What are the odds for Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif to stay away from each other at a party? Nil, you would think. So did we until we were proven wrong by the couple at Percept Picture Company's party to celebrate the National Award win for the Priyadarshan-directed movie 'Kanchivaram' earlier this week.

At the party held on Tuesday night, Katrina and Salman arrived separately. He was first to reach the party and soon began having good time with Priyadarshan, actor Prakash Raj (who also won the National Award and also played the villain in Salman's hit Wanted) and the Percept honchos.

Katrina arrived with fashion designer Rocky S and looked yummy in a lemony yellow top.

Of course no one expected Katrina to run into the arms of Salman for a warm embrace, but no one either expected the cold vibes they had for each other at the party. Katrina mainly chatted with friends and colleagues while Salman stuck to his group of buddies.

Salman and Katrina did come face to face a couple of times but did not strike up a conversation.

According to eyewitnesses, the two appeared to be avoiding each other deliberately and even left the party separately, which is shocking because just on Monday Katrina was playing the gracious host at Salman's Eid party.

So what happened in just a day to turn their garam chemistry frosty? Is love fizzling out? Or is it just a minor tiff which the lovers will get over soon?

Only Sallu and Kat can tell.

For the first time after their public falling-out last year, Salman Khan has praised Shah Rukh Khan. The accolades were for SRK's professionalism and his intense performances in romantic roles.

Salman had walked out of friend Katrina Kaif's birthday party on July 16, 2008, after a spat with Shah Rukh. The actors have not been on the best of terms since then.

But in the yet-to-be-aired episode of his reality show 10 Ka Dum, Salman heaped praise on the other Khan. The episode features Riteish Deshmukh and Govinda, who were promoting their film Do Knot Disturb.

Salman asked Riteish, who is known for his mimicking talent, to imitate someone, a source working on the sets of the show told DNA. After Riteish mimicked Shah Rukh, Salman complimented him and said: "When it comes to romantic scenes, Shah Rukh is outstanding. Nobody can do it better than Shah Rukh Khan. He has the intensity in his eyes and is utterly romantic."

Salman went on: "Professionally, Shah Rukh is simply great." DNA has a copy of the taped transcript of Salman's comments.

The source said that Salman knew that Riteish's favourite scene was from Shah Rukh's Dil Toh Paagal Hai, but he still asked him to imitate it.

Anita Basu, the producer of 10 Ka Dum, said: "Salman has been very gracious in his compliments about Shah Rukh. No snide remark was passed. Salman is a thorough professional who likes SRK's work and he acknowledged it when people asked his about SRK."

But an industry insider said just because Salman has complimented SRK's professionalism does not mean "they are best friends". "That cannot happen quickly as they have drifted apart. But never say never — we have seen many professional rivalries wash away with time. As of now, let us wait and watch," he said.

Do we see a psychological pattern here? What's it with Ranbir Kapoor playing the spurned lover over and over again?

He started his career with Saawariya where he worshipped the ground that Sonam Kapoor walked on. She had eyes only for Salman. Then, in Bachna Ae Haseenon Deepika Padukone said a flat no to Ranbir's proposal. And now in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Ranbir again woos the girl with his one-sided attentions almost playing Katrina Kaif's faithful poodle hanging around her unconditionally.

Raj Kumar Santoshi, who returns to comedy after 15 years, says he wanted Ranbir to play the unrequited lover-boy with a difference. "Ajab Prem... is a film about an unrequited love. I didn't want Ranbir to play the loser in love as a tragic hero. Chaplin and Ranbir's grandfather Raj Kapoor excelled in playing tragic losers in love. I don't think the youngsters identify with it."

Hasn't Ranbir already done the role of an unrequited lover in Saawariya? Raj Santoshi agrees, "Yes. But not in this zany and upbeat way. Though Ranbir's character loses out in love he doesn't lose heart for even a second. He remains blindly devoted and besotted right till the end while Katrina just keeps taking him for granted." Quite like Sonam in Saawariya.

Have Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif broken off once again?

At least their behaviour towards each other at the recent success party of the film Kanjeevaran suggests so. Both the stars were present at the venue but they behaved like strangers.

