Thursday, June 11, 2009

Amitabh wax statue showcased at IIFA Macau

Amitabh Bachchan wax statue showcased at IIFA Macau









Macau, June 11 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's wax figure, which was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds museum in New York last month, has been especially flown in to be showcased at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards event here.

Amitabh's wax figure, dressed in a traditional black sherwani suit with a heavily embroidered gold and black shawl, is the first figure to be part of Madame Tussauds New York's all-new Bollywood Zone.

The wax figure was placed in the centre of the green carpet on the first day of the event.

Celebrities, dignitaries as well as members of the audience grabbed a chance to pose with the statue, which will be here for three days. The IIFA, which began Thursday, will end Saturday.

Amitabh, who is IIFA brand ambassador, and his son Abhishek as well as daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai too posed with the statue as they walked the IIFA green carpet.

You are amazing, Peter Andre tells Amitabh Bachchan

You are amazing, Peter Andre tells Amitabh Bachchan
By Radhika Bhirani

Macau, June 11 (IANS) Australian singer Peter Andre, who is here for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, is bowled over by Amitabh Bachchan's baritone and told the megastar that he is "amazing".

"I was unbelievably impressed with some of the speeches people gave. You sir (looking and pointing at Amitabh)... have such an amazing way of speaking and making everyone listen... you have a fantastic voice. Sir, you are just amazing," Andre said at a press conference here Thursday.

The 36-year-old singer, who became a known name post the success of his song "Mysterious Girl", is the only international star to perform at the 10th year celebrations of IIFA. Andre will perform two songs - "Mysterious Girl" and one from his latest albums at the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza Friday.

Andre is hoping that he will be able to keep "audiences in" with his performance.  

Abhishekh with Aishwarya Rai in IIFA Awards Function


Bollywood actor Ashwariya Rai Bachchan with her father arrive in Macau for IIFA Awards Function at The Venetian Macao.

IIFA Opening ceremony Amitabh Bachchan

IIFA Opening ceremony hosts Amitabh Bachchan

Bollywood actor and ambassador of the IIFA Amitabh Bachchan receives a souvenir during the opening news conference of the IIFA at Venetian Macao in Macau on June 11, 2009.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Make a bald style statement this summer

Make a bald style statement this summer

New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan's bald look in his upcoming home production "Paa" might be just a make-up gimmick, but several others are opting for the bald look this summer to keep cool.

"It is a very convenient hair style for men as they look very cool and stylish. To beat the heat this look becomes very popular in the summer," hair stylist Sylvie told IANS.

This is not the first time that Bollywood stars are creating waves because of their bald look. Earlier Aamir Khan had gone semi-bald for the movie "Ghajini" and Salman Khan for "Tere Naam".

Ajay Ahlawat, 27, has been donning this look for more than two years now.

"I was bored of my regular hair style and I wanted a change. To go bald was a bold and impulsive decision but I am happy that the style suited me hence I am in no mood now to grow my hair back," explained Ahlawat, a software professional.

Hair stylist and make-up artist Kaajee Rai agrees with Ahlawat and says that most of the men who go for this clean-shaven look are bored of their regular hairstyle.

This trend is not new but earlier it was only restricted to the bad guys of Bollywood.

For "Shaan" Kulbhushan Kharbanda went bald. Anupam Kher, late Amrish Puri, director Rakesh Roshan and his brother Rajesh Roshan are the other bald celebrities.

"Earlier bald was only associated with bad people but this perception has changed and bald now means sexy," Rai said.

Interestingly, unlike other hair cuts where the shape of the face determines which cut one should opt for, in this case one should know the shape of his head before one goes bald.

"This look goes best with people with an egg-shaped head or a round head. If your head is flat then you should avoid it completely because it can look disastrous," Sylvie maintained.

"Also people should make sure that their head doesn't have any scar marks and is very clean because only then does the style look trendy," Sylvie added.

According to Mumbai-based Bollywood stylist Pompy Hans, apart from the shape of the head, one should also keep one's body structure in mind before going for this look.

"If you are lean then the bald look is a big no-no. One should have broad shoulders and a good body structure to carry off this look with poise and confidence," Hans told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

The bald look also requires maintenance as one has to shave one's hair on a regular basis.

"One should make sure that one is using disposable blades and razors to avoid any infection and to maintain the clean look, shave regularly," Sylvie explained.

Mumbai-based celebrity stylist Shivram K Bhandary, popularly known as Shiva, says that the men who are losing their hair go for the bald look and then call it their style statement.

"Who doesn't like to have hair? But when your hair growth is depleting then you have no other option but to go bald. An unhealthy lifestyle and pollution has resulted in excessive hair fall and going bald has come as a rescuer," averred Shiva whose client� includes Shaan, Madhur Bhandarkar and Ismail Darbar among others.