Veena Malik's nude picture: A publicity stunt?

Veena Malik More Pics

 Finally the cat is out of the bag on the Veena Malik nude photo controversy. Mumbai-based fashion designer and stylist Umair Zafar, who has done several shoots with controversial photographer Vishal Saxena, spilled the beans on the Veena Malik-FHM cover shoot controversy.

Says Umair Zafar, "A few days before the FHM cover was out, photographer Vishal Saxena told me to be prepared for a big 'dhamaka".

According to Umair Zafar, Saxena told him that the entire thing between Veena Malik and FHM magazine was pre-planned. "Veena Malik did the shoot topless with her hands covering the upper part of her body. She was wearing a bikini panty below, which was later on morphed and removed electronically by photographer Vishal Saxena. All this was pre-decided and agreed upon by all concerned. In order to save face and avoid the repercussions that it could have - both in Pakistan and in India and yet avail of all the publicity Veena Malik and FHM magazine had pre-decided that Veena Malik would send a defamation notice to the magazine and the magazine in turn would then send her a counter-notice. Yeah sab mili bhagat hein,"said Umair Zafar, adding "The entire episode had been meticulously planned by Veena Malik, photographer Vishal Saxena and FHM magazine representatives. "Even the defamation notice was prepared in advance.""

"I have done many shoots with Vishal Saxena and have styled clothes for Sayali Bhagat, Nisha Kothari, etc. Vishal specialises in nude shoots and has done several such shoots with Sherlyn Chopra, Priya Soni, etc., the photos of which are freely available on the internet. Vishal, Veena and FHM magazine have planned this entire publicity stunt to further Veena Malik's prospects on the Reality Show on Imagine channel, Veena Malik ka Swayamvar," said Umair.

Umair Zafar said that photographer Vishal Saxena had told him on Facebook chat that Veena Malik was even ready to shoot completely in the buff if it got her the required publicity. "Vishal told me, she wanted a big blast. A huge dhamaka that would catapult her to the top of the charts, and make her a household name in India. She wants to be more popular than Kareena Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan put together. Bigg Boss last year gave her some mileage, but she was not able to get much out of that show. She wanted the big bucks and was ever ready to do anything for it," Umair said.

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I'd be lying if I said I've gotten over Deepika Ex-boyfriend

Deepika Padukone's ex-boyfriend Nihar Pandya says that the heartbreak he's had with the actress will help him in his acting 

Nihar Pandya, the young aspiring actor who found himself out in the cold, away from Deepika Padukone's life after she got involved with Ranbir Kapoor, has found inspiration to play his part from a most unexpected place Ranbir Kapoor!

Says Nihar, "While I was watching Rockstar, I realised why it was important for me to have gone through what I did (with Deepika) to become a good actor.

No pain, no gain. That's what Ranbir is told in Rockstar, that in order to be a good artiste you have to experience heartbreak. I've felt the pain and now I am ready to show that pain on screen."

Together with his director-friend Prashant Chadha, Nihar is now putting finishing touches to his story of what exactly transpired between him and Deepika and how his life changed after she left him.

Says Nihar, "I'd be lying if I said I've gotten over it. The hurt somehow never goes away. When something like this happens, when the world you built with another person over the years falls apart in less than a month, you begin to question your life and priorities."

Nihar has been providing director Prashant Chadha with inputs on the relationship. They even flew out of the country together recently to work on the script.

Nihar feels it's a story that must be told. "During all these years since it ended I've never spoken about it. So the truth about what really happened is known from only one side. The entertainment industry knows Deepika's side of the truth. I want mine to be known too."

Nihar reiterates the film won't portray Deepika negatively. "I am not going to do a film that will damage her reputation. This is not an autobiography. But there will be many episodes that will be close to my life and heart."

A part of the film may be shot at Anupam Kher's acting school. "That's where it all started. That's where I met Deepika, " says Nihar dreamily. Deepika remained unavailable for comment.

Blast from the past

It was announced in October that Pandya was all set to work in a film based on the relationship between him and his former sweetheart Deepika Padukone.

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We didn't expect Kolaveri Di to be such a huge success: Shruti Haasan

If there's anything that Shruti Hassan is more passionate about besides films, it's music. The petite lady, lady who's taken professional training in music and is at present a part of a band, says that music completes her as a person. Basking in the glory of the unusual number -- Kolaveri Di, Shruti gets talking about music:

Riding on the wave
I don't think any one of us expected Kolaveri Di to be such a huge success. Right now, we are enjoying every compliment that's coming our way.

We haven't stopped to analyse what made the song such a craze. The song has been sung entirely by Dhanush. I am there in the video by default as I was in the recording room during the making (laughs out loud).

I have sung another song in the film. So far, I have had four-five releases and have sung a song in all of them. I enjoy singing as well as acting. The song I have sung in my upcoming release is very soft and mellow.

A varied range
Music is an integral part of my life. It completes me. I find singing a very spiritual experience. I feel very de-stressed and peaceful when I sing or listen to music. I did a course in music from the Musicians Institute of California.

Till date, one of the best concerts I ever attended was one in the US.

I was much younger and had gone with my friends. The band was Meshuggah, and they belted out some fab heavy metal stuff. I also used to attend jazz and blues concerts.

However, I have also trained for five years in Hindustani classical music. So, it's been my first love. I don't enjoy any particular music genre; I listen to various kinds of songs depending on my mood.

