UBD Birthdays : Karisma Kapoor

Born June 25th 1974, this diva was born to reign. Two-time winner of the Filmfare Best Actress Award, she has also won in 2 other categories (Best Critics Actress, Best Supporting Actress). She also won a National Award for her supporting role in Yash Chopra's 1997 hit 'Dil To Pagal Hai'.

Currently in the process of readying a comeback after leaving films to take care of her babies in 2004. She will next be seen in the Vikram Bhatt thriller "Dangerous Ishq" - due next year.

Let's celebrate her birthday by watching one of her most memorable 90s songs from 'Hero No.1' (1997).

Ravishing Raveena is back!

Ravishing Raveena returns

I could not believe my eyes. The ultimate item queen of the 90s with smash hits such as 'Tu Cheez' (Mohra, 1994), 'Shaher Ki Ladki' (Rakshak, 1996), Kaale Kaale Baal (Ziddi, 1997) and many more is back with a bang. The promo video to her new song in 'Bbudah Hoga Terra Baap' has just been released and she looks incredible. Check it out.

Raveena's last film was released in 2006 and since then she's been concentrating on her family life, but over the last year or so she has been attending many public events and looking great, as seen here at a childrens event.

The hot new track "Chandigarh Di Star" has been composed by Vishal-Shekhar and rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan who I believe will be lending her vocals to Ravs for the first time in her career. Here's a cute picture of Sunidhi as a child with Raveena in the 90s. How adorable.

UBD Birthdays : Amrita Rao

Born 17 June 1981, Amrita started her career as a model and then later debuted with 2002's 'Ab Ke Baras'.

Amrita Rao as Payal in 'Ishq Vishk' (2003)

But her breakthrough role came the following year with 'Ishq Vishk' (2003) - also marking the debut of Shahid Kapoor. Her portrayal of a love-struck teenager named Payal earned her the Best Female Debut Awards at both Filmfare, Stardust, Sansui and IIFA, as well as nominations at Zee Cine and Star Screen.

Amrita Rao as Sanjana in 'Main Hoon Na' (2004)

The following year saw further success with the back-to-back hits 'Main Hoon Na' + 'Masti' as well as the average 'Deewar'. This wasn't to last as her next few flicks didn't do the business at the box office. But this was about to change, as in November 2006 the Rajshri-produced 'Vivah' was released and became a huge success. Her pairing once again with Shahid Kapoor was praised and her performance playing a timid beauty named Poonam was well appreciated.

Amrita Rao as Poonam in 'Vivah' (2006)

2007 saw a special appearance in 'Heyy Baby' as well as a Telugu venture. 2008 also failed to do much for her career with 2 further disappointments, however this was turned around with the release of the critically acclaimed 'Welcome To Sajjanpur' - which also done big numbers at the box office.

Amrita Rao as Kamla in 'Welcome To Sajjanpur' (2007)

Her next releases 'Shortkut', 'Life Partner' + 'Victory' in 2009 and 'Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai' in 2010, well the less said about them the better. Her latest release 'Love U Mr. Kalakaar' bombed too. Amrita really needs to take control of her career now. We have seen her give great performances. We have seen her get critical acclaim, numerous awards and hit films, but she needs to concentrate now.

Today on her birthday let's celebrate by watching a song from her biggest hit 'Main Hoon Na':

Movie Review: Ready

I wasn't even planning on watching this movie for a few reasons. The biggest reason is the director: Anees Bazmee. After I wasted my money watching his disaster 'No Problem' last year, which is easily one of the worst movies I have seen in the last 15 years. I also skipped the universally panned 'Thank You' earlier this year.

Asin and Salman in another nonsense scene

The second reason is Salman Khan. When will he learn how to act instead of posing in front of the camera? In all of his latest movies it seems like I am watching an episode of 'The Salman Khan Show'. He will rip his shirt off. He will dance in foreign locations with girls who look like his grand-daughters (Asin, Zarine Khan). And he will fumble his way through horrible dialogues in the same monotone stance he seems to be so comfortable with.

I used to love him in the early days. His debut in 1989's 'Maine Pyar Kiya' right up to 1999's 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'. After that he really lost his magic. I suppose the break-up really affected him.

Nevertheless I was willing to give the movie a chance. But how is it possible when the star doesn't know what the act in acting means and the mastermind doesn't know what the direct in director means.

The only saving grace, bar a couple of cheap jokes was of course the UBD Asin. She came back after a flop (again with Salman, 'London Dreams' in 2009), despite making a huge debut with 'Ghajini' the previous year.

Asin played her comic role very well and looked stunning, but she became one of the extras in the second half taking a back seat while 'Sallu-bhai' as he is lovingly known continues to run the show.

The flaws of the film lie in the screenplay and story - both of which are wafer thin and confusing to say the least. Next there are far too many characters, none of which are well defined. The 'humour' was almost non-existant: cut to the house maid speaking in broken English for a few 'laughs': terrible.

I thought there sorts of crap movies were left in the mid-90s, but no. Throw in a few guest appearances (Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Kangana Ranaut, Zarine Khan), some hot songs, some foreign locales and some cheap jokes, backed with a ton of promotion and bang you have a hit on your hands.

Finally, please someone show Zarine Khan to the nearest gym. She looked awful. No style, no grace, no adah. Uff!

Mallika Sherawat promotes 'Double Dhamaal'

Looking lovely in this green number, Mallika Sherawat promotes her new film 'Double Dhamaal' in a unique way making jalebi's on the streets of Mumbai. It's not so strange as her song in the movie is titled 'Jalebi Bai' - gotta love her style. The movie opens June 24th.

