By Subhash K. Jha

Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley says she will withdraw her lawsuit against Pooja Bedi, who allegedly called her mentally ill and delusional, if the latter issues a public apology.

"If she apologises to me in all the leading newspapers, I wouldn't want to take this further. But calling someone delusional is not a small matter. I've nothing against Pooja. So I don't know why she decided to talk like this. People are wondering why she has spoken like this," Celina told IANS in an interview.

It all began with Endemol asking Celina to participate in their reality show "Fear Factor". Although the actress turned down the offer, the production house used her name in the publicity campaigns.

"I didn't mind all this unwanted attention, but when my name was used as one of the contestants for the publicity for 'Fear Factor', I blew up. I totally understand protocol. Then I see Pooja Bedi jumping into the whole thing. I don't know her except when we met for her chat show. I can't see why she spoke about me like that," said Celina.

"It isn't as if I've gone on a suing spree. I don't want Pooja's money, but a printed apology is a must."

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: Your run-ins with various people and organisations are creating a lot of news?

A: It's not as if I'm enjoying it or that I've invited all these controversies. But there're certain situations in life when one needs to take a stand. Take the Endemol case. I've nothing against the organisation. It's one of their employees who was constantly calling and messaging me even after I told him I wasn't interested in doing their reality show "Fear Factor". Yet, they went ahead publicising my name as a part of the show.

The next day they made me out to be this tantrum-thrower who demanded an entourage for the trip to South Africa. When the discussions had never reached the stage of a contract, where was the question of demanding an entourage?

Q: How did you decide this employee was crossing the line of protocol?

A: I didn't react at his constant calls or the champagne bottle, which has created so much news. I've received champagne on the eve of my release. I understand the protocol for such things. But the agenda behind it was not to get me on the show but to become my manager. My lawyers put all this in my legal notice because I believe the Endemol employee was not contacting me for his company. He was doing it for his personal interest even after my telling him that I've a very efficient manager.

Q: Did you tell him that?

A: Yes. I didn't mind all this unwanted attention, but when my name was used as one of the contestants for the publicity for "Fear Factor", I blew up. Then I see Pooja Bedi jumping into the whole thing. I don't know her except when we met for her chat show. I can't see why she spoke about me like that.

Q: Pooja thought you might be delusional.

A: Why should she decide my behaviour? Is she a qualified psychologist? I understand what it is to live in a democratic country. It doesn't mean you call someone mentally ill or delusional without proof. Yes, things have happened to me over the last four years. Some people are more prone to crisis than others. I happen to be one of those unfortunate people with whom untoward incidents have taken place.

That doesn't mean I'm delusional. Would Pooja like me to prove that those things have really happened to me? Cops caught that German guy who misbehaved with me at a hotel in Mumbai. His visa was cancelled. Did I imagine all that?

Q: You've now a sent a legal notice to Pooja Bedi?

A: Yes. I thought of letting it go. My lawyers thought it was a good idea to send her the notice. Once she called me delusional, everyone in the media started picking on that. Believe me I've nothing against Pooja personally. I'm shocked why she should give defamatory quotes about me when she doesn't know the background to the whole thing. I didn't want to be a mere contestant on a reality show. I've my Hollywood agent to be answerable to. So when my name was mentioned in "Fear Factor", I reacted.

Q: Would you be willing to compromise with Pooja?

A: If she apologises to me in all the leading newspapers, I wouldn't want to take this further. But calling someone delusional is not a small matter. I've nothing against Pooja. So I don't know why she decided to talk like this.

Q: Maybe Pooja feels you over-reacted?

A: Does she know I've messages and recorded conversations of the man from Endemol? Believe me I've worked hard for whatever little I am today. Nobody has ever promoted me. I can't allow my name to be sullied.

Jealous actresses are doing their best to malign me. When I bought a house on prime property in Mumbai, they bitched wondering whom I slept with to afford my house. People, who come up the hard way, know the value of their reputation. I've kept quiet. But now when someone slanders me by calling me mentally ill, I've to get up and assert myself.

It isn't as if I've gone on a suing spree. I don't want Pooja's money, but a printed apology is a must.

Big B wants you to write to him

Legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan has now become closer and more accessible to people by sharing his views and replying to queries on his personal blog on BigAdda.com, an Indian youth network site.

"My blog will allow me to express myself, share and reflect my emotions, thoughts, opinions and listen to what people have to say to me," Amitabh said in a press statement.

The users can access the superstars' blog at www.bigb.bigadda.com. The actor has promised that he will reply to his viewers if they write to him on his blog.

He believes that this medium will help him connect to the masses.

"This would help me to show the audience the real side to my larger-than-life image that they usually see through the media. Here, I can control and share my unedited thoughts," Amitabh stated.

He added: "Now I can share consequential replies to the inconsequential gossips that keep doing the rounds. My adda (blog) will be the only destination where I'll openly state my views and also discuss the same with all."

Rajesh Sawhney, president, Reliance Entertainment, under whose aegis BigAdda.com works, said: "We are happy that Amitabh has chosen our site to express himself and connect with the masses."

Lindsay Lohan’s passage to India

Troubled Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan, who has had some image problems in the recent past, will visit India to campaign against child slavery and AIDS.

Her father Michael said that they would be travelling next February, mirror.co.uk reports.

He said: "She (Lindsay) has made it clear she definitely wants to come along. Lindsay's very spiritual. She has a wonderful heart, loves people and is very charitable."

