Ajay Devgan unhappy with KJo

It is almost as if Ajay Devgn is discovering new dimensions to his relationship with wife Kajol. If a very reliable trade source is to be believed, the actor is openly singing paens about his wife's talent. This is rather strange because Ajay and Kajol have been married for 11 years. And neither has gone gaga about each other in public, until now!

Anyway what prompted this diatribe is information saying that Ajay is not happy with the We Are Family promotions.

The source says, "Ever since the first interview for WAF appeared, Ajay felt that Kajol should have been positioned differently from Kareena."

According to information available, it is said that Ajay feels Kajol (quite obviously) is in a different league as an actress as opposed to the younger Kareena. And so he feels that Karan should give Kajol a different kind of placement in the whole publicity campaign instead of making it seem like Kajol and Kareena are on par."

BT asked Kajol if she was aware of her husband's "anguish" and as usual she spoke her mind. "Listen I don't know if Ajay is anguished or any such thing. If you say that he wants me to be more prominent than Bebo in the WAF campaign, I will understand. After all I'm his wife and he is bound to be biased towards me."

Kajol even joked that if this matter is true, then she would go home and advise her husband to take up the issue with her best friend Karan. Ajay, in defence of his bias, said, "Kajol is the best actress Bollywood has. I will naturally look out for her interests in every way and in every campaign. But honestly, who am I to complain about how Karan should go about with the publicity of his film? As for me being unhappy with Kajol being placed on par with Kareena, that's not entirely true. Like I said, Kajol is the finest actress around but Kareena is also very good in her own place. Bebo is a friend. She is also my heroine. I've done Golmaal Returns and Omkaara with her. I'm currently shooting with her for Golmaal 3. This is a very sensitive issue. I won't be a hypocrite and say that I like Kajol and Kareena equally. But I don't wish to start any controversy." Of course, when pushed to say who he would give his vote to, Ajay grinned sheepishly and said, "Kajol. She is terrific." Guess after Ajay it will be Saif Ali Khan's turn to pick his favourite. And no prizes for guessing which of the two Ks Saif will choose.

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NBFC stocks rise as RBI moots new banking licenses

Shares of major NBFCs today zoomed as much as 14 per cent after the Reserve Bank released the much awaited discussion paper on granting banking licenses to private players and non-banking finance companies.

Financial services provider Religare Enterprises led the gains and soared 13.8 per cent to hit a year high of Rs. 472.70 on Bombay Stock Exchange. The company is among the entities like Reliance Capital, IndiaBulls, IL&FS, IDFC, IFCI and Aditya Birla Nuvo, that are reported to be mulling entering the banking space.

Bajaj Auto Finance jumped 3.2 per cent to touch a year high of Rs. 622.50, while Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital climbed 4.7 per cent to Rs. 795. Domestic financial institutions IFCI and IDFC also witnessed an upsurge of 5 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively.

“The market sentiment went up after the RBI’s proposal. Banking licence will be a sure shot way of making money. There will be a lot of wealth creation as it will be like RBI distributing gold to the contenders.” SMC Capitals equity head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.

Aditya Birla Nuvo, which is a Birla group firm with a strong presence in financial services, rose 1.38 per cent to Rs 818. Bajaj Auto Finance jumped 3.2 per cent to touch a year high of Rs. 622.50.

As per market information, these players have firmed plans to enter the banking sector after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee mentioned in the Union Budget 2010-11 that fresh licences would be issued to private firms and NBFCs.

The RBI today released a discussion paper on giving new banking licenses and formulating regulations for the same to foster greater competition.

“The Reserve Bank is considering providing licenses to a limited number of new banks. A larger number of banks would foster greater competition, and thereby reduce costs and improve the quality of service,” the central bank said in a discussion paper.

The RBI also sought to know “whether industrial and business houses could be allowed to promote banks.” And, should NBFCs be allowed to convert into or promote banks.

The central bank has sought feedback on this as also business model for the new banks by September 30.

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Brokers` view on Tata Motors Q1 numbers

India`s largest automobile company, Tata Motors posted consolidated net profit of Rs 19.89 billion for the June 2010 quarter, a significant turnaround from a loss of Rs 3.28 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Consolidated revenues grew 64.20% at Rs 270.56 billion for quarter ended June 2010 as against Rs 164.73 billion in the corresponding quarter previous year.

Post the positive results, shares of company traded higher by Rs 940.10, up Rs 21.15, or 2.30% at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Tuesday at 2:51 p.m.

Currently, shares of the company gained Rs 53.2, or 5.56%, to trade at Rs 1,010.50. The total volume of shares traded was 2,817,724 at the BSE (12.45 p.m., Wednesday).

In an exclusive discussion with Myiris.com, analysts discuss what they make out from the numbers and how have they positioned themselves in the stock:

Prabhudas Lilladhar:

Q1FY11 standalone results were disappointing: Tata Motors (Q,N,C,F)* posted a 62.60% y-o-y growth in its revenues at Rs 104 billion. Overall volumes grew by 47.6% y-o-y, whereas average realization/vehicle improved by 10% y-o-y on account of better product mix. EBITDA grew by 61.20% y-o-y at Rs 11.70 billion with EBITDA margins flat y-o-y at 11.3%. Sequentially, the raw material cost was flat at 70.5% of revenue on account of price hikes taken by the company to compensate for the higher raw material cost. On account of tight control over other expenses, the EBITDA margins expanded 120bps Q-o-Q. As a result the Adj. net profit grew by 25% Q-o-Q at Rs 4.60 billion.

