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Actor Lara Dutta has become hot and happening. More so after her films Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Partner, next year she plans to jhoom a little more. Ask her about her New Year resolutions and she quickly says, “To work hard and to meditate harder, to progress professionally and spiritually.” Well, it seems she has solid plans for the year 2008.

Lara Dutta has injured her foot recently. The actress while shooting for an ad at the Kamalistan Studios tripped and injured her knees during a running sequence. She has also severely sprained her ankle.

A source revealed, “The shot required Lara to run around. The concept of the ad was such that the flooring had to be of green colour. There was an iron plank on the floor as well. Incidentally that was of green colour too. It was because the plank synchronized very well with the flooring that it was required for the shot. However, during the running sequence she failed to notice it and tripped over, badly injuring her knees and spraining the ankle in the process. To worsen the condition she had worn very high heels that aggravated the injury.”

The source said that Lara continued to shoot despite her injury. “She continued to shoot till late in the night. Lara found it difficult to do the running sequence initially because of the pain. But she somehow managed and completed the shot. She could have cancelled it if she wanted too, but she did want the company to suffer losses because of this accident.”

Mallika Sherawat and Preity Zinta might share a common passion of hiding their face behind a burqa while going to catch a movie in a multiplex, but Lara Dutta does just the opposite. She says she loves the public attention and she will never try to hide her identity in public places. Lara and Shah Rukh Khan share the same passion; they like to stay in public memory for long. There’s nothing wrong in getting a little more of appreciation and attention.

It is not Katrina Kaif but Lara Dutta who seems to have been bagging practically every project opposite Salman Khan. The actress has just signed her fifth film with Salman Khan.

If sources are to be believed, Lara has been signed by Sohail Khan for Mr and Mrs Khanna, which will be directed by debutant director Prem Soni.

Lara Dutta is already part of the Salman-Govinda starrer Tom and Jerry, a sequel to Partner. An industry source states, “Salman Khan is extremely fond of Lara and considers her to be an actor with good comic timing. Also, she has an edge over Katrina Kaif who is still not very good with her Hindi and comic timing, which was quite evident in Partner.

Lara has also got appreciation for her comic timing in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. Lara is already doing London Dreams with Salman Khan.

It may be noted here that Salman Khan has always had a say in the choice of his heroine and has worked with only those he can get along with on the sets. Lara Dutta and Salman Khan became friends while shooting for Partner.

We don’t know who is the lucky new man in Lara Dutta’s life, but the girl has decided to cut down on her parties apparently. “I was never a party person, I prefer a movie on a weekend rather than a party, and I love watching films in multiplexes. I go there, meet people and enjoy the whole experience, sitting there and eating popcorn, like any other cinema goer,” she said. Right girl, that’s the way one should enjoy life!

The hottest comeback of the month is of that Lara (that’s what Abhishek Bachchan and Bobby Deol call her). Lara Dutta who had lost the race to other beauties primarily to her contemporary Priyanka Chopra has made a smashing comeback with Partner and now there’s no stopping her. And on top of it, her new single status has made many filmmakers camp outside her house to sign her. What more can one ask for?

Unlike her contemporaries, Lara Dutta believes in following her instinct when it comes to signing films. “I’ve always worked in films that make me happy,” she says. Given that her recent flicks are comedies (No Entry, Bhagam Bhag and the forthcoming Partner) does that mean working in comedies make her happy? “Of course, I love acting in comedies. After the success of No Entry and Bhagam Bhag, I have been flooded with lots of comedies. But I have been lucky to get different kind of roles. I don’t like being repetitive,” she says. And what about multi-starrers? “I don’t mind working with other actors as long as my role is good enough. Today, not many actors/actresses are getting solo roles. I do get roles that seem powerful as solo heroine projects, but I don’t take them on because the set up is not right most of the time. I want to work in movies that people watch in theatres, and not ones that are only appreciated by critics. I’m game for a paisa-vasool movie any day!”

Does she worry about being left behind by Priyanka Chopra who started along with her in Bollywood? “I’m not part of the rat race. I prefer to improve my acting prowess with each film rather than looking at what others are doing. After all, working in movies is more about dealing with people and stories, I enjoy that. For example Jhoom Barabar Jhoom hasn’t worked well, but it has fetched me great compliments from fans,” she explains.

