It's official: Shilpa Shetty to act in James Bond - Quantum of Solace!

If my dear readers recall, I wrote about this last year also, however, it was just an assumption that time.

But now, it's official!!

Cinematical is reporting that Shilpa Shetty has signed to play a character called Devi in the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace!

Shilpa, best known for her dignified response to an avalanche of abuse from a group of other inmates, in the last Celebrity Big Brother, has appeared in around 50 Hindi-language productions, but the James Bond outing would represent her first Hollywood role.

Little is known yet, about the scope of the character - whether it's a significant part or a cameo - but it's undoubtedly the kind of thing Shilpa was shooting for, when she entered the Big Brother circus.

Stay tuned in!

Shilpa Shetty meets Yoga Guru, Baba Ramdev

Shilpa Shetty proved to be a diligent Yoga practitioner, when she was spotted in the wee hours of wednesday morning at Baba Ramdev's Yoga camp.

According to the people present there, not only did Yoga Guru provided Shilpa with divine intervention, but also advised the sexy siren to get married!

If my dear readers recall - unlike other stars who treat yoga as a mere technique for personal fitness - Shilpa went ahead and launched her own Yoga DVD last month, to highlight the importance of Yoga.


In response to Baba Ramdev's advise, Shilpa said, "If your blessings are with me, even marriage can take place. What can I say. I have just been following Babaji."

Considering Shilpa is going steady with her beau, Raj Kundra, one can hope to hear wedding bells soon, based on Baba Ramdev's advise to the starlet!

Shilpa Shetty's Yoga DVD is out!

Shilpa Shetty, the actress who has always been termed having the best body in Bollywood, has now released a special edition DVD called Shilpa's Yoga, targeted at the European market.

In the DVD, she reveals her fitness secrets to create a lean and toned body while retaining all the feminine curves.

"Shilpa is the sexiest yogi the world has ever seen!" quips her publicist, Dale Bhagwagar.

"In Shilpa's Yoga, she demonstrates simple techniques against the stunning coastal backdrop of Kerala. She explains how to transform mind, body and soul, with unique ways to build stamina and get revitalised, while discovering inner peace," he adds.

With careful and precise instructions, the DVD demonstrates specific sequences that enhance concentration, agility and flexibility.

The workout aims not only to strengthen and tone, but also to heal. Its designed to help improve posture through a series of calming poses which focus on slow movement and breathing control.

It outlines various benefits of yoga, including stress and tension release, increased energy and vitality, weight loss, improved circulation and digestion, and comes with a free audio-CD of chill out ambient music to help unwind and relax after practicing the yoga techniques.

"Go for it. It might even improve your sex life!" says Bhagwagar.


The DVD is released at an exciting time for Shilpa.

Her perfume S2 continues to top the sales charts in Britain, while the tour of her musical Miss Bollywood has met with stupendous success in 16 cities across Europe.

Buy Shilpa's Yoga DVD

Shilpa admits dating London-based Indian millionaire, Raj Kundra

For the first time, in an interview to UK's leading newspaper Daily Mail, Shilpa Shetty has revealed that a new relationship brought a long period of loneliness to an end and transformed her life.

"I am dating somebody. I have known him for some time but I have only just started to know him better. I hope he will be the one but I don't want to say too much because it is still very early on in our relationship," she said.

Though she has not named her new love, the daily claimed that it's none other than the London-born entrepreneur of Indian origin, Raj Kundra, whose former wife had blamed Shetty for wrecking their marriage.

"I'm not going to deny that it's him, but please don't say it is, because I don't want to frighten him off," Shilpa said.

"He respects and understands what I do and it is nice to be cared for. I have been very lonely for a very long time and it is nice to know I have somebody to look forward to seeing at the end of the day. At last I feel normal.

It has been an incredible year for me but I have also been very lonely. I have been away from home, in a foreign country and I haven't had a boyfriend for a very long time. I need someone to woo me. Magazines are always saying I am beautiful and millions of men want to woo me, but none has come forward because they are all so scared.

I can go to a party and sense that men really like me but they are in awe of me and won't come and ask me for a date. Being an Indian actress is bad enough but now I'm a celebrity in the UK it's too much. It would take a really secure man to handle the media attention. I'm eulogised by a lot of men, but they wouldn't take me home to meet their mothers."

