Shahid-Kareena mystery unraveled on BBC

Publicist Dale Bhagwagar will interact with listeners in a live telephonic interactive radio session, on the BBC Asian Network in UK. He is expected to give his frank opinion of publicity stunts, and whether the Shahid-Kareena episode is one.

In fact, he has promised to unravel the mystery behind the much publicized break-up.

Dale has a weekly column in which he has said, "From a PR point of view, Shahid can either play cry-baby and portray himself as a bechara attracting public sympathy, or he can say that it doesn't bother him if Kareena left him

. But Shahid is toeing a better line right now. He is saying that he is moving on in life."

Dale believes that this is the best path that the actor can take, given the situation.

Himesh to brave SRK threat!

Till a few days ago, music-director-turned-singer-turned actor Himesh Reshammiya's dream project, a remake of "Karz", was as good as shelved, thanks to speculations that Farah Khan's "Om Shanti Om" has a plot similar to the orginal "Karz".

The makers of the "Karz" remake panicked as they thought there was not much time left for making major changes to the script. They had almost decided to scrap the project. That's when cool dude Himesh came to the rescue.

After all, how could he let go of a film for which he is working so hard to lose his weight and get his looks right.

A source says: "The script of the movie has been reworked on and now it is final that the movie would not be scrapped. However, Himesh would not essay a double role as thought of before.

The role played by Raj Kiran in the original "Karz" would be portrayed by a newcomer, while Himesh plays just Rishi Kapoor's part. It is learnt that Himesh himself made these changes and many more, too, in the script. The film-makers are now focusing on beginning the shoot soon."

The source adds: "Himmesh was very upset and hurt when he heard that his dream project was about to get scrapped. So he started looking for solutions from Day One itself.

The charismatic singer-actor loves the plot of the original "Karz" as it was, perhaps, the only movie in those times which dealt with the concept of rebirth. The same person was played by two different actors, Raj Kiran and Rishi Kapoor."

The shooting of the movie will now start in January, 2008, as decided upon earlier. Himesh will act, sing, and direct at the same time. Meanwhile, the actor is also doing a movie with Pooja Bhatt, which would be shot in Europe and Pakistan

At Last ….RDB`s Siddharth Signs Another Hindi Film

After Shah Rukh Khan as a hockey camp in Chak De India and John Abraham as a football pro in the soon-to-be-released Goal, it Rang De Basanti's much-acclaimed Siddharth who's is all set to play a cool carom ka pasha in talented director Chandan Arora's third feature film.

Entitled Striker, the film's main protagonist Siddharth's character will be based on the life and times of a real-life go-dooder and carrom whiz from the slums of Malavni named Suryakant.

Siddharth who has said a firm no to several posh offers from Mumbai including Rakeysh Mehra's Delhi 6 and David Dhawan's film for UTV, has quietly been preparing for the new challenge in his acting life.

A carrom player from the outset, Siddharth has been polishing up his game.

Says Chandan who earlier made two extremely interesting films Main Madhuri Dixit Ban-na Chahti Hoon and Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, "Siddharth has become an expert at carrom. By the time we hit the floors in December Siddharth would be able to beat anyone at the game.

He has met with the real-life Suryakant several times. He has also spent sizeable time in Malavni getting the feel of the place.Though he functions from the South he has spent a large part of his life in Delhi and Mumbai. So he speaks very fluent Hindi."

Striker is set in the 1980s and will move through a labyrinth of socio-cultural political issues as seen through the eyes of the slum-protagonist.

Says Chandan, "I was researching for a television series on the gangs of Mumbai Malavni is like this one cultural hubub.

Unlike Dharavi which is a planned slum, Malavni just happened. People and communities from all across Mumbai who were rendered homeless just converged on this slum. So to begin with, it was more a refugee camp than a slum."

Chandan Arora who worked closely with Ram Gopal Varma before breaking loose, will be shooting the film on location in Malavni and also recreating key scenes and situations on sets.

"But the game of carom will preside over the goings-on, just as it does in the slum. Lakhs of rupees go into betting over the game. Carrom is a way of life in Malavni," explains Arora.

The rest of the vast cast is now being worked out. But Vidya Malvade from Chak De India, model Nicolette Bird and South Indian actress Padma Priya have been finalized.

