Desi Brockovich

Lara Dutta is to Amarjeet what Julia Roberts is to Erin Brockovich. The former Miss Universe is starring in the lead role of Amarjeet, where her character lobbies against the powerful tobacco industry. The recently proposed ban on smoking in films just might throw the project off track considering it is about a small-town girl's campaign against the tobacco industry. Dutta, an on-off smoker herself, feels imposing a ban on smoking in films may appear "claustrophobic for creativity but it will have a positive effect on the future generations. Today's youngsters ape film and TV stars far more than those of yesteryears." As long as Amarjeet doesn't end up being all smoke, no fire. And as long as Dutta keeps her Julia Roberts-style push-up bras on call.

Slap Star

The Indian national anthem has an unlikely minder. Item girl Meghna Naidu of Kaliyon ka chaman notoriety recently raised temperatures in a Mumbai theatre by slapping a teenage boy for showing disrespect to the national anthem. Naidu objected when some people made comments while the anthem was being played and then abused an elderly man who objected to their behaviour. Says the bombshell, "My mother is very happy. If I had my way I would have beaten them all up." Uh-oh.

Jhatka Number

How does a Mumbaikar become a Canadian Idol 2005 contestant, one among the final 32? She sings Unchained Melodies and then does some Bollywood jhatkas. When acid-tongued judge Zack Werner asked her to sing a hot Bollywood number, Devika Mathur belted out Mere dil ka tumse hai kehna from Armaan. Mathur, a former RJ in Mumbai, came to Canada in 2004 with her management consultant husband Arvind. In Mumbai, she used to sing in a pop band called Sea Major. Call her star minor?

On Course

She can't understand why it's such a big deal. Deepika Padukone, 19, one of India's hottest models and daughter of badminton star Prakash Padukone, is currently taking an acting course at Anupam Kher's film academy in Mumbai and has shifted to the city from hometown Bangalore just for the course. "I do have film offers," she confesses, but isn't planning on signing up yet. "I just started (modelling, ramp and ads) a year ago and have a long way to go." The course, she says, "is just for myself, to improve my acting skills". Kher couldn't have asked for a better endorsement.

-Compiled by Kanika Gahlaut

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