By Jilawatan

Walking the ramp for designer Ritu Beri was a completely different experience for Vidya Balan. “Vidya was surprised at her professional skills at walking the ramp even though she has never been a professional fashion model. Ritu Beri stood impressed with Vidya. She even complimented Vidya backstage”, said a source.

Ritu says,”The spirit is intrinsically feminine, romantic and bit flamboyance with embroidered bouquets and cascades of flounces, ruffles and gathers which suitably goes with Vidya.”

Ritu told Vidya that she would love to have her in all the fashion shows. To that Vidya just laughed and humbly said that it was her clothes that made her stand out! Vidya also said that walking in Ritu Beri attire in itself was privilege and the costume created a magic that made her walk like a professional model automatically.

Vidya Balan was the show stopper for Ritu Beri’s Spanish black gown.

Vidya Balan has been a very traditional Indian looking in contrast to most of today’s Bollywood stars.

Vidya is now changing her traditional look that she mastered in Parineeta to a more modern look like in movies such as Heyy Baby and now she is continuing that in her new movie “Kismat Konnection”.

The girl was looking extremely stunning in her pictures and nothing like the way she looked few years ago in her debut movie – Parineeta.

Trust Vidya Balan to stir a traffic jam and cause chaos among car drivers! Well anything to greet and meet a friend whom she met after a long time. The incident took place at Bandra’s Carter Road recently. Our witness said, ‘The promenade at Cater Road is famous for folks to do some yoga aasanas and exercise.

The promenade is like that open gym used to the presence of celebrities too. By standers and joggers often watch them exercise in public.’ And among others was Raj Kumar Hirani doing his bit to keep his body fit.

‘Vidya was passing by when she noticed Raju sweating out on the promenade. The actress immediately rolled down the glass of her car and began shouting, ‘Raju! Raju!’ But Raju was interrupted by passing cars failing to notice the person calling out at him. The witness continued saying, ‘Vidya finally halted her car and crossed over to greet Raju. With that she halted the entire traffic too.’

Mumbai: Vidya Balan reveals that she was intimidated while working with Naseeruddin Shah, her co-actor in her forthcoming film Ishqiya which also has Arshad Warsi in the cast. The movie is being produced by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Vidya says, “I saw his films as a kid and when anyone hears his name their general reaction is ‘wow, what an actor’. I honestly was very intimidated by his presence on the sets and you can write intimidated in block letters. I guess within a week he realised that
I was being shy on the sets. When the camera was rolling, I was all cool but when we were not shooting, I was sitting away and not interacting much with him. He understood that and then we shared some casual conversations and it got all comfortable between us.”

She adds: “I haven’t worked this hard on any film post Parineeta. It was two months of intense filming and I put in lots of hours for it. But it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I felt no pressure at all. I always looked forward to go back on the sets as soon as a day got over. It’s a very special film for me.”

The talented actor also has many important projects up her sleeve like R. Balki’s Pa and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Chenab Gandhi the shootings for which haven’t started yet.
Vidya says: “I’m waiting for these two big films of mine to start. I loved Balki’s Cheeni Kum. It had a beautiful story and the performances (of Amitabh Bachchan and Tabu) were very good too. Chenab Gandhi is being produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”

Mumbai: Sure, she doesn’t do a show that often, especially not in Mumbai. But Delhi-based designer Ritu Beri has her hands full. And it’s not just her fashion business that is keeping her busy.

For starters, she is on the organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games that are to be held in India. “It wouldn’t be wrong to say that I am in charge of the overall look for the Games, and by that I am referring to things like the athletes’ uniforms and the like. But a lot also depends on the budget so if it works out I will be doing the uniforms or else we will have to give it out to someone else. It’s too early for me to say much more,” she says.

Also among the many things on her agenda is a book and those in the know are aware that the designer had earlier penned a book on looking your best. “This time around, it just might be an autobiography I haven’t decided anything yet but yes, I enjoyed the writing experience and I am keen to do it again,” says Beri, who was in the city for a showing at a luxury style fest.

On Vidya Balan being her showstopper, she says, “Vidya Balan was not comfortable with the idea of wearing crystal studded fake eyelashes. But we felt that we could go ahead with it as the ramp can take all the drama needed.”

Where shows and fashion weeks are concerned, she’s not exactly averse to them. “I love doing shows but I don’t do it that often due to my workload. Even this time around, I haven’t made up my mind if I will be showing at the fashion week or not,” notes Beri, adding that recession hasn’t affected the Indian fashion industry as badly as it’s being made out to be. “Luxury is a niche market meant for the rich and there’s only so much damage that it will take,” she emphasises, adding, “It’s a beautiful thing to be married and more importantly, to be a mother. I am enjoying every moment of it,” she ends.

