Rakhi Sawant's created for the camera love life continues to confound. A couple of days after she declared a parting of ways with 'beau' Abhishek Avasthi, the item girl gleefully accepted an engagement ring presented to her by Abhishek. The grand proposal was aired on a news channel last night. However, news has it this was no engagement but yet another one of Rakhi's publicity seeking stunts.

Rakhi endlessly flashed her ring but as things churned out, it was a merely another of her flash for the camera things. A source very close to her says, "Rakhi strongly believes that whenever the engagement happens, it has to be solemnised by both their respective families. Without their presence this rite cannot take place."

As for Rakhi's 'side-car' Abhishek, after this episode, he certainly knows a thing or two about how to 'ring-in' a controversy.

The two boys in Ratan Sinha's Babul Ka Angann Chootey Na, Siddarth Shukla and Faizan Kidwai are being addressed as Amitabh Bachchan courtesy their height which is six feet two inches and six feet one inch respectively. A little birdie tells us that both are very friendly with each other although their on-screen characters are contrasting.

All other co-stars look small in front of them and the joke is that there is not one but two Amitabh Bachchans on the sets. They are left with no choice but to look up to them while performing scenes with them and they are too tall to fit in on the TV screen.

Well guys if Big B can fit in on the TV screen so can you. This is no tall order.

It has been reported that Star Plus was in knots after Ekta pulled out her stars from Salam-e- ishq, a Valentine programme to be aired on Sunday. It was also reported that the channel and the production house (Wizcraft) were compelled to rope in actors from Zee shows.

A source aware of the incident informs, “The production house received a call form the Balaji actors saying that they were unable to participate in the show as Balaji did not want them to be a part of it. It was shocking news for both the channel and production house. They had to rearrange everything.”

Our source continues, “The theme for the show was such that each and every celebrity will promote their own show. For example stars from Kyunki will promote Kyunki… Kayamat actors will promote Kayamat and so on but their withdrawal had cleaned out everything.”

Actors like Sharad and Divyanka, Hussain and Juhi Parmar will be performing at the event. Even Pulkit is part of the show.

“Balaji asked its actors to pull out so the channel had to offer some solution. It was very unprofessional behaviour as nobody knows the exact reason for Balaji’s pull-out,” adds the source.

“The initial meeting with Balaji and Wizcraft went smoothly. They had date problem with Gautami but even that was solved. Rehearsals were done and costumes were made but this sudden back -off ruined everything. The shoot which was supposed to get over in two days took one week. Everything from time, energy and money was wasted,” informs the source.

It was reported that Jay Bhanushali and Panchi Bora were slated to perform at the show. We contacted them to know what exactly went wrong.

“I had a date problem so I backed out,” says Panchi. And Jay says, “I was not even part of the show. Initially I received a call from the channel that they were doing this kind of a show but after that there was no feedback. I don’t understand why newspapers and channels are talking about me.”

Hey Ekta, make friends not enemies. You have enough of those.

A little birdie tells us that the actors Rohit Bakshi aka Piyush of Kahiin Toh Hoga who is currently doing Mere Apne and Aashka Goradia who is also in the same serial are seeing each other.

The actress is often seen doing the rounds of Rohit’s house at Versova. When we contacted Rohit to find out his plans for Valentine’s, he said, “I still do not have a Valentine. I am looking for one. I am single and ready to mingle.”

If Rohit is ready to mingle, Ashka is not. She says, “I am not doing anything this Valentine’s as I am single and not ready to mingle.”

C’mon guys pyar kiya to darna kya?

The iconic daughter-in-law Sakshi Tanwar of Kahanii Ghar Ghar Kii seems to be quite impressed with the young actress Mansi Parekh who is currently doing the serial Remote Control.

The experienced actress congratulated Mansi on her acting skills. Sakshi said, “You are really good in the serial.” Mansi just couldn’t thank her much as the compliment came from an established and viewers’ favourite actress.

Its heart warming to hear genuine praise in a world of fakes.

Sid Makkar aka Shankar of 9X’s Mere Apne who is playing the youngest son of Smriti Irani in the serial is all praise for the versatile actress Smriti. In the soap where everyone thinks Shankar to be a spoilsport and a good- for- nothing person it's Smriti who has complete faith in him.

Sid says, “I 'm amazed to see Smriti's acting prowess. As soon as the director says ‘action’ she gets into the skin of the character and the moment it is ‘cut’ she comes out of the character. She takes only one take to perform like a pro. It's lovely to have such experienced actors around as they are very inspiring and one can always learn so much from them.”

