It looks like Aamir Khan's blockbuster Lagaan and Shah Rukh Khan's Asoka will be the two foreign films battling it out at for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscar Awards next year.

Lagaan which featured at the Venice and Toronto film fests has already garnered rave reviews abroad.

Asoka's unusual subject also makes it a strong contender. The Film Federation of India selected Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding but the film could not be included under the foreign film category as it was not released in India yet.

The other films that have been nominated earlier for the awards are Shankar's Jeans and Deepa Mehta's 1947: Earth.

Shabana lashes out

Shabana Azmi lashed out against religious leaders who made provocative statements leading to communal tension in the country.

She even suggested that the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid be airdropped to Kandahar.

She said that of the Shahi Imam was so keen on helping the jehad in Afghanistan then the air-dropping would help both him and the Indian government.

Azmi was participating in a prominent Muslim gathering to denounce the Imam's support to Osama Bin Laden, the prime suspect in the recent terrorist attacks in US.

Lajmi's Kyon?

Kalpana Lajmi has already begun work on her next project Kyon?

Though she initially announced Modh and later about a film with Govinda and later with Karisma on Bihar CMs Laloo Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, the fiery maker has now settled down to make a smaller film.

The story has been written by Lajmi with Patrick Biswas penning the screenplay.

Dr Bhupen Hazarika is composing the music for the film which will be produced by Excel Vision.

Twenty Four Hours makes Arjun's day

His first release Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat won Arjun many a compliment. But that hasn't gone to his head. The model-turned-actor's next film Moksha is ready for release soon.

We also hear that Arjun has already signed a new film entitled Twenty Four Hours. This film will be shot in English as well as Hindi.

Compiled By: Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh