Ranbir Kapoor-Nargis Fakhri are Enjoyed Rockstar Shoot

Imran, Ranbir to feature in KJo's next High school Musical style film

Karan Johar, presently busy shooting for My Name is Khan, has already locked on his next film as director. Sources reveal that Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan have agreed to be a part of Karan's project.

A source reveals, "Karan is fond of both Ranbir and Imran. In fact, he loved their act at an awards function this year. He realised that the two have great personal chemistry that could translate well on the big screen."

It is learnt that the film will be in the vein of Hollywood hit High School Musical. Both Imran and Ranbir play their age and it will be a yuppie romantic drama. "After Khan, Karan wants to direct something light. This will be the perfect opportunity."

Adds the source, "Also, Ranbir and Imran have been offered numerous projects opposite each other ('Zoya's double dhamaka'; HiTLIST, May 29) but both have turned most films down. However, when they heard the subject for Karan's musical, they immediately loved it."

Even though details are not available, the source adds that Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor are the two actresses being considered to play the roles opposite Ranbir and Imran.

Ranbir Kapoor declined to perform live at the 10th IIFA awards in Macau

Ranbir Kapoor seems hellbent on not making the mistakes his father did (signing on any and every film at the peak of stardom). Lucrative roles including Kabir Khan's New York and Jehangir Surti's Aa Dekhe Zara have been declined instantly by this fastidious actor.

Now Ranbir has said no to an obscene amount of money (reportedly close to Rs 2 crore) offered to him to perform live at the 10th IIFA awards in Macau arguing that he wasn't prepared to face a live audience yet.
Let me have enough songs first

According to a close friend, "Ranbir has decided he will go on stage only when he has a proper and solid body of songs to perform to. After his debut in Saawariya, Ranbir was flooded with offers to perform live. He excused himself saying he wasn't ready.

This year again Ranbir has declined all invitations to perform at award events including IIFA saying he isn't ready to go on stage yet."

IIFA director Sabbas Joseph says, "I respect that. If Ranbir feels he is not ready for the stage, that says a lot about him. Hopefully he'll make his stage debut with us next year."

Insider gossip from Karan Johar's party

Karan Johar’s 37th birthday party at Hotel Four Seasons in Mumbai on May 25 is being called the bash of the year.

More A-listers were spotted here than one could keep tabs of, but some details have made there way out of the venue. Obviously, an insider has been doing the talking...

Guest list
Shah Rukh-Gauri, Abhishek-Aishwarya, Hrithik-Sussanne, Saif-Kareena, Karisma, Ranbir-Deepika, Imran-Avantika, Arjun Rampal-Mehr, Shahid Kapur, Rani, Farhan Akhtar, Tusshar, Sonam Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia and many more.

Notably missing
Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham and Karan’s good friend Kajol. Some were away from Mumbai, while others were down with flu.

Dress code
Karan asked men to be in formal suits. Most guests obliged, though a few like Hrithik went casual. Most women were in tiny dresses. Like on most occasions, birthday boy Karan wore black.

Highlights
* Karan dragged Abhishek to Shah Rukh and the two ended up chatting for sometime, with Ash looking on. So is it the end of Khan-Bachchan cold war?

* Kareena and Ash were seen chatting and dancing. Pleasant surprise considering after Abhishek and Karisma’s engagement broke, Kareena had put a ban on all things Abhi.

* Riteish and Genelia came separately; Shahid and Vidya were seen leaving together.

* Shahid and Kareena made no effort to chat, while Ash made an effort and avoided Vivek Oberoi.

* Hrithik, Abhishek, Arjun and Farhan climbed on the bar counter and danced.

* The party ended in the wee hours of May 26.

Our regret
It was unfortunate that Karan, while being a gracious host to his colleagues, extended no hospitality to the media which had turned up to cover the event. Angry with the ill treatment, most photographers banned the party and you missed seeing the photos.

