“It’s my biggest and best film so far,” Abhishek Bachchan tells me. He’s supremely confident this time. “I don’t speak like this, do I? But DRONA is different. It’s the most expensive film I am associated with. Besides, Goldie [Behl; the director] has executed the subject remarkably,” he states.

Abhishek and Goldie have got together after more than seven years [BAS ITNA SA KHWAB HAI was released in July 2001]. In between, in 2006, Goldie had plans of making a thriller with Abhishek, but decided on making an adventure fare instead. “Goldie was disheartened after his debut film failed. Later, he diversified into television; he wanted to make his company secure before he announced his next film,” Abhishek reminisces.

Abhishek credits his directors for the [sterling] performances he has delivered in films like YUVA and GURU [Mani Ratnam] as also SARKAR and SARKAR RAJ [RGV]. “If at all DRONA works — and I hope it does — Goldie should get the credit for it. He has worked very, very hard. I am sure, the Indian audiences haven’t seen an adventure film like DRONA before,” he says confidently.

Abhishek has worked in the DHOOM series as also SARKAR and its sequel. There’s talk that a sequel to DRONA is in the offing. “Oh yes! Goldie has written so much in the intervening period that he’s ready to take the DRONA series forward. In fact, the possibility of a sequel can easily be explored,” he adds.

“Akshay has signed a UTV film. Hopefully, we should be teaming up there,” Anees Bazmee informs me, “There’s no bad blood with Studio 18. It’s just that things didn’t work out. But I am directing another film for them, which might star Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.”

Anees is expected to take this project forward once he’s through with the ongoing schedule of the Nana Patekar, Harman Baweja, Genelia starrer he’s making right now.

“Not hair-styling, mind you. I don’t want to learn the barber’s art from some posh salon in a 7-star hotel. That kind of hair cutting I know already. I’ve done it to my kids. The bonafide Barbers hold the scissors in a different manner and the way they hold the customer’s hair is different. I am actually going to sit with a roadside Barber and observe him at work. As soon as I finish learning you’ll be the first person whose hair I’ll cut and then probably Shah Rukh Khan who’s my co-star in Billo Barber.”

He has already started shooting for the film. “We complete the film by July.” Irrfan is hugely kicked about this co-star. “Shah Rukh is such a sport. He called me and said ‘I’ll dance in the film while you do the acting’. He’s so comfortable in his space. I want to learn that from him. I want to be comfortable in my surroundings. That’s the only plan I have for my career.” Irrfan was longing to work with Priyadarshan. “I saw his recent film Kanjeevaram. Excellent film. If he has been doing a spate of comedies it’s because that was the market’s demand. Billo Barber will take him into a different league. It’s a very moving story.”

Irrfan admits he had to act restrained in his most recent release Krazzy 4. “When we were shooting there were moments when I had to hold myself back. They wanted to focus more on the story. Many of my proposed scenes were eliminated. But I’ve no complaints. Krazzy 4 is popular with kids. I always wanted to do a film that kids would love. I’ve been doing too many grownup films.”

So why doesn’t Irrfan direct a film? “Only when it comes naturally to me. I’ll only direct when I find a story so compelling that I want to share it with the audience. It may come very soon,” signs off Irrfan.

Even as the suddenly-reclusive Aftab Shivdasani turns producer to create an interesting acting opportunity for himself in a couple of months with a film to be directed by Glen (one -half of the Glen-Ankush duo who directed Aftab in the little-seen sci-fi cloning tale Jaane Kya Hoga with Bipasha Basu), the actor quietly took off for LA to shoot for Sajid Nadiadwala’s much-publicized Kambhakth Ishq. And he plays Akshay Kumar’s chota bhai in the film. Both the actors are cast as stunt-men in Hollywood and have a lot of scenes together where they perform some unbelievable high-flying scenes.

Says a source, “We keep reading about Akshay Kumar’s exploits at LA, how he performed various stunts, how he met Sylvester Stallone, etc. But Aftab has done the same stunts and also shared screen space with Stallone. He sees no reason to tom tom his work. His logic being, ‘When the film is released everyone will know anyway. What’s the point of talking about it.’ In fact, Aftab has withdrawn into a shell ever since he broke up with Yana Gupta. He refused to talk about it even when he was offered front-page coverage by papers. That required guts when your career isn’t going great guns. And when his career didn’t seem to be getting anywhere he quietly decided to produce a film and create an exciting opportunity for himself.”

Aftab admits he isn’t inclined to promote his cause these days. “I’ve been shooting for Kambhakth Ishq in LA. Yeah, I play Akshay Kumar’s sibling. We both play stuntmen. So it kinda runs in the family and it’s a family that kinda runs fast. The role requires considerable physical skill and energy.”

Aftab underwent rigorous training to look and feel fit enough to pull off those daring stunts at Universal studios. “The stunts are dangerous. But everything is so professional here in Hollywood. Safety while doing action scenes is top priority not just for the lead stars but also for the stunt men. Otherwise the experience of working at Universal is no different from the studios back home,” Aftab says in a matter of fact tone.

He enjoyed working with Stallone. But doesn’t think it’s no reason to call up key journalists back home. “I’ve scenes with Sly Stalllone. He was a pleasure to work with,” is all Aftab will say. As for the perception that he has moved to the second lead Aftab chuckles, “I don’t know about that. Everyone is entitled to his or her perception.”

“There is nothing like size zero,” Karisma told reporters here Thursday and added: “We even share our clothes.”

The star of films like “Zubeida” claims her sister is just trying to stay fit saying: “Both of us love to eat, we are complete foodies and no she isn’t a size zero. Kareena worked really hard just to be fit.”

This year Kareena bagged all the popular awards for her performance in “Jab We Met“.

Commenting upon her sister’s achievements, Karisma said: “I am a very proud sister. I guess the good values in her have really paid off.”

Although Karisma has not been a regular on the big screen post-marriage, she made a special appearance in Farah Khan’s film “Om Shanti Om“. She was seen shaking a leg with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in a dance sequence in the song “Deewangi deewangi” last year.

“Yes, I have been laid back on this front to be with my family,” she said.

On being asked whether she would be seen in a project with Kareena soon, Karisma maintained that they have been offered many scripts to work together, but whenever it would happen, they would announce it on a big scale.

The actor lost his patience when the existing families in the competition objected to newly selected families who were made to enter the show as ‘wild card entries’.

“If you guys know best, then carry on. I will not tolerate a change of format halfway through the show,” Ajay said and left the set.

He was irked by the existing participants’ plea to alter the current format of the show.

He pulled Kajol along with him too.

“Rock N Roll Family” is a music and dance competition where three generations of family members participate. Initially, there were 12 families who participated in the show.

Brijesh from the Saxena family initiated the argument. He said: “It is unfair to introduce two new families at this stage of the competition. While we have struggled to reach this far in the competition, suddenly two new families will just have a cakewalk on the show.”

He also proposed the re-entry of those families who have already been eliminated.

Ajay reacted saying that even if the participants had any disagreements, they should have addressed it earlier.