NEWS: Shweta Subram's Next Single will be "Piya"

Shweta Subram is set to release her next single, Piya. After Jee Le Live Life and Ajooba, Piya will be Shweta's third single and features the popular South Indian playback singer, Karthik. Music for this track has been provided by Pravin Mani, who has spent many years working with A.R. Rahman and has composed music for Tamil films.

Shweta has just returned to Canada after a performance with Salim-Sulaiman in Dubai. She looks forward to starting of 2013 with Piya, and considers it an honour to have Karthik featured on the track. In Shweta's words, "Karthik is an icon in South India, and it's a dream come true for me to share recording space with him."

Here's a teaser of Piya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X7YsINMw6o

NEWS: Hrithik rejects Rs 20 crore ($4.5 Million) ad offer

Hrithik Roshan turns down whopping sum for a commercial from a cell phone company, as he didn't believe in the brand's creative concept

Hrithik Roshan is known to be extremely conscious of his on-screen image. In fact, apparently the actor doesn't mind even saying no to a bunch of money if he is not happy with the way things have turned out.

According to our industry sources, the actor recently turned down an offer from an international cell phone brand to endorse their product. Hrithik was supposedly not happy with the brand's creative concept.

A source close to the actor says, `Trust Hrithik to be a perfectionist. Even while the mobile brand was offering him a whopping amount of Rs 20 crore, he refused to be a part of it.

The brand honchos had initially offered him Rs 15 crore and later revised the offer to Rs 20 crore. Nothing could budge the actor. He does not believe in going ahead with something without being fully convinced.`

Hrithik remained unavailable for comment. The spokesperson of the phone brand refused to speak on the matter. 

NEWS: Kareena is grateful to Yashji

Bebo feels she wouldn't have married Saif Ali Khan if it weren't for Yash Chopra

At a recent awards function, Priyanka Chopra turned emotional and expressed her regret at not being directed in any of her films by the man considered the epitome of Bollywood romance. Obviously, she was referring to Yash Chopra, who passed away in October.

Turns out Kareena Kapoor too has similar regrets, as the legendary filmmaker never passed her instructions over the microphone during a shoot. However, the actress says she's thankful to be associated with him for a completely different reason. And it has something to do with her marriage.

Kareena, who recently married Saif Ali Khan, got involved in a serious relationship with him on the sets of Tashan. The 2008 action film was produced under Chopra's banner Yash Raj Films. `It would have been an honour but the fact is I never got to work with Yashji as my director.

Fortunately, I've been in several films made by his production house. In fact, thanks to Yash Raj Films, Saif and I are together today because it was during Tashan we fell in love with each other. Were it not for that film, things could have been different today for both of us,` gushes the 32 year-old actress.

Talking about movies, Bebo admits to have not having watched a single film this year. She says, `The Dirty Picture was the last one I saw and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven't seen Barfi! either, but I've heard Ranbir and Priyanka are fantastic in it. They are both wonderful actors. It's been a busy year but then Saif and I rarely go out like other couples to catch a movie."

NEWS: Foreign upbringing never affected my career: Katrina Kaif

Born and brought up on foreign shores, Katrina Kaif doesn't feel that this element has ever acted as a deterrent to her acting career in Bollywood.

The 28-year-old star rather feels that this aspect of her life has made her personality 'extremely adaptable' to varied shades of cultures. 'I have been to 8-9 countries during first 12 years of life. This has made me extremely adaptable,' said Katrina, who was here last evening to launch the website Gitanjalishop.com of jewellery brand Gitanjali.

After working with Salman Khan this year in 'Ek Tha Tiger' and Shah Rukh in 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', Katrina will be sharing screen space next with Aamir in 'Dhoom 3'. Asked about what is common among the three 'Khans' of Bollywood, Katrina said that they are on an 'equal level of talent and stardom.'

'It is difficult to answer who is the best... But yes, the common thing among them is talent and stardom,' said Katrina. Dubbing the 'top place' as a 'different altitude', Katrina said she was never under pressure to be on the top.

'Frankly, I don't feel very much to be on top slot. Besides doing professional work, I prefer to be in company of my friends, most of whom are not actors,' she said, She added that there was no relevance of the concept of male dominance in the film industry and all what is needed is good and professional work.

Katrina revealed her plans of shooting for her new film in Delhi in coming February, besides adding that a lot of effort is being put in to make 'Dhoom 3' a big success. 

