Shriya is back in Mumbai after her last schedule of Chikku Bukku in Bangalore. And after nearly a year she has signed up a Tamil film opposite Jeeva in Rowthiram, produced by his dad RB Chowdhary's Super Good films.
The film is directed by debutant Gokul, a former assistant to Telugu director Suryakiran (Actress Kaveri's husband). The shoot of the film is likely to start soon in Chennai.

Meanwhile, Shriya will start shooting her first Malayalam film Pokkiri Raja with Mammootty and Pritviraj in Pollachi from January 28. For Shriya, 2010 has started on a happy note as her Kutty with Dhanush released for Pongal is a hit.

Bollywood is facing a strange dilemma these days. Gone are the days when the filmmakers got scared due to only one villain that hampered their film- the pirated CDs & DVDs of the film. These days, the internet seems to be giving sleepless nights to the filmmakers, with certain parts of a film or sometimes the film getting "leaked" out on the internet.

Just a few days back, it was the entire print of Neil Nitin Mukesh's unreleased film Tera Kya Hoga Johnny that found its way into the cyber space. The latest victim of online piracy is Rakesh Roshan's Kites. This Hrithik-Barbara-Kangna starrer has been in the news since the time it was announced. The filmmakers are now in a sticky situation because the unreleased promos of the film have been leaked out on a popular video sharing site yesterday, courtesy the handiwork of certain miscreants! On an official level, the promo was specially made and scheduled to release with My Name Is Khan, internationally.

The latest update is that the producers have been successful in taking the promos off the site

Yash Raj Films is launching newcomer Ranveer Singh opposite Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi actress Anushka Sharma in their next project.

The film will be directed by Maneesh Sharma, who worked as an assistant director on Shah Rukh Khan starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Aditya Chopra will produce the untitled venture.

The shooting has started and it is scheduled for a release later this year.

The story revolves around Shruti (Anushka Sharma) and Bittoo (Ranveer Singh) who start a business after passing out from Delhi University. Their friendship and business enters the lavish world of Delhi's baaraats and weddings.

Maneesh had also assisted on other Yash Raj projects like Fanaa and Aaja Nachle.

Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar actor Laz Alonso in Love Barack, a political romantic comedy set during the frantic days leading up to 2008 US Presidential election.

Doug McHenry will direct the film, while Los Angeles Times contributing writer Gary Goldstein will pen the script.

Mallika will play the central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, Obama volunteer coordinator. The story follows the romantic and political rollercoaster that develops when, the month before Election Day, Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome, dynamic African-American working for the local McCain office.

The film also stars veteran actress Ruby Dee, comedy veteran Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine.