Water makes stir in Oscar despite losing out!

NRI film director Deepa Mehta's Water, finally lost out to Germany's The Lives of Others for an Oscar. In the Best Foreign Film category, but not before it won the hearts of thousands present. Despite the coveted prestige going to the dazzling first feature from German writer and director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the New York Times happened to say, "Win or lose at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, one contender - Deepa Mehta's ‘Water’, a nominee for best foreign-language film will already have scored its greatest triumph simply by existing."

Built over a period of 11 years amidst controversy galore, Water - a film on the plight of Hindu widows in the backdrop of Varanasi, also benefited from a change in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rules this year that allows a foreign-language entry to be in a different language from its country of origin, as long as the "creative talent of that country exercised artistic control". Mehta and producer David Hamilton Canadians, and the film qualified as Canada's official entry

After Madhuri, its comeback for the sensational Sri Devi.

Coming close on the heels of the much-in-news comeback of MadhuriiDixit, is the long-waited comeback of versatile actress Sridevi, albeit with husband Boney Kapoor's film. While taks about her comeback always done the rounds, including a film with Yash Raj banner, the final breakthrough came after her scintillating performance at the Filmfare awards, which showcased that none of her versatility and agility has waned in the gaping years.

It is heard that apart from Boney, two huge production houses have already designed projects highlighting Sridevi's indomitable star power.

Penelope Cruz has a secret desire !!

Oscar nominated Spanish actress Penelope Cruz has expressed her willingness to work with, hold your breath …... Shah Rukh Khan !! The beautiful actress is very keen on Indian movies and expressed her respect for the Indian megastar's great body of work.

"I am a great fan of Indian cinema and I would love to work with Shah Rukh Khan," she told the press at the 3rd Annual Global Green pre-Oscar party held at the Avalon in Hollywood, California. Very soon, Cruz is coming to India to shot for the film based on Javier Moro's original novel "Passion India".

Big sister Shilpa Shetty returns to Bollywood !!

After her successful win at the celebrated (and much debated) 'Big Brother' show, Shilpa Shetty has many things in her hand. One hand, Shilpa will soon launch a perfume in her name in the UK, after which she will begin writing her cookery book; while on the films' side, she will complete her shooting for Anurag Basu's Metro and Anil Sharma's APNE and simultaneously take a call on the various film offers that have come her way after her international fame.

It matters the most - the Filmfare awards !!

Despite the number of film awards ceremony rocking Mumbai every year, the one that holds a special place is indeed the pioneering Filmfare Awards. This year, while the best talents for the year 2006 were awarded, the main attraction remained the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon the stalwarts of Hindi movie - Jaya Bachchan, Yash Chopra and Javed Akhtar.

Among others, Rang de Basanti won the Best Film award, while its Director Rakeysh Mehra won the Best Director trophy. Hrithik Roshan won the Best Actor award for Dhoom-2, while Kajol, making a comeback, bagged the Best Actress award for Fanaa. Abhishek Bachchan won the best supporting actor award for Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Konkona Sen Sharma the best supporting actress for Omkara. Best comic actor award went to Arshad Warsi for Lage Raho Munnabhai while Saif Ali Khan got the best actor in a negative role award for Omkara.