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Earlier Jennifer Lopez seemed to be having a bit of a rivalry with Jennifer Garner, after she started dating and later married her boyfriend Ben Affleck.

But that’s a thing of the past. Now it’s Jennifer Aniston she’s feuding with and it’s for purely professional reasons.

They have come to loggerheads over their upcoming films, both focusing on single women wanting to be mothers.

According to Daily Mail online, the stars have been squabbling for sometime with Lopez accusing Aniston of stealing the idea.

Reportedly Lopez will return to acting with ‘Plan B’ after taking a break from films to become a mum, is worried that Aniston’s film will steal the thunder from her comeback film.

The source said: "The last thing J-Lo wants is to have Aniston overshadow her. There’s been some mud-slinging, with J-Lo claiming Jen took her idea."

Both Plan B and the movie Aniston is making and shooting for currently called ‘Baster’ revolves around single women trying to get pregnant as their biological clock ticks away

Whoever’s movie does well, would be declared the winner So wait and watch. -Sampurn Media

New York, April 27 (ANI): Madonna’s high-powered connections in the fashion industry are lending a helping hand to her alleged toyboy lover Jesus Luz, according to reports.

Sources have claimed that pals of the 50-year-old singer were playing a key role in boosting her 22-year-old Brazilian boyfriend’s career.

Marc Jacobs, the Creative Director of the prestigious Louis Vuitton label, was alleged to have penned “a letter of support for Jesus’ work permit” to let him to stay in the country.

‘Marc campaigned for Jesus, saying he is highly talented and a necessity to the label,’ the New York Post quoted a source as saying.

Women’s Wear Daily reported that Luz would feature in the Dolce & Gabbana’s fall-winter menswear campaign.

The source added: ‘All these fashion lines are hiring Jesus as a favor to Madonna. As long as he can legally work in the US, they can be together.’

But Madonna’s rep said the Queen of Pop was ‘not at all involved in managing the career of Jesus Luz. His Dolce job was arranged through his agents.’ (ANI)

Melbourne, April 27 (ANI): Michelle Williams, former partner of late actor Heath Ledger and mother of his daughter Matilda, is reportedly getting married to director Spike Jonze.

‘They’re in love and absolutely thrilled with each other,’ the Daily Telegraph quoted a source as telling US magazine Star.

‘They don’t see why they should wait much longer,’ the source added.

Jonze, ex husband of Hollywood royalty Sofia Coppola, is said to have charmed Matilda.

‘Spike loves being with Matilda. He’s teaching her to skateboard and to ride a bike,” the source said.

‘He never makes Michelle feel like taking care of her is a burden, because he truly thinks of them all as a family,’ the source added. (ANI)

London, April 27 (ANI): John Mayer, who is recently parted ways with Jennifer Aniston, is being linked to a 23-year-old aspiring actress Marie.

Mayer and Aniston broke off last month (Mar09) after months of speculation about the state of their love affair.

And now, rumours are abuzz that the 31-year-old rocker has found love in part-time cocktail waitress Scheana Marie, who recently landed a small part in the Jonas Brothers upcoming Disney Channel TV show.

Mayer met Marie in 2008 while she was serving drinks at the Beverly Hills cigar club Grand Havana Room.

‘They’ve spent time together over the past few months. They’re enjoying getting to know each other,” the Daily Star quoted a source as telling People.com.

Although Marie has admitted that she knows Mayer, has refused to comment on rumours they are a couple, telling the website, ‘We’re friends. He’s a great guy. He’s funny and sweet.’ (ANI)

London, April 27 (ANI): Miley Cyrus has dismissed rumours that she has revived her romance with ex-boyfriend Nick Jonas, insisting they are just ‘best friends’.

The Hannah Montana star is currently dating underwear model Justin Gaston but reports in the US claim that she has been getting close to Nick, who is a member of popular group the Jonas Brothers.

Now, the 16-year-old singer/actress has used her Twitter page to dismiss the reports as a ‘stupidddd rumour’, saying that, although the former couple still hang out together, they are not seeing each other.

‘It makes me sad to think that people out there aren’t friends with THEIR ex bf, because let me tell u it is possible,” the Sun quoted her as stating.

‘Justin and Nick are two very amazing people and they both mean so much to me.

‘I love both of them so much, and they are both very dear to my heart. Justin is an amazing person! He can always make me laugh and has a heart of gold.’

‘Nick is so lovely. He reaches out to so many people with his music, not only with his talent but with his heart. Our love for music is something that keeps our friendship together and I know no matter [what] he will be my friend forever,’ she added. (ANI)

London, April 27 (ANI): Former couple Madonna and Guy Ritchie are getting along much better now, unlike their previous warring years, according to sources.

