An interview with katrine

Do you consider yourself a foreigner or an Indian?

I am hundred per cent Indian. When I was growing up, I always felt a very strong awareness that I am an Asian.
It’s almost an Asian country now.

Now it is. But that sense of belonging was always missing when I was growing up. When I came to India, I felt an instant sense of belonging. My uncle was here, I had a bit of family in Bangalore. I came here with my older sister and I only had Rs 4 lakhs. I told myself that if I can make it with this money, I will stay here. If not, I will go back to London and rejoin college. I was only 17 at that time and was modelling. I bought a small apartment near a cemetery. I fear living alone and fear darkness, so I would stay up all night and wait for the sun to come up and then I would go to bed at five o’ clock in the morning and sleep for five hours.I did my first photo shoot with photographer Farooq. I received good feedback. I took my portfolio and went from one agency to another. I would go there and say, ‘can I meet your casting director’. I showed them my pictures. Soon the casting agents started calling me.
Tell us about yourself, pre-stardom.

I was born in Hong Kong. My mom was a Harvard graduate, a very successful lawyer who gave it up to join a charitable organisation. She was working with the organisation as a non-profit lawyer and because of that, we travelled a lot. From Hong Kong, we went to Japan, China, France, Hawaii and then to London.
The Indian part of you comes from your father.

Yes. My parents separated when we were very young. We were raised by my mother who did a wonderful job. She raised us with the belief and inspiration to find yourself in the world. Live your dreams and find what is going to make you live life freely.She made us tough. I have one brother. He is a professional skier and a rock climber.
What about your father?

We have grown up without a father. I missed it a great deal. I do feel that sense of loss.
You haven’t been in touch with him?

No. When I see my friends who have wonderful fathers, who are like pillars of support for their families, I think, if only I had that. But instead of complaining, I should be grateful for all the other things I have.
He hasn’t tried to get in touch with you after you became a star.

No, he is not that kind of a man. He is very decent and comes from a good family and they went their own ways because of issues which are personal. He is an affluent person, so he is not going to come back because his daughter is now famous.
How and when did you meet Salman Khan?

We met through his sister at a party. I had always said that I would never get into details about these personal things. You waste a part of your life answering, denying or clarifying things that don’t matter or are just speculations. I am a sensitive person and do not like to participate in these kinds of debates. He has been a wonderful person for the last six years. For me, he has been a great teacher and a great guide. He has seen me grow up in the last six years. At times, he would say that you are changing. And I say, I am changing because I am growing. He says, “Be careful, don’t change into something that is not good.”
When did the big break come?

I don’t think I’ve had that big break. For me it was ‘Oh Katrina looks nice here’ or ‘That’s a nice ad’ or ‘That’s an okay song’ or ‘That’s a nice movie’. It was all gradual, step-by-step.
May be it happened a little bit with Singh Is Kinng?Before that there was Namastey London where, for the first time, I had a dominating role and Akshay Kumar allowed me to do that at a stage when not many people believed in me. That was a turning-point in my career. After Namastey London, there was Race, where people said, she does this kind of dancing well. Then there was Singh Is Kinng and now New York.
You are working in Prakash Jha’s upcoming flick, Rajniti. Is it a serious role?

That film has a lot of potential and to me it looks like a great film. I can’t explain in words how excited I am about it.Prakash Jha thinks that I suit the role of a politician. He says I will bust the myth that I can’t speak Hindi.
Do you think it is the film that will launch you as an actor in your own right?

I think with New York, I have got that to a large extent.

WASNA AHMED

Yet another sweet, innocent face to flash on Indian TV screens is that of the 19-year-old Wasna Ahmed. At a time when most of us were still bunking lectures, stuffing our faces in the college canteen and dreaming big impossible dreams as we idled through our stuffy lectures, Wasna went and did what she always wanted to do. She became an actress.
Born and brought up in Kolkata, it was immediately post her class 10 results that Wasna moved to Mumbai to fulfill her childhood ambition. She speaks in a rather childlike voice that makes her seem younger than her 19 years. “All kids, while growing up, say they’d like to be a doctor or something like that. I’d always say I want to be an actress. I never changed my mind. So my sister told me if I got really good marks in my 10th board exams, she’d take me to Mumbai to fulfill my dreams. I worked hard and got a decent percentage. And as promised, she got me here,” she says.After wrapping up her 12th grade from a suburban college, she decided it was time to pursue her original goals, which was acting in any sphere and form. So when a Balaji audition came her way to play the sweet-natured Dhara from Kasauti Zindagi Ki, she jumped at the opportunity. “I always wanted to observe what happens at an audition. How dialogues are delivered, scenes are written and shots are taken. I thought this would be the perfect place to learn about all of that.” As fate would have it, and as it happens in all perfect stories, Wasna was selected to play the character of Dhara and calls her Kasautii… sojourn a great learning experience – one of the best in her life. “Kasautii… was such a beautiful experience, and working with Shweta was even better,” she says. Kausauti… then led her to her next project, Kahe Naa Kahe, where she found a great friend in co-star, Karan Hukku. Her advent in the show was a topic of discussion, especially as she was considered Balaji’s lucky mascot and since she was replacing another Balaji discovery, Krystle D’Souza. “It felt a little weird, but at the end of the day, it was a work opportunity. I was being selfish and thinking about myself. Anyway, it wasn’t my call; it was Ekta madam’s decision. I just took up the role happily.” Wasna then had her share of the reality pie with Kabhi Kabhi Pyaar Kabhi Kabhii Yaar, with her Kasautii… co-star Mridul Singhvi and his real life better half, Tina Sochdev. “There wasn’t any hype or craze surrounding that show, but it was decent. I think whatever happens, you should think of it as good, rather than get affected by people’s opinion of it. Many people say they like me many people say they don’t. It makes no difference to me. I get neither too happy nor too sad,” she says.She states that she’s open to any project that might excite her. “If I get a good project, why not do films? I’ll definitely go for it. I too have that mentality like other television actors of eventually moving from television to films. I want to make it big,” she says.Wasna is type of pampered baby, the youngest of four sisters. “They check on me always, and I stay with them. I’ve never spent a single day without my family. And I know they’ll always support me.” “I shoot all day. There’s no time to go out, not trace of a social life. I’m just another normal, simple girl. I hate wearing make-up when I go out. I love reading romantic novels like Mills & Boons, and books about horoscopes. And I’m the hugest Shah Rukh Khan fan; I love him and would love to work with him. And I would have loved to work with Rajeev Khandelwal, but he’s already left television and gone to movies. Young as she may be, there’s a strong head on those delicate shoulders. Wasna Ahmed has only just arrived.

The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a large water bird, widespread on the inland and coastal waters of Australia and New Guinea, also in Fiji, parts of Indonesia and as a vagrant to New Zealand.
Taxonomy
The Australian Pelican was first described by Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminc in 1824. Its specific epithet is derived from the Latin verb conspicere 'to perceive', hence 'conspicuous'.
Description
The Australian Pelican is medium-sized by pelican standards: 1.6 to 1.8 m (5.3-6 ft) long with a wingspan of 2.3 to 2.5 m (7.6–8.3 ft) and weighing 4 to 13 kg (9–29 lb). It is predominantly white with black along the primaries of the wings. The pale, pinkish bill is enormous, even by pelican standards, and is the largest bill in the avian world. The record-sized bill was 49 cm (19.5 in) long.
Distribution and habitat
Australian Pelicans prefer large expanses of open water without too much aquatic vegetation. The surrounding environment is unimportant: it can be forest grassland, desert estuarine mudflats, an ornamental city park, or industrial wasteland, provided only that there is open water able to support a sufficient supply of fish.
Australian Pelicans follow no particular schedule of regular movement, simply following the availability of food supplies. When the normally barren Lake Eyre filled during 1974 to 1976, for example, only a handful of pelicans remained around the coastal cities: when the great inland lakes dried again, the population dispersed once more, flocks of thousands being seen on the northern coasts and some individuals reaching Christmas Island, Palau and New Zealand.
The species became first known to occur in New Zealand from a specimen shot at Jerusalem in 1890 and small numbers of subfossil bones, the first found at Lake Grassmere in 1947, followed by records of other stray individuals. The bones were later described as a new (sub)species, Pelecanus (conspicillatus) novaezealandiae (Scarlett, 1966: "New Zealand Pelican") as they appeared to be larger, but Worthy (1998), reviewing new material, determined that they were not separable from the Australian population. These fossils were first found in 1930.
Breeding
The Australian Pelican begins breeding at two or three years of age. Breeding season varies, occurring in winter in tropical areas (north of 26oS) and late spring in parts of southern Australia. Any time after rainfall is usual in inland areas. The nest is a shallow depression in earth or sand, sometimes with some grass lining. Grassy platforms are constructed at Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. Nesting is communal, with colonies located on islands or sheltered areas in the vicinity of lakes or the sea. Breeding Australian pelicans will lay one or three chalky-white eggs measuring 93 x 57 mm, which are often scratched and dirty.[3] After they hatch, the larger one will be fed more, and the smaller one will eventually die of starvation. For the first two weeks the chicks will be fed regurgitated liquid, but for the remaining two months they will be fed fish such as goldfish or the introduced European carp, and some invertebrates. Widespread throughout its large range, the Australian Pelican is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Victoria wants to restore David's standing

The Beckhams are in the throes of a major difference of opinion! David, jeered by the fans of his football team, Los Angeles Galaxy, would like to return to live and play in Milan. But this situation doesn't suit his wife Victoria, and really, not in the least! Victoria, who found fame gyrating with the Spice Girls, would really like to stay in the United States.The lovely lady was recently shocked by humiliating placards raised against her sweetheart at his latest matches. Consequently, she is going to take things in hand! Victoria is planning to conduct a series of interviews with a view to improving the levels of support for her David. Further proof, if it were needed, that Victoria has always managed her husband's image!

