Salman misses Rohit Dhawans wedding in Goa

The one thing that can safely be said about the mercurial Salman Khan is that he is a yaaron ka yaar. Having done a number of very successful films with David Dhawan including the career-defining Judwaa and Biwi No. 1, Salman has over the years, become so close to Dhawan that it’s generally a toss-up as to who’s a closer to David: Govinda or Salman.

Govinda was in Goa for David’s son Rohit’s wedding yesterday (Friday). Salman, alas, couldn’t make it. Shooting in far-off Cuba for Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger, Salman actually planned to travel back to Goa for a day and attend the wedding before flying back.

Says a source close to David, “David was very keen to have Salman over. He spoke to Salman and Salman spoke to Kabir to be allowed to fly back. But the travel plan from Havana to Goa sounded too gruelling. At the moment with Salman’s neurological condition, he’s been advised to cut down on his travel. Also, Kabir’s unit is working on a very tight schedule. And since Salman and Katrina are doing intricate action sequences, stopping the shooting for four days would have meant huge losses for Yash Raj.”

Apparently, David told Salman to let it go. Salman agreed. But on condition that his brother Sohail reach the Goan venue for the wedding well in advance to represent bade bhaiyya Salman.

Speaking from Goa, David says affectionately, “Yes, Salman really wanted to join us here in Goa. He’s part of my family. But it was impossible for him to travel. Salman’s entire family Arbaaz, Sohail, Baby (sister Alvira) are here. Sohail arrived a day in advance to lend a helping hand.”

Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Ranbir Kapoor arrived on Friday morning. The Kapoor family had just returned from Delhi after attending a wedding in Rishi’s daughter’s sasuraal.

Says David, “I feel blessed. I haven’t made so much money in my career. But I’ve earned this goodwill that’s reflected in the guest list for the first wedding in my family. All the people, whom I’ve been associated with professionally and personally, are here for my son’s wedding. Sanjay Dutt and Govinda who have been with me from the start of my career, Rishi and Ranbir, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Lolo (Karisma Kapoor), Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, producer Vashu Bhagnani…they are all here.”

Earlier David planned a very private family wedding for his son. “But a small wedding was impossible. All these are stars are not just my actors, they’re part of my family.”

Ironically, David’s younger son Varun couldn’t get to Goa in advance. He reached on Friday.

Explains David, “Varun was shooting with Karan Johar for Student Of The Year. Much as we wanted him here in Goa in advance, he couldn’t join us. But that’s okay. My wife has taken care of every detail. My sons and I only had to attend. Biwi ho to aisi. I am a lucky man.”

Salman to star in Atul Agnihotri’s next, remake of Telugu film Dookudo

Mahesh Babu’s current Telugu blockbuster Dookudo is now being remade with Salman Khan in the lead. Mahesh Babu has made it known to the film’s makers that Salman is the best person to play the lead in the Hindi version of the film.

After Bodyguard, Salman’s brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri will now produce another film with Salman in the lead. Salman Khan will now star in another South Indian remake, this time of the Telugu film Dookudo which features Mahesh Babu in the lead.

Salman’s sister Alvira is expected to fly down to Hyderabad to seal the deal this month.

Confirming this, Mahesh Babu’s wife Namrata Shirodkar says, “Yes Baby (Alvira Khan) is flying down soon about Dookudo. The film is very special for Mahesh. And he wants Salman to do the Hindi version.”

Clinton tells Pakistan to deal with Haqqani threat

The Obama administration is pressing Pakistan to help the US fight the Haqqani insurgent network after last week s attacks on the American embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan.

US officials say Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told her Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, that the Taliban-affiliated militants must be dealt with. They say Khar agreed with Clinton that the Haqqani network was a threat to Americans and Pakistanis alike.

The officials spoke about the private meeting on condition of anonymity.

Clinton met Khar in New York, a day after the US ambassador to Islamabad cited evidence linking the network to the Pakistani government. The charge risked raising tensions in the anti-terror alliance.

The officials said Clinton and Khar s three-and-a-half-hour meeting started and ended with counterterrorism.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Pakistan ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman and US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter also attended the meeting.

Salman isn’t doing the item song in Joker anymore

Contrary to reports, Salman is not leaving his shooting in Dublin to return to Mumbai for Bigg Boss and to participate in an item song for Joker.

The Yash Raj spokesperson confirms that there will be no break in the shooting in Dublin. “Salman is not taking a break from the shooting in Dublin. He will, however, be returning to shoot for Bigg Boss between two schedules of Ek Tha Tiger.”

It was planned by director Shirish Kunder as the big surprise for the Dabangg girl. An item song for Dabangg’s ‘Rajjo’ with ‘Chulbul Pandey‘ in Joker had been elaborately planned for Sonakshi. And everyone in the unit was under an oath of secrecy regarding Salman’s flash appearance.

Says a source, “Farah Khan had rehearsed Salman’s steps for the item song in Joker before he left for Dublin to shoot for Ek Tha Tiger. But Sonakshi had not been told about it. Ever since Dabangg, where Malaika did ‘Munni Badnaam‘ with Salman, Sonakshi had been craving to do an item number with him. So, Shirish and Farah went through a great deal of drama of concealment to make sure that Sonakshi did not know that Salman would join in the item song. Salman’s grand entry was planned like Amitabh Bachchan’s in the iconic song ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar.”

Alas, all these elaborate plans have come to nought. Salman would now be unable to be part of the item song. Because of Salman’s illness and the botched schedule, the superstar is unable to spare time for the number.

