So he confirms that Shahid & Priyanka were dating. He also basically confirms the rumour that Akshay & Priyanka were dating. Very interesting! The interview is below:

On his birthday today, Harman Baweja talks about his past, present and future

If you'd asked me about Harman Baweja (Yes, it is no longer Hurman) a few months ago, I would've told you he is a sweet chap, who is immature, has a God complex and he feels persecuted. But that's changed now. I still think he is alright but he has now matured, shed his insecurities and is at ease with who he is. What else has changed? He is no longer with his girlfriend of five years, Priyanka Chopra.

Has be changed because of the split or in spite of it, isn't important. What matters, is that he isn't looking back. Today on his 29th birthday (he doesn't look it though), for the first time, he talks about his life, his work, his (now ex) girlfriend and bonding with Shahid (now PC's ex). It's hard to keep track of all that's changing. So without any further delay, read on to discover the new and improved Harman Baweja.

Today is your first 'single' birthday in five years, how do you plan to celebrate it?

I have no plans. But let me tell you that I haven't had a birthday party since I was 18. Every year, my sister or my friends throw a party for me. And I am hoping this year too, it will be the same.

You are turning 29 and you were in a serious relationship for five years... so am I right in guessing you are going to stay far, far away from a serious relationship now?

Yes, no more serious relationships for me. And when I do get married it will be to a nice Punjabi girl from Chandigarh that my mother selects for me.

Very filmi.

Maybe. But that's what I believe right now. Have even told mom about it.

Your mom and also your sister were rather close to Priyanka. Did their equation with her change?

No, they are friends and still talk. And my family is not like that. If they accept someone, then it is for life. And I am not the sort of person to tell them not to be friends or close to anyone just because I am not. Also, Priyanka is a lovely girl. We may not be close anymore but nothing changes that.

Did you go through the whole getting over a serious relationship by having meaningless trysts with whosoever was available?

(Laughs) You know how it is, when you are feeling down, your buddies take it upon themselves to pull you out of that hole you've crawled into. My friends too did that. They would drag me out and they'd ask a lot of girls out too. And we'd party all night. I don't like to drink too much, when I do, I love shots and once you've downed a few, you and are willing to try anything.

Do you blame Priyanka for you both drifting apart?

No. I blame myself. She kept asking me to give her time but I didn't. I couldn't. After two flops, I felt a lot of pressure to do well in my third film. I got too engrossed in it. I got too close to the project. Too involved. In fact, Ashu Sir (Ashutosh Gowariker) used to tell me, 'we are not used to people getting into our space. We don't let any actor do that.' But I crossed all boundaries. I was involved at every stage, every level. What's Your Raashee was very important to me.

Are you happy with the way WYR shaped out?

Yes, I am happy that Ashu Sir was not disappointed after signing me, the critics gave me appreciation too. I wish the film had been successful as well. Right now I would take a hit over anything else, even praise.

So ultimately your relationship got sacrificed at the altar of success. A lot of people felt that Priyanka broke it off after Victory bombed. Have you ever believed that?

No. I have never believed that. And only two people know what went wrong between them. And I don't think success of failure changes anything friendship of relationship.

It is generally believed that in your head you are a superstar. Has that changed?

(Laughs out loud) I would have to be put in an asylum if I still believed that after three releases. But yes, I know people believed that of me.

And with good reason?

Maybe so. Maybe my attitude was wrong. (Thinks) I was new to the industry. I was told to behave in a certain way by people who have been here longer, and that's what I did.

You mean Priyanka?

(Smiles) No. But there are a lot of people who tell you what to say, what to do, how to behave. And because you are new, and you want to make a good impression, you try and be something. After a point, I realised that I just had to be myself, because I was not comfortable being something or someone else. What you see now, is the real me.

You recently went upto Shahid Kapoor and talked to him at a party. That's a sign of maturity. Ho much did that have to do with knowing that he and PC are no longer together.

No. (shifts uncomfortably) I just felt like talking to him. And he was equally warm. I have to say that it was not weird at all because of the way he was when I talked to him. I have known Shahid. When he was with Bebo, we often went on double dates. And he is a really nice guy.

You never watched Kaminey?

I couldn't bring myself to see it.

Because it's on the set of this film that it all started?

Hmm... I just didn't want to see the film. I thought I would be okay, but as the day kept coming nearer, it was all around and therefore, harder to bear. I just booked tickets and left the country. I have three friends from different parts of the world. We all met in Sicily and had a blast. And by the time I came back, I was ready for anything.

Isn't it true that you were at a party and someone played Dhan Te Nan, and your friends rushed over and had the DJ change the song?

(Grins) Yes, my friends did that. It was hard for me to even hear the songs of that film.

So... ready to see it now?

No. I don't think I will ever see it. I still haven't watched Aitraaz.

Must've been difficult to shoot WYR? with Priyanka?

Yes, it was. There was a lot of awkwardness. It was hard to see her talk on the phone and text. I knew what was happening.

One time, you broke down on the set one time, and Sunita (Gowariker) asked you to go home, right?

(Hesitantly) It was right in the beginning. We were all having lunch and she got up and left saying she wanted to rest in the van, and just before she left, I got a message saying that she will now make an excuse and leave. At that moment, it became real for me. Sunita saw how disturbed I was, and she just said: Leave. And I left without saying a word to anyone. I even left my phone sitting there on the table.

