Lara Dutta Profile and Picture Gallery

Lara Dutta Profile :

Name : Lara Dutta
Date of Birth : April 16, 1978 (1978-04-16) (age 30)
Place of Birth : Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Occupation : Actress, model
Years Active : 2001 – present
Domestic Partner(s) : Kelly Dorjee (1999-2007)





Lara Dutta Biography :

Lara Dutta (born April 16, 1978) is an Indian actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and the 2000 Miss Universe.

Dutta was born on April 16, 1978 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her father is Wing Commander L.K. Dutta (retired) and her mother is Jennifer Dutta. She also has two older sisters, one of whom serves in the Indian Air Force and a well known younger sister. Famed composer and DJ Nitin Sawhney is Dutta's cousin. The Dutta family moved to Bangalore in 1981 where she completed high school from St.Francis Xavier Girl's High School. Lara graduated in economics with a minor in communications from Mumbai University. She was crowned Miss Universe in 2000 which led to her appointment as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.

Dutta won the annual Gladsrags modelling competition in her native India, thus winning the right to be the first Indian representative at the 1997 Miss Intercontinental pageant, in which she took first place. Later, she was crowned Femina Miss India Universe and Miss Universe in 2000.

At Miss Universe 2000 in Cyprus, Dutta was the clear favourite ahead of fierce competition from Venezuela, Spain, USA and Canada. Her finalist interview score was the highest individual score in any category in the history of the Miss Universe contest, as her perfect interview saw a majority of the judges giving her the maximum 9.99 mark. After her final question, in which Dutta delivered a passionate defense of the Miss Universe contest (and other beauty pageants), she became the second Indian Miss Universe.

In the same year, Priyanka Chopra and Diya Mirza won their respective Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific titles which gave India a rare triple victory in the world of beauty pageants.

Lara Dutta Picture :

Billu Barber - Movie Review

Priyadarshan is synonymous with ha-ha-thons, but the talented storyteller has been equally proficient while handling intense dramas like SAZA-E-KALA PANI, GARDISH and VIRASAT. Like VIRASAT and MALAMAAL WEEKLY, BILLU, the accomplished director's new outing, is also set in a hamlet.

Although the story has been attempted in Malayalam [KADHA PARAYUMBOL] and Tamil [KUSELAN] earlier, the story actually takes its inspiration from the legendary friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama. In this case, the story talks of the friendship between a superstar and an ordinary mortal who runs a salon.

BILLU is a simple story about simple people, told in the most simplistic manner. There's a generous dose of glamour as well, given the fact that the protagonist's friend happens to be a superstar, but what actually works for the film is the simpleton's story. He wages a daily battle to make ends meet.

Although the film is engaging, Priyadarshan reserves the best for the finale this time, when the superstar reminisces about his childhood friend and the deep bond that they shared. The end is remarkable and is sure to strike a chord with all sections of moviegoers.

Final word? BILLU is amongst Priyadarshan's finest works. And also Irrfan and SRK's. This tale of friendship is sure to steal your heart!

BILLU tells the story of a simple ordinary man, Bilas Rao Pardesi [Irrfan Khan], living in a small town with his wife Bindiya [Lara Dutta] and two kids. His life undergoes a drastic change as superstar Sahir Khan [Shah Rukh Khan] visits the village for a film shoot. Everything changes. Things go from good to bad to worse to good again.

Ten minutes into the film and you get absorbed into Billu's small world. The salon is in bad shape, the family is facing tough times, the neighbours and acquaintances are fair-weather friends... Billu's life gets grim with each passing day.

The story takes an interesting turn when Billu's life collides with the superstar's. And the assorted characters -- right from an aspiring poet/lyricist [Rajpal Yadav], to a stingy money lender [Om Puri], to the principal of the school [Rasika Joshi] -- everyone wants favours from Billu. These characters only make BILLU more interesting.

SRK's track is equally fascinating and only spices up the proceedings. In fact, Priyadarshan has amalgamated the three songs [featuring SRK with Deepika, Priyanka and Kareena] in the narrative smartly. Not once do you feel that you're watching two stories concurrently.