Fashion Shows

A number of stylish costumes were seen at a fashion show held recently in Karach

There is nothing better than an exciting night out where the attendees are flooded with
excessive entertainment. Such was the show ''Veet-What beauty feels like'' which was recently held at PC, Karachi showcased a celebration of beauty and femininity through a number of ambassadors of Pakistani fashion. The show was presented by Catwalk Productions and it featured a dance performance choreographed by Omar Rahim as well as the collections of Top Pakistani designers such as HSY, Nomi Ansari, Khaadi Khas and Maheen Khan. The brand is known for its association with fashion models, actresses and glamour. So it's obvious that any event with the involvement of this brand will surely be extravagant
The event exhibited the world premiere of the opening performance entitled 'Titli', which explored beauty through the metaphor of the life cycle of a butterfly. The dance depicted the struggle to grow, the desire to play and the dream to fly. The music was composed by Shallum Xavier and the costumes were designed by Zaheer Abbas.
The dance performance was followed by Nomi Ansari showcasing his Spring/Summer 2009 collection based on the circle of life. While HSY set the mood through his airy Resort collection. The emphasis of his line was on an elegant, fluid silhouette in soft fabrics like chiffon and georgette
Shamoon Sultan also introduced the new Spring/Summer 09 collection from Khaadi Khaas revealing a passion for detail and an unmistakable quest for beauty in its true signature style. The look was fresh, fun and playful, embracing the spirit of individuality.
Maheen Khan, also considered the matriarch of Pakistani fashion, is a consummate trendsetter and visionary. She launched her line over thirty five years ago and continues to set standards every single day. Her creations at the show were highly appreciated by the audience.
All the top models were there to flaunt the stylish designer wear including Iraj, Nadia Hussain, Nadia Ali, Gia Ali, Sabina Pasha, Fayeza Ansari, Fouzia, Rubab, Maha, Mehak, Koni, Tooba and Tatmain.
The event being brought together by Veet depicted the grace possessed by women, whether it was through the exquisite dance acts or the creative and feminine designer outfits being presented.

Location:
Wind Point, Wisconsin
Year first lit:
1880
Automated:
1964
Construction:
brick, Italianate bracketing
Height:
108 feet (33 m)
Original lens:
Third Order Fresnel
Range:
19 miles (31 km)
ARLHS number:
USA-894
USCG number:
7-20605

Wind Point Lighthouse (or Windpoint Light Station) is a lighthouse located at the north end of Racine Harbor in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is in the village of Wind Point, Wisconsin, on Lighthouse Road, next to the Shoop Park golf course. The lighthouse stands 108 feet (33 m) tall. One of the oldest and tallest active lighthouses on the Great Lakes, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Wind Point Lighthouse was designed by Orlando Metcalfe Poe and constructed in 1880. The beacon was originally powered by a three-wicked kerosene lamp magnified by a third order Fresnel lens. The light was electrified in 1924, and replaced by a DCB-24R airport beacon in 1964. The light can be seen for 19 miles (31 km). A signal house (horns removed) remains on the grounds as well as a garage, two storage buildings, and an oil house. The Village of Wind Point has maintained the lighthouse and grounds since 1964, and uses the old keepers' quarters as a village hall and police headquarters.
In the summer of 2007, the lighthouse tower
underwent a US$210,000 restoration, during
which windows and doors were replaced,
brickwork repointed, and the tower repainted.

The Bridgewater Bridge and Causeway spans the Derwent River in Tasmania, Australia between Bridgewater and Granton. It consists of a vertical lift bridge and a specially-built causeway connecting the bridge to the east bank of the river. It accommodates a two-lane highway, a single track railway and, on the bridge section, a footpath. As the bridge is the major connector of the Midland Highway on the eastern shore and the Brooker Highway on the western, the lifting of the bridge can cause considerable traffic delays, depending on the time of day and season.
History
The Bridgewater Bridge was one of the first bridges constructed in Tasmania following British settlement in 1803, and gave its name to the nearby suburb of Bridgewater, Hobart. Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur commissioned the construction of the bridge and causeway as part of the Launceston-Hobart Trunk Road, linking both Tasmanian towns and providing easier access to farmlands in the interior of Tasmania.

The causeway
Construction commenced on the bridge in 1829. The causeway, which was constructed first, was built by a workforce of 200 convicts who had been condemned to secondary punishment. These convicts, using nothing but wheelbarrows, shovels and picks and sheer muscle power, shifted 2 million tonnes (2,200,000 short tons) of soil, stones and clay. The finished causeway stretched 1.3 kilometres (0.8 mi), although did not span the full width of the Derwent. The original plan apparently called for a viaduct, but this plan was abandoned and the half-built arches were filled in to form the present causeway.

