Rajpal Yadav

Name: Rajpal Yadav
First Film : Mast











BIOGRAPHY

Rajpal Yadav is an Indian Actor in Hindi films. He is a talented character actor who is known for his eccentric comedy and violent roles. Yadav often works in films produced by Ram Gopal Varma. Films that brought him recognition are Jungle, Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Chandni Bar, Company, Road, Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon and Main Meri Patni Aur Woh.

Raju Srivastav

Name: Raju Srivastav












BIOGRAPHY

Raju Srivastav (sometimes also spelt Srivastava or Shrivastav) is an Indian comedian, and one of the hosts of The Comedy Show ha ha ha. Raju was born in Kanpur on 25th december 1963, India, and came to Mumbai to pursue a childhood dream of becoming an actor in Bollywood. He has a flair for comedy and has donned a number of roles in Hindi movies(for example, he can be seen in the Shahrukh Khan film "Baazigar" as Shilpa Shetty enters her college,soon after her introduction in the movie), television and in stage shows with some of the biggest showmen of the Hindi movie industry. He was also associated with the Indian comic icon Johnny Lever as an important troop member, and made his name as a very talented mimicry artist. Raju is among the most popular comics appearing on The Comedy Show ha ha ha and its associated programmes. He also appears in The Great Indian Laughter.

Rakesh Roshan

Name: Rakesh Roshan
Birthday: Tuesday, September 06, 1949
Address: Bombay, Maharashtra, India
First Film : Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani









BIOGRAPHY

Rakesh Roshan has his own production company and has been producing Hindi movies since 1982. His son, Hrithik Roshan is an actor, and was launched by his father in his debut film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. He is known in India for having directed Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000) and Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), both of which starred Hrithik. He directed the sequel to Koi... Mil Gaya, titled Krrish again starring his son, Hrithik Roshan which is due for release in June 2006.

Rakhee Gulzar

Name: Rakhee Gulzar
Birthday: Friday, August 15, 1947
Star Sign : Leo
















BIOGRAPHY

Rakhee Gulzar (born August 15, 1947 in India), also known as Raakhee, is an Indian Bollywood actress. Gulzar's career spans from the 1970s to the present. Her main claim to fame was the 1971 film Sharmilee starring opposite Shashi Kapoor. She has since starred in many more blockbuster films most notably starring opposite Amitabh Bachchan in Kabhie Kabhie, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Trishul and Kaalaa Pathar. Bizzarely in 1982 she played the mother of Amitabh Bachchan's character in Shakti which had Dilip Kumar playing her husband. Towards the 80s and 90s she often played supporting roles usually playing a mother in Baazighar, Karan Arjun, Soldier and Baadshah. In 2001 she once again starred opposite Amitabh in Ek Rishta: The Bond of Love. She is married to famous art director Sampooran Singh Gulzar. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003. This article about an Indian actor or actress is a stub. You can help WikiProject Indian cinema by expanding it.

Ram Gopal Varma

Name: Ram Gopal Varma
Birthday: Saturday, April 07, 1962
Star Sign : Aries
First Film : Shiva









BIOGRAPHY

Ram Gopal Varma (born April 7, 1962) is an Indian film director, writer and film producer from Andhra Pradesh. He is popular for his slick, grisly films and his penchant for horror and the mafia. He owns a production house which churns out a good number of bollywood films every year, with lukewarm success. His most successful movies include Rangeela, Satya, Shiva and Company. Ram Gopal Varma shook the whole nation with Rangeela and Tamil Nadu with Udayam Ram Gopal Varma was born to Krishnam Raju and Suryamma. He did his Engineering from Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada before taking up a career initially as the owner of a video shop and then become one of India's leading film directors. He was not very regular to classes and an average student. He was known more as a big movie buff during his college days and used to analytically watch the move from a director's point of view through repeatitive viewing. He and his uncle were crazy about movies and would skip classes to watch them in spite of beatings from his mother. He used to get very excited each time he saw the ‘Directed by’ and ‘A Film by’ title card. When he was watching the title card of Sholay that said ‘A Film by Ramesh Sippy’, he had the same passion that he felt when he saw his own name on the title card of the film Udayam. There was no support from his family. Even his uncle thought he was crazy. Ram Gopal Varma believes that there is currently more talent in Mumbai than in the southern movie cities. He claims that he has no bad habits. He doesn’t believe that alcohol is a bad habit. He loves directors Steven Spielberg, Shekhar Kapoor, Govind Nihlani and others. But he doesn’t have any influences. He has his own style. He doesn’t bother with reviews. He says, “Why should I worry about what the faceless reviewer thinks about my film? If he doesn’t like it, there is nothing that I could do about it.”

Ramesh Sippy

Name: Ramesh Sippy
Birthday: Monday, November 24, 1947
Star Sign : Sagittarius
Family: G.P.Sippy
First Film : Andaz








BIOGRAPHY

Ramesh Sippy is an Indian film director, best known for the popular and critically acclaimed film Sholay (Flames). His father was producer G.P. Sippy, and his son Rohan Sippy is also a film director. Ramesh was into films from an early age. He used to visit the sets of the film Sazaa, his father's first film, when he was 6 years old. Ramesh's first film job came when he was 9 years old, when he played Achala Sachdev's son in Shahenshah. He worked in both the production and direction departments in films like Johar-Mehmood in Goa and Mere Sanam, which his father was producing. He worked for 7 years as an assistant before becoming the director of Andaaz, in 1969. Altough this was only a moderate success, his second film Seeta Aur Geeta was highly successful. He also directed a successful television serial Buniyaad.

Ranbir Kapoor

Name: Ranbir Kapoor
Birthday: Tuesday, September 28, 1982











BIOGRAPHY

Ranbir Kapoor (born September 28, 1982) is an upcoming actor in Bollywood. He comes from a very well-known legendary film clan. He is the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. He is the brother of Riddhima Kapoor. His great grandfather was Prithviraj Kapoor, his grandfather was Raj Kapoor, his granduncles are Shashi Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor, his uncles are Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor and his cousins are Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Shivani Kapoor and Nikhil Nanda. (see main article Kapoor Family). Rishi Kapoor confirmed at the Zee Cine Awards that Ranbir Kapoor will make his debut with Anil Kapoor's daughter Sonam Kapoor under Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is titled Saawariya.

Randhir Kapoor

Name: Randhir Kapoor
Birthday: Saturday, February 15, 1947











BIOGRAPHY

Randhir Kapoor is a Bollywood actor of yesteryear. The eldest son of Raj Kapoor and his wife Krishna Kapoor, Randhir is also separated from the actress Babita. The couple are parent of two daughters, Karishma and Kareena, both are bollywood actresses.
His grandfather (Prithviraj Kapoor), his father (Raj Kapoor) and his two paternal uncles (Shammi & Shashi), his wife (Babita), and his two brothers (Rishi & Rajiv) have all been film stars over the last fifty years and his daughters (Karisma & Kareena) have been acting in Bollywood flicks keeping it all within the family.

Became a grandfather in March, 2005 when his daughter, Karisma Kapoor, gave birth to a baby girl, Samiera.

Rani Mukherjee

Name: Rani Mukherjee
Birthday: Tuesday, March 21, 1978
Star Sign : Aries
Family: father-Ram Mukherjee
First Film : Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat








BIOGRAPHY

Rani made her debut in Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat in 1996. The film did not do well at the box-office. However, her next two movies, Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai were both 1998 hits. She has since appeared in hits like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Saathiya (2002), Chalte Chalte (2003), Hum Tum (2004), and Veer-Zaara (2004). She has also performed in Shahrukh Khan's touring stage show, Temptations 2004, as a prominent member of an all-star lineup. In 2005, she worked with the biggest production houses and banners: Black, Bunty aur Babli and The Rising. These three movies were amongst the top ten grossers of the year. Paheli, while only moderately successful, was India's official entry to the 2006 Oscars. In February 2005, Filmfare Magazine published her face among the "Ten Most Powerful Names of Bollywood"; she was the only woman to receive such an honor. She was ranked eighth on the Power List in February 2006, configuring the highest ranking for a woman. Rani was also ranked number one in the Filmfare Top Ten Actresses' listing both years, 2004 and 2005.

Raveena Tandon

Name: Raveena Tandon
Birthday: Monday, October 26, 1970
Star Sign : Libra
Family: Father, Ravi Tandon (Director)
Address: 1401, Shivkutir Apts, Near Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053
First Film : Patthar Ka Phool






BIOGRAPHY

Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1970 at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian actor, daughter of director Ravi Tandon. Raveena got her name from a combination of her father's name Ravi and mother's name Veena. Her first film Patthar Ka Phool (1991) was a flop, however she received the Filmfare Lux New Face Award. Her career was saved by the hit comedy Andaz Apna Apna. She made headlines with her fight with Karisma Kapoor, the other leading lady in the film. Her next film Mohra made her a superstar overnight. The hit song "Tu Cheez Bari Hai....", had signified that Raveena was here to stay. Her on screen chemistry with Akshay Kumar was to turn into an off screen romance. Her rival Karisma Kapoor got her chucked out of many top films and she suffered a huge setback. Her films flopped at the box office, but her career was back on track with her hit film Ziddi, (1997). She then began to do films which ganered critical acclaim rather than box office success. Films like Shool (1999), Bulandi (2000) and Aks (2000) won her huge acclaim. She won the Filmfare Special Performance Award for Aks. However her best performance was in the film Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001), where she played a wife of an abusive husband. Her years in the industry paid off when she won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

Reena Roy

Name: Reena Roy
Birthday: Saturday, January 07, 1961
Star Sign : Capricorn














BIOGRAPHY

Not available

Rekha

Name: Rekha
Birthday: Sunday, October 10, 1954
Star Sign : Libra
First Film : Rangula Ratnam









BIOGRAPHY

Rekha (born October 10, 1954) is a well-known Bollywood actress. Rekha is the Mona Lisa of Bollywood. Enigmatic, seductive, and iconic—Rekha, in her four-decade-old career, has drawn more ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ from the audiences than any other actress. Although, she has already celebrated her fiftieth birthday, but the charm of her personality and glow of her face, refuse to fade. She is the same charming enchantress, who had once weaved her magic spell on the greatest superstar of India—Amitabh Bachan. Rekha was born as Bhanurekha Ganesan, to the doyen of south Indian cinema, Gemini Ganeshan, and Telghu actress Pushapavalli in 1954. The unfortunate separation of her parents brought Rekha to Mumbai, with her mother. The ways of nature are strange. A gloomy, flabby, clumsy looking child of the 60s groomed into the most beautiful Indian actress of 70s and beyond. She debuted in Sawan Badhon in 1970. Regular regimen of exercise, yoga, and meditation brought a sudden and significant change in her figure, complexion, and beauty. Dulal Guha’s Do Anjaane (1976) and Maneck Chatterjee’s Ghar , reaffirmed in no equivocal terms that Rekha was here-to-stay. Call it her will or God’s benevolence—by 1980, Rekha had become the most sought heroine of Bollywood. This was the time when, Amitabh-Rekha flicks like Mr. Natwarlal, Muqadar Ka Sikander (1978), Silsila (1982), Khoon-Paseenacarried Houseful banners. And the gossip mill worked overtime with Amitabh and Rekha’s love tales. But alas, not all fairy tale stories reach their logical culminations. Soon the two stars were moving in different orbits. But by this time, both, with twenty films between them, had been catapulted to the super-stardom status. There was no looking back for Rekha, who kept on mesmerising the ever-hungry Indian audiences, with one riveting performance after another. The role of courtesan played by her, in Muqadaar Ka Sikaander and Umraao Jaan (1987) are masterpieces in a genre, which can only be emulated, but not outdone. In Kamasutra (1996), she again portrayed a seductress, who had spent a lifetime, gratifying the sexual desires of the royals. In between, she gave legendary performances in art films like Utsav (1984), Basera (1981) and Ijaazat (1987) too. Recently, she won critical acclaim for her roles in Shayam Benegal’s Zubeeida and Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Lajja, where she played second fiddle to new generation actresses like Karishma, Manisha, and Mahima. Nevertheless, she proved the point, that a thing of beauty is joy forever. More recently, in Koi Mil Gaya and Parineeta too the audiences saw the same charm about her that they had once relished in those ‘angry young man’ starrers. But far from the celluloid that has sparkled with her scintillating expression, the personal life of Rekha has been a tragedy that can best be described in Shakespeare’s words: “She pined in thought; And, with a green and yellow melancholy, She sat like Patience on a monument, Smiling at grief.” (What You Will) A child of a disturbed family, she would have least expected her life to be as tumultuous. She was once wooed by film stars Jeetendra, Vinod Mehra, Kiran Kumar and of course, Amitabh Bachan. But none could size up to the persona, whom, she could deem as her man. Ultimately, she married a Delhi based businessman, Mukesh Aggrawal, in 1990, which not only ended in their divorce, but latter’s suicide as well. Inwardly bruised Rekha leads a detached and a solitary lifestyle in her Mumbai bungalow. A veteran of over 60 films, Rekha has won two Best Actress and one Best Supporting Actress Filmfare Awards. She also won a coveted National Award for her performance in Umrao Jaan. In recent years, she is has appeared in relatively few movies, usually as a mother or a widow rather than a glamour queen. She has won praise for her acting in films such as Zubeidaa, Koi Mil Gaya and Parineeta.

Remo Fernandes

Name: Remo Fernandes












BIOGRAPHY

Remo Fernandes is a popular pop/rock artist and playback singer from Goa, India. After breaking out with his first hit Album "Pack That Smack" in 1986 and "Bombay City" the next year, he became the highest-selling english-rock musician and the only one in the country to be awarded Gold Discs in this category [1]. Writing and singing songs in English made his sucess more unique in the largely Bollywood dominated non-english Disco music that was popular back in the 80s and 90s. His music, reflecting life and socio-political happenings in India which every Indian could identify with, became largely popular with the educated in english, and growing, Indian middle class. A popular stage performer in India, he has also taken part in many music festivals around the world [1].

In 1995 Remo Fernandes moved into Hindi Pop and film music to become a playback singer, by teaming up with the legendary director Mani Ratnam and composer A. R. Rahman, he sang the song "Humma Humma" in the Hindi version of the hit movie they produced - Bombay. The song went on to earn Remo a Double Platinum.

Remo made the decision to make his original music his profession (he is a Bachelor of Architecture) at a time when there was no pop music scene in the country. In 1983 there was no air play on radio and television (they were both monopolized by the government, who refused to accept pop music's existence); no record companies willing to sign a contract (specially as Remo wrote and sang in English; they said "Give us Hindi disco and we'll sign you on right now!"); and the only concerts where one could play were so-called charity ones where the organizers mainly took artists for a ride.

Remo knew that his songs, though in English, had nothing foreign about them, and reflected life and socio-political happenings in India which every Indian could identify with. So ignoring record companies' lack of vision he invested in basic home recording equipment, recorded and released his first album called "GOAN CRAZY!" on a 4-track cassette Portastudio in 1984 (on which he played all instruments, sang all voices, composed all music & lyrics, engineered the recording and mixing, designed the album cover, etc), made a thousand copies in Bombay, distributed them to record shops around Goa on the yellow scooter he drove at the time, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Besides his tremendous success with records, Remo is known as a stage performer and entertainer without equal in this country, and is the only Indian pop/rock artist to perform totally LIVE, without fake lip-sync or even backing tapes. He has represented India at the Tokyo Music Festival, the Festival of India in the USSR, the MIDEM '96
Music Festival in Hong Kong, besides Festivals in Germany, Bulgaria, Macau, Seychelles and Mauritius. He has performed in Europe, the USA, the Middle East, Australia, Africa, Reunion Island, etc.
PEPSI USA chose him, as India's leading pop/rock star, to endorse and star in Pepsi's first two launch films here - films which made advertising history in India.

Remo has also collaborated with Rock n Roll legends such as Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull.

In 1995, during the Channel V Music Awards, Remo(on bass), Jimmy Page (guitars), Robert Plant (vocals), and Roger Taylor (drums) teamed to belt out the Led Zeppelin Classic Rock n Roll. [2] More Recently, in February 2005, Remo collaborated with Jethro Tull for their concert Dubai. Sivamani, the renowned Indian percussionist also joined in. They performed tracks such as Mother Goose, Locomotive Breath, and Remo's very own Flute Kick, which was appreciated by everyone.

Remo has a band called the Microwave Papadums.

Rimi Sen

Name: Rimi Sen
Birthday: Monday, September 21, 1981
Star Sign : Virgo
First Film : Hungama









BIOGRAPHY

Rimi Sen the gorgeous belle moved from Kolkata to Mumbai to achieve her dream of acting in Bollywood. Rimi came to notice in a Coke advertisement with Aamir Khan, by filmmaker Priyadarshan, who signed her for Hungama after mere ten minutes of audition. In Hungama Rimi played a small town girl who comes to Mumbai in search of a job. The film also stars Akshaye Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani and Paresh Rawal. After that Rimi has been signed to play Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini's granddaughter in Ravi Chopra's family drama Baghbaan. She has now been signed to play the leading role opposite Abhishek Bachchan for an action thriller, yet-to-be-titled movie will be produced under the Yashraj Films banner and will also star Uday Chopra and John Abraham. Rimi Sen has signed a film of Bengali director Buddhadeb Dasgupta’s another realistic movie with an earthy story. To play the leading female role the director has signed Rimi Sen. Prasanjit (who played the leading role in Chokher Bali ) will be the film’s hero.

