Jagjit Singh

Its hardly been a few months since Jagjit Singh passed away, and today would’ve been his 71st birthday. In remembrance, let’s take a look at a few of Jagjitji’s classic songs. 

Hoshwalon Ko Khabar Kya – Sarfarosh

Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho – Arth

Shaam se Aankh Mein – Marasim

Woh Kaagaz Ki Kashti – Jagjit Forever

Tumko Dekha To Yeh Khayal Aaya – Saath Saath

Hontho Se Chhoo Lo Tum – Prem Geet

Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar – Arth

Koi Fariyaad – Tum Bin

Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi – Mirza Ghalib

Badi Nazuk Hai Ye Manzil – Jogger’s Park

Birthday girl (photo courtesy | bollymasala99.com)

Sophie Choudry sure has come a long way in the industry; she’s transitioned from being a back-up vocalist for Alisha Chinai, to joining a band, to becoming a VJ, to releasing super-hit remix albums, and finally to working in Bollywood. She’s really one of those people who has done it all. Here’s wishing this multi-talented girl a very happy birthday from Team MissMalini; have a great one, Sophie! xoxo

Shit Bollywood Says

Have you been seeing all those “Sh*t ____ say(s)” videos doing the rounds? I’ve seen a few – but among my favourites has to be Sh*t Bollywood Says, created by Waseem Shaikh, Naach Radio host that MissMalini does Bollywood updates for. He pays homage to some classic Bollywood elements, and I guarantee you will let out a laugh!

Salman Khan (looking awfully cute in his specs, no?)

Hi MissMalini Peeps,

It was reported late last year that Akshay Kumar would quit action movies in five years (when he’d be 49). Whether it is true or not, it did make me think about the current top actors in Bollywood, as the three Khans of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan are all 46.

We all know the unfair age advantage in Bollywood. Actresses usually bow out of the limelight in their 30′s, while their male counterparts still have much success. But, I’m getting a little tired of it. I mean, Shah Rukh Khan is co-starring in Yash Raj Films‘ next  production with Katrina Kaif (who is 19 years younger) and Anushka Sharma (who is half his age). While some may argue that Aishwarya Rai is an exception to the rule, there’s no way she’d be paired opposite a younger actor, like Rajat Barmecha, onscreen.

3 Idiots

But as the top actors in the industry reach 50, are they going to step into more age-appropriate roles? I think Aamir Khan would have the easiest transition. Yes, he did play a college student in 3 Idiots. However, his role in Dhobi Ghat was much more age appropriate. With regards to Salman Khan, I really think his career will follow Rajnikanth‘s. He knows what the audience wants, and had targeted his recent films (Dabangg, Bodyguard and Ready) to that niche. As for Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan, I really hope they go for more critical roles. Shah Rukh Khan was awesome in Chak De!, I wish he chooses more such unique roles.

What do you think, MissMalini readers?

Ayesha Takia | Photo Courtesy: Ayesha Takia Web

Well, just when I blogged about celebrities using Twitter to have cute conversations, Ayesha Takia and Sidharth Mallya are doing the absolute opposite by having a bit of a Twitter showdown! Watch out, people – this girl’s angry.

@ayeshatakia

So apparently Ayesha’s sister’s boarding pass was torn by a Kingfisher Airlines employee (though why, she doesn’t mention), and Ayesha was absolutely livid upon hearing this – and has therefore taken to Twitter to rant it out. And as though she feels her tweets haven’t gotten rid of her rage, she’s even retweeted over 40 of the responses she’s received from followers.

@sidharthamallya

Meanwhile, Sidharth claims to not know who Ayesha Takia is, and states that there are always two sides to a story.

@ayeshatakia

While I know I’d be angry if this happened to me, I’ve got to agree with Sidharth Mallya on one point – there are always two sides to a story, and clearly, Ayesha Takia is giving us only one. We don’t know what her sister did to initiate this reaction – and the only way to really know would have been to be there, which… neither of them were! Either way, some poor PR person somewhere is going to go into overdrive trying to make this whole situation better!

Ash Chandler, Junelia Chandler and Ketan Kadam

A sunny, wintry afternoon saw Ketan Kadam play the gracious host to newlyweds, Ash and Junelia Chandler, at the swanky Two One Two Bar and Grill. Enjoying the tasteful Sunday Brunch were some of the city’s hottest folk.