How did she break the news to you?

She hasn't told me yet. She doesn't accept it. She will never be able to tell me. Even when she is sixty.

Will it be awkward if you have to work with her again?

No, I don't think so. We are both professional and nothing can come in the way of that.

Rumoured to be a hot couple in B-town once, Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor have kept their relationship well-guarded. Till date, the couple keeps everyone guessing about the status of their relationship.

As far as we can remember, there were reports that Shahid was upset with Piggy Chops's drinking habit and thus cracks developed in their friendship. But then, we saw the two indulging in a little jig at the Rajiv Gandhi Award ceremony, and it made it evident that the two are more than happy to be in each other's company.

The latest we hear is that the two refused to acknowledge each other's presence at an event over the weekend. Through the night we noticed that they didn't even look in each other's direction. Sigh! Love has its ups and downs. We are still hopeful that the two are together.

We wonder if Priyanka is a habitual for now-on-now-off relationship? Remember poor chap Harman Baweja?

Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has kept mum about his girlfriend Priyanka Bhatia so far, showed up with her for the first time at the premiere of his critically acclaimed film "Jail". He says she is an integral part of his family and that they enjoy a good comfort level.

"My parents and her parents not only know and like each other, we also visit each other's homes constantly. More than lovers, we're friends first," Neil told IANS.

"There's a comfort level in our interaction that makes us very relaxed with one another. We don't have to hide anything. We meet openly and are very proud of one another. There's no pressure for marriage on either side. When it happens, it happens. The marital status would hardly alter anything between us," he added.

Priyanka has done a course in fashion design and Neil is open to the idea of her designing his clothes for his films.

"I'd love that. But it should happen on its own. Neither Priyanka nor I want to pressurise anyone to use her skills. But if it happens, I'd be very happy to be dressed up by her," he said.

Talking about his girlfriend's reaction to "Jail", he said: "Priyanka and my mom were hysterical with grief. They weren't looking at just a character being put through a traumatic time. To them it was someone who they both love and he was in pain in front of their eyes."

Talking more about work, Neil admits that there is healthy rivalry between him and Ranbir Kapoor.

"Ranbir and I are of course competitors. But there's no negative rivalry between us. Our respective fathers (Nitin Mukesh and Rishi Kapoor) would kill us if we behaved like two brats fighting for the same roles," said Neil.

"I'm proud that Ranbir's and my grandfather (Raj Kapoor and Mukesh) were very close friends. My father and Ranbir's father adore each other. Ranbir is like my younger brother," he added

Neil's "Jail" and Ranbir's "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani" released on the same day.

"I'd want Ranbir's film to do as well as mine," Neil says. "Fortunately, 'Jail' and 'Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani' look like north and south poles."

For all those who think it's all work, work, work for Aamir Khan, it's time to think again. The perfectionist these days is busy pining for his wife Kiran Rao even as the release of his next film, 3 Idiots, draws closer. Kiran is currently busy shooting for her directorial debut, Dhobi Ghat.

Lovelorn Aamir writes on his blog: "I'm sitting at my window sipping tea and watching the rain. Sigh... what a day. Wish Kiran was here with me... but she is working on her film in Panchgani." He adds, "Feel like singing that song from Roti Kapda Aur Makan which Zeenat Aman sings to Manoj Kumar. The situation is that it begins to rain and Manoj has to leave for work, to which Zeenat sings : Hai hai yeh majboori, yeh mausam aur yeh doori."

Aamir also talks about his rain song with Kareena Kapoor in his upcoming film, 3 Idiots. "In 3I, too, we have this rain moment in a romantic song. In fact, apart from being a moment in the film for Pia and Rancho, it also pays a tribute to old Hindi films... and one Hollywood film... Titanic. Which is actually a Hindi film shot in English!" Aamir, in the meantime, also seems to have impressed Amitabh Bachchan, who recently invited him to a screening of Paa's promos.

Big B writes on his blog about Aamir: "It was lovely to spend time with him, discuss the film, show him the promo (of Paa), receive his appreciation, talk about his own film (3 Idiots ) and invite him for the premier." A few days ago, Amitabh had posted on his blog: "Aamir comes over tomorrow at my initiative to discuss a few promotional points for our respective films. It is always a joy to meet him. We have always spent time together discussing various topics of common interest and yes, films are one of them."

If Ranbir Kapoor is bearing the weight of expectations as a member of Bollywood's first family, he's not showing it.

Just four films old in the industry, the 27-year-old grandson of Raj Kapoor has already made a name as one of the most successful new faces in Bollywood.

After a hectic day promoting his latest film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Kapoor spoke about discovering his comic timing and why he doesn''t read the newspapers every day.

Q: You''ve done a lot of talking today. Is there anything that you havent been asked?

A: (laughs) "Actually no. I think I have been asked everything about my life today. Except for whether I have cut my nails."

Q: So have you cut your nails then?

A: (laughs) "No, I haven''t. I am glad you reminded me. That''s the first thing I will do now. Thanks for asking me a new question."

Q: Now that we''ve got that out of the way, could you talk about your film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani?

