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September 15, 1998
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Tough customer
But recently, she gave back one producer as good as she got. Actually we learnt about this after the lady refused to shoot a film with producer Kulbhushan Gupta who has just completed Pardesi Babu. Why had she done that, we asked. "When I was signed for the film, I was told that I would be given a good deal and that I was the second heroine in the project. I signed on the film, knowing very well, that I come in only in the second half. But I was assured I'd be given equal importance with the other heroine, whom I will not name (that's actually Shilpa Shetty). "But when I saw the promos, I could hardly see myself, and she was all over the place. I realised I was being cheated. So I refused to shoot with him, till he out promos which gave us equal weightage." And so the promos were shown and, ego soothed, Raveena completed the film. Feisty lady, eh?
Shashilal the fall guy
Apparently producer Rahul Gupta had a major problem with director Shashilal Nair. Soon the director was out on his ear, but a replacement is yet to be found, though only 20 per cent of the film is to be finished. Ask Sunil about it and he nods his head. "Yeah, Rahul was having a problem with Shashiji and he's now finalising a new director. I can assure you the new one is also very good and he only has to sign on the dotted line. We gently inquire about a camera Shashilal allegedly dropped in a river during a shoot abroad. And Sunil leaps to the man's defence: "See, Shashi is a good director. He finished eighty per cent of the shooting in just six months and the balance 20 per cent has taken more than 10 months. Moreover, the camera fell in when we were doing a difficult rafting scene in turbulent waters. The raft overturned with the camera. And it was the foreign crew that dropped the camera, not the Indian one. It was more important that human lives were saved," says Shetty. But, we hear, producer Rahul Gupta had other ideas: he just got a new camera. And a new director.
Neena plans a film now
And for those into more serious stuff, Neena's allegedly planning a film with Aamir Khan and Naseeruddin Shah. Since she was away, it was her father who picked up the phone. Yes, he said, she was indeed directing a film, and she had finalised the cast. But, no, he had no idea who had been picked... Oh well, and till she returns, we'll never know.
Star, wife
The audience hasn't complained, at least they haven't refused to see her films and so a happy Juhi recently signed another film, opposite Sunil Shetty. This is the first time Juhi's doing a film with Sunil in many years. Ravi Dewan will direct Sunil for the second time since Vinashak. But unlike Vinashak, he says, "This is not an action film at all. Sunil, as you should know, isn't signing on action films." Why Juhi? "Makes for an interesting combination. Well, notice, you asked me about it, didn't you," says Dewan with a cheeky smile.
Anuradha scores
Ironic indeed, particularly since even Lata Mangeshkar hasn't been thus recognised. Anuradha Paudwal made her debut in Hindi films with Abhimaan, but after her marriage she had some difficulty making her way up, particularly due to resistance from the old guard. Frustrated after 15 years of effort, she finally gave up and went back to singing ghazals. "Now I am back and raring to go. I have some good films on hand," she told us. Good for her.
Rani's raring to go
Now her director in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Johar, has recommended her to old buddy Aditya Chopra. Adits wants the right woman to appear with brother Uday in an upcoming venture. Pa Yash has already signed on Manisha Koirala and Shah Rukh Khan for another film, also to be directed by Aditya. The question now is whether they will quickly launch Uday or go in for a profit-making venture with Manisha and Shah Rukh.
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-- V S Srinivasan | |||||||||||||
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