It is suggested that Manisha herself volunteered to leave the film because of her marriage on June 19 and of course, the honeymoon that followed. However, there are those in the SLB camp who say that they are very happy with having Divya in place of Manisha. They reason that both actresses are equally talented. And Divya reportedly charges much less than Manisha. So as far as SLB is concerned having Divya there is a profitable situation.
Punit is good friends with his I Hate Luv Storys heroine Sonam Kapoor. In the past the two were often seen sharing popcorn and enjoying a film outing. However, since Sonam is now poised for big things, it is alleged that her well-wishers want her to concentrate on her career and give all her other friendships (that with Punit included) a back seat.
That Sangeeta dated Salman before she married cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, is well-known. But she has always been on good terms with Salman’s family and has been a constant visitor to the family home at Galaxy Apartments at Bandstand. She has been in Mumbai for the past few months but no one knows where she is living.
A source says, “Not only did Sangeeta attend the music launch of Hello starring Salman, but also his birthday party at his farmhouse in Panvel last year. Azharuddin did not attend that celebration.
Thereafter, she has visited Salman’s house, irrespective of whether he was present or absent.
Even if Salman is not home, Sangeeta has always been comfortable in his house. She has a very good relationship with Salman’s parents, Salim and Salma Khan, and is exceptionally close to his sisters, Alvira and Arpita.”
Sangeeta’s strong bond with Salman’s family might seem misplaced, considering how bitter she was about her split with him. She didn’t forgive Salman for choosing Somy Ali over her.
Sangeeta was seething with such bad vibes then that she didn’t think twice before talking ill of Salman to the media. Salman, however, remained quiet through all that, as he didn’t feel bitter about Sangeeta’s caustic comments.
Why Salman broke up with Somy is another story. Apparently, she was pressurising him to marry her but Salman kept postponing it. Somy ended the relationship and flew to Florida to be with her mother. Salman followed her there, pleading her to return but Somy stuck by her decision.
That he dumped a soft drink on her head at a discotheque might have played a part in her reticence to jump back into this relationship.
Meanwhile, time did heal Sangeeta’s wounds. A source describes her current equation with Salman, “They have a very healthy relationship. In fact, Salman has a very healthy equation with Somy too, who has been visiting his house as well.”
But Sangeeta shares a much deeper relationship with the actor, we are told. Interestingly, even Azharuddin used to accompany Sangeeta to Salman’s house. “Azharuddin bonds very well with Salim. They talk a lot about cricket and even sat down to see some matches together,” says the source.
But now that Azhar’s marriage with Sangeeta has hit the rocks (supposedly after he started dating badminton champion Jwala Gutta, who, by the way, is half his age), let’s see if he’s able to maintain good relations with Salman’s family.
Despite repeated calls and a text messages, Sangeeta remained unavailable for comment.
Bollywood superstars Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. And, with them, the film industry’s most celebrated filmmaker, Karan Johar, and the Bollywood Badshah’s stylish wife, Gauri Khan. The foursome gave Indians dining at this Japanese restaurant paisa vasool for their meals.
Aamir is in London (then LA, NY, Dubai...) to promote Peepli Live, Shah Rukh is there shooting for his futuristic RA One with Kareena Kapoor, and Karan flew to the UK to spend 20 days with SRK and Gauri and also work on his own script.
What is interesting is that in the midst of all their independent work activities, the superstars found time to break bread together. Aamir invited Karan, SRK and Gauri to a private screening of Peepli Live. SRK didn’t make it but Karan saw the film. After pack-up SRK and Aamir went for dinner, though. Accompanied by Gauri and Karan. A fan of both Khans said, “There were some jokes being cracked over which SRK and Aamir were laughing a lot. Gauri seemed to enjoy herself watching these guys cracking up.
Any special reason for going on this religious-shrine darshan spree across the country?
I am a very spiritual and god-fearing person. I eat vegetarian food on three days of the week. I’ve a friend in Delhi, Mohan Pal Singahanand Virji. I listen to all that he says. He advised me to visit these temples. That’s why I went to the Kamakhya temple in Assam on Saturday. From there, I went to a Shiv temple on the middle of the Brahmaputra. In Kolkata, I visited Kalighat, Dakshineswar and Adyapith. This was my third visit to Kalighat. At Dakshineswar, I sat in the room where Ramakrishna got his darshan of Kalima.
Is there anything specific that you prayed for?
I asked for the general well-being, happiness and success of every one in my family. Of course, I did ask for something for myself. But then, it’s not right to share one’s prayers unless they are answered.
The buzz doing the rounds is that you are going the family way and this temple-visit spree is only
accentuating the rumours...
Oh! no. Even my mother told me that visiting Kamakhya will accentuate the pregnancy rumours since many go there to pray for kids. I told mom: “Now, you don’t start this...” I wanted to visit
temples and so I did. Earlier, I’ve been to Shirdi, Golden Temple, Vaishno Devi, among others. Don’t read much into this temple-trail of mine. I have changed my style of dressing and am wearing skinny jeans and loose tops. Does a pregnant woman wear skinny jeans?
Did your husband, Timmy Narang, accompany you?
No. He is god-fearing but was too busy to come down. My father too isn’t that spiritual. Whatever he does is only to make my mother happy.
How have you changed after marriage?
I’ve become more responsible. I was never such a perfectionist. Today, I supervise everything.
Have you set any rule for the kind of stuff that you wouldn’t do in films now?
At 30, one doesn’t do stuff that one does at 18. I can’t roam around in a petticoat now. Every individual goes through a metamorphosis. With age, the choice of roles for heroines get more limited. With heroes, it’s different. Besides, my life isn’t dependent on movies. Hello Darling releases in August. I’ve read a script and might begin work in September. Meanwhile, I’ve a second plan of action and will be doing something related to health, food and fitness.
Unlike Tollywood, married heroines in Bollywood want extended maternity leave and often expect the whole unit to be on its toes to look after them, their kids and nannies. Why do married heroines in Bollywood want to be so pampered?
The corporate world is different from the industry, where the actors are their own masters. A heroine wants to look glamorous and fit. It takes some time to regain that before one is ready for a comeback. As an actor, one has more liberties. When I shot for HD and Right Yaaa Wrong, I didn’t meet my hubby for 10 days. That was fine by us. Finally, it’s all about personal choices.
“When stars have no work, they usually say ‘I’m reading a few scripts let’s see how it goes. Actually in reality, they have no work,” laughed a senior actor and added, “Preity’s now saying the same thing.
Bollywood is like a conveyor belt, if you are off it, you can’t get onto it again,” he said. “Preity’s ‘innings’ is over,” he added. To that another actor said, “When their career is rocking, they say ‘I’m tired of doing commercial films, I want to do something more meaningful and then when they get a jolt, they promptly go on to say, ‘I’m dying to do a hard-core masala film.’” Gossip mongers beware, the fiery Preity Zinta won’t take any of this lying down.
“People don’t know that today I’ve made so much money that I don’t need to work for the rest of my life. But I can’t sit doing nothing. I’m busy with my IPL team, my production house and also with the TV show I’m going to host,” she had said besides of course, “reading a few scripts!”