Rishi Kapoor

Name: Rishi Kapoor
Birthday: Thursday, September 04, 1952
Star Sign : Virgo
Family: Raj Kapoor
Address: 27 Krishna Kunj,27 Krishna Kunj,Mumbai 400 050
First Film : Mera Naam Joker







BIOGRAPHY

Rishi Kapoor (born September 4, 1952 in Mumbai) is an Indian Bollywood actor. He is 5' 7" tall.
He is the second son of famous film director and star Raj Kapoor. His brothers are well-known actors: Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor. He is the nephew of actors: Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendal, Shammi Kapoor. Rishi is the paternal uncle of today's actresses Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor. Rishi married actress Neetu Singh, with whom he had several hit movies, in 1980. They have two children named Ranbir Kapoor and Ridhima Kapoor.

Mr. Kapoor first debuted in his father's 1970 film Mera Naam Joker (My Name is Joker), playing his father's role as a child. Rishi Kapoor had his first lead role, opposite Dimple Kapadia, in the popular 1973 film Bobby which became an instant hit with youngsters. He has since then appeared in hundreds of movies. He played the lead role romancing young heroines till the year 2000 with the delayed release of Karobaar: The Business of Love. He moved on to supporting roles with his last five flops in a lead role. Of the most recent, his most notable movie would be Hum Tum, starring Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan.

Ritesh Deshmukh

Name: Ritesh Deshmukh
Birthday: Sunday, December 17, 1978
Star Sign : Sagittarius
Family: Vilasrao Deshmukh
First Film : Tujhe Meri Kasam







BIOGRAPHY

Riteish Deshmukh is an Indian actor, hailing from Latur city in Marathwada. He is son of Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Through the movies like Masti, Kya Kool Hain Hum and Bluffmaster, he has proved he does have a talent and not just political relations. An architect by education, this young lad has made a mark as one of the most dependable supporting actors in Hindi Film Industry.

Born on December 17, 1978, he completed his education from G. D. Somaya High School and Kamala Raheja School of Architecture in Mumbai. He worked in New York after graduation while studying acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

He made his debut in 2003 with Tujhe Meri Kasam which was an average hit at the box office. He became a known face after the comedy Masti for which established him as an actor. He has mainly taken on comic roles, rather than serious roles. After the release of Masti, he changed his known name 'Ritesh Deshmukh' for numerological reasons.

Of his latest films, he had hits with Bluffmaster and Kya Kool Hain Hum

Riya Sen

Name: Riya Sen
Birthday: Saturday, January 24, 1981
Address: 62-B Ruia Park,Juhu,Mumbai - 400 049
First Film : Love You Hamesha









BIOGRAPHY

Roop Kumar Rathod

Name: Roop Kumar Rathod












BIOGRAPHY

He wanted to be different! He wanted to carry on his father's legacy! He wanted to make a difference! He has done all that and more. That's Roop Kumar Rathod for you, who has carved his own special niche in the world of music, be it ghazals or playback singing.His is a voice that stands out amongst the rest, a voice that stirs your heart. The unforgettable award winning song 'Sandese aate hain' from the film 'Border', is just an example. Roopkumar is the son of the late Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, the classical luminary who in his time also groomed Kalyanji – Anandji and singer Manhar.Roop Kumar choose to continue his father's legacy and learnt the tabla and began to play with Pankaj Udhas and Anup Jalota unlike elder brother Shravan Rathod (of the Nadeem-Shravan duo) who took up music composing or younger brother Vinod Rathod who took to playback singing. He played the tabla for Shyam Benegal's 'Discovery of India', for ghazals, Qawaalis, Bhajans sung by Lata Mangeshkar, performed on stage. He was even called for select songs like those of Laxmikant – Pyarelal’s Sur Sangam.His first love still remains playing the tabla, a passion he gave up in 1984 to start a new career in the field of singing. Before long he realized that this was not his goal, so he entered the world of ghazals. Soon after carving his niche in ghazals, he established himself as a good playback singer to reckon with, while experimenting with fusion music and giving music concerts with Gurtu and others. Constantly donning different roles, he believes that learning is a never-ending process, which is why he still learns the nuances of ghazal singing from his guru Ustad Niyaz Ahmed Khan. Roopkumar Rathod was introduced as a playback singer by Laxmikant – Pyarelal in Angaar (1992), though his brother (Nadeem -) Shravan was already an established music director. Filmmaker Shashilal Nair, who had heard Roop at a concert, told Laxmikant that he would like him to sing. They were sufficiently impressed by the youngster to make him the prime singer later in films like Bhairavi (‘Om Namah Shivaye’ and ‘Moh Maaya Ko’), Gumraah (‘Duniya Kismat Aur Khuda’ and ‘Main Tera Aashiq Hoon’), Mohabbat Ki Arzoo (‘Raha Jo Dil Mein’) and Tejaswini. Anu Malik used his voice in ‘Barsaat Ke Mausam Mein’ (Naajayaz) while Nadeem – Shravan gave him a few lines in Raja and an insignificant song in Andolan and some other forgettable films. But Roopkumar was finally established with his 1997 hit Border (Anu Malik) in which he sang ‘To Chalun’ and the chartbuster – 6c4 cum – award winner ‘Sandesein Aate Hain’. He has subsequently sung under various top composers in films as varied as Anu Malik’s Hero ,Hindustani and Kareeb (‘Tum Juda Hokar Hamein’), Anand – Milind’s Dahek and Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet, Vishal’s Hu Tu Tu (all songs for Nana Patekar) and Godmother, Raamlaxman’s Hum Saath Saath Hain.Roopkumar Rathod has sung in Champion (Anu Malik), Censor (a qawwali) for Jatin – Lalit and Sanjeev Darshan in Aashiq. His best songs include ‘Kho Diye Jitne Lamhe’ (Vinashak), Jatin – Lalit’s ‘Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaye’ (Sarfarosh) and ‘Yeh Zameen Hai Rehguzar’ (Dillagi) and ‘Khamosh Raat’ under A. R. Rahman for Thakshak. His Aashirwaad title song ‘Nanhi Si Muskaan’ and those of other television series like Discovery of India, Badaltey Rishtey and Rishtey are among his other accomplishments. Roop is happliy married to Sonali. She hails from a business family and is the daughter Leena Jhaveri, a classical dancer. A dedicated student of Indian classical music, her basic grounding came from Purshottam Upadhyay and Hridaynath Mangeshkar, under whom she still trains. In 1978, she lost her singing voice, and the condition remained for 6 years, defying medical treatment. Wanting to remain in music, even if not vocal, she began to learn the sitar. And her voice slowly ‘came back’ and she honed it with her riyaaz. Ustad Niyaz Ahmed Khan also groomed her. Sonalee came out with an album Aaghaaz (she won the Best ghazal singer award the same year) in 1986. Her other albums include Bhajan Kalash, Bhajan Yatra and Khazana (all live), Mogra Nu Phool in Gujrati, Shabnam and Dilkash. While Roop continues to be a leading composer – singer outside films and is open for films after the success of Mohabbat Ho Gayee. Sonali continues in her traditional vein with increasing popularity.

Sachin Dev Burman*

Name: Sachin Dev Burman*
Birthday: Monday, October 01, 1906










BIOGRAPHY

Sadhna Sargam

Name: Sadhna Sargam
Family: Neela Ghanekar











BIOGRAPHY

Sadhana Sargam is one of the well-known singers from India. She is known as very melodious and versatile singer. She has sung almost all major Indian languages of India. She is also a very talented classical musician. She was trained by her mother at her early childhood and then by Pandit Jasraj. She is very famous for her live concerts for her flawless brilliant performances. She won several awards throughout her career including prestigious Indian national award as the best female playback singer in 2002 for a Tamil song "Paddu solli" from the movie "Azhagi". She is one of the few singers who are equally recognized and successful in both classical and light music fields. In her early days as a singer, her voice in high octaves was thought to be similar to that of Lata Mangeshkar while her low octave voice was that of Asha Bhosle.

However, as time passed Sargam developed her own style that cannot be imitated by others in anyway. She is known to paint a full color to the lyrics and music with her high standards of dedication. It is believed that Sadhana Sargam was unwittingly responsible for the rift between music greats Shankar-Jaikishan and Lata Mangeshkar When the duo compared Sargam with Mangeshkars. Mangheskar thought the comparing herself with a much junior teenage singer was very unacceptable. Sadhana Sargam was well received in Tamil Nadu. She is very busy in Tamil music field. Among the North Indian singers, Sargam sang the highest number of songs in Tamil or Telugu Fields. She is more popular than Lata Mangheshkar or Asha Bhosle in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, where Tamil is spoken widely and Tamil music is listened to. Composer A.R. Rahman uses her voice more often in his Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu songs. She also sang in an international production Warriors of Heaven and Earth under Mr. Rahman direction and became a global singer recently.

Saif Ali Khan

Name: Saif Ali Khan
Birthday: Sunday, August 16, 1970
Star Sign : Leo
Family: Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi And Sharmila Tagore
Address: 5, BellScot Bungalows Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri (W),Mumbai 400 061
First Film : Parampara






BIOGRAPHY

Saif Ali Khan is an Indian film star who appears in Bollywood films and the son of the erstwhile Nawab of Pataudi

Saif Ali Khan was born August 16, 1970 in New Delhi, India, into the family of the nawabs of Pataudi. His father, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was not only the nawab of Pataudi but also a former captain of the Indian cricket team. His mother, Sharmila Tagore, is an Indian film actress of note, and a distant relative (not a direct descendent, as often supposed) of the nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Saif is also related to the late Nafisa Joseph. His sister is actress Soha Ali Khan.

Saif was educated at Winchester College in England. He married actress Amrita Singh in October 1991, but they separated in 2004. They have two children, a daughter named Sara and a son named Ibrahim, both of whom live with their mother.

Saif made his Bollywood debut in 1993. His most important role was probably in the 1994 Yeh Dillagi with Kajol and Akshay Kumar. However, his acting career thereafter went through a relative slump until 2001, when he was cast in Farhan Akhtar's hit film, Dil Chahta Hai. The success of this film firmly established Saif as one of the industry's most bankable stars. He followed it up with memorable performances as a comic eligible bachelor in Kal Ho Naa Ho, a manipulative gangster in Ek Hasina Thi, and a light-hearted cartoonist in Hum Tum. His performance in Hum Tum won him the National Film Award for Best Actor. These commercial successes were followed by critically acclaimed performances in Parineeta and Salaam Namaste, both of which were also hits in India and overseas.

Saif was part of a troupe that included Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Arjun Rampal and Priyanka Chopra, which went on the highly successful "Temptations 2004" world tour.

Saira Banu

Name: Saira Banu
Birthday: Wednesday, August 23, 1944
Star Sign : virgo
First Film : Junglee












BIOGRAPHY

Saira Banu (born August 23, 1944) is the daughter of Naseem Banu, a well-known actress of the 1940's. She is also the wife of actor Dilip Kumar.

Saira Banu was born in India in 1944. She made her screen debut in the 1961 film Junglee, which marked the beginning of color in Hindi films. Though Saira had spent a significant part of her childhood in London, and went to a finishing school, she fit the role of a rustic beauty in Junglee. In this film, Banu was cast as an innocent Kashmiri ki kali who gains the devotion of city slicker Shammi Kapoor.

In 1966, 22-year-old Saira married 44-year-old Dilip Kumar and despite apprehensions from the media, theirs has been one of the longest lasting marriages in Bollywood. Ever since her marriage, Saira looked for dramatically challenging roles. Her valiant attempts to establish a reputation as an actress after Gopi, Sagina and Bairaag (all with Dilip Kumar) and films like Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Chaitali met with limited success. In 1976, Saira chose to end her film career. Subsequently she has weathered a storm in her marriage, appeared in a cameo opposite her husband in Duniya (1984); and become a successful television producer.

Salman Khan

Name: Salman Khan
Birthday: Monday, December 27, 1965
Star Sign : Capricorn
Family: Salim Khan & Salma Helen
Address: 3 Galaxy Apartments B.J.Road, Bandstand, Bandra, Bombay - 400050
First Film : Biwi Ho To Aisi












BIOGRAPHY

Getting Personal with Salman Khan...... I Pack... ...in a hurry and casually. I'm not particular about what I take as long as I am comfortable. Even a few shirts and a pair of jeans is fine with me. ...my shorts. It is a must because I need to exercise everyday. ...my dumb-bells. I need to work-out daily. Without work-outs my day is incomplete. While abroad I make it a point to visit the gymnasium. ...my perfumes and glares. I just can't do without them. ...my luggage. It's taken in advance while I reach the airport just in time for my flight. I Travel... ...to London off an on. It's a beautiful place to be in. The river Thames, Big Ben and the trams of the city fascinate me. Recently when I visited the city I travelled by tube and had a ball. It brought back memories of my childhood.

Sameera Reddy

Name: Sameera Reddy
First Film : Maine Dil Tujhko Diya











BIOGRAPHY

Sameera Reddy first came to notice in the music video 'Ahista' by Pankaj Udhaas and then start modelling. She has done modelling for 'Lissome'. Presently she has left modelling completely and concentrating on acting. Sameera's debut film was opposite Salman’s younger brother Sohail Khan in Maine Dil Tujhko Diya. In film she is playing a shy and introvert girl whose overprotective father keeps her distanced from the outside world for the fear of losing her. Her world is thrown upside down when she befriends and falls in love with a guy in her college. Sameera has named as Mumbai’s Jennifer Lopez by her director Sanjay Gupta. Sameera Reddy has come a long way from the simple actress in her debut film to become the latest sex symbol of the Hindi film industry. She had a hot number in Darna Mana Hai and this time can be seen sizzling on the beach with Dino Morea in a song in Plan. Plan also stars Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Suri, Bikram Saluja, Rohit Roy, Riya Sen, Payal Rohatgi and Sanjay Mishra and is directed by Hriday Shetty. Sameera another forth coming movie is Sanjay Gupta's Musafir with senior stars Sunil Shetty ,Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Mahesh Manjrekar. In this movie she is playing the wanton wife of 45-year-old Sanjay Dutt. Sameera finds older stars in Bollywood hotter than most newcomers, says from the experience of working in Musafir and has learned a good amount from the experiences of her senior co-stars. Sameera insists that the whole concept in Musafir is much beyond the physical aspect.

Sanjay Dutt

Name: Sanjay Dutt
Birthday: Wednesday, July 29, 1959
Star Sign : Leo
Family: Sunil Dutt And Nargis Dutt
Address: 58,Smt.Nargis Road,Palli Hill,Bandra,Mumbai 400050
First Film : Reshma Aur Shera






BIOGRAPHY

Sanjay Dutt (born July 29, 1959) is a Bollywood megastar. He is the son of late Bollywood actors Nargis and Sunil Dutt. He has two younger sisters, and a daughter who resides in New York. He had two wives; one died of cancer and the other, Rhea Pillai, he divorced
He made his acting debut in the film Rocky, 1981 the year that his mother passed away. Though the film was a hit it did not establish him as a star. He steadly began to build his career, and he had many hits such as Saajan, Daag The Fire, Haseena Maan Jayengi and his breakthrough role Khalnayak. The release of Khalnayak happened to coincide with Dutt's arrest in connection with the 1993 Mumbai Bombings. The hype surrounding the event and his villainous role in the film gave him a much needed career boost and a filmfare nomination for best actor.

Dutt retained his macho image after being relased from jail and built on his steady fan following. Over the last 5 years, he has matured as an actor, with action and comedy being his forte. The 2004 hit Munnabhai M.B.B.S. earned him rave reviews. His performance as a gangster in "Vaastav" earned him almost all the top awards that the industry has to offer, further cementing his place as one of the best actors in the Indian Film Industry.

He along with friend and director Sanjay Gupta formed a production company called White Feather Films. They have produced films such as Kaante and Musafir.

Sanjay Kapoor

Name: Sanjay Kapoor
Birthday: Sunday, October 17, 1965
Star Sign : Libra
First Film : Raja








BIOGRAPHY

Sanjay Kapoor (born 17 October 1965 in Mumbai, India) is a Bollywood actor and the brother of actor Anil Kapoor and producer Boney Kapoor and brother-in-law of actress Sridevi. He is the son of Surinder Kapoor, who is also a film producer.

His sister Reena is married to Bigie Sandeep Marwah of the famous Marwah Films and video studio film city Noida.

He began his career opposite Madhuri Dixit in the film Raja. The film was a box office success and he became a star overnight.

This was followed by many films which flopped or did reasonably well at the box office. Though not a very successful actor he has managed to get positive reviewes from the critics and audiences.

He has given excellent performances as a villain playing a obssessive husband to Esha Deol in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe. This was followed by another villainous role playing a terrorist in the film Qayamat: City Under Threat.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Name: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
First Film : Khamoshi: The Musical










BIOGRAPHY

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an Indian director, best known for helming the 2002 adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Devdas. His works also include Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) and Black (2005) (a loose adaptation of The Miracle Worker).

His directing trademarks include lush visuals and loud melodrama. He has won the Filmfare Award for Best Director twice; for Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. His next project was to be Bajirao Mastani (2006) but it has been shelved as of now.

Bhansali has adopted the middle name "Leela" as a tribute to his mother, Leela Bhansali.

He is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has won the Filmfare Award every time he has been nominated for it, winning Best Director awards for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and most recently, Black.

Sanjeev Kumar*

Name: Sanjeev Kumar*
Birthday: Saturday, July 09, 1938
Star Sign : Cancer
First Film : Nishana








BIOGRAPHY

Sanjeev Kumar (July 9, 1938 – November 6, 1985) was an Indian actor in Bollywood movies. He was born to a Gujarati family living in a Mumbai slum and after a stint in film school, managed to land roles as B-movie heroes, eventually becoming a star. He gradually gained weight and found himself doing supporting roles rather than playing the lead. In 1985, when he was only forty-seven years old, he died of a heart ailment. He had never married. Sanjeev's first film as a hero was the 1965 Nishana, described as a B-movie swashbuckler. In 1968, he played opposite the famous actor Dilip Kumar in Sanghash. In 1970, Khilona made him a star. He went on to star in the hits Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) and Manchali (1973). He started working with the well-known director Gulzar in the early 1970s. He did nine films for Gulzar, including Aandhi (1975), Mausam (1975), Angoor (1981) and Namkeen (1982). Many of his fans believe that these are some of the best films that he did. He was always ready to take unconventional roles that challenged him as an actor. He played Mirza, a chess-obsessed Lucknowi (citizen of Lucknow), in independent filmmaker Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi (1977). Perhaps his best-remembered role was his supporting role as Thakur Baldev Singh in the megahit Sholay (1975).

