Farah Khan stands up for Shahrukh Khan

The moment Farah Khan inked the deal with Akshay Kumar for her next directorial Tees Maar Khan, stories have been doing the rounds of a possible crack in the strong friendship (read brother-sister bonding) she shares with Shah Rukh.The wags got a point to prove when Shah Rukh didn’t linger into the lingerie-based Triumph fashion show that Farah Khan had choreographed. And in walked Akshay Kumar with his wife Twinkle.

When asked about his absence Farah decided to brush it under the lingerie saying Shah Rukh rarely makes it such events. “He didn’t come last year as well,” she says. “Let’s not make this an issue. The show had nothing to do with Shah Rukh and it was not compulsory for him to be present that’s about it!” she added.

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Glam gal hunt by Farah Khan

In a first for the Indian television industry, a leading Bollywood actor will choose his heroine on a reality show. Fimmaker Farah Khan -- who launched the Bollywood careers of Deepika Padukone and Amrita Rao -- admitted she is about to launch an international hunt for a fresh "glamorous" face for Akshay Kumar's maiden production venture Tees Mar Khan.

"I am looking to launch her the way I did Deepika Padukone. It will be a snap reality show across all major cities of India and international locations like London, Singapore and Dubai. I am looking for a girl with a lot of oomph, who can carry off a glamorous role with ease. She also has to stand up against the screen presence of someone like Akshay Kumar," she says.

A reality show buff and a judge on several of them, sources said that Farah Khan, her husband Shirish Kunder and Akshay Kumar will be the judges of the reality show that starts auditions in fifteen days.

"I have finalised a deal with a leading channel to choose my heroine. I have to start Tees Mar Khan by March next year. I have also set December 25, 2010, as the release deadline for the film," she says. "I don't want my reality show to be a mockery like Rakhi Ka Swayamvar. Remember that? There was a Swayamvar but no marriage! I can't make my show ridiculous like that!"

But it seems Farah hasn't gotten over the Deepika Padukone effect. The girl she is looking for is likely to be in Deepika's mould. "Yes, she will be eye-candy and has to show some skin on-screen, because it's a glamorous character. She should have the same qualities that Deepika has. But I won't present my heroine in a bad way or exploit them by putting in bikini scenes out of turn," she ends. Advertisement

Shahrukh Khan dumps Farah’s husband

Honeymoon Travels director Reema Kagti, and not Shirish Kunder, is now developing Zoya Factor. The film, produced by Shahrukh Khan’s production company Red Chillies, is an adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name penned by Anuja Chauhan. Says a source, “Differences arose between SRK and Farah Khan’s hubby over the screenplay and script. They had severe creative issues. Both were looking at the script with a different vision.” At this point, SRK decided to change his director.SRK offered the film to Reema as she seemed to understand what he wanted to do with the film. But he forgot to tell Shirish that he was giving the project to someone else to work on.

Shirish found out by accident that the film no longer had his name on it. When Farah heard this, she was hurt and upset at the manner in which her hubby has been ousted. Adds the source, “Shirish had started work on the film and was looking for an actor who would play a cricketer. The film was supposed to go on the floors early next year.”Reema maintains, “I am writing the screenplay of the film, not directing it. Vishal Punjabi is directing Zoya Factor.” Vishal was the visual effects producer for the SRK starrer Paheli which he had also produced. Meanwhile, Shirish says, “I was never supposed to direct Zoya Factor, only Joker.” SRK remained unavailable for comment.What is Zoya Factor?

It is about a girl called Zoya who was born exactly at the moment when India won the World Cup in 1983. Strangely, Zoya proves to be a girl of incredible luck for cricket matches. Whenever she watches a match, India ends up winning.

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