After much ado and discussion, Vishal Bharadwaj has decided the title of his next Ajay Devgan - Saif Ali Khan starrer movie.

Vishal himself in an interview revealed that his adaptation of Shakespere’s ‘Othello’ would be titled - Omkara.

The film stars Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vivek Oberoi, Ayesha Takia, Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah in lead roles.

The movie - Omkara - is scheduled to start shooting in March and is planned to be completed by the stretch of 2006.

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Indian version of Shakespeare’s famous novel ‘Othello’ has been invited to Cannes Film Festival and for the promotions of the film in a big way its makers are taking the entire cast including Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma and Vivek Oberoi along with director Vishal to the festival.

At Cannes, the film will have a six to seven minute screening. Actress Kareena who is much charged up about the film said, “I’m definitely planning my trip to Cannes this summer. I believe Ajay and Saif will also come along. The producer, Kumar Mangat, is going so far as to put up an Othello stall at Cannes. I think it’ll be a great experience. People are already curious about it.”

Meanwhile, Othello name deciding contest with a relevant tagline ‘What’s in a name’ (which is also taken from Shakespeare) will open up to the public next week where the public will choose their favorite title among the three short listed one’s - Omkara, O Saathi Re and Issak. (more…)

Actor Saif Ali Khan who went through an emergency appendectomy on Thursday at Kuala Lumpur while shooting for an ad says he is fine now. The only shoot to have been affected by Saif’s ill health is Vishal Bhardwaj’s Othello where he was supposed to return on Friday. Now Vishal will shoot Saif’s remaining portion in Mumbai, whenever possible.

On the professional front, Saif is most excited about Othello. “The cast of this film has a great mix of so-called thinking and commercial actors. You have the NSD bunch like Naseeruddin Shah on one hand, and commercial actors like Ajay Devgan and me, on the other. We used to have great fun on the sets, referring to each other disparagingly, saying things like, “You theatre-wallah” or you “commercial type”,” he laughs.

“I must say that the highbrow NSD crowd has scant respect for us commercial stars. They feel ‘Unko kya ma1oom (what does they know)? I don’t think too many directors are too comfortable working with actors from both genres. Othello is the first film in which the two worlds of art and masala movies join hands in a big way” He added. (more…)

Raj Kumar Santoshi has signed Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta opposite Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan in his forthcoming film ‘London Dreams’ shooting for which just commenced at the Golden Temple.

London Dreams is about two rock musicians who wants to taste international recognition. The film will divulge into their growing up as childhood friends and then their struggle to make it big as two rockers in England.

Santoshi is now casting for the other roles. He will require some actors from London and an African-British actor. About eighty per cent of the story will unfolds in London and the rest take place in India.

Raj Kumar Santoshi has commenced the shooting of his long-cherished project ‘London Dreams’ starring Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. Recently Salman Khan and his family made a trip to Amritsar and visited the Golden Temple during the shooting of the film.

London Dreams is about a rock band in England where Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan are rock musicians. They play childhood friends. Santoshi is now casting for the other roles. He will require some actors from London and an African-British actor. About eighty per cent of the story will unfolds in London and the rest take place in India. (more…)

For director Anubhav Sinha who gave us ‘Tum Bin’ and super successful ‘Dus’, small stars are a thing of the past. He is planning at least four major films with the biggest of Bollywood stars. Anubhav talks about his huge rise from Tum Bin to Dus.

Sinha is getting Sunny Deol to play a serial killer in his next movie.

We haven’t really had any remarkable films on a serial killer in Hindi. Of course, we had Rajesh Khanna playing one in ‘Red Rose’ many decades ago. I find the whole process of getting into a killer’s mind very interesting. When I approached Sunny for another more positive role in the film (which I want to title ‘Pancham’), he showed more interest in the serial killer. Just goes to show how our big stars are pining to change tracks. The film “with lots of music” will be launched shortly.

To describe Sinha’s rise as meteoric would be no exaggeration.

Yeah, I guess I’ve come a long (sounds modest). But it hasn’t been easy. Though ‘Dus’ was one of those rare films this year that succeeded in both single theatres and multiplexes and though it raked in Rs.50 million in Mumbai alone, the trade wrote it off as a mere commission earner. How can they do that? Salman Khan told me I was an idiot to have made my first film ‘Tum Bin’ with small stars. (more…)

March 4, LIC-Zee Cine Awards 2006 function is being held in Mauritius, telecast live on Zee TV from 7pm and who is who of Bollywood is attending it. Are u Game?

Star Anchors:
The oomph girl Mallika Sherawat and the known director Karan Johar are hosting the Awards. Mallika is known for her peppy tongue and this time she will be unstoppable. Another interesting thing to look forward is her dressing which always creates shock. Karan who has hosted such events two times before will be a delight to look at. Those who have seen Karan’s hit TV talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’ know how naughty he is and if one remembers Mallika was the hot topic of discussion in more than one episode. It will be so much fun to watch them together. Arjun Rampal, Konkona SenSharma and Gulshan Grover are the other celebrity to hosts for the show. (more…)