Mark Wahlberg plans India visit to support EFLI

Mark Wahlberg is scheduled to visit India to watch the opening game of the Elite Football League of India (EFLI), in which he is an investor. "EFLI is changing the lives of countless numbers of India's poor and underprivileged. I anxiously look forward to the inaugural 2013 season and hope to bring my family to India for the opening game and to witness this miracle that is the EFLI," the actor said in a statement. EFLI is the first men's professional American football league in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. - IANS

Haasan confirms Vishwaroopam sequel

He may just be days away from releasing his new film Vishwaroopam, but the director Kamal Haasan has revealed he has already started shooting the sequel. "We have finished the script and even started shooting for the film," he told IANS. "We will have the same cast because we are starting the sequel from where we left the first one. It will be a continuation." Unlike the first, however, Vishwaroopam 2 will be shot entirely in India. - IANS

Morani is Bhaag Johnny leading lady

The rising star Zoa Morani has been signed on as the leading lady opposite Kunal Khemu for Bhaag Johnny, due to begin shooting soon. "Zoa is a fresh, young talent who has a lot of potential and we have just given her a platform to prove herself after her first release. Bhaag Johnny will showcase her in a new avatar and the audience will definitely love her," said the co-producer Bhushan Kumar in a statement. - IANS

Actor Deshmukh turns to producing

After a decade of working as an actor, Riteish Deshmukh is debuting as a producer. The 34-year-old first appeared in 2003's Tujhe Meri Kasam, during which he also met the actress Genelia D'Souza, with whom he tied the knot last year. "Today, I debut as a producer with my Marathi film Balak Palak - absolutely proud of it," he tweeted. According to Deshmukh, who co-produced the film with Uttung Thakur, Balak Palak will have a "virtual premiere in five cities of Maharashtra". - IANS

Ragini Nandwani makes leap from TV to film

Having made her acting debut with the TV series Mrs Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein, Ragini Nandwani is entering films with Dehraadun Diary, and hopes people appreciate the transition. "From television it's like a jump to come into movies now, so the experience was very nice," Nandwani said. "I just hope it does good, people appreciate the film and the hard work which is done in the film." Directed by Milind Ukey, Dehraadun Diary also stars Rati Agnihotri, Neelima Azeem and Rohit Bakshi. - IANS