Ketan Kadam with Reshma Bombaywala & friends

Nikhil and Natasha Chib

Ex-model Reshma Bombaywala, Fahad Samar and Simone Singh, Poonam Soni, Tejasvini Kolhapure, AD and Sabina Singh, Devika and Suresh Bhojwan, Zeba and Raj Kohli, Henry and Ashitta Tham, Queenie Singh, Anil and Sabina Chopra, Nikhil and Natasha Chib, Ravi Krishnan, Gabrielle and Rashmi Uday Singh were among those, who clinked their Wasabi Bloody Marys and they raised a toast to the happy couple.

Anil and Sabina Chopra

Tejasvini Kolhapure

AD and Sabina Singh

New mummies, Reshma Bombaywala and Sabina Singh, tagged their tiny tots along, and were glowing with pride. Rohit Roy, made the most of Mumbai’s short-lived winter afternoons, by choosing to ride in on his classy Honda Rune.

Rajesh and Zeba Kohli

The beautifully laid out patio and the spotless Sunday sky, allowed the pretty guests to indulge in slices of freshly baked pizza. One could sense contentment in the air, as guests were served a scrumptious three-course meal, that included a delightful mushroom cappuccino soup, chicken shawarmas, felafels, and cumin and sesame chicken skewers.

Brunch was followed by light dancing, as the DJ churned out the right beats, at this, the perfect setting for a perfect start to Ash and Junelia’s wedded life.

Aalim Hakim's birthday greeting to Abhishek Bachchan

Yesterday was Abhishek Bachchan’s birthday, and among all the greetings he received from his Bollywood buddies, we like this one the most, sent by celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim.

It shows Abhishek getting his head shaved by Aalim’s father, the legendary hairstylist to the stars, Hakim.

Abhishek with his parents, then and now.

Cute, na?

Sidhartha Mallya receives the Best Dressed Gentleman award at the Derby

Yesterday afternoon, Sidhartha Mallya won the prize for being the Best Dressed Gentleman, at The McDowell’s Signature Premiere Indian Derby, in Mumbai.

Togged out in white pants, and a shirt with a navy jacket, and accessorized with a red tie, kerchief and Tod’s shoes, Siddhartha cut quite the dashing figure!

Sidhartha Mallya with Abhay Deol at the Derby

What do you think? Dashing? Or not?

Karan Johar retorts to a Twitter Troll

Most celebs have trolls on Twitter – losers who have nothing better to do than rant and abuse in the most foul language. One such person has been pretty “busy” sending the most vile messages to Shah Rukh Khan, Arjun Rampal and Karan Johar.

In fact, from his tweets, he seems to be a die-hard Salman Khan fan, and that probably explains the awful abuses against Shah Rukh and his close friends. So when he sent Karan Johar a disgusting message yesterday (“Suck my ****, you moron”),  the usually non-confrontational director replied back saying….

K-Jo's reply to the Twitter Troll

Oh, and by the way, even author Chetan Bhagat has not been spared!

Now what was that old saying about an idle mind being a devil’s workshop?

Rahul Khanna's advertisement for PETA

Actor Rahul Khanna can be counted among those Bollywood stars who are known for promoting the cause of animal welfare and wildlife conservation. He’s even featured in a PETA advertisement, to protest the keeping of elephants in zoos.

Over the weekend, while he was in Goa, Rahul was lucky enough to watch baby Olive Ridley turtles, hatching from their eggs and scramble down the beach, into the sea.

Rahul Khanna's picture of the turtle hatchlings in Goa

He wrote, “Had the incredible fortune of witnessing the Olive Ridley marine turtles hatching on the beaches of North Goa.”

Rahul adds, via Email: “It is truly a rare and magical experience to witness such an event. But it’s also a delicate situation because, in spite of a few beaches being classified as eco-sensitive, turtle nesting areas, there has been so much indiscriminate and unlawful development on the coast and all the light and noise pollution that comes along with it, that the nests have been decreasing every year, which is devastating for the environment because Olive Ridley marine turtles are becoming endangered and fall under the same degree of protective classification as Tigers. Female turtles are known to swim hundreds of miles to return, some 20-30 years later, to the same beach they were hatched on, to lay their own eggs. However, if they experience noise and light pollution, they just stay off-shore and lay their eggs in the water.These eggs then rot away and are lost forever, which is why the numbers are so drastically dwindling. Also, the hatchlings instinctively follow the moonlight into the ocean. However if there is other, unnatural light and sound around, they get disoriented and start following that, often getting so far off track that they get beached or become prey for birds and other animals. I hope the government and public start cooperating and work towards protecting these beautiful creatures and their natural habitat.”

Now that’s a true “wild experience” in Goa!