Mumbai: With Aishwarya Rai carrying home a pay packet of Rs.40 million for her proposed stint as Rajnikant's leading lady in Shankar's "Robot", she has now become the highest-paid actress in Indian cinema."Yes, it's close to Rs.40 million. And she's very amused when she reads that she is the highest-paid actress in Bollywood. With three hits in a row, 'Guru', 'Dhoom 2' and 'Jodhaa Akbar', Ash's equity as a Rai and a Bachchan have gone through the roof," said a source close to Aishwarya."It is no surprise that Aishwarya is getting Rs.40 million. It's still chicken feed compared with what Rajnikant carries home. He takes home Rs.150 million plus fifty percent of his film's profits. But still he cannot make a film commercially viable outside the Tamil belt on his own. "The dubbed Hindi version of 'Chandramukhi' came and went. And Rajni's biggest hit 'Shivaji - The Boss' is in no hurry to be released in Hindi. With Ash in 'Robot' it looks like an attractive non-regional film," said another source close to the project.
Hong Kong: Patriotism towards China has hit a new peak in Hong Kong ahead of the Beijing Olympics with nearly four in every 10 people considering themselves Chinese rather than Hong Kongers, according to a survey released Wednesday.The figure in the six-monthly poll by the University of Hong Kong is the highest recorded since the former British colony reverted to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.Thirty nine percent of interviewees said they considered themselves Chinese compared to 27 percent in December 2007, while 18 percent said they were Hong Kongers, down from 23 percent six months ago.Forty two percent of the more than 1,000 people interviewed for the survey said they thought of themselves as a mix of Hong Kongers and Chinese.One month after the 1997 handover, in the same poll, less than 20 percent of respondents said they considered themselves Chinese while 35 percent considered themselves Hong Kongers. A separate poll run by Hong Kong's Chinese University using different criteria last month found that 55 percent of people in the city considered themselves Chinese compared to 28 percent who saw themselves as Hong Kongers.Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 under a 'one country, two systems' arrangement that guarantees political and judicial freedoms for the next 50 years.The city has been the scene of anti-China protests in the past over lack of democracy and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.However, the city has grown politically closer to China in recent years, with demands for universal suffrage, which brought 500,000 demonstrators to the streets in 2003, gradually dying out as economic prosperity has increased.Hong Kong will host the equestrian events of the Beijing Olympics in August. An enthusiastic pro-China crowd greeted the Olympic torch in Hong Kong and drowned out protesters at the beginning of May.
posted by VMac
Leave a Comment
Microsoft is understood to be in preliminary talks with Time Warner about buying AOL, the media group’s internet unit, The Times has learnt.
The software giant is understood to be keen to find alternative acquisitions to increase its internet presence after being forced to abandon plans to buy Yahoo! for $47.5 billion (£24.1 billion) at the weekend.
It is not known whether the talks between the two parties began because Microsoft was trying to stymie discussions between Time Warner and Yahoo!, its initial bid target. However, it is understood that talks between Microsoft and Time Warner are continuing, even after the collapse of the software group’s offer for Yahoo!.
Microsoft is interested in AOL’s similarity to Yahoo!. Time Warner’s internet unit has an estimated 85 million unique users a day on its website and plenty of advertising. The online advertising market, estimated at a yearly $40 billion, could double by 2010.
Although at the time of AOL’s ill-fated reverse takeover of Time Warner in 2000, in the dot-com boom, AOL was valued above $150 billion, it is thought that now the business would be less expensive than Yahoo!. In 2007 AOL had revenue of $5.2 billion.
It is also understood that Yahoo! is continuing “very real” talks with AOL about a possible tie-up. Jerry Yang, chief executive and co-founder of Yahoo!, is under pressure to prove that his rejection of Microsoft’s revised $33-a-share offer for the search engine at the weekend was sound. The raised bid valued Yahoo! at a 70 per cent above its value before Microsoft’s approach was made public.
Yesterday, Yahoo! shares plunged by as much as a fifth as New York opened for business. They ended the day off $4.30, or 15 per cent, at $24.37, well below the initial $31-a-share offer from Microsoft and the revised offer.
Some analysts expect Yahoo! shares to shed most of their 50 per cent gain since Microsoft’s initial offer on January 31. That would cut Yahoo!’s market value to about $30 billion.
Darren Chervitz, co-manager of the Jacob Internet Fund, a Yahoo! shareholder, said yesterday: “Clearly there’s frustration. I am not even sure if Yahoo! cares about its shareholders because they didn’t show much regard for shareholders’ best interests in this process.”
