All’s fair in films!

LIKE KATRINA Kaif who has been offered the grand sum of Rs 1.5 crore to do a dance (item number) for Shree Ashtavinayak’s Blue, which stars Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Lara Dutta. A shocking amount —but then Katrina is the only actress who has given four hits last year.
Namstey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome. She has also become Akshay Kumar’s lucky mascot. Some say it is Akshay who has strongly recommended her name for this item song. If one is waiting for a denial from the actress regarding the ‘huge sum’, it has not come, so she has beaten every other actress in her item-number-price game. The actress who cannot spare even a couple of hours for interviews has suddenly found a slot of ten full days to give to the production house. And to make it sound more honourable she has asked them to give her a few scenes in the film too so that no one criticises her for coming down to the level of doing an item number.
Of course this set off Kareena who had a fit when she learnt that Katrina was being offered such a humoungous sum for just a dance number and now has demanded 6 crores instead of the 5 that she was offered.
Said a trade analyst, “Ashtayinayak made a mistake by offering Katrina this absurd amount for just an item number. And letting out the sum which was their undoing. Katrina will hardly have so much screen time in the film. Katrina is a sure fire bet right now as she has so many hits behind her. But, Kareena has set herself in a higher bracket so she sees herself worth no less. If she is going to do a full-fledged role in a film for 5 crores she does not see why Katrina should be paid Rs 1.5 crore. So, she feels she should get more than five crores. At this rate, fewer films will make money if each heroine starts making such high demands. The era of the hero is slowly ending with heroines making as many demands as them and getting away with them.”
Now Preity Zinta has also been approached to do an item number with Salman Khan in brother Sohail Khans film Main Aur Mrs Khanna. The film also stars Kareena in the lead. No one has leaked out the amount being paid to Preity otherwise Madam Kareena will up her price again. The song will be shot in Australia and is specially composed by the music duo Sajid-Wajid. It is directed by debutante Prem Soni and will be released this year. Preity and Salman have earlier acted together in Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Jaan-e-mann.
Actress-turned producer Shilpa Shetty is also doing an item number in Dostana, a Karan Johar film directed by Tarun Mansukhani starring Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra.