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More news →Battle royal for Pongal
Battle lines are drawn for Pongal. It would be a cracker of contest on the festive day when the movies featuring Ajith, Vijay, Vijayakanth and Jeyam Ravi are expected to make it to the theatres. According to reports, Vijay's Pokiri directed by Prabhu Deva is tipped for a Pongal release. A remake of the Telugu hit Pokiri, expectations are high on the movie. Ajith's Aalwar would be released on the same day. The producer nursed a desire of releasing it in early December. But now it seems he has opted for a release in January, 2007 itself since Ajith's Varalaru is still drawing good crowds. The shooting of Jeyam Ravi's Deepavali is happening with full zing. Directed by Ezhil and produced by director Lingusamy, the movie has Jeyam Ravi and Bhavana in prominent roles. It is expected to release this January. The latest to join the race is Vijayakanth. His Sabari, directed by Suresh and produced by Salem Chandrasekhar, is releasing on Pongal day. Vikram's Bheema might also make it for Pongal.
Royal Rendezvous with Lakshmi Mittal
He is the richest Indian in the world and Forbes announced him as the third richest man in the world after Bill Gates and Warren Buffet! His story is not just a great success story... it is truly historic! It is a story of a boy from a small and poor Indian village, who has today created the biggest steel empire in the world. It is no coincidence that his first name is that of the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity- Mr. Lakshmi Niwas Mittal. For the first time in 'Rendezvous' history, Simi Garewal moved away from her sets and traveled to UK to interview the 'Man of Steel'. Watch the self-made billionaire at his royal abode in London, as he talks to Simi in an exclusive episode of Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, this Sunday, April 30th at 9:30 p.m. only on Star World. In this special episode, get a sneak peek into the world's most expensive home - the grand and palatial 'Mittal Mansion' and some never-seen-before pictures of the Mittal family. The steel tycoon shares tales of his childhood, his success formula and how he consolidated the "Mittal Steel Empire", the risks he has taken and the failures he has tackled. He also talks about how he will now like to strengthen the world's steel industry by acquiring Arcelor, the second largest steel-making company in the world. He shares his business acumen behind this takeover and how it will help the society and community. An Indian who has achieved so much in his life and has reached beyond our dreams! What did it take and what is his story? All this and much more...on an exclusive rendezvous with none other than Lakshmi Mittal! So, make sure you don't miss this special one-hour episode of Rendezvous with Simi Garewal on Star World, Sunday, April 30th at 9.30 p.m. Next week... Simi returns with Lakshmi and the woman he shares his success with... his inspiration, his advisor, his homemaker and his one great enduring love- his wife, Usha Mittal. Also for the first time, catch special glimpses of the most expensive wedding of the century of their daughter, Vanisha with Amit Bhatia in Paris.
Deccan Chargers overcome Royal Challengers by 7 wickets
In a must win match to turn their fortunes, Deccan Chargers (DC) pulled off a thrilling seven-wicket victory Thursday over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) III T20 game at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium here. Chasing a target of 185 runs set by Challengers, Chargers posted 186 runs for the loss of just 3 wickets in 19.2 overs, with dashing T.Suman and Andrew Symonds putting up a solid fourth wicket partnership of 91 runs in 8.2 overs. Suman, who walked into the middle at the fall of opening batsman Monish Mishra in the third over when the score was just 11, stayed put to score a brilliant 78 with six 4s and three mighty sixes. He was declared the man of the match. Similarly, Symonds, who joined Suman in the 12th over after Rohit Sharma was out cheaply for 6, hit 53 in just 24 balls with five 4s and three 6s. With Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist, Suman was involved in a second wicket partnership of 77 runs 8.3 overs. Earlier, put to bat, Challengers scored 184 for 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs, with a rear-guard fighting knock by Virat Kohli and opener Jacques Kallis who accelerated the run-rate in the slog overs by raising the score to 163 runs in the 19th over by hitting huge sixes and fours. The fifth wicket partnership between Kallis and Kohli yielded 95 runs in 52 balls. Kallis made 68 in 44 balls, with one 6 and nine 4s, while Kohli scored 58 in just 35 balls with four 6s and four 4s. For the IPL II title holders Chargers, Ryan Harris and Pragyan Ojha were the most successful bowlers taking two each crucial wickets.
