Step and twirl

So how does British-born actress Jiah Khan, who famously played the Lolita figure opposite Amitabh Bachchan in the 2006 film Nishabd, stay in shape? By hitting the gym regularly and watching her diet like a hawk? Not at all. Apparently, Khan maintains her enviable silhouette by dancing up a storm. She says she been vigorously practising Kathak moves for the last eight months. And has shed five kilos in the bargain. Well, decades ago, iconic Hollywood star Jane Fonda too showed how you could dance your way to fitness with her famous “dancercise” routine. So will Khan go the Fonda way and market her lightning fast Kathak steps as a slimming strategy? Let’s wait and watch.

Terror tale

Remember the controversy that erupted when Ram Gopal Varma was seen with then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his son Riteish taking a tour of the devastated Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai right after 26/11? Well, the film on the Taj massacre that was germinating in Varma’s mind then is being shot now. In a recent tweet Varma said, “Just shot the Taj massacre of 26/11... Merely recreating it felt terrifying... Can’t even imagine what the victims would have gone through.” The director is also busy promoting the sequel of his 2003 film Bhoot — Bhoot Returns — on the digital platform. Gimmicky “raw footage” of “paranormal activities” has been released on YouTube and the Bhoot Returns team claims it has gone “viral” in the cyberspace. Now let’s see how sensational — and viral — his film on the 26/11 Taj terror attack turns out to be.

Life lesson

From a swashbuckling cricketer to a motivational figure, it’s been one amazing journey for Yuvraj Singh. The cricketer, who got a new lease of life after battling cancer, will now be part of a TV show, Zindagi Abhi Baaki Hai. The show, to be aired on Colors, will reveal his story from his first moment of shock on finding out that he had a rare form of germ cell cancer earlier this year to his absolute grit and determination to conquer the disease. And whatever Singh earns from the show will go to his non government organisation, YOUWECAN Foundation, that works towards cancer awareness. Good show, Yuvraj. As always.

Star talk

Kareena Kapoor certainly knows how to calm ruffled feathers. One of her dialogues in her forthcoming film Heroine — “If an actress goes to Dubai then the media prepare a rate card for her” — had not endeared her to the denizens of Dubai. But when Kapoor went to the emirate to promote her film recently, she did her best to woo the people there. At the press conference, she left everyone mesmerised with her oomph and style. “True to the role that I am playing in Heroine, this event in Dubai will let me relive the moment of playing the role of a star once again,” she gushed. Er, that sounds a bit woolly-headed. But to her star-struck audience it made perfect sense! And, presumably, all was forgiven.

Double Dutch

Her debut film sank without a trace. But Anjum Nayar has come a long way from starring in that cheesy horror film called Mallika. Today, Nayar is sure that the world will notice her in her upcoming film Cover Story. It is an adaptation of a Dutch film called The Interview and is directed by Laurens Postma, who is a Dutchman. “Although it’s a Hindi film, Laurens had no problem directing the actors,” Nayar says. While Nayar plays the role of Tara, a top Bollywood actress, Jackie Shroff plays a senior journalist attracted to the actress. “The film revolves around two characters and I am one of them. People cannot miss me,” says Nayar. Only two characters? Just hope it doesn’t seem like double Dutch to the audience.