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Shahid Kapur is set to play a double role in Vishal Bharadwaj's Kaminey. The film is a comedy in which one character, played by Shahid, stammers while the other one lisps.

It seems that comparisons with Shah Rukh Khan won’t leave Shahid Kapur ever. After trying oh-so-hard to carve a niche for himself in the big bad world of Bollywood and struggling for long to come out of the shadow of favourite actor SRK, Shahid is miserable at being compared with the King Khan yet again.

Although Rani and Shahid have never appeared together on screen their jodi seem to have caught the imagination of the directors. Believe it or not the two stars will be romance each other in two back to back movies. The first will be made by Rani's on and off beau Aditya Chopra who seems to be obsessed with his lady love under the Yash Raj banner. The second will be directed by Priyadarshan.

If reports are to be believed Rani and Shahid will feature in a very bold scene in the Aditya Chopra flick. It will be interesting to see the chemistry between Rani and her sworn enemy Kareena's ex beau. The movie will give Rani a chance to hide her ageing signs starring opposite a much younger hero!

Few stars practice what they preach and Shahid Kapoor is one amongst those few. A source close to the star reveals, "Stars rarely use the brands they so passionately promote. What concerns them is only the money factor. The only star that chooses to be an exception is Shahid Kapoor."

After the recent blasts that rocked New Delhi, Mumbai is on high alert. And one actor who is not leaving anything to chance is Shahid Kapur.

Speaking at the 'Alert Mumbaikar', a campaign launched by Idea Cellular [Get Quote], the actor said, "I have never found myself in trouble before. But now we need to be aware of our surroundings all the time."

He also encouraged citizens to be alert and inform of anything amiss to the 24-hour 'Idea Safe Mumbai Helpline' launched by Idea.

"This number (9702100100) is for your awareness," he added.

Sanjeev Aga, Managing Director, Idea Cellular said, "It gives us pleasure to partner Mumbai police in this unique endeavour. Let us support this idea and make our city terror free."

Fans of Shahid Kapoor are still a little confused over who is his lover, names such as Tennis babe Sania Mirza and fellow actress Vidya Balan have been mentioned, but did you know that Priyanka Chopra has also become smitten with the baby face actor?

The two have been shooting for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminay during which they have bonded. A source close to Shahid says, “Shahid and Priyanka have been getting close ever since Shahid distanced himself from Sania a month ago.”

What might amaze you is that Shahid has been fond of Priyanka ever since he laid eyes on her, a good few years ago. Says the source, “Right now they are very fond of each other. There’s nothing else to it. They are both feeling vulnerable. Things are cooling off between Shahid and Sania and Priyanka and Harman are fighting and arguing ever since the release of Love Story 2050. When Harman went to Jaipur to shoot for Victory, Priyanka joined Shahid in Pune to shoot for Kaminay. And a new friendship is emerging on the sets.”

An insider says, “Recently, both were spotted at the premiere of Tahaan because both are close to Mubeena Rattonsey, the executive producer of the film. They became closer because of this common friend. Priyanka, Mubeena and Shahid often go out for dinners and hang out together. Shahid and Priyanka even sat together during the screening. Interestingly, they stay in the same apartment complex, Raj Classique at Versova, and have also been spotted travelling together to shoots.”

Shahid’s spokesperson maintains, “He shares a very professional relationship with Priyanka. He’s single and has been going out and meeting new people. But there is no romantic angle to his friendship with Priyanka.”

It has been reported that Shahid Kapur will be playing a bad guy role for Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminay.

Says a friend of Shahid’s, “Every day in the morning, he asks Vishal, ’so what’s the new bad thing I will do today?’ In the film, Shahid plays a stylised bad guy who loots, steals and gambles. Up till now, the actor has always played the nice-guy-next-door and Kaminay is completely opposite to what he’s played earlier.”

The friend adds further, “Normally, Shahid likes to take a break for every film. But this year, has been different. After Ken’s film he went straight to a workshop with Vishal Bhardwaj and now he’s shooting for Vishal’s film. After that, he starts Yash Raj’s next. In fact, Shahid, who is in Pune shooting for Kaminay, went a day earlier to acquaint himself with the race-track and the people around. He shot a scene where he’s betting at the track and another, where he commits a robbery. For Shahid, it was a complete revelation; he has never stepped into a race course in is life.”

