SYMOND PERSPECTIVE

Infamous five

2009-06-30T07:57:00.001+05:30

Priyanka Chopra loses a film after demanding a Rs 5 crore pay cheque

Is Priyanka Chopra getting too big for her boots? According to reports, when approached by Sanjay Gadhvi for 7 Days In Paris, co-starring Imran Khan, she demanded Rs 5 crore. Gadhvi and the producer, who were already reeling under the shock of Katrina’s obvious disapproval of the script, were flabbergasted. Consequently, Priyanka lost out on the film.
A source said, “The producers were shocked when Priyanka asked for such a huge fee. They tried to reason with her but she refused to relent.”
Maybe Priyanka was trying her luck after she got Rs 3 crore to star opposite Uday Chopra in Pyaar Impossible. “This time, she was not so lucky. The producers would rather wait and sign someone else rather than pay such a huge sum,” the source added.
While Priyanka’s official spokesperson said, “Priyanka has not been offered Gadhvi’s film,” our source insisted that Priyanka was approached for the role and she asked for much moolah. Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Gadhvi did not reply to our text messages.
As things stand today, Katrina might agree to do the film as the script is being reworked. The source added, “Katrina will take the final call only after the script is fully ready.” In case things don’t work out with Katrina, Gadhvi is also in advanced talks with Genelia D’Souza and Asin. The film is scheduled to go on the floors early next month.

WORLD CHAMPIONS T20-ED

2009-06-15T07:39:00.000+05:30

England Beat India By 3 Runs To Keep Semis Hope Alive

Bowl at the throat and knock them over! That seemed to be the motto for the English bowlers against India at Lord’s on Sunday. The tactic which had worked so beautifully for the West Indies on Friday, was tried by England too and with massive success. Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina both fell to short and pacy deliveries from Ryan Sidebottom in the second and fourth over as defending champions India crashed out of the ICC World Twenty20 tournament on Sunday.
Set to chase 154 to stay alive in the competition, after their seven wicket drubbing at the hands of West Indies, India, who won the toss and rather curiously chose to field, despite the Super 8 game being a knock out affair, never really recovered from those twin setbacks finished at for 150 for 5 and lost by three runs. Yusuf Pathan played a brave knock in the end to end with 33 not out of 17 balls but he could only do so much.
The loss is just deserves for the team and its captain who chose to treat Lord’s as a laboratory to conduct experiment after experiment when commonsense cricket would have been enough. Fielding first, sending Jadeja at 4 ahead of Yuvraj and Yusuf Pathan, when the scene was set for the in-form hitters to explode, bowling Yuvraj ahead of Harbhajan and fielding like novices, India, it seemed, only had one plan. To crash out and let their fans down. Even Sachin Tendulkar’s presence in the Indian dressing room and a packed house, mostly made up of Indians, didn’t
seem to inspire Dhoni and his boys. Why did he promote a struggling Jadeja (25 off 35 balls) ahead of a man who’s in brilliant hitting form and leave too much on his Yuvraj’s plate, God alone knows.
Earlier, India chose to to drop Irfan Pathan and Pragyan Ojha and include RP Singh and Ravindra Jadeja instead. England rode on Ravi Bopara’s run-a-ball 37 and Kevin Pietersen’s entertaining 46 and threatened to post a huge score, but Ravindra Jadeja dismissed them both and Harbhajan Singh bowled a tight spell which helped India to comeback and restrict the hosts to 153 for 7.

