IN PASSING
Never say die
If there ever was a never-say-die actor-director, it has to be Dev Anand. The veteran has now declared his intention of making politician Amar Singh act and, in the process, finally fulfil Singh’s ultimate Bollywood fantasies. “In the fil
m he will be playing the role of the home minister,” said Anand.
Why Amar Singh? Anand replied, “My film is a murder mystery; it’s a crucial role and who better than Amar Singh to play the role?” Whether Singh would be able to do justice is not something that fazes Anand. “I will get the best out of him,” said he.
That Singh is equally delighted by the offer is an understatement. He has been hanging around the fringes of Bollywood for a long time and this seems an almost natural step towards further cementing his bonds with the film fraternity.
To make sure that Singh is not distracted from his main job of campaigning, Anand intends to base all the shoots at Singh’s Delhi residence. Now that’s what you’d call persuasion.
Miniature reactions
Everybody has their take on the Mumbai carnage; and their own reactions. Now Tina Ambani, known for her annual Harmony Show, which promotes new talent and in residence artists, changed the theme of this year’s show to Indian miniature paintings
. Ambani said it was her way of looking into herself after the terrible events.
“Tradition must be revisited, which is why I selected contemporary artists to do these paintings. The museum here has the best selection of miniatures and I intend to come each weekend to study them,” said Ambani. She added that in selecting miniatures as the theme for this year, she was “moving with the times. These are an unexplored market. Now, more than ever, we must draw on the strength and roots of our rich civilisation and socio-political fabric including our traditional arts.”
Ambani could be heard assuring some that the switchover from contemporary to traditional was no flash in the pan. “It’s something that fascinates me and I am committed to doing,” said she.
On the right track
He’s already being looked upon as a maverick. But actor Abhay Deol is not going to let that worry him. “I’ve done three movies; all off the beaten track. The last one, ‘Dev D’, left my aunt scandalised; my cousins loved
it and I — well what do I say — it was great,” smiled Deol.
He’s made audiences sit up and take notice of his small but meaningful body of work. He is not afraid to say that he wants to do more “meaningful cinema and he’s not afraid to take chances, however wild they might seem. “I’ve had to fight for what I believed in, but I’ve got acceptance from critics and audiences alike much earlier than the industry’s.”
Would he like to work alongside his famous uncle, Dharmendra and his cousins. “It’s a scary feeling,” admits Deol, “I wouldn’t even be able to open my mouth, leave alone scream at them.”
SUCHITRA BEHAL
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Magazine