The first bridges
Upon completion of the causeway, a punt operated across the deep, navigable section of the river, but could not cope with traffic demands. To resolve this issue, the first bridge across this point of the Derwent opened in 1849. The bridge was designed by the firm of architect and former convict James Blackburn.Being a swing bridge, it could pivot out of the way to allow ships to pass. In the late 1870s, the Launceston-Hobart Railway called for modifications to the causeway so they could lay tracks over it. The causeway required widening and the swing bridge was modified as well.
On July 22, 1886, a train from the north was passing over the bridge when the engine left the tracks and tipped over, hanging precariously above the water on the edge of the southern end of the swing bridge. The fireman and driver were injured, but no-one was killed and the locomotive was salvageable. The cause of the accident was found to be that the rails failed to match properly when the bridge was closed, so the bridge was modified again to solve this problem. The bridge lasted several decades more before being replaced by another swing bridge in the early 1900s. The pivot and the sandstone abutments of this bridge are still standing and can be viewed on the left of the present bridge as one travels towards the north.
Both the first and second swing bridges did not run straight off the end of the causeway; rather, they turned slightly to the right. The second swing bridge was left standing when the present lifting bridge was being constructed to prevent traffic stoppages, so the present bridge deviates from the causeway quite appreciably.
The Bridgewater Bridge, Tasmania, from the eastern access near the town of Bridgewater (facing west). This is a very large image which allows a detailed viewing of the structure.
Construction on the present steel vertical lift bridge across the Derwent began in 1939. It was briefly interrupted by World War II, but was finally completed in 1946. It consists of a long concrete bridge that leads off the end of the causeway, and a steel lifting section just before the northern bank of the river. The lifting section is one of only a few remaining in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the largest of its kind remaining in Australia. The bridge was designed to last a century without replacement. A small control house stands on the lifting section. Inside are the switches and locks which operate the bridge.
Until 1984, the Australian Newsprint Mills (now Norske Skog Paper) at Boyer, near New Norfolk, upstream from Bridgewater, moved all its produce by river. Many barges were used to transport paper from the mill to the storage sheds at Pavilion Point at Hobart, and for this reason the bridge was required to open very frequently. Consequently, a bridge-keeper lived on-site and opened and closed the bridge when required. However, when the decision was made to cease river transportation, an on-site keeper was no longer necessary, so although the bridge can and does still open, bridge openings are now infrequent.
In response to vandalism of the house which contains the bridge operating controls, closed-circuit television cameras were installed along the lifting span sometime between 2003 and 2005.
On October 30, 2006 a fault was found in one of the steel cables holding up the two 170-tonne concrete counterweights above the road, forcing the temporary closure of the bridge. This closure caused peak hour traffic delays, mainly along the East Derwent Highway, due to traffic being diverted over the Bowen and Tasman Bridges. The cables, which were put in place in 1994, were supposed to have a 20-year lifespan, and as they have lasted barely over half that time, investigations are underway as to the maintenance procedures of the bridge.

Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009
Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009
Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009
Type of eclipse
Gamma
0.0696
Magnitude
1.0799
Saros
136 (37 of 71)
Maximum eclipse
Duration
398 s (6 min 38.8 s)
Location
Pacific Ocean
Coordinates
24°12′36″N 144°06′24″E / 24.21°N 144.10667°E / 24.21; 144.10667
Max. width of band
258.4 km
Times (UTC)
Partial eclipse
23:58:18 (Jul 21)
Total eclipse
00:51:16
Central eclipse
00:54:31
Greatest eclipse
02:35:21
The solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 was the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting as much as 6 minutes and 39 seconds in some places.It caused tourist interest in eastern China, Nepal and India.
The eclipse was part of Saros series 136, as was the record-setting solar eclipse of July 11, 1991. The next event from this series will be on August 2, 2027.The exceptional duration was a result of the Moon being near perigee, with the apparent diameter of the Moon 8% larger than the Sun (magnitude 1.080) and the Earth being near aphelion where the Sun appeared slightly smaller.
This was the second in the series of three eclipses in a month, with the lunar eclipse on July 7 and the lunar eclipse on August 6.

Visibility

It was visible from a narrow corridor through northern

Maldives, northern Pakistan and northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, northern Philippines, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean, including the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands and Kiribati.
Totality was visible in many large cities, including Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Gaya, Dinajpur, Siliguri, Tawang, Guwahati, Chengdu, Nanchong, Chongqing, Yichang, Jingzhou, Wuhan, Huanggang, Hefei, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Huzhou, Suzhou, Jiaxing, Ningbo and Shanghai, as well as over the Three Gorges Dam. According to some experts, Taregana in Bihar, India was expected to be the "best" place to view the event.
A partial eclipse was seen from the much broader path of the Moon's penumbra, including most of Southeast Asia (all of India and China) and north-eastern Oceania.

Duration

This solar eclipse was the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st century, and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132. Totality lasted for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, with the maximum eclipse occurring in the ocean at 02:35:21

UTC about 100 km south of the Bonin Islands, southeast of Japan. The uninhabited North Iwo Jima island was the landmass with totality time closest to maximum, while the closest inhabited point was Akusekijima, where the eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 26 seconds.

Reaction

Indian scientists observed the solar eclipse from fighter jets. The Chinese government used the opportunity to provide scientific education and to dispel any superstition. Since the solar eclipse occurred almost exactly 10 years after the Falun Gong movement was banned, it was feared that Falun Gong would use this event to show that the heavens are displeased with the Chinese government.

