I will not say OSO has the best music: Celina Jaitley

Q. What is playing on your I-Pod these days?
A. I have returned from Mauritius just two days back, so top French songs are playing on my I-Pod. Also recently, I got a collection of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's songs and beautiful Gazhals which were gifted by one of my friends.

These songs are also playing on my I-Pod. In fact I love music so much that my I-Pod is always on.

Q. Which kind of music do you love and which kind irritates you?
A. I like Sufi, Rock, Ghazal and Nazm. Also I love listening to Hindustani music. If you talk about singers then I am a big fan of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. I like the songs, Gazhals and Nazms sung by him.

I am also a fan of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab.To be true I love to listen to the songs of the 60's and 70's more than today's songs. Not only Hindi, I also like listening to old English classics.

The music which has more loudness than melody irritates me. Also I don't like songs, the lyrics of which have no meaning.

Q. According to you which among the recently released films - 'Om Shanti Om', 'Saawariya', 'Aaja Nachle', 'Khoya Khoya Chand' and 'Dus Kahaniyan' has the best music?
A. I will not call any of them the best because every film has at least one song that is my favorite. But if you see commercially then the music of 'Om Shanti Om' is very good.

With this I also like the music of 'Dus Kahaniyan', it has some newness in it which I like. Also Sanjay Gupta's film music has always been good. I have not yet heard the music of 'Khoya Khoya Chand', so I can't comment on its music.

Q. Name five of your all time favorite songs.
A. My favorites will not fit in just five songs but I will try. I love these songs- 'Chalte Chalte' from 'Pakizaah', 'Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam' from 'Dilwale Dulhaniyan Le Jayenge', 'Morni Baga ma' from 'Lamhe' and 'Sagar kinare' from 'Sagar'.

Q. Which music makes you dance?
A. There are a lot of songs in our films which makes one want to dance while listening. I am a big fan of Sri Devi ji. When I listen to her songs then something happens to me. Songs like 'Meri Haathon me nau nau choodiyan hai' from 'Chandni' and 'Morni Baga ma' from 'Lamhe' are on the top.

Also I love classical songs very much. While listening to these songs not only me, but every body feels like dancing.

Q. What do you prefer remixes or originals?
A. See, originals have their own charm. For remixes I would like to say it is a good trend in a way as old songs are repeated in the form of remixes. These are the songs which have been part of our grand fathers' generation.

The fact is that we Indians are musical naturally. Also remixes indicate the popularity of a song, which can sooth the hearts of listeners till now.

Q. Which is your favorite romantic song?
A. (laughs) Oh God! There are lots of them, I am confused which name should I take? (thinks). I like the song 'Do labzon ki hain dil ki kahani' from 'The Great Gambler'.

Q. According to you today's music is better, equal or worse as compared to music of old times?
A. First of all I will like to say that music cannot be compared. Music always gives satisfaction to the soul. According to me not only the environment has changed but the ragas have also changed.

I will not say that today's music is bad but seeing the number of music composers coming up, we can say that there has been a lot of development in the field of music. If we talk of old songs then the era was very romantic so, the songs had to be memorable.

But thankfully, with few films like 'Devdas and 'Khoya Khoya Chand' the era is coming back. And it is a very happy feeling for me because I am very fond of this kind of music.

Celina refutes Aishwarya's claim

Celina is all set to play the mythical beauty Sheherzade in the international project The Quest Of Sheherzade.

For the petite beauty the most exciting part of this fantasia-project is the rugged action. "It's a role that requires extensive stunts. Fortunately my father is an army officer. I learnt horse riding in school.

But doing so without a saddle requires plenty of training. And I'm off to the US in Februray 2008. Shooting starts probably in Turkey next Summer."

The Sheherzade role sounds quite a lot like what Aishwarya Rai did in her just-released international project The Last Legion.

Apparently Celina was offered Ms Rai's role in the new Pink Panther, a matter hotly denied by Ms Rai's business manager from LA.

Celina exudes a startling confidence when she says, "With due respects to Aishwarya and her LA business manager, my work in the US is looked after by Brillstein-Grey who also look after names like Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom and Andy Garcia. The script was sent through my agents.

And then it was also sent to Shilpa Shetty…I'm aware of that. I'm not aware of where the project went after that. Nor am I interested in getting into a slinging match over a film that I didn't do. I'd rather talk about what I'm doing."

Celina has just completed another international project called Love Has No Language. "It's directed by first-timer Ken Khan who was involved with the Lord Of The Rings project. It's an out-and-out romantic film."

