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Salman Khan is going through the best phase professionally. A day is not complete without hearing that so-and-so producer/director has approached the soft-hearted Khan with a film offer.

Since we�ve been sworn to secrecy, we wouldn�t reveal much about the new project that Salman has been approached for. But we would like to reveal some exclusive info on the film, which, we�re sure, will catch you by surprise.

The film-maker in question, who has just delivered a hit with Salman, has approached the actor with a script that will have the protagonist essaying seven different roles in the film. We�ve heard of double and triple roles, but seven roles� The film will be a laughathon, like the film-maker�s recent hit.

P.S.: No prizes for guessing the identity of the film-maker!

When Sohail Khan started out as producer, he made films in partnership with Bunty Walia. For MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA, the actor cum film-maker joined hands with Dhilin Mehta [Shree Ashtavinayak] and now, Salman�s youngest brother has inked a deal with K. Sera Sera [who have produced a string of films with Ramgopal Varma] to produce films together.

�That�s true,� Sohail confirms the development, �We�ve decided to join hands.� In the first round, the two companies have signed David Dhawan, Vipul Shah and Sohail himself to direct one film each. And, expectedly, all three will star Salman in the lead.

�But the projects won�t start overnight. Bhai [Salman] wants to complete his pending assignments before he starts work on my films,� Sohail adds and then jokes in the same breath, �It�s like ghar ki murgi dal barabar [laughs loudly]. I cannot expect preferential treatment just because I am his brother.�

The grapevine is abuzz with the news that the David Dhawan-directed film, starring Salman and Govinda in principal roles, will star Priyanka Chopra and Karisma Kapoor as their love interest. �Not true! We haven�t finalized anyone yet. But we should be ready with the names before we roll in November this year,� he states.

Nikhil Advani, who has been working on his next film [after KAL HO NAA HO] since quite some time, has finally decided on the star cast of his film.

At a point of time, Nikhil was planning to make a two-hero film, starring the two Khans -- Salman and Saif -- in principal roles. Later, there was talk that Nikhil had decided to make a solo Salman starrer. Also, after branching out of Dharma Productions, Nikhil was supposed to make a film for Jhamu Sughand. Later, Boney Kapoor was planning to produce the film in question.

Now here�s the fresh development. Nikhil�s second film will be produced by Sunil Manchanda, who has produced TERE NAAM and DIL NE JISE APNA KAHAA in the past and is currently producing KYON KI�, which is slated for a Diwali release.

Nikhil has planned a massive star cast for the film: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna. One more hero -- either Saif or John -- would be signed for the project.

As for the leading ladies, the film will star five names, but only Priyanka Chopra has been confirmed yet, while unconfirmed reports insist that Juhi Chawla, Rimi Sen and two more names are under consideration.

Both Nikhil and producer Sunil Manchanda were unavailable for comment, but the stars spoke enthusiastically about the project in question.

�It�s an amazing script. Very unusual. I was completely bowled. It�ll be the biggest blockbuster next year,� an excited Akshaye Khanna informs me, �Everybody�s got a fabulous role. Tabhi hi aisi casting ho sakti hain.�

Anil Kapoor is equally gung-ho about the film. �I knew I had to do the film when I heard the script. And knowing Nikhil, I am sure he�ll make a fabulous film,� the choosy actor confides, adding in the same breath, �I�ve confirmed the film in principle, but the remaining formalities are being sorted out.�

It�s the third time Salman and Anil have been teamed in a project [after BIWI NO. 1 and the recent blockbuster NO ENTRY]. Anil and Akshaye too have worked in Subhash Ghai�s TAAL earlier and this would be their second project together.

The film, not titled yet, is expected to take off in November this year.

Not exactly media-savvy, Salman Khan has lived up to his reputation once again! The actor cancelled an eagerly awaited Press Conference scheduled to be held in New York�s Park Central Hotel on Monday. The conference was meant for the promotion of Salman�s next release, Kyon Ki. Twenty minutes into the press conference, there was no sign of Salman. It was then that Avinaash Jumani, who is assisting in the film�s distribution, told the media persons present that the actor was not well. He would not be able to attend the conference since his health did not permit him to. The conference has been postponed to Tuesday. It has already been conveyed to the members of the media that Salman will only entertain questions related to the movie and will not answer personal questions at all.

The two Khans � Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan � will share the stage for the first time at Sahara One Sangeet Awards, to be held on September 24 at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, U.S.A. Rani Mukerji will also set the stage ablaze with her dazzling performance along with performances by ace music composer Shankar Mahadevan and Pakistani pop sensation Faakhir.

PDM International announced the performers for the 2nd Sahara One Sangeet Awards 2005 on Monday, September 19.

