Surya Speaks Back

Surya Yalamanchili, the earnest brand manager from Cincinnati who was fired by Donald Trump from The Apprentice on Sunday, recently blogged about his time on the show. He offered an insider’s perspective of the reality series that has candidates vie for the chance to work for Trump. Former teammate Tim Urban has also shared his memories of Surya on the show, and it seems that Surya is not a “phony,” but just a sincere guy who puts a premium on integrity and loves whiteboards. Read on for more from Surya himself!

Whose hair took longer to style? Yours or James’?
Mine only took minutes! I would style it by hanging upside down every morning. You know, like Michael Keaton did in the 1989 Batman?
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By The Power of Shyamalan, I AM HE-MAN!

In an odd twist of fate (?!) it appears that M. Night Shyamalan will be directing a feature length film adaptation of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Okay, people. I have to stop and breathe. He-Man. As a film. By M. Night Shyamalan. Right. Okay.

A quick IMDB search yields only rumored cast members (Two of which are Days of Our Lives actors. And one more who was a WWF wrestler.) but now I’m really thinking about who could be cast in the role of He-Man. (And more importantly, will there be a cameo by his twin sister She-Ra?! Oh my God.) To be a fly on that casting director’s wall… Who do you think should be cast as He-Man? Ryan Reynolds? Brad Pitt? The Rock!? Leave it in the comments.

Junoon Jammin

Salman Ahmad

Salman Ahmad, lead guitarist for the Pakistani rock group Junoon, will be performing this Friday night in New York City.

Ahmad, who is a doctor, speaks publicly and often about the need for peace in South Asia (“India and Pakistan constitute one fifth of humanity and the conflict that we have continued to harbor over the last half century has stunted the growth of people”).

The rocker is also a goodwill ambassador for the UN, and a spokesperson for UNAIDS (the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS).

Tomorrow night, Ahmad will be performing selections from his latest solo album Infiniti. For ticketing and other information, visit the Asia Society, or call the box office directly at: (212) 517-ASIA.

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Junoon online

It’s In His Hair

Sanjaya’s styles: “Andy Gibb,” Bad Hair Day, “Paula”/”Rachel,” “Sathya Sai Baba” (americanidol.com)

Sanjaya Malakar has made it through another week on American Idol, another week of negative comments from the judges, another week of changing hairstyles. While his fellow contestant Brandon Rogers was voted off on Wednesday night, 17-year-old Sanjaya managed to garner enough votes to go to the next round of competition.

How does Sanjaya do it? E! News reports that votefortheworst.com, the anti-Idol site endorsing him as having the weakest vocals in the competition, may have played a part. “As soon as Malakar was declared safe Wednesday night, Vote for the Worst credited its minions for prolonging his survival.” (“Idol Says Buh-Bye to Brandon“)

Another reason may be the hair. Like Samson, Sanjaya seems to draw strength from it. Fans of his look may constitute a voting block that has successfully kept him on the show so far. His ever-changing hairstyles suggest that he carefully cultivates and caters to this constituency. How far his coiffure will carry him remains to be seen.

Notes from the Underbelly to Premiere on April 11

The cast of Notes from the Underbelly. Abc.com

According to Variety, ABC’s Notes from the Underbelly finally has a premiere date of April 11th! Starring the adorable Sunkrish Bala (interviewed in Nirali Magazine last December here.) as well as the hilarious Rachel Harris, Notes explores the way life changes with parenthood—and the things that are learned along the way.

Hot Pink Hindu Wedding For Hurley

Hello! magazine cover

Elizabeth Hurley’s wedding photos have just been released by Hello! magazine.

“Elizabeth looks beautiful as an Indian bride,” says husband Arun Nayar. “She is determined to really embrace Indian culture and she’s got off to a flying start.”

Hurley’s (hot pink!) couture wedding sari was designed by Donatella Versace. The couple tied the knot in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on March 9th.

Check out this week’s People magazine issue for reprints of the wedding photos.

More:
Holy Matrimony!
Nice Day For A Monsoon Wedding

Designer Accused of Sexual Assault

Indian designer Anand Jon has been charged with six counts of sexual assault as well as forcible rape and lewd acts on a child. According to authorities, the charges stem from encounters between Jon and two women and also a fifteen year old girl. The designer, who was arrested on March 6, is being held on 1.3 million dollars bail. In addition, according to this ABC News article, Jon’s immigration status has also been called into question. Jon’s attorney denied the assault charges and claimed that his client was legally in the US on a professional work visa.

Come Away With Her

Not Too Late. NorahJones.Com

Norah Jones’s third/latest album Not Too Late has, like her previous two, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.

In this week’s issue of TIME magazine, Jones opens up about collaborating musically with her boyfriend (“We’ve been joined at the hip for almost seven years, so there’s no need to mask our criticisms”), this season’s American Idol (“It really is entertaining”) and how she feels about Dolly Parton (“Dolly’s adorable and hilarious, and she just sings her butt off”).

Of her latest venture–a lead role in the upcoming Wong Kar Wai film My Blueberry Nights–Jones says she was initially very nervous.

“I…had no idea who else would be in (the film). I just figured…it was a little indie movie. All of a sudden it was Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn and Jude Law, and it’s like, ‘Oh Crap, what’d I get myself into?’”

Diva Meets Queen

Shetty and the Queen (Getty Images)

Racial bullying victim-turned Celebrity Big Brother-victor Shilpa Shetty met the Queen of England yesterday at a Westminster Abbey “diversity” celebration in honor of Commonwealth Day.

“In today’s difficult and sometimes divided world, I believe that it is more important than ever to keep trying to respect and understand each other better,” said the Queen.

Shetty delivered a speech to a crowd of 2,000 about the “her experiences of tolerance” during the taping of the reality show. “In India, in the UK, and the world over we are constantly reminded that we have to cope with difference on a daily basis, ” she said.

More:
Petty Behavior in Big House
Big Brother Goes Bollywood

The Long Kiss Dubai

On last night’s episode of The Daily Show, Aasif Mandvi told us about the benefits of moving your company’s HQs to the Khaleej:

More:
A man called Mandvi
Halliburton moves offices to Dubai