Kareena tired of her demanding job

Her multiple brand endorsements and shooting schedules take so much of her time that Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor is homesick and wants to take a break.

"Kareena feels sad about staying away from her family for so long. She is a homely person and likes to be with the family. She is tired of her tight schedules and demanding job. She has now decided that she will chalk out some quality time for her family," said a source close to Kareena.

On a recent visit to her home, Kareena caught up with her sister Karisma and both of them apparently spoke about everything under the sun.

V-Day Sp: Sizzling Couples in Love

It is that amorous time of the year again where expressing your love is a compulsion. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we bring you Bollywood's hottest couples who haven't tied the knot as yet.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan: They are Bollywood royalty. She is a Kapoor and his father is the Nawab of Pataudi. She is a flawless beauty and he is drop-dead-hot and handsome. Together they make a madly-in-love couple with crackling chemistry. It was on the sets of the disastrous Tashan that their romance blossomed. Kareena looked so gorgeous in the movie that Saif couldn't help but be drawn to her. They have eyes only for each other and aren't afraid of showing how much they adore one another. You want to fall in love just looking at them. Saif wants to tie the knot now but Bebo's saying 'not now'.

Bipasha Basu and John Abraham: Dating for over five years now, this sizzling twosome has stood the test of time. Romance blossomed on the sets of Aetbaar and the two set the screen on fire with their unrestrained passion in Jism. The good looking fitness freaks complement each other really well. She is a smokin' hot Bong tigress and he is a Bawa boy with the body of a Greek God. They are a mature couple who have left their PDA days behind and are too secure about each other to be affected by malicious rumours.

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone: Ah, young love. She is a leggy supermodel-turned-actress with enchanting doe eyes. He is Bollywood’s Prince Charming who could sweep any girl off her feet. It was a double whammy for them at the Filmfare Awards in 2008. Not only did they win best debut awards, they also secured each other's affection. The two bonded in picturesque Australia while shooting for Bachna Ae Haseeno. The photogenic twosome is so much in love that they cannot keep their hands off each other, even in public.

Shahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra: These two, who will feature together in Kaminay, are rumoured to be going out. And they have adorable nicknames for each other: Peefee and Shaks. They share a hot kiss in the film so it’s no wonder a hot romance started off-screen too. Priyanka was having a hard time with Harman and Shahid wasn't really dating anyone after his breakup with Kareena. They stay in the same building and spent a lot of time bonding on and off the sets. The two are fiercely private people so the relationship is still under wraps. But their chemistry in Kaminay will surely tell us all that we need to know.

Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia: She is vivaciously beautiful and he is dashingly debonair. Preity has gone from bubbly to sophisticate ever since she started attending upscale society dos with her good looking boyfriend. They mix business with pleasure as they own a cricket team together and Ness accompanies Preity on her shoots. They aren't into PDA but their sweet gestures such as feeding each other during matches show that they have eyes only for each other.

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif: He is over 40, she is over 20 and they are madly in love with each other, though they may not show it. She is a beautiful in-demand newbie in Bollywood while he is the handsome established superstar. Being Salman Khan's girlfriend is not easy, but the composed and dignified lady Kat is, she has managed to play that role with aplomb. Apparently, his family loves Kat too and Salman hasn't been so smitten by anyone before. He wants to settle down but she is in no hurry to with her burgeoning career. Will they or won't they? We will have to wait and watch.

Bebo as bridesmaid

Amrita Arora is getting married on March 6, and Kareena Kapoor’s all set for her best friend’s wedding.

Why not? We heard Bebo will be Ammu’s bridesmaid. Kareena is trying to take out time from her tight schedule to help the bride. Not just that. Bebo herself has made the rounds to the best stores in town and
co-ordinated with the best fashion designers to design her gown. Although, Amrita will be the maiden of the night, we are eager to watch Kareena in her ‘gown’ing glory!

Bebo's date with Delhi

This parade on Rajpath was almost as grand as the parade that passes on this road on January 26.