IPL May Be Off For This Year

2009-03-04T08:47:00.006+05:30

The Lahore attack is likely to extract a heavy toll on cricket in the subcontinent. International cricket in Pakistan is now out of the question for the next few years — and the country’s chances of co-hosting World Cup 2011 seem increasingly bleak — but Indian fans too may miss out on the muchanticipated Indian Premier League in April-June.
Hours after the Lahore attack, Union home minister P Chidambaram said he was worried terror in Pakistan could spill over into India. “It will be difficult to provide paramilitary forces for 40 matches and the elections too. I don’t want my forces to be stretched. (Hosting IPL after the elections) would be a better proposition,” he said.
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said he would try to work out a new schedule within 24 hours. But BCCI sources said that given the packed international calendar, it would be impossible to hold the IPL any later. In effect, this year’s IPL would have to be scrapped, which could translate into big losses for the BCCI, IPL franchisees and players. It would be the second successive setback following the scrapping of the Champions League in the wake of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai.
It will be difficult to provide paramilitary forces for 40 matches and the elections too. (Holding IPL after elections) would be a better proposition
P CHIDAMBARAM
International cricket in Pakistan is out of the question for now
DAVID MORGAN,
ICC PRESIDENT
I am worried where Pakistan will get a chance to play, not just in the country but outside as well.
INZAMAM-UL-HAQ
I don’t want to talk about cricket alone. The attacks have put Pakistan to shame. Please pray for us.
WASIM AKRAM
I am happy the government didn’t allow us to tour Pakistan.
MS DHONI ‘Who’ll come to Pakistan now?’
The IPL may stand cancelled following the terror attacks in Lahore.
Political observers said the UPA would not want to risk a terror attack targeted at an IPL match or at players during the Lok Sabha election campaign. Six out of the 8 IPL teams are based in UPA-run states.
Fans will be unhappy, but players will be disinclined to take chances. Subcontinental cricketers, who once laughed at the fears of white players, will now begin to think the same way, said some Indian team members.
When India pulled out of the Pakistan tour in January, Imran Khan had said that it was unthinkable that anyone, even terrorists, would attack cricketers. He may have been voicing what many players and administrators secretly believed. After Tuesday’s attack, that no longer holds good. Indeed, given the money and glamour that surrounds it, cricket — like Mumbai’s two five-star hotels — has become just too tempting a target for the merchants of menace.
The cricketing community was quick to condemn the attack on the Lankan team, which had embarked on a tour that no one else was willing to make. They only stepped in after India cancelled a much-anticipated January-February series due to security concerns, which proved to be tragically prescient. That was the third major event in Pakistan to be cancelled after Australia refused to tour in March 2008 and the ICC postponed the elite eight-nation Champions Trophy set for August until 2009.
Sri Lanka stepped in, becoming the first country to play a Test in Pakistan since South Africa in October 2007. There may not be another one anytime in the near future. Indeed, questions have arisen even about the cricket World Cup, which Pakistan is supposed to be co-hosting, in 2011.
Sharad Pawar, ICC vice-president and chairman of the organising committee of the 2011 World Cup, admitted that it would be difficult for Pakistan to remain a co-host. “We have decided to meet all the members who are organising this World Cup — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — sometime next week, and we have to take a decision.”
In Pakistan, former stars were left lamenting the increasingly bleak scenario for cricket in the country. Former captain Zaheer Abbas said the incident had disgraced Pakistan cricket. “Who will come to Pakistan after this incident?” he asked. Waqar Younis concurred. “This is not good for our society or for our cricket. We wanted foreign teams to come and play but now it looks remote. Hopes of hosting the World Cup are also receding. We have to agree with whatever ICC decides. People will refuse to travel to our part of the world.”
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq went a step further. “Pakistan’s image will be hit and only time will tell how much damage has been done to Pakistan cricket. The World Cup too might be affected as no country would want to come to Pakistan now. I am worried where Pakistan will get a chance to play, not just in the country but outside as well.”
Incidentally, Pakistan’s next assignment is an ODI series against Australia in the UAE.

The queen of endorsements

2009-02-18T15:31:00.001+05:30

After the success of Fashion and Dostana, Priyanka Chopra has become hot property and has been flooded with endorsement offers. According to a survey, Priyanka is the ‘Queen of Endorsements’. The actress ranked second on the list of top-quality brand ambassadors of 2008, the first being Shah Rukh Khan. She’s also looking forward to her 12 avatars in Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee? With news of her getting back together with Hurman Baweja, this girl seems to be having all the luck in the world!

‘I am paidwhat I’m worth’

2009-02-05T18:49:00.001+05:30

Trisha, who’s reportedly demanded more than a crore for a Gopichand film, says she doesn’t hike or drop her price...

THE fun-loving Trisha is back from a long holiday. “I love to take long breaks and go on vacations. I usually do so twice a year,” says Trisha, who was on a trip to Australia. “My friends and I try to cover various parts of the world. We went to Australia last time and liked it so much that we decided to go there again,” she says.
She’s back to work now and has resumed shooting for the Telugu remake of Abhiyum Naanum, the Tamil version having become a big hit. And she’s excited about it. “Heroines
don’t get to do such
roles. I’m happy
with the response I’ve received,” she says. This is Trisha’s fourth movie with Prakash Raj. “Prakash Raj and I have played various kinds of roles in other movies. This is the first time we share screen space as father and daughter. It’s totally different from what we’ve done before, something the audience would never have imagined,” says Trisha, who also comments on the young Manmohan Singh’s role, played by newbie Ganesh Venkatraman. “He’s a very dedicated newcomer who has turned out to be a good friend,” she says.
Trisha, who’s also shooting for Vishnuvardhan’s Sarvam, will be seen in Gopichand’s next untitled film as well. Apparently, she’s charging a bit more than Rs one crore for the movie. “I don’t hike my price and neither do I reduce it. The producer pays what I’m worth. Many people say money is first, but to me it’s secondary,” she says.
Rumour has it that Trisha’s next film will be with Dhanush. This apart, Trisha will be starring in a Tamil and Hindi film, to be directed by Gautam Vasudev Menon. “I don’t like to discuss films that are still in the pipeline. And if I were to act in Gautam’s film, it will be only in Tamil,” she confirms. Why not Bollywood? “I know it’s the biggest industry. But right now I’m content here,” she says. Although she’s open to films in all languages, Trisha denies rumours of she being part of a Sandalwood project. “I need the time for it, which I don’t have right now,” she clarifies.
Trisha is constantly making headlines, be it for professional or personal reasons, but she’s resigned herself to the situation. “Whether it’s positive or negative news, I read the paper and keep it aside. Good or bad, I’m in the limelight,” she says.