The best part of the enterprise is its climax. The superstar recalls his humble beginning and how his friend stood by him in times of crisis. The writing is brilliant and SRK only takes the scene to greater heights with his terrific portrayal.

Priyadarshan is adept at handling relationships and with BILLU, he proves he can handle emotions with as much flourish as comedy. To tell a simple, uncomplicated story, without the usual frills, is an arduous task indeed and Priyadarshan tackles the material with remarkable ease. The humour here is subtle, not loud, and a constant smile remains on your face all through.

Mushtaq Shiekh and Priyadarshan's screenplay is foolproof. In fact, the writing never loses focus and the highs and the lows in Billu's life are sensitively penned by the duo. Manisha Korde's dialogues are simple, gelling with the mood of the film.

Pritam's music is energetic. The songs, promoted aggressively prior to the release, only get an impetus thanks to the presence of the three actresses. 'Mar Jaani' and 'Love Mera Hit Hit' are, of course, the pick of the lot. V. Manikandan's cinematography is top notch. The locales [Pollachi] are breath-taking.

In the recent years, Irrfan has emerged as a force to reckon with, his performances have appealed to all strata of moviegoers and his work in BILLU will only cement his status as a remarkable actor. Shah Rukh Khan needs to be admired for two reasons. The show belongs to Irrfan, although SRK could've forced himself in every scene. Also, he has chosen to opt for a film that's not one of those run-of-the-mill types. In terms of performance, SRK shows his true potential towards the finale.

Lara Dutta springs a pleasant surprise. She goes through her part with complete understanding. Om Puri is excellent. Rasika Joshi is too good. Rajpal Yadav is really funny in the penultimate scene, when he recites a film song of an SRK film. Asrani and Manoj Joshi are passable.

On the whole, BILLU is a sweet-n-simple film that lingers in your memory even after the show has concluded. The final 20 minutes are the highpoint of the enterprise and that elevates the status of the film to great heights. The film has the potential to grow with a strong word of mouth. Recommended... Take your family for this one

B.O. update: 'Billu' starts slow, but actual test on Sat./Sun.

The much-awaited BILLU opened to a tepid response of 25% to 35% at various screens across the nation. However, the silver lining is that the film is enjoying positive reports and the next two days [Saturday and Sunday] will be crucial. Most exhibitors aren't surprised with the slow start, since it was evident from the promotion that the story revolves around Irrfan and that it wasn't the conventional SRK film, like OM SHANTI OM.

The other two releases, THE STONEMAN MURDERS and JUGAAD, have also opened with dull collections.

Billu premiere for barbers and hairstylists

In a move to appease the Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan is planning to invite various barbers and hairstylists for the premiere of "Billu", which was earlier titled "Billu Barber".

"As far as I know, Shah Rukh is planning a premiere for the various barbers and hairdressers' associations, so they'd see and know that the film doesn't ridicule them in any way. In fact, the film is a homage to the hair-cutting technique. I can't understand how there can be a protest about the film or its title without anyone seeing the film," Priyadarshan told IANS.

According to Priyadarshan, Shah Rukh is not inviting friends from the industry for the screening.

The film was earlier titled "Billu Barber", but when Hairdressers' Associations of Mumbai objected to the use of the word "barber" in the title, Shah Rukh, who is producing the film and making a guest appearance, decided to change it.

"I'm in Chennai. Shah Rukh Khan tells me all the posters hoarding with credits will blacken out the word 'barber'. If it was hurting anyone's sentiments, I'm okay by it," Priyadarshan said.

He wonders how the word 'barber' could be okay in other languages and not in Hindi.

"Does it mean half the Indian population is not put off by the title and the other half is upset about it? I don't understand the controversy. And I've left it entirely to Shah Rukh to deal with it."

The director has no plans of being in Mumbai for the release of "Billu". "I've done my best. And Irrfan Khan in the title role is the best homage that can be paid to any profession."

Priyan does wonder, and so do we, if we as a collective nation protest too much.

Irrfan Khan plays the title role and is paired with Lara Dutta in the film, which is releasing on Friday (Feb 13). Shah Rukh will make a guest appearance along with Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone.

