Bigg Boss 7: Meet The Possible Contestants!

As the buzz around the latest season of the reality show gets stronger, here are some celeb names doing the rounds as likely housemates

Hazel Keech: An actress and model from Britain, Keech had a small but significant role in 'Bodyguard' (2011), before becoming famous with the item number 'Aa Ante Amlapuram' in 'Maximum' (2012).

Reality check: Hasn't done any reality shows yet. 

Pratyusha Banerjee: The popular telly actress gained fame by playing Anandi in 'Balika Vadhu' before quitting the show. 

Reality check: She had taken part in the food reality show 'Kitchen Champion 4' and was also a contestant on 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5'
Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta: The popular love birds from telly world, Ravi and Sargun starred together in '12/24 Karol Bagh'. Ravi went on to feature in the show 'Saas Bina Sasural' was Sargun was seen in 'Kya Huaa Tera Vaada'. 

Reality check: The couple were seen as a pair in 'Nach Baliye 5', during which Ravi famously proposed Sargun
Kamya Punjabi: She is noted for playing the vamp is shows like 'Reth' (Nethra), 'Astitva. . . Ek Prem Kahani' (Kiran), Banoo Mein Teri Dulhann (Sindoora Singh), 'Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki' (Kamya) and 'Amber Dhara' (Deepika). 

Reality check: So far, she has been seen only in comedy reality shows like 'Comedy Circus' and 'Nautanki the Comedy theatre'
Kushal Tondon: The model-turned actor has gained fame playing Virat Singh Vadhera in 'Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai'. 

Reality check: Was a participant on 'Nach Baliye 5'
Harbhajan Singh: The out of favour Indian off-spinner seems to be seriously shifting focus to showbiz. 

Reality check: He won the dance reality show 'Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena' in which Mona Singh was his partner. Singh also promoted 'Ring Ka King', a professional wrestling show
Shaan: One of the most versatile singers of Hindi films, Shaan also seems intent on looking for work beyond playback singing. 

Reality check: Currently a contestant on 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 6', Shaan had earlier hosted singing shows like 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' and 'Voice of India'
Vastal Sheth: The youngster, who made a name for himself playing Jai in the youth-centric TV show 'Just Mohabbat' in the late 90s, Sheth has gone on to have an unsuccessful Bollywood career. 

Reality check: Yet to take part in any reality series
Armaan Kohli: The son of filmmaker Rajkumar Kohli, Armaan acted in a handful of films from the 90s to the early 2000s, including the disastrous 'Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani' (2002) directed by his father. His career never took off. 

Reality check: Hasn't done any reality show yet
Gurdeep Kohli: The telly actress, who gained fame playing Dr. Juhi Singh in 'Sanjivani', was last seen in the film 'Rowdy Rathore' where she played a cop. Gurdeep is married to actor Arjun Punj and has a three-year-old daughter, Meher. 

Reality check: She took part in 'Nach Baliye 2' with hubby Arjun. 

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There is no need to be cheap

Raveena Tandon is in no hurry to announce her comeback to Hindi films yet. Instead, she is busy managing her home and kids, doing movies down South and being a philanthropist. B-S caught up with her

Regional cinema
Presently, I am working with South actor Mohan Babu and his sons for a Telegu movie. This is not my first movie, as I have already done films like Aalavandhan, Bangaru Bullodu, Akasa Veedhilo. My last film Laboratory was in Bengali. 

It is based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. I did the dubbing for it myself, I found it easier than Telegu. I appreciate the love, positive vibes and respect that I get from them. 

Their cinema still revolves around villagers, traditions and middle class values, thus they connect with the masses. As for the Hindi film industry, I welcome its corporatisation which has led to bound scripts, proper contracts, payments on time and organised schedules. 

However, the flip side is that the content is modern and western. There are exceptions of course like Bhaag Milka Bhaag, Barfi, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur to name a few which are adding a new dimension to cinema. 
The mast mast girl
Admittedly, item songs add glitz and glamour to a movie. But there is no need to be cheap. A fun number with foot-tapping music can be a chart-buster too. 

Being mommy
I am a very hands-on mother. I often tell my family and friends that 'movies will come and go, but the childhood of my kids will come only once and I don't want to miss it for anything'. 

That's one of the reasons I take on lesser work. I read about two-three scripts on an average but only take on one movie at a time and roles that really excite me. In the next few months I will start work on a Hindi film. 
Giving back to society
As an actor, I believe we should be able to contribute for the welfare of the society. Previously I have partnered with UNICEF. My latest project was to house 30 orphan children who were homeless and were staying with me in my bungalow for over one and a half years.

