Shabana Azmi’s 60th birthday party Saturday had for its invitees a motley mix of friends, family and selected colleagues from the film industry who had converged at a lounge named Trilogy.

‘Not like Javed (Akhtar)’s 60th birthday party which was as lavish and large as a wedding reception,’ laughed Shabana heartily, adding: ‘But a motley group of invitees from theatre and my political activities.’

‘I was doing a performance of my new play ‘Seven’ in Delhi till late in the night on Friday. So all the arrangements for the party were done by my gal pals Parna (best friend for decades) and Shahana (Goswami) and my sister-in-law Tanvi,’ said the actress.

It seemed rather unbelievable that the timeless Shabana Azmi had actually turned 60 but the matter of age amused her.

‘I can’t understand why being 60 should be such an issue. I am asked in interviews ‘Kaisa lag raha hai?’ What is one supposed to feel? I am very proud to have arrived at this place. Do I feel 60? I don’t know. Because I don’t know how other 60-year-olds feel. I am just happy,’ she said.

Shabana stepped into her 61st year of age with her friends in Delhi. ‘We wrapped up the play in the evening and then I was with my friends in Delhi to ring in my birthday. Then I flew into Mumbai for my party. So, it’s been almost a non-stop celebration for me,’ she said.

The play ‘Seven’ in which she performed in Delhi is one more attempt to bring her personal convictions on a public platform.

Raajneeti is a smashing hit. It enters its second week with a bang after collectingsum of Rs 54 crore approx from its first week and adding further Rs 16 crore in the second weekend.

Friday’s collection was approx Rs 3.75 crore, while on Saturday the collections rose to Rs 5.50 crore and on Sunday, another 7 crores added to it. Today the movie’s tenth day grand total is Rs 70 crore approx.

As per trade reports, Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti will end up in top five Hindi films of all time in terms of distributor share. The other top films in the list are Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Gadar, Ghajini and 3 Idiots.

3 Idiots is a memorable movie for several reasons. Omi Vaidya’s performance is couned among them too. Omi’s ‘Chatur’ act in 3 Idiots was highly appreciated by the audience and film fraternity alike. The man recently won the IIFA best male debutant of the year award along with Jacky Bhagnani who debuted in Vivek Sharma’s Kal Kissne Dekha.

Omi wowed everyone with his hilarious performance in the film. However, Bollywood was not on the cards for Omi. He had auditioned for the film on a whim. The US-based actor wasn’t well-versed with Hindi and gave his audition without really understanding the dialogues, just like his character’s speech in the movie. And the rest as they say is history.

Omi also bagged the Star Screen Award of the Best Comedian for 3 Idiots. His performance has opened up new avenues for him. Next in the offing is Madhur Bhandarkar’s Dil to Bachcha Hai Ji. It has Omi alongside Ajay Devgan and Emraan Hashmi. The affable actor has also made his presence felt in trade circles by appearing at various events and functions. Sure looks like the ‘Silencer’ is here to stay.

India’s most truly international film project champions the Box Office domestically and internationally, marking the first ever Indian film to break US Box Office Top 10
Reliance BIG Pictures has set the temperature soaring by making KITES, the most awaited film of the Summer, a staggering Box Office success, both domestically and in international territories. KITES, starring one of India’s most idolized artists Hrithik Roshan and South American screen star Barbara Mori, marked the widest ever release of an Indian film to date with 2,000 screens in India and more than 500 screens overseas.
In international markets KITES has reached the Number 5 spot at the UK Box Office with the second highest per screen average in the top ten.

The film has also become the first ever Indian film to break into the US Box Office Top 10, flying in at the Number 10 position during the opening weekend.
The film grossed over 21 Crore Rupees on the opening day in India, the second highest opening ever, trailing only Reliance BIG Pictures’ December 2009 release, 3 IDIOTS.
KITES has also been more widely reviewed by international critics than any other Indian film with director Anurag Basu being hailed by US film critics.

Mumbai, Katrina Kaif and A.R. Rahman launched a music album for children and the music maestro says his students have done a good job.

