Desi News Corp - Index

Desi News Corp - Desi News - May 2009 - Index

PSSST...! FROM THE FRONTLINES OF BOLLYWOOD
Photo finish
Akshay Kumar would like his fans to know
that Nagesh Kukunoor’s 8x10 Tasveer is not
yet another Bhool Bhulaiya. “I have tried something
different. But please do not expect
another Ghajini, either. It is not. It is a different
film. I play a guy who can go back to his past.
If I could do that in real life, I’d go back and
talk to my dad, who I miss very dearly. I wish
he had lived to see my success. My dad, Hari
Om Bhatia, and Nagesh’s dad were friends,
they worked together in Delhi with UNICEF,
when we were kids. It really is a small world.”
He admits that initially he did not see eye to
eye with Kukunoor. “It was only on the fifth
day that I found my comfort zone with Nagesh
as a director. He is known for his ‘different’ films,
and I hope he gets me awards for this one!”
On another note, if sources are to be
believed, Akshay Kumar, who walked the ramp
for Lakme Fashion Week, charged Levi’s Rs. 12
million ($300,000) for his catwalk moment. He
has a two-year contract with them for Rs. 120
million ($3 million). Of course, how that plays
out remains to be seen: Cases have been filed
against the actor and his wife Twinkle Khanna
for obscenity following her unbuttoning his jeans
during the show.
34 Desi News May 2009
Pass the salt, please
Aamna Sharif (Aloo Chaat) asserts that she
wants to maintain exclusivity whether it is on
television or in films. “My fans from Kahin To
Hoga expect a lot more from me than just looking
good on the screen!”
She was linked to Rajeev Khandelwal (Amir)
and now it’s Aftab Shivdasani. “If I were new, it
would have bothered me, but after several years
on TV, I take it with a bagful of salt. People mistake
my reserve for arrogance. It did take me time to
open up with Aftab on the sets of Aloo Chaat, but
once the ice was broken, we had a blast. Aftab,
whom we call Faffy, and I share the same star sign!”
Dreaming of islands in the sun
Sushmita Sen, who already has a penthouse in Mumbai, is looking to acquire a
villa in the French Riviera. Her last few films may have tanked at the box office but
brand endorsements and commercials support her lavish lifestyle.
And Rekha is buying an island shaped like New Zealand in the UAE and was to
fly there to complete the formalities. She’ll then join the elite list that own their
own island in a project called The World comprising 250 islands. But it won’t be
until another three years that Re can enjoy her first holiday there.
United we stand
The animosity between Shah Rukh
Khan and Hrithik Roshan, caused by
the Krazzy 4 song controversy, is ancient
history with the two united against the
Aamir-Sallu-Akki front. Roshan and his
wife Susanne are permanent fixtures on
that exclusive list of invitees to Mannat,
King Khan’s home.
Once a bhabi...
Sakshi Tanwar, Parvati bhabi in the
teleserial Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, makes her
bow in films with Coffee House opposite
Ashutosh Rana. “Playing Parvati bhabi
has been advantageous as well as disadvantageous
for me. It was a strong character
which got me a lot of love and respect,
but the bhabhi image crept in!”
Body of work
Salman Khan, once a dedicated
bodybuilder, voted seventh best looking
man in the world and the best looking
man in India by an international
magazine, appears to be losing it. The
actor’s wild lifestyle seems to have
caught up with him. The six pack is now
replaced by a paunch. With numerous
hair weaves and puffy eyes, his fans
hardly recognize the superstar they all
loved to see shirtless.
Wooing Sridevi
Sridevi announced her come-back
with a sequel to Mr India, and Hema
Malini wants her for her home
production with daughter Esha Deol
in the lead. The two are friends. Hema
had trusted Esha’s debut with Boney’s
production company as she believed
Sridevi would take special care of her
daughter’s interests, and now she’s
hoping Sri will help raise the stakes of
her upcoming film, too. Sridevi,
meanwhile, is also getting back to
dancing to get back in shape for the
much-awaited sequel to Mr India.