Karisma Kapoor to play Hema Malini’s role in Satte Pe Satta remake

Sanjay Dutt, whose first production Rascals is due for release next week, is all set to go on floor with his second production which is the remake of 1982′s Satte Pe Satta, in December. Satte Pe Satta will be directed by Soham Shah, who has earlier made Kaal and Luck.

Sanjay Dutt will be seen playing the dual roles of Ravi and Babu which were played by Amitabh Bachchan in the original and Karisma Kapoor, who is making her Bollywood comeback with Vikram Bhatt’s project Dangerous Ishq, will be cast opposite him.

Kajol was the original choice for the role played by Hema Malini in the original but since she just delivered a baby, Sanjay didn’t want to pressurize her to return to the studio. Sanjay then approached his Lagey Raho Munnabhai co-star Vidya Balan for the role but she was busy with her other assignments. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was also offered step into the shoes of Hema Malini, but she got pregnant. There were also talks of Madhuri Dixit Nene being approached for the same role but finally they decided on casting Karisma Kapoor as she is a fantastic actress and suits the role perfectly. Sanjay Dutt is also planning to request Amitabh Bachchan to introduce the characters in the remake.

Aishwarya sends legal notice to Madhur and UTV

Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Heroine has been in news for weeks, owing to the change of the leading lady of the film with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being replaced by Kareena Kapoor. Last heard, Ash had returned the signing amount of the film to the producers.

Now, the latest news is that Aishwarya has apparently sent a legal notice to the producers of Heroine warning them against leaking her photo-shoot to promote Heroine. According to the notice that has been sent, the producers won’t be able to use Aishwarya’s name or images while promoting the film.

It is said that apparently Aishwarya who had shot for an 8 day schedule was pretty miffed with some of the images of her photo-shoot done for the film appearing on the web. She is concerned that the pictures she shot for Heroine might get leaked out as a promotional mechanism for the film.

The letter that was sent through Aishwarya’s lawyers, specifically addressed to the makers, mentioning that the actress will claim damages if any of those pictures or shots come out in the media.

Abhi-Ash to star together in Rajkumar Santoshi’s rom-com Ladies & Gentleman

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be playing the steady woman in ‘Casanova’ Abhishek’s life for Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Ladies & Gentleman. After having done everything from a family drama (Dhai Akshar Prem Ke) to a bio-pic (Guru) to a modern-day drama (Raavan) together, this is Aishwarya’s opportunity to have fun with Abhishek his expense.

In Santoshi’s film which he starts shooting in July, Abhishek plays a guy with an insatiable roving eye. Aishwarya has sportingly agreed to let her husband play the field on screen. 3 years ago, she refused Dostana with Abhishek because her character was shown walking away with another man. “I don’t think that would go down well with our fans,” she had argued.

“That’s Ash for you… beautiful and dutiful to the core. She won’t do any role that compromises her personal dignity or image as the Bachchan bahu. But if Abhishek is playing a devious unfaithful character she doesn’t mind bending the gender rules,” says a close friend of the couple.

This would be their first rom-com together.

For the first time in his career, Abhishek plays a full-blown womanizer in Ladies & Gentleman. And Aishwarya has no objections to him romancing several girls in her presence, albeit on screen.

Laughs Santoshi, “I had actually offered this film to Aishwarya five years ago. And look at destiny. It’s come back to her. Every role is earmarked for a particular actor. I feel Aishwarya is perfect for this film. Though Aishwarya has done comedy before, this is a new genre for Abhishek and for them as a pair.”

Santoshi starts a new banner, named after his mother, with Ladies & Gentleman.

Says the director, “This comedy takes me into the same genre as Andaz Apna Apna and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. But the humour here is not slapstick.”

With Ladies & Gentleman, Santoshi is starting a new banner named after his mother. Says Santoshi, “I’m starting my new production house named after my mother Rajam Santoshi. She passed away last year. I learnt the art of narration from her. If people say I am a good narrator it’s because of my mother and father (filmmaker) P L Santoshi.”

Ash to play Sanjay’s wife in Satte Pe Satta

MUMBAI: The rumour has it that Sanjay Dutt wants to have Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on the lead opposite him in Satte Pe Satta remake.

