Deepika has consented to give her dates in a recent meeting. The Race 2 team now stands completed with John Abraham, Saif Ali Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Anil Kapoor.

Kareena Kapoor defends the film, “In October, we embarked upon the last schedule of the film Honestly speaking, Agent Vinod has taken just the right kind of time that a film of this scale really requires. It is just that since the film has been in news for such a long time, there is this perception amongst a few out there that it is taking time to complete.”

One may agree with her because the movie even though kept low-profile, is been known to have been shot in really extensive locales with some really spell bounding action scenes. Kareena Kapoor adds excitedly , “Do you know that it has some serious action sequences which are on the same scale as any other big budgeted James Bond kind of a film. The fact of the matter is that this is hardly the kind of a film that can be made fast. Unlike a comedy that can be wrapped up in 50 days, AGENT VINOD does require some elaborate shooting schedules spread over months.”

Kareena adds that it is one of her most ambitious projects, “It is a very big film and we are into the last leg now. Saif, Sriram and Dinesh (Vijan) are working out the logistics for the film’s release. In the first quarter of next year, we would be definitely unveiling AGENT VINOD.” Sources say that the film is due to release in February 2012.

Priyanka Chopra will be in a DE-glam avatar for the film and according to a source, she looks very convincing in simple but brightly colored saris that justify her character. Meanwhile the actress is doing her best to understand her character completely and is now in an absorbing mood trying to understand the mood, fashion and gestures of the erstwhile era.

Katrina and Arjun bonded well, when she was dating Salman Khan and Arjun was dating the superstar’s sister Arpita. Though Arjun broke up later with Arpita, the friendship between Katrina Kaif and Arjun continued, so much that both of them regard each other as brother-sister. Katrina found an anchor in Arjun in many occasions and when Arjun was getting ready for his debut; she agreed to pitch in, as an item girl.

Katrina Kaif had disciplined herself well, gymming for hours to get her figure and moves right for Sheela Ki Jawaani. She has decided to go ahead and give her best for Ishaqzaade too. Now it remains to be seen if this one beats the classic hit Sheela Ki Jawaani

Since the shooting for Ghayal Returns was supposed to shoot in this month, Vidya could not allot dates, which is why the director Ashwini Chowdhury and Sunny Deol, the producer looked for a replacement. They found their choice in Bipasha Basu, who agreed to do the film However, the latest buzz is that even the shooting of Ghayal Returns has been postponed to January 2011.

The actress who is going to play a top Bollywood heroine in the film, will be wearing about 150 costumes in the film; all of them will be designed by her favorite designer Manish Malhotra. He has been the trendsetter for female costumes in Bollywood, even since the Rangeela days. He had also designed the costumes for Priyanka Chopra starer Fashion, which was also directed by Madhur.

A source said, “Madhur’s earliest films used to have a total budget of around a crore. In Heroine, Kareena’s costumes alone will cost Madhur and his co-producers UTV over a crore. The costliest movie directed by Madhur, this movie has a budget of nearly Rs. 20 crore. It is evident that the director is not going to leave any room to make sure that the movie has a glossy look.”

“Bollywood stars are never seen wearing the same dress on two occasions. Many a time, if an event is a long-drawn affair, they even go for multiple changes of wardrobe,” the source added. The shooting of the movie started last week itself and is due to release in 2012.

Kareena Kapoor has decided to give a huge chunk of dates to the director and seems to be excited with the way the movie is shaping up. However, she had given the movie a lot of thought before she had replaced Aishwarya Rai. The project had gone first to her but she denied it because there were some steamy sex scenes in the film which she wanted to avoid doing. Finally, the director met Aishwarya Rai, who consented. The movie was launched with much fanfare, and Ash’s photos were all over the promotion material even before the movie was on floors. However, days after the shoot commenced, Ash announced that she was pregnant and had to walk out of the film.

Madhur wanted to shelve the film but then decided to take it up with Kareena again, who obliged. He had even reworked portions of the script and the Bodyguard actress readily gave her consent.

Insiders claim that Raaz 3, a 3-D horror film to be directed by Vikram Bhatt, will have Bips at her sexiest best. The movie will have Bipasha Basu starring opposite the Bhatt’s in-house hero Emraan Hashmi. When asked about her kissing with Emraan, the serial kisser, Bipasha laughs, “You guys have really slotted him, haven’t you?” She continues, “Well, as a professional, I have no problems with such a scene if a storyline absolutely demands it,” she says.

Bipasha says that she needs a comfort level to kiss someone. “Kissing is the first expression of affection for human beings, so it’s actually no big deal. But still, I get all anxious before kissing scenes,” the dusky beauty affirms. She, however, said that kissing her then beau John Abraham in Jism did not make her nervous but when it comes to kissing someone she is not close to, can give her the jitters. Well, we can assume that she is close to co-stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rana Daggubati and Saif Ali Khan then, with whom she has done steamy scenes. Hope, Emraan joins the list.

Shilpa says, “I have no qualms doing those scenes with Xia Hu, as those were integral to the film and were done aesthetically. But I was nervous when Raj saw the film last week. I remember I got married three days later to Raj after I shot those scenes and I was a bit worried about how Raj would find them. But luckily for me as the scenes have been tastefully shot and Raj liked the scenes. Not just that he even added that it was one of the best performances of my career as Gautami (her character in the film). I was immensely relieved! His approval is very important to me. The scenes are not steamy or anything remotely vulgar at all but shot beautifully to highlight the romance between Xia and me.”

