Julia Roberts in Pataudi

We were on the trail of Julia Roberts, one of Hollywood's leading ladies, star of Pretty Woman and Erin Brockavich. For, if you don't know by now, the illustrious Ms Roberts is indeed in India.
The 41-year-old is here to shoot for the Hollywood film Eat, Pray, Love, the film adaptation of American Elizabeth Gilbert's best-selling memoir of the same name. In the film, Roberts plays the then 35-year-old Gilbert -- a soul-searching, NYC-based writer, who, in the wake of a bitter divorce undertakes a year-long sojourn to eat in Italy, pray in India and love in Indonesia.

Konkona Sen Sharma - 'Everybody thinks of me as a very serious actress'

Konkona Sen Sharma is not one to do run-of-the-mill kind of movies. Just look at her films like Mr & Mrs Iyer, Page 3, Life... In A Metro and you will know what we mean.
Her new film Wake Up Sid, opposite Ranbir Kapoor which hits theatres on October 2, looks unconventional as well. Fans dying to know more about the film got their wish during a chat with the actress last week. For those who missed the chat, here's what transpired:

Konkona Sen Sharma says, Hi everyone. Konkona here. Shoot your questions.

shekhar asked, pl u act with emraan hasmee
Konkona Sen Sharma answers, I haven't got a chance to work with Emraan Hashmi yet. Why, you think we'd look good together?

amti asked, why do u always fall in love with a gay in movie
Konkona Sen Sharma answers, I know! It's so sad. I told my directors but I guess that's what they wanted in their movies!

Vivek asked, Just happened to visit rediff by chance and saw you live chat session going on..lucky to be here....
Konkona Sen Sharma answers, Hi Vivek, all the best for your meeting!

Vivek asked, Thought before I leave I should post one last time, I am very very big fan of yours ..I liked you very much and more then that the intensity with which you perform any character .be it Meenkshi in Mr & Mrs Iyer .MAdhavi in Page 3 Mithi in Park Avenue .Indu of omkara ..Sonam in Luck by chance ..It's very difficult for me to judge which one was your best performance; to me each succeed each other .What do u think Which one was your best ..Well there in only one role which is missing in your plate..that is off a Authoritative woman..who rules the world on its own terms (More like your real life)..you have always played the soft but yes tough characters ..R u planning to take up one .Just to tell you one secret my girl friend looks like you..may be that is one of the reason I like you so much ..and more importantly she resembles with your character of Madhavi in Page 3..I am really lucky to have her in my life
Konkona Sen Sharma answers, Long question! I think Mr and Mrs Iyer is my favourite among my own films! Hope you liked it!

Happy Birthday Nicole

Today is the birthday of famous Hollywood celebrity Nicole Richie according to her bio on Wiki page describes her as a "socialite, actress, author, singer and famous TV personality," Nicole Richie active from 2003-present. We aren't sure how true any of that is, but it is true that she turns 28 today. Happy birthday, Nicole!

These days, Lionel Richie's daughter is perhaps best known as a mother herself - she and Joel Madden are parents to Harlow, 1, and Sparrow, two weeks. It could be worse than being known as the mom of two of the cutest celebrity babies.

'Grey Gardens' big winner for HBO at Emmy Awards

"Grey Gardens" was a shoo-in to win best TV movie at the Emmy Awards. After all, it tied the record for most nominations for a TV movie (17) and HBO has won this race 14 of the last 16 years, including the most recent five in a row. And that HBO golden touch with the Emmys carried over to the mini/movie acting categories because all four races went to first-time champs.
Two-time Oscar winner Jessica Lange ("Tootsie," "Blue Sky") finally prevailed on her third Emmy bid. She won the lead actress race for the role of 'Big' Edie Beale in "Grey Gardens." Christine Ebersole and Mary-Louise Wilson both took home Tony Awards two years ago for playing the younger and older versions of this captivating woman in a tuner version of this story.

With his supporting actor win for "Grey Gardens," Ken Howard – who won a featured actor Tony in 1970 for "Child's Play" – edged out, among others, another Tony champ, Len Cariou ("Sweeney Todd"). And with her win as supporting actress, Shoreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sadaam") kept recent Tony winner Marcia Gay Harden ("God of Carnage") from claiming the triple crown of acting this year.

One woman Harden bested for the Tony -- Janet McTeer – also contended in this category for "Into the Storm." While McTeer lost, her on-screen husband, Brendan Gleeson, won the lead actor race for his portrayal of Winston Churchill seven years after Albert Finney won this same category for playing the political powerhouse in "The Gathering Storm."

"Little Dorrit" helmer Dearbhla Walsh became the first woman ever to win the movie/mini directing Emmy Award. And after winning an Emmy in 1991 for scripting the contemporary political thriller "House of Cards," Andrew Davies got Emmy nods for adapting literary classics "Pride and Prejudice" (1996) and "Bleak House" (2006) before finally winning again for his scripting of "Little Dorrit" this year.

