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B-town actress Hema Malini has always been passionate towards classical dancing, and performs at various events from time to time. However, she is not happy with the Indian youth’s interest in item dance numbers, and she rather believes that these numbers are not going to save India or its culture."Nritya was my puja. To save our culture we will need to return to classical dance forms and music. Item numbers will neither save India nor our culture. In Bollywood, nobody these days asks new actors whether they know or understand the nuances of classical music," Hema Malini said. What further mesmerizing was when she created a spiritual ambience through her dance-drama Ramayan, which was presented late on Friday evening at the Pushpanjali grounds near Taj Mahal. It was produced by Natya Vihar of Mumbai and helmed by Hema herself.Ravindra Jain had given the music in the drama, while Suresh Wadekar created a religious euphoria with his mesmerizing voice. Sri Hari Satsang Samiti had organized the program.Big cheers to Hema, and other performers!

The field of acting is not at all easy and the actors have to learn and go through various sacrifices to master the art. Same is with actress Kangana Ranaut, who recently showcased her acting skills in Krrish 3, and bagged appreciations for the same.But you may not know that the actress has also been training in classical Indian dance for the past five years. And she is really happy that she could use her skills in upcoming film Rajjo, where she plays a nautch girl."I have been learning classical dance for a long time and it's just a coincidence that I got to do this film. I have been learning it for a reason that someday I will get to do kathak," said Kangana. While promoting her film recently, the actress said that she got to utilize the kathak skills for one particular song in Rajjo.Speaking of the same, she said that the art can't be learnt in a month. "I have been learning classical dance for a while now, for four to five years. A song in the climax is full of kathak that you can't learn it in a week or a month. You have to rehearse for it for a long time."The film is helmed by Vishwas Patil, Rajjo, and it is releasing on November 15. It features Kangana as the protagonist.

After giving back-to-back hits in the form of Raanjhanaa and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Sonam Kapoor has become choosy when it comes to films, and is taking time before giving nod to any director. As of now she is busy preparing herself for Khubsoorat remake.With the Khubsoorat remake, which stars Sonam Kapoor reprising the role of Rekha, the actress is going to come out of all the boundaries, as she will be seen donning a bikini in the film. Even though the film would be a remake of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1980 classic by same name, it is going to be a modern version. We saw Rekha don sarees and flaunted pigtails back then, the remake will see Sonam in a glamorous avatar.Now we know that Sonam has time and again said that she is looking forward to don a bikini in her film, it is learnt that it will happen with Khubsoorat remake, where Sonam will get into the beach wear. Produced by her sister Rhea Kapoor, Khubsoorat will be a contemporary take on the subject.The actress is at present, busy working out to attain a bikini body. Apart from following a strict diet, she is also frequent in the gym, and besides weight training also doing Pilates. "Sonam's trainer has charted out a unique regime, she eats small portions every two hours and she has been told not to consume any carbohydrates after lunch. Sonam wants to approach this in a healthy way. So, she is not starving herself but meticulously eating right to get the perfect swimsuit figure," said one of Sonam's friends.The remake would be shot in Rajasthan, and is expected to hit theatres later next year.

When 32 years back, Umrao Jaan released, starring Rekha as ravishingly beautiful, tragedy-stricken courtesan of Lucknow, the film broke all records at the box-office, and is still remembered for its uniqueness. The film was helmed by Muzaffar Ali, and written by Javed Siddiqui.The duo had planned that they would come up with a sequel to Umrao Jaan someday, and now they have united again for another film on a courtesan, however, it won’t be a sequel to the 1981 classic. In fact, buzz states that the director has abandoned the idea of the sequel altogether.Earlier, Ali had planned a sequel where Umrao returns to the 'kotha' and continues her life. He was to show Rekha as the aged Umrao. Siddiqui told the sources, "Two years back, we started working on the second instalment. And Rekha was more than glad to do the film. But now, the plan has changed. Rekha doesn't fit into my scheme of things now."It is learnt that Ali and Siddiqui were not happy with the fate met by JP Dutta's Aishwarya-Abhishek starrer Umrao Jaan, which was on the same topic. "Frankly, it is difficult to live up to the high standards of the original film. Also, most sequels or even remakes are not well received," Ali said.We’re sure it must have come as huge disappointment for Rekha and Umrao Jaan’s fans!

However, Vidya Balan feels that remaking Mehboob Khan's Oscar-nominated Mother India is an unattainable feat and even if anyone tries to do so, she will never be a part of it. Vidya has donned the look of Nargis, as a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema look from the 1957 cult film Mother India and Meena Kumari's from the 1962-classic Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, for Cineblitz's special edition.

