For Ash it's all in the family!!!

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is back from promotion tour of Pink Panther 2 and is now busy with her forthcoming ventures. The lady was on a Hollywood trip of some 15 days. She has now decided to widen her genres. Reportedly, Ash would playback sing for an entire song in her forthcoming film Ravana with hubby- Abhishek .

Down the memory lane, the blue-eyed lady had exercised her vocal chords eight years back with Shah Rukh Khan in Josh. The song 'Apun bola...' had made big waves at that time and also had bagged appreciation for the playback. So will the actress be able to recreate the same magic? Let's wait and watch!

Smiling through the recession that has affected Bollywood in a major way, Ash is one actress who is smiling her way through. She has recently charged Rs six crore for Enthiram, where she has been cast opposite Rajinikanth.

Age cannot wither Ash, who is 35, is still on the top of most polls listing the most beautiful or the sexiest women in the world, steadily leaving behind veterans of such lists like Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson etc.


Though Abhi-Ash didn't really have a hit together, Ash's first director, Mani Ratnam, signed them together for his comeback to Bollywood film, Guru. The two also appeared together (and with dad Big B) in Ram Gopal Verma's Sarkar Raj and are getting ready for Mani Ratnam's next, Raavana, the shooting for which was delayed because of Big B's illness, but is now back on track.If Talisman materializes, it will go the floor in December.

Aishwarya has also signed up Excel Entertainment's untitled thriller to be directed by Abhinay Deo, who is currently busy shooting his directorial debut Delhi Belly. For the film, Aishwarya will once again team up with hubby Abhishek.

Is it not true...for Ash... it's all in the family and she has made all proud too!!!

Ash's tax plea adjourned!!!

Actor Ashwairya Rai sought Income Tax exemption, on income she earned as brand ambassador for the watch company, Longines, in 2002. The case that came up in this week in front of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), was adjourned to end-March.

Many other film n sports personalities viz. Sachin Tendulkar , Yuvraj Singh n some others have sought similar tax exemptions on their endorsement deals, and await the decision in Rai's case to assess their own liability.

In 2006, Rai enjoyed exemption for a portion of her income generated through foreign exchange for stage shows, but failed to convince tax authorities about granting a similar exemption on the Longines contract. After this, she approached the ITAT.

Rai was appointed brand ambassador for India by Longines for the year 2002-2003 with a contract worth over Rs.1 crore. In 2006, the assessing officer rejected Rai's submission for having a sum of Rs.30 lakh -- about 30 per cent of her income earned from Longines -- to be exempted from taxes, and this was upheld by the appellate IT commissioner.

The IT commissioner, who heard Rai's appeal, held the view that Rai "was not entitled for tax exemption under 80 RR. The examples of Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh as referred by the assessment officer were given. He held that while promoting the same they are playing their natural game in which they have acclaimed popularity. Rai is just promoting a particular product and this has nothing to do with her profession of acting".

When contacted, Rai's CA K.C.Jain has not reverted back.

Big B-Ash-Abhi starring in 'Talisman'!!!

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A mega-budget fantasy film titled Talisman will star the whole Bachchan family. This will be their second film together after Sarkar Raj and Ash doing a item song Kajra Re in Bunty aur Babli .

The film is still in the pre-production stage since right now, Vidhu Vinod Chopra. film producer is busy with his film 3 Idiots. The scripting will also take time for a lot of research is needed to carry on the project further. The film will go on floors only around end of 2009. Recession is another factor that is delaying the film.

Taalisman is expected to be shot on a virgin location.Vidhu Vinod Chopra Productions has planned a big shooting schedule of their Amitabh Bachchan starrer in Bhutan.

Our source reveals, “The Big B starer will be shot in the jungles of our north east neighbouring country Bhutan. The ageing superstar plays a warrior in the film, the plot of which is based on the famous Hindi novel, Chandrakanta. The makers have chosen Bhutan as its geographical location is quite different. They will be erecting a huge set in Bhutan as well as one in Mumbai.

Apart from Amitabh Bachchan the mega cast of the film includes Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who plays a princess, Abhishek Bachchan in the role of a warrior prince and Sanjay Dutt in a negative character.

Aishwarya’s look hasn’t been decided on yet but it will surely be very appealing as Chandrakanta is charismatic and physically strong. She will be required to do sword fighting.

Remember the grandeur of Chanderkanta TV series...so expectations are high on this film. But looking at the fate of such scripts on box-office, will the pursuit materialize is a big question???