BOLLYWOOD BUZZ June 2004
BOLLYWOOD BUZZ
Shah Rukh made
of the ?write' stuff
In between hectic shooting schedules and spending quality time with his family, the super-energetic Shah Rukh Khan has managed to find time for another activity, something that will surely speak volumes about his talents as a writer. Yes, the superstar is all set to come out with his autobiography in the near future. "My book is coming along nicely. It was Mahesh Bhatt who put the idea into my head." says the actor who is already through 25 chapters. The book which starts with his childhood and ends with the birth of his daughter is titled 20 Years To A Decade. Interestingly, there's a chapter titled No News Is Good News which is dedicated to journos. Reveals SRK: "My last line is: Just when you thought he has finished this book, wait for the sequel." We will!
Incidentally, Shah Rukh is in the US these days for a top-secret project. Well, what we mean is that the actor is shooting in the high security areas of NASA for Ashutosh Gowarikar's Swades.
Ash's influence
not ?Paramount'
Time Magazine may have named Aishwarya Rai among the 100 most influential people in the world, but it seems that still isn't enough to fetch her a role opposite Brad Pitt. According to Bollywood baddie Gulshan Grover, Paramount Pictures has said a categorical ?No' to the suggested name of Ms Rai as Pitt's leading lady in a forthcoming Hollywood film. Grover who is part of the cast, has been asked by Paramount to scout for a Bollywood actress other than Ash. Says he: " I didn't bother to ask them why." The film, to begin early next year, will be shot partly in India.
But Ash still has old faithfuls like Gurinder Chadha sticking to her. Chadha has approached her Bride and Prejudice heroine for a new crossover film being produced jointly by Chadha and Kintop Pictures of Los Angeles. The movie titled Mistress of Spices based on Chitra Divakaruni Banerjee's bestseller will be the directorial debut of Chadha's husband Paul Mayeda Berges. It is a story of an Indian woman who runs a spice shop in San Francisco and has mysterious powers to cure problems of her customers.
Big B to play
?Godfather'
Amitabh Bachchan is all set to do a Marlon Brando. Even as Ram Gopal Varma wraps up the Abhishek-Antara starrer Naach, he is gearing up to direct Big B in a film called Sarkaar which is "my faithful version of Francis Coppola's The Godfather." The film will start in August or September. RVG has a unique take on the classic: "In spirit I want to remain as close to the original as possible. According to me, The Godfather has nothing to do with the mafia or the underworld. It's about a patriarch and his family honour." Sarkaar will deal with high politics. The underworld will only be a tool in their hands, according to the director.
Incidentally, two years ago Mahesh Manjrekar planned to re-make The Godfather in Hindi as Kutumb with Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan for producer Feroz Nadiadwala. The project got shelved. Let's hope Sarkaar meets a better fate!
?Kiss Miss'
is youth icon
She was first seen as Shah Rukh Khan's bride in a TV commercial a few years back. Then this attractive model made her debut on the big screen with Khwahish (Desire) and Mallika Sherawat kissed fame ? or should we say infame ? as ?Kiss Miss'. And now with Mahesh Bhatt's Murder, the lady is hot! And yes, it has everything to do with her red-hot scenes with, not one but two, Bollywood hunks in the erotic thriller. Wait there's more ? the latest is that well known CNN journalist and broadcaster Riz Khan reportedly referred to the bindaas babe as a ?youth icon' of India. Mallika is quite delighted with the accolade. "Although it is for the young people in this country to decide if I truly deserve such glowing praise, one thing is clear - I have done my best to reflect their aspirations. Like them, I too don't believe in hypocrisy. For me, life is all about calling a spade a spade," she gushes.
Meanwhile, audiences wait for Kis Kis Ki Kismat in which this Jatni from Haryana will set the screen ablaze with our very own macho Jat, Garam Dharam. So the heat is on!
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
