Mansi salve who used to be a cute bahu and sweet face of television is back in action. Mansi was raising her baby and was on maternity leave from television but now after two years break she is come back with the Madhur Bhandarkar’s show on Sony, special @10, titled as Anjali. She is playing the lead in the show. We had a candid chat with Mansi about her role, career and her journey in the industry.

Tell us about your role in the show special @10?
I am playing a role of a doctor. Her name is Dr. Anjali Pradhan. She is a doctor in a small town called Dabrawati and there were some happenings in Dabrawati which were quite strange based on superstition and it is basically her fight against those beliefs.

You have delivered a baby so you enjoying motherhood? How’s your baby doing?
I am really happy and yes I am enjoying my motherhood a lot. And my baby is doing quite well and she is cooperating with my shooting schedule. Although this is my first project that I have shot for after a gap but she didn’t bother me much and so I am able to concentrate on my work well.

You are again working with Shakti Anand so tell us about him. How is he as a co-star?
It’s quite strange but before taking my break, two years back I shot in the same studio with Shakti and for the same channel. Sony and now coincidently I am back in the same studio with Shakti and the same channel. It’s really strange and weird. Shakti is always been very modest and down to earth guy and he is still the same person that he was. It was a pleasure to work with him again.

Its very difficult to bring a social change or awareness alone as there comes so many barriers and it happened in the soap also with you so what do you think is the reason people see things going wrong around them but never raise there voices?
Some are quite feeble to even raise their voices and some are scared about the fact that they won’t be supported but there are some who take a step forward. I think somebody has to take an initiative and has to be supported as the things are going to happen gradually but positively it will happen someday. As a human being we have evolved from what we were and what we are now, so everything is going to take time but someday things will definitely happen.

You being an actress would like to bring any social change or awareness?
I don’t want to look at any change or awareness globally or on the country level. My idea of creating an awareness and change is to do it from your home; anywhere where you are mingling around. It’s not necessary to go out of our way to bring a change or something, we can notice small small things around us which we generally ignore and we can bring a change right from our home after all “charity begins at home”.

Your fans are very happy to see you back on television so what do you want to tell them?
It’s great my fans have supported me from past twelve years from my first show Ashirwaad so I am glad they have been supporting me in all phases of my life, like while I was a student then I got married. Today I am a mother and they are still there with me. I can make out from the websites and comments and response that they give me it’s wonderful and I just want their love and support and that will keep me going for sure.

What were you doing all these days?
I was losing my weight, was working out to get back my shape and one best part that god has helped me that I have started looking the same what I used to look two years back. After losing my weight, I am quite happy. Initially it was very easy for me to just get and go for work and come back home and sleep but now things have changed. I have so many responsibilities. I have to take care of my daughter, my family but good thing is that my mother and in laws are very supportive and I so I am able to manage everything very well.

Where most of the tele-stars are seen in reality shows, you aren’t visible. Why?
I guess too much of commitment is required for the reality shows and as of now I am comfortable for four days shoot or something. But if anything good comes then I will definitely take it.

How would you describe your journey till now in the entertainment world?
For me, my graph was never too high, never too low. It’s always been steady. I have been able to do many things along with my career. I did my studies while I was shooting. It’s been a balance between everything. I always wanted it go slow and steady.

What else are you working on these days? Any new shows coming up?
No, nothing! I just want to concentrate on one show now. I am doing advertisements. I have done an advertisement for Britannia and one more. Frankly speaking, its going to be very difficult for me to take up a daily now but still if something good comes why not. I have a long way to go and I have just kept my fingers crossed.

Though there is still some more time to go before the tumultuous phase at Bollywood comes to an end, there is little respite in store with the arrival of a new movie at the least. It is Kunal Khemmu and Soha Ali Khan starrer ‘99′ which would be seeing a release at single screens as well as multiplexes.

The film comes at the time when Bollywood is reeling under three way pressure. a) Producers v/s multiplex stand off is still on which means premier multiplex chains would have to wait for a while before films start screening there. b) Keeping aside this strike, 2009 has been a horrific year with barely a couple of movies managing to be successful at the box office. c) Recession, which showed it’s ugly face in 2008, has started showing it’s uglier side as hardly any new projects are currently being announced.

