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 SWEARING
BY THE HERO NO 1
Who says Govinda’s become a downmarket proposition at
the b-o of late? His recent films may have come crashing like
a tonne of bricks, but make no mistake, there still are those
who swear by him.
MANOJ AGARWAL, that’s right, the man who directed Hadh
Kardi Aapne, Govinda’s only hit of the year 2000, has
now signed the Hero No 1 for a second film together.
Sibte Hasan Rizvi, who’d produced Hadh Kardi Aapne and
other films like Joshilay, Khamoshi and Pyar Koi Khel Nahin,
is another who has faith enough in our Chi Chi. He’s
pumping in several crores into the big-budget film. Planned
on a huge canvas, the film will be shot mostly abroad, beginning
April. And guess who’s keeping Govinda company on the
cast? Raveena and Sonali are. The music is by Jatin Lalit.
Manoj’s still at work on the script. “This won’t
be the usual Govinda kinda movie, I promise,” laughs
Manoj. “But Govinda being the janta’s favourite,
you have to make some allowances for the tried and tested
formula,” he adds.
So this one’s going to be different. And yet the same,
too.
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 HIS
HEART’S IN THE RIGHT PLACE
It's been a year of mixed fortunes for RAKESH ROSHAN. First
the heady heights of success with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai and then
the sleepless nights following the bid on his life. But he’s
come out of it all, unscathed and raring to produce an even
more emphatic hit.
The Roshans, of course, were the first to be interviewed on
Simi Garewal’s Rendezvous. In the company of his wife
and son, Rakesh was charm personified on the show, impressing
viewers with his down-to-earth ways and soft-spoken, low-key
manners.
Yet, there’s more to Roshan than meets the eye. Not too
many know that a friend of his, who’s producing a film
with Hrithik, suggested to Roshan that they take a territory
in lieu of remuneration for the movie, as some of the other
leading heroes are doing. Pat came the reply, “No, never.
Hrithik can charge any amount he deserves, but never a territory.
I know what the producers go through when they make a movie,
and I shall never allow him to take a territory as fees.”
Point to be noted by the Khans, Salman and Shah Rukh, perhaps?.
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CENSOR MUSINGS
CUT to The Leela, Mumbai. A gala do, among filmdom’s
most well-attended events is in progress. Who after all, can
resist a DEV ANAND invite, especially when the gracious, effusive
host has invited each guest in person? And Dev, as we can
see, is playing the host to the hilt as always, with a warm
hug here or an avuncular peck on the cheek there.
With cultivated charm of this kind, it’s little wonder
his parties are often among the best-attended. And Dev Anand
is one veteran who in all his decades in filmdom, has generated
absolutely no hostile vibes, either with the industry or the
press. That is, until last week, when his own employees staged
a dharna outside his studio demanding a better compensation
for retrenchment.
Of course, the real star of the evening isn’t Dev, but
Censor, his much-awaited movie. Almost every question thrown
at him by the persistent pressfolk revolves around it. Will
the reel Censor, which deals with the travails of a filmmaker
whose movie gets stuck with the censors, find favour with
the real censors, he gets asked. “Obviously it will,”
he replies. “My film hits nobody below the belt, though
it gives you much food for thought. There is nothing derogatory
about it. All I ask is that the censors get a little more
realistic in this modern age.”
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 RUFFLING
FEATHERS, UNWITTINGLY
The artistes’ fraternity, it seems, isn’t about
to take the humiliation meted out to two of its members lying
down. The Cine and TV Artistes’ Association has issued
a notice to actor ASHUTOSH RANA for agreeing to host Zee’s
gameshow Sawaal Dus Crore Ka.
Raza Murad, the association’s secretary has taken umbrage
at the fact that Ashutosh has consented to replace Anupam
Kher as the show’s anchor without taking a no objection
certificate from him. Kher, we’re told, has moved the
Mumbai High Court challenging Zee’s action in removing
him without the customary 60 days’ notice.
The show, of course, has now been scrapped, with the December
21 episode slated to be its last. The channel is planning
a relaunch with an altered gameplan. But the genial Rana is
still being touted as its host..
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SITE FOR THE STAR-STRUCK
You no
longer have to be rich and famous to doll up like a movie
starlet or hot model. All it takes is some web-savvy.
KARISMA KAPOOR inaugurated the new website, styletantra.com,
that has quickly become the favoured online destination of
Mumbai’s fashion-conscious young things. At the inaugural
do compered by Lisa Ray, last week, Karisma opened the brand
new website for the benefit of cybergeeks.
