One of the most popular fables among the children, which first appeared in 'The Book of One Thousand and One Nights', this story has been adapted by film maker Sujoy Gosh to cater to the Indian audience. Six years after he first made a mark with the low-budget comedy Jhankaar Beats, Sujoy Ghosh is back with a tale of fantasy. Aladin is his biggest project, starring veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan as the genie.

"Aladin is the old fable and that's the connection but that's where it ends. There are just I think three things from the old fable which can be associated with the film today, the name Aladin, the lamp and the genie. But it is a contemporary form of Aladin, its modern times. Its a make believe city where there are people just like us. And we speak and talk and behave quite normally," said Bachchan.

Bachchan along with Riteish Deshmukh, who will be playing Aladin and Jacqueline Fernandez, playing Jasmine in the movie attended a promotional event. A surprise item at the event was Deshmukh rubbing the replica of magic lamp kept on the stage and instantly, appeared the genie Bachchan on dais! Deshmukh expressed his delight of working with Bachchan and other senior actors.

"I am glad that Sujoy Ghosh has reconstructed the character of Aladin. He has made it different. He has written his own story. I hope that the film entertains you," said Deshmukh.

Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandes expressed that since movie is all about making wishes, her wish would be that people watch her magical movie. "Aladin is a movie that is all about wishes and dreams coming true. So really, my wish tonight would really be for all you to go and see our movie. It's a very beautiful, magical, and wonderful movie. And we had a magical time making it," said Fernandez.

It is the story of an orphan, Aladin, played by actor Riteish Deshmukh who lives in the city of Khwaish and is bullied since childhood by Kasim and his gang. How his life takes a turn when he meets Jasmine played by Jacqueline, who gives him a magic lamp and what happens after that, forms the basic plot of the film.

The film seems to be a good mix of magic and action and promises to floor the audiences with its new storyline. The formal curtain raiser of this film is scheduled on October 30.

Yet the city had no gripes about the ek se badhkar do phenomenon. If Salman Khan was the most Wanted man on Friday, attracting press like moths to a lightbulb, Katrina left us wanting on Monday. For those taking stock of her dazzling rise, it is hardly ajab to presume that her ghazab ka bankability has only helped bankroll projects.

And it is this unwavering faith invested in her histrionics and a New York that turned the tide for her. “New York surprised many. That I was inclined to look beyond the hackneyed was a clear signal sent out. With New York, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, De Dana Dan and Rajneeti, I’ve done a mixed bag of roles,” says Katrina.

She is clear that “good cinema” (read ones that give “creative satisfaction”) is what she wants to do. And Ajab ... did lend itself to ingenuity. And she was living by her wits shooting with quick-witted Ranbir Kapoor. But wasn’t she browbeating him on the sets if what Ranbir alleged was true? Katrina vehemently refutes, “I am not a bully. I want to kill him for saying that.” But quickly adds, “I am saying that after saying I’m not a bully.

” Katrina is all praise for her co-star’s Wake Up Sid stirring an otherwise sluggish run of movies at the turnstiles. “Ranbir did great. Konkona was equally good,” says Katz, prudently.

Always on the ball, it comes as no surprise that Katrina having dethroned her reigning peers is also the new endorsement queen, what with her equity rising sharply. “We have grown up on brands. There have been some that I’ve wanted to endorse. I’ve just been plain lucky that a few have come my way. There are a few more left to conquer,” she ribs. Like Priyanka’s character in Fashion, would it unsettle her if she were to wake up one day to find “someone younger unseating her? “It doesn’t bother me,” she says, impassively.

In fact, Katz is just as offhand handling the now-on now-off rumours of her relationship with Salman Khan. “I don’t react to hearsay,” Katrina maintains, saying that the more one confabs, the more likely are others to jump to conclusions.

She has no difficulty though talking about the drivel surrounding her cameos in films. About her guest role in Blue or of Salman’s supposed special appearance in Ajab ... , she explains, “Salman has never really given his career much thought. He always thinks with his heart. I agree that sometimes you need to do stuff for your friends. You have to do what you feel at that point in time.” An approach that hasn’t let her down so far. A gut reaction she has come to rely on.

Without forewarning, when asked on impulse when is a relationship ajab or ghazab, Katz after careful consideration says, “Every relationship is ajab for sure. It becomes ghazab when you understand what you share with that person.” It’s a no-brainer.

