Till yesterday, news had it that Katrina Kaif was the leading lady opposite Rajnikanth in the film Kochadaiyaan. But now the latest news is that Deepika Padukone landed the coveted part.

Soundarya, Rajni’s younger daughter is directing the movie. She tweets, “Guys. Deepika padukone confirmed to play appa s pair in Kochadaiyaan great to have you back with us @deepikapadukone :) big hug!”

Not very long ago, Deepika Padukone was signed opposite Rajnikanth in Rana. However, following Rajni’s ill health, the movie got shelved.

It is heard that Deepy had refused Housefull 2 in order to act opposite Rajni sir, in Rana. Now that the film has been postponed, the actress is game for Kochadaiyaan.

The film will have Tamil actress Sneha play Rajinikanth’s sister, while actress Shobhana and actor Aadhi will have important roles in the film.

The films music will be composed by A R Rahman. Kochadaiyaan is going to be unique and this is for the first time that a 3D film with performance capturing technology is being shot in India.

Now that Deepika Paukone has reportedly walked fo Ramesh Taurani’s sequel to the 2008 thriller Race, it is heard that Priyanka Chopra is most likely to step into Deepy’s shoes. The actress has gone through the script and is said to have liked it.

Says’s a source close to the project, “It would be rather nice if Priyanka accepts the offer. She had been considered for the role earlier as well. She is aware of the script. So there won’t be any time lost over narration. Things can easily fall into place”.

Priyanka Chopra is currently in Hyderabad, shooting for Rakesh Roshan’s Krrish 3. The actress will meet Taurani as soon as she returns to Mumbai.

After her alleged split with Sidhartha Mallya, actress Deepika Padukone is said to have turned to her former beau, Nihar Pandya’s shoulders to cry on.

Deepika and Nihar were dating each other during her modeling days. Post break up, the actress was still in touch with his family.

Says a source, “Deepika has had a heartbreak yet again. She was open about her affair with Ranbir Kapoor, but after they broke off, she preferred to be guarded about her relationship with Sidhartha. Though both were spotted together, she avoided questions about their relationship.”

Adds the source, “Nihar has always been around for her. Though she moved ahead professionally and personally, he has always been stuck on her.”

Deepy is now the latest talk of the town.

By now, we all know about Deepy-Sid split, though they haven’t made it public. Well, any guesses who played the villain in their love story??

If buzz is to be believed, it is heard that Siddharth left Deepika for Sonam Kapoor. If a TV news channel is to be gone by, it is said that Sid is now wooing the Kapoor beauty. Recently, the liquor barons son was all praises for Sonam’s fashion sense.

Now, if the news is true, we wonder where Deepika and Sonam’s friendship will head to. Stayed tuned for more news.

And once again she proved unlucky for love. Well, yes! we are talking about the leggy lass Deepika Padukone, who has reportedly split with Siddharth Mallya, after a 2years long relationship.

While some say the reason for their break up is, Deepika signing a film with Ranbir, other say that they are just not compatible.

Soon after the news came out in the open, its is heard that Deepika changed status on her phone messenger. Her status read “Game Over”! Not just the status, but her display pic was also replaced with a dark patch.

Says a source, “We don’t know why she chose to call her romance with Mr Mallya a game.” Perhaps she was just reminded of Eva Gabor’s quote?”

Buzz has it that Mallya Jr. was heard telling his close friends that ‘the relationship is not working and heading nowhere’.

Well, we are not sure as to why the couple called off their relationship, but we hope things end on a good note for the “ex lovers”.

The last time Deepika Padukone and her billionaire boyfriend Sidhartha Mallya made a public appearance together was err eh errrrr, well, we guess at Arpita Khan’s party… It’s been almost three months now that the couple are seen together.

Things started to get evident when, Deepy wasn’t spotted at Sid’s new year bash. Even Sidharth was by his ladylove at her birthday party earlier this month.

