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EYECATCHERS
Queen Mother
 Want
to know the latest recruit in Bollywood's Maa brigade? Former CPI (M)
MP from Kanpur and activist Subhashini Ali plays Shah Rukh Khan's
mother-Queen Dharma-in Santosh Sivan's much-awaited opus Asoka. Ali, who
thought Sivan was pulling a fast one, passed up the offer when it was
first made. She no-no-ed, until the frantic unit, which had started shooting,
tore her door down. Once married to Umrao Jaan director Muzaffar Ali,
she's no stranger to films. Those regal robes fit her nicely. "It's
a bit role," admits Ali, "but it was wonderful playing mother
to the world's best-known practising pacifist." Not for nothing that
she said yes.
Rhyme & Reason
 Hey
Ram! Kamal Haasan is digging into his bag of tricks again.
This time-for the first time-he has inked lyrics for an A.R. Rahman number
that he'll also render in Pammal K Sammandham, his next Tamil film. The
inimitable Haasan plays a confirmed misogamist-unlike the twice-wed protagonist
he essayed in Hey! Ram-and jibes at the institution of marriage and India's
growing numbers. Director Mouli says it's all "in a lighter vein".
Only Haasan's not one to take anything lightly.
Long Haul
 Isha
Koppikar's brazen attempts to make it big-unlike other pretty Mumbai
imports in Kodambakkam-didn't quite work. But the 23-year-old Femina Miss
Talented 1995 isn't fretting. She's crossing fingers. You'll soon see
her-if you don't wink-in Rajiv Rai's dewy Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat. But
there are meatier roles: Kasam Se with Raveena Tandon and Sunil Shetty,
Sarhad with Chandrachur Singh and Mahima Chowdhury. "As a newcomer,
it isn't easy," she says. At least she's honest.
Nine To One
 Eken
Annakin's 1962 war film The Longest Day had 13 heroes. Back home, Border
director J.P. Dutta seems to have come close. For his next war film Tiger
Hills-a post-Kargil spiel-Dutta has roped in not one, not three, but eight
heroes to fortify the cast. Sunil Shetty, Ajay Devgan, Arbaaz Khan,
Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Saif Ali Khan and Akshaye
Khanna will star. There's even talk of a ninth-Shah Rukh Khan.
Dutta has reportedly asked his heroes to sport crew cuts and is believed
to have said, "Border was a trailer. This will be bigger." Question:
Will Tiger Hills boast nine heroines and 18 songs too?
— Compiled by Methil Renuka
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