Govinda and Aamir's foreign connection

Govinda's career as a politician might be under siege, but there's no denying that his career as an actor is getting back on an even keel.

Besides bagging a plum role in Aparna Sen's Hindi film "The Jewellery Box", Govinda is also a part of two other important films.

"People have been speculating about my friendship with David Dhawan. Our well-wishers would love to see us fall apart. But sorry, we never stopped being friends. He was doing his own thing and I mine. Now we will hopefully create the 'dhamaka' of our earlier films."

In Nikhil Advani's "Salaam-E-Ishq", Govinda is paired with South African actress Shanon Esra.

"This is not the first time I am being paired opposite a foreigner. If you remember, I had made a guest appearance with Samantha Fox in 'Rock Dancer' for a song and dance number. But I guess everyone would rather forget about that."

Govinda is very positive about his acting career.

"I am very happy with the films that I have signed. I guess some people don't like the idea of seeing me back in films."

And then there's the super-meticulous co-star-conscious Aamir Khan. Contrary to belief, Aamir isn't paired with Soha Ali Khan in Rakeysh Mehra's "Rang De Basanti". His co-star is totally unexpected...or is she?

It is almost becoming a force of habit for Aamir Khan. He teamed up with British actress Rachel Shelley in "Lagaan". More recently there was a lilting hint of a liaison between Aamir 'Mangal Pandey' Khan and the British actress Carol Beed who played Emily in Ketan Mehta's bio-pic.

And now, Aamir will be seen with yet another British actress in the much-awaited "Rang De Basanti". This time it is a very well known British stage actress, Alice Patten, who teams up with Aamir.

"I don't think 'team up' is the right term to describe what Aamir and Alice share in 'Rang De Basanti'," says director Mehra.

Patten is a stage actress seen in well-received British plays like "Cigarettes & Chocolates" and "Vincent In Brixton" and also in TV serials like "Forsyte Saga". "Rang De Basanti" is her first feature film.

Elaborates the "Aks" director, "It is very difficult to specify the relationships in 'Rang De Basanti'. All I can say is it is a very modern film depicting contemporary relationships."

The film was originally meant to have a separate English version. "But we decided against it," says Mehra.

"Even the film's title 'Rang De Basanti' wasn't sounding right in English - 'Paint It Yellow'. Every film has its own rhythm, cast and language."