Short Takes

Reformed Chi chi

Apna Govinda is sticking by his millennial resolution. The incorrigible late-comer had vowed that he would mend his ways and that punctuality would be his buzzword. And what do you know, he’s really living upto his word. The month of January has passed by but Chi Chi hasn’t let go of his disciplined schedule. Hereports bang on time for shoots and dubbing, thus springing a big surprise on the producers of his films. He kicked off the new millennium by completing75% of talkie portion of Mahesh Manjrekar’s latest venture - Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai over amonth-long schedule in Panchgani. Inspired by Lord Krishna’s life and times, this film is about protagonist Ganga, born in a reputed family, beingraised by a shepherd. “Govinda is truly one of the greatest performers of our times. Be it an emotion-laden scene with his foster father or a dhamaal song , he can pull it off with equal conviction. What makes him a great actor is the fact that he’s not a selfish actor, he recognises that filmmaking is a give and take process - of action and reaction. He inspires his co-actors with his vivacity,” observes veteran character actor Shivaji Satam, playing his foster father in the film. l

Songs and fights

Music composer Ismail Durbar doesn’t deny that he has several differences of opinion with his mentor Sanjay Leela Bhansali,”Of course we fight all the time, but we make it up soon after. We share the greatest rapport,” he explains. Apart from Mehbooba, Deewangi and Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, Durbar has also committed himself to full-time to Bhansali’s next musch-talked about venture Devdas. Thus putting an end to all the speculation about ensuing professional or personal rift between the two of them. “I shall dedicate my services for a year exclusively to Sanjay’s Devdas,” he informs. Ask him if he isn’t being trifle unprofessional in doing that, he reasons,”Well, I owe it to him. After all he was the one to give me the first break and make me what I am today,” he observes in all humility. As for his other professional commitments, he says,”I am doing full justice to all the films I have taken on. My emphasis is on selective, sincere work,” he states.

DESIGNS ON THE BIG TIME

He’s a costume designer who’s finally going places. Having shared the SCREEN-Videocon Award for the best costume designer with Neeta Lulla and Gabbana, for their creations for Subhash Ghai’s Taal, Naresh Rohera is poised to corner more glory, what with more and more exciting work coming his way.

Neeta Lulla may have collected the award on his behalf on the night of January 23. But those who’ve been associated with the sought after designers vouch that Rohera deserved as much of the credit as Lulla got for the Taal costumes, for while Lulla decked the women out in her creations, he did so with the men in the cast.

And Taal isn’t all there is for Rohera to flaunt. He’s a fixture of sorts in all the films featuring Shah Rukh Khan, the currently showing Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, included. His designs also decked the cast of the flavour of the month, Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai. Yash Chopra has also signed the hot designer for his opus in the making, Mohabbatein. So you certainly haven’t heard the last of him. Or seen the last of his haute couture. More strength to Rohera’s arm.

PM’s orders

Prime Minister Vajpayee made time to watch Rajkumar Santoshi’s patriotic thriller Pukar and so did Home Minister L K Advani. Both the distinguished audience are reported to have enjoyed the movie. Emboldened by their favourable response, when Santoshi pointed out a certain scene where Anil Kapoor tells off a Pakistani ISI agent thus,”Kargil ka ek paththar nahi hila sake aur Kashmiri seb khaane ke khwaab dekh rahe ho!” - had been snipped by the Censor scissors- Atalji found nothing objectionable about the scene and perceived it as very appropriate. Promptly Santoshi dashed back to the Censor Board tribunal with the prime ministerial recommendations. Last heard, the deleted portion has been re-incorporated in the latest version of Pukar being in theatres all over the country. “It’s a taali-seeti dialogue,” beamed a triumphant Santoshi.

On second thoughts

Oops, Juhi has just opted out of Hansal Mehta’s Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar. Reportedly Chawla had “second thoughts” and she preferred to walk out of the film. Under consideration is Manjit Mann’s Zindagi Khoobsurat Hai, Juhi is still mulling over the role. It appears that Juhi is rather busy promoting Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani alongside Shah Rukh all over the country.

Ahmedabad was their first stop and next was Lucknow - the producer duo is dancing and prancing around to revive their maiden home-production. Whether their energetic stage shows can give a boost to the film remains to be seen. As of now Hansal’s Manoj Bajpai starrer has gone to Tabu. This being Manoj’s first attempt at light comedy, Tabu may end up having the last laugh.

