Talking about Neil Nitin Mukesh, the young star does not seem to be very comfortable with smooch scenes in his film. Be it his first director Sriram Raghavan, who could not convince Neil to kiss Rimi Sen, or his second film, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, director Sudhir Mishra where Neil was asked to kiss Shahana Goswami and then again his director for ‘Jail’ where the actor refused to lock lips with Mugdha Godse even during a passionate love making scene- all his directors failed to convince Neil to do the act.

However, Pradeep Sarkar, the director of ‘Lafangey Parindey’, made his point clear to Neil that he had to smooch Deepika Padukone for the film as per the demand of the script. Well, so Neil would now be seen smooching Deepika in ‘LP’, and how, we have the little birdie informing us that the lip-lock surely is pretty long and intense. A source from the set said it was a long, torrid smooch comparable in intensity and duration to any sensational smooch scene so far. And guess what! Neil was nervous!

With her latest ‘Badmaash Company’ faring well at the box-office and more so, her sexy makeover for the film was praised by all and sundry. Now, the bubbly girl has gone a step ahead by bagging in another important and promising project under the directorial debut venture of Rohit Dhawan produced by Eros. It may be mentioned here that Rohi Dhawan is the son of the renowned director David Dhawan.

This movie titled ‘Desi Boyz’ has John Abraham as the male lead. First, Chitraganda Singh was finalized for the film who was later replaced by the leggy lass Lara Dutta. Now, there has been yet another change in the cast with Anoushka replacing Lara. Lara has apparently denied the film due to date issues. John Abraham and Deepika Padukone playing the lead roles in the film, the cast sure looks impressive and promising.

20th August 2010 is all set to see one of the most anticipated releases of this year from Yash Raj films hit the screens. The film uniquely titled ‘Lafangey Parindey’ has been directed by Pradeep Sarkar and produced by Aditya Chopra. The film has Neil Nitin Mukesh as Nandu and Deepika Padukone as Pinky in the lead pair. Their roles are extremely challenging and this love story with a difference is set in the gritty streets of Mumbai.

Incidentally, director Sarkar seems so pleased with the portrayals of Deepika and Neil in the film that he has already gifted them an iPad each as a token of appreciation.

Deepika Padukone is all set to appear in a totally non-glamorous avatar in Ashutosh Gowariker’s period epic ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se’, where she plays the role of a revolutionary named Kalpana Datta for which she has draped in traditional Bengali saris. Designer Neeta Lulla has dressed Deepika for the film and is said to have done research before finalising Deepika’s Bengali look.

“It is a single pallu drape, twice over the shoulder. When she was doing her action sequences, like any other normal sari, we tucked it around her waist,” Lulla said. For Deepika, doing all their stunts in a sari, draped in the traditional way, was a challenge because every time Deepika was to run, the sari would come in her way.

This period film is based on Manini Chatterjee’s book ‘Do and Die: The Chittagong Uprising 1930- 34’ and Deepika’s character Kalpana was a strong and independent woman who joined the mutiny because she believed in the cause.

“Kalpana is not the kind of woman who will sit at home waiting for her husband to return,” says Deepika about her character.

Deepika’s athletic background helped her with the action sequences. “It is nice to do your own stunts given the challenges they offer. I am very spontaneous and did not need the help of a body double,” she said.

Much had been said about Deepika Padukone stealing away the show from the former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with her traditional Indian look. Now, Ash has taken up the opportunity to silence her critics and she appeared in a true Indian flavour as the trailer of Mani Ratnam’s bilingual Raavan/Raavanan was screened to the media at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. The event was attended by the lead stars of the movie, Vikram, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai who looked stunningly beautiful in her black saree.

Suhasini Mani Ratnam, the film’s co-producer and dialogue writer for the Tamil version, said that the film would help “Us understand the grey parts that all of us have in us…None of us is completely white or black”. She also praised A R Rahman for his work and said, “In fact, the music accentuated picture. Songs have a great role to play. They do take the plot forward.”

Ash was also there for the premiere of Oliver Stone’s latest flick, ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’, starring Hollywood big shots Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan, Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas and Susan Sarandon on Friday and she wore a stunning pink Gucci gown for the occasion.

Aishwarya Rai has been attending the Cannes film festival since 2002 as the global face of L`Oreal but drew critical applauds only last year when she wore a white off-shoulder Roberto Cavalli. This year, though her outfit was impressive but her puffy hairdo got some her some negative compliments as well.

The actress who won the hearts of millions this year with her very first red carpet appearance at the Cannes International Film Festival was the 24-year-old Deepika Padukone who looked stunningly elegant in her off white, slightly embroidered saree with touches of gold, with a broad hand cuff, Kundan earrings and a stone encrusted clutch. Deepika is attending the event as the face of liquor brand Chivas Regal.

Take a look at what various designers have to say about her traditional look as compared to Ash’s western outfit:

“She was wearing a saree and I think that`s an appropriate outfit for any Indian diva walking an international platform. It was a nice off-white saree with a sexy blouse, making the look exude a good amount of glitz and glamour,” said designer Charu Parashar.

Designer Nida Mahmood said: “Deepika is a beautiful woman and was looking stunning in a saree. It`s a very nice outfit that brings out the real form of a woman. It`s sensual and elegant and if you can carry it well it makes you look awesome.”

Rohit Bal, who designed Deepika`s look for the event, had said: “As a designer, who has been observing fashion since the last 25 years, I think the only one super star at this time at Cannes is going to be Deepika Padukone. There`s nobody better than Deepika to break the rules and it`s going to attract a lot of attention.”

