Rahul Mahajan gets cozy with Meghna Naidu!

Don’t get us wrong. Rahul Mahajan hasn’t got a roving eye. It’s just that he likes to meet his friends, male or female, with no-holds-barred affection.

His public display of affection (PDA) towards the no-longer-in-demand item girl but still his good friend Meghna Naidu was quite visible at the launch party of Audi A8 car.

Rahul was accompanied by wife Dimpy Ganguly at the function. The husband-wife duo looked quite happy. However, the two ladies who got maximum heads turned at the party were Lara Dutta and Mandira Bedi; they looked just ravishing in black gowns.

Naseer will do a Rajini now!

Think a paunchy, flamboyantly dressed, wig wearing 60-year-old South Indian matinee idol romancing co-stars half his age. And think Naseeruddin Shah. Does not quite match, does it?

Director Milan Luthria has managed to pull off a coup of sorts by getting the slim, silver-haired actor to play Rajnikanth in the upcoming Silk Smitha biopic The Dirty Picture. Naseer of course is approaching it with his characteristic humour.

"Yes my character is modelled on Rajnikanth," he says. "I'll wear flamboyant clothes and I'll sport seven or eight wigs too. I'm really looking forward to it," says Naseer with a glint in his eye.

As for the paunch, the fit and flexible Naseer is steering clear of that. "I've asked Milan to eliminate the paunch. We have so many South Indian matinee idols who do not have a paunch," he points out.

"Dr Raj Kumar from Kannada cinema was extremely fit until a very ripe old age when he continued to be the hero." Other than the girth, everything about Naseer's character in the film starring Vidya Balan will be inspired by Rajnikanth.

Interestingly, Naseer admits he has not seen any Rajni film till date. "Milan is sending me a DVD of a film featuring Rajnikanth and Silk Smitha. I'm quite curious to see what it was all about. I am also planning to watch Robot."

Naseer hopes to pull off the perfect Rajni act convincingly. "I want to get a hang of that whole culture of flamboyant heroism in the South. These guys lead a dual life.

There's the public image and the private life which is often not quite what we expect it to be. I am fascinated by that dichotomy."

Silk Smitha, was the undisupted queen of soft porn, with over 200 films to her credit. While Naseer plays Smith'a favourite matinee idol, Tusshar Kapoor plays his brother, Emran Hashmi plays the filmmaker who groomed and allegedly exploited Smitha.

Responding to reports of a sequence in which Naseer's character rapes Balan's screen persona, an amused Naseer says, "Rape? Not at all. It's all consensual!"

Deepika wants to be hottest item girl!

If last year belonged to Sheila and Munni, this year will be of Deepika Padukone. The Om Shanti Om gal is all set to up the mercury level with her hot item song in Dum Maaro Dum.

Though the film has the sensuous Bipasha Basu in the lead, Deepika was approached to do a dancing number which is a modern-day version of the hit and hippy Dum Maro Dum song starring Zeenat Aman. It’s heard that Deepika wants her item song to be hotter than Katrina Kaif’s Sheila Ki Jawani, which continues to be a rage.

Sources claim that attempts are made to give the song the ‘sexiest twist’ possible. Since the original is an all-time hit, the remixed version ought to be better.

In fact, this year Kareena Kapoor also gets to sizzle in a song Chammak Chhalo from Ra.One which is again a saucy item song where the actress gets to do flaunt her svelte, toned figure.

Now Aamir & Katrina a couple?

Much was said about the photoshoot done by Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif. With 'Pyaasa' as its reference point, Aamir and Katrina made quite a jodi, so much so that talks about the two of them doing a film together seemed to be a good idea.

Well, Yash Raj Films, it seems, is ahead in the race in this casting coup. After having signed up Aamir Khan to play the villain in Dhoom 3, talks have it that Katrina Kaif has been signed to play his romantic love interest. So Aamir and Katrina in Dhoom 3 will be the Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai of Dhoom 2.

Spokespersons of YRF, however, claim that no female star has been signed for the project yet. Talks surfaced around one of the following - Priyanka Chopra, Katrina and Deepika Padukone - to be paired opposite Aamir. Katrina seems to have won this race. But not much can be said till the news has been officially flagged off.

Deepika desperate to beat Kat!

The cold war going on between Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif is well known to all by now. It is the industry’s favorite topic for gossip as everybody knows that Ranbir dumped Deepika for Katrina while shooting for AJAB PREM KI GHAJAB KAHANI. Since then Deepika never misses an opportunity to say anything about Ranbir and Katrina.

Despite the patch-up at Karan Johar's party a few days ago, the combat between Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif goes on.

Deepika certainly hates Katrina and her objective in life is to gain upper hand over the latter.

The entire nation is well aware of the high-volt currents created by Kartina Kaif’s item number ‘Sheila Ki Jaawani’. Now, the buzz is that Deepika wants something bigger than this.

It is known that Deepika Padukone is doing a scintillating item number for Rohan Sippy's Dum Maro Dum, on the remix version of the infamous song ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’. The song has been composed by Pritam. It is leant that she told the choreographer that item number should be hotter than ‘Sheila Ki Jaawani.’

