Bollywood Buzz January 2005
Shah Rukh, Salman cry and make up!
The ?cold war' between the two mighty Khans, Shah Rukh and Salman, has at last ended. It happened at the sangeet ceremony of mutual friend choreographer Farah Khan. (Farah married her Main Hoon Na editor Shirish Kunder on December 9). The festivities were on in full swing when the ?superbrat' suddenly went up to SRK and in true filmi fashion, embraced him for a full three minutes in the presence of almost the entire film industry which had turned up for the gala function. Onlookers who cheered, say it was an emotional moment. Both the guys were misty-eyed, and no?they weren't glycerine tears! Said a mutual friend, "It was long due, really. How long could they go on like this?"
Salman and Shah Rukh were said to be extremely close till that infamous incident two years back when Salman apparently barged on to the sets of SRK's home production Chalte Chalte to meet Aishwarya Rai. The two Khans got into a heated exchange that culminated in Ash being thrown out of the movie, and Rani stepping into her shoes.
BOLLYWOOD BUZZ
?Windfall' for Aishwarya
Aishwarya Rai awaits a ?windfall' even as the two international films in her kitty ? Coline Serreau's Chaos and Roland Joffe's Singularity ? are yet to get off the ground. Windfall, to be produced by Hollywood-based Zachary Coffin, will be a "two-hour epic thriller" woven around the tragic gas leak that hit sleepy the city of Bhopal 20 years ago. Ash will be paired opposite an American star in the film which will be set mostly in present-day America, with flashbacks to Bhopal. Ash who plays Jasmine Singh, an Indian American born in Bhopal but raised in Beverly Hills, is also the film's executive producer. "The movie will be inspiring, I simply had to be involved," says the actress. Ash may also find herself in Rush Hour 3 after Sheeraz Hasan, producer of a U.S. entertainment show, initiated talks between the actress and Hollywood director Brett Ratner.
Even otherwise, Aishwarya is on top of the world these days ? quite literally! Ash who is looking for bigger challenges in life than scaling peaks of beauty, is just back in Mumbai after meeting the Indian soldiers at Siachen, the highest battleground in the world. "Just to see our soldiers smile and look happy made my heart dance with happiness," she gushed.
Kajol finally says ?yes'
Kunal Kohli of Hum Tum fame has managed to do what no other director, not even Karan Johar, could. He's got the elusive and fussy Kajol to sign on the dotted line. Yes, Kads has finally said yes to a movie after her maternity break. The yet untitled film will have Aamir Khan as her co-star and will be timed as Aamir's third film after Ketan Mehta's Mangal Pandey (earlier titled The Rising) and Rakyesh Mehra's Rang De Basanti. Kajol had earlier turned down Ravi Chopra's Babul in which she would have played Big B's widowed daughter-in-law. Rani Mukherjee has now bagged the plum role.
Meanwhile, Kajol's husband Ajay Devgan is charged up about what he calls "the most challenging role of my life". He plays the mentally challenged father of a boy whom he brings up on his own, in Harry Baweja's Main Aisa Hi Hoon. The film which also stars Sushmita Sen and Esha Deol, is slated for a January release.
Beyonce game for Bollywood
US pop star Beyonce Knowles is all ready to shake a leg in Bollywood films or even do an "item number". The regrouped member of hit band, Destiny's Child, Beyonce said she was a fan of Bollywood movies because "they are so colorful". The multiple Grammy winner for her 2003 solo debut, Dangerously in Love said she had seen and loved some Indian hits such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum, the Oscar- nominated Lagaan and Devdas.
Meanwhile, pop diva Christina Aguilera, currently visiting India, is on a spiritual trip and reportedly seeking inspiration for her next album which might feature Indian classical music. Unconfirmed reports suggest that she might be roped in for a guest appearance or a dance number in a Bollywood film.
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