Vidya Balan pledged her support to Project Nanhi Kali, along with Verve magazine, at the recent Mumbai marathon. On the sunny morning of 18th January 09′, Vidya ran alongside 35,000 Mumbaikars at the 6th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, for Nanhi Kali.

Inspired by the projects outreach to over 48,000 underprivileged girl children in poor urban, and remote rural tribal communities, Vidya decided to come forward to support the cause and the project, along with Verve magazine. She also spent time interacting with ‘nanhi kalis’. While the young girls were extremely happy to see their favourite star in person, Vidya too was very impressed by them.

The energy was palpable at the Marathon which showcased the spirit of Mumbai and Mumbaikars, who participated this year not only for their favourite charity but also to show solidarity post the 26/11 terror attacks.

Bebo( kareena) who has blamed Amritha Rao for being close to shahid kapoor from his debut film is now blamming Vidya balan who is working with shahid kapoor in the movie ” Kismet Connection “.

Kareena who is roaming with saif in the past weeks wants to diversify the media attention towards shahid Kapoor and Amritha rao when the flame was not to hot, she’s now come up with a statement saying shahid and vidya balan are close to each other..

Vidya Balan has been accused of breaking up Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor’s relationship. In a free-wheeling interview, Vidya clears the air.

What is your reaction to the buzz about you and Shahid Kapoor dating each other?
I have been through such situations when things have been written about me and there was no iota of truth in them. I’m not affected by all this.

Are you dating Shahid?
No.

But Shahid has said that he bonded well with you.
Yes, we get along very well with each other. But that does not mean that we are having an affair.

It’s said that Shahid and you went to his house after the trial show of Jab We Met?
That’s rubbish. I left much before Shahid did. (Laughs) I want to know where Shahid lives.

Yari Road, Versova…
Oh God! Don’t take my last sentence literally. In that case, everybody knows that I stay in Chembur. Everybody knows where Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan live.

Is it true that Shahid had invited you for the trial show?
Yes. As a co-actor.

Someone wrote that you were playing the hostess at the trial?
After reading that piece, Milap Zaveri (writer of Heyy Baby) messaged me, saying, “How could you be beside Shahid and play the hostess unless you were in the form of Manjulika – the ghost character you played in Bhool Bhulaiya?”

What do you like about Shahid?
He is a great actor.

Do you find him handsome?
(Laughs) My God! What a question! Honestly, I have disconnected myself from such things. I am too involved in my work. I am not giving any time and attention to my personal life.

Has Shahid confided in you and told you about his break-up with Kareena?
No. He does not discuss his personal life with me.

Have you been receiving hate mails from fans who want to see Shahid and Kareena reunite?
No. Nobody has asked me anything about Shahid and Kareena’s break up. Not even the television channels.

Has Kareena messaged you after the rumours about your relationship with Shahid began floating?
No.

Have you met Kareena?
I had met her only once at a trial show. That was long ago.

Is it possible that your relationship with Shahid becomes more meaningful in the future?
I am not thinking right now about what will happen in my personal life in future.

January 23rd, 8 pm is the time for a new creative show in Bindass, the UTV channel.

Recently, there has been an increase in number of accidents on the roads. It was primarily due to two reasons. One was due to driving by minors and the other due to inadequate driving knowledge.

Mumbai Mirror, the Mumbai based leading newspaper, launched a campaign against driving by minors and the celebrities like Anupam Kher and Vidya Balan have come in support of the campaign which has been received very well by the parents who have contributed to the campaign by voluntarily contributing their personal tragic incidences.

Now, Hero Honda and UTV have come together to eradicate the inadequacy in driving knowledge. They have together decided to launch a TV reality show called “CBF Stunner 10”.

This contest will have 10 contestants who were short listed by Hero Honda a few months ago and trained on road safety and riding skills.

The show that will have some celebrity judges like Suresh Menon, Alicia Raut etc., will span for eight episodes with detailed audio-video visuals propagating safe driving practices. To make the programme more interesting, there will also be some events like milking a cow, salsa dance and some competitive exercises.

What the winner gets? A chance to host his own show on Bindass.

Several elite runners participated in a marathon in Mumbai on Sunday, the first international sports event in the city since the terror attacks last November.

Almost 35,000 people ran in five separate races in the annual run through the streets of south and central Mumbai, past two of the three landmarks where Islamic militants laid siege, killing 179 people.

Over 2,000 runners took part in the full marathon, third leg of the Greatest Race on Earth series where 36 international teams from 24 countries competed for a million dollar prize pool.

Film celebrities were the main attraction of the Marathon. Vidya Balan, Gul Panag, Soha Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Om Puri, Rahul Bose were some of the well known faces who ran for the cause.

‘These terrorist attacks can not scare us or warn us,’ said Om Puri, Bollywood Actor

Crowd from all over the city gathered to cheer up the participants. The spirit of Mumbai was high as everybody in the marathon appeared determined to fight terrorism.