Dostana’s endless dastaan

This is one endless dastaan. After the success of Dostana, Karan Johar and writer-director Tarun Mansukhani had announced its sequel. However, there has been no final word on when and if it shall finally see the light.

But an associate of Karan has now revealed that the sequel is on track — as well as the reason for the untoward delay. “Karan knows just how valuable the franchise is,” the source says. “The problem was that Tarun wasn’t able to come up with the final script. However, he has now made some progress.”

Earlier as well, there were rumours that Karan’s dissatisfaction with Tarun’s script had led to the delay. In fact, Karan had even contemplated shelving the film altogether. But Karan now denies that was ever the case. “I admire Tarun for saying that he wants more time to work on the film,” says KJo. “He knows that after the first weekend, it’s the screenplay that will do the talking. He can’t rely on the franchise value of the film, so he is working hard.”

Subtle warning or friendly advice?

(deccan chronicle )

I am not part of Dostana 2: Priyanka Chopra

Actress Priyanka Chopra has shot down reports that she will be starring in the sequel to 2008 hit Dostana."I was never doing dostana two..hello..reason bein my love story ends in the first film..so where is the question. this was cleared some 2 years ago," Priyanka wrote on microblogging site Twitter.

Directed by Tarun Mansukhani and produced by Karan Johar, the 2008 film starred Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Bobby Deol. There were also reports that Priyanka was likely to do a comeo appearance in the film and Katrina Kaif might play the lead.

"And whn it comes to a special appearance or something thats a much later call. once and for all (sic)," she added.

(Indo-Asian News Service)

(HT)

Abhay is furious, not doing Dostana 2

Abhay Deol has declined to work opposite Katrina Kaif in the Seeta Aur Geeta remake. He was offered to play Dharmendra's role in the film but he chose to bow out.

Meanwhile, we also learn that Abhay is not doing Dostana 2. Apparently, he spoke to Karan Johar over a year back and had politely declined the offer but somehow the news has come that he, Dino Morea and Riteish Deshmukh are in the race for a tiny role in KJo's glossy film.

Abhay, who is any day a better actor than Dino and Riteish, is apparently upset that his name is being pitted with these two actors who hardly have any box office standing.

(TOI)

Dostana 2 is shelved

Saying no to people seems to be the thing do in Bollywood. Karan Johar too has decided to say a firm nahi to Dostana 2. Yes, there were talks about a sequel initially, the cast too had been finalised with Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. Karan had also spoken to Deepika for the movie. But all this happened when Karan was still friends with Dostana director Tarun Mansukhani. According to gossip, Karan has had a huge fall out with the director. Story goes that Tarun had a huge showdown with Karan when he realised his film was being shelved since the poor chap had even finalised his script by then.

I think Tarun should keep his temper in check and work around Karan cos, Karan is telling everyone the film is just delayed at the moment. If Tarun really wants the movie to go on floors next year he better start being nice to Karan.

(Deccan Chronicle)

Deepika also in Dostana 2?

Wake wakey my walnut cookies! Rise forth and shine, for here I am, to drive away your Monday morning blues with some hot-and-spicy nuggets from glamour gaon. I know you must be getting withdrawal symptoms, at not finding my column yesterday. My apologies for the unannounced change in plans.

Khair, cheer up and read on my sweetums, for your dose of daily goss.

For starters, a trade types khabru just buzzed to inform me that Karan Johar’s Dostana 2 will be hotter than the first. Yeah, I do know that Katrina Kaif will sizzle on the screen with Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham… But that’s not all.
Suna hai, there’s place for another heroine in the storyline and director Tarun Mansukhani has conveyed to KJo his khwaish of casting Deepika Padukone in it. Apparently, the nirmata has even discussed the part with Deepi darling, and talks about dates and money are on.
And before you think it’s a cameo a la Priyanka Chopra, I must tell you that it’s not. My informer claims that it’s a substantial part with considerably good screen time.
Now, it remains to be seen what kinda interaction Kat and Deepi share on the sets in case the latter signs up for the Dostana sequel.
More so since Deepi declined Anurag Basu’s Silence with Ranbir Kapoor when the director was considering Kat for the other leading character in the movie.
Dekhte hain aage aage kya hota hai. What say Kat and Deepi?