A: (laughs) "Yes. First of all, this is a Rajkumar Santoshi film and I am a huge fan of him. This is a romantic comedy and has a really light tone to it. It was such a privilege to work with a director of his calibre. Raj ji''s brand of comedy is like no other. I think I discovered my comic timing in this film."

Q: You are one of the few heroes in the under-30 bracket. Do you feel that is an advantage or a disadvantage?

A: "Depends on the way you look at it. Yes, as a 27-year-old, there will be certain roles that will suit me better than others, but I really don''t think there is a dearth of roles in Bollywood these days.

"Films like Wake Up Sid or now Prakash Jha's Rajneeti are films that maybe would not have been made ten years ago. I really don''t look at it from the point of age. This is a good time to be an actor in Bollywood."

Q: Do you feel that you have been slotted as a romantic hero?

A: "Not really. Also, I don''t really look at my films in terms of genre. I don''t care what genre it is, as long as I agree with the script. At the end of the day, it has to be a good cinematic experience. The rest of it hardly matters.

"And it is not that I am not doing other roles. I have Prakash Jha''s "Rajneeti", which is a hard-hitting film and different from what I have done earlier. There is no set plan in my head as to the kind of films I should be doing."

Q: There has been so much written about you in the press, whether it is about your link-ups or relationships. Does it bother you?

A: "I will not lie and say it doesn''t bother me, because it does. However, there are certain things you cannot control. I have tried to put my side of the story across to the media so many times, but it doesn''t really yield much.

"I have stopped reading newspapers and magazines because they seem to know before me what is happening in my life. I tell myself that as long as the people who are close to me know the truth, I really shouldn''t pay attention."

Q: Has there been too much media focus for your own good?

A: "Yes, especially this year because I have three films releasing back to back. First there was Wake Up Sid, now this one and I have Shimit Amin's Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year coming up in December.

"You know earlier actors didn't really have to worry about much media presence, but now there are so many channels and so many publications that it becomes difficult to keep them out. But that's okay. I think this is part of our occupation and we must accept it."

Mumbai: Salman Khan is now looking to be an active partner in the family-owned Sohail Khan Productions, which has suffered several setbacks recently. Salman has apparently also asked his father Salim Khan to provide inputs to help turn the tide against the company.

Reportedly unhappy with brother Sohail Khan's handling of the family-owned production house, the actor will now make his debut in the role of producer.

DNA has learnt through reliable insiders that Salman's move comes after a reported tiff with his brother Sohail during the release of Main Aurr Mrs Khanna, which tanked despite a Diwali release. The brothers were at odds over the way the movie was released and the promotional strategies. Salman now wants a more hands-on involvement with the projects and key decisions of the company. Sohail's earlier production Kissan also didn't do well at the box office.

An industry source says: "This year hasn't been good for the company. Salman has been a superstar for more than two decades now and has enough industry knowledge to help the production house. It cannot continue to run into losses."

If Salman does formally become head-honcho of Sohail Khan Productions, he'll be attending meetings held by the Bollywood producers' fraternity, joining fellow producer-actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. That should be interesting.

Our source adds: "Everyone in the industry respects and loves Salman and with him at the head of the company, it means that more industry partners will join hands with it. Looks like he also wants to show that if SRK and Aamir can run aproduction house, so can he."

While Sohail remained unavailable for comment, Salman's business manager reverted to DNA saying: "We cannot comment on this development." We'll know soon enough.

Mumbai: It's clearly the season of comeback for Vivek Oberoi who has for many years been clearly sidelined in the industry due to his controversies and fights with various high-profile individuals like Salman Khan (against whom he held a press conference when he was seeing Aishwarya Rai), subsequently the Bachchans, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Aditya Chopra and many others.

A much-chastened Vivek Oberoi admits that he's wasted five precious years of his career by letting his mouth speak more than his work.

"I have wasted five years out of the seven I have spent in the industry. It's like the seven-year itch for me now. As I turn eight in the profession, I realise that I should only let my work speak and not my mouth. I can feel the hunger to perform under my belly again. I have let my audiences down who have showered their love for me. I was distracted and focus on my love which is acting was off," Vivek told DNA. He now has three big projects -- Kurbaan, Prince and Ram Gopal Varma's Rakta Charitra in his bag.

"It's like I have been to hell and come back. I was so lost and so demoralised. Vivek bashing had become a fashion for everyone. One fine day my mother (Yashodhara) decided to talk to me. She said when most people are against me, the only thing I could do was go out there and prove them wrong. She told me that the family was with me and believes in my abilities," he says.

"I realised that I had to start from scratch. I had to be humble and not the rebel people were calling me. It's taken some really hard work to gain ground and reach the position that I'm in today. I feel it's time for me to show people that Vivek Oberoi has not forgotten how to act as it's the only thing he can do very well. At other things, everyone knows I suck," Vivek adds, laughing.

And during these lonely years, who were the people that stood by him? "Akshay Kumar has been a dear friend. Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan have been good mentors. Farah and Sajid Khan have been close and Hrithik Roshan has been very kind. I thank Karan Johar and Ram Gopal Varma for not losing their faith in me and Saif and Kareena with whom I share a great relationship," he says.

Vivek's next is Karan Johar productions' Kurbaan, teaming up with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. "For me, Saif and Kareena are the best Bollywood couple."

