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Amitabh, Shah Rukh, Hrithik in Karan Johar's next?

Several Bollywood hotshots are getting ready for their next ventures. In a way, these young directors, who have given us blockbusters in the past, could shape Hindi cinema in the next decade. So, even as they remain tight-lipped about their forthcoming films, the industry is already abuzz with stories of who they have signed on, where the shootings will take place, what the budgets will be like and so on.

Heading the list is Karan Johar. The 27-year-old director of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is finally ready to make another film. It is said he has approached Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan for his film.

Shah Rukh is definitely in. After all, the duo have had a mega-success in Kuch Kuch... In fact, their dosti goes back to Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge in which Karan assisted Aditya Chopra and even played Shah Rukh's on-screen friend.

Karan is close to the Chopras -- which probably explains why his casting is similar to Adi's Mohabbatein. Karan says he is still working on the script. "I have not approached anybody yet. It is too early to say anything about the casting," he repeated.

Hrithik, on the other hand, confirmed he was approached for the film. "But there is no confirmation on whether they want to sign me or not. It's up to the director to decide whether he wants me," he clarified.

Hrithik, who makes his debut in his father Rakesh Roshan's film Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, is happy he is being considered along with the Big B and Shah Rukh. "It would be nice working with them, but since they haven't told me anything, I can't say much. The talks are on though."

At the moment, Hrithik is working on Vinod Chopra's Mission Kashmir and Filmfare editor Khalid Mohammed's Fiza.

Bhansali's Devdas

Though the director of Khamoshi and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam claims he is not ready with a script, industry sources say Sanjay Leela Bhansali is re-making Devdas. SLB wants Madhuri Dixit as his Paro. He is also considering casting Shah Rukh in the title role and Aishwarya Rai as Chandramukhi.

Does this indicate that Salman Khan is no longer a favourite with Bhansali? If things work out, this will be the first film Madhuri signs after marriage. The dhak dhak girl has made it clear that from now on, she will choose films very carefully. She will be based in the US, but continue to fly down to India on work.

Rajiv Rai in Bombay

After more than two years, Rajiv Rai is ready to make another film. He has been working on Pyar, Ishq Aur Mohabbat for the last eight years.

Rai left Bombay a couple of years back on receiving threats from the underworld. He is back because his father, movie mogul Gulshan Rai, has taken ill and been hospitalised.

However, the director is also utilising this visit to finalise the actors for his film. He seems to have zeroed in on Naseeruddin Shah, Sunil Shetty, Bobby Deol and Arjun Rampal. The heroines though, are yet to be finalised.

Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan too, were considered. "I met Akshay a couple of times abroad and did consider him for another project that I was working on then. But that has been shelved now and he is not in this film either. Hrithik is very young and there is no role suited for him in this film. I will definitely work with these two actors later when I get the chance," he told rediff.com

All eyes on Ghai

And finally... showman Subhash Ghai. He has so far maintained a silence, keeping the entire industry guessing about his next film. One hears Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor could play the lead roles.

--Sharmila Taliculam