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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Biography



Aishwarya Rai


Date of Birth



1 November 1973, Mangalore, Karnataka, India




Birth Name



Aishwarya Krishnaraj Rai


Nickname



Ash



Gullu



The Queen of Bollywood


Height



5' 7" (1.70 m)




Mini Biography



Born into a traditional south Indian family, Aishwarya started modeling at a young age. This green-blue-eyed beauty appeared in advertisements for many prestigious firms; the ones that brought her into the limelight were the garden sari and the Pepsi ad. Crowned Miss India 1994 runner-up, she was a hot favorite in the run for miss world title, which she won, her beauty and charm made her India's darling. Ash stormed into the Indian movie industry, where she has proven herself a brilliant & genuine actress. Her performance in Iruvar (1997) was critically acclaimed, and she won the Screen best female debutant award for her role in ...Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (1997). She was adored in movies like Taal, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, her item number in 'Bunty & Bubbly' had sent waves of rhythm across the nation. With her successful Bollywood movies & prestigious Hollywood projects lined up for release it is impossible to ignore this Indian diva in international scenes.



Mini Biography



Aishwarya was an architecture student before she entered modeling as her part-time job. She was best known for her Pepsi commercial with Mahima Chaudhry. With her green-grey eyes, she was already approached by big names in India's film industry, where they offered her starring roles. She rejected the film offers since she aimed to be an architect. However, fate had other things in store for her after she was crowned Miss World 1994. Soon after her winning, again she received offers to star in movies. In Southern India, she was best known for her role as Madhumita/Veishnavi in Jeans (1998) and as Meenakshi in I Have Found It (2000). She won the Filmfare Award for best actress for her performance in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) as Ajay Devgan's wife who is in love with another man. She also won rave reviews for her performance as a rape victim in Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000).


Mini Biography



Aishwarya Rai (Ash) is one of Bollywood's pre-eminent leading ladies. This Indian darling burst upon the world stage when her striking beauty, poise and commanding intelligence won her the Miss World crown in 1994. This former architecture major soon became one of India's most famous models landing a prestigious Pepsi campaign and appearing in Vogue Magazine. India's top Bollywood directors were soon lining up to work with Ash. Her film debut in Mani Rathnam's 'Iruvar' (1997) received critical acclaim and her performance in Aur Paar Ho Gaya' (1997) directed by Rahul Rawail garnered her the Best Female Debutante Award. In 2000 she was awarded Best Actress by FilmFare and Zee Cine for her work in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", in that same year, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her special appearance in Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000). In 2001 Ash was nominated for FilmFare's Best Actress Award for Satish Kaushik's "Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai".






Ash's star continued to rise in 2002 working again with Sajay Leela Bhansali in 'Devdas'. 'Devdas' is the most ambitious and most successful film in Bollywood history. It became the first Bollywood picture to ever receive a special screening at this year's Cannes Film Festival and broke box-office records in India and the United States.



2003 brought even more exciting opportunities. Ash became the first Indian actor to be a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival. She is also the latest member of the elite L'Oreal Dream Team, joining beauties Catherine Deneuve & Andie MacDowell as their international ambassador. She graced the covers of India Today and the prestigious TIME Magazine. Time Magazine has also listed her on their list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World Today". She has graced numerous covers worldwide including USA, UK, China, Russia, Israel, United Emerites, Italy, Spain and France. Ash was also listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's annual "Hot List", Hello Magazine's Most Attractive Women in the World", Stuff Magazine, FHM magazine, V-Life from Variety Magazine, GQ Magazine, New York Times Magazine, Harper's & Queen and countless others.






2004 saw Aishwarya take on the leading role in her first English language film for Gurinder Chadha in "Bride & Prejudice". She also became the first Indian female to be immortalized in wax at the world famous Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London.


With over 17,000 websites dedicated to her, Ash finally launched her "Official Website" www.AishwaryaWorld.com



2005 started with appearances on "60 Minutes", "David Letterman Show" and the most watched television program in the world the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Aishwarya's career continues to grow even stronger - she will soon be seen in Mistress of Spices for director Paul Berges, Jag Mundhra's Provoked, Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 2 and legendary film producer Dino De Laurentiis's The Last Legion opposite Colin Firth and Sir Ben Kingsley. The Queen of Bollywood is already becoming the talk of tinseltown and is currently in negotiations on two major motion pictures.




Spouse



Abhishek Bachchan (20 April 2007 - present)



Trade Mark



Her blue-green eyes


Trivia



Wanted to study medicine, but circumstances prevented her.







Miss World 1994.




Dated Salman Khan.





Was offered Rani Mukherjee's role in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).





Runner up, Miss India 1994





Ambassador (spokesperson) for Longines watches since 1999.





Daughter of Vrinda Rai




Sister of Aditya Rai




In April 2003, she suffered an accident on the sets of Khakee (2004) when a car driven by a stuntman got out of control, hit her, took her down a crevice, and slammed her into a cactus plant. She broke a bone in one foot and suffered severe cuts, and she was rushed to a hospital. The incident rekindled the discussion about poor safety standards on Bollywood film sets.



The first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival.




Has made over 50 music videos in only seven years.




Despite the fact that she is adorned with jewelry in her music videos and movies, she is apparently not too fond of it.







Created a frenzy at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival when she arrived at the premiere of her film _Devdas (2002)_ in a coach and wearing a beautiful yellow-orange-embroidered sari.





Was originally cast in the role of Jwala in the film _The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005)_, but dropped out before filming started due to contract problems. The role was later given to Ameesha Patel.



Loves collecting watches.



Made her first commercial for Camlin pencils when she was in the 9th grade.



Was the face of Coca Cola South Asia as well as the Middle East.





Favorite subject in college was Zoology.




Has achieved iconic status all over South Asia.




Is featured in the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.




In a poll conducted by Hello magazine, she was voted the number-one attractive woman of 2003, beating actresses such as Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Gwyneth Paltrow.




In April 2003, L'Oréal signed her as its new international brand ambassador (spokesperson).




The first Bollywood star to appear in Rolling Stone magazine (Issue 932, October 2, 2003)






Gained 20 pounds for Bride & Prejudice (2004) because she didn't want her character to look like a supermodel and also felt that it would add a sense of realism to the character.







Is an ethnic Bunt, like fellow actors Shilpa Shetty and Sunil Shetty. The Bunts are a South Indian community from Mangalore who mainly speak Tulu, which is Aishwarya's mother tongue.







Turned down the lead in Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003). The role was given to Gracy Singh.







Turned down the role of Mastani in the film _Bajirao Mastani (2005)_.







The first movie star she ever met was Rekha. Aishwarya was still in high school at the time and was a model. While at a grocery store with her mother, Aishwarya was tapped on the shoulder by none other than Rekha herself. Rekha recognized Aishwarya from her modeling ads. She complimented the young Aishwarya on her good looks and wished her all the best.



Is fluent in the languages English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Urdu.




Was originally intended for the role of Priya in the film _Chalte Chalte (2003)_.



Aamir Khan and Aishwarya Rai are the only stars to advertise for both Coca Cola and Pepsi.



Before she was famous, she auditioned to do voice-dubbing for a television serial and was rejected.



Shahrukh Khan recommended her to play Kaurwaki in the film Ashoka the Great (2001). But the director wanted to cast someone who hadn't already been paired with Shahrukh as a leading lady.



After winning the title of Miss World in 1994, the host of the event, Richard Steinmetz, actually asked Aishwarya out. But being a professional, she refused right away.



Sued the magazine Star and Style for a sum of Rs 20 million (2 crore) for printing an article claiming that actress Raveena Tandon had caught her and Akshay Kumar in a compromising position at the poolside of a five- star hotel.




During the filming of the song 'Dola Re Dola' from the movie _Devdas (2002)_, Aishwarya's ears were bleeding because to the heavy earrings she had to wear, but she continued to perform anyway.



Is a trained classical dancer. She learnt classical dance and music for five years while in her teens.



Has a puppy named Sunshine, which was given to her as a gift by friend Vivek Oberoi.



Won the title of Miss Photogenic in the 1994 Miss World Pageant.



Has won over 100 awards since 1994 when she was 20.



Is good friends with actress Preity Zinta.



Has gained a cult following in Pakistan.



Was listed in Time magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world (The 2004 TIME 100).




Ran the Olympic-torch relay in June 2004.




Turned down a role in The Myth (2005) due to her touring schedule. The role was eventually given to Mallika Sherawat.



Has refused to work with Salman Khan after their break-up, in spite of several offers.



Has over 17,000 Web sites dedicated to her.




In 2004, Aishwarya became the first Bollywood and Indian actress to have her own statue at London's Madame Tussauds museum.




On January 2nd, 2005, she became the first Indian actress to be interviewed on "60 Minutes" (1968).