In the film, Xia Hu is an internationally renowned Chinese painter who is besotted with Gautami and there are several passionate scenes that move the story forward. Shilpa says, “It’s a beautiful love story between Xia and me. The film traces Gautami’s journey through a number of years and the passion between the two characters is almost like a painting. I would say that it’s my character Gautami, who is bold, and not the scenes.”

In Shobana 7 Nights, Raveena plays the role of an abused, battered wife who finds love in the arms of a younger man. The movie is directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyaya, who earlier made Pankh starring Bipasha Basu and Maradona Rebello.

Shobana 7 Nights is about struggling Bollywood actors and models who turn to being gigolos to earn extra money. Raveena plays a 40 something columnist and author who finds intimacy and love in a younger man, a struggler. He ends up spending nights with her and becomes her boy-toy.

Amit Purohit will play the role of the struggler while the husband’s role will be essayed by Rohit Roy. Raveena apparently had freaked out on attempting lovemaking scenes and she found the character bold as well. But when she came to know that the scenes would be shot aesthetically, she obliged. After watching Sudipto’s earlier film Pankh and going though her role in Shobhana 7 Nights, Raveena readily agreed to jump in the shoes of the humiliated wife which finds solace in the arms of a gigolo.

While Ekta pitched for Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Gupta felt that John Abraham was the right choice. Finally, it has been agreed that John will get the honor of essaying the role of the protagonist Manya Surve, the dreaded gangster on whose life the film will be made. A joint venture between Ekta’s Balaji Motion Pictures and Sanjay’s White Feather Films, the project has Anil Kapoor as ACP Isaque Bagwan, the first encounter specialist of Mumbai, who actually shot down Manya Surve along with officer Raja Tambat(actor yet to be decided) on January 11, 1982.

Shootout At Wadala, a prequel to the Sanjay Dutt – Amitabh Bachchan starrer Shootout At Lokhandwala, has the director Sanjay Gupta returning to his job, he had last directed Sanjay Dutt starrer Zinda back in 2006. A source says,, “Gupta’s new film is a massive crime saga. It spans from late 60s to early 80s. It also delves into the war between the Pathans and the Ibrahim brothers (Dawood and Sabir).”

“The film will have an ensemble cast which will be bigger than the one in the predecessor. Big names are being considered for the remaining roles, A call on the final cast will be taken soon. Unlike Lokhandwala, Wadala will see the heroine playing a very important role,” he adds.

Shootout At Wadala goes on floors in January 2012. The talented bunch of Allan Amin, Resul Pokutty and Sabu Cyril have been appointed to head the action, sound and art departments respectively Crime journalist S Hussain Zaidi has penned the script for the film. The film will be shot in Mumbai, Pune and Ratnagiri.

Boney Kapoor who had produced the original with wife Sridevi and brother Anil Kapoor as the lead-pair, will repeat them for the sequel as well. The change will be with respect to the villain; Salman Khan has been approached by the producer to do the role that the late Amrish Puri immortalized on the screen.

Boney confirms, “I have spoken to Salman about the idea and he is kicked about it. I want only him for the negative lead. But we need to finish the script and show him. I will be roping in international experts to create a very menacing look for him.”

The other good news is that Boney Kapoor is confident about roping in huge investment for the movie and shooting Mr. India in 3D. The movie will be coproduced by Boney Kapoor and Sahara Motion Pictures, a mega budget venture exceed Rs. 150 crore. The movie will be released after Boney Kapoor’s next No Entry 2, which will also have Salman Khan in the leading role.

There are speculations that Boney Kapoor’s son Arjun will be a part of the Mr. India sequel. The original film was directed by Shekhar Kapoor and in all likelihood; Boney will be approaching him again for the sequel. Hope Mr. India 2 creates history as its predecessor.

Salman Khan as Mogambo

Not only Ek Tha Tiger, there are other movies that are awaiting his presence-Kick, Sher Khan and an untitled thriller with Rensil D’ Silva. Meanwhile Arbaaz has decided to wait for Sallu because he firmly believes that his brother’s brand presence is going to increase by the time they come up with the sequel. Arbaaz says “Salman is busy and I have to respect that. He has clearly said that his first priority is to clear all the backlog and only then start a new film. He isn’t doing too many films but for someone of his superstar status, working on 2-3 films a year also requires huge effort. I am waiting for him and most likely would start shooting for Dabangg 2 only in the middle of next year.” Let us hope the wait is worth it; one thing is for sure, if Sallu manages to entertain people with the movies that release between now and 2012, Dabangg 2 may be the most awaited movie, ever in Bollywood!

Shera found it tough to grapple with the fact that he was a center of attraction. When he finally regained his composure, he thanked Salman profusely and said that it was a honor for him and said that he will fulfill Salman’s wish. Salman has not done this only this time, he had actually turned down an offer from a security company to use their uniform in Bodyguard for a whopping Rs. 7 crore. Instead, he opted for his own personal bodyguard’s brand. When contacted Shera said, “I couldn’t believe it at first. It felt surreal. I had to pinch myself to make sure that this indeed was real. Salmanbhai’s wish is my command.Salmanbhai has always taken care of me and this gesture just proves that how great a human being he is. He is family to me. I owe everything to him.”

Salman-Khan in Bodyguard

Salman-Khan in Bodyguard

Ashwini Chaudhdary who will be directing Ghayal Returns says, “Most of the action flicks these days are South remakes. I am not saying they are bad. In fact, the promo of Singham looks fantastic to me. It is just that sensibility of Ghayal Returns would be different from the rest. Sunny wants drama and action to go together while staying away from gimmickry.”

