While many in Bollywood are bhakths of Lord Ganesha, you might not be knowing that Aazaan star Sachiin Joshi is a hardcore one.

Fascinated by the forms of Ganpati Bappa since his childhood, Sachiin has been a firm believer in Ganeshji’s blessings. This year, along with his friends and family, he traveled to his hometown Pune for the immersion.

“Sachiin and his family have been celebrating the ritual of Ganesh Chaturthi since years with a lot of gusto and grandeur, and this year, it just got better” said the actor’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar. “He participated in a five-hour long super-energetic procession after the pooja and aarti,” he informed.

What’s more! The actor had specially called for Nasik dhol along with another band that took turns to perform a mix of traditional and Bollywood numbers.

This built the tempo and momentum right up to the immersion, while he and his friends danced with great frenzy. To add to this, was a dazzling display of fireworks.

Nearly 400 people gathered to join this celebration, followed by traditional dinner after the immersion.

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If rumours are to be believed, India’s most controversial spiritual leader Swami Nithyananda might be entering the country’s biggest reality show Bigg Boss.

The self-styled godman who shot to notoriety with unproven allegations of a sex scandal with Southern actress Ranjitha, was also the target of a former disciple who frivolously claimed to have been raped by him 40 times over five years.

Even while these cases reached the courts, Swami Nithyananda became a favourite punching bag for many television channels, but surprisingly witnessed growth in popularity and followers.

When asked about reports regarding Nithyananda entering Bigg Boss, his spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar admitted, “I’ve been told, the godman has been approached earlier,” but added, “It’s too early to confirm or deny.”

Apparently, in their agreements for Bigg Boss, all participants are bound by a very strong secrecy clause about their entry on the show. That could be a reason; most never admit to their participation before the show.

When it comes to knowledge and awakening, not many can match up to the self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda.

So when the spiritual leader was recently asked about international talk-show host and American crusader Oprah Winfrey taking digs at Indians eating with hands, Nithyananda shot back saying, “Just like the West has benefited by accepting Yoga from India, they should also begin eating with hands. It’s one of the healthiest practices of time-tested civilizations.”

“Our roots are the same. It is from India that the Rishis went and settled in Africa and created their civilization. Thus, even the African civilizations are known to eat with their hands,” he explained.

Nityananda said, “I invite Oprah to begin eating with her hands and return to her roots… our common roots. I welcome her to taste the joys of natural eating.”

“Indians eating with hands seems to be repeatedly emerging as an issue with Westerners,” remarked the Swami’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar. He pointed out that a few weeks ago; even Miss India UK Deana Uppal was mocked by her fellow contestants in the world’s biggest reality show Big Brother for the same.

Earlier, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was attacked by Jade Goody in Celebrity Big Brother over food issues.

Dale, who was also Shilpa’s publicist then, reminisces, “A tiff around the dining table sparked off a huge racial discrimination controversy with Shilpa ultimately winning the show and emerging an icon against racism for the world to look up to.”

Lets see if Oprah Winfrey learns from all this!

Firebrand Sambhavna Seth never stops amusing us! The latest on this spunk-chick is that she has gone ahead and performed a song in the praise of an MP. No, not an actor, performing as an MP! But a REAL Member of Parliament!

The politician is Raju Shetti who is said to have started out as a marginal farmer in Shirol village in Kolhapur and finally rose to become an MLA, and later an MP in the 15th Lok Sabha of India.

The film called Senani, which will be released in Marathi as well as Hindi, has a song dedicated to the politician, who will also feature in it! Sambhavna will be seen singing praises in his honour and even dancing for him.

“Mind you, it’s not an item song,” quips Sam. Recalling her shoot, she says, “The film-makers have specially done this song in praise of Raju Shetti because he’s made a difference to the people of his constituency and they wanted to showcase that. While shooting with him, I realized that he was a thorough gentleman and the masses there loved him like crazy.”

Recalling her stint in Bigg Boss, where one of her Housemates included another politician Sanjay Nirupam, Sam remarks, “During tasks given to us on the show, Nirupam always used to say, he cannot sing and dance because of his public image. Though Raju Shetti didn’t have to dance in this song, he did not have any such hang-ups either.”

The interview is a little long (46 minutes), but we bet you will love it as it progresses.

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He ranks highest amongst the most loved ones on Indian television. But last week, there came a moment in his life when the charmer was charmed!

Complementing his immense popularity, thirty female fans of television superstar Ram Kapoor landed in Mumbai from all over the world, especially to celebrate his birthday last week.

Obviously, the actor is on cloud nine! “It became a grand celebration and I simply loved the little creative gifts they personally made and brought for me. We partied all night! It was quite unreal but an awesome as well as humbling experience for me,” he beamed.

What’s more! Ram followed up this rollicking bash with another very special one for his family and friends. And now it’s just a few hours before he gets back to the grind of his shoots for Bade Achhe Lagte Hain and the select movie roles he does in Bollywood! Way to go!

RAJESH KHANNA’S ‘lady love’ ANITA ADVANI reveals a little bit about her relationship with the man who once charmed the entire nation… and the man she loved like crazy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/I-call-myself-Rajesh-Khannas-surrogate-wife-Anita-Advani/articleshow/16060995.cms

Even as actress Bidita Bag is preparing for the release of her first Bollywood film ‘From Sydney With Love’ this week, she is all shaken by memories of a recent village attack, where she witnessed the fury of a mob who mistook her for being a Maoist or a Naxalite.

