Bangalore, July 1 (IANS) A judge of the reality TV show on which Kolkata teenager Shinjini Sengupta was reportedly rebuked, leading to her breakdown, Tuesday defended himself and the others on the panel. “We did not pull up anybody. We only advise, assess and judge the participants,” the judge, Ringoo, told reporters outside the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-sciences (NIMHANS) here where the 16-year-old Shinjini is being treated. (more…)

New York, July 1 (IANS) A recent string of joint ventures and investments cementing ties between Bollywood and Hollywood might turn Indian entertainment shares Adlabs Films and UTV Software Communications into blockbusters, the Wall Street Journal has said. Although Viacom has started a joint venture in India to do television and films and Sony Pictures Entertainment released its first Hindi film “Saawariya” this year, the biggest joint projects are coming from Indian emerging media powers UTV and the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (ADA) Group, which aim to become global media giants. (more…)

Abhishek Bachchan at IDEA press meet to launch Idea’s new campaign “Education For All” in Hyatt Regecny on June 30th 2008. (more…)

Delicately boned with a face that can launch a million products, and set a millions hearts ablaze, Reeth, was always fascinated by acting, as her grandfather was an ace director in bengali films but never in her wildest dreams had she thought that one day she would pursue it - “Especially because I had no contacts in the film industry at all. I thought it was tough battle if one wanted to establish oneself here. I guess I was destined to be here!” as her debut film is directed by soorya an assistant to ram gopal verma and shriram. (more…)

New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Hindi channel UTV Movies has acquired the rights for the television premiere of “Jodhaa Akbar” and “Jannat” - the two biggest blockbusters of the year. The channel will also premiere Rajeev Khandelwal’s debut film “Aamir” on television within six weeks of its release. Following that would be movies like Rajkumar Santoshi’s “Halla Bol” in July. (more…)

Priyanka Chopra, Harman Baweja, Boman Irani, Javed Akhtar, Anu Malik, Harry Baweja and others at LOVE STORY 2050 press meet with Zapak in Fun Republic on June 30th 2008. (more…)

Vidya Balan launches latest Filmfare issue in Fun Republic on June 30th 2008. (more…)

Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) The government is considering a monitoring mechanism to stop television channels from resorting to “sensationalism” to gain popularity, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said Tuesday. Speaking to newspersons in Malda, Dasmunsi flayed the sensational news coverage by some television channels. (more…)

Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Director-choreographer Farah Khan has sought to bring the curtain down on a raging controversy over the depiction of Bollywood veteran Manoj Kumar in her film “Om Shanti Om”, saying she isn’t “bothered” about him any more. “I am not bothered about him anymore,” Farah told IANS over the phone when asked for her reaction to Manoj Kumar’s decision to file a case against her over his portrayal in the 2007 blockbuster. (more…)