SRK to team up with Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga’s reinventive ways may be weird for some, but Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finds her extremely inspiring. The actor, who has been working towards convincing the international pop star to do a song for his mega budget project RA.One says she knows her business well.

“I havebeen chatting up with her (Lady Gaga) over a song that I want to do with her and once her manager had said ‘Lady Gaga wants to introduce her audience to you and she wants to be introduced to your audience’. So one understands she believes in pure, simple wonderful business,” Shah Rukh said.

The 45-year-old actor-producer was speaking at the launch of management guru and movie producer Arindam Chaudhuri and his wife Rajita’s new marketing book Thorns to Competition.

He mentioned Gaga at the thought of reinvention, which is an important tool of marketing, according to the book.

“I have learnt re-inventing …..So I don’t listen to raag Bhairavi any more… I listen to Lady Gaga. My son and daughter have converted me from Saturday Night Fever to Justin Bieber…..,” he added.

King Khan looked dapper in a black suit and was at his humorous best.

International pop singer Akon has recorded a song Chammak Challo, which is already a rage ever since it was leaked online. So whether Lady Gaga is recording a song for this film remains a mystery.

Salman leaves for US, holds screening for friends

For the first time, Salman Khan will not celebrate Eid and Ganpati at home. After Hurricane Irene blew into the American east coast last Saturday, and grounded flights in and out of the country, speculation was rife that the actor had postponed the trip he was making for medical reasons. There was a rumour that Salman had decided to stay back in the city for the festivities and the release of Bodyguard, on August 31. He was initially supposed to depart for the US on August 27 for corrective surgery to treat his nerve disorder.

But soon after hosting a special screening of the Kareena Kapoor-starrer for Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, family and friends at Pixion theatre in Bandra at 9 pm on Monday night, the actor drove directly to the airport and flew out of the country early on Tuesday. On Saturday, he had hosted another screening for family and friends at the Yash Raj Studios in Andheri, where Preity Zinta and the Yash Chopra family was present.

Salman took Sunday off to rest and spent most of Monday with his parents Salim and Salma Khan. Brothers Arbaaz and Sohail and sister Alvira accompanied the actor on the 16-hour trip. He will check into a hospital for tests on Thursday. He left town encouraged by feedback from industry friends, as the film is expected to have the biggest release for a Salman Khan movie. The response at the advance booking counters, which opened on Sunday, too has been “extraordinary”. Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, “It’s three times bigger than that of Ready. I’m expecting a record-breaking opening in several centres. In fact, going by the craze, I wouldn’t be surprised if it even crosses Dabangg (2010).” Reportedly, advance booking in Bhopal opened the Sunday before last, and most theatres have been sold out.

Salman has been suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia or Prosopalgia, a facial nerve disorder, for the last seven years. He reportedly has three routes of treatment open to him. The surgery will not be incisive. It will use either laser or coil. Salman has been allotted about 11 days for recuperation and will fly out to Dublin on September 13. There, Katrina Kaif will join the actor for the shoot of Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger.

Shahid-Sonam's Mausam hit by turbulence

Reel life sometimes has a strange way of making its way into real life. And that’s exactly what seems to be happening to the makers of Mausam. Thanks to rainy weather in the city, they’ve been facing setbacks for the last few days.

The incessant downpour has not only put the trains andtraffic off gear, but has also upset the schedules of the film’s lead actors, Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Actually, the two were supposed to do promotional interviews on Saturday at a studio in Andheri. But when they reached the venue, they were surprised to see knee-deep waterlogging.

At the last minute, somehow the venue was shifted to a nearby location and they completed their interviews. Then, they were supposed to go for dubbing on Saturday and Monday, but the area around the studio was waterlogged. Both Sonam and Shahid had to literally wade through the water to reach the studio for their dubbing.

When contacted, director Pankaj Kapur laughs: “Mausam has been playing hide-and-seek with us from day one of shooting. From the start, we didn’t get the kind of weather we wanted. In fact, it always went into extreme climate zones. And we were told that this was happening for the first time in several years.”

During the first schedule, the cast and crew went to Punjab, where they wanted to capture early winter and some mist. But when they landed there, they faced the coldest winter in the region in the last 15 years, so much so that they were shooting in minus six degrees with warm clothes. Later, the crew went to Scotland and although it was supposed to be springtime, they were welcomed by heavy downpours. At that time, Shahid had, in fact, tweeted: “Day 1 .... Raining .... Waiting ....”
“I guess when Mausam (weather) is fine, I get more worried,” smiles Kapoor Sr. “All of Mumbai witnessed beautiful weather for the last few days. And despite all the inconvenience caused by the weather, it is the most romantic ‘mausam’ (season) that we have.”

Vidya's hot item song in The Dirty Picture

The first look of Ekta Kapoor’s The Dirty Picture was unveiled at Bandra’s Galaxy theatre yesterday. Later in the day, the shoot of a song was flagged off at Film City on a lavish set reminiscent of the South potboilers of the ’80s. The set complete with chandeliers and glitzy props is reportedto have cost the producer Rs 1 crore.

The item number will feature in the film post-interval and is one of the highlights, apart from being integral to the plot. It features Vidya Balan, who plays an aspiring starlet in a competitive song situation with another dancer-actor, played by a fresh new face. It ends with her becoming a star in the mould of Silk Smitha, one of the muses for the role.

“Vidya is wearing just one outfit in this song, a long, sexy gown, and looks absolutely gorgeous,” informs choreographer Pony Verma, adding, “She’s been rehearsing really hard, from 10 am to 10 pm, and I don’t foresee too many retakes. I’ve watched many Silk Smitha songs and I have to admit that she wasn’t a great dancer like Helen aunty. She was a big, voluptuous woman and her moves were ordinary. It’s her sensual expressions that made those songs memorable. I always wondered what she was thinking when she was performing these numbers.”

Verma reveals that filmmaker K Balachander gave her the title Silk Smitha, saying, “It was perfect for her, given how sensual and soft the fabric is.”

Pony admits that the initial reaction to Vidya as the choice for this role was laughing skepticism, but insists she was cast because she’s a brilliant actor who has put her heart and soul into the role. “Today, everyone admits that Vidya’s looking hot. And this is just the beginning,” Verma promises.

I had no fallout with the Bhatts: Bipasha

Bipasha Basu on Monday denied she had any fallout with the Bhatts and said that they were waiting to give her a strong role, which they finally have done in Raaz 3.