(Hindustan Times)

Dissecting the delay (Dostana 2)

Here is the complete story behind Dostana 2 being postponed
While people know that Dostana 2 has got postponed to next year because of creative differences between producer Karan Johar and director Tarun Mansukhani, B-Town sources say that's not all.

Says a source, "A few weeks ago Karan and Tarun had a rift. Apparently, Tarun taking potshots on Dharma Productions' last releases, Kurbaan, My Name Is Khan and I Hate Luv Storys hasn't gone down well with KJo.

The Dostana director feels the producer should be doing better quality stuff. When Kurbaan didn't do well Tarun felt vindicated but it was Karan's turn to smile when MNIK and IHLS both did well at the BO." Trouble began with Mansukhani voicing his opinion to people outside of Dharma. When this got back to the Dharma boss, he confronted Tarun, which led to an argument.

Possible fates
Things have apparently become so serious that unless the two sort out their differences (and it looks very difficult), Dostana 2 will either be shelved or will get a new director. The official reason being given for the delay of the John Abraham--Abhishek Bachchan starrer is that Karan (and a focus group) didn't like the second half of D2.

An insider rubbishes the rumours of tension between the two friends, "Tarun wasn't happy with the script and wanted to work on it further. Karan realised that everyone's dates had been wasted and apologised to all his stars, especially Katrina Kaif, who had blocked her dates and was banking on this film to be her big release next year."

Karan says, "We are very, very, very happy with the script of Dostana 2. Tarun is a perfectionist and he took the call to delay it. And as a producer I have to support him. The film will begin by early 2011 and will release in the latter half of 2011. John, Katrina and Abhishek will act in it. We want to give our best and all our time and attention to Dostana 2, as it will be Dharma's biggest production till date.

A sequel has more expectations and we want to live up to the expectations. We are all excited about the film and the rest are all ridiculous rumours. Tarun is my adopted baby and I am very proud that he's so hardworking and wanted the perfect script."

Tarun Mansukhani remained unavailable for comment.

(Mid - Day)

Karan Johar delays DOSTANA 2

The sequel to the hit film DOSTANA titled DOSTANA 2 has run into trouble. Apparently, creative differences between the director and the producer are delaying this project.

It's learnt that Karan Johar is unhappy with the way the story of DOSTANA 2 has shaped up. He wants changes in the script which the director is not ready to do.

Keeping this in mind, Karan Johar has postponed the shoot of the film till the changes are made and the script gets okayed by him.

DOSTANA 2 has been getting delayed for one or the other reason constantly. Now, the creative differences seem to have stalled the shoot. Hope the producer and the director sort their differences soon.


(Glamsham)

Tarun: DOSTANA 2 script is being fine tuned!

There is no doubt that Karan Johar's Tarun Mansukhani directed DOSTANA has gone a long way in highlighting a new facet in both Abhishek and John Abraham's acting career. And ever since a sequel to the highly successful film has been announced there is a perceptible excitement amongst the movie buffs.

It was recently heard that Abhishek had given bulk dates for DOSTANA 2 as it was all set to commence in July and as a fallout Abbas-Mustan's THE ITALIAN JOB remake (which also features Abhishek) had been stalled.

To ascertain the facts we spoke to Tarun Mansukhani. After a short pause Tarun said, "Well... I can only say that it is someone's speculation and imagination. Right now we are working/finalizing the script of DOSTANA 2 and so the question of the film commencing early or affecting the schedule of another project (featuring Abhishek) does not arise.

Well, script is the king and we don't mind waiting for another dhamaal act from Tarun in the shape of DOSTANA 2.

(Glamsham)

Tarun Mansukhani vows to not shave beard till he completes scripting Dostana 2

In the midst of scripting the sequel to Dostana, Tarun Mansukhani has vowed that he will not shave till the final draft of the film is ready.

"Initially, I had decided that I would go clean shaven after half the story is ready. But now, I will let the facial fuzz remain till Dostana 2's script is fully complete," he says.

The writer-director has also become a nocturnal creature as he works at nights. "My day begins around 9 pm and winds up by 10 am the following morning, that's when I go to sleep."