HIS MASTER’S VOICE

2009-02-05T18:33:00.002+05:30

Yuvraj Reveals Sachin’s Tips Helped Him Tame Mendis

In limited over cricket, he provides unlimited thrills. Be it the six sixes during the T20 World Cup or his entertaining annhilation of the Englishmen last year, Yuvraj Singh has been a delight for the Indian fans. Every time he scores big, he ends up giving a talismanic touch to the Indian team too. Of his 20 best knocks in ODI cricket, India have ended up winning 16 times for an amazing success percentage of 80. At the Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday, he once again displayed how the demolition job leaves the opposition in ruins.
His latest winning knock was sweet on many counts. He overcame a huge psychological barrier (read Ajantha Mendis), achieved a goal of scoring his first hundred against Lanka and also being part of an entertaining alliance with Virender Sehwag.
Mendis had made a mess of Yuvraj’s reputation six months ago when he claimed him thrice during the five-match series. Twice he was bowled and one he was leg before wicket which indicates the bowler’s dominance. In all he could muster just 72 runs from five matches. This time round, the Punjab batsman was determined in body and mind to deal with Mendis. “I was very disappointed with my performance in the last series,” he said on Tuesday night. “I worked a lot on my batting and had decided to prove the critics wrong. It was kind of a goal to come and do well in this series,” he said. There were some confessions too. “I felt I was a bit overweight in the last series. I felt I should be in top fitness condition this time round.”
Providing a huge dose of confidence was ‘The Master’ (as he is now referred to in the team), Sachin Tendulkar. “I talk to him about my batting often. He actually gave me plans to play Mendis in this series. He told me a few points which really helped in getting through my initial runs,” he said while explaining his extended celebration on getting the hundred last evening. “That’s why I showed the bat to him.” So what were the plans? “I can’t tell you what the plans were, but whatever he told me was really helpful.” It was learnt that Tendulkar spent close to an hour before the start of the series with Yuvraj. The tips have indeed proved helpful as Yuvarj’s scores in this series read a healthy 23, 66, 117 and is the highest rungetter (206) from either team in the ongoing series. A far cry from what he logged in the last series (23, 20, 12, 0, 17)
The 221-run partnership in 27.5 overs with Sehwag was another high for Yuvraj, who felt the man of the match award should have gone to both of them. “Kamaal ka batting tha,” he remarked. “It should have been better if the man of the match award was shared. Because he scored the runs at the same pace.” He doesn’t recall having batted together with Sehwag for so long. “I don’t remember me and Viru batting together and getting hundreds. Normally he is batting up the order and by the time I get to bat, he’s out on a hundred. If he is still there when I get in, he is getting 250 or 300. So I don’t get to bat much with him. It was a great partnership which I really enjoyed.”
So did every Indian cricket fan.

‘Let me light up lives’

2009-02-02T09:30:00.001+05:30

It was Bollywood cutie Preity Zinta’s birthday recently. And the bubbly, 34-year-old actress has got a bagful of gifts — no, not the ones she got, but those that she wants to distribute, after a “small get-together with friends”. Says Preity, “I want to do something meaningful. I feel like it’s my new beginning and I want to do something completely different. I’m going to be a part of this campaign called Light a Billion Lights where you sponsor electricity to a complete village, that works on solar technology.” Preity also intends to sponsor the education of underprivileged children. “I feel the only difference between a rich and a poor kid is that the former has the resources to get proper education while the poor kid doesn’t. I feel if a poor kid is given the same, he has a chance to do much better than the rich kid,” says the actress, adding, “God has given me so much and now, I feel it’s my turn to give back.” But, if there is one wish she has for herself this year, then Preity wants her IPL team to lift the trophy this year. “It has these little diamonds on it and diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so you know what I mean, don’t you,” she smiles saucily.