Eric Jackson, head of Ironfire Capital, a small hedge fund activist, said he was “mad” about Yahoo!’s rejection of Microsoft’s bid. He is urging shareholders to withhold their votes for the reelection of Yahoo!’s directors at its annual general meeting next month.
“Yahoo!’s rejection was not in the best interests of shareholders,” said Mr Jackson, who led a successful campaign to oust Terry Semel as Yahoo! chief executive last year.
At the weekend, Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, tried to win Yahoo! by adding $5 billion to his bid, lifting it to $33 a share. Mr Yang is understood to have argued that he would not accept anything below $38.
Microsoft published a letter sent to Mr Yang at the weekend, detailing its decision to walk away.It also revealed that Mr Yang had threatened to out-source a lucrative part of Yahoo!’s business to Google, its larger rival, if Microsoft tried to make a formal hostile bid. Such a move, Microsoft argued, would have damaged Yahoo!’s business.
Microsoft shares closed 16 cents down at $29.02 last night.
Time Warner and Microsoft declined to comment.
The software giant is understood to be keen to find alternative acquisitions to increase its internet presence after being forced to abandon plans to buy Yahoo! for $47.5 billion (£24.1 billion) at the weekend.
It is not known whether the talks between the two parties began because Microsoft was trying to stymie discussions between Time Warner and Yahoo!, its initial bid target. However, it is understood that talks between Microsoft and Time Warner are continuing, even after the collapse of the software group’s offer for Yahoo!.
Microsoft is interested in AOL’s similarity to Yahoo!. Time Warner’s internet unit has an estimated 85 million unique users a day on its website and plenty of advertising. The online advertising market, estimated at a yearly $40 billion, could double by 2010.
Although at the time of AOL’s ill-fated reverse takeover of Time Warner in 2000, in the dot-com boom, AOL was valued above $150 billion, it is thought that now the business would be less expensive than Yahoo!. In 2007 AOL had revenue of $5.2 billion.
It is also understood that Yahoo! is continuing “very real” talks with AOL about a possible tie-up. Jerry Yang, chief executive and co-founder of Yahoo!, is under pressure to prove that his rejection of Microsoft’s revised $33-a-share offer for the search engine at the weekend was sound. The raised bid valued Yahoo! at a 70 per cent above its value before Microsoft’s approach was made public.
Yesterday, Yahoo! shares plunged by as much as a fifth as New York opened for business. They ended the day off $4.30, or 15 per cent, at $24.37, well below the initial $31-a-share offer from Microsoft and the revised offer.
Some analysts expect Yahoo! shares to shed most of their 50 per cent gain since Microsoft’s initial offer on January 31. That would cut Yahoo!’s market value to about $30 billion.
Darren Chervitz, co-manager of the Jacob Internet Fund, a Yahoo! shareholder, said yesterday: “Clearly there’s frustration. I am not even sure if Yahoo! cares about its shareholders because they didn’t show much regard for shareholders’ best interests in this process.”
Eric Jackson, head of Ironfire Capital, a small hedge fund activist, said he was “mad” about Yahoo!’s rejection of Microsoft’s bid. He is urging shareholders to withhold their votes for the reelection of Yahoo!’s directors at its annual general meeting next month.
“Yahoo!’s rejection was not in the best interests of shareholders,” said Mr Jackson, who led a successful campaign to oust Terry Semel as Yahoo! chief executive last year.
At the weekend, Steve Ballmer, chief executive of Microsoft, tried to win Yahoo! by adding $5 billion to his bid, lifting it to $33 a share. Mr Yang is understood to have argued that he would not accept anything below $38.
Microsoft published a letter sent to Mr Yang at the weekend, detailing its decision to walk away.It also revealed that Mr Yang had threatened to out-source a lucrative part of Yahoo!’s business to Google, its larger rival, if Microsoft tried to make a formal hostile bid. Such a move, Microsoft argued, would have damaged Yahoo!’s business.
Microsoft shares closed 16 cents down at $29.02 last night.
Time Warner and Microsoft declined to comment.
posted by VMac
Leave a Comment
'Tashan' was a flop, but it is still actor Saif Ali Khan's favourite film because it brought girlfriend Kareena Kapoor into his life.
"It was great fun making 'Tashan' and something really positive came out of it. I met Kareena during 'Tashan'. That's enough for me," Saif told us in an interview. Starring Saif, Kareena, Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor, the film fell flat at the box office.
The actor also admits that he wants to spend as much time with his girlfriend as possible. He said: "Look, she's shooting in Australia and I had two months off. So obviously I'd go to visit her. Or if she's doing an event in Andheri and I can join her, I will."
