I’m not even sure I know who Ali Fazal is, but it’s still exciting that he might co-star with Judi Dench!  Oh, okay, he was in a bunch of Western stuff, and also Always Kabhi Kabhi, which was produced by Shahrukh, so there is a Shahrukh connection, so therefore I care about him.

I already cared about Varun (13 more days until I see him live!), so I am very interested to hear that he has a long-time girlfriend from outside the industry who he is just now inviting to public events.  I can kind of believe it, he started acting kind of “old”, that is, in his mid to late twenties, and I would assume an upperclass boy from Bombay would have a girlfriend by that age.  And there haven’t been any firm rumors about a relationship with anyone else since joining the industry (besides the constant Alia rumors, but Alia is just rumored to be dating everyone!).  So I can believe that he was in a relationship before he got famous, and is still in that relationship, but is keeping it quiet.  If I were dating Varun and he suddenly got famous, I wouldn’t want to keep it quiet too!  Too much work, being the public girlfriend of a rising star.

Anyway, she was recently at the family celebration party for Dishoom‘s success, and was seen being very friendly and familiar with all the Dhawans.  So now rumor has it that a marriage may be imminent, as she wants the security of a settled relationship.  Which, again, is how I would feel if I were dating Varun!  Being a star girlfriend is horrible, all the work and none of the perks.  But being a star wife is much better!  Especially if you marry into an industry family with a nice mother and sister in law who can show you the ropes.  Also, I can’t help thinking about how this is another similarity with Shahrukh, having a solid relationship from long before you were a star and trying to integrate it into your new lifestyle.

And then there’s Ali Fazal.  Who looks like he has always straddled Western and Indian industries, without really hitting it big in either.  Had a small part in The Other End of the Line, Always Kabhi Kabhi, 3 Idiots, Furious 7 (I remember him in that!  Okay, but not terribly impressive), and a slightly larger role in the American miniseries Bollywood Hero.  And he’s going to play the 3rd hero in Happy Bhaag Jayegi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdBwiFiosYE

(the only reason anyone cared about Always Kabhi Kabhi.  Thank goodness Shahrukh learned his lesson and stopped producing movies in which he doesn’t star.  At least, until it is time to launch Aryan.)

And, it was just announced, he will be acting opposite Judi Dench in yet another Queen Victoria movie, this one looking at Victoria’s late in life relationship with Abdul Karim, the Indian clerk she brought from Jhansi to be her secretary.  What do you think, is there ANY chance this film won’t be horribly offensive in some way?  I’m thinking probably no.

In happier news, Kajol and Nyssa made a video to thank her fans for all their birthday wishes.  You are welcome Kajol!  Also, I love that she doesn’t seem 100% clear on how the cell phone videos and instagram and all work and her daughter has to explain it to her, just like every other mother of a teenager in the world.  Which reminds me, I need to ask my youngest cousin to explain instagram to me next time I see her, because I have no idea how it works either.