With the help of family and friends who helped me gather funds, we built a home for them in Vasai. I was completely involved in the project from the flooring to the colouring of the walls. Recently, when the kids moved to this place, they made cards which said that the house we built for them is better than the Taj Mahal (smiles). 

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Spotted: When a fly disturbed Ash

The insect kept hovering around Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and she had to keep waving it away at a launch event

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan unveiled a real estate project at an event held yesterday at a Worli hotel. A fly kept hovering around her and she had to keep waving it away

Hope it was not the proverbial fly on the wall. Ash also continously held on to the sides of the chair and kept adjusting her gown. Blame it on the design?

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Critics, go fly a kite: In a day or two Chennai Express will touch Rs. 200 Crores

It's Advantage Khan, at least for now. Akshay Kumar's much-vaunted Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara (OUATIMD) has under-performed at the boxoffice, leaving trade experts shell-shocked, and the Chennai Express (CE) producers laughing all the way to the bank.

And the next bank holiday.

Shah Rukh, we hear, plans a big celebration bash. We don't know yet if the OUATIMD producer Ekta Kapoor would be invited. But if reports that she refused to let Shah Rukh screen her film at his residence Mannat are true, then I doubt she would be in a mood to celebrate. Invite or no.

The boxoffice figures for Chennai Express are indeed staggering even in the second week. On its second Friday it collected 6. 50 crore rupees, Saturday's collections were 8. 51 crores, Sunday was 10. 22 crores.

The total over the second weekend was 25. 23 crore rupees. This, when added to the 1st week's collections of Rs 156. 70 cores totalled Rs 181. 93 crores collection for the first ten days.

In a day or two Chennai Express will touch Rs. 200 crores. 

Understandably there is much self-congratulation in the UTV camp. 

Says Gaurav Verma, Director India Theatrical Distribution Studios, Disney UTV Two powerhouses of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan and Rohit Shetty came together for the first time. That was enough reason to create a huge excitement.

Plus the magic of Deepika Padukone re-teaming with Shah Rukh after six years, backed by the aggressive marketing which created a huge buzz, all this did the trick.

Gaurav also feels the release timing was perfect. With Eid on Friday followed by Independence Day during the same week, the film got an opportunity to go really wide in Week 1. Our gambit paid off. Audiences came to cinemas in huge numbers and made Chennai Express an unprecedented office success. It continues to break many records every day. 

Gaurav gloats over the second week's collections. It is expected to dominate the box office the next week as well. So we'll continue to retain maximum screens in the weeks to come. 
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh endorses the film's whopping success. `The boxoffice business is phenomenal. SRK plus Deepika plus Rohit Shetty plus Eid plus masala have proved yet again that entertainment rules. The masses love Chennai Express. ` Critics can go fly a kite.

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Sakshi undergoes drastic sex worker makeover!

From the perfect homemaker in 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain', Sakshi Tanwar to play a commercial sex worker in a film

After playing the traditional housewife on television for years, Sakshi Tanwar had an image transformation of sorts on her daily soap opposite Ram Kapoor.

But this time, looks like the actress is all set to go another step forward with sources saying she could be cast as a commercial sex worker in an upcoming film, helmed by Ankush Bhatt.

Producer Irshad Khan confirms, Yes, Sakshi will play the second lead in the movie. We will be signing her shortly. 

The project is said to portray the brothels on Mumbai. For the lead role apparently Konkona Sen Sharma was approached. But with that not working out, the makers are looking out for another actress.

A couple of years back, Sakshi also shot for a film titled Mohalla Assi opposite Sunny Deol but the project got shelved.

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Work keeps Sushant Singh Rajput busy on Raksha Bandhan

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput has four elder sisters. But he says he won't be able to spend time with them for the festival Tuesday as he is busy promoting his forthcoming film "Shuddh Desi Romance".

"There are a lot of emotions that come attached with Raksha Bandhan. Like all, even I have my own share of memories. But it's unfortunate that this time I will not be able to spend time with my sisters," Sushant told.

"I'm busy promoting my film 'Shuddh Desi Romance'. I know their blessing are always with me," he added.

One of Sushant's sisters stays in the US, two in Delhi and one in Chandigarh.

He said: "I will call them and take their blessings."

The 27-year-old, who made his big screen debut with "Kai Po Che!", features with Parineeti Chopra and Vaani Kapoor in "Shuddh Desi Romance", directed by Maneesh. The Yash Raj Films' project is slated to release Sep 6.

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