In The End, Nadal Keeps Running And Running To Victory

2009-02-02T09:17:00.000+05:30

10 HOURS, 3 DAYS, 1 RAFA

It was not quite another tennis masterpiece. The muchanticipated rematch between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer lacked the consistent quality and, above all, the crescendo finish of their five-act drama in fading light at Wimbledon last year. But this Australian Open final was certainly epic entertainment, too. It also lasted five sets and more than four hours. It also featured plenty of abrupt reversals of fortune and unexpected breaks of serve, and it also ended with Nadal triumphant and Federer devastated. Federer, the 27-year-old Swiss star, needed just one more victory to match Pete Sampras‘s all-time record of 14 Grand Slam singles titles. But he faded badly in the final set on Sunday night and was then unable to keep his composure after Nadal’s 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 victory. In the post-match ceremony, Federer choked up after receiving the runner’s-up plate from one of his idols, Rod Laver, and was unable to get more than a few sentences into his speech to the crowd before he began to cry in earnest. “God it’s killing me,” he said, eventually backing away from the microphone. But this historic rivalry, one of the best in any sport, is also a friendly rivalry, despite all the power and spin these two wellmannered young men employ against each other when they are on opposite sides of a net. And so it was no surprise that Nadal, the first Spanish player to win the Australian championships, was soon putting his left arm around Federer and helping him pull himself back together long enough to finish the speech that he had begun. “I don’t want to have the last word; this guy deserves it,” Federer said. “So Rafa, congratulations. You played incredible. You deserve it man.”
It is difficult to argue with that last sentence. To even reach the final, the top-seeded Nadal had to win the longest match in Australian Open history in the semifinals: a five-set, 5-hour-14-minute classic against his compatriot Fernando Verdasco. He then had one day less than the second-seeded Federer to prepare for the 19th installment of their rivalry: undergoing intense physical therapy in an attempt to recover the freshness of mind and body required to repulse a man on a mission.
“I knew it was not going to affect him a lot,” Federer said of Nadal’s abbreviated preparation. “It did not have any role to play in it, so I was ready for that.” Nadal was not nearly so certain that he would be in fine shape. After getting to sleep at 5 am on Saturday morning following his Friday night marathon with Verdasco, he woke at 1 pm. He practiced lightly that afternoon and again on Sunday afternoon. “I was having a bit of trouble practicing,” he said. “I felt a little nauseated when I practiced yesterday and today. I was pretty concerned, not being sure whether I could be at my best. It’s tough feeling that way when it’s your first final in Australia and you’re not sure you’re going to be 100 percent. But in the end everything worked out well for me.”
It was hardly a straightforward process, however. Nadal would need 4 hours 23 minutes to finish off Federer. He would need to rally from 2-4 down in the first set and save all six break points he faced in the third set.
He would also need Federer to serve much less convincingly than he had in his straight-set semifinal romp over Andy Roddick.
The Swiss put only 52 percent of his first serves in play on Sunday, which was by far his lowest percentage of the tournament. Perhaps the most remarkable statistic from this remarkable match was that Federer managed to win the second set with a first-serve percentage of 37 percent.
“Perhaps I should not have been out there in the fifth set at all,” said Federer, still red-eyed an hour after the match. “I should have won the first set and the third. The rest of the story, we all know it.”
Nadal, the swashbuckling 22-year-old from the Spanish island of Majorca, was considered a claycourt specialist early in his career. But he is now well on his way to becoming one of the game’s great multi-surface champions. He has won the last four French Opens on clay, last year’s Wimbledon title on grass and has now won his first Grand Slam title on a hardcourt: giving Spain the only major tennis trophy it lacked.
“It is a dream to win here,” Nadal said. “I’ve worked very hard the last, well, all my life to improve the tennis outside of clay.”
Nadal also has helped win tennis’s premier team competition, the Davis Cup, for Spain as well as last year’s Olympic gold medal in singles on a hardcourt in Beijing. The only major title he now lacks is the United States Open, where he was beaten in the semifinals last year.
But Nadal, for all the fire and brimstone in his flashy left-handed game, is also a self-effacing champion: one who has continued to affirm that Federer is the greatest player of all time even as he continues to build on his career edge against him.
Once he took the microphone himself on Sunday, with the trophy in his hands, his first words were for his opponent. “Well, first of all, sorry for today,” he said, turning to Federer. “I really know how you feel right now. It’s really tough. Remember you are a great champion. You are the best in history.” NYT News Service

Back to Kollywood!

2009-01-28T07:28:00.000+05:30

Sada, who was once considered to be one of the top heroines of Kollywood, is now looking to make a comeback. After acting in hits like Jeyam and Anniyan, Sada tried her luck in Bollywood. However, the lass’s Hindi flicks —Khalbali, Love Khichdi and Click — have been in the making for quite sometime now. In Khalbali, she is paired with Nikhil Dwivedi and Chunkey Pandey while in Click, she will be sharing screen space with Shreyas Talpade and Sneha Ullal of Ennai Theriyuma fame. The actress was last seen in Unnale Unnale with Vinay in Tamil. Her other movie with Maddy, Naan Aval Adhu, has been lying in the cans for months as well. Now, looks like Sada has decided to return to Chennai after all. She has now signed up an untitled movie with Simbudevan, in which she plays Lawrence’s love interest. Here’s wishing her all the best!

Slumdog sweeps Oscar nominations

2009-01-23T13:44:00.001+05:30

With not one, not two, but 10 Oscar nominations for Slumdog Millionaire — and with composer AR Rahman accounting for three of them — India’s arrival at the mecca of film awards was nothing short of spectacular. The bonanza also belatedly made up for years of lacklustre performance in this most coveted cinema competition.
Although the announcements were made a little after daybreak in Los Angeles, the news broke here at a providential moment — when the film’s Indian premiere in Mumbai was under way and several of the film’s crew assembled on stage, with television cameras ready to capture the whoops of joy. “I’m so honoured and humbled to be a part of this film,” said an overjoyed Anil Kapoor.
Lode star Rahman, who’s in London, was overwhelmed. “I was like a nervous school boy biting my nails,” he told TOI. “I feel the whole world is watching me. I’m at the top of the world. Honestly, I am not even thinking about the Oscars now. Everything is a blur... It’ll be a great energy booster for creative people in India.” Lyricist Gulzar, who’s a co-nominee for ‘Jai Ho’, described his colleague as “a dashing young and talented composer”. About his own nomination, he said, “I’m very happy and it’s a great honour.”
Directed and scripted though it is by Britons — Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy (they’ve also got Oscar nominations) — Slumdog Millionaire’s cast is weighted with Indian names and is unabashedly desi in spirit, with bursts of song, formulaic nods to Bollywood, and the audacity to believe that love conquers all. INDIA STRIKES THE RIGHT CHORD
Slumdog Millionaire has got 10 Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Direction, Film Editing, Original Score, Cinematography, Original Song (2 nominations), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Adapted Screenplay
A R Rahman gets 3 nominations. Veteran lyricist
Gulzar gets first
Oscar nomination for Jai Ho. FTII grad Resul Pookutty nominated for Sound Mixing
2 of the 3 nominations for Best Original Song are from Slumdog (Jai Ho & O Saya), which means Rahman has a very strong chance in this category. The third is from Wall-E

