Troubled waters for Karisma-Abhishek

Theirs was to be the most anticipated wedding in Bollywood. Now, Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan's relationship is showing signs of trouble.

The duo acted in Dharamesh Darshan's Haan...Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya Hai last year. No matter what their relationship, Abhishek continues to be fast friends with Karisma's sister Kareena. The two celebrated New Year's eve with her childhood friend Vicky Nihalani (producer of Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Karisma was in Hong Kong at the time.

Meanwhile, Abhishek's grandfather Harivansh Rai Bachchan is seriously ill. "Yes, he's pretty bad," said Abhishek grimly from Jailsalmer, where he is shooting for Apoorva Lakhia's Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost.

The Indian Government's decision to honour Raakhee with the Padmashree Award took the veteran actress by surprise. "I don't deserve this honour. I have done nothing to earn it," she cried.

January 16 will see her give away the Lifetime Achievement Award to costar Sharmila Tagore (in Rituparno Ghosh's Shubho Mahurat) at the Screen Videocon Awards. Even as the media projects the two Bengali actresses as screen rivals, Raakhee states, "But where's the rivalry! It is all in the media's mind. We became very close during Shubho Mahurat."

Raakhee is said to have lent some saris to Sharmila during Shubho Mahurat which the latter has kept as mementos. Raakhee's eyes mist over as she recalls the good times she shared during the shooting in Kolkata last year. "Nandita Das, Rinkudi (Sharmila), Ritu (the director) and I were like one big family."

After much talk of the two turning hostile, Ram Gopal Varma and Vivek Oberoi are back together in Ek, the much talked-about film produced by Bharat Shah. Says Varma, "At the moment, Vivek is the male star most in demand after Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. There aren't too many options for filmmakers."

Meanwhile, Varma's other protégé Fardeen Khan has been rehearsing rigorously for his song-and-dance item at the Screen Videocon Awards to be held January 16.

There seems to be an interesting marquee Mahabharata brewing between two former rampwalkers. Arjun Rampal and John Abraham aren't only colleagues from the modelling world, they are also vying for the same centrespread slot.

Will media focus shift from Hrithik Roshan and Vivek Oberoi to Arjun and John after Dil Ka Rishta and Jism release Friday, January 17?

Southbytes