Tarun prefers to work in the hours of darkness because there is no disturbance at all. "During the day time, there is a lot of hustle-bustle, there are calls and visitors. But after midnight, everything is quiet and calm. I can also work faster. It is just me and my laptop."

He makes his way to the Dharma Productions office at Khar by 9 pm and works all night, "I don't nap at all. I tank up on my cups of coffee and except for the security folk there is no one around," informs Tarun, who is also the director of Kootchie Kootchie Hota Hain, the animated version of Karan Johar's Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

However, his nights at work means that he does not see his wife Karuna for days on end. "She is a teacher at the Aditya Birla World School at Tardeo and leaves our Bandra home at around 7 am a time when I have not yet returned from office. And when she gets back in the evening I am asleep! By the time I get going to office, it is the end of the day for her."

He adds, however, that his wife has been extremely adjusting and encouraging. "She knows my line of work and the hours we put in. She's very patient. I try and spend time with her on weekends."

(Mid Day)

Kareena ka Dostana

After Aishwarya Rai Bachchan refused to do Dostana, the makers thought of casting Kareena, but Abhishek Bachchan put his foot down because of his sour relationship with the Kapoor family and recommended Priyanka Chopra instead.

The times have changed now, and Kareena and Abhishek, who could have been sister and brother-in-law had Karisma married Junior B, have decided to let bygones be bygones and work together. They made up at KJo’s birthday bash a while back.

If Bebo bags the film, it will benefit her professionally, commercially and personally.

A source tells us, ‘Kareena and Karan Johar also had a tiff during the time of Kal Ho Naa Ho. After the success of K3G, he offered the film to her, but she quoted a very high price, due to which Preity Zinta stepped in her shoes. The two have kissed and made up since, and they even shot for a paint ad together. KJo wanted to cast her in Dostana, but AB didn’t want to work with her. Now, Kareena has shot for Kurbaan and she is also shooting for the remake of Stepmom. If she bags Dostana 2, she will have a trilogy with Dharma, which few stars (read SRK) can boast of. It will also end her long-standing cold war with John Abraham, whom she had once called ‘expressionless.’ Also, Bebo can do any kind of role, as she is an expressive and versatile actor.’

Katrina is also in the running for the role, but it looks like Kareena, with her Bollywood royalty clout, will beat her to it and Kat won’t get the cream.

Director Tarun Mansukhani denied casting Katrina altogether, saying that the script wasn’t complete as yet, but he neither confirmed nor denied Kareena’s presence in the film, which will go into production in London next year. He added, "I want to make D2 funnier than the first. Casting someone who has a flair for comedy is important, so it is really a toss about whom to take for the female lead, and I am not ruling out one of either, but let's wait till I make an official announcement."

(Star Box Office)

Priyanka, Katrina at war

Grapevine buzzed that Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif are all loggerheads. Both the actresses are fighting for the topmost position. Reportedly, Katrina Kaif has replaced Priyanka Chopra in Karan Johar’s Dostana sequel.

Priyanka who has number of hits in her credit denied the report of cat-fight between them and she also refused the report of Kat replacing her in Dostana sequel saying that her role in Dostana has reached its end and she is least bothered about who will take her place. She added that every actor is a competitor including Katrina.

Presently, she is basking in joy with the success of Vishal Bharadwaj’s ‘Kaminey’.

(Bollywood Mantra)

Only Abhishek and John finalized for DOSTANA sequel!

A lot has been written about the sequel to Tarun Mansukhani's super successful DOSTANA. Even Tarun is amused, ''Yeah, Very true. Even I have heard a lot of news- What the script will be, the cost and where I will shoot etc. etc!''

When we asked him to spill the beans, especially regarding numero uno actress Katrina Kaif having been roped in, Tarun informs, ''It's after about eight months sabbatical that I am getting back to work. The fact is that I am finding it difficult to write (script)! The situation as of now is that only Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham have been finalized for the sequel. The rest of the cast will be decided after I am through with the script.''

That is the true state of affairs regarding the most awaited DOSTANA sequel, and should hopefully end the speculations and fictitious news items. Keep tuned to your favourite portal for the latest.

(Glamsham)