Voted #9 in Harpers and Queen magazine's list of the 100 most beautiful women of today. (Harpers and Queen, June 6, 2005)




A tulip produced in 2005 was named for her.



Member of the jury at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.




When Oprah Winfrey saw Aishwarya's interview on "60 Minutes" (1968), she was so fascinated by her that she got a hold of Ash and invited her to be a guest on her show. On April 25, 2005, Aishwarya became the first Indian and South Asian actress to be featured on _"Oprah Winfrey Show, The" (1986)_.



Turned down a small role as Breseis in the film Troy (2004).




Director Andy Tennant offered her a small part in _Hitch (2005)_, but she was busy filming Bride and Prejudice at the time.



Turned down the role of Anna in Barsaat: A Sublime Love Story (2005).



In the summer of 2005, Mattel released limited-edition Barbie dolls inspired by Aishwarya and her costumes. They were released only in Britain and sold out within minutes. These dolls are now considered rare collectibles among fans.


Her favourite film is Casablanca.



Was voted number 12 on VH1's 50 Sexiest Actresses of the Last 20 Years. (December 2005)



Roger Ebert has said he considers her the most beautiful actress in the world.




Was voted as E's 7th sexiest celebrity in the world




The first actress from India to get signed on with the American Library Association and also have a poster made of her for schools and library's all across America.





Was originally signed on to play the part of Simmi in Bluffmaster! (2005), but was replaced without any notice by Priyanka Chopra. Director Rohan Sippy then gave Aishwarya a "special thanks" in the end credits as an apology.




Turned down the part of Sandhya in _Saamna (2006)_.



When President George W. Bush visited India in March 2006, he invited Aishwarya, along with Aamir Khan, to a luncheon. Aishwarya could not attend because she was in Brazil at the time filming for Dhoom:2 (2006).

Was considered for the role of Priya in Krrish (2006).


Turned down the lead in Corporate (2006) because she didn't have any dates available for filming. The role was given to Bipasha Basu.



In mid 2001, Aishwarya started work on two films titled Radheshyam Seetaram and Hum Panchhi Ek Daal Ke. For reasons unknown, filming stopped on these films in February 2002. Filming was never completed and the films have now been shelved. The only glimpse of the movies that exist for the public to see are photographs from the sets and publicity shots.



Performed to an audience of 85,000 in Melbourne, Australia at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games with 800 backup dancers. (March 2006)


Was cast with a small role in Lajja (2001), but was dropped because there were already too many major stars in the film.


When Karan Johar asked Aishwarya on his talk show which film she wishes she could have been a part of, she responded _Khamoshi: The Musical (1996)_.




Is the second Indian actress to appear on the cover of TIME magazine in 2003. The first was Parveen Babi in 1976.




Featured in People Magazine as one of the 100 Most Beautiful People in the World. (Issue May,8,2006)


Was considered for the role of Kalyani in Water (2005/I).


Got her education at Arya Vidya Mandir and DG Ruparel College, both in Bombay, India. She was also accepted into Raheja College of Architecture in Bombay, but never went.

Good friends with fellow Indian superstar and icon, Madhuri Dixit. The two worked together in the super-hit and widely acclaimed Devdas.







Listed as number 3 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)







Caused a day long traffic jam in Dubai, United Arab Emirates while filming a soap commercial. People would stop for hours just to catch a glimpse of their favorite actress. (September 5, 2006)







Listed #3 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/ 2006).







Is the most photographed woman in India.







She was the first choice for the role of Jane Smith in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), but she turned it down due to filming conflicts.







She secured 90% marks in HSC at Ruparel college in Mumbai.







Her Pepsi ad with Aamir Khan was shot in one night during the infamous Bombay riots.







Has been in seven movies with now husband Abhishek Bachchan, more than with any other actor.







Came in #1 in BollySpice.com Magazine's list of "Top 10 Actresses of 2006".







Turned down the part of Malvika Talwar in Baabul (2006).







In January 2007, she announced that she has accepted a marriage proposal from current boyfriend, actor Abhishek Bachchan.


Is often referred to as "the most beautiful woman in the world".


In 2005, Hugh M. Hefner attempted to create and Indian version of Playboy for India, which would feature South Asian women and Indian pop culture articles, but no nudity. He wanted to have Aishwarya on the cover of the first issue. The magazine was rejected.



Twice turned down the lead in the Hindi version of Chandramukhi (2005).


Was invited in 2005 to be a presenter at The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005) (TV), but was unable to attend because she was busy filming for The Mistress of Spices (2005).


Is active in various charities and often visits orphanages.


Her favorite Western designer is Giorgio Armani. Whenever she is in London, clothes are taken to her hotel for her to choose from.


Is the second of five Indian women to win the Miss World title. The first was Reita Faria, who won in 1966. Others include Diana Hayden who won in 1997, Yukta Mookhey in 1999, and Priyanka Chopra in 2000.



Has appeared on more magazine covers worldwide than any other Bollywood or Indian star.



Director Brett Ratner is a fan of Aishwarya's and he wanted her to be cast in Rush Hour 3 (2007), but she turned down the offer.


Was considered for the part of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale (2006).



Her wax statue at Madame Tussauds Museum in London was borrowed by the museum in New York for six weeks. The statue was flown to New York and made its debut on August 15, 2007, making her the first Indian actress in the American version of the museum.



About 15 kilos of henna was special ordered from Sojat in Rajasthan for the henna ceremony before her wedding.



Her wedding invitations were embossed with two entwined As and delivered along with a box of chocolate meringues. Within the invitation was also a poem about new beginnings written by Amitabh Bachchan's father and renowned poet Harivash Rai Bachchan.




Her wedding ceremony lasted a total of three days. It was the most awaited and talked about wedding in years and the press followed it like Princess Diana's wedding.



For her 34th birthday, she went to go see Beyonce Knowles in concert in Mumbai.


Turned down the role of Neha in Dostana (2008) because she felt that her real life marriage to Abhishek Bachchan wouldn't work well for their characters.


Forbes listed her in the 387th position out of 1,411 actors as the most bankable Indian star in Hollywood. (February 2009).

The youngest actress to receive the Padmi Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honor, from the Government of India for her contribution to cinema.




Aishwarya has won the esteemed V. Shantaram Award twice: 2009 Best Actress for Jodhaa Akbar and 2003 Best Actress for Devdas. The V. Shantaram Award is voted on by members of the Directors Guild.



Aishwarya is the first goodwill ambassador for Smile Train, a charity that works worldwide for children with cleft lip.


Met husband Abhishek Bachchan on the set of Guru (2007).


Had a relationship with Vivek Oberoi from 2002-2005.



Personal Quotes



I'm just average woman with average concerns.



Life will take its toll on all of us. We get injured, we get old. It's really sad to try to run away from these harsh realities of life. Looks are not everything. I am not going to look beautiful all the time.



You give to the world your greatest gift when you're being yourself.







I believe that as an actress all my fears and phobias exist till I sign on the dotted line for a film.







I don't believe in proving a point to anybody. Nobody is that important.







It's strange that Rakesh Roshan thinks I look older than Hrithik. In fact, he's approached me for all his home productions.







I always knew I would be successful. So there was no element of surprise.







I know for a fact that if there's a role which I am suited for, I'll be signed on. I'll never go begging.







"I only entered Miss India after pressure from friends and because I thought it would be a laugh".







Comedy is difficult for an actor. But I think I have a good sense of humor and manage to make people laugh and make them happy.







On donating her eyes after death - "People know me more because of my eyes. So, I decided to donate my eyes. But before that, I acquired all the information about the campaign. Within what time after death one has to donate eyes, and all other information. Only then I decided to donate my eyes. It's not that just for doing something, I donated my eyes. I found that useful so I did it. I like to do social service from my heart. Whatever is possible I do, but I don't speak of that. But I would like to give more time to it in the near future."







Women in the industry have been exploited very often, but there are some actors who belive that the short cut to stardom is through nudity or exposure. Such success is, in fact, very short-lived.
I have never done a kissing scene nor do I have intentions to.


About her film Chaos (2006): When this came to be early this year, I was ecstatic. I couldn't believe that I was actually going to work with Meryl Streep, someone I've always admired. In all my interviews 10 years ago people used to ask who is your favourite actor and actress and I would mention Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep. On my first trip there I met up with de Niro and my first film is with Meryl Streep, and I said, 'Oh God that's really, really cool. Really wonderful.


Ever since I went to the Cannes festival, the media overseas really encouraged me to consider the possibilities of working in the West. Then I got a call from some people who worked in the business in America, who asked me to first obviously get an agent so that they could have direct access because that's the way they work.



About turning down the role opposite Jackie Chan in the movie _Time Breaker (2004)_, "I did not have the required dates as I was busy with the shows abroad. I had to turn down the film. I have no regrets because there is always a next time."



