MADHURI REFUSES OFFER TO JUDGE REALITY SHOW

Rani comes in as replacement. Madhuri Dixit has backed out of being a judge on the reality show “Dance Premiere League”.

The channel guys were victorious in roping in dance diva Madhuri to be a judge on the show. However, they were not successful in getting a nanny on the show to take care of her two sons, 24/7. Hence Madhuri determined to let the offer go.

Having hosted a wedding show several years ago, this would have been a return for Madhuri on television. But given her priorities, she had first laid down the condition that the channel should arrange for a nanny who would stay on the sets with her children. When this condition was not satisfied Mads left the show.

Now Rani Mukerji has been called to take her place. After the letdown of “Dil Bole Hadippa”, Rani does not have many projects. She wanted to try something new and this gives her a real good occasion to make her presence felt. This also marks debut on television.

ADITYA CHOPRA’S HOLDS PRIVATE FILM SCREENING FOR RANI’S FAMILY

Raja Mukherji is gibbering about his sister in ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’.

Aditya Chopra recently hosted a special screening of “Dil Bole Hadippa” for the Mukerjis.

“ Dil Bole Hadippa” is a very special movie for Aditya – it stars lady love Rani and has been directed by one of his closest friends, Anurag Singh. And hence he held a special show for his very extraordinary lady and her family at the Yash Raj Studios.

This clearly shows Adi’s feelings for Rani Mukerji. Even thought the couple denies being in relationship this special gesture says it all.

Present at the screening were Rani, her mom and dad, her brother Raja and his wife Jyoti.

Aditya, who is known to stay away from the limelight, does not believe in seeking any media attention by holding such screenings. But he did this for his Rani and her family.

After the screening Raja was heard telling everyone, how rocking his sister is in the movie and went on praising her looks and her performance.

Looking at the promos, we cannot help but agree with him.

AAMIR, SRK ‘GAVE BLESSING TO OUR SET IN A WAY’

Rani Mukerji memorizes first day of 'Dil Bole Hadippa' shoot.

Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji says she was pleased to see Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, "two particular people" in her life, on the first day of shooting of her film "Dil Bole Hadippa".

"It was my first schedule for 'Dil Bole Hadippa'. We were shooting the song 'Bhangra Bistar' and accidentally Shah Rukh was shooting for 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' and Aamir was shooting an ad at Yash Raj Films studios at the same time...they were all keen to see what I am doing in the song and if I am playing a man so they came and kind of gave blessing to our set in a way.

"It was really sweet because Aamir and SRK are two very special people in my life and I see their attendance on the set on the first day of the shoot as a happy accident."

Releasing on Sept 18, the film will see the actress playing a man too. She is starring opposite Shahid Kapur and took cricket lessons for the role.

RANI’S ACID TEST THIS FRIDAY

For her, a lot is riding on 'Dil Bole Hadippa'.

After starring in continuous duds like "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic" and "Saawariya" and doing a few cameos in the last two years, Bengali beauty Rani Mukerji returns to the big screen in a new avatar in "Dil Bole Hadippa!". Releasing on Friday (Sept 18), the film will see the actress playing a man too!

Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films (YRF), the romantic comedy is the directorial debut of Anurag Singh, who has been an correlate director for five films with filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and with Sanjay Gadhvi for "Dhooom 2".

The movie also marks the entry of Shahid Kapur into the YRF camp. He is paired opposite Rani.

The film tells the story of Veera (Rani), a fire-cracker of a girl who lives in a small village but dreams of playing cricket in the big league. Rohan (Shahid) is an accomplished captain of a county cricket team in England and returns to India to captain his father's cricket team, which has been losing consecutively since the last eight years.

In a village where girls don't play cricket, Veera has to wear a turban and beard to cover herself as a man to fulfil her dreams. Her brilliancy on the field earns her rave points and an entry into Rohan's team.

"There is something which the film says very subtly because preachy films can be really boring. 'Dil Bole Hadippa!; is very entertaining and in the end, it just leaves you with a thought," Shahid had said.

The 31-year-old actress also hit the gym for her toned look in the movie.

"Rani is very committed towards her body and her dedication has resulted in mind-blowing results. She is looking outstanding," celebrity trainer Satyadev 'Satya' Chaurasia had told IANS.

Debutant director Anurag Singh says the film has been shot entirely in villages.

