Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Jackson's Death Sparks Hotel Frenzy

The list of people who stand to make a profit off the death of Michael Jackson is endless -- and now you can add a few local hotels to the mix.

We spoke with the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos, Calif. -- which is located less than a mile from Neverland Ranch. They tell us that once news hit Jackson's body might be coming to Neverland, they sold out in just 20 minutes! They are booked up solid from Thursday until Saturday.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

HOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD & MORE

The best Bond babe!
Halle Berry Halle Berryis Ireland’s favourite Bond girl with 27% of the respondents choosing Berry over others. However, the sexy mum feels that Kate Winslet is more comfortable in her body and wishes she could be like that. According to Berry, her nude scene in Swordfish, though unnecessary, helped her overcome her inhibitions about on-screen nudity. Having topped many Sexiest Women lists, Berry's easily more than just Ireland's fav Bond gal...


Hollywood’s latest hottie!
Teenage heartthrob, Zac Efron Zac Efronis tired of dealing with crazy fans. Recently, a gal followed him all the way to the men’s washroom just to get an autograph, and she was not one bit embarrassed to be there either! Another 15-year-old gave him a big hug while he was shopping for DVDs, then kissed him on his lips and left poor Zac pretty uncomfortable! His fan following doesn’t stop there as even pop superstar, Michael Jackson, is a fan of Efron. Oh boy, now that's one fan this PYT (Pretty Young Thing) better be wary of!

Success mantras…High on the success of her film Fashion,Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra has no time to either celebrate its success or mourn for her other failures at the box office. For, with six releases this year, as soon as one film releases, she is out promoting the other! But the gal says that she was heartbroken when her movies Drona and Love Story 2050 flopped. Well, with Fashion being a hit, she is finally on cloud nine.


Living up to her Dad's name!
Deepika Padukone isDeepika Padukone learning quite a few things from her forthcoming film Chandni Chowk to China's co-star Akshay Kumar. For one, the dusky beauty is learning martial arts for the movie. But while doing a stunt she twisted her left ankle, which will now remain sprained for life, and she is unable to sit cross-legged and put weight on her left leg. But now this daughter of a sports-person wants to do a sports-based film, which would require her to go for rigorous training. That’s what we call a good sport!

Take a chill pill!
Kangana Ranaut's recent mention Kangana Ranautof her detesting and having no respect for Bollywood commercial cinema has garnered shocked reactions. The damsel with curly locks admits that hard-core Bollywood commercial flicks tend to have stupidities, which ought to be made fun of, whereas her own projects are on eye-opening subjects. It disturbs her mentally and emotionally when people disrespect characters and films. Looks like Ms Ranaut is taking her films way too seriously!

I am Gay?!
All you ladies, don't Will Smithlet this piece of news weaken your faith in super-sexy straight men as no one knows the 'real' thing yet. Grapevine has it that the I am Legend star Will Smith enjoys best of both the worlds. According to a Hollywood Madame, the actor at various occasions has requested for male prostitutes for sexual services! Will's wife though seems to be the least affected as the hunk is more a man than many out there!

Queen of hearts
Well it seems there's Katrina Kaifno stopping Katrina Kaif in Bollywood, who after delivering consecutive blockbusters and forging a hit pair with the reigning king of tinsel town Akshay Kumar, is now brushing aside the competition like common house flies! Now comes the news that she's been given the top billing in the posters of Yuvvraaj – Subhash Ghai's return to direction. Mind you, the movie stars the likes of Salman Khan and Mithunda. Maybe Sallu's thinking from his heart rather than his brain?

Queen of Snakes!
Bollywood bombshell Mallika Sherawat,Mallika Sherawat who turned 27 (or was it 37? No one really knows her real age!), on October 24, will be seen in another international project to be directed by Jennifer Lynch. Usually, Mallika leaves everyone else speechless, but this time around the director has left her tongue-tied, quite literally. In her upcoming movie, Mallika plays a snake, and as snakes do not know the human language, in the whole movie Mallika will stay mum! However, she herself was taken aback by the offer but accepted it as a challenge and hopes to prove her mettle in the international arena.

