June 11th, 2007 by dd
Politics underscored the prizes as “Rang de Basanti” Saturday took top honors at the Int’l Indian Film Academy awards, Bollywood’s equivalent of the Oscars, at a ceremony held in Sheffield, England.
Event was held in from of a 12,000-plus audience at the Hallam Arena and according to some estimates show attracts half a billion TV spectators in 110 territories.
Six hour ceremony which overspilled into the small hours of Sunday morning, was a superstar-studded event. In attendance were Bollywood’s first family — Amitabh Bachchan, son Abhishek Bachchan and bride Aishwarya Rai — Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan and the inevitable Shilpa Shetty.
To see a complete list of winners and nominees, click on after the jump!
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Posted in Uncategorized, Film, India, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shilpa Shetty | 
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May 9th, 2007 by dd
Aishwarya Rai and Shah Rukh Khan before Brand Bachchan became a Bollywood force
Family Feud was never THIS good! A raging rivalry between two of India’s biggest screen stars has worsened after the April wedding of Amitabh Bachchan’s son Abhishek to Aishwarya Rai created the ultimate Bollywood power family.
For years, India has watched the popularity battle between the iconic Amitabh Bachchan, a veteran who ruled the Bollywood box office for decades, and younger superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the reigning hero with a massive fan following.
In recent years, the two stars have taken subtle digs at each other in public although the rivalry was seen to have remained healthy in an industry known for its cliques.
Apparently no more say industry analysts. “With the marriage, the Bachchans have become a formidable commercial package,” said Bollywood commentator, Derek Bose.
“Brand Bachchan is now a threat to others. It has worsened the Bachchan-Khan rivalry, sparking new power equations.”
Read more of this Clash of the India Titans after the jump!
Team Bachchan: Amitabh and Abhishek are the father/ son tag team duo
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Posted in Film, India, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan | No Comments »
April 24th, 2007 by dd
Aside from a media scuffle and a suicide attempt/ publicity stunt by an aspiring actress that happened during the wedding, the Big Fat Bollywood wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachnan went on without a hitch.
The newlyweds followed their matrimonial bliss by paying a visit to Tirumala Balaji temple in Tirumala to perform prayers for two hours.
Next stop will be Venice where the couple plan to spend their honeymoon.
Posted in India, Celebrity, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan | No Comments »
April 23rd, 2007 by dd
Move over Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar. Bollywood’s true royal couple is laying it down on how to throw a true Indian wedding!
Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, one of Bollywood’s best-known screen couples, married on Friday in a traditional Hindu wedding in which the groom rode a white horse before the pair took their vows around a sacred fire.
The ceremonies concluded three days of celebrations at the actors’ homes in India’s entertainment capital of Mumbai, creating, what industry pundits said is, Bollywood’s ultimate power couple.
Rai, 33, is a former Miss World and Bachchan, 31, belongs to Indian film royalty, being the son of Amitabh Bachchan, the country’s best-known actor who has a huge fan following around the world.
Head on after the jump to read more details about the wedding and some craziness from a supposed scorned lover of Aghishek’s just prior to the ceremony!
And rather than just post a zillion photos of the wedding, check out this two part video compilation by CLICKING HERE (Part I) and HERE (Part II)!
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Posted in Film, India, Celebrity, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan | No Comments »
April 5th, 2007 by dd
Shah Rukh Khan’s wife Gauri Chibber Khan and his waxwork
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan became the latest Indian to be featured in the Madame Tussauds museum when his life-size wax statue was unveiled on Tuesday morning.
Shah Rukh is the third Indian actor to figure in the popular tourist attraction - the other two are Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai. The actor was present with his family when his statue was unveiled.
The decision to have a wax model of King Khan was based on feedback received from thousands of visitors and tourists who visit the museum featuring prominent personalities every year.
A spokesman of the museum said that Shah Rukh’s statue reflected the growing popularity of Indian films in Britain, which are now watched not only by British Asians but others too. [Naachgaana]
Posted in India, Celebrity, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan | 1 Comment »
March 30th, 2007 by dd
Lots more dancing expected in their futures!
Two of Bollywood’s top stars - Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan - will wed next month, but the marriage celebrations are likely to be low-key since Bachchan’s grandmother is unwell according to news reports.
Rai, a former Miss World, and Bachchan, son of Hindi film icon Amitabh Bachchan, were engaged at a private ceremony in January.
The wedding is expected to take place on April 20 at the Bachchan residence in India’s entertainment capital of Mumbai.
“The families met and the decision was taken yesterday. The wedding will be a small private affair with only close family and friends in attendance.”
