Have you heard? Casting coup on Basu’s mind

Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan and Anurag Basu

Recently, reports were rife that Akanksha Sharma is in talks with the makers - producers Mukesh Bhatt and Vishesh Bhatt - to play the leading lady opposite Kartik Aaryan. Now, it appears that it is Sara Ali Khan who might be stealing the spotlight. Insiders claim that Anurag is set to ignite sparks by reuniting Kartik and Sara on screen again. The filmmaker's admiration for Sara's talent knows no bounds, especially after she shot portions of Basu's next - Metro... In Dino. It's not surprising, then, that insiders insist on having the Love Aaj Kal duo set the mercury rising again with their chemistry. But the kahani mein twist is that the Bhatts are keeping everyone guessing as they refuse to divulge the name of the leading lady in Aashiqui 3.

Maddy's new role

R Madhavan is on a roll. The actor-filmmaker recently won the National Award in the Best Feature Film category for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect. Now, he has been named President of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. The news was broken on social media by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur. He wrote, "Heartiest congratulations to R Madhavan ji on being nominated as president of FTII and chairman of the governing council. I'm sure that your vast experience and strong ethics will enrich this institute, bring positive changes, and take it to a higher level. My best wishes to you." Maddy responded, saying, "Thank you so much for the honour and kind wishes, Anurag Thakur ji. I will do my very best to live up to all the expectations."

Sleepless before a song

After seeing Sardar Udham, if you thought essaying myriad emotions in front of the camera came easy to Vicky Kaushal, then think again. Apparently, Vicky was a bundle of nerves a couple of days before shooting the song, Kanhaiya, Twitter pe aaja, from his upcoming film, The Great Indian Family. "Yes, I was sleepless," he admits, adding, "But we all were loving the vibe. The environment was infectious, and the countless dancers and crew added to it." For the pacy number, which is the actor's introductory sequence in the family drama, YRF built a massive set replicating a heartland town in India.

Homage to Habib saab

On Habib Tanvir's centenary, as a tribute to the legendary playwright, Karmic Films announced its acquisition of the rights to the theatrical masterpiece, Charandas Chor. The idea is to adapt the classic for the big screen and create a social commentary for the new generation. Created in 1975, the globally renowned play received the prestigious Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Nageen Tanvir, daughter of the late playwright, says, "It gives me great joy to see my father's legacy thrive through this venture."

Acing social media game

It's a hot topic among Bollywood enthusiasts - how has Katrina Kaif managed to outshine Deepika Padukone on Instagram? Despite joining the platform later, posting sparingly, and lacking movie releases this year, Katrina's follower count soared past Deepika's. Fans have their theories. One theory suggests that Katrina's social media account offers a more personal touch, while Deepika's account is business-centric. The intimacy that Kat shares with her followers sets her apart. Another fan weighed in: "Katrina joined in 2017, trailing far behind Deepika. To witness her not only catch up but surpass her is remarkable." Guess that's a testament to Kat's magnetic charm, no?

Picture this!

Alia Bhatt's latest Vogue cover has set social media abuzz, and Reddit users are unleashing their opinions. Some claim that the National Award-winning actor looks more like Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl than herself, fueling speculation of excessive photo manipulation. On the other hand, critics argue that if this transformation was executed without Alia's consent, it is a breach of trust. While photo retouching is a common practice in the fashion industry, the debate over preserving an artiste's identity rages on. As the controversy simmers, Alia herself has maintained a studied silence about it so far.

Arriving sooner

With Prabhas's Salaar vacating the last Friday in September, the makers of Fukrey 3 have swooped in to grab the date. Originally slated for a December release, the third instalment of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's comedy franchise is now arriving in cinemas on September 28. A production source informed, "After the success of Rocky Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, there is a noticeable demand for lighter films, especially comedies. Fukrey 3, which features Pulkit Samrat, Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi, Varun Sharma, and Manjot Singh, perfectly taps into that need of the audience."