Have you heard? Rajini’s biopic on the cards 

Sajid Nadiadwala and Rajinikanth

A few weeks ago, Sajid Nadiadwala's production house shared a picture of him with Rajinikanth on social media, saying, "It is a true honour to collaborate with the legendary Rajinikanth sir! Anticipation mounts as we prepare to embark on this unforgettable journey together!" Now, news is that the producer has inked a deal with the cinema icon to acquire the rights to his biopic. Apparently, Sajid, who is an admirer of Rajini, not just as an actor, but also as a person, feels that his story merits a larger-than-life retelling on the big screen. We hear the biopic will trace the superstar's journey from being a bus conductor to a much-loved superstar. Sajid has been in regular contact with Rajinikanth's family for an authentic account of his life. Casting will begin only after the screenplay is finalised. Sajid is planning to take the film on floors only in the second half of 2025.

Akshay bags a family dramedy

The cast of director Shashank Khaitan's Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari is getting bigger. Now, Akshay Oberoi is said to be joining Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf in Karan Johar's production venture. Last seen in Fighter as Basheer Khan aka Bash, Akshay plays one of the supporting roles in the rom-com, says a source. The family entertainer goes on floors in a couple of weeks in Mumbai. But before that, Akshay will be seen in the second season of The Broken News that begins streaming today.

House khaas

Janhvi Kapoor has tied up with a popular homestay company to rent out mother Sridevi's Chennai house. To be available for select guests of the organisation, the stays are said to offer "the most intimate access to the most famous family in Bollywood." How? Apparently, guests will enjoy exclusive features like authentic south Indian delicacies and chats with Janhvi about her favourite beauty hacks.

Not many know that the late Sridevi had bought the lavish home in the Tamil Nadu capital much before she married producer Boney Kapoor. For several years, it was closed due to leakage and maintenance issues. After Sridevi's untimely demise in February 2018, Boney had it renovated. Besides a stunning living space, the sprawling property also boasts of a secret room, a patio, a gallery filled with family portraits, one of Sridevi's early artworks, and some crafted by Janhvi and younger sister Khushi Kapoor.

Dance like Pushpa Raj

The makers of Pushpa 2: The Rule unveiled the title song of the Allu Arjun-starrer on Wednesday. The track and the actor's moves caught the eye of Australian cricketer David Warner. "Oh dear, how good is this! Now, I've got some work to do Allu Arjun," he wrote on social media. Arjun replied to Warner, saying, "It's easy. I will show you when we meet." It appears that the cricketer has booked his lessons with the stylish superstar.

Republic release plans

Aamir Khan is currently working on Sitaare Zameen Par, which he plans to bring to cinemas around Christmas this year. It is learnt that the actor-filmmaker is planning another release a month later - director Rajkumar Santoshi's Lahore: 1947 with Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Shabana Azmi and Karan Deol. Filming for the period drama is slated to wrap up by June-end. To ensure that the film reflects the bygone era, Santoshi is shooting on specially created sets, instead of resorting to VFX and CGI. We hear both Aamir and Santoshi feel that since it is a patriotic story, they can't have a better release window than Republic Day 2025. Sources also claim that Aamir has a cameo in the movie that will mark Sunny's next big outing since the stupendous success of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues (2023).

Impact over screen-time

Richa Chadha, who plays Lajjo in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, was initially offered another bigger role in the web series. She chose Lajjo for its heartbreaking arc, and also felt that the character would leave a stronger impact. "As an actor, I need to see what's new in here for me," says Richa, who wanted to break the stereotype of playing empowered characters and surprise the audience. Keen to play a hopeless romantic on screen, Richa adds, "I was immediately drawn to Lajjo. I was certain this would pay off and it has. Right from industry peers to filmmakers, from
friends to audiences, everyone has sent me so much love. I couldn't be more grateful."

New twist in the tale

Come May 10, the third season of the thriller series Undekhi will drop online. The trailer sees Varun Badola's entry in the show. The actor plays the suave Rajveer Malhotra, who is also a master negotiator, and always a couple of steps ahead of his opponents. Sharing that he was intrigued by the character and the storyline of the third edition, Varun says, "Rajveer is a perfect shade of grey; you never know his stand - he is neither completely black nor white." Asserting that his character is dramatic, the actor adds, "He has secrets that will probably take on the Atwals. Characters like Rajveer are phenomenal, they make you think who is right and who is wrong. As an actor, one can dive in, experiment, and push the envelope. It's exciting to see where the character takes you in the storyline."