on a winning streak? Ash & Hrithik

Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa Akbar, the sizzling pair of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan will set the screen on fire with their intense chemistry in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, a film that deals with the sensitive issue of euthanasia.

Guzaarish sees Hrithik playing a paraplegic patient, while Aishwarya plays his nurse. The film also stars Aditya Roy Kapoor, Monikangana Dutta and Nafisa Ali. The film’s soul-stirring music is already making waves. The story is set in Goa, which is home to accomplished magician Ethan Mascarenhas (Hrithik). Ethan is severely injured when one of his magical tricks goes wrong, turning him into a paraplegic. He becomes the Radio Jockey of an FM Station called Radio Zindagi. His show spreads magic, hope and laughter through his irrepressible wit and humour.

Sofia D’Souza (Aishwarya) is his elegant nurse who has been accompanying him like a shadow for the past 12 years. Ethan’s life centres on Sofia and they share a silent tacit love, which is beautiful and

However, on the fourteenth anniversary of his accident, Ethan files an appeal in the court for mercy killing, leaving Sofia in an impasse that challenges their relationship and their love. The subsequent moral, emotional and social issues that arise from the situation make it a compelling subject.

“It’s a very unique subject,” said Bhansali in an interview. “It has been handled very, very sensitively, specially by the actors and their performances. We have taken care that it’s done gently, correctly because it’s a very important debate”.

While Aishwarya has worked with Bhansali before, this is the first time Hrithik teamed up with him, despite Bhansali’s reputation as a shorttempered director. But the actor admits that there was no shouting or yelling on the set.

“It was fabulous working with Sanjay. I’ve never had such an experience. In the beginning, people told me that he is slightly mad, he screams, but once I started working with him, it was a different experience,” said the heroic hunk.

Guzaarish isn’t totally free of controversy as novelist Dayanand Raajan has reportedly accused the writer of the movie of plagiarism. Raajan alleges that the plot line and characters of Guzaarish are similar to that of his yet-to-be published novel, and has been threatening to go to court over copyright issues.

Sanjay, Aishwarya and Hrithik all need a good break with their previous starrers turning out to be box office duds. Fingers crossed that Guzaarish is the one that makes their wish come true.

Johnny no surprise that Golmaal’s

Akshay Khanna to surprise audience

Actor Akshay Khanna, who plays a funny Tees Maar Khan, would come as a jolt to the audience, says director

“He is playing a bad actor in the film. His role is of a superstar, but he’s put his full acting potential into it. Akshay has worked so freely in the film, that he is going to be our surprise factor, especially for the audience,” said Farah in an interview.

The actor has requested his director not to promote him; instead, he would like the audience to watch his performance and make a call on his ability to pull off the role. The name of the film Tees Maar Khan is the alias of the lead character (Akshay) who plays a con as he believes himself to be the criminal ‘kalakar’ (artiste). It is not a negative character though.

“It’s a funny character. He is half Robin Hood, because he robs the rich, but keeps the spoils for himself,” said Farah.

Farah claimed the item number Sheela ki jawani… that she choreographed for her lead actress Katrina Kaif in the film, was very different from her recent hit Munni Badnam Hui… of Dabangg.

“Munni is a very earthy, rustic number, while Sheela ki jawani is like a Chicago make of a Bhojpuri song,” she said.

Farah revealed that Katrina worked hard to tone her figure to fit the lead female role, and she is all praise for the actress’ performance.

“She didn’t have to lose weight because she actually toned her body to reveal her stomach while wearing knotted cholis and low waist half saris. Katrina toned herself so that she would be comfortable while dancing,” said Farah.

“She has danced so fabulously that her performance is at par with any other heroine dancer down the ages,” added Farah.

Now with a good actor playing a bad one and Kat revealing her midriff, it looks like the movie’s set to tees!

Abhi’s homage to Big B

Abhishek Bachchan’s role in Dum Maaro Dum is an homage to his father Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of an irate cop cleansing corruption in the 1970s-release Zanjeer

Says a source: “Abhishek’s role in Dum Maaro Dum of a cop on a drug-busting mission in Goa has distinct shades of his dad’s career-turning role as a cop settling scores in Zanjeer.”

“Since both Junior Bachchan and director Rohan Sippy are huge fans of the Big B, Abhishek’s role in the film will now be a full-on homage to the irate cop’s cleansing of corruption in Zanjeer,” the source adds.

Apparently, the action sequences that were the forte of strengthened in Dum Maaro Dum.

Also, with two back-to-back Abhishek Bachchan-starrers Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey Deo’s Game scheduled for this year, Fox Star Studios has pushed to April next year, although the film is nearly complete.

So we’ll have to wait a lot longer than expected to see if Abhi matches up to the talent and charisma of the Big B. Who knows, it may be a case of like father, like son!

Saif in 2 States

Saif Ali Khan is all set to play his first biographical character in Siddharth Anand’s 2 States, a film adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s book based on his own real-life experience, of a Punjabi boy who wants to marry his Tamil sweetheart, but only with the consent of both their parents.

Saif is expected to spend time with Chetan Bhagat to understand his character, Krish, and get into Krish’s mind. In real life too, Saif is all set for a cross-cultural marriage and be quite a learning curve for him.

Bhagat would like to exercise a closer vigil over the casting of the protagonists than he did in his novels’ other movie adaptations like Call Centre) and 3 Idiots (5 Point Someone). In both these adaptations, Bhagat had no say. And he liked it that way.

But in 2 States the personal element is extremely pronounced, and Saif was involved from the onset of the project. Bhagat is okay with that, saying, “It is not important for Krish to be played by a Punjabi or Ananya to be played by a Tamilian. I’m aware Saif is not a Punjabi. To me that serves the story’s purpose even better. The whole idea of 2 States is to convey a pan-India appeal. The novel is about an interstate union. What better way to show this than to have a non-Punjabi actor playing my Punjabi protagonist?” However, if Saif thinks he can just walk into the role actor’s Langda Tyagi in Omkara, and with very little physical props. Director Siddharth Anand too, who is the star’s old friend, is looking at a largish stretch of preparation time for his hero. And of course, Saif will need even more time when he decides to tie the knot with long-time love Kareena Kapoor. Bebo has been candid that matrimony is on the cards in perhaps a year’s time. While the experience will be a first for her, Saif’s past plunge was with feisty actress Amrita Singh. 2 States will help Saif pop the question and face the families sooner

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

have a bad day - I’d be very moody and on edge. At the same time, I thought, ‘What would happen if I made it to the final list? Maybe that would be my ticket’. But deep down in my heart I always had doubts, and I think when you have doubts, you just say no,” she added.

Well, Frieda’s come a long, long way and you can bet that she has an even longer way to go….

What’s the chitchat between Farah Khan and Priyanka Chopra here?

Farah: Oh my God, Piggy, you forgot to put a blouse on over your slip… Priyanka (to herself): At least I’ve got a trendier purse…

Anita Menon Lane Cove West, NSW.

Anita wins a free ticket to new Hindi release Guzaarish