Bheja Fry 2 - Minissha's Sunday treat

Actress Minissha Lamba says that after a long time she is not working on a Sunday and that she will enjoy the break by watching her film "Bheja Fry 2" with friends.
Enjoying my 1st sunday off in weeks..heading to a theatre nearby to watch a film with my friends...No prizes for guessing which one. 'BhejaFry2'(sic)," she posted on micro-her Twitter page.

The 26-year-old plays a reality TV show producer in "Bheja Fry 2", which was released Friday.

Produced by Mukul Deora and directed by Sagar Ballary, the movie has Vinay Pathak as the protagonist and he is joined by Kay Kay Menin and Suresh Menon in the cast.

Ekta Kapoor inspires Minissha Lamba

Actress Minissha Lamba, who plays a reality TV show producer in "Bheja Fry 2", says she took inspiration from Ekta Kapoor to prepare for her character and dedicates it to the TV tsarina.
I was inspired by Ekta, I thought of her when I was conceptualising this character because everybody knows the success story but the hard work that one puts in is unknown," Minissha told reporters here Tuesday.

"Sometimes it happens that you are just a few steps away from success but you fail. You come with a value system but end up compromising. It is like you are being tested all the time. I really took inspiration from that phase. So I wanted to dedicate this character to a woman who revolutionised the television industry, in fact, she has made the television industry in India," she added.

The actress was here to promote "Bheja Fry 2" which releases Friday and was accompanied by her co-star Vinay Pathak.

Although she would be a reality show producer in the film, the actress said she wouldn't mind being a part of one. "I wouldn't mind being a part of a reality show but it should be appealing," she said.

Jewellery still with customs, says Minissha Lamba

Though tight-lipped about the legal proceeding, actress Minissha Lamba, who was recently detained at Mumbai airport for carrying undeclared jewellery worth Rs.50 lakh, says the jewellery is still in the possession of the customs authorities.

It's still on. It's not over, unfortunately. Everything is still with customs. It's a legal matter, I am not supposed to speak about it," Minissha, 26, told IANS.

Lamba was intercepted by the customs officers May 18 while she was crossing the green channel at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. She was apparently returning after attending the Cannes Films Festival in France.

Reportedly in her statement to the customs department, the actress had said that the jewels belonged to Anmol Jewellers and she carried them to Cannes for promotional purposes.

I'll go to Cannes every year now Minissha Lamba (Interview)

The 16 hours of detention at the Mumbai airport for allegedly carrying undeclared jewellery were harrowing but actress Minissha Lamba says the authorities were "very, very, friendly" and the time was spent chatting about various things, including her experience at Cannes.
"We had a very lively 16-hour session," said the "Well Done Abba" actress.

"What can I say? I had the choice of either sitting and crying or trying to make the best of a bizarre situation. Guess what I chose to do? I took a chill-pill," she told IANS.

Minissha, who had told the customs authorities that the jewellery was given to her to wear at Cannes by Anmol Jewellers, describes her detention on May 18 as "a molehill blown up into a mountain".

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: What really happened?

A: It was just a minor discrepancy in my papers for the jewellery. I'm just so shocked by the monstrous proportions that the incident acquired.

Q: Is it true you were detained the whole night at the airport?

A: I was detained for 16 hours. That, if I may say so, was completely unnecessary in a case like this. However, if my papers were not in order because of a minor technicality then the authorities were totally within their right to detain me. We've to go by the book. No complaints about it.

Q: Did you really have undeclared diamonds worth Rs.40 lakh?

A: Definitely not that much. The value was much much less. I can't tell you how much because it involves a legality. I had the paperwork to authenticate it.

Q: So why did they detain you?

A: A minor glitch.I don't want to go into who was responsible for it.

Q: Were the airport authorities civil with you?

A: Very very friendly. They served me the most amazing food and were constantly cracking jokes to ease my nervousness. I ended up regaling them with my experiences at Cannes. They talked about their experiences with celebrities. We had a very lively 16-hour session.

Q: You're making it sound like a party!

A: What can I say? I had the choice of either sitting and crying or trying to make the best of a bizarre situation. Guess what I chose to do? I took a chill-pill.

