Arjun get a stake in SRK’s ‘knights’

Boys always bond over sports, right? And it couldn’t be truer than at this moment when the entire nation is bonding over IPL and cricket. But buddies Arjun Rampal and Shah Rukh Khan have one thing in common — their sporting spirit and their loyalty to one team. In every match that the Knight Riders play, Arjun cheers the boys unfailingly, while simultaneously adding to the glam quotient.

So, just out of curiosity, we asked the sports fanatic if he would want to own a cricket team, or would he rather go international (now that he’s had his first brush with the West, courtesy Nicole Kidman) and target the New York Yankees instead? He quickly replied, “No! I wouldn’t want to own a piece of the New York Yankees simply because I don’t like baseball that much. I prefer cricket.

And yes, I’d love to own a cricket team someday. Maybe one day, when Shah Rukh is selling a stake from his share of the Knight Riders, I’ll definitely buy some. Because I really like that team.” Now that’s news to us. He’d rather keep his loyalties with SRK, than trade it off to another team. Fair enough, Arjun. Such is their dosti! But dude, take a closer look at their current game, and do a re-think, puhlease.

Do you ‘really’ want to bet your moolah on them now that they’ve been faring a tad badly? After their unfortunate run (so far) is the knights-in shining-armour still shiny? Hopefully, they’ll ‘up’ the game now. At the end of the game ... it’s all about the money, honey!

Who is attending IIFA

The event is going to be talked about for who flies down for the celebrations. Those who stay away might be scorned for penny-pinching, no matter how busy their lifestyles might be. Stars can always make a concession, though most don't seem to be in a party mood.

Which celebs are going to be present at IFFA?
In spite of biggies like SRK, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan giving a miss to the IIFA , still is a huge star studded list of attendees like Hrithik and Suzanne Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Arjun and Meher Rampal, Boman Irani, Riteish Deshmukh, Anoushka Sharma, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, David Dhawan, Rakesh Roshan, Ashutosh Govarikar, Randhir Kapoor, Govinda, Neelam, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mugdha Ghodse, Ritesh Sidhwani, Malaika Arora Khan, and Amrita Rao.

That is some list!
Hold your horses, here's more dope on the glitterati.
Also attending will be Rajesh Khanna, Zayed Khan, Sophie Choudhury and fashion designers - Rocky S, Manav Gangwani, Anamika Khanna and Farah Ali Khan.

Will the real winners please stand up.
Oscar winners A R Rehman and Rasool Pookutty will also be attending the Videocon IIFA Weekend and this is a good chance for IIFA to make sure the world tunes in to see where musician Rahman is partying.

Last minute drop-outs.
This list is incomplete without Jaya Bachchan who has chosen to stay back home. But guess what is keeping her home? She will be taking care of close friend Amar Singh, who is hospitalised. Wasn't his family enough to take care for two days?

Hmnn, strange are the ways of celeb committments.

Arjun to play hubby in Stepmom

Arjun Rampal is on a roll.

Rumours say he has been finalised to play Kajol-Kareena Kapoor’s husband in Karan Johar’s version of Step Mom. Sources in the Johar camp say that the choice of Arjun is still not final and that talks between the actor and the producer are still on. Earlier it was being suggested that John Abraham would play the same role.

Of course as is the practice these days, first a news is leaked out; then there is a round of denials. This way more buzz is generated. Anyway, Arjun who is currently riding the success wave post Rock On; is also likely to be the male lead in Meghna Gulzar’s directorial venture being produced by Sanjay Gupta. Gupta says, “I’ll let you know if this news is correct, once the deal goes through. Right now, it is too early to talk.” Arjun is also in talks with two film corporations for leading roles, but the price is still being negotiated.

Arjun Rampal recently bought a penthouse in Band

Arjun Rampal picks up a sea-facing penthouse apartment in Bandra at a cool Rs 20 crore. The actor will move in with family next week

Says a source close to Arjun, "His new place is a airy and spacious penthouse in Chand Terrace. It's over 5,300 sq ft in size and has more than four bedrooms. It is sea-facing and has a great deal of sunlight coming in".

The deal was brokered a fortnight ago at nearly Rs 20 crore. Says his real estate agent, "Arjun was looking around for nearly six to seven months but couldn't make up his mind. The penthouse was the place where his search ended."

Arjun and wife Mehr Jesia earlier resided with their two daughters, Mahikaa and Myraa at Ritu Apartments in Bandra. But now that their children are growing up, they need more space. Apart from their daughters, Arjun and Mehr have two dogs and four maids. Also Arjun's mother comes to stay with them once in a while, so the couple needed a spacious apartment. The couple had been wanting a large place for over a year. Now, with Arjun's successes last year, they felt it was time to buy a new place even if it meant that it was going to be extremely expensive."

Arjun and Mehr have done the interior design and decoration of the penthouse on their own. Adds the source, "Mehr's got good taste and has an eye for decoration. For the penthouse Arjun and Mehr picked up many home accessories from all over the world including one from their recent trip to New York en route to the Caribbean Islands for Arjun's cousin's wedding. Now that the apartment has been done up completely the family will shift in next week."

Gauri designs for Arjun Rampal!

Guess who’s designing one part of the restaurant-cum-lounge that Arjun Rampal
and Mehr Jessia are opening in Delhi coming July?