Designer Kapil and Monika say, “Aishwarya Rai’s beautiful gown’s colour matched her skin tone, but the hair do was a turn off. She’s got a fuller face and a high hairdo highlighted its roundness. The neatness of the hairstyle is also questionable.” Designer Reynu Tandon also feels her hairstyle is dated but Ash looked good overall, “Her hair isn’t stylised as per 2010 trends but it is suiting her face,” says the designer.

“Deepika gets thumbs up as she knows what looks good on her. Keeping it traditional is a very good idea. When it comes to international events like Cannes, it is always safe to keep away from experiments and sari has a modern yet traditional charm to it,” says Ekta Bhardwaj, creative writer with a fashion magazine.

Whereas designers Kapil and Monica feel, “Deepika’s make-up for Cannes was extremely garish making her look a tone darker than her actual complexion, her sari had no element of glam, and was wrongly accessorised with gold jewellery.”

Imtiaz Ali is one director with whom every Bollywood star wants to work with as he is known to churn out some of the biggest hits in the recent years, but the director has sidelined many ace actresses like Katrina, Sonam, Anushka and Kareena for Diana Penty, a 25-year-old model, who will now appear in the lead opposite Ranbir Kapoor for Ali’s next venture ‘Rockstar’.

Diana is a Mumbai based model and has also done an ad film for a mobile service provider with Ranbir. She also replaced Deepika Padukone in the Maybelline ad. ‘Rockstar’is being produced by Ashtavinayaka, who also made ‘Jab We Met’ with Imtiaz. Initially, Imtiaz had finalized Anoushka Sharma for the lead but since he wanted a new face for the role, he finally chose Diana.

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are unable to hide it any more. It is a well known fact by now that Deepika Padukone allegedly broke up with Ranbir due to his closeness to Katrina Kaif ever since ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’. The couple, however, has been referring to their closeness as mere friendship. However, they were seen getting close and personal at a private party organised by Arjun Rampal at his night club after a press conference for their forthcoming ‘Rajneeti’. The two danced till late hours. Even Nana Patekar and Manoj Bajpayee were seen on the floor.

“Everyone danced till morning. We had a blast. While shooting for Raajneeti, we used to constantly joke, poke fun at each other and at ourselves while doing those heavyduty scenes on camera,” confirmed Arjun.

Asin made her debut in Bollywood with a vivacious ad talkative role in ‘Ghajini’ which went on to become a great hit. Later she did something different in ‘London Dreams’ opposite Salman Khan. Now, once again she is set to appear with Sallu Bhai but this time once again as a ‘chulbuli’ and bubbly girl. The movie we are talking about is Anees Bazmee’s remake of the Telugu hit ‘Ready’. Previously, there were rumors that Deepika Padukone was being considered for the role.

However, director Bazmee says, “Asin plays the lead. I wonder where Deepika’s name came from! The role requires a ‘chulbuli’, vivacious, talkative and agile girl. Asin was the natural choice.”

At present, Bazmee is preparing for a month-long shooting of his next film ‘Thank You’ in Canada.

Deepika Padukone debuted with SRK starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’ which was in a sort of proxy war with Salman Khan’s ‘Saawariya’ at the time of its release. As such, there was not much interaction between Sallu Bhai and Deepika. However, time and again, it was said that both the actors had expressed their desire to work with each other. Deepika had once said to BT, “Salman is one actor I’m looking forward to doing a film with.”

Now that gossip columns are going red with the rumors of Ranbir Kapoor seeing Salman’s girl Katrina Kaif, Salman seems to be more eager than ever to work with Ranbir’s ex-flame Deepika Padukone. Trade sources say that director Anees Bazmee will cast the two as the leading pair in his next project. Where Deepika said that she is unaware of these reports, sources close to Salman say that this is a definite and immediate possibility because “Bhai wants to do a movie with Deepika.”

Whether the two will get an opportunity to display sparking on-screen chemistry, only time will tell.

The short-tempered Nana Patekar comes in form once again and this time at the receiving end is the gorgeous and ever so beautiful Deepika Padukone.

It so happened that Nana Patekar is set to direct a film for Prakash Jha and Patekar approached Deepika for a casting. However, when Deepika tried to suggest some changes in the script, Nana lost his cool and gave her left and right. Nana went on to the extent of saying that he has immense experience in the film industry and how can a newcomer like Deepika suggest he make changes in the script. Deepika maintained a dignified silence but now she has decided not to do the film at all.

However, a close friend of Deepika denies any tiff between the two and said, “Yes, Nana had approached her with a script however Deepika refused to do it as she could not connect to it. Nana did not have a verbal argument with her and she is not aware if Nana is upset with her. She did not do the film as it was something that she just did not want to do. That’s it.”

Lakme Fashion Week kicked off the Summer/Resort 2010 Collections with Rocky S who came up in a palette of pastel hues  like  pink,  peach,  nude  and  turquoise  and  then moved  to  luxurious  shaded  tones  which  finally  ended  with  ivory  and  black….and lots of gold trim and embellishment.  All of it accessorized with diamonds from a new collection ‘Queenie for Giantti’ (a new line from sponsor Gitanjali Lifestyle) and the well known Bombay jewelry designer, socialiter and columnist. The showstopper for Rocky S was his all time favorite Bipasha Basu.

Deepika Padukone was the showstopper for the designers Shantanu and Nikhil who entered the sports arena with their new S&N label for Adidas Style Essentials. The collection called “Motochic” included track pants, shirts, muscle sleeve and body hugging Tees, skirts, tunics as well as trendy bags, belts and wallets, footwear and accessories.  The entire collection was in (NYC) taxi cab yellow, black and white….and was presented on a runway/roadway, with flashing lights, road detours and the white line down the middle– keeping the models in and out of the traffic.

Check out Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone as they sizzle on the ramp for Lakme Fashion Week 2010.