Priyanka Chopra at some event

Every time we see her, whether in films or events, she looks fabulous and the actress admits that it takes great pain to look that way. “I really work at the way I look,” says Priyanka Chopra.

Further, when you compliment her that even on an odd day, at a film screening or in a dubbing theatre, she looks hot. She cleverly remarks, “I work harder at looking casual. Thank God the effort doesn’t show.”

No doubt, Piggy Chops does have both- beauty and brain.

Shekhar Kapur

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur talked about his ambitious project Paani on his birthday on December 6. By the way, he doesn’t like being wished ‘Happy Birthday’. He turned 64, but he says, “No, I’m 52.” He adds, “Okay, so I’m 64, but why do you have to bring that up? Birthdays are just another day in your life. I don’t believe in sun signs either. I don’t think people’s characteristics can be divided into 12 types.”

With the news of Boney Kapoor set to produce sequel to Mr. India, doesn’t he feel bad about not directing it? “It was my baby 19 years ago. I don’t own the copyright. So, I’m not possessive about it,” says Shekhar. What’s his take on Salman Khan roped in to play Mogambo, played by Amrish Puri in the original? “No one asked me about it, so I don’t have an opinion. It all depends on how interesting the new characters are,” added the director.

Meanwhile, he is focusing on his ambitious film Paani. The film will go on floors in April next year and supposed to released in September 2011. Revealing details of the film, he said, “Since it’s set in the future, the whole world is being built on the computer. It’s about a city that runs out of water. Individual rural farming communities have died down; people have migrated from the villages to the cities for water. However, the highly populated cities will also run out of water soon. Paani is about the future, in which water becomes a tool of political and social exploitation.”

Does the film have same intentions that of Al Gore’s? “Gore made a documentary; mine will be a commercial film. It’s to show the world what’s happening, in an emotional way,” he stated.

For the film, Shekhar has done research almost for a decade. “Now, I give lectures on water. I’ve become quite a water activist. I’ve spoken to scientists like R K Pachauri to learn about the issue,” he added.

The film will also include a love story and talking about the casting for the film, he said, “I have some people in mind, but will cast whoever is available at that point. There will also be six to seven kids in the film.”

Along with direction, Shekhar will also produce the film. “It’ll be made on a budget of $ 25-30 million. I won’t accept funding from any studio to ensure independence of expression. I am, however, sure that Paani will do at least as much business as Slumdog Millionaire. It’ll rake in half a billion dollars,” added the filmmaker.

Buddha is also one of the ambitious projects of Shekhar Kapur, but the film didn’t start because of creative differences between him and the producer. However, seems like he has found solution to this, as he says, “I’m still fascinated by Buddha. But the producer and I had a difference of interpretation. So, I might produce it myself.”

Arjun Mathur and Rahul Bose

Actor-director-social activist Rahul Bose and an upcoming actor Arjun Mathur (earlier seen in Farhan Akhtar’s short film on AIDS Positive and Zoya Akhtar’s Luck By Chance) recently shot a gay love making scene for Onir’s I Am Omar. Moreover, the director is happy with his actors, as all of them are thorough professionals and he expects the censor board to act professionally too.

The film also stars Abhimanyu Singh of Gulal fame. He plays a homophobic cop in the film harassing the gay couple. Praising his actors, director Onir said, “Luckily none of my actors had any inhibitions. Rahul and Arjun did the scene, which goes much beyond anything seen in Indian cinema. They behaved like thorough professionals.”

However, about the scene, Arjun said, “For me as an actor it is always challenging to see what lies beneath the calm exteriors. I had absolutely no inhibitions playing the gay character and doing the kissing sequence with Rahul. I wondered what it would feel like. But it was done clinically and professionally.”

Meanwhile, the director adds, “We haven’t taken any still pictures of the kissing because we don’t want them to leak out on the net. The whole idea is to look at the question of homosexuality in a proper perspective and not to highlight any specific aspect of it.”

This will be the first gay love scene in Bollywood. Earlier for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion, Samir Soni and his on-screen gay lover had shot a kissing scene in car. But, Madhur deleted it from the film before sending it to the censor board. However, with I Am Omar, Onir don’t want to delete it, as it is crucial for the film. “Arjun plays a sex worker. So we couldn’t do away with the physical aspect of the gay issue,” states Onir.

The film is supposed to be presented at Rotterdam Film Festival.

Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor

When a couple (especially celebrities) break up, rarely do they get back together, but the exception has happened with Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.

According to sources, Ranbir is keen to get back with Deepika; meanwhile she too seems miserable without him. Ranbir currently is shooting for Anjana Anjani with co-star Priyanka Chopra in Bangkok and as per everyone’s expectations, there is no spark between the lead pair. According to sources, Ranbir is not even noticing the glamorous Piggy Chops. Clearly, his heart is somewhere else.

“Ranbir was too much into his own space to even notice his glamorous co-star. He spent most of his time, when not shooting, either at the gym or taking walks and visiting malls,” said a source.

So will they get together again? “I hope so,” wishes Ranbir.

