Shilpa Shetty's British TV Connections

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is in talks to join the cast of award-winning English TV soap opera "EastEnders".                                                                                 

The "Celebrity Big Brother" winner, 33, has been tipped to play a member of a new Indian family later this year on the show, reports the Daily Mail online.

"'EastEnders' would be the springboard to long-term success in Britain and that is very much in Shilpa's sights. She knows all about the show as it is a big hit in her homeland and of course it is popular with a lot of Indians in the UK, " said a source.

Shilpa was initially offered a role in the BBC soap in 2007 but she turned it down.

The actress has been spending increasing amounts of time in Britain since winning the reality show two years ago and recently bought a 10 million pounds mansion in Weybridge, Surrey with her London-based beau Raj Kundra.

On a personal note, writing on her blog Shilpa Shetty says she has "learnt a lot" from her former "Celebrity Big Brother" housemate Jade Goody who died of cancer March 22.

"Two years ago we were bickering and fighting on television and now when I look back it all seems so futile because she's not even there, " Shilpa told www.thetimes.co.za. here when asked how she felt about Goody's death. 

"Life is so unpredictable, may her soul rest in peace. I have no grudges, we patched up and became great friends, " added the winner of the British reality TV show.

At the time of Shilpa's win, many had said it was because she had won sympathy from voters after being seen as the victim of alleged racism.

In the video interview to the South African website, Shilpa also spoke about her impatience with long cricket games and being stopped at an Indian airport because there was a criminal charge against her pending for kissing Hollywood star Richard Gere in public.

"The funniest thing was, I was leaving the country and they stopped me at the Indian airport because I had a criminal case! I don't want to give it too much importance. It's still pending. There are so many cases it takes time for the case to be heard, " she said

Calling the pending case in a Rajasthan court the work of "a lunatic fringe", the actress said Gere would still be her first choice as co-star if she had to choose someone from Hollywood.

"I've always liked Richard (Gere). I like him more as a person. I'd take his name first."

The actress was here over the weekend to support her Rajasthan Royals team for the Indian Premier League (IPL) which starts in South Africa April 18.

Refusing to name a favourite player, Shilpa said: "Whoever makes the most runs and gets the most wickets for the Rajasthan Royals becomes my favourite player. It gives them some incentive!"

Admitting to being a huge fan of Twenty20 cricket, Shilpa said she had never had the patience to watch a whole match.

"I've always been a very impatient person so even when I'm reading a book I always read the last chapters and the same with cricket, I always watch the last 20 overs."

India's New Face For Barbie Doll : Katrina

Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Rai has declined to be immortalised as a Barbie doll, due to her professional commitments.

It was earlier reported that representatives of the 35-year-old actress were in negotiations with Barbie's manufacturer Mattel, who planned to give the iconic doll a Bollywood face. But the deal did not take off.

Yet again on the doll's 50th anniversary, Aishwarya was approached to appear decked up as a celebrity Barbie. 

"Mattel was keen to have the actress walk the ramp on Lakme Fashion Week 'Barbie dolled up' in a winning design as Single Likeness Barbie, which would be unveiled and auctioned for a charity of her choice, " said a statement issued by Aishwarya's spokesperson.

However, the actress opted out due to her prior commitments as she did not want to cause inconvenience to the film- makers she was working with by taking time out for the event. 

But Ash's loss was Katrina's gain. Kaif is the Indian face of Barbie and she walked the ramp at the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week earlier on Friday morning marking Barbie's 50 birthday.

Mattel Inc's Barbie, on Friday kickstarted Mumbai's premier fashion event--the Lakme India Fashion Week 2009--with designers and models bringing the world's most iconic doll to life in Barbie-like looks and outfits.

After taking the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week by storm last month, Mattel had invited Indian designers to a contest, asking them to create designs for the doll as their muse.

The show called "BarbieAll Dolld Up!" is the style icon's first in India and showcased life-size, Barbie-inspired looks, which were put together by designers like Wendell Rodricks, Neeta Lulla, Sonam Mehta, Shantanu & Nikhil, Jyoti Sharma, Vikram Phadnis and others.

The winning design by Nishka Lulla will be replicated on the actual doll this year itself. "There are plans to replicate the winning design on the doll within six months or so. It will definitely be this year and the doll will be a Katrina Kaif look- alike," a Mattel India spokesperson said.

The show-stopper, Katrina Kaif, was dressed in Lulla's winning design, which was a multi-hued mini dress, with an Indian twist. 

Katrina is delighted with the honour, more so because a Barbie doll bearing likeness to the Bollywood actress is in the pipeline and will come as a great surprise to the world sometime soon. “Every girl at some point of time in her childhood has played with a Barbie doll,” admitted Katrina, “and so have I. She makes a sweet, fun and lively companion.”

Is Sonam Kapoor Dating Abhay Deol ?

If the latest rumours are to be believed our Masakali girl Sonam Kapoor is showing keen interest in modern Dev D Abhay Deol. The duo have been spending quality time together over the last few weeks. Even though it is early to predict where this friendship is going, sources reveal the two revel in each other's company.

Sonam was the first one to enter and the last one to leave at Abhay's birthday bash on Sunday (March 15) . According to a source, the bash was only for Abhay's non-filmi friends.

"As there was no one from Bollywood, the duo were completely relaxed and did not mind being spotted together," informs a source.

Also, Abhay was among one of the few personal guests invited by Sonam at the Delhi-6 premiere.

We also hear that their 'friendship' is ssoon turning professional as well. The duo would also sizzle in Anil Kapoor's production Ayesha, based on Jane Austen's novel Emma. Apparently, Sonam had recommended Abhay's name for the role of one of the leads in this three-hero project.

She has always liked Abhay's choice of movies.

Rare Photos Of Preity Zinta

Cute Preity

Preity:I have always seen myself as a glamorous girl

Preity Zinta’s Deepa Mehta directed Heaven On Earth is releasing coming Friday in it’s Hindi version titled Videsh. The film is a film about young girls who get married abroad not knowing what will follow in their lives.                                                             

Women abuse has become a part of many of these womens’ lives. Preity tells us that when she is old and retired she can look back and feel proud to say that she had been a part of a film like Videsh. 

“I have put my heart and soul into it. If people don’t appreciate me I will not be dejected and see to it that I work harder and make people appreciate my work.” says the dimpled actress.

Preity tells us, “For the last ten years I have seen myself as a glamorous and modern girl. I have wanted to do something different and which will take me to a different level. 

It’s a full bodied role. It’s like an onion peel which unearths new layers when you peel off the cover. It took me into altogether a different zone and power of the mind something that I had never imagined about. 

As a race we Indians are fantastic but at times there are certain things we brush under the carpet. We as women who are individuals with our own rights should stand up and fight against it.”

But was it difficult for someone like her who has been a regular in commercial cinema? “Well you can’t forget that my first film was about a teenage girl who is an unwed mother. 

If the job is put in front of me I have to shoulder it. It’s my responsibility and not a burden. During shooting we often take strong cinematic liberties and a little of surrealism. The film is a slice of someone else’s life. 

Chand my character has to get out of her abused life and use her inspiration to go forge ahead. This film does not take too many liberties.” Preity replies.

You are working opposite a complete raw actor in the film, Vansh Bharadwaj. How difficult or easy was it? “See, I don’t take a film thinking where it is going to take me. No star would take up role thinking that it will take him places.

Being the kind of film it is I don’t think any star would take up Rocky’s role (that’s Vansh’s character in the film). Established stars would come with an image and would not be able to perform the role with the same passion. I am proud of the film.” she concludes.