Short Takes

STICKLER FOR HOMEWORK
If dedication and homework go to make a great actor, Sayaji Shinde sure is one. The man who caught the eye of the movie connoisseur with the powerpacked performance as Bachchu Yadav in E Niwas’s Shool, certainly has the talent to match the dedication. Now, he’s also begun to get roles that match.

On being signed to play the role in Shool, he took time off to airdash to Bihar, to better hone his Bihari Yadav accent in time for the shoot. And at the end of it all, boy, did he sound every bit an original!

Shinde’s always been a stickler for homework. “I love to work on my characters,” he tells you. “Without it, I’d feel incomplete.”

True enough. Before he played a eunuch in Kalpana Lajmi’s Darmiyaan, he frequented a eunuch basti to watch the ‘naturals’ at close range. And even imbibe a mannerism or two. And guess what he’s doing now, to prepare for the role of a naxalite he’s slated to play next? Why, study naxalites, of course.

All’s well with dedication and homework of this sort. But some wags ask, what will he do if someone signed him to play, say a Martian extra terrestrial? Well, airdash to Mars, silly!]

NO MORE HERO-SWAPPING
Dil Kya Kare may have died without much of a whimper at the turnstiles. And caused not even the least bit of stampedes at ticket counters. But it’s certainly done Mahima Chowdhury no harm. What’s more, she’s only emerged the richer for the experience, having come up with a stunner of a performance that put even co-star Kajol in the shade.

Yet, Mahima isn’t really panting for more two-heroine challenges. In fact, she’s even thumbed down offers from the likes of Boney Kapoor (for a movie that was to co-star Anil Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai, no less), when she found her roles weren’t too well defined. No more sharing the footage and limelight for Mahima. And no more sharing the hero.

“I wish to do only solo-heroine roles now, and I’ve done enough to merit them,” she offers by way of explanation. So the only forthcoming two-heroine movie that boasts of a Mahima in the cast will be Harry Baweja’s Deewane, at least, for quite some time. So, here’s to hogging the limelight, Mahima, and may you live up to your name.

THE STORK CAN WAIT
The rumour mills have been grinding overtime of late, spilling out stories to the effect that Bobby Deol and still-so-new wife, Tanya, have had the stork come visiting.

“High time it did,” we overheard apparently concerned family-watchers commenting. As though Bobby and Tanya make an incomplete family picture together, without a little one smiling into the camera.

But the family album can wait. As can the well-meaning stork. The rumours notwithstanding, the Deols are in no hurry to become parents. “God alone knows what people gain by cooking up such tall stories,” Bobby shrugs. “Tanya and I are in no hurry to raise a family. We’re too busy living it up, and having a good time to think of having kids,” he adds.

So the tut-tutting family watchers are going to have to wait longer, we guess. Though, as Bobby insists, it’s none of their business.

TOAST OF THE OFFBEAT
Guess who’s the new toast of the offbeat cinema movement? Why, Raveena Tandon, of course. Those who’ve been privy to her wow performance in E Niwas’s Shool certainly aren’t surprised. Having matched the redoubtable Manoj Bajpai in the histrionics department, she does deserve every challenging role she can find, they tell you.

Now, Raveena’s upped and bagged a film with Kalpana Lajmi. “I’ve always been on the look out for roles with variety,” Raveena enthuses. “It sure feels nice to finally be recognised as an actress.”

So, what’s next for Raveena? Though, Raveeena isn’t quite admitting it, a major award for best actress should do just fine, thank you. That would be the icing on the cake, her ultimate answer to all those critics who say she can’t act to save her soul.

HIS DIWALI BONUS
Fardeen Khan’s been wafting on Cloud Nine, of late. As well he might. After a year or thereabouts of “swatting flies at home” (as unkind wags put it), following the Prem Aggan debacle, Fardeen’s finally bagged a second role. This time, in favourite filmmaker, Ram Gopal Varma’s next.

“I’ve always been a fan of Ramuji’s. Now I not only get a chance to watch him work at close range, but also work in his films. Isn’t that a bonus?,” he exults.

Well, make that a Diwali bonus. Once dubbed the next Khan on the block, Fardeen was soon written off as a home banner specialist (read: one not actor enough to work for other banners). So here, at long last, is Fardeen’s chance to wreak sweet revenge.

DIRECTOR HO TO AISA
Guess what Sunny Deol’s been up to, of late? When not dabbing on those final, nervous touches on his directorial debut, Dillagi, or talking about the movie on all those TV channels, that is?

Well, Sunny’s been “studying” each of the latest Hindi releases, frame for frame, from the credits to ‘The End’. No, the intention isn’t to “lift” frames or scenes. “I’m only comparing notes,” he reassures you, “keeping abreast of the latest trends.”

Not that he is about to launch another film as director in a jiffy. “First on my mind is a much-postponed vacation. I need to get it all out of my system,” he says, wistfully. Before he gets “them all” back in his system, he also needs to wrap up his acting assignments. All said and done, directing a film can be a tough act to follow!

A MIND HALF MADE UP
He may be dubbed an offbeat filmmaker. Yet, all the top commercial actors are dying to work with him. Having recently wrapped up his Thakshak with Ajay Devgan, Govind Nihalani is already sorting out “feelers” from the b-o bigwigs like Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Sunil Shetty.

Nihalani may be flattered by all the star adulation, but he is in no tearing hurry to get any of them to sign on the dotted line. “It sure feels nice that the big stars hold me in such high esteem,” he says. “But much as I would love to work with them all, I must first have the scripts to suit them. I can’t afford to let them down, making films with them for the sheer heck of doing so,” he adds.

Point taken. The script first, the cast, later. But will the stars get the hint?

JUST PLAIN RUMOURS
No, Ajay Devgan hasn’t been signed by showman Subhash Ghai for a forthcoming Mukta Arts biggie. At any rate, not as yet.

“Those are plain old rumours,” Devgan dismisses, “stuff and nonsense.” Devgan and Aamir Khan were among several artistes present at a recent Mukta bash, leading to speculation that a Ghai film featuring Ajay and Aamir in the lead was on the cards. Ghai, as usual, has been noncommittal, no doubt, secretly relishing it all. But with Devgan saying ‘no,’ all such speculation will soon be put to rest.

BIRD TAKES WING
After a great deal of hardship and innumerable delays, Rahul Gupta’s Hum Panchchi Ek Daal Ke is ready to take wing. At long last. Regular shoots are to begin soon enough.

“God’s been kind to me,” Gupta muses. “All the problems have been sorted out. Now stop me from making the film if you can,” he challenges. He intends to complete the Sunil Shetty-Aishwarya Rai starrer well in time for an April 2000 release.

RAB RABBED THE WRONG WAY
Indipop sensation, Daler Mehndi, had people refusing to dance to his tunes last week. The media boycotted his press conference in Mumbai after he kept them waiting for well over an hour.

Far from amused, the press contingent, around 50 in all, walked out in a huff. “Just what does he think of himself?,” asked one irate scribe. “Has success gone to his head?,” asked another. Talk about rab rabbing the scribes up the wrong way!

Compiled by Shaju George Alex With inputs from Alok Mathur