Miss India Worldwide 2009 contestants watch 'Billu'

Priyadarshan's comedy "Billu", which features a large number of top-notch Bollywood actresses, saw bevy of Indian origin beauties from 25 countries at its premiere in Durban, South Africa.

The 25 young women have assembled here to vie for the Miss India Worldwide 2009 title at the Suncoast Entertainment resort on Saturday (Feb 14) night. And they were excited to take a break from rehearsals on Tuesday (Feb 10) evening to join local celebrities at the premiere of "Billu", hosted by young South African Indian cinema magnate Abie Moosa.

While Lara Dutta is cast opposite Irrfan, who plays the title role, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone feature with Shah Rukh Khan in three different item numbers in the comedy.

"It will be delightful to have a complement of such lovely Indian ladies from across the globe to complement the Indian beauties on the screen," Moosa told IANS.

In keeping with the traditions of the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, started by Dharmatma Saran of the US nearly two decades ago, the contestants have been engaged in a series of visits to local communities and welfare projects for several days now.

On Monday, they were shown the massive Hare Krishna Temple in the huge Indian township of Chatsworth, which has become a popular tourist attraction.

Many of them expressed surprise that there were so many Indians in South Africa, and even that they had been here for nearly 150 years. "It is also wonderful to see the huge cultural diversity in South Africa," said Miss India Australia, Kanchan Verma, a health professional.

Miss India Oman, geneticist Shruti Dilip, said she had watched an impressive Indian dance by "a pint-sized" Indian dancer when they visited historic Gandhian sites in Pietermaritzburg, where the young lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi started his path to becoming the Mahatma after being kicked off a train by a white conductor.

Miss India Singapore, Asmaa Pandit, a business development consultant, and Miss India India Deepthi Varughese said that Durban with its large Indian population felt "just like being in India".

This is the second consecutive year that South Africa is hosting the Miss India Worldwide Pageant after Shagun Sarabhai of India was crowned the winner in Lenasia, the huge Indian township south of Johannesburg, at a gala event last year. Sarabhai will hand over the crown to her successor on Valentine's Day as another former winner from India, Fareisa Joemmanbaks of Suriname, looks on.

Saran said that he definitely had a soft spot for South Africa: "I have been coming here since 1991, when South Africa was just beginning to regain its international stature ahead of the first democratic elections, and the local franchisee for the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, Farook Khan, started it off here."

Saran said from just 12 countries participating in the initial event, this has now more than doubled, and the high standard of entries was most gratifying as young women in the Diaspora gained the international recognition denied to so many of their forebears.

Lara Dutta in Man's World

The leggy beauty shows you don't need to strip to grab eyeballs. Take a look at lovely Lara posing for the February issue of Man's World.

Vision in White: The short white dress does full justice to her curvy figure and long legs


Enchanting: Lara's smile could melt hearts. The silver sandals, pink nail polish and chunky accessories add the right amount of colour.


Natural Beauty: The windswept hair shows off her beautiful face and showing just the right amount of skin, Lara knows how to keep it classy and subtle.

Lara sparkles in white on the cover of Man's World

Since the time she stormed onto the scene winning the Miss Universe title, there has been no looking back for Lara Dutta. Lara is on every man's wish-list and hence it comes as no surprise to see the beautiful actress gracing the cover page of Man's World in the February issue.

Lara who has a major film Billu up for release this week is seen in a short white dress. In an exclusive interview, Lara talks about her experiences portraying a de-glam role for the first time and how she feels proud to be known as a comedian.

However, what makes the issue a complete must have for all Lara fans is the fact that it gives you 15 ways to impress Lara and take her out on a date. With Valentine's Day round the corner, this issue will indeed come in handy.

Showbiz 24X7

Rahman at the Oscar Luncheon, Shilpa with her beau and business partner, Amitabh Bachchan and more.

Almost There: Rahman's embroidered blue sherwani is majestic and classy, exactly what the red carpet requires. We can hardly wait for the Oscar!

Batwoman: Shilpa looks like a million bucks in this body hugging navy blue mini with peep toes. And that expression is so naughty!

