The Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has given his fans a glimpse of what it's like to care for his eight-month-old granddaughter Aaradhya, the daughter of his son Abhishek and the actress Aishwarya Rai. "Realised playing with the 'little one' for just a few minutes could be equivalent to an entire two-hour workout in the gym!" he posted on his website on Monday. * IANS
Sunil Shetty happy to play at being a director
The actor Sunil Shetty, who plays a film director in his forthcoming film Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai, said he has no plans to go behind the camera in real life, especially after his unsuccessful stint as a producer years ago. "I didn't become a good, successful producer, so to become a director, I don't think so," said Shetty, 50. "I'm doing a lot of things. Direction is a very focused job. A director is not just concerned with the film, but has to handle the actors and the entire production, down to the last detail. I think it's too complex for me." Shetty said he is satisfied acting on the big screen and has signed on to a number of projects this year, including the action films Enemmy and Shooter. Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai, which also stars Om Puri, Rajpal Yadav and Udita Goswami, hits Indian theatres on July 20. * IANS
Salman Khan campaigns for Indian on death row
The Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has launched an online campaign for Sarabjit Singh, an Indian citizen on death row in Pakistan. He is urging people to sign a petition that he plans to give to the Pakistan government in a bid to free Sarabjit. "For more than 20 years, Sarabjit Singh is in a Pakistan prison for a crime he did not commit. Please sign this petition to appeal that he be freed and united with his family in Punjab," Khan posted on the website of Being Human, an organisation he founded to promote education and health care in India. Singh's family met the actor on Monday at Mumbai's Mehboob Studios, where he was filming his latest film Dabangg 2. "Mr Khan told me that he would stand by us until Sarabjit returns home," said Singh's sister, Dalbir Kaur. * IANS
Shatrughan Sinha rushed to hospital
The veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha was taken to a Mumbai hospital on Monday afternoon suffering breathing problems. His condition is stable but he has been advised to remain in the hospital this week. According to his doctors, Sinha developed a respiratory allergic reaction after being exposed to house paint; his home is currently undergoing renovation. Sinha's wife Poonam and his two sons accompanied him at the hospital. Sinha, 66, debuted in the industry in 1973. Last year, he received the prestigious Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement. * IANS
Aftab Shivdasani returns with horror flick
Aftab Shivdasani is returning to the big screen in the forthcoming supernatural thriller 1920: Evil Returns, written by Vikram Bhatt, directed by Bhushan Patel and also featuring Tia Bajpai and Vidya Malvade. Shivdasani plays a loner poet whose life changes when he visits his sister's lake house. Shivdasani's most recent film was last year's hit comedy Bin Bulaye Baraati. * IANS