DLD‰‰†‰KDLD‰‰†‰DLD‰‰†‰MDLD‰‰†‰C Wedding belle Aishwarya Rai THE TIMES OF INDIA Christy is all set takes injury Wednesday, May 14, 2003 to tie the knot! in her stride... Page 7 Page 8 TO D AY S LUCKY 83 I m free America s Indepen-84 826 Republic T wo little 832 Your Dambola Ticket available in Delhi Times on 11th May, 2003 OF INDIA Numbers already announced : 49, 78, 64, 46, 24, 8, 17, 34, 84, 87, 76, 43 MANOJ KESHARWANI AFGHAN DRUG SUPPLY: DESTINATION DELHI ARUN KUMAR DAS What adds substance to opium dipped from $ 500 to $ by as much as 11 times,’’ says the NCB Times News Network the official speculation is 300 per kg following the official, ‘‘This beige-coloured substance the recent seizure of dr- September 11 attacks on is refined further and the process ends t’s back to square one. The removal ug consignments who- America, it slipped to a with the addictive fine powder which of the Taliban regime might have se origin can be traced low of $ 250 per kg after becomes cocaine.’’ Iprovided a temporary lull in the fl- to Afghanistan. ‘‘We the ouster of the Tali- At the same time, be it via Gujarat ow of drugs to Delhi, but with Afghani- have already seized a ban regime. While it was and J&K for opium originating from stan now reporting a bumper crop of consignment worth Rs 25 believed that the change Afghanistan or Tamil Nadu and Kerala opium, the possibility of a sudden spurt crore,’’ informs a senior in regime would affect the for the Sri Lanka-based network, routes in narcotics smuggling looms large. Not customs official at the IGI flow of drugs to India ad- adopted by drug-smugglers use Delhi as surprisingly, intelligence agencies acr- airport, ‘‘The seizure invo- versely,the bumper crop of a transit point. But what has the police oss the country have been put on high lved 16.33 kg of heroine opium in Afghanistan worried is recent investigations point- alert. While the Narcotics Control Bu- concealed in 17 packets of this year has put paid ing to a homegrown network. ‘‘While reau (NCB) is on its toes customs offic- almonds.’’ This consign- to such a possibility. drug-pushers have developed a well-kn- ials at international airports, including ment is being billed as More so because the it network across the city,it is the pres- those in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi, the largest seizure of hero- modus operandi follow- ence of wholesalers which is a cause for NEELABH have stepped up vigilance activities. ine at the IGI airport. ed is as simple as simp- concern,’’ reveals a senior police offi- ‘‘We have information that the total That Delhi is a tran- COCAINE TRAIL le can be. ‘‘Using clean cial, ‘‘While we have arrested around 30 yield of opium in Afghanistan is more sit point for drugs rout- running water, a large major players, our aim is to reach the than 40,000 metric tons. There is reason ed from across the wor- All drug routes lead to Delhi container and fine wo- big bosses.’’ to believe that smugglers will attempt to ld is no longer a secret. following the recent bumper ven material such as Unfortunately,unlike the deadly pro- route huge consignments of the drug to After all, the price of crop of opium in Afghanistan cheese-cloth as a filter ducts they peddle, druglords are rarely India, with Delhi as a transit point, over opium in the city fluc- as well as chemicals within sniffing distance of the long the next few months,’’ reveals a senior tuates with incidents occurring across which can easily be procured from pha- arm of the law. NCB official. the globe. For instance, if the price of rmacists, opium can be reduced in bulk [email protected] Second thoughts To B. No question of not to B NIKITA DOVAL was told that the role requir- to pit wits against three mod- on the first take... Times News Network ed a change in look.’’ Next in els. ‘‘It is a comic character; line is Boom, a satire which the film is a riot!’’ he reveals. Famous faces reveal the regrets in their lives to Delhi Times t the age of 60, he is no sees him team up with Jackie Beyond his Bollywood rol- Alonger the angry young Shroff and Gulshan Grover es, Bachchan feels that there DEV ANA- AKSHAY man. In today’s time, the roles is an urgent need to promote ND: My re- KUMAR: he essays are mostly patriarc- STAR POWER Indian cinema abroad. ‘‘In gret in life On the pro- hal — but with a dif- Europe, I have been is that I ca- fessional fr- ference. So, if he is approached by people n’t play a ont, I regret the stern Yashvard- who did not