a must-read to get an insight into these fascinating characters, fascinating not for who they are but what they represent: power in a lipstick (and high heeled!) jungle.

Madonna is currently busy with her divorce, A-Rod and her Sticky  & Sweet tour however the Queen of Pop is eager to meet Shehenshah of Bollywood Amitabh Bachchan some day.

In an interview when Madonna was asked, Madonna is synonymous with song and dance, just like Bollywood movies. Does Bollywood appeal to y4eou?

She said, Thank you for the compliment! To me, Indian cinema means musicals. When I was in India, I really wanted to see a Bollywood flick but didn’t manage to do so. But I have heard a lot about Mr Amitabh Bachchan, I would love to meet him some day.

What about you Big B? Are you eager to meet Madonna?