He sleeps for "four to five hours" a day, burns the midnight oil to blog and has a packed shooting schedule. But 67-year-old megastar Amitabh Bachchan insists he is neither the busiest person in the Hindi film industry nor an important part of any of his projects.

"I don't think that is entirely correct. I just do whatever is offered to me. I do films, I am now doing television ('Big Boss 3')," said Amitabh shrugging off the busy bee title.

"If you plan your day and time, you can find time to do all these things. If the body responds, it's fine. But sooner or later it's going to pack up, so might as well work while it's working," said Amitabh who squeezed in enough time to reply to 1207 SMSes that he received on his birthday last week.

Over four decades of excellent cinematic presence has made him a brand. Doesn't that overshadow others in a film?

"I don't think that is entirely correct. May be in the early years, they (audiences) came to watch my films because I was in it. But now I am just one of the credit titles. I am not that important," Bachchan told IANS in an interview.

"I am a part of the crew and the cast. Even in my early years, I used to think that. I think the product itself is more important. It's the film that is going to make you or your name or give you visibility. If that goes wrong then everything goes wrong. So one must work as a team so that the product works," he explained.

The actor stays awake till the wee hours to write his blog.

"That is like a compulsion. I feel very vacant and I feel as though I haven't done justice to my day if I don't write the blog because there are now a few hundred people who are regular. They wait to know about me and they want to talk to me," Amitabh said.

"I feel somewhat guilty if I don't write the blog every day. So even if I am late, I make sure that I put something down," he added.

Doesn't his family object to his blogging addiction? "They are always saying, 'Please don't write your blog. Get off your blog'," he said.

"You have all kinds of funny things happening to your neck and shoulder because you're all the time bending down on your laptop. But that's okay," added the Big B, as he is fondly called.

Strenuous working hours and regular blogging hardly leaves any time to catch up on sleep but the actor is content with what he gets.

"I get about four to five hours' sleep and that's okay," said the veteran, who was seen this year only in a cameo in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi-6".

Amitabh was here to promote his upcoming film "Aladin". Releasing Oct 30, it is a contemporary take on the classic fairy tale and he stars in it as the Genie.

Produced by Sunil Lulla and Sujoy Ghosh, the film has been directed by Ghosh. It also stars Riteish Deshmukh in the lead opposite debutante Jacqueline Fernandez. Sanjay Dutt appears in a negative role in the film.

Apart from casting magic in the film as the Genie, the sexagenarian has also performed action sequences in "Aladin". He says the only way to attempt stunts at his age is by keeping "fit".

"You have to keep fit. Some of the action scenes are really tough and they are physically very draining. But now they have wonderful gadgetry which can make you jump sky high and do all kinds of things. We use that, but even doing that is strenuous. If you are not prepared to do all that, then it doesn't work," he said.

Despite wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya all being actors, the Hindi film industry still has not seen the entire family together in a film.

When asked about it, he said: "I don't know. Somebody will have to design a project like that. If they do, we'll be very happy to do it."

Apart from "Aladin", Amitabh's other projects include "Paa", "Teen Patti", "Rann" and "Johnny Mastana".

Shenaz Treasurywala talks about making a final comeback to Bollywood, getting almost kidnapped as a child, her ‘forever friend’ Himesh Reshammiya and lots more!

Salman: The day you get married...

Kareena: I’ll get married after Salman!

Akshay Kumar is tired of replying to queries about his so-called rivalry with "Blue" co-star Sanjay Dutt. Setting the record straight, he says this is a figment of someone's imagination and they don't have any problems whatsoever with each other.

"Please, in this forum, let me state this for perhaps the last time ever - 'There are no problems between Sanjay Dutt and me," Akshay told IANS.

Since the shooting of "Blue" commenced around a year ago, there was talk of tension between the two stars.

"Yeh sab bekaar ki baatein hain (all this is ridiculous talk). People can imagine something and start writing about anything that comes to their mind. We live in times when such unnecessary gossip makes headlines.

"In fact, I went for 'Mata Ki Chowki' (prayer function) at his place. Would I have done that had there been any problems between us?" asked the actor who is currently shooting for "Houseful".

Akshay and Sanjay haven't worked in a film together for a long time. Their last release was director Raj N. Sippy's "Amaanat", which had incidentally released Oct 14 in 1994. Now, after exactly 15 years, the two actors are seen again in "Blue".

What took them so much time to patch up?

