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IT’S
NOW OFFICIAL. WELL, ALMOST!
WELL, it now looks as if SALMAN KHAN and AISHWARYA RAI have
finally decided to lift the veil of secrecy off their off-screen
dalliance. For some time now, Salman has been a frequent visitor
on the sets of Aishwarya movies, sometimes waiting for hours
together of an afternoon for her to wrap up her shoots before
they zoom off together.
Last week, for instance, when the shoots of his forthcoming
movie, a Bubby Kent production, were in progress at Mumbai’s
Hiranandani Complex, Salman was nowhere in sight. At any rate,
not on his own sets. We spotted him later on the sets of Shabnam
Kapoor’s Radheyshyam Sitaram. No, he hasn’t been
roped in to the cast, silly. But guess who’s the heroine
in the film? Our good old Ash is.
And as if these rare sightings of the twosome together weren’t
enough, they even turned up hand in hand at two public functions
later in the week. First at the music release of Salman’s
Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye at a hotel in Bandra. Salman even
called up Ash on stage to officially release the album, and
later posed for this keepsake together. Then, on Tuesday night,
they walked in together to the annual Diwali Film Star Nite
hosted by Mumbai’s topcop, MN Singh, at the Naigaum police
ground, under the very eyes of the city’s cops. Obviously,
it’s now a case of Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya.
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SECRET NO LONGER
ANOTHER star, JUHI CHAWLA has chosen a different route
to go public with her marriage-under-wraps. For a long time,
her marriage to industrialist Jai Mehta has been a badly-kept
secret in moviedom. Now, no longer. Just back from a whirlwind
tour of the US, Canada and Europe, where she’s been performing
stage shows with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt,
Sushmita Sen and Namrata Shirodkar, the chirpy Chawla has
been calling up the producers of her forthcoming films to
tell them she’s pregnant.
Obviously, the intention has been to goad the producers into
completing her share of the footage of all her films before
the tell-tale tummy begins to show. Among her forthcoming
attractions, besides the baby, of course, is a film with Amitabh
Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, and another with Sunil Shetty.
For the time being, Juhi isn’t letting the stork’s
impending visit cramp her style. She still makes her customary
visits to the office of Dreamz Unlimited, the production outfit
she runs with Shah Rukh. She also puts in more than her fair
share of appearances for charity, as at this Diwali Mela organised
by the Cancer Patients Aid Association at Mumbai’s King
George V Memorial Hospital (see pic alongside). Juhi, it goes
without saying, has a way with kids, as the snapshot shows.
Our hunch is, she should make a great mom.
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THERE’S
ROOM ENOUGH AT THE TOP
The blue-eyed, josh bhara Khan, SHAH RUKH, has finally come
to terms with ground reality. Or so it seems. No longer is
he sulking at the competition that the HRITHIK-mania is posing.
Perhaps he’s now realised that healthy competition never
did any one any harm, save those who’re incompetent at
what they do. And that he most certainly isn’t.
The much-hyped war between Roshan Jr and the Khan, created
by the media and the Pepsi Vs Coke tussle, may have assumed
communal proportions, with the RSS mouthpiece even billing
it as a Hindu Vs Muslim rivalry. But the great initials that
the two Diwali releases, Mohabbatein and Mission Kashmir took
at the turnstiles shows there’s room enough at the top
for the Khans and the Roshans. The audience turn-out has been
equally emphatic for both movies.
What’s more, it was a pleasant sight to see Shah Rukh
share the stage with Hrithik and Abhishek Bachchan at the
annual Diwali bash organised by Mumbai Police at the Naigaum
police ground last week. It ought to silence those who were
spreading rumours about the acrimony between the Khans on
one side and the two hot stars, Hrithik and Abhishek on the
other. Now, if only the muck-rakers caught the hint. There
are also reports that Shah Rukh and Hrithik are to be paired
together in a forthcoming film. We’re still awaiting
the producer’s confirmation on that one. We’ll sure
keep you posted.
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DAMSEL
IN DISTRESS
MANISHA KOIRALA may have been a huge hit on the world fora,
as the UN’s goodwill ambassador to several seminars on
population. But closer home, the damsel from Nepal appears
to be in some distress. Nothing seems to be going right for
her, these days.
First there was a lull in her film assignments, adding to
her frustration. As an actress, she’s unfortunately found
few takers, lately. And if we thought her decision to co-host
Zee TV’s Sawaal Dus Crore Ka along with Anupam Kher may
prove to be her come-uppance just as the KBC series has been
for Amitabh Bachchan, the first few episodes have belied the
hope.
The ten crore question everyone had been asking was, can a
glamour doll help pull off great viewership ratings for the
show. The answer, judging from the first few episodes and
the lukewarm audience response they’ve evoked, is a clear-cut
‘no’.
