Smiling Through the pain
SUNIL DUTT, sure, hasn’t had much of a respite from hospitals this last year. Just when he’d begun to find his feet again, of course, with some help from his doting family, after a debilitating mystery illness laid him low, came the recent plane crash he was fortunate to survive. But it’s taken him right back to the last place he wants to be in - hospital. Dutt Sr was wheeled into Mumbai’s Breach Candy in a near critical condition, but much to everyone’s surprise, has been responding favourably to treatment. We visited him in the airy, third floor room of the hospital, which has been home to him for the better part of the year. We’re not fooled by the brave smile that lights up his face as we walk in. Obviously, he’s still in a lot of pain. “Pain is a constant in my life these days,” he tells us later, as a fleeting frown creases his face, “it’s when people I like to be with turn up that I forget I’m in pain.”

Another Room, Another Patient
ALSO recovering, in an adjacent room of Breach Candy is Krishna Kapoor, wife of the legendary late showman, Raj Kapoor. Taking turns to be by her side are members of the Kapoor clan. It’s the youngest daughter, Rima’s turn to nurse her mom when we drop by to say “Hi.” But also with Rima is Randhir, who visits every day. Brothers Rishi and Rajeev, and their wives are to drop by later in the day. Randhir looks uncharacteristically below the weather when we see him. “What’s up?,” we ask him. But it’s Reena who responds to our poser first. “The poor guy is weighed down by daily having to drive this far from the village,” she says. “Village, what village?,” we ask. “Oh, she means Chembur,” says Randhir. “Chembur’s still a virgin village to her.”

Calling Aquatic Mammals
SUNIL SHETTY’s at it again. The actor with a roving eye for just about any business opportunity has unveiled his latest dreamchild - an aquatic park at Chowpatty Beach, Girgaum, Mumbai, aptly called H20. Promoted by his company Popcorn Entertainment, H2O opened to the public on April 15. Among the attractions for the watersport buffs in the city are arrow speedboats, blackbeauty speedboats, para-sailing boats, inflatable hard-bottom boats, rowerboats, jetskis, banana boats, catamarans and pontoon boats. And when you tire of the boats, there’s always the cafeteria to mend your way to. Or if you aren’t much of an aquatic mammal, there’s an open-air gym to burn out those expendable calories. So, if you happen to be in Mumbai this summer, you now have a cool place to chill out in.

Baby In Question
AMBANI bahu, TINA MUNIM’s Harmony Show, her annual exhibition of paintings by a select band of leading artists, was a well-attended celebrity event in Mumbai, last week. Amitabh Bachchan, lest you’ve forgotten, had inaugurated the previous edition of the show. This year, DILIP KUMAR and wife SAIRA did the honours. And a delighted Tina was seen discussing the nuances of each exhibit with her chief guests.Those who stood by ogling at the celebs ogling at art were treated to a curious sideshow. Just who was it Dilip Kumar kept referring to as “Baby,” they wondered. Until they discovered he was talking to his wife.

Man most Wanted
THERE seems to be no stopping Kaun Banega Crorepati. And the AMITABH BACHCHAN omnibus continues to roll. Post-KBC, Bachchan’s turned out to be the most sought after star at social events in Mumbai. Last week alone, the Bachchan and his much-photographed designer goatee graced the colour pages of many a newspaper on three days, courtesy the socialite dos he inaugurated in tinsel town. Add these to the number of times he peeps out of your telly, courtesy KBC and its many promos, and you’ll agree the Big B’s never had it so good.

Not surprisingly, he made only a fleeting appearance at the KBC, sorry, KC Bokadia bash, last Thursday. Bachchan was chief guest at the music release of KCB’s 50th film, Pyaar Zindagi Hai. He came in, cut a cake, smiled for a round of keepsakes, released the CDs and cassettes, and was off almost as soon as he’d walked in. But not before there was some amusement over his latest title: BMB Productions, the KCB banner, referred to him as Padmashri Bachchan, and then, realising its mistake, corrected it to Padmavibhushan. Someone in BMB had obviously goofed on the homework.