Deepika Padukone's Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani look has now inspired Divya Dutta

Deepika Padukone's nerdy look in Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani spread like it's caught fire. In no time after the release of YJHD, Deepika's glasses became a rage with the youth. Even many Bollywood lasses were spotted with their chashma on at recent parties and public events.

Her look -- comprising a chashma, neatly done up hair and printed dresses and skirts -- caught attention of many fashion experts. So much so that Deepika was snapped with the look at many recent events. And the actress was even quoted as saying that she wants to keep her glasses on as the look has got a thumbs up by everyone. 

Now, the latest to be inspired by Deepika Padukone is Divya Dutta. Did you notice how the so-far-so-sober actress has suddenly taken to a pair of glasses and printed skirts which bear an uncanny resemblance to those sported by Dippy?

Here, take a look. Don't miss the short skirt and the black-rimmed, oversized glasses. 
All we can say is that Deepika looked really cute in this look. 

Ranbir Kapoor to play a ganglord?

Playing a don's role seems to fascinate our actors.

After Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Akshay Kumar, Sonu Sood, Rishi Kapoor and Imran Khan it is now Ranbir Kapoor's turn to turn gangster.

Our source says that Ranbir is all set to essay the role of a ganglord for the first time in an upcoming venture expected to hit floors soon.

Why Katrina Kaif rejected Chennai Express, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani and Ram Leela ??

Katrina Kaif, who's Bollywood career has skyrocketed past few years, is now always offered A-list, big budget films, opposite all the A-list actors. She's also one of the highest paid actresses in the country. Kat has been part of films which have crossed the 100-crore mark. 

In a few years of her career, she's done films with Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Imran Khan - you name an actor and she's already been paired opposite him in mega budget films. 

Her upcoming films are Dhoom 3 and Bang Bang - both slated to be blockbusters. Now, that she's grabbed the top position in the film industry, she plans to get better roles and more meaningful films. 

But then, why did the actress say no to all the big releases last year? Within the last year, she said no to a film with Shah Rukh Khan, one with Ranveer Singh and one even with (ahem, ahem) Ranbir Kapoor!
 

What's wrong? Why is Kat on a rejection spree, that too for big budget films?

Katrina Kaif set to produce her own film

Every actress makes the transition at some point — from the front of the camera to behind the scenes. Katrina Kaif is getting ready for Phase 2. Having crossed the Rs100-crore club several times over and conquered every commercial peak, she has no qualms turning down films that don’t interest her. 

In the current transitional phase, producing a film is not just a possibility but a veritable reality in 2014 for Kat. She has decided to take it easy with the public exposure till her filmsDhoom 3 and Bang Bangrelease. She won’t make too many public appearances including performing at a public platform. Says a source close to  Katrina, “It’s a conscious decision taken by Kat and her team. 

She has no release until December 2013. There’s no point in being visible all over the place or giving interviews because in any case she is not allowed to talk about Dhoom 3 or Bang Bang. Until the release of these two films, Katrina will maintain a low profile.”

One also hears about Katrina’s dilemma regarding what to sign next. Says a friend of the actress, “She wants to move out of her comfort zone. But she doesn’t know which way to move. She has done practically everything there is to do as a mainstream actress. She wants to move ahead. But  doesn’t want to do an offbeat film. She is on the look-out for a full-on crazy script that would allow her to do everything she hasn’t been able to do so far.” So the next best thing would be to turn a producer and give herself that opportunity to act in films that she wants to.”

Deepika Padukone breaks free of Brad Pitt syndrome

Nearly six years after her model-to-actress career move, Deepika Padukone says she is finally being praised for her acting in films and not just for her good looks.

Ayan Mukerji's "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", which stars Padukone in the lead with Ranbir Kapoor, got her box-office success and critical appreciation this month. Some reviews said she overshadowed her co-star.

It's a far cry from her Bollywood debut with "Om Shanti Om" in 2007 and subsequent films when critics described her acting as wooden and mocked her accent.

"We call it the Brad Pitt syndrome where for some reason if you are good-looking then people think you cannot act," Padukone told Reuters in an interview.

"I have been slotted in that way where people thought she is good enough to just add glamour to a film," the 27-year-old actress said.

Padukone, the daughter of India's most famous badminton player, was worried about the undue focus on her physical attributes.

Her acting skills were first noticed in the Homi Adajania film "Cocktail" last year. Padukone played Veronica, an impulsive and spunky woman, poles apart from the self-effacing characters she had played earlier.

Initially, Padukone wasn't sure she could pull off the "out of comfort zone" role but was convinced by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, the screen writer for "Cocktail".

"I have seen the wild, crazy, fun side of that girl, which she was initially trying very hard to conceal," Ali told Reuters.

If it weren't for Ali's advice, Padukone may have opted for the film's other female lead, a role cast in the mould of the traditional Bollywood heroine.

"You are ambitious about a project, you hope that it does well and you hope that you gain from it," says Padukone. "Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't happen."

It was a phase that saw her act in several box-office duds or in films with an ensemble cast, ones that didn't propel her career forward. And then "Cocktail" happened.

Over the years, her personal life and a much publicised break-up with Kapoor has been fodder for Indian tabloids.

Padukone says her experiences have added to her skills as an actor.

"Just spending everyday on a film set has taught me so much. Also life," she says. "It's your growth as a person also, you try and channelize your experiences and bring those to a film set."

Ali, who directed Padukone in "Love Aaj Kal", says the actress is getting ample opportunities to prove her acting chops.

"She is coming to a place in her emotional life where she is becoming connected," says Ali. "So she is ready for things, for performances."

