Madhuri
finds suitable boy (gossip from before her marriage to Sriram)
The hottest gossip in Bollywood at the moment says Madhuri Dixit will soon marry her
secretary for ten years Rakesh Sharma.
Mads and Rakesh (Rikku) are being seen together a lot nowadays. Rikku has become a regular
feature in Madhuri's social engagements - whether it is a jubilee party, a birthday bash
or an audio release.
After Mads crossed thirty-two recently, and her career dipped with a string of flops, her
parents intensified the hunt for a suitable boy to marry her off.
Though they searched far and wide, India and abroad, there was none with required looks,
brains and bank account to please the Dixit family.
Fed up with the endless groom hunt and her ageing spinster image Mads
decided on Rikku, who has been following her like a puppy for years.
While Rikku, whose devotion to Mads was the talk of the industry in the
past, gets his ultimate reward, the Dixit family is reportedly upset that they are
'missing an opportunity to tie up to the likes of Mittals or Hindujas.'
Papa, Mama and Brother Dixits had earlier opposed Rikku and Mads seeing each other. But
now they are looking quite helpless as Madhuri is reportedly 'completely under the spell'
of her secretary.
She shows blind faith in him though he has been taking disastrous decisions on her behalf.
He stopped her from signing the lead role in Daag -
The Fire, which went on to become a box office hit.
Earlier he had dragged down her career by getting her to act in two brainless box office
duds Mohabaat and Sangeet, which were produced by him.
He is also producing M.F. Husain's Gajgamini, which industry by consensus says, is a crank
project and will sink like Titanic. The star attraction of the film, you guessed it, is
Miss Madhuri Dixit.
Recently, Madhuri's parents found a good match for her -- a US-based rich
NRI. And Rikku went to Mads seeking an explanation.
Madhuri promptly gave an interview to a glossy, where she clubbed together all her
rumoured affairs and denied them collectively. She said her links with Ajay Jadeja was
'only professional' and her reported affair with almost-centenarian M.F Hussian was 'pure
fiction'.
Then came the final word. She said she has no plans to marry any NRI and settle abroad,
but would opt for someone from the industry.
Marriage plans mar Mads' career 
Madhuri Dixit's plans to marry long-time secretary and friend Rikku seems to be taking its
toll on the actress' career. While her recent films have failed to create the Dixit magic
at the box office (Wajood, Aarzoo...), she now faces the prospect of being dropped from
the films which she had signed earlier. One such film is Deepak Shivdasani's Yeh Raaste
Hain Pyar Ke opposite Ajay Devgan. Apparently, the distributors of the film are
pressurising Shivdasani to replace Madhuri with Rani (who stars as the second lead in the
film) in the lead role. Ajay Devgan too seems to be keen on working opposite the hot and
happening Rani instead of the down and out Madhuri and has given the go-ahead to the
producer. It seems Madhuri is also going to go the Juhi way.
Madhuri: Goodbye after Gajagamini?
Madhuri Dixit is seriously planning to settle down in matrimonial harmony after all. The
leading lady of Bollywood has not signed a single film after M.F. Husain's Gajagamini.
While her secretary of 10 years and producer of Gajagamini, Rikku, has reportedly used all
his charm to put her reluctance at rest about marrying him, Mad's parents too are pressing
upon her to tie the knot. The fact that she has turned 32 is also making her incline
towards domestic bliss. Or is it that she doesn't want to be left behind in the nuptial
race of contemporaries such as Sridevi, Kajol and Juhi Chawla?
Sanju on Mads
For a long time Madhuri Dixit was a taboo subject with Sanjay Dutt. He clamed up every
time he was asked about his soured relationship with Mads. However, today the actor talks
about his ex-flame without a rush of emotions overwhelming him. "There was a terrific
chemistry between us ...which showed in our films together," Sanju recently admitted
to a glossy. But as far working with MD is concerned, the former spurned lover boy is a
mature, practical man today. "I don't believe in revisiting my past. Mahanta was our
last film together, and it was a disaster because halfway through, we stopped talking with
each other. Naturally the film was completed under stress," he reveals. But for all
Sanjay-Madhuri die-hard fans, there's still hope as the various twists and turns of
destiny has taught the actor to never say never. "Well... we might just work together
again if destiny intends it to be."
