It is not very common to see the Bachchan Bahu at the audio release of a film. But the occasion was special here as it was the audio launch of Tamil film “Rettachuzhi” produced by Shankar, who is directing her in “Endhiran: The Robot”.

Aishwarya looked ravishing as ever in a white saree at Sathyam Cinemas Monday evening.

“When we explained to her the significance of ‘Rettachuzhi’ and the cast of the film, she immediately agreed. It’s not just her beauty but her commitment towards her profession, which has made her a great actress,” said Shankar who was obviously thrilled to have her at the occasion.

Ash released the audio cassettes and CDs of “Rettachuzhi” which were accepted by noted lyricist Vairamuthu. Ash had once been described by Vairamuthu as a “Taj Mahal weighing 50 kilograms” in one of his lyrics for the film “Jeans”.

The fans were elated when Ash spoke in fluent Tamil and later switched backed to English.

“It’s an honour for me to have been present at this place among legends like Balachander and Bharathiraaja and I feel proud about it. I also feel happy that a woman is treated so respectfully at a public function like this,” she said.

“I can never forget the Tamil film industry and director Shankar in my life. Shankar’s ‘Jeans’ was my first successful film. The many things I learnt during the making of the film gave me enough self-confidence that I could continue to act for a few more years.

“I feel even more proud to be part of Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’ opposite superstar Rajnikanth…I watched a few songs and some sequences from ‘Rettachuzhi’…I think Karthick Raaja’s music and tunes are excellent. I would surely watch the film in future,” she added.

Via Bollywood Star

After a short illness, Aishwarya Rai is back to shoot for Vipul Shah’s Action Replayy. On 11 Feb., the 36-year-old lady had returned home from the sets of the movie due to high fever.

But now she has been recovered and was on a full-day photo shoot on Friday with the actor Akshay Kumar at Film City.

Doctors advised Aish to take bed rest as she was suffering from sore throat as well as body pain. So after taking rests for a few days, she went to visit Abhishek’s maternal grandmother in Bhopal for her 80th birthday and now she returns back to work.

Her illness created a speculation that she is suffering from the stomach tuberculosis that is creating pregnancy problems for her. Though, both Abhishek Bachchan and her father-in-law, actor Amitabh Bachchan have accused the tabloid for involving in such an irresponsible journalism.

Welcome back Aishwarya and we pray for your good health ahead.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may have chosen to take it easy post her marriage, but a recent development in her career has made all those speechless who feel that the beautiful actress’ career is no longer on an upswing.

She has broken the record of Kareena Kapoor with her whopping ten crores contract for her latest film. Earlier, this honor was with Kareena Kapoor with a figure of seven crores.

The film is to be produced Bobby Pushkarna, of the critically acclaimed film ‘Page 3′. Pushkarna was keen on cast Ash only and was determined to shelve the project if the lady did not give an affirmative nod. Finally, after a three-month long chase, Pushkarna was able to persuade her to do his film.

The deal has not yet been finalized in pen and paper but both the parties seem positive.

Via Bollywood Star

Ash, Abhi at Cannes 2009The shooting of Mani Ratnam’s much-hyped film Ravan, starring Aishwarya Rai, has hit a road-block once again with the forest authorities in Maharashtra slapping cases against 14 people from the crew.

The state forest authorities have slapped cases against the crew members charging them of breakng morals of forest property.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Subhash Shelk said”Cases have been registered against 14 persons under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Indian Forest Act,1927,”

Shelke states that “These persons have been charged with illegally entering forest property and undertaking land levelling work to facilitate the film’s shoot,”

He said “The action was taken after forest officials, on a ‘routine beat inspection’ last week near Malshej Ghat area, bordering Thane and Pune districts, noticed the levelling of the land without permission from the department.”

“We have impounded vehicles, including a JCB and tractors used by these people,” Shelke said, adding that after the cases were filed, the film crew applied for permission for the shoot and even deposited Rs 2.5 lakh as deposit for the same.

the officers revealed”As per our information, the actual shooting is supposed to begin from August 27 and is expected to go on for a fortnight in the first phase,” .

Earlier, Ratnam’s production house Madras Talkies was issued a show cause notice by the Animal Welfare Board for not taking permission to use elephants in his film.

The filmmaker had to postpone the shooting for some time after an elephant turned amok on the movie set last month, killing its mahout.

Both the directors Mani Ratnam and Delhi Belly director Abhinay Deo. The concern of these directors was to sign the duo of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan first in their movies.

Mani Ratnam has already jumped up with the pair for his project and shooting have been in the process with “Ravana” while Abinay has finalised January 4 as the D-day to start his film “Crooked” with the couple.

