Ajay Devgn produces Vishal's film

The actor will join hands with Fox Star Studios to rope in the filmmaker before he starts work on SRK's 2 States

Taking his rivalry with the King Khan a step forward, Ajay Devgn has now convinced Vishal Bhardwaj to put the Shah Rukh Khan starrer 2 States on hold and start work on Devgn's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.

The filmmaker who was supposed to start with the Sajid Nadiadwala project based on Chetan Bhagat's novel will now go on floors with Devgn's film this November. Incidentally, the actor will also co-produce the film along with Fox Star Studios.

A source told Mumbai Mirror, "Ajay has not only convinced Vishal Bhardwaj to direct the film but also got the producers of My Name Is Khan, Fox Star Studios to co-produce the film along with him.

The film titled Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a comedy starring Anushka Sharma opposite Ajay Devgn. Ajay wanted the film to go on floors immediately after he wraps up Rohit Shetty's Bol Bachchan. his next film Son Of Sardar will now go on floors next year."

With his Shah Rukh starrer 2 States stuck in the initial phases for a while now, Vishal Bhardwaj sounded happy to be able to move on with a project. "I have had the idea for this comedy for almost eight years now.

It's a totally new genre for me. It will be completely different from what I have done in my earlier films. Also, I have missed working with Ajay. He is a great actor and a greater human being. I can't wait to be on the sets with him."

Talking about his leading lady Anushka, Vishal added, "She is a ball of energy. The harder you throw her, the higher she will go. I am looking forward to shooting with her."

The actor and the director are not the only two people happy to have got this project rolling. Vijay Singh, the CEO of Fox Star Studios said, "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a very special film for us at Fox Star. It brings together some great talent - Vishal Bhardwaj, Ajay Devgn and Kumar Mangat. We believe it will draw a lot of attention in 2012."

Ranbir Kapoor, Imtiaz Ali at Hazrat Nizamuddin

To pay a special tribute to the prolific court poet of the Delhi Sultanate, Amir Khusro, Ranbir Kapoor and his Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali paid a visit to the shayar's tomb within the Hazrat Nizamuddin complex, New Delhi on Monday evening.

Singer Mohit Chauhan and producer Hiren Gandhi of Shree Ashtavinayak accompanied Ranbir and Imtiaz to the place known for qawwali.

Surrounded by the spirits of the Gods of Qawwali, Amir Khusro and Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, Ranbir and Imtiaz prayed for the success of Rockstar, a film based on the passion for music.


When contacted, Imtiaz Ali said, "We are at the Dargah right now. We just thought we should seek blessings of one of the biggest and best musician this country has ever produced through this song we along with AR Rahman have created. Rahman sir speaks very highly of Hazrat Nizamuddin and Aamir Khusro."

Boy-next-door wins the girl

Akshaye Khanna, known to be rather reticent, has won the affections of Shreya Saran, who previously was linked to Salman Khan and Indian cricketer Sreesanth

He is one of the industry's most reticent actors. But it seems that Akshaye Khanna's mild demeanour is working in his favour. Reportedly, the actor has managed to win over the girl that Salman Khan and cricketer Shreesanth could not hold on to. A source informed us that Akshaye and his Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai co-star Shreya Saran have hit it off very well.

The source told us that the two, who have been filming in Bhopal for Rumi Jaffrey's directorial venture, have been spotted cozying up to each other for the past 15 days. "Shreya and Akshaye hit it off from the get-go.

Akshaye has been going out of his way to help her perfect her sequences in the film, since she is more familiar with South Indian cinema. It is clear that they are a couple. Everybody on the sets is talking about their relationship, albeit in hushed whispers," said the source.

And it seems that this new development is a stark change from Akshaye's dating track record. The source explained, "Akshay is very reticent and withdrawn.

He rarely mixes with his co-stars. But his affinity for Shreya is crystal clear. Shreya is exactly opposite in nature. She is a social butterfly. It really seems that opposites attract"

The actor was previously dating actress Tara Sharma. However, in January 2006, the couple ended their two-year relationship. Following his break-up with Tara, his personal life only came under the spotlight in 2010 with a rumoured link-up to Urvashi Sharma, his co-star in the suspense thriller Naqaab.

Shreya, on the other hand, has been more visible on the dating circuit. The South Indian actress was rumoured to be getting rather close to Salman. In fact, she was even invited to Arpita's birthday bash (On August 5, 2011, Mumbai Mirror). Prior to which, she was linked to her Dum Maaro Dum co-star Rana Dagubatti.

And before all the Bollywood men lined-up at Shreya's doorstep, she had a fan in Indian cricketer Shreesanth. Despite repeated attempts, Akshaye and Shreya remained unavailable for comment.

Marc Jacobs brings big finale to NY Fashion Week

NEW YORK: Marc Jacobs drew a beautiful and audacious line Thursday under a New York Fashion Week that stood out for its optimism and bright yellows and oranges.

As he has in the past, Jacobs chose the Armory in southern Manhattan rather than the Fashion Week headquarters at the Lincoln Center for his Spring-Summer 2012 show.

The theatrical choreography saw about 50 unworldly outfits mixing materials and turning conventions upside down.

Cellophane for raincoats, fringed coats, fake crocodile for straight yellow or dark red skirts, sparkly turbans and loafers -- Jacobs was as innovative as ever, and that was before he unveiled the strange, transparent cowboy boots.

Nylon, cellophane, organza, silicone and silk socks to go with golden high heels were just some of the materials he used, setting up a show to delight the celebrity fan club, including Sofia Coppola and actress Elle Fanning.

Earlier Thursday, Ralph Lauren won lengthy standing ovations for his 1920s-inspired collection, recalling the "Great Gatsby" days of vintage jade silk chiffon dresses and high-waisted, side-button trousers.