Perfect Jodi: Shilpa and Raj Kundar who have bought a 12% stake in Rajasthan Royals are all set to bat

Net Savvy: Lara Dutta launches her own website and has a new short hairdo to go with it

Naachne-wala: Much can't be said about his acting but Harman sure loves to dance. He is seen here at the Sri-Lanka premiere of Victory. But, whoever danced at premieres? How desperate!

Fit and Fat: At 66, Amitabh is fit and lean enough to play golf. Madhavan, half his age is so fat that he is just watching the superstar play!

Shaleen and Daljeet win Nach Baliye 4

TV actors Shaleen Bhanot and Daljeet Kaur emerged winners of the popular reality dance show "Nach Baliye 4" on a glitzy finale episode late on Sunday (Feb 1) and received the award from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

The couple pipped finalists Megha Gupta and Naman Shaw and took away the "Nach Baliye 4" trophy, a car as well as a cash prize of Rs.5 million.

Adding glitter to the show were Shah Rukh and actress Lara Dutta, who came to promote their forthcoming film "Billu Barber", releasing on Feb 13.

The finale saw performances by former participants of the show as well as judges Arjun Rampal and Karisma Kapoor as director, choreographer and co-judge Farah Khan looked on.

Showbiz 24X7

Nach Baliye 4 finale, Kareena's Rotary Club honour and Bappi Lahiri with kids from Dharavi

Scarf Love: SRK loves his scarves. He was probably fed up of the red one so now he is sporting one in brown


Can't Get Enough: The catty firang dancers just don't seem to get enough of our desi SRK as he dances with them on Nach Baliye 4's grand finale.


Dancing Queen: Lara Dutta with the finalists of the show. SRK and Lara were there to promote Billu Barber


Dekhta Hai Tu Kya? Item girl Rakhi Sawant dances with Shaleen and Naman. Shaleen's got his eyes in the wrong place but we don't blame him


Green Goddess: Super slim Karisma Kapoor is a picture of perfection in this saree that matches the colour of her eyes


Winner: Farah, Arjun, Karisma present the Nach Baliye 4 trophy to Shaleen Bhanot and Daljit Kaur as SRK looks on


Young Achiever: Kareena Kapoor with her Rotary Club award that says 'Make Dreams Real'. It is great to see her after so long!


Ditched! Kareena has ditched her favourite blood red nail polish for maroon


Jai Ho: Bappi Lahiri with slum kids from Dharavi, Sion.

Lara denies wedding with Dino

We started with a retro mood and she bowled us over instantly.

And we just couldn’t stop laughing. Wondering what we are talking about. When we asked actor Lara Dutta about her career in 2008, she said, “A super busy year but no one will believe. Unfortunately there is nothing to show.” But then this year will be different.

Lara has a huge line of impressive movies coming up in 2009 — Billu Barber, Banda yeh bindaas hai, Blue and Do not Disturb. Inspite of having a full fledged role in SRK’s production Billu Barber, she is hardly seen in the promos. “I don’t interfere in the marketing strategy of a film. In a male dominated tinsel world, where the female actors are only adding glamour or glorifying the hero’s existence in the film, you have to be happy that you added value to an interesting product like Billu Barber.”

Her friendship with actor Dino Morea has generated much interest but she still continues to maintain a dignified silence. Lara maintains that she shares a wonderful friendship with Dino because they have known each other since they were in school. “We have known each other since I was five years old. So just because people want me to proclaim my friendship with him and shout from the rooftop, I am not going to do it. There is certainly no wedding happening here. You need to find a partner who supports you emotionally. I am yet to come across a person like that.”

Next, you ask her about the ‘camps’ in Bollywood and why isn’t she a part of any camp? “There are no permanent friendships or enemies in Bollywood. The stakes are too high here to have a friend because the next minute he would be backslapping you. Stardom gets you a table in a five-star hotel but it can really drive you insane. So I prefer to have the same set of people in my life than change them. I am not a very pushy person so I am not visible.”