"I don't know what is this whole discussion about the patch up because I love the Bhatts. Bhatt Saab (Mahesh Bhatt) is very

dear to me, Mukesh ji (Mukesh Bhatt) is also very dear to me. I always say that Vishesh Films is like my own production company. So there was no fall out with them.

"It was just that we were waiting for the right kind of role and they did not want to disappoint me with something that was feeble. They wanted to give me a strong role. We got that in Raaz 3 and we are excited that we are all going to be working together," Bipasha told reporters here on the sidelines of an event organized by shampoo brand Pantene.

Bipasha, who was catapulted to success with two films from the Bhatt camp, namely Raaz and Jism, was not seen in any of their films after that. There were also reports that she was offered Murder 2, which she refused to do. However, the actress maintains that there was no rift.

Raaz 3 that will be helmed by Vikram Bhatt and is slated for a July 6, 2012 release is the third part of the Raaz franchise and will also star Jacqueline Fernandez and Emraan Hashmi.

Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor make up

Preity Zinta and Kareena Kapoor have finally decided to put past differences aside and try to be friends.

While Preity has gone public with her praises for the Bodyguard actress via a social networking site, Kareena too chose to compliment Preity on her sweet and genuine nature.

Preity tweeted: Just saw BODYGUARD! Salman U n Kareena Rock! Its FAB & the action is AMAZING ! All da best This one is full Paisa Vasool :)

The gesture obviously comes a surprise, since it was Preity who had once at a Diwali party hosted by Akshay Kumar in 2008, snubbed Kareena publicly. In fact, the rivalry started when an unsuspecting Zinta commented on the 'new lot of actresses' in those days - a list that included Kareena.

The rivalry intensified when Preity was chosen for Karan Johar's Kal Ho Na Ho, to play a role that was initially offered to Kareena. A war of words followed between the actresses. In fact, on Karan Johar's chat show, Kareena made it clear that she was not too fond of Preity. Preity on the other hand, said that Kareena only acknowledged her in Karan's presence.

Both actresses seem to have moved on from their warring days. On Sunday night, Preity was a part of Salman Khan's exclusive show of Bodyguard at YRF Studios. On Monday morning, the actress praised both the lead actors Salman and Kareena for their performances in the film. Needless to say, Kareena is rather pleased with this gesture.

When contacted, Kareena said, "I am really flattered with Preity's compliment. She is really sweet and very genuine as a person. She always speaks her mind so I know whatever she wrote was heartfelt.

iracy check for Bodyguard

Just days before the highly anticipated Salman Khan-starrer " Bodyguard" hit 70mm screens, Reliance Entertainment, one of the producers of the movie and its distributor, hit out in a big way against the piracy industry.

The company obtained a John Doe order from the Delhi High Court restricting websites, cable operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other organisations and individuals, from infringing upon the movie's copyright by illegally streaming or copying it. This essentially means that in no way can anyone illegally copy the movie. And as far as physical piracy (pirated DVDs) is concerned, the movie's team is conducting across all known piracy hubs in the country, including Delhi's notorious Palika Bazaar.

The movie's producer Atul Agnihotri told DT, "We have found a few thousand jackets of the movie that have already been printed and realised that this can kill the prospect of a movie. Therefore, the step to nip piracy in the bud was imperative." Sanjay Tandon, VP, anti piracy at Reliance Entertainment, agreed with Agnihotri and told us, "We've taken a pre-emptive measure by getting this order. While we know of certain entities that do this, we do not know of many others who indulge in such acts. This order ensures that whenever we catch someone, we don't have to get into the rigmarole of filing a civil case. We can simply seek punishment, which ranges between one week to three years of imprisonment, along with fine ranging between `50,000 and `2,00,000."

Earlier too, Reliance had sought the same order during the release of the Ajay Devgn starrer "Singham", with a view to minimise losses through piracy. Says Tandon, "In the case of "Singham", it was pirated 40% less than it would have been, had we not taken the order. For "Bodyguard", we are hoping to cut down piracy by 50-60%. Piracy cannot be eradicated, but it certainly can be curtailed. For the same reason, we are conducting extensive raids across the country at known piracy hubs."

The step taken by the producers of "Bodyguard" comes in the wake of the severe piracy that has impacted Bollywood in recent times. Unofficial figures estimate the worth of the industry at `4,000 crore. To deal with it, last year, director Sajid Khan had announced that his movie "Housefull" was being released with an in-built anti-piracy software. Anti-piracy raids were also conducted at the time of the release of "I Hate Luv Storys", since the movie lost `20 lakh to piracy in its opening weekend.

Vivek Oberoi may do a Marathi film

Vivek Oberoi is fluent in several languages, including Marathi. So when Prince director Kuki Gulati, who is currently producing a Marathi film, needed an actor for the project, he decided to approach Oberoi.

Vivek, who has previously essayed the role of gangster Maya Dolas in Shootout In Lokhandala, immediately agreed. VO even made time for the film despite shooting for another film in Wai.

He asked to be excused for a day and came down to Mumbai to shoot for his friend. Now that's a princely gesture. Hope he was paid like a prince though!

Rakhi Sawant to insure her body parts?

Item girl Rakhi Sawant is not merely flaunting the Sandra Bullock or Kate Perry look on telly, the lady is ready to go the Hollywood way in more ways than one!
The bindaas babe of Bollywood, who has never shied away from speaking her mind, is garnering a lot of interest these days thanks to her generous cleavage and skin show on Gazab Desk Ki Ajab Kahaniyaan, her show on Imagine TV. And now she's ready to insure her body.
Whither companies!
Rakhi, who has been very candid about her various cosmetic surgeries, says: "I want to insure my body parts like all those Hollywood stars. I have been insured for life and against accident, but now I want to safeguard my face, my hair, my cleavage and my butt. But, I'm not aware if any of the Indian insurance companies can help me in this. I don't mind contacting foreign insurance firms, but I have to go ahead with this now."
Safeguarding assets
Ask her why this fetish for insuring her body parts, and Rakhi replies: "My face, hair and other body parts are my rozi roti and have given me a glam image, and I want to safeguard my assets to have a hassle-free career and life. Sharir ka Insurance karake main tension-free hona chahati hoon!"
Insured stars
Troy Polamalu, the Samoan superstar for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has insured his locks for $1 million.
Bruce Springsteen's vocal cords are insured for $ 6 million.
America Ferrera of 'Ugly Betty' fame has her smile insured for $ 10 million.
Dolly Parton's each breast is insured for $ 300,000.
Jennifer Lopez's butt is said to be insured for $ 27 million
Rihanna and Heidi Clum have insured their legs for $ 1 million and $ 2.2 million, respectively.
Songstress Mariah Carey's legs are insured for a whopping 1 billion.

