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.

The controversial Swami Nithyananda may soon approach the government’s Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) to intimate them of select websites indulging in what his publicist terms as “guerilla defamation.”

Speaking about the same, the spiritual leader’s PR specialist Dale Bhagwagar revealed, “There have been a select group of websites which seem to be regularly indulging in false and defamatory articles about Swami Nithyananda.”

He referred to a new attack on Nithyananda’s reputation this week, by four websites BharatOne, Gulte, IdleNRI and CineVedika, which called the spiritual leader a “conman” involved in “mismanagement of funds,” without any proof or valid reason.

“Such articles may not only incorrectly influence mass media opinion and turn dangerous for a person’s reputation, but also spread false news, hurting the fabric of society,” said Bhagwagar, making a point.

“A few websites have been continuously fabricating and concocting terms and articles, maligning Nithyananda’s image in a clear violation of our country’s defamation laws,” he added.

“Moreover, many of these are strangely operating in a guerilla fashion, having no clear contact info about themselves on their sites or elsewhere,” stated the PR specialist. He remarked that he was unaware if such sites are operating from India or whether they have their servers abroad.

“Unable to touch base with the sites in a credible manner, Nithyananda may be left with no other option but to approach the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell to request action,” added the publicist, wondering if CCIC is empowered to block domains of sites indulging in such illegal guerilla defamation.

The controversial Swami Nithyananda may soon approach the government’s Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) to intimate them of select websites indulging in what his publicist terms as “guerilla defamation.”

Speaking about the same, the spiritual leader’s PR specialist Dale Bhagwagar revealed, “There have been a select group of websites which seem to be regularly indulging in false and defamatory articles about Swami Nithyananda.”

He referred to a new attack on Nithyananda’s reputation this week, by four websites BharatOne, Gulte, IdleNRI and CineVedika, which called the spiritual leader a “conman” involved in “mismanagement of funds,” without any proof or valid reason.

“Such articles may not only incorrectly influence mass media opinion and turn dangerous for a person’s reputation, but also spread false news, hurting the fabric of society,” said Bhagwagar, making a point.

“A few websites have been continuously fabricating and concocting terms and articles, maligning Nithyananda’s image in a clear violation of our country’s defamation laws,” he added.

“Moreover, many of these are strangely operating in a guerilla fashion, having no clear contact info about themselves on their sites or elsewhere,” stated the PR specialist. He remarked that he was unaware if such sites are operating from India or whether they have their servers abroad.

“Unable to touch base with the sites in a credible manner, Nithyananda may be left with no other option but to approach the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell to request action,” added the publicist, wondering if CCIC is empowered to block domains of sites indulging in such illegal guerilla defamation.

Spiritual leader Swami Nithyananda seems to have been dragged into a fresh controversy, with latest reports stating that a former devotee of the guru has been accused of rape by a US-based woman, also an ex-devotee of Nithyananda.

This week a 32-year-old married NRI lady based in the US, is reported to have registered a complaint at Colaba Police Station in Mumbai, accusing an NRI doctor of brainwashing her and raping her over the course of four years.

The lady is said to have told the police, “He (the accused) would tell me that he is Shiva and I am Parvati. He would lace my drinks with drugs and rape me.” Since the duo is reported to have frequented Nithyananda’s ashram in Los Angeles in 2008, the controversial Swami’s name is being drawn into this case too, with references of a different ongoing case on the self-styled godman.

“Swami Nithyananda’s name seems to have become synonymous with controversy,” commented his spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar. “Countless people visit Nithyananda’s ashrams worldwide all the time. The Swami cannot be held responsible or linked to whatever all those people choose to do in their private lives,” he added, making a point.

In a startling interview to Cine Blitz, Bollywood bombshell Kashmera Shah has dropped a real bomb! She has gone ahead and admitted in print that her relationship with her boyfriend Krushna began with “a one-night stand”! Oh oh!

Over a tete-e-tete that makes mush look obsolete and jaded, the hottie who has been living in with Krushna from almost six years; candidly revealed the little secret behind how it all began!

“Before we landed on the sets of a film we were to do together, I didn’t even know him (Krushna). I knew I was to work with Govinda’s nephew in the film, that’s all. I never carried high heels hence”. Uff!

So was it during the course of the film they started seeing each other? “It was a one-night stand for both of us,” Kash boldly divulged, without even batting an eyelid!

What’s more! Surprisingly, the otherwise media-shy Krushna was as outspoken as his lady love! He added, “Actually that is how it happens with everyone… it is just that they do not admit. But after that night, she got a lot more caring towards me… bringing me khaana and all!”

Krushna further revealed, “Actually, Kash was giving me hints from the beginning itself. There was this once when we were seated in the van and the lights when off and I said, ‘Ab kya kare?’ Now that is something anyone would have said in that circumstance, and very suggestively our lady here says, ‘Kyun, kuch kare?’!!

Evelyn Sharma’s first film From Sydney With Love is about to release, but the fashionista already has four more films in her kitty. The latest is that she’s gone ahead and participated in a hi-glam photoshoot with Bollywood hunk Arjun Rampal for the new issue of Hello! India.

