It's destination Gujarat for celebs this Navratri

From superstar Priyanka Chopra to item girl Sambhavna Seth, celebrities are making the best out of the Navratri season in Ahmedabad, be it extolling their Gujarati fans to watch their next film or just making a quick buck.

The Navratris celebrated across the state, have over the years transformed into nine days of glitzy revelry with Bollywood and TV stars providing the necessary dose of glamour.

While celebrities take the opportunity to interact with their fan base while ringing in some easy cash, organisers bank on the "celebrity factor" to pull in the crowd, who are spoilt for choice with events mushrooming all over town.

Image: Priyanka Chopra in a scene from Fashion

Salman-Shah Rukh patch up?

It seems a patch up between Shah Rukh Khan [ Images ] and Salman Khan [Images ] is on the cards after Salman publicly praised the actor on the sets of the reality show 10 Ka Dum.

In the upcoming episode of the game show on Sony Television, Salman said, "When it comes to romantic scenes nobody can do it better than Shah Rukh Khan. He is professionally great."

A source who was present on the sets of 10 Ka Dum said, "The incident took place when Reitesh Deshmukh, who was a guest on 10 Ka Dum Dus, enacted a scene from Shah Rukh's romantic film Dil Toh Pagal Hai."

Reitesh had come along with cast member Govinda [ Images ] and director David Dhawan to promote the film Do Knot Disturb on Salman's show.

Salman has been known to vent out his anger against Shah Rukh ever since the duo fought on Katrina Kaif's [ Images] birthday party last year (July 16).

While Shah Rukh has always kept a dignified silence about the issue, Salman, on the other hand has openly stated that Shah Rukh is a selfish and mean person. He warned the media not to ask any questions about Shah Rukh when interacting with him. He also warned his friends that he would severe all ties with them if they were to keep company with Shah Rukh.

Now after this turnaround, one can only wait and watch Shah Rukh's reaction.

'Eager to see how audiences will react to Raashee'

Ashutosh Gowariker's new film What's Your Raashee has Priyanka Chopra play 12 roles, a first for any Bollywood actor. The film is also quite different from his previous epics -- Lagaan, Swadesand Jodhaa Akbar. What's Your Raashee is a romantic comedy, also starring Harman Baweja.

The director tells rediff.com what to expect from the film, releasing September 25.

Are you anxious about the success of the film?

I am eager to see how the audiences will react. This is my first romantic comedy. It has created a lot of buzz at the Toronto International Film Festival (where it received a red carpet gala and was seen by nearly 1,000 people). But we will know how it fares when it

Salman, Bebo on their own

If you spot a star without an arm candy, there’s nothing out of the ordinary, alright.

Kareena Kapoor More Pics

There are some lovely, single stars in B-town, and they love flaunting their ‘singledom’, too. But try spotting the beauties minus their paraphernalia - spot boys, make-up artists, hair-dressers, of late nutritionists and fitness trainers have joined this entourage - it’s almost impossible. Such is the life of our superstars, can’t blame them, no? So we were pleasantly surprised when we heard that Salman and Kareena, actually let go of their immediate staff for the shoot of Main Aur Mrs Khanna.

The unit was shooting at the Melbourne International Airport, and there was a certain area where immigrants weren’t allowed to enter. The authorities could grant only fifteen people entry to the restricted area, so the director had to take his entourage along, and leave the stars staff behind. And with that, all their starry tantrums too. Sallu and Kareena held on to their own vanity cases and sportingly went along with it, without giving the director a hard time.

We love such no-nonsense, no nakhras kinda stars, don’t we?

Ranbir, Kat gym together

The team of Prakash Jha’s political drama Rajniti is in good ‘shape’. We mean it, literally.

Katrina Kaif More Pics

Well, with cast as fitting and ‘fit’ as Arjun Rampal, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, what else do you expect, huh? The story is that the trio is getting along famously on the outdoor location in Bhopal. Well, firstly, after work hours there isn’t too much activity for the trio out there and the saving grace is that their trainer from Mumbai has accompanied them all the way. Yeah, Arjun, Ranbir and Katz have a common trainer and in the evenings they team up to work out together.

