Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Heroine’ continues to make news. After Kareena Kapoor opted out of the project, there’s talk that Madhur has decided to cast either Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or Katrina Kaif in the coveted role. Rumor has it that Madhur is expected to narrate the gist of the subject to Ash, before he meets Katrina. But Madhur denies the development completely.

Says the talented director, “Frankly, I’ve yet to decide what to make next. Therefore, the question of casting Ash or Katrina for ‘Heroine’ just doesn’t arise. In fact, I haven’t even approached Ash or Katrina for the project in question.” He adds, “I am still vacillating what to make next. It could be a love story, it could be a comedy, it could be a realistic film… nothing is finalized. In fact, ‘Heroine’ may or may not happen immediately, since I’ve yet to take a call on it.”

Noted film maker, Madhur Bhandarkar, was working on the script of the film titled “Heroine” from quite some time. Through earlier press interactions we were told by Madhur that the movie was a biopic on the life of Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, Madhur also confirmed the news that Kareena Kapoor has been finalized to play the role of Marilyn.

However now the report is that Madhur has finally shelved the movie/script forever, as per sources, Kareena Kapoor kept on suggesting changes in the script to make the role suit her image, this wasn’t liked by the director much as he is interested in realistic form of cinema, and is known to bring reality to screen rather than focusing the image of the stars working in his films.

When we tried to contact Madhur to confirm the news, he wasn’t available to comment, however report is that since starting Kareena wasn’t keen on signing the movie, as Marilyn was rumoured to have been in relation with both the Kennedy brothers (who were married at that time), and Kareena is currently dating Saif Ali Khan who was also earlier married after which he had a steady relationship with girlfriend, Rosa Catalano, to whom he left because Kareena.

Madhur is currently busy in promoting his upcoming bollywood film, Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji.

Rumours are ripe that Madhur Bhandarkar may choose Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan for his much talked about film Heroine.

With Kareena Kapoor dilly dallying due to some intimate scenes, Bhandarkar is forced to keep his options open. He has also reportedly spoken with with his Fashion heroine Priyanka Chopra.

“At present, I am very busy with Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji and am not working on any other film yet. All these reports are wrong.” Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji releases in January.

Exasperated by Bollywood sassy babe Kareena Kapoor’s repeated requests to tone down the steamy scenes in ‘Heroine’, Madhur Bhandarkar is left with no option but to find a suitable replacement of Bebo and what better than Aishwarya Rai Bachchan!

Given the fact that Kareena’s current work commitments make her busy for more than a year, Madhur recently had a covert meeting with Aishwarya to woo her for ‘Heroine’. Buzz has it that Madhur does not have much time as his producers want to start with the project – with or without Kareena. However, it’s Madhur who is desperately waiting for Kareena’s approval. Apparently, Kareena too wants to work for Madhur but is unable to adjust her jam-packed diary for ‘Heroine’.

However, given the gravity of the issue, Madhur downplayed the news of his meeting Aishwarya. Talking to a daily, Madhur said, “I`m still busy with my film and have no time to meet anyone. I will start meeting people soon.”

Meanwhile, a source said, “Ash has never done a movie in which she was a second preference. Let`s see what Madhur can do and who he can rope in if Kareena falls through.”

Who will be Madhur’s heroine – will it be Kareena or Aishwarya? Watch this space soon!

It was recently reported that all is not well between director Madhur Bhandarkar and actress Kareena Kapoor, as the actress rejected his offer to play the lead in his ambitious project, ‘Heroine’. But at the recently held Bombay Times 16th anniversary party, the two were quite inseparable.

The duo indulged in an animated conversation, ignoring everything and everybody around them and we couldn’t help but wonder what they might be discussing. Probably, the director was trying hard to convince the girl to sign on the dotted lines. He might have even tried to lure Kareena into it by promising her a National award, considering that Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut, the actresses of his previous film ‘Fashion’, both won the prestigious honour.

