Not funny, this one

Comedy actor Rajpal Yadav plays a serious guy now

Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

DIFFERENT ZONE Rajpal Yadav feels he is much better in Main Madhuri…

After long being known as a comedian, Rajpal Yadav did the lead role in his mentor Ramgopal Varma’s film Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon.Yadav will now don the lead role in Main, Meri Patni… Aur Woh, opposite Rituparna Sengupta, a well-known face in Bengali cinema. “This film has brought out the best in me. If you have liked me in Main Madhuri… , then in Main… you will find me five times better!” declares Yadav. He has personally taken interest in transforming his image “from hair to shoes” to play a restrained librarian Mithilesh Shukla in the film. It is the story of how he develops a complex after his wife (played by Sengupta) meets a man she can emotionally identify with and how he handles the situation. “You will identify with situations, characters and circumstances in the film,” assures Yadav.

Comedy still remains Yadav’s first love, though. “It has given me recognition. I wouldn’t have been accepted in comic roles had the audience not loved me in it.”

RANA SIDDIQUI

Hindu On Net

Ford Supermodel contest

Zoom, the glamour and lifestyle television channel in association with L’Oreal Paris has announced the Indian Round of the Ford Models Supermodel of the World.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Upen Roop Rai, COO of Zoom, said, “It is indeed a privilege for Zoom to be associated with Indian leg of the esteemed Ford Supermodel Contest. So far Zoom has successfully given you insights into the lives of some of biggest stars of India, now we will unfold various stages of the contest. From the stringent training process to the grooming and eventually all the excitement of the final contest, Zoom will take you through all of it.”

Ford models has always been ahead of its time and launched their first international model search in 1980. Their 90’s search evolved into “Supermodel of the World”.

The Ford Models Supermodel of the World Contest is currently spread across over 50 countries, making it one of the most respected model hunts in the world. The top award for the contest is a cash prize of $ 250,000 and a contract with Ford Models.

Founder Ellen Ford and her daughter Katie Ford take personal interest in every minute detail of the contest. This is said to be one of the key reasons that the Ford Models Supermodel of the World continues to be one of the most respected contests on International platform. The models found in the Supermodel of the World search have graced the covers of the most prominent magazines and appeared in a good number of hi-profile campaigns.

Hollywood stars

Ford has launched some of the most glamorous faces in the world, many of whom have become successful Hollywood stars and illustrious models. Sharon Stone, Christy Turlington, Kim Basinger, Melaine Griffith, Brooke Shields, Rahel Hunter, Jerry Hall and her daughter Elizabeth Jagger are a few famous faces launched by The Ford Agency.

Hindu On Net

AUCKLAND : Asia-Pacific Breweries is launching a new look for its flagship Tiger beer.

The company has gone for a makeover that exudes a stronger universal appeal as part of efforts to reinforce Tiger Beer’s expansion into the global market.

To crank up the beer’s hip quotient, APB has roped in Hollywood actress Jessica Alba for a new multi-million dollar commercial.

Tiger Beer, Singapore’s home-grown brand, was first produced by Asia-Pacific Breweries 74 years ago.

Since then the company has expanded and now boasts a portfolio comprising over 40 beer brands and variants and supported by 22 breweries.

Tiger Beer has also made inroads worldwide.

It can now be found in virtually every major city in the world.

But APB feels that a makeover is due.

Said Alan Gourdie, general manager at Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore, “The first thing you do with any brand is to continue to appeal to your core drinkers, your loyal existing drinkers. The re-branding is designed to present a fresh image, a fresh face to remind them of the quality of the brand. But of course the lifeblood of any brand is the new people that come to the brand, so it is also designed to appeal to the next generation of drinkers here in Singapore.”

But it is not just its consumers in Singapore that APB is targetting.

The company wants to present Tiger as a growing brand globally, to tap into fast-growing emerging markets such as China.

Said Mr Gourdie, “The success of Tiger and Singapore has always been the ability to present a fresh vibrant image of the brand here in Singapore and increasingly globally. So our ability to present a fresh new image to our consumers with this rebranding exercise is what we are after.”

To boost its rebranding efforts, the brewery has enlisted Hollywood star Jessica Alba in a new Tiger commercial, which was shot on location in New Zealand.

It starts airing in Sngapore later this week.

Said Ms Alba, “I had Tiger beer before. It’s good and the commercial seems funny. It’s a play on celebrity a bit. There is no reason why it shouldn’t expand out of Singapore.”

The global rebranding of Tiger begins here, with the multi-million dollar commercial featuring Ms Alba.

Asia Pacific Breweries hopes that this ad, to be aired in Singapore first, will propel the Tiger brand to its next phase of growth. – CNA /ct

Channel News Asia

Adoring Star pleases

Hyderabad: Adoring Star pleased when the horses were exercised here on Wednesday (Oct. 26).

Sand:

600m: Bruno Magli (Moses) 43.5. Speedy.

800m: Special Force (Sandeep), Shakira (Christopher) 59.5, 600/43.5, 400/28. They were well in hand. Adoring Star (Ravinder) 55.5, 600/42.5, 400/28.5. Pleased. Gift A Future (Nishanth) 59, 600/45, 400/29.5. Retains form. Gutsy Rider (rb) 1-1.5, 600/45.5, 400/30.5. Easy.

1,000m: Ivegotthepower (Chary) 1-17, 800/1-0, 600/45.5, 400/30.5. Moved freely. Battle Glory (Chauhan) (1400-400) 1-16.5, (1400-600) 1-0. Moved well. A 2-y-o dark bay filly (Local Talent-Asperity) (D. Singh), Hunting Hawk (Ali Khan), a 2-y-o grey colt (Meritocrat-Flame Of Love) (Chauhan) 1-15.5, 800/59, 600/44.5, 400/29. They finished together.

