Abhishek: people think I'm better than I am

Plus: Deepak Tijori looking for new blood, Rajesh Khanna back in hospital, and Ileana D'Cruz expands her range.

Abhishek Bachchan. Rafiq Maqbool / AP

Reviewing his last 12 years of work, the actor Abhishek Bachchan says audiences have given him much more credit than he deserves. "I think people think I'm a much better actor than I actually am. They're too kind to me," said Bachchan, promoting his new romantic comedy Bol Bachchan, which opens in UAE cinemas on Thursday. "I'm very harsh on myself. But I genuinely believe that I have a lot more to do and learn." When asked how he selects his film projects, the 36-year-old actor replied: "Be it the biggest director or be it a very good script, but if my heart is not with it, I will not do it." Describing his experience shooting for Bol Bachchan, he said: "I thought a comedy film will be easy to do, but it turned out to be the most difficult film of my career. It was exhausting to do. I worked very hard for it." Loosely based on the 1979 film Golmaal, the film's cast includes Ajay Devgn, Asin Thottumkal and Prachi Desai. * IANS

Deepak Tijori hunts for new heroine

The actor-turned-filmmaker Deepak Tijori, whose last film was the 2009 thriller Fox starring Sunny Deol and Arjun Rampal, says he is on a lookout for a new lead actress for his forthcoming directorial venture, "a suspense thriller with a women-centric plot". The movie will be produced under Denis Selarka and Mehul Simaria's new studio Blue Berry Films. "I'm keen to launch a new face in Bollywood," said Tijori. * IANS

Stars visits Rajesh Khanna in hospital

The veteran actor Rajesh Khanna has been confined to a Mumbai hospital for more than a week. Colleagues in the film industry that have dropped by to see the 69-year-old superstar include Reena Roy, Anita Advani, Anju Mahendru and Ismail Darbar. Khanna's estranged wife Dimple Kapadia, their daughters Twinkle and Rinke, as well as his son-in-law, the actor Akshay Kumar, have been keeping watch. Khanna has been battling health issues throughout the past year. He was last admitted to the hospital in April because of fatigue, but was discharged after three days. The actor Salman Khan reportedly came to visit Khanna on Saturday but was refused admission by the hospital management as he arrived after the scheduled visiting hours. * IANS

Ileana turns taxi driver in new movie

The writer-director Puri Jagannadh announced he has finished editing his new Telugu film Devudu Chesina Manushulu, which is set for release in India on July 27. He promises audiences will see a different look for the film's lead actress, Ileana D'Cruz, who will play the role of a taxi driver. "I've worked a number of times with her and she will be seen in a completely different avatar in my new film," said Jagannadh, who cast D'Cruz in Khatarnak (2006) and Kick (2009). "Her image as a shy girl will go out of the window. She has been reinvented in this role." The 24-year-old actress will also be seen in the romance thriller Barfi alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, her first Bollywood project. * IANS