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Deepika Padukone, who was down with malaria in London, had a reason to cheer up.

The actress who is shooting for Sajid Khan's Housefull was given a week off for recovering from her illness by the thoughtful team. Deepika took advantage of the holiday and called her family over to London to spend some time with her.

The actress doesn't get to spend enough time with them and can hardly go to meet them in Bangalore where they stay.

They had also come to visit her in Bangkok when she was shooting for Chandni Chowk to China. She, however, doesn't want to call them to boring places. She believes they should have fun whenever they visit her.

This is yesterday’s photo from the Indian River turned back to the horizontal level that means that my day is no more up-side-down, right? …LOL… everything is back to “normal”, our car is fixed and runs like new again - life is good!

Hi my friends,

thanks for your wonderful comments and compliments to my post yesterday and the other days too, of course. We were absorbed two days with sitting and waiting to get our RV tuned up and all those mechanical things that have to bee done after a certain time being on the road. I had not to much time to post….

We are thinking about settling down maybe here at the Space Coast and looking around for good locations. There is a lot on the market, but a lot of rubbish too….

Stay with me in this hot Florida weather, everybody is sweating, not just me…LOL…
Susanne

Click into the picture to see it bigger.
To see more of my postings please scroll down and click “older post”
To see my photos of Key west go to my archives and
look for photos from 2006 to 2008.

Some column and roof details of the Manila Central Post Office building designed in 1926 by Juan Marcos de Guzman Arellano.

One of the fountains in Plaza Moriones, a park just outside the main gate and moat of Fort Santiago, one of the oldest fortifications in the City of Manila. During the 19th century, it was a promenade for the residents of Intramuros. Now, the gardens can be rented for special events such as wedding receptions.

Salman you have done the action all by yourself in WANTED. Are you satisfied with the final result?
I am quite satisfied, as I have gone through a lot of training for this film and have stretched myself a lot. May it be dancing or action, I needed the training, and the outcome of it has been good, according to me.

Politicians are blaming actors on going to any extent for the publicity of their film. What is your comment on that?
Sorry I could not hear you… (Ever-diplomatic Sallu just refused to answer this question)

What is the reason for taking up this film?
The reason for taking up WANTED was the script and the jazba of working hard in it. Now if the film does not work, then I will stop working hard. As I know I have worked hard for this movie and believe that this is one of the best.

Your characters name Radhe Mohan, is the same as it was in your previous film Tere Naam. What similarity do these two characters have?
In Tere Naam, Radhe was a college boy who was hit badly and he goes mad at the end, but here Radhe is a man and no body can even touch him, as it will be very easy for him to bury them underground.

Can you elaborate on your character in the film?
I essay the role of a contract killer in the film, and if somebody gives a supari on your name I will kill you also (grins).

Asin was originally cast in this film. What was the reason of replacing her with Ayesha Takiya?
We wanted Ayesha so we cast her in the film, and come on guys she was getting married too and so we were planning to release this film before her marriage. Asin got her share in London Dreams toh humne setting karli hai…

How different is this film from its Telugu version?
In this film there is humor, and different kind of action keeping in mind our audiences. It's not the ditto copy of the Telugu version, but we have our own inputs too, which sets this film apart from the South movie.

This film has a lot of action and so did Ghajini, which was full with loads of action? So do you think this film will work on the same lines?
Ghajini worked not because of its action, but because of its romance. I have seen it and liked it also, but it was a different story altogether. This film is hero centric, and you will feel that I would like to be like Radhe Mohan after coming out of the theatre.

You have sung the song in WANTED. How was your experience?
It was like I was just dubbing some lines for the song, when suddenly the idea of singing the full song popped up in my mind. Sajid and Wajid took my voice to the studio, put some masala and presented it. So if you like the song you know the story behind my voice. (Laughs)

Deepika Padukone, who was down with malaria in London, had a reason to cheer up.

The actress who is shooting for Sajid Khan's Housefull was given a week off for recovering from her illness by the thoughtful team. Deepika took advantage of the holiday and called her family over to London to spend some time with her.

