Sikh Community Accepts Saifs Apology

Saif Al Khan cooled the fires and put the animosity to rest yesterday at a conference addressing the media at Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Dadar.

“Love Aaj Kal” comes out on Friday, so the actor wanted to dissipate the controversy surrounding his portrayal of a Sikh in the movie. The director, Imtiaz Ali, was also at this conference where Khan apologized to the Sikh community.

15 days ago members of The Punjab Cultural and Heritage board asked to view the film to assert that the Sikh community was not wrongly represented. However, after seeing the film they had problems with a scene that took place at a gurdwara, the length of Khan’s beard, and a joke surrounding a sardar.

Khan wrote an apology letter to the community while also agreeing to cut a disputable scene from the movie. Speaking about making amendments, Khan said to Express India, “I completely understand and respect the problems they had. We don’t want to hurt any sentiments and took the issues seriously.”

The movie was altered to make amends with the community along with a promise that Khan will never again portray the community incorrectly. The scene that was cut was a 15 second segment where there is a romance scene in a gurdwara, where this is a place where you cannot portray that. The joke involving a sardar was changed to be a joke about a “man.”

The film has received a green light from the committee after accepting the apology from Saif Al Khan. The committee warned that they will protest if a similar situation is repeated, citing that they also accepted a written apology from Akshay Kumar following the release of “Singh is King.”

Director Imtiaz Ali is content now that all has been cleared up, and excited about the turn out of the film, even now that alterations have been made. Check out the photos below and let us know what you think of the resolution.

Saif arrives to the press conference followed by the legions of his fans and curious on lookers. it seems that this controversy gained tons of public appeal.

Saif takes some time to pose for some publicity pics before beginning the press conference. From the looks of it, everybody is getting along and anxious to grab a pic with the movie star.

Saif formally apologizes to the Sikh community for his wrongful portrayal of them during his latest film, 'Love Aaj Kal.' He is surrounded by Sikhs and the press alike.

What Really Affects My Pregnancy Chances?

I've decided that there's no such thing as reproductive justice. Many of my patients try desperately to prevent pregnancy in their fertile years...and an equal number are trying so hard to get pregnant when they're finally ready. I hear questions almost daily about what affects the chances of pregnancy (whether it's wanted right now...or not). So here is a run-down of what influences the pregnancy lottery.

These things CAN impair your fertility:

• A history of STDs. Specifically, gonorrhea and chlamydia can scar your fallopian tubes and prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.
• Recent DepoProvera use. It takes the average woman 10 months after her last Depo injection to be able to conceive. (Of course, if you don't want to be pregnant, your fertility will return right away - call it Murphy's Law of Reproduction)
• Irregular periods. Irregular menstrual cycles may be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is accompanied by irregular ovulation. Since you're not ovulating every month, it's harder to conceive.
• Over- or under-weight. Weight that falls above or below the ideal for your height may also prevent you from ovulating regularly.
• Medical problems. In addition to PCOS, there are other chronic medical conditions--over or underactive thyroid, endometriosis--that can impact ovulation or your tubes.
• Age. It's incredibly unfair that just when many women are ready to have a baby, their fertility has started to decline. But "egg quality" begins to decrease after age 30, and this decrease picks up speed after age 35.
• Not having sex enough. Don't laugh - I have seen several patients who can't understand why they're not pregnant, when they're having sex maybe once a month.
• Having sex too much. Don't laugh - having daily sex at the start of your cycle may diminish the sperm count around the time it matters (generally, days 12 and 13 of a 28-day cycle).
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• A family history of infertility. Because there's still so much we don't know about infertility, there may be unknown factors that run in your family.

These things WILL NOT affect your fertility:

• Wetness. No matter how lubricated or dry you are, there's no effect on the little swimmers heading towards your eggs.
• Sexual position. No, standing up does not reduce your pregnancy risk. And no, positions with deep penetration don't increase your chances.
• Orgasm (yours). No justice here, either - your chances are the same whether or not you climax. Heavens, if women couldn't get pregnant without coming, there would be MANY fewer unplanned pregnancies!
• Long-term contraception use. Prolonged pill, ring, or IUD use doesn't permanently reduce your pregnancy chances. Upon stopping the method, your fertility returns to what it would have been without the birth control.
• Genital warts or herpes. Annoying to live with, but won't risk your fertility.

