Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was in trouble Wednesday after a South African businessman accused him of abusing and hitting him and his father-in-law at a five-star hotel here.
Police, who failed to trace Saif at his Bandra house Wednesday afternoon, later found him at his actress-girlfriend Kareena Kapoor's residence, a police officer said.
Police said a case of assault had been registered against the Bollywood actor at the Colaba police station.
Despite speculation that Saif would be brought to the police station, nothing happened for hours. Meanwhile, army of reporters assembled outside the police station and some even parked themselves outside Saif's residence.
The victim, Iqbal Sharma, who is of Indian origin, told TimesNow television that Saif called him an "idiot" for complaining about the actor's loud conduct at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Sharma said he and his family had requested the restaurant manager to ask Saif and his friends, which included Kareena, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan, to keep their voices down.
Sharma said he and his family decided to move to another part of the restaurant downstairs.
"As we were going down the stairs, Saif was coming up, probably from the toilet. As he passed me, he called me an idiot and asked 'Do you know who I am?'"
Sharma said the actor first pushed him and then assaulted his father-in-law who fell on the stairs and bruised his jaw.
"It was an uncivilized way to behave in a public space," Sharma said, adding that he intended to pursue the matter legally.
A police officer confirmed that Sharma and his guests had objected to the noise created by Saif and his friends.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight Tuesday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Iqbal Shaikh declined to say if the actor would be arrested.
Saif has been involved in public spats earlier too, including some photojournalists in Patiala in September 2008.
The actor has won the Padma Shri award, which did not go down well with the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan as he is accused of killing a blackbuck -- an animal the Bishnois hold sacred. Saif was charged with poaching as the blackbuck is on the endangered list.
Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, who was arrested Wednesday evening after being embroiled in a scuffle with an NRI businessman and later released on bail, says his friends, including girlfriend Kareena Kapoor, were abused and he was assaulted.
“There was an ugly incident last night (Tuesday) where my friends and the ladies with us were abused and I was assaulted. I was hit and I defended myself,” Saif said in a statement.
The 41-year-old was virtually declared 'wanted' for assaulting South African NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma, who is also the director general and CEO of the Trade, Industry & Investments of South Africa.
He was charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly assaulting Sharma in the Taj Mahal Hotel around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. Saif and two of his friends Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi, were arrested but they are now out on bail.
Saif says he has filed a complaint too.
“I have been to the police station to answer the requirements of law as I am a law abiding citizen. I have also filed a complaint about what happened last night and I am confident justice will be done,” he said.
“I have seen the interviews given on TV and they look like decent people and I cannot believe that the same people were so aggressive the night before and the lies that they are saying about me with such straight faces. I think they have the CCTV footage in the restaurant that will prove everything.
“I hope the media is able to remain impartial while the matter is being decided. I don’t think any gentleman would have behaved differently,” added Saif.
Earlier Sharma told TimesNow television that Saif called him an "idiot" for complaining about the actor's loud conduct at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
He said he and his family had requested the restaurant manager to ask Saif and his friends, which included Kareena, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan, to keep their voices down. But the situation turned ugly.
Saif Ali Khan booked for assaulting patron in Taj hotel
2012/2/22 2:38:45 Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) Mumbai police early Wednesday registered a case against Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan for allegedly assaulting a patron in the Taj Mahal Hotel in south Mumbai, police said.
"A team of officers has gone to Saif's residence for further investigations and the further course will be decided later," Assistant Commissioner of Police Iqbal Shaikh of the Colaba region, which lodged the complaint, told IANS.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight Tuesday when Saif, along with his girlfriend Kareena Kapoor and some other friends, was sitting in the Wasabi Restaurant at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Disturbed by their ruckus, the patron, Iqbal Sharma requested them to keep their voices down.
Apparently enraged by this, Saif allegedly punched Sharma on the face, reportedly breaking his nose.
Later, Sharma went to the Colaba police station and lodged a complaint against Saif.
Saif has been booked under, among others, Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code (assault), but Shaikh declined to specify whether he would be arrested, saying: "Investigations are in progress."
Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) Amid high drama, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was arrested Wednesday evening with two others for assaulting an NRI businessman. All three were later released on bail after being interrogated, police said.
Police detained Saif and his friends Bilal Amrohi and actress Amrita Arora’s husband Shakeel Ladak at the Marine Drive police station, and later brought them to the Colaba police station. The interrogation of the trio – about the incident early Wednesday at the Taj Mahal Hotel in which Saif is accused of assaulting South African NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma – lasted one hour.
