READY and DOUBLE DHAMAAL: HOPES FOR 2011

The success rate during the first half of 2011 has been rather low. Yes, there was the World Cup Cricket and there is the ongoing IPL, but still that is no excuse for just four clean successes- YAMLA PAGLA DEEWANA, NO ONE KILLED JESSICA, TANU WEDS MANU and the recent HAUNTED.

Interestingly, the first three above mentioned movies came at the beginning of the year itself and the last, that is HAUNTED (still running), in the fifth month. Agreed that there have been a few small budgeted ventures like CHALO DILLI and RAGINI MMS too and a couple of big ones like THANK YOU and DUM MAARO DUM getting limited success but the year is yet to see a real blockbuster.

However, all that is about to change, and if trade and distribution buzz is anything to go by the first half of the year is going to conclude with a double bonanza.

Obviously we are referring to Anees Bazmee's Salman Khan starrer, READY, and Indra Kumar's multistarrer, DOUBLE DHAMAAL. Both the films are tipped to be hot and likely to embark on a huge initial. Even the feedback of the audience to the teasers of the two films has been quite positive and both are awaited with a high degree of expectation.

Here's hoping for a blockbuster conclusion to the first half of the year as we are 'ready' for a 'double dhamaal' in the vacation month of June!

CANDICE SWANEPOEL - HITTING THE WEB

They certainly chose the perfect gal to model their collection this year, and photos of Candice Swanepoel wearing Agua Bendita Swimwear recently hit the web.

The Victoria’s Secret bombshell rocked various swimsuits and cover-ups in several spectacular shots, surely making the ladies envious and guys drool.

One would never guess, but Swanepoel used to be self-conscious with her looks and even considered herself too unattractive to be in front of a camera at one point in her life.

She told FOX Pop Tarts, “For a very long time I was really, really skinny – I was like that for most of my life. And it wasn’t until I was 17 that I started getting curves… I had braces, the whole lot. I was an ugly swan before.”

AJAY DEVGAN MAKES HIS TELEVISION DEBUT

Indian television has managed to attract most of the Bollywood big wigs - be it for their movie publicity or judging a reality show or hosting it. This time, it has managed to beckon yet another Bollywood star Ajay Devgan, who will be seen co-hosting the third season of UTV Bindass's Emotional Atyachaar along with the host Pravesh Rana. Graciously stepping in after having been a guest last season, Ajay will add a layer of his captivating and dynamic persona on to the show. Ajay will personally review the stories, interact with the leads and give his views on where the story truly stands.

Confirming this news, Ajay Devgn says, 'I was a guest in Emotional Atyachaar last season's opening episode. This time around I will be co-hosting two episodes for the season 3. It was important for me to be on a show which I associated with.'

The third season of India's biggest youth reality show, Emotional Ataychaar 3 goes on air from 11th June.

JUSTIN BIEBER WITH SELENA GOMEZ ON THE BEACH

Ready to take a little time off from their usually chaotic schedules, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber jetted off to Maui, Hawaii.

The two lovebirds cutely held hands as they passed through the airport, making their way out to an awaiting car before getting their island adventure underway.

Once situated into a luxury resort resting spot, the "Baby" hitmaker ditched his shirt and tossed on a pair of swim trunks as he led his pink bikini top clad "Wizards of Waverly Place" girlfriend out to the Pacific Ocean for a little fun in the sun.

The trip to Hawaii comes after both Justin and Selena partook in Sunday night's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas - during which the pair shared a much talked about smooch as Justin was announced as the Top New Artist winner.

AMITABH IN A NEW LOOK IN "BUDDAH HOGA TERA BAAP"

Amitabh Bachchan is looking uber-cool in his stylish avatar in Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and AB Corp's "BUDDAH-HOGA TERA BAAP" complete with scarves, jazzy shirts, designer denims, branded glares and even two watches!

Yes...two watches it is! And this was none other than Bachchan's personal touch to the styling of his character in the film.

Not many know that AB is very fond of wrist watches and is sometimes spotted wearing 2 at a time! So when he turned up wearing 2 watches on the first day of the BUDDAH shoot, he left everyone around amused by this unique style.

At that moment, director Puri Jagannadh came up with the idea of Bachchan sporting two watches throughout the movie considering his flamboyantly stylish character. Needless to say, Big B was more than happy to mix some of his own personal style with his on screen style and will be seen wearing two watches throughout the movie!

Going by Bachchan's larger than life persona, we think he is one of the few people who can carry such a quirky style with such elan!

BUDDAH will see AB return as the 'angry old man' in a role that the audiences have longing to see him in since ages! The movie hits theatres on 1st July.

BEYONCE HONORED WITH BILLBOARD MILLENNIUM AWARD

Getting a big salute for her successful career efforts, Beyonce Knowles was doted with the Billboard Millennium Award at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night.

The "Run the World (Girls)" singer was honored with quite the tribute - as her mother, Tina Knowles, took the stage to present her daughter with the accolade at the MGM Grand held show.