Now Lara has discovered a new passion for scriptwriting. She has penned some three scripts for films and emphasises that they are not “woman-oriented subjects. If I pen women oriented subjects, none of the hot selling men in the industry will work for me.” She also tells us about her adventures in the Bahamas whilst shooting for Blue with Sanjay Dutt and Akshay Kumar. “I became a certified diver and swam with the sharks, dolphins, wild turtles and dolphins. Initially I was really scared of diving in, but then I realised that it is a myth that all sharks attack humans as soon as they see them. It was awe-inspiring.”

Lara shakes her head when we ask her if she would want to be a part of international projects. “A 3-4 minute scene in the film does not really excite me. It would be interesting to work in a European film instead. There are few actors like Hale Berry or Penelope Cruz who get to do interesting roles.” She appears perfectly fine about her “not really interested in being called sexy because it is more fun with the guys, when you are one of them. I like this ‘tomboy’ image that the guys have coined for me. After a while, it becomes boring to be just an ‘object of affection’ for the guys. That’s the reason why I just love spending time with Akki, Sallu, Sanju and my other co-stars. They make me do all sort of naughty things.” And right now, Lara is loving the way life is moving.

Gorgeous Lara Dutta graces the cover of Grazia

Lara Dutta may not have had a single release last year barring a cameo in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and giving the voice-over for the animated flick Jumbo. However, the gorgeous beauty would be seen in quite a few films this year such as Billu Barber, Blue and Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai.

Before setting the silver screen on fire, Lara is seen at her glamorous best as the cover-girl for fashion magazine 'Grazia' in their January issue. The stunning beauty is seen in a chic burgundy colored dress and one look at her in this outfit and you will know why she was crowned 'Miss Universe' few years ago.

This issue is simply a must have for all die-hard Lara Dutta fans.

Dabboo Ratnani's Designer Calendar 2009

Sometimes a picture can say more than multitudinous words. For a great photograph sparks off diverse connotations and impacts the subconscious in a manner that can't be defined. That's the beauty of Dabboo Ratnani's Photography. It's an Art Form that's unique and goes much beyond the Obvious. Recently Dabboo launched his 10th Annual Calendar for which he shot 48 top Bollywood stars. Bollywood Buzz caught up with him and he shared a few of the pictures from this Designer Calendar exclusively with us for all you guys. Let's bring you Dabboo's impressions about each one of these pictures.

Mallika Sherawat
She wanted to do something which was not the usual. You've always seen sexy pictures of Mallika but we wanted to keep that oomph factor there in the picture and still do something. So both of us brainstormed and we thought let's try something with guns and try something more action image yet still keeping that sexy image like Charlie's Angels.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
I shot lots of pictures in that outfit, the beautiful red gown that Anahita Shroff had done. We did a lot of full lengths, some tight close ups & finally went in for an extremely tight close up for the final choice of picture. The kind of toning that I have given the picture has kind of whitewashed everything else except the eyes and the mouth so the whole attention goes on to the expression to her eyes.

Shahrukh Khan
We had actually frozen on using a white formal shirt but then when I was going through his wardrobe I came across a red shirt. His boy said yeh zyada nahi pehente hain, so I said its ok I'll ask him and he said ok sure whatever you want me to wear. I haven't used any lights in the picture. Although it's an indoor picture, the source of the light was the chrome plated light which was in his library at home.

Kajol
With Kajol it so just happened on the way to the shoot I saw a man who was sitting on the carrier of a taxi. This was one day before the shoot and he was tying something on the carrier and sitting on top which made an interesting composition for me.

Priyanka Chopra
Every picture is different... some have props some don't. This is one of the pictures which doesn't have any prop except for all black on black where she is wearing a black dress. We've used lot of black in that picture. It's more like a fashion shot. The picture is looking simple but that's the beauty of that picture.

Lara Dutta
We shot in a stud farm where we had a horse in the background. It was a great fun picture, more energy, more the mood of the picture that we tried to capture. Although it's very sexy but it does not look anywhere close to vulgar. That's the beauty of that picture.

Lara & I are very close: Dino

It’s official now. Lara Dutta and Dino Morea are madly in love.

A common friend of Lara and Dino told us yesterday, “It’s not that Lara and Dino feel awkward about their relationship, but the fact is that they have taken a joint decision not to talk much about it.”