"What patch up?" asked Akshay in an exasperated tone. "Rani Mukerji has been around for 13 years. Her first film was 'Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat' (1996). Still, both of us have never worked together. Does it mean that we were having a rivalry of sorts and hence would require some kind of patch-up to prove to the world that everything is fine between us?"

He is also happy to declare that Sanjay is the hero of the film and he is the villain.

"That's the fact. He is not just a hero but also has a heroine (Lara Dutta) opposite him. On the other hand, I have sharks as my leading ladies. I don't mind though. It's still better than having none at all. Remember, in 'Hera Pheri', Suniel Shetty had Tabu while I was without a heroine," joked Akshay.

Isn't he bothered about the fact that he won't be hogging all the limelight?

"It is not always the matter of footage. It's about how far you can indeed go in the role that you get to play in the film. You can be a villain and still make an impact. I have just followed Tony's vision here. Whatever he asked me to do, I did it. If 'Blue' works (and I am positive it will), all credit goes to Tony. He has done a tremendous job."

Also starring Katrina Kaif and Kylie Minogue, "Blue" is releasing Friday.

How do you look back at your career from Phool Aur Kaante till All The Best?

I should say that I have been very lucky as an actor in the sense that I have always got the right film with the right director or else life would have been very boring.

How confident are you of All The Best clicking at the box office in a big way?

I have not seen Main Aurr Mrs Khanna and Blue, but since I have seen my film, I am pretty confident about hitting the jackpot at the box office. I am very confident ‘All The Best’ will click at the box-office in a big way. It is a rib-tickling comedy resulting from mistaken identities and hilarious goof-ups.

Are you hogging the show as a producer?

I may be the producer of All The Best but that does not mean that I am hogging the show. Sanjay Dutt fans will be ecstatic to see the actor donning his comic hat after a long spate of serious and intense roles. Bipasha too, after her much appreciated stint in ‘No Entry’ is back to showcase her comic streak adding to the madness that All The Best has to offer. While Fardeen Khan’s ‘rock-star’ look is fresh and appealing, Mugdha Godse looks all set to impress the viewers once again with her ‘natural’ screen presence, after Fashion.

Is All The Best a rip off from Paritosh Painter’s play Uncle Samjha Karo?

In fact, Uncle Samjha Karo has been ripped from a foreign play. We have bought the rights from the foreign writer of the play. Since the subject is in court, I cannot say more about this.

What according to you is the secret of your success as an actor?

I should confess that I have been very lucky as an actor in the sense that I have always got the right film with the right director or else life would have been very boring.

Do you regret having turned director with a flop like U Me Aur Hum?

My directorial debut U Me Aur Hum may have not clicked at the box office but that does not mean that I regret having made my debut with a sensitive film like that. If only I had wanted, I could have easily made my debut with a formula film but then I was very particular that I did not want to do a typical film when I set out to make my debut as a director with U, Me Aur Hum

Do you agree that you have played safe as a producer with a film like All The Best?

I knew that I was not taking a risk because I was not playing 100 percent to the galleries. I always knew that making Golmaal or for that matter Golmaal Returns was safe, because if a film makes you laugh, there is absolutely no risk at all for the maker. I have always believed that life is all about risks. All The Best is one such hilarious film.

How tough was it for you to direct U Me Aur Hum?

Direction was quite tough. If you are planned, direction is not at all difficult. The feedback that I got was that every one loved the second half of the film. If you are planned, direction is not at all difficult. The failure of U, Me Aur Hum did not shatter me because frankly I didn’t expect its collections to be extra ordinary like Golmaal Returns. I knew that making U, Me Aur Hum was part of the game. The kind of appreciation that I got from the audience was fantastic. However, I should confess that I was shocked at the kind of overwhelming reception that Golmaal Returns got at the box office.

p>Was it very difficult to convince Kajol to act in U, Me Aur Hum?

I knew exactly how she would perform and had written the character that she played in the film actually keeping Kajol in my mind. When she listened to the narration, she fell for it and said that she would love to do the role. I did not force Kajol to act in U, Me Aur Hum, just because it is our home production but cast her because I do not think any other actress could have done justice to her role the way she did.

Was London Dreams delayed because Salman and you did not see eye to eye at all?

I have never been an insecure actor. It is wrong to say that Salman and I did not get along with one another when we were working in Vipul Shah’s London Dreams. Salman Khan and I get along very well. We have had no issues either personally or professionally because we respect each other. Vipul is an organized director and knew what exactly what he wanted from Salman, me or for that matter Asin who is playing the leading lady in his film. Why would a director want to spoil his film?