Ironically Chandan, like Shimit Amin who made a terrific hockey film after leaving Ram Gopal Varma's Factory, is all set to give another national game a hand-up.

Big B and Abhi are in 'OM SHANTI OM' too

In Shah Rukh Khan's much-flaunted mega item number in his forthcoming "Om Shanti Om", old timers Dharmendra, Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty shake a leg along with a bevy of 28 other top stars - but Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek are conspicuously missing.

For those thinking gleefully that the song is another example of the Shah Rukh-Amitabh famed rivalry, it may be a bit of disappointment to know that both the Bachchans are very much in the film.

"The Bachchans are not in the title song, but will feature in the other sequences," a source close to the "Om Shanti Om" team told.

"How can I not have Mr. Bachchan and Abhishek? Both father and son have a special appearance in my film. They come in a scene just before the song," Farah Khan, who approached 34 stars but managed to get only 31, was quoted as saying.

Another well-known actor who couldn't comply with Farah's request was Aamir Khan. According to the director, Aamir was too busy shooting "Ghajini" and couldn't take time out.

Set in the 70s film industry "Om Shanti Om", is about a struggling actor Om, who falls in love with a successful actress, played by pretty newcomer Deepika Padukone. But before Om can woo her, he dies in an accident. He takes a new avatar in "another birth" as a big star and goes in search of his "previous life" love.

Bachchan's presence in "Om Shanti Om", a Shah Rukh Khan home production, puts an end to speculation about the animosity between the two stars.

Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit in the capital earlier this month, Shah Rukh had described his rivalry with Amitabh as a media exaggeration. The presence of Abhishek and Amitabh in his film substantiates his statement that there is no rivalry between him and the Bollywood icon.

The stories of their supposed rivalry intensified after Shah Rukh became the host of STAR TV's quiz show "Kaun Banega Crorepati", which was till then known as Amitabh's show, and ran it in his own style successfully.

Soon after that, he acted in a cheeky remake of Amitabh's 70s hit "Don", adding grist to rumour mills of the bad vibes between the two superstars.

Then followed Ram Gopal Verma dropping his "Time Machine" with Shah Rukh in order to complete his two projects with Amitabh - "Nishabd" and "Ram Gopal Verma Ke Aag".

Despite being in London at the time of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards function in Yorkshire, Shah Rukh gave the event a miss. In fact, he missed the 2006 IIFA function too. The reason was said to be Bachchan being the brand ambassador of IIFA. v At the time Amitabh was unwell last year, Shah Rukh bagged many of his ad assignments - with ICICI Bank, Navratan Oil and the government Pulse Polio ads.

Although Amitabh has often denied any rivalry, he didn't invite Shah Rukh for his son Abhishek's wedding with Aishwarya Rai.

Perhaps "Om Shanti Om" marks a new friendly beginning for both stars.

Big B favourite actor of Egyptians: Celina Jaitley

Bollywood star Celina Jaitley who has been made the Brand Ambassador of Egypt by the Egyptian Board, today said superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the favourite actor of the local people.

In a release here, the actress also said the Egyptians are also big fans of Bollywood films.

According to a release issued here, Celina made a trip down to Cairo to see the dynamic metropolis, which is also the largest city in the Middle East. This also happens to be her first trip to Egypt.

''I was not sure how popular our Bollywood films were there. But to my surprise, they seemed to be big fans of our movies and Amitabh Bachchan happened to be their favourite actor. Most of them wanted to know if I had acted with Mr Bachchan and asked me all sorts of questions about him,'' she said.

The highlights of her visit were a visit to the Giza Pyramids, few meetings with the tourism authority of Egypt to create India-Egypt relations especially in the field of entertainment.

Celina's first trip was to the Giza Pyramids. She was completely awestruck by the tallest structure in the world standing for over 3,800 years.

The original entrance of the Pyramid leads into the descending passage, which slopes down at an angle of about 26 degrees. It is a narrow passage, which measures about 3-1/2 feet wide by almost 4 feet high. It can be tiring and dangerous but Celina checked in while many of her friends backed out, the release added.

Salman Khan to get his six pack back for Tarzan!

Salman Khan has all the reason to take off his shirt. The brawny star will bew now seen as Tarzan, in a film to be directed by Anees Bazme.

