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Short Takes

Showtime for Queen Bee

Come September and Ash flies off to exotic destinations in US, UK and Canada on a two-month long whistletop tour. “This is my first stage tour and we have been rehearsing regularly for the big day,” she told us before zooming off to the faraway land. She has Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Akshaye Khanna for company. Having been paired with Khanna Jr in Aa Ab Laut Chalen and Taal, Ash does have an item to do with him but what about Aamir? They haven’t yet worked together, what do they propose to do on-stage? “We have worked out a nice medley and I loved rehearsing with Aamir. He’s so enthusiastic,” she gushed. So folks, we will bring you an exclusive pictorial narrative of thrills and spills of her first stage tour the moment she gets back. Watch out!

Low on Lolo ?

Rumour mongers take perverse pleasure in spreading vicious canards about Karisma’s high-handedness towards a down market Akshay Kumar. She is said to have turned down offers co-starring him. But we witnessed an entirely different scenario at Hyderabad on the sets of Suniel Darshan’s Jaanwar. Karisma and Akshay seemed to have no trouble in working with each other, they shared a great rapport. When we eye them quizzically, Karisma laughed and put things straight on record, “I have never shied away from working with newcomers even, so why should I mind working with Akshay?, I also don’t believe in the marketability humbug. I enjoy working with Akshay,” she emphasises. Akshay reiterates,”Karisma has always been very co-operative with me, who says we don’t get along?” he questions hotly.

Queens meet

If our Ms World is touring the west to conquer them with her stage shows, apni Ms Universe is going to London to meet the Queen. Yup, sensational Sen is meeting up with Queen Elizabeth on September 5 to discuss the modalities of Cancer Relief project that they patronise jointly. Not surprising if Ms Sen should receive royal treatment at the Queen’s but then she’s also being treated royally back home in Bollywood. Producers are queuing up in front of her door offering her roles and rates befitting a queen. Sush is snowed down with phenomenal offers. She has a plateful what with D Rama Naidu’s Hindi remake of Tamil hit Sivayya, then Jackie Shroff’s All The Best and then she a Kundan Shah film about which she’s absolutely ecstatic,”I am very intrigued by Kundan Shah’s films, I am looking forward to working with him and the added attraction is that it stars Madhuri Dixit and Ajay Devgan, what a combo!” she laughs merrily. Going looks good for the lovely lass, no doubt.

SIC no more

She’s whizkid Nagesh Kukunoor’s co-producer, assistant director and most importantly his Wo(man) Friday. Kukunoor admits that she makes his job easy, handling most of the film work adeptly,”Without her I would be lost,” he concedes. Well, Elahe Heptoola (Hyderabad Blue watchers will remember her as the no-nonsense wife of Kukunoor’s portly buddy), the pint-sized wonder packs quite a punch. The chirpy and ever-smiling Elahe studied law, and was into the “boring” garment-selling business in Hyderabad until she bumped into Kukunoor, who, on the other hand was bored of being an engineer in Atlanta, and together they launched Hyderabad Blues. Their blues disappeared with the film’s surprise success, and now both are together into a job they just love - making films. The twosome have formed their own banner SIC Productions. “SIC means ‘Stability Is Curse’ and that was Nagesh’s mantra when he had had enough of his engineering in the US. So when we decided to form our own production company, that seemed like an apt banner,” Elahe elaborates.

She enjoys playing Nagesh’s assistant, “Writing is Nagesh’s job, though at times he does ask us for our ideas. When he’s in front of the camera acting, then I get to direct him. And we work out things together,” she says. Their next film after Rockford will be Bollywood Calling, for which they will begin shooting in November, in the US. So it’s Hollywood calling the creative duo.

Dev strikes

Have you noticed the posters of Mehul Kumar’s Amitabh-Nana starrer Kohram recently? Well all the walls in sight are plastered with posters having a huge mug-shot of Mukul Dev’s staring out at you. Which comes as a total surprise since Mukul hadn’t featured anywhere in the pre-release blitz. When quizzed about his magical appearance in Kohram, Mukul clarified,”I requested Mehulji to insert my shots in the posters as I have a significant role in the film. I am grateful to him for obliging.” Mukul is now ready for strong, meaningful roles, “irrespective of the footage,” he outlines. Dev is anxiously awaiting the release of his forthcoming films Mere Apne and Haadsa. He hopes that these two films will consolidate his position. We hope so too, Mukul.

Wedding Belle

We caught Lolo lolling at home for a change. Nah, don’t get us wrong. She hadn’t taken time off to put together her trousseau but she had got a day off the shoot of Chal Mere Bhai as Salman had reported sick. When we asked her about her impending shaadi plans with Jeh Wadia, she denied vehemently, “I have no wedding plans afoot and I do not intend to quit acting. But whenever I decide to tie the knot, my parents will make an official announcement of it. There’s nothing to hide about marriage, is there?” she asks shrugging her dainty shoulders. So, for the time, there are miles to go before the careeristic Karisma quits.

Battered and bruised

We ran into a black and blue Sharad Kapoor on the sets of Josh, he was groaning with pain,”Shah Rukh and I play the dons of rival gangs and since yesterday we have been shooting some fight sequences. We get so involved in the scene that we ended up beating up each other,” elaborates Sharad. When we clucked sympathetically pointing at a lemon-sized bruise on his cheek, Sharad laughed, “Don’t worry that’s just war paint, we aren’t that crazy.” Then he rolls his eyes, pauses dramatically and says,”I am going to be a big star one day.” We will celebrate with you that day.

All in the family

Whatever happened to the second film Vinod Khanna had planned with his laadla beta Akshaye soon after the release of Himalaya Putra? Papa developed cold feet after the disastrous outcome of the film , did he? “Well, Dad got involved in politics and I was tied down with outside projects. But we will certainly make another film together,” asserts Akshaye. Will they rope in gorgeous Rahul Khanna for the film, as per the original plans,” Certainly but as of now he’s happy doing his own thing in New York. He dabbles in theatre over there,” informs chhota Khanna. Till the Khanna men find the time and inclination to work together then!

Alternate therapy

Eversince Rocky aka Chandrachur got back from his stage tour with Karisma, Akshay Kumar and Raveena dancing to appease our NRI bhais in UK and US, he just can’t stop talking about the exhilirating feel of being on-stage,”This was my first stage show and boy , oh boy was I nervous at the beginning? I developed cold feet at the last moment and I almost collapsed with stage fright. But the overwhelming response of the audience helped me overcome my inhibitions. Now I look forward to doing more shows. Not only is the money good but also the heady feel that a stage show gives, is simply incomparable,” he relates. Like having the cake and eating it too.

Star’s da dhaba

“Indians love food and this is one industry where you just can’t go wrong,” opines Salman Khan who’s launching India Talkies, a theme restaurant on the lines of Planet Hollywood. And he’s doing it in partnership with Karisma Kapoor, Mahima Chowdhary and Sanjay Dutt. At the turn of the millennium we will have an eatery where these stars may drop by to check out on the turn-out. Sounds intersting, doesn’t it? Yes, as long as the patrons retain their starry halo, the proposal looks good, but what happens when their stocks start crashing, won’t the fluctuating star appeal of the stars mar the popularity of the food joint? Salman is confident that it wouldn’t because Indians just love food. Enthusiastic about the project, they propose to pay great attention to the ambience, quality of food and work out a right attitude for it,”We have got it all taped out,” asserts Salman. But we would rather wait and watch, for the proof of the pudding is in eating, isn’t it?