"There is no trace of any city or skyscrapers in it. We did all our shooting in villages outside Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Amritsar over 80 days," he said.

Asked why he chose Rani and Shahid for the lead role, he said: "I wanted to bring in a pair which had never worked together before. There is some sort of freshness about Rani and Shahid working together. There was instant chemistry between the two," he added.

The film has had its share of controversies too. Initially, the title of the film was "Hadippa" but the rights to the same had been bought by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali who refused to part with it on YRFs request. The movie title was then announced to be "Dil Bole Hadippa!"

Then the Punjabi Cultural And Heritage Board showed displeasure over Rani's character in the film donning a patka instead of a pagdi, since an adult Sikh normally wears a pagdi and not a patka.

The Sikh community also raised objection regarding the use of a patka sign in place of a dot on letter 'I' in the movie title "...Hadippa".

Apparently, this is YRF's second film on a sport after their hockey-centric 2007 hit "Chak De! India". Also starring Anupam Kher and Dalip Tahil along with item girls Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra, the movie premiered at the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival.

RANI DAZZLES AT TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL

‘Dil Bole Hadippa’ premieres at the event. “Dil Bole Hadippa", became the first Bollywood film to premiere at the enduring Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before its release in India.

Present in Toronto, Canada, was the film’s leading lady Rani Mukerji and debutant director Anurag Singh. Seen here is the duo posing for a portrait during the “Dil Bole Hadippa" photo call at The Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto on September 13.

“I am over the moon at this opportunity given to 'Dil Bole Hadippa',” Anurag Singh had said earlier. He surely is looking pleased, but it’s Rani we can’t help admiring. We rarely see in a gown, she’s looking stunning.

SHAHID KAPOOR CHARGES RS 15 CR PER FILM

The actor has saddened Subhash Ghai who approached him with a script.

Director Subhash Ghai is apparently upset with Shahid Kapoor as the actor has asked for Rs 15 crore to do a film with him.

Ten years ago, Shahid Kapoor was a dance spare in Subhash Ghai's Taal and now after the success of Kaminey the actor has asked for Rs 15 crore to do the director’s movie.

Even if Shahid has previously done 36 China Town with Ghai, it seems he is no mood to take a lower price now.

RANI WILL FOLLOW HER HEART

Rani Mukerji is enthusiastic to star in films outside the YRF banner. She has been analysis other scripts but is in no hurry to sign films only to prove a point....

Rani Mukerji is fed up of the cruel efforts by people within the industry who insist on labelling her as the special leading lady of Yash Raj Films. According to Rani, some envious actresses are spreading the rumours. In the meantime, Rani’s friends say that opposing to rumours that she is just not interested in signing films outside the Yash Raj banner, she has been reading scripts by other banners but is in no hurry to sign films just to prove a point.

She was heard telling a friend, “I won’t do something just as it’s expected of me. My heart has to be in it.”

Rani now finds herself in the same place she was during Saathiya in 2002. One of her friends said, “At that time, Rani had only one project, which was Yash Raj’s Saathiya. She had told friends that if it didn’t work, she would quit films. Luckily, Saathiya was a big hit and proved to be a turning point in her career. Now again, Rani has only one film on hand, Dil Bole Hadippa, which again is a Yash Raj film.”

For Dil Bole Hadippa, she has guaranteed that her talent and beauty are showcased better than ever before. Most probably inspired by Andy Fickman’s 2006 football flick She’s the Man where a girl masked herself as a man to enter an all-male soccer team, Dil Bole Hadippa is also about cross-dressing.

Her friend added, “Rani decided to work round-the-clock on her figure so that she could do the burning dance numbers with Shahid. She also spent hours with her chreographer-friend Vaibhavi Merchant so that she could deftly match steps with Shahid.”

RAKHI PRAISES SHAHID FOR SAVING HER LIFE

His timely intervention averted accident.

Rakhi Sawant just can’t stop talking about how Shahid Kapur saved her life on the sets of “Dil Bole Hadippa”.

According to unit sources, Shahid, Rani Mukerji and Rakhi were shooting a sequence for the song “Discowale Khisko”.

Rakhi was standing near a light stand after the shoot when suddenly Shahid noticed that the stand was not properly bored into the ground. He casually walked up to Rakhi and without alarming her told her to move.

