Kunal Kapoor: No official wedding plans with NainaBachchan

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February 19, 2014

Actor Kunal Kapoor clarified that there was nothing official about his wedding to long-time girlfriend NainaBachchan rumoured to be solemnised later this year.

Kapoor said the two were “dating and together”. Naina is superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s niece.

“It is not official. When we are ready, we will definitely talk about it,” he told the media here.

The 36-year-old actor shot to fame with his 2005 debut Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities and subsequently went on to star in blockbusters like Rang De Basanti, BachnaAeHaseeno and Don 2.

Kapoor has finished shooting for filmmaker NilaMadhab Panda’s venture KaunHaiKitnePaani Mein.

“It is a mainstream Hindi film shot extensively in Odisha and deals with access to water,” he said.

Bachchan, Kapoor, Bhatt: Do these last names get a shortcut to stardom?

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Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

Ever since I started covering the Hindi film industry, I have heard artists complaining how tough it’s for “outsiders” to succeed in showbiz and what a cakewalk it is for star kids. Contrary to popular belief, however, star kids too have to slog it out to win star status – and it’s a journey where only a few succeed.

The success to failure ratio of youngsters from film families just goes to prove that the legacy edge is nothing more than a myth.

Consider some of the actors who came riding on the shoulders of their family names: AbhishekBachchan, KareenaKapoor, RanbirKapoor, HrithikRoshan, FarhanAkhtar, Uday Chopra, Tanisha Mukherjee, EshaDeol, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Puru Raj Kumar, Riya and ReemaSen, Twinkle and RinkieKhanna, Neil NitinMukesh and ShahidKapoor, to name a few.

Only a handful like Hrithik (son of actor-filmmaker RakeshRoshan), Kareena (daughter of RandhirKapoor and Babita, and granddaughter of the legendary Raj Kapoor), Ranbir (son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh) and Farhan (son of writer-poet JavedAkhtar and Honey Irani) have sparkled on the film firmament and attained star status.

The rest have bitten the dust despite the often persistent backing of their illustrious families.

Take, for instance, Uday Chopra, the son of Yash Chopra, a filmmaker with a magic wand who founded the prestigious Yash Raj Films (YRF) banner and created several blockbusters and catapulted the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to superstardom.
But the master craftsman couldn’t write the same success saga for his son with his production ventures Neal ‘n’ Nikki or Mere Yaar Ki ShaadiHai.
It won’t be wrong to say that Abhishek too met the same fate as Uday. Even at 71, Amitabh sets standards for all and sundry, but son Abhishek, who proved his mettle in highly appreciated films like Yuva and Guru, is yet to enter the same league.

Yes, star kids enjoy an advantage as they have easier access. But getting an easy entry into the industry and becoming a box office favourite are two different things – the first clearly does not guarantee the second. Ultimately, audiences embrace talent.

AAP hungry for power

By

Mahendra Singh

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February 19, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party is recruiting people and asking some of them to contest the Lok Sabha election against big names of the Congress and the BJP. Many people keen to join the party as they feel that might receive a ticket to contest the election easily. Those activists who have worked in the past holding various crusades are of course entitled to try and reap the benefits of power such as Ms Anjali Damania. Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia may not contest the Lok Sabha election and wait for Delhi polls because they will feel secure in that manner. If you think that Kejriwal will contest against Modi and Sisodia against Mayawati then forget about it as they are very intelligent.

I will compare AAP to Maoists because they are systematically weakening our nation using their brain. The youth might possess more knowledge than their parents but it does not mean that they will bad mouth the parents and berate them. Can they perform “Dand-Baithak” as demonstrated by Baba Ramdev in a channel recently which was amazing? If he can work along with Narendra Modi then both can do wonders. Corruption is prevalent in all walks of life in our country. I agree with Kejriwal that we should not break our head too much on small corruption involving a few rupees at lower level but must target organized corruption at higher levels. That is setting a dangerous precedent.

I used to visit our Marine House in Kolkata for some work and the head clerk will always say, “Aasun Singh babu, kuri taka deen na” (give me twenty rupees). He will order “Singhada” ( samosa) and tea. Later, all of us will have food together and crack some jokes and work progresses. It appeared so normal that we never thought that it too was a corrupt activity.
Our politicians have become greedy and ill-mannered and we must target such kind of persons. Capable leaders like Narendra Modi must lead this country instead of smart leaders like Kumar Biswas.