While renowned filmmaker Prakash Jha, who is directing his next movie Chakravyuh on Naxalites, has stated that he has met them over the years, Bidita went through a terrifying experience of a more dangerous kind on the sets of a Bengali film called ‘Chokher Pani – Tears of Nandigram’!

Recalling her horror, the actress says, “I was shooting for this Bengali film in the sensitive Nandigram village in West Bengal some time ago, when a group of very unruly people thought that the unit comprised of armed Naxalites.”

“The villagers started shouting – ‘Yeh log film shooting ke naam par logon ko hathiyaar chalane ki training de rahein hain’ (‘These people are providing combat arms training in the garb of a film shoot’). Before we could explain anything, a wild rumour spread and suddenly a mob emerged and started attacking the unit members,” recalls Bidita.

The actress remembers seeing agitated people chase others with swords and even burning nearby houses in a mindless riot, as she ran and hid inside a rice field to save her life!

Bidita’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar adds, the actress told him, she was too shaken, witnessing such animalistic violence and that even the local police and media termed her a Maoist. “Bidita felt helpless and traumatized in the village. But luckily for the unit members, she did not give up shooting for the film,” he remarks.

As the situation calmed down, the actress is reported to have completed the shooting schedule under police protection and safety assurances by The Rapid Action Force (RAF); the specialized wing of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

The late Rajesh Khanna’s ‘lady love’ Anita Advani, who reportedly had a long-standing live-in relationship with the megastar at his Bandra bungalow Aashirwad, is saddened regarding a statement made about her love Rajesh Khanna by none other than Markandey Katju; the chairman of Press Council of India.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Media and its responsibilities’ this week, Katju slammed television news channels for “excessive” coverage on film stars, cricket and astrology to boost viewership. Taking media to task, Katju pointed out that channels should rather be focusing on real issues such as economy, poverty, unemployment and farmers’ suicides.

Referring to such coverage, he is reported to have stated, “How does it matter if Rajesh Khanna is dead or alive.” Though his dismay over sensational reporting is genuine, such a statement has upset Khanna’s ex-partner Anita Advani tremendously.

When asked about Katju’s comment on Rajesh Khanna, Advani retorted, “Kakaji (Khanna) was loved, adulated and even hero-worshipped for years at end, across India and abroad. He made millions laugh, smile and cry with him.”

“To say ‘how does it matter if Rajesh Khanna is dead or alive,’ after he has passed away, is not in good taste. It has hurt me a lot, but more than that, I feel Mr Katju owes all of Kakaji’s fans an apology,” said Advani.

Explaining her distress over the issue, Advani’s spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar remarked, “Ms Anita Advani has always told me, she loved Kakaji like crazy and that she was always there for him. Maybe, it is because of this special bond they shared, that she finds this casual remark insensitive!”

The late Rajesh Khanna’s ‘lady love’ Anita Advani, who reportedly had a long-standing live-in relationship with the megastar at his Bandra bungalow Aashirwad, is extremely upset, hearing the buzz about the late megastar’s bungalow being renamed Vardaan.

“If the rumours are true, it would hurt Kakaji’s (Rajesh Khanna’s) soul,” quipped Anita Advani, adding that “Aashirwad is synonymous with Rajesh Khanna”.

She particularly found the name-change talks upsetting, as she said, the name Aashirwad was given to the bungalow by Rajesh Khanna’s father.

“Kakaji used to fondly remember and tell me how the bungalow was named Aashirwad. When they were looking for a new name for the bungalow, his father had thought for a long time and then suggested the name Aashirwad. Kakaji has mentioned that his father said, ‘You’ll be a star and people will write letters and fan mail to you. Whenever they write your name on the letters, they will write the words – Rajesh Khanna Aashirwad. So in a way, they would always be giving you their Aashirwad (blessings).’ That was the lovely thought behind the name,” reminisced Anita Advani.

Remembering her years with the megastar, Advani remarked, “Kakaji used to say that this (Aashirwad) was the ‘most favourite’ name given by his father. The bungalow was also his most prized possession, which he wished to convert into a museum and his last wish should be fulfilled. In fact, together, over the years, we both designed its interiors with a long-term plan to convert it into a museum.”

Advani further added that she was “perturbed by the sudden name-change talks. What sense does it make? If it’s true, it’s a weird move and doesn’t sound nice.”

Reacting to claims about her asking for a stake in Aashirwad, Advani’s spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar stated, “It’s false that Ms Advani has claimed a stake in the bungalow. But she has maintained that Mr Rajesh Khanna wished to turn it into a museum for his loving fans.”

Television superstar Ram Kapoor is the heartthrob of millions. But what the Bade Achhe Lagte Hain actor is super excited about these days is a film he has just signed!

Ram is doing a movie which will have a couple of short stories, one of which will be directed by filmmaker Mira Nair; acclaimed for movies such as Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake.

“I have been a huge admirer of Mira Nair’s work for as long as I can remember and it truly is a dream come true to be working with her again after Monsoon Wedding,” says Ram.

The actor who spends most of his time shuttling between studios to match grueling schedules of his leading daily soap with select movies that he portrays key roles in, is scheduled to begin shooting with Nair this week itself.

For the record, Nair has directed ten narrative feature films as well as several short films and documentaries. Her work has been recognized by the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice Film Festival, the Emmy Awards and the Golden Globes, among others.

Earlier, she has also used the profits of her Oscar-nominated debut movie Salaam Bombay! to create the Salaam Baalak Trust for India’a street children.