First, it was Salman who reached the party and happily posed for the cameras. After a short while, Katrina was seen getting down from designer Rocky S's car. She looked quite the cool Kat. During the entire party, the couple didn't speak to each other once. In fact, they seemed to be avoiding standing anywhere near each other. However, according to reports, just a day ago, Kat wished Salman on Id and attended his party also. So, were the couple just shy before the media?

Well, they managed to leave everyone guessing and tongues wagging about what went wrong. When Kat was asked why she came in Rocky S's car and not Salman's, she evaded giving a response. So, has the couple have broken off once again? But, if we've got it wrong, blame it on Sallu mian and Kat for being so close and yet so far at the party.

Haklana or stammering is a handicap faced by many young children and adults. As traumatic it is for them, Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan

also admits to having this problem.

Hrithik shared his trauma, fears and how he overcomes his speech impairment with host Farah Khan on Tere Mere Beach Mein.

In an emotional and poignant episode, Hrithik speaks on how he was teased as a kid, struggled to speak normally without stammering and fulfilled his dreams of becoming an actor. Hrithik reveals that he was around six years old when he began stammering. He says, "Everything seems normal till you start talking. The minute you start talking, you get stuck and you don't know why? Right from your toes to the ends of your hair strands, you are in complete shock. Your heart palpitates, you don't understand and you are aware of people looking at you. You can compare it to hell."

When asked till when the problem continued, Hrithik says, "Six to 35. I am 35." On being asked if he was made fun in school, Hrithik says, "Of course. Unfortunately, it's one of those handicaps that is made fun of. Especially kids, you can't blame them but they end up being mean because it looks funny! So the childhood of a person suffering from a problem like this is pure hell. From the time you wake up in the morning to night you almost dread some days...to wake up! Because you have to go through an entire day when you have to use your speech and you have to go through all those little moments of hell."

And he adds, "For oral tests at school, I used to bunk school, I used to fall sick, I used to break my hand, I used to get a sprain." He also speaks of getting tremendous family support but admits to it making it tougher on him; "Mummy and daddy have been supportive. Yes, but sometimes love is not enough! When you love someone you want that person to be okay and it comes out as anger. It's like "Come on, you can do it, just concentrate hard!"

Farah asks, "So was it harder when they told you that?"

Hrithik admits, "Of course, it was."

MUMBAI: A fast track court today directed the jail authorities to provide immediate medical relief to Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, arrested for allegedly raping his maid, on his application seeking treatment.

The 36-year-old actor was seen crying and wincing in pain following a slip disc problem when he was produced in the fast track court here.

Ahuja, who was unable to walk, was assisted into the court room by two constables. He was later brought outside and made to sit on a bench where he lay down, quivering following which his lawyer Sameer Nagre moved an application seeking medical treatment at the earliest.

The court directed the jail authorities to provide the actor immediate medical relief and shift him to J J Hospital if necessary for further treatment.

The court was expected to pass an order today on the application filed by Ahuja's lawyer seeking copies of the forensic report but the matter has been adjourned till October 7.

It's not the Ash you're thinking about ... She's a Delhi teen who almost fainted when Sallu walked the ramp at India Mens Week

Maybe it's got to do with the fact that this is New Delhi, that you won't find Saif Ali Khan roam at Khan Market the way he does at Pali Naka.

So, when 17-year-old Aishwarya Singh (life is all about coincidences) saw Salman Khan from a foot away, as he walked the ramp for the grand finale of India Mens Week in Delhi last night, she was minutes away from fainting.

Speechless

The standard 12 student of Vasant Valley School was there with friends Yujir Kapoor and Tamira Sethi. "What can I say! It's a dream come true.

I've watched every film of his. But the Barjatya ones and Jaaneman and Yuvraaj are the best," she said.

Out of breath, she sat through Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya to watch Salman, who drops by for a 10-minute cameo.

Second to none

"Ranbir is not even half as good." And there's no chance that you'll see her stand nervously in a packed audience if Shah Rukh Khan walked the ramp.

It's just not his on screen, larger-than-life persona that sends her in a tizzy. "I love everything about him. He's a passionate person, and that reflects in his love for dogs, kids and old people.

