Australian actress Brooke Satchwell, who was in a bathroom at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel when terrorists struck, says terrified guests locked themselves in toilet cubicles while people were "being shot in the hallways".

The former star of popular Australian soap opera "Neighbours" is in India on a three-week film shoot. She was in the Taj hotel's ground floor bathroom when she heard gunfire in the lobby outside Wednesday, reports 3aw.com, Australia's most listened-to radio station website. 

"The staff let us hide in a service cupboard between the two bathrooms. We sat in there listening to matching gun fire, " Satchwell said. The hostage situation at the hotel cleared up only by Thursday afternoon.

"Two of the male staff were sticking their heads out to see what was going on, which was absolutely terrifying. They were coming back and reporting that there was a dead body outside the bathroom and that they were seeing people being shot in the hallways, " she added.

"There was a lot of confusion, no one really knew what was going on and we all felt a bit like sitting ducks, " Satchwell was quoted as saying.

The most audacious terror attack targeted high profile landmarks, including the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Metro Theatre and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) railway station killing at least 101 people and injuring over 250. The terror siege continued well into Thursday.

Complete Story!

Deepika Padukone is mighty happy about being an action star in her forthcoming film with Kinng Kumar - 'Chandni Chowk To China'.

She's done so many stunts in the film that she's calling herself the female Akshay Kumar.

Deepika can't stop talking about them. 

She's said, "I'm sure I have gone through a lot of death defying action in the film. But I was prepared for it when I signed the film." 

Deepika sports a very interesting look in the film. She's pleased that she's learnt some interesting tricks from him as well.

She's added, "Akshay taught me lots of action. He said that action is like dancing so you have to be very graceful while doing it. I like to believe that main next female Akshay Kumkar hoon (I'm the next female Akshay Kumar)." 

MTV Roadies is back with a more adventurous journey in its sixth season, Roadies — Hell Down with a prize money of Rs 10, 00, 000. The show has tied up with Rohan Sippy's 'Chandni Chowk To China', which would also be Deepika's first film with Akshay Kumar!

Complete Story!

For, this one's applicable for Subhash Ghai, a proficient storyteller, one of the most successful stories from this side of the Atlantic. Irrespective of how his films are received at the ticket window, Ghai's movies are always under scrutiny. You watch every film with a magnifying glass.

Yuvvraaj is no exception!

Ghai's forte has been drama. Recall the dramatic moments in KARZ, VIDHAATA, MERI JUNG, RAM LAKHAN, KARMA, SAUDAGAR. He re-visits the genre with Yuvvraaj. Besides, Yuvvraaj is his most opulent work thus far. It has a sweeping effect, the film makes a stunning visual statement. 

Honestly, Yuvvraaj isn't Ghai's best work, but post YAADEIN, KISNA and BLACK & WHITE, Yuvvraaj salvages him, even redeems the storyteller.

The story (Ghai) mirrors a universal truth. Greed leads to disputes and in turn, ruins all relationships. A fact you've heard or witnessed time and again in real life. While the story is captivating, the screenplay doesn't really do justice to the thought. Also, Rahman's music acts as a soothing balm, but the problem is, it takes time to grow on the listener. And that could be a deterrent. 

Yet, in all fairness, Yuvvraaj is a notch above the commonplace. If you intend spending your hard-earned money on it or devoting 3 hours of your precious time on Ghai's new outing, chances are you won't regret it. 

Deven Yuvvraaj (Salman Khan) is a chorus singer, in love with Anushka (Katrina Kaif). Her father Dr. Banton (Boman Irani), however, is dead against this relationship. Things take a turn when Deven's father passes away and he returns to London to stake claim on his father's wealth.

He meets his two estranged brothers Gyanesh Yuvvraaj (Anil Kapoor) and Danny Yuvvraaj (Zayed Khan) after almost twelve years. But things aren't hunky-dory between them...

Ghai has an eye for visuals and every frame of Yuvvraaj seems like a painting on celluloid. Unmistakably, that's the first thing you notice as Yuvvraaj unfolds.

It takes time to absorb Yuvvraaj. In fact, Ghai doesn't open all his cards at the very outset. It's only when the father (Javed Shaikh) passes away and Mithun Chakraborty, the Executor of the Will, enters the scene that the wheels start moving.

