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The Priyanka factor
Sep 7th
Dressed in her spandax catsuit, PC is thrilled to have taken over Akshay Kumar’s daredevil legacy
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 07, 2010)
It’s hard to focus on the going-ons on the sets of Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 3 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The sun shines on the Copacabana beach, right outside the hotel. Dino Morea has gotten up early to do his daily run on the beach, weaving through half-clad sun worshippers.
Priyanka Chopra, this season’s host, is no longer the girlie Bollywood diva in a frock. She’s wearing a black spandax catsuit, with black boots, her hair tied away from the face that means business.
Chopra takes over Akshay Kumar as host of the daredevil show. Ironically, she was linked to the married actor at one time, making it no surprise that she hasn’t called him for tips. Not that he has offered his congratulations.
Put up on the highest floors of the Rio Othon Palace hotel, the crew has a birds-eye view of the Copacabana beach. Shooting for the show in two shifts, Priyanka’s surrounded by 13 hunks – ageing lothario Milind Soman, the poster boy of intellectual cinema Rahul Bose, funny man Cyrus Broach, a newly scrubbed up actor Shabbir Ahluwalia, TV heartthrob Karan Singh Grover, F1 racer Armaan Ebrahim, model Rahul Dev, squash player Ritwik Bhattacharya, Rock On director Abhishek Kapoor, lithe dancer Terence Lewis and yet-to-come-of-age actor Manjot Singh (of Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!). Lest the contestants try romance to influence their host, mommie Chopra is around to keep an eye.
In the middle of this distraction starts the gruelling 6 am shoot at Bhering (where the Hollywood flick Incredible Hulk was shot) that continues till lunchtime. With enough adventure by way of stunts, the contestants choose Indian cuisine over Brazilian. Since the second schedule was starting only at 7 pm, the contestants lay down where ever they could.
If the contestants thought there was no place for a woman in this testosterone domain, they were put in place early on. Priyanka performed a helicopter stunt within stipulated time, which the contestants couldn’t do.
“The boys felt very bad,” she says smugly. “They were stunned and kept asking ‘How is this possible’? Their egos were hurt because I did the stunt easily. I was shocked myself that they couldn’t do it.
One would think they would start off small, but the first stunt involved all kinds of creepy crawlies. Locked in a rotating glass box filled with cockroaches, worms, the contestants had to unlock their way out. While the insects were not harmful per say, they clung to the contestant’s skin, leaving them scarred — emotionally and physically.
While all the men started out in sporting spirits, by the second day, there were cold vibes between Milind and Dino over the morning’s stunt. The youngest contestant, 18-year-old Manjot is the butt of everyone’s joke. His partner is a Brazilian called Andressa and everyone calls out to him “Have you undressed her?” This camaraderie is short-lived however, as the stints get riskier and competition gets tougher.
On their first day off, everyone took the opportunity to catch up on rest and then later hit the beaches. Rahul Bose headed to Leblon mall with his stylist to get more clothes for the shoot, while the rest of the boys did as Brazilians did — frolicked and swam on the beach. Priyanka quietly sneaked out at night to go visit the Christ Redeemer statue.
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| Contestants cat nap after lunch |
Rapid fire
Having spent so much time with the contestants, we put Priyanka through a rapid-fire round.
• Best body?
All the boys have come completely trained and toned, but I think Manjot Singh has the best body (laughs).
• Best Hairstyle?
Karan Singh Grover keeps experimenting – he has twists and braids, etc. Terence also experiments with his hair time and again. Rest of the boys are easy-going but Terence really spends time on his hair!
• Best lips?
Itne kareeb jaake dekha nahi hai maine (laughs)
• Best sense of humour?
(Long pause) Well, I am always taking their case, but I make Rahul (Bose) feel really bad that he has a very sad sense of humour. So now he makes an extra effort to crack me up. Of course Cyrus Broacha is hilarious. We are always laughing with him.