He's genuine," added the teenager. But when she finally managed to meet him backstage after making a dash, she admits, words didn't quite match up. All she blurted was, "I'm your biggest fan."

To that Salman said, "Oh. Wow!"

An upset Aishwarya Rai can't fathom why former lovers Salman and Vivek are digging up the past by talking about her disrespectfully. Never mind the passionate affairs she had with the two earlier

She might have had a torrid affair with Salman Khan and Vivek Oberoi but the happily married Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is now upset that skeletons from her past keep resurfacing every few weeks, thanks to her ex flames.

Yesterday, Vivek said on a talk show that he held the infamous press conference against Salman Khan to please Aishwarya when they were a couple. It's not the first time that her ex-flame has spoken about her openly. Same is the case with her former lover Salman, who has spoken about her in not-so complimentary tones in recent press and television interviews. This sort of undignified name-calling has naturally upset the Bachchans.

Aishwarya, who is shooting in Goa for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish, has been quietly hearing all the comments about her from the two actors. While she still chooses to maintain a dignified silence, a close friend of the family decided to speak on her behalf. "We feel what Mr Khan and Mr Oberoi are doing is very ungentlemanly. It's unchivalrous to talk about any lady who has moved on to a new phase in her life. It is especially wrong when the lady is very happily married. Her life revolves around her two families now. What happened in the past is done and over with," says the friend.

Why bring her name up unnecessarily and that too in contexts that have long lost their validity? Vivek said on a talk show on Sunday that he had held the infamous press conference against Salman to please Aishwarya. Let me tell you, Aishwarya wasn't even aware that he was going to hold the press conference. When she got to know about it, she was horrified. Vivek is an adult and he should take responsibility for his actions. Why blame Aishwarya if his career didn't take off. Do these two men realise how much her career suffered? She lost so many films because of her past associations," adds the friend angrily.

Same is the case with Salman, who has been discussing Aishwarya and the dos and don'ts of physical abuse in his interviews. Apparently, when a friend asked Salman why he can't stop talking about her, he shrugged and said he can't help it because the press keeps asking him about her.

Aishwarya's friend refuses to buy that reason and says, "Agreed that the questions are provocative but the person being asked isn't being forced to reply. He could easily choose not to discuss such ugly topics in public. At the moment, Aishwarya is working on two of her most difficult and challenging roles in Raavana and Guzaarish. The last thing she needs is rude distractions from the past. On Sunday, she was so upset she could hardly control her tears on the sets of Guzaarish. All she kept saying is, 'I'm living my life the way I want. I wish others would do the same. Just let me be."

A Mumbai court Friday rejected the bail application of Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, accused of raping his teenaged domestic help.

The actor's bail plea, which was pending before a Mumbai sessions court, had been transferred to a fast track court last month, said his lawyer Shrikant Shivade.

Shiney has been accused of raping his domestic help at his Andheri West home June 14.

The charges against the actor will be framed Sep 23 before fast track court judge S.R. Trivedi, Shivade told.

After the charges are framed, the trial - in which the prosecution would examine around two dozen witnesses - shall commence on a regular day-to-day basis by month-end.

The prosecution does not intend to examine all the witnesses who are lined up and it expects the trial to be completed within two weeks, according to a prosecution lawyer.

Shiney, who will continue in judicial custody at the Arthur Road Jail, faces a minimum seven-year jail sentence if the charges against him are proved in court.

Aditya Narayan and Adah Sharma are the new young couple in love.

If sources are to be believed the young couple is more than just friends, as they claimed, "Adah went to visit him on the set of Shaapit with a special lunch for the two of them.
They spent the whole lunch break together, and were even holding hands on the set."
We also hear that the two were seen cozying up at a suburban restaurant, where they were seen blushing and laughing.

It is said that Adi's parents are also very fond of Adah. And also that, Adah spent her 21st birthday with Adi and his family.
Now it comes as a shocker to everyone who thinks that Vikram Bhatt and Adah are having an affair.
In fact, it was Vikram Bhatt who introduced the two at the music launch of 1920.

