Andhranews

Actress Karisma Kapoor has dropped out of a television show in which she was expected to play a judge. It may be recalled that Karisma was all set to make a debut on the small screen as a judge along with two other celebrity judges that included choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

The programme, a dance show called Jhalak Dikhlaja, is to be aired on Sony Television. The show will compete with Nach Baliye aired on Star TV. But insiders have it that Karisma demanded such an astronomical amount that Sony had no option but to cancel the deal with her. Talks are on with actress Shilpa Shetty who insiders insist is keen to be a part of the show.

When contacted, a staffer from Sony TV confirmed the development saying, “Yes, it is true that Karisma is no more a part of Jhalak Dikhlaja. The deal could not be worked out. However Farah Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali are confirmed and will be the judges of the show.” The source also confirmed that Shilpa was likely to replace Karisma, “Shilpa has shown keenness to be a part of it.

But till she officially signs the contract nothing can be said. Till then Sony wants to keep it all in under wraps. Sony will make official announcements at a press conference to be held next week.” When asked if the exorbitant amount was the reason for the deal going sour between Sony and Karisma the staffer said, “The deal with Karisma is off. That’s it. What the reason is, is not known to us.”

Pete Doherty is facing jail after he was charged with seven counts of drug possession. The Babyshambles frontman, who has been arrested on three occasions for possession of heroin, cocaine and cannabis, was charged at an East London police station recently. The 27-year-old musician, who recently rekindled his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, was first arrested in April and then again in August.

Doherty has endured a lengthy battle with drugs and has unsuccessfully tried to kick his addictions several times. In June, he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic in Portugal, after he was detained at the Barcelona airport for allegedly taking heroin on the plane. Doherty appeared optimistic when he recently announced his plans to marry Kate once he was “clean”.

Johnny Depp is reuniting with director Tim Burton for a new movie version of Sweeney Todd. In the film, Depp will play killer barber Sweeney who murders the customers who come into his London shop and makes them into pies, in an evil partnership with his fellow tenant Mrs Lovett. Dreamworks, the studio behind the project, have revealed the film will be based on Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning stage musical, Sweeney Todd — The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Sondheim’s production was a 1979 Broadway hit and went on to win eight prestigious Tony Awards.

Depp and Burton have previously worked together on a host of critically-acclaimed and successful movies, including Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow and most recently Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is not the first time the classic story of Sweeney Todd has been brought to life on the big screen. Three films based on the tale have been made, the earliest being a silent film in 1926.

Movie star Patricia Arquette wishes she could order the cameraman off the set when she acts, because she finds the presence of the crew and their contraptions “scary”. The True Romance actress admits acting on screen doesn’t come naturally to her.

She says, “I used to be so scared of the camera. It was this big, ominous presence. Sometimes I still get shy when I see it. Occasionally, actors say, ‘Can everyone on the set move out of my eyeline because it’s distracting.’ Sometimes I feel that with the camera, ‘Can you get that camera out of the room too’?”

Kevin Federline is “almost broke”, but refuses to take money from wife Britney Spears. The wannabe rapper made a reported $1 million from the reality TV show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, but blew it all on Britney’s engagement ring and a recording studio in their Malibu home. Kevin told GQ magazine, “I don’t get any money from my wife. I’m almost broke. As a man, as a male figure and a father, I wouldn’t be happy sitting back and living off my wife’s fortune.”

He added, “I have to provide for my family. People have to understand that I’m working too. She’s not the only one that’s got things to do.” The 28-year-old has also slammed rumours that he has a wild party lifestyle, funded by Britney, and insists it was he who had to tame his now wife. He said, “Britney thought she could play me. She was playing games and testing me to see where my head is at, see if she could get away with going out and partying. We talked and got over it and that was it.”

Kevin, who has two children from a previous relationship and is currently expecting his second child with Britney, has also defended the Toxic singer’s mothering skills. He said, “Britney plays mamma real well. She’s a very good mother. It’s one of those things that comes naturally. People don’t know what it’s like being chased by all those cars. If Britney feels like she has got to take the baby and put him on her lap and get out of there, so be it.”

