First time IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders will be given a gala reception on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will receive them at a grand ceremony.

The players will be taken in a procession with the IPL trophy from Hazra crossing in South Kolkata to Writers Building, a distance of six kilometres, where the Chief Minister would greet them, accompanied by team owner Shah Rukh Khan.

The Chief Minister told reporters that the players would be taken on a trailer of a vehicle accompanied by thousands of KKR fans.

Earlier, about thousand jubilant fans along with politicians arrived at the airport to welcome `home` the Kolkata Knight Riders who beat two-time defending champions Chennai Super Kings to be crowned new IPL champions.

The VIP gate No 5 near the international terminal of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport in Dum Dum witnessed delirious scenes once the heroes stepped out of the airport. Source

“Korechi, Lorechi, Jitechi Re” (We have done it, we have fought it out, we have won it), said Bollywood badshah Shah Rukh Khan on his arrival in the city Monday night, a day after his team Kolkata Knight Riders emerged champions in the Indian Premier League. Over a thousand frenzied cricket fans, many of them beating drums and chanting “KKR, KKR”, welcomed Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders’ players as they arrived “home” late on Monday night.

KKR co-owner Shah Rukh, who stepped out of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport terminal, thanked the Kolkatans for their love and backing. “Thanks everyone. You have given us so much love. We are extremely happy to do for the city what we wanted to do for Kolkata, and Bengal and its people,” said an ecstatic Shah Rukh, whose long five year wait for the success of the franchise finally ended in success in Chennai on Sunday night. More

A bespectacled studious girl to a glam diva — Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has essayed a range of characters in showbiz, but she says she always wanted to do a double role.

Her dream came true thanks to her endorsement deal with a new range of snacks brand Aliva.

“This snack is a perfect marriage between healthy and tasty, and then (in this ad) I was getting to play a double role. Only Sridevi and Hemaji (Hema Malini) have done it so far. I have always wanted to do a double role,” Vidya told reporters here.

“We don’t have double roles for some reason in films anymore… so this (offer) was too good to be true. Too many things fitted my bill,” she added.

The 30-second campaign for Aliva’s multi-grain waves will go on air early June.

In the television commercial, Vidya will be seen in two avatars — her traditional “Parineeta” look and her sexy siren look from “The Dirty Picture”. More

After surprising everyone in a chic Angelo Katsapis dress for her first day out in Cannes, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore the first of her Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla outfits, a sari, to last night’s charity gala for AIDS research.

This cream chikankari sari and embroidered jacket ensemble left not one inch of skin exposed and, dare way it, made her look a tad bit matronly. In contrast, yesterday’s flowing maxidress also covered her up but flattered Ash’s post baby curves.

This is Ash’s first red carpet appearance after daughter Aaradhya was born in November 2011, and expectations are high, not least because she had a fashion forward previous year in glamorous dresses by Armani and Elie Saab.. We’ll have to give the sari a thumbs down, for the way it’s been styled. But we’ll reserve overall judgement till we see what else her Cannes closet has to offer. Source

Actress Esha Deol, who is set to marry her businessman beau Bharat Takhtani, is already planning her honeymoon.

“Wedding prep going on and on and on can’t wait for da honeymoon,” tweeted Esha.

Esha got engaged to Bharat Feb 12 in a private ceremony at her Juhu home.

Earlier reports indicated the duo will wed in July, but Esha’s mother, veteran actress Hema Malini had denied the news. Going by Esha’s update, it seems the wedding bells will ring anytime soon. Source

Celebrities, the world-over often undergo some or the other surgery in order to enhance their looks. However, there are some who go under the knife for health issues as well. Actor Imran Khan belongs to the latter category. The actor has been busy shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s next Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola opposite Anushka Sharma.

However, in the meantime he had to undergo a surgery at a city hospital to get two cysts removed. There was one cyst on his head and another on his arm. They were surgically removed from his body by a reputed surgeon Dr. Anil Tibrewala. Although cysts are not dangerous in anyway, they can cause a lot of pain. Imran was facing problems while sleeping and combing his hair, thus got it treated. Apparently, the cysts were formed owing to a sebaceous gland problem. Source

The theatrical trailer of Homi Adajania’s Cocktail has crossed over 1 million views in just about 2.5 days.

A source from the production house, said, “The idea is to create maximum buzz within the online community as their reaction is instantaneous. We wanted to give certain exclusivity online and have special plans for TV promotions as well.”

Deepika Padukone, who has been promoting the film through her social networking page, posted on Twitter about the trailer crossing the 1 million mark as well

The music of Cocktail has been composed by Pritam Chakraborty, and Yo Yo Honey Singh’s ‘Angreji Beat’ also features in the trailer along with ‘Tum Hi Din Chadhe’ sung by Neeraj Shridhar.