Back with a bang

2009-01-22T14:41:00.001+05:30

Shriya is back to Kollywood and with a bang! She has four releases in the next six months — Kandasamy with Vikram, Jaggubhaiwith Sarath Kumar, Thoranaiwith Vishal and Kutty opposite Dhanush. She has probably realised that it is not worth doing itsy-bitsy films in Hollywood and Bollywood with actors who do not have a reach! Now, she is trying to re-invent herself in Tamil by signing films with mid-level heroes and top banners. She has also been shortlisted to play Surya’s heroine in Singam. But the actress, who has seen a lull in her career after Sivaji, says she has not reduced her salary. “I never charged more than what I thought I deserved. I haven’t cut it now to get more offers too,” is her explanation!

Make way for the underdog

2009-01-22T14:29:00.001+05:30

Slumdog Millionaire has been receiving praise and criticism. Danny Boyle, along with Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, on what the movie is all about...

“What do you call the space between two houses?” Dev Patel asks Freida Pinto, to which he himself replies, before she can get a word in, “Ali! Get it? Alley? Ali?” he goofs, to which Freida throws a playful punch at him, and he nearly falls into the swimming pool. Dev’s not your everyday musclebound hero, but it’s just what the doctor ordered for Danny Boyle, who was not, in his words, looking for the typical ‘hero-in-waiting’ for Slumdog Millionaire. A film that’s stirred up a real hornet’s nest among armchair critics about its portrayal of Mumbai.
The three of them are at the JW Marriott and in an “oasis of calm” as Boyle puts it. “Hornet’s nest?” he says, taking a bite out of an enormous muffin. “Terrible things happen in London and New York. There are slums all over the world. I’m aware that a lot of people have said a lot of nasty things about the film but the difference here is that there’s a great humanity in this film. Everybody loves the underdog. It’s a soft spot anyways for everybody. We all love the idea that a nobody can come right out of nowhere and make it. And of course, I loved doing it!”
For Freida, it’s a dream come true. “The six months of auditioning really helped me get into the actor mode. I’ve never acted before,” says this ex-Xavierite, continuing, “But the most challenging scene for me was the kitchen scene, where Danny told me that I have to say no with my words but say yes with my eyes to Dev’s character. That was a really tough thing to do, and I remember several times just getting frustrated with not getting the scene right.” But it all worked out quite okay in the end. This is all quite a dream in a way for Dev, a kid from Harrow, UK. “When we were flying down to India together yesterday morning, we got upgraded to first class. And Dev was absolutely thrilled by that!” said Boyle, glancing at Patel, who was fiddling with getting the samosa knot of his tie the correct way. “Yeah it’s a whole lot different; Danny would keep telling me to act in such a way that the audience would be able to follow every emotion I was trying to convey. The Taj Mahal sequence was the toughest for me. When I tried that scene the first time, I went all over-the-top, and overacted. But then Danny showed me how to control myself. And measure out my emotions,” says Dev.
That’s exactly what these three will have to be doing in real life as well, as for the duration of their stay in India, they’re going to have to deal with all sorts of questions about a film that has pretty much become the talk of the town. Danny realises that there are probably a lot of people who have already seen the film. To which he says, “Hey, this is the Maximum City right? Aaram se is my favourite expression here. But you know what? India is probably one of the few places where the film industry makes stars out of directors as well. And one of the few places where the name of the director is displayed real big on the posters!” he laughs.

Wipro posts 18% rise in Q3 net at Rs 1,004 crore

2009-01-22T13:54:00.000+05:30

Wipro, India’s third largest IT company, posted a 18% growth in its net profit in the quarter ended December, which fell below some analysts’ expectations. But what was worse was its forecast for the coming months.
“Consumer confidence is significantly down and leading indicators suggest that the bottom is not in sight,” said Wipro chairman Azim Premji at the announcement of the financial results on Wednesday.
Premji said the tough times would impact all — shareholders, customers, employees, investors and partners. “The macro-economic challenges are significantly impacting all business segments. However, recessions do not last, resilient companies do. We are resilient to withstand the near-term challenges posed by an uncertain environment.’’
During Q3, Wipro reported a year-on-year growth in revenues of 25% at Rs 6,618 crore, while net profit grew at 18%, crossing the Rs 1,000 crore mark at Rs 1,004 crore for the first time.
The company’s IT services business grew 7% compared to the preceding quarter in rupee terms while it reported a sequential decline of 0.9% in dollar terms. In the on-going quarter, the revenue in dollar terms is forecasted to dip by 7% against the preceding quarter. The profit margin has been impacted by 60 basis points after Wipro wrote off a payment due from client Nortel Networks, which declared bankruptcy last week. Wipro had an outstanding of $15 million from Nortel. The company saw 31 new clients during Q3. Its consumer care and lighting business grew at 21%, furniture business grew 31%, while soap brands (Santoor & Chandrika) grew 27% each.
On Satyam
Wipro will not hunt for clients or employees of Satyam, said co-CEO, Suresh Vaswani. “But if they are talking to us as part of their consolidation plans, we will engage them in dialogue. Customers are increasingly exploring a single-vendor scenario,’’ he said.
On Barak Obama
Premji said, “If he does his job (new US President) well, like the way he had carried out his election campaigns, he will infuse a lot of optimism to the US economy and India too will benefit.’’
Premji loses his cool
Chairman Azim Premji lost some of his usual cool when a media person asked him why Wipro had not disclosed the World Bank’s four-year ban of the company for offering “improper benefits to its employees’’ (the company did so only after the World Bank disclosed the ban 18 months after it was imposed).
Premji said, “My colleagues have said all that needed to be said at the time and I do not want to add anything more.’’