Indian cinema has begun to be recognized globally. And it's very important for us to make our presence felt at important events such as Cannes. I feel there should be more Indian representation at festivals. India is producing such a large cross section of films. We need to be part of world cinema, and we need to do that now.

Someone asked me why I'm politically correct, even when people hit out so openly at me. But the truth is, I've never been brought up to behave any other way. I can't say anything hurtful about anyone. I just don't believe in saying mean things. I won't feel good doing that. It's strange why being well behaved is perceived as being too 'propah' and staid. This is the way I am. I'm amazed how many people feel good hitting out at me. They're welcome to do it. Earlier, they had more leeway to deny their indiscretions in print. But now on television they look pretty ridiculous denying what they say.



About the sari on the Oprah show: "I thought I'd wear one on the show, and packed two of them, in case Oprah wanted to wear one too. As luck would have it, my flight was delayed and I reached minutes before the show went on air! So I had no time to change, which is a pity. Americans love the garment but have no clue how it's tied. Oprah is very respectful and appreciative of all cultures. She was very curious about the sari and I helped her put it on, on air! She has sent me an autographed picture saying, 'Next time we change the blouse.' She was very sweet." (Rediff, May 18, 2005)







About being on the Oprah show: "Yes, I was extremely happy to be on her show. I absolutely admire her. I never thought I'd actually be meeting her -- and that too, on her show! It's so strange. But prior to our meeting, during my visit to the US for the premiere of Bride & Prejudice, I had some afternoons off and I watched Oprah. I thought how wonderful it would be to be on her show. And within a month, I was!" (Rediff, May 18, 2005)







"I am not comfortable about kissing or nudity. I am clear about what I want. I'll work only with good directors who'll offer me two-dimensional roles. The director and the role are most important." (Movie Mag International, September 2004)







About her long career in entertainment: "This is my tenth year now, so things have changed within this span of time - so drastically that when I look at the work done when I just joined, it's like, "Oh my God!" So much has changed in these ten years. You get to see how you're part of the process of change within the Indian film industry. That's all positive, that's all a good sign." (Forbes Magazine, August 25th 2005)







Her advice to aspiring professionals: "My biggest concern is always the students who are working toward a certain career - when they limit themselves to just that one option. They need to know that the world is huge - it's an ocean, and there are so many options. It's not the end of the world if they don't get to pursue an apparent childhood dream. That's really important, because you find a lot of kids who believe that they want to become a doctor or an aeronautical engineer or something, and if they don't manage to make their degree, that's the end. They feel so defeated, which is very disheartening. It's sad to know that people let themselves be limited by these aspirations." (Forbes Magazine, August 25th 2005)







It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.







Life is a stage, and we are all characters. So play your part and play it well!







On why she participated in the Miss World Pageant in 1994: "For me, it went beyond being a beauty queen. For me, it was about being the 20-year-old girl from India on international platform and a lot of people actually would assume that I wasn't even educated in India because of the way I'd speak. And they'd be like, 'Have you studied in India? Do you actually speak English out there?' and, I was like, 'This is so interesting that so many people know so little about my country.' and this is exactly what I wanted to do when I set out on this little mission in my head." (Jan 2005, 60 Minutes Interview)







"Good films are good films regardless of being made in India or abroad. I believe a great story transcends cultural lines and language barriers." (American Way Magazine, 3-15-06)







I choose films with characters that I feel are relative to a woman's growth for me. In The Last Legion, I play a warrior. This was a first for me and it was a fantastic experience. I would like very much to do more action films. As for the right direction, I make my choices and always move forward one step at a time. (4-26- 06)







On her character in _Mistress of Spices (2005)_: "I have related to each character I have performed thus far, including Tilo. I am very sensitive to moods and one's inward feelings and emotions. I am a true people person and people watcher. I look forward to meeting interesting people and understanding their experiences in life." (4-26-06)







On her character in Dhoom:2 (2006): "It's the kind of character I have never essayed before. Sunehiri, my character in the film, is distinctly different from any other character you have seen me play. That's what makes her exciting to me. For the first time in my life I went through a bit of a fitness regime. Contrary to popular belief, right since modeling, to the (Miss World) title, to films, I have never been a fitness freak or exercised." (October 2006)







About director _J.P. Dutta_: "J P Dutta is a committed taskmaster. I have danced to songs before. But he always added to choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant's steps, and that was quite challenging. He would shoot an entire mukhda in one shot. To do all the songs at that level required remaining focused at all times. In that moment, I felt I became Umrao Jaan. It was interesting to deliver a performance that shows her passionate but tragic story. The film is also reflective of the art that was at its zenith in that era. The sex trade was called the performing arts then and not prostitution." (October 2006)







On Umrao Jaan (2006) being her first Urdu language film: "Since our generation speaks English, we are not very fluent in Hindi, leave alone Urdu. I loved those dialogs and the experience to work and know about that era. For me, it was a study of Urdu on the sets under the guidance of JP and Javed saab."







About Rekha: "Rekha is very inspiring. It is not necessarily relative to just one performance, but her entire career, the span of characters that she has essayed, the performances that she has delivered itself is extremely inspiring. I am inspired by her performance. But I cannot ape her." (October 2006)







On her role in Umrao Jaan (2006) :"Playing Umrao Jaan was a demanding emotional journey. When a story takes that course, it is following an entire arc; it goes through all the possible emotions. The process was satisfying, inspiring and challenging. It forced me to deliver the best in every moment." (October 2006)







On being compared to Rekha in the original version of Umrao Jaan (1981): "For me, as an actor, it's a special experience to get the opportunity to play Umrao Jaan who has been already iconised on our celluloid. When I played Paro in Devdas, I went through the same area of questioning about how my role will be compared with the ones played earlier." (rediff.com,October 2006)







"My reason for choosing a film is not to impress people. I don't choose films for the box office." (November 2006)







"The audiences feel I am part of their life so they worry about me. I think that is very sweet of them and I tell them that when I will marry I will announce it. When I get married, you'll know. I believe in marriage and it is a beautiful institution." (November 2006)







"It is a very tricky situation when you get the chance to work in English films. I do films based on characters, not to get an entry into Hollywood or whatever. In English, my Bride & Prejudice did well world over. I don't know how it did in Hindi, but I know Jurassic Park too didn't do well in Hindi. I was glad audiences worldwide liked an English film that was Indian. When I did Mistress of Spices, I did it for Paul [Mayeda Berges, the director and husband of Gurinder Chadha] as a team. The film found its audiences. When the Provoked script came to me, I felt it was a very important story of an Indian woman based in London who killed her husband because of marital abuse. Kiranjit Ahluwalia made a big impression in England, and so I did this film because I felt it was an important story to be told. Provoked is an important film for many other Kirans in the world." (November 2006)







As far as The Last Legion (2007) is concerned, it is a film based on a book [A novel by Valerio Manfredi]. I don't think the character of Meera [her role] is there in the book. I did the film for the new experience and it is for the first time that I was with a complete foreign crew. Working with Ben Kingsley was a great experience. Meera is an Indian in the film and she has great roots and you will identify with her strength. I feel for Indian audiences, and want them to feel pride in what I am doing: I am not doing films just to be there as guest appearances.







On celebrating her 33rd birthday: "I am just not the birthday bash kind. My day will start with a visit to the Siddhivinayak temple with my family, something I do every year. There will be no loud parties... my birthday is a very private affair. Concidering I have to leave for Dubai tomorrow, it will be over early too. Only family and friends will be there." (November 1, 2006)







On the rumors that her black eye was the result of abuse by Salman Khan: "For some perverse reason, no one wants to believe me, that I fell down the stairs. First the media calls me the woman of the millennium, a woman of substance. Then how can the same media make me out to be such a doormat? I'm a self-respecting woman, I don't take nonsense from anyone. No one tries caveman tactics on me. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger can fall and get hurt, so why should I be any different?"







I have never deliberately driven attention to the fact that I am working in Hollywood films. I have categorically stated that I am working in different kinds of films, be it British, Hindi, Tamil or Bengali. It's all about doing films, which are my passion.







On meeting producer Harvey Weinstein for the first time at the 2005 Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People: "He is a big fan of Indian films. He has seen Devdas (2002/I), and said he respected my work. It's a big compliment coming from somebody who has such an immense body of work and yet is so humble from him? He discussed a few ideas and scripts with me. He is starting his own company. We are discussing projects. Time will tell all."







On attending the dinner for Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People of the Year in 2005: "I am surprised at my life's turn of events. Six of us were asked to raise the toast for the evening. And I raised it for my parents and for my fans, without whom I wouldn't have reached where I am today. Nicole Kidman had to rush out for some premiere, but she said that she and her son loved Bride and Prejudice and I told her how I loved all her performances. Sean Penn told me that I spoke well and I told him that I've always been his fan!"







