Talk of the Town

Handling a mega-project like ``Kabhi Kushi, Kabhie Gham'' with a multistar cast has not been easy for the young chubby-faced director Karan Johar who shot to fame with his first film ``Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' and who has been able to bring his inspiration Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Badhuri together on the screen after 19 years.

``When you endeavour to make a multi-crore film like `Kabhi Kushi, Kabhie Gham' you do tend to become a little superstitious,'' says Karan, admitting to having gone around town seeking the advice of astrologers, numerologists and other occult practitioners. ``Fate, destiny, fear, superstition or what have you -- everything works on your mind at a juncture like this,'' he reasons.

While he got any number of suggestions and advice during this consultation spree with a few even daring to tell him not to make the film, it was the advice of a numerologist that prevailed, ultimately. ``She advised me to add ``e'' to the second `Kabhi' in the title of the film and I did so,'' Karan says.

Eagerly awaiting the release of his second Bollywood venture which also has the hit pair Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol coming together again apart from the current heart-throb Hrithik and Kareena , the 29-year-old director says even ``Kabhi, Kabhie'', which was released in the mid-Seventies had an ``e'' after the second ``Kabhi''.

Incidentally, even Karan has been advised to make films starting with ``K'' and that is why ``Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'' has been followed by ``Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham''. And like Ekta Kapoor, he has already made up his mind to make films in the future starting with ``K''. Now, do you call that superstition or wooing the forces of nature?

* * *

They first came together in a touching film called ``Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman''. Starring one of the then successful stars Juhi Chawla and a budding and struggling new Khan from the TV world who was creating waves in Bollywood for more than just his talent, the film happended to be released just after the Bombay riots and did not really do as well as it could have.

There were many films starring these two that came up in the years to come, making them a pair that itself was declared hit but did not really hit the bull's-eye when it came to the fate of their films. And when the two came together to launch a common dream boat, together with the man who first brought them together in ``Raju Ban Gaya..'' and later ``Yes Boss'', many thought the team might finally strike gold.

The dreams of Aziz Mirza, Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla may be seeing only ``limited'' success as of now, but the threesome are not ready to give up so soon. ``I think we should be given a bravery award for making a film like Asoka. After what happened to ``Phir Bhi Dil Hain Hindustani'', even we were amazed with our courage to continue on the track,'' is how the chirpy actress recently described the pre-release pangs of ``Asoka'' .

Ask her what keeps the team together and pat comes the reply: ``I guess I am the practical one in the group. Shah Rukh is the dreamer and Aziz keeps us together with his wisdom.''

***

An Afghan serves as a volunteer leader in a refugee camp in Pakistan, a former member of a street gang who still bears the signs of his past life tattooed on his skin now fights against violence, a young lawyer promotes and defends human rights, a transvestite distributes condoms among prostitutes, an elderly tap dancer entertains residents in old people's homes.....

Coming from every nation around the world, these ``volunteers'' have in common the same feeling of commitment to the weak and suffering. In recognition of their voluntary effort, they have now been chosen as endorsers for United Colors of Benetton's Communication Campaign for autumn 2001, produced in collaboration with United Nations Volunteers for the International Year of Volunteers whose celebrations will culminate on December 5 with International Volunteers Day.

(By K.Kannan, Lakshmi Balakrishnan and Lalit K.Jha)

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : Pirates at large; forget Burma Bazaar
Next     : No funds to MCD, says Minister