Superstition Or Superscience?
Amid accusations of having saffronised higher education of the country, the Centre approves the teaching of astrology in universities.
Is the Government promoting a
science or a sham?

Science Or Sham?
Even as stargazers claim their knowledge has an empirical basis, scientists debunk it as mumbo-jumbo.

PM's Point Man
Sidelined two years ago, he has bounced back to become one of the most powerful ministers in the NDA.

Diverging Tracks
The Gormu-Lhasa railway line will significantly improve China's military logistics capability and exert strategic pressure on India.

Plane Pique
The Gujarat Government resents the CAG indictment for the purchase of an aircraft.

ENTERTAINMENT: CINEMA

Did You Know?

These days god rules in Bollywood. Increasingly, filmmakers are turning to divinity and mythology for the content of their films. Arjun Sajnani has Agnivarsha in which Amitabh Bachchan plays Indra, while Sanjay Khan's Ramayana has Jackie Shroff as Ravana. Ashish Kumar, who set a trend with Jai Santoshi Maa in the 1970s, is now making Mahima Kashi Vishwanath Ki. And of course, there's Dheeraj Kumar. He is moving from Om Namah Shivay on television to the big screen with Shiv Shakti.

Q&A
BOBBY DEOL
"Living Up To The Deol Surname Is A Challenge"

Manliness is a trademark of the Deol family from father Dharmendra to sons Sunny and Bobby. The younger Deol agrees.

Q. How does it feel to play Bhagat Singh in your home production?
A. You can say machismo runs in the family. Living up to the Deol surname means being tough and this is a big challenge in itself.

Q. But you don't have the image of an action hero.
A. I don't want to be typecast. But, yes, I have been mostly associated with romantic thrillers.

Q. What is your role in Abbas-Mastan's Ajnabee?
A. I am a polo player who gets entangled in a murder case.

Cast Matters

After playing Godmother, it's time to move on for Shabana Azmi. She is pleasantly surprised by the number of offers she has got after her National Award-winning performance as a mafia leader in Godmother and after her last release Hari Bhari. But she has been choosy, preferring to wait for a role she liked. And an unusual one did come up. She is to act as a witch in Vishal Bhardwaj's children's film that has Gulzar writing the lyrics. She is quite enthusiastic about the new project: "A witch is a fantasy character and you have the freedom to play it up the way you want." Azmi is also excited about another offer-in director Khalid Mohammad's Tehzeeb. In this film, Azmi will be working with her niece Tabu. And since Tabu say her aunt is her muse, the film should provide inspiring fare.

Madhuri Mantra

The siren is out to prove wrong critics who said she had lost her sex appeal after marriage. last seen in Pukaar a year ago, the all new Madhuri Nene nee Dixit looks sizzling and sexy in her latest releases Lajja and Raaste Hai Pyaar Ke. In fact, the dance number in Raj Kumar Santoshi's Lajja sees the waist-crunching actress in great form. And the buzz is that she has also proved her mettle as an actress in Sanjay Bhansali's Devdaas in which she plays Chandramukhi. Now she is following in Big B's footsteps and is hosting Shubh Vivah, a matrimonial programme, for Sony TV. Says her secretary Rakesh Nath: "She is not averse to television if it is a good project."

BOX OFFICE

LAJJA **
Weeks in release: 1
Depicts the plight of women in patriarchal India. Raj Kumar Santoshi's Sita tries hard to pass the box-office pariksha.

** Average

MetroScape

Looking Glass

Chennai Restaurant:
Beijing Blues

Delhi Contemporary Crafts: The Craft Workshop

Delhi Restro-bar: 4S