Shahid is having a blast working with Vishal and is more than excited to be learning so much from the talented director. In this particular film Shahid will be sporting long hair, stubble and a goatee.

Shahid Kapur who plays the lead in Ken Ghosh’s upcoming film Yahoo cannot dance. But the actor’s fans needn’t worry as it won’t be long before Shahid is back on the dance floor. However, this is a matter of worry for Ken Ghosh, who has no option but to postpone the release of his film by six months. Shahid is nursing a neck injury and is yet to heal completely.

Had Shahid not suffered the injury, Ken would have completed the film by next month and Yahoo would have hit the theatres in November or December 2008. Ken admits, “We are now looking to release Yahoo in May 2009. And it’s okay, because my film is perfect for a release during vacation time.”

Meanwhile, Shahid has given Ken’s dates to Vishal Bharadwaj and is currently busy shooting for Vishal’s Kaminay (co-starring Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte) in Pune. “Since Vishal’s film, Kaminay is also for UTV Motion Pictures, it’s no problem. Meanwhile, I have shot other portions with Shahid that don’t require him to shake a leg,” Ken adds.

Talking about Shahid’s injury, Ken says, “Shahid’s doctors have advised him to go slow on dancing for a few months. He is undergoing physiotherapy now. He should be fine in a month or two.”

Shahid Kapoor is known for his dancing skills, which he most recently displayed in his film Kismat Konnection. Although not much has been revealed about Yahoo, Ken wanted a new dance style, as song and dances are a major part in Yahoo. Ken has even hired American choreographer James Martin Kudelka, who has choreographed the likes of Britney Spears and Justin Kimberley, to teach Shahid new moves.

Kismat Konnection took a good initial at theatres. There were many expectations from this Shahid Kapoor starrer, after his last two hits, Vivah and Jab We Met but audiences and critics alike were seriously disappointed by this Aziz Mirza 'mis'directed venture.

Undeterred, producer Ramesh Taurani held an informal get-together for the team at his house last week. And the actor was asked to perform on the Aay Pappi number.

Thank you

A source present at the party reveals, "The party was Rameshji's way of saying thanks to the cast and crew for KK's fantastic opening.

It was an informal event, so everyone came in according to their convenience. Dance director Ahmed Khan felt that the party was getting very boring and asked the DJ to play songs from the film.

He even got the unit members on the floor. Then he announced that Shahid was going to dance to get the party going. Shahid declined at first but everyone joined in and asked him to take to the floor. He finally relented but on the condition that Ahmed dance with him.

Dance with me

The source continues, "The choreographer hit the floor with Kapoor but halfway through the song, he stepped aside and let Shahid have the stage. As the song was about to end, Shahid called all the girls in the party to join him."

Ramesh Taurani, the producer and host confirms, "Yes, Shahid did dance to the song from the movie at my party. Generally, Shahid always leaves my parties within half an hour, come what may! This time he was happy and stayed right till the end."

The response to Kismat Konnection has been mixed but it seems that actor Shahid Kapur is in no mood for any kind of criticism. CNN-IBN caught up with the actor, post the box office results of the film.

Shahid Kapur: I am very happy. It was a very important film for me. Coming after Vivah and Jab We Met, there were expectations around the film.

Question: The industry has been in a way divided in terms of response for the film. How are you taking these criticisms that are coming your way?

Shahid Kapur: There are three types of films which actors usually do. One, are those films that are loved by audiences and are not understood by the critics at all. There is another section that is loved by critics but no one goes to watch those films. The third type is, which both the audience and the critics love. I always love to be part of the films which audiences love, even if the critics don’t like it.

Question: In terms of Vidya and your onscreen chemistry, there has been a divide in terms of the response that you have got. What do you have to say about that?

Shahid Kapur: I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. Whether I like it or not, I don’t want to sit here and justify anything because each person goes to the theatre and has a right to walk out with whatever opinion they have. But, I would not like to discredit anything from Vidya. She is a very important part of the film. She is the lead actress of the film and today if the film is successful, her contribution cannot be ignored.

Question: Finally looking back, if there is anything you would want to change in Kismat Konnection, what would that be?

Shahid Kapur: There are a few scenes here and there that I felt, I could do better. But, I guess that is a part of every film that you do, you feel that you could do better.

