Arjun on Ajay
Arjun Rampal is happy to have worked with Ajay and Kajol recently in Raajneeti and the remake of Stepmom respectively.
Asked to cite the similarities and differences between the husband and wife, Arjun says: “Both Kajol and Ajay are very quiet people. As regards the difference between them, I didn't see any book in Ajay's hands. He is extremely comfortable with what he does, with his body language; I find his intensity remarkable. He is also loads of fun on the sets. He can pull people's legs with a poker face.”
About Ajay's do-not-mess-with-me reputation Arjun says, “He is a really tough guy; he does 80 push-ups in one go, so you don't want to mess with him.”
Enduring friendship
Jackie Shroff was one of the few Bollywood celebrities who attended Manisha Koirala's recent wedding in Nepal to businessman Samrat Dahal. After doing several films together in the 1990s ( 1942 — A Love Story , Agni Saakshi ), the two stars formed an enduring friendship which has continued to their recent release together — Ek Second Jo Zindagi Badal De .
Jackie says: “I love Manisha. I have done a lot of films with her and she is a natural actor. She is also one of the most beautiful girls I have worked with.”
Asha reminisces
Veteran cinematographer V. K. Murthy, who lit up classics such as Kagaz Ke Phool and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam , was felicitated with a Dadasaheb Phalke Award recently. Unfortunately, health issues prevented him from attending the function though he did express his happiness at receiving the award through video conferencing. He pointed out: “Lighting a scene is an art. Photography is an art more than a science.”
V. K. Murthy requested actor Asha Parekh to say a few words about him and she came on stage to rhapsodise about her colleague: “It was a treat working with V. K. Murthy saab (in Love In Tokyo ). He became a family member and would come to my house for dinner. He has made us very proud and I wish him good health,” she said.
Imran vs. Aamir?
Imran Khan is attracting major buzz, thanks to the Karan Johar production I Hate Luv Storys and one of the most-wanted casting coups in Bollywood today would be a film pitting Imran against his uncle Aamir. Ask Imran the possibility of an Aamir-Imran together project, and he smiles: “One or more filmmaker has tried to get him through me, but I told them this is not how mamu works. Here, projects get made very fast; but Aamir mamu doesn't get involved in projects. So I told the filmmaker: ‘If I like the film, I will do it. If you want him, you can go and ask him.'”
All in the family
He may have started with a stumble ( Saawariya ) but there's no denying that Ranbir Kapoor is on a king-sized winning streak now.
After last year's Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Wake Up Sid , Ranbir has successfully stormed the box office this year too with 2010's biggest blockbuster – Raajneeti . What with the actor having been born with a silver spoon into the prestigious Kapoor family and having the same winning genes, we ask Ranbir if he thought he was a ‘lucky boy', as his film's song put it.
“No I don't think I'm lucky,” says the star. Instead, Ranbir prefers to explain his success: “I'm happy I have been at the right place at the right time.”
Shefali's long wait
The immensely talented Shefali Shah had never really got a Bollywood film that could showcase her talent. Her husband, Vipul Shah's Kucch Love Jaisa in which she plays the protagonist alongside Rahul Bose was supposed to be that film.
But Vipul seems to have been busy with his biggies — London Dreams was released last year and he is now ready with Action Replayy . Says Vipul, “ Kuch Love Jaisa will be released after Action Replayy .”