Sapna Awasthi

Name: Sapna Awasthi
First Film : Krantiveer










BIOGRAPHY

Singer Sapna Awasthi, known for her raunchy songs,has carved a name for herself as a folk singer. She shot into limelight with her song perdesi pardesi in the film Raja Hindustani.Also it was the famous song Chaiyan Chaiyan that had gone through the roof in popularity charts taking Sapna also along with it.Also came ‘Banno teri akhiyan...’ and many more from films Shool , Dushmani , Janwar , Khauf , Jungle etc.

Daughter of a Sanskrit lecturer in Lucknow University , learnt hindustani classical music from bhatkhande sangeet mahvidyalaya. She has released a few albums Chakori , Chabili and Chaila.

Sapna had started professional singing in 1990 and had rendered her first film song ‘Banno Teri Ankhiyaan’ for film Dushmani. This had created the niche for her in the music industry. “However I enjoy live performances more then recording a song. My most memorable live performance happened in USA recently. I can sing in Telegu, Assamees, Bhojpur, Rajesthani, Nepali and Bengali to delight my fans,” she tells in the interview.

Now Sapna has come out with a new album ‘Kahin Diya Jale Kahin Jiya‘ that has 8 tracks. According to her the specialty of this album is that she has rendered “Pakistani Folk type of songs.” Although Sapna mostly sings Indian folk songs only, this is a first time experiment with Pakistani folk.

Besides singing Sapna also enjoys watching old films especially of Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt. In music too, her tastes are inclined more towards old melodious songs and she favors singers like melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and Noor Jahaan. And what does she look in people? “ Honesty and no ego.”

Sapna is married to Kartik Awasthi and they have their own drama company named the Awadh Theatre Group specialising in opera plays, for which Sapna composed, sang and also acted in sometimes.She is now set to enthrall the music lovers with her melodious voice and songs for the years to come....

Shaan

Name: Shaan
Birthday: Friday, August 30, 1985
First Film : Parinda









BIOGRAPHY

HE WAS one of the earliest faces of Indipop, part of India's first and only brother-sister band, and he went solo a year ago. You guessed it right, Shaan, aka Shantanu Mukherjee, is the man.

Shaan has been around right from the days of Q-Funk (Qawali Funk, that is). Many of us hardcore Indipop fans may recall seeing him in the medley video of the album. Later in 1996, he went on to do the pop album Naujawan with his sister, Sagarika and one of the tracks, "Aisa hota hai," became quite popular. Till date, it is the only siblings' album in the market.

After Naujawan, both Shaan and Sagarika decided to go their separate ways. First, it was Sagarika who branched out with an emotional Maa, which struck a chord with the listeners. In fact, the second video of Naujawan was Sagarika's solo track, a pumped-up remix of "Disco Deewane".

Soon afterwards, it was Shaan's turn to go solo, and so Love-ology happened. Its title track went on to become a huge hit with the teenyboppers. The cool lyrics and the college campus mood did the trick.

Shaan was fast becoming popular, and with his remix rendering of popular old numbers such as "Dil kya kare" and "Hum bewafa", he became a regular on all the countdown charts. Then came a phase of film soundtracks when he was heard in quite a few Hindi film songs. The most popular being "Musu musu" from Pyaar mein kabhi kabhi, and more recently, "Tune mujhe pehchaana nahi" from Raju Chacha.

A few remixes later, Shaan made a comeback in 2001 with his second solo album, Tanha Dil, which stayed on MTV charts for a record number of weeks, and went on to bag the MTV Asia Award in the "Favourite Indian Artiste - Pop category" in 2002.

And now, he is back with Shaan - Bhool Ja and Other Hits, (Virgin Records/Sony Music, CDs Rs. 199, Cassettes Rs. 65). It is a collection of Shaan's best tracks including a new single from Tanha Dil. Most of you would already have seen the video of Bhool Ja - one which could easily be on the list of best Indipop songs in recent times. Some excellent guitar performance, powered by some deadly beats and an infectious tune, make for an excellent track. The lyrics tell a message of "don't cry over spilt milk" and to carry on with your life. This song will be a welcome gift to many of those heartbroken soul types.

The album also includes two tracks from Tanha Dil. The title song needs no explanation. It has already had its wave of popularity due to its pleasant pace and meaningful words. The second one is "Gum sum ho kyon" which has deep emotions and a mellow tint to it.

The album also features two songs such as "Woh pehli baar", and "Musu musu" from the film Pyaar mein kabhi kabhi, along with "Tune mujhe pehchana nahi" from Raju chacha. The remix versions of "Dil kya kare" and "Hum bewafa" deserve a good listening, while the Latino mix of "Mana janaab ne pukaara nahin" and the desi mix of "Musafir hoon yaaron" are mediocre. But, listen to Bhool Ja once, and you feel you have got your money's worth.

But, Shaan, don't keep telling us to "Bhool ja". We won't forget you that soon - at least not as long as you are giving us `shaan'dar stuff such as this!

Shabana Azmi

Name: Shabana Azmi
Birthday: Friday, August 18, 1950
Star Sign : Leo
Family: Father-Kaify Azmi








BIOGRAPHY

Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950 at New Delhi, India) is the daughter of famous Urdu poet Kaify Azmi. A notable actress, she has starred in Indian films such as Ankur, Mandi, Arth, Sparsh, Godmother, In Custody, and Tehzeeb. One of the leading actresses of parallel cinema, she is now married to the lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar.She has received the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress four times. In 1988, she was awarded the Padma Shri. In 1998, she was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund. She is an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India.

Shafqat Amanat Ali

Name: Shafqat Amanat Ali












BIOGRAPHY

Shafqat Amanat Ali is the son of Ustad Amanat Ali Khan Sahib, making him part of the 9 generation old Patiala Gharana. He has been a student of Eastern classical music since age four, his grandmother being his first teacher. His main influences in music come from his father and his uncle Ustad Fateh Ali Khan sahab as well as Roshanara Begum, to name a few.

Shafqat Amanat Ali is also the lead vocalist of a Pakistani pop band known as "Fuzon" which belongs to the Patiala gharana of classical music. The gharana is famous for its concentration on intricate taan-patterns and sargams. With his family, he has been part of the Pakistani musical tradition for eight generations now.He got his first chance in the Bollywood music scene when director Karan Johar Let him sing a song in his recent movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna .The song Mithva was a #1 song on the Charts after the CD came out and is curently #1 in the UK and USA.This was the first Pakistani singer ever to have a song in a Karan Johar directed film.

Shahid Kapoor

Name: Shahid Kapoor
Birthday: Wednesday, February 25, 1981
Star Sign : Aquarius
Family: Father-Pankaj Kapur,Mother- Neelima Azeem
First Film : Ishq Vishk







BIOGRAPHY

Shahid Kapoor born February 25, 1981 in Mumbai, India is a Bollywood actor and model. Kapoor was born in Mumbai to film and television actors Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem who divorced when he was three.He lived with his mother. He studied dancing with Shiamak Davar and did extra roles, starred in music videos and commercials. His stepbrother is Ishaan Kapoor whom he acted with in Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi. Stepson of Supriya Pathak. His debut film Ishq Vishk was a success. He received the Filmfare Award 2003 in the Debut category for his performance along with the same award from the Star Screen Awards and the Zee Cine Awards. In 2004, he starred in two more films: Fida, a thriller co-starring his current girlfriend Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan as well as Dil Maange More, a romantic comedy alongside Soha Ali Khan, Tulip Joshi, and Ayesha Takia. Both films bombed at the box office, but Kapoor received positive reviews for his performances. His latest films Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi and Shikhar failed to do well at the box office but his performances was praised. He received a Screen Best Actor Nomination for his work in Shikhar. He will next be seen in 2006 in the films Milenge Milenge "Chup Chup Ke", and "36 China Town" with Kareena Kapoor, "Vivaah" With Amrita Rao, and " Fool and Final" with Ayesha Takia

Shahrukh Khan

Name: Shahrukh Khan
Birthday: Tuesday, November 02, 1965
Star Sign : Scorpio
Address: Mannat, Band Stand, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400050, India
First Film : Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman






BIOGRAPHY

"King Khan." "The Shah." "The Man With The Midas Touch." These are just few of the adjectives used on this strapping, young lad from Delhi who first stole hearts with his endearing performance as Abhimanyu in the TV serial 'Fauji.' With a passion for acting and an amazing screen presence, Shah Rukh Khan has come a long way since the days he would mimic film actress Mumtaz and recite shaayri (Urdu poetry) for his father. With a lifestyle that could be featured on "The Rich And Famous" and an attitude to boot, Shah Rukh is known to be one of the most in-your-face men in the Hindi film industry today. Securing his break with Hema Malini's debut directorial venture, 'Dil Aashna Hai' which although was a disaster, Shah Rukh rose to the top in a few years time only after 'Deewana' became a hit. He later dazzled audiences with his emotionally-charged performances in films like 'Darr' where he played a deranged man obsessed with a girl and 'Baazigar,' where he was a young man seeking vengeance. Born on November 2, 1965 Shah Rukh is a true scorpion. Shah Rukh's mother was educated at Oxford. With an elder sister, Shehnaz, Shah Rukh claims to have had a decent childhood. The name Shah Rukh means `the countenance of a prince.' Now you know! He's not called Baadshah fro nothing! His father was a chief engineer and his mother, a social worker and a magistrate. Although, the family was going through financial troubles at a time, Shah Rukh does not remember his family putting the kids through any hardships. Shah Rukh studied at St.Stephens college in Delhi and came to be associated with the city for a long time. Moving to Mumbai was a dream come true and Shah Rukh playing similar roles obviously bore autobiographical references. Clear about his goals, he informed his mother of his decision to act and was never prevented from doing so. He had secured admission at the National School Of Drama, a premier institution then and pursued a masters in filmmaking from Jamia Millia Islamia. With a family backing him, there was no stopping Shah Rukh. He remembers being bad at Hindi, a crime if he were to enter the industry and was encouraged by his mom to excel at it. Shah Rukh remembers, "She (my mother) used to tell me, "If you get ten out of ten, Ill take you to a movie." The first film Shah Rukh remembers watching with her was Dev Anand's 'Joshilay.' That fuelled his passion for films and Shah Rukh, the wannabe, was to take Bollywood by storm. Shah Rukh claims to have participated in Ram Leela functions and dressed up as a monkey to get the feel of the stage

Shakti Kapoor

Name: Shakti Kapoor
Birthday: Wednesday, September 03, 1958










BIOGRAPHY

Shakti Kapoor is one of the most comic actors to grace the Bollywood screen. Since the start of his career he has done more than 300 films. He had been often nominated for the Filmfare Award in the most comic performance category. His on-screen pairing with another comic actor Kader Khan as the latter's son has often led to laughable comedies. When the Mumbai film industry competed with its American counterpart in serving the audience the 'show must go on' formula of 'sex and violence' this actor became one of the most recognized faces of the hodge-podge filmdom. His very notable performances include Nandu of the David Dhawan masterpiece Raja Babu.

Shakti Samanta

Name: Shakti Samanta
Birthday: Wednesday, January 13, 1926
Star Sign : Capricorn









BIOGRAPHY

Shakti Samanta (born January 13, 1926 in Burdwan, West Bengal, British India) is an Indian director. He graduated in 1944 from Calcutta University. He joined the film industry in 1948 as an assistant director and worked with Gyan Mukherjee, Satish Nigam and Phani Mazumdar.

Samanta Directed first feature film in 1954 and started his own production company, Shakti Films, in 1957. In all, Samanta has directed 43 feature films: including 37 Hindi, and 6 Bengali films. His best-nown films are: Howra Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening In Paris, Aradhana, Kati Patang, Amar Prem, Anuraag, Amanush, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat and Mehbooba. Samanta is credited for starting the trend of making double version films in Hindi and Bengali with Amanush in 1974. Samanta also made the first co-produced film between India and Bangladesh in 1984.

Samanta received Filmfare awards for "Best film" for Aradhana, Anuraag and Amanush. He has also received several Lifetime Achievement awards and several other awards from Zee and other Indian organizations. Some of his films have been shown at international festivals in Berlin, Tashkent, Moscow, Cairo and Beirut.

Samanta was President of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association for 5 years, Chairman of the Central Board Of Film Certification for 7 years and was Chairman of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata for 2 years.

Shamita Shetty

Name: Shamita Shetty
Birthday: Friday, February 02, 1979
Star Sign : Pisces
First Film : Mohabbatein









BIOGRAPHY

She graduated in Commerce from Mumbai's Sydenham College and even did a diploma course in Fashion Designing from the coveted SNDT. She had her eyes on designing when Aditya Chopra approached her for a role opposite Uday Chopra in 'Mohabbatein'. It was an offer too irresistible to refuse. At that time, she was even linked romantically to her co-star. Shamita Shetty is young, vivacious and sexy, and has all the makings of a star. The younger sister of Shilpa, this doe-eyed nymphet may not have bagged much commercial success but featured in a few films after 'Mohabbatein'. Of course, with a dearth of many Bollywood flicks in her kitty, she's been making moolah doing southside films. Her most recent release was 'Agnipankh' (Jimmy Shergill, Rahul Dev, Sameer Dharmadhikari) which bombed. Before that, her item track ('Sharara Sharara') in Yashraj Films' 'Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai', became a runaway hit. She did another sensational item number in Kunal Kohli's 'Mujhse Dosti Karoge'. Shamita will be seen in Boney Kapoor's forthcoming 'Bewafa' (Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen) in which she has a mildly negative role. These days, she is being linked to Aftab Shivdasani!

Shammi Kapoor

Name: Shammi Kapoor
Birthday: Wednesday, October 21, 1931
Star Sign : Libra
First Film : Dil Deke Dekho








BIOGRAPHY

Shammi Kapoor (born October 21, 1931) is an actor in Hindi films. Most of his successful films were in the late 1950s and 1960s. He was born Shamsher Raj Kapoor in Mumbai to film and theatre actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Shammi was the second of three sons born to Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor), all of whom were, like their father, successful Bollywood actors. He acted in many fun and boisterous films; he is often considered the Indian Elvis Presley. He particularly used Mohammed Rafi as his playback voice and Rafi was also his friend. In fact, it was Rafi who shouted the song "Yahoo" and famously picturized on Shammi in the huge hit film Junglee (1961). He won the Filmfare award as Best Actor for Brahmachari (1968). Producers loved pairing Shammi with new heroines, but only three became huge stars: Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, and Sharmila Tagore. He and Asha Parekh were paired together in four films, the most successful being the murder mystery Teesri Manzil (1966). However, tragedy struck during the filming of Teesri Manzil (1966), when Shammi's first wife, actress Geeta Bali, died of small pox, leaving him with two small children. It led to a failed romance with Mumtaz, his co-star from Brahmachari (1968). In 1969, he married his second wife Neela, and his significant weight gain ended his career as a romantic hero in the early 1970's, with Andaz (1971) being one of his last hits. He turned supporting actor, playing Saira Banu's father in Zameer (1975), when he had been her leading man a decade earlier in Junglee (1961) and Bluff Master (1964). He also directed Manoranjan (1974) and Bandalbaaz (1976), but neither were successful. He won his second Filmfare award, this time as Best Supporting Actor for Vidhaata (1982). He also won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. Shammi Kapoor was also one of the foremost internet users in India. He is the founder and chairman of Internet Users Community of India (IUCI) and has been instrumental in setting up internet organizations like the Ethical Hackers Association

Shamshad Begum

Name: Shamshad Begum











BIOGRAPHY

Shamshad Begum was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the film industry. Shamshad Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab. She was a big fan of K.L. Saigal and watched Devdas 14 times. She earned 15 rs per song and was awarded 5000 on the completion of the contract on jenaphone. She started her radio career on Peshawar Radio and did work on Lahore, Dehli etc. She made her debut on radio in Lahore on December 16, 1937 captivating the hearts of listeners with the enchanting depth of her voice. Shamshad, reputed to be a stunningly beautiful woman in her youth, performed live both on stage and the All India Radio (AIR) through her musical group The Crown Imperial Theatrical Company of Performing Arts, set up in Delhi. The then AIR Lahore helped her in entering the world of movies as frequent broadcasting of her songs, which induced music directors to use her voice for their films. Shamshad also recorded "naats" and devotional music for a couple of gramophone recording companies. Her crystal clear voice caught the attention of sarangi maestro Ustad Hussain Bakshwale Saheb, who took her as his disciple. Lahore-based composer Ghulam Haider used her voice skillfully in some of his earlier films like: Khazanchi (1941) and Khandaan (1942). When he shifted to Bombay in 1944, Shamshad went with him as a member of his team. She is credited with singing one of the first Westernised songs - Meri jaan...sunday ke sunday by C.Ramchandra. O.P.Nayyar describes her voice as that of a "temple bell" for its clarity of tone. In 1944 when Mehboob Khan launched his historical venture Humayun, Master Ghulam Haider used her voice in the film. That was the time when Amirbai Karnatki was considered the number one playback singer in Bombay. With the introduction of Shamshad Begum in the film world of Bombay, contemporary composers almost fell over each other in booking her for recording of their songs leading to a prolific career until the mid-late 1950s. Music directors like C. Ramchandra, S.D. Burman and Naushad & O.P.Nayyar used her as their prime female vocalist in the early part of their careers. Shamshad became a national rage between the 1940s and the late 50s rendering songs with her nasal voice, which helped her carve her independent image - a voice different from her peers - Lata, Asha, Geeta etc. Around 1998 there was a rumour that she had died, but the singer is very much alive & resides in Mumbai as a recluse.