Abhishek's paternity leave cancelled

Paa-to-be Abhishek Bachchan who was planning to take leave from work around November to be able to spend time with his kid, will now have to cancel his holiday. Yes you read it right. Abhishek Bachchan's paternity leave has not been sanctioned by Yash Raj.

Yash Raj was okay with
the actor's holiday plans in November, but apparently Aamir Khan, with the modified schedule, was not able to give dates to the production house.

"It is not advisable for the producers to try negotiating with Aamir as his dates clash with the time Abhishek wished to take off from the shoots. Hence Aditya Chopra asked him to reconsider taking leave," a source told Mumbai Mirror.
Abhishek has agreed to cancel his leave.
"It was a professional decision on his part. He readily agreed when he understood the problem that the producers were in. Aamir does only one film at a time and he allots his dates well in advance. Abhishek will get a customary two days off on the day of delivery. And he is content with it," added the source.
Poor Abhishek!

Shahid, Priyanka: Ex-lovers reunite

Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra will be seen together in Kunal Kohli's untitled film. They play lovers spanning three different eras.

Despite their current off-screen relationship status, the director says that the duo shares tremendous chemistry on-screen. Here, Kohli talks about reuniting the two, why he cast them and why they make a hot screen pair. Excerpts....

What made you cast them together?
In Kaminey, Shahid and Priyanka had seven-odd scenes together in the entire film. But every time they came together, there was magic. I haven't worked with either of them, so this pairing was interesting to me. Shahid and I had heard some not-so-good things about each other, but that changed once we started working together. Also, this is my first film with Priyanka and we immediately broke the ice. I cast them together knowing that they would do justice to these two characters.

What makes them a hot screen pair?
They have amazing chemistry on screen. There's something exciting and natural about this pair. They are super-dedicated and understand what's expected of them. And let's not forget, they are extremely good-looking.

Was there any awkwardness on the set between them?
Shahid and Priyanka are extremely professional. I don't wish to say anything more.

Do you think the audience accepts an on-screen couple that is no longer together?
This shouldn't even be an issue. During Fanaa, both Aamir and Kajol were married. In fact, Aamir got married during the making of the film and that didn't stop the film from becoming one of the biggest hits of the year. So I feel the audience just wants a good film, irrespective of the personal lives of the lead actors.

Advance drama for Bodyguard

Even though the Salman Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer " Bodyguard" is keenly anticipated this Eid, it seems that the advance bookings for the movie haven't exactly seen the kind of start that Salman and producer Atul Agnihotri had imagined.

On Sunday, advance for the movie opened only at PVR and single screens in the country, but at no other multiplex. The reason yet again was the breakdown in discussions between the distributor, Reliance Entertainment, and the Multiplex Association of India (MAI). While the multiplex chains are trying to get the movie and open advance bookings at the terms agreed upon a fortnight ago, the distributors are trying to push through a multi-film deal for an English movie release along with "Bodyguard" and at new terms.

A source tells us, "Everywhere in the country, at all the multiplexes, advances have been put on hold. Reliance is trying to push through a multi-film deal. They are saying that you also ensure release for our forthcoming English films, and are asking for new terms. It is only then that they will they give "Bodyguard" for release to the multiplexes. This is in breach of the agreement that was done between MAI and the Producers Guild a fortnight ago for terms for Hindi movies. Even though the agreement was done verbally at that time, everyone had agreed to the new terms and that agreement is being worked out now. But the distributors for "Bodyguard" are suggesting their own deal now."

And the buzz in trade circles is that Salman and Atul are both unhappy with the development since they were expecting advances to open on Sunday. Adds the source, "Even though Salman is traditionally thought of as a single screen hero, the truth is that no one can ignore multiplexes, especially after the business that they had generated for "Dabangg"." Producer Atul Agnihotri said, "I'm only concerned with the promotions and not distribution. You should ask the distributors about this. I have got reports about advance opening at places like Delite from Delhi. And negotiations always happen between the two parties. I don't have any more info on this." However, the news is that Mukesh Bhatt is mediating between the distributor and the exhibitors for the movie to release without any hassels.

Utpal Acharya, head, acquisition and distribution for Reliance Entertainment, says, "We have a commercial agreement, under which I am exercising my distribution strategy. This simply means that under the agreement, they can choose the total number of shows they want to give a movie, while I can choose which all locations I want the movie to play at. There is a problem in that that these guys have. We also have some past issues of financial clearance with them and we were not happy with the way they showcased"Singham". We want "Bodyguard" to release in each and every theatre, and are still open to negotiations."

According to a source, other multiplexes too have opened advance bookings. Till Sunday night only PVR had opened advance bookings. Wave and INOX may open bookings in some hours, but DT Cinemas, Satyam have not and they haven't signed the movie yet.

I had a beautiful wedding: Celina Jaitley

Jaitley talks about her hush-hush wedding to Peter Haag in an exclusive to TOI

Celina Jaitley got married to her longtime partner Peter Haag on July 23 in a quiet wedding in Austria, as his grandmother is seriously ill and wanted to see them married.

Says Celina, "We had a beautiful court ceremony at a spectacular 1,000-year-old monastery in Austria. Peter selected the venue; It's one of the oldest monasteries in the world. The court judge came specifically for this grand ceremony and gave a touching sermon, followed by a beautiful champagne lunch."

Celina says it wasn't a traditional church wedding. "However, It was definitely magical. We are planning a reception to celebrate this important occasion in our lives. It was an intimate affair attended by very close family members only. Since my parents couldn't make it due to last minute visa challenges, Peter's father gave me away during the ceremony."

What did she wear? "I am Indian and wearing a saree was a personal decision. My dearest friend Rahuul Jashnani flew in this vintage, royalty inspired chiffon saree decorated with gold mukaish especially for the wedding. My Prince Charming and his father went out of their way to make it the most magical moment of my life. I had a beautiful wedding amidst the sunshine of the Austrian mountains and under the high arches of a place that has never had a wedding before. Most importantly, with the right person, my Prince Peter. It was a wedding beyond my wildest dreams,"says Celina.

Talking about her future plans Celina says, "Marriage is the same for me as it is for any other girl. It is just another step towards embracing my womanhood. I have no intentions at all of leaving my work. I will live in Mumbai and travel between Dubai (where Peter works in the hospitality industry) and Mumbai."