Mallika Sherawat

Mallika Sherawat

Let's check out the song promo:

Sonam Kapoor @ Femina Launch

Sonam Kapoor launched the new Femina mag in Mumbai this yesterday. She looks a lot like Sonali Bendre to me. I've always thought that, but more so here. Check it out.

UBD Birthdays - Padmini

Padmini

Born June 12th 1932, Padmini became a star in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language cinema.

Along with her siblings Lalitha and Ragini, they became known as the 'Travancore Sisters' in the press in the 1950s.

Making her debut in the 1948 film 'Kalpana' and working continously for the next 30 odd years, she earned herself a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress with Radhu Karmakar's 1959 hit opposite Raj Kapoor 'Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai' and a Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance in 'Kaajal' (1965).

In 1977 she opened the 'Padmini School of Fine Arts' - an Indian classical dance school in New Jersey, United States, which today is one of the largest institutions of it's kind in North America.

Now on her birthday let's celebrate by watching her famous dance-off with Vyjayanthimala.

Kareena Kapoor : Madame Tussauds Inductee

Kareena Kapoor in Vogue

After weeks of speculaiton, it has now been confirmed that the current Queen of Bollywood Kareena Kapoor will be the next star from B'town to be immortalised in wax at the famous London attraction.

Bebo, as she is lovingly called by both family and fans, started her career in 2000 with 'Refugee' which earned her numerous awards. The following years saw more misses than hhits but she continued to be in demand. And by 2007 with the mega success of 'Jab We Met' she displaced Rani Mukerji at the top of the league and has been on a winning streak ever since then.

The green-eyed girl will become the second actress from the Hindi film fraternity to attain the honour; the first being Aishwarya Rai in 2004. More recently at the beginning of this year saw Hrithik Roshan unveil his waxwork, which followed Shah Rukh Khan in 2007, and Amitabh Bachchan - the first, in 2000.

Wishing Sonam Kapoor A Happy Birthday

Sonam Kapoor: The leading lady in Bollywood when it comes to fashion and style.

Sona started her career shadowing Sanjay Leela-Bhansali whilst he shot his epic 'Black' throughout 2004. She then made her debut with the same director in 2007 with 'Saawariya' alongside fellow star son Ranbir Kapoor.

Although she made her mark with her first film, all the glory (and awards) were taken by Deepika Padukone who incidentally debuted the same Friday with the box-office smash hit 'Om Shanti Om'. And since that day, their so-called "rivalry" has kept them in the gossip columns.

Today she has come a very long way. She has had her share of hits and misses. And last month she wowed audiences worldwide with her stunning appearance at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Currently she is working on 'Players' alongside fellow UBD Bipasha Basu which is due later this year; and 'Mausum' opposite Shahid Kapoor which has wrapped it's schedule and will open in cinemas September 9th.

On her 26th birthday, let's celebrate by enjoying one of her finest moments so far: Masakali.

UBD's Magazine Covers - June 2011

It's that time of the month, pick your favourite:

Shilpa Shetty - Hello India - June 2011

Karisma Kapoor - Prevention - June 2011

Sonakshi Sinha - Masala - June 2011

Deepika Padukone - Beauty & Style - June 2011

Deepika Padukone - Verve - June 2011

Nethra Raghuraman - Harper's Bazaar India - June 2011

Sonam Kapoor - Marie Claire India - June 2011

Shraddha Kapoor - Filmfare - June 2011

Shraddha Kapoor - Femina - June 2011

Sonam Kapoor - Filmfare Hindi - June 2011

UBD's Bollywood-Bytes 1-June-2011

Rekha

Rekha
Director Kapil Sharma is set to make a Rekha biopic. The talented new director whose first film bombed last year (Duno Y). Apparently the casting is going on and the contenders for the main role include the likes of Bipasha Basu, Rani Mukerji and Vidya Balan. My pick would be Vidya. She's got it all, and she's a huge fan of our most amazing UBD of them all.

Kajol

Kajol
Rumour has it that Kajol is in talks with Yash Raj Films to star opposite Shahrukh Khan in Yash Chopra's next. The demanding diva was seen entering the famous studios this week, and as we know, Yash-ji is busy casting at the moment for his first film in 7 years. Kajol has not signed any films since her pregnancy and subsequent birth of her son a few months ago. I would love to see her in a film directed by Mr. Chopra snr. He had approached her for 'Dil To Pagal Hai' (1997) but she refused to play second fiddle to Madhuri Dixit.

Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai
The former Miss World is currently in the pre-production stage of her next venture, the much anticipated 'Heroine'. Director Madhur Bhandarkar has revealed he is casting a younger male actor to play one of the leading men. Imran Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Prateik Babbar are the names doing the rounds. Sounds interesting.

Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta
The cutie pie diva is all set to make her comeback. Inspired by Rani Mukerji, alongside whom she started her career climb with in the early 00's, Preity has signed a new movie. No details yet, but the role is set to be a tough woman one. Can't wait for it.

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif
Having recently been voted as the Most Beautiful Woman by People magazine, Rina is busy signing films left right and centre. Not only has she got 2 YRF productions in the pipeline, but it's apparent that Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah are finally going ahead with their 'Namastey London 2' sequel.

Asin

Asin
The hot and happening beauty has revealed that she has fellow UBD Sonam Kapoor on her BBM and they are good friends whilst doing promotions for 'Ready' which opens this Friday. Asin has been out of luck for a while in B'town but her latest release is all set to change that.