Deepika to play Ranbir?

The actress’s character in Break Ke Baad is apparently modelled on her ex-boyfriend.

We let you in on the best-kept secret about Break Ke Baad. Deepika Padukone's character in the film has been modelled on her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor.

Deepika plays the commitment-phobic Aalia and who better a judge of that particular trait in a person? That her ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor is apparently quite commitment-phobic is well-known in the industry. After all, the two were in a very serious relationship for two long years, even though it didn't bear much fruit.

When Deepika heard the director Danish Aslam's narration she couldn't believe the striking similarities that her character had with Ranbir's approach to love in real life. She went home dazed, wondering if she should attempt playing the role or not. She was faced with this dilemma at a time when her relationship with Ranbir was far from being perfect.

 

The actress chose to take up the challenge. A very close friend of Deepika's confirmed this story and said, "Knowingly or unknowingly, she has added some nuances to her character in the film that are straight out of her past love affair with Ranbir. Besides, when an actor gets into the skin of her character, she picks up traits from people she has known personally."

Was it an easy character to play for Deepika? Her friend added, "Well, it was easy in parts, but when the scenes became very emotional and intense, it was difficult."

Deepika did not respond to our text messages or calls on the matter but considering how sensitive the matter may have been to her, we will not hold it against her. 

Happy Birthday Aishwarya!

The fairest of them all: She has a face that could launch a million hits – all the girls want to be her, all the boys want to be with her! It's Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 37th birthday.

Dia, Kangana go bridal!

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Bridal Dolls: Dia Mirza and Kangana Ranaut showcased bridal wear as the howstoppers at the recently held Aamby Valley India Bridal Week

Sachin, Sania shake a leg with SRK

 

At the glittering Sahara Sports Awards night, Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli danced along with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Mumbai.

Asin, Salman's secret pact!

After the fiasco that was London Dreams, you would think Salman Khan would steer clear of films co-starring the Ghajini girl Asin. Not so!

Not only did Bollywood's macho man readily include Asin in Anees Bazmi's Ready, he was also all set to sign another film — Bodyguard — his sister Alvira's production, with Asin!

According to a source, "Salman was bowled over after he saw the rushes of Kavalan, which has Vijay and Asin in the lead. He wanted to do the Hindi remake and wanted Asin opposite him."

However, we hear, Asin declined the offer. Says the source, "Asin said a polite 'no' to the Kavalan remake for two reasons. After Ghajini, in which she starred in both the Tamil and Hindi versions, another Tamil-to-Hindi remake seemed monotonous to Asin. Moreover, three films in a row with Salman (after London Dreams and Ready) would've sent out wrong signals to Bollywood. Asin would like to work with other stars now."

Reports indicate that the actress is on the verge of signing Hindi films with Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan. Surprisingly, Salman completely understands her point of view. The two have decided not to do any more films together until Asin finds her way in Bollywood.

Asin is guarded in her response to questions about the films she has said no to in Bollywood. "It isn't right to talk about films I didn't do. But yes, I've just wrapped up the Tamil film Kavalan. Salman's sister is remaking it as Bodyguard in Hindi, and I'm not part of it. In fact, when the director — Siddique — made the same film in Malayalam two years ago, I couldn't be part of that. I had promised him I'd do the Tamil version and I did it," the actress clarifies.

Madhur won’t let Kareena party in peace

It was recently reported that all is not well between director Madhur Bhandarkar and actress Kareena Kapoor, as the actress rejected his offer to play the lead in his ambitious project, 'Heroine'. But at the recently held Bombay Times 16th anniversary party, the two were quite inseparable.

The duo indulged in an animated conversation, ignoring everything and everybody around them and we couldn't help but wonder what they might be discussing. Probably, the director was trying hard to convince the girl to sign on the dotted lines. He might have even tried to lure Kareena into it by promising her a National award, considering that Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut, the actresses of his previous film 'Fashion', both won the prestigious honour.

But why would Kareena not do Madhur's 'Heroine'? The actress, who has impressed all with films like 'Omkara' and 'Chameli', seems to be completely focusing towards commercial films in recent times. And this, even if the roles aren't very rich or don't have much scope to perform. Trade pundits are of the opinion that this might be a conscious effort. An analyst tells us, "Kareena has turned 30 recently, and she is conscious that her streak as one of Bollywood's leading actresses will not stay with her forever."

However, the actress denies that there's any planning involved. She says, "It's just that a lot of such offers are coming my way. And besides who would not want to be a part of 'Golmaal', it's the first trilogy in India. Who would say a no to a 'Ra.One' with SRK or an 'Agent Vinod' with Saif and a 'Bodyguard' with Salman?" she asks.

The actress further reveals, "I do miss doing a 'Chameli', 'Omkara' or a 'Dev' but I can do that anytime. And plus I have proved that I am a good actress."

Meet Miss World 2010: Alexandria Mills

Crowning glory: Miss United States Alexandria Mills reacts after being crowned Miss Universe 2010.

 

Priyanka goes semi-nude

Vishal Bhardwaj has his new movie in progress named as ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’ and is reported to be quite a bold movie.

The lead actress in the movie is none other than Priyanka Chopra, the host of Khatron Ke Khiladi Season three.

There is a half nude scene in the movie as per the demand of the story to be filmed on Priyanka Chopra.
In that scene as per the script of the movie Priyanka Chopra is supposed to let go the gown she is wearing in front of the debutant actor Vivaan. Vivaan is famous Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah’s son.

