Big B is all set to get back to work with a vengeance. Foremost on his list of must-do are
Mira Nair's
Shantaram and
Deepa Mehta's pseudo-historical
Exclusion.
While in principle Big B has said yes to both the international projects, there seems to be a date problem around the corner. Both Mehta and Nair, seen as fierce rivals, want to shoot their projects in winter. Script and date-wise, Nair has an edge. And the Bollywood icon says he will start shooting for Nair's film as he has already allocated her the dates.
"I've already committed my dates to Mira whereas Deepa is yet to finish her script or lock in on the dates. So naturally Mira gets first priority," Amitabh told IANS.
Canada-based Mehta says her script will take some time.
"After
Water I'm locked away right now working on the script. It's not something I can rush through because it requires historic detailing.
Exclusion would be my toughest film ever," said Mehta.
As far as casting goes Mehta has already zeroed in on
Terence Stamp, John Abraham and of course, Big B, who incidentally loved both Mehta's
Water and Nair's
The Namesake and would ideally not like to relinquish either project.
"I don't know why Mira and I are constantly being put in confrontational situations! I loved her
The Namesake and she liked my
Water. Now if we're both casting Mr. Bachchan, it shouldn't become a tug 'o' war between us," Mehta said.
Kareena dumped Shahid for Films?
Shahid Kapur and
Kareena Kapoor's story is known to all by now. The latest buzz is that Kareena dumped Shahid because of her career, which she gives top priority.
Kareena is still Bollywood's hot and sexy actress. Yet, when paired with her real-life boyfriend on screen, she has done very poorly.
A close Bollywood source says: "Kareena and Shahid were very much in love for the past couple of years but they were a flop on screen.
China Town,
Fida and
Chup Chup Ke went down without a whimper. Then Shahid hit the jackpot with
Vivaah."
The source adds: "Kareena realized that together they are a flop, and hence, started searching for someone else. Finally, it seems she has settled for
Saif Ali Khan. Nowadays, Saif and Kareena are often seen together and they are very comfortable with each other."
Shahid was in Toronto for some time for a shoot but he returned to Mumbai on October 1.
Since then, he hasn't met his friends and has kept a low profile. The source reveals that the chocolate boy-actor is very upset with his break off, while Kareena is calm and composed.
Shahid and Kareena came face to face yesterday for the shooting of the remaining portions of
Jab We Met.
The source says: "Both were good and there were no cold vibes. Shahid did not express that he was affected with the break-off. But he left as soon as he was done with his part of the shoot. The two did not even exchange pleasantries."
But is Kareena safe with Saif? The latter's love life doesn't portray him as a steady partner at all. He married
Amrita Singh, who was 10 years elder to him; they have a son, Ibrahim, and a daughter, Sara. When
Hum Tum sent Saif's career rocketing, he left Amrita and fell for
Roza.
When Roza parted ways, Saif was seen a lot with
Bipasha. There were rumours that something was on between Saif and
Yana Gupta.
And now, finally, Kareena's in his life. Hope the two know where they are going from here, both in their personal and professional lives.
Celina refutes Aish's claim
Celina is all set to play the mythical beauty Sheherzade in the international project
The Quest Of Sheherzade.
For the petite beauty the most exciting part of this fantasia-project is the rugged action. "It's a role that requires extensive stunts. Fortunately my father is an army officer. I learnt horse riding in school.
But doing so without a saddle requires plenty of training. And I'm off to the US in Februray 2008. Shooting starts probably in Turkey next Summer."
The Sheherzade role sounds quite a lot like what
Aishwarya Rai did in her just-released international project
The Last Legion.
Apparently Celina was offered Ms Rai's role in the new
Pink Panther, a matter hotly denied by Ms Rai's business manager from LA.
Celina exudes a startling confidence when she says, "With due respects to Aishwarya and her LA business manager, my work in the US is looked after by
Brillstein-Grey who also look after names like
Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom and
Andy Garcia. The script was sent through my agents.
And then it was also sent to
Shilpa Shetty…I'm aware of that. I'm not aware of where the project went after that. Nor am I interested in getting into a slinging match over a film that I didn't do. I'd rather talk about what I'm doing."
Celina has just completed another international project called
Love Has No Language. "It's directed by first-timer
Ken Khan who was involved with the
Lord Of The Rings project. It's an out-and-out romantic film."
Celina is candid enough to admit she didn't get along too well with her Australian co-star
Ben Mitchell ( the big-name tv star from the soaps
Shortland Streets and
Neighbours).
"Out there in New Zealand they look for a hectic social life after work. I've gone through late-night partying in college. I don't need that any more. I'm very much a ghar ki murgi.very dull and ordinary. So yes, Ben and I just faced the camera went our separate ways."
Sush to play a love guru!
Actress
Sushmita Sen has been signed to play an interesting role in a film by
Dharmesh Darshan.
The movie, yet untitled, will have Sush pairing up with
Govinda after a very long time. The two had previously worked together in
David Dhawan’s comedy
Kyonki Main Jhoot Nahin Bolta in 2001.
Dharmesh Darshan , who has been lying low for quite some time, reveals that the movie will be a romantic comedy. Both Sush and Govinda will play love gurus in it.
The filmmaker had wanted to work with Govinda for many years. And now that Govinda is returning to acting in a big way following the good run of
Partner, Darshan says he decided to sign the actor for the male lead opposite Sush.
The movie will be shot in Mauritius and Mumbai. The shooting is slated to begin in January next year.
