By Jilawatan

While Vidya plays Abhishek’s wife in Dum Maro Dum, Ash, the original choice for the role, chooses to be his wife strictly off-screen

For all those who are still wondering whether Vidya Balan is a part of Rohan Sippy’s Dum Maro Dum, the news is that the Paa actress in indeed a part of the forthcoming film. In fact, UTV CEO Siddharth Roy Kapoor’s girlfriend, Balan will be seen essaying the role of Abhishek Bachchan’s wife.

However, what is interesting is that, according to industry insiders, initially, Jr Bachchan’s real life wife Aishwarya Rai was approached for the same role.

A source close to the film told us, “Vidya has a very significant cameo in the film, but she was definitely not the first choice to play Abhishek’s wife. Rohan and producer Fox Star Studios wanted Aishwarya but somehow things didn’t work out.”

The question that still remains unanswered, however is why or rather how did Vidya come to replace Ash when both the director and the producer wanted otherwise? A leading English daily, on April 2, 2011 had reported how Ash was offered the role of Sarah Jane Dias in Game initially. Evidently, for reasons unknown, Mrs Jr Bachchan had been unable to take up that offer.

When we asked director Rohan Sippy the reason behind Vidya doing the film despite Ash being the first choice, he replied with a message, saying, “Vidya was gracious enough to do my film.”

However, going with Vidya is not a bad decision, judging from the on-screen chemistry the actress shared with Abhishek in Paa. On the other hand, the real life couple, Abhi-Ash has had no hit as a romantic couple so far.

Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, Kuch Naa Kaho, Umrao Jaan and the more recent Raavan, where the two actors had played a romantic couple have all been box office dampeners.

When contacted, both the ladies, Aishwarya and Vidya chose not to answer.

By Jilawaqtan

It promises to be a perfectly-designed film. As ace fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee wraps up the script of his directorial debut venture, he only has two actors in mind for the film — Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji. “I have completed my script with all the finishing touches. And I am very satisfied with the outcome,” says Mukerji. “The only problem is that I have been too busy with my other fashion-related assignments to take up the film,” he adds.
But the designer insists he isn’t worried about the casting. “Whenever I decide to start filming, I will approach Vidya and Rani for the parts. And fortunately, I share very special equations with both of them. And I know I can always bank on their support. We understand each others’ sensibilities very well.”

Money matters
Mukerji, who will be participating in Mumbai as well as Delhi fashion weeks, informs that “certain producers are also ready” to back the movie.

“However, my first set of priorities includes fashion stuff like stores, shows and designing. After all, I can’t deviate from things, which are my primary source of bread and butter,” he adds.

For the uninitiated, apart from designing for his fashion label Sabyasachi, the Kolkata-based designer is also famous for costume design in films.

He has created costumes for movies like Black (2005), Baabul (2006) , Laaga Chunari Mein Daag (2007), Paa (2009), Raavan (2010) and Guzaarish (2010). “My hands are full right now,” says Mukherjee with a laugh. And I don’t want to mess things up in a hurry. So it’s better I take things up only when I can easily concentrate.”

Claiming that he’s neck-deep in work as he designs several pieces for his multiple fashion shows this season, including the finale at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in Delhi, he adds, “You can understand what my state of mind will be right now. I am running around trying to come up with impressive and different collections for both the fashion weeks.”

By Jilawatan

Santosh Sivan has started the shoot of his trilingual Urumi in the forest areas surrounding Malshej Ghat. The film has Prithviraj, Prabhu Deva and Genelia in the lead, with Deepak Dev providing music. Santosh has pulled off a coup by getting Tabu and Vidya Balan to do separate item songs.

He recently shot a rain song with Tabu, Prabhu Deva and Prithviraj. We hear that it was actually pouring cats and dogs on location in the forests of Malshej Ghat when he shot the song! Interestingly, a few months ago, Santosh shot in artificial rain for a song in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan.
Now, in pouring rain, he shot the song choreographed by Bollywood’s famous dance master Ahmed Khan. Prithviraj, who is also one of the producers of the film tweeted: “Santhosh is making Malshej look like another world as nature and the rains made it look terrific. We finished the song picturisation earlier than we thought, thanks to Ahmed Khan and others.”

