SCOOPS: Salman Khan's next with SLB titled 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2', Total Dhamaal's dhamakedaar opening weekend at BO

Over the weekend, Bollywood heavyweights Salman Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali made news about coming together for a love story 12 years after Saawariya.

“Sanjay, who is penning the script, has narrated the idea to Salman and he is on board. Though the film isn’t a sequel or a remake, it may be called Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 2. SLB feels that the movie has all the elements that Hum Dil... had. So, the title feels like a natural fit for part two. However, it will have a different story and new characters. An A-list heroine will be cast opposite Salman, but the makers haven’t approached anyone as yet,” a source says.

The plan is to start the project by the end of 2019. “Salman starts Dabangg 3 in the last week of March. Once he finishes the third instalment of the cop franchise, he will begin work on this project. The movie is being readied for a 2020 release,” adds the source.

—Nayandeep Rakshit

Michelle and Yohan Poonawalla looked impossibly chic and elegant at the Poonawalla Multi Million 2019. Michelle, who is an artist, philanthropist and a businesswoman, cut a fine figure in a cube print Gucci silk dress accented with a butterfly brooch buckle on the waist. An elegant fascinator lent gravitas to her ensemble. Her industrialist husband Yohan Poonawalla looked suave in an Etro jacket that he sported for the do, which was held at the Mahalaxmi Race Course on Sunday.

Ananya Panday will make her big-screen debut on May 10 with Student Of The Year 2 (SOTY 2). And even before this, the Karan Johar protégée showcases her mettle as an actor, her brand value is on the rise. The newbie, who has 1.2 million followers on her social media handle, is clearly making a mark on those who matter. A source says, “Lakmé India was the first brand to sign her keeping in mind her appeal among teens.” In fact, she was the youngest actress ever to be the face of the label’s lip-care product range. The source adds, “Now, two more corporate brands have approached her. The formalities for the same are underway.”

The year began with Ananya making her first television appearance on Koffee With Karan. On the show, she beat her SOTY2 co-stars, Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria, in the rapid-fire round and took home the coveted hamper. On the film front, she has signed her second project — the Pati, Patni Aur Woh remake with Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar. Guess, this is another industry kid poised for big things in the immediate future.

Sonchiriya has been ticking the right boxes from the time its trailer and music were launched. Inspired by true events, this Abhishek Chaubey directorial stars acclaimed actors like Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhumi Pednekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashutosh Rana and Ranvir Shorey in principal roles. The dacoit drama, which is set in the 1975 Chambal valley, is not only based on real-life characters, but it has also been shot in the ravines near Dholpur in Rajasthan.

Manoj, who played Maan Singh in Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994), brings to life the character of the powerful gang leader who is feared by all. Sushant plays the rebellious Lakhna, one of the closest and most dependable members of his gang, while Ranvir’s Vakil is his close ally. Bhumi is said to have effortlessly slipped into the part of the fierce Indumati Tomar, who not only manages her household efficiently, but also aces in firing a gun. Ashutosh, who is known for his villainous roles, portrays the ruthless cop Virender Gujjar.   

Sonchiriya, produced by Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP, releases on March 1.

Ajay Devgn and co are laughing all the way to the bank. Total Dhamaal got panned by the critics, but clearly found big favour with the audience. The laugh riot, which released on February 22, boasted of some additions like Ajay, Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Anil Kapoor, besides the earlier regulars like Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi. 

What seems to have worked for the movie is that it was liked by the family audience as the humour was clean. The trailer also showed the presence of wild animals, which is proving to be a major attraction for the kids.

Summing up the movie in one word, trade analyst Taran Adarsh had called it, “ENTERTAINING.” He had further added, “No one is looking for logic here... Focusses on humour and entertainment... First half hilarious... Second half could’ve been tighter... Loaded with clean humour... Families and kids should like.”