Sunday, October 14, 2001		Movie Magic

BOLLYWOOD is abuzz with the romping return of ravishing Rambha. Yes, she had said once that she prefers doing movies down South, but the pull of Hindi cinema is such that no heroine from there — particularly the successful ones —can stay away too long from Mumbai movies. See?

And, within the couple of months that Rambha has made her comeback, she’s getting deluged with some of the most coveted assignments ever... leaving most of the other so-called top heroines with their mouths open.

As a matter of fact, Kareena Kapoor is coming in for the stick ,specially because Rambha has been signed on for at least five new, big movies that Kareena was to do originally! Kareena carries a big chip on her shoulder and is hardly the cooperative ‘n’ congenial leading lady — thanks to her awesome attitude — which doesn’t jell with all filmmakers... or even co-stars, for that matter.

On the contrary, Rambha is going out of her way to accommodate producers with bulk shoot dates — something that Kareena simply can’t do for another couple of years! And so, the next few months are going to be worth watching. I mean, will Rambha really oust Kareena...?

Honestly, I can’t imagine the rapidfire burnout of today’s stars. Like, one day they’re being touted as the most sensational discovery (sic) and the next so-and-so ... and within weeks, they tend to become history!

Take a look around desi tinsel town and you’ll know exactly what I mean, friends. What’s more, this sudden disappearance happens more to the new brigade of guys rather than the girls! Two such chaps who immediately come to mind are Arshad Warsi and Chandrachur Singh. Where are they today, for Christ’s sake, hey?

I’ll tell you: nowhere, that’s where!

While Chandrachur keeps getting the odd offer for a film already stacked with (big) stars, Warsi is trying for some B and C grade productions or doing some (stupid) ad films. Our man says he has great plans up his sleeve and that he’s going to "stun the film industry" with roles and performances "too good to be true". I just hope ‘n’ pray it doesn’t turn out to be a literal prophecy!

No two ways about it: The once slim ‘n’ trim Preity Zinta is today, far removed from her comely, sexy, shapely ‘sylph’! The extra baggage she’s carrying around simply can’t be hidden... or ignored. Like, what’s up? Doesn’t Preity wish to remain ‘pretty’ anymore, huh?

But this lass is least bothered, you know. "I’m an actress, not a catwalk model on FTV!" she scoffs. "If I can put in a good performance and do total justice to my roles, I think that alone matters. Besides, I love good food... and hate to exercise! Let me assure you, my value is as an actress, a performer, an emoter. So, shall we leave it at that, eh?"

Sorry, Preity, I, for one, can’t. Because I still remember (so vividly) the first time I met you on the sets of Soldier in your slinky, sexy black velvet skirt with those awesome slits running down your fair, shapely legs from the hips and how I clicked away with my camera — focusing more on your curvy legs rather than yourdimpling face!

Do you think I, or any other photographer, would now like to do that, huh? After all, it’s your calves we love to ogle at and snap — and most certainly not calves that have turned into cows!

The one chick who seems to be hell bent upon ruining her (fledeling) film career without help from anyone else, happens to be Lisa Ray. Just imagine, she’s walked out of Kaante because she felt that she wasn’t being given the special attention she deserves!

"I have nothing against doing this kind of multi-starrer because I have absolute confidence that I can hold my own in any set-up, in any sort of a role... a dozen other stars notwithstanding. But if any producer or director thinks that he can whittle away the importance of my role, well, that’s just too bad for them. I mean, what is wrong with these guys?"

By leaving this (highly) heavy project, Lisa has done more harm than good to her persona as a professional. I mean, does she expect to do only solo heroine-oriented pictures? Director Sanjay Gupta has lost no time in replacing her with leggy Malaika Arora-Khan... and no amount of Lisa’s laments have made any difference to the magnificent marquee of the movie.

War or no war, looks like our stars couldn’t care less.

Deliberately oblivious to the newspaper headlines and the TV warnings, the film people are busy organising/attending one big bash after another. Er... if finance baron Bharat Shah can have a hungama happening on his birthday in the hospital ICU, why not the filmmakers/stars who don’t even have a pimple?

Yeah, over the past two weeks, Bollywood’s party farters have been living it up at one party blast or another! What’s more, they don’t even need to look for an excuse or occasion anymore!

The opening of a new boutique or restaurant or shopping mall is now reason enough to don the gladrags!

Does it say something for Bollywood’s bohemians, hey?!