Times top 50 Most Desirable Women of 2012

India has voted and chosen the Times 50 Most Desirable Women of 2012 presented by Peri Peri Skinwear. The 7.01 lakh votes received online on www.itimes. com/polls along with our vote decided the winners. ​ Deepika Padukone tops the list. (Also Read: DeepikaPadukone: 2012 & apos Most Desirable Woman)

Here is the list of :

Times top 50 Most Desirable Women of 2012

Rank 2012	HOTTIES	GAINERS/LOSERS	Rank 2011	Rank 2010
1	Deepika Padukone	Up	3	4
2	Katrina Kaif	Same as last year	2	1
3	Kareena Kapoor	Down	1	5
4	Chitrangda Singh	Up	11	23
5	Sunny Leone	Up	21	-
6	Priyanka Chopra	Down	4	3
7	Bipasha Basu	Up	13	8
8	Jacqueline Fernandez	Down	7	14
9	Nargis Fakhri	Down	8	-
10	Sonakshi Sinha	Up	22	12
11	Aishwarya Rai Bachchan	Down	10	2
12	Yaami Gautam	New entrant in 2012	-	-
13	Esha Gupta	New entrant in 2012	-	-
14	Kangana Ranaut	Down	9	9
15	Neha Sharma	Up	26	31
16	Asin Thottumkal	Up	17	11
17	Aditi Rao Hydari	Up	35	-
18	Shriya Saran	Down	15	13
19	Alia Bhatt	New entrant in 2012	-	-
20	Malaika Arora Khan	Up	28	15
21	Sonal Chauhan	Up	38	43
22	Amy Jackson	Down	18	-
23	Tena Desae	New entrant in 2012	-	-
24	Mallika Haydon	New entrant in 2012	-	-
25	Diana Penty	New entrant in 2012	-	-
26	Anushka Sharma	Down	5	21
27	Shraddha Kapoor	Re-entry	-	-
28	Sonam Kapoor	Down	14	7
29	Illeana D'cruz	Down	20	-
30	Tamannaah	New entrant in 2012	-	-
31	Sherlyn Chopra	Re-entry	-	-
32	Ameesha Patel	Up	47	32
33	Richa Chadda	New entrant in 2012	-	-
34	Nathalia Kaur	New entrant in 2012	-	-
35	Dia Mirza	Down	25	24
36	Mallika Sherawat	Down	34	30
37	Ankita Shorey	Down	30	-
38	Angela Jonsson	Down	33	-
39	Nicole Faria	Up	42	10
40	Lisa Haydon	Down	31	-
41	Evelyn Sharma	New entrant in 2012	-	-
42	Nidhi Subbaiah	Re-entry	-	-
43	Salome Polaki	New entrant in 2012	-	-
44	Rochelle Maria Rao	New entrant in 2012	-	-
45	Anushka Shetty	New entrant in 2012	-	-
46	Vanya Mishra	New entrant in 2012	-	-
47	Pooja Chopra	New entrant in 2012	-	-
48	Prachi Mishra	New entrant in 2012	-	-
49	Simran Kaur Mundi	Down	48	-
50	Poonam Pandey	Down	36	-

​Times 50 Most Desirable Women 2012 is presented by Peri Peri Skinwear

Queens of Desire
They have the looks and the curves that do the talking. And that &rsquo s precisely why these confident and stunning ladies have made it to the list of India's most desirable women:

2. Katrina Kaif
Claim to fame:This Chikni Chameli charmed people with her moves in Agneepath&rsquo s item number, along with her roles with the two big Khans &mdash Salman in Ek Tha Tiger and Shah Rukh in Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Relationship Status:Rumoured to be seeing Ranbir Kapoor
Desirability Quotient:This Sheila&rsquo s jawaani is just one of the many things that make her desirable. Add to that her exotic looks, her firangi accent, and her mashallahmoves on the dance floor can make anyone deewana!

