Tanushree and Koina shoot for Gitanjali

Speed Drawing of Glenda

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan unveils Longines Sport Watch Collection

In the presence of its Ambassador of elegance, Mrs. Aishwariya Rai Bachchan, Longines chose the exciting sporting atmosphere of the exclusive Royal Western Turf Club of India to launch its new sport collection in a venue that epitomizes the values of the 175-year-old brand: Elegance, Tradition and Sporting performance. Longines brand has been the integral part of the world of sport for nearly 130 years.

Ash presented a brand new watch to Nadeem Alam, the winning jockey of the sponsored race at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai.

On the occasion, Charles Villoz, Vice President, Longines International presented a watch from the conquest series to Longines Ambassador of elegance Mrs. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

welcome-Welcome Movie Songs of AKshay Kumar

Nepal moves to counter Bollywood piracy

Kathmandu, When Shah Rukh Khan's new blockbuster "Om Shanti Om" was released in India and Nepal, it took less than a week for pirated audio and video cassettes to hit the streets here.

The same thing happened with another much-anticipated Bollywood release, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya".

It was not a new phenomenon, nor limited to these two films.

A flourishing racket in pirated Bollywood films has been spanning India, Nepal, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, causing both the Hindi film industry and Nepalese cinemas to lose billions of rupees each year.

After mounting complaints by Nepalese cinema owners, who screen Hindi films, Nepal's film authorities have now woken up to the perils of the underground business.

Nepal Film Development Board recently formed a five-member committee headed by debutant film director and board member Shivaji Lamichhane to study the issue and other problems hindering the growth of Kollywood - Nepal's film industry - and come up with solutions.

"The piracy of Bollywood films is not just India's problem, it affects Nepal's theatres as well," Lamichhane told IANS.

"People have stopped going to cinemas because they can watch a newly released film at home by paying much less than the ticket prices."

The committee has tabled a report to the Board, asking it to seek laws with teeth to deter piracy.

It has suggested that all video parlours should be registered or face a shutdown. There should be periodic raids by law enforcement agencies and anyone found dealing in pirated CDs and VCDs could be slapped with a fine of around $3,150 (Nepalese Rupees 200,000) and a jail term of three to five years.

It has also suggested that genuine VCDs and CDs carry a hologram to distinguish them from the fakes that can be bought for less than NRS 50 openly on Kathmandu's streets.

The committee is also asking for an interaction with Bollywood authorities so that they can fight the menace together and more effectively.

However, it will take a long time for the measures to be implemented.

Grappling with political instability and growing lawlessness, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's government is currently struggling to hold a critical election in Nepal.

With the constituent assembly election scheduled for mid-April, parliament and security agencies will remain preoccupied with poll preparations and the legislation of new laws is certain to take a long time.

We're prepared for bad reviews: 'Showbiz' actor

Mumbai, To Tushar Jalota goes the dubious distinction of being the last debutant of 2007 in Mahesh Bhatt's "Showbiz". However, the newcomer suffers from no insecurity and is ready to field any level of criticism.

"Showbiz", a desi take on the Hollywood film "Paparazzi", is about the paparazzi in Mumbai overstepping the line of decorum.

"I play an out-of-towner who wins a talent contest named 'Voice Of India' and is then targeted constantly by a section of the press. Yes, we've dared to question the ethics of a section of the press. And for that we're willing to suffer the consequences. In fact, I suspect some papers will either not review our film or give it a bad review. That's okay," Tushar told IANS.

"Mahesh Bhatt saab has always had the guts to take on sacred cows. I couldn't have attended a better school of life," gushed the newest newcomer in tinsel town and adds that some of the incidents in the film are identifiable with real life events.

"But we mean no harm to anyone, or cast aspersions on any institution," said the newcomer who is happy to be part of the Bhatt camp.

"If the others are star children with fathers and godfathers, I'm the product Mahesh Bhatt saab's Vishesh Films. In fact, Mukeshji's son Vishesh and I have been in school since kindergarten. That's how I got into Vishesh Films," said Tushar.

He assisted the Bhatts (Mukesh and Mahesh Bhatt) on as many as six productions before getting a break as a leading man in "Showbiz" which opened Friday.

"And here too in my debut film I did everything from serving tea to fixing the light to helping the directorial assistant. So rather than feeling disadvantaged as the last debutant of 2007 I'm feeling extremely privileged. Because I know more about camera, angles and lighting than the average newcomer."

Incidentally, he auditioned the film's leading lady, Mrinalini Sharma.

"Yes," he laughs and says. "I auditioned Mrinalini. She then ended up doing Vishesh Films' 'Awaarapan' first. That was more time consuming because it was shot abroad.

"The film took a little longer to complete. But I'm happy. The delay gave me a chance to learn on my job. Now I feel scared about the future. Will I get producers who make me feel as comfortable as the Bhatts?"

Choreographer Saroj Khan's son Raju directs the film.

"We were both new and eager to learn. We've put everything in 'Showbiz', including love and sex. But it's not a run-of-the-mill film, and it isn't a high-profile unconventional film either."