July 21, 2002

For a dance
The grapevine has it that Resham and Meera have been vying for a scene in Faheem Burney’s Urdu film, Piyar hi Piyar Mein. The flick which will be released after Ramzan is Faheem’s first project and has mostly a new cast. There is one special dance in the film and the director had a certain famous actress in mind to perform it. When Resham and Meera heard about this small guest appearance, says the note, they started calling (read pestering) the director to be in it, to the extent of paying their way through. Ultimately Meera was chosen, and one will be seeing — if plans remain the same — the lady dancing her heart out, on a friend’s mehndi scene.

But one is wondering what is happening on the film scene. Why are famous actresses dying to get a cameo role and paying for it, in a new director’s film? Are they trying to boost their flagging careers? —K.H.

Paul & Heather: nupped in the bud
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills must really believe that all you need is love. The newlyweds don’t have a prenuptial agreement, we hear. McCartney is apparently so romantic that he couldn’t bring himself to propose a contract that would limit Mills’ claim on a fortune that has been estimated at $1 billion. “He said he couldn’t do that to her,” a friend tells us. “(He said that’s) not love.”

McCartney also is said to have turned down an offer of $2.25 million from Britain’s OK! magazine for exclusive photos from the wedding. Even guests were not allowed to bring cameras. They were told that they would receive wedding pictures later. Speculation is that the newlyweds may still cut a deal that would benefit one of their favourite charities. Even so, the couple may not be completely oblivious to money. And given McCartney’s wealth, it’s no wonder that Mills is said to have clashed with McCartney’s other beneficiaries: namely, his children. “The children are devastated,” claims one source. The source contends that Mills is “totally jealous of (Paul’s late wife) Linda. She freaks out when Linda’s name comes up.”

Once, when they were in Los Angeles, they quarreled so badly over Linda that Mills moved out. “They got back together and Paul tried to make up for it all by never mentioning Linda ever in front of Mills. —Rush and Molly

Natasha replaces Sara!
A popular film- based TV magazine show Cinemascope, has a change of compere. Model cum actress, Sara Chaudhary was hosting the show until the director, Irfan Asghar, thought otherwise. Apparently Sara is not giving her fullest and try as she might, Irfan is still not satisfied with her performance.

Reports have come in that the area’s (province) top model Natasha is replacing Sara as compere of the show. Unlike Sara, Natasha is very happy at her selection because she was desperately looking for a quality based film show. Nattie has compered many TV shows in the past but this is her first film based extravaganza. —M.J


Hitting a sour note
A fender bender prevented Billy Joel from showing up at the Songwriters Hall of Fame dinner. He was driving in the rain down a slippery road in Sag Harbor and his car swerved and hit a pole, said Joel’s spokeswoman. Nobody else was hurt, but his face was bruised and swollen on one side, so he decided not to go. He was extremely disappointed to miss it. Also not at the New York Sheraton ceremony was Michael Jackson, who stayed in London and sent Liza Minnelli to pick up his award. Among those who did show were Sting (performing a jazzy version of Roxanne), Stevie Wonder (who won the longest standing ovation), Randy Newman (who said he still hates songwriting) and Brian McKnight (who told us backstage, I’m looking for some hot chicks). —Rush and Molly