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Poonam Pandey is one of the contestants of Khatron Ke Khiladi 4. The model, who became famous for her statement that she would strip in front of the Indian cricket team, was roped in the reality show yesterday.
The wannabe hopes that like host Akshay Kumar recommends Vindoo Singh for his projects, he will recommend her too!
The contestants include: VJ Bani, former cricketer Anju Chopra, reality show singer Mauli Dave, models Alesia Raut and Diandra Soares, Kashmera Shah, Aarti Chhabria and Dina Umarova (Vindoo Dara Singh's wife)
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Lowers price to return to his position as host of Khatron Ke Khiladi; his promos air tonight
After much drama and name-tossing, Akshay Kumar will host Khatron Ke Khiladi 4. The actor flexes his muscles and packs a punch in his first teaser that airs tonight at prime-time.
Sunil Manchanda's MAD Production has created the first look. They are the same guys who shot the Salman Khan promos for Bigg Boss 4. Marco Kalantri directs Akki while Niharika Khan styles him in the teaser.
Back to South Africa
Akshay hosted the first two seasons of the reality show which were shot in South Africa while Priyanka Chopra anchored the third season filmed in Brazil. Akshay returns to SA for the fourth outing of the drama.
The competition
The Khiladi's return was announced initially for the fourth season, followed by news that the likes of Salman and Ajay Devgn had been approached.
A source says, "Akshay was paid Rs 1.5 crore per episode for the first season which was upped in the second round. This time around, the price he quoted was too high and he refused to negotiate."
Ajay Devgn was then seen as a possible replacement. "Ajay was negotiating the price and terms of the contract, when the channel went and leaked it out to Akshay that they had approached Devgn.
Akki immediately renegotiated his price and cut it down, so Devgn was left out while Akki came on board again."
Conveniently yours
The channel still wasn't happy with Akshay's terms and sent feelers to Salman ('Khiladi Khan'; HiTLIST; March 21). They wanted to shoot in Bangkok. That Sallu was already shooting there at the time, helped.
When talks were on with Salman, the Khiladi came to know that Sallu had been approached and was upset. The channel remained non-committal saying it was too early to talk about it.
Backtracked
While in London shooting, Kumar continued renegotiations. Finally, a consensus was reached and an agreement reached (the price is much less compared to his earlier remunerations) and that's why the channel yesterday officially decided to release a statement and air the promos. Wonder how low Akki has stooped to conquer?
Veena Malik IN KKK4?
Among the female contestants approached for KKK4 include Bigg Boss 4 inmate Veena Malik. The Pakistani actress has yet to ink the deal. Maria Goretti was also approached but she declined the offer.
Kangna Ranaut is no longer a welcome guest at Sanjay Dutt residence
Kangna Ranaut and the Dutts have drifted apart. The actress has been telling friends that she doesn't consider Sanjay and Maanayata family.
A friend of the Dutts confirms, "Reports of her distancing herself from the couple have disturbed them. And whatever she is saying about them has come as a rude shock to them.
They won't be inviting her to their home anymore. In any case, she had never been as close to them as she claimed. It was always Ameesha Patel who was Maana's close friend."
The fact that the Dutts did not attend Kangna's birthday bash recently was a clear-cut message. The source reveals, "An extremely upset Kangna kept calling Maana till midnight."
The Dutts' friend adds that Maana helped the actress with everything from paying less for a flat in Bandra to arranging a trip for her.
Yet, Kangna hasn't even gone to meet Maanayata or her babies even once. She attends the Dutts' public functions as it suits her to be seen with them when the media is around.
Maanayata wasn't even invited to her Tanu Weds Manu trial. The first time they met in months was on the sets of Rascals recently."
Role calling
The friend feels that the actress grew close to them as she knew the actor was launching Sanjay Dutt Productions and wanted to star in his projects.
"She signed Rascals opposite Sanju and Ajay Devgn which led to more A-grade films in her kitty. She considers Rascals as her big ticket."
The Dutts and Kangna remained unavailable for comment.
The common link
Sanjay Dutt and Kangna Ranaut share the same business manager Dharam Oberoi (who's also CEO of Sanjay Dutt Production).
