Jackie steals the show

The music release of Kamal Hassan starrer Dasavatharam was attended by Bollywood bigwigs including Amitabh Bachchan, South superstar Mamooty, Hema Malini, Jaya Prada, M Karunanidhi and Asin apart from Kamal Hassan, the film's producer Oscar Ravichandran and director K. S Ravikumar.

Though Kamal is hero of the film, it was Jackie Chan and Mallika Sherawat who stole the show. We hear that Kamal Hassan felt left out and was visibly upset with the hype created over Jackie's presence.

Our source from Chennai says, "Anyone who saw the interaction between Kamal Hassan and Jackie at the event, will agree that Kamal was quite happy during their first meeting, but the actor had a heated argument with producer Oscar backstage, for inviting Jackie."

What followed added fuel to the fire were the newspaper reports the next morning. While Jackie Chan and Mallika Sherawat grabbed all the column widths and TV channels flashed their pictures, Kamal Hassan was completely left out.

Adds our source, "Poor Oscar was caught in the middle of the controversy. He only intended to release the music of the film on a grand scale and tried to cash in on Jackie's presence. However Kamal Hassan, who is the main lead, was livid at being sidelined from the music release of his own film."
mumbai news

Aaj Mood nahin hai

Here's another example of quintessential Sallugiri. The quirky actor was supposed to perform on Saturday at an award function ceremony in London.

But he simply didn't show up at the event, nor did he go to London because - and here lies the crux of Sallugiri - he wasn't in the mood.

Sallu did set out to go to London, we heard. He went with his baggage and coterie in tow. But at the last minute, the star decided that "he wasn't in the mood" to go ahead with the journey.

So he did a U-turn, beckoned his coterie to follow him and walked back to his car. And spent the rest of his day back home in Mumbai, while the organisers of the show in London grew white hair.

Says our source, "Salman was supposed to take the 1.40 am Jet Airways flight to London on Friday night. He reached Sahar airport at 11.45 pm.

He was all set to go in for the security check, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned and walked out. Everyone gaped in surprise."

Salman was supposed to dance to a medley of four songs. No doubt the performance would have been much publicised since Salman is a saleable star, and the star's date had been booked two weeks in advance.

He did have some problem with the choreographer, and had been sulking. But much to the organisers' delight, he had finally confirmed that he would do the show. But, we guess, a star's a star.

Finally, Upen Patel, who was already there, was roped in to help. He rehearsed the act in half an hour. And did a Sallu. "The Upen act was an eyesore. He was booed badly," adds our source.
mumbai news

Yaana is all happy!

She lives up to her name of being a livewire.


Its quite sometime now after she appeared in Dum, dressed as a village belle, hooting out her lethal and electric capabilities. But Yaana has lost none of her lightning charm.

She seems to be in a mood to reinvent herself. First came the change of name. Known till date as Yana Gupta, the hottie has dropped her lastname following her divorce from ex-husband, painter Satyakam Gupta, two years ago. And now, she has altered her firstname to Yaana. Alongside this, she is now all set to appear on television screens in a new avatar: Singer. "I have had some training in music. I had trained in it for two years as a child. I can play the flute as well as the guitar," she reveals. In fact, she has just finished an English album for UK-based artiste, Yoad Nevo. "I have written the lyrics and have sung the songs as well. The album will release in the UK soon and after that in India. Besides, I have also featured in UK-based Punjabi artiste, Dr Zeus’ album, Back Unda Da Influence, which was released recently, and is on air right now," says Yaana.

So, is it a hiatus from Bollywood and item numbers? "Well, the last one I did was for a Bengali movie. But, I am very open to both, item numbers as well as serious roles. Its just that I haven’t come across a good script in the last two- three years. As of now though, my topmost priority is my music. I want to compose and sing more songs of my own. Secondly, my book on fitness will be out at the year-end. Which means that Bollywood is not my prime concern as of now," she explains without even batting her eyelids.

But don’t be disheartened, all you Yaana fans out there. For she only promises more appearances, "In the next five years, you can expect a lot of music for sure. I would like to compose at least two more albums. And I will be performing all over the world as usual. And if there are any good roles, well...why not?"