The actress doesn't get to spend enough time with them and can hardly go to meet them in Bangalore where they stay.

They had also come to visit her in Bangkok when she was shooting for Chandni Chowk to China. She, however, doesn't want to call them to boring places. She believes they should have fun whenever they visit her.

Salman you have done the action all by yourself in WANTED. Are you satisfied with the final result?
I am quite satisfied, as I have gone through a lot of training for this film and have stretched myself a lot. May it be dancing or action, I needed the training, and the outcome of it has been good, according to me.

Politicians are blaming actors on going to any extent for the publicity of their film. What is your comment on that?
Sorry I could not hear you… (Ever-diplomatic Sallu just refused to answer this question)

What is the reason for taking up this film?
The reason for taking up WANTED was the script and the jazba of working hard in it. Now if the film does not work, then I will stop working hard. As I know I have worked hard for this movie and believe that this is one of the best.

Your characters name Radhe Mohan, is the same as it was in your previous film Tere Naam. What similarity do these two characters have?
In Tere Naam, Radhe was a college boy who was hit badly and he goes mad at the end, but here Radhe is a man and no body can even touch him, as it will be very easy for him to bury them underground.

Can you elaborate on your character in the film?
I essay the role of a contract killer in the film, and if somebody gives a supari on your name I will kill you also (grins).

Asin was originally cast in this film. What was the reason of replacing her with Ayesha Takiya?
We wanted Ayesha so we cast her in the film, and come on guys she was getting married too and so we were planning to release this film before her marriage. Asin got her share in London Dreams toh humne setting karli hai…

How different is this film from its Telugu version?
In this film there is humor, and different kind of action keeping in mind our audiences. It's not the ditto copy of the Telugu version, but we have our own inputs too, which sets this film apart from the South movie.

This film has a lot of action and so did Ghajini, which was full with loads of action? So do you think this film will work on the same lines?
Ghajini worked not because of its action, but because of its romance. I have seen it and liked it also, but it was a different story altogether. This film is hero centric, and you will feel that I would like to be like Radhe Mohan after coming out of the theatre.

You have sung the song in WANTED. How was your experience?
It was like I was just dubbing some lines for the song, when suddenly the idea of singing the full song popped up in my mind. Sajid and Wajid took my voice to the studio, put some masala and presented it. So if you like the song you know the story behind my voice. (Laughs)

Kangana Ranaut is known for playing heavy duty roles in films like “Gangster” and “Fashion”, but the actress has now signed on her second light-hearted movie “Tanu Weds Manu”.

The fun film, directed by Aanand L. Rai of “Strangers” fame, has Kangana paired with R. Madhavan.

“It was after much deliberation that Kangana was finalised for the role. The character that Kangana would be playing in ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ is such that it is of paramount importance to get the casting right, ” Rai told.

Kangana, who has played a traumatised women in most of her films, was signed on for her first comic role by Anil Kapoor for his production “No Problem”, a comedy directed by Anees Bazmee.

Before venturing into comedy, Kangana did a series of serious films.

While she was haunted by ghosts in “Raaz - The Mystery Continues”, “Fashion” had her playing a supermodel who fell to drugs and abuse. “Life In A… Metro” showed her in a turbulent affair with a much married boss (Kay Kay Menon), “Woh Lamhe” had her play a schizophrenic while in “Gangster” she played an alcoholic moll to a gangster (Shiney Ahuja).

Director Rai, however, is confident that she will pull off the role in “Tanu Weds Manu”.

“Yes, I have studied her filmography quite closely and I know for sure that ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ would finally showcase Kangana in a different light. There is a definite humour to the film which thankfully is poles apart from life vs death roles that Kangana has played in the past, ” he said.

Explaining the reason behind finalising Kangana, Rai said: “When I was narrating the film to her, she came across as someone who was very passionate and energetic when it came to films. Moreover, what worked for me was the fact that she was taking a personal view on the subject. Now that’s the kind of girl I wanted for the film since I wanted her to add something of her own to the character as well.”