Salman Khan's another challange for Shah Rukh Khan!

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan's rivalry has been taken a notch higher. Just recently, SRK's most ambitious project RA.One was predicted to be the biggest release in the country. The film was speculated to release in 3000 screens with over 2000 prints in circulation (Mumbai Mirror, June 24, 2011).

However, Salman has ensured that his Eid release Bodyguard breaks his arch rival's speculated record. A source informed that Bodyguard, slated to release on August 31, will open in 2799 screens with over 2000 prints in circulation. And as of now, this completely overtakes SRK's plans for RA.One.

When contacted, trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, "Yes, I have got the news that Bodyguard has beaten all Hindi films till date as far as the number of prints is concerned. One of the reasons is because the film stars Salman and releases on Eid. "

However, with SRK's film releasing in October, the actor might just be able to pull off his dream and outdo the opening of Salman's Bodyguard. "It is still early to ascertain the number of screens and prints of RA. One," added the source.

Lucky charm Salman for 'Luv U Soniyo'

Director Atul Agnihotri attaches nephew's promo to Bodyguard, while Salman Khan picks the other promo to go with the film

Most producers consider Salman Khan's films lucky and doggedly pursue the star to attach the promos of their upcoming films to his. However, only two promos have been okayed to accompany Bodyguard - Dharma Productions' Agneepath and Joe Rajan's Luv U Soniyo. Both choices were made for sentimental reasons.

Salman is fond of Karan Johar and Hrithik Roshan, and hence was happy to showcase their film's trailer. The second film stars Rati Agnihotri's son Tanuj Virwani (also Bodyguard producer Atul Agnihotri's cousin) who is making his debut in the film. A source reveals, "Atul was quite impressed with Luv U Soniyo's promo. He even complimented Tanuj on his debut."

Director Joe Rajan confirms, "Atul has been very kind. To have our promo attached with Bodyguard is a big deal. We know what a big hit Bodyguard will be and there was no better opportunity for Luv U Soniyo's promo to be showcased than in Salman's movie."

Sanjay Dutt to host an Iftaar party

Sanjay Dutt is holding an iftaar party today evening for the children of the technicians of B-Town.

The President of the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) Dharmesh Tiwari says, "We have started an initiative called Basera which gives financial help to the technicians of the film industry, including retired workers like ex-dancers, fighters, lightmen, spot boys and their children.

Sometimes, these include paying the children's school fees also in the form of cheques. We asked Sanju baba if he could do something this time and he decided to hold an Iftaar party for all the workers and their children. He will be distributing 200 food packets to the technicians and children attending the event. Basera is in its 45th month and we even provide medical facilities to the workers and their children. It was wonderful of Sanju baba to host an Iftaar party for us this year."

Ranbir’s bike scare in Rockstar

Hearthrob Ranbir Kapoor had the fright of his life when he had to shoot a bike sequence with newbie Nargis Fakhri for filmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar. The actor did not have to perform the stunt, instead he was required to ride pillion with Nargis, who had just learnt riding a bike barely half an
hour ago!

Apparently, Imtiaz wanted to shoot a sequence involving Nargis riding a bike with Ranbir sitting behind. Since Nargis had never ridden one, Imtiaz asked his team to teach Nargis.

To everyone’s surprise, after just half an hour of practice, she claimed that she could manage riding and was ready for the shot.

Ranbir however, expressed his concern, wondering how Nargis could learn riding a bike in just 30 minutes. But the crew members all backed Nargis and said that she had indeed picked up really fast and was ready to shoot the scene. That’s when poor Ranbir started praying for his life.

Everyone present couldn’t help but chuckle at Ranbir’s obvious reluctance. However, once the shoot began, Ranbir realised that Nargis was indeed a fast learner and was handling the bike quite comfortably. That’s when he relaxed and eventually enjoyed his short spin with Nargis.

Rockstar that was earlier scheduled for a September 9 release, has now been postponed to November 11.

My sister won’t take up movies: Deepika

It’s an open secret that actor Katrina Kaif is going all out to get her sister Isabel a big launch in Bollywood. But that isn’t the case with Deepika Padukone. For some time now, speculations have been rife that the actor’s younger sister Anisha is keen on films. It has also been suggested that
Deepika forwarded Anisha’s portfolios to filmmakers Aditya Chopra, Karan Johar and even actor Shah Rukh Khan in the recent past.

But Deepika denies it all. “I don’t know about any offers. Anisha hasn’t told me anything, so I am presuming there are none,” says Deepika, adding, “She is not interested in films. Her complete focus is on golf and she is a born athlete. Even if offers do come, I don’t think she will take them up. But if she is interested, I will support her.”

Even as the actor is readying to move into her new apartment in Worli, she doesn’t want her sister to shift base to Mumbai. “The reason is the golfing infrastructure here. I think Bangalore is better at that. One of the biggest golf courses in the country is also close to our home. Anisha will waste a lot of time traveling in Mumbai as Chembur (where Bombay Presidency Golf Club is located) is far,” she says.

Meanwhile, Deepika too maintains her involvement with sports. “I’m the board member of the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ). We are training athletes for the Olympics next year. In India, there is a lot of potential in all fields of sport, not just cricket. But due to lack of resources, talent is going to waste. I hope athletes seize this opportunity and make the most of it,” she says.

Deepika has played professional badminton at state level in the past and has always wanted to support athletes. “But at the same time, Geet Sethi (snooker world champion) and my father (badminton legend Prakash Padukone) were also working on setting up the OGQ. So I thought it makes sense to join hands with them because it’s a full-fledged organisation,” she says, adding with a smile that she feels like she is finally taking her father’s responsibilities further.