Tamasha and Hungama at Karan's Birthday Bash

If the film industry were the United Nations, Karan Johar would be the Secretary-General. A self-confessed people person who loves nothing better than to bring warring factors together and to get everyone to kiss and make up, he has become, at the young age of 37, a sort of father figure to the entire acting fraternity. (Much like his father Yash Johar was, to the previous generation.)

Not surprising then that at his birthday party on Monday night (Tuesday morning actually, considering it wound up only at 4.30am), lots of drama happened. Given that one-half of the industry studiously avoids the second half because of real and perceived grievances while many sit in the lap of most, the party was not without its dramatic and memorable ones.Saif Ali Khan was dressed the most nattily in waistcoat and muffler. Hrithik Roshan came in casuals.

Among the directors who attended were Farhan Akhtar, Nikhil Advani, Rensil D'Silva and Kunal Kohli. Shah Rukh Khan was formally dressed, while youngsters Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan wore jackets.

Though Salman Khan didn't attend, his brothers did. Karisma Kapoor accompanied Saif and Kareena.

Aamir Khan sent a bouquet.Not surprisingly, the sushi was a big hit. After all, these are some of the fittest people in this country.

Aishwarya Rai married into the Bachchan-Kapoor feud that started when the Abhishek Bachchan-Karisma Kapoor engagement was called off, giving wing to many a nasty rumour fuelled by the fact that Abhishek and Kareena didn't work together again. But with Kareena wishing wistfully that Abhishek would find some room in his heart for her and Aishwarya wishing to let bygones be bygones, it was wonderful to see the two lovely ladies catch up at the party and then spend the night dancing away.

Abhishek, meanwhile, was whisked away to the corner by Karan, where Shah Rukh was seated, thus also ending the Bachchan-SRK cold war.

While all the bonhomie (above) was happening, Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapur were reconnecting. Though they came separately, they left together.

Some people went to great lengths(literally) to avoid former friends. When Vivek Oberoi arrived, Aishwarya moved to another corner.

On the other hand, when Shahid arrived, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena were cool.

Ranbir Kapoor travelled to Karjat to meet his girlfriend Deepika Padukone

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. But Ranbir Kapoor doesn't seem to believe in the adage. The actor couldn't wait to see his girlfriend Deepika Padukone and travelled all the way to Karjat to meet her.

Deepika, who is shooting for Karthik Calling Karthik with Farhan Akhtar in Karjat, was in for a pleasant surprise. Without letting her know, Ranbir decided to land up on the set and surprise her. A source reveals, "Ranbir was shooting for Rocket Singh within city limits.

Since Deepika has been holed up in Karjat, the two didn't get enough time to spend with each other. Hence, Ranbir decided to visit Deepika. That way, the two would get to spend some quality time during their journey back to the city."

The source adds, "Deepika was on cloud nine when she saw Ranbir. She's always on the phone with him in between shots. Contrary to rumours, everything is great between the two and they are madly in love with each other. However since Deepika is busy with her film and ad endorsements, the last few weeks the two lovebirds hadn't met each other for long."

Ranbir Kapoor shoots for Rocket Singh in Thane

When Yash Raj Films and Ranbir Kapoor got together for the first time for Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), they shot for it all over the globe. But for the actor's second film for the banner, he has been shooting in a housing society in Thane (West), on the outskirts of Mumbai.

A source who lives in the complex reveals, "The building is called Vrindavan Society and it is one of the biggest complexes in this part of town.

The entire building's activities came to a standstill when the movie unit came in early and started to set up their cameras and other stuff for the film. The residents of the building complex were however pleasantly surprised that Ranbir Kapoor was shooting in their compound in a Sardar avatar."

Apparently the unit of the film is going to shoot for the rest of the week at the same location. Chak De! India director Shimit Amin is directing Rocket Singh and the film marks the film debut of Shazahn Padamsee.

Ranbir's the new turbanotor!

Ranbir Kapoor’s become a turban-ator!

The chocolate hero has kept aside his boyish charm and decided to sport the turban and a rugged beard in Shimit Amin’s Rocket Singh — Salesman of the year. And one lady who is on top of the world with his new look is mom Neetu Singh. “I, being a Sardarni, my dream of seeing Ranbir as a sardar has been fulfilled!