Amrish Puri, Salman Khan

For the first time in his career, Salman Khan is set to play a villain as Mogambo in a sequel to Mr. India. In the original film, the late veteran actor Amrish Puri played Mogambo, while in the sequel Salman will be seen in the same eccentric and jazzy attire.

Anees Bazmee will direct the film, which promises the comeback of Sridevi. Confirming the news, producer of the film Boney Kapoor said, “Yes, Salman will play a negative role in the sequel, just like Amrish Puri did in Mr. India.” Not divulging much about the film, he said, “The script is still being finalised.”

However, a source revealing about the film said, “Salman was very keen to do the film as he is a fan of Mr. India. During the making of Wanted, Salman expressed his desire to be a part of the sequel and Boney assured him that he would plan a role for him. While scripting the film, Boney told director Anees to work out an interesting character for Salman and the director came up with the idea of making Salman play the villain. A character as unforgettable as Mogambo is being written for Salman. He will also have a different look in the film for which a test will be done early next year as the film is scheduled to go on the floors in February-March.”

Is Salman all right with playing the baddie? “Salman loved the idea and is quite open-minded about playing a negative role. Salman will be playing a terrorist who wants to rule over India and the story will be about how Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and their gang try to free the country with the help of another invention made by Anil Kapoor,” said the source.

SRK's new look for Dish TV ad

Seems like Shah Rukh Khan is inspired from his rival Aamir Khan or Big B after Paa, because he has donned a 75-year-old look for the upcoming ad for Dish TV. In the ad, Shah Rukh romances with his wife played by Tanvi Azmi behind closed doors by dancing with her.

Anurag Basu, who directed the ad, said, “The story is very cute. Tanvi Azmi is playing Shah Rukh’s wife. They’re hiding inside their room and are dancing.”

Anurag along with Prasoon Joshi planned the concept of the ad. “We didn’t know if SRK will agree to the idea. I didn’t want to make him Veer Zaara kinda old. It had to be different. So, pehle Shah Rukh ko buddha banaya humne pictures mein, and then showed it to him. He was very sporting and loved the idea,” said Anurag.

Shah Rukh loved the idea and immediately agreed to do it. SRK has very well emoted in the ad. His chemistry with Tanvi Azmi looks wonderful. The ad shows SRK in a bald look, but the actor is sure that he is never going to lose his hair in real life.

Well, how was his wife, Gauri Khan’s reaction to the look? “Shah Rukh called his make-up guy and gave him the brief on how to do his look. After the whole get-up was done, he did something very cute.

He clicked a picture of himself and sent it to Gauri on the phone, asking, ‘Will you still love me when I am old and look like this?’ I am sure he will look much more handsome when he is old!” said the director.

Shahid Kapoor

Be it Shahid Kapoor’s hairstyle in Kismat Konnection, Kaminey or the latest short hair cut he is sporting for director Parmeet Sethi’s film, every youngster is looking forward to it. Ask his hairstylist, Dilshad Pastakia. In fact, this has been keeping the hairstylist busy these days.

“I used to get requests from people since his Kismat Konnection days for the ‘SK haircut’, but with Kaminey the demand for ‘Charlie hair’ suddenly exploded and people from places as far as Chandigarh, Indore and Delhi wanted his style,” said Dilshad.

“Now that he has changed his hair again, the new short crop is just as popular, especially with the 17 to 22-year-olds who like to stay trendy,” she added.

By the way, Shahid and Shah Rukh Khan share the same hairstylist.

Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan and Deepika Padukone

Earlier Bollywood babes were little shy or nervous to do a bikini act. Now they are not so conscious about it and will do it happily as per the script demands (or their audience). Get ready to watch next three hot babes of Bollywood - Lara Dutta, Jiah Khan and Deepika Padukone - in a skimpy affair.

Lara who earlier did it in Blue had received applause and is now ready to do it again in Sajid Khan’s Houseful. Jiah Khan will also be seen in minimal cloths for a comic caper. Meanwhile news also has that the new sensation of Bollywood, Deepika may also appear in a swimsuit in the same film.

SRK, Hrithik, Fardeen at Shilpa's wedding reception

Few days back, we posted that Bollywood superstars Aamir-Salman are bonding big time these days; however, this time it is a talk of Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan’s bonding. Their bond was apparent at Shilpa Shetty’s wedding reception, where the Khans (SRK, Gauri, Zayed and Fardeen) and the Roshans (Hrithik, Suzzane) entered together as a group. It is also learnt that before the reception the Roshans went to SRK’s house Mannat for a get-together. Moreover, when the reception was over, the group headed back to Mannat to continue the bonding.

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone

Ex-couple Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are putting forward a great example to wannabe actors by keeping their personal and professional life separate.

According to a source close to Deepika, she is ready to work with Ranbir professionally although they have parted ways personally/romantically.

When these two newbies were a couple, many filmmakers thought of making a film with them. And there is one director, a common friend of the couple, who hopes to cast them together for his film. However neither the filmmaker nor the film’s name has been revealed yet as the film still is in its formative stages. We will come to know about the film only in April next year.