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The latest is that Yash Raj Films, impressed by Shahid’s performance in Jab We Met, has recently signed Shahid for their next production. The film will be directed by Anurag Singh, a close associate of Aditya Chopra. The project will roll from March 2008.

This film will be a love story. A source tells us, “Shahid loved the script and gave the nod to YRF. He is meeting many filmmakers after Jab We Met. He is signing films after much deliberation. He wants to choose the right scripts. Filmmakers are queuing up to sign him these days.”

Here, Shahid seems to have broken his onefilm-at-a-time rule as this is not the only film he’s doing. He is also gearing up for Ken Ghosh’s film, where he sports long hair. After that, he will start shooting for his father’s (Pankaj Kapoor) directorial venture.

Our source adds, “Importantly, Shahid is not ruing the fact that he split with Kareena. Life has never been as good to Shahid as now.” We couldn’t agree more. Lately, Shahid has been seen in close proximity with tennis player Sania Mirza. Shahid remained unavailable for comment.

Now this is the scoop of the month. Last week an l’ll birdie told us Shahid Kapoor was caught crying in a suburban multiplex. And when we asked him about it, Shahid had a hearty laughed and told us, yes, it’s true, he cried and it because he was visibly moved while watching Aamir Khan’s directorial venture Taare Zameen Par. Shahid has been a die hard Aamir Khan fan and he hasn’t missed any of Aamir’s movies and after watching TZP, Aamir has become his favourite director also, says his friend who accompanied him to see the film. Aamir for sure will be happy to know Shahid’s reaction.

The ways of Bollywood are unusual, but unchanging. There may be more to the Kareena-Shahid break-up than meets the eye. News of their split just before their film, Jab We Met releases seems more than a co-incidence. Controversies are raked up at convenience and are killed as quickly. It has happened before in the industry, make-ups and breakups reported just before the release of a film.

Earlier, Shahid-Kareena have acted together in films like Fida, 36, Chinatown and Chup Chup Ke – all box-office duds. Although the couple is said to have a fantastic chemistry, as a screen pair they have been unable to set the cash registers ringing. Kareena has been missing from the scene for a long time, and Shahid needs a hit reasonably urgently to boost his career. Filmi pundits say that the reports of the split could very much be a ploy to make Jab We Met a box-office draw.

More so, because Shahid’s closest aide in Bollywood, Ahmed Khan maintains, “Shahid and Bebo are very much together. It’s just that they are away from each other, working on individual projects. Apparently, Shahid has asked Bebo and his family not to speak to the media at this point. He will address the issue when he returns from Toronto.” Apparently the couple still talk to each other every day.

Besides, soon after their split was reported in the media, Kareena did send messages to her friends saying that the news was complete hogwash.

Our source says, “While at Jodhpur, shooting for an ad film, Kareena spoke on the phone with Shahid all night long.” This is strange considering the highlypublicised break-up.

When we spoke with Neelima Azim, she seemed quite unperturbed by all the reports of her son’s break-up with Kareena. “I have been in touch with Shahid, but we haven’t discussed anything about it. I feel it’s too personal a matter and he’s mature enough to handle his life and love affair. I don’t want to be dragged into any controversies, though I must say it is rather unfortunate. That too, when his film is just about to release. He has worked very hard on it, I hope the film works on its merit,” says Neelima.

When asked about Kareena, and Neelima’s alleged animosity towards her, Neelima says, “What can I say here? The media just blows things out of proportion.”

Here’s a fun contest. Apparently, director Imtiaz Ali has planned to ask the audience to decide what the title of his next film should be. “Actually, the idea came from my lead actor Shahid Kapoor,” informs Imtiaz. “All of us had different ideas about the title. We finally narrowed it down to three titles, but we couldn’t cut it down to one. So Shahid suggested that we put it across to the audience and let them choose. So now it’s going to be an open contest and the title which gets the highest votes will win,” he adds.

The first title is Punjab Mail – it signifies a relationship between two strangers (Shahid and Kareena Kapoor) who meet on a train to Punjab; the second title is Ishq Via Bhatinda – since Kareena’s character Geeta is going to Bhatinda, and Shahid’s character Aditya also ends up going there because of certain incidents; and the third title Jab We Met is a mix of Hindi-English words since the youth today speak a mix of these two languages, and the protagonists keep meeting again and again, sometimes accidentally, sometimes intentionally. Which title will you vote for?

It looks like Shahid Kapoor and Kareena can’t do without each other. Apparently, Shahid who is doing an untitled film with Tips asked the producers to postpone the outdoor shoot of the film some time back. Reason? The actor wanted to spend some time with girlfriend Kareena before she left for Ladakh for the shooting of Yashraj’s Tashan.

Says our source, “Shahid had to go to Canada for two months. Needless to say, it was a little difficult for Shahid and Kareena to spend time together. So, before Kareena left for Ladakh, Shahid called up his producer Ramesh Taurani, and requested him to delay the shooting dates citing personal reasons. The shooting was postponed for a few days.”

The untitled movie also stars Vidya Balan besides Shahid. Filmmaker Aziz Mirza will be directing the film. Adds our source, “Shahid and Kareena were inseparable during those few days. They were spotted at different restaurants in the city like Aromas of China and China Garden.”

