Deepika in Demand – Rajeev Masand’s Gossip Column

deepika It’s funny how practically every major new film currently going into production will star or has been offered to Deepika Padukone. Even if filmmakers have not locked in a leading man yet, negotiating as they are among a handful of options, there appears to be little doubt in their minds about their choice of leading lady.

Soon after wrapping Happy New Year with Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika will begin filming Imtiaz Ali’s Window Seat with Ranbir Kapoor. She has also signed Karan Johar’s Shuddhi, which doesn’t have a hero after Hrithik Roshan’s exit (Ranveer Singh is most likely to be roped in), but is nevertheless being rushed to the floors in order to make a December 2015 release. Deepika will also flex her acting chops with Amitabh Bachchan in Vicky Donor director Shoojit Sircar’s next, a no-frills father-daughter drama that will also star Irrfan Khan in a pivotal part. And although Aamir Khan has reportedly walked out of first- timer Nithya Anand’s time-travel movie to be produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Productions, Deepika remains attached to the project, which the makers have now offered to Hrithik Roshan. There’s a good chance Hrithik could also be the Bajirao to her Mastani in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s passion project of many years. What eludes her still is a movie with Salman Khan. If the grapevine is to be trusted, Deepika herself politely turned down Sooraj Barjatya’s offer to appear opposite the star because she wasn’t convinced of the script, making way for Sonam Kapoor to land the project instead.

Last weekend at Filmistan Studio, where she was filming Happy New Year, I met Deepika and enquired if there was a director she’d sacrifice an arm to work with. After much consideration, she replied: “At this point, I’d probably say Rajkumar Hirani.” She was also sporting enough to admit that she wishes she’d been offered Zoya Akhtar’s next (now titled Dil Dhadakne Do), which she describes as a “crazy, terrific script”. The dark comedy about a dysfunctional Punjabi family that takes a luxury cruise together will star Deepika’s boyfriend Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra as brother and sister, and Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar as their romantic interests. “I haven’t even discussed this with Zoya yet, but if I can get a few months off around that time, I’d go and work as an assistant director on that set,” Deepika reveals.

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Shahid’s Getaway

Shahid Kapoor spent his 33rd birthday earlier this week in Goa for some sun, sand and R&R, away from the snowy climes of Kashmir where he’s been shooting for weeks now with the unit of Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haidar.

The actor, who tends to take all his girlfriends, and even his casual dates, to the beach capital for quick weekend breaks—Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu and Nargis Fakhri have all been spotted with him in Goa previously— invited a small group of friends to join him there this time.

Pulling his leg about his reputation when it comes to his Goa getaways, Shahid’s Rowdy Rathore co-star Sonakshi Sinha tweeted to him: ‘Happy Birthday @shahidkapoor!! Goa mein gandi baat aur party all night okkk :p Have funnnns!!’

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A Hot and Heavy History

A prominent director of new age Indian cinema recently filmed an item song for his new movie on an oomphy has- been actress, best known for her seductive dance numbers in the 1990s. The filmmaker and the showgirl couldn’t be more different than chalk and cheese, but few will remember that they share a secret. Back in the day when she was ‘slumming it’, working in an art-house film during a rough patch in her career, she’d hooked up with the said director, who was at the time an up-and-coming angst-ridden scriptwriter working on the same project. They’d had a passionate fling, away from prying eyes, and the director has confided to close friends that “she taught me things I didn’t in my wildest imagination think possible”. When they met again recently to film the song, eyewitnesses on the set say they quickly got over any awkwardness they may have had, and in fact shared a friendly vibe. The director is reportedly thrilled with what he’s shot with her, and announced that she’s still just as smoking hot as audiences remember her.

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14 Comments
  1. Serenzy 10 years ago

    Any idea, anyone?

    • Author
      sputnik 10 years ago

      May be Anurag Kashyap and Raveena Tandon but not sure.