The light stand could have fallen on Rakhi any time.

Shahid then told the crew members to fix it properly. Rakhi was so overwhelmed by the gesture that she went on telling everybody that Shahid saved her life.

‘DIL BOLE HADIPPA’ IRKS SIKH COMMUNITY

They mainly have two objections. “Dil Bole Hadippa” is the latest victim of the Sikh community’s ire, after “Singh is Kinng” and “Love Aaj Kal”.

The Sikh community has two issues with the movie.

One objection is with Rani Mukerji’s character in the film. She plays an adult character but wears a ‘patka’. Ideally all adults are supposed to wear a turban and not a ‘patka’, which is for young boys.

Secondly they are upset with the way the title of the film is written on the posters.

The posters show a ‘patka’ sign in place of a dot on letter ‘I’ in the title word “Hadippa”.

The Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board has raised a furore against these issues. The chief of the Board, Charan Singh Sapra, has also met the producers Yash Raj Films to sort out the issues.

Sources close to YRF said that they have full respect for the Sikh community and hence they have addressed all their concerns. Also the objectionable portions from the film have been deleted and new posters with the necessary changes are ready for release.

RANI SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE

Actress Rani Mukherji may have a busy to-do list, but she’s always ready to make time for what’s close to her heart.

Today she will launch Design One — a two-day exhibition, a shopping show with an imposing and innovative group of fashion, jewellery, couture accessories, home decor, gift ideas, packaging, fresh exotic flowers, gourmet food and more. Seven NGOs will showcase their products at the exhibition. An initiative of Sahachari Foundation Events, Design One is dedicated to Apne Aap Women’s Collective, an NGO engaged in grassroot level work to educate children of women in prostitution to give them a better life.

Rani told BT, “I whole heartedly support the noble cause of girl child education and the outstanding effort made by the women of Sahachari Foundation.”

Sahachari, a charitable foundation, was established by 11 women driven by a zeal to employ their collective strengths and resources for the betterment of the lives of those less fortunate.

Design One, supported by Bapalal Keshavlal, IndusInd Bank and Times Foundation, will be held at Expo Hall, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade. It will start today at 4 pm and go on till 8 pm, and will continue tomorrow from 10 am to 8 pm.

THE SECRET OF RANI'S WEIGHT LOSS

Rani's new look in Dil Bole Hadippa.Yoga expert Payal Gidwani made Kareena Kapoor do 50 Surya Namaskars at a stretch till her plump figure reduced to size zero for Tashan. The size zero fact took Kareena’s status to dizzying heights. The same lady has now helped Rani Mukerji shed heaps of weight to look hot and sexy in the promos of Dil Bole Hadippa.

For Rani’s latest film, Dil Bole Hadippa, both the ladies have worked as a team to get the hot body which will help Rani to set silver screens on fire again. Everyone is talking about how thin Rani has become. Rani’s Yoga sessions began on April 16th, 2008. She weighed 56 kilos which made her 5’2” frame look heavy. After months of Yoga, she weighs 49 kilos today, which is the perfect weight for her height. About Rani’s body type, Payal says, “At first Rani had a heavy lower body. She could only do 5-10 Suryanamaskars and had very weak nerves in her body. As a result, stretching would lead to cramps.”

“To increase her cardiovascular patience, I had to integrate simple cardio exercises like walking up and down the stairs of her Juhu bungalow,” says the Yoga expert. “Now Rani has not only lost the extra kilos but she can easily do 100 Suryanamaskars, 2000-2500 Kapalbhati repetitions in one go, she holds on to Asanas for one minute and her breathing technique has improved greatly. There is a glow on her face. All of this was possible because of Rani’s dedication and hard work, praises Payal, adding, “She practiced Yoga for two hours faithfully every morning. Yoga has helped her elongate her muscles and maintain a fit figure.”

So if you have been going gag-ga over Rani’s slim torso poured into glamourous Manish Malhotra bikinis in the remix version of Dil Bole Hadippa, you know a lot of effort and sweat went into achieving that sexy and slim look.

KAMBAKKHT STARS

Rani Mukerji was once the most sought-after actress in B-town. Then a string of flops followed. This slump was written in her stars.

Rani was undergoing an adverse period for two years which will end on September 9. At first, Dil Bole Hadippa, keeping in mind its Desiflavour was to be released in August or early September. Then Aditya Chopra got wind of Rani’s period of bad luck due to which the date was shifted to September 18.

