Backstage Fright

While most stuck to their vanity vans,we spotted Salman Khan seated right outside his van in his trademark shorts and tee enjoying a hot cuppa and his dose of nicotine. When asked if he was all set to perform,he said,“I have pulled my back muscle,but I should be able to pull this off.” After all,true to his character in Wanted,once Khan commits he doesn’t back out. Soon after,he was seen rehearsing with the kids and even Katrina Kaif’s presence did not distract him.

Taking a cue from Khan,Kareena Kapoor too got out of her vanity van in track pants and tee sans make-up to rehearse for her performance. And was it a treat for roving eyes? “I just started practising yesterday,” she told us. But we knew this seasoned performer would pull it off. What she couldn’t pull off,however,was masking her discomfort when she came across ex-beau Shahid Kapoor. Kapoor was heading back to his van after his performance and Kareena towards the stage. As fate would have it,the ex lovers did cross each other’s path,almost touched shoulders,but neither acknowledged or greeted the other.

The Kapoor gal though has let bygones be bygones with the Bachchan clan. Chatting candidly with Jaya Bachchan in the lounge,both of them were heard showering praises on Vaidya. The chat was professional,but at least the ice was broken. Although 3 Idiots was one of Mrs Bachchan’s favourites,she made it clear that she hated attending award functions when her family members did not win. “I will strangle Kunal Kohli (jury member) if we don’t,” she joked.Trust the gorgeous Rekha to do things differently. She chose the backstage to make her entry rather than the red carpet. When asked which actor she was rooting for,she chose to maintain a dignified silence with: “My lips are sealed.” With Amitabh Bachchan in the category,this was a wise answer. While the show went on,a movie deal was being signed between Vishal Bhardwaj and Shah Rukh Khan in the latter’s vanity van. The two chatted for almost 45 minutes before SRK went on stage for his anchoring act.

Strategic plotting continued as Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan cleverly made it to the lounge to avoid Salman’s performance. But there was no respite for Rai-Bachchan who had to catch it on the TV screen,though she did a commendable job of keeping a straight face. After the performance it was Salman’s turn to play hide and seek with Shah Rukh who was backstage then. Sensing tension in the air he chose to change his tee in the open and zoomed off in his car. To avoid any further controversy,the media-friendly SRK too refused any media bytes and found solace in the confines of his car.

Watch the 16th Annual Nokia Star Screen Awards on Star Plus,this Sunday,January 31,at 7.30 pm