Valuations: With signs of recovery in some of the key markets and aggressive cost-cutting measures, we have built-in a 21.7% volume growth at 0.24 million units in FY11E and an EBITDA margin of 14.5% at JLR. We value JLR at 3.5x FY12E EV/EBITDA multiple at Rs 510 a share. Our SOTP valuation stands at Rs 1,136 a share. We believe that an improvement in the core Commercial Vehicle (CV) business, coupled with recovery at the JLR front would lead to better stock price performance. Maintain `Accumulate`.

Emkay Global Financial Services:

Consolidated Sales: JLR was a show stealer. Revenues were above expectation as both Tata Motors (expectation of Rs 112 billion) and JLR (expectation of Rs 145 billion) surprised positively due to better product mix resulting in higher realisations.

Valuations: We have upgraded our FY11E and FY12E earnings by 63% and 65% to Rs 100.50 and Rs 122.50 respectively. The revision in estimates is due to volume upgrades in JLR along with upgrades in realizations and hence net profits. We have upgrades our rating on the stock from Hold to Accumulate and Target Price to Rs 1,140 (earlier Rs 810).

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Bharti adds 6,489 employees in Q1

The country's largest private sector telecom operator Bharti Airtel added 6,489 employees during the April-June period, taking its total headcount to 24,843 at the end of the first quarter of current fiscal.

As on June 30, 2010, the company had a total of 24,843 employees, against 18,354 staff for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the company said in its quarterly report.

The cash and cash equivalents of the company stood at Rs 3,108 crore for June 2010, against Rs 710 crore in the same quarter ended June 2009.

The company today has reported a decline of 32 per cent in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,682 crore in the first quarter ended June 30, due to the foreign exchange losses.

The April-June quarter of current fiscal witnessed an adverse impact after dollar strengthened against rupee and several African currencies. As a result, derivative and exchange fluctuation loss stood at Rs 216 crore, as against the gain of Rs 279 crore in the same quarter in the previous year.

As on June 30, 2010, the company had an aggregate of over 18.33 crore customers consisting of over 17.69 crore mobile, 31.53 lakh Telemedia and 32.43 lakh Digital TV customers.

Its total customer base as on June 2010 increased by 71.3 per cent, compared to the base as on June 2009.

The company had a net debt of Rs 60,230 crore (USD 12,925 million) as on June 2010.

As on June 2010, the company had total assets of Rs 1,429,55 crore, and total liabilities of Rs 961,67 crore. The difference of Rs 467,88 crore was on account of equity attributable to equity holders of parent and non-controlling interest.

During the June quarter, the company incurred a capital expenditure of Rs 18,36 crore.

Shares of Bharti Airtel were trading at Rs 323.50 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down 0.25 per cent from the previous close.

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Aamir, Rani at Peepli Live music launch

Rani Mukherjee, Karan Johar, Kiran Rao and Ayan Mukherjee to name a few cheered Aamir Khan as he turned drummer at the music launch of his upcoming movie Peepli Live in Mumbai. Here are a few snapshots from the event..

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I feel I'm in a dream world : Natha of Peepli Live

He got a role in Aamir Khan's movie, met his favourite actress Deepika Padukone and is basking in the spotlight of fame - it's a "dream world", says Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha in Peepli Live.

"I never thought that I would ever work in a film, neither did I plan to work in movies. Till now I feel that I am into some dream world," the Chhattisgarh-based theatre actor said.

"I would like to work more in this industry and especially with Aamir Khan. Aamirji is a person with a very big heart. He is so down to earth and speaks so well. He never lets me feel that I am with such a big actor, director and producer," Omkar said in an exclusive interview.

Directed by debutant Anusha Rizvi and prouduced by Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd, Peepli Live is a satire on farmers' suicides and the subsequent response from the media and political parties.

"Though the story is complete fiction, such incidents are evident in rural central India," said Omkar.

He remembers his first day on the sets. "I was quite nervous on the first day. There was a big camera, people were setting lights, director was shouting silence. I got scared after seeing the setup. I was not sure whether I would be able to deliver or not. Then Anushaji said that there is of course some difference between performing on stage and in front of the camera, but it's not that big. She asked me to work as if I was on stage. But next day I was comfortable in front of the camera."

The cast and the crew had to follow a routine.

"Everything was time bound and there were some routine and discipline maintained on the sets and I liked that most about working in the film."

Omkara's favourite actress is Deepika and he has already met her thanks to Aamir.

"Now I want to work with Deepikaji. I had seen her film Om Shanti Om partly when it came on television. I couldn't watch the whole movie as I had to rush for rehearsals. Recently I saw her again in one of the song of Lafangey Parindey and I loved it. Aamirji introduced me to Deepikaji. I am very happy."

"I am associated with Habib Tanvir's Naya Theatre. I have spent almost 10 years in theatre. When Anushaji was casting for Peepli Live, she came to Naya Theatre and took audition of few actors. I auditioned for a small role. When Aamirji, Anushaji and all saw my audition, they liked it and cast me to play Natha," he said.

Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story.aspx?ID=567&StoryID=ENTEN20100149441&cp

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Kalki's bold sexual scenes leaked

Director Anurag Kashyap and his girlfriend Kalki Koechlin might not dream in their wildest dream that the screening of their film That Girl In Yellow Boots at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival would trouble them. Unfortunately, the bold sexual scenes of the film involving Kalki, has been leaked online after its screening at the film festivals.

It is said that Anurag and Kalki are not happy with the leak of the steamy scenes before its official release. They were over the moon when their film was selected for a premiere at the prestious film festivals but the leak of the hot scenes has disappointed them.

That Girl In Yellow Boots is a thriller about a girl in search of her father, who she hardly knew. It features Kalki Koechlin, Naseeruddin Shah, Shiv Kumar Subramaniam, Divya Jagdal and Kumud Mishra in the lead roles and is scheduled for release next month.

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