The news that Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were shooting there spread like wildfire. While there was little crowd early in the morning, when they started shooting, it had swelled to a mob by afternoon, and the shoot had to be packed up early because of it.

They are shooting in the city for a Dharma Productions film, directed by Rensil D’Silva, in which Saif and Bebo are reportedly playing terrorists. But the shoot wasn’t anywhere near as serious – picnickers at India Gate gathered to sneak a peek of Saifeena. The duo did not emerge from their vans, but in the meanwhile, we talked to Raju, a proud camel owner whose camel has become a star because it is featured in the movie. He said, “Hamara oonth Chandni Chowk To China mein bhi tha. Hum bhi aaye they usme thodi der ko. Ab hum is film mein aayenge.”

Finally, Kareena stepped out looking quite miffed. Crew members told DT that ‘madam’ was angry because Saif was taking too long to come out of his van and resume shooting. The crowd cheered and whistled for Bebo, but she didn’t respond. But when Saif stepped out, he waved back and smiled at the crowd. When the two sat in the car, Kareena was seen talking to Saif angrily. The insider said, “Arrey, Saif mana lenge abhi. Pehle bhi ho chuka hai ye.”

Priyanka v/s Kareena

2008 was Priyanka Chopra's year with hits like Fashion and Dostana. 2009 however seems to be more of Kareena Kapoor's year with the number of releases she has lined up. Here's taking a head to head look at both of them.

Movies: Priyanka has Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminay and Ashutosh Gowariker's 'What's Your Rashee?' with Shahid Kapoor and Harman Baweja respectively. They may be good films but aren't exactly big budget blockbusters. Kareena, on the other hand, may have missed both Fashion and Dostana last year, but this year she has, Sajid Nadiadwala's big budget entertainer Kambakht Ishq with Akshay Kumar and Sylvester Stallone, Dharma Productions' Jihaad with Saif Ali Khan, Main aur Mrs. Khanna with Salman Khan and Raju Hirani's 3 Idiots with Aamir Khan, which are all highly anticipated films. So Priyanka has 2 confirmed releases while Bebo has 4.

Who wore the Saree Better? The answer is Kareena. Not only is her bright yellow saree more attractive than Priyanka's beige one but it is also the attitude, Kareena appears very confident while Priyanka seems a little shy and demure.

Better Beau? Kareena is dating Saif Ali Khan, who is an excellent actor, star, Rock star with her name tattooed on his hand. Priyanka is rumoured to be dating Shahid Kapur, who is Kareena's ex-boyfriend. Saif is an established star while Shahid still has to make it to the top. Saifeena are painting the town red but Shahid and Priyanka are still keeping their relationship under wraps.

Who wore the Dress Better? This is a little hard to decide. Kareena's dress flatters her figure better than Priyanka's does. Bebo's dress is conservative while Priyanka's short number is edgier. Priyanka's legs are slimmer than Bebo's and therefore there is a difference in the sandals as well.

Prettier Face? For those who like their women dusky and smouldering, it is Priyanka Chopra's Indian beauty with her bow-shaped lips and dusky complexion. Bebo, on the other hand has a very international appeal. With full lips, a perfect nose, high cheekbones, porcelain complexion, and enchanting green eyes, she is a picture of perfection and a classical beauty.

Better Body: Priyanka likes it black while Bebo likes it white. Priyanka in her figure flattering black gown is a lot sexier than slim Bebo in her white gown. Bebo is elegant and slim while Piggy Chops is sensual and voluptuous. Overall, Piggy has a naturally slim yet shapely frame while Bebo's frame fluctuates from skinny to voluptuous depending on her roles.

Better Hair: Bebo's tresses are long, straight and silky while Piggy Chops' hair is short, shiny and voluminous. Bebo's hair is cut in long layers while Priyanka's short hair-do with layers frames her face nicely. Both have coloured their hair dark brown. Which hairstyle do you like better?

