Bipasha will be spending a lot of time in Goa in the coming weeks. First she will shoot her fitness video on the beaches quickly before winter sets in. Then she is all set to shoot a re-mix of the song 'Dum Maro Dum' for Rohan Sippy's film of the same title. In Rohan Sippy's film, Bipasha Basu is all set to swing to the sound of the R D Burman track 'Dum Maro Dum'. The copyright issues with Dev Anand and his film Hare Rama Hare Krishna have apparently been sorted out. Pritam Chakraborty is all set to record a new version of the Asha Bhosle classic. Says Bipasha, "I can't talk about it right now. But when it happens it will happen. Give it another two weeks." She has another issue-based film Aakrosh coming up after Lamhaa. And Bipasha wonders how the audience would react to it. "The social issue, honour killings, is treated like a thriller. Even Lamhaa was treated like a thriller. But how many people went to see it?" Bipasha plays a schoolteacher in a tradition-bound village in Aakrosh. "For me the interesting part of doing Aakrosh was to see how far away I can get away from my glamorous image. I discovered it was easy for me to do real characters. The director, Priyadarshan, is a delight to work with. And my co-star is Ajay Devgn who is a good dependable actor. I've another film Mr. Fraud with Ajay directed by Abbas-Mustan which got stuck. I don't know if that will ever release." Bipasha has a message for her colleagues who are keen to lend their names to issue-based films. "Don't charge any money for working in such films. It's the only way to make issue-based films commercially viable." Says the actress, "After Lamhaa, I am tempted to tell a committed filmmaker like Rahul Dholakia to make out-and-out commercial films. Or if you make a film on a social issue then make sure it doesn't go over-budget. The audience doesn't care about what's happening in the real world. It's shameful that Lamhaa was so costly. If it was made for Rs. 4 crores it would have been a hit. When a mainstream actor does a film on a social cause it should be done free of cost as a sign of commitment to society." Bipasha is all set to go to Goa well in advance of her earlier plan to shoot her video. "I want it to be shot outdoors in Goa. Winter gets too crowded. And I've a film to shoot in September. So I've to rush the video. I am going crazy doing my calorie counts. This time I've no team. I am doing everything on my own. It's a little boring to do it by myself. But I've always been a loner." And yes, all is well between Bipasha and John. Says Bipasha confidently, "If God forbid, anything were to go wrong between me and John, he would be the loser not me." John Abraham may go right ahead and insure his body parts. Bipasha isn't doing any such thing. Bipasha can't see the sense of John insuring his butt. She says, "I'm a body person and I am definitely into fitness. But I'd never insure any body part. He's welcome to do what he likes. I just want to know which insurance company is insuring his butt."

Amitabh Bachchan was probably the first most sincere celebrity blogger in Bollywood who used the platform to connect with his fans and update them on his activities, thoughts and interact with them regularly. No wonder then that he had innumerable followers who would start their day with reading what the revered Big B had to say. But apparently there was one errant follower who used the ability to comment on the blog to vent out his negativity. He would leave derogatory remarks that would cross the line of decency and were abusive. Big B mentions in his blog, "There is a serious effort by a member that writes and comments on this blog to use language and expression that is abusive, filthy and utterly disgusting." The unrelenting person would even send messages that were downright vulgar on Big B's phone and provoked the star to take corrective measures. Amitabh Bachchan reported the matter to the authorities and now any attempt from this miscreant would come under legal cyber space action.

