Write On!

GUESS who8217;s busy writing a script for Karan Johar? None other than Company boy Vivek Oberoi! Some months ago, the K3G director offered ...

GUESS who8217;s busy writing a script for Karan Johar? None other than Company boy Vivek Oberoi! Some months ago, the K3G director offered Vivek a role in a thriller he planned to direct. Vivek jumped at the opportunity, but the film didn8217;t happen because Shah Rukh, who was in the lead, was in no mood to indulge in any death-defying action scenes with his bad back. Johar put the film in cold storage and promised Vivek he would make the film someday. In the meantime, Johar has taken over the production responsibilities of a sweet romance that his assistant is directing with Shah Rukh, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. Contrary to rumours that Saif was brought in when Vivek turned down this project, Vivek says he was never approached for this one. He is, however, working on a script for Johar, which he hopes Johar will want to make with him in the lead someday.

Promises to Keep

APPARENTLY, Aishwarya Rai stepped in for a guest appearance in K C Bokadia8217;s Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam on the request of her then beau Salman Khan. The actress agreed to a teensy-weensy walk-on part in the long-delayed project, and didn8217;t even charge the makers a bomb. Months later, she requested Salman to come in and return the favour on Rohan Sippy8217;s Kuch Na Kaho in which she was starring with Abhishek Bachchan. The macho actor promptly obliged. However, much time passed between the time he made the promise and the time he was called upon to fulfil it. By the time the Sippys called Salman to discuss his special appearance, the lovebirds had called it quits, and Salman flatly refused to do the role.

Queen of Hearts

SHE may have only a bit role in the film, but Ayesha Dharker8217;s turn as Queen Jamillia in Star Wars: Episode II 8211; Attack of the Clones has done more for her than her pivotal roles in such films as The Terrorist and Mystic Masseur. The actress now has a half-dozen or so fansites dedicated to her on the Internet, with screengrabs of her from the film, dressed up like the fantastical queen. Dharker herself laughs at her appearance in Star Wars, describing her get-up as that of a penguin. It8217;s unlikely that Queen Jamillia will return for the final instalment of George Lucas8217; classic saga, so she said her goodbyes to the cast and crew at the London premiere some weeks ago. From here, she goes straight into Bombay Dreams where she will play a saucy temptress. Also, there8217;s a role in an under-production John Malkovich film she8217;s hoping to snag.

Payback Time

IT8217;S all about friendship, this business. Sonali Bendre agreed to make an uncredited special appearance in the Ajay Devgan-Rani Mukherjee starrer Chori Chori on the request of the actor, a close friend of Ms Bendre. Long after the film was shot and Ms Bendre8217;s portions were filmed, the movie is still languishing in the cans in search of a buyer. According to inside sources, Sonali is yet to be paid for her little favour. Shouldn8217;t Devgan step in and ensure that his producers shell out the promised sum?

Nagging Doubt

Who would you like to see playing the lead character in Ramgopal Varma8217;s recently announced film Bhoot?

Marc Robinson: 8216;8216;There isn8217;t much choice. He will cast Urmila Matondkar in the role.8217;8217;

Amrita Arora: 8216;8216;Urmila should do it because she8217;s so good at playing psychotic roles. She goes all out. Watch her as the obsessed lover in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya and you8217;ll know what I mean.8217;8217;

Aryan Vaid: 8216;8216;I would like to play the role of a bhoot. It would be fun to do that and I8217;d love to see myself on screen as a ghost.8217;8217;

Sonali Kulkarni: 8216;8216;Not me! I certainly don8217;t look like a bhoot.8217;8217;