On radio for 168 hours, Dheena sets new Guinness record

Big 92.7 FM's Radio Jockey (RJ) Dheena has broadcast live on radio continuously for 168 hours and entered the Guinness Book of World Records, bettering the previous mark by 33 hours.

He is "ecstatic" after breaking the existing world record of 135 hours set by Italian RJ Stefano Venneri in 2007. Dheena began his on-air marathon Aug 21 at 5 a.m. that ended at 5 a.m. Thursday.

Though Dheena, who hosts "Big Vanakkam" on Big FM's station at Chennai, broke Venneri's record at 8:01 p.m. Tuesday itself, he continued on to set a new record which would be tough to break.

"I didn't want to be a sprinter. I wanted to be like a marathon runner who would lead by hours and I have done that. I wanted the target to be very high so that for the next five to 10 years, no one should even think of attempting this," Dheena told IANS over phone from Chennai.

This was not the first time Dheena attempted an on-air marathon. In August 2007, he had worked non-stop for 92 hours and seven minutes.

For his Guinness record, the FM station ensured all medical requirements for Dheena. A team of physicians was present to monitor his health.

"I used to get five minutes rest in every hour and after every 12 hours, I used to get an hour's interval for myself. In that time, I used to take a nap. I kept eating something in between and that's how I managed," said Dheena, who joined Big FM in 2006.

Before taking on this challenge, Dheena prepared himself physically and mentally.

"I undertook rigorous yoga practice to boost my mental endurance and also went to the gym regularly to keep fit and be awake for so many hours," he said.

Dheena is overwhelmed with the response of his listeners who gathered outside the Big FM office to meet him.

He said: "I have got a tremendous reaction from the people in Chennai and I have managed to get a huge fan following. They were constantly concerned about my health and me. It was really motivating. People across ages came over to meet me, called me and helped me through this feat."

He says that the experience has taught him to be "patient, focussed and to concentrate with no sleep".

I show what people want to see from me

Namitha, glam doll of Kollywood, says that she is just showing away what ever she has, because people are in queue just to watch what she keeps hiding.

She says that she takes special diet to keep her properties bigger and bigger as people who are for her wants only bigger things from her.

About those who speak negative about her body structure, she says its all those who envy of her structure speaks negative about it.

She says that she thanks God, the creator who has sculptured her body as if statues of Ajanta cave!!

Sarath Kumar signed for trilingual movie to be shot in Afghanistan

Actor-turned-politician Sarath Kumar has been signed by director Om Prakash to play the lead in a trilingual movie - the first south Indian venture to be shot in Afghanistan, publicists told IANS Friday.

Kumar plays a commando on the trail of international terrorists in the movie.

Apart from Kabul, the movie is to be shot in Macau, Hong Kong, Bangalore, Madurai and Chennai.

The film will go on floors in November. It is scheduled for an April 2009 release, publicists added.

Om Prakash has so far directed 23 Kannada films.

According to a press release issued by producer Shankar Gowda's office, the untitled venture will be made in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada and its music will be scored by Vidyasagar.

Currently, Kumar is busy shooting for 'Jaggubhai', an action thriller being directed by K.S. Ravi Kumar and his home production '1977'.

'Jaggubhai' was touted as the next major venture starring Rajinikant after 'Chandramukhi' but Rajnikant withdrew from the project following differences with director Ravi Kumar.

'Dil Kabaddi is a film strictly for adults'

Dil Kabaddi is Irfan Khan's first full-on film on sexual politics and he says he liked the idea of playing a man who's sexually adventurous.

The actor was so kicked by the character of the philanderer in Dil Kabaddi that he swapped roles with Rahul Bose.

"I like the thought of being a man who's sexually adventurous. I haven't played a character like this before. I'm not going to pretend. Dil Kabaddi is a film strictly for adults. And we shouldn't shy away from saying this," Irrfan told IANS.

"It's about dishonesty in man-woman relationships. I call it dishonesty by the standards set by civil society. Sometimes you are not satisfied in one relationship and keep looking for sexual and emotional satisfaction elsewhere. I like playing this promiscuous character," he added.

Irrfan is meanwhile doing something completely different for Tigmanshu Dhulia's biopic titled "Pan Singh Tomar". He plays a long-distance gold-medalist in the film and the role has him huffing and puffing like never before.

"In fact, I pride myself for being quite fit. But playing a gold-medallist marathon runner isn't same thing. I've to get into better shape. And I've to look convincing as a long-distance runner,"said Irrfan, who has impressed critics and audiences in films like Life... in a Metro and The Namesake.