Shankar Mahadevan

Name: Shankar Mahadevan
First Film : Zor











BIOGRAPHY

Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian singer and music composer. He gained fame for his album entitled Breathless in which he sings constantly for over two minutes without pausing for taking a breath. He is an engineering graduate trained in Carnatic and Hindustani classical music.

He is the Shankar of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio.

Recently, he became famous as a celebrity judge in the popular reality television show, Fame Gurukul.

Shankar often collaborates with Swedish group of musicians, Mynta.

Sharmila Tagore

Name: Sharmila Tagore
Birthday: Sunday, December 08, 1946
Star Sign : Sagittarius
First Film : Satyajit Ray film








BIOGRAPHY

Sharmila Tagore is a renowned Indian movie actress, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. Born on 8 December 1946 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, Sharmila Tagore is a distant relative of Rabindranath Tagore. She married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi who was the Nawab of Pataudi in 1968. The marriage produced 3 children: Saif Ali Khan (b. 1970), Saba Ali Khan, and Soha Ali Khan (b. 1978). Sharmila Tagore began her career as an actress in the 1959 Satyajit Ray film, The World of Apu / Apur Sansar (the final film of the Apu trilogy). She also starred in three more films by Ray, the 1960 film Devi / The Goddess, the 1966 film Nayak, and the 1970 film Aranyer Din Ratri / Days and Nights in the Forest. Tagore established herself, as an actress with the movie Kashmir Ki Kali in 1964, which also established her as a sex symbol after appearing in a two piece bikini. Some of her biggest and most famous movies was made after she had given birth to her first son. It was unusual for Indian actresses to continue acting in movies after marrying at this time. Some of her most memorable parts was in movies as Amar Prem (1971), Daag (1973) and Safar (1970) which all was in combination with the first super star of Hindi movies, Rajesh Khanna. In addition, she played the role of Kinnu in Mira Nair's 1991 film Mississippi Masala. In December 2005 she was chosen as an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Shashi Kapoor

Name: Shashi Kapoor
Birthday: Friday, March 18, 1938
Star Sign : Pisces
Family: Prithviraj Kapoor
First Film : Shakespeare Wallah







BIOGRAPHY

Shashi Kapoor (born Balbirraj Kapoor March 18, 1938) belongs to the Kapoors. He is the brother of Raj Kapoor and the son of Prithviraj Kapoor, a actor of Indian cinema
Shashi Kapoor was an extremely popular actor during the 1970s and the 1980s. In Indian cinema, his most famous movies include Jab Jab Phool Khile,, Sharmilee, Chor Machaye Shor, Deewar, Kabhie Kabhie, and Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

He is also known internationally for his appearances in Merchant Ivory productions such as Shakespeare Wallah (1965), Heat and Dust (1982), and In Custody (1993). He says he has acted in more than 200 movies. Most of his early acting was the child who would grow up to be Raj Kapoor in Raj Kapoor's movies.

He was married to the late Jennifer Kendal and has two sons Karan and Kunal and a daughter Sanjana who is martied to wildlife author and photographer Valmik Thapar.

Shatrughan Sinha

Name: Shatrughan Sinha
Birthday: Thursday, December 09, 1948
Star Sign : Sagittarius










BIOGRAPHY

Shatrughan Sinha (born December 9, 1947) is an Indian actor, born in Patna. Even though he is from Bihar, a place not known for film personalities, he struggled hard and established himself as a prominent member of the Indian film industry. He is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India and was one of the top male Bollywood film stars in the 1970s and 1980s. He started out playing villainous roles — and was immensely successful in portraying stylised villains. He then switched over to playing roles as the protagonist/main lead and was even more successful in solo starrers as well as multi-starrers. In the mid-1980s he felt that he should do something more for his country. Inspired by the great politician from Bihar Mr. Jay Prakash Narayan, he decided to enter politics. He was the first and only actor who entered politics by joining the opposition party. Mr Sinha is the most successful actor politician in India, having made history by being the first member of the film fraternity to become a cabinet minister. He has held two portfolios, the department of health, and the department of shipping. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and campaigns for the party all over India and is well known as a leader of the masses and a brilliant orator.

Shekhar Kapoor

Name: Shekhar Kapoor
Birthday: Thursday, December 06, 1945
Star Sign : Sagittarius
First Film : Bandit Queen








BIOGRAPHY

Shekhar Kapoor, born 6 December 1945 in British India (in an area which became part of Pakistan) is a renowned filmmaker from India. His works include Elizabeth (1998), a semi-historical account of the early reign of Elizabeth I of England; it was nominated for 8 Oscars. In 2000, he was awarded the Padma Shri.

Other films directed by Shekhar Kapur:

Masoom
Mr. India
Bandit Queen
The Four Feathers
The initial part of the movie Barsaat (1995) which starred Bobby Deol and
Twinkle Khanna was reportedly directed by Kapur. Rajkumar Santoshi handled the direction after him and has the credits in his name.

He was accused of being Anti-British by British tabloids, by the way he portrayed the British Army and Empire grossly inacurately in the Four Feathers. This was also heightened by the fact that during an interview for the DVD release of the Four Feathers he commented, with praise, for the fanatical religious leader "The Mad Mahdi".

Kapur also executive produced the Hollywood film The Guru.

Kapur was also executive producer of the Bollywood-themed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams, which has been running in the West End, London since 2002, and on Broadway in New York City since 2004.

Future projects include Long Walk to Freedom, Water, The Last Full Measure, and Golden Age, a sequel to Elizabeth. Also 20th Century Fox is planning for him to direct two movies of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. They are slated to be called Foundation and Second Foundation; further details are unknown. In September, Kapur announced tentative plans to make a major motion picture account of the life of the Buddha, entitled Buddha.

Kapur is married to singer and actress Suchitra Krishnamurthy.

In June 2005, Kapur and his friend, guru Deepak Chopra launched a discussion blog [1] with a select group of their friends and family. The purpose of the blog is to promote original discussion by voices from South Asia, and especially India. Kapur posts regularly on the blog, often writing short personal poems. Shortly after, Kapur also started his own personal blog on his official website.

In January 2006, it was reported that Kapur and Chopra would be collaborating with Richard Branson on a Bangalore-based animated film company

Shilpa Shetty

Name: Shilpa Shetty
Birthday: Sunday, June 08, 1975
Star Sign : Gemini
Family: Father-Surender Shetty,Mother-Sunanda Shetty
First Film : Baazigar







BIOGRAPHY

Shilpa Shetty (born 8 June 1975) is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood films. Her sister is actress Shamita Shetty. She was born in coastal Karnataka, India in a Bunt family and is a native speaker of Tulu. She currently lives in Mumbai. She attended St Anthony Girls' High School in Chembur and then went to Podar College. She was the captain of the baseball team. She also has a black belt in karate. Shilpa made her debut in the murder mystery, Baazigar (1993) with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. The film did well. She also had a success with Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994). However, succeeding films -- of which she made many -- did less well at the box office. She won critical acclaim in 2004 with her performance as an AIDS vicitim Phir Milenge. Her 2005 film Dus was a popular success. She appeared with her sister in the film, Fareb. She has been nominated three times for "Best Actress" at the Filmfare awards. She has also appeared in the PeTA India campaign ads.

Shreya Ghosal

Name: Shreya Ghosal
Birthday: Thursday, January 01, 1970
First Film : Devdas









BIOGRAPHY

Shreya Ghosal (also spelled Ghoshal) is an Indian playback singer in the Bollywood film industry.

Of Bengali origin, Ghosal grew up in the remote northwestern corner of Rajasthan, in the city of Kota. She auditioned for "Sa Re Ga Ma", an Indian television show, and they sent her for a year and a half training. It was here that director Sanjay Leela Bhansali discovered her and determined that she should be the voice of Paro, the heroine in his 2002 film Devdas (played on-screen by Aishwarya Rai). She began recording songs for the movie in 2000; the film itself was released two years later.

Moviegoers from across the world heard Ghosal's sweet-as-honey singing voice picturized on Aishwarya Rai, and she quickly became one of the top female playback singers in Bollywood, alongside Alka Yagnik, Sadhana Sargam and Kavita Krishnamurthy. Since Devdas, she has gone on to sing for many more actresses under the baton of various music directors, including M.M. Kreem, for whom she sang Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai, a sensuous number picturized on Bipasha Basu in Jism.

Ghosal has completed her college education, and is planning to pursue her MA in literature, a subject which she adores.

Shriya Saran

Name: Shriya Saran
Birthday: Saturday, September 11, 1982










BIOGRAPHY

Shriya Saran (born on September 11, 1982) is an Indian film actress. She began her career acting in Telugu language films in the Telugu cinema industry, while also attending an acting studio, to follow her dream to act. After her debut in 2001 with Ishtam, she gained Indian cinema's attention in 2002 by playing the role of Bhanu in Santhosham, her first major hit. She reach superstardom by enacting the role of Anjali in the Telugu language film, Nuvve Nuvve, her first blockbuster, and since then she has acted in over twenty Indian films. She has recently switched her main intention of Indian regional films from Telugu to Tamil language ventures. She has played the lead roles in Chiranjeevi's Tagore and Rajinikanth's Sivaji: The Boss her most prestigious projects to date. She however, like many other actresses has had a rich upbringing into the industry, with her father, Pushpendra Saran being a senior executive in BHEL, while her mother, Neeraja Saran, taught chemistry at Delhi Public School, Haridwar and later Mathura Road, Delhi. Shriya performs predominantly in leading heroine roles in high-budget and major studio films, ranging from romantic comedies and drama to science fiction and action thrillers. Her most popular films include Tagore (2003), Santhosham (2002), Nenunnanu (2003), Mazhai (2005), and Sivaji: The Boss (2007).

Shweta Shetty

Name: Shweta Shetty












BIOGRAPHY

Shweta Shetty, born in 1969 in Mumbai, is an Indi-pop singing star known both for her full-length albums and contributions to Bollywood film soundtracks. She currently lives in Hamburg with her husband Christian Brandt. Shetty was discovered at age 17, starting her career by taking modeling jobs and singing commercial jingles. Her father was not pleased with this career path and did not speak to her for years until after she married Brandt in 1997. Her first album, Johnny Joker, ushered in her first widespread acclaim. Soon Shetty became known as a star in the Indian pop scene, performing songs for films and appearing on television programs such as MTV India. Adding to this success, her first two albums sold 1.5 million copies. Shetty has performed with several other artists including Sarah Brightman and Jam & Spoon.

Shyam Benegal

Name: Shyam Benegal
Birthday: Friday, December 14, 1934
Star Sign : Sagittarius
First Film : Ankur








BIOGRAPHY

Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director, born 14 December 1934 in Alwal, Hyderabad, British India Andhra Pradesh. Benegal originated what has come to be called "middle cinema". He was initially involved in the advertising industry and produced over 900 advertisements before his interest turned to films.

His film directorial debut was Gher Betha Ganga in 1962. Benegal shot to fame with Ankur 1973, which introduced Shabana Azmi, who also starred in Nishant 1975. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991.

The success that New India Cinema enjoyed in the 1970s and early 1980s could largely be attributed to Shyam Benegal's quartet Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977), which were artistically superior yet commercially viable films. Tapping fresh talent mainly from the FTII and NSD like Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Amrish Puri, Benegal has made several sensitive and stimulating films.

Benegal is related to the famous film director and actor Guru Dutt Padukone - contrary to what is generally believed. His paternal grand-mother and Guru Dutt's maternal grand-mother were sisters. Both are nominally Konkani speaking Chitrapur Saraswats.

Founder of the Hyderabad Film Society and a former Ad Filmmaker, Ankur, his first feature film, is set in rural South India where Surya, a zamindar's son arrives from the city to oversee his father's estate. Bored and sexually frustrated, he seduces his attractive maidservant, wife of a deaf-mute labourer. The discovery of the maidservant's pregnancy and the arrival of Surya's wife who senses her husband's involvement bring matters to a head. The film is memorable for its engrossing details of rural life and its exposure of the feudal system that is brutal and indifferent and is helped by a powerful film debut by Shabana Azmi as the maidservant. Ankur not only won several awards including the National Award for Shabana but also had a good showing at the Box Office.

With Nishant, where a teacher's wife is abducted and gang-raped by four zamindars and officialdom turns a deaf ear to the distraught husband's pleas for help and Manthan, set against the backdrop of Gujarat's fledgling dairy industry, Benegal continued to address the viewer in a strict cinematic language bereft of commercial skills. (5 lakh farmers in the state, each of whom contributed 2 Rs, produced the latter film! They came in truckloads to see 'their film' once released thereby making it extremely successful at the box office!)

Bhumika looks at an individual's search for identity and self-fulfillment. The film is broadly based on the life of well-known Marathi Stage and screen actresses of the 1940s, Hansa Wadkar who led a flamboyant and unconventional life. To quote film critic Derek Malcolm


"…What Benegal has done is to paint a magnificent visual recreation of those extraordinary days and one that is also sensitive to the agonies and predicament of a talented woman whose need for security was only matched by her insistence on freedom."


Unlike most New Cinema Filmmakers Benegal has had private backers for many of his films. Following the success of these four films, he was backed by film star Shashi Kapoor for whom he made Junoon (1979) and Kalyug (1981). The former set in the turbulent period of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 is one of Benegal's most stylish films and one which is meticulously detailed and visually arresting and one that gave him much satisfaction but Kalyug, a complex narrative based on the Mahabharat in spite of some great moments doesn't quite come off.

In the 1980s however with the collapse of the New Cinema, Benegal's films have not had proper releases and the 1980s also saw him turn to TV where he directed serials like Yatra (1986) for the Indian Railways, and of course one of the biggest projects undertaken on Indian Television, Bharat ek Khoj (1988) a serial based on Nehru's Discovery of India.

Smita Patil

Name: Smita Patil
Birthday: Tuesday, December 13, 1955










BIOGRAPHY

Smita Patil (1955 – 1986) was a leading actress of the 1970s and 1980s Hindi and Marathi cinema. Her unconventional beauty and arresting screen presence made her the undying symbol of the New Wave cinema in India. Smita Patil was also a women's rights activist.

Smita Patil belongs to a generation of actresses, including Suhasini Mulay and Shabana Azmi, strongly associated with a radically political cinema of the 1970s. Her work includes films with parallel cinema directors like Shyam Benegal and Mrinal Sen and the more commerical Bollywood cinema of Bombay. She was an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. In 1977, she won the National Award for 'Best Actress' for her performance in the Bengali film Bhumika.

In her films, Patil's character often represents an intelligent femininity that stands in relief against the conventional background of male-dominated cinema (films like Bhumika, Umbartha, and Bazaar). In her more commercial films, her glamorous roles reveal the permeable boundaries between 'serious' cinema and 'Bollywood' in the Hindi film industry (films like Shakti and Namak Halaal).

Patil worked as a TV news reader before transitioning to film, and was also an accomplished photographer. She was married to the Hindi film actor Raj Babbar. She died in 1986 due to complications from the birth of her son.

Soha Ali Khan.

Name: Soha Ali Khan.
Birthday: Wednesday, October 04, 1978
Family: Father-Tiger Pataudi,Mother-Sharmila Tagore
First Film : Iti Srikanta









BIOGRAPHY

Soha Ali Khan's mom, dad and brother are superfamous celebrities. She's the daughter of "Sharmila Tagore" famous hindi actress of 60's and 70's and "Tiger Pataudi" well known Indian cricketer. And Saif Ali Khan's sister. And now it's time for this talented and stunning girl to make a mark.

The sensational Soha Ali Khan has signed her first film opposite Shahid Kapoor in Nitin Manmohan's Mohabbat Ki Ki Ki to be directed by Anant Mahadevan. There are two more girls in it but this doesn't bother her at all. She is concerned with her character and very happy with it. So she is ready to take the challenge.

She was born in mumbai and at the age of six shifted to delhi. She studied at british School and use to study hard to get good marks. She enjoyed sports and theatre. Then she did her under graduate at Oxford and master's at London School of Economics in International Relations. Studying abroad has given her international outlook and understand and be tolerant towards other cultures.

She has been brought up in liberal way, where ever to travel, think and have friends she wants. She was quite a hyperactive child. Very friendly and outgoing always running from one place to another. But never bothered about appearances. She didn't wear too much jewellery nor was colour coordinated.

While studying she know exactly that she wanted to be in films in terms of career. She know if started acting before accomplishing her academy, then it wouldn't be possible for her to go back to studying. Her parents had the typical normal parental concerns about joining the films. When she was 12, she meant to play the child in Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala and taken two months leave from school also. But couldn't do the film because she had to get braces.

She had also worked with Citibank and an NGO to get experience which help her when she finally starts acting. And now she is 3000 percent ready for films.

Sohail Khan

Name: Sohail Khan
Birthday: Sunday, December 20, 1970
Star Sign : Sagittarius
Family: Father-Salim khan
First Film : Maine Dil Tujhko Diya







BIOGRAPHY

Sohail Khan was born into a family with strong ties to the Bollywood film industry: His father is Salim Khan, a successful screenwriter and his mother is Salma Khan, while his step-mother is dancer and Bollywood actress Helen. His older brothers are actors Arbaaz Khan and Salman Khan. His sister Alvira Khan is married to Bollywood actor Atul Agnihotri, while his younger sister Arpita Khan "discovered" Sneha Ullal for his movie Lucky: No Time for Love, which he produced with his production company "Sohail Khan Production". He is married to Seema Sajdeh (who dumped fiancé Vikram Ahuja, brother of Tanya Ahuja and brother-in-law of Bobby Deol) and has one son Irfaan Khan, born on December 20, 2000.