3. Kareena Kapoor
Claim to fame:Bebo became the Begum of Pataudi in 2012, but becoming a Mrs had no impact on her desirability. She had a packed year with Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Agent Vinod, Heroine and Talaash, and also her item number Fevicol Se in Dabangg 2
Relationship Status:Married to Saif Ali Khan
Desirability Quotient:With her oomph, her killer looks and a body that spells sexy, she can patent the word bebolicious

4. Chitrangda Singh
Claim to fame:This sultry beauty sizzled in Joker&rsquo s item number Kafirana, and her films Inkaarand I, Me Aur Main
Relationship Status:Married to golfer Jyoti Randhawa
Desirability Quotient:This brazen beauty oozes sex appeal both off and on-screen

5. Sunny Leone
Claim to fame:Bigg Boss made Sunny a household name in India, and she quickly followed it up with a sensuous debut in Jism 2. Currently, she is busy with Ragini MMS 2 and playing Laila in the item number from Shootout At WadalaRelationship Status:Married to Daniel Weber
Desirability Quotient:When her ample assets and curves do the talking, there is little need for anything else

6. Priyanka Chopra
Claim to fame:The year started for PC with Agneepath and Teri Meri Kahaani, and ended with Barfi!, which got her many accolades and Best Actress awards. She also made an impressive international singing debut, topping many music charts Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient:Acclaimed actor, international singer and daddy&rsquo s little girl. Add to that a perfect figure and her charm, and this Punjabi kudi is as desirable as it gets

7. Bipasha Basu Claim to fame:This beautiful actress put her broken relationship behind her in 2012 and bounced back with her releases Raaz 3, Players, Singularity and Aatma Relationship Status: Single Desirability Quotient: With one of the hottest bodies in show business and killer legs, this Bong bombshell doesn&rsquo t need to worry about much else

8. Jacqueline Fernandez Claim to fame:Her earnest performance in Housefull 2and her hit Latt Lag Gayisong from Race 2 Relationship Status: Dating Sajid Khan Desirability Quotient: Her pretty face, her porcelain skin and her enticing looks

9. Nargis Fakhri Claim to fame:Post her debut with Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar, she is currently shooting for Shoojit Sircar&rsquo s Madras Cafewith the hot John Abraham Relationship Status:Rumoured to be seeing Uday Chopra Desirability Quotient:A hot pout and a hot bod that makes her a stunner

10. Sonakshi Sinha Claim to fame:With her 2012 releases Dabangg 2, Rowdy Rathoreand Son Of Sardaar, and her upcoming films Lootera, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2, Bullet Raja and Rambo Rajkumar, all the big stars seem to be vying for her attention, be it Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar or Ajay Devgn Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: Her voluptuous figure and Indian looks

New Entrants
12. Yaami Gautam Claim to fame:Her impressive debut in Vicky Donor Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient:Her girl-next-door charm

13. Esha Gupta Claim to fame:Three releases &ndash Jannat 2, Chakravyuh and Raaz 3&ndash in her debut year Relationship Status: Rumoured to be dating Feroze Gujral &rsquo s son Armaan Desirability Quotient: Her dusky looks and her Angelina Jolie mould
23. Tena Desae Claim to fame:Her Hollywood film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Table No 21 Relationship Status: Single Desirability Quotient: She can turn the tables with her pretty eyes

24. Mallika Haydon Claim to fame:Her item song I Will Do The Talking Tonight in Agent Vinod Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: Her super-toned body

25. Diana Penty Claim to fame:A once-in-a-lifetime debut in Cocktail with Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: This coy girl wins hearts with her endearing smile

27. Shraddha Kapoor Claim to fame:Shakti Kapoor& rsquo s daughter is all set to become a big star with Aashiqui 2 Relationship Status: Single Desirability Quotient:Her peaches and cream complexion can make anyone an aashiq
30. Tamannaah Claim to fame:This Telugu and Tamil superhit actress turned out to be a Himmatwali with Ajay Devgn Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: Her milky-white complexion and her sorted nature make her desirable

