Lovemaking no big deal, kissing is tough: Bips

NEW DELHI: From cladding a bikini in Dhoom and Players to doing bold scenes in Jism and a raunchy item number in Omkara, sultry Bipasha Basu says she has inhibitions doing kissing scenes in films.

She had showed her bold side in Jism (2003) with ex-beau John Abraham, especially in the song Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai. For Aditya Chopra's Dhoom 2, she wore a bikini and then sizzled the screen with an item song Beedi Jalaile Le in Omkara, which became a rage.

"For me, love making is no big deal, it is like any other thing. But when it comes to kissing, I have not overcome it. It is tough. I feel it is too private a moment and also the way we are we brought up, the kind of cinema we are exposed to when I started acting, kissing was not a regularthing. But now, in every film, kissing is regular," Bipasha told PTI.

"When I see an English film, I feel it is no big deal, but when I have to do it, it's a very big deal. I have still not overcome it, it is bit of a block that I have," she said.

In her eleven years of acting career, Bipasha has donetwo kissing scenes one with John in Jism and Ranbir Kapoor in Bachna Ae Haseeno.

"When I had to do it (a kissing scene) I was paranoid. Everyday I used to go to Adi and Siddharth saying 'please cancel this, please get it out', and they use to laugh at it saying it is small thing. But I was petrified. I have not done many kissing scenes, except two," she said.

Despite kissing being a regular feature on celluloid, filmmakers struggle to capture the perfect moment on screen, and the Bengali bombshell feels it is due to the inhibitions that the actors have.

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I'm a global actress, but Bollywood is my life: Mallika

MUMBAI: Actress Mallika Sherawat has moved to the United States, thanks to her international project, but says her heart resides in Bollywood and that people in the West are curious about the Hindi film industry. “I am more of a global actress now but Bollywood is my life. It is my bread and butter,” said Mallika here at a press conference to announce her performance at Hotel Tulip Star's New Year's Eve show.

Mallika has made United States her second home and has been there for the past two years. The actress, who was last seen in Hollywood flick Politics Of Love, asserts that the West is curious to know more about Bollywood.

“I have signed Lucky Unlucky. I am playing a Jat sprinter in it and I have signed another movie with Vivek Oberoi, Kismat Love Paisa Delhi. It will be directed by Sanjay Khanduri. Then, there is an international venture that I'm doing."

"I'm trying to maintain a balance between both America and India. Right now there is so much curiosity in America about Bollywood and Indian actors,” said Mallika, who is in here to shoot for Khanduri's film.

The Murder girl dazzled on screen this year in item numbers Jalebi Bai, Razia and Shalu ke thumke.

Mallika debuted in Bollywood with a special appearance in Jeena Sirf Mere Liye and then signed Khwahish, her first film as a lead actress. Then she featured in Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Welcome.

She played an Indian princess in Jackie Chan's Chinese film The Myth.

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NEW YEAR'S: Big bucks for small stars

NEW DELHI: They may not have any success at the box office all year round, but on New Year’s Eve, Bollywood starlets and item girls are ready to rake in the big bucks! Most of them have already signed on to perform at New Year’s Eve parties across the country — where a performance of just 10-15 minutes will earn them lakh, if not crores.

Actor Mallika Sherawat is allegedly charging Rs 2 crore to perform to Jalebi Bai and Kolaveri Di at a five star hotel in Mumbai.

Actor Lisa Haydon, last seen in the box office flop Rascals, will perform at Aamby Valley in Lonavala. Still struggling to make a comeback in the A-league, actor Vivek Oberoi, who charges approximately Rs 40 lakh for a performance, will shake a leg at Country Club, Mumbai.

Actor Tanushree Dutta, who has no big film to her name, is charging Rs 10-15 lakh to dance at Country Club, Delhi.

Actors Sayali Bhagat and Shefali Zariwala will dance at Country Club, in Surat and Ahmedabad respectively. Actor Minissha Lamba is charging Rs 12 lakh to dance at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Okhla, while actor Udita Goswami will join her for Rs 6 lakh.