It will be directed towards children, as Salman recently discovered he has a huge fan following among children and plans to dedicate the film to them.

"I want to do the film for children," says Sallu and adds, "I have found out that I have a huge fan following among kids, and I want to dedicate this film to them." He even promises a whole new hair style for the role, one that is sure to, in his words, "will become a style statement."

When asked if he see a market for such kinds of movies, Salman replies, "If Hemant Birje could make Tarzan a hit film 20 years ago, then I am sure I too can make it."

Salman Khan has all the reason to take off his shirt. The brawny star will bew now seen as Tarzan, in a film to be directed by Anees Bazme.

It will be directed towards children, as Salman recently discovered he has a huge fan following among children and plans to dedicate the film to them.

"I want to do the film for children," says Sallu and adds, "I have found out that I have a huge fan following among kids, and I want to dedicate this film to them." He even promises a whole new hair style for the role, one that is sure to, in his words, "will become a style statement."

When asked if he see a market for such kinds of movies, Salman replies, "If Hemant Birje could make Tarzan a hit film 20 years ago, then I am sure I too can make it."

I Cant have body like Salman Khan

Shah Rukh has always been fascinated by the cinema of the 70s and 80s. He grew up on them. His mother was an avid fan of Dilip Kumar and Rajesh Khanna.

Therefore, it was not too difficult for him to play the character of Om Prakash Makhija, in Farah Khan's 'Om Shanti Om'.

"I just had to recall whatever I could remember about the films of those days, when I set out to play the character in the first part of the film," he says, laughing, as he adds, "In fact, Farah Khan says that those portions came naturally to me because I overact."

The music for the song, 'Dhoom Thana', was carefully arranged by music director Pyarelal, of Laxmikant-Pyarelal fame, for that 70s feel.

For that famous sequence in the film, which is now aired as part of the promotional campaign, SRK reveals that the real stars from the industry were roped in for a guest appearance for a more realistic feel.

The film is based on the film industry, so it was understood that duplicates would not work. SRK says, "I am glad that other than Devsaab, all the senior stars, including Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra, Jeetendra and Mithun Chakraborty responded immediately, when Farah and I called them to give a guest appearance."

Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham and Salman Khan are the collective inspiration behind SRK's six-pack. Shah Rukh does not think he can have bodies like them, but he thought he should give it a try.

"I am only a debutante of the Body Builders Association of the Film Industry," he says with mock-seriousness, "Salman Khan is the Dada Saheb Phalke for all the body builders in the film industry."

Shah Rukh apparently went to Hrithik and Salman after he got his six-pack abs, to show off his body, and take their opinion.

The two 'Oms' in the title come from the characters he plays – 70s struggler Om Prakash Makhija, and today's superstar Om Kapoor.

The Shanti refers to the role Deepika Padukone plays, that of superstar Shanti Priya.

SRK asserts that although the film is not a spoof, Farah Khan's unusual sense of humour is apparent in some parts of the otherwise dramatic story.

Shah Rukh also emphasizes that the movie has nothing to do with Subhash Ghai's 'Karz', although the story revolves around reincarnation.

He adds, "We have just made an attempt to capture the period of the 70s. I do not think I am in a position to say that my film is hatke. I can only say that it is different as a producer for me since I had earlier made films like 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' and 'Main Hoon Naa'.


The term Bollywood is associated with the 70s. Even when I produced 'Main Hoon Naa', Farah and I wanted to recreate the 70s".

The superstar Khan declares that 'Devdas' was the biggest highlight of his career, and, if he had his way, 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Saawariya' would not have released on the same day, therefore not cutting into each other's audiences.

He adds, "I wish Sanjay Leela Bhansali all the best for 'Saawariya'. If you ask me, I have a lot of fear for my film though people generally maintain a front and insist that they have absolutely no fear at all when their films are about to be released.

Though I still maintain that both the films should not clash with each other, I do not think there is going to be any competition, because there are enough people to watch both."

Aishwarya on the sets of "Pink Panther2"

ANI is reporting that former Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai may appear in a Pink Panther sequel. She will star with actor Steve Martin. Others actors in the Pink Panther 2 movie are Andy Garcia, John Cleese and Alfred Molina.

