'I had a crush on Aamir'
Rani Mukerji and Aamir Khan share quite a bit of history — from their ever-popular number Aati Kya Khandala to their recent hit, Talaash.
They've made a mark as one of Bollywood's better couples — proved amply by the fact that cine-goers are flocking to the theatres in huge numbers to see them play
husband and wife in their latest release.
But despite this, Rani admits that there was a time when she
didn't have the courage to look Aamir directly in the eyes.Reminiscing about her experience on the sets of Ghulam, Rani recalls, "When I did my first film with him, I used to look at his shoes as I used to be all tensed and nervous.
I was a huge Aamir Khan fan. I had a crush on him. When I had seen QSQT (Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak), I was in school."
She admits that she got incredibly shy while shooting romantic scenes with her former crush, which is why she found it difficult to look him in the eyes.
"I was very nervous while doing a romantic scene with him. I would look at his shoes because I couldn't look into his eyes — I feared I would fall in love with him," she explains.
But it seems that the years have gone a long way in making Rani a bit more realistic — she doesn't face these sudden pangs of shyness anymore. "Now, I look into his eyes. I keep gazing into his eyes until he asks me not to," adds the actress, who also did a special appearance in the Aamir-starrer Mann.
Many accolades for Mira
Like many expected, Mira Nair's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' is raking in critical acclaim in no small measure.
It was the unanimous choice of the jury members and was awarded with the first Centenary Award and presented with a Silver Peacock, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh at this year's International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' was the closing film that brought down the curtains at the 43rd edition of the festival, held in Goa.
It is a touching and engaging story of a young man, chasing corporate success on Wall Street. Soon, he finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American dream, a hostage crisis and the enduring call of his family's homeland. It is based on the bestselling novel by Mohsin Hamid.
The film was shot in Lahore, Istanbul, New York, Atlanta, and Delhi and stars Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schrieber, Riz Ahmed, Shabana Azmi and Om Puri.
Commenting on the achievement, director Mira Nair says, "As a child of the hundred years of Indian cinema, and as its perpetual student, to be given this award is a huge honour. 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' is a global film, but its heartbeat is fierce desi. Shukhriya!"
Plans to make a sequel
Mr India' was one movie that tinsel town — and audiences — will find it hard to forget. Which is why there are plenty who hope that director Shekhar Kapoor will consider making a sequel to the iconic film.
When asked if he ever intends to take up this project, he replies, "I think about it many times. I do think about the sequel to 'Mr India', but the only thing is whatever I could do with an invisible man — fight, tease, even make love to a woman while he is invisible — I have already done in 'Mr India'. What else can I possibly do with him?"
In the 25-year period after 'Mr India' was released, such stunning technological progress has been made that the director made some very interesting observations. "Ninety per cent of the people who have watched and talk about 'Mr India' have never seen it in a theatre!"
He believes this because the generations born in the last 25 years have seen the film only on clunky cassettes which later gave way to DVDs,
not to mention the millions of unauthorised downloads.
Big in tinsel town
Pakistani actors may still be reluctant about pursuing their luck in Bollywood, but their female counterparts are scripting a different trend altogether.
For instance, Meesha Shafi, Humaima Malik, Sarah Loren, Mehreen Syed, Saeeda Imtiaz and television chat show host Mathira are making serious progress in their pursuit of a big Bollywood break. Meanwhile, Veena Malik — who was invited to be part of a reality show — has tasted some success in the industry.
Meera, probably one of the first Pakistani actresses to act in Bollywood with Soni Razdan's Nazar in 2005, is also set for a comeback. Bollywood, it seems, has space for everyone.
No patch-up with Salman
There have been rumours flying thick and fast about a patch-up between the two major Khans of Bollywood — Shah Rukh and Salman.
Their rivalry has almost become legendary, along with the claim that they got into a spat at Katrina Kaif's birthday party many years ago.
Now, considering that Shah Rukh just acted alongside Katrina in his last release, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, one would assume that the actors have decided to let bygones be bygones. In fact, Amitabh Bachchan has apparently tweeted along the same lines as well.
But when asked about the highly-publicised news of his patch-up with Salman Khan, Shah Rukh claims, "This is a very old question. It's boring."
When asked about Amitabh Bachchan's tweet about their patch-up, he adds, "If Amitji has tweeted this then ask him. There is no patch up. I read about it in the newspapers — don't believe it."
Maharaja Features