Yuvraj returns to India after cancer treatment

Yuvraj returns to India after cancer treatment

NEW DELHI, April 9, 2012 (AFP) - India's World Cup cricket hero Yuvraj Singh returned home on Monday after receiving treatment for a cancerous tumour in the United States.

Sporting a black jacket and red baseball cap, the 30-year-old all-rounder gave thumbs up signs to well-wishers who had gathered at New Delhi airport to welcome him back.

"He is absolutely fine and will rest at home for another 10-15 days," his mother Shabnam Singh told reporters at the airport.

Left-handed Yuvraj, named man of the tournament after India's World Cup triumph at home last April, was diagnosed with a rare condition, mediastinal seminoma -- a malignant tumour between his lungs -- soon after the event.

After completing three sessions of chemotherapy in Boston in March, he had moved to London before returning to India.

"Finally the day has come! i am going home tomorrow! cant wait, excited to see my friends and family ..see you india!!," Yuvraj said on Twitter on Sunday.

Thousands of well-wishers, politicians, his team mates and other sports personalities including US cycling great Lance Armstrong had sent messages to the ailing all-rounder who is known for his aggressive batting and disciplined spin bowling.

"Today the entire country is happy, god is happy and I am very happy. My son has come back as a winner," Yuvraj's father Yograj Singh told the NDTV news channel.

Yuvraj, who scored 362 runs and bagged 15 wickets in nine World Cup matches, has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two of the three home Tests against the West Indies in November.

He has scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000.

What Bollywood thought of Oscars

Bollywood stars had quite a lots to say about the 84th Annual Academy Awards that took place yesterday.

Simi Garewal ‏was thrilled with Meryl Streep's Best Actress win. 'Thrilled that Meryl, 63, won!! Can you see it ever happening in India? Maybe when Vidya Balan is 63... Am not happy about Jean winning for The Artist. I thought he had a repertoire of only 1 1/2 expressions.. Our Indian actors are better!' she tweeted.

Neha Dhupia ‏watched the repeat telecast. 'Late night, watching the oscars... Early morning, headed to the airport... In need for some serious sleep! #yawn !' she updated.

Amitabh Bachchan was impressed with the show's host Billy Crystal. 'Up at 6 am to watch the Oscars .. interesting selections and not too many surprises .. Billy Crystal competent, but subdued somewhat,' he wrote.

Dia Mirza tweeted: 'I caught the repeat telecast of the #Oscars and I have only one word to describe it: #RESPECT!'

Jaaved Jaaferi managed to spot AR Rahman on the show. 'Congratulations for the oscar Anil Ambani..a super wise investment in Hollywood.. Jai Ho!!! And what was Rahman doing playing and singing in a balcony somewhere at the side with a group of musicians?????' he wrote.

Shahid Kapoor tweeted: 'Watching the oscars is just so overwhelming wish we had 1 such award here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amitabh Bachchan returns after surgery

Amitabh Bachchan returns after surgery

The superstar will shoot for the promos of Kaun Banega Crorepati; the show will go on air in mid 2012 

Rajinikanth is not the only one back to work after his illness. Amitabh Bachchan, who had to undergo a couple of surgeries recently, will be back shooting sooner than expected. And that too for his famous quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati. Big B will host the sixth season of the television show that will go on air in mid 2012. And he will shoot for the promos first. 

When contacted, producer of Kaun Banega Crorepati, Siddharth Basu, told Mumbai Mirror, "Yes, Mr Bachchan will host the forthcoming season of KBC. I intend working with him on this show even for the seventh season." 

A source close to the show explained, "Mr Bachchan had signed a two-year contract on KBC in 2011. However, after the two hernia surgeries, people wondered whether he would be able to take up the grueling assignment of hosting a daily television show. But now, he has confirmed with the broadcasters that he will indeed shoot for the show." 

Bachchan's rich baritone and his inimitable style had made the quiz show an instant hit with the audience. After a break of one year, the superstar had returned to the show and has played the host every year. 

News timesofindia.indiatimes

Jodi Breakers review

Cast: R Madhavan, Bipasha Basu, Omi Vaidya, Milind Soman, Dipanita Sharma, Mrinalini Sharma, Helen

Directed by Ashwini Chaudhary

Rating: **1/2

Hearts and buttocks may not serve the same purpose but when in love, both are subject to equitable amount of pain. This is one of the many pearls of wisdom you might pick up from this rom-com about breaking marriages and bandaging hearts. While similar films have managed well in exploring the intricate particulars of relationships, this one dares to not take itself as seriously and makes for a flaky yet pleasant watch.