Not for nothing is the site generating so many clicks. As
many as 77 designers including Hemant Trivedi, Wendell Rodricks,
Manish Malhotra, Suneet Verma and Rajesh Pratap will exhibit
their latest collections on the site. Then there are modelling
tips from the likes of Prakash Bidappa, tips on make-up from
Mickey Contractor and tips on glamour photography from Atul
Kasbekar. Ramma Bans answers queries on health, while Dr Jamuna
Pai even writes a column on skincare. Offline workshops and
seminars are among other attractions that will be conducted
regularly.
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LOTTERIES FOR THE STARS
Coming
up on Kaun Banega Crorepati is another festival special —
to be telecast either for Christmas or New Year’s Day.
Like their Diwali special, which featured Aamir Khan and Sonali
Bendre, this one will line up an even bigger draw, SHAH RUKH
KHAN and RANI MUKERJI. And this time, the channel is playing
its cards close to its chest, the idea being that when the
episode does go on air, it will catch viewers by surprise.
But our sources confirm that Shah Rukh and Rani are to be
featured in KBC’s next special episode. And what’s
more, just as with the Aamir-Sonali episode, the stars win
exactly the same prize money - Shah Rukh wins Rs 50 lakh,
while Rani Mukerji gets to keep Rs 25 lakh, which could well
prompt the show’s carping critics to conclude that the
episode was rigged.
As for Shah Rukh and Rani, the money they made at the end
of the show isn’t bad, considering they spent all but
a couple of hours on its sets. They’re yet to decide
what to do with the money, though the little bird tells us
they may donate the same to charity.
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EXTENDING A CONTRACT
Talking about Kaun Banega Crorepati reminds us, its host AMITABH
BACHCHAN continues to ride on the popularity the game show
has provided him. Having recently inked a deal with ICICI,
whereby he will be its brand ambassador, the Big B has just
about landed another endorsement deal - Pepsi Foods is now
negotiating to extend its contract with him. Their current
arrangement ends in early 2001, but Pepsi’s keen to keep
it going “for a few more years at least.”
The fresh deal is being negotiated with Bachchan’s corporate
entity, AB Corp, and the financial gains from it are to be
used to retire AB Corp’s dues.
Among other stars who were signed by Pepsi recently were Amrish
Puri and Madhavan. Others on the list of celebrities endorsing
Pepsi products are Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and cricketers Sachin
Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh. Obviously, for Pepsi. Amitabh
is a valued acquisition.
Wait, we have more on the Big B. Come December 20, and the
Bachchan will join the ranks of those immortalised in wax.
His wax replica finally goes on exhibition at Madame Tusaud’s
Wax Museum from 10 am on that day. And present to greet the
first stream of fans to visit the museum will be Amitabh himself,
who will officially also unveil his wax look-alike.
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TRAGEDY STALKS DEVDAS
Sanjay Leela Bhansali claims the sets erected at Film City,
Goregaon, Mumbai, for his much-awaited opus, Devdas, is “jinxed.”
First, Aishwarya Rai came down with a food infection on the
very first day of the shoots here, setting back the schedules
by a bit.
Now comes the bizarre accident, resulting in the tragic death
of a unit hand and serious injuries to another. The mishap
occurred during an early morning shoot, when a storm scene
was being filmed. Workers Dindayal Yadav and Raju Yadav, who
were part of the special effects team, were standing on a
wooden plank on either side of a huge fan, when the plank
suddenly caved in. Dindayal was tipped over and his head slashed
by the fan’s six-foot-long blades that were whirring
at about 1500 rotations per minute. And Raju, who tried to
rush to his friend’s rescue was also badly injured in
the bargain. Dindayal died en route to hospital, but Raju
is said to be recovering following an operation at Mumbai’s
Nanavati Hospital. The expenses for all this was borne by
Bhansali himself.
And Bhansali’s woes seem to continue. Following the mishap
last Sunday, he and two others were arrested and released
on bail the next day in connection with the incident. He has
been charged under Sections 304, 338 and 201 of the Indian
Penal Code. So all said and done, fans of Madhuri Dixit, Shah
Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, who’ve been waiting to see
the film, may well have to wait a lot longer.
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STAGE SHOWS BECKON
Suman
Ranganathan was among the star attractions at the event —
the bash in aid of AIDS awareness, organised by Smita Thackeray
and Mukti Foundation. Suman in a ghagra item performed an
Ila Arun track that had guests watching engrossed.
Song over, we had a man dressed as a havaldar shouting at
her, “Yeh, what do you think you’re doing. Can’t
you let people sleep in peace?” And another comes to
her rescue, “Leave her alone. She’s not what you
think she is. She is actress Suman Ranganathan.” The
joke, predictably fell flat, with the audience failing to
respond, coming as it did at the end of a wow performance.
We shan’t be surprised if Suman becomes a sought-after
number on stage shows from now on.
Shaju George Alex
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