When contacted Ramesh Taurani, producer of the show confirmed the delay in the schedule. However, he gave a different reason for it. He said, “Our film got delayed for a few days as we had some visa problems. So we are leaving for Canada on August 3.”

Love means an endless amount of support and togetherness. And Kareena Kapoor proves this by taking a lot of interest in boyfriend Shahid Kapoor’s career.

The actress, who passed the compatibility test on the Koffee with Karan show, is making sure that Shahid not only does the right films but also has right look for the roles he plays in his films.

According to an industry source, “Just recently, Kareena accompanied Shahid for a photo-shoot, for his film Kismat Connection. The actress apparently didn’t like the clothes that were given to him for the photo-shoot. She felt the clothes that her boyfriend was wearing for the shoot didn’t really suit him. Luckily for her, the designer for the film was Akki Narula, who is also is designing for her film Tashn.”

“As she has a good understanding with the designer, she requested him to give Shahid something that would suit him. The designer promptly agreed. Her suggestion helped and Shahid looked simply fantastic in the clothes worn at Kareena’s suggestion,” adds the source.

Both Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor are also known to consult each other before signing every film deal.

“There are times when Kareena attends story sittings too, with Shahid Kapoor. Shahid and Kareena are doing one film together that is being directed by Imtiaz Ali,” adds the source. Apparently, Kareena Kapoor has played a big role in giving Shahid Kapoor an executive look for the film.

Actor Shahid Kapur is a dedicated ‘hero’. While many actors feel that their jobs are done once the film has entered the post-production stage, Shahid thinks differently. In spite of the near completion of Imtiaz Ali’s yet-to-be-titled project, we find that the actor is taking keen interest in the production activity of the film. He is also discussing marketing strategies and all that. Looks like Shahid’s ‘heart’ is truly in this one. Yes, Bebo’s a part of the project but that’s not quite what we are referring to. Shahid has now learnt to keep his personal and professional interests separate. And this can be gauged from his changed attitude.

Shahid Kapoor has signed a two-film deal with UTV, for which the actor will be paid Rs 5.5 crores. A source informs, “Shahid has just signed the deal and he is extremely excited about it.”

Shahid confirms the news. He says, “I have signed a two-film deal with UTV Motion Pictures which will be made over a period of two years. UTV has made some great films in recent times and I am looking forward to this association.”

Ram Mirchandani, Vice President UTV Motion Pictures says, “We shared a great working relationship with Shahid during the making of Chup Chup Ke. We are in the process of signing other good actors so that we can plan scripts according to their strengths.”

Talking about the signing amount, Mirchandani says, “We can’t talk about the financial aspects of the deal. All I can say is that Ken Ghosh will be directing one of the projects. He is already working on an interesting script for us and if all goes well, we will start the first film in December this year.”

Reportedly, Shahid’s sweetheart Kareena Kapoor is also in the process of signing a three-film deal with Astavinayaka Films.

It has been an eventful time for Shahid Kapoor. “Kareena and I have finished all our films together. However, the Rockstar concerts gave us a chance to spend one more month together,” he says. “We even visited Kareena’s aunt for a couple of days. There, I finally got to eat ghar ka khana, something I was craving for. I am vegetarian,” he adds. In fact, Kareena has also turned vegetarian! “It’s quite an achievement. The first two years we dated, she was non-vegetarian,” says Shahid.

He reminisces about the concert. “It was my first overseas concert. The five of us, Mallika Sherawat, Esha Deol, Zayed Khan, John Abraham and I were first-timers. Only Kareena and Salman were seasoned performers. I used to get nervous before every show. But I loved being on stage,” he says.

The actor is upbeat about the last two Shahid-Kareena starrers-36, China Town and Chup Chup Ke. “Though I wasn’t in India when the films released, the feedback was encouraging,” he says and claims shooting for Chup Chup Ke was a learning experience. “I used to stop my dubbing and burst into laughter. Comedy isn’t easy. But I think I understand it now and it is fun.” Shahid is unfazed by the focus on co-star Upen Patel in 36 China Town. “When I signed the film, I only knew that Akshaye Khanna had signed it too. Kareena and I were signed as the romantic lead. I had no idea about the rest of the cast. I’m not the kind of actor who hardsells himself. I’d rather let my work do the talking. Nor do I want to judge other actors.”

The actor is taking things easy for now. “I’ve worked with Abbas-Mustaan and Priyadarshan and I’m doing Sooraj Barjatya’s Vivaah, a unique love story, unlike his other films. I’m confident about my future. I’m only 25. I’d like to work for another 20 years. Be it the Khans, Hrithik or Abhishek… they all took time to consolidate their position,” he says.

“It’s important to work with good filmmakers. They may not be hugely successful, but something may click. Rang De Basanti and Fanaa are unconventional films, yet successful. I’m waiting patiently now and won’t sign anything for a while. I’ve done the boy-nextdoor thing. I need to try other avenues. I’d like to do an author-backed character,”

Shooting for Vivaah, in which he plays the protagonist, has Shahid charged. “I’ve been through screen tests where I was rejected at the start. Now, I’m confident in my space. Initially, I just took up work that excited me. Now, I’m trying to develop a killer instinct. I’m just beginning to understand the film industry. I think Aamir Khan has got it right,” he says.