A cheering crowd of fans greeted Shahid Kapur and Vidya Balan at the red carpet premiere of Kismat Konnection in the Capital on Friday night. And although the lead pair has been feverishly denying any romantic connection off the screen, everyone was asking them the million-dollar-question first up.

"It's my private space, we are good friends, beyond that if people are going to write, there is not much one can do about it," stated Shahid.

Vidya too made it clear that there was no romance in the air.

"We are co-stars who get along well, which is what shows on screen and that's about it for the moment," she said.

True or false, the romantic rumour surely promoted the movie in a big way. But the stars couldn't help but disagree.

"I think a good film always does well. If the film is good people will like it. Nothing else can make it work," said Shahid.

"Honestly I don't know how much all this hype helps. A good film works irrespective," added Vidya.

Well, only time will tell if Shahid and Vidya can connect with the audience or not. Meanwhile, Vidya, who's been repeatedly slammed by the fashion police, believes that the movie has helped her connect with her style quotient like never before.

"I have been getting a lot of compliments for my look in the movie. I am sporting a new western look," she stated.

Well, that's a little hard to believe and will have to watch the movie to really know if Vidya can be taken at her word.

After the brilliant Jab We Met, Shahid Kapur hopes to give us another good film, Kismat Konnection, this Friday.

Nithya Ramani spoke to the actor, and asked him to shed light on his new film, directed by Aziz Mirza and co-starring Vidya Balan.

What is Kismet Konnection about?

It is a romantic comedy, similar to what you would expect of an Aziz Mirza film. In all his films, his protagonists always represent the common man. The characters are never too heavy, or senseless.

I play Raj, a struggling architect. Everybody thinks that he will make it big one day but it has been five years, and nothing much has happened yet. The character is very different than the one I played in Jab We Met, where I was very silent.

Do you believe in kismat?

Yes, I believe that there is another force that inspects our life. Like hard work and effort, fate plays a vital role in everyone's life. People should know how to recognise an opportunity and grab it.

This is your first film with Vidya Balan. How has the experience been?

She is a wonderful actress, very simple and easy to get along. It becomes very easy if the actors get along well with each other. Initially, everyone was worried about how we would break the ice. But she made it very simple. She came up to me and asked for my autograph on the first day of the shooting. All of us started laughing.

Question: Fresh from the success of Jab We Met, Shahid Kapoor is all set with Kismet Konnection, which will hit theatres this Friday. CNN-IBN’s entertainment editor Rajeev Masand quizzed him on his films and of course the much talked about link-ups.

Question: Your new look is for Vishal Bharadwaj's film called Kameenay. It is a very interesting title. What can you tell us?

Shahid Kapoor: Nothing actually. We have just started shooting for the film. It is a very interesting film. Yes I think Kameenay is the working title of the film as of now. I don’t know if Vishal would want to retain it for the film. It is something different.

Question: You have to tell us. Are you Kameenay?

Shahid Kapoor: Well, you have to see the film.

Question: On one hand you do a film like Vivah, which is an old fashioned, back to the roots kind of story and on the other hand you do a film like Jab We Met, which is a younger and a different kind of a narrative and mindset completely. The real Shahid…What is he drawn to?

Shahid Kapoor: Definitely, I can’t connect to a guy who is getting into an arranged marriage. It is not my space personally. But what excites me is to try something new. I guess that always comes from the director. I like all kinds of films. But I think the film Jab We Met is a film reflective of a person that I am, in the sense of sensibility and not the character.

Question: Are you kind of tired with the whole country trying to get you hooked up? Everyday there is a different name. Are you going to do us a favour and get yourself a girlfriend and tell us her name so that everyone stops bothering you?

Shahid Kapoor: I guess if people are a little patient, I am sure someone will come along, who I will like. I am sure that will happen. I have always said that I am never going to make an effort to hide that I am in a relationship.

But at the same time I don’t feel the need to stand on the rooftop and shout about it. Because, being an actor I am aware that there is already going to be certain amount of curiosity, which is going to come in my personal space. I am a private person. I like to guard my private space.

If there is someone, I will go out watch a movie, go for a dinner and go out with friends. Then, people will know about it.

