Bollywood Gallery #8 - Page 4

N ow she's in the Bikaner sands, then in Bangkok, Boston and aaah, final- ly home in Mumbai. But then travel- ing is just one of the perks of being in the dream factory. But wherever she is, Priyanka Chopra is constant grist for the gossip mills. Which is why I want to know right away: News is that you've signed up the Venus banner film with Akshay Kumar again.. but hadn't you both decided mutually not to pair together after the intese rumours? (Cautiously) I've no clue about this. I haven't signed any film with Akshay yet. Do you anticipate any problems when you work with Akshay Kumar again? I don't foresee any problems of working with Akshay again. When I take up a role, it hinges entirely on the script and my role in it. Apparently, Kareena Kapoor is upset with you for doing a take-off on Pooh (Kabhi Khushi Kab- hi Gham) in Salaam-e-Ishq. I don't think that's the case. Not only Kami- ni but all the characters in my story were caricatures of real people in the Bombay movies. Kamini was a caricature of an item girl, Tinnu Anand was a caricature of star secretaries, Amar and Prem were modelled on real life journalists. Kamini was meant to go over the top. Certain mannerisms and attitudes were taken from real people. I guess that was nec- essary because Kamini was not just any item girl. She's a star like Helenji in her prime. Kamini had to break into nakhras, and talk in third person. So whose mannerisms and attitudes did you adopt? It would be very unfair to name them.. why don't you ask the director? (Nikhil Advani). Journalists were made fun of in the film.. where do you ever see scribes like Amar and Prem? I don't think that was the intention. Person- ally I think the media is responsible about its job.. I haven't had any problems with the journalists I've interacted with. I would even say the media has been kind to me. Then how do you react when stories about your affairs are splashed all over the papers and mag- azines? (Sighs audibly) It would be clichd to say that it's a part and parcel of the profession, One learns to take it in one's stride. After you opted out of Kaal, you haven't been offered another film by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. Like Kamini, aren't you also wait- ing for that one big film from him? Yes, definitely. Karan Johar is a big name.. who wouldn't want to work for his produc- tion banner or in the film that he directs? He understood my predicament when I couldn't do Kaal but that hasn't affected the friendly rapport we share. I'm sure he'll call me whenever he has an appropriate role. TheYashrajbannerseemstohaveavoidedyoutoo. What I said about Dharma Productions goes for the Yashraj banner too. They cast actors who best suit the characters.. so I'm hope- ful of being cast by them in the future. You came in for considerable criticism for Krrish.. could you handle it? I take criticism positively. If the critics had issues with my make-up and performance, I can only hope that I won't let them down in the future. The trade believed that you had been accepted by the Shah Rukh Khan camp after doing a series of shows and then Don with him. How come you're not doing any project with him anymore? I was never into any camps, so I don't know what to say about this. I continue to share a friendly rapport with Shah Rukh. It's said that you're skillful at action scenes.. is that how you landed Goldie Behl's Drona oppo- site Abhishek Bachchan? I don't know about that. I'm still learning the boundless art of acting.. if you ask me, like every actress I'd like to be versatile. So am I good at action? Well maybe my physique allows me to be flexible. Now I may not be a Charlie's Angel but I'm not too bad either. I hold my breath and perform my stunts.. every actress is required to do that in our movies. After martial arts in Don, you're now doing gat- ka, a north Indian form of martial art in Drona. Can you tell me what this form of combat involves? Aah, is that a question? Gatka has its own intricate techniques; I don't want to spoil its novelty by talking about it. That's some- thing you'll have to see in the film. So where do you see your forte? It's been only three years since I entered the industry. So it's too early for me to specialise in any one genre or make something my forte. What do you have to say about Harman Baweja who's been linked with you now? How rude! Don't you have friends from the opposite gender? When a heroine does, it becomes a national scandal. Really, who has the time or energy for affairs? I'm 24, I do an honest day's work and like any working girl, go home, hit the hay and dream that maybe tomorrow I'll find my guy.. till then I'll let the reporters do their own guesswork. At least they think I'm important enough to be linked with any X, Y or Z I'm seen just hav- ing a harmless conversation in public. Facts of life Her pet name is Mimi The Bareilly girl wanted to be an engineer. On an impulse entered the Miss India con- test and won the Misss World title in 2000. Her first film was in Tamil, Thamizhan, a huge hit. Her prized possession is a suitcase con- taining old family photographs right from the day she was born. She's a gizmo enthusiast and spends quite some time gaming on her play station. On the newsfront Opted out of producer Dinesh Patel's Benaam after two days of shooting. After the issue reached the film associations, she returned the signing amount of Rs 19 lakh. Her secretary Prakash Jaju sued her for not paying his dues for promoting her career. He even threatened to disturb the release of Rakesh Roshan's Krrish. Akshay Management Services, an event management company, she had signed for a three-year contract, filed a case against her and her father for breach of contract after she terminated it. She's reportedly seeing Harman Baweja, son of Harry Baweja, who produced Karam. She was spotted crying at the premiere of pro- ducer Baweja's Main Aisa Hi Hoon. The on- off couple are currently together again.