I want to do commercial cinema now: Saif

Aarakshan is behind him now, but Saif Ali Khan admits that the film was a lot of hard work and an eye-opener of sorts. “It was discussed on so many talk shows and different forums even as we tried to convince everyone that it was a ‘safe’ film and unlikely to upset anyone, yet it was banned in
three states (Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab). The ban was lifted in AP and Punjab after a couple of days and in UP after a week following the Supreme Court’s decision, but it still hurt us badly not being able to open across the country on Friday. If something like this happened with my own production, Agent Vinod, I’d be anguished. I can imagine how Prakashji (producer-director Prakash Jha) feels,” he sighs. Is he going to do Jha’s next film on India Shining? “Nothing has been finalised,” he says. “At the moment, I’m looking to do slightly more commercial stuff. The films I like are more of the escapist fare and it’s tempting to steer clear of controversies. But I’d want to do a socially-relevant film like Aarakshan once in a while if something exciting and entertaining comes up.”
For now though, Saif has only an Agent Vinod, Cocktail and Race 2 on his plate. The thriller should wrap up by mid-September and Cocktail by the year-end. The Race sequel will roll by October and he’s in talks with Kumar Taurani of Tips for another film. There’s also a ‘comic book’ collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox that should be announced soon and another home production in which he plays a zombie hunter that will flag off around October. “That’s a lot,” he smiles. “And the bulk of it is commercial cinema.”
He’s supposed to be one of the actors in contention for the role of an eccentric in the quirky comedy, Ghanchakkar, and going by Rajkumar Gupta’s previous two films, Aamir (2008) and No One Killed Jessica, it’s unlikely to be a mainstream movie. “Yes, the script of Ghanchakkar came to me a month ago. I read it and thought about it for a while,” he says. “But two days ago, I decided that though I wanted to work with Rajkumar Gupta, whose films I’ve liked, Ghanchakkar is not the kind of film I’m looking to do now. I didn’t want to make the news public because I don’t like to influence the decision of other actors. It’s an interesting script and will suit someone else better. Meanwhile, I’m hoping Gupta and I will collaborate on another project in the near future.”

Dhawans on a roll

On Thursday, both of David Dhawan’s sons were at Yashraj Studio shooting for their respective debut films. Rohit was directing Desi Boyz while Varun was filming Student Of The Year that started rolling on August 16. Both brothers were on the same floor.

“It’s a happy coincidence,” smiles

Rohit. “I couldn’t have wished for a better launch for Varun, who is in the safest pair of hands. I was on a recce in London when mom and dad called to tell me that Varun had landed a big break. I was driving at the time, I stopped the car and jumped with joy.”

He admits that since they were kids, it was expected that they would follow in their dad’s footsteps. Varun always wanted to be an actor while Rohit went to film school to take a course in writing and directing. It took him two years to complete his first script and Desi Boyz with Akshay Kumar and John Abraham, rolled on November 7 last year, wrapping up on April 19. It will open in theatres on November 25, a month-and-a-half after David’s film, Rascals, which releases on October 6. “That’s another happy coincidence,” laughs Rohit. “But that’s where the similarities end. Dad’s made 43 movies, he’s had at least one release every year. This is my first movie. Comparisons  are inevitable but unfair because those are big shoes to fill since dad is a brand with a string of blockbusters.”
The obvious question is, how much has David contributed to his debut film? “We were both busy with our films to do more than discuss each other’s day at dinner,” says Rohit, adding that his humour is more subtle. “Dad gave the mahurat clap and after that never came on the sets. He’s waiting to see the film. I hope Desi Boyz is as entertaining as the films he makes.”

Aishwarya sends legal notice to Madhur

Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan seems to have had enough of her name being dragged into controversies related to director Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Heroine. Sources indicate that she has sent Bhandarkar and UTV a legal notice barring them from ever using the footage and stills she shot for the film

earlier this year.

Ash, who was dropped from the film in June when it became public that she is pregnant, has since been dragged into several film-related controversies. “Ash is fed up of the whole thing. She’s been ethical and professional about the matter. But, considering the way things ended on a sour note with Bhandarkar, she does not want him to use any of the stills or scenes that she had already shot at any point in the future,” says the source. In yet another move to distance herself from the film, Ash recently returned the signing amount paid to her by UTV. “We never asked for the money but we did receive a cheque of Rs 22.5 lakh,” says an official from the production house.

Not confirming the amount, Ash’s spokesperson said, “It was just a token amount that she had got from UTV. She thought it was fair to return it, even though they insisted that she should keep it, considering she had shot for so many days.” A source close to Bhandarkar says he feels it was a good gesture on Ash’s part. “It was a professional move. The eight days that Aishwarya shot the film cost a lot of money and there were big losses incurred after the film was stalled,” he says.

Ash’s role has now been given to Kareena Kapoor, who, reportedly is charging a record amount to have rescued the film.

My Agneepath is a tribute to the original: Karan

KJo says reprising his father's 1990 classic Agneepath is an emotional decision

For Karan Johar, the 'business' of cinema is still an emotional one.

His decision to produce the young Karan Malhotra's Agneepath (2012) under his banner Dharma Productions is not based entirely on commerce. "I hope everyone feels as emotional about it as I do," says Karan, who will release a one-and-a-half-minute teaser of the film today. The film releases on January 13, 2012.

Minutes before the teaser was unveiled, KJo tells us, "There is so much curiosity about Agneepath, that's why I have released this teaser so much in advance. I want to put the curiosity to rest and let people know that this Agneepath is not a remake. It is a tribute to the original, with many new facets."

He reminds you that the 1990 version - produced by Yash Johar and directed by Mukul Anand - attained cult status. It's a film all of us at Dharma are emotional about. It may not have been a commercial success, but it is still one of Amit uncle's (Amitabh Bachchan) most popular films. When Karan (Malhotra) expressed a desire to make his version, all of us were more than happy. I know my father would have liked it this way."
Incidentally, the August 29 teaser precedes the theatrical trailer of Agneepath that will release with Ra.One this Diwali.

Agneepath has some old characters - like Vijay Dinanath Chauhan ( Hrithik Roshan) and Kancha (Sanjay Dutt) - and some new. The character being played by Rishi Kapoor was not a part of the original film. Even the Priyanka Chopra-Hrithik Roshan love story in the tribute has no resonance to the Madhavi-Amitabh track of the 1990 version. "In the teaser, you will see these four fantastic actors and superstars," he promises.

"`You will also notice that this version of Agneepath has a different texture, a different tonality. It is a readapted and re-energised version that will take people by surprise. The original had an ethos that was closer to the time (the 90s). This one will obviously be contemporary. Karan has paid a tribute to my father and Mukul, and I'm happy to stand by his side."

Hollywood does not fascinate me: Imran Khan

Actor Imran Khan says it like it is. Aamir's nephew has no qualms in admitting that he is not fascinated by Hollywood.


In a chat with TOI, Imran revealed, "Its very important to understand the sensibility and culture of the film industry you work in. American films are made for an American audience and thus it will always be difficult for Indians to not get stereotyped in those films. I definitely don't intend to play a scientist or a taxi driver in Hollywood films. I'd rather give my all to Hindi films. I understand this culture and it will always give me a better platform than anything else."