A source adds, “There is this new trend that has picked up off late with every actor worth his salt remaking a film from down South. Sunny has no intent of doing that. So while Salman Khan has picked up Ready, Bodyguard and Kick, Ajay would be soon seen in Singham and Akshay Kumar too would begin work on Rowdy Rathore, all these films being remakes, Sunny believes that there is a different sensibility required for the films that he makes.”

So, will it be just Sunny Deol and his ‘dhai kilo ka haath’ prowesss, minus the technical finesse that is seen in larger than life action flicks? Nope, in fact, there is going to be high quality technicians who will be on the project to make the movie a visual spectacle as well. “It will be a mix of both actually”, Ashwini adds, “We would have action masters from India but then there would be a substantial crew made of people from across the globe as well. Technically, we want action to carry certain finesse even though the spirit would be entirely Indian and most importantly believable. “We are already into storyboarding the entire action and rest assured it is turning out to be huge, raw, intense and real. This also means that you won’t see people flying around; they would be dead buried with a single ‘mukka’”, smiles the director. With this movie, hopefully Sunny will be back in reckoning. The actor had a laid back attitude of late but the stupendous success of Yamla Pagla Deewana seems to have revived his zeal to make a comeback.

However, when Priyanka read reports that she was replacing Ash, she was not exactly pleased. She posted on Twitter, “Read some stupid article about how I wanna do Madhur Bhandarkar’s film HEROINE… I think Madhur is an amazing director and. It’ll be amazing to work together again but GUYS this one aint it!!! I wish him and Aishwarya lots of luck with the film.” With this tweet, Priyanka has laid to rest all speculation.

It seems, conservatively speaking, that if Heroine is shelved, there will be a loss of Rs. 5.5 crores. “It could even be more. There was so much spent on the film’s pre-production. Who is going to account for the money spent on the shooting so far?”, questions a trade source. Amidst media speculations about the much talked about film being shelved, the filmmakers held rushed meetings to make a decision the fate of the film. The outcome of the meetings has not got too well with the Bachchans. A source close to Ash revealed, “Aishwarya had made it clear that she would complete Heroine by the end of July. Now Madhur is saying it isn’t possible to complete the film within the stipulated time. Is it her fault if they’re suddenly unsure of finishing their film?” Also there are stories that Madhur wanted Ash to do a few smoking scenes and under-the waterfall bath sequences in the film.

A source close to Ash says, “Suddenly there was talk of two item songs. Madhur wanted to know how she would perform these songs. Aishwarya had no knowledge of these item songs at all. There was no mention of them anywhere in the script. “She has never done a bathing-under-the-waterfall sequence in her entire career. Why would she do it now? No, there was never any waterfall sequence to begin with. As for the smoking sequence, yes, there were scenes where her character was supposed to smoke. But after the controversies that had cropped up during her smoking sequence in Guzaarish, Aishwarya clearly told UTV and Madhur Bhandarkar that she would not do any smoking scenes. So where did these stories suddenly crop up from? If Aishwarya wanted, she could’ve just shot for the film quietly without announcing the pregnancy. But after hearing of the pregnancy, Madhur Bhandarkar came up with these strange new demands – like two item songs. Understandably, she is not going to give in at this stage when motherhood is far more important to her than any role.”

A source close to Madhur Bhandarkar says,”Aishwarya plays a Bollywood star in the film. How could there be no singing and dancing? In fact, now because of her pregnancy, all these sequences have to be toned down. The filmmakers will never take a risk with her in such a delicate condition.”

Madhur is upset about Ash not informing about her pregnancy in advance. But then she had reportedly agreed to continue the film’s shoot on a fast-track mode so that no one’s interest is harmed, but then the makers are not happy with this justification. Madhur’s source adds, “This thing happens. There was an overseas shoot planned. Then there are a couple of dances that Ash was supposed to do. For the dramatic portions of the film, Madhur could still go ahead and take close-up shots to hide her pregnancy. But how about the part where she has to look glamorous? Her entire profile can anyways not be shown on camera, now that she is all set to put on weight.”

The source adds, “He has cut himself from the outside world and gone into hibernation. Perhaps once he comes out of the shock, he would decide further course of action. Madhur had noticed that Ash was gaining weight. He obviously didn’t associate with motherhood. If she had only told him earlier, Madhur would’ve worked his way around the problem. Now UTV and Madhur stand to lose around Rs 6 crore if the film is shelved.”

The news may come as surprise for Vidya’s fans that were totally besotted by the woman. In fact, the actress went on to win numerous awards and appreciation for the role. The actress even attended the party when Vishal had announced Ishqiya 2. She had also been voicing the fact that she would love to do the sequel with Shah Rukh Khan and Hugh Jackman, if she had her way, underscoring the fact that she all along, thought that she would be in the sequel.

The director Abhishek Chaubey says, “Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi do fall in love again in the sequel but not with Vidya. They fall in love with two different girls. The script doesn’t have a role for Vidya, unfortunately.”

There are rumors that Madhuri Dixit had been approached to play one of the ‘roles’ in the film. “Madhuri asked for a very high fee. So we don’t know whether she is a part of the film, yet,” says one source. Stay tuned to this site for more information about the casting development of Ishqiya 2.

With two points of view emerging, one does not know which one is true but it is a fact that Priyanka is not in the film, while Shahid is very much a part of the proceedings. A source close to the film rubbished rumors of Shahid asking Vishal not to cast Priyanka.. “No, it’s got nothing to do with the personal equation between Shahid and Priyanka. She just doesn’t fit into the sequel. Nor, for that matter, does Chandan Roy Sanyal, who played Shahid’s best friend in the first part,” he says.

