Akshay Kumar was in for a shock.

Raveena Tandon was included in the troupe that was going on shows organised by Sunil Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment. And Akshay didn't know about it.

The man was cheesed off, more because he was not taken into confidence. Given a chance, he would not have liked to travel and spend virtually a month with his ex-flame.

But then there was no other go, really. Sunil Shetty put his foot down and insisted that they needed a star like Raveena to boost up the show. Not that the show was yielding the necessary favourable response abroad, anyway.

Gimme red, Tabu!

Okay, so Tabu sees red at the mere mention of Mahesh Manjrekar.

Ever wondered why?

The story goes that Tabu came to his rescue when almost all heroines, from Padmini Kolhapure, Madhuri Dixit and Shefali Shetty to Sonali Kulkarni heard and refused the script of Astitva, for various reasons.

Now, when it comes to making the English version for the international market, Mahesh has sidelined Tabu and gone in for Madhuri Dixit.

Strong enough reason to see red?

In two minds -- SRK and Juhi

One would have thought they had learnt their lesson.

More so since they claimed that the press ruined the prospects of their debut production Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.

But Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla are once again chasing the press now that their new film Asoka is ready for release.

One wishes they would made up their minds.

They seem to have forgotten what they said when they started Asoka. They claimed then that they were making the film for the international circuit and the festivals.

It was the awards more than rewards they were concentrating on. But now that the film is ready for release, they seem to be singing a different tune altogether.

First, they are planning a commercial release of the film. Second, though Asoka has been registered at the festivals, it is not in the competitive section.

Why? Because the two do not want their film to be classified as an art film.

Will they make up their minds, please?

A slip out of time

Esha Deol is all bandaged and bruised.

A black eye and injuries on her face, which has resulted in her shooting schedules going awry, as also the fear of a plastic surgery, required for her scars to be wiped away.

Official sources say that Esha, tired after a day-night shooting schedule, woke up one night in her hotel suite to drink a glass of water. She slipped in the dark and banged herself.

The resulting injuries are proof of that. But then, there are others who insist that Esha did a Raj Kapoor. Or a Sridevi. To throw light: A few years ago, she too slipped and hurt herself at the lobby of a five-star hotel. The reason? Alcohol.

Arjun and a few home truths

And here's the real reason for Arjun Rampal's exit from the Abbas Mustan film.

Barely did reports of Moksha trickle out, and the appreciation that came his way in the wake of the releasen of his maiden release, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat than Arjun's chamchas and advisors got busy, prompting him to hike his price.

Arjun demanded a crore. He got the boot.

Now he is aware that not only has he lost out on a good, solid project, he has also sent out the wrong signals and has antagonised a lot of right people.