Deepika outruns Kat to be Sallu's new girl

Deepika Padukone lost one man to Katrina Kaif. Looks like she may soon get to avenge herself by stepping into Kaif's shoes as Salman Khan's girl in Kabir Khan's film, to be produced by YRF.

While Katrina is still under consideration for the role, both Aditya Chopra and director Kabir have zeroed down on Prakash Padukone's daughter.

Explaining how Deepika came into the picture, a source said, "They needed a young A-lister opposite Salman for the film.

So it had to be Katrina, Deepika, Kareena or Priyanka. Kareena and Priyanka are not in the running anymore.

After the misunderstanding over the promos of Roadside Romeo, YRF is not too keen on Kareena. As for Priyanka, though she had patched up with Salman, the chances of the two working together are very less."

Also, the fact that Salman is proving to be a major hindrance in his ex-girl Katrina's career, (Mumbai Mirror, March 29) tips the scales in Deepika's favour. If buzz is to be believed, to avoid speculations and controversies, the Kaif babe may herself choose to opt out of the film.

News of Deepika working with Salman has been doing the rounds for quite some time now, be it in Bodyguard, Kick or Ready. Deepika has always been open about her desire to work with Salman as well.

After an event in 2010 where Salman had expressed his desire to do a song with Deepika, she had said, "Just one dance with Salman is not enough.

I would want to do a full-fledged film with him." On another occasion, more recently, when asked about Salman, Deepika had said, "I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with the biggest names in the industry.

Now, I would like to work with Salman. I feel he is a very honest person. He is genuine about what he feels and from what I have read and known about him, he seems to be very caring."

Looks like, Deepika's dream is about to come true.

Film about homosexuality impresses KJo

Karan Johar is awed by Onir's film 'I Am' with which Juhi Chawla turns producer.

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been raving about the film I AM directed by Onir that has also gone on to win several international awards. I AM was bestowed the David Flint Honorary Award For Promoting Human Rights,

Awarded the Best in Asian Cinema (NETPAC) at the International Film Festival of Kerala '2010.Furthur, it went on to win the Audience Choice Award, Best Film, River To River Film Festival, Florence '2010 and was the opening film at the IVIEW Engendered Film Festival in NEW YORK Sept 2010.

Onir's film sensitively handles the theme of homosexuality. Karan Johar says, " I AM ... is a very sensitive and engaging collage of four stories woven skillfully by Onir.

Each story plays out effectively on screen to illustrate the fact that cinema is a medium of the heart as much as it is of the mind. Another reason why the film is close to my heart is that my close friend Juhi (Chawla) turns producer with this venture. I AM ... is definitely a film to watch out for!"

The film is a tale of 4 stories woven together that takes audiences through issues and dilemmas that bruise the modern Indian society. The film unfolds many a tale of individuals struggling to find their identity, and uphold their dignity in a world that is callous, cold and unsympathetic.

Sanjay Suri and Onir's  I AM , the first crowd sourced mainstream Hindi film is co-produced by over 400 people from 35 cities across the world and comes to a theatre near you April 22, 2011.

I was itching to do an action role Bipasha

Bengali beauty Bipasha Basu has completed a decade in the Hindi film industry and donned numerous roles, but her forthcoming international venture " Singularity" , she says, gave her a fresh perspective towards acting.

" 'Singularity' has been a fantastic experience because I have been in the film industry for a long time now. But this film gave me a completely fresh take towards acting," the 32-year-old actress told in an interview.

"It just introduced me to a new kind of acting, new kind of cinema, which for an artist is great," she added.

Bipasha stars as a Maratha warrior in the period film that is being helmed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Roland Joffe. It also stars Hollywood star Josh Hartnett.

"My role is that of a Maratha warrior and the backdrop of the film is the Anglo-Maratha war in 18th-century colonial India. It's basically the love story between a British soldier and this Maratha queen that is played by me," she revealed.

The actress, who has worked in films like "Ajnabee", "Apaharan", "Corporate", "Race" and "Bachna Ae Haseeno", among others, said "Singularity" just fell into her lap.

"Any actor would give an arm to work with Joffe and for me it happened so easily. I kind of bumped into him and he just loved my voice and cast me in the lead role," Bipasha said.

"I was in Los Angeles and I just happened to say hello to him because a friend of mine knew him and I was there for a meeting. So for me this role just fell into my lap," she added.