• Most quiet?
Ritwik Bhattacharya. He does what he has to do and goes back.
• Weird spirit of adventure?
Shabbir Ahluwalia. He’ll do anything.
• Who would you like to be maroponed on a island with?
I think they would want to be with me! (laughs). I pick Milind Soman because he is a national level swimmer and will save us both. (laughs)
Check Out: Priyanka Chopra shooting for Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 in Brazil
Sep 6th
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, September 6, 2010 – 12:36 IST
Priyanka Chopra is super excited today. After all, she makes her television debut later this evening with the much awaited reality show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi: Season 3′. Giving the actress company on the show will be hunks such as Dino Morea, Rahul Dev, Milind Soman, Rahul Bose and Abhishek Kapoor to name a few.
Piggy Chops who is currently shooting in Brazil posted a few pics for her fans on Twitter. In Priyanka’s own words, “An example of what’s on store on kkk3…me n ANACONDA!!”
The gorgeous actress also seems to have had a lot of fun while shooting. Here she is seen looking her sexiest best at the Copacabana beach. Tweeting about it, PC says, “At the beach at Copacabana…awesome.”
Priyanka also made it a point to visit the historical statue of Christ the Redeemer located in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The statue is considered among the largest Art Deco statue in the world.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Kunal Kohli miffed with Priyanka?
Sep 1st
Kunal’s unhappy that Priyanka cited date issues for his big project starring Saif
Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; September 1, 2010)
The industry is buzzing with the gossip of another huge fallout in Tinseltown. Filmmaker Kunal Kohli is apparently hopping mad with the sassy Priyanka Chopra. The actress, who is busy for over a year with approximately seven film offers, was supposedly approached by Kunal for a film in which he wanted to launch a new jodi — Priyanka and Saif Ali Khan. However, due to date issues, she could not give him a nod. But there’s also buzz that she’s doing Sajid Nadiadwala’s film with Saif instead.
Meanwhile, Priyanka’s deliberations about Kunal’s film apparently made the director very unhappy as he was chasing her for quite some time. Sources revealed, “Kunal has expressed his disappointment and anger to some industry professionals. We hear that Kunal’s words have also reached Priyanka’s ears and she was quite taken aback.”
The informer added, “Kunal isn’t ready to understand that Priyanka is neck deep into work. From finishing Vishal Bhardwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf to Farhan Akhtar’s Don 2, Abbas Mustan’s Race 2, The Italian Job and several other film offers, Priyanka has no breathing space. Along with all this, she is also doing Khatron Ke Khiladi and many endorsements. Vishal wanted to cast her again but she is facing date issues with him too. Kunal has, however, taken it to heart.”
Since Priyanka is in Brazil shooting for her TV reality show, she could not be contacted for comment. However, when we contacted Kunal, despite the entire industry knowing about him planning a film with Saif and Priyanka and the internet too having hundreds of reports on his ambitious project, he said, “I haven’t approached her for any film. I’m doing a film with Saif. We haven’t locked the heroine yet, just finished the script. I’m told Priyanka’s doing Sajid Nadiadwala’s film with Saif. So, that’s why I haven’t approached her.”
Priyanka hosts a rocking bash on papa’s bday
Aug 25th
Before leaving for Brazil, Piggy Chops organised a fab bash for her father’s birthday. Javed and Shabana were excited enough to break into song
Vickey Lalwani and Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 25, 2010)
Seems like Priyanka Chopra’s is quite a well-knit family, with daddy keeping track of beti’s diet charts and beti reciprocating the love by organising a lavish birthday bash for him at a five-star hotel. How lovely.
It turns out, before flying to Brazil for Fear Factor, Priyanka Chopra arranged for a grand party in a five-star hotel in Juhu for her father Dr Ashok Chopra’s birthday.
Like a loving daughter, Priyanka personally planned and supervised every little detail of the celebration, from arranging the invitee list, sending personal invitations to food etc. Priyanka ensured everything was in order before flying off to Brazil on Wednesday.