Apparently Arjun is the first to hit the gym, Ranbir follows quickly, and Katz, though she gets a wee-bit lazy at times, with double inspiration around, she slips into her running shoes and joins the boys. If you wanna be a part of the power-game (read: the filmi one only), you gotto be in shape, baby. So run baby, run...

Fardeen’s the best son-in-law

Fardeen Khan More Pics

Now, he is playing the perfect jamai to his in-laws. Last week he went abroad with wife Natasha, to celebrate pa-in-law’s birthday. While things on the family front seem to be settling down, Fardeen has sworn to invest most of his time in his career now. He wants to do everything he can to augment his career, and he’s started with knocking some flab off his face. A good start, indeed.

Kareena goes topless in Kurbaan

We stumbled upon a poster of Karan Johar's [ Images] new production Kurbaan starring Saif Ali Khan [Images ] and Kareena Kapoor [ Images ], on the Mumbai [ Images ] daily Mid-Day.

Directed by debutant director Rensil D'Silva (who co-wrote Rang De Basanti [ Images ]), the film is a romantic story against the backdrop of terrorism. Om Puri [ Images ] plays a terrorist, and the film also stars Vivek Oberoi [ Images ].

Our sources say the film has some steamy lovemaking scenes. And, we must say, the poster looks very bold!

Kurbaan, shot in Philadelphia, Delhi [ Images ] and Mumbai, is scheduled to release on November 27.

What works best: Sexy or simple?

Being sexy isn't easy.

Bollywood today is brimming with cleavage, skimpy clothes and every third major release is publicised using the word bikini. But is that always the best way to look hot?

Here's a look at 10 of our hottest heroines, and we see both their sexy and as simple avatars. Some are scorching, some are traditional. And you get to vote on each of the looks.

Rani Mukerji
Dil Bole Hadippa vs Paheli

The rise and fall of Rani Mukerji

Ups and downs are a part of life. But in the ruthless world of showbiz, they can make or break a celebrity, the best of them. Every indiscriminating Friday spells delight or doom for these denizens of glamour.

And so, despite her striking looks and exceptional talent, the law of averages has caught up with Rani Mukerji as well. The erstwhile reigning queen of Bollywood is presently struggling for that one elusive 'hit'. Alas, it's nowhere in sight.

It all began with a thud not thump, mind you. Her entry in films, courtesy the B-grade Raja Ki Aayegi Baarat was hardly worth any mention.

Even so Rani, strangely, left an impression. She more than compensated for it as the saucy Khandala girl in Ghulam and a charming mix of Veronica and Betty in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. A youngster who can hold her own against Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol must be something, right?

Image: Rani Mukherji
Photographs: Reuters/Jayanta Shaw

SRK to design for KJo

It seems there could be an addition to King Khan's resume. Being a superstar, producing megahits and owning an IPL team is clearly not enough to keep Shah Rukh Khan occupied. The Bollywood Badshah now wants to be a designer as well.

Vogue magazine's second anniversary issue celebrates the power of two with Shah Rukh and his ultimate leading lady Kajol. But there is another element to this power pair. And that is the director of their forthcoming film, their good friend, their interviewer and, evidently, their style guru as well - Karan Johar - who admits, "It's undoubtedly me; out of the three of us, I definitely take the style crown."

We're not arguing the point. But even if Karan's got his couture down pat, Shah Rukh is not letting that dampen his own aspirations as a budding designer.

"I will be designing an outfit for Karan, which he will wear for his show. I think he makes me look very dandified and I want him to look a little more relaxed. So me and Shiraz, who sometimes designs for me, are putting together an outfit for him," says Shah Rukh.

And what does Karan, who will make his own debut as a fashion designer at the forthcoming Couture Week, make of this? "Shah Rukh doesn't like my clothes. So he said he would wear my clothes only if I walked in his!" admits the young filmmaker.

Well that's trade off we're only too happy to accept.

And if you're wondering when you can get your hands on the King Khan collection, it may take a while coming.

"Just in case you don't like what you see, it's because Karan is a bad model, and not because the clothes are bad," insists Shah Rukh.

The good news is that modelling is just another one of KJo's many skills. So if he pulls this one off, the King Khan line could be just a fashion rack away!