They were formally arrested and then given bail on personal bonds of Rs.3,000 each.
According to sources, Shakeel Ladak is said to have hit Sharma’s father-in-law in the scuffle.
Shakeel and Bilal’s lawyer Mahesh Vaswani told IANS: “Iqbal and his group of people were passing comments on the girls (who were part of Saif’s group), and that started the incident.”
On his part, Saif said he had only “defended” himself after being “assaulted”.
“There was an ugly incident last night (Tuesday) where my friends and the ladies with us were abused and I was assaulted. I was hit and I defended myself,” Saif said in a statement.
“I have been to the police station to answer the requirements of law as I am a law abiding citizen. I have also filed a complaint about what happened last night and I am confident justice will be done,” he added.
A battery of top police officers were waiting for the actor at the Colaba police station, besides the media and scores of fans.
In the afternoon, police sent a team to Saif’s house and after failing to locate him there, had ordered him to appear before them as early as possible.
Saif was virtually declared ‘wanted’ when he went incommunicado after assaulting Sharma, who is also the director general and CEO of the Trade, Industry & Investments of South Africa.
The actor has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly assaulting Sharma in the Taj Mahal Hotel around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police said a case of assault had been registered at the Colaba police station.
Police are also questioning staff at the hotel and examining the CCTV footage.
Legal experts that the offences for which Saif has been booked are bailable.
Sharma told TimesNow television that Saif called him an “idiot” for complaining about the actor’s loud conduct at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
He said he and his family had requested the restaurant manager to ask Saif and his friends, which included Kareena, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan, to keep their voices down.
Sharma said he and his family decided to move to another part of the restaurant downstairs.
“As we were going down the stairs, Saif was coming up, probably from the toilet. As he passed me, he called me an idiot and asked ‘Do you know who I am””
Sharma said the actor first pushed him and then assaulted his father-in-law who fell on the stairs and bruised his jaw.
“It was an uncivilized way to behave in a public space,” Sharma said, adding that he intended to pursue the matter legally.
A police officer confirmed that Sharma and his guests had objected to the noise created by Saif and his friends.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight Tuesday.
Saif has been involved in public spats earlier too, including some photojournalists in Patiala in September 2008.
The actor has won the Padma Shri award, which did not go down well with the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan as he is accused of killing a blackbuck — an animal the Bishnois hold sacred. Saif was charged with poaching as the blackbuck is on the endangered list.
Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS) Controversies dog stars and Saif Ali Khan is no stranger to them. The Bollywood star, who was embroiled in a black buck hunting case in 1998, is again in the dock - this time for punching a South African businessman at a five-star hotel here.
He has been accused of abusing and hitting 44-year-old Iqbal Sharma of Indian origin at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Saif entered into a scuffle following Sharma's request to the restaurant manager to ask the actor and his celebrity friends, including Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan, to keep their voices down.
At a chance encounter, Saif called Sharma an 'idiot', before pushing him and his father-in-law.
A complaint was been file against Saif Wednesday.
Earlier too, Saif has been involved in public spats.
In September 2008, Saif was booked for allegedly assaulting a photojournalist in Patiala.
In 1998, he was charged with poaching two endangered black bucks during the filming of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. It was a dent in his career, and also left the Bihsnoi community in Rajasthan upset when he won the Padma Shri award in 2010.
His father, the later Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi was charged in a separate case for poaching a black buck.
Saif's personal life has also been rocky.
He was under media scrutiny when he decided in 1991 to split from his first wife, actress Amrita Singh, after 13 years of marriage.
He was later reported to be dating Italian model Rosa Catalano. But that too crumbled.
Currently, Saif is dating Kareena. So far they are in a steady relationship and there are rumours that they will tie the knot this year.
Cheeyan Vikram is one of the rare artists known for his involvement and dedication in any role that he performs. He always ably performs the role offered to him, giving his hundred percent on screen.
He is currently busy in doing the ground work for his upcoming project Kandasamy, in which he is reported to be doing five different roles. According to sources from the Kandasamy unit, the actor will also appear in the role of an African tribal. To shoot this segment, the crew will fly to South Africa soon, and shoot in the dense forests, which are the habitat of the tribals.
For this particular shoot, the director has already made a trip to the African jungles and studied the tribes living there very diligently, and later incorporated his findings in Vikram's looks.
It is noteworthy that in Dasavatharam, veteran actor Kamal is playing 10 different roles, with one being that of an African tribal. Recently, Kamal too had visited and shot a few scenes in the protected jungle area of South Africa with the government's permission. Now Cheeyan is following in the footsteps of his mentor!
