Have you heard? Alia Bhatt to team up with Mahesh Babu

Alia Bhatt and Mahesh Babu

Even as RRR, her first film with SS Rajamouli, is slated to release on March 25, we hear Alia Bhatt is likely to collaborate with the famed director yet again. In keeping with the idea of making a pan-India film, the makers are shortlisting actors across various film industries. Apparently, the filmmaker and his writer-father KV Vijayendra Prasad feel that the Gangubai Kathiawadi actor would be apt for the female lead opposite Mahesh Babu in their African jungle adventure drama. Moreover, unlike their upcoming Junior NTR and Ram Charan-starrer that sees Alia in an extended cameo, their next will see Alia in a pivotal role. An announcement is said to be around the corner.

Yami is on an experimental spree

After essaying the role of a teacher in A Thursday, Yami Gautam has an interesting mix of roles in her line-up of films. In her upcoming release, Dasvi, she essays a jailor who keeps a close watch on the incarcerated politician - essayed by Abhishek Bachchan - who is studying to prepare for his board exams. The actor plays a feisty journalist in the investigative thriller, Lost, under the aegis of Pink director Aniruddha Roy Choudhary. She also has OMG: Oh My God! sequel with Pankaj Tripathi and a diamond heist film with Sunny Kaushal.

Back to work

Shruti Haasan has plenty of reason to cheer. The actor, who has recovered from COVID-19, shared a picture of herself on social media, with the caption, "Back to work." While she will soon be seen in Salaar with Prabhas, buzz is that she is in talks to play Pawan Kalyan's leading lady in Gabbar Singh 3.

Music icons join forces

Now, this collaboration is bound to create a special magic. AR Rahman posted a picture with the veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja on social media, writing, "Such a pleasure welcoming the Maestro to our Firdaus studio... hope he composes something amazing for the Firdaus orchestra to play in future (sic)!" The Padma Vibhushan awardee replied to the Oscar-winner's tweet saying, "Request accepted. Will start composing soon." Already excited, aren't we?

A jungle safari for Sanju

Sanjay Dutt, who is currently shooting for Ghudchadi in Jaipur, had time off during the weekend. Instead of resting it out, the actor headed out for a jungle safari. Along with his film distributor-friend Raj Bansal and his son Abhimanyu, Dutt went to Jhalana leopard forest in central Jaipur. During the safari, the men witnessed a pair of leopards mating. Close friends of Sanju say that he has a fascination for natural outdoors and wildlife.

Naseer's rare condition

Naseeruddin Shah recently revealed that he is troubled by a condition called onomatomania. So much so that it doesn't let him rest even when he's sleeping. "Onomatomania is an ailment in which you keep repeating a word or a phrase, a sentence or a verse or a speech for no reason at all. Except that you like to hear it. I do it all the time so I am never quite at rest. Even when I am sleeping, I am going over some passage I love," he has been quoted as saying.

Backing the writers

Industry buzz is that Salman Khan is setting up a team of in-house writers for his production house. An office in Bandra is also being readied for the new wing. The actor hopes to provide a platform to budding writers, who wish to tell new stories to the world. His father, legendary screenwriter Salim Khan is overseeing this department. Not a bad idea considering Salman's recent slew of films.

Anupam flaunts his fitness

Anupam Kher, who turned 67 yesterday, was excited to share the progress he has made with his fitness journey over the last few of years. He was motivated to take up a stringent fitness regimen as he wanted to be the best version of himself. "I have started walking the path of my fitness journey and as with everything else that I do, I want to share this journey with you. I will share my good days and bad days, and hopefully a year later, we will celebrate a new me, together," wrote the actor, who is gearing up for The Kashmir Files that releases this Friday.