Earlier, there were reports that Lara had shifted into Dino’s house in Bandra, Mumbai. Our source said, “That’s not true. The two of them spend a lot of time together, but they have their respective homes. Yes, they both reside in Bandra but Lara stays in Anstel apartments while Dino stays at his bungalow.”

Our source added, “Both Lara and Dino have had ups and downs in their personal lives. So, they are maintaining a low profile this time. They do go out together but they don’t want to make their relationship apparent by openly indulging in public displays of affection.”

When contacted, Dino refused to talk about his relationship with Lara. On being probed further, he simply said, “Lara and I are very close. Lara is a very beautiful and intelligent girl. I don’t want to say anything more than this at this point of time.”

Billu Barber - Music Review

EXPECTATIONS
A Shah Rukh Khan film is always special. But what does he do when the film is centered on Irrfan Khan, as also conveyed by the title of the film, with him being only in a special appearance? Well, he only goes full-on to make it as commercial as possible by appearing in number of song and dance appearances. Not just that, he also ropes in some of the top heroines in the industry and makes them dance along with him. If in Om Shanti Om, he had opted for Vishal-Shekhar as the composers, for Billu Barber he gives Pritam the responsibility of creating a hardcore commercial score. While 2008 was superb for the composer with number of back to back successful albums (Jannat, Singh Is Kinng, Race, Kismat Konnection, Golmaal Returns), 2009 also promises to follow suit with Billu Barber beginning the year!

MUSIC
Item song no.1 - that's 'Marjaani' for you! From the very first beat, you know that there is no way this song won't succeed in reaching the top of the charts. A fast paced track that remains Indian at heart even with all the Western beats surrounding it, 'Marjaani' has Pritam giving his all to ensure that his 'jodi' with Kareena Kapoor continues to be a big hit. Remember 'It's Rocking' (Kya Love Story Hai) and 'Yeh Ishq Hai' (Jab We Met)? The fun continues with 'Balkan Mix' and 'Electro House'

He goes on to create 'Love Mera Hit Hit' which he could have composed in his sleep, considering the 'template' feel to it. Item song no.2, it is just a follow up to many a dance floor chartbusters that he has created in movies like Race ('Khwaab Dekhe Jhoothe Moothe') and Kismat Konnection ('Ae Pappi'). 'The House Mix' and 'Remix' version ensure that the song remains with you much after you have heard it first.

Another 'template' song in the album is 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which has a beginning akin to that of 'Zara Zara Touch Me' [Race]. However, soon after it moves to being much more childlike and innocent with the advent of lyrics that go as 'Khudaya Khair'. In fact based on the same tune with just the words 'Khudaya Khair', there is another namesake song that follows later in the album. While the former has a slight Western twang to it, the latter comes with a full-on Indian feel. These two are yet another very good additions to this album that seems to have one chartbuster packed after another in the album.

There is a speed breaker though in the form of 'Ae Aa O' which is the first rock track of the album and doesn't really make you jump with joy in the very first listening. In fact the very sound of 'Ae Aa O' (also appearing later in the remix version) that remains persistent throughout the track is ordinary and straight out of a commercial.

It's a different Pritam that one hears in 'Jaoon Kahan' which is a sad song expected to play in the background at multiple junctures. Though there isn't anything extraordinary about the compositions due to the heard-before factor, 'Jaoon Kahan' is still a soothing number enough to keep your interest in the song to follow. Later, one can sense a clear Priyadarshan influence to the proceedings with 'Billoo Bhayankar' bringing the album to a close. With a rustic folk flavor to it while keeping the fun quotient intact, 'Billoo Bhayankar' is a song that hails the central protagonist of the film played by Irrfan Khan.