Rikku deserts Mads for Bipasha!
The Madhuri-Rikku association seems to be heading towards its culmination.
Their 'friendship' (Rikku is Maddhuri's secretary) recently dealt a decisive blow when
Rikku approached model-turned-actress Bipasha Basu and offered to manage her career. To
prove his clout in Bollywood, he has reportedly even managed to bag a big banner film for
Bipasha. Sources say the reason behind Rikku's shift in loyalties apparently is Mads'
marriage. While Rikku has always been keen to marry her, Madhuri has been holding back the
issue due to family pressure. The Dixits have reportedly chosen a scion of a big
industrial family as their daughter's groom. Moreover, Rikku, realising that it is now
almost impossible to resurrect Mads' sinking career, has decided to look for greener
pastures.
`Gajagamini' not with the censors yet, says Parekh
MUMBAI: Although painter and director M.F. Husain had claimed at a recent press
conference that a 20-second promotional clip from his film Gajagamini, as well as the
entire movie, had been released without any cuts, Censor Board chairperson Asha Parekh has
asserted that the film has not even come to the board for censorship.
``The film has not even come to the Board for censoring. We have only cleared the
20-second promo,'' Parekh said late last week.
Last month the board had objected to the promo film saying it was ``too sexy''. It
included the depiction of two songs, one by Javed Akhtar and the other by Rabindranath
Tagore.
A spokesperson for Rakesh Nath, the producer of the film, said, ``The film will be
submitted to the Censor Board later this week. Mr Husain must be mistaken when he made
statements saying the film has already been cleared.''
Gajagamini stars, among others, Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah. The
story revolves around the character of Madhuri who is torn between her love for Kamadeva,
played by Inder Kumar, and Leonardo Da Vinci, played by Naseer. The film is supposed to be
a metaphor of a woman who maintains her identity and dignity through time and space. The
music of the film has been set by Bhupen Hazarika.
Madhuri climbs down
With stardom fading away, Madhuri is learning to make new adjustments with life. Recently,
she had agreed to do a black and white photo shoot with veteran photographer J. H.
Thakker, who had promised to bring out 'the ageless charm of Madhubala' in her. When she
went to the studio, Thakker discovered that she had come with only one saree and she found
that even he had not not made any arrangements to dress her. Rather than delay the shoot
due to a misunderstanding, Thakker suggested that Madhuri dress in his daughter's clothes.
When she readily agreed he sent his daughter, who had come to see the former no.1, home to
fetch some of her sarees. And Madhuri completed the session in borrowed clothes. The same
actress in her heydays had given producers a tough time refusing to wear the best of
designer clothes finding flimsiest of faults in them.
Mads gets cheaper!
Gone are the days when Madhuri Dixit commanded an unrivalled signing amount. The industry
is abuzz with the news that the leading lady of Bollywood has drastically slashed her
charges. According to the trade circles, Mads has signed a still untitled Deepak
Shivdasani film, co-starring Ajay Devgan and Karisma Kapoor at a throwaway price. She has
slashed her rates so much for the film that it's even less than Karisma's signing amount.
With this downfall, it's almost certain that she is slowly drifting towards her twilight
days in Bollywood. Perhaps it's now time to think about marriage and family.
Rikku jogs to Dhawan for Madhuri
Once-upon-a-time No. 1 heroine Madhuri Dixit now looks up to secretary and beau Rikku to
bag new assignments for her. She has now asked him to approach current No.1 director David
Dhawan for casting her in his new film starring Salman Khan. Rikku and Dhawan jog together
daily at Juhu beach in Mumbai and hence are quite closely acquainted with each other. If
Dhawan signs Mads for this movie, it wouldn't be the first time that the actress would
have reaped benefit of Rikku's contacts. In fact, it was on Rikku's behest that Dhawan had
shot the popular Makhna number in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan on Madhuri
Madhuri Dixit's 'historical' blunder (12/24/98)
About fifty Nepalese protesters on Wednesday burned the photographs of popular Indian
film actress for her statement in a radio interview that the Himalayan kingdom was once
part of India. They gathered outside her hotel in Kathmandu and demanded an apology.