In 2005, he was in the media for "beating up" Sikander Kher, Anupam Kher's son. According to an interview he did, he was "surprised to read about it and so was Sikander".

Sonali Bendre

Name: Sonali Bendre
Birthday: Wednesday, January 01, 1975
Star Sign : Capricorn
First Film : Aag









BIOGRAPHY

Sonali Bendre (* 1 January 1975) is an Indian Bollywood actress and a model. Sonali Bendre started out as a model before being selected for the "Star Dust Talent Search". Her first role was in Aag (1994) opposite Govinda. Though not a very successful actress, she has given critically acclaimed performances in films like Sarfarosh (1999) and Anaahat (2003). She is considered to be one of the most beautiful actresses in the Indian film industry. Bendre rarely plays the heroine in Bollywood movies, but she worked with almost all top actors of the business, among them Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. In 1995 she won the Filmfare Lux New Face Award. On November 16, 2001 she married film producer Goldie Bhel. She acted in a few Telugu and Kannada movies and has been successful there. She also hosted the 50th Filmfare Awards alongside Saif Ali Khan and Farida Jalal on February 26, 2005. On August 11, 2005 she gave birth to a son, Ranvir, in Beach Candy Hospital.

Sonali Rathod

Name: Sonali Rathod











BIOGRAPHY

Some women have all the looks and talent. Take Sonali Rathod, for instance. She looks like a dream, and is a phenomenally talented singer. Life has blessed her with a wonderful husband as well. It can't be anything but joyful to have singer-composer Roop Kumar Rathod for your husband. The couple has gone from strength to strength during their years of marriage.

Recently, Sonali Rathod struck out on her own by releasing her album This is me. Zakir Hussein, a luminary in the music world in his own right, was the chief guest at the album release function. A galaxy of famous personalities including Leslie Lewis, actress Sonali Kulkarni, Hariharan, J.P. Dutta were present along with the Rathod couple, of course. The function told the world that the versatile singer, who had been assisting husband Rathod at songs, concerts and many musical events, was emerging as a musician in her own right. Till date, Sonali Rathod has contented herself to singing bhajans, ghazal pieces and folk numbers. This is Me showcases her talent for Indipop.

The album has been more than a surprise to her friends and critics alike. Why the sudden change in her more traditional style of singing? This is the road less traveled since classical music singers prefer to stick to their comfort zones, isn't it? Rathod confesses that she had always wanted to do something different. She wanted to be known for different styles of singing and what better way than to release a ‘popular music’ album? Besides, she says, it is important that trained singers like her pushed themselves to try genres and gain more recognition.

She maintains a strict daily routine of riyaaz which explains her sweet voice. No matter how senior or popular the singer is, it is vital to do daily riyaaz, she insists.

Soniya Mehra

Name: Soniya Mehra
First Film :Victoria No 203










BIOGRAPHY

Daughter of late actor Vinod Mehra, Soniya will make her debut with Anant Mahadevan's Victoria No 203 remake.

Amrita Arora was supposed to do the lead role in this remake of the 1970s classic but apparently there was friction between her and producer Kamal Sadanah. She opted out and Soniya moved in.

Om Puri and Anupam Kher play an important role in the film, replacing Pran and Ashok Kumar from the original.

Sonam Kapoor

Name: Sonam Kapoor
Birthday: Sunday, June 09, 1985
Family: Anil Kapoor(Actor)
First Film : Saawariya








BIOGRAPHY

Sonam Kapoor (born June 9, 1985) is an upcoming Indian film actress. She is the daughter of Anil Kapoor and Sunita Kapoor. Her Uncles are producer Boney Kapoor and actor Sanjay Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor (no relation) confirmed at the Zee Cine Awards that his son Ranbir Kapoor will make his debut with Sonam Kapoor under Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film is titled Saawariya and is due for release in late 2007.

Sonu Nigam

Name: Sonu Nigam
Birthday: Monday, July 30, 1973
Star Sign : Leo
First Film : Bewafaa Sanam








BIOGRAPHY

Sonu Nigam (born July 30, 1973) is a Bollywood film singer, born in Haryana, India. He modelled his singing style after Mohammad Rafi. Nigam's first major song was Acchha Sila Diya Mere from the movie Bewafaa Sanam. His big break came in 1997 with the film Border, directed by J.P. Dutta. The film was scored by Anu Malik and the lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar. Nigam's duet with Roop Kumar Rathod, Ke Ghar Kab Aaoge, is especially memorable. He tried his hand at acting as well, but all movies in which he acted flopped. Since then, Nigam has sung in many Bollywood movies. He also sings duets with fellow Bollywood playback singers Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan. In addition to his playback work, Nigam also enjoys a successful Indipop career, and has released several albums. In June 2005, Sonu announced that he will not be living with his wife, Madhurima, any more. During a concert in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 20, 2005, his concert stage collapsed but Nigam was left with only a back strain. Since 2004 he has participated as a judge in Indian Idol, further endearing him to the Indian masses.

Sridevi

Name: Sridevi
Birthday: Tuesday, August 13, 1963
Star Sign : Leo
First Film : Julie








BIOGRAPHY

Sridevi born as Shree Amma Yanger on August 13, 1963 in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu is an Indian actress. She was one of the most successful actresses in commercial Indian cinema in the 1980s.

Sridevi started her career as a child artist in south Indian regional films before movong on to commercial Hindi movies as a heroine. In her initial years, she collaborated (according to IMDB) nineteen times with Jeetendra. Among her hits are Nagina, Mr. India, Chaalbaaz and Chandni who were written especially for her. She reached the crest of her career with Yash Chopra's Lamhe. Sridevi remains one of the highest-paid and popular actress of her time in Indian Cinema, proving to be more popular than her male colleagues.

She is a member of the Board of Director at the Asian Academy of film and television.

Sridevi has been married to Boney Kapoor since June 2, 1996 and has two daughters: Jhanvi and Khushi, both named after heroines in her husband's movies Judaai (1997) and Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000). Her brothers-in-laws are Sanjay Kapoor and Anil Kapoor who's been her romantic lead in most of her hit movies. Her Brother-in-law Sandeep Marwah is the promoter of Noida Film City

Subhash Ghai

Name: Subhash Ghai
Birthday: Wednesday, January 24, 1945
Star Sign : Aquarius
First Film : Kalicharan








BIOGRAPHY

His directorial break was the film Kalicharan (1976) which he obtained through a recommendation by Shatrughan Sinha, which was one of the biggest hits of its time. As of 2005, he has written and directed 15 movies out of which 13 were highly successful. In 1986, he won the National Award for his movie Karma. In 1982, he formed a company - Mukta Arts Private Limited which, in 2000, became a public company. Subhash Ghai is its chairman and managing director. Pardes (Abroad) and Taal (The Beat) were released internationally and featured in the Top 20 movies in USA for several weeks. His latest movies, Kisna and Yaadein were relative box office duds. Subhash Ghai has a tendency to overpublicize his films and this combined with the success of most of his films has hampered the box office success of his latest movies. Ghai himself admitted that he created too much anticipation. He said he took the 'failure' of Kisna personally. Still, actors Hritikh Roshan and Kareena Kapoor said that working on Yaadein was a gratifying experience and that Ghai is an immensely talented director. Personal lifeGhai is known as a showman and is quite well known for his womanizing ways. He has had accusations of sexual harassment thrown at him by many prominent actresses such as Manisha Koriala, and Mahima Chaudhary. He has a wife and two daughters. He also has a repuation for being very egotistical.

Sukhwinder Singh

Name: Sukhwinder Singh











BIOGRAPHY

Sukhwinder Singh is an Indian singer, most famous as a Bollywood playback singer. His greatest success is arguably the song Chaiyya Chaiyya (Eng: Walk in the Shadow) for Mani Ratnam's 1998 film Dil Se, composed by A. R. Rahman, for which he won the 'Best Male Playback' award at the 1999 Filmfare Awards in India.

Sukhwinder Singh is one of the most in-demand singers in Bollywood. The Chaiyya Chaiyya man arrived in style. Chaiyya Chaiyya needs no introduction. The first stage performance was at the age of 7 – 8 when he sang the Lata number ‘Sa re ga ma pa, pa, pa, ga ma re, ga re mere sang mere saajna’. He also released a Punjabi album called Munda Southhall Da with T – Series and came to collect an award and decided to stay back. He joined Laxmikant Pyarelal’s troupe and quickly became a music arranger. Then as with Hindi film actors, he went looking for work to the south of India and did a film called Rakshagan.

Luck seemed to favour him as he got a break in a Madhuri Dixit starrer called Khilaaf in which he sang a hit song ‘Aa ja sanam’. But the singer himself realised that something was missing in his voice. He left his dream city to tour England and America to learn more about music. To see, hear and understand the various forms of music. After this broadening of his musical horizons he returned to Mumbai to kick-start his musical career.

His first effort in Hindi films, Aaja Sanam, went largely unremarked, even though the music carried the names of Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Then, along came Dil Se. A R Rahman, always interested in something new, used Sukhwinder for the unforgettable Chaiyya Chaiyya. It was no flash in the pan, and Sukhwinder is now highly regarded as a sensitive and eloquent singer. Other films followed, including Taal, Biwi No 1, 1947 Earth, Daag, Dillagi and Thakshak have now made him a household word. Sukhwinder owes a large part of his success to Rahman's encouragement, and makes no effort to gloss over that fact.

Sukhwinder has some pretty strong opinions about writing music - he has once stated that if he was ever involved in writing music for film, he would delve deep into the Indian musical landscape and not simply conjure up some digital tricks with pop and fusion.Rahman and Sukhwinder are presently working very closely together, and the duo have decided to make music that is not tailor-made to fit in with films, but to venture into realms where they can truly express themselves.

Suman Ranganathan

Name: Suman Ranganathan
Address: 502 Glider Villa,17 Master Vinayak Cross ,Road,Bandra (W) ,Mumbai 400 050
First Film : Fareb








BIOGRAPHY

The actress with the dusky good looks and chiseled figure is a deeply religious soul, hailed from a conservative South Indian family. Suman Rangnathan who seems to be least bothered by the rumours and scandals that chase her night and day and does whatever she feels like. She has the natural grace and charm which men find irresistible and appealing. Even before she had stepped filmdom, she was in news because of her 'love' for Rahul Roy.


She started off pretty well with Fareb. But today, she is still grappling with a direction for her career. She has been charged with paying more attention towards her personal life than professional life. Sadly enough for her, Suman has been in news more because of the men 'around' her than her performances.
The actress with the dusky good looks and chiseled figure is a deeply religious soul, hailed from a conservative South Indian family. Suman Rangnathan who seems to be least bothered by the rumours and scandals that chase her night and day and does whatever she feels like. She has the natural grace and charm which men find irresistible and appealing. Even before she had stepped filmdom, she was in news because of her 'love' for Rahul Roy.

She started off pretty well with Fareb. But today, she is still grappling with a direction for her career. She has been charged with paying more attention towards her personal life than professional life.

Sunidhi Chauhan

Name: Sunidhi Chauhan
First Film : Shastra











BIOGRAPHY

She walked into the world of music as a little girl in a talent search TV music show. She showed no nervousness. Rather, only a confidence that took audience by surprise. Here, a profile on Sunidhi Chauhan.

Sunidhi has loved music ever since she was a toddler. Her parents soon realized they had a prodigy on their hands after seeing the exceptional musical talent of their young child. So, it seemed logical that the family shift from to Mumbai. What better city than Bollywood to showcase the talent of their little one? Sunidhi performed on stage several times and got many awards. Kalyanji, the renowned composer, had formed the Little Wonders troupe for child prodigies and Sunidhi was very much a part of it too.

Fame really came to her, though, only through the TV show MeriAawazSuno. The prize for the winner was to cut an album with HMV. Sunidhi won and recorded Aira Gaira Nathu Khaira with HMV. However, this was promoted as a kids album and did not do justice to Sunidhi’s immense talents.

Kalyanji – Anandji were planning a show on child prodigies called Little Wonders. Kalyanji spotted the then eight-year-old child and she joined them for a number of stage shows where she sang, in spite of her tender age, songs of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Ila Arun.

Her first break in a Hindi film was in the film Shastra followed by Gang, Veergati, Dahek, Bade Dilwala, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Shyam Benegal’s Samar. Her first breakthrough however Ram GopalVerma’s Mast. She sang the hit ‘Ruki Ruki Si Zindagi’ and also three other songs in the film. Sandeep Chowtha’s first film as a composer got an ideal virgin voice in Sunidhi and her song became the most memorable number in the film.After recording for SandeepChowta for the film Jungle, she went on to sing in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Mission Kashmir. She added yet another feather to her cap by bagging the R D Burman award for the most promising newcomer at the Filmfare Awards 2001.Sunidhi had also cut her solo album called Aira Gaira Nathu Khaira.

She is religious and believes in God,"God is my inner conscience; my intuition, my inner self, my guiding force and my angel who protects me. I have always had deep faith in the supreme power and it has never wavered at all. Once I had to sing a hi-pitch song for the movie Mast and my throat was really bad. It was my faith in divine power and my ability that helped to record successfully. Faith makes a lot of difference in life."

Not one to rest on her laurels, she is now training in Indian classical music so she can improve her skills. She also loves Western music and Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson top her list of favorites. Her ambition is to achieve global fame.

Sunidhi created ripples by tying the knot with music video director/producer Bobby Khan. It seems like Sunidhi is completely happy and fulfilled – both, in her career as well as her personal life.

Sunil Dutt*

Name: Sunil Dutt*
Birthday: Friday, June 06, 1930
Star Sign : Gemini
Family: Balraj Dutt
Address: Bandra,Mumbai
First Film : Railway Platform






BIOGRAPHY

Sunil Dutt (June 6, 1929 - May 25, 2005), born Balraj Dutt was an Indian Bollywood actor and politician. He was the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports in the Manmohan Singh government (2004-2005). He was a recipient of the Padma Shri. His son, Sanjay Dutt, is currently also a Bollywood star.

In 1984 he joined the Congress (I) party and was elected to Parliament for five terms from the constituency of Mumbai North West.

Starting out in radio, Sunil Dutt was a hugely popular announcer on the Hindi Service of Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia. He moved to acting in Hindi films. He acted in several successful films from 1956.

He was born in the village of Khurd (now in Pakistan Punjab). His family moved to India during the Partition of India (1947). In Mumbai, he joined Jai Hind College as an undergraduate and took up a job. A stroke of luck fetched him an additional assignment with an advertisement company and he could supplement his income by a few hundred more rupees. While working for it, he got introduced to the cream of film industry including Nargis, whom he married on March 11, 1958. He had 1 son and 2 daughters. He introduced his son Sanjay in Rocky in 1981. In that same year, his wife died of pancreatic cancer. He set up Nargis Dutt foundation in memory of his wife for the cure of cancer patients. He was also a sponsor of the India Project, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated organization akin to Operation Smile for the treatment of Indian children with facial deformities.

In 1982 he was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai, an apolitical titular position, a position bestowed on him by the Maharashtra government for the period of a year.

His political career was halted for some years in the early 1990s when he worked to free his son from jail after he was arrested following Hindu-Muslim clashes in Mumbai.

He died of a heart attack [1] at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai in his sleep. His seat in Parliament will be contested by his daughter, Priya Dutt.

Sunil Shetty

Name: Sunil Shetty
Birthday: Friday, August 11, 1961
Star Sign : Leo
First Film : Balwan








BIOGRAPHY

Sunil Shetty (born 11 August 1961) is an Indian actor. He was born in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. He has now changed his name to Suniel Shetty

Sunil Shetty made his Bollywood debut in 1992 with the film Balwan. The film was a success and started his career. His breakthrough role came with the film Mohra. This was followed by mostly action movies which made him even more popular. He did many films with action star Akshay Kumar, which resulted in hits. He went on to do roles which showed patriotism such as Border (1994), LOC Kargil (2003) and Qayamat (2003.

His performance in Dhadkan was praised as he played a villainous role. He received the Filmfare Best Villain Award for his role. He has tried to do many comic roles with little success, though his role in Hulchul was appreciated.

Shetty also has a production company called Popcorn Entertaiment. The company have produced films such as Khel (2003) and Rakht: What If You Can See the Future (2004). The company has had little success.

He starred in the hits Main Hoon Na (2004) and Paheli (2005), both of which were produced by Shahrukh Khan.

Of his recent films he had hits with Dus and Deewana Huye Pagal.Although he has decided to quit films and look after his business in which he claims he will earn 30 times more than what he earns acting in movies.

Sunny Deol

Name: Sunny Deol
Birthday: Wednesday, October 11, 1961
Star Sign : Libra
Family: Dharmendra
Address: Plot no-22,11th road,JVPD scheme,Mumbai.
First Film : Ghazab







BIOGRAPHY

Sunny Deol (born as Ajay Singh Deol on October 19, 1956 in New Delhi) is a Bollywood actor and son of legendary actors Dharmendra and his first wife Prakash Kaur. He is the brother of Bobby Deol and half-brother of Esha Deol and Ahana Deol who are Hema Malini's daughters. He was born in New Delhi, India but is of Punjabi descent. He is married to Pooja and has two sons Rajvir and Ranvir, which are incidentally the names he chose for himself and Bobby Deol in his directorial debut Dillagi.

He has won a couple of National Awards for his performances in Ghayal (Injured) (1990) & Damini (1993). He stars in the highest grossing film of Indian cinema, Gadar - Ek Prem Katha (2001). His other major hits include his debut film Betaab (1983), Arjun (1985), Paap Ki Duniya (1988), Tridev (1989), Chaalbaaz (1989), Darr (Fear) (1993), Jeet (Victory) (1996), Ghatak (1996), Ziddi (1997), Border (1997) & Indian (2001).