Pics: What's been happening in tinseltown

Kangana's look in Kites, guests at Tusshar's belated birthday party, Kareena's bad make-up, Hottie Kangana, Mahesh Bhatt and Jackie Shroff are too close for comfort, Pooja Bhatt's back, Riteish's new look and much more.

Look At Me! We have had too much of Hrithik and Barbara Mori, so here is looking at Kangana Ranaut in Kites. She looks sophisticated in her layered dress and fresh-as-a-daisy in her casual avatar.


Mother and Son: Susanne Roshan with son Hrehaan on the sets of Kites in the US. She should have been careful about her white bra and we heard Hrehaan isn't allowed to eat chocolates. Holidays are an exception, probably. Where is Papa Hrithik?


Rare Photo: We usually see Ash with her hubby and Pa but here she is all smiles with brown coat clad Jaya Bachchan and Pa Amitabh in freezing New York.


Coupling: Ayesha Takia with fiancé Farhan Azmi and Amisha Patel with Kanav Puri. Must say Ayesha is looking very pretty.


Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Riteish Deshmukh has chopped off his thick mop of hair for a buzz cut. Neat!


Father and Son: Bealted-birthday-boy Tusshar and dad Jeetendra. Tusshar's checkered shirt looks like it was made from a table-cloth and we aren't a big fan of what Jeetendra's wearing either.


Mismatched Make-up: Her features are perfect but her make up is not. Her lower portion of her face has a reddish hue while her forehead is pale. And she should do something about the zit on her left cheek.


Sisters in Sarees: We like Kareena's bright yellow saree, but when it comes to a face off between the sisters, the elegant and graceful Lolo wins hands down. Kareena's stomach isn't exactly flat anymore, from what we can see.


Lucky Man: Kangana looks absolutely dazzling here. The blue and rose tinted make up, the shimmering blue number and blue shoes are amazing. Adhayan is one lucky man


Guess Who's Back: Pooja Bhatt still has a pretty face but not her petite frame. Her loose black attire makes her looks broader than she is.


Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai? By the way, their hands are wrapped around each other and the closeness of their mouths, it looks like Jackie Shroff and Mahesh Bhatt are going to kiss!


Stars are Human Too: For everyone who thought B-town stars were perfect, here is a flaw. Due to her weight gain, Kangana Ranaut has stretch marks. But it's ok; we still think she is sexy and pretty.


Pretty in Peach: Deepika Padukone flashes her dimpled smile at a Filmfare PC. We wish Ranbir was there too.

Will Milenge Milenge ever see the light of day

When will the Shahid-Kareena starer Milenge Milenge release? The film was slated to come out while the duo was still a couple but, along with their relationship going kaput, the film too seems to have vanished into thin air.

We asked director Satish Kaushik about the status of the movie. He says, “Bilkul dekh payenge. It’s going to release this year though a date has not been decided on yet. There is a bit of dubbing left. I am working hard to get it done.”

And are Shahid and Kareena comfortable working together on the dubbing? Kaushik says, “Why not? There was no problem earlier when the couple had split up. Also, dubbing does not necessarily need the both of them in the studio at once. It can be done separately. And it is underway so right now I feel stress-free.”

It has been almost four years since shooting for Milenge Milenge began and Salman Khan has also backed out of his role in the film. Kaushik says, “Backing out of films and being replaced is part of the film industry so it does not matter much. Sometimes, films take years to release. Some movies don’t release even after completion. But Milenge Milenge is finally shaping up after so much financial struggle.”

Boney Kapoor is producing the film. We asked Kaushik what Boney’s reaction is to the long delay. He says, “A film is very important for a producer because he is investing a lot of money in it. And when it keeps getting pushed back there is bound to be some tension. But Boney is always calm and remains optimistic about the project.”

Kaushik describes Milenge Milenge as “a fantastic romantic film, which has a completely different storyline. You’ll have to wait and see.”