How much do you feel for a particular brand when you are modelling for it?

NH- Well I always choose to model for brands which I'm comfortable with. I would not model for a brand which I feel does not suit my personality or lifestyle so you can say that I do feel quite a bit for whatever brand I'm modelling for since my name is being attached to it.
What sort of a contribution can a model make towards the fashion industry?

NH- I feel a model has some responsibility towards fashion since she/he is actually representing it and has a name and face attached to it. So whatever a model wears or the look she carries can actually be considered as the 'IN' thing since she is doing it too. So we as models can actually lead fashion which means models should be careful about what they wear but that doesn't mean at all that they always have to be fashionably dressed. Even a casual at home look can be considered fashionable.
The industry obviously has given you a lot making you one of its supermodels, how do you think you can payback?

NH- I'd like to do something for the women of our nation not necessarily the industry.
Do you think our models have the capacity of matching the best in this business elsewhere in the world or even our neighbours India?NH- I think my previous answer should answer this question too. Definitely without any doubt our models have what it takes to become international. If you look at Vinny, Iraj, Iman, Sunita or Cybil or even among our previous ones like Zoella they have everything that is the requirement for any international model. One thing which we really need is 100% support of our family to do this as a profession.
Do you think our industry or market is big enough to give our models the opportunity to do that?

NH- Our industry need not be that big but again like I said earlier that what we need is support from our parents and help from the government to make our industry more international and known to the world. This way our designers and models both will benefit hugely and this can add to the soft image of Pakistan
Is modelling a lucrative business? What's the commercial aspect of modelling besides the fame and glamour factor?

NH- It's a very lucrative business but it's also a very risky profession to completely rely on for ones livelihood because you never know when you might be old and unwanted. Though in this new and evolving industry of ours there's still a long time to go before any of us becomes too old to model but there still is one thing that you have to be on the top of your game to make this a lucrative business and profession for you. If you are not one of the Most Wanted then you are easily forgotten.
If given a chance what steps would you take to revolutionise the modelling industry?

NH- Firstly I would try and get government agencies to recognise this as a serious profession so that the models have some rights and are not taken for a ride; or that we have to run marathons and beg people to pay us our due money. Secondly, I would kind of outline the requirements of being a successful model so that the new girls who want to come in have some kind of guidelines to follow so that if they do not fit the criteria then they should just quit. I mean the basic things should be a good height, good figure and some kind of good looks. You may have the height but if you don't have the other two then honey it won't work!!!

Are there any agencies working on your behalf? Would you like someone to do it all for you from finding, selecting and finalising the projects?

NH- No I don't work with agencies. I have done it all by myself.

Bruce Castle (formerly the Lordship House) is a Grade I listed 16th-century[1] manor house in Lordship Lane Tottenham, London. It is named after the House of Bruce who formerly owned the land on which it is built. Believed to stand on the site of an earlier building, about which little is known, the current house is one of the oldest surviving English brick houses. It was remodelled in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
The house has been home to Sir William Compton, Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset, the Barons Coleraine and Sir Rowland Hill, among others. After serving as a school during the 19th century, when a large extension was built to the west, it was converted into a museum exploring the history of the areas which constitute the present London Borough of Haringey and, on the strength of its connection with Sir Rowland Hill, the history of the Royal Mail. The building also houses the archives of the London Borough of Haringey. Since 1892 the grounds have been a public park, Tottenham's oldest.

Architecture

AA detached, cylindrical Tudor tower stands immediately to the southeast of the house, and is generally considered to be the earliest part of the building; however, Lysons believes it to have been a later addition. The tower is built of local red brick, and is 21 feet (6.4 m) tall, with walls 3 feet (0.91 m) thick. The purpose of the tower is unknown, but speculation suggests it might have been a dovecote. In 2006, excavations revealed that the tower continues for some distance below the current ground level.
Sources disagree on the house's initial construction date, and no records survive of its construction. There is some archaeological evidence dating parts of the building to the 15th century; William Robinson's History and Antiquities of the Parish of Tottenham (1840) suggests a date of about 1514, although the Royal Commission on Historic Monuments attributes it to the late 16th century. Nikolaus Pevsner speculates that the front may have formed part of a courtyard house of which the remainder has disappeared.
The principal facade of the Grade I mansion has been substantially remodelled over time. The house is constructed of red brick with ashlar quoining and the principal facade, terminated by symmetrical matching bays, has tall paned windows. The house and detached tower are among the earliest uses of brick as the principal building material for an English house.
Henry Hare, 2nd Baron Coleraine (1635–1708) oversaw a substantial remodelling of the house in 1684, and much of the existing south facade dates from that time. The end bays were heightened, and the central porch was rebuilt with stone quoins and pilasters, a balustraded top and a small tower and cupola. A plan from 1684 shows the hall in the centre of the house, with service rooms to the west and the main parlour to the east. On the first floor, the dining room was over the hall, the main bedchamber over the kitchen, and a lady's chamber over the porch.
In the early 18th century Henry Hare, 3rd Baron Coleraine (1694–1749) oversaw a remodelling of the north of the house, in which an extra range of rooms was added to the north and a large crest of the Coleraine arms added to the pediment of the north façade. In the late 18th century, under the ownership of James Townsend, the narrow east facade of the house was remodelled into an entrance front, and given the appearance of a typical Georgian house. At the same time, the gabled attics on the south front were removed, giving the southern elevation of the house its current appearance. An inventory of the house made in 1789 in preparation for its sale listed a hall, saloon, drawing room, dining room and breakfast parlour on the ground floor, with a library and billiard room on the first floor.
In the early 19th century the west wing of the house was demolished, leaving it with the asymmetrical appearance that it retains today. The house was converted into a school, and in 1870 a three-story extension was built in the Gothic Revival style to the northwest of the house.
The 2006 excavations by the Museum of London uncovered the chalk foundations of an earlier building on the site, of which nothing is currently known. Court rolls of 1742 refer to the repair of a drawbridge, implying that the building then had a moat.A 1911 archaeological journal made passing reference to "the recent levelling of the moat".

