Kareena starts admiring Aishwarya

Kareena Kapoor has had a bad equation with her first hero Abhishek and the Bachchans ever since loving sis Karisma's broken engagement.Kareena has been openly critical about Ash too, who took Karisma's place in the Bachchan home.But now the Kapoor girl has suddenly decided to rave about the Bachchan bahu.Bebo apparently can't stop talking about the way Ash has shaped her career after marriage.

Ash has big films in her kitty like Sanjay Leela Bhasali's next with Hrithik Roshan and a movie with Akshay Kumar based on Back to the Future, apart from Maniratnam's Ravan with hubby Abhi and Shankar's Robot. This in spite of the fact that she has become very selective about films after marrying Abhishek Bachchan.

She turned down Karan Johar's Dostana because she thought the audiences could not see her having affection for Bobby Deol and being overtly friendly with John Abraham when Abhi is a part of the story. She's also become very choosy about the directors and producers she wants to work with.

Kareena has reportedly been following Ash's career and says this is the pattern she would love to follow after her marriage. So it seems that she's indeed serious about marrying Saif Ali Khan. Kareena's been saying that she's serious about marriage but it won't happen for another two years as her date diary is full till 2010. Saif is getting a special apartment ready and it would be complete by then. The Kapoor lass sure is very clear about her plans! Let's wait and watch.

Salman Khan takes late night dinner with Katrina Kaif

The buzz is that a few days ago, Salman Khan went out for night dinner with his girlfriend Katrina Kaif. They had dinner at the posh Olive Restaurant and came out after 1 A.M.

A witness stated, “Salman Khan walked in with Katrina around midnight.They settled for a table in the private dining room. Salman ordered vodka and took five to six pegs.

Katrina Kaif did not drink, she only took dinner. They were looking happy in each other’s company.’Instead of getting into the car with Katrina Kaif, he chose to ride a rickshaw.

Auto rickshaw driver sat with Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan did the driving. Salman Khan has done so a couple of times earlier in the past and his friend Govinda has often been a part of Salman Khan’s midnight adventure trips.A source revealed, “Salman Khan was unaware of Katrina Kaif’s discomfort. He was looking very happy with Auto rickshaw.

Stars who desperately need a good 2009

2008 is gone forever and 2009 has crept in with many promising films in store. Hope 2009 fights the global recession raining gold at the box-office. But stars who really need to prove themselves this year before it's too late are:-

Preity Zinta- Preity had done two films last year Heroes and The Last Lear where in spite of being noticed she dint seem to make any buzz in Bollywood.

Her viewers want to see her original self in roles that she has done in the past in films like Kal Ho Na Ho and Salaam Namaste but unfortunately this year she has only been seen more on the cricket fields than on the silver screen.

All her wellwishers wish her Mohali team wins the IPL and her forthcoming film Har Pal does wonders in the BO and she manages to get offers from Dharma and Yash Raj productions.

Shahid Kapoor- Has lots in store this year to prove himself as last year where his only hit was Jab We Met which was completely dominated by Kareena and she stole all the limelight. His film with Vidya Balan, Kismat Konnection too dint make in waves in the BO maybe because the viewers did not approve their pair.

His love life was also in a mess in spite of being in news for seeing Sania Mirza and Vidya Balan. Nothing seemed to work for him. This year he has YRF's Cricket with Rani Mukerji, Ken Ghosh's musical extravaganza Yahoo with Jiah Khan and Vishal Bhardwaj's Kaminay with Priyanka Chopra. So that means lots to prove himself.

In the personal front too he is said to be dating some Mubina Rattonsey, so we all hope that even in that front things work out well for him.

This year he will be seen in the film Blue where his scuba diving skills and his physique will make the people forget his no acting ability. The other films which he has to hold on to are dad Sanjay Khan's The Legend of Lord Rama and Apoorva Lakhia's.

Fardeen Khan- Has not had a single release last year and he just seems to have disappeared somewhere. The actor was last seen in Ram Gopal's disaster, Darling. He will be seen in the film Dulha mil Gaya in 2009. He also has Sanjay Gupta's much hyped film Acid Factory in his sleeve.

As this film sounds pretty promising hope Fardeen is able to come back with a bang. Apart from this he will also be seen in Abbas Mustan's multi-starrer comic caper Life Partner.

Vivek Oberoi- Over confidence and arrogance are the two words which have become the reason for the failure of this actor even though he can act well. His character of Maya Dola's in Shoot out in Lokhandwala was highly appreciated and he was remembered for it but his film, Mission Istanbul was a dud in the BO.

His upcoming films like a Tips action film called Prince of Thieves, Dharma Productions' film on terrorism alongside Saif and Kareena where he plays a terrorist and a role in Prakash Jha's multi-starrer political thriller Rajneeti sound promising and the characters he s playing seem to have lots of potential so we hope these help him in proving his worth.