Howsoever bad persons like P Chidambaram, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Arun Jaitley, Harish Salve, Jyotiradiya Scindia, Rajesh Pilot, Subramanian Swamy, Derek O’Brien, Rajnath Singh etc; may be but can these newcomers ( loudmouths) of AAP match them?

Suki Waterhouse is the one: Bradley Cooper

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Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

Hollywood star Bradley Cooper says his model girlfriend Suki Waterhouse, whom he had been dating since last March, is the one for him.

The 39-year-old actor, who previously dated actresses Zoe Saldana and Renee Zellweger, got divorced from Jennifer Esposito in 2007, reported Contactmusic.

“She`s wonderful, the one for me. It feels great,” Cooper said.
The actor`s mother Gloria is reportedly backing the couple, who were recently spotted cosying up to one another at an award show.

“Gloria`s been really won over by Suki. She`s backing Bradley all the way if he wants to tie the knot with her,” a source said.

“She thinks Suki is great for him and, although initially a little concerned about the 17-year age gap, that vanished as soon as she saw them together,” the source added.

I’m really good friends with Casper Smart: Marc Anthony

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

Singer Marc Anthony has revealed
that not only he is on good terms with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, but he`s also very close to her boyfriend Casper Smart.

Smart, 26, and Lopez, 44, have been dating for two years, reported Us magazine.
“I like them young, too!.I`m not one to judge. It`s great. As a matter of fact, we were texting back and forth two days ago. We`re actually really, really good friends.From the very beginning.”

“When you love someone and you care for someone… Jennifer and I — I don`t say it lightly — we`re great friends. You know, anybody that means anything to her means something to me. That`s keeping it simple. Casper`s a great guy. He`s been great to my children. And I have nothing but respect for him, absolutely nothing but respect,” Anthony said.

Anthony, 45, and the `American Idol` judge, parents to twins Max and Emme, 5, split in July 2011 after seven years of marriage.

Kim Kardashian Jealous Of Kendall Jenner In ‘Vogue’? — The Truth

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Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

It’s no secret that Kim desperately wants to be featured on the cover of ‘Vogue’ magazine. But now there’s a chance her little sister Kendall could get the opportunity instead. A source tells exactly how Kim feels about that — and it’s not what you might expect!

Kim Kardashian isn’t the least bit jealous of her little sister Kendall Jenner. In fact, Kim is super proud of the up-and-coming model’s relationship with Anna Wintour, and she wants Kendall’s modeling career to thrive, a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

The Kardashians believe that blood is thicker than water and that’s ever so evident in Kim and Kendall’s relationship. Everyone knows Kim, 33, wants to be on the cover of Vogue. But now that her 18-year-old sister is fresh on the modelling scene, Kim is pumping her breaks, putting her own wants aside and cheering Kendall on!

“There’s no way Kim is envious of Kendall,” a source close to the sisters. “She loves Kendall and everything she’s doing in her life and career. Kim thought Kendall looked stunning when she served face on the runway at Marc Jacobs.”

“She’s so proud of her baby sister and wants her to have a successful and illustrious modeling career,” the source adds.

What a supportive sister Kim is! Kendall is so lucky to have her

NAAP ka Baap is Gadkari

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 19, 2014

The Aam Aadmi Party activists are unhappy with the party’s decision to field Anjali Damania convenor of Maharashtra state unit of AAP to contest election from Nagpur. They alleged that since Damania belongs to Mumbai how she can contest election from Nagpur. Later, AAP party member and RTI activist Mohan Kormore turned rebel and formed the Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party (NAAP).

Rupa Kulkarni another party worker and aspirant for Lok Sabha election too is not pleased with Anjali’s nomination from Nagpur. She alleged that the seat allocation procedure was not transparent as everything was pre-determined. The formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi party has created insecurity among the AAP party leaders. They have alleged that BJP has played a vital role in the formation of NAAP to weaken the AAP party.

When AV contacted Anjali Damania and asked her to comment about the formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party and the allegation made against her she replied, “NAAP party was formed with the assistance of BJP for tarnishing our party’s image. Nitin Gadkari has adopted this tactics as he has become insecure about the growth of AAP but he won’t succeed. The main objective of AAP is to eliminate a corrupt leader like Nitin Gadkari.”
“The person who formed NAAP was never a part of AAP. I was not keen to fight the Lok Sabha election. Arvind Kejriwal asked me to contest against a corrupt leader like Nitin Gadkari with an aim to defeat him. I will not disappoint Arvind.” Damania further added.

