Candid photo of Aishwarya Rai at Cannes

Wonder how this picture (seemingly taken from a ladies' room at Cannes) leaked on the internet. The photo shows Aishwarya Rai with Elizabeth Banks and Eva Longoria in what seems like a candid moment between the women. Ash is clearly in a playful mood showing off a lighter side of her personality to the camera guy.

We wish we saw more such pictures of the actress rather than the boring poses we often get to see. Thoda aur chalega, Mrs Jr B!

I didn't have time for partying: Karan Johar

Karan Johar is living out of a suitcase. Last week, he was in London, this week he's in Cannes and then it's back to London before jetting off to San Francisco next week.

The director-producer zipped in for a two-day visit to the Cannes festival as well as to walk the red carpet for the alcohol brand he endorses. He also met international distributors for his film, My Name Is Khan and for his other productions.

A source says, "Karan loves Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela's outfits and scarves. On the red carpet, Karan wore one of the designer's creations. Talking about his Cannes experience, Karan says, "I didn't have any time to party or meet my friends in Cannes this year. I was to meet Abhishek and Ash but couldn't make it.

Apart from walking the red carpet for the brand, I had important meetings to attend with studio heads. This is my fourth year there and I observed a couple of things at Cannes maybe because of the global recession but things were a bit subdued there. Normally, the Croisette is extremely active and buzzing with people, but everything appeared much quieter this year."

On the positive front, Karan notes the gap between Hollywood and Bollywood getting lesser. "At studio levels, the bridge between India and the west is decreasing Indian films have become lot more acceptable. I envisage the two woods Bolly and Holly coming together in the near future. Internationally, people are more aware of our cinema than they were earlier.

I had people from France, Germany, Poland and other European states coming up to me and asking about Indian cinema. Things may be quieter on the film front in Cannes but the buzz regarding Indian and Indian cinema is louder this time around."

Karan definitely intends to capitalise on the growing appeal for Indian cinema in the international market for My Name Is Khan. "Though the domestic market is my priority, I do intend getting as many eyeballs as possible. MNIK has the right kind of blend of what we stand for. I am hoping to go beyond the diaspora with the film. The European and American markets are still untapped."

Karan's been so busy that he's not had time to shop. "Cannes is for shopping for films and not clothes. I don't buy computers or gadgets. I think I am techno challenged. The only thing that I have done is get myself on Facebook and got a BlackBerry."

Hrithik, Barbara Mori get too cosy at Cannes

While it's chilly in Cannes, the lead pair of Kites 'keep each other warm'; the duo appears quite comfy with the 'closeness' they share

Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori seem to have thrown caution to the wind. The twosome were spotted dining in close comfort at the Croisette restaurant in Cannes after the Kites press conference.

Says a source, "Their chairs were too close for comfort. Considering that it is cold in Cannes, the duo seemed to be giving each other a lot of warmth."

Barbara and Hrithik also attended the India Party thrown by Vijay Mallya on a luxury yacht. Says a source, "Hand-in-hand, they looked pretty cosy, even as papa Roshan walked a discreet two steps behind."

It is learnt that Hrithik did not accompany his dad and Kites director Anurag Basu when they flew into Cannes. Hrithik left a day later and without biwi Sussanne. Barbara jetted into the festival from Mexico.

Hurman Baweja at Cannes!

Hurman Baweja will be seen at Cannes, but only on screen. The actor has shot for a short documentary on global warming, Echo of Eco, directed by critically acclaimed director Pan Nalin.

The movie will be showcased today and tomorrow for special invitees, which include a select group of celebrities and industry professionals at the Hotel Carlton's Ballroom in Cannes.

A source close to Pan reveals, "Nalin liked Baweja's performance in Victory and wanted him to be a part of the documentary.

The role was very demanding and challenging and he had several sittings with Hurman to explain the intensity of the role. Hurman was seen juggling his shoots for the filming of the documentary."

Hurman says, "I'm honoured to be a part of a film like this that's supported by the UN and has Pan Nalin directing it. At the same time, the film is very challenging. That's what prompted me to be a part of this film."

The documentary is a United Nations Patronage Project, where 30 filmmakers from different parts of the world are invited to volunteer to make 'Save Our Environment' films. Each short film will show in an artistic way their concerns and their message to save the planet. From India, Nalin was invited to join the league of international filmmakers.

Barbara Mori snubs Aishwarya in Cannes

The controversies surrounding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival don’t seem to end.

First it was Aishwarya and Sonam Kapoor who fought over walking the red carpet for cosmetic brand L’Oreal.

And now it is Mexican actress Barbara Mori, Hrithik co-star in “Kites”, who seems to have rubbed Ash the wrong way.

Aishwarya is in Cannes with hubby Abhishek to walk the red carpet for L’Oreal, while Barbara was there for the promotion of “Kites”.

All of them were put up in the same hotel, The Martinez.

When Ash learnt that Hrithik and Barbara are in the same hotel, she wanted to exchange pleasantries with them. She met Hrithik and had a chat with him and told him that she wanted to meet Barbara too.

But the meeting wasn’t the best thing to happen at the hotel.