They were very civil. The whole thing was done quietly and with great dignity. I am sure they've encountered worse offenders than me. I'm just a little sheep that inadvertently got caught up in a situation.

Q: Did you have a relative accompanying you?

A: You know I am a very independent girl. I didn't even want to inform my parents about it when it happened. In any case my phone was taken from me. I wasn't allowed to use it. I didn't want to cause any worry for my parents. I didn't know it the incident had already gone out.

Q: Was it harrowing?

A: Yes, because a molehill was blown up into a mountain. There I was, I had just landed from Cannes, jetlagged and groggy. I just wanted to get home and sleep. Little did I know what was in store for me. Life is full of surprises. Earlier during the trip I lost my baggage at the Nice airport.

Q: Kissne ki yeh 'Nice' harkat (Who did it at Nice?)?

A: (laughs) I've gone through so much during the trip. I told god if you've more in store bring it in now, let's get it out of the way.

Q: So how did you manage to dress so well at Cannes?

A: The baggage was lost on my way back. Thank god for that. And I didn't lose too many valuables.

Q: How was Cannes?

A: I had gone to attend the premiere of the new Woody Allen film "Midnight in Paris". I couldn't meet him. But his management told me that they're looking seriously at Indian cinema. I met a lot of people from the international movie community.

Q: Has the controversy shaken you?

A: I think I got into the controversy by default. This is the accidental controversy in my life. It's one of those life-experiences.

Q: Looks like Cannes doesn't suit you?

A: On the contrary the experience has made me a stronger human being. I think I'll go every year now.

It is an open and shut case Minissha Lamba

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba, who was detained by customs authorities at Mumbai airport for carrying undeclared jewellery worth Rs.50 lakh while returning from her much-hyped visit to the Cannes Film Festival, says there will be no case against her.
I have given my statement and the fact is that the jewels don't belong to me. They were given to me to wear at Cannes by Anmol Jewellers, so I don't think there is any case against me. The jewelers will be called to verify that is it their jewels and that's it. It's an open and shut case," the 26-year-old actress told IANS.

Minissha was in Cannes for the premier of Woody Allen's "Midnight In Paris". She returned Wednesday here by an Emirates flight via Dubai.

Why was she detained for 16 long hours?

"It was just a procedural thing. It wasn't anything terribly serious. But the whole process is very time consuming. That's why it takes time," said the actress of films like "Yahaan", "Kidnap" and "Bachna Ae Haseeno".

On Thursday, Minissha visited the customs commissioner's office in Mumbai to complete some paperwork, but the jewellery has been confiscated and is now in government custody.

This is not the only problem that Minissha had to face during this trip. The actress also lost her bag at Nice airport. However, she is still in high spirits.

"The Cannes experience was fantastic, only the last day was a bit stressful because I lost my bag and when I returned, I was detained. But otherwise it was great and I don't think anything can mar the experience I had at Cannes," said the actress.

Minissha Lamba says no case against her

Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba, who was detained by Customs authorities at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International terminal here for carrying undeclared jewellery worth Rs 50 lakh while returning from her much-hyped visit to the Cannes Film Festival, today denied the allegations and said there will be no case against her.
"I have given my statement and the fact is that the jewels don’t belong to me. They were given to me to wear at Cannes by Anmol Jewellers, so I don’t think there is any case against me. The jewellers will be called to verify whether it is their jewels and that’s it. It’s an open and shut case," the 26-year-old actress told the mediapersons here.

Minissha was in Cannes for the premier of Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight In Paris’. She returned on Wednesday here by an Emirates flight via Dubai.

According to the sources, Minissha visited the Customs commissioner’s office in Mumbai yesterday, to complete some paperwork, but the jewellery had been confiscated and was now in government custody, they added.

Minissha Lamba detained at Mumbai airport

Bollywood actor Minissha Lamba was detained with diamond jewellery at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday.
According to reports, Lamba was detained by customs officials for not declaring diamond jewellery worth Rs 50 lakhs.

The actor was returning from Cannes International Film Festival in France by EK-504 Emirates flight.