Zayed Khan- The only good thing that happened to this star last year was that he became a father. His much hyped films Mission Istanbul and Yuvvraaj were a major disaster and were a complete hint that this star if not anything else definitely needs to attend some acting classes.

Salman Khan- Last but not the least we all hope that 2009 brings in lots of luck for Sallu bhai. His 2008 was really bad where his much hyped film Yuvvraaj was unable to create magic in the box office. This year he has Veer where Salman can once again prove himself and come back in the race.

Katrina is not going the rave party way

The buzz is that Bollywood's hot property Katrina Kaif has reportedly refused to play murdered teenager Scarlett Keeling in Prabhakar Shukla's film 'Rave Party'.

So reports that Katrina was shifting dates to play Scarlett as her dates are booked till 2009-end are false.

Apparently Kat was keen in the beginning, but keeping the controversial subject in mind, decided to opt out as she found the subject too controversial. Reportedly Kat has stated that she doesn't want to do films around a subject that has 'no clarity' and many unanswered questions.

The Internet Movie Database website also shows Katrina's name in the starcast of the film with its status 'in production'.

Shukla is looking for someone else from UK to play Scarlett, who was murdered on Goa's beach early last year.

The director is also awaiting the green signal from Scarlett's mother Fiona Mckeown as he has sent her the film's script for approval.

The buzz is that South Indian director Venkat Prabhu is making 'Goa' which is also based on Scarlett's murder and is produced by Rajinikanth's daughter Soundarya's Ocher Studios.

I want my songs back from Ranbir-Katrina flm

Whatever the detractors and jealous colleagues may have to say about the prolific Pritam Chakbraborty's once-derivative output the man has his fundas fully in place.

No two ways about it.

In what could be deemed a revolutionary move to bridge the gap between creativity and individual satisfaction, Pritam has asked the producer Ramesh Taurani to stop two compositions from being filmed Raj Kumar Santoshi's Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

Reveals Pritam, "One is an item song for Ranbir the other a romantic song featuring Ranbir and Katrina Kaif. I've requested Tauraniji to not film those songs. He has agreed as long as I deliver the substitutes immediately. I'm now working on the alternative tunes literally overnight."

This isn't the first time that Pritam has changed his mind about his songs. "In Jab We Met I sent Imtiaz Ali a substitute tune for the hit Yeh ishq haye at the last minute. And I never liked Nagara in the same film.

I tried to stop it. But everyone was adamant. Later it turned out to be the biggest hit of the Jab We Met soundtrack. So I may be wrong about changing my mind.

But in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani I don't want to take a chance. I'll scrap the two songs and give new tunes. I hope the director Raj Santoshi doesn't mind."

It is reliably learnt that the filming of the two bothersome melodies has been stopped in Ooty until Pritam delivers the fresh tracks. That would be any time this week.

With a whopping string of chartbusters behind him Pritam is now determined to eradicate the reputation of being a derivative creator, or to use a less kind term, a copycat.

Even the slightest whiff of apery drives Pritam into a revisional frenzy.

And so it happened with his music for Raj Kumar Santsohi's Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahni, one more posh project for Pritam after chartbusters like Jab We Met, Bhool Bulaiya, Kismat Konnection and Singh Is Kinng.

Says Pritam "This is a time when my success is being questioned constantly by the purists.

I'm going blue in the face saying my songs from Jab We Met onwards are all original. Even for Priyadrashan's Bhool Bhulaiya I saw and heard the Malalayam and Tamil originals but refused to use any of their music.

Even the classical song in Bhool Bhulaiya was entirely my own composition. And when Priyan Sir wanted Bengali lyrics in the title song my wife and I sat overnight writing them ourselves."

Not only is Pritam particular about his compositions he's also very touchy about how his tunes are filmed.

"For Priyan Sir's Billoo Barber you've to see what a beautiful job Farah Khan has done of choreographing the Shah Rukh-Deepika Song. Now I've composed two different versions of a romantic song that will be filmed on Shah Rukh-Priyanka and Irrfan-Lara Dutta."

As for voluntarily withdrawing his two songs this has to be an unprecedent self-revision by a creative artiste.

"I know it's generally producers who ask music director for new tunes. But I believe Burman Dada (S D Burman) used to change his mind about his tunes all the time. We're living in mediocre sab-chalta-hai times.

I want to get out of the rat race. And make a name beyond the charts. My music in Imtiaz Ali's second film is very different from Jab We Met. There are no romantic songs in the film.

The chemistry shared between Saif and Deepika Padukone is very different from what Shahid and Kareena shared in Jab We Met. Imtiaz and I are ready for people to be confused by my music. I'd rather have them confused than finally disappointed."

