My Brother, My Jaan: B-Town Divas Celebrate Raksha Bandhan

Parineeti Chopra: My brothers Sahaj and Shivang are my buddies ever since they grew up. I am the eldest. So I am going to be pampering and spoiling them this Raksha Bandhan. 

Minissha Lamba: My brother is the closest person I have in Mumbai. And just to have him around is gift enough on raksha bandhan. 
Celina Jaitley: My brother Vikrant is a major in the Indian army. Considering the crisis at the LOC he may soon be deployed, as he is on the special forces. The only Raksha Bandhan wish I have for him is to be safe. And to have a lil baby of his own soon as he's newly married. 
Shabana Azmi: My brother Baba is most precious to me. He is my son, my friend and guide. Raksha Bandhan is a festival I get mos sentimental about. This year I am at my native village Mijwan for Raksha Bandhan. 

I feel really sorry that I can't be personally present to tie him the raakhee. I make sure I am with Baba on this day. I think I missed being with my brother for raksha bandhan only 4-5 times in my entire life. 

Sadly this is one of those years of absence. Baba is my most precious gift. I don't need anything from him. He doesn't allow anyone else to tie a raakhi on him. No mooh-boli bahens for my brother! I wouldn't tolerate them. 
Manisha Koirala: I have the most precious gift in the world. My brother Siddhartha. I always wish him happiness and success, and not just for Raksha B

andhan but every single day. I consider myself the luckiest sister in the world. More power to my adorable bhaiya. 
Pooja Bhatt: I am older to my brother Rahul. So tradition be damned. I'll be gifting him this Raksha Bandhan, not the other way around. 
Bela Sehgal: I am very lucky to have a wonderful brother like Sanjay (Leela Bhansali). He is thoughtful caring and loving, understanding and always concerned about my well-being. For Raksha Bandhan I pray for his good health and the super-duper success of Ram Leela. The only gift that I want from him is that he should always continue to love me. 
Divya Dutta: My brother Dr Rahul Dutta is more a friend than an elder brother. And he knows exactly what I want. The other day I liked a piece of jewellery while window-shopping. Before I knew it, it became my Rakhi gift. He is traveling but will be back in time for me tie the rakhi. 
Lata Mangeshkar: More than a brother, Hridaynath is the son that I never had. When I sing for my brother I feel a mixture of elation and fear. He's such a perfectionist. To work with him is taxing but ultimately very satisfying. When I sing for other composers I'm always unsure about whether I've done my best. Hridayanath doesn't hesitate in ticking me off if I go wrong. 

Even if I go wrong with one word he doesn't let me off the hook. He makes me sing it a hundred times over no matter how tired I get. At the most he'll let me off until the next day. But he must have the flawless recording.

I agree with him when he says, 'Right now only the recordist and I can hear you. But tomorrow the entire world will hear you. How would you feel if listeners pinpoint the errors in your singing? ' He's a very knowledgeable human being and not just in the field of music. 

Hridayanath is very particular about the way I sing. And I like that. He makes me sing until I achieve the quality he desires. Hridayanath always says, 'In a recording room there're only ten people to hear you. 

Once the song is recorded 10 crore people will hear it. So who loses face? People will say Lata doesn't sing the way she used to. ' He's as particular with any singer, whether it's my sister Asha or Usha.
Happily Hridayanath has the knowledge to achieve a high quality in the recording. He not only has a sound base in classical music but also listens to the old songs of my father (Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar) and uses them as a foundation for some of his compositions.

I'm always on tenterhooks singing for him. He's a very learned musician. His knowledge of Marathi literature and poetry is so vast. He's familiar with both modern and non-contemporary poets. By God's grace all my albums with my brother have been perennially popular. 

My first non-film album with Hridayanath was Mogra Phulela 35 years ago. And that's still selling... 

It wasn't a conscious decision to not work together for so long. Nothing materialized for one reason or another. . . . My brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar's album of Meera bhajans Chala Vahi Des is an all-time favourite. It's fallacy that I refused to sing Meera bhajans for anyone except my brother. 