Madhuri Dixit is visiting Nepal to release the music of her new film 'Arzoo', also
starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Madhuri said, "Nepal is a very beautiful
country and also it was once a part of India", it is reported. Barring this blunder
Madhuri was well received in Nepal where she seems to be very popular even after several
flops.
Jadeja okays role opposite Madhuri
Meanwhile, another cricketer, Ajay Jadeja, who has even been linked with Tabu, has
okayed a film opposite Madhuri Dixit. Don't say you don't remember we told you that first
in these columns earlier.
But this is the only film the man is signing after he returns from Bangladesh after the
Wills Cup there. Besides cricket and cinema now, Jadeja also has interests in restaurants,
running one himself in New Delhi.
According to a source close to producer Rakeshnath, till recently known as La Dixit's
secretary, "It's a film in which no established hero of the present lot will do. We
wanted a face that was known and yet willing to take up a challenging role."
Of course, it also could be that no one else wanted the role...
Ajay Jadeja says No to films? - 22nd Oct 1999 By Wanderer
Ajay Jadeja is in a dilemma. As we have reported earlier, the dashing Indian cricketer was
to act in a movie opposite Madhuri Dixit. It now seems that Jaddu is having second
thoughts about the movie.
Grapevine has it that his teammates have advised Ajay to focus on his cricket. It is
learnt that Madhuri was keen to act with him.
If indeed Jadeja has decided to opt out of the film industry, at least for the time being,
he might be able to concentrate more on the game.
Ajay need not be disappointed. In the past, cricketers have tried their hand at acting in
movies, but made a hash of it. The names of Sandip Patil, Syed Kirmani and Karsan Ghavri
spring to mind in this context.
16th Apr 1999 By Ajay Chaturvedi
The much-awaited and hyped up movie ‘Gajagamini’ starring Madhuri
Dixit will be released later this year, according to its producer Rakeshnath.
“The moment we get star cricketer Ajay Jadeja’s shooting dates, we will start
the film with Madhuri as the heroine opposite him,” disclosed producer-cum-secretary
Rakeshnath (Rikku) at the press-meet convened by him to mark the shooting completion of
his much-talked about ‘Gajagamini’. The film is directed by acclaimed artist M F
Husain who has openly declared his liking for Madhuri’s beauty.
Contrary to expectations, Jadeja is not cast as a cricket-player in this movie.
Madhuri did not look bothered by her recent flops ‘Wajood’ and
‘Aarzoo’, as she gushed about ‘Gajagamini’. ‘‘It’s an
abstract but artistic subject with rich, exotic visuals. And I am playing four different
diverse characters ranging from the historical Shakuntala to the street-singer Sangeeta
and from the ordinary woman Gajagamini to Monica (nothing to do with Clinton) the lady of
the next millenium,” revealed the ‘Ek Do Teen girl’ who is paired opposite
Indra Kumar cast as the ‘Kaam Dev’.
This offbeat venture also has Shah Rukh Khan in a ‘guest appearance’ as a TV
reporter. He sings a song with Madhuri and has four scenes in the film.
‘‘We are sure his presence will add to the box-office attraction,” Madhuri
admits. Besides the seasoned artistes like Nasseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi. Shilpa
Shirodkar and model Kalpana Pandit who makes her debut as the sensuous
‘fantasy-lover’ Abhisarika in this movie.
Madhuri's muse
You might not know it (but by the end of this piece you will), Madhuri Dixit is an
excellent singer and painter. And her skill with the brush has naught to do with M F
Husain's influence.
A pal of ours was doing the interiors at La Dixit's home and was just getting around to
suggesting that she put some paintings on the wall. With her kinda prettifying presence,
the walls could do with some pepping up, he suggested.
So Madhuri pulled out some paintings and knocked off the mothballs. And surprise, there
were fewer by Husain and more by M Dixit. A gauge of her quality -- the interior decorator
hasn't yet raving about the paintings. And, of course, the woman.
