Randeep Hooda in Pooja Bhatt's Cabaret

It's going to be Cabaret first, Jism 3 later. Though Pooja Bhatt has found her hero for her next filmCabaret-it's Randeep Hooda-she is yet find the girl who plays the central part of a cabaret dancer. And it's not going to be easy.

Pooja knows it. "Helenji with her ingrained dancers' dexterity would be my ideal cabaret girl. I am looking for someone who could match her grace. Can we turn back the clock so that Helenji can do my film? The leading lady in Cabaretis an exotic cabaret dancer. Mind you, she isn't an 'item girl'. I find that terminology rather offensive." 

After Pooja finds the girl who can play the dancer inCabaret, the chosen one would have to undergo intense training in cabaret dancing. 

Says Pooja, "There are enormously elaborate dance numbers in Cabaret. The girl would have to train intensely. She has to be a natural dancer. You are either a born dancer or you are not. Training can only polish your dancing skills. That's why I say Helenji is my ideal for the role." 

While uncertainty surrounds the selection of the leading lady, Pooja can seek some consolation in the fact that she has finalized the leading man in Cabaret. It's her Jism 2 lead Randeep Hooda. 

Interestingly, while Pooja's father Mahesh Bhatt wants Emraan Hashmi in all his production, Pooja now declares she wants Randeep as her constant leading man. "Yes, I believe in Randeep. I'd like him to be part of every film I make. Unlike Jism 2 where he was one of the two male leads, in Cabaret Randeep plays the solo hero this time." 

Though Pooja is unwilling to divulge any more detail at this point, one gathers Cabaret to be the story of a righteous honest cop and his passionate relationship with a cabaret dancer.

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SC clears Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh

Prakash Jha's upcoming film Chakravyuh has been embroiled in trouble thanks to the controversial track 'Mehangai'. The song which features the names of leading Indian industrialists like the Tatas, Birlas and Ambanis created turmoil within business circles. However, post Jha's explanation, the Censor Board cleared the song on the condition that the makers would run a disclaimer stating that in no way was it intended to hurt sentiments.

Unhappy with the decision of the Censor Board, the Tata Group joined Bata India and the Birlas in taking legal action against the film's producers. The Delhi High Court judge had ruled in Bata India's favour and asked the producer to delete the references to the company from the song. While a third petition, by the Birlas, was disposed off earlier on Friday.

But now in a ruling, the Supreme Court has allowed the screening of the controversial song 'Mehangai', dismissing claims that the allusions to several business houses in the song are derogatory. The bench consisting of three judges headed by Chief Justice Altmas Kabir said, "The song should be interpreted in the context of the theme of the movie and ought not to be taken as any kind of aspersion on anybody" while dismissing Bata India's plea that all references to the company's name be deleted from the song. 

The bench, however, allowed release of the film on the condition that it will feature a disclaimer that the song is not meant to show any disrespect to the people whose names are mentioned in it.

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Yash Chopra passes away

This is one of the most saddening news of this decade. The legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra is no more. Though the official statement of the reason for his death is not announced yet, Chopra had been diagnosed with dengue and was admitted to Lilavati hospital a few days back. Yashji recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

The celebrated Producer-Director, renowned worldwide for his epic blockbuster films, was one of the most successful filmmakers in the world. He started his career with Dhool Ka Phool in 1959 and went on to make multiple blockbusters like Waqt, Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie, Trishul, Kaala Patthar, Chandni, Darr, Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Veer-Zaara amongst others.

Yash Chopra recently announced his retirement in an interview with Shah Rukh Khan and declared his upcoming film Jab Tak Hai Jaan, starring SRK, Katrina and Anushka, as his last film. 

Yash Chopra's sudden death marks the end of an era in the Indian Cinema. Romance and Love will never be the same again. 

We at Bollywood Hungama offer our deepest condolences to the Chopra family and pray that Yash Chopra's soul rests in eternal peace.

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Rishi Kapoor plays Dawood in D Day

After his wonderfully skilled performance as a gay dean in Karan Johar's Student Of The Year, Rishi Kapoor is all set to play Dawood. The super-versatile Rishi Kapoor stepping into Dawood's white shoes is indeed a cinematic coup. It apparently took director Nikhil Advani who has earlier worked with Rishi Kapoor inPatiala House a good six months to convince the temperamental Kapoor.

Rishi initially said no. Arshad Warsi was being considered for Dawood's role. But Advani had his heart set on Rishi Kapoor. And he finally got him. 

After Saif Ali Khan in Agent Vinod and Salman Khan inEk Tha Tiger, it's Arjun Rampal who plays a RAW agent in D Day. Arjun is mighty kicked by the prospect of working with Rishi Kapoor.

D Day is about RAW agents, played by Arjun Rampal and Irrfan Khan who are assigned to bring Dawood back from Pakistan by road. Since permission to shoot in Pakistan is impossible Nikhil Advani would be shooting the Pakistani scenes in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

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Bollywood News Bittu Sahgal on board for Delhi Safari

Environmentalist activist and conservationist Bittu Saigal has hopped on board to support Nikhil Advani's environmentally-conscious animation film Delhi Safari. The long-delayed English-Hindi film with animals speaking in the voices of an assortment of big stars from Hollywood including Vanessa Williams, Jason Alexander and Jane Lynch, British doyen Cary Elwes and American stand-up comedian Brad Garrett to dub for the animals in the English version and Suniel Shetty, Boman Irani, Urmila Matondkar, Ayesha Takia, Akshaye Khanna and Sweeni Khare for the Hindi version, is about a bunch of animals heading to Delhi to complain to the prime minister about the destruction of their habitat.

Bittu Sahgal was shown the film and he readily agreed to lend his presence in promoting and marketing an animation film that propagates environmental issues.

Says a source close to the project, "Sahgal's clout as India's most prominent environmentalist would be used to advantage to promote Delhi Safari globally as Bollywood's first eco-friendly animation film."

Nikhil Advani confirms Bittu Sahgal's participation in promoting Delhi Safari. "Yes, he is on board. He is our chief consultant."

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