Star-studded telly awards event

Small screen celebs turn up in their fashionable best at the Star Parivaar Awards 2013. The night was a star lit affair as the popular actors from the various shows walked the red carpet at Yash Raj Studio

Trailer launch of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'

Film's lead stars Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor along with former Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh unveil the promo and music of the upcoming biopic by director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Ranbir and Katrina's late night rickshaw drives in Bandra

Screenwriter and filmmaker Melanie Easton spotted Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor at a fine dining restobar at Bandra on Tuesday

A rickshaw driver who told us that late at night, Katrina and Ranbir go out and drive rickshaws around Pali Hill... they got stopped by police while Kat was driving the rickshaw, then cops took her Autograph..

They sat together at the table and were chatting and some hand touching happened.

Ali Zafar: I want to balance myself between work and family

Pakistani actor Ali Zafar doesn't believe in being overworked as he loves to spend quality time with family.

"I am very happy with the kind of scripts that I am getting right now, but more than that I am happy that I am distributing a lot of time to my family and not burning out myself with work," Ali told IANS

"I want to balance myself between work and family and I am happy that I am managing it quite well," he added.

Since his debut in Bollywood with the 2010 film 'Tere Bin Laden', the musician-actor has worked in movies like 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan', 'London, Paris, New York' and 'Chashme Baddoor'.

He will be next seen in 'Aman Ki Asha'.

Ali, who started his career as singer and his first album 'Huqa Pani' did well in his home country, prefers live performances.

"I enjoy going live. It's a very unusual experience. Concerts help you to get more confidence and you see your fans in front of you. There is nothing like going live," he said.

Poonam Pandey will be able to do justice to any genre: 'Nasha' director

Controversial model-turned-actress Poonam Pandey, known for her outrageous photographs and statements, clarifies that she isn't cut out just for bold roles. She wants to do much more.

The actress has gone over 'bold' in her forthcoming film 'Nasha'. But she says: "Honestly speaking, it's not like I have always wanted to do bold films. I would love to experiment with different types of roles."

"Right now, I haven't thought much. I am just focussing on 'Nasha' right now," the 20-year-old said here Wednesday during the shoot of a pole dance sequence.

Even Amit Saxena, who has directed her in 'Nasha', vouches that Poonam has the talent to feature in all kinds of film genres.

"She would fit any genre. It's breathtaking to watch this talent. She is absolutely new, she is doing this for the first time and there is absolutely no inhibitions that she has," said Saxena.

Talking about her capability, he said: "She has gone from comic moments to serious moments. I feel she will be able to do any genre and do full justice to it."

'Nasha' tells the story of an 18-year-old boy who falls in love with an older woman, played by Poonam. The movie releases July 26.

Will Neil Nitin be able to revive his career with 'Shortcut Romeo' ??

Director Susi Ganeshan, an acclaimed, award winning director makes his foray into Bollywood with a remake of Tamil super hit 'Thiruttu Payale' which is a tale of love, deceit and mystery. Mukesh plays Suraj who earns quick bucks by blackmailing a rich, bored and cheating housewife Monica( Amisha Patel) who is having an affair with a younger man on the sly of which only Suraj has knowledge of. While Monica resists initially, she isn't left with much choice but to relent and provide money to Suraj. Things are hunky dory till Suraj meets and falls in love with Cherry (Pooja Gupta). Will Monica be able to get rid of Suraj? Would Suraj tell Cherry the truth? Who will two time who? Susi Ganeshan weaves a story which is shrouded with suspense and drama.



He might be an earnest actor, but Neil Nitin Mukesh's career hasn't taken the desired flight ever since his impressive debut in 'Johny Gaddar' in 2007. The actor though featured in some memorable and commercially successful films in the later years like 'New York', '7 Khoon Maaf'- but he was part of a ensemble cast. He has done critically acclaimed films like 'David' and 'Jail', but has never been considered as a commercially viable actor.

Shortcut Romeo' is an important film for its director and its cast. While the filmmaker will hope to establish himself in Bollywood after a successful career down south, its actors are hoping that the success of the film consolidates their position in the film industry.

Yash Raj Films' Bollywood blockbuster Band Baaja Baaraat to be remade in Tamil, Telugu ..W O W

Yash Raj Films is all set to foray in the south film industry with the Tamil and Telugu remake of its 2010 hit 'Band Baaja Baaraat'.

The original film, directed by Maneesh Sharma and starring Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh, centred around two ambitious wedding planners of Delhi.

The film will have well-known actor Nani along with debutant Vani Kapoor, who is also in Sharma's Hindi film 'Shuddh Desi Romance' with Parineeti Chopra and Sushant Singh Rajput. The remake is directed by Gokul Krishna and produced by Aditya Chopra.

The yet untitled film went on floor end May and has completed its first schedule in Chennai. The shoot moves to Hyderabad and Mysore for the next schedule starting early July.

Padam Kumar, who heads our operation in the South, is the Creative Producer on the project, said a statement from the producers.

The 'Band Baaja Baaraat' remake will be followed by not just other Tamil films, both from YRF's catalogue as well as new and original content, but also movies that are poised to break into other regional film markets of the South, the statement read.

First look out of Sushant and Parineeti's 'Shuddh Desi Romance'

Yash Raj Films (YRF) has settled for a quirky title for its project starring actors Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra. The movie, directed by Maneesh Sharma, is titled "Shuddh Desi Romance"

The movie will be a "fresh and very real love story about the hair-raising minefield between love, attraction and commitment", read a statement from YRF.

"Finally, a romantic comedy that tells it like it is," the statement added.

Apart from Sushant and Parineeti, this "classy, candid look at the affairs of the heart in today's desi heartland" are the endearing Rishi Kapoor, along with debutant Vaani Kapoor.

The movie, releasing Sep 13, is written by Jaideep Sahni, and produced by Aditya Chopra. Its music is by Sachin-Jigar, with lyrics by Sahni.