Diamond at heart of royal upheavals up for sale
A diamond coveted by kings, queens and princes for centuries, used to reinforce alliances between nations and pawned to pay off royal debts goes on sale at Sotheby's in Geneva on May 15. The auction house called the "Beau Sancy" "one of the most important historic diamonds ever to come to auction," reflecting its part in the fluctuating fortunes of Europe's royal families for more than 400 years. The stone, a 35-carat modified "pear double rose cut" diamond belonging to Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and head of the former ruling dynasty of the German empire, is expected to fetch $2-4 million. "It's a stone that appeals to me greatly as a survivor of all those tumultuous events," said David Bennett, chairman of Sotheby's jewelry in Europe and the Middle East. "Stones from royal collections hardly ever appear at auction. In my career this is an absolute one-off," he told Reuters by telephone from New York. Bennett, who sold a pink diamond for $46.2 million in 2010 which was a record for any jewel at auction, said estimating the value of a stone like the Beau Sancy was difficult given its rarity. The diamond originated from the mines in India near Golconda and was acquired by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, in Constantinople in the 1500s, explaining its name. In 1604 it was bought for 75,000 livres by French king Henry IV as a gift for his wife, Marie de Medici. JEALOUS QUEEN? According to Sotheby's, the queen had long coveted the stone, especially after learning that de Harlay had sold a larger diamond called the Sancy and now part of the Louvre Collection to King James I of England. Henry IV was assassinated in 1610, and after years of rivalry between Marie and her son King Louis XIII, she was eventually exiled in disgrace. She escaped to the Netherlands, and to settle her debts her possessions were sold, including the Beau Sancy which was acquired by Prince Frederick Henry of Orange-Nassau for 80,000 florins, the largest expenditure in the state budget of 1641. In the same year, the diamond was used as a sweetener to help seal the wedding of Frederick's son William to Mary Stuart, daughter of King Charles I of England. Following Mary's death in 1660, the Beau Sancy was pawned to settle her debts, but in 1677 the stone reentered the Treasure of the House of Orange-Nassau following the wedding of William III to Mary II Stuart. The couple ascended the throne of England in 1689, meaning the Beau Sancy entered the collection of the Queen of England, but since the couple had no children, the diamond returned to the Netherlands. From there it moved to the Prussian monarchy in 1702, becoming the principal ornament of the new royal crown of Prussia, but its dramatic story did not end there. The diamond remained in Berlin after the last king of Prussia fled to exile in November, 1918 at the end of World War One, and at the end of World War Two it was transferred to a bricked-up crypt for safe-keeping. British troops found the stone and returned it to the estate of House of Prussia, where it has remained ever since.
Deepika to sport royal style in 'Bajirao Mastani': Anju Modi
Designer Anju Modi, who is working on the costumes for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Bajirao Mastani”, says actress Deepika Padukone will sport a “royal style” in the film. "Deepika will be seen dressed in royal style, plus she is playing a Muslim character in the film, so we have tried to give her sharara and kurtis,” the designer said at the Aza Store here. Giving insights into the film's costumes, Anju said: "'Bajirao Mastani' is a period movie... So, we have kept old Mughal style Angarkha and Maharasthrian style Navwari saris as it's a story about the Maratha Peshwas." The ace designer is a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), and made her Bollywood debut with Bhansali's “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela” where she took ethnic designs to a different level altogether. "Bajirao Mastani" is based on the love story between 18th century Maratha warrior Peshwa Bajirao I (Ranveer Singh) and his second wife Mastani (Deepika). Priyanka plays Kashibai, the first wife of Peshwa Bajirao.
Eros to distribute Eklavya - The Royal Guard globally
Bollywood's leading media and entertainment company, Eros International announced that it has formed an alliance with the leading filmmaker Vinod Chopra Films for global distribution of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's much awaited star-studded extravaganza, 'Eklavya - The Royal Guard'. A Vinod Chopra Films release through Eros will showcase a worldwide release of the film Eklavya on February 16, 2007 across India, North America, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and rest of Africa, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Sri Lanka. Set in the princely state of Rajasthan in India, Eklavya is a picturesque epic with a line-up of Bollywood superstars including Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, Jimmy Sheirgill, Raima Sen and Sharmila Tagore. Commenting on this Mr. Kishore Lulla, CEO & Chairman, Eros International, said "Vinod Chopra is a credit to our film industry and represents the creative DNA of neo-Bollywood. Eklavya is our second film with Vinod Chopra Films this year, following Lage Raho Munna Bhai which was a breakout success. Vinod is undoubtedly a film-maker par excellence and Eklavya has all the ingredients to become Bollywood's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Eros is delighted to be marketing and distributingthe film globally." Mr. Vinod Chopra, founder of Vinod Chopra Films, said "My wonderful association with Eros goes back a long way from one of my earlier films 1942 A Love Story. Eros is one of the few companies in the industry, which truly has a global distribution network. It's a pleasure dealing with Eros as they are large yet nimble, well-scaled yet personal."