The Chote Nawab might allege that the media has a deliberate agenda against him and his arm candy Kareena, but you cannot blame them because Saif and Bebo seem to be the flavour of the season.

If the onlookers of Zee Cine Awards are to be believed, both Saif and Kareena were all over each other in London.

So much so, that there was no dearth of PDA. They could barely keep their hands off each other.

They even went as far as requesting the organizers to book them a hotel which was far away from the hotel where the rest of the guests were putting up.

Although their Tashan might have failed to sizzle on screen, but surely the off screen chemistry is piping hot and creating a lot of ripples.

The gloves are off in Bollywood. While yesteryear stars Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor and other antagonists kept their mutual dislike private, today the bitching is out in the open. The change has perhaps to do with Bollywood's changing dynamics. Bachchan has reportedly been paid over Rs 100 crore for his blog, so dishing out controversy is part of the domain, quips an industry watcher. Aamir probably felt that Bachchan was stealing the limelight, so he posted a mischievous comment. Two months ago, Aamir had demoted SRK, calling him the Number 2 star of the industry.

"Suddenly it's no longer a politically correct, diplomatic Bollywood," says a media observer. "Bachchan, who over the years has been the epitome of modesty and political correctness, has thrown caution to the winds, especially in his blog. The others seem to be following suit. One doesn't know whether this is for the better or worse."

Salman Khan, not given to something as literary as a blog, makes his views clear in more prosaic ways. He has been openly attacking actors like John Abraham and Vivek Oberoi and refuses to acknowledge their presence at public events. Khan's latest bete noire is Akshay Kumar, not because his girlfriend Katrina is more comfortable with Akshay than him but because Akshay charges more. Says an insider, "A corporate approached Salman with a project and quoted Akshay's price to him. The actor told the reps that he would charge at least Rs 5 crore more than that.”

The shocking display of insolent humour has sent shock waves in the otherwise-insulated and unconcerned film industry.

Says a very popular character-actor who has worked with both the actors, "I guess the freedom provided by a blog tends to loosen tongues. Amitji has never been known to be as undiplomatic as he's on his blog.

Aamir must have thought it's time to increase the odds, what if Amitji's blog gets more eyeballs! Also, his nephew's film is around the corner.

During the release of Taare Zameen Par Aamir created a controversy by taking on Amitji and Black. Now for the nephew it's Shah Rukh being called a dog. All I can say is, life's a bitch."

Shah Rukh remains characteristically unfazed and humorous in the face of his colleague's uncharitable and tasteless remarks.

When this writer expressed shock and indignation at Aamir's remarks, SRK responded, "Earlier on people used to name their children after famous people.

Somebody naming a dog after a known person is a new beginning in that direction. I don't have a copyright over this name if used non-commercially."

But a close friend of SRK on promise of anonymity reacted far more aggressively.

"Aamir's megalomania has been brewing for a while. Earlier he declared himself no.1 as compared with SRK who took it smilingly. Now Aamir is down to street-level provocation.

You know those neighbours who try to get your attention by breaking your windows, letting their dogs crap on your lawn or just dirtying your car. It's best for Shah Rukh to ignore these efforts to get his attention."

Post Om Shanti Om (OSO) how has your life changed?

Before I went into the modeling profession I did go into my dad's profession it was the expected thing. I played bandminton at the national level.But I realized my heart was set on modeling.

Movies weren't even in my range of vision. But after two years of modeling I started getting film offers I was only 18 then. I didn't want to jump into anything.

What took you down south?
You mean my Kannada film Aishwarya? I am from Karnataka and it was directed by a young and talented man Indrajit Lankesh. And I was paired with a huge Kannada star Upendra.

Did you speak your own lines?
Yes I did. I learnt Kannada in school. Farah Khan had already offered me OSO. But we were to shoot a year later. So I did the Kannada film.

You remind me of Aishwarya Rai.
I'd take that as a compliment. I grew up watching her. When I was in school I remember how thrilled I was when she won Miss World. Ash and Sushmita are people I've admired.

You're still young. Don't you miss doing the normal things?
I do the normal things. I've life away from my work. But yes, I definitely feel a lot older than girls my age.I started working and moved out of home at a very young age. I tried to work out of my home- town Bangalore. But like it or not Mumbai is the mecca for the glamour and entertainment industry.

Indrani Mukerjea, Founder & CEO, INX Media, said, "I am delighted to announce that 9X will air the biggest Bollywood reality extravaganza - Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket. 9X is the strong No.3 Hindi GEC of India as per both TAM and aMap and we have achieved this by virtue of our innovative content. This reality show will provide a great platform for people who aspire to make it big in Bollywood giving them the biggest launch platform that the country has ever seen."

Soap queen Ekta Kapoor said, "Being the first reality show produced by Balaji Telefilms Ltd we wanted it to be associated with a channel that could share our vision and not compromise on the budgets. This unique reality series on 9X will bring to the viewers the biggest celebrities and the best of talent from across the country. Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket is a show that can take a person from being a talented unknown to becoming India's next superstar!"

