I AM SLIM…AND SO IS THIS LAPTOP

Kareena becomes a Sony brand ambassador. After promoting her size zero figure in India, actress Kareena Kapoor has preferred to endorse Sony's recently launched half-inch thin notebook VAIO X because the product goes well with her looks - "thin and lightweight", the actress said on Tuesday (Nov 3).

"The entire size zero thing in India has more to do with people being slim and lightweight. And I am slim and lightweight. And so is this laptop. I think this new laptop is very stylish and sexy and people also often relate me with these qualities," Kareena told reporters at a press conference in New Delhi (pictured above).

As part of the tie up, the actress will be a part of the brand campaign including TV commercials and print advertising.

The 29-year-old, who is awaiting the release of her film "Kurbaan", says she feels "privileged" to be related with the company.

"I trust in Sony products and I am lucky that they have signed me. They believe in cutting edge technology and innovate a lot and I am glad to be their ambassador since I associate myself with quality," added Kareena, who was hoping that the company spokesperson would gift her VAIO X laptop.

Kareena says though she isn't very tech-savvy, she uses the Internet quite frequently.

"I use the Internet often and since I am a frequent traveller and I'm out of the country most of the time, I like to be connected through a laptop," she said.

The new Sony VAIO X is 655 grams and has an 11.1 inch screen display. The range starts from Rs.64,990 and will be available at Sony Centre stores and retail partners across India.

3 IDIOTS NOT A DIRECT LIFT OF BOOK

Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots isn’t a direct version of the Chetan Bhagat Novel Five Point Someone, but has the trademark Hirani twist to it.

Chetan Bhagat’s novel Five Point Someone was about three IIT hostel mates with below average GPAs ongoing in a B-school. Their marks not only affect their professional life, but family and love life as well. However, director Rajkumar Hirani who’s known best for creating the Munnabhai fact has provided his own rendition to the tale of the three IITians. Hirani, when quizzed about the film being an adaptation, confirmed, “While the basic premise of the B-school and IITian culture is similar to that of the book, the film is very loosely based on the novel. The story and characters are very different, along with the humor and message that is delivered through the life of the three friends.”

A source on the sets of the film reveals, “The film is a nick above the book. Hirani has thrown light on the professional and parental pressure IITians go through in a B-school. The pressure of always being on top, strict competition and the necessity of doing everything forms the book and has been highlighted in the movie. The plight of the students and their parents will help audiences relate with the story. It’s a complete entertainer, considering Hirani’s humour can leave anybody rolling off their seat and also the message given at the end of each of his films. Aamir is the star of the film indeed, but Sharman Joshi, Madhavan and, most importantly, Boman Irani shine throughout the film. Kareena Kapoor is a breath of fresh air in the film. All characters are essaying the role of 20-25 year olds and are completely believable. 3 Idiots is a must-watch for the youth and their parents.”

Boman Irani too tagged the film as a must-watch in a recent interview and Kareena labeled 3 Idiots as the film of the year. With Aamir Khan going around town promoting the film through the youth, it is quite evident that the actors and the filmmakers feel very strongly about their approaching offering. Sounds like this film will be worth all those prospect, indeed!

KARAN KI KURBAANI

Both Kurbaan and New York are about terror campaign, but that doesn’t mean they have the same story.

The backdrop of global terrorism is the ordinary factor, but the narrative constitution and the characters are very different in the two films. Adi and I are best friends so we aren’t stupid to make films with the same story. I hope audiences like Kurbaan,’ clarifies Karan Johar.

Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna in 2006 was the last film KJo directed and MNIK is now in post production to release in 2010. In the meanwhile, Wake Up Sid! And Dostana were only produced by him and directed by newcomers Ayan Mukerji and Tarun Mansukhani respectively. ‘Tarun, Ayan and Siddarth Malhotra have assisted me on my films. So I know them. I always choose my ADs after immense consideration because I don’t want people simply occupying space in my office. They have to be talented and they have to stay. I don’t want them to do one film with Dharma and leave. I am only going to work with new directors and some of them have a three-film contract with Dharma. I don’t want to work with established directors,’ he says, adding, ‘I am very happy with the results of Wake Up Sid! And Dostana and thrilled about the forthcoming films.’

Karan had the plot of Kurbaan ready way back in 2001 and the film was going to be called Kaal. Sanjay Dutt, SRK and Tabu were to be part of it but the film never materialized. ‘That Kaal never got made. I shared the story idea with Rensil and he built a screenplay around it, which resulted in Kurbaan starring Saif and Kareena. From the onset, we wanted them to star in it. I love the way the film has turned out,’ comments Karan.

About Kurbaan’s director, Rensil D’silva, KJo says, ‘Rensil and I first interacted on the screenplay and story of Kurbaan. I felt that he had a desire to direct a film and I respected his aesthetics and writing, so that is how Kurbaan happened.’

SALMAN’S EXPECTATIONS FROM MAMK

In view of Main Aurr Mrs Khanna was to be kept on the backburner after the spate of flops Salman was going through before Wanted, what prospect does he hold of the film.

Salman Khan had four back to back flops before Wantedbecame a huge success. His career and also that of the producer Boney Kapoor’s was on the line before the release of Prabhu Deva’s big B-town debut and thankfully Wanted went on to become the second biggest grosser in Bollywood this year. However Prem Soni’s Main Aurr MrsKhanna which is yet again another extra marital love story had been ready for a year now and it’s only because of Wanted being a mega hit is it getting to see the light of day now.

