A married actress is hotter because she is like the forbidden fruit: Vidya BalanA married actress is hotter because she is like the forbidden fruit: Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan married corporate honcho-producer, Siddharth Roy Kapur, a year ago, so who better than her to talk about shaadi ke side effects? Excerpts from a fun conversation with the chirpy actress, who visited the Bombay Times office on Wednesday...

Tell us about your shaadi ke side effects.
It's all good. Marriage is something I'd recommend everyone to try if you find the right person, of course. I'm enjoying being married. Just living with Siddharth is fun. We sometimes feel like flatmates because we are in and out. We have not had that much time together, therefore I still feel like we are honeymooning... without the guilt!

No negative side effects?
I had been warned that a lot of changes happen after marriage and I kept waiting, thinking it's just one month so maybe it's too early for the changes to surface. Then I said it's two months, then six months and after that, it's been 14 months and nothing has changed. He's the same person and I'm not bipolar, so he didn't come in for any surprises either! Someone asked me if he is my best friend and I said, 'Yeah, maybe a best friend with benefits'. He's going to kill me for this! But, yes, it is wonderful to be able to say anything (and I really can say anything!) and he's very accepting and non-judgmental. What has changed post marriage is that I now know aate-dal ka bhav, but please don't ask me. I know that onion prices have dropped.

How would you rate yourself as a wife?
If it's the stereotypical wife, I don't rate at all. If it's just a partner, then I'll go to the other extreme, be immodest and say 11 on 10.

So, you are not a nag?
Not at all! I'm someone who believes in 'live and let live' and that applies to everything. I think I really lucked out because we are similar in a lot of ways. Like, you'll never see our house out of order because we are both minimalists and we are both very organised.

If you are expected to do an intimate scene in a film, would you discuss it with Siddharth first?
Siddharth and I respect each other's professional space and decisions. Of course, as a partner, I would tell him that there's something like that, but there has not been an opportunity yet. It's like I'd tell my parents myself rather than them seeing it in a film. All said and done, it can't be comfortable for your family or your partner to see you like that and I understand and appreciate that. So, I would definitely tell him, but so far there has been no opportunity... shit!

ALSO READ: I'm like the Khajuraho: Vidya Balan

Have your equations with your co-stars and colleagues changed now that you are married to a corporate honcho?
I don't think so. At least, I have not noticed anything, but there are some people who he has a good equation with and who I didn't know earlier but I do now, thanks to him.

Did you have any expectations before marriage about how your partner should be?
I didn't set out to find Siddharth or anyone for that matter, and I think that's when it happened. Until I was looking, I was only looking in the wrong direction and when I stopped looking, he literally walked into my life. So, that's it. When you don't have expectations of how you want your partner to be, you just let each other be. I'm someone who is really finicky about my things and I found someone who's like me. Just that he's finicky in a relaxed manner, I'm not that relaxed.

You just said you were looking in the wrong direction. What did you mean?
Where you shouldn't be looking! Seriously, I had never seen myself as married. It was only after I met Siddharth that I felt that way. Earlier, I kept thinking that I'd never feel what everyone says one feels when you meet your soulmate. I don't know about soulmate because I'm not sure I believe in that. But when it came to Siddharth, I just knew that I was going to be with him forever, or at least that was the intention.

Does marriage affect an actress's prospects at the box office?
I don't think so. The way the world is going now, a woman is hotter after marriage to men. They like the forbidden fruit even more now. If you are playing a 16-year-old at 30, then it might be a problem, but if you are not, it's fine.

You've done serious films like Kahaani and also light-hearted films like Shaadi Ke Side Effects. What do you enjoy better?
Both, and they are different. Like in Shaadi Ke Side Effects, it's real, relatable; it could be about you, about people you know. It has been a very breezy experience as actors. We were allowed to play it out the way we wanted to, by the director Saket Chaudhary. That, for an actor, is such a joyous experience! We had a lot of fun except when there were babies and we couldn't make noise then.

Talking about babies, what about rumours of you being pregnant?
I'm not pregnant. I'd have to meet Siddharth to get pregnant! (Laughs) Jokes apart, I'm not yet ready to share Siddharth. Besides, I'm committed through this year, so motherhood will have to wait.

