A Virgin Mary-themed urinal? Only in China.

A Virgin Mary-themed urinal? Only in China.
Tue, 07/10/2007 - 10:43am.

Anyone who has traveled to the Middle Kingdom would agree that the country's public restroom facilities leave a lot to be desired. Well, in Chongqing, a city of 31 million people in south-central China, they've had enough. Not content with the rudimentary squat units found everywhere in China, the city has pursued some innovative ideas that are meant to make the experience not just easier, but a little more fun.

First came round, open air urinals on the city's infamous "Foreigners Street," featuring tiny waist screens that left little to the imaginations of passers-by. Then came news of outdoor sinks, pictured at right, that made the hand-washing experience, um, different. Now comes news that the city has opened the world's largest restroom. The four-story, 1,000-stall facility features TVs, a soothing soundtrack piped throughout, crocodile- and Virgin Mary-themed urinals, and stalls with no roofs for those who prefer to relieve themselves al fresco. Says a local government official:

We are spreading toilet culture.... After they use the bathroom [people] will be very, very happy.

  

Heyy Babyy: A heady mix

Heyy Babyy: A heady mix
Smriti Kiran, Friday, July 20, 2007, Sydney

Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan, cheekily referred to as 'the studly and the soulful' is hardly an onscreen pair that leaps out of the page. But they are shaking it up for Sajid Khan's debut film Heyy Babyy.

If you thought they went together as well as rasam and masala chai, it's not surprising.

Whether it was the onscreen banter, the endless stream of pranks, the crazy onscreen situations they got to enjoy, Bollywood's hot new jodi are ready to make audiences say hey baby.

The tagline may as well tell you that Vidya is the woman who makes the three grown men cry. She did that off screen as well, though through tears of laughter.

It was double the fun for Vidya with a brand new look to enjoy. Comedy is never as easy as it looks, except when you are surrounded by a bunch of comedians.

We are not even talking about their roles in the film where, it must be said Akshay's Arush has met his match with Vidya's Isha, so watch the sparks fly.

Vidya Balan enthralls with new look

Vidya Balan enthralls with new look
Smriti, Swati, Friday, July 27, 2007, Mumbai

She lured countless people with her on screen simplicity and innocence when Vidya Balan created waves in Parineeta and subsequently Lage Raho Munnabhai she was all but tagged the girl next door.

In her next film, Heyy Baby she looks and acts different and it is designer Manish Malhotra who has helped Vidya evolve.

The timeless charm of Madhubala, the ethereal beauty of Meena Kumari - it was these legends that Vidya Balan was compared to when she first burst onto the screen, an actress who seemed to belong to a time gone by until now.

If old world charm can take you only so far then it's time for a quick makeover which Vidya got in hey baby where she is for the first time cool and contemporary.

"The image or the imagery that Parineeta created was so strong that in spite of the fact that I have done other films, where it has not been completely Indian, people spoke about Parineeta.

"I think in that sense this is going to be, I don't want to call it the next departure but I do feel its really different for me. It works for me. It works for us. So I think it should work for others. It would be a fresh lease of life. At least people will stop telling me you know we want you to look different," said Vidya Balan, Actress.

Now if you want to shift gears altogether, turn the image around. If you are looking to grab some global glam then designer Manish Malhotra is your man.

"I think the character here is basically that she is intelligent, educated. She lives in Australia and she has turmoil in her life. She is not a character that she is wearing short skirts, sexy clothes, bikini and halter tops which Vidya loves wearing. She loves exposure.

"I had to tell her no Vidya no short skirts. I had to beg her for that and she said no I want to wear these hot clothes but we said no. So we worked on the whole look according to the character and that actually is a bit tougher. Simplicity is more difficult to do than ornate stuff," said Manish Malhotra, Fashion Designer.

Well we will know it works when she hits the screen. Fans will whistle and say, what else, Heyy Baby!

Bachchans in Sarkar sequel

Bachchans in Sarkar sequel
Radhika Iyer, Saturday, July 28, 2007, Hyderabad

Its family bonding at its best, the junior Bachchans and the big B all rolled into one action-packed film that's a sequel to Ram Gopal Varma's hit Sarkar

While shooting for the film at a hospital in Hyderabad, the three took some time off their busy schedules and spent time with cancer patients.

The Bachchan brigade along with director Ram Gopal Varma were shooting at the Kaminini hospital in Hyderabad.

Though the sets remained out of bounds for the media, the stars did spend some time with cancer patients in the hospital

The three will also embark on a world tour together sometime next year.

Dutt sentenced for six years

Dutt sentenced for six years
NDTV Correspondent, Tuesday, July 31, 2007, Mumbai

Actor Sanjay Dutt has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegal possession of arms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Last November he had been convicted for the illegal possession of a 9 mm pistol and an AK 56.

While delivering the last batch of sentences in the 1993 blasts trial, Judge Kode said that the actor's possession of these weapons was an imminently dangerous act and that he showed scant respect for the law.

Dutt's bail was immediately cancelled and he was taken into custody right away. He has been fined a sum of Rs 25,000.

He will be kept at the Arthur Road jail. Although he asked for some time to surrender, the prosecution opposed this.

Dutt will now be kept in the same cell as his associate and co-convict Yusuf Nalwalla. However, Dutt's lawyers said that they will appeal in the Supreme Court.

Soon after the verdict was pronounced Dutt asked the judge to be allowed to call his daughter.

Earlier, the judge had refused the probation report of Dutt and other accused Yusuf Nullwala and Kersi Adajania.

Dutt: I honestly thought I would get the benefit of probation. I have to wind up a few things.

Judge Kode: Don't get upset. I have got a duty to do. This is not the final court.

Dutt: You are like family to us.

Judge Kode:This is a momentary thing. You can appeal in a higher court.

He also said that Dutt committed the offence and also made others do so. He further observed that Dutt made Nullwala an offender by making him destroy the weapon.

"Sanjay with folded hands asked the court that considering his past record he should be given a few days to put in an appeal in the SC. However we opposed this plea. The TADA court accepted our argument and rejected his bail plea," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.

Nullwala has been sentenced to five years in prison while Kersi gets two years in jail.

One of the aides of Sanjay Dutt, Russi Mulla who was also accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case has been let off by the special TADA court.

Mulla will be given probation on surety of Rs 1 lakh and will be under observation for a year.

The trial in the Mumbai serial blasts case finally came to an end with all 100 convicted being sentenced. The serial blasts on March 12, 1993 had killed 257 people.

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