Somewhere in the middle:

• High-risk HPV on your pap smear. IF the HPV causes moderate- to high-grade abnormalities on your cervix...and IF you have a LEEP or cone biopsy to remove the cells, there's a chance that you'll have complications with your cervix in a future pregnancy. But it won't affect at all your chances of conceiving.

Do you worry about something in particular affecting your chances at pregnancy?

You can read more about fertility and sexual health at Gynotalk.

Vikram Photo Gallery

Bollywood Babes Don Sexy Saris

All things Desi may be the hot new trend in the Western world, but in India it seems that the Indians are adding a few Western influences to the culture. This has been seen recently in parts of the language, movies and now seems to be moving into the fashion world. Designers have begun to take trends from Western fashion and incorporate them into their more ‘traditional’ styles. Salwar Kameez started with designing pant suites and now even produces a three-quarter length trouser (Capri pants). We have also seen a difference in the saris found on the market and worn by our celebrity fashion icons. Sheer and sexy seem to be the twist that has taken on the more traditional (more covered) sari pattern. Check out the fashionistas below in some of their latest outfits.

International superstar Shilpa Shetty is seen in a sexy, sheer gold sari. The blouse is quite unconventional with is deep V front and cut-outs.

Priyanka Chopra caught everyone’s attention in the video for ‘Desi Girl’ from Bollywood’s movie “Dostana.” She is also in a gold, nude colored sari. The sari is gathered on her shoulder unlike the traditional way of draping a sari so that less is seen. As for her blouse, this skimpy, halter top appears to be more like a bikini top than a full shirt.

Rani Mukherjee is Bollywood’s sweetheart. We have seen her go from the hot college student in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ to a sophisticated, hard working actress in her role in the film ‘Black.’ Rani is seen here in a baby pink sari which is gorgeously embroidered with turquoise and silver beading. Though worn in a more traditional sense, Rani’s got a sexy, silver halter top as her blouse. Her sophisticated look is sure to keep turning heads.

The world’s most beautiful woman, Aishwariya Rai Bachchan, has been in the international eye for quite some time now. However, when it comes to her sense of style, she tends to stick to elegant saris. This smoking red number is quite classy. Her sari is draped quite traditionally and her embellished blouse has just the right western touch. With her new hubby, Aishwariya seems to stay more conservative to please the in-laws.

Deepika Padukone may be a newcomer on the Bollywood scene, but she has definitely fit right in with the A-listers. She knows how to speak and carry herself with the press, and even knows how to dress. We see her here in a cream and sliver sari. Once again it is draped quite loosely and showing us her amazing body. Her blouse is an emerald green silk, with a sheer neckline. She looks sexy and confident in this number.

Here, we see the sultry Sushmita Sen in a plum and fuchsia sari. Her halter top sari is breath taking. This sheer, netted sari is covered in flowery embroidery and complimented with a large necklace.

From movies to events, it seems that the sari is still a hit, but that designers are taking bigger risks in incorporating some western styles. With more skin, the intricate embroidery is no longer the focus of some of these fashions, but the traditional sari patterns are still being worn by some with only minor changes.

So which is your favorite Bollywood Babe? If you can't decide, find your Bollywood Babe with our new Orkut quiz.

Get Amazing Abs (and Tone All Over) at Any Age

Slim thighs are nice. Trim, taut arms are great, too. But there's nothing like feeling your abs get firmer, flatter and so toned you can't wait to wear a two-piece--particularly now that it's high beach season. Hello, hot weather!

The good news: You don't have to employ a celebrity trainer or be 18 to have a waistline worth baring. The secret to a getting a trim belly--not to mention fit from head to toe--is tailoring your workouts according to your birthday. (Not that anyone will guess how old you are, once you start exercising consistently.)

Science shows that frequent sweat sessions can actually help you be forever young: When researchers studied the lifestyle habits and DNA of 2,400 twins, they found that regular exercisers had longer telomeres, tags at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with age, than their couch potato counterparts. In fact, as little as 30 minutes of activity daily resulted in telomeres that looked 10 years younger.

Follow the age-specific advice below and then try the get-lean routine. (Watch a full demo now at Self.com.) You'll be slimmer, more youthful and ab-fabulous in no time.

