From News Dispatches Aditi Rao Hydari is not new to Bollywood. Cinema lovers may remember her as the meek, sari-clad aunt from Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Delhi-6". But three years after the 2009 film, she has broken the myth that character actors cannot play leads, by landing herself a starring role in "London, Paris, New York" opposite Ali Zafar.

A kiss may be just a kiss, but when sweethearts pucker up on Valentine's Day, they will be participating in one of the most bizarre and unlikely of human activities. Experts say kissing evolved from sniffing, which people did centuries ago as a way of learning about each other.

– NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. t was a perfect blend of culture, glamour and patriotism as dance schools from the tristate area went head to head to prove their mettle at the State Theater here Jan. 28. The event was “Dance Pe Chance,”   the annual contest that features the best dance talent.

After bankrolling glamorous cricket and motor sports leagues in India, Bollywood has turned its attention to the world of mixed martial arts with a series of events featuring local fighters squaring off against international opponents. Actor Sanjay Dutt and entrepreneur Raj Kundra have launched the Super Fight League with events scheduled for Mumbai, Chandigarh and New Delhi.

Call it swimwear, beachwear or resort wear -- the market for this segment has so far been neglected in the country but designers feel the demands of travel enthusiasts and a platform like the ongoing India Resort Fashion Week (IRFW) will bring it at par with an international brand like Victoria's Secret. So far, designer beachwear has remained low on popularity.

Teenage girls pose for pictures beside the latest arrival in Mumbai's modern Phoenix Mills mall -- a gold ATM machine selling jewellery and 31,000-rupee gold coins -- but for more than just window-shopping, it faces stiff competition from traditional stores.

Several years after soft porn films nearly died out in India, mainstream Bollywood has now shed its inhibitions to make a movie about a former sex symbol. "The Dirty Picture" is said to be based on the life of Silk Smitha, a south Indian actress who became a household name in the 1980s and 90s with her semi-nude scenes and brazen on-screen persona. The film opens in Indian cinemas on December 2.