I sang Jaidev's Main janoon nahin piya ko Milan kaise howe ri in Chand Grahan and Jo tum todo piya for Shiv-Hari in Silsila. I refused to give playback to the film on Meerabai when Gulzar made it. Meera is very close to my heart. I couldn't bear the thought of any actress sing her songs while playing Meerabai. 

Laxmikant-Pyarelal, then R. D. Burman left the project. Then Gulzar Saab brought in Pandit Ravi Shankar. I also love what my brother made me do in Maya Memsaab and Lekin. In the CD of Lekin there's a Ghazal Dil mein lekar which didn't feature in the film. I love that as well. 
Pooja Bedi: I deeply miss my brother Siddharth who died 15 years ago. And I'm grateful for my brother Adam who is 12 years younger to me. Being so much older I don't look at him in the traditional role of the protective brother. On the contrary I feel I need to protect him and take care of him. All I expect from him is some time to spend together and oodles of love.

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Minissha wants her bikini body back

The petite actress is busy attempting to get back her former bikini body

Over the past few months, Minissha Lamba has been in the news for her knack to learn new things. And the petite actress is at it again! This time around, she has signed on a personal trainer dedicated solely to train her in the strenuous form of workout kickboxing. 

Apparently, Minissha wasn't happy with her body lately and wanted to shed some weight. As the result, the Bollywood lass took on hardcore gymming and kickboxing lessons to get things done.

The aim was to be back to the shape like she was in 2008 when she donned a white bikini for Kidnap, co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Imran Khan.

Keeping up with the ongoing fab body trend, her single-minded determination is apparently showing some good results too. Minissha now boasts of a rather toned body and is keen on continuing with kickboxing. 
The actress says, I just wanted to get back to my old 'bikini' shape and had been reading up on various forms of exercise to get me into the discipline. Now I don't miss a single session of kickboxing.

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Why Minissha Lamba never takes a risk?

Actress Minissha Lamba has been in the film industry for almost seven years but likes to play safe when it comes to choosing a script.

The 27-year-old has done some out of the box movies like "Yahaan", "Dus Kahaniyaan" and "Joker".

"I don't like taking risks. The risk of failure is too much and like everybody else, I also want to be safe. I want to tread paths that are trodden before because one doesn't wish to make mistakes and then step backwards," Minissha told.

"I would like to do things that are working. At the same time I understand that times are changing where you can do something new without getting a negative call out," she added.

After doing various genres in the industry, she now sets her eyes on a good action movie.

"I would love to do an action film. I would love to do a full blown period film and a full blown romantic film," she said.

Her last release was Shirish Kunder's "Joker" that failed to set the cash registers ringing at the box office.

Minissha's next is Anand Kumar's "Zilla Ghaziabad", which also stars Vivek Oberoi, Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Dutt.

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Life comes full circle for Minissha

Actress Minissha Lamba, who is the brand ambassador of Japanese company Fujifilms, launched the latest XF1 camera range Tuesday here and said that she feels close to the brand for personal reason.

"The first time my parents went abroad, they bought a Fuji camera. It was a big deal in those days and to get something like this was a huge thing.

It is a great opportunity to be associated with the same brand. Life comes full circle and it is good to have the feeling of closeness with the brand," Minissha told.

"Everyone loves photography, specially with cameras like Fujifilms that are so amazing. It's easy for anyone to just pick up the camera and become a photographer," added the 27-year-old, who launched the brand's latest range - XF1 here.

Asked who she would wish to capture in the frame, the actress was quick to reply: "Brad Pitt! I would love to click his pictures anytime."

Last seen in Shirish Kunder's "Joker", the actress will now be seen in "Zilla Gaziabad".

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Loving this love story: Minissha Lamba

I have a huge rack full of books in my house.

I keep buying books all the time, as I'm a bookworm. And there are often times, when I have got so engrossed in a book that I have found it difficult to put it down. I always carry different genres of books in my bag, so I always have something to read with me at all times.

These days, I'm reading Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. It is romance in the back drop of a civil war and is counted among the most exciting times for any love story.

This book is more than that though. It's about a way of life that ceases to exist. An old south that is forced to change and germinate the seed of a truly united America that sets to become a world power in a few decades.

