Short Takes

Dress rehearsal
These days Jaya Bachchan dresses traditionally in full-sleeved salwaar suits, sans bindi, drawing reverentially at rosary beads - she can easily pass off as a Mohammedan khatoon. "That’s precisely what I am working at," she tells you. Jaya is gearing up for the shoot of Fiza in which she plays an aging Muslim woman. "The Muslim way of saying the rosary is different from the way we Hindus do the jaap, so I have to get it right," she points out.

Bolstered by the thundering success of the play Maa Retire Hoti Hai, Lady Bachchan is already rehearsing for another play for director Ramesh Talwar. Incidentally, she plays the role of a Muslim woman in this one too. The dress rehearsal is sure to come handy in the times to come. That’s Jayaji’s patent brand of dedication and involvement for you.

Bandra fest
Ever since the Kapoor gals shifted base from Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri to Bandra, their cook hasn’t stopped grumbling. Their chef has developed frayed nerves since they changed the address. Well it isn’t as if there’s any paucity of greens or meats in Bandra. Quite the contrary, there’s too much variety available. So much so that the "babies" - have developed a new passion for food over the phone, these days. Much to the distress of their bawarchi, the moment they are up - the sisters start arguing animatedly over what food they can call for the day. "Bandra is a foodie’s paradise - we have been experimenting with various types of cuisines since we got here. If it’s pizza today, it must be Thai tomorrow. We are having a ball," laughs Karisma. "But our cook isn’t. She is worried sick over our culinary adventures. She takes it as a personal offence when we order food over," she chuckles. Looks like the Kapoor babes are having the cake and eating it too.

Golden voice
The erstwhile Miss Universe enjoys humming a song. Often spotted karaoking instead hitting the disc, Sushmita Sen has always had a yen for crooning. And finally the lovely lady has been tricked into singing a song. The trickster? The swashbuckling music man Anu Malik - of course. It seems when the designated singer failed to turn up in time, Anu requested Sush to dub the song for the time being. Sen complied and hummed and swayed to the music caressing the microphone. She carried the tune so well that Anu decided to retain the song in her golden voice. "You tricked me," squealed Sush delightedly and Anu smiled wickedly. Since it is Halloween time - it’s just as well that Anu tricks and Sush treats.

Promises to keep
With his lean, mean, aquiline looks Hrithik Roshan’s already created quite a flurry in the movie circles. If the promos of his launch vehicle Kaho Naa... Pyar Hai are anything to go by, the Roshans have a reason to celebrate. A star is rising in their midst. Proud papa Raakesh Roshan confessed, "He may look like me but when it comes to acting - he’s way ahead of me. I am not saying this of my son but of my protege." With his film slated to be the first millennial release alongside Shah Rukh-Juhi’s home-production Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, this young man is poised for some great times ahead. We got a hunch of sorts about him.

Shining and swinging
Shah Rukh Khan and Bharat Shah - friends and partners had a blast of a time at the recent inauguration of son Rajeev Shah’s discotheque - Fire & Ice. Dressed in one of his fave florid shirts, King film financier and stylishly outfitted King Khan let their hair down and boogied away to the throbbing music much to the delight of the menagerie of party animals on the dance floor that night. "There’s a tremendous business potential for a disco in this area for all those pool players who have to wait as long as three hours to get their turn," Bharatbhai shouted happily making a valiant attempt to beat the decibel level of the disco - and what’s more, he succeeded in getting his word over and across. That’s booming Shah for you.

Great show
Rajshri’s much awaited Hum Saath Saath Hain is a sure shot Diwali bonanza for all the movie afficianados. At a sneak preview, we were floored by Sooraj Barjatya’s third offering. This a heart warming story of filial bonding with a splash of colour and glamour. "Modern Ramayana," as insiders put it. When we walked out of the preview theatre trying hard to hide our tear-streaked face, producer Rajkumar Barjatya consoled us, "Never mind, even I keep two hankies handy when I watch this film," he smiled benevolently. For all the laughs and tears that Sooraj babu has packed in those three and a half hours - Hum Saath Saath Hain is set to score a hat-trick.

Turning a new leaf
His hideous play in Tanuja Chandra’s Sangharsh may have repulsed many of his fans but Ashutosh Rana is sure he can win them right back with his forthcoming ventures where he doesn’t bare his fangs and hiss. In Naseer-Om Puri starrer Guru Mahaguru being directed by Mithun - specialist TLV Prasad, Rana plays Guru, the desi Robin Hood. While in Danger, he plays the main protagonist. "Totally positive role," he stresses. But this digression doesn’t mean he’s nixing baddie offers. "I am interested in playing central characters of all shades and hues," he clarifies," and win all the awards," he proclaims dramatically.

Gimme gimme item songs
That’s what sultry siren Suman Runganathan has been angling for over the past few months. "Now I just have a couple of hit numbers to dance to. I consolidate my repertoire so that I can put up grand stage shows," she relates. As of now she says she’s not fussy about the kind of roles she’s being offered,"I am not bothered about the footage, I am interested in the weightage these days. I want roles that create an impact and characters that I can relate to," she elaborates,"But I can do with some good songs," she reiterates. As of now Suman is playing Sanjay Dutt’s lady love in Mehbooba and then there’s the long-overdue Jackie-starrer Hadh on release. Here’s wishing Suman a song-n-dance of time.

Fanfare
Torso baring Salman Khan was shooting at Filmistan Studios, Andheri recently and the place was virtually deluged with fans of the female kind. There was an enterprising group of collegians who managed to sneak in for three days in a row for a dekko of their fave macho Khan. On the final day of the shoot when Salman heard about the bravado of his ardent fans, he was touched. So much so that he rushed out to meet them. He signed autographs furiously, chatted them up sportily. He turned his charm on and even gifted his bracelet as a keepsake to one of those drooly fans of his. Salman sure made their day. Looks like the enfant terrible is finally growing up.

In all probability
When party shy Aamir Khan attends Subhash Ghai’s wedding anniv bash, certainly all antennae go up in anticipation. Is Aamir featuring in Ghai’s next - there’s a nudge, a cocked eyebrow and general buzz in the party. Invitees include Aamir’s directors from Raj Santoshi, Indra Kumar to John Mathew. Suspicions grew stronger and Ghai just smiles away enigmatically without committing either ways. But we have some conclusive evidence that points towards the imminent Aamir-Ghai tie-up. Some time ago when Subhash Ghai had organised a great do to felicitate the veteran lyricist Anand Bakshi, Aamir Khan was present there as well. So this deal has been in the offing for a while and we won’t be surprised at all if the duo join hands for the showman’s next.

Deepa Karmalkar with, Namita Nivas, Alok Mathur and UTN