Celina is candid enough to admit she didn't get along too well with her Australian co-star Ben Mitchell ( the big-name tv star from the soaps Shortland Streets and Neighbours).

"Out there in New Zealand they look for a hectic social life after work. I've gone through late-night partying in college. I don't need that any more. I'm very much a ghar ki murgi….very dull and ordinary …. So yes, Ben and I just faced the camera went our separate ways."

What's with Celina and all these international honours?

Now comes news that Celina has been invited as India's ambassador to Egypt.

"I still don't know why,or how they selected me for this honour," the petite beauty has the sense of humour to laugh at the unlikelihood of 'Celine The Brand Ambassador'

"I don't know if they've seen my films in Egypt or if they even watch my films there."

Perhaps her debut film Jaan Nasheen with its rather Middle Eastern feel and texture worked in her favour?

Celina mulls over that one. "Hmmm….could be. I don't know. I don't have that great a body of work to boast of. I admit I've done some awful films. But things are finally coming together. I'd say Vikram Bhatt's Red is the film that got me noticed abroad.

That's how I got the Sheherzade project. They also saw my song in Khalid Mohamed's Silsilay Maybe that's what prompted the Egyptian government to invite me to pick a delegation."

While the names accompanying Celina for the big meet on September 30 are yet to be decided, producer-director Suneel Darshan is being mentioned as one of the delegates.

Says Celina, "With due respects to all my producers Suneelji is the first director to package and project me so well in Shaka Laka Boom Boom.

Otherwise I'm just perceived as a body with no brains," says Celina who claims she reads anything from Emily Bronte to comic books.

"But when you're in a glamorous profession you know where one's brain is supposed to be," she ends with a throaty laugh.

Guys today are turning bisexual: Celina Jaitley

Q- How would you like to be wooed?

A- Actually, I am tired of being relentlessly wooed. Guys, give me a break.

Q- What would you do if you found that your partner was cheating on you?
A- Begin with a real hard kick and then start thinking of a million ways of making his life really miserable.

Q- Can a man and woman ever have a platonic friendship?
A- Only if the woman is involved in another relationship.

Q- If you liked a particular dude, would you propose to him or wait for him to make the first move?
A- I'd rather wait for his move, belonging to the old school.

Q- What gift would you give your guy?
A- Myself- in fancy wrapping paper. I don't think he would want anything better.

Q- How would you dress on a first date, hot or just pretty?
A- I think I would wear a nice salwar kameez.

Q- Would you want your guy to get into a fist fight if somebody makes a pass at you?
A- Yes, but only when it's absolutely necessary. I don't dig men who keep showing off their brawn for no rhyme or reason.

Q- What if the guy you like turns out to be a gay?
A- Many good-looking guys are turning bisexual. I hope that I don't end up liking a guy who swings both ways. Although sexuality is a very personal choice, I think men should decide — either they are gay or straight. Playing for both sexes is wrong by my standards.

Q- Is marriage meant for keeps?
A- Yes. Both the partners should stick to each other in riches and poverty, sickness and health. It's really beautiful to see some old couples still madly in love with each other.

Q- Among the current crop of young politicians, who do you find the best looking?
A- Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi.

'Namaste, Tera Baap Chor Hai'

Celina Jaitley has revealed how she once made the director of her first "foreign" film Love Has No Languages, Ken Khan, greet Indian guests at a party by saying "Namaste, tera baap chor hai" (Greetings, your father is a thief).

The actress, who has acted in about 10 Bollywood movies since winning the Miss India contest in 2001, said that it was just a prank, and that she had later admitted before people that she was behind it.

"You should have seen the expression on the guests' faces when Ken actually said that to them. They were just stunned and did not know how to react," a tabloid quoted her as saying.

"Later I told the guests that it was a prank that I had played on him," she added.

'Love Has No Languages' is based on a cross-cultural romance. It stars Jaitley as an Indian girl brought up in New Zealand who falls in love with Kiwi actor Ben Mitchell.

Celina follows Ash to Hollywood

These days Bollywood stars are too desperate to be a part of Hollywood. But all they end up doing are miniscule or insignificant roles which serve only as publicity material back home.

One big example is Mallika Sherawat in "Myth". Ethereal beauty Aishwarya Rai has been trying to break in for a long time and even after 'Bride and Prejudice', 'Mistress of Spices', 'Provoked', 'Last Legion', nothing concrete has happened.

How she fares in 'Pink Panther' will be known only when the film releases. Same goes for Shilpa Shetty's 'Hanuman'.

Joining the bandwagon now is Celina Jaitley, who has been signed for historical epic "The Quest of Sheherzade".

