More Ruskin, some Deepika

From recent news items:

More Ruskin Bond's Saat Khoon Maaf appearance: Times of India - 23rd August (featuring the tidbit that Bond and Bhardwaj are now neighbours in Mussoorie)

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The news that Deepika Padukone has signed a Vishal film (is he directing or simply producing?), to be featured opposite Saif Ali Khan. More prayers for non-actor to actor transformations.

Vishal for Meghna Gulzar's movie

Mid-Day reports that Vishal will be doing the music for Meghna Gulzar's next film, an adaptation of the play "Double Act" by Barry Crayton . More here.

The new Bond movie and the Seven Deadly Sons

The irreverent moifightclub blog provides a complete list of doomed husbands in Vishal's upcoming Saath Khoon Maaf (original source: The Hindustan Times). They are:
Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan Khan, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Russian actor Alexander Dyachenko, Annu Kapoor and Vivaan Shah (Naseeruddin Shah’s son).

Ruskin Bond's cameo is also confirmed, thanks to a note from the writer himself. Writing in Outlook, the quiet great man talks of his admiration for his director, the toil behind a film, and of being unable to make an offer that Vishal couldn't refuse:

I offered to sing and dance, but I was gently told that I should stick to writing.

Read about the latest 'Bond movie' here.
(There's an funny - unrelated - anecdote at the end of the diary.)

"A Shah among actors" - Vishal on Naseeruddin Shah

Personally, I feel Naseer should quit the movies now. His heart is in theatre — on stage — and I can see that. When he’s on the sets, it’s like dealing with a temperamental child. He’s impatient because he’s a spontaneous actor — retakes are not his thing at all.

Naseeruddin Shah turns 60 soon. To mark the occasion, Vishal Bhardwaj writes a heart-felt appreciation of one of India's greatest actors. The link is here.

Rope to hang yourself by

The news is that Vishal Bhardwaj seems to be roping in Aishwarya Rai for the next film. So frankly, we can write this one off.

Saath Khoon Maaf, par Ash in Vishal movie, inexcusable!!

Now that we mention it, Saath Khoon Maaf shooting seems to be complete. Hope the post production doesn't take a lot of time. PC interview here

Usha Uthup replaces Mohanlal

Sorry, made that one up!

But jokes aside, seems like the original pop ki raani, Usha Uthup, is part of Saath Khoon Maaf.

Usha who has already shot with the director for three days says, "I had stopped acting in films as I didn't get a role which was good enough".
Everyone was only asking me to play myself. I almost jumped out of my skin when Vishal sir offered me such an exciting role in his film. It's got layers to it and is very challenging. It's a dark comedy"

Will be interesting to see how Double U is used/ approaches the role - hope we don't have her making kathakali faces just to pump up the scare factor.

the first husband leaves

Saat Khoon Maaf is what the Vishal/Priyanka flick written by Ruskin Bond is called and the roster of the seven bridegrooms has looked interesting ever since it started out with Mohanlal. Alas, the list which also features Naseeruddin Shah, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Irrfan Khan and Anu Kapoor will be missing the thunder from down under, because, reportedly, Mohanlal is no longer of the film. Little else is known yet. Perhaps it's just a joke. Perhaps it's not. Only time will tell.