Munnabhai's girl Vidya Balan has just inked a brand endorsement deal with Godrej Sara Lee's GoodKnight Naturals', a moisturizing mosquito repellent cream.

Vidya Balan, the new face for GoodKnight Naturals, says, "When it comes to applying products on my skin, I am very cautious. Goodknight Naturals mosquito repellent cream has unbelievable properties which make my skin feel safe whilst protecting me from mosquitoes during outdoor shoots, and the best part is that it is non-sticky. I was very excited when Godrej, an age old name and a trusted brand approached me to be a part of this campaign in which this revolutionary product will help fight the mosquito menace."

The new campaign focuses on communicating the effectiveness of a moisturizer based mosquito repellent cream with the goodness of natural herbs like tulsi and lavender that help fight mosquitoes naturally while keeping the skin nourished and protected with milk. The ad campaign and concept developed by JWT, communicates the powerful combination of safety from mosquitoes and protection of the skin as never before, while highlighting the product offering through their catchy line... 'Machharon ki haar, skin se pyaar!'

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Tarun Arora, VP Sales & Marketing, Godrej Sara Lee said, "GoodKnight has always offered products which are based on strong consumer insights. The biggest challenge was to overcome the existing mental barriers of people being precarious about using mosquito repellent creams as they are associated with being sticky and harsh on the skin. The new ad positions the product in a way that cues in safety and credibility in a reassuring manner".

With such a power packed campaign and star power of Vidya Balan, GoodKnight brand will surely strengthen its supremacy in the market.

Amitabh Bachchan has learnt to live with controversies. But India’s biggest star admits they sometimes get under his skin — and when that happens he says he takes care not to show his irritation, particularly before the media.

“For celebrities, when you create a controversy, it happens and even when you don’t create one, it still happens. Like if I sneeze, it can cause a controversy; if I don’t, then also it causes one,” Bachchan told IANS in an exclusive interview.

“We (celebrities) have to live with that (controversies). I have accepted that controversies are bound to happen with me. I do get angry about it at times but we don’t let it show – not in front of the media at least,” added the 66-year-old thespian who will soon be seen as host of the third season of the reality show “Bigg Boss” that features a bunch of celebrities locked into a house.

The subject of many controversies, big and small, Bachchan seems to often vent his ire in his blog, which he labels a “revelation”.

The blog – www.bigb.bigadda.com – has become almost an obsession, says the star candidly.

“It (my blog) has been a great revelation. It’s a medium where I can talk to myself. It has now become almost like an obsession and it’s not so much because I want to express myself but the fact that I better express myself now there are hundreds of people who wait to read what I’m going to do, what I am thinking and then they comment on it,” he said.

He added that he would be going back to update his blog as soon as the interviews with the media were over.

Bachchan, whose forthcoming projects include Sujoy Ghosh’s “Aladin”, R. Balakrishna’s eagerly-awaited role-reversal drama “Paa” and Leena Yadav’s “Teen Patti”, was in the capital for the launch of “Bigg Boss” that goes on the air Sunday.

“I had been getting offers from various channels. We had many advance talks with some of them but, for some reason, either I didn’t like it or they couldn’t conceptualise something for me. Then ‘Bigg Boss’ came along, so I said ‘yes’,” said TV’s newest “pop philosopher”.

Ask him how this whole concept of being a “pop philosopher” emerged, the actor said: “This word has been created by the channel and I am partially to blame for it. When we were in talks for the show, I kept asking Colors officials about what it is that may be different from what you have been doing.

“It intrigued me for very long as to why a human being behaves as he does, what’s it that instigates him to behave in a certain manner? I thought it would be interesting to know all that and it may interest the people who will watch the show.”

Though Bachchan will be seen twice a week as the show host, he is not open to the idea of being locked in the “Bigg Boss” house.

“I would hate to be in the ‘Bigg Boss’ house. How can you be cut off for three months without any newspapers and mobiles? With no knowledge of what time it is since there are no clocks?” he said in awe.

Apart from Big B hosting the show, the channel has also made changes in the selection format. This time, viewers were given a chance to vote for those whom they want to see in the “Bigg Boss” house.