His look in Rocket Singh makes me wonder how he’d have looked in real life if I were married to a sardar,” said Neetu laughing, “He looks so handsome in his Sikh avatar,” gushed mommy dearest, who’s sure that her son as Rocket Singh will ‘rock it’!

Ranbir to woo Madhuri

Bollywood's dancing diva Madhuri Dixit will once again be seen on the silver screen. After having won accolades for her performance in her comeback film Aaja Nachle, the actress has reportedly given her nod to director Prakash Jha's next movie.

Madhuri had done a power-packed role in Prakash Jha's Mrityudand earlier and if all goes well then this could be their second outing together.

Currently Prakash Jha is busy wrapping up Ranbir Kapoor-Katrina Kaif starrer Rajniti, based on the Indian politics.

Reports suggest that Jha had sent the script to Madhuri , who is in US and Madhuri has really liked the script. According to sources, the film will not be a conventional love story, instead it is about a young man (to be played by Ranbir) besotted by an older woman (Madhuri).

Ranbir's character in Rajneeti defines democracy in today's world

Actor Ranbir Kapoor is set to play a US-based NRI who has to suddenly return home to take over his family business, in this case politics, in upcoming film "Rajneeti". Director Prakash Jha says the young actor's character "defines democracy in today's world".

"Ranbir is so excited about his look, dialogues. He needs to play a character who defines democracy in today's world. I wouldn't describe it as a multi-starrer. It's a multi-actor film," Jha said.

Ranbir's role sounds familiar to that of Abhishek Bachchan in Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar".

Ranbir also has Katrina Kaif as his co-star, just like Abhishek Bachchan did. In "Sarkar", Katrina's voice had to be dubbed although she played an NRI, but in "Rajneeti", Katrina would be seen giving long speeches in her own voice and that too in Hindi.

Her two-minute speech in front of a 10,000-strong audience at a rally in Bhopal for "Rajneeti" has whetted Ranbir Kapoor's appetite for getting right the speeches that he needs to deliver for Prakash Jha's film when he starts shooting in August.

Ranbir doesn't need to learn Hindi, like Katrina did. He just needs to cultivate an accent to sound like an America-returned Delhi boy who suddenly needs to go from monosyllabic rashtra bhasha to full speeches.

"Katrina Kaif is such a revelation. She was so nervous giving a speech in front of 10,000 people. After she gave her speech I hugged her on stage and shouted out to the junta, 'Bhopal ka ticket de de kya?'," Jha said.

Ranbir plays a Harvard-educated US-based NRI who has to return home to look after his mother's political empire. Ranbir won't play the reluctant politician in the usual khadi kurta-pyjama dress code. "Ranbir will be very trendily dressed. He plays a young man of today," Jha said.

Ranbir, who joins the cast later, has been regularly calling and talking to the entire cast in Bhopal.

"He even offered to leave whatever he was doing and join us in Bhopal although his shooting starts next month. I remember one day Ajay, Nana, Arjun and Manoj were working together and missing Ranbir. So in the evening we got together in my hotel room and called him. Ranbir spoke to each of us individually. He wanted to leave everything in Mumbai and join us in Bhopal."

Prakash starts workshops with Ranbir after the Lok Sabha elections.

Ranbir Kapoor plays an NRI in Rajneeti

Ranbir Kapoor plays an NRI forced to return home to take over the family business (in this case, politics). Sounds familiar? Abhishek Bachchan played a similar role in Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar.

And both characters are inspired by Al Pacino's Don Corleone in Francis Coppola's The Godfather. Ranbir of course plays a mixture of Rajiv Gandhi and Don Corleone in Rajneeti.

And as coincidence would have it, both Abhishek and Ranbir had Katrina as their co-star, but with a difference. In Sarkar, Katrina's anglicized voice had to be dubbed although she played an NRI and could've easily used her accented voice for the character. In Rajneeti, Katrina gives long speeches in shudh Hindi all in her own voice.