Upon hearing that Julia Roberts had said that Aishwarya was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen: "That was embarrassing; at first I didn't believe she said that. I thought it was a rumor started by a journalist. But it's sweet. She's an incredible actor and she seems like a wonderful person, so all you can do is say, Thank you." (April 2007)







"I am not comfortable about kissing or nudity. I've never said I'd never kiss, or whatever on screen. I've always maintained I'd cross that bridge when I come to it. Again, I'm accused of playing it safe. The truth is, I don't know what tomorrow holds. So I can't make a close ended principle about it." (2007)







Her thoughts on modern women versus the queens of the era of Jodhaa Akbar (2008): I consider myself lucky to be born in today's era where a woman has far more freedom to exercise her rights. It took them ages to get ready for one appearance, and imagine staying behind curtains all day long. (2008)







On being voted the most bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood: Wow! Me the most bankable Bollywood star in Hollywood? Thank you! I must confess that any acknowledgment of hard work makes me feel content. In all humility I want to thank all those who feel I'm bankable.







God has given me plenty of reasons to smile and I feel it's time to spread it around. There are a lot of children out there who so desperately need help, but can't receive timely care because their families cannot afford this surgery or are ill-educated about this condition.
Biography



Aamir Khan

Date of Birth

14 March 1965, Mumbai, India





Nickname

A.K.

AK





Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)





Mini Biography

Aamir was first introduced as a child artiste in the 1970's hit Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) -- he was the youngest child in the trio. He 'quit' movies and went on to become the state tennis champion for Maharashtra. Aamir also fell in love with the girl next door in the meantime. He proposed to her the day he turned 21, and she accepted. But apparently, there was opposition since she was from a Hindu family and he, from a devout Islamic one. So, they eloped, got married and returned to their homes. Aamir's wife Reena even appears in the song "Papa Kehte Hain" that made him the darling of the nation. From the tremendous success of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988), which was released when he was 23, he has blossomed into India's finest actor. His list of sterling performances include Dil (1990), _Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1990)_, _Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992)_, Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Rangeela (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Ishq (1997), Ghulam (1998) and Sarfarosh (1999).



His performance in Earth (1998) as the Ice-Candy man has received rave reviews from Indian and International critics. Using classic "method acting", Aamir acts in all genres of Indian films - comedy, action, drama and romance. Though he performs in few films, Aamir Khan is acknowleged today as the most complete Indian actor for his diverse choice of roles and films.



Mini Biography

Aamir khan was born on March 14 1965 in Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai in India in a conservative Muslim family which has been part of Hindi Film Industry for a long time. Aamir first came on screen as a child artist in his Uncle Nasir Hussain's production Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), it was not a real part just a blink and miss appearance in the title song of the film. He again appeared as a child artist in the film Madhoshi (1974). Much later he appeared in the art film Holi (1984)along with his friend and later his director Ashutosh Gowariker, the film also starred Naseeruddin Shah. Subsequently he went on to become the state tennis champion of Maharashtra. Sometime before his debut film Aamir fell in love with a girl in his neighborhood Reena. Since she belonged to a Hindu family and he from devout Muslim family, they faced opposition and therefore they married secretly, later they revealed it to the world after his debut movie as lead Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak(QSQT) as a leading man was released in 1988, the film was a run away success and he achieved instant stardom (the film is now considered a classic of Hindi Cinema)and not only that the film was successful in turning the tide away from action centric violent films to family oriented romantic musical dramas in Hindi Cinema, the luminous example of which are MPK (1989), HAHK (1994) and DDLJ (1995). In his second film Raakh (a small, art film) he did a complete opposite role from the lover boy of his first film, his breakthrough performance in this film bagged him the National Film Award of Special Jury. Afterwards he signed a few not so good films which failed at the box office. In the year 1990 he delivered the biggest grosser of the year in the form of Dil and since then he has not looked back giving several commercial and critical hits, his superlative performances include films like Dil (1990), Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Daulat Ki Jung (1992), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander( 1992), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke( 1993), Parampara (1993), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Baazi( 1995), Rangeela (1995), Akele Hum Akele Tum (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Ishq (1997), Earth(1998), Ghulam (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), Dil Chahta Hai( 2001), Lagaan (2001), Mangal Panday (2005), Fanaa( 2006) and Rang De Basanti (2006).



In 2007 he turned director with the film Taare Zameen Par which not only brought him immense critical acclaim but was a huge box office success. Many of his films are considered as cult classics like QSQT, Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Range De Basanti, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander and Andaz Apna Apna. He divorced his first wife in December 2001 and married Kiran Rao in December 2005.



In 2008 his first all out commercial action film Ghajini went on to become the highest grossing film of its time in Indian Cinema and 4th highest inflation adjusted, grossing a total of Rs.226 on the worldwide box office and the first film to cross 100 crores on the domestic Indian box office, making a total of Rs.115 crores. This record didn't last long though when his next release 3 Idiots went on to shatter not only the highest grosser record but many more. It not only made the highest opening first day, first weekend and first week records but subsequently continued to shatters many record on the following weekends and weeks, making many circuits records on the way. It made a total of Rs.202 crore domestically and Rs.400 crores on worldwide box becoming the highest overseas grosser till date, a staggering feat given that no other film has even come close to making Rs.100 crore on the domestic box office till date, except his own Ghajini last year.



Aamir is said to be the actor who first started the trend of actor's working in one film at a time, when the others worked in four or five at the same time. He is also known to shun popular film trade magazine awards like Filmfare, Star Screen etc as he doesn't have trust in their credibility and transparency. Recently he was awarded the third highest civilian honour Padama Bhushan by the government of India.



Aamir Khan, a method actor, his range of characterizations remains unparalleled and because of this diversity and his ability to portray different characters believably on screen, today he is regarded as not only one of the biggest Superstars but also one of the finest actors of Indian Cinema.



Spouse

Kiran Rao (December 2005 - present)

Reena Dutta (18 April 1986 - December 2002) 2 children





Trivia

Was offered the role of Rahul Mehra in Darr (1993).



Refuses to accept the usual awards from Indian trade magazines such as Filmfare.



Known as perfectionist who insists on getting a finished script before committing to a film and also refuses to work on more than one film at a time, both very unusual for Bollywood where actors usually work in several films at a time and script details are often improvised on the day of shooting.



One of the three Khans that ruled Bollywood in the 90s. The other two are Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan.



Son of Tahir Hussain, brother of Faisal Khan, Farhat Khan and Nikhat Khan



Nephew of Nasir Hussain



Cousin of Mansoor Khan



Files for divorce from wife Reena on December 9, 2002.



Awarded Padma Bhushan for the year 2003 by the Government of India.



Recently had another child with his ex-girlfriend, English writer Jessica Hines, who delivered their son, Jaan Harry Hines, on September 14 2003.



Uncle of Imran Khan.



Has 2 children with ex-wife Reena: a son, Junaid, and a daughter, Ira.



Mother is Zeenat Hussain. Sometimes she is referred to as Zeena Hussain.



After his first marriage he took another flat in the same building where he lived with his parents, and started living there.



Has been a big fan of Alfred Hitchkock stories.



Visited Pakistan for fund raising of Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital on invitation by the cricketer Imran Khan.



Formed a popular on-screen pair with Juhi Chawla



Shares a birthday with Michael Caine, Mercedes McNab, Kylie Tyndall, Keaton Tyndall, Quincy Jones, Chris Klein, & Jamie Bell



The Press Trust of India reported Khan will marry girlfriend Kiran Rao in Panchgani, India on 1 January 2006. It later reported Khan and Rao married in a small ceremony at his home in Mumbai, India on 28 December 2005.



Highest paid actor in Bollywood.



Time magazine refers to him as the Indian 'Sean Penn'.



Very close friends with Rani Mukherjee and Urmila Montondkar.



His ancestors hail from Afghanistan.



Has a reputation for shunning award ceremonies and avoiding the glare of the media.



Turned down Madame Tussaud's offer to immortalize him in a wax statue.



Cites Daniel Day-Lewis and Dilip Kumar as his favorite actors.



Is a Tennis-enthusiast, and particularly admires Roger Federer.







Personal Quotes

Every film I do means a lot to me. The failure of Mela, definitely made a difference to me. I am not comfortable with the idea of my films not releasing to their full potential.



"There's a lot of talent both in India and Pakistan. I think the talent in both these two countries should come together and entertain the world audience. If the right offer and opportunity comes my way, I'd love to do a movie in Pakistan." (12 May 2006)



Film making is like fighting a war with leadership at the front.



I found that what happened 150 years ago was happening again with Americans entering other countries and exploiting them but pretending they were doing a favor. It was this contemporary feel that attracted me.



My son is a harsh critic.