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| Yogen Shah |
Confirming this, Dr Chopra added, “I am blessed to have such a darling daughter. She even sent me a watch, which landed at my doorstep on Monday morning.”
The doting father took a moment to praise his son as well and said, “My son Siddharth played the perfect host. He has completed a course in Hotel Management, and that worked I guess.”
Dr Chopra’s close friends attended the party, which was held on Monday evening. Guests from Bollywood included the likes of Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Mona Kapoor, Shahid Rafi (Mohd Rafi’s son), Neetu Chandra and Khayyam amongst a few others.
Talking about the party, Dr Chopra said, “Shabana and Javed sang the song Chhod Do Aanchal Zamana Kya Kahega, from the film Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi). Then I sang Khayyam’s composition Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum from Shola Aur Shabnam. It was a fun-filled evening. We were in the hotel singing and joking till 2 am. I don’t know how to thank Priyanka.”
And how old are you, Mr Chopra, we asked shamelessly. “Well, I just completed my 21st year,” he replied. Aww!
Priyanka turns dictator in Brazil
Aug 24th
By Subhash K. Jha, August 24, 2010 – 10:24 IST
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She’s hardly the dost-host in Rio de Janeiro where the stunts for Khatron Ke Khiladi (Fear Factor) are being shot.
According to news filtering out of the beaches of Copacabana where the first batch of stunts were shot last week with the 13 contestants, hostess Priyanka Chopra was not kidding when she had said she would make the contestants hate her with her instructions.
According to at least 2 contestants who spoke from the location, Priyanka has transformed into quite a whip-wielding dictator in the sizzling climes of Brazil. She makes the contestants work relentlessly and hardly provides them with a moment of breather to replenish their energy.
Says one of the exhausted contestants, “She carries not a whip, but a whistle which is as good as whip. The whistle is with her throughout from 7.30 am in the morning till late evening when we pack up. And she uses the whistle to intimidate us like no other woman in our lives has ever intimidated us.”
In fact the contestants are so fed up of the whistle that they plan to steal it and throw it into the ocean.
But Priyanka is relentless in her adherence to the regime. Says a source from Rio, “Priyanka is determined to prove she can orchestrate the contestant’s stunts as effectively as Akshay Kumar in the first two seasons of Fear Factor. She is up at dawn and ready to play hard ball with the contestants by 7.30 am every morning. The stunts start by 8.30 am but not before a very close and careful briefing by the stunt director to make sure no one breaks any bones on location.”
Throughout these stunts, Priyanka is as detached dispassionate and ruthlessly professional as a doctor performing an intricate surgery. She does not fraternize with any of the contestants, not even Dino Morea whom she knows well.
Says the source, “The only time she loosens up is towards the evening when she seems more relaxed. Otherwise she is so professional, it’s scary.”
Priyanka says she’s doing her job exactly the way she is supposed to. “We are not here for a picnic. It’s a tough regimen,” she says.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
I run Priyanka Chopra Foundation-Priyanka Chopra
Aug 24th
…her mother, setting a benchmark for Mr Right
Garima Sharma | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; August 24, 2010)
Last month, she turned 28 and was gifted a seven-carat solitaire diamond ring by her parents. “I’m really proud of it. But my mom says that she’s set a benchmark for the guy who will marry me! I was going away on my birthday for a holiday and I wasn’t going to be with them. So my dad wrote me this amazing letter. It said, ‘It’s really great to be known as my daughter’s father.’ That made me cry,” she said. When asked when she plans to replace this ring with an engagement band, prompt came the reply, “When the guy who is willing to gift me a ring like this crashes into me!”
