 |
It takes a scribe to know a scribe. So it’s not surprising that the author of a new book by Penguin — aptly called Kiss and Tell — is a Delhi-based journo. Nistula Hebbar, who has covered “everything from the state of the city’s drains to the offices housing its high and mighty”, is so addicted to pulp fiction that she thought she’d do her bit for it. The book is about a young reporter called Janaki who is following a trail — and seemingly a sexy bureaucrat. To know what happens next, you have to follow Nistula — and Janaki’s — journey. No, we are not kissing and telling.
Foreign face
Here’s another firang bombshell finding her feet in Bolllywood. Hazel Crowney, the British model-turned-actress, did stints in television ads before playing Kareena Kapoor’s evil friend in Bodyguard. Now the Brit beauty is all set to find fame with her next project, Jeena Hai Toh Thok Daal, where she plays the female lead. Set in Bihar and Mumbai, the film is a hard-hitting tale that exposes the sordid world of crime. Incidentally, Crowney’s Bollywood entry was quite filmi as well. She was backpacking in Thailand when an Indian filmmaker noticed her and offered her an item number in Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar (2007). Well, looks like Crowney’s pehla pyar is going to last a long time.
 |
It seems Kamal Haasan’s live-in partner Gouthami is a passionate enthusiast of art. Not only was she seen rooting for Indian art at the announcement of a major art show in Chennai, the former actress, who happens to be a breast cancer survivor, revealed that art helped her to “stay in peace with her self”. Gouthami, who was a leading Tamil actress in the 1980s, has given up acting now. She does not even appear in television serials these days. “Acting is now in the background. I am busy designing costumes for Vishwaroopam (Kamal Haasan’s new venture),” says Gouthami. Clearly, the lady has no problems playing second fiddle to the superstar.
 |
Newlyweds Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza have been so busy with their work commitments that all plans of a romantic honeymoon have been put on the backburner. First came the Celebrity Cricket League, where the duo had to make an appearance as Deshmukh plays for the Mumbai Heroes while D’Souza is its brand ambassador. And now they will be seen promoting their film Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya on Zee TV’s Dance India Dance Season 3. On Sunday viewers can watch out for some good-natured bantering about the happy couple on the show. When Deshmukh said “I love you” to all the female contestants in the show, Mithun Chakrabarty, the anchor, ticked him off saying that he can’t make statements like that now that he’s a married man. In response, Deshmukh went up to the show’s judge Geeta, placed his palm on her head and said, “Main Geeta ke sar pe haath rakh ke kasam khata hun, Genelia, ki main tumse aur sirf tumse pyaar karoonga.” High drama, what? Let’s hope Deshmukh’s actions are as good as his words.
 |
At a time when Indian cricket is going through an all-time low, our cricketers seem to be busying themselves with other forms of self-fulfilment. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, for instance, has become very serious about wild life conservation. On a visit to Bangalore last week, Singh visited Bannerghatta National Park and volunteered to involve himself in the conservation initiatives launched by the park. Needless to say, the park authorities were quite bowled over by his gesture. They issued a statement thanking Bhajji and promised to find a suitable role for him. At least the Turbanator hasn’t let the poor showing on the cricket field blind him to other ways in which he can make a difference.
