Rajni turns reclusive

Rajnikant's film has been announced.

Baba has Suresh Krssna at its helm and stars Manisha Koirala and Ashish Vidyarthi, besides the South Indian superstar himself.

The film is very hush-hush. The shooting is happening in the Campa Cola grounds, Guindy, Tamil Nadu. No sneak peek for the press. No location stories.

Some say Baba is a revamped version of the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Muqadar Ka Sikander. Others insist it is about a man who wants to renounce everything in life, but people want him to be a leader instead.

The makers have released a logo and proclaimed themselves the sole owners. The ban prohibits anyone from making keychains or pendants with the name Baba on it. And if they want to, they have to take permission and pay for it.

Rajnikant has also objected to anyone who imitates him on screen. Apparently, this ruffled Chinni Jayant who plays a hardcore Rajnikant fan in his forthcoming film. Chinni started his career mimicking Rajnikant in television commercials. This prohibition would have meant the end for Chinni's film. Fortunately, he got the green signal after a special request.

Some Rajnikant's fans are hurt. Apparently, for the mahurat of the film, Rajnikant broke a coconut in front of a temple with his shoes on. And though the film's title seems pious [Baba means a sage in Hindi], Rajni poses with a beedi [local cigarette].

Rumours have it that Rajnikant's daughter Aishwarya will sing a song in the film with music by Deva. She is also assisting Krssna.

From supercop to super Goddess

Vijayashanti plays a goddess in the 175th film of her career, as she feels that a milestone film must be devotional.

Directed by Barati Kannan, it has music by T R Rajendran. This film is among the Tamil New Year releases.

Choice of a new generation

Jeeva's 12 B, inspired by the Hollywood flick Sliding Doors, didn't do well at the box office as it left audiences confused.

His next directorial venture is with director Vikram Singh. Shaam (who was introduced by Jeeva) and Richa Palot will play the lead roles. The film is called Pepsi, an acronym of the first letters of five friends' names in the film.

Run Maddy Run

Madhavan played a sensitive father in Kannathil Muthamittal.

Run has him in an action role. It is directed by Linguswamy, whose debut Anandam was based on his own family life. Anandam was the superhit of 2001, close on the heels of Dhill.

Produced by A M Ratnam, Raima Sen was supposed to be in the lead, but Meera Jasmine has been roped in instead.

Devyani gets behind the scenes

Actress Devyani has been doing fewer films ever since her marriage to director Rajakumaran.

Once compared with Revathi, Devyani is now contemplating a starting production house of her own.

Meanwhile, her younger brother Nakul has bagged a role in Shankar's Boys.