Story about the film “Crooked” are that it is motivated from a Hollywood flick “The Bourne Identity”. The film will have a 40-day non-stop schedule in the beginning. The film is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment. It also stars Jimmy Shergill, Boman Irani and Gul Panag. It will be shot in Thailand, Greece, Turkey and UK.

There have been widespread media reports in last few days about Abhishek Bachchan being the next in line to tattoo his super star actress wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s name on his forearm.

It was also reported that Abhishek who is presently shooting down South for his Mani Ratnam film Ravana has taken an appointment with the same tattoo artist who did the tattoo for Hrithik Roshan of wife Suzzanne. Reports attributed to ‘sources close to Abhishek’ further claimed that he wanted to surprise Aishwarya with the tattoo.

But we have managed to get official confirmation from Abhishek Bachchan’s spokesperson that these reports floating around are nothing but plain rumours.

We were further told that Abhishek is presently shooting for Ravana near Ooty and has not taken any appointment from any tattoo artist and has no such plans either.

The tattoo trend of imbibing one’s partner’s name on one’s most visible part of the body – the forearm had begun with Saif Ali Khan getting the ‘Kareena’ tattoo done. Akshay Kumar too has been sporting his son’s Aarav’s name on his back.

Amitabh Bachchan is extremely worried about his bahu Aishwarya since she has been suffering with flu like symptoms since a few days. There has already been a huge spine flu scare in Mumbai since last few weeks.

Big B who has been spending his time nursing good friend Amar Singh blogged, ‘Jaya left this evening for Mumbai after having spent more than a month by the side of Amar Singh ji during his ailment. I stay back till he is sound enough to travel back. Abhishek is back today from Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ravana’ shoot in Ooty, now Udhagamandalam its original name.”

The actor however spoke on a serious note saying, ‘Aishwarya has taken ill and is down with chest infection and flu like symptoms. Had a high fever yesterday but is settling down today. It is worrying to be so far away from children and not be there to look after them. Yes, they are mature and married and responsible, but children will always remain children!’

Chest infection and flu-like symptoms sound familiar as the symptoms of the virus and affectionate Pa – in – law isn’t going to take any chances with his children, we hope Aishwarya recovers soon.

Who says reality TV is for promotion ravenous starlet and would-be actors hungry for eyeballs? As of now two of Indian cinema’s most honored actresses, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit are at the doorstep of hopping on the reality TV bandwagon.

Our sources find out even though much has been kept under conspiracy of silence, the two gorgeous ladies to take centre stage at a dance reality show.

Matter of concern is that the two gracefully flexible divas have more or less given their bob to the offer and if their dates work out, this dream might just come true. For getting these two divas together a channel have to work wonders as with Madhuri hopping between London and Mumbai and Ashwariya stuck in a series of movies.

Taking into consideration the loud clap to these gorgeous beauties received the last time when they set the screen on fire with their burning performance in ‘Dola Re’, couch potatoes are sure looking forward to this quick feet dancing pair.

Well, reality TV just got classy!

Tamil superstar Rajnikant and Bollywood babe Aishwarya Rai Bachchan released the music of upcoming film ‘Eeram’, a romantic thriller laced with suspense here today.

‘Eeram’ is produced by Shankar whose directorial venture ‘Endhiran’ stars Rajnikanth and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai in lead roles.

Rajnikant said that it was exciting to work with Aishwarya Rai. “85 percent of the film (Endhiran) is over.
It was nice and exciting working with Aishwarya Rai,” said Rajnikant.

Here’s a mother of all confessions… A man who never changes his way for any damn thing.

Least of all to calm down and have friendly terms with other film makers. Recently, while doing an exclusive interview with ZOOM, RGV made a startling confession about Karan Johar (for those who came in late: RGV and KJo’s war of words and ‘dislike’ for each others’ movies, have made headlines for years, and provided fodder for gossip mills).

In this unbelievable interview, Ram Gopal Verma admitted his usuall transparent self when , “For a long time I detested Karan’s larger-than-life, feel-good, glossy movies. I found them too ostentatious, coming as I did from a lower middle-class background. I found all the razzmatazz and the shoo-shaa all very unrealistic. But I was forced to change my viewpoint after I attended the Abhishek-Aishwarya shaadi. I saw exactly the same grand visual and a larger-than-life event at their wedding, that’s when I realised that Karan is far closer to reality than I am (at least in portraying the upper-middle class society).

He admitted to say least”I concede it’s my mistake, and after this I will never say anything about Karan’s movies again.”

But well, now that Karan’s style of filmmaking is becoming more realistic with ‘My Name is Khan’, we wonder if the two filmis will meet mid-way someday. And mark the end of this love-hate relationship. Do you have any such shockers for us, KJo? Over to you then…