There’s an overseas demand for these actors as well. “I will be performing in Bali at an event themed Sexy Luscious,” says actor Koena Mitra. Singer Sophie Choudry will perform at Country Club, Muscat.

Among the bigger stars of 2011, actor Ranveer Singh is charging Rs 35 lakh to dance to songs from Band Baaja Baraat and Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, at Aamby Valley. Buzz has it that actor Shah Rukh Khan will also be shaking a leg for Rs 4-5 crore at a private New Year’s Eve party.

Talking Moolah
While A-league stars such as Shah Rukh Khan charge between Rs 4-5 crore for a 15-minute performance on New Year’s Eve, and actor such as Bipasha Basu charges Rs 50-75 lakh for a performance, small time actors such as Tanushree Dutta charge between Rs 6-15 lakh, item girls such as Malaika Arora Khan get paid a higher amount. Khan reportedly charges Rs 60 lakh for a performance.

*figures based on industry estimates.

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I've let myself go: John Abraham

NEW DELHI: By his own admission, John Abraham is a changed man. He is talking more, dancing more and is certainly more visible than ever before. With a slate of films lined up in the New Year, Bollywood's quintessential handsome hunk hopes to find "inspired living". "I think I have let myself go. I have opened up and let my hair down gradually. So the change is evident, both in my personal as well as professional life," John told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

The 38-year-old who split from his girlfriend of eight years, actress Bipasha Basu, earlier this year, was quite reticent earlier. But thanks to movie promotions, which required him to be in the limelight as well as meet and greet fans and media persons, John has come out of his shell.

This year has been significant for John as he had three releases - 7 Khoon Maaf, Force and Desi Boyz. If 7 Khoon Maaf won critical appreciation, the other two faired well at the box office. In fact, Force is being considered one of John's biggest releases so far in his eight-year-old acting career, which kickstarted with Jism.

"I am happy. This is the best phase of my career so far. But you never know how long this lasts! With my present slate of films, I can look forward to ups and downs, but I would like to believe that I have a safe set of projects in my kitty," said John.

His visibility on screen and off screen will bump up next year thanks to his long line-up of films - I, Me Aur Main, Housefull 2, Race 2 and Shootout At Wadala.

Could the much-talked about sequel to Mahesh Bhatt's Jism also be in the pipeline?"Well, I can't say anything right now. Bhatt saab spoke to me about the film, but I have been busy shooting. He spoke to me and said: 'John, I'm planning something on it.' But that's about it. I have not even read the script yet; so I can take a decision only once I do that," said John, who might feature alongside Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone if he is offered and accepts Jism 2.

But for now, he wants to concentrate on the projects in hand, so that he can achieve "inspired living", which also happens to be the essence behind home appliances and consumer electronics brand, Haier, of which he is a brand ambassador.

"Inspired living to me is self-actualisation...it is beyond the physiological needs of people. I would like to believe that I lead an inspired life. But I guess with the kind of lifestyle I lead, it's a little far beyond for me to achieve. But every day, I am trying to attain it," said the actor.

In sync with Haier's green initiative, Eco Life, John believes it is important to use technology in an eco-friendly way.

"Technology is a major part of everyone's life these days. I like to lead a simple and basic life, but there's no escaping from technology. You can't run away from it...not even if you miss the magic of handwritten letters. But I feel if one has to use technology, they should do it in a way that supports eco-lifestyle," he said.

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Next Munnabhai to take off in 2012

NEW DELHI: If all goes well, Munnabhai will return from his 6-year exile, after his latest outing in Lage Raho Munnabhai, reports TOI. Rajkumar Hirani's superhit series will hit the floors in 2012, according to the daily. Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi will reprise their roles of Munna and Circuit respectively and the movie will be titled Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha, says the paper.

"Sanjay and Arshad are returning to play Munna and Circuit. We are developing the script right now, and the film should start in 2012," Vidhu Vinod Chopra confirmed to the daily.

Rumour mills were earlier abuzz that Aamir Khan will replace Sanjay Dutt as Munnabhai. But the reports were dismissed.

Munnabhai's first installment Munnabhai MBBS released in 2003.

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