Columbia Pictures and MGM's will produce and distribute The Pink Panther 2.

In some ways, it is perplexing. Would the addition of Aishwarya Rai add to or detract from the Pink Panther sequel? We are not sure.

It is a comedy movie, and the women in the movie are often dumb bimbos or other stereotypical characters - which is great fun. And while they do not lose their closes often in the wind or by accident, there is enough suggestive sexual humour - and will they avoid all that with the supposedly Indian-culture-upholding Aishwarya?

Those of you who have been following the career of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would remember that her husband, Abhishek Bachchan's family frowned upon ther smooch scene with Hritik Roshan in the superhit Bollywood movie Dhoom-2.

Guess we will have to wait and see if it all is true, right? We shall definitely keep you updated on any further news on Pink Panther 2.

Shah Rukh Khan refuses Shankar's 'ROBOT'

Shah Rukh Khan created a small stir when he announced that he is out of work for eight months, since he as opted out of the two films he had committed to – Shankar’s ‘Robot’, and Rajkumar Hirani’s next, based on Chetan Bhagat’s book, ‘Five Point Someone’. He stated that he had creative differences with the former, and that Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s accusations made him leave the latter.

However, according to sources, these are not the main reasons for his voluntary unemployment. Apparently, he is all set to star in Karan Johar’s ‘My Name Is Khan’, to go on floor soon.

The friendship between Johar and King Khan is legendary, and it is also a well-known fact that SRK is biased towards his friends. In fact, he would have put critics to shame if he had done the other two projects, since they are always accusing him of favouritism.

It is also believed that another possible reason for SRK to break his commitments to the other projects is Kajol – the Karan Johar film brings together the hit SRK-Kajol pair back to screen after a gap of six years.

The source adds, “Karan keeps hopping between US and India, and he is very excited about the project.

Presently Shah Rukh’s and Kajol’s looks are being worked out and the costumes other details are in their final stages. This usually happens when the film is about to start.”

‘My Name Is Khan’ is about a Muslim man, viewed suspiciously, after the 9/11 terror attack.

Salman,Aamir,Sharukh,Big B and many others in Mahabarata

THE MAHABARATA

Cast:Amitabh Bachchan,Manoj Bajpai,Kabir Bedi,Juhi Chawla,Dharmendra,Madhuri Dixit,Kamal Hassan,Meera Jasmine,Karan Johar,Ajith,Kajol,Aamir Khan,Salman Khan,Shahrukh Khan Trisha Krishnan,Madhavan,Mohan Lal,R. Siddharth Narayan,Naveen Nischol,Rajnikant,Shreya, Jackie Shroff,Sridevi,Preity Zinta,'Chiyaan' Vikram,Nagarjuna Akkineni
Sohail Khan

Directed by: Mani Ratnam,Bobby bedi

Big B is known to be an icon and a legend in the film industry especially after he made his comeback in the industry with the popular television show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’. Amitabh has played several diverse and some of the best roles on-screen in his films. Keeping up this trend Big B is now all set to play a funky and cool God in his film ‘God Tussi Great Ho’. According to some sources Big B may also play the role of ‘Bhishma’ in Ravi Chopra’s film version of Mahabharata. It is also being rumoured that Amitabh may once again be seen in his popular comeback show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ next year which will definitely be a treat for his fans.

Sources claim that Ravi Chopra is all set to make a film version of Mahabharata under his home production banner B.R Films. The television version of Mahabharata was also launched by B.R Films and went onto become extremely popular worldwide. The buzz in the industry is that Ravi wants Amitabh to play the role of ‘Bhishma’ and Rani Mukherjee to play the role of ‘Draupadi’ in his film version of Mahabharata. However Ravi Chopra refuses to discuss the star cast at this stage. He has just completed ‘Baabul’ with Amitabh. Rani, Salman and John and is currently waiting for the film to release.

Chopra however does say “I have been toying with the idea of making this epic into a feature film and now that Baabul is wrapped up I can take up this challenge.” An interesting piece of news is that the film will actually be a six hour movie which will be the longest film in the history of bollywood. But Chopra is quick to clarify this aspect saying “I will release it in two parts-part one on one Friday and the second part on the following Friday.” Chopra intends to work on both films simultaneously and has allotted a budget of Rs.150 crores for both the parts together. The film version will also have a lot more glamour and first class special effects.