The source added, “Vishal is currently scripting Kaminey 2. He will first direct a film with Ajay Devgn to be co-produced by Devgn, Kumar Mangat and himself. He will then start working on Kaminey 2, for which Shahid will have to prepare once again.”

Vishal wants Shahid to get that stunning body again, the six packs that he had flaunted on the first part. So for one of the twins in the movie, Shahid will be flaunting the dream bod again. For Vishal, it is going to be Kaminey 2 first thereafter which, he will direct Shah Rukh Khan in a movie adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s 2 States for director Sajid Nadiadwala.

The film has a serial killer on the loose who kills women. Mohit says, , “We have incorporated several real-life incidents like women’s bodies being found on Goa’s beaches as well as the Nithari killings which rocked Noida, when discovered in 2007.” The script writer says, “The murderer is the suspense angle of the film. Murder 2 is pronounced with a pathological killer at work.”

Though there were media reports that Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif or Deepika Padukone may pair up with Akshay in this Milan Luthria film, the success of Dabangg has such a far reaching impact that Sonakshi is being considered as a worthy contender to the established actresses as well. A source says, “Ekta Kapoor and Milan were taking their time to choose the leading lady for Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2. They want the girl to be perfect. Initially, they wanted a leading lady to essay the role of Mandakini. But now, they are considering Sonakshi.”

Akshay and Sonakshi have already been paired in Joker, a movie that will release this December. The pair will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Rowdy Rathod’. So this chemistry is going to be interesting . The source adds, “Akshay and Sonakshi are already doing Shirish Kunder’s Joker and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Rowdy Rathod to be directed by Prabhudeva together. Ekta and Milan will obviously keep that in mind while making their choice,” added the source.

There are also reports that the casting is not over Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2. They are looking for a parallel hero in the film.

Kiran Rao, Aamir’s wife and producer-director of Dhobi Ghaat, says that there is nothing wrong with the song. She said, “I don’t think there is anything wrong with the song. It has funny lyrics; it is a fun song about a person called DK Bose. He is a loser whining about everything around him. It is just a funny take on life. How can anybody have problem with it?” She adds, “But still, if someone has a problem, just don’t listen to the song.”

Mrs. Khan does not think that the lyrics can negatively impact underage audience if the song is played on TV channels and radio during the day. She emphasized, , “I think the songs in our Hindi films are a reflection of the present. Of the way we think, speak and the words we use. That’s perhaps why more and more songs nowadays have bolder lyrics. Yesteryear poetry has taken a backseat.”

Contradictory to her usual plump-on screen image in her life; especially in the last few years, Sridevi’s figure has been quite enviable. A source says, ‘She has lost a lot of weight. No one can tell that she has kids. In fact in the recent months, she was looking nearly anorexic. It is felt that this look wouldn’t go with what is required for a housewife in search of an identity. So the team of English Vinglish asked her to pile on weight..”

Sridevi plays a woman married into the rich family in the film English Vinglish. Since she does not know English in the film, she is made a laughing stock. This housewife then enrolls into an English learning course in the UK, where she meets a French guy. Sparks fly and then…do we need to say it all?

Sridevi who has always been quite committed to her roles is raring to give her best shot to the role, physically as well as mentally. Life really has come full circle for this chubby actress who debuted in Indian cinema with Solva Sawaan, three decades ago. Sridevi’s husband Boney Kapoor says jokingly, “When the food comes to the table I feel sorry for it. I therefore end up eating for both of us. That’s why I’m overweight.” Look like from this time onward, he will have to start sharing food if he wants his wife to suit the role.

A source says, “Madhur Bhandarkar has changed the character’s name, but she is clearly modeled on Nadira. It’s a role of a yesteryear actress, who led a lonely, isolated life, without family and friends. She simply relived her glorious days as a screen queen with people who visited her. It’s the frightening face of Bollywood – the other side of the glamour business, much after all the star attention fizzles out.”

Nadira’s scintillating performances in Shri 420 and Aan, made her the sex symbol of the 1950s.However, many leading female actors of those times have either passed away or have taken ill.The latest report says that Madhur is contemplating talking to two of the divas from the glorious period, Nimmi or Shyama to reprise the role. Looks like the veteran may just steal the limelight away from Ash.

A veteran film maker says, “He is playing his age in Bbuddah…Hoga Terra Baap as well as Aarakshan. However, while the former is appearing to be an out and masala fare which is basically a trip down the memory lane for all Bachchan fans, the latter is expected to follow more realistic route as it is based on a socially relevant issue of reservation.”

One does not know much about the plot of Bbuddah…Hoga Terra Baap, but the only thing that is known that his character’s name is Vijay Deenanath Chauhan (his famous on-screen name in Agneepath). Big B’s role in Aarakshan’s is clearer, what with the actor playing the role of a college professor called Prabhakar Anand.

Prakash Jha, the director says, “Is Prabhakar Anand as angry as Vijay Deenanth Chauhan? It is difficult for me to say. All I can say is that as a college Principal, Mr. Bachchan has played his part perfectly well. There is a certain demand of this character who has worked very hard to bring his college to a position where it is. However, when there is an issue that looms large over him and his college, he doesn’t take it lying down. When Prabhakar Anand faces a challenge, he executes what he is supposed to do with a lot of dignity. He is someone who is quite firm; no one can take him for granted”

One thing is sure, Big B’s character in Aarakshan is more raw rather than flamboyant while it is vice versa in Bbuddah…Hoga Terra Baap.

