"In Japan," says Cawas Billimoria, "anyone with
even a slightly fat kid dreams of making him a sumo wrestler." In India, most folks
would say, "Sumo? What about it?" But guess what, not only do we have a national
team, they've made it to the world championships every year since 1992. Take a look. This
wholesome foursome -- Anant Chaudhary, Amber Joshi, Vinayak Palande
and Billimoria, seen here with coach M.L. Daga (in the
shirt) -- were at the sixth world championships in Tokyo last month. They're not too bad,
you know. Billimoria struck silver at the Asian championships in 1997 and 1996; India were
among the top 16 at the world championships in 1996 and 1995; the team came third in Asia
in 1996; when the seedings are announced for the Asian championships this year, Billimoria
is likely to be No. 2 in his category; and, declares Daga, "This year, we plan to get
coaches from Japan." Sizeable promise, don't you think?
Uncommon People
They've stood by each other through the worst of
times, so this is the easy part. When actor Sunil Dutt and
son Sanjay launch a mobile cancer hospital in Mumbai this year, they'll
be carrying on the good work Dutt senior has done since his wife died of cancer in 1981.
The project, which will get cancer-related services to Mumbai slums, is supported by the
Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles chapters of the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation,
which have pledged $200,000 (Rs 74 lakh) to the cause. Says Duttsaab: "The common
people in India are neglected. I've been through the struggle and I know how hard it is.
So I try to do my bit." Bit? Did he say "bit"?!
Art Masala
Four years ago, she came from Ludhiana with stars in her eyes. Divya
Dutta, 22, was picked by the Stardust Academy, put through acting classes and
then starred in every flop not worth mentioning. But after her role as prostitute in the
much talked-about Train to Pakistan, life's looking up. Dutta now stars in a prestigious
Indo-German film called Devi with NSD names like Govind Namdeo (the villain in Bandit
Queen) and two NFDC projects; there's an English-Canadian venture in the offing; plus the
usual Bollywood masala -- Iski Topi Uska Sar and Jaan ki Baazi. "It's been great
working with good actors," she gushes, "but I like doing song 'n' dance numbers
too. I want to have the best of both worlds." Right now, looks like she does.
The Miss with a Mission
Guess who has designs on
Diana Hayden? Andhra's politicos, no less. Starting this week, tune in to Miss
World addressing the people of her state, in six commercial spots to be aired on DD. The
message from the miss with a mission: immunise your child against polio; send your little
ones to school; better still, go there yourself too. That's the official picture, but a
little birdie told us that N. Chandrababu Naidu's sarkar first wanted Di to endorse its
Janmabhoomi campaign -- a rural-development programme launched in January 1997 (Naidu's
people have been charged with using Central government funds and presenting Janmabhoomi as
a state-sponsored scheme). Too controversial, said Julia Morley of Miss World Inc (MWI).
So it's back to the safe ground that beauty queens always tread. Says Eric Morley,
executive chairman, MWI: "Children's causes are one area where there is no room for
controversy." Moral of the story: Di may have the world at her shapely feet, but she
won't tread on any toes.
"In Japan," says Cawas Billimoria, "anyone with
even a slightly fat kid dreams of making him a sumo wrestler." In India, most folks
would say, "Sumo? What about it?" But guess what, not only do we have a national
team, they've made it to the world championships every year since 1992. Take a look. This
wholesome foursome -- Anant Chaudhary, Amber Joshi, Vinayak Palande
and Billimoria, seen here with coach M.L. Daga (in the
shirt) -- were at the sixth world championships in Tokyo last month. They're not too bad,
you know. Billimoria struck silver at the Asian championships in 1997 and 1996; India were
among the top 16 at the world championships in 1996 and 1995; the team came third in Asia
in 1996; when the seedings are announced for the Asian championships this year, Billimoria
is likely to be No. 2 in his category; and, declares Daga, "This year, we plan to get
coaches from Japan." Sizeable promise, don't you think?
They've stood by each other through the worst of
times, so this is the easy part. When actor Sunil Dutt and
son Sanjay launch a mobile cancer hospital in Mumbai this year, they'll
be carrying on the good work Dutt senior has done since his wife died of cancer in 1981.
The project, which will get cancer-related services to Mumbai slums, is supported by the
Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles chapters of the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation,
which have pledged $200,000 (Rs 74 lakh) to the cause. Says Duttsaab: "The common
people in India are neglected. I've been through the struggle and I know how hard it is.
So I try to do my bit." Bit? Did he say "bit"?! 
Four years ago, she came from Ludhiana with stars in her eyes. Divya
Dutta, 22, was picked by the Stardust Academy, put through acting classes and
then starred in every flop not worth mentioning. But after her role as prostitute in the
much talked-about Train to Pakistan, life's looking up. Dutta now stars in a prestigious
Indo-German film called Devi with NSD names like Govind Namdeo (the villain in Bandit
Queen) and two NFDC projects; there's an English-Canadian venture in the offing; plus the
usual Bollywood masala -- Iski Topi Uska Sar and Jaan ki Baazi. "It's been great
working with good actors," she gushes, "but I like doing song 'n' dance numbers
too. I want to have the best of both worlds." Right now, looks like she does.
Guess who has designs on
Diana Hayden? Andhra's politicos, no less. Starting this week, tune in to Miss
World addressing the people of her state, in six commercial spots to be aired on DD. The
message from the miss with a mission: immunise your child against polio; send your little
ones to school; better still, go there yourself too. That's the official picture, but a
little birdie told us that N. Chandrababu Naidu's sarkar first wanted Di to endorse its
Janmabhoomi campaign -- a rural-development programme launched in January 1997 (Naidu's
people have been charged with using Central government funds and presenting Janmabhoomi as
a state-sponsored scheme). Too controversial, said Julia Morley of Miss World Inc (MWI).
So it's back to the safe ground that beauty queens always tread. Says Eric Morley,
executive chairman, MWI: "Children's causes are one area where there is no room for
controversy." Moral of the story: Di may have the world at her shapely feet, but she
won't tread on any toes.
