Pakistan calling

Poonam Dhillon is the flavour of the season in Pakistan. While her 1984 film, Sohni Mahiwal, is the only Indian film allowed to be screened in Pakistan, she is also doing a serial for a Pakistani TV producer, Anila Khan. “I was surprised when I got this call from Anila. But I loved the concept and said yes immediately,” she reveals. Portions of the serial have already been shot in Pakistan in December 2005. The serial (as yet untitled) is likely to be telecast on Geo channel from March. Pakistani actors crossing the border to act in Bollywood films is old news. The trend now seems to be Indian TV stars gravitating towards Pakistan. There are also talks of Mona Wasu having agreed to do a Pakistani serial called Rookhey Naina. Says Mona, “I am required to shoot only for ten days in Pakistan. If I have enough dates, I will be shooting five days in February and five in March." Is Pakistan the next green pasture for our TV actors after theatre? Kishwar partying minus Hiten?? One half of a couple partying alone? Well, that's enough to get the rumour mills talking! While people are ready to jump to conclusions and tear a couple apart at the drop of a hat, Kishwar Merchant, who was seen partying alone without her beau, Hiten at the party hosted by JD Majethia, rubbished claims of an alleged breakup! "He is busy shooting in Nainital for Darna Mana Hai and will be back soon," says the sporting Kishwar who is happy playing Vanshika in Kkavyanjali. Here's hoping Hiten gets back to the city really soon and the much in love couple get time to hang out together. Gaurav and Kanchi turn Miss India hosts! Telly Stars are more to be seen doing concerts and hosting shows now a days. Gaurav Gera better known as Nandu will soon be seen hosting the Femina Miss India curtain raiser. Gaurav is currently doing Sony's Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin and also The Great Indian Comedy Show on Star One. Kanchi Kaul, the Kashmiri dame who will most probably host the Femina Miss India says, "They had offered me to host the event. But I haven't called them back; most probably I will be doing it." Great way to earn extra bucks, we say! Chandana's Dil Chahe More! Chandana Sharma, the pretty lass from Star One's Yeh Dil Chahe More, is busy shooting back to back for the show with hardly any time for herself. Just when we were wondering if the girl does have any time at all to stand and stare, she gushes, "My sister has come down from Kolkata for a month with her three month old baby. I have a hectic schedule but love to get back home to spend time with them," smiles Chandana who is open to the idea of hosting a show but wants to stay away from any more daily soaps. Chandana's elder sister Nilanjana has also done television (remember the doe eyed beauty in Hip Hip Hurray?) besides working in Bengali films and is married to Bengali actor Jishu Sengupta. Chandana's mother Anjana Bhowmick too is a renowned actor in West Bengal. Chandana says she too had recently been offered a Bengali film, which she had to turn down due to time constraints. Acting in her genes, huh? Renuka in gymming and scripting mode! Renuka Shahane, the actor with the hundred watt smile, may not be acting much these days, but she sure is keeping in shape. To be precise, she has started gymming to get back to shape and that is when her three and a half year old toddler goes to a play school, while she keeps her 15 month old baby in the house with her maid. Not many know that Renuka was offered a role by Cinevistaas, for which she has shot a pilot but eventually opted out of it as it turned out to be a daily and she could not juggle work with kids. "I am working on a script but it's in a premature stage and once I complete it I will start looking for a producer and a director for it," smiles the lovely lady who is remembered for her fine performance in Star Plus' Kora Kagaz. Pari to get a makeover! The adorable and by turns obnoxious Pari is coming back to Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin from Wednesday. The idea is obviously to bring back all those who made Jassi.... the endearing serial it was in the heady days when Jassi was the plain Jane with the heart of gold, even as the show nears its finale within a couple of months. But Pari will no longer sport the flamboyant dressess she did in her earlier version. Her look, we are told, will be a classier, denim clad one. And her track? We ain't letting on more for now. Maninee De, who's back at the Jassi... shoot from Monday for bring Pari back to life, is both nervous and excited about her fresh innings. "Wait and watch!," she giggles. That we will, Maninee, that we will. 'Son' shine for Puja Rawal in Goa! Pooja Rawal, busy with her Rabba Ishq Na Hove shoots, is probably not getting enough quality time to spend with her five year old Raj. But she does seem to make up for it in innovative ways. Last week, she was into a frenzy of planning a weekend getaway to Goa for celebrating the tot's birthday that falls on 25 February. "We haven't told him yet," she confided, "All I have told him is that I am going to Ahmedabad and that he would have to accompany me to the airport. Imagine his surprise when the whole family travels to Goa!" giggled the mommy in anticipation. Pooja had also spent a large part of the week shopping for gifts that would make Raj particularly happy once in Goa on his birthday. We are waiting to know how little Raj enjoyed his little Goa escape!