speak our musical in- that my per- han Raichand in K3G, language, but address strument formance he is also the bade mi- me as Vijay and sing and I can’t in Sanghar- yan who rides a tricy- songs from my films. dance. My sh was not cle in Kaizad Gustad’s Hindi films have ama- father used appreciat- Boom. In between, he zing reach; all we ne- to host musical mehfils at ho- ed. On the personal front, I re- is also a doctor who ed to do is market me. Chetan can play the violin. gret being branded as a casano- wants to build a state- them better,’’ he says. I wish I could play the piano, va by people who don’t even kn- of-the-art hospital in While the current the guitar or sitar. I wish I had ow me. But I guess this is the Armaan. Simply put, state of the film ind- pursued music as a career. price of fame. Amitabh Bachchan is ustry is not too inspir- ZEENAT AMAN: My ‘ka’ and SHILPA SHETTY: As an act- a busy man. ing, Bachchan be- ‘ki’ always land me in trouble. ress, I put in the same intensity ‘‘Yes, I do have qui- lieves that ‘‘the films In front of a camera, I had the whether I am working in Dha- te a few projects lined being produced are chance to correct myself via dkan or doing an item number up, with my roles be- very rich content-wi- retakes but, on the stage, I have in Jung. But, till date, I have al- ing character-based,’’ se.’’ All said and done, BON VOYAGE! With Nikita Anand all set to take off for Panama tonight, Delhi to be extra ways been he informs. Armaan, the Big B feels that Times wishes her all the best for the Miss Universe Contest as she puts in a final sure! Thou- presented in which Bachchan much is being made dress rehearsal in her Ritu Kumar-designed national costume, at The Oberoi gh I don’t the way my plays a doctor and fa- of the current situa- (To send this photograph to a friend, log on to www.timescity.com/delhi/) claim to sp- directors ther to Anil Kapoor,is tion. ‘‘It is not all that slated to be premiered bad. I would prefer to REGRET REPORT between May 15 and see it as a process of 17. The Big B, howev- discovery.’’ Rather li- Panama is Nikita’s beauty spot! eak Hindi have want- er, does not give away ke life itself. For, if fluently, I ed to pres- much about his role. Bachchan has survi- VINOD NAIR of her life, post receiving the Panama are ‘‘ethnic outfits, realise that ent me. One ‘‘I play a man who has ved in Bollywood for Times News Network coveted crown. So, how have including my national costu- I cannot communicate well in can’t blame me if I look bad in gone through much as long as he has, it is her preparations gone? ‘‘We- me’’ designed by Ritu Kumar. the language. What a pity! a particular film. in life.’’ Still, his hair- because he takes life everish excitement. Such ll, it has been extremely in- ‘‘Besides, my evening gowns ABHIJEET: I regret having AMAR SINGH: I have all the style in the movie is in his stride. Fis the state of Femina Mi- teresting and rewarding ex- have been designed by Ash- being born in India, because necessities of life: food, shelter being talked about. ‘‘I [email protected] ss India-Universe 2003 Nikita perience for me,’’ she says, ley Rebello and I am also car- this has stunted my growth as and a family. As a politician, I MANOJ KESHARWANI Anand’s mind as she readies ‘‘Sandesh Mayekar has taken rying outfits created by San- a creative person. For in- have a responsible duty to per- to board a flight tonight for care of my dental-care sessi- jay Malhotra. This apart, Fi- stance, nobody bothers to visit form. However, I regret not be- Panama, where she will par- ons. Then, there have been nesse Shoes has provided me Khandwa, where Kishore Ku- ing able to spend time with my ticipate in the Miss Uni- with stylish footwear.’’ mar was born. Mohammed twin daughters Drishti and Di- verse Contest on June 3. UNIVERSAL FLAVOUR The clock ticks away. Rafi’s house in Bandra has sha. I regret not being able to Yes, Her bags are packed Butterflies in the stom- been demolished. Abroad, th- see them grow.And it’s not as if and she is ready to go! make-up and hair tips from ach? ‘‘Well, I have been told to ere are annual festivals at Gra- I am an MN-executive father ‘‘I am all set to take on the Bharat and Doris Godambe; keep my feet firmly on the celand, wh- with no ti- universe,’’ says Nikita, ‘‘Win- speech and diction classes by ground and be level-headed,’’ ere Elvis me to breat- ning the Sunsilk Femina Mi- Sabira Merchant; skin-care says Nikita, ‘‘I have support Presley was he.