Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its plans for the Auto Expo.

The German luxury carmaker will showcase a range of new models and technologies at the upcoming expo. Firstly, there will be the all-new Concept A-Class on display which will also be one of the first-examples of Mercedes’ new ‘fascinating’ design language. This concept aims towards a future range of compact cars from the Mercedes stable. The A-Class concept was earlier revealed at the Shanghai Auto show and is based on an all-new MFA platform. Mercedes will also showcase alternative fuel technologies such as ‘Fuel-Cell’ at the expo.

Another major highlight will be the launch of the SLS AMG roadster. This is essentially a drop-top version of the popular SLS AMG supercar already on sale in India.  The Mercedes stall will see as many as 10 cars on display that include the SLS AMG GT3 supercar as well as the C-Class DTM car.

Motorsport enthusiasts will also be able to get details on the soon-to-be-launched Mercedes-Benz-JPSI Performance Driving Academy which, according to Mercedes, is a first-of-its-kind platform for nurturing talent in India.

The Indian Artistes and Actors Forum (IAAF) has got support from various quarters including names like Member of Parliament Dr Nilesh Rane, fire-brand Dj Jenny D, drama queenRakhi Sawant and many other bollywoodproducers and directors for its anti-Veena Malik and anti-Sunny Leone stance.

Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Dr Nilesh Rane said, “There are a lot of talented, bold and even controversial Indian artistes who are struggling to make ends meet. I think they should be given a fair chance. I am speaking in my personal capacity and this is my personal view not party view. However, if there is any sort of agitation by the IAAF, I will give them my full support and stand by them.” Rane who is the elder son of Maharashtra Industries minister Narayan Rane came out very strongly against the policy of Tv channels of paying such astronomical sums to persons who probably didn’t deserve the money. “We have so many poor, struggling yet talented actors, singers and artistes. What are the Tv channels doing to promote and support them,” he asked?

Says Rakhi Sawant, “They (the channel and the production house SOL) could have selected any other woman from India. There are so many controversial or bold and outspoken girls likeSambhavna Seth, Kashmira Shah, Dj Jenny D, Poonam Pandey to name a few. Imagine should have chosen them. There are thousands of girls in India who are trying to get roles in films and Tv. Why have they selected a “sattebaaz” who has ruined the name of her own country? Once was probably ok, but now they are doing it again and again. I strongly condemn this move and join the protest.”

Flynn Remedios, publicist and spokesperson for the IAAF said that the IAAF an informal body of actors and artistes is not against one individual in particular. “We are not against Veena Malikper se. We are against this trend of selecting foreign artistes for common roles in Indian television and films. When certain politicians raised their voice about this, we gave them the cold shoulder, but now the time has come for every Indian artiste to get up and take a stand. Thousands of Indian girls go through hell trying to get a bit role in a TV serial or a film. These production houses and channels must understand the sentiments and feelings of thousands of Indian artistes. Veena Malik is no great or unique actor or artiste. Sunny Leone is a porn star. What USP do Veena Malik and Sunny Leone bring to such shows? Are we trying to send out a message to our youth that being a porn star is a commendable thing?

The channels are trying to stir up controversy and increase their own TRPs. We will ask all patriotic Indians and Indian companies to stop watching or supporting such shows This is our action plan for now. We will also approach the courts at a later date if the channels do not relent.”

Mumbai, Nov 19 (TruthDive): Abhishek is ‘Paa’ now and he is extremely excited that he has become father of a cute angel.

Abhishek said he can’t wait to bring his new-born daughter and wife, Ash home. The Bollywood star says that his family is overwhelmed with all the love they have received from all fans, media and the industry. Abhishek also thanked the media for its support.

Aishwarya, 38, gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday morning at the private Seven Hills Hospital where she was admitted on Monday night.

The Bachchans have not yet decided on the names of the cutie but following Shahana Goswami’s suggestion, Abhishek called her ‘Beti B’.

“And till we find a name for the little lady, a dear friend Shahana Goswami gave me a great one. We have Sr B and Jr B already so… Beti B! Much like my father Sr Bachchan, I too spent the day observing every little thing about the little one,” he posted.

The proud grandfather added that it is interesting to watch Beti B in her crib but she is sleeping most of the time.

Aishwarya has shown immense courage during her pregnancy and had reportedly told the doctors that she would wait for a normal delivery rather than a C-section and as per her wishes it was a normal delivery.

Bollywood’s power couple Abhishek Bachan and Aishwarya Rai have finally become parents as Aishwarya Rai gave birth to a baby girl just before 10 a.m. this Wednesday and the new dad Abhishek thanked all his friends and fans for their kind wishes and regards and also told them that both the mother and child are fine and doing well.

Apart from Abhishek Bachan who wasnt able to sleep after seeing her daughter new grandparent Amitabh Bachchan too couldn’t control his happiness and tweeted: “I AM DADA to the cutest baby girl, A dada ji Ecstatic.”

