I strongly condemn this police action and high-handedness Dj Jenny D

DJ Jenny D and other members of the gay community have joined hands to protest against the police action and high-handedness during a raid on a private party at Juhu in suburban Mumbai.

The party and incident which has subsequently come to be known as ''The Juhu Gay Party" was attended by television personalities and others like Bobby darling. Eye witnesses said that the police were very rude to persons perceived to be gay or transgenders and treated them with utmost contempt, besides abusing them in the choicest vulgar and cuss words in Marathi and Hindi. "Those who were perceived to be gay were treated very rudely and inhumanely by the police as though they were murderers or rapists," said Rajesh Singh one of the persons present at the party.

Last week the police arrested and detained about 133 party goers because the venue of the party - a bungalow in the posh Juhu area did not have all the required licenses. The organisers of the party were also arrested by the police for serving liquor without obtaining the requisite licenses.

Said Dj Jenny D, "I strongly condemn this police action and high-handedness. They police should have only arrested the organisers of the party if they did not have the license to serve liquor or play DJ music. But detaining and fining 133 guests is illegal. If you go for a wedding or a Navratri dandiya function and the music is a bit loud you don't arrest or fine all the guests, you only fine the organisers.

Here the guests were fined for dirty dancing! How do the police define dirty dancing? A similar incident had happened two months ago at a pub at Malad in suburban Mumbai where I was playing as a DJ. The club had all the licenses but the DJ license had recently expired and the renewal was pending with the police department.

 Most of the guests were not even dancing and some of them hadn't even consumed liquor. Yet all of them were detained and fined by the police. This moral policing must be immediately stopped. Besides the police were treating gays like they were criminals or had committed a felony."

Tanu Weds Manu sequel lockdown

He has been reveling in the success of his romantic comedy, Tanu Weds Manu. And so, a few days ago, director Aanand L Raihad announced his plans to do a sequel to the film, in collaboration with Eros International. However, it seems that their plans will now have to wait on a court verdict.

A source informed us that producer Vinod Bachchan, who supposedly owns 51 percent of the rights to the film, filed a case against Eros for announcing the film's sequel without his consent.

Reportedly, the hearing took place yesterday afternoon and the high court has prohibited both parties from going ahead with the sequel. "Not only that, the court has also prevented remaking the film in any other form. 

Upon submission of all the documents by both parties, the court will then decide who has the rights," added the source.

When contacted, Vinod Bachchan said, "Yes, I have sent them a legal notice. I am the 51% rights holder of the film and no one can make a film without my consent. How can they announce the film, without even asking me? The court too has said that no one can make a sequel at the moment."

On the other hand, the official spokesperson of Eros International said, "This is incorrect news, as the rights are not with him."

Ajay Devgn produces Vishal's film

The actor will join hands with Fox Star Studios to rope in the filmmaker before he starts work on SRK's 2 States

Taking his rivalry with the King Khan a step forward, Ajay Devgn has now convinced Vishal Bhardwaj to put the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 2 States on hold and start work on Devgn's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.

The filmmaker who was supposed to start with the Sajid Nadiadwala project based on Chetan Bhagat's novel will now go on floors with Devgn's film this November. Incidentally, the actor will also co-produce the film along with Fox Star Studios.

A source told Mumbai Mirror, "Ajay has not only convinced Vishal Bhardwaj to direct the film but also got the producers of My Name Is Khan, Fox Star Studios to co-produce the film along with him.

The film titled Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a comedy starring Anushka Sharma opposite Ajay Devgn. Ajay wanted the film to go on floors immediately after he wraps up Rohit Shetty's Bol Bachchan. his next film Son Of Sardar will now go on floors next year."

With his Shah Rukh starrer 2 States stuck in the initial phases for a while now, Vishal Bhardwaj sounded happy to be able to move on with a project. "I have had the idea for this comedy for almost eight years now.

It's a totally new genre for me. It will be completely different from what I have done in my earlier films. Also, I have missed working with Ajay. He is a great actor and a greater human being. I can't wait to be on the sets with him."

Talking about his leading lady Anushka, Vishal added, "She is a ball of energy. The harder you throw her, the higher she will go. I am looking forward to shooting with her."

The actor and the director are not the only two people happy to have got this project rolling. Vijay Singh, the CEO of Fox Star Studios said, "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a very special film for us at Fox Star. It brings together some great talent - Vishal Bhardwaj, Ajay Devgn and Kumar Mangat. We believe it will draw a lot of attention in 2012."

Ranbir Kapoor, Imtiaz Ali at Hazrat Nizamuddin

To pay a special tribute to the prolific court poet of the Delhi Sultanate, Amir Khusro, Ranbir Kapoor and his Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali paid a visit to the shayar's tomb within the Hazrat Nizamuddin complex, New Delhi on Monday evening.

Singer Mohit Chauhan and producer Hiren Gandhi of Shree Ashtavinayak accompanied Ranbir and Imtiaz to the place known for qawwali.

Surrounded by the spirits of the Gods of Qawwali, Amir Khusro and Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, Ranbir and Imtiaz prayed for the success of Rockstar, a film based on the passion for music.


When contacted, Imtiaz Ali said, "We are at the Dargah right now. We just thought we should seek blessings of one of the biggest and best musician this country has ever produced through this song we along with AR Rahman have created. Rahman sir speaks very highly of Hazrat Nizamuddin and Aamir Khusro."

Boy-next-door wins the girl

Akshaye Khanna, known to be rather reticent, has won the affections of Shreya Saran, who previously was linked to Salman Khan and Indian cricketer Sreesanth

He is one of the industry's most reticent actors. But it seems that Akshaye Khanna's mild demeanour is working in his favour. Reportedly, the actor has managed to win over the girl that Salman Khan and cricketer Shreesanth could not hold on to. A source informed us that Akshaye and his Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai co-star Shreya Saran have hit it off very well.