Solutions from Portman
Natalie Portman Natalie Portmanis quite concerned about world affairs. For one, she has shot a video for YouTube where she pushes the young people supporting Obama to ensure that their parents support him as well, and warns them that they might need more than one conversation for persuading them and hence they should begin on it right away! She has also taken us all by surprise by joining Rashida Jones in jumping about on a bed cuddling pooches and recommending puppies as the solution for the global financial crisis! Let's just say, saving the world is not everyone's forte!

Beauty with brains?
Quick, what's theOlga Kurylenko first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Bond girls? Well, hot bods, amazing drop-dead gorgeous looks… great intellectually stimulating conversation?? Naah! Well, the latest Bond girl Olga Kurylenko would like to change your views… Apparently, this Ukraninian beauty is tired of people stereotyping her as a beauty without brains. She wants people to discover her intellectual side as well. Well Miss Kurylenko, becoming a Bond girl might not be the best way to go about it!

Princess' diaries
Recently, Aamir Khan wentAamir Khan on a date with Victoria. No, not Victoria Beckham but the Crown Princess of Sweden. Apparently, Princess Victoria had seen Taare Zammen Par and liked the movie so much that on her recent visit to India she invited the superstar for dinner. Aamir was obviously honoured by this gesture and as a token of thanks, he gifted Princess Victoria an antique lithograph (sketches of India during the colonial period) and she in return gifted a DVD collection of Ingmar Bergman's films. Guess after Shabana Azmi, Jaaved Akhtar and Shilpa Shetty, it's Aamir's turn to court international audiences…

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A Letter to Prime Minister

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak but we don't even do that.
Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till today he is not caught. All our bollywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of India.
Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by about a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor and there will be one more Hiroshima.
We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.
Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent people, isn't it?
I am born and bought up in Mumbai for last fifty eight years. Believe me corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the politician, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackray , Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in money. Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief minister I have seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will increase FSI for fisherman so they can build concrete house right on sea shore. Next time terrorist can comfortably live in those house , enjoy the beauty of sea and then attack the Mumbai at their will.
Recently I had to purchase house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your finance minister are not aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld isn't it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you everything.
If this has been land of fools, idiots then I would not have ever cared to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Schedule caste, Creamy Schedule caste only what I am not is INDIAN. You politician have raped every part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.
Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such a intelligent person, such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your party along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels they are supreme and there is no place for good person.
Dear Mr. Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian account holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolf among us. There will be political upheaval but that will better than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambient where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of.
Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?

A Citizen of India

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Professor Arindam Chaudhuri

1. A brief on his professional experience and seminars & workshops conducted.Professor Arindam Chaudhuri

Professor Chaudhuri is the Dean, Centre for Economic Research & Advanced Studies at IIPM (The Indian Institute of Planning & Management, New Delhi). In numerous surveys IIPM has been ranked amongst the top 10 B-schools in India, under Professor Chaudhuri's guidance. IIPM is typically ranked specifically high in the industry interface category of B-school rankings in India. In the year 1996 Professor Chaudhuri founded Planman Consulting. Planman Consulting today has more than 1000 self motivated MBAs contributing to its ever increasing growth making it one of the fastest growing Management Consulting Firms in Asia and the largest Indian multinational management consulting firm. With branches in Asia, Europe and America, it provides consulting solutions to leading corporates like G.E., ICICI, Standard Chartered, HSBC, PWC, Hewitt Associates, McKinsey & Co., Amway, Ranbaxy, Electrolux, Sony, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, etc. In 2001 he launched Planman Motion Pictures : A fully dedicated production and communications venture. Planman Motion Pictures' first film, a Bengali venture called Saanjhbathir Roopkathara (Strokes & Silhouettes) received numerous awards and got selected in more than 12 International Film Festival worldwide including being selected as one of the 7 outstanding international movies of the year at London Film Festival 2002. He also directed a Hindi feature film ‘Rok Sako To Rok Lo’ in the year 2004. In the year 2007 Planman Motion Pictures 'Dosor' got selected at the prestigious CANNES FILM FESTIVAL & 'The Last Lear' starring the legendary Amitabh Bachchan & Priety Zinta got selected for the GALA section - the red carpet center-piece event of the Toronto Film Festival. The Last Lear also got selected at the prestigeous ROME & LONDON Film festivals. In the year 2002 Prof. Chaudhuri started The Great Indian Dream Foundation in memory of his brother Aurobindo Chaudhuri. With focus on education, health and employment, today, GIDF supports developmental activities in 18,000 villages across various states in India wherein it runs primary schools, medical camps and medical vans, supports low cost open heart surgeries, does developmental and employment generation work through varied activities like donating sewing machines to building of check water dams, toilets, schools etc. Cricketing Icon Sachin Tendulkar has supported GIDF activities by lending his endorsement in GIDF ads and campaigns. In the year 2004 Prof. Chaudhuri diversified into IT enabled services through Planman Technologies which now has over 1000 people working in Delhi, serving more than 20 international clients. In 2005 June Prof. Chaudhuri started Planman’s media arm through two best selling magazines : Business & Economy and 4Ps Business & Marketing. In 2006 he launched The Sunday Indian, a news weekly. Today The Sunday Indian comes out in 13 languages - making it the world's largest edition news weekly.

