Get your lowdown on what's happening in the Malayalam film industry.

Mammootty's son Dulqar Salman, who is making his debut with the forthcoming film Second Show, is also playing the lead in director Anwar Rasheed's Ustad Hotel.

Anwar has directed two big hits with Mammootty in the lead: Rajamanikyam and Annan Thampi. Now all eyes are on him to see whether he can do the same for the superstar's son.

Ustad Hotel is produced by Listin Stephen, who shot to fame as the producer of Traffic and Chappa Kurishu this year. The film has been scripted by Anjali Menon, who has directed Manjadikkuru and Happy Journey, one of the 10 films in the Kerala Cafe anthology.

The bubbly Piaa Bajpai, whose presence was noted in the Tamil hits Goa and Ko, is playing the heroine in director Johny Antony's forthcoming Malayalam film, Masters.

The shooting of the film, starring Prithviraj and Sasikumar of Subramaniapuram fame, is currently underway in Kottayam.

"This character is quite interesting. I have to keep a serious face and say almost nothing, which is quite unlike my real nature!" laughs Piaa, during a break in the shooting.

She is currently doing a Hindi film but is tight lipped about the details of the project. "I have been asked not to reveal anything about the film until it is launched," she says.

How about acting in more Malayalam films from now on? "The offers are there but I have not said yes to any other project right now," smiles Piaa.

Jayasurya and Anoop Menon will be seen playing friends in director V K Prakash's Beautiful, which opens next week. The film is being compared to Guzaarish after photos of Jayasurya, who plays a paraplegic, came out.

Jayasurya vehemently denies this saying that the only similarity between the characters is that they are both paralysed and confined to a wheelchair.

"The attitude of the characters is very different. My character has a smile on his face all the time and is all set to enjoy life to the fullest. It is his nature that gives some positive energy to his friend, played by Anoop, who is a struggling musician. In fact, there is a scene in the film where my character watches Guzaarish and laughs at the pessimistic nature of that man," says Jayasurya.

Guzaarish was reportedly influenced by films like The Sea Inside and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.