Victor's Next
If sources close to Yash Raj Films are to be believed,Dhoom 3 director Vijay Krishna Acharya aka Victor has convinced Hrithik Roshan to play leading man in his next film. And everyone was thinking it would beDhoom 4. Not so. We hear that their next is another full-on commercial film that is very different from what Acharya has done to date.
In Tashan, the filmmaker showed two different classes of people, and Dhoom 3 was about the emotional journey of two brothers. This time, we hear, he will focus on another kind of India. It's going to be an entertaining watch but heavy on content. This film will have not one but two leading ladies and will start rolling by end of this year. Watch this space!
Now Hindi Films
Marathi film Killa is breaking records at the box office while also getting rave reviews from critics as well as the audience. Director by Avinash Arun, who is also a cinematographer, is being bombarded with offers to direct Hindi films too. A source close to the director reveals, "Arun has a few scripts for which he is in talks with a few directors for his Hindi directorial debut. But he will wait for a good production house to back him. He has also spoken with a few big actors and his Hindi film will be a content-oriented drama. But he will start concentrating on his next directorial only once his films as a cinematographer in Masaan and Drishyamrelease." Watch this space for more big news on this very promising director.
KKK Opts Out?
There were reports that Kareena Kapoor Khan had signed Raj Kumar Gupta's next film, where she was to play a schizophrenic woman. But, it seems, Mrs Khan has decided to opt out of the film as she is not convinced about the role.
Gupta says, "I also hear 10 new rumours every day about my film. But in a few days, wait for the big announcement. That's all I can say as of now."
On the other hand, Eros International has come on board as producer for Gupta's film, which is titled Section 84. Kareena is currently juggling the Bajrangi Bhaijaan promotions with the prep for R Balki's next.
Lisa Joins Housefull 3
Sajid Nadiadwala's Housefull 3 will start rolling in Mumbai soon, and Farhad-Sajid, who had written the first two parts of the film, will be helming this sequel. The third instalment will feature Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh as the leading male protagonists. While Jacqueline Fernandez and Nargis Fakhri were signed opposite Kumar and Bachchan, respectively, we hear that the third actress to join the league is Lisa Haydon, who will be seen romancing Deshmukh in the film.
The Hunt Is Still On
After working together in films like Kachche Dhaage, Chori Choriand Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, Milan Luthria and Ajay Devgn are back together with Badshaho. The film starts rolling in August but we hear that the script demands two lead actresses and the hunt for them is on. Luthria is looking for a known actress and a new face for both roles.
This is the first time Luthria will helm a contemporary drama with a heavy dose of comedy. In short, it's a feel-good film.
Azhar To Start Rolling
Balaji Motion Pictures and MSM Motion Pictures' Azhar will go on the floors in London on July 24. The film, which will start with a cricket match at a known cricket ground, features Emraan Hashmi as Mohammad Azharuddin and Nargis Fakhri as Sangeeta Bijlani.
A source close to the film reveals, "The actors are currently attending reading sessions and Hashmi is learning the craft of cricket. He has to be like a real player on the ground as this is a biopic. The script has shaped up really well and everyone is excited. After finishing the London schedule, the rest of the shoot will take place in different parts of India. Azharuddin was famous for his style, which will be showcased in the film, and Hashmi's look has been created to do justice to his character."
Too Close For Comfort
Welcome Back was to release during Christmas last year but there were several changes in its release date. Now the film will finally release on September 4. But beforeWelcome Back, the makers of Rocky Handsome had locked October 2 as their release date. With a gap of only 28 days between the two films, the makers of Rocky Handsome are thinking of postponing their release.
Reason: Both films star same lead pair of John Abraham and Shruti Haasan, which would be repetitive for the audience.
AS Replaces KK
Kirron Kher was signed by Remo D'Souza to play a Punjabi mother in his next film Turbanator, where she was to play Tiger Shroff's mother. But we now hear that the actress has opted out because she feels playing a Punjabi mother has become too repetitive for her.
The makers have now signed Amrita Singh to play junior Shroff's mother. Singh had worked with Jackie Shroff in Aaina, Akayla and Mera Dharam in the 90s. More recently, they worked together in Aurangzeb.
Guess Who?
And this happens when you are delivering successes one after another and people around you make you believe you are the sole reason these movies are faring so well at the ticket window. Yes, this actress is having a gala time at the ticket counter. But she harboured one lingering wish - to be paired opposite a particular A-list actor.
Finally, a big production house managed to convince this actor to feature in one of their forthcoming ventures and they wanted this particular actress to be paired opposite him. Undoubtedly, this actress was thrilled. The film was being helmed by a very successful director plus there was the BIG banner. The cherry on the top was being paired opposite this A-lister for the first time.
Alas! This actress will have to wait for her dream to come true. She heard the story and felt that unlike her last few releases, where her role was as important as that of the leading man, this movie didn't have much meat in it for her. So she has decided to turn down the film.
Will this production house alter the script to make her role equally important so that this pair can be seen on screen for the first time? Let's wait and watch!
Guess Who?
Now we all know how important it is to have a perfect release date. And it's an unbelievable stroke of luck if you get a solo release. This mega actor-turned-producer wanted to have a clean week for one of his films from his own production house and he picked one particular Friday as the perfect release date. Next, he asked his people to get in touch with the corporate house who held the distribution rights of the film and asked them to lock that particular day. His people called up the corporate house and expressed this mega actor-turned-producer's desire to release on that day. They were told that the corporate house would revert on the matter.
Imagine the shock of this mega actor-turned-producer and his team when the corporate house decided to release one of their multi-starrers on the same date - and they didn't even bother to have a word with the mega actor-turned-producer or his team before announcing this.
The result: the mega actor-turned-producer is adamant on releasing his film on that date while the corporate house, too, is adamant about releasing their multi-starrer on the same date. Since both films are backed by the same corporate house, which one will they promote more? Let's wait and watch!
Cricket
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