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December 30, 1998
BILLBOARD
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Bobby bobs up again
Now several film-makers who might not have touched him with a barge pole or worse, have begun considering him as a serious option again. Salim Akhtar, who had made a deal with the younger Deol long ago, even got shooting going in a hurry with Rani Mukherjee as the heroine. The last decent film Bobby had was Gupt, a hit in Bombay and south India but doing rather badly in other areas, even failing to recover its cost in some places. And the unlamented Aur Pyar Ho Gaya and Kareeb did not help any. He must be rather relieved that Soldier came to drag him out from the flop circuit.
The Raj connection
There's an odd coincidence to this, for all the women in her family have made their debut in a film directed by a Raj. Dimple started off with Raj Kapoor's Bobby and Twinkle got off the mark in Raj Kumar Santoshi's Barsaat. And just incidentally, pater Raj-esh didn't start his career with a director named Raj. But then his first film was called Raaz...
Keep your hair on, Akshaye
Well, none of all that happened. And while he hasn't yet changed the face of the industry, his own is undergoing a transformation, for the poor chap's going bald with a vengeance. His Doli Saja Ke Rakhna and Kudrat made at least the sweepers happy in the theatres it was shown; it was indeed rare that no one came in to litter up the place. He hasn't a single solo hit to his credit. His launch vehicle, Himalayputra went nowhere and Mohabbat, where he worked with Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor, did nothing to help his case. And now he has more serious worries, for his hair's falling off in a hurry and his forehead's receding faster than the Antarctic iceline in summer. He needs a hit fast and though we aren't sure how he'll manage that, some hair too.
Mr Consistency
Though his films needn't always do well, some are even flops, producers are helped by the fact that his monetary demands are more reasonable than most other heroes. Therefore, flops are easier to forget, hits far more profitable. And things are helped by the fact that the hero rarely upsets schedules. Mithun thus ensures himself a steady income and regular work. So if you wondered why the man, who certainly doesn't look hero material now, is such a rage, you've just been answered.
The Khan jinx
These Bollywood oracles claim that Manisha and a Khan are fatal pair for any producer. There was Guddu also with Shah Rukh Khan, Akele Hum, Akele Tum with Aamir Khan, and Sangdil Sanam, Majhdaar, and Khamoshi with Salman Khan. Every one of them was a failure. There's only one film she has remaining with a Khan, Indra Kumar's Mann with Aamir. Now will that break the jinx? The industry's soothsayers say nay.
Mother has no takers
And just around the time 1998 was throwing in the towel, the director decided to postpone the release further. He had a valid reason -- there were few distributors willing to take on his film starring Rekha, that siren of the seventies. Well, we look forward to the day Mother, with 99 as a suffix, makes its weary way into the theatres.
Sridevi may return
But now she'll only appear in Boney Kapoor's newest. But wait, nothing's been finalised so far, not even the script, but it's just a matter of time, we're told. We doubt if there will be any display of those famed thunder thighs, Boney being, in his own way, rather the conservative type.
A sinking inspiration
Both Rakesh Roshan and Indra Kumar are now planning stories based on ships. But, hey, they are nothing to do with the Titanic, okay? Come to think of it, that could be true. For a remake of the Titanic, with all its technical wizardry, could make them look a wee bit stupid, we guess.
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