Big B will also be seen playing a funky fun God in Rumi Jaffrey’s ‘God Tussi Great Ho’ which will also star Salman Khan. According to sources Bachchan senior will play a funny, spunky and dude like God, who has this on-going dialogue on life with Salman Khan. However the ever modest Amitabh says “it’s just a role albeit with a fantasy element that’s fun to do. And working with Salman is always enjoyable.” Amitabh recently celebrated his 64th birthday and was even unwell last year, but this does not seem to be slowing him down, in fact he’s all geared up for his forthcoming projects like Ram Gopal’s film where he plays Gabbar Singh, and also his worldwide concert along with son Abhishek amongst others films.

Salman beats Abhishek, goes to Madame Tussauds

Salman Khan won the world famous attraction’s public poll by a landslide. He will be soon monumentalized in Madame Tussauds. London is surely delighted about it. Salman beat nine other stars namely, Madhuri Dixit, Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukherjee, Karan Johar, Kajol, Lata Mangeshkar, Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham. Abhishek was the closest contender to Salman.

Salman has agreed to sit for Madame Tussauds sculptors in Mumbai. He will be the attraction’s fourth Bollywood figure, joining fellow Indian A-listers Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The figure will be officially unveiled early 2008; a final date is yet to be confirmed.

According to Ben Lovett, PR Manager for Madame Tussauds, “Over 10,000 fans and visitors voted in our poll, and we’re over the moon that Salman Khan is the winner. The Asian market is critical to our attraction and our association with Bollywood, particularly the launch of Shah Rukh Khan earlier this year, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Asians, from both the UK and abroad, visiting and enjoying Madame Tussauds. We hope to build upon this exciting relationship with the unveiling of Salman.”

Salman Khan commented: “I am touched and honored that my fans have chosen me to appear in Madame Tussauds and hope that the figure will bring much enjoyment to Bollywood followers the world over. I very much looking forward to visiting in the future and coming face to face with my likeness.”

Salman Khan next release is Bhansali’s Saawariya starring Rani Mukherjee and debutantes Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

Aamir to go bald for his film version of GAJINI

Aamir Khan plans to go bald for his new venture based on the South Indian blockbuster Gajini.

"Yes, I am going bald for this film for the first half. The other half will see me with hair. I act in one film at a time so I have all the time to go through the physical changes required for that film," he told DNA

Aamir's next film Tare Zameen Par is in its post-production state and will be completed soon.

Meanwhile, he is proud of the DVD launch of his past blockbuster Lagaan together with Chale Chalo, a film made on the making of Lagaan.

It has been six years since Aamir made Lagaan and seeing Chale Chalo left him teary eyed,

"So many things have changed," he sighs. "My son Junaid was a baby during the making of this film and now he's 5'11".

The time Lagaan went for the Oscars was very significant for Indian cinema. Perhaps Indian cinema wouldn't have gotten as much attention from the world if not for Lagaan. I would say it was a kind of turning point for Indian cinema."

I am not going bald: Amitabh

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan rubbishes rumours that he is going to shave his head for his first international film “Shantaram” to be directed by US-based Indian director Mira Nair.

The Big B told: “This is completely untrue! I’ve no knowledge of any such requirement for Mira’s film, nor have I spoken to anyone about it. When I heard about this I spoke to Mira and she rubbished it.

“She told me she hasn’t even envisaged me as bald for ‘Shantaram’, let alone share it with the media which is so busy imagining me bald through morphed pictures on the net, etc. But sorry I’m not obliging.”

Based on Gregory David Roberts “Shantaram”, the film is being co-produced by Hollywood star Johnny Depp, who plays a key role in it.

The closest Amitabh has come to facial innovation is the trimmed beard to play the cop’s role in “Khakee” and the hip ponytail for the chef’s part in “Cheeni Kum”.

“That’s as far as I go. My face is ugly enough. I can’t do anything to improve it. Nothing can save it.”

The actor says he will start shooting for “Shantaram” in January, but before that he will complete filming several films in India.

He’s currently busy shooting for two back-to-back films - “Bhootnath” and “Alladdin” where he plays a ghost and a djinn respectively.

