March 20: Three months after his operation for intestinal problems,
superstar Amitabh Bachchan today got back to work, facing the camera
for Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" in Mumbai.
Bachchan, who was operated for diverculitis of small intestine on
November 30 last year, had been advised to refrain from work for at
least a month by doctors.
But the star has seemingly recovered very fast, attending award
functions, dubbing for his films and even singing a song for family
friend and music director, Aadesh Srivastav.
Today, however, would be the first time that he would get back to
full-fledged shooting, with Johar's film, also starring Shah Rukh
Khan, Rani Mukerjee, Preity Zinta, and Abhishek Bachchan.
The schedule as expected was light, with just one scene being filmed
on Amitabh and Rani Mukherjee. Later in the week, however, the Big B
of Bollywood is scheduled to shoot a song with the rest of the cast.
Also in the pipeline are shooting schedules for Ravi Chopra's
"Babul", and his make-up man, Deepak Sawant's Bhojpuri film "Ganga".
Bachchan has also finished dubbing for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film
"Eklavya".
Industry estimates put the figure riding on Amitabh Bachchan at Rs
80 crore.
Editor's note: The film "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna"
was shot entirely in the USA with a few shots in Mumbai. The movie
explores darker side of human relationships and how they affect
everyone around them. The film is slated for late 2006 release.
Trivia: The story of this film is rumored to be inspired from
the Hollywood film, Closer.
March
20: It's Aishwarya Rai and not Sushmita Sen who will be
playing “Jhansi Ki Rani."
"Pinjar" director Chandraprakash Dwivedi clarified this
saying he had offered the Miss World the role of Ashoka’s
wife and not of Rani ki Jhansi in his forth-coming film with
the same name.
It seems Sushmita had been keen to play "Jhansi Ki Rani" and
had been researching on this part on her own. She had even
spoken to Dwivedi about this, the director admits.
"I had met Sushmita for 'Ashoka' and not for 'Jhansi Ki
Rani', as reported in a section of the press. As far as I
know Ketan Mehta is making 'Jhansi Ki Rani' with Aishwarya
Rai. This is nothing but an attempt to play up the two
actresses,” Dwivedi said commenting on media reports that
the two Bollywood beauties have crossed swords over this
role.
Sushmita
Sen is cast as the fifth wife of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The
actress took keen interest in the character and seemed very
impressed by my historical research. She asked me numerous
questions about her role, Dwivedi said adding that she told
the former Miss world that ‘its a role only she can play.
It seems five years ago Sushmita had refused an item song in
Santosh Sivan's "Ashoka" saying if she had to do a
historical film she may like to have a role that’s more
integral to the movie.
Now in Dwivedi’s ‘Ashoka' that may star a major Hollywood
actor it looks Sushmita has got a chance to prove that she
is a serious actress and not a mere item girl.
March 20: Three months after his operation for intestinal problems,
superstar Amitabh Bachchan today got back to work, facing the camera
for Karan Johar's "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" in Mumbai.
Also in the pipeline are shooting schedules for Ravi Chopra's
"Babul", and his make-up man, Deepak Sawant's Bhojpuri film "Ganga".
March
20: It's Aishwarya Rai and not Sushmita Sen who will be
playing “Jhansi Ki Rani." 
Sushmita
Sen is cast as the fifth wife of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The
actress took keen interest in the character and seemed very
impressed by my historical research. She asked me numerous
questions about her role, Dwivedi said adding that she told
the former Miss world that ‘its a role only she can play.
