"I have never done anything for publicity"

Actor Vivek Oberoi spoke to Editor Prabhu Chawla on his work, women and controversies.

Q. You have had many ups and downs in your career.
A. I have been in the industry for the past three years now and in my view I am almost flawless now.

Q. Is a connection with big names needed in the industry?
A. At the start of one's career no one is a favourite, neither Shah Rukh Khan nor I.

Q. But you could bank on your father's name.
A. He never financed a film for me. I told him if I had talent I would get a break on my own. I uphold certain principles.

Q. Has Aishwarya Rai changed your life?
A. She has been very lucky for me. If a girl understands you and your profession it brings stability in your life. People speculated that my relationship with Aishwarya would not last. But it has been on for two-and-a-half years and is going strong.

Q. You are sure she will not desert you.
A. I hope not.

Q. If she did would you turn into a Salman Khan?
A. No. For that I would have to change a lot.

Q. What about doing films with Salman?
A. Life is too long and no one knows what will happen next. But right now I am in no mood to work with him.

Q. You said your mother is the woman behind your success. Is it not Aishwarya?
A. Whenever I am asked about the most beautiful woman in the world I say my mother first, and then Madhubala. Aishwarya comes third in this list.

Q. Will you marry Aishwarya?
A. Absolutely yes.

Q. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa claims you clashed with her. Is Vivek Oberoi a rebel?
A. She gave us land to build an orphanage in Cuddalore and one floor of the building is complete. It was possible with her blessings. I don't want to comment on her statement.

Q. Is she speaking the truth?
A. Why don't you ask her?

Q. Is Jayalalithaa politically correct or incorrect?
A. All I can say is I have never done anything for publicity.

Q. She says you didn't do much rehabilitation work.
A. Much is a subjective word. How can one quantify what one did? Whatever I have done is there for all to see.

PICTURE SPEAK

BIG BASH: Arjun greeted by Sonia and Manmohan

DELHI For the thousands who were invited to the Siri Fort Auditorium in the capital last week it was unclear about what the function stood for. Was it the 75th birthday (amrit mahotsav) of their leader Arjun Singh? Was it his 50th year as a legislator? Was it even the release of an eight-volume collection on his life?

It was clearly not the Union HRD minister's 75th birthday because it happens only in November. It was not even his 50th year as a lawmaker because that mile stone will be reached only in 2007 and the eight-volume compendium was not seen by anyone though a book of sorts by some writers of sorts was released. It was later said that the occasion was to commemorate the 55th year of his association with the Gandhi family. Some number to celebrate, this double five.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi spoke as if it were Arjun's amrit mahotsav congratulating him on reaching a milestone and commending him for his long service. No one understood whether it was to the nation, party, the Gandhi family or himself. But for the Arjun fan club it remained an occasion to remember as Dau Saheb is still loved and held in awe by his followers.

-By Neeraj Mishra

BANGALORE The Dharam Singh Government's attempt to put a road block on the Rs 4,000 crore 130-km Bangalore-Mysore infrastructure corridor project came to nought last week when the Karnataka High Court ordered criminal proceedings against two top government officials, including Chief Secretary K.K. Mishra, for filing false affidavits and hiding vital facts concerning the project.

The Congress-led Government, following pressure from its JD(S) partner and its chief H.D. Deve Gowda, had instituted a probe panel which recommended that almost 2,400 acres of excess land for the project be redeemed. The court, apart from rejecting a petition to stop construction of the six-lane project, also dismissed the panel's findings. The court directed the Government to implement the 1997 agreement with project promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise and allot to it the demarcated land.

Things couldn't get worse for Chief Minister Singh. The more he kowtows to his coalition partner's pressures, the more he seems to be getting stranded on the road to the state's development.

-By Stephen David

Express India

PICTURE SPEAK

TAIL PIECE: Ethnic designs

MUMBAI In a massive corporate branding exercise, Air India Express, Air India's budget airline, gave its new fleet of aircraft specially designed Indian motifs. Designed by ad agency Mudra, the aircraft, which fly to six destinations in the Gulf, will have a crimson red sash along the body and embellishments like Rajasthani camels, temple elephants, traditional Indian musical instruments and kites on the tail. "Each aircraft is a cultural ambassador of India," says Madhukar Kamath, CEO, Mudra, revealing that Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel took an active interest in the branding process.

The airline, which took off last week, will operate 35 flights per week with three Boeing 737-800s and will soon add two more to its stable.
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-By Anjali Doshi

OBJECT OF DESIRE

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Total Entertainer

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BeoCenter 2 revolutionises the standard box-shaped designs manufactured by other consumer electronics providers. Sleek and futuristic, the beautifully crafted aluminium control panel makes using BeoCenter 2 a highly pleasurable experience, and the separation of BeoCenter 2 from its socket panel offers unprecedented placement flexibility.

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