Mumbai Express

‘Madhur understands women better'

Both Ajay and Madhur Bhandarkar have one thing in common — they started off with serious images but have now taken to comedy. Hopefully, the actor-director pair will swing it in Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji.

Ajay claims, “Madhur always makes serious films. But this comedy of his is better than his earlier films. There are three different male characters in the film — and Madhur is able to think for all three and explain the relationships they have with women. Nobody can understand women better than Madhur.”

He cheekily adds, “The film's caption, ‘Love grows… men don't', is perfect for Madhur.”

Akshay-Katrina sizzle

The star struck among Mumbai's janta had a field day ogling at Akshay and Katrina when the Tees Maar Khan team held a beach party at a Juhu hotel. A stage was set up overlooking the beach and when the stars danced onstage accompanied by multi-hued lights, huge sound consoles and background dancers, the spectacle sent the crowd into a tizzy. Director Farah Khan in a black churidhar and a hand-band (due to a painful cyst in her right wrist) supervised the show shouting instructions from backstage and deciding the order of the performances. A tad nervous about Katrina getting late for the event, she calmed down once ‘Roadies brothers' Raghu and Rajeev, dressed in identical red shirts and white denims, put on the Siamese act — they were joined together at the waist by a belt. Kamaal Khan sang the boisterous qawali track ‘Wallah re wallah'. Sonu Nigam, sporting his trademark long locks, performed live to the TMK title track. Repeating the original song, Sonu sang the lyrics in various quirky voices and left the audience agape.

The highlight of the event was — no prize for guessing — Katrina Kaif gyrating to ‘Sheela ki jawani'. The beauty danced with élan. Halfway through her act, Akshay Kumar (sporting a green sweatshirt and a pierced eyebrow reprising his Tees Maar Khan character) joined in. Akshay's energy was infectious and Farah, who was backstage, remarked, “Akki is rocking it!” At the fag end of the show, Farah joined her lead players in the dance, leaving the crowd roaring for an encore.

No package deal

Though the Abhi-Ash chemistry did not work in Raavan, everyone is curious about when they will be paired together again. But Abhishek clearly states, “We are not a package deal. You have to respect us as individual actors. She does a film when she likes it and is creatively inspired to be part of it. As of now, nothing is on the cards.”

But weren't Abhi-Ash supposed to star in cinematographer-cum-director Rajiv Menon's Dhun? Abhishek clarifies, “No, the project has been put on the backburner because everyone is busy doing other things.”

No wife? No problem!

The main grouse against Akshaye Khanna is that he makes very few appearances on the big screen. However, Akshaye claims that 2010 has been different. He says, “Aakrosh was released recently and I'm gearing up for Anil Kapoor's No Problem followed by Farah's Tees Maar Khan.”

However, Akshaye's habit of pushing the subject of marriage under the carpet continues. He laughs, “I consider Anil Kapoor to be my elder brother. He says marriage is a problem, and what's more,” Akshaye adds with a grin, “his wife Sunita, seconds him.”

Gallant Ranveer

Anushka Sharma is impressed by rookie Ranveer Singh's gallantry. After all, her Band Baaja Baaraat co-star got her out of a difficult situation. As Anushka recalls, “We play wedding planners in the film and we were shooting an emotional scene on the Delhi roads. Ranveer was giving me cues, but a shop-owner, whose business was presumably affected because of the shooting, started shouting at the entire unit. I was unable to concentrate on my shot till Ranveer marched up to the disgruntled shop-owner and told him to cooperate as this was his first film. And voila! The shopkeeper obliged!”

bollywood news service

Keywords: Bollywood, Hindi cinema