Kareena ousts Kat to bag KJo-Balaji film

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In December last year, Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor, the filmmakers who are also best friends, had announced their co-production venture. However, the leading lady for the ambitious project remained undecided. Reportedly, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were both being considered for the project. And now, Mumbai Mirror has learnt that Bebo has won the battle.

Kareena, who had reportedly opted out of two major projects - Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express and Milan Luthria's Once upon A Time In Mumbaai Part 2 recently, surely had bigger plans up her sleeve. A source close to the film told the newspaper, "Kareena has bagged a very big role in this film. Currently, she is Karan's favourite. He was very happy with her performance in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, directed by Shakun Batra."

In fact, Karan and Ekta have apparently had plans to work together for a very long time. The film that has finally realised their dream will be directed by newbie Akshay Roy. It will go on floors by December, this year.

Karan and Ekta, who have been meeting rather frequently to discuss the film, plan to finish the casting of their co-production by the end of this month.

Our source revealed, "Both Balaji and Dharma are considering Emraan Hashmi for the male lead. In fact, Emraan has recently signed his first Dharma production to be directed by Rensil D'Silva."

Katrina - Kareena's K Fight

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Help Karan Johar decide which actress he should cast in Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2!

Apart from sharing their initials and top spot in Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have a new thing in common.

According to reports, the two actresses are being considered for the female lead role in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2.

Producer pals Ekta Kapoor and Karan Johar, who are jointly producing  the sequel, are divided on the issue.

Vote! Kareena or Katrina in Karan Johar's next?

Last updated on: January 12, 2012 15:24 IST

While KJo is keen on Kareena, Ekta wants Katrina to be play strong and sexy female character in the film.

While the jury is out on this one, who do YOU think should be cast as the female lead in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2 opposite Akshay Kumar?

Vote Now!

Celebs and their charges for New Year's eve

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Pictures: Hottest Item Songs of 2011

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Sometimes, an A-list cast and aggressive marketing isn't enough to get a movie all the attention. Throw in an item song and it's poised to spice things up at the box office.

As the year recovered from last year's scorching Munnis and Sheilas, 2011 offered its own share of sizzlers with every major star from the Khan troika to Kareena Kapoor discovering the merits of an item number.

Without any further delay, here's a look at the hottest item songs of 2011:

Chikni Chameli, Agneepath

Even though Dharma Productions' Agneepath remake releases only in January next year, it's already hit a high note with Katrina Kaif's electric moves in and as Chikni Chameli, an official reworking of the Marathi chartbuster Kombdi Palali (Jatra) by Ajay-Atul.

 

A far cry from her doe-eyed etiquette, Kaif lets loose of her inhibitions with a never-before-seen aggression.

Chammak Challo, Ra.One

That Kareena Kapoor is a complete knockout in a red sari and nose ring is an understatement.

 

The actress flaunts her flawless curves and pout to burn the floor with a dapper Shah Rukh Khan, lip-syncing to international R&B artist Akon's sensational vocals, in one of the most hyped films of the year.

 

Ra.One may have missed the bus, but Chammak Challo owns it.

I Hate You (Like I Love You), Delhi Belly

Paying a combo tribute to Mithun Chakraborty, Govinda, Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor's flamboyant style 'n' steps and Bappi Lahiri's disco dedication, Aamir Khan, accompanied by Anusha Dandekar, works up a wacky, over-the-top ditty, I Hate You (Like I Love You).

 

At a press conference, the media-friendly star quipped how he decided to perform an item number for his home production after every heroine in Bollywood declined to do so.

Dum Maaro Dum, Dum Maaro Dum

Catty rumours hinted on how Bipasha Basu felt left out when Deepika Padukone hogged the show with her scintillating, seductive take on Dum Maaro Dum's title track.

 

One look at Leggy Dee's effortless sensuality in the modern-day version of R D Burman's unforgettable song, it's not hard to understand why.

Ooh La La, Dirty Picture

Buxom reigned supreme as heaving sighs and jiggling bellies dominated the scene when Vidya Balan stepped out to play the raunchy dancing sensation, Silk Smitha in a story inspired by the latter's life, The Dirty Picture.

 

Against Vishal-Shekhar's retro beats, again a nod to Bappi Lahiri's dhinchak creations, and garish choreography reflective of the 1980s, VB and the ever sporting Naseeruddin Shah break a leg to Ooh la la. And how!

Character Dheela, Ready

Salman Khan and Veer discovery Zarine Khan travel in time to reconstruct iconic scenes from Shree 420, Mughal-e-Azam and Sholay for this breezy Pritam number.