Hex symbols
It used to be kind of a jinx. No film in which Madhuri Dixit was to work with Amitabh
Bachchan -- Shanakht, Rishta and Bandhua -- ever made it to the theatres.
Now the duo hope to break the hoodoo, with Madhuri doing an extended guest appearance
in Chote Miyan Bade Miyan. That works out to one song and seven scenes.
AB apparently hopes Madhuri will provide added oomph to his film, considering heroines
Ramya and Raveena aren't quite in top form. Problem, of course, is that not everybody else
is betting on Madhuri either.
So, if the hex isn't real and if the film works they would have helped each other.
Very iffy, don't you think?
Madhuri's loss is Tabu's gain
Very few in Bollywood know that Tabu's much-sought-after role in Hum Saath Saath Hain was
first offered to Madhuri Dixit. Which wasn't surprising, since the Madhuri-Sooraj Barjatya
had made magic in Hum Aapke Hain Koun? But the Dixit dame had refused, since the HSSH role
was minisculine compared to the HAHK one. Anyway, Madhuri's loss was Tabu's gain, and Tabu
is not complining, seeing that HSSH is having such a fantastic initial draw. Even for the
Mahesh Manjrekar directed Astitva (a Hindi-Marathi bilingual), it was Mads who had been
first choice but Tabu stepped in later. And only because Mads was apprehensive about
playing an aging mother of a grown up son in that movie. Tabs has played the role with
such conviction that she has earned rave reviews for it. And now that The Dixit dame has
gone and got married, and is busy wrapping up all pending projects, guess who is the
person most likely to profit from her impending retirement? Happy days are here for the
terrific Tabu!
Madhuri fanatic Hussain
The latest with the Hussain-Madhuri obsession story is that Hussain is now planning to
make two more films after Gaja Gamini! One of these will be a comedy. Would someone tell
Hussain that his film has to be a hit before he can come up with other projects? Talk of
being ambitious!
Hussain wants to get this right
Guess what’s new on the M.F. Husain-Madhuri Dixit front. Husain believes
that his films and his Madhuri must be seen by all women in India. MF also believes that
Gajagamini is his tribute to Indian women. So, apart from showcasing the film in theatres,
he’s planning to rope in big industrial houses to get them to sponsor special shows
of the film as well as hold shows of the film in all possible street corners of the
villages in India. The industry guys are sure smirking at MF’s ideas. They think that
this is his way of ensuring that at least someone watches the film. Methinks that only
time will tell who’s right and who’s wrong.
Madhuri mania
No, please don't announce pack-up for MADHURI DIXIT yet. So what if the talented
actress has only two films on her hands right now. While Gajagamini is complete and is
embroiled in a bitter controversy over it's "sexy" content, Yeh Raaste Hain
Pyaar Ke has only just begun. So what is the truth? Have the offers stopped coming, or is
she being plain selective? Mads, of course, insists there's no dearth of work. "I've
reached a stage where I can afford to be choosy. I don't want to overwork myself
now," she says. So it's not bye-bye movies and hello marriage for her, is it?
"No way!" she screams. "I'm here to stay."
Is Madhuri finished?
Madhuri is going through the worst slump in her career. The Madhuri Dixit-starrer Arzoo
may have released this week amid great hype, but trade pundits have already labelled it as
a flop. So Mads is trying for movies with happening stars to make a comeback. But the
really hot actors like the Khan trio do not intend working with her as they prefer someone
younger to the 30-plus Madhuri. In desperation Madhuri even tried to rope in outsiders
like M F Hussain and Ajay Jadeja. Though she has signed a film with the casanova
cricketer, it is lying in deep freezer. The latest on the Mads survival tactics is that
she is reaching out for promising newcomers like Ram Gopal Verma's 'creation' Manoj
Bajpayi. According to the grapevine, Mads has approached Bajpayi through her secretary and
the duo have already signed up for a film.
