I Want To Adopt A Girl: Rajeev Khandelwal

Television heartthrob Rajeev Khandelwal, who wowed critics and audiences in Aamir, has a new woman in his life and says he would love to father a baby girl whenever he settles down in life.

"I love families and kids. I would love to be a father and carry my daughter on my shoulders when I go for work. I love baby girls," Rajeev, who is returning to the small screen as a reality show host, said.

Currently he is doing his bit to fulfil his desire by sponsoring a girl child.

"If given a choice, I would love to adopt a girl. But it's a great feeling to even sponsor and support a girl child - it's as good as being a father to her," he said in the interview.

Rajeev, who was earlier in a relationship with actress Aamna Shariff, his co-star on hit daily soap Kahiin Toh Hoga, admits that he now has someone special in his life.

"Yes, I am seeing someone right now. But she is not from the industry," he said, refusing to reveal her name.

He, however, stressed that marriage was not on the cards for him any time soon.

"I've always intended to settle down with every girl I have dated in my life. But I have left it (marriage) on life. Whenever life pushes me into that direction, I will do it," he said.

Rajeev said he decided to make a comeback on the small screen to host the new reality show Sach Ka Saamna because it dealt with emotions of everyday life and presented people who could own up to the truth fearlessly.

Sach Ka Saamna, the Indian version of internationally known show Moment of Truth, will reward contestants for their courage to speak the truth about their personal lives on national television. The format and the content of the show is what drew Rajeev to the show.

"I could relate to the questions asked in the show. They are somewhere related to every person's life. That was one reason I agreed to the show besides the fact that it applauds those who can own up to the truth not fearing the consequences," he said.

Apart from the show Rajeev has a few Bollywood projects lined up too - British filmmaker John Owen's Peter Gaya Kaam Se and Saurabh Narang's Return Gift.

Rajeev had won the hearts of many women during his first stint on TV and the list only got longer after he entered Bollywood. The actor says he absolutely loves the adulation he receives from his female fans, though it is "difficult to stay grounded" at all times.

"There are lots of women who make me feel special. But I have always known it's not for me but for the characters I play. It's not that I'm a great looker, a great speaker or a great actor - but somehow I'm told that you are liked by the fairer sex and it gives me joy.

"I love it when any woman looks at me, smiles and I know it is genuine. It feels good. Imagine 10 women looking at you when you go in the lift - it becomes very difficult for me to stay grounded in such situations," Rajeev said.

In fact his fans have given him so much love by way of gifts that the actor didn't have to buy a single object to decorate his living room.

"My house is loaded. My living room has been done up by my fans. It's like an Archies Gallery - full of teddy bears, souvenirs and statues of gods. Though I don't believe in god, my house has about 85 statues of Ganesha. People have been extremely kind to me," he said.

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Ghana oozes with Affection For Obama

Richard Zangba waited for six hours Friday night and another five hours Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of Barack Obama’s African homecoming.

When the American president’s motorcade sped by the crowd waiting outside the conference center in Accra, Ghana’s capital, Saturday, Obama gave a brief wave through a heavily tinted window.

Zangba, an 18-year-old from a small town in Ghana’s Upper East Region, whooped wildly.

"He is a great African," he said.

A day earlier Obama landed in hana for a 24-hour visit. It’s his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.

The streets in Accra were lined with signs welcoming the Obamas. Vendors made a fortune selling their Obama wares. By Saturday, those who hadn’t bought an Obama shirt were being handed ones adorned with his picture.

Many Africans expected Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country, or Kenya, the land of Obama’s father, to be the president’s first stop.

While an Obama sighting was hard to come by, the people in Ghana were oozing with affection for America’s first black president.

Friday night, 68-year-old Feea, Daughter of Zion, arrived in Accra from Jamaica for a three-day visit, just to see Obama."I couldn’t miss him coming to Africa," she said. "This is a great moment for us as a people. It used to be impossible for a black man to become president."

Under a light drizzle and the night sky, people frantically searched the airport Friday night for the best spot to see Obama. When a handful of Ghanaians strayed from the crowd everyone followed.

Zangba, hesitated to move from his station at the front, but thinking he was missing his chance to see Obama, he broke into a sprint.

"Obama is here!," he shouted.

But it was a false alarm.

The crowd met a police barricade and turned back.

A young boy, dubbed an Obama-look-alike, was interviewed by a television reporter and swarmed by a mass of amazed Ghanaians. Later, the boy had to seek police protection.

