Entertainment

Shoaib Akhtar: Will he, won't he rock Bollywood ?

2005-05-23T15:42:16+02:00

Mahesh Bhatt scoffs that runours that the pacer had ‘turned down’ his ofer to do his movie were all media fabrications ans that he was actually going to negotiate with Akhtar in Pakistan. Read on as Mahesh reveals his private conversations with the Rawalpindi Express ...

News was rife that Mahesh Bhatt had offered Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar a role in his next film. And then we heard that the cricketer had turned down the offer claiming that ‘cricket was his first love.’ And that his fans wanted to see him as a cricketer and not an actor. However, when we got in touch with Mahesh Bhatt himself, he expounded ... “News about Shoaib denying the role is all warped. It goes like this... We first had offered the role to Sanjay Dutt, who unfortunately couldn’t match dates on account of his court hearings in July for which he has to be physically present in court every single day. And that came as a major bolt from the blue and jeopardized our entire plan. Now, we filmmakers have a work schedule and a product supply line that we have to maintain. So, we then approached John Abraham, who on such short notice, justifiably, couldn’t accommodate us. So we were left wondering who else could do this role.

“My director was unhappy that he couldn’t get his teeth into the movie he was dying to make. We were looking for a guy who has the sexy animal quality and at the same time looks vulnerable. My director described him as ‘someone like Shoaib Akhtar’. That’s when Meera (the actress in ‘Nazar’) suggested that we ask Shoaib himself to do the role. Since she is known to him, she called him up and facilitated a conversation between him and us. She was the bridge.
“I spoke to Shoaib. He was a little apprehensive about whether he would be able to deliver the goods. Because acting requires another kind of courage. Films are a different ball game altogether. You have to be brave, vulnerable and in the hands of somebody else. You have to be able to be in control and give up control, both at the same time. And that would’ve been something new to him. However, we did not hide anything from him. The whole genesis of the project was explained to him, including the fact that the role was first offered to Sanjay Dutt.

“I am to go to Pakistan on 21st May to meet the prime Minister in Karachi. And we had decided that we would then meet up; and if the money, dates, and role - all fall in sync with each other, we would work together. We were not supposed to discuss this with anybody. Because we had decided that unless our needs matched we would not be going and proclaiming to the world that we are working with Shoaib Akhtar. But somehow the news got out from Pakistan.
“And before I know it, I am reading that he has turned down the film. I realize that there has been enormous pressure on him with the controversy regarding him and the Pakistan Cricket Board. He has been kept in the wings and is not playing because of his supposed ‘illness’. But the grapevine says that the PCB wants to teach him a lesson as he is brash and a little arrogant. So I did understand that he probably he did not want the Pakistani selection board to use this news against him.

“So I called him up yesterday and told him if you don’t like the role, say ‘No’ and I’ll understand, if you don’t agree with the money being offered to you, say ‘No’ and I’ll understand, if you can’t match the dates, it’ll be understandable. But if you are planning to not do the film before meeting us itself, it’ll be good if you tell us now so then we’ll not wait for that date and move on. But he said, “No, Mr. Bhatt I don’t know from where this news has got out.”

“So, I will be going to Pakistan and discussing the project with him. Shoaib hasn’t yet said no. And if everything falls into place, we’ll take it on from there.”
Now, will this be a new over for the Rawalpindi Express? Or will it be a ‘no-ball’? That’s the question.

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The men in Rani's life!

2005-05-22T21:28:24+02:00

She's undoubtedly the reigning Queen of tinselville, and this year she has only big releases with the biggest of stars, starting with the Big B and ending with the Small B, with other biggies like the Khans in between. What more could one ask for? But Rani Mukherjee chooses to be her modest best while perched on the highest peak of her career. Quiz her on the line-up of Bollywood badshaahs she's working with and she pulls out a compliment from her bountiful basket for each one of them. Having grown up on Amitabh Bachchan's films, she considers him 'God', and says that she's 'too miniscule to comment on him'. About 'God's' son, she says, "Abhishek and I have great screen chemistry, and our off-screen camaraderie translates on-screen, too." As for the Khans - she's almost in a fix, not knowing how best to explain herself. She says, "In a weird sense I would call Aamir my 'guru'. I do idolise the way he is. I've learned a lot from him, personally and professionally. It's so relaxing and comfortable with him on the sets. We're more than co-stars; we're like friends." And last but not the wee bit least, Rani doesn't stop a moment to speak on her fave Khan man: "It's always a delight working with Shah Rukh. I started my career with him and, from then till today, there's been no change in him. I absolutely love him and have great respect for him, as a person and as an actor. He guides me, even scolds me at times, when I have to get the shot right. Above all, he inspires me to give my best." Now if the Mukherjee gal runs out of compliments, we can't blame her. With such a line-up of men, most actresses would be speechless!

