Short Takes

Gaining momentum
The Dreamz Unlimited chaps are not conceding defeat yet. Even if their maiden venture hasn’t hit pay-dirt, they insist that Phir Bhi Dil Hai... hasn’t bitten the dust as it is being made out to be. The film has recovered its cost and it has even made marginal profit, insists the producer - Mr Shah Rukh Khan. We met Juhi and Shah Rukh recently on the sets of Shashilal Nair’s One Two Ka Four, when both the biz partners appeared to be in a mood, betraying no signs of distress what-so-ever over the not-so-great b.o. outcome of their first production. Quite the contrary, Shah Rukh was full of beans as he outlined the future plans of their co.,”We are working on several creative projects currently, which may not necessarily be movies. We have the requisite infrastructure, a great staff who works like one big family and things are gaining momentum here,” he added with his trademark dimpling smile.


Seems like old times
For Prakash Mehra she will always be known as Zohra. He still hails Rekha by her screen name from Muqaddar Ka Sikandar. On the sets of his latest venture Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao, we were touched by the rapport and respect the two share. Rekha was treating the enire show as her very own. Totally involved in the proceedings as she kept in step with Arshad Warsi under Saroj Khan’s supervision. Clearly the lady was enjoying her run in front of the camera. The famous actress-maker do team up yet again but with minor alterations this time. While Naseeruddin Shah replaces Re’s co-star Amitabh Bachchan in this comic caper, Mehra hands over the directorial reins to Harry Baweja and restricts himself to production alone. What remains to be seen now is whether they can recreate the Muqaddar magic all by themselves.

Special show
When Boney Kapoor held a special show of his latest offering Pukar for the Prime Minister and other political dignitaries in the capital , it certainly made news. However another show of the same film, which was special in its own way has gone unreported hitherto. We are referring to the special screening organised by director Raj Santoshi for his friends and neighbours from Thane. Santoshi hasn’t forgotten his humble roots. He still makes time to meet up with his Thane buddies and catch up with the ground realities of life. This sense of gravity and realism is reflected in his movies. Perhaps that is how he manages to touch the chord in a common man’s heart through his cinematic narrative. In his forthcoming Aamir-Shah Rukh starrer , we hope to catch a glimpse of the good old, authentic Santoshi cuts and takes.

Straight act
Anil Kapoor wasn’t kidding when he said he would lift the Best Actor trophy next year as he bagged the Screen-Videocon trophy for the Best Supporting Actor for his flamboyant performance in Taal. The guy gets better and better with each new role . From Woh Saat Din to Taal, Kapoor has evolved into one of the finest actors of our times. The natural progression of events would be that he should take to direction now. But Kapoor says he has no intentions whatsoever of calling the shots,”All I can do is act, direction is not my cup of tea. I would rather stick to something I am good at. I can manage production matters, so perhaps I may lend my name to a joint production. But so far as direction is concerned, it’s a capital NO,” he stresses. You know what you are doing , Anil.

Dream merchants
On one hand Ajay Devgan is camping with his entire cast and crew in the cool climes of Ooty for his third home-production Raju Chacha, on the other Aamir Khan is holed up in the desert town of Bhuj with his unit for Lagaan. While the tinsel town is missing out on their star sheen, the small towners are basking in their stellar aura. What the natives are really rejoicing is not the mere star presence but the job opportunities that these film shoots are offering Both the actor-producers, Ajay and Aamir are hiring local hands, so their popularity is soaring with each passing day and their shoots are progressing ever so smoothly. Co-operation is indeed the way to success.

Early bird
Govinda is truly reformed now. We had reported earlier as to how the pathological late comer has turned over a new leaf. There’s more news along similar lines. Burning with fever, a lesser mortal would just have popped a pill and hit the sack. But not so our man Chi Chi! Not only did Hero No.1 drag himself out of bed while his body temp escalated precariously but also reported for Harmesh Malhotra’s Tere Ishq Mein Pad Gaya Re at Filmistan Studio in Goregaon well in time.

When co-star Preity Zinta expressed her intent of learning a lot from her fave dancing sensation, she probably was looking forward to lessons in creative craft rather than in personal discipline. Zinta, we must admit , is a lucky babe who got much more than she had bargained for in this project.

Radiant Ray
Lots of ’em swooned at the Screen-Videocon Awards when the Indo-Canadian beauty took over the mike. She regaled the invitees with her sparkling wit and her dazzling beauty. Lisa Ray stood her own that nite. Her poise, panache and pucker made a tantalising combo. Talent hunters gravitated to her immediately after and the grapevine has it that the swim-wear supermodel has been hooked and booked by Vimal Kumar for his next. Her co-star, folks, is none other than the cute-face Aftab Shivdasani. Also heard that the Bhatts are keeping a close watch on the hazel-eyed beauty. For more on model-turning-actress, keep tuned to this column.

Neat work
Wondering where the Kareeb gal disappeared after Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet? Well. she’s right here in the thick of it. “I haven’t been grabbing offers with both my hands, as it were. I have been patiently waiting for the right roles and my patience is finally paying off,” declares Neha jubilantly. So Shabana from Delhi-turned-Neha in Mumbai, has every reason to be happy about the course her career is taking, after all she has bagged the lead role in Tanuja Chandra’s next movie and one in Ram Gopal Verma’s too. Not to forget the meaningful role in Khalid Mohamed’s Fiza. So Neha is here to stay, that’s for sure.

Getting his bearing
Sharad-who-Kapoor? Well jog your memory folks, he’s the Dastak guy who stalked Ms Universe, Sush ever so menacingly then pitched in some appearances in non-happening movies and was finally on the verge of extinction. The very same Sharad is back in the reckoning again with three major films on release very soon.

“I made some wrong choices at the beginning of my career since I wasn’t familiar with the mechanics of moviedom. But I have found my bearing now. I do realise that it’s not wise for me at this juncture to angle for solo hero projects. So I am looking at viable multi starrers in which I have a well etched role to essay. Take for instance Josh with Shah Rukh, Hadh with Jackie and Khauff with Sanju Dutt,” he explains. The guy is really coming of age, isn’t he?


Idea executive
The worst fear that haunts a writer, particularly a film script writer, is that of plagiarism. Copyright is a major isssue with these creative creatures. And so the established writers of the film industry are often very apprehensive about giving a public reading of their scripts. For they fear that their “ideas will be lifted”. But one writer who is above this phobia is Kundan Shah. He’s often sighted narrating his stories to all and sundry on the sets. “Only I can translate my ideas into celluloid reality. Anybody trying to lift those is bound to fall flat on his face,” he cautions. No wonder the writer-maker has four films on floor right now at various stages of completion. Loveria, Hum To Mohobbat Karega, Kya Kehna (Friends renamed) and Kasam Se to name his unique creative ventures.

Deepa Karmalkar with ALok Mathur