What is your role in London Dreams?

I do not wish to divulge details about my role in London Dreams. Since Vipul has specifically asked me not to tell the media anything about the film before it’s release, all that I can divulge about the film is that it is about two friends, who are working in a musical band called London Dreams. It is a musical drama which has a lot of humor.

There are rumors about a split with Rajkumar Santoshi after Hulla Bol flopped!

Do not jump to the conclusion that Rajkumar Santoshi and I have sworn not to work with one another in future because Hulla Bol flopped and he did not set out to direct London Dreams as per his earlier plan. I have given my consent to Raj and will do a film with him. Raj is now working on the script and the day it is ready and I like it, I will go ahead and work with him.

Which are your forthcoming releases?

Besides Toonpur Ka Super Hero, which has an animated character, besides Kajol and me as the live characters, I also have up my sleeves films like Prakash Jha’s film Rajniti directed by Prakash Jha, who is known for his intense and thought provoking issue based films with the accent on politics, like Apaharan and Gangajal.

What is your criterion for saying yes to a film offer?

Either I like a script or not. The script should excite me. I see whether the producer and the director are both capable of ensuring that the project is completed. I take up a film, if and only if, I am convinced by the vision of the director. I have always believed in the fact that the director knows the best about any film and the actors only jump in and out of the sets. I make it a point to question my directors, though they always have the answers.

You seem to be the only actor who is extra choosy when it comes to selecting films!

It is not that only I am quite choosy as far as films are concerned. Today every actor is choosy. Every one of us is doing just one film at a time. It is only when you do ten films at a time that often you end up realizing that you do not have a choice.

You have surprisingly not jumped into the bait of corporate companies!

I do not want to commit myself for tomorrow. I have been getting a lot of offers from various corporate giants who are now making films. Who knows what is in store tomorrow? Why should I get stuck? When there is no lack of offers, why should I jump into any contract with any corporate and sell my soul to them?

What has been your experience as a distributor?

It was not as bad as people think. You wouldn’t believe it but the fact is that I have not lost any money at all in distribution of films. Thanks to the proliferation of the multiplexes in the metropolitan cities, distributors do not lose money at all these days. The producers of Black lost money but the distributors made money. In any case, as a distributor I believe in playing safe by undertaking to release the films on a commission basis.

To what extent has marriage earlier and fatherhood now brought about a transformation in you?

I feel that marriage and fatherhood certainly change one for the better. You get more responsible and want to spend more time at home with your kid.

Do Kajol and you have any plans for Nysa?

Nysa is too small now for us to think of what she is going to take up when she grows up. All that I would like to state now is that I want her to be daddy’s girl, because though Kajol is able to spend quality time with her, unfortunately thanks to my preoccupation with my commitments, I am able to spend very less time with her.

Though you had started off as an action hero, strangely enough, you do not have even one action film on hand now! Why?

I am keen now on doing an action film because I feel that I have not done one for such a long time.

How would you describe 2009, as far as you were concerned, career-wise?

2009 has proved to be a good year for me since my last film before Main Aurr Mrs Khanna- Wanted has clicked in a big way. The films which I have signed recently are the ones which I really wanted to do. I believed that all of them would do well, whether it was Wanted, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna or Veer or London dreams.

Why do you think Wanted clicked in a big way?

Wanted was a film which wanted a hero. It was an entirely different genre of action film. It worked because it projected the kind of a hero who was lost in the 70’s with who the audiences could identify themselves with and easily relate to. Main Aurr Mrs Khanna is actually a lesson in romance. It is about the fact that a husband is possessive, suspicious and narrow minded unless and until he is a gay. It is the way the younger generation perceives romance in a cool way.

Were you not scared about your teaming with Kareena since Kyonki had bombed?

Kareena’s magic is her spontaneity. She is looking fabulous in the film. So what if Kyonki in which we had been paired the last time did not work? I knew that the film would not work even when I was doing the film but Priyadarshan was not willing to listen to me and asked me to just trust him. It was a depressing film, not an emotional film like Tere Naam, though both of them were remakes of South Indian films.

What is Main Aurr Mrs Khanna about?

Main Aurr Mrs Khanna is different from Wanted. Main Aurr Mrs Khanna sets out to drive home the message subtly that one should not get married if one does not wish to remain loyal and the credit for making a marriage work as well as the gaali go entirely to the girl.

