I am single and want to be in Love

First it was John Abraham during Salaam-e-Ishq. Now it's Akshay Kumar. 

Vidya Balan has been shooting two back-to-back films with the Kumar. "And we had ourselves a ball in Jaipur and Australia. That's where we shot Priyadarshan's Bhul Bulaiya and Sajid Khan's Hey Baby."

Vidya has just returned after four months of hectic shooting. And she can't help chuckling at the memory. "Akshay is a major prankster. I had to be on tenterhooks all through the two schedules. One never knew what Akshay was up to.

My one ambition in life is to get even with him for all the pranks he has played with me. Shooting has seldom been so much fun. I didn't even realize how these two long schedules for two completely contrasting films passed by." 

Vidya is aware that tongues will start wagging all over again. "I'm quite prepared for stories to filter back. I've gone through this before. During Salaam-e-Ishq they linked me with John Abraham for the same reason. Because people saw us having so much fun together. Now there'll be gossip because Akshay and I had ourselves a great time."

Remind her that it's only healthy for a young attractive single girl like her to be linked with co-stars and Vidya sighs, "Yes, I'm young and single and most certainly looking forward to being in love. 

Unfortunately both John and Akshay are attached. And that creates an embarrassment more for them than me. So that's that…Come to think of it, where are the eligible single guys in our industry? I'll have to look elsewhere."

Nana Patekar to play truck driver in Horn OK Please

Nana Patekar and surprises go hand in hand. The passionate actor is yet to start his second directorial venture (a generation-challenged love story for which he wants Rani Mukherjee in the female lead).

But he's busy with various acting assignments, the latest being a Raj Kumar Santoshi production to be directed by Rakesh Sarang. The film, a comedy entitled Horn Ok Please will feature the volatile Nana as a truck driver.

"It's an out-and-out comedy," says a source from the film. "Nana Patekar excels in comedy. He was the first and last choice for the trucker's role."

Raj Santoshi who's busy with the post-production work for Halla Bol (featuring Ajay Devgan and Vidya Balan) and the pre-production work on his Ramayan epic (featuring Ajay Devgan as Rama, Kajol as Sita , Riteish Deshmukh as Laxman and Prakash Raj as Ravan) is determined to give outside directors a chance.

Rakesh Sarang who will direct Horn Ok Please has done commendable work on television so far. This would be his first feature film and a road movie at that.

Ben Kingsley to play Shah Jahan to Ash's Mumtaz Mahal

For long now Aishwarya Rai has been destined to play the eternally extolled object of undying love.

Earlier she was to star as Mumtaz Mahal in a film to be produced by Bharat Bala. Nothing has been heard of the project since then. But now Ben Kingsley is all set to play Shah Jahan opposite Ash’s Mumtaz Mahal. The epic film to be produced by Sir Ben's company ‘SBK Pictures’ will be shot in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri in the middle of 2008. 

Confirming this stunning historical creative union, Ben Kingsley spoke to me from London. "It's a project on the building of the Taj Mahal. Aishwarya and I spoke about it while we were shooting The Last Legion last year. She very generously agreed to do the project with me. Aishwarya and I will be playing Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. My production company is right now working with a screenwriter. I've very clear ideas about my approach to this subject. The romance will also include Shah Jahan's abject isolation for years in a prison cell." 

When I tell him people will forget Gandhi after they see him play Shah Jahan, Sir Ben quips. "I hope not! Maybe for a little while they will. But I hope I continue to be remembered by Gandhi. We want to beat the monsoons when we shoot next year. I've always been very attached to India and its people. I don't get to visit the country as often as I'd like to. This is my opportunity to do so." 

Mahesh Bhatt to act in C Company

Mahesh Bhatt is all set to act in Sachin Yardi’s directorial debut C Company. The film will be made under Ekta Kapoor’s production banner. Tusshar Kapoor and Raima Sen have already been signed for the lead roles. However, to everyone’s surprise, Mahesh Bhatt will be seen in a small role in C Company, all thanks to the director of the film, Sachin Yardi, who managed to convince him. Bhatt will be playing the role of a chat show host in the film.

Yardi says that Mahesh Bhatt was not willing to act initially, even after he narrated him the story. It was only after learning that he won’t have many lines to say in the film that Bhatt finally agreed to do the role.

This is however not the first time that Mahesh Bhatt will be seen onscreen. He was seen in films like Haque (1991) and Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar (2000) in the past. 

I'll try not to hurt the contestants: Urmila Matondkar

The diva herself will judge the show, 'Jhalak Dikhla Ja', on air from September 28. We ask Urmila Matondkar is she thinks she can control herself, when all the pairs get jiggy with it. 

Q.: How did you agree to become a judge on 'Jhalak Dikhla Ja'?

A.: When I got the offer I was just stunned and at the same time excited, too. I have some time before I begin my next project, and I though this was a good opportunity to utilize that time constructively. 

Q.: This is your first time on television. Will we be seeing more of you?

