Shahid Kapoor working hard for Michael Jackson act

Shahid Kapoor is working hard on his Michael Jackson act for the Filmfare awards, even if it means rehearsing on his birthday Thursday.

Says Shahid: “The Filmfare organisers felt I could do the Michael Jackson tribute. And I took up the challenge.

“We didn’t have much time to rehearse, only four days. But I’ve grown up watching MJ’s music videos, am a huge fan, so it wasn’t difficult to master the choreography. I will be paying a tribute, not copying MJ. But it is better not to adulterate his steps,” he adds.

While other performers at the Filmfare awards Saturday will have their acts recorded, Shahid will perform live.

Says the focussed performer: “Yes, I’ll be going live… an eight-minute homage. I love dancing on stage. In India, there’s no specific culture for stage performances.

“Out West, there’s a huge market for live performances. Their films don’t have songs and dances. Their pop stars have a vibrant stage culture. So, stage performances are a huge market in the West,” he adds.

Arshad to get Rs.3 crore for ‘Golmaal 3′

Arshad Warsi has finally agreed to do “Golmaal 3″ after the producers agreed to pay him a whopping Rs.3 crore to be part of the film, sources said.

Director Rohit Shetty said Arshad was on for the project, but the actor did not confirm his consent for the film.

Sources said the deal was finally cut Monday, after frantic negotiations. Arshad’s fee is higher than each member of the cast, barring Ajay Devgn. It is even higher than that of Kareena Kapoor who has a three-film deal with the producers.

Says a source: “After ‘Ishqiya’, Arshad was adamant on his fee. The producers (Ashtavinayak) tried to convince him to take a much smaller fee, arguing that his co-stars Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu (who replaces Sharman Joshi) were accepting a far smaller fee and if Arshad was paid three crore, the others would feel short-changed.”

But Arshad stuck to his guns. Earlier reports said the actor, now hot at the box office after “Ishqiya”, did not like the script of “Golmaal 3″.

Rohit Shetty says: “We were really keen to have him in the film. And yes, the price has been worked out between Arshad and the producers. So he’s on.”

Strangely, though Rohit confirmed Arshad’s presence in “Golmaal 3″, Arshad was still in denial.

“I am not sure yet. They’ve been after me for some time now. But I’m not able to make up my mind. I need to give time to my own production ‘Hum Tum Aur Ghost’. So I don’t know how I’ll manage the dates,” he said.

Sharman Joshi, who was part of the earlier two movies of the “Golmaal” series, had reportedly asked for Rs2.5 crore. He turned down the third part through his secretary.

Says Rohit Shetty: “Even before the scripting of “Golmaal 3″, Sharman sent me a message through his secretary, saying he had other plans. I immediately looked for a replacement and am very happy with Kunal Khemu.”

Shahid Kapoor on spiritual quest before next film

A sudden change in work schedule made Shahid Kapoor a nervous wreck last month. A timely visit to his father Pankaj Kapoor’s spiritual guru in the hills however revealed to him the virtues of stillness in an overactive lifestyle.

Having finished all his assignments, the actor has no projects on hand at the moment apart from his dad’s film “Mausam”.

Shahid said, “All I can say is faith makes all things possible. That’s why it’s called a leap of faith. I was working 20 hours a day till Jan 20. I was working insanely. When I woke up on Jan 21, I had no work to go to.

“Initially I felt a sense of freedom. Then immediately it was followed by panic…what do I do with myself? I’ve become an insomniac and started tweeting at 4 a.m. I don’t feel tired. I feel I haven’t earned the right to rest. And I don’t know what to do with myself!”

However, here is the upside. “Every time I’ve sat at home without work, it has worked for my career. I did it before ‘Vivah’ and before ‘Jab We Met’.”

Shahid will be doing only one film in 2010 and that is his father’s “Mausam”. He will serve as a hands-on technician, spotboy whatever for the project.

“While I’m being directed by my dad, I’d like to learn in every department. I want to learn about cinematography, choreography and direction. Most of all, I’d learn a lot about acting from my dad. I want to try and absorb from him.”

The thought of acting in front of his father petrifies Shahid. “It’s a very scary thought. But in life you have to face challenges. Of course, there’s anxiety and fear about acting in front of my father. I quite often think I’ve given a decent performance. And then when I hold a trial show for my father, all the confidence crumbles.”

Shahid remembers a nightmarish incident. “I remember this one time when we were shooting for ‘Jab We Met’ near Khandala. Dad dropped in and was watching me on the monitor. And I just couldn’t give my shot! I actually had to tell my dad to leave. I tactfully told him to proceed, and I’d join him for lunch. He immediately understood. And my next shot was okay.”

Explaining his reason for staying away from all other projects, Shahid says, “It’s a film very close to my heart because after 35 years of acting, dad is finally directing a film. After being the best actor in the country – that’s what I believe him to be – he has decided to make a film with me in the lead because he wants to project me in a certain way.

“It’s a huge sacrifice for someone who does so little work as an actor. The least I can do is to be there unconditionally for him during the time that he makes the film.”

To prepare for “Mausam”, Shahid needs to train as a pilot at a military academy.

Says Shahid, “I don’t want to reveal right now what all I’ll be doing. But, yes, I do play an air force pilot. But if you think I’ll learn how to fly a plane for the film, then all I can say is I haven’t reached that stage of madness!”