Bollywood style icon and Shah Rukh Khan’s wife, Gauri Khan. Arjun told BT about his well-kept secret, “Gauri and Nandita Mahtani will design one of the tables, Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal will do one each, and the fourth will be done by me. Mehr will be in charge of the entire club, but the idea of having these four specific designer tables by popular celebrities is to give the club an added advantage.’’

The party place is expected to be visited by the biggest names in Bollywood including Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar and Farhan Akhtar. And its novelty, in keeping with international club culture, is that four specific tables will be designed by four renowned designers. Arjun, who would not reveal more, added that everybody was working on their corner. Gauri’s table is likely to include designer crockery or glassware especially designed/sourced by her superstar husband.

Arjun Rampal goes to Cannes 2009

The beverage ad which Arjun Rampal shot for with Nicole Kidman, has him play Prince Charming. After charming Nicole, now Arjun is all set to work his magic on the beautiful people at Cannes, thanks to the brand he endorses.

The beveage folks are eager that Arjun be present at the Cannes Film Festival where the full commercial will be released.

As a result, they've made special arrangements for the actor to travel to the French Riviera. He will fly from Paris to Cannes in a specially chartered flight and will be put up at the company's luxury villa. Arjun will walk the red carpet along with Hollywood folk.

The actor who is presently in the Caribbean confirms, "Yes, it is true. I will be ariving in Cannes on May 15."

As reported, the actor and wife Mehr left last week for St Peter's of the Caribbean islands to attend his cousin's marriage. But as planned earlier, his daughters Mahikaa and Myra didn't accompany the actor because of the swine flu epidemic as he didn't want to risk affecting the health of his girls.

Arjun scared of swine flu

Arjun Rampal is all set to fly for a very close friend’s wedding to the Carribean Islands.

Wife Mehr Jessia and two daughters Mahika and Mariya were also to accompany the handsome hunk. However, since there has been an alarming increase in the swine flu cases overseas; especially Mexico, US and the areas around;

Arjun is now cutting short his trip by a few days. Says the actor, “Mehr and I will be away for around 10-12 days, but we’re leaving our little girls behind because of the swine flu scare. As parents, we don’t wish to take any chances with their health.’’ Arjun himself has to fly to the wedding because he is very close to the groom; but perhaps he may plan a vacation with his two babies when he returns from the Caribbean.

What's happening in Bollywood!

Children got what their heart desired and people partied the weekend away

A worthy cause: Sonali Kulkarni, Gayatri Patel, Sonu Sood, Barry John and Bipin Sharma cheered up kids suffering from thalassemia by treating them to an animated flick.


Goodies for the Kiddies: Irrfan Khan, Barry John and Bipin Sharma give out gifts to the kids.


SRK’S Bash: Guest of Honor Gerard Butler leaves from the party hosted by Shahrukh Khan in his honor.


Not without my wife: Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jessia were spotted at SRK’s party.


Italian Job: A hunky Dino Morea is all dazed with the media at Shahrukh Khan’s party

Arjun gift to Nicole!

Arjun Rampal has sex and ‘exposure’ on his mind.

Talk to him about gifting a sari to Nicole Kidman, and he starts ‘covering’ (her) up. Ask him about John’s butt-show and he says ‘I’d rather compete from the ‘front’. He then talks about Abhishek being ‘cuter’ and how he stands by SRK’s Knight Riders like a loyalist. Whew! The man’s just got more wicked and saucy in these excerpts from a ripping and roaring tête-à-tête.

You seem to be ‘doing’ plenty of international brands...

If you’re referring to the commercial I’ve done with Nicole Kidman then you’re just being wicked. I’ve done plenty of modeling earlier, but when I chose to act I didn’t want to model. It took me nine years to make people realise I’m an actor. So after Rock On, Shekhar (Kapur) called me and said he was doing a commercial with Nicole and wanted me to be a part of it. So I sent my pictures, and films to Ridley Scott Productions and they approved. The result will be a sexy and funny commercial.

‘Sexy’ with Nicole Kidman?

Don’t get too excited, but yeah, she keeps taking off her clothes everytime! Ha ha, just kidding!

You tried to cover her up by gifting her a sari?

Well, it was Mehr’s idea, really. I was in Udaipur, its fab out there, yet Nicole couldn’t go out and shop. So I asked Mehr to pick out a sari for her. Nicole loved it.

Hubby wanted them off and wifey wanted to cover up?

No, I didn’t want to take off anyone’s clothes. She wanted to wear the sari but didn’t know how to, so she asked me to help.

You were the first guy in Bollywood with a six-pack. Now everyone has one. Home cooking softened the belly?

No, no! I love my wife’s cooking and I love food, but I’ve never starved myself for a six pack. It’s very difficult to maintain a six-pack, but when you want to get into great shape and work hard, it comes back real fast.

You and John seem to have this intense rivalry and he showed more than a six-pack – at the ‘rear’.

I think John has always had a great body. And he worked out really hard for Dostana to get much leaner. But I compete from the ‘front’, that’s why I don’t look him as a rival.

Would you do Dostana in English?

I’d rather do a Brokeback Mountain in Hindi.

With John?

I find Abhishek cuter!

Does your dosti with SRK post OSO affect your equation with stars like Akshay, Aamir, Salman?

No. Why should it? Shah Rukh is a friend and I will stand for him like a loyalist. I will root for the Knight Riders – not just because of SRK but because I like his team as well. I love him, his family and everyone knows that. So I guess my equation with others always starts with them knowing that he’s a close friend, so no one goes there.