Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty "caught up on good old times" with her former "Celebrity Big Brother" housemate Jermaine Jackson, late pop legend Michael Jackson's brother, at her house here.

"I met Jermaine Jackson and his wife Halima after nearly three years...caught up on old times, got nostalgic over our experiences in the 'Big Brother' house. It had been so long but we picked up from where we left, one thing being constant - our friendship, so was happy on that front," Shilpa, who won "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2007, posted on her blog www.shilpashettylive.com/blog.

Jermaine landed in India Friday for 10 days to collaborate with singer Adnan Sami on an album being produced by T-Series. During his stay here, he will also shoot for a concept video for the same song.

Shilpa says their meeting Sunday night was "a strange co-incidence" as her younger sister Shamita was heading for "Bigg Boss", the Indian version of "Celebrity Big Brother".

Shilpa is apprehensive about how Shamita will fair in "Bigg Boss".

"I scurried to spend the last two days before she left, tried to dissuade her considering she'll be away for three months if she lasts. (I) can't describe how difficult our last goodbye was. Now I know what she went through when I left three years ago to be a part of 'Big Brother'. We are very close so it was heartbreaking. But I'll get to see her everyday if that's any consolation."

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Bipasha Basu, who now looks forward to multi-starrer comedy "All The Best", has dismissed rumours that her role in Mani Ratnam's "Raavan" was cancelled because her character posed a threat to the other actresses - Aishwarya Rai and Priyamani. She insists it was an amicable decision between her and the director.

Rumour mills were abuzz that Bipasha's role of Mandodari opposite Abhishek Bachchan in the film was suspended because her part was overpowering as compared to the other female stars.

"They were all rumours and only rumours. I am not a part of 'Raavan'. I was initially a part of 'Raavan' but Mani sir thought he couldn't do justice to my role... as to whatever he had promised me would definitely be in conflict with the actual story of the film once it is shot," Bipasha told IANS in an interview.

"So he took a call instead of being in an embarrassing position later on. He decided to tell me that and amicably we decided that it should not be done...hopefully we'll work together soon. So now there's going to be no Mandodari in the film," she added.

The film also stars Nikhil Dwivedi and Tamil actor Vikram.

Bipasha was in the capital to promote her forthcoming release "All The Best - Fun Begins" that is releasing Friday.

Distributed by Yash Raj Films, the laughathon has been directed by Rohit Shetty. Apart from Bipasha, it also stars Fardeen Khan, Mugdha Godse, Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn, who has produced the comedy.

" 'All The Best' is a situational comedy and a total entertainer. It deals with a lot of mistaken identities, people lying and getting into trouble," Bipasha said.

"My character is called Jahnvi who is married to Ajay in the film. She is a straightforward girl who is trying to run her life and family by looking after a totally rundown gym. She cons people to join the gym by lying because by the looks of it, nobody wants to join it," she added.

Apparently this is the 30-year-old's sixth movie with Ajay after "Zameen", "Apaharan", "Shikhar" and "Omkara".

"We also did a film together with Sanjay Dutt that was completed 50 percent, "Mr.Fraud" (shelved)," she said.

Asked how her co-star was as a producer, she said: "He is a very good producer. He in fact gifted me a Blackberry apart from giving me the money for the film. What's important is that at the end of the day he is a very good friend and a very good co-star.

"I've known Ajay for quite some time now. He is very entertaining and makes you laugh and he's a fabulous actor."

Bipasha says she agreed to do "All The Best" after she realised it had the same essence as "No Entry".

"I have done comedies before like 'No Entry' and 'Phir Hera Pheri'... And I really got the same flavour as 'No Entry' when 'All The Best' was narrated to me.

"I laughed throughout the narration and I thought if a film could entertain me so much on a narrative level, I need to be a part of it because I wanted to see it made, as it's hilarious," she said.

Apart from "All The Best", Bipasha's future projects include "Lamha", "Pankh" and Priyadarshan's next

After being a super model in real life and playing a model in her debut movie Fashion, Mugdha Godse goes de-glam for Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail. She will be seen sans make-up in the film. The model-turned-actress has had a sexy image and this movie will see her in a completely different avatar.

Mugdha plays the lead role in Jail opposite Neil Nitin Mukesh. She says, "I am happy that at such an early stage of my career I have got the opportunity to play two diametrically different roles. Madhur has given me the courage and confidence to experiment with different roles."

She recalls an incident, "On the first-day of shoot of Jail, I came for my shot with make-up on, and Madhur asked me to go wash my face and get the make-up off. He wanted a completely natural look. I finally ended up only with kajal and mascara."

Mugdha has been styled by her personal stylist Deepti Mhatre who styled her in Fashion as well. She adds, "I started off with her and she gave me all my outfits for Jail. They're plain, simple and yet elegant."

Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail is based on prison life. Neil Nitin Mukesh plays the main protagonist and Mugdha, his love interest. The movie is due to release on November 6.

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Model-turned-actress Deepika Padukone has revealed that she plays a "bold" character in Farhan Akhtar's forthcoming production "Karthik Calling Karthik".

"'Karthik Calling Karthik' is a romantic thriller and my role is quite bold and optimistic in the film as opposite to Farhan's which is a very pessimistic one," Deepika told reporters here Friday.

Directed by Vijay Lalwani, the film is about a man who gets phone calls from himself. It is co-produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under their banner Excel Entertainment and Amit Chandra and Vijay Lalwani of Magic Beans.

The 23-year-old actress was in the capital to launch two new soap variants of Fiama Di Wills, which is also the associate sponsor of the upcoming Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW).

Deepika, the brand ambassador of Fiama Di Wills, also unveiled designer Sumeet Varma's preview collection for WLIFW titled 'The Life of a Swan-Swan lake'.

Asked if she preferred Indian or western wear, she said: "Personally I like Indian dresses, but I am ok with western outfits as well. While choosing a dress what I see is whether I am comfortable in it or not."

Once a state-level badminton player, the actress is also game for promoting other sports.

"I played badminton with Aamir Khan for a cause. (And) I will try the same way if I can promote other games like athletics and basketball too along with badminton," said Deepika, who was last seen in romantic drama "Love Aaj Kal".

Asked about her Diwali plans, she said: "I will be with my family."