“I am shooting for ‘Bhootnath’ now, which will be complete by the middle of November.

I start with Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Alladdin’ soon after, as also Shoojit Sarkar’s tentatively titled ‘Shoebite’, a working title, and Leena Das’ ‘Teen Patti’. All these will be on till December.”

The Big B then starts work on “Shantaram”.

“From January 2008, I’ll be working with Mira, Warner Bros and Johnny Depp on ‘Shantaram’.”

After “Shantaram”, he has “Pocketmaar” with Ravi Chopra.

” (Offers from) Ram Gopal Varma, R. Balakrishnan, Deepa Mehta and a few others are (also) under consideration,” said the busy actor.

SRK served legal notice for smoking in public

Whatever Shah Rukh Khan does is always under the scanner of probing eyes. As King Khan is busy aggressively promoting his next film Om Shanti Om, the television cameras are following him with the zeal of an inquisitive teenager. As is well known SRK had said ‘no’ to No Smoking (we mean the film that is). But maybe K (we mean Khan and not John’s character’s name in the film) should have resisted from his penchant for smoking in public places. Why? Read on….

Well, of late SRK has been getting legal notices for his house. But he has been served a legal notice he wouldn’t have hoped for. Without much ado, let’s spill the beans. According to sources, The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication has issued a legal notice to Khan for smoking during the recently held HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi and at the T20match in Mumbai.

Shah Rukh Khan has to reply to the notice within 15 days. If one recalls then the anti-tobacco body had earlier served a similar notice on Amitabh Bachchan after he was shown smoking on hoarding and posters of his film Family.

I call him 'SEX SYMBOL TYPE' --Konkanasen sharma

Call it the commercialization of Konkona Sen. But now Konkona is fully into commercial cinema. The latest film that she’s shooting is proof of that.

A film called Right Or Wrong directed by the highly-regarded writer- turned -director Neeraj Pathak, Right Or Wrong pairs Konkona with first-time co-star Sunny Deol and old co-star Irrfan Khan.

“I just shot for the film for two days. Then I got conjunctivitis.”

Right now Konkona is all revved up about the release of Laga Chunri Mein Daag specially her co-star Kunal Kapoor’s high praise.

“Did Kunal really say I was like Mozart to his Salieri? Now that’s sweet. Though I must tell you, I don’t take anything he says very seriously. He’s incurably mischievous. And we’re constantly ribbing one another.

He calls me the National-award type. I call him the Sex-symbol type…We’ve done two back-to-back films together.

And I must tell you Aaja Nachle which is going to be my next release has been my most fun film in Mumbai. I enjoyed doing it as much as I enjoyed my mom’s Mr & Mrs Iyer.”

And what about the kiss with Kunal? “It’s not a big deal. I’ve done kissing scenes in Mixed Doubles and I almost did one in Mr & Mrs Iyer (Rahul and I come close to kissing. But we didn’t really kiss). I treat it like any normal scenes. But I won’t do it for titillation.”

She bursts into delighted chuckles at the mention of Laga Chunri Mein Daag. “I saw the film the other day and really liked it. Now let’s see… you know, in a play you get instant reaction. But for a movie to register takes so much time.

We all look like a family in Chunri because we felt like a family. The atmosphere on the sets was by and large very relaxed. There was a constant chatter on the sets in Bengali. Almost everyone there spoke that language. As for Jaya-di, Rani and I, we do look like a mother and two sisters.

I think Pradeep-da (director Pradeep Sarkar) was very particular about getting the right faces to play the right characters. Jaya-di has played my mother in another film Rituparno Ghosh’s Sunglass. So we did feel very close to one another.

However I don’t think one needs to feel like a family to act comfortably. One has to be professional about these things.”

Did she have a problem with the Hindi language? “Well, I grew up in a house where only Bengali was spoken. So I do have a problem with the gender in Hindi. But otherwise I think I manage quite well.”

Koena in and out of Hospitals

It’s apparently been a stressful time for dusky Koena Mitra.

“My father has been very unwell and in hospital. I’ve been flying in and out of Kolkata. In the middle of all this personal trauma I had to fly off to Hong Kong for some intense action training.”

So why can’t she just get her father over to Mumbai?

