Sid's loss is Madhavan's gain

It is official that Siddharth is out of Roger Spottiswoode' The First Class Man, a biopic based on the life of Srinivasa Ramanujan, the mathematical genius. The film was first planned with Sid in the lead. The director Roger of Tomorrow Never Dies fame was confessedly impressed with Sid's intense act in Rang De Basanti and offered him the role of the legendary mathematician.

Mahesh to debut in BM's Hindi version?

It looks like Mahesh Babu will debut in Hindi with the Hindi version of Businessman. The movie would be directed by Puri Jagannadh himself. The Mumbai gossip mills have been saying that Puri was thinking of making the movie with Abhishek Bacchan. However, he has had second thoughts about Abhi’s aptness for the role, and has subsequently come to believe in Mahesh’s glamour and popularity.

I'm following my father, says Balayya

Several panegyrics have been showered on Nandamuri Balakrishna since the day Sri Rama Rajyam was released. Comparisons with his father, late NT Rama Rao, who is perhaps the only actor in the history of world cinema to have received universal appreciation for playing the maximum number of mythological characters, have not proved to be a bane for him.

Vishnu-Hansika film goes on floor

Vishnuvardhan Babu and Hansika Motwani-starrer film, which is directed by G Nageshwara Reddy, went on the floors yesterday (Jan 5). Presented by Sri Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures and produced by Vishnuvardhan himself on Twenty Four Frames Factory, the launch held at Gacchibowli was attended by Mohan Babu, Nirmala, Kona Venkat, BVS Ravi, Marudhuri Raja, Chakri and others.

SRR 50-days marked by plaudits

The 50-day run of Sri Rama Rajyam was held yesterday at Shilpa Kala Vedika. Gracing the event were the likes of Dasari, SPB, Illayaraja, K Vishwanath, D Ramanaidu, K Raghavendra Rao, Krishnam Raju, Murali Mohan and others, besides the film’s makers and actors (including Nayanathara who was seen sporting a saree).