Sunny Deol has been associated with accomplished directors like Rahul Rawail (Betaab, Arjun, Samundar, Dacait & Arjun Pandit), Guddu Dhanoa (Ziddi, Salaakhen, 23 March 1931 Shaheed & Jaal - The Trap), J.P.Dutta (Yateem, Kshatriya & Border), Rajkumar Santoshi (Ghayal, Damini & Ghatak), Rajiv Rai (Tridev & Vishwatma), Anil Sharma (Gadar-Ek Prem Katha & The Hero) & Raj Kanwar (Jeet & Farz).

Sunny Deol tried his hand at direction with Dillagi (1999) starring himself, Bobby Deol & Urmila Matondkar. Though the film was a commercial failure, Sunny Deol's direction was critically acclaimed.

Suraiya

Name: Suraiya











BIOGRAPHY

Save for her arresting, almond-shaped eyes, Suraiya was not a classic beauty; nor did she trained in classical music. Suraiya , the lovely melody queen created aura with her popular numbers like 'tu mera chaand, main teri chandani' ,'dil-e-nadan, tujhe hua kya hai' and 'woh paas rahe ya door rahe' .

Suraiya was born in 1929 as Suraiya Jamal Shaikh in Lahore. She received formal education at the New (J.B,Petit) High School for Girls in Mumbai and studied Persian and Quran at home. Her maternal uncle M. Zahoor used to perform character roles in films. During school vacations in 1941, she accompanied him to the Mohan Studios where shooting of film "Taj Mehal" was being done. There was a role for a child in this film. The director Mr.Nanubhai Vakil suggested her to perform the role and she agreed to face the camera for the first time. The shot was considered OK.

During her school days she used to participate in "Children Program" on Radio along with Shammi and Rajkapoor. She could sing some popular songs of that time with melody and fidelity. Appreciating her singing talent, a song "Boot karun mein polish" was recorded in her voice by Naushad Sahib in 1942 for the film "Nai-Dunia". In the same year she performed a role in film "Station Master" Other films of her playback singing with music by Naushad Sahib were "Sharda" (Punchi Ja- pechey raha hae bachpan mera), "Qanoon" and "Sanjog".

Her singing career found a mentor in music maestro Naushad. Suraiya had participated in a children`s programme on All India Radio after friend Raj Kapoor and neighbour Madan Mohan had cajoled her. Naushad heard Suraiya on the radio and chose her to sing as 13 year old for Mehtab in Kardar`s Sharda, 1942. Suraiya had to stand on a stool to reach the mike to croon Panchi ja, picturised on the much-older heroine, Mehtaab.

She was effectively launched as a singing star in Bombay Talkies Humaari Baat (1943). She made her presence felt in perhaps India's first multi-starrer K.Asif's Phool (1944) and played strong supporting second lead roles to Noorjehan in Mehboob Khan's Anmol Ghadi (1946) and Munawar Sultana in Dard (1947).Suraiya had her moments with Socha Tha Kya, Main Dil Mein Dard Basa La Aayee and Man Leta Hai.

She was starred opposite the legendary K.L. Saigal in three of his later films - Tadbir (1945), Omar Khaiyam (1946) and Parwana (1947), the last remembered for her haunting rendition of Jab Tumhi Nahin Apne.Her pairing with the then superstar Dev Anand was a huge hit and the two went on to star in many successful movies together - Afsar, Shayar and Jeet etal. They were romantically linked and were all set to marry when her strict grandmother put her foot down and broke their relationship (Dev Anand is a Hindu while Suraiya is a Muslim). The heartbroken Suraiya never married though many leading men of her time were interested in her.Surraiya's idol was Gregory Peck and he visited her by surprise during a night of 1954 while in transit at Mumbai on his way to Srilanka for shooting. He was much impressed by her simplicity.Dev Anand molded himself in postures of Gregory Peck but after long awaiting he married Kaplna Kartak.

The 1948-49 phase saw her rise to her peak. With Pyar ki Jeet (1948), Badi Bahen (1949) and Dillagi (1949) she became the highest paid female star of her time. At her peak, Suraiya generated hysteria comparable only to Rajesh Khanna in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Shop owners would down their shutters to see her starrers on the first day itself, crowds would throng outside her residence at Marine Drive in Bombay just to get a glimpse of her and actor Dharmendra recalls going to see Dillagi 40 times! Her songs from the above films Tere Nainon Ne Chori Kiya, O Door Jaanewaale (Pyar ki Jeet), Woh Paas Rahe Ya Door Rahe, O Likhnewaale Ne, Bigdi Bananewaale (Badi Bahen) and Tu Mera Chand, Murliwaale Murli Bajaa (Dillagi) were hummed in every nook and corner of the country.

Most of her films in the 50's flopped till she made a short lived comeback with Sohrab Modi's 'Mirza Ghalib' in which she played the role of the married Ghalib's lover.She made a short-lived comeback with Waaris (1954) and Mirza Ghalib (1954). The latter saw her finest dramatic performance as she made alive and vivid the role of the married Ghalib's lover, a courtesan. Ghalib also saw some of her finest singing - Aah ko Chaihiye Ek Umar, Nuktacheen Hai Gham-e-Dil, Dil-e-Nadaan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai, Yeh Na Thi Humari Kismet etc. Her singing is till date regarded as the definitive Ghalib. In fact India's then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru paid her the ultimate compliment by telling her " Tumne Mirza Ghalib ki Rooh ko Zinda Kar Diya" (she had brought Mirza Ghalib to life).

Sushmita Sen

Name: Sushmita Sen
Birthday: Wednesday, November 19, 1975
Star Sign : Scorpio
First Film : Dustak








BIOGRAPHY

Sushmita’s victory as Ms. Universe in 1994 catapulted India onto the beauty map of the world. More crowns and pageant queens followed, but Sushmita became a benchmark for them, the quintessence of all such beautiful and brave women who have that vim and vigour to take on the universe. And Bollywood had to follow.
Strangely, Sushmita’s debut film was Mahesh Bhatt’s ‘Dastak’, where she enacted her real life role (that of Ms. Universe) onscreen. Ms. Sen had everything - dashing looks, ambition, talent, and a fiercely intelligent mind that could intimidate most erudite men from the industry; her only snag was that she was a trifle taller than most Bollywood actors at that point of time. She carried her towering height and lean physique with poise and elegance, though offers didn’t come by, a dime a dozen. In 1999, for the first time Sushmita Sen received applause for her performance in ‘Biwi No. 1’ with Salman and Karisma Kapoor – it was then that she woke to an interesting revelation about her knack for comedy. In 2001 she attempted another David Dhawan so-called laugh-riot, ‘Kyo Ki Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta’, the results of which weren’t funny at all; of course, the critics had the last laugh.
But Sushmita wasn’t here to simply tickle funny bones and make her way into the highest echelons of the glamour biz; her intensity and perceptive sensibilities gradually emanated from the screen. In 2002 she starred in Meghna Gulzar’s debut vehicle, ‘Filhaal’, a strong woman-oriented subject. The film didn’t go down well the masses, but Sushmita received a sack full of accolades for her portrayal as a surrogate mother. In 2003, iDreams’ ‘Samay – When Time Strikes’ followed, a thriller where she played the protagonist – a cop in common-wo(man’s) clothes. Here again she evaded the archetypical role of posing as a heroic cop’s love-interest; she was the officer-in-control. In Manisha Koirala’s ‘Paisa Vasool’, Susmita played the role of a crass woman for the first time. Though the film bombed at the BO, she walked away once again with the bouquets, leaving behind the brickbats for others to bear.
Bollywood has finally woken up to a serious actress in Sushmita Sen, and the films that she is really looking forward to are Farah Khan’s ‘Main Hoon Na’ and Mahesh Manjrekar's 'It Was Raining That Night' (the English version of his earlier production, 'Astitva'), which is in her native languages of Bengali and English.
Sushmita’s professional life might be packed with a houseful of films, bustling with other activities, or blossoming with love (with her string of high-profile liaisons), but her first priority is her adopted daughter, Renee, who Sushmita says is the joy of her life.
Sushmita the Delhi girl took the world by storm in 1994, when she was crowned Miss Universe. This Delhi girl with very ordinary looks was the youngest amongst the seventy-seven participants, at just 18. Absolutely no one had predicted that this dark horse of the contest would emerge as the winner.

She was frank enough to admit after the competition that she was not the most beautiful woman of the world but it was her figure, personality, demeanour and the way she presented her country that brought her the honour.

Born in a middle class family at Hyderabad on November 19, 1975 Sushmita tore apart many a myth and pre- conceived notions of the abilities of middle class girl in the field of glamour. It may come as a surprise to many that she had not studied English till her ninth standard her entire schooling till that time being in Hindi. Standing 5” 10’ she is tall by Indian standards, but she admits that height was her forte in Miss Universe contest. Little could she have imagined what destiny had in store for her after the title? She went abroad to about thirty countries and met world leaders and discussed with them topics as diverse as war and peace, environment, poverty, friendship and goodwill.

When she came back home she was flooded with offers from films. But she took her time to settle and take her pick. Ultimately she made her debut in Mahesh Bhatt production, Dastak. Many called it mimicry of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Darr. The film flopped at the box office and along with it died the euphoria amongst the masses to see Miss Universe perform on the celluloid. During those days she had a torrid yet very brief affair with Vikram Bhatt, who was married and had children. Though they always categorically denied rumours.

Tabu

Name: Tabu
Birthday: Saturday, November 04, 1972
Star Sign : Scorpio
First Film : Hum Naujawan









BIOGRAPHY

Tabu was born in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh as Tabassum Hashmi on November 4, 1972.

Largely considered one of the Indian film industry's best actresses working today, Tabu "Tabassum Hashmi" has won the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress two times - once for Maachis (1996) and most recently for Chandni Bar (2001). She has also won three statuettes in the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Performance category for Virasat (1997), Hu Tu Tu (1999), and Astitva (2000) respectively and in 1995 she was awarded with the Filmfare Best Debut Award

Despite a few exceptions, Tabu is known best for her willingness to play characters in artistic, low-budget films that go on to garner more critical appreciation than they do substantial box office figures (such as in Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities or Maqbool).

She has acted in a number of Telugu movies, many of them very successful, such as Coolie No. 1, Ninne Pelladatha etc.

She is the niece of Shabana Azmi and the younger sister of actress Farha.

In 2006 she will be seen alongside Kajol and Aamir Khan in Kunal Kohli's newest film, Fanaah.

Tanisha

Name: Tanisha
Family: Mother-tanuja
First Film : Sssshhh...









BIOGRAPHY

Shobhana Samarth's granddaughter. Tanuja and Shomu Mukherjee's daughter. Nutan's and Joy Mukherjee's niece. Kajol's sister. Ajay Devgan's sister-in-law. Mohnish Behl's and Rani Mukerji's cousin. And her paternal grandfather the late Sashadhar Mukherjee, owned Filmalaya studios. Phew! With a pedigree like that you cannot be anything but an actress.

And with a pedigree like that you cannot but raise expectations. "Ever since I remember I always wanted to be an actress," says Tanisha in a recent interview. "The arc lights, the camera and all those things associated with the film world fascinated me. My ambition grew three fold when my sister Kajol began getting wonderful roles written just for her."

The nubile actress will finally get her wish when her debut film, Cinevistaas' Sssshhh…' releases in late October.

It is the most anticipated debut by a Bollywood actress in recent times. It is not only her cinematic pedigree that has raised expectations but the fact that her performance will be compared to that of her illustrious aunt, mother and sister - all award winners. And from initial reports it looks like she will live up to expectations. Her director Pavan S. Kaul has been raving about her performance in Sssshhh…, which also marks his comeback to the big screen.

On Tanisha, Director Pavan S. Kaul says 'She's a natural'. 'Tanisha is a co-operative actress, she will go a long way', says Dino. Her co-star Karan Nath says, 'It was a good experience working with Tanisha, she's talented, she's confident'.

Tanushree Dutta

Name: Tanushree Dutta
Birthday: Thursday, May 30, 1985
First Film : Aashique Banaya Aapne









BIOGRAPHY

Tanushree Dutta (born 1985) is an actress and Miss India 2004.

Tanushree was born and raised in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand state (then Bihar), and did her graduation in communications in Pune, Maharashtra.

She was placed among the top ten in the Miss Universe contest of 2004.

She debuted in Bollywood in 2005. She worked on two films together Chocolate and Aashiq Banaya Apne. Chocolate was intended to be her debut film, however its release was preceded by Aashiq Banaya Apne, which led to differences with the Chocolate director Vivek Agnihotri.

Dutta, a dusky B Com second year student from Pune University, bagged the coveted crown amidst stiff competition from 29 contestants who were chosen from about 6,000 girls from all over the country.

The ceremony, held at the sprawling Bandra-Kurla Complex, saw Lakshmi Pandit, a Mumbai-based classical dancer walking away with the Miss India World title.

Tanushree's reply to actor Sanjay Dutt's question in the final round, whether there was a healthy competition when only one wins, won her the crown.

The audience broke into applause when she replied, "When there is unhealthy competition verybody is a loser."

Tara Sharma

Name: Tara Sharma












BIOGRAPHY

Tara Sharma is a Indian actress.

The daughter of well-known author and actor, Partap Sharma and an alumnus of the London School of Economics, she made her debut in 2002 with Anupam Kher's Om Jai Jagadish. Despite having a huge star cast which included Waheeda Rehman and Anil Kapoor, the film did not do well. After that she made an appearance in the popular British police series The Bill. Her first hit came with the comedy Masti (2004). This was followed by the critically acclaimed film Page 3 (2005). Her performance was appreciated by the critics.

Tara Sharma appears in a successful television and print advertising campaign for Garnier.

Tejaswini Kolhapure

Name: Tejaswini Kolhapure
First Film : Paanch










BIOGRAPHY

Tejaswini Kolhapure, better known as Padmini Kolhapure’s younger sister. As a youngster, Tejaswini was never inclined towards acting. So when Rahul Rawail offered her the lead role in his Bekhudi some years back, instead of clinching it, Tejaswini preferred to walk the ramps. Thereafter, having the catwalks for years, she decided to give television a shot. That’s when 'Mujhe Chand Chahiye' happened. And now moving a step further onto the silver screen.

With her debut film Paanch shelved for a long time, Tejaswini Kolhapure has yet to make a start in Bollywood. Paanch, launched by none other than her sister’s hubby, Tutu Sharma, the story is about a 5 member music band struggling to make it big on the movie scene. Tejaswini plays one of the quintets, a sassy and selfish girl. Reputed failure stems frustration among the rockers who finally commit a crime and get themselves into a fix.

Tejaswini had recently walked out of award-winning filmmaker Manish Jha's film Matrabhoomi, because the role required her to expose. The young Kolhapure girl was acting on special guidance by her elder sister and former actress Padmini Kolhapure and her husband and film producer Tutu Sharma.

However, Tejaswini seems to have learned that she can’t afford to be so choosy when her Bollywood career is yet to take off.

So the girl has signed for debutant director Harry Fernandes film Anjaane: The Unknown despite the fact that some scenes in the film require her to wear skimpy swimsuits. Anjane is the Hindi remake of the Nicole Kidman's supernatural thriller ‘The Others’.

Tejaswini debut film Paanch still has to hit the theatres and appears to have been dumped for the time being. But Tutu is not throwing in the towel. He is all set to produce yet another movie with Tejaswini in the leading role.

The movie titled Hum, Tum...Woh will co-star Aftab Shivdasani and will be directed by Rahul Rawail's nephew Rajat Rawail. Presumed to be a thriller, the film will also have newcomer Darshika in a parallel role. The movie is based on a story by Tutu himself. It will go on the floors in October.

Tina Munim

Name: Tina Munim
Star Sign : Aries










BIOGRAPHY

Tina Munim was a successful Bollywood star of late seventies and early eighties. She is married to Anil Ambani. She was discovered by Dev Anand. She represented India at the International Teen Princess contest at Aruba, and won the Miss Photogenic and Miss Bikini awards.In the mid 1980s Munim made the conscious decision to put her Bollywood career on hiatus. She moved to California where she studied and got a college degree.

In 1991 she returned to India and later married industrialist Anil Ambani. Today she is involved in a number of charity, arts, and talent endeavors and hasn't made any new film since the mid 1980s.

Tulip Joshi

Name: Tulip Joshi
Birthday: Tuesday, September 11, 1979










BIOGRAPHY

Tulip Joshi, born 1979[1], is an Indian model and actress in Bollywood. She was born in Bombay, India, on September 11, 1979 , is a Virgoan, and stands 5'6" tall. She has dark-hair, brown eyes, and measures 32.5-26-36. She has two sisters, Selphi and Monalisa. The latter is married to Bollywood actor, Rajat Bedi. She has a nephew, Vivann, and niece, Vera. Tulip was brought up in Mumbai, and attended the Jamnabai Narsee School, and later Mithibai College from where she graduated in food science and chemistry. She excelled in sports, competing in athletics at the National level. Tulip entered the Femina Miss India Contest in 2000. She did not make it to the list of winners, but was noticed by many advertising agencies. She appeared in a number of advertising campaigns for big brands (Ponds, Pepsi, Siyaram, BPL, Smirnoff, etc.). (She also appeared in a video made as a tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Tulip entered movies quite by chance. She was a friend of the bride of Aditya Chopra, the son of director Yash Chopra. The family noticed her at their wedding and asked her to appear for an audition, following which they cast her in Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. Not being fluent in Hindi, she trained in Hindi diction and in acting at Feroze Khan’s studio. She was also advised by the film-makers to change her name to something more Indian, as audiences might have difficulty in accepting a heroine with such an unconventional name. She chose the name Sanjana, she was playing the character of Anjali in that film. The film was quite a success[2] Despite the good reviews and success, Tulip was heavily panned for her acting. Afterwards, she vanished from cinema for two years because of severe back problems resulting from a shifted spine and a slipped disc. She reappeared in Matrubhoomi - a dark film about a futuristic world with almost no women. Her performance in it was praised and established her credibility as an actress. Reverting back to her given name, Tulip next appeared in the Telugu film Villain. Her next Hindi movie was Dil Maange More with Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia and Soha Ali Khan. The film got average reviews but it was not a box office success.

