TRADE WHISPERS

AA AB LAUT CHALEN ON DIWALI
Director Rishi Kapoor completed a 15-day schedule of Aa Ab Laut Chalein at RK Studio. The film is almost 80 per cent complete. The film will be released on Diwali, October 19. This is the most expensive RK film to date, budgeted at Rs 15 crores.

GOVINDA-RAVEENA TOGETHER IN EIGHT FILMS
Although, not a single film starring Govinda and Raveena Tandon has been released so far, they are a hit team with producers, working in more than eight films at various stages of production. There’s Kulbhushan Gupta’s Pardesi Babu being directed by Manoj Agarwal, Harmesh Malhotra’s Dulhe Raja, Vimal Kumar’s Rajaji and also, Vimal Kumar’s next project (which he has taken over from producer Chander Sadanah) to be directed by Parto Ghosh, Suresh Jethani’s Aunty No. 1 directed by Kirti Kumar, Mansoor Siddiqui’s Love Today, Vashu Bhagnani’s Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan being directed by David Dhawan and Aroona Irani’s Anari No 1 to be directed by Kuku Kohli.

Clearly, Karisma’s sudden preference for heroine oriented subjects has worked in Raveena’s favour. At least half of these Govinda-Raveena starrers are scheduled for a 1998 release, with Aunty No 1 leading the way.

Before the end of 1998, at least eight films starring Govinda will be released in quick succession. Aunty No 1, Pardesi Babu, Maharaja, Achanak, Haseena Maan Jayegi, Rajaji, Naseeb, Bade Miya Chhote Miya...It looks like Govinda’s year. Is he worried about over-exposure? No way because according to him no two roles of his are alike. And all the films are very different from one another in every respect!

Incidentally, Subhash Ghai and Govinda are on the look out for a solo hero subject that would do justice to Govinda’s histrionics. So far, both have narrated a couple of story ideas to each other but have yet to find one which is mutually acceptable. Govinda vouches that the Hero No. 1 and the Director No. 1 will make a No. 1 team. And a No. 1 film too we hope!

A TWO MONTHS WAIT FOR ROSHAN
Rakesh Roshan will have to wait till June 10 before his home-production, Kaho Na... Pyar Hai, starring son Hritik and Karisma’s sister Karina and written by Honey Irani, can go on the floors. Karina is busy with her final year studies till then.

JUHI IN INDU’S NEXT?
Indra Kumar’s next, a home production with Ashok Thakeria, will be a romantic film called Man (Mind), starring his favourite Aamir Khan. Although, Indu says he is still finalising the heroine, the guess is that Juhi will bag this coveted role.

NAFISA’S DAUGHTER OPPOSITE BACHCHAN NOW
Tinnu Anand’s next film for ABCL, after Major Saab, is a daddy-daughter story. Amitabh Bachchan is the obvious choice to play the daddy and for the daughter’s role, Tinnu has finalised Nafisa Ali’s twelve-year-old daughter.

BOBBY GOING SLOW
Bobby Deol who has an enviable record for a newcomer—two hits (Barsaat and Gupt) and one flop (Aur Pyar Ho Gaya) has just two and half films in his pocket, besides his home production, London. There’s Vinod Chopra’s Kareeb, R Mohan’s Mujhe Kuchh Kehna Hai being directed by Thampi Kannamthanam (the film was stuck after a schedule because Sunny bhaiya did not like the story and insisted on changing it) and Naveen Film’s Production No 1 to be directed by JP Dutta which will have to wait indefinitely because JP Dutta believes in concentrating on only one film at a time and at the moment has his hands full with Dilip Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan. This untitled film has Mamta Kulkarni and Tabu opposite Bobby Deol.

LONG WAIT FOR JHELUM
Speaking of JP Dutta, presently he is absolutely obsessed with his Aakhri Mughal. So, where does that leave Jhelum? Incidentally, he had planned to make Jhelum (starring Sunil Shetty-Akshaye Khanna) even before Border. He changed his plans and used the dates given by Sunil and Akshaye for Jhelum for Border. It seems this film on Punjab will have to wait a while longer.

AND NOW SONS AND SONS-IN-LAW GET TOGETHER
Son and son-in-law joining hands to produce a film seems to be the latest trend today. NN Sippy’s son Pravesh Sippy and son-in-law Prem Pillai are making Silsila Hai Pyar Ka starring Karisma and Chandrachur and being directed by Shravani Deodhar. Vimal Kumar’s son and son-in-law have signed Kuku Kohli for their maiden production starring Sunil Shetty and Juhi Chawla. The film is expected to be launched shortly.

TWO BIGGIES FOR ANU
Anu Malik has bagged two prestigious projects — ABCL’s Dariya with Amitabh playing a fisherman to be directed by Priyadarshan and JP Dutta’s Aakhri Mughal starring Dilip Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan. After the super-success of Virasat and Border, it is obvious why Anu’s become the best choice for directors.