When AV asked Yogendra Yadav, a eminent Psephologist and AAP Executive Member about the criteria behind the selection of Anjali Damania he replied, “Anjali Damania is only one of the strong contender to pose a challenge to Nitin Gadkari. She was not planning to contest election from Nagpur but party forced her to fight against Nitin Gadkari. Our party’s objective is to defeat Nitin Gadkari. Nitin Gadkari had role in the formation of Nagpur Aam Aadmi Party.”

However, many party workers are disappointed with the functioning of AAP in other parts of the state too. Subhash Vare have been allotted a seat from Pune as D.S. Kulkarni, a social worker have raised objections against it. He said, “I am disillusioned with AAP which is making a farce of democratic system pertaining to candidate selection. There is lack of transparency in the candidate selection as nominees are pre-determined.”

Bhayandar BJP president’s office vandalised by Shiv Sena workers

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Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Shiv Sena workers vandalized the office of Bhayandar BJP President Ravi Jain for morphing the photograph of late Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. He also pasted the symbols of Shiv Sena and BJP.

The manipulated images were circulated on mobile application Whatsapp, “When Shiv Sena learnt about this incident they initially asked Ravi Jain to apologise but he refused to do so. He also dared them to take action against him. Shiv Sena party workers then decided to protest outside his office” said Shiv Sena city president Manoj Mayekar.

When Shiv Sena reached at Jain’s office he was not present there. They vandalised his office as Jain’s brother and his relative sustained injuries.

Shiv Sena workers asked the police to register a complaint against Jain for morphing the image of Thackeray and hurting the sentiments of Shiv Sainiks.

Ajay Afle, Senior Police Inspector associated with Navghar Police Station said, “We are probing this matter and have recorded the statement of both parties. We will register a complaint after analysing this incident.”

Sanjay Dutt gets parole extension for the third time!

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Sanjay Dutt has reportedly got his parole extended by one more month. The actor, who was out on parole owing to his wife Manyata Dutt’s illness, was supposed to get back to the Yerwada jail in Pune on February, 21. However, the actor’s request for a further extension was approved yet again.
Dutt had secured the parole on December 21, 2013 from Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail, which was extended to 21st of February as Manyata was to undergo a surgery. This time again, Dutt requested the parole to be extended for another month in order to be by his wife’s side- who is recovering from the surgery.

Manyata was reportedly suffering from multiple ailments of the heart and liver and was admitted to Global Hospital in Parel, Mumbai, in January.

Apart from the parole on the grounds of his wife’s sickness, the actor had earlier taken his first parole in October as he had fallen sick. The parole period was for 2 weeks which was extended for 15 days.

The actor surrendered himself before the TADA court on May 16, 2013 and has been serving his remaining 42-month jail term after being convicted by the Supreme Court for illegal possession of arms related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

HC refuses to hear plea seeking cabinet’s prosecution in Adarsh housing scam

By

Afternoon Voice

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February 18, 2014

Observing that it was the prerogative of Maharashtra government to accept or reject the Adarsh housing scam inquiry commission findings, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to hear an application seeking prosecution of the state cabinet for allegedly shielding the accused in the scam.

Former journalist Ketan Tirodkar had filed the application in December last seeking directions to CBI to consider the judicial commission’s report and also for CBI to prosecute the state cabinet for attempting to shield the accused by not accepting the panel’s findings.
Tirodkar, who had earlier filed a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the Adarsh Housing Society case and to invoke the anti-benami transactions law, questioned Maharashtra government’s decision to reject the Commission’s findings after it had spent more than Rs. 7 crore on it.

“The Commission’s findings are equivalent to a charge sheet pinpointing the illegal favours and misuse of official position on the part of ministers and bureaucrats,” the application said.

It added CBI, which is already investigating the case, had the powers to take cognisance of the recommendations and findings of the Commission’s report and a “duty to prosecute the persons sabotaging investigations and shielding the accused”.

A division bench of Justices PV Hardas and AS Gadkari, however, observed that it is the government’s prerogative to accept or reject the findings of a Commission set up by it.

Following this, Tirodkar sought to withdraw the application.