wANtED: fAshIoN styLIst for boLLywooD

We love you Vidya Balan, but did you make us cringe at Cannes!

Surely you, the most cerebral of Bollywood’s women, should have known better.

The demure chunni over the head, when you’re supposed to be holding your head high? An outlandish lehnga that makes you look positively medieval? What were you thinking?

And Big B - who advised you on that ridiculous street-band-wallah outfit, when all your contemporaries were dressed in smart jackets? And those white shoes with navy trims, were they left-overs from the sets of The Great Gatsby?

Sonam Kapoor, you made our eyes pop out with that absurd nose thing, and we had to look closely at your outfit to make sense of what it was: sari with a jacket that trails on the carpet? Other than that, your look can best be described as a make-up malfunction: it was as if the photographer caught you mid-way through your make-up for a traditional dance recital.

Overall, you looked quite the nautanki at Cannes this year, Bollywood. Literally. It was like you were dressed for a fancy dress party. National dress and all that is understandable, but this is preposterous.

This might be a bit harsh, but if you’re craving broader recognition at the international stage, Bollywood, it’s going to take longer for them to warm to you if you insist on appearing so insular.

The actress says mainstream cinema has always had a problem positioning her. “That’s why I keep running back to the more realistic cinema. It’s okay to do a small role in mainstream cinema like Aurangzeb or Yaariyan. But its films like Rituparno Ghosh’s Memories Of March and Avinash Kumar Singh’s Listen, Amaya that sustain me as an actress,” said Deepti. She is now looking forward to the release of Shekhar Suman’s Heartless “Heartless is a rare commercial film where I have a substantial role,” she added. Watch this space for more news on Deepti’s busy life!

Mithun makes Mahaakshay nervous!

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty’s presence on the sets of forthcoming film Enemmy is certainly making one actor pretty jumpy. And that’s none other that Mithun’s son Mahaakshay Chakraborty, who candidly admits that worming with his dad was a ‘nerve-wracking’ experience for him. Directed by Ashu Trikha, Enemmy is a cop action drama, which features Mithun and actor Suneil Shetty in lead roles, while Mahaakshay plays a CID officer in the film. “For me, it was a nerve-wracking experience,” said

Mahaakshay, but didn’t seem keen to elaborate. However, Mithun didn’t have any such qualms and said he was happy to work with his son. “He is growing as an actor, and I want him to grow...that’s the way,” Mithun said.

Mahaakshay made his acting debut as Mimoh with the film Jimmy in 2008 and later he was seen in the films like Haunted 3D and Loot. But he still hasn’t got a strong foothold in the industry.

Mithun wants his son to carve his own niche. “You have to fight your own battle. I am not one of those fathers who always goes on blessing and praising, that ‘yes, everything is good’,” he added.

Enemmy also features Kay Kay Menon, Mahesh Manjrekar and Yuvika Chaudhary. Now all we can hope is that Mahaakshay doesn’t think of Mithun as his enemy!

Move over Katrina, here comes Isabel

While things seem to be quiet on the Katrina front, the star’s sister seems to be making slow and stead progress on the film scene. Isabel Kaif has been signed to play the second lead opposite British Indian actor Kunal Nayyar in French director Jean-Francois Pouliot’s Dr. Cabbie

The film, co-produced by Salman Khan, features Vinay Virmani, who played one of the title roles in Bejoy Nambiar’s undervalued David

And it’s not surprising that Salman is taking more than a casual interest in the film fortunes of this young star. An informed source claims that Salman wanted to cast Isabel opposite Vinay in the first lead, but by the time the decision was taken to cast her, it was too late.

“The G.I. Joe actress Adriane Palicki had already been signed opposite Vinay. So Isabel stepped in to co-star with the film’s second lead Kunal Nayyar, who has worked in the hit American series The Big Bang Theory,” said the source.

Sources from Canada, where the film is being shot, say co-producer Salman is taking a keen interest in the project and in Isabel’s role. And leading man Vinay said,

“Isabel has joined our project. She’s a really sweet girl, very easy-going and fun to work with.”