Shah Rukh Khan had the foresight to show the ugly side of media in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani a decade back. Ram Gopal Varma thought bigger with Rann early this year. And just a few days back, Aamir Khan went full throttle with Peepli [Live] . What each of the three films touched upon was the insensitivity that was put on display, especially by broadcasting media when it came to questioning an individual. On camera. LIVE. A tricky situation indeed, especially when the camera is rolling. How does an individual react when he is put in the line of fire with million prying eyes ready to listen to that byte which could make or break the situation? Especially so when the celebrity happens to be a film personality, easily the most recognizable of all. The one who lives in the world of glamour and wants to die there. The one who revels in all the attention around him and could very well perish in the same. No wonder, a Katrina Kaif can't take it any more when cameras and mikes are thrust on her face for that one byte about her romantic life. Or a Salman Khan doesn't mind taking on the media heads on - even if that happens alarmingly close to his own film's release - by daring reporters to ask a question about his personal life. In this week's 'Reflections', let's ponder if broadcasting media is going a little too far in it's quest for being the first one up to break that news? Is a reporter with a camera and mike indeed misusing his position and unfailingly coming up with those unflattering queries that are not just far away from being decent but also below the belt? Is there a misplaced belief that a celebrity would revel in anything and everything written about him regardless of all boundaries being crossed? Let's explore 'Kya aapka XYZ heroine ke saath scene chal raha hai?' Ok, so it is expected that majority of film celebrities are immune to personal queries. Rightly so because actors are expected to carry their acting hat even while attending press conferences and other dos. Also, with advent of 200 news/entertainment channels, queries like these pretty much fill day in life of a celebrity. Par kab tak? Agreed that a star may be fine with such persistent queries but can he be expected to answer the same question with same emotion practically every hour? He or she is expected to become irritated at times, lose temper or just break down at a particular juncture. It's just human. The same happened to Katrina Kaif recently and one can't blame her for that. Now the same could also happen during an interview being conducted for the print media. However, there is still a margin for error there. A break down could result in an attempt for peace by both the parties. There is a possibility of a pause. There are stories that can be re-written. Questions could perhaps be drafted a little differently. Worse, the exchange of words - if at all - could be censored or totally eliminated. But does any of that work in broadcasting medium? Especially when what is being captured is broadcast live? A recorded conversation could still take a safer route but something which is live is for the keeps. So what does a celebrity do in that case? Clinch his fist and stay calm, continue to smile in front of the camera so that no awkward moments is there for millions to see, stay on to be polite despite the seething anger or act plain indifferent even though a query requires a rap on the knuckles? No wonder, any slip of tongue or twitch in an eyebrow results in a breaking news. Here is how! Yeah baby, that's breaking news for you A press conference is on. Stars have occupied the stage. And for that brief moment, the superstar out there happens to look the other way. Just for that single moment. Perhaps the one where he may have been called upon by someone. However, what he does for those 5 seconds turns out to be that breaking news which would keep the channel occupied for the next five hours. Here is how: 'Kya hero hai apne co-star se naraaz' 'Hero ne dikhayi apne co-star se berukhi' 'Hero aur heroine mein hui ansuni, raaz khula bhari media ke saamne' Those five seconds will now start appearing in repeat mode minute after minute with a running commentary spiced up with ingredients that would have been put together with every passing hour. There would be circles drawn around the hero's face. Statements appearing in bold with zoom in and out would occupy the screen while a vociferous voice be heard in the background around how stars are unhappy with each other. All due to the fact that someone out there perhaps screamed 'Hey superstar' from some distance out there. Of course, what is being stated above may or may not have really happened. However, what it aims at conveying is the reflection of the today's time when breaking news has intruded a celebrity's life in such a manner that there is absolutely nothing that is kept secret at all. But how about some decency in the manner a celebrity is approached? Are decency and respect for an individual passe? This is for the students who are reading this feature: Place: School/college assembly. Principal announcing on stage: 'Hey you XYZ, in your last couple of exams you didn't manage good marks. Don't you think you are a disgrace to your parents? And this is for the working professionals who are reading this feature: Place: An MNC get together with a thousand odd employees CEO, while addressing the crowd: 'Hey you XYZ, you have been an underperformer for last 18 months. Don't you think you deserve to be fired?' Now both these questions are perfectly fine as long as they are spoken to an individual in a 1-0-1 manner. But in public? Naah, certainly not and I am sure no one would want it that way. 