Gauhar Khan - “I have no godfather in the industry”

Model turned actress Gauhar Khan is on cloud nine these days. Finally she is paid her dues for the kind of talent she possess. She has been roped in by Yash Raj films for Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year. As of now she would not divulge any details on the film, but still she shared her experience of being a part of YRF films in an interview.

How was the experience of working in Rocket Singh?
It was a great experience working with a Director of Shimit Amin’s caliber. He is very particular about the cast of his film, and if he has showed faith in me, I too have given my 100 percent to it. Ranbir Kapoor is a real sweetheart. He is very down to earth. In fact, everybody on the sets gelled so well that it was like a big party. As I was among the few girls on the sets, these guys would gang-up and play pranks on me, but it was fun.

Did you ever foresee working with YRF?
Yes, in my dreams! Now my belief that dreams do come true has become stronger. I was offered lot of films during my Miss India days, but I turned down all of them, maybe because I was waiting for this kind of beginning.

Did you expect this kind of trend in your acting career while you were taking up Jhalak…?
No, but I was sure of the visibility. I took up Jhalak as a platform where I can perform and showcase my talent. In the previous season Sanjay Leela Bhansali was looking for some talent for his film, but he didn’t pick anyone. I must say I am destiny’s child that I got noticed on the show and got short-listed by the ace production house.

How far your well-toned model-like body helped you in pulling off the steps gracefully in Jhalak…?
I do agree flexibility of the body does help, but dancing is just not about body. It’s in your soul and flows through your blood. Even a trained dancer cannot pull off the dancing steps gracefully, unless he is passionate about it.

Do you think finally you are paid your dues for the kind of talent you posses?
I have no godfather in the industry and if today I am part of such a big film, it is purely on the basis of my talent and I am proud of it.

What kinds of roles would you like to do?
I am fascinated by the trend of realistic cinema where situation, character and acts are for real. I would also love to do running around the trees kind of commercial films, as I am very filmy at heart. I would want to do something that stays with people even after the film is over.

Any film if remade, you would want to be a part of?
I would love to take up the challenge of playing the role of Manisha Koirala in Khamoshi. I would have also liked to be a part of Imtiaz Ali’s not Jab We Met, but Socha Na Tha. If old Khubsoorat is remade I would love to play Rekha’s character and definitely a classic like Mughal-e-Azam is always desired.

Which contemporary actress do you admire?
Konkona Sen Sharma fits in the broadened arena of the cinema today. She has touched upon the gamut of roles from being a mother, a daughter to an onscreen wife. Apart from Hindi commercial and Art cinema, she has done films in English and in regional languages. I wish to do something like what she has done.

Are you game for steamy hot scenes for a good role?
Though I come from a modeling background, but I don’t want to embarrass my family when they go to watch my films. They are use to my bold and glamorous attire, but I personally want to draw lines for myself while taking up any role.

Do you want to be an actor or a star?
I am an actor who wants to be a star!

Will you continue to be a model?
No. I have done a crash course in acting and that broke all the myths that I harbored about acting, and so now I feel more like an actor.

Sanjay Dutt - Akshay Kumar ends their cold war

On the set of "Blue" the 15 year old cold war between Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt have come to an end. The two had a fallout during Raj Sippy’s 1994 film, Amaanat, when Sippy wanted to shoot a song on Akshay but Sanjay wanted that song instead. Eventually, it was Sanjay who got the song. Ever since then, Akshay and Sanjay never appeared in a film together.
The two were then chosen for Blue. During Blue’s shooting too, they cold-shouldered each other until the last day when they decided to bury the hatchet. They were very nice to each other and left everyone pleasantly surprised. They even spoke about wanting to work together in future. At least one set of warring stars in Bollywood are now friends!

Miley Cyrus - I'm not dating with anyone

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus has insisted that she's not dating anyone at the moment.

The 16-year-old star split from her model boyfriend Justin Gaston earlier this summer and was later linked to her ex boyfriend Nick Jonas.

She was also snapped kissing actor Liam Hemsworth as she bid him a warm goodbye at the Nashville airport.

Cyrus recent postings on Twitter also sparked rumours that she has rekindled her romance with Gaston, but the young star says that she is too busy focusing on her career to commit to a relationship, Access Hollywood reported.

"There are a lot of people I'm supposedly dating these days. But I'm just kicking it right now, I don't really have time for a huge relationship. There's no dude," Cyrus said.

Priyanka and Katrina Kaif fighting for youth icon award

The famous Bollywood's ladies Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif now set to battle it out to be Indian youth icon for fans and this generation.
The two actresses, along with actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and superstar Hrithik Roshan, have been nominated in the entertainment category for the Videocon India Youth Icon Awards.

