Ekta Vs The Airport Customs

Ekta Kapoor was detained last night at Mumbai airport for alleged duty violation, joining the list of recent Bollywood figures to have been intercepted by customs officials.



The producer was stopped by officials when she tried to pass the green channel — meant for those who have no goods on which duties can be levied — soon after her arrival from Bangkok.



According to officials, Ekta’s personal baggage had items worth Rs 1 lakh above the free limit allowed to those returning from abroad.



Officials ran a one-and-a-half hour check of her baggage, following which she was asked to pay the tax and a penalty. “Duty was charged on the goods she was carrying apart from a fine and penalty below Rs 1 lakh for non-declaration,” said customs commissioner.

Ekta left around midnight after paying Rs 53,000, including the fine. Other customs officials called the incident “routine” saying Ekta was merely made to pay a penalty. They said she wasn’t questioned or made to record statements, unlike actresses Minissha Lamba and Anushka Sharma.



Anushka had to go through a three-hour verification of documents for jewellery and watches worth Rs 30 lakh she was carrying while returning from the IIFA awards in Toronto in June.



In May, Minissha was stopped and had to record her statement after she failed to produce papers for the jewellery of a brand she endorsed on returning from Cannes.

Minissha lashes out at Ballary

The actress is extremely upset with Sagar Ballary, director of both her films Bheja Fry 2 and the forthcoming Hum Tum Shabana for badmouthing her.

Shocked and hurt Minissha says Ballary is stooping this low just for publicity. "I used to consider Mr Ballary a friend. But if he is trying to get publicity by maligning my name, then he's hardly a friend."

The director, who apparently was at loggerheads with Bheja Fry 2 producer Mukul Deora during the making of the film, has accused the actress of shooting a promotional video for the same 'behind his back'.

Minissha retaliates, "The producer asked me to do the video, so naturally I did it. Why should Mr Ballary have a problem with that? I'm caught in the crossfire between Mr Ballary and the producer of Bheja Fry 2.

Since he can't hurt the producer, he has chosen to make me the scapegoat."

She is also disappointed with his comments about editing her role in the Hum Tum Shabana. "I play the title role in the film. So how can he threaten to chop off my role?"

Saddened by the souring of the friendship, she says, "It takes years to build a friendship, but just a few careless remarks to ruin it. As a director, he should have been more responsible with his words.

I can understand him wanting publicity for his film. But why at my cost? I did Bheja Fry 2 although I had a small role just for Sagar Ballary. And this is what he does!"

The actress had not bothered to confront Ballary after his statements. "What is there to ask him? I've spoken to the producer and he's also upset about Mr Ballary's outburst."

Click here for more of Minissha's sizzling hot images..!!

"Bheja Fry 2" to be much more whacky

Audiences are in for a treat as 'Bheja Fry 2' promises to be everything it was and more!

A source close from the production explains that apart from shooting in a foreign location with an all new starcast, the sequel to the film has its production values upped thanks to producer Mukul Deora who spared no expense on the film.

Amole Gupte who plays the character of Raghu Burman in the film is a funny character who made his life on a secluded island and lives alone in a thatched bamboo cottage. Interestingly enough in order to create Amole Gupte's house in 'Bheja Fry 2', the art department had to build a bamboo cottage for which they had to purchase an entire house in Indonesia which was then dismantled and rebuilt as per the creative requirement of the film.

Says a source, "Amole Gupte plays a whacked character who lives in a bamboo shack on a deserted island. Instead of having a set of the house constructed and worked on, the producer Mukul Deora bought one in Indonesia itself . It's now christened the Bheja Fry House."

Produced by the dynamic Mukul Deora and directed by Sagar Ballery, 'Bheja Fry 2' starring KK Menon, Minissha Lamba, Suresh Menon & Amol Gupte releases June 17th, 2010

Bipasha detained too..

It looks like Bollywood hotties are going through hard times at the airports. Few days back, Minnisha Lamba was detained at the Mumbai Airport for not revealing about the gold she carried as ‘Gold materials’ come under dutiable materials.

Bipasha Basu was also caught up in a similar situation as she didn’t declare about the gold that she was carrying. Apparently, she was stopped for enquiry and was asked to pay the duty tax.

On her return, Bipasha Basu declared that it’s true that she was held for questioning and it was sorted out within few minutes.

The customs official later mentioned that she was asked to pay Rs. 12,000 as tax and thanked her for being cooperative throughout the process of enquiry.