 

Both Character Dheela and Dhinka Chika went on to become hugely popular with Khan's die-hard followers contributing to the inane comedy's bumper opening.

Jalebi Bai, Double Dhamaal

While one hears a lot about Mallika Sherawat's Hollywood-themed activities on social networking sites, the actress limits it to an item song or two in Bollywood.

 

The year saw the sex symbol gyrate to Razia in Thank You but it was her rollicking gig as Jalebi bai that caught everyone's fancy. And Bigg Boss 5inmate Shraddha Sharma, in particular. The latter's claim to fame now includes dancing feverishly to the number.

Bodyguard, Bodyguard

If pumping his drenched biceps wasn't enough, Salman Khan jumps on stage to engage in an impromptu boogie-woogie with beau turned buddy Katrina Kaif in the title song of Bollywood's biggest hit of the year.

 

Predictably, these antics met with a sizeable magnitude of wolf-whistles.

Tinku jia, Yamla Pagla Deewana

Keeping with the Deol-themed comedy's boisterous theme, director Samir Karnik inserts a bawdy item song, Tinku jiya featuring a super naughty Dharmendra and equally inspired beta, Bobby going gaga over Madhuri Bhattacharya's skimpily-clad charms.

 

Needless to say, Garam Dharam still steals the show.

Laila O Laila, Chalo Dilli

Yana Gupta came into limelight with Babuji dheere chalo (Dum). And though none of her item songs afterwards have been able to match up, the Czech beauty tries really hard to make an impression with her brazen moves in Chalo Dill's remixed version of Qurbaani's classic, Laila O Laila.

 

Not everyone had an appetite for her stark striptease in the disturbingly choreographed Aa zara from Murder 2.

Shake it Saiyaan, Rascals

Sexy supermodel turned actress Lisa Haydon shakes her booty to entice Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn with unrestrained eagerness in Shake it Saiyaan.  

 

Sure, Rascals is the A to Z of lame, you've got to admit Lisa's Saiyaan is h-o-t.  

Katrina Kaif #1 in 2011's Most Googled Celebs In India

Google's annual rundown on what's hot on the web -- a 'zeitgeist' survey for 2011 -- includes the list of top 10 most searched celebs on the website in India.

We present here the newsmakers who were googled the most, who became a part of living room conversations, nostalgia and at times, debate.

1. Katrina Kaif

The number one spot was reserved for Katrina Kaif. 

The actress dominated the early part of the year as the excitement surrounding Sheila Ki Jawani -- her sensational item number in Farah Khan's 2010 Tees Maar Khan -- refused to die down.

When it finally did, Katrina was back in the news as with her Chikni Chameli turn in Karan Johar's Agneepath. Somewhere in between, the actress also snagged the top spot in People magazine's most beautiful list too.

2. Anna Hazare

Social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare waged a war against corruption by going on an indefinite hunger strike and initiated a mini-revolution in the process.

While the government relented and agreed to some of his conditions for the Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption, several big names like Kiran Bedi, Aamir Khan and Arindam Chaudhari lent their names to the cause.

3. Salman Khan

This year belonged to Salman Khan all the way.

Minor glitches (read a painful facial surgery) aside, the star had a great run at the box office as both his releases this year --

4. Poonam Pandey

This starlet cashed in on the Cricket World Cup Tournament that India hosted (and won) this year.

It wouldn't be exaggerating to call it a stroke of genius -- she's the fourth most googled 'celeb' in India this year!

While she didn't keep her promise of stripping if the boys in blue managed to win the world cup, she did give us a rather steamy peek and has managed a sizeable number of followers on Twitter too.

5. Justin Beiber

This may strike as rather odd, since Canadian pop sensation Justin Beiber is largely disliked by everybody except teenagers who absolutely dig his music.

But this just drives home the point that any kind of publicity is good publicity.

As his fame grew, so did people's curiosity to find out more about him so that they could loathe him with a better understanding of where he came from.

6. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had a very eventful year even though she did not take up much work.

While her Cannes outing was feted by everyone, her involvement (and subsequent pulling out of) in Madhur Bhandarkar's ambitious project Heroine kept her in the news.

Fans and media went into a frenzy after her pregnancy was announced till the time she got her bundle of joy home.

Quite a year for the Bachchan bahu!

7. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar had us all glued to the TV set with a promise to score his 100th century. The last ton from Sachin's bat came during a league match in Wolrd Cup against South Africa in March earlier this year.