Olympic torch run ignites Bollywood

Model-turned-actor Kelly Dorji's presence at a Tibetan world-peace rally in New Delhi surprised many, but the actor with a Tibetan connection is unperturbed and says he will always support the cause.

"To begin with, I did it for aunt Gawa, Danny Denzongpa's wife. She's my father's cousin. But I'd have attended anyway. It was to pray for world peace. I fully and strongly support the Tibetan issue, though I am not a political person," Kelly told IANS.

"I believe Tibet has been raped for 50 years. I've many relatives in captivity. When some Tibetans decided to not participate in the Olympics, the media suddenly woke up to the issue. Why? The Tibetan issue has nothing to do with the Olympics. Why are we mixing the two issues? The Olympics will happen regardless of Tibet."

The Olympic torch continued its international journey in India over the weekend, protected by a 15,000-strong security dragnet as organizers sought to avoid the chaos of torch runs in London, Paris and San Francisco.

Protesters in Delhi came nowhere near the Olympic flame – and only a few hundred selected guests managed to see it at all. Some 70 athletes and Indian personalities ran the much-shortened three-kilometre stretch between the presidential palace and India Gate.

About 500 pro-Tibetan protesters ran a parallel march across Delhi's busy streets, successfully championing their own flames – eight of them – even though the Indian government had forbidden them from carrying torches.

For the protesters, the Olympic torch's arrival in New Delhi allowed them to leverage international attention on human rights violations inside Tibet.

Some 110,000 Tibetans are estimated to be in exile across the world with 85,000 in India. The Dalai Lama heads Tibetan government in exile in Himachal Pradesh in northern India.

Kelly, who aims to become the best baddie in filmdom, says he's upset with world apathy.

"I've heard all the recent protesters are going to be executed on May 1. China thrives on public executions of protesters to make an example of them. Before they protest too loud, kill them."

"I'm not against Chinese people. I'm against the self-centred attitude of the world. Fifty years ago no one cared about Tibet. They still don't. There's no oil in Tibet. No superpower is going to come to the little country's rescue. Everyone is so busy making politically correct statements you wonder how your words are going to be interpreted. Even now as I speak I wonder how my words are going to be perceived. But I'm not a politician. I'm a human being and a good one brought up with the right values," said the actor .

"My grandmother is Tibetan and I've a lot of relatives in Tibet. They're greatly frightened by what's happening to the country. I've never been to Tibet. I'd love to. I'm not in favour of any form of government, but I favour the middle path because I'm a Buddhist. And that's exactly what the Dalai Lama is advocating.

Cricket draw for Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif joins the list of celebrities associated with Indian Premier League cricket teams. The gorgeous actress will support Vijay Mallya's Bangalore team.

"Let me clarify that Katrina is the face of Vijay Mallya's cricket team but not a brand ambassador to his Royal Challenge products," said a source close to the actress.

The actress, who sizzled in the recently released thriller "Race", will be shooting an exclusive solo music video for Mallya's team to be directed by Sanjay Gupta.

After starring in four hits last year, Katrina today ranks amongst the top league of actresses. Her next release is "Singh is King".

Don't starve, Urmila tells young girls

Size-zero models have become a rage among young girls in India and they are starving themselves to be like them, but "Rangeela" star Urmila Matondkar disapproves of this and says staying slim doesn't necessarily mean being on a starvation diet.

The actress says the secret to her much talked about figure is a combination of diet and exercise.

"More than staying slim, I aim for a healthy body, I am also thankful to god for good genes. I would advice youngsters not go on starvation diet and spoil their health. They should rather eat healthy and exercise," said Urmila, who was in town to inaugurate a slim instant obesity centre with French technology.

She also feels that the Maharashtrian diet keeps her going.

"Thankfully, our diet is not very greasy or heavy. At the same time it is wholesome, perhaps I am able to maintain because I stick to home cooked food."

The '90s dancing sensation is currently busy with Sony's music based reality show "Var Parivar". In this show, the entire family will participate.

"It is going to be very interesting, watch out for it."

CHARTBUSTERS

Top ten Songs

"Taare zameen par" - Film: "Taare Zameen Par" - Music Director: Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy

"Jabse mile naina" - Film: "Saawariya" - Music Director: Monty Sharma

"Dar-de-disco" -Film: "Om Shanti Om" - Music Director: Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani

"Muja muja" - Film: "Jab We Met" - Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty

"Thirak thirak" - Film: "Khoya Khoya Chand" - Music Director Shantanu Moitra

"Aaja nachle" - Film: "Aaja Nachle" - Music Director: Salim Sulaiman

"Labon ko" - Film: "Bhool Bhulaiya" - Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty

"Janiye" - Film: "Dus Kahaniyaan" – Music Director: Gourov Dasgupta, Bappi Lahiri, Shafqat Ali Khan and Anand Raj Anand

"Soni de nakhre" - Film: "Partner" - Music director: Sajid Wajid

Top ten Movies

"Taare Zameen Par" - Director: Aamir Khan

"Return of Hanuman" – Director : Anurag Kashyap

"Om Shanti Om" - Director: Farah Khan

"Jab We Met" - Director Imtiaz Ali

"Dus Kahaniyaan" - Director: Sanjay Gupta, Hansal Mehta, Meghna Gulzar, Rohit Roy, Apoorva Lakhia, Jasmeet Dodhi

"Chak De! India" - Director: Shimit Amin

""Bhool Bhulaiyaa" - Director Priyadarshan

"Khoya Khoya Chand" - Director: Sudhir Mishra

"Aaja Nachle" - Director: Anil Mehta