Bollywood Gallery #8

W hy can't our Bollywood babes show the enterprise of a Charlize Theron in Monster or Nicole Kid- man in The Hours? When it comes to their look, our statuesq- ue beauties want to maintain the status quo by playing safe. Our latter day actresses may be getting meatier roles but they seem as circumspect as yesterday's stars. Remember Babita or Asha Parekh playing the village belles all dolled up in powder and gloss? The anach- ronism is laughable. Playing safe In keeping with that tradition ac- tresses remain wary of change. Take Rani Mukerji for instance. The lady looks the same: as a lovelorn wife in Babul and a cheating spouse in Kab- hi Alvida... Priyanka Chopra is also guarded about image makeovers. Check out Don and Krrish for fac- similes! Even Preity Zinta and Kajol are not too keen to experiment. Says Anaita Shroff Adjania, who styled the Dhoom 2 look that wowed audiences, "It's about play- ing safe. There's a certain way that the Indian audience wants to see their on-screen women." Deal with it Director Kunal Kohli gives another take. "Times are changing and actresses are getting a better deal, but the hero is still the lead. So the film's all about his character and look." For instance, Amitabh Bachchan sports a beard in Eklavya while Jr Bachchan can be seen in long-curly locks in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and Drona. How can we forget the inimitable Aamir Khan? The committed actor grew a moustache and gained we- ight for Mangal Pandey. He later lost the extra pounds to play a col- lege boy in Rang de Basanti! Designer Anna Singh says, "There's a lot one can do with men. From hair to beards to clothes." Also Hrithik Roshan is emerging as the new master of disguise. From Krrish to Dhoom 2, while in Ashutosh Gowarikar's Akbar Jodha, he is going for the period look with beard and all. So while Bollywood dudes ex- plore 'character roles', seems like the girls for now, will have to settle for greasepaint.

ecently, one saw Sohail Khan crying in agony to invite Isha Koppikar for a romp in bed in Salaam-e-Ishq. Now Abhay Deol and Minisha Lamba also do something similar as they play bed games in their soon to be released Honeymoon Travels Pvt Limited. Playing a newly married couple who finally get into wedlock after years of dating and to- getherness, Abhay and Minissha enjoy each and every moment in their honeymoon ren- dezvous. And it is during one of those inti- mate moments in the film where they turned into a dog and a cat! In the film, once behind closed doors and an inviting bed, Abhay pleads and groans like a dog to catch the attention of his newly wed wife. Well, Minissha is not far behind too as she teases him while mooing like a cat and gives him all the reasons to be on the top of her....well literally! What happens next? Well, though it is quite obvi- ous, one waits to see what direc- tor Reema Kagti and the censors have in mind to decide on what to show and what not in this fun-filled entertainer.

W hen it comes to re-in- venting old projects and passing them off as new, Ramesh Katkar seems to be a step ahead of his mentor Ram Gopal Varma. After his first film Rokda — Sabko Mangta Hai was shelved, Katkar announced, Rosh with Mohit Ahlawat, Aashish Chowdhry and Tulip Joshi. But the actors, who agreed to do the film even before they heard the script, were in for a shock when they realised that Katkar was planning to make the earlier film with a differ- ent name. The ex-assistant of Varma and writer of Mast tried to pass off the story of Rokda, whose rights were with producer Madhu Shar- ma, under a new name. Refusing to be part of a controversy, the entire cast walked out of the film. "I haven't heard the script of Rosh, but I've heard stories that the script was similar to that of Rokda. So I've asked Ramesh to avoid controver- sies and come up with a fresh subject," said Chowdhary. "The film was expected to go on the floors in the next few months. The actors trust- ed the director and did not ask for a narration. But then producer Madhu Sharma, who suffered a huge loss when Rokda — Sabko Mang- ta Hai was shelved, informed them that it was the same script.

ARGUABLY THE ONLY HEROINE IN THE WORLD WITH JUST ONE DIMPLE, she's been on the showbiz scene for nearly a decade. Known for her frank and forthright views, the graduate in psychology has also become a champion of social causes in recent times. One of the most glamorous, well turned-out heroines, she is much more than arm candy to the business scion Ness Wadia. The actress of substance, Preity Zinta in conversation with Vajir Singh

