Films and Entertainment News

» Jackky in remake of Ala Modalaindi
In spite of the sleeper-hit <i>F.A.L.T.U</i>, Vashu Bhagnani's son Jackky's career seems stuck, first for the want of a top notch leading lady and now for a director. First it was the <i>FA.L.T.U</i> director Remo D'Souza who begged off from doing a sequel. Apparently, relations between the two soured during the making of <i>F.A.L.T.U</i> to the extent that Remo had confided to a cast member that he would not return for the <i>FA.L.T.U</i> sequel.<br><br>Rajkumar Santoshi who had been signed by the Bhagnanis to direct the son is directing another film with Abhay Deol in the lead. <br><br>The latest we hear is that Vashu has bought the rights of a Telugu hit <i>Ala Modalaindi</i> which he wants Gautham Menon to remake in Hindi with Jackky in the lead. <br><br>The original Telugu hit released in January 2011 starred Nani and was a box-office sensation. Vashu apparently insists that Menon who directed <i>Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein</i> for Vashu 11 years ago, do the Hindi remake of <i>Ala Modalaindi</i>.<br><br>Says Menon, "Yes, I've been asked to do a Telugu remake. But I am not really interested in doing that remake at this point of time. My two Hindi films so far have been remake of my own Tamil films. Besides, I am also planning to remake my Kamal Haasan starrer <i>Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu</i>."<br><br>In fact the producer of the original Tamil film <i>Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu</i> have dubbed the film Hindi and are all set to release it. The only way Menon can stop the Tamil film being released in the dubbed Hindi avatar is by agreeing to do the Hindi remake for the same producers of the original Tamil film.<br><br>Says Menon, "If I have to stop the dubbed version of <i>Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu</i> from being released, I've to do the remake for the same producer. So, that's the third remake in Hindi in a row for me. I remade my <i>Minnale</i> for Vashuji and I've just completed <i>Ek Dewaana Tha</i> which is also a remake. I'd rather do an original film for Vashuji and Jackky."

» Dhanush composes anthem for Sachin Tendulkar
Dhanush has become the talk of the town with his song '<i>Kolaveri Di</i>'. With offers pouring in for all fronts, Dhanush is currently the most sought after performer. However, the south Indian actor is now busy with his next composition and this time it's an anthem for the cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar.<br><br> In association with an energy drink brand, Dhanush has created the anthem that will also feature Southern actress Anushka shaking a leg with him in it. Dhanush has also directed the music video.

» Madhuris wax statue to be unveiled on March 7
By now its common knowledge that Madhuri Dixit is the next Bollywood star who would be waxed at the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum in London.<br><br>The '<i>Dhak Dhak</i>' girl's statue will be unveiled on March 7. Madhuri tweeted, "Madame Tussaud's unveiling on March 7th, 2012. C u then!" <br><br>Madhuri will be joining the likes of Amitabh Bachcham, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan at Madame Tussauds.

» Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha to marry next year
Another beautiful actress is all set to get hitched next year. Ex- Miss Asia Pacific Dia Mirza, who has been dating her business partner Sahil Sangha for quite some time now, plans to marry him next year.<BR><BR> Their original plan was to get married this year but since both of them have some prior commitments they decided to shift their wedding to next year.<BR><BR> Dia, along with Sahil and Zayed Khan, also owns a production house, Born Free Entertainment. Their first film under this banner was <i>Love Breakups Zindagi</i>, which released last year. While Dia and Zayed were the lead actors in the film, Sahil directed the film.<BR><BR> The couple is yet to finalise their wedding date.

» The Jagjit Singh concert to be organised on his birthday
The Jagjit Singh concert on Feb 8 on the occasion of the Ghazal maestro's 71st birthday has earned the wholehearted approval of the Ghazal maestro's wife. In fact, Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft says the event organizers made sure to have her approval before organizing the concert in memoriam.<BR><BR> Says Sabbas, "We thought it was only right that we should get Chitraji's blessings. This concert where some of our finest singers will pay a vocal tribute to Jagjit Saab is being done for no commercial purposes. Only out of everyone's love for Jagjit Saab's artistry. Just a day before he passed away, Jagjit Saab was supposed to attend the GIMA (Global Indian Music Academy Awards). He had called to tell us he was feeling unwell. And then he was no more. This concert in his memory couldn't be done without Chitraji's approval. When we visited Chitraji she gave us her wholehearted support and approval." <BR><BR> Sabbas also adds that Chitra Singh is expected to be present to watch some of the biggest names in our music world from Ghulam Ali and Talat Aziz to Kavita Krishnamurthy and L. Subramaniam sing Jagjit's numbers. <BR><BR> "As of now Chitraji is expected to attend the concert," said Sabbas Joseph. However, when contacted Chitra Singh sounded extremely cut off from the event. "I've nothing to do with it. Please speak to Wizcraft. I am in no way involved." <BR><BR> Baffling, to say the least. <BR><BR> In spite of her initial approval of the Jagjit Singh charity concert being organized by Wizcraft on his 71st birth anniversary on Feb 8, the Ghazal maestro's widow Chitra Singh very curtly informs us that she has nothing to do with the concert.

» Rajat Neha wont feature in Phas Gaye Re Obama sequel
The surprise hit of 2010- <i>Phas Gaye Re Obama</i>- is all set for a sequel but this time there are a few changes to the cast and crew. Firstly, the film won't be directed by Subhash Kapoor (who directed the first part) but by his associate director Anshul Sharma.<BR><BR> Besides while actors like Sanjay Mishra, Manu Rishi and Amole Gupte will be seen in the sequel, Neha Dhupia and Rajat Kapoor won't be a part of the sequel. Producer Ashoke Pandey said the he didn't want to include actors unless their character made sense to the script and hence had to do away with Rajat and Neha. <BR><BR> The sequel to <i>Phas Gaya Re Obama</i> is expected to release in the summer of 2012.

» Bhushan Kumar ecstatic over Dabangg 2 music
T-Series head honcho Bhushan Kumar, who has acquired the music rights Of Arbaaz Khan's <i>Dabangg 2</i>, recently heard a couple of songs of the film and was simply bowled over. He predicts a mega musical success for <i>Dabangg 2</i>, which will be Arbaaz Khan's directorial debut film.<br><br> <i>Dabangg 2</i> has music by composers Sajid-Wajid. Starring Salman Khan & Sonakshi Sinha, the film will go on floors soon & will be ready for a Christmas release this year.

» Deepika Padukone opts out of Race 2
The cast of <i>Race 2</i> keeps undergoing changes by the minute. First it was Sonakshi Sinha who opted out of the project and now the buzz is that Deepika Padukone too has walked out of the project citing date issues.<BR><BR> <i>Race 2</i> is a multi-starrer featuring the likes of Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Ameesha Patel. Deepika too had shot for the film but the constant re-shuffling in various actors' dates has resulted in the actress opting out of the film. <BR><BR> It remains to be seen who replaces Deepika in the film.

» Karisma to do item number in Rowdy Rathore
She was the eternal dancing queen of Bollywood who is now making a comeback with Vikram Bhatt's <i>Dangerous Ishq</i>. Yes we are talking about the one and only Karisma Kapoor. While <i>Dangerous Ishq</i> has Lolo playing the lead role, the buzz is that she has also agreed to do an item number in on the lines of '<i>Munni</i>' and '<i>Chikni Chameli</i>' in the Akshay Kumar- Sonakshi Sinha starrer <i>Rowdy Rathore</i>.<BR><BR> If that wasn't enough the director of the film and dancing legend Prabhu Deva will be choreographing the song, that will draw inspiration from the '<i>Chikni Chameli</i>' number, and will be filmed in the villain's den.

» Jackie Shroff makes cameo appearance for Rajinikanth
On Wednesday, when Jaggu Dadda, aka Jackie Shroff, turned 55 he was in Chennai with the legendary Rajinikanth, to make a cameo appearance in legendary Tamil actor's daughter Soundarya's film <i>Kochadaiyyan</i>. <BR><BR> Says Jackie warmly, "Rajini-ji's daughter Soundarya is directing this film with her Dad in the lead. So sweet! She asked me to make a cameo appearance in the film with her father. I immediately flew down to Chennai.When it comes anything to do with Rajinikanth one doesn't ask questions. One just does the needful." <BR><BR> Jackie and Rajini go back a long way. <BR><BR> Speaking from Chennai, Jackie recalled, "He was one of the few people at my wedding with Ayesha when we got married in 1989. Rajiniji and I were shooting for Subhash Ghai's <i>Uttar Dakshin</i> in which he played my younger brother; my stepbrother. It was so much fun. I was the North Indian; he was my South Indian brother. During the lunch break Ayesha and I decided to get married. Just the two of us and those close to us. There was Rajini-ji, Subhash Ghai, Dimple, Anupam Kher and a few of my other friends, that's it. So you see, I've very fond memories of Rajinikanth and would never say no to anything to do with him or his family." <BR><BR> Jackie says it's an interesting cameo which Soundarya insisted only he could play. "I believe the film is in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. But even if it was in Swahili, I'd run and do it for Rajinikanth." <BR><BR> Jackie rushed to Chennai after barely a few hours of sleep. "My birthday is generally a very quiet affair. As always my rakhi-sister Anna Singh came home. Then we went to Riteish and Genelia's <i>Sangeet</i>. That's where I brought in my birthday. I flew into Chennai for Rajini-ji's film early next morning. I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday." <BR><BR> Says the actor candidly, "Honestly a birthday is no big deal. I am just beginning to understand life. My first 40 years went into growing up. Now I am finally getting to know what this whole business of living is all about."