As much as we'd like to agree with you Imran, this all seems a tad unbelievable, considering you happen to be an American citizen.

I didn't want to hurt anyone: Rakhi Sawant

Rakhi Sawant doesn't have any qualms in speaking her mind. And she says she is content about the fact that she doesn't have to mince words to impress people.
At least, she has the courage to speak what she believes in. When we asked Rakhi about a complaint that Manoj Karwasra, an activist lodged with SP, Hisar against her for speaking against Team Anna, she said, "My intention wasn't to hurt anyone. And if people are hurt with my opinion (she had referred to Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan as 'Kaliyug ke Rawan'), I apologise for it. But we belong to a democratic nation, so why should we not be allowed to speak what we believe in?" As Rakhi says, she was highly disappointed with the way people, who called themselves Anna supporters misbehaved with aam juntaand cops. "How can people who call themselves Anna supporters attack cops? "I was upset when I heard this news. After all, I'm a cop's daughter. And my father never accepted money from anyone. If cops are behaving properly, why should they be attacked? This is what made me make that comment. People should not be influenced to do which is not correct.I believe we should be respectful towards the cops. It is because of them that we are able to live our lives peacefully."
Has it ever happened that she was asked by corrupt officials to pay a few extra bucks to get work done? "To be honest, it is the fear that works as a deterrent in my case. Kisi ki itni himmat hai kiRakhi se paise maange. People know if they do any thing of this sort, I will raise my voice. That's how it should always be. We all need to drill that fear in people's minds to ensure we are not considered as vulnerable. Maine apne kaam ladke karwaein hain. I have never bribed anyone and I'm proud of it," she says. People certainly need to follow this, Rakhi!

'Nobody has a body like Salman Khan'

The action sequences in Wanted and Dabangg certainly added a lot to Salman Khan's powerful performances and were instrumental in making the characters he played more likeable.

Hence, for Bodyguard, the actor insisted on roping in action director Vijayan Master, his current favourite. "We are on the same wavelength, we know exactly what is expected from each other," says the action director from the South.

"It was very tough because in Bodyguard on one hand we had to show Salman as the action hero and on the other hand, I couldn't have disturbed the love story or the film's humorous elements. We couldn't have separated the three. It was like walking a tightrope. Salman has that magical quality about him. His expressions convey all he needs to. He'd give a certain look and I would know what shot he is about to do," says Vijayan, who has done 480 films so far.

'I can't run, I can't jump, I can't chase,' at times a tired and weary Salman would tell Vijayan Master, "But he ended up doing all the stunts himself with remarkable ease. He would enjoy doing even the most risky shots," says the action director. "Sometimes, Salman would request me to give him a five-day break and he would practise jumping, running during the period and come back totally prepared. He knows exactly what works for him. He is a gym freak and knows the kind of food he has to eat that would keep him fit. Nobody has got a body like his."

Akshay Kumar's tribute to Punjabis

After the roles that Akshay Kumar has played in recent films, he has created quite a strong Punjabi connection with his audience.

The actor, who has Punjabi roots, has always wanted to pay a tribute to Singhs around the world for their sherdil. Akshay's latest song, where he is rapping, is a promotional one for his film Speedy Singhs.
He shot this special song Shera Di Kaum Punjabi, with Grammy award winner Ludacris and RDB, a pop Punjabi trio. This rap number, composed by Ludacris and RDB, has recently released and is quite a hit with partygoers.

On Akshay's experience of working with international artists, a source reveals, "It was an exciting experience for Akshay to collaborate with Ludacris for the music video. Akshay is always looking for opportunities to work with great artists from across the globe. He has made several films in the past, but this will be his first Hollywood film as a producer. He will not be acting in the film though."

Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor team up

Circa 1983, Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor shared screen space in Manmohan Desai's blockbuster Coolie. 28 years later, the stars will reunite for Sudhir Mishra's directorial venture Mehrunnisa.

And that's not all. The project produced by Nikhil Advani will also have the actors' sons Abhishek and Ranbir making cameo appearances, making it one of Sudhir's most ambitious project till date.

While Amitabh and Abhishek have worked together in films like Bunty Aur Babli, Sarkar and Sarkar Raj, Rishi and his son Ranbir have never shared screen space. "It is a script that Sudhir Mishra started writing in 1996. However, it failed to take off that time. Nikhil Advani was Sudhir's assistant back then. After all these years, Nikhil approached Sudhir and asked him to rework the script. Saurabh Shukla is writing the dialogues for the film," revealed a source.

Talking about the storyline, the source said, "The film starts off with two old men played by Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor reminiscing about their past. Here is where Abhishek and Ranbir come in. They play their respective fathers' younger selves."

"Nikhil wanted to take this film on the floors this year. But both Ranbir and Abhishek are busy with other projects now. The film will go on floors only next year now," added the source.

When contacted, Nikhil Advani refused to comment on the project. Sudhir Mishra remained unavailable as well. "Neither Nikhil nor Sudhir want to talk about the project right now.

It's a huge project and they want to announce it in a big way later. Both Amitabh and Rishi have loved the script and agreed to do it. In fact, the film should also star Sudhir's favourite Chitrangda Singh," informed the source.

Though Amitabh and Rishi were a part of Rakeysh Omprakaash Mehra's Delhi 6, the actors did not share any screen space. They have earlier worked in super hit films like Amar Akbar Anthony and Kabhi Kabhi.

Big B and Rishi Kapoor were a part of Delhi 6 too, where the earlier did a guest appearance but did not share any screen space with Rishi. They have earlier been parts of superhit films such as Amar Akbar Anthony and Kabhi Kabhie.

Aamir Khan at Ramlila Maidan today?

Aamir Khan, who has been supporting Anna Hazare from the back end, has now decided to come forward with his support.
If the buzz is to be believed, Aamir could be seen at the Ramlila ground today in support of Anna. Aamir who gave the idea to Team Anna, to single out MPs and ask them to take a stand on weather they were pro or anti-jan lokpal bill, is now planning to join Anna and his team at the Ramlila Maidan and lend his voice to the protest. With Anna still continuing with his fast, Aamir has reportedly written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him to give in to Hazare's demands.

My hubby's my enemy: Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala's marriage to Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal is back in the news. Six months into the marriage, Manya announced on her social networking page that she was contemplating divorce from Dahal, seven years her junior, and hoped her parents wouldn't be angry.