You learn and you earn from them as well. Becoz this praise is for sure getting you your next role.

‘You lose your originality in trying to imitate others’. That’s one of the many Sidhuisms that we’ve been subject to over many years. After going through this ordeal, Sidhu’s critics will be pleased to hear that the man who talks about originality himself is an impressionist.

This truth was unearthed by none other than Sidhu’s co-judge on Laughter Challenge, Shekhar Suman. Uncovering the lid off the bottle, Shekhar says, “While doing Laugther, we were always surprised by the regular presence of a portly individual on the sets. He used to always hold a book in his hand. One fine day, I cornered him and asked him whether he was related to any contestant. I was taken aback when he told me that he is Sidhu’s aid and the one who write his Sidhuisms.”

He adds, “The real fun began when we hid his book and the shooting had to be stalled for three hours. We kept telling Sidhu that you needn’t worry about the book as you must be having your Sidhuism at the tip of your tongue. However, Sidhu insisted that he wouldn’t begin till the book was found. After three hours, we finally gave his book and the show commenced. None of us could stop laughing.”

We have heard of speech writers for our politicians, but passing on another’s ‘proverbs’ as your own is way too tacky.

Navniit Nisshan who is best remembered for her role in Tara is currently seen in Maverick’s comedy show Gupshup Coffee Shop. Navniit is playing the role of a grandmother in the serial. Not many know that the talented actress also harnesses a hidden talent for interior decoration. The actress has done up her own home and even that of friends and relatives. The actress wants to create a balance between TV and films and at the same time pursue her passion for interior designing.

Now all the actors who are on a home buying/renovating spree know whom to contact.

Actresses Narayani Shastri and Juhi Parmar never
ever had anything in common except their love for Anuj Saxena. Both the actresses though part of the same industry were never friendly with each other. And how could they be? They had both dated the same man Anuj Saxena. In fact so strong was their dislike for each other that they also avoided coming face to face even at parties. But now it is reported they have become good pals. Both Narayani and Juhi are co-contestants in the reality musical show Say Shaava Shaava. During the show one even sees a Narayani swaying to Juhi’s renditions.

What’s more they were spotted shaking a leg together at a recent party to announce the launch of NDTV Imagine. We wonder what would have been Anuj’s reaction had he been present at the party to see his ex-girlfriends bonding.

Now that’s talking about letting bygones be bygones. Keep it up gals.

If going by his age, the under- age Rajat Tokas has learnt the tricks of the trade much too soon. Not only does one see the actor puffing away, he has also begun to show some starry airs. He has his personal assistant waiting on him whilst he shoots and the minute he gives the shot his assistant runs to him with his pack of cigarettes.
Not long ago, Rajat had claimed on a reality show that he’s just 14-years-old. News has it that the former Prithviraj Chauhan actor is actually a chain smoker.

He may be 14, but Rajat is living and puffing like a superstar

Success goes to Aamir Ali’s head

A stint with success and popularity and our stars fly high with dollops of attitude. One such actor is Aamir Ali. Our sources tell us that Aamir Ali was part of Ratna Sinha’s Babul Ka Aangan Chootey Na’s pilot and was considered for the lead role of Shubh Ranawat which is now being essayed by Siddarth Shukla.

A little birdie who was a part of the pilot shoot tells us that Aamir apparently threw a lot of attitude on the sets without showing due respect even to seniors like Gufi Paintal. This apparently led to the casting of a new face, Siddarth Shukla. Siddarth has done many ads like Bajaj, Fair and Lovely Man’s active and Siyaram. He also is Gladrags Man Hunt 2004 runner-up.

Well Aamir has nothing to worry as long he and his girlfriend Sanjeeda Sheikh are in Ekta Kapoor’s good books

When in love a couple does things similarly. They co-ordinate their clothes, they sing the same love songs and even have the same caller tune. We are talking of the small screen’s latest couple, Sharad Malhotra and Diyanka Tripathi of Zee’s Banoo Main Teri Dulhann. Unconfirmed reports have it that they are seeing each other but like many others they deny it. They have even been spotted at events together. We spoke to Sharad to know the real story. "We are working so such things tend to happen. I know her since the past five years. We participated in Zee Cinestars Ki Khoj. You spend fifteen hours a day together shooting so such things are very normal. We are very good friends. Nothing is on as such between us, we just share a very healthy friendship."

So how come the couple has the same caller tune… Ek Hasina Thi.. from the movie Karz? When quizzed Divyanka said, “It keeps on changing. I really don’t know which is my current caller tune!”

Only time will tell if these ‘good friends’ turn lovers. Till then watch this space.