WHAT Music album launch WHERE The Club, Andheri WHO Madhuri Dixit, Javed Akhtar, Sonu Nigam, Aadesh Srivastava.. MADHURI DIXIT NENE made an appearance to launch Vijayeta Pan- dit's first album, com- posed by Aadesh Sri- vastava. Also present were Shaan, Jatin Pandit, Kunal Ganjawala, Shveta Salve and boyfriend Rodney, Javed Akhtar and others from the music world.

Aftab Shivadasani brought in his birthday to the theme 'Red', which incidentally is also the name of his new film. Yana Gupta was conspicuous by her absence, but present were: Riya Sen, Amrita Arora and Usman Afzal, Sanjay Gupta, Sohail Khan, Zayed Khan and wife Malaika, Suneil Shetty with wife Mana, Viveik Oberoi, Rocky S, Dino Morea, Isha Koppikar and Inder Kumar, Chunky Panday, Rahul Dev, Rakshanda Khan, Koel Puri, Shonali Nag rani, Ashish Raheja, Rishii Acharya owner of Voyeur, VJ Sophie, Anusha Dandekar... WHAT Saalgirah WHERE Voyeur WHO Amrita Arora, Koel Purie, Zayed Khan...

W hat's going on? I would think that Soniya Mehra, the daughter of Vinod Mehra, needs all the goodwill in the world currently. But am told Mom Mehra is being very difficult and is not being gung-ho about her launch project, Victoria No. 203, which she has signed for producer Kamal Sadanah. Instead Mom Mehra is even encouraging other script sessions.. just hope she doesn't botch up beti's career. No?

E eeee. This Kangana Ranaut is now say- ing that she didn't have a massive, physical skirmish with Aditya Panscholi.. what was she doing with him anyway late at night?.. and where was Zarina Wahab?.. I really don't want to both- er my pretty head with such questions. Neither does Kangoo really, since she has a very short-span memory.. forgets things immediately.. and is therefore nicknamed "Full Toss."

H i dear dimsums. Gawd, I've been snowed under Valen- tine's day cards, balloons, chocs and my best bud (now, I'm not telling you his name) even sent me a solitaire.. but I sent it right back.. don't wanna marry and all that immediately, like Preity Zinta has been saying.. yeah when the time's right, we'll bite. Aah, but my love story is the kind that Yash Chopra movies are made. Mush vush and all that. What I am amazed by is the love story.. which my spies in furni- ture showrooms.. inform me about.. and I do wonder if it has anything to do with Nisha Kothari. Meaning, my uncle direc- tor friend Ram Gopal Varma went to this furniture showroom and was very impressed by a revolving bed. If my informants are to be believed and they always are, Ramuji then asked if the speed could be increased.. aiyyo! Not possible, he was told..whereupon he ordered the bed costing Rs 8 lakh and asked it to be delivered at the house of his "friend." Hmmm, hope he gets some revolving pillows too.

N ext time, I visit that sweet girl at her sparkling clean house, I'm going to take her a goldfish or two. First Sushmita Sen, now Amrita Rao is fida over maintaining a fish tank in the house. In fact, Amrita Rao believes the fish tank is very lucky for her.. after all, ever since she got the tank, she's been coming up hits. Aah, wish I could say the same about Ash..where is she? Hiding or

I 'm the sort who loves all kinds of movies and songs.. so I even loved Anwar in bits and pieces which was supposed to do wonders for the career of Manisha Koirala's brother Siddharth. Sadly.. how my heart bleeds.. it didn't. So I'm not surprised that apni Manya has sprinted away to a place called Koh Samui for a hol- iday. Why why? I do feel troubled when lovely ladies like Manya have to take a holiday from being absolutely idle.

I f you thought Malaika Arora Khan has vanished from the silver screen, you are wrong. She is all set to appear in Farah Khan's next venture Om Shanti Om. Malaika was approached by Shah Rukh's Red Chillies Entertainment which is producing this film. Malaika plays a superwoman, clad in red gown and flying off roof tops in the flick. Her char- acter is sweet and funny and something she has not ever done before. The interesting part is that Malaika has acted in the film for free. She says, "I did the part for Farah Khan who is a dear friend." But Farah and Shah Rukh sur- prised the svelte actress by sending her a gift hamper of cards, flowers, a Tag Heuer watch and a cell- phone. Malaika adds that they thought she desperate- ly needed a new phone and therefore got her one. Malaika and her hubby Arbaaz Khan have also shot for KBC 3 with Shah Rukh Khan.