The team is however skeptical whether it is right to shoot in Pakistan as the controversial nature of the topic may raise security concerns to the cast and the overall team. A source says, “The ideal location to shoot the film is in Pakistan and Ekta and Milan are surely thinking about it. However, the security is a major concern. It is no secret that Akshay Kumar is essaying the role of Dawood Ibrahim, who is allegedly living in Karachi.

The makers are on the lookout of a younger looking actor who will star opposite Akshay like Emraan did against Ajay Devgn in the original.They are also finding out possible locations in Pakistan to shoot the sequel. The actors have however not given their consent about shooting in the neighboring country. Another source says,”The idea to film there makes sense as the film deals with Dawood’s life and his rise in the underworld, after the death of various dons like Haji Mastan, Vardha Rajan and Karim Lala. Following the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood supposedly fled to Pakistan and is reportedly staying in Karachi.For even a portion of the sequel to be shot in Pakistan would be hugely controversial. Considering the content of the film, the support of the Pakistan government will be necessary, if the producers decide to shoot there, even just for two to three days.”

Raaz (2002) and Murder (2004) are two of the biggest hits of the Bhatt family. But Mukesh Bhatt said it clearly in media that he had it with the highhandedness shown by Bipasha as well as Mallika Sherawat after their initial glory; and so he found it better to work with a spirited new comer like Jacqueline. Raaz 2 that starred Kangna Ranaut, Adhyayan Suman and Emraan Hashmi did average business but they hope to do it better this time with the third part.

Raaz 3 incident will be directed by the best director for horror in the business, Vikram Bhatt; who also directed Raaz and recently, Haunted 3D. Talks are on to make Raaz 3 in 3D as well.

The actual plan was for Vidya Balan to gain weight naturally but she had to lose it fast for her next film. She admitted that it was not possible for her to gain and lose extra kilos quickly enough. So she has agreed to go for butt pads. Also, Vidya will be using prosthetics to increase her breast size to match the generous bust line of Silk Smitha.

The actress is actually believed to have taken a cue from her one-time ‘good friend’ Shahid Kapoor who had worn butt pads for Chance Pe Dance. Ekta Kapoor has entrusted AD Shahana with the role of making Vidya Balan voluptuous while makeup person Vikram Dada will make her face coquettish.

A source says that Vivek Oberoi is quite excited being a part of Krrish 3 because he will be playing a negative role. This is something he has never played before. The Bhatts wanted to start their film on August, which incidentally is more or less the same time when Vivek will start shooting for the Rakesh Roshan film.

It is understandable that Vivek will say yes to Krrish because of the success record of the franchise. Also, it was seen that the newlywed ‘Saathiya’ star was bonding a lot with Hrithik at a party in Mumbai, last Sunday. Onlookers were astonished to see them talking animatedly; the bonding was very much apparent. A person who overheard the communication said, “They both were talking about Krrish 3 in the party too. They looked quite comfortable with each other. They seem best friends”

The Bhatts are not really sad with Oberoi’s rejection. Mukesh Bhatt who is usually quite outright with his views and admonishes an actor for being unprofessional without second thoughts, in fact, is happy with Vivek’s decision. He says, “I have no issues with Vivek. He has been very professional. He had never committed to this film. It is simply admirable when someone is so clear about things. Let’s see whom we cast in the role, which Sanjay was supposed to do. We are working on this. Bahut jaldi finalise ho jayega.”

The director Sajid Khan who had signed Asin after he was overwhelmed with her performance in Ghajini says similar things about Shahzahn, “I loved Shahzahn in Rocket Singh, however, I am yet to see her film ‘Dil To Baccha Hai Ji’. She definitely suits the role and I am looking forward to start filming in the next twenty days.”

Sajid Khan says, “She will be joining three other ladies in the film, Asin, Jacqueline Fernandez and Zarine Khan. ” Shazahn says, “Yes, I am doing Housefull 2 but I am not allowed to talk about it. I have just signed the contract and am super excited about it. It is great to be a part of the Sajid Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala family.”

The Ronald Donaldson movie will be launched in the upcoming Cannes film festival. Some of the parts will be shot in Mumbai. The film is a story about green, ambition and lust for money which has three parallel story lines set in the times leading to the Dow-Jones all time stock market high.

The three plots involve a New York-based hedge fund manager (Owen) who has everything he wants-money, women and power but wants more; a young couple based in London who are looking forward to buying their new home which is however, out of their reach and the third story about a Mumbai cop who has to fight against corruption between property betters and his colleagues, one of whom will be played by Anil. The movie will be shot from October 2011, in London, New York and Mumbai.

Salman incidentally has been paying more attention to scripts after Wanted became a success and the results are there for us to see. The Dabangg actor adds, “It is a very ambitious project and will be a challenge for all of us, but that’s exactly what makes it such a big draw. Above all this, I’m honoured to be working with Yash-ji (Yash Chopra), who has worked so closely with my dad (Salim Khan) in the past.”

Veteran director-producer Yash Chopra, the head honcho of YRF is also equally elated about having Salman Khan on-board. “Everyone knows my association with Salim saab, having worked together on ‘Deewaar’, ‘Trishul’ and ‘Kaala Patthar’. It is a very happy moment for me and YRF to have his son Salman with us for the first time. Over the years, Salman has become a very matured and talented actor and both he and the beautiful Katrina have a tremendous connect with their audiences. Combined with Kabir’s edgy directorial skills, we can all look forward to a thrilling film.”

