There’s a certain quietude about Priyanka Kothari these days, which makes you wonder what this screen siren is up to. After all, we are used to seeing this gal heat up the glam quotient of films with her oomph and dare-bare roles. Ask her about it and she says, “I am enjoying the journey called life and am feeling very happy.” Is this sense of inner happiness in any way related to her reverting to her original name from Nisha? She says, “Not really. Life was fantastic then and now as well. I just did what I wanted to. That’s the way I live life -on my own terms and I follow my own rules.”

So, is she taking the failure of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag in her stride as well? After all Ram Gopal Varma is looking for new faces for his next venture? “I’ve said this many times and will say it again. I don’t belong to any one director. I belong to the film industry. Ram Gopal Varma is not my destination. Yes, he has shaped my career to a great extent, but there are other brilliant directors too out there and I am waiting to work with them.”

And waiting she is also for the ‘right’ kind of roles. Priyanka is finding it difficult to shed the sex-kitten tag and do roles that portray her as a simple, girl next door.

She explains, “I am a very simple girl at heart and would love to do roles, which explore this facet of my personality. I really wish some directors offer me such roles.”

On her way to Katni, Priyanka wishes her Nagpur stopover was longer. She says, “I haven’t been to the city earlier, but I’ve heard so much about the santra barfi that I am packing some for my mom.” And isn’t she going to taste some of it? She laughs and adds, “No way. I can’t afford a pimple or weight gain!” So does she sacrifice quite a bit of these goodies for that perfect body? Laughing again, she says, “I don’t like ice creams or chocolates, so no question of sacrifice. But I am very conscious of what I eat. I don’t diet but I eat right and exercise for at least one-and-a-half hour everyday.”

The actress whose Telugu film is slated to release soon says she isn’t too bothered about the Bollywood-South divide. She says, “Cinema is all about expression, not language. You emote well, you get appreciated.”

And appreciation she has received for her dance numbers. Ask her to choose the one number she’d love to do and she says, “Madhuri’s Ek do teen, Dhak dhak and Sridevi’s Kaate nahi kat te..I think they are marvellous songs and both the actresses have done full justice to them. If I get a chance I’d love to do them!”

After days of endless speculation, the verdict’s finally out! We are talking about the name of Rohan Sippy’s forthcoming film with Akshay Kumar that will see the ‘Khiladi’ back in action. The film - being directed by Nikhil Advani and produced by Rohan, Nikhil and Mukesh Talreja to be presented by Warner Brothers - that was tentatively titled Made In China has now been named Chandni Chowk to China at the insistence of the actor. The film - touted to be the first Bollywood film to be shot in China - is kind of autobiographical, as it traces the superstar’s rise from Chandni Chowk to superstardom. A source reveals, “Rohan and Akshay were both keen on different names. At the end of it, both want it to work in the favour of the film and had even had a sort of SMS poll conducted amongst the crew and cast. And everyone found Chandni Chowk to China more unique as against Made in China.” The shooting for the film that stars Deepika Padukone opposite the action king, will kickstart early this month and will be shot extensively in China and back in Delhi. Well, as long as the audience makes it from their ‘homes to theatres’ for this one… we’re sure Rohan’s not complaining!

Dard-e-Disco, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Nagada Nagada… have been the hit tracks you’ve practically woken up to each day in 2007, thanks to Radio Mirchi! Be it your daily commute or your cooking session at home - radio has been there offering the choicest and uber cool music always. And with so much music in our lives, countdown compilations like Radio Mirchi’s Top 100 songs of 2007 are a musthave to know what to download on your iPods, mobile phones and to know what to hum! Explains Tapas Sen, chief programming officer, Radio Mirchi, “Industry standards are set on the basis of our compilations. We have a great business-to-consumer equation, and through such compilations, we ensure that we have a rocking business-to-business equation too.

It is interesting to note that music directors, songwriters and singers actually follow our compilations to know what is hot or thanda on the music scene.” Sen adds that the procedure involved in selecting a song to be a part of any compilation is exhaustive, “A panel of experts in Mirchi critique the songs. What is popular on various channels on the telly, the over-the-counter sales figures of albums and what listeners have been continuously requesting on the radio are other parameters involved. In a nutshell, the list is a meticulous compilation and the subjectivity factor is pretty high.” So, what have been the big music trends in 2007? Says Tapas, “2007 has been the year of new trends in music. Melody has made a huge comeback and has taken the front seat. Fiercely individualistic lyrics are huge hits with our target audience. It’s more like ‘my music’ and I’d like to mention Gulzar here, who said that he is the best nonsensical songwriter. Songs like Beedi, Billo Rani and Dard-e-Disco are good examples to support this trend. Indi-pop has been inclined towards melody too. New music directors like Monty and Pritam have burst on to the music scene with Saawariya and Life in a… Metro respectively.”

Top Of The Charts

1. Dard-e-Disco - OSO
2. In Dino Life in a… - Metro
3. Saawariya - Title
4. Doorie (House Mix) - Atif Aslam
5. Salaam-e-Ishq - Title
6. Jhoom Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - Title
7. Soni De Nakhre - Partner
8. Assalam O Alaikum (Remix) - Aap Kaa Surroor
9. Ab To Forever - Ta Ra Rum Pum
10. Main Jahan Rahoon - Namastey London

Guess what will be the grand comeback of the New Year? It’s none other than Dimple Kapadia who is making her comeback after a long hiatus. She was last seen in Farhan Akthar’s Dil Chahta Hai, before she went on a sabbatical. And now Dimple will be seen along with Mithun Chakraborty in a film called Pyaar Mein Kabhie and also in the pipeline is another film with Pooja Bhatt and Amrita Singh. Let’s hope we will get to see more of this talented actress in the coming days.