Lahore,
Islamabad to dance to Uma Sharma's tune
Lahore:
Leading Indian Kathak dancer Uma Sharma will perform
at Lahore's famous Alhamra Hall on April 17 and 18. According
to the Daily Times, the All Pakistan Music Conference's
(APMC) Secretary General, Hayyat Ahmed Khan, has been instrumental
in organizing the two-day performance. Khan told the paper
that Uma Sharma would also perform at the National Library
auditorium in Islamabad on April 20 and 21. Sharma, who
will be the first Indian dancer to perform publicly in Pakistan,
will perform a solo 'Bhavanritya' based on Ghalib's work
titled Andaz-e-Bayan. Trained by Kathak Gurus Shambhu Maharaj
and Sunder Prasad, Sharma is a recipient of the Padma Shree,
the Sangeet Natak Academy and the Sahitya Kala Parishad
awards.
Lollywood's
Meera to make Bollywood film (Go
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Lahore:
Taking advantage of the "feel good factor" currently
prevailing between Pakistan and India, Lollywood icon Meera
wants to produce a Bollywood film on herself. Meera, who
has reportedly firmed this deal with Indian film director
Karan Johar told the Daily Times that, "It is a great breakthrough
in my reel life." She said that shooting for the project
would begin in three months, and that it would be made on
an estimated budget of Rs.60 million. "I know I shall face
many ups and downs but I have made up my mind," she said,
adding that both Johar and film director Mahesh Bhatt had
been sounded out about the project. "The movie shall be
about my life and Mr. Bhatt is writing the script," she
said. The actress will also be in Bhatt's film Nazar Kay
Samnay. She said the script of the film was "fabulous" with
well-defined characters. Her co-star in the movie will be
John Abraham. Asked what her chances of matching Abraham
would be, Meera said: "Cinema fans will be left breathless
after watching me sizzle with my co-star." Meera said she
would also produce a Punjabi film to show "the real culture
of Punjab".
Geri
Halliwell has throat surgery to sing again (Go
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London:
This might be good news to a lot of her rivals, but
for her fans, it's the worst. Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell
underwent a throat surgery, after being warned she might
never sing again, according to the Sun. The artist had two
small but potentially damaging growths - known as nodules
- cut out. Doctors told her there was no way she could even
think about recording her new album without the operation.
"The problem was found during a routine check-up for a sore
throat. The news came as a shock to Geri", a friend of the
star said. "She hates operations and all that medical stuff
but knew it was too important not to bother with. Thankfully
the operation has gone well and she is fighting fit and
ready to crack on with the album", the friend added.
'Nipplegate' brought me closer to Michael:
Janet Jackson (Go
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Washington:
Pop star Janet Jackson has revealed that one advantage
her breast-baring scandal gave her was that it brought her
much closer to her troubled elder brother, Michael. The
sexy 'Nasty' singer had sparked a furore in her native America
when Justin Timberlake had ripped off a part of her bustier
to reveal one of her breasts at Super Bowl this year in
February. However, Janet amidst all the controversy, sought
solace from her 45-year old 'Bad' singer brother Michael,
who faces nine counts of child molestation. "I feel completely
drained. It would be a lot easier not to be Janet Jackson
right now. It made me understand just a little bit how my
brother feels. It has made me feel so much more supportive
toward him. Michael called me right after the news blew
up. He told me I had done nothing wrong and that I had to
be strong," rate the music quoted Janet as saying in America's
'In Touch Weekly'. Moreover, Janet's rap mogul beau Jermaine
Dupri has also been a supporting force in her moment of
crisis. "He has stood right by me and given me this strength
when I needed it most," said Janet.
Woman
dupes fiancee of 19,500 pounds, weds waiter (Go
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London:
Rosarie McNamara, 44, tricked a 60-year old man into
buying her a wedding dress and then wore it to marry a waiter
in an Indian restaurant. According to the Sun, Rosarie had
agreed to tie the knot with retired businessman Peter Hart
after they met through a lonely- hearts column. She had
also spent months posing as trusting Peter's fiancee at
his home in Sevenhampton, Wilts. In fact, Rosarie had conned
Hart out of 19,500 pounds in a series of loans. But Hart
eventually found a marriage certificate revealing that she
had married the waiter of a restaurant. However, Rosarie
admitted obtaining money by deception and was given 100
hours community service. "He believed she was going to marry
him and that he would get his money back," the report quoted
prosecutor Rob Welling as saying. "He's a lovely person
and didn't deserve this," added a close pal of Hart.
Ben
Affleck finds love in former 'Baywatch' beauty's arms (Go
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Washington:
Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck has recovered from his split
with Jennifer Lopez and he has found solace into the arms
of gorgeous actress Krista Allen, who is also on the rebound
from a failed romance with George Clooney. The 'Paycheck'
actor and the 32-year old 'Baywatch Hawaii' beauty ran into
each other at the poker tables in Las Vegas and ended up
in the 'Jersey Girl' star's hotel suite. "I've got Ben smiling
again! He had to go promote his movie but we'll be together
again as soon as he gets back to Los Angeles," the National
Enquirer quoted Allen as saying to a close friend. Allen
broke up with the 'Ocean's Eleven' actor a few weeks ago
after a two-year romance because he was unwilling to commit
marriage to her. "She was broken hearted, because she really
believed George was the one. She was even prepared to have
his baby and was telling friends to expect a wedding announcement
soon. When she realized that marriage just wasn't in George's
plans, she ended the romance -- then had a bad case of the
blues. One of the friends she turned to for comfort was
ex-boyfriend David Spade," disclosed a close pal of Allen.
"Krista
and Ben had met before at the World Poker Tournament when
he was with Jennifer and Krista was with George. Krista
likes the casinos. So when she and David bumped into Ben
at Caesars, she took the chair next to him and began playing
cards at his table. In no time at all, Ben and Krista were
flirting. He would lean over and whisper in her ear and
she was laughing at his jokes. Soon Ben was kissing Krista
on her neck and she was giggling," she added. Allen's pal
further said, "After David left, Ben and Krista went out
to dinner together, then back to the gambling tables and
finally to his suite at the Bellagio. A day later, Krista
flew back to Los Angeles and was excitedly telling pals,
'Ben Affleck is wonderful. I needed some fun in my life
and Ben certainly supplies that".
Diana's
508-acre estate to house 2500 homes and supermarket (Go
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London:
The late Princess Diana may be sharing her last resting
place with a Tesco supermarket and 2,500 new homes, if plans
to develop the family's Northamptonshire estate go ahead.
According to Hello, The Princess' brother, Earl Spencer,
could make up to 50 million pounds from the sale of 508
acres of estate land in a proposal which has come in for
criticism from local residents. The local council has indicated
the scheme will almost certainly be given approval since
the government has demanded 55,000 new homes in the county.
"There was a massive public outcry in 1999, but now we have
to accept that at some stage or other there will be development
there," said council leader Phil Larratt.