Just as we waited and saw Karzzz, Kaushik? “It happens. Just lets watch how this film does now. So many big movies don't work at the box office – Karzzz was one of them,” says Kaushik.

Bebo got no time to breathe

Kareena Kapoor has had little time to relax these days.

The actress has been busy with her shoots and endorsements. And now the actress also has to make time for the photo shoots that have to be carried out for many international magazines. Even now the actress is busy with a cover shoot that will be carried out in Mauritius. Well, we hope the girl makes it back in time to spend some quality time with beau Saif Ali Khan this Valentine’s Day.

Showbiz 24X7

Nach Baliye 4 finale, Kareena's Rotary Club honour and Bappi Lahiri with kids from Dharavi

Scarf Love: SRK loves his scarves. He was probably fed up of the red one so now he is sporting one in brown


Can't Get Enough: The catty firang dancers just don't seem to get enough of our desi SRK as he dances with them on Nach Baliye 4's grand finale.


Dancing Queen: Lara Dutta with the finalists of the show. SRK and Lara were there to promote Billu Barber


Dekhta Hai Tu Kya? Item girl Rakhi Sawant dances with Shaleen and Naman. Shaleen's got his eyes in the wrong place but we don't blame him


Green Goddess: Super slim Karisma Kapoor is a picture of perfection in this saree that matches the colour of her eyes


Winner: Farah, Arjun, Karisma present the Nach Baliye 4 trophy to Shaleen Bhanot and Daljit Kaur as SRK looks on


Young Achiever: Kareena Kapoor with her Rotary Club award that says 'Make Dreams Real'. It is great to see her after so long!


Ditched! Kareena has ditched her favourite blood red nail polish for maroon


Jai Ho: Bappi Lahiri with slum kids from Dharavi, Sion.

Gloriously in Love

These B-Town girls have gone from skinny to comparatively or positively curvy and we think it is all thanks to the amorous magic of their doting beaus. Take a look

Kangana Ranaut: She was skinny, almost anorexic when she entered the Bollywood scene in 2006.But now she can be called curvy. In the first picture, even the nautical stripes don't add volume to her waif like frame but in the second picture, she fills out her striped dress much better and she is glowing with the affection that Adhyayan showers on her.

Kareena Kapoor: Kareena started getting into shape in fitness freak ex-beau Shahid's company. Her weight loss for Tashan was dramatic and she went from curvy to anorexic. Then, jab she fell in love with Saif, he was extremely concerned about her weight and lavished romantic dinners on her, urging her to put on weight and eat well. The result is for all to see. Kareena is getting her curves back. Her chest is almost flat, her waist is narrow and her frame is waif like in the first picture, but she appears heavier on the top with a broader waist in the second picture.

Sushmita Sen: Her men would change with the changing seasons but her weight remained constant and she maintained a slim, perfectly proportionate figure. Then when, current beau Mudassar Aziz entered her life, she piled on the pounds and how. It's all the glow of love. It seems she is so happy and content that she doesn't count calories anymore. What's more, she has quit smoking because of Mudassar which has caused her to gain weight. In the first picture, you can see how skinny her arms are and how slim her face is, but in the second picture, she is wearing dark colours and full sleeves to camouflage her bulging arms. Even her face is looking bigger and her smile is the widest and brightest in prospective husband Mudassar's company.

Family way it is for Bebo

Kareena Kapoor is one of the busiest actresses these days.

And if she’s not shooting for a film, she is busy with her many endorsements, and if it’s not films or endorsements, then she loves vacationing in the Swiss Alps with boyfriend Saif. That leaves her with very little family time, you know!

So now, our gorgeous Bebo is complaining. In the last few months she hardly got any quality time with family.

And was actually feeling homesick! So what did big sis Karisma do? She waited for Kareena in Mumbai and they both indulged in a lot of gupshup. We are sure Bebo is raring to go once again.

Kareena, Katrina and Yana to dance at beauty pageant

Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Yana Gupta are set to add a dash of glamour at the grand finale of PC Jewellers Miss India Worldwide pageant to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on January 31.