Ken Ghosh's Chance pe Dance starring Shahid Kapoor with dance as the subject of the film, seems to be a biography of the actor. The film, according to sources, is strikingly similar to Shahid's real life.

Produced by UTV Motion Pictures, the film has Genelia D'Souza as the female lead. Pointing out the many similarities between the real and reel in Shahid's life, a source says, "The film is about how the protagonist, played by Shahid, enters a reality show before being rejected a number of times. In real life too, Shahid went through numerous auditions before he got his break in Ishq Vishk. Also when he was an aspiring actor, Shahid would travel in his second-hand car which is similar to what his character does in the film. His character, during his struggle and before being selected in the reality show, actually lives in his car as he isn't financially well off, though that is not quite the way Shahid lived."

The source continues, "Another instance is that of Shahid's school days when he played the role of a tree in one of his school plays. His mother loved him in the part and this too is a part of the film."

The closest and the most identifiable part of the film is Shahid's incredible dancing skills which he is constantly honing and this is also an integral part of the film. The source says, "Basically, the film speaks about Shahid's journey as an actor and the success he has achieved in real life."

Shahid confirmed the news and said, "Yes, there are many scenes in Chance pe Dance which are similar to my life but it's not a deliberate attempt to do so. The scenes just turned out like that."

As an actor, he raises the bar time and again.

And Amitabh Bachchan has done it once more. After his genie act in Aladin, Big B will play Auro, a 13-year-old in his next film.

And the reason Bachchan senior fits the role is because this character suffers from progeria, a rare disease that makes him age beyond his years. "But the film is not about the disease," says Bachchan clearing the air, "It's about relationships. It just happens that the kid in the film suffers from progeria. We aren't creating awareness for the disease."

At a time when actors are pushing the envelope and trying new things, Bachchan has gone a step ahead and done the unthinkable by playing a 13-year-old at 67. "I was apprehensive initially. No one's done something like this before. But full marks to Balki for convincing me. We sat down, worked on the script and I knew instantly that this was a challenge that I needed to take," he says when quizzed about his decision to do the film.

But for the man, the most challenging part came in the form of make-up. "It would take four to five hours everyday for me to put on my make-up and another two hours to take it off. That was more challenging than anything else as it was a test of endurance and patience."

If the make-up department sapped him off energy, it was his on-screen father who made up for a lot of things. And the choice of beta Abhishek playing his paa on-screen came as a shock to Bachchan himself initially. "That was another surprise that Balki threw at us. But then, Abhishek has great calibre as an actor and he is the right choice for the role. Look, both Abhi and I are mainstream actors. We wouldn't like to pass on a unique role like this that comes our way once in a while," confesses Bachchan. But considering the nature of the subject and the role-reversal, does he think the audience is mature enough to accept the film? "I don't know. That will have to be seen when the movie releases," says Big B.

With Abhishek stating in many interviews that 'Pa was a good child', on a lighter note, we ask Big B to rate Abhi as an on-screen father. "Oh! He was a very considerate father. He didn't beat me up or scold me. In fact, he did take me around a lot," jokes Bachchan

But role-reversal and storyline apart, another reason that makes the movie special for the Bachchan parivaar is because this is the first time after years that a film is being produced under his home banner. Is he nervous? "I'm nervous every time my film is ready for release. Whether the audience appreciates it or not, remains to be seen. But everyone at AB Corp. is anxious," confesses Bachchan. And donning the hat of producer is son Abhishek. "I think Abhishek has done a great job as a producer. He has managed to complete the film in Rs 15 crore," says Bachchan.

At a time when movies are only as big as their budgets, cost control, says AB is very important. "These days movies are made on a lavish budget. The cost exceeds 40, 50, 60 crore or sometimes more. But I firmly believe that we in the film industry need to restrain ourselves from overspending. Budget control is a must," opines Bachchan.

For a man who is considered to be an icon of cinema worldwide, Bachchan is also known to be a through professional. This makes him one of the most sought-after actors who does not shy away from working with new and upcoming directors. "I did Prakash Mehra's first independent film. The same with Manmohan Desai as well. It does not take away anything from you if you work with new directors. It reminds me of our time in the industry when we were new. No one wanted to work with us. I feel for newcomers and first-timers. When a director approaches me with a good script and if he has vision, I don't hesitate to work with him. In fact, we should encourage such talented people. There is a lot of place for them in the industry," explains Bachchan.

And when not shooting for films, Bachchan is occupied with his commitments on TV and then of course, there is blogging. "My current stint on TV (for Bigg Boss) is good. I go down to the studio every Friday and Saturday and do my bit. I enjoy talking to the contestants," he says. "As far as blogging goes, I enjoy it. I think a lot and I like to write them down. And it all happens on a blog. I love it."

Acting, singing, blogging — how does he manage to do all of this in a 24-hour day? "Well, there are still a lot more things that I do which you don't know about," says Bachchan with his booming trademark laughter.

"But honestly, I love all of it. And when you love what you do, you always find the time for it and that makes life so good," he says before signing off.

Rumour has it that Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor, who were "good friends" during the making of Kaminey, are no longer on talking terms.

But destiny continues to play cruel games with them.

In Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, Priyanka, who played a model, displayed a mobile number on screen at every audition. Now, Shahid, who plays a film aspirant in Ken Ghosh's Chance Pe Dance, was also spotted displaying the same mobile number in the theatrical trailer, which is being aired with Kurbaan.

Guess neither Priyanka nor Shahid wanted it this way but as luck would have it, both the films Fashion and Chance Pe Dance are being presented by the same film corporation (UTV). The unimaginative creative team must have taken the liberty of passing of what was once Priyanka's to Shahid.

So, who does this number belong to? Shahid or Priyanka?

When we probed further, it was revealed that the number displayed on both Shahid and Priyanka's audition board actually belongs to Ram Mirchandani, who was once working in UTV and is now with another corporate.

Soon after Fashion released, Ram had made his displeasure known about getting a hundred phone calls a day from people who thought that it was Priyanka's number in real life.

Now one wonders whether Ram will still continue to get as many phone calls after people see the number displayed by Shahid, who is currently riding a wave.

A source says, "If it had struck Shahid that the number he was holding on the slate is the the same one that Priyanka had used in Fashion, he would probably have asked the writers to change it. Now he has just to live with the fact that what was once Priyanka's is now his by default, if not by design."

Commenting on the story, Ram says, "I didn't know that Shahid was going to be displaying my number on a slate for Chance Pe Dance. Ken Ghosh and Shahid told me about it after they had shot the scene. They told me it was done in good faith and I should be a sport. I don't think Shahid or Ken knew that Priyanka has used the same number in Fashion. It is just one of those coincidences."

MUMBAI: For 41-year-old Karambir Singh Kang, general manager of the Taj, who lost his wife Neeti and sons Uday (14) and Samar (5) when terrorists attacked the hotel last year, work has been the greatest healer. "I keep myself as busy as I can. It's like a 24-hour job. I go home just to sleep," he says.

Kang, who lived with his family in the hotel for a year subsequent to becoming GM in 2007, moved out after the tragedy to an apartment in nearby Cuffe Parade. His Mohali-based parents moved in with him briefly to help him set up home and cope with the terrible tragedy. "But they have their own life; it's unfair to expect them to stay here," he says, composed even as he talks about his turbulent personal journey.

Kang says that events like the terror attack change one's perspective on life and force introspection. "You tend to take things for granted but one day realise that nothing in life is permanent. Hoteliers especially take their families for granted," he says, his eyes welling up. Composing himself, he continues: "Now I'm taking each day as it comes. You have to find some purpose in life. For me it was important to stay back at least till the entire hotel becomes operational."

Kang, a graduate in economics with a marketing diploma, joined the Taj group in 1991 as a fresher in the sales and marketing department. After stints in Delhi and Lucknow, he moved to Mumbai as the GM of Taj Lands' End at Bandra and then to the flagship hotel and largest revenue generator of the Taj Group.

Kang met his wife Neeti while he was posted at Taj Delhi; she was then working in the sales and marketing department in Taj Jaipur. Later, Neeti gave up her job to devote her attention to her kids.

When the terrorists stormed the hotel, Kang was at Taj Lands' End. He immediately rushed back after receiving the news and took charge of the situation.

Colleagues and friends, who've seen Kang battle his personal crisis from close quarters, say that he has shown phenomenal strength by picking up the pieces and moving on. "Life is a roller-coaster, full of ups and downs," he concurs. "What's important is not to lose faith and hope."

MUMBAI: For some, the walls may have been repainted and the upholstery changed, but the scars beneath remain open. Each time he visits the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Dr Prashant Mangeshikar wonders if there was a better escape route.

Mangeshikar had gone with his wife and daughter to the Taj on November 26, 2008 to attend a wedding. He ended up getting trapped in the Chambers for 12 horrifying hours.

"We were the last batch of people to be rescued from there,'' says Mangeshikar, adding that when he first heard the firing he thought it was the sound of firecrackers bursting. Mangeshikar and his wife helped treat a wounded Taj steward with napkins to stop his blood flow. "But unfortunately, he passed away,'' the doctor remembers.

"I'm not worried about returning to the Taj, going back there doesn't bother me. But I still haven't been to the Chambers, where I was stranded for more than 12 hours,'' he says.

Like Mangeshikar, many survivors fight haunting memories of those fateful days and nights when the deafening sounds of bullets and grenades echoed all around. But, also like Mangeshikar, loyal guests of the Taj say there's no question of staying away from the scene of the mayhem when it becomes time to show their solidarity with the hotel.

Rizwan Abdul Kader, a businessman who was stranded inside the Zodiac Grill on the night of November 26, 2008 and spent more than eight terrifying hours in the restaurant, says, "The Taj is my home. I have gone back several times after the hotel was reopened.'' In fact. Rizwan said he also intends to go for the reopening of the Golden Dragon.

While some guests, foreign and Indian, have returned to stay in the same room in which they spent nearly 60 hours with prayers on their lips, corporates like Hindustan Unilever and Deutsche Bank have returned to host conferences at the Taj.

While Kader will probably go to the Taj to mark the first anniversary, Mangeshikar will be busy with a 20-hour surgery in Hyderabad.

Vikram is a do-gooder and is well known for his philanthropic activities and donating huge amounts to the poor and needy.