A source closed to the star, talking about their strained relationship says, “Since August 2010, they have made several appearances together. But if you recall, they have been strangely cold and aloof while talking about their relationship. But all of us wanted to believe that they were headed for something stronger when Sidhartha dined with Deepika’s family.”

If rumors are to be believed, the tension between the couple started when Deepika signed a film opposite Ranbir Kapoor. Also it is heard that Ranbir Kapoor has been sending his ex gifts as a mark of their new-found friendship.

According to a few common friends, Sidhartha has talked about this tension to few of his friends that “the relationship is not working and heading nowhere.”

Deepika However, refused to comment.

February’s issue of Femina lists out the 150 most beautiful women of India. Go grap your copies ASAP!

Like the cover?

At the Colors Screen Awards held in Mumbai on Saturday, out of many memorable moments, the one that left the public in a state of shock was when Ranbir Kapoor touched Deepika Padukone’s feet while receiving an award.

Well, director Subhash Ghai and Deepika Padukone were to present the award to Ranbir Kapoor, who won the best actor award for his performance in Rockstar.

Ranbir, after grabbing the award, out of respect, touched Mr Ghai’s feet and then went on to touch Deepy’s too.

Well, now this gesture of Ranbir Kapoor has now become a hot topic among the rumor mills. While some say, RJ deliberately touched her feel out of repentance for having cheated on her, while others call it fun.

This year, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone is looking forward to a great career. Though the actress did not taste much success in 2011, DP is not going to repeat what she had doen in the previous year.

“Success is completely related to the box office. So yes, I want to be a part of successful films. By success I mean those movies which are commercially viable and also enjoyable. There is no fun to be a part of those films which are not liked by the audience,” Deepika told a news agency on her birthday on Thursday.

Well by “films which are not liked by the audience”, Deepy meant films like Aarakshan and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey.

Year 2012 will see Deepika Padukone will be seen in three awesome projects. Cocktail with Saif Ali Khan, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani with Ranbir Kapoor and the multi-starrer Race 2.

“It is great to be paired with Saif again after ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and ‘Aarakshan’. Also, I love the way director Homi Adajania (of ‘Being Cyrus’ fame) explains the scenes and then cans the shots. He is really innovative and ‘Cocktail’ — though it is not really the final title — is an altogether different experience that would surprise the audience.”

“As for ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’, I am just waiting to begin the shoot with Ranbir (Kapoor) and Ayan (Mukherjee). We begin shooting on March 1 and the film should hopefully release by end of year. Around the same time ‘Race 2′ should also release,” Deepika said.

Deepika Padukone, for the first time will be entering the glamorous world of action-thriller with the ‘Race 2′.

“I was always a part of ‘Race 2′. It does happen that when there are so many actors involved, dates of one of them get pushed. Same was the case with my dates for ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani’. Once Karan (Johar) and (Ramesh) Tauraniji sorted it out, it was all cool,” Deepika said.

Bollywood Hotness* Deepika Padukone turns 26 today!

The busy actress finally took time out, for her birthday celebrations. If reports are true, we hear that she and her family will celebrate the day at the new plush pad in Worli, Mumbai, Deepika recently bought.

Deepika is looking forward to the days with family and close friends, besides munching on some homemade food, preferably south Indian.

Friends and colleagues from Bollywood have been wishing Deepika Padukone a happy birthday on Twitter.

“Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Love. Love. Karthik. Karthik,” Farhan Akhtar, her Karthik Calling Karthik co-star wished her.

“Happy bday babe… Have a super year!!!xoxoxo!” wrote Priyanka Chopra.

“Happy birthday most beautiful, get back soon we miss u. Love always,” Arjun Rampal tweeted.

“Here is wish one of my most favorite co stars and dearrrr friend a very happy and jovial, filled with love, birthday! Loads of love to you and a lot of blessing. Keep smiling always,” wrote Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika’s co-star from Lafangey Parindey.

Deepika Padukone thanked everyone.

“Thank you all soo much for your love and wishes and making my birthday soo special…X,” she said.

Celebden wishes Deepy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!