When the crowd heard the roar of a plane engine around 9 p.m., people rejoiced. The hustle for a better vantage point intensified.

In the end, the crowd never saw Obama, yet the mood remained festive.

On Saturday Obama addressed Ghana’s parliament in Accra, but the crowd of about 200 people outside the parliament wasn’t the throng one might have expected.

Only those with good connections or wily enough to outfox Ghana’s police got near the site.

Zangba was one of them. He took a taxi to the lightly policed back entrance where he waited patiently for a crowd of people to distract the officers. When they did, he scurried past to join the crowd.

The rest of the people roamed the streets in confused excitement. Wearing Obama shirts, toques, buttons and belts, people were eager to see the president’s motorcade, but most Ghanaiains’ hopes for an Obama-sighting went unfulfilled.

Not everyone was eager to see Obama.

David Pessey, of Ghana’s National Reform Party, believes Obama’s just a fresh face for the same American policies: "He’s riding a tiger."

Pessey suspects Obama visited Ghana in the hopes of placing an American military base in West Africa. But Zangba isn’t worried about America’s foreign policy.

Inspired by Obama, the recent junior-high school graduate dreams of becoming Ghana’s president.

"Obama gives us all hope that we can do anything. He gives us encouragement to lose our inferiority complex," Zangba said.

David Kumagai is a journalism student at University of King’s College. He is an intern at a radio station in Ghana this summer.

Obama's Books:

"Each day, it seems, thousands of Americans are going about their daily rounds--dropping off the kids at school, driving to the office, flying to a business meeting, shopping at the mall, trying to stay on their diets--and coming to the realization that something is missing. They are deciding that their work, their possessions, their diversions, their sheer busyness are not enough. They want a sense of purpose, a narrative arc to their lives, something that will relieve a chronic loneliness or lift them above the exhausting, relentless toll of daily life"

Meetups address people's very specific needs (such as to learn a language, to get fit, or to succeed at business), but they also address this need that Obama writes about. People sometimes walk-on-air after a Meetup because they feel welcomed and part of a community. People also feel an incredible sense of purpose when a Meetup Group gels and realizes its unique mission

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Couples & Married

We asked our users to tell us what they felt to be the most important key to a successful relationship. Below are a few of the responses:

1. "Dialogue. As soon as it is present, everything is possible." -Paceline Jean


2. "I think the most important key to a successful relationship is when you truly enjoy each other's company." -Anne Engle


3. "I think the key to a successful relationship is to love them with all your heart, and to always show them that you do. And of course to always be honest!" -Kathy Wierzbicki


4. "Trust, good communication and a lasting friendship. I have been married to the same man for 19 years. We have survived infidelity, separation, financial woes, illnesses, etc. Through it all we managed to trust each other enough to be honest and truthful about our infidelity by communicating peacefully. When we both thought that the love was gone, we found a rare and beautiful friendship in each other, which held the marriage together. Today, we are very happy as a family with three children." -Jan Vega


5. "Commitment is the greatest key to a successful relationship. If you are committed you will always find a way to work things out." -Anonymous


6. "I think it is friendship! You can love someone like that and still be best friends and it's the best. Plus if they are your best friend, can't best friends stay best friends forever? If you just love someone for their physical aspects, there's no friendship or similarities between you except that." -Alane


7. "Passion. Without feeling passionately towards your mate the communication, sex, intimacy, and ultimate closeness will not be there, which in turn leaves each partner wanting/needing more from the relationship than they are getting. I know because I've lived it. My husband and I had everything. Money, companionship, friends, a home, great jobs, but we didn't have passion. We were basically friends. Friends are just that friends... husbands or wives should be in love and life partners... that doesn't happen without feeling passion for the other person." -Laura


8. "Communication... talking and open honest communication about how you feel. What makes you happy and what upsets you. If you don't tell your partner then they can't do what makes you happy and vice versa." -Greg


9. "The way a person treats his/her parents reveals how they WILL treat you! If it's with love, kindness and respect, then this is what you will receive. But if it's with criticism, defensiveness and disrespect, then this too you will receive... EVENTUALLY... it's almost certainly a guarantee! So watch and listen to the answers you get in their actions and words BEFORE you jump into bed!" -deb


10. "Communication. In many instances, 'communication' can be used in place of 'relationship'. If you withhold something from your spouse or lie to them, the communication (or relationship) has ended. If you chose not to be truthful, because you're afraid they may leave or be upset, you've got nothing to lose -- the relationship is already over. You may continue to go through life together, but you'll never have a 'relationship'." -Eric Hill


