Band Baaja Baaraat girl Anushka Sharma is on a high these days. Because among the millions who turned fans after her fabulous performance in the film, is none other than painter M.F. Husain, who has gone public about his admiration for Anushka.

But the actress, for now, is maintaining a safe stance with her comments. “I haven’t spoken to him yet, so I can’t believe what people are writing,” she says. But she is happy nonetheless. “I feel very humbled and flattered by his praises. And I also know that he has watched the film a lot of times,” said the actress. Ask her if she’s waiting for the painting that Husain has promised her and she retorts, “Wouldn’t you want an M.F. Husain painting? Everybody would want that. People earn money to buy a painting. So if I get an M.F. Husain painting, then why not?”

I have no interest in politics: Saif

He may be helming a political character in Prakash Jha’s next but Saif Ali Khan claims that he is not the least bit interested in politics in real life. The film in question is Arakshan and it will mark Saif’s entry into the genre of political thrillers. “I have dabbled in romance, drama and even action. But this will be the first time I’ll venture into a political film,” said the chhote nawab.

The film that deals with the issue of reservation quota in the Indian academic system, will see Saif essaying the role of a student with a middle class family background. The story delves into the serious issues of caste-based reservation in government jobs as well as educational institutions. Speaking of his character, Saif said, “I love the character and the story is highly dramatic and emotional. It’s a very vital issue in our country.”

Another reason that adds on to Saif’s excitement is the chance to be working with Amitabh Bachchan after a very long time. The actor last shared screen space with the legend in his debut venture Parampara. “It’s been a very long time indeed and I’m eagerly looking forward to working with him again,” said the actor.

Other actors on board are Deepika Padukone and Prateik Babbar. “After Love Aaj Kal I’m keen to working with Deepika again. And this will be my first time with Prateik, who I’ve met a couple of times at the gym,” he said. It was rumoured earlier that Prakash Jha wanted Ajay Devgn for the lead, but Saif denies knowledge of any such trivia. “I don’t know about it and that doesn’t even play in my mind, since I choose my roles instinctively,” said the actor, who will be sporting a trimmed Zappa moustache, without a goatee, in the film.

Before Dhobi Ghat came by, Monica Dogra was quite alien to the interiors of Bollywood. But when opportunity did knock on her door, she decided to take a leap of faith. “I had seen Kiran in the media and had admired her style and individuality. I decided to audition for the film because I thought she was a really interesting person,” says Monica.

For once it was not Aamir Khan’s presence that lured someone to get onboard a project. “I had no idea that Aamir was involved in the film at all. I agreed to be in the film only knowing that it’s a good script and that Kiran was the director.”

However, when Monica was finally aware of Aamir’s involvement in the project, she was no less in awe. “I realised that I have signed on for something that was much larger than I anticipated. I knew I was getting into something that was going to change my life but I was very excited and nervous,” she confesses.

And Aamir’s effect on Monica was no exception from his other admirers. “I feel that anything Aamir touches turns to gold. As I observed him, I thought I was looking into the encyclopaedia of acting in the Hindi film industry,” she said.

For his next film, the khiladi will be stepping into Dharmendra’s shoes for the remake of the yesteryear blockbuster Seeta Aur Geeta, but not without his leading lady Katrina Kaif, who now Akshay considers to be a lucky charm.

Our source said, “Katrina was always keen to be a part of the project and now with Dibakar Banerjee taking on the mantle of direction, it will be interesting to see how the film shapes up.”

While the original had Sanjeev Kumar in the second lead, the makers of the new version are yet to finalise a face for the same. “The hunt is on for the second lead. Incidentally, lead actor Akshay will be shouldering one more responsibility of co-producing the film along with a few major corporate houses,” added the source.

However, this is not the first remake of Seeta Aur Geeta. The film that was last remade as Chaalbaaz with Sridevi, Sunny Deol and Rajnikanth in the lead, went on to become a huge hit.

And now with Dibakar captaining the new ship, all eyes are on him. “With the flair for comedy that Dibakar has displayed in his previous films, it will surely be interesting to see how he recreates the magic this time round,” said the source.

If you thought the glitterati of Bollywood were back to mending fences, think again. A recent story of Aamir Khan burying the hatchet with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan created a stir of sorts. The two stars had reportedly kissed and made up at Akshay Kumar’s wedding anniversary. But Aamir thinks otherwise.

He denies having made any patch up with anyone. “That’s an imaginary story. Pehle hamara jhagda karaate hain aur phir make up bhi karaa de te hai. I had never fought with anyone nor have I made up. There is no truth in it,” he says.

Q Is it true that you were moving around with a bottle of milk in Las Vegas?
Since I’m very conscious of what I eat and drink, I am habituated to drinking a glass of milk after my dinner. I just shot for Short Term Shaadi in Las Vegas and I don’t think I have ever felt better. I hope I look better too in the film — I have not seen myself in it yet.

