>Martin Scorsese to produce Shah Rukhs Xtrme City

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Hollywood director to co-produce Xtrme City with Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan’s Indo-Hollywood project Xtrme City just got bigger! Martin Scorcese is coming on board the film and most of the credit for that goes to SRK’s friend and Ra.One screenwriter Mushtaq Shiekh.

Scorsese will co-produce along with David Weisman. Paul Schrader will direct and is also co-writing the film with Mushtaq. Leonardo Di Caprio will star in the film along with SRK.

Says a source connected to the film, “Mushtaq and Paul have been working on the script for a year now. The two, along with SRK and Paul met in Berlin last year at a meeting coordinated by Shiekh.”

Apparently Scorsese has proposed making the film as a fully equal co-production between SRK’s company Red Chillies in India and Scorsese’s company Sikelia Productions in Hollywood, whereby all creative decisions would be shared equally between SRK and Martin.

“A meeting will happen soon to decide how the Bollywood-Hollywood dream can become reality.”

Shiekh confirms, “It’s true. We are all elated. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Martin loved the script and it meant the world to me as the writer of the film along with Paul Schrader.

But when he comes in as the producer of the project, then I am thrilled as it takes the film to another level completely. Inshaallah, all goes well from here onwards. Fingers and all parts of the body crossed.”

The source adds that a year ago, Xtrme City looked like it might remain a pipe dream.

“The sheer logistics of merging two great film-making cultures seemed overwhelming, until a secret meeting took place on February 12 at last year’s Berlin Film Festival between SRK, Leo, Martin, David, Paul and Karan Johar when Shah Rukh was in Berlin for the world premiere of My Name Is Khan and the H-Town actor-director duo were there for the premiere of their Shutter Island premiere the following night.”

Last minute arrangements were promptly made and hours before the MNIK screening. Khan hosted a secret encounter in his Regent Hotel suite.

“The meet-and-greet over coffee was simply intended to break the ice between the international artists who admired and respected each other’s work. It quickly turned into a high-energy encounter.

Topics of discussion included Scorsese’s love for Bollywood cinema and the need for the preservation of its classic works.”

The Xtrme City screenplay was officially presented to SRK, Martin and DiCaprio. “Apparently, the camaraderie evolved from that event. The bonding between the superstars took everyone by surprise.”

>Deepika’s Turn to Be Item Girl!

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Deepika Padukone will be the item number sensation in 2011! At least, that’s what she is aiming for. Deepika will groove to the hit song of Zeenat Aman, ‘Dum Maro Dum’. The year 2010 belonged to Sheila and Munni. If things go her way, 2011 will belong to Deepika. She’s leaving no stone unturned to ensure that her dance number is shot and choreographed by the best team. Her aim is to make it better than ‘Sheila ki Jawani’, a song that continues to rule the roost and get Farah Khan one award after another. In terms of awards, Sheila has beaten Munni quite comprehensively!

The film that Deepika will swing to has the very epitome of sensuality,Bipasha Basu, in the lead. The dance number will be a rehash of the one that made Zeenat Aman a sensation. Deepika wants to look her best and do something that will turn her career on its head. However, it won’t just be Deepika Padukone who will put on her dancing shoes in 2011. Kareena Kapoor will do the same in Shah Rukh Khan’s home production ‘Ra.One’. Her song is titled ‘Chammak Chhallo’. The sensual item song will see the svelte Kareena groove to the beat. As obvious, Shah Rukh is leaving no stone unturned to make his heroine the new buzzword in Bollywood.

Kareena is already the toast of the town, of course! Newcomer Ranveer Singh, who’s grabbing all the debutant male actor awards for ‘Band Baaja Baarat’ is a self-confessed Kareena Kapoor fan. He appeared on Karan’s chat show ‘Koffee with Karan’ and admitted to his undying love for the diva. He didn’t bat an eyelid before going down on his knees to speak about his love for Bebo, despite having lady-love Anushka Sharma on the same couch. Seems like Kareena is a darling that everyone wants to be with!

>Salman Khan approached for YRF Film

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There is no telling what a superhit can do for you! Till ‘Dabangg’ came and blew all box-office records away, very few producers were willing to take the temperamental Salman Khan on board. His star tantrums, his own sense of punctuality and regular run-ins with co-stars and lawmakers, forced marquee production houses to stay far away from Salman. Things have changed with ‘Dabangg’ and ‘Wanted’. While he worked only with friends till some months back, the brawny actor is now getting numerous offers from the bigger names of Bollywood. Case in point is a certain Yash Raj Films.

Yes, you read that right! Aditya Chopra, the scion of Yash Raj Films, approached Salman Khan for a Kabir Khan film. Initially Kabir Khan wanted to repeat his star of two films, John Abraham, in the upcoming one as well. But after the success of ‘Dabangg’, Kabir wants Salman on board. He feels that Sallu would be a bigger draw at the box office for his romantic drama. Aditya Chopra instantly agreed and has started sending out feelers to Salman on accepting the role. Years back, Aditya had approached Salman to play the lead in ‘Chak De India’, a role that went to Shah Rukh Khan. Salman fell out over the money that he was offered.

This time, too, Salman is playing it cautiously. He’s one actor who cannot go to the sets and deliver. He needs to have a good and comfortable work equation with the team. Aditya Chopra is known to be a close friend of Shah Rukh, Salman’s one-time friend and now sworn enemy. Salman is not sure how he will be handled in the film. The enmity between the SRK and Sallu doesn’t look to end despite Shah Rukh’s apology act on ‘Koffee with Karan’. Last heard, Salman was saying that SRK apologized to increase the TRPs of best buddy Karan’s chat show!