Mohan Lal Latest Venture

Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, whose latest blockbuster "Kurukshetra" tells the tale of the Kargil war, has shown interest in joining the Territorial Army (TA), a voluntary part-time civilian force, as an officer.
A senior official commanding the TA battalion said on condition of anonymity that feelers have been send by the 48-year-old actor, saying that he is interested in joining up.

"The biggest impediment is that the upper age limit for entry into the battalion is 42 and after that if anyone has to be included, it has to be referred at the highest level, which is a tough ask," said the official.

Recently, former India Cricket team captain Kapil Dev was inducted into the Territorial Army after it was cleared at the highest level.

"Veteran theatre and film personality Nana Patekar's application for entry into the battalion is still being considered," said the official.

Mohanlal had his first major role as an army officer in the movie "Keerthi Chakra". Released in 2006, the film was directed by Major Ravi, a former commando with the National Security Guards (NSG).
In August 1991, Ravi headed the team that shot dead Sivarasan, the mastermind behind the killing of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
He quit the army due to his passion for movies.
Ravi, who also directed the superstar in "Kurukshetra", confirmed that Mohanlal is interested in joining the Territorial Army.

"Yesterday only we discussed this and he is very keen. He is now getting his papers ready to be sent for processing. It was after the role he played as a Major in 'Keerthi Chakra' and Lt. Col. in 'Kurukshetra' that he became really interested," said Ravi.
Courtesy Manorama News

Lara Dutta is back in the city for shooting her upcoming David Dhawan film Do Knot Disturb

After having shot for her hit film Partner in Abu Dhabi last year, Bollywood actress Lara Dutta is back in the city for shooting her upcoming David Dhawan film Do Knot Disturb.

“This place is like a lucky mascot as my last release also had many portions shot here and it turned out to be a super-hit. We have been shooting at the Emirates Palace hotel and you just got to see the hotel to believe how wonderful it is,” said Lara.

The actress is also touched by the hospitality of the public there.

“It’s a wonderful place, the people are very warm and it’s quite a film-friendly place as well. I guess with the amount of films being shot here, Abu Dhabi has become the new Switzerland,” said Lara, who has been a part of films like No Entry, Zinda, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and others.

Diwali gift for Lata Mangeshkar fans

It will be a rare Diwali gift for Lata Mangeshkar fans. An unreleased song of the nightingale - Chanda ki Chandni - that she had sung for the 1997 hit Dil To Pagal Hai, is being repackaged by Yashraj Films for release during the festive season.

For Lata, the news of the song’s release has come as cheerful news, what with arthritis of the knees continuously troubling her.

She happily recalls the song. “It was supposed to be part of Yashji’s Dil To Pagal Hai. But the song didn’t fit into the story. So they took it out. I never thought they’d use it later,” said Lata, who turned 80 recently.

It was Yash Chopra’s idea to release the song.

“When Yash-ji came to know about the unreleased song in their archives, he immediately wanted it released as a Diwali gift for Lata-ji’s fans. So you could say this song Chanda ki Chandni is Yash-ji’s gift to Lata-ji for Diwali,” a source said.

“Yash Chopra calls Lata as his Saraswati Mata and shares an extremely emotional bond with her. The two share the same star sign and their birthday is separated by only a day. They get along like a house on fire. Yash-ji keeps Lata-ji entertained with his jokes. Lata-ji reciprocates with her songs.

“Yashji in fact insists that as long as she is around no one else will sing in his films. That of course has changed now, what with the new guard led by Aditya Chopra opting for other voices,” the source said.

Lata hardly sings film songs nowadays, her last film song was A.R. Rahman’s lullaby Luppa Chuppi for Rang De Basanti (2006).

For Lata, it’s a quiet Diwali at home with the family. No special plans were set after the celebrations earlier this week when her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar turned 72 Sunday.

“Every year there’s a kind gentleman in Pune who organises a musical event for my brother’s birthday. This year was no different. We’ve all been involved with that until Sunday. So Diwali would be slightly low-key. Of course the children would have their fun with the usual Diwali celebrations,” says Lata.

After Diwali she intends to get her knees operated for arthritis. The operation would be undertaken at the Mangeshkars’ hospital in Pune.

Although her knees give her more trouble these days than she had ever bargained for, the nightingale’s throat continues to be in tremendous shape.

Lata has recorded Sai Baba bhajans with sister Usha Mangeshkar.

