Says a source, "SRK was in a dilemma between Menon and Murugadoss's films, as they both came at the same time and both had a very strong plotline. However, since Murugadoss's last Hindi film Ghajini was a blockbuster, he had an edge over Menon.

" Interestingly, the film, which is being produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been on the cards for a while. Apparently Bhansali has been meeting the star on and off for narrations, because he believes SRK would rightly fit the role.

Adds the source, "The role is that of a common man who takes on the corrupt system. Shah Rukh has never played a part like that before and it seems like a film that will have a real connect with the audience.

" Apparently one of the reasons he opted out of Gautam Menon's film was the fact that he did not want to play a cop. Adds the source, "Both his rivals Aamir and Salman are coming up with cop films, and he did not did not want to join gang.

He was looking for something strong yet sensitive, and this seemed like the perfect choice." SRK who is shooting in London at the moment is expected to sign the film officially as soon as he is back.

Ramana was a superhit in Tamil and a hit in Telugu and Murugadoss has been in talks for a remake for the past three years. Tweet (less)

She was admitted to a private hospital a couple of days back. Her body was brought to her residence at Saligramam, where people from the film industry paid their last respects.

Her body will be taken to her native Virudhunagar district where the last rites will be performed tomorrow. The versatile Lakshmi had acted in several Tamil and Telugu films, her memorable ones being Michael Madhana Kamaraj , Mahanadhi and Kadhala Kadhala .

She had acted with top stars like M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Condoling her death, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said that Lakshmi, a recipient of the state government's prestigious titles like Kalaimamani and Kalaiselvam , had acted in more than 1,500 films and 6,000 dramas.

"Her death is a great loss to the film world," she said. Tweet (less)

She was admitted to a private hospital a couple of days back. Her body was brought to her residence at Saligramam, where people from the film industry paid their last respects.

Her body will be taken to her native Virudhunagar district where the last rites will be performed tomorrow. The versatile Lakshmi had acted in several Tamil and Telugu films, her memorable ones being Michael Madhana Kamaraj , Mahanadhi and Kadhala Kadhala .

She had acted with top stars like M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Condoling her death, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said that Lakshmi, a recipient of the state government's prestigious titles like Kalaimamani and Kalaiselvam , had acted in more than 1,500 films and 6,000 dramas.

"Her death is a great loss to the film world," she said. Tweet (less)

But I have lived in Maharashtra," Raghavan, in news for his latest film Agent Vinod , said. "My brother (Sridhar Raghavan) is doing a lot of work in south.

I am slowly trying to get the hang. I know the language, but I have not stayed there for a while," he added.

Raghavan, known for directing Hindi films like Ek Hasina Thi and Johnny Gaddaar , also wants to make a Marathi movie. His latest release Agent Vinod , featuring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, has got mixed reviews, but has done fair business at the box office, giving Saif his biggest ever opening as a solo lead.

Tweet (less)

After playing safe initially with lover-boy roles in Socha Na Tha , Ahista Ahista and Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd; he took giant strides into off-beat cinema and broke stereotypes in Ek Chalis Ki Last Local, Manorama Six Feet Under, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye; the avant garde Dev D and the super-successful Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara; getting accolades for every avatar. His Tamilian act in Shanghai will take him a few notches higher.

After all, it isn't everyday that a Punjabi munda slips seamlessly into a white dhoti and delivers a 'cool as a cucumber' performance in a scathing hard-hitting film. What was your first reaction when Dibakar asked you, a hardcore Punjabi man, to play T A Krishnan, a Tamilian in Shanghai? My first reaction was one of denial.

I was like are you alright! What is it; does no other decent actor want to play the role? Then why did you relent? Dibakar is one filmmaker with whom I'm happy to work even without him giving me a script narration/reading. I trust him implicitly.

In fact, after we did Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, he went into Love, Sex Aur Dhoka where he had no role for me. And, I was like I hope he has a role for me in his next film at least.

So tell me about Mr Krishnan? Well, he is this egotistical, cold IAS officer who doesn't suffer fools. He has a chip on his shoulder and refuses to make small talk with anyone.

You're actually looking cool in the white veshti; cooler than most Tamilian men especially because you have not even the slightest hint of a paunch! Omigawd! Thank you for the compliment. Dibakar didn't order me to get a paunch.

I think he told Emraan (Hashmi) to get one for his role. To me he just said: 'Don't get too beefy or muscular.

' So for a whole six months I didn't do weights. Instead, I concentrated on my martial arts, yoga and running.

Anyway Krishnan is not a lazy guy. He plays badminton and is very atheletic.

It's just that he doesn't sport six packs. The Tamil accent must have got to you right? It was tough.

But I had a fantastic teacher in a film writer called Madhi. First I asked him to teach me the Tamil alphabets and realised that they have 'b' and 'h' in Tamil.

Dibakar and I were very sure that we will not stereotype the Tamilian. After all, IAS officers often serve outside their state and they are also well-versed with a second language like Hindi/Marathi etc.