The delivery which took nearly six hours was a normal one and both the Rai and the Bachan families were present in the luxury private hospital in Andheri east. The hospital was also under tight security because of the new born and the celebs present in the hospital.

After Abhishek announced the good news stars such as Karan Johar, Bipasha Basu,Javed Akhtar, Anupam Kher, Arjun Rampal, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani, Raveena Tandon,Sonu Sood, Sonam Kapoor, Celina Jaitley, Shreya Ghoshal, Aftab Shivdasani, Vishal Dadlani were among the many other who tweeted their congrats to the couple.

Aishwarya is 38 years old and Abhishek is 35 years old and this is their first child. However, this is the third time Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachan have become grandparents as they already have two from their daughter Shweta.

Some family friends like former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, filmmaker Goldie Behl and his wife Sonali Bendre, as well as filmmakers Apoorva Lakhia and Bunty Walia, visited the hospital to meet the ‘Beti B’. Most celebrities like Anupam Kher,Javed Akhtar,Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Arjun Rampal, as well as melody queen Lata Mangeshkar took to Twitter to shower blessings on the baby girl.

Both Abhishek and Amitabh have thanked everyone for their wishes.

LONDON (AFP) – Conrad Murray, the doctor convicted of Michael Jackson’s manslaughter, admitted in comments broadcast on Thursday that he made mistakes on the day of the pop icon’s death but denied criminal culpability.

Murray recalled how he went into the room next to Jackson’s bedroom to make telephone calls while the star lay dying — and justified not telling police about having given him propofol, as “I did not think it was important.”

 

The doctor’s previously unheard comments were made to British journalist Steve Hewlett and aired on Channel 4 immediately before the showing of a controversial documentary charting the singer’s demise.

Murray, 58, claimed Jackson had requested “milk” — his slang term for propofol — at 10:40 am on June 25, 2009, to help him sleep after a restless night.

In accounting for the one hour and 40 minutes between administering the drug and emergency services being called, Murray said he had sat with Jackson, checking his vital signs until he believed the effects had worn off, before moving to the adjacent room at 11:20 am.

“If you say: ‘Dr Murray, that was really stupid, you should have had a look,’ then I agree,” the doctor said.

Murray did not inform police that Jackson had taken the drug because “they never asked me” and “I did not think it was important.”

The doctor also accepted he had made a mistake in not keeping medical notes on Jackson, but argued this failure “was not responsible for his death”.

Murray said he had been trying to wean Jackson off the drug — an anaesthetic the singer had been taking to treat insomnia since before they met.

Jackson was so hooked on the intravenously administered drug that his veins were “like spiders webs,” explained Murray.

“I said to Michael: ‘the only time I have seen that type of venous appearance was in people like drug abusers’,” he recalled.

Murray angrily rejected suggestions he had become more drug supplier than doctor, saying: “I am in no way anything you just mentioned.”

According to media reports, Murray was being paid $150,000 (110,000 euros) a month as Jackson’s doctor, but claimed he has “yet to receive one dime of it.”

The interview took place eight weeks before a Los Angeles jury found him guilty of involuntary manslaughter, around the time he announced he would not testify in court. He is due to be sentenced later this month.

The managers of Jackson’s estate on Wednesday condemned as “reprehensible” the documentary “The Man Who Killed Michael Jackson”, shown in Britain immediately after the interview was broadcast.

Jackson’s executors demanded US broadcaster MSNBC withdraw plans to screen the program — along with an interview in which Murray quotes Jackson’s last words in 2009 as “begging” for propofol.

Shah Rukh Khan’s much awaited and highly talked about ‘Don 2′ seems to have run into legal troubles.

Sources say the producers of the original Don (1978) Nariman Films have sent a legal notice to the makers of Don 2 over the remaking and title copyright infringement.

Our source closely associated with Nariman Films alleged, “Nariman Films are the original producers of the Film “DON” released in 1978 starring Amitabh Bachchan. In the year 2005 Mr. Shahrukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar approached Nariman Films for the remaking rights of the original film “DON” through Mr. Javed Akhtar. We had given them remaking rights only for Don – The chase Begins Again in 2005. We have never given remaking rights for “Don-2 The chase continues “. Therefore we have raised our objection upon the Infringement on our Copyright of our film “Don” through our Advocates Mr. Digvijay Chopra and Miss Iva Bansal of Film India Corporate Legam Law Firm.”

Advocate Digvijay Chopra confirmed the news saying, “A legal Notice has been sent to Excel Entertainment , Red Chillies Entertainment, Reliance Entertainment , Shah Rukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Baba Arts for Infringement of Copyrights . The remaking rights were only given for the film ‘Don- The chase begins again’ starring Shah Rukh Khan. It was granted by an agreement which expired in year 2009.Thereafter they never renewed the said agreement or took prospective rights from Nariman Films.”

Counsel Advocate Iva Bansal added, “Without any renewal of remaking rights Excel Entertainment and Red Chillies have made the film Don 2 ,the chase continues, Not only have they Infringed upon the title registered to Nariman Films i.e “Don” and “Don-2 – the Return of the King” which is in this matter second infringement .