Jodi No 1 is back

Shaadi Banayega will be directed by Hadiali Abrar who was an assistant to Sunil Darshan and Govinda will be seen in main lead. He is also keen to sign Fardeen Khan and Sanjay Dutt for lead roles. A friend close to Govinda says, “Govinda and Sanjay have given several hits together. The film has three heroes. He wants to repeat the same hit pair hence he is in talks with Sanjay Dutt. Actors like Javed Jaffery and Jackie Shroff will also be part of the film.”

He is yet to sign any actress. Shaadi Banayega will commence this year in June. It will be shot in New Zealand. It can be recalled that Govinda didn’t produce any film after Sukh as it badly bombed at the box office. But after his comeback he is confident enough to revive his production house yet again.

Sanjay Dutt: No Naach, All Gaana!

Just as we were lauding the likes of Saif Ali Khan for being so passionate not only about Bebo, but also the guitar, or then Aamir and Shah Rukh for rendering some songs in films, Sanjay Dutt, too doesn't fall short on talent. So what if he isn't fond of dancing, but music and singing is something he doesn't seem to mind.

In fact, Sanjay has lent his voice to almost eight filmi songs – in films Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Zinda, Ek Ajnabee, Home Delivery, Shabd, Kaante, Khoobsurat, and Haseena Maan Jaayegi.

More recently we heard that Dutt had performed the rock song – Kyun - in Gupta's Woodstock Villa magnificently. He strummed the guitar and played the drums. But now, it's time for him to sing again!

Sanju, apparently, will be rendering the title song of Ektaa Kapoor's venture, C –Kkompany. It's through this gaana that the three lead actors – Tusshar Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav – will be introduced in the film. Is 'dutt' innovation? Maybe!

Salman to Sushmita’s rescue?

Sushmita Sen is on a man hunt... literally speaking. Her maiden venture has run into several setbacks and the actress is now turning to close friend Salman Khan with the thought of casting him for the role of Nanasaheb Peshwa in her Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai.

Sushmita feels the role is very prominent and Salman fits the bill. Hence she is in talks with the actor about the same. Salman has liked the character and he is quite thrilled about the role.

“Although Salman is yet to sign on the dotted line, he is looking forward to playing a historical icon like Nanasaheb Peshwa. He will have a completely different look for which he is growing his hair.” says a friend close to the actor.

Sushmita is looking forward to sign some more biggies for other prominent characters of the film. Earlier she had approached Akshay Kumar for the role of Tatya Tope. It is also believed that Sushmita had offered a prominent character to Shah Rukh Khan too, but the Badshah refused it due to date problems.

It can be recalled that before this Salman was offered to etch out the historic character of Bajiroa by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He was also the first choice for Akbar in Ashutosh Govarikar’s historial love story Jodha Akbar. But this time it seems that Salman might take up this offer seriously.

Rani Mukerji dares to step out…

Actor Rani Mukerji is evading the media these days. In fact she has been doing that for quite a while now – ever since the media speculated about her marriage in the palatial city of Jodhpur with recently divorced director Aditya Chopra. But she dared to step out and face the million flashbulbs, for brother Rajaa who launched his tele-serial Kisi Ki Nazarr Na Lage.

During the promotion of Saawariya , Rani tried her level best to limit media interaction. Every interview she gave began with her customary: Sirf chaar sawaal (Only four questions!) However, her recent interaction with the press was not very different. The actor was there only in the capacity of a sister and her role was merely to support her brother Raja, who was launching his serial, the backdrop of which is uniquely a Bengali household, something that hasn't been largely tapped by the saas-bahu serials yet.

And guess what. Though the invite said: Rani Mukerji invites you to the launch of Raja Mukerji's Kisi Ki Nazarr Na Lage, the lady refused to give even as much as a quote to the media.

Well, with Rani refusing to clarify her status or even talk about her films, the constant speculations have definitely made her life story out to be something similar to the saas-bahu sagas. But let's hope all's well in Rani's paradise and that kisi ki nazarr na lage ...but that seems to have happened already.