Boxer Vijender needs his coach to debut with Narmadda

Vijender Singh intends to come to Bollywood this month, but with his trainer and sparring partner in tow. No, it's not because the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist needs additional protection in the big bad world of Bollywood.

Singh wants to continue his practice for the upcoming boxing World Boxing Championship in September in Busan, South Korea and the 2012 Olympics.

"My coach and sparring partner will accompany me to the sets. I need to keep practicing. Bollywood ka kya pata?Aaj hai kal na ho. (Who knows about Bollywood. It may be there today, but not tomorrow), " says Singh.

Clearly, Singh is a boxer first and an actor making his debut, later. Singh has two acting commitments to make good on. He plays a boxer in Percept Pictures' semi-autobiographical film and pairs up with Govinda's daughter Narmadda in a love story that he will start shooting for this month.

Singh isn't as star struck as you'd think. "All sportspersons who have gone into films have been flops. I'm prepared for it. I don't know about my career as an actor.

I'm currently preparing for the world championship in September, since it's the qualifying event for the Olympics. " When asked what he's doing to prepare for his films, Singh says he plans to be himself in front of the camera. "I've been a lover-boy all my life, so that role comes naturally to me, " he laughs.

Rineel routh South New Movie Actress Photos, stills

Poonam Pandey still keen to strip for Team India

Model Poonam Pandey, who promised to bare all if India won the Cricket World Cup, says it was not a publicity stunt and that she is still ready to fulfil her commitment.

"I am still on with my commitment. If BCCI gives me the permission good...I will do it. I am still requesting them. On my be

half, I am telling everyone to go and tell the BCCI to allow me to do so that I can go ahead and fulfil it. I didn't want to break any law so I took permission," Poonam said.

The Kingfisher calendar model had sent a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking for permission to strip. "The letter that I had written was refused by them. I felt bad and was hurt when they did not allow me to go bare. I was upset. They just said BCCI does not give permission for such things," she said.

To a query, the 19-year-old said she has not planned to meet the BCCI officials personally to pursue the matter. When asked if being into news for wrong reasons bother her, Poonam said, "It does not. Personally I don't think it is a negative publicity. If doing anything for Team India or for the nation is considered negative then what should I say."
The aspiring actress insists that going bare was her idea of celebrating the victory and not a publicity stunt.
"I had made that statement for Team India..I don't regret it at all. I did not think that it will turn out to be such a big thing and that it will become such a issue. It may be a big question in a country like India. But internationally several models have done this kind of act...so why people in India are thinking or taking it as a big thing," she wondered.
On her family's reaction, Poonam said, "My family was upset. They were shocked. But when I explained it to them that I have given the statement for team India they understood it."
"I believe people have their own mentality to perceive things like if a man removes his T-shirt and walks on road no one will say anything but if a girl does something similar or even says something similar the outcome is not good. Like you can see in my case," she said.
Poonam, who is one of the most downloaded models on the internet, also got threatening calls after her announcement to strip.
"I had to hide as I received many calls threatening me of dire consequences if I bared it all. But some people called to say that they are proud of me. I have been getting offers from magazines and calendars to pose in the buff, and also been approached by reality TV show makers," she said.
The Mumbai-based model will be participating in the fourth season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'.

No vulgarity in nudity, says Poonam Pandey

Mumbai: There is no vulgarity in nudity, said Poonam Pandey, the model whose offer to go nude before Team India if they won the Cricket World Cup shot the mercury up for the India-Sri Lanka final in Mumbai. 'We were all born nude. People take nudity as vulgarity. I see it in a different way. If I keep it as an offer for bringing the World Cup to India, which incidentally worked (laughs), I see no harm in it,' Pandey said in an interview. The model's offer hit the headlines prior to the April 2 World Cup final in Mumbai. A court case was also filed against her over the issue. 'After such a long time Team India was again very close to winning the World Cup and I truly wanted to them to be successful. It (going nude in front of the team) was a sort of offering from my side to our cricketers,' Pandey said in an interview. Does she believe that Team India won the World Cup just so it did not miss her offering? 'No, I won't say that. But I had prayed to God that if India brings the Cup I would strip in front of the team. I am yet to fulfil my commitment though,' Pandey said. But her parents were certainly upset. 'Frankly, when I gave the statement my parents felt very bad. But when I explained to them why I made the offer, they were relieved a bit,' she said. Pandey, an aspiring actress, is one of the contestants in the fourth season of the action adventure reality show 'Khatron Ke Khilladi' on COLORS channel. If she could face the whole country over the nudity controversy, competing 12 pairs of contestants in the 'Khatron ke..' show is nothing, the model said. 'I am not afraid of anyone. I wasn't afraid when whole India was after me. There is no chance I fear a bit about the 12 pairs of contestants. On the contrary, I would love to make people fear me,' said Pandey. Asked if she has any particular plan if she wins the reality show, Pandey said: 'I want to keep it a surprise.'