The pair had put an official end to their eight-year long marriage this January but not without a bitter divorce battle over the custody of their kids.

Nasty spats and allegations had been reported in the media while the two decided upon their divorce settlements.

But the duo seemed to have put their ugly past behind and are being more cordial than they have been in some time, as per reports.

“Madonna and Guy are getting on better than they have in years,” the Sun quoted a close pal as saying.

The friend further added that Guy had even been “a rock” when his former better half lost her recent proposition to adopt a second Malawian child.

Meanwhile, Guy has reportedly shelled millions on a new house near the London mansion owned by his ex-wife.

The Brit director allegedly bought the four-storey house which was just 200 yards from the singer’s home.

The 40-year-old was claimed to be happy to be “as close as possible” to his kids Rocco, six, and adopted David, three when Madonna visits the UK. (ANI)

New York, April 27 (ANI): Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are drawing plans to combat their former bodyguard, who is planning to pen his experiences while working with the couple.

The pair is said to be furious that Mickey Brett, with whom they once entrusted their lives and those of their kids, was planning to bring their private lives into the public domain with a tell all book.

The two have roped in top lawyers in the US and the UK to keep Brett from spilling the beans.

Their American litigator Marty Singer dubbed Brett as a “pathological liar” who held a history of legal troubles.

According to Singer, Brett was banned from entering the US after lying to Immigration officials, and had even fooled his former celebrity employers into believing that he was a British SAS commando while in fact he had never served in the military.

He said Brett was also interrogated in the murder of British tycoon Donald Urquhart in 1993 though he was later cleared, and had been taken into custody for attacking a restaurant owner in Namibia in 2006.

Singer continued that Brett, who had been convicted 11 times for several crimes, was bound by a confidentiality agreement over his book and TV proposals.

He added that Brett had said that he never inked the pitches and that his ghost writer, Robin McGibbon, embellished many of the stories, a claim denied by McGibbon.

‘Our client disputes what has apparently been said by Mr. Singer, but is not in a position to comment further at this stage,’ the New York Daily News quoted Brett’s attorneys as saying. (ANI)

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) International interest in India’s Rs.100 billion ($2 billion) film industry is surging. After Hollywood giants, Australian filmmakers in search of innovative stories and financial partners are looking to India.

They have already launched a bunch of India-centric movies like “The Waiting City”, “An Indian Summer” and “Bollywood Down Under”.

“We are looking at India-centric, good Australian stories as these category storylines will aid in world marketing,” Anupam Sharma, founder and director of Australian production house Films and Casting Temple, told IANS via email.

Sharma clarified that he wasn’t investing in Indian movies, but added that Australian filmmakers would surely be interested in co-productions with Indian producers as well.

“We are not investing in Indian films. We are developing India-centric international films for the global market. We are hoping to utilise the combination producer offset available in Australia with the 18 percent growth in Indian film market and the worldwide popularity currently being enjoyed by India-centric films. So we are definitely aiming for co-production projects with our Indian counterparts,” said Sharma, who is also a filmmaker.

That British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s India-centric “Slumdog Millionaire”went on to win eight Oscars is also one of the reasons for increasing international interest in India.

Australian collaborative films centred on India are in various stages of development, including projects by leading Australian producers like Bill Bennett, Anupam Sharma, John Winter, Jim McElroy and David Wood.

“The Waiting City” by Claire McCarthy, about an Australian couple adopting an Indian, is the first Australian film shot wholly in India and is set to release later this year, reported Australian Financial Review.

Sharma is working on quite a few India-centric ventures.

“I’m co-producing director Bill Bennett’s film, which is an on-the-edge thriller set in the dusty, parched canvas of north India. I’m also working on other co-productions with India-centric stories like ‘An Indian Summer’, ‘Family Unit’, ‘Bollywood Down Under’ and a feature-length documentary titled ‘Bollywood Bazaar’,” said Sharma.

Australian producers are also keen to establish a co-production treaty with India to enable co-investment from each country to happen more easily, said Geoffrey Brown, executive director of Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA).

“In this regard, there is some good news. Our Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced last week that he had approved the opening of negotiations for a co-production treaty between our two countries,” Brown told IANS in an email interview.

But unlike Hollywood firms, which have co-produced Bollywood films like “Chandni Chowk To China” and “Saawariya”, Australian filmmakers are not keen on investing in typical Indian movies.