The Sahara One Sangeet Awards will be hosted by popular singer Shaan, who will be accompanied by actor-VJ Anusha Dandekar. Celebrated choreographer Shiamak Davar will bring the spectacular performances to life with his stylized choreography, eye-catching costumes and innovative props.

The Sahara One Sangeet Awards will be telecast on Sahara One Television, who are partnering this initiative for the second time.

Salman Khan has done that in reel life. Broken dahi-handis! Remember the song �Chandi Ki Daal Par Sone Ka Mor� from Hello Brother where he celebrated the Indian festival with true-blue Bollywood spirit in the song-n-dance mode. Well, now he will be doing the same in real life also.

This year on Gokulashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna), Salman Khan will actually participate in the traditional dahi-handi event. The event will happen at the Jambori Maidan ground at Worli on August 27 for the whole day. Sangita Ahir who�s producing the upcoming Sanjay Dutt � Shahid Kapur film Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi is organizing the event. Music director Dabbu Malik will take charge of the DJ mixing and Jhankaar Beats orchestra and set the audience and participants into the rain dance mode.

Her dialoguebaazi, nakhras and grooves, all look great on 70MM. But scraped knees, a pigtail and sporty tees with keds is what you take home. Under the garb of a Bollywood star a tomboy is still alive. This Friday, Esha Deol charms you as the pativrta patni of Salman in Boney�s No Entry. Meanwhile let�s find out why she loves Salman so much�

You are crazy about Salman, right or wrong? �Right, I love the man. He reminds me so much of my father. The way he talks, the way he walks, his behavior, his mannerisms, all is so papa-like. I love his built too. I like men with a good built and are strong-looking. So there too he fits the bill. On the sets, while we were not shooting, I used to keep starring at him like a fool. Finally he asked me, what was it that made me gawk at him, I replied, �You so remind me of my father� He was cool with it, I think he even liked that because he himself is a fan of my dad. And let me tell you, what people think of him as a tyrant is completely untrue. He is very warm, giving and a very sharing person. Actually, Salman is one of the key factors I signed up for the film, my role isn�t that long�

"The Aishwarya issue is a welcome change for me going by the tense situation during the last few days," Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar said. It was an apparent reference to the churning in the Shiv Sena legislature group and the crisis in the House over that.

The paid preview of MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA at Fame Adlabs, Andheri has generated tremendous response. The advance booking for the paid preview was thrown open on Sunday itself [July 10] and the response was terrific, with 221 out of 331 tickets getting sold out within no minutes.

The paid preview is supposed to take place on Thursday, July 14 at 10.45 p.m

Have an answer to that one? Well, this is Salman's question to the authorities who have called for a ban on onscreen smoking by actors. Salman looked pretty displaced when the question was shot to him during an interview, �Onscreen smoking allowed nahi hain? Accha..toh�TV pe smoking allowed hain?� he asked casually.

His next question was, �You mean to say, the government is ready to ban all Hollywood and other foreign flicks too that show its actors lighting up? Will it be done?� he asked a press gathering who were uncertain of what the exact rules are like. The macho star continued, �And their reason behind the ban, you are telling me is that we influence people� Salman said pondering over it just a bit and then asked, �You will agree when I say that none of the Bollywood actors chew tobacco, then why is that scores of villagers still use tobacco?� he shot back. �Shahrukh ne Baazigar mein ek ladki ko chath se feka, kisi aur ne feka?� he tossed another question. �I hope you have got my point, I don't think we influence people, the way the government thinks� the star told onlookers.

�I think the person 'X' must have gone through a traumatic experience concerning his/her dear one and has decided to introduce the ban, which is good. Smoking does damage you, but don't hold the industry responsible for it, its unfair� he asserts. �Waise mera koi lene-dena hai nahi isse, jab bhi kuch bolta hoon, phas jata hoon!� the hunk mocked.

The Khan brothers - Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail have never graced the Bollywood screen together. While Salman and Arbaaz have starred together in Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Hello Brother, Sohail has directed his brothers in both the films. But now the trio will be seen together for the first time in David Dhawan's upcoming comic caper Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Yes Arbaaz too features in the film apart from Salman and Sohail (who also produces the film).

In fact Arbaaz is the surprise element in the film who comes up in the climax and bridges the confusions between Salman and Sohail who play contenders for Katrina in the film. Watch out for this one. The movie promises a liberal dose of Khans.

After things got sour inexplicably between Salman Khan and Anu Malik, during Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, the cold wall has finally broken. Anu Malik will compose music for Sajid Nadiadwala's next film Jaaneman, which stars Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and Akshay Kumar.