Aditya is said to have visited Adah's set during an emotional-romantic scene for phhir in Mud Island, where Vikram Bhatt asked them not to meet on his sets, and now that he does not want to be a part of any controversy he doesn't speak about it.
Apparently Adah and Aditya are both are doing a film together. But Adah will be doing only a special appearance in Shaapit and is not opposite Adi in the film.
Well the two of them certainly look good together, but when we called up Adah, she said the two of them are just good friends and that she met him at a party and there is nothing more to it.
When we asked her about her 21 Birthday party with Aditya and his family, she was even more surprised and laughed off the whole thing as a rumor.

Sorry girls, for breaking your heart but your sweetheart Imran Khan is now offically engaged to his sweetheart and longtime girlfriend, Avantika Malik.
Avantika is Vandana Malik's daughter, who heads Studio18 and a very close friend of Aamir Khan.
"Yes it's true. But we're planning to have a proper ceremony later, so right now it's just for us and our families," admitted Imran refusing to reveal the wedding date.
A source adds, "Imran had thrown a surprise party for Avantika on her birthday on July 18, a very private affair, with only very close family and friends present. There he surprised everyone by proposing to Avantika. Amidst much cheering, she accepted."
Though the formal engagement ceremony will be held in January, Bollywood got a whiff of the news over the weekend at Arjun Rampal's lounge bar cum restaurant opening in the Capital where the enthusiastic host made the announcement public amongst all the Bollywood biggies who congratulated the couple.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, actor Salman Khan for the first time gives his version of events on what happened in the infamous Jodhpur Black Buck Hunting case.
The actor says he and other actors like Saif Ali Khan actually helped a deer cub. Salman Khan also spoke on how he felt the whole 26/11 attacks were blown out of proportion, because the attacks involved the 'rich and famous'.
Salman also denied he had ever raised his hand against Aishwarya Rai during their relationship.

Excerpts from the interview are enclosed below:

On Jodhpur Black Buck Hunting case-
You are the only one still in that case. What happened?
Salman Khan- You know there were times when I think this is from where it has come from. One day after pack up we were driving by…there were all of us…there was Saif, Tabu and Sonali and we saw a deer cub. It was stuck in the bush.
The whole herd was there so I stopped the car and it was petrified. I took him out from there and gave him some water. You know he was there sitting with us.
He was scared.... he ate a biscuit and went back. So that is something that happened… so I think from there this whole thing came.

On 26/ 11-
Why didn't you speak out after 26/11? We saw a whole series of actors coming out and speaking at that point. Even after the Gujarat riots Aamir Khan came out.
Salman Khan-I wasn't here. I was in Greece and I came back 15 days after that.

Do you think your speaking was relevant? You should have spoken?
Salman Khan- 26/11 because it was Taj and Oberoi was under threat. What about all those trains and buses that have been blown up. Tab toh kissi ne kuchch bola nahi…
None stood up at that point of time and I have been talking from that time. Suddenly the rich and famous got up because they were threatened.
Normal person bola yaar it's very sad but yahan everybody stood up and made very bold statements.

On Aishwarya-
You were actually accused of violence. I mean that was a big story in all the film magazines at that time. Have you ever raised your hand against any woman?
Salman Khan: Obviously in a fight, I am going to be angry. I am going to go for whack and I want to give it my best shot. I don't think that she would have survived it.
So, no it's not true and I don't know for what reason that was said, but let it go.

Actors Vivek Oberoi, Ritesh Deshmukh and cricketer Sreesanth revealed the worst moments in their lives on the show Tere Mere Beach Mein.

Vivek talked of suddenly become the bad boy of the industry and the national punching bag with no support. When Farah asks Vivek if ever felt what he did was wrong, he confesses he felt that the moment he sat at the press conference. He realizes this was not the right way to settle things. The ideal thing would have been for both of them sit face to face and sort out things.

Vivek reveals that at an awards function his award was taken back and given to some other actor. He was told not to come and collect the award. Vivek accepts the fact what he did was wrong but says that he did not inflict pain on anyone or take away anyone's income and doesn't deserve to go through what he did. like he went through. He felt bad for Salman's mother, whom he had hurt and also for Sohail, who was his very good friend. Vivek says that Sohail has still not forgiven him. Vivek says that he would again do such a thing for a girl who comes into his life, but only if she is worth it.