In your 20s: You're energetic and resilient, so it's the perfect time to make fitness a key component in your life. The following moves will help you sculpt sexy muscles and build bone, which is crucial for warding off osteoporosis in the future. Try using heavier weights than you're used to (doing the final rep should be challenging) and adding a third weekly session when time allows.

In your 30s: Reality check--there's a natural 5 percent dip in metabolism during this decade. But you can still be a lean fat-burning machine by doing the moves below. They will build muscle, which will naturally rev your metabolism so you torch more calories even in your sleep, as well as bolster core strength and maintain agility.

In your 40s and beyond: Sexy curves you have. Now you want to stay firm and injury-free. These shapers will help you boost your backside (an area which may naturally lose muscle as you age) and tone all over. To increase your flex appeal and decrease your overall injury risk, add a weekly yoga class or regular stretching to this routine.

The plan: No matter what your age, grab a set of 3- to 10-pound weights and complete two sets of each move twice a week on nonconsecutive days. Add 30 to 60 minutes of brisk cardio most days to slim and tone even faster.

MOVE 1: Sumo squat
Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart. Hold one weight in both hands directly overhead. Squat low and swing weight between legs and then forward, lifting it overhead, as you return to standing. Do 12 reps.

MOVE 2: Dragonfly
Start on all fours, a weight in each hand. Extend left leg behind you in line with body; extend right arm out to side at shoulder level. Keeping left leg lifted, curl weight toward chest. Straighten arm for one rep. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

MOVE 3: Sidestepper
Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes out, a weight in each hand in front of thighs. Lunge to left side as you draw arms toward chest, elbows bent. Push off left foot and lower weights to return to start. Repeat on right for one rep. Do 12 reps.

MOVE 4: Gorgeous get-up
Kneel with a weight in each hand, arms overhead, palms in. Bring left leg forward, knee bent, thigh parallel to ground. Push off ball of foot to stand. Return to kneeling. Switch legs; repeat for one rep. Do 12 reps.

MOVE 5: Back attack
Lie facedown with legs pressed together; reach behind back, interlace fingers and draw shoulder blades together. Lift chest off ground as you kick heels toward butt with control three times for one rep. Return to start. Do 10 reps.

MOVE 6: Do-si-do
Stand with feet hip-width apart, a weight in each hand. Balance on left leg, knees soft, then lunge forward with right leg as you curl weights toward chest. Push off right foot to return to one-leg balance. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

MOVE 7: T-rrific toner
Stand with feet hip-width apart, a weight in each hand, arms extended at shoulder level. Lift right leg back and lower torso forward until body forms a T, arms straight toward ground, palms in. Return to start. Do 12 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

MOVE 8: Turbo twist
Sit with legs out in front, knees bent. Hold one weight in both hands at chest level; lean back at a 45-degree angle. Maintain position as you contract abs and twist torso to right, then left for one rep. Do 12 reps.

MOVE 9: Bridge buffer
Lie faceup with knees bent, feet flat, a weight in each hand, elbows bent. Lift hips as high as possible; raise left leg off ground in line with hips as you extend weights in line with shoulders. Keeping hips raised, lower left foot and arms. Switch legs for one rep. Do 12 reps.

Get more amazing fitness tips and motivation advice from TV's top trainer and SELF contributor Jillian Michaels for free. And for three supereffective waistline cinchers, click on over to this how-to video.

Sega: Fixing Sonic Is Going To Take Time

Once was a time Sonic games were just as good as Mario games. Some may even say better. That time, however, was back in the 1990's. And it's been a while since the 1990's.

Yet the blue hedgehog is still Sega's most prominent mascot, and Sega keep on churning out Sonic games, even though they suck. Which begs the question: when can we expect Sonic games to not suck? Sega America's VP of marketing Sean Ratcliffe got stuck with the excuse-making:

The quality is something that will be fixed over time. It's not something where you wake up one morning and say, 'You know what, we're going to improve our quality on this franchise,' and it magically happens. A lot of hard work goes into striving for quality.

