Bombs for bombs

It is a fight among Mahima Chaudhary, Neha Dhupia and Mallika Sherawat. All three have been signed up for New Year’s Eve performances. Everyone is being paid a bomb, but Mallika gets the entire stockpile. Neha will perform at the Country Club India Limited (CCIL), Mumbai, and Mahima at its Bangalore branch. Mallika, the buzz goes, has been paid around Rs 50 lakh to perform at the Marriott hotel in Mumbai. For these young women, the year is going to begin with a bang.

Cell well

It’s called Ctrl+Alt+Del but it has nothing to do with PCs. It is actually a film that is premiering on mobile phones. Launched on the Reliance Mobile World, the 25-minute film, produced by Phonethics Mobile Media, can be accessed through mobile phones. The movie is accessible on Reliance Mobile World at a nominal charge of Rs 15 for a five-minute online streaming and Rs 10 for video clips from the movie. Downloads of ringtones and wallpapers will cost Rs 5 apiece. Incidentally, TV serials
like Mahabharata and Malgudi Days are also available on mobile phones now.

Cap-ital!

You will soon get a glimpse of what Himesh Reshammiya looks like without the cap that’s perennially perched on his head. To catch the singer without his trademark headgear, you’ll have to watch his film Aap Ka Suroor where he will be seen sans cap for a full 10 minutes. Himesh has become synonymous with his cap in recent times and those who are close to him say that he does not take it off even when he goes to sleep!

Nene, or No no'

Ravi Chopra has been in touch with Madhuri Dixit. He wants the former Bollywood queen — now Mrs Nene — to star opposite Amitabh Bachchan in his new film. And that’s ambitious, for all previous attempts to cast them as a pair have failed. Though David Dhawan did manage to get them to act in the same film, Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan, Bollywood bigwigs such as Indra Kumar and Subhash Ghai have failed to get the B and the Queen Bee to work together. Now all eyes are on Chopra.

Saif’s new stunt

Saif Ali Khan, who agreed to do a small role in Gautam Menon’s film Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein with Diya Mirza and Madhavan, has been signed on by the director for his next film. This time, Menon is casting Madhavan in a much smaller role and is getting Saif to do the meatier action role. After Omkara, Saif is in the mood to take on challenges and Menon has just presented him with one. The shooting for the film will start in August 2007.