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Minissha's bikini woes

Minissha Lamba apparently felt short-changed after a bikini shoot didn't go quite as expected 

Donning a teeny-weeny bikini is not a tough task for Minissha Lamba. After all, she wore one in her film Kidnap. However, for a photo shoot recently where she was supposed to sport a bikini, the actress allegedly almost changed her mind at the last moment. 

Our source present at the photo shoot says that the actress was given a particular written brief by the representatives of the magazine. However, after the shoot began, the actress realised that it was not quite what it was supposed to be. 
Then, apparently she threw a fit. The source says, Soon after Minissha started shooting, she realised that the concept explained to her was quite different. Apparently, post that Minissha put her foot down and refused to go ahead with the shoot. 

Our source adds that it took almost two hours for the magazine's crew to convince the actress that all was well and states, She looked uncomfortable. However after a conversation with the crew, she went ahead with the shoot. Minissha however denies our story and says, There was no problem at all. In fact, it was a great experience. Theekh hai! 

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Minissha Lamba to be the grand marshal of the I-Day parade in LA

India's Independence Day is celebrated in several cities across the United States. Every year, the I-Day parade witnesses several Bollywood folk in attendance.

This year, Minissha Lamba will be the grand marshal of the parade in Los Angeles and will be the flag bearer.

Every year the atmosphere is charged with festivity and vibrancy of Indian culture, with many people waving the tricolour and quite a few dressed in the colours of the national flag, says Minissha who is all set for her LA trip.

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Minissha Lamba, reporting Live!

Actress fulfills her childhood dream of becoming a journalist by playing one in 'Joker'

Minissha Lamba's long-lived dream of becoming a journalist is finally coming true. Well, almost!

The actress will play a scribe in Shirish Kunder's upcoming film. In fact, to prepare for her role, Minissha even had to spend three days at a news channel studio to understand how real-life journalists work.

The actress says, `As a little kid, I used to stand in front of the mirror and practice taking interviews and used to report activities happening around. I really love the thought of going on the field and reporting.`

Though the 27-year-old actress couldn't become a scribe, she's glad this role came her way. `Luck had something else in store for me. Finally, when Shrish came to me with this role, I was overwhelmed and grabbed the opportunity instantly,` she adds.

Spending time at the news studio helped her better her scribe act. `Thinking of being a journalist and actually playing one is like the two sides of the same coin. It's not as easy as it looks,` sums up Minissha.

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I'm not a big romantic: Minissha

Actress Minissha Lamba talks about what her perfect rainy day would be like...

While some love to get wet in the rains, actress Minissha Lamba feels nothing beats the comfort of staying indoors and tucking into some hot yummy pasta to savour the weather outside. Here's what her perfect rainy day would be like...

Big on films
I’m not a big romantic buff but somehow, when it’s raining, I like watching romantic films on television. The weather’s so lovely, that it literally helps the film seem even better than it is!

Comfort food
A nice hot dish of Thai curry or some yummy pasta, that’s the kind of fattening food I like eating on a day like this. It’s wholesome comfort food.

A hot cuppa
I can’t think of a better way of spending a rainy day than chilling at home and doing nothing. It’s difficult to do that if I have a shoot that day. So if by chance I do get a day when I’m home and it’s raining, I make the most of it. Get a hot cuppa coffee, sit by the window and watch the world getting washed by the rains.

Earth song
It’s not possible to step out when it’s raining heavily. But if it’s a light shower, I pick up my umbrella and go for a walk near my house. The earth smells fresh and everything is green. It’s the perfect ambience for a nice walk.

Shake it up
When it’s pouring outside and you can’t step out, that’s the time to concentrate on the indoors. So I go through my wardrobe and go through all my stuff, re-arrange my toiletries and even re-arrange my furniture and décor if I feel up to it.

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Minissha Lamba - true professional!

It seems Minissha Lamba doesn't believe in throwing starry tantrums and prefers to completer her work without any fuss.

At a recent photo shoot Minissha was required to sit on a parapet, which was little damp due to rains, but actress posed happily for the shutterbugs without worrying about her dress getting wet, said an onlooker.

When her manager rushed to wipe the parapet, she calmly asked him to relax and said, "The dress will go for a wash."