Isla can’t wait to be married!

2009-01-19T10:15:00.001+05:30

Isla Fisher wants to marry her fiance Sacha Baron Cohen more now than ever. The Wedding Crashers actress is very keen to tie the knot with the Borat star — who proposed to her in 2004 — but admits the couple have struggled to keep their plans private. She said, “We are going to get married — more now than ever. We have been talking about it and we have been very close, but it has been difficult to plan. It is very important to me to have a beautiful ritual celebrated with all my family and friends and to feel part of a community. And when you are in the public eye, to keep that private and to make it happen without it being really visible is really difficult.” The couple got engaged after dating for two years, but put the wedding on hold when Isla fell pregnant with their 15-month-old daughter Olive. The actress has studied to convert from Methodist Christianity to Judaism — Sacha’s religion — and has been given the Hebrew name Ayala or ‘Doe’.

Sana acts pricey

2009-01-13T17:36:00.001+05:30

Has Sana Khan become too expensive for Kollywood? The Mumbai girl made an impressive debut in Silambarasan’s Silambattam, which has now become a hit. Sana Khan’s plus points include her ability to dance, which won her a lot of appreciation. She was noticed by many filmmakers, who approached her with the idea of casting her in their movies with upcoming stars.
But, it is learnt that the actress openly stated that she wouldn’t mind her role and co-star, but wasn’t willing to compromise on her salary, which is Rs 20 lakh! Given the meltdown scenario in the industry, filmmakers are hesitating to pay her such a hefty salary. It seems unless the actress reduces her salary, she will have no other option but to remain at home in Mumbai as a one-film wonder!

The missing love

2009-01-11T18:04:00.001+05:30

Lindsay Lohan was ‘emotionless’ on a night out without Samantha Ronson. The Mean Girls star — whose relationship with the DJ is said to be in trouble — was seen at the Apple Lounge in West Hollywood earlier this week and didn’t appear to be enjoying her evening out with friends. A source said, “She was hanging out in a cabana with owner Allison Melnick and two girlfriends, and Samantha was not in sight. She seemed kind of indifferent and emotionless. It was apparent her friends were trying to cheer her up. It looked to be a ‘first night back out on the town’ sort of thing.” Earlier in the day, Samantha was seen looking ‘sad’ walking around Hollywood alone.

‘Two’ much is music

2009-01-11T18:01:00.001+05:30

After the success of Asin’s Hindi debut Ghajini, the star is looking forward to London Dreams (LD). Interestingly, her chemistry with her co-star Salman Khan is the talk of the town. (Kat apparently was with the LD team while Asin was shooting with Sallu.) Apart from this Sallu connection — sizzling chemistry and all, we’ve heard that her character in LD is similar to that of Katrina’s in Yuvvraaj. London Dreams is about a rock band in England. Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan play childhood friends in the movie, who are rock musicians. So while Katrina played the cello in Yuvvraaj, Asin will play the guitar in this film. And as Asin and Kat seem to be on the same ‘song sheet’, the newbie on the Bollywood block — Asin that is, is on one helluva ‘high note’!

Satyam’s billion dollar asathyam

2009-01-11T17:59:00.001+05:30

If you thought that Raju’s stepping down would lead to institutional shareholders taking more responsibility, you could not be farther from the truth. Major shareholders such as Aberdeen Asset Management, Fidelity Investment, Morgan Stanley Mauritius and Swiss Finance Corporation together have offloaded Satyam shares worth Rs 280 crore in open market transactions on Wednesday.
Aberdeen Asset Managers, which held 5.12% stake representing 3.5 crore shares in Satyam, has in four separate bulk deals offloaded the entire tranche on Wednesday. This netted the UK-based investment company around Rs 152 crore as it sold 2.3 crore shares at Rs 41.82 apiece and another 1.2 crore shares at Rs 43.41-a-share, data from stock exchanges show. Aberdeen Asset Management was tipped to be in a controlling position with an equity holding, which was more than the shareholding of the promoter group. But that will not be as Aberdeen has virtually washed its hands off the company. Aberdeen did not respond to ToI when contacted over e-mail.
Other influential shareholders also chose to offload Satyam stock, perhaps indicating that they had enough of controversies. Fidelity Investment, which held 3.42% stake, sold off 0.6% stake for Rs 44 crore at a higher price of Rs 108.96 per share. Similarly, Morgan Stanley, which held 1% stake in Satyam, also offloaded substantial portion of its holding for Rs 33 crore, data shows. Lastly, Swiss Finance Corporation - which held another 1% in the now beleaguered tech firm – has also sold off around 0.9% stake, in the process getting Rs 51 crore for selling 59 lakh shares at Rs 86 apiece.
With major institutional shareholders on their way out of the Satyam counter, the focus now turns to insurance companies such ICICI Prudential, Life Insurance Company and other FIIs such as Government of Singapore, J P Morgan and Lazard Asset Management. An ICICI spokesperson said: It is paramount for us to protect the interests of our stakeholders, and we are evaluating all possible options along with other institutional shareholders to maximise the value for our stakeholders.”

