And our source tells us, "Bips will romance Manoj Bajpai who is playing Dawood's elder brother Sabir in the film. As Sabir's love interest Bips has one garma garam item song and a key scene.

'' Now for the real thing: Will John and Bipasha's paths cross? Our source replies, "Yes they may cross each other for a will-miss-if-you-blink shot on screen.'' Manoj refused to reveal anything about the plot.

He diplomatically says, "I don't know whether Bipasha is meant to be romancing me on screen. I just heard from you right now.

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To recap a bit, the film is based on the real-life daring heist in 1987 where an unknown man posing as 'CBI officer Mon Singh' recruited 26 men and executed a daylight raid on the Opera House branch of Tribhuvandas Bhimji Jewellers, and disappeared with jewellery worth lakhs. Akshay Kumar has been recruited to play the imposer CBI officer.

Now interestingly Manoj Bajpai has been roped in to play the real CBI officer. "So you could say Akshay and Manoj would be playing spitting images of one another, one real and the other an imposter," says a source.

Manoj who hasn't played a cop since 'Shool' and 'Jaago' is very excited about getting the hang of a role where he has to play against Akshay Kumar within the same space. Says a friend of Manoj, "It's a real challenge.

Because Manoj has to be exactly what Akshay's character is posing to be. It's a tough role requiring loads of preparation.

And it comes at a time when Manoj Bajpai has to prepare for his role of a naxalite in Prakash Jha's next." Manoj and director Neeraj Pandey remained unavailable for comment (less)

My homework is on. I am reading about him and doing research on him.

I am all set to play the role," Sonu told IANS. Sonu says Shootout At Wadala , based on the 1982 shootout in which criminal Manya Surve was killed, is all about gangsters.

"It is a film based on gangsters. It's about the rise of Dawood.

It's more of an action drama," he said. While the shooting of the film has already started, Sonu will join the crew next week.

"I will start the shooting from April 24. We will be shooting at locations like Nariman Point and Mahim (in Mumbai)," the 38-year-old said.

The actor, who is playing a negative role yet again after essaying Chhedi Singh in blockbuster Dabangg , has no issues with the shade of any role. "I don't believe in negative or positive roles.

Cinema has changed. For me, it's all about good and bad roles.

I am just looking forward to this film," he said. Directed by Sanjay Gupta, the film, a prequel to 2007 film Shootout At Lokhandwala , also features John Abraham , Anil Kapoor , Tusshar Kapoor , Kangna Ranaut , Manoj Bajpai , Ronit Roy and Mahesh Manjrekar (less)

Besides Rampal, the blockbuster also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar and Manoj Bajpai. "She (Katrina) is one of the hardest working souls in the industry.

She is someone who would try and make every scene..

.shot perfect.

She will not leave anything half way. She memorises and understands everything properly and then bring it on screen naturally," Jha told reporters here after the launch of a book on the film last evening.

She even dubbed for the film herself for 39 days till she got every word perfect. She is a good actress.

One thing that impresses a director is to have an actor who is completely dedicated to work and Katrina is one such actress." The book, Raajneeti - The Film and Beyond , is edited by Pooja Verma.

It describes how the film was conceptualised and made. Katrina is back, but injured? Reportedly, the 60-year-old filmmaker would again team up with Katrina for his forthcoming film tentatively titled 'Satyagraha', said to be loosely inspired by Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement.

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In fact, me and Sanjay (Gupta) went and met the people who knew him to find out how Manya Surve behaved and the way he spoke," the 39-year-old said. "There was talk of me learning Marathi for this, but the idea was to understand the colloquial nature of the language.

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so that you understand how Manya Surve was like in everyday life. So, as an actor I have really given all my effort and worked really hard to do maximum research towards this film," he added.

Though John plays the central character in the film, he does not feel burdened with the extra responsibility to promote it. "I am relieved.

Every film requires promotion and what I feel is what Ekta (Kapoor) and Sanjay (Gupta) have done here, is actually a boon for all of us. So I have been given an opportunity to have a platform to show what each one of us can do out here.

"I don't feel it's a crunch, I think it's a great opportunity and I am going to grasp it with both my hands. So, I am very excited," said John who was last seen in Desi Boyz .

