MUMBAI 
Ki Chugaliyaan!!!
By Ashi & Tosh

Jaya Pradha hasn't retired into the recesses of the Parliament never to return again. In fact, Jaya fans can expect to see her in a fresh new role in a language that she hasn't tapped earlier. Surprisingly the film is being produced by veteran South Indian director Dasari Narayan Rao, but is being made in Bengali, co-starring her and Mithun Chakravorthy. The film is yet to be titled. Watch this space for further details.

Director: Ismayeel Shroff 
Staring: Tabu, Shilpa Shetty, Nana Patekar, Ashutosh Rana, Milind Soman, Aditya Pancholi 
Shroff returns after a hiatus of several years. The man who was once known as the harbinger of a different kind of commercial cinema, now returns with a murder mystery based in the army milieu. So who has been murdered? Well, that's one secret we can let you onto. It's Tabu. And who is the murderer? Ah..ah, that would be revealing too much. For that you wait till this Friday, when the film will hit the theatres.



Mera Joota Hai Japani

Director : Rahul Roy
Producer: Sudhakar Bokade 
Staring: Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Sushmita Sen
This is not a 'different' kind of a film, we are told. Bokade had been lying low after the Kalinga episode and this was a launch which happened in 1997. The model turned actor Rahul Roy, turned director with this venture.

The starcast is quite good despite the fact that this is his first venture. According to Roy, the film is a "light situational comedy. People will enjoy the film a lot. It will have fight sequences never seen before on Indian screen."

To ensure that the Roy boy has roped in two special effects guys from Hollywood. Bokade who is backing Roy a lot says, "People generally launch actors and actresses, star-sons and star-daughters, but I am launching a director. He is good and has the potential. Why not?"

Jadh

Director : Shantanu Sheorey
Staring: Arjun Rampal, Smriti Mishra, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Bendre 
This adaptation of the celebrated Marathi play, Thank You Mr. Glaad has been considered for the big screen by several directors including Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the past. Ad film maker Shantanu Sheorey directs Shroff as the autocratic jailor to Arjun Rampal's wronged inmate. A gripping plot, this should be one of the more interesting films of 1998
Top

Loveria

Director : Kundan Shah
Staring: Karisma Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan..

Loveria... is an ABCL production which has been lying for release for a very long time. The last time we went to the shoot of the film, it had just three days work left and that was over three years ago. Now Saif is totally out of reckoning and Karisma as not had a release in the year after Dil To Pagal Hai last year. DTPH just completed 50 weeks last week. 

Loveria... is a breezy romance set in Mumbai. The film has Karisma as a maid and Saif Ali Khan as a driver. But both of them in a bid to woo each other pretend that they are very rich. "It is a different kind of a film. There are other commercial elements in the film. But I am sure that you will all love it," says Kundan Shah

Ladies Only

Director: Dinesh Shailendra 
Staring: Kamal Haasan, Randhir Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Shilpa Shirodkar and Heera Rajgopal
This is a typical Kamal Haasan film with the maestro in a deadly role. Literally! Kamal plays a dead body! The talented artiste has a knack for comedy and it is once again proved in the hilarious film, Ladies Only. The story is about a boss, who is a woman chaser. Tilll the ladies in the office decide to take matters in their hands.
Top
Grahan

Staring: Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Anupama Verma 
Grahan is Jackie's home production with wife Ayesha's help. And predictably, both husband and wife are excited about the film. "It is a film which has not been made with a sole intention of making profits," says the duo producer of Grahan. A story deviating from the routine films, it has talented performers like Jackie Shroff and Manisha Koirala in it. It has a touching story executed in a sensitive manner. 

Gajagamini

Director & Producer: M F Hussain 
Staring: Madhuri Dixit 
This is a film which is being monitored by the media very closely, though, they have not got any wind of what's happening. Ram Gopal Varma is said to be ghost-directing it. MF Husain does not want to talk about the film. "It is a different film," he says. "It has a lot to do with something I have in mind for years." 
Madhuri is however very enthusiastic about this venture. "It is an experimental film being made on an international level and standards. It's a woman's journey through mythology and history. The philosophical, literary and religious aspects are dealt with by Husain sahab in his unique style - highly aesthetic and artistic.You can say it is a celebration of womanhood! It is a uniquely different kind of experience for everybody associated with this project. It is designed for the international market." 
Hussain's first film, Through The Eyes of a Painter fetched him a National Award long back. Will this one too? 