The first infringement is the Film Don-2 itself made without taking necessary rights as per law.” You see the Title Don -2 has already copyrighted in name of Nariman Films way back in January 2005. Reliance Entertainment has taken the distribution without any NOC from Nariman Films who hold the negatives of the original film Don and is there copyright. We shall also extend our objection to Don 2′s overseas distributors Paramount Films.”

Don 2 is slated to release in the last week of December 2011.

Katrina Kaif seems to be fast becoming the next Kajol. After being cast opposite the King Khan, the actress has been offered yet another project with SRK in the lead. According to sources, Rohit Shetty has approached Salman Khan’s ex-girl for his next action film starring SRK. Katrina will however have to fight it out withKareena Kapoor, a Rohit Shetty favourite, before she bags the coveted project.

A source close to Rohit revealed to Mumbai Mirror, “Katrina Kaif is at an all time career high. Currently, she is working with the three biggest Khans – Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir. Rohit Shetty’s action film that goes on floors in May next year will be her fourth consecutive film with a Khan.”

Though, Katrina would surely set a record if she bags the role in question, it wouldn’t come easy. According to another source, Kareena Kapoor, too is in the running to be cast opposite her G.One.

“Kareena has worked with SRK in Asoka and RA.One. She shares a good on-screen chemistry with him. Also, director Rohit Shetty is very fond of her. She has been his chosen one for the successful Golmaal franchise. She is the obvious choice for the project,” said the source.

Despite Kareena being a strong contender for the role, a section of the industry believes that Katrina’s friendship with Rohit Shetty might just pay off. “Katrina is working with SRK in Yash Chopra’s film. She has become good friends with the actor as well. She might have been recommended by him as well,” added the source.

Rohit Shetty, on the other hand who was earlier planning to remake the 1982 comedy with SRK, had decided to cast Kareena in the same. After RA.One, when SRK decided to continue with the action genre, Shetty dropped his plans to remake Angoor.

“When Rohit decided to make an action film with Shah Rukh, he decided to change his heroine as well. Earlier he wanted Kareena to portray the role played by Moushumi Chatterjee in the original Angoor. But with the change in the script, he decided upon Katrina Kaif,” revealed Rohit’s friend.

The source close to Kareena, however maintained, “Kareena is very keen to work with Rohit again. And Rohit too will want his successful heroine back.”

KBC Rs 5 crore winner Sushil Kumar to be NREGA’s face

 New Delhi: Sushil Kumar, the Rs 5 crore Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) jackpot winner, has agreed to be the brand ambassador for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan both want to be host to Tom Cruise!

Hollywood star Tom Cruise will soon arrive in India to promote his upcoming action thriller Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol which is also shot in India. Now the buzz is both Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan are keen to host Tom Cruise when he will be in India.Matters getting tense! Tom Cruise will be in the country on December 4, and as per reports Salman has spoken to the producers who are bringing theMission Impossible star to India and has expressed his desire to host him. On the other hand, Shahrukh who has earlier conducted a welcome party for actor Gerard Butler at his home Mannat, has talked to Anil Kapoor and wants to throw a party at his home in honour of Cruise. When there is a problem, there is also a solution to it. As a source is quoted as saying by a tabloid, “there is a middle path now being chalked out with Salman being the chief invitee at the welcome bash for the star at a five-star hotel in Juhu, while there will be a private party at Shahrukh’s place.” However, the one who will be in a sticky situation would be the actor Anil Kapoor. He has acted with Tom Cruise in the film Mission: Impossible 4 and will take care of his India tour as Tom knows only Anil from Bollywood and he will be depending on him. Your Ad Here

Russell Brand and Katy Perry will head out to India for celebrating their New Year and re-igniting the romance in their marriage, which has taken a back seat due to their hectic work schedules.

The 36-year-old comedian has booked a holiday to the breathtaking Aman New Delhi Hotel in

the New Year to get their marriage back on track.

Brand has been working on back-to-back films since the summer while Perry, 27, has been travelling across the globe on her California Dreams tour.

The two-week stay in a pool-suite at the five-star hotel will be the first time in months that the couple will spend some quality time together.

The friends have described it as a trip to rekindle their love as rumours grow about how their marriage is struggling under the strain of their busy schedules.

“As part of Katy’s birthday present last week Russell booked a trip to the Aman resort in New Delhi for New Year,” the Mirror quoted a source close to Perry as saying.

“Katy’s schedule is jam-packed right until the end of the year.”

“They plan to spend Christmas in Britain with Russell’s mum and then fly to India on holiday.”

The source also said that the couple has absolutely no qualms about going ahead with the plan, as even they feel that the relentless work schedule has taken a toll on them.

“Russell and Katy have both agreed that the time they spend apart has been extremely tough and that they need to spend some quality time away together so that they can re-connect as a couple,” the source added.

Russell and Katy married on October 23 last year in a traditional Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India.