11. "I feel that a relationship should always be based upon honesty and acceptance. When you can fully accept yourself, honesty will come naturally. This in return will leave your partner feeling comfortable with you, knowing there is nothing to hide. If two people can see each other in full view with complete acceptance, they can build a successful relationship from this." -Sarah


12. "I believe that the most important 'key' to a successful relationship would have to be 'trust'. I believe that with trust, love will follow. However, what I have noticed is that many people think trust, or expect that trust is to be earned by the other person, when in all actuality it is something that comes from within yourself. All too many times people will say they don't trust due to past experiences. What they don't realize is that they have built up those proverbial walls to protect them from the very thing they are searching for... yes, there is a risk in trusting someone, but when you finally find that 'right' person, it makes all the past experiences and lessons learned very much worth the risk. All of life's little lessons do not have to be painful... even when they seem so at the time. You just have to chalk it up to experience and move on. Nothing is worth closing your heart. Nothing is worth living in a world of fearing what bad 'may' come to you. Without trust, you close your heart to the happiness and joy that true love brings. It's only my experience... and it's what I believe has given me the wonderful gift of 'true' love. It's a hard thing to do, a scary thing, but very much worth it. This is not to go without saying that some people may betray your trust... that's the risk... but why allow past betrayals to prolong the pain by building a fortress around your heart that not only protects you from pain/betrayal, but also denies you the ability to experience happiness and joy? Most have been hurt enough by one person, why allow them and their actions to stop us from finding what we search for? I say open your hearts to trust and bask in the beauty, happiness, and joy, of the true love that will follow. For everyone there IS a someone, you just can't find them if you hide away all your life..." -Adrienne


13. "Not expecting your partner to think and react to things the way you do. Resolving any conflict in your relationship depends on this. It's important to respect your partner's feelings, even if they are different from your own. If you and your partner both do this you can usually resolve bad situations, even if you still don't see eye to eye at the end." -Yolanda Iniguez


14. "The most important 'key' to a relationship is not worrying about how long it will last, when it will or won't end, and enjoying every moment possible together." -Kathy


15. "The key is to be understanding. Nobody can change their personality, so we simply have to try to understand each other as we become closer." -Lauren


16. "Always showing you love each other all the time by celebrating on different occasions like the first time you met each other." -Darnell James


17. "Validating your partner's feelings. It's so important to be heard in a relationship even if you do not agree with what is being said." -Robin


18. "Friendship is most important in any relationship. I feel that if you can't be friends first what chance do you have at being lovers? With friendship you have to have trust and respect. You have to like the person you're friends with to get along together. Once that is accomplished falling in love with them is just an extension of friendship, only stronger and better. Like the foundation of a brick house, love must also have a foundation. That foundation is friendship. You must have a strong foundation (friendship) in order for love to withstand the test of time." -zanfair


19. "The most important key to success is making sure you call the person you care about or love, and be there whenever he/she needs you. Just care for that person with all your might." -Eva


20. "Quality time spent together, pillow talk, one on one, being open about everything." -deanna

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Kambakkht Ishq Grosses Rs1 Bn In First Week

Despite mixed reviews for its weak storyline, Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor starrer romantic comedy Kambakkht Ishq has grossed Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) at the box office in its first week.

Distributed worldwide by Eros with around 2,000 prints worldwide, Kambakkht hit more than 1,400 screens in India and about 600 overseas in a combination of prints and digital format.

Directed by debutant Sabbir Khan, it released across India as well as in Pakistan, Britain, US, Australia, Europe, South Africa, Fiji Islands, the Middle East and Malaysia, among others.

Released on July 3, the film opened to extraordinary advance bookings courtesy its unprecedented buzz and has brought a new lease of life for Akshay's flagging career after two major duds Chandni Chowk To China and 8X10 Tasveer.

"Kambakkht Ishq is doing exceedingly well in all the overseas markets. All major markets like US, Gulf, Australia and even Pakistan have shown extraordinary box office performance in first week," said Pranab Kapadia, president of Eros International in a statement released here Friday.

Kapadia looks after Eros' distribution in Europe and Africa.

Nandu Ahuja, the senior vice president who looks after distribution in the domestic market for the company, says after the overwhelming weekend collection, the movie is going steady.

"The film has remained steady during the week post the stupendous opening weekend. The film is continuing to show fabulous collections and we are sure the film will continue to enjoy a fantastic run," he said.

