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October 4, 2000

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Abhishek: Dressed to kill!

Komal Nahta

Today is trade secrets day. At least that's what I am going to designate it, since today I'm going to let you into some of the secrets buzzing around in film circles.

The industry, for example, is rather concerned about the fact that Abhishek Bachchan is not displaying his father's impeccable dress sense.

Whatever Abhishek might have to say in his defence, his dress sense does leave a lot to be desired, especially when you consider how appealing his competitors look on screen.

Abhishek has been heard telling journalists that his role in Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa demanded that kind of 'unusual' couture. Come on, Abhi, our heroes have even played beggars and yet moved around in designer threads!!!

Govinda treads Mithun tracks

Then, there is this obvious concern about how Govinda -- seemingly inspired by Mithun Chakraborty -- actually has 10 to 15 releases in a year!

It did not do the latter's career much good -- Mithun faded from the scene when he started treating films as assembly line products. There even used to be a joke in trade circles that if you made a film out of four reels each from four different Mithun films and screened the resultant cocktail, nobody would realise anything was amiss.

All his films look that similar! Govinda, it seems, is going down the same track now that he's acting in inane projects like Joru Ka Ghulam!

Ash hasn't learnt her lessons well!

As for the exhibitors, they are particularly unhappy with Aishwarya Rai who, they feel, is too stiff. Though she did show some promise in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Taal, none of the later films show any indication of the fact that she has learnt her acting lessons.

For instance, in the recently released Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai and the even more recent flop, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Ash, say the trade, could easily give a complex to a log of wood.

What's with Ajay?

People are worried about Ajay Devgan, who's looking rather weak and pale these days.

And no, it has nothing to do with the failure of Deewane. Apparently, Ajay seems to have been overly strict about his diet.

There are others who believe his home production, Raju Chacha, is taking its toll on the talented actor. After all, it's common knowledge that Ajay is devoting all his time and energy to Raju Chacha.

The Nene baby

The industry is rife with rumours that Madhuri Nene is pregnant with her first baby and is in the US for some much needed rest.

But let us assure you that the only baby Mrs Nene is concerned about is the Zee TV show, Sawaal Dus Crore Ka, which she might host.

Negotiations are currently on and, in all likelihood, Madhuri's electric smile will also set the small screen on fire.

Aditya's opus

The trade is quite anxious to know how the audience will react to Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein which has a running time of three hours, 38 minutes.

The Chopras plan to have just three shows daily instead of the usual four. This would mean forfeiting collections at the ticket windows for one show daily and having to pay theatre rentals for 28 shows a week, while actually getting revenue for just 21 shows.

A look at the week ending Wednesday, October 4, 2000

**Ratings based on box office collections and cost of the film**
Rating Film Production House Verdict Position Last Week No Of Weeks Since Release
1 Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke Inderjeet Films Combine Opened with good collections
in Bombay, but way below
mark in most other circuits
New 1
2 Fiza The Culture Co & UTV Motion Pictures Above average in Bombay;
average to losing in most other
circuits (overwhelming initial)
1 4
3 Hamara Dil
Aapke Paas Hai
S K Films Enterprises Above average in Bombay,
hit in Gujarat but losing
to average in the rest
of the country
2 6
4 Dhadkan Venus Records & Tapes Ltd Loser 3 8
5 Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Average in some circuits;
above average in some
5 9
6 Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa Puja Films Loser 4 7
7 Deewane S P Creations Disaster 7 8
8 Kunwara Tips Films Loser (average in a
couple of circuits)
6 11
9 Aaj Ka Raavan Suchitra Films Enterprises Loser New 1
10 Refugee J P Films Above average (fantastic initial);
average in a couple of circuits
8 14
Despite a horrendous opening, the Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai starrer, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, figures at the top of the chart only because no other films released in the recent past has been able to sustain at the box office.

The Mithun Chakraborty-starrer, Aaj Ka Ravan, also found its way into the top 10 despite a dismal start also due to the same reason.

Komal Nahta edits the popular trade magazine, Film Information.

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