NEWS: After 'Talaash', bubbly Bebo readies for rom-com

After a "sensitive" role in "Talaash", Kareena Kapoor says she is ready to give the audience a taste of the real "Bebo" and is looking forward to a light romantic comedy in which she can play her usual effervescent self.

"I want to experiment with various genres and not just do monotonous roles. 'Taalash' was one of my most sensitive performances, but now my next will be a rom-com. I want to give a nice flavour of Bebo to the audience post-'Talaash'," Kareena, who is nicknamed Bebo, said in an interview.

The 32-year-old, who wed actor Saif Ali Khan in October, is ready to get back to full on work in the new year. She will begin work on a Karan Johar production opposite Imran Khan in January.

"I love being part of Dharma Productions' projects. There is some young and new talent coming from this production. My film 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' was directed by Shakun Batra, who is just 25.

"I am looking forward to do this new film (to be directed by Punit Malhotra of 'I Hate Luv Storys' fame)," said Kareena, who describes the film as a "super fun yet poignant" love story.

The first schedule of the movie will start in Bangalore.

Kareena is especially happy about doing such a film because she doesn't have a suspense drama like "Talaash" on her mind right now.

"I don't think I will take a suspense drama for a while. It was a brave decision to make a film like 'Talaash'," she said.

Kareena says she is thankful to the audience that accepted this genre.

"When we were making the film, my only concern was the audience should accept this genre and we have won the battle. My year began with 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu', in which I played a very modern girl, and the year ended with a very sensitive performance in 'Talaash'."

She only wants to continue doing "good projects and show different shades" of herself through movies.

"Numbers don't really matter to me, what matters is good performance," said the actress, who also features in the peppy and saucy item number "Fevicol se" in the movie "Dabangg 2".

The song has won her rave reviews, and director-producer Arbaaz Khan says Kareena has done a "superb job in it".

NEWS: It's lifelong dream to work with Shekhar: Hrithik

Actor Hrithik Roshan, who has reportedly been approached to play the lead in Shekhar Kapur's ambitious film "Paani", says it has been his dream to be directed by the filmmaker.

Asked if he has signed on the dotted line, Hrithik said: "I would just say that working with Shekhar Kapur is a lifelong dream of mine. 'Paani' is a dream and I hope it happens.

"I am looking forward to working with Mr. Shekhar Kapur and apart from work, just being with that man, in his presence, I feel comforted," the 38-year-old said here Friday at the opening of new Whistling Woods acting academy.

"On a personal equation, Shekhar Kapur is kind of an enlightened soul. So when I am with him, I feel a little enlightened, I feel a little good about myself," he added.

Hrithik was last seen in "Agneepath" and is currently working on "Krrish 3".

With many Bollywood actors turning directors, does Hrithik plan to wield the megaphone too?

"When I stop getting work as an actor, then I will have to earn my bread and butter somehow and then I will become a director, I guess."

NEWS: Jacqueline wants to break her bold, glamorous image

After doing bold and glamorous roles in films like "Murder 2" and "Housefull 2", Jacqueline Fernandez now wants to break out of that image, though she admits it is a risky step.

The actress feels people are just waiting to stereotype an actor and she doesn't want to do same roles again.

"It does take a conscious effort (to change your image), because people are just waiting to stereotype you. If you have done a movie which is successful, and your performance is successful, then people want to encash on that. You have to put your foot down," Jacqueline said.

But after having achieved success, she does feel it is risky to change the image.

"It is risky because people don't like being said 'no'. But you just have to do what is good for you. I love actors who can shock you. Like Ranbir Kapoor, every single character he does is different. Even Priyanka Chopra challenges herself and I like that," said the actress, who made her Bollywood debut with Sujoy Ghosh's "Aladin".

Jacqueline will now be seen in Abbas-Mustan's "Race 2" and says the film is very glamorous.

"'Race 2' is not gory. It is more glamorous. It has got a rich backdrop to it. It is not dark, it is all about suspense," she said.

The film, which releases Jan 25 next year, also features Deepika Padukone and Ameesha Patel. Jacqueline says they share a good rapport with each other.

"I had the experience of working with other actresses in 'Housefull 2' and we got along really well. We really bonded and it made the experience really good. Even in 'Race 2', we (Deepika and Ameesha) got along. You see them as your team. I don't think you should even think about rivalry," she said.

Asked if she ever felt threatened by having other actresses in the same film, the 27-year-old said: "I am comfortable with it. I think what works for me is that, I look at it as different characters. You make the character your own and be confident with that. I don't think it threatens you in any way, if you follow your own track and do well," she said.