Does working with big banners make a difference? “You bet it does. When you are working for a big banner, it makes you feel wanted. A big production house takes good care of you. I have received lots of offers after Jhoom Barabar Jhoom,” adds Lara. Quiz her about her recent split with longtime beau Kelly Dorjee and she diplomatically signs off with a ‘No comments’.

Acouple of years ago Aishwarya Rai had agreed to do the Kajra re number on Aidtya Chopra’s special request. It was her way of getting back into Yash Chopra’s camp after her professional fall-out with Shah Rukh Khan over Chalte Chalte. That fall-out had cost her Veer-Zara, among other roles. Lara Dutta has learnt it’s never right to say no to a banner as big as that of Yashji’s. She admits she did Fanaa to get into their good books. “It helped me get an entry into Yash Chopra’s camp,” she admits candidly. “Though I didn’t strike any such bargain with them, in the back of my mind, I did know that doing the part would put me in their good books. And to be in the same frame as Aamir Khan and Kajol…wow! Would that ever happen again? Also Kunal Kohli had asked me to do a cameo in Hum Tum. At that time I was busy shooting Aisa jadoo. I was petrified to say no to Fanaa. Because having said no once to Yash Chopra’s banner, I thought I was out of the camp. Obviously not,” she laughs about getting Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom.

Jhoom… has indeed changed Lara’s positioning in the movie market. “I’ve become very choosy. I don’t perceive myself as frivolous any longer.”

To prove her seriousness, Lara is going places other than Bollywood. After Shilpa Shetty, the British House Of Commons had yet another celebrity guest-speaker last week. Lara Dutta addressed the House Of Commons on the sensitive subject of human trafficking. Her oratorical skills were received with thunderous applause. No wonder Lara is glowing. “It was a wonderful opportunity, and to my good fortune, it was very well received. I believe this was the first time that the Medical Aid UK was allowed to have a say in this way within the British House Of Parliament,”

Lara says she has always enjoyed her role as a spokesperson for her country over and above her other roles. “But being an actress is also fun. It certain was fun working in Partner with David Dhawan and Salman Khan for the first time.”

Surprisingly, Lara isn’t taller than Salman. “(Laughs). Fortunately, I wasn’t taller. Because of Salman’s court cases Partner took 15 months to finish. But it was so much fun. Working with David Dhawan on a comedy was very different from working on a comedy with Priyadarshan (Bhagam Bhaag). Also, in Partner, Govinda is in full form. After No Entry, I haven’t laughed so much doing any of my films.’ Then comes the tonguein-cheek remark, “Considering how much of me has been seen in some recent films, you’ll see me doing enough in Partner.” Personally, she has been with Kelly Dorji for years. “I just don’t feel the need to make it legal. I’m having a bit too much fun with my career right now. I feel I’ve walked into the industry now,” she says.

All is not hunky-dory between Lara Dutta and boyfriend Kelly Dorjee. If common friends are to be believed, after living-in for over eight years now, the cracks in the relationship are showing. Sources close to the couple inform that arguments and fights have become a regular feature in their Mumbai apartment.

Earlier this week, Kelly (sans Lara) was seen having a gala dinner with a few friends at a posh Mumbai restaurant. When a few friends quizzed him about girlfriend Lara’s absence, all he had to say was, “She is in middle of some work.” We are no strangers to the fact that the couple makes appearances together at all social events. They are never seen without each other. Says a close friend of Lara: “They are always together at parties and award ceremonies. If Lara is busy shooting then Kelly simply gives the do a miss.” But now times seem to have changed.

Apparently, Kelly has been upset about Lara’s bonding with her male co-stars on film sets. Earlier, she had been linked with Abhishek Bachchan, which had its repercussions on the relationship. “Kelly hates to accompany Lara to a film set. But link-up rumours do affect him. They have often fought over it. They are very impulsive individuals,” says the friend.

In circles where it really matters, the buzz is that Kelly’s notso-eventful career is also having its impact on the relationship. His sports-based television show on a news channel wasn’t very popular. His acting career never took off. Adds another source, “Kelly is still figuring out his career. It’s a different story that he hails from a well-to-do family.” Lara also confessed in a recent interview that she continues to work on her relationship with Kelly. “It doesn’t come easy. Every day we have to work on it.”