Hrithik Roshan donates a Rs 10 lakh bus to a special school

Hrithik Roshan gifted a school bus worth R 10 lakh to the Dilkhush Special School (for mentally challenged children) in Juhu.

Says a source from Dilkhush on condition of anonymity, "Yes, Hrithik has donated a bus to the school.

Currently, we only have two school buses one that drops off children to Mahim and the other to Jogeshwari. The Mahim bus is in dire need of repairs.

We had written to the actor asking if he could help us in any way. We were pleasantly surprised to get his reply in a few days sanctioning the new bus which should arrive by January next year. "

The source adds that Duggu's first connection with the school was through his wife Sussanne who had visited them in 2003.

"That's when they started helping the school through donations. We were badly affected during the 2005 floods as we are close to Juhu beach.

The ground floor got damaged and we sent appeals to many people as furniture and school records had got damaged.

Hrithik was amongst the first to respond and send over a large amount immediately. Since then, he's always been very generous. "

The source says that HR prefers to keep a low-key profile. "He has never visited the school but whenever we have needed him, he's always been there.

Last year, he asked for a photograph of the children. We sent one over.

We have been running this school for 40 years on donations and today, have 100 children whom we train so they can integrate with mainstream society. "

Some of the staff from the school are big fans of the actor. "We would have loved it if Hrithik personally came to hand over the bus to us.

But we also understand his need for privacy. At the staff meeting we have planned to watch Guzaarish soon. "

Barbara Mori is coming back to Mumbai for another film after Kites.

Guarded but ever-effevescent she says, “I’ve another film in India to be shot in January I think. I can’t talk about it right now. I will when all the details are worked out. I can’t tell you the details. But it’s a big film. I’d love to do many films in India.”

Barbara’s English in her words, “is not the best, but not so bad either.”

Barbara loves Mumbai. “Not just Mumbai, I love all the Indian people. They’re so lovely so warm. They make me feel so much at home. In Bollywood Sussanne wanted me to meet every friend of hers. So she took me a lot of places.

We went partying all night at Shah Rukh Khan’s home. I met many actors and actresses but I can’t remember their names. They are all so warm.”

She wants to visit more of India. “I want to visit Delhi and the Taj Mahal. I haven’t had time to do so. So far I’ve been to India only for work. Now I need to come back for a vacation. Then I’ll visit all the places I want to.”

She finds Mexican and Indian culture very similar yet different. “My brother has been living in India for the last 1 ½ years. He’s a singer and he has put together an album in Mumbai. Me? I sing too. But not professionally.”

About Kites she says, “I’m not nervous I am not scared. I’m just excited. Kites is my first film for this part of the world. I had never watched Bollywood films before Kites. But after I realized I’d be part of Kites I enjoyed some. I really loved Hrithik’s film Lakshya”.

She brightens up at the mention of Hrithik. “I feel there’s a very special chemistry with him. I’ve done a lot of movies with many other actors. But nothing like Hrithik.

Maybe because Kites is such a special love story about two very special people who can’t speak the same language.” Barbara has just returned from the Maldives after a photo-shoot with Hrithik.

“I love the place. In fact we shot a sequence of Kites in the Maldives. But no, contrary to what people believe I don’t enjoy being in the water.”

She enjoys acting the most. “I’ve a production company in Mexico. I’ve just produced a film starring me.I’m now putting up a restaurant in Mexico.”

She plans to do a film with Hrithik in Mexico. “Oh yes! I’d love to have him in Mexico for a film produced by me. He’s a great actor and beautiful humanbeing and one good friend.”

As for the rumours about their link-up Barbara is not bothered. “Oh the media in Mexico is as active. Every time I do a movie they link me with my co-star. So I’m used to it…Kites is such an honest love story every one who watches it would watch to fall in love. That’s the best feeling in the world.”

Kites couple Hrithik Roshan and Barabra Mori are in news once again thanks to the smack on the latter's cheek. No, don't get us wrong, Hrithik didn't misbehave with the latin beauty but it was all a part of a scene.

Talking to a news daily about the Hrithik-Barbara chemistry, Anurag recalled a humorous event, “We were doing an intense scene which had a long dialogue. Towards the end, Barbara was supposed to slap Hrithik. We okayed the scene.

But Barbara asked me if it was possible to do a retake, because she wanted to slap Hrithik again. It was a prank, but I decided to play along. Duggu was very surprised when I told him we’d do the scene again because I’d already told him the earlier take was fine.”

Hrithik somehow got the whiff of it and towards the end of the shot he turned around and slapped Barbara.

“Barbara was shocked because just as she was about to slap him, Duggu ducked and slapped her instead. Then she realised that Hrithik had seen through her prank and everyone on the sets burst out laughing,” added Anurag with a laughter.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who has replaced superstar Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador of Pepsi and actor Hrithik Roshan in ITC's John Players, feels obliged to get the opportunity to take forward their legacy.

"As far as replacement is concern, Shah Rukh Khan is a legend and his contribution to Pepsi was immense. I am taking forward his legacy. As far as John Players is concerned, Hrithik Roshan is a style icon for whom I have immense respect. I believe that I am fortunate enough to get a chance to take his legacy forward, " Ranbir told reporters after the logo launch of John Players at ITC Hotel here today.

Ranbir maintains that comfort should be the primary criteria while choosing clothes.

