November 2, 1998

Sometimes life imitates art. Last week, Malayalam cinema's No. 1 heroine Manju Warrier and co-star Dileep tied the knot without the approval, or the presence, of their parents. Wanna know about the onset of this on-set romance? They met in their first film together, the '96 blockbuster Sallapam. "We've been in love for three years," says Manju, 20. Strange. Last year they both denied a press report on their affair, and haven't worked together since. And in all their three films together, the lovers weren't united. Thank your stars life doesn't always imitate art.

Just Groovy

One step across the border was all it took. When Karachi-based singer Komal Rizvi's album Baojee first came out, the video was a conservative concoction: no hip swinging, no revealing outfits and a sweet but staid song. Now in India as Channel V's first Pakistan-based veejay, Rizvi's done another video for the same number: a little skin, a little swing, even some English lines in rap. "The difference is very obvious, it's just 100 per cent," says the 19-year-old BPL Oye! girl. Well, everything from the sound to the sets has been redone. "It's got better production values since there are definitely better studios here." We knew that, didn't we?

Guess What!

Not all newcomers are this lucky. First Amitabh Bachchan Corporation spotted Shama Gesawat. Guess what happened next. She was cast as one of the leading ladies in Feroze Khan's Prem Aggan (you know the one in which he's launching his son), then she bagged director Indra Kumar's Mann. "It's great to start my acting career with someone like Feroze Khan," sighs Shama, sultry at 17. "It's a big morale boost." Sigh.

UDAY RAI

The name's Rai, Uday Rai. Profession: rickshaw puller. Claim to fame: took RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav for a ride last week (actually, transported him from his Patna home to the nearby CBI office for an interrogation). A tete-a-tete with Citizen Rai:

Laloo said he took the rickshaw because he doesn't have the money for petrol. Do you believe him?
I was hired by a police officer. I don't know whether he has money or not.

Did he say anything to you?
He kept joking as if I was his friend. He even offered me food in the CBI office.

How did he address you?
Raiji.

How do you feel about giving a ride to Laloo?
I felt as if God was sitting on my rickshaw.

Did he bother when you later sat on a dharna outside his house demanding a job?
Yes, he has called me on November 1 for a job.

Is Laloo really a garibon ka masiha (messiah of the poor)?
He is like a god to me.

What will you do with the Rs 600 he gave you for the ride?
I will save this money for the future.

© Living Media India Ltd