Dil Kya Cheez of the Week

We should take director J. P. Dutta for a free mujra. After completing his film on the nautch girl — Umrao Jaan — he has announced an auction of the costumes, and the money will be donated for the betterment of the children of prostitutes. He’ll also help the NGO who works with them by sponsoring the education of one such bright girl.

Payal: As Indian as she can get

Payal Rohatgi is going ga-ga over Ghai. We are talking about Showman Subhash Ghai who has cast Payal in a role of a simple housewife, Suniel Shetty’s for that matter, in his next Apna Sapna Money Money..?. Excuse us, simple housewife? Well, Ghai has an eye for such casting. He could drape Payal in Indian outfits in his mind’s eye and find ‘Indianness’ in that. Though we all know Payal’s penchant for explosive exposure, it’s Subhash Ghai who sees her as the model Indian beauty for his next film — and Payal couldn’t get happier. “It’s a special appearance, but I loved every minute of it,” enthused a very grateful Payal. A chance meeting on the sets with director Santosh Sivan, she says, landed her the role. “Only Mr Ghai and my director Sangeet Sivan could have thought of me in the traditional Indian costumes.” Nuff said!

Payal Rohatgi

And now the needling

Though Rajiv Khandelwal has left Kahiin To Hoga ages ago and the new ‘Sujal’ should have settled in by now, the differences between the lead heroine Aamna Sharif and Gurdeep seems to have flared up anew. Gurdeep had the cheek to say that Aamna can’t forget Rajiv as Sujal and that has Aamna shaking violently. She has stopped talking to him long back. Aamna claims to be a professional and whatever is her relationship with Rajiv offscreen she is not one to let that affect her work. In fact, some of the crew members now admit that Rajiv was an angel compared to Gurdeep.

Thoda-sa rehne do!

After Priyanka playing Zeenat and Kareena playing Helen in Don, or Aishwarya playing Rekha in Umrao Jaan, it’s Amrita Arora’s turn to get into the stilettos of Saira Banu of Victoria 203. Amrita is a bit toooo excited to do this role coz some people have flattered her enough by saying she looks like Saira Banu as well! And the famous towel song--dance is where Amu hopes to sizzle just like Saira did decades ago. But she is cautious enough to say she is scared. “Comparisons are so paralysing.” Last seen, Amu dearie was packing her bags for the ICU.

SPOTLIGHT

Kareena Kapoor in Don

How lovely

Admittedly she couldn’t match up to the appeal of Helen, but Kareena is the flavour of this festive season. With her Yeh mera dil pyaar ka diwana number in Don, she is blazing the screen with her look — the golden gown and seductive kohl-lined eyes, and thunder thighs. This remixed version packs in some extra beats while the K-Bomb burst onscreen this Diwali.

But Bebo is not just about cuts--burns. She is soft-hearted and a true friend as well. She’ll do anything for a friend. After this item number of sorts in Don she has agreed to appear in yet another item song just for a friend. Lovely Singh is making a film with Tushaar Kapoor-Ayesha Takia and a newcomer called Karan Hukku and the film is called Kya Love Story. Both Tusshar and Lovely are dear friends. For this ‘special appearance’ Bebo isn’t charging a penny either. Lovely, on his part is trying to make the song worthy of Kareena. How lovely.