Ali's Notes

Xavier’s a fighter

THE dynamic young big producer, Xavier Marquis who has not met with success with his first three films, Ekka Raja Rani, Vinashak and Doli Sajake Rakhna refuses to surrender. Any brave man, even the toughest who love taking trouble head on would have fled the field after facing such severe heart breaks after all the good intentions, all the determination, all the money going to waste but Xavier has learned lessons which have helped him take storms in his stride. He will not give up making films, he says, how can he now? It is a case of jeena yahaan marna yahaan now. He is lying low after the entirely unexpected disaster of Doli Sajake Rakhna but that is just for the moment. He together with his friend Rajkumar Santoshi have some major plans up their sleeves. They have plans to change the pattern of filmmaking. They have plans to go away from the beaten track and make films their way. They have found the way. They have to put it to the test soon. "The entire system has failed completely. Have you noticed the number of flops in the last few year? It’s a disease which has to be cured. I want to take away the fear of this mysterious disease from filmmakers. I am not going to give up, let my friends and rivals know," Xavier says.

Didn’t I tell you Xavier Marquis is the kind of man who is going to design the future?

Ajay’s father’s his hero

The night Raju (better known as Ajay Devgan) walked upto receive his first major award for his performance in Zakhm I could imagine the happiness of his father, the veteran fight director who has now turned director, Veeru Devgan. If Ajay is what he is today it is all because of his father, a fact he has accepted in all modesty. "I am what I am today because of my father. It is his encouragement that has led me to reach where I am today. I remember how nobody imagined that I, a small and dark and hardly good looking boy could make it as a leading man when there was so much competition among the heros around, the tall, handsome, chocolate-faced heros who also had all kinds of influence on their side. Every time I decided to give up my father kept prodding me, encouraging me. The making of my first film, Phool Aur Kaante, was my first trial. It was one of those make me or break me stories. If I made it I would be phool all the way but if I didn’t it was kaante that would come in my way and hurt. My father made me work very hard. He knew this was my only chance and there was no one else to support me. He taught me discipline, he taught me not to fear the most dangerous stunts and he taught me how to face the greatest challenges. He wanted me to be a very different hero, he said. His wish was fulfiled after the success of Phool Aur Kaante. Today I am happy with whatever I have achieved. I am happy because of my father’s faith in me," Ajay says. I am happy to see Ajay since the time he was just a struggling hero. He’s done it all on his own. The only man who stands by him, still encourages him, inspires him is his proud father, Veeru Devgan, the man who has almost all his bones broken but can still walk, work and fight like a man.

Kya yehi pyar hai?

Some husbands go out of their ways to please their wives, especially their young star crazy wives. Take these two real life stories and you will realise the intensity of their love.

There is this Major in the army. He has a photograph which has two sides. The first side shows himself dressed up in all his military armour, smart cap, medals, moustache, et al. This photograph hangs on the wall while the Major is at home. The moment it is time for the Major to leave he himself turns the other side of the photograph. The man in the photograph -- Jeetendra. The Major tells his wife she is now free to sit and talk to her favourite "Jeetu" till he (the Major) comes home. She is overjoyed when the Major leaves. Kya yehi pyar hai?...

There is the other story of a big businessman. Vinod Khanna and his friends are having dinner in a posh restaurant. The businessman’s wife is a great Vinod Khanna fan. She complains to her husband VK’s friend is blocking her view of VK. The businessman goes up to VK’s friend and pleads with him to move a little because he is depriving his wife the pleasure of watching VK. VK’s friend invites the couple to share the table with them. The wife shudders with joy. She cannot believe she is sitting with "the Vinod Khanna".

Some days ago I saw a skinny sick man carrying his plump wife on his shoulder. She wanted to have a better glimpse of Salman Khan’s muscles, she said. Kya aisa bhi pyar hota hai?

Sheer delight, pure beauty

You must see Rekha without any make-up on and dressed in stark white. She looks like a mirage, a poet’s exotic dream face, a painter’s delight waiting to be turned into a masterpiece.

You must see Madhuri Dixit without make-up, whiling away her time on a holiday, making the best of her time with her parents. You keep looking at her and you know why MF Husain is so severely struck by the Madhurimania which refuses to leave him even at eighty plus. You will know why millions of men are not willing to give her up even through her critics say it’s the beginning of the end for Madhuri. I think it is only the beginning of the beginning for the actress who wants to do things that will make her an actress who will be remembered for years.

You must see Urmila Matondkar at home on a second Sunday. She still looks like that little girl in Masoom, a little star fallen from the sky. Who discovered the art of make-up? I think it ravages some of the most ravishing faces. There’s nothing like natural beauty and very few, very very few girls are gifted with it.