His book 'Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch' fetched him the highest ever advance for a non-fiction work in India and created a new benchmark in India by selling more than 1,00,000 copies in record time! It has been in all national best seller lists from the first week of inception, till date. He broke his own record for the highest advance with his last book "The Great Indian Dream", published by Macmillan India. It also went on to become a #1 best seller.

As a management consultant he specializes in the areas of Strategic Vision, Leadership, Social Sector Consulting, Comparative Management Techniques and Global Opportunities & Threat Analysis. His contribution to the field of management studies can be found in the iconoclastic "Theory 'i' Management" which he has developed for India Inc. "Theory 'i' Management" is about India centric management ideas with global applicability. For the last few years he has been conducting workshops on Leadership and Strategic Vision exclusively for CEOs, MDs, Directors and Presidents from the corporate sector. From the Managing Director of Hero Motors to the President of Tata Chemicals, from the Executive President of A.V. Birla Group to the CEO of Ernst & Young. have all taken LEADERSHIP TRAINING WORKSHOPS from him.

As a celebrated speaker he is regularly invited to speak at various annual conferences and national conventions. He also happens to be highest paid speaker in the country. An economist by passion and education, during Bill Clinton's historic visit to India in 2001 he launched his ‘Great Indian Dream -: India can beat America’, a series of seminars for every Indian. Held in all the metros of India, these seminars had thousands of people pouring in from all walks of life. In these seminar's he not only highlights the inherent strengths of the Indian culture but also talks about an alternative resource mobilization and allocation package for an Indian turnaround. It is to facilitate social activities based on these thoughts of his that he started The Great Indian Dream Foundation.

His original contribution to the field of economics can be found in the three theories that he coins in his book "The Great Indian Dream". They are the theory of 'Survival of the Weakest', 'The Trickle-up Theory' & 'The Law of Increasing Marginal Utility'. His concept of an ideal economy is what he calls 'Happy Capitalism' in his book.

Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri has also been conducting workshops, seminars and lecture tours on Comparative Management Techniques worldwide. His talks have always had a spell binding effect internationally.