LYRICS
'Marjaani' boasts of lyrics that have a characteristic Gulzar touch to them. In fact with the kind of flavor that Pritam brings to his lyrics, one wonders whether we are looking at another Pancham da-Gulzar 'jodi' in the offering since the composer makes it all sound so commercial that one ends up remembering many a chartbuster hits that Pancham da and Gulzar had delivered three decades back! On the other hand, don't bother about lyrics like 'Khit Pit', 'Hit Hit', 'Kudi Tu Sexy' etc. - it's the catchy feel and rhythm that matters most for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' and lyricist Ashish Pandit does well on those grounds! Neeraj Shridhar also turns lyricist for 'Ae Aa O' but the words here aren't anything above ordinary.

Sayeed Quadri and Gulzar write a version each for 'Khudaya Khair' that also arrives as 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling'. Both the numbers bring in a different flavor though the element of pure and innocent love remains intact in each of the instances. Sayeed Quadri also writes 'Jaoon Kahan' that narrates the state of the protagonist who has lost a lot in his life while Gulzar gets his own take on the protagonist's popularity with 'Billoo Bhayankar'.

VOCALS
Sukhwinder Singh, the voice of Shah Rukh Khan opens 'Marjaani' and allows Sunidhi Chauhan to arrive on the scene who shines in a big way. She is truly in form in her only number in Billu Barber and ensures that her hit record with Kareena Kapoor stays intact. Later K.K. too arrives for the 'Balkan Mix' of the song and adds on to the options available for the final song placement in the film.

Neeraj Shridhar, the voice that never fails Pritam, is in full form again for 'Love Mera Hit Hit' though it is Tulsi Kumar who surprises most with her altogether different style of rendition for Deepika Padukone. Neeraj also sings the solo 'You Get Me Rockin & Reeling' which later arrives as 'Khudaya Khair' with Soham, Akriti Kakar and Monali bringing a certain Indian-ness to the proceedings. With Abhijeet coming back on scene with the 'reprise version' of the same song, one knows what to expect considering the fact that the singer has sung many a hits for Shah Rukh Khan during last 15 odd years!

K.K., who is otherwise so dependable, doesn't really make 'Ae Aa O' rise above ordinary. Most of the times he is capable of turning the most average compositions good due to his sheer prowess behind the mike but in case of 'Ae Aa O', he isn't able to do much even in company of Rana Mazumder and Suraj. On the other hand, Raahat Fateh Ali Khan's voice manages to bring in some 'thehrav' in the proceedings that were being dominated by beats and rhythm all this while. Ajay Jhingaran, Raghuveer and Kalpana come together for a rustic 'Billoo Bhayankar' and though the song is not the next chartbuster in the making, it should help the narrative of Billu Barber.

OVERALL
Billu Barber has a rocking start to it with songs like 'Marjaani' and 'Love Mera Hit Hit' that are guaranteed chartbusters in the making. Though 'Ae Aa O' is the only number that doesn't quite make a mark, 'Khudaya Khair' brings in a nice feel-good touch to it which keeps the flag high for Billu Barber. On the other hand, 'Jaoon Kahan' and 'Billoo Bhayankar' add on to the situational flavor. While the soundtrack should work well for the film, we are not looking at a Race or a Jannat or a Singh Is Kinng that are being played even till date. Still, from the popularity perspective, Billu Barber should go the Kismat Konnection and Golmaal Returns way by being reasonably successful.

Lara leaves SRK's party, Dino follows her

There was a time when Lara Dutta and Dino Morea used to see each other. The old lovers again happened to cross one another's road at Shahrukh Khan's bash. Shahrukh and Gauri had thrown a party at Mannat, last week. Present on the occasion was Dino Morea and his ex beau Lara Dutta. When Lara saw Dino getting closer to designer Nandita Mahtani, she left the party and Dino followed her.

A source present at the event reveals, "Lara, Dino, Preity, Ness, and Nandita were all seen having a conversation. Later, Preity and Ness started mingling with other guests and the trio was left to themselves. Dino and Nandita were in the chatty mode, and were seen joking and laughing. It was obvious that Lara wasn't too comfortable with her beau's ex around."

Apparently at one point, Lara saw Nandita sitting on Dino's lap and she lost her patience and left the party. On seeing her leave, Morea too excused himself and followed her. A source close to the couple admits, "Yes, they had a tiff over Nandy but they talked and things are fine now."