The international production will tell the tales of the legendary "1001 Nights" woven by a mystical warrior princess, Sheherzade.

Says producer Shani Rigsbee ("Crash", "One Night with the King"): "I was aware of Celina's work and was anxious to discuss the project with her. After our meeting, we knew that she truly had the sensitivities and the passion for the theme of the film.

Besides her beauty, that was an attribute we felt necessary for our project."

Executive producer Deborah Davis ("Borderland", "Nightlife") says: "Our version of the Sheherzade story will be approached as a Hollywood style epic which will be both cinematically beautiful and also story driven. We are planning to reach out to an international audience and Celina is the perfect leading lady for us."

On her part, Celina finds this a great opportunity, especially since there are two top Hollywood stars, one senior and one junior, opposite her. "I would like to explore and experiment with different kinds of cinema. In fact, being fluent in German, I would like to do a German film too," she says.

However, Bollywood would always remain a priority for the actress, who has consciously decided to do two good Bollywood films and one international film every year.

Learning a lesson from her past mistakes, Celina says: "I will be very selective about the kind of films I do from now on. I will focus on quality. It's every actor's dream to be taken seriously."

Although this venture might not make much of a difference to Celina's career, hopefully, working with professional managers in the West will refine her as an actress.

As of now, Celina must be happy that she didn't have to struggle to bag the project, as much as she has to do to get good Bollywood movies.

Celina Jaitley signs her second Hollywood film Click here to add this article to My Clips

Celina Jaitley has been tapped to star in the historical epic The Quest of Sheherzade. The International production will recount the tales of the legendary 1001 Nights woven by a mystical warrior princess, Sheherzade.

Says Performer / Producer Shani Rigsbee (Crash, One Night with the King), “I was aware of Celina's work and was anxious to meet and discuss the project and after our meeting, we knew that she truly had the sensitivities and passion for the subject matter which aside from her obvious beauty, were incredible attributes we felt necessary for our project".

Executive Producer, Deborah Davis (Borderland, Nightlife) says, "Our version of the Sheherzade story will be approached as a Hollywood style epic which will be both cinematically beautiful and also story driven; we plan to appeal to the International audience and Celina is the perfect leading lady".

“It's a great opportunity to be associated with this project, especially since there are two A-list Hollywood stars, one senior and one junior opposite me. I would like to explore and experiment with different kinds of cinema. In fact, being fluent in German, I would like to do a German film too” says Celina.

She adds “Bollywood will always remain a priority for me. I have taken a conscious decision to do two good Bollywood films and one international film every year. I will be very selective about the kind of films I want to be associated with.”

“Also I am very fortunate to be connected with professional managers in the west. They look after every aspect of my career professionally. I am even more honored since the agency has the veritable A-listers in their roster. Thankfully I didn't have to struggle. I will give it my best shot”, Celina signs off.

Celina appointed brand ambassador of Egypt!

Celina Jaitley is literally going places these days. From a great career in Bollywood to presiding over as a Chief Guest at London’s India Now Festival to bagging her first mega Hollywood project, Quest of Seherzade, it’s raining work for her. And now the latest in her kitty is another important assignment. She has just been appointed as brand ambassador of Egypt. She will help promote this ancient exotic country throughout the world by using her name, beauty and charm. “It's a great honour and I am looking forward to take up this new challenge and assignment. I will be leaving for Egypt in the middle of this month on a state visit,” she says. Another feather in her cap.

Nudity Of Indian Heroines On Silver Screen

Celina Jaitley freshly gave a statement that she would act nude on screen if she gets a Hollywood chance. In fact there has been an opinion that Indian actresses don't show interest in acting nude on screen.

Celina may break that assumption soon, opine many.

Let us recall a few Indian actresses who have shown nude on silver screen. It was Anu Agarwal who acted in an English flick showing her naked bust. It was then Deepthi Bhatnagar who has shown every inch of her nude body but with wet element wearing a very transparent white cloth on body. Indira Varma is another actress who acted complete nude in Meera Nair's Kama Sutra and she got a few Hollywood films too after that. Radhika Choudary is another nude actress in the same film that got no big chances after that.

Deepa Sahi, the wife of Bollywood director Ketan Mehta also acted complete nude in Maya Memsaab. Dimple Kapadia also acted topless in Sagar and Jaanbaaz. Simi Agarwal also did the same in Mera Naam Joker.

Coming to South Indian actresses, the list goes big with the advent of Malayalam films. Kimi Katkar, Jayamala, Suganthi and many have shown themselves nude and semi nude on screen.

So, it's not new if Celina shows now. She will join in this band wagon.