Karan Johar talks about his deal with Fox for his next directorial venture, My Name Is Khan.

You've apparently inked a deal with 20th Century Fox for an astronomical never-heard-of amount of money?
Let me tell you the amount mentioned is nowhere near being a realistic amount. The deal among Star Fox studios, my company and Red Chillies is an internal matter and can't be discussed in public. What makes this deal so historic is not the money involved but the attempt to cross the diasporas with a Hindi -language film My Name Is Khan. We'll reach out in places where Hindi-language films have not gone before.

I am foxed by the deal…
The Fox guys read the script and have followed the project. They're close enough to it to know what it's all about. I've shared a comfort zone with them from Day 1. Both Shah Rukh and I believe they are the best people to handle My Name Is Khan. They've faith in our brand power and content creation. It's not about money. It's not about mutual respect.

Is Fox trying to give the Islamic world a more positive image in the West by buying a film about Islamic isolation and the western world?
It's not the politics of the film. It's when the film moves you on a human and emotional level that matters. My Name Is Khan endeavors to do just that. I don't think Fox was swayed by the positive message. It's the human aspect that won them over. I believe in the emotional content of both my cinema and personal relationships. Look at the longevity of the association between my company Dharma Productions and Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies and you'll see what I mean.

You are adapting Fox's Stepmom .Will there be more such adaptations of American films produced by Fox?
I'd always want to direct original content. But there're young filmmakers in my company who are excited by the idea of adapting films. Siddharth Malhotra, for example, is doing a Hindi version of Stepmom for our company. He's working really hard on it. An adaptation is as difficult as an original film. And Siddharth is working really hard on it.

What is the final cast of Stepmom?
It's Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal.

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By Joginder Tuteja Bollywood Hungama News Network

When they began their career with Ishq Vishk and Boom respectively, even Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif wouldn't have thought that a few years down they line, they would be winning a National Award for Best Acting. Well, this has actually turned out to be true as both the actors are the chosen ones for 12th Rajiv Gandhi National Awards. The event would be taking place at National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai, on 19th August'09.

Rajiv Gandhi Awards were initiated in 1995 in an endeavor to keep alive the vision of ex-Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. The event honours the achievers who are a part of India current progress. Since 12 years this platform brings together various fraternities. Other winners this year are Avika Gor (Child Prodigy), Vineet Jain (Industrialist), Ramesh Chandra Agarwal (Journalism), Sam Pitroda (Global Indian), Dr. Narendra Jadhav (Educationist), Dr. G Madhavan Nair (Super Achiever), Krushnaa Patil (Women Achiever), Rajashree Birla (Social Field) and Rohit Kochhar (Young Entrepreneur).

These renowned personalities will be honoured in a grand manner amidst lot of performances & entertainment extravaganza on the eve of Shri Rajiv Gandhi' birth anniversary. The award ceremony will be graced by dignitaries like Kamalnath, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Murli Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ajay Maken, Rajiv Shukla, Priya Dutt, Milind Deora, Eknath Gaikwad, Sanjay Nirupam, Mohd. Azharuddin, Subodh Kant Sahay, Gurudas Kamat, Manikrao Thackray.

Rajiv Gandhi Awards has always had many Bollywood biggies as the performers in the past, including Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Navin Prabhakar, Rakhi Sawant, Vivek Oberoi, Sukhwinder Singh, Koena Mitra, Tanushree Dutta, Aftab Shivdasani, Sunidhi Chauhan, Isha Shravani, Sivamani, Tisca Chopra, Sajid Khan, Anupam Kher, Parizad Kolha, and more.

This year also, many celebrities namely Hrithik Roshan, Shreyas Talpade, Mahima Chowdhary, Esha Deol, Hussain Kuwajerwala, Priyanka Chopra, Raju Shrivastav, Vishal-Shekhar are to perform in this event

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By Joginder Tuteja Bollywood Hungama News Network

Mumbai, Aug 19 (IANS) If things move as per plan, Ranbir Kapoor may soon find himself working with ace filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, indicates the young actor's father Rishi Kapoor.

"I'm positive that in 2010, Imtiaz and Ranbir would be beginning a film together. They have been meeting on a regular basis and are just looking at finalising on something concrete before they make a formal announcement," says Rishi Kapoor, who was seen in Ali's "Love Aaj Kal".

Prodded further on what the genre, subject, leading lady and production house will be, Rishi denies being in the know.

"I never get involved in the creative aspects of Ranbir's films. He takes all his decisions himself. All I know is that Ranbir working with Imtiaz would be a great decision since I have now witnessed Imtiaz's sensibilities on a first hand basis after working with him," said the actor who was earlier seen in "Delhi 6".

Rishi got quite some appreciation for his portrayal as a Sikh in "Love Aaj Kal".

"While working on the film, I realised that this boy (Imtiaz) is so cultured, sensible and simple. There is a saying that one's character gets reflected in his work. It was there for everyone to see in 'Love Aaj Kal', which was so honest and sincere, just like Imtiaz," Rishi said.

If the project materialises, Ranbir will be working with yet another accomplished filmmaker. He made his debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Saawariya" and later featured in Siddharth Anand's "Bachna Ae Haseeno".

Currently, he is working with Raj Kumar Santoshi in "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani", Prakash Jha in "Rajneeti", Shimit Amin for the forthcoming "Rocket Singh - Salesman Of The Year" and Ayan Mukerji in "Wake Up Sid".

When asked about it, Imtiaz said: "Honestly speaking, nothing has been finalised yet. Yes, Ranbir and I have been meeting each other for quite some time and have been bouncing off story ideas. Still, we are yet to close on a story line.

"I have always placed my story before anything else. Whether it is 'Love Aaj Kal', 'Jab We Met' or 'Socha Na Tha', the story has always been of paramount importance."

So is he or is he not signing Ranbir?

"I definitely want to work with him. However, I will announce my cast once the story is finalised. Making any comments before that would be immaterial and unwarranted," he said.

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