Amrita Rao's Sister Preeta Makes It to Filmdom

2009-01-09T11:47:00.000+05:30

Amrita Rao’s Sister Preeta Makes It to Filmdom!Actress Amrita Rao has been flying high after the success of her last two films Vivaah and Welcome to Sajjanpur and now her younger sister Preeta Rao is also going to make her debut in films. Preeta is a qualified journalist and is a successful model. She has been signed for a South flick called Rakthaksha. She wants to hone her acting skills with South movies before she makes her Bollywood debut. She looks very similar to her sister Amrita. Looks like the Rao sisters will be taking on the Kapoor sisters, the Shetty sisters and the Khanna sisters.

Bollywood beauty Amrita Rao’s charming sister Preeta Rao has decided to step into the world of movies. This model and qualified journalist has decided to walk on the path of actresses like Aishwarya Rai and Deepika Paduekon as the gal is starting her career with a south flick titled Rakthaksha. Like her sister, Preeta too desires to make her name in Hindi film industry but before stepping into Bollywood she wants to enhance her acting skills by portraying different characters in South flicks. She considers South Indian cinema as a learning place where she can improve her talents. Preeta says she will need to try really hard to reach anywhere near her sister. Preeta further adds that Amrita is one of the best actresses in the country today.Well, Preeta we wish you all the very best for your future projects and hope to see your killing looks and sensational adas in Bollywood soon.

Biography

Profile: Preeta Rao is an Indian Model. She has a Hindu name which means “ Love” and can be also spelt as Prita Rao.Preeta hails form the Chitrapur Saraswat Bhramin Community . Her roots can be traced to Mangalore. Born and Educated in Mumbai Preeta Graduated from Sophia College Majoring in History.Preeta Rao also studied “Advertising” in College and was a topper in her class. She is the beautiful sister of Bollywood Star Amrita Rao. Interestingly Preeta turned a Vegetarian in school along with her sister Amrita.
Career :Preeta’s career in Modeling took off when she was selected in an Audition from over 200girls in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi for the Cadburys Dairy Milk Tv Commercial opposite the Bollywood Super Star Amitabh Bachchan. Rao later got several movie offers from Bollywood after she got noticed in the Anchorgel Tooth paste and the Cadburys New 5-star Crunchy Advertisements but declared that she dose not intend joining Bollywood. Rao’s Beauty and Talent made her one of the most sort after faces in the Ad- World. In the span of 3years Preeta Rao has endorsed over 60brands all over India, Pakistan and Bangladesh on her own merit.

Work Done: Some of Preeta Rao’s Ads are :Cadburys Dairy Milk ( 2004)Pantene Shampoo – Pakistan ( 2004)Anchorgel Toothpaste ( 2004)Margo Sandal Soap for Hyderabad ( 2004)Ashirwad Haldi ( 2005)New 5star Crunchy ( 2005)Icici ( 2005)Sahara Mutual Fund ( 2005)Care Honey Lotion – ( Pakistan) 2005Nallis Sarees ( 2006)Danish Condensed Milk – Bangladesh ( 2006)Chic Shampoo ( 2006)Rmkv Sarees( 2006) Uzazi Clothes Line – Pune ( 2007) Temptation Deo ( 2007) Her other Assignments are unavailable to our information.

Gwyneth Paltrow detoxes to lose holiday weight

2009-01-08T09:58:00.001+05:30

Gwyneth Paltrow admits she has gained a little holiday excess and is now keen to lose it, but she refuses to have a crack at the infamous Master Cleanse fast which she tried a year ago. She says, “I like to do fasts and detoxes a couple of times during the year, the most hardcore one being the Master Cleanse I did last spring. It was not what you would characterise as pretty or easy.” So now, Paltrow has signed up a detox diet specialist to help her shed the pounds. She explains, “As I do not wish to subsist on lemon water in the middle of winter, I asked my doctor, a detox diet specialist, for guidelines he uses to achieve a good detox that is not as hallu cinogenic as the Master Cleanse.” She admits her new year diet consists mainly of salads, fruit smoothies, chicken, soups and lots of water.