Shilpa Shetty stars in Miss Bollywood

Miss Bollywood is the story of a young Indian woman named Maya, played by Shilpa, who lands in UK with the dream of setting up a dance academy.

Shilpa has a troupe of 40 dancers from Bollywood with her for this musical.

According to Shilpa, Miss Bollywood would not only cater to the lovers of Bollywood but also to the mainstream audiences who are crazy about dance and musical theatre.

The Indian creative team is led by director and choreographer Ganesh Hedge and costume designer Neeta Lulla, who has dressed Shilpa Shetty in many of her Bollywood films.

It may be recalled that Shilpa was literally harrassed at the Mumbai Intl Airport, while leaving for Berlin for Miss Bollywood concert!


The Miss Bollywood company, cast in the UK and India, also features Nicholas Brown, Anousha Dandekar, Wayne Perrey, Swini Khar, Amit Sial, Anand Tiwar and, as the mayor of London, Peter Rylands.

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Shilpa Shetty - the coolest one!

According to the Cool Brands Council in Britain, Shilpa Shetty is "one of the coolest things to happen to humankind over the last year"!

Yes, Shilpa has joined an exclusive list of the 'coolest celebrities' chosen by the British public and the Council - a group of style gurus, designers and commentators from Britain.

This puts her amongst the likes of world famous sportsman David Beckham, supermodel Kate Moss and the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and makes her the first Indian ever to bag this honour.

No wonder Shilpa's indefatigable publicist Dale Bhagwagar is beaming with enthusiasm.

"Wow. So now, India's 'hottest figure' is Britain's 'coolest girl'," he exclaims with a broad smile. "That's some kinda temperature fluctuation, but being her publicist, I simply love it," he adds.

Metro got her a lot of critical acclaim and proved to be a big success at the box-office, while Apne did extremely well in North India.

Since then, she launched her perfume S2 in UK, delved into production and made a DVD video on yoga for the UK and Dubai market under her banner S2 Global Productions; walked the ramp for Tarun Tahiliani at the Fashion Week in Delhi and recently presented the One X One Difference Award to Richard Gere at a grand fund-raising charity event in Toronto.

So the tag of the coolest celebrity is yet another feather in Shilpa's illustrious cap!

Shilpa Shetty: Once kissed twice shy!

Shilpa Shetty presented Richard Gere with the prestigious ONE X ONE Difference Award at a charity gala organized by the world famous ONE X ONE Foundation to raise funds for awareness in welfare of children, at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, in Toronto (Canada) recently.

The foundation honoured the 57-year-old Gere; a practicing Buddhist, in appreciation of his charity work towards AIDS awareness, peace, justice and understanding, and for the rights and lands of tribal people throughout the world.

Though like Shilpa, controversy hasn't eluded Gere in recent times.

It can be recalled that a few months ago, a furore ensued when the Pretty Woman actor planted a couple of loving pecks on Shilpa's cheeks during an AIDS awareness rally in India. Crowds burned posters of Shilpa and Gere in protest.

This time around when Gere offered Shilpa his hand as she stepped off the stage at the Awards Night in Toronto, guests held their collective breath. Would there be a kiss? Or even a peck?.

But there was no smooch at the Awards to honor Gere for his Indian AIDS foundation work.

Mention of the kiss was studiously avoided until Gere himself brought it up, noting that in introducing Shetty, host Ajay Virmani "left out an important part of her career which happened this year. A certain slow dance movement with a certain American movie star."

Gee!

Shilpa walks the ramp for Tarun Tahiliani

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty walked the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week ( WIFW) ramp for Tarun Tahiliani's collection From Kutch to Kenya and left the audience spellbound.

She was aglow in a flowing golden drape dress and a gold headband and waistband completed the look.

"People say that by bringing a celebrity on the ramp, a designer can get away with any kind of collection but that is not true. The drape evening dress was designed only keeping her in mind," Tahiliani said after the show on Thursday evening.

The truly dramatised show started with the packed hall at Pragati Maidan singing the National Anthem. And then through giant cutouts of elephants, men dressed like monkeys came jumping and dancing on the ramp, and then gave way to models.

"We played the National Anthem to recapture the essence of the 60th year of Indian independence," Tahiliani said.

