Though Hrithik Roshan was the first choice for the lead in Boney Kapoor’s Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, Ajay Devgan was also being finalised to essay the negative role in the same film.

Once Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai released, Hrithik opted out. But Ajay Devgan was dropped only because Sanjay Kapoor threw a fit and insisted that he be considered for the role.

Boney, Sanjay's eldest brother, will not go on record to admit this. But to justify his decision of doing away with Ajay, he got Sanjay Kapoor to screen test for the role. And it was only after he proved his credentials and satisfied the director that Boney settled for Sanjay.

Will AB accept Kamal Haasan's offer?

The debacles of Hey! Ram and Abhay have proved to Kamal Haasan that the Hindi cinema audiences are not willing to accept him as the hero.

So, the never-say-die actor-director is now planning to rope in Amitabh Bachchan to head the cast of his new film. Knowing that the Bachchan is a great fan of Kamal's work, the plan may soon materialise.

The preliminary meeting is said to have been positive. And Kamal is readying the script, now that he has got the nod from the Big B.

Is Santoshi playing dirty?

Is Dharmendra having closed door meetings with director Rajkumar Santoshi, in a bid to resolve the Bhagat Singh controversy?
Is Dharmendra asking Santoshi to forgive Sunny and direct the film for their home production Vijeyta Films and cast Bobby Deol in the title role?

These were the stories doing the rounds this week. But investigations revealed that these stories were emanating from Santoshi’s offices and being spread by his well-wishers, only to pressurise Santoshi's producers– Tips Music Industries – to hike up his remuneration.

No better tactic than this to make the producers loosen their purse strings, eh?

Even while this controversy continues as to who will hit the finishing line, the producers of the small budget Shaheed-e-Mohabbat -- Bhuta Singh who are also making a film based on the life of Bhagat Singh have gone ahead and finalised the cast of their film and will be ready to roll at the end of January.

Loc or Lakeer -- Which has more muscle?

The Kargil war is in the news too. JP Dutta's LoC, we hear, is in for some stiff competition from noted theatre personality personality, Aamir Raza Hussain. Hussain is also making a film on the war based on his play The 50 Day War entitled Lakeer.

And the debutante director feels he has an edge over Dutta because he has a better-researched subject.

Like son, like mother

Now that her son has successfully donned the mantle of director, Farhan Akhtar’s mother, well-known writer Honey Irani is willing to give direction a shot too.

"It was not as if I was waiting for the reaction to my son’s film,” chuckles Honey, insisting that though she had been contemplating on directing a film the delay was only because she was focusing on her son’s film and did not want to be caught up in something in case he wanted her help. “But not once did he come to me for any help, not even for consultancy over his script," she says.

Maybe she'll be the one turning to Farhan for, when she yields the megaphone.

The return of Sridevi

Actress Sridevi has been inundated with offers from small screen producers and from the channels, either to host a show or play a leading role in a serial, but Sridevi has been refusing them, though the moolah is more than tempting.

Apparently the reason for her refusal is the fact that she intends to get back in shape and do a heroine oriented film. And she doesn't want to ruin her chances on the silver screen, by getting on to the small screen.

Padmini branches out

Her acting school turned out to be a fairly successful business venture. So, actress Padmini Kolhapure has decided to branch out.

And what better, than a 'modeling finishing school'. With sister Tejaswini, a model in her own right, joining in, Padmini is all set to flag off the academy.

-- The Insider