Mastii-Kustii: 2007

Is there a Salim on the way? Actress Aishwarya Rai, Jodha Bai of the period epic "Jodhaa-Akbar", is having toght time handling the speculation about her pregnancy in the media. And she refuses to rise to the bait.

"If I walk too carefully or if I stand with dupatta draped on one side, the media will be rife with speculation the next day. It crosses the line of decency…of respect… yes, it gets frustrating at times.

"We have agreed as a family to let the father of the family that is Amitji to clear out all the rumors. Like I said it takes more strength to maintain silence," said the chirpy former Miss World-turned-actress shimmering in a cloud of green chiffon and diamonds..

She was in the capital to unveil a new collection of Nakshatra diamond jewellery, a brand she represents.

She is not even threatened by the return of Madhuri Dixit in "Aaja Nachle". "Have you watched 'Devdas'?" Aishwarya shot back when asked how did she take the former superstar's comeback.

Aishwarya is comfortable in her new role.

"This new phase of my life, as Abhishek's (Bachchan) wife, has been special. I have another set of parents in Amit (Amitabh Bachchan) and Jayaji. The goodwill of the media and the people in general also has mattered," the actress said.

The actress is full of memories of "Jodhaa-Akbar".

"It is a director's film all the way. Ashutosh Gowariker is a committed filmmaker and for me it was another project that I enjoyed.

The choice was between two films and Ashutosh was undecided which one he would make first. Then he messaged me one day saying will you be my Jodha. I said why not?" recalls Aishwarya.

There is no special connect on the part of Aishwarya with Jodha Bai, emperor Akbar's favourite Hindu queen, whose identity is still a mystery.

"Ashutosh is not here to give a lesson in history. He just made a movie on the moving love story between Jalaluddin Akbar and Jodha Bai. It is an inspiring story.

They were two people, who had an arranged inter-religion marriage despite the fact that they came from different backgrounds," she clarified.

The only aspect of Jodha Bai the actress identifies with is her "silence". "She made her presence felt through her silence and spoke only when she wanted to make herself heard," Aishwarya said.

Speaking about love for diamonds and accessories, she said: "Diamonds were to a woman what cars were to men."

The actress is nostalgic about her first diamond. "I got it from my father. It was a diamond ring which belonged to my grandmother."

The rest of the diamonds she acquired along the way "with experience and they have been priceless".

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See also...

Ash-Abhi wedding pics..

Aishwarya Rai pics collection..

Katrina Kaif..

Deepika Padukone..

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‘I love Ranbir too much!’

DEEPIKA PADUKONE has been linked to a string of men in the past from ex Nihar Pandya to Yuvi. It’s only now that the media has finally settled on Ranbir Kapoor. So when Rakhi Sawant asks her to clear the air, she gets candid and retorts, “It’s only Ranbir I’m in love with. I don’t understand why the media always points a finger at me. No one ever talks about what the boy has done to me. I feel men should be taken to task equally.” Point noted. A movie with her beau and two more sizzling beauties to give them company in their next movie. This would prompt anyone to ask the lady if she ever felt jealous seeing her guy romancing two hot Bollywood babes. To which the actress says, “I don’t have many scenes with Ranbir, Bipasha and Minissha. I would not say I was jealous, but yes, I do hope Ranbir and I get a good film together.” Chic and gorgeous Deepika also confesses she’s not comfortable with her body. When Rakhi probes further by asking whether she would sport a bikini for a Yash Raj movie, she surprisingly says, “No, I don’t have the body to carry it off.” And what about her much talked about height? “The actors I have worked with so far are quite short, but that’s not a problem as I don’t like wearing heels anyway. And it shouldn’t be a problem any longer because the newer actors are all tall.”

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RANBIR KAPOOR and Deepika Padukone have gone ahead and got engaged.

The only hitch is, nobody seems to have conveyed the good news to their families, or them! Answering phone calls about his daughter’s rumoured engagement, Deepika’s father Prakash Padukone, says, “We aren’t even aware of this and nobody’s told us anything. That’s because it’s not true!” Ranbir’s sister Riddhima is more forthcoming. “I don’t know where they get such bizarre news from! Deepika seems to have been misquoted. Ranbir is out of India for a film shoot and he was shocked! Both of them have a long way to go and it’s just the beginning of their careers! Marriage to bahut dur ki baat hai.”

Mother Neetu Kapoor seconds that. “I’m sure Deepika has been misquoted. This is a part of film industry life. I don’t react to all this at all. That’s because I’ve gone through this myself and with my husband. I’ve been connected to some hero or the other. My husband can’t flirt because he isn’t the type. I guess one just has to laugh it off!” Now, are Deepika and Ranbir doing so?

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Deepika Padukone, (Kannada:ದೀಪಿಕ ಪಡುಕೋಣೆ ) (born 5 January 1986 in Mangalore, Karnataka) is an Indian model. She is the daughter of former badminton Champion Prakash Padukone.

Modelling career
Deepika Padukone was born on 5 January 1986 in Mangalore, Karnataka. She has done her schooling in Bangalore. She has been modelling appearances in print and television advertising campaigns for Liril soap, Close-Up toothpaste and Limca, receiving many prestigious modelling offers, including brand ambassadorship of the Jewels of India, an annual jewellery exhibition. She hit the international scene when Maybelline made her their new international covergirl face.

At the fifth annual Kingfisher Fashion Awards, for Indian models and designers, she was awarded the title of Model of the Year. Shortly afterwards, she was chosen as one of the models for the Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar for 2006, thus cementing her reputation as a supermodel. She also bagged two trophies at the Idea Zee F Awards in 2006 - Female Model of the year (Commercial Assignments) and Fresh Face of the year.

Personal life
Deepika has a younger sister named Anisha. She is currently in 11th standard.

Deepika previously dated model Upen Patel. She also previously dated model Muzamil Ibrahim

On screen appearances
Like many successful models before her, Padukone is turning to acting in movies. She started by starring in the music video for Naam Hai Tera a song from the pop album Aap Ka Suroor, an independent album by popular singer-composer Himesh Reshammiya.

Padukone made her cinematic debut in a Kannada film, Aishwarya, directed by Indrajit Lankesh co-starring Upendra. The film has already been successful at the box-office, and Padukone has received rave reviews for her screen presence. Padukone made her Bollywood debut in Farah Khan- directed Om Shanti Om , opposite Shah Rukh Khan . In the movie , she has been depicted as a 70s superstar Shantipriya and later as Sandy.Padukone has already signed Priyadarshan's next Pirate, and Made In China opposite Akshay Kumar. Om Shanti Om turned as the biggest hit in Indian cinema.

Click here to watch rare pics of Deepika...