His fans association helps parents of poor children who are born with heart diseases. The actor — who was away from Chennai for the last two months shooting for Mani Ratnam's Raavan near Mumbai and later for Selvaraghavan's untitled film in Leh — could not make it for a function hosted by Tollywood personalities for the AP flood relief. So, a day after he returned to Chennai, he went to Hyderabad wanting to donate an amount to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

We hear that the big-hearted Vikram donated Rs 15 lakhs, the highest amount donated by a Kollywood star for the victims of flood in Andhra Pradesh. Well, that's quite a gesture from namma Chiyaan. Way to go!

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan says it is "ridiculous" to think that his mother and censor board chief Sharmila Tagore gave an 'adult' rating to "Kaminey" because it starred Shahid Kapoor.

"It is ridiculous to state that anyone had any personal bias against 'Kaminey'," Saif told IANS even as his own movie "Kurbaan" is about to release Friday with an A certificate.

"I know for sure that my mother is a great authority when it comes to the censors. My own 'Kurbaan' has got an 'A' certificate and I know where she is coming from."

It was insinuated that Vishal Bharadwaj's "Kaminey" was given an A rating - restricting viewership - as its lead actor Shahid was once in a relationship with Saif's girlfriend Kareena Kapoor.

But Saif said: "Any talk of personal enmity are completely fictional. I don't even know the actual people involved who spread such rumours and frankly I don't care. Such things don't even enter my radar."

"It's really rubbish if some people feel so. 'Kurbaan' getting an 'A' certificate is hardly a fitting reply. It's a sad state of affairs when people start speculating about everything and anything. As someone who has been part of the industry for long, I don't take such things seriously," Saif told IANS.

As for "Kaminey", he said: "I think Vishal (Bharadwaj) is a wonderful filmmaker and I liked everyone's performance in the film." Saif himself came up with an award-winning act of Langda Tyagi in Bharadwaj's "Omkara".

Is it really easy to be oblivious to all talk that his mother may have shown bias?

"I hear a lot of things in the 24 hours that I have in a day. This is why I just chuck out whatever is irrelevant. I don't quite get into the 'why' and 'where' of affairs till it is absolutely warranted.

"I know one has to live with all the negativity around; after all it's human nature to gossip and speculate. Guess what? Some people think that even Elvis (Presley) is alive today. So conspiracy theories will always remain," he said.

"Kurbaan" has been given an 'A' certificate owing to its violent content and also because of erotic scenes picturised on Saif and Kareena. "Kurbaan", about global terrorism, stars Saif, Kareena and Vivek Oberoi in lead roles.

"Kaminey" also got an 'A' certificate because of its dark and violent content.

Has he ever spoken to Sharmila about the A certificates for "Kurbaan" or "Kaminey"?

"No, I don't talk about any particular movie per se but I do know of her general views and opinions when it comes to censoring a film," said Saif.

"She doesn't have any problems with anything shown on screen. But, yes, she has problems with things that are shown to children. She will ban something if there is something which is inflammatory.

"Of course, she is the right judge of things and may be I don't know everything that she looks at in a movie during censoring. What I know for sure is that she is a good mother and follows the same caring attitude when it comes to censorship as well," said Saif.

On Monday (after the mumbai attacks) most of Mumbai, India attempted a return to normal activity, in the wake of the 60-hour-long siege last week. Some facts about the attacks are a bit clearer now, others still hazy. Based in part on the confessions of the only terrorist captured alive - Azam Amir Kasav (also identified elsewhere as 'Ajmal Qasab'), Indian officials now say that there were only 10 gunmen involved, all members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani militant group with links to the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir - though Pakistan officially denies any involvement. According to recent reports, the ten attackers were responsible for the deaths of 172 people, including 19 foreigners, and 239 wounded. While mourners of the victims attended to their loved ones, and people all over the world held vigils, a Muslim graveyard in Mumbai refused to bury the nine dead gunmen - an official saying that they were not true followers of the Islamic faith.

MUMBAI: As many as 166 people, including 18 foreigners, were killed in one of the worst terror attacks in India during the 26/11. However, not a single person was injured or killed by the bullets fired by the Indian security agencies, claim the police.

The attack continued for three days and nine of the 10 Pakistan-based terrorists were killed in the siege. The entire city police, Quick Response Team (QRT) commandos and even the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos were put on the job of tackling the terrorists. "While 166 people were killed and 300 injured, not a single person was killed or injured due to police firing or by the NSG,'' said crime branch head, Rakesh Maria, who is part of the 26/11 terror attack probe.

Each terrorist, say cops, was carrying 2,000 AK-47 bullets and 50 hand grenades. "The terrorists were firing indiscriminately but the police were following certain rules. The terrorists killed whoever they saw. However, our target were just terrorists. We took precautions so that no civilian was injured or killed,'' said another officer.

At one place, QRT commando Shankar Vhande was going to shoot two persons who he thought were terrorists. However, he stopped and asked who they were. The two replied in Marathi that they were city policemen in plain clothes. In another instance, a crime branch team that went to the roof of a six-storeyed building near Cama Hospital, saw three persons on the hospital's terrace. The team, which was under the impression that they were terrorists, soon received a wireless message that the persons on the terrace were doctors.