31. Sherlyn Chopra Claim to fame:Becoming the first Indian woman to feature on the cover of Playboy magazine Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: Her skills with seduction

33. Richa Chadda Claim to fame:An award winning debut in Gangs Of Wasseypur Relationship Status: Single Desirability Quotient:Package of beauty with brains

34. Nathalia Kaur Claim to fame:A Kingfisher calendar model, she became famous after her item song in RGV's Department Relationship Status:Reportedly dating Ashish Raheja Desirability Quotient: Her mixed ethnicity, her super hot body and her seductive looks, all add to her appeal

41. Evelyn Sharma Claim to fame:This half Indian-half German actress went Dhak Dhak in Nautanki Saala!

Relationship Status:Single

Desirability Quotient: Her international looks

42. Nidhi Subbaiah

Claim to fame:This Kannada star made her Bollywood debut in Ajab Gazabb Love along with Jackky Bhagnani

Relationship Status: Dating Jackky Bhagnani

Desirability Quotient:Her pretty face

43. Salome Polaki
Claim to fame:This Kingfisher Calendar 2013 girl is an international model who has graced campaigns and magazines in Milan, LA and Miami. She graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, which Ranbir Kapoor is an alumnus of

Relationship Status:Single

Desirability Quotient:This supermodel has full filmi looks

44. Rochelle Maria Rao Claim to fame:This Miss India International 2012 is the face of the current IPL Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient:The gift of the gab and her eyes

45. Anushka Shetty Claim to fame:Tamil and Telugu superstar with hits like Singham under her belt, Anushka will soon be seen in the magnum opus Irandam Ulagam and Singam II opposite Suriya Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: This south siren's ample curves

45. Anushka Shetty Claim to fame:Tamil and Telugu superstar with hits like Singham under her belt, Anushka will soon be seen in the magnum opus Irandam Ulagam and Singam II opposite Suriya Relationship Status:Single Desirability Quotient: This south siren's ample curves

46. Vanya Mishra Claim to fame:This Miss India World 2012 is a top model

Relationship Status: Single

Desirability Quotient:Her dream figure

47. Pooja Chopra

Claim to fame:Her debut film Commando with Vidyut Jammwal

Relationship Status:Single

Desirability Quotient:Her smile and her bubbly looks

48. Prachi Mishra Claim to fame:The Miss India Earth 2012 is now shooting for her first Bollywood film Zaalim Dilli

Relationship Status:Single

Desirability Quotient: Her sassy looks and a body that is to-kill-fo

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Kings stare at the Gilly question

MUMBAI: On the eve of a tough encounter against the Mumbai Indians, the Kings XI Punjab are grappling with a dilemma. It's a question that concerns their biggest name on paper, their inspirational skipper, who perhaps forgot to carry his form into his kit bag when he left for India for the T20 tournament.

Adam Gilchrist, one of the most explosive wicket-keeper batsmen the game has ever seen, has managed merely 94 runs in the eight games that the team has played so far. His shoddy performances have given critics food for thought that perhaps this class act is finally feeling the after-effects of ageing.

Gilchrist himself dropped out of the playing XI last season, almost at the same stage, after scoring 172 runs in seven games last year.
Will he do it again? There is a ready replacement for him in the young Shaun Marsh, who has always done well for Kings XI Coach Darren Lehmann wasn't willing to give an answer. "We've just got to see how he pulls up after this session," he clarified on the possibility of Marsh being there in the playing XI on Monday. On his close buddy Gilchrist, he said: "Yes, we would like to see him get some runs, like everyone else would. So we will have to just wait and see when we all sit down. He is part of the selection panel so we will work that out for Monday's game."

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They will caste their vote: Karnataka still remains extremely caste-conscious

BANGALORE: The ToI-Daksh survey examines the importance of caste as an influence on voting behaviour and comes up with some surprising findings about voter attitudes in Karnataka.