Asked who he would personally like to see on the show and pat he responded: “Nobody. I don’t want anybody to go in there.”

 Actress Nandita Das, the newly appointed chairperson of the Children’s Film Society of India (CFSI), promises to bring maximum number of kids to the children film festival, starting Nov 14, despite the fact that kids are hooked to reality shows.

“My top priority at this moment is to attract large number of children from different regions and classes to the children’s film festival,” Nandita Das told reporters here while speaking on the sidelines of the programme “Joy of Giving”.

The six-day Golden Elephant International Children’s Film Festival of India will be held in Hyderabad.

“I will try to include quality movies and renowned juries in the festival to make the festival more attractive. With reality shows attracting the eyeballs, it is certainly a big challenge to attract children to the film festival. But I will try to make the festival interesting by bringing in quality movies which will attract large number of children,” she added.

Nandita took the charge of chairmanship from Nafisa Ali after she resigned last month.

The actress, who ventured into direction with “Firaaq”, also told that she is looking for a good script to show her directorial skill.

“I am certainly looking for a script which is close to my heart. I am in search of a good script to direct,” she said.

“My grandmother was a Gujarati. So lunch and dinner at home comprise vatanu shaak, rotli, daal and kadhi. I never miss the dandia-raas back in Mumbai,” he says.

Much is being talked about Neil doing a full monty for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Jail, ready for release next month. Pictures of Neil in nude are doing the rounds on the net. “I don’t know how the pictures got out so soon,” says a surprised Neil. “Initially, I was apprehensive about doing the scene because it could cause embarrassment for my parents. It is only after I got a tacit approval from my parents that I went ahead.”

It was while shooting for the film New York that Neil got some tips on gymming from John Abraham. So, when he came back to India to start shooting for Jail, Madhur suggested a nude scene for the actor owing to the well-chiselled bod. “Yes, I stripped completely for the film,” says Neil

Neil can’t stop talking about a thing so special in his life! A Yamaha R1 bike, which he received as a gift from the producer of Jail recently. Already having bought an Audi, the actor says it’s definitely an obsession for someone like him whose first car was a Maruti Zen. “My obsession for my car and bike goes beyond a limit is known to all. I myself wash my car. I am quite possessive about it and treat it like my girlfriend.” But due to a hectic work schedule, the actor says that he does not get to ride much. A 20-minute ride around his residential area on Napean Sea Road, Mumbai, is what he manages to squeeze in.

Neil was also detained at the New York airport a few months ago. The actor describes the one-hour gruelling session as a “funny experience. The authorities at the NY airport weren’t convinced that I am an Indian. They told I didn’t look like one nor did I have an Indian name. But I think this is a standard procedure that they follow. Yes, it was a harrowing experience. But one need not make an issue out of this situation.”

One thing that the talented actor stays away from is ‘link-ups.’ He’s never been linked with any of his female co-stars. “Bipasha Basu and Katrina Kaif are great friends, but I guess my heart is already given,” he laughs.

Having sported a six-pack before, Neil follows a strict fitness regimen with cardios and half-hour cycling everyday. He’s also learnt taekwondo, plays tennis, badminton and swims regularly to keep fit. “One’s legs need to be strong. So I believe cycling does a great job for me,” he says.

Neil is highly superstitious, sentimental and is extremely touchy about his family. His favourite food joint is the Trattoria restaurant in Mumbai.

Before leaving for the dandia night, we ask him what his greatest physical attribute is, and he says, “I think my eyes are very expressive. I leave the rest for the audience to judge.”

Well, Salman seems to have buried the dirty past and wants to start life anew. Now, it's up to Shahrukh to set up patch up process or leave it.

During the premiere of American mini series IFC's Bollywood Hero, guess who was seated next to Neha Dhupia. None other than superstar Ed Norton. A source close to Neha said, "Neha did not know who was seated next to her during the screening of Bollywood Hero. She did not recognize him initially."