“Australians are very unlikely to invest in Indian films without some Australian component. Our producers are looking to make films with stories that work for both the countries in all genres. Comedies, social issue films, masala, romance and thrillers seem the most likely genres to begin with. There are also some wonderful documentary series to be made in India also,” Brown explained.

Last year, a delegation of Australian producers attended the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to discuss future co-productions.

Nina Lath Gupta, managing director of India’s National Film Development Corporation, said over phone from Mumbai: “This primarily was to establish contacts … They didn’t come with any projects. They just wanted to explore Indian markets.”

Australian filmmakers haven’t set a cap on the budget for proposed co-productions with Indian filmmakers as of now.

“No set budgets, but we would always have to be mindful of attracting an audience that could ensure recovery of the film’s budget for all investors,” said Brown.

The Australian Financial Review also stressed in an article in February that a major impediment to filmmaking in India is the absence of a co-production treaty.

“There is very little government handouts in India, which has been the argument against it,” Winter, who is producing two Indian-centric films, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Lath Gupta said: “In foreign countries, governments give grants but in India, a vast majority of films are being made by private producers. As far as a co-production treaty is concerned, I can’t say anything as it falls under the ministry.”

(Arpana can be contacted at arpana.s@ians.in)

London, April 26 (IANS) Pop diva Madonna has been named the hardest working mother in showbiz topping a new poll ahead of Hollywood actresses Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The pop superstar took home $110 million (75 million pounds) in 2008, putting herself at the forefront of high-earning women with children, reports contactmusic.com.

Madonna, who is mother to adopted toddler David Banda, 3, Rocco, 8 and 12-year-old Lourdes, took most of her money from her world tour as well as record sales and a string of endorsement deals.

Coming second in the poll is divorced mother of two Witherspoon who took home $24 million (16.5 million pounds) in 2008. The actress has two kids, Ava, 9, and son Deacon, 5, with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.

While, Paltrow, came on the third spot and also has two children, with husband Chris Martin. She has earnings of $20 million (13.8 million pounds).

By K.S. Ashik

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 26 (ANI): A forthcoming regional Indian film has taken a strong take on the plight of poor children in the country by delving into the lives of the child beggars.

Due to several financial constraints, it took six years for the film ‘Kathaparayum Theruvoram-Street Symphony’ to take shape.

The amount of effort that has gone into the making of the movie can be well judged by the fact that around 300 child beggars have played some or the other role in the film.

According to Sunil, the idea for the film was born in his mind when he met a child beggar on a train.

After meeting the child, the director explored several aspects of the life of these children, which led to the realization of the presence of mafia behind the entire racket.

‘Kathaparayum Theruvoram-Street Symphony’ narrates the story of four beggar children who after running away from the clutches of a mafia, struggled to make a living.

Surjulan, screenplay writer of the film, swears by the quantity of research, which signifies the genuineness of the film.

“About six years ago, we started working on the film project. My friend Sunil had a discussion with me. He told me that he had a story and we discussed the story in various angles. Then we realised that there is a huge world behind the story,” said Surjulan.

“We travelled a lot and discussed with the child victims and created the script,” he added.

Director Sunil claims to utilise 25 percent of the proceeds from the film towards rehabilitation of child beggars.

Stating that the only reason for the delay of the movie was lack of finance, he said, “We are investing huge money in this project. It is not a small movie. Here you see a wide background. Here you see the commercial formula for telling the subject because lot of people see the movie and afterwards they can pass the message.”

With the Oscar-wining movie Slumdog Millionaire making the country proud, the country’s realistic film directors have re-affirmed belief on themselves. It is there fore a possibility that Kathaparayum Theruvoram would be compared to Slumdog Millionaire.

The film is due to be released on May 1. (ANI)

London, April 26 (IANS) Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has accused former “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston of allegedly stealing the plot of her comeback movie.

After focusing on her music career and motherhood, Lopez is making a comeback with “Plan B”, about a woman trying to get pregnant. But she is angry with the fact that Aniston stole her idea to star in an almost identical movie called “The Baster”, reports the Dailymail online.

An unlikely feud is simmering between the two actresses as Lopez is also said to fear that Aniston’s movie could eclipse her film.

“The last thing J-Lo (Lopez) wants is to have Aniston overshadow her. There’s been some mud-slinging, with J-Lo claiming Jen (Aniston) took her idea,” said a source.

London, April 26 (IANS) “Slumdog Millionaire” fame child actor Rubina Ali’s father Rafiq Qureshi has officially been cleared by Indian police over allegations that he attempted to sell his daughter.