The tie is caste. For all its tech-savvy and progressivism, Karnataka still remains extremely caste-conscious when it comes to the ballot box. According to the ToI-Daksh survey of 10,772 voters across the state, 41% of respondents believe caste is very important in deciding who to vote for. The candidate comes a poor second: around 20% of prospective voters cite that the person they are voting for matters most.

The survey found Dharwad, Gadag, Chitradurga and Haveri districts much more caste-conscious than the coastal or Hyderabad-Karnatak regions. Fully, 97% of the survey's respondents from Dharwad pronounce caste as the most important factor when it comes to choosing a candidate. Nearly 88% of respondents from Gadag, 76% from Chitradurga and 70% from Haveri are caste-conscious. On the other side of the spectrum, Udupi, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts show fewer than 1% of respondents believing caste is important.

When asked about the range of opinions uncovered by the poll, political analyst and pro-vice-chancellor of Jain University Sandeep Shastri explains: "Normally, if the values are 0% or more than 90%, it's a bit surprising. However, there is indeed a higher level of caste consciousness in Dharwad, Gadag and Chitradurga districts, the stronghold of the Lingayats. There is always a strong caste-based mobilization in these districts. As far as Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu are concerned... the caste factor in polls is indeed less."

The survey also shows increased caste-based voting among older voters. Half the respondents over the age of 61 say caste matters to them. Unsurprisingly, younger voters are more progressive; 46% of voters below the age of 45 gave minimal importance to caste.

The real shocker is that the highest educated demographic also shows the most caste sensitivity; 47% of respondents with postgraduate education say they are influenced by caste. On the other hand, only 39% of uneducated voters say caste matters to them.

"It is not surprising," says R Indira, a sociologist at Mysore University. "A person's first identity factor is caste. It was believed that the influence of caste would diminish with education. But education does not necessarily mean a change of heart. Now caste polarization is taking place in new ways. Up till the 1980s, people felt embarrassed to openly speak about caste. Now, it is being discussed in the open. The proliferation of caste- and subcaste-based organizations and the increase in the number of caste-based mutts have played a major role in making people aware of caste."

Nearly 43% of rural voters are likely to vote by caste, as opposed to 38% of urban voters. Men seem more caste-conscious, with 43% rating caste highly, as against 37% of women.

In terms of income, the segment with annual incomes between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh are the most likely to vote on the basis of caste. Those with incomes between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 are the least likely to take caste into consideration when voting.

Political parties are all too aware of this. Caste calculus underlies seat allocation and candidate selection. The dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have the lion's share of party tickets. Lingayat strongman BSY has allocated 71 tickets to fellow Lingayats. Close behind is the BJP which has given 60 tickets to Lingayats. The JD(S) plays for the Vokkaliga vote, with 56 tickets allocated to the community. The Congress targets the backwards communities, with 48 tickets given to members of the backward castes. Clearly, caste makes political sense.

(Story by ND Shiva Kumar & Narayanan Krishnaswami; Survey by Harish Narasappa & Kishore Mandyam)

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December 16 gang-rape victim died in India, not Singapore: Accused

NEW DELHI: The doctors, who were part of the medical team attending to the December 16 gang rape victim, told a fast-track court here on Friday that the girl was shifted to a Singapore hospital to provide her with best possible treatment and not because she had died as alleged by the accused.

The doctors' response came on the allegation by defence counsel of two accused in the case that the victim was not shifted to Singapore for organ organ transplant or best possible medical care but because she had died and the government did not want the public to know it.

Counsel for accused Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur made this suggestion while cross-examining two prosecution witnesses, who were part of the medical team of Safdarjung Hospital where the 23-year-old girl was initially treated.

The girl was allegedly gang-raped by the two accused and four others in a moving bus here. She had later died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, last year.

Advocates Vivek Sharma and A P Singh alleged that the girl had died here in India due to the medical negligence of the doctors who were attending to her.

The witnesses, however, denied the allegations and said the girl was moved to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore to provide her with the best possible treatment as the same was not possible here in India.

