My weight has become a national issue: Zarine Khan

Looking pretty in a tomato red, one-shoulder sexy short tunic, the monsoon in Mumbai is a welcome change for actress Zarine Khan. More so, as this time around, appreciation galore has been pouring with the rain. Her item number Character Dheela with Salman Khan in Ready has been well received. 

A beaming Zarine says, "I'm loving the attention. I was written off after my debut in Veer. Now, steadily, the perception is changing. Yet, people aren't always noticing my acting skills. My weight has become a national issue. Even on the Internet, I see that my weight is a point of constant discussions. And I fail to understand why. Aren't Indian women known for being voluptuous. Indian men don't even like thin women, so why is everyone trying to look like ramp models in the west? Where is our uniqueness and individuality then," she asks. We agree.

Shooting for Housefull 2 and a film opposite Vikram down south in her kitty, Zarine's raring to go. Success spells a lot of hard work and she's ready to slog. Her heated run-ins with Sonakshi Sinha and Asin over Salman Khan is a thing of grapevine legend. She clarifies, "I don't come from an influential family. So, there's no-one who speaks on my behalf. But whenever I meet up with Sonakshi or Asin, we laugh it off. I never get back or speak up on what's being written about me. I consider these rumours a part of the celebrity status," she adds sensibly.

Living in a city, which never sleeps, aamchi Mumbai is home to Zarine. With a handful of close friends, she makes sure she has her share of fun. "Monsoon always reminds me of my childhood days. And I would like to dance around with an umbrella as if no one's watching and then go all naughty and get dirty in the mud," she concludes with a dimpled smile.
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Mardar 2

Bollywood cancels big events following Mumbai blasts

Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani were ready with the first look of " Don 2: The Chase Continues" and Mahesh Bhatt was set to celebrate the success of " Murder 2" Wednesday evening, but the filmmakers cancelled their plans following three bomb blasts in Mumbai, which killed over 20 people. 

The launch of the first look of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Don 2" was to be held 7.45 p.m. onwards at Cinemax, Andheri West, while the success party for Mohit Suri's directorial "Murder 2" was scheduled for 9 p.m. at the J.W. Marriot hotel in Juhu. 

The first blast took place at Zaveri Bazar at 6.59 p.m, followed by a second blast at Opera House at 7.05 p.m, and the final explosion took place at Dadar West at 7.17 p.m., causing panic and chaos in the city. 

The incessant rains added to the dilemma of city dwellers. 

However, a few print and electronic journalists had already gathered at Cinemax, Andheri West to catch a glimpse of "Don 2", one of the most awaited movies this year. 

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani was there too, but he approached the mediapersons, and said: "Due to the blast, we have decided to call off the event." 

No further date for the event has been issued as yet. 

The "Murder 2" success party, which was expected to be attended by lead pair Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandes, apart from director Mohit Suri, other crew members and celebrities from the film industry, was also cancelled as the news of the blasts flashed everywhere, and a high alert was issued. 

In New Delhi, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai requested officials of the French government to postpone an award ceremony where she was supposed to be honoured with a "Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters". 

However, Aishwarya appeared before the media along with her actor-husband Abhishek Bachchan and observed a minute-long silence mourning the death of the people in the blasts.