2. Professor Arindam Chaudhuri's competitive edge.

Professor Chaudhuri's outstanding ability is his strength to integrate macro and micro economic concepts with both strategic management techniques as well as personnel management techniques employed in organizations. At a macro level, his thoughts focus on the growing degeneration of the American socio-economic setup, the dangers of mindless imitation of the free market system and the innate strength of the Indian society. He does not agree with economists who have blind faith in the market system and feels the market needs to be constantly monitored and it is dangerous and harmful to allow the market to rule the human race, thus, he says 'the market system is a wonderful slave but a dangerous master'. His original research work is an attempt to explain how the levels of satisfaction and happiness in any country depends upon the kinds of economic systems prevalent there. In his new book "The Great Indian Dream" he clearly explains that "survival of the fittest" is an animalistic term and vouches for "Survival of the Weakest" as the guiding force for the next millennium and calls it a human way of living. He strongly condemns the attempts wherein some countries are trying to become the neo Zamindars (a term used for typical Indian fuedal landlords) of todays world in the name of making this world a global village. He feels developing countries worldwide as well as India can only adopt these principles once their internal industries become globally competitive. He doesn't believe in the current way of functioning of the Indian government and feels the whole style of functioning seems to be following the principle of privatization of all profits and nationalization of all losses. He strongly believes that a double digit growth rate is not a dream for Indians provided that the right policies are implemented with honesty. This he feels can be achieved by following policies of trickle-up rather than trickle-down, like in the case of China.

3. Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri's Educational Background, Achievements & Awards

Professor Chaudhuri did his B.A. with Honours in Economics, Honours Diploma in Industrial Engineering, M.A with Honours in Economics, Post Graduate Diploma in Planning and Management (MBA) and Fellowship of I.I.P.M.

Professor Chaudhuri has been amongst the toppers during his B.A. Economics, M.A. Economics and MBA. He was the recipient of the Academic Gold Medal while completing his Post Graduate Diploma in Planning and Management from IIPM.

At the age of 28, in the year 2000, Prof. Chaudhuri was awarded "Management Guru 2000 Award" by Chennai based Om Venkatesa Society which annually honours management experts.

In the year 2001 at the age of 29 he was selected amongst one of the 50 leading thinkers under the age of 40 to represent South Asia at Wilton Park (an organisation supported by the European Commission and British foreign office) where he was invited as a special speaker.

In May 2003 Prof. Chaudhuri was awarded the "Personality of the Decade Award" by K.G.Foundation, Coimbatore. This prestigious award had been received in the past by Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Mrs. Sudha Murthy & Dr. Chritian Bernard.

On 14th February 2004 he was awarded the ‘Example to the Youth Award’ by the Rotaract Council in Chennai.

In 2004 at the age of 32 he was selected as an advisor to the consultative committee to the Planning Commission of India in the areas of education and social sector.
On 15th January 2005 he was awarded the ‘Centennial Service Award for Professional Excellence in Recognition of his significant achievement in the field of Education and Management’ by the Rotary International during its Centennial celebrations in Mumbai.
On 19th september 2006 Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri was awarded the Priyadarshini Academy's Biennial Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Management. He was honored along with NR Narayana Murthy & Subir Raha by Kamal Nath, the Union Minister for Commerce & Industry.
On 23th September 2007 Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri was awarded the Life Positive Reader's Award in the category of 'Change Agent' by the Chief Minister of Delhi Smt Sheila Dixit in recognition and deep appreciation of his pioneering achievement in bringing about significant attitudinal change in society.
On 28th September 2007 Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri & Dr Malay Chaudhuri were awarded the "JJ IRANI AWARD" for the Best Group of Management Institute by the PN Singh Foundation, Mumbai.
On 15th Dec. 2007, Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri was awarded the prestigeous LOUIS MARCHESI FELLOWSHIP by the Round Table India Foundation - the Indian arm of The World Round Table. The honor in past had been given to Mother Teressa and Deepak Chopra amongst others.
On 10th Aug. ‘08 Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri was awarded the Best B-School Teacher (North), at the Best B-Schools Awards organised by the Deccan Herald Group.