The film gathers momentum after the interval. If the first hour has a few by-now-famous Ghai scenes, the second hour sees Ghai in form, with a number of sequences staying in your memory. 

The penultimate 20-25 minutes are the best. Watch Anil go through the handycam with disbelief, watch Anil and Salman's act during the concert, watch Salman's emotional outburst towards the end... also the titles (brings back memories of OM SHANTI OM).

On the flip side, the screenplay is erratic. There're constant highs and lows in this journey, the film works in patches. In fact, the screenplay falls prey to predictability and mediocrity at places.

Ghai handles the dramatic scenes with flourish. Rahman's music is soothing, but you expect more because Ghai's movies are embellished with lilting music that you recall even after 2 or 3 decades. Kabir Lal captures the striking beauty of Europe well. The output is superb. The sets (Omung Kumar) are truly majestic.

Yuvvraaj belongs to Anil Kapoor, who towers above the entire cast and delivers a natural, believable performance. Salman's looks are inconsistent. 

At times the boyish look is intact, at times he looks bloated. Ditto for his hairstyle. His performance, however, is better, mainly towards the finale. Zayed tries hard and convinces in a few scenes. Mithun Chakraborty is fantastic in a brief role. 

Katrina looks angelic. Despite the focus being on the three men, she registers an impact. Boman Irani is credible, especially in the scene when he steps out of the Operation Theatre towards the end. Aushima Sawhney is confident. Anjan Srivastava and the pack of villains/vamps look straight out of RAM LAKHAN and TAAL.

On the whole, Yuvvraaj is interesting in parts, with the penultimate 20/25 minutes taking the film to an all-time high.

At the box-office, the package (a mammoth cast, Subhash Ghai, A.R. Rahman, the stunning locales of Europe) should ensure a hearty opening and with no major opposition in the forthcoming week, it should keep its investors smiling.

Complete Story!

Now here's a chor who robs just about everything -- car, TV, music system, crockery, artefacts, furniture, even dry fruits, also a pomeranian. Whatever he can lay his hands on. Dibakar Banerjee's Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! is, reportedly, straight out of real life. A conman who gave sleepless nights to many a cop in Delhi.

A couple of summers ago, Shaad Ali's BUNTY AUR BABLI focussed on two thieves, who went on a robbing spree, sporting a different guise every time they played the con game. Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! traces the journey of a teenager who grew up in one of those crowded bylanes of Delhi and slowly and gradually took to the world of crime.

Set in Delhi, like Dibakar's debut vehicle KHOSLA KA GHOSLA, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! has its heart in the right place and that's made abundantly clear 15 minutes into the film. But the problem is its waferthin storyline. Things get repetitive after a point.

It tells the story of Lucky (Abhay Singh), whose modus operandi is to outsmart people, chowkidars and policemen with his sharp mind and wit. He is an aspiring individual who loves the good things in life and is generally enamoured by the lifestyles of the rich and affluent Delhi families.

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! traces Lucky's journey from a middle class boy to a popular thief.

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! starts off really well. The teenage years of Lucky, his relationship with his father, his first crush, his friends… the seeds are sown rightly. But once Lucky starts committing one crime after another, the story stagnates. There's no dramatic twist in the tale and that is its biggest flaw.

Gangster films with Mumbai flavour are restricted to Mumbai/Maharashtra mainly. Similarly, a film like Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! has its share of limitations because you can't expect the film to find universal acceptance due to its Delhi-centric theme and flavour.

Despite the shortcomings, there's no denying that Dibakar Banerjee is a director with potential. He has been faithful to the material, making the goings-on look believable. There's not much scope for music in the film, although Dibakar should've played the title track at all significant points throughout the film.

Abhay Deol excels in a role that offers him ample scope to display histrionics. From a gawky youngster in SOCHA NA THA to a conman in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! 

Abhay has only evolved with the passage of time. Paresh Rawal is magnificent yet again. He gets to portray three diverse roles and he lives up to the demands of the script. He's terrific as the shrewd and calculating doctor.