Versatile actor Rahul Bose has also been nominated for the youth icon award, but for his contribution towards social justice and welfare. Rahul is the founder of the NGO, The Foundation, which works for various issues like education and child abuse.

Conceptualised by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd. in association with media partner Sahara India Media, the awards will be a platform to honour young individuals for their extraordinary contribution to society. It will be sponsored by Videocon.

Awards will be presented to people in categories like sports, technology, media, the arts, private entrepreneurship and politics apart from entertainment and social justice and welfare.

The nominations have been decided by a panel of experts including journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, tennis ace Leander Paes, renowned cardiologist Naresh Trehan, actor and social activist Shabana Azmi, singer Usha Uthup and Venugopal Dhoot, chairman of Videocon Industries Limited.

The winners will now be chosen through online voting and the awards will be distributed September 25.

Peter Andre Receives Divorce

Reality TV stars Katie Price and Peter Andre have been granted a divorce at London's High Court.

District Judge Bradley pronounced the decrees nisi - marking the penultimate stage of the divorce proceedings.

It was revealed the pair had both applied for a divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour.

Andre's lawyers had asked that the divorce papers be kept confidential, but dropped the request when informed which documents would be released.

These included a copy of the marriage certificate, answers to set questions by the court about the former couple's petitions for divorce, and the judge's certificate granting a decree nisi.

Price, 31, who models under the name Jordan, and singer Andre, 36, chose to divorce each other, with neither party accepting blame for the split.

They filed cross decrees under Price K v Andrea PJ - Andre's real name.

Their separation was announced in May, but neither side gave a reason for the break-up. Since then, Price has claimed it was her husband's decision to leave her.

Press attention

The tabloid favourites met on the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004 and married a year later.

They have two children together, four-year-old son Junior and daughter Princess Tiaamii, two.

Price also has a son, Harvey, aged seven, with footballer Dwight Yorke.

In July, Price was interviewed by former newspaper editor Piers Morgan and claimed Andre had left her shortly after she suffered a miscarriage.

She has since released her latest book and Andre has re-launched his pop career, with a single called Behind Closed Doors, inspired by his relationship with Price.

They have also starred in separate ITV2 reality shows, documenting their lives since the split.

Preity Zinta Becomes Item Girl for Main Aur Mrs Khanna

After being in the news for many reasons, Bollywood's darling girl Preity Zinta is back in the news and how! Preity is back in the spotlight for her dedicated professionalism, something that she always has been an epitome of!
UTV and Sohail Khan Production's upcoming Main Aur Mrs Khanna will have a special appearance with a dance item of Preity Zinta.

Preity Zinta, in a break from her IPL duties, will star in a special song in the flick starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The actress was reportedly flown into Dubai for the number, which took a fortune and an entire day to shoot. A source associated with the project said: "Director Prem Soni required a huge open-air theatre for the song, which they managed to get in Dubai."

Preity also spent ten days rehearsing for the shoot, on a daily, three-hour schedule. Farah Khan, who choreographed the song, also put the actress on a special diet coupled with yoga and swimming lessons, with just one basic motive: to be in shape for the song!

We get about Preity Zinta that "Preity was specially made to travel to Dubai for a single day to shoot for the song called 'Happening'. Also that the 'happening' song in question is indeed a delight to watch and is bound to have everyone's foot tapping." The source also added that the production team had to spend a fortune on that single day outdoor shoot for Preity as the film's director Prem Soni required a huge open air theater for the song which they managed to get in Dubai. The same source went onto add that "When Preity and director Prem Soni were brainstorming about the name of the choreographer who could do apt justice to this song, the only name that kept popping in their head was that was of Farah Khan. Not just that,with Farah Khan coming on board, both Prem Soni and Preity were just too happy!

All that we can do is to pat Preity on her back for exhibiting such dedication. Preity…one only hopes that all this dedication and hard work of yours pays you and the film rich dividends. Considering that the visuals of the song bear a striking similarity to the smash-hit 'Kajraare', we also hope that this song goes on to become as big a hit as the Bunty aur Babli number, if not more. We are sure that Preity will agree with us on this one!

Britney Spears sings live for Australian fans

Britney Spears live performance on stage gave her Australian fans a treat on last Saturday night.
With the exception of a few rare vocals on drippy ballad Everytime, the US singer has been miming her way through her worldwide Circus tour.

However it appears she's now decided to up the ante, trying something a little different for gig-goers in Greensboro, NC.

Britters looked confident as she belted out a cover of ALANIS MORISSETTE'S You Oughta Know.

And it appears fans were impressed as they roared in approval afterwards.

Britney’s tour continues on Tuesday in Detroit, Michigan, with a number of Midwest and West Coast dates still to come.

