By Mail Today Reporter

Last updated at 9:25 PM on 24th January 2012

B-Town's latest news is that Tanu Weds Manu director Aanand L. Rai has signed Southern heartthrob Dhanush for his upcoming film Raanjhnaa.

The director said: 'For the past six months, I've been looking for an actor to play the lead in Raanjhnaa.

'My requirement was a man who could look vulnerable on screen. When I saw Dhanush in the Tamil film Aadukalam (for which he won the National award), I liked him immediately.

'He looks very ordinary and honest, and that was the demand of the character.'

Apparently Dhanush is not well versed with Hindi, but this it seems will not pose a barrier for him working in Bollywood.

The actor cum singer is keen to explore this part of the industry and learn the local language.

When quizzed about the movie, the director added: 'The film is an intense love story. Just like my film Tanu Weds Manu, the film and its characters will take you to Delhi, Punjab, Chennai, and many more places.'

Dhanush too is very excited about the project. News is that the director had approached him for the movie before Kolaveri Di happened.

'It's a big deal to get a launch like this at the beginning of my career. Aanand's script is different from regular cinema, it's one of those 'made to make a difference' kind of films,' the actor said.

The actor, who recently visited Varanasi with director Aanand Rai, was amazed with the difference in the culture and traditions in different parts of the country.

The buzz is that Dhanush is even planning to hire a coach to learn Hindi. He is convinced that by the time the shoot of the film gets over, he will be able to communicate fluently in the local language.

You may travel the world but there's nothing like coming back home. It's a saying that suits our Bollywood biggies more than anyone these days.

After drifting away from doing what they are most known for and tasting some successes and some failures along the way, some of our most popular actors are going back to the basics.

Salman Khan as Prem
A painfully obedient mama's boy, who'd shed both blood and tears to ensure a happy ending for his love story that is Prem.

There have been but many who have pulled off this character better than him. Of course, until Salman decided that there was more drama in showing off a chiseled chest through a fight sequence than wooing a girl.

Salman had said, "Now action's working for me, so you guys call me an action hero. Some day comedy will work, so it would be a comic hero. So the formula is set and as long as people are filling up theatres, I'll give them what they want."

Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan in Hum Aapke Hain Koun

However, prem ki deewanis need not lose hope yet. We now hear that Salman's all set to step back into Prem's iconic shoes, all thanks to his mentor Sooraj Barjatya who gave him blockbusters like Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hein Kaun. The actor, who is busy with Ek Tha Tiger and Dabangg 2, is expected to start work on it sometime next year.

Shah Rukh Khan as the romantic Rahul
He'd throw his arms wide open and girls would go weak in their knees. There was an irresistible charm to his romance that no one could ever match. So much so that this lover boy would often find himself desired by two women.

Be it Anjali and Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or even Preeti and Simran in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. SRK began his career as the bad guy, but soon reigned as the king of romance. SRK had said, "I am not really a romantic.

It may come as a surprise, but I am generally very shy with people. That's why I act it out so well." Probably why after action films like RA.One and Don 2, Khan is now back to doing what he does best.

He will be seen romancing two lovely ladies Katrina and Anushka in Yash Chopra's next. "It's always a pleasure to work with Yash uncle, " he adds. It's Chopra's comeback to direction after seven years and SRK's first full-fledged romantic role since Om Shanti Om five years back.

Aamir Khan as the daredevil cop
Here is one Khan who managed to beat being type cast. From silly college kid (Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar) to passionate lover (Dil) to roadside Romeo (Ghulam and Rangeela), Aamir challenged himself everytime.

But a role he will perhaps be most remembered for is his no-nonsense cop act in Sarfarosh. Unlike Sarfarosh, his first cop act in Baazi (1995) however had failed to impress.

Now, after 13 years, Aamir is back to wearing the vardi. "Sarfarosh was one of my most challenging roles, " Aamir had said then.

In Reema Kagti's Talaash the actor plays daredevil inspector Surjan Singh Sekhawat, solving one of the most bone-chilling cases in the history of the country.

Akshay Kumar as the action king
Akshay was the guy a producer would call for if the role required the hero jumping off buildings without support or breaking brick walls at one go.

Between 1990-2000, Akshay did over 20 action films, which included superhits like Khiladi, Mohra and Khiladi 420. But the actor whose middle name was action needed a change of scene at that time.

After juggling with comedy in films like Hera Pheri and Welcome and intense romance with Namaste London and Action Replayy, Akshay is now returning to action with Rowdy Rathore, Joker and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai 2.

Not surprising, considering his last five films sank without a trace and action is the genre everyone's tapping into these days. Rowdy Rathore being directed by Prabhu Deva apparently promises to bring Khiladi Kumar back with a bang.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

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