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Minissha is one actress who doesn't throw starry tantrums

The actress is one of the few stars who don't throw starry tantrums like other in B-Town

Some of our very spoilt stars are in the habit of having everything their way. And nothing can beat their tantrums when their demands are not met

However, Minissha Lamba seems to be an exception. For a recent photoshoot, when our photographer insisted that she perch her petite self on a stone parapet that was slightly wet due to the rain, the actress immediately agreed.

By the time her manager rushed to grab some paper to wipe the place dry, she was already sitting and posing for the shutterbug. “Relax, the dress will go for a wash, ” she calmly added. Now some actresses sure can take a cue from that!

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I didn't know I could look sexy: Minissha Lamba

Minissha Lamba says she's a true Capricorn ? she has a problem with compliments! "I find it difficult to digest when people say I'm looking sexy, " she laughs

The petite actress, who’s playing two completely different roles — an innocent babe in the woods in one and a sexy, saucy village girl in another — speaks to CS about playing various roles, competition and dealing with compliments!

Slipping into character
As an actor, you should be able to slip into any character. It’s your job and I don’t think it should be so difficult. I am shooting for two very different roles simultaneously, but that shouldn’t make any difference, because there are directors who help you bring out the character. 

But yes, if I was playing a very complicated role, where the film rests on my shoulder, then it would be difficult to get out of it and focus on another. Like Priyanka Chopra’s role in 7 Saat Khoon Maaf or Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture — both of them were brilliant in the films.

The spirit of competition
Your only competition should be with yourself. There will be newer and fresher actresses every next Friday — that’s the nature of the business. You can’t give yourself heartburn over it. 

That doesn’t mean I get insecure and start signing whatever films I get. I’ve always done limited work and I will continue to do limited work that I’m proud of. That will always be my policy.
Hey sexy!
Films that I’m really proud of include Yahaan, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Kidnap. The last one made me see myself in a new light. I didn’t know I could look sexy! And in fact, even now, I have a problem believing anyone if they say I’m looking sexy. I thank them but I don’t really believe them. I’m a true Capricorn that way — we have a problem with compliments.

On my wishlist
There are so many directors I want to work with. There are so many new directors coming up who have great ideas and a fresh perspective on so many things.

Among actors too, there so many of them whose work I have admired at some or the other time. What I would really love to do is a different kind of a romantic film, something even I would like to see as an audience.

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Sonakshi won't share her item with Minissha

ACCORDING to the grapevine, not all is well between Sonakshi Sinha and Minissha Lamba, both of whom are starring in Shirish Kunder's Joker, an upcoming fantasy film that will also star Akshay Kumar.

Sources claimed that after Lamba heard about Sinha's item number that would be choreographed by Farah Khan (Kunder's wife), she requested the director that she be made a part of it.

The fact that Sinha would be doing an item number has already created quite a stir in the media.

However, Sinha insisted that Lamba be kept out of the song and Kunder in order to make peace had to reportedly promise Lamba a music video for the film instead.

A source said Lamba was right to feel jittery about Sinha's item number.

"After the way Zarine Khan walked away with all the attention in Ready with just one item song, stealing Asin's thunder, and with Kareena having to put her foot down with regards to Katrina's item song in Bodyguard, Minissha wanted to take no chances. That's why she asked Shirish to include her in the number, " he said.

When contacted, Kunder said, "Yes, Minissha did express a desire to be in the item song. I'd have loved her to be part of it.

Unfortunately, her character is not supposed to be introduced at the stage the item song appears in the film. I have, however, promised that I'll shoot a special music video with her."

Minissha Lamba was, however, evasive when asked why she wasn't part of the song. "I don't know about all that. It's a creative call taken by the director, " she said.

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Lamba: “Bheja Fry 2 is a fantastic comedy”

Getting ready for an evening event in her vanity van, Minissha Lamba looked every bit excited about her upcoming movie Bheja Fry 2. Having started her career with Yahaan, she continued wooing the audience and critics alike with her performances in Bachna Ae Haseeno, Honeymoon Travels Private Limited and Well Done Abba.

