Dostana 2 will release as per schedule: Karan Johar

The shooting of John Abraham-Abhishek Bachchan starrer gay comedy Dostana 2 has been pushed for next year but producer Karan Johar is confident that they will be able to release the film as per schedule.

The sequel, about two young men pretending to be gays, was originally scheduled to go on floors this year but they had to postpone it as director Tarun Mansukhani was not happy with the script.

"We were aiming for Dostana 2 to release in the second half of 2011. But I am sure that we would meet our original deadline. Its just that we all would now have to work extra hard to get the post production in place in time after wrapping up the shooting part," Johar said.

Johar, who released three of his films this year My Name Is Khan, I Hate Luv Storys and We Are Family, says he did not want to compromise on the story and hence decided to take the risk of rescheduling the shooting.

"There are huge expectations from the film. This is why we decided to hold on for a while before rushing through the proceedings. It was Tarun who came to me and requested some more time to spend on script before hitting the sets. He wasn't entirely happy with about 15 minutes of the film and wanted to refine it further," Johar said.

The producer had already locked the dates of his main actors and had even made the announcement and the delay means added cost to Johar, who would soon begin shooting Kareena Kapoor and Imraan Khan starrer Short Term Shaadi.

The new schedule will also mean a major reshuffle in the date diaries of Abhishek, John and Katrina Kaif but Johar says the actors are ready to adjust.

"My actors are staying along with the film. They are using this interim period to do other films. I don't think that moving ahead of Dostana 2 has caused pain to any of them."

Meanwhile, what happens to his other dream production, the remake of Agneepath. There is still mystery around the new face, who would play Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, originally essayed by Amitabh Bachchan. "The script is ready but since we are still in the process of approaching talent," Johar said.

Kat or Priyanka as desi girl

In Dostana, Priyanka Chopra had two hot men, Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, dancing around her calling out, “Ain’t nobody like my desi girl”.

And it seems Piggy Chops has not been able to disconnect herself from the sassy and sexy desi girl image. Priyanka feels no one can dethrone her as the hottest desi girl.

Director Tarun Mansukhani who is currently busy writing Dostana 2 is also in two minds regarding the desi girl in the sequel. Though Katrina Kaif has nearly been confirmed for the film, Tarun is wondering if he should go ahead with his original desi girl, Priyanka Chopra.

Tarun took to Twittering to get over his confusion. He asks, “Who do you think should be the new Desi Girl?” Reverting to Tarun, Priyanka said, “No one can be! The original rests her case.”

Interestingly, Tarun shares the same thought about his desi girl. “I declare this today that Priyanka was, is and always will be my original desi girl.” he quipped. Tarun’s confident about Priyanka that he doesn’t want to take any risk. We wonder if that sounds an alarm for Katrina!

Dostana foursome to chase Katrina!

Katrina Kaif will be joining the loony team of John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan in the sequel to Dostana.

She has signed the deal recently and is now the leading lady of the film. But Katrina’s not the only addition to the existing cast. Also in the list to woo and court her will be Arjun Rampal and Riteish Deshmukh. The two men have been taken on board to give the plot an extra zing.

Director Tarun Mansukhani has finally come up with the perfect script for the sequel to Dostana. Producer Karan Johar’s brief to Tarun was, “Go for it ... I’ll produce it only if you come up with the right script.” And Tarun claims to have done just that. The sequel will have not one or two, but four men chasing the pretty girl.

Our source reveals, “Katrina was chosen to play the female lead after much deliberation. Dharma Productions has auditioned dozens of new girls. Actually, they wanted a fresh face for Dostana 2. But finally, after a tedious Google search, they felt that Katrina’s ‘most hit’ status on the Internet makes it apt for her to play the role of the ‘most hit’ girl by the boys in Dostana 2.”

“It speaks volumes for Katrina’s professionalism that she has agreed to co-star with Abhishek, regardless of the rumoured differences with Aishwarya Rai over the Barbie doll issue and even with John, whom boyfriend Salman Khan has apparently declared as a prohibited zone.”

Katrina, currently in New York, refuses to comment.

Dostana makes it to New York Fest

Even months after its release, Dharma Productions’ path-breaking commercial film, Dostana, directed by debutant Tarun Mansukhani continues to make news. It has been selected as the opening film for the iView Film Festival in New York.

Dostana will be screened at the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts on the 28th and 29th of this month. It is the first Hindi film to be screened at the iView Film Festival.

Director Tarun Mansukhani, who is currently scripting Dostana 2, is absolutely thrilled. On his Facebook and Twitter pages, he said, '(Tarun) is happy to say that DOSTANA is going to be screened at the Lincoln Center, New York as the opening film for the iView Film Festival on 28th & 29th August.'

When Tarun spoke to StarBoxOffice, he said, "The iView Film Festival is about human rights, relationship and oppression of any kind around the world. It is amazing that a film like Dostana has been chosen to be screened there because for the first time an Indian movie has been chosen to be screened at the fest and at the Lincoln Theatre which is a dream venue for any filmmaker."