Soccer star David Beckham and his pop-star wife Victoria are set to get intimate with the unveiling of a new fragrance for men and women next month. Dubbed “intimately Beckham for Him” and “for Her”, the fragrances will be sold starting next month across Britain. The couple, who married in 1999, have spent almost a decade in the perpetual glare of celebrity photographers’ flashbulbs, but their appeal is waning.

Beckham, the world’s most recognised soccer player, quit as England soccer captain after the team’s lacklustre performance in the World Cup tournament. He has since been ditched from the England squad, signalling the winding down of his playing career. Victoria, once a singer with the multimillion-selling Spice Girls, made a poorly received solo album in 2001, but recently switched her attention to developing a line of designer jeans.

After Vishal’s hat trick with Thimiru, the actor’s stakes in Kollywood have reached an all time high. He has quickly moved on to his next film Sivapadhikaram, an action film with an equal dose of family sentiment, directed by award winning director Karu Pazhaniappan. Popular Malayalam heroine Mamta Mohandass is the heroine.

“There is only one fight in the film, but each and every scene in the film keeps you on the edge of your seat. The plot revolves around a social issue and there are no villains in the film. Only circumstances lead to problems, which give rise to twists and turns in the story,” said the director. Vidhyasagar is the music director of the film. The climax scene, which was shot at Madurai apparently took 10 days to complete.

After her Telugu film Bangaram flopped, Nila is back in Kollywood in a film titled Lee. Sibi Raj is the hero of the film. To give his son’s sagging career a boost, Sathyaraj has started a production company called Nadhambal Film Factory (inspired by Ram Gopal Varma?) and Lee will be the first production under his home banner. Sathyaraj roped in Prabhu Solomon, who directed the hit film Kokki.

The title is a short form of the name of Sibi’s character Leeladharan and he plays the role of an aggressive young football player. Sibi will apparently be sporting brown contact lenses throughout the film. While Rajesh Yadhav is the cinematographer, Imman is the music director. According to sources, Nila is being paid a whopping amount for the film.

With Bommarillu declared a super hit in Tollywood, the bidding for its remake rights have already started in Tamil. Siddharth and Genelia who debuted in Shankar’s Boys teamed up once again in this film and created box-office magic. Bhaskar, a film institute student from Chennai is the director and he has been getting accolades from all quarters for his work.

Sources revealed that the film’s producer Dhil Raju, has started getting fancy offers from Tamil film producers. Unlike other Telugu films, Bommarillu has not been released in Tamilnadu, hence the expectations are high when it comes to a remake. Meanwhile, Siddharth arranged for a special show for his close friends Trisha, Vikram, Vijay and others in Chennai and everyone was raving about his performance. According to sources, remake kings like A.M. Ratnam, Editor Mohan and Ramesh are some of the main contenders for the film’s rights.

Lakshmi Rai is Vijayakanth’s heroine in his next film Dharmapuri, directed by Perarasu. The actress, who was shooting with Captain at Villupuram recently, visited the nearby Agri Star Music School, a specialised music school run by Yadhas, a farmer from the Anaikkan village. Unlike other styles of music, the unique aspect of Agri Star Music is that they do not use any instruments, but only natural sounds in their songs.

Yadhas who has been researching this style of music for the last eighteen years, will soon be entering the Guinness Book for his achievement. He teaches this style of music to many of the neighbouring farmers’ children and young women free of cost. While talking about her experience at the school, Lakshmi Rai said, “I heard some of their folk and western songs on the sets of Dharmapuri and they were amazing.”

Finally the film Thodamale, which was lying in the cans for several months after completion, will be hitting cinema halls in the next few weeks. The film has Naren, a film institute student from Mumbai as the hero. Uma, who is known for accepting challenging roles is playing an offbeat role in the film. This was Uma’s last film before she got married.

Vishwa is the other hero in this film. “The film has a very unusual theme and it has shaped up well. Inspite of coming out late, the film will be a hit,” claims debutant director Rajendra Kumar. Pugazhmani wrote the story and screenplay and Trivikramkumar has produced this film.