Vivek revealed, "I got this letter from the organisers of an award function that I'd won the award for 'Company'..and then I was told that I shouldn't attend it and later that award was given to someone else...I said I had the letter! I was fed up...I had only one goal in life, act in films but when this incident happened, people were told not to work with me. People started asking me to return the signing amounts saying that they can't do the film with me coz they were facing pressure from here and there."

"What I did was very wrong but I didn't kill anyone, neither did I harm anyone, I did not hurt anyone's personal life but I was made to suffer a lot. Till today there are friends of yours and mine who say, 'We'd love to work with you but what to do, we can't!' I am still dealing with that after having apologised. But more than Salman, I'm sad about Sohail (Khan) because he was my best friend and he had even fought for me with Salman. And he had told me, 'I will sort it out, don't worry!' I felt bad that I had let a friend down. Till date, Sohail has not been able to forgive me...I speak to Arbaaz but I understand that I let down Sohail the most!"

Farah asked, "What exactly happened? There are some who know some part of it & others the rest... you please tell us?" Vivek replied: "There was too much happening, threats were coming, indirect pressure tactics were being used and I was tired of it ...I tried to phone and even go and meet (Salman) and settle it. My dad was also out of town then...Had been there, he would have rightly advised me....Shayad agar woh hote to sallah leta. Lekin uss waqt kuch log the, jo mere kareeb the aur mujhe 'rai' de rahein the."

Farah quipped, "That's a good choice of word.... 'rai'. Vivek smiles, "Sujhav de rahein the, mashavara de rahein the.... 'rai' nahin de rahein the!" Everybody laughs, as Vivek adds, "People don't know this....I'd suddenly become an outcaste from being this lovable boy." This happened overnight, he says, "There were a few who called up saying that I did the right thing but they also soon disappeared. Suddenly there was no one to back me, and those who had asked me to do this also walked away saying that this is no longer their responsibility."

Commented Farah, "Yes there was such a huge backlash against you..." Vivek agrees, "I was like...but you're the one who asked me to say all this? There were many such eye-openers then...This was just the beginning...it just continued...I was ridiculed at every award function, made fun of!" Well, we sure hope you're over it now, Vivek! The episode airs on Sunday.

Host Farah Khan chatted up Ritesh Deshmukh, Sreesanth on the theme 'Socha Na Tha' on the show Tere Mere Beach Mein. All the three were chosen as they had committed mistakes which had a huge impact in their lives.

Vivek Oberoi's relationship with Aishwarya Rai would go down as one of the most controversial ever simply because it made him a national villian, his career came to a standstill and he lost his friends ... Vivek came out in the open about his ill famous press conference in which he had accused Salman Khan of threatening him because the latter was in love with Aishwarya Rai at that time. He reveals the situation that led to it, his feelings at the infamous prèss conference, the famous 41 missed calls, the backlash he received and how he overnight became an outcast in the industry in which he had just seen success and hailed as the talent to watch out for!

Farah asked Vivek if the lady he did all this for was grateful, "Lekin jinke liye aapne yeh sab kiya unhone kabhi bhi aap ka saath diya? Appreciated hua?" Vivek answered that he was called immature instead, "No! Ulta yeh hua ki "tum bahut immature ho." Apne industry mein ek dastoor hai - Jaise Tupperware jahan plastic ke dabbe banate hain ... usse zyada plastic hamare yahan hai. Plastic smile, plastic heart..plastic everything!

Farah asked if he was over Ash, "Kya aap poori tarah se unhe bhoola chuke hai?" Vivek laughed in agreement, "Unhe main bhula chukka hoon." And did he learn anything from the incident? "I've learnt that whatever you do, do it with your heart..listen to everyone but do what's right for you! Don't get frightened in difficult times and don't be overconfident or brash in good times - Maine yehi sikha hai ki 'jo bhi karna hai dilse karo, sabki suno khud ki karo, bure waqt pe ghabrana nahi aur acche waqt pe paglana nahin'." Watch out for the episode on Sunday.