The story of Ek Tha Tiger is written by Yash and Aditya Chopra; the screenplay and dialogues are by Kabir Khan and Neelesh Misra while the music is by Pritam. The shooting of the film will go underway in early July and the movie will be ready to release by mid-2012.

Titled “Love Story”, Ramu is shooting the film in the same building where the murder took place, Dheeraj Solitaire in Malad’s Linking Road, Mumbai. Ramu will be canning the first shot with Mahie Gill who plays the role of Maria Susairaj. The shooting is an apartment similar to the one that was the scene of the crime, the only difference being this one is being shot 10 floors above

“It is a coincidence that I shot my first scene on April 20, which happens to be the day the actress moved into the flat, and my schedule will get completed on May 6, the day of the murder,” Ramu says. He did not have much trouble getting the society’s permission because both the case and his penchant for authenticity are known. “It is public knowledge. I convinced the society there was no intention to damage anyone’s image. Also we would not disturb their way of life. We don’t have vanity vans or extra people on the sets that hinder peace in the building,” he said.

To ensure the unit is not flabby, he is using a 5D camera, which requires only one person. A unit member said, “It is like a still camera that needs one person. Only natural light is enough. We don’t need any extra lights to frame the scene. When the shoot is over the chip can be inserted into a computer and the film edited.’

Ram Gopal Varma, like many people, have been fascinated by this morbid murder case, in which Maria’s boyfriend had allegedly killed Neeraj Grover who had spent the night with Maria. The two had then cut the body into 300 pieces, allegedly, before disposing it in a forest a few kilometers away. Ramu says, “Three people who did not have a criminal record woke up one morning and became part of something that made the entire world shudder. My focus is on their frame of mind when the crime was committed.”

The director has not spoken to any of the family members of those involved in the murder or the victim. He said, “I didn’t want the story to be coloured by their version and prefer to look at it objectively, from the outside.” In Varma’s A Love Story, Ajay Gehi is Neeraj Grover and Deepak Dobriyal has been cast as Emile Jerome.

“It’s sad for the industry as it cannot see a Vikramaditya Motwane before ‘Udaan’ or a Bijoy before ‘Shaitaan’,” said the director. Udaan not only won critical and popular acclaim in India but it was also screened at the 2010 Cannes International Film Festival  and became the first film to represent India in the prestigious fest’s official section in the last seven years.

He describes his next production venture “Shaitaan” as “A David Fincher kind of movie, set in Mumbai, made by an Indian”.”Shaitaan is a film that deals with a group of five rich kids. They have access to money, are from affluent backgrounds, but they don’t do anything, so they experiment with life like a lot of kids of this generation. Then comes that one moment that really turns around their lives,” he says.

Anurag adds, “Bijoy used to come home to meet Kalki to discuss her role and at that time it was meant to have Arshad Warsi and some more people. It was a far bigger project and somebody else was producing it.But I realised that the film is not moving for almost two years. So I told Bijoy ‘if things are not working out, let me know, I’ll produce it, it’s just that I can’t do it on a big budget’. So it started with that and one day he came and said I would like you to produce my film.”

The director rates Shaitaan even better than Udaan. “For me, when I saw ‘Udaan’, I felt that it’s better than most of my films, and now I feel the same about ‘Shaitaan’. I think everyone will like this film. I’m extremely proud of it”

Shaitaan stars Rajeev Khandelwal and Kashyap’s actress girlfriend Kalki Koechlin. Though Arshad was supposed to do the lead role, it eventually went to Rajeev Khandelwal. The movie will release in June 2011.

The movie is about a woman who cheats on her husband who is much older, with a man her age. The film is on the trials and tribulations of the three characters. A source says that Vikram had actually wanted to play a character in Haunted as well, but did not find any scope for another character. Haunted, the first 3D horror film in India is the most anticipated movie this season. Vikram Bhatt is also known for his intense voice, he had actually lent the ghost’s voice in many of his films including Raaz and 1920.

When contacted, Vikram Bhatt said, “Yes, it is true that I am thinking of playing the part myself.”  However, when asked about him being part of any erotic scenes in the film, he laughed, “Unfortunately I don’t get to do anything erotic in the film, the other two characters do.”

Rani does not divulge the details but does give a hint “. I have really not done an item number in my career, but I’m open to it. Doing it totally depends on how the song is being presented and if it excites me. I love dancing and I think such special songs have a lot of energy. It’s fun to see and shoot.”

A reliable source however has said that she is considering the item number for Sajid Khan’s film. There is more awards in store for this petite actress. She will be getting the famous Dada Saheb Phalke Academy Award for her role as Meera Gaiety in No One Killed Jessica. She confirms, “I’m happy that people have loved my film and my work. I have always let my work do the talking and I guess I have proved to my critics that I’m not over. It’s a great feeling to be back winning awards.

The Bong beauty says, “The past three years had been challenging because I didn’t have box office success behind me. People forget the body of work, and the amount of blood and sweat that you put in for years and write you off, so I’m very happy to get this prestigious award.” Though the actor does not have many movies on hand, she is contemplating doing a talk show on the lines of Opah Winfrey show.

This film captures the first official encounter killing of a gangster called Manya Surve in Mumbai. The story is inspired by Hussain Zaidi’s soon to be released book ‘Dongri to Mumbai’. The director will be taking the help of Hussain Zaidi, the acclaimed crime reporter who also wrote a book based on the 1993 bombing in the city which turned into a movie called Black Friday directed by Anurag Kashyap.