Qureshi was quizzed by the police in Mumbai April 20 after British newspaper News of the World alleged he offered to auction off the nine-year-old for 200,000 pounds to get rid of poverty and become an overnight millionaire, reports contactmusic.com

The accused protested his innocence throughout the scandal, claiming that the story was a “lie made up by foreign journalists playing games with me”.

Authorities on the other hand, have failed to find any evidence to back up the accusation announcing that they have dropped their investigation into the case.

“There is not any crime. The matter is closed. No money changed hands. Rubina is here. There is no crime,” said senior police officer Rahim Shaikh.

London, April 26 (IANS) Rocker John Mayer, who ended his on and off relationship with Jennifer Aniston, is said to be dating a 23-year-old aspiring actress who works as a part-time waitress.

Mayer and Aniston ended their relationship last month following months of speculation about the state of their love affair. And the 31-year-old rocker is now rumoured to have found a new leading lady in part-time cocktail waitress Scheana Marie, who recently landed a small part in the Jonas Brothers upcoming Disney Channel TV show, “Jonas”.

The pair met in 2008 while Marie was serving drinks at the Beverly Hills cigar club Grand Havana Room.

“They’ve spent time together over the past few months. They’re enjoying getting to know each other,” contactmusic.com quoted a source as saying.

Marie admits knowing Mayer, but has refused to comment on rumours they are a couple, telling people.com, “We’re friends. He’s a great guy. He’s funny and sweet.”

London, April 26 (ANI): The real mother of Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali has slammed the child actress’ father, saying she wants to see him behind bars for trying to sell their daughter.

Mum Khursheed wants to see her former husband Rafiq Qureshi jailed after he offered to auction off the nine-year-old to a rich Arab family for 200,000 pounds.

‘He’s a liar through and through. He was captured on tape. Rafiq is evil. He should be jailed for what he’s done,” News of the World quoted her as saying.

“Thanks to the News of the World, and thanks to God, I now have the proof and the world will find out what he’s about,’ she added.

The mother-of-three had filed a complaint against Rafiq, following which police took Rafiq into custody for questioning but he was later released over lack of evidence.

The paper said they still withheld the file proving the allegations.

Meanwhile, things have taken a nasty turn for Khursheed, who claimed she was facing death warnings following the complaint.

She said: ‘Since contacting the police I’ve received death threats from people telling me I must withdraw the allegations or I’ll be burned alive.” (ANI)

Los Angeles, April 26 (DPA) Hollywood’s conventional wisdom is that recessions are good for the film business because especially in hard times people will spend a relative pittance at the cinema to escape the economic blues.

If that holds true over the next few months, this summer could break box office records in the US and around the world.

Hollywood’s plan is simple: use low advertising rates to market a packed roster of films designed to give everyone a great reason to leave harsh reality behind for a couple of hours.

“The economy is presenting the movie studios with exactly what the depression did: increased revenue through attendance,” said film critic Paula Nelson in the Tampa Tribune. “Call it what you will, but escapism is proving a boon to the studios.”

Recent box-office figures are showing that moviegoers in the US are continuing to spend money at cinemas even in the digital age, when movies on the big screen have to compete with so many other entertainment and leisure choices.

According to Box Office Mojo, box office revenue so far this year is already up 15.5 percent over the same start to 2008. Hollywood is hoping to continue that trend with a slate of films that could help set summer box-office records.

The slate of surefire blockbusters includes “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”, “Star Trek” and “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”.

Hollywood hasn’t forgotten the kids who will need entertaining during the long summer holidays.

The list of must-see movies is headed by “Up”, Pixar’s summer follow-up to last year’s smash hit “WALL-E”. It’s about an old curmudgeon who fulfils a lifelong dream by floating his house into the air with a bunch of helium-filled balloons. The only problem is that a pesky 8-year-old has stowed away for the trip.

Other kid highlights include “G-Force” – the tale of an intrepid squad of secret agents who happen to be guinea pigs.

Elsewhere, Tom Hanks in “Angels & Demons” will be reprising his turn as a dashing college professor from “The Da Vinci Code”, while Christian Bale will take on the role of John Connor in “Terminator Salvation”. Ben Stiller is back as museum guard Larry Daley in “A Night At The Museum”, while Hugh Jackman returns as the title character in the prequel “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”.

Quentin Tarantino is hoping to attract viewers to his ultra-violent World War II tale “Inglorious Bastards”, a gore-fest starring Brad Pitt about crazy soldiers killing Nazis.

