Ranbir's Revenge: Deepika and Sonam thrown out

Shahid replaced by Atif Aslam, Deepika and Sonam out (after Koffee With Karan?), but Katrina stays (Kyunki Papa approves?). After the changing equations with his co-stars are making our heads spin

It's final. Ranbir Kapoor's world tour in July 2011 would have him sharing the stage with Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu and Malaika Arora-Khan. A fifth girl is yet to be finalised. But it won't be Deepika Padukone or Sonam Kapoor.

Says Rishi Kapoor, the 70 per cent producer of Ranbir's first world tour and the lad's dad, "Unfortunately Shahid Kapoor can't accompany us. We've got Atif Aslam instead. He's a huge draw among Asians abroad. The show will be youth-oriented."

More changes

The combinations and permutations for Ranbir's world tour have gone through more changes. While Shahid Kapoor has been replaced by Pakistani pop singer Atif Aslam, Deepika Padukone is no more a part of Ranbir's world tour because Katrina Kaif was not comfortable with the idea of being in Deepika's company for nearly a month at a stretch.

Impossible

The ever-forthright Rishi admits it was impossible to have both Dippy and Kat on board. "Deepika wanted to come along. We didn't want any stress behind the stage.

See, as it is, Ranbir has never been on stage. We want it to go smoothly, no backstage jhik-jhik, please!" Sonam has backed out too. Adds Chintu, "She begged off saying she didn't have a song repertoire to stand on stage with Katrina and Priyanka."

New experience

Giving details of the world concert Ranbir's dad says, "We start off in the UK, US and Canada. Then after six months we'll go for another lap of the tour. I've done these world tours over and over again. But for Ranbir, the world tour would be a new experience.

Not even once, has he danced on stage even at award functions. This was planned so that he could be seen for the first time on stage during the world tour. The complaint of Indians abroad is that as much as they love Shah Rukh and Salman they've been seen performing on television extensively.

If you're seen performing on 300 channels 365 days a year why would Indians in the US want to pay $200 to see you on stage? That's where we hope to score with Ranbir's concert. By God's grace, he does have a bank of songs to perform to. We'll be all over the US, UK and Canada over the five weekends in July."

Munni and Sheila unite

Apparently, 'Sheila' Katrina and 'Munni' Malaika would actually perform a fusion of their mega-hits Sheila Ki Jawani and Munni Badnaam Hui. Rishi Kapoor too would be sharing the stage with his son.

Rishi ain't telling. "You'll just have to wait and watch. The Morani Brothers are in the UK and US to finalise everything. Hopefully, we'll be doing Ranbir's first world concert without any hitch."

Not even once has Ranbir danced on stage, even at award functions. This was planned so that he could be seen for the first time on stage during the world tour.

The complaint of Indians abroad is that as much as they love Shah Rukh and Salman, they've been seen performing on television extensively. If you're seen performing on 300 channels 365 days a year why would Indians in the US want to pay 200 dollars to see you on stage? That's where we hope to score with Ranbir's concert Rishi Kapoor

Deepika wanted to come along. We didn't want any stress behind the stage. See, as it is, Ranbir has never been on stage. We want it to go smoothly, no backstage jhik-jhik, please Rishi Kapoor.