His Articles & Thoughts

Friday, November 21, 2008

Ggetting Dippyabout Deepika

Deepika Padukone is a veritable buzz factory. Possessing a face that has launched dozens of advertising campaigns, along with a monster blockbuster movie, this 22-year -old seems destined to rule Bollywood. TSI’s Gauri Pratap Singh caught up with the latest teen sex symbol (see survey) to talk about love, life and cinema.
Did you ever imagine that you would get a chance to make your debut opposite SRK?
Honestly, I did not think it would be with SRK…as a matter of fact, I thought I would never do movies. I just wanted to make it big in modelling and maybe do some interior designing. However, I started to get offers to act, and then Farah offered me OSO. On a whim I decided to give it a shot. I could have not asked for anything better than to have Farah direct me and for SRK to be my co-star.
Your dad belongs to a sports background and you were a state level badminton player. Tell us how did modelling happen? How supportive was your family?
I had a friend whose mother was a modeling coordinator and she used to come to school often to drop her off. It was there that she saw me and suggested to my mother that I should do few campaigns. I was in high school and my parents, after some initial hesitation, were also okay with it.
They believe that it’s really important to do what one enjoys doing. They never forced me to play badminton or even to take it up professionally. I was always given the freedom to pick the career of my choosing.
You have modelled for the Kingfisher Calendar, which is a little risqué. How did your family react?
My parents have given me good morals and values and apart from that, they trust me that I would do the right kind of work. Also, I did the swimsuit shoot because I was very fit at that time and I blindly trusted Atul Kasbekar (the photographer). Moreover, I think that the calendar was shot in a very classy manner.
You are one of those few ladies in tinseltown who has a perfect figure. How much effort does it take to maintain your body? Do you enjoy working out?
Honestly, I don’t work out at all. However, I need to start working out because I am putting on a little weight. Chocolates are my weakness, this is something I’ll never be able to give up.
Tell us about your first shot with SRK? You must have been very nervous.
I was very nervous initially, but it was very nice of Farah to have introduced me to Shahrukh and the others, before we started shooting. Farah made sure that I met Sharukh a lot of times so that I get comfortable with him...they all have so much experience and I’ve got to learn a lot from both of them. Farah also spaced out my scenes and shots in a way that I had less dialogues initially, the tougher scenes where left for later.
Tell us what was your first dialogue?
“Kutte kamine, bhagwan ke liye mujhe chhodh de.” (laughs)
Controversies always follow a public figure. How much do they disturb you?
Frankly, it doesn’t bother me at all. Enough tamasha has been made out of my personal life. Beyond a point, you just stop reading these things. You get used to it. The way I look at it, media has been nice enough to write good things about me as far as my work is concerned. So it’s okay. Talking about your link ups with Dhoni, Yuvraj and Ranbir Kapoor...which one is true? These things are bound to happen. If two famous people are seen together more than twice, they are linked. In Dhoni’s case, I don’t see how if I am his favourite actress or if he has a crush on me, can give the media the wrong ideas. With respect to Yuvraj, a lot of things have been said. All I want to say is that I have moved on and am happy where I am today and don’t want to talk about it anymore.
Now you’re in a relationship with Ranbir; how did that happen?
We got to know each other during a movie shoot We spent a lot of time together getting to know each other. Ultimately it blossomed into a relationship. It was beautiful, because we were friends first and then we fell in love.Almost every model dreams of entering the beauty pageants. We’ve had quite a few examples in our country. What are your thoughts on that?
For me, I always wanted to be India’s supermodel with out being a part of any beauty pageant, and I think to some extent I have managed to achieve it.
You have had an experience with modelling and acting. Which field do you prefer more? What advice would you like to give to those girls who plan to enter this field?
Both the industries are very different. If you are a part of a movie, you are living a character for minimum six months or a year. In a modelling campaign however, there is no such connection, you walk a ramp and it gets over in one day and for an advertisement it’s about two days and then you move on. Movies require a lot more time and effort and they stay with you for the rest of your life. From the outside, this world looks very glamorous and rosy, but it’s very challenging mentally, emotionally and physically. Therefore, enter this field if you think you’re ready for all that.
How do your parents react to the Deepika Padukone phenomenon? It’s certainly a new scheme of things for them.
They are very proud and happy. It’s new for them, and for me as well. Moreover, I always consult with them and try to keep them well informed.
You had entered the glamour world at a very young age. Were there any instances when you were taken for granted or maybe someone tried to take advantage of you, considering that you were a novice?
Never. I think this whole ‘casting couch’ thing, or whatever it is that you are talking about, depends on the way you carry yourself and how much are you willing to compromise. If you carry yourself in a dignified way and set boundaries early, there is no way that someone will get any wrong ideas.