Cross It like Chadha

AFTER the stupendous success of Bend It Like Beckham across the world (the film is still on Top 10 charts in some countries, including Austr...

AFTER the stupendous success of Bend It Like Beckham across the world (the film is still on Top 10 charts in some countries, including Australia), filmmaker Gurinder Chadha wants to try her hand at something bigger. In collaboration with Hollywood producer Deepak Nayar and Bollywood production company iDreams, she will launch a crossover movie with at least one or two big stars from India. Aishwarya Rai, one hears, has already been in discussions with Chadha. There is also some talk of Aamir Khan having been sent a script.

The Receiving End

NOBODY’S stopped laughing since they heard this. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta and his team of writers were robbed by what they suspect was a group of adivasis in Khandala. The filmi lot, tired after hours spent tweaking the script of Gupta’s new production Plan, passed out in the bungalow they’d borrowed for the weekend. When they woke up the next morning, they discovered all their personal belongings gone. Gupta’s DVD player, his Rolex watch, his mobile phone, the writers’ clothes, their shoes, their bags — all of it was gone! Gupta promptly filed a police complaint, but returned home a poorer man. Industry gossips are joking that Gupta may have finally learnt what it feels like to have been stolen from for a change — after all, he’s been on the other side of the fence, stealing things (read scripts and plot ideas!) for a long time himself!

Bollywood Dreams

NOW that Devdas is an undisputed hit and is basking in early Oscar buzz, Bharat Shah is getting ready for a second innings in the movie business. According to insiders in the film trade, the richie-rich diamond merchant will soon announce his latest project, a biggie to be directed by Ramgopal Varma, and starring Bharatbhai’s favourite actor, Shah Rukh Khan. If the project does happen, it will be the first time Varma and Khan will have come together after several aborted efforts on the part of the filmmaker. Sources close to the Mohabbatein star say Shah Rukh was never too keen to feature opposite Ramu’s favourite actress Urmila Matondkar. But now that the director himself has moved on to younger and prettier things (read Antara Mali), Shah Rukh really doesn’t have much reason to complain.

Queen of the Cast

REMEMBER, you read about it here first. It’s more than likely that the first actress to be officially cast in J P Dutta’s star-studded war saga LOC will be Rani Mukherjee. The actress has been inundated with calls from the filmmaker, urging her to consider a role. The Aati kya Khandala girl seems all set to feature opposite Ajay Devgan in what will no doubt be a teensy-weensy part in terms of footage. She says it’s the spirit of the film that she wants to be a part of. Other names being tossed around include Raveena Tandon, Tabu and even Kareena Kapoor.

Friends Again

ALL those who say there’s trouble brewing in Shah Rukh Khan’s friendship with Juhi Chawla, should get their facts checked. Not only is Juhi actively involved in all production responsibilities of the Aziz Mirza film that Shah Rukh is starring in with Rani Mukherjee, she also flew to Malaysia last week with SRK, Rani and Saif Ali Khan for a series of stage shows. And the old camaraderie between Juhi and Shah Rukh was still very much the same, everyone insists. It’s Aishwarya, whom Shah Rukh has had a problem with, ever since that episode in Pune where Salman Khan disturbed a shoot and roughed up both Shah Rukh and Ash.

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Nagging Doubt

Lagaan made the Oscar shortlist but didn’t bring back the trophy. Does Devdas have a brighter chance at Oscar glory?

Jackie Shroff: ‘‘I was in Devdas, but I say this in all honesty — it’s going to be tough to do better than Lagaan.’’
Priyanka Chopra: ‘‘How can one say for sure? What Lagaan achieved was no mean feat. If Devdas does make a big impression, some of it may be because Lagaan led the way.’’
Mahima Chaudhary: ‘‘It doesn’t matter which out of Lagaan and Devdas we think is better because they’re not competing against each other. It’s important that the Academy prefers Devdas to the many films submitted from different countries, so it makes the final shortlist.”

Dino Morea: ‘‘Devdas stands a good shot at the Oscars because Bollywood is on the world map. We aren’t an obscure nation making films that nobody watches…’’