And whosoever has seen the pictures can’t stop raving about their raw intensity! We caught a video of the making of the photo-shoot and must say; it does look jaw-dropping-hot.

While Evelyn’s first film From Sydney With Love should release anytime now, the girl has gotten busy shooting with Vicky Donor star Ayushmann Khurrana, Delhi Belly fame Kunal Roy Kapur and newcomer Pooja Salvi for Rohan Sippy’s next!

The half-Indian half-German newbie is also working hard towards her first full-length lead in T-Series’ next tentatively titled Class of 2013. She plays a glamorous dream girl in the movie, which happens to be the directorial debut of Super Cassettes icon Bhushan Kumar’s enterprising wife Divya Khosla Kumar.

That apart, Evelyn plays a very spiritual teenager opposite Prateik Babbar in Issaq and a sexy ditz in Ayan Mukerji’s Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani; the Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer under Karan Johar’s banner Dharma Productions. Way to go girl!

Anita Advani, who reportedly had a long-standing live-in relationship with the late megastar Rajesh Khanna at his Bandra bungalow Aashirwad, is feeling intimidated.

Surrounded by various controversies, Advani has been constantly under media glare since the megastar’s demise. Apart from not being allowed to board a vehicle during the mourning procession of Rajesh Khanna, the lady is alleged to have demanded a share in Aashirwad.

There have also been reports of an altercation with Rajesh Khanna’s estranged wife Dimple Kapadia and son-in-law Akshay Kumar.

“Ms Advani has been feeling hounded by the media with lots of television channels having camped outside her current residence for more than a week. She has also been receiving hundreds of calls and messages from the press on her cell phone, asking her to clarify various unfounded allegations,” informed her official spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar.

“She has been gheraoed while entering and leaving her residence. Some TV channel crews even scaled her building and have continuously been ringing her doorbell, waiting on the staircase and trying to grab some footage and bytes,” he added.

“Being a media person myself, I thoroughly understand that they (the channels) are just doing their job, but Ms Advani is neither used to all this, nor is she in a state of mind to answer awkward queries. She has just lost the person she loved like crazy for years at end and is feeling intimidated by all this,” explained Bhagwagar while leaving out answering, whether Anita Advani has claimed her stake to Aashirwad.

Term it an irony of sorts or a quirk of fate; fact is that international pornstar Sunny Leone’s much-anticipated sex-romp Jism 2 will clash with a cute 3D animation film called Krishna Aur Kans this week.

While the all-pervading Lord Krishna will fight the devilish mythological villain Kans in the latter, the movie which happens to be India’s first stereoscopic animated feature film, will also have to battle the stiff competition at the box-office from a sex-crazed audience, wishing to check out the debut of the famed adult sensation Sunny.

But ace Bharata Natyam dancer Prachi Saathi who has dubbed the dialogues for the adorable little Lord Krishna in the movie isn’t really scared of this clash. “A seductive Sunny may be mesmerizing, but our natkhat Kishan Kanhaiya will always have his own charm and appeal,” the girl smiles and quips with oodles of confidence.

Not much bothered about the clash, she adds, “While Jism 2 is an out-and-out adult film, there is a huge possibility that family audiences would come in with their kids and elders to see how Krishna Aur Kans unfolds in 3D.” Prachi has a point and knows what she’s talking! After all, she is no novice to the entertainment industry!

Having acted as a child artiste in Subhash Ghai’s Pardes as well as a popular television sitcom Daddy Samjha Karo, she has modeled for over fifty brands and been a voice-over artiste for over 80 TV shows and 60 Hollywood and Bollywood movies.

For her sake and the sake of clean inspiring content, we hope against hope that Prachi’s conviction is blessed by the Gods!

Having modeled for many successful brands and campaigns, spunk-chick Bidita Bag, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut this week with the comedy From Sydney With Love, is in a quandary.

The reason: This Bong beauty is continuously being compared to more established heroines namely Kangna Ranaut and Deepika Padukone. In fact, she has been getting a lot of film offers that have gone to Kangna earlier.

“It’s amusing how some filmmakers have been thinking of me as some kind of replacement to Kangna Ranaut,” she happily giggles. “I’ve been offered at least half-a-dozen movies by makers who say I fit the bill for a ‘Kangana-type-of-role’ – whatever that means!”

As if this isn’t enough, some makers tell Bidita, she looks and even sounds like Deepika Padukone; so much so that if she would dub for Deepika, no one might come to know – another comparison that the debutante has to live with, at least for now.

And while the girl takes these links with a pinch of salt, Bidita does assert that she wishes to “carve a completely original identity” for herself, even if she agrees to a Deepika or Kangna-kind-of-role. Lol. Looking at her performance in the promos of From Sydney With Love, we do believe that the actress is versatile.

For the record, her movie’s release will clash with none other than Jism 2; the debut vehicle of international porn sensation Sunny Leone. But Bidita smiles and shrugs it off. “I don’t fear Sunny Leone. Apart from my looks and acting capabilities, I have inner beauty,” she remarks with confidence.

When compared to the mass appeal Sunny’s cleavage carries, Bidita reacts, “A little bit of concealing is any day more erotic than showing everything, isn’t it?”