Shabana, Naseeruddin and Shekhar: Doing everything together
Over four weeks of shooting in New Delhi didn't seem to tire leading members of the
dramatis personae. While stars
Shabana Azmi and
Naseeruddin Shahhappily opted to open the Priya Health Club at the new ITC Hotel Siddharth, Azmi's former flame
Shekhar Kapoor, model, actor and trained chartered accountant, was keeping his attention fixed on his new girl and new movie. Slated to marry a local
ingenuecalled
Medha Gujralsoon, Kapoor is working at breakneck pace to finish his first directorial venture
Masoomat the same time. Naturally, it stars Azmi and Shah, playing a happily married couple with children who suddenly discover that the husband has been left with a child before getting married. Abetted by
Saeed Jaffreyand Tanuja, there were no romantic tensions evident on the sets as everyone settled to play the domestic melodrama. Azmi was offering full "moral support" to her director-friend and Kapoor seemed thrilled with his latest chance to succeed on the screen - from another angle.
Coming full circle from his earlier bohemian days when he bartered his songs for meals at Bombay's hotels, the long haired super songster-turned-composer,
Biddu Appaiahis returning to the glamour-struck city next month, with plans to produce his first film, a commercial Hindi feature titled
Star. Close on the heels of the
Nazia Hasansuperhit records which he produced, Biddu's newest venture is already attracting distributors and financiers like flies. Hasan's
Aap Jaisa Koiwas the biggest musical hit last year, and more recently her album
Disco Deewane, again produced by Biddu, has blown a number of myths about the unsaleability of non-filmi music. Predictably, Biddu is writing and producing all the music for
Star.
Kumar Gaurav(of
Love Storyfame) and
Rati Agnihotri(of
Ek Duuje Ke Liyefame) will be playing the lead roles with lesser-known actor
Raj Kiranin the supporting role. Taking no chances with his first venture, Biddu has signed up
Mike Collins, who directed stunts and effects for the film
Superman, to handle
Star's special effects.