The collection was inspired by Kathiawari men in Kutch, taking a break from their day, perched in draped splendour, with their dhotis and wrapped skirts hitched up, and glorious safas protecting them from the summer sun.

Shilpa to launch her own production house

Shilpa Shetty will launch her own production house S2 Productions to make her DVD video on Yoga this month.

To be shot from August-end for a week at the backwaters in Kerala, the Yoga DVD video, spanning two hours, will be directed by Manish Jha [of the critically acclaimed Matrubhoomi and Anwar fame].

The DVD video will concentrate on Yoga, fitness and lifestyle and will be available in U.K. and Dubai to begin with. The distribution network is being finalized.

To go with the mood and feel of the Yoga DVD, the package will also contain a free separate lounge music CD with tunes composed by Pankaj Awasthi.

Shilpa Shetty out of British film

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has lost her first British film after making high pay demands.

The 32-year-old actress was set to play the leading role in the romantic comedy film Quick, Slip Me A Bride, but disagreements regarding money have compelled the producers to find another leading star.

According to Renu Patel, producer of the 4 million pound film, Shilpa demanded 350,000 pounds and asked them to delay the project till next year.

"Shilpa agreed to do the film with us. Now we have been forced to go ahead without her because she wanted GBP350,000 and insisted half of this had to be paid before she even shot any scene," ContactMusic quoted Patel, as saying.

"To make things worse, she then tried to insist we delayed the film until next summer to give her time to pursue a music project instead. It would have made Shetty a lead in her first British-made film and given her the chance to scotch the idea she is merely a failing Bollywood actress," she added.

Shilpa's Miss Bollywood to premiere in Germany

After her triumph in UK's reality show Big Brother, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty continues to make news on the International arena.

Close on heels of the launch of her perfume in the UK, Shilpa is all set to premiere her Broadway musical Miss Bollywood in Germany.

Shilpa is presently finalising the nitty-gritty's of Miss Bollywood, which will be along the lines of Moulin Rouge and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Bombay Dreams. Starting with shows in Germany for the first three months, the musical would travel to the UK and later to other parts of the world including the US and Australia.

Shilpa has already started rehearsing for the shows.

Shilpa's costumes for the musical will be designed by renowned Indian designer Neeta Lulla and choreographer Ganesh Hegde would set the steps for the musical.

Shilpa might be the next Bond girl!

If my dear readers remember, Bollywood Buzz was one of the first blog to predict - Shilpa Shetty's entry in the next Bond movie - way back in Jan 2007.

Well here's an update.

The producers of the James Bond films, currently putting together the cast list for the 23rd movie in the series, are keen to sign up Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty so that the film is a success in Asia.

Shilpa, who became one of the most talked about stars earlier this year (all thanks to her Celebrity Big Brother winner status) is seen as a perfect leading lady for the current Bond, Daniel Craig, according to a report in UK's newspaper, Daily Mail.

"Shilpa is having secret talks with the top brass who are working on the next movie. As far as they are concerned, she has it all - she is beautiful, feisty and a great actress," a movie source told the paper.

Stay tuned in!

Related Article - Shilpa Shetty: The next Bond Girl?

Salman, Shilpa given Rajiv Gandhi Award

Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty, cricketer Kapil Dev and Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams were among 10 people who were presented the Rajiv Gandhi Award for achievements in their chosen fields.

The awards were presented by Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at a glittering function in Mumbai on Sunday.

There were performances from Bollywood actors Vivek Oberoi, Koena Mitra, Aftab Shivdasani and Pakistani comedians Ali Hasan and Irfan Malik.

Shilpa Shetty in a major legal hassle

Shilpa Shetty is in a legal trap.

A London law firm has sued Shilpa's company Cine Entertainment for not clearing their dues. A security company called CTR Services is also planning to sue her on non payment of bills as they had provided security services to Shilpa in the UK sometime back.

According to the reports, Shilpa has also been dropped from famous publicist Max Clifford's client list due to conflicts with Max's employees.

However, her representative in the UK, Farnath Hussain informs that her company Cine Entertainment has already paid every penny that they owe. Their payment got delayed because the figures CTR submitted were not right and her company asked them to rework on it.

Recently, she was allegedly linked up with her "good friend" and producer Raj Kundra. Kundra's wife Kavita openly accused Shilpa Shetty in media for breaking their marriage.

It seems that success has its side effects and Shilpa is going through the rough side of it now.

