Saif is going to make his mama proud! He is planning to play a Bangla Babu in Pradip Sarkar’s ‘Parineeta’, which is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel. The 1953 version had Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar playing the lead roles. Vidhu Vinod Chopra will produce the film (Pradip has worked as Chopra’s assistant for years). Saif’ sister Soha has finished shooting for Sarat Chandra’s ‘Srikanto’

Mickey Blue eyes to inspire a Hindi movie! The Hollywood hit had Hugh Grant and James Caan and the now famous phrase ‘ fogeddaboudit’. The tale about an ordinary fella falling in love with the daughter of a mobster may have Shahid Kapur in the lead. Anil Kapoor is slated to play the mobster, watch this space for the name of the female lead. We’ll let you know the moment we hear the word.

A desi chick for Brad Pitt? Rumor has it that actor Gulshan Grover has been asked by Paramount to select the ideal Bollywood babe to act opposite Bradji! Gulshan will also act in the film and names bandied about for the female lead include Preity Zinta, Konkona Sen Sharma and Rani Mukherjee. I somehow cannot imagine Brad and Rani together, can you?

Mithunda who is wrapping up ‘Elaan’ is all set to play a Sardarji in Rajesh Bhatt’s 'Tusi Great Ho Paazi'. He will play a Sikh gentleman based in London who goes about fulfilling his life’s two big ambitions. One is to become the richest businessman in London and the second to wed a gori memsahib!

America’s sex symbol Jason Lewis of the popular TV series 'Sex and the City' will play the lead role in 'My Bollywood Bride', a comedy based on the story of a star-crossed lover who pursues his Indian love to Mumbai.

Raghuvir Yadav, who recently acted as the writer in MF Hussien’s Meenaxi will be crooning a Bihari folk song in ‘Bawarchi’. Bawarchi will star Madhavan and Samita Bangargi( Of 'Shaadi ke Laddoo'). Yadav has sung for 'Darna Mana Hai'(2003) titled Homework which was composed by Salim-Sulaiman.

Rajya Sabha member, wrestler and actor Dara Singh, is supposed to have expressed `surprise' that Bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Bikaner constituency, Dharmendra, had become a Muslim to marry Hema Malini. He was married to (and still is) to Prakash. Talking to reporters at the BJP office, Dara Singh, was asked to comment on the existence of `nikahnama' of Dharmendra's marriage with Hema Malini. He said "as far as I know their marriage took place with the consent of his wife."

Kamal Hassan, after intial misgivings about acting in a remake of a Hindi Film has agreed to play the lead in the Tamil version of Munnabhai MBBS.It is reported that LV Prasad’s son did most of the convincing! LV is Kamal’s mentor.

Apparently Shah Rukh Khan (after Main Hoon Na) is so pleased with his director pal Farah Khan that he is signing her up to direct his next venture. He presented her with a brand new car, a Hyundai Terracan at the first show of Main Hoon Na at Fame Adlabs.

|