It is learnt that though Deepika said this to the choreographer with a smile, there was a note of warning in her voice when she gave that diktat. Also, it is said that the actress want the item number to be the song of this year as ‘Sheila Ki Jaawani’ was the sensation of 2010.

First look: Pregnant Vidya Balan

Here's the first look of the Vidya Balan, from Kahaani

Dabanng 2, not Wanted sequel: Salman

Salman is more inclined towards Dabangg 2 and doesn't mind to put the Wanted sequel on hold

This year Salman Khan is so busy remaking south films that he has no time for his much successful film Wanted's sequel. We have learned that though the actor is keen on starting 'Dabangg 2', he doesn't have dates for the sequel of Boney Kapoor's 'Wanted'.

According to a unit-hand Salman Khan is totally impressed by south remakes so will be shooting for all of them this year. After 'Ready' he will start shooting for Bodyguard which is directed by it's original director Siddique.

Interestingly Salman is keen to start his 'Dabangg 2' which gave him the Best Award after so many years. Reportedly the actor has also cleared all his difference with director Abhinav Kashyap.

It is also believed that one of the sequels he is doing this year is of No Entry which is a Boney Kapor production. The actor agreed to do the sequel when his character was sketched nicely. However he signed it on his terms and conditions.

Meanwhile 'Wanted 2' is more crucial for Prabhu Deva and Boney Kapoor. But Salman's busy schedule has kept the Wanted sequel on hold and miffed the director and producer.

Aishwarya wins worst actress award

Aishwarya Rai is awarded with the worst actress Ghanta award at the award show which is a rip-off of Hollywood’s Razzies.

Last year Aishwarya Rai had four films. If she won the hearts of her Tamil fans with her Endhiran opposite Rajinikanth, she also bowled over the audience with her beauty and acting in Guzaarish, but her Action Replayy was a big let-down and her detractors didn’t spare her for Raavan too.

So, the actress has been named the worst of the lot at the Ghanta Awards.

Ghanta Awards as the name suggests acknowledges the best of worst in Bollywood from Diwali 2009 - Diwali 2010. Who are the other winners:

Worst Actor - Himesh Reshammiya

Worst Breakthrough - Aditya Narayan (Shaapit)

Worst Couple - Uday Chopra and Priyanka Chopra (Pyaar Impossible)

Worst Director - Sajid Khan

Worst Film - Pyaar Impossible

Worst Song - Jailhouse Rock (We Are Family)

Worst Rip-off - Prince

Worst Supporting actor - Zayed Khan (Blue)

Worst Supporting actress - Lara Dutta

WTF - Vegetarian Sharks in ‘Blue’

Ashmit, Veena refuse Rs. 30 lakh

Ashmit Patel and Veena Malik were approached to enter a reality show together and they were apparently offered Rs. 30 lakh which did not go down too well with both of them.

We hear that Ashmit and Veena, who have garnered enough and more publicity with their on screen flirting and can't-get-enough-of-you game plan in front of camera, think that they can charge more.

They, apprently, sent the officials of the channel packing immediately and told them that if they want Ashmit and Veena as a package they need to cough up more money. Sources say that Rs. 50 lakh would get them going. But unfortunately for them, no one is ready to pay them so much. Reality check needed guys!

Chiranjeevi fans not happy with Congress merger

Kota feels let down that Chiranjeevi decided to merge his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress. This humble homemaker in Dowleswaram near Rajahmundry was among the seventy lakh people who voted for Chiranjeevi and his slogan of social justice in the 2009 elections.

"We have always loved Chiranjeevi and were happy that he started a party after his film career and we voted for him. But now he has joined the Congress while we wanted him to lead a separate party", said a disappointed Kota.

Kota is just one among the several thousands who supported the Telugu megastar when he launched his Praja Rajyam Party and made him a important regional player to reckon with.

In East Godavari, that boasts of the maximum number of Chiranjeevi fans, the dominant mood seems to be of disappointment even though both the megastar and the Congress are keen to project it as a win-win situation.

Srinivas Rao, President, Chiranjeevi Fans Association said, "In coastal Andhra, people treat Chiru like God. They have lot of affection for him. People thought he will serve people instead of working under someone else's leadership. It will take time for people to digest this."

While Chiranjeevi will hope the disappointment will only be a temporary setback, Jaganmohan Reddy is hoping to cash in on this very disillusionment. He is on a three-day padayatra for the Polavaram project, which is intrinsically linked with the fortunes of farmers here. The locals too are willing to support Jagan just for the sheer love and respect for his late father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

"Jagan will win. People will vote just seeing his father's face. He gave two kilograms rice, Arogyasree card and helped every section of people", said Sheikh Ali, a retired government employee.

Historically, whoever has won the electoral battle in East and West Godavari districts has gone on to form the government in Hyderabad. Hence, the Congress has enough reason to worry with the kind of response Jagan is generating here, more so, since this region is the stronghold of Chiranjeevi.