"There will be a mix of beauty, talent and glamour at the finale of the pageant, with Bollywood beauties shaking a leg with the participants; it will be an evening to remember," host Deepak Tijori said at the press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Deepak's Tijori Entertainment is hosting the show with Kaleidovision.

The 20 finalists will go through a 10-day grilling regime.

"Training is not going to be a cakewalk for them. They will have to go through a tough and hectic regime of around 14 hours a day, which means they cannot take it easy," said Mehar Bhasin, who will look after the grooming of the contestants.

"The finalists will undergo an exclusively designed training and grooming regime that includes fitness, diction, psyche, aptitude, hair and make-up sessions. The training will enhance their confidence not only for the finale, but for further rounds to be held on the international stage as well," she added.

Beauty expert Blossom and Samantha Kochhar will take care of their beauty and hair, while fitness tips will be given by model-turned-actors Milind Soman and Rahul Dev.

Designer duo Rahul and Rohit Gandhi of the label Cue will design cocktail and evening wears for the participant. Madhu Jain and Milind Soman of the label M will design Indian traditional wear for the grand finale.

What makes this pageant different from other beauty pageants is the fact that even short girls may take part.

Tijori said: "This pageant is not restricted by banalities like physical shortcomings; the absence of height criteria and swim suit rounds makes it different from the conventional pageants.

"Majority of the Indian girls do not match the height criteria of other beauty pageants. Though they might have oodles of talent one shortcoming ruins all their chances of applying there. We understood this thing and came with a concept that will cheer up many beautiful and talented girls all over India."

Miss India Worldwide started 17 years ago and the contestants were primarily selected from the Indian diaspora. But it was felt that the pageant without a participant from India would be incomplete.

Then Tijori Entertainment and Kaleidovision took its franchisee from the Indian Festival Committee (IFC), a pioneer organisation conducting Indian pageants and fashion shows, in the US and worldwide.

Nadiadwala plans a star-studded premiere for Kambakht Ishq

Filmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala, who has collaborated with Hollywood biggies Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards for his forthcoming film "Kambakht Ishq", has invited them for a grand premiere of the film in India later this year. He hopes it will help wipe away the traumatic memories of the Mumbai terror strikes from the tourists' mind.

"It's a do or die thing for me after 26/11. I don't feel like a Bollywood producer at the moment. I'm reacting as an Indian," Nadiadwala told IANS.

Post-26/11, the premiere of the Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor starrer has become a show of strength for Nadiadwala as an Indian more than a producer. Invitations have been sent out to Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.

"Let's just say I want my Hollywood team to come and erase 26/11 from Mumbai's tourist map. I'm going to leave no stone unturned to make sure Stallone and others go back with only the fondest memories of Mumbai.

"If six months ago I'd have laid out the red carpet for the Hollywood members of the cast, now I'm putting my entire production machinery and powers of hospitality on the block.

"The 'Kambhakt Ishq' premiere is not about our entertainment industry any more. It's about Mumbai and India. I want Hollywood to come to Mumbai and taste our hospitality. Nothing has changed in the country. We're still as warm and welcoming as we used to be," said Nadiadwala.

Over 20 foreigners were killed in the Mumbai terror strikes.

"'Kambhakt Ishq' is not just an exciting business venture after what happened to Mumbai in November. Suddenly all of us have become more sensitised. We need to prove a point to the world and to ourselves... I realise there's a black mark against Mumbai's name on the tourist map after 26/11. We will erase it. And to do that we need to invite the outside world to come to Mumbai and see that Mumbai is safe. I promise you, Stallone won't go back with any apprehensions about our city."

Kareena voted a youth icon

Kareena Kapoor is the only actress to make it to the list of Top 10 Youth Icons in a survey conducted by an Indian newspaper, among people between the ages of 18 and 25, across 10 major cities.