Dil Bole Hadippa can easily be called Rani’s most important film. It is her first release in over a year and her last was Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in 2006.

A string of flops like Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic followed. She was also criticized for her weight gain.

So important is Dil Bole Hadippa, which Rani has gone on a weight-loss spree, losing 10 kilos and has also adopted a glamourous avatar for a few songs in the film. Along with that, she has also dressed and acted like a cricket-playing Sardar in the film.

She and Aditya took a personal interest in the making of the film and they re-shot portions they were not happy with.

Hopes are pinned high on Shahid’s fan-following, fans of Rani who were waiting for her comeback and the music and promos of the film to push people to see the film.

We just hope Rani’s stars don’t play spoil sport and shine in her favour as officially, she doesn’t have any other movie after this as she only works with YRF and Dharma.

LOOK AT: RANI IN A BIKINI

The video of the remix version of Dil Bole Hadippa, which is suggestive of Break Free and Dhoom Again, features a super slim Rani Mukherjee in bikini tops and mini skirts.

The video has been choreographed by Ahmed Khan, who also the Mere Sang and Yaaron remixed videos. Rani’s costumes have been designed by Manish Malhotra, who also worked on her look in the Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte video.

A source tells us, “Shahid is a luminous and energetic dancer and Rani, who is also a charming dancer has matched him step for step. It has been a while since we saw her dancing like this. The promotional video is likely to be used at the end of the film.”

Our source continues, “So far we have seen Rani in Sardarni and cricketer avatars in the movie. This is her other look. The film already has wanna shine starlets Rakhi Sawant and Sherlyn Chopra doing item numbers with a lot of skin show but clearly, they don’t have Rani’s class, elegance and star power. Rani doesn’t look vulgar or cheap at all. Almost all YRF movies have their heroines in bikinis; take the Dhoom flicks, Tashan and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic for example. The actresses have lost weight for their roles and Rani is no exception. She has lost a lot of weight and it shows. The last time she wore a costume was in Chalte Chalte.”

Payal Gidwani, who made Kareena achieve her size zero figure has helped Rani with her Yoga routine too. She told us, “Rani weighed 56 kilos but now she weighs only 49. Her hard work has paid off and the results are for everyone to see. Her problem was her lower area but now the formation of her body has changed. Her metabolism and stamina have also increased. There is a glow on her face and she looks great. She doesn’t miss a single Yoga session even if she is traveling and practices for 2 hours every morning.”

RANI'S TORONTO TALES

Rani Mukerji’s Dil Bole Hadippa! has been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The film, being produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by Anurag Singh, stars Shahid Kapoor and Rani in direct roles. In the movie, Rani decides to dresses up as a man in a turban and beard to fulfill her dreams.
Though Rani hasn’t been seen at many parties or premieres in Mumbai, we hear that she is likely to walk the red carpet to attend the first public screening of the movie on September 13.

RANI AND HARMAN IN TORONTO

Forgotten actors Rani Mukherjee and Harman Baweja have a reason to rejoice; their forthcoming films will be screened at the prominent Toronto festival.

Dil Bole Hadippa and What’s your Rashee will be screened at the festival along with other overseas films. Both Rani and Harman are banking on these films for their fate in Bollywood will be sealed after their release. In view of Rani has been out of the scene since a while now and Harman’s bad luck is making the most of him, the added notice the film’s get is only better.

What’s your Rashee stars Harman Baweja and his more victorious ex-girlfriend Priyanka Chopra. While Piggy Chops has nothing to worry about, Harman’s last two films Love Story 2050 and Victory sank without a trace. The same could go for Rani, Laaga Chunari mein Daag and Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic were awful at boxoffice duds and she’s going all the way for Dil Bole Hadippa. Right from havans and pooja’s, she’s doing the very best to ward off the evil from her filmi career.

Rani plays a woman impersonating a man in the Shahid starrer Dil Bole Hadippa and the film has been touted as a direct lift off Amanda Bynes’s She’s the Man. Whereas What’s your Rashee, is Ashutosh Gowarikar’s effort in making something less patriotic and periodic.

Whether or not the two films will make news at the festival, we don’t know but let’s just hope the Raashee of both these films fare better than the actor’s career’s themselves!