Indian Bollywood Actress

India is at the top in the world in film making. About 900 films are made in India every year. Bollywood (Hindi Cinema) is the most important part of Indian film Industry. It is the largest film producer in India. People from various castes and religions like Punjabis, Sindhis, Gujaratis, South Indians etc. have contributed to this industry but the contribution of West Bengal is quite significant. Film makers like Satyajit Ray, an Academy Honorary Award Winner, the recipient of India and France's greatest civilian Honors, the Bharat Ratna and Legion of Honor, apart from many Bengali films has produced a few very successful Hindi movies like Sadgati, Shatranj Ke Khiladi to name a few. Other film makers from Bengal are Bimal Roy (Do Beegha Zameen, the story of an Indian farmer), Aparna Sen (36 Chouringhee Lane, her debut film as director won national and international awards) etc. Hrishikesh Mukherjee was another great asset to Bollywood from Bengal. He was the producer and Director of many Hindi films like Guddi, Anupama, Khoobsurat and Satyakaam to name a few.

Who can forget Bengali actors and actresses like Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Anoop Kumar, Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Saumitra Chatterjee (acted in many Satyajit Ray's films), Uttpal Dutt, Pradeep Kumar, Asit Sen, Suchitra Sen, Sharmila Tagore (Pataudi), Rakhi Biswas (Gulzar), Biswajit, Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan), Mausumi Chatterjee, Mithun Chakraborty, Rani Mukherji, Riya & Raima Sen, Bipasha Basu and Konkana Sen Sharma to name a few.

Who can forget the legendary Ashok Kumar? When he was young, he acted in films in the lead role. Later on he did remarkably well in character roles. Many of his films went on to become major hits like Achhoot Kanya, Kanoon, Mahal, Howrah Bridge, Gumrah, Aashirvad, Bahu Beti, Bahu Begam, Meherban to name just a few. He even sang in few films like Achhoot Kanya and Aashirvad. Ashok Kumar's younger brother Kishore Kumar was a great playback singer. His singing style is remembered even today. He was not only a great singer but a great Producer, Director Music Director and actor. In fact he was probably the first all rounder of the Hindi Film Industry. Who can imagine a film like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi without the three brothers namely Ashok, Kishore and Anoop or the memorable songs like "ek ladki bheegi bhagee si", "panch rupaiya baaraa aanaa" and the title song?

The contribution of Music Directors likes Sachin Dev Burman (S.D. Burman), Rahul Dev Burman (R. D. Burman, popularly known as Panchamda), Bhupen Hazarika, K.C.Dey and Pankaj Mallick from Bengal is noteworthy particularly in the world of Bollywood music world. No mention of Hindi film music can be complete without highlighting the contributions made by these stalwarts.

Playback singers like Kishore Kumar, Amit Kumar, Hemant Kumar (Mukherjee), Manna Dey, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Kumar Sanu, Shaan, etc. lent their velvety voices to Bollywood actors. Needless to say, it is impossible to imagine writing about bollywood songs, without mentioning the very significant contribution by these versatile singers. Each of these singers has a number of songs to their credit.

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Monica Malpass

Monica Malpass - AND THE BIG story on Action News last night, Monica Malpass revealed she's pregnant. The anchor, who turns 49 in April, announced on the 5 p.m. news that she's due in June.

A station source says Malpass told co-workers yesterday that she is carrying twins, though she did not mention twins on the air.

Maslpass has a son, Jake, 9, with real estate developer ex-husband David Cutler. No word on who the father is this time, but Malpass' wish for more children was no secret.

We reported in October 2006 that she and Eastern Auto Parts owner Steve Thorne had called off their four-month engagement, reportedly because they disagreed over whether to have children. Malpass wanted to; Thorne, who already had kids, did not.

Daniels gets Directors Guild nod

Wynnefield native filmmaker Lee Daniels is the first African-American to be nominated for a Directors Guild of America award, for "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire."

It's quite an honor for Daniels, who told us not long ago that "usually I make a movie and I expect it to go straight to DVD, so it's weird being received this way," of the praise for him and the film, which is as tremendous as it is harrowing.

