Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in Priyadarshans next

The super-prolific Priyadarshan who has directed 83 films in his 30-year career has just had a year, the first in his career, without releases. In 2011 Priyan had no releases. But he’s ready to make up for the lost year with as many as 4 films in 2012.

Of these, the ‘family comedy’(as he dubs it) which he will direct in July for producers Asthavinayak has him specially kicked. Not only is he working with Abhishek Bachchan for the first time, he has also reached out to Deepika Padukone for the female lead opposite Abhishek.

Deepika and Priyadarshan had a noisy fall-out five years ago when she opted out of Priyadarshan’s project Pirates about music piracy. Priyan was keen to launch her. The film was supposed to feature Deepika with four other newcomers playing part of a music band.

Instead Deepika chose to make her debut with Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om.

Incensed and betrayed, Priyadarshan stayed away from all things Padukone did until 2008 when Shah Rukh Khan used his clout to persuade Deepika to perform an item song in Priyadarshan’s Billu which Shah Rukh’s Red Chillies production house produced.

The thawing of the ice began then. Now it’s time for the director and actress to finally work together.

Says Priyan happily, “We broke the ice during the song in Billu. Now I’ve a role just right for her.”

It’s a double delight for Priyadarshan since he has never worked with Deepika or Abhishek

Says Priyan, “Abhishek and I have been planning projects together for the longest time. We were supposed to do a bio-pic on Chandrashekhar Azad. But who watches historicals any more? I’ve finally zeroed in on the perfect project for Abhishek. We start shooting in July.”

Saif and Deepika all set to celebrate with ‘Cocktail’

Seems like Deepika Padukone is taking her relationship with Siddharth Mallya to the next level. Now the title of her films too seems to be finding an inspiration from the business avenues of her steady companion.

Reason being that the title of her next film with Saif Ali Khan is Cocktail. Since Siddharth is the son of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, a title like Cocktail only adds to the high that Deepika is enjoying in her relationship.

Confirms a senior crew member, “Yes, the film has been titled Cocktail. However, one can’t quite say if it has anything to do with Deepika’s personal equation with anyone. Something like this is just incidental. This is a modern day love story bearing urban sensibilities and hence a title like Cocktail pretty much suits the mood of the film. Other than that, anything else is plain speculation.”

Meanwhile, one looks forward to check out what Cocktail would be all about, considering the fact that it not just reunites Saif and Deepika (who are also working in Prakash Jha’s Aarakshan) again after Love Aaj Kal but is also the second directorial outing for Homi Adajania after Being Cyrus (which again starred Saif).

“This is not all, as the film’s script has been written by Imtiaz Ali who is quite close to Saif and Kareena after Love Aaj Kal and Jab We Met respectively”, says an industry insider, “This could well be one lethal cocktail in the offing here.”

On being contacted, Homi Adajania confirmed that Cocktail is the chosen title for the film. However he added a word of caution by stating, “It is a working title as of now.”

Saif is pretty excited about the film already. As per him, the film is romantic and funny with a great balance of drama and entertainment. He has also earlier quoted – “I have wanted to do a love story with a modern sensibility and treatment and I know that Homi will give us exactly that.”

Hopefully that would indeed happen for this film which would be shot in London, Spain and Delhi. One just wonders though how far Siddharth would be travelling to serve Deepika a heady cocktail all across the globe!

Wishing Deepika Padukone a very happy Birthday

Ever since she debuted opposite SRK in Om Shanti Om, Deepika Padukone’s career has been on an upswing. With hits such as Bachna Ae Haseeno, Love Aaj Kal and Housefull to her credit, Deepika is certainly among the leading actresses of B-town today.

The gorgeous beauty celebrates her birthday today (Jan 5) and we at Bollywood Hungama wish her a very happy birthday and a year full of prosperity and unlimited joy. You too may post your wishes for Deepika in the comments section below:

Karan Johar joins Deepika and Purab in upcoming Nescafe ad

He came, he saw… but, he just couldn’t conquer! We are referring to the ironic situation of the VJ-turned actor Purab Kohli; despite having the gorgeous Deepika Padukone as his neighbour, he just couldn’t get his feelings across to her. No…. even before you can get into the layer of things, let us tell you that, the aforementioned was the ‘plot’ of the ongoing Nescafe series.

Well, as they say, the plot gets thicker. And the thickness now lies in the fact, that, now besides Deepika, Purab will now be joined by none other than the master filmmaker Karan Johar, according to Bollywood Hungama’s confirmed sources. The same source also added that the trio has even shot for the ad that shows Karan walking into Deepika’s house, even as Purab is trying hard to impress her. Despite knowing the fact that ‘he’ is Karan Johar, Purab pretends not to know him and hence starts asking him about his profession like ‘Are you a badminton player?” etc…

With KJo joining the gang, sipping coffee (or is it ‘Koffee’ now?), will just get even more stimulating. What say, folks!

Deepika to play Amitabh’s daughter

MUMBAI: Deepika Padukone has been selected by Prakash Jha to play Amitabh Bachchan’s daughter in upcoming film Aarakshan.