After bagging the best actress award for three years, did you miss not getting an award this year?
No. I'm happy to be applauded, but I'm also happy to applaud other people's performances and there's a lot of great work happening. I had only one release last year and the film didn't do too well and that's fine. The only thing is that I couldn't go to the award functions as I was busy shooting for Bobby Jasoos.

Some felt that Priyanka Chopra should have got the award last year for Barfi.
Priyanka did a wonderful job and there will always be different opinions. I'm not a martyr... I am happy that I won the award.

Given that in the last few years, roles have been written for you, do you think you are now competing with the heroes? Even on Koffee With Karan when he asks his guests to rate actresses, there's Kareena, Priyanka, Katrina, but you are never on that list...
Do you know I have never been on any list? And I'm quite good with that because I have never understood this up and down of one year being No.1 and something else the next year. I don't think my competition is with the heroes. I don't think I'm competing with anyone. I don't mean to sound Zen, but genuinely, when I stopped competing with anything is when I started enjoying my work and that brought out the best in me. I'm living in a universe of my own and I'm enjoying that. I love to appreciate other people's work. For example, Deepika (Padukone) is doing wonderfully now and I'm really enjoying her work. I think there are lots of stars in the sky and there's space for each one of us.

You haven't worked with any of the three Khans... ever wondered why?
They haven't worked with me either. I have never been offered a film with any of the three Khans. Initially, I used to wonder why, but now I don't. Someone will have to think of a reallyexceptional script. Also, I'm enjoying the kind of work I am doing. Invariably, when you have these superstars, it becomes difficult to justify anyone else's presence. In recent times, I can only think of Deepika, who was fabulous in Chennai Express. She got that kind of a role but she more than justified it.

Earlier, all the girls just wanted to work with the Khans, but that has changed now...
I can't talk for other girls. There are only three of them (Khans) and there are so many girls. So, I guess you realise that doing good work is important and you can't just wait for that. Good work can happen anywhere.

After The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, you were called the fourth Khan...
While that's very flattering, I will also say that I'm not happy being one among four!

You are very comfortable in your own skin today...
Most people have heard me say this that I lost my bearings for a while because I was trying desperately to fit in. I have always been me, but at that time, I was being pressurised to be a certain way and I did try hard. But I was getting slapped around left, right and centre. Then, in 2008, I reclaimed myself. I felt no one seems to be happy with me, so let me at least do what makes me happy. It wasn't a moment's decision; it took me weeks and months after talking to myself and my family. After that happened, people began to reclaim me too. I was just being myself and they liked what I was in the first place.

Andrea wishes for lip-lock with Ranbir Kapoor

Pretty Actress/Singer Andrea opened up on various things about herelf in 'Koffee with DD', a popular show on Vijay TV. The pretty actress, who speaks her mind out, when asked who is the actor who you think is very hot and would be happy to do a lip-lock scene on screen, she thought for while and chose Bollywood actorRanbir Kapoor. She further added "I don't he is hot, but there is some cuteness with him."

The pretty actress further revealed that she would like to marry an Indian settled in London and settle down with him there. Andrea recently also had lip-lock scene with Fahad Fazil in Malayalam film, Annayum Rasoolum.

Andrea has quite a few interesting film lined up this year. She is a part of Kamal Haasan 'Vishwaroopam 2' and is also shooting for ' Aranmanai' and 'Taramani'.

I started dating in sixth standard: Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt

Actress Alia Bhatt was an early learner! She says she started dating in Class sixth, but explains that those relationships were harmless and innocent on Koffee With Karan. 

"I started dating in the sixth standard. That wasn't really dating. We'd used to just smile at each other from across the classroom," Alia said on popular talk show "Koffee With Karan". 

The actress, who will flaunt a gold coloured gown by designer Shehla Khan, will be joined by her " Student Of The Year" co-stars Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan Sunday, on the chat show that will be aired on Star World. 

On the movies front, Alia will be seen in Imtiaz Ali's " Highway" opposite Randeep Hooda and Abhishek Verman's "2 States" with Arjun Kapoor.

Sonam Kapoor calls Katrina Kaif shameless

Sonam Kapoor is known to have a big mouth and doesn't really think twice before speaking her heart out. Now, the fashionista has targeted one of the Bollywood's top actors- Katrina Kaif.

