Prakash Mehra dead

Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Prakash Mehra died in Mumbai on Sunday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 69.

Mehra died of pneumonia and multiple organ failure at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said family sources.

Mehra ventured into filmmaking with 1968 Shashi Kapoor starrrer Haseena Maan Jayegi followed by the 1971 hit Mela, which had Feroz Khan and Sanjay Khan in lead roles. However, it was Amitabh Bachchan starrer blockbuster hit Zanjeer (1973) that not only catapulted him into the big league but also gave the Hindi film industry its 'angry young man'.

He later teamed up with Amitabh in hits like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Sharabi, Laawaris and Namak Halal before their last film together Jaadugar that turned out to be a dud.

Recently he was visited by Amitabh while he was in the intensive care unit in the hospital.

Mehra's health is said to have worsened after his wife's death. He is survived by his two sons, Sumeet and Amit.

German super model Claudia Ciesla, Salman's Latest girl?

Well, well, wanna hear what a little birdie told me on V-Day? Apparently our dear Sallu bhai has a new 'muse’. And the girl in question is none other than German super model Claudia Ciesla.

According to my birdie sources, Salman met the dashing 5.10 feet beauty at J W Marriott recently and even sent a car to pick her up.

Now any journalist, budding actor or producer who has ever tried to get an interview or appointment with Sallu bhai knows how difficult it is, but for the sexy Claudia it was just cake walk or should we say ramp walk for Sallu went out of his way to extend the red carpet to the doe-eyed beauty.

So impressed was Sallu that he even promised her a role in one of his forthcoming films. Now, we wonder what Kats has got to say to that.

Salman was unavailable for comment and inspite of several attempts, we were unavailable to get thru to Sallu bhai.

Rakhi Sawant gets 12,515 marriage proposals

From businessmen, doctors to models and NRIs , over 12,500 men from across the world have sent applications to marry controversy queen Rakhi Sawant after she announced a swayamvara as part of a reality show on NDTV Imagine.

Within 20 days of the announcement of the unique reality show Rakhi Ka Swayamwar, expected to go on air next month, a huge number of men have sent their profiles to woo Rakhi.

The item girl-turned actress, who has mostly hit headlines for her outspoken ways, is overwhelmed with the response and thanked everyone for their support.

Bachchan does ‘cool’ hip-hop number

Having recorded a “cool” hip-hop song for Aladin by Amitabh Bachchan, the director Sujoy Ghosh, was inspired to make the actor sing for a commercial as well.

Composed by Vishal and Shekhar, Amitabh is said to have given his inputs and views throughout the song-making process. Vishal Dadlani says, “It’s a great honour to work with Mr Bachchan. We are all in the movie business because of him. He’s belted out a super cool hip-hop song in Aladin and the ad was more like an extension of it. He pretty much co-composed the song with us.” In the ad, conceptualised by Mudra Delhi and produced by Boundscript, Amitabh is not just seen prancing around — he’s also put in his thoughts for his dance routine. This is the first time he has sung for an ad though he has exercised his vocal cords on the big screen for several other movies.

The cast and crew of the film reunited once more for the commercial with choreographers Bosco and Cesear, art director Sabu Cyril, actress Sirsha Ray and Gabbana joining Big B on the set.

Aladin also features legendary actor Sir Ben Kingsley and the film has already completed its last shooting schedule in London.

Sridevi will not make a comeback

There has been buzz that actress Sridevi, who was last seen on television on the show Malini Iyer, would be making a comeback in Bollywood and reports said that she had taken up a role offered to her by Hema Malini.

But husband Boney Kapoor has denied these reports. “I don’t think she wants to do films anymore,” he said, “I don’t know anything about these stories of her comeback. It’s just a rumour,” he adds.

Boney dismissed the rumours of Hema offering Sridevi a role.

“Hemaji has not offered her anything, and I should know — she’s my wife,” he said.

When asked if Sridevi was closed to doing roles, even if good work came her way, he said, “Well, she is an actress. If an interesting role comes up she may do it, I suppose.” So far, Boney hasn’t cast her in his own movies. His last film No Entry, starring Salman Khan and Bipasha Basu, was a hit and it did not star Sridevi. Neither does his finished but still-to-be released Salman-starrer Wanted.

The actress has not done any films after marrying Boney, but took to the small screen in a big way. Her show Malini Iyer was a big hit. Sridevi ruled the silver screen in the 80s with films like Chandni, Lamhe and Chaalbaaz.

Her last film was Judai in 1996.

Aishwarya performs at Seven Wonders ceremony

NDTV announced the final Seven Wonders of India in collaboration with the Union Tourism Ministry’s ‘Incredible India’ campaign. The Seven Wonders ceremony was held in New Delhi and Padma Shri Award recipient Aishwarya Rai performed at the stage in the ceremony supported by the rained dancers of Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe. Ash was seen performing on numbers like Dola Re Dola, Dhol Baje and Genda Phool.

The audience included Aishwarya’s father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya, Abhishek, Shweta Nanda, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and actor Kamal Hassan.

The Seven Wonders (as decided by NDTV) are: the Red Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Nalanda University, Sun Temple of Konark, Meenakshi Temple, Dholavira site and Khajuraho, Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh and the Golden Temple in Amritsar.