The film ushers us into the curious life of Sid Khanna (R Madhavan), a marriage breaker by profession and a divorcee by marital status. Although he isn't a divorce lawyer, he lies very well and helps people part with their insufferable partners without getting bankrupt due to alimony. His friends and supporting cast include sexual athlete and bartender Nano (Omi Vaidya) and a couple who devise their screen time between offering advice and passing snide comments. Without any drum rolls or slow-mo intros, Sonali (Bipasha Basu) strolls into Sid's favourite bar and into his life. Her Amy Winehouse eyes and playful manner impresses Sid enough to hire her as his workmate and she instantly hops on the offer.

After a speedy and entertaining first-half, the inevitable and predictable disaster occurs. Love. Sigh. And like a morning after the misadventures of a drunken night, it all seems to be going down. But dodging Bollywood clichés, it doesn't become the crux of the separation, which naturally needs to happen. And the melodrama and grumpiness associated with the same is kept to a bare minimum. In fact, what is novel here is that love isn't chased or forced but is allowed to brew over the entire runtime of the movie. So when it does reach a sweet spot, it sinks in with ease and is more believable and beautiful.

While many argue that R Madhavan is wearing an astronaut suit under his clothes, in actuality, it is just his bloated self. While for an actor of his caliber, a couple of gigagrams on the face and several gallons in the rest of him can't take away from his performance and it doesn't. Only bother, when he lip-syncs to songs, his lip movements look like streaks flickering on a humungous canvas. On the other spectrum of the lard horizon, Bipasha is glowing and skinnier than ever before. For skeptics, who feel Bipasha has little to offer apart from her appearance, I couldn't agree more. But here, she's almost tolerable, if that could account for a minor achievement. Omi Vaidya is a show stealer for his inimitable comic timing and the re-enactment of his legendary '3 Idiots' horror speech is 24 carat. And while forcing an actor to recreate a successful scene is a horrible idea, here it just works. Vaidya's character is trying to pull off a sex guru with just a bar menu in his hands. His opening verse, "Ek Old Monk ne kaha tha, apne andar ke Black Dog ko sambhal ke rakhna, warna mathay pe Black Label lag jayega." Milind Soman and Dipanita Sharma are both stunning mannequins as their roles are mere props who talk only a little more than they express.

The story may not be entirely original yet the dialogues are refreshingly clever and crisp, keeping the pace of the film intact. The golden line being, "The best part of kissing is the unsure and unsettling feeling experienced just a moment before a kiss when you don't know exactly how it's going to turn out." Greece is a country that doesn't need a professional photographer to extract the plentiful shades of blue that the sea offers. But having one here only made it better. The music by Salim-Sulaiman is strictly average and even the high-pumping party numbers don't induce any tapping of foot.

As Madhavan and Bips team up to snoop around, they remind you of Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo. But when they get intimate, your fond association with the adorable bhalus is scarred forever.

Katrina heading for arranged marriage

Is Katrina heading for arranged marriage?

Katrina Kaif might have had a successful run at the box office but the same cannot be said about her love life.

Following the big Khan fallout on her birthday, the actress had decided to give up on her romance with Salman Khan.

Following her first big break-up, the actress was dating Ranbir Kapoor but that too didn't go anywhere.

After failing miserably on the romantic front, now Katrina has decided to stay away from the industry as far as matters of the heart are concerned.

If reports are to be believed, Katrina is ready to settle in for an arranged marriage and has asked her mum to look for a suitable groom for her.

11 Bollywood stars who went naked

With Ashmit Patel posing in the buff for an underwear campaign in a men's magazine recently, we bring you 10 Bollywooders who went naked before the camera

The actress had a rendezvous with Shashi Kapoor in Siddhartha that raised quite a few eyebrows in the '70s

1.Simi Garewal in 'Mera Naam Joker' and 'Siddhartha' (1972) – Newly returned from England, Simi Garewal bagged some of the most prestigious films from her generation, though she never found the commercial success of her peers. In both 'Mera Naam Joker' by Raj Kapoor and 'Siddhartha', a film adapted from Hermann Hesse's novel of the same name (both 1972), she sheds her quintessential whites and pretty much everything else too.

Protima Bedi stirred a hornet's nest with her morning jog in 1974

2.Protima Bedi in the Cine Blitz promotional campaign (1974) – Celebrated danseuse and Kabir Bedi's bohemian wife stripped down to nothing and ran naked on Juhu beach as part of a promotional campaign to launch filmi rag Cine Blitz in 1974. She made headlines, naturally.

Dimple's sarong getting undone led to a nude scene that lasted less than a second. Yet, it was the most rewound scene of 1985.