Q Do you faithfully follow your dietician Rujuta Diwekar’s diet?
I have just come back from a 15-day holiday; and even there I followed her diet. I also ate the chocolates and the cheeses and I think I still look fit for someone who has holidayed for 15 days. I’m endorsing Rujuta’s second book because I believe in her work — the results are for everyone to see. To me Rujuta is not a dietician nor a friend, but a magician. Thanks to her diet, I’m glowing because I’m eating what I like.

Q Do you think Bollywood celebrities today are very dependent on dieticians?
Bollywood on the whole is on a diet where they don’t eat carbohydrates because they find it easy to follow. Most dieticians will tell you to stop eating rice and roti and you will notice change in your body. However, Rujuta has never told me not to eat roti or rice. I eat everything in the right proportion. You should eat what you want to eat but opt for half of it. Earlier, I would finish a 12-inch pizza all by myself but now I occasionally eat three slices and before that I eat a bowl of salad. So I’m having what I want and yet not putting on weight.

Q It is said that you have also recommended your diets to your co-stars?
While shooting a song for Ra.One, my spot boy Prakash would get me a bowl of makhanas at four o’clock sharp. Shah Rukh asked me what I was having and I gave him some to try, saying my dietician had advised me to have them as they were rich in calcium and iron. Ever since then, Shah Rukh has been addicted to them. Now the entire industry knows I eat phool makhanas and Shah Rukh, Tusshar et al are all having them.

Q And Saif?
Saif has always been fit; he is more fit now thanks to Agent Vinod. He is also into Rujuta’s diet, and he does yoga so I guess my influence has rubbed off him.

Q A few days back Shah Rukh’s look for Ra.One was released. When do we see your look?
It is a strategy by Shah Rukh — first they will reveal the look of Ra.One, then the kid. My look will take time.

Well, well, look who’s the forgiving and forgetting sort. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Just last year, the entire Bachchan parivar had blacklisted a certain media group’s publications and related events after the publication wrongly reported that Aishwarya was suffering from a certain illness.

Despite subsequent apologies by the publication, the First Family of Bollywood was in no mood to let the issue pass. They even boycotted events organised by the publication for the entire year.

However, Aishwarya now seems to want to let bygones be bygones. The actress was recently spotted at a pre-bash, red carpet event for that same publication as though nothing had ever happened. Rumour has it that the actress may even be performing at the awards ceremony organised by the publication.

Looks like it’s all water under the bridge for Ash, but what brought about the change of heart? Was it all the critical acclaim heaped on her post-Guzaarish that has put Ash in a better frame of mind? We can only wonder.

Karan Johar is a happy man these days, especially since the third season of his talk show has turned out to be its best ever. From the Deepika-Sonam Ranbir-bashing episode to Shahid and Priyanka’s joint appearance and Shah Rukh Khan’s highly emotional one, the show has become a talking point among Bollywood watchers and fans. Karan has also managed to get personalities like Vidya Balan, Kangna Ranaut and Mahesh Bhupati to make their first appearances on his show. But what has Karan even more excited is the line-up for the coming episodes, with Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit scheduled to make an appearance.

A source says, “Karan hasn’t been able to make a film with Madhuri, however he is a huge fan of her work. He is very excited about having her on the show again, and this time, he plans to have Sridevi as the second guest. It’s a known fact that the two divas were rivals at one point of time and their coming together on Koffee With Karan should make for an interesting watch.”

Whether the former leading beauties of Bollywood will be utterly diplomatic and utterly boring, or spice up the small screen by subtly baring their claws is anyone’s guess.

Trust Vidya Balan’s friendly and warm nature to endear her to all and sundry. The actress has finished the filming of Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahani, but the unit members still fondly remember Vidya.

A unit source reveals, “The crew just loved Vidya. They could all relate to her very well. Everybody found her to be sensitive and caring, so much so that her mere presence would bring a smile on their faces. They were in fact so happy with her that they coined a new name for her, ‘Sunshine’.”

Interestingly enough, on the last day of the shoot, it had begun raining heavily. Everybody was teasing her about it saying, “It’s started to rain because sunshine is going.” “And even today, Vidya is a favourite with them. Despite the fact that the film is over, they all still keep in touch,” the source added.

The latest buzz in the industry has it that Deepika Padukone has opted out of Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heer and Ranjha to be directed by Sabbir Khan.

Heer and Ranjha had hit the headlines recently and mainstream newspapers had reported that Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone had been roped in to play the lead. It was also for the first time that the two actors were paired together. In fact there were also talks that the contemporary version of Heer and Ranjha would have Deepika sport a very modern look as Heer and that the characters were set in the current era.

Our source said, “Deepika is not going to be a part of the film anymore.” When contacted Deepika’s spokesperson maintained, “We were not approached for it so where is the question of opting out.” What seems strange is how come Deepika never confirmed or denied the news when it was announced earlier.