Michael Phelps auctions his skills

New York: Golden Olympian Michael Phelps will give swimming lessons to the highest bidders at a charity event.

The swimmer maestro who won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics recently is on the committee for the Animal Care and Control charity event at Pressure on Thursday.

He is said to have agreed to auction himself off, reports the New York Post.

As per the package details, two adults and a child can spend time with Phelps in the pool.

The package also includes a photograph with the superstar and a limited-edition, autographed piece of memorabilia.

Glenn Close and Lorenzo Borghese will also attend the event

Aamir Khan says he's a Maratha and pleads to stop division in maharashtra

Aamir Khan described himself as Marathi having been born and brought up in Maharashtra.

He was responding to a question whether he considered Marathi people lucky for him as his two home productions -- 'Lagaan' directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and 'Taare Zameen Par' whose script was written by Amole Gupte, both Maharashtrians -- were India's official entry for Oscars.

"I am a Marathi. I am born and brought up in Maharashtra. I am lucky for myself," he said.

Aamir Khan also cautioned people to stay away from the political leaders who try to divide the country on the basis of religion, caste or community.

Responding to a query on the recent controversy between Raj Thackeray and Jaya Bachchan, Aamir said: "People should stay away from politicians and leaders who try to divide the masses on the basis of religion, caste or community."

"It is harmful to the country and does no good to anyone. Any leader who tries to divide people on that line does that for his own personal gain and people should understand his intentions and stay away from him."

"People should not vote them to power as that will be harmful for everyone," the actor-turned-director said without naming any politician.

Aamir was addressing a press conference, for the promotion for his film 'Taare Zameen Par' that has been selected as the Indian official entry to the Oscars.

"India (has) several languages and people should respect each one of them. One should respect the local language as it is also an integral part of any culture," he said.

Salman decides to pay tribute to father through book

Having won admirers for his painting skills, Salman Khan says he would like to write a tribute to his father Salim Khan, if he ever turns an author. Replying to a query on whether he had any plans to turn an author, Salman said, "Everything is possible in this lifetime! Who knows what could happen tomorrow!"

"If at all I write, it will definitely be a tribute to my father Salim Khan, he told us.

The actor is playing Chetan Bhagat's role in 'Hello' which is an on-screen adaptation of the latter's best-selling novel 'One night @ the Call Centre'. The movie is a tale about the events that takes place in the lives of six persons, working in a call centre, one night.

"When Atul got me the script I had already read the book, so it was only a matter of which part I will play. I preferred Chetan's role, that of the narrator. In the film, I am actually the narrator of the whole story that unfolds overnight," he said.

On being asked, whether he took any advice from Chetan for the role, Salman said, "Chetan is a very talkative person. Its difficult to not listen to him."

Directed by Atul Agnihotri, 'Hello', which apart from Salman also stars Katrina Kaif, Sharman Joshi, Gul Panag, Sohail Khan, Eesha Koppikar, Amrita Arora and Arbaz Khan, will hit the silver-screen on October 10.

Apart from 'Hello', Salman will also be seen Subhash Ghai's musical 'Yuvraaj' and Samir Karnik's 'Heroes' later this year.