It's been an intense nine months and the entire nation has been waiting for the elusive century.

Tendulkar also achieved his childhood dream this year as he won his first world cup of his career, which spans over 20 years.  

8. Kareena Kapoor

The world is her oyster!

Kareena Kapoor is at the top of her game and is looking forward to settling down with beau Saif Ali Khan next year.

She's the sexiest woman in Asia, the highest paid actress in Bollywood and recently had her first waxwork installed in Madame Tussauds museum.

With so much going on around her, it's hardly a surprise that fans and detractors were equally interested in keeping up with the goings-on in her life.

9. Steve Jobs

Someone rightfully pointed out on a social networking website when Steve Jobs passed away -- superheroes were turtle necks and round glasses, not spandex outfits.

Heartfelt messages, glowing tributes and eulogies were written when the pioneer in computer revolution breathed his last at the age of 56.

10. Priyanka Chopra

After an author-backed role in Vishal Bharadwaj's 7 Khoon Maaf, Priyanka Chopra is poised to dazzle along side King Khan in Don 2 that releases on December 23 and later in January as Hrithik Roshan's leading lady in Karan Johar's Agneepath.

She has three other films rolling out next year. Enough fodder for fans and movie buffs to feed on for a while.

Kat drops to #2 in sexiest woman in Asia list

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor has emerged as the sexiest woman in Asia, according to a survey.

Eastern Eye, a weekly, conducted a survey through social networking sites like Twitter and Kareena came out on top, edging out last year's winnerKatrina Kaif.


1. Kareena Kapoor

Kareena, who recently gave hits like Bodyguard and Ra.One, won by one per cent of votes, the narrowest ever margin and beat off tough competition from some of the most stunning women from around the world.

2. Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif, who had won the title for the last three years by a large margin, slipped into second place.

Eastern Eye showbiz editor Asjad Nazir said, "This battle between the two beauties is a sign of things to come in Bollywood in the next few years. Although the list contained pop stars, TV personalities, models and film stars from around the world, the voting quite comprehensively showed that Kareena and Katrina have put a distance between themselves and the rest of the contenders in terms of popularity."

3. Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra, whose upcoming movies Don 2 and Barfee are creating quite a buzz, was placed on the third spot.

4. Bipasha Basu

Widely acknowledged as one of the hottest bods in Bollywood for the longest time, Bipasha Basu slipped one slot down to number four this year.

The actress has a lot to look forward to as she gears up for two releases -- Players and Jodi Breakers.

5. Freida Pinto

Hollywood's exotic sweetheart Freida Pinto has clocked in success with Rise Of The Plaet Of The Apes and Immortals this year.

The actress has become quite adept at making headlines, be it on the red carpet or on the 70 mm.

6. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

New mommy Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may have traded films for motherhood for a while but that doesn't mean she'll recede in the background.

Despite the fact that her last release was Guzaarish that came out last year, the actress has made it to top ten!

7. Deepika Padukone

It's not just us who drool over Deepika Padukone's goddess-like figure and endless legs. Turns out, the actress is feted by the whole of Asia.

The 25-year-old actress figures at number seven on the list.

9. Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor may have met with little success in films so far -- her last film Mausam sank without a trace -- but her fashion choices have made sure she's a part of all filmi buzz.

We are not surprised to see the young actress at number nine in this list.

12. Jacqueline Fernandez

Murder 2 actress Jacqueline Fernandez's smouldering act in the film gained her quite a fan following that seems to be increasing exponentially!

The Sri Lankan beauty claimed the 12th spot on the sexiest Asian women's list.

15. Lara Dutta

Mum-to-be Lara Dutta figures at number 15 on the list.

16. Sussanne Roshan

Star wife Sussanne Roshan is so fit even after having two kids, she could give any starlet a run for her money.

She's the only non-actress to figure on this list too. How's that for an achievement?

19. Malaika Arora Khan

The hottest mum on the Bollywood block, Malaika Arora Khan has made it to the list too.

Munni may be a thing of the past now but Malaika is sure to have more aces up her sleeve.

23. Nargis Fakhri

Bollywood's latest import Nargis Fakhri may just turn out to be the next Katrina Kaif.

With a successful film debut (Rockstar) and a reported Rs 9 crore worth of endorsement offers, this babe is set for a meteoric rise in filmdom.

38. Sonakshi Sinha

After collecting accolades for her village belle turn in Dabangg, Sonakshi Sinha is really biding her time for the perfect follow up to her smashing debut.

While we wait for her next cinematic outing, the actress has been placed at number 38 in the list.

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