By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, June 3 -- Hi da hi my hazelnutties! What's up with you? Dunno why everyone is rejoicing the teaser of a rain that made its presence felt in the city the other night. If it did at all, that is. Frankly, it didn't even wet the parapet outside my French windows if you ask me.

Anyway, before I go on and on about the weather woes, let me get straight to the gossip that's been flooding my ears since the crack of dawn. Here goes...

Let me start off this morning with some gup on Rani Mukherji. More so since it's been quite a while since someone heard about her. Khair, I'm informed that a director recently contacted her for his next movie, saying he really wanted to work with her. And now that he has a suitable part, he didn't think a second time before contacting her.

But when Ms Mukherji learnt about the role, she declined. Kyun? Kyunki the kirdaar was of a mother to an under-10-year-old kid, says my informer.

Taken aback, the nirdeshak is said to have reasoned that he had seen some of her movies and since she played a momma in them, he felt she'd do complete justice to the character in his film too.

Bas, aur kya? Rani sahiba got upset with the argument and declared that she wanted to change her image. Apparently, she told the filmmaker that she'd be keen to work with him if he offered her a younger role in another subject, but she had enough of motherly roles and wants to stop doing them, lest she's offered only mummy roles.

Now, I don't mind Ms Mukherji taking this stand, but I hope it applies to Aditya Chopra also. Or shouldn't I ask?