Another Arty Act

Even as everyone is rah-rahing about Kareena Kapoor’s decision to go arty with Govind Nihalani’s cop-drama Dev, you might want to ...

Even as everyone is rah-rahing about Kareena Kapoor’s decision to go arty with Govind Nihalani’s cop-drama Dev, you might want to look at it from another angle if you will — Nihalani, for his part, seems like he’s going mainstream with a vengeance. How else do you explain not just Kareena, but also masala Bollywood pin-up guy Fardeen Khan in his latest film? Best known for his cutie-boy image and his, ahem, lack of any real acting genius, Fardeen of such astonishingly appaling films as Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahen and Hum Ho Gaye Aapke, seems an odd choice for what Nihalani insists is an intense and gritty story about the police force. Then again, the filmmaker’s been smart enough to balance out his bubble-gum beauties with such heavyweight veterans as Amitabh Bachchan and Om Puri who also have starring roles.

On the Surface

It’s what you would call speaking too soon. After years of trying to agree upon a project they would like to do together, Juhi Chawla and director Tanuja Chandra seemed to have found just that script in Vaasta, which they were meant to begin filming shortly. But as luck would have it, the Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak actress is no longer the leading lady of Chandra’s new drama. Steps in Mahima Chaudhary, who has taken Juhi’s place. According to Bollywood insiders, the script has been tweaked a little here and there in order to make the character a little younger than she was initially. Now Mahima will play a superficial actress who uses the media as much as she can, till alarm bells ring and she turns over a new leaf. Strapping six-footers Priyanshu Chatterjee and Aryan Vaid will star opposite the Pardes star.

Copying Private Ryan

He hasn’t even fully recovered yet, but director Sanjay Gupta is already bragging he’s ready to announce his next project. Tentatively titled Vande Mataram, it’s going to be a war film with a mammoth cast and an equally huge budget. The Kaante filmmaker, who suffered a near-death road accident some weeks ago, best known for his desi rip-offs of Hollywood blockbusters, is planning even bigger after the success of Kaante. According to sources, Vande Mataram has been inspired by no less than Saving Private Ryan, and some may remember that Gupta’s good friend Sanjay Dutt was himself keen to direct a Hindi remake of Spielberg’s war classic some years ago.

Changing Tunes

Music video director Radhika Rao, who has to her credit some of the most memorable pop-videos ever, including Falguni Pathak’s Maine payal hai khankayee and Yaad piya ki aane lagi, and Pankaj Udhas’ Chandi jaisa rang hai tera — is finally set to turn filmmaker. Originally poised to direct a debut film for Zayed Khan, the project fell through when the young actor got tired of waiting for the film’s producers (Universal Music) to put the project into motion. Rao subsequently lost her job with the music company and has set up shop independently. In between directing tasteless and vulgar music videos (Have you seen the Kaanta laga video for DJ Doll featuring that obscene girl with the porno mag and the tattoo on her breasts?) Rao finally managed to convince Salman out-of-work Khan to star in her film. So, the Zayed project (titled Lucky) will now be made with Salman, and will also be produced by the actor’s home banner G S Entertainment. Only problem, they are hoping to cast a 16-year-old girl opposite 38-year-old Sallu!

End of Baby Talk

Right now, Sonali Bendre is pretty disgusted with all the rumours insisting that she is going to have a baby. The svelte actress insists that husband Goldie Behl and she have no plans as yet to start a family, and begs the media to give them a break. There are some rumours doing the rounds that she has a special appearance in Karan Johar’s new production Kal Ho Na Ho which stars Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta in leading roles. Talking of special appearances, she has also made one in the still-to-be-released Ajay Devgan-Rani Mukherjee starrer Chori Chori, for which she is yet to be paid, by the way!

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Nagging Doubt

With the film Style becoming a hit at the box office and others such as Valentine’s Day, Oops and Bachelor of Hearts ready to be released, is the cheesy, corny and slapstick variety of filmmaking here to stay or a passing fad?

Sanjay Suri: ‘‘Films are market driven and seeing the box office records, Style was a big hit. So, though, we might ask ourselves if our tastes have degenerated, finally there is a demand for such films. And this is not really a passing phase, because such films have been made in the past and will continue to be made — after all, we are only giving our target audience what they demand. In crude terms, Jo bikta hai, woh dikhta hai.

Ruby Bhatia: ‘‘I don’t think the Indian audience is one to go for trends. If the films aren’t good enough, cheap thrills can’t make a trend. But of course only time can tell.’’

Govind Nihalini: ‘‘I have not seen even a single of these films, and though the name Style rings a bell, I cannot even recall the promo. So I think it will be unfair for me to comment on this particular genre of films.’’