Tushar Kapoor

Name: Tushar Kapoor
Birthday: Saturday, November 20, 1976
Family: Father-Jeetendra ,Mother-Shobha Kapoor.
Address: 26 Greater Bombay Society, Gulmohar Cross Road 5,
First Film : Mujhe Kuch Khena Hai







BIOGRAPHY

Tusshar Kapoor son of Jeetendra. His debut film was Mujhe Kuch Khena Hai with Kareena Kapoor. Kuch Tu Hai and Kya Dil Ne Kaha both films were his home production Balaji. In 2003 Khakee was released with other superstar. Film goes average and people aapreciated his work in it.

His next release will be Shart opposite Gracy singh and Amrita Arora It's a triangular romantic film. Then his other release will be Ram Gopal Verma's Gaayab opposite Antara Mali. Its a science fiction film. His few more films are their which are again Balaji Productionand will be shortly directed by Satish Kaushik and Raj kumar Santoshi.

Tushar enjoys his work, life and people .He is go o movies and party hard. He feels its better to stay single and enjoy life. Love has its ups and downs and he dont want heartbreaks.

Twinkle Khanna

Name: Twinkle Khanna
Birthday: Sunday, December 29, 1974
Star Sign : Sagittarius
Family: Father: Rajesh Khanna; Mother: Dimple Kapadia
First Film : Barsaat








BIOGRAPHY

Twinkle Khanna (born December 29, 1973 in Pune, India ) is an Indian film actress
She is the daughter of film stars Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna and sister of Rinke Khanna.

She made her debut opposite Bobby Deol in Barsaat. She then went on to do many films which got her good reviews and recognition from the audience. She has acted with some of the best stars in the industry including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Govinda.

Her other notable film roles include the village girl looking for revenge in Mela and the undercover spy in Baadshah.

She left the film industry after her marriage to Akshay Kumar, she had not acted in any films since then. Later on, she pursued a career in interior designing.

Twinkle recently did the interiors for Rani Mukerji's new house.

She married actor Akshay Kumar on January 14, 2001. Their first child, a son named Araav, was born on September 15, 2002. There were rumours in 2004 that Akshay might have been having an affair with actress Priyanka Chopra and Twinkle wanted him to stop making any films with her.

Uday Chopra

Name: Uday Chopra
Birthday: Friday, January 05, 1973
Star Sign : Capricorn
Family: Yash Chopra
First Film : Mohabbatein












BIOGRAPHY

He is the son of Yash Chopra (legendary director and producer) and brother of Aditya Chopra (director of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Mohabbatein). He is associate director when it comes to his father's and brother's movies.

He made his debut under his brother's direction in Mohabbatein. He starred with Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and five other debutantes (Shamita Shetty, Jugal Hansraj, Jimmy Shergill, Preeti Jhangiani and Kim Sharma). The film was a hit but the audiences noticed Bachchan, Khan, and Rai rather than Uday and the other five stars. However the film established him in the industry.

He has mostly done films under his father's production house. He had his first hit in 2004 with the action thriller Dhoom. His playful performance was appreciated and it enhanced him in the industry. His friend is actor Hrithik Roshan.

Udit Narayan

Name: Udit Narayan
Family: Father-Aditya Narayan
First Film : Unees Bees












BIOGRAPHY

Udit Narayan is a well-established playback singer in the Hindi-language Bollywood film industry. Born in a village called Bharadah in Saptary, Nepal, Udit Narayan began his career by singing Maithili and Nepali folk songs for Radio Nepal in the early 1970s. In 1978, he moved to Mumbai on a music scholarship. In Mumbai he trained in Indian classical music for six years at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

He got his first break in 1980, when noted music director (composer) Rajesh Roshan asked him to do a song for the Hindi movie Unees Bees. But the actual success story of his career began in 1988 with the superhit Bollywood movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, fetching him a Filmfare Award, the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscar. The film also happened to bring actor Aamir Khan, actress Juhi Chawla, and singer Alka Yagnik to stardom.

Udit Narayan has so far won five Filmfare Awards. He won it for the first time in 1988 for the song "Papa Kehte Hain" from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak; the second time he won it for "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna" from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in 1995. He won his third award the following year in 1996 for the song "Pardesi Pardesi" from the film Raja Hindustani. His fourth award was for the song "Chand Chupa Badal" from the film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. His fifth award was for the song "Mitwa" in the Oscar-nominated Lagaan. He won the National Award for his playback singing in the Punjabi movie Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai.

His son Aditya Narayan has also established himself as the voice for any song picturised on a child artiste. His wife Deepa Narayan, whom he married in 1985, is also an accomplished singer and the two have recorded an album together titled Dil Deewana.

Recently, he had a falling out with composer Anu Malik due to the latter's misbehavior at a recording session for a Raj Kanwar film.

Udit Narayan is famous for how he varies his voice. He spends a long time Perfecting his voice for actors in films. He is renouned for sounding exactly like Shahrukh Khan, but even this took a long time to perfect.

For a man who had to struggle for over a decade to make it to where he is today Udit Narayan is fairly philosophical about his whole journey as a singer. Today he is considered to be one of the best male playback singers in Bollywood if not the best. Having rendered hits after super hits for every top star not to mention the three Khans who are reigning supreme today, Udit Narayan is a name that is atop of every Music director’s list whenever they start recording the music for any film. So what is Udit Narayan all about, how were his struggling days and how has success affected his life.

Udita Goswami.

Name: Udita Goswami.
Birthday: Sunday, September 02, 1984
First Film : Paap













BIOGRAPHY

Udita Goswami model turned into actress has come a long way from Dehradun where she was born. Udita Goswami debut film was Pooja Bhatt’s Paap opposite John Abrahim

Udita always wanted to be part of showbiz and was never interested in life in a small town. Her parents were afraid of sending their daughter off into the big bad world of modeling but seeing her determination, they had to admit that their daughter had the courage to achieve what she wanted.

However, Udita did not become a model with the intention of using it as a stepping stone to acting. Lady Luck smiled on her when she got a call from Pooja Bhatt offering her the heroine’s role in Paap. Though Udita had received a lot of film offers earlier, it was only in Paap that she finally made her debut on the silver screen. Even then, it was only after much soul searching that she actually met Pooja that meeting changed her life. Udita was completely convinced by the role and took up the offer immediately. It also proved to be the beginning of a friendship between Pooja and Udita. The unit and director were very supportive of Udita as was John Abraham, the hero of the film. Besides, John had been a model too and Udita had known him since then. So she wasn’t uncomfortable acting in the sensuous sequence with John. Also, Udita makes it very clear that she has no objections to aesthetically handled erotic scenes.

Debutante Udita Goswami surprises with a polished performance that is likely to put many of her contemporaries to blushes. She is successfully able to convey the inner dilemmas of her character with the acting that is punctuated with restraint and outbursts. Paap is engrossing, visually stunning and thematically moving.

Udita is getting a lot of offers but she is cautious. She does not mind doing commercial films if she likes the role and is open to all good offers. Spoken like a true Bollywood actress.
Udita Goswami is the latest breed of young sizzlers aspiring to make a mark in the tinsel town. With Pooja Bhatt's first directorial film 'Paap' opposite John Abraham as her debut film, Udita has got rave reviews in her unconventional act of a Buddhist monk. She looks absolutely gorgeous and fresh. It's "a role which demands solid acting and nothing else," claims the pretty Dehradun girl.

This doe eyed ‘84 born has been in lime-light for her extremely successful modeling assignments for brands like Pepsi, Sun.com, Nokia, Star Movies, Platinum, Levis, Wills Sports, Lee Cooper, Rags, Elle Sports, Rupam, Park Hotel, Taj Hotel, Titan Watches, Brylcream, etc. Having modeled for an array of products, acting naturally figured in Udita's scheme of things.

One of India's leading models, Udita is the winner of "MTV Model Mission 2 and of prestigious Model of the Universe Asia 2001” and can also been seen on covers of ELLE, Femina, Cosmopolitan, Bride n Home, Zinc, etc. She has been very active on ramp and is featured in shows by Suneet Verma, Tarun Tahilyani, Nikki Mahajan and Ranna Gill.

With no formal training in acting and no star-child tag to boot, Udita has left an impression on the audience with her sensuous looks and her effervescent smile. Among her favorite actors are Gary Cooper, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha and Marilyn Monroe. Quite a foodie, Udita freaks on Goan food. For all the guys trying to woo this pretty lady, try gifting her Red Door by Elizabeth Arden, which remains her favorite perfume.

Upen Patel

Name: Upen Patel
Birthday: Saturday, August 16, 1980
First Film : 36 China Town


















BIOGRAPHY

Upen Patel, born in 1980 in Britain, is an Indian male model. Upen has made it big in the world of fashion. He has modelled for brands such as Hugo Boss, Paul Smith and Zegna and today is a global name on the fashion front. Currently, he has bagged some big campaigns with names like Wendell Rodricks, Vikram Phadnis (with Salman Khan) and Westside (with Yuvraj Singh). Now in Mumbai, this hunk has been sent many filmi feelers from directors such as Mukesh Bhatt and Tanuja Chandra. But Patel is in no hurry. He waits patiently for the right offer to come his way. So, for any filmmaker who is on the lookout for a fresh face with the right attitude, you know where to look. Upen Patel is one of the most eligible bachelors walking the ramp currently.

Urmila Matondkar

Name: Urmila Matondkar
Birthday: Monday, February 04, 1974
Star Sign : Aquarius
Address: Casablanca Building, Versova-Andheri, Mumbai,400058, India.
First Film : Kalyug












BIOGRAPHY

Urmila Matondkar (born on February 4, 1974 in Mumbai, India) is a Bollywood actress
She started her career as a child artist; perhaps the best known of her early movies is the 1983 Masoom. Her first big hit was the 1995 Rangeela, in which she played a star-struck dancer. She was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actress Award for her work in Rangeela. This was her first film with director Ram Gopal Varma -- but not her last. She has starred in many subsequent RGV pictures, such as Daud, Satya, Kaun, Mast, Jungle, and Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya.

Her biggest hits since Rangeela have been Judaai and Bhoot. She also turned in a strong dramatic performance in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya in 2001.

Urmila is an outstanding dancer and has been a featured performer in many Bollywood "item numbers", in which a star gives a cameo performance in a song-and-dance number. Perhaps her best-known item number is the Chamma Chamma sequence from the 1998 China Gate. A brief Westernized version of Chamma Chamma appeared in Baz Luhrman's 2001 film musical, Moulin Rouge -- minus Urmila.

Umila was nomiated for what is popularly called the Filmfare Best Villain Award in 2001, for her work in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya.

In 2003, Urmila won her first Filmfare Award: Critics Award Best Performance for Bhoot. Her same performance won her recognition in many other award ceremonies as well.

Urmila has been nominated for Filmfare Best Actress Award category four times for films Rangeela in 1995, Satya in 1998, Bhoot in 2003, and Ek Haseena Thi in 2004 but has never won.

She has also been nominated for Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award category for her role in Judaai in 1997 but lost to her rival Karisma Kapoor.

2003, Star Screen Award Best Actress, Bhoot
2003, 1st Annual Apsara Awards, Best Actress, Bhoot.
2003, Bollywood Awards, Best Actress, Bhoot.
2003, Zee Cine Award Best Actor- Female, Bhoot.

Vasundhra Das

Name: Vasundhra Das











BIOGRAPHY

Vasundhara Das (born 1978) is an Indian actress and singer. She began acting with the Kamal Hasan film Hey Ram (1999) and her playback singing career began when she worked with A. R. Rahman for the Tamil-language film Mudhalvan. Vasundhara Das has also recorded her own album of non-film songs, and sung in French, English, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi.

She has founded a musical band named Arya with Roberto Narain. The band comprises of musicians from various backgrounds in music, ranging from Hindustani and Karnatic classical music to jazz, Latin, rock and pop. Arya’s music can be broadly classified as World Music. Arya’s first performance was at the prestigious festival La Mar de Musicas, in Spain in 2003. The band performed a tour in the United States of America in September 2004. Roberto Narian plays the drums and she provides the western and the Indian vocals.

Victor Banerjee

Name: Victor Banerjee
Birthday: Tuesday, October 15, 1946
Star Sign : Libra
First Film : Shatranj Ke Khilari


















BIOGRAPHY

Sensitive Indian actor in several films by Satyajit Ray and best known for his finely calibrated performance opposite Judy Davis in David Lean's "A Passage to India" (1984). Banerjee began his career on the Calcutta stage as a child actor and appeared frequently in amateur theatrical productions. After attending university, he was introduced to director Satyajit Ray who, recalling Banerjee's earlier stage work, offered him a part in "The Chess Players" (1977), an uneven historical drama about colonial Indian politics. It was the beginning of a long association in which Banerjee starred in such Ray films as the short "Pikoo's Day" (1981) and "Home and the World" (1984).
Though Banerjee began working in Western films with the James Ivory comedy "Hullabaloo Over Georgia and Bonnie's Pictures" (1979) opposite Peggy Ashcroft, it was the pivotal role of Dr. Aziz in "A Passage To India" (1984) that marked a turning point in his career. He next starred in the English comedy "Foreign Body" (1986) as a shy clerk who poses as a London physician, and then was cast by Roman Polanski in his dark comedy "Bitter Moon" (1994) as Mr. Sikh, a benign patriarch who personified family values. Though Banerjee works in the West, he remains active in the Indian film industry, frequently working in Bengali art cinema.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Name: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
First Film : Murder at Monkey Hill











BIOGRAPHY

Vidhu Vinod Chopra is a writer, director and producer of Bollywood movies. He was raised in Srinagar, India and studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India.

His film An Encounter With Faces was nominated for an Oscar in the short, non-fiction film category.

Vidya Balan

Name: Vidya Balan
Birthday: Friday, January 01, 1982
First Film : Bhaalo Theko










BIOGRAPHY

Vidya Balan is an Indian actress based in Mumbai, India A Tamil Iyer from the town of Palakkad (Palghat) in Kerala, Vidya Balan grew up in Mumbai, attending the St. Xavier's College and later the Mumbai University. She graduated from college with a Sociology degree. She speaks several languages including Tamil, English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Bengali. Vidya Balan started work as an actress in the Malayalam movie Chakram, paired against Mohanlal, however the film was abandoned mid-way through production. After making her debut in television advertising as a model for a Surf Excel advertisement in 1998, she proceeded to do over 25 TV ads, (mostly directed by Pradeep Sarkar), followed with a variety of acting stints in music videos (Euphoria, Shubha Mudgal and Pankaj Udhas), Hindi TV soap operas (Hanste Khelte and Hum Paanch) and a Bengali movie, Bhaalo Theko, for which she won the Best Actress Anand Lok Puraskar award in Kolkata. In 2005, Balan debuted in her first feature film Parineeta, a Vidhu Vinod Chopra production in Hindi, directed by Pradeep Sarkar. The film met with widespread critical and commercial acclaim. Since the film's release, Vidya Balan has signed up to act in film projects in industries across India.

Vidya Malvade

Name: Vidya Malvade











BIOGRAPHY

Vidya Malvalde is an Indian actress, mainly working in Bollywood.Her husband, a pilot, died when his plane crashed. She studied Law and worked as an air hostess.She started her career with Vikram Bhatt's Inteha (2003), which flopped at the box office. After a string of unsuccessful movies and several advertisments, she will act opposite Shahrukh Khan in Yash Chopra's Chak De India (2007).

Vikram

Name: Vikram












BIOGRAPHY

John Kennedy (born on April 17, 1966, Paramakkudi, Ramnad district, TN), is an Indian born actor who has starred in a number of top-grossing Tamil films and is currently one of the reigning heroes of Tamil Film Industry (aka Kollywood). His screen name is Vikram aka Chiyaan. He is also affectionately called as Kenny in close circles. With numerous blockbusters to his credit, Vikram has carefully niched a place for himself on the silver screen. Noted films that gave him the star status include Sethu, Dhil, Kasi, Dhool, Saamy, Gemini, Pithamagan and Anniyan.

After the success of Sethu, Tamilnadu gave him the title or prefix honour of being addressed as "Chiyaan", named after his character in the film. Hence, the name "Chiyaan" Vikram. He won the prestigious National Film Awards of India for his breathtaking performance as an undertaker in Pithamagan, 2003.

Anniyan played for 150 days in Kollywood and 240 days in Tollywood. Though Vikram's age is considered a barrier to his super stardom, he is now ranked as No.4 in rank of top actors in Kollywood.

Vinod Rathod

Name: Vinod Rathod












BIOGRAPHY

Vinod Rathod was born to the late learned classical musician, Pandit Chhaturbhuj Rathod. His father knew that Vinod is very talented and interested in music.Vinod could grasp the essentials of music and showing a distinct flair for singing.Hence his father gave him basic training.

His career started when Usha Khanna (after listening to his voice in a cassette )called him on April 1986, to sing a qawwali, ‘Chand chhupne ke baad’ in Bedaag. Mohammed Aziz was his co-singer. Vinod recorded no less than 40 songs for the composer, and also sang for small composers like Ajay Swami and Surinder Kohli in his struggle phase. His TV serial title song, ‘Yeh jeevan hai akash ganga’ for the serial Akash Ganga proved very successful amongst viewers.

