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From acting
to politics and back again-Shatrughan Sinha, badman-turned-hero-turned-BJP
MP from Bihar, has returned to the stage as the lead in a Hindi play,
Pati, Patni aur Main. However, it is the drama surrounding the invitees
that is drawing more interest. Sinha's decision to invite Congress President
Sonia Gandhi as chief guest for the play's silver jubilee show in Delhi
fuelled speculation about his political future since he seems to be disenchanted
with the BJP for "not giving him his due". Sonia was the only
political personality to be felicitated by Sinha on November 12 though
half-a-dozen BJP leaders and cabinet ministers were also present.
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SCENE TWO: sinha appears to be cosying up
to the BJP's opponents
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In his recent interviews, Sinha has been praising Rashtriya Janata Dal
leader Laloo Prasad Yadav while criticising the prime minister for re-inducting
George Fernandes even before the Venkataswami Commission probing Tehelka's
allegations against the defence minister could finish its job. Sinha feels
the BJP is using his popularity to get votes but not giving him anything
in return. It's no secret that all he wants is a cabinet berth at the
Centre.
The play is a social comedy produced by Sanjay Goradia and features
small screen stars Rakesh Bedi and Bhavna Balsavar. Its uniqueness, however,
lies in its interactive nature laced with political satire. Sinha takes
a dig at Mayawati, Jayalalitha, Laloo, Fernandes and even Prime Minister
A.B. Vajpayee, who threatens to resign. To add glitter to the jubilee
show film actors Rani Mukherjee, Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman and model
Yukta Mookhey were roped in.
Sinha may swear by his loyalty to the BJP but he has served a warning
to the party leadership by courting Laloo and Sonia. The denouement of
this drama is awaited.
-Sharad Gupta
IN BOX
 March
to See
West Bengal Minister for Transport and Sports Subhash Chakravarty has
a new project: to make eye donation obligatory for every resident of Bengal.
Some 10 million blind in India could regain their sight if they found
donors, but in a society where many feel extracting eyes from the dead
defiles the body, this appears difficult. Chakravarty is undeterred. He
says he'll take out a procession of one lakh blind people next year to
push his case.
-Sumit Mitra
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CURRENT
ISSUE NOV 26, 2001
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