M orning my strawber- ry truffles! Ever since the crack of dawn, my phone has been ringing non-stop. I have so much khabar for you, my dahlings, that I’ve no time to waste on anything else. For starters, Rani Mukherji finally had a look at Hadippa, her next Yash Raj movie with Shahid Kapoor. And con- ceded to herself that creative interference in Anurag Singh’s domain hasn’t done the movie any good. Of course, Aditya Chopra too has been see- ing it, again and again. So he can do some damage control before things go out of control. He’s mak- ing necessary changes in the screenplay... and readying for mega reshooting at Yash Raj Studio, too. However, this time around, Ms Mukherji has no choice but to stick to her job of act- ing... not even sugges- tions are being enter- tained. How the mighty have fallen! Now it only remains to be seen how soon Shahid Kapoor will dole out fresh dates. I’m told he has seen the film and doesn’t seem to have any problems with it. DID YOU KNOW? RDB has produced and penned the title track for the film Kambakht Ishq New Delhi, Friday April 3, 2009 2 Entertainment Aamir and Shah Rukh charm fans at film festival in Poland Imran Khan is a Shah Rukh fan S hah Rukh Khan stole the hearts of Polish fans with his perform- ance in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi at the Second Bolly- wood Film Festival in Poland. Aamir Khan’s Taare Za- meen Par and Deepa Mehta’s Water were also screened at the week-long festi- val, titled ‘Experi- ence the Taste of India’. H e finds inspiration in his uncle Aamir Khan, but Imran Khan says he is a big Shah Rukh Khan fan. “I am a big Shah Rukh Khan fan. In fact, Dil- wale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of my favourite films. It’s a quintessential Bolly- wood film — I just love it,” Imran said recently. —Agencies The more the merrier Neha Sharma W ith news of recession pangs hitting Bollywood becoming more frequent by the day, producers are going in for an unusual remedy to ensure that their films work. With as many as 8-10 films boasting a huge star cast due for release this year, producers feel multi-starrers are a sure shot way of getting good returns and drawing more people to the halls. Flicks with brag-worthy star casts include Kambakht Ishq, Blue, Hook Ya Crook, Alladin, London Dreams, 3 Idiots, Rajneeti and Veer. London Dreams producer Vipul Shah says, “A multi- starrer during recession time draws the audience and ensures a good opening.” Anthony D’ Souza, director of the Rs 130 crore-flick Blue, echoes him. “If your film has bankable stars, with each having his or her own fan fol- lowing, it is bound to have a smashing opening,” he says. Incidentally, when the industry was recession-free last year, most multi-starrers including Tashan, Golmaal Returns, Mission Istanbul and Sunday bombed. However, that hasn’t deterred production houses from continuing down that path, but they are now finding clever ways of cutting costs. Sunir Kheterpal, COO of Big Pictures (the production house that is coming out with the Sushmita Sen, Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh and Lara Dutta-starrer Do Knot Disturb) says that “it is important to be cost effi- cient in all spheres”, implying cuts when it comes to pay- ing actors, directors and technicians and simultaneously shooting in cheaper locations. Alpana Mishra, COO, UTV says that cost efficiency goes hand in hand with making a multi-starrer. “Both Hook Ya Crook and Rajniti require a huge setting, which could not have been compromised upon. However, cuts happen in terms of the number of days we shoot, the number of technicians we get and where we get them from.” Biren Ghose, executive director, Eros International Films, which is producing Alladin and Kambakht Ishq, emphasises the need for being innova- tive and concentrating on “the stories, technologies and marketing innovation” apart from the star cast. He adds that they are also “developing viable small budget projects.” [email protected] H e has dressed Bolly- wood divas like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, but designer Gavin Miguel says Bipasha Basu outshines them all when it comes to experimental dressing. Miguel is styling Bipasha for Sudipto Chattopadh- yaya’s Pankh, in which she plays an imaginary charac- ter. The designer admits that he had initially thought Bipasha was “broad- framed”, but his perception changed after working with her. “Initially, I felt Bipasha was broad-framed but after I worked with her, I realised that she has lost a lot of weight and now is svelte and sexy,” he said, adding, “She gives me complete freedom when it comes to dressing her up. She is very experi- mental and tries to change her look in every movie. The best part is that she carries herself so well that everything looks good on her.” The Mumbai- based designer says Bipasha will be seen in a new avatar and her look in the movie would be a total surprise package. Miguel, who also designed clothes for Priyanka Chopra, Kangana Ranaut and Mugdha Godse in Fashion, has been a part of the industry for over 10 years. — IANS Zabeeh Afaque U rvashi Sharma, who claims to have become tough as nails after the many stunts she performed in the first season of Khatron Ke Khiladi, says that putting on the judge’s cap for the show’s auditions is an equally tough job! “It’s a tough job to test the mental and physical strength of the appli- cants,” she says. Asked about her own experience of performing stunts, she says, “I was amazed when Akshay (Kumar) did twice as much of a challenge in 48 sec- onds as I had managed to in two min- utes.” But the lass adds that after going through the process, she “does- n’t fear anything anymore.” She promises that the second season promises more excitement than the previous one and emphasises the need for team spirit to be able to make it throu- gh. “You have to underst- and your partner. Even if you don’t agree, it’s imp- ortant to reach a concen- sus to perform well.” [email protected] Another take? B echara Hurman Baweja! He looks like he’s been hit by a thunder- bolt from the blue. Although Priyanka Chopra continues to remain buddy buddy with his sister Rowena, the two ex-lovers are far from being even good friends these days. No wonder the Baweja boy was looking maha depressed when a kauwa dropped in at the shoot of What’s Your Raashee? at Kamalistan Studio the other day. Gone are those days when PC and ‘Her Man’ would hang around together between shots and share lunches. Today, they don’t even talk, forget eating together. The only communica- tion between them is the dialogue their characters deliver in the movie. After the shot is okayed, Baweja boy returns to his make- up room until he’s sum- moned for the next shot. Can’t really grudge him for his chup chaap ways, na? Given the buzz about Priyanka’s growing close- ness with Shahid Kapoor, it’s not bewajah that Hurman is going around sighing, ‘Kya se kya ho gaya...’ Tsk, tsk! Yeh dooriyaan... Broad framed? Not this hottie RONJOY GOGOI Kambakht Ishq Alladin London Dreams Fear is not a factor UNDER UNDER HONEY'S HONEY'S HAT Multi-starrers are hot this recession season