'Illegal' Amitabh Bachchan set demolished

A film set constructed for Amitabh Bachchan's new production has been demolished over claims that it was illegal.

The structure, which was part of the Bhopal set of Aarakshan, was pulled down following a court order, AFP reports.

Director Prakash Jha commented: "It would have been dismantled within a month. Everyone in Bhopal knew it was a set.

"Shooting had taken place between January and March but the film's schedule was now disrupted. Now we have to work out alternative arrangements."

The film was originally scheduled to take between 60 and 70 days to complete.

An earlier film shoot by Jha in the Madhya Pradesh city was cancelled following protests over shooting in a hospital.

Amitabh Bachchan wants to ride this beauty!

After riding what he calls the "beast bike" for "Bbuddah - Hoga Tera Baap", megastar Amitabh Bachchan is eager to buy his own Harley Davidson.

"What is it with men and the sound of a mean machine. The roar of a speed car, the rush of air and sound in a double exhaust bike, that kick of acceleration as you push the pedal flat, that jerk of change on the Concord, when it was functional, as it went from normal to Mach 3 at 55,000 feet in the air! Is it the same with the ladies too?" Amitabh wrote on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

"Soon after it was the adrenalin pumping beast bike, the Harley 'twixt my legs. And what a monster it is. I have to say though that having done it, and for the first time, it is an experience that now coerces me to have one of my own.

OOOOO! Baby!! It is another world as you stride all the leather and studs and white metal that surrounds you. Quite something!" he further wrote.

Meanwhile, age seems to be taking its toll on the 68-year-old.

"Running at 70 is a bit of a bother! You feel you can move with some fluidity, but no! The legs do not respond to what the mind is telling it to do and you suddenly realize that the weight of your body is not that lithe anymore," he wrote.

"So as I sit down on my 'blogespherechair' to fill in my adventures, I am cushioned with hot water bags and electronic heating devices to ease out the numerous folds of muscles, that had remained dormant and in retirement for a very long time," he added.

Bachchan to tattoo Aishwarya’s name

MUMBAI: It looks like Abhishek Bachchan is off on the path made by Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan. Apparently, the actor has planned to express the love for his wife, Aishwarya by tattoeing her name on his wrist.Abhishek is planning to ink Aishwarya’s name permanently on his body but he is confused about the design.

Abhishek Bachchan revealed his desire to ink Aishwarya’s tattoo during the promotional event of ‘Dum Maro Dum'. He said that he wanted to express his love for Ash by flaunting a tattoo.

India's World Cup victory breaks Amitabh's superstition

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's belief that India loses a cricket match whenever he watches has finally been broken, thanks to the World Cup final that he watched on TV and saw India defeating Sri Lanka.

"Yesterday (Saturday), that age old superstitious finicky belief, that if I were to watch a game it would result disfavourably for us, broken and shattered for good I would imagine," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com late Sunday night.

Amitabh's son Abhishek had admitted recently that they do not watch India's matches, and get constant updates on phone instead, due to the superstition. But neither could resist the temptation of watching the final.

"Yes, I did not see the India-Pakistan (match), I did not see the India-Australia (match), and for most of the time resisted this final too. But I have no idea what prompted me to switch (to) the game on after we were 33 for 2 (sic) and tottering. And when Dhoni smacked that six for victory, it smacked my superstition too out of my life," added Amitabh.

The father-son duo, along Aishwarya Rai, came onto the streets late Saturday night, after the match to celebrate India's victory.

Bachchan's wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong

Amitabh Bachchan is the first Bollywood actor to get a wax figure at the world famous Madame Tussauds museum in Hong Kong. His statue features in the Hall of Fame section and was unveiled by award-winning actor Moses Chan.

With a successful career spanning 40 years, Amitabh has four National Film Awards to his credit. The 68-year-old's wax avatar sports a black sherwani with red buttons, teamed with a white pyjama.

"There are more and more Indian visitors taking the star-studded journey through Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. We are sure that the new Amitabh Bachchan wax figure experience will appeal to our Indian visitors, who will get to meet their legendary star here, as well as other local and international visitors," Kelly Mak, general manager, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, said in a press statement.