Marudanayagam

Director & Producer: Kamal Haasan 
Slated to be India's costliest film till date, it's timing is perfect. Since the Golden Jubilee celebrations of India's independence started last year, almost every Indian is on a trip to re-learn India's history. In this scenario, Kamal Haasan is making a film on the unsung warrior responsible for the Sepoy mutiny, 275 years ago. .

Jaya Pradha hasn't retired into the recesses of the Parliament never to return again. In fact, Jaya fans can expect to see her in a fresh new role in a language that she hasn't tapped earlier. Surprisingly the film is being produced by veteran South Indian director Dasari Narayan Rao, but is being made in Bengali, co-starring her and Mithun Chakravorthy. The film is yet to be titled. Watch this space for further details.

Director: Ismayeel Shroff 
Staring: Tabu, Shilpa Shetty, Nana Patekar, Ashutosh Rana, Milind Soman, Aditya Pancholi 
Shroff returns after a hiatus of several years. The man who was once known as the harbinger of a different kind of commercial cinema, now returns with a murder mystery based in the army milieu. So who has been murdered? Well, that's one secret we can let you onto. It's Tabu. And who is the murderer? Ah..ah, that would be revealing too much. For that you wait till this Friday, when the film will hit the theatres.



Mera Joota Hai Japani

Director : Rahul Roy
Producer: Sudhakar Bokade 
Staring: Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Tabu, Sushmita Sen
This is not a 'different' kind of a film, we are told. Bokade had been lying low after the Kalinga episode and this was a launch which happened in 1997. The model turned actor Rahul Roy, turned director with this venture.

The starcast is quite good despite the fact that this is his first venture. According to Roy, the film is a "light situational comedy. People will enjoy the film a lot. It will have fight sequences never seen before on Indian screen."

To ensure that the Roy boy has roped in two special effects guys from Hollywood. Bokade who is backing Roy a lot says, "People generally launch actors and actresses, star-sons and star-daughters, but I am launching a director. He is good and has the potential. Why not?"

Jadh

Director : Shantanu Sheorey
Staring: Arjun Rampal, Smriti Mishra, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Bendre 
This adaptation of the celebrated Marathi play, Thank You Mr. Glaad has been considered for the big screen by several directors including Hrishikesh Mukherjee in the past. Ad film maker Shantanu Sheorey directs Shroff as the autocratic jailor to Arjun Rampal's wronged inmate. A gripping plot, this should be one of the more interesting films of 1998
Top

Loveria

Director : Kundan Shah
Staring: Karisma Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan..

Loveria... is an ABCL production which has been lying for release for a very long time. The last time we went to the shoot of the film, it had just three days work left and that was over three years ago. Now Saif is totally out of reckoning and Karisma as not had a release in the year after Dil To Pagal Hai last year. DTPH just completed 50 weeks last week. 

Loveria... is a breezy romance set in Mumbai. The film has Karisma as a maid and Saif Ali Khan as a driver. But both of them in a bid to woo each other pretend that they are very rich. "It is a different kind of a film. There are other commercial elements in the film. But I am sure that you will all love it," says Kundan Shah

Ladies Only

Director: Dinesh Shailendra 
Staring: Kamal Haasan, Randhir Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Shilpa Shirodkar and Heera Rajgopal
This is a typical Kamal Haasan film with the maestro in a deadly role. Literally! Kamal plays a dead body! The talented artiste has a knack for comedy and it is once again proved in the hilarious film, Ladies Only. The story is about a boss, who is a woman chaser. Tilll the ladies in the office decide to take matters in their hands.
Top
Grahan

Staring: Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Anupama Verma 
Grahan is Jackie's home production with wife Ayesha's help. And predictably, both husband and wife are excited about the film. "It is a film which has not been made with a sole intention of making profits," says the duo producer of Grahan. A story deviating from the routine films, it has talented performers like Jackie Shroff and Manisha Koirala in it. It has a touching story executed in a sensitive manner. 

