Karan Kundra: I Aim to

Kitani Mohabbat Hai star Karan Kundra is not worried about being compared to other TV actors entering Bollywood and rather aims to compete with Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra.

Karan, 29, who made his Bollywood debut with Vikram Bhatt's Horror Story, feels that there is no contest between him and his contemporaries on TV.

"I don't feel any competition with TV actors because I am already at par with them. In fact, I want to make myself able enough to compete with the Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra in the industry. That's my aim," Karan told PTI.

The small screen has seen many of its popular faces like Sushant Singh Rajput, Jay Bhanushali and Sidharth Shukla transitioning to Bollywood in recent times. (Also read: Karan Kundra "Really Happy" to Play Vampire in Serial)

Karan, however, says he will continue to juggle between the two mediums.

The actor, who was last seen on TV in reality show Gumraah, is returning to fiction with a love story Fannah, where he plays the role of a vampire. He will also be seen in Dil Phire.

"This is a cool show and the role is very real. The time is of real characters, no one wants to watch nice and good people. My role has negative shades and is more relatable," he said.

The MTV show is a finite series of six months and might have more seasons if the first one works. (Also read: Karan Kundra: This is the right time to debut in films)

The actor, who is currently shooting for a Punjabi film, finds the concept of fixed duration shows great and thinks daily soaps are not cool anymore.

"Fannah is not a daily soap. Daily soaps are uncool and hectic. I like having time for myself. Actors on TV don't have a life, they only work, this is something I can't do and as I also do films, a finite series is manageable for me," he said.

For Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, it's Destination Corsica

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh is reportedly booking a flight to Corsica and the main attraction on the French island will be not the blue waters of the Mediterranean but the presence of rumoured girlfriend Deepika Padukone who is shooting there for her movie Tamasha.

Ranveer is shooting a commercial in Bucharest but will come home the long way round, having taken a detour to be with his alleged love interest.(Also read: Ranbir Kapoor's Birthday Surprise for Katrina Kaif )

Only recently, Deepika's Tamasha co-star Ranbir Singh received a flying visit from his rumoured girlfriend Katrina Kaif who jetted to Corsica to spend her birthday with him.

Ranveer and Deepika delivered a hit together last year in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ram-Leela and are reuniting with the director for period piece Bajirao Mastani. (Also read: Bollywood's Secret Love Affairs: The Curious Case of Ranveer, Deepika, Anushka, Virat )

Salman Khan: Holiday Season Does Matter a Lot for Releases

Salman Khan, who chooses festive seasons to release his mega movies, continues the trend with Kick, which is coming out on the Eid weekend. He believes choosing the right slot is important from business perspective.

He said: "Be it Eid or Diwali, the holiday season matters a lot. There is no (big) release during Ramadan, so when a film releases during this period (Eid), people throng to the theatres to see that film. Again with Diwali being a festive season, people want to go and see the film with family."

In the last few years, Salman has earmarked Eid for his mega releases and most of them turned out to be bumper hits. His Kick, which marks the directorial debut of Sajid Nadiadwala, will hit the screens July 25. (Also Read: Salman's Eid Connection)

Usually one big movie releases on each festival, but Salman is of the view that "Festivals like Diwali, Holi, Republic Day and Christmas can accommodate three to four films."

Aamir to Play Peacemaker Between Salman and Photographers?

Aamir Khan, who recently made a public appearance in support of his daughter Ira's charity football match, is said to have had a word with photographers over their ongoing ban on his friend, Salman Khan. (Also Read: No Provision to Ban Anyone: Salman Khan on Paparazzi Boycott)

A source says, "On Sunday, Salman and Jacqueline Fernandez had attended the match. However, most of photographers covering the event didn't take his pictures. Later on, once Salman stepped away from the group, the photographers took snaps of everyone else."

On his part, Salman has gone on record to say that it is the photographers' choice if they want to click his pictures or not. In fact, at the last few promotional events for his film, Kick, he is said to have made snide remarks about photographers. However, Aamir seems to have decided to look into the matter.

A source says, "While interacting with media, Aamir got to know about photographers' ongoing ban on Salman and he had a word with the lensmen. He has apparently promised them that he will try talking to Salman and see what he can do to resolve the issue."

Interestingly, after the match, Salman hugged Abhishek Bachchan. Photographers present at the event chose to not to photograph the duo hugging each other.

Aamir's spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

Salman Khan on Nargis Fakhri: Why So Much Negativity About Her?