2011/10/18 3:04:41 The recent denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government has been dragged to courts here.
In an affidavit before the Western Cape High Court, representatives of the Tibetan spiritual leader in South Africa said the country's High Commission in New Delhi had declined to accept a visa application on his behalf on two occasions.
Then on the third occasion, the application was directed to a private processing agency. Since a reply to the request for visa was not forthcoming, the Dalai Lama eventually cancelled his visit.
He had been invited to attend the 80th birthday celebrations of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu in Cape Town Oct 7. He was also scheduled to speak at other engagements.
Indian officials accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said this matter, however, will not come up during his discussions with his host and South African President Jacob Zuma, since New Delhi considers it an internal matter of Pretoria.
Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS) Saif Ali Khan, who is in the midst of a controversy after a scuffle with an NRI businessman, says he could have used 'Gandhigiri' to sort out the matter peacefully, provided the situation allowed him to do so.
"I think I could have reacted to the incident using 'Gandhigiri'. But that time the situation was worse. I am not saying that I am totally innocent but I was not guilty alone," Saif told reporters here late Wednesday night.
The 41-year-old was arrested Wednesday evening with two others -- Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi for assaulting Iqbal Sharma, an Indian-origin businessman from South Africa, early Wednesday at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
The trio was released on bail after being interrogated.
Saif, however, rues that media is being partial in reporting about the incident.
"Media is being partial reporting about the incident. I was hit first. They misbehaved with us and even used abusive language. I have also lodged a complaint and the matter is in court so I request media not to give any biased report until court's decision comes," he added.
Sharma claimed that Saif called him an "idiot" for complaining about the actor's loud conduct at a restaurant in the Taj Mahal Hotel.
He said he and his family had requested the restaurant manager to ask Saif and his friends, which included Kareena, Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora Khan, to keep their voices down.
Sharma said he and his family then decided to move to another part of the restaurant downstairs.
"As we were going down the stairs, Saif was coming up, probably from the toilet. As he passed me, he called me an idiot and asked 'Do you know who I am?'"
Sharma said the actor first pushed him and then assaulted his father-in-law who fell on the stairs and bruised his jaw.
But Saif and his friends have a different story to tell.
According to sources, Amrita's businessman husband Shakeel is said to have hit Sharma's father-in-law in the scuffle, which began as Sharma's group passed comments about the ladies.
Fanie de Villiers offers help to struggling Mitchell Johnson
2011/11/20 17:35:26 Sydney, Nov 20 (IANS) Former South African swing bowler Fanie de Villiers is ready to help out-of-form Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson has hardly troubled the South African batsmen in the ongoing Test series in South Africa. He ended up with match figures of 1-144 in the second Test and is in danger of being axed for the upcoming series against New Zealand and India.
In a bid to recapture his form, Johnson shortened his run-up midway through the second Test in Johannesburg but that too proved futile as the Proteas played him with ease.
De Villiers, now a renowned bowling analyst, has kept a keen eye on the South Africa and Australia series and believes the Queenslander can bounce back from his recent slump in form with right mentoring.
"I would like to help him, I was a swing bowler for 19 years ... guys like myself and (Pakistani pace legend) Wasim Akram used to spend hours and hours analysing swing bowling," de Villiers was quoted saying by the Courier Mail.
"I can give him good advice. I really hope Mitchell gives me a ring. If he rings me, I can tell him what he needs to do. He needs to change.
"He needs to understand the way you run in, the way you bowl, how to use angles, and I don't think he understands it," he added.
2011/10/4 8:12:21 Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Tuesday called off his visit to South Africa, where he was invited by his "close friend" and fellow Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu, his office said here.
"His Holiness was to depart for South Africa Oct 6 but visas have not been granted yet," the Dalai Lama's office said in a statement.
"We are, therefore, now convinced that for whatever reason or reasons, the South African government finds it inconvenient to issue visa to the Dalai Lama," it said.
Two years back too, the elderly monk was refused a visa by the South Africa government as it has close ties with China. He was to attend a peace conference there.
The Dalai Lama's office said he has been invited to South Africa by a number of universities and organisations, including Stellenbosch University, the Tutu Centre and the Mahatma Gandhi Trust to give public talks, deliver Bishop Tutu's 80th birth anniversary inaugural lecture and to receive the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation.
"The visa applications for the Dalai Lama and the entourage members were submitted to the South African High Commission in New Delhi at the end of August and original passports were submitted Sep 20, over two weeks ago," said the statement.