New Year Resolutions and Gifts, Hotties speak

Neha Dhupia: "I've just started learning horse riding, So my mew year resolution is to become an expert at it…Someone should gift me a beautiful horse for the new year.

Sonu Sood: My new year resolution is to start a trust or organization in my mother's memory to help poor children study as my mother was a professor. And I'd like an award for one my performances in 2008 as my new year gift.

Shamita Shetty: "My new year resolution is to vote. As my new year gift I'd like a balanced professional and personal life.

Dino Morea: "I don't make New Year resolutions. I just strive to do better not every year but every day. The gift that I want this New Year? Some luck from anyone who cares enough.

Aftab Shivdasani: "I don't want to make a new year resolution. And I don't expect any gifts."

Tusshar Kapoor: "My New Year resolution? To work harder on my body. And I want something special from someone very special in my life

Koena Mitra: "My new year resolution for 2009 is to not make any resolutions. Each time I end up breaking it because I've never planned anything.The best gift I'd want to get is love. I've never been lucky in love till date. And of course I want to give gifts to my family friends and my seven angels (the dogs).

Mugda Godse: "My resolution is to voice my opinion and to vote to be a better citizen, And I want to entertain audiences in good films. A great gift for all of us this New Year would be a good leader who can make Mumbai a better city.

Boman Irani: "I've never made new year resolutions. Resolutions are surrounded by guilt. I don't need that for the new year.

Paresh Rawal: "This new year I want to start yoga and get the great Gujarati writer Madhu Rai to write an exciting play for me

Nandana Sen: "New Year resolution? To spend as much time as possible with my loved ones. And my gift? Tolerance among people communities and countries

Dia Mirza: "I don't save resolutions for the new year. I believe if there's a need to do something it should be done immediately. My wish for the new year is to be part of an informed and motivated government that will ensure our security, peace, health and progress.

Amrita Arora: "My new year resolution is to be a better person, more tolerant and patient. And my gift? Happiness in abundance for me and loved ones.

Celina Jaitly: "My new year resolution is to work on my shortcomings as a humanbeing. And the one gift that that I'd want from my countrymen is to not forget 26/11.

Pooja Bedi: "My resolution is a commitment to health, body, rejuvenation and physical fitness. And I'd like to be presented a show of my own by the Star TV network

Mona Singh: "No particular new year resolution. Just a list of things that I want to keep doing. As for gifts, unexpected gifts are the sweetest.

Rajeev Khandelwal: "My new year resolution? To be a better citizen and to spread awareness among the youth to make our country the best. My new year gift…a pledge from the youngsters to make our country ahead.

Tanushree Dutta: "My new year resolution is to work out more and get into fitness in a big way. And my gift:I want the latest I Pod from my parents.

Payal Rohatgi: "My new year resolution is to be more caring towards my family, as the whole Bigg Boss experience and 26/11 attacks made me value them and realize that one can only trust one's family. My one gift? A film with Shah Rukh Khan Sir. Hope God is listening.

Raveena Tandon: "My resolution is to not get complacent and to make a difference and to work towards making a difference to our lives. The gift I want is from everyone to work as one world community.

Riya Sen: "My new year resolution is all work and no play. Gifts? A new house and a new car for myself from myself.

Sammir Dattani: "My new year resolution is to not make any resolutions. Who lives by these annual rules? Specially now when you never know what the Gods and the terrorists have planned for you. Gift? Since January is also my birthday I've a large and very posh list. Is Santa available in the New Year?"

Himesh Reshammiya: "My new year gift is to give the biggest hit of 2009. And the gift I want from God is to be super-creative in whatever I do.

A Perfect New Year Gift: Hot Tabu in Vogue

Within a few hours, we will bid adieu to 2008 and usher in the New Year 2009. The year 2008 saw a host of Bollywood beauties grace the cover of various fashion and lifestyle magazines and by the looks of it, things are only going to get bigger and better in 2009.

The first cover girl of the New Year is an actress par excellence, who unfortunately didn't have a single film release in 2008.

Known for her drop dead gorgeous looks and impeccable acting skills, this tall beauty is on the wish list of every filmmaker. In case you are still wondering who we talking about, let us reveal the suspense and tell you that we are talking about the one and only Tabu.

Tabu is seen gracing the cover of fashion magazine Vogue in their January 2009 issue. The gorgeous actress is seen in a lovely silk dress embroidered with Swarovski stones.

The issue is a must have as Tabu is caught having a free-wheeling conversation with director Homi Adajania (of Being Cyrus fame).

Tabu talks about everything, right from her growing up days in a haveli in Hyderabad to her making the big screen debut opposite Rishi Kapoor (an actor much shorter than her in height) to what she believes are her best performances till date.

It's not every other day that you get to see, hear and read so much about Tabu. It is, hence, this issue of Vogue ends up being the perfect New Year's gift for all die-hard Tabu fans.