Nobody knew the reasons behind the difference between the actor and the composer, as there were no arguments or fights between the two. Anu Malik has been roped in the movie, as the film requires western kind of music, as it is an emotional love triangle based in New York. The producer had to choose between Anu and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. He chose Anu Malik since he has given him hits like Judwaa and Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega.

Anu Malik's joy knew no boundaries when the news was broken to him and he is all charged up for this assignment. However he denies having any hassles with Salman Khan. He says they have always been cordial to each other. Jaaneman is however, Anu's return in the Salman camp after a long gap.

The first Bharat Artistic Yoga Centre was officially opened in Dubai by well-known yoga teacher Bharat Thakur, whose celebrity clients include Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta, Hollywood star Michael Douglas and sportsman Boris Becker.

In fact, the yoga expert even convinced Salman Khan to inaugurate the centre. The actor sold the practice of yoga to the audience and apparently, he even gave a demonstration.

Now that the verdict on LUCKY is crystal clear -- it's a success -- director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have already started work on their next project, which will be produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar [of T-Series] again.

"We had two options, either to make a historical like GLADIATOR or a contemporary love story, say something like PRETTY WOMAN. We settled for a modern-day film," Vinay Sapru enlightens me.

Radhika and Vinay have already completed scripting the film and have planned to start filming this year. "This film is set in New York and Seattle in U.S.A. We want to capture the winter in U.S.A. this time around [LUCKY was filmed during the winter in Russia]," he elaborates.

The casting of the film is undecided, but the grapevine is abuzz with the speculation that the film will star Salman Khan once again. Let's wait and watch!

After Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black', Nitin Manmohan's 'Tango Charlie' (releasing this week) and the forthcoming Ramgopal Varma film 'My Wife's Murder', actress Nandana Sen will be seen as the Indian girl opposite heart-throb Salman Khan and Ali Larter in the Hollywood flick 'Marigold', directed by Willard Carroll.

Apart from these, she'll be seen as the heroine in two upcoming American releases titled 'Over the Mountains' and 'It's a Mismatch'.

Nandana, who grew up in England, India and America, has worked in films from all three continents. On being asked why she has chosen such a diverse range of films, genres and roles, she promptly quips, "I try to avoid labeling others and getting labeled. The characters I play in my current films are so different from one another precisely because it's a priority for me not to get typecast."

So what does Nandana look for when choosing a character? "I am drawn to material that is stunningly original, emotionally powerful, yet always realistic; whether mainstream or not, musical or song-less, Indian or international," she says and adds, "I've never consciously developed any kind of an 'image', and I don't believe I will ever try to construct one."

The title of Orion & MAD Productions' [TERE NAAM, DIL NE JISE APNA KAHAA] forthcoming project RAHEIN NAA RAHEIN HUM has been changed to KYUNKI again.

The film was initially titled KYUNKI, but the producers decided to change it to RAHEIN NAA RAHEIN HUM since they didn't receive a favorable response to the title. But, now, they have reverted to the original title KYUNKI.

KYUNKI stars Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Rimii Sen, Jackie Shroff and Om Puri in pivotal roles. Produced by Mukesh Talreja and Sunil Manchanda and directed by Priyadarshan, the film has music by Himesh Reshammiya.

After months of speculation, after a series of loose talk [by the media], after many confirmations and denials, the dream project is all set to roll.

MARIGOLD, Salman Khan's first step towards Hollywood, is all set to take off in the third week of March this year. The Hollywood project, to be directed by Willard Carroll [PLAYING BY HEART; 1998; Sean Connery, Angelina Jolie, Gillian Anderson and Madeleine Stowe], will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule in Mumbai, Goa and Rajasthan.

Prior to its filming, the actors will undergo script rehearsals so as to get into the skin of the character. MARIGOLD will co-star Ali Larter as the leading lady. Meanwhile, a topnotch Indian investor is also backing the project.

To be made in English language, MARIGOLD is about an American actress who arrives in India for a film shoot. The shooting gets cancelled and she is stranded in India penniless. Salman meets this actress on the sets of a Bollywood film and they fall in love.

Rumours are rife that Bela Segal, sister of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is contemplating signing Salman Khan and Rani Mukerji for her directorial debut, which will be produced by Bhushan Kumar of Super Cassettes Industries Ltd.

Reportedly, both Salman and Rani are close to Bhansali and Bela and signing the two A-list stars shouldn't be a problem for the editor [of HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM, DEVDAS, BLACK] turned director. �It's true that Bela has spoken to Rani,� Bhushan Kumar confirms the development in an exclusive conversation with this writer, �In fact, Bela and Rani are good friends, but nothing is finalized yet. Rani is a busy actress and she needs to work on her dates to accommodate our project.�

What about Salman? The actor shares a good rapport with Bhushan and Kishen Kumar [LUCKY is being co-produced by S.C.I.L. and Sohail Khan jointly], besides being close to Bhansali and Bela as well. �Again, nothing is finalized,� Bhushan adds. Well, we'll await the official announcement!