Madhuri's Bahadur
With sound of wedding bells strongly in the air, Madhuri Dixit's Bahadur is stepping into
the limelight. Madhuri Dixit's pet chowkidar, Bahadur, is owner's pride and neighbour's
surprise. Her friends always noted how she doted on him. She would frequently take him to
the shoots for 'security' from the glaring spotboys. In between shots, she would prefer to
spend time chatting with him than rake scandals with co-stars. So when the accompanying
security guard desired to take a shot at stardom, Madame Dixit obliged by getting him
errand-boy roles in Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan and Wajood.
Madhuri in love?
Madhuri Dixit and "Friday" Rakesh Nath aka Rikku are seemed to be in love
with each other.The problem here is mainly because of Rikku who is fiercely possessive of
his golden girl and interferes in her filmi contracts and decides which film she should
act. FYI Rikku is Madhuri's secretary and he is happily married to someother woman for 26
years.
Madhuri trespassers Hussassinated
Painter-turned-director MF Hussain is trying all he can to protect his pet heroine Madhuri
Dixit and debut film Gajagamini from public gaze. A few days ago, when director Lawrence
d' Souza landed up at Mehboob studios along with a producer friend to 'discuss' his
forthcoming film Arzoo with Madhuri, they were promptly shown the door by a stern Hussain
saab. According to Hussain, he wants Gajagamini to be hype-free. So that explains the
coldness. But is there something about Madhuri as well, Hussain saab?
THEY'RE NOT FINISHED...YET!
Reema Rakeshnath, who directed the Sanjay Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit-Akshaye Khanna starrer
Mohabbat and scripted the Salman Khan-Madhuri Dixit-Sanjay Dutt film Saajan, has decided
she's through with romantic love triangles. She's not packing her bags, but is giving
direction one last try. Her next will be an action thriller with three heroes and one
heroine. Ironically, Lawrence D'Souza, director of Saajan, isn't finished either. Although
his films like Saawan and Sambandh still remain under production for the past several
years, he has been signed by Ramaji Rao to direct a film starring Chandrachur Singh,
Amrish Puri, and Tabu.
Gajagamini: The show stopper!
Even before M.F. Hussain, Mads, Rikku and co. could let out a whoop of joy to celebrate
Gajagamini escaping the edge of the Censors' scissors, they were faced with another
dampener. The recently held American premiere of the film turned out to be a fiasco.
Apparently just when everything had been set according to schedule, the auditorium was
packed to capacity and the show was about to roll, the bomb was dropped. The print of the
film hadn't arrived! After much haranguing backstage, an embarrassed Hussain came onstage
to announce the sorry state and apologise for a no-show. According to the crew, the
serious communication gap between the painter and the producer duo of Mads-Rikku resulted
in the fiasco. Of course, the fact that the incident led to yet another showdown between
them, is another story altogether!
Gajagamini foxes Shabana too!
Is M. F. Hussain's magnum opus Gajagamini purely the master painter's cinematic
translation of his often hard-to-comprehend paintings? Well, if the star cast of the film
is any authority, it certainly looks the case! After Naseeruddin Shah confessed to being
unable to understand the film, it is now Shabana Azmi, who has voiced similar thoughts.
The actress recently admitted to a glossy that she had no clue what she was doing in the
film. "For me to do something without understanding was challenging. Believe me, it
wasn't easy," stated the actress. Boy! These are intelligent actors like Naseer and
Shabana talking. Imagine how the poor, immature Indian viewer - as the Censor Board
reiterates time and again - can ever hope to understand Hussain's ambitious dream saga. Or
is this why the painter is shying from a commercial release of the film?
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FILMS GONE?
Madhuri Dixit, once a huge legend in her own time, seems to be fading away fast. Her
promos of Wajood on television look great - she looks as gorgeous as ever. But, what about
her screen presence? Her career was once fading until Dil to Pagal Hai put sunshine in her
storm. Now...she is anxiously awaiting the releases of Wajood and Aarzoo before she signs
any new films. Her guest appearance in Bade Miyaan Chote Miyaan may have helped the film,
but that's not enough for Madhuri fans. The only films on the floors are Engineer with
Arvind Swamy, Aarzoo with Akshay and Saif, Pukaar with Anil Kapoor, and Hum Aapke Dil Mein
Sanam with Shah Rukh and Salman.
FAN 'N' GAMES
A li'l birdie chirrups that Arvind Swamy is an inveterate Madhuri Dixit fan.
