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Kareena dumps Raj Kanwar again!

Kareena Kapoor is playing games again. After walking out of Raj Kanwar's film -- because she did not want to work with Hrithik -- and then walking back into the film (when she patched up with the Roshans), Kareena has now walked out again. The excuse this time -- no dates to allot.

Now that she already has a Subhash Ghai film with Hrithik, Kareena probably doesn't feel the need to do another one with him. This has come as a big shock to director Raj Kanwar, who is cursing the day he took her back even after Esha Deol agreed to do the role.

Lisa walks out of Hrithik film

Arjun Sablok, debutant director of Na Tum Jano Na Hum (which stars Hrithik Roshan and Esha Deol) was in for a rude shock when, on the second day of the shoot, Lisa Ray walked out of his film.

Even though Lisa attended the mahurat and participated in the first day of the shooting, she threw a tantrum and walked out leaving the producer and director absolutely stunned. Though everyone around maintained she was unhappy with her role, unconfirmed sources insist it was Vikram Bhatt who instigated her.

Bhatt, who has cast her as the leading lady of his new film, Kasoor, opposite Aftab Shivdasani and Apurva Agnihotri, felt his heroine need not play second fiddle to anyone else. Only wish that he had told Lisa this before she shot for the film... it would have saved her a lot of embarrassment.

Rumours plague Karisma

Karisma Kapoor is peeved with rumours about how she bagged Shyam Benegal's Zubedia only because mother Babita consented to invest some money in the venture.

"How can anyone even insinuate that?" asks an angry Karisma. "More than questioning my talent, they are questioning the integrity of a film-maker like Shyam Benegal. Would Mr Benegal do something like this?"

We all know the truth. But, then again, isn't it a fact Zubedia's script writer is also the director of her other starrer, Fiza? And didn't a lot of recommendations come from those quarters?

Ash Rai, professional to the core

Aishwarya Rai's mother survived a near-fatal accident. Brinda Rai was travelling from Belgaum when her car collided head-on with a truck. Her brother, who was also in the car, escaped with minor bruises, but Aishwarya's mother was badly hurt.

Ash immediately rushed to the hospital to be by her mother's bedside. But the minute the doctors declared her out of danger, she rushed to her shoot, refusing to let the mishap upset her schedules. She spent all her free time at the shooting chatting with her mother on the mobile.

Aryan moves to Hrithik camp

Guess who is one of Hrithik's greatest fans? Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan. A close buddy of the Khans reveals how Aryan is so fascinated by the budding star's Coke ad that the boy spends most of the time glued to the television, waiting to watch either his favourite cartoon films or the ad which features Hrithik. And giving credit where it is rightly due, the pal also admits that the Khan has never dissuaded his son from watching or imitating Hrithik. The only difference is that, unlike a Govinda who would publicly admit it, Shah Rukh would not!

Shah Rukh has a fan too

And it's Josh star Sharad Kapoor. Though Sharad admits he feared his role would be cut, nothing of the sort happened. Effusive in his praises for the Khan, Sharad says Shah Rukh never threw attitude or made any attempt to steal scenes or get maximum footage. Though his friends had warned him that Shah Rukh would interfere and have his scenes chopped at the editing table, Sharad insists that these fears were unfounded. "Shah Rukh is one of the nicest costars and a wonderful person and not an insecure actor either," gushes Sharad.

The twinkle-toed Deol

Sunny Deol is pleased as punch. And it has nothing to do with his own achievements. He is very proud of brother Bobby, who has just returned from a tour of the US and London. Sunny, with his two left feet, has always avoided doing live shows. But Bobby's maiden effort was extremely successful. Bobby is even said to have stolen the spotlight from under Salman's and Saif's noses and earned himself a lot of fans.

Receding hairlines don't worry Akshaye

Akshaye Khanna definitely deserves a pat on his back. While other heroes are panicking at their receding hairlines, his does not really bother him. Akshaye insists there is enough time later to take measures.

That is not all. Despite the success of Subhash Ghai's Taal where he let Anil Kapoor bag the limelight, Akshaye has not employed a PRO. Nor does he feel, like other actors, the need for an omnipresent secretary. His logic: Whatever work has to come my way will. No secretary or PRO will help me get it.

And his confidence is proving him right, for Akshaye has signed three films recently. One with Farhan Akhtar (Javed and Honey's son), another for Ajay Devgan and a third with Karisma Kapoor.

Did you know?

Asha Parekh was the first choice to essay the role of the heroine in the musical hit, Goonj Uthi Shehnai? But apparently director Vijay Bhatt was rather nasty with the Gujarati star and replaced her with a better known name, Ameeta. Asha Parekh gulped down the humiliation and decided to make a mark. Luck favoured her and she went on to become a jubilee heroine.

The Insider