Which are your best as well as worst films?

I have acted in 67 films till date, though I was under the impression that I may have acted in over a hundred films. My best films have been films which have created history at the box office. Like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Karan Arjun, Sanam Bewafa, Partner and now Wanted. If you ask me the films which I want to forget, here’s the list. They are Nischay, Jagruti, God Tussi Great Ho and two films of Sawan Kumar- Chandramukhi and Chand Ka Tukada.

Why do you think some films of yours did not do well?

You start a film with the eight intentions but then somewhere it goes awry at times when the producers do not want to spend as they had planned initially when they launched the film and your film goes for a toss.

Why are you averse to watching the original films when you set out to act in their remakes?

I do not make it a point to watch the original Tamil or Telugu versions of the Hindi films which I set out to do because I do not want to be subconsciously influenced by the acting style of the regional actors. I saw parts of the original Telugu version of Wanted in which Mahesh Babu had acted and not Pokkiri the Tamil version in which Vijay had acted.

You seem to take up films with both veteran as well as new directors. Why?

If I have acted with a new director like Prabhu Deva in Wanted or Prem R Soni in Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, I am now also acting with a war horse like Anil Sharma in Veer. Both new as well as veteran directors have their own plus as well as minus points. When I heard Prem R. Soni’s script, I realized that it has been written coolly, eschewing any kind of melodrama. Prem is competent director to watch out! Anil’s forte is lavishness. His shot taking also is excellent and is good at emotional scenes. However, I have to take care that his film dos not look like a 70’s film, because he belongs to the old school.

There is this allegation that you do not plan things!

Yes. I admit I have never planned my career. I have done films at times even out of emotions without thinking about the pros and cons of doing them. I have never ever had any kind of strategy or approach when I decided to take up a film.

Isn’t it scary to compete with two more releases on Diwali?

Yes. I admit it is very scary when I realize that my films like Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, London Dreams and Veer are awaiting almost back to back releases this year, one after them other, but I am not unduly worried because I play different characters in all the films. If Main Aurr Mrs Khanna is a romantic comedy, London Dream is a youth oriented musical while Veer is an out and out period caper.

You do not seem to be too keen on doing any art film!

I am sure about one thing. That is I do not want to preach as an actor. I am here to entertain. I do not want to do art films which bore the audiences to death. I want to give back to my fans, who have made me a big star by doing meaningful films which entertain them.

How happy are you with the way your career ahs shaped till date?

I couldn’t have asked for more from God. I came around the time when Jackie Shroff and Sanjay Dutt had come into the industry. I think frankly I have overstayed in the industry thanks to my fans and producers, by about ten years.

FARAH KHAN, who is now getting ready to direct her third venture Happy New Year for producer Shah Rukh Khan tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that she had shot SRK like Ramgopal Varma shoots his heroines…

Was it always your dream to be a director?

I confess that I had joined the industry as Mansoor Khan’s assistant in direction on the sets of his film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander only to learn the ropes of the trade as a director, almost a decade ago. However every evening, I used to ask all the dancers to practice the steps that I had devised, to know in what way the dances were different from the ones choreographed by Saroj Khan. One evening, director Mansoor noticed the session.

How did you bag your first assignment?

I shot to fame as a choreographer with the slow motion number Pehla Nasha thanks to Saroj Khan by default. It so happened, that Saroj had left Mansoor’s unit high and dry one day and flown down South to do choreography for a South Indian film, leaving Mansoor Khan with no other alternative but to ask me to step in and rescue him by taking up the choreography for his film. A choreographer was born that day.

Is it true that your mother had acted as Salman Khan’s father Salim Khan’s heroine?

Yes. Not many are aware of the fact that my mother had actually acted as the heroine opposite Salman Khan’s father Salim Khan four decades ago. In fact I, Sajid Khan and Salman Khan had almost grown up together during our childhood and our families have known each other for donkey’s years.

Why do you say that it would be tough for you to direct a film for any other producer after working with King Khan?

I feel that Shah Rukh is the best. After working with an actor like Shah Rukh Khan, it is very difficult for me to work with any other actor. Just imagine I had to take a three second shot and I had told Shah Rukh Khan that I’d require 98 cameras for it. Shah Rukh spent 20 lakhs and got those 90 cameras flown in from London. Though I had told him not to splurge unnecessarily as we could easily do away with it, Shah Rukh told me that he did not believe in compromising on quality.

