Santoshi wants Hrithik

Santoshi wants Hrithik

Hrithik Roshan's last few films -- Aap Mujhe Ache Lagne Lage (Amisha Patel), Na Tum Jaano Na Hum (Esha Deol) and Mujhse Dosti Karoge (Rani Mukherji, Kareena Kapoor) -- fared abysmally at the box office. But filmmaker Rajkumar Santoshi isn't worried about Roshan Jr's trade value.

Strong reports suggest that Santoshi is roping the actor in for his next project.

While Hrithik is currently gearing up for his next two big releases -- Koi... Mil Gaya (Rekha, Preity Zinta) and Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (Kareena, Abhishek Bachchan), Santoshi is wrapping up his cop drama Khakee (Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Tusshar Kapoor).

Bhavna in Swades?

After the Oscar-nominated Lagaan, director Ashutosh Gowariker is on to his new film Swades.

Shah Rukh Khan is playing the main lead. For the female lead, Gowariker is believed to have approached starlet Bhavna Pani. Pani has earlier featured in Tere Liye (Arjun Punj, Ansh Thakker, Shilpa Saklani, Hiten Paintal) and Dil Vil Pyaar Vyaar (Madhavan, Namrata Shirodkar, Sonali Kulkarni, Sanjay Suri).

Bhavna says, "I think I will get it [the role]. I have completed two auditions. Mr Gowariker is very happy with my abilities."

Mani waits, Abhishek contemplates

Filmmaker Mani Ratnam (Roja, Bombay, Dil Se) is said to be working on his new bilingual film. The tentative cast of the film features Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi, Abhishek Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherji. The Tamil version is reported to star Madhavan, Surya, Shaam, Meera Jasmine and Trisha Krishnan.

Apparently, Abhishek is not too excited about playing a negative role. The actor is not sure whether a change of image would do him good.

Son to follow Mithun's footsteps

Mithun Chakraborty is set to launch elder son Mimoh in a home production shortly.

Currently, Mimoh is undergoing training in an acting school in the United States of America.

Victor's back with a Bhoot

Victor Banerjee (Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Kalyug, A Passage To India) makes a comeback to Hindi cinema with Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot (Ajay Devgan, Urmila Matondkar, Fardeen Khan, Tanuja, Rekha and Nana Patekar). He was added to the cast when the film was almost complete.

Banerjee will also be seen in Subhash Ghai's Joggers Park (opposite Perizaad Zorabian). He plays an elderly man to whom the young Perizaad is attracted and for whom she leaves her boyfriend (Hiten Tejwani of the television serial Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi).

Incidentally, Banerjee's daughter Diya married her 'firang' boyfriend Michael David in Kolkata a few days ago.