In such context, even if ‘99′ turns out to be a moderate success, it would be some reason to cheer at least. Not that it would make much difference to Bollywood score card since this small budget film is not expected to become a 50 crore super success overnight, hence bringing in good moolah back to the industry. In fact if the film manages to bring in even 20% of the stated figure, it would be celebration time for Bollywood.

So what kind of opening are we looking at for this comic caper which also stars Cyrus Broacha along with veterans Vinod Khanna, Boman Irani and Mahesh Manjrekar. Well frankly, in spite of ‘99′ being the first decent new film releasing after 6 weeks (’8X10 Tasveer’ was the last film with known names that arrived before the strike took off), there aren’t many expectations of an opening per se.

Moreover, promotion of the film has been below average, both on television as well as print media. Songs too haven’t been popular hence not really contributing to the buzz around the movie. What surely can be mentioned though is that the talkie promo of the film looks interesting, hence promising to be on the lines of a Guy Ritchie caper. If the entire film is as slick and interesting as the theatrical promo, we may actually have a film in hand that may go on to cover some distance in days to come.

Nevertheless, from an opening perspective, it would be a win in itself for the film if it manages to touch 50% mark on Friday. Fingers crossed and here is hoping that in the second quarter of 2009, ‘99′, which is directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, brings back some smiles into Bollywood.

Reports said that Fardeen Khan was totally devastated by the death of his father Feroze Khan, a while back and had taken it really very badly.

In fact Ajay Devgan, the producer of his forthcoming film, gave him a few days off.

Now he’s recovered somewhat and is starting work again.

Currently he’s doing a film which has middle eastern influences. Something which his father did in a small way in ‘Qurbani’, ‘Janasheen’ and also some other roles he played.

In ‘Basra’ he shares screen space with Madhavan and Akshaye Khanna. It’s being produced by Nikhil Advani and directed by ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’ director Navdeep Singh.

The film is expected to go on the floors in a couple of weeks.

It’s set in the Iraqi town of Basra, from which it gets its title. The story deals with post 9/11 Iraq, with the US forces invading the country in their attempt to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

The music of the film scored by Kailash Kher will have a lot of Middle Eastern influences.

Fardeen hopefully is fully recovered and gives a great performance to make up a bit for the huge void in his life.

One look at the Kites synopsis and it immediately strikes that there is no mention of Kangana Ranaut who plays a significant role in this Hrithik Roshan – Barbara Mori starrer. Kites is directed by Anurag Basu and produced by Hrithik’s dad Rakesh Roshan.

Our source involved with the film however reveals, “Kites has Hrithik playing a salsa teacher. Kangana plays a very rich girl and is shown as Hrithik’s dance student. Her role is comparatively shorter than that of Barbara in the film.”

Kangana seems to be heavily banking on this film as it’s the only big project she has on her hands right now. With a big raw deal given to her with the film’s initial publicity campaign, one wonders what unpleasant surprises are stored ahead for her.

Take a look at it yourself and decide whether Kangana has been given a raw deal or not -

“In the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert, a mortally wounded man is left for dead in the heat of the desert sun. This is J (Hrithik Roshan) - once a street-smart, carefree young guy and now a wanted man. As death looms, the only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha (Barbara Mori). A woman, betrothed to another man, surely destined for J; a woman who comes into his life like a bolt of lightning, and changes his life forever.

Love is a moment. The moment J and Natasha saw each other, words were not necessary. In that moment, they knew instantly that they belonged together. But something went wrong. The ensuing fight of the two lovers resulted in a deadly chase. J battles death, but nothing can prepare him for what he is about to discover.

Kites is a story of love that goes beyond barriers, boundaries and cultures. It is a story of passion that defies every rule, of a relationship which takes two lovers on a journey that is filled with violence and death, of precious moments that are unforgettable. Finally, it is a story of betrayal that is beyond comprehension.”

It’s been a time of incredible traveling and stock -taking for Bollywood’s golden couple who are now in Cannes.

But believe it or not, just a few days earlier they were in Bhopal, visiting Mrs Jaya Bachchan’s mother who lives in the city.

Says a source, “It was a flash visit last week. Abhishek and Aishwarya had never visited his Naani together. They wanted to surprise her. They had a day off. So they just took off for the day. There was no direct flight. So they had to take a hopping flight. But it was finally worth it because the visit made their grandmother in Bhopal so happy.”