Director Sagar Ballary, with whom she worked first in Hum, Tum aur Shabana was highly impressed with her work, which is why he cast her in his next movie Bheja Fry 2. Bheja Fry was highly liked by all and there’s no doubt that that those involved with the sequel have a lot to live up to. So what are Minissha’s hopes and expectations from this movie?

I will start with the obvious. What made you say yes to Bheja Fry 2?

I loved Bheja Fry and it was a great movie. So, of course when a sequel is getting made and you are offered the sequel it’s the most natural thing that you would want to be a part of it.

Tell us something about the character you are playing in this movie.

I play the role of an Executive Producer on a reality show and the whole plot of the film starts from there. So, we introduce Bharat Bhushan’s character through the reality show and how because of this show, the plot goes forward. You have a completely new episode, new situations where Bharat Bhushan bheja fries everyone!

Bheja Fry was a big hit with critics and audience alike. So do you think there is a lot of pressure because of the expectations from the sequel?

You know, the pressure’s always there. Especially since people loved the first film. But, you know, I feel very lucky. I have got a very talented director Sagar Ballary who teamed up with a producer like Mukul Deora both who understand what the film requires, understands the requirement of the sequel and how from making Bheja Fry 1 to making Bheja Fry 2, it is a product that is worthy of a sequel. We really collaborated and worked very hard to make the script something that is modern, very today, yet something that is different from the first but keeping the essence of Bheja Fry as a story and as a character of Bharat Bhushan the same.

This is your second movie with director Sagar…

(smiles)Yes.

So tell us how was it working with him; how is he on the sets as a director?

It was superb working with him. I think a director has to be a combination of everything. It’s a film shoot at the end of the day, you know…so we can’t have ‘fun’ directors and you can’t have very strict ‘directors’. A director’s like a paternal figure, he’s loving, he’s caring, he can be strict; he has to know how to get his work out of you and Sagar has been like that. He has been the big brother, he has been a father figure to a lot of people on sets whom he has guided and mentored.

Tell us something about the music of the movie.

Bheja Fry is not essentially a music driven film. But still that doesn’t mean that it is devoid of music. It has some fantastic songs; a fantastic track which is a part of the soundtrack of the film, but not as part of the film as far as the running is concerned. You won’t see a song in the film.

What was the best thing about being a part of Bheja Fry 2?

I think the best part about being involved with Bheja Fry 2 was that we got to shoot on a ship because I have never got to be on a ship before and the killer excuse of being stranded on the ship for two whole weeks! We used to stop at different places every single day and it was beautiful. The ship experience is like fabulous!

Bheja Fry is almost synonymous with Vinay Pathak…

Yes!

So how was it working with him?

He is a fantastic bundle of energy! The kind of performances that he does as a comedian is very physical comedy and it’s very difficult. For him to be up as his character Bharat Bhushan is not only something which you require a lot of talent for, which he has, but you also require great energy for. He is always alert. He has this most charming, beautiful grey eyes that is something one would look very deeply into!

Any particular incident on the sets which comes to your mind right now?

Loads of them! The fact that we have so many actors aboard meant that we would have great sessions of dumb charades, sessions of Pictionary together…so it felt really good that you could play games like in your childhood and we would actually become children..screaming and fighting and you know all of that. So it was fun.

What are the first three words that come to your mind when one says Bheja Fry?

Bheja Fry…uhh…(laughing) this heat of Bombay…Bheja Fry for me can only mean the movie Bheja Fry and nothing else!

So is there anything which makes Minissha’s Bheja Fry?

I get very irritated when you have an address in front of you and you cannot find it and you are running around in circles and every other house or building number can be located except the one you are looking for. That really fries my brain! Really! Ya!

Why should the audience come and watch Bheja Fry 2 ?

Bheja Fry 1 is reason enough. Also it’s a fantastic comedy and I can vouch for that because I only sign films which I believe in and which I believe is a value for money for audience.

Your upcoming projects…

I have another romantic movie by Sagar – Hum, Tum aur Shabana – and Shirish Kunder’s Joker.

Bheja Fry 2 is in theaters this Friday June 17th, be sure to check it out!

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Minissha Lamba detained at Mumbai Airport

Minissha Lamba, who walked the red carpet at Cannes recently, was detained by customs officials at the Mumbai International airport today. The actress has been held for carrying undeclared diamond jewelry worth Rs 50 lakhs.