I enjoy the love I receive from my fans and my audience. But I think I know what is real for me and what is not.







Salary

Ghajini (2008) Rs.150,000,000

Fanaa (2006) INR 100,000,000

Rang De Basanti (2006) INR 100,000,000

The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) INR 80,000,000

Dil Chahta Hai (2001) INR 30,000,000





Where Are They Now

(2005) Busy shooting for Rakyesh Om Prakash's Rang De Basanti



(February 2006) Currently busy shooting for Kunal Kohli's Fanaah, opposite Kajol.



(February 2006) Shooting for 'Fanaah'



(July 2007) In Chennai, shooting for the remake of Ghajini



(October 2008) Busy shooting for Three Idiots in Ladakh, India
Biography



Hrithik Roshan

Date of Birth

10 January 1974, Mumbai, India





Birth Name

Hrithik Rakesh Nagrath





Nickname

Duggu

Bolunath





Height

5' 11½" (1.82 m)





Spouse

Sussanne Khan (26 October 1978 - present) 2 children





Trivia

Son of Rakesh Roshan.



Was catapulted overnight to instant superstardom with debut hit film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000).



Has two thumbs on his right hand that are grown together.



Has a sister called Sunaina.



Has been called the Indian Sylvester Stallone, Brad Pitt and Michael Jackson rolled into one person.



Made stubbles fashionable in India.



Excellent dancer.



The country wide hysteria following the release of his first film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) is known as hrithikmania and is unprecedented.



The look of his muscular, chiselled body started a fitness boom in India.



Eye color: Green



Often supports charities of various kinds.



Known as a perfectionist and control freak. Believes in extensive rehearsals and preparations.



Friend of Salman Khan who showed him how to work out and eat properly to put on muscle.



Hindi megastar.



Often visits terminally ill children in hospitals that desperately wish to meet him.



Role models as actor: Raj Kapoor and Sanjeev Kumar.



Wanted to quit the film business altogether after his father Rakesh Roshan was shot at and wounded by hitmen sent by the Bollywood mafia, but changed his mind.



Prepared himself extensively for his screen debut, taking acting, singing, dancing, fencing, riding etc. lessons for years. He also worked hard on his diction and physical appearance (strenuous workout routines).



Fought hard to overcome a stammering problem.



Worked for many years on the sets of his father Rakesh Roshan in various functions, including sweeping the floor and serving tea to the stars, to learn the business from scratch.



Believes in the good in every person, a character trait often misinterpreted by others as gullibility and/or naĂ¯vety.



Got 30000 (!) marriage proposals on Valentine's day 2000.



Was the victim of a defamation campaign in late december 2000. Rumors were spread that he stated in an interview that he hates Nepal and its people. This immediately led to riots in Nepal, cinemas showing his films were attacked, posters burnt, Hindi movies banned in general for some days and several people shot dead by the police. The events made headlines all over the world and the governments of Indian and Nepal got involved as well. Anti Indian/Hrithik sentiment died down quickly when it became clear that the alleged statements were a fabrication and the rumors were spread by a malicious third party, possibly the Bollywood mafia, still pissed about not getting the foreign rights to Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). Nepal born actress Manisha Koirala played an important role in getting the news to the people in Nepal that the accusations were false.



In January 2001 Hrithik Roshan was again involved in a controversy. This time about a poster created and used by the Democratic Alliance in South Africa in November 2000 to woo Indian voters. The poster used his face without permission. The ANC reacted angrily and threatened to ban his films.



Gets 20-30 million rupees per year for endorsing a brand for one year, including commercials [2001]



Occasionally smokes cigarettes



His total income from product endorsements in 2000 is estimated to be 20 crore Rupees (~5 million $), by far the most among Bollywood stars.



Was awarded the "National Citizen's Award" on August 25 2001 in Delhi. The award recognises excellence in various activities affecting national life.



Son-in-law of Sanjay Khan.



Has been called the first complete Bollywood actor who has no weakness and scores very high in every department: face, physique, voice, dancing, drama, romance, action, comedy, macho, softie...



Can't handle money. His wife and parents are taking care of the financial details.



On January 14 2000 Hrithik Roshan entered a cinema to attend the premiere of his first film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). When he came in some people recognised him but not much happened. When the film was over there was a stampede and mass hysteria broke out. He got mobbed. The police had to come and escort him out of the cinema and away from a crowd of thousands. It was the first day of Hrithikmania in India, which held the country in its grip for many months to come.



Learnt Urdu to sound more eloquent in his films, this can be seen by the special reference to his ability with the language in the film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai



Came in on number 9 on a Bollywood power list released in December 2003, and on number 4 among actors (behind Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai).



Was diagnosed at age 21 with scoliosis and told he could never be an actor, dance and do all the things a Bollywood hero needs to do.



Hrithik has been documenting his daily life for many years by taking pictures and putting them in scrapbooks.



Hrithik Roshan and wife Sussanne became parents of a baby boy, named Hrehaan Roshan, on March 28, 2006 at 3:30 pm at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.



Hrithik's normal weight is 72kg. He adds to it or reduces it as the role requires. For Krrish (2006) he added ~6kg muscle, for parts of Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) he lost several kilos to look more childlike.



Very close friends with actress Preity Zinta, who is also a good friend of his wife 'Suzanne Khan'. Hrithik and Preity have worked together in three movies.



Came in on number 4 on the Filmfare Bollywood power list in January 2007.



Wife Sussanne Khan gave birth to the couples second child, a son Hridhaan on May 1, 2008.



Brother in law of Zayed Khan.



He is of Punjabi descent.



Related to Mumtaz. through marriage to Suzanne Khan.







Personal Quotes

(November 2000): "I take all this hysteria as a compliment."



(2000): "I am glad I have the intelligence to understand what is happening to me. If I allow myself to get affected by all this hype, I'll stunt my growth as an actor and be damned for life. I know that I still have a long way to go before I can even aspire to equal the achievements of any of the superstars. I know I am good at my job, and I am sure I will be damn good one day but right now, I also know how bad I can be."



(November 2000): "I have been elevated to such a high status that the fall will be very steep."



(December 2000): "Every once a week, I get up and feel that I cannot act any more. I just get very unsure of myself. But, once I give my first shot, I'm back on track. Insecurity isn't bad, it makes me work harder."



(December 2000): "Some day I want to be better than Shahrukh Khan. And I will be better than him, if I continue working the way I am. Some day, I would like to achieve more than what Shahrukh has achieved in his ten years. But first, give me my ten years of time."



(February 2001): "Every moment of my life, I live under threat. I have two gunmen with me. If I die now I will be immortal. Everything finished in a year. I will be a legend!"



(July 2001): "I thought of every possible angle which would drive me towards stardom. But I never thought of, when I become a star, what will I do, how will I handle it. Everything has hit me all at once. I realize I don't have the talent to handle it."



(July 2001): "Hollywood is definitely happening to me but right now I'm not happening for Hollywood. Maybe if offers still last by 2005 I will. I'm committed until then."



(2001): I make the best Spanish omelettes in the world, but I won't tell you the recipe!



(March 2002): "I can be the best James Bond there is."



(March 2000): I can never wear the same shirt twice because it's always torn by the time I come home!



(June 2002): I won't do a film with any film-maker unless he gives me a bound script... My date diary's blank from 2003 onwards.



(2000, when asked about his fantasy woman): "Gabrielle Anwar. I had a huge crush on her for ever so long. Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). I thought she was really hot!"



(December 2002): "After two years of being in films I've realized that I don't need to do movies just for the sake of it. Now I will not do a film unless the role is to die for. It may sound preposterous but I'd also like to do something like 'Spiderman' or 'A Beautiful Mind'. Only such cinema stimulates me. I don't want to do the routine stuff."



(July 2003): "It's not a prerequisite for an actor to be obsessed about his looks. I know there are people who don't look in the mirror at all and I'm getting there."



(July 2003): "I've never had a decent haircut except the short one I'm sporting right now for "Lakshya"."



(July 2003): "I'm not religious. I don't visit temples. But I hope there is a superpower."



(July 2003): "Of course I'm curious about porn. It exists because there is a market for it. It needs to exist but it should be properly channelised. It shouldn't be accessible to everyone."



(July 2003): "My physique is all wrong. I'd like to change everything about my looks."



(July 2003): "Quite often I feel that there is no God. War, natural calamities, handicaps, suffering. When I see all this, I fear there's no God. And the thought scares me shitless."



"I'm a child myself. So how can I think of having one right now!"



(September 2003): I'm above hits and flops now. I wish to go down in the annals of Indian cinema history as a good actor.



(January 2004): I don't know fashion and I have no taste.



(January 2004): I've scrapped my entire working style and taken on a new approach. The release of Lakshya (2004) will prove whether the new approach is right or not. If it doesn't work I'll go back to the old mode of working. If it works, I'll be adopting this style in all my roles.