Two other leading actresses were being considered for the part. And initially, Jha even thought of casting a newcomer. What clinched the role for Padukone was her height and demeanour, reveals a source.

This will be Deepika’s first film with both Prakash Jha and Big B. Shooting begins in Bhopal soon. Interestingly, it is also the location where Jha based his last film Raajneeti featuring the actress” ex, Ranbir Kapoor.

How he zeroed in on Deepika is quite a story. “I began to flesh out the part, make it more dramatic.

That’s when I thought of Deepika in the role of Bachchan Saab’s daughter. They’re both tall and look quite like father and daughter.”

Deepika’s first item number in ‘Dum maro dum’

MUMBAI: In the upcoming film of Abhishek bachchan ‘Dum maro dum’ ,actress Deepika Padukone will be performing an item song.

It will the first item number of deepika. Film dum maro dum has abhishek and bipasha in the lead role. Its not bips, but Deepika who was selected for the song. The song will be a promotional number.

Deepika wasn’t even in talks with Rohan regarding the ‘Dum Maro Dum’ item song. Rohan Sippy was considering other names then Deepika was suggested. She was selected unanimously.

The song will be a scintillating item number having have a contemporary and extremely urban feel in it. Pritam is remixing the song. The song will be shot next week.

Dum maro dum is a remake of Amitabh’s famous zanzeer film. Rohan sippy is the director of the film. Its a 2011 release.

Deepika Padukone to sizzle on Dum Maaro Dum track

Deepika Padukone, who has been hugely responsible for many men suffering from insomnia and other such ‘hailments’, is now all set to work her charm once again, this time with her gyrating moves in Rohan Sippy’s Dum Maaro Dum.

Deepika, despite, not being the leading lady of the film, will be seen doing a scintillating item number for the film, on the remix version of the infamous song ‘Dum Maaro Dum’. The song has been composed by Pritam.

Rohan, who is apparently very excited to have Deepika on board, said that the song will have a contemporary feel to it, and that they will be shooting it next week.

Dum Maaro Dum, which stars Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Rana Daggubatti is scheduled for release in April 2011.

Sonakshi Sinha signed for Race 2

Post the release of Dabangg, Sonakshi Sinha’s career seems to have sky-rocketed. First the good looking actress bagged Joker opposite Akshay Kumar and now Sonakshi has been also finalised for Race 2.

Race 2, directed by Abbas-Mustan and produced by Ramesh Taurani (Tips), stars big names such as Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone. With Sonakshi joining the cast of Race 2, things only get bigger and better.

Confirming the same, producer Ramesh Taurani says, “Yes we have finalised Sonakshi along with Deepika for the female lead and are now on the look out for one more actress to play the role of the female character.”

The film goes on floors next year.

Deepika, Sonam face tough consequences for going against Ranbir

MUMBAI: Latest reports from the tinsel town confirmed that Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor will not be joining Ranbir Kapoor in his July 2011 world tour. While actresses like Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu and Malaika Arora Khan will be a part of the tour, Deepika and Sonam have been asked to quit.

It may be recalled that Rishi is upset with the two actresses for making rude remarks on his son”s character in ”Koffee With Karan Season 3” and he prefers Katrina over Deepika and Sonam.

Rishi Kapoor admitted that it is impossible to bring Deepika-Katrina on board together saying, “Deepika wanted to come along. We didn”t want any stress behind the stage. See, as it is, Ranbir has never been on stage. We want it to go smoothly, no backstage jhik-jhik, please!”

Sonam has backed out from the tour as well. Rishi Kapoor explained, “She begged off saying she didn”t have a song repertoire to stand on stage with Katrina and Priyanka.”

“We start off in the UK, US and Canada. Then after six months we”ll go for another lap of the tour. I”ve done these world tours over and over again. But for Ranbir, the world tour would be a new experience,” he added.

Deepika Padukone signed opposite Shahid Kapoor for Heer And Ranjha

The news can now be told. After having cast the teenage heartthrob Shahid Kapoor as the ‘Ranjha’ in his next film titled Heer And Ranjha, director Sabbir Khan has pulled off a casting coup by roping in Deepika Padukone as ‘Heer’.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Sabbir explained, “Once I finished scripting, I felt that the Heer’s part needed somebody who is young and dynamic, as it’s totally an author backed role. At the same time, that person should have vulnerability as well as emotional depth. With so much in mind, I just couldn’t see anybody beyond Deepika for the role, as I feel that she is one of the finest female actors amongst the Gen-Next’s brigade.”

Sabbir also added, “Casting this pair together was due to the fact that, this was one pair which was everybody’s unanimous decision. To have as Deepika as Heer and Shahid as Ranjha, the film is nothing short of being fantastic. Everybody is excited to see the pair together!”

Since it’s a romantic story being retold, music will play prominence in the film. Talking about the music of Heer And Ranjha, Sabbir reveals, “Music is indeed a very integral part of this film. And I am so very happy to have Pritam on board for it. There are 6 songs in the film. The core of the music will be romance… music that will depict that it’s a love story, at the same time it’ll be contemporary. The music of this film will surely have lots of soul with a lot of modernity.”

The shooting of Heer And Ranjha will begin in April 2011.

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