Lamba is now being interrogated by custom officials to give an account of the jewelry that was found in her baggage. She was at the French city to attend the premiere of Woody Allen`s `Midnight in Paris`. Minnisha was also invited for a bash post the screening. Minnisha has acted in ‘Yahaan’, ‘Corporate, ‘Welldone Abba’ to name a few.

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Minissha Lamba is back in her Bikini

The actress is the new cover girl of men's magazine 'Man's World' and is dressed in a floral bikini accessorised with a surf board on the publication's front page.

The 26-year-old shot for the spread on the sunny beaches of Goa, dressed in a variety of bikinis and also posed for some underwater shots. "I am a beach person and I love sports. I got to kite surf during the shoot and I really enjoyed that," said the actress who had made her debut playing a Kashmiri girl in the 2005 film 'Yahaan'.

Bikinis and actresses have been in news recently but for the wrong reasons as both Sonakshi Sinha and Vidya Balan had threatened to sue magazines for allegedly photoshopping their pictures to look like they had posed in swimsuits. But Minissha has no qualms about it and had earlier donned a barely there bikini for the cover of Maxim's October 2009 cover.

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Bollywood divas dazzle at the Lakme Fashion Week

Designer Manish Malhotra showcased his spring summer collection at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week 2011, and seemed satisfied with his show. 'Show went super : feel great and relaxed,' he tweeted.

Hard Kaur loved his show as well: 'Went to manish malhotra's show last night LFW amazing collection as always..loved my outfit by the man himself x gooooo manish ;)' she updated. Minissha Lamba attended Rajat Tangri's show at Lakme Fashion Week. 'Sunday begins with fashion week. Attending my dear friend Rajat Tangri's show today wearing a simple yet stunning piece of his creation,' she tweeted.

Juhi Chawla attended designer Anita Dongre's show. 'Attended anita dongre s show at LFW ... Very very pretty ... Each garment each outfit was lovely ..the whole look was waiflike ..angelic,' she wrote.

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Minissha Lamba talk about her property at UAE

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba has hit out at fraudsters who allegedly used her name to extort more than AED9m ($2.45m) from investors as part of a UAE-based property scam.

At least twelve investors, including Emirati businessman Ahmad Al Falasi, are locked in a legal battle with Stallion Properties, who they say convinced them to buy real estate in Ras Al Khaimah after falsely capitalising on the names of Lamba and Hollywood actress Tara Reid. “It’s a really sad state of affairs to dupe people like this,” Delhi-based Lamba told Arabian Business. Tara Reid’s publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Minissha Lamba is Muskan Ali in WELL DONE ABBA!!

Minissha Lamba, the sizzling hot sexy babe of bollywood who plays lead in veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal’s upcoming flick.

Well Done Abba’, is all set to wow the audience with her simple rural belle character in stark contrast to her bikini clad modern sexy avatar in ‘Kidnap.’

Minissha Lamba is very excited about the flick and hopes that the Midas touch of director Shyam Benegal would be able to provide her bollywood career the much needed boost.

The movie also features veteran bollywood actor Boman Irani in the character of Minissha Lamba’s father.

Who takes leave from his employer in Mumbai to search for a suitable groom for his young daughter.

Sources say that the flick has a circumstantial comic touch throughout and the audiences would feel it hard to control their laughing.

The movie also has the ironic touch in it and presents the social problem of marrying off girls in a very subtle and ironic way before the society.

In this way, the flick also conveys a social message to society and becomes relevant to modern times.

Shyam Benegal’s earlier flick ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’, which was very successful at the box office, also had a social message for the society. Though Minissha Lamba featured in several films like Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Corporate’ with Bipasha Basu and critically acclaimed ‘Yahaan’, but she could not claim commercial success at the box office or could win the recognition of being an actress of caliber.

However, with ‘Well Done Abba’, Minissha Lamba hopes to change all the notions of the past and come out a winner at the box office. Even trade sources are hopeful about the flick’s success at the box office due to presence of Boman Irani and the superb direction of Shyam Benegal, who was once the doyen of parallel cinema in the country.

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