RANBIR KAPOOR: I HATE BIRTHDAYS

Says a 27-today Ranbir Kapoor. He feels b'days are overestimated but cuts cakes and has havan at home to bring in the day, nevertheless.

Ranbir Kapoor doesn't like celebrating his birthdays. Today he will spend his janamdin with close friends, family and of course girlfriend Deepika Padukone at his Bandra bungalow. As he turns 27, Ranbir chats about himself, his life, and his Friday release Wake Up Sid. Read on...

What's your mood like on this birthday?

I'm worried because Wake Up Sid is releasing this week.

Are you like Sid -- do you hate waking up early?

No. Actually I am the antithesis of Sid in many ways. I like waking up in the mornings and especially when I am shooting I can even get up at 3 am. I am not lazy or aimless like Sid. I know what I want in life.

So today did wake up early?

No way! On my b'days, I like waking up late.

And how do you plan to celebrate it?

I hate birthdays! I think they are very over-rated and a day when everyone is trying to make you feel special. I don't like doing anything on my birthdays. Last night my parents (Rishi and Neetu Kapoor) and sister (Riddhima) went out for a family dinner and my birthday in. Though I am not too fond of it I always cut cakes on my birthday. Today we will have a havan at home and later my friends will drop in to wish me just another day.

Do you want any special birthday gift this year?

I would only wish that the audience come and watch Wake Up Sid. I want to tell them it's a good film. There was something very special about the script, the character Sid and my director Ayan Mukerji. I loved the script as I found he had really something to say through his story. He's one of my closest friends today. I appreciate his vision.

Best wishes

Karan Johar: I wish Ranbir luck, love and happiness on his birthday. I plead to the nation to wake up on Friday and go watch Wake Up Sid. I think Ranbir is totally Sid - he was born to play the character. It's in his DNA and body language.

Ayaan Mukerji: I hope he has a great year ahead. I don't think Ranbir is Sid - he is far more motivated and successful. Sid exists in the moment, and has an appreciation for leisure and knows how to have a good time - which Ranbir does too.

I DIDN'T WANT TO WIN ANY BEAUTY PAGEANT: DEEPIKA PADUKONE

Model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone says she always wanted to carve a niche for herself in the glamour industry but without taking part in a beauty pageant, unlike many of her colleagues.

"I had set up an objective to become a model without winning any beauty pageants," Deepika told choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan on STAR Plus' "Tere Mere Beach Mein".

But the actress didn't give any precise reason for her aversion to taking part in beauty contests.

A lot of Indian actresses including Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Celina Jaitley, Lara Dutta and Dia Mirza joined Bollywood after earning fame through national and international beauty pageants.

A FLOORED FAN GETS HUGGED BY RANBIR KAPOOR TWICE

Pari Gandhi, a student at the Malini Kishore College in Juhu, (she comes from Rajkot, Gujarat) bunked her college, on hearing from a friend that her favourite actor Ranbir Kapoor was going to be there at an event in the city.

The day turned out to be like a dream, and she got to kiss her idol, and even got two hugs from him. Ranbir was attending a CNN-IBN contest for his next release, Wake Up Sid.

Pari says, "I think this was one of those rare occasions when I sneaked out from class and bunked college. But I had to meet Ranbir Kapor. It's been one of my dreams to see him in person. My mom and I are huge fans of his and have watched both his releases.

My mom loves his and thinks he looks like my brother Pawan. In fact, we are all planning to go and watch Wake Up Sid as Ranbir's character appears to resemble my brother a lot - lazy, can't tie his own shoes, etc."

At the event, Pari walked up to Ranbir and told him, "I know Deepika is your girlfriend and she won't like it, but I want to be your girlfriend." She even proposed to him in front of the crowds and he told her, "You can be my girlfriend for today" and hugged her.

Pari, who took part in a dancing contest, continues, "When I first saw him, I almost swooned. He is so good-looking! He mingled with my friends comfortably and was at ease. I told him that that if he liked my performance, he had to hug me again. I didn't want to perform but the temptation of getting another hug from him was tempting, so I did. He hugged me - obviously, he liked my performance."

Not surprisingly, she doesn't think he makes a cute pair with his girlfriend Deepika Padukone, "I don't think they look good together. I am jealous of Deepika," concludes the fan, who has Ranbir's posters on my bedroom walls and cupboards. "I wasn't feeling well that day and my voice had gone or I would have even sung for Ranbir."

DEEPIKA WITNESSED A SHOOTOUT IN LONDON FROM CLOSE QUARTERS

Deepika Padukone was in the middle of a shootout in London recently. The actress is currently shooting for Sajid Khan's Housefull there. During a shopping fling with a friend on the New Bond Street, the OSO girl was witness to chaos in a cops and murder drama.

A source reveals, "Deepika was walking with her friend and they entered a store. All they heard the sounds of ambulances and police cars zipping past the store. The actress and her friend were wondering whether to stay put, or step out of the store when the owner of the shop alerted them about the shootout in the similar lane.