Wagging tongues don't bother Saif who is gearing up for his next release 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'.
"I know people will talk about it. I don't care. Every relationship goes through a period of consolidation. We've been together for nine months. We both know how much we mean to each other."
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: Disheartened by the failure of "Tashan"?
A: Not at all! I liked the script. The role didn't end up the way I thought it would. It was edited quite a lot. As Aditya Chopra explained to me it was for the betterment of the film. But, yeah, it was a disappointment. I won't pretend about that.
Q: 'Race' was a hit, but it was a terrible film.
A: Who cares what you think about it? It ran, and I was frowning throughout. A superhit, that's nice; I enjoyed the wheel dealer plot.
Q: Were you convinced?
A: Well...it has taken me a long time to get to the position of the main lead. And the man responsible for this in many ways is Aditya who gave me 'Hum Tum' and 'Salaam Namaste'. I've always trusted his judgment.
Q: But Akshay Kumar had all the punchy dialogues.
A: You win some, you lose some. I knew he had a stronger part. Our roles turned out different from what it was expected to. I really believed in the idea, and we all stood by it. Now let's see. It was great fun making the film and something really positive came out of it.
Q: What's that?
A: I met Kareena during 'Tashan'. That's enough for me.
Q: You do want to spend as much time with Kareena as possible?
A: Obviously. Look, she's shooting in Australia and I had two months off. So obviously, I'd go to visit her. Or if she's doing an event in Andheri and I can join her, I will. I know people will talk about it. I don't care. Every relationship goes through a period of consolidation. We've been together for nine months. We both know how much we mean to each other.
Q: Why are you frowning so much in public these days?
A: Am I? If you're talking about the promos of 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic', that's a frowning role.
Q: Is it because of the prying eyes?
A No, one should get comfortable with public attention. I'll make an effort to look happier. I am happy. I've so much to look forward to. I'm doing so well professionally. I've a great personal life. I guess I'm just a frowning guy. I must stop that.
Q: You're moody, that's all.
A: I guess I am. I can't help it
"It was great fun making 'Tashan' and something really positive came out of it. I met Kareena during 'Tashan'. That's enough for me," Saif told us in an interview. Starring Saif, Kareena, Akshay Kumar and Anil Kapoor, the film fell flat at the box office.
The actor also admits that he wants to spend as much time with his girlfriend as possible. He said: "Look, she's shooting in Australia and I had two months off. So obviously I'd go to visit her. Or if she's doing an event in Andheri and I can join her, I will."
Wagging tongues don't bother Saif who is gearing up for his next release 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic'.
"I know people will talk about it. I don't care. Every relationship goes through a period of consolidation. We've been together for nine months. We both know how much we mean to each other."
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: Disheartened by the failure of "Tashan"?
A: Not at all! I liked the script. The role didn't end up the way I thought it would. It was edited quite a lot. As Aditya Chopra explained to me it was for the betterment of the film. But, yeah, it was a disappointment. I won't pretend about that.
Q: 'Race' was a hit, but it was a terrible film.
A: Who cares what you think about it? It ran, and I was frowning throughout. A superhit, that's nice; I enjoyed the wheel dealer plot.
Q: Were you convinced?
A: Well...it has taken me a long time to get to the position of the main lead. And the man responsible for this in many ways is Aditya who gave me 'Hum Tum' and 'Salaam Namaste'. I've always trusted his judgment.
Q: But Akshay Kumar had all the punchy dialogues.
A: You win some, you lose some. I knew he had a stronger part. Our roles turned out different from what it was expected to. I really believed in the idea, and we all stood by it. Now let's see. It was great fun making the film and something really positive came out of it.
Q: What's that?
A: I met Kareena during 'Tashan'. That's enough for me.
Q: You do want to spend as much time with Kareena as possible?
A: Obviously. Look, she's shooting in Australia and I had two months off. So obviously, I'd go to visit her. Or if she's doing an event in Andheri and I can join her, I will. I know people will talk about it. I don't care. Every relationship goes through a period of consolidation. We've been together for nine months. We both know how much we mean to each other.
Q: Why are you frowning so much in public these days?
A: Am I? If you're talking about the promos of 'Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic', that's a frowning role.
Q: Is it because of the prying eyes?
A No, one should get comfortable with public attention. I'll make an effort to look happier. I am happy. I've so much to look forward to. I'm doing so well professionally. I've a great personal life. I guess I'm just a frowning guy. I must stop that.
Q: You're moody, that's all.
A: I guess I am. I can't help it