When Ash met Barbara, the latter just said a casual hello and excused herself saying she had to go for an event.

Ash was left aghast with this snub, but could not do much.

Sensing that Barbara’s behavior would have hurt Ash, Hrithik stepped in and explained to Ash the reason for Barbara’s seemingly rude behaviour.

Aishwarya is an international face and definitely Barbra knew her so her behaviour could not have been because of not knowing Ash. So we wonder why Barbara acted the way she did?

Manisha spotted at Cannes

After being out of the limelight for a long, long time, Bollywood starlet Manisha Koirala has been spotted at Cannes!

Oscar-nominated director Ashvin Kumar, who is now present at Cannes for the screening of his first feature film The Forest, met the actress at the post screening party of Bauli.

Ashvin’s parents, Shashi and Ritu Kumar were with him to catch up on the screening. Ashvin’s family walked the red carpet joined by Freida Pinto. Some of the outfits that graced Freida in the Oscar-winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire, are from the Ritu Kumar Label line.

The Cannes festival that began on 13 May this year had an extremely good start for our Indian director. The screening of Ashvin Kumar’s film The Forest had a phenomenal response, the film being already sold in seven territories, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East, Vietnam, Thailand, Greece and Brazil. The second screening of the film was done on May 17, Sunday.

Ash didn't script Sonam's Cannes fiasco

There were rumours that actress and L'Oreal ambassador Aishwarya Rai may have held back Sonam Kapoor from walking the Cannes red carpet.

But sources close to the former beauty queen say she didn't even know that Sonam was to visit the French film festival.

"She (Aishwarya) did not even know that Sonam was going to be at Cannes because she was there for just two days (May 13-14) where her days were packed with back-to-back interactions with the international media, fashion shoots for various European fashion magazines and other business meetings besides attending all the events at the festival," a source close to Aishwarya told IANS.

"Anyone can go to the Cannes Film Festival as a visitor and that is how many in the film fraternity and normal public go from across the world."

Confusion ensued when L'Oreal issued a list of those ambassadors that were to represent the brand at the French festival and Sonam's name was missing from it. This, despite a formal announcement made by the company officials on Sonam's presence at the Cannes at a press conference in Mumbai on May 10.

Sonam, who was earlier set to leave for Cannes Monday and was excited to rub shoulders with Aishwarya and Hollywood A-listers like Elizabeth Banks and Eva Longoria, finally did not go for the film festival when company officials asked her to stay back.

According to media reports released thereafter, Aishwarya was not very upbeat about the fact that Sonam would share the same stage with her as the face of L'Oreal and asked company officials to deny her the opportunity of being there.

But clarifying their decision of holding back Sonam to go for Cannes, a spokesperson from L'Oreal said in a press release: "We do not want to take part in or encourage any controversy involving our spokespeople. There were adverse reports in certain sections of media after some comments by Sonam Kapoor, which were presented out of context.

"Following this, in order to avoid further escalation, we have advised Sonam not to go to Cannes as was planned earlier, bearing in mind that there would be more interesting opportunities for future appearances in Europe for her."

Aishwarya sizzles at Cannes 2009 - News In Video

Aishwarya Rai at Cannes 2009 - HQ Pictures

Aishwarya Rai Checks Out “Spring Fever”

Stepping out for Day 2 of the Cannes Film Festival, Aishwarya Rai was back out on the red carpet for “Spring Fever” on Thursday (May 14).

Accompanied by husband Abhishek Bachcha, the Bollywood beauty looked her usual elegant self as she posed for photographers before heading inside to check out the new drama starring Qin Hao and Wu Wei.

Meanwhile, Miss Rai and her hubby spent the earleir part of the day dressed a little more casually as they attended the Cinema Verite 2009 Press Conference.

Taking place at the luxurious Hotel Martinez, Aishwarya joined Queen Noor of Jordan in announcing the third edition of the International Tribunes Cinema Verite event to take place in Genevaand Paris in October 2009.

According to The Hindu, “Cinema Verite is a special film event dedicated to films and social actions that promote human rights and the eight Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.”

Aishwarya Rai out for Day 2 of the Cannes Film Festival 2009

2009 Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet: Aishwarya Rai and Elizabeth Banks

Cannes Film Festivalhas kicked off and as a result we have an outstanding week of stunning couture gowns, bedazzling brilliants and some movie drama, ofcourse.

Our very first best dressed person appears to be Aishwarya Rai who stepped up at yesterday’s Spring Fever premiere. Indian born actress opted for a blue Elie Saab Spring 2009 Couture gown.

Another cutie was Elizabeth Banks who wore a red shouldered Armani Privé Spring 2009 gown for her Up premiere.

In Pics: Aishwarya Rai at 62nd Annual Cannes Film Festival 2009

Hrithik, Barbara head to Cannes

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan is set to attend the special screening of his much-talked about film "Kites" with co-star Barbara Mori, said his father Rakesh Roshan who also added that he will project the movie as his production house's first truly international product.

Director Anurag Basu will also be there with them at 62nd Cannes Film Festival that opened on Wednesday (May 13).