But I am a little partial towards fusion, though I enjoy listening to classical singers like Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen as well. In fact, I am a great fan of Kishore Kumar.

My favourite film is Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi. He was the best singer--cum-performer in India. I don't think that there will ever be someone else like him.

Filmy talent
Today, cinema is moving away from conventional themes. Women characters are getting bolder. Keeping this in mind, composers are getting more experimental with music and sounds.

I think it's a wonderful thing. If you ask me, amongst my co-stars, Dhanush, Siddharth and Suriya are good singers.

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Veena Malik wants to patch up with dad

Her father had disowned her post her controversial shoot but is it a publicity stunt?

Veena Malik

Veena Malik is still making news because of her nude photoshoot with FHM India a few weeks ago. The cover shot which had Veena wearing just a smile and little else, not only tarnished her image in her homeland, Pakistan but also strained her relationship with her family. It was reported that her father, Malik Mohammad Aslam, a retired solider, was outraged by his daughter’s dare-bare act and told the media that he wanted to disown her. But what follows smacks of a huge publicity stunt.

Veena’s UK publicist has revealed that the actress is very upset by the ‘insensitivity’ of the media and has resolved to speak to her family to clear the misunderstanding. Veena confirmed the news. “In the past my family has always stood by my side. They are angry and I understand them but I was not actually nude. I love them and will go back, sit down and speak to them; I hope they will understand,” she said.

December has been quite a tumultuous month for the Pakistani actress cum model. She enraged her compatriots after she appeared nude on the cover of the FHM magazine’s India edition with the initials of Pakistan’s secret agency ‘Inter Services Intelligence’ inked on her arm. Several Pakistani organisations and religious heads were quick to call the 24-year-old actress treacherous and demanded that she be stripped off her citizenship.

In the following days, the lady was caught in a skirmish with the editor-in-chief and journalists of FHM India whom she accused of doctoring her image on the cover of the magazine. Veena initially defended herself by claiming that her image had been morphed and sued the magazine for millions of dollars. Later, she went onto add that she had been only topless for the photoshoot and had worn hot pants but FHM, before publishing the issue, had made her appear completely nude on the cover.

Our question is: if she really wanted to apologise for her recklessness why do it through the media again? Couldn’t she have taken a quiet flight home?

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Aamir Khan names son ‘Azad’

Mr Perfectionist’s baby has been named after a freedom fighter

Aamir Khan never ceases to surprise. On December 1, 2011, he informed the world about the birth of his son through IVF to a surrogate mother. The excitement didn’t end then. As is his wont, he took his own time to come up with a name for his baby. He even asked twitteratis for suggestions and needless to say, he was inundated with ideas.

However, none of them impressed Aamir and he finally accepted wife Kiran’s suggestion and gave his son the unique name ‘Azad Rao Khan’. He said on Facebook: “Hey guys, most excited to share with you all that we have finally chosen a name for our baby boy. ...Azad. Azad Rao Khan. I left the final choice to Kiran and she has named him after my great grand uncle, Maulana Azad, the great freedom fighter, of whom the family is most proud of. Azad means free or liberated. We want to thank everyone for their warm wishes and blessings, and needless to say we are absolutely overjoyed and feel most blessed."

With a name like that little Azad Rao Khan is sure to follow in his illustrious dad’s footsteps!

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Lara Dutta's baby shower bash

It looks like the pregnancy hasn’t put a brake on her partying spirit!

Lara Dutta, proud mommy-to-be!

Former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta, is seven months pregnant, but that’s not stopping her from being out and about and socializing with dear friends. She still has the energy of a schoolgirl. Just recently she tweeted and publicly announced that pregnancy hasn’t stopped her from working out in the gym and advised other pregnant women to workout everyday but only under proper guidance.

Apart from sweating it out in the gym, Lara is also busy nowadays shopping for her godbharai (baby shower). Rumor has it that her elder sister Cheryl is planning a great party at Lara’s Mumbai residence this Monday. Invitations are being sent to Lara’s close friends in the industry and outside the film community. Lara who is married to tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, had to disappoint her buddies in Dubai who were also keen to host a party for her here. She felt travelling wouldn’t be safe especially since she was nearing her due date.

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Bipasha lands in trouble in Russia

Guess what her 'crime' was?

Bipasha faced a challenging time in Russia

Shooting in Russia for her forthcoming movie ‘Players’ is turning out to be a nightmare for Bipasha Basu. Just last week the 32-year- old dusky beauty got a scare when a Russian admirer stalked her while she was shopping on the streets of St. Petersburg. Bips could only breathe a sigh of relief when she was eventually rescued by co-stars Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher. The incident shook up the actress and led director-duo, Abbas Mastan, to appoint a bodyguard for Bip’s personal safety. But her ordeal wasn’t over just yet.

Three days later, Bips was baffled when she was whisked away with co-star Sikander Kher by the Russian police. Apparently the actress and her friend Sikander had committed an offense by walking in a restricted area. The police went on to explain that Bips couldn’t have missed the signs that were marked on the street that clearly indicated the area was out of bounds for tourists. In their defense, Bips and Sikander replied that they couldn’t read Russian. Bip’s nightmare ended when another policeman entered the room and recognized her as a Bollywood actress. Soon after, the two stars were pardoned.

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