But till the time Mr Right is still on his way, Priyanka is keeping busy with work — endorsements, films and goodwill initiatives. A few days ago, she became the UNICEF national ambassador. She said, “I just feel that I can do so much, in fact, everyone can do so much. It’s not just about me. You can do so much sitting in your house. And frankly, it doesn’t take so much time. If we can take time out for things that are productive for us, for instance, I take out time for my endorsements, shoots, my career; then I can take time out for something I feel so strongly about. And I’ve been working with UNICEF for the last four years. It’s just that we have made it official now.”
Priyanka added, “I have also been working with senior-citizen causes, green causes, with thalassemic children, etc. I educate about 28 girls. I have a foundation called the Priyanka Chopra Foundation which is into health and education. It’s been on for years now. People write to me saying their kids need surgery, or their kids can’t go to school, and my team authenticates it and then we help them. We don’t really talk about it. But now that I’m the UNICEF national ambassador, I feel that my voice has been given a channel where I can talk about making a difference. And I’m saying it only because I’ve seen the difference.”
‘Sid’s my jaan’
Priyanka’s in Brazil, shooting for Khatron Ke Khiladi. But being the compulsive person that she is, before leaving home she prepared the puja ki thali with the rakhi and left a box of sweets for her brother Siddharth. One of her cousins will tie it on him on Priyanka’s behalf. “I love my brother, he is my jaan,” said the Bollywood superstar. She expects to receive a gift from Sid when she returns to Mumbai on September 11.
-Meena Iyer
Shahid’s car drops Priyanka to airport?
Aug 18th
Priyanka Chopra was spotted at Mumbai international airport alighting from Shahid Kapoor’s car, a black Range Rover
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 18, 2010)
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| Priyanka at the international airport on Monday night. Shahid’s car is behind her |
Priyanka and Shahid may vehemently deny being a cosy twosome but here’s a scoop that should make them rethink. The two actors had managed to evade the paparazzi during secret dinners and coffee tête-à-têtes at five-star hotels but sadly they failed to be a little discreet at one of the most public locations in the city: the international airport.
On Monday night, Shahid Kapoor drove to the airport to drop his girlfriend Priyanka in his black Range Rover (MH 02 BN 700). The actress was leaving for Brazil to shoot for Khatron Ke Khiladi.
An eyewitness reveals, “Shahid and Priyanka came in his black Range Rover at 2 am. Priyanka was supposed to alight at Terminal A but as soon as they spotted the media waiting there, Shahid swiftly turned the car to go to Terminal B.
Priyanka rushed out of the car and walked as fast as she could from Terminal B to A.”
The picture makes it amply clear that she would have had quite a tough time walking fast in those high-heeled boots. Poor thing. The actress will be in Brazil for more than a month now, away from Shahid of course. Does that explain the forlorn look on her face?
It seems Priyanka is a bit jinxed with the paparazzi at airports. You recall the day her ex-boyfriend Harman Baweja had dropped her to the airport in his black Honda CRV?
She was going for a two-month schedule to Miami then to shoot for Dostana. But that’s history.
SRK and kids head to the World Cup finals
Jul 6th
The love for sports runs in his family and they are all heading to South Africa to catch the action
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 06, 2010)
Football fever has hit tinsel-towners now. Apart from following each and every match a few of them are flying down to South Africa to watch the finals. And Shah Rukh Khan tops that list. SRK would be taking his kids Aryan and Suhana along all the way to South Africa.
Our source said, “Aryan is an ardent football fan, like his father and will be flying to South Africa to watch the finals. At the moment, the entire family is holidaying in London. Shah Rukh was on a Europe tour and cruise with his family spending quality time with his kids, his wife and a couple of friends.
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Shah Rukh and the kids have been following football religiously even there and are very keen to watch the finals at the stadium in South Africa because all the action will now be live.”
Apparently, Shah Rukh’s mother was a big football fan as well and they both used to stay up all night watching football matches. Clearly, the genes have passed on to the next generation. The source added, “Both Shah Rukh’s kids love football SRK also plays and coaches his daughter and her friends in football.