Daniels, who produced "Monster's Ball" and "The Woodsman" and directed "Shadowboxer," is up against James Cameron for "Avatar," Quentin Tarantino for "Inglorious Basterds," Jason Reitman for "Up in the Air," and Kathryn Bigelow for the intense and suspenseful Iraq war film "The Hurt Locker." The 62nd annual DGA awards gala will be held Jan. 30.

On the topic of Daniels and awards, it was he who accompanied Mariah Carey last week at the Palm Springs International Film Festival when Carey made a silly, drunken acceptance speech for her Breakthrough Actress award for "Precious," in which she plays a social worker.

Afterward, Carey admitted to drinking champagne with Daniels, jokingly referring to the director as "a bad influence."

Bolaris makes out

Fox 29's John Bolaris loves the Flyers and tonsil hockey, too. The meteorologist was spotted making out with a 20-something brunette Friday night at Mad River (123 Chestnut) in Old City. Bolaris had a serious girlfriend for about a year, but they split over the summer, so he's back out there.

Carnie Wilson gets new show

"Carnie Wilson: Unstapled," starts Thursday on the Game Show Network. The singer and former Manayunk resident already hosts "The Newlywed Game" for GSN. Wilson, of Wilson Phillips, and a daughter of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, married Philly musician Rob Bonfiglio. The couple, who have two daughters, Lola and Luci, now live in Los Angeles.

Alyssa Milano in a David's gown

Alyssa Milano wore an Oleg Cassini gown exclusive to Conshohocken-based David's Bridal on last night's "Castle" on ABC.

Milano played a bride-to-be whose wedding is delayed following the mysterious death of one of her bridesmaids, and is also a former flame of the title character, a crime writer who helps the New York police solve crimes. The gown is available in white and ivory for $1,050.

'Bandstand' Bunny still dancin'

"Bandstand" dancer Bunny Gibson was among a dance ensemble on last night's episode of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother." Gibson says she's identifiable because as most of the dancers were in their 20s she was the one who "bounces up a little slower," after they all throw themselves to the ground. "But I'm glad I can still bounce," says Gibson, who was excited to meet the show's Jason Segel, whom she loved in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

Concert to honor Jack Rose

Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth will perform with Paul Flaherty and Chris Corsano at a tribute show honoring Jack Rose on Feb. 13 at the Latvian Society (531 N. 7th). The show doubles as a record-release party for "Luck in the Valley," the final album from Rose, an acoustic guitar virtuoso, who died Dec. 5 at 38. The album is out Feb. 23 on Thrill Jockey.

D. Charles Speer & The Helix, Meg Baird and Chris Forsyth and Rose's former band Pelt are also among musicians who will play at the show. All the artists performing were friends of Rose and musicians whom he admired. Tickets are $18 and will soon be available online at settingsuns.org/luckinthevalley.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.

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LINDSAY LOHAN TO WRITE MEMOIR

LINDSAY LOHAN is set to tell all about her life and career - she's writing her autobiography.
The Mean Girls actress is piecing together her life story for the new book, documenting her rise to fame as well as her chaotic personal life.

She tells Britain's OK! magazine, "I write a lot and it's very therapeutic for me because then I can see what's happening on paper. I've started writing a book. It's going to take a while, all my life experiences. I started writing it a year ago. There's a lot to put down, you know?

LINDSAY LOHAN RUMORS - enjoyed her last two stints in rehab, comparing the visits to "a vacation".
The Mean Girls star has checked into treatment programs on three separate occasions, beginning with a stay in a clinic in 2007 while subsequent visits were court-ordered.
But Lohan insists she made the most out of rehab by meeting new people and relaxing.

She tells Britain's OK! magazine, "The second two times I went to rehab, I had to go because it was a court thing. It was an obligation. I had to do it to stay out of getting any jail time. And I took responsibility for that. And it was like a vacation.

"I love meeting new people and seeing what they've been experiencing. That's what I go through in different characters. And I met some great people. It was a nice time to shut everyone off for a while because there was so much noise... It was a positive experience. When I was there it was like, there's a lot of people that I know who should really be here now, not for drugs or alcohol abuse - just to learn about life. The world is nuts."

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