Bollywood Buzz - November 23, 2006

Not scared to die
"Death threats do not scare me," said oomph girl Mallika Sherawat after a youth reportedly conspired to kill her because she brought a bad name to the Jat community (an Indian sect from Haryana). Rajesh Dalal, wanted in several cases of kidnapping, robbery and attempt to murder, was arrested in Sangli, Maharashtra, a few days ago and brought to New Delhi. He created a sensation when he told reporters at the Delhi Police headquarters that he wanted to kill Mallika because she had besmirched the image of Jats.

Sherawat, who hails from Rohtak district in Haryana, said in a statement posted on her website: "Death threats do not scare me but I do want to make one thing clear: it is not my intention to upset or offend the sensitivity and sensibility of my people. I respect our culture and traditions.

"However, I do feel women should be empowered and have the ability to stand on their own feet and earn a living and make their own career, which is what I am trying to do." Her website is mallikasherawatwow.com

Police say Dalal's threat was just a gimmick to attract media attention and that they had found nothing to substantiate his claim.

All dressed up
John Abraham has swapped his customary grunge look for matured urban chic in Baabul, says his dress-designer for the film.

"The audience has always seen John in a puerile look in a pair of jeans with or without a T-shirt. I have tried to make him look good with clothes on," says designer Narendra Kumar, who planned Abraham's wardrobe for Baabul.

Kumar, who stresses on the cut and fit of the couture, says: "It is a mature film and John's character demanded a grown up look. Hence, I have designed a hip line of casual suits and sherwanis (traditional attire) for him. Emphasis has been placed on detailing to give John a completely new shape. There are jackets that will highlight an urban chic look," Kumar says.

Home sea home
Akshaye Khanna loves the sea and would love to spend as much time as he can near it. This is why the actor is busy looking for a sea-facing property in Goa or Mandwa (a district in Gujarat). He wants to buy a major estate adjoining the sea so that he can indulge in all his favourite water sports. In fact, while recently on a photo shoot, Khanna just took off on a speedboat in the chopping waves of the sea, leaving everyone stunned. The actor is now on a 45-day shooting stint in Dubai.

Jaya does a double
Jaya Bachchan will be seen in two back-to-back films. The actress plays Konkona Sen Sharma's mother in both Rituparno Ghosh's bi-lingual Sunglass and Pradeep Sarkar's untitled film. "I genuinely feel Jaya and Konkona, who are among my most favourite actresses, look like mother and daughter," says Ghosh. "In fact, I want them to be cast in a third film together, so there'll be a Jaya-Konkona trilogy," he adds. Bachchan is looking forward to joining Ghosh's crew in Kolkata. Her bonding with all her screen-kids - Esha Deol in Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche, Karisma Kapoor in Fiza and Preity Zinta in Kal Ho Naa Ho - has always been very special.
"It started with Govind Nihalani's Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa where I played Joy Sengupta's mother," says Bachchan.

The fun continues
Gulzar's lyrics for the song Ek Lo Ek Muft (buy one get one one free) in Mani Ratnam's film Guru is a big hit with the Indian youth. "For me, it's time to freak out," Gulzar laughs. The song is composed by A.R. Rahman, sung by Bappi Lahiri and filmed on an inebriated Abhishek Bachchan dancing with twins in his hands. The situation? Aishwarya Rai, who plays Abhishek's wife in the film, has given birth to twins. "Hence the lines Ek Lo Ek Muft. You know the catch-phrase in every supermarket - Buy one get one free," chuckles Gulzar. The lyricist seems to have discovered the tongue-in-cheek side to himself. "We've always had characters singing poetry that doesn't suit them. It's time for lyrics to reflect the character an actor portrays," says Gulzar.