The list includes Shah Rukh Khan, M.S. Dhoni, Aamir Khan, Rahul Gandhi among others. NSG commandos secured the number one position in the survey.

This year Kareena has four films scheduled for release: “Kambakkth Ishq”, “Main Aur Mrs Khanna”, Karan Johar's untitled film and “3 Idiots”.

Kareena will also be seen in a special appearance in Shah Rukh Kan's forthcoming film “Billu Barber”. Her song 'Mar jani, mar jani” is already on air and not many know that she said yes to do the song just a day before it was shot.

I want my performances on stage to be exclusive and rare: Kareena Kapoor

You’ve apparently made up your mind to not do any more stage shows.

That’s not true at all. I never said that. But I won’t dance at weddings and private functions. I’ve done it in the past. But I won’t do it any more. I don’t want to or need to do such things. Dancing for a proper staged event, including awards functions, is fine. In fact, I’m dancing at an event in Delhi in the last week of January.

You’d refused to dance with other actresses at an awards function...
I had nothing against dancing for the function. The Moranis (the organisers) were discussing it with me from the time I was going on holiday. I was out of reach for a week. But before I left for my holiday, I told them I didn’t like the five-diva act concept. I had informed them of this before I left for my holiday. I didn’t want to be a part of it. Is that a crime?

You had informed the organizers of your reservations in advance?
Oh yes, well in advance. So, I didn’t ‘back out’. I love awards and love to dance at awards functions. Last year, I danced at all the awards functions. This year, I don’t have the time to rehearse for these functions. See, for the kind of films I’m doing, I’ve got to be completely there. I can’t take out four hours to rehearse. I’ll dance next year. I want my performances on stage to be exclusive and rare.

But the general perception is that you don’t enjoy being on stage.
Oh, I love it! But not right now. I’ve to give my best to my roles. As an actor, that’s my first priority. I’d like to give 100 per cent of myself to the camera. I was shooting in Bangalore for 3 Idiots. I will be in Mumbai for a couple of days to shoot an ad. And then I leave India to shoot for an international magazine.

How is it going with 3 Idiots?
I’m totally blessed to be working with Raju Hirani and Aamir Khan. I’m not there for the whole Bangalore schedule. Beyond that I can’t say much about the film...except that I’m not playing one of the idiots.

You’ve also decided not to talk about your relationship with Saif Ali Khan?
Too much was said and written about us in 2008. So, until our relationship goes to the next level, there’s no need to talk about it.

Do you feel there is a Saif-Kareena overkill in the media?
There’s a curiosity about us because we’re seen as a glam couple. We both laugh about it. Saif looks at himself in the mirror and asks, ‘Do you think I’m glamorous?’ I tend to be very open about my feelings. We’ve never hidden our relationship, but we’ve said enough. This year, let our films talk.

You’ve just been on a holiday. Have you come back looking healthier?
If by that you mean have I put on weight, then yes. I have. I need put on weight for 3 Idiots and Rensil d’Silva’s film. In the Marjani song I’m looking... slim. But not paper thin. I’ll continue to be healthy and eat healthy. I snack here and there. But I’ve become so conscious of my fitness level that I can’t eat at irregular hours. I wake up with yoga.

Kareena ditches award function

Kareena Kapoor was to perform in the finale of an award function to be held in Mumbai on January 14. However, she has now opted out of the show, leaving the organisers high and dry.

The organisers were in for a huge shock when Kareena informed them of their decision on Sunday. In fact, promos of the event, featuring Kareena, have been running on TV, and will not probably be pulled out too.

Kareena was to perform at the event along with four other actresses - Bipasha Basu, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone. Their act was supposed to be the show’s grand finale.

Sources say after agreeing to perform, Kareena realised that she is much senior to the other actresses and because of her seniority she should be give something spectacular to perform. When that did not happen, she opted out of the function.

Kareena had recently announced that she no longer will dance at weddings and New Year’s Eve bashes. Are award functions going to be next on her banned list?