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A Paisa for his Efforts
Irreverent Reverend
She's Done It
Director's Special
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Was it worth it? After an eight-year battle, Prabir
Bhattacharya -- a businessman from Bengal -- has received the 1 paisa that the
Railways owed him. Here's the story: In 1991, Bhattacharya bought a railway ticket for Rs
1.50. The clerk refused to accept just Rs 1.45. Bhattacharya managed to find two 3p coins,
but this time the clerk wouldn't return the extra 1p. An infuriated Bhattacharya has spent
the years since writing to the Railways and politicos in what he calls "a symbolic
fight". With the Railways recently relenting, he's now written to the Guinness guys
to be listed under the world's "lowest monetary demand" section. That, or the
one on patience. 
He's an
unorthodox man. but Reverend Inderjit Bhogal of Sheffield, UK, (Sikh by
birth, Christian convert by choice, preacher by chance) has become president of the
Methodist Conference, an apex body that makes administrative and theological decisions for
the church. Bhogal, who takes over next year, is known for his controversial views. Like
when he says, "How can you be just a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or Sikh in a world of
many religions? We must develop a faith broad enough to live with diversity." Coming
from the reverend, that's one hell of a point to make. 
Shekhar Kapur has done it. Now
LA-based filmmaker Radha Bharadwaj is making a mark in Hollywood. After
the Madeleine Stowe-starrer Closetland, Bharadwaj is making Delilah, a $4.5
million thriller starring (you've got to hear this) Kathleen Turner and
supermodel Claudia Schiffer. "Breaking through in Hollywood is very
difficult," says Bharadwaj, 36. "Persistence is the key. Bright people give up
because the obstacles can seem unending. But it can be done." Sure. She's done it.
We all knew he'd look for
a larger canvas one day. Adman Prahlad Kakkar, best-known for the Pepsi
ads, is making his directorial debut with Britannia's Sapne Apne Apne on dd1. It's a
casual affair that has celebs interviewing each other: Suchitra Pillai and Raveena Tandon,
for one. The show goes into their homes, even chats up their friends. Says Sapne's
producer Farah Khan: "Anytime someone was diplomatic, Prahlad would say, 'Cut, let's
reshoot. This is an actor's show, not a politician's'." He knows smooth talk's a
bore. Yeh viewers maange more.