After a long time, singer Sonu Nigam has composed music of any film album, and it is Sooper Se Ooper. However, as per the latest development, he is unhappy with the makers of the film, as he claims that Reliance Entertainment, the producers of the film, which releases on October 25, has not yet released its music."This is deliberate sabotage. No promotion, no publicity, they have not even given a letter of consent to T-Series so they can start playing the music on TV channels. I am furious with this step motherly treatment," said Nigam, while speaking to the sources. It is learnt that with the film, Sonu has collaborated with Bickram Ghosh, the classical and neo-fusion musician, for the first time. When sources got in touch with CEO of Reliance Entertainment, Sanjeev Lamba, he said, "All partners are meeting tomorrow to discuss the film's release. Till we agree on firm plans, it's premature to comment on this." Meanwhile, sources from T-Series, who have the music rights for the movie, said, "We are doing our bit and we have already started playing the film's music on our YouTube channel."We hope the proper steps would be taken!

Sunny Leone’s upcoming film Jackpot, directed by Kaizad Gustad, is scheduled to release on 13 December, 2013. The film, which is based on fast paced thriller con, also stars Sachiin J Joshi and Naseeruddin Shah.Speaking about the shooting Sachin Joshi who is excited for this film said, “The characters in this movie is very challenging and it will bring a tough competition between three of us. Audiences will get to see Sunny Leone's hidden talent. After Jism 2, Jackpot will give a new turn in her career. As beautiful sunny is her mind is equally powerful and intricate.”Porn star Sunny Leone, who is coming back in her Bollywood heroine’s avatar, is said to have done sizzling scene in the film. Filmmaker Kaizad Gustad shared a shooting still of how the opening credits of the film will look like. Kaizad said on his social networking page, “Jackpot. Opening credits. At Shoot.”The still of Sunny is a classic seductive pose, reminding us of yesteryear films. But we’re not sure if in the actual moving image of the credits, the chandelier is going to influence Sunny’s way and hit her on the head or something. Well, audiences better get prepared to watch Sunny Leone's new avatar on December 13!

Academy Award winning Bosnian filmmaker Danis Tavonic is not happy that The Good Road has been chosen over The Lunchbox as the representative to compete for the Oscar in the best foreign language film category this year. He claims that he didn’t say this because he has co-produced The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan Khan as lead. For the uninitiated, the Film Federation of India (FFI) chose The Good Road, a Gujarati travel drama, over Ritesh Batra’s The Lunchbox, as they felt that the former movie reflects an India that our movies usually don't showcase. "You had a chance and you don't have it anymore," Tanovic said, adding: "If I could give my place to The Lunchbox, I would give it." Tavonic is unhappy that The Lunchbox didn’t get the chance. "It's still stuck in my throat - the decision... If you ought to win an Oscar, then you put the better horse in the race. The best horse was The Lunchbox," Tanovic said at the ongoing Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF). "They should know it from Lagaan. Lagaan was the last Indian film in the Oscar shortlist and it had the backing of Sony Pictures Classics, due to which they managed it. I spoke to somebody in India and asked them, 'Why did you send The Good Road? The person responded - 'It is a good film'." "It's not a question of a good film. It's about whether you really want to win an Oscar, or do you want to send a film which you think is great," said Tanovic. Guess everyone has an opinion on this subject!

The court case over the redevelopment rights of a Pali Hill bungalow, where Dilip Kumar has been residence for many years, has weighing again on him. It is known that Samir Bhojwani dragged Dilip Kumar to court in 2010. She objected, claiming ownership of the plot. He said the bungalow property was leased to the actor for 999 years, but with the caveat that the lessee would not alter or demolish the structure without the owner's consent. The land, estimated to be worth Rs 150 crore, housed a two storey bungalow, where Dilip Kumar, lived since 1953.According to the friends and relatives of Dilip Kumar, the actor is constantly thinking about the bungalow these days. Currently, the 90-year-old star of Bollywood classics like Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga Jamuna, Shakti and Karma lives in the same locality but at his wife Saira Banu's house next to Sanjay Dutt's residence. A source close to Dilip and Saira Bano, “While we try to keep bad news from him, including the deaths of some of his old colleagues, there is one thing which we cannot bypass, the dispute over the bungalow. His questions on the bungalow under litigation had increased by the day.”The actor was hospitalised last month after a heart scare and the dispute, which is still in court, is having a telling effect on the thespian's health. “We don't rule out that this stress might have played a role in Dilip Kumar getting the heart attack in mid-September, which landed him in the ICU for 10 days. What is amusing to Dilip Kumar and his family is that Samir Bhojwani is very cordial to them and even sent flowers and gifts on Dilip saab's birthday. "Whenever we tell him that we ought to resolve this as Dilip Kumar's health is failing, he says, Haan kar denge. But no stone is moved by him thereafter,” added sources.Saira Banu, about the matter said, “The bungalow dispute is wearing down Yusuf saab. It has affected his health and it has now started to affect my health too.”