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EYECATCHERS
Judgement Day
 It
was another day and another battle won for Union Culture Minister Maneka
Gandhi last week. Biographer Katherine Frank and publisher
HarperCollins of Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi tendered an apology
to Maneka in the London High Court. Frank had alleged in the "definitive
biography" that Maneka and her late husband Sanjay were involved
in a murder cover-up.
 The
court found the allegations "false" and "without foundation",
with the counsel agreeing not to further publish the same. For the "harm
done", Maneka will be "substantially compensated". The
damages may go up to Rs 49 lakh.
Public Trysts
 Pooja
Batra wants attention. She first got it when she beat up a postman
earlier this year. Last week, she got it in Delhi, cutting ribbons, smiling
at cameras. Batra, 27, whose only claim to fame yet is Priyadarshan's
1997 hit Viraasat, seems to be on an impromptu promotion drive. A few
cameos on film (Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi) and the ramp (Lakme India Fashion
Week 2001) later, Batra will now play a differently-abled person in Priyadarshan's
Kashmakash. "I don't look the same. I don't do the same roles,"
she trills. What roles?
Elemental
Lessons
 Bed
linen has never looked the same after Lisa Ray. But Ray, evidently,
has not been able to transfer the same magic onto film reel. At least
she didn't in her debut film as a fiery lawyer in Vikram Bhatt's Kasoor
last year. The film sank. And Ray? She is presently in Toronto, shooting
for Deepa Mehta's Bollywood, Hollywood, playing the beauteous love interest
of co-star and Earth actor Rahul Khanna. The film is slated to be a definitive
departure from Mehta's usually dramatic Fire, Earth and Water oeuvre.
What's more, it's tipped to be "light and fun", releasing sometime
next year. Ray's publicist says she's very careful about the parts she's
picking now. Those smouldering looks and bedroom lines are just not enough.
Who's
Dancing?
 Hrithik
Roshan can wield a bat without batting an eyelid, but can Sourav Ganguly
groove? From the looks of it, Bollywood film choreographer Farah Khan
has quite a job on her hands. In a forthcoming Hero Honda commercial,
Hrithik will bat, Ganguly will jive. While Khan has the onus of directing
the cricket captain's moves on the dance floor, out-of-work cricketer
Vinod Kambli-if anything-will coach Hrithik. But forget Hrithik-he's an
actor, he can play anything-the buzz doing the rounds is that the entire
unit is critically eyeing Ganguly. Will he have two left feet? Will he
be able to match up to the green-eyed Bollywood hunk? Will he be able
to help deliver the sales pitch for the bike? Like the ad's director Raj
Kaushal, is Ganguly nervous?
—Compiled by Methil Renuka
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