"It is wrong to suggest that the victim had allegedly died in India due to the alleged negligence of the team of doctors treating her. It is wrong to suggest that the victim's dead body was transported outside India, because of public agitation and pressure...," the witnesses told the court of additional sessions judge Yogesh Khanna.

The defence lawyers contended there was no reason to shift the girl outside India, "especially for best possible treatment", as such a specialised treatment was available in various Indian hospitals, including AIIMS, Medanta and Sir Ganga Ram.

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India ranks 8th among 27 most powerful nations in world

NEW DELHI: India is among the top 10 most powerful countries in the world. In a first-of-its-kind study of "national power" a group of eminent strategic experts and scholars have placed India at the eighth position among a group of 27 most powerful countries in the world.

The study, conducted by the New Delhi-based Foundation for National Security Research (FSNR), judged "national power" by various indices, including energy security, population, technological capability etc. An interesting index of national power was judged by "foreign affairs capability", which includes self-reliance in defence, membership of multilateral groupings, role in global rule-making and soft power. Interestingly, though China comes out as the second most powerful nation in the world after the US, Chinese foreign affairs' capability is comparable to India's, even though in terms of total power New Delhi comes way below Beijing.

Professor Satish Kumar, introducing the study, said, "The Group of Experts evolved a criterion consisting of the following elements for the selection of countries which could be regarded as actually or potentially the most powerful: (i) Population above 50 million; (ii) GDP above US$ 500 billion; and (iii) defence expenditure above US$ 5 billion." The effort, he said, was to have an Indian assessment of indices of power.

The US is by far the world's most powerful nation, several notches ahead of its nearest competitor, China. The study observes, "China is still much lower than the US in energy security, technological capability and foreign affairs capability. Even in economic and military fields, the indexed value of China's capabilities is much lower than that of US. Therefore, any notion that China will pose a threat to the supremacy of the US in the near future has to be tempered with caution."

How powerful is India as a state? And how does India stack up against the most powerful states in the world?

According to the study, "India's economic capability stands at the eighth position and military capability at the seventh position. In technological capability, it ranks low, at the 17th position, and in energy security still lower at 20th position." Despite boasting a formidable array of foreign policy experts, the study found that in foreign affairs capability, India holds the 11th position and has a long way to go "(to) be able to discharge responsibilities commensurate with its large size and geopolitical importance."

India ranks very low in "military equipment, power projection, cyber and space security, as well as in its capability pertaining to doctrinal issues. Again, with regard to technological capability, particularly in the area of control over critical technology, India ranks extremely low."

The study gives India high marks for population capabilities, but does not specify that the nation's so-called "demographic dividend" could turn out to be a liability if India does not invest in its people. In the "manpower index" China scores much higher than India — 100 to India's 87.5 — while on the equipment index, India scores a pathetic 50. China scores a full 100 on being able to create an educated labour force, while India stands at 16. Certainly by this measure, India's position as one of the more powerful countries can be contested.

On deterrence and power projection, China scores 75, while India stands way behind at 60. China also invests a lot more than India on "strategic and doctrinal orientation", lending credence to the general criticism against India for a lack of strategic culture.

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After skipping Harvard talk, miffed Akhilesh Yadav cancels New York consulate reception

NEW YORK: UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has cancelled a reception to be hosted in his honour by the Indian consul general here on Saturday, even as the mission said it would strongly take up with the US authorities the issue of his minister Azam Khan's detention at the Boston airport.

A communique from the Indian consulate in New York merely stated, "that due to unavoidable circumstances, the reception scheduled to be held in honour of Akhilesh Kumar Yadav, hon'ble chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on April 27 at the Consulate General of India, New York, has been cancelled".

Neither, consul general ambassador Dnyaneshwar Mulay, who took charge on Wednesday after his assignment as ambassador of Maldives, nor minister (press and information) M Rajaram were available for any comments to the media on the reason for cancellation of the reception.

This was to be the first official function of the consulate after Mulay took charge.