So Krishnan could get away with speaking Hindi and only going into Tamil occasionally. How good is your Tamil now? It is very rusty.

I have no one to practice it with. I'm grateful to Madhi for being forceful and teaching me enough to get through the shooting.

In Indian cinema there are no professional voice trainers. So I missed that.

Also the regular guys who were sent to coach me were slightly enamoured by my status and weren't forceful enough. But Madhi was a tough cookie.

He made sure I got it all right! Who is the first Tamilian that comes to your mind? Tamil for me is my cousin Esha. I even told her that I was preparing to play a Tamilian and asked her if she could teach me the language.

However, we didn't go around to doing it because she was busy with her shoot when I was filming Shanghai. So you didn't observe any South Indians closely when you were shooting Shanghai? I have seen a few Tamil girls over the years; but I haven't ever observed a South Indian man.

Have you ever bumped into a Krishnan in real life? You mean a Krishnan kind of character. Actually I think Krishnan is like Justice Hegde who was carrying out that inquiry in Karnataka a while ago.

I was amazed at the way life imitates art. This inquiry that Justice Hegde conducted into a land-grab issue was similar to what we have dealt with in Shanghai.

And yet our film was shot long before that inquiry became public knowledge. In fact even the Anna Hazare movement actually started after we finished filming Shanghai.

So in that sense we haven't copied anyone. Abhay, can you recite the Vishnu Sahasranamam the way you did in the film? Film mein maine rata mara.

I parroted it for the film. In real life I don't chant.

Nor do I believe in idol worship. I know there is a higher being and I respect that force.

Produced by PVR Pictures, Shanghai releases June 8 (less)

According to an industry source, Akshay has spoken to Madhuri about being a part of Ko and has also given her the script to read. Madhuri, we hear, although excited about the project hasn’t signed on the dotted line, yet.

‘Ko’ requires two heroines. Akshay, we hear, was initially keen to cast Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif for the same film, but decided otherwise.

The Ko remake, tentatively titled Satygraha, will go on floors soon this year. The Tamil political thriller, Ko was directed by K.

V Anand. Actor Jeeva and Karthika Nair played main leads in the film.

The Hindi remake of Ko will be directed by Prakash Jhan for Hari Om Productions. Sphere: Related Content Posted in (less)

"Very happy to announce that 3 has been certified as 'U'. Will announce the release date day after," Dhanush, 28, posted on his Twitter page.

The Tamil-English song Kolaveri Di which garnered the actor overnight popularity globally is also from the film. Tweet (less)

I would love to act in a RGV or a Puri Jagannath Film," said Sibiraj in a statement. "As an actor, it will give me an opportunity to reach out to a new audience and challenge my screen performance skills.

I missed an opportunity to work with RGV since the Tamil and Telugu remake of Go was shelved due to certain reasons. "Both these filmmakers are recognised for their creativity and for bringing the best from the actor in their films.

If an opportunity comes by, I won't let it pass. I would love to work with them.

I have watched most of their movies and I admire their artistry. I believe it would be a great experience," said the 29-year-old.

The actor, son of Tamil film star Sathyaraj, has featured in films like Lee , Jore and Kovai Brothers . His last release was in Naanayam in 2010, in which he played a negative role.

Talking about his favourite movie genre, he said: "My favourite genre is action-thriller but I wouldn't prefer to be typecast. I would like to act in multi-starrers also but only if I like the role.

I wouldn't mind playing the bad guy or even a cameo if it would make a mark in the audiences' mind." Tweet (less)

I would love to act in a RGV or a Puri Jagannath Film," said Sibiraj in a statement. "As an actor, it will give me an opportunity to reach out to a new audience and challenge my screen performance skills.

I missed an opportunity to work with RGV since the Tamil and Telugu remake of Go was shelved due to certain reasons. "Both these filmmakers are recognised for their creativity and for bringing the best from the actor in their films.

If an opportunity comes by, I won't let it pass. I would love to work with them.

I have watched most of their movies and I admire their artistry. I believe it would be a great experience," said the 29-year-old.

The actor, son of Tamil film star Sathyaraj, has featured in films like Lee , Jore and Kovai Brothers . His last release was in Naanayam in 2010, in which he played a negative role.

Talking about his favourite movie genre, he said: "My favourite genre is action-thriller but I wouldn't prefer to be typecast. I would like to act in multi-starrers also but only if I like the role.

I wouldn't mind playing the bad guy or even a cameo if it would make a mark in the audiences' mind." Tweet (less)

Menon reasons, "No two men think alike! So when it came to catering to my core audience, I had to think differently each time. It was like three different directors working on the same story.

The Tamil audience is more receptive to unusual endings. Thus we had a coming-of-age climax for that audience.

The Telugu version had a feel-good climax because the audience there prefers happy endings." However, the climax of the Hindi version will warm the viewer's hearts.

"That's the beauty of Ekk Deewana Tha. The audience will relate to it because they have all experienced it at some point of their life.

The climax is a Tamil-Telugu combo..

. very endearing," he laughs (less)