Like father, like daughter

She belongs to the blue-blooded royal family of Haryana, and is no less imperial in showbiz as well. The reference is to the gorgeous Sara Ali Khan, daughter of Saif Ali Khan and his first wife Amrita Singh. There were rumours that like her parents, her aunt (Soha) and grandma (Sharmila Tagore) Sara AK too will choose acting as her profession. No one was sure about it, though. But finally, her dad has confirmed that “Sara is passionate about acting.”

Once her career takes off, it would be interesting to see how she fares among top-notch actresses such as Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor. Oopsy! Perhaps leave out the last name, please.

Pooja’s back

Perhaps, it was bound to happen. Once an actor, always an actor! Pooja Bhatt (for those who haven’t seen her films — Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Daddy — she’s Alia Bhatt’s big sis) will be seen flexing her acting muscles after a long time in a film based on Abheek Barua’s novel City of Death. She is also going to produce the project since her production company has bought the film rights to the book.

City of Death’s story pivots around a middle-aged woman — a detective with a drinking problem — who is asked to investigate the murder of a well-to-do woman, and when she starts doing that, she gets stuck in a messy situation. Hmmm … I wonder what drew Pooja B to the role.

Daniel’s retirement

Should actors around the world take a leaf out of Daniel Day-Lewis’s book who on June 20 announced his retirement from the field of acting, or take it as a decision of an eccentric performer?

There are arguments both for and against his decision, but let’s just admire the extraordinary body of work (My Beautiful Launderette, My Left Foot, The Age of Innocence, Gangs of New York, Lincoln etc) of this 60-year-old artist and three-time Oscar winner, from whom generations of actors can learn a thing or two about acting.

Oh yes, there are quite a few film stars in India and Pakistan who can at least emulate Daniel DL by calling it a day. Sadly, we know they won’t. They like running around trees, lip-syncing to songs with girls less than half their age.

Betrothed in 2018?

The svelte and Urdu poetry-loving Resham has finally revealed her marriage plans. If media reports are anything to go by, the Lollywood actress will tie the nuptial knot next year and fly out to Europe.

Why Europe? Because: her groom-to-be is a businessman who lives there. Detailed info on the lucky man (his name, age and the country he resides in) are not forthcoming yet. Resham, for now, has kept it under her hat. And it’s the proverbial hat, not a top hat from which a rabbit will jump out.

Sejals galore for SRK

Shah Rukh Khan has a keen marketing sense (some of his detractors believe that’s the only talent he has). To promote his upcoming film Jab Harry Met Sejal he posted a video saying he will visit the city that has the most number of girls named Sejal.

By June 22 his team received more than 7,000 responses, a majority of which were from Ahmadabad, Gujarat. Apparently, the character of Sejal, played by Anushka Sharma in the movie, is that of a Gujarati girl. SRK is smart. He didn’t ask for boys named Harry. Otherwise, he might have had unwanted competition.

Mr India 2

It is both exciting and a little worrisome to know that producer Boney Kapoor’s sequel to his 1987 blockbuster Mr India is on the anvil. The excitement is to do with the fact that it was a landmark film for both its main actors, Anil Kapoor and Sri Devi (wife of Boney K), and one of the first feathers in the well-decorated cap of director Shekhar Kapur. Now for the worrisome part.

The principal actors have been retained for the second installment of the film, which is a bit tricky. It’s been 30 years since the original hit the cinema screens, and in three decades not just the screens but movie-goers have changed. Not to mention the changes that Anil K and Sri D have undergone. You know, they can’t sing in the rain anymore. The elderly are more susceptible to nazla zukaam ….

He’s talking to me!

Even stars can get star-struck! Indian actor Anupam Kher is these days in the US where he’s taking part in the promotional campaign for the film The Big Sick. He got a pleasant surprise when he received a call from the legendary Hollywood actor Robert De Niro inviting him to lunch at his house on Father’s Day.

Anupam K was overwhelmed. He went there, had lunch with him, and was so happy that later on he posted a few tweets with his picture with Bobby D, one of which was, “And when god of acting takes a pic where he is doing the same gesture that you’re doing, it’s time to faint.” Don’t faint sir ji, just try to be one-fourth of an actor that he is.

Published in Dawn, ICON, July 2nd, 2017