When the casting of Sapnay was on, he had requested the producers (AVM Studio) to check
out La Dix. But the Queen Bee had to nix the offer since she didn't have dates to spare.
So Arvind's thrilled to bits because the beauuuutiful one has assented to a Tamil
project, opposite him, to be directed by Shankar's erstwhile assistant. The pairing should
make tongues go wag-a-wag.
Hussain-Mads tussle over Gajagamini release
The gulf between Madhuri Dixit and M. F. Hussain seems to be widening. The latest
contention is about the release of Gajagamini. Apparently Hussain, who had planned a
London, Paris and Toronto release of the film, did not wish to release it in Indian
theatres. The painter-turned-filmmaker was keen on holding private screenings of
Gajagamini for selective audience in the country. That's when differences cropped up as
Mads and her secretary Rikku insisted on a commercial release. The two, who have major
stakes in the film, wanted to recover whatever little money possible. After prolonged
arguments, the two sides finally reached a settlement. According to the terms of
agreement, Gajagamini will now be released only at one cinema hall in a city and will run
only for a week in each city. Moreover, theatre owners will have to organise an exhibition
of Hussain's painting during the film's shows. In the meantime, in their quest to generate
public interest in the film, Rikku & Co has leaked out a report that Gajagamini
features a steamy dance number featuring Madhuri and Shah Rukh Khan
Madhuri-Hussain: The rift begins
All is not well between
Madhuri Dixit and M.F. Hussain, though the duo share a famous friendship. Actress Madhuri
had troubled producer Hussain with some starry behaviour during the finishing stages of
production of Gajagamini, grapevine claims. Mads would arrive late on the sets and had
even canceled shoots a few times without any prior notice. The painter was often made to
wait long hours outside her make-up room while madam readied herself for the shots. Though
Hussain has been heard yelling on the sets about the unnecessary delays and wastage of
money, unit members put the blame on him. Though Mads initially was very cooperative,
Hussain to save money made lots of changes in the film going back on the earlier plan.
Upset that these changes were costing the project in quality Mads started giving him some
star treatment.
Madhuri changes Hussain's wardrobe!
Madhuri Dixit seems to have M. F. Hussain completely under her spell. After a relatively
long association with her on the sets of Gajagamini, the actress has persuaded the painter
to revamp his wardrobe. While he still sports his beard, Hussain has given up his
traditional silken kurta and robe for a killing three-piece suit. This is the same man who
was marshalled out of an English restaurant for arriving bare feet to a party,
disregarding the dress code. He had insisted then that his Indianness did not permit him
to move into shoes and western wear. But now, under Madhuri's influence, the grand old man
of Indian art has given up all that and accepted change at long last.
Madhuri in Kannada
The floodgates, it would seem, have been opened.
Madhuri Dixit, who capped the Mollywood migration of Bollywood belles when she signed
up for Engineer opposite Arvind Swamy, is at it again. This time in a Kannada movie, or
more accurately, a bilingual, with Tamil being the other language. The film, to be
directed by stuntman Raam Shetty debuting with the megaphone, is tentatively titled Ram --
and given that its star is 'Gentleman' Arjun, action could be the keynote.
Hussain to Mads: Everything I Do, I do it for you...
After painting a portrait of Shah Rukh Khan at the behest of his muse Madhuri Dixit, M. F.
Hussain is once again wielding his brush for his leading lady. The painter recently
readily agreed to paint the posters of Sooraj Bartajya's forthcoming film Hum Saath Saath
Hai. However, when the Bartajyas offered him his fee, Hussain refused to accept it. The
master painter explained that he was only repaying his debt as it was their film Hum Aapke
Hain Kaun that had introduced Mads to the painter. Hussain is said to have reasoned that
had it not been for the Bartajyas' film, the painter would never have been struck by
Madhuri's angelic inspiration.
Shah Rukh's brush with M.F. Hussain
After bagging the sprawling heritage bungalow in Mumbai, Shah Rukh Khan, it seems, wants
to treasure it with all the value additions he can think off. He is so obsessed with
filling his house that he is even forgoing his fees for producers who can get him his
treasures. The latest to fall prey to Shah Rukh's tactics is none other than M. F.