Why did you enter the overcrowded Hindi GEC segment, especially since entry costs in the category are prohibitive?

Viacom Inc, with MTV, VH1, Nick and Paramount is a $13. 2 billion setup. Between Network 18 and Viacom, we have nine channels. Besides, we are present in print and the online space with websites like jobstreet.com, yatra.com and moneycontrol.com. So we have a captive audience. The most logical thing to complete the offering was a GEC. From our standpoint we are completing the pipe. We believe that audiences can be funneled into the network.

The same logic was given when you launched the teleshopping channel Homeshop 18. Does it work?

Homeshop 18 is different. In teleshopping you are trying to change a mindset. The Indian consumer is used to touch and feel. In the case of Colors, I want my share of the pie. Actually, Indians watch two hours of television every day on an average, while the American average is four-and-a-half hours. But I am not even talking about expanding the pie yet. We have to first get those 100 GRPs (gross rating points, that is, the weekly sum of TRPs), create a base and then get the other 200.

Well, the 1973 Rishi-Dimple starrer has a distinction to its credit. It was perhaps the first film to start merchandising its products the hair clips and pins worn by Dimple Kapadia could be bought by fans.

The concept of Bollywood merchandising has come a long way since then. The latest film to have marketed its products is Ashutosh Gowariker’s magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar whose main characters would be reproduced as toys by a leading toy maker. Besides toys, other merchandise includes jewellery, coffee mugs, sports items, stationery, curios, mobile ring tones, vehicles, food, beauty products, toiletries, bath items and apparel.

The movie credited with popularising merchandising is Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) - the ‘Friend’ cap featured in it sold like hot pancakes. Another Barjatya blockbuster, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun also did brisk business, with Madhuri Dixit’s purple sari becoming a craze. Films that have merchandised successfully of late include Bhoot, Fanaa, Goal, Hum Tum, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, Saawariya, Om Shanti Om, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish.

So, why are filmmakers increasingly venturing into merchandising? Firstly, it adds up to the profits. Also, by flooding the market with movie-centric products, the movie gets more visibility. As Ram Kamal Mukherjee, VP, Pritish Nandy Communications explains, “Merchandising is a tool for the filmmaker to keep his film alive in public memory. It’s all about providing something different, a unique product to the customer.

Bollywood memorabilia or merchandising has a lot to do with how retail functions. Till now, it was marginalised. There were thousands of outlets and negotiating with them was a very tedious process. Now, with major retail outlets replacing the numerous others, distribution and placement becomes easier,” says Ravi Gupta from a premier production house.

At least 126 foreign nationals have died in Goa in the past two years, most of them in accidents or as suicides. But some police officers admit privately that a few cases might have links with drug peddlers. “The film will speak the truth about the drug nexus in Goa,” the director said. But Keeling’s family lawyer said the family was not sure how a film on Keeling could help her get justice. “We might object to the film if we find it is being made into a Bollywood thriller and has excessive deviation from facts,” Vikram Varma, the Keeling family lawyer said from Goa. “Her mother said she would welcome a film if the director sticks to the truth.” The shooting of Rave Party will start in July for release in December,

The perfectionist star is in Panchgani, with family and kids.

Aamir writes: "I’m sitting under a tree, on the edge of a valley, approximately 5000 feet above sea level. The river Krishna flows far below us snaking its way among the Sahyadri mountains.

A cool breeze is blowing, jannat ki hawa (breeze from the heavens), as my mother calls it. Ammi, Ira and Junaid are by my side and we are in the middle of one of our favourite board games ‘Settlers Of Catan’.

Shahrukh is licking my feet and I am feeding him biscuits every now and then. What more can I ask for?

Now, before you jump to any conclusions let me add that Shahrukh is the name of our dog. And before you jump to any further conclusions let me add that I had nothing to do with naming him.

In fact Shahrukh is the dog of the caretakers of our house. When I bought this house it came with the caretakers and their dog!

Apparently Shahrukh (the actor) was shooting for a commercial in this house a few years ago, and that very day the caretakers bought a pup…, and named him Shahrukh.

What are the chances of me buying a house which comes with a dog called Shahrukh!!!

Some of my friends claim that I bought the house just because of the dog. I would have to be a serious fan of Shahrukh’s to want to do that. Your guess…

All I can say is I’m waiting for him to come over.

Kajol is holding up pre production work on Karan Johar's next flick My Name Is Khan, as she has yet to sign on the dotted line.

According to media reports Kajol has reportedly stated in interviews that she would only agree to star in the film once she reads the final script.

However, Karan has said that his script is complete and Kajol has seen and admired it.

According to sources Kajol might be delaying signing up for the role opposite actor Shah Rukh Khan because she is waiting on her husband Ajay Devgan.