(2004): I would like to meet the person who shot my father.



(July 2004): I am the person I am today primarily due to the fine example set by both my parents.



(July 2004): I've done films without optimum excitement. It didn't work. I can afford to take my time now.



(July 2004): "Lakshya" is my most subtle performance. "Koi... Mil Gaya" was an in-your-face performance.



(July 2004): I've done various films for various wrong reasons. They didn't get me anywhere.



(August 2004): I am a complete 'foodie'. It's in the genes. I can't stop eating! It's only that I fear of the world finding out that I have a bad body which makes me strive to have my diet in place and exercise right.



(February 2006): I'm just a student who is still learning, so I can't give discourses on acting.



(February 2006): My big dream is to take our cinema to a world platform. The idea of acting in a Jackie Chan film doesn't excite me. That's betrayal.



(July 2006): One mistake we always make is to ape the West. We attempt films that we think they will like. The true crossover films are 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' and 'Life Is Beautiful' where the director goes entirely by his conviction, culture, community and conditioning. I am hoping, not just for me and my father and family, but for Indian cinema that Krrish (2006) will succeed, so we can envision an even bigger extravaganza. We want to afford that freedom to take our cinema higher. I believe we are very close now to getting noticed on a world platform.



I was always the pet of my teachers in school probably because I was considered to be very cute. Because of my innocent looks I usually got away with a lot of mischief. I was spoilt and pampered by everyone. All I had to do was sport a lost-boy look and I would have things my way. At home too, if I wasn't given something I wanted, I would simply sit with a long face till I got it.



On his first villain role in Dhoom 2 (2006): "I've played the good guy long enough. Now it's time for me to get seriously evil. I always wanted to play a cool villain. And since the bad guy in Dhoom 2 is multi-dimensional, playing this nightmarish guy is a dream come true."



(December 2006): If someone pretends not to recognize me, then he needs to get a life.



On his infamous kiss with Aishwarya Rai in Dhoom 2 (2006): "I did give it a lot of thought. There was enough reason and inspiration here to go ahead. I tried to make it as beautiful as possible. And I stand by it completely." (April 2007)
Biography



Emraan Hashmi

Date of Birth

24 March 1979, Bombay, Maharashtra, India





Nickname

Emmy





Height

5' 8½" (1.74 m)





Spouse

Parveen Shahani (14 December 2006 - present)
Imran Khan




For other people named Imran Khan, see Imran Khan (disambiguation).

Imran Khan



Born Imran Pal

13 January 1983 (1983-01-13) (age 27)

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Other name(s) Imraan Khan

Occupation Actor

Years active 1988 - present



Imran Khan (Bengali: ????? ???; born Imran Pal, 13 January 1983) is an Indian American film actor.[1] He is the nephew of actor Aamir Khan and producer-director Mansoor Khan.[2] Khan gained popularity for his debut role in the 2008 film, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na.



Early life

Khan was born to Anil Pal,[3] a Bengali Indian-American of mixed Bengali-English origin, and Nuzhat Khan in Wisconsin, USA.[4] His father works as a director of operations engineering at Netflix in Silicon Valley. His parents divorced when he was one and a half years old and he replaced his surname Pal with Khan.[5] He is the nephew of actor Aamir Khan, director Mansoor Khan and the grandson of Nasir Hussain, a noted director and producer. In India, he studied at Bombay Scottish School but left Scottish after standard 4 and moved to a boarding school in Ooty.[6]



Child artist

Khan made appearances as a child artist in his uncle Aamir's films, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988)[7] and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992). Both times he played the role of a young Aamir Khan. He aspired to be a director, as that was his original plan before he entered Bollywood as an actor. Khan joined Kishore Namit Kapoor's Acting Institute in Mumbai.



Breakthrough (2008)

Khan made his debut as a lead actor in the 2008 film, Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na directed by Abbas Tyrewala, produced by Aamir Khan and Mansoor Khan and co-starring Genelia D'Souza. The film received rave reviews from critics and proved to be one of the biggest hits of the year.[8] Khan was furthermore nominated for Best Male Debut at the 54th Filmfare awards and won it along with Farhan Akhtar.



His next movie was Kidnap with Sanjay Dutt and Minissha Lamba, where he played a negative role. The movie flopped at the box office, attributed by critics to its poorly executed direction. However, Khan's performance was appreciated and earned him an IIFA Award nomination in 2009. Khan made his next appearance in the action film, Luck with Shruti Haasan and Sanjay Dutt.[9]



In 2010, he appeared in I Hate Luv Storys, directed by debutant Punit Malhotra and produced by Karan Johar.The film was a hit at the box-office. His forthcoming films include, Delhi Belly, an English language comedy directed by debutant Abhinay Deo, and Break Ke Baad directed by debutant Danish Aslam and produced by Kunal Kohli.[10]



Television

Khan co-hosted the 54th Filmfare Awards alongside Ranbir Kapoor. Along with his uncle Aamir Khan, he appeared on the popular television show Dus Ka Dum hosted By Salman Khan.[11] He also appeared on the show, Tere Mere Beach Mein along with Kareena Kapoor.[12]



Personal life

Khan became engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Avantika Malik, on 16 January 2010 in the farm house of Avantika's family in Karjat near Navi Mumbai.[13]



Filmography

Year Film Role Other Notes

1988 Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak Raj Child artist

1992 Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander Sanju Child artist

2008 Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na Jai Singh Rathore (Rats) Winner, Filmfare Best Male Debut Award

Kidnap Kabir Sharma

2009 Luck Ram Mehra

2010 I Hate Luv Storys Jay Dhingra

Break Ke Baad Abhay Releasing 25 November 2010; co-starring Deepika Padukone

2011 Delhi Belly Tashi Releasing in January 2011; co-starring Shenaz Treasurywala



1.^ "Imran Khan-The Chocolate Sundae". Oneindia.in. http://living.oneindia.in/celebrity/bollywood-stars/2008/imraan-khan-biography-220908.html. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

2.^ Imran Khan and Aamir Khan

3.^ "imran khan designing ring for fiancee". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Imran-Khans-designing-ring-for-fiance/articleshow/5186083.cms.

4.^ "Imran Khan - Biography". Chakpak.com. http://www.chakpak.com/celebrity/imran-khan/biography/13038. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

5.^ Shubha Shetty-Saha (25 July 2008). "Imran Khan's Bong connection". Dnaindia.com. http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_imran-khan-s-bong-connection_1179792. Retrieved 25 July 2010.

6.^ "First Look: Imran Khan in school!". Rediff. http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/08celeb.htm. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

7.^ "Aamir spills it on Jaane Tu...". Sify.com. http://sify.com/movies/bollywood/fullstory.php?id=14702459&cid=2359. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

8.^ "Jaane Tu is a big hit". Rediff. http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/07box.htm. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

9.^ Adarsh, Taran. "Luck - Review". Oneindia.in. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/reviews/2009/luck-review-240709.html. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

10.^ ‘Break Ke Baad’ brings Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone Together

11.^ "Aamir and Imran Khan played 10 Ka Dum with Salman". Bollywood Hungama. http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/stills/partiesnevents/Aamir_and_Imran_Khan_played_10_Ka_Dum_with_Salman_/index.html. Retrieved 2009-09-01.

12.^ "Imran Khan is already married!". Bollywood Mantra. 15 February 2010. http://www.bollywoodmantra.com/news/imran-khan-is-already-married/4800/. Retrieved 5 July 2010.

13.^ Rao, Ashok (Tue, 01/09/2009 - 06:07). "Jaane tu hero, Imran Khan is engaged now". TopNews.in. http://www.topnews.in/jaane-tu-hero-imran-khan-engaged-now-2208909. Retrieved 2009-09-01.
Biography


Neil Nitin Mukesh

Date of Birth

15 January 1982, Mumbai, India





Mini Biography

He had a normal childhood, like most other children. He graduated from HR College, with a B.Com degree. At his father's insistence, he has been very focused on his career since he was in the 12th standard. He did a 4-month workshop with Kishore Namit Kapoor and also at Anupam Kher's institute, during vacations. He also assisted Aditya Chopra in his movie 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge', when he was in college. He did receive offers as a lead actor earlier, but as he did not want to debut with a love story, he chose to wait. Then Sriram offered him a movie - he was impressed with the script, which demanded an ensemble cast.



He has always wanted to be an actor. It has been his childhood dream. He has also worked in Yash Raj's movie 'Vijay' and Vimal Kumar's 'Jaise Karni Wiasi Bharni' as a child artiste when he was around 4 years old. When he played the role of Govinda as a child in 'Jaise Karni Waise Bharni', he was appreciated more than Govinda and that left an impression on his mind. If he had become a singer, people would have expected a lot more from him because of his father and grandfather
Biography


Sanjay Dutt
Date of Birth

29 July 1959, India





Birth Name

Sanjay Balraj Dutt





Nickname

Sanju Baba





Height

6' (1.83 m)





Mini Biography

Sanjay Dutt, son of Nargis and Sunil Dutt, was first featured in Rocky (1981). Although the film did well, it failed to promote him as an established actor.