When Neha looked closely she couldn't believe her eyes. She kept pinching herself to make sure that it actually Ed besides her. "Ed's presence took her by surprise. He had actually squeezed out time and attended Bollywood Hero's premiere," said our source.

The source added, "Ed complimented Neha on her performance in the series. Neha is still drooling over the praise. She hasn't got over it as yet."

Films coming from Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt are known for their shock value. Now Emraan Hashmi says his upcoming film with the Bhatt brothers, “Tum Mile”, will carry forward the tradition as it has ample shocking moments.

“Yes, there is that shock element in ‘Tum Mile’ as well, just like every film of the Bhatts has. They always bring in something which touches audiences in a big way,” Emraan told IANS.

“In this film, shock value comes by means of floods. It is the anti hero in the film and would take people back to the time when this unfortunate event actually took place,” added the actor.

The actor, who has paired up with his “Jannat” director Kunal Deshmukh again in this film, says he was very keen to do one more film with the young director.

” ‘Jannat’ was entirely Kunal’s brain child and I always wanted to work with him again. He has a knack of picking up a relevant topic or issue and bring it alive on screen.

“In ‘Jannat’ he brought forward match-fixing while in ‘Tum Mile’ he has told a story based on a true incident. The common factor about both the films is that each essentially deals with human drama,” said Emraan.

Elaborating further on the human drama set in contemporary tales, Emraan said: “Even as ‘Jannat’ dealt with match-fixing, it was meant to be a driving factor for the problems that take place in the protagonist’s life.

“In ‘Tum Mile’, which has floods as the backdrop, we see two people who had parted ways some time back. However, now they face a dilemma in their relationship as they are thrown back together on 26th July.”

Emraan emphasises that technically “Tum Mile” has been the most difficult film he has been a part of.

“Yes, ‘Tum Mile’ has been a very tiring experience, both physically and mentally. It was a difficult film to be made and hats off to Kunal (Deshmukh) for making it happen.”

“The entire team has done its best to recreate the flood situation. During shooting, everyone from cast and crew used to stand in waist deep water for hours at a stretch to give that perfect shot.

“When I saw the film, I was like ‘Wow, man, how did we actually accomplish it all!’ Credit must also go to the special effects guys who have done a brilliant job for the entire recreation.”

In a lighter vein he adds that this time around, doing romantic sequences was much easier for him.

“The toughest part was to shoot for the flood sequences. That’s because all the romantic sequences were shot in very good speed. It was all quite breezy and the character that I play is my most romantic ever. My chemistry with Soha (Ali Khan) shows in the film.”

Kunal has managed to do a great job in canning the romantic scenes, says Emraan.

“It’s a very new format and idiom in terms of presentation of love. Kunal has brought the best out of this presentation and in a way placed the camera in the couple’s house itself for the romantic sequences. I was enjoying it all before the villain of the piece, i.e., floods took over,” he said.

“Tum Mile” is scheduled for a Nov 13 release.

Priyanka Chopra has thousands of fans, but who is the actress’s all-time idol? The man she admires most is adored by millions across the globe as well… who else but superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

“Shah Rukh Khan is my idol and has always been. He has been a favourite actor of course, but I really look up to him also as a person . Looking at where he came from and how he became who he is today, I find it extremely fascinating,” Priyanka told IANS in an interview.

“He started with theatre, did plays, got a break in TV – he turned from a regular college kid to a mega superstar… and all that completely on his own with no help from anybody in the film industry. I admire a lot about him and I think it’s just fantastic,” said the actress who has bagged the youth award icon for entertainment.

In the past, Priyanka has teamed up with Shah Rukh for Farhan Akhtar’s “Don” and did a cameo in a song with him in Farah Khan’s “Om Shanti Om” and also in “Billu”.

Priyanka and Hrithik Roshan bagged the youth icon awards in the entertainment field at the inaugural edition of the India Youth Icon Awards at an awards ceremony in Gurgaon Friday.

The actress is currently on cloud nine after getting rave reviews for essaying 12 roles in Ashutosh Gowariker’s “What’s Your Rashee?”, which also stars Hurman Baweja.