So when will Isabel venture into Bollywood, in the steps of her big sis? Apparently in 2014 in a film that may be jointly co-produced by Salman and Katrina, says the buzz. Well, at least its some consolation for Kat’s fans who’ve been missing her screen presence for a while now!

The Kapurs end up as film family

His elder brother is associated with a film production banner, while his younger brother is a video jockeyturned-actor. Director-actor Kunaal Roy Kapur feels even though they are not really a film family, but they have ended up being one.

They entered filmdom via different routes - elder brother Siddharth Roy Kapur is the managing director, Studios, Disney UTV, while their younger brother Aditya is now an actor, last seen in the film Aashiqui 2

“I wouldn’t call us a film family. We have followed different routes into the film world. My brother Siddharth came from the corporate world and had his own route into the film world. I came through theatre and TV, and Aditya as a VJ. We aren’t really born into a film family,” Kunaal said recently in an interview. Kunaal, who has acted in films like Delhi Belly and Nautanki Saala revealed that his grandfather came to the Maximum City to make films, but didn’t enjoy much success. “Our grandfather came here to make films. He made some films, but failed miserably at it. We have never been a film family in that sense. My dad was in the army and my mother was a dance teacher. We have now ended up becoming a film family, which is wonderful and strange also,” he said. Before facing the camera, Kunaal went behind the lens to direct The President Is Coming, a satirical mockumentary. He feels that “it takes a certain amount of political and social awareness to be able to enjoy satire”.

“You have to be aware of the social climate at that time. It works in context to what is happening in the society. For people who are aware, it is a great form of entertainment as it is sourcing from what is there,” he said and added that humour presented in any form works.

“We have always had different kind of comedies. We have had Amol Palekar to Johnny Lever. All sorts of humour works. I don’t want to disrespect any humour as you can’t tell people what to laugh at and what not to.

“You can’t be so presumptuous and snobbish about humour. Humour is subjective and everyone is free to laugh at whatever they find funny,” he said. For Kunaal, other than box office returns, the process of making the film also needs to be fun. “When you are having fun working, half the battle is won. It’s not a chore anymore. Your success lies in enjoying your time. The box office is one thing, the success of a film also lies in the process of making it. For me, it was a great joy making Nautanki Saala and I would do it again,” he said. Well, lets hope you get the chance, Kunaal!

What Saif thinks of reality TV!

Three of Bollywood’s famous KhansShah Rukh, Salman and Aamir - have already had a taste of the small screen, but Saif Ali Khan is happy being distant from it. Neither does he enjoy the drama content, nor does he find any entertainment in reality TV.

“I don’t know about acting on TV. I feel we need great content on TV. As of now, it is cornered by housewives, and I feel there’s a need for content for young boys. Our TV is not as good,” Saif said in an interview recently. As a viewer, he enjoys watching TV, and believes it shouldn’t be called an ‘idiot box’.

“I like to watch a few episodes of British and American shows once in a while, and one has to admit that the quality of some of their shows is as good as movies somehow,” he added.

Saif, who was recently seen in his home production Go Goa Gone, says nono to Indian TV reality shows as well.

“I can’t bear reality TV. Why would I want to watch all of that? I don’t like shows like Big Brother. I like drama,” he

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While Saif has kept away from the small screen, his veteran actress mother Sharmila Tagore has earlier judged music reality show Dhoom Macha De, and actress sister Soha Ali Khan has hosted Khelo Jeeto Jiyo. So Saif, it looks like it could be Kareena’s or your turn next!

What’s the chitchat between Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan? Send in your responses to win@indianlink.com.au and win a surprise prize

What’s Soha Ali Khan’s special message to her mum on Mother’s Day?

“Thanks Mum, for agreeing to star in a movie with me. With your star power, and my good looks, it will surely be a hit. So any takers out there for a Sharmila-Soha film?”

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