SCOOPS: Kriti Sanon spills the beans about Kalank song 'Aira Gaira', When Prabhas called Shahid Kapoor

The next song from Kalank, titled Aira Gaira, will be launched today evening. The dance track, which is a celebration number,  features Kriti Sanon along with Varun Dhawan and Aditya Roy Kapur. Kriti says, “Aira Gaira is extremely special because it is not only my first with Dharma Productions but I’m also returning to Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, which is where I started off. This is my biggest song till date. It is a celebration number where I play a nachnewaali from that period, so it has all the desi thumkas, which is again something I haven’t done before. The sets were well-lit and the track has been shot on a huge scale. I have never shot for a song for six days before this. I’m also happy that I’ll be launching the track in my hometown (Delhi) today.” 

Talking about her experience of working with Varun and Adi, the leggy lass adds, “It’s good to reunite with Varun again after Dilwale. We have great energy together and this song was a riot. It’s my first with Adi. He is extremely chilled out, so all of us all shared good vibes on set.”

Three years ago, Salman Khan had launched Suniel Shetty’s daughter Athiya Shetty under his banner. Now, the younger Shetty sibling is all set to make his foray into Bollywood. Sajid Nadiadwala is introducing Ahan Shetty with the Hindi remake of Telugu hit RX 100, which will be directed by Milan Luthria. Now, we hear that there will be a connection between Ahan and Salman.

The makers have roped in Stefan Richter to design the stunts for the actioner. Interestingly, Stefan has previously worked as the action director on SK’s Kick (2014) and Varun Dhawan-John Abraham starrer Dishoom (2016), both of which were produced by Sajid. 

Confirming the development, the director says, “I love having different kinds of action in my movies, be it Kachche Dhaage (1999), Deewaar (2004) or Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai (2010). It’s important I work with professionals who understand that the stunts in my films are story and character-driven. Stefan has a terrific body of work behind him and understands my kind of action. Preliminary meetings with him and Ahan have been exciting and he’s the perfect choice for the stuff we are attempting to showcase with him.”

Stefan is thrilled to start work on the film, which goes on floors around May this year. He says, “It feels like coming back to your family after a long time. Kick with Sajid sir was one of my best experiences ever. Working with him and Salman along with the crew was just amazing. I have worked on Dishoom as well. Whenever I come to Mumbai, I make sure I visit Sajid sir and we spend time chatting about films. I look forward to working with Milan. We have met a couple of times and have had an interesting exchange of ideas about this movie.” 

—Nayandeep Rakshit 

Hrithik Roshan has two films that are in different stages of production. Both movies have him playing diametrically opposite characters, as well. 

On one hand, Hrithik is dubbing for his July 26 release, Super 30 in which he plays the Bihari math genius, Anand Kumar. The shoot for the same has been wrapped.

On the other hand, the superstar has been rehearsing and shooting for action sequences of his other film, tentatively titled Hrithik v/s Tiger, in which he will be seen in a stylish avatar. The Kaabil actor will share screen space with Tiger Shroff in the YRF venture. These two projects have been keeping him super busy but of course, Hrithik has always been someone who’s capable of doing the perfect balancing act. 

Madhuri Dixit dances like a dream. In Kalank’s latest song Tabaah Ho Gaye, the Bollywood diva can be seen essaying the angst and pathos of her character Bahar Begum with finesse. The highlight of the song happens to be the beauty queen’s solo dance towards the end of the track. “We had actually left it for the last. I trained on the rest of the song for two days and was ready to shoot. On set, we decided to do the chakkars. The classical spins that I have taken are inspired from Kathak.

It’s the first time we have tried to incorporate several different moves with the chakkars. When Sarojji (Khan) came up with this idea, I felt it will be something new.

All of it is one shot. We had to do two takes because the lighting went a little off in the first. But otherwise, the song has a lot of one-shots.” Fans who missed the diva’s dance in her last film Total Dhamaal are pleased with her return to the space. But, today, with dance films becoming a genre in its own, is she looking at a possibility of doing one too? Maybe a classical one, we ask. Madhuri responds, “Yes, it will be a good idea. Because a film on classical dance forms has not been attempted of late. They are mostly Western styles and even an Aaja Nachle had a folksy flavour to it. If someone puts this film together and approaches me, I’d love to do it.” 

—Nayandeep Rakshit

Shahid Kapoor has been receiving a lot of praise for the first promo of his next outing, Kabir Singh, which released online a few days ago. But the greatest surprise yet for the Padmaavat actor was a call from Baahubali star, Prabhas, who congratulated him on the teaser. The two heroes were, in fact, connected by celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim, who tells us, “I was in Hyderabad shooting for Saaho with Prabhas, and the teaser of Kabir Singh had just launched online. Prabhas checked it out and loved it. Even his team members, who have enjoyed Arjun Reddy, felt that Shahid looked brilliant.”

Kabir Singh is the Hindi remake of the Telugu actioner in which Vijay Deverakonda played the titular role. Aalim continues, “Seeing Prabhas’ reaction to the promo, I called up Shahid and handed him the phone. The former praised him and said that Kabir Singh looks even better than the original. Both of them chatted for a good seven-odd minutes.”

—Nayandeep Rakshit