If our sources are to be believed, Katrina Kaif looks set to appear opposite Hrithik Roshan for the first time later this year. In a bid to boost her reputation as an actor, Kaif has been carefully choosing projects and currently has a busy schedule of filming lined up for 2010, including a potential role opposite Hrithik Roshan in Zoya Akthar’s next film.

If cast, Kaif would join Farkan Akthar, Abhay Deol and Hrithik Roshan in the as-yet-untitled road movie, to be filmed in Spain. Little is known about Kaif’s potential role as she remains tight-lipped on the matter; but Farhan Akhtar has reluctantly commented that: “It’s too early to talk about it, but yes, if Katrina does come into our project, she will be cast opposite Hrithik. He is the only one who gets to romance his love interest. Abhay and I have no love interest in the film.”

With Katrina recently stating that she would like to win a National Award, perhaps signing on for a film like this one is all part of her strategy. Shooting begins in April. Source

As we all know that Amitabh Bachchan created history in the television industry with Kaun Banega Crorepati and now his son Abhishek Bachchan is treading the same path.

His debut TV show National Bingo Night has garnered record opening TRPs of 5.1, much greater than what Shah Rukh and Salman Khan’s show did.
Junior Bachchan surged ahead of all other celebrities on first-day ratings for the last two years, according to Tam data. Of course, he had the support of his Paa who came as the first contestant.
 
The debut episode of National Bingo Night on Colors clocked a TVR of 5.1 on 23 January, making the show the highest rated non-fiction launch in the last two years. Source

It might come as a surprise but Rani Mukerji has walked out of Deepa Mehta’s film, an adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s masterpiece novel Midnight’s Children, because she apparently didn’t want to play the mother of a 14-year-old. That she happily played a mother of two kids in Yash Raj Films’ Ta Ra Rum Pum almost three years ago is another matter. A source says, “She asked Mehta that how she can play the mother of a 14-year old when she herself is just 30? She preferred to leave the film instead.”
 
Initially, Rani was quite excited about the idea of working with Mehta as it would have been the first time in her 13-year career that she would have worked with a female director. Reportedly, she had even met Rushdie and Mehta in Toronto for the same. Mehta confirmed that Rani is no longer in her film. She also said that Rani had informed her about the same. “Rani was required to play a mother in a section of the film, but there is no kid in the film who is 14 years old,” said the filmmaker.

However, Mehta dismissed the buzz that Rani turned her down because she didn’t want to play a teenager’s mother. She said, “Rani had some personal reasons for not doing the film. I cannot disclose the reasons because there are some things, which are confidential between a director and an actor. I have great regard for Rani and total respect for why she is not working with me in this film.” More

The 39-year-old star Saif Ali Khan is accepting the title of Padma Shri with all humility but still believes that there are many people out there who truly deserved it more than him. “Honestly speaking, I feel really humbled and undeserving on being awarded the Padma Shri. It isn’t something that I had asked for and since Government of India has done this for me, all I can do is to deliver my best and live up to it,” Saif told PTI in an interview.

This year, Aamir Khan has joined the elite list with a Padma Bhushan against his name. Bollywood diva Rekha has also been awarded with Padma Shri this year. “Each of the names that you mention are so distinguished and they truly deserve a National honor at this level,” said Saif.

“This is why I feel a little low key because in current times, someone like Aamir Khan truly deserves a Padma Bhushan. May be I wasn’t really worthy of it. There are many people who deserve it much more me,” the actor said. “I associate this award with senior people who have achieved much more than me in their career. This is why I feel a little strange though perhaps 10 years down the line when I look back at it, all of this may seem a lot more natural,” Saif added. Source

Kareena Kapoor- the size zero actress finally agrees that a few curves definitely don’t hurt. But unfortunately, no one seems to have asked beau Saif Ali Khan. Apparently the Chote Nawab strongly subscribes to leaner-the-better school of thought. And let’s not forget, the romance between Bebo and Saif had blossomed on the sets of Tashan, when she was almost threatening to slip from size zero to practically negative territory.

So convinced is Saif that his girlfriend’s slimmer version was better, he’s not refraining from pressing his case with Kareena. Recently, both stars were present to perform at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri. “They had separate items. First Saif performed and then it was Kareena’s turn. But Saif stayed backstage all through Kareena’s dance. Immediately after, as she was making her way backstage, Saif got up to applaud her. But as the couple made their way out together, he couldn’t resist telling her, “I think you need to lose some weight, yaar.”

It may be a private joke between the couple, because Kareena seemed to take it pretty sportingly. Bebo countered, “I am happy to have gained a bit. Don’t you think I needed to?” Source

Anushka Sharma did smooch Shahid for three times in Parmeet Sethi’s flick under YRF but is not elated about it. Who cares? A source said that the kisses are not the brush-of-the-lips type. They are full-on smooches. Reportedly, Anushka shared great chemistry with Shahid when they were shooting for this film in the States. They had gelled very well and seemed to be enjoying each other’s company very much. And nobody blames YRF or Parmeet Sethi if they decided on the three smooches because they wanted to exploit that chemistry and have it translated on screen as well.