Sonam told film journalist Anupama Chopra at the Cannes Film Festival: "I would like to give Katrina a 

bouquet of flowers." When asked why, she said: "I don't know how she does that. You need a certain kind of commitment and a certain kind of shamelessness to do certain things. You get that may be with stardom or with confidence in your talent or with who you are as a person. I need to develop that before I do films like that."

While Sonam will next be seen in Ranjhna opposite Dhanush Raja and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag opposite Farhan Akhtar, Katrina is doing films with the Khans of Tinsel Town. She has Yash Chopra's untitled film opposite SRK, Ek Tha Tiger with Salman and Dhoom 3 with Aamir Khan in her kitty.

Past cases
Sonam vs Ranbir
She had called Ranbir Kapoor mama's boy. "Are girls drooling over him (Ranbir)? Really? Ranbir isn't sexy at all. Ranbir is a mama's boy, his mother cuts his toenails for him," said the actor in an interview in the November 2011 issue of Vogue India. The Rockstar actor, too, had called his Saawariya co-star a 'drama queen' on Karan Johar's chat show Koffee With Karan.

Sonam vs AbhayAnil Kapoor took a dig at Abhay Deol on Koffee With Karan: "He (Deol) seriously needs help. He is trying to do all the wrong things." In response, Deol had said: "He's right about me doing all the wrong things. Aisha is the biggest proof of that. And yes I do need help. Help not getting affected by people like him. He's a waste of my time." Sonam reverted saying: "I never expected Abhay to be so disrespectful, it just shows how badly brought up he is to talk this way about someone who is years his senior. We started working together on my home production on a positive note, but I guess we're not friends anymore."

Aishwarya Rai

Sonam vs Aishwarya
Ash had reportedly stopped Sonam from walking the red carpet for L'Oreal at Cannes 2009. Sonam had then started calling Aishwarya aunty. "Ash has worked with my dad so I have to call her Aunty na," she had said.

Sonam vs Shobha De
In an interview with a newspaper in December 2008, Sonam took a dig at Shobha De: "for a 60-something porn writer, I am sure she (Shobha) knows what she's talking about." Shobha had commented on Sonam's pic in lingerie: "Sonam just doesn't cut it in the sex appeal stakes."

Pissed off by Shobhaa De's harsh review of IHLS, director Punit Malhotra wrote on his Twitter page: "Shobhaa De is a fossil going through menopause. She doesn't get action. Going by her logic, should I be spanking Shobhaa if I don't like what she writes?" Sonam had retweeted Punit's comment on her own Twitter page, but later she had apologised as well.

Sonam Kapoor

Parineeti picks Jag over house

Last we heard, Parineeti Chopra was looking for a new house. Ask her if she has found her dream home yet and she giggles, "No, I blew up the money I'd saved on a Jaguar. So now I have my dream car but wil have to wait for my dream house." 

The actress points out that growing up in Ambala, she is used to spacious bungalows and her current residence in the city does not match up. "Mumbai apartments are small and cramped. I am living on rent till I can find something better," she says.


So what keeps her rooted to Mumbai? Parineeti confesses it's the acting bug that has bit her. It's what she's grown to love even though her dad wanted her to be a doctor. 

"For him it was either doctor or an engineer, there were no other career options" laughs the actress, admitting that when she told her father that she wanted to study business management he told her that only those who didn't want to study got into business. 

However, he eventually gave in and sent her to London. "After I returned, I told him I wanted to act and he was like yeh kahan se aa gaya. But he didn't stop me," she recalls. 

Today he is proud of his little Pari but finds it difficult to put his joy into words. The actress admits that communication has always been a problem with her father and even though they speak everyday their telephone conversations last no more than 30 seconds. 

"While mom and I can chat for hours, but with dad if I ever speak for more than 30 seconds I wonder if anything is wrong," she says. Meanwhile, Parineeti's once generous curves have shrunk. Has she finally realised that a heroine's waist size is as important as her talent for histrionics, if not more? 

"It's not!" she retorts. "Today, the audience is reacting to the heroine's role as well. No one has a favourite actress anymore, which is great because it gives actresses like me an opportunity to experiment with the roles I want to do and not get stuck with a stereotyped image. Today, viewers go for films they want to see and are ready to give everyone a chance. Waist size should never be the criterion."