On the eve of her 60th birthday, Bollywood ‘dream girl’ Hema Malini

On the eve of her 60th birthday, Bollywood ‘dream girl’ Hema Malini says she is thrilled to play erstwhile Gwalior queen Vijayraje Scindia in the movie Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi, but says unlike her other films the role needed a lot of preparation and she had to spend considerable time with the Scindia family. “I’m honoured to be playing the Rajmata. Do you know she was the founder of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and today I’m a proud member of the BJP and getting a chance to play her on screen,” Hema said. “I think this role requires a fair amount of preparation. Something I haven’t done for too many of my characters except Razia Sultan and Meera. Both were very close to my heart. And now I think this will be the third role that’s very close to my heart,” she added. To be directed by Gulbahar Singh, Ek Thi Rani Aisi Bhi went on the floor Tuesday. It will be made in close collaboration with the Scindias. “Though I didn’t know the great lady personally, I’ve known her late son Madhavrao Scindia (late Congress leader) and her daughter Vasundhara (BJP leader and Rajasthan chief minister) quite well through my parliamentary work. “In fact, I had been to Gwalior last year in summer with my daughter Ahana for a dance performance on the invitation of Madhavraoji’s son Jyotiraditya Scindia. My colleagues in parliament were outraged. ‘How could you go at his invitation when he’s from the Congress?’ But I think culture and art should be put above politics, don’t you think?” “I hope I can carry off the Rajmata’s royal dignity and confidence,” Hema said. Aishwarya Rai was supposed to play Gayatri Devi, the Rani of Jaipur in J.P. Dutta’s biopic, but the project was shelved

Mixed day for india

Even though Indian managed a fight back through tail enders but really the failure of top order continues.Having scored 68 runs with out loss of wicket India went to third day on a confident note with both Sehwag and Gambhir in full flow.But unfortunately both opener failed to capitalize on the start they got on second day ,both went very cheaply.Having lossed both the opener it was up to the highly rated Indian middle order to take India forward.But they failed again,even though Dravid and ganguly fighted out,with Dravid scoring 54 runs and Ganguly on 47, the other fammed middle players like Sachin and Laxman failed again.

Yes,the condition was tough,but after having lots of experience over the years the middle order should have contributed more to the cause. Sachin falling to slower one and Laxman knicking one to wicket keeper for a duck made things really difficult until came Harbhajan and Zaheer.Both the bowlers took attack to the Aussies and they added very crucial runs with Harbhajan went for well played 54 and a impressive 35 not out from zaheer.If they havent put on a partnership things would have gone unglier for Indian.Now having scored 313 runs with 2 wickets in hand India looking for a fight back.Still with 117 runs behind India another 50 or 60 runs to stay on the hunt.

Kelly

Kelly got a amount of $ 3.4 million as an award against his former tour promoter and he asking judge from to help him collect.

R. Kelly Touring, which represents the singer, filed court documents on Monday seeking a judge’s confirmation of the award an arbitrator granted against Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment last month.

Kelly’s company claimed that Rowe Entertainment and owner Leonard Rowe failed to pay him in full for shows scheduled for late last year and early 2008. An arbitrator agreed with Kelly’s claims. Documents show Rowe disputed the arbitration, but did not offer any defense during a recent hearing.

An after-hours phone message left for Rowe’s attorney in Atlanta was not returned Monday.

Kelly won three Grammys in 1997 for the song I Believe I Can Fly, but is known for his sexually charged music. He was acquitted earlier this year of child pornography charges and is scheduled to release a new album before year’s end.

Singer Ne-Yo recently won a $700,000 judgment against Rowe after he sued because he was dropped from Kelly’s tour after only two shows.

Important series for India

Indian now currently placed at number 3 behind south africa.They have great chance to move to second spot if they manage to win against Australia with a margin of 3-0,3-1 or 2-0.India team which currently 29 points behind aussies have great chance if they beat them by margin of two matches or more.

However scoreline like 1-0,2-1will only make India to close the gap between them and south African’s they wont go ahead of them.But if a win of 4-0 will not only make India to go ahead of south Africa,they can even close the gap to 7 points with Australia.But if Aussies wins the series by 2 or more scoreline it will widen the Gap or if they make 4-0 it will make India almost an impossible to task to catch the top spot.

The series is also an important one for India’s big three-Sehwag(10th), VVS Laxman (15th) and Rahul Dravid (16th) a good in the series will see them improve their ranking.It also important series for Indian Legend Tendulkar which will make him break into the top 20 once again now he is currently in 23 spot.