Weekly news magazine 60 Minutes will broadcast a first-of-its-kind interview with Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, according to a press release published today on her web site.

The interview comes about a month before the long-awaited release of Gurinder Chadha’s “Bride and Prejudice,” which features Rai as a co-star. The 31-year-old actress won the Miss World crown in 1994, and has since appeared in 30 Bollywood films.

“Ash’s popularity is global and America will soon get a taste of this international phenomenon,” said her manager Simone Sheffield.

The interview was conducted in Bombay by reporter Bob Simon, and produced by Neeraj Khemlani.

“This will mark the first time in the history of 60 Minutes where they feature an in-depth one-on-one profile with a Bollywood star,” said Khemlani.

The interview airs on January 2, 2005 at 7 p.m. on CBS.

Sepia Mutiny: The Windfall that Bhopal never got

Update by Manish: Check out the video clip of Aishwarya’s interview. Continue reading →

Donald Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice” featured the second coming of deposed contestant Raj Bhakta last Thursday, and will include the 28-year-old real estate developer in the season finale.

In last week’s episode, Trump whittled his applicant pool down to the final two — software executive Kelly Perdew and lawyer Jennifer Massey. The finalists then were asked to assemble a team of employees comprised of fired cohorts. Each team is assigned the task of putting together a sports fundraiser for a charitable foundation. Raj was chosen by software executive Kelly, who is responsible for organizing a polo tournament.

“I’m doing this because I like winning,” said Raj during the episode. “I couldn’t give a damn about Kelly.”

The three-hour season finale airs this Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC, and should include some great Raj moments. Oddsmakers place Kelly as the early favorite. Why? Three words: Raj Muthaf—-n’ Bhakta.

Sepia Mutiny: Life after being “Fired”

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A fairly famous “loser” has just started a brand new organization called the Coalition for the Advancement of the Republic (CAR). What is the purpose of this organization?

The Coalition for the Advancement of the Republic (C.A.R.) has been created to espouse common sense conservatism matched with the conviction that progressive change must be embraced. Although our government requires progressive reform, on the balance, government should be kept as small and transparent as possible.

C.A.R is non-partisan. On such issues as conservation, immigration, environmental protection and enlightened land use policies, we are aligned with “liberals.” On others issues such as trade and regulation, we are aligned with traditionally conservative policy. On many issues, such as tort, tax, health care and entitlement program reform – we find common ground with mainstream good government advocates.

Underpinning all our positions is a consistent demand for accountable and limited (which is not to say inactive) government, and a faith in the efficacy of economic and individual freedom. The notion of individual responsibility is among the greatest assets of American society and must be passionately promoted.

A quick click on the “about us” link will reveal the fact that CAR was founded by none other than the bow tie wearing Republican Raj Bhakta, of Apprentice fame.

The website includes a series of essays that I will only assume have been written by Raj. Since foreign policy is my chief area of interest I clicked on the link and discovered an essay titled, “A Short Case for Closer Relations with India.“

One of the keys to a successful long-term Asia policy is a strong India. India is the only nation in the region that can balance the ever-developing Chinese colossus. India is a natural ally. In the future, when China could potentially threaten our vital interests, it would be very pleasing to know that an American-equipped and allied Indian Army of five million men is garrisoned on China’s border.

India has the manpower to put millions of boots on the ground in trouble spots. Indian troops, like their programmers, are cheap and effective. Imagine what a fine ally India would make in Iraq. The United States, for a few billion dollars, as opposed the hundreds of billions our own troops and contractors cost, could place several hundred thousand Indian troops in, say, Fallujah. We could then get busy with rebuilding the country’s infrastructure and showing the Arab world the great things that America can do for them.

India, at the same time, is sufficiently weak internally so as not to pose a threat to the United States for a very long time – at least seventy or eighty years.

Ummm. The above paragraph is just a rough draft I hope. There are a number of policy problems in just these three paragraphs that Mr. Trump would not be happy about (if Trump knew anything about foreign policy). Check out the other essays for yourself before deciding whether we should hire Raj for this job.

Last Wednesday’s episode of NBC’s “Law & Order” featured Indians using religious objects to smuggle heroin into the U.S.

Here’s a quick recap of the episode: A group of prep school students and gang-members are shot to death in a drughouse. The investigation leads to “Rahim of Bombay,” a Pakistani importer of religious objects. Rahim smuggles Afghani heroin inside his imports, because customs inspections are less stringent on religious devices. Rahim sells out his boss, a U.S.-sponsored warlord named Khaleel. At the end of the show, Khaleel is convicted for the murders.

