Upen, Salman at loggerheads

Now that Salman is courting trouble in the Chinkara poaching case, he is as much in the conversation between foes as of friends. Upen Patel was recently spotted at the music launch of Bhojpuri movie Janam Janam Ke Saath and was promptly gheraoed by mediapersons seeking his comments on Salman. But the actor steered clear saying: "I don't want to comment on these issues as I have many other things to handle. This is not the only thing left to talk about. You all people should not worry about these things as the law is the same and it will not change for anybody."

But that was the official statement. Sources said on condition on anonymity that Upen was indirectly "making fun of Salman". Upen allegedly ridiculed Sallu saying that "he was enjoying the great time of his life and would like to visit Salman behind bars".

The bitterness may have arisen from the close ties that Upen once had with the Khans when he was dating Amrita Arora, sister of Salman's sister-in-law, Malaika. But once Upen and Amrita split, he was no longer in Salman's group. High time Upen gives up the animosity and let bygones be bygones.

Hum Tum pair back to sizzle again

A report in a section of over-imaginative press suggests that Rani is quitting movies after Laaga Chunari Mein Daag to get married.

Laughs a source very close to Rani, "The fact is, Rani has signed a new film and is already shooting for it. The film is Kunal Kohli's untitled venture which brings the Hum Tum pair Saif and Rani together again. Rani has been shooting for the last two weeks and is totally immersed in the project. She has neither the time nor the inclination to get married or to issue periodical denials about the spurt of lies that keep appearing in the tabloids about her."

Continues the source, "Rani is also on the verge of signing a couple of more projects. After Laaga Chunari Mein Daag where she has one of the toughest author-backed roles of her career as a Brahmin girl who compromises with her morals to support her family, Rani plays an old-fashioned golden-hearted prostitute in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya." According Sanjay Bhansali, Rani's turn as the golden-hearted tart is so ebullient and enchanting; Rani is likely to prove the scene-stealer of the show.

As for marriage, Rani has no man in her life right now. "Rani is too much into her work to think about marriage. She's also getting her two new homes ready and will be moving in soon. One of those places has wrongly been perceived as her love nest. It’s strictly an office to meet producers, trade people and journalists. With her family home now filled with the pitter-patter of her niece's feet, Rani didn't want to bring her work into her home."

As for Kunal Kohli's film, Rani will be joined by her co-star soon. Says Saif. "I'm currently shooting for Yashraj's Tashan. Rani has already started shooting for Kunal's film. I join them in Novemeber."

Rani quit? Not quite.