Another team that had entered the Taj within 20 minutes of the attack, had been busy identifying civilians and the terrorists. DCP Vishwas Patil had fired at and injured a person. However, he was not sure if it was a terrorist. When the person Patil had shot at started firing from his AK-47, it was clear that he was not a civilian. In six hours, 1,350 people were evacuated from the Taj.

According to police records, 57 people, including three police personnel, were killed at CST. Four persons and nine policemen were gunned down by the terrorists between Cama Hospital and Metro Cinema. At Hotel Trident and Leopold Cafe, too, no civilian was injured or killed by the security agencies.

At Girgaum, assistant sub-inspector, Tukaram Omble, was shot down by Pakistani gunman, Ajmal Kasab. At Nariman House, seven people were killed by the terrorists.

"It was a close encounter. We had never faced such a situation. Even at Taj Hotel and the Trident, it took a long time to kill the terrorists as we had to also think about the hostages. The number of police personnel at Cama Hospital was less and saving civilians was one of our priorities,'' said a police officer who was part of the operation.

MUMBAI: "Nobody from our family will ever think of joining the police force after the way the government treated my slain father. We heard his name was there in the list for the Ashoka Chakra, but the government ignored him and instead conferred a Kirti Chakra,'' said Aditi, 19, daughter of railway police inspector Shashank Shinde.

Shinde, 46, was killed in a close encounter with Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Dera Khan on the night of November 26, 2008 at CST. "Four generations of our family have been in the police force,'' said his father, Chandrasingh, 79, who retired as assistant sub-inspector.

Shinde was actually off duty that night. He had been returning to his Wadala home when he received a call on his cell informing him about a terrorist attack at the railway station. He returned to the station to join the fight against the two terrorists. Shinde was one of the few policemen who actually fired at the terrorists.

Shinde's wife, Mansi, agrees with her daughter and does not want her children to join the police force. "I don't want my children to die and later be ignored by the department,'' said Mansi, who works with Life Insurance Corporation. "We are raising our voice so that people should know the state's attitude. Many politicians came to our house and made tall claims but nothing has been done,'' said an angry Aditi, who is a third-year computer engineering student at a Nerul college.

Aditi said it was her father's effort that saved the police department from further embarrassment. "Those who were on duty ran away but my father died like a hero,'' she said. "Had my father been given a better weapon, he would have killed the two terrorists,'' said Aditi, adding that the family is still going through the trauma of losing him.

At the Shinde residence in Jupiter (Dosti Acres), Wadala, a framed photograph of Shinde is kept in the hall along with his certificates. "The terrorists had AK-47s. Had the government given policemen effective weapons, the terrorists would have been shot down at CST. With such outdated weapons, you either get killed or suspended,'' said Aditi.

A CST railway police officer who was at the station on the night of the attack said, "On hearing gunshots, Shinde rushed to the suburban section to evacuate the area. While taking up a position to fight the terrorists, four bullets hit him in the back. Shinde had fired two rounds from his service revolver but missed. Ismail Khan then fired at Shinde.'' The officer added that Shinde was hit while trying to reach a more secure position. Shinde was killed along with an RPF cop and a constable attached to the special protection unit, Ambadas Pawar.

Shinde, who joined as a sub-inspector in 1987, had completed two years with the CST railway police.

The family has received monetary and other help from the government, including a Rs 25 lakh FD from the state, a Mhada flat in Versova, Rs 4 lakh insurance from the railways and Rs 5 lakh from the BMC. The railways compensation package of Rs 10 lakh is still in the pipeline.

MUMBAI: On the night of November 26, 2008, Mohammed Taufiq Sheikh, who runs a makeshift tea stall outside CST, was doing his regular rounds to collect money for the chai he delivers to the station earlier in the day.

The 28-year-old from Kalwa soon found himself in the direct line of fire. He immediately ran to the long-distance booking counter and asked people to leave the premises. "Around 75% of the people left their bags behind and ran, but the rest refused to go, saying they were in the queue for long and didn't want to lose their place,'' he says.

Sheikh immediately warned the booking clerks, who thought the noise was caused by a short circuit. "The clerks ducked and I entered the booking office and latched the door behind me. Someone kicked the door from outside, but couldn't break it open. Then I saw a man of around my height, fair and well built, behind the glass outside, he came running to where I stood and swore at me,'' says Sheikh, who is around five feet tall.

Though Sheikh can't remember for sure, he feels the terrorist was Ajmal Kasab. "He fired at me. The first bullet shattered the glass. By the time the second came, I was crouching under the counters. When the third shot came, I was lying flat on the floor, dialling the police number pasted on the wall,'' Sheikh says.

After the gunman left, Sheikh exited the office. "I saw bodies all around. Some people were still alive. I used the porters' handcarts to ferry them to St George hospital. I put the people on my shoulder and then onto the carts. I think I took eight to 10 wounded people to the hospital,'' Sheikh says. At the time, the firing was still in progress at the suburban concourse.

"I didn't feel any fear at the time. Later, when I sat and thought about it, the reality sunk in. That was three days later,'' he says. Sheikh also helped remove a glass piece from a booking staffer's neck. "S N Jadhav now works at Tilak Nagar and every time he comes to CST he meets me,'' says Sheikh.