The compositions in the album “Rhyme Skool”, released by music label Saregama, have been given by Rahman’s students.

“I have a lot of expectations from my students and I am confident that even though it is a kid’s music album, the music will be loved by people of all age groups,” Rahman told reporters here Wednesday.

Katrina has given the commentary in it and talking about her experience, she said: “I am very happy that I am playing a part in entertaining the children. The music is simply amazing because it’s composed under the guidance of a world renowned music composer like A.R. Rahman and his very talented students.”

Shahid Kapoor-starrer “Badmaash Company”, about four friends doing con jobs to become rich overnight, has got good reviews and viewers have enjoyed their capers but first time director Parmeet Sethi says he wrote the script of the film in frustration.

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Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan tweeted Sunday that his team Kolkata Knight Riders’ defeat by Bangalore Royal Challengers added to his woes.
The superstar also confessed on the social networking site that he had to seek his children’s support to get over his sadness.
"Bad day yesterday. friend still not well…had to take hugs from kids & friends to avoid being sad. kkr did little to help either," the Bollywood hero tweeted.
"Have to spend more time with people I love & care for. Feel them around me more. Waste too much time with peripherals of life. Missing the core," said Shah Rukh.
Clearly, the passionate owner of the Knights expects his team to provide him succour by winning matches when he is going through troubled times.
Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has stayed away from the last two IPL games of his team to be beside dear friend and his company Red Chillies Entertainment chief executive officer Bobby Chawla, who is hospitalised after collapsing at a restaurant recently.
The see-saw ride continued for the Knight Riders as they were convincingly beaten yet again by liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s Bangalore Royal Challengers by seven wickets Saturday. This is what makes matters worse for King Khan who bought the franchise along with the husband-wife duo of Juhi Chawla and Jai Mehta. Juhi is Bobby’s sister and Shah Rukh’s close friend.
Shah Rukh’s earlier tweet March 29 led to quite a stir when he wrote after his side’s defeat to Delhi Daredevils in an away game that his franchise should stop giving excuses after facing defeats every time.

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who held a clean shaved chocolate boy image until director Vishal Bharadwaj’s "Kaminey", is yet again donning a new look, wearing a beard for his father Pankaj Kapoor’s next film "Mausam" where he plays a role of an air force pilot.

"My father told me to grow a beard so I am doing it. I am going to shoot ‘Mausam’ in three weeks from now. So we are still trying different things so I won’t really comment to say that this is my look for ‘Mausam’. This is one of the looks that has been considered. But it’s for sure there will two to three different looks in ‘Mausam’," Shahid said.

The actor who has two films – "Paathshaala" and "Baadmaash Company" – releasing in a row, wishes to experience flying fighter planes to understand his character in "Mausam".

"I am trying to learn flying fighter planes. I am playing the role of an air force officer in my father’s film, so there will be certain amount of exposure that I am trying to gain. But there are lots of permission that need to be taken and I also need to start shooting in three weeks … but yes I am trying to go to some of the air bases and if that is possible and authorities really allow me, then I would really love to go for that because it would really help me understand my character," he said.

Aamir Khan won’t celebrate his 45th birthday Sunday.

“I will not be celebrating my birthday this year,” Aamir told IANS over e-mail from Mumbai.

Media reports said the actor will fly to the capital Sunday to rub shoulders with acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron and to discuss the future of cinema.

“Yes, I am going to be in Delhi for (a) conclave where I would be meeting Cameron,” said the actor.

Aamir did not say why he won’t celebrate his birthday. But a source close to him said: “He in any case doesn’t believe in parties and celebrations for his birthday. Moreover, with his dad (noted filmmaker Tahir Hussain) passing away last month, he is keeping a very low profile.”

Incidentally, his colleague Shah Rukh Khan has teamed up with international rapper Akon in Mumbai to record a song.

With cinema in his blood, perfection in his attitude and known as the king of promotional strategies, Aamir managed to deliver several super hits since his first success “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988).

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.