discovery dudes: Rahul Khanna and Sanjay Suripop pick: Salman Khan

n After two duds in a row — Yaadein and Kisna — Subhash Ghai will now return to direction with two back-to-back projects. The first one titled Black ’N’ White, to be made under the Mukta Searchlight banner, will start by November 21, introduce a new hero Anurag Sinha and star Anil Kapoor in a stellar role.

The other project is the real biggie. To star Salman Khan and two big heroines who are yet to be cast, this Rs 30-crore film under Mukta Arts Entertainment will be shot from mid-April 2007 for next Diwali release. A.R. Rahman will score the music for the film.

Apart from these two directorial ventures, Ghai will produce five other films in the coming year. Nagesh Kukunoor will direct Bombay 2 Bangkok while his chief assistant Shashi Sudigala will make Cycle Kick for Ghai’s Mukta Searchlight Films. The other three directors confirmed are Anees Bazmi, Anurag Basu and Abbas Mustan. The cast and crew of the films are under finalisation and will be announced at a later date.

“It’s high time that we focus on good stories and scripts rather than mere proposal making,” said Subhash Ghai. “All the projects and stories with its respective team and genre of the film have been very carefully chosen and I predict three new stars shining and making it big in 2007.”

n Of all the methods to tempt viewers, this one must be the simplest. Yet, somehow, no one thought about it. Discovery Channel has launched a series called Discovery Week. A half-hour 13-episode series, this will provide viewers a sneak preview of the following week’s biggest programmes — their content, relevance and technologies.

“The aim is to help them navigate the channel better, highlight the channel’s programme variety and seek appointment viewing,” says the channel’s associate director, marketing and communications, Rajiv Bakshi.

Discovery Week will also showcase exclusive and entertaining behind-the-scenes footage hosted by actor Rahul Khanna. “It will be a kind of a preview show,” the former VJ who quit MTV six years ago tells Metro from Mumbai. “Though I am mostly into news and sitcoms, I have always been a huge fan of Discovery,” he says, explaining why he picked up another television assignment though his focus is now on films.

The bonus will be studio-interviews and on-site interactions with experts who will share their experiences on the subjects covered on Discovery Channel’s programmes.

The personalities who will feature in the first few episodes include film-maker Ketan Mehta and his take on Discovery Marquee — a reconstruction of some of the most fascinating historical epics featuring the likes of Hannibal, Genghis Khan and Jim Corbett.

Actor Sanjay Suri recollects his real-life experience similar to that of the nine-year old boy Arif, featured in Floating Lamp of The Shadow Valley. The film explores the world of young Arif — a victim of terror — and his desires, aspirations and indomitable spirit.

Again, sharing her views on Discovery’s Woman’s Theme Night special Runway Moms will be television host and actor Malaika Arora Khan. Each episode of Runway Moms highlights a model mom-to-be and her unique pregnancy story like choosing between natural and medicated births, midwives and doctors, prenatal yoga and more.

Discovery Week airs every Saturday at 10 pm and repeats the following Sunday at 11.30 am.

n Download the Don on your cell as you catch him on screen. Airtel has announced an opportunity for customers to experience exclusive content on the Shah Rukh Khan film.

Customers will be able to receive a host of services such as full song and video downloads, Hello Tunes, polyphonic MP3 ringtones, wallpapers and more. All they have to do is SMS “DON” to 646 for full song and video downloads. Customers can call 646 903 (toll free) for details on the Don Pack and participate in Don contest and win free Don DVDs.

Ajai Puri, COO, Mobility, Bharti Airtel Ltd, Calcutta, says: “Mobile communication is today beyond vanilla voice communication. This is another step toward fulfilment of this commitment.”