Big jig

If you are planning a date with Katrina Kaif this August, call it off. The Bollywood actor is going to be away - dancing away to glory in the US and Canada. For the first time, she'll be part of a dance-and-music show which will travel to six cities. Katrina will dance to blockbuster hits such as Dhoom macha le, Bang bang, Afghan jalebi and Sheila ki jawani. One of the highlights will be a specially choreographed sizzling item song featuring her and Sidharth Malhotra, her co-star in Baar Baar Dekho. Expect her fans in North America to do some dekko, baar baar.

Guru cool

Life sure comes a full circle. A docu-feature on the life and teachings of the man who took yoga to the West will be released in India on June 17, just before International Yoga Day on June 21. Awake: The Life of Yogananda features many of the celebrities who were disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda. Among them were the Beatles, sitarist Ravi Shankar, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepak Chopra. Narrated by actor Anupam Kher, the film also talks of the difficulties Yogananda faced in the United States. "I'd like to think that Yogananda, who came to the US in 1920, would get a kick seeing this film about his life and teachings, screening across his beloved India in the 21st century," says the film's co-director Lisa Leeman. Ah, it's Om sweet Om.

Spellbound

Mumtaz Sorcar, last seen in Madhavan's Saala Khadoos, is most excited. She has bagged the lead part in Amitabh Bhattacharya's upcoming film Rokto Korobi/ Red Oleanders, based on Tagore's play by the same name. Sorcar is going to play Nandini, a role theatre lovers to date associate with the legendary actor, Tripti Mitra. "I have read the drama countless times. The role is meaty and challenging," says the youngest daughter of India's magic legend P.C. Sorcar Jr. Atta girl, Mumtaz, your turn to work some magic.

Tit for tat

It's always playback time in Bollywood. When choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan was working on her heist drama, Happy New Year, south choreographer-turned-director Prabhudheva stepped in to shake a leg for a song in the film, which went on to make crores of rupees. Now Khan has returned the favour - she is doing a cameo in a Tamil film called Devi(L) in which Prabhudheva plays the hero opposite the winsome Tamannaah (in pic). Farah, who plays herself in the film, is believed to have had a lot of fun shooting with her friends. "Had to repay the favour for Happy New Year, Prabhu," she tweeted. Happy New Mid-Year!

Late bait

Director Buddhadeb Dasgupta had a dream - and, after 15 years, it is coming to life. The National Award-winning director has just wrapped up shooting for Tope (bait), written by Narayan Gangopadhyay. This was a film - on how artistes are often used as bait to serve personal interests - that he wanted to direct years ago. "It is a very real film and is relevant today. I have tried to blend the real with the unreal," says the director of such acclaimed films as Bagh Bahadur, Tahader Katha, Charachar and Uttara. The "real star" of the film, he says, is a 12-year-old girl, a tightrope walker, whom he spotted performing on the streets. His daughter, Alokananda Dasgupta, a trained classical pianist, has done the music for Tope, to be released in July. But it's not just the film that Dasgupta is excited about - a collection of poems penned by him will be out soon, too. The 72-year-old filmmaker has planned out his next film also. Phew!