Every Hostess's Dream
NARESH and Neeta Goel of Jet Airways threw a party at the Olive, Mumbai, last week, to facilitate the winners of the national awards JAVED AKHTAR, Anil Kapoor, Anu Malik and Co. The Who’s Who of Mumbai were present at the bash, where industrialists rubbed shoulders with filmfolk and entrepreneurs from the travel industry. Neetu Kapoor, the charming hostess, was the cynosure of all eyes, especially male. And though she scarcely got up from her chair, she had guests taking turns to chat her up. The other star of the evening was Akhtar, of course. Every hostes’s dream at a party, Akhtar was playing the role to the hilt. He’d walk from table to table, holding court at each with his ready wit and easy charm. Women, especially seemed besotted by the shairi-spouting charmer, breaking out into loud gaffes at every witticism.

Bring Money, Will Act
MANI RATNAM was in Mumbai, on a hush-hush whistlestop halt last week. Unknown to many even in the press, he was quietly scouting for the cast for a forthcoming movie. Of course, word did get around by and by, thanks to the fact that he’d already notified some prospective members of the cast of the purpose of the stopover.

RANI MUKERJI was one big name he’d set his weather eye on for the lead role. But she wasn’t taking the bait. Surprised? Well, don’t be. Mani, being Mani, had apparently told her there wasn’t much money in the role, and Rani being Rani, rolled her eyes over as if to remind him this was Mumbai, not Chennai. Here even Mani’s no big deal without money.

He Lied On The Telly
THE NGMA do in Mumbai last week, where Catherine Yass’s photographs of the stars was unveiled, was another event where the BACHCHANS were the hot celebs. Jaya and Amitabh turned up on the dot, and were promptly given vishukkani flowers by an enthusiastic guest who’d just returned from Kerala. As the Bachchans fussed over the flowers, eager shutterbugs went clickety-click. That over, we cornered Jaya for a brief hello. We asked her about the promos for the forthcoming Couples Special on KBC, where Amitabh says, “I’ve discovered the best way to ensure there’s peace in the home is to let the wife call the shots.” “So now we know who wears the pants at your home,” we told her. “Don’t you dare believe him,” she smiled, “that’s the actor in him talking.”

Our Very Own Trumpet
NOW for some good old-fashioned trumpet-blowing.Screen organised the media publicity for the afore-mentioned NGMA do, as well as the star presence at the event. What’s more, we even organised the special dhak dhak number, choreographed by SANDEEP MAHAVIRA (seen here with his team) and sung by ROOPKUMAR RATHOD. The dance turned out to be one of the highlights of the evening.

HEMA MALINI who was also present at the event, along with daughter ESHA and Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, was transfixed. Congratulating Mahavira’s team, she said the girls not only looked beautiful but also performed the intricate steps with commendable grace. “Dancing on a staircase isn’t easy, but you showed us how it can be done,” she said. Coming from a dancer, that’s no mean compliment.