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Off press!

Tabu. Click for bigger pic!

Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre are very quiet about the episode at Jodhpur, which saw Salman in the slammer and his dad trying to explain why he had endangered members of the family Cervidae roaming about his farmhouse.

When a few journalists hurried of to Alibag to quiz Tabu about it on the sets of Hu Tu Tu, was very difficult to pin down.

She told them that she was not interested in speaking to the press since its members had maligned her a lot. Thereafter, it took the PRO of the film to provide information that madam would speak no further and that, if one wanted to know more about the film, director Gulzar was at hand.

But for the moment, the attitude of the journos said, like Tabu had, Hu Tu Tu too could take a walk.

Hit pair

A still from Bade Miyan, Chote Miyan. Click for bigger pic!

According to the news we've received, both Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai are hits. And the most emotional about the happy news are the theatre-owners, since both these films have broken records, even in the smaller towns.

The success of two films together is being compared to the magnificent success of Sholay and Jai Santoshi Maa, both of which were released on the same day and ran for almost two years.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has struck some deep chord. Already, the number of people coming out of theatres with streaming eyes has raised eyebrows. And the buzz is getting about -- mush will still wash. And Karan Johar, like his buddy Aditya Chopra, looks pretty happy about it all.

Karan, who did a teeny-weeny role in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge as Shah Rukh's best friend has finally hit big time with KKHH.

And Bade Miyan Chote Miyan? Well, there are rumours that it isn't doing as well as all that, But then, it has finally brought Amitabh Bachchan back into the reckoning, hasn't it?

Birth pangs for Feroz Khan

A still from Prem Aggan. Click for bigger pic!

The success of BMCM and KKHH had put Feroz Khan in a spot. For his Prem Aggan, starring his offspring, Fardeen Khan, was to come in just when interest for these films were waning. But since they both are looking forward to a long innings, the senior Khan is looking a bit low these days. Prem Aggan is slated to release this Friday.

Feroz Khan would have liked to release it the next week, hadn't it been for another film, allegedly in the heavyweight category, China Gate, releasing on that day.

There's nothing the Khan dislikes more than being proved wrong. And now he has to admit that his distributors, who had urged him to postpone the release by a month at least, had a point after all.

Of course, he isn't admitting any of that, bravely asserting that his film will do well at the box office. And, you know, with his kind of record, he might even be right...

Hunter on the prowl for a job

Manoj Prabhakar. Click for bigger pic!

Manoj Prabhakar's political career may be indifferent; now even his hopes in films seem to have come a cropper.

The man, after being chucked out of the Indian team and getting embroiled in a controversy about betting and bribery in the cricketing ranks, had planned a career in cinema.

The films he signed haven't even been titled to date and so he's decided to throw in the towel.

Meanwhile, his former colleague, Salil Ankola, is doing well in serials and has a couple of films ahead.

But you know Prabhakar's never-say-die attitude. He'll just find something else to do.

Jadeja okays role opposite Madhuri

Ajay Jadeja. Click for bigger pic!

Meanwhile, another cricketer, Ajay Jadeja, who has even been linked with Tabu, has okayed a film opposite Madhuri Dixit. Don't say you don't remember we told you that first in these columns earlier.

But this is the only film the man is signing after he returns from Bangladesh after the Wills Cup there. Besides cricket and cinema now, Jadeja also has interests in restaurants, running one himself in New Delhi.

According to a source close to producer Rakeshnath, till recently known as La Dixit's secretary, "It's a film in which no established hero of the present lot will do. We wanted a face that was known and yet willing to take up a challenging role."

Of course, it also could be that no one else wanted the role...

Devgun's on a roll

Ajay Jadeja. Click for bigger pic!

Ajay Devgun is back in the reckoning. This year two of his films, Major Saab and Pyar To Hona Hi Tha, helped his cause. And Pyar To Hona Hi Tha is still going strong.

The man is now excited and waiting for two more releases, one of which will coincide with his marriage to Kajol. All that's holding up the nuptials is the film Kajol still has to complete, produced by Rama Naidu and also starring Anil Kapoor.

Ajay is also into production and distribution, and he's signed up Amitabh Bachchan -- who helped Ajay's image when they worked together in Major Saab -- for Hindustan Ki Kasam. BTW, don't be surprised if you get a feeling of déjà vu if you sees the film, for Amitabh plays a similar role to the one in Major Saab.

Ajay also is showing up in Govind Nihalani's Takshak, which should help him look more an actor than he can now claim to be.

All in all, a great time for the young man, don't you think?

-- V S Srinivasan