Amitabh in Deewar... again!

Vickey Lalwani

Amitabh in Deewar... again!

Aankhen producer Gaurang Doshi is set to launch Deewar -- Let's Bring Our Heroes Home. The film will star Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and Bipasha Basu.

His earlier venture Aankhen, directed by Vipul Shah, starred Amitabh, Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal. The latter two actors had claimed that many of their scenes were edited, with Akshay claiming, 'the best stunt of my life where I fought sharks bare-handed did not see light.' Bipasha also complained she had been reduced to a song in the film.

"I know expectations are high after Aankhen," Doshi says. "I will not let the audience down. The film will be made on a huge canvas. I have a winner on my hands."

Benegal unperturbed

The Forward Bloc is demanding deletions from Shyam Benegal's Netaji -- The Last Hero. They want scenes like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's marriage to an Austrian and his aircrash to be removed from the script as these are 'controversial.'

The party, which Netaji founded, may ban screening the film in Kolkata. Unperturbed, Benegal says, "I don't think the Forward Bloc is aware of my script. I am not interested in Netaji's personal life. I want to portray him as a nation's icon."

Netaji features Sachin Khedekar in the title role.

Sameera's new lease of life

Sameera Reddy is excited about being part of Ram Gopal Varma's forthcoming Darna Mana Hai. "I am doing an item number which will be a bigger rage than all the other item numbers till date," she claims. "I also have a role in the film. It is the most intriguing story of the six [Varma films]."

Darna Mana Hai also stars Nana Patekar, Vivek Oberoi and Antara Mali and is slated for a May release.

E Niwas does not lose heart

E Niwas is trying to get over the disappointment of Dum. Working briskly at Mona Kapoor's Future Studios in Mumbai, the director says, "I want to forget Dum as a bad dream. I still cannot figure out where I went wrong. But the show must go on. I am harnessing all my energies on Tum. I am keen to bounce back."

Tum stars Jackie Shroff, Saif Ali Khan, Aftab Shivdasani and Saakshi Shivanand. The story revolves round a businessman (Khan) who turns over a new leaf after committing mistakes.

How Gul made her Bollywood debut

Former Miss India and television actress (Kisme Kitna Hai Dum, Kashmeer) Gul Panag who makes her Bollywood debut with National Award-winner Ashwini Chaudhary's Dhoop says, "The director signed me without taking a screen test. When I met him he said he had found the girl he was looking for. It is a challenging role with many shades. My fianceé is an army captain who is killed in the Kargil war. How his parents and I fight bureaucratic corruption forms the basic storyline."

Mita delirious about Oops!

Mita Vashisht was always known for her daring roles. Her latest is in Deepak Tijori's Oops! "I have done intimate bedroom scenes with a gigolo without using a body double!" she exclaims.

Oops! also features male striptease dances, kissing scenes and a gigolo act. Mink, Kiran Janjani, Vikas Sethi and Adyasha star in the film.