Cloche hats, pinstriped blazers and flapper-style beaded gowns, including with an ostrich-feather headscarf, completed the look.

For all the fantasy, this was a Fashion Week that could not exclude the outside world.

It opened as New York marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and Marc Jacobs asked to hold his preview until the end because of delays in preparations caused by Hurricane Irene.

There was also a whiff of scandal over the Guli collection from the daughter of Uzbekistan's authoritarian president Islam Karimov.

After human rights groups complained about her participation, the fashion week took the unusual measure of canceling the show.

Instead, the Guli collection, mostly flowing silk dresses, was unveiled in the chic Cipriani restaurant.

Overall this week, the colors were resolutely optimistic and sharp and a new tech-friendly approach allowed fashionistas to follow many collections live on their computers and phones, without having invitations to the Lincoln Center.

A newly pregnant Beyonce, Michael Douglas and Whoopie Goldberg were among the A-listers in the front rows.

London Fashion Week starts Friday and runs through September 21. (AFP)

Jackson killed by greed, medic's fault brother

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson was driven to his death by a mix of greed, power and money, one of his brothers claimed Thursday, while saying the star's doctor "had no business" giving him the drug that killed him.

Speaking before the manslaughter trial of medic Conrad Murray kicks off this month, Jermaine Jackson said those surrounding his brother failed to look after him, as they pushed him to play a lucrative series of comeback gigs.

He described how his brother's health had clearly deteriorated in the months leading up to his death -- when he was rehearsing intensively for the This is It shows in London -- but those around him had not told the family.

"Why didn't somebody call me or Jackie or Tito or Marlon or his family, to say, 'Come down here, your brother is not acting normal?' Had we been called, he would be alive today. We would have taken him to the hospital," he said.

Asked why he thought they didn't, he told CNN interviewer Piers Morgan: "Because they wanted the show to go on... It's all about -- this is a story about greed and power and money. And not looking at the person in Michael."

Murray is due in court on September 27 for the long-awaited manslaughter trial over Jackson's death in June 2009 from an overdose of the powerful drug propofol, prescribed to help him sleep.

Jermaine Jackson said the doctor's lawyers would try to paint his brother as a drug addict, but dismissed a suggestion that Jackson -- who suffered from chronic insomnia -- could have forced Murray to give him more propofol.

The drug is so powerful that it is used as an anaesthetic during surgery, he noted, adding that as a cardiologist and not an anesthesiologist, Murray "had no business giving my brother propofol."

"Being a doctor, you take an oath to care for your patient not to kill
them," he added.

Jackson's death, on the eve of the planned series of comeback concerts at London's O2 Arena aimed at reviving his reputation and finances battered by child sex allegations, stunned fans around the world.

Murray's defense team is expected to argue that Jackson gave himself an excessive dose of the drug while the doctor was out of the room at the singer's mansion in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood west of Los Angeles. (AFP)

Ali Zafar in London, Paris, New York

Rose Movies and producer Goldie Behl along with Fox Star studios announced their upcoming flick London, Paris, New York here on Wednesday. The film stars Pakistani musician Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao and has been directed by debut director Anu Menon.

The film is a romantic comedy and it's a story about a couple who fall in love while visiting three of the most romantic places on earth; London, Paris and New York. "The story is very fresh. We have tried our level best to make it as realistic as possible. It deals in different emotions that people experience when they're in love. It is believable because it also talks about the pain and suffering of heartbreak," said Goldie.

The title is simple and says a lot about the movie. When asked about its significance, Ali Zafar said, "The title is an integral part of the film. It provides a backdrop to the love story and helps in portraying the characters' journey of love. It's all very natural and realistic. The movie is about Nikhil and Lalitha, two very different people who fall in love."

The music of the movie has been composed by Ali Zafar himself. In fact both the stars, Ali and Aditi, sing well and have sung in the film.

The movie has some intimate scenes between the two actors. But, according to Aditi, it is very different from the usual bollywood movies. "The scenes are very organic in nature. They are there because without them the story would feel incomplete. We have not forced sex scenes anywhere just because it is believed that sex sells. The scenes are beautiful and are lovely to watch," says Aditi.

The cast and crew just got done with the London chapter and if the chemistry shared between Ali and Aditi is anything to go by, this could be something to look forward to.

Shahid Kapoor over Ranveer Singh for Sonakshi Sinha

Body Sonakshi Sinha and Shahid Kapoor will come together for Sajid Nadiadwala's next project.

The yet untitled film will be directed by Sabbir Khan and is a romantic action flick. Interestingly, Sonakshi was supposed to sign a Yash Raj Films' venture with her new close friend Ranveer Singh. But the actress, deciding to keep her personal and professional separate, gave the YRF film a pass and chose the Shahid starrer instead.

A source informed Mumbai Mirror, "Sonakshi was offered a film opposite Ranveer Singh by YRF. It was supposed to be directed by Habib Faisal. However, Sonakshi has now decided to take on Sajid Nadiadwala's project instead. She has already given all her dates in January to Sajid."

Recent reports suggested that Sonakshi and Ranveer were more than just friends. The actors grew closer ever since their on-stage performance at a film awards ceremony in Toronto. "However, when it came down to her career, Sonakshi decided to opt for Shahid over Ranveer. She has given the same dates to Sajid that were required by YRF for the Ranveer starrer," added the source.

Talking about the Sajid's venture, the source added, "Sajid Nadiadwala has written the story and the screenplay of the film himself. Kambakkht Ishq director Sabbir Khan will direct it. Earlier too, Sabbir was to direct Heer Ranjha starring Shahid."

Despite repeated messages, Shahid Kapoor, Sajid Nadiadwala and Sonakshi Sinha remained unavailable for comments.