Bipasha has always been known for fitness and her perfect 10 body. Because of her fitness levels, the actress was itching to do an action role and her dream came true with "Singularity" and another forthcoming film "Players".

"Yes, I was looking forward to doing action roles and I'm so glad that I got an opportunity to do that in not one but two of my films. I'm looking forward to both," said the ex-model.

Bipasha will be seen in many much-awaited films this year. So would she call 2011 a very exciting and productive year for her?

"Every year has been very exciting for me. There has been a little bit of re-invention that I do as an artist every time because our business is very harsh," the actress said.

"There are a number of fears. If the screen presence of female actors is longer, people tend to get a little harsh on you but thankfully with me people have been very appreciable," she added.

"Every year, I project myself and re-invent myself as an artist. I don't let any staleness creep into me and even as an artist, I think that's exciting for me," she added.

Along with "Singularity" and "Players", Bipasha will also be seen in " Dum Maaro Dum", which will be her first release for the year.

I have a wonderful girlfriend Darsheel

He was "only nine" when he started shooting for Taare Zameen Par, and claims that he doesn't "remember much apart from the fact that I had a lot of fun on the sets, doing all kinds of mischief."

Four years down the line, Darsheel Safary has learnt the ways of the industry to a great extent. Sample this: "I have a wonderful girlfriend. But let her identity be a secret till I am 18!"

Darsheel is feeling on top of the world right now, for he just had a fun-filled 15th birthday in Sri Lanka. "I spent the entire day sight-seeing, played with baby elephants, indulged in water-sports and saw crocodiles too. To top it all, my father gifted me a laptop. It was one of my most memorable birthdays till date," he shares.

Soon, he will be seen essaying a superhero role in a new film Zokommon, Is he going to take up acting as a career once he grows up? "Honestly, I don't know. Studies still top my priority list and I will soon be in Class IX. That's why I have shot for my films during vacations and even had tutors on the sets.

 I also have some wonderful friends in school, who always help me out. Right now, I look at acting as my hobby. But one thing is certain, I just love facing the camera now!" he says.

His favourite actors in Bollywood? "I just adore Hrithik Roshan. Not only is he a wonderful actor, he is a fabulous dancer too! Among the heroines, I like Kareena Kapoor a lot," he says. Not Aamir Khan, who launched him, please note. However he adds,

"I knew almost nothing about films before I met Aamir Khan and he was always very supportive and encouraging. I had a great time on the sets, playing fun games and pranks at will.

When the film was released, it was vacation time and once the school reopened, everyone in school surrounded me and demanded autographs. That's when I knew that I had done something special."

Ranbir's 10-day depression

During the last schedule of Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor got so absorbed in his dark character, that it took him days to come out of the blues.

"The emotional scenes that he shot for, took it's toll. He went into a shell and didn't meet anyone during this time. It took a lot of coaxing from friends and family to finally draw him out," says an insider. 

Now he's shooting for Anurag Basu's Barfee, which is a sweet, feel-good and funny film.

But beginning shooting, the RK boy took a 10 day break to shake off the baggage from his last shooting. Ranbir confirms, "Yes, Imtiaz's film took a lot out of me and shook me up."

Deepika, the desi Lara Croft

Deepika Padukone loves to do action scenes. She has proved she can do them well in Chandni Chowk To China, and now she's ready to flex her muscles in her forthcoming film Rana.

She will go through a month of intensive marial arts training. The actress reveals, "I have to do some martial arts and I am training for my role in the film. I have some scenes in which I have to do intense action and I need to prepare my body for that.

One month of martial arts training is what I'm looking at. It will be a challenging to shoot those action scenes. Though I have done action in Chandni Chowk to China, this has super intensity. I might also have some scenes in which I will get to do some action with Rajni sir." She's a very own Lara Croft, no?

Ashmit follows Veena's footsteps

Ashmit Patel and Veena Malik became popular on the reality show Bigg Boss 4. The two's growing friendship was much spoken about, and even post the show they continue to make appearances together.

With Veena Malik hosting two cricket shows on television, Ashmit Patel seems to have got lucky, too. The actor will grace the small screen as host of Superstud - a reality show on UTV Bindass.

It looks likes Veena-Ashmit's Bigg Boss act has paid off, and is bringing money and fame to this lovely couple.