Speculation about Amitabh Bachchan turning down the role of the game-show host in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire finally comes to an end. The Big B confirms that the offer never came to him.Strange, considering he plays a very important part in the plot as the mega-icon of the all the slumdwellers of Boyle's Big Mumbai Drama. The Big B would've been the most natural choice for the part of the game-show host especially since he has hosted the show Kaun Banega Crorepati (which forms such an integral part of Slumdog Millionaire) with such spectacular success in real life. Rumors are out  that the Big B and Shah Rukh Khan who have hosted the globally successful game show, were approached for the host's part.However the film's casting director Loveleen Tandon now confirms that the mega-stars were never approached for the character as he is much too villainous. Says Tandon. "In fact the game show host is far more negative in the original novel (by Vikas Swarup). But we changed that. Still, audiences the worldover would have been put off if they say Mr Bachchan playing this game -show host who wants the young hero Jamal to lose at any cost."

Now that the ultra-prolific and passionately-productive Shyam Benegal has decided to revive his costliest project Chamki, a desi version of Georges Bizet's 1845 opera Carmen the question is, who will play the challenging title role of a free-spirited fiery-tempered gypsy? Though Benegal is at the moment reluctant to reveal details, sources close to the project claim that the closest contenders for the role are Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra. Both have already been approached in the past for Chamki. But chose to opt out before the final yes for various reasons. Says the source, "Kareena was excited to begin with. She was supremely charged by the role and what Shyam Babu had done with her sister Karisma in Zubeida. But then she opted out, as she often does from offbeat challenges like Deepa Mehta's Water and Rituparno Ghosh's Raincoat pleading it was too early for her to attempt something so unconventional. Then came Priyanka Chopra who was quite kicked about the part. But she and the film's then-producer Sanjay Gupta had a fall-out earlier when she had said no to his Musafir. The role then went to Urmila Matondkar who had monetary issues with the producer." With the film changing hands from Sanjay Gupta to Reliance it is understood that money is no longer an issue. If sources are to be believed Chamki has now gone back to the two original choices Kareena and Priyanka.

She has always been blamed for the break ups. First she was blamed Shahid Kapur Kareena's break up and now the latest buzz is that her close friendship with Harman has strained Priyanka – Harman relationship. Reportedly Amrita keeps visiting her Victory costar on the sets of What's Your Rashi? Duo has been hanging out together after the shoot to a café. It is also believed that Harman sends flowers to Amrita, when both of them are not together. It clearly explains that Harman and Priyanka is no more a couple. Does that mean Amrita's responsible for the break up? When asked, Amrita said, "This is just rumor. Harman and I are good friends. I enjoyed working with him as he is very co-operative and talented guy. Coming to this new rumor as I said earlier we are just friend and nothing more than that. I have stopped reacting to such rumors now."

Aamir is known for his hard work and dedication towards his work. He didn't leave a stone unturned to transform himself from a chocolate boy into a macho man with eight pack abs and pumped up muscles. Now once again he is experimenting with his body for Raj Kumar Hirani's 3 Idiots. It is learnt that Aamir had to shed 7 to 8 kgs to look like a student. We were shocked to see the lean Aamir. No doubt he was looking much younger than his age.When asked what was more difficult, to put on or lose muscles. "Both were difficult. I had to stretch myself to extreme limits when I was building my body. It was a testing period for me." He informs that the decision to let go of the body that he made in the past one year was difficult one."But I am an actor and my body is my instrument. I have to change my appearance for my roles. Now I had to lose weight for 3 idiots. I am trying to become like my director Murugadoss. Actually my role in 3 idiots is modeled on my director Murugadoss." He quips.

Years ago when Prakash Jha dumped Pallavi Joshi to sign Madhuri Dixit for Mrityudand he sent Pallavi flowers and a note to inform the offbeat actress about his movement towards the mainstream. It has happened before. It will continue to happen. Avant- garde directors abandon their favorite offbeat actors once the turnstiles turn favorably for a filmmaker catapulting him to a league where saleable stars are easily available to him. It happened with Ketan Mehta who disregarded his favorite actor Naseeruddin Shah to announce Mangal Pandey with Amitabh Bachchan in the lead to finally make it with Aamir Khan. Now the latest neo-realistic actor to be hit where it hurts the most is Shreyas Talpade. After Iqbal and Dor, Shreyas and his director Nagesh Kukunoor seemed to have formed an actor-director team as productive as Naseer-Ketan. Then came the frisky fiasco Bombay To Bangkok …and suddenly Shreyas doesn't figure in any of Nagesh's new projects. The ready-for-release Aashayein features John Abraham and Tasveer stars Akshay Kumar. Surprisingly the start-to-finish quickie that Nagesh is currently shooting in Jodhpur also doesn't feature Shreyas. Shreyas tries to reason out his disappointment. "I'm told there's no role suited to me in any of these films. I trust Nagesh completely and I'm sure he'll cast me again as soon as there's a role for me in one of his films. After all we've done three films together, " Shreyas laughs.

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