Vickey Lalwani

Manisha's new love interest

The forest brigand in Jungle, the crook in Kaun, the military officer in 16 December and the patriot Sukhdev in The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, Sushant Singh has replaced Randeep Hooda (of Monsoon Wedding) in Manisha Koirala's home production Paisa Vasool.

Sushant says, "Only my portions of the film have to be shot. I cannot comment whether those were shot with Randeep earlier. I play Manisha's love interest in the film. After an accident, I am confined to a wheelchair. Later, I am killed. How Manisha and Sushmita Sen nab the killers forms the rest of the story."

There are two more projects in Singh's kitty -- Farhan Akhtar's war epic Lakshya and Manish Jha's Matrubhumi -- A Land Without Women (a bleak look at how society would be if the social evil of female infanticide continues unchecked).

Sushant is also set to become a father in August.

Preity's 'mother'

Malavika Arora plays Preity Zinta's mother in Anil Sharma's Rs 550 million film, The Hero -- Love Story Of A Spy (also starring Sunny Deol and Priyanka Chopra).

The actress earlier made a forgettable appearance in Ketan Anand's Aaja Meri Jaan (Krishan Kumar, Tanya Singh). Malavika has also acted in television serials like The Sword Of Tipu Sultan, Tara, Daraar and Parampara.

Underwater exploits

A special team of scuba divers from Singapore will help oversee the climax scenes of Vishesh Films' Saaya, directed by Anurag Basu.

Underwater scenes featuring John Abraham and Tara Sharma will be shot from March 27 at specially constructed sets at Marve Road, near Madh Island in the suburbs of Mumbai.

Rumours distress Rawail

Director Rahul Rawail (Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Dacait, Arjun Pandit and Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi) is anguished about rumours that his forthcoming film Jo Bole So Nihaal, starring Sunny Deol and Kamaal Khan, has been shelved because of financial problems.

"People can say whatever they want. I don't care. I have started shooting and everything is sailing smoothly. I am likely to wind up by August," he clarified.

Rawail's last venture, which was to mark the debut of John Abraham, was shelved. Akanksha Malhotra (granddaughter of Premnath and Bina Rai) had been signed to play Abraham's love interest.