"Dharam is upset by Kangna's statements. He's in Hong Kong with Dutt, who's shooting for Dhamaal 2. He feels miserable and tells people it was a mistake taking on Kangna's work. He has told people that his allegiance is to Sanju."
Actor has been offered the role. The actor is in talks with the director Rakesh Roshan
THE BIG QUESTION: Will Ajay Devgn end up playing the villain in Rakesh Roshan's Krrish 2?
THE HISTORY: Rakesh Roshan and Ajay have been wanting to work together for some time now. The director had approached Ajay during Karan Arjun but that didn't work out.
THE ROLE: An insider reveals that the role offered to Devgn is "an ultra cool, stylish persona with gray shades intelligent, edgy, witty, smart and evil something along the lines of the Joker's character in Batman series" and is "in complete contrast to anything he has done before."
WILL HE? WON'T HE? Roshan Jr (Hrithik) is also keen to have Ajay on board the superhero sequel. "AJ is giving it serious thought, " says our source.
Apparently Ajay is quite keen to work with Rakesh and feels he is one of the best commercial directors today. "It's a fabulous role and in films like this one and the Dhoom series, the grey roles get more buzz and interest than the hero's role. A few details are being worked out."
THE TWIST: Rakesh Roshan met Salman Khan in Bangkok last month when the actor was shooting for Ready. That said, the casting for the negative role in Krrish 2 might still be up in the air.
It's all work for Deepika Padukone who is shooting three films there
Deepika Padukone's forthcoming films take her to London's cooler climes. She beats the heat with Rohit Dhawan's Desi Boyz, Rajnikanth's Rana and Homi Adjania's untitled project with Saif Ali Khan.
However, she will make her appearances during the IPL season.
She muses, "It's all for work. One has to keep travelling, this time it's almost for three long months. But, I do plan to come back when my schedules allow me."
Deepika leaves before the release of Dum Maaro Dum. She features in an item number in the film.
DEEPIKA'S TAKES
ON THE MIXED REACTIONS TO THE DMD VIDEO
"I am not surprised. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Our attempt was to take a classic, iconic song and give it a modern-day twist. This one is for today's generation. It sounds and looks contemporary."
ON COMPARISONS TO SHEILA AND MUNNI
This isn't a music video, it's a part of the film. I am really happy with what we have achieved and people forget that I did an item song in Billu Barber with Shah Rukh. So this isn't my first."
ON DOING ITEM NUMBERS IN THE FUTURE
"Surely, why not? But it all depends on what's offered and the concept."
Katrina Kaif doesn't want to get back together but to get on board a film starring Salman Khan
THE RUMOURS:
It looks like all the abstinence from mughlai food, alcohol and other carnal activities is doing Salman Khan a world of good. These days he is in top physical shape, good enough to take on an African-American physical trainer weighing a 150 kgs, for arm-wresting. And defeating him!
Sonam Kapoor is gunning for the Miss Professional award this year.
The actress shot 18 hours at a stretch almost every day the last week to complete patchwork for her upcoming film, despite being ill. Thanks to her commitment, her shoot is now complete.
High fever
A friend reveals, "She had a high fever, severe cold and a throat infection last week." The friend blames her inordinately long hours at work for the breakdown.
"Mid-week, she flew to Chandigarh to shoot for Mausam, despite being unwell. She came home only after she was done."
Back-to-back
A few days ago, she shot for Thank You at Madh Island from 6 am to 1 am, went home for a costume trial for Players and to shoot an ad. She then flew off to Delhi for an event.
Back in Mumbai, she took time out to dub for and shoot for scenes on Thursday and Friday and to work on her ads.
She finally collapsed that evening. Despite that, she went to shoot for Players the next day as she had combination dates with co-stars Abhishek Bachchan and Bobby Deol.
"Now due to a throat infection, she can barely speak now, " adds the friend. Apparently, Anil Kapoor's daughter hasn't taken a holiday since Sawaariya.
"Though Sonam had gone to USA last year for a vacation, she had a relapse of typhoid and couldn't really enjoy herself, " informs the friend.