A source added, “Financiers had their doubts with Main Aurr Mrs Khanna before Wanted as the film has the same old storyline of that of a extra marital love story and it didn’t have something new to offer. Sohail Khan too hasn’t been able to create a foothold in the Industry making it even more sceptical for them to let the film release this year. However after Wanted the rest was history and they’re all trying to bank on Salman’s newfound mega superstar success.” Prem Soni however denied such rumours and stated, “The concept is completely new and fresh, the film has a lot of offer and the audiences will realise that this Oct 16th.”

Salman too has said that Main Aurr Mrs Khanna is a sweet and simple love story and masses will identify with the storyline and concept of the film. Still the source adds, “Salman would rather focus all of his attention to Vipul Shah’s London Dreams as it already has started to create a lot of buzz with him reuniting with Ajay Devgn after 9 years. Also the production value, storyline and music is also one of the many highlights of the film. And after that is Veer, which is Salman’s baby and he’s focusing all his attention to the film, so if MAMK does well, then he’d be more than happy and if not, it wouldn’t really make much of a difference to him.”

KAREENA HAS A PROBLEM WITH KAJOL

In the hindi version of Stepmom, Kareena will have to prove her guts against Kajol.

It’s not the first time they are working together, but it’s always been like this. Ever since Kareena worked with her favourite co-star Kajol in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, she has always held her acting skill a notch less to the experienced senior.

For her next project with Kajol, Stepmom, Kareena has been taking acting classes with the help of film director Siddharth Malhotra to brush up on her skills before she faces her idol.

‘Vishal Bharadwaj's Omkara is the only other time I have rehearsed my scenes. It was an unusual film and my role where I had to get into a certain milieu and simple character I knew nothing about needed that sort of rehearsing. In Stepmom, which is urban and very modern, I play a very normal metro-centric working girl,’ said Kareena at a press conference recently. It is a well known fact that Malhotra's film is inspired by the 1998 hit drama Stepmom, in which Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts share the same man- in an unusual love triangle. In the hindi version, Arjun Rampal is the lucky man to be romancing both these stunning ladies - Kajol and Kareena.

Reportedly Kareena has been buying time out of the rehearsals for a song she began shooting with Aamir Khan for 3 Idiots. Kareena is glad that she is playing a normal girl, away from all the glam associated with her name. ‘I walk, talk, dress like an ordinary working girl. I'll be using no makeup,’ she exclaims.

About her look in the film, she says, ‘I couldn't cut my hair as planned because of continuity clashes. And I didn't want to cut my long hair. But I'm going for a new hairstyle.’ Ace designer Manish Malhotra is giving her warm earth tones to bring out a simple personality in her character. She will be seen wearing a lot of muted tones.

The shooting of Stepmom is to begin this month end. Kareena cannot stop gushing about her favourite co-star ‘She's always been one of my favourite actresses. We worked together in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. We were sisters then, now we have a lot of friction in this film and it will be something else.’

We can’t wait to see them back together, they do have a crackling chemistry.

KAREENA'S TREAT FOR HER FANS

2009 is a treat for Kareena Kapoor fans. After Kambakkht Ishq in July, the stunning leading lady has three releases back to back in the space of three months.

Compared to the bright Jab We Met and Kambakkht Ishq, all her roles are subdued, in the sense she does not talk a lot and yet conveys sufficient through her eyes and expressions. She is the only actress this year to have worked with all the prominent Khans of the industry (she had an item song with SRK in Billu).

Kareena looked really hot as a supermodel in Kambakkht Ishq. In Main Aurr Mrs. Khanna, which is out on October 16, the stunning star plays an urban wife to Salman Khan who has an affair with Sohail Khan. The actress adopted a voluptuous look in the film as she plays a Punjabi wife. The film has been shot in Australia and has been ready since a year. Director Prem Soni said, “Kareena is a very professional actress. Her chemistry with Salman was natural. She just moulds herself into the character. I had to work extra hard on my directorial skills to keep up with them so that I could explain the scenes to them properly.”

In Kurbaan, Kareena plays a simple Muslim girl from Delhi who marries Saif and moves to the US. There she discovers that he is a terrorist. Bebo has barely worn any make up in the film and looks absolutely magnificent. She didn’t practice Yoga or a strict diet to gain weight for the role of a plump Muslim girl. She and Saif have a few steamy scenes and the poster of the film is really bold for an A-grade Hindi film as it features a bare-backed Kareena with a topless Saif. The film will be out on November 27. Director Rensil D’silva said, ‘I couldn’t have asked for a better actress than Kareena. Her chemistry with Saif is sizzling.’

In 3 Idiots, Kareena finally shares screen space with Aamir Khan. The sizzling duo also has a lip-lock in the film that has been shot in Mumbai and Ladakh primarily. “Kareena plays Boman Irani’s daughter in the film. She is a medical student in love with Aamir. Though Aamir is the star of the film, Kareena has held her own. She is bubbly and demure at the same time. She has worn no make-up in the film and yet she looks completely stunning,” says a StarBoxOffice source on the sets of the film. Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots is Aamir’s Christmas present to Bollywood and his fans.