It said the Dalai Lama had cancelled his visit because he "does not want to create any inconveniences to anyone, individuals or governments" in his work, but that he "regrets the inconveniences caused to his hosts and the large number of South African public".
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet during a failed uprising in 1959. He favours "greater autonomy" for Tibetans rather than complete independence.
Chinese leaders have, in fact, called him a separatist who wants Tibet to secede from China. (IANS)
Former South African President Nelson Mandela has sent a special message about Mahatma Gandhi for the viewers at the premiere of the film `Gandhi, My Father' being held on Sunday at Johannesburg.
The Feroze Abbas Khan-directed film chronicles the Mahatma's relationship with his eldest rebellious son Harilal played by actor Akshaye Khanna.
Mandela, who had once remarked that 'India gave us Barrister Gandhi and South Africa gave back Mahatma Gandhi the great soul', has issued a statement carrying his message to be read before the screening of the film.
The message says, "We have seen, heard and read about many aspects of Gandhi's life through various mediums. We have even drawn inspiration from him to fight for justice and truth. However, this unique story of a father coming to terms with his family is instructive and deeply moving."
"I know the sacrifices that my family has made and the anguish and pain they have gone through. All freedom struggles demand political, social and personal sacrifices. It is the price we have to pay", Mandela said.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, along with his Cabinet Ministers, is also attending the premiere.
The legendary South African leader also met the cast and crew of the film including Anil Kapoor, his wife Sunita, Feroz A Khan, Khanna, Bhumika Chawla, Shefali Shah and Darshan Jariwalla at his residence before the premiere. The film will release in India on August 3.
2011/11/16 17:14:47 Johannesburg, Nov 16 (IANS) South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who was banned for six months for his involvement in the 2000 match fixing, could be interrogated by the Delhi Police again but his lawyer Peter Whelan said the cricketer has already informed the Indian authorities all he knew in 2006.
Whelan was confident that Gibbs would emerge unscathed from the 2000 case, also involving then South African captain Hansie Cronje, who died later.
Delhi Police are waiting for a report on the authenticity of tape recordings of cellphone conversations that allegedly took place between Cronje and a London-based bookmaker, Sanjeev Chawla.
Cronje and Gibbs confessed to the King commission in 2000 that they had conspired to manipulate events during matches in return for cash.
"When Herschelle and I went to India, we made a full disclosure to the police," Whelan was quoted as saying by Business Day.
Whelan said he doubted the quality of the evidence against Gibbs.
"They had absolutely nothing. My personal view is that those tapes do not exist. In fact, I asked the police that pointedly and they ducked the question," he said.
When asked if Gibbs would co-operate with the investigation, Whelan said: "I doubt it - there is such a thing in our law as double jeopardy. But if they come with a proper warrant I would consider it."
The Delhi police had asked the South African authorities to submit Gibbs's bank for details of his accounts.
"That's nonsense. But if they want to talk to Herschelle's bankers, bring it on," Mr Whelan said.
Cronje, who died in an aircraft crash in 2002, was banned from cricket for life. Gibbs and fast bowler Henry Williams were handed six-month bans and fined.
Sri Lanka to sack Dilshan, Marsh for South African debacle
2012/1/19 14:55:11 Colombo, Jan 19 (IANS) Stung by the series loss in Tests and ODIs in South Africa, the Sri Lankan sports ministry is planning a wide-ranging overhaul in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) by sacking coach Geoff Marsh, captain Tillekaratne Dishan and the entire selection panel ahead of the tour to Australia later this month.
The Daily Mirror reported that Dilshan will be replaced by Mahela Jayawardene, Marsh by former South African national coach Graham Ford and the national selection panel headed by Duleep Mendis will be replaced by a new set headed by Asantha de Mel.
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said new selectors would pick the team for the Australia tour.
“We are in the process of naming the new selectors. We are going to take all these decisions in consultation with SLC. I could have taken these decisions in a hurry, if it was an interim committee I had appointed. But, it is only right that I consult them and let them decide what to do as it is a democratically elected, independent body that controls SLC now,” the minister said.
“I have asked SLC to submit me a report on the poor performance of the team in the current South African tour. Once I get this report into my hands, I will decide on appropriate action to take,” Aluthgamage added.
The daily also said that besides De Mel, the other members of the selection panel could be Hemantha Wickramaratne, Kapila Wijegunawardena and Amal Silva.