Salman Khan, known for promoting newcomers in Bollywood, has given Nargis Fakhiri an opportunity to feature in a song in his movie Kick and feels that mindset about the "pretty and outstanding dancer" is baseless.

"Nargis has done a song in the film, which is outstandingly great. I really like her, her energy is great, and I think she will benefit a lot with the song," said Salman.

"I don't know why there was so much negativity about Nargis earlier. I think she is a very pretty girl, an outstanding dancer and a lovely person to work with. She has got a great sense of humour," he added.

The direction debut of Sajid Nadiadwala, Kick is set for release on July 25 and the superstar will romance Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez in the action drama.

Drawing a comparison between Nargis and his on-screen leading lady Jacqueline, Salman pointed out the similarities between them.

"Both are very spontaneous and chilled out, they are like the girls-next-door. Jacqueline has got this film only because of her hard work and everyone deserves a second chance. Jacqueline was the best choice. We are grateful that she did the film."

The New Man in Sonam Kapoor's Life

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor has found herself in some pretty Khoobsurat company for her next film. Sonam's Prince Charming is Pakistani heartthrob actor Fawad Khan, who already seems to have a fan base in India judging from the reactions on Twitter. (Also Read: Sonam Kapoor is Khoobsurat and Hilarious in New Trailer )
So, just who is Fawad Khan? Well, he started out as a singer in Pakistan in the group Entity Paradigm and then went on to become a highly successful actor in television serials Humsafar and Zindagi Gulzar Hai. It seems that Fawad has made the cross-border transition to Bollywood rather smoothly, though playing the brooding foil to madcap Sonam couldn't have been easy.

Apart from Fawad, Khubsoorat also features heavyweight actors such as Ratna Pathak Shah, who seems to be in stellar form as a regal matriarch - a role she inherits from her mother Dina Pathak who played the stern disciplinarian in the original Hrishikesh Mukherjee hit. Kirron Kher, who plays Sonam's outspoken mother in the film, is also in fine fettle. Theatre star Aamir Raza Husain is also part of the supporting cast and plays a member of the royal family Sonam is thrown together with.

We're certainly getting a Princess Diaries feel from the movie and it seems that the Kapoors, including Sonam's sister Rhea and her father Anil, who have co-produced the film, have managed to court not just Prince Charming, but a very royal cast as well.

Pakistani Actor Fawad Khan on Bollywood Debut: Art Travels Across Borders

Fawad Afzal Khan, one of the most popular Pakistani singer-actors, has drawn flak back home for his decision to enter Bollywood. But he is unperturbed and says that art is something that travels across all borders.

He is making his debut with Khoobsurat, a remake of Hrishikesh Mukerji's 1980 hit of the same name, opposite Sonam Kapoor. But even before the film's release, Fawad has earned a huge fan following thanks to his show Zindagi Gulzar Hai, which was aired on Zindagi channel. (Also read: Sneak Peek: Sonam Kapoor's First Kiss, a Khoobsurat Moment )

When asked about his reaction on the criticism, he said, "The people you are talking about are very few. There will be people who will criticize. They are entitled to their opinion. Even if someone from India goes to work there, someone or the other will make noise."

"Art is something that travels across all borders. Art knows no culture and creed. As an actor, I would like to explore myself. I do feel bad, but I choose to ignore criticism. I think to pay attention to it is unnecessary," he told reporters on Monday at the trailer launch of Khoobsurat here.

Charming as ever, he wowed everyone when he sang the title song of his show Zindagi Gulzar Hai at the event.

Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, Khoobsurat has been produced by Sonam's father Anil Kapoor and sister Rhea under the banner Anil Kapoor's Film Company Pvt Ltd. For Fawad, it's an honour to collaborate with the Kapoors for his Bollywood debut. (Also read: Sonam Kapoor is Khoobsurat and Hilarious in New Trailer )

He said, "I think it's a very big honour for me to work with the family. When I met these people, I found them very interesting. Most of all, the way I was treated and welcomed was very kind and warm."

"So all in all, this has been a very interesting episode in my life. I had a lot of fun. There was a lot of love and warmth," he added.

Fawad praised Sonam for being "a very accommodating, very warm, and very welcoming person".

"I took time for settling in the new environment, but the entire team, the production, everyone made sure to make me feel comfortable," he said.

Releasing on September 19, the film sees Ratna Pathak stepping into the shoes of her mother Dina Pathak, who is still remembered for playing a disciplinarian and strict mother in the original.