Yadav, yesterday had also boycotted the Harvard lecture he was due to deliver in protest against Khan's detention.

Invitation to the reception were sent out to all the prominent Indian-Americans, community leaders, elected officials, friends of India in New York and the media two days ago after the consulate got the confirmation from the office of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Meanwhile, Mulay told last night on the sidelines of a community reception in his honour at the Asia Society in New York that it was unfortunate that a minister in the state government was treated with disrespect on arrival at Boston Logan International Airport.

He said that his mission, under whom Boston Logan International Airport falls, would raise the matter at the appropriate level to prevent its recurrence in the future.

Refusing to comment on the cancellation of a reception accorded to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister at the consulate general of India in New York, he said his mission would lodge its strongest protest with the state department and the homeland security on the question of disrespect to the minister as per the guidance of the government of India.

"I am meeting the chief minister who has come to New York on Friday night to get first hand information from him and devise a strategy," he said.

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UP minister Azam Khan 'humiliated' in US, to cut short visit in protest

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh (UP) minority welfare minister and senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan was allegedly subjected to humiliation at Boston's Logan Airport in America. In protest, Khan, who had gone to US along with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to deliver a lecture in Harvard University on Mahakumbh, has decided to come back after a 'short stay'.

According to the press release issued by Khurshid Ahmed, minister's information officer, late on Thursday night, Khan is deeply hurt by the humiliation and would come back after delivering a short lecture. Khan has also decided to cancel all other engagements scheduled during his stay in US. Khan was reportedly questioned and harassed at Boston airport by the officials despite the fact that he had a diplomatic passport. Khan claimed that he was insulted and harassed only because he is a Muslim.

Khan, the press release stated, said that he had gone to America not for a pleasure trip but on the invitation of Harvard University to deliver lecture on how the state government organised Mahakumbh mela in Allahabad earlier this year, The Mahakumbh is the largest religion congregation lasting for three months. It saw participation of over 10 crore people from across the world. Khan said that the behaviour of the US officials was highly deplorable.

It is not the first time that an Indian has been subjected to harassment in US. Earlier, people like former President APJ Abdul Kalam and Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan have also been subjected to similar humiliation. Even former defence minister George Fernandes was strip-searched twice in Dulles Airport in the US during an official visit to Washington. In 2010, India's envoy to Washington, Meera Shankar was also humiliated in the name of search at an airport in US.

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IBM CEO reprimands staff, asks them to act faster

Reuters Apr 25, 2013, 11.52AM IST

(IBM's chief executive Virginia…)

IBM's chief executive Virginia Rometty told employees the company had become too sluggish and unresponsive, after it posted weak first-quarter results, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing IBM's internal video message addressed to its employees.

The technology services company posted a rare quarterly earnings miss as a sliding yen hurt earnings from Japan and it failed to close a number of major deals, especially in Europe and the United States.

Rometty set a new rule. If a client has a request or question, IBM must respond within 24 hours, the newspaper reported she said in that call. She addressed the call to over 434,000 employees worldwide.

"Where we haven't transformed rapidly enough, we struggled," Rometty said in the video published on IBM's internal website, reviewed by the newspaper. "We have to step up with that and deal with that, and that is on all levels."

IBM was not immediately reachable for comment on the report.

IBM blamed a poor performance by its sales force for some of the shortfall for the poor quarterly results. But analysts said it was not just one quarter - the company's sales have been weakening consistently, dragging down results with or without the changes in the yen.

Rometty said IBM needs to speed its shift to new computing models to get back on track, the Journal reported citing the video.

IBM also reassigned one of its most senior executives, the head of its computer hardware business, following a sharp drop in first-quarter sales at the unit, the Journal reported citing a person familiar with the matter.

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Aashiqui 2

Story: A fading singing sensation finds new purpose in life when he falls in love with a talented singing aspirant. But the blitzkrieg of stardom makes, breaks and shakes their love story.