“Oh how I’d love that!” sighs Mitra. “But my sister studies in Kolkata. And my parents can’t come away. It would be a dream to have them over with me. It would make so much of a difference to have my parents living with me. But wishes can’t be horses.”

Koena is currently doinga lot of horse-riding and other rugged activities. She claims it’s for cop’s role that she will be playing in a film by a new Bollywood director.

Truth is, Koena is all set to play a sensuous sinuous warrior with supernatural powers in an international film entitled Karn to be co-produced by Pritish Nandy Communications.

Koena spent May and June in Hong Kong training for Tai Chi and other forms of martial arts. Apparently Koena was chosen because PNC’s American partners for the project were looking for someone dusky, husky and athletic. PNC sent them a DVD of their film Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena featuring Koena.

Says the actress, “I won’t deny that I’ve been training for a film. But I can’t right now reveal what it is. I’ll say this,though. Once you are trained in the international martial arts your body and mind become toned permanently. You can take on any action role.

Continues Koena, “I’ve always been very careful with my assignments. There’s no point in doing a dozen films per year which come and go.

From my first release, Sanjay Gupta’s Musafir, to my most recent Apna Sapna Money Money (for producer Subhash Ghai) producers and directors have repeated me in their films.

It’s this faith that I’ve found in Subhash Ghai, Pritish Nandy, Sanjay Gupta and other Bollywood bigwigs that has kept me going. Otherwise I’d have simply left.”

Prod her a bit more about the international project and she sighs, “Why do we place so much importance on international offers? To me, making a name in Bollywood is far more important than trying to find a place abroad.”

Apparently the character that’s she plays in Karn isn’t Indian. After John Abraham in Deepa Mehta’s Luna, Koena would be the first Indian actor to break the ethnic barrier.

RRIYANKA TO ENDORSE J.HAMPSTED

Priyanka Chopra has come a long way since she was crowned Miss World. With many hit films to her credit such as Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aitraaz, Bluffmaster, Krissh and Don, she is counted among some the fantastic actors in the film faternity today. However, being chosen as a new face of J. Hamstead gives a new high to her career.

Priyanka’s upcoming films include Harry Baweja’s Love Story 2050 and Goldie Behl Drona.

Nothing sexy about Bips’ Goal

Bipasha has been away for quite a while. Barring a week’s work in Mumbai she has wrapped up all her shooting in London for Goal

. “And prior to that I was in Durban for 45 days shooting for Abbas-Mustan’s Race. Then I joined the Goal unit in London. I’ve jumped time zones and heavy climate changes from 38 degrees to 1 degree to 40 degrees.

Fortunately I haven’t fallen sick in spite of the drastic changes in four months. I’ve gone from severe winter in London to acute heat in Dubai…

Frequent flying gets to me. But staying in different countries for a longish period is okay by me. After three days everything falls into place.”

Race in Durban was fun. “Apart from the directors Abbas-Mustan whom I know very well everyone was new to me. My two –stars Saif and Akshaye Khanna were a barrel of fun. I really got along well with Saif. Akshaye was reserved. But great fun once we got to know each other.”

In London for Goal Bipasha had major fun. “This was a unique experience. A sporty film, and I was the only girl in the principal cast.”

Though Bipasha didn’t get to play football for the camera, she didn’t miss out on kicking some ball. “I’ve been a soccer fan for five years. I got interested in the game because my boyfriend likes it.

John taught me football in the hotel in London, though if I tried playing the game with the boys I’d make a fool of myself. John is very passionate about two things, bikes and football. He’s lucky he got to be in a bike film Dhoom and now a football film.”

Then comes the ever-honest Bipasha. “I must confess I’m a terrible footballer. I should’ve started when I was a little kid. I must tell you we had some really talented real-life Bangladeshi football players in our team in Goal.

They aren’t actors. But they are naturals on camera. In fact even the actors like John, Arshad and Boman were chosen because of their familiarity with the game.”

Added incentive was the fact that Bipasha got to work with John after three years. “That was fun. Both of us have grown as actors. And I’m very excited by the chemistry between us in Goal.

Unlike Jism and Madhoshi where we had a more sensuous chemistry in Goal it’s cute very outdoor love angle, not steamy or sexy…but very real. There was a lot of things gone wrong with Madhoshi. After that we decided not to pair together for a while.