Later, speaking to TOI from the location, Santosh said, “We are filming in a never-seen-before remote area near Malshej Ghat. It is quite hectic; the Tabu song is complete and choreographed by Ahmed Khan in a different way. The Vidya Balan song sequence is still in progress and we are also filming with Alex, who acted in Madraspattinam.” Meanwhile, the buzz is that Genelia — who plays a Portuguese princess — is learning horse riding and will be joining the unit later.

By Jilawatan

After foraying into Bollywood with ace Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’, followed by Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Rakta Charitra’, the national award winning actress Priyamani is signing more projects in Hindi.
Rumour-mongers insisted that she will be the heroine opposite Salman Khan in the sequel of his 2009 super hit ‘Wanted’ (tentatively titled ‘Wanted 2′), directed by Prabhu Deva. However, the dusky beauty has already denied these reports.
“I wish someone had approached me for the role in ‘Wanted 2′; sadly no one has as yet! But if I get an offer, I will grab it instantly! Who will want to miss out on the chance to act with Sallu bhai?” Priyamani was quoted as saying.

By Jilawatan

Sources in Bollywood say that Priyamani’s cousin and actress Vidya Balan feels that Priyamani should’ve opted for a full-fledged role for her Bollywood entry rather than a cameo. The actress was reportedly upset that her cousin chose a role that was not even akin to a second heroine. However, with Priyamani being appreciated by the media for her role in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, Vidya should be satisfied that her sister made the right decision.
It is worth mentioning here that Vidya had starred in Mani Ratann’s Guru a couple of years ago, the film in which Aishwarya Rai played the female lead.

By Jilawatan

Another southern sexy siren Priya Mani is buzzing hot these days in Bollywood circuit. This name would not sound familiar but the girl is very much from the industry.

The girl is cousin of Vidya Balan and was recently seen in a small role in Abhi-Ash starrer Raavan. Priya started at the age of 18 and have done several films down south in Tamil, Telugu, Malyalam and Kannada. She will also be soon seen in Tamil version of RGV’s Rakhta Charitra opposite superstar Suriya. The two of them have Mani Ratnam in common as in past Vidya have also played a part in Abhi-Ash starrer Guru that too in a small role.
Whenever Priya is in town she makes it a point to meet Vidya’s parents but does not expect them to help her in her career.

By Jilawatan

After being seen together in the film Paa, as mother and son Big B and Vidya Balan have got busy with their respective work. Big B was already but post-Paa even Vidya have become the most sought actress in town.
When Big B is on board for Abbas-Mustan next film along side Neil Nitin Mukesh, Vidya too has signed Sujoy Ghosh’s next and also is being considered by Shyam Benegal for the upcoming project of his.
Here, although Abhi-Ash have failed to lure the audiences in the film Raavan, still Raj Kumar Santoshi has roped in the duo for the next flick.

By Jilawatan

Actually, the twist is the charming ‘Paa’ actress is not all part of this Ram Gopal Varma’s trilingual flick. In fact her cousin is….

Priyamani, a south Indian actress and cousin of Vidya Balan, is reported to feature in RGV’s ‘Rakta Charitra’. The film, a biopic of political leader Paritala Ravi, features Vivek Oberoi and south Indian star Surya. Priyamani said to act opposite Suriya here.

According to sources, Varma was mighty impressed with the actress after seeing some of the South films which she has done.

Incidentally, sources revealed that RGV had seen Priyamani’s Tamil film ‘Paruthaveeran’, for which she had won a National Award. And with this he made up his mind to cast her in the film.

Produced and directed by Ram Gopal Varma, ‘Rakta Charitra’ is being made in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.

As a matter of fact, Priyamani also features in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavan’.

By Jilawatan

Not many know that Vidya Balan has a National Award winning cousin. Priyamani, who will be seen in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, is Vidya’s second cousin. The south actress is a psychology student who won a National Award for Tamil film Paruthi Veeran. She has acted in several Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films.

A source reveals, “Priyamani is a hugely popular down south. She will be seen in both the Tamil and Hindi versions of Raavan.

In fact, her character is quite strong and very important in the climax of the movie. She didn’t even know that Mani had chosen her for Raavan until the costume designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee sent one of his assistants to take measurements for the movie. This will be her Bollywood debut after doing several south films.”

The source confirms that Priyamani has already finished her portions for the shoot and is currently shooting for her next south film. Even though she’s related to Vidya, the two don’t connect on a regular basis.