Shahid Kapur has really got the paparazzi confused. The actor just keeps oscillating between his two ‘good friends’ – actress Vidya Balan and tennis star Sania Mirza.

Yesterday, the tinsel town was abuzz with talks of Shahid’s closeness with the Kismat Konnection co-star Vidya Balan. Today, the gossip mills are croaking about Shahid’s fast growing friendship with Sania Mirza.



Sania, who has been spotted with Shahid on more than one occasion in the past, was seen early this week spending a whole day with Shahid on the sets of Vishal Bharadwaj ’s film Kaminay that stars Shahid and Priyanka Chopra .

Reports have it that the film was being shot on Sandhurst Road where Sania arrived to say hi to Shahid and ended up staying for hours. She observed the shooting and chatted with Shahid in between shots. The couple looked very comfortable with each other.

Meanwhile, Shahid has as yet refused to give a clear answer to whether he is single anymore after his break-off from Kareena Kapoor .

The guy’s keeping everyone in suspense.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan with his killer makeover and the raunchy masculine look might have inspired the B-town to hop on the six pack abs brigade but looks ike the change in his image hasn’t gone down so well with King Khan’s loyalist director Aziz Mirza who feels that SRK looks too old to play the lead in his movies anymore.After delivering Box Office blockbusters like Raju Ban Gaya Gentlemen, Yes Boss, Chalte Chalte, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani starring SRK, the ace director has now switched loyalties by opting out for younger actors like Shahid Kapur, as he returns to tinsel town after a long hiatus with his much talked about flick ‘Kismat Konnection’. Speaking to a news daily Mirza said, “Shah Rukh is too old for the role in Kismat Konnection . The role is about the life of a 26-year-old and Shah Rukh is 40 plus. It doesn’t suit him”.

Even though Mirza might have replaced SRK with Shahid he still aims to stick by another favorite of his, actress Juhi Chawla. The film will see the graceful actress in a short supporting role which according to reports Mirza has been very impressed with. Well, we wonder then what is the ‘Nareal award’ winner for the worst dressed celebrity Vidya Balan doing in this youthful flick as the actress has been said to be a little to matured to be sharing screen space with cutie, Shahid.

However, Mirza does not share this otherwise popular opinion as the director states that the two look good together and share fabulous screen chemistry. He goes on to justify that the pair was cast keeping the ‘sensibilities’ of role in mind. So can we say that Shahid is the new SRK. Well at least for Mirza he is.

Ravi Chopra’s next film may not star his favourite actor, Amitabh Bachchan. After his last production, Bhootnath, Chopra is set to produce and direct Pocketmaar. The film revolves around a man, who is robbed of his cash and important documents. While Chopra wants Amitabh to play the robbed victim, he is still casting the other characters of the film. Among those approached were Shahid Kapur and Ranbir Kapoor. But both actors turned down the offer. The reason? Apparently, the role was not meaty enough. There were fears that Amitabh’s role may hog all the limelight. But now, it seems Amitabh is having second thoughts as well. Last heard, the actor is rethinking the script.

Will we see the Baghban and Baabul team come together again? Let’s wait and watch.

Shahid Kapur and Vidya Balan have been constantly in the news for their alleged romance that blossomed on the sets of Kismat Konnection. The actor believes that now that he is single, he is going to be linked with every co-star. “People have been talking about it. I don’t think I need to clarify anything. We spent 15 days together in Toronto on the shoot and became very good friends, but we didn’t have much of a choice,” he says. About his first-time pairing with Vidya, Shahid adds, “People were skeptical about how Vidya and I would look together. But the way the film has turned out shows that it’s all good. It has been cast according to its requirement and I think that is the strength of the movie. If script and characters are good people like films. People liked my character in Jab We Met. They liked my pairing with Kareena. It’s the same with Kismat Konnection — people will like our characters and our pairing too. Shahid is also a big believer in luck, “Yes, I believe in luck because I feel that it plays important part in our lives.”

The Jab We Met actor received a lot of praise for his work in the film and though people would like to see him in more romantic comedies, Shahid would like variety.

“I am very happy that people like me in romantic comedies. But at the same time, I feel that if I do too much of the same thing, people will get bored. They want to see me in different roles. I would get bored of myself, so I try to mix and match. I am trying to do different kind of roles now,” he says.