Sunday, July 8, 2001		Movie Magic

Aamir owes it all to Allah
Madhur Mittal

OKAY, the guy has every reason to freak out, considering the (super) success of Lagaan, right? Just about everybody, including our Prime Minister, Mr Vajpayee, is all praise for the film and most readily willing to sit through 4 hours of the megamovie!

Aamir’s hard work has been rewarded

Happy and smiling from his one (big) ear to the other, Aamir says he has to thank Allah for rewarding his genuine, hard work with His blessings. "I had faith in Him. I just instinctively knew that He wouldn’t let me down. On my part, of course, I honestly put in every single drop of my blood, sweat and tears to ensure that Lagaan would appeal to the people so much that it would blast the box office, see? And it’s really happened! What more can I ask of The Almighty, huh? He’s already given me everything — chhappad phaad ke!"

On the other hand, Sunny Deol, whose Gadar was running neck and neck with Lagaan, is in a dizzy tizzy today, what with the Muslim community protests and demands to ban the picture altogether! Deol has been running from pillar to post and trying to enlist the support of cine celebs in a (desperate) measure to save his film...

"There is absolutely nothing controversial in the contents of Gadar. In fact, it is a sincere representation of the needless wary feelings between Hindus and the Muslims. All these protests and anti-Gadar demonstrations are politically motivated...and, believe me, I suspect that those crying for a ban, have probably not even seen the movie in the first place!

Well, Sunny is no quitter; he says he’s going to fight for what is true ‘n’ just. Incidentally, it’s just as well that Deol has a staunch supporter in Shabana Azmi-Akhtar who, personally visited two of the cinema houses showing Gadar (without security!) and in the midst of the public, announced in strong, definitive terms that although she found the film "provocative in a positive way", she couldn’t find anything "objectionable" that may hurt the Muslim community or its culture. And this, coming from Ms Akhtar, who is herself a Muslim! Wah, taaliyaan, dosto!

Quite a few folks in the industry are thrilled that Sheeba, who had quite filmdom after her marriage, is back to the celluloid and arc lights! I guess a whole lot of cine buffs are going to be rejoicing, too...just as I am. For no other reason except the fact that this stunning actress from a respectable Sikh family of Punjab, has always displayed a fine fettle of talent (and her body beautiful!) to add up to an arresting screen presence, Y’know.

And no, contrary to what has been printed in a (silly) section of the Press, Sheeba will not be doing only Punjabi productions...like, Mittar Pyaare Nu ( more on this movie some other week, ok?) but has already signed at least three new Hindi flicks — as the leading lady, at that! "Honestly, it’s difficult to stay away (from acting) too long," she smiles. "And now I have returned...for ‘good’!" Welcome back, Sheeba — we missed you!

Rumour Has It that Akshaye Khanna is making a last-ditch effort to become a Hindi film hero again. All I can say is: God bless him!