But why would Kareena not do Madhur’s ‘Heroine’? The actress, who has impressed all with films like ‘Omkara’ and ‘Chameli’, seems to be completely focusing towards commercial films in recent times. And this, even if the roles aren’t very rich or don’t have much scope to perform. Trade pundits are of the opinion that this might be a conscious effort. An analyst tells us, “Kareena has turned 30 recently, and she is conscious that her streak as one of Bollywood’s leading actresses will not stay with her forever.”

However, the actress denies that there’s any planning involved. She says, “It’s just that a lot of such offers are coming my way. And besides who would not want to be a part of ‘Golmaal’, it’s the first trilogy in India. Who would say a no to a ‘Ra.One’ with SRK or an ‘Agent Vinod’ with Saif and a ‘Bodyguard’ with Salman?” she asks.

The actress further reveals, “I do miss doing a ‘Chameli’, ‘Omkara’ or a ‘Dev’ but I can do that anytime. And plus I have proved that I am a good actress.”

he cinematic seed of controversy has already been sown. Even as widespread speculation mounted that Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Heroine’ was but a modern version of Shyam Benegal’s ‘Bhumika’, the late Smita Patil starrer patterned along the lines of the Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar, there is fresh news to mull on.

As per insiders, ‘Heroine’ too is dangerously close in content to Milan Luthria’s ‘Dirty Picture,’ fashioned along the life and times of the late South sex siren Silk Smitha! An aspect that giving the hives and heebe jeebies to Kareena Kapoor!

States a highly placed source, “Madhur’s film is about a top actress going through a very low phase in her career. And so is Milan’s film. While Vidya has agreed to do the role in ‘Dirty Picture’, Kareena is really in two minds over it. Since Kareena is close friends with Ekta Kapoor and Tusshar, she happened to listen to the story of ‘Dirty Picture’ and found it very similar to that of ‘Heroine.’ Hence, she’s likely to opt out of the project.”

Madhur Bhandarkar’s ambitious project Heroine is in news for all the wrong reasons. Though the director was keen to work with Kareena Kapoor and the actress was also game for the project, there are apparently several matters that are yet to be settled.

Now, we hear that the actress is not so keen to be part of the project for which she was reportedly very excited earlier on. The story about Heroine which is doing the rounds nowadays is that Bebo is backing out from the project because she thinks that the film is very similar to Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture which has Vidya Balan playing a siren from the south.

Bebo came to know about the script of the film because she is close to Tusshar Kapoor, and his sister Ekta Kapoor is producing Milan’s film.

Now Bollywood’s style diva wants to avoid any sort of comparisons with Vidya Balan, who has earned her stripes for giving stellar performances her last few films.

Heroine’s story is about a top actress who is at a low phase of her career and fighting the fate on her own.

Aamir Khan’s crush in 3 Idiots, the suave and sexy Kareena Kapoor is still riding high on the success of that epic block buster despite a lack lustre response to her recent ‘We Are Family’. With beauty, boldness and talent all safely tucked inside her attire, let’s see what films currently lie in her lap:
1. She has recently been roped in to star opposite Salman Khan in ‘Bodyguard’, the directorial debut of Salman’s sister Alvira Khan. Though, Katrina was speculated to star in the film, reportedly, Kareena fitted the bill perfectly.
2. Besides, Shahrukh Khan’s ‘Ra. One’ is slated for an early 2011 release and Kareena shall up the sex quotient in this superhero flick as she, supposedly, plays the sexiest ever mom on the Bollywood silver screen.
3. ‘Agent Vinod’ is another film that has silently made its presence felt in the gossip circle. The film is under boyfriend Saif Ali Khan’s production banner and stars Kareena as the leading lady of the protagonist Saif.
4. ‘Short Term Shaadi’ is yet another flick in which she shall be seen. Imran Khan shall star opposite her for the 1st time in this caper.
5. Madhur Bhandarkar’s flick ‘Heroine’ has also been in talks but has come under some controversy regarding script and may have been shelved temporarily.

