Shah Rukh releases Nayak soundtrack

Shah Rukh Khan rushed in directly form a shoot to launch the music of the film, Nayak - The Real Hero on Wednesday evening.

The movie, a remake of the Tamil superhit Mudhalvan, stars Shah Rukh's close buddies National Award winner Anil Kapoor and Rani Muhkerji.

Present at the gathering besides the leading man were co-star Amrish Puri, music director par excellence A R Rahman, lyricist Anand Bakshi, director Shankar, producer A M Rathnam, cinematographer Anand , comedian Jonny Lever and Saurabh Shukla, who also feature in the film alongside Sushmita Sen and Paresh Rawal. Rani was with her mother vacationing in Switzerland.

Surprisingly only one of the singers, Abhijeet put in an appearance.

Boney Kapoor, Satish Kaushik, Kishen and Bhushan Kumar, Vashu Bhagnani, Himanshu Malik and music man and birthday-boy Adnan Sami mingled with the crowd too.

Log on to rediff.com for the lowdown at the party. We'll keep you posted.

Yukta, Sophiya, Malaika to sizzle with 'Item numbers'

Item numbers are the current craze in Hindi cinema. Sushmita will sizzle in the Shakalaka baby sequence in Nayak after Mehboob mere in Fiza.

Not far behind come, Sophiya Haque and Malaika Arora (the Chayyian Chayyian girl) who will come aboard Sunny Deol's next film Indian co-starring sultry Shilpa Shetty.

Ex-Ms World Yukta Mookhey, who is all set to make her debut on the silver screen, has also joined in the fray. She's agreed to do an item number for South film Poovellam Un Vasam directed by Ezhil. The song is dedicated to Yukta and the words describe her perfect feminine grace and beauty.

Singing praises of Bachchan Jr

Abhishek might not be Mr Popular with the fourth estate, but his co-stars seem extremely fond of him.

Sushmita can't stop singing his praises and Smita Jaykar who plays his mother in Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, has joined in the chorus too.

"He is so much like Amitji. Always cracking jokes. Always having a good time and putting everyone at ease immediately! No starry tantrums at all! But when it comes to work, he is just extremely serious and very concentrated."

Hope Jayaji is listening!

$ 500 million theme park in India, courtesy Universal Studios

Universal Studios is planning to set up a theme park in India at an estimated cost of $ 500 million. It is scouting for an Indian partner for the venture.

The subject apparently was brought up during recent talks held in Los Angeles with the Indian delegation led by information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj.

International Finance Corporation, a World Bank subsidiary, wishes to invest upto $ 100 million in the Indian infotainment industry.

The Indian delegation, which included Broadcast Worldwide chairman R Basu, film-makers Yash Chopra, Subhash Ghai and Yash Johar and Sony Entertainment TV India chief executive Kunal Dasgupta, amongst others were on a 10-day tour of Japan and the US last month. They also held talks with officials of the University of California, Los Angeles, as it is interested in setting up a film and TV training institute in India.

From Pepsi to Parker -- AB's brand endorsement tales

Amitabh Bachchan has been chosen as brand ambassador for Parker, the top brand in writing instruments.

This comes after his just being signed on for an enormous amount, for Hyundai. After BPL, Pepsi, and the car manufacturer, this endorsement is only spelling out the big B's success.

Compiled by Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh