Sunday, February 17, 2002		Movie Magic

Cupid strikes Shilpa, yet again!
Madhur Mittal

SHILPA Shetty has been pushing and promoting her younger sis, Shamita, for Fujicolor film honours for over two years now with a view to making a most-wanted out of Shamita.

Well, be that as it may, Shilpa’s promotional campaign hasn’t worked any wonders...yet. However, she herself has made a bang of a comeback! Almost all the top banners, producers and directors are virtually clamouring for her with exciting, exhilarating roles.

Chor Machaaye Shor, Badhai Ho Badhai, Terrorist, Juua, Dil Chura Ke Chal Diye and Pyaar ki Khushboo are just some of Shilpa’s new movies, with heroes like Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Salman Khan, Arjun Rampal, Abhishek Bachchan and Sunil Shetty etc.

Plus Shilpa is looking so sensual, shapely and stunning these days that I’ve got a niggling feeling that she’s in love — again!

Bollywood is in the ghastly grip of underworld dons and extortionist hoodlums again. According to police commissioner, MN Singh, threats to top filmmakers and stars have suddenly become very real, very deadly. A number of the victims are secretly paying out the (enormous) sums demanded, while a relative few are seeking police cover to safeguard themselves and their families.

There’s always a price tag on success... but this new attack on celluloid celebs has really become too dangerous for words. Some of the "hit list" bigwigs include Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Subhash Ghai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra... alongwith Govinda, Rani Mukherji, Amrish Puri, Kareina Kapoor and Shakti Kapoor.

Recently, there was this sensational rumour that Salman Khan had paid a couple of million (in foreign currency) to save himself from becoming a target of bullets that appear to be aimed at him all the way from Dubai!

But Salman says "No. No way at all! It’s a bimbo cooked up by someone. Just coz I’ve been to Dubai a number of times, for my stage shows, is no reason for the goons to come after me. I’ve received no extortion threats and I haven’t paid anybody anything. Don’t think I’m being too grandiose, but, believe me, I am more than capable of looking after myself...." Good luck, Salman — you might just need it!

Frankly, ever since Mahima Chaudhary made her passion for tennis aces public, everybody is wondering just where the ball is? And in whose court, for heavens’ sake?

Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes have both been volleying hard ‘n’ fast to get the drop (shot) on each other. And yet, Mahima, who declared that she was quitting the film line in order to watch the ‘lines’ on the tennis turfs, is still busy signing new movies. Even I’m left wondering just what kind of ball game these three are playing? I mean, are there going to be any winners.... or only losers? What the deuce!