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Actress Sonam Kapoor has urged Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil to ban the manufacture of glass-coated strings (manja), used for flying kites, in the entire state as many birds die after getting entangled in them.

“I humbly request your support for the recent ban on ‘manja’ in Mumbai as well as your immediate action to extend the ban

throughout Maharashtra,” she said in a letter to Patil.

“The use of ‘manja’ may be amusing for some, but for many families – human and bird alike – whose loved ones lose their lives, it is a situation that can be definitely prevented,” Sonam added.

She has made the request on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India after the Mumbai police banned the use of glass-coated ‘manja’ for flying kites within the city because of injuries and fatalities to both birds and humans.

The ‘manja’ used in kite-flying competitions is gummed and coated with powdered and finely crushed glass, making it lethal for birds who become entangled after the strings get caught in trees or on poles.

International R&B singer Akon, who is here to record songs for Shah Rukh Khan’s film "Ra.One", says he is a big fan of the Bollywood superstar and that he will not only have shows in India during his world tour but would also do more work here soon.

"I am a big fan of Shah Rukh. I am very familiar with Shah Rukh’s work. I am meeting Kareena (Kapoor) for the first time today," Akon told reporters in a press conference here Tuesday.
He is not only singing but also composing song for "Ra.One".

"I am also composing. You know, I will give him (Shah Rukh) a couple of versions of the song, the way I do it. And I will also integrate it with the traditional way the Bollywood films are done. I will give them options and they will decide, which one to use in the film," said Akon.

Produced by "Red Chilies Entertainment", "Ra.One" will see Shah Rukh playing a superhero.
Asked if he is planning to do more work with Indian music directors, he said: "You will see me doing more things in India soon."
The singer insists he finds African entertainment culture quite similar to what he sees in India.
"You know the tradition in Africa is not different from India. There is same type of entertainment going on, the difference is only in language. I always wanted to expand my horizon, explore and enjoy," said Akon who will soon go on a world tour.

Mumbai Police Monday cracked the Rs.8 million robbery from the house of Bollywood actress and politician Hema Malini and nabbed five people in this regard, an official said.

The suspects were caught from a residential complex, Nensey Colony in Borivli East, barely 10 km north of Hema Malini’s residence in Goregaon East.

Police have recovered around Rs.one million worth of jewellery from the home of one of the accused and Rs.93,000 cash from the others, said Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria.

According to Maria, police had got a tip-off that a gang of robbers was likely to commit a robbery in the area and the sleuths lay in wait for them Monday morning.

Around 10.30 a.m., the gang arrived at a building near the ST Bus Depot and walked into the police trap, he said.

A search of the accused led to the recovery of some weapons.

The gang members have been identified as: Vinod Padamsingh Sahi, 24, Manoj Padamsingh Sahi, 20 – both residents of Pune, Birbahadur alias Bicchi Karnbahadur Batala, 55, from Goregaon East, Tapendra Birbahadur Sahi, 20, and Manbahadur alias Rambahadur Sahi, 55, – both living in Dombivli suburb of Thane.

They had committed burglary at Hema Malini’s house and looted cash, jewellery and valuables worth Rs.8 million.

Mumbai, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who is blessed with a good figure, says she does not believe in being size zero as the Indian body type is not meant for it.

“Correct me if I am wrong, but I personally feel that the Indian body type is not cut out to be size zero. I am not size zero and I don’t believe in that either,” Deepika told IANS.

“I believe that it’s nice to be little full and have a nice shape,” she added.

The Bollywood actress was the show stopper for designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil’s show at the Lakme Fashion Week here Sunday.

According to Deepika, an actress gets a role for her performance and not the body type.

“In the (film) industry, body size doesn’t matter. What matters is how much an actor contributes through his performance and not his body size,” explained Deepika.

“It is important that every person should wear clothes that go with their body – the cut, the fabric make a lot of difference,” she added.

Having already proven his acting mettle in movies like “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!” and “Dev D”, Punjabi boy Abhay Deol will now show his driving skills in his latest outing “Road, Movie” – he drives a 1940s Chevy truck in the movie.

