“There is a BBC bar!” Imran Khan exclaimed when we met up at the Beeb in London last Friday night for a chat and a drink. The nephew of A-lister Aamir Khan was here to promote his debut film, this week’s release Jaane Tu..Ya Jaane Na (Believe it or Not).

Did having a famous uncle help him to get his first break? “I had to audition and do three test shots,” the seriously good-looking charmer smiled. Did he always want to be an actor? “I was planning to be a director. I trained at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and actually worked on a TV show there.”

The love story has music by Bollywood’s most famous composer AR Rahman and the current hit track, ‘Pappu can’t dance’. Can Imran dance? “Not very well,” Imran replied adding that he suspected the film’s director Abbas Tyrewala wrote that particular song with him in mind. “I play a normal guy unlike other Bollywood heroes; I make breakfast for my mom in the film.”

Fans will be disappointed to learn that the newest Khan on the bolly-block is not single. “I have been dating someone for the last six years,” Imran revealed over a pint in the bar after our radio interview was over. What’s his favourite Bollywood film? “It has to be Teesri Manzil, probably Bollywood’s first example of film noir.”

Bollywood’s back to the future

“It’s a love story based on technology,” Priyanka Chopra revealed about this week’s other big release, Love Story 2050. “It’s like time travel with singing and dancing.” The former Miss World, clad in a stunning red dress, is in London with the film’s hero Harman Baweja for today’s international premiere of “India’s first sci-fi film”. Baweja was clearly jetlagged having landed in London from Mumbai a few hours earlier. He greeted us with “Good Evening” even though it was lunchtime.

Karan on kissing

“I would love it for my actors to kiss but most of the men are married and we have to deal with jealous wives and ready heroines!” Karan Johar confessed when asked about what he would like to change about Bollywood. Johar, Bollywood’s biggest director, was his usual witty self when I caught up with him earlier this week in London. When will we see press previews? “We don’t like criticism and are afraid of failure,” Johar told me but he promised “if he felt brave enough”, to preview his next film My Name is Khan to the media.

Shilpa’s latest dance

“I am performing a very high energy dance number,” Shilpa Shetty reveals. She is the latest addition to the upcoming Amitabh Bachchan Unforgettable World Tour which hits London’s O2 Arena on August 24. Shilpa added that she would “definitely be performing some Punjabi tracks” but refused to elaborate. “I am not allowed to divulge any more.”

The Indian Job

The latest Hollywood flick to get the Bollywood makeover will be The Italian Job. No prizes for guessing that it will be directed by the DVD inspired director duo Abbas-Mustan. Abbas confirms: “We are going to Indianize it; we’ll add two heroines.” And songs, of course!

Bollywood dancing queens

The wait is over! As they dust off their dancing shoes and fix their bindis and bandanas into place, finalists from all over the UK will compete in the Bollywood Dance Championships next Tuesday at London’s Hackney Empire. Honey Kalaria, one of the judges and renowned dance instructor herself is excited: “It is fantastic to see performers of all ages sparkle and blossom on stage!”

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