Hrithik Roshan, who was present at the launch of a start-to-finish wedding planning service with wife Suzanne, was forthcoming when it came to talking about his own 10-year-old marriage. “Even though Suzanne and I were dating for six years before we got married, it didn’t take away from the hectic preparations that come with a wedding. While we just had to show up at the venue, I clearly remember how stressed our families and friends were. Had the wedding planning service been launched ten years ago, we would have really benefited from the novel concept,” confessed the actor. Meanwhile, Suzanne added that it is companionship, love and trust that keeps a marriage going after the wedding festivities wear-off.

Split Wide Open
After a year of being together, Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman have parted ways apparently. Irregular schedules, too much time apart and working on different locations for their respective films, has taken its toll on their relationship. They met for dinner recently and decided to end their relationship mutually as they feel they need to concentrate on their careers.

the beautifull

LIFE IN COLORS

juggan kazim

The petite Juggan Kazim is media’s hot favourite these days. The girl has injected that much needed jazz to the local channels with her striking good looks and charming demeanour. Be it a talk show, drama serial, music video or a live show she’s bound to be the face of the event.Juggan started her career as a model, in Canada. She was also featured in Pink Laddos, a highly acclaimed Canadian sitcom. After a brief stint there, the girl decided to come back to her hometown… once back she was inundated with offers for modelling and acting.One of her latest ventures was a song by Jal in which we see a breathtakingly beautiful Juggan.

ASIN THOTTUMKAL

Asin Thottumkal (Malayalam), is an award-winning Indian film actress from the state of Kerala. Currently , she is considered to be one of the most popular actresses in the South Indian film industry with three Southern Filmfare Awards in her kitty.

Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad's Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Filmfare Award for the Best Telugu Actress for the film.

After a number of critically and commercially successful films, she received her second South Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in her second Tamil film, Ghajini (2005). She played the lead female roles in two consecutive top grossers, Ghajini (2005) which is her biggest commercial success to date, and the action comedy Varalaru (2006) and this way has established herself as one of the most prominent leading actresses of South Indian cinema.

More recently, Asin has been making a debut in Bollywood, in Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake. She has also reportedly been paid a hefty sum of Rs. 1.5 Crore for her second Bollywood Venture, London Dreams.She started her schooling in Naval Public School, Kochin. She is an only child to her parents – her father being a businessman and her mother a surgeon. She has completed her B.A. English Literature at St. Teresa's College, Kochi. She has shifted from her home town Kochi to Chennai, where she stays on Harrington Road. She has also bought an apartment at Lokhandwala in Mumbai for her convenience as a base in the city when she is there, as she is slowly but steadily foraying into Bollywood. Before becoming an actress, she was a part-time model and a businesswoman.

Asin Thottumkal debuted in a supporting role in Sathyan Anthikkad's unsuccessful Malayalam film Narendran Makan Jayakanthan Vaka in 2001, at the age of 15. After taking a year out to pursue her education, Asin returned with her breakthrough film as an actress, Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi opposite Ravi Teja, portraying a Tamil girl in her first Telugu language film, which subsequently fetched her the Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Actress. In the same year she won the Santosham Best Actress Award for her performance alongside Nagarjuna in her second Telugu film, Shivamani. Her following two Telugu films, Lakshmi Narasimha and Gharshana, both portrayed Asin as the love interest for police officers, giving her two more solid hit films, cementing her place as a leading actress in the Telugu film industry.Asin's first Tamil language film was M. Kumaran son of Mahalakshmi, in which she co-starred with Jayam Ravi.

Asin reprised her role from her film Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi for the remake, which saw her portraying a Malayali girl instead of the Tamil girl in the original. The movie subsequently went on to become one of the biggest hits in Tamil cinema during 2004, introducing Asin to Tamil film industry. After a brief return to Telugu films, to do Chakram, her first failure as a senior artiste, she appeared in Ullam Ketkumae. The film, initially launched in 2002, was originally meant to be the launch for Asin as a lead actress, alongwith then-debutants Arya and Pooja Umashankar.

