Dhoni and our boys will shine: Akshay, India will shine at Finals says Akshay kumar

Akshay Kumar thanks the cricket team for bringing India into the World Cup Final; predicts a win

Akshay Kumar is in the middle of promoting his April 8 release Thank You. But he is not obsessing about it as much about India's role in the World Cup final today.

Says the cricket enthusiast, "Like every Indian, cricket is a religion for me. From the time I was a young boy, I have never missed a single opportunity to play the game — from gully cricket to playing on my porch. Even during shooting, if I have a half hour break, I pick up the bat and start a game in the studio compound with the cast and crew. You will find a cricket kit in the boot of my car always.''

Khiladi's predictions for the World Cup final are no different from that of any other Indian. "My heart says India will win the cup and recreate the 1983 magic,'' he grins. Adding, I can even make you an exact prediction that India will bat first; they will make around 260 runs. Now these 260 runs may not seem such a formidable score, but our boys will take the cup.''

Akki says that he has been making a close study of the game and everything around it. "The astrological conditions in 1983 are similar to those in 2011. That calendar year and this one are similar. The stars are in our favour and that's why I feel MS Dhoni and our boys will shine.''

His face lights up when he talks of MSD and his gang, "The youngsters in our team, be it Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Munaf Patel or any of the other young guns play so well. I admire Dhoni. I want to thank him for bringing India into the finals. He has got India out of such dark situations and made her win. When they were playing with South Africa, we saw Dhoni's genius. Even during this World Cup, he showed his prowess on many occasions. I sincerely wish to say 'thank you India' for bringing us into the finals.''

Sonakshi removes Salman's Shirt, Sonakshi asked Salman to remove his shirt

Sonakshi Sinha seems to be in the mood to bare it all. Through her words, that is. Recently when she was quizzed about whom she finds hotter Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar? She straight away said it was Salman.

Looks like Dabangg has turned Sonakshi into a Salman fan. On being pressed, she revealed that she was the one to style Salman for photographer Dabboo Ratnani’s shoot in the past year. The styling was very chic and casual. She asked Sallu to remove his shirt and sling it over his shoulders. She feels Salman appeals to both masses and classes. Anything that he does is imitated by people, be it his trademark bracelet or the heart shaped sunglasses he sported in Dabangg.

Dabangg, with Salman, has catapulted Sonakshi Sinha in to the A-list overnight. She has bagged a number of ad campaigns like Dyna bathing bar and she has become the brand ambassador of clothing line Provogue, whose previous ambassador was Katrina Kaif.

In fact, Sonakshi has replaced Katrina in a number of endorsements. When asked about whether that has caused a rift between Katrina and her, she said that whenever she has met Katrina, they have avoided talking about the matter.

Sonakshi Hip hop in Joker, Hip-hop meets desi bhangra for Sonakshi's song, Sonakshi Hip Hop Desi Bhangra, Sonakshi Sinha Hip Hop

Sonakshi Sinha is sure being pampered. When the actress who is shooting for Shirish Kunder's "Joker" got wistful at not having done any modern dance so far, choreographer Farah Khan, who was in Chandigarh to shoot a desi number, introduced a hip-hop section in it.

Akshay Kumar's song-and-dance with Sonakshi, meant to be a hard core desi number, was shot in the lush mustard fields of Chandigarh last week.

In the middle of the song, a hip-hop section was introduced, much to Sonakshi's delight as it was her first attempt at something western.

"Sonakshi was very keen on trying western steps. She was looking forward to grooving in 'Joker'. But when the first song and dance in the film turned out to be a desi item, she was disappointed. Shirish and Farah agreed to pamper her. And a hip-hop section was put in," a source said.

Farah Khan confirmed the inclusion of hip-hop in the song. "It's a situation where Akshay Kumar has returned home in Punjab from the US. There's a celebratory song and dance. It does have a very special hip-hop section."

Sonakshi not bold as Bips, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonakshi Latest, Prabhu deva, Akshay Kumar, Dabangg

The one-film old Sonakshi Sinha has already walked her way into prestigious projects like Joker and Prabhu Devaa's next with Akshay Kumar, an untitled film with Kamal Haasan, Race-2 with Saif Ali Khan, Dabangg-2 and Kick with Salman Khan.

Salman's protégé does come with her share of will-dos and won't-dos. Being the daughter of BJP Minister and yesteryear superstar Shatrughan Sinha comes with its share of advantages; and responsibilities.

A trade source says, "She is already getting paid a bomb. We hear that her remuneration for Race-2 is almost a crore and she is getting paid twice that amount for the Kamal Haasan film.'' What's more, according to trade circles, Sonakshi has a stringent contract. "It stipulates 'no kissing, no explicit lovemaking and no bikini','' says our source.

Because of her lineage, the Dabangg girl is allowed to dictate terms to filmmakers. Though the born-with-a-chip-on-her-square-shoulders actress refuses to divulge anything, a source from the crew of Race-2 reveals that she has made it clear to director-duo Abbas-Mustan that she is okay with doing something as hot as Katrina, but she will not do the kind of bold scenes that Bipasha did in Race.

Quick Rewind:
Saif and Bipasha steamed it up in a barn scene in Race and the Bengali bombshell also seduced' Akshaye Khanna on screen with her bare-n-dare act. Whereas Kat played the sweet secretary who shed her inhibitions in just the song-dance routine.

Sylvester wants a desi pie

Sylvester Stallone approaches Sajid Nadiadwala to produce his Holly flick

Hollywood's action icon Sylvester Stallone's love for India seems to be continuing post his cameo in the Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor starrer Kambakkht Ishq. Sly now wants to further his association with Bollywood. He is looking to tie up with an Indian filmmaker to make a Hollywood project. Given his association with Sajid Nadiadwala, the producer of his B-Town debut, he has asked him to come on board for an ambitious, big budget movie that will have some high octane action.

Apart from Stallone in the lead, some big names from Hollywood might also roped in for the project, which will be shot in the US as it is a purely Hollywood film and there is no 'Indian' connection to the script.
Nadiadwala will travel to the US shortly to seal the deal.

He confirms, "Yes, Stallone has asked me to partner him and produce a film. It is an honour for me. He is an icon and I would love to do a film with him again."

Salman's highest paid actor!

He is still considered Bollywood's enfant terrible. But that doesn't hamper his price. Trade talk is that Salman Khan is the Hindi film industry's highest paid actor at this point.

Our source says, "Actors keep saying that they have stopped charging a price because they are now take home a share in the percentage of profits. The profit-sharing bit is right but actors, especially those like Salman and Akshay Kumar also charge a price and over and above it, they take home a share in the profits." Salman is reportedly charging Rs 17.5 cr for Ready and he is a partner on the project. So he will get a percentage of the profits too.

Salman who is red-hot after Dabangg has allegedly even been made an offer of Rs 30 cr as his price. The share in the profits goes without saying.