Katrina Kaif's two-minute speech in front of a 10,000-strong attentive crowd at a public rally in Bhopal for Rajneeti, has whetted Ranbir Kapoor's appetite for getting right the speeches that he needs to deliver for Prakash Jha's film when he starts shooting in August.

There's just one hitch. Ranbir doesn't need to learn shuddh hindi, like Katrina did. He already knows that. He needs to cultivate an accent to sound like an America-returned Delhi boy who suddenly needs to go from monosyllabic rashtra bhasha to full-speeches.

Prakash Jha has planned intense reading and speech therapy sessions for Ranbir for him to get the accented Hindustani right.

To play a Harvard educated US-based NRI who must suddenly return home to look after his mother's political empire, Ranbir Kapoor in a role that Al Pacino would have liked to play, is not just all set to start shooting, he's raring to go.

Ranbir won't play the reluctant politician in the usual khadi kurta-pajama dress code. "Ranbir will be very trendily dressed. He plays a young man of today," informs the director.

Apparently, the character is a mix of Rajiv Gandhi and Michael Corloene from Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather.

Ranbir who joins the cast in August has been regularly calling and talking to the entire cast in Bhopal.

Says Prakash affectionately, "He even offered to leave whatever he was doing and join us in Bhopal although his shooting starts next month. I remember one day Ajay, Nana, Arjun, Manoj were working together and missing Ranbir. So in the evening we got together in my hotel room and called him. Ranbir spoke to each of us individually. He wanted to leave everything in Mumbai and join us Bhopal."

Prakash starts workshops with Ranbir after the Lok Sabha elections. Says Prakash, "Ranbir is so excited about his look, and dialogues. He needs to play a character who defines democracy in today's world. I wouldn't describe it as a multi-starrer. It's a multi-actor film. Katrina Kaif is such a revelation. She was so nervous giving a speech in front of 10,000 people. After she gave her speech I hugged her on stage and shouted out to the junta, 'Bhopal ka ticket de de kya?' As for Naseer, if I hadn't worked with him I wouldn't have been a complete filmmaker."

Ranbir’s no Casanova

Ranbir Kapoor didn’t know that his Casanova image will be so popular that he will get typecast in all his films. Ever since he portrayed a Casanova in Bachna Ae Haseeno he is being offered similar kind of roles.

After romancing three hotties in Bachna Ae Haseeno , he will be seen romancing Katrina Kaif in Rajkumar Santoshi’s romantic flick Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani . Not just films but the actor is now being offered commercials which showcase him in the same playboy image.

But just when Ranbir was tired playing the same role again and again, here comes a respite in the form of Prakash Jha’s Rajneeti. The movie will put the youngest Kapoor’s acting caliber to test. It is believed that Ranbir has an interesting character in the film which is about politics. He will start shooting for Rajneeti in September once Prakash Jha’s done with the elections.

Ranbir-Deepika, only good for films

The speculation about the state Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone’s relationship continues.

Days after Ranbir Kaboor reportedly criticised Deepika’s dress sense in public and mother Neetu Singh passed her off as just a friend, it’s now the hero’s sister, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, who refuses to acknowledge the couple.

“Ranbir and Deepika are young, talented people and are quite poised and charming,” says Riddhima. When questioned about whether she accepts the two as more than friends, Riddhima says, “They make a good on-screen pair and their chemistry is fine.” But what about their off-screen romance? “I’ve never seen them together in that sense, so I don’t go by the media reports. Moreover, I stay in Delhi and don’t want to comment on this.”

Ranbir to co-star with Priyanka

If the grapevine is to be believed, we will be seeing Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor sharing screen space. The duo is set to star in Siddharth Anand’s next big flick.

After films like Salaam Namaste and Tara Rum Pum with best buddy Saif Ali Khan, the director got interested in childhood pal, Ranbir Kapoor and decided to star him instead.

The movie will be a rom-com just like his previous projects.