Ramu’s pick

A couple of flops is certainly no reason for an actress to pack up her bags and head back homewards. Curtain call it isn’t for Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s find Neha. The Delhi damsel has a reason to smile now, she has just landed the lead role in Ram Gopal Varma’ s next to be directed by E Niwas of Shool fame. Her charm is certainly working slowly and steadily. The Kareeb gal also has Netua co-starring Manoj Bajpai and Khalid Mohammed’s Fiza to redeem her standing in the showbiz. Give her a chance, she needs the time to blossom.

Promises to keep

Another handsome hunk who’s trying to prove his bit to the film world is Arjun Rampal. His classic, clean-cut features, heavenly body combined with his natural ability to emote had thrown the film world in a tizzy when he hit the scene with Ashok Mehta’s long-in-the-making Moksha and ad-man Shantanu Shorey’s now-on-now-off Jadh. His debut vehicles may have sputtered on the way but the young actor hasn’t. He made a remarkable come-back with Rajiv Rai’s first music video Don’t Marry. The last we heard, the super model has been snapped up by Rajiv Rai for his forthcoming opus. Tipped to be a promising debutant and the “next super star”, Rampal doesn’t lack in roles and reviews, all he really needs now is a clearance from his destiny. All the best, Arjun.

My pretty

Shabana Azmi is revelling in her newly acquired tonsured avtaar for Deepa Mehta’s Water. She’s currently camping in the holy town of Varanasi for the proposed 36-day shoot of Water. When we caught her in a mellow mood at Varanasi’s Clarkes Hotel recently and asked her about her dream role, she guffawed good-humouredly and replied,”Make me a princess and give some great clothes to wear, I want to look pretty for a part. I long to play a historical figure and then I would love to do a fun-filled comedy. Producers please make note,” she quipped jokingly.

But Ms Azmi won’t ever say lines that aren’t in-synch with the character she’s playing, neither will she ever accept a movie which shows women in subservient mode or which supports communalism. Not for nothing is she called an activist-actor.

Scintillating Satam

Raj Kumar Santoshi is clearly in his element in thescene depicting cashiering of a court-martialled officer, wherein senior officer Shivaji Satam rips off medals and pips from Anil Kapoor’s fauji uniform. The scene conveys the biting poignancy and the deathly humiliation of the process. Even in his brief role Satam flexes his histrionic muscle and displays the his mastery. He creates an impact with his effortless perfomance. “Credit is due to Rajji. He’s a very demanding director, he’s not easily satisfied. While on one hand he throws an artistic challenge to the actor, on the other he disciplines the actor by not letting him get carried away. He knows the parameters in which an actor must perform. He won’t give up unless he’s drawn a great performance from his players. Once the shot is okayed, he’s really lavish with his compliments,” relates Satam with a smile that lights up his expressive eyes.

Model cause

Super hunk Milind Soman finally enters the magical realm of movies with Tarkieb, a nerve-tingling thriller opposite Tabu. While Soman plays the lover boy, Nana Patekar essays the part of a police officer in-charge. The plot thickens when there is a murder and several suspects. Soman’s life-standing desire to romance the silver screen is coming true after all. It may be recalled that Soman had been signed and later ousted from Aamir’s debut venture Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak years ago. The handsome model hitheadlines for his skin show with his then sweetheart Madhu Sapre and a python.

But having his cut his teeth on teleserials now, Milind has honed his acting ability and he’s really serious about his foray into the films as he says,”I was the happiest when Ash won the best actress’s trophy. With that she’s put an end to the eternal argument about acting prowess of models. She’s done our tribe,” he claims. His turn now to prove his worth.

On a comeback trail

Manorama of ’bobbing head and darting glances’ fame is all set to strom the silver screen yet again with Deepa Mehta’s Water. The veteran screen vamp has also got her head shaved for the part and she plays the head of the widow house in the film. Whether she would conform to her screen image by essaying a negative role remains to be seen for she describes her role in the film as “a complex character with dark shades”. Which implies that it’s not an out and out bad gal role. Ask her if she’s apprehensive about facing the camera after so long, she laughs,”Not in the least, it’s a great pleasure for me to return to the movies,” she adds reassuringly. “Oh she simply glows when she’s performing,” reiterates Water-maker Ms Mehta. Manorama has been practising how to wield the razor on Shabana’s pate for she has to give Nandita a regulation cut in the film. An interesting comeback vehicle for Manorama, no doubt.

Deepa Karmalkar with ALok Mathur