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Naughty girl

Playing truant: Urmila Matondkar. Click for bigger pic!

The producer of Khubsoorat were tearing their hair off trying to pin heroine Urmila Matondkar down for dates. Finally, they decided that they'd had enough and had just grabbed the lady by the seat of her pants to toss her out, when she sweetly apologised.

The producer, who had financed Rangeela earlier, weakened perceptibly, perhaps knowing what her role in that film had done to his fortunes.

After some gruff warnings that didn't sound too convincing, he patched up with her. And they went together to a temple... To pray for a great professional relationship.

All cut up

Short-changed: Anil Kapoor. Click for bigger pic!

Anil Kapoor is bugged, allegedly because he didn't get a cut from directors whom he cut prices for.

The first time he did it in Deewana Mastana, producer Ketan Desai made more money selling the film in some territories at premium rates.

Now Anil's worried that Polygram India will do the same thing with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Jhoot Bole Kauva Kaate another film for which he reduced his rates.

"Write against greedy producers instead of reporting against stars and their prices," Kapoor grumpily told one reporter.

Suprise, surprise

Partying for her partner: Sridevi. Click for bigger pic!

Despite all the bad blood and hysteria following Boney's marriage to Sridevi, there have been some good times in the Kapoor clan too.

Like when Sridevi asked Boney Kapoor over to the Zyclone discotheque for dance and dinner on Monday. Boney strolled in and found many of his friends and relatives surrounding him singing joyously, Happy birthday to you. A surprise party, no less, for his birthday the next day. And, in the throng, we couldn't see if Boney went all dewy-eyed and honked into Sridevi's pallu or not. But then, he looked mighty pleased.

His brothers Anil and Sanjay too had come. But their parents hadn't; apparently, they have yet to reconcile themselves to the new facts of his life.

Lucky stars

All charm: Aamir Khan. Click for bigger pic!

Aamir Khan has broken his bones and was allegedly host to a horde of malaria parasites. He is still recovering from the twin disasters.

But director Rajkumar Santoshi who, if you remember, made that hit, Ghayal, still thinks it is lucky to start a film starring Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan on March 14, his birthday.

Loser's weepers

Making hay: Karisma Kapoor. Click for bigger pic!

Dil To Pagal Hai is apparently doing well in the big cities, but making heavy weather of it in the smaller cities.

Whatever the cause, Karisma Kapoor's reaping the benefits. And all the women, including Urmila Matondkar, who refused a role in the same film as Madhuri Dixit are ruing their decision.

Star son surplus

Star-maker: Rakesh Roshan

We've already told you that Abhishek Bachchan is popping into films. Another star son likely to be launched soon is Rakesh Roshan's boy, Hrithik.

The lad may make his maiden appearance in pa's next film, expected to be a thriller.

Who will play the female lead? We're not telling, because we don't know either.

Not making music

Replacing Rajesh Roshan: Anu Malik. Click for bigger pic!

While Hrithik's fortunes are yet to be decided, that of uncle, composer Rajesh Roshan is definitely going south.

Rajesh has been dropped from Venus's Mela, being directed by Dharmesh Darshan of Raja Hindustani fame. Walking in through the door Rajesh went out is Anu Malik. But one of the two numbers Rajesh recorded are being kept in; Malik will get the credit for the rest.

Dharmesh claims he wasn't satisfied with Rajesh's output, and the composer was dumped for the good of the film.

Nadeem's loss, Anu's gain

Rough patch: Shravan (left) with Nadeem. Click for bigger pic!

It seems like those beads Anu Malik used to sport were lucky ones. He's also replaced Nadeem-Shravan in Haseena Maan Jaayegi. Not too promising for Nadeem and Shravan, particularly since the former is the prime suspect in the Gulshan Kumar murder.

More ominously for them, they've been dropped by Smita Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray'sdaughter-in-law and the film's producer.

Movie magic

Record hit: Mahima Click for bigger pic!

Subhash Ghai's Pardes, with Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Mahima, may be a reasonable success all over, but it's doing roaring business at Bombay's Minerva cinema.

In 13 weeks it has already gathered a profit of Rs 5.7 million. By comparison, Sholay ran at Minerva for five-and-a-half years to make Rs 3.5 million.

All right, so it may be due to inflation, but Pardes is doing fine nevertheless.

-- Komal Nahta