Unlike the recent Liz Hurley-Arun Nayar wedding, where the paparazzi went berserk, the Abhi-Ash marriage will be a very private affair at the Bachchans’ home Prateeksha in Juhu.
Read more about their impending nuptials apres le jump!
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Posted in Film, India, Celebrity, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Nayar | No Comments »
March 14th, 2007 by dd
Liz Hurley and husband, Arun Nayar’s recent continent hopping nuptials was a quaint warm-up to what Indians around the world are truly waiting for - perhaps be the greatest marriage in India’s modern history. Mark your calendars for March 19 for a true Bollywood fairytale between Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai.
“With a guest list expected to exceed 5,000, helicopters hired to shower petals over the reception and the astrological charts finally predicting a union that is truly blessed, the marriage of the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and Bollywood leading man Abhishek Bachchan, the son of Asia’s most famous actor Amitabh Bachchan is expected to happen within a month,” the Observer reported.
The wedding celebration will be spread out over 10 days in a private estate on the outskirts of Mumbai and a palace in Rajasthan. The royal affair is being touted as a ‘Bollywood fairytale’ and India’s answer to the coupling of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
“For Indians across the world this wedding will be as big as Prince Charles and Diana’s was for the British”, says Bollywood columnist Amita Ghosh.
“The question people are asking right now is: why all the fuss about Liz Hurley? Perhaps this is why the media in India have turned against Liz, nobody really knows who she is. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan are our real stars and their wedding is the only one that counts,” Ghosh said. [IBN]
Posted in Film, India, Celebrity, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Nayar | No Comments »
March 8th, 2007 by dd
Multi-million dollar film deals, private jets, free designer clothing, sponsorship contracts… welcome to the insane world of Celebrities. We love them, we hate them, we can’t get enough of their self indulgent behavior and outrageous spending habits. So it’s refreshing to see stars who give back to the community or who adopt a cause. The Dumpling is now going to list a few random but no less important charities these stars feel strongly about (or at least their publicists do):
Hong Kong pop star, Joey Yung, is planning to visit Kenya for charity purposes. Prior to leaving, Joey is seen posing (above) with some of her fans at the airport who came to show her support before her departure.
Amitabh Bachchan recently appeared in a special episode of the TV show Antakshari, which will be airing a succession of six shows all aimed to support street children, among other causes. In that particular episode, Bachchan cheered on several visually impaired children participating in the singing contest and also read a poem for them.
Taiwan pop group S.H.E. is going to India later this moth for a charity project organized in collaboration between World Vision and China Airlines. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.
Read more about your favorite stars and their charities including Vivian Hsu, Jerry Yan, Gong Li, and Zhang Ziyi after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Music, Film, India, Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, Amitabh Bachchan, Vivian Hsu, Joey Yung, S.H.E., Jerry Yan | No Comments »
January 15th, 2007 by dd
After weeks of speculation, Bollywood heartthrobs Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai have taken the first step towards legalizing their romantic relationship. The 31-year-old actor and his 33-year-old muse were engaged in a quiet ceremony on Sunday evening. The engagement brings together two of the biggest stars of India’s tinsel town.
Abhishek, who is the son of Indian cinema icon Amitabh Bachchan, popped the question to Aishwarya, the Miss World of 1994, in New York last week while the two were promoting Guru, their new film together, 64-year-old Amitabh Bachchan confirmed to the media. “She said yes, and we are very happy for them,” he was quoted as saying.
Reportedly, the wedding has been scheduled for February 19 at the Hotel Hyatt in Mumbai, where the two are based. But the senior Bachchan asserted that the wedding date is yet to be decided upon.
Aishwarya and Abhishek first came together in 2000 for the film Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke and since, have appeared in more than five films together.
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November 30th, 2006 by dd
A late-night, hush-hush visit to a temple by Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai has sparked talk of a wedding, but the priest denied the ceremonies were marital.
Bachchan, son of Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan, and former Miss World Rai, whose friendship has long been under media scrutiny for signs of romance, held pre-dawn prayers in Varanasi, one of Hinduism’s holiest cities.
None of the party spoke to the media but their family priest said the prayers were held to mark the birth anniversary of Amitabh’s deceased father.
When reporters asked why Rai was there although she was not a member of the Bachchan family, the priest said: “I don’t know.”
This failed to deter news channels which broadcast stories speculating that marriage was on the cards for the star couple.
After the rituals, Abhishek and Aishwarya were scheduled to leave for Agra, the northern city home to the Taj Mahal, the 17th century white-marble monument to love. [Y!]
Posted in Film, India, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan | No Comments »