Gupta confirmed, “I have wanted to work with Hussain Zaidi, since I first saw Black Friday. It was the most well researched thriller I’d ever seen. I was just waiting for the right chance for us to come together. When I decided to make a sequel to Shootout At Lokhandwala, I immediately thought of Zaidi.”

“When I got to know that Hussain is writing a book on the history of crime in Mumbai, I requested him to let me read portions of it. I found amazing details on Manya Surve, who was gunned down in Vadala. We’ve never had such insight into crime and the underworld before,” added Gupta.

Zaidi will also be in the scripting team of the film. The author confirmed, saying, “Yes, we’ll be working together.”

Sonkashi had said, “I wouldn’t call it an item song because I’m the film’s heroine and guest artistes perform item songs. But, I know it will be well shot and lavish and aesthetic because it’s being choreographed by Farah Khan. All my worries are sorted out.”

A few days ago, Sonakshi twitted an exclusive picture from her upcoming film with her in a Munni like stance. Sonakshi tweeted, “Joker update: dance karle english mein aur nach le tu hindi mein! filhaal yaha par toh hindi hi hindi mein naach naach rahe hai ” There is a song and dance sequence called ‘Dance Karle English Mein’ where she will groove to many theme based parodies in the movie.

“How many understood what Dabangg really meant when the film was announced?” asks a senior crew member of Singham, “In fact hardly any people, in fact even those belonging to the North belt of India had never heard of the word. People didn’t have any clue whatsoever even for Ghajini. And to think of it, it was the not even the name of the hero in the film; it belonged to the villain. Those were unusual titles but the hype around Dabangg as well as Ghajini was such that the titles stuck. It’s the overall package that matters.”

With everyone agreeing to the original title, it is confirmed that Singham is the actual title of the movie, which is currently in the shooting phase. “Nothing doing, Singham is the final title”, confirms Rohit Shetty, “We all are mighty excited and convinced about the title. And what do you feel is peculiar about the title? It’s a Sanskrit word which stands for lion. I am sure everyone is familiar with that.”

When asked if a conventional title would have been better off, Rohit says, “Well, if it was conventional, you wouldn’t have called me to check, right? The very fact that you are talking to me means that the title intrigued you. I guess the job is done”, he says with laughter before hanging up.

Varma confirmed, “The Maria Susairaj case has always fascinated me in the context, of how two everyday ordinary people can kill another man, cut his body into pieces and then douse the body parts in kerosene. According to me, it is one of the most brutal and horrifying murder stories I have heard in my life. It made me curious and so I did some research on the case. I spoke to the friends and relatives of both the parties – the accused and the victim. I also spoke to the investigators. To my shock, I found out that underneath this most heinous crime, there is actually an incredible love story. It was love, which triggered the murder, drove them to cut the body and turned them into such dreadful souls. That is why I decided the most apt title for the film would be – A Love Story. It’s from the heart but not for the faint-hearted.”

Mahie Gill will play the role of Maria Susairaj while the characters of Neeraj Grover and Emili Jerome are still to be decided. The film goes on floors on April 9. Surprisingly, when the murder had happened, the media had referred to this incident as an RGV thriller. Seems to have come true!

The producer Mukesh Bhatt was in no mood to sign Mallika because he feels that she is high-handed and had grown too big for her boots. Though Jacqueline has been associated with a cute image due to her roles in films like Aladin and Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai, she hopes to go ahead and break the mould by showing her erotic side in Murder 2. Considering the Bhatts are known to give a fresh start and a new image to their actors, things are looking sunny side up for the Sri Lankan beauty.

Soha says, “Yes, I am playing a deaf girl in the film. I have just started shooting for the film and trust me; it is a completely different experience for me. I can’t imagine myself in a world where I can’t hear anything. I converse so much with people in real life and to be put in a situation like this, it has been a challenge for me.”

The movie is based on the real life story of a famous Czech DJ Kristov Masalin, who lost his hearing due to playing music at high decibels  at various venues. But that did not stop from keep his music career alive. The Canadian version had Paul Kaye, playing the DJ, while the Hindi version will have Rajeev Khandelwal reprising the role. Soha Ali Khan has not had a release, for quite a while; and she has left Tum Mile behind her. “Yes, Tum Mile not doing well was a disappointment. However, there was no conscious effort to take a break. It’s just that Tera Kya Hoga Johnny is now releasing after all the issues it had to face due to YouTube leak earlier this year. It was unfortunate”, sighs Soha.

Soha believes that 2011 will bring a positive twist to her career.  She says, “There is another film called Chemistry which I have done with Shreyas Talpade. It is my first ever out and out comedy. And then of course there is Soundtrack which should turn out to be a superb human drama. These are the kind of films that excite me. I am anyways not dreaming of pot loads of money. As long as there is something which is experimental yet sale-able, I am fine not being a part of hardcore mainstream brigade”, she signs off.

The ‘big heroine’ that Manoj is referring to his, is the leader’s favorite ‘Jaya Prada’. Also, Sanjay Dutt, a close friend of the leader, will play himself in the film . Manoj says, “Sanju Baba will play Sanju Baba. Amar Singhji has already got Sanjay Dutt’s role in place. We’re also finalizing his other friends from Bollywood for the other characters. ”

Manoj Tiwari likens his 63 day stay in Big Boss to a nightmare. . “It was as if life had stopped still. Most contestants were strugglers except, Khali and maybe Shweta Tiwari. There were no nice people inside there with me, except Khali and Seema Parihar. In Seemaji, I’ve found a mother and a sister. But for the rest, the less said the better. I am thankful to be out of the House because on December 18, I’ve to attend a very big function in Patna.”

