Bombay film industry announces return of its prodigal son Vinod Khanna

While Puneites, deprived of easy pickings, continue to mournRajneesh's abrupt departure from the city, the godman is hardly likely to be missed by Bombay's film circles. Last fortnight, a jubilant film industry announced the return of its prodigal son -Vinod Khanna, the saffron superstar who gave it all up for the Bhagwan. Khanna, who rates next toAmitabh Bachchanat the box-office and is seen as the only real threat to the gangly giant, had given up films to work as a gardener at the feet of his master. Although he agreed to complete all films he had already undertaken, the orange-robed sanyasi refused to accept any further contracts. In a surprise move last fortnight, however, Khanna signed on for aRomu Sippyproduction, to be started next December. Planned with straight shooting stints from December through February, Sippy expects to screen the movie by April 1982. Meanwhile the sanyasi will have to tone up his muscles to recoup his superstar image.

Once Parliament is in session, there is no end to its members indulging in slanging matches as well as rip-roaring repartee. Last fortnight saw verbal banter between two MPs on the floor of the Rajya Sabha. Tackling a calling attention motion on the Antulay affair,A.G. Kulkarni, Congress(S), 64, a bespectacled, veteran politician, was in the process of delivering a speech, only to be stopped every few minutes by the Congress(I) stormy petrel MPSaroj Khaparde. Kulkarni, who was forced to appeal to the Deputy Chairman, asked him to "protect me from this Amazon of a lady" adding, after her repeated interruptions, "I do not know whether she is a talking machine or a talking toy, or a talking doll. Is she a Japanese doll?" Khaparde, who seemed least bothered yet amused by Kulkarni's remarks, was, however, determined to carry on interrupting. Said a jovial spinster Khaparde later: "I am really a naughty lady in Parliament. I was merely trying my best to shut him down." Kulkarni, seemingly pleased with the publicity his remark has generated, laughed it off, saying: "The Amazon river flows with a big noise and she reminds me of that," adding with a hint of a wicked smile on his face: "I have nothing against women. They all love me."