Is it true that Main Hoon Na was titled The Outsider initially?

Yes. It is interesting to note that the working title of Main Hoon Na before it went on the floors was actually The Outsider, for almost two years. I had written the script in English and every time there was any untoward incident on the sets, Shah Rukh would say Just Trust me. When Abbas Tyrewala started translating the dialogues, there was this line Main Hoon Na coming up in the place of Just Trust Me. When I told Sajid that the title of my film would be Main Hoon Na he told me that it sounded like a Sudhir Mishra film. Karan said that Main Hoon Na was a horrible title while Shah Rukh told me bahut kharab title hai. However I insisted on the title since I wasn’t into K titles like Karan and Ekta Kapoor. My gamble paid off and every one agreed that Main Hoon Na was the apt title after I went ahead and recorded the title song with Anu Malik as the composer.

What do you think about the actresses of today?

Frankly I feel that the actresses of today do not have the poise and the dignity which the girls in 70’s have had. In Om Shanti Om, Deepika fitted the role well, like Hemaji in the 70’s. To prepare Deepika for the role, we gave her voice training and dance classes, besides the three month training in acting course with Anupam Kher.

How tough was it for you to get Shah Rukh Khan to shed his excess weight and get into his six pack abs for Om Shanti Om?

Shah Rukh asked me to give him three months and he worked hard and told me that if he did not get at least six packs he would not remove his shirt in front of the camera, though I felt that at least once he should do an item song. I think it is a great change- over at the age of 42 when others become too old. I shot Shah Rukh like Ramgopal Varma shoots his heroines.

What do you like the best about being a director?

I enjoy being a director the most because as a director, I get to decide each and everything connected with the film, including recording only the songs which I want. I feel that direction is the most fulfilling job. The worst job is writing for the simple reason that it does not come easy to me.

Which episode of Tere Mere Beach Mein touched you the most?

The best thing about Tere Mere Beach Mein was that nothing in the show was actually scripted. After we decided on the theme of each episode, I asked questions randomly

I was touched by the episode on Hrithik. There is this comfort factor with each of my guests which I think will not come if they do not have a personal equation with you. Trust factor works a lot in a talk show like this. If they feel that they are uncomfortable answering any particular question, I readily offer to edit it out, because the idea is that the audiences should identify with what the stars had gone through in their lives and have a connect.

Tell me about your kids!

I have two daughters and one son. I have named my son Czar. Czar means an emperor. I have named my two daughters Diva and Anya. Diva is an Italian word for prima Donna, the main singer in the opera. Anya means inexhaustible in Sanskrit and graceful in Russian. Diva and Czar are similar looking but not identical. Its is said that one in two million triples are identical My daughters are maa ki laadlis and are chipkoos whereas my son is dad‘s laadla. He is elder by two minutes.

 Both her mother Dimple Kapadia and hubby Akshay Kumar have sashayed down the ramp numerous times but Bollywood actress Twinkle Khanna says that she is too shy to do it.

"I am too shy to walk the ramp. I am not at all interested. All I like is to sit back and watch Akshay, my mom or my friends doing the honour. You will never see me walking the ramp," Twinkle told IANS at the inaugural show of HDIL India Couture Week that started here Monday.

"I am happy as an interior designer and that is something I am best at. I would like to stick to it," she added.

Dressed in a fuchsia short dress, Twinkle looked gorgeous. Her presence at the event was due to her jewellery designer friend Farah Khan.

"I am here to cheer for her. She is a friend and an excellent jewellery designer as well," Twinkle said.

Action, drama, thrills and comedy, Rohit Shetty’s ‘All The Best’ has it all. After ‘Golmaal Returns’, Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty have joined hands again to come up with another rib-tickling comedy.

Ajay is happy about the movie being rolled out on Diwali. He says, “The movie is surely going to be a Diwali bash for the audience. It's clean with actual humour and can be full-time entertainment for any age group. The movie is funny, without any double-meaning dialogues.”

Bipasha Basu, adding spunk to the event in a short dress spoke about her co-star Ajay Devgn and director Rohit Shetty, “ I have earlier acted opposite Ajay only in serious cinema. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the comedy flick opposite him. And it was also all laughs working with Rohit. When Rohit narrated the script I laughed continuously for two hours. So you can imagine how crackling it’s going to be if it’s so funny at the narrative level.”

