Karisma goes arty
By Madhur Mittal

SHE won a National Award, critical acclaim, cinegoers’ claps at the fag end of ‘97 and went into hibernation. She emerged in ‘99 as beautiful, as saucy as ever, albeit more mature and more mellow an artiste. Yes, I’m talking about Karisma Kapoor who created waves with her performance in Dil To Pagal Hai.

The year ‘99, however, didn’t start on a very happy note for Lolo. Her first release — Silsila Hai Pyar Ka — bombed at the box-office in spite of her charming performance. Then came Biwi No. 1 and Karisma was riding high once again.

In fact, Shyam Benegal is so impressed by the potent potential of her acting prowess, that he has signed her on to play the title role in his next film, Zubeida, which has a supporting cast of Manoj Bajpai, Rekha, Amrish Puri, Surekha Sikri and Rajat Kapur.

Salman’s pursuit!

For once the shoe is on the other foot and it sure is pinching. It’s Salman Khan who’s pursuing Aishwarya Rai to say the all-important "Yes". But Ash is dilly-dallying because she knows her career is on the upswing (at last!) with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Taal, Boney Kapoor’s next and a couple of more big movies in the kitty, about which she’d ‘rather not talk’.

Poor Salu, he doesn’t know how to convince his lady love about his sincerity and commitment — for he simply doesn’t know how! Our sympathies are with you Salman, but at least now you know how it hurts, huh?

Earth

Aamir Khan takes a sabbatical from his normal roles to play definite shades of negative in Deepa Mehta’s 1947 — Earth. He plays the ice-candy man even seduces Nandita Das (you last saw her in Fire!), in fact rapes her, because the innocent girl is in love with the village masseur — Rahul Khanna. The film has already created an appreciative storm internationally besides winning accolades in a host of prestigious festivals.

A film worth a watch because it’s close to the roots. After all it’s Earth! And ex-VJ Rahul (till now, Akshaye Khanna’s lesser-known brother) in his first screen appearance shows sparks of well honed talent.

Late night visits

Neighbours, especially those belonging to the fair sex, of the Khanna women’s apartment, Vastu, in Juhu, are a veritably excited bunch. The excitement is not because of the three beautiful bachelor (?) women — Dimple and Twinkle and Rinke — but the frequent late night visits to three home that have caused all the flutter. The visitors are Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Suri. Who’s visiting who is anybody’s guess! And Sunny Deol is yet to be spotted.

A comedown for Shah Rukh

Why is Shahrukh Khan gong around with a hangdog look? Could it be that he has only one release lined up this year — Baadshah? For the Khan who is used to hogging the maximum footage — even in the number of releases in a calendar year — it must be quite a comedown. Happens! But then the number or paucity of releases doesn’t a hit star make, yes?