But before Kangana, Rai had approached Konkona Sen Sharma but she couldn’t accept the offer due to date problems.

“There were genuine date issues due to which Konkona couldn’t come on board. We are looking at shooting the film in the months of September, October and November but she is unavailable then. However, I’m happy about Kangana now being signed for the film since she and Madhavan coming together would be really special for the film.”

Rai had earlier made “Strangers”, a thriller that had Jimmy Sheirgill and Kay Kay Menon.

“After working on ‘Strangers’, it is nice to be working on a light-hearted entertainer with a sensitive love story at its heart. The film has an interesting soul while going well with the commercial aspects of things. I would be travelling across my locations through the next few days and begin shooting in September, ” he said.

The filmmaker said his movie would be shot in places like Lucknow, Kanpur, Faridkot, Patiala and New Delhi.

The Penguin Café Gallery in Malate, Manila (just several blocks away from the Malate Church) derived its name from the owner’s large collection of penguins. Here is one decorating a lamp in a corner, with a couple of penguins painted on the window. I don’t know if geckos have the same type of habitat, but this twisted one looks happy enough sharing the same space as the penguins.

When they began their career with Ishq Vishk and Boom respectively, even Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif wouldn’t have thought that a few years down they line, they would be winning a National Award for Best Acting.

Well, this has actually turned out to be true as both the actors are the chosen ones for 12th Rajiv Gandhi National Awards. The event would be taking place at National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai, on 19th August’09.

Rajiv Gandhi Awards were initiated in 1995 in an endeavor to keep alive the vision of ex-Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. The event honours the achievers who are a part of India current progress.

Since 12 years this platform brings together various fraternities. Other winners this year are Avika Gor (Child Prodigy), Vineet Jain (Industrialist), Ramesh Chandra Agarwal (Journalism), Sam Pitroda (Global Indian), Dr. Narendra Jadhav (Educationist), Dr. G Madhavan Nair (Super Achiever), Krushnaa Patil (Women Achiever), Rajashree Birla (Social Field) and Rohit Kochhar (Young Entrepreneur).

These renowned personalities will be honoured in a grand manner amidst lot of performances & entertainment extravaganza on the eve of Shri Rajiv Gandhi’ birth anniversary.

The award ceremony will be graced by dignitaries like Kamalnath, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Murli Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ajay Maken, Rajiv Shukla, Priya Dutt, Milind Deora, Eknath Gaikwad, Sanjay Nirupam, Mohd. Azharuddin, Subodh Kant Sahay, Gurudas Kamat, Manikrao Thackray.

Rajiv Gandhi Awards has always had many Bollywood biggies as the performers in the past, including Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Navin Prabhakar, Rakhi Sawant, Vivek Oberoi, Sukhwinder Singh, Koena Mitra, Tanushree Dutta, Aftab Shivdasani, Sunidhi Chauhan, Isha Shravani, Sivamani, Tisca Chopra, Sajid Khan, Anupam Kher, Parizad Kolha, and more.

This year also, many celebrities namely Hrithik Roshan, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chowdhary, Esha Deol, Hussain Kuwajerwala, Priyanka Chopra, Raju Shrivastav, Vishal-Shekhar are to perform in this event.

It is only the sixth year of the Ateneo Art Awards and it is quickly growing into a much-coveted award by Filipino artists 35-years-old and younger. From granting just one art residency in Australia, it now grants four with the addition of programs in Indonesia, Singapore and New York. The exhibit and awarding ceremony venues are always high-profile, which is one reason why it has been very successful. The first four years, it was at the Power Plant Mall in Makati City. In 2008 and this year, it was at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. I finally decided to satisfy my curiosity and attended last week’s ceremony for the 2009 awards. I took this from a higher floor quite early when people were just starting to arrive for the cocktails. Two hours later, the cordoned-off area was jam-packed with artists and society people and one could hardly move around, much less app! reciate the artwork. When the exhibit moves to the more peaceful Ateneo Art Gallery, I’ll try to visit and take pictures of the winning pieces, but in the meantime, photos of the twelve in the short list are here.