The wax figure was unveiled amid a group of Bollywood dancers, who struck an Indian pose along with Chan and Mak later.

The statue will be displayed against an Indian style facade, highlighted with light bulbs. The guests will be able to enjoy a theatre-style lighting show inspired by Amitabh's movie "Aladin".

So far no other Bollywood actor has a wax figure in the Hong Kong museum.

Amitabh also has a wax statue each in Madame Tussauds' London and New York museum, respectively.

Lord have mercy on Japan "Sophie Choudry"

A host of Bollywood personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shekhar Kapur and Madhuri Dixit have expressed grief at the devastation in Japan, which was hit Friday by a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami.

The celebrities are shocked at the images of the country after the disaster and, in postings on their blogs and social networking site Twitter, they hope that the pain and suffering will subside soon.

Here's what they had to say:

Sophie Choudry: As I lay me down to sleep, can't help but think of tragedy. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all the people of Japan. Lord have mercy.

Amitabh Bachchan: The horrible visuals of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan are just unbearable to watch! The fury of the devastation and the helplessness of those that suffer is petrifying. In this hour of grief our heads bow down in prayer and hope, for those that face this trauma and wish that we can through our thoughts give them solace and comfort.

Shekhar Kapur: Watching videos from Japan was like watching an apocalypse. Heart and prayers go out to people of Japan.

Madhuri Dixit: Can you believe another quake and tsunami? My heart goes out to them.

Gul Panag: My heart goes out to all those affected by nature's fury in Japan. Gut-wrenching images on TV.

Vivek Oberoi: Just got back and saw the heartbreaking images of the tragedy in Japan... brings back memories of the destruction and devastation I saw during the tsunami in India. The images we see on television are nothing compared to the real pain and anguish of the people going through it... my thoughts and prayers are with them.

Shahana Goswami: Feel really helpless and upset with the tsunami and what its done to Japan. All the support and love to the survivors.

Aftab Shivdasani: Shocking visuals of the earthquake in Japan... Dreading the loss of life there. It's nature's way of saying do not spoil the planet... Must respect nature before it gets too late. My condolences and deep compassion to all those who lost their loved ones in this unforeseen fury of nature. May the divine bless the souls.

Arshad Warsi: God be with the ppl of Japan...

Siddharth: The visuals of yesterday (Friday) still haven't sunk in. It's all so very tragic. 2012 does seem like just another doomsday prophecy anymore!

Shahid Kapoor: Spread the love people... Life is just too short... Japan could have been us... Live with no regrets... May god bless us all!

R. Madhavan: My heart goes out to Japan. Having lived through one in Chennai I can't even imagine how this must be.

Lisa Ray: Deeply saddened by news of natural disaster in Japan.

Sanjay Suri: Heart and prayers for all suffering in Japan. Life is so very fragile.

Divya Dutta: EverythIng that we run around for is so frivolous in front of nature's fury. Let's make every day magical as if there's no tomorrow... prayers for Japan.

Shreya Ghosal: The Japan Earthquake, Tsunami is MASSIVE!! I am just praying... Dear God, have mercy..

Amitabh Bachchan to dye beard, hair for 'Boodha'

After retaining the same appearance for the last 11 years, Amitabh Bachchan has suddenly turned experimental about his looks. First he decided to sport a trimmed beard and new hairstyle in "Aarakshan" and now for "Boodha", the Big B will dye his beard and hair into a flamboyant trendy colour!

The colour is yet to be decided. According to insiders from the frantically-experimental unit, Big B would either sport a red-tinted beard and hair in the movie -- which will be directed by Telugu maverick Puri Jagannath -- or it could be various flamboyant colours.

When contacted, Jagannath said: "That's right. Bachchan sir is going totally psychedelic for his part in 'Boodha'. You see, he plays a man who is 60 but believes he's still 25. So he moves around dressed and made up like today's youngster. And if anyone calls him a boodha (old man) he is livid. He will be dyeing his beard and wig."

Even the clothesline for Big B in "Boodha" would be in keeping with his character of a man of 25. Apparently, the megastar would be borrowing accessories from his son Abhishek's wardrobe.

The film will go on floors next month.

