Even though Sandeep Sawant’s Marathi feature film did not get a nomination, Indians are thrilled about another young director getting an Oscar nomination. Ashwin Kumar’s ‘ Little Terrorist’ got nominated in the ‘Live Action Short Film category’.

The film tells the story of a young Pakistani boy who wanders into Indian territory.

Hollywood star and two-time Oscar winner Michael Douglas was in Mumbai recently to explore possibilities of an Indo-US joint venture starring himself and Bollywood Queen Ash Rai.

Titled Romancing the Monsoon, the film is an international venture, co-produced by Sahara One Motion Pictures and Percept Picture Company. The film will be directed by Steve Carr (Daddy Daycare, Dr. Doolittle2)

Douglas met Ash when she was in LA last year and apparently the two talked about doing a film together.

Douglas said, "Romancing the Monsoon will be on the lines of Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. Right now we are developing the screenplay and hope to begin production in early 2006. Four to six months will go in pre production aspects of filming following. After that we will begin shooting the film in India in Amby Valley Sahara Lake City. It will be the first American co-production to happen in India."

Added Douglas, "As the movie is based in India, there will be several Indian actors besides Aishwarya. Besides me, there will be one more foreign element in the film,"

Rakesh Roshan’s sequel to Koi Mil Gaya has finally been bestowed a name! Koi Tumsa Nahin will star Hrithik and Priyanka Chopra. Shooting for the film will begin in March with the first sequences being done in Kulu Manali.

Even as rumors of Udit’s spat with music director Anu Malik swirled around gossip columns, the jovial singer seemed in high spirits! Udit and wife Deepa are preparing to produce a Bihari film Kab Hoiee Gawna Hamarr, that was penned by Deepa herself.

On January 28, Aamir Khan and Kapil Dev will play for a Charity Cricket Match to raise money for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Suniel Shetty, Salman Khan and Farhan Akhtar are among the others who will pick up the bats for this event.

Wow! We hear that Shah Rukh Khan will be awarded the Padma Shri this year! SRK’s pal Yash Chopra will receive the Padma Bhushan. SRK will be the youngest recipient of the Padma Shri, we are informed.

Farah Khan’s new film, ‘Happy New Year’ will have Shah Rukh Khan in the male lead but she is still looking for a heroine. We could suggest a few, but doubt if she will ever come to us for casting advice!

Dhoom-II according to reports will star Hrithik Roshan! Hrithik’s role is supposed to be a dark one, he is the one who will confront Abhishek in the film, we hear. Everyone involved with the film is hoping that Ash will play the female lead in the film.

Good news for folks who liked MF Hussain’s ‘Meenaxi’. The ace painter turned director announced that his next film will be a comedy. Urmila Matondkar and Sonali Kulkarni have already been signed. The film, which is supposed to be about the painter himself,  is being scripted by his son Owias.

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