“I like driving. I am a very confident driver so I had no problems (driving the truck for the movie). I could do it straightaway on the first day. I didn’t undergo any training. It’s the same as any other car. It’s just a truck and much bigger so you just have to be more careful,” Abhay told IANS.

“Sometimes the DP (Director of Photography) would ask me to do the stunts. She would ask me to park it in position because I had such good control over it by the end of it all. I had fun driving the truck around,” he added.

Directed by Dev Benegal, the film also stars Satish Kaushik, Tannishtha Chatterjee and debutant Mohammed Faizal Usmani.

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, who will be seen in a new ‘avatar’, donning a de-glam look in her upcoming film ‘Rajneeti’, says her instincts and script prospects take precedence while choosing a movie.

"I go by my instincts and the potential of the script, and I am looking forward to the release of ‘Rajneeti’ this year where I get to share screen space with some of the finest talents of the film industry," the 25-year-old actor told PTI.
‘Rajneeti’, a political saga, directed by Prakash Jha is scheduled for a June 4 release.

The success of ‘New York’, in which she played a serious role unlike her successful comedies, has not changed the way she handles her career, the actress said.
Katrina is currently shooting for Farah Khan’s ‘Tees Maar Khan’ with Akshay Kumar, a co-star with whom she has given most of her hits.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan did not attend the 55th Filmfare Awards function on Saturday night (he prefers to keep away from film awards) but his film 3 Idiots swept the event by bagging six awards.

Besides being adjusted the best film, awards like best director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male), Best Story, Best Screenplay and Best Dialogue went to 3 Idiots.

Rajkumar Hirani was adjusted the best director, Boman Irani received the Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) award, Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani were awarded for the best story, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi were awarded for the Best Screenplay while Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra bagged award for the dialogue in 3 Idiots.
Meanwhile, it was Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan, who took away the top honours. They were awarded the best actor and best actress honours for the superb performance in their film Paa.

Katrina Kaif is no doubt one of the most popular heroines in Bollywood today. But can she match up to the steps of the ‘Dhak Dhak Girl’ Madhuri Dixit? Don’t think Katrina can dance as well as Madhuri but she has the guts to do her steps.

Yes, Katrina will be performing a hot item number for Farah Khan’s film Tees Maar Khan. She will be seen in a naughty ghaghra choli designed by Aki Narula. It’s not a cake walk for the actress, as she is going to shake like Madhuri, who was known for dancing. She will practice for 15-20 days for the particular dance number.

Director Farah Khan confirmed that Katrina has to do a village belle number a la Madhuri in Tees Maar Khan. She added that she has even given her Madhuri’s DVDs to watch, so that she gets the right expressions and the thumkas. The song will be shot at Malsej Ghat and choreograph by Geeta Kapoor and the director herself.

Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor, who turned 29 Thursday, was given a surprise birthday party by his family and friends.

‘I was given a surprise birthday party and I sure was surprised. Even dad and family were in on it. Wow! It’s actually my first surprise birthday party,’ Shahid posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

The actor was wished by a number of celebrities, including Karan Johar and Farah Ali Khan.

He has thanked everyone for their wishes.

‘Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the birthday wishes. Love you all,’ he added.

Shahid’s friend and co-star of his last release ‘Chance Pe Dance’, Genelia D’Souza, too attended the party.

Bollywood star Suniel Shetty feels Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should step in to save the sport from the “doldrums”.

“Only Rahul Gandhi with his initiative and youth power can rescue hockey from the doldrums. Otherwise the game is doomed,” Suniel told IANS.

Suniel intends to request Rahul Gandhi to bring a sense of direction to the game.

The fiasco on Saturday at the sports event hosted in Chandigarh by the AMR Sports Foundation, where the national hockey players apparently asked for Rs.500 million at the eleventh hour to play at the event, has not left Suniel disillusioned or discouraged.

“See, what happened in Chandirgarh was really sad. I don’t know what happened between the event’s organisers and our boys from the national hockey team. If they really asked for the money, then they shouldn’t have.

“But think of it from their point of view. Hockey players in our country are still so underpaid. They’re under so much pressure from their family to give up hockey and do something more paying. How long can our players withstand the financial press