Ashley Greene's naked pics hit the internet

After actress Vanessa Hudgens and singer Miley Cyrus, Twilight actress Ashley Greene, who plays Alice in the Twilight movies has become the latest celebrity to see her nude pictures/photos leaked on the Internet. Ashley Greene is reportedly horrified to see her naked pictures on web.

Ashley's candid snaps feature one full frontal photograph, from spreading. According to The Sun, her lawyer has warned websites against posting her naked pictures. "The photos in question, which appear to be of our client, are illegal and are being unlawfully displayed. Our client intends to take legal action," The Sun quotes her legal representative.

The actress' attorney has even spoken to celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton. "Ms. Greene is the owner of the copyrights in these photos, and, as copyright owner, Ms. Greene owns the exclusive rights, among others, to reproduce, distribute, and to display the photos," The Sun reports as the attorney telling Perez Hilton.

This shocking news of her naked pictures came when Ashley Greene was busy celebrating the success of getting the 'Fresh Face Female Award' at Teen Choice Awards. However, the actress is said to be afraid of loosing her career as Twilight actor at the moment.

Katrina Kaif signed as brand ambassador for Olay Oil

It's the endorsement deals in Katrina Kaif's kitty. The actress who is currently ruling the roost in Bollywood has been signed as the brand ambassador of international cosmetic giant Oil of Olay that launched the newly formulated White Radiance range in India.A source close to Kats adds, "Katrina is a youth icon of today. The international brand found Kats to be the apt model to market their product."

This year, Katrina has been the top choice for endorsing brands. Only recently she was chosen by leading jewelry brand Nakshatra as their brand ambassador and now she has bagged yet another plum endorsement deal with Oil of Olay. The future certainly looks bright for gorgeous Katrina.

Whitney Houston Performe Live On 'Good Morning America'

Whitney Houston returned to the stage on Wednesday 2nd of September with a fiery, fierce and somewhat flaky performance from New York's Central Park as part of the "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series. Whitney Houston performed two new songs and the classics 'My Love Is Your Love' and 'I'm Every Woman.'

Houston — who taped her performance Tuesday — thrilled the crowd of more than 4,000 with a four-song set that included a pair of tunes from her just-released I Look to You album (the Alicia Keys co-penned "Million Dollar Bill" and the emotional title track) and two classics, 1998's "My Love Is Your Love" and her version of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," which Houston turned into a massive hit in 1992.

Houston strode onstage to "Bill," shouting "I love you!" to her fans during the song's opening lines, but midway through the track, her voice began to waver, and she spent the remainder of the song thrusting the microphone into the crowd, urging her fans to help her sing the chorus.

Her struggles continued on "My Love Is Your Love," as she barely made it through the song's second verse before sounding winded (she would later blame her vocal troubles on an appearance on "Oprah" that she had taped earlier in the week). At the end of the track, Houston invited daughter Bobbi Kristina onstage, and the 16-year-old (sorta) obliged, grabbing a microphone from a stagehand — whom Houston identified as "my nephew" — and instructing fans to clap their hands.

In keeping with the familial vibe, Houston dedicated "I Look to You" to her mother, soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston, who was in the audience. She concluded the set with a breathless (in more ways than one) version of "I'm Every Woman," on which she invited "Good Morning America" hosts Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts onstage to sing backup.

Houston also gave an emotional onstage interview during the performance, telling Sawyer and Roberts that she survived her dark period thanks to her faith and her family. And she made it very clear that this isn't a comeback. After all, she never really went away.

Demi Moore Twitter Swears She Has Stretch Marks and Excess Skin

It was only a matter of time until Demi Moore twittered about the quotes going around yesterday where she reportedly denied ever having plastic surgery to French Marie Claire:
"It's completely false—I’ve never had it done. I would never judge those who have—if it's the best thing for them then I don't see a problem. But I don't like the idea of having an operation to hold up the aging process—it's a way to combat your neurosis. The scalpel won't make you happy."

So that's the quote, now it's discussion time in the Twitterverse. Demi kicked off everything with this opening statement: "All this garbage that came out today about me is nothing more than an effort to diminish not just me but all women."

That's not exactly a satisfying response for everyone who wonder where exactly she hides all her aging and they let her know...

One twitterer asked the 46-year-old about her excess skin and stretch marks that had been obvious in an old paparazzi photo. Demi insisted, "I still have excess skin & stretch marks!"

Another twitterer called her out on that statement, she argued back, "Ahh hate to break it to you but I do. Comes with having a few kids 4 some of us!"

Demi concluded that the moral of the story was: "Diminishing us by continually measuring women based on how we look. Or dont look. Creating comparisons instead of connections Say no 2 that!"

Then she thanked the gods of social media for the miracle microblogging service, and everyone went to bed. The Twitterverse breathed a sigh of relief for it had been a long day, only made longer when Soleil Moon Frye celebrated her millionth follower by reprising her iconic role of Punky Brewster.