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You sexy thing! Rafael Nadal

2005-05-22T21:24:53+02:00

Black Spaniard hair, deep eyes, 6-foot something height and the world's number two tennis player - welcome to the world of nineteen-year-old Rafael Nadal Parera. He turned pro in 2001 but won his first championship when he was only 8.

Nicknamed Rafa/Rafi, this Spanish born is a left handed player with a two-handed backhand. While his favourite playing surface is clay, he doesn't do that badly on a big cemented court either! Good going Mr Spain!

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You sexy thing! Roger Federer

2005-05-22T21:23:07+02:00

The tennis world's Numero Uno, Roger Federer turned pro in 1998. A right handed-tennis player, he won the Wimbledon in 2003 and the US Open in 2004.

Apart from playing brilliant shots with precision on court, this Swiss chocolate has also endorsed the watch Maurice Lacroix. So basically women, if this very single-ready-to-mingle guy can't be yours, have a piece of his time? Any takers...anyone?

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Three common problems in a marriage

2005-05-22T19:14:50+02:00

The key to a successful and happy relationship is the willingness of the couple to work hard at keeping their relationship healthy.

There is no 'perfect' marriage. But there are many couples who have managed to work through their differences and keep their marriages vibrant and alive.
On their journey to ironing their differences, here are some classic complaints that couples have:

1. We have nothing in common! At times, we don't know what to say to each other!

This situation is common. More common than you think.

Each spouse has diametrically opposite personalities, likes and hobbies.

Sharing is, of course, easier when you have similar interests. But the lack of similar interests and hobbies or viewpoints does not mean your marriage is a lost cause!

Make an effort to take an interest in your spouse's likes.

Both of you should respect the other's way of dealing with situations. And, at the same time, learn to give each other time and space to do things by themselves.

A good thing to do would be to try to develop new hobbies that interest you both, so that there is some common ground to share.

2. We love each other very much, but my husband/ wife does not understand me at all!

Men and women have different ways of perceiving things and reacting to them.

We tend to expect our spouse to be our best friend.

But that may not always happen. For the simple reason that a best friend is -- usually -- of the same sex as we are and has similar ways of responding.

Realise that husbands and wives react to the same situation in different ways. And you may not find your spouse to be insensitive to your problems.

Try and figure out how your spouse perceives the same situation. Is it exactly the way you do or somewhat different? This will help you know where s/he is coming from in responding to you in a given situation.

3. We fight a lot about expenses. We just can't see eye to eye on this matter!

This is a delicate situation.

When partners don't agree on financial matters, it is very important to sit down and sort out the differences in a mature and calm manner.

Each partner has to agree for a bit of a compromise. Let go of your stand in some situations.

With maturity and compromise, you can reach an understanding or consensus regarding your finances.

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Ash, not most beautiful woman?

2005-05-22T09:03:10+02:00

Is Aishwarya Rai no longer the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world?

After months and months of publicity, People magazine, perhaps the most profitable magazine on the planet, would want us to believe so. In its annual issue of the 50 Most Beautiful, there is no mention of Ash, even though a couple of weeks ago Oprah Winfrey reiterated the mantra.

The most beautiful person of the year is Pretty Woman Julia Roberts. Didn't Ash's publicity machine suggest that Roberts had declared the Bollywood star to be the most beautiful person in the world?

Ash is also not included in People's list of world beauties. The section contains pictures of global stars -- China's Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero and House Of Flying Daggers ), Britain's Sophie Okonedo(Hotel Rwanda) and Colombia's Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full Of Grace).

There are two desis in People's special issue. Bend It Like Beckham's Parminder Nagra is listed as one of the 10 beauties in their 20s (she is 29).

In the section Beauties On Your Block, the magazine lists 10 top beautiful non-celebrity people nominated by People readers. That section has a picture of 25-year-old Vijay Agarwal from San Jose in the Silicon Valley. His bio says he is the founder of a non-profit organisation that focuses on underprivileged education.

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