Bollywood relieved at Dutt verdict

After the TADA court delivered its verdict on Sanjay Dutt, Bollywood it seems has let out a collective sigh of relief.

"My mother and I so happy and relieved that he's out. Even my father would have been very happy if he were alive. Sunilji was a great influence on my father's life," said Karan Johar, Director, Producer.

"If Sunil Dutt and Nargis were watching from heaven, they would have been happy to see their family's name cleansed," said Asha Bhonsale, Singer.

The sentiment was reflected across the film industry and not just by those close to the Dutt family.

Over the last three months, Dutt had stopped shooting for his films, putting all his assignments on hold as he waited for the TADA court's verdict.

Around Rs 100 crore are riding on Dutt's final sentence, as are some of Bollywood's biggest projects.

Unfinished films like Shootout at Lokhandwala, Mr Fraud and Sarhaad Paar along with those ready for release like Eklavya and Mehbooba.

Unsure of the actor's future availability, some producers had made arrangements to replace Sanjay in their films. After the verdict, Dutt is home now and has three weeks to weigh his options.

There's still no certainty which way his final legal script will be written, and tied to that will be the ultimate fate of his unfinished films.

Is Aishwarya Rai Getting Married?

Rumors that Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are close to getting married heated up Monday morning as they offered prayers together at a Hindu temple.

The actors were accompanied by Bachchan's father, veteran Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, and his family as they visited the famous Kashi Vishwanath and Sankat Mochan temples in Varanasi and participated in the traditional Hindu prayer rituals.

Neither the Bachchan family nor Rai made any comments to the waiting media crowd.

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai are currently starring together in the Bollywood movie "Guru" and have appeared in several movies together, including "Dhoom 2" and "Umrao Jaan."

Shah Rukh to replace Bachchan as "Millionaire" host

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will replace iconic actor Amitabh Bachchan as the host of "Kaun Banega Crorepati", the Indian version of popular quiz show "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire", a statement said.

The hit show, which ran for two series and was broadcast by Rupert Murdoch's Star Network, was hugely popular but was taken off the air in January after Bachchan, 65, had stomach surgery.

"Bachchan expressed his inability to shoot with us any further, and we respected that," said Sameer Nair, chief executive of Star Entertainment India.

"It is a huge act to follow, that of Mr Bachchan," said Khan, 42 and one of Bollywood's leading hearthrobs. No date was given for the start of filming.