Sanjay's personal life was exacerbated by drug problems, and worsened with the demise of his first wife, Richa Sharma, from cancer, and his arrest under TADA. He was also arrested for having illegal possession of several AK-57 weapons, and was imprisoned while the case continued. After his release, he appeared in three consecutive hits; Daag: The Fire (1999), Haseena Maan Jaayegi (1999) and Vaastav: The Reality (1999), all of which brought him moderate success. His performance in Vaastav: The Reality (1999) earned him the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at Filmfare Awards.



Sanjay then appeared in the movie Mission Kashmir (2000) which also earned him an award. His most recent role is that of "Ajju" in Kaante (2002), which was another award winning performance.



Mini Biography

He belongs to a village near district Yamuna Nagar (Haryana). The village's name is Mandhaulli. His beloved mom's (Nargis Dutt) memorial grave is still there on the bank of river Yamuna.



Is great friends with director Sanjay Gupta, actor Aditya Pancholi, actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar and actor Sunil Shetty. One can see various combinations of all these people in almost all of Sanjay Dutt's movies.



His sister is married to Kumar Gaurav, the one-hit wonder of 80s. Kumar Gaurav gave a super-duper hit in his debut - Love Story (1980) but all his subsequent films flopped. Both of them featured in a movie for the first time in the movie - Naam (1986). Sanjay was given all the credit for the movie's success and he has never looked back ever since.



Spouse

Manyata Dilnawaz Shaikh (7 February 2008 - present)

Richa Sharma (? - ?) (her death)

Rhea Pillai (? - January 2008) (divorced)





Trade Mark

The orignal Bad Boy of Bollywood







Trivia

Son of Sunil Dutt and Nargis. Grandson of Jaddanbai. Nephew of Anwar Hussain and Akhtar Hussain.



Two sisters, Priya and Anju.



Is insomniac



Has a daughter, Trishala, who studies Forensic Science in America.



Son of Nargis.



Son of Sunil Dutt.



Brother of Priya Dutt.



Brother of Namrata Dutt, wife of Kumar Gaurav.







Personal Quotes

About Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003): "It's a kind of satire on the medical profession, but at the same time, it's a fun film, though not a slapstick comedy. The jokes and dialogs aren't written to evoke a forced laughter; I'd say it's situational. Munnabhai is comical because of the way he is. But at the core, it's a very emotional film. It will be a really fantastic film. The script is amazingly hilarious. It's not an inspired story, it's original. Munnabhai was one role I couldn't refuse, as it's in a league of its own. Suddenly, due to one jhatka in his life, he decides to become a doctor. So how a bhai enrolls in a medical college and goes to study medicine is very funny as an idea."
Biography



John Abraham

Date of Birth

17 December 1972, Mumbai, India





Birth Name

Farhan Abraham





Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)





Mini Biography

Born in Mumbai, India, on 17th December 1972, John Abraham is one of the most successful male models in India. His father is a Christian from Aluva, Kerala, and his mother is a Zoroastrian Parsi. Being Catholic, his father added the name Abraham to his son John as a mark of respect to the first patriarch and progenitor of the Hebrew people in the Bible.



That name gave him a noted stand when he entered the modeling field. His revolutionary looks, macho body, baby smiles, and nice character made him the highest-paid supermodel in India. Being a hot star in the modeling world, he made his film debut in 2003. Not like usual Bollywood heroes who debut in male-oriented action features, he accepted the erotic and emotional Jism (2003). Unfortunately the film did not do well, but his work was noticed widely. Later the same year came the paranormal Saaya (2003) and romantic Paap (2003), neither of which did well at box office.



His first blockbuster smash hit came in the year 2004 when he played the antihero Kabir in Dhoom (2004).



Trivia

Indian supermodel



His voice was dubbed by another actor in his first film Jism (2003).



Is a vegetarian



Is half Malayali and half Parsi: Father is a Christian from Kerala, mother belongs to India's Parsi community.



Was approached by Rajiv Rai for the lead role in Asambhav (2004).



Before he went to modeling he was working as a media planner for an ad agency.



Girlfriend is actress Bipasha Basu.



Turned down the role of Rohan in Nazar (2005).







Personal Quotes

"I was slightly disheartened when three of my films didn't work at the box-office.But the silver lining is that people did appreciate my work in those films. Had my performance gone unnoticed, I would've been in big trouble then".



"I don't have a problem being labeled a sex symbol though I personally don't feel very sexy about myself. There's no harm in my creating a niche for myself in a certain bracket."



"My greatest strength as an actor is that I follow my director's brief completely. The film is always the director's visual baby."



"I have no inhibitions when it comes to showing off my physique, but appearing nude on screen is out of the question. I don't need to resort to it and definitely not at this stage of my career."
Biography



Bipasha Basu

Date of Birth

7 January 1979, Delhi, India





Nickname

Bonny

Bips





Height

5' 8½" (1.74 m)





Mini Biography

Fate intervened when Bipasha recoiled and passed out when dissecting a rat. Thus ended her dream of being a medical professional. She was enrolled in the Science faculty until 12th standard, but switched to Commerce thereafter. After acquiring a degree in Commerce she planned to be a Chartered Accountant but ended up being the Ford Supermodel of the World when she was just 17 years old.



Bipasha was born on January 7th 1979 in New Delhi. subsequently the Basu family re-located to Calcutta. Bipasha is the second of three sisters, born and brought up in a Hindu Bengali family, she is fluent in Hindi, English, and Bengali. The names of her sisters are Bidisha and Bijoyeta. Unbelievable as it may sound, sexy Bipasha was considered 'ugly' in her younger years due to her dark complexion. Her name means 'Dark Deep Desire', and is also the name of a river.



After her triumph as the Ford Supermodel, she went on to be crowned Miss Vivacious sponsored by Tulips.



Bipasha made her foray into Bollywood with 'Ajnabee' in 2001, and subsequently acquired a place for herself in the tinsel world. She went to star in 'Raaz', 'Jism', 'No Entry', 'Phir Herapheri', 'Corporate' &'Dhoom 2'. All of these movies did fairly well at the box office, and escalated her position as not only a leading lady, but one who can dare to bare. 'Dhoom 2' also credits her as a playback singer.



She has also appeared in two music videos, and was one of the judges in the 2004 Femina Miss India beauty pageant.



Trivia

Actually wanted to be a doctor



Bipasha means deep dark desire.



Was one of the judges for the 2004 'Femina Miss India' pageant.



Once said that she wished she were a boy, then she would get those roles which bypass her due to her image.



Listed as number 7 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25-2006)



Listed #2 by UK magazine Eastern Eye one of "Asia's Sexiest Women" (Sept/2006).







Personal Quotes

"Sexy in India, is not considered positive. But, with today's crop of fresh faces, in the modeling arena, being sexy is an asset."



"I think my first film will create an image, which I will immediately try to break away from. I have a sexy, glamour doll image which I want to get out of. But if nothing else works out, I shall cash in on it. I don't have any dream role in mind, I want to try out everything."



"I actually wanted to be a doctor. But doing all those horrid rat dissections made me faint. I studied science till the 12th standard and later took up commerce. I was planning to do chartered accountancy, but fate had something else in store for me."



"I am the boss in my life. I decide when to charge more and when not to. I live in my own zone. I don't hurt anyone and I am very transparent. I don't keep people hanging in life." (2005)



"I am doing pretty well for myself, and I am proud to be the person I am. If people write that I am a mean person when it comes to money, then let them write it!" (2005)



"Somebody cheated me when I was a young model. I had a bad experience, and was running from court to court. So I understand what a contract is. I sit with my lawyer and chartered accountant before signing a contract. I learned very early in life how one gets cheated. So I am very careful now when it comes to money issues." (2005)



"If a girl wears a shirt and a skirt, does she become more sensuous? I think a girl in a sari is more sensuous than a girl in a skirt. In my opinion, a wet sari is the most sensuous." (2005)



"Every other girl is taking off her clothes just for the heck of it and I don't want to be in that category. I can never be cheap or vulgar."



Corporate (2006) has been a great experience. Madhur is a very good director and technician. I'm happy that a director like him who has worked with Konkana and Tabu has cast me. Although it's a serious film, we shot it like a fun film. I portray today's women in the film. My character Nishigandha Dasgupta is tough, but at home she's simple and vulnerable. The balance is the essence of the woman, which I think has come out beautifully in the film. I hope every career-oriented woman will relate to her." (Stardust magazine, July 2006)



"See, some time back I did films such as Madhoshi (2004) and Chehraa (2005), both solo-heroine projects, but unfortunately it didn't work at the box-office. And the reason I feel is that the makers didn't have enough money to promote the film and all my hard work was wasted. I realized then that it's better to work with established makers who have the capacity to take the film right through till the end and who know their job." (Stardust magazine, July 2006)



"I already have a dream man (John) but if I had to make a choice, I wouldn't mind someone like Brad Pitt! I would like him to have qualities like my father, very chilled-out, because I'm over sensitive and hyper and I want someone who is very calm with a great sense of humor. Someone who has energy like me, who can work the whole day and party right through the night and have a blast without a bother, someone who is very secure and confident of his woman." (Movie Mag, May 2006)



"An unforgettable experience happened on December 15, 1996 when I won the Supermodel contest while still in school. I was just seventeen years old then. Winning that competition was the turning point of my life. That's how I got into modeling and later started acting." (Movie Mag, May 2006)



"For me chilling out is when I can stay at home, order food from outside and watch a film with my friends. Listening to music and watching films are my idea of perfect relaxation." (Movie Mag, May 2006)



When asked if she has become an expert in the comedy genre: "I can't say that I've become an expert in comedy, but yes my confidence level is certainly high post the success of the film [No Entery (2005)]. I've learned how to improvise in the genre. And by the time I do my third or fourth comedy film, my ability to improvise would definitely be much more. Then maybe you could say that I'm an expert." (Stardust magazine, July 2006)



"I have always believed that if you need to take your clothes off to get your man, you've begun to lose the battle. If you pull it off right, you can do it in a very classy way...Being sexy is about suggestion; it's about the tease. It's not about being obvious and forcing yourself out in the open. That takes all the fun out of being a woman." (March 2007)
Biography


Saif Ali Khan

Date of Birth

16 August 1970, New Delhi, India





Nickname

Saifu





Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)





Mini Biography

Saif Ali Khan is the son of Bollywood actress, Sharmila Tagore, and Indian cricketeer, Mansoor Ali Khan. Saif Ali Khan has been married to Bollywood actress, Amrita Singh, and has two children, namely daughter Sara Ali Khan, and son Ibrahim Ali Khan. Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh have now separated. Sara and Ibrahim are with their mother, Amrita Singh. He has two sisters,Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan.



Spouse

Amrita Singh (October 1991 - 2004) (divorced) 2 children





Trade Mark

His smile







Trivia

Son of Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Ali Khan who played cricket.



Two children with Amrita Singh Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan.



Formed a popular on screen team with Akshay Kumar in Main Khiladi Tu Anari which led him to do two more movies with Akshay.



Won many accolades for his role in Dil Chahta Hai (2001).



Has lived secretly together with Kareena Kapoor. At the Lakme Fashion Awards in October 2007 they made their liaison official.



His best friends are Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Shahrukh Khan and Mohnish Bahl.



Has two sisters Saba Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan.



Daughter Sara was born in September 1994 and Son Ibrahim Ali Khan was born in March 2001.



On February 18 2007 Saif was admitted to a Mumbai hospital after he experienced chest pain. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and underwent an ECG, which had shown that he had an irregular heartbeat. He had a mild heart attack. His Sister Soha said Saif had been working day and night and was overexerted. Khan adjudged for the Stardust awards, was rehearsing for his dance performance at the awards function when he had complained that he had chest pains.



He had quit smoking after the mild heart attack in February 2007.



He owns a Black coloured BMW 7 Series Sedan.



Hindi megastar.



One of the four Khans that ruled Bollywood from the 1990s onwards. The other three are Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan.







Personal Quotes

His thoughts on Parineeta (2005): "Performance wise it has given me a lot to explore. The film is set in the 60s. Whenever I think of the 60s, I think of my father. My character is based on him. Parineeta has me playing an oppressed son. He finally rebels and dares to stand against his father. Parineeta has everything music, misunderstandings and cultural ethos that is missing today."
Biography


Kareena Kapoor
Date of Birth

21 September 1977, Bombay, Maharashtra, India





Birth Name

Kareena Randhir Kapoor





Nickname

Bebo





Height

5' 5" (1.65 m)





Mini Biography

Kareena was born to Sindhi-speaking Babita (nee Shivdasani) and Punjabi-speaking Randhir Kapoor on September 21, 1977 in Bombay, India. She has an elder sister, Karisma.



She is born in a family that have been actors for generations, including her paternal great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor; her grandfather, Raj Kapoor; her paternal uncles, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi, and Rajiv; as well as aunt, Neetu Singh, & Jennifer Kendall, the wives of Rishi and Shashi respectively. On her maternal side, her grandfather, Hari Shivdasani, and aunt, Sadhana, have been actors in their own rights.



As a child she studied in Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu, Bombay, and thereafter was enrolled in Dehra Dun's prestigious Welham Girls' Boarding School. Then she re-located to Harvard for approximately 3 months to take a course in Information Technology and Microcomputers. Upon her return to India, she joined the Government Law College in Churchgate, Bombay, but left it after one year, to enroll in the Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School.



Her dad, Randhir is very protective towards his daughters and wanted both of them to keep away from acting, get married, and settle down, as per the Kapoor family tradition. This led to irreconcilable differences between her parents, ultimately leading to a divorce, with both sisters leaving their dad to live with their mom.



Her film debut was in the year 2000 with 'Refugee' along with the debut of Amitabh Bachchan's son, Abhishek. She went on to appear in 31 other Hindi movies, and has thus far won four awards for her performances in 'Refugee', 'Chameli', 'Dev', and 'Omkara'.



She is one of the most sought-after actresses in Bollywood, considered bankable, with an enviable A-listing and as of June 2007 is to appear in 'Tashan', 'Lajjo', 'Kismat Talkies' amongst others.



Trade Mark

Her lips







Trivia

Younger sister of Karisma Kapoor



Granddaughter of Raj Kapoor, great-granddaughter of Prithviraj Kapoor and great-great-granddaughter of Dewan Basheswarnath Kapoor



She is the second daughter of actress Babita Kapoor, and actor Randhir Kapoor. They have broken the taboo of Kapoor family girls acting in movies.



Loves horseback riding and cooking



Turned down a role in _Bride and Prejudice (2004)_.



Did not attend her cousin's (Riddhima Kapoor) wedding with Bharat Sawhney that took place in Bombay on Wednesday January 25, 2006. Also absent was her sister, Karisma, and mom, Babita.



Her great grandfather (Prithviraj Kapoor), her grandfather (Raj Kapoor) and his two brothers (Shammi & Shashi), her mother (Babita), her father (Randhir) and his two brothers (Rishi & Rajiv) have all been film stars over the last fifty years and her sister (Karisma) have been acting in Bollywood flicks keeping it all within the family.



Listed as number 6 of 'Top Bollywood Actresses' of 2006. (rediff.com, 8-25- 2006)



She is best friends with fellow actress Amrita Arora.



She befriended Konkona Sen Sharma on the sets of 2006 movie Omkara.



Good friends with actress Esha Deol.



Although Kareena's prescribed diet includes paranthas, momos, cheese, pasta and bananas, which are mostly considered fattening, it is her daily practice of yoga that keeps her fit for her role in Tashan (2008).



Has lived secretly with Saif Ali Khan. At the Lakme Fashion Awards in October 2007 they made their liaison official.







Personal Quotes

Life is full of happiness and tears, be strong and have faith.



I want a man I can keep for myself. I wouldn't ever share my man with anyone else.



I am not a home breaker and I can never be. I haven't been brought up to create havoc in other people's homes.



If I found out that my man is unfaithful, there'd be no tears, no shor-sharaba, I'd just slaughter him.



Men are gutless. Why can't they own up to the women they love?



A lot of guys try to mingle with me because of who I am. If I encounter a guy with a clean heart, I will go by my instincts. I guess my man won't be from the film industry.



I am a hell raiser. I do my own thing. And I believe what I do is the right thing.



I wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye to my husband activities like other star wives. I will be screaming down this throat, demanding an account of every minute of his. So you see an actor won't be good for my peace of mind.



The most shocking part of the articles linking me with Hrithik Roshan was the insinuation that I was willing to give up my career to run after him. Please! Not for a man, never.



My co-stars call me selfish. They say you are only interested in yourself and what you are only interested is yourself and what you are doing in front of the camera. I reply, I can't help it; it's what got me where I am.



The one thing I like being in a relationship is that we get to share things. Our experiences about life, comparing notes about things that have happened to us. Then you get companionship, which is great. You laugh, you talk, you fight. There's a mazaa in that. I like everything about being in a relationship. I like feeling secure. I like the companionship, making the other person happy. And if you're in a good relationship, there's nothing you don't like about it.