Cupid strikesMarch is definitely cupid's month full of weddings and engagements. Nanu Behl and cameraman Sameer Arya have got married, Mehr Jesia and Arjun Rampal are getting married, and now, Feroz Khan's daughter Laila, is getting engaged. And most of these alliances come amid chaos and confusion. For instance, Nanu or Shrishti -- the girl who played Sachin's daughter in Aisi Bhi Kya Jaldi, tied the knot with her beau on Thursday. There were rumours that the marriage was delayed because Arya was having a fling with a beauty queen but the real reason was that Nanu had a slipped disc.
But marriage is not the end of all this plump girl-turned-producer's woes. Her film Angaarey is not exactly setting box office previews on fire. It stars Akshay Kumar, Nagarjuna and Sonali Bendre, among others. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, all the so-called stars are thanda names right now. In fact God alone knows which of these people are the plus point of the film and which are the minuspoints.
Engaged signal
NOW, for more on the Khan celebration. Feroz's name has always been associated with style and grandeur and his daughter's pre-nuptials are expected to be no different. Laila's engagement to a Delhi-based guy (she has been madly in love with him for a long time) has been planned over an entire month. A month when Khan was busy completing a shooting schedule for Fardeen's launch film in Australia. But that has not come in his way. While invitation cards are not common for engagement parties, Feroz has decided it is the only way to go. Elegant invites have been sent out to the who's who of the film world and the buzz is that everyone will be there. The wedding is slated for December. If the engagement is so elaborate, imagine what the wedding has in store?
Khan clan
Meanwhile, brother Fardeen was also in the news last fortnight. Apparently, director Deepak Shivdasani had announced Khan jr's name for his film Aksar. The Khans however were not pleased with the news andmade it clear that Fardeen had nothing to do with the project. Now, someone close to Fardeen says that the director had to write a letter of apology to the family well, it's not easy to mess with the Khans.
Direct debacle
Not that Deepak Shivdasani spares those less-powerful than him, if rumours are to be believed. I read an interview recently of an aspiring starlet, who, without taking names, points a finger at Shivdasani. She talks about a film she made with Sunil Shetty where the director made a pass at her and harassed her when she refused. Finally, she was rescued by Shetty who donned the garb of guardian angel.
Now, she takes no names but the only film this girl -- Kareena -- has done with Sunil is Krishna. And guess who the director of the film is? Right. Shivdasani. Except for Nagma, most heroines end up disliking this director. He had problems with Pooja Batra during Bhai. Even Sonali Bendre thought she got a raw deal in the same film. And now, the rumour mills say that Sunil Shetty hasrefused to work with him, as well. As a result Shivdasani has had to sign Ajay Devgan -- losing out on his brawny points.
Crying foul
One man's (read woman) medicine is another one's poison. While Kareena has been praising Sunil Shetty, there is another girl called Tina who is crying foul. She says the publicity campaign for Aakrosh sidelined her, all thanks to Shetty. Apparently, he gave preference to another Shetty -- Shilpa -- over her. Now, this happens to newcomers all the time but what really rankles is that Tina is allegedly involved with the producer of this film -- Ramesh Sharma alias Munnabhai. Now, what has set tongues wagging is that would her so-called godfather have let Sunil get away with murder? Or, was she given a raw deal with his tacit approval.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