Strong reports suggest that Kareena Kapoor and Madhur Bhandarkar, who had decided to start work on Heroine, may not end up doing the film together — at least not yet.

Though earlier Bebo was very excited about her association with Madhur, who is fantastic with women-oriented subjects, a source says, “The first round of stories suggested that Madhur was making a film based on the life of Hollywood sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Later, others suggested he was doing a Sunset Boulevard kind of a film. As the speculations continued, it turned out that Kareena had not even had a complete story narration.”

To make matters worse, Kareena and Madhur didn’t address this issue. An insider adds, “Madhur’s script is allegedly based on the life of Elizabeth Taylor and her tumultuous love affairs and various marriages. Rumours say that Arjun Rampal was to play a role similar to that of Richard Burton. And talks were on with various other actors to play Liz Taylor’s other husbands. Emraan Hashmi’s name also cropped up for an interesting part. Though Kareena and Arjun got along like a house on fire while shooting We Are Family, somewhere along the way, she developed cold feet when it came to playing Liz Taylor.”

As things currently stand, neither Kareena nor Madhur are willing to say that their project is not happening. In fact, several intermediaries are at work to get them together. One still continues to hear that the film is deferred and not shelved. But if you follow the dots, then you’ll note that Bebo’s date diary now includes Bodyguard with Salman Khan, Short Term Shaadi with Imran Khan, Agent Vinod with Saif Ali Khan and RA One with Shah Rukh Khan. What’s more, all these Khan films will be shot back-to-back. So despite their “no-comments” stand, one can safely assume that Kareena and Madhur will not be working together — like we said, at least not yet.

Read more: Bebo doesn’t fancy Liz Taylor! – The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Bebo-doesnt-fancy-Liz-Taylor/articleshow/6630307.cms#ixzz10eBTMlxH

Madhur Bhandarkar’s upcoming venture Heroine seems to be caught up in controversy after controversy. News has it that the movie’s lead aka Heroine, Kareena Kapoor, is having second thoughts about this alleged Marilyn Monroe-inspired saga. And it’s just not one particular reason that may be responsible for the change of mind.

Sources state that Kareena has not been happy with Bhandarkar for quite some time now. Apparently, Madhur ill-treated Lovely Singh’s father, who coincidently is Bebo’s very good friend; in fact she had even done a dance number for him in his directorial debut Kya Love Story Hai. Lovely’s father was made to wait by Madhur in spite of having an appointment and finally he refused to meet him. Things worsened when she came to know that the script included intense lovemaking scenes with 5 different actors. Previously, she had done a similar scene with Saif Ali Khan in Kurbaan, but that was only because it was her boyfriend and she has clearly mentioned that she is not comfortable doing such scenes with other co-stars. Just when it looked like things would get better after the director agreed to tone down the scenes, it seems that there are more things in the script which are not going down well with this heroine. Apparently, an important track in the movie shows her character having an affair with a married co-star with two kids. No prizes for guessing what’s making her uncomfortable. It definitely sounds quite similar to her real life love story with Saif. And these differences are now being made aware to Madhur not directly but through the dialogue writer Niranjan Iyengar (of Kurbaan, Wake Up Sid and My Name is Khan fame).

A source close to the movie said that this happens to be the major reason why Bebo is uneasy doing the film. While Niranjan says that he is unaware of the story and has only been asked to pen the dialogues, screenplay writer Manoj Tyagi said that it is Madhur’s prior commitments which have lead to the delay of the movie. Co-writer Anuraadha Tewari said, “We haven’t yet locked the script. Writers don’t get into the casting of a film, that’s strictly between the director and the actor. As far as I know, Kareena is not running away from Heroine.”

A meeting has now been set up between the two uncompromising parties. Wonder what the outcome will be!