Another one for the grown-ups is “Public Enemies”, director Michael Mann’s highly anticipated biopic about legendary outlaw John Dillinger, which stars Johnny Depp and Christian Bale and is already being talked about in Oscar terms.

Watch out, too, for director Tony Scott’s remake of the 1974 subway hostage thriller “The Taking of Pelham 123″, and for what critics are already calling the first great movie about the Iraq War, “The Hurt Locker”.

“Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi is returning to his horror roots with “Drag Me to Hell”, starring Alison Lohman and Justin Long. If you want something a little more rooted in reality, how about Cameron Diaz ditching her ditzy on-screen persona for “My Sister’s Keeper”, in which she plays a mother who shaves her head in a gesture of solidarity with her cancer-stricken daughter.

The comedies include Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Bruno”, Judd Apatow’s “Funny People” and Jack Black’s prehistoric romp “Year One”. Other notable comedies include “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard”, about an oddball gang of used car salesmen, while Woody Allen makes a return to US-based films with “Whatever Works”, in which Larry David could prove the perfect vessel for Allen’s eclectic ear for dialogue.

Miley Cyrus is a big star at a young age and she knows how to act like one.

The teenager looked every bit glamorous as she took to the red carpet at the London premiere of ‘Hannah Montana The Movie’.

The 16 year old star looked like a 26-year-old star in a figure hugging, jewel-encrusted frock, and skyscraper heels she was wearing.

Obviously she only had good things to say about the movie as The Sun quoted her as saying: “The great thing about this movie is that it really is for anyone from seven to 70.”

It was also business mixed with pleasure in a balanced way for the gal as she said that it wasn’t distracting to work alongside co-star and love interest Lucas Till.

She’s also said, “It made it easier that he was so good looking, not the other way around.”

This young gal is cut out to be star as she’s learnt all the tricks of the trade well. -Sampurn Media

London, April 25 (IANS) “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus said that she has a crush on her co-star George Clooney.

Cyrus was in London for the premiere of her new film “Hannah Montana: The Movie” in Leicester Square and the 16-year-old said that she has a “weird celebrity crush” on the 48-year-old actor, reported contactmusic.com.

However, Cyrus added: “But I refuse to date actors as a rule. They’re too good at lying – it’s their job.”

The rising star, who is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, has been a big name in Hollywood circles since the age of 12 mainly due to the Walt Disney franchise “Hannah Montana”.

Washington, Apr 25 (ANI): After parting ways with Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer has been spending a lot of time with cocktail waitress/ actress Scheana Marie.

‘We’re friends,’ Marie tells People.

‘He’s a great guy. He’s funny and sweet,” she added.

According to sources, Marie, 23, and Mayer, 31, met in 2008 at the Beverly Hills cigar club Grand Havana Room, where she currently works as a bartender and cocktail waitress.

An insider revealed that although the pair has not stepped out publicly, ‘they’ve spent time together over the past few months.

‘They’re enjoying getting to know each other.’

Marie, an ex-model, guest stars as Maria, the pizza delivery girl of the Jonas Brothers’ dreams on their upcoming TV show JONAS.

She has appeared in ads for Pioneer, Doritos, Nissan and Toyota, and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Azusa Pacific University. (ANI)

Washington, Apr 25 (ANI): Indian police has dropped the investigation against Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali’s father over allegations he attempted to sell his daughter.

The authorities insist that they have failed to find any evidence to back claims that he offered to auction off the nine-year-old for 200,000 pounds.

Rafiq Qureshi was arrested and quizzed by police in Mumbai earlier this week (20Apr09) after British newspaper News of the World broke the news.

Qureshi protested his innocence throughout the scandal, telling People.com the story was a ‘lie made up by foreign journalists playing games with me’.

‘There is not any crime. The matter is closed. No money changed hands. Rubina is here. There is no crime,’ Contactmusic quoted senior police inspector Rahim Shaikh as saying. (ANI)

London, Apr 25 (ANI): Mel Gibson’s wife filed for divorce after hearing his Russian lover say she is pregnant, it has been revealed.

It is said that Robyn, 53, decided to end their 28-year marriage after Oksana Grigorieva told pals she was expecting.

She was also stunned to find the Braveheart star had moved Grigorieva and her son, 11, into one of his mansions in California.

“Robyn put up with Mel for years but when she found out Oksana was telling friends she was expecting it was the last straw,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

“Robyn wants a ‘quickie’ divorce, one that isn’t contested, with their assets divided later,” the source added.

Oksana was yesterday spotted outside Gibson’s mansion chatting on her mobile with what appeared to be a baby bump under her pink shirt. (ANI)