Aamir may get 8 crores for 1857

Vickey Lalwani

Buzz is Aamir Khan refused ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited) Films and Ashutosh Gowariker's film because of his deal with Ketan Mehta.

Apparently the deal forbids Khan from accepting any other film if he wants to work in Mehta's 1857 -- The Uprising which, in turn, would fetch him an astronomical Rs 80 million. This amount is undoubtedly the highest any Bollywood artiste would be paid.

Diana bags Tehzeeb

Former Miss World Diana Hayden has been added to the cast for Khalid Mohamed's forthcoming Tehzeeb. The film stars Shabana Azmi and Urmila Matondkar in pivotal roles. It marks Hayden's Bollywood debut.

Tehzeeb is said to be inspired by Ingmar Bergman's Autumn Sonata.

Kareena goes cheap

Initially, Amisha Patel was slated to play the female lead opposite Anil Kapoor in Boney Kapoor's Bewafaa. Reportedly, Babita and daughter Kareena Kapoor requested Akshay Kumar, who is also acting in the film to tell his friend, director Dharmesh Darshan, to consider Kareena.

Darshan was game. But Boney refused, saying he could not afford to pay Rs 1.5 crore [Kareena's fee]. Kareena then announced she would lower her price for the film.

Bewafaa is scheduled for a late 2003 release.

Yesterdays Newsbytes