'I've locked the deal for a French film'

One of the Hindi film industry's most successful outsource stories, Katrina Kaif talks of moving in with sister Isabelle, playing the role of a vicious manipulator, and turning producer for a French film

You can't escape change. You change, you grow older. I'm not the person I used to be when I came into the industry. I wouldn't say I've toughened. But I have lost my naivete. Having come from the modelling world, it took me a while to adjust to the demands of the film industry, and to the motion-picture camera. 

I am not going to pretend I grew up on Sholay and Mother India while I was back in London. Hindi cinema was a new world for me. Today, I believe I have begun to understand that world. And I love it! I wouldn't exchange my life as an actress for anything.

I am now equipped and ready to move on to the next phase in my life and career. I want to create role opportunities for myself beyond what I'm doing. I am not unhappy with the roles I have but I want to play people I can never be in real life. I want to do a double role, play a sergeant in the army, or a scheming, vicious manipulator.

I think I've had great parts in some fabulous movies. This year, I  got to work with Farah Khan for the first time. And it was such a lot of fun. Shooting with her and Akshay Kumar was like a picnic.

I think I'd enjoy working with more female directors; maybe Aparna Sen, Deepa Mehta and Mira Nair.

Turning producer is another future plan, and I have certain projects in mind. I'd like to buy the remake rights for a couple of Indian and foreign films. In fact, I've already locked the deal for a French film. Playing director is not my cup of tea. But yes, I am beginning to understand the technical aspects of the moviemaking process. Let's just say I'm finally getting a hang of it.

Oh yes, and my sister Isabelle will be joining me in Mumbai. She plans to be an actress once she has completed her education. I'm dying to do up the sea-facing home I have just bought. Once she moves into my home, I'll have more reason to go home early. 

Vivek dances to Ash's tunes

The festivities of the Vivek Oberoi- Priyanka Alva wedding kicked off with a mehndi brunch at the Alva residence on Thursday.

It was a strictly traditional affair. Priyanka wore a ghagra choli and Nandini wore a peach Benarasi silk saree. On the menu were Mediterranean and Italian food. Pictures of the mehndi were framed and given to the guests before they left the party in the evening.

Then came the sangeet, which ace choreographer Sandip Soparkkar was appointed to choreograph. Sandip, whocouldn't stay back for the wedding as work beckoned him to Pune, choreographed 8-9 songs for the sangeet that took place on Thursday evening for friends and family of the couple.

Diya Mirza and another Bollywood actress were supposed to dance to a medley of the latest Bollywood remixes and Mehboob Mere from Fiza, respectively. But neither turned up, much to the dismay of everyone. Subhash Ghai and Samir Karnik, directors of the Vivek-starrer Kisna and Kyun... Ho Gaya Na? respectively, are said to have hit the dance floor. Sandip, incidentally, choreographed for Kyun..., which also starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Sources claim that no songs from that film are being played at the wedding. However, we also hear that the family danced to Zor Ka Jhatka, a song from the latest Ash-starrer and that they were "totally cool" about it.

Vivek, not one to forget the cause he supports even during his wedding, introduced the girls of the Yashodhara Foundation. They danced to a song from Kisna for the actor, who was dressed in a turquoise blue sherwani. The Indian numbers were choreographed by Saroj Khan almost two months ago, when she came to town for a workshop. Priyanka, Nandini and her sister Soniya performed a classical dance to a Tamil song. The bride was wearing a pink-and-peach lehenga with gold gota work made by a family friend. Vivek personally interacted with every guest there. Says designer Seema Malhotra, also a family friend of the Alvas, "Priyanka wore a blue-and-green ensemble with layers of net and organza and a blue jewelled corset on the evening of the choti mehndi. At the sangeet, Vivek came up to me and said, 'You made my bride look like a mermaid.' They had made her sit against a backdrop of peacock colours on that day."

There was an hour-long audio-visual on the couple, narrating their journey from childhood till the day they met. Vivek's father Suresh Oberoi voiced the narration and two people enacted the parts of Vivek and Priyanka. The video encapsulated the moment VO popped the question on a bridge in Florence to an utterly bemused Priyanka, dressed in a black strapless gown with a white shawl, looking coy and surprised. It was a scene straight out of a Bollywood potboiler, where Vivek, dressed in a black tux, proposed with a star-shaped diamond ring. "As part of the presentation, there were good-humoured jokes on how Priyanka rejected all the proposals she received, and Vivek was also in search of his soulmate. When Priyanka first met Vivek, she was like, 'Oh! These Bollywood types!'. But when VO proposed, he said, 'I am a Bollywood type, but I love you'" said our source.

At the end of the presentation, the 800 people invited for the sangeet saw just how romantic VO can be as he read out a poem that he wrote for Priyanka on how she filled his life with love. The surprise package of the evening? VO coming on the stage riding a bike decorated with red heart-shaped balloons. After that, they danced to Strangers in the Night and a few Bollywood numbers.

Tarun Tahiliani came to Bangalore yesterday afternoon to drape Priyanka's red-and-gold lehenga for the wedding. Suresh is said to have commented on how beautiful Priyanka looks in Indian clothes. Priyanka, in fact, wore a salwar suit by Seema Malhotra, the first time she met the Oberois.