Shakal Pe mat Ja at the South Asian Internatio​nal Film Festival at New York

Amongst thousands of entries and prestigious jurors likeShekhar Kapoor, ‘Shakal Pe Mat Ja’ has been selected to be the centerpiecepremiere film of 2011 at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) tobe held in New York city from November 9-15. SAIFF features the work of newSouth Asian film makers from all around the world and this is its 8th year.
Shubh, the director of the film SPMJ, who will be traveling to NY forthe same says, "We are absolutely thrilled to have our film as a part ofsuch a prestigious event. It feels great that all the hard work is finallypaying off. Saurabh Shukla and I will be there for the opening premiere and weare really looking forward to it."

SIKHS CALLING FROM GROUND ZERO

The first Bollywood film to be given permission to shoot at Ground Zero isbased on Sikhs in the US
In a first, a Bollywood unit has been given permission to shoot at Ground Zeroin New York, the site of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre attacks. USauthorities were skeptical about allowing shooting near the site. It tookPuneet Issar, who directed I Am Singh, a year to convince them.
“Yes, we are allowed to shoot there now”, confirms Issar, whose film is basedon the issue of mistaken identity of Sikhs in America. They are still perceivedas Arabs, even after so many years since 9/11, he says, adding, Its been twoyears now and about 20% of the film is still left, which is to be shot on thesite where the twin towers stood
Puneet says, “It’s an achievement as they were adamant on not givingpermission. Eighty per cent of the film is shot in America. We kept putting upour case to the concerned department. Finally, the authorities gave their nod”

A source from the unit said convincing American authorities wasn’t easy, asthey thought the film would portray a negative image of the country. Even theAmerican crew hired for the project was apprehensive. They needed clarificationas to what we were making, Puneet tells us, I’m hoping for things to pass offpeacefully. National sentiments on the subject are still strong. Besides NewYork, shooting will also take place in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Talking about the story, Puneet says, It’s based on real life incidents, on howthe life of Sikhs changed post 9/11. It’s very painful to hear that many ofthem had to change their identities. The turban is a symbol of pride, butbecause of mistaken identity, Sikhs are facing the dilemma of converting tobeing clean shaven. My movie has a strong message that humanity is aboveeverything. It says that Sikhs shouldn’t be mistaken for Arabs.

Ekta Kapoor is extremely religious and likes to seek divine interventions.

Reportedly, Ekta Kapoor will pray at four religious shrines for the success of her next film, The Dirty Picture.
The superstitious Ekta Kapoor is leaving no stone unturned in making sure her next, The Dirty Picture tastes success at the Box office.
The producer will be visiting not one, but four shrines in different parts of the country to seek divine intervention.
An insider at Kapoor's production house tells us that Ekta will be visiting the shrines between November 15 and 28. In the meanwhile director Milan Luthria, Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan and Tusshar Kapoor will be promoting the film.
According to the source, "First, she will head to Ajmer Sharif, and a day after returning from there, she will go to the Kali Ghat temple in Kolkata. Since Guwahati is closer from there, she will head to Kamakhya Devi temple before returning to Mumbai. At last, Ekta will go to Tirupati Balaji."
"It's not only ironical, but also the exact opposite in terms of the context of the movie's subject," conceded our source.
Although she has denied being superstitious, Ekta has steadfastly maintained that she belongs to a religious family and it's only normal for them to pray to the deities before starting a new venture. A devotee of Lord Balaji, she always flies  down to Tirupati before the release of a new project.

Aishwarya Rai’s delivery due by mid-Nov

Aishwarya Rai’s due date is thought to be in mid-November, which means she could be just a few days away from delivering.
Amitabh Bachchan who will soon become grandfather this month is super excited, especially now when the good news can come anytime-anyday, family and friends gathering at home to see the family and the hustle bustle around the household is making him more and more happier.
Amitabh Bachchan posted on twitter expressing his happy feelings, ‘The family gathers together from all over as we wait for the ‘arrival’ … greatest joy for me – a full house and the ‘chahel – pahel’. Reportedly, Aishwarya will be admitted to the Seven Hills Hospital at any time for delivery.
The major news for Aishwarya Rai and her family as said by the hospital authorities is that she has a safe delivery for herself and the birth of her new baby. Hopefully, she and her family will be given the privacy and respect necessary so that this can happen safely.
On Sunday night, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was spotted paying a visit to the Seven Hills hospital in Marol, northwest Mumbai, where she is expected to deliver her first child. Her parents Vrinda and Krishnaraj Rai, husband Abhishek Bachchan, as well as her in-laws Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Shweta Nanda accompanied her.
Aishwarya, wearing a light grey sweater over a dress, arrived in a Mercedes Benz. She certainly looked cheerful as she went up the stairs to check her room and complete some hospital formalities.
A source said Aishwarya did not stay the night at the hospital, but left for home shortly afterwards.

John refuses to work with Bipasha

Despite calling it a break, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are working together in Kabir Khan’s ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, the same is the case for Deepika Padukone and her ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor. They are working together in Ayan Mukherjee’s ‘Yeh Jawani Hain Diwani' but one time lovers John Abraham and Bipasha Basu’s story is not the same. They have called it a quit and John is adamant not to share screen space with Bipasha in his life.
John have signed Abbas-Mustan’s ‘Race 2’ but made it clear to the director that he would not share screen space with Bipasha who plays a lead role in the movie. She was in the prequel and again cast opposite Saif Ali Khan. John Abraham recently confirmed, "Bipasha and I don't have any common scenes in Race 2".
A source associated with ‘Race 2’ informs, "Bipasha was Saif Ali Khan's love interest in Race and continues to be his girlfriend in the sequel as well. She is paired opposite Saif and not John in the film".
John and Bipasha has delivered few blockbuster in the past but there is no chance of seeing them together on-screen together in future.