An estimated 15 million viewers tuned in to the program, according to Nielsen Media Research.

“Law & Order” often reminds us that their stories are “ripped from the headlines.” Does anyone know if there’s a real-life event that inspired this episode? My curiosity is peaked because I’m anticipating another defamation suit filed by a desi who believes that a “Law & Order” villain is based on him.

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CNN is running a new series of humorous ads, one of which features medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta unintentionally distracting a female viewer.

In light of the recent brouhaha surrounding Terrell Owens’ skit on ABC’s "Monday Night Football," this inter-racial coupling is sure to ruffle some feathers. The sexually-charged tone of the ad alone should raise the ire of FCC dick-tator Michael Powell. Fallout will soon commence.

Is this my lame attempt at creating controversy where none exists? Is the title of this post outrageously misleading? The answer to both questions: yes (head pointed downward in dirty, dirty shame).

One thing’s for sure — the pro-Sanjays lobby over at Mahoot will be quite pleased.

The page that hosts the ad uses one of those unfriendly Flash interfaces, so there isn’t a direct link to the video. You’ll have to skip past the intro, and then possibly click around a bit. Also, Anderson Cooper’s ad includes a brief mention of India.

CNN: Lou Dobbs and Dr. Sanjay Gupta TV Ad

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U.S. digital TV service DirecTV announced today that it will begin offering four Indian channels from News Corp.’s Star Group to its 13.5 million customers.

The new channels include:

• Star Plus – Hindi entertainment and dramas. India’s leading cable channel, with 50 million viewers a week.
• Star One – Hindi action/thrillers, comedies and dramas. Recently launched.
• Star News – 24-hour Hindi news channel. Reaches 20 million homes in Asia.
• Star Vijay – Tamil entertainment. Reaches 8 million homes in Asia.

The HindiDirect package includes Star Plus, Star One and Star News, and is available for $29.99 per month. Star Vijay is offered in the TamilDirect package, which will cost $14.99 per month. A cricket sports package is also on the plate for $199.

Despite numerous requests, Star After Dark and Star Spice will not be offered (or even conceived). One day, my friends, one day…

Variety/Yahoo!: DirecTV Beams Up 4 Indian Channels
Business Wire/Yahoo!: DirecTV Expands International Programming Platform to Include Star Indian Channels and International Cricket
StarTV: Official Site
DirecTV: Official Site

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Anyone who has seen the fine American television show Law & Order, or any of it’s many spin-offs, knows that the show is loved for its gritty reality from the streets to the jury box. The show even starts by claiming that it’s stories are ripped from the headlines. Well apparently one story hit too close to home for attorney Ravi Batra. From IrelandOnline:

Producers of TV series Law & Order were sued for $15m (€11.5m) on Friday, by an angry attorney who accuses them of portraying him as a villainous lawyer.

Ravi Batra complains an episode titled ‘Floater’ deliberately inflicted emotional, monetary and professional injury on him by featuring an Indian-American, Brooklyn-based lawyer named Ravi Patel who has similarities to Batra – including a bald head and a beard.

And the character Batra claims is based on himself is found guilty of fixing matrimonial cases, corruptly selling consultancies and appointments to judgeships.

The lawsuit says people who know Batra “were disturbed and distressed by the story line of criminal conduct attributed to plaintiff (Batra) by the defendants”.

I think Ravi is more disturbed by the fact that people notice that he has a bald head.

The Atlantic Monthly has a small piece this month about wagering on the January outing of a character on the Simpsons (subscription required). An Ireland-based betting site offered odds on the identity of the closet-dweller, but halted plays when large amounts of money started floating toward Marge Simpson’s sister, Patty.

Resident Indian-American Apu Nahasapeemapetilon was among the possibilities, because the “Kwik-E-Mart owner spends long hours away from his wife and children.” Still, he’s considered a long-shot, with 14 other characters deemed better choices.

On a related note, White House officials recently confirmed that any amendment banning gay marriage will extend to cartoon characters and muppet-lookin’ muthaf—-s.

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This fall’s once-promising crop of South Asian reality show contestants has lost another prominent member. SportsCenter-hopeful Anish Shroff failed to advance to ESPN Dream Job’s final round after losing a deciding vote among the viewing public.

Check out his concession speech (Video – Windows Media), where a disappointed Shroff employs some of the very same cliches favored by most athletes. According to the episode recap, Shroff will return “to basic training at Syracuse,” and probably develop a newfound allegiance to Fox Sports.

Update: Badmash offers the networks an incentive to put more South Asians on the air.

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