Movie Review: He sings. She sings. He, for his stardom. She, for her supper. And the twain meet. In a restrobar, where she croons and he swoons. And Aashiqui is born. Again! Retelling the celebrity story that stardom ain't an easy ride. It sometimes vrooms and then goes sputter, the fuel of celebdom often running out. Like Rahul Jaykar (Aditya) discovers; once basking in a 'rockstar' like status, but soon losing it to alcohol, addiction and self-deprecation. But when he meets budding singer Aarohi (Shraddha), his heart finds a new beat and his crumbling life finds a cause. He trains her to become the Nightingale of India; she shines while he stays her shadow; sometimes sober, mostly stoned. The real lyric of this story is their romance, pulsating with passion and intensity - on high notes and 'higher spirits'.

Suri's musical love story doesn't bear much semblance to the original 'Aashiqui'; instead it finds its own rhythm. He pitches the story with old-world romance, high-drama and well-crafted heart-breaking moments. Aarohi's character is endearing and Rahul stays 'bottled' (like 'Devdas' with a cause), with sudden outbursts. The story slows down in parts and the climax might seem unreal to many, but maybe a 'fix' for die-hard aashiqs.

Aditya is likeable in mushy moments, he shows intensity in flashes but sometimes loses grip. A mature role like this demands a lot, nonetheless, it's a good effort. Shraddha looks innocently beautiful. Letting her emotions play out brilliantly in high-strung scenes with supreme confidence. This is a talent to look out for. The jodi's palpable chemistry heightens the drama. The music is the strongest supporting cast, with captivating tunes like Tum Hi Ho (Arijit Singh), Sunn Raha Hai (Ankit Tiwari) and Bhula Dena (Mustafa Zahid) pouring more passion in to the story.

This could be good soup for the lovers' soul - with a dash of old-world flavour.

Note: You will not like this if die-hard romantic films don't leave you enthused or entertained.

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China sore with Indian bid to build infrastructure along LAC

NEW DELHI: Even though the current standoff with the Chinese troops in Ladakh may eventually blow over, the signal is clear that India's decision to strengthen infrastructure and deployment near the China-India border — though delayed — has irked Beijing. By taking the unprecedented step of pitching Army tents several km inside of what India perceives as its side of Line of Actual Control (LAC), China appears to have underlined its unhappiness with the heightened Indian activity "far too close" to the border, be it the troop movement, erection of new border outposts (BOPs), re-operationalization of airstrips such as Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), and laying of border roads for better connectivity.

In fact, the Chinese side made it a point to flag the "increased Indian activity in border areas over the past several months" during the two flag meetings held between the Indian and Chinese local commanders to resolve the latest incursion by PLA troops in the Depsang area. Sources in the security establishment said though the Chinese drew attention to the new Indian fortifications and infrastructure that have come up close to the Sino-Indian border, they stopped short of overtly demanding dismantling of the same as a pre-condition for retreat of their troops from Raki Nala.

Sources said the latest Chinese transgression, which is unusual as the troops this time have erected a tented post and stayed put there since April 15, may have been consciously timed just ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India. "The Chinese have been flagging the border issue, either subtly or overtly, through statements by its leaders or even speeches at multilateral forums, for over a year now...these were hints that the border irritants could no longer be brushed aside as "a case of differing perceptions of the LAC" and need to be addressed," a senior intelligence official pointed out, adding that the latest incursion in Depsang is part of Beijing's strategy to forcefully make the same point ahead of Li's visit.

China is also said to be pointed out that the Indian infrastructure has come up much closer to the border, unlike the extensive construction activity it had undertaken on its side. Incidentally, India's decision to strengthen infrastructure and connectivity near the border followed much after China had built a vast network of border roads and tunnels on its side.

Security analysts are of the opinion that new Chinese political leadership may be keen to dispel the notion of its being more reform-oriented and not prone to tough positions on foreign policy issues. Analysts say the latest faceoff in Ladakh may also be aimed as a morale-booster for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers.

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