As if we didn’t have any thundering chemistries on screen without the kissing plots! But Anushka was not comfortable. Parmeet had to do a lot of cajoling. Finally, he managed to convince her. It’s not easy to be smooch-candid! Isn’t it Anushka? How did Shahid take the whole kisses episode? A source revealed that he had no problem at all. As expected! Source

Its been a tough time for the Ghajini girl in bollywood. After her film London Dreams failed to click at the box office, there is no work for Asin Thottumkal in the Hindi film industry.  
“I have nothing (no films) as of now. All that I can reveal is that future projects are under production and I can’t talk about them until the producers give me a go- ahead,” Asin told reporters on Wednesday.
 
The actress was in the capital to announce the 55th edition of the Filmfare Awards. She, however, assured that she will be seen more in movies this year. Asin, who won the best debutant (female) award at Filmfare last year for her performance in Ghajini, kept the media waiting for two hours as her flight was delayed due to the fog in the capital. But she was extremely apologetic for the delay. Source

Shahrukh‘s 6 pack abs is still a huge craze amongst the public. The audiences were left asking for more when Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan took off his shirt while shooting for a special episode of STAR Plus’ music reality show Music Ka Mahamuqabla.

Shah Rukh, who went to the show with filmmaker Karan Johar to promote their forthcoming movie My Name Is Khan, surprised everyone when he climbed up on a table and danced to the tune of Deewangi deewangi from his hit movie Om Shanti Om.

He then took off his shirt and flaunted his abs, said a source from the sets. On the show all the songs sung by the contestants were from Shah Rukh’s movies and the superstar shook a leg with all of them. The episode featuring Shah Rukh and Karan will be aired Saturday at 2100 hrs IST. Source

Kareena Kapoor has been signed for a whopping Rs 7 crore by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd for their next, Golmaal 3, directed by Rohit Shetty. A source says, “Kareena hasn’t given any hit last year except 3 Idiots and has raised many eyebrows for being signed for the exorbitant amount. While Bollywood actors are slashing their prices to cope with the recession, it is surprising how much the industry is paying the actresses. Even A-list actors are not being offered such a huge amount.”

It is learnt that Kareena will be the only heroine in the film as she has made it very clear that she does not want to work in multi-heroine projects. And why not? After the success of Jab We Met and the critical acclaim she received, Kareena’s career graph rose.

Reportedly she was paid Rs 2.5 crore for Kambakkht Ishq and little more for Golmaal 2. The source continues, “After Golmaal 2 proved to be a hit, director Rohit Shetty only wanted Kareena in the film and convinced the producers to sign her. Moreover, the Kapoor lass has never been a part of sequels, so to make her sign this film, she was offered and signed for a huge amount.” Source

Salman Khan, who appeared on Zee TV’s dance reality show ‘Dance India Dance 2, told the show’s grandmaster Mithun Chakraborty: ‘Dada, the press guys are hell-bent on making me accept that Zarine (’Veer’) looks like Katrina… and I’m tired of telling them she is not even close to her.’

‘Nobody knows Katrina better than me and I’m telling you guys, Zarine does not look like Katrina,’ he added.

Salman thoroughly enjoyed his stay on the sets, said a source. When the actor saw the male participants lifting the girls high up in the air during their act, he joked: ‘Guys, now this is something I just cannot do! I may lift really heavy weights, bench press more than most men do but I can never lift a woman that high up in the air.’

Releasing Friday, ‘Veer’ is Salman’s pet project. Written by the actor himself 20 years ago, the movie is set in colonial India. Source

The chocolate hero of bollywood Shahid Kapoor has started his new year with a bang by sweeping three awards for his performances in 2009.

While he was named the most popular male actor at the STAR Screen awards, Shahid also won the heartthrob of the nation award at the fifth Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards.

The 28-year-old also walked away with the Editor’s choice best actor award at the Stardust awards for his portrayal of Guddu and Charlie – the ruffian with the endearing lisp and the simpleton who stammers respectively – in Vishal Bharadwaj’s “Kaminey“.

Last year saw Shahid’s transformation from a chocolate hero to an intense actor. Though his latest release “Chance Pe Dance” hasn’t been able to pull in a lot of audiences, Shahid is looking forward to good times this year. He will be seen in Parmeet Sethi’s untitled movie for Yash Raj Films apart from his father, veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor’s “Masoom”. Source

The item queen Rakhi Sawant and singer-composer-lyricist ishQ Bector, have gone ahead and taken legal action on the industry’s regulatory body, the Censor Board.

Recently, the Board passed a diktat that the word ‘kamine’ be deleted or bleeped out from the mukhda (opening verse) of ‘Bhoot’; Rakhi and ishQ’s latest video from their album titled ‘Jhagde’. Challenging the censors’ decision, the duo, who are also the producers of the album, have sent a show cause notice to the board.

“The censors clearly have double standards,” shoots Rakhi. “When they can pass an entire film called ‘Kaminey’, what sense does it make to delete the word ‘kamine’ from our video, and that too, without giving us any reason whatsoever,” she fumes. More