Vickey Lalwani

Producer, director and writer Akbar Khan recently completed a 16-day shooting schedule for his ambitious Taj Mahal -- An Eternal Love Story, with his cast and 400 extras. The unit shot at the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.

While Zulfiqar Syed and Sonya Jehan are being introduced as eternal lovers Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, the film also stars Kabir Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Arbaaz Khan, Pooja Batra, Arbaaz Ali and Kim Sharma in key roles.

Co-written by South African political activist and Nelson Mandela's biographer Fatima Meer, the period drama is expected to release in mid 2003.

Lady Luck has not smiled on producer Vashu Bhagnani ever since he fell out with protege Diya Mirza. His last three ventures Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Deewanaapan (starring Diya and Madhavan and Diya and Arjun Rampal respectively), and Jeena Sirf Merre Liye (starring Tusshar Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor) are cases in point.

Now, his forthcoming venture Bisaaat (The Game Of Life And Death), to be directed by Satish Kaushik, is facing hiccups. It stars Ritesh Deshmukh (in the second male lead) and Esha Deol. The male lead is yet to be finalised.

Kareena Kapoor and Fardeen Khan were the original choices for Esha and Ritesh's role. Reportedly, Kareena refused, saying the script was weak; Fardeen offered no explanation. Rampal was approached but he rejected the role.

Meanwhile, Bhagnani continues to have faith in numerology. Since he has been advised to have his titles totaling seven letters, he has added an extra 'a' in Bisaaat because the formula worked for him in the past. Take Hero No 1 and Biwi No 1.

Rahul Dev to star with Dimple

Model-turned-actor Rahul Dev, who was appreciated for his performances in Asoka and 23 March, 1931: Shaheed, has an impressive lineup of releases in 2003 -- Kushan Nandy's 88, Antop Hill, Vikram Bhatt's Footpath, Padam Kumar's Supari, Adeep Shirodkar's Akshamya, a project for Partho Ghosh and one for Manikchand.

The latest is Rahul will play a part in an art film opposite Dimple Kapadia, who has just given her nod to the script written by Sameer Nair.

Yesterdays Newsbytes