3. Dimple Kapadia in 'Saagar' (1985) – Her introduction to Rishi Kapoor in the film went like this: a young village belle goes for a dip in the ocean. Then when returning she wraps herself in a sarong, notices that Rishi Kapoor has been watching her through plastic weeds hanging above him. She trips and her sarong gets undone for a split second. Yet, to many, this qualified as at least a half-monty moment in Bollywood.

 

Mandakini may have been from small-town Meerut, but her transparent debut made her a national entity

4.  Mandakini in 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' (1985) – A cliché but it does remain one of the most bare-breasted moments in Hindi cinema. Mandakini became a household name with this blockbuster, but also vanished just as quickly following allegations of her being Dawood Ibrahim's moll.

SRK has never gotten as randy as he did with Deepa Memsaab

5.Deepa Sahi in 'Maya Memsaab' (1993) – In this film, director Ketan Mehta's wife played a day-glo Madame Bovary, a novel by Gustave Flaubert in which the wife of a doctor gives in to illicit affairs and hedonism to escape the banality of provincial life. And escape she does in what is perhaps Shah Rukh Khan's most carnal performance on screen as well. Deepa Sahi exposed her breasts and features in numerous romps with King Khan in this awkward adaptation.

They said she's in Dubai now, but Bombay was so much fun with her circa 1993

6.Mamta Kulkarni on the Stardust cover (1993) – She vanished just as quickly as she arrived too. However, in the early 1990s, Mamta Kulkarni was in the eye of a storm for appearing topless on the cover of Stardust magazine. Lawsuits were slapped and last-minute bails were sought in India's most regressive decade, but this was a first for a Bollywood actress after Protima Bedi's legendary Full Monty on Juhu beach in 1974 (see earlier note).

The model-cum-actress who debuted with Aashiqui did the full monty for art house guru Mani Kaul

7. Anu Agarwal in 'The Cloud Door' by Mani Kaul (1994) – This short Indo-German film by acclaimed  director Mani Kaul was inspired by erotic themes in Hindi and Muslim literature. True to its genre, it featured the 'Aashiqui' girl naked in bed with Murad Ali in a rather steamy sequence.

Fashion's first supermodel couple shed all their inhibitions for an ad campaign. They only had their sneakers and a python for company

8. Milind Soman and Madhu Sapre in the Tuff shoes campaign (1995) – Okay, granted Madhu Sapre never bothered with Bollywood, but Milind Soman did. So this duo qualifies as a tinsel town couple that did ruffle many a right-wing feather when appearing in the buff for a sports shoe campaign in the mid-'90s.

The quintessential he-man from the jungle was seen his birthday suit in mentor B Subhash's English-language turkey Divine Lovers

9.Hemant Birje in 'Divine Lovers' (1997) - Director B Subhash made him a national sensation with 'Tarzan', a 1985 blockbuster film that Hemant Birje and his co-star Kimi Katkar are most remembered by. By the time Birje was forgotten, he was summoned to act in B Subhash's English-language film 'Divine Lovers', starring 'Grease 2' hero Maxwell Caulfield and Marc Zuber. Packaged as an erotic film set in exotic India, the film was initially to star Anu Agarwal, who developed cold feet based on the sheer amount of nudity required. Eventually they roped in some LA actress. The skin-flick bombed and B Subhash lost a lot of money. But Hemant Birje did appear in a flash nude moment in this one.

Helen Brodie had some pretty steamy scenes in Jag Mundhra's Monsoon

10.   Helen Brodie in Jag Mundhra's 'Monsoon' (2001) – Her debut at the cusp of the millennium, 'Hadh Kar Di Aapne', sank without a trace. Then a year later, Helen Brodie truly crossed over. To LA, on the sets of soft porn filmmaker Jag Mundhra's 'Monsoon'. And hadh kar di Mundhra saab ne! Brodie found some pretty significant exposure with this flick.

She is the daughter of a Nobel Prize-winning economist. She was also rather economical with her clothes in Rang Rasiya

11. Nandana Sen in 'Rang Rasiya' (2008) – Daughter of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, Nandana Sen stars in Ketan Mehta's 'Rang Rasiya'. The film is based on India's most celebrated calendar artist, Raja Ravi Varma played by the brooding Randeep Hooda. Sen plays Randeep Hooda's muse and since Raja Ravi Varma painted nudes, Nandana too gave us some mirch masala.

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Mahi

Indians who have won Oscars

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The famous five who have done us proud at the Oscars 

-- 

Mahi

Esha Deol is engaged Esha Deol

Esha Deol is engaged Esha Deol 

has got engaged to her boyfriend Bharat Takhtani in a simple ceremony

Esha Deol had once said that her engagement would be a grand event - but the ceremony today was not. It was restricted to a family affair. 

