Ditched?
|
Aishwarya Rai. Click for bigger pic!
|
Aishwarya Rai is upset, or so we hear. Apparently, cricketer Rahul Dravid, with whom she was believed to be getting almighty close, has got engaged to someone else altogether.
It might not be the thought of that which made Ash ill, but fall ill she did -- with jaundice. Thankfully, both heart and liver seem unaffected.
Meanwhile, on the professional end, Ash is bursting with vim. The lady, we hear, looks sensational (no pun i.) in Jeans and manages to look again the girl she did during the Ms World bash. It might have been a better debut for her than either Iruvar or Aur Pyar Ho Gaya.
In the wings wait Hum Panchi Ek Dal Ke with Sunil Shetty. So busy is the beauty's schedule, she had to turn down Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath Saath Hain.
Prediction for 1998: Head rules over heart. You will win fulsome praise for whatever you do for six months at least. Some ups and downs are likely in your personal life, but that should be settled by the year-end.
Keeping a hairy upper lip
|
Now you see it... Jackie Shroff with moustache. Click for bigger pic!
|
Remember the terrible shock we gave you when we told you Jackie Shroff's erased his mooch. You may be greatly relieved to know that he's decided to keep his hair on again.
For non-Jackie fans, a moustache may mean little, but that is because they haven't been brought up to appreciate the singular manliness cast upon our hero by an afforestation programme on the windward side of his handsome nostrils. Even if you have missed it, never fear, you will soon see it bloom to full lushness again.
Well though he may mull over his mooch, Jackie has kept his work aside. For his film Grahan , shaking off financial and judicial checks, is finally ready for a May release.
After getting Grahan out the door, his JSEL -- Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited for the uninitiated -- is to start work on Raju, Raja, Ram and Aatma.
Just a thought -- despite that reassuring mooch, doesn't Jackie seems to have a gambling streak in him? Why else would he sign the busy, busy Govinda for a film?
All for the cause
|
Madhoo. Click for bigger pic!
|
One vice Madhoo never had was smoking. And now she has joined the battle against cancer, putting her money where her mouth is
Madhoo may not be the first -- Shabana Azmi, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Amala and Nagarjuna, all have lent their support. She got interested after someone really close to her fell victim to the disease.
Meanwhile, Madhoo is also planning to quit drinking vodka, her only vice other than men. But as far as we know, she doesn't like being altogether without vice, so she's decided not to drop men from the agenda yet.
Playing footsie
|
Like father: Abhishek Bachchan. Click for bigger pic!
|
Abhishek Bachchan's apparently following in daddy Amitabh's footsteps. And the young 'un hasn't even set foot in the industry...
The star wannabe, who signed J P Dutta's Aakhri Moghul, voyeurs claim, has been two-timing Karisma Kapoor, whom he use to moon over in unfrequented parts till recently. Replacement is being provided by the sensuous Sonali Bendre, who, being in the professional doldrums, has time and more to spare.
Said lady was whispering what, in twee terms, would be called sweet nothings into the willing ear of Bachchan Jr at a Hyderabad shoot of Amitabh Bachchan's Major Saab.
Now if Karisma comes to know there'll be hell to pay.
Pride vs modesty
|
Sivaji Ganesan. Click for bigger pic!
|
You know, it's strange that though Dilip Kumar is praised for his underplayed roles, his subtlety, and Sivaji Ganesan for his dramatic portrayals, in real life things are a mite different.
For when Yusufbhai, Sivaji and Lata Mangeshkar were felicitated by a south Indian association in Bombay recently, both Dilip and Lata droned on about their achievements, forgetting that the reason they were being felicitated was because the organisers knew all about it. Each wound up after half-an-hour.
Not the Chevalier though. Sivaji chose to speak about the condition of Tamil cinema and ways to better it. Not a word, though, about what he'd done in life. A lesson, don't you think?
Talent to spare
|
Tinu Verma. Click for bigger pic!
|
Mamta Kulkarni beau, the already married Tinu Verma is turning villain now. In an film, in a film...
He plays the ugly in Dharmesh Darshan's Mela and is also musing over more positive roles. To date, Tinu and his kin have made a name only as fight directors; so this is Tinu's big chance.
He'd also done a small role in Ghatak though, dancing with Mamta.
Meanwhile, we've just heard that Mamta's started a production house. And no prizes for guessing who the director is.
Man of many talents, is Tinu.
Sippy steps in
|
Ramesh Sippy. Click for bigger pic!
|
An update here on Mukul Anand's unfinished Dus.
Ramesh Sippy -- of Sholay and Seeta aur Geeta fame -- has taken over as the director and Mukul's trusted chief assistant Shah Jehan has moved out of the film.
"I guess I waited too long. But by the time, I'd decided to leave, Sippy had decided to come in. But then, I'd already made up my mind to leave...," says the man.
Meanwhile, Preity Zinta has been signed on to play one of the heroines in the film.
Tailpiece
|
Chunkey Pandey. Click for bigger pic!
|
Chunkey Pandey, known for his corny wisescracks has come up with this one.
"David Dhawanji must be making a film called Meri Polyester." And, pray, why did he think so?
"If Shankar can make Jeans and Ismail Merchant can make Cotton Mary, why can't he make Meri Polyester."
Any prizes for guessing why Chunkey had to seek his fortune in Bangladesh?
|