Gajagamini

Director & Producer: M F Hussain 
Staring: Madhuri Dixit 
This is a film which is being monitored by the media very closely, though, they have not got any wind of what's happening. Ram Gopal Varma is said to be ghost-directing it. MF Husain does not want to talk about the film. "It is a different film," he says. "It has a lot to do with something I have in mind for years." 
Madhuri is however very enthusiastic about this venture. "It is an experimental film being made on an international level and standards. It's a woman's journey through mythology and history. The philosophical, literary and religious aspects are dealt with by Husain sahab in his unique style - highly aesthetic and artistic.You can say it is a celebration of womanhood! It is a uniquely different kind of experience for everybody associated with this project. It is designed for the international market." 
Hussain's first film, Through The Eyes of a Painter fetched him a National Award long back. Will this one too? 


Marudanayagam

Director & Producer: Kamal Haasan 
Slated to be India's costliest film till date, it's timing is perfect. Since the Golden Jubilee celebrations of India's independence started last year, almost every Indian is on a trip to re-learn India's history. In this scenario, Kamal Haasan is making a film on the unsung warrior responsible for the Sepoy mutiny, 275 years ago. .

Lata Khubchandani

I'm a great romantic and of late I've been very, very influenced by the books of Richard Bach. The first book I read by him was A bridge across forever, and it felt completely like me because the girl in that book is also a star and she gets fed up by the fake world. She's looking for inner peace and satisfaction. And she meets someone she completely relates to, but who's diametrically opposite to her. She learns from him and he learns from her.

I really believe that true love is selfless and one shouldn't look for a person who is exactly like you. In fact, you should look for someone who is different from you, so you can grow as a human being. I really believe in the concept of soul mates. May be it'll happen to me, may be it won't, but nevertheless, I' m a great lover of love; I'm a great lover of passion. I can be in love with any form of love - love for the creator, for a piece of art. Love is something you can't define. Love is not necessarily between a man and a woman. It could be love for your work. Love is when you're happy. In it's purest form, love is selfless, understanding and giving.

I think this kind of love exists even today. The moment you open your arms to start appreciating the beauty of the world, the world opens up to you. Love is more about giving than taking. It is more in your mind, in your mentality and outlook than waiting for others to do anything for you.

I don't know where I've got this perception. It's just my own personality that influences my mind, I think. I've this great zest for life, and though sometimes the smallest things get me dejected, when I look around and see others suffering I feel I'm complaining too much. And taking life too much for granted.

Even the books I read have really influenced me a great deal. I think character development is so important. All these notions add to my preception of what love is and should be. If you trust too much, you do get exploited, you tend to not see people for what they are and you trust too much.

Because you are happy and positive, you think you can change the world but you really can't and the person who ends up getting hurt more often than not is yourself. I've experienced this with friends, with family members. But I don't let it get me down or change me. I just feel that the loss is theirs because they didn't have the higher understanding to accept the finer things and the beauty of life. I feel they've given up a beautiful friendship or a beautiful understanding for petty matters and though it hurts me- I feel it's their loss.

I get a lot of assurance from my reading. I get very easily attached to people and with that attachment comes pain and responsibility. More pain than responsibility because responsibility you can carry out, but pain you have to handle.

My favourite person in life is my mother. She's my friend and my guide. We fight a lot but we make up in the most beautiful ways because we just can't be angry with each other.