Unbelievably, Manoj has severed friendship with Shweta Tiwari. He has taken his altercation with Shweta to heart.  He adds, “Shweta Tiwari was a friend. I’ve worked with her in several films. She proved to be a very confused and confusing soul.” But he is happy that Bigg Boss did make him a star on a national level. He says, “So far, I was known as a regional star. Now, I am recognized on a national level. Hopefully as a good one”.

Shaving off his head completely has a lot to do with the fact that Anil will be playing a dreaded villain in the film. His character is spontaneous, treacherous, and edgy and yes, stylish. A source says “Anil has always been possessive about his hair. He did give a lot of thought about shaving his head off, last month, and finally decided to go completely bald.” Though there were talks about getting a stylish wig for the role, Anil thought that going bald would elevate the popularity stakes of the character he was playing.

The source further added, “Anil is currently busy promoting his film, No Problem. Post that, he will go to shoot for Mission impossible 4. He will come back by December end and then go bald, shooting for Power.”

Sonakshi will be playing a modern girl, unlike her village avatar in the 2010 blockbuster. Joker would also be having a huge supporting cast that Shirsh will announce in the days to come. Shirish will be tapping on Indian talent for the 3d technology, largely. He says, “Most of the technicians will be from India but yes, since this a new technology, we would be using the expertise of some experienced names from Hollywood too.”

Joker is a joint venture between Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder’s Three’s Company and Akshay’s Hari Om Entertainment. The shooting of the film will be commencing from January 2011 and will be shot in India only.

The regular boys, Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will be in the film, but the girls will be different, possibly new faces. A source said, “It is not clear if Shah Rukh will be in Dhoom 3 because he has also been roped in for Yash Chopra’s next directorial venture.” An official announcement on Dhoom 3′s cast will be made in January 2011. Incidentally, this year will be the year of remakes with movies like Race 2, Partner 2 and Don 2 hitting the theaters.

In the movie, Vinod Khanna and Poonam Dhillon were penciled to play the role of parents to debutant Chirag, who is the son of Ram Vilas Paswan. Though Khanna was not available for comment, the producer Anuj said,, “We had signed Vinod Khannaji for the film, One and Only, but certain dates were re-shuffled and he couldn’t adjust to the new schedule due to his other commitments, so we had to find an alternative. Kabir Bedi has started shooting for the film.”

In the novel, the women never cross paths even for one passing scene and the director Rituparno Ghosh has similar thoughts while filming, but this is something that the producer Subash Ghai does not believe in. For cinematic liberties, he is all for making the two heroines cross paths at least once. A source says, “Ghai belongs to the hardcore commercial school of film-making whereas Rituparno Ghosh’s sensitivities are far more arty. This is the first time that the two sisters Raima and Riya are coming together. Even in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s adaptation of Saratchandra’s Devdas the two female protagonists, rivals in love, came together although their paths never crossed in the novel.”

Rituparno Ghosh objects, “Why should Raima and Riya come together just because people expect them to? This is material from Rabindranath Tagore and therefore inviolable. I respect Sanjay Bhansali’s work. But that (Devdas) was his vision and interpretation. In my Naukadubi the two women cannot come together.”

Raima speaks for the sisters, “People expect us to come together. But that’s the beauty of the story. Everyone else comes together, only we don’t. Besides this is a Rabindranath Tagore story. Ritu-da left it at that.”

The other thing is that the movie Naukadubi will also relaunch Bengali superstar Prosenjeet in Hindi. Personally we feel Ghai is right because Indian audiences have a certain sensibility and if the two hotties come together, they would naturally be pleased.

Aarakshan stars Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai and Deepika Padukone, and will be going on floors from January 2011. A source from the film says, Aarakshan is Prakash Jha’s most ambitious project till date. It is also a difficult film to make. Ajay was not very happy with the way his role had shaped up after the final draft and he told Prakash Jha that he would not like to be a part of the film.”

Ajay apparently made his displeasure apparent to Jha who understood it and said that they would work again in the near future, when he has something better to offer to him. Ajay is on a roll with four back to back hits, including one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, Golmaal 3. The source adds, “In the recent past too, there were many rumors that there were issues between the two over Ajay’s role in Rajneeti as Ajay was not happy. However this time Ajay didn’t want to take any chances and he opted out of the film.”Ajay Devgn is shooting in London for Tez as of now.

A source says, “Dhoom 3 has been in the news for the longest period. While there have been all kinds of speculations about who will direct the film, one thing was always clear that Vijay Krishna Acharya (of Tashan), better known as Victor Acharya, is writing the script.” The leading characters are yet to be finalized though Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will play their regular roles. An official announcement should come up in January 2011 and the movie will go on the floors from March, probably the time when SRK is free from his current projects.

Apparently, Big B is keen to do this film based on father-daughter. He has played dad in films like Mohabbatein, Sarkar and Waqt but the last two were father-son films. In Mohabbatein, though he played father to Aishwarya Rai, there was hardly an emotional confrontation between them in the film. This Belgian film is the story of a father who dreams that his daughter will be a successful singer one day. The producer says, “When I saw the Belgian film I was completely bowled over. The father-daughter story is so Indian. We immediately sought out the rights and purchased it. Only Amitji can play the father. The hunt is on for a 17-year old girl to play his daughter.”