Farhan Akhtar to shoot ‘Don 2’ in Europe

Farhan Akhtar is just back from his European sojourn with friend and business partner Ritesh Sidhwani. The partners had gone on an elaborate European trip to hunt for suitable locations for their sequel to ‘Don’.

According to reports, the duo traveled to London, Germany and Ireland and have already zeroed in on certain places for shooting.

While ‘Don’ was shot in Malaysia, Akhtar has decided to expand Don’s (to be played by Shah Rukh again) criminal activities to Europe.

"We selected a few places in London and then went to Ireland. Dublin is certainly on the cards. The locations are breath taking. After that we flew to Germany. We went to Frankfurt and Berlin. Our scouting certainly proved fruitful and we have decided on the places that we will be shooting", says Ritesh Sidhwani.

The shooting for the film is supposed to start in August next year.

When I do a film, I don`t think of Awards :Kareena

The reigning queen of Bollywood, Kareena Kapoor, has been appreciated for her versatility and the Bebo claims that she has always wanted to be a star actress. Kareena, who has always been appreciated for pulling off roles of different genres, apparently claims that awards are the last thing on her mind as she signs a flick.

On her films and experience in the industry, Kareena says, "See, ever since I began my career, I have always maintained that I want to be a star actress. I should give the kind of confidence to the film makers that I can carry off any role confidently. Whether it is a Geet (Jab We Met) or a Dolly (Omkara), Simrita (Kambakkht Ishq) or the character I play in ‘Kurbaan’ - I am mixing it up all".

"For me, work is like a passion and when I do a film, I don`t really think from commercial gains or awards. What is most important for me is to be engaged in some quality stuff. I sign a film because I like to enact the character that I have been offered. If Box Office success and awards come, then well, it`s great", she mentioned.

Talking about her upcoming flick ‘Kurbaan’, Kareena said, "Well frankly, this is one film where I am expecting both Box Office success and huge critical acclaim. The film is extremely well made and to add to that, quite topical.”

Salman kicks the ball in Bandra!

No, despite the swagger, the attitude and the ponytail, Salman does not play good soccer. But this is no reason for his fans to be any less enthralled when he shows up in action on the playground! So when he took to the ball for the penalty shoot-out at the Suparitalav Grounds in Bandra for a thrilling contest between Salman 9 and Baba (Siddiqui) 9, fans overflowed from the stands into the field.

Twice he failed to net the ball, and his overenthusiastic fans did not give him a third chance. Repeated pleas by the commentator and players fell on deaf ears as fans mobbed their favourite Bandra boy.

Finally, the penalty shoot-out was dropped and a draw was declared.

The match was a special feature of the Baba Siddique 9x9 Football Challenge. The final was to be played between two local teams after this contest was over, but by the time the ‘real’ match began, the ground was empty.

Salman is any day a bigger crowd-puller than a football match!

Shekhar Kapur slams Ambika Soni for comments on SRK episode

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has criticised Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni`s remarks to give a `tit-for-tat` treatment to the Americans after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was detained at a US airport for two hours.

Giving the example of former president A.P.J. Kalam, who was also frisked in April at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here as he was boarding a flight of US carrier Continental Airlines, Kapur wrote on his blog: "I believe what happened to Shah Rukh was a huge blunder, but what happened to our Abdul Kalam was far, far worse. It happened on Indian soil."

"But I admired the calmness with which Abdul Kalam dealt with the issue himself and displayed so much humility. I expect Shah Rukh to do the same as I am sure he will. Only he can defuse the situation," Kapur posted on his blog www.shekharkapur.com/blog Sunday.

"Unlike our Cabinet Minister Ambica Soni, who said we should respond with a `tit for tat`. What are you going to do, Ms Soni? Interrogate every American citizen arriving at our shores for an hour and a half? Or wait for Brad Pitt to arrive here? Cabinet ministers need to make more considered statements," he wrote.

Shah Rukh was on his way to Chicago to attend a function to mark India`s Independence Day and was detained for two hours at the Newark airport after US immigration officials spotted the `Khan` in his name.

Reacting to it, Soni had said: "I have always felt - even when I was frisked there (the US) - that the way they frisk us we should do the same for them here."

Kapoor says to make up, US President Obama should invite Shah Rukh Khan for dinner.

"What happened to Shah Rukh is a minor incident which we should protest about, yes. Ensure that this doesn`t happen to an Indian public figure like him again and move on," Kapoor said.

"And President Obama, adept as he is diplomatically and politically, should invite Shah Rukh to a family dinner over beer and (view) one of his Bollywood films," he added.