Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla burnt their fingers with Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani. Which makes them tread the path with great caution now that their new ambitious venture Asoka is getting ready for release.

Instead of the regular practice of releasing the film in India, Asoka will premiere abroad. It will make the rounds of the international film festivals first before the Indian audiences can have a peek at it.

Their plans of marketing this film is different from the regular films. The team probably feels that winning accolades and awards and recognition overseas will affect the film positively. Besides, audiences abroad may be more receptive to a film like this than the Indian audiences.

Speaking from the experience of PBDHH?

Anil's class act

He may look younger by the day and bravely face the competition from the younger generation.

But fact remains that Anil Kapoor is not really getting any younger.

His eldest daughter recently passed out of school and is getting ready to join a college. Sonam, who has secured admission in a college in Singapore, will be pursuing a career in fashion technology.

So the proud father has taken time off from his busy schedule to accompany his wife and daughter for the induction program.

Govinda's double shift

If the producers (the Padmalaya studio) thought that they had got dates from Govinda for an outdoor shoot and that he was going to be punctual and co-operation personified, the pleasure lasted for not more than a day.

The next day saw him shuffling between two shootings.

Govinda had apparently convinced producer Sibte Hasan Rizvi and director Manoj Agarwal to shoot in Hyderabad where he was shooting for the Padmalaya film. And it was only to appease his ego that he was busy doing two shifts.

Feroz Khan erupts!

Feroz Khan is not one to mince words and feelings when it comes to his son’s career.

And that is what producer Ratan Jain realised when he organised a special trial of the Fardeen starrer Hum Ho Gaye Aap Ke for Feroz Khan.

Papa Khan seemed pretty upset during the interval. And at the end of the film instead of the mandatory nod and false words of praise, Feroz Khan blew a fuse. "What is this? What have you’ll made?" he kept asking.

The Khan expressed his feelings, without mincing any words, to the assistants who could nothing but shuffle their feet in embarrassment.

But then, wasn’t this the same Khan who made Prem Aaggan!

Flying high!

Kadal Kotai was a super hit and so was it's Hindi remake, Sirf Tum.

Success hit the director Ahathiyan so much that he threw his weight around throughout the making of Hum Ho Gaye Aapke.

Since he was not fluent in the Hindi language, there was a special assistant on the sets to guide the director as far as dialogues went. But the director promptly got into arguments with all his assistants until all of them quit in sheer disgust.

Ahathiyaan did not listen to any suggestions and refused to take any advice since he felt he knew it all.

Producer Ratan Jain almost shelved the film. But he felt that that would lead to bad publicity and affect the prospects of the film at the box office.

Looking at the fate of the film now, Jain must be kicking himself for not having taken the decision earlier.

Not in sync

Former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta has been refusing Hindi film offers as 'she is not interested in acting'.

She says that she prefers to pursue a career in mass communications in the US.

But if that is so, why is the Dutta girl negotiating with certain southern filmmakers. In fact, if all goes well, Lara Dutta will debut in a south Indian film.

Probably, as sources say, she wants to test the waters in a southern venture before she takes the final plunge into the Hindi film industry.

Anaida! Acting?

The acting bug has suddenly bitten pop singer Anaida!

This singer, who was quite snooty with the phillum wallahs, suddenly wants to face the camera -- and not just for music videos.

Anaida has had a stunning portfolio done and is looking for interesting roles. Of course, it has to be lead roles for her. Even a parallel lead won't do.

As for enrolling herself for the mandatory acting classes -- which a lot of her well wishers have been advising her to -- Anaida has a firm no!

She feels she is expressive enough and does not need coaching to emote.