Couple of problems

It is difficult to be professional and keep working together when couples have broken up or there are personal problems between two people. Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon worked together to finish Police Officer and Aan even after they broke up as did Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea in Gunaah and Ishq Hai Tumse. Amitabh Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor — both true professionals — have also worked together in the soon-to-be released S. Ramanathan film Zamaanat. The film was launched in 1995, when Abhishek and Karisma were a couple. The shooting for the film is being completed only now and Amitabh, who plays a blind lawyer, had to shoot many scenes with could-have-been bahu Karisma.

Company for Ambani

Even as Mani Ratnam’s Guru, which is based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, is playing to full houses, the makers of a long overdue film called Marathon are wondering when to release their film.

What’s common? Well, Marathon has Bikram Saluja playing the role of Anil Ambani. Raj Kumar Santoshi had been earlier hired by Tina Ambani to make a film on Dhirubhai’s life. Tina considered recruiting Shyam Benegal to direct the magnum opus but then opted for Santoshi. The slow-moving director, however, could not start work fast enough and Mani scored.

That sinking feeling

A sunken boat resurfaces — thrice over. A few years ago, news of the Malta Boat Tragedy had rocked the world. Most of the survivors of that tragedy did not receive any help from any quarters, nor did the families of the dead receive any compensation. Mahesh Bhatt was the first person who considered making a film on the subject and now Bunty Walia is producing one with Sanjay Dutt and Abhishek Bachchan essaying key roles. The movie is based on the lives of the 300 plus passengers and sailors on that boat. Two hundred and eighty three of them lost their lives when the boat sank. Deepa Mehta is also toying with the idea of making a similar film. Hope all of them don’t sink like the boat.

No bitter moon

Sudhir Mishra has been raving about the work Soha Ali Khan has done in his film Khoya Khoya Chand. He is happy that Soha made the choice to enter films and not play cricket. Soha laughs. “I am quite unfortunate in that I have not actually seen my father Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi play. By the time I was old enough to watch cricket, he had stopped playing the game. But I have read a lot about his cricket. I do follow cricket. I like that sport too. But I have seen a lot more of my mother Sharmila Tagore’s movies. Guess that’s why I became an actress,” she says.

Neha’s distinction

Neha Dhupia and her childhood friend and leading Indian squash player Ritwik Bhattacharya will be in Calcutta next month with something on each of their hands. Don’t get excited. The duo is endorsing the watch brand Police and will be visiting the city for promotions. The endorsement has already taken them to other cities in the country. Neha has, on earlier occasions, vehemently denied that the two were romantically involved, insisting that they were just good friends. Don’t worry Neha, the police are keeping a good watch on both of you.