Dev Anand has kept his films on beauty pageants and a Nepali king on hold.

He will now make an English film on the lives of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and his daughter, Grammy Award winner Norah Jones.

Ritesh bags Bardaasht

Ritesh Deshmukh, former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's son, will play an important role in Vijay Galani's forthcoming Bardaasht. Directed by E Niwas (Shool, Dum), the film also stars Bobby Deol and Lara Dutta.

Ritesh made his debut in K Vijaya Bhaskar's Tujhe Meri Kasam in January.

Dilipsaab in Tinnu's film?

After a four-year hiatus, Tinnu Anand returns to make a film for Sahara Television. The man who made Kaalia, Shahenshah, Main Azaad Hoon and Major Saab with Amitabh Bachchan, may direct Dilip Kumar. 

"I have not yet signed Dilipsaab," he says, "but I have spoken to him and things are almost finalised. Manoj Bajpai is also in the film. The heroine is yet to be decided. It is a courtroom drama."

Sudheer Dalvi gets busy

Character actor Sudheer Dalvi has signed on two films. "The first is singer Suresh Wadkar's maiden production Tanman.com, directed by Pradeep Chanda. The film costars Manisha Koirala, Kabir Bedi, Kitu Gidwani, Sachin Khedekar and Paresh Rawal. I signed the second just four days ago -- Mr Chunilal. It is a murder mystery, to be produced by A T Pipale and directed by debutant Pramod Mathur. I play a psychiatrist. That character thrills me."