Besides stars like Bipasha, Mugdha, Fardeen and Sanjay Dutt, the movie also promises stunts. Rohit Shetty, who created the larger-than-life song ‘Tha Kar Ke’ has tried to recreated the magic with “All The Best”. “ It took a lot of preparation and time to do all the stunts and action sequences. It was really hard work but fun."

Ajay Devgn has no inhibitions on taking the risk while doing a perfect balancing act where a car turns upside down and Ajay proposes to Bipasha.. Wasn’t it scary, Ajay? “It was, but action sequences earlier were a bit tougher. But now with equipments and latest technologies, it's getting easier. I would request people not to try these, however.”

We guess the movie packs it all, from non-stop comedy to mistaken identities and goof-ups!

ROZA CATALANO tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that she would slap if a person asks her to sleep with him in exchange for a role

Is it true that you are keen on learning the oldest form of martial arts in China shortly?

Yes. I am fit and I want to become fitter as days are passing by. As a kick-boxing freak for the past 4 years and a trained martial arts person, I am now gung ho about trying my hands in the oldest and the best form of martial arts- Wushu Kung-Fu from Anan Henan in China.

How do you feel when complimented with epithets like sexy, hot etc?

Though these epithets are compliments used by men with a sexy connotation. I confess that I am used to passes from men, especially in India. If men do not make a pass at you, who will? But I do not give any man the vibe.

Did you come all the way to India from Africa, just because you fell in love with Saif?

Contrary to the notion that I had an ulterior motive and wanted to pursue my career in Bollywood by latching out to Saif, though I used to do theatre in Switzerland and also walk the ramp, I came to India just in pursuit of my heart, because love for Saif dictated every move of mine. For three years of my life, I did not do anything and just took the back seat by stepping behind Saif.

Is it true that you did two ads as well as anchored a talk show when you were with Saif?

I did two ads with Saif just for a lark when the producers of the ad requested me to be a part of the ad campaign. I also shot for two episodes of a show for Star as an anchor, but the channel decided not to shoot further episodes of the show. It was around the same time that Saif and I split and I was quite crest-fallen and had to get over her trauma and fend for myself. I have always believed that if one door closes, yet another will open for you.

How did get over the trauma?

I felt wounded but at the same time, I realized that it was important for me to understand what is going on around me and stand for what I believe. In the difficult period that ensued, sat back, felt the pain and started re-discovering myself, by setting out to learn more about myself which I did not know at all earlier. Though it took some time, it was not difficult for me to get back on my feet. I think it is because of the way I approach people and life in general. It is my persona. I used to walk in areas which were dangerous. If you have an attitude, where you respect others, others in turn will also respect you.

Have you lost the belief in love?

Just because I had a failed relationship; it does not mean that I have lost my belief in love. I have big respect for love and for myself too. However, I have realized one thing for sure. That is I cannot indulge in something in which I can give 100 percent of myself. At the risk of sounding to be very selfish, I need to give love to myself first. I believe that everything will come at the right time.

What did you learn from your relationship with Saif?

I do not like to talk about my relationship with Saif because I have moved on and that is a closed chapter in my life. You learn from a relationship and move ahead if it does not work for some reason or the other. You should not start hating love, but protect it, because love is what makes living worthwhile. I also do not believe in blaming any one or pointing out fingers. I do not think any woman can take something away from you if you are not giving. I do not like to play the victim.

What is your take on the syndrome of the casting couch in the film industry?

I am of the opinion that every individual has to know what he or she is. I have heard a lot about the syndrome of the casting couch in film industry. I do not believe in barter system. I‘d perhaps slap if some one were to ask me to sleep with him in exchange for a role. I like having my own space. I guess, if you know you are capable, then you know your talent and will have your own self esteem.

Do you feel handicapped as an actor, because of your white skin?

I do not want to get typed as yet another item girl in Bollywood, just because I have white skin. I do not want to be slotted as a foreign bimbette. The reason I did only item numbers mostly is that the roles which I was offered till now were not substantial at all. Music makes me feel closer to God. I am sure after people watch me in films like Nakshatra, Monopoly, Ek Second Jo Zindagi Badal De etc, I will be approached for roles which are written keeping me and my talent in mind. For the last two years, I have been brushing my knowledge of Hindi. Now that I am in India, I am not going to give up easily till I make it in Bollywood, like Katrina Kaif. Kat is amazing. Success stories of women like Kat inspire me, but I am here not to compete with Kat or any other actress but with myself. Kat has proved that movies do not have borders.