"Yes Hrithik, Anurag, representatives from Big Pictures and I will be in Cannes. Barbara Mori will be joining us from Mexico. We'll be screening a specially-prepared trailer of 'Kites' on May 15th. Then on May 16th we'll screen the film at Cannes for international buyers."

So far Rakesh Roshan's productions including "Koi... Mil Gaya" (2003) and "Krrish" (2006) have been very desi in their appeal. "Kites" is being taken to an international audience and Cannes is the first stop, therefore very important.

"We hope to pitch 'Kites' as our production house's first truly international product. Cannes is a very important venue for international cinema. That's why we've made sure to complete the film in time. Anurag and I have been working against time to do, but we've managed," said Rakesh Roshan.

Rakesh Roshan says that his visit to Cannes with the film "Kites" has nothing to do with the current producers-multiplex deadlock.

"Why should the strike in the multiplexes affect our visit to Cannes? We aren't breaking any of conditions laid down during the strike. We're not screening our film publicly or for media at Cannes. This is a screening only for potential buyers from the West," he said.

The "Kites" team is scheduled to reach Cannes on Thursday (May 14) and will leave Sunday (May 17). They'll be staying at The Martinez in Cannes.

Aishwarya reinvents herself as activist

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, a regular at the Cannes Film Festival red carpet as L'Oreal brand ambassador, is going beyond her glitz and glamour tag. She is beginning to reinvent herself on the global scene as an activist for social and humanitarian causes.

As a step in that direction, the Bollywood diva will, alongside Queen Noor of Jordan, address a press conference May 14 at Hotel Martinez here to announce the third edition of the International Tribunes Cinema Verite event that will take place in Geneva (Oct 6 to 8) and Paris (Oct 9-10) later this year.

Cinema Verite is a special film event dedicated to films and social actions that promote human rights and the eight Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.

The Cinema Verite event, hosted by the Cinema Verite Institute, has in past years seen the participation of Hollywood actresses like Susan Sarandon, Meg Ryan, Ellen Birkin and Sharon Stone. Aishwarya will be the first non-Hollywood actress to lend her name to the cause.

Her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, who is in Cannes to attend the opening ceremony of the 62nd Cannes Film festival, will also be present at the press meet.

This year's Cinema Verite event will include a special focus on India with the screening of Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar Raj", starring Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya and Abhishek. The drama had Aishwarya in the role of an executive of a power sector multinational who is sent to oversee the setting up of a plant in rural India.

Also to be screened at the Cinema Verite event is "Bullshit", a documentary made by Swedish filmmakers Pea Holmquist and Suzanne Khardalian about the work and vision of Indian environmental activist and nuclear physicist Vandana Shiva and her organisation, Navdanya.

The 73-minute-film was shot over a period of two years and followed Vandana as she, among other things, supervised work on her organic farm at the foot of the Himalayas, took on American biotech giant Monsanto and fought alongside the Dalit villagers of Kerala to try and close down a Coca-Cola plant.

Hrithik's Kites to be marketed at Cannes 2009

Hrithik Roshan starrer mega-budget "Kites" will be among a bouquet of films that will be marketed by Reliance BIG Pictures at the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival, starting May 13.

Directed by Anurag Basu, "Kites" also stars Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi in pivotal roles.

The entertainment arm of Indian business conglomerate Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group will market 18 films in all including various films in world cinema and popular cinema categories.

Hindi films such as director Piyush Jha's "Sikandar", comic capers "Do Knot Disturb" directed by David Dhawan, "Well Done Abba" by Shyam Benegal and Vinod Pande's "Chaloo Movie", which are in various stages of production, will also be promoted at the festival this year.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have also left India for Cannes. Ash has been attending the event as an ambassador of cosmetics brand L’Oreal Paris.

Strike wont affect us: Rakesh Roshan

Rakesh Roshan and Big Pictures have been able to circumvent the current producers-multiplex deadlock to take Kites to the Cannes International Film Festival 2009.

Defends Rakesh, "Why should the strike affect our visit? We are not breaking any of the conditions laid down. We're not screening our film publicly or for the media at Cannes. This is a screening only for potential buyers from the West."

Rakesh will be accompanied by his son Hrithik who stars in the film. Director Anurag Basu will also accompany them. Actress Barbara Mori, too, will be flying in from Mexico.

The Kites unit will be in Cannes from May 14-17. They'll be staying at The Martinez.

Rakesh who is frantically working to complete all the formalities, says, "We'll be screening a specially-prepared trailer of Kites on May 15. On May 16 , we we will screen the film at Cannes for internantional buyers."

So far, all of the filmmaker's productions have been very desi in their appeal. Kites is being taken to an international audience. And Cannes is the first stop, therefore very important.

Says Rakesh, "We hope to pitch Kites as our production house's first truly international product. Cannes is a very important venue for international cinema. That's why we've made sure to complete the film in time although Anurag Basu and I have been working against time to do so. But we've managed."

Cannes update
Though Sajid Nadiadwala might have said he won't be taking Kambakkht Ishq to Cannes, entertainment studio Eros International is definitely taking the the film to the festival. "We introduce three film projects (KI, Love Aaj Kal and Aladin) at Cannes," says Sunil Lulla of Eros.