The college love story, directed by Jeeva, was long-delayed but eventually became a successful venture at the box-office, creating wider opportunities for her and the rest of the lead cast.After the release of Ullam Ketkumae, Asin became publicized as a leading heroine after signing films with the four leading actors of the Tamil industry: Surya, Vikram, Vijay and Ajith in Ghajini, Majaa, Sivakasi and Varalaru respectively. The venture which provided the breakthrough for Asin to become the leading South Indian actress was her Tamil film, Ghajini. The film, co-starring Surya and Nayantara and directed by A. R. Murugadoss, helped Asin secure the Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Her role, that of a vivacious young model called Kalpana who dies, became a trendsetter and was parodied in several other films after the release of Ghajini. Sify.com praised her portrayal as "magical" and that "Kalpana was the lovable chatterbox, [with] sheer ability in the romantic interludes, the poignant and heartfelt scenes when she rescues minor girls from villains and her gory end are touching". The reviewer further went on to mention that "The chemistry between the lead pair in the first half is a delight", a view that became common among film producers who attempted to put their pair opposite each other for the films, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal and Vaaranam Aayiram, both of which started without Asin. The following Diwali in 2005, Asin had two big releases in Sivakasi and Majaa. Despite the latter becoming an average grosser, the former also went on to be a successful venture at the box office, despite Asin's poorly etched out role.The following year, Asin opted for a less hectic schedule, becoming more choosy with her roles, rejecting several opportunities in the process. Her long-delayed venture, Varalaru opposite Ajith Kumar, became the biggest blockbuster of 2006 in Tamil cinema, after releasing for Diwali 2006. The film's hero-centric plot retreated Asin to the sidelines, but her role was well acclaimed by critics. Asin kept intact with her popularity in Telugu films by appearing in Pawan Kalyan's Annavaram, another successful venture in hwich she had a poorly-etched out role. In January 2007, Asin appeared opposite Ajith Kumar and Vijay in two different films, Aalwar and Pokkiri, with the latter becoming a super success, whilst Aalwar became a failure. The two projects which released on the same day, had been billed up as rival films due to the rivalry of the lead actors in the films. Whilst Asin's role in Aalwar was criticized, her performance in Pokkiri was lauded by critics. Her final project of the year was opposite in Hari's Vel, which had a Diwali 2007 release, subsequently becoming her third successful film which relesed during the Diwali season in three years. The film saw Asin and Surya put apart their creative differences and appear alongside each other after Ghajini. Asin, who portrayed a TV anchor, was appreciated for her role in the film.Asin appeared in her first dual role in K. S. Ravikumar's magnum opus Dasavathaaram opposite Kamal Haasan, who portrayed ten roles. The film, which was under production since September 2006, became Asin's largest film til date. Despite being overshadowed by Haasan's ten roles, Asin's portrayal's in the film were praised as her "best-to-date" with one of her roles being that of a Vaishnavite in the 12th century; whilst the other charcter was a Brahmin girl from Chidambaram. Dasavathaaram subsequently went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters in South Indian film history.

An Interview with Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor, the newest power woman of Bollywood, comes out in the open and speaks to the media only when she has a film up for release or for any of her brand endorsements. We bring to you our latest Q & A session with the diva. Read on…

What is more important for you while endorsing a product - brand or money?Luckily, I don’t need to go after money. So definitely it’s the brand that matters. I would certainly not endorse cigarettes because I don’t believe in them. I will always endorse products that suit the kind of person I am. My personality will show up in my ads and the products that I endorse.
Do you personally use the products that you endorse?

I definitely use them. These people send me many of their products for free. So everybody uses them at home.
How do you start your day?My day starts with a cup of tea, after that I do yoga and then I leave for my shoots. We start shooting at around 9 in the morning.
Katrina Kaif recently said that she gets inspired by you. What do you have to say on that?It feels great. I think that speaks a lot about me.
Can you tell us of some memorable moments you shared with your family of late?Well, I haven’t taken a holiday with my family for the last four years. Hopefully, by the end of this year we will have some memories to cherish.
What do you find special about being a woman?

I think we all should be proud of being a woman because women are ruling the roost in every field, in every way. The most special thing I feel about being a woman is the power to give birth to a human being. So, men should respect women much more.
Whom do you get inspiration from in life?

It’s mostly my mother and my sister who have inspired me to be what I am. They have always been there for me; I have grown up with them.
Any women-oriented film that’s your favourite?

I don’t see many movies, but I think ‘Chameli’ is very special to me. It had a strong message, it had a cause. And I enjoyed playing the role of a sex worker a lot.

interview

Dismissive of his verbal duels with fellow actors over the last year, Shah Rukh says his only problems are physical, not emotional.In an interview with an international magazine, the actor was equally nonchalant about criticisms flung his way.“I have been working for too long to be laid down by some comment which sort of demeans my status,” he explains.
When you heard that moving the IPL out of India was inevitable, what was your first reaction?Forget the injury, it’s really sad that we have to go out of India, especially Kolkata, because I was having fun there and the team belongs to Kolkata. And as for my injury, I’m not going to recover fully till August. So I’m not working too much. For me, it would have been the same thing if I had to travel up and down form Kolkata. And now I’m going to travel long distances in South Africa.
A few months later, your relationship with Aamir deteriorated for no apparent reason. What caused it?