So where does Koirala go from here? There is news that she
is getting into production, and intends to make a couple of
films. There are also plans to introduce her brother in one
of her own films. All said and done, it’s too early to
write her off yet. There’s no need to panic for Manisha.
Better days may well come again.
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FATHERING
A REVOLUTION
SHEKHAR KAPUR is in the news again. Barely a month or thereabouts
of becoming a father, Shekhar’s fathering another revolution.
This time, courtesy Digital Talkies, the technology venture
he’s launched along with Piya Singh, Suhel Seth and Hari
Bhartia. The idea behind the venture is to revolutionise Indian
filmmaking, by introducing digital technology, and building
a community of new filmmakers to showcase Indian talent to
a worldwide audience.
Digital Talkies hopes to become the pioneer in entertainment
of the generation next kind. It will showcase the convergence
of cutting edge digital tech, by informing budding filmmakers
about digital moviemaking, and even raising finances for a
patial or full funding. Its Digital Talkies Film Festival
2001, to be held in India next year, will screen movies made
on the digital platform — HDTV, Digibeta, MiniDV and
Digital8. It will provide filmmakers with the funds and equipment
they need in order to make their dreams come alive on the
digital format.
Now, for the icing on the cake: Digital Talkies has invited
proposals from budding digital filmmakers for forthcoming
projects. So if you think you’re sitting on a bright
new concept, do give them a tinkle. You may well end up becoming
the nation’s first digital filmmaker.
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FOR A CLEANER MUMBAI
SHE may not be in the movies yet. Yet, Ms World, YUKTA MOOKHEY’s
already hit movie screens in 65-odd theatres in Mumbai and
its suburbs.
If you’re wondering how she managed the feat without
acting in a film, here’s the answer: The Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) enlisted her to popularise its
Cleanliness Drive 2000, by getting her to star in Mumbai Hamari
Hai, a promotional film that’s currently being screened
in city theatres. Directed by Devendra Khandelwal, the film
has already whetted the appetites of most filmmakers in tinsel
town. Which explains why there’s a long queue of them
waiting to get her to sign on the dotted line.
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BILL
CLINTON, HERE WE COME
MAHESH Bhatt calls it “the most important and honest
film made in India in the last 15 years since Arth.”
And the commissioner of income tax believes “the film
should be tax-free all over the country.” These are strong
sentiments for a film that is yet to hit the screens.
Bawandar (Sandstorm), based on a true story, narrates the
tale of a woman, a victim of rape. Of a woman who is still
waiting for justice. The low-caste social worker was gang-raped
in 1992 by upper-caste men in her village, when as an employee
with Saathin, the state government’s newly-instituted
programme, she sought to speak up against the prevalent social
evils such as child marriage. Inspired by her courage against
formidable odds, in a feudal system riddled with sexism, casteism,
chauvinism and political opportunism, director Jagmohan Mundhra
embarked upon a research into her life story. Says the director,
“As the narrative thread of the fascinating story emerged,
I realised the meaning of the old adage ‘Truth is stranger
than fiction’”.
Produced by Mundhra and Gaurang Doshi and presented by Vinod
Doshi, the film stars Nandita Das, Raghuveer Yadav, Rahul
Khanna, Laila Rouass, Deepti Naval, Govind Namdeo and Gulshan
Grover. The film, which is slated for release in December
this year, is to be screened at the prestigious London Film
Festival on November 11 and 12, and later, at Oslo on November
18 and 19. What’s rare is, the producers have just received
a request from the White House that a special screening of
the film be held for president Bill Clinton. Remember Clinton’s
visit to the Sathins from Rajasthan during his trip to Nyala
a few months ago?
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DESIGNS ON MUMBAI’S WOMEN
DOES the name MANISH MALHOTRA ring a bell? Well, but of course.
Having decked Mumbai’s stars like Urmila Matondkar, Karisma
Kapoor, Sridevi and Kajol in his trendy creations, the guy’s
now set his sights on a much wider clientele. With good reason,
too, for all of Mumbai’s upwardly-mobile women have been
clamouring to get into his creations for quite a while.
Sheetal Design Studio at Breach Candy now has on display Manish’s
chic, all-new designs, exclusively created by him. In the
two years he’s been in business in mainstream designing,
his interplay of pastel shades, intricate embroidery and soft
fabrics like chiffons and georgettes have been the hallmark
of his creations.
Floral threadwork remains the lietmotif of his recent creations,
with the colours pink, lilac, yellow and cream ruling the
roost. His Diwali Collection, which has been on display from
October 12 at SDS is his way of paying tribute to Mumbai’s
women.
“Pastel shades symbolise for me the celebration of femininity,
and what better time to celebrate than during a major festival?,”
asks Malhotra.
Judging from the steady stream of femininity flowing into
Breach Candy to pick up his latest designs, Mumbai’s
women appear well and truly flattered by the tribute.
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