"The store owner advised the girls to slip out the back exit, as it would be safer. There was too much hullabaloo in the area but they managed to jump into a cab and reach the hotel. On her way back, she saw the area where the shootout took place and realised how close she was to the scene of crime."

The London police had sealed off the narrow alley where the shoot out took place and there was some blood on the streets.

BIPASHA TO GLAM UP ROCKET SINGH WITH A SPECIAL SONG

Shimit Amin's Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year starring Ranbir Kapoor has got a shot of zing in the arm. The film, which is theoretical to have no female lead opposite Ranbir, will feature Bipasha Basu in a special song in a glam avtaar.

Sources verify that Bipasha's song will be the only glam part of an or else male lead-dominated film.

A source reveals, "Rocket Singh is a character driven film with no clear lead pair. Unexpectedly, after they began shooting, the idea of no oomph in the film didn't seem right, Aditya Chopra had a word with Shimit and bounced an idea of an item number with Bipasha in it.

The source adds, "The director liked the idea and Bips was roped in for a song and a few scenes. Another reason for Bips being in the movie is that Yash Raj really liked her chemistry with Ranbir in last year's Bachna Ae Haseeno."

Bipasha will shoot for the film in two weeks on a set in Yash Raj Studios. A spokesperson for Yash Raj says, "Not true at all." The film hits cinemas worldwide on Dec 11 this year.

DEEPIKA LASTLY GETS TIME FOR RANBIR

Deepika Padukone was on a endorsement spree for her latest film recently. But what brought the glow back to her pale face (post malaria) is that she got to spend a few stolen moments with beau Ranbir Kapoor. Deepika, whose Indian clothesline at a suburban store is also creating waves, was persistently being told by one and all that she should dress in Indian attire more often because she looks desi. Will have to check what Ranbir has to say about that!

IMRAN-RANBIR DOSTI MAKE OTHERS JEALOUS

This new dosti has turn into the jealousy of other ‘supposed’ dostis in B-town.

We’re perceptibly talking about two of our hottest boys, Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan. Damn the rat-race, rivalry and fan clubs...these Gen-X actors don’t wanna waste time with stuff like that.

They are like boys should be cool, fun and chilled out. Lately when Imran had a particular screening for Luck, RK was his special guest. And he came along sportingly to cheer his buddy. We heard that the boys often party mutually and have a lot in general other than movies.

Hmm... We speculate how their gals (Ms Dee and Avantika) feel about this dostana? We’d say, hold on to your men tight, gals!

DEEPIKA PADUKONE IS DOWN WITH THE MALARIAL FEVER

Deepika Padukone is down with malaria. The actress, who is at present shooting in London, had not been keeping well for the past few days. Though at first it was thought that the Om Shanti Om girl was suffering from a viral infection, tests have now proved that it is malarial fever.

On Wednesday, Dippy appeared in no condition to face the camera. As reported ('Deepika unwell'; Hitlist, July 22), she had been fair enough to shoot as major sequences with her and co-star Akshay Kumar are being canned. On Tuesday, however, although the high fever, she managed to still shoot for some scenes.

Now the shoot of Housefull is on only with Akshay and the rest of the cast. Both director Sajid Khan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala have told her to go easy and not to shoot till she fully recovers.

As Deepika is too weak to talk, a source close to the actress says, "Two days after she landed in London on July 11 for the shoot, she felt excited. Assuming it to be an under the weather situation, she began popping painkillers, but the fever would not subside. She also had shivering. The unit folk then took her to a doctor on Tuesday night and she was diagnosed with malaria.

Deepika was to complete her scenes of Housefull by this weekend and fly back to Mumbai for the promotions of Love Aaj Kal. "But in this condition, whether she can take the long flight back home is to be seen," adds the source.

Ranbir requires a nose job

In his latest movie, we hear Ranbir requirements to look down a hooked nose.

So his managerial has been pleading by means of him to go under the knife right away. But Ranbir is obstinate that his hooked nose is very well by him and so be supposed to be for the spectators too.

Ranbir suffers from a deviated septum, a moderately common olfactory problem where the bone bridging the two nostrils is deviated. Ranbir necessities to lecture to this issue by the way of a surgery. But Ranbir refuses to get it done.

Of the elongated list of B-town folk who’ve disappeared under the knife to get the just the thing pout in addition to the wrinkle free smile, Ranbir sure comes across as a change, determinedly refusing to be a part of the makeup surgery contingent. This, even when the operation won’t just enhance his looks, but will help him take breaths better too.

A friend reveals, “Ranbir has had a deviated septum since childhood. ENT specialists have advised him to undergo septuplets. But he has refused and is adamant in relation to not getting it done. He has until the end of time been a stubborn guy, once he has refused something, he won’t budge.”

Apparently, his parents too have been influence him to get the minor nose surgical procedure done in addition to by now, given up. Ranbir isn’t frightened of surgeries, he says, but doesn’t want the shape of his nose to be misrepresented. “I would rather have a warped nose than a misrepresented one,” Ranbir told a friend once.