      • Serenzy 10 years ago

        “prominent director of new age Indian cinema”
        “up-and-coming angst-ridden scriptwriter”

        When I read the article, I also thought of Anurag Kashyap 😀

        But I guess, we will have to wait and watch if Raveena Tandon has an item song in Bombay Velvet 😉

        • Author
          sputnik 10 years ago

          I remember reading somewhere that she is doing a item song in Bombay Velvet.

  2. Serenzy 10 years ago

    Also, let me check which might be that art-house movie…

  3. Author
    sputnik 10 years ago

    Deepika Padukone Interview on Ranbir and Ranveer

    Q: Your secret of success

    A: I don’t think success or winning has a particular formula. Success comes from believing in yourself and not being someone you are expected to be. Being a sportsman has taught me to be independent. I have become a lot fearless after my films have succeeded and have given me the power to do different kinds of films. My next film is an English film, Finding Fanny Fernandes. It is set in Goa and is a different kind of film.

    Q: About sacrifices and you relaxed the rules?

    A: Some yes and some no. but discipline is important. My biggest sacrifice is that I live away from my family. No family to talk to when I get home. Diet-wise, I love eating. Thankfully, I don’t put on weight easily. I also have to be socially responsible.

    Q: Are you ruled by your heart?

    A: Completely. Every decision I make, including relationships, come straight from the heart. Sometimes people might question my choices, but it comes from the heart.

    Q: What is the place for a man in your life?

    A: For me, being in a relationship is very, very important. Women feel complete when you are in a relationship. But it has fill to you up, make you a better person. If it pulls you down, or you become someone you are not, I am not sure you with the right person. I had both.

    Q: You and Ranbir are like Rachel and Ross from Friends. Will you ever be back with him?

    A: I am not in a movie. It’s not something that has ever crossed my mind. We have both moved on. It has made both of us better persons. I made me realise I should not be so attached to one thing or a person – after the break-up the fact that I had to pick myself up. I cried a lot after my break-up. But I have become a better person and I thank him for that.

    Q: Status with Ranveer?

    A: I’m at a stage when I don’t want to rush into anything. For a young girl, I should have the option of knowing a person and to be sure about the person you land up with. I understand the scrutiny of people, wanting to know about us.

    Q: Any director you want to work with?

    A: I want work with Woody Allen

    Q: How will you react if you see your boyfriend in bed with your archrival?

    A: Oh no! I can’t go through that again.

    Link

  4. Author
    sputnik 10 years ago

    Deepika opts out of Shuddhi to play Mastaani

    Call it a co-incidence or fate, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Karan Johar both have decided to release their big films, Bajirao Mastaani and Shuddhi respectively in December 2015. Both the films have faced casting issues with leads being confirmed and opting out of the film (While Bajirao Mastaani had Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor 10 years back, Shuddhi was supposed to bring Hrithik Roshan and Kareena back together). Finally when the two films have decided to roll, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were the top contenders for both the films. While Ranveer has been finalised to play Bajirao, Deepika was in news sometime back for signing Shuddhi. However the actress chooses SLB’s next over Shuddhi. If Bajirao Mastaani’s cast is finalised then this will bring the Ram-leela trio (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone) back together.

    Link

    • Anjanpur685Miles 10 years ago

      So Bajirao-Mastani is upcoming sleaze-fest.

      • AAPtard 10 years ago

        i hope this time deepika , ranveer ka trigger daba de, sirf baat na kare dabane ki 😀

    • Bored 10 years ago

      LOL.
      Was wondering what that chick-flick pair of Ranveer-Deepika was doing in a rugged action movie like Shuddhi? Hopefully they will find a more suitable cast now!

  5. Author
    sputnik 9 years ago

    Teaser of Piku Trailer starring Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Irfan Khan and directed by Shoojit Sarcar. Nicely done. Like the dialogues by Amitabh and Irfan.

  6. Author
    sputnik 9 years ago

    From the Poster Piku looks like another Finding Fanny

    • cr7 9 years ago

      Finding fanny was such a disappointment .Hope it turns out good . i really liked Soojit Sircar’s earlier works.

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