No, I have never had any problems with him. Again what has been reported is something I cannot comment on. Whatever issues we have are not big enough to be reported, and not reported the way it has been reported. Whatever little ups and downs, chats, talks, and relationship we have gets resolved on its own personally. I don’t think we need the platform of the media to resolve it.
And now it is speculated that you have patched up with Aamir?

You patch up when you break up. I don’t understand where the patch up is coming from when there is no break up. We exchange SMSes, chat and did the multiplex thing together. I don’t how much more we can patch up; we will be getting married then.
Ghajini versus Rab ne Bana Di Jodi. Was that about two mega movies or really a battle between Aamir and you?

They are big films; both completely different and did considerably well. Ghajini is being touted as the biggest hit ever, which is wonderful because it has set new standards for the business. Both were expensive films. So it was important that these two big films did well, as a lot was riding on them for producers, distributors and exhibitors.
The Film fare power list has Aamir right on top?

Actually, I don’t understand them although I have secured a position once or twice. It’s a world view which may be right or wrong. Going up or down a power list is not a major criterion for me. But it’s nice if I’m leading a power list.

Ranbir Steps Out
Ranbir Kapoor was not seen in public in the recent past as he was growing a beard for his new film and did not want his look to leak till it was officially announced. Now, the first look of Ranbir in Yash Raj Films’ forthcoming movie, “Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year” is out! It’s a funny and exhilarating coming of age movie, set in the new Indian economy. The extremely popular and talented Ranbir Kapoor plays the lead role as the salesman of the year. This Yash Raj Films movie is set to release in December 2009.

Preity Plays Fairy Godmother

Many actresses are called housebreakers... but there are some home-makers as well. Preity Zinta is one of them. Apparently, PZ is the one who helped actor Eesha Koppikhar hook up with boyfriend Timmy Narang, whom she’ll wed soon. Preity and Eesha became good friends while shooting for Har Pal. That’s when Preity thought that Timmy and Eesha were perfect for each other. “Preity was instrumental in getting us together,” confessed Koppikhar. “She told Timmy a few good words about me, and then told me a few good words about him! Timmy and I casually met at a party and hit it off immediately. We started dating, without quite knowing that Preity was actually trying to get the two of us together!”

review

Chowrasta

The film weaves together four different tales that run parallel to each other. Nandana (Roopa Ganguly) is a fading Bollywood star who discovers she is living on borrowed time, so she is desperately in search of someone who will look after her 12-year-old son. Rita (Aparajita) and Sunny (Naved Aslam) have eloped and got married but now on their honeymoon they realize their marriage isn’t really a bed of roses. Jimmy (Victor) is a planter in Darjeeling who is unable to get over his wife’s death. He keeps writing emotional letters to his already deceased wife. The loneliness is out to kill him and he even contemplates suicide. Kenny (Atul Kulkarni) is a terrorist who is on the run from police realizes all that he has been doing till now, the cause that he was fighting for is all worthless as no one is really interested whether he remains alive or dead.All the characters are in Darjeeling seeking something. What happens when their paths cross and what they end up achieving which leads to a major change in their lives is all about rest of the story. What make this film interesting are the characterizations, of especially those of Victor Bannerjee, Roopa Ganguly and Atul Kulkarni. It further helps that these actors take the film to a higher level with their good acting. The film makes for a good watch if you want to see something really sensible. With its just 90 minutes running time, you won't end up losing much.

movie review

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

Matthew McConaughey doesn’t have a ghost of a chance in this mirthless romantic comedy that’s anything but romantic. Connor Mead is a commitment-phobic bachelor whose carefree antics nearly destroy his brother’s wedding weekend when his constant mockery of the sacred institution throws cold water on the event. But then straight out of the afterlife comes Connor’s philandering late Uncle Wayne to lead him through a spooky, Dickensian tour of the ghosts of all his many female conquests from the past, present and future. As he realizes what a sorry state he’s in and how he blew his relationship with Jenny, the one girl he truly loved and lost, Connor will find out if there’s really a second chance in life. Matthew McConaughey plays Connor with little distinction from the myriad of other skirt-chasing cads he’s played in a string of chick flicks. His immature chauvinist act is getting a little old and poor Jennifer Garner, his latest leading lady, can’t do much to save him. There’s little chemistry between the two, and in fact, both stars don’t seem to have their heart in this lame, lustful takeoff on Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. For some inexplicable reason Michael Douglas took the thankless role of the late Uncle, who mostly just throws out lots of double entendres.The screenplay just doesn’t deliver. The overall tone is just crass and sleazy, and the fantasy sequences involving the ghostly visits are flat and uninspired.