Biddu to produce a commercial Hindi feature titled Star

Over four weeks of shooting in New Delhi didn't seem to tire leading members of thedramatis personae. While starsShabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shahhappily opted to open the Priya Health Club at the new ITC Hotel Siddharth, Azmi's former flameShekhar Kapoor, model, actor and trained chartered accountant, was keeping his attention fixed on his new girl and new movie. Slated to marry a localingenuecalledMedha Gujralsoon, Kapoor is working at breakneck pace to finish his first directorial ventureMasoomat 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 bySaeed 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 titledStar. Close on the heels of theNazia 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 albumDisco 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 forStar.Kumar Gaurav(ofLove Storyfame) andRati Agnihotri(ofEk Duuje Ke Liyefame) will be playing the lead roles with lesser-known actorRaj Kiranin the supporting role. Taking no chances with his first venture, Biddu has signed upMike Collins, who directed stunts and effects for the filmSuperman, to handleStar's special effects.