There are no half-measures for this method actor. So months before the shooting started, he began running long distances between shooting schedules.

"I enjoy working so much. But I need time for myself. And roles like this one for Tigmanshu's film where I play a real-life character require concentrated preparation. So I'm taking time off from August onwards."

While there's too much work on his plate, Irrfan's current crop of films give him a chance to interact with some of the most beautiful actresses.

"I shot with Tabu and Natalie Portman for Mira Nair's film. And now I'm shooting with Soha Ali Khan in Dil Kabaddi. And in Billo Barber Lara Dutta is opposite me, and not Shah Rukh Khan. I just can't get over that," he laughed.

In addition, Billo Barber, which is being directed by Priyadarshan, has guest appearances by Kareena Kapoor , Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif

"But all of them are with Shah Rukh," he said. "So I'm lately surrounded by beautiful women. The thing about beauty is you can't have too much of it."

Playing a philanderer and a marathon runner is certainly taxing, isn't it?

"After these two films I'll really have to stop to catch my breath," Irrfan said.

Sea level to rise by 1.1 m: Study

Thermal expansion of sea water and massive ice melt will cause rise in sea level by 1.1 m, submerging many coastal areas in the country in another 100 years, according to a study.

According to the research, undertaken by a team of Centre for Excellence in Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University, the areas like Ponneri, Pulicat, Mamallapuram, the north of Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Vedaranyam and Tuticorin would be highly affected with the rise in the sea level.

University sources said the project, funded by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to study the possible impact of sea level rise, was undertaken with remote sensing and geomatics technologies by S M Ramasamy, Head of the Centre, and C J Kumanan and J Saravanavel, faculty members. It was in the wake of prediction by Inter Governmental Panel for Climate change that globally, the sea level might rise by 0.59 m before 2100.

The study threw light on the upward and downward tectonic movements of the coast, topographic conditions and geomorphic processes. The possible zones of lateral inundation of the land were visualised using fine resolution 3D topographic surface models derived from the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission data. As per the preliminary understanding, mangroves, marshland, creeks, saltpans and aquaculture fields would get submerged by 42-60 per cent of their present aerial extent, the sources added.

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Actress’s wedding postponed

Swathi’s wedding, which was scheduled to be held on August 27th, 2008, was postponed, according to her close circle of friends.

When probed into this issue it was learnt that a close relative of the bridegroom had expired due to which the wedding had to be postponed.

Swathi is engaged to Srikanth, a businessman based in Dubai. The heroine had acted in films including Vaanmathi, Deva, Vasantha Vaasal etc.

Shilpa Shetty plans to marry Raj Kundra

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who became an international celeb following her success in the UK-based reality show Big Brother, has revealed that she plans to marry her year-long boyfriend Raj Kundra in another year and a half.

Asked to comment on her relationship and whether marriage is on the cards, Shilpa told The LondonNews, "I normally don't talk about my personal life, but his name is Raj Kundra. We met a year ago."

"For the next 18 months, I've got my hands full with work, so I can't really think of marriage yet but, after that, I definitely want it to culminate in marriage. And, of course, I'm dying to have a family - at least two children," she said.

Shilpa, who will be seen in a two-minute sequence in the 22nd James Bond movie 'Quantum Of Solace', said she will wrap up the Hollywood assignment and other projects she has on hand before getting married.

She will be seen portraying an Indian woman in the Hollywood film starring Daniel Craig and Mathieu Amalric directed by Marc Forster.

At present, Shilpa is also hosting Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother.

Speaking about Jade Goody, who had travelled to India to participate in the reality show but had to return after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, Shilpa said she would ask people to pray for her recovery.

"I spoke to her and we exchanged numbers - it was really emotional. I can only ask people to pray for her, because there is a lot of power in prayers," she said.

Goody's comments in the Big Brother show, where she participated along with Shilpa, had led to a racial controversy.

Trisha thrilled to croon for Rahman

Tamil actress Trisha says she is thrilled to sing for a forthcoming movie under the baton of A.R. Rahman.

'I was thrilled when Rahman invited me to sing. I could not refuse the chance because I'm bowled over by his talent,' Trisha told IANS.

'I think I sing okay, but never dared to do so in public,' added the actress who featured in two recent hits - Tamil film 'Kuruvi' and Telugu moive 'Bujjigadu'.

Though there has been no official announcement, sources close to Rahman and the actress said the movie might be 'Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikkalam'.

Trisha's next is heroine-centric movie 'Abhiyum Naanum' and is scheduled for an early October release.