Celebs at Riteish and Genelia wedding reception

The newly weds - Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh arrive at Grand Hyatt for the reception.

Almost the entire Mumbai film fraternity Saturday turned up at the wedding reception of Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh held at the Grand Hyatt.

But the star who stole the show was Aishwarya. She arrives with her in-laws Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

This is one of those rare occasions when Ash has been away from her baby who was born last November. And this really got the 

  

Ash had a special glow on her face and looked every bit the diva she is in that blue anarkali suit.

Rekha poses for a photo with Imran Khan.

Madhuri Dixit arrives at the wedding reception.

Arpita, Alvira and Atul Agnihotri along with Chetan Bhagat and his wife at the reception.

Avantika along with Imran Khan

Bipasha was dressed in a Falguni and Shane sari and seen chatting up with Rocky S at the reception.

Jacqueline Fernandez arrives with boyfriend Sajid Khan - we hear that the duo are hunting for a new love nest and may be announcing their nuptials soon.

Sridevi looked fabulous as she arrives for the reception.

Ayesha Takia along with her hubby at the reception

1. The newly weds - Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh arrive at Grand Hyatt for the reception.

2. But the star who stole the show was Aishwarya. She arrives with her in-laws Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

3. This is one of those rare occasions when Ash has been away from her baby who was born last November. And this really got the shutterbugs go into a frenzy.

4. Ash had a special glow on her face and looked every bit the diva she is in that blue anarkali suit.

5. A time to discuss family matters - Bebo and Saif in conversation with Randhir Kapoor

6. Saif, Aamir, Bebo and Kiran chat up during the reception

7. Sophie Choudry arrives for the reception

8. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao at the reception

9. Kangna looked classy and chic at the same time

10. Sushmita Sen looked classy in a off white saree.

11. Manyata Dutt arrives for the reception.

12. Anushka's multi coloured anarkali suit added pep to her persona.

13. Mukesh Ambani with his wife Nita Ambani

14. Rekha seen with Juhi Chawla and husband Jai Mehta at the reception

15. It is after a long long time that we are seeing Nishabd star Jiah Khan at a social do.

16. Bappi Lahri arrives for the reception

17. Zarine Khan goes the desi way too

1. 1. 

      
      

      
      

      http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eIxqQ7HaQVHnzXdxlmZ0.Q--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD04MDA7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/401/2012/02/05/jiah-jpg_094304.jpgThe newly weds - Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh arrive at Grand Hyatt for the reception.

   2. But the star who stole the show was Aishwarya. She arrives with her in-laws Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

   3. This is one of those rare occasions when Ash has been away from her baby who was born last November. And this really got the shutterbugs go into a frenzy.

   4. Ash had a special glow on her face and looked every bit the diva she is in that blue anarkali suit.

   5. A time to discuss family matters - Bebo and Saif in conversation with Randhir Kapoor

   6. Saif, Aamir, Bebo and Kiran chat up during the reception

   7. Sophie Choudry arrives for the reception

   8. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao at the reception

   9. Kangna looked classy and chic at the same time

   10. Sushmita Sen looked classy in a off white saree.

   11. Manyata Dutt arrives for the reception.

   12. Anushka's multi coloured anarkali suit added pep to her persona.

   13. Mukesh Ambani with his wife Nita Ambani

   14. Rekha seen with Juhi Chawla and husband Jai Mehta at the reception

   15. It is after a long long time that we are seeing Nishabd star Jiah Khan at a social do.

   16. Bappi Lahri arrives for the reception

   17. Zarine Khan goes the desi way too

   The newly weds - Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh arrive at Grand Hyatt for the reception.

2. But the star who stole the show was Aishwarya. She arrives with her in-laws Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

3. This is one of those rare occasions when Ash has been away from her baby who was born last November. And this really got the shutterbugs go into a frenzy.

4. Ash had a special glow on her face and looked every bit the diva she is in that blue anarkali suit.

5. A time to discuss family matters - Bebo and Saif in conversation with Randhir Kapoor

6. Saif, Aamir, Bebo and Kiran chat up during the reception

7. Sophie Choudry arrives for the reception

8. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao at the reception

9. Kangna looked classy and chic at the same time

10. Sushmita Sen looked classy in a off white saree.

11. Manyata Dutt arrives for the reception.

12. Anushka's multi coloured anarkali suit added pep to her persona.

13. Mukesh Ambani with his wife Nita Ambani

14. Rekha seen with Juhi Chawla and husband Jai Mehta at the reception

15. It is after a long long time that we are seeing Nishabd star Jiah Khan at a social do.

16. Bappi Lahri arrives for the reception

17. Zarine Khan goes the desi way too