A.: Not at all. The silver screen has always been my first love. As far as this programme is concerned, it's just for the time being. However, it's also true that this programme will give me a chance to interact directly with the audience who has made me what I am today. 

Q.: "Dil se naachenge…dil jeetenge" – this is the tagline for the show. How much do you identify with it?

A.: That is not just a tagline, that is a fact. If you do something from your heart, it is bound to touch the hearts of others. 

The song, 'Lakdi ki kaathi...', made people see the potential I had to become a heroine one day. The funny thing is that my family was completely non-filmy. And the truth is I cannot dance, and I never had any formal training. 

Any item number or song sequence that you have liked, was possible only because of my passion for my work. I believe that passion and honesty towards your work will bring you success. 

Q.: Is training really necessary? 

A.: Yeah, absolutely. I have never learned classical dancing, technically, but I had some training. Whenever I danced, I danced from my heart. And my suggestion to anyone who will listen – always give your hundred per cent. 

Q.: You said that you never learned dancing and yet you are going to judge a dance competition?

A.: I may not have had formal training, but I have a lot of experience. 

Q.: How will the participants be judged?

A.: We will not judge them solely on their dancing. We will take other factors into consideration - steps, posture, expressions, and of course, how honest they are to the tagline. Expressions will be the most crucial point of our judgment. 

Q.: Do you think there will be some controversy in the show?

A.: I can only speak for myself. My entire career has been free of controversy, and I am sure I can manage the same with this show (laughs). 

Q.: How much glamour will your presence add to the programme?

A.: I have no idea. But I am taking the programme quite seriously. I'll be the judge so I'll have a lot of responsibilities. I'll try not to do or say anything that may hurt contestants. 

Q.: The programme will be based on the western style of dancing. Don't you think that will be difficult to judge?

A.: In the film industry, we dance however we are asked to. However, certain dance forms follow rules. I remember that I saw a salsa sequence for the first time in the song 'najar se mila najar to…'. 

Now we concentrate more on salsa, jazz, samba and dances like hip-hop than Indian dances. For example, the song 'Mehbooba Mehbooba' in 'Aag' showcases American Latin dance.

I don't think I'll have any problem judging the show. The only condition is their dance must come out from their hearts so that it can touch ours. 

Q.: What was the most difficult dance sequence for you?

A.: All of them. During the 'Chhamma Chhamma' period, I used to work two shifts a day. When I came from the first shift, and saw the dance that was expected of me, I was simply stunned. 

I told the director that I could never do that, even if I danced the whole night. The next day I reached the set by 9 am and danced. My effort paid off. 

Q.: Any unforgettable moment regarding your dance?

A.: When I was shooting my second film, 'Narsimha', I had to dance to the song 'Jao tum chahe jahan…' with an expert dancer. I was sure I would never be able to keep up. I finished that somehow, and danced live at Minerva Theater. 

Some people started throwing money. A one-rupee coin fell at my feet, and that was the best award for my effort. I will never forget that evening.

I am single and want to be in Love

First it was John Abraham during Salaam-e-Ishq. Now it's Akshay Kumar.

Vidya Balan has been shooting two back-to-back films with the Kumar. "And we had ourselves a ball in Jaipur and Australia. That's where we shot Priyadarshan's Bhul Bulaiya and Sajid Khan's Hey Baby."

Vidya has just returned after four months of hectic shooting. And she can't help chuckling at the memory. "Akshay is a major prankster. I had to be on tenterhooks all through the two schedules. One never knew what Akshay was up to.

My one ambition in life is to get even with him for all the pranks he has played with me. Shooting has seldom been so much fun. I didn't even realize how these two long schedules for two completely contrasting films passed by."

Vidya is aware that tongues will start wagging all over again. "I'm quite prepared for stories to filter back. I've gone through this before. During Salaam-e-Ishq they linked me with John Abraham for the same reason. Because people saw us having so much fun together. Now there'll be gossip because Akshay and I had ourselves a great time."

Remind her that it's only healthy for a young attractive single girl like her to be linked with co-stars and Vidya sighs, "Yes, I'm young and single and most certainly looking forward to being in love.

Unfortunately both John and Akshay are attached. And that creates an embarrassment more for them than me. So that's that Come to think of it, where are the eligible single guys in our industry? I'll have to look elsewhere."

Photo Feature: Chak De girls on Seventeen

Welcome the Chak De girls in their all new Avtaar of glamour charisma and confidence alike. But when you first see the same set on screen, simple, stoic and sporty is how you would describe the look of these hockey players.

They flaunted their passion on field with such dynamism in characters that even SRK's usual magnetism that he is so famous for fell dull in front of the women brigade. Portraying different states and regional languages, the girls not just represented India's team spirit but integrity as whole and what emerged in the end was women power. So today when you see them all over the place representing the youth and their winning aspiration, you can't help but scream Chak De girls! Featuring on the latest edition of teenage magazine, “Seventeen", the girls pose for the cover in their glamorous look with the same attitude that shouts "Ek hockey doongi rakh ke".