Salman Khan professed his love for Bhagyashree and screamed to the world, MAINE PYAR KIYA.

Now, Salman is all set to yell, MAINE PYAR KYUN KIYA?

MAINE PYAR KYUN KIYA? is the title of David Dhawan's new film, which stars Salman with Sushmita Sen and Katrina Kaif. Initially, David was toying with the idea of calling the film SORRY, MAIN SHAADI SHUDA HOON, but MAINE PYAR KYUN KIYA? sounds more appropriate, I guess.

MAINE PYAR KYUN KIYA? is a joint venture of Sohail Khan Productions and Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision [FUN2SHH, AGNI PANKH] and is scheduled for release in summer this year.

While on Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision, the production house is all set to start three more films in the coming months. �The first project, to be directed by Rohit Shetty [ZAMEEN], will star Ajay Devgan and one more lead man. The next two projects will be directed by Anees Bazmee and Abbas-Mustan, respectively,� Dhaval Jatania of Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision informs me.

Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan had teamed for the first time in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM. Strangely, despite its success, the duo didn't feature together in any film thereafter. But Suniel Shetty's company Popcorn has signed the duo for his new film, which will be directed by Priyadarshan.

Preity Zinta will enact the female lead in the film, which is not titled yet. Incidentally, Suniel won't be a part of the project. Why? �That's because film-making is a full-time job. I know what I went through trying to balance acting and production in RAKHT and KHEL. That's why I've decided to concentrate on film production this time around,� Shetty informs me.

Shetty has tremendous faith in both Salman and Ajay. �With them in the project, I can breathe easily as a producer. They're family to me,� he states. The film is expected to roll shortly.

Orion & Mad Productions untitled venture is now titled KYUNKI. Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Rimi Sen, Jackie Shroff and Om Puri. Presented by Gautam Kumar and produced by Mukesh Talreja and Sunil Manchanda, the film is directed by Priyadarshan. Music: Himesh Reshammiya

Film buffs in Dubai could not ask for more. In trying to do their bit for tsunami victims Bollywood is gearing up for a charity cricket match that will be held in Dubai on February 16. Salman Khan's XI will take on Shaan's XI from Pakistan.

The proceeds of this match will go to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund to help Tsunami victims. Right after the match, the Indo-Pak achievers awards will be announced.

Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan shook hands, embraced each other and patched up. But will the two super-stars - who have bonded well in their previous films like KARAN-ARJUN, KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI, HAR DIL JO PYAAR KAREGA and HUM TUMHARE HAIN SANAM [all hits] - feature in a new project again?

When IndiaFM broke the news of the patch up last week, the industry greeted it with cheer. But the question that came next was, Will they team up again? If yes, who'll cast them together?

Reportedly, Salman is game for sharing screen space with SRK [someone close to Salman confirmed to this writer], but the script will be the deciding factor. Ditto for SRK, who's a thorough professional and values the script over everything else.

According to industry sources, at least two makers are contemplating approaching the two top-ranking stars. One of them is a close friend of both and has several hits to his credit. The other is a well-known director who has made a string of hard-hitting films in the past.

But a section of the industry feels that the lucky one could be someone who indirectly brought about the patch up. Wait and watch!

Now this is news, which would cheer up every Hindi movie lover. Two of the biggest Khans of the film industry came together once again after a spate of more than two years. And the one indirectly responsible to bring them together was also a Khan.

We are talking about Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan who according to a report in Mid Day, patched up their two-year old cold war on Farah Khan's pre-marriage sangeet ceremony in true blue Bollywood style. Shahrukh and Salman, both close friends of the bride Farah Khan, turned in for her sangeet ceremony at different times and maintained safe distance from each other. At the early hours of Thursday morning when the party at Hyatt was almost coming to an end and guests were dissipating from the venue an emotional Salman decided to end his cold war with one time close buddy Shahrukh Khan.

While Shahrukh was still dancing on the dance floor, Salman came from behind and hugged Shahrukh warmly and continued hugging him. Shahrukh too hugged him back and soon they both were in tears. The few guests who were present at that moment included Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Sajid Nadiadwala and Farah's brother Sajid Khan. The group subsequently moved to Salman's Bandra residence to continue the celebrations.

Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan were good friends and earlier worked together in movies like Karan Arjun, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam until one ill-fated day in 2002 when Salman disrupted the shooting of Shahrukh Khan's film Chalte Chalte. This incident ruined the relations of the duo. However all's well that end's fine. Here's wishing the duo a never-ending friendship spate.

BEGINNING OF YEAR 2005