Karan scores a hattrick

Karan Johar seems to have mastered the art of spotting talent. Be it Tarun Mansukhani, Ayan Mukerji or Rensil D’Silva, Karan has not only found fresh talent, but has also tried to experiment with different genres of movies.

While Dostana was a great laugh riot, Wake Up Sid proved to be a coming-of-age kind of a film and his next release Kurbaan is a love story set against the backdrop of terrorism.

With all these movies making it big at the box office, Dharma Productions has proved to be a banner that’s keen to make movies of different genres. And Kurbaan seems to be the next step forward for the banner.

Besides providing the young directors with a great platform, Karan also believes in stepping back and not interfering with the project at all. “I greenlight the project and then I step back. I let the director do his job and that’s the way it should be,” he says.

So, what spurred him to launch new directors? “All those who have directed for me have their own thought process. Be it Rensil, Tarun or Ayan, they all had a vision for the film that they were making. I think it’s very difficult for a first time director to put together the kind of project that he would want to make. Also, I have worked with these directors previously and have complete confidence in them,” he says.

Karan is “proud” of his next offering — Kurbaan — and is also confident of Rensil’s work. “Rensil was so passionate about the movie that I knew he would do complete justice to it,” says Karan

Will Shamita attend Shilpa’s November wedding?

There’s a chance that Shamita may not be able to attend her sister’s wedding. According to highly-placed sources at Colors there seems to be no provision to get a contestant out of a game show for a wedding.

Hard as it may be to believe, Shilpa Shetty’s kid sister, now locked away in Bigg Boss, is oblivious of the momentous developments in her star-sister’s life. Says a highly-placed Colors source, “Shamita has not been told anything about Shilpa’s engagement or the marriage in the last week of November. As far as Shamita knows, the marriage was supposed to happen in December after the show was over.” Now that Shilpa has approached the channel to evict her sister in time for the wedding—and a meeting between the two parties is on the cards this weekend—the channel bosses are at a loss as to how the rules can be bent to get Shamita out of the Bigg Boss house. Says the source, “There’s a provision for a house-mate to be brought out in a case of an extreme emergency. It happened with Jade Goody last year. But does a sister’s unscheduled wedding qualify as a family crisis? We’re now wondering if the same rule as Jade can be applied to Shamita’s case.”

The international Big Brother rules are being consulted. If there’s no provision for a contestant to leave the game for a family wedding, then Shamita Shetty may not get the permission to leave Bigg Boss house for the wedding! This, however, seems improbable, considering Shilpa’s old relations with the reality show. (She was contestant on Bigg Brother and hosted Bigg Boss 2). Says the source from Colors, “After meeting Shilpa this weekend we’ll work out a strategy on Shamita’s eviction.” According to plans if rules apply, Shamita’s eviction will be done live. “If an unexpected turn of events helps us boost our TRPs we’re certainly not shy of putting it on camera. We did with Jade Goody. We’ll do it with Shamita.”

The pop philosopher of the show Amitabh Bachchan is expected to do the needful. He will be breaking the news of Shilpa’s engagement and impending marriage to Shamita. “The rest is up to Shamita. Once we’re sure she can be evicted whether she decides to come out or stay in the House is entirely her decision,” ends the channel source.

Amrita takes a break

Amrita Rao is all set to celebrate Diwali with a big bang.

The actress has decided to take a break for the festival from her film and television assignments. “I will not be shooting for any of my upcoming movies during Diwali, as this is the only time in the year I get to unwind and actually catch up with all the family gossip that I’ve missed out on. I had initially planned an extended trip to Dubai and sign on three-four film projects, but I was unable to go as I have been caught up with my reality show.”

Bharat Shiromani Awards was a glam affair

It was a special night, as the Bharat Shiromani Awards were presented in the capital recently. The function included 30 series of awards for the Jaya Prada year 2008-09.

And The Award Goes To: Orissa governor MC Bhandare gave away the awards at the function. He along with former Army chief General JJ Singh and AR Lakshmanan were conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, MP and former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, santoor player Abhay Rustom Sopori, MP and actress Jaya Prada, fashion designers Ashima and Leena Singh, boxing champion Vijender Singh, Raja Fateh Singh, Gajanand K Malpani, MP Rozario and Vincent Consscaso were among some of the other winners.

Please give me a break! Abhinav Bindra told us, “I’ll be leaving for London soon, to receive the 2010 Commonwealth Games baton from Queen Elizabeth II.” When we asked him about rumours of him acting in a movie, he rubbished them saying, “I wouldn’t be interested in doing a movie based on my life. Please give me a break!”

I want to eat: Sonam

Sonam Kapoor

The film Aisha is forty per cent complete. When we caught up with the Kapoor sisters – Sonam and Rhea, recently, they told us, “About sixty percent of the film is left. We’re moving to Rishikesh next and that will be around the 6th of October.”

Based on Jane Austen’s Emma, Aisha’s storyline is based in Delhi. The city sure seems to have become a hotspot for shooting films. Julia Roberts is here too and is shooting in Pataudi. “I know that she’s here shooting for Eat, Pray, Love. I’ve read the book and I think it is nice. Julia is going to be in Rishikesh too. So, let’s see…” Sonam smiled. So, after chhoti begum Kareena meets Julia, looks like it’s Sonam’s turn next.

And while in Delhi, Sonam is absolutely loving the shooting but she hasn’t got time to do things that she would ideally like to do. “We’re shooting nights currently. And there are no places to go to that late,” she sighed, “I wish I could just go eat. I want to have some food. I know my appearance on Farah Khan’s show has been talked about. And so has been my statement that Sanjay Leela Bhansali told me that I look like an Ajanta cave and that I shouldn’t lose my curves. But yeh Delhi hai mere yaar, I want to eat good food!” she said.

Teen Patti won’t release with Paa

Balki just left to shoot the last bit of Paa in Lucknow. The incredibly-gifted director’s eagerly-awaited project Paa has been postponed by a month.

However the imminent clash with the other Bachchan starrer Teen Patti has been averted, thanks to the actor’s timely intervention. Apparently, Mr Bachchan personally requested the producers of Teen Patti to not allow it to clash with Paa. So it’s Paa solo on December 4.

Says Paa director Balki, “As far as I’m concerned it was only Paa on December 4. We were supposed to release on November 13. But that was only two weeks after another Amitabh Bachchan starrer Alladin. And we couldn’t ask Alladin to shift. They’ve gone through too many delays,” rationalized Balki before leaving for patchwork shooting in Lucknow on Tuesday. “Though Paa is set in Lucknow this is the first time I’m visiting the city in my entire life,” said Balki.

Rani’s sexy in her bikini

Believe it or not, but the whole ‘bikini top ‘n’ skimpy shorts’ avatar in short — flaunting Rani Mukerji’s hot new bod wasn’t her idea. Not even the producer or director had anything to do with it.

After she realised how much she had toned up (to play a male cricketer in Dil Bole Hadippa!), Rani just happened to discuss this idea with her designer friend Manish Malhotra. And from there on it was Manish’s game plan, after all, he’s transformed many a Bollywood girl in to glam queens. He suggested that it would be a pity to waste such a well-toned body by not showing it off. That’s how the idea of a special song was born. And is she looking hot? Talk about her ‘shapely’ success, and Rani says, “Believe me, I didn’t starve at all. I love my food, especially rice and sweets. There was no way I was giving up all that. So, I just worked out harder and was occasionally allowed my ‘cheat’ meals of rice, sweets, etc. And I’m happy. All gain, no sacrifice.” Imagine our Bong tigress on a ghaas-phoos diet? That’s not fair to such a beauty, na?

Rambha guns for Murugan!

Miffed about unflattering comments about her role by her co-star, Rambha refused to promote Quick Gun Murugun with him Rajendra Prasad and Rambha, the lead actors of Quick Gun Murugun, which released today, no longer see eye-to-eye. The actress is miffed by his comments in a newspaper in the south where he claimed that she has a miniscule role as a bar dancer. Her annoyance was evident as the lead actors did not promote their film together. Rajendra plays the title role of Quick Gun Murugun while Rambha plays his love interest, Mango Dolly.

Yesterday, Rambha was in Mumbai to promote the film but Rajendra was nowhere to be seen. A source says, “Rambha had made doubly sure that Rajendra is not around. She had categorically stated that if the makers force her to promote the film with him, she would leave town at once.”

In fact, it was only after she finished with her promotional activity and left yesterday that Rajendra was flown down to Mumbai to do his bit.

Rambha said, “I have not refused to promote the film with Rajendra. But yes, I did ask director Shashank Ghosh about Rajendra’s statement. Rajendra has said that I play a bar dancer but that’s not true. He has also said that I have a miniscule role but the audience will soon know that’s not true either. I don’t want to say anything more.”

Drunk throws himself at Neetu’s car

Currently in Cape Town, South Africa, for a shoot, Neetu Chandra was in for a terrible shock on Sunday night as a drunk threw himself at her car, injuring himself gravely.

Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty, her co-stars in the film, No Problem, rushed to the spot to sort out the matter and soothe Neetu’s frayed nerves.

Our source from the unit of No Problem said, “Neetu was on her way back from the sets to her hotel room on Sunday night when suddenly this drunk lunged in front of her speeding car, crashing against the windscreen.

He was severely injured. Neetu and her driver were in a complete state of shock and she didn’t know what to do. As a crowd started gathering, a crying Neetu called Sanjay to handle the chaos. Sanjay rushed to the spot with Sunil in tow and took stock of the situation. They spoke to the cops and had the injured man sent to the hospital.”

Anees Bazmee, the director of No Problem confirmed that the accident took place, while Neetu said, “Sunil and Sanjay handled the situation well. I am really thankful to the two. If it were not for them, I wonder what would’ve happened to me. I was so scared on Sunday, that recalling the incident still gives me goose bumps.”

Kat is only Akshay’s arm candy

Even though Katrina Kaif is fed up of posing as arm candy, she agreed to star in De Dana Dan only because of close friend Akshay Kumar.

Ask her why exactly did she agree to star in the film, and Katrina replies honestly, “My reason for accepting this film is only because Akshay asked me if I would do it.”

She adds, “Akshay is a friend and I could never refuse. The two of us have given some of the biggest hits together. When I learnt De Dana Dan is Akshay’s home production (Akshay’s Hari Om Productions is producing the film in partnership with Ratan Jain’s Venus Productions) I said yes without hesitation.”

Katrina, who is quite determined to get her ‘act’ together and be very careful about the roles she chooses now on says that De Dana Dan is the only exception to her new decree. She says, “I have played the arm candy in one too many films in the past.” Remember her successful films like Welcome, Singh is Kingg, Partner and Race?

It was New York that changed her perception. “Post New York, I have Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti where I’m the only girl with superb male actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgan, Manoj Bajpai, Nana Patekar and Arjun Rampal. It is a performance oriented film for me and that’s the way I would ideally like most of my future films to be,” she adds.

Now that Katrina has set her bar high, she has consciously not signed too many films post New York. However, she is prepared for being overshadowed by De Dana Dan’s starcast, “It has a host of almost 22 super actors. Obviously, there may not be too much of me on screen,” she admits.