New Delhi, Aug 28 - Under the big tree called Bollywood, the Bhojpuri film industry has been steadily taking root. While the mega Hindi film industry struggles to profit from its releases, its fledgling cousin has been growing steadily, doubling its output from 50 films four years ago to 100 films annually, and making money too.

Industry insiders say films in the Hindi dialect can do even better if the government extends support.

New Delhi, Aug 23 - Anil Kapoor is going great guns. After the international acclaim following "Slumdog Millionaire", the evergreen star is making his debut on international television with the final season of American series "24". He describes the action drama as "bigger than the biggest" he has done in India.

New Delhi, Aug 23 - "Brick Lane" fame actress Tannishtha Chatterjee, who stars in "Bhopal - A Prayer for Rain", based on the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, says the drama will rewind memories of the world's worst industrial accident.

New Delhi, Aug 23 - Designer Vikram Phadnis brought the curtains down to the Delhi leg of the 6th edition of the Seagram’s Blenders Pride Fashion Tour Sunday night with his vivid coloured collection.

With "no particular theme" in order, Phadnis displayed a collection of ornate lehengas, saris and achkans embellished with intricate embroidery in contemporary style.

The line was immersed in colours such as green, mustard, blue with a mix of antique gold and silver.

New Delhi, Aug 21 - She is young and raring to go. Deepika Padukone says she is hardly content with what she does and even though she has managed seven films in her three-year-old Bollywood career, she wants a lot more.

"I live life on my own terms. I have certain goals that I have set for myself, I want to achieve those goals and I expect a lot from myself. I'm extremely ambitious and I will not stop for anything or anybody. I am a go-getter and I am very rarely satisfied with what I do," Deepika told IANS.

When actor Nikhil Dwivedi went for a relaxed holiday in London recently, he ended up getting three stitches to his eyebrow.

The actor, who was last seen in Mani Ratnam's "Raavan", was playing football with local children in London and accidentally tripped. He started bleeding and took medical help immediately, says a source close to the actor.

Nikhil was told that the injury was deep enough to get three stitches, and he sportingly went ahead with it. (IANS)

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi says playing the role of slain leader Paritala Ravindra in Ram Gopal Varma's "Rakta Charitra" has been his most challenging, yet satisfying experience ever.

"Shooting the last and final day of RC ('Rakta Charitra')... feeling kind of bitter-sweet... so many amazing memories! What an incredible experience it's been... definitely the most challenging and most satisfying experience of my career as an actor," Vivek posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

New Delhi, Aug 17 - Bollywood actress Preity Zinta will ring the opening bell of the world's biggest stock exchange, NASDAQ, in New York Tuesday.

"Yeah! I am invited for the opening bell ceremony at NASDAQ Tuesday morning," Preity confirmed on her Twitter page.

"Hope you can list one of my companies there someday! Ting! Now I'm excited!" added the actress, who is the co-owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab.

The actress was in New York to attend the India Day Parade for India's 64th Independence Day.

New Delhi, Aug 16 - Oscar winner A. R. Rahman, who has composed the theme song of the Commonwealth Games, said Monday that he was pained by the negative publicity for the mega sporting event.

Appealing to the media to present a positive image of the Games, Rahman said: "It is my humble request to you (media) to present a positive image of the Games to the international community."

New Delhi, Aug 16 - Oscar winner A. R. Rahman is ready with the Commonwealth Games theme song but the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Games has asked the composer to tweak it before the opening ceremony.

"I presented the theme song before the GoM and it was approved. I have been asked to tweak it and it will be released within next 10 days," Rahman told reporters here at a function organised to launch the theme song.

"I think it won't be good to release the theme song without making the necessary changes," he said when asked about the song.

New Delhi, Aug 14 - Bollywood is set to quench the thirst of movie aficionados with a slew of gangster movies - and it's about time too, if the success of Milan Luthria's underworld saga "Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai" is any indication.

"This is a prefect time to return to the era when gangster movies were very entertaining. They had humour, romance, music, dance, flamboyance and attitude. Those films were filled with every element of masala," said Luthria.

According to fresh reports, a 27-year-old woman lost her life owing to Swine Flu in the National capital.

The total death toll in New Delhi has increased to 15.

Around 27 news H1N1 cases were reported from the capital on Friday.

The total number of H1N1 positive cases in the city has gone up to 281 in the existing year.

The most recent fatality took place in Ganga Ram Hospital.

The deadly flu hit the country in May last year.

Around 1,853 people have lost their lives in India till date.

New Delhi, Aug 13 - "Peepli Live" from Aamir Khan Productions has left megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his actress wife Jaya Bachchan highly impressed. He says the film reminded him of his birthplace.

"Aamir invited Jaya and myself to view his film 'Peepli Live’ and then for dinner to his house. The film took me back to my place of birth and deposited me within the distinct atmosphere of my roots, and I loved that.

Bipasha Basu, who created waves with her first fitness video CD, BB Love Yourself, is now preparing to release a second video.

"Working on a new workout routine for 'BB Love Yourself DVD - Part 2', super fun! Had friends trying it out with me! All love it," Bipasha posted on Twitter.

Bipasha, who otherwise has a broad frame, has now achieved a slim and trim figure and wants her fans to follow her footsteps to have a fit and healthy body.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher is feeling fresh after a brief vacation in Manali.

"Back in Mumbai. It was rejuvenating to spend three days in the greenery and stillness of Manali. (Now I) know myself a little clearer and better," Anupam posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Anupam was born and brought up in Shimla, and loves spending time in the hills. His last release was "Lamha" and these days he is busy with his acting school Actor Prepares.

New Delhi, Aug 11 - Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan, who is eagerly awaiting the birth of his second child with actress wife Kajol, is yearning for a break.

"Just as I utter the word break, I get a reminder for 'Aakrosh' promotions. (It is) releasing on Oct 1. No hope in hell for a break. Please suggest some escape techniques," Ajay posted on his Twitter page.

The versatile actor has received rave reviews for his role in the gangster film "Once Upon A Time... In Mumbai". His next release is Priyadarshan's "Aakrosh", based on honour killings in Bihar. (IANS)

New Delhi, Aug 11 - Sistema, one of Russia's largest listed companies with annual revenues of $19 billion, will soon float a public issue for its Indian telecom services venture after Moscow concludes its funds infusion programme of around $675 million.

"We are ready for a public issue. In principle, this has been approved. But there are some procedural issues. We are all hoping it concludes it soon," said Vsevolod Rozanov, president and chief executive of Sistema Shyam TeleServices, their India joint venture.

New Delhi, Aug 10 - Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who is co-producing the Indo-Canadian film "Breakaway" on ice hockey, has roped in Vinay Virmani to play the lead.

The Canada-born actor, who attended the Lee Streesberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, will share screen space with Canadian actress Emily Van Camp in the film.

"Akshay is very excited about it since he’s had a longstanding bond with Canada and is looking forward to working with the team on the film," a source close to the project said.

New Delhi, Aug 10 - Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor is the leading woman endorser of the year, according to a report by AdEx India, a division of TAM Media Research.

Kareena had a 45 percent share of celebrity endorsements on television during 2010, says the report.

The actress has featured alongside three popular male celebrities - M. S. Dhoni, Shah Rukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar. She currently endorses brands like Airtel, Kurkure, Sony Vaio and Gitanjali among others.

New Delhi, Aug 10 - The festive season in October is usually a time when Bollywood bigwigs fight it out at the box office. But this year will be different, as no less than Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan will have television as their battleground.

The three actors will try to drive up TRPs (Television Rating Points) as hosts for three big shows that are expected to hit the small screen in October.