Directed by Sanjay Gupta, Shootout at Wadala also features Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Sanjay Dutt, Tusshar Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ronit Roy and Manoj Bajpai. Tweet (less)

In fact, me and Sanjay (Gupta) went and met the people who knew him to find out how Manya Surve behaved and the way he spoke," the 39-year-old said here at an event. "There was talk of me learning Marathi for this, but the idea was to understand the colloquial nature of the language.

..

so that you understand how Manya Surve was in everyday life. So, as an actor I have really given all my effort and worked really hard to do maximum research towards this film," he added.

Though John plays the central character in the film, he does not feel burdened with the extra responsibility to promote it. "I am relieved.

Every film requires promotion and what I feel is what Ekta (Kapoor) and Sanjay (Gupta) have done here, is actually a boon for all of us. So I have been given an opportunity to have a platform to show what each one of us can do out here.

"I don't feel it's a crunch, I think it's a great opportunity and I am going to grasp it with both my hands. So, I am very excited," said John who was last seen in "Desi Boyz".

Directed by Sanjay Gupta, "Shootout at Wadala" also features Anil Kapoor , Kangna Ranaut , Sanjay Dutt , Tusshar Kapoor , Sonu Sood, Mahesh Manjrekar , Ronit Roy and Manoj Bajpai (less)

I grew up watching his films and going on the sets. My dad produced Upkaar and Manoj give me full liberty as head of production on Kalyug aur Ramayan, Clerk and Deshwasi.

When I graduated, I handled production for his films. Later, I started my production house and everything I learnt from him, holds in good stead.

He taught me that hard work pays off, and there is no replacement for it. Manoj is a family man and didn't socialise much.

This picture was taken almost 38 years ago on my 12th birthday. Back then, we didn't have hard bound scripts.

He would come to the sets and write the scenes in Urdu. They were translated into Hindi and copies were made and circulated among the actors.

There were no monitors then and filmmaking was a difficult task, one that he put his heart and soul into. The star of Upkaar and Purab aur Paschim would say that he can go without food but not without watching films, such was his love for cinema.

His priorities were clear, money was not important, but your name matters. In 1990, he cast me as freedom fighter Ram Prasad Bismil in Bharat ke Shaheed which ran on Doordarshan.

Producer Nitin Manmohan, who played Chandrashekhar Azad, was also convinced to act for the first time! He is happy with my success after I made serials like Kittie Party and Parampara. He calls me every second day to inquire about the health of my family and discusses films.

His love for cinema remains undiminished (less)

My character is similar to the characters played by Smita Patil and Rekha in the 1970s and 1980s," the 24-year-old said here at a party organised for the film. The National Award winning actress, who is working with John for the first time, is happy to have got the opportunity.

"John is a fabulous guy. He is very friendly, very sweet and I am surprised that we have not worked together yet.

Now that we have got this opportunity, we are very happy," said the actress who entered Bollywood with the 2006 movie "Gangster - A Love Story". In six years she has done films like "Life.

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in a Metro", "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai", "Tanu Weds Manu" and "Fashion" that fetched her a National Award for the best supporting actress. In "Shootout at Wadala", John plays gangster Manya Surve who was shot dead by the Mumbai police in 1982 and is the first-ever registered encounter, or shootout, by Mumbai Police.

Directed by Sanjay Gupta and co-produced by him and Balaji Telefilms, "Shootout at Wadala" also stars Sonu Sood , Manoj Bajpayee , Tusshar Kapoor , Ronit Roy and Mahesh Manjrekar (less)

My character is similar to the characters played by Smita Patil and Rekha in the 1970s and 1980s," the 24-year-old said. The National Award winning actress, who is working with John for the first time, is happy to have got the opportunity.

"John is a fabulous guy. He is very friendly, very sweet and I am surprised that we have not worked together yet.

Now that we have got this opportunity, we are very happy," said the actress who entered Bollywood with the 2006 movie Gangster - A Love Story . In six years she has done films like Life.

..

in a Metro , Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai , Tanu Weds Manu and Fashion that fetched her a National Award for the best supporting actress. In Shootout at Wadala , John plays gangster Manya Surve who was shot dead by the Mumbai police in 1982 and is the first-ever registered encounter, or shootout, by Mumbai Police.

Directed by Sanjay Gupta and co-produced by him and Balaji Telefilms, Shootout at Wadala also stars Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpayee, Tusshar Kapoor, Ronit Roy and Mahesh Manjrekar. Tweet (less)