So what is? Kisses? After Emraan Hashmi, she seems to have become B-town's new serial kisser. After the steaming lip-locks in Ishaqzaade and Shuddh Desi Romance, a kiss seems to have become an integral part of her movies. Even her upcoming rom-com Hasee To Phasee is being promoted with a kiss . 

Parineeti seems uncomfortable with the 'honour'. She says, "I've just kissed in three odd movies! You can give me the tag after I do it in 20 films. For now just wait and watch."

Revealed: Shahid's bald look from Haider

Shahid Kapoor in his bald look

Since his "Chop chop day" tweet on January 29, there's been intense speculation about howShahid Kapoor is looking without his crowning glory. An all-enveloping beanie and the zealously protective unit of Vishal Bharadwaj's Haider ensured that the muchhyped 'bald' look was under cover for three days. 
But on Saturday, Mirror was on the scene when the cap was whisked off, and a brand new buzz cut revealed during the picturisation of a song at the Sun Temple in Mattan, 70 km from Srinagar. 
The shoot had been disrupted on January 30 following an incident of snowball pelting and sloganeering, as Mirror had reported. The following day, the Hurriyat had called for a Kashmir bandh and the Valley had come to a stop. But the shoot resumed at around 8 am yesterday in subzero temperatures. 
Tabu, Shraddha Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon and a few other actors took their place in the audience while Shahid, along with some dancers flown in from Mumbai, took centrestage. The speakers blared Aye bulbule Kashmir while an energetic Shahid jumped down from the stage and reached out to Tabu sitting on a ceremonial sofa. 
Security around the temple had been doubled and a wire mesh protected the shooting area from over-enthusiastic stargazers. 

Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna resigns

                                    

Dehradun:  Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, 66, has resigned today, reportedly under pressure from his party, the Congress, to accept responsibility for the shoddy rehabilitation work carried out by his government after last year's flash floods in which nearly a thousand people died, and another 4000 reported missing.

Union minister Harish Rawat, who claims to enjoy the backing of a majority of the Congress lawmakers in the state, is the frontrunner in the race to replace Mr Bahuguna.

Mr Bahuguna's removal has been on the cards for quite some time, and is being viewed as part of the organizational revamp being undertaken by the Congress leadership ahead of the national elections, due by May this year. Uttarakhand sends five members to the Lok Sabha, and the Congress won all in 2009.

Mr Bahuguna was selected as chief minister by his party after the elections in March 2012.  The Congress won just one more seat than the BJP, but managed to form the government with the support of a few law-makers from other parties. But popular disaffection against his administration started showing up soon after as he was perceived to be spending most of his time in Delhi. Mr Bahuguna's son, Saket, ran for parliament in a by-election from Tehri in October, 2012. He lost the election, attributed to public anger with his father. 

Simbu's super busy Feb with films and sister marriage

                              

                                

He has always been like a floating bubble which is difficult to catch hold off. Pinning him down maybe a task but nothing is impossible for scribes if they really are at it!

Silambarasan is back from US after a short vacation and says he is rejuvenated and raring to go. The actor at the moment is working on three projects- Vaalu, a film each with Pandiraj and Gautham Menon. He says that each film is diametrically different from others and he is enjoying working with two big directors.

And by March end, he will be starting the Selvaraghavan project, which he is looking forward to.

February is going to be a busy month and very special to Simbu as his birthday falls on February 3 and he plans to release the single of his Vaalu for his fans. And then the family man that he is, will be taking a few days off as his sister Ilakiya is getting married on February 10 in Chennai.

A grand wedding is planned by the TR family and Simbu the doting brother will be overseeing all the arrangement and inviting guests. February 14 is the audio launch of Vaalu and then he will complete work on Pandiraj film and move on to Gautham`s action thriller.

Ajith in Shankar's direction after Gautham Menon

                                      

We have news from extremely reliable sources revealing that Shankar and Ajith are joining hands after Ajith wraps up the untitled Gautham Menon project.

As opposed to the earlier reports, Ajith will not move on to the KV Anand project but will work with Shankar after the Gautham Menon flick. The GVM flick will go on floors in February and Ajith has requested Gautham to relieve him before December to go on to the Shankar project.