BIG NEW MOVIES COMING YOUR WAY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH STARS FROM MUMBAI

Stars: Kamal Haasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Vasundara Das, Naseeruddin Shah, Hema Malini, Saurabh Shukla, Vikram Gokhale Music: Ilayaraja Story and Direction: Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan's much-awaited Hey Ram has hit the screen and there is no doubt we have a totally different Hindi film here. It is a semi-fictionalized look at the tumultuous happenings during the Partition —above all, at the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the events leading up to the communal strife. Kamal, as an actor, had always been a cut above the rest though Bollywood with its cliché-ridden plots did not offer him much scope. While many of his contemporaries are still romancing around the trees, Kamal in Hey Ram chooses to play Sachet Ram, who raises some disturbing questions about Gandhi that have been nagging Indians for long. There is nothing revolutionary about Saket Ram. He gets sucked into mindless communal violence in Calcutta. He is determined to marry Aparna (Rani Mukhejee), a Bengali girl he loves. But his world is shattered when he loses her in an armed mob raid, and this lights up the first spark of hatred in his heart. More than at the killers of a particular community, his hatred is directed against the Mahatma who preached brotherhood and amity between Hindus and Muslims. Even as Ram pumps a few bullets into armed men running amok on the streets, he realizes the futility of it all. Saket Ram's life changes course when he is forced to have an arranged marriage with Mythili (Vasundara Das), a young girl from a conservative family. Ram is unable to forget his tender moments with Aparna. He finds it difficult to come closer emotionally to Mythili, though she is an understanding wife. In a parallel track runs Ram's contact with the Hindu extremists gunning for Gandhi. The bloodshed that Partition brings about further incite his hatred for Muslims, and Ram decides to assassinate the Mahatma. Shah Rukh Khan plays Saket Ram's buddy Amjad, who is unable to comprehend the change in Ram's mindset. Shah Rukh gives a controlled performance, leaving his mannerisms aside. He brings to life the character of Amjad, the saner element in the film who sees no reason why people of different communities should kill each other. There are many plus points Hey Ram. But Kamal got so involved with the subject that his film has become too lengthy - over three hours. Not long ago, we had Deepa Mehta's 1947—Earth on the same theme, though as far as production values are concerned Hey Ram is much superior. Kamal Haasan the director does not play second fiddle to Kamal Haasan the actor. The backdrop of the '40s has been well handled. As the central figure of his story, Kamal is in top form. Never melodramatic or loud, Kamal traverses the canvas with his characteristic confidence. And he gets away with many snide remarks against Gandhi's principles, blowing the mystique around the Mahatma. Kamal also incorporates into his narrative the December 6 Babri Masjid tragedy, that hurt the Muslim psyche and lead to riots. Kamal has a very competent cast to fulfill his dream project. Rani Mukherjee is delectable in a small role and handles her daring kissing scenes with Kamal rather well. Vasundara Das has a charming innocence that is endearing. Naseeruddin Shah manages to carry off the role of the tired old Gandhi with characteristic aplomb. South Indian maestro Ilayaraja's music is not the type that will be popular in the North. In fact, while watching Hey Ram one gets the feeling that it is a dubbed Tamil film—the dialogues and rituals are very typical of the South, and look slightly incongruous in a Hindi film. Hey! Ram is a film that will be appreciated by those who look for a different kind of cinematic experience.

................................................................................................................................................................................................
Rakesh Roshan's Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai is drawing fantastic initials at the box-office, and the industry is singing Hallelujahs to the new star pair. Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel have done enough in the movie to earn rave reviews, and our citizens have voted overwhelmingly for the young twosome as the Stars of the Week. 

For an industry starved of an emperor ever since the Big B lapsed into mediocrity by the beginning of the 90s, Hrithik Roshan has come as a godsend. Not since the arrival of the three Khans has there appeared on the firmament of Bollywood such a powerful new screen presence. Unlike the last few star sons -Saif Ali Khan (with Parampara), Bobby Deol (Barsaat) and Akshaye Khanna (Himalayputra), Hrithik has been able to create a big splash with his very first movie. But more than the B-O dividends, it is the multi-faceted talent of the lad that has created such a fantastic impression. He combines the energetic dancing ability of Shah Rukh with the body-beautiful of Salman and the restrained histrionic talent of Aamir. Great, naa? 

If Hrithik is the new shahzaada of Bollywood, Amisha Patel has staked her claim to the throne of the princess of tinsel-town-a throne lying vacant ever since Karisma and Ash were elevated to the status of rival queen bees with the marriages of former queens Madhuri and Kajol. It is by virtue of her sheer talent that she has been able to make her presence felt in a movie made for an exciting star-to-be by a loving father! She matches the cool dude pout for pout, pirouette for pirouette. 
While Hrithik comes from a family with an illustrious filmi background Amisha is from a clan which has made its presence felt in Maharashtra politics (and business). She is also a former Gold Medallist in Economics! 

