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Kareena’s new crop of films includes two films with Shahid Kapoor (one for Tips and the other for Boney Kapoor), a Venus film directed by Priyadarshan starring Akshaye Khanna, Subhash Ghai’s production directed by Abbas-Mastan with Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, Chameli and Bewafa.

Two-hero films can often put its producer and director into tight spots with each hero accusing them of favouring the other. That’s why film-makers prefer to give complete script narrations to each of the heroes, sometimes jointly.
But Salman Khan declined a narration of the story of Sajid Nadiadwala’s Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, being directed by David Dhawan, although it also stars Akshay Kumar.
That’s because of the confidence he has in close friend Sajid. "I only heard the plot," confirmed Salman, adding, "But I said ‘no’ for a complete narration because I know Sajid is a sensible producer. Besides, there’s no sense in listening to the script of a David Dhawan film because the end product is quite different from the written version due to improvisations on the sets."
Sajid added, "It wasn’t really difficult to get the two heroes together although they have never shared screen space before this. While Salman is a very dear friend, Akshay is also close to me as we have studied together. As students, we used to often visit each other’s home and even sleep in one another’s house."
Priyanka Chopra plays the female lead in the film which was launched two months back and should be wrapped up in February 2004.

Manoj Bajpai relishes making heads turn. He might not have perfected the art of humming Sare Jahan Se Achcha but on Delhi’s Metro, he knows how to strike picture-perfect poses. Bajpai was in town shooting for Dharmesh Darshan’s Bewafa, an extra-marital love ode "to a woman who can’t forget her first love even after marriage." Bajpai, who’s so far been associated with off-beat, sensible films will probably shock film buffs by his smouldering onscreen smooch with Shamita Shetty in Bewafa, a kiss which made Shamita "very uncomfortable but I didn’t mind it because at the end of the day we are complete professionals. Bewafa is a typical Mumbai potboiler where I play the role of a flamboyant young man who’s a show-off and very flashy – he can’t even hide his feelings." Bajpai admits that ideally he would have liked to do a Devdas or perhaps even a K3G, which are paisa-vasool entertainers but then an actor, who’s so unconventional to look at, can’t figure in the wish list of the top directors."I mean, the best roles would always go to a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan. I don’t have the luxury of being offered those roles, but I do have a Pinjar, a Shool or an Aks in my CV, films that I am proud of having done." Bajpai who's one of the busiest actors in tinseltown today, confesses that it’s "nice to be busy with work........"

Preity Zinta’s going great guns. She is easily the best actor slotted for the number one position if Aishwarya continues to make mistakes on the negotiations’ front. Besides, Zinta is a far better performer than Rai and would be more deserving for the top slot.
The lady is in town currently busy shooting for Farhan Akhtar’s Lakshya with lucky mascot Hrithik Roshan in Delhi. Preity and Hrithik have been told by Farhan and Ritesh Sidhwani, his partner, to avoid photo-shoots and interviews.
So, the two of them have reportedly shifted to another five-star hotel while the rest of the film crew is based in one. Preity, meanwhile, has also been much appreciated for her good performance in Nikhil Advani’s Kal Ho Naa -No and definitely has her second hit lined up after Koi Mil Gaya created waves at the box-office.

Wanted: Girl for Vivek Oberoi. Film-makers may feel inclined to insert this news in papers. But Aishwarya Rai need not feel insecure. For, the new girls are being sought to star opposite Vivek in his forthcoming films.
At least two producer-directors are on the lookout for new heroines to cast them opposite the hero. While Subhash Ghai is heroine-hunting in Los Angeles and London for his Kisna, John Mathew Mathan is waiting for the right kind of girl to come to him.
"She should be young and very beautiful and must look like a North Indian," says the Sarfarosh maker. Ghai, on the other hand, needs a foreigner opposite Vivek. His other leading lady, an Indian, has already been finalised (Esha Shravani).

SridevI was perhaps the first actress to play a journalist in mainstream Hindi cinema. The film was Mr. India and there was little that she did except dance and sing occasionally chipping in to put the Invisible Mr. India in touch with her over-the-top editor.
And though there was less of journalism and more of antics, one can forgive Sri for the film demanded it.
Lately, Rani Mukherjee was seen essaying a more serious version of a journalist in Sudhir Mishra’s recently released Calcutta Mail. "What I liked about the role was its complexity," she mentioned in an interview.
Now one will see Amisha Patel and Konkana Sen Sharma play journalists on screen. While Amisha will play one in Vikram Bhatt’s Elaan, Konkana turns a scribe in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Page 3.
Says Amisha, "I hope the role in Elaan will help me understand their thoughts better." Konkana Sen Sharma will play a journalist who is witness to the dark side and shallowness of the hi-fi society. "The role is challenging and I am looking forward to doing it," she said. Wonder if Bollywood is ready to do justice to our lives.

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