The perfect pair

2009-01-08T09:56:00.000+05:30

It was holiday-cum-work for Dhanush who recently shot a song with Tamannaah for his Padikathavan. The star’s wife Aishwaryaa accompanied him to the Swiss Alps, where the crew of Padikathavan was shooting. The song was picturised at Interlaken, a resort in the heart of the Swiss Alps. This beautiful location, situated between the Lakes of Thun and Brienz and at the base of the famous trio of peaks (the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau) is one of the hottest destinations for filmmakers from India.
Aishwarya Dhanush had accompanied the film’s unit for the shoot and we hear that she thought of it as a brilliant idea!
Says Tamannaah, “The most wonderful part about Dhanush and Aishwarya is that they are more like friends. They are a perfect couple. Aishwarya is so patient and she used to wait in the snow despite Dhanush repeatedly asking her to take rest in the bus. After every shot, he went up to her and made her comfortable and insisted she had piping hot coffee!” Now, that’s what we call a super(star) couple made for each other!

What does Katrina look for in men?

2009-01-05T09:02:00.001+05:30

Katrina Kaif is making mercury rise like never before — with hot films, a soaring fan following and an army of young supporters that are making the hottie a formidable storm to weather. However, it’s not just for her physical attributes that she is admired.
The lady has earned the respect of many for her sensible remarks. Recently, she was asked who, among the men, had the best physique. She candidly shot back, “If I want to be politically correct, I can say all our heroes have good bodies. Everyone looks good because all of them work hard on their bodies. One of the first was Salman. Akshay also has one of the finest lean and tough bodies. Aamir has developed a great physique. This is remarkable because it’s tough to build such a body and maintain it after a certain age. But, frankly, what a girl looks for in a man is not his six-pack, his looks, or his age difference – it’s just his kindness and his charm that win women over.”

Online college reviews

2009-01-05T08:45:00.004+05:30

One of the best ways to locate the best online college is by reading online college reviews and online school reviews.If you have been searching for an online degree for more than a couple of days, you have undoubtedly visited countless online college websites... so many in fact, that the facts are probably all starting to blur together.That's where online college reviews come into the picture! We have reviewed hundreds of online colleges outlining important facts such as accreditation, tuition, credit for life experience, semester length, degrees offered, and even financial aid availability.As you are browsing through this site, check out our online college reviews, online degree search tool, or read a few of our online college articles to learn more about eLearning in general.Not all institutions of higher learning are created equal. When you decide you want to go to college or university, you are making a decision that will directly impact the next 3 or 4 years of your life, and well beyond. So don’t rush into anything without weighing all your options first.There is immense value in reading reviews of different colleges or universities. You get a great overview of what the institution has to offer, and you can narrow down your choices based on what you read online. You can also redirect your search and browse the websites belonging to the colleges or universities that you are comparing after you read some positive online college reviews.One of the most important deciding factors for many students is the financial implications of attending post-secondary school. You can benefit from online college reviews, because they will list the tuition and fees required for each institution. Having the list of top online colleges fees in front of you can really clear up some confusion about why school appears to be rather expensive - a breakdown of where your money is going in terms of classroom hours, student levy fees and other items will make your decision easier.Money isn’t everything when considering higher education, and online college reviews and online university reviews have many other items of interest for you. They will let you know whether or not the institution you are looking into is accredited - a fact that can often make or break your choice. Often they will list any awards the college or university has won, and its ranking in terms of other similar schools.An important factor in your decision will also be the entrance requirements. Your previous grades or work experience will influence whether or not you are accepted into a certain institution, so you need to pay careful attention to these requirements.The offered programs will also be highlighted in an online school review, and if a particular school doesn’t have the program you are interested in, this is a quick way to eliminate some options. You might also find a program that you weren’t previously aware of! Online college reviews can be a quick way to see all of your post-secondary program options.If you want to begin your higher education, or if you are continuing from a previous degree or diploma, online college reviews will be a great boon to your search. Having information at your fingertips about the colleges and universities that you are considering can help you to make your decision quickly, I think this information will be very helpful for you.

Brett Lee loves Hindi music

2009-01-04T15:27:00.003+05:30

Cricketer Brett Lee is a great fan of Preity Zinta. But, while shooting for Victory, we got to learn another thing he was gung-ho about — strumming tunes of Hindi songs on his guitar. Apparently, Harman Baweja, who is the lead in Victory treated him to classic Hindi film music. And Brett simply strummed away. People, who were privy to it all, swear that Brett was simply unbe-lee-vable!

What’s in store for Vinay?

2009-01-04T15:26:00.000+05:30

Vinay has finally dubbed in his own voice for Modi Vilayadu after undergoing weeks of coaching on voice modulation. The movie, directed by Saran, also stars Kajal Agarwal in the lead.
The Bangalore-based actor has already done two films in
Tamil — his debut film Unnale Unnale with Sada and Tanisha and Jayam Kondaan with Bhavana. Both the movies were average grossers at the box-office. His next film is with Kavithalaya, titled Nootrukku Nooru, and directed by Selva. Now, Tamil producers are asking him to cut down his salary and move lock, stock and barrel to Chennai. A leading producer bitterly complains, “He is asking for a huge sum and is also demanding fivestar accommodation and business class tickets from Bangalore. Unless he settles in Chennai and picks up fluent Tamil, there is no future for him in Tamil cinema.”