If all goes well, Aishwarya Rai will play Sanjay’s wife in the film. “We don’t know how the rumour started that Vidya Balan had been signed to play Sanju’s wife in Satte Pe Satta. Nobody even approached her. Dutt is extremely keen that we sign Aishwarya to play the female lead opposite him. He is adamant that only Ash fits the role. The actress is keen on the idea of doing the film if everything else works out,” a source disclosed on Friday.

The bollywood diva, Aishwarya Rai, had earlier worked with Sanjay in David Dhawan’s Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and Leena Bajaj’s Shabd.

Ash averts an awkward meeting with Salman

Bumping to your ex can be quite a gauche, but not until you are as smart as Aishwarya. Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai managed to avert a potentially awkward moment with Salman Khan at the recently held 17th Annual Star Screen Awards.

Thanks to some quick thinking and clever move, Ash avoided a chance encounter with her past lover Salman thereby purging a moment that could have been the next day’s headlines.

Speaking to a daily, a source present at the event said, “The closing act of the awards was performed by Aishwarya on many of her popular hits. As she reached the backstage much ahead of time for her performance, she decided to rest at the nearby lounge till her performance was announced. But before Ash could enter the lounge she bumped into Vidya Balan and the two exchanged pleasantries for some time.”

“After her conversation Ash went inside, glanced around and was seen walking out of the room swiftly. Ash stood quietly outside and refused to budge till her performance was announced,” the source added.

When the organisers of the show, Cineyug, and the people around were wondering about the reason for Ash`s sudden exit, Salman Khan was suddenly spotted casually strolling out of the lounge.

“It was obvious that Salman was inside (the lounge) but Ash with her usual poise, assessed a potentially embarrassing situation and left quickly thus averting it completely. After Salman left, a crew member rushed to Aishwarya and told her that she could now probably go and relax at the lounge but Ash refused and stayed outside,” the source said.

Well, it’s high time for Ash as well to move on with whatever happened in the past. We are sure Salman’s not going to mind it either.

Aishwarya Rai still endorses L’Oreal

Officials of cosmetic firm L’Oreal Paris have denied reports that Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has been replaced by Frieda Pinto as the new brand ambassador.

Reports of Frieda replacing Aishwarya came up after the “Slumdog Millionaire” star featured in L’Oreal’s ‘Happy New Year’ television commercial.

“We are shocked and surprised to read in some sections of the media/press about Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being replaced as the face of L’Oreal Paris,” said an official statement from the firm.

“L’Oreal Paris strongly reiterates that this is absolutely untrue and that Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan continues to be our valued spokesperson, as she has since 2000. While she remains an integral part of the L’Oreal Paris world wide Dream Team, she was unfortunately unavailable for our New Year commercial shoot due to prior commitments.

“She is one of the most iconic women of our times and is certainly the face of L’Oreal Paris internationally and in India for a range of products which include campaigns for Total Repair 5, Excellence Crème, Color Riche, Hydrafresh,” the statement added.

Aishwarya takes time off to promote KHJJS

It’s not only Abhishek who goes out of his way to be present for his better-half. Aishwarya has taken time off especially from all her commitment to promote Abhishek’s new film Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se.

Says a source, “So what if Ash doesn’t star in Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se? It’s her husband’s film and the director Ashutosh Gowariker is a dear friend. Besides, not too many people know this, but after Asin chose not to work in the film, it was Aishwarya who recommended Deepika Padukone for the part.”

Blushes Aishwarya, “Yes I am there for Abhishek’s film. In fact, we all try to be there for each other in our family.”

Shabana Azmi goes ga-ga over Hrithik’s performance in Guzaarish

Ever since they played mother and son in Fiza, Jaya Bachchan treats Hrithik Roshan like her own son. But now she has competition. Shabana Azmi, who saw Guzaarish, has adopted Hrithik. The multiple National award-winning actress says she has not seen a performance like Hrithik’s in Guzaarish in a very long while. “If I had a son I’d like him to be Hrithik. His eyes speak volumes. His body language and his whole demeanor is breathtaking. Main to fidaa ho gayi. Actor ho to aisa.”

Hrithik is overwhelmed by Shabana’s response. Says the superstar, “Of all the compliments I’ve received for Guzaarish so far, Shabanaji’s is the best. Actually, I haven’t had time to allow any of the compliments to sink in.”

