M F Hussain passes away in London

Renowned Indian painter Maqbool Fida Hussain, who lived the last five years of his life in exile, died of heart attack in London on Thursday morning. He was 95.

According to agency reports, Hussain died at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital at 2.30 am.

In his long and illustrious career as a painter, M F Hussain brought global recognition to Indian art. He was even described by Forbes magazine as the “Picasso of India”. He was doubtlessly the highest earning painter of India, with one painting of his even fetching $2 million at a Christie’s auction.

However, in the mid 1990s Hussain angered a section of Hindu community by painting the nude images of Hindu goddesses.

Beleaguered with legal cases and even death threats, Maqbool Fida Hussain went into a self imposed exile in 2006 and never returned to India again. In January 2010, he even accepted the citizenship of Qatar.

But in one of his last interviews, Hussain said that his heart would always remain in India.

M F Hussain also directed a few Hindi films -- Gajagamini and Meenaxi - A Tale of Three Cities with actresses Madhuri Dixit and Tabu respectively. His cinematic style was often criticized as too poetically theatrical. Hussain also painted the canvases of Madhuri Dixit -- his muse for a long time -- and Tabu and Amrita Rao.

Rest In Peace, Maqbool Fida Hussain.

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Rajinikanth’s next film with KS Ravikumar is ready to rock and roll. A colossal set has reportedly been erected at the AVM Studios and all is in readiness for the shoot. The first schedule will begin on May 1st. Some crucial scenes and a dance sequence with Deepika Padukone will be canned.

The director wants to preserve the surprise elements in the film, so access cards have been issued to crew members so that only select personnel may gain admission to the set. This move is likely to increase an already inflated interest in Rana, a hundred fold.

Deepika will sport a brand new look for this film and will epitomize the Southern beauty. Tabu will be paired up against the patriarch character and Ileana will be the other leading lady. Sonu Sood, who has become famous for his bad guy act in Arundhati and Dabangg, will be the villain in Rana. Interestingly, the actor did a small role and was in a fight sequence with Superstar in Chandramukhi.

"Rana" to hit floors on May 1st

Rajinikanth’s next film with KS Ravikumar is ready to rock and roll. A colossal set has reportedly been erected at the AVM Studios and all is in readiness for the shoot. The first schedule will begin on May 1st. Some crucial scenes and a dance sequence with Deepika Padukone will be canned.

The director wants to preserve the surprise elements in the film, so access cards have been issued to crew members so that only select personnel may gain admission to the set. This move is likely to increase an already inflated interest in Rana, a hundred fold.

Deepika will sport a brand new look for this film and will epitomize the Southern beauty. Tabu will be paired up against the patriarch character and Ileana will be the other leading lady. Sonu Sood, who has become famous for his bad guy act in Arundhati and Dabangg, will be the villain in Rana. Interestingly, the actor did a small role and was in a fight sequence with Superstar in Chandramukhi.

Shashi, Waheeda honoured with Padma Bhushan titles

Bollywood veterans Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman and actresses Tabu and Kajol are among the cine artistes chosen for the 2011 Padma awards announced today, with the country's second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, going to Telugu thespian A Nageshwara Rao.

Yesteryears superstars Kapoor, 72, and Rehman, 74, along with 83-year-old music composer Khayyam, have been conferred with the Padma Bhushan, with Rao, 86, being honoured with the Vibhushan.

Kajol, 35, Tabu, 40, along with Irrfan Khan, 48, and singer Usha Uthup, 63, will receive a Padma Shri.

Kannada filmmakers Girish Kasaravalli, 61, and Malayalam director Shaji Karun, 59, have been honoured with the Padma Shri.

Playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, 64, has been chosen for a Padma Bhushan.

Padma Shri honour goes to Kajol

Talented Bollywood actress Kajol, and versatile actors Tabu and Irrfan Khan were named for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour on the eve of Republic Day Tuesday.

Daughter of veteran actress Tanuja and late Bengali filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, Kajol made her Bollywood debut with not so successful movie Bekhudi in 1992 at the age of 17.

But the 35-year-old tasted commercial success with her second outing Baazigar where she shared the screen with Shah Rukh Khan for the first time and after that there was no looking back for the actress. She gave hit after hit like Karan Arjun, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and most recently My Name Is Khan. Kajol is married to Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn and they have two children.

Tabu isn't ready to play "Mother" roles

Tabu has a reputation of being apprehensive about signing films. Recently she refused to play the role of a mother in Shekar Suman's directorial debut Heartless, which stars Shekhar's son Adhyayan in the lead.

A source tells us, "Shekhar was very keen to have Tabu play Adhyayan's mother in the film. However, she wasn't enthusiastic about mothering a 23-year old."

When contacted, Suman confirmed, "Well, Tabu told me that she wasn't ready. Now whether that meant that she wasn't ready to play mother or that she didn't have dates, I wouldn't know."

The director went on to say that he even narrated the storyline to Tabu. He added, "I wasn't ready with the script then.

However, she was clear that she didn't want to do it. I feel she should have considered the role as it requires her to play a very young mother."

Following Tabu's refusal to sign on the dotted line, Suman's search to find an actress to play Adhyayan's mother continues.

The source explains, "The role is still up for grabs. Shekhar has zeroed down on a couple of names but nothing is finalised yet.

At this point of time, Shekhar is very disappointed that Tabu rejected his offer." Tabu remained unavailable for comment.