Twitter cat fight for Minissha

Writer Shobhaa De made fun of Minissha Lamba for being ignorant of the immigration and custom laws after the latter was detained at the international airport in Mumbai for carrying undeclared jewellery worth 35 to 50 lakhs.

Shobhaa all but ridiculed Minissha when she wrote on her twitter page: “Poor Minissha: Lamba race ki ghodi or lame duck? Warning to other Bollywood wannabes to leave those borrowed rocks at home. Dazzle wt yr talent (sic).”

But Minissha is not the one to take it lying low. She reciprocated De’s pot shot with an equally potent barb. She wrote on her twitter: “Ms De, real writers write books. Slandering on #Twitter is a job of the less gifted. 'Dazzle with your talent' Ms.De, Not ur slander ;)”

Later, when an angry follower told Minissha that she can’t ever become like Shobhaa De, Minissha did not lose her cool but responded with a banter.

“Good lord!! I shudder at the thought of becoming her (Shobhaa De)! Lol” Minissha wrote.

Minisha Detained at the airport ..

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba was detained at the Mumbai Airport today. The actress was reported to be carrying gold jewels well beyond the limits she was allowed.

It is also reported that Minissha did not disclose the gold until the officials found it in her possession. The actress has been detained at the airport and the investigations are on.

Minissha is a popular star in Bollywood and has films like Corporate, Kidnap, and Well Done Abba to her credit. She landed in Mumbai after attending the Cannes International Film Festival.

Minissha at the Cannes

The pretty, petite Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba was present on the opening day of Cannes Film Festival 2011. Obviously amidst much razzmatazz, the actress wasn’t noticed that much, but she did get it right for the red carpet in a flowy, delicate gown created by Indian designer duo Gauri Nainika.

As reported earlier, Minissha attended the screening of Woody Allen’s Midnight In Paris. What worked for the actress was the subdued colour of the dress. The gown in champagne tone by Gauri and Nainika did justice to her fair, flawless skin. Minissha took the minimalistic route and didn’t accessorize much for the event. Overall, a perfect ten on ten get-up!

Fashion bloggers and critics loved her red carpet appearance. High Heel Confidential writes that she looked “absolutely lovely.” We are also all praises for the actress.

Minissha to attend Cannes this year

The brigade of Bollywood stars headed to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival has swelled with the gorgeous Minissha Lamba too headed to the French Riviera city.

Indian films may not be able to make any mark at the most renowned film festival of the world, but trust Bollywood stars to make up for it with their red carpet appearances.

This year would see Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Freida Pinto, Saif Ali Khan and Minissha Lamba walking the red carpet. Minissha will reportedly attend the premiere of director Woody Allen’s film ‘Midnight In Paris’.

Needless to say, Minissha is presently tickling with excitement of what to wear at the fest.

“What do I wear at Cannes?? Indian or gown?? Had an idea... If there is any aspiring designer out there.. Send me your sketches :)” Minissha wrote on her Twitter page.

In response, Minissha got a somewhat peeved reply from a follower: “Stop trying to take advantage of aspiring designers by stealing them of their sketches! Pay for it!! You have enuf!!!”

But the actress silenced him with a disarming “of course my friend. That goes without saying :)”

The Cannes Fest will be from May 11 to 22 this year.

Minissha turns on the heat with her bikini

Minissha's yo-yoing weight is definitely favouring her right now. She rocks her hot-bod in an itsy-bitsy two piece on the cover of Man's World. She captions her Twitpic: My cover of Man's World is out.. The most fun I've had on a shoot.. Thank u team of MW n CJ!

Minissha's upcoming movies include Shirish Kunder's Joker, in which she is starred opposite Shreyas Talpade.

Minissha loves playing with money

Minissha Lamba has surely got Lady Luck beaming down on her. During the shoot of Bheja Fry 2 on a cruise, Minissha and her co-stars indulged in some gambling at the casino. And the actress ended up winning a good amount of money.

A source said, "Minissha along with her co-star Rajat Kapor, Vinay Pathak and director Sagar Bellary went to the casino. The boys were not too happy. But Minissha ended up winning a huge sum of money.

The actress was so excited that she went shopping for herself. She made the producer's life simpler by buying stuff for the shoot as well."

Minissha laughed and said, "Yes, I ended up winning a good amount. I was damn excited to see so much in my hand that I couldn't resist but shop for myself and ended up blowing all the money."