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Kajol says yes to Karan

Karan Johar is doing everything to ensure that his next film is also a hit. And he is beginning by packaging it right. As we told you last week, he has already wooed Jaya Bachchan into acting as her husband's reel-wife as well.

But then, following a series of intense discussions, an interesting development took place. It was decided that Sridevi would definitely add a lot more glamour to the project. Insiders now swear that Karan, under the watchful eyes of Boney Kapoor, is wooing Sridevi. And if she agrees, Mrs Bachchan will make the supreme sacrifice for her husband's benefit.

In the meanwhile, Kajol has agreed to play the female lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

Mela uncensored

Now that Mela is released, it can be told.

Did you, for instance, know that Aditya Panscholi was director Dharmesh Darshan's original choice for the role of the villainous Gujjar? In fact, he had also shot for the film. Aditya's problems began with the fact that Dharmesh wanted him to bare his torso in scene after scene. And when the Raja Hindustani director actually asked him to strip down to his underwear, Aditya threw a fit. And found himself out of the film. The character is now hammed by fight director Tinnu Verma.

Which is not all. Did you also know there is a passionate kissing scene in the film which has been totally snipped off by the censors? Is Twinkle Khanna cursing herself for having agreed and even rehearsed for the shot???

Fire and ice

Aishwarya Rai seems to have thrown caution to the winds and decided to openly flaunt her relationship with loverboy Salman Khan. As we reported earlier, she made the most of her holiday in Goa which she spent with Salman.

The display of their affection is not restricted to shores of the city. Quite the contrary, in fact. Today, Ash makes no bones about the fact she is in love with Salman and even drives down to the studio to meet him.

She created quite a flutter when the production staff on Sajid Nadiadwala's new film starring Salman, Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta found Ash in the studio. They presumed she had sleepwalked, but bit their tongues later when they found her comfortably ensconsed in Salman's make-up room.

Ajay's anti-nature drive

Ajay Devgan may cry hoarse about red tape, about how the authorities in Tamil Nadu have been harassing him with paper work and how the shooting schedule of his home production, Raju Chacha, has been going haywire in the bargain. But, then, will he also admit that the fault lies with him and his crew? Apparently, they cut down quite a few trees to facilitate their set, which is where their problems began.

What say, Ajay? Didn't you profess to be a lover of nature?

Tabu, Tabu!!

Tabu is rather under the weather these days! To begin with, she is lagging far behind in the race, as colleagues like Raveena Tandon and Sonali Bendre overshadow her and move ahead by leaps and bounds. On the other hand, the art films that she was banking on heavily have not done too well, which means there is not much applause or appreciation from that end either. And, to top it all, steady boyfriend Sajid Nadiadwala has moved onto newer pastures too. So she does not even have his shoulder to cry on. But old flame Aditya Panscholi is more than willing to make up for that.

Will Dimple-Rishi patch up?

The Dimple Kapadia-Rishi Kapoor war might become a thing of the past. Rishi has been katti with Dimple for a long time now because she tried to create a misunderstanding between him and Sunny Deol.

Now, common friend Rahul Rawail, who is directing a new film starring Kajol and Rishi, is convincing her to act opposite him. And if Dimple says yes, the Bobby pair will play parents to Kajol.

And the story? An estranged couple whom their twin children (played by Kajol) bring together.

Chintu's endless woes

While on Rishi, must say the guy spent a depressing New Year all by himself. Things are once again not very hunky-dory between him and his wife, Neetu Singh. In a fit of rage, she is said to have flown to London to be with daughter Riddhima (who currently has priority status on her mother's list). Rishi, in the meanwhile, stuck to his bottle.

Another Juhi waits her turn

For all his talk about being liberated and modern, Raj Babbar, the Agra MP, is quite an MCP. His attitude was bared when, one morning, he realised his daughter, Juhi, was keen on pursuing a career in the movies.

Raj tired his best to convince her against such a step, but met with little success. And that was because Juhi had already taken permission from her mother, theatre actress Nadira Zaheer. After all, when the home minister approves, what can a mere MP do?

-- The Insider