‘Tum Hi Din Chadhe’ will reportedly be unveiled this weekend. The song was shot in Cape Town with Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, the leading actors of this highly-anticipated film. Source

Ace filmmaker Karan Johar plans to bring in his 40th birthday with a bang and Deepika Padukone says it is one of the most eagerly awaited bashes of B-Town.

Karan, one of the most successful filmmakers in Bollywood, will turn 40 Friday.

“It’s like a big event in our calendar. Everyone has been planning for it for a very long time – like who is wearing what, who is doing hair and who is doing make up?” Deepika told reporters.

“It is going to be a big event. I am very happy for him. He is someone I am extremely fond of and I think it’s his energy… the minute you are with him he just makes you feel so happy and light-hearted. He makes you feel so young,” she added.

As per reports, Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Ekta Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, the Bachchans, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ayan Mukerji, Karan Malhotra, Tarun Mansukhani, Puneet Malhotra, Shakun Batra, among others, are expected to come for the bash. More

Many of you would have danced to the tunes of Sheela Ki Jawaani or to the tunes of Chikni Chameli – Katrina’s item numbers and their success stories are a sure shot indication of the furore Katrina has created in the industry.

Beginning her career with “Boom”, Bollywood’s very own Barbie girl started her trail of success with desi hits like “Namaste London”, “New York,” and “Partner.” Now at the peak of her career she has certainly carved a niche for herself, be it item songs or chic roles. The glamorous diva talks to us about her career, advertisements, choosing films and more…

There’re a lot of stories about why you took up acting and how…So what is it?

For me it was a natural progression. I felt I had achieved what I wanted to in modelling and I’ve always looked for a challenge. I was getting film offers so I decided to give it a try. I started in Hindi films with Ram Gopal Verma’s “Sarkar” and David Dhawan’s “Maine Pyaar Kyon Kiya.”

You have done ads, ramp shows and movies…what do you enjoy the most? More

Shilpa Shetty gave birth to a baby boy and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, says though people are already calling the newborn by various names, the couple have yet to decide on a name.

“People are calling him little Raj, someone is calling him baby K and various other names, but we have not given him any name yet,” said the 36-year-old while talking to reporters Tuesday for the first time after the birth of his son.

Shilpa and Raj tied the knot in 2009, and their first child was born May 21.

Raj said his mother-in-law, Sunanda Shetty, will finalise the alphabet.

“I have told my mother-in-law to pick an alphabet as she knows about astrology. So, whatever alphabet she gives us, we will decide the name accordingly,” Raj said.

As far as the celebrations go, Raj said: “For now, we will first go home when the doctors discharge Shilpa. She will rest first and then we will decide.” Source

Indian Parliament passed the bill to protect children below 18 from sexual abuse, on Tuesday and one man who is ecstatic to hear the news is superstar, Aamir Khan.

Aamir raised the issue of child sexual abuse in the second episode of his debut TV show Satyamev Jayate, which highlights social evils that exist in our nation. Post the bill was passed, Khan took to Facebook to express his delight. “Hey guys, great news! The Lok Sabha has passed the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill today!!! Unbelievable!!! Super News!,” wrote Aamir on his official page.

The bill instructs to set up special courts for speedy trials of cases against the offenders and also to provide stringent punishment, extending up to life term, to the culprit.

First speedy trials for female foeticide and now this bill, ‘Mr. Perfectionist’s show is surely heading in the right direction. Source

It’s Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, all the way, for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Cannes this year. Summer in the South of France has India written large across it. Gone are the gowns and in their place comes the finest couture from India.

Aishwarya has several official engagements at Cannes 2012, which will be her eleventh attendance at the festival, including the AMFAR Dinner. And she’s chosen India’s celebrated couturiers, Abu Jani & Sandeep Khosla to rock the Red Carpet this year.

“Aishwarya is an Icon. We wanted her in every iconic facet of Indian Couture. The silhouettes range from sari to kurtas and anarkalis. The fabrics are fluid and painted in every hue from pristine white to the earthiness of beige and the deliciousness of Diva red. The traditional bling of gota alternates with the current glam of sequin. We have of course chosen our classic signature chikankari and zardozi in a dulce de leche sari. Our love of seemingly impossible volume is expressed in the gold gota floor length, empire line. It’s our homage to India and one of her most celebrated cinematic goddesses,” says Sandeep Khosla.

Well with this impressive line-up of clothes, we are eagerly waiting for Ms. Bachchan’s Cannes appearance. Source