'Bhari biraadari mein be-izzati? No ways!' But why do we secretly smile when a celebrity is questioned on these lines on camera? In public. For public. Live. 'Aapki pichli 4 filmein flop ho gayi hain. Kya aapko aisa nahi lagta ki aapki wajah se producers ko bahaut nuksaan ho raha hai?' Again, a valid question but does it deserve to be broadcast live? Can't there be a restraint where a recorded statement is made rather than a celebrity being put under the dock where he has just a couple of seconds to think about the reply? Or perhaps given an option where he opts not to reply? However, for a broadcasting professional, any of the three responses are good enough to make for that breaking news, just because the moment has been captured live! Celebrity says 'yes' to the question? Flash on TV - 'Superstar ne admit kiya ki unki wajah se producers hue barbaad' Celebrity says 'no' to the question? Flash on TV - 'Chaar flops dene ke baad bhi superstar ne kiya producers ki barbaadi se inkaar' Celebrity says 'nothing'? Flash on TV - 'Ghamand mein choor superstar ne media se feraa moon; kuch nahi tha kehne ko toh saadh li chuppi' Poor celebrity, in his next live interview, he would better opt for saying 'yes' or 'no'. It is still a better way out, isn't it? Just think!

One struggles to remember that in the current generation, when was the last time when a top line director managed to work with four top actresses in his first four films? Though one may continue to ponder over the thought, the fact remains that young Siddharth Anand could well be the lone man standing for that record. He started off with Preity Zinta when she was at the top of the game in Salaam Namaste followed it up with Rani Mukherjee in Ta Ra Rum Pum, soon moved to a rising star Deepika Padukone in Bachna Ae Haseeno and made a further progress with Priyanka Chopra in soon to be released Anjaana Anjaani. He must be considering himself one lucky director, isn't it? "Of course I do feel lucky", gleams lucky when told about this record, "Though when it comes to men, I have worked with Saif in my first two films and followed it up with Ranbir for my next two, I have worked with different leading ladies every time. Somehow I feel I have been spoilt with so much of luxury being made available to me." Siddharth truly believes that he has been fortunate to get a nod from each of the young women whenever he approached them for a part. "In my head, I have always been sure that who is the one suited most for the part. However, all credit to my girls for making their choice. After all they were more experienced that me and knew better if they suited the role or not. Also, they were the ones who had to think more on whether they would be pull off a role or not, as they are the ones who knew their strengths and limitations." Still, it appears that the adage of 'first choice nodding in agreement' proved true for Siddharth as he didn't have to face any challenges w.r.t. leading ladies agreeing to being a part of his projects. "I worked with all of them when they were doing wonderful in their career and could have opted to work with whomsoever they would have wanted", Siddharth says fondly, "Preity came into Salaam Namaste when she had just done Veer Zaara. Still, I had the belief that she would be able to pull off a role that was totally different from what she had done in the past. Then Rani came into Ta Ra Rum Pum in an all new chic avtar when she had played far more rooted roles in Bunty Aur Babli, Veer Zaara and Black." He continues, "Deepika had done Om Shanti Om and many filmmakers approached her with roles. Still, she worked in Bachna Ae Haseeno because she believed in it. As for Priyanka, she had Fashion and Dostana behind her. The world was at her feet. However, it was Anjaana Anjaani to which she gave a nod." When told about the lucky streak that Siddharth has been enjoying, producer Sajid Nadiadwala says with a laugh, "Well, that should only work for me and Anjaana Anjaani further. I have worked with Deepika (Housefull), Rani (Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega) and Preity (Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Jaan-E-Mann) in the past. Mujhse Shaadi Karogi with Priyanka had been a hit at the box office too. Now that she has stepped into Anjaana Anjaani, it should lead to double the celebrations with Siddharth's lucky streak added as well." Well, some men have all the luck!