Eyecatchers

India Today
Sep 28, 1998

Ma Donna and Friends

When they learnt odissi, this is not what they had in mind. But sisters Shibani, Laboni and Shalini Patnaik of California (seen here with Madonna and child) were thrilled when they were invited to dance with the diva at the MTV Awards night. The teenagers, along with Guru Gangadhar Pradhan of Orissa, even choreographed the piece to Shanti/Ashtangi from Madonna's album, Ray of Light. "We were so honoured," says Shalini, 15, "because she treated us with respect, attention and affection." They deserved it, of course.

Lucky Star
Amitabh with Abhimanyu Singh How lucky can a kid get? Abhimanyu Singh, 6, grandson of Rajasthan CM Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, has something else to boast of now: he plays Amitabh Bachchan's son in the film Lal Badshah. Did the lights and cameras scare him? Namrata Shirodkar "A bit, initially," he gurgles, "but I did everything in just one or two takes." As for his future plans, "I'll become whatever my nana will say." Would nana's rivals do the same?

They Loved Her, They Loved Her Not...
She's pretty. Is that enough? not for model-turned-actress Namrata Shirodkar. Her first film, Mere Do Anmol Ratan, has been a super-duper flop and critics have not been kind. For the rest of her ilk, it's been a mixed bag in recent times:

Pooja Batra: In Virasat, her launch vehicle, she held her own against Anil Kapoor and national-award winner Tabu. Film was a hit. So was she.		Preity Zinta: Dil Se, her debut film, is on shaky ground. Not she. Critics say she's spontaneous, effervescent, bubbly. Comes from modelling for soaps, huh?
	Aishwarya Rai: Aur Pyar Ho Gaya, Iruvar, Jeans -- name any of her films and it's been a flop. Being gorgeous helps. Some acting would too.

Their Own Line
They wear outlandish outfits, so what the heck, why not create some! Channel V veejays Sophiya Haque and Meghna Reddy are doing just that -- launching their own line of designerwear. It's casual, like the stuff we wear, is all they'll let on. Adds Sophiya: "I just pick up my clothes from Hong Kong or London, and improvise with the help of the local tailor." Hey, time to get original!

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