Hussain, in whose film Gajagamini, the actor makes a guest appearance. Shah Rukh
reportedly used his affable relations with Madhuri Dixit and asked her to request the
painter to draw his portrait. Well aware of Hussain's weakness for Mads, Shah Rukh knew
for sure that the artist would not refuse if she put in a word for him. And it definitely
looks like the star's calculations found their mark. Apparently persuaded by Madhuri,
Hussain has agreed to do Shah Rukh's portrait in exchange for the actor's signing amount
in Gajagamini.
You know
darlings, when I look at M.F. Hussain, I just see a besotted man. A man obsessed with one
woman. A man singularly and completely in love. Gone are his horses, his mares, his
fillies and his colts. They've all been replaced by Madhuri. Ask him to sketch and his
fingers just draw her. . . It's soo. . . natural. It's like Rex Harrison admitting
about Audrey Hepburn, "I've grown accustomed to her face."
It's all so 'lover'ly here darlings. But in America, the Americanised
Indians aren't looking at them with cow eyes! They're hopping MAD! And can you blame them?
The American premiere of Gajgamini turned out to be a fiasco! No print, darlings. . . NO
PRINT arrived! And if I were Rikku, I wouldn't go there in a long, l-o-n-g while. . .
"Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke" are in Hyderabad for shooting
Producer-Director Deepak Shivdasani and the unit of Yashish Enterprises' "Yeh
Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke" are in Hyderabad for an 11-day shooting schedule that commenced
featuring Ajay Devgan, Priety Zinta, Jayshree T, Lalit Tiwari, Deep Dhillon and Mayur
alongwith stuntmen. The film also stars Madhuri Dixit, Anupam Kher, Alok Nath and Kiran
Kumar. Meanwhile music directors Sanjeev-Darshan have recorded the third song, penned by
Anand Bakshi and sung by Kavita Krishnamoorthy, Anuradha Paudwal, new singer Manohar
Shetty and chorus on September 27 and 28 at Empire Recording Theatre. The film has
cinematography by Rajan Kinagi, choreography by Ganesh and thrills by Jai Singh.
HAI RAM
While on Rajkumar Santoshi, his heroine Madhuri Dixit was zapped out of her wits when
his cherubic son Ram insisted on calling her, "Mamta". Laughs Madhuri,
"because of China Gate, Mamta's the only heroine Ram knows. But he's got to know me
too gradually... and now goes Madhooori." Cute.
Anil & Madhuri Together Again
He's as excited as ever, coz he' s back on the screens and this time it's a solo
performance. Anil Kapoor is ready for his next release Pukaar opposite the ravishing
Madhuri Dixit after a long while. His last two films - Biwi No.1 and Taal have had him in
almost special appearance roles, but not this time!! " I want roles with
substance," he declares firmly, "nothing else matters." To add to the
thrill, Pukaar is a home production and is all set for a November release.
Madhuri keeps Thackeray waiting
Bollywood
star Madhuri Dixit, invited to cut the ribbon at Uddhav Thackeray's Wild Life Show
recently, reached the venue late and came face to face with a furious Bal Thackeray.
"You have kept the Cabinet waiting for 20 minutes," growled the Shiv Sena 
chief. Madhuri was not the one to take it calmly. She shot back: "Unlike you all, I
do not have a car with a revolving red light at the top that can cut through a traffic
jam!" An uneasy Thackeray murmured: "I have run out of those lights. When I have
a spare one, I will give
it to you."
Madhuri's love in bloom again
Madhuri Dixit has lost no time in squashing all those rumors about her impending
marriage to a non resident Indian doctor based in America. According to her, a wedding is
not on the cards for a long time to come. And anyway, right now she is to busy
concentrating on her career. But the gossip in Bombay is that here is a man in Dixit's
life and no, his is not a new face. Apparently the romance between Madhuri and Sanjay Dutt
has been revived, much to Rhea Pillai's horror. And lending credence to these rumors is
the fact that these days Pillai is never seen by Dutt's side; make of that what you will.