"Mendis will be appointed as the national team manager, a position the former Sri Lanka captain held with distinction when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World cup in 1996. Mendis will replace the present manager Anura Tennekoon, himself a highly respected former All Ceylon captain," the daily reported.
The report also said that batting coach Marvan Atapattu, a former captain, will probably be retained and will tour with the team in Australia as an assistant coach.
Zuma vows to achieve green growth with or without climate deal
2011/12/3 18:01:23 Durban, Dec 3 (IANS) South African President Jacob Zuma Saturday endorsed the establishment of the South African Renewables Initiative (SARi) funding mechanism during the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"South Africa has an ambitious renewable energy plan and is promoting investments in the fields of renewable energy, marine aquaculture development, wildlife management, waste services as well as ecosystem rehabilitation programs to name just a few," Zuma said, reported Xinhua.
He was speaking to business leaders at the opening of the World Climate Business Summit in Durban.
The president said Pretoria will soon announce the results of the bidding process for the first 3.725 megawatts of green energy to be procured under Renewable Energy Flagship Program.
He said South Africa "plans to scale this up to at least 18 Gigawatts, to account for 42 percent of new capacity being commissioned."
According to the president, the biggest barriers to developing renewable energy in Africa to date are not technological, but financial. "In that regard South Africa has been hard at work in the development and design of financial instruments aligned to our national plans for green growth," Zuma told business leaders.
Zuma said the SARi funding mechanism would help South Africa unlock its green growth potential through the funding of large- scale renewable developments.
The SARi model will enable the country to deal with the high cost through low cost loans and other financial instruments combined with time limited pay-for-performance grants.
South Africa is committed to reduce carbon emissions by 34 percent by 2020 and by 42 percent by 2025.
Saif and Bebo's affair has admittedly brought out a new person in the Chote Nawab
We dont know whether Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoors love story will have a happy ending but, from what we hear, Saif has taken up drinking again though occasionally.
For all those late comers, Saif had called it quits to smoking and drinking after he was admitted to Lilavati hospital. We hope that with teetotaller Kareena for company Saif has become a safe drinker!
Hyderabad, Feb 23 (INN): Larger than life image in films, flattery in uneven proportions and a group of sycophants surrounding them and above all the golden spoon from birth or the rags to riches make the actors snobbish and behave in an irrational way.
Saif Ali Khan was booked by Colaba police in Mumabi for punching an elderly man. He was partying with ten members while the victim was with a much smaller group. Saif, born to cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and actress Sharmila Tagore (Ayesha after marriage) was in trouble earlier too for similar reasons.
You have actors who were booked for hunting endangered species, driving the car killing or injuring people sleeping on footpaths, possessing weapons, slapping others, drunken driving and of course for being in the world’s oldest profession.
Tollywood is not bereft of such indecent incidents. Mahesh Babu was booked for assaulting a trader in Warangal on charges of selling pirated CDs. Like a real time hero he raided the shop with his followers and created scene besides assaulting him.
In olden days MR Radha had fired a real bullet at MGR during a shooting, pun unintended, due to ideological differences. We heard that Mohan Babu was booked in an assault case in Srikakulam district and he was also accused of slapping a Sivanand girl for not acting properly.
Heroism is shown off-stage as well with the hangover of the on-set sequences lingering and Tollywood is known to hush up things, unless it is a major one. We know of shooting star Nandamuri Balakrishna and the developments that took place at his residence. We also know of a hero who used unparliamentarily language with a lady journalist. We know how many huts and slums were razed, accident or otherwise and solid structures like studios or mansion coming up soon after at the same palce.
If you to want to experience the real highhandedness to Tollywood, just visit any shooting site, you are treated as dirt. The entire unit behaves as if they own the place and you are a trespasser even if it is a public place. There were incidents of public parks being shut down for shooting, roads blocked or traffic diverted to enable the shooting. All this is only because a cop or a mantri happens to be known to someone who knows the brother-in-law of a catering contractor whose nephew is married to the sister whose paternal uncle is a driver in the production unit.
Cases of rape, assault, suicide drugs and the like have become common, most of them unreported. It is time some serious thinking is done and wise heads come together.
Though he already doesnt have a bad physique, actor Saif Ali Khan wants to better it further.
Saif seems to be reinventing himself after his split with Rosa. The actor, back into his bachelor days, has also quit smoking after the chest pain that got him admitted to hospital for a week.
Now, Saif says he wants to concentrate on his acting career. He also wants to rediscover his onscreen image.
The actor has said in an interview that he wants to look like a sexy moviestar.