"I got the call about the selection a week ago and we were working out the logistics and now everything has been confirmed. They saw the movie a few months ago and talks were going on. At that time, homosexual was illegal and a criminal offense in India. We are happy that a film like Dostana has been chosen because usually they play serious films and documentaries at the festival."

John, Boman and Kirron will attend the fest with Tarun. "We are going to be in New York from the 27th to the 30th. Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra are shooting so they will not be able to come."

Tarun has also asked all his friends and people who liked the movie in New York to join the Dostana cast and crew there.

Dostana has already won the Screen Award for Best Jodi for John and Abhishek, the IIFA award for best performance in a comic role for Abhishek Bachchan and the IIFA for best choreography for Desi Girl for Farah Khan.

Saif has no Dostana with Abhi, Ash!

Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan could have been a part of Karan Johar's hit film "Dostana" but refused as industry heavyweights Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan were expected to be a part of the movie when it was offered to him.

Contrary to popular belief that Saif declined the offer because its theme was homosexuality, the 38-year-old actor says he "didn't really chicken out" of the role.

"I didn't really chicken out -- I mean I just thought, I think there was Abhishek and Aishwarya in the movie at the time I was being offered it and I was just wondering if I needed to do that and how I would fit in really and I told Karan that," Saif told CNN-IBN's entertainment editor Rajeev Masand on his talk show "To Catch A Star".

The film, which finally starred Abhishek, John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra in key roles, required dollops of gay attitude from the men. But that didn't make Saif averse to the role.

"The gay thing didn't scare me off. In fact I don't think they (Abhishek and John) actually kiss. I would have," he said.

According to Masand, even Shah Rukh Khan says he would have actually kissed if he was in the film. To which, Saif said: "Yeah and I would have kissed him".

"...because I think that would have given everyone something to talk about," added Saif, who says he "enjoyed" the film and that "it was nice".

Saif's latest movie "Love Aaj Kal", which also stars Deepika Padukone, hit the screens Friday and is picking up momentum at the box office. The movie, based on love in different eras, is his first venture as a producer.

‘Dostana 2’ goes to Katrina

In a bid to occupy the top slot in Bollywood, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra are vying for meatier roles than the other. Kat seems to have won the latest round in their fight for dominance.

Karan Johar is said to have signed Katrina Kaif for “Dostana 2”. This has obviously not gone down well with Priyanka.

She attained tremendous popularity for her role in “Dostana” and would have loved to be part of the sequel too. Secondly, she feels Karan, who is a close friend of Shah Rukh, has signed SRK’s enemy Salman’s girlfriend and not her, even though Priyanka is part of SRK and Karan’s camp.

As for Katrina, she is just thrilled to have been signed by none other than Karan Johar, and that too in place of Priyanka Chopra!

I'm heterosexual but feeling 'gay' today

Abhishek Bachchan felt "very gay" as he accepted the best comic actor for his performance in "Dostana" at the Idea International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards. He dedicated the award to wife Aishwarya Rai and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.

"I dedicate this award to two people - Amar Singhji, who is in the hospital, and my wife Ash. I promise I will only love you (Ash). I am a heterosexual, but today I am feeling very gay," Abhishek said in his acceptance speech in Macau.

Amar Singh, a close family friend for the Bachchans, is in a Singapore hospital reportedly for kidney problems.

In Tarun Mansukhani's comedy "Dostana", Abhishek and John Abraham played friends pretending to be a gay couple to secure rental accommodation in Miami. The film was a huge box-office success thanks to the duo's chemistry and perfect comic timing.

Abhishek, who started crying when his name was announced, said that it was his dream to do comedy like his father, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, did in "Amar Akbar Anthony".

"I used to watch my father in mind-blowing scenes in 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and used to say I want to be like that man. And here I am today. I would like to thank ma and pa for giving birth to me because I am here because of you (mom and dad). I would like to thank Ash's mummy and papa for giving birth to her."

Gay themes no longer in Bollywood closet

Gay themes in Bollywood are well out of the closet, if the many comic acts and sexual innuendos at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) in Macau on Saturday (June 13) night were anything to go by.

With a number of quips about gay relationships by hosts Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh the order of the day, Abhishek Bachchan topped it off with his remarks as he won the Best Comic Role award for the film "Dostana" about him and John Abraham pretending to be a gay couple to secure accommodation from Priyanka Chopra's character in the film.

As he called his director onto the stage, Bachchan said: "You're the man!", quickly adding "No, not THAT man!

"And John (who was not at the Awards), I miss him, I was watching Bipasha and she was going like: 'He's mine!'

Addressing his wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the front row, Abhishek said: "Baby, you're the best! This is proof that I'm a heterosexual, but tonight I'm feeling very gay (happy)."

Later in the show, Irani and Deshmukh, playing a gay couple getting married, were shown on screen in a spoof, The item ended with the double entendre comment :" Dost -aana - loved by all MAN-kind" (sic).

Deshmukh also made several "gay" advances towards some of the actors getting onto stage at items.

As for the film "Jodhaa Akbar", which was named best film and also won Ashutosh Gowariker the best director award, Irani remarked that Deshmukh would have made a good Jodhaa, the character played by Aishwarya Rai in the film.

The 15,000-strong audience at the Chinese resort here lapped it all up with huge applause.