“It’s been great feedback so far. People are enjoying the film…I had an author-backed role which included playing 12 different characters – very difficult to do. And it feels fantastic to be encouraged and be told that I pulled it off well,” she said.

The 27-year-old actor said she was extremely nervous before the film’s release Friday.

“My biggest worry was – ‘Oh God! Will I ever be able to pull this off or not?’. Since most people who get to play multiple roles in a movie get it after a lot of experience, I was nervous. I have spent a short span to do roles as difficult as the one in ‘What’s Your Rashee’, but as an actor all I can say is that I do my work with as much honesty as possible and the rest is destiny,” she said.

If “What’s Your Rashee?” hits the jackpot at the box office, it will be her fourth consecutive hit in a row after “Fashion”, “Dostana” and “Kaminey”.

But she is unmoved. “Hits and flops are a part of the business, isn’t it?” she said.

Asked how she handles success at a young age, the former Miss World said: “I have always been grounded. I have an incredible passion for what I do (acting). I don’t know how to do anything else, I don’t want to do anything else and I love what I do. There’s nothing else that affects me.”

What about growing expectations from audiences and critics?

“It scares me when my films release. I wonder if people will like it or not. That for me is the most important thing. But at the same time I think: what’s the point of living a life without any expectations? You will just stagnate, become complacent – that’s not the kind of person I am. I like striving, I like things that challenge me; I take up difficult films and difficult roles to challenge myself,” Priyanka said.

“I like it when people say things like ‘Fashion’ was a female-centric movie and yet it was successful and that ‘Kaminey’ was an all-boys film, still my part was really appreciated, and ‘Dostana’ was majorly on gay guys, and it ended so well. I enjoy that – I like the fact that I can take up different scripts.

“It’s just that I like to take up challenges,” she added.

Priyanka’s next will see her paired with Uday Chopra in Yash Raj Films’ “Pyaar Impossible”, where she will play the beauty and the latter a geek.

The very talented Divya Dutta has always been a homely person. But now she has something more exciting back home that she keeps running straight home to, after pack up!

The lady, who’s celebrating her birthday on 25th September, has a special friend added to her party list! Now, now, before all the naughty minds start running the extra mile let us assures you, the special friend is a 40-day-old puppy!

Divya, who’s always been a dog lover, has finally gifted herself a pup she can call her own! Very significantly too, she’s named the little lahsa– apso, ‘Sakhi’. Those who’ve seen the chottu pup, can’t stop gushing about it!

They can’t help but claim that’s she’s just like our very own Divya– a complete brat! The chotta bundle of joy is so tiny but she always keeps running around and is full of energy! The two– Divya and Sakhi already can’t stay without each other and are like a house on fire!

Well… well, the lady sure couldn’t have asked for a better Birthday gift right, Divya?

A Sushmita Sen impersonator on the social networking site Facebook has started asking for money in her name for charity. After being inundated by anxious queries from friends, the Bollywood actress has clarified that she is not the one asking for money.

“It’s not a game. For this gentleman or lady, whoever he or she might be, charity obviously begins and ends at home. My impersonator has even opened an account www.sushmita-sen.com where charitable Facebook participants can donate money,” Sushmita told IANS.

The actress, who says she is not net-savvy, is appalled by the development.

“I’ve been smiling a little indulgently at all these fake Sushmita Sens on Facebook and Twitter. I thought as long as they were not harming me, let them have fun. But now when someone decides to open a charitable account on my behalf, it’s time to seriously get up and do something to stop such people,” she said.

Sushmita got to know of the impostor’s monetary manoeuvres only when friends called to ask how many zeroes they should put on their cheques.

“I was zapped! I was like huh! I do love giving to charitable causes. But not in this tacky way. Whoever has the nerve to ask for money and open a website for the purpose trusted in my charitable instincts a bit too much,” she said.

Cyber crimes like impersonation and abuse must be stopped, said Sushmita.

“If you have a name that people can use then these things are bound to happen. So far I didn’t mind my name being used by others. But now let me make it very clear I am not on Facebook, Twitter or anything. And I’m certainly not into asking for money for charity on the Internet. Hey guys,that’s not me!”