She later deleted the post saying she had written it in a fit of anger, but the cracks in the marriage had appeared for all to see. Although she stressed that everything was fine with her marriage later, on Thursday the actress once again posted a message on her profile saying, "My husband has become my enemy... how much worst (sic) can it become for a women (sic)?"

We wonder if this message too will be retracted soon, or is the marriage over for good this time? Manisha was unavailable for comment.

First Look: Ranbir's Rockstar

Imtiaz Ali's much awaited film Rockstar's first official poster is out. The poster shows Ranbir Kapoor from behind, clad in a kurta-pyjama wielding a guitar with élan.

Rockstar marks Nargis Fakhri's debut who's an American model of half Pakistani- half Czech origin. Hot chemistry between

Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri has already become talk of the town.

This is also late legendary actor Shammi Kapoor's last film. He'll be seen in a jugalbandi sequence with his grandnephew Ranbir. Ranbir will strum a guitar while Shammi will play a shehnai.

The music of the film is composed by AR Rahman. The film's trailer will release with Salman Khan's Bodyguard.

Rockstar will hit theatres on November 11 this year.

Raaz 3 to release July 6, 2012

After Raaz and Raaz 2, Vikram Bhatt is looking forward to the release of the third part of the horror film - it comes out July 6 next year. "The filming of Raaz 3 begins on 15th January... releases on July 6th 2012!" Bhatt posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

The movie will star Emraan

Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez along with Bipasha Basu, who will make a comeback in the Bhatt camp after reportedly turning down a lead role in Murder 2.

"So it official now.. the cast of Raaz 3 - Emraan, Jacqueline and ... Bipasha Basu," Bhatt posted. The filmmaker also declared the name of the character which the cast will play on-screen.

"Shanaya it is for Bipasha's name in Raaz 3!! Jacqueline's name is Sanjana. The Hero of Raaz 3 is Emraan Hashmi and the name of his character is Aditya, much like Raaz..." Bhatt posted.

The film will also see Bhatt returning to Vishesh Films after 2003 movie Footpath.

All set for makeover: Prachi Desai

Tired of played sedate, butter-won’t-melt-in-the-mouth roles Prachi Desai is all set to loosen up and let her hair down. For Rohit Shetty’s Bol Bachchan, she teams up with Abhishek Bachchan and is going into the fun zone big time.

"I have a sober image and I am proud of it. I wouldn't want to

exchange that image just to be considered sexy. Even when I got my big Bollywood break in Rock On and then in Life Partner I played sweet goody goody roles. But now in my forthcoming films I am all set for a makeover. I am ready to do what the script requires," said Prachi.

The 22-year-old, who started her career with Ekta Kapoor's popular television show Kasamh Se where she played a small town girl, is ready for a complete makeover in Mahesh Bhatts' Informer as well. "But I've my inbuilt censor which stops me from doing certain things. I won't go beyond the limits I've sent for myself. I am young and a girl of today. But so far whether on television or in films, I've played extremely inhibited conservative girls far older than I actually am. That will change now. I'm playing my own age and that too with leading men closer to my age," she said.

About opting out of two South Indian films at the last minute Prachi said: “What can I do? It was a genuine dates problem in one case. As for the other film, nothing had been finalized, no dates nothing. "If filmmakers want to use my name for publicity what can I do? It hasn’t been easy for me to make the transition from television to cinema. I had to prove myself doubly hard. And now if people want to spoil it for me,what can I say? Except that I wish them well.”

You wonder if Ekta Kapoor is proud of her blue-eyed girl and Prachi shoots back saying,  “I hope she is!” Asked her about her relationship status with Ekta, and Prachi turns diplomatic. "So much has been said about our soured friendship. But the fact is, we are still the same. Nothing has changed," said the actress who featured in Ekta's production venture Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

Dibakar Banerjee's next film on corruption

When an anti-corruption movement has built up in India, can Bollywood films be far behind? Leading young Indian director Dibakar Banerjee says his new movie focusses on the revenge of the common man.

Banerjee's film Shanghai is an adaptation of a Greek novelist's work, but the 40-year-old

director known for acclaimed films like Khosla Ka Ghosla and Love, Sex Aur Dhoka says it applies completely to India.

"With Shanghai, viewers should look forward to taking some revenge...revenge of the common Indian man against the people who have money and are sucking us dry with their vested interests," Banerjee told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"It's a sad state. The rich ones are getting more powerful and they are shamelessly sucking more out of the middle-class man, who goes through so much every day. People claim to invest thousands of crores in working on the country's infrastructure...but still a trip from office to home takes two hours...It is this agony about the average Indian that I have portrayed in 'Shanghai'," he added.

The political thriller, set for a Jan 26, 2012, release, has been inspired by a mid-1960s book, Z, by Greek writer and diplomat Vassilis Vassilikos. The book was first translated on the big screen through an eponymous French film released in 1969. But Banerjee, who has doled out only original stories and scripts so far, says he decided to make the film as it was relevant and gripping.

He also says he has Indianised it completely."I had seen the movie version of the book when I was 14 and I grew up with a memory of it. A writer gave me the book much later, and I felt a lot of what the book talked about was more common in India. So we got the rights of the book, and twisted it to the contemporary Indian setting to suit our times," he said. "Adapting a book into a movie is not easier as many think. Whether adapted or original, a filmmaker faces the same problems and the same amount of blood and sweat goes into it," added the talented filmmaker.

He says the focus of the entire movie is "corruption" - a cause against which social activist Anna Hazare has united the whole nation for what he calls the country's "second freedom struggle". "My whole film is about corruption. There is a whole wave of corruption in the country because of some corrupt politicians who only work to serve their interests. According to me, it is .001 percent of India's population that is corrupt...but they have caused a mess," said Banerjee, who feels Hazare's movement is "just" as long as it is "not driven by personal motive".

Banerjee's Shanghai brings together a unique cast - Bollywood's serial kisser Emraan Hashmi, dimpled boy Abhay Deol and a heroine with an unconventional choice of films, Kalki Koechlin. "Abhay plays a bureaucrat, Emraan plays a roadside photographer and Kalki plays an expat - a half-British caught in the corrupt society and her character dares to fight it," he said, adding he can't reveal any more.

But even if the film turns out to be an eye-opener, can it bring about change? "That's the maximum a movie can do! But I don't think any film can do that - bring changes! What can change the scenario is only lobbying and legislation. Films can only reflect what happens in society," said the adman-turned-filmmaker.