"It's not about wearing expensive or brands. It's something that makes you feel comfortable. There are no strict rules. It's about what you want to wear and how you carry it, " said Ranbir.

Ranbir admits that he is not brand conscious at all.

"I am not brand conscious at all. I don't understand fashion. God has been very kind to me that I could sign up with this brand and I hope my knowledge on fashion increases, " said Ranbir.

As most actors do, Ranbir would try to endorse this brand in his films as well.

"I hope so. I will try so that the producers take the help of John Players. The costume designers take clothes from John Players. All I can do is try, " said Ranbir.

Over the decades actors have learnt various skills for their characters. Dilip Kumar learnt to play the Sitar for Azad and Shabana Azmi learnt Karnatik sangeet for Morning Raga.

And while Ranbir Kapoor will learn to play the guitar for Imtiaz Ali's Rock Star, Hrithik Roshan has gone and learnt a skill which no other Indian actor (barring Kamal Haasan in the South) has learnt.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish features Hrithik in the role of a magician. A Ukranian magician has been specially called to teach Hrithik special magic tricks to make him look convincing.

Says a source, “Sanjay Bhansali didn't want Hrithik to fake the magic. Nor did he want the usual rabbit-from-the-hat kind of magic tricks. The director wanted the magic scenes with the magician to be really magical. A world-wide hunt was launched for a magician who would fit the bill. It had to be someone who would give Guzaarish ample time and establish a comfort level with Hrithik.”

Finally the right magician was found. The director put aside for the last most of the scenes showing Hrithik doing magician's tricks. Now that the rest of the shooting is over, the Ukranian magician arrives next month to work on the magician's tricks.

Says the source, “But the interesting part is, the Ukranian magician was in Mumbai for a brief spell to work with Hrithik. He taught Hrithik some of the coolest magic tricks, never seen in these parts.

Now Hrithik keeps his two sons entertained all the time. Now the elder one expects his father to be the official magician of the evening on the boy's next birthday.

If Hrithik wants an alternate career he can easily become a magician and give our P C Sorkars a run for their money.”

While choosing to remain mum over the 'magical' schedule next month Sanjay Leela Bhansali says, “A magician's participation is needed in the film. Beyond that Hrithik and I are hoping to create magic together, period.”

Hrithik Roshan had to put on some weight for his role as a paraplegic in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Guzaarish'.

According to Hrithik, his waist size went up to 34 for the first time in his life. The lean actor had to gorge on batata wadas and bhajiyas so that his weight shot up.

He, however, needs to lose all that weight now, for which he's gone back to his diet of boiled food, salad and egg- whites. Let's hope the handsome actor is back in shape soon and has girls drooling over him once again.

Superstar Hrithik Roshan has finally joined the micro-blogging site Twitter and in his maiden message he urged fans to go and watch Shah Rukh Khan starrer "My Name Is Khan".

"Spread humanity with a vengeance, go watch 'My Name Is Khan'...and for the record, my name is Hrithik Roshan, " he posted as his first Tweet.

Shah Rukh is courting controversy for favouring Pakistani cricketers' inclusion in the Indian Premier League (IPL) - a stand which has cast a shadow over the release of his film "My Name Is Khan".

Hrithik received a warm welcome from his close friends, filmmaker Karan Johar as well as actors Abhishek Bachchan and Genelia D'Souza on the social networking site.

"One of my closest friends and one of the finest actors I know is here! Hrithik Roshan...give him love Tweeple!" posted Johar, whose controversial film "My Name Is Khan" is finally releasing Friday.

Abhishek said: "Please welcome my dear friend to the chaos!"

And Genelia welcomed him saying, "Twitterverse".

The 36-year-old is awaiting the release of his much-hyped film "Kites", which is being co-produced by his father Rakesh Roshan's Filmkfraft and Reliance BIG Cinemas. It is set to hit screens May 21.

After playing a dyslexic child in "Taare Zameen Par", Darsheel Safary will be seen as a superhero in his forthcoming film "Zokkomon", which is about extraordinary powers. The 13-year-old is happy to fulfil his fantasy, but hopes to be granted the powers in real life too.

"Hrithik Roshan is my superhero in Bollywood. He is a good dancer, has a very good body and is a great actor. I really want to work with him. I feel great and fortunate to fulfil my fantasy. I wish to help the world if granted these superpowers in real life too," Darsheel told here.

"'Zokkomon' is a completely different movie. The experience was very different as 'Taare Zameen Par' was an emotional movie and this is an adventure-action film," he added.

Bollywood badshah Shahrukh Khan works hard but he partied harder at the birthday bash of another tinsel town sensation- Hrithik Roshan.

As Hrithink Roshan turned 36 on Sunday the entire Bollywood showered him with good wishes. Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor and Karan Johar joined the party with SRK, said the actor in his twitter post.

Shahrukh Khan tweeted: "Been to Duggu (nickname of Hrithik) Hrithik's house, his birthday, we Karan, Riteish, Abhishek, Ash, Saif, Kareena, Preity, Dino, Kunal, Farah Ali had a good bash."

Hrithik Roshan is scheduled to shoot on his big day for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Guzaarish.

Earlier, Hrithik’s sister Sunaina and family said they were planning to give him a small surprise party on the sets and take along with them a huge chocolate cake.

Hrithik began his career as a child artist at six in the 1980 movie Aasha, and then made a sensational debut with Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai that released in 2000, making him an instant megastar.

His forthcoming films are Kites and Guzaarish.