Neetu Chandra makes her presence felt in an enterprise that doesn't really belong to her. Archana Puransingh is fantastic and compliments Paresh beautifully. The actor enacting the role of Abhay's friend is competent.

On the whole, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! is a well-executed enterprise, which has its share of limitations. At the box- office, the film caters to the Northern audience mainly -- Delhi and Punjab specifically. Besides North, the plexes in Mumbai should fare slightly better.

Complete Story!

Director Onir has always defied stereotypes. Recall his first two films -- MY BROTHER NIKHIL and BAS EK PAL. With Sorry Bhai!, Onir takes the road less travelled.

'Come, fall in love… with you brother's bride', says the tagline of the film.

Agreed, there must've been real- life instances of a guy falling in love with his bhabhi-to-be, but as a cinematic experience, a theme like this caters to a niche audience. The traditional ones, even with a modern outlook towards life, might not approve of this story in the first place.

As a movie, Sorry Bhai! has some interesting moments and the ensemble star cast pitches in real performances too. But the impression you get is that Onir didn't know how to tie it all up, to conclude the film convincingly.

Siddharth (Sharman Joshi), a shy young scientist, travels to Mauritius for his elder brother Harsh's (Sanjay Suri) wedding. Accompanying him is his Ma (Shabana Azmi), a reluctant traveller since she is angry at Harsh for deciding to get married without consulting them. Also travelling is Siddharth's cheery father (Boman Irani).

Harsh, pre-occupied with work, can spend little time with his family and it is left to his fiancée Aaliyah (Chitrangda Singh) to show them around Mauritius before the wedding. However, Ma's anger at Harsh ensures that she takes an instant dislike for Aaliyah and it is Aaliyah and Siddharth who end up spending loads of time together.

This, added to the fact that Aaliyah feels neglected by the career-obsessed Harsh, leads to them being irresistibly drawn to each other. A horrified Siddharth battles this attraction desperately, but Aaliyah has fallen madly in love and pursues him with single-minded determination.

When Siddharth's defences start crumbling and Ma starts getting suspicious, all hell breaks loose in the family.

Sorry Bhai! may be an interesting concept, but it doesn't turn out to be an interesting film in entirety. For it to be a complete film, it needed a tight screenplay, which is sorely missing here.

However, a few sequences have been handled deftly. Note the sequences between Sharman and Chitrangda and the gradual attraction. Even the love making sequence in the store catches you by surprise. Again, recall the sequences between Shabana and Chitrangda. You can feel the tension.

But Onir gets too unconventional this time. Sure, times are changing rapidly, but the fact remains that most of us are extremely orthodox when it comes to relationships. And that's precisely why a film like Sorry Bhai! might not find many takers.

The conclusion to the tale is also least convincing. It may seem perfect since the mother (Shabana) makes her younger son (Sharman) swear on her life, but when it comes to matters of the heart, all rules (and relations) take a backseat, nothing else matters actually.

The music, like Onir's previous BAS EK PAL, is soothing, but how one wishes it would've been promoted aggressively too. Cinematography is striking.

In the acting department, Sharman Joshi steals the show. He plays the geek who loses his heart to his prospective sister-in-law with rare understanding. This is his finest performance so far.

Chitrangda is a complete natural and despite being pitted against a powerful actor like Shabana, stands on her feet. It's the chemistry between Sharman and Chitrangda that is the film's saving grace. Shabana is terrific.

There're some (tough) roles only Shabana can perform and this is one of those. Boman is wonderful. The moments between Shabana and Boman are magical. Sanjay Suri is competent, but gets sidelined midway through the film.

On the whole, Sorry Bhai! is too bold and startling for the Indian audiences. At the box-office, it caters to a tiny/miniscule audience -- a handful of plexes in a handful of cities. And those numbers would be disheartening as well!

Complete Story!

Click on Images for Full View

Complete Story!

There are some tips for cleaning your make up brushes.

1. Fill the sink with warm water and mild shampoo.

2. Clean each brush by shaking bristles back and forth in the soapy water and then rubbing them until they foam. To keep wood handles from warping or glue from loosening, do not totally submerge brushes. Wipe handles with a damp, soapy cloth.