Look, I couldn’t be silly and say I’ve to work with my boyfriend. We did this film because both suit our roles in Goal to a T. We both took the decision as thorough professionals. And then our personal rapport came in. We had a good time.”

Bipasha met up with a lot of John’s old friends in London. “It wasn’t a tiring schedule. It just passed in no time.”

MALLIKA IS NOMORE A SEX BOMB

Rahul and Mallika hit it off like a house on fire during Pyar Ke Side Effects. While Pritish Nandy Productions are still planning a sequel, Sanjay Chhel has gone and got the unlikely pair together again for his film.

How did it happen?

We’ve had many incredible casting makeovers, like Tabu stepping into Rani’s space in Mira Nair’s The Namesake….and Deepa Mehta’s Water which was originally earmarked for Nandita Das finally went to Lisa Ray.

But this one takes the cake…and makes you quake.

In writer-turned-director Sanjay Chhel’s Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam a role designed for Tabu has now be allocated to Mallika Sherawat. It’s easy to see the two are as different from each other as any two actresses can be.

The closest that these two antithetical screen queens came to each other was when Mallika’s Murder was released alongside Tabu’s Meenaxi on the same Friday.

Director Sanjay Chhel is confident he can slot Mallika in the place vacated by Tabu.

“Tabu was being considered earlier for the role of the theatre actress. But it didn’t work out.”

Apparently Tabu was remarkably rigid about the money. The producers were unwilling to pay her the price she asked for.

Obviously the role has undergone critical modificiations to suit altered conditions.

Director Sanjay Chhel disagrees. “I’m a writer. So I know exactly how to place an actor into a character. Yes, Tabu was to do the role. But the way I look at it now, the role is perfect for Mallika. If Naseeruddin Shah had done Black wouldn’t it have been different from the way Mr Bachchan played the character?”

Chhel asserts that his film isn’t a spoof on Mughal-e-Azam. “No one in his right mind would satirize that all-time classic. My film is about a theatrical repertoire. Everyone –Rahul Bose, K.K Menon and Mallika—has a comic role.”

It would be interesting to see Mallika do yet another role after Pyar Ke Side Effects where she is cast opposite her sex-bomb image.

Indeed the most interesting part of Sanjay Chhel’s Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam isn’t the title. It’s Mallika moving in Tabu’s territory.

RANI PLANS TO WASH HER DAAG

It looks the daag on Rani Mukherjee’s chunri will be effectually washed off with her next release.

After giving such a grandly understated performance as the archetypal Fallen Woman in Pradeep Sarkar’s Laga Chunari Mein Daag, Rani rises straight for heaven in the next Yashraj film where she plays an angel descending to earth with a rather sweet and heartwarming mission.

While Mr Bachchan plays God, ghost and a djinn in God Tussi Great Ho,Bhootnath and Alladin, Esha Deol has already played a ghost in Bhoot.

But no one has played an angel in Hindi movies before…unless we count Aftab Shivdasani who says his role as the angel in Anupam Sinha’s Shukriya was his best ever.

Rani apparently took her angel’s role very seriously, even going as far as to abstain from her favourite fish dishes to feel the pure and positive energy of an angel.

Says a reliable Yashraj source, “It’s not easy playing an angel. It’s a character absolutely without a reference point. Rani has gone into her inner resources to to create the character.”

Contrary to reports she doesn’t wear only one costume throughout the film. The still-untitled film will be completed in February and not in December as reported in the press.

SHAHID AND KAREENA'S LIPLOCK IN "JAB WE MET"

Everyone’s talking about the on-screen chemistry between Shahid and Kareena in JAB WE MET. The good-looking couple didn’t set the screen ablaze in the first three films they did together [FIDA, 36 CHINA TOWN, CHUP CHUPKE], but this time around, in their fourth film, the chemistry is electrifying.

Unfortunately, JAB WE MET seems to be their final film together. That’s what everyone feels, after the real-life couple decided to go separate ways for reasons best known to them. I posed this question to Shahid on my TV show and, on camera, he said he’d work with Kareena again.

Meanwhile, the ending of JAB WE MET shows Shahid and Kareena indulging in a passionate liplock. Hope it’s not the last kiss!