Producing films is like manufacturing deodorants: Shekhar Kapoor

Shekhar - Celluloid CassanovaOne of Shekhar Kapoor's London friends said about him: "He'd approach any girl on the street, sidle up to her and say 'We had a coffee date, remember?" He was insulted, his face was slapped, and nine times out of ten he'd get turned down. But when the tenth girl accepted, you'd find Shekhar walking five feet off the ground." Perseverance seems to be the motto of Shekhar's life. That probably explains why with three absolutely flop films to his credit and no contracts, he is still sticking around, hanging onto Shabana Azmi's arm at every filmland party."Producing films is like manufacturing deodorants" was the most profound thing he said during a recent two-hour long interview. Perhaps that is why he has turned a producer himself."You know Dev Anand besides being my uncle is a fabulous actor," he said with a smirk. Practically all Dev Anand's younger camp followers were present. Suraj - another vague cousin who has scripted Bullet, Dev's latest venture, was resplendent in tight-fitting saffron bell-bottoms and maroon high-heeled slippers. And there was Ketan (Speedy), Chetan Anand's long haired, bespectacled son (also a saffron-clad savant) who has been "working with papa for years." In their outrageously untidy bachelor pad the trio sat sipping tea and discussing their forthcoming film which is supposed to be "the love story of Shekhar and Shabana"."I want to be a non-personality actor," Shekhar returned to the interview. "I don't want to be Shekhar Kapoor in every one of my films. I don't think I will ever go back to England. Till the end of my days I will stick on here. Because I have faith in me." He seemed to need convincing himself more than anyone else. "You see, I have talent. I do. I do. I do."Vijay Arora : living in the pastBeing in on the latest thing is of the utmost importance with the filmi crowd. You read the latest books (Vijay Arora citedZorba the Greek), wear the latest clothes (a la Hollywood of course, and never mind if the styles are five years old), hear the latest music (Neetu Singh says it's Barry White), and do the latest thing. Imagine my surprise when I overheard one starlet ask another, "What's the latest, latest thing yaar?"The "Evergreen Hero" Dev Anand looks spruce and healthy. Only the little lines under his chin indicated his age. We asked him the secret of his success (longevity?). "It's the spirit that counts. You have to be young at heart, blah." It was the usual from our darling Dev. We asked him why-he never took girls from the Institute as his co-stars. Our man thought a while, then said very seriously, "You see the institute girls have to be graduates. By the time they pass out of the institute they are at least 20 or 21 years old. Another year till they pick up some acting. And then at 23 - well, I guess it's too old for me."Overheard: Randhir Kapoor to Dev Anand, "Hello Uncle Dev, what's cooking?" Dev: (In lil' boy hurt tone). "You mustn't call me uncle. After all, I do look younger than you. Pssst, not to mention my face lifts and hair rinses."Randhir: "In that case let's make a film together. I'll play father, you my son and we'll get Rajesh to do the BIG Bad Brother.Celebrating with a bangFive young men sat in their car waiting for the rain to stop. A great big white car came along And gave them such " bop. . .In true James Bond tradition the big while Mercedes pushed aside the tiny little Fiat and sped away. "We were absolutely dazed but determined to put up a fight. So two of us jumped into the first passing cab and followed him," said long-haired, denim-clad Uday Watsa, owner of the smashed Fiat.A grand chase followed with the Mercedes using "intimidating tactics" (perhaps Watsa is a cricket fan), and the car finally pulled up in front of the Bandra Police Station. The occupants of the car were bodily hauled out and turned out to be - yes, Rishi Kapoor, and Neetu Singh with Rishi's inebriated chauffeur at the wheel."They were smashed, man, smashed," was the general comment. Rishi, apparently down on his knees, could only lisp out an excuse. "Let it go please, it's my birthday.""Heck, I won't allow my chauffeur to drink be it my funeral or wedding day," said Watsa indignantly.A hit and run case has been registered with the Gamdevi Police. "I always celebrate my birthday with a bang." Chintu used to say. We believe him now.Meerabai seems to be bent on making Gulzar's life miserable. To start with he gave away the role to Hema Malini thus widening the rift between him and his wife Raakhee who had set her heart on playing it.Another snag has cropped up now. Lata Mangeshkar has refused to sing the songs "because," she says, "I have already cut two long playing records of Meera bhajans with my brother." Gulzar, thinking that she was holding out because she wanted brother Hrydaynath to compose the music, offered him the job. This angered Lata further who closed the discussion with a curt "Take Asha. She sings equally well."It is a question of tearing all available hair for Gulzar right now. Only Hema (who thought she was the cat's whiskers anyway), simpering into the camera looks like she licked away all the cream Slurp!.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Apr 11, 2015 14:28 IST--- ENDS ---

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Producing films is like manufacturing deodorants: Shekhar Kapoor

"Producing films is like manufacturing deodorants" was the most profound thing he said during a recent two-hour long interview. Perhaps that is why he has turned a producer himself.

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