Rekha not in Krrish sequel

There is much speculation about who will be in Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish 2, the sequel to his science fiction superhero thriller, Krrish.

Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra played the lead pair in the original. Hrithik played Krishna, a boy with supernatural powers who follows his girlfriend to Singapore. Rekha was perfect as his protective grandmother and Naseeruddin Shah as the evil Dr Siddhanth.

Like the original, this time round too Hrithik will play superhero. But Rekha will not be a part of the film. It has also been confirmed that Vivek Oberoi is to play a strong negative character for which at one time Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn were considered. Likewise, Chitrangda Singh is to play a vamp in the film. Names like Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif were tossed around for the female lead, but it is Priyanka who is confirmed for the sequel.

This time, the science fiction will be a bigger budget extravaganza. If all goes well, Krrish 2 is expected to go on the floors in India in October this year. Rakesh Roshan will be directing the movie.

Rajni to romance 7 actresses

While earlier rumor mills were doing the rounds that megastar Rajinikanth’s upcoming flick ‘Rana’ will be having three heroines, now reports are trickling in that the forthcoming Rajini starrer will be having seven leading ladies.

Well, just like inflation, the number of female leads in Rajinikanth’s future film has also increased all of a sudden, and the unanticipated augmentation of female protagonists in the film was reported by the ‘Rana’ director K. S. Ravikumar.

Recently, in an exclusive one to one with the media, filmmaker K.S. Ravikumar uttered that the much talked about upcoming film ‘Rana’ will be having not three, but seven bombshells.

But at the same time, Ravikumar also said that only three out of those seven leading ladies will be playing Rajini’s love interest in the film.

The gripping female casting of ‘Rana’
Initially, it was learnt that Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Rekha will be the three leading actresses in ‘Rana', but then eventually because of some unknown reasons Vidya and Rekha didn’t sign the dotted line.

After this, scuttlebutts had it that that superstar Rajinikanth, who is playing a triple role in 'Rana', will be seen romancing Deepika Padukone, Asin and South hottie Anushka Shetty in the flick.

However, moviemaker Ravikumar denied all gossips and said that only Deepika has been zeroed in for 'Rana' so far, whereas the other six actresses are yet to be finalized.

Deepika turns action heroine in ‘Rana’
After showing her tough side in 'Chandni Chowk to China', Deepika is once again gearing up for some action sequences for the Rajinikanth starrer ‘Rana'.

Apparently, the ‘Dum Maaro Dum’ sizzler is getting herself trained in martial arts for performing the stunts in ‘Rana'.

With Deepika turning an action heroine, and Rajini sharing screen space with 7 hotties, the forthcoming flick ‘Rana’ has become a much awaited one for the moviegoers.

Rekha says no to Rana

Nobody says no to Rajinikanth. But Madame Rekha has just done it. The actress has walked out of Rajini starrer Rana due to some monetary issues with the film's producers.

The producers of the film are now planning to rope in Hema Malini for the same role.

The film features South Indian superstar Rajinikanth in a triple role and Deepika Padukone in the female lead. The other two women in the film are yet to be finalised, now that Rekha has dropped out.

According to a source, "Rekha was scheduled to be paired opposite the older Rajinikanth, while Deepika was all set to romance the younger one. However, there have been some monetary issues between Rekha and the producers.

She in not keen to work in the film, unless she is paid what she thinks she deserves. The producers of the film, Ocher Studios, have now spoken to Hema Malini for the role and will be meeting her shortly.

Apparently, Rekha asked for around four crores for the film and the producers were not ready for such a huge amount. That's why Rekha chose to walk out of the film."

When contacted, the official spokesperson of Eros refused to comment on the problems, saying, "We will make an announcement once the casting is done."

Rekha remained unavailable for comments.

Big B turns comedian for Rana

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will be seen working with South demi God Rajnikanth in “Rana”. Big B will be acting a comic role in the movie.

As readers know that the two are good friends from a long time and have worked together in films like “Hum”, “Andha Kanoon” and “Giraftaar”.

Following the blockbuster success of “Robot”, Rajni is keeping no stone unturned for “Rana”, in which he is going to play triple role. Two of them are full-fledged parts, while the third is a cameo.

In the film, Rajni will be seen romancing Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan as well as Rekha.

According to the reports, Rekha will co-star opposite the older Rajnikanth, Vidya will be with the middle-aged character and Deepika opposite the youngest.

Co-incidentally, all the three actresses come from South Indian background. The film will also be made in Telugu and Tamil and Rekha is said to be excited about her role.

Rajni and Rekha earlier worked together in films like “Bhrashtachar”, “Phool Bane Angaaray” and “Bulandi”.

In the movie, Sonu Sood will be seen playing role of a bad man. The film will be directed by KS Ravi Kumar and will be jointly produced by Eros International and Soundarya Rajinikanth’s Ocher Studios Pvt Ltd. “Rana” will hit floors this April.

“Rana” is a very special film for music maestro A R Rahman as he will be working with filmmaker K.S. Ravi Kumar after a decade.

Big B to do a cameo in RANA

Temples have been built and aartis religiously conducted for these two superstars. Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, who are still worshiped by their loyal fans in north and south India respectively, are set to come together again on the silver screen after a gap of two decades.

We hear that Mr. Bachchan will have a guest appearance in Rajinikanth’s next film Rana. The movie, to be directed by K. S. Ravikumar, will have Rajinikanth in a triple role. Three actresses from Bollywood -- Deepika Padukone, Vidya Balan and Rekha -- have reportedly been signed opposite Rajini in the film.

But one of the highlights is sure going to be the cameo by Big B. He will appear in the second half of the film but the details of his role are not being revealed.

Mr. Bachchan and Rajinikanth have previously worked in Hindi films like Giraftaar and Hum. They are very good friends and Big B even shared the stage with Rajinikanth during the promotions of the mega star’s last release Endhiran (Robot) last year, co-starring the Bachchan bahu Aishwarya Rai.

Rekha opposite Rajini in Rana?

After Deepika Padukone, Rajinikanth is keen to get another Bollywood actress Rekha in his live-animation film Rana.

Rajinikanth seems to be really putting together things for a grand comeback in Bollywood. While his next ambitious project Rana is primarily a Tamil film, it is being made as a bilingual in Hindi as well. Top Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has already been roped in to play the female lead opposite Rajinikanth. But Rajinikanth has a triple role in the film which adds to the possibility of having more leading ladies being paired opposite him.

Recently there was buzz that Madhuri Dixit was offered the film which she declined. If latest rumours are to be believed, the makers have approached Rekha to be paired opposite Rajinikanth in the film. Interestingly even the last Hindi film of Rajinikanth ( Bulandi , which released in 2000) had Rekha in it though they were not romantically paired opposite each other. Rajinikant and Rekha have also worked in the past in Phool Bane Aangaray .

Incidentally both Deepika Padukone and Rekha are from South origin though they are popular actresses in their own right in Bollywood.