What is at the top of your mind? Right now? I'm very low because (sighs) I went through a huge emo- tional roller-coaster. I lost my dog- gy Since Junior was sick, I had to . avoid lot of work but now I'm back. This year is going to be an excit- ing, in a week or two there should be an announcement about one of my forthcoming projects. I believe film producers should make the announcement, not me I strongly feel that my whole one big circle is over and a new one is starting this year. Talk is that you've signed three films. And also that you've resolved not to do more than two films a year from now on. Not really. I'm not sure.. it all depends on the project of course. If it grabs me, I'd go for it. I hope to go by my instinct.. (laughs) and wisdom. I don't need to prove any- thing to anyone. I've completed one circle of my career, the second one's taking off now. The last two years of my life have been a bit difficult. I survived the tsunami while I was in Phuket..it's taken me a while to come out of the trauma. I didn't do many films. If I was doing two films a year, I reduced it to one. Now I'm in a different state of mind. That's life, it keeps chang- ing. One phase follows the other. Areyoucontemplatingseriouscinema? How serious do you expect me to get after Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna? Look at my performance in any film and compare it with KANK. I had to do 16 retakes for my first shot.. Karan (Johar) was like— "Don't move your head.. don't do this.. don't do that." He would expect me to just talk and focus on my eyes. After so many retakes, I thought I've forgotten acting but he said I only want you to move when you have a "fight" scene. Otherwise you have too much in your mind to move around. You were criticised for your look in the movie. Weren't you? I wasn't in India when the film was released. I got great reviews abroad. As long as people go and buy the ticket to watch my film, criticism is welcome. As for my looks in the film, it suited the character. After I did my introduction scene in KANK, Karan asked me to do it again. He wanted my make-up to be more dramatic. He said, "I'm not look- ing for a cute girl-next-door. I want a look which can tell Shah Rukh Khan, "Hey, like it or not but I'm the man of the house." He thought that crucial scene would fall apart if I kept a sweet little face. There was a phase in the shoot- ing when I thought what's hap- pening? But after the movie, I was sure he was right. Filmmakers know, especially Karan. Were you disappointed by the Jaan- e-mann flop? I'm proud of the film and will be proud of it even ten years from now. Everyone has the right to like or dislike it. (Producer) Sajid Nadi- adwala is a friend,working with him is a pleasure. And (director) Shirish Kunder tried to use the film's medium in a different way . These days you're majorly into social causes. How come? Look at the state of the city Every . time you come from abroad you realise it has deteriorated. If I want to change the conditions, I can't do anything from my draw- ing room, can I? As an actor, I have a certain platform. I don't want to use it only to ask the audience to go and see my film. Also I'm 32. When I was much younger.. 17.. I would do anything in the world to go to a night club… anything — jump out of the win- dow.. lie to my parents.. beg my eld- er brother for money Today I have . , money, there's a nightclub right outside my house..but I don't feel like going there. My priorities have changed. With age, one's gray matter gets prominent. Even if two people listen to Pre- ity Zinta, my job is done. I don't get paid to do it. After the rain prob- lem last year in Mumbai, I wasn't keeping well. My doctor told me it's not just me but a whole lot of people. Then we went for the let's clean Mumbai campaign. Please continue. I've been doing charity for the last seven years. I even worked for HIV awareness and women issues. Please come and see how people sleep on the road outside my house. Every day I drive back to my house.. , my driver and I are so nervous. The minute someone gets hurt, the entire media will be there. Why can't the authorities work towards giving the Mumbaikar basic amenities? Forget the streets, so many homeless have no choice but to sleep right in the middle of traffic junctions. How corrupt can our govern- ment get? Our state receives the second highest budget in our coun- try and look at our condition. Look at Delhi, it rocks. Delhi feels like a foreign country. Have you ever been to Delhi? Two years ago. Go now. You'll say what has hap- pened to Delhi.. how they've planned it. Mumbai has cooler people..so much more cosmopoli- tan. But nothing happens here. It looks as if you're going away from the glamorous world? I haven't stopped doing movies and never will. But just to prove that I'm a heroine.. I don't have to be a bimbo. I can be a heroine and I can be socially aware. Do you know how terrible I feel when I go abroad and my friend says, "Oh you're from Mumbai. It stinks." I start explaining that it's the smell of fish. I don't feel happy about this. What's the latest on your case against a tabloid paper? It's going on. The next hearing is on the 21st this month. If you still read nasty news about me in this paper, it's always a day before the hearing in court. Okay, tell me.. don't you ever worry about the short shelf life of a heroine? Perceptions are altering. With the boom in the multiplex market, it's the best time for an actress. Earli- er, actresses used to get their best roles between the age of 17 and 25. Today the best roles aren't going to , 17 or 22-year-olds. A couple of years ago, no big heroine would play a mature role. Today they are. , If you ask me, the '50s were the golden era for actresses. What superb roles, what superb actress- es — Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Nutan, Geeta Bali, Waheeda Rehman. What about the intense conjecture that you could marry Ness Wadia any day. (Silence) Is it a rumour? Yes. Everybody has the right to say what they want to. Nobody can say that with as much authenticity as I can. I know what I'm doing. I'm not getting married this year. If I was then I would have said so. So guys, leave me alone.. marriage is nowhere on the cards. It's been two years since I'm being asked about my marriage. Don't you see yourself as woman who has settled down..with a husband and kids? I don't know. There is a right time and place for such life-altering decisions. What's the hurry? Right now, I'm fine the way I am.. thank you. Something about Zinta Born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, her father Durganand Zinta was an officer in the Indian Army. She has two brothers—elder one is Deepankar and the younger one is Manish. Deepankar is a commis- sioned officer in the Indian Army. Manish is settled in Los Angeles. She was meant to make her acting debut with Shekhar Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum. But the project never took off. Technically, her first film was Kundan Shah's Kya Kehna, which was delayed till 2000. Soldier met with the same fate. And that's how she debuted in Dil Se (1998). Her first shot was with Bobby Deol.

Filmy channel had its first anniversary bash at the Intercontinental hotel in Andheri. Spotted: Chunky Panday, Subhash Ghai, Ashutosh, Sushanto Ray, Suresh Menon, Mona Singh, Karan Oberoi..and some.. WHAT 1st Anniversary of Filmy WHERE WHO Subhash Ghai, Suresh Menon, Chunky Panday, Mona Singh and Karan Oberoi.. Intercontinental Hotel, Sahar

WHAT Pankaj Udhas' 25th wedding anniversary WHERE Hilton Towers, Nariman Point WHO Amitabh Bachchan, Amar Singh, Zeba Kohli, Shaina Ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas and wife Farida celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in style at the Hilton Towers, with several A-listers making it to the party. Spotted: Amitabh Bachchan, Amar Singh, Alex Kuruvilla, AN Roy, Shaina NC, Ila Arun, Vikas Bhalla, Prem Chopra, Bhagyashree, Rakshanda Khan, Archana Puran Singh...and heaps more