Normally, we'd stop things there, but we like Ratcliffe's continued response so much we're going to run it:

Interestingly, I think Sonic Unleashed was very well received by the kids. There was some talk about the werehog aspect, the slower pacing and more combat-oriented gameplay, but when we go out and test this stuff and sit down with the consumers, kids actually like that. I think older, die-hard Sega fans who grew up with the franchise and the first Sonic the Hedgehog associate Sonic more with 2-D side-scrolling super fast, and they liked the daytime gameplay, but when it came to the slower paced gameplay they were fairly critical of that, and that's fine – they have their opinions.

"But the kids like it." Bet other publishers wish they could peddle that one out!

Madonna gets Ready for 'Celebration'

If you are not going to get recognition from anyone else, why not celebrate your accomplishments yourself? That's what material girl turned music icon Madonna is doing. The megastar has decided to create a two disk album called "Celebration" with some of her greatest hits! The album will be released on September 29th and will include re-mastered versions of Madonna's hit songs that have been selected by the pop singer herself. Some songs that will be featured on the album are, "Everybody," "Express Yourself," "Vogue," and "4 Minutes." "Celebration" also includes two new singles. Looks like the singer is still at it in the studio!

That's right, Madonna has been working hard in New York to complete her two new singles. The first one is titled 'Celebration,' yes just like the album. Madonna has not only sung this track, but she has also co-produced it with Paul Oakenfold. Madonna has also worked on her video for the single "Celebration." It was recently shot in Milan, Italy and will be on the "Celebration" DVD. The song is not due for release until August 3 at which point it will hit radios and clubs everywhere.

Along with the two new singles, Madonna has also invested her time in creating the cover for her compilation album. The cover focuses in on Madonna's face, the eye is drawn to the colored blond hair, heavy turquoise eye makeup, and luscious, ruby lips. Madonna is one hot mama!
It seems like Madonna has put a lot of effort into making this album great. Hopefully her fans will appreciate it.

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Mika Singh Heads to Hollywood with a Tamil Spin

Bhangra sensation Mika Singh has made his mark in Bollywood and now Mika is getting ready to take on Hollywood. So you would think that Mika is bringing a Punjabi flavor onto a Hollywood soundtrack but instead it looks like Mika Singh is fusing Punjabi beats with the South Indian culture. He is calling it Tamil Bhangra.

So what brought on this Tamil fusion? Well sources say that the artist is working on a song for the upcoming film, “Quick Gun Murugan.” The Hollywood film is a western spoof that follows the story of Quick Gun Murugan as he fights to save his village from Rice Plate Reddy. Reddy is planning on opening the restaurant McDosa; his evil plan is to put meat in his dosas without his vegetarian village knowing. The film is directed by underground director, Sashank Ghosh and the cast consist of seasoned actors such as, Dr. Rajendra Prasad from Tollywood (the South Indian film industry). Because it’s not intended to be a serious film the movie hits it mark with a cheesy plot line and outrageous costumes.

Although Mika isn’t making his debut on a typical Hollywood soundtrack it’s cool that he is bringing something new to the table. The film comes out on August 28th so stay tuned for the soundtrack that should be coming out shortly. Check out a clip of the movie below and share your thoughts on Tamil Bhangra. The film will be released in Tamil as well as English. Will it be a hit or miss?

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Ex-Idol Contestant Says Show Is Rigged

Some ousted season 8 American Idol top 36 semi-finalists--including Felicia Barton, Kendall Beard, and Ju'Not Joyner--participated in an online chat with the Idol website AI Now today. And during his frank online conversation with fans, Ju'Not came right out and said that the TV talent show is in fact rigged, and that its contracts are unfair to contestants.

"It's a fixed thing if I ever saw one," he boldly declared--much to the shock of many naive chatters, who responded with capslocked interjections and frowny-faced emoticons.

It was hardly the first time that AmIdol had been accused of wrongdoing. A book loosely based on anonymous former Idol employees' experiences with the show, Stage 46, made similar allegations last year. But few detractors have ever been as brutally honest as Ju'Not was today.

Ju'Not--who by his own account was labeled a "troublemaker" by Idol producers for questioning the contract (which he dubbed a "slavetract") that all auditioners are required by Fox/19 to sign, and was allegedly told by Idol bigwig Ken Warwick, "You're not going to ruin my show"--explained that he wanted to set the record straight today. He stated that he wanted to reveal "truth of Idol" because "Idol ain't all it is cracked up to be...It's certainly not the fairytale most think it is."

