Shahrukh Khan’s home production had been facing a casting coupof leading lady for quite sometime now. Now, suddenly everything seems to be working. After Amisha Patel and Tabu backing out from the project, Lara Dutta has recently been finalized to play the wife to the lead character, Billoo Barber (played by Irrfan Khan) in this Priyadarshan directed flick.

To add spice to the project, the most current hot gals of Bollywood, Deepika and Kareena, have been roped in not only for special appearances but also to do item songs with SRK in the film.

In fact, reports say that Kareena has already shot her item number at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios on Baisakhi. Deepika, who is presently busy shooting for ‘Bachna Ae Haseenon’, will shoot her song later.

SRK talks about the film and says, “The film is about Billo Barber, played by Irrfan Khan, and his family. It’s mainly about the changes that take place in his life when a film’s shooting happens in his village. So, I’m not the main character.”

T-Series’s ‘Kajraare’, an intense Indo-Pak love story, directed by Pooja Bhatt with Himesh Reshammiya in the lead role, had been announced a while back but the female face was still missing from the chain. Now, finally the hunt is over, as the popular Pakistani TV actress, Monalaizza, has been chosen for the role.

“Monalaizza’s character is very intense and spans a lot of emotions. We had to look for an actress who would be Pakistani and yet had the persona to essay a character who remains herself though there is a lot in store for her in that journey that is called life through KAJRAARE…”, said Divya Kumar, the creative director of the film.

Director Pooja Bhatt is very happy with the choice and says, “It was Javed Shaikh who helped us find Monalaizza. And she suits the character very well. We checked out over 70 actresses before we finalized her.”

Monalaizza, not to mention, is beaming with joy, “It is a beautiful character and the emotions that I have to essay are immense. I feel privileged to be selected by Divya Kumar and Pooja Bhatt for this character.”

The film, a love story starring Himesh as a lawyer, would be shot in Lahore, Morocco and Europe.

Konkona Sen is eagerly awaiting RituParno Ghosh’s ‘Sunglass’ to hit the screens. With this movie, bubbly Konkona is trying her hand at comedy for the first time and she did love doing it.

“Though Mixed Doubles was a comedy I didn’t have any humorous scenes. Ranveer (Shorey) had the funny scenes. I didn’t. In Sunglass I do have the comedy. And I enjoyed myself. …I wonder when Rituda will release the film! He’s gone to another film Last Lear. We haven’t even dubbed for Sunglass. Me and Jayaji have been at his head to release it,” says Konkona.

Konkona shares the mother-daughter relationship with Jaya Bachchan in the movie. She has already done so with her in ‘Laaga Chunri Mein Daag’ and the two get along very well for sure. Well, for Konkona (credits to her easy going nature), there is no problem with any of her co-stars. She gets along well with all her co-stars, be it Kangana Ranaut in ‘Metro’, Sandhya Mridul and Tara Sharma in ‘Page 3’ or Madhuri Dixit in ‘Aaja Nach Le’.

Katrina Kaif is sure going through a creamier phase of her life. With 4 hits last year (Namstey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome), the journey continues for the lady. She has been signing some really big and lucrative deals. Her two hot and sexy numbers ‘Touch Me‘ and ‘Sexy Lady‘ in Abbas Mustan’s film ‘Race‘ has already caught the attention of public and are topping the music charts.

To add on to everything, Katrina’s Rs 6 cr deal with Studio 18 has generated interest amongst other A-list production houses who want to get this happening gal to their credit.

Now, reportedly, Katrina has been offered a whopping Rs 1.5 crore for doing a dance number and a few more scenes in Shree Ashtavinayak’s ‘Blue’, which stars Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Lara Dutta in lead roles. Being too lucrative an offer, Kats has apparently accepted it and has allotted around ten days for the film in the month of May.

Parag Desai, the media consultant of Shree Ashtavinayak confirmed having signed Katrina for ‘Blue’ but didn’t really confirm or deny the amount paid. In fact he even said that Katrina has a proper role in the film and not just an item number.

Well, well, good going Kats!

Bollywood’s sex kitten Riya Sen is looking for a change of image. The gal will soon be seen playing a village belle in ‘Zor Laga Ke Hayya’ wearing a nine yard saree in the film.

Riya said that she had no qualms about playing a de-glamorised role and had in fact agreed instantly on hearing the script, “I always wanted to play a village belle.” Producer Kartikeya Talreja however said, “Riya was a bit reluctant but when we explained to her how it will be a good change for her, she agreed to do the film.”

‘Zor Laga Ke Haiyya’ deals with issues like redevelopment and environment. Riya plays a construction worker and Mahesh Manjrekar plays a contractor who has the hots for Riya. Mithun Chakraborty is also in the film.