Mandira turns choosy

Mandira turns choosy

Television actress and host Mandira Bedi is flabbergasted to learn about media reports saying she has signed filmmaker Parthipan's Tamil film, Lingam.

Clarifies Bedi, "I was offered Lingam. I met Parthipan in Chennai and heard him out. I was not impressed by the role he was offering me. After the adulation I received at the World Cup and the fan following I have on television, I am not going to sign anything and everything."

Tejaswini explores the unknown

Tejaswini Kolhapure has signed Anil Mehta's Anjaane -- The Unknown, opposite Sanjay Kapoor. The film will be directed by debutant Harry Fernandes.

Kolhapure's debut Hindi film, Anurag Kashyap's Paanch (with Kay Kay), is yet to see the light of day.

Talking about Anjaane, she says, "Sanjay [Kapoor] is married to Manisha Koirala and is facing several problems in his life. We have an affair, but I am unaware he is married.

"I have waited too long after Paanch was completed. I can't wait for this one to begin. We start shooting in May," she says.

Starry tantrums 

Newcomer Nandini Singh seems to have started her career on the wrong foot.

She lambasted her Ek Aur Ek Gyarah costar Amrita Arora, when producer Subhash Ghai and director David Dhawan decided to shoot the song Sone ka rang on Arora at the last minute.

Singh wanted the extra song to be picturised on her. She was unapologetic about her behaviour when the duo called her for an explanation. Their spat resulted in Nandini being dropped from the film's promotional activities.

Mayawati's Bollywood fan

One director who is glad about Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati urging filmmakers to base their films in UP is Sushen Bhatnagar.

Bhatnagar who made the whodunit, Soch (Sanjay Kapoor, Raveena Tandon, Arbaaz Khan), says, "She has promised several concessions if we shoot 70 per cent of our movies in UP -- Rs 4 crores [Rs 40 million] in terms of subsidy, free shooting on locations and lots more. Rs 4 crores is not a small amount. Today, when the film industry has touched rock bottom, free shooting on locations is a big relief."

In the same breath, he continues, "In Mumbai, we pay at least Rs 25,000 per day for a shoot on the roads of Lokhandwala Complex (in northwest Mumbai). I have been approached by a producer to direct his next venture. After meeting Mayawati, we will make a formal announcement of the project. I was supposed to direct a film with Saif Ali Khan, Sushmita Sen and Fardeen Khan, but that has been put on hold. Concessions are more important."