The latest buzz is that Shahbaz Khan has broken up with his sweetheart, Kartika Rane. That too, after a two-year-long affair. But Khan says these rumours are mere ``media concotions'', and insists that they have been, and remain, good friends. ``We could not break up because we never had an affair!'' he says. But Khan does admit that these days he is seeing an Indian model based in Canada. Marriage is not on the cards. ``Career is most important currently. Everything else can wait,'' he adds.

Great guns

The Cinevista heads, Prem Kishan and Sunil Mehta, are in high spirits, these days. Their dream project, Noorjahan has got a slot on DD. And, as icing on the cake, their jinxed serial, Ghutan, also goes back on air. The serial was abruptly pulled off DD, only to resurface on Star Plus, where it soon met with the same fate. But now it returns on Star Plus, albeit as an afternoon daily soap, and under a new name -- Manzil. Better luck this time?

Soapopera

Soon we won't know one channel from another. DD's decision to delink regional kendras has led to the demise of three afternoon soaps -- Yug, Deewar and Swabhimaan. The producers of Deewar have adopted a wait-and-see approach but the others have been more enterprising. The 700-plus episode Swabhimaan has struck a deal with Star Plus -- the latest home for DD rejects. And Yug returns to DD on prime time, as a weekly soap! What is going on around here?

Dead or alive

These days, every time a celebrity passes away, someone comes out with a serial based on the life and times of the deceased. Producer Rani Kanwar has come out with a series called Yadein, a tribute to composer Laxmikant. Directed by Avinash Tapasvi and anchored by Pankaj Berry, it has been approved for DD.

He's not family

Sometimes, off-screen affairs spill over to the small screen and then the only person to get stuck is the director. Actor Rohit Roy and girlfriend KareenaGrover both act in the serial Baat Ban Jaye. Well, everything was hunky-dory until they came across what Rohit considered a particularly offensive piece of dialogue. The Roy Boy was supposed to tell Kareena, ``Tum to meri behen jaisi ho!'' Well, well those words would just not roll off his tongue. Finally, after a little bit of brainstorming by the director, he agreed to say these re-written words: ``Tum to mere dost ki behen jaisi ho!'' Now, if he is as good an actor as he thinks he is, why can't he play-act on-screen and reserve his passion for off-screen?

On a roll

When he's on a roll, there is no stopping him. Manish Goswami may have six serials on Zee TV, but that does not stop him from coming out with another one. Called Vaarish, the serial debuts the Bollywood reject, Rohit Kumar. Another debutante is Tamara, who so far was an online editor but with this serial dons a directorial cap. Incidentally, this is a bit of a family affair. The serial has been written byher husband, Vinod Ranganathan.

Chalta hai

Suchitra Simply South Pillai cleared her throat and gave her vocal chords a little exercise at the Delhi premier of the latest Bollywood release, Ghulam. First, she asked Aamir Khan to sing "chalti kya Khandala". Aamir did, willingly, complete with his own background music. However, in a song which runs like a dialogue, he needed a female voice to sing the female bit. Suchitra had nowhere to run and had to sing along. Thankfully for her, it was an easy tune to sing to.

Moving up

Speaking of upward mobility -- here's a quick take on Rishtey -- Love Stories on Zee TV. The new director is Rajat Kapur and the writer -- hold your breath -- is none other than Renuka Shahane!