No hero roles right now: Santhanam

Despite receiving several offers to play the solo lead, Santhanam says that he is content playing a comedian

Despite most of his previous flicks being big blockbusters, comedian Santhanam says he's content doing what he's doing right now. While there many offers of playing a solo hero knocking on his doors, the comedian says that he would rather concentrate on his current projects right now.

"I am getting quite a lot of offers to do films as a hero but right now, I don't think I should take that route. There were even offers to do remakes of successful Telugu films like Maryada Ramanna.... They would have suited me, but I have been fairly successful playing a comedian and I would rather like to continue in this vein.

Also, I don't have the time right now to concentrate on a solo hero project," he explains. Santhanam is happy with the response to the teasers of Oru Kal Oru Kannadi (OKOK), his third collaboration with director Rajesh with whom he earlier worked for Siva Manasula Sakthi (SMS) and Boss Engira Baskaran (BEB). He says this film will show him funnier than the previous two collaborations.

"A couple of one-liners in SMS and BEB became a rage. There will be enough punchlines in this film as well. Like 'That is life...' (which appears in the teaser) and 'Fact, fact fact...', though I can't say which is going to ultimately click with fans."

Talking about his other projects, the actor says, "Each role is distinct from the other. For example, in Thaandavam, I play a taxi driver in the US, while in Gautham Menon's Neethane En Ponvasantham I appear as a college student in the first half and as a professional in the second half," he says.

Point out to him that it is only the second time that Gautam has opted for a comedian in his film and he says, "I play the friend of the hero who makes a witty comment or two now and then. But Gautham's films are quite classy and the comedy too will be subtle, reflecting his style," he says.

Siddharth Narayan to Turn Producer?

The Nootrenbadhu actor is all set to co-produce his latest bilingual.

He's always maintained that he fluctuates between the actor and the management professional in him. Now, Siddharth is all set to mix his two passions as he will co-produce his latest bilingual titled Kadhalil Sodhapuvadu Eppadi. A few days back Siddharth has tweeted saying, "Ok so the thing is... BIG announcement coming up in a week... its fun when you keep a secret well".

While rumours did the rounds on whether Siddharth would openly up about his relationship status and give the 'good news' or if he'd announce a big Bollywood project, sources close to him reveal otherwise.

"Siddharth is all set to co-produce his latest bilingual, which will have Amala Paul opposite him. He's currently happy with the way his film Oh My Friend! has been received and hopes his next project fares equally well at the box office," says the source, who adds that Siddharth is not new to filmmaking as he's worked as an associate director with Mani Ratnam.

Asin Thottumkal has a Dream

Asin entered Bollywood with a bang with Ghajini but has not really soared high despite Ready being a success.

While the 26-year-old is now settled in Mumbai, one dream that she does have is that of a white wedding admitting that she is a romantic. And who would she have in attendance at this romantic wedding? Well, none other than her family and close friends. As of now she is focused on Hindi films and though she might have missed out on doing Delhi-6 and Karthik Calling Karthik, she believes bygones are bygones. Looks like Asin is ready and waiting for the next big on-screen dhamaka.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Aims to Get Sexy

There were talks only recently about Sanjay Leela Bhansali having visited Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and having offered her movie, which Ash is excited about.

If talks are to be believed, the film in question is Bhansali's dream project - the epic, Bajirao Mastani. Sources inform us that the shooting of the film will begin only around mid-2012.

Apparently, Aishwarya is so keen to get back to the big screen and do what she loves most - act - that the gorgeous damsel has already hit the treadmill and is on the course of becoming fit and sexy all over again. We are told that the dedicated actress has already hired a fitness trainer and has begun to sweat it out.

A pregnant Ash had put on a sufficient amount of weight, and she felt that the time to lose it all has indeed come. However, still basking in the glory of motherhood, Ash, we hear, is taking it one step at a time.

It is being widely specualted that the actor cast opposite her in this magnum opus is none other than her Devdas co-star Shah Rukh Khan.

It's only a matter of time, in that case, that we'll see a much-in-shape Aishwarya emerge on the silver screen to wow the audiences and her fans all over again.

Amrita Rao to Play Maharani Gayatri Devi

Amrita Rao sure has bagged a meaty role. She has been cast by Shyam Benegal in his next, a biopic on Maharani Gayatri Devi, where Amrita plays the protagonist.

Apparently, Benegal is extremely fond of Amrita and had even approached her for Well Done Abba, as he considers Amrita as his favourite actress. Benegal even fondly calls her 'Aamgel Gomti' which in Konkani means 'our beauty'.

Meghana Raj’s New Avatar

When she started her Mollywood innings with director Vinayan's Yakshiyum Njaanum, many wrote her off as a one-film wonder.

But Meghana Raj has stood the test of time and is now a busy actress with films in all the four south Indian languages. The actress, who is known for her role in Kaadhal Solla Vandhen, is excited about her Malayalam film, V K Prakash's Beautiful.

"Of the 14 films I've done so far, Beautiful is really special. The film offered me a challenging role," she says.

The film has her in a never-seen-before avatar, wherein she is dressed in saris for most part of the film.

"The makers have given a different definition to glamour with my look in this film. It's simple; yet sensuous. We've infused a Bengali style, replete with a big bindi and colourful saris. I haven't put on any makeup for my role. I was the one who used to be ready first for every shot a bindi was all I needed," she laughs.

Besides, Meghna's awaiting the release of her two Tamil films - Kalla Sirippazhaga with Skakkthi and Nanda Nanditha, which is the Kannada remake of Nadha Loves Nanditha.

Amala Paul to Fire Her Manager Soon?

Actress Amala Paul is said to be not so happy with the ‘functioning’ of her manager who manages her call-sheet dates and fee, etc. in all her films. Usually, managers play an important role in the development and in helping to sustain the careers of most of the actresses; they are the ones who to go out and seek opportunities to lift the sagging careers of their bosses and also act as PR agents of those actresses.

In the instant case, though, Amala Paul is reportedly feeling dissatisfied with the performance of her manager. Some time back, Amala Paul was cast as the heroine opposite Dhanush in the film 3 directed by his wife Aishwarya. Soon enough, Amala Paul was ‘out of the project’ and pretty Shruti Hassan stepped in as the heroine opposite Dhanush. The super-hit song Why this Kolaveri di..., incidentally, is from the film 3.

Sources close to Amala Paul say that she recently had a spat with her manager over his ways of ‘managing’ her career. In fact, Amala Paul realized only after everything was over that she lost the opportunity to star in the film 3 only because of the goof-ups by her manager. Though the details are now clearly known as of now, it is rumoured that a ‘communication gap’ is what cost the film for Amala Paul.

What really caused the manager’s tenure untenable was that when the manager couldn’t get Amala Paul paired up opposite Vikram in his upcoming film Thandavam. The fact that Amala Paul and Vikram share the same manager makes it all the more baffling that the person failed (?!) to get them paired in the latter’s new film.

Considering the fact that Amala Paul was in reckoning to play the heroine’s role when the film was announced, the actress couldn’t digest the fact that she is not part of the film. Reports say that Anushka might be paired up opposite Vikram in Thandavam. Incidentally, both Anushka and Amala Paul starred with Vikram (not as heroines, though) in Deiva thirumagal which released a few months back.