He entered the big film league when composers Shiv-Hari called him to record ‘Baadal pe chalke aa’ (with Lata Mangeshkar and Suresh Wadkar) - which proved popular - and ‘Zindagi har janam pyar ki dastan’ with Lata Mangeshkar in Yash Chopra's Vijay (1988). Vinod was the voice of Rishi Kapoor in the multi-star film. He then sang for Rishi-Yash-Shiv-Hari again in Chandni (1989). This song, ‘Parbat se kaali ghata takrayi’ with Asha Bhosle, also proved a hit.

However, he got his real break in 1992 when Laxmikant Pyarelal offered him ‘Romeo naam mera’ for Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. It proved the biggest hit of the Amit Kumar-dominated score. LP rapidly called him for more films, which instilled confidence in Vinod among the younger composers like Anu Malik, Bappi Lahiri and Anand-Milind. As luck would have it, Nadeem-Shravan (Shravan is Vinod's elder brother) were at the crest of popularity, and though Nadeem favored Kumar Sanu, he gave Vinod Rathod the onus of being the voice of Shah Rukh Khan in the latter's very first film Deewana. ‘Aisi deewangi’ (with Alka Yagnik) proved a rage and ‘Koi na koi chahiye pyar karne wala’ too proved popular. This film was also released in 1992.

By 1993, Vinod Rathod was a busy man. Laxmikant Pyarelal gave him excellent songs in several films like Bedardi (‘Ek din to honi thi muhabbat’), Dilbar, and many other films, and decided that he would be the major voice of Rishi Kapoor in the RK film Prem Granth. Their hits with him included ‘Jab se main zara sa’(Gumrah) and ‘Nayak nahin khalnayak hoon main’ (Khal-Nayak). Anu Malik swept aside Nadeem -Shravan by late 1993-94 and Vinod Rathod was very much there in hits like ‘Ae mere humsafar’, ‘Kitaben bahut si’, ‘Samajhkar chand jisko’ and ‘Chhupana bhi nahin aata’ (Baazigar). Followed Laadla (‘Boi boi’), Elaan, Agnisakshi, Raja Hindustani, Muhabbat Ki Arzoo, Chahoonga Main Tujhe, Aurat Aurat Aurat, Gambler (the title-track), Parampara, The Gentleman, Aatish, Zamana Deewana, Shreemaan Aashique, Maidan-E-Jung, Policewala Gunda, Hum Sab Chor Hain, Chaahat ,Vaastav and the hits ‘Duniya yeh duniya very good, very good’ (Trimurti) and Prem Granth (‘Dil dene ki rut aayi’).

Vinod had a triumph of sorts in the Zee telefilm, Mr Shrimati, in which he sang ‘Aashiq ki hai baaraat’. His other hits include his songs from Deewana Mastana (LP), Army, Hero No. 1 and Dulhe Raja (Anand-Milind), Tere Mere Sapne (the title-track with Udit Narayan and Hema Sardesai), and his latest chartbuster, ‘Dholi taaro dhol baaje’ (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam/ Ismail Darbar) which has given his career a new boost after a tame period between 1995 and 1999. His songs from Chal Mere Bhai (Anand-Milind) have proved popular too. He has sung for all the leading composers and his list also includes Jatin-Lalit, Ravindra Jain, Bappi Lahiri, Viju Shah, Rajesh Roshan, Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen and A.R.Rahman.

His voice is flexible and suits seniors from Dharmendra and Rishi Kapoor (who are not musically active today) to younger heroes.An unabashed Kishore fan, Vinod's singing replicates the punch, energy and throw of Kishore Kumar. A slightly harsh timbre makes him lose out, however, despite his strong classical leanings that impressed mentors Laxmikant Pyarelal. Vinod does not believe in doing excessive shows , so as to protect his voice . His regret is that could never sing for Rajesh Khanna, despite getting his first big film in Vijay, whose cast was headed by the ex-superstar.

Vivek Oberoi

Name: Vivek Oberoi
Birthday: Friday, September 03, 1976
Star Sign : Virgo
Family: Suresh Oberoi
First Film : Company







BIOGRAPHY

Son of veteran actor Suresh Oberoi was born on September 3, 1976. Vivek Oberoi was the most talked about lad in town long before Company released. The media went berserk describing his straight hair, sparkling eyes, handsome body and what not. What's more he chose to make an unusual debut. Ramgopal Varma's Company was not the typical Hindi film. And Vivek was not playing a hero, he was Chandu the dreaded underworld don. The film focussed on international organised crime giving the heroes Ajay Devgan and Vivek Oberoi enough platform to prove their histrionics as actors.

Vivek has adopted the Aamir Khan strategy where he would do just a few quality films at a time. So far the strategy has proven quite beneficial to him personaly although he still has to deliver his universal 'solo' hit!

For his first film, Ram Gopal Varma's Company (2003), Vivek Oberoi won the "best debut actor award" and also won "best supporting actor". He was pitted against Bollywood star Ajay Devgan and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal. His few other films had also done well and his performance was excellent. Saathiya (2003) was also a great success.

Dum and Darna Mana Hai did not do well for him. While shooting for Yuva he had gone through fracture. He also had problem with lungs and subsequently, breathing. There was a possibility that he would die. It was given one in four chance to survive. But brilliance of the doctors that saved his life.

Vivek has also got an international offer "Invaders". Film Masti is already released, its a fun filled comedy about three married couples who into trouble with their wives. He is also in Mani Ratnam's Yuva, with Abhishek and Ajay Devgan. And Samir Karnik Kyon ho Gaya Na with Aishwarya Rai. And finally Subhash Ghai's Kisna.

Waheeda Rehman

Name: Waheeda Rehman
Birthday: Thursday, May 14, 1936
Star Sign : Taurus













BIOGRAPHY

Waheeda Rehman (May 14, 1936) was born into a traditional Muslim family in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh in 1936. Her father, a DM, was posted all over the South. She had dreamt of becoming a doctor, but destiny willed otherwise and she could not undergo proper schooling, due to some infection in her lungs. She was trained in Bharatnatyam and, prodded by her helpful parents, hit the silver screen with the Telugu film Jaisimha (1955), followed by Rojulu Maraayi (1955). Sadly, she lost her father at the early age of 12.

She was spotted by Guru Dutt in a song in a later film and was brought to Bombay and cast as a vamp in his production C.I.D. (1956), directed by Raj Khosla. After a few years of joining Hindi films, she lost her mother. After the success of C.I.D., she was given a role in Pyaasa (1957). It was at this point that she got involved in an unsuccessful affair with tragedy king Guru Dutt. Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), depicted the story of forlorn lovers - Dutt and Rehman. Guru Dutt's marital status and her success in films outside his tore them apart personally and professionally. She completed Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) under some strain. They broke away from each other after the film's indifferent reception at the Berlin Film Festival in 1963. Guru Dutt could never really get over her and committed suicide in 1964.

Her career continued throughout the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s. Though she did some very good films after Guide (1965) and Neel Kamal (1968), some failed at the box office. At around this time, Kamaljit (who starred opposite her in Shagun (1964)) proposed marriage. She accepted the proposal and they were married on April 27, 1974. After her marriage, she shifted to a farmhouse in Bangalore and took to farming. She bore two children named Sohail and Kashvi. Sadly, in 1999, her husband passed away following a prolonged illness. She cut down her film assignments and moved back to her sea-facing bungalow in Bandra, Bombay where she lives currently.

Yana Gupta

Name: Yana Gupta
Birthday: Monday, April 23, 1979










BIOGRAPHY

Yana Gupta (born Jana Synková, on April 23, 1979 at Brno, height 5'8" - 1.73 m) is a Czech model-actress currently working in India. She was married to Indian painter Satyakam Gupta, although they formally separated on 18th May 2005. Yana Gupta is presently dating Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani. She has appeared on numerous magazine covers, including Lakme, ELLE, Cosmopolitan and Femina. Gupta modeled for the premier Kingfisher's calendar and has performed dance numbers in three films including the remix of babuji zara dheere chalo.

Before her career in Bollywood, she modeled for international clients like Calvin Klein and Victoria's Secret. She drew much attention in Europe.

Gupta made her big screen debut in the Bollywood movie "Dum" for the song 'Babuji' which made her famous for cameo item numbers. Her recent appearances have been in Tamil film cameo item numbers. They are:

* Film Manmadhan - Song thathai thathai and
* Film Anniyan - Song Remo
* Telugu film Gharshana - Song "Aadathanamaa"

She was seen with Arjun Rampal in a song in the 2005 Hindi movie Ek Ajnabee

She was named the new face for Lakme cosmetics in 2001, replacing its former model Lisa Ray. Besides her native Czech language, she can also speak Spanish, Japanese, English and some Hindi. She is also a vegetarian, is a member of PETA, and has been featured in its campaigns. She has also appeared in a Kannada movie named Jogi. Presently she is playing the role of a TV anchor on the countdown show "Mirch Masala" on ZoomTV where she dances to famous dance numbers.She spends her free time in the gym.

Now she is planning to launch her own music album, and she will write, compose the music and sing the songs. All the songs will be in English, and she won't be accepting any other offers till she is done with this project.

Yana recently signed up with a leading mobile and PC games company Indiagames as brand ambassador and will be featured in several interesting games and applications related to fitness,puzzles etc.

Yash Chopra

Name: Yash Chopra
Birthday: Tuesday, September 27, 1932
First Film : Dhool Ka Phool









BIOGRAPHY

Yash Chopra (born 1932) is a writer, director and producer of Bollywood movies. He has directed hit movies such as Deewar, Lamhe, Darr, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer-Zaara. BiographyYash Chopra was born in Lahore, Pakistan which was then part of British India. Initially he worked under his brother Baldev Raj Chopra. Later he setup his film production company Yash Raj Films. Yash Chopra's son Aditya Chopra is a film director. A second son Uday Chopra is an actor.

Zayed Khan

Name: Zayed Khan
Birthday: Sunday, April 27, 1980
Star Sign : Aries
Family: Father- Sanjay Khan
First Film : Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne







BIOGRAPHY

Zayed Khan (born April 27, 1980, India) is an Indian actor.

He is the son of actor Sanjay Khan and the cousin of Fardeen Khan. His brother-in-law is Hrithik Roshan, who is married to his sister, Suzanne Khan.

Although he debuted in the flop film Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne (2003), he rose to fame with Farah Khan's Main Hoon Na (2004). In that film he played a big-man-on-campus college student named Lucky.

He recently scored another hit with the action thriller, Dus (2005).

He married his longtime girlfriend Malaika Parekh on 20 November 2005.

Zeenat Amaan

Name: Zeenat Amaan
Birthday: Monday, November 19, 1951
Star Sign : Scorpio









BIOGRAPHY

Zeenat Aman was born in Germany to a Hindu mother and a Muslim father, Amanullah. Her father was one of the writers for the movie Mughal-e-Azam and he died when Zeenat was just 13. Zeenat graduated from St. Xavier's School in Mumbai and went to Los Angeles for her studies. Upon returning to India, she first took a job as a journalist for Femina India and then later on moved on to modeling. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970.

Zeenat's sultry persona was a contrast to many of the more conservative stars of the era. At a time when heroines were obedient wives and lovers on screen, Zeenat was drawn to more unique roles - she was cast as the opportunist who deserts her jobless lover for a millionaire (Roti Kapda Aur Makaan), the ambitious girl who considers aborting her baby to pursue a career (Ajnabee), the happy hooker (Manoranjan), the disenchanted hippie (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), the girl who falls in love with her mother's one-time lover (Prem Shastra), and a woman married to a caustic cripple but involved in an extramarital relationship (Dhund). She managed to balance these roles with acting in more conventional films such as Chori Mera Kaam, Chhaila Babu, Dostana, and Lawaris.

Aman married Mazhar Khan at the peak of her career and the couple had two sons. He died in September, 1998 after a prolonged illness. Today, Zeenat lives with her two sons and makes many social appearances. She is seen on screen rarely, in films such as Bhopal Express and the Kaizad Gustad film Boom.

Zulfi Syed

Name: Zulfi Syed
First Film : Pyaasa











BIOGRAPHY

He has been a supermodel. He has endorsed a number of products. And now he awaits the judgment as an actor. Supermodel turned actor Zulfi Syed returns to the big screen after a hiatus with Taj Mahal. Of course, Zulfi has been a part of two films, Pyaasa and Chupke Se, but he rates Taj Mahal as a project that'll showcase his potential as an actor.

"Taj Mahal is amongst the seven wonders of the world. And not just the Indian audiences, but even foreigners would be keen to know the story behind this monument. That's why a film like Taj Mahal has an edge over other love stories," the soft-spoken model turned actor tells me, continuing in the same breath, "A film like Taj Mahal will always be remembered. It's as immortal as Mughal-E-Azam, it would stay fresh even after fifty years."

Zulfi says he decided to abstain from signing any and every film that came his way after his debut venture Pyaasa released. "I did receive a lot of offers, but most of them were sleazy flicks with skin-show in abundance. I wanted to stay away from those films. It's better to sit without work than work in those films," he states.

The Bangalore-born model says he's ready to accept challenges as an actor. "I don't want to see myself in love stories only; I want to experiment in life. It could be an anti-hero or a strong character - the role should be challenging enough. That's the sole criteria I look for when I sign a film," he reveals.

The supermodel adds that the expression 'models can't act' doesn't exist anymore. "The general perception has undergone a change. With so many models entering Bollywood and making a name for themselves, besides earning praise for their work, most models are here to stay," he adds. Will Zulfi enjoy an equally successful innings like some of his contemporaries [Arjun Rampal, John Abraham], only time will tell!

Aadesh Shrivastava

Name: Aadesh Shrivastava











BIOGRAPHY

Aadesh Shrivastava (occasionally also credited by the first name "Adesh" and the last name "Srivastava") is a popular Indian music director. Aadesh's first big break came with the 1993 film Kanyadaan. His greatest achievement was that he had Lata Mangeshkar to sing for his very first song. Unfortunately, the movie has not been released and the songs did not see the light of day. But he bounced back with the film Aao Pyaar Kare. One track, "Haathon mein aa gaya jo kal" almost rewrote his fortunes.

His success came in sporadic bursts. His chart topping number was "Kya ada kya jalwe tere Paro". His 1998 film Angaarey had a noted score. Subsequent chartbusters include "say shava shava" (Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum), "chali chali phir chali chali" and "merii makhanaa merii soniye" (Baghban). He has a surprising number of films to his credit that star the Bollywood superstart Amitabh Bachchan. Aadesh was one of the judges in the musical talent show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa -- Challenge 2005", conducted by the popular Indian TV Channel ZeeTV, where he adopted the motto "jai ho, mangalmai ho" (rejoice and celebrate).

A.R.RAHMAN

Name: A. R. Rahman
Birthday: Thursday, January 06, 1966
Star Sign : Capricorn
First Film : Not available







BIOGRAPHY

Allah Rakha Rahman (born on January 6, 1967 as A.S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, India) is a popular Indian film music composer. He is a native Tamilian. He made his debut in 1992 with Mani Ratnam's Tamil movie, Roja (Rose), which was subsequently dubbed into many languages. Ram Gopal Verma's Rangeela (Colorful) (1995) was the first Hindi movie to have Rahman as the music director. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri. Rahman is the only son of R. K. Sekhar, who was an arranger and conductor for Malayalam films. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family used to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet, something they found very difficult. During those hard times, a Sufi (Muslim) saint helped them spiritually. This led him to convert to Islam. At the age of 11, Rahman joined the troupe of Indian composer Ilayaraja as a keyboardist. He later played on the orchestra of M.S. Vishwanathan and Ramesh Naidu, and accompanied Zakir Hussain and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on world tours. The experience allowed him to obtain a scholarship to the Trinity College at Oxford University, where he received a degree in Western classical music. In 1991, Rahman began his own studio (attached to his house), called the Panchathan Record Inn. He initially composed music for use in advertisements, the title music on popular Indian Television channels and music in documentaries, among other projects. Rahman was, at first, hesitant about composing music for the Indian film industry primarily because most film makers at the time used songs as "fillers" - a means by which the audience was given a break from the movie's plot. In 1991 he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam, who offered Rahman the job as composer of music for his upcoming film Roja, at a price of Rs. 25,000. Rahman accepted, and the movie's superhit debut made him a household name in Tamil Nadu virtually overnight and led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the Indian National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutant. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award 3 more times (for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002 and Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003), the most ever by any composer. A.R. Rahman combined the usage of technology and music. He has been successful in creating his own style of composition by a symbiosis of the best elements of technology and Indian classical instruments. However some critics allege that he makes excessive usage of technology in his music. When Rahman arrived onto the Indian music scene with his first film Roja, the music industry in India was going through a crisis with the retirement of older music composers and the lack of innovation in Indian film music. Roja was a massive hit, and Rahman followed it up with a number of other extremely popular films, including Bombay, Rangeela, Dil Se and Taal . The huge sales of these albums prompted movie producers to take film music more seriously. Another point worth noting is that while Ilayaraaja brought western music in Indian Instruments, A.R.Rahman pioneered the art of composing Indian classical Carnatic and Hindustani music and using western Instruments to play those tunes. Rahman's work is also unique in the fact that his collaborations with a few movie directors have always resulted in hugely successful albums. In particular, he has worked with Mani Ratnam on eight movies (until 2004) (see list of movies by Mani Ratnam featuring A R Rahman), all of which have been musical superhits. Also notable is his collaboration with the director S. Shankar (Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak and Boys). He made an album Vande Mataram (1996) on India's national song. Recently, he also came up with an album called Jana gana mana, a huge conglomeration of performances by all the leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. His latest work includes Mani Ratnams's Yuva, Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities, Bose - The Forgotten Hero, Swades, Mangal Pandey - The Rising and Rang De Basanti. He is currently working on Mani Ratnam's next venture Guru, and on one of Shyam Benegal's most expensive ventures, undisclosed so far, which is set for release in the spring of 2006.