So who says an actor cannot compliment another even if they are competing for the same roles and within the same box-office parameters can’t be friends?

After the screening, Abhishek was seen profusely complimenting Hrithik, thereby putting an end to all the talk about the two not seeing eye-to-eye since Hrithik’s pairing with Aishwarya is so much in-demand. “You should make an action film. There’s so much pent-up violence within you,” Abhishek was heard telling Sanjay Bhansali after the screening.

The Big B who has worked with SLB said the film was magical. “The way Sanjay creates on celluloid is just so awesome. Everything and everyone perfect.”

When asked to comment on his bahu Aishwarya’s performance, the Big B said she was “restrained and dignified”. Just like the Big B’s comment.

Posters of Guzaarish rouses protest from doctors

Being famous comes with a certain bit of responsibility and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is certainly realising that. Her upcoming film Guzaarish is already marred with controversies and the film is yet to release. What with the film’s posters creating a stir within the medical community.

The posters of Guzaarish show the stunning Ash holding a cigarette as she gazes at Hrithik Roshan. The idea of it hasn’t gone down well with the doctors who believe that this gives out a wrong impression to the youth of India. Ash being an extremely popular with the youth, they are deemed to follow suit if they see her smoke.

Apart from being miffed with the movie producers, the medicos are also upset with the BEST, for allowing the posters to be displayed on their buses.

As a mark of protest, Doctors for You, a non-profit-organisation has decided to wear black badges on day of the release of the film.

In 2005, Union Minister of Health, Dr Anbhumani Ramadoss, had banned on-screen smoking but that ban was revoked in 2009. Now, Dr. PC Gupta from the Healis Sekhasaria Institute of Public Health plans to send a letter to Aishwarya requesting her not to use this particular scene for promotion as it wrongly promotes smoking as an act.

Will the filmmakers take this in the right spirit and withdraw this promotional material is yet to be seen.

"All concentration on DTBHJ; Heroine is on hold" – Madhur Bhandarkar

With just a couple of months to go for the release of his first ever light hearted comic entertainer Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji, Madhur Bhandarkar has been slogging over the last few weeks to wrap up work on his Ajay Devgn & Emraan Hashmi starrer. To enjoy a quick breather before he gets back into his 24X7 routine again, he is currently on a mini-break abroad for a couple of days.

Meanwhile there seems to be some sudden development of sorts with Aishwarya Rai’s name cropping up for his next outing Heroine (to be jointly produced by Bhandarkar Entertainment and UTV Motion Pictures). Since there appears to be some dilly-dallying on the part of Kareena Kapoor (who was approached for Heroine and stays on to be Bhandarkar’s first choice), the director appears to have come up with a call of ‘enough is enough’. For the uninitiated, since the film is said to be controversial in nature with quite a few real life incidents being dramatised for a cinematic experience, Kareena was said to be hesitant with some portions (including a few steamy scenes) of the film.

“Now even you are getting into a speculating mode”, says Madhur with mock annoyance, “Don’t go by the reports that seem to be coming in every now and then. There is no truth to me approaching Aishwarya Rai or any other actress for the film. In fact Heroine is currently on hold. All my concentration is on Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji for which I have shot non-stop for 60 days. It is a film which requires my total attention and there is no movement on Heroine as of now.”

Madhur is obviously reacting to a media report that recently flashed a headline which indicated that Bhandarkar had sent feelers through his office to Aishwarya Rai to play the central protagonist in his exposing tale about the world of glamour, Bollywood and entertainment – Heroine.

Denies Sanjay Mehta, Business Head at Bhandarkar Entertainment, “Madhur hasn’t approached Aishwarya Rai or any other actress. For that matter, in recent past he hasn’t even brought up the film for a formal discussion with Kareena. He would be doing all the talking around Heroine and another project of his only next year after Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji is released.”

Meanwhile, the first look of his romcom is up for release. Once Bhandarkar is back from his vacation this weekend, he is expected to go all out to present his lead stars Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi who were seen in an altogether different light earlier this year in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

“While that happens, wait for an official announcement to come in around Heroine and my next film”, assures Bhandarkar, “Don’t trust any assumptions or speculations till you get any news straight from me or my office.”

Well, we will try to do that Madhur. Par kya karein, dil toh bachcha hai ji!

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