The family’s favourite teams are Argentina, Spain, Germany, and Brazil amongst which Germany and Spain will be playing against each other to qualify for the finals.”
Imran Khan too plans to fly down for the finals, to celebrate the success of his film I Hate Luv Storys (Ohkkayy!). The actor will be flying there from India and would be accompanied by his childhood friends.
But unlike SRK’s vacation trip, Imran’s would be a professional commitment towards a brand he endorses.”
While SRK didn’t revert to our text messages, Imran confirmed, “I’m flying for the finals with friends on Friday. I’m supporting Germany.”
Few takers for Priyanka’s show?
Jun 29th
The actress is ready and training hard, but none of the 13 contestants for Fear Factor have been finalised
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 29, 2010)
The upcoming season of Khatron Ke Khiladi is jinxed. Hostess Priyanka Chopra’s shooting dates have been fixed for the 2nd and 3rd week of August. And Priyanka has been diligently preparing in Brazil for her daredevil anchor role for months.
Apparently, the contestants are still not finalised. After the BCCI came down heavily on our cricketers post the IPL debacle, 13 of them opted out of Fear Factor.
The team has to now rely on hunks from other fields. Only after Priyanka approves of them that is.
But this too has failed. The actors and models don’t want to participate in the show. Did the tough stunts of the last season dampen their spirits or did Akshay’s bordering on ruthless demeanor scare them?
Kushal Punjabi, Sonu Sood, Kunal Khemu, Arjan Bajwa, Purab Kohli and Aarya Babbar have all declined the offer, while the ones still being cajoled are Dino Morea, Emraan Hashmi, Himesh Reshammiya, Abhishek Kapoor, Brett Lee and Marc Robinson.
Says a source from the channel, “We’ve so far locked in only Rahul Bose and Milind Soman and that too after much haggling. The rest of the slots are open.” The team is panicking now.
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| Rahul Bose | Milind Soman |
The source laments, “Priyanka’s dates will slip out of our hands if we don’t shoot with her in August because after her two-week stint in Brazil, she heads to shoot for Don 2. Besides, we are supposed to go on air in September.”
Priyanka seems oddly unaffected though. “I’ve been training really hard and I’m all set. I’ve no clue about the contestants. That’s the channels look out,” she says.Is there a workable solution then?
Says the channel source, “We’ll have to up the contestants’ fee, as we did for Bigg Boss. Many of the people we’ve approached are asking for unreasonable fee.” The channel admits getting celebrities on this show is getting tough. Colors’ CEO Rajesh Kamat is optimistic though, “By the first week of July we hope to have our contestants in place.” Fingers crossed.
Actors to replace cricketers in Priyanka’s reality show
Jun 19th
GAME FOR IT: Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra will now have new participants on her reality show
Roshni K Olivera | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; June 19, 2010)
Finally it may not be cricketers, but actors who will get into some daredevilry with Priyanka Chopra. The muchtalked about adventure reality show to be hosted by the Bollywood actress, was to star international cricketers. The first two seasons were hosted by Akshay Kumar. The third season was announced during the IPL and even though the names of cricketers were not revealed, there was buzz that Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh and Aussie cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee would be part of it.
A thrilled Priyanka, excited to be associated with some of the biggest names of cricket, had said, “I’ve been a huge fan of this show and I’m so looking forward to starting a new innings on television!” As per plans, she was supposed to be shooting in Brazil’s exotic locations in June. But post the IPL and India’s dismal performance at the T20 World Cup, things changed. The BCCI refused cricketers permission to participate in the show and the TV channel sent a notice to the BCCI.
Considering the stalemate, the channel has now started approaching actors like Rahul Bose, Dino Morea, Sonu Sood, Arya Babbar, and Milind Soman among others. There’s also buzz that Brett Lee, who was signed earlier, might just be part of it too and there are also attempts to rope in Jonty Rhodes.