1,200m: On The Trail (Christopher), Gem Of A Guy (rb) 1-33, 1000/1-15, 800/58, 600/44, 400/29. They finished together. Artistic Show (Ali Khan), a 2-y-o grey colt (Don Michelletto-White Wine) (Chauhan), a 2-y-o bay colt (Concordial-Honourable Deal) (D. Singh) 1-33, (1200-600) 42.5. They were separated by a length and six lengths.

Hindu On Net

Oleh: ABD. AZIZ ITAR

MAWI dan Nor Huzrina Hussein di samping kereta Proton Savvy MAWIIOO selepas Majlis Menandatangi Perjanjian Bersama EON/Mawi di Shah Alam, Selangor malam kelmarin.

SEJAK muncul juara Akademi Fantasia 3 (AF3) pada 6 Ogos lalu, rezeki Mawi dalam bidang nyanyian datang mencurah-curah. Anak kelahiran Felda Taib Andak, Kulai, Johor ini semakin banyak menerima undangan menyanyi, dilantik sebagai duta pelbagai produk dan juga hadiah-hadiah sumbangan daripada para peminatnya.

Terbaru seorang peminat fanatik iaitu Nor Huzrina Hussein, 30, telah menghadiahkan nombor plat pendaftaran keretanya MAW1100 kepada Mawi.

Nombor plat itu telah pun didaftarkan pada kereta Proton Savvy berwarna hitam yang akan digunakan oleh Mawi selepas dia dilantik sebagai duta Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON Berhad) di Shah Alam, Selangor malam kelmarin.

Menurut Nor Huzrina, dia menghadiahkan plat keretanya itu (yang kelihatan ejaannya seperti MAWI IOO) kerana terlalu meminati penyanyi yang berusia 24 tahun itu.

“Sebenarnya, nombor plat itu saya gunakan pada kereta Proton Wira saya sejak dua tahun lalu yang didaftarkan di Melaka.

“Saya memang bercadang mahu menghadiahkan Mawi nombor plat kereta saya itu kepadanya selepas dia jadi juara AF3.

“Kebetulan saya pula amat meminati Mawi dan merasakan dia adalah orang yang paling layak menggunakan nombor plat itu.

“Ini kerana, nombor 100 pada plat itu juga kebetulan nombor yang digunakan oleh Mawi sewaktu dia menyertai uji bakat AF3,” katanya sewaktu ditemui sejurus selepas Mawi dilantik sebagai duta EON Berhad.

Sementara itu, Mawi atau Asmawi Ani yang ditemui pada majlis itu merasa terkejut dan terharu dengan pemberian istimewa daripada peminat setianya itu.

“Saya pun tak tahu nak kata apa. Terima kasihlah. Selama ini ramai peminat yang kasi saya macam-macam hadiah tapi yang ini agak special sikit,” komennya ringkas.

Ternyata populariti mendadak yang diraih oleh Mawi menyebabkan dia menjadi pilihan banyak syarikat yang mahu menjadikannya sebagai duta produk.

Dalam tempoh tidak sampai dua minggu ini, Mawi sudahpun dilantik menjadi duta bagi tiga produk yang berbeza iaitu telefon bimbit M.Mobile, video dan kamera digital Canon dan terbaru, EON Berhad.

Pengarah Urusan EON Berhad, Datuk Syed Hisham Syed Wazir berkata, pelantikan Mawi sebagai duta EON Berhad itu diharap dapat membantu menyalurkan mesej-mesej berguna kepada para pelanggannya.

“Penampilan Mawi yang positif menyebabkannya menjadi ikon kepada golongan muda dalam dunia hiburan tempatan.

“EON akan menggunakan khidmat dan populariti Mawi itu supaya dapat memberi kesedaran kepada para pelanggan kami, berhati-hati di jalan raya.

“Mawi akan membantu EON menjalankan kempen keselamatan jalan raya sempena musim cuti perayaan Deepavali dan Hari Raya Aidilfitri ini,” katanya pada majlis tersebut.

Sebagai duta, kata Syed Hisham, kereta Proton Savvy itu adalah untuk kegunaan Mawi bagi tempoh setahun.

“Mawi akan menggunakan kereta itu bagi memudahkan aktiviti-aktiviti seninya selain mempromosikan produk-produk kami.

“Mawi akan terbabit dalam aktiviti-aktiviti yang akan dijalankan oleh EON Berhad sepanjang setahun kontraknya bersama kami,” ujar Syed Hisham.

Selepas pelantikan Mawi itu, satu Kempen Keselamatan Jalan Raya turut dilancarkan oleh Ketua Pengarah, Jabatan Keselamatan Jalan Raya, Suriet Singh.

Selain duta, Mawi juga akan muncul menerusi iklan EON Berhad dengan menyampaikan lagu Hari Raya yang akan mula disiarkan di televisyen dan radio tempatan mulai hari ini (26 Oktober).

Pada majlis itu, EON Berhad turut meraikan kira-kira 100 anak-anak yatim dari Yayasan Seni Karya Prihatin Malaysia, Rumah Silaturrahim Nurul Qanaah, Asrama Baitul Ummah dan Anak-Anak Yatim Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) pada satu majlis berbuka puasa.

Selain itu, EON Berhad turut menyumbangkan cek bernilai RM10,000 bagi mengisi Tabung Thasaleemia Malaysia.

Sumbangan itu disampaikan oleh Pengerusi EON Berhad, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Mohd. Saleh Sulong.

Pada sebelah petang hari yang sama, Mawi turut dilantik menjadi duta telefon bimbit M.Mobile selain pelantikkannya sebagai duta video dan kamera digital Canon pada minggu lalu.

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