Andhranews

She became more popular as the model who danced with John Abraham in a soft drink commercial. After walking the ramp for a while, Sheetal Menon is now making her debut with Magna Films’ Brahm, which is being directed by Pavan Kaul. Sheetal has walked the ramp at the Lakme Fashion Week in 2003 and went on to do commercials like Clinic All Clear, Tanishq Jewellery and many more. She has a few music videos to her credit too, like the Payaliyan video as well as one with A Band of Boys, among others.

When asked how she was offered the role for the film, Sheetal replies, “This was not the first time that I was offered a film role, but most of them were glamorous ones. I was waiting for something very interesting to come up and I liked this role. They had briefed me about the role and the auditions lasted for two hours. I was not prepared, but decided to give it my best shot. It was only later that I learnt that they had auditioned 25 girls before selecting me, which was a great feeling. I was very charged to do the film.”

Speaking about her role, the tall lass says, “The character that I am portraying is very complex. I am playing the role of a successful model who has been traumatised in life. the film shows how she deals with it and the way her life changes forms the story. The work was indeed challenging because I had to essay varied emotions like frustration, anger and madness.”

So, what does this model-turned-actress think about skin show in films? “Why are models always asked this question? Girls coming from small towns also do it. If you are a model, people usually take you for granted, but modelling has nothing to do with exposure in films. It depends on the films and the role. I am looking forward to more performance-oriented roles,” she says.

Sheetal completed her education in Nashik. “My dad is in the Army so I have travelled a lot. My mother is in Sydney at the moment and I have just settled in Mumbai. I have bought a house of my own here. Though life was a struggle in the beginning I was determined to fight it and succeed,” says a confident Sheetal.

Ahista Ahista, starring Abhay Deol and Soha Ali Khan has all the ingredients going for it. The film has a realistic approach and also has a twist that takes you by surprise. Yet, it has failed to make the cash registers jingle at the box office. Analysing why the film failed to work, trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, “Even though the film is well made and is laced with interesting performances, it is ideally suited for multiplexes, television and the DVD circuit. In today’s times when the economics of the industry has undergone a drastic change with movie-going experience correlated with mainly big-budget ventures, a medium-budget film sans glamour will find it difficult to float.”

Another trade analyst S. Kumar Mohan states that a film like Ahista Ahista lacks the spice required for it to be a hit at the box office. “Director Shivam Nair has done a good job, no doubt. He has handled the scenes with great competence, right from the beginning and succeeds in every department of filmmaking. However, there is something amiss. The climax, though logical, comes across as tragic and abrupt and this works against the film. But Nair definitely has a great future as a director,” he says. Mohan further adds, “Also, the lack of face value and weak promotions worked against the film.”

If Ahista Ahista was a simple love story, the other release Katputtli promised to be a suspense thriller. According to Taran Adarsh, the film had a novel theme for Indian moviegoers. “But the problem with most thrillers is that once the secret is out, you either clap with glee or have a frown on your face. With Katputtli, it’s the latter that took place. Just when you thought that the director had finally got it right, the climax acts like one spoilsport. So, its fate at the ticket window is anybody’s guess,” laughs Taran. S. Kumar Mohan too feels that Katputtli was a non-starter at the box office.

Jessica Simpson is the subject of an X-rated song which features in the new Jackass film, it has been claimed. The 26-year-old actress was rumoured to have had an affair with Jackass’ stuntman Bam Margera last year, and now his co-member Chris Pontius has written a song about their alleged affair for new film Jackass: Number Two. According to the New York Post newspaper, the song is said to describe a “kinky form of intercourse that can’t be printed in a family newspaper”.

Although Jessica and Bam have always denied the affair, Bam’s father Phil told a US radio station last May that his son had slept with the Dukes of Hazzard star. The DJ asked, “Is Bam seeing Jessica Simpson? Is that what’s going on?” Phil replied, “He’s never lied to us, and he said he did.”

Jessica was still married to Nick Lachey at the time of the alleged fling and a flustered Bam previously admitted he had once shared a bed with her, but insisted he had fallen asleep and nothing sexual happened. Jessica’s spokesman Rob Shuter still insists the pair never had sex. He said, “There’s no truth to it. Bam has been using Jessica’s name to get attention for a long time.”

Brittany Murphy has split from her fiancé. The Sin City actress got engaged to Joe Macaluso on New Year’s eve 2005, but they have now decided to call time on their relationship. A spokesperson for Brittany confirmed the split, saying, “They have amicably ended their engagement, but remain close friends and wish each other much happiness.”

Rumours that their relationship might be on the rocks were sparked recently after Brittany arrived at the Teen Choice Awards, in Los Angeles, without her engagement ring. However, when asked about her wedding plans Brittany, 28, said, “Everything is going wonderful, thank you. I’m just living every moment, you know, enjoying my days.”

The couple met when Joe was working as a best boy grip, a member of the film crew responsible for lighting and electricity on a movie set, on her hit romantic comedy Little Black Book. Surprisingly, Brittany and Joe only shared their first kiss after a mammoth 17 dates.

Lindsay Lohan’s dad has sent her a picture illustrating their troubled relationship. Michael Lohan, who is in prison for drunk driving and contempt of court, has drawn a cartoon depicting all the people who he claims are trying to tear Lindsay away from him. The picture includes money-grabbing lawyers with devil’s horns, a prison guard, paparazzi and a woman wearing Ugg boots, reportedly said to be Lindsay’s mother Dina or her publicist Leslie Sloane Zelnik.

God is seen pointing from heaven and saying, “Shame on you. Don’t you know some things are sacred?” Lindsay’s younger siblings, Michael, Alina and Cody, appear in the background. On the back of the cartoon Lindsay’s father has written, “The spiritual realities and physical elements of the truth behind this whole situation.” Michael is also believed to have sent his daughter a hand-written letter detailing his “stupid decisions”, new-found spirituality, and plans to help troubled teens when he gets out of prison.

The 46-year-old also shares his concerns about Lindsay’s new best friend, supermodel Kate Moss. According to the New York Daily News newspaper, he said, “I don’t think Kate is the best mentor based on reports. I hope and pray Kate has turned her life around.” Michael promises to pray for oil heir Brandon Davis who infamously bad-mouthed her. He said, “All I can say is that I am happy that God gave me a new way of looking at, and pitying, people like Brandon. I pray for his soul.”

Michael Douglas has told Catherine Zeta-Jones that two children are enough. The brunette actress has always said she wants a big family, but Douglas is happy with their children, son Dylan and daughter Carys, and thinks his wife would be just as happy focusing on her work. He told Britain’s Night and Day magazine, “I think Catherine is resigned to that fact now. She’s gone back and forth on the subject, but when she gets back into work, I think she realises two’s enough and I say to her, ‘Just think of your stepson as your third child.’”

Douglas, 61, has a 27-year-old son, Cameron, from his first marriage to Diandra Luker. Cameron is just nine years younger than Zeta-Jones, who is 36. The Oscar-winning actor also claims he has become a “Mr Mum” and is happy to stay at home and look after the children so that his wife is able to go and make films. Douglas is currently starring in You, Me and Dupree and The Sentinel which are both out this summer.