Nandita opts out Midnight’s Children

Balancing motherhood with a career is a tricky one and Nandita Das has made a choice by opting out of old friend Deepa Mehta's adaptation of Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.

It's a film that has been jinxed with actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Om Puri etc. opting out of the film. Though signed on to play a pivotal role, Nandita opted out. She says, "With little Vihaan, who is 6 months old now and so delightful, I didnt think I would have been able to do justice to both the roles and would have felt quite torn.

Pity, but as Deepa says, there is Kamagathamaru, where I am playing the female lead and as I say, there is a time for everything!" Nandita was also supposed to do Deepa Mehta's Water but was apparently not informed about her ouster from the project.

This led to a cold war between them, which ended when they met in New York two years ago. For Midnight's Children Mehta offered Das a guest appearance as well. Says Das, "Even that didn't make sense as it would have been neither here nor there. I have made the decision."

Padma Lakshmi eyes up $10 million New York loft

Indian origin supermodel Padma Lakshmi is looking for a new home and has set her heart on a $10 million loft.

The 40-year-old Top Chef host who is currently embroiled in a bitter custody custody with ex-boyfriend Adam Dell over their 11-month-old daughter Krishna, is keen on the place situated in the trendy neighbourhood of Greenwich Village.

Lakshmi, who is dating 70-year-old IMG boss Ted Forstmann, has been checking out downtown residences in the city, according to the New York Post.

However, she is said to be interested in the apartment which was built in 1904 and was originally a department store.

The 12-story apartment building includes a doorman, concierge, and basement storage.

The model, who was earlier married to author Salman Rushdie, already owns a $1.6 million loft in the city's East Village, but is clearly looking to upgrade.