3. Thoroughly rinse all traces of cleanser from bristles in warm water.

4. Squeeze water from bristles, and then use a dry towel to squeeze out more water.

5. Place clean makeup brushes on the edge of a cabinet until they are totally dry before replacing them into holders.

I am afraid it is not just your makeup brushes that you have to clean, but all the tools in your makeup kit. Brow brushes can be cleaned with shampoo like other makeup brushes. However, if lint and brow hair become tangled and trapped at the base of the brush, use a clean toothpick to loosen between the bristles before washing. Eyelash curlers and pencil sharpeners can be cleaned using a swab saturated with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. Clean pencil sharpener blades often to prevent bacteria being redistributed onto your lip and eye pencils. Lash curlers can be cleansed, but if the curling inserts have cracks in them, they should be replaced. Replacement inserts are not expensive and can be purchased separately.

Complete Story!

Are your make up brushes harboring bugs? Are those sponges looking suspect? Great make up starts with clean beauty products and tools. We use cosmetics to take care of ourselves, but we also need to take care of our beauty gear. These tips will help your beauty products last longer and keep skin problems to a minimum.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY MAKE UP BRUSHES?

The answer to this question is: as often as you use them, according to some fastidious experts. Frequent cleanings prevent bacterial build-up (a potential cause of breakouts), ensure even color application and extend brush life. Unfortunately, very few women can be bothered to clean their make up brushes.

All make up artists are taught that they must clean their make up brushes after every single person they make up. Surprisingly, a lot of them do not conform to these rules; imagine the poor models who have had lipstick applied with the same lipstick brush as thirty other girls before them. Most models are in their late teens, a time when glandular fever is ripe (glandular fever would put a model out of work for at least a few month); it only takes one girl to infect all the others with an illness such as this. So if professional make up artists are guilty of this, we're willing to bet you are too.

Here is some information you may not know regarding women and their make up:

97% women participate in spring cleaning

Only 34% clean their makeup bags

61% almost never clean their makeup brushes

DIRTY MAKE UP BRUSHES

Oil from your face and old make up can get trapped in the bristles of your brushes and cause bacteria to grow, which can cause skin problems. Don't share make up brushes (or make up) with friends; anything that touches your skin, eyes or lips can spread bacteria.

Complete Story!

Paris Hilton has kicked Benji Madden to the curb after nine months of nonstop schmoopiness?
Just days after the starlet was supposedly spied "all over" former flame Stavros Niarchos at a Miami club, she's parted ways with the Good Charlotte rocker, whom she recently called her "best friend," while he swooned just last month that she's "my life, my heart and my soul." Hilton's rep confirmed the split to the Associated Press, offering the standard assurance that they plan to "remain very good friends." So what went wrong between the pair?
"Benji was overprotective and controlling," a snitch tells Us. "He doesn't get along with any of her friends. Friends thought Paris had changed since being with Benji and she wants to be herself again."

Star also cites Madden's supposed heavy-handedness as a reason for their implosion.

"Paris was fed up with Benji always telling her what to do and bossing her around," a source contends to the tab, which says they broke up on Monday, hours before they were spotted partying separately in Los Angeles. "She couldn't take his overbearing ways anymore. It was stressing her out. He can be very aggressive and he was just too much trouble."
Benji, alleges the insider, "fought for a second chance and asked if they could talk it out but Paris said she was done talking."
People, however, classifies the split as more amicable than acrimonious.
"She is saddened by the breakup but they're just too different and they wanted different things in life," a Paris confidant tells the mag. "He was loyal and sweet but it was time to take a break."
Meanwhile, Star says Hilton's close encounter with Niarchos pushed her supposedly tense situation with Madden to the breaking point.
"Benji didn't like it that she spent the evening with Stavros," the chatty snitch maintains. "He blew up and Paris felt victimized. He gave her a lot of grief about that."
By the by, a spy tells E! News that nothing untoward went on between Paris and her Greek billion-heir ex, despite eyewitness accounts to the contrary.
"They didn't come together or leave together," pooh-poohs a mole. "They didn't make out at all!"
Echoes the People source, "In no way are they romantic, nor do they want to get back together."
Star believes that what ultimately led to Paris and Benji's demise is their conflicting attitudes over what constitutes fun.
"She felt she couldn't cut loose and party," relays the source. "He doesn't drink and doesn't think she should either. She felt too fenced-in." Hilton, for her part, ignored questions lobbed by paparazzi Tuesday night about the state of her romance, using her usual deflection tactic of making like she's on an important cell phone call.
People reports she whooped it up at hotspot Apple lounge that evening, cutting loose by shaking her groove thing atop a couch.

