Aishwarya all set to go places
By Madhur Mittal

THE release of RK Films’ Aa Ab Laut Chalen has brought three things into sharp focus. One, that the Kapoor brothers’ as producers, are eminently capable of reviving and keeping the famed banner flying high. Two, that Rishi Kapoor has the capability of becoming a good director. And three, that leading lady Aishwarya Rai is by no means a mere glamour girl.

Sure, she was a bundle of nerves before the release (in fact, who wasn’t?) but now she can happily smile (with relief!) that she has indeed been able to pass what she called her "acid test" — with flying colours. In spite of being in competition with (the highly glamourised) Suman Ranganathan, Ash has held her own and put in a surprisingly pithy performance. Her emotional reach as an actress has finally been showcased by debut-director Chintu.

The box office fate of the film apart, there can be absolutely no doubt that Aa Ab Laut Chalen will take Aishwarya places.

Dramatic Dimple?

You know, many filmmakers are still keen to cast Dimple in their new films... promising her mature roles. However, for some strange reason (could be her turbulent love life, yeah?) she ain’t biting. "I really don’t have the time right now," she begs off even as feeds her mouth with yet another spoonful of Paan zarda!

Is the lady being "theatrical"? Well, quite possible considering the fact that she is concentrating her efforts and energy into becoming an accomplished stage artiste! And it may well be a controversial "adult comedy" called Bekaar Ki Bak Bak that Dimple makes her theatre entry with! And that, folks, is no nonsense... .

Smell something...?

Bollywood’s grapevine is literally bristling with the latest liaison between Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar.

Evidently, the initial sparks were lit during the making of Daud. The movie failed to sizzle up the box office but the real fire, it now appears, was actually being fanned elsewhere, okay? And the flames became only to obvious when Sanju and Urmi got together again for their second starrer — the forthcoming Khoobsurat.

I doubt if Rhea Dutt is likely to blow her lid (she knows her man only too well) but I’m honestly not sure how Ram Gopal Vermaji is going to react! Could he possibly sue Ms Matondkar for breach of contract?

No piece of cake

Looks like some leopards really never change their spots. One such prime example happens to be producer-director Saawan Kumar. Over the damned decades, so many things have changed drastically — but not he.

For, despite his offering, Mother 98 slowly but surely turning into Mother 2000 A.D., the man is totally upbeat and full of beans about its "excellent, extraordinary success potential". He feels his film is definitely going to be a superhit whenever it (eventually) gets to be released. "My film is unstoppable; it has too much steam in it," he smile smugly. I do hope he got his grammar right and, in essence, wasn’t trying to emphasise that his movie was ‘steamy’

Rumour has it

...that Nafeesa Ali may soon be giving Mira Nair and Deepa Mehta a run for their money by directing a film herself very soon.

... that Moon Moon Sen’s comely daughters — Raima and Ria — are into a family feud regarding who gets to ensnare the producers who come to their place with offers — and loaded briefcases!

... that Shotgun Sinha has more than met his (vociferous) match in Gulshan Grover — who is a bigger ‘bore’.