Short Takes

AFTER THE MUCH-AWAITED PREMIERE
CO-STAR Abhishek and she have been pampered silly on the sets of Refugee. And now that the film’s hit the big screens, KAREENA KAPOOR, Bebo, to her friends, has begun to regret it’s all over. It’s the time of reckoning, now, and the verdict on the film and her performance, should begin to trickle in any moment.
The rains and the mile-long roadblock outside Mumbai’s Liberty may have delayed the movie’s premiere by a couple of hours. But that didn’t faze the throng one bit. The debutants were mobbed by the audience, braving the posse of securitymen.
While Abhishek was seen getting his old friends to pose with him for keepsakes, snapped by his pocket camera, Kareena was more business-like. With the earnestness of a newcomer, she was spotted at the interval, soliciting comments from all and sundry.

It was well close to midnight when the curtain finally fell, and immediately, there was a deafening roar of applause that lasted several minutes. There was a virtual stampede, thereafter, as everyone sought to be the first to leave the theatre. The subsequent banquet at the Oberoi was well attended. Kareena, along with Abhishek, was the cynosure of all eyes, here too. And there was a fair bit of admiration and praise for both. Only, will the audience’s reaction be just as effusive and spontaneous as that of the industry? We’ll keep you posted.

IN COMFORT ZONE
GOVINDA’s still sticking by the half-dozen releases a year routine with regular clockwork precision, his recent reversals at the turnstiles, notwithstanding. But these are lean times for comedy, as is borne out by the fact that almost every recent attempt at slapstick has got the audience’s stick. Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain and Hadh Kar Di Aapne, both of which were replete with Govinda’s own trademark gimmickry, fell by the wayside, as did attempts by other worthies.

Of course, for an actor of Govinda’s standing, a few flops, even a string of them, hardly augur ill. And he still holds strong, despite the fact that his heroines have come and gone. Raveena Tandon’s been replaced by Rani Mukerji, and Rani, in turn, seems to have given way to the likes of Preity Zinta and Sushmita Sen.

His latest release, Joru Ka Ghulam also seems to be tapering off to a rather tame, abrupt finish at the b-o, despite a promising first week. But Chi Chi needn’t worry, yet. After all, he has a film with old pal and teamman, David Dhawan, up his sleeve -- Kunwara. Together, they’ve been a huge draw at the box-office. The distributors will be hoping their magic translates into big money for once. And Chi Chi’s funny bone may well have the last laugh.

LIFE’S WONDERFUL. OR IS IT?
ZINDAGI Khoobsoorat Hai. That’s the name of TABU’s next. Quietly but surely, the lady’s been taking determined strides towards leaving her stamp behind on projects worth her while. Last week, we’d mentioned how she stole the thunder from the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Mammootty and Sri Vidya in Rajiv Menon’s Kandukondein Kandukondein.

Now, she’s snagged another dream role, opposite Gurdass Maan in Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai. Produced by Gurdass’s wife, Manjeet, for Sain Productions, the film, as its title suggests, takes an optimistic view of life, human relations and aspirations. The feel-good story’s been written by Suraj Sanim for director Manoj Punj.

Life, as the movie suggests, is indeed, taking a wonderful turn for the talented Tabu. The world may be obsessed with the other leading contenders for the numero uno tag, and not to mention, the brat pack of new entrants. In the meantime, though, there’s no mistaking who’s walking away with all the more challenging roles on offer.

PAYING ACTORS THEIR DUE
AS though there wasn’t a glut of awards for our filmfolk already, the Income Tax department has come up with a few of its own. Never mind the IT raid on the offices of JP Dutta, last week, and other showbiz bigwigs in recent times, the department’s hit upon a novel method to popularise tax-paying, call it positive reinforcement, if you like --- it’s awarded Rashtriya Samman Patras to the likes of AKSHAY KUMAR, Govinda and Juhi Chawla.
Sure, it comes as a breath of fresh air to know so many of our celebrities have been clean and above board in their payment of IT dues. That should put to rest all talk of moviedom being ridden with corruption and tax evasions, well, for a while at least. Well done guys, keep it up and all that.

But one question begs the asking: What about the rest of us who’ve been paying up our IT dues religiously? Tell us, Mr A Balasubramaniam, aren’t we entitled to Rashtriya Samman Patras, too?

WHO’S WORTH MORE, TODAY?
WHAT’S HRITHIK ROSHAN doing, endorsing a pen of all things, did you ask? Well, who wouldn’t do the same, for the undisclosed "fortune" he stands to make from the deal? Today’s Pens Group has signed him to promote its merchandise over a 14-month period.

The group insists the deal it had initially signed with Salman Khan, for its Stepny range of pens, still stands. "The new deal is in complete synergy with the current deal," says a press release. Obviously, the stars’ tremendous equity with the youth and children, who comprise the key target segments for the company’s marketing strategy, prompted the deal.

But the question some wags ask, is, how come Hrithik’s got more from the deal than Salman himself? Is Hrithik’s equity worth a lot more today, than Salman’s, do they reckon?

THE PRINCE IS BACK
PRINCE PURU’s back. Son of the legendary Raaj Kumar, Puru’s fighting off a chequered start to his career, courtesy the forgettable Bal Brahmachari, and sundry other bitter memories.
The smile’s back to crinkle his eyes. And the genial Puru’s on a comeback trail, with Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai. No, he isn’t the sole hero or even the arch villain -- he plays baddie Mukesh Rishi’s trusted understudy. He rapes the heroine, "and the story kind of evolves from there." That way, his role forms the fulcrum to the movie, and Puru’s hoping it will bring him right back into circulation.

That seems quite likely, for he’s already been signed to play the hero, opposite Shrabani Mukherjee (of Border fame) in the forthcoming Aap Jaisa Koi Nahin.

So who knows, life, here on, may well take a princely turn for Raaj Kumar Jr, after all?

Shaju George Alex