Says the source, “Now Farah had to change the choreography for the item song overnight. Sonakshi has also been told that her intended surprise has fallen flat.”

‘Sher Khan’ on hold

Here’s a news-break and as always, it’s first on News Trends.

The much-talked-about project of Sohail Khan, SHER KHAN, has been put on hold for the time being. Starring Salman Khan in the lead, the film, to be filmed in 3D, was expected to release in Eid 2012. But the project has been put on hold for the time being. Instead, Salman and Sohail are expected to start another film, a horror-comedy, which has the brothers all charged up.

This new film, which is not titled yet, will now release in Eid 2012. Await official announcement!

Salman’s plate full for next two years

Putting all rumours to rest, it has now been confirmed by Salman himself that after Ek Tha Tiger, the only new films that he would be doing are Dabangg 2, Sher Khan and Kick. While the first two are home productions and would be made by brothers Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, Kick would be with Sajid Nadiadwala who is a close friend.

“With so much happening in quick succession, it is bound to keep him overtly occupied. Also don’t forget that at least two out of these four films would require extensive travel. While Ek Tha Tiger is being shot across four-five countries in different parts of the world, Kick would be shot entirely in South Korea. Where is the time for him to accommodate any other film in the interim”, a close associate questions.

Salman has denied picking up other new film in the interim since his plate is already full for next two years at the least with commitments made to aforementioned filmmakers. This pretty much makes one wonder when he would do his next with David Dhawan, Anees Bazmee and Sooraj Barjatya – three filmmakers who were supposed to be looking at Salman green lighting their next projects.

“Salman wants to do Partner 2 with Dhawan but they are struggling to get the right script. As for Bazmee, he has to come up with something interesting for No Entry Mein Entry. Sooraj’s next with Salman is more of hearsay as nothing concrete is being developed yet”, a source adds.

With Salman talking about these films at the least, these filmmakers can still look at this positively and hope that at least in 2013 there would be something in store for them. Now whether it would be David Dhawan, Anees Bazmee or Sooraj Barjatya, who would win the race is something that only time would tell.

Salman Khan doing fine after surgery

One can’t deny the fact that what superstar Rajinikanth is to the south, Salman Khan is to Bollywood. Be it the pull at the B-O windows or the crazy fan following, both have it all. And when Rajinikanth fell ill, the whole of South India came to a standstill till the time he was declared fit. Ditto, for Salman Khan who has been in the news because of his health issue. And in order to get treated, the superstar Khan had left for USA early this week, thus leaving his innumerable fans praying for him.

Salman fans, they need not fret anymore. While on one hand, his film Bodyguard is running to packed houses, on the other, Salman who had just underwent a surgery to treat a nerve condition got operated and is doing just fine. Reports have it that, the surgery took place late last night and that Salman has been advised complete bed rest for a few days after which he can start working.

Here’s wishing the Bodyguard superstar a fast and speedy recovery.

PPP activists protest against Taseer’s abduction

LAHORE: Following the anger of the leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over alleged negligence rendered by Punjab government in connection with kidnapping of Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, the PPP’s activists staged protest in Lahore, TrendPK reported Friday night.

According to details, political workers, hailing from PPP Lahore chapter, took to street and staged demonstration outside provincial assembly building against inefficiency of Punjab government over rendering negligence which led to likelihood of kidnapping of Taseer junior.

Agitators raised slogans against Shahbaz Sharif government, calling for immediate recovery of Shahbaz Taseer.

On the occasion, talking to media, provincial party leader Samiullah said none can anticipate any good from Punjab government, adding that instead of advising Sindh government, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should ensure security of people dwelling in Lahore. TrendPK

Salman Khan’s health problem revealed

Last week, there was considerable speculation over Salman Khan’s health. Some reports stated that he had a minor cardiac problem while some claimed that he would be going to the US for treatment of a spinal condition called sciatica. The news however is that, a nerve has been giving him trouble for a couple of months.
Now that the problem has been identified, Salman is in consultation with doctors to get the problem rectified. He has been taking medical advice and finding the best way to treat the problem.
Lately Salman has been promoting his sister Alvira’s home production Bodyguard and shooting for Yash Raj Films’ Ek Tha Tiger simultaneously. This is taking a toll on his health. Salman has now decided to slow down on the work front. He is now planning to do only one project at a time.

He has also informed his brothers Sohail and Arbaaz that he would be shooting their films Sher Khan and Dabangg 2 respectively only next year now. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Shirish Kunder have also been told that their film Kick will start only at the beginning of next year. For the rest of this year, Salman will only focus on Ek Tha Tiger. Shirish Kunder has also dropped the idea of roping in Salman for a cameo in Joker.

Disabled boy shot dead in Lahore

LAHORE: An angry neighbor has shot dead a 24-year-old disabled boy after brief argument with him in an area situated in the jurisdiction of Islampura Police Station in Lahore, TrendPK reported on Monday.

According to details, the deceased boy, Salman, was disabled from both legs and some time ago he was moved in a rental house in that area.

Salman used to stop others from sitting outside his door, saying that his house owner and his family do not like strangers sitting at his door as they used to feel uncomfortable.

Yesterday’s night, Mursalin and his friends tried to sit at the door of Salman. When he (Salman) asked them to move from there, an argument started between them and after a brief argument Mursalin turned very angry: he shot Salman dead and escaped from the scene.

The Islampura Police Station has moved Salman’s dead body to hospital and registered a murder case against Mursalin. TrendPK

Next Page »