Co-produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Sunil A Lulla, the film was made on a budget of Rs 62 crore (Rs 620 million) including print and advertisement costs and has grossed around Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million) in the domestic market and Rs 21 crore (Rs 210 million) overseas.

The music and digital rights of the film have fetched around Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million).

The film earned around Rs 19 crore (Rs 190 million) worldwide on its opening day.

Apart from the death-defying stunts by Akshay, the film also has much publicised cameos by Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards.

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Indians And Pakistanis, Are The Same: SRK

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan pitched for greater harmony among South Asian people as he accepted an honorary doctorate from a British university, saying governments were best left to their own "agendas".

"We belong to - I know it's a bit of a cliche but - one world. Specifically I think, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka all of us, we're the same. I really believe we are the same," Khan told journalists after being made honorary Doctor of Arts by Bedfordshire University.

The doctorate in recognition of his "exceptional achievement as a film actor and producer", was proposed by an Indian NGO called Routes 2 Roots, which works to bring South Asians together.

"My mother is from Hyderabad in India and father is from Peshawar (in Pakistan). So I do believe in this (cultural unity).

"Especially when you come away from India or Pakistan you realise there is no Indian or Pakistani, we're all together. We are - culturally, as human beings, as friends. These are the aspects that keep us together.

"As far as the (government) agendas are concerned, let them go on."

Invited by a Pakistani journalist to visit Pakistan, said: "I also do wish to go there - my family's there."

Earlier, in his acceptance speech, Khan said he was inspired by the doctorate to work for the education of poor children in India.

"While this honour is bestowed on me, I wonder if the deserving but poor and underprivileged children from India can also pursue their higher education in such universities and maybe earn a doctorate as well.

"This thought has been weighing heavily on my mind and I am hopeful that I would be able to contribute to this cause in the future," he added.

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Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince Synopsis & Movie Info

Synopsis:

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

Movie Info:

Starring:

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent

Theatrical Release Date:

07/15/2009

Rating:

PG

MPAA Reasons:

for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality

Run Time:

153 min.

Distributor(s):

Warner Bros.

Production Co.:

Warner Bros.

Director(s):

David Yates

Genre(s):

Action, Drama, Fantasy

Themes:

Wizards and Magicians

Country of Origin:

USA

Language:

English

Status:

Coming Soon

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India Is Worst Terror Victim, Must Help It: John Kerry

Washington, July 08: The US, it seems, has finally seen what we have experienced over two decades. Noting that no nation has suffered more from terrorism than India, Senator John Kerry has demanded that Washington should extend all assistance to it tackle the menace.

"First, we have to help India break with the perilous politics of South Asia's past," said Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday at the confirmation hearing of Tim Roemer as the new US ambassador to India.

The noting comes on a day that for the first time in history, Pakistan accepted it had nurtured terrorists.

“Let us be truthful to ourselves and make a candid admission of the realities. Militancy and extremism emerged on the national scene and challenged the state not because the civil bureaucracy was weakened and demoralised, but because they were deliberately created and nurtured as a policy to achieve some short-term tactical objectives,” The Daily Times quoted President Asif Ali Zardari, as saying.

"India needs no lectures. Virtually no nation has suffered more from terrorism than India, he said. "South Asia is also a volatile nuclear flashpoint."

That said, Kerry has played a major role in tripling US aid to Pakistan to fight terrorists. Those funds, recent Pentagon reports suggested, had been diverted to arming the Pak Army against India.

The recently passed Kerry-Lugar bill to triple US non-military aid to Pakistan to recast US relationship with Islamabad, "wll help us to secure the long-term safety not only of the US and Pakistan, but of India as well," Kerry said.

Kerry, a former Democratic presidential candidate who visited India shortly after the Mumbai terror attacks, said: "I know the volatility that was felt then. But the degree to which there is still an excessive focus on India-Pakistan border issues is really almost an anachronism in today's world. And we need to work to move beyond that."

If confirmed, Roemer will be representing US at an exciting and potentially pivotal moment in US-India relations, he said "the Obama administration has a genuine opportunity to forge a true strategic US-India partnership, not as a threat or counterweight against any other nation but based on shared interests and shared values."

"If we get this right, it will benefit not only our nations but also the region and the world. There are many areas where we can make real progress," Kerry said.

He and several other senators had supported a civilian-nuclear deal with India, in part because it will help India grow its economy with clean energy, he said. "I hope this will now open the door to greater cooperation on non-proliferation."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kerry said, "will be carrying a message of friendship, to India, during her visit later this month to engage with India's newly re-elected leadership."

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