Papa Rakesh has given a lot to Hrithik to do in KNPH: plenty of opportunity to take off his shirt and show off those impressive biceps, several impeccably choreographed dance numbers, a double role and a heroic-death scene. And he carries them all off with panache. Amisha gets to play a cutie-pie Li'l Ms Moneybags in the first half, and a weepy Ms Lost-and-lonely post-interval- she too acquits herself pretty well. The chemistry between them is crackling, and has to be seen to be believed. 
A new millennium, an exciting new star pair. New aspirations, new expectations. The new order is here to stay. We welcome it, we herald it... 
Tips Cassette in a Preity packet....
Preity Zinta's about to wage a war. And at the wrong end of her gun are her "good friends" Tauranis, owners of Tips Cassette. A strange development that, considering the fact that Tips was the banner that brought our pretty zing thing to the limelight with Soldier. And the fact has also been adequately trumpeted that Zinta is doing the next Tips film Friends. In short, this one was supposed to be one hunky dory relationship, mutually viable for the star and the filmmakers. Pity then that the ties are about to snap, and look at the paltry reason why. 
It's all about some vague music video filmed on one Shankar Sawhney (don't say Shankar who? - he's one of the numerous impositions overcrowding Planet Indipop). Apparently, the video produced by Tips has incorporated certain scenes that Preity had shot for the superhit Soldier but were not used in the film. The Tauranis contend that since Preity had shot the scenes for them, they have every right to use it for any of their subsequent productions. Point, but Preity has a more solid ground for objection: if the Tips people really wanted to use the shots from Soldier, shouldn't they have at least asked her first? After all, these shots were not included in the film because our lady wasn't really looking a pretty Zinta in them, to begin with. 

Sridevi's motherly act 
Look at what motherhood has done to Sridevi. The Queen Bee of yesteryear’s who would flinch even at the mention of the words badi behen, has now gone ahead to give the nod to playing Kareena Kapoor's mom in Subhash Ghai's Yaadein. Her logic is clear enough: if her contemporary hero Jackie Shroff does not mind playing Kareena's dad in the same film, why should she have any hang-ups? But Ghai, we are sure, is thankful to Sri's adorable daughter Jahnvi, who's invoked such motherly sentiments in the lady's heart. 


Superbaddie Ashutosh Rana denies all allegations leveled against him by the producer of Aashray, a small budget meaningful film that Ashutosh is supposed to have abandoned mid-way. Rana seemed genuinely perplexed when he grilled him, "Hey leave alone abandoning, I haven't even signed any such film. I haven't even met the esteemed producer. What's he talking about?" he says with a nonchalant shrug. Wonder who's telling the truth? As of now, we rest the case here.

For all the brickbats he received for his film, Subhash Ghai has a big fan in Shabana Azmi, who simply loved his Taal. "I think Subhash has taken great leap forward as a filmmaker," she said in a recent interview. "In Taal he has kept pace with the times." So now you know why Akshaye Khanna was tinkering with a laptop, sipping Coke and giving interview to an MTV veejay in the film.

People still haven't got to the bottom of those Sushmita Sen-Sanjay Kapoor rumors. Several film glossies insist that the two are still going strong, but let's not forget that Sanjay just turned papa to a beautiful little girl, and he's always been more than generous in his affection for wife Maheep Sandhu. Either way, whatever the truth may be, what cannot be ignored is that Sanjay and Sushmita's on-screen histrionics seem to have worked with audiences who have been clamoring for more ever since. Sirf Tum, which featured both stars, has just completed silver jubilee at several centers across the country.

Ten-day schedule for Shah Rukh Starrer One Two Ka Four

Producer Nazir Ahmed and director Shashilal K Nair commenced a ten-day shooting stints for Glamour Films' One Two Ka Four from November 1 at Madh Island, Band stand, Kohinoor Hotel and Strike ten. The film also stars Jackie Shroff, juhi Chawla, Nirmal Pandey. Based on a screenplay by Manoj Lalwani and Rajkumar Daahima, it has dialogue by Sanjay Chhel, music by A R Rahman, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, cinematography by S Kumar and art by Nitin Desai. Bhagwan Raj is the executive producer, Brij Chopra the production controller and Mahendra Verma is the action co-ordinator.
Millennium woman returns!

Good news for all Sridevi fans. Mrs. Boney Kapoor is all set to return. In a hubby-home production. Her comeback film will have her as the central theme (but naturally!) and not one but three heroes in it. The film is to be launched in January 2000 and will be directed by well-known Telugu director Krishna Vamshi. Talk about millennium women, our Sri baby takes the cake. And the candle too.

No, no, honey

Remember the infamous Kama where Deepti Bhatnagar was bathed in honey much to the producer's delight? And then most of the film was hacked by the censors much to the producer's dismay? Well, this is one battle the censors have won hands down. Compared to the pre-release publicity blitz, the film was released with no fanfare and is believed to be doing pretty badly at the box-office. Meanwhile, Oorvasi, who had chickened out halfway through the film, has decided to give the southern market another go, but there seem to be few takers now.

HOME PAGE