 Is
that Love
Director
Raj Kanwar is calling it a friendly guest appearance. "It's a very
sweet gesture," Kanwar says of Slman Khan's impromptu decision to do
a small but key role in his Abhishek Bachchan-starrer, Dhai Akshar Prem Ke.
Kanwar in desperation, had almost decided to don the greasepaint himself
when Salman obliged. But grapevine buzzes that the gesture has less to do
with friendship and more to do with Kanwar's leading lady, Aishwarya Rai.
No news yet on whether Ash was flattered but Kanwar is still beaming.
"It will be a surprise for the audience." Absolutely.
Q&A: Preity
Zinta
"Who cares for critics?"
 At 5'5", the dimpled Zinta stands
tall. Trade pundits were expecting a disaster. Instead Zinta's Kya Kehna
opened to full houses across the country and continues to pack them in.
Since the film's heroes -- Saif Ali Khan and Chandrachur Singh -- are box
office zeros, all the credit is going to Zinta. She is, she says,
"feeling like a Khan".
Pundits say that no heroine, not even Rekha, Sridevi or Madhuri,
managed to open a film. So how does it feel?
A. I just can't believe it. But I always told director Kundan Shah
that this film was going to be a big hit. But even I'm shocked at how well
it's doing. This is just excellent.
Were you bummed that the reviews were so bad?
A. Yes. I did feel bad. One reviewer said that I've hammed, but that's
not true. The film is a hit. I have reviews of millions of people. Who
cares for critics?
What's working in the film?
A. I really put my heart and soul and believed in Priya. The film
portrays an Indian woman making her choices. The audiences have accepted
it. Which is just brilliant.
So where do you go now with all your new found clout?
A. I don't care about clout. I just want to do good roles and work
with good directors.
IN THE WORKS: SNIP
Debutant director Sunhil Sippy's wacky urban comedy is nearly
complete. The film stars VJ Sophia Haque as a British-Asian hairdresser.
Says Sippy, "Snip is a fast paced comedy with a sophisticated sense
of humour. I just wanted to tell a story with as nutty characters as
possible." Snip is slated for a September release.
MUST-SEE OF THE MONTH: Josh
Director Mansoor Khan takes West Side Story and transplants it in Goa.
Shah Rukh Khan and Sharad Kapoor play warring gang leaders whose siblings,
Aishwarya Rai and Chandrachur Singh, fall in love. The question is: How
will the audience react to Shah Rukh and Aishwarya as brother and sister?
BOX OFFICE
KYA KEHNA!
Weeks in release: 1
Collections: Rs 36,38,970
Pundits proved wrong. The zero face value film opened to full houses,
packing in audiences.
Verdict: HIT
CHAL MERE BHAI
Weeks in release: 3
Collections: Rs 32,90,930
See David Dhawan and gang -- Salman and Karishma -- running out of steam
and gags.
Verdict: FLOP
JUNG
Weeks in release: 2
Collections: Rs 20,70,072
Hero Sanjay Dutt admonished people not to see the film till it was
completed. They listened.
Verdict: FLOP
HERA PHERI
Weeks in release: 8
Collections: Rs 10,52,635
Director Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar and Sunil Shetty make a comeback in
this comedy.
Verdict: SEMI-HIT
Weekly Mumbai collections only
-Compiled by
Anupama Chopra
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