Sheikh has received 13 awards and Rs 60,000 from different sources. But a year later, he has a grouse. "Railway officials said they would either give me a job or a stall at the station. I have spent money running from pillar to post to do the paper work. They asked me to go to Delhi; that costs money,'' he says.

MUMBAI: For assistant divisional fire officer Sudhir Amin, the night of November 26, 2008 remains one of the most crucial. He was on leave when he got a call to "resume work immediately as there was an explosion in a taxi at Wadi Bunder''. After dousing the fire, he was told to "rush to CST, as several people were dead''. After that, the control room told him to go to the Taj Palace hotel.

"When I left home, we didn't know these were terror attacks. But soon, all TV channels started showing visuals. That night and all of next day, I wasn't reachable as my phone's battery died. My mother-in-law saw me on TV running near a fire trying to save a trapped NSG commando. My wife and mother relayed a message via the control room, asking me to be careful. Those words kept ringing in my mind,'' said Amin.

Though the firemen reached the Taj by midnight, they were stopped by police. "So we waited on the terrace of Salvation Army building. At around 3 am, we saw two men coming out of their windows, shouting for help. Those were the first signs of fire were seen and we realised our turn had come,'' says Byculla station officer HV Girkar. There were no casualties among firemen but 20 were injured.

"We knew this was an unusually dangerous situation but we had to sail through it,'' said Sanjay Rane of the Indira Dock fire station. After two days at the Taj, Rane was posted to Nariman House. It fell to him to drive the bodies of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka to JJ Hospital.

"One couple on the second floor was signalling for help. But our cage couldn't reach that room. So, I broke the adjacent window and entered the lobby. But by the time I got them and tried to re-enter the room, the door got locked automatically. I also saw another woman at the side shell-shocked and refusing to move. Our chief Uday Tatkare got worried by the delay, so he himself entered, broke open the door and we all rushed down,'' said Girkar.

Amin particularly remembers a young Australian girl on the third floor who hopped on to the cage only in her undergarments. "She dragged her clothes with her and wore them in the cage as I was rescuing her parents. Her father was extremely overweight and getting him out from the small window was an ordeal,'' said Amin.

Rane added on Day 2, they spotted the wooden staircase inside the Taj on fire. The firemen had to rush to douse those flames first to enable smooth counter-operations.

The three-day siege left hardened firemen, used to the sight of death, drained. "The image of the bullet-riddled bodies and the gore will never leave me,'' said Tatkare. The only memory of the day that brings any hint of a smile to his face is when he speaks of how he rescued a woman, who soon started looking for her red-beacon car. "I realised she was Chitkala Zutshi, then home secretary.''

Of the city's fire team of 2,500, 1,200 were involved in the operations and 381 got special increments this year. But the bravehearts say their best reward was the appreciation that flowed in from all parts of the world-the UK, US, Australia.

MUMBAI: In some ways Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) is the same, in other ways it has changed forever.

Not long ago it would be unthinkable to see helmeted and armed policemen in bunkers at CST, but after the carnage of November 26, 2008 at the world heritage site, no one is surprised by this sight anymore. Four such bunkers have been set up at CST, serving as a reminder of the terror attack and the need for more security in a changed world.

But close to a year after terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan killed 58 people at CST, commuters at the busy station have also returned to struggling with the daily routines of finding toe-holds in packed locals and dealing with serpentine queues.

S D Khiratkar, senior inspector, Railway Protection Force (RPF), CST, said, "A majority of people in the city use trains and can't afford to stay home even if they are scared. It's a matter of survival for them and their families to use trains daily.''

Some tell-tale signs of the carnage remain. There are a handful of random bullet holes on the station's historic walls and at the taxi stand. Amidst the busy station, where life goes on, these marks serve as sudden reminders of a horrific night when the terrorists went on a rampage for less than half an hour, but killed more people than were killed at any other 26/11 site.

During peak hour now, RPF, Government Railway Police (GRP) and commandos patrol the station, while surveillance cameras record movements.

The Central Railway (CR), on its suburban section has beefed up security with 876 CCTV cameras as opposed to 300 earlier. There are now 62 door-frame metal detectors (30 earlier), 176 hand-held metal detectors (59 earlier), two X-ray baggage scanners (1 earlier) and 90 walkie talkies. A new integrated security plan with a Rs 22 crore budget is in various stages of implementation, and includes explosive detectors and bomb squads. The 50-strong CR dog squad will get another 17 pups. Women constables have been given taekwando training. Future plans include increasing the number of CCTVs, building perimeter walls and fencing, having automatic vehicle scanners and scanners for people and baggage.

Commuter Seema Malankar, principal of a college, says she feels safer with the added security, but "it is not 100% secure''. Sheetal Balerkar, who travels to CST everyday, says after the incident there was a sense of fear in the air, but now the security cover increases the sense of safety.

CR will remember the people who lost their lives last year by holding a shraddanjali at the marble memorial built a few weeks after the attack. It is outside the station manager's office.

At the long-distance concourse, where some of the deadliest shooting occurred, P S Talreja, who was recently waiting for the Deccan Queen, says, "These things are not in our control. We have to come out stronger from them. Just keep doing your duty and move on with life.''