SRK, Big B & Dench to work together

It cannot get any bigger or better than this! Two icons of Bollywood and a heavyweight Hollywood A-lister are coming together to support the cause of education among the underprivileged in India.

Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Judi Dench will be working in tandem to promote education among the low-income groups of the country with the sole aim that when these kids become bread-winners, they will have a better life and in turn provide better opportunities to their children.

And bringing these top actors together is none other than the Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookutty. His foundation has been silently working towards bettering the socio-economic conditions of the poverty struck groups but he believes that the time has come to go top gear. "It is unimaginable that even in the 21st century there is rampant illiteracy in India. We are making our presence felt in the world and this aspect is something that should definitely be tackled. Along with economy and cultural boom, India should not be spoken as a country that is also illiteracy stricken," Resul told TOI.

He added, "Without Amitabh Bachchan's blessing, my project would have not started at all. He has helped me with funds and goodness. It is time to implement new things. Just when I was planning different things, Judi Dench came to my rescue. She had spent eight weeks in the country while shooting her Hollywood project in Rajasthan. She saw the rich and the poor and was touched by the work that we were doing."

According to Resul, Judi will play a very active role in the project. "Judi has told me to draw plans and just tell her what is to be done and she will try her level best to do more than what has been asked of her," he said. SRK's inclusion certainly bolsters the plans further. "I have met Shah Rukh while working on his movie Ra.One.

 I told him all about our charity that is being supported by two big luminaries and he was more than keen to support. SRK is a silent benefactor and he too will be with us in this cause," Resul added.
Check out Shah Rukh Khan's homepage

Big B's Save Tiger programme in controversy

The 'Save Tiger' programme, hosted by superstar Amitabh Bachchan for a TV channel in Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve, has sparked off controversy with a NGO claiming the event had violated wildlife laws.

NGO Uday has complained to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the central environment and forest ministry and the state's chief wildlife warden that the 12-hour telethon Dec 12 committed gross violations of various sections of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 for violating sound limits in the tiger reserve.

"The campaign targeted profits and more TRPs regardless of the ill effect on wildlife... although it's a good move to start awareness among people and unite them for a global cause... but pros and cons should be kept in mind before organising such an event," Shehla Masood of Uday told IANS.

The programme had generated about Rs.5 crore for tiger projects in India.

Masood also said that the NTCA has informed her that they have forwarded the complaints to authorities concerned for further action.

State Chief Wildlife Warden H.S. Pabla told IANS that the complaint was "not much of a serious issue".

"The programme had been organised outside the park, so we have to see the legalities of the jurisdiction," he said.

Amitabh-Shahrukh-Hrithik walk the ramp for KJ

All the three Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham stars walked the ramp for Karan Johar. Amitabh Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan were the showstoppers for Karan and Varun's fashion show on men's wear on Thursday evening.

However, the show was stolen by KJ's lucky mascot Shahrukh Khan. Shahrukh was not walking the Couture ramp this year, he was seen sitting at the front row and cheering for his designer friends. When the showstoppers Amitabh Bachchan dressed in a black overcoat with aviators and Hrithik Roshan in a military jacket, took a final bow with the designers, Karan insisted that King Khan should come up the ramp.

The showstoppers of the day Amitabh and Hrithik, walked back to SRK and Big B pulled Shahrukh onto the stage. The atmosphere was suddenly electrified with all the powerful and enigmatic personalities gracing the stage.

The sounds of claps and cheers hovered the entire venue. The audience were full of joy and enthusiasm after seeing the trio Amitabh, Shahrukh and Hrithik of Karan Johar's film Kabhie Khushi Kabhi Gham on stage. It was a bonding atmosphere between all the biggies of Btown. SRK hugged Amitabh and Hrithik on the stage.

Bachchan to replace Khan on 'Millionaire'

Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly been asked to return as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? after replacement Shah Rukh Khan was dropped by its producers.

The Bollywood veteran hosted the first series but was forced to give up because of a serious illness.

Khan then took over hosting duties for the third series of Kaun Banega Crorepati?, as it is called in India.

Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, an insider said: "Bachchan and Shah Rukh, respectively, brought their distinct individuality on the table, but frankly speaking, Shah Rukh’s histrionics did not do go down well with the audience."

The show has been off the air since 2007, after the third series received a poor response.