Complete Story!

LONDON: A British judge granted pop megastar Madonna and her British filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie a divorce on Friday, barely a month after they announced the end of their eight-year marriage.

District Judge Caroline Reid pronounced the decree nisi in the “quickie,” or uncontested, divorce at the family division of the High Court in London. The case, listed as Ciccone M L v Ritchie G S, was among 17 cases read out by a court clerk.

Judge Reid then asked if anyone wished to show cause against the decrees, or raise the question of costs, before saying: “I therefore pronounce the decrees.” Neither Madonna nor Ritchie attended the hearing, which lasted barely a minute, something they are not required to do under British law.

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, announced in mid-October that they were to divorce nearly eight years after they married in a lavish ceremony at a Scottish castle in December 2000.

The couple have an eight-year-old son, Rocco, and a three-year-old son adopted in Malawi, David Banda. Madonna also has a daughter, 12-year-old Lourdes, by her former fitness trainer Carlos Leon.

Complete Story!

Simpson-Wentz, 24, and the Fall Out Boy bassist, 29, announced her pregnancy in May, a few weeks after their opulent Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland-themed wedding.

Wentz has been leaning on rocker pal Joel Madden – dad to 9-month-old Harlow with girlfriend Nicole Richie – for tips on fatherhood. “Joel gives me advice. It’s been really awesome for me to go to another person my age.”

Richie and Harlow were guests at Simpson-Wentz’s Winnie the Pooh-themed baby shower on Nov. 1.

It’s hard for me to picture Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz as parents, as they seem like children themselves.

Mowgli? Yes, the young boy from Jungle Book.

Complete Story!

Starring: Vinay Pathak, Neha Dhupia, Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Purbi Joshi and Sarita Joshi, Director: Shashant Shah.

Dasvidanya tells the the story of simpleton, Amar Kaul (Vinay Pathak) who works as an accounts manager in a pharmaceuticals company. Amar’s only excitement in life is making a to-do list every morning and then ticking off everything that he accomplishes at the end of the day. But unfortunately, destiny has some other plans stored for him. He comes to know through his doctor that he is suffering from stomach cancer and now only has just three months left to live.

This news makes Amar wake up to the reality that how till now he has wasted his life. Never mustered the courage to express his love, never brought a car or never ever traveled abroad, Amar has so many unfulfilled dreams left! He then sets about making a new to do list of 10 things. His last list of all the things he has to do before he dies. From making a foreign trip to telling his childhood love about his affections for her to meeting his school best friend with whom he has lost contact. The film then follows Amar’s journey towards fulfilling his wishes which also take him nearer to his death.

Completely, character driven, the charm of the film lies in its simplicity of its theme and its wonderfully etched characters. The screenplay is well woven with some moments that carry the power to remain etched in your memory even long after the film is over. The only spoke in the wheel is the Russian girl’s track as it slows down the pace of the film. There are moments however that instantly bring tears to your eyes such as a few scenes between Vinay and his mom played by stage veteran Sarita Joshi and Vinay finally expressing his love on a rainy night to Neha Dhupia. First timer Shashant Shah has handled the subject with a rare maturity.

The film is a must see for Vinay Pathak’s absolutely brilliant performance. One can easily rate it above his Bheja Fry act. Rajat Kapoor is good and so is Sarita Joshi. Neha Dhupia shows remarkable improvement as an actress while Ranvir Shorey appears completely disinterested. Saurabh Shukla is good as Vinay’s boss and Gaurav Gera as his brother.

Complete Story!

Click on Images for Ful View

Complete Story!

Click on Images for Ful View

Complete Story!

Complete Story!

lick on Images for Ful View

Complete Story!

Complete Story!

For More Pics Click on Read more...








Complete Story!