I'll hit you with my work: Salman Khan

Good girls fall for bad boys. That just about explains the popularity of this quintessential bachelor of Bollywood.

All said and done, all fights, link-ups and break-ups given, you can't deny that he's the most charming 'bodyguard' of B-town. Dressed in a casual white tee, Salman was at his casual best when he came to zoOm to celebrate our 7th anniversary. Talking about his undisputed No. 1 spot at the box office, he said, "I'm not in the race.

Aamir is No.1 and then there are the rest. They can put me at No. 50 for all I care." Elaborating on the tough tussle of winning over the audience, Sallu candidly said, "Main tumhe apne kaam se maarunga, tum mujhe apne kaam se maarna." Well, well, we get the sermon loud and clear, Salman. We hope the 'King' has heard it too! For exclusive interviews, B-town parties and events, watch B - Tonite from Mon - Fri at 10pm and 1pm, only on zoOm - India's No.1 Bollywood channel!

I will strip for Anna: Yuvraaj Parashar

Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign is gaining support from all corners of India, and the Bollywood fraternity is not far behind. Joining the crusade is model-turned-actor Yuvraaj Parashar.

"I will strip for Anna. He is like a God to me," says Yuvraaj, adding, "I am totally inspired by Anna Hazare. Woh humein batana chahte hain ki humein apne haq ke liye ladna chahiye. And this is why I am giving my support to his cause, totally." The actor, who is totally in awe of Anna Hazare, cannot stop talking about his unyielding support to him. "Anna itne buzurg hone ke baad bhi itna kuch kar rahe hain desh ke liye. He has not eaten food for so many days, aur main jab khana khata hun mujhe sharm aati hain apne aap par. Ek Indian hone ke naate mujhe lagta hain sab ko Anna ko support karna chahiye. It is a reality... we all know that na Anna ko Prime Minister banne ka shauk hain, na unko publicity ka shauk hain. Kahin na kahin unse inspire hoke main yeh stand lena chahta hoon."

And that's not all that's on Yuvraaj's mind. The "Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon" actor, says, "I am really concerned about the state of affairs in Mumbai. There are large potholes all over the city which create huge problems for the aam janta during the monsoons. But, people are least bothered. Mujhe lagta hain yeh koi mamuli problem nahi hain, main sheher ke liye sochta hun. I wanted to highlight this issue. I feel yeh bhi ek brashtachaar ka hissa hain," he says, adding, "Few days back, I saw an old lady who was just about to fall in a pothole and no one was helping her. It's disgusting to see that people don't even bother to help."

But why does he want to take the extreme step of stripping? Won't a simple mic and slogans do? "Yes I did say I will strip, but only if they fail to understand the problem. I said it because I know for sure that in this country, if you have to do something, you have to take up a strong step. Agar hume apni cheez batane mein itni mushkil nahi hoti toh stripping karne ki baat ke bare main bolna hi nahi parta. Agar easily yeh kaam ho jata to Anna, joh itne time se fast main hain, unhe bhi yeh sab karne ki zaroorat nahi hoti." Yuvraaj adds, "Mera intention strip karne ka nahi hain, mera intention kapre utarne ka nahi hain, mera intention cheezo ko sahi karne ka hain. Maine kaha hain ki strip karunga agar unhone woh kaam complete nahi kiya toh."

Asked directly if he's hoping to get publicity through Anna's anti-corruption campaign, he clarifies, "Today, Bollywood is fully supporting Anna's cause. There's nothing wrong in it. We're not supporting it as actors, we're supporting as Indians. I'm not doing anything for publicity. I'm just a normal person and I want to highlight the issues that cause problems for the society."

And he's resolute in his step - of stripping. "Agar woh meri baat nahi maanege toh main zaroor strip karunga. Par main umeed karta hun ki woh meri baat man jaaye aur us naubat tak nahi jaana parega. I am asking what's my right. Also, about the potholes problems... There are so many accidents that can take place due to the potholes.I mainly want to highlight that this is not a small issue, but a serious one."

If he's a strong supporter of Anna, then why didn't we see him at the Azad Maidan? "I haven't been able to go to Azad Maidan. But If I get a chance then will try to visit."

Karisma Kapoor to join Twitter soon

Karisma Kapoor is the latest to be bitten by the Twitter bug. She is set to join the micro-blogging site soon, says filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, who is directing her next movie "Dangerous Ishq".

"With the gorgeous Karisma Kapoor... she is getting on twitter soon and wants to convey to her fans that she is really excited to be back!!!" Bhatt posted on Twitter.

Karisma will be back on the big screen after a gap of five years. She will star opposite model-turned-actor Rajneish Duggal in "Dangerous Ishq' and will be playing five different roles in five different lifetimes.

Mausam raises Sonam's romantic expectations

Actor Sonam Kapoor, who has played the quintessential romantic heroine in most of her films to date, is ready to don the romantic mantle again with Mausam, a film directed by veteran actor Pankaj Kapur and co-starring his son Shahid Kapoor.

A romantic at heartBeing an
out and out love story, Sonam, 25, says that Mausam has raised her expectation of her ideal man. “It has raised the bar. I have read every romantic novel ever written so that has already raised the bar. So all boys have to read at least one romantic novel or classic and then come to me,” she says.

The actor, who plays Shahid Kapoor’s love interest in the film, elaborates: “There are so many novels written about these stories. I think waiting is very romantic. Aaj kal kaun karta hai?” she asks.

So, what is it about the September 16 release that raised the bar for her? “We are used to new age commercial films, so I feel that romance is kind of lost. And this is a very romantic film. There is not too much conflict and the conflict that is there is all external. The story takes place 10-15 years ago, when there were no mobile phones. So, we could communicate only that much ... But I love the whole quaintness of it.” ‘Shahid was well behaved’Talking about Shahid, Sonam says that her Mausam co-star was well behaved on the sets as his father was always around. “Shahid is amazing. Also, his dad was around so he was quite well behaved,” she quips, adding, “But he likes to pull my leg all the time. I think that's a given with all my heroes. They think it’s the best thing in the world to make fun of me...and I am not trying to constantly flirt with them,” she says. The actor gave two years to the film, and had to lose and gain weight as per the film’s changing seasons.
Director’s actorSonam says, unlike popular perception of  Pankaj Kapur being a hard task master, she finds him “very sweet”. “He is a lovely person. He was very sweet to me. I have worked with a lot of taskmasters so working with him was like a cakewalk. Even after being in the industry for so many years, he is very idealistic, correct about everything."