The Billboard Millennium Award was presented in recognition of Beyonce's career achievements and influence in the music industry.

Among the memorable moments, the tribute looked back upon Miss Knowles' role as the frontwoman of Destiny's Child through her three chart-topping solo albums.

Prior to receiving the Millennium Award, Beyonce graced the stage to perform her hit single "Run the World (Girls)".

IS SONAKSHI TRACING VIDYA'S FOOTSTEPS?

Sonakshi Sinha may be the flavour of this season given the fact that her debut film is still plucking awards here and there, but there is a parallel debate going on about this DABANGG girl and that has to do with the kind of roles that she has chosen to play.

Increasingly many industry insiders are tracing parallels between Sonakshi Sinha and Vidya Balan. Though the two actresses might actually belong to different generations, but it seems they have a lot in common.

Adds our source, "The reason for drawing comparisons between Vidya Balan and Sonakshi Sinha have their own logic. Firstly, like Vidya, Sonakshi is trying to project an image of the earthly heroine. Not only that, both Vidya and Sonakshi are reluctant to expose their bodies beyond a certain point. While, Vidya might have changed her ideas now given the fact that her upcoming film "THE DIRTY PICTURE" will have lot of skin show, Sonakshi for the moment seems to be overlooking this fact."

No one can deny that bollywood actresses who have tried to play safe have ended up paying big time and even changing their stand later, Sonakshi Sinha seems to be making the same mistake. Adds a bollywood veteran, "Vidya Balan has come a long way. Now, she has no issues with exposing her body. I think it dawned on her late that bollywood actresses with little sex-quotient don't make up for popular icons. Now, she is trying to go for an image makeover with THE DIRTY PICTURE."

Now, the onus is on Sonakshi to take a few tips from Vidya. Her ban on bikinis and exposing her body is not a success formula that worked with her apparent inspiration Vidya Balan, so most likely it won't work for her too.

BRITNEY SPEARS - WILL BE SEEN IN BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS ON SUNDAY 22ND

Sounding as if fans have quite the treat in store this weekend, reports tell that Britney Spears will be taking the stage at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

With the Las Vegas-based event airing live on ABC at 8PM on Sunday night (May 22), the "Gimme More" singer is rumored to be making not one, but two appearances during the annual awards ceremony.

According to Us magazine, Miss Spears may be opening up the show alongside Rihanna - with popular opinion believing that the two will perform their remix version of RIhanna's hit song "S&M".

As for the second appearance, Britney will be teaming up with tour mate Nicki Minaj for their first-ever duet with a rendition of Spears' "Till The World Ends" remix.

Of Britney's expected return to television, an Us insider added, "It's gonna be big. People will definitely be talking about it the next day."

PREETI DESAI IN NEWS AGAIN

 

Preeti Desai is back in news again. A couple of weeks of silence post the release of SHOR - IN THE CITY, rumours started flying thick that Preeti and Abhay Deol are indeed a couple and they would be getting formally engaged within next one month.

The obvious question is, 'What next for Preeti in Bollywood?' In an industry waiting for some new talent to make a mark, one can well expect some good feelers to have started coming Preeti's way. Though Preeti isn't willing to go on records yet about her engagement, she does assure that movies aren't going anywhere.

"I am now on the lookout for an awesome script where I can do some strong character based roles. I am not hung up on those conventional hero-heroine roles", Preeti confesses, "Also, I am not in any kind of rush to jump on whatever that comes my way. Doing a film like SHOR IN THE CITY has ignited a passion in me. I now want to hit the sets pronto and started mugging my lines. I have realised that all of this can be so much fun."

To her credit though, Preeti did get noticed after all for the sex appeal she brought on screen for those few minutes that she made an appearance. Even though she had only a few dialogues to mouth, there wasn't a false move being made which resulted in Bollywood waking up to her presence in the industry.

"Of course now I would want to shoot for much more than just two weeks that I actually shot for SHOR...," Preeti gives out a smile here, "The experience of whatever I did in the film was awesome. This is the kind of movie that I like to watch so in a way it allowed me to test waters. I have got a feeling that I can act and have realised that I am comfortable in front of the camera. With good comments coming my way, I guess people have liked my screen presence after all."

Well in that case Preeti, better hurry up and get something rolling for you soon. People's memory is short after all!

DIANNA AGRON - BEVERYLY HILLS BEAUTY

Hollywood hottest and sexy, Dianna Agron was seen out and about in Beverly Hills.

The 25-year-old blonde sported a cute and casual look during her 90210 stroll, wearing a fringed white top, cuffed blue jeans and an adorable pair of gray booties.

As Dianna and her "Glee" co-stars gear up for the season two finale, a list of the songs the New Directions crew will be singing has just been released.

We now know that on the May 24 send-off, the cast will offer up a mash-up of hits like Madonna‘s "I Love New York" and Frank Sinatra’s "New York, New York," as well as an uber-exciting new set of unique tunes exclusively from the show!