It was under superstar Rajini’s recommendation that Shankar decided on Ajith for this movie. The story was narrated to Rajini, who advised Shankar that Ajith will be suitable for the role. Big B, Amitabh is also said to be a part of this venture. The film’s official announcement will be out on the 14th of April

Simbu feels comfortable working with Nayan in Pandiraj’s film

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Contrary to what was widely reported in the print and television media, Unit insiders of Simbu’s upcoming untitled film opposite ex-flame Nayanthara say (on condition of anonymity, though!) that the star appeared to be ‘very much comfortable’ in conversing and acting along with Nayanthara.

Simbu and Nayan split after a brief period of courtship a few years back. After their split, the couple has hardly spoken to each other. Nayan later found the love of her life in Prabhu Deva but at a time when she was about to get married to Prabhu Deva, tremors rocked their relationship and she then quit the industry apparently unable to bear the shock of losing Prabhu Deva.

Nayan made a successful comeback to Tamil films with last year’s back-to-back successful films such as Raja Rani and Arrambam. She has now been cast opposite Simbu by Pandiraj, director of the national award-winning film Pasanga, in an untitled film. Simbu and Nayan’s casting has upped the market value of the film for sure.

Speaking unofficially, Simbu said that he was ‘absolutely comfortable’ in working with Nayanthara. He, however, revealed that he felt hugely embarrassed whenever the whole crew members would stare at him when he uttered dialogues facing Nayanthara.

Simbu’s sister Ilakkiya is to get married next week. When queried about his marriage, Simbu quipped that he might even get married before the end of this year!

My country is proud of me: Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan

Last year around this time, an emotional Kamal Haasan, hurt by the controversies which had threatened to derail the release of his film, Vishwaroopam, had threatened to quit Tamil Nadu for a more secular state, failing which he even contemplated settling down abroad. 

Twelve months later, Kamal who has just been conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, asserted, "I'm proud of this country and I know the country is proud of me too. This award is not for what I've accomplished so far but for the work ahead." 

READ: Kamal Haasan conferred the Padma Bhushan

The 59-year-old actor, who has done around 190 films in a career spanning five decades, admitted that he had sat on the same staircase in his Eldams Road office in Chennai when he was a boy wondering if he'd ever make it in films. 

It was here that he sat and wept when he lost his parents. And it was from here that he addressed the media last year when the Vishwaroopam controversy broke. 

"My mindset hasn't changed but I've come a long way from the boy who'd stare blankly out at Chennai's Mount Road even as my family and friends teased me saying I'd end up rearing cattle. 

"My mother would warn me that that's how I'd end up if I didn't study hard," the actor recalled, adding that his quest for perfection is like an insatiable hunger. 


READ: I am opposed to autobiographies: Kamal Haasan


"Success makes one content but the journey towards excellence will always continue." So, will we write his autobiography some day? "No way," he retorts. 

"Most autobiographies lie and end up offending everyone." He'd rather make movies. The next one is a sequel to Vishwaroopam which is fast nearing completion. 

"We have just one song and a few scenes which need to be shot, after that the post-production begins. The movie will release in a few months." 

Jackie Chan finds CNY annoying and doesn't know when son's birthday is

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Lunar New Year is one of the most important traditional holidays for many Asians around the globe, but for Jackie Chan (成龍), the New Year can be quite “annoying.”

At a recent public function, Jackie revealed that he director Feng Xiaogang (馮小剛) did not invite him to perform at the CCTV Spring Festival, and that he will not be spending his Chinese New Year holidays in Beijing unlike previous years.

According to an article on Popular Asians, the international superstar said he does not enjoy holidays, particularly Chinese New Year, because holidays are a time when people are on break. “The crew goes on break and I’m left with nothing to do,” he said.

“For them, the Spring Festival is break time. For me, it is very annoying. The company is empty once it’s the holidays. The crew is gone. [I] wouldn’t know what to do for the next few days. It makes me feel desperate.”

Jackie claims that his family also does not like to celebrate Lunar New Year. He said that both he and his son, Jaycee Chan (房祖名), would not call each other on their birthdays. “Actually, when it’s his birthday, I wouldn’t even know,” Jackie said.

It appears that Jackie does not seem to be much of a family man, as the workaholic has emphasized on multiple occasions that he does not like celebrating the holidays with his family. Jaycee also revealed that at one point in time, he only got to see his father once a year.

Asked if Jackie has set any expectations for his son in the upcoming New Year, he said, “I just want him to be good. Don’t cause trouble and don’t get into trouble. If he can make some little achievements in music and film, I’ll be happy.”

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