Ju'Not claimed he was cut from the competition, and not invited back for the Wild Card round (a shock to many viewers wowed by his memorable "Hey There Delilah" performance) because of his concerns regarding the fairness of the Idol contract.

"They pay for our lawyers to negotiate against their lawyer (which is BS)," he said. "They make us COLLECTIVELY choose the lawyer, then they act like it's in our best interest. Craziest stuff I've ever seen. I have a son to feed. I HAD to ask questions and know what I was signing. Plus I write my own songs and I needed to know details...Some folks were like, 'Just shut up and sign on the dotted line.' I know better than that...I wasn't complaining...I was asking basic legal questions. There's a huge difference between the two."

He continued: "I definitely believed that affected my time on the show. They didn't like the fact that I wouldn't sign 'just anything' and that other contestants were coming asking me questions. So I think they ousted me the first chance they could get...Even if I didn't get in on votes...how did I not get picked for the Wild Card show when I received comments from the 'judges' that were better than most of the contestants who were picked for the Wild Card show?"

Ju'Not also theorized that he was not selected for the top 13 because he refused to let the show's producers exploit his sympathetic "back story" of being from "the hood." Said Ju'Not: "They wanted me to put that out to the world and expose my personal business for ratings. I wouldn't do it."

While Ju'Not made it clear he believes Kris Allen is indeed talented and deserved to win this season, he also maintained that Kris's victory was fixed. "The producers know who they want and they slant it to reflect that. They fix it in a way that makes you surprised but it's still manipulated," he typed. "Think about it...ADAM, ADAM, ADAM, then...Kris....SURPRISE SMITHCHES!!!!

"What I mean is that people think AI is a talent show," he elaborated. "No. It's a reality show with writers!! We're all actors. All these shows have writers that guide the public opinion. The Hills, Real World. All of them." He even bluntly questioned the validity of the public's votes, saying, "Do you think a billion-dollar enterprise is subject to the whim of the public?"

Naturally, while some chat participants applauded Ju'Not's frankness, others questioned his motives, since few other Idol contestants have come forth with such accusations. Ju'Not explained: "No one else is complaining because a lot of the contestants don't understand how this business works. They've never had record deals or seen a record contract...I have. So I knew what questions to ask. It's kinda like ignorance is bliss. Some contestants may have thought it was just cool to be on TV, but this is my career. I take this thing VERY seriously...Very few people spoke up. They saw me as the ringleader. I'm not naming names. Because I have nothing against the other Idols."

So, was Ju'Not speaking the truth? If so, then he is to be commended for his bravery. But it's possible he was just trying to drum up publicity for the "hot" new album he's self-releasing this winter, in which case he's a typical showbiz opportunist. Or maybe he's just a bitter reject, desperately angling for a 16th minute of fame and dreaming of what might have been. All of this is up for debate.

But there is no debate that Ju'Not is, as he worded it today, "a straight-up person." He definitely went there.

Do you believe Ju'Not Joyner? Post your thoughts on the messageboard below.

Kareena Kapoor Chosen as Brand Ambassador for Gitanjali Jewels

Bollywood diva Kareena Kapoor has been a coveted brand ambassador by many companies. Well now, we can add Gitanjali Group to her resume. They announced that she will be the brand ambassador for Gitanjali Jewels at a press conference at the Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai.

Prior to this announcement, Bipasha Basu was chosen as the ambassador for the Gitanjali Jewels, while Katrina Kaif was the brand ambassador for Gitanjali Group's Nakshatra brand. Looks like Bebo wanted her time to sparkle in these jewels too.

Kareena Kapoor commented by saying that "It's a real honor to be chosen as a Brand Ambassador for Gitanjali Jewels because I love jewelry and am pleased to be associated with 'Parineeta', 'Sagaaee' and 'ME Solitaire', each of which have such myriad of designs with both traditional and personal touch. I personally endorse it as I can totally depend on it as it is backed by the Gitanjali Group which brings in itself the quality and the trust."

Check out some videos posted below of the Bollywood princess herself decked out in jewels, endorsing Gitanjali Jewels.

So what do our readers think about Kareena Kapoor getting so many offers for brand ambassador jobs in the industry? Do you think that she's the right actress to be getting so many opportunities? Make sure to leave us a comment with your thoughts.