And now the Golden Couple has taken off for Cannes at a very short notice.

Says a source, “They’ve both gone on a personal and very special invitation from the Cannes festival. Aishwarya attends the festival opening or closing every year, depending on the time availability. Abhishek just decided to accompany his wife on the special invitation of the Festival.”

They return immediately. Aishwarya resumes shooting with Akshay Kumar for Vipul Shah’s Instant Replay. Abhishek joins his father for another schedule of Balki’s Paa.

Incidentally he can’t wait to abandon his clean-shaven look for Paa and get back to his stubbled look.

Hrithik Roshan is heading for Cannes with his first international project Kites later this week.

Father Rakesh Roshan and director Anurag Basu will accompany the film’s leading man.

Barbara Mori will also be joining Hrithik in Cannes.

Rakesh Roshan who is frantically working to complete all the details took time off to proudly confirm the rendezvous at Cannes.

“Yes Hrithik, Anurag, representatives from Big Pictures and I will be in Cannes later this week.Barbarba Mori will be joining us from Mexico.We’ll be screening a specially-prepared trailer of Kites on 15th. Then on 16 May we’ll screen the film at Cannes for internantional buyers.”

So far all of Rakesh Roshan’s productions have been very desi in their appeal. Kites is being taken to an international audience. And Cannes is the first stop, therefore very important.

Says Rakesh, “We hope to pitch Kites as our production house’s first truly international product. Cannes is a very important venue for international cinema. That’s why we’ve made sure to complete the film in time although Anurag Basu and I have been working against time to do do. But we’ve managed.”

Miraculously Rakesh Roshan and Big Pictures have been able to circumvent the current producers-multiplex deadlock to take Kites to Cannes.

Defends Rakesh Roshan, “Why should the strike in the mutiplexes affect our visit to Cannes? We aren’t breaking any of conditions laid down during the strike. We’re not screening our film publicly or for the media at Cannes. This is a screening only for potential buyers from the West.”

The Kites team leaves for Cannes reaches Cannes on May 14 and leaves on the morning of May 17.They’ll be staying at The Martinez in Cannes.

Arjun Rampal is holidaying in the Caribbean islands but he’s disturbed in the midst of his holiday with too many text messages.

And all of them are about the latest Schweppes commercial that he filmed with blonde beauty Nicole Kidman recently.

And he just can’t stop raving about the svelte beauty.

He’s said, “She’s tall, fabulous, gorgeous, and professional and has ball of fire rolling. She’s a bit of a serious person and was overpoweringly attractive before the lens.”

Ok, maybe he thinks praising her a lot will help him bag a good Hollywood project.

Interestingly in the commercial Nicole Kidman walks straight into his room unzipping her dress.

Ummm… so this chap got a chance to get lucky with a gori chick.

He explains, “It’s quite a gripping humor at the end where Nicole walks and unzips her dress intending to go for. Fine It’s up to audiences to decide what I would go for… Schweppes or Nicole”

And his joy doesn’t end there. The makers have now decided to take this commercial to the Cannes International Festival.

He’s said, “I’m not sure attending the ceremony. But I guess there would be whole of fun to spend 24hrs of time in Cannes with my family.”

Sometimes a lot of good things do happen together. We just hope he doesn’t get too carried away and forget the fact that B-Town success came to him after many years of struggle.

Abhishek Bachchan was a special invitee for the Chelsea v/s Barcelona to the invited to the game by Chelsea Football Club. He watched the game in the company of Peter Kenyon, CEO of Chelsea Football Club, England’s national coach Capello and Oscar nominated actor Clive Owen of The International and Closer fame, Carles Puyol - Barcelona Captain. Bachchan Jr. was also in fact the first one to be presented the new ‘jersey’ of Chelsea team. It was Abhishek’s seventh trip and he flew to London just to watch the game and flew back to India the next day. However, he has been following the Premier League avidly on television back home. Abhishek is a self proclaimed Chelsea fan. In fact in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom his character Ricki Thukral was shown as one too.

Abhishek’s spokesperson, confirming the news told us, ‘Yes Abhishek was specially invited for the game. In fact the Chelsea Football Club does keep sending him invites for all their games. Abhishek always tries his best to catch their games lives as much as he can whenever he is not shooting.”