The source told us that the two, who have been filming in Bhopal for Rumi Jaffrey's directorial venture, have been spotted cozying up to each other for the past 15 days. "Shreya and Akshaye hit it off from the get-go.

Akshaye has been going out of his way to help her perfect her sequences in the film, since she is more familiar with South Indian cinema. It is clear that they are a couple. Everybody on the sets is talking about their relationship, albeit in hushed whispers," said the source.

And it seems that this new development is a stark change from Akshaye's dating track record. The source explained, "Akshay is very reticent and withdrawn.

He rarely mixes with his co-stars. But his affinity for Shreya is crystal clear. Shreya is exactly opposite in nature. She is a social butterfly. It really seems that opposites attract"

The actor was previously dating actress Tara Sharma. However, in January 2006, the couple ended their two-year relationship. Following his break-up with Tara, his personal life only came under the spotlight in 2010 with a rumoured link-up to Urvashi Sharma, his co-star in the suspense thriller Naqaab.

Shreya, on the other hand, has been more visible on the dating circuit. The South Indian actress was rumoured to be getting rather close to Salman. In fact, she was even invited to Arpita's birthday bash (On August 5, 2011, Mumbai Mirror). Prior to which, she was linked to her Dum Maaro Dum co-star Rana Dagubatti.

And before all the Bollywood men lined-up at Shreya's doorstep, she had a fan in Indian cricketer Shreesanth. Despite repeated attempts, Akshaye and Shreya remained unavailable for comment.

Marc Jacobs brings big finale to NY Fashion Week

NEW YORK: Marc Jacobs drew a beautiful and audacious line Thursday under a New York Fashion Week that stood out for its optimism and bright yellows and oranges.

As he has in the past, Jacobs chose the Armory in southern Manhattan rather than the Fashion Week headquarters at the Lincoln Center for his Spring-Summer 2012 show.

The theatrical choreography saw about 50 unworldly outfits mixing materials and turning conventions upside down.

Cellophane for raincoats, fringed coats, fake crocodile for straight yellow or dark red skirts, sparkly turbans and loafers -- Jacobs was as innovative as ever, and that was before he unveiled the strange, transparent cowboy boots.

Nylon, cellophane, organza, silicone and silk socks to go with golden high heels were just some of the materials he used, setting up a show to delight the celebrity fan club, including Sofia Coppola and actress Elle Fanning.

Earlier Thursday, Ralph Lauren won lengthy standing ovations for his 1920s-inspired collection, recalling the "Great Gatsby" days of vintage jade silk chiffon dresses and high-waisted, side-button trousers.

Cloche hats, pinstriped blazers and flapper-style beaded gowns, including with an ostrich-feather headscarf, completed the look.

For all the fantasy, this was a Fashion Week that could not exclude the outside world.

It opened as New York marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and Marc Jacobs asked to hold his preview until the end because of delays in preparations caused by Hurricane Irene.

There was also a whiff of scandal over the Guli collection from the daughter of Uzbekistan's authoritarian president Islam Karimov.

After human rights groups complained about her participation, the fashion week took the unusual measure of canceling the show.

Instead, the Guli collection, mostly flowing silk dresses, was unveiled in the chic Cipriani restaurant.

Overall this week, the colors were resolutely optimistic and sharp and a new tech-friendly approach allowed fashionistas to follow many collections live on their computers and phones, without having invitations to the Lincoln Center.

A newly pregnant Beyonce, Michael Douglas and Whoopie Goldberg were among the A-listers in the front rows.

London Fashion Week starts Friday and runs through September 21. (AFP)

Jackson killed by greed, medic's fault brother

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson was driven to his death by a mix of greed, power and money, one of his brothers claimed Thursday, while saying the star's doctor "had no business" giving him the drug that killed him.

Speaking before the manslaughter trial of medic Conrad Murray kicks off this month, Jermaine Jackson said those surrounding his brother failed to look after him, as they pushed him to play a lucrative series of comeback gigs.

He described how his brother's health had clearly deteriorated in the months leading up to his death -- when he was rehearsing intensively for the This is It shows in London -- but those around him had not told the family.

"Why didn't somebody call me or Jackie or Tito or Marlon or his family, to say, 'Come down here, your brother is not acting normal?' Had we been called, he would be alive today. We would have taken him to the hospital," he said.

Asked why he thought they didn't, he told CNN interviewer Piers Morgan: "Because they wanted the show to go on... It's all about -- this is a story about greed and power and money. And not looking at the person in Michael."

Murray is due in court on September 27 for the long-awaited manslaughter trial over Jackson's death in June 2009 from an overdose of the powerful drug propofol, prescribed to help him sleep.

Jermaine Jackson said the doctor's lawyers would try to paint his brother as a drug addict, but dismissed a suggestion that Jackson -- who suffered from chronic insomnia -- could have forced Murray to give him more propofol.

The drug is so powerful that it is used as an anaesthetic during surgery, he noted, adding that as a cardiologist and not an anesthesiologist, Murray "had no business giving my brother propofol."

"Being a doctor, you take an oath to care for your patient not to kill
them," he added.

Jackson's death, on the eve of the planned series of comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena aimed at reviving his reputation and finances battered by child sex allegations, stunned fans around the world.

Murray's defense team is expected to argue that Jackson gave himself an excessive dose of the drug while the doctor was out of the room at the singer's mansion in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood west of Los Angeles. (AFP)