NRI's wife blames Shilpa for break-up!

A UK based Indian film producer's wife has accused Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty of ensnaring her film producer hubby and wrecking their marriage.

Kavita Kundra hit out against the Celebrity Big Brother winner for pursuing an affair with her hubby, Raj Kundra. The news comes after the stunning actor was spotted shopping with Kundra.

"Shilpa's a cultural icon in the Indian community but she's not what she appears. She can have any man she wants - there are plenty of single men. She didn't need to go after my husband," she said.

According to reports, things started after Raj went to Mumbai to work on a script and when he got back to the UK, Kavita noticed a change in his behaviour.

"He'd been away in Mumbai for a month working on a script. I'd gone to stay with my parents at their home in West Bromwich. But when Raj returned to the UK he sent me a text message, which took my breath away. It read simply - Don't bother coming back," she said.

However, Raj has denied having an affair with the Bollywood star and said that his marriage ended a year ago, and that it had nothing to do with the actor.

"We're just friends. I have a business relationship with Shilpa regarding her perfume. My marriage ended twelve months ago and it was nothing to do with Shilpa," he said.

Meet Dr. Shilpa Shetty!

The Leeds Metropolitan University has conferred an honorary doctorate on Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty for her outstanding contribution to cultural diversity.

The University has, in the past, honoured prominent Indian personalities who contributed to India's emergence as a fast developing cinema-proud nation during its 60th year of freedom struggle, a spokeswoman of the University said.

Mangalore-born Shilpa Shetty is the youngest actor from the Indian film fraternity to join ranks of Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi and Yash Chopra who have been earlier chosen for the honour.

Shilpa Shetty to launch her fashion label

After launching her signature perfume recently, Shilpa Shetty now has plans to launch her own fashion line.

In this regard, Shilpa has been meeting several people in London. Details are been worked out and a formal announcement can be expected within a month's time.

Even though her fashion line is still to be launched, Shilpa has already begun making friends and acquaintances in fashion circles of Paris. On July 4 she attended a party hosted by German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Apart from starting her clothing line, Shilpa will also launch her production company S2. She is thinking of producing a DVD video on Yoga under her production banner.

Well, Miss Shetty seems to have got her finger in every pie!

The secret behind Shilpa Shetty's deadly figure!

Shilpa Shetty unarguably has one of the best figures in Bollywood.

The actress makes a conscious effort to maintain her svelte figure. She has set a personal gymnasium at her home in Andheri where she works out with her sister Shamita Shetty .

The gym has latest equipment and machines from Italy. On top of it, Shilpa and Shamita have hired a trainer called Sherin Poojari.

Sherin guides the two sisters in their exercises that include circuit training, speed training and high/low intensity training. Besides guiding them in exercises, Sherin also plans a diet regimen for the Shetty sisters.

Shilpa, according to Sherin, is blessed with a naturally shapely body and doesn't have to follow any strict diet regimen.

Her meals usually are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Shamita, on the other hand, is heavily into workouts. She is also very particular about her diet.

Mike Tyson smitten by Shilpa Shetty!

Mike Tyson, who recently did a promotional video for Feroz Nadiadwala's Fool and Final, has admitted to his newfound love for Bollywood films.

But what is it that made him join Shilpa's admirers in the West?

"It's her beauty and the way she carries herself that has made me think of her as the ideal co-star. There's something about her that can make anyone go weak in the knees," Tyson has said.

Her spokesperson confirmed that he was aware of Tyson's wish.

Also see: Exclusive Video: Mike Tyson in Fool n Final

Shilpa Shetty denies romance rumours with Imran Khan

Shilpa Shetty insists that the new man in her life is not former Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan.

Rumours of a romance between the two sparked off after they were reportedly matched up at Elizabeth Hurley's wedding to Arun Nayar .

However, Shilpa has laughed off the rumours and insisted that she only met the handsome cricketer-turned-politician for a minute over there.

"These rumours are so baseless. I met Imran for exactly a minute, I think," a website quoted her, as saying. "I went to the party as it was thrown by a very dear friend of mine," she added.

Imran was married to British heiress Jemima Goldsmith from 1995 to 2004. Khan, who is a good friend of Elizabeth Hurley, has previously been linked with Susannah Constantine, an English fashion guru, and style advisor.