Andhranews

There’s no stopping Sushmita Sen. She has a way with words and people. At the Zindagi Roccks music release, she juggled her time between Shah Rukh Khan, current flame Manav Menon and co-star Shiney Ahuja. Now the latest dope on her is how her friendly overtures have floored SRK. The sizzling Main Hoon Na pair will be back in action on screen soon, apparently for Khan’s next home production. Though all are tight-lipped about it yet, we hear that Don maker Farhan Akhtar will be handling the directorial baton. SRK is also impressed with Akhtar’s genius, and the radically different portrayal he envisaged for Don.

Now Sush was also Farhan Akhtar’s original choice for Zeenat Aman’s role in Don, and was replaced by Priyanka on Shah Rukh’s insistence. How tables turn! But you can’t please all, can you? When Sushmita was being her charming self with the exclusive gathering basking in the male attention, there was one man who was sulking. Her ex-boyfriend Randeep Hooda was rather miffed for being sidelined by the diva. There was a time not so long ago when he was a permanent fixture in her life.

Our source says an upset Hooda shot off an angry SMS to Ms. Sen about being completely slighted by her, and so unfairly at that. Knowing Sush, we don’t think she even bothered replying. Randeep was missing on a photo-op, while Shiney Ahuja hogged the show.

Looks like the success of Phir Hera Pheri has inspired producer Firoz Nadiadwala to make Hera Pheri Part III. Confirming the news, Nadiadwala said, “Yes, it is true that Hera Pheri Part III is in the offing. In fact, the plan to make the third part was very much on my mind when we were making Phir Hera Pheri. The stupendous response to that film only fuelled my urge to make the third part.” Nadiadwala revealed that like in the earlier films, Hera Pheri Part III will star Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. “The remaining cast is yet to be finalised, so it will be too early to talk about it now,” Nadiadwala said.

He added, “Unlike Phir Hera Pheri, that was written and directed by Neeraj Vora, Hera Pheri Part III will be written and directed by Anees Bazmee.” It may be recalled that director and writer Neeraj Vora had turned down an offer to be a part of Hera Pheri Part III because he felt that the third part would fail to make an impact if made and released immediately.

“Hera Pheri was released in 2000, while Phir Hera Pheri was out in 2006. There was a gap of six years. This builds up the audience curiosity and so they thronged to the theatres to watch the sequel,” said Neeraj. He also felt that penning down and directing the third part would only make him repetitive.

“So, I told Firoz that he should consider another writer and director who would come up with fresh escapades for the principal characters Bab-urao, Raju and Shyam. Then there would certainly be some novelty to it. As for me, it’s time to move on,” added Neeraj, saying that he was looking forward to write and direct a film for Ekta Kapoor and Dhilin Mehta. “Balaji and Asthavinayak Films have signed me as a director,” he revealed.

I want to be respected for the work that I am doing and not for my linkups,” says actress Gul Panag. The former Miss India has been more in the news for her linkups than her films. Refuting all the charges about her alleged affair with Sikander Kher, Gul says, “We are part of the same fraternity. You meet each other and become fond of each other, you become friends and accompany one another. I am trying to make my mark as an actress. I feel saddened that the moment you accompany a male friend, you are linked to him. I have stopped going out or being seen in the company of my co-stars for the very same reason.”

Gul is now eagerly awaiting the release of her forthcoming venture Dor. “I want to be remembered for my performance in Dor. I am trying to reach my goal now. I want to do one film at a time since I believe in doing quality work. Nagesh is a very focused person. His personality comes out in his films. It was a great experience working with him. I feel he will be instrumental in bringing Indian cinema on a global platform,” she adds.

Speaking about her role in Dor, she says, “I play the role of Zeenat, a village girl in the hills. There comes a situation in her life when she has to travel to the deserts and befriends Meera. It is an unusual film about ordinary people. My character is very complex in the film, yet at the same time it’s multi-dimensional. It was not very difficult performing the role since I come from a rural background and had an idea how people in the urban areas are. With Nagesh’s support, I was able to perform flawlessly.”

Inspite of belonging to the glamour world, this ex-model has had a very low key profile. “It was a deliberate attempt,” she says, adding, “I don’t want to regret doing any film later. I did Dhoop and Jurm because I liked the subjects. Since I am a nobody in this industry, I have to go hunting for work and choose people I want to work with. In fact, I chase people I want to work with and be on their radar. It’s just that I have to be convinced and excited about the director and the script. I don’t want to do films which will have hoardings all over and then you realise that you are there in just five scenes. I don’t mind doing item numbers too, but then I will have to make a deal with the producer.”

Director Dibakar’s Khosla Ka Ghosla has Boman Irani playing a negative role for the first time. “I know I had played a negative role in Pyare Mohan, but compared to that character, you can say my role in Khosla Ka Ghosla is that of a New Age villain,” laughs Boman Irani.

Irani adds, “The character that I play in the film is called Kishan Khurana, who you can say is the “New Age” Gabbar Singh. He has mannerisms of a Delhi thug or a stockbroker that one needs to beware of.” Boman reveals that he was initially apprehensive about playing the character, “simply because I did not want it to be the run-of-the-mill kind”.

He adds, “But when I went to the sets on the first day, my getup was so larger than life that most of the juniors stood there in awe and very naturally said, ‘Khuranaji aaye’, and not ‘Bomanji aaye’. That inspired me and I felt it was going to be different. The getup worked instantly.”

The other film that Boman Irani is looking forward to is Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. “This is the first time that I am working with Shabana Azmi. Shabana would tease me saying at what age was I going for a honeymoon. But I had a wonderful time shooting for the film,” says Irani.