Although we believe he already does, but Saif is planning to devote more time to workout. He wants to build his body further.
However, Saif says he is not competing with any other actor in this respect. He is bodybuilding for his own sake.
2011/10/12 5:17:40 Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked the visiting businessmen from Africa to explore the enormous opportunities available in the field of Higher education in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Hyderabad.
Inaugurating the second India-Africa Business Partnership Summit" at the Hyderabad International Conventional Centre on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that Hyderabad was of the most preferred destination for investment and the State government was providing all incentives to attract more investments in the State.
The Chief Minister said that there was a vast scope for increasing bilateral cooperation between India and African countries. Many investors from India, particularly from Andhra Pradesh have invested in horticulture and floriculture in a big way in African countries. There is a lot of scope for agriculture and business avenues in many African countries which are developing. There is a lot of goodwill for Indian entrepreneurs in Africa because of our honesty and straight forwardness, the Chief Minister said and added that the summit would help pave the way for increasing bilateral cooperation in the years to come.
The Chief Minister informed that Hyderabad is also going to host the Global Partnership Summit next year where around 1500 delegates from various countries would attend the summit.
As many as eight ministers from African countries and nine Ambassadors and High Commissioners took part in the summit which was attended by 250 delegates from India and 122 delegates from Africa.
Dr Rajiv Kumar Secretary General FICCI, Sangeeta Reddy Chairman FICCI and Ministers from several African countries also spoke. (INN)
It certainly doesn't look like a Happy New year for Saif Ali Khan. According to the buzz the juniour Nawab has been having constant bitter fights with Rosa for a while now.
Recently the couple brought in New Years in Switzerland with Saifs two kids. Sources claim that the fights began at this time. According to an insider, This time the fights are really bad and they are having some serious problems.
The things got so ugly between the duo that they refused to appear together on Koffee with Karan, although made a commitment to appear together.
The couple have had a history of fights, anyway. Earlier, there were rumours too that Saif was not happy with Rosa seeking a career in the glamour world, but the Italian beauty is determined to carve a niche for herself and do something substantial with her life. They were reported to have had such a huge fight over the issue that Rosa was hospitalised soon after.
However Rosa completely denies any truth to these rumours, she remains unaffected by them and claims that they no longer upset her.
She says Its not easy to break away from a relationship just like that. Like every girl I also want to get married. Why don't you ask Saif when? He will have the correct answer."
Although Rosa admits that Saif is busy with his career, she claims that there are no ego hassles between them and they are both concentrating on their professional lives.
"I am trying to find my own identity too and thats important for me. I didnt come to India just to be somebodys girlfriend and hang out just like that. I cannot let myself go to waste by doing nothing," she tells.
But Rosa also denied media reports that her relationship with Saif has run into trouble.
Unlike earlier, such reports don't upset me anymore. It's not easy to break away from a relationship just like that, she said. Rosa, who lives with the Bollywood star, also said she was keen to tie the knot with Saif who is terribly busy with his career now.
Currently Rosa is trying to get a foothold in the glamour industry and will be doing a talk show soon.
With his first film as a producer, Love Aaj Kal, Saif Ali Khan introduced Giselli Monteiro to Bollywood. However she wasn't revealed until the movie released. Saif is all set to repeat this technique in his next venture Cocktail.
Our source said, "Cocktail is directed by Homi Adjania and apart from Deepika, there is another actress in the film.
While there were rumours that Kareena would be playing the part, the fact is that there is a new actress from London, who will be making her debut in the film. Saif wants to keep the actress under wraps until the film releases."
Confirming the news Saif said, "Yes it is true. But we are only 70% done with Cocktail and after that we have Agent Vinod. Right now, I am concentrating on Aarakshan. We will speak about it when the film is ready.
The hospitalization of Saif Ali Khan has shaken the film industry. Saif who is just 36 has been hospitalized with complaint of chest pain. He is however now out of danger.
Saifs mother Sharmila Tagore says that Saifs busy lifestyle and heavy smoking are the main culprits for his present condition. Sharmila and Soha are beside him at the hospital. There were a string of visitors yesterday. Among them were Saifs current girlfriend Rosa and his former wife Amrita Singh.
Amrita came to the hospital along with her kids. She later said that she was naturally concerned about his health and was praying for his speedy recovery.
The recent denial of visa to the Dalai Lama by the South African government has been dragged to courts here.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked the visiting businessmen from Africa to explore the enormous opportunities available in the field of Higher education in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Hyderabad.