"Jumbo has elements that Lion King had" - Lara Dutta

This Christmas 'Every thing's gonna be alright', and that's exactly what the film Jumbo says. Bollywood Hungama caught up with the gorgeous Lara Dutta who has lent her voice to the melodious character of Sonia in the film. In a free-wheeling chat Lara talks about her experience dubbing for this animated flick.

For the first time you will be giving voiceover for an animated film in Bollywood. How did you think of this, all of a sudden?
Akshay is a very good friend... I remember it was when we were shooting an action sequence in Phuket for the film Blue that he offered me Jumbo. He told me that it is a very sweet film and he would love to have me play a part in it. I also felt it was a lovely film and immediately signed it. I have always been fond of watching animation films, so to be part of an animation film got me really excited.

So you agreed to lend your voice for the film because of Akshay?
Yes... but then that is just one of the factors. Akshay and I have done many films. He is a fantastic co star and a dear friend. It is always my pleasure to work with him. However, like I said I was thrilled to be part of an animation film. And Jumbo is a very sweet film.

What is your character in the film? Do you think your voice suited the character?
The cute pink elephant is me (Smiles) I play Jumbo's love interest. Her name is Sonia. I was required to sound very melodious so I had to ensure that I got it right. It was fun and I have given my best. Hope the audience feels that my voice has suited the character.

Which is more difficult? Acting or giving voice to an animated character?
Well, it is difficult to give voice to an animated character. But then, there are two sides to it. The difficult part is that since you haven't shot for it, you have to understand the emotions that the character is supposed to go through. That is a challenge. But on the positive side you can interpret it in many ways... it allows you to be creative. You don't need to talk in an exaggerated manner. You just have to understand the graph of your character and speak accordingly.

Jumbo is basically about family and its values, how much do you agree with this?
Yes... a lot. The film is high on family values. The story is about a baby elephant who longs for his father and how he leaves his herd and embarks upon a journey in search of his father. I was very touched with the storyline.

Which other animated films have you seen and liked the best?
I love Lion King... In fact Jumbo has elements that Lion King had.

Is the film targeting kids only?
No... It is for everyone. You are never too old for animation movies. Jumbo isn't a mindless film. It has a definite storyline and a moral to the story which the audience will like. But yes... I'm doing this film completely for my kiddie audience.

Apart from Jumbo... what else do you have in the pipeline?
There's Blue with Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt, then there is Billu Barber with Irrfan Khan and Shahrukh. Apart from that there is Do Knot Disturb with Govinda and Banda Yeh Bindass Hai with Salman.

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Lara was special guest at Dino's family birthday celebration

Dino Morea has always maintained that Lara Dutta is very special to him and that fact was proved on Tuesday (Dec 9) when she came to his Bandra bungalow to spend his birthday with the rest of his family.

The actor, who is in his early thirties, says, "This year, we decided that we would bring in a quiet birthday. Because of the 26/11 attacks, the mood of the country is sombre and personally, I haven't been in the mood for celebrations. So we decided to have a quiet family get-together at my home."

This birthday was even more special for the actor as, "Mum and dad came from Bangalore to spend time with me on my birthday.

They were to come on Dec 21 but they wanted to surprise me on my birthday. It was my best birthday gift, as I haven't seen them for eight months now."

Besides his brothers, Santino and Nicolo, Dino admits close friend Lara Dutta was also with him. "But Nico's girlfriend was also there," he smiles.

He's reluctant to talk about the gifts he got from his near and dear ones, "I got some stuff like an iPod and a computer but it's too personal to talk about.

The presence of loved ones around me was enough." Though he is reluctant to reveal what Lara got him, a close friend of the couple spills the beans, "Lara and Dino both love gadgets and when they were in the USA, they bought a lot of them. Lara bought a Mac Airbook for Dino, a slip video and upgraded her iPod."

But it was not all play and no work for Morea. He adds, "I cut a big chocolate cake, had a nice birthday lunch and then I attended three important meetings.

It was a good sign that I worked on my birthday because all of the meetings were good for me. I always go to Mount Mary; I went three days ago but didn't have time on my birthday. I find a lot of peace there," concludes the birthday boy.