Bharathiraja,
Mani Ratnam and Rajiv Menon working together? For one film? The
very same film? The three movie moguls from south India are teaming up for a film that's
called, what else but Taj Mahal. It's a monumental lesson in humility -- while
national-award winner Bharathiraja is directing the venture, Ratnam, who's in the same
league, is writing the dialogues and the story is Menon's. "There is nothing wrong in
working under another director after directing my own film (Sapnay)," says
Menon. "Like cricket, filmmaking is also about teamwork. If Azhar, once a captain of
the Indian team, could play under Sachin, what is wrong with my working under
Bharathiraja?" But there's more to it than just that. The hero of the film, Manoj
(seen here with co-star Riya Sen, granddaughter of the legendary Suchitra), is
Bharathiraja's son. Ah, that explains the effort.
Much Obliged, Ma
Bhagwan and Babasaheb -- this is where they meet. When director Jabbar Patel
needed some "white actors" for his film Ambedkar, the Osho
Repertory stepped in -- 80 Mas and Swamis slipped into sundry roles, charging
nothing. The rest is the usual stuff. Patel was "moved" and Swami Anand Subhuti
thought "it was a pleasure". There was a price to pay though. Five barbers
merrily sheared those bushy beards 'n' wild tresses. Small price that.
Know Me?
The Pink City blushed last week when Naomi Campbell dropped
by. On a private jaunt, Versace's favourite model donned a salwar kameez and a smile, and
cruised through Jaipur ... no work, no photographers ... well, except for some of us. On
Day 5, she even went personally to pay her cell phone bill. There are questionable entries
in my bill, she raved. "Every second my chartered aircraft waits costs me a
lot," she ranted. The amount (Rs 2,600) was finally waived and Naomi responded with
an autograph for one of the phone company's executives. As they say in Jaipur now, her
initials don't come cheap.
Oh Man!
After Sush, Ash and Di, comes a guy.
Graviera Mr India '97-98 Diwaker Pundir, 21, has gone global. Pitted
against hunks from 37 countries, the Richard Gere lookalike was second runner-up at the
recent Mr Intercontinental Contest in Germany. He's not your standard beauty-pageant type,
you know. Asked what he would like to be in his next birth, Pundir replied: "I'd like
to be reborn as myself." What? Not the Mahatma!
Bharathiraja,
Mani Ratnam and Rajiv Menon working together? For one film? The
very same film? The three movie moguls from south India are teaming up for a film that's
called, what else but Taj Mahal. It's a monumental lesson in humility -- while
national-award winner Bharathiraja is directing the venture, Ratnam, who's in the same
league, is writing the dialogues and the story is Menon's. "There is nothing wrong in
working under another director after directing my own film (Sapnay)," says
Menon. "Like cricket, filmmaking is also about teamwork. If Azhar, once a captain of
the Indian team, could play under Sachin, what is wrong with my working under
Bharathiraja?" But there's more to it than just that. The hero of the film, Manoj
(seen here with co-star Riya Sen, granddaughter of the legendary Suchitra), is
Bharathiraja's son. Ah, that explains the effort. 
Bhagwan and Babasaheb -- this is where they meet. When director Jabbar Patel
needed some "white actors" for his film Ambedkar, the Osho
Repertory stepped in -- 80 Mas and Swamis slipped into sundry roles, charging
nothing. The rest is the usual stuff. Patel was "moved" and Swami Anand Subhuti
thought "it was a pleasure". There was a price to pay though. Five barbers
merrily sheared those bushy beards 'n' wild tresses. Small price that. 
The Pink City blushed last week when Naomi Campbell dropped
by. On a private jaunt, Versace's favourite model donned a salwar kameez and a smile, and
cruised through Jaipur ... no work, no photographers ... well, except for some of us. On
Day 5, she even went personally to pay her cell phone bill. There are questionable entries
in my bill, she raved. "Every second my chartered aircraft waits costs me a
lot," she ranted. The amount (Rs 2,600) was finally waived and Naomi responded with
an autograph for one of the phone company's executives. As they say in Jaipur now, her
initials don't come cheap. 
After Sush, Ash and Di, comes a guy.
Graviera Mr India '97-98 Diwaker Pundir, 21, has gone global. Pitted
against hunks from 37 countries, the Richard Gere lookalike was second runner-up at the
recent Mr Intercontinental Contest in Germany. He's not your standard beauty-pageant type,
you know. Asked what he would like to be in his next birth, Pundir replied: "I'd like
to be reborn as myself." What? Not the Mahatma!
